Regulation of miR-33b on endometriosis and expression of related factors

OBJECTIVE

Endometriosis is a common benign disease in gynecology, and can cause chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea and even infertility. Its pathogenesis mechanism has not been fully illustrated. miRNA (miR) participates in various biological activities including cell growth, proliferation, apoptosis, organ formation, inflammation and tumor. Its role in endometriosis has not been reported. MiR-33b is involved in cell metabolism, proliferation and invasion, but with its function and mechanism in endometriosis unknown.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Real-time PCR was used to test miR-33b expression in ectopic endometrial and normal tissues. In vitro cultured endometrial cells were transfected with miR-33b mimic or inhibitor, followed by Real-time PCR for miR-33b expression. MTT method detected endometrial cell proliferation. Caspase 3 activity was quantified by test kit. Real-time PCR and Western blot measured effect of miR-33b on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloprotein 9 (MMP-9).

RESULTS

MiR-33b was down-regulated in ectopic endometrial tissues (p < 0.05 compared to normal tissues). Transfection of miR-33b inhibitor facilitated endometrial proliferation, decreased Caspase 3 activity, increased VEGF and MMP-9 mRNA or protein expression (p < 0.05 compared to control group). MiR-33b mimic suppressed endometrial proliferation, elevated Caspase 3 activity, and decreased VEGF or MMP-9 expression (p < 0.05 compared to control group).

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-33b can mediate cell apoptosis, alter VEGF and MMP-9 expression and affect proliferation and apoptosis of uterus endometrial cells, thus participating endometriosis formation.

[Application of standardization of medical care model for chronic mild lead poisoning]

OBJECTIVE

To standardize the treatment and evaluate the clinical application effectiveness of clinical pathway (CP) in chronic mild lead poisoning.

METHODS

60 patients with chronic mild lead poisoning hospitalized from Jan. 2014 to Dec.2014 were enrolled for the study group, 60 patients with chronic mild lead poisoning hospitalized from Jan.2013 to Dec.2013 were enrolled for the control group. The study group were cared according to clinical pathway, the control group received routine therapy; the clinical application effectiveness were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

No adverse drug reactions occurred in both groups. The curative ratio was significantly higher in the study group than in the control group (96.7% vs 86.0%, P<0.05) , the rate of patients' satisfaction to medical care significantly higher in the study group (98.3% vs 88.3%, P<0.05) , the rate of health education awareness higher in the study group (95.0% vs 81.7%, P<0.05) , the course of treatment shorter in the study group (3.2±0.6 vs 3.4±0.7, P<0.05) , the medical cost less in the study group (5773.5 yuan±1242.1 yuan vs 6354.7 yuan±1177.0 yuan, P<0.05) , the length of hospitalization was shorter in the study group (21.9 d±6.7 d vs 24.6 d±7.9 d, P<0.05). The variation rate of clinical pathway was 13.3% in clinical pathway group.

CONCLUSION

The implementation of clinical pathway could improve the curative ratio, satisfaction, and health education awareness. The course of treatment, length of hospital stay and costs of hospitalization in the study group could be obviously shorter and less, and there is a little variation rate in the clinical pathway.

Bone Marrow-Derived MicroRNA-223 Works as an Endocrine Genetic Signal in Vascular Endothelial Cells and Participates in Vascular Injury From Kawasaki Disease

Background

Kawasaki disease (KD) is now the most common cause of acquired cardiac disease in children due to permanent coronary artery damage with unknown etiology. The study sought to determine the role of blood microRNA miR‐223 in KD and KD‐induced injuries in vascular endothelial cells (ECs) as well as the mechanisms involved.

