Ribosomal proteins are encoded by a gene family, members of which are overexpressed in human cancers. Many of them have been found, using oligonucleotide microarray hybridization, to be differentially expressed in the faeces of patients with various stages of col-orectal cancer (CRC). The gene encoding ribosomal protein L19 (RPL19), a prognostic marker for human prostate cancer, is differentially expressed in CRC patients. Measurement of faecal RPL19 mRNA might improve prognostic prediction for CRC patients. Using quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR, levels of RPL19 mRNA were detected in samples of colonic tissues from 44 CRC patients, in the faeces of 54 CRC patients and 15 controls, and in 11 colonic cell lines. Seven of 24 patients with late-stage CRC (Dukes' stages C and D) expressed over 2-fold more RPL19 in colonic tumour tissues than in corresponding normal tissues (P= 0.038). The mean faecal RPL19 mRNA levels of late-staged patients were higher than those of controls (P= 0.003) and early-staged patients (P= 0.008). Patients with both high serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA; >5 ng/mL) and high-faecal RPL19 mRNA (≥0.0069) had higher risk (odds ratio, 8.0; P= 0.015) and lower overall 48-month survival (33.8 ± 13.7%, P= 0.013). Oligonucleotide microarray hybridization analysis of faecal molecules identified gene transcripts differentially present in faeces. In conclusion, faecal RPL19 expression is associated with advanced tumour stages and addictive to serum CEA in predicting prognosis of CRC patients.

Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) is effective in the treatment of neuropathic pain in clinical practice. Its application to sites proximal to nerve injury can inhibit the activity of extra-cellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) for up to 28 days. The spared nerve injury (SNI)+ immPRF group (immediate exposure to PRF for 6 min after SNI) exhibited a greater anti-allodynic effect compared with the control group (SNI alone) or the SNI + postPRF group (application of PRF for 6 min on the 14th day after SNI). Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) was selected using microarray assays and according to web-based gene ontology annotations in the SNI + immPRF group. An increase in IGF2 and activation of ERK1/2 were attenuated by the immPRF treatment compared with an SNI control group. Using immunofluorescent staining, we detected co-localized phosphorylated ERK1/2 and IGF2 in the dorsal horn regions of rats from the SNI group, where the IGF2 protein predominantly arose in CD11b- or NeuN-positive cells, whereas IGF2 immunoreactivity was not detected in the SNI + immPRF group. Taken together, these results suggest that PRF treatment immediately after nerve injury significantly inhibited the development of neuropathic pain with a lasting effect, most likely through IGF2 down-regulation and the inhibition of ERK1/2 activity primarily in microglial cells.

BackgroundColorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of malignant death worldwide. Because young age of onset is often considered a poor prognostic factor for CRC, it is important to identify the poor outcomes of CRC in a younger population and to consider an aggressive approach by implementing early treatment. Our aim was to specifically quantify the fecal cytokeratin 19 (CK19) transcript from CRC patients and investigate its correlation with clinical stage, tumor malignancy, and age.MethodsThe quantitation of fecal CK19 transcript was determined by a quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain in 129 CRC patients (45 younger than 60 years at diagnosis) and 85 healthy controls. The levels of CK19 protein were examined both in colonic cell lines and tissues.ResultsThe analysis of 45 younger CRC patients (age ≤ 60 years) revealed that patients at the M1 stage had significantly higher expression levels of fecal CK19 mRNA when compared with healthy controls (p < 0.001) and patients at the M0 stage (p = 0.004). Additionally, the degree of consistency between the mean level of fecal CK19 mRNA and the distant metastatic rate in each age interval was up to 89% (p = 0.042).ConclusionThese results indicate that high levels of fecal CK19 mRNA represent a potential marker for colorectal malignancy and for aggressive treatment of younger CRC patients.

Our study suggests that breast-conserving therapy might be associated with worse perceived QOL for Taiwanese breast cancer survivors.