Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a species of RNAs with covalently closed loop structure and are widely expressed in eukaryocyte. Consisting of exons and/or introns, circRNAs are generated during the process of RNA splicing and are found to be relatively stable. evolutionally conserved and tissue/cell-specific. A few studies have indicated that circRNAs may participate in the RNARNA regulation network or RNA-protein complex formation and thus are involved in a diversity of diseases. including cancer. Here we reviewed the currently available outcomes and progress of researches concerning circRNAs and the potential relationship between diseases and circRNAs.

Fusion between the transmembrane protease serine 2 and v-ets erythroblastosis virus E26 oncogene homolog (TMPRSS2-ERG fusion) is a common genetic alteration in prostate cancer among Western populations and has been suggested as playing a role in tumorigenesis and progression of prostate cancer. However, the prevalence of TMPRSS2-ERG fusion differs among different ethnic groups, and contradictory results have been reported in Asian patients. We aim to evaluate the prevalence and significance of TMPRSS2-ERG fusion as a molecular subtyping and prognosis indicator of prostate cancer in Asians. We identified the fusion status in 669 samples from prostate biopsy and radical prostatectomy by fluorescence in situ hybridization and/or immunohistochemistry in China. We examined the association of TMPRSS2-ERG fusion with clinicopathological characteristics and biochemical recurrence by Chi-square test and Kaplan-Meier analysis. Finally, a systematic review was performed to investigate the positive rate of the fusion in Asian prostate cancer patients. McNemar's test was employed to compare the positive rates of TMPRSS2-ERG fusion detected using different methods. The positive rates of TMPRSS2-ERG fusion were 16% in our samples and 27% in Asian patients. In our samples, 9.4% and 19.3% of cases were recognized as fusion positive by fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, respectively. No significant association between the fusion and clinical parameters was observed. TMPRSS2-ERG fusion is not a frequent genomic alteration among Asian prostate cancer patients and has limited significance in clinical practices in China. Besides ethnic difference, detection methods potentially influence the results showing a positive rate of TMPRSS2-ERG fusion.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Chinese herbs for nourishing Shen-yin and removing Xiang-fire (NYRF) on estrogen receptor (ER) expression in uterus and ovary of rats contaminated with nonylphenol (NP) or its bisphenol A (BPA) mixture, for exploring the action mechanism of NYRF in antagonizing the estrogen-mimetic activity of environmental endocrine disruptors (EEDs).

METHODSEEDs contaminated female SD rats, 3-week old, were divided into two groups, the treated group fed with NYRF and the control group with corn oil during the same period of contaminating for 15 days. The wet weight (WW) and organ coefficient (OC) of uterus in rats, as well as the ER protein and mRNA expressions in rat's uterus and ovary were detected and compared.

RESULTSAs compared with normal range, WW and OC increased significantly in the contaminated rats of the control group, with significantly down-regulated ER protein expression in uterus, and expressions of ER alpha and ER beta gene and protein in ovary (P<0.05). While in the treated group, the above-mentioned abnormalities of various indicators were markedly reversed to a certain extent (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONEEDs show estrogenic-mimetic action on productive organs, which could be antagonized by NYRF, resulting in the down-regulated mRNA and protein expressions of ER in reproductive organs, so as to reduce the sensibility of reproductive organs to EEDs, which is probably one of the acting mechanisms of NYRF.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Endocrine Disruptors ; toxicity ; Female ; Ovary ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Estrogen ; metabolism ; Uterus ; drug effects ; metabolism

OBJECTIVESTo explore MICM classification and adverse prognostic factors in adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

METHODSThe MICM classification, clinical characteristics of 80 adolescents with ALL admitted to our hospital from January 1998 to December 2002 were retrospectively analyzed. Survival data were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and the prognostic factors were analyzed with the COX regression model.

