The role of long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs in cervical cancer: modulating miRNA function.

Cervical cancer (CC) is a primary global health concern, ranking as the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in women. Despite advancements in prognosis, long-term outcomes remained poor. Beyond HPV, cofactors like dietary deficiencies, immunosuppression, hormonal contraceptives, co-infections, and genetic variations are involved in CC progression. The pathogenesis of various diseases, including cancer, has brought to light the critical regulatory roles of microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs). The aberrant expression of these miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs plays a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of CC. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the recent literature regarding the involvement of lncRNAs and circRNAs in modulating miRNA functions in cervical neoplasia and metastasis. Studies have shown that lncRNAs and circRNAs hold great potential as therapeutic agents and innovative biomarkers in CC. However, more clinical research is needed to advance our understanding of the therapeutic benefits of circRNAs and lncRNAs in CC.

A New Subtype of Lichen Planopilaris Affecting Vellus Hairs and Clinically Mimicking Androgenetic Alopecia.

BACKGROUND: Lichen planopilaris (LPP) is a follicular variant of lichen planus. A new subtype of LPP mimicking androgenetic alopecia (AGA) may be misdiagnosed. Inappropriate medical therapy or hair transplantation may exacerbate this subtype. OBJECTIVE: To introduce clinicopathologic findings of a new subtype of LPP that selectively affects vellus hair in the pattern of AGA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 433 (66.6%) men and 217 (33.4%) women with alopecia who were candidates of medical treatment or hair transplantation were included. Gross and microscopic attributes of their diseases were investigated. RESULTS: Among the total of 650 patients, 58 (8.9%; 95% confidence interval, 6.7%-11.1%) patients, including 52 women and 6 men, had LPP. We identified a distinct category of LPP presenting with diffuse hair loss in the pattern of AGA with predominant terminal hair, significant decrease in vellus hair, and minute punctuate scars in histopathology. Vellus hair follicles were the main sites of involvement. Perifollicular fibrosis and mild fibrosis with lichenoid lymphocytic infiltration around infundibular area of vellus hair follicles were present. CONCLUSION: There is a new form of LPP with clinical features similar to AGA. This form is histopathologically similar to LPP but selectively affects vellus hair follicles.