Distinct Patterns of Genetic Variations in Potential Functional Elements in Long Noncoding RNAs

Non‐protein‐coding RNAs have increasingly been shown to be an important class of regulatory RNAs having significant roles in regulation of gene expression. The long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) gene family presently constitutes a large number of noncoding RNA (ncRNA) loci almost equaling the number of protein‐coding genes. Nevertheless, the biological roles and mechanisms of the majority of lncRNAs are poorly understood, with exceptions of a very few well‐studied candidates. The availability of genome‐scale variation datasets, and increasing number of variant loci from genome‐wide association studies falling in lncRNA loci have motivated us to understand the patterns of genomic variations in lncRNA loci, their potential functional correlates, and selection in populations. In the present study, we have performed a comprehensive analysis of genomic variations in lncRNA loci. We analyzed for patterns and distributions of genomic variations with respect to potential functional domains in lncRNAs. The analysis reveals a distinct distribution of variations in subclasses of long ncRNAs and in potential functional domains of lncRNAs. We further examined signals of selections and allele frequencies of these prioritized set of lncRNAs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first and comprehensive large‐scale analysis of genetic variations in long ncRNAs.     

环状RNA在免疫炎症反应中的作用及其在口腔疾病中的研究进展

环状RNA（circular RNA，circRNA）由单个RNA分子末端共价形成，无5′及3′核糖核苷酸末端结构，是调控转录后基因表达的新成员。近年研究表明，由不同位置基因组产生的参与转录及转录后基因表达调控的circRNA在人类免疫炎症反应中发挥着至关重要的作用，提示circRNA可能参与牙周炎症的调控过程。除此之外，已有文献报道circRNA还参与其他口腔疾病的生物学过程。文章就circRNA在免疫炎症反应中的作用及其在口腔疾病中的研究进展做一综述。     

长链非编码RNA在消化系统肿瘤中的研究进展

长链非编码RNA（lncRNA）是一系列广泛转录自人及其他哺乳动物基因组的长度超过200 nt的核苷酸片段,通常没有蛋白编码功能,一度被认为是基因组的转录“噪音”。近年来一些 lncRNA 被发现具有多种生物学功能,成为分子生物学领域研究的热点。已经在多种肿瘤中发现有lncRNA的异常表达,并且异常表达的 lncRNA 和肿瘤的复发、转移及预后有关。本文中将探讨近期发现的与消化系统肿瘤相关的lncRNA,部分着重于具有促癌作用的lncRNA,以期为消化系统肿瘤的诊断、预后及分子治疗提供线索。     

Construction of AP003469.4-miRNAs-mRNAs ceRNA network to reveal potential biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma

Studies have reported that the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks are related to disease progression and prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The roles and mechanisms of long-chain non-coding RNA AP003469.4 in HCC have remained unclear. Here, we explored the roles of AP003469.4 in HCC progression using bioinformatics, CCK-8, Transwell assay, etc. AP003469.4 targets miRNAs and these target genes were predicted by the LncBase Predicted v.2, miRDB, miRTarBase, and TargetScan databases. Then, AP003469.4-associated ceRNA network was constructed. Biological functions and mechanisms of differentially expressed genes in the ceRNA network were explored using GO and KEGG. Survival analysis and Cox regression analysis were used to screen prognostic genes and construct a prognostic risk model. The results revealed that AP003469.4, with the area under the curve of 0.9048, was highly expressed in HCC tissues. Increased expression of AP003469.4 was an independent risk factor for the dismal prognosis of HCC patients and was associated with the short overall and disease-free survival. Downregulation of AP003469.4 expression inhibited cell proliferation, cycle transition, invasion, and migration, and promoted cell apoptosis. There were 489 differentially expressed target genes in the ceRNA network, which were involved in several pathways, such as the MAPK signaling pathway, cell cycle, and p53 signaling pathway. The risk model was based on the DTYMK, ZFC3H1, CBX2, PKM, TTC26, ATG10, TAGLN2, CD3EAP, SHISA9, SLC1A5, KPNA2, SCML2, E2F7, and SMARCD1, which were the independent risk factors for poor prognosis of HCC patients. In general, interference with AP003469.4 expression might delay the progression of HCC. AP003469.4 related network could help to identify the hub target molecules in HCC progression, which might be candidate biomarkers for evaluating the prognosis of HCC patients.     

