Alteration of vaginal microbiota in patients with recurrent miscarriage.

The aim of this study was to characterise the structure of vaginal microbiota in unexplained recurrent miscarriage (RM). The vaginal bacterial communities of 16 patients with RM and 20 healthy volunteers were sampled. Then, the microbiomes of bacterial profiles of RM patients and healthy volunteers were compared by sequencing the V3-V4 regions of the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene using the Illumina MiSeq platform (Illumina, San Diego, CA). Taxonomic analysis demonstrated that abundance of Lactobacillus and Gardnerella were significantly different between the RM and control groups. Furthermore, at the genus level, Lactobacillus was the most dominant genus in the two groups. Statistically significant differences were observed in three genera between RM and control groups. In the control group, two bacterial taxa were significantly more abundant (Lactobacillus and Gardnerella), while only one taxon was overrepresented in the RM group (Atopobium). These present findings provide experimental evidence supporting vaginal microbiota dysbiosis in women with RM.Impact statementWhat is already known on this subject? Currently, bacterial vaginosis is thought to be mainly due to the vaginal dysbacteriosis, which can induce unexplained recurrent miscarriage, premature rupture of membranes, low birth weight premature birth, premature birth, chorioamnionitis and series of diseases.What do the results of this study add? The current study demonstrated that Lactobacillus and Gardnerella were significantly decreased in RM patients compared to healthy control, while Atopobium was overrepresented in the RM group.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Clinically, women with RM might benefit from vaginal microbiota treatment, adjuvant therapy with Lactobacillus-based live biotherapeutics.

Synovial mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomal miR-320c enhances chondrogenesis by targeting ADAM19.

Background: Synovial mesenchymal stem cell (SMSC)-derived exosomes show treatment potential in osteoarthritis, although their functional mechanism is still unclear. Materials & methods: Osteoarthritis chondrocytes and normal SMSC were cultured. Subsequently, chondrocytes were co-cultured with SMSC or miR-320c-overexpressing SMSC-derived exosomes, or directly transfected with miR-320c mimic. Furthermore, compensate experiments were conducted. Results: SMSC promoted chondrocyte proliferation, migration, COL2A1 and ACAN expressions while suppressing apoptosis by transmitting exosomes. Furthermore, miR-320c-overexpressing SMSC-derived exosomes and direct miR-320c overexpression in chondrocytes presented more significant effect on enhancing chondrogenesis. In addition, miR-320c directly targeted ADAM19, and ADAM19 overexpression compensated the regulation of miR-320c on chondrogenesis. Conclusion: SMSC-derived exosomal miR-320c enhances chondrogenesis through targeting ADAM19, highlighting a potentially novel mechanism of SMSC in treating osteoarthritis.

[Efficacy of ginsenosides combined with prednisone in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial].

BACKGROUND: The side effects of glucocorticoid in treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have been the focus of debate, and our preliminary study indicates that ginsenosides can enhance the efficacy of dexamethasone. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of ginsenosides combined with prednisone in SLE patients. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: A total of 60 SLE patients from Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, were randomly divided into treatment group and control group, with 30 patients in each group. Patients in the treatment group were given routine treatment with prednisone plus ginsenosides, while those in the control group were given routine treatment with prednisone plus placebo. They were all treated for 3 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: After three-month treatment, syndrome score in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), total response rate and symptom improvement rate were measured and evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty-eight cases in treatment group and twenty-seven cases in control group were included in analysis. The total response rates in the treatment group and control group were 89.28% and 66.67% respectively, and there was a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). After treatment, the TCM syndrome scores in the two groups were lower than those before treatment (P<0.01), and prednisone plus ginsenosides was better in decreasing the TCM syndrome score than prednisone plus placebo (P<0.05). The symptoms were improved in the treatment group as compared with the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Prednisone combined with ginsenosides can increase the clinical effective rate and improve the clinical symptoms of SLE patients.

Indirect comparison of teriparatide, denosumab, and oral bisphosphonates for the prevention of vertebral and nonvertebral fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to compare the efficacy of teriparatide, denosumab, and oral bisphosphonates for reducing fracture risk in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. METHODS: We searched the literature, via PubMed, Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, to screen citations from January 1996 to October 2014 for inclusion in this study. A mixed-treatment comparison meta-analysis within a Bayesian framework was performed by WinBUGS version 1.4.3 software. The proportions of women with vertebral fractures and women with nonvertebral fractures were analyzed. RESULTS: Our meta-analysis results indicated that all of the therapies-except etidronate-achieved a statistically significant reduction of fractures compared with placebo. Teriparatide and denosumab were more effective than alendronate and risedronate for reducing vertebral fracture (teriparatide vs alendronate: odds ratio [OR], 1.76; 95% CI, 1.03-2.98; teriparatide vs risedronate: OR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.13-3.19; denosumab vs alendronate: OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.06-2.67; denosumab vs risedronate: OR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.16-2.92). Teriparatide, denosumab, alendronate, and risedronate also reduced the risk of nonvertebral fracture compared with placebo. Results of subgroup analysis showed that denosumab (OR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.37-0.98), alendronate (OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.39-0.96), and risedronate (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.46-0.86) can reduce the risk of hip fracture and that risedronate (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.4-0.88) can also reduce the risk of upper-arm fracture. CONCLUSIONS: Teriparatide, denosumab, alendronate, and risedronate are effective in reducing the risk of vertebral and nonvertebral fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Furthermore, denosumab, alendronate, and risedronate can reduce the risk of hip fracture, and risedronate can also reduce the risk of upper-arm fracture.

