Up-regulation of circular RNA hsa_circ_01844 induces apoptosis and suppresses proliferation and migration of glioblastoma cells.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated that various circular RNAs are involved in the malignant proliferation of cancers, such as liver cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, and others. The potential role of circular RNAs in glioblastoma, however, is still uncertain. In this study, we aimed to study the potential role of hsa_circ_01844 in glioblastoma. METHODS: Using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method, hsa_circ_01844 expression was measured in five glioblastoma samples and five normal brain samples. To evaluate the potential function of hsa_circ_01844 in glioblastoma, hsa_circ_01844 was overexpressed in glioblastoma cell lines (U251 and U87 cells). Using these two cell lines, in vitro experiments including the flow cytometry assay, 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, Transwell assay, and cell apoptosis assay were performed to investigate the role of hsa_circ_01844 in glioblastoma. Student t test and one-way analysis of variance were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The expression of circular RNA hsa_circ_01844 was lower in glioblastoma tissues when compared with the normal brain tissues by RT-PCR method (0.034 ±â€Š0.036 vs. 1.630 ±â€Š0.891, P < 0.001). Using two glioblastoma cell lines, we found that overexpression of hsa_circ_01844 in glioblastoma cells suppressed their proliferation, colony formation, migration, and increased the apoptotic rate compared with empty vector group and blank control group (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Hsa_circ_01844 shows decreased expression in glioblastoma and its overexpression induces apoptosis and inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion of glioblastoma cells.

The Metabolic Activity of Caudate and Prefrontal Cortex Negatively Correlates with the Severity of Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease.

Positron emission tomography (PET) scan with tracer [18F]-fluorodeoxy-glucose (18F-FDG) is widely used to measure the glucose metabolism in neurodegenerative disease such as Idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD). Previous studies using 18F-FDG PET mainly focused on the motor or non-motor symptoms but not the severity of IPD. In this study, we aimed to determine the metabolic patterns of 18F-FDG in different stages of IPD defined by Hoehn and Yahr rating scale (H-Y rating scale) and to identify regions in the brain that play critical roles in disease progression. Fifty IPD patients were included in this study. They were 29 men and 21 women (mean±SD, age 57.7±11.1 years, disease duration 4.0±3.8 years, H-Y 2.2±1.1). Twenty healthy individuals were included as normal controls. Following 18F-FDG PET scan, image analysis was performed using Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) and Resting-State fMRI Data Analysis Toolkit (REST). The metabolic feature of IPD and regions-of-interests (ROIs) were determined. Correlation analysis between ROIs and H-Y stage was performed. SPM analysis demonstrated a significant hypometabolic activity in bilateral putamen, caudate and anterior cingulate as well as left parietal lobe, prefrontal cortex in IPD patients. In contrast, hypermetabolism was observed in the cerebellum and vermis. There was a negative correlation (p=0.007, r=-0.412) between H-Y stage and caudate metabolic activity. Moreover, the prefrontal area also showed a negative correlation with H-Y (P=0.033, r=-0.334). Thus, the uptake of FDG in caudate and prefrontal cortex can potentially be used as a surrogate marker to evaluate the severity of IPD.

Surgical strategies and outcomes of spinal ependymomas of different lengths: analysis of 210 patients: clinical article.

OBJECT: The aim of this study was to investigate the surgical strategies and outcomes for spinal ependymomas of different lengths. METHODS: The authors used data from 210 patients with spinal ependymomas (WHO Grades II and III) in this 10-year retrospective study (January 1999 to December 2008), dividing them into 3 different groups according to length (spinal ependymomas < 5 cm, 5-10 cm, and > 10 cm). All patients underwent tumor resection. The basic characteristics of the patients were reviewed and the functional status was assessed using the McCormick classification. RESULTS: There were 89, 81, and 40 patients, respectively, in the 3 groups (< 5 cm, 5-10 cm, and > 10 cm). Grosstotal resections (GTRs) were performed in 172 patients (81.9% overall, or 86.5%, 79.0%, and 77.5% in the 3 groups, respectively). Subtotal and partial resections were achieved in 38 patients (18.1%). Eight patients with medulla oblongata or upper cervical cord tumors received a tracheotomy postoperatively. The follow-up period ranged from 56 to 176 months. One hundred thirty-five patients (76.7%) experienced improvement, (88.2%, 83.8%, and 34.4% in the < 5 cm, 5-10 cm, and > 10 cm groups, respectively). Thirty-three patients (18.8%) maintained their pretreatment status, and 8 patients (4.5%) showed deterioration following tumor resection at 6 months. Tumor recurrence or progression was observed in 6 (2.9%) of the 210 patients. Among the 6 patients, recurrent tumors were located in the conus (n = 3), thoracic (n = 1), and medullocervical cord (n = 2). CONCLUSIONS: Radical resection of spinal ependymomas could be performed in most patients, and the rate of GTR was significantly different in the different-length groups (< 10 cm vs > 10 cm, p = 0.032). Patients with longer tumors had worse surgical results compared with those with small tumors (p < 0.001), and more postoperative neuropathic pain and proprioceptive deficits could usually be observed in patients harboring larger tumors. Early diagnosis and timely operation are critical to achieving better neurological outcomes. For tumors with dense adhesions, complete removal should be performed cautiously because of the significant incidence of neurological deterioration.

[Characteristics of combining loss of heterozygosity of 1p/19q in glioma].

OBJECTIVES: To find possible factors correlated with combined loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of 1p and 19q. METHODS: The status of 1p and 19q of 138 glioma specimen from January 2009 to December 2009 was evaluated by Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) method, and the frequencies of combining LOH of 1p/19q were compared between different pathologies, brain sub-regions, genders and ages. RESULTS: The frequencies of combined LOH of 1p and 19q of oligodendroglial (81.3%) and oligo astrocytic tumors (55.8%) were significantly higher than that of astrocytic tumor (22.2%) (P < 0.01), and the frequency of oligodendroglial tumor was significantly higher than that of oligo astrocytic tumor (P < 0.05). The frequency of combining LOH of 1p and 19q in frontal lobe (61.8%) was higher than that in temporal (31.8%) and insular lobes (34.6%) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Combining LOH of 1p and 19q has significant correlation with the pathologies and brain sub-regions.

[Microsurgical treatment of adult craniopharyngiomas in 156 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical features, surgical approaches and outcomes of craniopharyngioma in adults. METHODS: A total of 156 cases of adult craniopharyngioma underwent microsurgery at our hospital were retrospectively reviewed and classified into four types according to the location of tumor relative to sellar diaphragm and the third ventricle. They were divided into four groups: intrasellar type (n = 6), suprasellar & extraventricular type (n = 59), intraventricular type (n = 63) and mixed type (n = 28). Unilateral subfrontal approach was chosen in 9 cases, anterior interhemispheric approach in 14 cases, pterional approach in 102 cases, transcallosal approach in 28 cases and transsphenoidal approach in 3 cases. RESULTS: Tumors were totally removed in 124 cases (79.5%), subtotally removed in 25 cases (16%) and partially removed in 7 cases (4.5%). Two patients died after surgery. Pituitary stalk was identified and protected intraoperatively in 69 cases, and postoperative diabetes insipidus occurred in 109 cases. The follow-up period ranged from 3 months to 5 years. 75.3% of the cases were capable of normal work and life and tumor recurred in 26 cases. CONCLUSION: Selection of appropriate approach is the key to successful microsurgery for craniopharyngioma according to the site and growth pattern of tumor.