SLITRK3 expression correlation to gastrointestinal stromal tumor risk rating and prognosis

AIM: To assess the influence of SLIT and NTRKlike family member 3(SLITRK3) on the prognosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST) and determine whether SLITRK3 can help improve current risk stratification systems.METHODS: We hypothesized that SLITRK3 could be used as a prognostic molecular biomarker for GIST. 35 fresh tumor samples and 417 paraffin-embedded specimens from GIST patients were utilized. SLITRK3m RNA expression in GIST tumor tissue was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction, and SLITRK3 protein levels were estimated by immunohistochemistry. The correlation of SLITRK3 expression with various tumor clinicopathological characteristics and follow-up data were analyzed.RESULTS: GIST tumors had high expression of SLITRK3 compared with adjacent normal tissues and the expression level gradually increased with risk grade. SLITRK3 protein expression was closely associated with gastrointestinal bleeding, tumor site, tumor size, mitotic index, and National Institutes of Health(NIH) classification. Survival analysis showed that SLITRK3 expression was closely correlated with overall survival and disease-free survival of GIST patients. Multivariate analysis also identified SLITRK3 expression, mitotic index, and NIH stage as significant risk factors of GIST recurrence.CONCLUSION: SLITRK3 expression is a highly significant predictor of GIST recurrence and metastasis. Combinations of SLITRK3 and NIH stage have strong predictive and prognostic value, and are feasible markers for clinical practice in gastrointestinal stromal tumor.

The expression of lacrimal androgen-binding proteins in mice Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis

AIM: To investigate the expression of lacrimal androgenbinding proteins(ABPs) in mice Pseudomonas aeruginosa(P. aeruginosa) keratitis.METHODS: P. aeruginosa mice model from different gender was developed by intra-stromal injection. The expression of lacrimal ABPs in lacrimal gland specimens from P. aeruginosa keratitis mice was detected by the quantitative polymerase chain reaction(q RT-PCR). Corneal virulence was evaluated based on clinical scores. To study the mechanism of lacrimal ABPs' expression, experimental subjects were pre-treated with 4 E-BP1 inhibitor, and were used to evaluate the expression levels by q RT-PCR.RESULTS: Compared with control groups, the expression of ABPα, ABPη and ABPζ in lacrimal gland from P. aeruginosa keratitis mice had no meaningful changes, while ABPε and ABPδ were significantly higher at 1 d after infection. The expression of ABPδ in lacrimal gland of male mice was higher than female mice, regardless of whether or not P. aeruginosa keratitis occurred. After 4 E-BP1 inhibitor subconjunctival injection or lacrimal injection, the expression of ABPδ and ABPε has no significant change compared with the control group.CONCLUSION: ABPδ and ABPε secreted by mice lacrimal gland may involve in the progress of alleviating the severity of corneal damage in P. aeruginosa keratitis. The expression of ABPδ and ABPε upon P. aeruginosa infection is independent of cap-dependent m RNA translation activated by 4 E-BP1.

CD23 mediated the induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines Interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factors-alpha in Aspergillus fumigatus keratitis

To the Editor:Fungal keratitis is primarily caused by pathogenic fungi species,such as Fusarium solani and Aspergillus fumigatus.The incidence of A.fumigatus has been increased worldwide.[1]Although new therapies have been used for fungal keratitis,the efficacy of antifungal drugs remains unsatisfactory at present.[2]Fungal keratitis is still a challenge for ophthalmologists because of its difficult and delayed diagnosis,as well as the lack of effective drugs and treatment.