PIWI Interacting RNA-651 Inhibition Transforms the Genetic Features of MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells

piRNAs are novel members of small non-coding RNAs and have an impact on genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of cells. It was aimed to investigate the role of piR-651 on MCF-7 benign breast cancer cells by focusing on molecular characteristics. Anti-piR-651 was transfected and effects of piR-651 on proliferation, adhesion, and motility of MCF-7 cells were detected after the 24th, 48th, and 72nd hour. Gene expressions of piR-651, Ki-67, MMP-2, ERα, HIF-1α, and hTERT were determined by using RT-PCR. piR-651 inhibition caused the decrease of proliferation, adhesion (p < 0.001), and motility of MCF-7 cells. The efficiency of anti-piR-651 transfection supported the determination of the decrease of piR-651 expression after transfection after the 48th hour (p < 0.001). AntipiR-651 transfection caused the downregulation of Ki-67, MMP-2, ERα, HIF-1α, and hTERT gene expressions after the 48th hour (p < 0.001). In MCF-7 cells, piR-651 inhibition can change both cellular characteristics and gene expressions which were related to these characteristics. piR-651 inhibition causes the decrease of both proliferation and adhesion of cells, which are especially important cellular marks of MCF-7 cells. These results have shed light on whether we can mitigate the effects of cancer cells via piRNA inhibition. The absence of piRNA expression caused the change of fate of benign breast cancer cells by decreasing malign features of MCF-7 cells.     

Does the efficacy of regorafenib differ in chemotherapy refractory metastatic colorectal cancer patients who had mucinous pathology compared to those who had non-mucinous pathology?

Purpose: To investigate the importance of mucinous histopathology on the assessment of tumor response in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) receiving regorafenib. Materials and method: All patients diagnosed with histologically confirmed mCRC in 2 oncology centers between 2013 and 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Among 678 patients diagnosed with mCRC, 103 patients were treated with regorafenib. Ninety-four of these patients who had used at least 2 cycles of regorafenib and evaluable for treatment response were included in the analysis. Histopathologically, 18 patients with mucinous adenocarcinoma and 76 patients with nonmucinous adenocarcinoma were compared in terms of response rate and survival durations. Results: Median follow-up duration of 6 months, median age of the patients was 61 (34-77) years. While 19.1% of the patients had mucinous histology, 80.9% had nonmucinous histology. The overall response rate was significantly lower in the mucinous subgroup than the nonmucinous subgroup (5.6% vs 43.4%, respectively, P = 0.003). Similarly, both progression-free survival (3.0 vs 4.0 months, respectively, P = 0.011) and overall survival duration were shorter in the mucinous subgroup (3.0 vs 7.0 months, P = 0.016, respectively) compared with the nonmucinous subgroup. Conclusion: The histological subgroup may predict tumor response in mCRC patients receiving regorafenib. Its efficacy on nonmucinous histology had significantly more favorable than mucinous subtype.     

Paracetamol Therapy for Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Premature İnfants: A Chance Before Surgical Ligation

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) remains a common problem in premature infants. Treatment options include pharmacologic therapy and surgical ligation, but these are associated with potentially significant adverse effects. This report describes the effect of administering oral paracetamol to premature neonates with PDA. The study enrolled seven premature neonates followed up with the diagnosis of hemodynamically significant PDA (hsPDA) between February and December 2012 and treated with oral paracetamol. Patients with hsPDA were given at least two or more courses of ibuprofen treatment. If this therapy failed to promote ductal closure, the patients with clinical symptoms who had hsPDA defined by echocardiography were treated with oral paracetamol (15 mg/kg every 6 h). If these patients did not respond to paracetamol therapy, the PDA was closed by surgical ligation. The mean gestational age of the seven patients in this study was 26.1 weeks, and their mean birth weight was 936 g. Paracetamol treatment was started at 36.2 ± 11.6 days. The mean internal ductal diameter was 2.0 ± 0.2 mm, and the left atrium-to-aorta ratio was 1.5 ± 0.2. All the patients were administered oral paracetamol because of no response to ibuprofen treatment. The hsPDA was successfully closed with oral paracetamol in five (71.4 %) of the seven patients. The remaining two patients had surgical ligation performed, but one of them died. No side effects related to paracetamol were observed. Oral paracetamol may be used as an alternative drug for the management of hsPDA in premature neonates when ibuprofen treatment is unsuccessful and the only other therapeutic option is surgery.     

Enhanced expression of the local haematopoietic bone marrow renin-angiotensin system in polycythemia rubra vera

Local bone marrow (BM) renin-angiotensin system (RAS) affects physiological and pathological haematopoiesis, including erythropoiesis. In this study, quantitative expression of the messenger RNAs of the major RAS components--angiotensin-converting enzyme (CD143), renin and angiotensinogen--were measured in BM samples by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, to evaluate the activity of local BM RAS in polycythemia rubra vera (PV) in comparison with normal erythropoiesis. The presence of CD143 was also investigated in the same BM samples by flow cytometry. Increased local synthesis of the major RAS components has been identified by demonstrating corresponding mRNAs in the BM of the patients with PV. Our findings indicate up-regulation of local BM RAS, together with down-regulation of the cell surface angiotensin-converting enzyme receptors, in the autonomous neoplastic clonal erythropoiesis of PV.     

Migration of an intrauterine contraceptive device to the ovary

We present the case of a 37-year-old woman with a history of 2 consecutive insertions of intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUDs) 3 years before she was referred to us for sonographic evaluation of lower abdominal pain. The first of the IUDs was presumed to have been expelled spontaneously, and 3 months after insertion of the second device, the patient had begun experiencing lower abdominal pain. Medical treatment with antibiotics and spasmolytics had been unsuccessful. We performed transvaginal sonography, which revealed the presence of an IUD in the uterus and a 2-cm linear metallic echogenic area in the left ovary, believed to represent another IUD. Anteroposterior radiography confirmed that there were 2 IUDs in the pelvis, and CT demonstrated 1 IUD in the uterus and another in the left ovary. The patient underwent laparoscopic removal of the ovarian IUD and was discharged in good condition. To our knowledge, this is the first report of migration of an IUD to the ovary detected on transvaginal sonography. We recommend consideration of this possibility during evaluation of women with unexplained chronic pelvic pain.     

Ultrasonographic anatomy of the lower extremity superficial veins

A simple, precise, and consistent anatomical terminology is necessary for evaluating and treating patients with varicose veins. A clear understanding of the anatomy is also very important to correctly diagnose and perform the best treatment for varicose veins. Because the anatomy depicted by ultrasonography has many variations, anatomic definition for at least some of the veins still require clarification. Studies focusing on different segments of the veins are needed to obtain detailed anatomical knowledge given this great variability.