Downregulation of plasma miR-124 expression is a predictive biomarker for prognosis of glioma.

OBJECTIVE: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been widely identified as potential biomarkers for predicting prognosis of glioma. The objective of the study was to examine the clinical role of plasma miR-124 expression in glioma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: MiR-124 expression in plasma samples from 64 cases glioma patients and 40 normal healthy controls was examined by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). The correlation of miR-124 expression with clinicopathological feathers or prognosis of glioma patients was assessed. Univariate and multivariate Cox analysis were used to analyze the risk factors of prognosis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was established, and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate the difference of miR-124 expression in glioma patients. RESULTS: We showed that miR-124 expression was significantly downregulated in plasma samples of glioma patients compared with normal healthy controls (p<0.05). Plasma miR-124 expression significantly associated with Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score (p<0.05) and WHO grade (p<0.05) in glioma plasma. Patients with low miR-124 expression had worse disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) time than patients with high miR-124 expression. Univariate and multivariate analysis implied that low miR-124 expression was an independent maker of disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in glioma. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings implied that plasma miR-124 expression may serve as an independent predictor of poor prognosis.

High levels of phosphatase and tensin homolog expression predict favorable prognosis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The prognostic role of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been controversial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, levels of PTEN expression were investigated in NSCLC patients and their prognostic value in NSCLC was assessed. PTEN expression in tumor tissues from 68 NSCLC patients was analyzed using immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy. Survival analysis was performed using the log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. RESULTS: NSCLC patients classified as expressers of high levels of PTEN (n = 46) had better prognoses than those classified as expressers of low levels (mean survival 17.1 versus 12.9 months, log-rank p = 0.038). In patients with adenocarcinoma (AC), high PTEN expression (n = 9) was associated with significantly longer survival than low PTEN expression (mean survival 23.50 versus 15.54 months, log-rank p = 0.043). High levels of PTEN expression resulted in 43% reduction in risk for all NSCLC patients (HR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.33-0.98, p = 0.041). PTEN expression and clinical stage remained significantly associated with survival after adjustment for age, sex and tumor type (HR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.32-0.99; p = 0.048; HR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.36-0.97; p = 0.045). No significant difference in continuous PTEN expression levels was observed among groups with different clinical or pathological characteristics (p > 0.17). When levels of PTEN expression were binarized using the optimal cutpoint, higher levels of PTEN expression were observed in patients with T1/T2 than in those with T3/T4 (80% and 58% respectively, p = 0.049) and in patients with AC than in those with squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC) (78% and 58% respectively, p = 0.08). No significant difference in binarized PTEN expression levels was found among groups with any other clinical/pathologic characteristic (p > 0.28). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that high levels of PTEN expression may be favorable prognostic marker in NSCLC patients.

Myelotomy reduces spinal cord edema and inhibits aquaporin-4 and aquaporin-9 expression in rats with spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVE: Spinal cord edema contributes to the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying spinal cord injury (SCI) and is associated with functional recovery after SCI. Early myelotomy may be a promising surgical intervention for reducing SCI-induced edema. However, it remains unclear whether myelotomy can reduce SCI-induced edema. In addition, aquaporin-4 (AQP4) and aquaporin-9 (AQP9) have important roles in the regulation of water homeostasis. Here, we aimed to determine the effects of myelotomy on AQP4 and AQP9 expression and spinal cord edema in a rat model of moderate SCI. METHODS: Rats were randomly assigned to three groups: the sham control group (n=22) receiving laminectomy alone; the contusion group (n=44) receiving laminectomy plus contusion; and the myelotomy group (n=44) receiving laminectomy plus contusion followed by myelotomy at 24 h. Functional recovery was estimated by the open-field and inclined plane tests. Spinal cord edema was determined by measuring the water content. The expression of AQP4 and AQP9 was determined by western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the contusion group, myelotomy significantly improved the Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan scores in the open-field test and resulted in a higher mean angle value in the incline plane test. Myelotomy significantly reduced SCI-induced edema at 4 and 6 days after SCI, which was accompanied by downregulation of AQP4 and AQP9 expression. CONCLUSION: Myelotomy improves locomotor function, reduces edema in rats with SCI and is associated with decreased expression of AQP4 and AQP9.

Optimal time window of myelotomy in rats with acute traumatic spinal cord injury: a preliminary study.

OBJECTIVES: Pathophysiological mechanisms underlying spinal cord injury (SCI) partially involve edema and formation of a hematoma. Myelotomy seems to be a promising intervention. However, the appropriate timing of myelotomy is still unknown in SCI. Here we aimed to determine the timing of microsurgical myelotomy in an animal model of SCI. METHODS: The SCI model was contusion-induced with a new york university impactor. Sixty-five adult female rats were randomly divided into the following groups: laminectomy alone (the 'sham group', SG), laminectomy plus contusion (the 'contusion group', CG) or laminectomy plus contusion followed by myelotomy at 8, 24 or 48 h (8 h-MTG [myelotomy-treated group], 24 h-MTG or 48 h-MTG). Functional recovery was evaluated via the open field test and the inclined plane test every week after SCI. The percentage of spared white matter area (SWMA) and ultrastructure characteristics of the injured dorsolateral spinal cord were determined on the 42nd day after SCI. RESULTS: Compared with the CG, myelotomy at 8 h-MTG or 24 h-MTG greatly improved the BASSO-BEATTIE- BRESNAHAN scores (P<0.008), whereas the 48 h-MTG showed less efficacy (P=0.023). All myelotomy groups showed higher mean angle values in an inclined plane test (P<0.005) and had greater percentages of SWMA than the CG. Rats in the 24 h-MTG showed a higher intra-axonal fraction and myelin fraction than those in 48 h-MTG (P<0.005). CONCLUSION: Myelotomy up to 48 h after SCI improves recovery in rats. The potential time window of myelotomy may be between 8 and 24 h after SCI.

Treatment of Class III problems begins with differential diagnosis of anterior crossbites.

Etiology of Class III malocclusion can be genetic or environmental. Proclination of mandibular incisors and retroclination of maxillary incisors can cause posturing of the mandible in an anterior position due to incisal interference, a condition called pseudo Class III malocclusion that can be misleading in evaluating a patient with skeletal Class III malocclusion. Unfortunately, cephalometric evaluation may not be the most reliable tool in differentiating whether the maxilla or the mandible contributes to the skeletal disharmony. The most consistent findings seem to be the dental characteristics of Angle's Class III molars and canines, retroclined mandibular incisors, and the presence of an edge-to-edge or an anterior crossbite occlusion. This paper presents a diagnostic scheme to differentiate between dental and skeletal crossbites. Early treatment of Class III malocclusion can help to minimize the adaptations and limitations that are often seen in severe malocclusion of the late adolescence. However, treatment of skeletal crossbites remains a continuous challenge to the profession. Due to the diversity and variability in facial growth, accurate individualized growth prediction is not possible at the moment. Treatment directed at the mandible seems to invite relapse during the pubertal growth period. Treatment directed at the maxilla shows promising results and is awaiting long-term clinical results following early orthopedic interventions. Several intraoral appliances have proved to be successful in eliminating dental crossbites.