Kidney and liver are the major organs of erythropoietin (Epo) synthesis. However, Epo messenger RNA (mRNA) has been detected in several organs, such as brain, lung, and testis. Furthermore, functional Epo receptors have been demonstrated on different cell types, including rat Leydig cells. The aim of the study was to identify testicular cells expressing Epo mRNA and to quantitate its levels by ...

PURPOSE Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) was related to invasion and metastasis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. This study was designed to investigate the role of EphA2 in VM formation of HNSCC. METHODS The SiRNA technique was used to knock down the expression of EphA2 in vitro. The ability of cell migration and invasion were measured by transwell and wound healing assays;...

In situ PCR is a technique that allows specific nucleic acid sequences to be detected in individual cells and tissues. In situ PCR and IS-RT-PCR are elegant techniques that can increase both sensitivity and throughput, but they are, at best, only semiquantitative; therefore, it is desirable first to ascertain the expression pattern by conventional means to establish the suitable conditions for ...

Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) is positive in approximately 75% of all patients with neuroendocrine gastroenteropancreatic tumours. This study aimed to identify specific somatostatin receptor (sstr) subtypes, which are responsible for the in vivo binding of the widely used somatostatin analogue, octreotide in human neuroendocrine gastroenteropancreatic tumours. Twelve patients underwe...

BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to elucidate gene expression and immunolocalization of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) and human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) family in the human ovary during luteal growth and regression. METHODS Ovaries obtained from pre-menopausal women were used for immunohistochemistry and semiquantitative RT-PCR ana...

OBJECTIVE In the present study we analyzed the pattern of pendrin (PDS) and sodium/iodide symporter (NIS) gene expression in some thyroid carcinoma cell lines and a series of thyroid tumoral tissues. METHODS Total RNA was extracted from all cell lines and from 53 tissues, and gene expression was examined by RT-PCR. Semiquantitative 'multiplex' RT-PCR was used to assess variations in PDS gene ...

In order to increase our understanding of the immunological basis of erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL), we studied Th-like cytokine profiles in 130 leprosy patients, employing both the conventional and a novel, real-time, fluorogenic reverse transcriptase-based PCR (RT-PCR). The concomitant expression of both Th-like cytokines, interferon-gamma and IL-4, and the regulatory cytokines, IL-10 and IL...

Aegle marmelos, is a medicinal plant from India, used for treating cancer-related symptoms in the Indian system of medicine. Its leaf, root, bark, seed and fruits are valued highly as Ayurvedic medicine. In the present study, the active fraction of Aegle marmelos was found to induce apoptosis in Hep G2 cells through NFκB deactivation followed by activation of proapoptotic factor p53. To evaluat...

BACKGROUND Heat-shock protein A2 (HspA2) is correlated with sperm maturity, function and fertility, and a dysfunctional expression of such a gene results in abnormal spermatogenesis. The purpose of this study was to compare HspA2 gene expression in spermatozoa from oligozoospermic men and normozoospermic controls. METHODS Semen was obtained and analysed according to World Health Organization ...