Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a large class of RNA molecules that do not encode proteins, regulate gene expressions multifacetedly, and influence the metabolism, proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of cells as well as the occurrence and progression of tumors. Some of the ncRNAs act as cancer genes, such as miR-19a, miR-125b, miR-616, miR-7, miR-221, MALAT-1, and PRNCR1, which are upregulated in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) tissues or cell lines, and promote the development and progression of CRPC, some act as tumor suppressor genes, including miR-185, miR-342, miR-15, miR-16, and miR-146, which are downregulated in CRPC tissues or cell lines and inhibit or delay the occurrence of CRPC, and still others, such as miR-7, miR-19a, miR-125b, miR-221, and MALAT-1, are differentially expressed in the serum or tissue and can be used as potential biomarkers for the early diagnosis and prognosis of CRPC. This article presents an overview on the roles of ncRNAs in the occurrence, progression, diagnosis, and prognosis of CRPC and advances in their studies.
Humans ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant ; genetics ; RNA, Untranslated ; genetics

·AlM: To explore the treatment effect of initial lacrimal passage irrigation and probing in neonatal dacryocystitis. · METHODS: ln this retrospective case series study, 224 outpatients ( 256 eyes ) with neonatal dacryocystitis were selected from January 2012 to December 2012 in our hospital.The patients were divided into 5 groups ( 1 ~3mo, 4~60mo, 7 ~9mo, 10 ~12mo and >12mo).lnitial lacrimal passage irrigation and probing were operated, the therapeutic effect of different groups were compared. ·RESULTS:ln this study, 256 eyes of 224 cases, 242 eyes (94.5%) were cured and 14 eyes ( 5.5%) were failed. Bony nasolacrimal duct obstruction happened more obviously in children aged more than 10mo with lower cure rate.More probing was required with the children aged (Spearman rank correlation analysis, γs=0.746, P<0.01).All of the 226 eyes with Hasner valve obstruction were cured.Bony nasolacrimal duct obstruction was 30 eyes, 16 eyes were cured (the cure rate was 53.3%).The cure rate of two parts of the obstruct had significant difference.There were no cases of infection and false passage.
· CONCLUSlON: The treatment of primary lacrimal passage irrigation and probing in neonatal daryocystitisis effective and safe, the optimal timing of treatment is 1 ~9mo.With the growth of age, the cure rate is decreased.

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics and outcome of group B streptococcus (GBS) induced neonatal meningitis and to provide the guide for early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.Methods A retrospective chart review was performed.A total of 19 cases of neonatal purulent meningitis caused by GBS and 22 cases of neonatal purulent meningitis caused by Escherichia coli were identified in the NICU of Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center from Nov 1,2011 to Apr 31,2014.The clinical features,treatments and clinical turnover were analysed.Results GBS meningitis accounted for 24.7％ (19/77) of total bacterial positive cultures of blood or cerebral spinal fluid.The average time of progression to early-onset GBS meningitis of 6 early-onset cases mainly complaining of anhelation and groan,was (11.80 ± 11.34)h,and 83.3％ present within 24 hours;the main initial clinical symptoms of 13 late-onset cases[mean age (17.85 ± 7.77) d] were fever.Peripheral blood C-reactive protein concentration of GBS meningitis was significantly higher than that of Escherichia coli meningitis [(154.43 ± 88.64) mg/L vs.(67.52 ± 64.23) mg/L,P =0.001].Compared with Escherichia coli meningitis,the average length of stay in hospital and the recovery time of abnormal cerebral spinal fluid in neonates with GBS infection were both extended by more than 10 days.Conclusion The clinical manifestations of neonatal purulent meningitis caused by GBS are usually non-specific.It is associated with longer hospitalization and recovery time of abnormal cerebral spinal fluid.Antepartum prophylaxis,early diagnosis and therapy are vital for reducing the incidence of complications and mortality of neonatal GBS purulent meningitis.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value and safety of endobronchial ultrasoundguided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in elderly patients with bronchogenic carcinoma.Methods From August,2013 and July,2014,31 patients aged 65 years and over with space-occupying mass and enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes detected by CT or positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) underwent EBUS-TBNA.Rapid onsite cytology evaluation was not performed.Results There were 26 males and 5 females in this study,aged 65-77 years (70.1 years old on average).In 31 patients,70 samples were obtained from lymph nodes (LNs) and 4 samples were obtained from intrapulmonary lesions.29 cases were diagnosed as lung cancer,and 2 cases had false-negative diagnoses.The sensitivity and specificity rates of EBUS-guided TBNA method were 93.6％ and 100.0％,respectively.No major complications were observed in this series.Conclusions EBUS-TBNA is an safe and effective method in diagnosing bronchogenic carcinoma in elderly patients.

