The Role of the Dysregulation of Long Non-Coding and Circular RNA Expression in Medulloblastoma: A Systematic Review

Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant brain tumor in childhood. Although recent multi-omic studies have led to advances in MB classification, there is still room for improvement with regard to treatment response and survival. Therefore, identification of new and less invasive biomarkers is needed to refine the diagnostic process and to develop more personalized treatment strategies. In this context, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) could be useful biomarkers for MB. In this article, we reviewed the role of two types of ncRNAs, long non-coding (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), as biomarkers for the diagnosis, subgroup classification, and prognosis of MB. We also reviewed potential candidates with specific functions and mechanisms of action in the disease. We performed a search in PubMed and Scopus using the terms (“long non coding RNAs” OR ”lncRNAs”) and (“circular RNAs” OR ”circRNAs”) AND ”medulloblastoma” to identify biomarker discovery or functional studies evaluating the effects of these ncRNAs in MB. A total of 26 articles met the inclusion criteria. Among the lncRNAs, the tumorigenic effects of the upregulated lnc-IRX3-80 and lnc-LRRC47-78 were the most studied in MB. Among the circRNAs, the upregulation of circSKA3 and its functional impact in MB cell lines were the most consistent results, so this circRNA could be considered a potential biomarker in MB. Additional validation is required for many deregulated lncRNAs and circRNAs; therefore, further studies are warranted.This research was funded by the Basque Foundation for Health Innovation and Research (IT1559-22) and EiTB Maratoia (Bioef) (BIO20/CI/017). I.M.d.E. was supported by an Ikasiker fellowship and an Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer (AECC) (Prácticas Laboratorio de Verano AECC 2022-2608A48D0E01012) fellowship for his lab internship. A.G.-C. was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from the Fundación Vasca de Innovación e Investigación Sanitaria (Bioef) (BIO20/CI/016). U.I. was supported by a pre-doctoral contract from UPV/EHU

Preliminary assessment of the feasibility of using AB words to assess candidacy in adults

Background: Adult cochlear implant (CI) candidacy is assessed in part by the use of speech perception measures. In the United Kingdom the current cut-off point to fall within the CI candidacy range is a score of less than 50% on the BKB sentences presented in quiet (presented at 70 dBSPL). Goal: The specific goal of this article was to review the benefit of adding the AB word test to the assessment test battery for candidacy. Results: The AB word test scores showed good sensitivity and specificity when calculated based on both word and phoneme scores. The word score equivalent for 50% correct on the BKB sentences was 18.5% and it was 34.5% when the phoneme score was calculated; these scores are in line with those used in centres in Wales (15% AB word score). Conclusion: The goal of the British Cochlear Implant Group (BCIG) service evaluation was to determine if the pre-implant assessment measures are appropriate and set at the correct level for determining candidacy, the future analyses will determine whether the speech perception cut-off point for candidacy should be adjusted and whether other more challenging measures should be used in the candidacy evaluation

An audit of cochlear implant referral in the UK: pilot data suggests health inequalities

Introduction: in March 2019, NICE criteria for CI were extended¹. The uptake of CI among adults is low², despite social and economic benefits³.Methods: an AuditBase Crystal Report developed by Auditdata and Cochlear®, with additional input from the clinics that piloted the report, was run between 1 July 2019 and 1 January 2020. 727 adults meeting the NICE audiometric criteria were retrospectively placed into a category: 1 = referred for CI assessment2 = unsuitable for a CI 3 = further assessment needed4= referral declined5= CI not discussedData were compared in Audiology services in the South East (SE, n=195), South West (SW, n=109), and Audiology services linked to CI teams in South London (L, n=184) and the North East (NE, n=239). Results: the proportion of eligible adults referred for CI assessment varied by site; 3% (SE), 19% (SW) 45% (L) and 33% (NE). Patients declining a CI assessment showed the largest variability between services: 92% (SE), 58% (SW) 26% (L) and 36% (NE). The percentage of eligible patients offered a CI assessment was lower at the Audiology sites not linked to a CI team: 33% (SE), 45% (SW), compared to the CI-linked sites: 61% (L) and 51% (NE). Discussion: on average 48% of eligible adults were offered a CI referral, but considerable inequality exists. Evidence suggests referral rates are affected by a number professional and patient factors⁴. Health inequalities may be linked to rates of decline⁵. Pilot results support a national Audit of CI referral. References 1 = NICE (2019) https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta566 2 = Buchman et al. (2020) doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2020.0998 3 = Archbold et al (2014) https://www.heartogether.org.uk/research/adult-strategy-reports/the-real-cost-of-adult-hearing-loss-2014 4 = Bierbaum et al (2020) DOI: 10.1097/AUD.0000000000000762 5 = Gov.uk (2019) English indices of deprivation. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/english-indices-of-deprivation-2019 Conflict of interest: Cochlear® funded the development of the Crystal Report and supported Audiologists to run the report but they did not have access to the data once collected and did not contribute to the analysis or write up of the results. <br/