Associations between immune cells signatures and osteoarthritis: An integrated analysis of bidirectional Mendelian randomization and Bayesian colocalization.

BACKGROUND: Previous investigations have explored the associations between immune cell signatures and osteoarthritis (OA); however, causality remains unclear. This study employs an integrated analysis, combining bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) and Bayesian colocalization (Coloc), to investigate causal relationships between 731 immune cells signatures and OA, identifying shared causal variants. METHODS: Utilizing publicly available summary data, this study primarily employs inverse variance weighting (IVW). Supplementary methods include MR-Egger regression, weighted median, weight mode, and simple mode. Various sensitivity tests, including Cochran's Q test, MR pleiotropy Residual Sum and Outlier, and leave-one-out tests, were conducted to assess the robustness of the analysis results. Coloc was employed to identify shared causal genetic variants among potential associations. RESULTS: IVW analysis revealed 196 immune cell signatures potentially linked to OA across diverse subtypes. Reverse MR analyses indicated the causal impact of OA on the levels of 140 immune cell signatures, with subtype-specific variations. Notably, several specific associations, including CD64 on CD14-CD16 + monocyte for Hip OA (OR = 1.0593, 95 % CI: 1.0260-1.0938, P = 0.0004), HLA-DR on CD14 + CD16- monocyte (OR = 0.9664, 95 % CI: 0.9497-0.9834, P = 0.0001), HLA-DR on CD14 + monocyte (OR = 0.9680, 95 % CI: 0.9509-0.9853, P = 0.0003) in the Knee or Hip OA, PDL-1 on CD14-CD16 + monocyte by All OA (OR = 1.7091, 95 %CI:1.2494-2.3378, P = 0.0008), and herpesvirus entry mediator on effector memory CD4 + T cell by Spine OA (OR = 0.5200, 95 %CI:0.3577-0.7561, P = 0.0006) remained significant post-Bonferroni correction. Sensitivity tests validated the credibility of the IVW analysis. Additionally, Coloc revealed several potential associations among shared genetic variants, including rs115328872, rs1800973, and rs317667. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide evidence for the potential involvement of immune cell signatures in OA development, revealing avenues for early prevention and innovative therapeutic strategies.

Clinical characteristics of 14 COVID-19 deaths in Tianmen, China: a single-center retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of critically ill patients with COVID-19 who were hospitalized in Wuhan has been reported. However, the clinical characteristics of patients who died of COVID-19 in regions with relatively scarce healthcare resources remain unknown. METHODS: In this retrospective study, a total of 14 patients who were admitted from January 18 to February 11, 2020 and died of COVID-19 were evaluated. The epidemiological, symptomatic, laboratory, radiological and treatment records were reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of the 14 patients was 56.7 (SD 15.3) years, and 8 (57.1%) were older than 50 years. Eight (57.1%) were men, and 11 (78.6%) had one or more high risk factors. The most common chronic diseases among these patients were cardiovascular disease (7, 50.0%), hypertension (6, 42.9%), and chronic kidney disease (5, 35.7%). General symptoms included cough (12, 85.7%), fever (11, 78.6%), and dyspnea (10, 71.4%). The median duration from the onset of symptoms to death was 11 (IQR 6.5-19.5) days, and the median duration from admission to death was 4.5 (1.0-11.8) days. Patients who died within 4.5 days had more severe pulmonary lesions, significantly reduced lymphocytes and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP). Most patients had organ dysfunction, including 13 (92.9%) with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), 4 (28.6%) with cardiac injury, 3 (21.4%) with acute kidney injury, and 3 (21.4%) with liver dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly SARS-CoV-2-infected patients with comorbidities, especially those with ARDS and severe chest CT findings on admission, are at increased risk of death and deserve special attention and quality medical treatment.

Overexpression of HIF-1α enhances the protective effect of mitophagy on steroid-induced osteocytes apoptosis.

