MicroRNA-155 and cancer metastasis: Regulation of invasion, migration, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition

Among the leading causes of death globally has been cancer. Nearly 90% of all cancer-related fatalities are attributed to metastasis, which is the growing of additional malignant growths out of the original cancer origin. Therefore, a significant clinical need for a deeper comprehension of metastasis exists. Beginning investigations are being made on the function of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the metastatic process. Tiny non-coding RNAs called miRNAs have a crucial part in controlling the spread of cancer. Some miRNAs regulate migration, invasion, colonization, cancer stem cells' properties, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and the microenvironment, among other processes, to either promote or prevent metastasis. One of the most well-conserved and versatile miRNAs, miR-155 is primarily distinguished by overexpression in a variety of illnesses, including malignant tumors. It has been discovered that altered miR-155 expression is connected to a number of physiological and pathological processes, including metastasis. As a result, miR-155-mediated signaling pathways were identified as possible cancer molecular therapy targets. The current research on miR-155, which is important in controlling cancer cells' invasion, and metastasis as well as migration, will be summarized in the current work. The crucial significance of the lncRNA/circRNA-miR-155-mRNA network as a crucial regulator of carcinogenesis and a player in the regulation of signaling pathways or related genes implicated in cancer metastasis will be covered in the final section. These might provide light on the creation of fresh treatment plans for controlling cancer metastasis.

Effect on analgesia duration and pain intensity of adding dexamethasone to lidocaine in digital nerve block in patients with finger trauma

Digital nerve block is one of the multimodal analgesia methods used in finger trauma cases. According to some studies, dexamethasone needs further investigation before being used routinely. We therefore investigated dexamethasone's effect on the parameters of digital nerve block. In this double-blind clinical study, 60 patients were allocated to two groups: lidocaine alone and lidocaine + dexamethasone. Groups were compared for pain intensity, analgesia duration and demographic characteristics. Patients in the intervention group received 3 cc 2% lidocaine + 1 cc (equivalent to 4 mg) dexamethasone and patients in the control group received 3 cc lidocaine 2% + 1 cc normal saline. The two groups were comparable for age and gender. In the lidocaine + dexamethasone group, postoperative pain severity was significantly lower and the pain-free period was longer (P < 0.05). Dexamethasone as an adjuvant in digital nerve block after trauma reduced the severity of postoperative pain and increased the pain-free period.

Subclinical hypothyroidism and diabetic nephropathy in Iranian patients with type 2 diabetes

PURPOSE

Association of subclinical hypothyroidism with type 2 diabetes and its complications has been previously documented. These reports were, however, inconclusive and mainly gathered from Chinese and East Asian populations. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism and its relationship with diabetic nephropathy in Iranian individuals with type 2 diabetes, drawn from a white Middle Eastern population with an increasing prevalence of diabetes.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 255 Iranian participants with type 2 diabetes and without history of thyroid disorders were included. Patients with TSH > 4.2 mIU/L and normal T4 were classified as having subclinical hypothyroidism. Diabetic nephropathy was diagnosed based on abnormal 24-h urinary albumin or protein measurements (24-h urinary albumin ≥30 mg/day or 24-h urinary protein ≥150 mg/day). Multivariate logistic regression was employed to obtain the OR for the relationship between subclinical hypothyroidism and diabetic nephropathy.

RESULTS

We found that subclinical hypothyroidism and diabetic nephropathy were as prevalent as 18.1 and 41.2 %, respectively, among the participants. We also found that subclinical hypothyroidism was independently associated with higher rates of diabetic nephropathy, after multivariable adjustment (OR [95 % CI] 3.23 [1.42-7.37], p = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

We found that the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism in Iranian diabetic population was among the highest rates reported to date. Our data supported the independent association of subclinical hypothyroidism with diabetic nephropathy, calling for further investigations to evaluate their longitudinal associations.

The keloidal diathesis, a resistant state to malignancies?

We report clinical observations and immunological and laboratory studies whcih suggest that the tendency toward skin malignancies and the keloid diathesis may be two opposing conditions. We conclude that it is quite possible that a keloidal person, armed with a hypersensitive cell-mediated immune response condition and an overactive enzyme system, has a safeguard against acquiring skin malignancies.