Circ_0024108 promotes the progression of esophageal cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a serious malignant cancer. The treatment effect of ESCC is relatively poor and needs further improvement. According to reports, circular RNAs (circRNAs) actively participate in human carcinogenesis. More explorations are needed about the action of circRNAs in ESCC. METHODS: Circ_0024108, miR-488-3p, and USP14 was quantified by a qRT-PCR or immunoblotting method. Cell proliferation evaluation was performed by MTT, EdU, and colony formation assays. Evaluation of cell motility and invasiveness was conducted using wound healing assay and transwell assay. The regulatory mechanism of circ_0024108, miR-488-3p, and USP14 was detected by RNA pull-down assay and dual-luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS: Circ_0024108 and USP14 were significantly overexpressed in ESCC, while miR-488-3p was underexpressed. Deficiency of circ_0024108 impeded cell growth, motility, and invasiveness. Circ_0024108 regulated the expression of USP14 in ESCC cells via miR-488-3p. Also, circ_0024108 was present at high levels in serum exosomes from ESCC patients with high specificity and sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, circ_0024108 participated in the progress of ESCC through the miR-488-3p/USP14 axis. Circ_0024108 was differentially expressed in serum exosomes. Circ_0024108 might be a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of ESCC.

Fragmentation of microspheres after bronchial artery injection: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Massive hemoptysis due to aspergilloma is a rare but life-threatening complication. Bronchial artery embolization is recommended as a definitive treatment for massive hemoptysis. Polyvinyl alcohol is widely used in bronchial artery embolization. A very small number of studies have reported disrupted polyvinyl alcohol, which may cause ectopic embolism. CASE PRESENTATION: This case highlights an unusual phenomenon in which polyvinyl alcohol fragments appeared on pathological examination in a 61-year-old man, ethnic Han, with massive hemoptysis caused by aspergilloma for whom bronchial artery embolization failed. Lobectomy was carried out successfully. Hematoxylin and eosin stain provides clear images of polyvinyl alcohol fragments, while alpha-smooth muscle cell actin and cluster of differentiation-34 immunohistochemistry revealed their localization in bronchioles. CONCLUSION: Thus far, only two cases of polyvinyl alcohol fragments in the lung have been reported, and the mechanism has not been elucidated. These two cases revealed no counter-indication for the use of polyvinyl alcohol. However, in some cases of off-target embolization causing fatal complications, such as stroke, paraplegia, and myocardial, polyvinyl alcohol fragmentation needs to be taken into consideration.

Pulmonary sequestration with Aspergillus infection presenting as massive hemoptysis and hemothorax with highly elevated carcinoembryonic antigen in pleural effusion that mimics advanced lung malignancy.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary sequestration (PS) associated with massive hemoptysis, hemothorax, and elevated tumor markers or even lung malignancy has been reported in several studies. These clinical features combined with lung lesions on chest imaging are sometimes hard to differentiate from lung malignancies and often complicate the diagnostic procedure. CASE PRESENTATION: A 45-year-old man with PS presented with massive hemoptysis, hemothorax, and extremely elevated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in pleural effusion was initially misdiagnosed with advanced lung carcinoma, but was ultimately diagnosed with PS with Aspergillus infection. CONCLUSIONS: PS is rarely concurrent with lung cancer; most of the time, it is misdiagnosed as a malignancy, especially when presenting with a fungal infection, which could remarkably elevate CEA in pleural effusion.

Long non-coding RNA PRNCR1 modulates non-small cell lung cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, and EMT through PRNCR1/miR-126-5p/MTDH axis.

BACKGROUND: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a highly malignant tumor. Accumulating evidence suggested that prostate cancer non-coding RNA 1 (PRNCR1) participated in the pathogenesis of NSCLC, whereas the elaborate mechanism remains unclear. Hence, the role of PRNCR1 in the progression of NSCLC was investigated. METHODS: Levels of PRNCR1, microRNA-126-5p (miR-126-5p), and metadherin (MTDH) were examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Cell proliferation was measured using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8). Flow cytometry was conducted to determine cell apoptosis. Besides, transwell assay was performed to detect cell migration and invasion in NSCLC cells. The expression levels of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Vimentin, and MTDH were detected via Western blot. Dual-luciferase reporter, RNA immunoprecipitation, and RNA pull down assays were employed to verify the relationship between miR-126-5p and PRNCR1 or MTDH. RESULTS: PRNCR1 and MTDH levels were highly expressed, while miR-126-5p expression was lowly expressed in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of PRNCR1 promoted cell apoptosis, impeded proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in NSCLC cells, and these effects were abrogated by its target gene of miR-126-5p inhibitor. Moreover, MTDH as the target of PRNCR1, its overexpression reversed the impacts of miR-126-5p mimic on cell behaviors and EMT in vitro. Finally, PRNCR1 and miR-126-5p regulated MTDH expression. CONCLUSION: PRNCR1 modified cell behaviors and EMT via miR-126-5p/MTDH axis in NSCLC cells, providing a novel thinking for clinical treatment of NSCLC.