Clinical Research Directory

Investigation of miRNA Expression Profiles in Human Degenerated Intervertebral Disc Tissues

Aim of the Study: The aim of this study is to determine the expression levels of candidate microRNAs (miRNAs) expressed in human degenerated intervertebral disc tissues. In line with this objective, our specific goals are outlined below: Objectives: Objective 1: To include patients diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) who are scheduled for lumbar microdiscectomy (LMD), and patients diagnosed with vertebral fractures who are scheduled for decompression or fusion surgeries, by obtaining informed consent in accordance with ethical standards. Objective 2: To collect degenerated intervertebral disc tissues obtained during LMD or spinal cord repair surgeries into cryotubes in duplicates for real-time PCR (rt-PCR) analysis, and to store them under appropriate conditions until analysis. Objective 3: To identify candidate miRNAs that regulate genes associated with the pathophysiology of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) using databases such as miRBase, miRTar, and miRDB. Objective 4: To determine the expression levels of candidate miRNAs associated with nucleus pulposus cell proliferation in human degenerated disc tissues. Objective 5: To determine the expression levels of candidate miRNAs associated with apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells in human degenerated disc tissues. Objective 6: To determine the expression levels of candidate miRNAs associated with extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling in human degenerated disc tissues. Objective 7: To determine the expression levels of candidate miRNAs associated with cartilaginous endplate dysfunction in human degenerated disc tissues. Objective 8: To determine the expression levels of candidate miRNAs associated with annulus fibrosus degeneration in human degenerated disc tissues. Objective 9: To determine the expression levels of candidate miRNAs associated with inflammatory processes in human degenerated disc tissues. Objective 10: To compare the expression levels of each candidate miRNA identified in degenerated disc tissues with those found in non-degenerated disc tissues obtained during spinal cord repair surgeries.

Circulating microRNAs and Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD) resulting from atherosclerotic obstruction of epicardial coronary arteries accounts for more than one-third of deaths in subjects over the age of 35 worldwide. The global incidence of CAD is on the rise owing to the international epidemic of obesity, type 2 diabetes and aging, all of which are potent risk factors for coronary atherosclerosis. Participants with CAD are at high risk for subsequent adverse cardiovascular (CV) events and death; it has been estimated that one out of every five CAD patients will experience at least one adverse CV event during a 5-year follow up period. There is, however, no reliable diagnostic tool to predict the risk of adverse CV events or death in participanrs with CAD. Increasing evidence suggests that miRNAs are stably present in serum, plasma, urine, saliva and other body fluids and are considered a novel class of non-invasive biomarkers for various diseases including cancer, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases

Monitoring of Patients With Low-grade Gliomas Using Circulating miRNA

With around 3,400 cases per year in France, diffuse gliomas are the most common primary tumours of the central nervous system. Their grade varies from 2 to 4. Whatever the grade, their prognosis is poor, because tumour recurrence is systematic, because no personalised medicine is available for the treatment of these cancers, and because the tools for monitoring recurrence are imperfect. Treatment of diffuse gliomas is based on removal of as much of the tumour as possible, whatever its grade. Surgery is followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy depending on the grade and quality of the excision. In the event of recurrence, the patient may be offered second-line chemotherapy or further surgery. During and after treatment, patients are regularly monitored by MRI in order to detect any recurrence as early as possible and propose a new treatment. However, for grade 2 and 3 gliomas, MRI monitoring is imperfect because it cannot detect tumour recurrence at an early stage. Initiation of new treatment at the time of recurrence, which is inevitable, is therefore often delayed, which is harmful for patients. It is therefore vital to identify a reliable, easy-to-use and non-invasive biomarker that can be used to monitor patients undergoing surgery for grade 2 and 3 diffuse gliomas, and thus enable earlier diagnosis of recurrence. These biomarkers could be microRNAs. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs involved in the regulation of genes and, consequently, of the intracellular signalling pathways that govern cell behaviour. They are therefore widely implicated in oncogenesis, and in particular in the mechanisms that promote tumour migration, invasion and proliferation. Several preliminary studies have shown that serum levels of pro-oncogenic microRNAs correlate with tumour rates in gliomas. No study has investigated the possibility of using them to detect tumour recurrence earlier in grade 2 and 3 gliomas. With this study, the investigators hope to use pro-oncogenic microRNAs to monitor glioma patients and diagnose early recurrence in grade 2 and 3 gliomas.