Effects of LEF1 knockdown on regulation of formation and growth of nude mouse xenografts.

<p>(A) <i>In </i><i>vivo</i> imaging analysis. Growth of tumors formed by shLEF1 cells and control shNC cells in nude mice was imaged by IVIS. (B) Tumor volume was measured every 3 days from day 9 after the inoculation by measuring tumor length and width. Columns, mean (n=6); bars, SD; ***<i>P</i><0.001 compared to the control shNC cells. (C) Tumor weight was compared on day 45 after tumor cell inoculation. Columns, mean (n=6); bars, SD; ***<i>P</i><0.001 compared to the control shNC.</p

Expression of LEF1 mRNA and protein in colon cancer tissues, paratumorous colon tissues and colon cancer cell lines.

<p>(A) Immunohistochemistry staining of LEF1 on paratumorous colon tissues (a) and colon cancer tissues (b-d) (scale bar, 25µm): (a) negative expression, (b) weak expression, (c) moderate expression, (d) strong expression. (B) Kaplan-Meier curve for association of LEF1 protein expression with overall survival of patients. (C) qRT-PCR was used to detect the relative expression levels of LEF1 mRNA (cc tissues: colon cancer tissues; normal tissues: paratumorous colon tissues). Columns, mean (n=106); bars, SD; ***<i>P</i><0.001 compared with paratumorous colon tissues. <i>P</i> value was determined by Student’s <i>t</i>-test. (D) Western blot analysis of LEF1 expression in seven colorectal cancer cells (Caco₂, colo205, HCT116, HT29, Lovo, SW480, and SW620). β-actin was used as internal control.</p

Effects of LEF1 knockdown on regulation of tumor cell invasion and expression of MMP2 and MMP9 proteins <i>in vitro</i>.

<p>(A and B) Tumor cell invasion assay. Representative staining images, ×200. Quantitative analysis of invaded tumor cells between LEF1 knockdown and control cells. Columns, mean (n=3); bars, SD; **<i>P</i><0.01 compared to the control shNC cells. (C) Western blot analysis to MMP2, MMP-7 and MMP-9 protein. β-actin was used as internal control.</p

Effects of LEF1 knockdown on inhibition of colon cancer cell viability <i>in vitro</i>.

<p>(A) MTT assay. **<i>P</i><0.01 compared with the corresponding shNC cells. (B and C) Flow cytometric cell cycle distribution. Columns, mean (n=3); bars, SD; **<i>P</i><0.01 compared with the corresponding shNC cells. (D and E) Flow cytometric apoptosis assay. Cell spontaneous apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry. Columns, mean (n=3); bars, SD; ***<i>P</i><0.001 compared to the control shNC cells.</p

Effects of LEF1 knockdown on regulation of Notch pathway gene expression.

<p>(A) Western blot analysis of NICD, RBP-jκ and Hes1 expression. (B) Western blot analysis of LEF1 expression after being treated with Notch pathway inhibitor DAPT (100 µM). β-actin was used as internal control.</p

HIV-Related Behaviors, Social Support and Health-Related Quality of Life among Men Who Have Sex with Men and Women (MSMW): A Cross-Sectional Study in Chongqing, China

<div><p>Background</p><p>Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has become commonly used both as a concept and as a field of research. However, little is known about the HRQOL of men who have sex with men and women (MSMW). The aim of this study was to examine HIV-related behaviors, social support, and HRQOL status and explore its predictors among MSMW.</p><p>Methods</p><p>An anonymous cross-sectional study was conducted by snowball sampling method in 2013. A total of 563 Chinese MSM completed a structured questionnaire. The HRQOL and social support were measured with the Chinese version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-BRFE) and the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), respectively.</p><p>Results</p><p>Of the 563 MSM analyzed, 77 (13.68%) were MSMW who had a higher proportion of in-marriage and preference for an insertive role as compared with the men who have sex with men only (MSMO) (<i>P</i><0.05). As high as 70.13% of MSMW had no regular sex partners and 72.73% of MSMW reported engaging in unprotected anal sex in the last six months. 36.36% had tested for HIV, while only 12.99% had accepted HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) services. The scores of objective support and subjective support in MSMW were significantly higher than that of MSMO (<i>P</i><0.05). No statistically significant difference was found in scores of all the four domains of the HRQOL between MSMW and MSMO. When comparing the HRQOL scores of MSMW with the Chinese general population reference group, the scores of MSMW were significantly lower in physical health domain. In a multivariate regression model, age, monthly income, sexual role, VCT acceptability, subjective support were associated with variability in HRQOL.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>To improve the HRQOL among MSMW, more attention needs to be paid to those with low social support, low-income, the old and those prefer a receptive role during anal sex populations.</p></div

HRQOL scores of MSMW and the Chinese general population reference group.

<p>Data are shown as the mean±SD; Reference group: Chinese general population reference group.</p><p>HRQOL scores of MSMW and the Chinese general population reference group.</p

HIV-related behaviors of study population.

<p>Data are shown as the number (%).</p><p>^#Wilcoxon rank tests were used</p><p>*Chi-square tests were used.</p><p>HIV-related behaviors of study population.</p

Social-demographic characteristics of study population.

<p>Data are shown as the number (%)</p><p>^#Wilcoxon rank tests were used</p><p>*Chi-square tests were used.</p><p>Social-demographic characteristics of study population.</p

Social support and HRQOL scores of the two groups.

<p>Data are shown as the mean±SD.</p><p>Social support and HRQOL scores of the two groups.</p