Comparative studies of zebrafish Danio rerio lipoprotein lipase (lpl) and hepatic lipase (lipc) genes belonging to the lipase gene family: evolution and expression pattern.

In this study, bioinformatics analysis, tissue distribution and developmental expression pattern of lipoprotein lipase (lpl) and hepatic lipase (lipc) in zebrafish Danio rerio are reported. In adult D. rerio, lpl was highly expressed in liver. This is remarkably different from the tissue expression pattern of LPL in mammals, which is not detected in the adult liver. The expression of lipc was liver specific, which is consistent with that in mammals. During embryogenesis, lpl mRNA was increased gradually in concentration from 0.5 hpf (hour post fertilization) to 6 dpf (days post fertilization), but lipc was not expressed at the early stage of the embryo until 3 dpf. In situ hybridization further displayed the expression pattern of lpl mainly restricted to the head region including cells surrounding the mouth opening, branchial arches, pectoral fin and lateral line neuromast, whereas lipc was mainly restricted to the liver and part of head regions including lens. This lays a foundation for further investigation of lpl or lipc function and evolution in fishes.

The impact of body mass index on complication and survival in resected oesophageal cancer: a clinical-based cohort and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Body mass index (BMI) has been associated with the risk of oesophageal cancer. But the influence of BMI on postoperative complication and prognosis has always been controversial. METHODS: In total, 2031 consecutive patients who underwent oesophagectomy between 1998 and 2008 were classified according to Asian-specific BMI (kg m(-2)) cutoff values. The impact of BMI on overall survival (OS) was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard models. We performed a meta-analysis to examine the association of BMI with OS and postoperative complication. RESULTS: Patients with higher BMI had more postoperative complication (P=0.002), such as anastomotic leakage (P=0.016) and cardiovascular diseases (P<0.001), but less incidence of chylous leakage (P=0.010). Logistic regression analysis showed that BMI (P=0.005) was a confounding factor associated with postoperative complication. Multivariate analysis showed that overweight and obese patients had a more favourable survival than normal weight patients (HR (hazard ratio) = 0.80, 95% CI (confidence interval): 0.70-0.92, P=0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that the association with higher BMI and increased OS was observed in patients with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) (P<0.001), oesophageal adenocarcinoma (EA) (P=0.034), never-smoking (P=0.035), ever-smoking (P=0.035), never alcohol consumption (P=0.005), weight loss (P=0.003) and advanced pathological stage (P<0.001). The meta-analysis further corroborated that higher BMI was associated with increased complication of anastomotic leakage (RR (risk ratio)=1.04, 95% CI: 1.02-1.06, P=0.001), wound infection (RR=1.03, 95% CI: 1.00-1.05, P=0.031) and cardiovascular diseases (RR=1.02, 95% CI: 1.00-1.05, P=0.039), but decreased incidence of chylous leakage (RR=0.98, 95% CI: 0.96-0.99, P<0.001). In addition, high BMI could significantly improved OS (HR=0.78, 95% CI: 0.71-0.85, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Preoperative BMI was an independent prognostic factor for survival, and strongly associated with postoperative complications in oesophageal cancer.

MicroRNA-217, down-regulated in clear cell renal cell carcinoma and associated with lower survival, suppresses cell proliferation and migration.

Aberrantly expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) are frequently correlated with a variety of human cancers, including clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). In this study, we determined the expression patterns of miR-217 in ccRCC, and tested its effect on cancer cell proliferation and migration. The expression levels of miR-217 were determined in 54 ccRCC samples using Real-Time qPCR. 786-O and ACHN cells were transfected with miR-217 mimics or miRNA mimics control. Cell proliferation and migration were evaluated by MTT assay and scratch-wound assay, respectively. We found that miR-217 was down-regulated in ccRCC compared to paired normal tissue. Lower miR-217 expression levels were associated with higher tumor grade and stage. All patients with high miR-217 expression survived 5 years, while with low miR-217 expression, only 40% survived. Cell proliferation inhibition and decreased motility were observed in cells transfected with the miR-217 mimics. In conclusion, miR-217 plays a tumor suppressor role in ccRCC.

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor during the early stage of maxillofacial blast injury.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the expression and the change of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its acceptor KDR during the early stage of maxillofacial blast injury. To evaluate the effect of VEGF on traumatic wound healing. METHODS: The rabbit model of maxillofacial blast injury was made by KTY-04 blasting cap. The expression of VEGF and KDR in wound tissue was determined by ABC immunohistochemistry of 6 hours, 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 5 days, and 7 days after injury. The results were compared with preinjury groups. RESULTS: In the wound tissue of the maxillofacial blast injury, the expression of VEGF rose steadily during the first week after the injury. Compared with normal tissue, the wound tissue showed differences by the first day after injury, and showed significant differences by the third day (P < 0.01). The differences reached a peak at the seventh day after injury. The expression of KDR showed no difference within 3 days after injury when compared to normal tissue. Between 5 and 7 days after injury, the protein was more strongly expressed. CONCLUSION: The stage of the VEGF expression at the maxillofacial blast injury site is similar to the angiopoietic stage during would healing, and KDR expression also occurs during that period. VEGF takes part in angiogenic cascades of traumatic wound healing and is produced as an auxiliary action to the regeneration of blood vessels.