Prognostic values of E2F mRNA expression in human gastric cancer.

Gastric cancer (GC) is the second most frequent cause of cancer-related mortality in the world, with Eastern Asia having the highest incidence rates. E2F is a family of transcription factor proteins that has a variety of functions, which include control of cell cycle, cell differentiation, DNA damage response and cell death. E2F transcription factors are divided into two subfamilies: transcription activators (E2F transcription factors 1 (E2F1), 2 (E2F2) and 3a (E2F3a)) and repressors (E2F3b, E2F transcription factors 4 (E2F4), 5 (E2F5), 6 (E2F6), 7 (E2F7) and 8 (E2F8)). Studies have demonstrated that E2F had prognostic significance in a number of cancers. However, the entirety of the prognostic roles of E2F mRNA expression in GC has not yet been apparently determined. In the present study, the prognostic value of individual family members of E2F mRNA expression for overall survival (OS) was evaluated by using online Kaplan-Meier Plotter (KM Plotter) database. Our result demonstrated that high expressions of three family members of E2F (E2F1, E2F3, E2F4) mRNA were significantly associated with unfavourable OS in all GC patients. However, increased expressions of E2F2, E2F5, E2F6 and E2F7 were significantly associated with favourable OS, especially for higher clinical stages in GC patients. These results provided a better insight into the prognostic functions of E2F mRNA genes in GC. Although the results should be further verified in clinical trials, our findings may be a favourable prognostic predictor for the development of newer therapeutic drugs in the treatment of GC.

Possible therapeutic potential of berberine in the treatment of STZ plus HFD-induced diabetic osteoporosis.

Diabetic osteoporosis is a complication of diabetes mellitus, and can result in an increased incidence of bone fractures and a delay in fracture healing. Berberine is one of the most widely distributed isoquinoline alkaloid in plants and possesses antioxidant properties. These properties can reduce the high glucose mediated in the dysfunction of human bone marrow stem cells. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the apparent beneficial effect of berberine on bone characteristics in streptozotocin plus HFD-induced diabetic rats. Rats were selected at random and divided into four groups: (A) control group (CG) (n = 10); (B) diabetic group (DG) (n = 10); (C) diabetic group with 50 mg kg-1day-1 of berberine (Brb-50) (n = 10); and (D) diabetic group with 100 mg kg-1day-1 of berberine (Brb-100) (n = 10). After 12 weeks of being treated with berberine, the femora from all rats were assessed and other blood biochemistries evaluated. Berberine at 50 mg/kg showed little effect and significance on diabetic osteopenia, while berberine at 100 mg/kg was significantly increased in diabetic rats. The same group also displayed a significantly decreased serum osteocalcin and serum alkaline phosphatase activity in diabetic rats. The impaired micro-architecture of the femurs in diabetic rats could partially be prevented by berberine with 100 mg/kg. In addition, berberine could to an extent restore the decreased bone formation and reabsorption of the femurs in diabetic rats through the histomorphometric analysis. Berberine could not only significantly lower the oxidative level of DNA damage, but also up-regulate the activity of serum antioxidants. According to our investigations and discoveries, we have found, that berberine may be a potential drug for controlling bone loss in diabetic osteoporosis.