Measurement of Differential Branching Fractions of Inclusive B→X_{u}ℓ^{+}ν_{ℓ} Decays

The first measurements of differential branching fractions of inclusive semileptonic B→X_{u}ℓ^{+}ν_{ℓ} decays are performed using the full Belle data set of 711  fb^{-1} of integrated luminosity at the ϒ(4S) resonance and for ℓ=e, μ. With the availability of these measurements, new avenues for future shape-function model-independent determinations of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element |V_{ub}| can be pursued to gain new insights in the existing tension with respect to exclusive determinations. The differential branching fractions are reported as a function of the lepton energy, the four-momentum-transfer squared, light-cone momenta, the hadronic mass, and the hadronic mass squared. They are obtained by subtracting the backgrounds from semileptonic B→X_{c}ℓ^{+}ν_{ℓ} decays and other processes, and corrected for resolution and acceptance effects.

Phytochemicals mediated modulation of microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs in cancer prevention and therapy

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are two main categories of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) that can influence essential biological functions in various ways, as well as their expression and function are tightly regulated in physiological homeostasis. Additionally, the dysregulation of these ncRNAs seems to be crucial to the pathogenesis of human diseases. The latest findings indicate that ncRNAs execute vital roles in cancer initiation and progression, and the cancer phenotype can be reversed by modulating their expression. Available scientific discoveries suggest that phytochemicals such as polyphenols, alkaloids, terpenoids, and organosulfur compounds can significantly modulate multiple cancer-associated miRNAs and lncRNAs, thereby inhibiting cancer initiation and development. However, despite promising outcomes of experimental research, only a few clinical trials are currently being conducted to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of these compounds. Nevertheless, understanding phytochemical-mediated ncRNA regulation in cancer and the underlying molecular mechanisms on tumor pathophysiology can aid in the development of novel therapeutic strategies to combat this deadly disease.

Precise Measurement of the D^{0} and D^{+} Lifetimes at Belle II

We report a measurement of the D^{0} and D^{+} lifetimes using D^{0}→K^{-}π^{+} and D^{+}→K^{-}π^{+}π^{+} decays reconstructed in e^{+}e^{-}→cc[over ¯] data recorded by the Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB asymmetric-energy e^{+}e^{-} collider. The data, collected at center-of-mass energies at or near the ϒ(4S) resonance, correspond to an integrated luminosity of 72  fb^{-1}. The results, τ(D^{0})=410.5±1.1(stat)±0.8(syst)  fs and τ(D^{+})=1030.4±4.7(stat)±3.1(syst)  fs, are the most precise to date and are consistent with previous determinations.

Search for B^{+}→K^{+}νν[over ¯] Decays Using an Inclusive Tagging Method at Belle II

A search for the flavor-changing neutral-current decay B^{+}→K^{+}νν[over ¯] is performed at the Belle II experiment at the SuperKEKB asymmetric energy electron-positron collider. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 63  fb^{-1} collected at the ϒ(4S) resonance and a sample of 9  fb^{-1} collected at an energy 60 MeV below the resonance. Because the measurable decay signature involves only a single charged kaon, a novel measurement approach is used that exploits not only the properties of the B^{+}→K^{+}νν[over ¯] decay, but also the inclusive properties of the other B meson in the ϒ(4S)→BB[over ¯] event, to suppress the background from other B meson decays and light-quark pair production. This inclusive tagging approach offers a higher signal efficiency compared to previous searches. No significant signal is observed. An upper limit on the branching fraction of B^{+}→K^{+}νν[over ¯] of 4.1×10^{-5} is set at the 90% confidence level.

774 Paediatric Appendicitis Score (PAS): A Local Trial of a Risk Prediction Pathway

Aim

Right iliac fossa (RIF) pain remains the commonest acute general surgical presentation in children. Our centre had been an outlier compared with the national average in terms of negative appendicectomy rates. Thus, we designed and implemented a local pathway for risk stratification and management of children with RIF pain.

Method

The first phase was a retrospective analysis of all appendicectomies performed between April 2018 and March 2019, in children aged five to seventeen years old. Pre-operative inflammatory markers, clinical signs, and histology findings were analysed. Second phase involved designing a pathway utilizing Paediatric Appendicitis Score (PAS), a ten-point scoring system when assessing children with RIF pain. The final phase was a prospective analysis of appendicectomy results performed between August and November 2019, after implementing PAS pathway.

