Identification of key pathways regulated by a set of competitive long non-coding RNAs in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify important pathways regulated by a set of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). METHODS: A lncRNA-mediated competitive endogenous RNA network (LMCN) was constructed using information on microRNA (miRNA)-mRNA interactions and lncRNA-miRNA intersections from the E-GEOD-37991 transcription profiling data in the ArrayExpress database. A random walk with restart ranking algorithm was then applied to evaluate the influences of protein-coding genes regulated by competitive lncRNAs. Pathway enrichment scores were calculated based on the propagation scores of protein-coding genes. Finally, permutation tests were used to estimate the significance of the pathways. RESULTS: We obtained lncRNA-mRNA interactions based on miRNAs common to both miRNA-mRNA interactions and lncRNA-miRNA intersections, and used interactions with a z-score > 0.7 to construct a LMCN. Ten lncRNAs were identified as source nodes in the LMCN, and nine pathways with enrichment scores >0.8, including 'Cell cycle', 'Endocytosis', and 'Pathways in cancer', were significantly enriched by these source nodes. CONCLUSIONS: Nine significant pathways regulated by a set of competitive lncRNAs were identified in OSCC, which may play important roles in the development of OSCC via the cell cycle and endocytosis.

Dynamic protein expression of NF-κB following rat intracerebral hemorrhage and its association with apoptosis.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the dynamic protein expression of nuclear factor (NF)-κB and apoptosis in the cerebral tissue surrounding hematoma following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in rats. A total of 80 healthy male Wistar rats were divided into a sham-surgery group and an ICH group. The ICH model was established by injecting autogenous non-heparin anticoagulant arterial blood into the caudate putamen. NF-κB levels were assessed by immunohistochemistry at different time points subsequent to surgery, and apoptosis condition was investigated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl-transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling. Different levels of NF-κB were expressed in the cerebral tissue around the ICH at each time point in the ICH group. NF-κB protein expression was detected at 3 h following hemorrhage, mainly in the cytoplasm. Following 6 h, NF-κB was identified in the nucleus. Its expression peaked at 72 h following hemorrhage, and persisted for 5 days. Apoptosis was observed 6 h following hemorrhage, and had increased significantly by 12 h. The rate of apoptosis continued to rise from 72-120 h following hemorrhage. Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between NF-κB expression and apoptosis (r=0.753; P<0.01). The enhancement of NF-κB expression and apoptosis around ICH, and the significant positive correlation between NF-κB expression and apoptosis, indicates that NF-κB activation may enhance cerebral apoptosis in rats following ICH.

[Effects of a single dose levodopa on heart rate variability in Parkinson's disease].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of levodopa on heart rate variability (HRV) in Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: A total of 48 PD patients (M:F = 35: 13, mean age: 59 ± 6 years, duration of illness: 4.7 ± 1.8 years, Hoehn & Yahr stage: 2.2 ± 0.3) on a stable dose of levodopa were recruited from January 2012 to May 2014.For confirming autonomic dysfunction, the baseline patient data (12 hours off-medication) were compared with a control group consisting of 48 age and gender-matched healthy subjects (M: F = 35: 13, mean age 58 ± 6 years). Resting lead II electrocardiogram (ECG) was recorded at baseline and continuously after two tablets of 100/10 mg levodopa/carbidopa.However, 5-min segments were selected from every quarter, i.e., Q1 (0-15 min), Q2 (15-30 min), Q3 (30-45 min) and Q4 (45-60 min). Artifact-free 5-min segments of ECG were analyzed offline to acquire the parameters of heart rate variability in time and frequency domains. RESULTS: At baseline, PD patients had a significantly reduced standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals (SDRR) [(24 ± 4) vs (26 ± 4) ms, P < 0.01)] and total power (TP) [(569 ± 180) vs (652 ± 205) ms², P < 0.05] when compared to controls. Comparing of HRV in PD patients at baseline and during first hour after drug administration, we observed significant increase in SDRR [(29 ± 12) vs (24 ± 8) ms, P < 0.05)], TP [(708 ± 253) vs (569 ± 180) ms², P < 0.01], low frequency power (LF) [(203 ± 98) vs (168 ± 60) ms², P < 0.05) ] and high frequency power (HF) [158 ± 86) vs (114 ± 90) ms², P < 0.05] in Q3. CONCLUSION: The results suggest an improvement in the overall variability of heart rate resulting from an enhanced vagal tone.