circ-FNTA accelerates proliferation and invasion of bladder cancer.

Role of circ-FNTA in the progression of bladder cancer (BCa) and its underlying mechanism were investigated. circ-FNTA level in BCa tissues and cell lines was detected. The prognostic potential of circ-FNTA was assessed by Kaplan-Meier methods and the proliferative and invasive abilities of BCa influenced by circ-FNTA were explored. Through dual-luciferase reporter gene assay, miRNA-451a, the target of circ-FNTA and the target gene of miRNA-451a, S1PR3 were determined. circ-FNTA was upregulated in BCa, especially in invasive BCa. High level of circ-FNTA indicated worse prognosis in BCa patients. Silence of circ-FNTA attenuated the proliferative and invasive abilities of T24 and UM-UC-3 cells. miRNA-451a was verified to be the target of circ-FNTA, which was downregulated in BCa cells. circ-FNTA negatively regulated the expression level of miRNA-451a. Moreover, S1PR3 was the downstream gene of miRNA-451a. Overexpression of miRNA-451a downregulated S1PR3 level in BCa cells. circ-FNTA accelerates the proliferative and invasive abilities of BCa through targeting miRNA-451a/S1PR3 axis, and indicates a poor prognosis of BCa patients.

Three-dimensional morphological analysis of the femoral neck torsion angle-an anatomical study.

BACKGROUND: The femoral neck torsion angle (FNTA) is an important but often neglected parameter in assessments of the anatomical morphology of the femoral neck, which is often confused with the femoral neck anteversion angle (FNAA) in the current literature. Currently, the measurement methods reported in the literature all adopt the naked eye or two-dimensional (2D) visualization method, and the measurement parameters and details are not clearly defined. The objection of this research was to provide a reliable 3D method for determining the femoral neck axis, to improve the measurement method of the FNTA, and to analyze the anatomical and clinical significance of the results. METHODS: Computed tomography (CT) data of 200 patients who received a lower extremity CT angiography examination were selected, and the bilateral femurs were reconstructed with three dimensional CT (3D CT). First, the 3D axis of the femoral neck was built. Second, the long axis of the cross section the femoral neck isthmus (FNI) and femoral neck basilar part (FNB) were confirmed by the "inertia axes" method, and the plane consisting of the long axis of the cross-section and the center of the femoral head was defined as the long axial plane. Third, the coronal plane of the proximal femur was determined through the long axis of the proximal femur and the femoral coronal. Finally, the FNTAs (the angles between the long axial planes and the coronal plane of the proximal femur) of FNI and FNB were measured. The size of FNTA was compared between the sexes and sides and different locations, the correlation between the parameters and age, height, and weight were evaluated. RESULTS: The difference in FNTA was statistically significant between the isthmus and the basilar part (isthmus 30.58 ± 8.90° vs. basilar part 23.79 ± 3.98°; p < 0.01). Significant difference in the FNTA was observed between the sexes (males 31.99 ± 9.25° vs. females 27.49 ± 7.19°; p < 0.01). The increase in FNTA from the basilar part to the isthmus was 6.79 ± 8.06°, and the male (7.87 ± 8.57°) was greater than the female (4.44 ± 6.23°, p < 0.01). However, no significant difference in the values was observed between sides. Height exerted the greatest effect on the FNTA according to the correlation analysis (r = 0.255, p< 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study found a reliable 3D method for the determination of the femoral neck axis improved the measurement method of the FTNTA and made it more accurate and repeatable. The results provided a methodological basis and theoretical support for the research and development of internal fixation device for femoral neck fracture and the spatial configuration of implants in treatment. And the optimal opening point of the femoral medullary cavity was recommended to locate at the posterior position of the top of the femoral neck cross-section during hip replacement.

