Serum hsa-circ-0025244 as a biomarker in Chinese occupational mercury-exposed population and mediate apoptosis through JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

circRNAs have been recognized as biomarkers of numerous diseases. We would like to explore the expression pattern and molecular mechanisms of circRNAs in the Chinese occupational mercury-exposed population.

METHODS

The workers from a thermometer manufacturing plant and lamp factory in Jiangsu province of China were recruited in 2016. Blood samples were collected from the subjects with chronic mercury poisoning group, mercury absorption group, and the healthy controls. The differentially expressed circRNAs (DECRs) between the three groups were screened from serum samples using a circRNA microarray. The significant DECRs were validated by qRT-PCR, and their respective diagnostic values for mercury poisoning and mercury absorption were analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. For in vitro experiments, 293T cells were treated with different doses of HgCl₂ to determine the half-lethal concentration. The cells were transfected with the siRNA construct or expression plasmid of circRNA. The expression levels of JNK, p38, and caspase family proteins were analyzed by Western blotting.

RESULTS

hsa_circ_0025244 was up-regulated in the mercury poisoning and absorption groups compared to the control group (P < 0.05), and positively correlated with the urine mercury levels (P < 0.05). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of hsa_circ_0025244 for diagnosing occupational mercury poisoning was 0.748, indicating moderate accuracy (P < 0.001). Moreover, the diagnostic accuracy of occupational mercury absorption was high (P < 0.001) with an AUC of 0.918. Knockdown of hsa_circ_0025244 in 293T cells significantly reduced the expression levels of JNK/p38, and caspase family proteins compared to that in the control cells (P < 0.01), and its overexpression led to opposite effects (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

hsa_circ_0025244 is a potential biomarker for mercury exposure and mediates mercury-induced apoptosis in 293T cells by activating the JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

Needlestick injuries among obstetrics and gynecology trainees: A survey study

OBJECTIVE

To assess characteristics, incidence, risk factors, and reporting rate of needlestick injuries (NSIs) among Obstetrics and Gynecology trainees.

STUDY DESIGN

We performed a nationwide cross-sectional survey study. The 40-items survey Obstetrics Needlestick Injury Questionnaire (ONSI-Q) was used to investigate the prevalence of NSIs, participant attitudes, associated factors, and the NSI reporting rate among trainees in Obstetrics and Gynecology. The target responders were all trainees of Obstetrics and Gynecology training programs in Italy. The trainees were invited between September 2018 and December 2018 via a web-based platform.

RESULTS

Among 1049 trainees, 1041 (99.2%) completed the survey. Out of 1041 trainees, 639 (61.4%) had at least one NSI, and 90.9% (581/639) experienced at least one during obstetric surgery. The number of NSIs increased with the year of training, with 2.48 NSIs per trainee in the fifth year. 90.6% (579/639) reported details about the most recent NSI, which was during obstetric surgery in 95.3% (552/579) of cases. 57.1% (315/552) experienced the most recent NSI during cesarean section, which was mainly inflicted by someone else (72.4%; 228/315). 42.9% (237/552) of NSIs were during perineal suture, and 84% (199/237) of them were self-inflicted. 77.9% (417/535) of trainees did not report the NSI. Associated factors were non-high-risk patients, self-inflicted NSI, and the first NSI.

CONCLUSIONS

NSIs are frequent among Obstetrics and Gynecology trainees but not reported, and obstetric surgery is the primary source. These data support the European efforts to improve working practices' safety. The education about protective strategies and reporting should be a priority.