Results

92 cases were recruited in the first phase (mean age 12.3). 22 cases were analysed in the final phase after implementing PAS pathway (mean age 10.9). Our negative appendicectomy rates had reduced from 25% to 15.4%. In addition, we found that 96% of positive appendicectomies had either raised inflammatory markers (WCC or CRP), raised PAS (Score of ≥ 4), or both.

Conclusions

There is noticeable difference in our negative appendicectomy rates since the introduction of PAS pathway. A diagnosis of appendicitis in a child with normal inflammatory markers and PAS score seemed unlikely. Our goal is to continue utilizing the PAS pathway in our department in order to reduce unnecessary surgeries in children.

Enhanced solid-state plasmon catalyzed oxidation and SERS signal in the presence of transition metal cations at the surface of gold nanostructures

The effect of several metal cations (Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺) on the photochemical conversion of 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP) into 4,4'-dimercaptoazobenzene (DMAB) is probed using surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The coupling reaction is carried out on the surface of Au nanoparticles and Au nanorods using 532 nm and 632.8 nm laser excitations, respectively, in the absence and presence of metal cations. Here, we report that DMAB formation on the surface of Au nanostructures - when carried out in the solid state - is augmented significantly (by a factor of 1.98 to 4.07 and 3.34 to 5.74 for Au nanoparticle and Au nanorod substrates, respectively, and depending on the metal). Furthermore, the SERS signal is also markedly enhanced. Thus, the results underpin a new way of carrying out a photochemical reaction with a higher yield along with a higher SERS signal.

Measurements of the Branching Fractions of the Semileptonic Decays Ξ_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}ℓ^{+}ν_{ℓ} and the Asymmetry Parameter of Ξ_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}π^{+}

Using data samples of 89.5 and 711  fb^{-1} recorded at energies of sqrt[s]=10.52 and 10.58 GeV, respectively, with the Belle detector at the KEKB e^{+}e^{-} collider, we report measurements of branching fractions of semileptonic decays Ξ_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}ℓ^{+}ν_{ℓ} (ℓ=e or μ) and the CP-asymmetry parameter of Ξ_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}π^{+} decay. The branching fractions are measured to be B(Ξ_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}e^{+}ν_{e})=(1.31±0.04±0.07±0.38)% and B(Ξ_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}μ^{+}ν_{μ})=(1.27±0.06±0.10±0.37)%, and the decay parameter α_{Ξπ} is measured to be 0.63±0.03±0.01 with much improved precision compared with the current world average. The corresponding ratio B(Ξ_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}e^{+}ν_{e})/B(Ξ_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}μ^{+}ν_{μ}) is 1.03±0.05±0.07, which is consistent with the expectation of lepton flavor universality. The first measured asymmetry parameter A_{CP}=(α_{Ξ^{-}π^{+}}+α_{Ξ[over ¯]^{+}π^{-}})/(α_{Ξ^{-}π^{+}}-α_{Ξ[over ¯]^{+}π^{-}})=0.024±0.052±0.014 is found to be consistent with zero. The first and the second uncertainties above are statistical and systematic, respectively, while the third ones arise due to the uncertainty of the Ξ_{c}^{0}→Ξ^{-}π^{+} branching fraction.

The regulatory activities of microRNAs in non-vascular plants: a mini review

MicroRNA-mediated gene regulation in non-vascular plants is potentially involved in several unique biological functions, including biosynthesis of several highly valuable exclusive bioactive compounds, and those small RNAs could be manipulated for the overproduction of essential bioactive compounds in the future. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of endogenous, small (20-24 nucleotides), non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression through the miRNA-mediated mechanisms of either translational inhibition or messenger RNA (mRNA) cleavage. In the past years, studies have mainly focused on elucidating the roles of miRNAs in vascular plants as compared to non-vascular plants. However, non-vascular plant miRNAs have been predicted to be involved in a wide variety of specific biological mechanisms; nevertheless, some of them have been demonstrated explicitly, thus showing that the research field of this plant group owns a noteworthy potential to develop novel investigations oriented towards the functional characterization of these miRNAs. Furthermore, the insights into the roles of miRNAs in non-vascular plants might be of great importance for designing the miRNA-based genetically modified plants for valuable secondary metabolites, active compounds, and biofuels in the future. Therefore, in this current review, we provide an overview of the potential roles of miRNAs in different groups of non-vascular plants such as algae and bryophytes.

