Long non-coding RNA LINC00460 promotes proliferation and inhibits apoptosis of cervical cancer cells by targeting microRNA-503-5p.

Long non-coding RNAs are associated with the pathogenesis of cancers. Moreover, LINC00460 is involved in the development of multiple cancers. However, the function of LINC00460 in cervical cancer (CC) remains inconclusive. Herein, CC tissues and tumor-adjacent tissues were collected from patients. The effect of LINC00460 silencing in cell proliferation and apoptosis in CC was explored in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, the interaction between LINC00460 and miR-503-5p was analyzed using dual luciferase reporter assay. The expression of genes and proteins was assayed using quantitative real-time PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry, cell viability using MTT assay, cell cycle distribution using flow cytometry, cell apoptosis using Annexin V staining, Hoechst staining and TUNEL assay. LINC00460 levels in CC tissues were higher than tumor-adjacent tissues. LINC00460 silencing suppressed proliferation and promoted apoptosis of CC cells as evidenced by decreased cell viability, inhibited proliferation-related protein and cell cycle protein expressions and G1/S transition, increased apoptotic cells and Hoechst-positive cells, and enhanced apoptosis-related protein expressions. LINC00460 could bind to miR-503-5p and LINC00460 silencing enhanced miR-503-5p expression and inhibited its target gene expressions in CC cells. MiR-503-5p inhibition reversed LINC00460 silencing-caused inhibition of cell proliferation and miR-503-5p target gene expressions, and promotion of cell apoptosis. LINC00460 silencing also attenuated tumor growth, promoted miR-503-5p levels and cell apoptosis, and inhibited cell proliferation and miR-503-5p target gene expressions in tumor tissues. Hence, LINC00460 functioned as an oncogene in CC that affected cell proliferation and apoptosis via sponging miR-503-5p. This study provides a novel therapeutic target for CC.

Down-regulation of lncRNA BLACAT1 inhibits ovarian cancer progression by suppressing the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway via regulating miR-519d-3p.

Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality in gynecologic malignancies. LncRNA BLACAT1 serves crucial functions in various cancers, but its role in ovarian cancer has not been investigated. In this article, our team explored the role and the potential regulatory mechanism of BLACAT1 in ovarian cancer. Quantitative RT-PCR showed that BLACAT1 was aberrantly up-regulated in ovarian cancer tissues compared with normal tissues. In vitro, BLACAT1 knockdown induced cell cycle arrest and inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells using flow cytometry, MTT and EdU assays, wound healing assay and transwell assay, respectively. Luciferase assay verified the binding relationship between microRNA-519d-3p and lncRNA BLACAT1, and BLACAT1 negatively regulated the expression of miR-519d-3p. We also found that miR-519d-3p overexpression could inhibit ovarian cancer cells proliferation, migration and invasion. Further, Western blot demonstrated that the expression of RPS15A and nuclear ß-catenin expression was markedly reduced by BLACAT1 knockdown, and cytoplasmic ß-catenin level was not obviously affected. In vivo, BLACAT1 knockdown inhibited the tumor growth, and immunohistochemistry showed that ki67 expression was decreased by BLACAT1 suppression. Inhibition of BLACAT1 was sufficient to down-regulate the expression of RPS15A and nuclear ß-catenin but did not cause an obvious change in cytoplasmic ß-catenin expression. Taken together, BLACAT1 knockdown inhibited the progression of ovarian cancer by suppressing the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway via regulating miR-519d-3p. Our work provided a proper understanding of the critical roles of BLACAT1 in ovarian cancer.

Neonatal Testicular Hemangiolymphangioma: A Case Report.

A 30-day-old neonate was brought to our hospital due to testicular neoplasm in the right scrotum. Scrotal ultrasonography revealed a mixed cystic and solid mass in the testis. Analysis of testicular tumor markers was negative. Scrotal exploration was performed. A red nodular tumor was removed from the testis by surgery. Histological examination of the specimen showed it to be hemangiolymphangioma (HLA).

MicroRNA 130b enhances drug resistance in human ovarian cancer cells.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have recently been identified as a novel class of gene regulators, playing an important role in various malignancies. In the present study, we investigated the role of miRNA-130b in the development of drug resistance in ovarian cancer cells. The human ovarian carcinoma cell line A2780 and paclitaxel-resistant A2780/Taxol cells were exposed to the chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin or paclitaxel in the presence or absence of transfected miR-130b. Cell viability assays were then performed using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to assess the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression levels of glutathione S-transferase (GST)-π, multidrug resistance (MDR)1, or P-glycoprotein (P-gp). Following transfection, we found higher expression levels of miR-130b in A2780/Taxol cells than in A2780 cells (p < 0.05). Both A2780 and A2780/Taxol cells showed decreased sensitivity to paclitaxel and cisplatin compared with mock-transfected and negative control cancer cells (p < 0.05). The mRNA expression levels of MDR1 and GST-π (p < 0.05) and the protein expression levels of P-gp and GST-π were downregulated following miR-130b transfection in comparison to mock-transfected and negative control cancer cells. Our findings suggest that miRNA-130b may be involved in the development of drug resistance in ovarian cancer.