Objective To evaluate the influence of self-etch adhesive,total-etch adhesive and glass ionomer cement on the marginal microleakage of class II restorations. Methods Thirty human premolars were randomly divided into 3 groups(n=10),and cuboid class II cavities(4.0 mm?3.5 mm?2.5 mm) were prepared.Restoration was performed using self-etch adhesive+nano-resin(self-etch group),total-etch adhesive + nano-resin(total-etch group) or glass ionomer cement(glass ionomer group).Half of each group underwent 200 thermocyclings and the other half underwent 500 thermocyclings.The specimens were immersed in 0.5% basic fuchsin for staining.Each tooth was then evaluated the microleakage at the axial wall and the gingival wall section by section under a stereomicroscope.The data were statistically analyzed. ResultsSelf-etch group had significantly more miroleakage than total-etch group and glass ionomer group after 200 and 500 thermocyclings(P

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a promising anti-cancer agent. However, emergence of drug resistance limits its potential use. Plumbagin is a natural quinonoid compound isolated from plant. In this study, induced apoptosis effect of the combined treatment with plumbagin and TRAIL on human melanoma A375 cell line was examined and possible mechanism was investigated. The cells were divided into four groups: control group, plumbagin group (plumbagin, 5 or 10 mumol/L), TRAIL group (TRAIL, 30 ng/mL) and plumbagin+TRAIL group (combined treatment group). The apoptosis, and the expression of DR4 and DR5 were detected by flow cytometry. The activities of caspase-8 and caspase-3 were determined by colorimetric assay. The results showed that the apoptosis rate was 8.3% in TRAIL group, 10.35%-16.94% in plumbagin group and 52.39%-65.39% in combined treatment group, respectively, with the difference being significant between combined treatment group and plumbagin or TRAIL group (P<0.05 for each). Moreover, plumbagin alone could markedly up-regulate DR5 mRNA and protein expression, and slightly increase DR4 mRNA and protein expression. Treatment of human melanoma A375 cells with plumbagin resulted in the activation of Caspase-3, but not Caspase-8. These results suggest that plumbagin might be useful for TRAIL-based treatment for melanoma.

Objective:To observe the effect of An-pressing manipulation on biceps brachii with delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in healthy male volunteers.Methods:A total of 30 male college student volunteers were randomly divided into a blank group,a model group and a treatment group,10 cases in each group.Subjects in the blank group did not receive any intervention;subjects in the model group received active weight-bearing eccentric exercise on the non-favored side of the upper limb to establish the models,while not receiving any treatment;subjects in the treatment group received both the same modeling and An-pressing manipulation treatment.The subjective rating of perceived exertion (RPE),subjective soreness sensation threshold and soreness grade were evaluated before modeling,immediately after modeling,and 24,48,72,96 and 120 h after modeling.Serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) was measured before modeling,immediately after modeling,and 24,48 and 72 h after modeling.Serum creatine kinase MM isoenzyme (CK-MM) was measured before modeling and 24,48 and 72 h after modeling.Results:At 24,48,72 and 120 h after treatment,the soreness grades of the treatment group were lower than those of the model group (all P＜0.05).The RPE scores of the treatment group were lower than those of the model group (all P＜0.05) immediately after modeling,at 24,48,72,96 and 120 h after modeling.The subjective soreness sensation threshold of the treatment group was higher than that of the model group immediately after modeling,at 24,48,72 and 96 h after modeling (all P＜0.05).Immediately after modeling,T-AOC value in the treatment group was higher than that in the model group and blank group (both P＜0.05).CK-MM of the treatment group was lower than that of the model group at 48 h and 72 h after modeling (P＜0.05).Conclusion:An-pressing manipulation shows a certain therapeutic effect on biceps brachii with DOMS by strengthening the body's antioxidant and anti-damage abilities,which can effectively reduce the pain and accelerate the recovery from fatigue damage.