Triangle Singularity as the Origin of the a_{1}(1420)

The COMPASS Collaboration experiment recently discovered a new isovector resonancelike signal with axial-vector quantum numbers, the a_{1}(1420), decaying to f_{0}(980)π. With a mass too close to and a width smaller than the axial-vector ground state a_{1}(1260), it was immediately interpreted as a new light exotic meson, similar to the X, Y, Z states in the hidden-charm sector. We show that a resonancelike signal fully matching the experimental data is produced by the decay of the a_{1}(1260) resonance into K^{*}(→Kπ)K[over ¯] and subsequent rescattering through a triangle singularity into the coupled f_{0}(980)π channel. The amplitude for this process is calculated using a new approach based on dispersion relations. The triangle-singularity model is fitted to the partial-wave data of the COMPASS experiment. Despite having fewer parameters, this fit shows a slightly better quality than the one using a resonance hypothesis and thus eliminates the need for an additional resonance in order to describe the data. We thereby demonstrate for the first time in the light-meson sector that a resonancelike structure in the experimental data can be described by rescattering through a triangle singularity, providing evidence for a genuine three-body effect.

Outcomes for circulatory death and brainstem death pancreas transplantation with or without use of normothermic regional perfusion

Simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation is the optimum treatment for patients with type 1 diabetes and renal failure, providing survival benefit over deceased donor kidney transplant alone. Here the authors demonstrate that utilization of donation after circulatory death pancreases is a safe approach to expanding the donor pool with equivalent results to donation after brainstem death transplantation. They also demonstrate that pancreas transplantation after normothermic regional perfusion is feasible, but it will require ongoing prospective study to ensure that the benefits seen for liver transplantation do not come at the expense of pancreas transplant outcomes.

Comparison of tear characteristics, outcome parameters and healing in traumatic and non-traumatic rotator cuff tear: a prospective cohort study

PURPOSE

Acute traumatic and chronic non-traumatic rotator cuff tears are etiologically distinguishable entities. However, prospective studies comparing tear characteristics and outcomes between these two types of tears are lacking. The purpose of this study was to compare the tear characteristics, clinical and functional outcomes, and tendon healing as assessed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), between traumatic and non-traumatic rotator cuff tears.

METHODS

MRI proven rotator cuff tears were allocated into two groups according to the history of injury: Group 1 included 28 patients with traumatic tears and group 2 included 33 patients of non-traumatic cuff tears. Both the groups were compared for preoperative tear characteristics (tear size, muscle atrophy, fatty degeneration), range of motion, strength of shoulder abduction and external rotation, functional outcomes, and tendon integrity on MRI, 2 years after the surgery.

RESULTS

Postoperative mean active range of abduction (p = 0.005), abduction strength (p = 0.013), external rotation strength (p = 0.027), University of California at Los Angeles score (p < 0.001), Constant score (p = 0.002), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores (p = 0.028) and visual analog scale for pain (p = 0.02) were significantly better in group 1 as compared to group 2. The postoperative structural integrity of the cuff on MRI was better in group 1 as compared to group 2, but the values did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.13).

CONCLUSION

Findings from this study suggest that traumatic tears affect younger patients and while having a larger tear size, they have lesser muscle atrophy, fatty degeneration, and tendon retraction. Functional outcomes are better after treatment of traumatic tears as compared to non-traumatic tears. Chronicity of the tear and tendon retraction negatively affected healing in traumatic cuff tears. Muscle atrophy was found to be associated with poorer healing in non-traumatic tears. However, tear size was not associated with healing.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

II, Prospective cohort study.

Seasonal analysis of food items and feeding habits of endangered riverine catfish Rita rita (Hamilton, 1822)

This investigation presents the food and feeding activity of and endangered riverine catfish Rita rita, during February 2017-January 2018. A total of 225 fish individuals was analyzed for stomach contents by characterizing the dominant food items and morphometric features. The results divulged ten major food items consumed, preferably fish scales and eggs, teleost fishes, copepods, cladocerans, rotifers, and mollusks. Total length and body weight of fish varied between 9-34 cm (20.53 ± 6.90 cm) and 10-400 g (9125.94 ± 102.07 g), respectively. The index of relative importance (IRI%) showed the importance of rotifers over the other food items. Morisita's index of diet overlap indicated seasonal variations in catfish diets with summer and monsoon displaying the least overlap, while maximum overlap during monsoon and winter seasons. The non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) indicated the close association between the food items available during summer and winter seasons with a significant difference among the seasons (ANOSIM, R = 0.638, P = 0.013). Levin's niche breadth index arranged in the order of 0.88>0.81>0.78>0.63>0.43 for the size classes of V, IV, III, II and I, respectively. The PCA explained 95.39% of the total variance among the food items and fish size groups. Small-sized fish individuals displayed a greater correlation with food items suitable for their mouth size. In conclusion, the variety and frequency of food items recorded indicated considerable feeding plasticity and opportunistic feeding behavior with a shift from carnivorous to omnivorous feeding nature. This study could render useful information on the food and feeding habits of R. rita and provide background for preparing its diet for future aquaculture practices.

