Dalian Medical University

About: Dalian Medical University is a education organization based out in Dalian, China. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Cancer & Apoptosis. The organization has 15623 authors who have published 9993 publications receiving 164145 citations.

Noninvasive assessment of left atrial phasic function in patients with hypertension and diabetes using two-dimensional speckle tracking and volumetric parameters.

Abstract: Objective To evaluate the left atrial phasic function of hypertensive patients with or without coexisting diabetes using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE)-based strain and strain rate imaging and volumetric parameters. Methods The study included an isolated hypertension group (HT group) comprising 99 patients, a hypertension and diabetes group (HT + DM group) comprising 65 patients, and 26 age-matched healthy controls. The 2DSTE-based strain and strain rate images were studied, and the following parameters were measured: peak left atrial longitudinal strain (LAS-S), early diastolic (LAS-E) and late diastolic (LAS-A) atrial longitudinal strains, and systolic (LASR-S), early diastolic (LASR-E) and late diastolic (LASR-A) strain rates. Results The LAS-S and LASR-S were lower in the HT group and the HT + DM group compared with the control group (P 0.05). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that HT and DM were independently related to LAS-E and LASR-E. Conclusions Hypertension can lead to abnormal left atrial reservoir and conduit functions, and coexisting diabetes can further impair conduit function. 2DSTE-derived strain and strain rate imaging are sensitive methods for evaluating left atrial phasic function.

Expression of miR-136 is associated with the primary cisplatin resistance of human epithelial ovarian cancer.

Abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in regulating the response of cancer cells to various therapeutic interventions, yet their involvement in the chemoresistance of human epithelial ovarian cancer is not fully understood. We found that miR-136 was significantly downregulated in specimens from patients with chemoresistant epithelial ovarian cancer. In the present study, we aimed to clarify the role of miR-136 in regulating the chemoresistance of ovarian cancer. Thirty-four tumor bank specimens and 2 well-established human ovarian cancer cell lines, C13 and OV2008, were used. We found that miR-136 expression was significantly reduced in primary platinum-resistant patients and the ovarian cancer OVC cell line. Enforced expression of miR-136 decreased the chemoresistance to cisplatin in OVC cells through inhibition of cell survival. In addition, we found no association between miR-136 and migration or invasion potential in the ovarian cancer cell lines. However, in the platinum-resistant C13 cell line, the overexpression of miR-136 markedly promoted an apoptotic response to cisplatin. Furthermore, the levels of adducts corrected with their extent of DNA damage/repair, in terms of the percentage of DNA in comet tails, tail length, tail moment (TM), and olive tail moment (OTM), revealed that miR-136 is essential for the repair of cisplatin-induced DNA damage. Our findings suggest that miR-136 may function as an anti-oncogene and deficiency of miR-136 expression in ovarian cancer can induce chemoresistance at least in part by downregulating apoptosis and promoting the repair of cisplatin-induced DNA damage. Thus, miR-136 may provide a biomarker for predicting the chemosensitivity to cisplatin in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.

Protective effect of tea polyphenols against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in mice is significanly correlated with cytochrome P450 suppression.

Abstract: AIM: To investigate the hepatoprotective activity of tea polyphenols (TP) and its relation with cytochrome P450 (CYP450) expression in mice. METHODS: Hepatic CYP450 and CYPb5 levels were measured by UV-spectrophotometry in mice 2 d after intraperitoneal TP (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg per day). Then the mice were intragastricly pre-treated with TP (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg per day) for six days before paracetamol (1000 mg/kg) was given. Their acute mortality was compared with that of control mice. The mice were pre-treated with TP (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg per day) for five days before paracetamol (500 mg/kg) was given. Hepatic CYP2E1 and CYP1A2 protein and mRNA expression levels were evaluated by Western blotting, immunohistochemical staining and transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The hepatic CYP450 and CYPb5 levels in mice of TP-treated groups (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg per day) were decreased in a dose-dependent manner compared with those in the negative control mice. TP significantly attenuated the paracetamol-induced hepatic injury and dramatically reduced the mortality of paracetamol-treated mice. Furthermore, TP reduced CYP2E1 and CYP1A2 expression at both protein and mRNA levels in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: TP possess potential hepatoprotective properties and can suppress CYP450 expression.