Methods and Results

MicroRNA profiles in serum from patients with KD and from healthy controls were assessed by microarray analysis. We noted that multiple serum microRNAs were aberrantly expressed in KD, among them miR‐223, which was the most upregulated abundant serum microRNA. We found that bone marrow–derived blood cells (leukocytes and platelets) were able to secrete miR‐223 into serum. Vascular ECs had no endogenous miR‐223; however, the blood cell–secreted serum miR‐223 could enter into the vascular ECs in the vascular walls. The exogenous miR‐223 had strong biological effects on EC functions via its target genes such as IGF1R. Interestingly, KD‐induced EC injuries were related to increased miR‐223 because they were inhibited by miR‐223 knockdown. Finally, these observations were verified using miR‐223 knockout mice and the chimeric mice generated by transplantation of bone marrow from miR‐223 knockout mice into wild‐type mice.

Conclusions

In KD patients, the levels of blood cell–derived miR‐223 in ECs are significantly increased. The increased miR‐223 in ECs could work as a novel endocrine genetic signal and participate in vascular injury of KD. MiR‐223 may provide a novel mechanism and a new therapeutic target for vascular complication of KD.

A meta-analysis of the association between Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and lung cancer risk

OBJECTIVE

The association between Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and lung cancer risk was not clear with small number of cases in each study. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the correlation between pneumonia infection and lung cancer risk by pooling the open published papers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We searched the electronic databases of Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases for publications related to the association between pneumonia infection and lung cancer risk. Odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was used to assess the correlation. The data were pooled by Stata 11.0 software (Stata Corporation, College Station, TX, USA).

RESULTS

Thirteen publications, involving 2549 lung cancer patients and 2764 controls were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled results indicated that the C. pneumoniae infection significant increased the risk of lung cancer OR = 2.07 (95% CI: 1.43-2.99) by random effect model. And for serum IgG, 12 publications reported the IgG positive rate in lung cancer patients and relative healthy controls. The pooled OR was 2.22 (95% CI: 1.41-3.50) by using the random effects model which indicated that the IgG positive rate was significantly higher in lung cancer patients than that of healthy controls. The sensitivity analysis indicated the pooled OR was not sensitive to a single study. However, Begger's funnel plot and Egger's line regression analysis indicated significant publications bias for this meta-analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

According to the present published data, C. pneumoniae infection may increase the risk of lung cancer. However, for its significant publications and heterogeneity among the included studies, the conclusion should be interpreted cautiously.

SNCR De-NOx within a moderate temperature range using urea-spiked hydrazine hydrate as reductant

In this research, urea-spiked hydrazine hydrate solutions are used as reductants for the Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction (SNCR) De-NOx process below 650 °C. The urea concentration in the urea/hydrazine hydrate solutions is chosen through experimental and theoretical studies. To determine the mechanism of the De-NOx process, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of the urea/hydrazine hydrate solutions and their thermal decomposition in air and nitrogen atmospheres were studied to understand their decomposition behaviours and redox characteristics. Then a plug flow reactor (PFR) model was adopted to simulate the De-NOx processes in a pilot scale tubular reactor, and the calculated De-NOx efficiency vs. temperature profiles were compared with experimental results to support the mechanism and choose the proper reductant and its reaction temperature. Both the experimental and calculated results show that when the urea is spiked into hydrazine hydrate solution to make the urea-N content approximately 16.7%-25% of the total N content in the solution, better De-NOx efficiencies can be obtained in the temperature range of 550-650 °C, under which NH3 is inactive in reducing NOx. And it is also proved that for these urea-spiked hydrazine hydrate solutions, the hydrazine decomposition through the pathway N2H4 + M = N2H3 + H + M is enhanced to provide radical H, which is active to reduce NO. Finally, the reaction routes for SNCR De-NOx process based on urea-spiked hydrazine hydrate at the proper temperature are proposed.

Clinical outcomes of lupus nephritis patients with different proportions of crescents

Background

The prognostic significance of different proportions of crescents in lupus nephritis (LN) remains unclear. We assessed the long-term prognosis of LN patients with different proportions of crescents.

Methods

In this single-center, retrospective cohort study, 788 eligible LN patients were enrolled. The primary endpoint was doubling of baseline serum creatinine and end-stage renal disease; the secondary endpoint was death.