POS0068 HIGH LEVELS OF PORPHYROMONAS GINGIVALIS AND PREVOTELLA INTERMEDIA ANTIBODIES IN CHILDREN WITH JUVENILE IDIOPATHIC ARTHRITIS

Background:

Idiopathic juvenile arthritis (JIA) is a heterogeneous group of pathologies whose origin remains unknown at present (1). They are characterised by a systemic inflammatory and joint disease affecting children under 16 years of age. The current classification groups the different forms of JIA into 7 distinct entities (systemic forms, polyarticular forms with or without rheumatoid factors, oligoarticular forms, inflammatory arthritis associated with enthesopathies (ERA), arthritis associated with psoriasis and unclassifiable arthritis). Exact etiology of JIA is still unknown. To date, the various hypotheses put forward on the occurrence of JIAs integrate the genetic and environmental framework.

The link between periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is largely reported. Recently, Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) infection explained the occurrence of arthritis in rodent and in RA (2). Several studies mention the beneficial effect of P. gingivalis treatment on disease activity.

Currently, there are very few studies on the prevalence of P. gingivalis in patients with JIA and the possible involvement of the germ in the development of inflammatory joint diseases in the pediatric population(3)(4).

Objectives:

The objective of our study is to determine presence of high IgG antibodies against P. gingivalis and Prevotella Intermedia in a cohort of patients with JIA compared to a control population and to determine variation of level according to sub-classes of JIA.

Methods:

Sera were obtained from 101 patients satisfying the ILAR classification criteria for JIA and in 25 patients with two other dysimmune disorders (type 1 diabetes and juvenile inflammatory bowel disease). Level of IgG antibodies against P. gingivalis and Prevotella Intermedia were obtained by homemade ELISA already used previously (5).

Results:

In the JIA group, major children were oligarthritis (47.5%), polyarthritis represents 31.7% of JIAs, ERA and systemic forms of JIA are respectively 9 and 11%. For the control group, 10 (40%) children had diabetes and 15 (60%) had IBD.

Levels of anti-P. gingivalis anti-Prevotella Intermedia antibodies were higher in AJI group compared at control groups (P<0.01, P<0.05). Theses difference are mainly related to oligoarthritis and ERA subsets for both P. gingivalis and Prevotella Intermedia.

Figure 1.

Relative titer of antibodies to P. gingivalis and anti Prevotella intermedia. *: P<0.05; **: P<0.01; ***: P<0.001. P. gingivalis (control vs oligoarthritis p= 0.0032. control vs ERA p= 0.0092). Prevotella intermedia (control vs oligoarthritis p= 0.0194. control vs ERA p= 0.0039).

Conclusion:

We confirmed high level of anti-P. gingivalis and anti-Prevotella intermedia antibodies in JIA compared to other inflammatory disorders. For the first time, we observed that this high level was mainly in oligoarthritis and ERA. Further investigations are required to investigate involvement of oral dysbiosis in AJI pathogenesis. As observed in RA, it could be a new way to integrate in JIA therapy management.

References:

[1]Thatayatikom A, De Leucio A. Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). StatPearls Publishing; 2020

[2]Cheng Z, Meade J, Mankia K, Emery P, Devine DA. Periodontal disease and periodontal bacteria as triggers for rheumatoid arthritis. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2017;31(1):19–30.

[3]Romero-Sánchez C, Malagón C, Vargas C, Fernanda Torres M, Moreno LC, Rodríguez C, et al. Porphyromonas Gingivalis and IgG1 and IgG2 Subclass Antibodies in Patients with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. J Dent Child Chic Ill. 2017 May 15;84(2):72–9.

[4]Lange L, Thiele GM, McCracken C, Wang G, Ponder LA, Angeles-Han ST, et al. Symptoms of periodontitis and antibody responses to Porphyromonas gingivalis in juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Pediatr Rheumatol Online J. 2016 Feb 9

[5]Rinaudo-Gaujous M, Blasco-Baque V, Miossec P, Gaudin P, Farge P, Roblin X, et al. Infliximab Induced a Dissociated Response of Severe Periodontal Biomarkers in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients. J Clin Med. 2019 May 26;8(5).

