Biomedical subjects

Yuan-Yuan Li

Publications and source records attributed to Yuan-Yuan Li.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2026

Waist-to-height ratio as a practical indicator for screening pediatric metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in diverse populations and genetic backgrounds.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the leading chronic liver disease in children and adolescents; this parallels the global obesity epidemic. The contribution of genetic susceptibility to pediatric MASLD, and its interaction with anthropometric and biochemical indices used for non-invasive screening remains poorly understood. We aimed to evaluate waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) as a simple, equitable, and scalable tool for early identification of pediatric MASLD and relate this to genetic risk. METHODS: We combined school-based data from 1010 Chinese children with analyses of the Global Burden of Disease, the 1000 Genomes Project, and the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Thirteen MASLD-related single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped to construct a genetic risk score (GRS). We examined global epidemiological patterns, quantified inter-population allele divergence, and assessed how GRS modifies cutoffs and performance of nine anthropometric and biochemical indices. RESULTS: Genetic analysis revealed minimal frequency divergence across most ancestries (mean Fixation index < 0.05), except for the African ancestry where there was moderate divergence. Higher GRS were associated with lower cutoffs across indices. When GRS Z-score increased from -3 to 3, visceral adiposity index showed the sharpest changes (Z-score decreased from 1.5 to -1.8), while BFP (1.2 to 0.1) and WHtR (1.5 to 0.1) showed gradual change. Furthermore, incorporating GRS into the base anthropometric models yielded only marginal improvements in overall screening performance [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and Youden Index]. Validation in NHANES showed WHtR ≥ 0.48 retained high discrimination (AUC > 0.87) across most genetic variants. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that WHtR is a consistent and practical tool for screening pediatric patients with MASLD across diverse populations. While genetic variation may influence optimal thresholds, WHtR ≥ 0.48 appears broadly applicable, supporting its potential use as a frontline screening metric in diverse settings.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Global epidemiology of diabetes and prediabetes in lean or non-obese patients with NAFLD: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The presence of diabetes increases the risk of adverse outcomes of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) even in those with lean or non-obese NAFLD. However, the epidemiological data regarding the prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes in lean or non-obese NAFLD populations remain limited. We assessed the global epidemiology of diabetes and prediabetes in lean or non-obese patients with NAFLD. METHODS: Published studies were searched in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases from the inception of the databases to October 2024. The pooled global prevalence of diabetes or prediabetes in patients with NAFLD was evaluated using random-effects meta-analysis. Subgroup meta-analysis and meta-regression were used to investigate potential sources of heterogeneity. RESULTS: A total of 54 studies involving 146,714 patients with non-obese or lean NAFLD were included. The pooled global prevalence of diabetes among patients with lean or non-obese NAFLD was 15.6% (95% CI 10.8%-22.7%). Studies from South America reported the highest prevalence (41.3%, CI 39.1%-43.5%). Meta-regression models showed that geographic region and mean age (p < 0.05) were associated with the were associated with the prevalence of diabetes, jointly accounting for 51.61% of the heterogeneity. The global prevalence of prediabetes among patients with lean or non-obese NAFLD was 22.9% (95% CI 12.5%-41.9%) with the highest prevalence reported in studies from Europe (34.4%, CI 23.0%-51.4%). Meta-regression models showed that geographic region and country (p < 0.05) were associated with the prevalence of prediabetes, jointly accounting for 73.65% of the heterogeneity. CONCLUSION: The pooled global prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes were 15.6% and 22.9% in lean or non-obese patients with NAFLD, respectively. These findings suggest the importance of diabetes screening in these patients.

Humans↗

PubMed2006

A novel polypeptide from Cervus nippon Temminck proliferation of epidermal cells and NIH3T3 cell line.

A novel polypeptide, velvet antler polypeptide (VAPPs), having a stimulary effect on proliferation of some cell was isolated from the velvet antler of sika deer (Cervus nippon Temminck). This polypeptide consists of a single chain of 32 amino-acid residues VLSAT DKTNV LAAWG KVGGN APAFG AEALE RM. VAPPs showed marked stimulary effect on rat epidermal cells and NIH3T3 cell line (dose range from 10-40 mg x L(-1) and 5-80 mg x L(-1), respectively).

