MicroRNAs are important regulators during human growth and development. Emerging evidence indicates that microRNAs play important roles in colorectal cancer. The aim of this study is to reveal the biological function and direct target gene of miR-483 in colorectal cancer. The biological function of miR-483 on the proliferation and migration of colon cancer cells was then examined by Edu assay and transwell assay, respectively. Our findings revealed that miR-483 mimic could significantly inhibit cell proliferation and migration. The target gene of miR-483 was predicted by target scan software and identified by a dual fluorescence reporter system which showed that TRAF1 was a direct target gene of miR-483 in SW480 cell line. These data suggest that miR-483 is a colorectal cancer suppressor which could inhibit cell proliferation and migration, possibly via targeting TRAF1. The miR-483 could be a potential treatment target for colorectal cancer.

Phosphoprotein enriched in astrocytes 15 (PEA-15) plays an important role in controlling biological behaviors of cancer cells. In the present study, we demonstrated that PEA-15 was overexpressed in gastric cancer tissues and associated with tumor staging, differentiation, pathological types and the prognosis of patients. Gastric cancer cells expressed variable levels of PEA-15 and its bi-phosphorylation forms, p-PEA-15 (Ser104) and p-PEA-15 (Ser116). To gain insight into the functional role of PEA-15, we generated cells stably depleted of PEA-15 and resistant to cisplatin (CDDP) from human gastric cancer cells. PEA-15 depletion inhibited cell proliferation by reducing cyclin D1 expression through the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway, resulting in cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase, and induced apoptosis by activating caspase-8. PEA-15 depletion also enhanced the inhibitory effect of CDDP that caused cell cycle arrest at the S phase and also enhanced the pro-apoptotic activity of CDDP in vitro and in animal models of tumorigenesis and therapeutic effects. PEA-15 and its phosphorylated forms were overexpressed in CDDP-resistant cells, which had higher levels of p-AKT. Specific inhibition of AKT by MK2206 reduced the expression of p-PEA-15 at the Ser116 residue, resulting in sequential downregulation of p-ERK1/2, cyclin D1 and caspase-8 activation. However, depletion of PEA-15 had little effect on AKT expression or phosphorylation, or its downstream factors including p27, glycogen synthase kinase 3β and caspase-9, indicating that the regulatory effects between PEA-15 and AKT were unidirectional. In summary, the results indicated that PEA-15 expression was associated with clinicopathology and prognosis in gastric cancer and was regulated by AKT to participate in CDDP resistance, indicating that it may be a potential target for overcoming CDDP resistance in the treatment of gastric cancer.

The present study suggests that gastric lymphoma and suspected gastric lymphoma have similar clinical features. Gastric lymphoma presented mainly as macroscopic ulcerative lesions, whereas suspected gastric lymphoma appeared mainly as infiltrative lesions. Although the diagnostic rate of gastric lymphoma was relatively low (21%), it can be identified by endoscopy (60%). To improve diagnosis, repetitive endoscopic biopsies should be performed and novel endoscopic techniques developed in the future.

BackgroundA retrospective study was performed to assess the causes, diagnostic methods for, and clinical features of, jejunoileal hemorrhage in Shandong province, China and to derive recommendations for management of this condition from these data.MethodsWe performed a retrospective systematic collection of data from between January 1999 and December 2008 in seven cities in Shandong province, China, identified 72 patients with jejunoileal hemorrhage and analyzed the relevant clinical data.ResultsOverall, tumors were the most common cause of jejunoileal hemorrhage (42 patients, 58.3%). The causes of this condition were significantly different (P < 0.05) in male and female patients. In male patients, the commonest factors were tumor (52.2%), enteritis (17.4%) and angiopathy (15.2%). However, in female patients, tumors accounted for a greater proportion of cases (18/26, 69.2%). In 38 cases (52.8%) the diagnosis was made by intraoperative enteroscopy or laparotomy, in 14 by capsule endoscopy and in the remainder by radiological methods. The most frequent presentation was melena (62.7%), followed by maroon stools (26.9%) and hematochezia (9.0%). Of the 72 patients,laparotomy is the main treatment method.ConclusionTumor, enteritis and angiopathy and diverticular disease are the most common causes of jejunoileal hemorrhage in Shandong province, China. The main clinical manifestations are bloody stools, most commonly in the form of melena, with or without abdominal pain. We recommend that female patients over the age of 40 with jejunoileal hemorrhage accompanied by abdominal pain should undergo urgent further assessment because of the strong probability of jejunoileal tumor.