5 research outputs found
Dual Effects of Non-Coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in Cancer Stem Cell Biology
The identification of cancer stem cells (CSCs) as initiators of carcinogenesis has revolutionized the era of cancer research and our perception for the disease treatment options. Additional CSC features, including self-renewal and migratory and invasive capabilities, have further justified these cells as putative diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic targets. Given the CSC plasticity, the identification of CSC-related biomarkers has been a serious burden in CSC characterization and therapeutic targeting. Over the past decades, a compelling amount of evidence has demonstrated critical regulatory functions of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) on the exclusive features of CSCs. We now know that ncRNAs may interfere with signaling pathways, vital for CSC phenotype maintenance, such as Notch, Wnt, and Hedgehog. Here, we discuss the multifaceted contribution of microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), as representative ncRNA classes, in sustaining the CSC-like traits, as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms of their action in various CSC types. We further discuss the use of CSC-related ncRNAs as putative biomarkers of high diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic value
Diffuse Calcifications of the Spleen in a Woman with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystemic autoimmune disease, which affects a wide variety of organs including the spleen. Splenic involvement in SLE includes conditions such as splenomegaly, hyposplenism, infarction, and spontaneous rupture. However, only a few cases of splenic calcifications in patients with SLE have been reported. Herein, we present a case of a 24-year-old female diagnosed with SLE, in which we found diffuse splenic calcifications. The unique pattern of splenic calcifications in SLE contributes to the differential diagnosis from other conditions such as infections and other connective tissue diseases, which also cause calcifications in the spleen
The role of functional MRI and PET/CT in evaluation of patients with primary and recurrent ovarian cancer
Ethanol intake and risk of lung cancer in the European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition (EPIC)
Within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition
(EPIC), the authors examined the association of ethanol intake at
recruitment (1,119 cases) and mean lifelong ethanol intake (887 cases)
with lung cancer. Information on baseline and past alcohol consumption,
lifetime tobacco smoking, diet, and the anthropometric characteristics
of 478,590 participants was collected between 1992 and 2000. Cox
proportional hazards regression was used to calculate
multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals.
Overall, neither ethanol intake at recruitment nor mean lifelong ethanol
intake was significantly associated with lung cancer. However, moderate
intake (5-14.9 g/day) at recruitment (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.76, 95%
confidence interval (CI): 0.63, 0.90) and moderate mean lifelong intake
(HR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.66, 0.97) were associated with a lower lung
cancer risk in comparison with low consumption (0.1-4.9 g/day). Compared
with low intake, a high (>= 60 g/day) mean lifelong ethanol intake
tended to be related to a higher risk of lung cancer (HR = 1.29, 95%
CI: 0.93, 1.74), but high intake at recruitment was not. Although there
was no overall association between ethanol intake and risk of lung
cancer, the authors cannot rule out a lower risk for moderate
consumption and a possibly increased risk for high lifelong consumption