Assessment of Protein Prenylation Pathway in Multiple Sclerosis Patients.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disorder with several genetic and environmental factors being implicated in its pathogenesis. Protein prenylation as one of the important posttranslational modifications of proteins has crucial role in immune system regulation. In the current case-control study, we compared expression of five genes coding for the different subunits of proteins implicated in protein prenylation in 50 Iranian MS patients with those of healthy subjects. No significant difference has been found in FNTA and PGGT1B expressions between cases and controls. Spearman correlation analysis between FNTA relative expression and disease duration showed significant correlation in male patients (r = - 0.671, P = 0.024) but not female patients (r = 0.253, P = 0.12). FNTB expression was significantly higher in MS patients compared with healthy subjects. Spearman correlation analysis between FNTB relative expression and disease duration showed significant correlation in male patients (r = -0.876, P = 0.004) but not female patients (r = 0.296, P = 0.06). RABGGTA was significantly upregulated in total MS patients, total male patients, female patients aged between 30 and 40 and male patients aged >40 compared with corresponding control groups. RABGGTB was significantly downregulated in total MS patients, total female patients, and female patients aged > 40 compared with corresponding control groups. Totally, we demonstrated dysregulation of protein prenylation pathway in MS patients compared with healthy subjects. Future studies are needed to find the clinical implication of this pathway in MS patients.

Association of neopterin as a marker of immune system activation and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis activity / Associação de neopterina como marcador de ativação do sistema imunológico e atividade da artrite reumatoide juvenil

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate neopterin plasma concentrations in patients with active juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and correlate them with disease activity.METHODS: Sixty patients diagnosed as active JIA, as well as another 60 apparently healthy age- and gender-matched children as controls, were recruited from the Pediatrics Allergy and Immunology Clinic, Ain Shams University. Disease activity was assessed by the Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score 27 (JADAS-27). Laboratory investigations were performed for all patients, including determination of hemoglobin concentration (Hgb), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein. Serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a), interleukin-6 (IL-6), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and neopterin were measured.RESULTS: Significant differences were found between JIA patients and controls with regard to the mean levels of Hgb, ESR, TNF-a, IL-6, and MCP-1 (p < 0.05). A statistically significant higher mean level serum neopterin concentration (p < 0.05) was found in JIA patients (20.43 ± 8.73 nmol/L) than in controls (6.88 ± 2.87 nmol/L) (p < 0.05). Positive significant correlations were detected between serum neopterin and ESR, TNF-a, IL-6, MCP-1, and JADAS-27 (p < 0.05). No correlation was found between serum neopterin and CRP (p > 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that JADAS- 27 and ESR were the main variables associated with serum neopterin in JIA patients (p < 0.05).CONCLUSION: The elevation of plasma neopterin concentrations in early JIA patients may indicate stimulation of immune response. Serum neopterin can be used as a sensitive marker for assaying background inflammation and disease activity score in JIA patients.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar as concentrações plasmáticas de neopterina em pacientes com artrite idiopática juvenil (AIJ) ativa e correlacioná-las com a atividade da doença.MÉTODOS: Foram recrutados da clínica de Alergia e Imunologia Infantil da Universidade Ain Shams 60 pacientes diagnosticados com AIJ ativa, bem como 60 crianças aparentemente saudáveis com a mesma idade e o mesmo sexo no grupo de controle. A atividade da doença foi avaliada pelo Escore de Atividade da Doença da Artrite Juvenil em 27 Articulações (JADAS-27). Foram feitas investigações laboratoriais em todos os pacientes, incluindo a determinação da concentração de hemoglobinas, a taxa de sedimentação de eritrócitos e a proteína C-reativa. Foram mensuradas as concentrações séricas do fator de necrose tumoral alfa, interleucina-6 e proteína quimiotática de monócitos-1 e neopterina.RESULTADOS: Foi encontrada uma diferença significativa entre os pacientes com AIJ e os controles quanto às médias de Hb, TSE, FNT-a, IL-6 e MCP-1 (p < 0,05). Foi encontrado um nível estatística e significativamente maior de concentração média de neopterina sérica (p < 0,05) em pacientes com AIJ (valor médio de 20,43 ± 8,73 nmol/L) do que em controles (valor médio de 6,88 ± 2,87 nmol/L) (p < 0,05). Foram detectadas correlações positivas significativas entre a neopterina sérica e TSE, FNT-a, IL-6, MCP-1 e JADAS-27 (p < 0,05). Não foi encontrada correlação entre a neopterina sérica e a PCR (p > 0,05). A análise de regressão linear múltipla mostrou que o JADAS-27 e a TSE foram as principais variáveis associadas à neopterina sérica em pacientes com AIJ (p < 0,05).CONCLUSÃO: A elevação das concentrações plasmáticas de neopterina em pacientes com AIJ precoce pode indicar um estímulo de resposta imune. A neopterina sérica pode ser usada como um indicador sensível para analisar o histórico de inflamações e o escore de atividade da doença em pacientes com AIJ.