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2006

Dynamic analysis of optimality in myocardial energy metabolism under normal and ischemic conditions.

To better understand the dynamic regulation of optimality in metabolic networks under perturbed conditions, we reconstruct the energetic-metabolic network in mammalian myocardia using dynamic flux balance analysis (DFBA). Additionally, we modified the optimal objective from the maximization of ATP production to the minimal fluctuation of the profile of metabolite concentration under ischemic conditions, extending the hypothesis of original minimization of metabolic adjustment to create a composite modeling approach called M-DFBA. The simulation results are more consistent with experimental data than are those of the DFBA model, particularly the retentive predominant contribution of fatty acid to oxidative ATP synthesis, the exact mechanism of which has not been elucidated and seems to be unpredictable by the DFBA model. These results suggest that the systemic states of metabolic networks do not always remain optimal, but may become suboptimal when a transient perturbation occurs. This finding supports the relevance of our hypothesis and could contribute to the further exploration of the underlying mechanism of dynamic regulation in metabolic networks.

Computer Simulation↗

PubMed2006

Systematic analysis of head-to-head gene organization: evolutionary conservation and potential biological relevance.

Several "head-to-head" (or "bidirectional") gene pairs have been studied in individual experiments, but genome-wide analysis of this gene organization, especially in terms of transcriptional correlation and functional association, is still insufficient. We conducted a systematic investigation of head-to-head gene organization focusing on structural features, evolutionary conservation, expression correlation and functional association. Of the present 1,262, 1,071, and 491 head-to-head pairs identified in human, mouse, and rat genomes, respectively, pairs with 1- to 400-base pair distance between transcription start sites form the majority (62.36%, 64.15%, and 55.19% for human, mouse, and rat,respectively) of each dataset, and the largest group is always the one with a transcription start site distance of 101 to 200 base pairs. The phylogenetic analysis among Fugu, chicken, and human indicates a negative selection on the separation of head-to-head genes across vertebrate evolution, and thus the ancestral existence of this gene organization. The expression analysis shows that most of the human head-to-head genes are significantly correlated,and the correlation could be positive, negative, or alternative depending on the experimental conditions. Finally, head to-head genes statistically tend to perform similar functions, and gene pairs associated with the significant cofunctions seem to have stronger expression correlations. The findings indicate that the head-to-head gene organization is ancient and conserved, which subjects functionally related genes to correlated transcriptional regulation and thus provides an exquisite mechanism of transcriptional regulation based on gene organization. These results have significantly expanded the knowledge about head-to-head gene organization. Supplementary materials for this study are available at http://www.scbit.org/h2h.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

In silico discovery of human natural antisense transcripts.

BACKGROUND: Several high-throughput searches for potential natural antisense transcripts (NATs) have been performed recently, but most of the reports were focused on cis type. A thorough in silico analysis of human transcripts will help expand our knowledge of NATs. RESULTS: We have identified 568 NATs from human RefSeq RNA sequences. Among them, 403 NATs are reported for the first time, and at least 157 novel NATs are trans type. According to the pairing region of a sense and antisense RNA pair, hNATs are divided into 6 classes, of which about 87% involve 5' or 3' UTR sequences, supporting the regulatory role of UTRs. Among a total of 535 NAT pairs related with splice variants, 77.4% (414/535) have their pairing regions affected or completely eliminated by alternative splicing, suggesting significant relationship of alternative splicing and antisense-directed regulation. The extensive occurrence of splice variants in hNATs and other multiple pairing patterns results in a one-to-many relationship, allowing the formation of complex regulation networks. Based on microarray data from Stanford Microarray Database, two hNAT pairs were found to display significant inverse expression patterns before and after insulin injection. CONCLUSION: NATs might carry out more extensive and complex functions than previously thought. Combined with endogenous micro RNAs, hNATs could be regarded as a special group of transcripts contributing to the complex regulation networks.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2006

Gene trapping techniques and current progress.

