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According to reports published, the aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of 19–25 nucleotide-long small non-coding RNAs, is responsible for human cancers, including nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). The dysregulation of miRNAs that act either as a tumor suppressor or oncogene, leading to a wide range of NPC pathogenesis pathways, includes the proliferation, invasion, migration as well as the metastasis of NPC cells. This article reviews and highlights recent advances in the studies of miRNAs in NPC, with a specific demonstration of the functions of miRNA, especially circulating miRNAs, in the pathway of NPC pathogenesis. Additionally, the possible use of miRNAs as early screening and prognostic biomarkers and for therapeutic molecular monitoring has been extensively studied.

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An entomopathogenic fungus newly named Ophiocordyceps langbianensis was collected from Lang Biang Biosphere Reserve, located in Lam Dong Province, Vietnam. It is characterized as a species of Ophiocordyceps (Ophiocordycipitaceae, Hypocreales) having the unique characteristics of a cylindrical fertile part and several branched apical appendices. Each ascospore develops as two swollen, constricted part-spores. A phylogenetic analysis of multiple genes, including nrLSU, nrSSU, Rpb1, ITS and Tef, supported its systematic position in the genus of Ophiocordyceps; it is related to O. brunneipunctata. Based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses, O. langbianensis was confirmed as a new species from Vietnam.

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