Common miRNAs of Osteoporosis and Fibromyalgia: A Review

A significant clinical association between osteoporosis (OP) and fibromyalgia (FM) has been shown in the literature. Given the need for specific biomarkers to improve OP and FM management, common miRNAs might provide promising tracks for future prevention and treatment. The aim of this review is to identify miRNAs described in OP and FM, and dysregulated in the same direction in both pathologies. The PubMed database was searched until June 2023, with a clear mention of OP, FM, and miRNA expression. Clinical trials, case-control, and cross-sectional studies were included. Gray literature was not searched. Out of the 184 miRNAs found in our research, 23 are shared by OP and FM: 7 common miRNAs are dysregulated in the same direction for both pathologies (3 up-, 4 downregulated). The majority of these common miRNAs are involved in the Wnt pathway and the cholinergic system and a possible link has been highlighted. Further studies are needed to explore this relationship. Moreover, the harmonization of technical methods is necessary to confirm miRNAs shared between OP and FM.

THU0524 FACTORS EXPLAINING PATIENT PERSPECTIVE IN PSORIASIS AND PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS (PSA): THE ROLE OF INFLAMMATION AND STRUCTURAL DAMAGE DETECTED BY ULTRASOUND (THE ECHOPRO STUDY)

Background:

Patient reported outcomes (PROs) reflect patients’ opinion on disease activity, impact of disease, quality of life (QoL) and are essential in the assessment of PsA patients. PROs may be influenced by several factors other than disease activity and severity. Ultrasound (US) is an objective tool to evaluate joint inflammation and structural damage in PsA.

Objectives:

This cross-sectional study aimed at evaluating the role of US-detected inflammation (synovitis, tenosynovitis, enthesitis) and structural damage (erosions, enthesophytes, osteophytes, cortical irregularities), to explain PROs in PsA and to compare that to psoriasis (PsO) patients with and without musculoskeletal (MSK) symptoms.

Methods:

PsA (CASPAR criteria) [1], PsO with MSK symptoms without fulfilling CASPAR criteria (symptoPsO) and PsO with no MSK symptoms (asymptoPsO) were included. Socio-demographic characteristics, comorbidities, disease duration and treatment were collected. All patients underwent to: a) dermatological and rheumatologic assessment: PsO severity, swollen joint count (SJC), tender JC (TJC), number of dactylitis and enthesitis; b) US evaluation of joints, tendons and entheses according to OMERACT definitions[2], (figure 1); c) PROs assessement: fatigue, disability (HAQ) and QoL (SF36). Variables were compared across groups (chi square or one-way ANOVA test). Correlations were evaluated using Spearman’s test.

Results:

208 patients (76 PsA, 64 symptoPsO and 68 asymptoPsO) with similar socio-demographic characteristics and PsO duration were included (table 1). Except for enthesophytes, all US changes were significantly higher in PsA, followed by symptoPsO patients.

Table 1.

Characteristics of the patients:

PsAN= 76SymptoPsON=64AsymptoPsON=68pFemales, N (%)33 (43.4)39 (55.7)23 (37.1)NSAge55.58 ± 12.7152.16 ± 15.6150.03 ± 14.66NSPsoriasis duration18.76 ± 13.3719.47 ± 15.9815.03 ± 12.29NSPASI0 (0; 36)3 (0; 16)5.5 (0; 22.1)<0.00168 TJC4 (0; 30)2 (0; 23)0<0.00166 SJC0 (0; 23)0 (0; 3)0<0.001Number of enthesitis3 (0; 13)2 (0; 13)0<0.001Number of dactylitis0 (0; 5)00NSFibromyalgia, N (%)6 (7.9)4 (5.7)0NSN of joints with US synovitis1 (0; 32)0 (0; 7)0 (0; 6)0.001N of US enthesitis0 (0; 11)0 (0; 2)0 (0; 2)<0.001N of US tenosynovitis0 (0; 7)0 (0; 1)0 (0; 1)0.005N of joints with US osthephytes/cortical irregularities2 (0; 22)1 (0; 25)1 (0; 21)0.027N of joints with US erosions0 (0; 4)0 (0; 2)0 (0; 2)0.016N of US entheses with enthesopthytes/calcifications3 (0; 9)2 (0; 10)1 (0; 8)NSN of US enthesis with erosions0 (0; 5)0 (0; 1)0 (0; 2)0.001Fatigue (0-10)4.91 ± 3.083.46 ± 3.402.57 ± 2.86<0.001HAQ (0-3)1 (0; 2)0 (0; 2)0 (0; 1)<0.001SF36 PF61.31 ± 30.0877.46 ± 25.0289.35 ± 19.25<0.001

