Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are the dominant product of eukaryotic transcription. These products range from short microRNAs (miRNAs) to long intergenic noncoding RNAs (lincRNAs). Circular RNAs composed of exonic sequences represent an understudied form of ncRNA that was discovered more than 20 years ago. Using a TaqMan-based reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay, we analyzed the relationship between cir-ITCH expression and colorectal cancer (CRC) in a total of 45 CRCs and paired adjacent non-tumor tissue samples. We found that cir-ITCH expression was typically down-regulated in CRC compared to the peritumoral tissue. This result, as well as several follow-up experiments, showed that cir-ITCH could increase the level of ITCH, which is involved in the inhibition of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Therefore, our results showed that cir-ITCH plays a role in CRC by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Background: Surgical closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension in adults carries higher risk than in children. Objectives: To investigate the application of self-expandable occluders for transcatheter closure of PDA associated with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension in adults, and the assessment of immediate and shortterm results. Methods: 29 adult patients (6 men, 23 women) underwent attempted transcatheter closure of PDA at a mean (standard deviation (SD)) age of 31.1 (11.4) years (range 18-58 years) and a mean (SD) weight of 54.1 (7.1) kg (range 42-71 kg). On the basis of haemodynamic and clinical data obtained before and after trial occlusion, the final duct occlusion was determined and carried out. Radiographs of the chest, electrocardiograms and echocardiograms were used for follow-up evaluation of the treatment within 1 day, 1 month and 3-6 months after successful closure. Results: 20 of the 29 patients had successful occlusion (group 1), and 9 patients failed (named group 2). In group 1, in which occlusion was successful, mean (SD) pulmonary arterial pressures decreased markedly after trial occlusion: 78 (19.3) mm Hg (range 50-125 mm Hg) before occlusion and 41 (13.8) mm Hg (range 23-77 mm Hg) after occlusion. Systemic arterial oxygen saturation was found to be .90% in 19 patients and ,90% in the remaining patient before inhalation of oxygen, and .95% during inhalation of oxygen or after occlusion in all 20 patients. In group 2, the occlusion was not successful, because in two patients the device was not available; another two patients showed worsening of symptoms. The other five patients showed increased pulmonary arterial pressures after trial closure; their mean (SD) pulmonary arterial pressures increased by 10.3 (6) mm Hg (4-16 mm Hg) after trial occlusion, and systemic arterial oxygen saturation was 85.5% (2.6%) (range 82.6-88%) before inhalation of oxygen and 94.7% (1.7%) (range 90.7-99.1%) during inhalation of oxygen. In group 1, the dimensions of the left atrium, left ventricle and pulmonary artery increased considerably in 3-6-months of follow-up compared with those of preocclusion. Conclusions: Transcatheter closure is an effective treatment for adults with PDA associated with reversible severe pulmonary arterial hypertension. Further research is needed for the evaluation of long-term results.

BackgroundAn accurate and valid caries prevention policy is absent in Zhejiang because of insufficient data. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate oral health status and related risk factors in 12- to 14-year-old students in Zhejiang, China.Material/MethodsUsing multi-stage, stratified, random sampling, we recruited a total of 4860 students aged 12 to 14 years old from 6 regions in Zhejiang in this cross-sectional study. Dental caries was measured using the Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index and the Significant Caries Index (SiC). Information concerning family background and relevant behaviors was collected in a structured questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was used to study risk factors related to dental caries.ResultsThe overall prevalence of dental caries was 44% and the mean DMFT and SiC scores were 1.14 and 3.11, respectively. Female students had a higher level of dental caries than male students (P<0.01). The annual increase in caries prevalence was 3% with increasing age, and the DMFT score was 0.15. The results of logistic regression analysis showed that female sex, older age, snacks consumption once or more per day, fair or poor self-assessment of dental health, toothache experience, and dental visits were the most significant risk factors for dental caries, with odds ratios ranging from 1.24 to 2.25 (P<0.01).ConclusionsThe prevalence of dental caries in 12- to 14-year-old students in Zhejiang was low, with a tendency to increase compared with previous oral surveys. Female sex, older age, increased sugar intake, poor oral health self-assessment, and bad dental experience were the most important factors increasing dental caries risks.

A decision tree model that consists of pleural effusion, serum calcium, and BUN may be useful for the prediction of SAP.

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Background: The 2016 guidelines for left ventricular diastolic dysfunction diagnosis has been simplified from previous versions; however, multiparametric diagnosis approach still exists indeterminate left ventricular diastolic dysfunction category. Left atrial (LA) strain was recently found useful to predict elevated left ventricular (LV) filling pressures noninvasively. This study aimed to (1) analyze the diagnostic value of LA strain for noninvasive assessment of LV filling pressures in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) with preserved LV ejection fraction (LVEF), using invasive hemodynamic assessment as the gold standard, and (2) explore whether LA strain combined with conventional diastolic parameters could detect elevated LV filling pressures alone. Methods: Sixty-four patients with stable CAD having LVEF > 50% and 30 healthy controls were enrolled. Twodimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography was used to measure LA strain during the reservoir (LASr), conduit, and contraction phases. LV end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), as a surrogate for LV filling pressures, was invasively obtained by left heart catheterization. Logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratio to predict LV filling pressures. Pearson's correlation was used to analyze associations between echocardiographic parameters and LVEDP. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve was calculated to determine the capability of the echocardiographic parameters to detect elevated LVEDP. Inter-technique agreement was analyzed by contingency tables and tested by kappa statistics.

BackgroundThis research aimed to investigate whether metabolic syndrome (MetS) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) had both individual and synergistic effects on the prognosis for female colorectal carcinoma (CRC) patients.MethodsThe relationship between CRC prognosis and NAFLD as well as MetS was evaluated in 764 female participants. Based on the NAFLD level, patients were divided into significant NAFLD (SNAFLD), “moderate” and “severe” level, and non-SNAFLD, “non” and “mild” level. All the patients were categorized into four subgroups according to the status of SNAFLD and MetS and then a comparison of CRC prognosis among those four groups was performed.ResultsNAFLD, SNAFLD, and MetS were independent factors for CRC-specific mortality with the adjustment of age and other confounders. The hazard ratio (HR) of CRC-specific mortality in MetS (+) SNAFLD (+) group was significantly higher than that in other three groups. Relative excess risk of interaction (RERI) was 2.203 with 95% CI ranged from 0.197 to 4.210, attributable proportion (AP) was 0.444 with range from 0.222 to 0.667, and synergy index (SI) of 2.256 with 95% CI from 1.252 to 4.065, indicating SNAFLD and MetS had a significant synergic effect on CRC-specific mortality.ConclusionsSNAFLD and MetS are independent risk factors for CRC-specific mortality in females. Moreover, those two diseases have a synergistic effect on promoting CRC-specific mortality.