Results

There were 406 (51.5%) patients demonstrating crescents at biopsy, and they had more severe baseline status: lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), more proteinuria, more severe microscopic hematuria, and higher pathological scores for both activity index (AI) and chronicity index (CIn) (all p < 0.001, respectively). After a median follow-up period of 56 months (range: 3–172 months), no significant differences were observed in terms of renal or patient survival in these two groups ( p = 0.188). In LN patients with crescents, patient survival was poorer along with the increase in the proportion of crescents; for crescentic LN, patient survival was 78.9% at five years and 52.6% at 10 years (vs. subgroups of crescent proportion <10%, 10%–19%, 20%–49%: 95.5%, 92.3%, 91.7% at five years; 86.1%, 80.1%, 66.5% at 10 years, respectively, p = 0.008). Furthermore, there were higher proportions of crescents independently predicted for adverse outcomes of renal progression and mortality ( p = 0.049) after adjusting for age, sex, baseline eGFR, proteinuria, AI, and CIn in the multivariate Cox proportional hazard model.

Conclusion

The overall long-term renal survival of LN patients with and without crescents was comparable. However, a higher proportion of crescents increased the risk for unfavorable outcomes. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the lesions of crescents, and more prospective studies are needed to explore the optimal regimens for LN patients with different proportions of crescents.

Reversal of multidrug resistance of gastric cancer cells by down-regulation of ZNRD1 with ZNRD1 siRNA

The over-expression of a new zinc ribbon (ZNRD1) gene has been shown previously to promote a multidrug-resistant phenotype in gastric cancer cells through the up-regulation of permeability-glycoprotein (P-gp). In the present study, siRNA eukaryotic expression vectors of ZNRD1 are constructed and transfected into SGC7901/VCR cells to examine whether or not down-regulation of ZNRD1 increases cell sensitivity towards chemotherapeutic drugs. After transfection, ZNRD1 expression decreased dramatically in ZNRD1 siRNA transfectants compared with that in parental cells and empty vector control cells. Down-regulation of ZNRD1 significantly enhanced the sensitivity of SGC7901/VCR cells to vincristine, adriamycin and etoposide, but not to 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin. Cell capacity to efflux adriamycin decreased markedly in ZNRD1 siRNA transfectants, and correlation between ZNRD1 down-regulation and increased multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1) gene transcriptional activity was observed. These results suggest that the ZNRD1 siRNA constructs down-regulate the expression of ZNRD1 effectively and reverse the resistant phenotype of gastric cancer cells. Furthermore, ZNRD1 might influence transcription of the MDR1 gene and thus play an important role in multidrug resistance in gastric carcinoma.

[Arthroscopic all-inside reconstruction for posterior cruciate ligament and popliteus tendon compared with popliteofibular ligament reconstruction: clinical outcome of minimum 2-year follow-up]

OBJECTIVE

To describe the clinical results of a one-stage operation for posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and a posterolateral corner reconstruction of popliteus tendon reconstruction, compared with an open popliteofibular ligament reconstruction.

METHODS

Our study included 33 patients who had undergone posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with use of an achilles tendon-bone allograft and posterolateral corner reconstruction with arthroscopic anatomical reconstruction of popliteus tendon or open reconstruction of popliteofibular ligament. The patients were assessed for knee instability with use of the dial test at 30° and 90°, together with posterior stress radiography and KT-1000 measurement.

RESULTS

The mean time of follow-up was more than 2 years. At the final follow-up evaluation, the tibial posterior translation as measured by stress radiography at 90° of knee flexion, the anterior-posterior translation as measured by KT-1000, and the external rotation of tibia as measured by dial test were reduced postoperatively (P<0.001) in both groups. Between the two groups, the preoperative tibial posterior translation as measured by stress radiography and the preoperative mean anterior-posterior translation as measured by KT-1000 in the popliteofibular ligament group were a little more than those in the popliteus tendon group (P=0.014, P<0.001). But the other comparisons were not significantly different (P>0.05). The final flexion losses were 3.33°±4.88° and 3.06°±3.38° for the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Combined with posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, anatomical posterolateral corner reconstruction of the popliteus tendon and open reconstruction of popliteofibular ligament showed similar outcomes. This study demonstrated that both posterolateral corner reconstruction techniques were a reliable alternative method in addressing posterolateral corner and posterior cruciate ligament insufficiency of the knee.

