Prognostic implications for high expression of MiR-25 in lung adenocarcinomas of female non-smokers.

BACKGROUND: Adenocarcinoma (ADC) is the most common histological type of lung cancer and its proportion is rising, especially in Asian non-smoking women. Recent studies suggest miR-25 may have diverse effects on the pathogenesis of different types of cancer. However, the role of miR-25 in lung cancer is still unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential clinical value of miR-25 in non-smoking women with lung ADC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Quantitative RT-PCR was performed to evaluate the expression of miR-25 in 100 lung ADC tumor tissues and matched plasma samples and Pearson correlation tests were used to analyze the relationship between values. Associations of miR-25 expression with clinicopathological features were determined using the Student's t-test. To determine prognostic value, overall survival (OS) was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using the Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: Expression of miR-25 in tissue was found to be associated with lymph node metastasis (P=0.021) and disease stage (P=0.012). Moreover, high miR-25 expression was also associated with poorer overall survival of women with lung ADC (P=0.008). CONCLUSION: Tissue miR-25 expression may be associated with tumor progression and have prognostic implications in female lung ADC patients.

Meta-Analysis of the Association between Mir-196a-2 Polymorphism and Cancer Susceptibility.

OBJECTIVE: MicroRNA plays a vital role in gene expression, and microRNA dysregulation is involved in carcinogenesis. The miR-196a-2 polymorphism rs11614913 is reportedly associated with cancer susceptibility. This meta-analysis was performed to assess the overall association of miR-196a-2 with cancer risk. METHODS: A total of 27 independent case-control studies involving 10,435 cases and 12,075 controls were analyzed for the rs11614913 polymorphism. RESULTS: A significant association was found between rs11614913 polymorphism and cancer risk in four genetic models (CT vs. TT, OR=1.15, 95%CI=1.05-1.27; CC vs. TT, OR=1.23, 95%CI=1.08-1.39; Dominant model, OR=1.17, 95%CI=1.06-1.30; Additive model, OR=1.08, 95%CI=1.01-1.14). In the subgroup analysis of different tumor types, the C allele was associated with increased risk of lung, breast, and colorectal cancer, but not with liver, gastric, or esophageal cancer. In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, a significantly increased risk of cancer was found among Asians in all genetic models, but no associations were found in the Caucasian subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: The meta-analysis demonstrated that the miR-196a-2 polymorphism is associated with cancer susceptibility, especially lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and breast cancer among Asian populations.

Sleep behavior disorders in a large cohort of chinese (Taiwanese) patients maintained by long-term hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Disorders of sleep behavior and sleep-related breathing disorders are common in hemodialysis patients. Most such evidence is based on studies involving small numbers of patients. METHODS: We undertook a large multicenter analysis of sleep behavior in more than 700 Taiwanese patients on maintenance hemodialysis therapy for 6 months to 20-plus years by using self-administered questionnaires: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and Berlin Questionnaire for risk for sleep apnea, validated for the general population. Patients also completed a questionnaire to assess symptoms related to restless legs and periodic limb movements (PLMs). Sleep behavior was analyzed in relation to demographic and dialysis-related parameters provided by the participating dialysis centers. RESULTS: Sleep disturbance was very common in this cohort, with problems of insomnia (66.6%) exceeding those related to daytime sleepiness (17.8%). Sleep disturbances were associated with restless legs syndrome (RLS)/PLM and a high risk for sleep apnea, determined by using the Berlin Questionnaire. Older age increased the odds of daytime sleepiness, but not insomnia. Lower dialysis dose (single-pool Kt/V) increased the likelihood of daytime sleepiness and was associated with greater rates for RLS/PLM and risk for sleep apnea. Use of antihypertensive medications (a probable surrogate for more severe hypertension) was associated strongly with high risk for sleep apnea. Smoking was associated with RLS/PLM and risk for sleep apnea, whereas consumption of stimulant beverages (coffee and tea) had contrary effects on RLS/PLM and risk for sleep apnea and were not implicated in measures of insomnia or daytime sleepiness. A greater likelihood of insomnia for greater hemoglobin levels and greater likelihood of daytime sleepiness for patients administered vitamin D analogues were not explained by the available data. CONCLUSION: Sleep disorders and sleep-related breathing disorders are common in hemodialysis patients. Greater attention in the care of dialysis patients needs to be directed to the diagnosis and management of sleep disorders.