Serum human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 extracellular domain, carcinoma embryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 15-3 combined detection in early diagnosis of breast cancer.

The multi-markers combined detection can make up for the deficiency of single marker detection and significantly increase the positive detection rates of tumors. This study aimed to assess the performance of serum HER-2 extracellular domain (HER-2/neu ECD), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and cancer antigen 15-3 (CA15-3) in early screening and auxiliary diagnosis of breast cancer. The HER-2, CEA, and CA15-3 serum levels were measured in 164 healthy volunteers, 111 patients with benign nodules (BN), 123 with early breast cancer (EBC), and 25 with advanced breast cancer. In distinguishing health and EBC, the sensitivity and specificity of joint detection of HER-2, CEA, and CA15-3 were 96.75% and 96.95%, respectively; the accuracy was up to 96.19%, and the AUC was 0.994. In the cohort for distinguishing BN from EBC, serum HER-2, CEA, and CA15-3 sensitivities were 77.03%, 75.27%, and 48.65%, respectively. Combined with three markers, the sensitivity was increased to 84.46%, the AUC was 0.834. All in all, through the combined detection of serum HER-2, CEA and CA15-3 levels in healthy volunteers, BN and EBC, our study found that this method can significantly improve the diagnosis level of breast cancer, suggesting that the three markers panel can be used as an effective tool to improve the early screening level, early diagnosis, and clinical intervention of breast cancer.

Risk factors and score for recollapse of the augmented vertebrae after percutaneous vertebroplasty in osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.

Our study demonstrated a high incidence of recollapse of the augmented vertebrae after PVP treatment for OVCFs. A risk score based on all significant factors can predict the rate of recollapse and gain clinical benefits to prevent recollapse in patients at high risk. BACKGROUND: Recollapse of the augmented vertebrae after percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) treatment for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) has obtained much attention. However, little is known about risk factors and score for recollapse of the augmented vertebrae. OBJECTIVE: To determine risk factors and furthermore develop a risk score related to recollapse of the augmented vertebrae after PVP treatment for OVCFs. METHODS: Patients who were treated with PVP for single OVCFs and met this study's inclusion criteria were retrospectively reviewed. The follow-up period was at least 2 years. Associations of recollapse with co-variates (age, gender, bone mass density [BMD] with a T-score, fracture level, intravertebral cleft [IVC], fracture type, cement volume, cement leakage, leakage into a disc, cement distribution pattern, Non-PMMA-endplate-contact [NPEC], preoperative fracture severity, reduction rate [RR], reduction angle [RA]) were analyzed and a risk score for recollapse was further developed to predict recollapse. RESULTS: A total of 152 patients were included. Recollapse group was found in 42 (27.6%) patients. Preoperative IVC, solid lump cement distribution pattern, more RR (a cutoff value of 7%) and larger RA (a cutoff value of 3°) was significantly associated with increased risk for recollapse of the augmented vertebrae. A risk score was developed based on the number of risk factors present in each patient. Patients with a score of 4 had an approximately ninefold increased risk of developing recollapse over patients with a score of 0. The receiver operating characteristic curve of the risk score generated an area under the curve of 0.899 (95% CI 0.642-0.836, P = 0.000). CONCLUSION: A risk score based on preoperative IVC, cement distribution pattern, reduction rate, and reduction angle predicts the rate of recollapse. Additional studies should aim to validate this score and inspect clinical benefits of recollapse prophylaxis in patients at high risk.

Diagnostic and prognostic implications of serum miR-101 in osteosarcoma.

Blood-circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to be used as potential biomarkers in various cancers. MiR-101 has been found to act as a tumor suppressor in many tumor types, but little is known for osteosarcoma. The purpose of this study was to investigate miR-101 expression in osteosarcoma patients and assess its correlation with clinical features and prognosis. Serum samples from 152 osteosarcoma patients and 70 healthy controls were detected using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The data showed that miR-101 expression levels were remarkably underexpressed in serum samples from osteosarcoma patients compared to controls, and the post-treatment serum miR-101 expression was significantly higher than that in the pre-treatment expression. Low serum miR-101 expression was positively associated with advanced clinical stage and distant metastasis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that serum miR-101 could serve as a useful marker for osteosarcoma diagnosis, with a high sensitivity and specificity. Moreover, patients with high miR-101 expression had longer overall survival and recurrence free survival than those with low miR-101 expression. In addition, both univariate and multivariate analyses showed that serum miR-101 downregulation was associated with shorter overall survival and recurrence free survival. Our present results implicated serum miR-101 might be a useful biomarker for the clinical diagnosis and prognosis of osteosarcoma.

Identification and characterization of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) receptors in the endometrial tissue of pregnant rats.

The mechanisms by which LH-RH or its agonists inhibit decidua formation and terminate pregnancy in rats are not clear. Evidence so far accumulated indicates that the gonadotropic releasing hormone or its analogues may act directly on the uterus. If this is the case, then we would be able to identify LH-RH receptors in the endometrial tissue. The results presented here demonstrate that the homogenate preparation of rat endometrial tissue bound 125I-LH-RH with an affinity constant of Ka = 1.3 X 10(8) M-1. The binding capacity was measured as 236 fmole/mg protein. It was found that the binding is highly specific, because no binding was observed in a variety of non-target tissues, such as liver, kidney and muscle. Competitive binding with TRH, P substance and bradykinin did not occur under our experimental condition. It was of particular interest to note that Day 3 of pregnancy is a critical time showing a higher binding activity. The significance of work is discussed.