Quantitative analysis of lncRNA in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues of oral squamous cell carcinoma

The study evaluated expression profiles of few regulatory lncRNAs in oral squamous cell carcinoma and normal mucosa adjacent to oral cancer using paired fresh frozen and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues stored at a different duration of time (1-5 years) using real-time quantitative PCR. The quantity and quality of total RNA isolated from FFPE tissues was less compared with that of fresh frozen tissues, which resulted in a noncorrelation of quantification cycle values. Following normalization, the expression of lncRNAs in the paired tissues did not differ significantly. The differential expression of the lncRNAs in the study was consistent with The Cancer Genome Atlas head and neck squamous cell carcinoma database. The study findings demonstrate the possibility of performing accurate quantitative analysis of lncRNAs using short amplicons and standardized real-time quantitative PCR assays in oral squamous cell carcinoma FFPE samples.

INCIDENCE OF INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE: A SINGLE CENTRE RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The etiology of this alarming condition is multifactorial. A Recently increasing trend in IBD is noted in our country.

OBJECTIVE

The present study was designed with the main objective to assess the incidence and to identify the associated risk factors including demographic, geographical areas, and dietary patterns of IBD population of Northern of Karnataka viz. Hubli-Dharwad city.

METHODS

A retrospective investigation was conducted on a cohort of 226 patients with a working diagnosis of IBD and those who were admitted between 2015 to 2019 the department of gastroenterology, SDMCMS&H. The diagnosis of IBD was made based on clinical, radiological, endoscopic, and histopathologic findings. The patients were categorized into IBD and those who have symptoms suggestive of IBD but did not fit into the diagnostic criteria into, non-IBD groups. The data about of on demography, diet patterns, and laboratory parameters were recorded.

RESULTS

Among 226 patients enrolled in this study 2015-2019, IBD was confirmed in 54 Ulcerative colitis - 44 (19.46%), Crohn's disease - 10 (4.42%) patients with varying distribution of disease among different age groups and both genders, Ulcerative colitis (UC) [M: F: 28 (63.6%): 16 (36.4%)] and Crohn's disease (CD) [M: F: 07 (70.0%):03 (30.0%)]. Dietary pattern and other habitats had no significant contribution to illness and its symptoms. Urban (U) and Rural (R) divide was UC [U: R: 32 (72.7%): 12 (27.3%)], CD [U:R:07(70.0%):03(30.0%)] maintained.

CONCLUSION

Incidence of IBD was high with UC as compared to CD. The incidence of IBD among patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of IBD is 19.46% with UC being major as compared to CD (4.42%). Male predominant patterns of IBD incidences were noted. Year by year increasing trend in disease burden was observed. The Dietary pattern has no direct correlation with IBD disease prevalence and incidences.

Induction of Endometrial HOXA 10 Gene Expression by Vitamin D and its Possible Influence on Reproductive Outcome of PCOS Patients Undergoing Ovulation Induction Procedure

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrinopathies in women frequently presenting with anovulatory infertility. Low successful pregnancy and live birth rates even after successful ovulation induction (OI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) in these patients indicate that endometrial dysfunction may be another important factor contributing to infertility. Vitamin D acting through nuclear receptors induces the expression of various genes required for cell growth and differentiation and plays a crucial role in reproduction. Homeobox 10 (HOXA10) may be one of the potential targets for vitamin D action. HOXA10 gene product promotes the differentiation of endometrial cells, making the endometrium receptive for implantation. The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of circulating vitamin D levels on HOXA10 gene expression in endometrial tissues and its possible influence on the reproductive outcome of PCOS patients undergoing OI procedure.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A prospective cohort study was conducted on 110 infertile PCOS patients. The patients were divided into two groups: Group 1: Vitamin D ³20 ng/ml, Group 2: Vitamin D <20 ng/ml. Endometrial samples were obtained from 22 patients using pipelle biopsy, used to determine HOXA10 mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) expression by quantitative RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) and protein expression by Western blotting. OI was performed using Clomiphene citrate or Letrozole from the 3^rd day of the cycle, and patients were followed up for a maximum of five cycles. Attainment of successful pregnancy was considered a positive outcome.

