Genome-wide analysis of prognostic-related lncRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs forming a competing endogenous RNA network in lung squamous cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: As a type of cancer with the highest morbidity and mortality, lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) has a very poor prognosis. Long-non-coding RNA (lncRNA) has recently attracted attentions because it can play the role of competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to inhibit microRNA (miRNA) functions. In this study, we aimed to find prognosis-related lncRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs and construct a prognosis-related ceRNA network. METHODS: The original LUSC RNA-sequencing data and miRNA profiles data were downloaded from the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) database. Differentially expressed lncRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs were then identified between patients with lymph node metastasis and no lymph node metastasis. Univariate Cox regression analysis was performed to find the survival-associated lncRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs. Subsequently, prognostic-related ceRNA network was established. By multivariate Cox regression analysis, three lncRNA signatures and three mRNA signatures were developed and used for predicting LUSC patients' survival. RESULTS: A total of 224 lncRNAs, 160 miRNAs, 913 mRNAs were identified between samples with lymph node metastasis and no lymph node metastasis. Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that, among them, 28 lncRNAs, 8 miRNAs, 105 mRNAs were significantly associated with patients' overall survival time. Further pathway and enrichment analysis suggested that these mRNAs were associated with the regulation of transmembrane transport, regulation of blood circulation, plasma lipoprotein particle organization. Then we constructed a survival-related ceRNA network including 9 lncRNAs, 8 miRNAs and 23 mRNAs. Additionally, a multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that three lncRNAs (AL161431.1, LINC02389, APCDD1L.DT) and three mRNAs (KLK6, SLITRK5, CCDC177) had a significant prognostic value. Risk score indicated that lncRNA signature and mRNA signature could independently predict overall survival in LUSC patients. CONCLUSION: The current study provided a better understanding of the ceRNA network in the progression of LUSC and laid a theoretical foundation for LUSC prognosis.

Gallstone is correlated with an increased risk of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to test the hypothesis that gallstone disease (GSD) is a risk factor for the development of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL). Research has shown risks of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in patients with GSD; however, well-conducted English studies on the association between GSD and the development of ISSNHL are lacking. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective cohort study using the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database. PARTICIPANTS: We compared 26,449 patients diagnosed with GSD between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2007, with 52,898 age-matched, gender-matched and comorbidities propensity scores-matched controls. OUTCOME MEASURED: We followed each patient until the end of 2011 and evaluated the incidence of ISSNHL for at least 4 years after the initial GSD diagnosis. RESULTS: The incidence of ISSNHL was 1.42 times higher in the GS cohort than in the non-GS cohort (9.27 vs 6.52/10,000 person-years). Using Cox proportional hazard regressions, the adjusted HR was 1.44 (95% CI 1.19 to 1.74). In the cohort of patients with GSD who needed a cholecystectomy, 37 patients suffered from ISSNHL. Among those patients, 31 (83.7%) patients sustained ISSNHL before cholecystectomy and 6 (16.2%) patients sustained ISSNHL after cholecystectomy. CONCLUSIONS: A diagnosis of GSD may be an independent risk for ISSNHL. This finding suggests that an underlying vascular and inflammatory mechanism may contribute to the development of ISSNHL. Physicians may want to counsel patients with GSD to seek medical attention if they have hearing impairments, because patients may be at an increased risk of developing ISSNHL.