Giant fibroadenomatoid hyperplasia of the breast: a case report.

Fibroadenomatoid hyperplasia of the breast (FAHB) is a rare benign breast lesion and its clinical features are similar to fibroadenoma and fibrocystic changes. FAHB has been previously termed sclerosing lobular hyperplasia, fibroadenomatosis, fibroadenomatoid change, or fibroadenomatoid mastopathy. Typically, FAHB is derived from stroma and epithelia. The pathologic characteristics of FAHB are microfocal lobulocentric proliferation of stroma accompanied by epithelial and myoepithelial components resembling similar histological changes, as found in fibroadenoma, apocrine hyperplasia, intraductal hyperplasia, and lobular hyperplasia. FAHB could be present as a localized or diffused pattern in pathology. Most cases show no well-circumscribed mass lesions and no apparent capsules; it is usually identified as an incidental finding in other benign lesions or in random sampling in cancerous breast tissues. FAHB is categorized as a benign proliferative breast disease and it has previously been reported; however, the authors believe this study may be the first case with two giant masses reported. Fiber adenoma hyperplasia is a rare cystic hyperplasia of breast pathology and its ultrasonographic manifestations are easily confused with breast cancer. Comparative MRI ultrasound analysis will help make the differential diagnosis.

[Reliability of antral follicle counts using transvaginal two- and three-dimensional sonography].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the interobserver reliability of antral follicle counts (AFC) using Real-time two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound and three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound. METHODS: Two observers conducted transvaginal ultrasound examinations in 51 subfertile women in the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Antral follicles were counted using Real-time 2D ultrasound and the time taken was recorded. A 3D volume was then acquired from each ovary and stored for subsequent offline analysis using the multiplanar view. The time taken for each step was recorded and the total time was calculated. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and limits of agreement were used to assess the reliability. RESULTS: There was no difference in the mean antral follicle counts using Real-time 2D (18.63±11.39) and 3D (18.73±11.74) ultrasound. According to the ICC, there was a significantly higher interobserver reliability for counts made using 3D (mean, 0.994; 95% CI, 0.990-0.997) as compared with Real-time 2D ultrasound (mean, 0.979; 95% CI, 0.963-0.988), P<0.01. 3D ultrasound was also associated with narrower limits of agreement (-3.46, 3.35) than was 2D ultrasound (-6.78, 6.31). While the total time taken was significantly longer for the 3D technique [(204.0±53.0) s vs. (112.4±34.8) s, P<0.001], the time required for the actual ultrasound examination was significantly less [(48.0±7.5) s vs. (112.4±34.8) s, P<0.001]. CONCLUSION: 3D ultrasound significantly improves the interobserver reliability of antral follicle counts. While this is at the expense of time overall, the duration of the actual ultrasound examination and the patient exposure is significantly reduced using 3D compared with Real-time 2D ultrasound.

Culture supernatants of breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 treated with parthenolide inhibit the proliferation, migration, and lumen formation capacity of human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

BACKGROUND: Parthenolide has been tested for anti-tumor activities, such as anti-proliferation and pro-apoptosis in recent studies. However, little is known about its role in the process of tumor angiogenesis. This study aims to investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of parthenolide on the proliferation, migration and lumen formation capacity of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. METHODS: Different concentrations of parthenolide were applied to the human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 cells. After 24-hour incubation, the culture supernatants were harvested and used to treat human umbilical vein endothelial cells for 24 hours. Then an inverted fluorescence phase contrast microscope was used to evaluate the human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin (IL)-8 and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-9 in the culture supernatant of the MDA-MB-231 cells was then measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assays. RESULTS: Suppression of proliferation, migration, and the lumen formation capacity of human umbilical vein endothelial cells was observed in the presence of the culture supernatants from the breast cancer cell line treated with different concentrations of parthenolide. Parthenolide decreased the levels of the angiogenic factors MMP-9, VEGF, and IL-8 secreted by the MDA-MB-231 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Parthenolide may suppress angiogenesis through decreasing angiogenic factors secreted by breast cancer cells to interfere with the proliferation, migration and lumen-like structure formation of endothelial cells, thereby inhibiting tumor growth. It is a promising potential anti-angiogenic drug.