The Regulatory Mechanisms and Clinical Significance of Lnc SNHG4 in Cancer.

BACKGROUND: LncRNAs have been reported to be involved in a variety of biological functions, including gene expression, cell growth, and differentiation. They may also serve as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes in diseases. lncRNAs that can encode small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) have been named small nucleolar RNA host genes (SNHGs). OBJECTIVE: In this review article, we readily review the regulatory mechanisms and clinical significance of Lnc SNHG4 in cancer. METHODS: We systematically investigated databases, like Scopus, PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library database for all research articles, and have provided an overview regarding the biological functions and mechanisms of lncRNA SNHG4 in tumorigenesis. RESULTS: Compared to neighboring normal tissues, SNHG4 is significantly dysregulated in various tumor tissues. SNHG4 upregulation is mainly associated with advanced tumor stage, tumor size, TNM stage, and decreased overall survival. In addition, aberrant SNHG4 expression promotes cell proliferation, metastasis, migration, and invasion of cancer cells. CONCLUSION: SNHG4 may serve as a new therapeutic target and prognostic biomarker in patients with cancer.

Urine-Based Nested PCR for the Diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: A Comparative Study Between HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative Patients.

BACKGROUND: While tuberculosis (TB) can be diagnosed by microscopy and culture, the sensitivity of Ziehl-Neelsen staining is variable and culture results require 4 - 8 weeks to be determined. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and its modifications, including nested PCR, might be promising methods for the rapid diagnosis of TB. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the performance of nested PCR on urine samples of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive and -negative patients with different manifestations of clinical TB. METHODS: In a prospective study, three early-morning urine samples from 100 patients with pulmonary TB (PTB) or extrapulmonary TB (EPTB) were evaluated using a molecular target with insertion element IS6110, specific to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome, and nested PCR was performed. The results were analyzed with SPSS version 22. RESULTS: A total of 100 patients, including 74 (74%) with PTB and 26 (26%) with EPTB, were enrolled. Positive smears were seen in 38 patients (38%). Lymph nodes were the most commonly involved organ in 14 of the 26 (53.8%) EPTB patients (13.5%). Seven (23.1%) of the EPTB patients were HIV-positive. Urine PCR was positive in only 28 patients (28%). Seven HIV-positive patients with PTB showed positive urine PCR results. Moreover, PCR results were positive in only one of the seven HIV-positive subjects with EPTB. Positive PCR results were found in 20 of the 73 HIV-negative patients (27.4%) and in 8 of the 27 HIV-positive patients (29.6%). Therefore, there was no significant difference between the HIV-negative and HIV-positive patients for urine PCR (sensitivity 29.6%, specificity 72.6%; positive and negative predictive values 28% and 72%, respectively; P = 0.138). CONCLUSIONS: Nested PCR showed the same sensitivity in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients. It can be applied as a rapid technique for the diagnosis of TB.

Insights into the role of HCV Plus-/Minus strand RNA, IFN-γ and IL-29 in relapse outcome in patients infected with HCV.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Approximately one-third of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients who complete antiviral therapy with undetectable serum HCV RNA at the end of therapy (ETR), will experience relapse. The reasons for the failure of treatment have not been elucidated. It was showed that HCV RNA can persist and replicate in extra hepatic sites, e.g. in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), but the relevance of its presence with relapse over time is still unknown. Moreover, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and IFN-lambdas [IFN-λ1, interleukin-29 (IL-29)], possess potent antiviral activity. We studied if the presence of plus-/minus strand RNA in PBMCs of patients and the serum level of IFN-γ and IL-29, which is the most abundant IFN-lambdas in serum, can be considered as predictive factors in relapse outcomes. METHODS: Patients were screened for plus-/minus strand RNA at ETR and after 6 months. Also, we measured the serum level of IFN-γ and IL-29 and compared the result with those who developed a sustained virological response (SVR). RESULTS: Levels of IL-29 and IFN-? serum were significantly higher in SVR at ETR and 6 months later compared to those of the relapsed patients, but there was no difference between the two groups regarding the presence or absence of plus-/minus HCV strand in PBMCs. CONCLUSIONS: Our novel findings showed that the serum level of IL-29 and IFN-γ are predictive of relapse outcomes to HCV treatment, but there was no association between the presence of plus-γminus HCV RNA in PBMCs of patients with an outcome of therapy at ETR and later.

Ethical considerations in sex selection.

Advances in modern medicine are resulted from unrestricted and unlimited research disregarding many essentials of a research including ethical issues. Following ethical issues, many of unwanted pregnancies and abortions can be avoided. Several factors such as medical issues including X linked disease, has encouraged couples to select traditional or modern techniques in selecting the gender of their children. Some of these methods are corrected Swim-up method or washing of spermatozoa, Percoll gradient sperm separation method, grass wool column filter method method, albumin separation method, microsort method using FISH (Fluorescence in situ hybridization), free electrophoresis method, Ph adjustment method, pre implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD)/fluorescence in situ hybridization. This technology is confronted with many ethical issues. Ethical considerations PGD in the SEX SELECTION differ in different religions and their perspectives on this issue. In this this review, electronic databases, books and Internet sites were completely searched and full articles including required keywords and techniques were obtained and reviewed. The rites and religions, were different and had legal perspectives and opinions about PGD. In some non-Islamic countries there are strict rules to control the use of technology. Some of these methods are costly and even risky. They also involve ethical issues such as legitimacy of the conceived fetus; recommending final touches in sex selection is still considered a taboo and a big issue in some cultures or mono-sexual families. Islamic views and beliefs are more flexible and the use of these technologies are allowed to preserve the health and lives permit. Islam strongly favors humanity and supports different issues if they are not in conflict with the primary concept of legitimate reproduction and are beneficial to human beings.

The impact of human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6, 11 in women with genital warts.

OBJECTIVE: Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are etiologically associated with the development of virtually all genital warts. HPV-6 and HPV-11 are the most commonly detected HPV genotypes, but at least 20 other HPV genotypes have occasionally been found in genital wart tissue specimens. STUDY DESIGN: The aim of this study was to determine from 100 genital wart tissue specimens collected from female patients using multiplex gap-PCR technique the prevalence of various genital HPV among women with HPV genital warts in south of Iran. 100 genital wart tissue specimens were tested for the presence of HPV PG5/PG6 and also for HPV type using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Based on the collected data, 73 (73 %) samples were detected positive for HPV DNA and 23 (23 %) samples out of 100 samples were detected negative for HPV DNA. 49 (49 %) and 67 (67 %) of patients were detected positive for HPV type 6 and 11, respectively. There was a significant association between marital status and HPV genotype 6 (OR = 0.51, 95 % CI = 0.37-0.70, P = 0.01). Nevertheless, no significant association was found between marriage and HPV genotype 11 (OR = 0.85, 95 % CI = 0.58-1, 24, P = 0.7). Similarly, this result was demonstrated, in combined marriage and HPV-general (OR = 0.80, 95 % CI = 0.62-0.05, P = 0.4). CONCLUSION: Concerning the prevalence of HPV in our study, determination of genital HPV prevalence and multiple infections among the normal population of women of Hormozgan Province is recommended.