Across all 3 groups, all PROs correlated mainly with demographic variables, comorbidities, TJC, clinical enthesitis, skin severity, depression and fibromyalgia points (r=0.24-0.72). SymptoPsO and PsA reported similar scores of fatigue and impact on most QoL domains, significantly higher than asymptoPsO. HAQ correlated with total number of joints with US irregularities/osteophytes in PsA (r= 0.23; p=0.05), and SF36 physical function with both US inflammatory and damage variables in all three groups (r=0.24-0.34).

Conclusion:

Quality of life, disability and fatigue were more impaired in PsA and symptoPsO patients than asymptoPsO. In all groups, PROs seem to be mostly associated with socio-demographic characteristics and comorbidities rather than objective measures such as US changes or clinical variables.

References:

[1]Taylor, Arthritis Rheum 2006

[2]Bruyn,J Rheumatol 2019

Acknowledgments:

This work was supported by PARTNER fellowship.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

NEW DEVELOPMENTS AND APPLICATIONS OF SUPERHEATED EMULSIONS: WARHEAD VERIFICATION AND SPECIAL NUCLEAR MATERIAL INTERDICTION

In recent years, neutron detection with superheated emulsions has received renewed attention thanks to improved detector manufacturing and read-out techniques, and thanks to successful applications in warhead verification and special nuclear material (SNM) interdiction. Detectors are currently manufactured with methods allowing high uniformity of the drop sizes, which in turn allows the use of optical read-out techniques based on dynamic light scattering. Small detector cartridges arranged in 2D matrices are developed for the verification of a declared warhead without revealing its design. For this application, the enabling features of the emulsions are that bubbles formed at different times cannot be distinguished from each other, while the passive nature of the detectors avoids the susceptibility to electronic snooping and tampering. Large modules of emulsions are developed to detect the presence of shielded special nuclear materials hidden in cargo containers 'interrogated' with high energy X-rays. In this case, the enabling features of the emulsions are photon discrimination, a neutron detection threshold close to 3 MeV and a rate-insensitive read-out.

Cab4b, the first human platelet antigen carried by glycoprotein IX discovered in a context of severe neonatal thrombocytopenia

Essentials Life-threatening maternofetal thrombocytopenias mostly depend on αIIb β3 antigens. We performed serological, genomic and in vitro studies of two life-threatening thrombocytopenias. Identification of a c.368C>T variation leading to Pro123Leu substitution in GPIX. A rare GPIX variant reported in a genomic database define a new alloantigen.

SUMMARY

Background After three miscarriages, a 39-year-old woman gave birth, with a 1-year interval, to two severely thrombocytopenic neonates (4 ×109 L-1 and 33 ×109 L-1 ) with intracranial hemorrhages. Transfusion of platelet concentrates corrected the thrombocytopenia. The outcome was favorable for the first child, but the second one died 10 days after cesarean delivery (31 weeks of gestation + 6 days). Methods Serologic studies were performed with mAb-specific immobilization of platelet antigens and flow cytometry techniques. Human platelet alloantigen (HPA) genotyping was performed with the BioArray HPA BeadChip and PCR-sequence-specific primer techniques. Genomic DNA was studied by direct sequencing of PCR products. The mutant glycoprotein (GP) was expressed in transiently transfected HEK293 cells. Results In MAIPA assay, the maternal serum faintly reacted with GPIbIX from paternal and child 1 platelets, but not with maternal or panel platelets. No maternofetal incompatibility was found in the 22 known HPA systems, tested except for HPA-1b in child 2. A new alloantigen carried by GPIbIX was suspected. Genomic sequencing revealed a paternal GPIX variation (NM_000174.4:c.368C>T). The father and children were heterozygous and incompatible with the mother, who was NM_000174.4:c.368C homozygous. The maternal serum reacted with the GPIX NP_000165.1:p.Leu123 form coexpressed with GPIb in transfected HEK293 cells. The NM_000174.4:c.368T allele (rs202229101) has a minor allele frequency of 0.0002, and was not detected in 120 French subjects (families with fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia [FNAIT]), suggesting that it is rarely implicated in alloimmunization. Conclusion The NP_000165.1:p.Leu123 allele named Cab4b is the first platelet alloantigen described on GPIX. In the absence of other known maternofetal incompatibility, the child 1 case suggests that anti-Cab4b alloantibodies can induce severe thrombocytopenias.

