Clinicopathological and prognostic significance of long non-coding RNA-ROR in cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Accumulating studies have focused on the clinicopathological and prognostic roles of large intergenic noncoding RNA regulator of reprogramming (lincRNA-ROR) in cancer patients. However, the results were controversial and unconvincing. Thus, we performed a meta-analysis to assess the associations between lincRNA-ROR expression and survival and clinicopathological characteristics of cancer patients. METHODS: Hazard ratios for overall survival and disease-free survival with their 95% confidence intervals were used to evaluate the role of lincRNA-ROR expression in the prognosis of cancer patients. Risk ratios with their 95% confidence intervals were applied to assess the relationship between lincRNA-ROR expression and clinicopathological parameters. RESULTS: A total of 18 articles with 1441 patients were enrolled. Our results indicated that high lincRNA-ROR expression was significant associated with tumor size, TNM stage, clinical stage, lymph metastasis, metastasis and vessel invasion of cancer patients. There were no correlations between high lincRNA-ROR expression and age, gender, infiltration depth, differentiation, serum CA19-9 and serum CEA of cancer patients. In addition, high lincRNA-ROR expression was associated with shorter Overall survival and disease-free survival on both univariate and multivariate analyses. Meanwhile, there were no obvious publication bias in our meta-analysis. CONCLUSIONS: LincRNA-ROR expression was associated with the clinicopathological features and outcome of cancer patients, which suggested that lincRNA-ROR might serve as a potential biomarker for cancer prognosis. ETHICAL APPROVAL: Since this study is on the basis of published articles, ethical approval and informed consent of patients are not required.

MnTBAP inhibits bone loss in ovariectomized rats by reducing mitochondrial oxidative stress in osteoblasts.

The development of postmenopausal osteoporosis is thought to be closely related to oxidative stress. Mn(III)tetrakis (4-benzoic acid) porphyrin (MnTBAP), a novel superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetic, could protect osteoblasts from cytotoxicity and dysfunction caused by oxidative stress. However, it is still unclear whether MnTBAP has effect on the development of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Here, we demonstrated that MnTBAP can inhibit bone mass loss and bone microarchitecture alteration, and increase the number of osteoblasts while reducing osteoclasts number, as well as improve the BMP-2 expression level in ovariectomized rat model. Additionally, MnTBAP can also prevent oxidative stress status up-regulation induced by ovariotomy and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Furthermore, MnTBAP reduced the effect of oxidative stress on osteoblasts differentiation and increased BMP-2 expression levels with a dose-dependent manner, via reducing the levels of mitochondrial oxidative stress in osteoblasts. Taken together, our findings provide new insights that MnTBAP inhibits bone loss in ovariectomized rats by reducing mitochondrial oxidative stress in osteoblasts, and maybe a potential drug in postmenopausal osteoporosis therapy.

The protective effects of triptolide on age-related bone loss in old male rats.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have showed that triptolide have a critical role in inhibiting osteoclast formation, bone resorption and attenuating regional osteoporosis. However, the protective role of triptolide on age-related bone loss has not been investigated. In the study, we assessed the effect of triptolide supplementation on bone microstructure and bone remolding in old male rat lumbars. METHODS: Fifty-two 22-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to either triptolide treatment group or control group. Triptolide (15 µg/kg/d) or normal saline was administered to the rats of assigned group for 8 weeks. Lumbar bone mineral density (BMD) and bone microstructure were analyzed by micro-CT. Fluorochrome labeling of the bones was performed to measure the mineral apposition rate (MAR) and bone formation rate (BFR). Osteoclast number was also measured by TRAP staining. Plasma level of osteocalcin and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (Tracp 5b) was also analyzed. RESULTS: Micro-CT results revealed that triptolide-treated rats had significant higher BMD, bone volume over total volume (BV/TV), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), bone trabecular number (Tb.N), and lower trabecular separation (Tb.Sp) compared to the control group. Although fluorochrome labeling result showed no significant difference in MAR and BFR between the groups, triptolide decreased osteoclast number in vivo. In addition, a significant higher level of plasma Tracp 5b was observed in the triptolide-treated rats. Furthermore, triptolide also reduced the expression of receptor for activation of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) and increased osteoprotegerin (OPG) expression in the lumbars. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that triptolide had a protective effect on age-related bone loss at least in part by reducing osteoclast number in elder rats. Therefore, triptolide might be a feasible therapeutic approach for senile osteoporosis.

A combined approach for the treatment of lateral and posterolateral tibial plateau fractures.

INTRODUCTION: The treatment of tibial plateau fractures involving the lateral and posterolateral column is a demanding and fine surgical challenge. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and clinical efficacy of combined approach for the treatment of lateral and posterolateral tibial plateau fractures. METHODS: A prospective study was performed in 17 patients with lateral and posterolateral tibial plateau fractures between January 2009 and December 2012. There were 12 males and 5 females with a mean age of 40 years. All of them received dual-plate fixation through the combined approach, with the patients in a floating position. The combined approaches included a conventional anterolateral approach and an inverted L-shaped posterolateral approach. Operation time, intraoperative blood loss, fracture healing time, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee score, knee flexion and extension range of motion, and complications were recorded to evaluate treatment effects. RESULTS: There were no intraoperative complications related to this technology. Mean operation time was 144min with a mean intraoperative blood loss volume of 233mL. The mean follow-up was 23 months. All 17 patients had good postoperative fracture healing. Mean union time was 12 weeks. At the final follow-up, the average HSS score was 92.5, with the average knee flexion of 125° and an average knee extension of 2°. Two patients had complications in postoperative incisions with aseptic fat liquefaction. After thorough debridement, second-stage wounds healing were achieved. No neurovascular injury occurred. No collapse of reduced articular surface was detected. CONCLUSIONS: The combined approach with dual-plate offers direct and complete surgical exposure and provide an effective method for the treatment of lateral and posterolateral tibial plateau fractures.