Glucocorticoid (GC; dexamethasone, DEX) -induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (GIOFH) is a challenging orthopedic disease, and its underlying mechanism remains not clear. This study exposed murine long bone osteocyte-Y4 (MLO-Y4) cells to DEX below normoxic or hypoxic circumstances and found that cell autophagy have been reduced. At the same time, flow cytometry analysis showed increased apoptosis, which was more pronounced in hypoxic environments. Recent research also claimed that GC induces osteoporosis after osteocyte apoptosis, and subsequent microfractures lead to ischemia and hypoxia of the femoral head, resulted in GIOFH. Presently, we found that both mitophagy-related protein hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and BNIP3 were up-regulated in the hypoxic environment, and their expression was down-regulated when exposed to DEX. Besides, we demonstrated that overexpressing HIF-1α resisted DEX-induced apoptosis in a hypoxic environment. Here, we demonstrated that overexpression of HIF-1α, through its downstream marker BNIP3, reduced the suppression of DEX on mitophagy induced by hypoxia and protected bone cells from apoptosis. Also, these findings may provide a direction of the promising application for better GIOFH treatment shortly.

Clinical markers combined with HMGB1 polymorphisms to predict efficacy of conventional DMARDs in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

The efficacy of conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients was limited. However, there were no predictive markers for poor csDMARDs outcome. Clinical information of RA patients was collected and the high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) polymorphisms (rs4145277, rs2249825, rs1412125 and rs1045411) were examined. Among the 252 patients, 31.0% had no response of csDMARDs. Anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA)-positive, C-reactive protein (CRP) and Disease Activity Score (DAS) 28- erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were the associated factors, which (DAC:DAS 28 > 4.7 and ACPA-positive and CRP > 7.1 mg/L) was used to predict poor csDMARDs outcome, the sensitivity and specificity was 87.2% and 60.9%, respectively. Among those DAC patients, the refractory RA rate in the rs2249825 GG genotype patients was 83.3%, the specificity was 98.5%. The clinical markers (DAC) and rs2249825 GG genotype can be used to predict poor csDMARDs outcome.

Diallyl Disulfide Suppresses Inflammatory and Oxidative Machineries following Carrageenan Injection-Induced Paw Edema in Mice.

Diallyl disulfide (DADS) is the major organosulfur constituent in garlic, with a variety of pharmacological activities including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Here, we examined the potential antiedematous impact of DADS- versus carrageenan-mediated paw edema in mice. Carrageenan injection potentiated an inflammatory reaction as presented by the elevated serological C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and transcription of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α, Tnfα), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß, Il1b), interleukin-2 (IL-2, Il2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nitric oxide (NO), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2, Ptgs2), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1, Ccl1), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, while interleukin-10 (IL-10) was declined in the injured paw tissue. Additionally, carrageenan elevated lipid peroxidation in terms of malondialdehyde (MDA) and decreased glutathione content (GSH). Remarkably, DADS was found to inhibit the inflammatory signaling, suppressed the developed oxidative damage, and protected the histopathological alterations in the inflamed paw tissue in response to carrageenan injection. Our findings suggest that DADS could be used as an alternative therapy used to alleviate the pathophysiological changes associated with the genesis of paw edema through its potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant impacts.

Inhibition of bromodomain-containing protein 4 ameliorates oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis and cartilage matrix degeneration through activation of NF-E2-related factor 2-heme oxygenase-1 signaling in rat chondrocytes.