Anisotropic Li intercalation in a Li(x)FePO4 nano-particle: a spectral smoothed boundary phase-field model

A spectral smoothed boundary phase-field model is implemented to study lithium (Li) intercalation in a LixFePO4 nano-particle immersed in a Li(+) rich electrolyte. It takes into account different physical processes on the particle surface, such as heterogeneous nucleation, Li flux and stress-free boundary conditions. We show the nucleation and growth of plate-like Li-rich crystallites along the (010) plane due to the high Li mobility along [001]. Since such plate-like crystallites, which are nucleated from (001) surfaces, align their phase boundaries along the (101) habit planes, a LixFePO4 nano-particle with prominent (010) and (001) surface facets and the longest axis length along [100] is proposed to exhibit great mechanical stability.

Comparison and improvement in primary airway fibroblast culture across different mammalian species

This study aims to establish rabbit, rat and human models of primary airway fibroblasts, improve existing culture methods of human, and provide alternatives to benign airway stenosis in vitro. We used conventional «tissue adherent method» to culture airway primary fibroblasts extracted from New Zealand rabbits, Sprague&mdash;Dawley (SD) rats and human subjects. To improve quality of this culture, we combined the «tissue adherent method» with « trypsinization", and compared the success rate of the two approaches. Cultures were examined using an inverted microscope, following hematoxylin&mdash;eosin and immunohistochemical staining. The different species were identified based on the total number of chromosomes. We successfully cultured primary airway fibroblasts isolated from three species. Human airway primary fibroblasts are more difficult to culture. The efficiency of culture is low, when using the «tissue adherent method». However, the rate of successful culture is improved when combined with the "trypsinization", and by using the «serum adherent, organizing tablet» technology. In conclusion, we demonstrate that primary airway fibroblasts from three mammalian species can be cultured successfully in vitro, for a reliable cellular model of benign airway stenosis. Culturing human primary airway fibroblasts is technically more challenging than the other two species. It is necessary to improve it.

Involvement of 5-HT3 and 5-HT4 receptors in colonic motor patterns in rats

BACKGROUND

Colonic migrating motor complexes in the rat constitute two distinct propulsive motor patterns, pan-colonic rhythmic long distance contractions (LDCs), and rhythmic propulsive motor complexes (RPMCs) occurring primarily in the mid/distal colon. Interstitial cells of Cajal govern their rhythmicity, but their occurrence is dependent on neural programs. Our aim was to investigate the involvement of 5-HT3 and 5-HT4 receptors in the generation and pharmacological control of the motor patterns.

METHODS

Effects of 5-HT-related drugs on colonic motor patterns were analyzed through spatio-temporal maps created from video recordings of whole organ motility.

KEY RESULTS

5-HT3 antagonists abolished RPMCs and LDCs. 5-HT4 agonists inhibited LDCs; they promoted RPMCs, which was blocked by the 5-HT4 antagonist GR 125487. 5-HT and the 5-HT3 agonist m-CPBG strongly inhibited LDCs and RPMCs.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

The generation of LDCs involves ongoing 5-HT release acting on 5-HT3 and 5-HT4 receptors. The spontaneous generation of RPMCs involves ongoing 5-HT release acting on 5-HT3 but not 5-HT4 receptors. Prucalopride and mosapride promote RPMCs, an effect that is inhibited by the 5-HT4 receptor antagonist GR 125487. A 5-HT3 agonist does not promote RPMCs. Segmentation, including a pattern of sequential segmental activity not previously described, can occur without significant involvement of 5-HT3 and 5-HT4 receptors. 5-HT and a 5-HT3 agonist are strongly inhibitory indicating that 5-HT receptors are present in inhibitory pathways which are normally not involved in the generation of spontaneous or distention-induced motor patterns.