Novel expression of microRNAs in serum samples of Iraqi breast cancer women

Although a lot of hard work against cancer to reduces its spread but it still continues to kill with abandon. The need for a biomarker for cancer early detection becomes the most mind concentrated scientists. MicroRNAs the tiny non coding RNA molecules opened new path for the scientists to determine the cancer in its early stages. Expression of microRNAs profiles has been investigated to be involved in cancer development. Here we determined the expression of microRNAs in serum of Iraqi healthy volunteers and other women diagnosed with breast cancer. MicroRNAs expression has been determined by using real time qPCR and delta method has been used. Four of thirteen microRNAs were shown to be expressed in serum of Iraqi breast cancer women. Let-7a and miR-21 were shown to be significantly over expressed in serum of breast cancer compared with healthy serum volunteers (P= 0.022 and 0.026) respectively. While miR-26b and miR-429 found to be significantly down expressed in serum of breast cancer women (P= 0.0034 and 0.031) respectively. The result concluded that these expressed microRNAs in serum of breast cancer women could be used as a first indicator of breast cancer occurrence.

Antenatal corticosteroids impact the inflammatory rather than the antiangiogenic profile of women with preeclampsia

Circulating antiangiogenic factors and proinflammatory cytokines are implicated in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. This study was performed to test the hypothesis that steroids modify the balance of inflammatory and proangiogenic and antiangiogenic factors that potentially contribute to the patient's evolving clinical state. Seventy singleton women, admitted for antenatal corticosteroid treatment, were enrolled prospectively. The study group consisted of 45 hypertensive women: chronic hypertension (n=6), severe preeclampsia (n=32), and superimposed preeclampsia (n=7). Normotensive women with shortened cervix (<2.5 cm) served as controls (n=25). Maternal blood samples of preeclampsia cases were obtained before steroids and then serially up until delivery. A clinical severity score was designed to clinically monitor disease progression. Serum levels of angiogenic factors (soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 [sFlt-1], placental growth factor [PlGF], soluble endoglin [sEng]), endothelin-1 (ET-1), and proinflammatory markers (IL-6, C-reactive protein [CRP]) were assessed before and after steroids. Soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) and total immunoglobulins (IgG) were measured as markers of T- and B-cell activation, respectively. Steroid treatment coincided with a transient improvement in clinical manifestations of preeclampsia. A significant decrease in IL-6 and CRP was observed although levels of sIL-2R and IgG remained unchanged. Antenatal corticosteroids did not influence the levels of angiogenic factors but ET-1 levels registered a short-lived increase poststeroids. Although a reduction in specific inflammatory mediators in response to antenatal steroids may account for the transient improvement in clinical signs of preeclampsia, inflammation is unlikely to be the major contributor to severe preeclampsia or useful for therapeutic targeting. © 2014 American Heart Association, Inc.