RESULTSIn the 80 patients, B-ALL and T-ALL accounted for 69.12% and 26.47%, respectively. The percentage of Ph(+)ALL was 18.37% (9/49), and that of hyperdiploidy was 4.08%. Patients at diagnosis with high leukocyte counts (> 50 x 10(9)/L) accounted for 27.94%. Among the 78 cases treated with VDP(L) or CODP(L) regimens, 73 (91.03%) obtained CR in 4 weeks. After a median follow-up of 24 months, the estimated 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates of patients receiving chemotherapy or allo-HSCT were (32.55 +/- 16.50)% and (69.58 +/- 8.72)%, respectively (P < 0.05). In COX analysis, high initial leukocyte counts (> 50 x 10(9)/L) and Philadelphia chromosome positivity were adverse prognostic factors for long-term survival.

CONCLUSIONSMICM classification has important clinical and prognostic significance in the risk-directed therapy of adolescents with ALL. The adverse prognostic features for these patients were high leukocyte counts, less incidence of chromosome hyperdiploidy and Ph chromosome positivity.

Adolescent ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Karyotyping ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; classification ; genetics ; therapy ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo retrospectively analysis the treatment characteristics of the systemic situation in patients with crush syndrome after Wenchuan earthquake happened in May 12th, 2008.

METHODSForty-nine patients with crush syndrome and subsequent acute renal failure (ARF) due to the earthquake were treated in West China Hospital. All of patients had been rescued from buildings that collapsed in Wenchuan earthquake. The major associated injuries were in the low extremities and upper extremities. 49 patients developed ARF with increased concentrations of serum creatinine (mean 64 022 U/L) had underwent haemodialysis. Hyperkalaemia was seen in 9 patients and four of them underwent haemodialysis. 49 patients were administered hemodialysis.

RESULTSNo patient died. All patients who suffered from the ARF were weaned from hemodialysis after admitted 7 to 35 days. Forty-five extremities underwent amputations and 52 extremities had fasciotomy.

CONCLUSIONSCrush syndrome requires urgent recognition and prompt surgical treatment with simultaneous measures to control hyperkalemia and ARF. The authors believe that immediate intensive care therapy and multi-subjective coordination would have improved the survival rate.

Acute Kidney Injury ; etiology ; surgery ; therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Amputation ; Child ; Crush Syndrome ; etiology ; surgery ; therapy ; Decompression, Surgical ; Earthquakes ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Renal Replacement Therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Wounds and Injuries ; complications

OBJECTIVETo analyze the outcome of the patients with gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST) after surgical treatment and identify the associated risk factors.

METHODSClinical data and the tissue slices including immunohistochemistry staining of 140 patients with gastric GIST from January 1990 to December 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. SPSS 16.0 for Windows software package was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTSThe overall survival rates of 1-, 3-, 5-year were 96.8%, 86.7% and 79.3%, respectively. The survival rates of 1-, 3-, 5-year were 98.1%, 90.0% and 85.4% in patients who underwent complete tumor resection. But the survival rates of 1-, 3-, 5-year were 38.1%, 0 and 0 in patients with incomplete tumor resection. The differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Gender, preoperative metastasis, tumor size,pathology type,karyokinesis, recurrence and metastasis were associated with survival rates in patients with complete tumor resection by univariate analysis. However, only tumor size, karyokinesis, recurrence and metastasis were associated with survival rates by Cox regression multivariable analysis(P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSurgery remains the main treatment for gastric GIST. Local complete resection is the principal treatment.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the molecular risk factors of lymph node metastasis in stage T1 and T2 colorectal cancers by tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry techniques.

METHODSTwo hundred and three patients with stage T1 and T2 colorectal carcinoma who underwent radical surgery from 1999 to 2010 in our department were included in this study. Their clinicopathological data were retrospectively analyzed. Expression of the following 14 molecular markers were selected and assayed by tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry: VEGFR-3, HER2, CD44v6, CXCR4, TIMP-1, EGFR, IGF-1R, IGF-2, IGFBP-1, ECAD, MMP-9, RKIP, CD133, MSI. Chi-squared test and logistic regression were used to evaluate the variables as potential risk factors for lymph node metastasis.