Objective:To explore the optimal thermal effect parameter combination of An-pressing manipulation based on the pressing force, time and frequency, and to compare the thermal effect differences between the rhythmic and the continuous An-pressing manipulations. Methods:Three levels of light, moderate and heavy pressing forces were determined according to the An-pressing forces of the clinical tuina physicians; the pressing time and frequency parameters were determined according to the literatures about An-pressing manipulation. The volunteers were stimulated by the homemade An-pressing manipulation stimulator on the right Xinshu (BL 15), and then the three-factor and three-level orthogonal tests were carried out according to the test sequence specified by the L9(34) orthogonal table, and the temperature before and after pressing was recorded by an infrared thermal imaging system to screen the best parameters for the thermal effect of the An-pressing manipulation, thus to determine the optimal pressing parameters. The optimal parameters were then used for both continuous and rhythmic An-pressing manipulations to stimulate the bilateral Xinshu (BL 15). The temperature changes after pressing and the duration of the thermal effect (temperature difference ≤0.5℃ on both sides) were recorded by the infrared thermal imaging system, to explore the differences in the thermal effects of different An-pressing manipulations. Results:Among the three factors of pressing force, time and frequency, the influences of different pressing forces on temperature were significantly different (F=32.843,P=0.030), and the influence of 2.5 kg pressing force was the most significant; the effects of different pressing time on temperature were significantly different (F=54.102,P=0.018), and the pressing time of 7.5 min was the most significant; the influences of different pressing frequencies on temperature were not statistically significant (F=2.181,P=0.314), though the influence of 10 times/min pressing frequency was the largest. The influences on temperature difference of the rhythmic and the continuous An-pressing manipulations were significantly different (P=0.031 on the left side andP=0.045 on the right side), but there was no statistical difference in the duration of the thermal effect (P=0.690). Conclusion:The An-pressing manipulation parameters that significantly affect the temperature difference are pressing force and time. The optimal combination of thermal effect parameters is pressing force of 2.5 kg, time of 7.5 min, and frequency of 10 times/min. The local thermal effect of the rhythmic An-pressing manipulation is significantly greater than of the continuous An-pressing manipulation.

OBJECTIVETo compare the changes of the intercellular conjunction in penile cavernous tissues between spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive ones, and to study the relation of blood pressure with erectile function.

METHODSAfter apomorphine (APO) injection, we observed penile erections in SHR (SHR group, n=5) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY group, n=5), studied the ultrastructure of the cell-to-cell conjunction between the penile cavernous smooth muscle cells with a transmission electrical microscope, and examined the expression of mRNA and Connexin 43 protein by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe erectile frequency in the SHR group was significantly lower than in the WKY group. The smooth muscle cells were decreased and the collagen fibers between the smooth muscle cells were increased in the SHR group. The expression of mRNA and Connexin 43 protein in the cavernous tissues was significantly lower in the SHR group than in the WKY group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONHypertension affects penile erection, and the pathological changes of the cell-to-cell conjunction between the penile cavernous smooth muscle cells may be one of the important mechanisms of erectile dysfunction associated with hypertension.

Animals ; Apomorphine ; pharmacology ; Connexin 43 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Gap Junctions ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Hypertension ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Muscle, Smooth ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Penile Erection ; physiology ; Penis ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Compound Tongtu Granule (CTG) on intestinal permeability in elderly sepsis patients.

METHODSEighty elderly sepsis patients were randomly assigned to the experimental group and the control group by randomized double blinded method, 40 in each group. On the basis of conventional antiseptic treatment program, patients in the experimental group took CTG, while those in the control group took placebos. The dosage for CTG or placebos was 14.3 g each package, one package each time, twice daily for 14 successive days. Patients' abdominal symptoms and signs, levels of serum inflammatory factors (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and procalcitonin), levels of plasma endotoxin, and the intestinal permeability (IP, represented by urinary lactulose/mannitol excretion rate) were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.

RESULTSAfter 14-day treatment, patients in the experimental group had improved abdominal symptoms, increased frequency of defecation, significantly decreased levels of plasma endotoxin and IP, when compared with the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCTG could improve the intestinal barrier function in elderly sepsis patients.

Aged ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Calcitonin ; metabolism ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; Defecation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Endotoxins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Intestines ; metabolism ; Permeability ; Protein Precursors ; metabolism ; Sepsis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology