Plasma miR-146a and miR-365 expression and inflammatory factors in patients with osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expression levels of micro-ribonucleic acid (miR)-146a and miR-365 in the plasma of osteoarthritis (OA) patients, to study their expression with the inflammatory factors and the severity of disease in patients and to analyse their diagnostic significance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 42 OA patients diagnosed with OA and treated in our hospital from January 2017 to January 2018 were selected as the subjects, and 28 healthy people were enrolled as controls. The expressions of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and IL-6 in the plasma of OA patients were detected via immunohistochemical staining. Moreover, the knee joint function of OA patients was evaluated by Lysholm score, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) score and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score. The expression levels of plasma miR-146a and miR-365 in OA patients were measured through RT-PCR. Besides, the significance of the expression levels of miR-146a and miR-365 for the diagnosis of OA was analysed by ROC curves.

RESULTS

As compared with healthy people, OA patients had elevated expression levels of plasma IL-1β and IL-6, decreased Lysholm score, increased WOMAC and VAS scores as well as significantly up-regulated levels of plasma miR-146a and miR-365, which were of important significance for diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

The expression levels of plasma miR-146a, miR-365 and inflammatory factors are notably higher, the disease is more severe, and the function of knee joint movement is weaker in OA patients than those in healthy controls. It can be concluded that the levels of both miR-146a and miR-365 can serve as biomarkers of OA diagnosis.

Effect of Na2O and ZnO on the microstructure and properties of laser cladding derived CaO-SiO2 ceramic coatings on titanium alloys

To improve the bioactivity of titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V), CaO-SiO₂ coatings on titanium alloys were fabricated using laser cladding method. The effect of Na₂O and ZnO on the microstructure and properties of the prepared coatings was discussed. The microstructure of the CaO-SiO₂ coatings consists of cellular grains and cellular dendrites. The mutual diffusion of elements occurs between the coating and substrate. The base CaO-SiO₂ coating is composed of different phases including CaTiO₃, α-Ca₂(SiO₄), SiO₂, TiO₂ and CaO. The formation of CaTiO₃ in the ceramic layer was analyzed through thermodynamics. Na₂O has little influence on the microstructure, average hardness and wear resistance. When ZnO is added to the precursor, the microstructure turns to cell dendrite, and ZnO and Zn₂SiO₄ appear in the corresponding coating. The addition of ZnO reduces the average hardness and wear resistance of the ceramic layer. The in vitro soaking in SBF shows that the laser cladding coating has the ability to form an apatite layer.

Nutrient content and stoichiometry of pelagic Sargassum reflects increasing nitrogen availability in the Atlantic Basin

The pelagic brown macroalgae Sargassum spp. have grown for centuries in oligotrophic waters of the North Atlantic Ocean supported by natural nutrient sources, such as excretions from associated fishes and invertebrates, upwelling, and N2 fixation. Using a unique historical baseline, we show that since the 1980s the tissue %N of Sargassum spp. has increased by 35%, while %P has decreased by 44%, resulting in a 111% increase in the N:P ratio (13:1 to 28:1) and increased P limitation. The highest %N and δ15N values occurred in coastal waters influenced by N-rich terrestrial runoff, while lower C:N and C:P ratios occurred in winter and spring during peak river discharges. These findings suggest that increased N availability is supporting blooms of Sargassum and turning a critical nursery habitat into harmful algal blooms with catastrophic impacts on coastal ecosystems, economies, and human health.

MiR-219-5p inhibits prostate cancer cell growth and metastasis by targeting HMGA2

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expression of micro ribonucleic acid (miR)-219-5p in prostate cancer (PCa), its influences on the biological functions of PCa, and its mechanism.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The expression differences of miR-219-5p and high mobility group protein A2 (HMGA2) in 30 pairs of PCa tissues and para-carcinoma tissues were detected via quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR), and the difference in miR-219-5p expression in PCa cell lines and normal prostatic epithelial cells was also determined via qRT-PCR. The human PC-3 cells were divided into negative control group and miR-219-5p overexpression group. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) and colony formation assays were adopted to detect the cell proliferative ability, and flow cytometry was applied to determine the cell apoptosis. The expression of apoptosis-related proteins was measured via Western blotting, and the invasive and migratory abilities of the cells were examined through wound-healing and transwell assays. Bioinformatics prediction software and luciferase reporter assay were employed to verify the targets that might be controlled by miR-219-5p. Rescue experiment was conducted to clarify whether the inhibitory effects of miR-219-5p on the growth and metastasis of PC-3 cells depend on the inhibition of HMGA2.

RESULTS

It was shown in qRT-PCR results that the expression level of miR-219-5p was downregulated remarkably in PCa tissues and cell lines, but overexpressed miR-219-5p could repress the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of PC-3 cells notably. The results of wound-healing and transwell assays indicated that overexpressed miR-219-5p was able to suppress the invasion and metastasis of PC-3 cells. According to Western blotting results, overexpressed miR-219-5p could up-regulate the expressions of pro-apoptotic proteins [Bax, cleaved-caspase-3 and cleaved-poly-ADP-ribose-polymerase (PARP)] and reverse the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of PCa cells. It was predicted via the bioinformatics software that HMGA2 gene might be a target gene of miR-219-5p. The Dual-Luciferase reporter assay confirmed that there was a direct regulatory relationship between miR-219-5p and HMGA2. The rescue experiment manifested that overexpressed HMGA2 could reverse the inhibition of miR-219-5p on the growth and metastasis of PC-3 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-219-5p suppresses the growth and metastasis abilities of prostate cancer cells by directly repressing the expression of HMGA2.

Medical services provided on the 'Harmonious Mission-2017' Peace Ark from China

INTRODUCTION

The Chinese Naval ship Peace Ark provided humanitarian medical services to people in eight low-income countries in Africa and Asia during the 2017 "Harmonious Mission'. The expedition lasted 155 days. Our study aimed to analyse the details of the medical services provided including outpatient care, medical patrol, operations, examinations and medications.

METHOD

The patient demographic data and medical information were extracted from electronic medical records. The diagnoses and procedures aboard were coded by the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM). The sociodemographic data of the medical staff aboard were collected via questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and statistical software (SAS, V.9.4) were used to analyse the data.

RESULTS

In total, 115 Chinese military medical personnel participated in the mission, completing a total of 50 758 outpatient visits, 10 232 medical patrols and 252 operations. The five most frequently used outpatient departments were ophthalmology, general surgery, general internal medicine, orthopaedics and traditional Chinese medicine. The five most common operations were lipoma excision, cataract extraction, skin tissue removal (such as warts and cysts), pterygium transposition and herniorrhaphy.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study revealed the medical services in demand during the 'Harmonious Mission-2017'. It is essential to report their experiences so that future ventures can provide medical services more effectively.