ZFX-mediated upregulation of CEBPA-AS1 contributes to acute myeloid leukemia progression through miR-24-3p/CTBP2 axis.

Emerging reports demonstrated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a role in the pathogenesis and metastasis of cancers. However, the biological functions and underlying mechanisms of LncRNA CEBPA-AS1 in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remain largely elusive. The level of CEBPA-AS1 was examined in AML clinical tissues and cell lines via fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).

A Case of Spontaneous Ovarian Artery Haemorrhage in a Post-Menopausal Woman with Congenital Solitary Kidney.

Ovarian arterial haemorrhage (OAH), a rare cause of spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma (SRH), usually occurs in women during pregnancy or in those with a history of repeated pregnancies. The clinical manifestations of OAH are non-specific; hence, proper and timely imaging examinations are extremely important. Contrast Enhanced CT scan is the first choice for clarifying the cause of haemorrhage in patients with SRH.

Review of the endocrine organ-like tumor hypothesis of cancer cachexia in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most fatal types of solid tumors, associated with a high prevalence of cachexia (~80%). PDAC-derived cachexia (PDAC-CC) is a systemic disease involving the complex interplay between the tumor and multiple organs. The endocrine organ-like tumor (EOLT) hypothesis may explain the systemic crosstalk underlying the deleterious homeostatic shifts that occur in PDAC-CC.

Versatile nanocellulose-based nanohybrids: A promising-new class for active packaging applications.

The food packaging industry is rapidly growing as a consequence of the development of nanotechnology and changing consumers' preferences for food quality and safety. In today's globalization of markets, active packaging has achieved many advantages with the capability to absorb or release substances for prolonging the food shelf life over the traditional one. Therefore, it is critical to developing multifunctional active packaging materials from biodegradable polymers with active agents to decrease environmental challenges.

Association of Genetic Variants of Small Non-Coding RNAs with Survival in Colorectal Cancer.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) can influence sncRNA function and target gene expression to mediate the risk of certain diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic relevance of sncRNA SNPs for colorectal cancer, which has not been well characterized to date. We comprehensively examined 31 common SNPs of sncRNAs, and assessed the impact of these variants on survival in a cohort of 188 patients with colorectal cancer.

Polymorphisms in MicroRNA Binding Sites Predict Colorectal Cancer Survival.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) mediate negative regulation of target genes through base pairing, and aberrant miRNA expression has been described in cancers. We hypothesized that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within miRNA target sites might influence clinical outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer. Sixteen common SNPs within miRNA target sites were identified, and the association between these SNPs and overall survival was assessed in colorectal cancer patients using Kaplan-Meier analysis, Cox regression model, and survival tree analysis.

The wedelolactone derivative inhibits estrogen receptor-mediated breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancer cells growth.

Estrogen and estrogen receptor (ER)-mediated signaling pathways play important roles in the etiology and progression of human breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancers. Attenuating ER activities by natural products and their derivatives is a relatively practical strategy to control and reduce breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancer risk. Here, we found 3-butoxy-1,8,9-trihydroxy-6H-benzofuro[3,2-c]benzopyran-6-one (BTB), a new derivative of wedelolactone, could effectively inhibit the 17-estradiol (E2)-induced ER transactivation and suppress the growth of breast cancer as well as endometrial and ovarian cancer cells.

Non-genomic estrogen/estrogen receptor α promotes cellular malignancy of immature ovarian teratoma in vitro.

Malignant immature ovarian teratomas (IOTs) most often occur in women of reproductive age. It is unclear, however, what roles estrogenic signaling plays in the development of IOT. In this study, we examined whether estrogen receptors (ERα and β) promote the cellular malignancy of IOT.

Impact of interleukin-10 gene polymorphisms on survival in patients with colorectal cancer.

Chronic inflammation is thought to be the leading cause of colorectal cancer, and interleukin-10 (IL10) has been identified as a potent immunomodulatory cytokine that regulates inflammatory responses in the gastrointestinal tract. Although several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL10 have been associated with the risk of colorectal cancer, their prognostic significance has not been determined. Two hundred and eighty-two colorectal cancer patients were genotyped for two candidate cancer-associated SNPs in IL10.

Thrombomodulin mediates the progression of epithelial ovarian cancer cells.

Thrombomodulin (TM), a natural anticoagulation factor, maintains circulation homeostasis in endothelial cells. TM has additional roles in modulating inflammation, thrombosis, and carcinogenesis. However, there is little information on the role of TM in the progression and metastasis of ovarian cancer.

Common genetic variants in Wnt signaling pathway genes as potential prognostic biomarkers for colorectal cancer.

Compelling evidence has implicated the Wnt signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer. We assessed the use of tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (tSNPs) in adenomatous polyposis coli (APC)/β-catenin (CTNNB1) genes to predict outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer. We selected and genotyped 10 tSNP to predict common variants across entire APC and CTNNB1 genes in 282 colorectal cancer patients.

Testicular nuclear receptor 4 (TR4) regulates UV light-induced responses via Cockayne syndrome B protein-mediated transcription-coupled DNA repair.

UV irradiation is one of the major external insults to cells and can cause skin aging and cancer. In response to UV light-induced DNA damage, the nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathways are activated to remove DNA lesions. We report here that testicular nuclear receptor 4 (TR4), a member of the nuclear receptor family, modulates DNA repair specifically through the transcription-coupled (TC) NER pathway but not the global genomic NER pathway.

Mice lacking TR4 nuclear receptor develop mitochondrial myopathy with deficiency in complex I.