Stapled haemorrhoidopexy for the treatment of haemorrhoids: a systematic review

Objective  This systematic review aimed to evaluate the short- and long-term safety, efficacy and costs of stapled haemorrhoidopexy (SH) compared with conventional haemorrhoidectomy.
Method  We searched 26 electronic databases and websites for studies in any language up to July 2006. Inclusion criteria were predefined, and each stage of the review process was conducted in duplicate.
Results  Twenty-seven randomized controlled trials were included ( n  = 2279). All had some methodological flaws. Postoperatively, 19 trials (95%) reported less pain, 17 (89%) reported a shorter operating time, 14 (88%) a shorter hospital stay, and 14 (93%) a shorter convalescence time following SH. However, prolapse was significantly more common after SH (OR 3.38; 95% CI: 1.00, 11.47). In the longer term, prolapse was significantly more common after SH (OR 4.34; 95% CI: 1.67, 11.28) as was reintervention for prolapse (OR 6.78; 95% CI: 2.00, 23.00). There were no differences in the rate or type of complications. Conventional haemorrhoidectomy and SH had similar costs during the initial admission.
Conclusion  Compared with conventional haemorrhoidectomy, SH resulted in less postoperative pain, shorter operating time, a shorter hospital stay, and a shorter convalescence, but a higher rate of prolapse and reintervention for prolapse.     

长非编码RNA与其他表观遗传机制在肿瘤中的相互调控

长非编码RNA(lncRNA)是新发现的RNA干扰方式,与其他包括DNA甲基化、组蛋白修饰、染色质重构等表观遗传形式一样,在恶性肿瘤的发生和发展中起着重要作用。近年分子肿瘤学研究显示,lncRNA与其他表观遗传形式相互作用,如lncRNA可通过多种途径调控DNA甲基化、组蛋白修饰、染色质重构和其他RNA干扰形式,而DNA甲基化、染色质重构等也可调控lncRNA的表达及作用;其错综复杂的网路关系影响肿瘤的发生和发展。     

巢湖市气象因素与脑卒中发病关系的研究

目的:探讨气象因素对脑卒中发病的影响,为预防脑卒中提供气象学依据.方法:收集巢湖市2008~2012年11 100例脑卒中住院病例资料,并对脑卒中发病时间的特点进行分析,采用单因素相关分析脑卒中发病时间与同期气温、气压、相对湿度之间的关系,用圆分布分析其发病集中趋势.结果:脑出血发病与气温呈负相关关系,与气压呈正相关关系(P<0.01),与相对湿度无相关关系(P>0.05);脑梗死与气温呈正相关关系(P=0.01),与气压及相对湿度均无相关关系(P>0.05);脑出血5年间每年发病均有明显的集中趋势(P<0.05),5年合计发病也有一个集中趋势,平均角是12.222 8°,相当于每年的1月13日;脑梗死在2008年、2010年和2012年3年的平均角差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05),分别相当于7月8日、8月11日、9月20日,但5年合计平均角差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).结论:巢湖市脑出血发病有明确的季节性,冬季好发,年度发病集中于冬季的3个月(12月至次年2月),夏季低发.脑梗死的发病趋势倾向于夏季及秋季多发,春冬季低发.     

创伤性脊髓损伤后环状非编码RNA-微小RNA潜在调控网络信息挖掘

目的通过高通量测序获取创伤性脊髓损伤(traumatic spinal cord injury,TSCI)后环状非编码RNA(circular RNA,circRNA)与微小RNA(microRNA,miRNA)表达谱,预测潜在circRNA-miRNA调控网络。方法取48只雄性C57BL/6小鼠(体质量18~22 g)随机均分为两组(n=24),TSCI组采用Allen’s打击器械制备TSCI模型,假手术组(Sham组)仅切开椎板不损伤脊髓。术后3 d,两组取材行HE染色,观察脊髓组织结构;提取组织总RNA建库,高通量测序鉴定circRNA和miRNA差异表达谱,基因本体分析(gene ontology,GO)注释差异表达的circRNA宿主基因功能,筛选显著差异表达的miRNA,通过TargetScan和miRanda预测circRNAmiRNA靶向结合,筛选关键circRNA,构建潜在调控网络。结果HE染色示Sham组小鼠脊髓结构完整无破裂,TSCI组脊髓结构有明显损伤破裂。测序共鉴定出17440个circRNA、1228个miRNA。差异表达的circRNA宿主基因主要富集在细胞质,生物过程中差异基因主要富集在转录的正调控和蛋白磷酸化过程。差异表达最显著的miRNA为mmu-miR-21-5p,筛选出可与其靶向结合的circRNA6730,以circRNA6730为核心构建潜在circRNAmiRNA调控网络。结论通过表达谱分析和功能注释分析,显著差异表达的circRNA和miRNA有潜在的临床标志物价值,以circRNA6730为核心包含mmu-miR-21-5p的靶向互作网络可能在TSCI的发生发展过程中起重要调控作用,有助于阐明TSCI的病理生理进程机制,为临床诊疗提供新思路。