No abstract

Background: NDRG2 (N-Myc downstream-regulated gene 2) was initially cloned in our laboratory. Previous results have shown that NDRG2 expressed differentially in normal and cancer tissues. Specifically, NDRG2 mRNA was downregulated or undetectable in several human cancers, and over-expression of NDRG2 inhibited the proliferation of cancer cells. NDRG2 also exerts important functions in cell differentiation and tumor suppression. However, it remains unclear whether NDRG2 participates in carcinogenesis of the thyroid.

OM attenuated hepatic fibrosis by inhibiting viability and inducing apoptosis of HSCs. The RGD-labeled formulation enhanced the targeting efficiency for HSCs and the therapeutic effect.

No abstract

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between longitudinal changes in macular thickness measurements from OCT and changes in central visual field (VF) in patients with glaucoma with central or advanced damage at baseline.Design: Longitudinal cohort study.Participants: A total of 116 eyes with !3 years of follow-up and !5 macular OCT images and central 10 VF tests were selected.Methods: OCT superpixels and VF locations were matched correcting for retinal ganglion cell (RGC) displacement. Superpixel thickness and VF total deviation (TD) values, in both logarithmic and linear scales, were averaged within 3 eccentricities (3.4 , 5.6 , and 6.8 ) and superior and inferior hemiretinas and hemifields. We estimated pointwise TD rates of change and rates of change at superpixels for full macular thickness (FMT), ganglion cell complex (GCC), ganglion cell inner plexiform layer (GCIPL), and ganglion cell layer (GCL). Correlation of structureefunction (SF) rates of change was investigated with parametric tests. We compared the proportion of worsening and positive slopes for superpixels and VF test locations (negative vs. positive rates of change with P < 0.05) throughout the follow-up period. Permutation analyses were used to control specificity.Main Outcome Measures: Magnitude of correlation between structural and functional rates of change and proportion of worsening and positive slopes as a function of follow-up time.Results: The median (interquartile range) follow-up and number of exams were 4.2 (3.7e4.6) years and 8 (7e9), respectively. The highest correlation of change rates was observed at 3.4 and 5.6 eccentricities (r ¼ 0.24, 0.41, 0.40, and 0.40 for FMT, GCC, GCIPL, and GCL for 3.4 eccentricity and r ¼ 0.28, 0.32, 0.31, and 0.32 for FMT, GCC, GCIPL, and GCL for 5.6 eccentricity, respectively). Although GCC measures demonstrated the highest overall longitudinal SF correlations, the differences were not statistically significant. Significant structural worsening was more frequently detected than functional deterioration at 3-and 5-year time points (P < 0.025). Permutation analyses also confirmed this finding.Conclusions: Correlations between central structural and functional rates of change were weak to fair in this cohort. Structural changes were detected more frequently than functional changes. Measurements of both structure and function are required for optimal detection of central progression.