During the progression of osteoarthritis, dysregulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) anabolism, abnormal generation of reactive oxygen species, and proteolytic enzymes have been shown to accelerate the degradation process of cartilage. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the functional role of bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) in hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 )-stimulated chondrocyte injury and delineate the underlying molecular mechanisms. We observed that the expression BRD4 was markedly elevated in rat chondrocytes after H2 O2 stimulation. Additionally, inhibition of BRD4 using small interfering RNA or JQ1 (a selective potent chemical inhibitor) led to repression of H2 O2 -induced oxidative stress, as revealed by a decrease in the reactive oxygen species production accompanied by a decreased malondialdehyde content, along with increased activities of antioxidant markers superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase on exposure of chondrocytes to H2 O2 . Meanwhile, depletion of BRD4 led to repress the oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of chondrocytes triggered by H2 O2 accompanied by an increase in the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and a decrease in the expression of pro-apoptotic Bax and caspase 3 as well as attenuated caspase 3 activity. Moreover, knockdown of BRD4 or treatment with JQ1 markedly attenuated ECM deposition, reflected in a marked upregulation of proteoglycans collagen type II and aggrecan as well as downregulation of ECM-degrading enzymes matrix metalloproteinase 13 and A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5 (ADAMTS-5). More importantly, inhibition of BRD4-activated NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-heme oxygenase-1 signaling. Mechanistically, the protective effect of BRD4 inhibition on H2 O2 -stimulated apoptosis and cartilage matrix degeneration was markedly abrogated by Nrf2 depletion. Altogether, we concluded that the protective effect of BRD4 inhibition against oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis and cartilage matrix degeneration occurred through Nrf2-heme oxygenase-1 signaling, implying that BRD4 inhibition may be a more effective therapeutic strategy against osteoarthritis.

TRAIL gene 1595C/T polymorphisms contribute to the susceptibility and severity of intervertebral disc degeneration: a data synthesis.

BACKGROUND: Studies have investigated the correlation between tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) gene polymorphisms and the susceptibility and severity of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD), but the results were inconsistent. To evaluate the specific relationship, we performed a meta-analysis to clarify the controversies. METHODS: Four databases were searched, and the pooled results were presented as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Three case-control studies from Han Chinese were included (565 cases and 427 controls). All the included studies reported TRAIL 1595C/T gene polymorphisms. The recessive model (CC vs. CT + TT) was the optimal model, which demonstrated a significant relationship between 1595C/T polymorphisms and increased IDD risk (OR = 2.18, 1.45 to 3.27, P = 0.000). No significant heterogeneity was found in the recessive model (I2 = 48.6%, P = 0.143). Patients with lower grade IDD had more genotypes or alleles including 1595TT genotype (grade II vs. grade III: OR = 2.12, 1.18 to 3.83, P = 0.012; grade III vs. grade IV: OR = 2.59, 1.29 to 5.22, P = 0.007) and 1595 T allele (grade II vs. grade III: OR = 1.91, 1.43 to 2.55, P = 0.000; grade II vs. grade IV: OR = 2.46, 0.94 to 1.76, P = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant relationship between 1595C/T polymorphisms and the susceptibility and severity of IDD in Han Chinese. Patients with lower grade IDD had higher frequency of the 1595TT genotype and 1595 T allele.

A controlled case study of the relationship between environmental risk factors and apoptotic gene polymorphism and lumbar disc herniation.

To explore the etiologic role of apoptosis-related genes, environmental risk factors, and their interaction in the occurrence of lumbar disk herniation (LDH), a controlled case study was performed with 128 LDH patients and 132 age- and sex-matched controls. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization, time-of-flight mass spectrometry assay was used to analyze the genotype of nine polymorphism sites in three genes, including Fas -1377G/A rs2234767, Fas -670G/A rs1800682, Fas rs2147420, Fas rs2296603, Fas rs7901656, Fas rs1571019, Fas ligand (FasL) -844C/T rs763110, caspase 9 (CASP9) -1263A>G rs4645978, and CASP9 -712C>T rs4645981. The patients and controls showed similar age and sex, but had significant differences in lumbar load, bed type, amateur sports, and leisure activities (P < 0.05). The correlation analysis revealed that polymorphism of FasL -844C/T (rs763110) and CASP9 -1263A>G (rs4645978) had a significant correlation with LDH, indicating that the genotypes of FasL -844C/T TT and CASP9 -1263A>G GG are probably high-risk genotypes for LDH. The results of environment-gene interaction analysis revealed that, in LDH, the interaction of the FasL -844TT genotype and level III to IV lumbar load was consistent with the ultramultiplying model, and the interaction of the CASP9 rs4645978 GG genotype and level III to IV lumbar load was consistent with the submultiplicative model. Therefore, the risk of LDH was determined by both environmental and genetic risk factors, and the mechanisms of interactions between different genotypes and environmental factors also differed.

