The role of LncRNA-mediated autophagy in cancer progression.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a sort of transcripts that are more than 200 nucleotides in length. In recent years, many studies have revealed the modulatory role of lncRNAs in cancer. Typically, lncRNAs are linked to a variety of essential events, such as apoptosis, cellular proliferation, and the invasion of malignant cells. Simultaneously, autophagy, an essential intracellular degradation mechanism in eukaryotic cells, is activated to respond to multiple stressful circumstances, for example, nutrient scarcity, accumulation of abnormal proteins, and organelle damage. Autophagy plays both suppressive and promoting roles in cancer. Increasingly, studies have unveiled how dysregulated lncRNAs expression can disrupt autophagic balance, thereby contributing to cancer progression. Consequently, exploring the interplay between lncRNAs and autophagy holds promising implications for clinical research. In this manuscript, we methodically compiled the advances in the molecular mechanisms of lncRNAs and autophagy and briefly summarized the implications of the lncRNA-mediated autophagy axis.

Comparisons of the energy efficiency and intraocular safety of two torsional phacoemulsification tips.

BACKGROUND: During cataract phacoemulsification surgery, an Intrepid® balanced (IB) tip can achieve a larger amplitude, which may lead to higher energy efficiency than a Kelman (K) tip when paired with a torsional phaco platform. In this retrospective cohort study, we compared their energy efficiency and damage to the cornea under a new energy setting. METHODS: The medical records of 104 eyes of 79 patients were reviewed, with 47 eyes belonging to the IB group and 57 eyes belonging to the K group. All surgeries were performed on an Alcon Centurion® platform with gravity infiltration. Surgical parameters, visual outcome, central corneal thickness (CCT) changes, and endothelial cell density (ECD) loss rate were recorded and calculated. RESULTS: No significant differences in postoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), total ultrasound time, estimated fluid aspirated, CCT changes, or ECD loss rate were observed between the two groups. We divided the included eyes into soft nucleus and hard nucleus subgroups and found lower cumulative dissipated energy (CDE, 8.15 ± 8.02 vs 14.82 ± 14.16, P = 0.023), cumulative torsional energy (CTE, 8.06 ± 7.87 vs 14.13 ± 13.02, P = 0.027), and cumulative longitudinal energy (CLE, 0.09 ± 0.17 vs 0.69 ± 1.37, P = 0.017) in the IB group than in the K group, implying less energy used and higher energy efficiency of the IB tip. CONCLUSION: Lower CLE in the IB group indicates fewer phaco tip obstructions and a significantly higher capability to conquer hard nuclei with IB tips with statistical significance. With an ultra-perfusion cannula, the balanced tip does not cause more corneal damage.

Trans-base and trans-vault low-velocity penetrating brain injury: A retrospective comparative study of characteristics, treatment, and outcomes.

PURPOSE: Low-velocity penetrating brain injury (LVPBI) caused by foreign bodies can pose life-threatening emergencies. Their complexity and lack of validated classification data have prevented standardization of clinical management. We aimed to compare the trans-base and trans-vault phenotypes of LVPBI to help provide guidance for clinical decision-making of such injury type. METHODS: A retrospective study on LVPBI patients managed at our institution from November 2013 to March 2020 was conducted. We included LVPBI patients admitted for the first time for surgery, and excluded those with multiple injuries, gunshot wounds, pregnancy, severe blunt head trauma, etc. Patients were categorized into trans-base and trans-vault LVPBI groups based on the penetration pathway. Discharged patients were followed up by outpatient visit or telephone. The data were entered into the Electronic Medical Record system by clinicians, and subsequently derived by researchers. The demography and injury characteristics, treatment protocols, complications, and outcomes were analyzed and compared between the two groups. A t-test was used for analysis of normally distributed data, and a Mann-Whitney U test for non-parametric data. A generalized linear model was further established to determine whether the factors length of stay and performance scale score were influenced by each factor. RESULTS: A total of 27 LVPBI patients were included in this analysis, comprised of 13 (48.1%) trans-base cases and 14 (51.9%) trans-vault cases. Statistical analyses suggested that trans-base LVPBI was correlated with deeper wounds; while the trans-vault phenotype was correlated with injury by metal foreign bodies. There was no difference in Glasgow Coma Scale score and the risk of intracranial hemorrhage between the two groups. Surgical approaches in the trans-base LVPBI group included subfrontal (n = 5, 38.5%), subtemporal (n = 5, 38.5%), lateral fissure (n = 2, 15.4%), and distal lateral (n = 1, 7.7%). All patients in the trans-vault group underwent a brain convex approach using the foreign body as reference (n = 14, 100%). Moreover, the two groups differed in application prerequisites for intracranial pressure monitoring and vessel-related treatment. Trans-base LVPBI was associated with higher rates of cranial nerve and major vessel injuries; in contrast, trans-vault LVPBI was associated with lower functional outcome scores. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that trans-base and trans-vault LVPBIs differ in terms of characteristics, treatment, and outcomes. Further understanding of these differences may help guide clinical decisions and contribute to a better management of LVPBIs.

LncRNA SAMD12-AS1 Promotes the Progression of Gastric Cancer via DNMT1/p53 Axis.

