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Background: Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is a group of RNA transcripts that contribute to tumor development by post-transcriptionally regulating cancer-related genes. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an epithelial tumor that occurs in the nasopharynx and is common in North Africa and Southeast Asia. The study investigated the functions of lncRNA TMPO-AS1 in NPC cell proliferation and apoptosis as well as its related competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) mechanism. Methods: Candidate microRNA and genes that may regulated by TMPO-AS1 were predicted with the bioinformatic tool starBase. TMPO-AS1 expression in NPC tissue, cells, nuclear part, and cytoplasmic part was measured by RT-qPCR. MTT assay, EdU assay, and flow cytometry analysis were carried out to evaluate NPC cell viability, proliferation, and apoptosis, respectively. RNA immunoprecipitation assay and luciferase reporter assay were conducted to detect the binding between TMPO-AS1 and let-7c-5p or that between let-7c-5p and BCAT1. Results: TMPO-AS1 and BCAT1 showed high expression in NPC tissue and cells, while let-7c-5p was downregulated in NPC. The silencing of TMPO-AS1 suppressed NPC cell proliferation while promoting cell apoptosis. Moreover, TMPO-AS1 interacted with let-7c-5p and negatively regulated let-7c-5p expression. BCAT1 was a target of let-7c-5p and was inversely regulated by let-7c-5p in NPC cells. The repressive impact of TMPO-AS1 knockdown on NPC cell growth was countervailed by overexpressed BCAT1. Conclusion: TMPO-AS1 accelerates NPC cell proliferation and represses cell apoptosis by interacting with let-7c-5p to regulate BCAT1 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Backgrounds  Wearing appropriate eye-protection devices in workplace, sports and motorcycling have not been a routine in most of Asian countries. The purpose of this study is to assess the frequency, causes, mechanisms, functional outcomes and costs of hospitalized eye injuries in a large industrial city in South Eastern Asia. Methods  A retrospective review of the hospital admission files of ocular trauma admitted to the Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital from January 2001 to December 2002. Results  One hundred and sixty cases of eye injuries were identified for study. Male patients (83.1%) were significantly more than female, while in the work-related group, male was predominant with 92.2%. Work-related injuries accounted for 48.1% (77 cases) with a mean age of 42.3 years, older than the 36.0 years mean for the non-work-related group. The most common cause of hospitalized injury was contusion injury (49.4%), while in the work-related group it was open-globe trauma (34.0%). Hyphema of anterior chamber (23.1%) was the most common diagnosis, followed by vitreous hemorrhage (15.6%) and corneal perforation (13.8%). In work-related injuries, lid and corneal lacerations were the most common. The visual prognosis was poor in injured eyes, with 39.6% eyes having final best corrected visual acuity less than 0.1, and it was even worse at 43.8% in work-related group. The most frequent (46.8%) durations of hospital stay were from 3 to 5 days. The mean cost of eye injuries per case in the work-related group was 1382 US dollars, significantly more than the 909 US dollars per case for the non-work-related group. Conclusion  The hospitalized ocular injuries incurred significant visual loss, health-care expenses and socio-economic impacts. Safety strategies aimed at preventing eye injury are mandatory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]