World journal of gastroenterology : WJG
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World J. Gastroenterol. · Sep 2015
ReviewCirculating microRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic tools for hepatocellular carcinoma.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Conventional biomarkers exhibit poor performance in the surveillance, diagnosis, and prognosis of HCC. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of evolutionarily conserved small non-coding RNAs that are involved in the regulation of gene expression and protein translation, and they play critical roles in cell growth, differentiation, and the development of various types of cancers, including HCC. ⋯ The present review highlights current understanding of miRNA biogenesis and the origins and types of circulating miRNAs. We summarize recent progress in the use of circulating miRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for HCC. We also discuss the challenges and perspectives of the clinical utility of circulating miRNAs in HCC.
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World J. Gastroenterol. · Sep 2015
Observational StudyDiffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging without bowel preparation for detection of ulcerative colitis.
To evaluate the accuracy of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) without bowel preparation, the optimal b value and the changes in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in detecting ulcerative colitis (UC). ⋯ DWI combined with conventional MRI without bowel preparation provides a quantitative strategy to differentiate actively inflamed intestinal segments from the normal mucosa to detect UC.