BACKGROUND: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are essential modulators of cancers initiation and progression via regulating gene expression and biological behaviors. LncRNA SAMD12-AS1 has been validated to promote the progression of several cancers, while its role in gastric cancer (GC) remains unclear. This study aims to explore the role of LncRNA SAMD12-AS1 in GC. METHODS: qRT-PCR was performed to analyze the expression of lncRNA SAMD12-AS1 in GC tissues and cell lines, with Kaplan-Meier curve analyzing the correlation between LncRNA SAMD12-AS1 and prognosis. CCK-8 assay, and flow cytometry were applied to detect GC cells proliferation, cell cycle. Binding of RNA and proteins were detected via RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. Protein levels of oncogenesis-related genes were determined via western blotting. RESULTS: SAMD12-AS1 was highly up-regulated in human gastric cancer tissues and cell lines compared to their normal counterparts. High SAMD12-AS1 expression was closely related to TNM stage, and shorter survival span of patients with GC. Moreover, SAMD12-AS1 was also found to promote the oncogenic role of GC cells via inhibiting the P53 signaling pathway. Mechanistically, SAMD12-AS1 might performed its biological roles in GC via directly interacting with DNMT1 and facilitating DNMT1 repress the P53 signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that SAMD12-AS1 promoted GC progression via DNMT1/P53 axis, indicating SAMD12-AS1 may be envisioned as a novel biomarker of, and therapeutic target for GC.

Genetic landscape of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the deadliest cancers. We performed exome sequencing on 113 tumor-normal pairs, yielding a mean of 82 non-silent mutations per tumor, and 8 cell lines. The mutational profile of ESCC closely resembles those of squamous cell carcinomas of other tissues but differs from that of esophageal adenocarcinoma. Genes involved in cell cycle and apoptosis regulation were mutated in 99% of cases by somatic alterations of TP53 (93%), CCND1 (33%), CDKN2A (20%), NFE2L2 (10%) and RB1 (9%). Histone modifier genes were frequently mutated, including KMT2D (also called MLL2; 19%), KMT2C (MLL3; 6%), KDM6A (7%), EP300 (10%) and CREBBP (6%). EP300 mutations were associated with poor survival. The Hippo and Notch pathways were dysregulated by mutations in FAT1, FAT2, FAT3 or FAT4 (27%) or AJUBA (JUB; 7%) and NOTCH1, NOTCH2 or NOTCH3 (22%) or FBXW7 (5%), respectively. These results define the mutational landscape of ESCC and highlight mutations in epigenetic modulators with prognostic and potentially therapeutic implications.

[Randomly sampling survey of dry eye awareness in general eye clinic].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the dry eye awareness in the populations visiting general eye clinic. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. A questionnaire about dry eye was designed and administrated to Peking University Third Hospital General Eye Clinic patients (n = 804) from June 2010 to June 2011. The questionnaire contents included general demographic characteristics, experience of health-related work, past medical history, medication history and ocular surface symptoms associated with dry eye, contact lens wearing, ocular operation history, etc. Chi-square and Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine the influence of demographic and clinical features on awareness of dry eye. RESULTS: Awareness of "dry eye" in the general eye clinical patients was relatively low (26.9%, 216/804). Participants whose age were between 40 and 60 years had better dry eye awareness (41.7%, 73/175) (χ(2) = 27.365, P = 0.000). Dry eye awareness of female was better than that of male [female: 33.8% (151/447), male: 18.2% (65/357), χ(2) = 24.500, P = 0.000]. Those who had been in health-related work (71.4%, 30/42), and whose friends or relatives were ophthalmologists (54.7%, 52/95) had better dry eye awareness (χ(2) = 31.582, 36.400; both P < 0.01). Participants with a history of rheumatoid arthritis (7/10) or diabetes mellitus (63.0%, 17/27) had better dry eye awareness (χ(2) = 32.301, 29.887;both P < 0.01). Those who had been using artificial tears (77.5%, 31/40), oral contraceptives (9/14), diuretics (10/18), sedatives (70.4%, 19/27) and anti-depression drugs (4/4) had better dry eye awareness (χ(2) = 54.928, 10.154, 7.713, 26.912, 10.943; all P < 0.01). Except frequently blinking (29.5%), participants who had ocular irrigating symptoms (all > 33.0%) had better awareness than those who had not (χ(2) = 7.831 - 32.522, all P < 0.01). Those who were allergic to environment irritating factors (all > 30.0%) had better awareness (χ(2) = 5.033 - 24.564, all P < 0.01). Participants who had medical history of ocular surgery (47.2%, 34/72), experience of wearing contact lens (33.2%, 94/283), who were diagnosed as dry eye (100.0%, 45/45) and who had regular ocular examinations (31.0%, 96/310) had better awareness (χ(2) = 4.321 - 129.763, all P < 0.01). Those who had visited general practitioners (14.8%, 16/108) had lower awareness than those who went to hospital of higher level (28.7%, 200/696) (χ(2) = 9.324, P = 0.002). The result of binary logistic regression analysis showed that gender, health-related working experience, relatives or friends working as Ophthalmologists, using artificial tears, oral contraceptives and sedatives, ocular irritations or environment sensitivity, eye surgeries and wearing contact lens were factors that affected dry eye awareness (OR > 1.000, P < 0.10). CONCLUSIONS: Dry eye awareness in the population who visit general eye clinic is low. The knowledge of dry eye should be added to the patient education and public popularization.