Hypertriglyceridemia Interferes with Hemoglobin Detection and Calibration Methods.

BACKGROUND: Hemoglobin (HGB) is a pigment protein found in human red blood cells. Laboratories usually measure hemoglobin using a colorimetric method. The factor that causes the increase of blood turbidity (hypertri-glyceridemia) can lead to the false increase of HGB, and also cause a significant increase of MCH and MCHC. METHODS: By means of a case of hypertriglyceridemia, plasma exchange and formula substitution methods were used to establish a reliable calibration method for hemoglobin (HGB) determination. RESULTS: After calibration, the corrected final values of HGB and its related indexes MCH and MCHC differ greatly from the instrument values. We reported the calibrated results to clinicians. CONCLUSIONS: When using a commonly used clinical hematology analyzer to detect hemoglobin, when encountering high TG samples, plasma exchange and formula substitution methods can be used. It can quickly help us correct the HGB, MCH, and MCHC values in blood lipid samples and provide clinicians with accurate reports.

Exosomal miR-222-3p contributes to castration-resistant prostate cancer by activating mTOR signaling.

Despite the clinical benefits of androgen deprivation therapy, most patients with advanced androgen-dependent prostate cancer (ADPC) eventually relapse and progress to lethal androgen-independent prostate cancer (AIPC), also termed castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). MiRNAs can be packaged into exosomes (Exos) and shuttled between cells. However, the roles and mechanisms of exosomal miRNAs involved in CRPC progression have not yet been fully elucidated. Here, we find that miR-222-3p is elevated in AIPC cells, which results in remarkable enhancement of cell proliferation, migration, and invasion ability. Furthermore, Exos released by AIPC cells can be uptaken by ADPC cells, thus acclimating ADPC cells to progressing to more aggressive cell types in vitro and in vivo through exosomal transfer of miR-222-3p. Mechanistically, Exos-miR-222-3p promoted ADPC cells transformed to AIPC-like cells, at least in part, by activating mTOR signaling through targeting MIDN. Our results show that AIPC cells secrete Exos containing miRNA cargo. These cargos can be transferred to ADPC cells through paracrine mechanisms that have a strong impact on cellular functional remodeling. The current work underscores the great therapeutic potential of targeting Exo miRNAs, either as a single agent or combined with androgen receptor pathway inhibitors for CRPC treatment.

Emerging proteins involved in castration­resistant prostate cancer via the AR­dependent and AR­independent pathways (Review).

Despite achieving optimal initial responses to androgen deprivation therapy, most patients with prostate cancer eventually progress to a poor prognosis state known as castration­resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Currently, there is a notable absence of reliable early warning biomarkers and effective treatment strategies for these patients. Although androgen receptor (AR)­independent pathways have been discovered and acknowledged in recent years, the AR signaling pathway continues to play a pivotal role in the progression of CRPC. The present review focuses on newly identified proteins within human CRPC tissues. These proteins encompass both those involved in AR­dependent and AR­independent pathways. Specifically, the present review provides an in­depth summary and analysis of the emerging proteins within AR bypass pathways. Furthermore, the significance of these proteins as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for treating CRPC is discussed. Therefore, the present review offers valuable theoretical insights and clinical perspectives to comprehensively enhance the understanding of CRPC.

New insights into lipid metabolism and prostate cancer (Review).

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common malignant tumor of the male urological system and poses a severe threat to the survival of middle­aged and elderly males worldwide. The development and progression of PCa are affected by a variety of biological processes, including proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion and the maintenance of membrane homeostasis of PCa cells. The present review summarizes recent research advances in lipid (fatty acid, cholesterol and phospholipid) metabolic pathways in PCa. In the first section, the metabolism of fatty acids is highlighted, from formation to catabolism and associated proteins. Subsequently, the role of cholesterol in the pathogenesis and evolution of PCa is described in detail. Finally, the different types of phospholipids and their association with PCa progression is also discussed. In addition to the impact of key proteins of lipid metabolism on PCa growth, metastasis and drug resistance, the present review also summarizes the clinical value of fatty acids, cholesterol and phospholipids, as diagnostic and prognostic indicators and therapeutic targets in PCa.

Emerging Proteins in CRPC: Functional Roles and Clinical Implications.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common cancer in men in the western world, but the lack of specific and sensitive markers often leads to overtreatment of prostate cancer which eventually develops into castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Novel protein markers for diagnosis and management of CRPC will be promising. In this review, we systematically summarize and discuss the expression pattern of emerging proteins in tissue, cell lines, and serum when castration-sensitive prostate cancer (CSPC) progresses to CRPC; focus on the proteins involved in CRPC growth, invasion, metastasis, metabolism, and immune microenvironment; summarize the current understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of emerging proteins in CSPC progressed to CRPC at the molecular level; and finally summarize the clinical applications of emerging proteins as diagnostic marker, prognostic marker, predictive marker, and therapeutic marker.

Efficacy of intradermal acupuncture for insomnia: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To provide updated evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the efficacy of intradermal acupuncture for insomnia. METHODS: A search of relevant literatures was performed on major medical databases, including the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, CBM, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang Data and so on. Risk of bias evaluation, meta-analysis, sensitivity analysis and evidence rating of all extracted information were also conducted. RESULTS: A total of 508 studies were initially identified. However, only 45 studies were deemed eligible for the present review. Meta-analyses were conducted in three comparisons separately: intradermal versus acupuncture, Effective rate (RR = 0.08, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.19), Global scales score (points) (SMD = -0.52, 95% CI: -0.81,-0.24, P = 0.02); intradermal acupuncture versus non acupuncture, Effective rate(RR = 1.22, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.42), Global scales score (points) (SMD = -0.81, 95% CI: -1.23,-0.38, P < 0.00001); control group versus control add intradermal acupuncture. Effective rate(RR = 1.27, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.42), Global scales score (points) (SMD = -1.15, 95% CI: -1.46,-0.84, P < 0.00001). Although these results suggested benefits of intradermal acupuncture, the overall quality of evidence rated was low. CONCLUSIONS: The summary estimates indicate that it improved the clinical effective rate and lowered PSQI or other scales score, when compared to sham acupuncture or placebo/conventional medications/herbs.Also,it significantly improved the clinical effective rate and lowered PSQI or other scales score, when the control groups add intradermal acupuncture. However, the quality of the evidence is varied from very low to low due to the potential risk of bias and inconsistency among included trials. The more larger sample size and much more rigorous designed RCTs are still further studied.