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared.

Characterization of microRNAs from neem (Azadirachta indica) and their tissue-specific expression study in leaves and stem

Neem (Azadirachta indica) is a very popular traditional medicinal plant used since ancient times to treat numerous ailments. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are highly conserved, non-coding, short RNA molecules that play important regulatory roles in plant development and metabolism. In this study, deploying a high stringent genome-wide computational-based approach and following a set of strict filtering norms a total of 44 potential conserved neem miRNAs belonging to 21 families and their corresponding 48 potential target transcripts were identified. Important targets include Squamosa promoter binding protein-like proteins, NAC, Scarecrow proteins, Auxin response factor, and F-box proteins. A biological network has also been developed to understand the miRNA-mediated gene regulation using the minimum free energy (MFE) values of the miRNA-target interaction. Moreover, six selected miRNAs were reported to be involved in secondary metabolism in other plant species (miR156a, miR156l, miR160, miR164, miR171, miR395) were validated by qPCR and their tissue-specific differential expression pattern was observed in leaves and stem. Except for ain-miR395, all the other miRNAs were found overexpressed in the stem as compared to leaves. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of neem miRNAs and we believe the finding of the present study will be useful for the functional genomic study of medicinal plants.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-021-02839-z.

Roles of microRNAs in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism disorders and their therapeutic potential

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small (∼21 nucleotides), endogenous, non-coding RNA molecules implicated in the post-transcriptional gene regulation performed through target mRNA cleavage or translational inhibition. In recent years, several investigations have demonstrated that miRNAs are involved in regulating both carbohydrate and lipid homeostasis in humans and other organisms. Moreover, it has been observed that the dysregulation of these metabolism-related miRNAs leads to the development of several metabolic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver, insulin resistance, and hyperlipidemia. Hence, in this current review, with the aim to impulse the research arena of the micro-transcriptome implications in vital metabolic pathways as well as to highlight the remarkable potential of miRNAs as therapeutic targets for metabolic disorders in humans, we provide an overview of the regulatory roles of metabolism-associated miRNAs in humans and murine models.

AB0074 NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SEROLOGIES OF DENTAL GERMS AND THE PHENOTYPES OF SPONDYLOARTHRITIS WITHIN THE DESIR COHORT

Background:

Porphyromonas gingivalis (PG) and Prevotella Intermedia (PI) are two oral pathogens involved in the pathophysiology of chronic periodontopathies. Several studies have determined a role of these periodontal pathologies in the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis (1) while the link with spondyloarthritis is not clearly established with currently contradictory studies (2,3,4).

Objectives:

The purpose of this work is to investigate a link between spondylarthritis and the presence of chronic periodontopathy evaluated by PG and IP serologies.

Methods:

The positivity and quantity of anti-PG and anti-PI antibodies were determined by ELISA method in patients from the DESIR cohort with one of the spondyloarthritis phenotypes compared to patients with common low back pain (n=50) (population control). Patients with spondyloarthritis were classified according to the following phenotypes (diagnosis chosen at 3 years in the DESIR cohort): axial spondylarthritis (n=126), psoriatic rheumatism (n=101), spondyloarthritis associated with chronic inflammatory bowel disease (n=36), undifferentiated spondylitis (n=241), reactive arthritis (n=2), SAPHO (acronym for Synovite, Acne, Pustulose, Hyperostosis and Osteitis. Correlations between patients’ serological status, and smoking status, body mass index and age were sought.

Results:

According to the general characteristics, the control group was significantly older than the axial spondylarthritis (p<0.001), and the psoriatic rheumatism group had a higher body mass index than the control population (p<0.05). The positivity and concentration of anti-PG and anti-PI antibodies were similar between different groups of spondyloarthritis compared to the control group. However, the subgroups “reactive arthritis” and “SAPHO” could not be analyzed due to insufficient staffing. Smoking status and body mass index were not related to antibody concentrations, however there was a statistical correlation between anti-PG antibody concentrations and age. After adjusting on age, there was no difference between the axial spondylarthritis and control groups.

