Harnessing the supremacy of MEG3 LncRNA to defeat gastrointestinal malignancies.

Evidence suggests that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a pivotal role in the carcinogenesis and progression of various human malignancies including gastrointestinal malignancies. This comprehensive review reports the functions and mechanisms of the lncRNA maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) involved in gastrointestinal malignancies. It summarizes its roles in mediating the regulation of cellular proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasiveness, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and drug resistance in several gastrointestinal cancers such as colorectal cancer, gall bladder cancer, pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumors and most importantly, hepatocellular carcinoma. In addition, the authors briefly highlight its implicated mechanistic role and interactions with different non-coding RNAs and oncogenic signaling cascades. This review presents the rationale for developing non coding RNA-based anticancer therapy via harnessing the power of MEG3 in gastrointestinal malignancies.

Intralesional verapamil injection in treatment of Peyronie's disease. Preliminary results

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of intra-lesional verapamil injection in the treatment of Peyronie's disease. Patients and Methods Twenty-six patients with Peyronie's disease were divided into two groups: the verapamil treatment group (study group) including 13 patients and the saline group (control group) including another 13 patients. The patients' age ranged from 35 to 58 years with a mean age of 43.75 years. The patients in the study group were subjected to a weekly injection of 10 mg verapamil hydrochloride (5 mg / 2 ml) into the plaque for the duration of six weeks. At the same time; the patients in the control group received a weekly injection of normal saline into the plaque; also for the duration of six weeks. The patients' response to the injections was evaluated subjectively with respect to pain and sexual dysfunction and objectively with respect to the plaque volume and the degree of curvature. Results Following therapy; pain was improved in 8 of 9 patients (88.9) of the patients in the verapamil group; while in the control group it was stationary in 6 of 8 patients (75) and had progressed in 2 of 8 patients (25). Curvature was improved in 5 of 10 patients (50) and remained unchanged in 5 of 10 patients (50) of the study group; while no improvement could be recorded in any of the patients of the control group. Three of five patients (60) of

Management of renal trauma : assiut experience

Objective To conform a rational approach for diagnosis and treatment of renal injuries with either conservative or interventional treatment. Patients and Methods The study included 36 male and 6 female patients (total 42) with renal trauma. The patients' age ranged from 6 to 65 years. Thirty-one patients (73.8) presented with blunt renal trauma; while eleven patients (26.2) presented with penetrating renal trauma. Haematuria was the commonest presenting symptom accounting for 98. All patients were thoroughly evaluated clinically and by abdo-minal ultrasonography; while excretory urography and abdominal computerized tomography were required in some patients only. Results Conservative treatment was successful in 10 patients with minor blunt trauma; while immediate exploration was done for 26 patients and late exploration was required in 6 patients. Conclusion For renal salvage; the traumatized kidney is to be explored in all cases of penetrating and major blunt renal trauma

Steinstrasse after extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy: aetiology, prevention and management.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the causes of steinstrasse, methods of prevention and treatment strategies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-two patients with steinstrasse were identified and treated: all patients were initially treated conservatively but when there was obstruction, infection or no progression of the stone fragments, further treatment was used, ranging from repeated extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL), percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN), endoscopic manipulations and finally open surgery, depending on the degree of obstruction, infection, renal function and response to each kind of therapy. RESULTS: Conservative management was successful in 25 patients (48%), repeated ESWL in 12 (23%), PCN in 10 (19%), ureteroscopy in three (6%) and open surgery in two (4%). CONCLUSION: As many patients, and particularly those with larger stones, are treated by ESWL, the risk of developing steinstrasse will increase, with associated patient discomfort, infection or impaired renal function. The optimum selection of cases (aiming to pulverize the stones rather than fragment them) and accurate stone targeting are essential to minimise the development of steinstrasse. The meticulous follow-up of patients with steinstrasse should prevent any loss of renal function. When there is obstruction and/or infection or renal damage, active treatment is indicated, of which ESWL and PCN are the most effective, with ureteroscopy and open surgery reserved for difficult cases.

Fatal complication of percutaneous femoral vein catheterization in a hemodialysis patient.

Percutaneous femoral vein catheterization is a safe procedure to perform and major complications are rarely reported. WE present a case of death following such procedure in a chronic hemodialysis patient. This case is to emphasize the importance of taking utmost care during insertion of he catheter and not to underestimate the dangers of what may look like a minor tear in the vein when surgical exploration is needed.

Reisolation of avian arthrotropic reovirus R2 from chicks infected as embryos.

Four groups of specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chicken eggs of 7 days' incubation were inoculated via the yolk sac with a range of 10-fold dilutions of avian reovirus R2. Deaths between days 8 and 18 of incubation increased in number with increased virus dose inoculated, and virus was recovered with high frequency from all groups except those given the lowest dose. For those chicks which hatched, cloacal swabs at day-old failed to demonstrate virus in the chicks given the lowest dose, although those infected with the two higher doses were positive. At 7 days post-hatch, however, virus could be isolated from target tissues e.g. liver, hock joints and rectal contents, of most chicks in all groups, but many samples were not positive until after three cell culture passages. It is considered that this method of experimental infection could conveniently simulate natural egg transmission of avian reoviruses.