Y RNA: An Overview of Their Role as Potential Biomarkers and Molecular Targets in Human Cancers.

Y RNA are a class of small non-coding RNA that are largely conserved. Although their discovery was almost 40 years ago, their function is still under investigation. This is evident in cancer biology, where their role was first studied just a dozen years ago. Since then, only a few contributions were published, mostly scattered across different tumor types and, in some cases, also suffering from methodological limitations. Nonetheless, these sparse data may be used to make some estimations and suggest routes to better understand the role of Y RNA in cancer formation and characterization. Here we summarize the current knowledge about Y RNA in multiple types of cancer, also including a paragraph about tumors that might be included in this list in the future, if more evidence becomes available. The picture arising indicates that Y RNA might be useful in tumor characterization, also relying on non-invasive methods, such as the analysis of the content of extracellular vesicles (EV) that are retrieved from blood plasma and other bodily fluids. Due to the established role of Y RNA in DNA replication, it is possible to hypothesize their therapeutic targeting to inhibit cell proliferation in oncological patients.

Non-Coding RNAs and Endometrial Cancer.

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are involved in the regulation of cell metabolism and neoplastic transformation. Recent studies have tried to clarify the significance of these information carriers in the genesis and progression of various cancers and their use as biomarkers for the disease; possible targets for the inhibition of growth and invasion by the neoplastic cells have been suggested. The significance of ncRNAs in lung cancer, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, and melanoma has been amply investigated with important results. Recently, the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) has also been included in cancer studies. Studies on the relation between endometrial cancer (EC) and ncRNAs, such as small ncRNAs or micro RNAs (miRNAs), transfer RNAs (tRNAs), ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), antisense RNAs (asRNAs), small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs), Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs), competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs), lncRNAs, and long intergenic ncRNAs (lincRNAs) have been published. The recent literature produced in the last three years was extracted from PubMed by two independent readers, which was then selected for the possible relation between ncRNAs, oncogenesis in general, and EC in particular.

Role of Non-Coding RNAs in the Etiology of Bladder Cancer.

According to data of the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the World Health Organization (Cancer Incidence in Five Continents, GLOBOCAN, and the World Health Organization Mortality), bladder is among the top ten body locations of cancer globally, with the highest incidence rates reported in Southern and Western Europe, North America, Northern Africa and Western Asia. Males (M) are more vulnerable to this disease than females (F), despite ample frequency variations in different countries, with a M:F ratio of 4.1:1 for incidence and 3.6:1 for mortality, worldwide. For a long time, bladder cancer was genetically classified through mutations of two genes, fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3, for low-grade, non-invasive papillary tumors) and tumor protein P53 (TP53, for high-grade, muscle-invasive tumors). However, more recently scientists have shown that this disease is far more complex, since genes directly involved are more than 150; so far, it has been described that altered gene expression (up- or down-regulation) may be present for up to 500 coding sequences in low-grade and up to 2300 in high-grade tumors. Non-coding RNAs are essential to explain, at least partially, this ample dysregulation. In this review, we summarize the present knowledge about long and short non-coding RNAs that have been linked to bladder cancer etiology.

Integrated strategies for allogeneic blood saving in major elective surgery.

BACKGROUND: Large use of allogeneic red blood cell concentrates (RBCc), albeit necessary in major surgery, may influence patients' outcome. DESIGN AND METHODS: We introduced an integrated strategy including patients' evaluation and supplementation associated with autologous blood collection and saving to support major elective surgery at our hospital since 2008. After 2 years of stabilization of this approach, we analyzed the results obtained in 2010 in terms of allogeneic blood usage and reduction of transfusion of stored RBCc. RESULTS: Analyzing 2010 results we found that usage of total autologous RBCc units was increased by 2.2 folds, of "not stored" autologous RBCc units by 2.4 folds and of allogeneic RBCc unit transfusion reduced by 65%. The significant reduction in the number of transfused allogeneic RBCc units associated with the use of "fresher" blood could prevent patients' complications due to immunomodulation and biologic/metabolic disregulation.

Buccal mucosa urethroplasty in the treatment of bulbar urethral strictures.

OBJECTIVES: To report our 8-year experience with buccal mucosa onlay urethroplasty with the dorsal approach in the treatment of bulbar urethral strictures. The buccal mucosal graft is widely used as an effective option for urethral reconstruction. METHODS: Since June 1994, we have treated 65 patients with bulbar urethral strictures with buccal mucosa urethroplasty. A free graft of buccal mucosa was used as a ventral onlay in 9 patients and as a dorsal onlay in the remaining 56 patients. The bulbar urethra was isolated from the corpora. Endoscopic urethrotomy was performed dorsally. The graft was obtained from the lower lip and sutured to the urethra and corpora cavernosa. A transurethral grooved catheter and suprapubic drainage was maintained for 7 and 14 days, respectively. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 41 months (range 6 to 94). The overall recurrence rate was 3% (2 of 65). One recurrence occurred in a ventral onlay patient and one in a dorsal onlay patient. Minor complications occurred in 9 patients (14%). CONCLUSIONS: Buccal mucosa dorsal onlay urethroplasty is an excellent option for the treatment of bulbar urethral strictures.