Pap Smear miR-92a-5p and miR-155-5p as potential diagnostic biomarkers of squamous intraepithelial cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND: one of the female-specific diseases with a high incidence and mortality is cervical cancer. The main cause of cervical cancer is infection with Human papilloma virus (HPV). Low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) and High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) usually is caused by an HPV infection. Considering the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) as diagnostic biomarkers for a variety of cancers, the aim of this study was to determine miR-92a-5p and miR-155-5p expression levels in LSIL and HSIL Pap Smear samples. METHODS: After initial bioinformatic studies, A total of 75 samples (25 samples of patients with LSIL, 25 patients with HSIL and 25 healthy individuals) were subjected to RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis. The expressions levels of confirmed miRNAs in samples of patients with LSIL, HSIL and healthy individuals were evaluated by Real time PCR analysis. To demonstration the role of predicted miRNAs as novel biomarkers in diagnosis of LSIL and HSIL, ROC curve analysis was done. RESULTS: Bioinformatics results showed that miR-92a-5p and miR-155-5p target the HPV E6 and E7 genes. The expression levels of these miRNAs were strikingly higher in Pap smear of patients with LSIL than in the healthy individuals (35.36, P = 0.001) (62.23, P = 0.001). Similarity, expression levels of miR-92a-5p and miR-155-5p were amazingly higher in patients with HSIL than in the healthy individuals (33.62, P= 0.001) (69.07, P= 0.001). Although, the levels of miR-92a-5p (0.95, P = 0. 85) and miR-155-5p (1.11, P = 0.84) exhibited no statistical differences between patients with LSIL and HSIL. Also, ROC curve analyses verified that miR-92a-5p and miR-155-5p are specific and sensitive and may serve as new biomarkers for the early detection of cervical cancer. CONCLUSION: These data suggest miR-92a-5p and miR-155-5p, which are upregulated in LSIL and HSIL, can be consider as predictive biomarkers for the prognosis of cervical cancer patients.
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Ondansetron 8 mg and 4 mg with normal saline against post-operative headache and nausea/vomiting after spinal anesthesia: a randomized double-blind trial.

The study aims to evaluate the efficacy of ondansetron in preventing post-spinal headache, considering the high prevalence of the headache in pregnant women and the common use of the adjuvants for prophylaxis against post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV). This double-blind clinical trial included the 195 patients who were referred to Taleghani Hospital (in Arak, Iran) for cesarean section (C/S) under spinal anesthesia, and then the subjects were assigned to three equally sized groups using block randomization. Participants in the first, second, and control groups received 8 mg, 4 mg of ondansetron, and normal saline, respectively, 5 minutes before surgery. A final volume of 5 cc was prepared by adding normal saline. Participants were examined for headache one week after surgery, and then data analysis was performed using SPSS 20. The incidence of post-spinal headache was significantly higher in the placebo group than in the ondansetron 8-mg and 4-mg groups at 24 hours after surgery (P < 0.010). But, no significant difference was observed between two ondansetron groups (P ≤ 0.05). The overall incidence of the headache was generally lower in ondansetron 8-mg (26.66% vs. 33.68.05%) and 31.66% in ondansetron 4-mg (P < 0.001). Moreover, the PONV incidence was significantly higher in the placebo group than in the other two groups at 24 hours (P < 0.001). The hemodynamic variables were same in three groups. The ondansetron 8-mg dose can be effective to prevent headache after spinal anesthesia for C/S. Moreover, the ondansetron 8-mg and ondansetron 4-mg have same effect in control of PONV after spinal anesthesia for C/S.

The favourable effects of long-term selenium supplementation on regression of cervical tissues and metabolic profiles of patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

This study was conducted to assess the effects of long-term Se administration on the regression and metabolic status of patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 1 (CIN1). This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was carried out among fifty-eight women diagnosed with CIN1. To diagnose CIN1, we used specific diagnostic procedures of biopsy, pathological diagnosis and colposcopy. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups to receive 200 µg Se supplements as Se yeast (n 28) or placebo (n 28) daily for 6 months. After 6 months of taking Se supplements, a greater percentage of women in the Se group had regressed CIN1 (88·0 v. 56·0 %; P=0·01) compared with those in the placebo group. Long-term Se supplementation, compared with the placebo, resulted in significant decreases in fasting plasma glucose levels (-0·37 (sd 0·32) v. +0·07 (sd 0·63) mmol/l; P=0·002), serum insulin levels (-28·8 (sd 31·2) v. +13·2 (sd 40·2) pmol/l; P<0·001), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance values (-1·3 (se 1·3) v. +0·5 (se 1·4); P<0·001) and a significant elevation in quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (+0·03 (sd 0·03) v. -0·01 (sd 0·01); P<0·001). In addition, patients who received Se supplements had significantly decreased serum TAG (-0·14 (sd 0·55) v. +0·15 (sd 0·38) mmol/l; P=0·02) and increased HDL-cholesterol levels (+0·13 (sd 0·21) v. -0·01 (sd 0·15) mmol/l; P=0·003). In addition, compared with the placebo group, there were significant rises in plasma total antioxidant capacity (+186·1 (sd 274·6) v. +42·8 (sd 180·4) mmol/l; P=0·02) and GSH levels (+65·0 (sd 359·8) v. -294·2 (sd 581·8) µmol/l; P=0·007) and a significant decrease in malondialdehyde levels (-1·5 (sd 2·1) v. +0·1 (sd 1·4) µmol/l; P=0·001) among those who took Se supplements. Overall, taking Se supplements among patients with CIN1 led to its regression and had beneficial effects on their metabolic profiles.

Resistance to single-agent chemotherapy and its risk factors in low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasms.

AIM: Gestational trophoblastic neoplasm (GTN) is a rare disease which is classified into high- and low-risk groups. While the high-risk patients require combination therapy, the low-risk groups respond to single-agent chemotherapy. We studied resistance to single-agent chemotherapy and its risk factors among the low-risk GTN patients in Iran. METHODS: We followed 168 low-risk GTN patients who were treated between 2001 and 2011 in Valiasr Hospital, Tehran, Iran. We used a case-control design and studied odds ratios (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) to evaluate association between drug resistance and different personal and clinical variables. RESULTS: Resistance to sequential single-agent chemotherapy was 19%, although all patients had a complete remission after a combination of chemotherapy and/or surgery. Patients who had International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics scores of 5-6 - considered as, the intermediate risk group - had a 14-fold higher resistance compared with the low score patients (OR = 14.28, 95% CI = 5.54-36.81). We found higher risk of resistance among patients with metastasis (OR = 8.42, 95% CI = 2.44-29.07), large tumor size (>3 cm) (OR = 7.73, 95% CI = 1.93-30.91), high ß-hCG (>100 000 IU/L) (OR = 5.86, 95% CI = 1.07-32.02) and/or a diagnosis more than 4 months after pregnancy (OR = 3.30, 95% CI = 1.08-10.02), compared with their reference group. We found no priority for the different chemotherapy regimens. CONCLUSION: Intermediate risk GTN patients had a higher risk of resistance to chemotherapy compared with low-risk patients. Clinical trials and cost-effectiveness studies are needed to suggest a better treatment program for the intermediate risk group.