Nerves in the Tumor Microenvironment: Origin and Effects.

Studies have reported the vital role of nerves in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. Nerves infiltrate the tumor microenvironment thereby enhancing cancer growth and metastasis. Perineural invasion, a process by which cancer cells invade the surrounding nerves, provides an alternative route for metastasis and generation of tumor-related pain.

The effects of mitochondria-associated long noncoding RNAs in cancer mitochondria: New players in an old arena.

LncRNAs, as new players in the old battle against cancer, are significant components of gene regulatory networks. Mitochondria-associated lncRNAs have newly been discovered to work in concert with transcription factors and epigenetic regulators to modulate mitochondrial gene expression and mitochondrial function. Many mitochondria-associated lncRNAs regulate mitochondrial biosynthesis, bioenergetics, apoptosis and possibly govern the cross-talk of mitochondria with nuclei.

Epigenetic Targeting of Granulin in Hepatoma Cells by Synthetic CRISPR dCas9 Epi-suppressors.

The CRISPR-associated Cas9 system can modulate disease-causing alleles both in vivo and ex vivo, raising the possibility of therapeutic genome editing. In addition to gene targeting, epigenetic modulation by the catalytically inactive dCas9 may also be a potential form of cancer therapy. Granulin (GRN), a potent pluripotent mitogen and growth factor that promotes cancer progression by maintaining self-renewal of hepatic stem cancer cells, is upregulated in hepatoma tissues and is associated with decreased tumor survival in patients with hepatoma.

A pilot randomized clinical trial testing integrated 12-Step facilitation (iTSF) treatment for adolescent substance use disorder.

Background And Aims: The integration of 12-Step philosophy and practices is common in adolescent substance use disorder (SUD) treatment programs, particularly in North America. However, although numerous experimental studies have tested 12-Step facilitation (TSF) treatments among adults, no studies have tested TSF-specific treatments for adolescents. We tested the efficacy of a novel integrated TSF.

Long noncoding RNA HOTAIR as an independent prognostic marker in cancer: a meta-analysis.

Background: HOTAIR, a newly discovered long intergenic noncoding RNA (lincRNA), has been reported to be aberrantly expressed in many types of cancers. This meta-analysis summarizes its potential role as a biomarker in malignancy.

Methods: A quantitative meta-analysis was performed through a systematic search in Pubmed, Medline and Web of Science for eligible papers on the prognostic impact of HOTAIR in cancer from inception to Feb.

An intragenic long noncoding RNA interacts epigenetically with the RUNX1 promoter and enhancer chromatin DNA in hematopoietic malignancies.

RUNX1, a master regulator of hematopoiesis, is the most commonly perturbed target of chromosomal abnormalities in hematopoietic malignancies. The t(8;21) translocation is found in 30-40% of cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Recent whole-exome sequencing also reveals mutations and deletions of RUNX1 in some solid tumors.

Designing an automated clinical decision support system to match clinical practice guidelines for opioid therapy for chronic pain.

Background: Opioid prescribing for chronic pain is common and controversial, but recommended clinical practices are followed inconsistently in many clinical settings. Strategies for increasing adherence to clinical practice guideline recommendations are needed to increase effectiveness and reduce negative consequences of opioid prescribing in chronic pain patients.

Methods: Here we describe the process and outcomes of a project to operationalize the 2003 VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guideline for Opioid Therapy for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain into a computerized decision support system (DSS) to encourage good opioid prescribing practices during primary care visits.

Different components of opioid-substitution treatment predict outcomes of patients with and without a parent with substance-use problems.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine how the treatment needs and outcomes of polysubstance-using patients entering opioid-substitution treatment (OST) may be affected if the patient had a parent with substance-use problems.

Method: This prospective observational study examined outcomes of 255 patients (97% male) entering OST at eight clinics in the Veterans Health Administration. Self-reported substance-use outcomes in the first year of treatment were compared between patients with (n = 121) and without (n = 134) a parent with substance-use problems.