BACKGROUND Recent reports have shown that C-X-C chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) plays an important role in metastasis. Despite a clear understanding of the protein's structure and properties, its functional role remains elusive. We conducted the present study to evaluate the expressions of CXCR4 in pancreatic cancer, and to investigate its relationship with clinicopathological parameters, especial...

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the effects Echinacoside on cell proliferation, invasion and mRNA expression changes invasion-related genes in PC3 androgen-independent prostate cancer cells.
 Material Methods: effect proliferation cells determined by XTT method. Anti-invasive efficacy achieved using transwell chamber. Total RNA isolation performed Trizol cDNA subsequently s...

Abstract Background and Aims Drug nephrotoxicity is a serious medical economic concern. In fact, 25% of the 100 most used drugs in intensive care units are toxic to kidney, which limits their use and, therefore, correct therapy for patient. The administration contrast media (CM) during diagnostic tests or surgical interventions carries risk contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN), clinical condition...

Recent studies have implicated exotropia as a risk factor for schizophrenia. We determined whether schizophrenia biomarkers have abnormal levels of expression in extraocular muscles from patients with strabismus and explored whether differences in gene expression between medial and lateral rectus muscles may explain the specific association of schizophrenia with exotropia but not esotropia. Sam...

PURPOSE To investigate whether overexpression of MMP-14 and/or TIMP-2 would overcome the effect of nonlethal oxidant injury with hydroquinone (HQ) on MMP-2 activity. METHODS Human MMP-14 and TIMP2 cDNA were cloned into a mammalian expression vector. Transient transfections were performed on human ARPE-19 cells. The cells were incubated 48 hours after transfection with a nonlethal dose of HQ f...

INTRODUCTION Matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases could be promising biomarkers for establishing prognosis during the development of sepsis. It is necessary to clarify the relationship between matrix metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors. We conducted a cohort study with 563 septic patients, in order to elucidate the biological role and significance of ...

AIM To investigate the inhibitory effect of astragaloside IV on the pathological functions of cancer-associated fibroblasts, and to explore the underlying mechanism. METHODS Paired gastric normal fibroblast (GNF) and gastric cancer-associated fibroblast (GCAF) cultures were established from resected tissues. GCAFs were treated with vehicle control or different concentrations of astragaloside ...