Lack of evidence for a role of xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer and/or chronic fatigue syndrome

Fast preparation of a long chimeric armored RNA as controls for external quality assessment for molecular detection of Zika virus

BACKGROUND

The emergence of Zika virus demands accurate laboratory diagnostics. Nucleic acid testing is currently the definitive method for diagnosis of Zika infection. In 2016, an external quality assurance (EQA) for assessing the quality of molecular testing of Zika virus was carried out in China.

METHODS

A single armored RNA encapsulating a 4942-nucleotides (nt) long specific RNA sequence of Zika virus was prepared and used as positive samples. A pre-tested EQA panel, consisting of 4 negative and 6 positive samples with different concentrations of armored RNA, was distributed to 38 laboratories that perform molecular detection of Zika virus.

RESULTS

A total of 39 data sets (1 laboratory used two test kits in parallel), produced by using commercial (n=38) or laboratory developed (n=1) quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) kits, were received. Of these, 35 (89.7%) had correct results for all 10 samples, and 4 (10.3%) reported at least 1 error (11 in total). The testing errors were all false-negatives, highlighting the need of improvements in detecting sensitivity.

CONCLUSIONS

The EQA reveals that the majority of participating laboratories are proficient in molecular testing of Zika virus.

Cancer related fatigue syndrome in neoplastic diseases

Fatigue is one of the most important factors which has a considerable influence on treatment and the life quality of oncological patients. The fatigue syndrome is often diagnosed during cancer treatment and this syndrome is not related to the physical effort. Cancer related fatigue is a patient's subjective, psychologically, physically and emotionally based feeling. It is disproportionate to patient's daily activity. The pathogenesis of this syndrome remains still unknown. However, on the basis of various questionnaires, it is possible to test the disease's complex nature. Cancer related fatigue causes deterioration of patient's life along with lower motivation to struggle with the disease. It is thought that the factor which increases the incidence of cancer related fatigue is a long-term use of drugs such as opioids, benzodiazepine, and medicines containing codeine, tranquilizers, anxiolytics and antidepressants. On the basis of the results, one can choose an appropriate treatment method for cancer related fatigue such as rehabilitation, psychotherapy or public assistance. A great number of patients consider excessive fatigue a typical concomitant symptom in neoplastic disease; therefore, they do not report it. It is of a paramount importance to make patients aware of the fact that cancer related fatigue is a serious disease which can be treated.

Evaluation of xenotropic murine leukemia virus and its R426Q polymorphism in patients with prostate cancer in Kerman, southeast of Iran

A role for the xenotropic murine leukemia virus (XMRV) in prostate cancer development has been postulated. To answer questions regarding the prevalence of XMRV in Iranian patients with prostate cancer and its association with the RNASEL R462Q polymorphism, we here investigated a series of cases in Kerman, in the Southeast of Iran, and sought to verify the association with the R462Q using Real Time PCR Method. Prostate tissue specimens of 200 patients with prostate cancer were genotyped for R462Q by real time polymerase chain reaction allelic discrimination and were screened for XMRV proviral DNA by real time polymerase chain reaction specific for the envelope gene. Of 200 patients in this study 8 (4%) cases were positive for XMRV, the QQ allele being the most frequent regarding the R426Q polymorphism while in negative patients it was the RQ allele. There was significant correlation between high pathological scores and XMRV positive samples. No significant relationship was found between age groups and XMRV results. XMRV was only found in patients with QQ and RQ alleles, not RR. XMRV is detectable in tumor prostate tissue from some patients with prostate cancer, independent of R462Q.