Gene trapping technique is a powerful method for gene cloning and analysis. A lot of genes with unknown functions have been discovered and characterized with the help of randomly inserted mutation libraries developed by gene trapping techniques. In this article, the origin and background of gene trapping technology are briefly introduced, and then the principles of typical gene trap vectors, current progress and new efficient gene trapping techniques are discussed in detail. Disadvantage and prospects of various gene trapping technologies are also discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Mycophenolic acid inhibits SLE-associated cytokine expression and promotes apoptosis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

AIM: To investigate the effect of the novel immunosuppressant mycophenolic acid (MPA) on cytokine production and apoptosis of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: The levels of IL-10, IL-12, IFN-gamma, sFas and sFasL in the supernatants of cultured PBMC from 41 SLE patients was determined by the ABC-ELISA method. The percentage of IFN-gamma(+)IL-10(-), IFN-gamma(-)IL-10(+), and IFN-gamma(+)IL-10(+) subsets in CD4+ cells were detected by three-color flow cytometry. The percentage of apoptotic Th cells was detected by AV-FITC/PI flow cytometry. Samples from 22 sex- and age-comparable healthy people were used as normal controls. RESULTS: The levels of IL-10, IL-12, and IFN-gamma were all significantly elevated in the supernatants of cultured PBMC from SLE samples, compared with normal controls. The enhanced productions of IL-10, IL-12, and IFN-gamma by PBMC from SLE both spontaneously and stimulated by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) were significantly reduced by MPA. The percentages of CD4(+)IFN-gamma(-)IL-10(+) and CD4(+)IFN-gamma(+)IL-10(+) cell subsets in cultured PBMC from SLE were significantly increased, but decreased when MPA was added into the culture. After being cultured in vitro for 48 h, the PBMC of SLE patients showed a higher secretion of sFasL as well as a higher percentage of apoptosis. MPA significantly increased the apoptotic percentage of SLE PBMC, but reduced the secretion of sFasL and sFas. CONCLUSION: MPA reduces the abnormal production of SLE-associated cytokines, such as IL-10, IL-12, and IFN-gamma; inhibits the increase of CD4(+)IFN-gamma(+)IL-10, CD4(+)IFN-gamma(-)IL-10(+) and CD4(+)IFN-gamma(+)IL-10(+) subset; and promotes the apoptosis of PBMC in SLE patients, which may be associated with the therapeutic mechanism of MPA for SLE.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Ultra-sensitive colorimetric method to quantitate hundreds of polynucleotide molecules by gold nanoparticles with silver enhancement.

An ultra-sensitive colorimetric method to quantitate hundreds of polynucleotide molecules by gold nanoparticles with silver enhancement has been developed. The hybridization products from the target polynucleotides with biotin-labeled probes and gold nanoparticle-functioned oligonucleotides were immobilized to microplates via avidin-biotin system, and the absorbance signals of gold nanoparticles were amplified by silver enhance solution. This sandwich colorimetric assay can detect as few as 600 molecules for single-strand oligonucleotides and as few as 6000 molecules for double-strand polynucleotides in a 50 microL reaction system.

Avidin↗

PubMed2006

[Fluorescence spectrum of cesium vapor resonantly excited by the 852.3 nm laser line].

The fluorescence spectrum of cesium vapor was studied in a cell irradiated with the light of 852.3 nm resonance line from a single mode laser diode. From the intensities and spectra of the Cs and Cs2 fluorescence we identified several collisional and radiative processes in the excited cesium atom-dimer system. The atomic lines of the highly excited states were the result of collisional energy transfer from Cs(6P 3/2) + Cs(6P 3/2) to Cs(6D, 8S) atoms. The Cs2 (B 1 IIu) band formed in Cs (6P) + Cs2 (X1sigmag+) collisions. The fine-structure mixing in 6 2P atoms was studied through excitation transfer, energy-pooling collision, and collisional excitation transfer between Cs2 and Cs. The authors estimated the value of rate coefficient for the collisional energy transfer from 6P3/2 to 6P1/2 to be (5.2+/-2.1) x 10(-11) cm3 x s(-1). For the excitation transfer process Cs2 (B 1 IIu)+ Cs(6S)--> Cs2 (X 1sigmag+) + Cs(6P1/2 ), a rate coefficient of (1.0+/-0.4) x 10(-9) cm3 x s(-1) was yielded.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2005

KDE Bioscience: platform for bioinformatics analysis workflows.