Fator de Necrose Tumoral Alfa eGravidade Clínica em Primoinfectadospelo Plasmodium Vivax / Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha and Clinical Severity in Non-Immune Plasmodium Vivax

Avaliar a relação entre o FNT-α, a gravidade daapresentaçمo clيnica e a trombocitopenia, além da freqüênciado FNT2 e sua influência sobre os nيveis da citocina. Materiale Métodos: Foram avaliados pacientes primoinfectados peloP. vivax, ³ 15 anos, provenientes de Belém, Parل, com sintomashل £ 21 dias, atendidos e acompanhados clinicamente noInstituto Evandro Chagas (IEC) ou hospitalizados. A parasitemiafoi quantificada todos os dias até a negativaçمo. Adotou-se acloroquina e a primaquina por via oral, durante sete dias,como tratamento. Amostras sanguيneas foram coletadas emD0 e D7 para anلlises hematolَgicas e bioquيmicas, tيtulos doFNT-α e a freqüência do FNT2. Os programas Biostat 2.0 eExcel-Windows foram utilizados para as anلlises estatيsticasdas diferenças e das correlaçُes entre os parâmetros obtidos.Resultados: Oitenta e três pacientes foram atendidos eacompanhados clinicamente no D0, D1, D2, D3 e D7, defevereiro/2002 a março/2003. O FNT-α se correlacionoupositivamente e significativamente com a parasitemia (rs =0,33; p < 0,01) e com os escores clيnicos (rs = 0,48; p = 0,0001),porém negativamente com as plaquetas (rs = -0,48; p < 0,001)em D0. Os nيveis elevados de FNT-a foram responsلveis pelaintensidade das manifestaçُes clيnicas e pela trombocitopenianestes pacientes, porém o FNT2 nمo produziu tيtulos altos dacitocina. Conseqüentemente, tيtulos elevados de FNT-a forambenéficos na maioria dos casos, a plaquetopenia é um sinalde gravidade e outros fatores genéticos foram responsلveispelos nيveis elevados dessa citocina nesta amostra...

Evaluate the relationship between the TNF-a, theseverity of clinical presentation, the thrombocytopenia, thefrequency of TNF2 and its influence over cytokine levels.Material e Methods: We evaluated patients with first episodeof vivax malaria, ³ 15 years, with disease duration £ 21 days,coming from the city of Belém, Parل, attended at the InstitutoEvandro Chagas (IEC) or hospitalized. The parasitemia wasquantified every day till the negativation. The adoptedtreatment was cloroquine and primaquine PO, during sevendays. Blood samples were collected at D0 and D7 to realizequantification of hematological and biochemical parameters,TNF-a titles and TNF2 frequency. The programs Biostat 2.0and Excel for Windows were applied to analyze the differencesand correlations between the parameters. Results: Eighty threepatients were attended and accompanied clinically at D0, D1,D2, D3 and D7, from february/2002 till march/2003. TheTNF-a level correlated positively and significantly withparasitemia (rs = 0.33, p < 0.01) and clinical scores (rs = 0.48,p = 0.0001), but negatively with the platelets (rs = -0.48, p <0.0001) at D0. Consequently, high titles of TNF-a levels werebeneficial to the majority of the cases; the thrombocytopeniais a signal of severity, and others genetic factors were responsiblefor the high levels of this cytokine and phenotypicmanifestations on this sample...