Elevated HERV-K Expression in Soft Tissue Sarcoma Is Associated with Worsened Relapse-Free Survival.

A wide variety of endogenous retroviral sequences has been demonstrated in the human genome so far, divided into several different families according to the sequence homology to viral strains. While increased expression of human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) elements has already been linked to unfavorable prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma, breast cancer, and ovarian carcinoma yet less is known about the impact of the expression of different HERV elements on sarcomagenesis in general as well as the outcome of soft tissue sarcoma (STS) patients. Therefore, in this study the association between expression of HERV-K and HERV-F and the clinicopathological characteristics in a cohort of STSs as well as the patients' prognosis was evaluated.

Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 serum activity and concentration are increased in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex disease, the aetiology of which is not well understood. Alterations in potential candidate genes involved in the biosynthesis and metabolism of androgens, folliculogenesis and insulin and glucose metabolism have been suggested as possible aetiologies. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) plays a key role in glucose homoeostasis and, thus, in the regulation of insulin secretion.