Treatment of nutritional anemia in infants

While iron deficiency is a common cause of anemia in infants, requiring specific treatment by administration of iron, there are other causes which require treatment equally specific. Anemia due to a nutritional deficiency can be improved only by providing the needed nutriment in sufficient quantity. Two case reports are presented. One is of megaloblastic anemia in an infant, which was treated with a variety of vitamin preparations before administration of folic acid produced improvement. The other report is of anemia due to iron deficiency treated successfully with ferrous sulfate in a dosage twenty times that previously used prophylactically. In prescribing an antianemic preparation the physician should assure himself that the dosage is adequate (for example, 0.5 gm. daily of ferrous sulfate for iron deficiency). "Broad-spectrum" preparations may be lacking in specific hematinics while containing a variety of vitamins which have no specific hematologic value.     

Stability analysis of liver cancer-related microRNAs

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding, single-stranded RNAs of approximately 22 nt and constitute a novel class of gene regulators that are found in both plants and animals. Several studies have demonstrated that serum miRNAs could serve as potential biomarkers for the detection of various cancers and other diseases. A few documents regarding the stability of liver cancer-related miRNAs in serum are available. A systemic analysis of the stability of miRNA in serum is quite necessary. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the stability of miRNAs from three different sources, cultured liver cancer Huh-7 cell line, clinical liver cancer, and serum under different experimental conditions, including different temperature, time duration, pH values, RNase A digestion, DNase I digestion, and various freeze-thaw cycles. The qRT-PCR analysis demonstrated that liver cancer-related miRNAs were detectable under each of test conditions, indicating that miRNAs were extremely stable and resistant to destruction and degradation under harsh environmental conditions. However, ribosomal RNA was fragile and easily degraded by demonstrating sharp decrease of relative expression under the non-physiological test conditions. We also established a robust procedure for serum RNA extraction, which is greatly important not only for the miRNA profiling studies but also for the disease prognosis based on abnormal miRNA expression.     

Inhibitors of angiogenesis and cancer-related receptor tyrosine kinases

Inhibition of tumor angiogenesis is an attractive target in cancer therapy. In this context, receptor tyrosine kinases play a pivotal role. Extensive efforts have been made to identify and develop small-molecule inhibitors of these central signaling proteins. Some of these compounds have already passed or are currently in clinical trials to investigate their applicability as anti-cancer drugs. However, the high expectations that are set in antiangiogenic therapy have not yet been accomplished. But there are also new and exciting opportunities for cancer treatment by combining antiangiogenic molecules with newly emerging therapeutics.     

Biomarker opportunities in the treatment of cancer-related depression

Depression comorbid with cancer is common and associated with a host of negative health outcomes. The inflammatory basis of depression is a growing area of research in cancer, focused on how stressors transduce into inflammation and contribute to the emergence of depression. In this review, we synthesize inflammatory biomarker associations with both depression and the currently available pharmacotherapies and psychotherapies in cancer, underscoring the need for expanding research on anti-inflammatory agents with antidepressant effects. Modulation of inflammatory neuroimmune pathways can slow tumor progression and reduce metastases. Biomarkers associated with depression in cancer may help with diagnosis and treatment monitoring, as well as inform research on novel drug targets to potentially improve cancer survival.     

Radioimmunoassay of a cancer-related glycoprotein. Circulating levels

Circulating levels of (a) tumor-related glycoprotein(s) were determined by radioimmunoassay for a variety of patients and controls, and correlated with sialic acid concentration. Levels were highest in patients with metastatic disease and progressively declined to those with localized disease receiving therapy. Values for normal, adjuvant, and cured patients were significantly lower. Sialic acid concentrations correlated best for the metastatic group but not for the normals.     

Overview of surgical treatments for breast cancer-related lymphedema

Breast cancer-related upper extremity lymphedema is an unsolved iatrogenic complication with a reported incidence ranging from 9 to 41 percent. The increase in volume and recurrent cellulitis of the affected limb cause both physical and mental distress to many breast cancer survivors. However, postmastectomy lymphedema has received little attention, and no curative treatment is available. Conservative treatment with decongestive therapy has been the primary choice for lymphedema treatment, but it is cumbersome and has limited benefits. To date, there is no consensus on surgical procedure and protocol. However, refinements in microsurgical techniques and improved examination devices may lead to the establishment of a standard surgical treatment for lymphedema. This review of surgical procedures for the treatment of postmastectomy lymphedema focuses on microsurgical lymphovenous shunt operations and discusses current issues in surgical treatment and the need for uniform treatment standards.     

Cytokines as a key component of cancer-related inflammation

Inflammatory conditions in some tissues increase the risk of cancer. Cytokines and chemokines are components of an intensive dialog promoting angiogenesis, metastasis, subversion of adaptive immunity and changing response to hormones and to chemotherapeutic agents. Cytokines involved in cancer-related inflammation represent a target for innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, and a future challenge for scientists and clinicians.     

Trinucleotide repeats are prevalent among cancer-related genes

Trinucleotide repeats (TNRs) have been primarily connected to neurologic and neuromuscular diseases, with few specific TNRs linked with various tumors. Here we conduct a genome-wide analysis and show that TNRs are five times more prevalent in cancer-related human genes. Interestingly, we also find that cancer-related genes are significantly longer than other genes. Our results suggest that genes containing TNRs are more prone to mutagenesis. The database of TNR genes can be used as a list of candidate cancer-related genes.     

Treatment of anemia in patients with renal failure using erythropoietin obtained by genetic recombination

In 5 haemodialyzed patients with end-stage renal failure an effect of human recombinant erythropoietin (r-huEpo) on haemoglobin, haematocrit and iron metabolism was studied. After 12 weeks of the treatment, a significant increase in haemoglobin and haematocrit but significant decrease in plasma ferritin were noted. During r-huEpo treatment, one patients presented clinical symptoms of increased blood coagulation whereas another patients an increase in blood pressure. r-huEpo did not influence leukocytes and platelets count as well as liver function tests. Our results suggest, that r-huEpo is highly effective and safe in the treatment of anaemia in patients with chronic uraemia. Iron metabolism, blood pressure and blood coagulation must be monitored during therapy with r-huEpo.     

癌症相关microRNA与靶基因的生物信息学分析

MicroRNAs(miRNAs)是一类长度约为22nt的内源性非编码RNA,通过与靶基因转录本互补结合调控基因的表达。近年来,研究发现miRNA与癌症发生密切相关,miRNA可以直接充当癌基因或者抑癌基因而影响肿瘤的发生和生长。为更进一步揭示癌症相关miRNA的特征及靶基因的功能,文章通过数据库搜索及文献检索,在人类基因组中发现了475个癌症相关miRNA,系统地比较了癌症相关miRNA与非癌症miRNA以及基因内和基因间区癌症相关miRNA在保守性、SNP位点分布、癌谱及转录调控等特性。研究发现,癌症相关miRNA比非癌症miRNA保守性要强,发生SNP概率比较低,同时发现miRNA所涉及癌症数目与保守性成正相关。基因组定位分析发现,癌症相关miRNA比非癌症miRNA更倾向于成簇存在。进一步对宿主基因、癌症相关miRNA及作用的靶基因与癌症发生进行关联分析,发现一些非癌症miRNA的宿主基因倾向于被癌症miRNA作用。本研究结果为深入理解miRNA与癌症之间的关系,以及进一步为miRNA作为癌症诊断指示物提供理论依据。