RESULTS

Both the groups were similar in mean age and other endocrine parameters. Serum vitamin D levels were significantly low (P < 0.001), and BMI (body mass index) was significantly high (P = 0.032) in group 2 compared to group 1. Endometrial HOXA10 mRNA (by quantitative rtPCR) and protein expression (by western blotting) were significantly low in group 2 compared to group 1. The clinical pregnancy rate was low in group 2 (28.6%) compared to group 1 (42.3%), but this difference was not significant (P = 0.22). On regression analysis adjusted for age and BMI, vitamin D was an independent predictor of successful pregnancy after OI (P = 0.09).

CONCLUSION

Circulating vitamin D levels influence the endometrial HOXA10 gene expression, and this may be reflected on the reproductive outcome of infertile PCOS patients undergoing OI.

An optimized protocol for total RNA isolation from archived formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues to identify the long non-coding RNA in oral squamous cell carcinomas

Approximately 93% of the human genome is translated into RNAs, of which only 2% code for proteins and the rest 98% are noncoding RNAs. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs of > 200 nucleotides length that are emerging as novel players in the field of cancer diagnostics or prognostics. Recently, lncRNAs are known to be associated with oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC). The demonstration of stable lncRNA has been a challenge in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues (FFPE). The survivability and expression level of lncRNA in FFPE tissues compared with fresh tissues is not well documented in the literature. Hence, we designed the current pilot study with the main aim to optimize modified TRI (Total RNA isolation) reagent RNA isolation protocol to identify the lncRNA expression in archived FFPE tissues of OSCC in comparison to the standard RNA isolation kit method. The findings of our study demonstrated that the RNA quantity and quality were comparatively better with the optimized TRI reagent modified protocol than the standard RNA isolation kit method. Furthermore, ct (cycle threshold) values after reverse-transcription and qRT-PCR (Quantitative Real time PCR) were comparable and almost equal in both the methods for normal mucosa (control) and OSCC samples.

Diurnal variability and biogeochemical reactivity of mercury species in an extreme high-altitude lake ecosystem of the Bolivian Altiplano

Methylation and demethylation represent major transformation pathways regulating the net production of methylmercury (MMHg). Very few studies have documented Hg reactivity and transformation in extreme high-altitude lake ecosystems. Mercury (Hg) species concentrations (IHg, MMHg, Hg°, and DMHg) and in situ Hg methylation (M) and MMHg demethylation (D) potentials were determined in water, sediment, floating organic aggregates, and periphyton compartments of a shallow productive Lake of the Bolivian Altiplano (Uru Uru Lake, 3686 m). Samples were collected during late dry season (October 2010) and late wet season (May 2011) at a north (NS) and a south (SS) site of the lake, respectively. Mercury species concentrations exhibited significant diurnal variability as influenced by the strong diurnal biogeochemical gradients. Particularly high methylated mercury concentrations (0.2 to 4.5 ng L(-1) for MMHgT) were determined in the water column evidencing important Hg methylation in this ecosystem. Methylation and D potentials range were, respectively, <0.1-16.5 and <0.2-68.3 % day(-1) and were highly variable among compartments of the lake, but always higher during the dry season. Net Hg M indicates that the influence of urban and mining effluent (NS) promotes MMHg production in both water (up to 0.45 ng MMHg L(-1) day(-1)) and sediment compartments (2.0 to 19.7 ng MMHg g(-1) day(-1)). While the sediment compartment appears to represent a major source of MMHg in this shallow ecosystem, floating organic aggregates (dry season, SS) and Totora's periphyton (wet season, NS) were found to act as a significant source (5.8 ng MMHg g(-1) day(-1)) and a sink (-2.1 ng MMHg g(-1) day(-1)) of MMHg, respectively. This work demonstrates that high-altitude productive lake ecosystems can promote MMHg formation in various compartments supporting recent observations of high Hg contents in fish and water birds.

