Plasma microRNA-320, microRNA-let-7e and microRNA-21 as novel potential biomarkers for the detection of retinoblastoma.

Retinoblastoma (RB) is a childhood malignancy caused by inactivation of the RB gene, with neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels considered as its diagnostic marker. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been proven to play a significant role in multiple physiological and pathological processes and several miRNAs were identified as tumor biomarkers in recent studies. In the present study, 65 plasma samples were collected from RB patients and 65 samples from healthy individuals to serve as controls. The miRNA levels were measured via quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and their association with RB was assessed by statistical data analysis and receiver operating characteristic curves. Plasma miRNA (miR)-320, miR-let-7e and miR-21 levels were downregulated in the patient samples, the areas under the curves (AUCs) were 0.548-0.660, whereas the AUCs of combined classifiers were ≥0.990. The plasma miRNA levels, particularly of miR-320, were found to be of value in RB diagnosis and may be considered as novel diagnostic biomarkers.

[Analysis on the safety of ophthalmic artery cannulation for intra-arterial chemotherapy in 42 patients with intraocular stage retinoblastoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the safety of treatment with ophthalmic artery cannulation for intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) for children with intraocular retinoblastoma (RB). METHOD: In the RB Treatment Center of General Hospital of Armed Police Forces between January 2009 and September 2011, 42 patients who were diagnosed intraocular RB and treated with ophthalmic artery cannulation for IAC, 8 patients were treated 1 circle, 31 patients were treated 2 circles and 3 patients were treated 3 circles (total, 96 times). Each month had IAC once. The ophthalmic and the whole body evaluations were performed during IAC and after IAC for each circle, the blood cell count, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum creatinine (Scr), CK-MB content before and after IAC for 1 circle, 2 circles and 3 circles were determined. RESULT: (1) In 52 eyes of 42 patients, 44 eyes (84.6%) were in remission. (2) Successful IAC was achieved in all cases, no severe side effects occurred during IAC. (3) The main ophthalmic complications were eyelid edema and blepharoptosis after IAC, the incidence for 1 circle was 18% (2/11) and 9% (1/11); for 2 circles was 29% (11/38) and 21% (8/38); for 3 circles was all 100% (3/3). The rare complications were vitreous hemorrhage and heterotropia, the incidence was all 2% (1/42). The incidence of eyelid edema and blepharoptosis had no significant differences for 1 circle IAC compared with 2 circles (P > 0.05); the incidence of eyelid edema and blepharoptosis had significant differences for 3 circles IAC compared with 2 circles and 1 circle (P < 0.01). (4) No fever, septicemia and other systemic toxic effects occurred. (5) ALT of 19% patients (8/42) elevated temporarily and CK-MB of 24% patients (10/42) increased. The blood cell counts, ALT, Scr, and CK-MB content before IAC had no significant differences compared with that at 24 h after IAC for 1 circle, 2 circles and 3 circles (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Ophthalmic artery cannulation for IAC is a safe and effective method in treating intraocular stage retinoblastoma.

[Cloning and sequencing of the proBA gene from the selected mutant resistant to proline analogue from Bacillus subtilis].

NTG was used to make chemical mutation for Bacillus subtilis 93151. An enhanced osmotolerant mutant was obtained, which could grow in minimal medium containing 14% NaCl (w/v) and was not subject to proline-mediated feedback repression. The content of the intracellular free proline from the mutant increased rapidly with the rising of NaCl concentration. A 2.3 kb DNA fragment from the mutant was amplified using PCR method. Sequence analysis indicated that three bases changed within the proB gene, compared with the wild-type strain. One of the mutations was substitution of an A for a T at nt position 781, leading to a change of a Ser to a Thr at amino acid residue 261 of the deduced protein product, while other two were silent mutations. The recombinant vector pBE2-proB could functionally complement the proline auxotrophy E. coli 1.1252. Sequence analysis of proA showed that proA and proB overlapped by 4 nt, and there was a SD sequence at nt 14 upstream of the start codon of proA. The deduced amino acid of proA gene shared a high similarity with that of Bacillus subtilis 168 (77%).