Bioinformatics is a dynamic research area in which a large number of algorithms and programs have been developed rapidly and independently without much consideration so far of the need for standardization. The lack of such common standards combined with unfriendly interfaces make it difficult for biologists to learn how to use these tools and to translate the data formats from one to another. Consequently, the construction of an integrative bioinformatics platform to facilitate biologists' research is an urgent and challenging task. KDE Bioscience is a java-based software platform that collects a variety of bioinformatics tools and provides a workflow mechanism to integrate them. Nucleotide and protein sequences from local flat files, web sites, and relational databases can be entered, annotated, and aligned. Several home-made or 3rd-party viewers are built-in to provide visualization of annotations or alignments. KDE Bioscience can also be deployed in client-server mode where simultaneous execution of the same workflow is supported for multiple users. Moreover, workflows can be published as web pages that can be executed from a web browser. The power of KDE Bioscience comes from the integrated algorithms and data sources. With its generic workflow mechanism other novel calculations and simulations can be integrated to augment the current sequence analysis functions. Because of this flexible and extensible architecture, KDE Bioscience makes an ideal integrated informatics environment for future bioinformatics or systems biology research.

Biological Science Disciplines↗

PubMed2005

Rapid and highly sensitive determination of trace proteins using dibromomethyl carboxyazo-Pb(II) complex as a spectroscopic reagent.

BACKGROUND: The concentration of protein in body fluids is an important measure in disease diagnosis and in analytical biochemistry. Searching for a sensitive and rapid method for proteins is an ongoing subject of investigation. We describe the reaction of dibromomethyl carboxyazo-Pb(II) with proteins found in urine. METHODS: In a buffer containing of HCl and KCl at pH 1.80, dibromomethyl carboxyazo-Pb(II) complex combined with proteins to form a colored compound. The reaction was completed in 2 min and remained stable for 80 min. Under optimum conditions, the product of reaction between protein and dibromomethyl carboxyazo-Pb(II) absorbed at 530 nm and was linear in the range of 0-50 microg/ml of BSA. Moreover, the maximum binding number was defined to express the binding ability of dibromomethyl carboxyazo-Pb(II) to protein under a given set of conditions. RESULTS: The method was applied to the determination of urine proteins. The recovery of protein from human urine was 97.6-103% and the precision was <4.8%. Results compared favorably to the Biuret and Bradford protein methods on 50 urine samples. CONCLUSIONS: This method had high sensitivity and specificity and may be applicable to clinical analysis.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Expression of mucins and E-cadherin in gastric carcinoma and their clinical significance.

