Association between genetic polymorphisms in long non-coding RNAs and pancreatic cancer risk.

BACKGROUND: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as candidate biomarkers of cancer, having regulatory functions in both oncogenic and tumor-suppressive pathways. Concerning pancreatic cancer (PC), deregulation of lncRNAs involved in tumor initiation, invasion, and metastasis seem to play a key role. However, data is scarce about regulatory mechanism of lncRNA expression. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to investigate the contribution of two lncRNAs polymorphisms (rs1561927 and rs4759313 of PVT1 and HOTAIR, respectively) in PC susceptibility. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted analysing rs1561927 and rs4759313 polymorphisms using DNA collected in a population-based case-control study of pancreatic cancer (111 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cases (PDAC), 56 pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (PNET), and 125 healthy controls). RESULTS: Regarding the PVT1 rs1561927 polymorphism the G allele was significantly overrepresented in both PDAC and PNET patients compared to the controls, while the presence of the HOTAIR rs4759314 G allele was found to be overrepresented in the PNET patients only compared to the controls. The PVT1 rs1561927 AG/GG genotypes were associated with poor overall survival in PDAC patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that polymorphisms of these two lncRNA polymorphisms implicated in pancreatic carcinogenesis. Further large-scale and functional studies are needed to confirm our results.

Virological Quality of Irrigation Water in Leafy Green Vegetables and Berry Fruits Production Chains.

This study condenses data acquired during investigations of the virological quality of irrigation water used in production of fresh produce. One hundred and eight samples of irrigation water were collected from five berry fruit farms in Finland (1), the Czech Republic (1), Serbia (2), and Poland (1), and sixty-one samples were collected from three leafy green vegetable farms in Poland, Serbia, and Greece. Samples were analyzed for index viruses of human or animal fecal contamination (human and porcine adenoviruses, and bovine polyoma viruses), and human pathogenic viruses (hepatitis A virus, hepatitis E virus, and noroviruses GI/GII). Both index and pathogenic viruses were found in irrigation water samples from the leafy green vegetables production chain. The data on the presence of index viruses indicated that the highest percentage of fecal contamination was of human origin (28.1 %, 18/64), followed by that of porcine (15.4 %, 6/39) and bovine (5.1 %, 2/39) origins. Hepatitis E virus (5 %, 1/20) and noroviruses GII (14.3 %, 4/28) were also detected. Samples from berry fruit production were also positive for both index and pathogenic viruses. The highest percentage of fecal contamination was of human origin (8.3 %, 9/108), followed by that of porcine, 4.5 % (4/89) and bovine, 1.1 % (1/89) origins. Norovirus GII (3.6 %, 2/56) was also detected. These data demonstrate that irrigation water used in primary production is an important vehicle of viral contamination for fresh produce, and thus is a critical control point which should be integrated into food safety management systems for viruses. The recommendations of Codex Alimentarius, as well as regulations on the use of water of appropriate quality for irrigation purposes, should be followed.

Therapeutic Potential of Secreted Molecules Derived from Human Amniotic Fluid Mesenchymal Stem/Stroma Cells in a Mice Model of Colitis.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are the result of pathological immune responses due to environmental factors or microbial antigens into a genetically predisposed individual. Mainly due to their trophic properties, a mounting interest is focused on the use of human mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (hMSCs) to treat IBD disease in animal models. The aim of the study is to test whether the secreted molecules, derived from a specific population of second trimester amniotic fluid mesenchymal stem/stromal cells, the spindle-shaped MSCs (SS-AF-MSCs), could be utilized as a novel therapeutic, cell free approach for IBD therapy. Induction of colitis was achieved by oral administration of dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) (3 % w/v in tap water), for 5 days, to 8-week-old NOD/SCID mice. The progression of colitis was assessed on a daily basis through recording the body weight, stool consistency and bleeding. Conditioned media (CM) derived from SS-AF-MSCs were collected, concentrated and then delivered intraperitoneally into DSS treated mice. To evaluate and determine the inflammatory cytokine levels, histopathological approach was applied. Administration of CM derived from SS-AF-MSCs cells reduced the severity of colitis in mice. More importantly, TGFb1 protein levels were increased in the mice received CM, while TNFa and MMP2 protein levels were decreased, respectively. Accordingly, IL-10 was significantly increased in mice received CM, whereas TNFa and IL-1b were decreased at mRNA level. Our results demonstrated that CM derived from SS-AF-MSCs cells is able to ameliorate DSS-induced colitis in immunodeficient colitis mouse model, and thus, it has a potential for use in IBD therapy.

Harmonised investigation of the occurrence of human enteric viruses in the leafy green vegetable supply chain in three European countries.

Numerous outbreaks have been attributed to the consumption of raw or minimally processed leafy green vegetables contaminated with enteric viral pathogens. The aim of the present study was an integrated virological monitoring of the salad vegetables supply chain in Europe, from production, processing and point-of-sale. Samples were collected and analysed in Greece, Serbia and Poland, from 'general' and 'ad hoc' sampling points, which were perceived as critical points for virus contamination. General sampling points were identified through the analysis of background information questionnaires based on HACCP audit principles, and they were sampled during each sampling occasion where as-ad hoc sampling points were identified during food safety fact-finding visits and samples were only collected during the fact-finding visits. Human (hAdV) and porcine (pAdV) adenovirus, hepatitis A (HAV) and E (HEV) virus, norovirus GI and GII (NoV) and bovine polyomavirus (bPyV) were detected by means of real-time (RT-) PCR-based protocols. General samples were positive for hAdV, pAdV, HAV, HEV, NoV GI, NoV GII and bPyV at 20.09 % (134/667), 5.53 % (13/235), 1.32 % (4/304), 3.42 % (5/146), 2 % (6/299), 2.95 % (8/271) and 0.82 % (2/245), respectively. Ad hoc samples were positive for hAdV, pAdV, bPyV and NoV GI at 9 % (3/33), 9 % (2/22), 4.54 % (1/22) and 7.14 % (1/14), respectively. These results demonstrate the existence of viral contamination routes from human and animal sources to the salad vegetable supply chain and more specifically indicate the potential for public health risks due to the virus contamination of leafy green vegetables at primary production.