The role of microRNAs in different types of thyroid carcinoma: a comprehensive analysis to find new miRNA supplementary therapies

The most common endocrine malignancy is thyroid cancer, and researchers have made a great deal of progress in deciphering its molecular mechanisms in the recent years. Many of molecular changes observed in thyroid cancer can be used as biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic targets for treatment. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important parts in biological and metabolic pathways such as regulation of developmental stages, signal transduction, cell maintenance, and differentiation. Therefore, their dysregulation can expose individuals to malignancies. It has been proved that miRNA expression is dysregulated in different types of tumors, like thyroid cancers, and can be the cause of tumor initiation and progression. In this paper, we have reviewed the available data on miRNA dysregulation in different thyroid tumors including papillary, follicular, anaplastic, and medullary thyroid carcinomas aiming to introduce the last updates in miRNAs-thyroid cancer relation.

Molecular beacon probes-base multiplex NASBA Real-time for detection of HIV-1 and HCV

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Developed in 1991, nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA) has been introduced as a rapid molecular diagnostic technique, where it has been shown to give quicker results than PCR, and it can also be more sensitive. This paper describes the development of a molecular beacon-based multiplex NASBA assay for simultaneous detection of HIV-1 and HCV in plasma samples.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A well-conserved region in the HIV-1 pol gene and 5'-NCR of HCV genome were used for primers and molecular beacon design. The performance features of HCV/HIV-1 multiplex NASBA assay including analytical sensitivity and specificity, clinical sensitivity and clinical specificity were evaluated.

RESULTS

The analysis of scalar concentrations of the samples indicated that the limit of quantification of the assay was <1000 copies/ml for HIV-1 and <500 copies/ml for HCV with 95% confidence interval. Multiplex NASBA assay showed a 98% sensitivity and 100% specificity. The analytical specificity study with BLAST software demonstrated that the primers do not attach to any other sequences except for that of HIV-1 or HCV. The primers and molecular beacon probes detected all HCV genotypes and all major variants of HIV-1.

CONCLUSION

This method may represent a relatively inexpensive isothermal method for detection of HIV-1/HCV co-infection in monitoring of patients.

Design and development of an in-house multiplex RT-PCR assay for simultaneous detection of HIV-1 and HCV in plasma samples

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

HIV-1 and HCV infections are life threatening problems in patients who receive blood products. Serological methods have proven useful in detecting these infections, but there are setbacks that make it challenging to detect these infectious agents. By the advent of Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) methods, especially in multiplex format, more precise detection is possible.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We have developed a multiplex RT-PCR assay for simultaneous detection of HIV-1 and HCV. Primers were designed for highly conserved region of genome of each virus. Using these primers and standard plasmids, we determined the limit of detection, clinical and analytical specificity and sensitivity of the assay. Monoplex and multiplex RT-PCR were performed.

RESULTS

Analytical sensitivity was considered to be 100 and 200 copies/ml for HIV-1 and HCV, respectively. High concentration of one virus had no significant effect on the detection of the other one with low concentration. By analysis of 40 samples, clinical sensitivity of the assay was determined to be 97.5%. Using different viral and human genome samples, the specificity of the assay was evaluated to be 100%.

CONCLUSIONS

The aim of this study was to develop a reliable, rapid and cost effective method to detect HIV-1 and HCV simultaneously. Results showed that this simple and rapid method is perfectly capable of detecting two viruses in clinical samples.