Conclusion:

Our results therefore suggest the absence of a link between periodontal germs involved in chronic periodontopathies and spondyloarthritis, provided that the two phenotypes involving germs in their pathophysiology could not be analyzed. Our results from a population of beginner spondylitis are therefore not in favour of the involvement of oral flora in the pathophysiology of spondyloarthritis, as is the case in rheumatoid arthritis (1). The associations found previously could therefore be favoured by a systemic inflammatory phenomenon. In conclusion, our study suggests no link between chronic periodontopathy and the occurrence of spondyloarthritis. However, the effect of chronic periodontopathy on the evolution of spondylarthritis remains to be explored.

References:

[1]Detert J, Pischon N, Burmester GR, Buttgereit F. The association between rheumatoid arthritis and periodontal disease. Arthritis Res Ther. 2010;12(5):218.

[2]Ratz T, Dean LE, Atzeni F, Reeks C, Macfarlane GJ, Macfarlane TV. A possible link between ankylosing spondylitis and periodontitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rheumatology. 2015;54(3):500-10.

[3]Pischon N, Pischon T, Gülmez E, Kröger J, Purucker P, Kleber B-M, et al. Periodontal disease in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Ann Rheum Dis. janv 2010;69(01):34-8.

[4]Sezer U, Erciyas K, Pehlivan Y, Üstün K, Tarakçioğlu M, Şenyurt SZ, et al. Serum cytokine levels and periodontal parameters in ankylosing spondylitis: Ankylosing spondylitis and periodontal diseases. J Periodontal Res. juin 2012;47(3):396-401.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

Current insight into the functions of microRNAs in common human hair loss disorders: a mini review

Alopecia areata (AA) and Androgenic alopecia (AGA) are the most common multifactorial hair loss disorders that have a serious psychological impact on the affected individuals, while frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is comparatively less common. However, due to the unknown etiology and the effect of many adverse factors, the prognosis of these conditions is challenging to predict. Moreover, no approved therapy has been available to date to prevent or treat these disorders. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of evolutionary conserved small non-coding RNA molecules with significant roles in the posttranscriptional gene regulation either through mRNA degradation or translational repression. A number of biological processes are controlled by these molecules, including cell growth and differentiation, proliferation, inflammation, immune responses, and apoptosis. Recently, a handful of studies have demonstrated the impact of miRNAs on common hair loss-related disorders; however, the exhaustive molecular mechanisms are still unclear. In this review, we discussed the functional implications of miRNAs in common hair loss-related disorders and addressed their efficacy to be used for theranostic purposes shortly.

Depression among Patients Presenting with Gastrointestinal Symptoms: Prevalence and Associated Factors

Gastrointestinal diseases frequently affect patients' physical and emotional wellbeing as being heavily affected by stress. This study was conducted to find out prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms among patients presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms. This cross sectional study was conducted at Outpatients Department jointly by Department of Gastroenterology and Department of Psychiatry of a tertiary care hospital in north east part of Bangladesh from November 2011 to June 2012. Consecutive patients with gastrointestinal symptoms underwent psychiatric evaluation using HDRS and analyzed. 442 patients, 38(8.6%) were found normal. Among the rest 128(28.96%), 138(31.22%), 72(16.29%) and 66(14.93%) had mild, moderate, severe and very severe depressive symptoms respectively. Female sex (95.03% vs. 89.32%), married people (93.77 vs. 86.13%), older age (98.24%), rural people (94.26% vs. 84.36%), farmers (96.36%) and house wives (96.24%) were more affected. Prevalence of depression was also higher among patients with lower socioeconomic class, less educated people and rural background. Depressive symptoms are very common in patients presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms. Awareness regarding psychiatric assessment and intervention may reduce sufferings and thus improve wellbeing of these patients.

Evidence for X(3872)→J/ψπ^{+}π^{-} Produced in Single-Tag Two-Photon Interactions

We report the first evidence for X(3872) production in two-photon interactions by tagging either the electron or the positron in the final state, exploring the highly virtual photon region. The search is performed in e^{+}e^{-}→e^{+}e^{-}J/ψπ^{+}π^{-}, using 825  fb^{-1} of data collected by the Belle detector operated at the KEKB e^{+}e^{-} collider. We observe three X(3872) candidates, where the expected background is 0.11±0.10 events, with a significance of 3.2σ. We obtain an estimated value for Γ[over ˜]_{γγ}B(X(3872)→J/ψπ^{+}π^{-}) assuming the Q^{2} dependence predicted by a cc[over ¯] meson model, where -Q^{2} is the invariant mass squared of the virtual photon. No X(3915)→J/ψπ^{+}π^{-} candidates are found.