Genetic Identification of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei Spargana in Liaoning and Hubei Provinces, PR China

Spargana were collected from human and frogs in Liaoning and Hubei Provinces, China. PCR amplification and direct sequencing of A cox1 fragment was PCR-amplified from genomic DNA extracted from 7 specimens (5 from humans and 2 from frogs). The cox1 fragment (390 bp) showed 97–100% similarity to the reference sequence of S. erinaceieuropaei and 88–89% to the reference sequence of S. decipiens. There were 1–12 bases different between these worms, but no obvious genetic variation (0–3.3%) to the references. There was little difference of cox1 gene between sparganum samples of humans and frogs (1–3%). This study is the first report on S. erinaceieuropaei spargana from humans in Liaoning and Hubei Provinces.

miR-638 is a new biomarker for outcome prediction of non-small cell lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNAs, mediate gene expression by either cleaving target mRNAs or inhibiting their translation. They have key roles in the tumorigenesis of several cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of miR-638 in the evaluation of NSCLC patient prognosis in response to chemotherapy. First, we detected miR-638 expression levels in vitro in the culture supernatants of the NSCLC cell line SPC-A1 treated with cisplatin, as well as the apoptosis rates of SPC-A1. Second, serum miR-638 expression levels were detected in vivo by using nude mice xenograft models bearing SPC-A1 with and without cisplatin treatment. In the clinic, the serum miR-638 levels of 200 cases of NSCLC patients before and after chemotherapy were determined by quantitative real-time PCR, and the associations of clinicopathological features with miR-638 expression patterns after chemotherapy were analyzed. Our data helped in demonstrating that cisplatin induced apoptosis of the SPC-A1 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner accompanied by increased miR-638 expression levels in the culture supernatants. In vivo data further revealed that cisplatin induced miR-638 upregulation in the serum derived from mice xenograft models, and in NSCLC patient sera, miR-638 expression patterns after chemotherapy significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis. Moreover, survival analyses revealed that patients who had increased miR-638 levels after chemotherapy showed significantly longer survival time than those who had decreased miR-638 levels. Our findings suggest that serum miR-638 levels are associated with the survival of NSCLC patients and may be considered a potential independent predictor for NSCLC prognosis.

miR-638 is a new biomarker for outcome prediction of non-small cell lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNAs, mediate gene expression by either cleaving target mRNAs or inhibiting their translation. They have key roles in the tumorigenesis of several cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of miR-638 in the evaluation of NSCLC patient prognosis in response to chemotherapy. First, we detected miR-638 expression levels in vitro in the culture supernatants of the NSCLC cell line SPC-A1 treated with cisplatin, as well as the apoptosis rates of SPC-A1. Second, serum miR-638 expression levels were detected in vivo by using nude mice xenograft models bearing SPC-A1 with and without cisplatin treatment. In the clinic, the serum miR-638 levels of 200 cases of NSCLC patients before and after chemotherapy were determined by quantitative real-time PCR, and the associations of clinicopathological features with miR-638 expression patterns after chemotherapy were analyzed. Our data helped in demonstrating that cisplatin induced apoptosis of the SPC-A1 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner accompanied by increased miR-638 expression levels in the culture supernatants. In vivo data further revealed that cisplatin induced miR-638 upregulation in the serum derived from mice xenograft models, and in NSCLC patient sera, miR-638 expression patterns after chemotherapy significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis. Moreover, survival analyses revealed that patients who had increased miR-638 levels after chemotherapy showed significantly longer survival time than those who had decreased miR-638 levels. Our findings suggest that serum miR-638 levels are associated with the survival of NSCLC patients and may be considered a potential independent predictor for NSCLC prognosis.

Clinical analysis of prostate cancer in young men under 50 years / 中华泌尿外科杂志

Objective To analyze the clinical features of patients with prostate adenocarcinoma under 50 years.Methods Between January 2008 and April 2014,we reviewed 21 cases with prostate cancer under 50 years old.The mean age in those patients was 48 years old (ranged 42-49 years old).Their tPSA level was elevated,including＞10 μg/L in 17 cases,4-10 μg/L in 4 cases.21 cases were all confirmed by pathology.The results Gleason score showed 6 scores in 3 cases,7 scores in 6 cases (3+4 scores in 5 cases and 4+3 scores in one case),8 scores in 7 cases and 9 scores in 5 cases.In the study,clinical stage was for T2N0M0 in 16 cases,T3N0M0 in 1 case,T4NxM0 in 1 case and T3-4N1M1 in 3 cases.The treatments were hormonal therapy was chosen in 5 cases and radical prostatectomy was performed in 16 cases,including 16 cases with T2N0M0 stage and one case with T3N0M0.Results In those patients who accepted the radical prostatectomy,the duration of follow-up ranged from 3 to 65 months (mean 23 months).During the follow-up,14 patients had a lower incidence of biochemical recurrence.1 patient (T2,PSA 82.8 μg/L,GS 9) had external beam radiotherapy one month after the radical prostatectomy because of tumor invasion into the prostatic capsule.Then his PSA level returned to the 0.2 μg/L.1 patient (T3,PSA 38.9 μg/L,GS 8) had external beam radiotherapy 18 months after the radical prostatectomy because of biochemical recurrence and the tPSA level returned to the 4.0 μg/L.All patients who underwent radical prostatectomy had favourable recovery of urinary continence.In 5 patients who had androgen deprivation therapy,2 patients died after 63 or 65 months and one patient was lost to follow-up.The PSA level in one patient decreased from 71.8 μg/L to 2 μg/L after four months treatment.One patient had castration resistant prostate cancer and the adjuvant external beam radiotherapy was considered,subsequently.Conclusions Men under the 50 years old,who are diagnosed with localised prostate cancer,usually demonstrated the early clinic stage and high Gleason scores.It should not be discouraged from RP.Young men with metastatic prostate cancer have a poor prognosis.