The estimated incidence of mitochondrial diseases in humans is approximately 1:5000 to 1:10,000, whereas the molecular mechanisms for more than 50% of human mitochondrial disease cases still remain unclear. Here we report that mice lacking testicular nuclear receptor 4 (TR4(-/-)) suffered mitochondrial myopathy, and histological examination of TR4(-/-) soleus muscle revealed abnormal mitochondrial accumulation. In addition, increased serum lactate levels, decreased mitochondrial ATP production, and decreased electron transport chain complex I activity were found in TR4(-/-) mice.

Premature aging with impaired oxidative stress defense in mice lacking TR4.

Early studies suggest that TR4 nuclear receptor is a key transcriptional factor regulating various biological activities, including reproduction, cerebella development, and metabolism. Here we report that mice lacking TR4 (TR4(-/-)) exhibited increasing genome instability and defective oxidative stress defense, which are associated with premature aging phenotypes. At the cellular level, we observed rapid cellular growth arrest and less resistance to oxidative stress and DNA damage in TR4(-/-) mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) in vitro.

Metformin inhibits nuclear receptor TR4-mediated hepatic stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 gene expression with altered insulin sensitivity.

Objective: TR4 is a nuclear receptor without clear pathophysiological roles. We investigated the roles of hepatic TR4 in the regulation of lipogenesis and insulin sensitivity in vivo and in vitro.

Research Design And Methods: TR4 activity and phosphorylation assays were carried out using hepatocytes and various TR4 wild-type and mutant constructs.

Significant associations of prostate cancer susceptibility variants with survival in patients treated with androgen-deprivation therapy.

Androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) is the most common therapy for advanced prostate cancer, but the prognosis significantly differs among individuals. In this study, we evaluated recently identified 19 prostate cancer susceptibility variants as prognostic predictors for the survival after ADT. A total of 601 prostate cancer patients treated with ADT were enrolled in this study cohort.

Polymorphisms inside microRNAs and microRNA target sites predict clinical outcomes in prostate cancer patients receiving androgen-deprivation therapy.

Purpose: Recent evidence indicates that small noncoding RNA molecules, known as microRNAs (miRNAs), are involved in cancer initiation and progression. We hypothesized that genetic variations in miRNAs and miRNA target sites could be associated with the efficacy of androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) in men with prostate cancer.

Experimental Design: We systematically evaluated 61 common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) inside miRNAs and miRNA target sites in a cohort of 601 men with advanced prostate cancer treated with ADT.

Clinical significance of runt-related transcription factor 1 polymorphism in prostate cancer.

Objective: To investigate the association of RUNX1 rs2253319 with clinicopathological characteristics of prostate cancer (PCa) and disease recurrence after radical prostatectomy (RP).

Patients And Methods: Taking advantage of the systematic stage and grade for each tumor in a cohort of 314 patients with localized PCa receiving RP, we evaluated the associations of RUNX1 rs2253319 with age at diagnosis, preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, Gleason score, surgical margin, pathologic stage, status of lymph node metastasis, and PSA recurrence after RP.

Results: The minor allele, T, and the minor homozygote TT genotype of RUNX1 rs2253319 were significantly associated with a 1.

Clinical significance of tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 11b polymorphism in prostate cancer.

Background: Bone metastases are the most critical complication of prostate cancer (PCa), resulting in severe morbidity and mortality. Tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 11b (TNFRSF11B) is a critical regulator between PCa cells and the bone environment. Recently, TNFRSF11B rs10505346 has been implicated in PCa risk in the Cancer Genetic Markers of Susceptibility genomewide association study.

Prognostic significance of prostate cancer susceptibility variants on prostate-specific antigen recurrence after radical prostatectomy.

Recent genomewide association studies have identified several prostate cancer susceptibility variants. However, the association between these variants and biochemical failure in prostate cancer patients receiving radical prostatectomy has not been determined. We systematically evaluated 20 prostate cancer-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms in a cohort of 320 localized prostate cancer patients receiving radical prostatectomy.

Association analysis of Wnt pathway genes on prostate-specific antigen recurrence after radical prostatectomy.

Background: Approximately one-third of prostate cancer (PCa) patients show biochemical failure after radical prostatectomy (RP) and are prone to develop metastasis with significant mortality. Although aberrant Wnt/beta-catenin (CTNNB1) signaling has been observed in numerous types of human cancers, including PCa, to our knowledge there is currently no information on the role of Wnt signaling gene polymorphisms in PCa.

Methods: We comprehensively studied the contribution of genetic variations in CTNNB1 and adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), one of the key genes encoding the CTNNB1 destruction complex, to PCa risk and prognosis after RP using a hospital-based case-control study.

TR4 nuclear receptor functions as a fatty acid sensor to modulate CD36 expression and foam cell formation.

Testicular orphan nuclear receptor 4 (TR4) is an orphan member of the nuclear receptor superfamily with diverse physiological functions. Using TR4 knockout (TR4(-/-)) mice to study its function in cardiovascular diseases, we found reduced cluster of differentiation (CD)36 expression with reduced foam cell formation in TR4(-/-) mice. Mechanistic dissection suggests that TR4 induces CD36 protein and mRNA expression via a transcriptional regulation.

Schedule effect and laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy.

Background: Prolonged surgical workload and different starting times of laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) might be factors influencing surgical and patient's outcomes.

Aims: The aim of this study is to elucidate possible detrimental results of the schedule effect on LAVH.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study based on patient charts and hospital's electronic database in a tertiary teaching hospital.