Explore the vast range of titles available.

Background/Aims: Hemodialysis implies significant alterations in the profile of serum components. microRNAs (miRNAs) are present in the human serum and are considered to target distant tissues where they can regulate gene expression, thus affecting homeostasis. Whether hemodialysis alters the profile of miRNAs in the serum is not known. Methods: miRNA profiling in serum samples collected before and after hemodialysis was performed using miRNA qPCR arrays. The results were subsequently validated in an independent group of 10 hemodialyzed men. miRWalk database was used to identify mRNAs targeted by the miRNAs the levels of which changed after hemodialysis. The list of mRNAs was analyzed using the DAVID and PANTHER classification systems to identify pathways controlled by these miRNAs. Results: miRNA profiling showed that the levels of the majority of circulating miRNAs were increased at least two-fold (115 out of 179 tested) while the levels of only five miRNAs were found at least two-fold lower after hemodialysis. Validation study confirmed the majority of the array results. Bioinformatics analysis of validated and significantly upregulated miRNAs revealed that gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor, cell cycle and cell pluripotency-related pathways were targeted. Conclusion: Hemodialysis alters serum miRNA expression profile and this alteration may result in disruption of pathways contributing to subfertility and increased risk for cancer development being pathologies associated with hemodialysis.

Purpose The purpose of the study was to identify serum microRNAs providing a link between male subfertility and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and validate their diagnostic potential. Methods Sera were analyzed for fertility and MetS-related parameters in subfertile men ( n  = 79) and controls ( n  = 38). Literature review identified miR-155-5p, miR-122-5p, miR-200a-3p, and miR-200c-3p which previously were associated with parameters of fertility as well as metabolic disorders. They were measured in the sera using an absolute quantitation method (qPCR). In order to investigate the value of miRNAs in predicting subfertility, receiver operating characteristic analysis was done. Results Subfertile men had higher concentrations of miR-155-5p than controls ( p  = 0.003) and for miR-200c-3p, the difference was borderline statistically significant ( p  = 0.05). miR-155-5p and miR-200c-3p were also associated with subfertility in men with no metabolic disturbances ( p  = 0.008, p  = 0.004, respectively). This association was abrogated if any component of MetS was present. The combination of miR-155-5p and miR-200c-3p with follicle-stimulating hormone, being a well-established subfertility parameter, resulted in an overall diagnostic power of AUC = 0.87, which was even higher when men without MetS components were analyzed (AUC = 0.93). Regarding MetS components, statistically significant correlations were found between miR-122-5p and fasting triglycerides, and waist circumference, but no association with subfertility was identified. Conclusions Among the four miRNAs analyzed, none of them was associated both with male subfertility and MetS components. The ability of miR-155-5p and miR-200c-3p to identify subfertile men was partly overruled by the presence of metabolic disturbances.

ObjectivesAngiogenesis underlies tumour growth and metastasis through hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), epithelial growth factor (EGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The aim of this study was to determine the levels of VEGF, EGF, HGF, HGFR (hepatocyte growth factor receptor), and SRSF1 (serine-rich protein splicing factor-1) in patients with parotid gland tumours and in healthy controls via ELISA in parotid saliva. Immunohistochemical expression of anti-angiogenic isoform of VEGF165b subunit, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and microvessel density (CD34) were assessed in the tumour tissue and in the non-tumorous surrounding margins.Materials and methodsThe study included 48 patients with benign and malignant parotid gland tumours and 15 healthy controls.ResultsComparison of VEGF, EGF, and HGF in tumour and non-tumorous tissues showed no significant differences and no correlations with tumour stage. The salivary VEGF concentration was significantly higher in patients with pleomorphic adenoma and Warthin’s tumour. No significant correlation was found between expression of VEGF165b and VEGFR2 in tumours and non-tumor surgical margins.ConclusionsThe increased salivary VEGF reflects changes in affected parotid glands, but it cannot be used as a prognostic and differentiative factor for parotid tumours.Clinical relevanceReciprocal relations between growth factors suggest an overlapping pathway of secretion and activity.