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To investigate the role of microRNA-155 (miR-155) in the potential invasion of colon cancer cell and the underlying mechanism.The expression level of miR-155 in colon cancer and adjacent normal tissues was detected by Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). miR-155 mimics (miR-155), or siRNA against β-catenin (β-catenin siRNA), was transfected into human colon cancer cell line SW-480 using Lipofectamine 2000, respectively. RT-PCR was used to measure the expression levels of miR-155 and β-catenin mRNA, and β-catenin protein expression level was detected by Western blot. The in-vitro cell invasion abilities were determined by transwell invasion assays after up-regulating miR-155 or knocking down of β-catenin.MiR-155 directly regulates β-catenin at the transcriptional level, and promotes the invasion potential of colon cancer cell, at least partly through the upregulation of β-catenin.The findings of this study suggest that miR-155 and β-catenin may have a unique potential as a novel biomarker candidate for diagnosis and treatment of tumor metastasis.

This prospective study analyzed the clinical characteristics of myeloperoxidase antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO-ANCA)-associated vasculitis and explored the relationship between MPO-ANCA and clinical manifestations of the associated vasculitis in 132 p-ANCA and MPO-ANCA-positive patients (average age, 62.3 ± 14.8 years) who were initially diagnosed with ANCA-associated vasculitis. The p-ANCA and MPO-ANCA levels in peripheral blood were detected in all patients. Among these, 128 (97%) had microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), 3 (2.3%) had granulomatous polyangiitis, and 1 (0.7%) had eosinophilic granulomatous vasculitis. The average time of diagnosis was 10.2 ± 18 months; only 14 (10.6%) patients were diagnosed within 1 month. The main organs involved and the corresponding number of patients were: renal, 95 (72%); lung, 89 (67.4%); joints, 35 (26.5%); heart, 26 (19.7%); peripheral nerve, 23 (17.4%); skin rash, 14 (10.6%); and CNS, 13 (9.8%). Older patients were more likely to show lung involvement in the early disease stage, whereas the joints were involved mostly in the younger patients. The p-ANCA levels (mean titers, 1:60) were not correlated with disease activity and extent of organ involvement, and the MPO-ANCA levels were positively correlated with disease activity, but had no correlation with the extent of organ involvement. MPO-ANCA vasculitis is a common occurrence in China; it mainly involves the elderly and presents as clinical manifestations of MPA. However, the multiple organ damage is not specific leading to delay in diagnosis. MPO-ANCA may play a pathogenic role in the associated vasculitis, and the diverse clinical manifestations might be related with the different characteristics of MPO-ANCA.

In the clinical management of cirrhotic portal hypertension, surgery is often necessary; however, the operative mortality rate is high.Data from 161 patients, who underwent surgery for cirrhotic portal hypertension, were analyzed, and 24 potential predictors of surgical outcome were assessed. A Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test was used for single-factor comparisons, and multivariate logistic regression for multifactor comparisons to identify key factors for poor surgical outcomes and calculate their scores.Six predictors of poor surgical outcomes were identified: postoperative bleeding within 30 h of2 L, with a score of 3; severe liver atrophy (an anteroposterior diameter of the left lobe of ≤ 55 mm and an oblique diameter of the right lobe ≤ 110 mm), with a score of 3; a base excess of-3 mmol/L, with a score of 3; a platelet count of3 T/L, with a score of 2; an amount of intraoperative bleeding of2 L, with a score of 2; and a red blood cell count of3 G/L, with a score of 1. For patients with good outcome (n = 147), all patients had a score of ≤ 3, except one patient who had a score of 4. With respect to patients who died (n = 14), all had a score of ≥ 5, except one patient who had a score of 4. A significant difference was observed between the two groups (p0.05). The mortality was 100% in patients with a score of ≥ 7.Six key factors for poor surgical outcomes were identified in this study. Operative mortality appears to be significantly increased in patients with a score of 5-6. Surgery should be contraindicated in patients with a score of ≥ 7. To reduce mortality, close attention should be paid to preoperative and intraoperative treatment and prevention to achieve a score of4.

Aim of the study was to summarize the types and quantities of peripheral hematocytopenia in the patients of hypersplenism caused by cirrhotic portal hypertension and investigate the effect of surgery, including splenectomy on the patient's peripheral blood cells and liver function.The quantities of peripheral blood cells in the 322 patients of hypersplenism, caused by cirrhotic portal hypertension, were retrospectively studied. Then, the preoperative and postoperative values of peripheral blood cells and liver function were compared in 266 patients who were followed up. The liver function was scored and graded according to Child-Pugh scoring system.The study enrolled 322 patients who showed hematocytopenia, including multi-hemocyte decrease in 206 patients (64%) and simple hemocyte decrease in 116 patients (36%). After surgical treatment in the 226 patients who were followed up, the quantities of peripheral blood cells significantly increased (P0.01), Child-Pugh grade A increased by 32 patients (14.2%), while Child-Pugh grade C increased only by 2 patients (0.9%), the liver function scores decreased (P0.05).Hypersplenism caused by cirrhotic portal hypertension mainly manifests as a multi-hemocyte decrease and rarely shows single types of hematocytopenia. Surgical intervention including splenectomy can increase the reduction of hemocytes and promote the recovery of liver function.