Efficacy of chronic therapy with the gonadotrophin releasing hormone agonist decapeptyl in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

Our objective was to assess the endocrine and morphological response of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in patients receiving 6 months of therapy with the long-acting gonadotrophin releasing hormone agonist (GnRH agonist) decapeptyl (3.75 mg monthly injections). Eighteen documented PCOS patients were basally evaluated for hirsutism, gonadotrophin and androgen concentrations and ovarian morphology using trans-vaginal ultrasonography. Measurements were repeated at 3 and 6 months. The results (values as mean +/- SD) showed a significant improvement in hirsutism (Ferriman score 11.0 +/- 5.9 versus 6.6 +/- 2.7, P < 0.01), acne and seborrhoea. A significant post-treatment decrease in gonadotrophins [follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH): 5.8 +/- 1.8 versus 3.8 +/- 1.1 IU/l, P < 0.01; luteinizing hormone (LH): 10.8 +/- 8.3 versus 3.4 +/- 3.3 IU/l, P < 0.01], LH/FSH ratio (1.8 +/- 1.1 versus 0.8 +/- 0.6, P < 0.01) and androgen concentrations (free testosterone: 4.0 +/- 1.9 versus 1.9 +/- 0.7 pg/ml, P < 0.01, delta 4-androstenedione: 3.9 +/- 1.2 versus 1.9 +/- 0.6 ng/ml, P < 0.001) was also found, while oestradiol approximated castration concentrations (68.4 +/- 29.5 versus 29.1 +/- 6.7 pg/ml, P < 0.001). Finally, mean ovarian volume (19.7 +/- 6.2 versus 10.9 +/- 4.6 cm3, P < 0.001), capsule thickness (2.5 +/- 0.8 versus 1.9 +/- 0.7 mm, P < 0.05) and stromal density dropped significantly, as did uterine volume (34.2 +/- 10.5 versus 19.9 +/- 8.9 cm3, P < 0.01). In conclusion, treatment of our PCOS patients for 6 months with the GnRH agonist decapeptyl proved efficient in inducing significant clinical, biochemical and ovarian morphological improvement.

Environmental conditions, anthropometric parameters and arterial blood pressure

The influence of environmental conditions and anthropometric parameters on arterial blood pressure level was studied in 280 healthy Kashmiri subjects, aged 18-50 years (140 males, 140 females) Men in the age group of 18-20 years had higher blood pressure than women and their systolic blood pressure showed significant correlation with height, weight and skinfold thickness. Females (18-20 years) showed association of diastolic blood pressure with weight, skinfold thickness. Females (18-20) years) showed association of diastolic blood pressure with weight, skinfold thickness and mid-arm circumference. After the age of 20 years females had higher blood pressure than males. Height and weight decreased with age in both the sexes. Skinfold thickness and midarm circumference increased with age in females. A comparison between the present study and those reported from Haryana and Delhi revealed a higher diastolic pressure in Kashmiris.

Incidence of P.T.C. taste sensitivity and threshold in Kashmiri population

Taste sensitivity and threshold of Phenylthiourea (PTC) was determined in 800 individuals of Kashmir who form a distinct ethnic group. Correlation, if any, with age, sex, blood group, pH of Saliva, or smoking habits was investigated. The taste sensitivity of P.T.C. increased with advancing age. The percentage of non-tasters was more in blood group 'B' & 'O'. However, no correlation was observed as far as sex, pH of saliva and smoking habits were concerned.

Serum sialic acid levels in normal pregnant and non-pregnant women

Serum sialic acid estimation was done in 97 pregnant and 61 non-pregnant healthy women. A progressive rise in the level was observed as the pregnancy advanced. The rise was higher in subjects above 30 years of age. Non-pregnant women weighing more than 50 kg a significantly higher serum sialic acid level, but the contrast was reversed during pregnancy and puerperium.