SPZ1 promotes glioma aggravation via targeting CXXC4.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to detect the expression pattern of SPZ1 in glioma samples and to clarify its biological functions in the malignant progression of glioma. Our results provide a novel molecular target for glioma. METHODS: SPZ1 levels in 40 pairs of glioma and non-tumoral ones were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The differences in clinical indicators and prognosis between glioma patients expressing high and low levels of SPZ1 were compared. After knockdown of SPZ1 by transfection of sh-SPZ1, migratory and invasive abilities of A172 and U251 cells were examined by transwell migration and invasion assays. The interaction between SPZ1 and its target gene CXXC4 was finally explored by Western blot and dual-luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS: SPZ1 was upregulated in glioma tissues than non-tumoral ones, and the difference was statistically significant. Cell function experiments showed that knockdown of SPZ1 weakened the migratory and invasive abilities of A172 and U251 cells. CXXC4 was identified as the target gene binding to SPZ1. Knockdown of CXXC4 abolished the role of SPZ1 knockdown in inhibiting glioma progression. CONCLUSIONS: SPZ1 stimulates glioma's malignant progression via targeting CXXC4.

Image Fusion: A Novel Approach in Gamma Knife Surgery Treating Trigeminal Neuralgia.

OBJECTIVE: Finding accurate locations for radiosurgical targets in trigeminal neuralgia (TN) remains challenging. This study provides a novel approach of image fusion used in locating radiosurgical targets for gamma knife surgery (GKS) in the treatment of TN. METHODS: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were performed before frame fixation, and computed tomography (CT) scans were performed following frame fixation. Fusion of the CT and MRI images was performed to locate the treatment target. The therapeutic effects were evaluated following GKS. RESULTS: The CT image ensures precise imaging for defining the fiducial localizers. Multi-modality medical imaging allows the trigeminal nerve (CN V) to be distinguished from the adjacent corresponding vessels. Thus, image fusion makes isocenter positioning more accurate. Significant changes in the frequency, intensity, and length of pain attacks following GKS were achieved. CONCLUSION: Diagnostic MRI co-registered with stereotactic CT can be used for accurate target location. The therapeutic effects of image fusion for GKS treatment of TN are satisfactory.

Identification of miRNAs as potential new biomarkers for nervous system cancer.

Several recent studies have indicated the possibility of detecting dysregulated microRNAs (miRNAs) to diagnose nervous system cancer (NSC). Our study was conducted to explore the clinical applicability of miRNAs as potential ideal biomarkers for the diagnosis of NSC. For this meta-analysis, a systematic literature search was conducted in the Embase, Medline, Cochrane, Wangfang, and Sinomed databases. A standard quality tool-quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies was employed to assess the quality of the included studies. Specificity, sensitivity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under curve (AUC) were pooled to assess overall test accuracy. In total, 25 studies from 7 articles, including 388 patients with NSC and 435 controls (healthy controls and patients with neurologic disorders), were included in this meta-analysis. For the studied miRNAs, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, and DOR for predicting NSC were 85% (95% confidence interval [CI] 80-89%), 85% (95% CI 80-89%), and 32 (95% CI 19-55), respectively. The pooled AUC for miRNAs identifying NSC was 0.92. In addition, results from subgroup analyses indicated that using miRNA panels yield a much better diagnostic accuracy when compared with using a particular miRNA. The current evidence suggests that miRNAs, especially miRNA panels on body fluids, may be suitable for use as diagnostic biomarkers for NSC patients. However, more prospective studies using larger cohorts should be conducted to confirm their degree of accuracy.