AIM: To investigate the expression of three types of mucin (MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC) and E-cadherin in human gastric carcinomas and their clinical significance. METHODS: Ninety-four gastric cancer specimens were classified according to WHO criteria and detected by immunohistochemical assay of expression of mucins and E-cadherin. RESULTS: The positive expression rates of MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC and E-cadherin were 82% (77/94), 84% (79/94), 40% (38/94) and 56% (53/94) respectively. MUC1 expression was significantly correlated with the types of cancer (the positive rates of MUC1 in well and moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, signet-ring cell carcinoma and mucinous carcinoma were 91%, 87%, 71%, 71%, respectively, P<0.05), age of patients (the positive rates of it among the people who are younger than 40 years, between 40-60 years and over 60 year were 74%, 81%, 89%, P<0.05), lymph nodes involvement (the positive rates in the non-interfered group and the interfered group were 78%, 85%, P<0.05) and tumor size (the positive rates in the tumors with the size less than 3 cm, 3-6 cm and larger than 6 cm were 69%, 92%, 69%, P<0.05); MUC2 expression was significantly associated with types of cancers and had the strongest expression in mucinous carcinomas(the positive rates of MUC2 in well and moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, signet-ring cell carcinoma and mucinous carcinoma were 94%, 70%, 81%, 100%, P<0.05), but it had no obvious relation to age, gender, tumor location, lymph nodes involvement, depth of invasion and metastasis to extra-gastric organs (P>0.05); MUC5AC expression was not related to any of the characteristics investigated except that it had relation to gender, whereas MUC5AC showed the tendency to higher expression in less invasive lesions and lower expression in advanced stage cancers (P>0.05); No significant difference was found for E-cadherin expression. There were strong positive relationships between the expression of MUC1 and E-cadherin, MUC2 and E-cadherin, MUC1 and MUC2 (R = 0.33, R = 0.22, R = 0.32, respectively, P<0.05). According to the COX proportional hazards model, older patients, involvement of lymph nodes, different types of gastric cancer and MUC2 expression were significantly associated with poorer outcome of gastric carcinoma patients (beta = 0.08, beta = 3.94, beta = 1.33, beta = 0.75, respectively, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: MUC1 and MUC2 are good markers of different types of gastric cancer. MUC2 is especially a good marker of mucinous carcinoma. MUC1, MUC2 may interfere with the function of E-cadherin in gastric carcinomas, and have synergic effect on progression of gastric cancers.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2004

Polymorphisms in the DNA repair gene XPD and susceptibility to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Polymorphisms of the nucleotide excision repair gene XPD are candidates for influencing cancer susceptibility. To determine the effect of XPD genetic polymorphisms on the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its interaction with carcinogen exposure, XPD polymorphisms at codon 312 (Asp-->Asn) and codon 751 (Lys-->Gln) were determined in 135 ESCC patients and 152 normal controls. Polymorphism at codon 312 made no contribution to genetic risk for ESCC. Our results showed that there was a significant difference between frequencies for XPD 751 Gln/Gln genotype in ESCC patients (8.9%) and normal cases (1.3%), and that Gln/Gln genotype was associated with an increased risk of ESCC (odds ratio [OR] = 6.71; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.90-23.73). The results of the logistic regression model showed that XPD 751 Gln/Gln genotype and drinking were candidates for influencing the risk of ESCC. Among smokers, the risk of ESCC in XPD 751 Gln/Gln genotype increased 8-fold than that XPD 751 Lys/Lys genotype (OR = 8.42, 95% CI: 1.02-69.58). The results indicated that XPD 751 Gln/Gln genotype may be contributing factors in the risk of ESCC and may modify risk attributable to environmental exposures.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Telomerase activity and expression of telomerase genes in squamous dysplasia and squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.

BACKGROUND: Telomerase maintains telomere length and is considered to be necessary for the indefinite proliferation of human cells. Activation of telomerase plays a key role in the malignant transformation process. The aim of this study was to study the regulation of telomerase, and to explore the possibility of telomerase as a biomarker in squamous carcinogenesis of the esophagus. METHODS: Twenty-nine esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCC) and its corresponding adjacent normal tissues, and 47 epithelial squamous dysplasia tissues were analyzed by the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique for the mRNA expression of three major telomerase subunits: human telomerase RNA (hTR), telomerase protein component 1 (TP1), and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and by telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay (TRAP) for telomerase activity. RESULTS: For the expression of hTR and TP1 mRNA, there were no significant differences among ESCC, dysplasia and normal tissues (P > 0.05). In contrast, hTERT mRNA expression was detected in 28 of 29 ESCC (96.6%), in 23 of 47 dysplasia (48.9%), and only in two of 29 normal tissues (7.5%). Telomerase activity was positive in 25 of 29 ESCC (86.2%), in 21 of 47 (44.7%) epithelial dysplasia tissues, and in none of normal tissue. All together, 95 of 105 cases (90.48%) were concordant for both results, i.e., telomerase activity positive and hTERT positive or telomerase activity negative and hTERT negative tissues, and telomerase activity correlated with hTERT mRNA expression (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Higher telomerase activity and hTERT mRNA expression were shown during an early stage in the esophageal carcinogenesis. Activation of telomerase activity was strongly correlated with hTERT mRNA expression, suggesting hTERT is a major regulator of telomerase activity, and telomerase activation may play a critical role in esophageal carcinogenesis. Therefore, telomerase, especially hTERT can be used as a potential molecular biomarker of ESCC.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

