Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are aberrantly expressed in various tumors and are associated with tumorigenesis. The present study aimed to determine the role of circRNA_001275 in cisplatin-resistant esophageal cancer. Three pairs of cisplatin-resistant tissues and corresponding adjacent tissues were collected and subjected to circRNA chip analysis. Additionally, the effect of circRNA_001275 on cisplatin-resistant cells was investigated. The relationship between circRNA_001275, microRNAs (miRs) and target genes were analyzed using luciferase assays, and validated via reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blotting. The results showed that circRNA_001275 was significantly upregulated in cisplatin-resistant esophageal cancer tissues and cells (P<0.05). Overexpression of circRNA_001275 promoted the proliferation and invasion, and decreased the apoptosis of cisplatin-resistant cells. On the other hand, circRNA_001275 silencing inhibited cell proliferation and invasion, and promoted cell apoptosis (P<0.05). Dual-luciferase reporter assays revealed that circRNA_001275 directly binds to miR-370-3p, and that Wnt family member 7A (Wnt7a) is targeted by miR-370-3p. RT-qPCR and western blotting further demonstrated that circRNA_001275 serves as an miR-370-3p sponge to upregulate Wnt7a expression. In conclusion, the present study revealed that circRNA_001275 was upregulated in cisplatin-resistant esophageal cancer and promoted cisplatin resistance by sponging miR-370-3p to upregulate Wnt7a expression. Therefore, circRNA_001275 may serve as a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for patients with cisplatin-resistant esophageal cancer.

Background There is a lack of large multicenter Parkinson's disease (PD) cohort studies and limited data on the natural history of PD in China. Objectives The objective of this study was to launch the Chinese Parkinson's Disease Registry (CPDR) and to report its protocol, cross‐sectional baseline data, and prospects for a comprehensive observational, longitudinal, multicenter study. Methods The CPDR recruited PD patients from 19 clinical sites across China between January 2018 and December 2020. Clinical data were collected prospectively using at least 17 core assessment scales. Patients were followed up for clinical outcomes through face‐to‐face interviews biennially. Results We launched the CPDR in China based on the Parkinson's Disease & Movement Disorders Multicenter Database and Collaborative Network (PD‐MDCNC). A total of 3148 PD patients were enrolled comprising 1623 men (51.6%) and 1525 women (48.4%). The proportions of early‐onset PD (EOPD, age at onset ≤50 years) and late‐onset PD (LOPD) were 897 (28.5%) and 2251 (71.5%), respectively. Stratification by age at onset showed that EOPD manifested milder motor and nonmotor phenotypes and was related to increased probability of dyskinesia. Comparison across genders suggested a slightly older average age at PD onset, milder motor symptoms, and a higher rate of developing levodopa‐induced dyskinesias in women. Conclusions The CPDR is one of the largest multicenter, observational, longitudinal, and natural history studies of PD in China. It offers an opportunity to expand the understanding of clinical features, genetic, imaging, and biological markers of PD progression. © 2022 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

BackgroundThe diagnostic criteria for Parkinson's disease (PD) remain complex, which is especially problematic for nonmovement disorder experts. A test is required to establish a diagnosis of PD with improved accuracy and reproducibility.ObjectiveThe study aimed to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of tests using sniffer dogs to diagnose PD.MethodsA prospective, diagnostic case‐control study was conducted in four tertiary medical centers in China to evaluate the accuracy of sniffer dogs to distinguish between 109 clinically established medicated patients with PD, 654 subjects without PD, 37 drug‐naïve patients with PD, and 185 non‐PD controls. The primary outcomes were sensitivity and specificity of sniffer dog's identification.ResultsIn the study with patients who were medicated, when two or all three sniffer dogs yielded positive detection results in a sample tested, the index test sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were 91% (95% CI: 84%–96%), 95% (95% CI: 93%–97%), and 19.16 (95% CI: 13.52–27.16) and 0.10 (95% CI: 0.05–0.17), respectively. The corresponding sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios in patients who were drug‐naïve were 89% (95% CI: 75%–96%), 86% (95% CI: 81%–91%), and 6.6 (95% CI: 4.51–9.66) and 0.13 (95% CI: 0.05–0.32), respectively.ConclusionsTests using sniffer dogs may be a useful, noninvasive, fast, and cost‐effective method to identify patients with PD in community screening and health prevention checkups as well as in neurological practice. © 2022 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.