KLF4 Expression Correlates with the Degree of Differentiation in Colorectal Cancer

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is an epithelial-specific transcription factor primarily expressed in the gastrointestinal tract that mediates growth arrest in the colonic epithelium. We tried to find whether KLF4 expression is associated with the progression and differentiation of colorectal cancer. METHODS: We detected KLF4 expression in 109 colorectal specimens (40 normal appearing mucosa, 7 adenomas, and 62 carcinomas) by immunohistochemistry using a tissue microarray. Western blot and RT-PCR analyses were also performed. RESULTS: The upregulation of KLF4 expression in carcinoma tissue was statistically significant (p0.05), while KLF4 protein expression correlated with the diagnostic stage (p<0.05). Furthermore, strong KLF4 staining was detected in 22.9% (11/48) and 0% (0/14) of well/moderately and poorly differentiated colorectal cancers, respectively. Our results clearly indicate that KLF4 protein expression significantly correlates with the degree of differentiation in colorectal cancers (p<0.05). KLF4 expression in RKO cells is also upregulated by butyrate, an inducer of differentiation. CONCLUSIONS: Downregulation of KLF4 expression may lead to more poorly differentiated tumors.

Nosocomial Fungal Infections of Lower Respiratory Tract: Analysis of 87 Cases / 中华医院感染学杂志

OBJECTIVE To explore the precaution against nosocomial fungal infections of lower respiratory tract(NFILRT).METHODS A retrospective analysis on eighty-seven cases who catched NFILRT during the years 2002 to 2004 was done.RESULTS 80.46% Cases were over 60 and the average age was 67.95 and the average in-hospital days were 46.95;most of the NFILRT patients had serious underlying diseases.Before the NFILRT,immunosuppressive agents had been injected to 47.13% cases and 42.53% patients had taken anti-acid medicine;94.25% cases had received antimicrobial agents and the average days of using antimicrobial agents were 11.01 days,and among these patients 62.20% had received more than two kinds of antimicrobial agents.About 32.18% of the NFILRT cases were associated with tracheal intubation,incision of trachea and mechanical ventilation;some patients had no clinical symptoms referred to the respiratory tract;the mortality rate was 26.44% and it couldn′t be obviously cut down by using antifungal agents.CONCLUSIONS It is very important to prevent NFILRT by using antimicrobial agents reasonably and enhancing immunity in these patients.

Effect of Vit E on myosin light chain kinase activity and expression in the liver of atherosclerosis model rabbit / 中国药理学通报

AIM To study the effect of Vit E on the MLCK activity and expression in the liver of atherosclerosis model rabbits. METHODS The MLCK activity of rabbit liver was measured by the method of ?- 32P incorporated and its expression was detected by immunofluorescent. RESULTS The model of atherosclerosis was estabilished. After rabbits were fed with cholesterol for four weeks and twelve weeks, the activity of MLCK increased markedly, and there was significantly statistical difference compared with the normal control (P0.05). MLCK expression increased after the rabbits was fed with cholesterol for four weeks, and this increase became more obvious had been the rabbits was fed with cholesterol for twelve weeks. The expression decreased when vitamin E had been added into the cholesterol fed. CONCLUSION The pathology of liver may be associated with the increase of the activity of MLCK. Vit E may reduce MLCK activity and protect hepatocyte from injury.

Effect of melatonin on expression and activity of myosin light chain kinase in the artery wall of atherosclerotic rabbits / 中国药理学通报

Aim To study the effect of melatonin on expression and activity of myosin light chain kinase in the artery wall of atherosclerotic rabbits.Methods The rabbit model of atherosclerosis was induced by a high-cholesterol diet.The blood lipid levels were assayed in the serum of each group.MLCK expression was detected by Western blot and immunohistochemical method.MLCK activity was measured by ?-32P-ATP incorporation into myosin light chain.Results The atherosclerosis model was established successfully.The levels of lipids decreased after MLT treatment.After fed with cholesterol for twelve weeks,the expression and activity of MLCK in the artery of atherosclerotic rabbits increased markedly,whereas there was no obvious difference in expression of MLCK in the artery of atherosclerotic rabbits fed with cholesterol and melatonin for twelve weeks compared with that of control.Conclusions It was suggest that high expression and activity of MLCK in the artery might be closely correlated with the development of atherosclerosis.Melatonin played an important role in inhibiting the development of atherosclerosis by decreasing the expression and activity of MLCK.