Dbx2 exhibits a tumor-promoting function in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines via regulating Shh-Gli1 signaling.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide. HCC patients suffer from a high mortality-to-incidence ratio and low cure rate since we still have no specific and effective treatment. Although tremendous advances have been made in the investigation of HCC, the specific mechanisms of the progression of this disease are still only partially established. Hence, more research is needed to elucidate the underlying potential mechanisms to develop effective strategies for HCC. AIM: To determine the role of developing brain homeobox 2 (Dbx2) gene in promoting the development of HCC. METHODS: Dbx2 expression in clinical specimens and HCC cell lines was detected by Western blot (WB) and immunohistochemistry. Gain and loss of Dbx2 function assays were performed in vitro and in vivo. Cell viability assays were used to investigate cell growth, flow cytometry was employed to assess cell cycle and apoptosis, and trans-well assays were conducted to evaluate cell migration, invasion, and metastasis. The expression of key molecules in the sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling was determined by WB. RESULTS: Compared to matched adjacent non-tumorous tissues, Dbx2 was overexpressed in 5 HCC cell lines and 76 surgically resected HCC tissues. Dbx2 overexpression was correlated with large tumor size. Both gain and loss of function assays indicated that Dbx2 promoted HCC cell proliferation by facilitating the transition from G1 to S phase, attenuating apoptosis and promoted HCC proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, Dbx2 modulated Shh signaling by enhancing FTCH1 and GLi1 expression in HCC cells that overexpressed Dbx2, which was reversed in HCC cells with Dbx2 knockdown. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that Dbx2 is significantly upregulated in HCC tissues and plays significant roles in proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells by activating the Shh pathway.

Radial versus femoral artery access for percutaneous coronary angiography and intervention: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials in Chinese population.

To compare the feasibility, efficiency and safety of coronary angiography (CAG) and interventional procedures between the radial and femoral catheterization approaches in Chinese population using systematic review and meta-analysis, we conducted a search of the studies comparing radial and femoral catheterization approaches in patients underwent either CAG or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in Chinese population. Fixed-effect relative risk (RR) for the primary end points and the second end points were compared between the two approaches. A total of 27 studies (n=8,749 patients) were finally included in the analysis. The success rate of radial approach was slightly lower than that of femoral approach in patients receiving CAG (P=0.004), but similar in patients receiving a further PCI treatment (P=0.11). The risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) was similar between two approaches (P=0.27). Radial catheterization had a significantly lower rate of puncture site complications (P<0.00001), but a lower rate of puncture success rate (P=0.02). In patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), there was no difference in neither the risk of MACEs nor PCI success rate between two approaches (P=0.23 and 0.45, respectively), but a board line decrease of puncture success rate was observed in radial catheterization group (P=0.04). There were no significant differences in the volumes of contrast media, X-ray exposure time and operation time between the two approaches (all P>0.05). Thus, we concluded that radial approach is a safe method for CAG or PCI compared to traditional femoral approach in Chinese population due to their similar success rate of the procedure and risk of MACEs, and a decreased risk of puncture site complications.