The small satellites of Pluto as observed by New Horizons

The New Horizons mission has provided resolved measurements of Pluto's moons Styx, Nix, Kerberos, and Hydra. All four are small, with equivalent spherical diameters of ~40 kilometers for Nix and Hydra and ~10 kilometers for Styx and Kerberos. They are also highly elongated, with maximum to minimum axis ratios of ~2. All four moons have high albedos (~50 to 90%) suggestive of a water-ice surface composition. Crater densities on Nix and Hydra imply surface ages of at least 4 billion years. The small moons rotate much faster than synchronous, with rotational poles clustered nearly orthogonal to the common pole directions of Pluto and Charon. These results reinforce the hypothesis that the small moons formed in the aftermath of a collision that produced the Pluto-Charon binary.

Hyperactivation of retina by light in mice leads to photoreceptor cell death mediated by VEGF and retinal pigment epithelium permeability

Light toxicity is suspected to enhance certain retinal degenerative processes such as age-related macular degeneration. Death of photoreceptors can be induced by their exposure to the visible light, and although cellular processes within photoreceptors have been characterized extensively, the role of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in this model is less well understood. We demonstrate that exposition to intense light causes the immediate breakdown of the outer blood–retinal barrier (BRB). In a molecular level, we observed the slackening of adherens junctions tying up the RPE and massive leakage of albumin into the neural retina. Retinal pigment epithelial cells normally secrete vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) at their basolateral side; light damage in contrast leads to VEGF increase on the apical side – that is, in the neuroretina. Blocking VEGF, by means of lentiviral gene transfer to express an anti-VEGF antibody in RPE cells, inhibits outer BRB breakdown and retinal degeneration, as illustrated by functional, behavioral and morphometric analysis. Our data show that exposure to high levels of visible light induces hyperpermeability of the RPE, likely involving VEGF signaling. The resulting retinal edema contributes to irreversible damage to photoreceptors. These data suggest that anti-VEGF compounds are of therapeutic interest when the outer BRB is altered by retinal stresses.

A Study of the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors of French Dairy Farmers Toward the Farm Register

Health organizations worldwide have advocated that treatment records be required to show that antibiotics are used prudently by veterinarians and farmers alike. In 2000, the French government passed legislation making a farm register mandatory for all farms that raise animals for food production. The farm register is a comprehensive record designed to track all animal movements, treatments, and veterinary interventions on the farm. We conducted a survey to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of dairy farmers toward the farm register, with particular emphasis on recording of antibiotic treatments. The 43 farmers interviewed belonged to veterinary health cooperatives. All farmers correctly named an antibiotic or antibiotic preparation, yet only 2 recognized the 5 components of the farm register. Farmer attitudes toward the register were globally positive, even though they named a wide variety of constraints. Nevertheless, 72% of farmers interviewed had a permanent health record, and approximately half had recorded either the last treatment (irrespective of drug class) or the last intramammary tube administered. Results were discussed in the light of health behavior change models that are applied in human medicine. We suggest that programs that seek compliance with the farm register should focus on educational interventions and bonus incentives.

Transmission and characterization of bovine spongiform encephalopathy sources in two ovine transgenic mouse lines (TgOvPrP4 and TgOvPrP59)

Transgenic mice expressing the prion protein (PrP) of species affected by transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) have recently been produced to facilitate experimental transmission of these diseases by comparison with wild-type mice. However, whilst wild-type mice have largely been described for the discrimination of different TSE strains, including differentiation of agents involved in bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and scrapie, this has been only poorly described in transgenic mice. Here, two ovine transgenic mouse lines (TgOvPrP4 and TgOvPrP59), expressing the ovine PrP (A136 R154 Q171) under control of the neuron-specific enolase promoter, were studied; they were challenged with brainstem or spinal cord from experimentally BSE-infected sheep (AA136 RR154 QQ171 and AA136 RR154 RR171 genotypes) or brainstem from cattle BSE and natural sheep scrapie. The disease was transmitted successfully from all of these sources, with a mean of approximately 300 days survival following challenge with material from two ARQ-homozygous BSE-infected sheep in TgOvPrP4 mice, whereas the survival period in mice challenged with material from the ARR-homozygous BSE-infected sheep was 423 days on average. It was shown that, in the two ovine transgenic mouse lines, the Western blot characteristics of protease-resistant PrP (PrPres) were similar, whatever the BSE source, with a low apparent molecular mass of the unglycosylated glycoform, a poor labelling by P4 monoclonal antibody and high proportions of the diglycosylated form. With all BSE sources, but not with scrapie, florid plaques were observed in the brains of mice from both transgenic lines. These data reinforce the potential of this recently developed experimental model for the discrimination of BSE from scrapie agents.