RESULTSThe positive expression rates of biomarkers were as following: VEGFR-3 (44.3%), EGFR (30.5%), HER-2 (28.1%), IGF-1R (63.5%), IGF-2 (44.8%), IGFBP-1 (70.9%), ECAD (45.8%), CD44v6 (51.2%), MMP-9 (44.3%), TIMP-1 (41.4%), RKIP (45.3%), CXCR4 (40.9%), and CD133 (49.8%). The positive rate of MSI expression was 22.2%. Both univariate and multivariate analyses showed that VEGFR-3, HER-2, and TIMP-1 were significant predictors of lymph node metastasis. Univariate analysis showed that CD44v6 and CXCR4 were significant significant predictors of lymph node metastasis.

CONCLUSIONSVEGFR-3, HER2 and TIMP-1 are independent factors for lymph node metastasis in stage T1 and T2 colorectal cancers.

Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Colonic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Hyaluronan Receptors ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Microsatellite Instability ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; metabolism ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; metabolism ; Rectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo analyze the effects of surgical treatment for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and influential factors of survival.

METHODSThe clinical data and the tissue slices including immunohistochemical staining of 153 cases of GISTs from January 1990 to March 2006 were rechecked retrospectively. All patients were followed up carefully. More attention was paid to the surgical effects and the influential factors of survival.

RESULTSThe overall survival rates at 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-year were 94.9%, 83.3%, 73.3%, 70.5% and 64.3%, respectively. The median survival time for patients with tumor resected completely was 66.0 months, and the 2- and 5-year survival rate were 89.4% and 70.9% respectively. The median survival time was 23.8 months for the patients with tumor resected partly, and only two of these patients survived over 2 years. Gender, tumor sites, preoperative metastasis, tumor size, pathological type, karyokinesis and recurrence and metastasis were related with survival rates for the patients with tumor resected completely on univariate analysis, but tumor size, pathology type, recurrence and metastasis were related with survival rates on Cox regression multivariate analysis (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSurgery should still be the main therapy for GISTs. Local complete resection is the principal treatment. The survival cannot be improved by extensive resection and lymph nodes clearance.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; metabolism ; mortality ; surgery ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

Objective: To evaluate the effects of CYP2C19 genetic polymorphism on the plasma concentration of voriconazole in patients with hematological disease and the value of serial monitoring plasma concentrations in the treatment and prevention of invasive fungal disease (IFD). Methods: From January 2016 to December 2016, 65 hematological patients who received voriconazole intravenous administration for the treatment of invasive fungal disease were enrolled in this study. The population CYP2C19 polymorphism of voriconazole were performed using PCR-Pyrosequencing. The trough plasma concentrations of vriconazole (C_trough) was detected by ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Results: Based on the genotype analysis, 65 subjects were identified as extensive metabolizers' group (30 cases) and poor metabolizers' group (35 cases). The C_trough of the 65 patients were detected for 169 times totally, and there was a significant difference of C_trough values between the two groups [0.98(0.38-2.08) mg/L vs 2.19(1.53-4.27) mg/L, z=10.286, P<0.001]. The medium of C_trough in 65 hematological patients were described. Lack of response to therapy was more frequent in patients with voriconazole levels <1.5 mg/L (50.0%) than in those with voriconazole levels >1.5 mg/L (20.5%) (P=0.052). And the risk of adverse events was more frequent in patients with voriconazole levels >5.5 mg/L (80.0%) than in those with voriconazole levels ≤5.5 mg/L (8.3%) (χ²=11.689, P=0.020). Conclusion: Patients with CYP2C19 wild-type phenotype are extensive metabolizers, their C_trough of voriconazole are significantly lower than patients with CYP2C19 non-wild-type phenotype (poor metabolizers). Appropriate concentrations of vriconazole can improve the efficacy and safety during treatment.
Antifungal Agents ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C19/genetics* ; Genotype ; Hematologic Diseases/genetics* ; Humans ; Mycoses ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Voriconazole