Plasma Interleukin-37 Is Elevated in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Its Correlation with Disease Activity and Th1/Th2/Th17-Related Cytokines.

Interleukin- (IL-) 37 is a novel anti-inflammatory cytokine that suppresses immune response and inflammation. This study was performed to determine whether IL-37 was elevated in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and investigate the correlation between IL-37 level and disease activity and the concentration of Th1/Th2/Th17-related cytokines. Clinical parameters of disease activity, including the 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28) and C-reactive protein (CRP), were collected in 34 RA patients and 34 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Plasma IL-37 was measured by ELISA. Plasma levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-17, G-CSF, GM-CSF, IFN-γ, MCP-1, and MIP-1ß were analyzed using the Bio-Plex suspension array system. It was found that IL-37 levels were elevated markedly in RA patients and almost undetectable in healthy controls. In addition, IL-37 levels in patients with active RA were significantly enhanced as compared with those in patients of remission. More importantly, IL-37 showed a significant correlation with disease activity (DAS28) and IL-4, IL-7, IL-10, IL-12, and IL-13 concentrations in RA patients. These findings suggest that IL-37 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of RA and may prove to be a potential biomarker of active RA.

[The extraction and effects on mouse lymphocyte proliferation of immunoregulation components from Lysimachia hemsleyana].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of extracted fractions from the whole plants of Lysimachia hemsleyana Maxim on the proliferation ability of lymphocytes in mice in vitro. METHODS: We extracted the components by using of ethanol, ether from petroleum, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol, successively then study them on the proliferation of lymphocytes in mice. RESULTS: The n-butanol fraction obviously inhibited the proliferation of spleen lymphocytes induced by LPS, bilaterally regulated the T lymphocyte proliferation induced by ConA. The chloroform fraction markedly enhanced the lymphocytes proliferation induced by ConA or LPS. CONCLUSION: The results suggested that n-butanol fraction and chloroform fraction from Lysimachia hemsleyana possibly maybe have immunoregulation effects.

[The effects of n-butanol fraction of Lysimachia hemsleyana on the activities of lymphocytes in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of n-butanol fraction from the whole plants (Lysimachia hemsleyana) on the phagocytic activities of the peritoneal macrophage, production of interleukin-2. METHODS: We extracted the components with ethanol, acetic ether, n-butanol and chloroform, then studied the n-butanol fraction on the phagocytic activities of the peritoneal macrophage, production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) from splenocytes induced by ConA in mice in vitro. RESULTS: n-Butanol fraction of an ethanol extract of air-dried herbs bilaterally regulated the IL-2 production from splenocytes induced by ConA, and enhanced the phagocytic activities of activated mouse peritoneal macrophages. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that Lysimachia hemsleyana may has an immunoregulation effect and may be an potential agent in the treatment of the inflammatory pathological process and some autoimmune diseases.

Association of TNF-α polymorphism with prediction of response to TNF blockers in spondyloarthritis and inflammatory bowel disease: a meta-analysis.

AIM: To explore whether TNF-α promoter -308 A/G and -857 C/T polymorphisms have an association with responsiveness to TNF blockers in spondyloarthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. METHODS: A meta-analysis was performed. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs were calculated. RESULTS: Six relevant studies with a total of 211 spondyloarthritis patients and 392 inflammatory bowel disease patients were included. The results showed that the common allele (G and C, respectively) showed a better responsiveness than the minor allele (A and T, respectively). The -308 G/G genotype (OR: 2.31; 95% CI: 1.36-3.91; p = 0.002) and -857 C/C genotype (OR: 3.66; 95% CI: 1.35-9.92; p = 0.01) responded better to therapy, which was different from the results of some studies included. CONCLUSION: Individuals with the TNF-α-308 G allele and -857 C allele showed better anti-TNF-α treatment responses than those with the TNF-α-308 A allele and -857 T allele. The -308 G/G genotype and -857 C/C genotype are predictors of good response.