Oral manganese intake estimated with dietary records and with direct chemical analysis

The estimation of the daily oral intake of manganese (Mn) can vary significantly with the method used. This study aims to compare two different approaches: the use of dietary records along with tables of the Mn contents of different foods and the parallel collection of identical aliquots which are analyzed for Mn. Dietary samples and information were collected during a 3-day dietary assessment with five participants. The average daily oral intake of Mn estimated from the dietary records and tables of Mn contents was 3.52 mg/day (S.D. = 1.9), which corresponds to an exposure dose (ED) of 50.27 microg/kg body wt./day (S.D. = 26.2). With a parallel collection of identical aliquots and chemical analysis, the average intake was 2.88 mg/day (S.D. = 0.64) for an ED of 41.18 microg/kg body wt./day (S.D. = 8.9). Thus, the use of tables gives an estimated oral dose 22% higher than the more accurate direct chemical analysis.

Assessment of bioaccumulation and neurotoxicity in rats with portacaval anastomosis and exposed to manganese phosphate: a pilot study

The use of the additive methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl in unleaded gasoline has resulted in increased attention to the potential toxic effects of manganese (Mn). Hypothetically, people with chronic liver disease may be more sensitive to the adverse neurotoxic effects of Mn. In this work, bioaccumulation of Mn, as well as histopathology and neurobehavioral damage, in end-to-side portacaval anastomosis (PCA) rats exposed to Mn phosphate via inhalation was investigated. During the week before the PCA operation, 4 wk after the PCA operation, and at the end of exposure, the rats were subjected to a locomotor evaluation (day-night activities) using a computerized autotrack system. Then a group of 6 PCA rats (EXP) was exposed to 3050 microg m(-3) (Mn phosphate) for 8 h/day, 5 days/wk for 4 consecutive weeks and compared to a control group (CON), 7 PCA rats exposed to 0.03 microg m(-3). After exposure, the rats were euthanized and Mn content in tissues and organs was determined by neutron activation analysis. The manganese concentrations in blood (0.05 microg/g vs. 0.02 microg/g), lung (1.32 microg/g vs. 0.24 microg/g), cerebellum (0.85 microg/g vs. 0.64 microg/g), frontal cortex (0.87 microg/g vs. 0.61 microg/g), and globus pallidus (3.56 microg/g vs. 1.33 microg/g) were significantly higher in the exposed group compared to the control group (p <.05). No difference was observed in liver, kidney, testes, and caudate putamen between the two groups. Neuronal cell loss was assessed by neuronal cell counts. The loss of cells in globus pallidus and caudate putamen as well as in frontal cortex was significantly higher (p <.05) for the EXP group. Assessment of the locomotor activities did not reveal any significant difference. This study constitutes a first step toward our understanding of the potential adverse effects of Mn in sensitive populations.

Efficacy of spectinomycin against Mycoplasma bovis induced pneumonia in conventionally reared calves

Sixteen 3-week-old calves were intratracheally inoculated with Mycoplasma bovis. Follow-up consisted of regular bronchoalveolar lavages (BALs) and clinical examinations. Animals were slaughtered from 4 to 21 days after inoculation. Counts were made of the mycoplasmas and other bacteria systematically isolated from the BAL liquids and lung lobes after slaughter. On the 6th day, spectinomycin 20mg/kg was given intramuscularly in three repeated doses at 24h intervals to six randomly chosen calves. All animals had developed a persistent M. bovis infection with a maximum BAL count on the 6th day (start of treatment). Co-occuring Pasteurella multocida infection was found in most animals with a maximum rate on the 14th day. The extent of lung surface lesions varied widely (0-64%) but was greater in the later slaughtered calves. Average counts of M. bovis and P. multocida in the BAL liquids were lower in treated calves than in untreated ones but the difference was not statistically significant. However, M. bovis and P. multocida counts in the lungs of the treated group were significantly lower than in the untreated group (p=0.003 and 0.009, respectively).