PubMed2004

Development of an exonuclease protection mediated PCR bioassay for sensitive detection of Ah receptor agonists.

The aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that mediates many of the biological and toxicological effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD, dioxin) and related chemicals. Here we developed a novel method to detect the presence of AhR ligands using Exonuclease Protection Mediated PCR bioassay (EPM-PCR). This assay measures the ability of a chemical to activate AhR DNA binding in vitro. In the presence of AhR ligand, an expected length PCR product was observed on electrophoresis, but no signal was detected in the absence of ligand. Real-time quantitative PCR was performed to quantify DNA bound to ligand:AhR complex. We obtained a standard curve with TCDD concentration to bound DNA copies in the range of 0.01 pM-10 nM of TCDD. Minimal detection limit of the assay was below 0.01 pM TCDD, and the whole detection time was less than 5 h. In comparison to the chemical-activated luciferase gene expression (CALUX) bioassay, EPM-PCR bioassay is more sensitive and easier to perform. These results suggest that this assay is useful for detection and quantification of TCDD and related AhR ligands in a cell-free system without the use of radioactivity.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

DNA repair gene XRCC1 polymorphisms, smoking, and esophageal cancer risk.

To investigate the effect of X-ray repair cross complementing 1 (XRCC1) genetic polymorphisms on esophageal cancer risk, we determined XRCC1 polymorphisms at codon 194 (Arg --> Trp) and codon 399 (Arg --> Gln) in 135 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and 152 normal controls from hospitals. Although polymorphism at codon 194 was not associated with risk for ESCC, we found that the frequency of XRCC1 399 Gln/Gln genotype in ESCC patients (14.1%) was significantly higher than that in normal controls (3.3%), and that XRCC1 399 Gln/Gln genotype was associated with an increased risk of ESCC (odds ratio (OR) = 5.15, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.42-0.93). In addition, we found that the risk for smoker increased 4.2-fold than non-smokers in the 399 Gln/Gln genotype (OR = 4.20, 95% CI: 2.37-7.44). These results suggest that XRCC1 399 Gln/Gln genotype may contribute to the risk of ESCC and modify risk associated with smoking.

Age Distribution↗

PubMed2004

Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in human esophageal cancer and in vitro inhibition by a specific COX-2 inhibitor, NS-398.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present paper was to study the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in normal squamous epithelium, squamous dysplasia and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the esophagus, to elucidate the role of COX-2 in esophageal carcinogenesis, and to evaluate the in vitro effect and mechanism of a COX-2 inhibitor, NS-398, in inducing growth inhibition and apoptosis of human esophageal cancer cells. METHODS: Biopsy specimens of esophageal dysplasia (n = 21), and surgical resections of SCC (n = 37) were compared with normal esophagus (n = 37) and analyzed by RT-PCR. Human esophageal cells were used for the study. Anti-proliferative effect was measured by MTT, apoptosis was determined by DNA fragmentation assay. RESULTS: Marked COX-2 expression was shown in SCC and esophageal squamous dysplasia, and no marked COX-2 expression was observed in the normal squamous epithelium, respectively. NS-398 could inhibit esophageal cells growth in a dose-dependent manner, induce apoptosis, and elevate caspase-3 activity in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that COX-2 is upregulated in the majority of cases of squamous dysplasia and SCC of esophagus, and that NS-398 can inhibit growth and induce apoptosis via activating caspase-3 activity in vitro. These results suggest that selective inhibitors of COX-2 may be an effective preventive and therapeutic option for esophageal carcinoma.

Apoptosis↗