MALDI-TOF-MS serum protein profiling for developing diagnostic models and identifying serum markers for discogenic low back pain.

BACKGROUND: The identification of the cause of chronic low back pain (CLBP) represents a great challenge to orthopedists due to the controversy over the diagnosis of discogenic low back pain (DLBP) and the existence of a number of cases of CLBP of unknown origin. This study aimed to develop diagnostic models to distinguish DLBP from other forms of CLBP and to identify serum biomarkers for DLBP. METHODS: Serum samples were collected from patients with DLBP, chronic lumbar disc herniation (LDH), or CLBP of unknown origin, and healthy controls (N), and randomly divided into a training set (n = 30) and a blind test set (n = 30). Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry was performed for protein profiling of these samples. After the discriminative ability of two most significantly differential peaks from each two groups was assessed using scatter plots, classification models were developed using differential peptide peaks to evaluate their diagnostic accuracy. The identity of peptides corresponding to three representative differential peaks was analyzed. RESULTS: The fewest statistically significant differential peaks were identified between DLBP and CLBP (3), followed by CLBP vs. N (5), DLBP vs. N (9), LDH vs. CLBP (20), DLBP vs. LDH (23), and LDH vs. N (43). The discriminative ability of two most significantly differential peaks was poor in classifying DLBP vs. CLBP but good in classifying DLBP vs. LDH. The accuracy of models for classification of DLBP vs. CLBP was not very high in the blind test (forecasting ability, 67.24%; sensitivity, 70%), although a higher accuracy was observed for classification of DLBP vs. LDH and LDH vs. N (forecasting abilities, ~90%; sensitivities, >90%). A further investigation of three representative differential peaks led to the identification of two peaks as peptides of complement C3, and one peak as a human fibrinogen peptide. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings benefit not only the diagnosis of CLBP but also the understanding of the differences between different forms of DLBP. The ability to distinguish between different causes of CLBP and the identification of serum biomarkers may be of great value to diagnose different causes of DLBP and predict treatment efficacy.

Causal associations between rheumatoid arthritis, cataract and glaucoma in European and East Asian populations: A bidirectional two-sample mendelian randomization study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have indicated a heightened susceptibility to cataract and glaucoma among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, while it remains uncertain whether RA is causally associated with cataract and glaucoma. A two-sample mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was used to investigate the causal associations between RA, cataract and glaucoma in European and East Asian populations. METHODS: In the European population, genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics for cataract (372,386 individuals) and glaucoma (377,277 individuals) were obtained from the FinnGen consortium (R9), while RA summary data were derived from a meta-analysis of GWAS encompassing 97173 samples. In the East Asian population, summary data for cataract (212453 individuals), glaucoma (212453 individuals), and RA (22515 individuals) were sourced from the IEU Open GWAS project. Inverse-variance weighted (IVW, random-effects) method served as the primary analysis, complemented by MR‒Egger regression, weighted median, weighted mode and simple mode methods. Additionally, various sensitivity tests, including Cochran's Q test, MR‒Egger intercept, MR pleiotropy Residual Sum and Outlier test and leave-one-out test were performed to detect the heterogeneity, horizontal pleiotropy and stability of the analysis results. RESULTS: Following stringent screening, the number of selected instrumental variables ranged from 8 to 56. The IVW results revealed that RA had an increased risk of cataract (OR = 1.041, 95% CI = 1.019-1.064; P = 2.08×10-4) and glaucoma (OR = 1.029, 95% CI = 1.003-1.057; P = 2.94×10-2) in European populations, and RA displayed a positive association with cataract (OR = 1.021, 95% CI = 1.004-1.039; P = 1.64×10-2) in East Asian populations. Other methods also supported those results by IVW, and sensitivity tests showed that our analysis results were credible and stable. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed a positive causality between RA and the increased risk of cataract and glaucoma, which provides guidance for the early prevention of cataracts and glaucoma in patients with RA and furnishes evidence for the impact of RA-induced inflammation on ophthalmic diseases.

Cobalt ions-derived nanoenzyme array for endosseous neural network reconstruction and osseointegration.

Interactions between bone cells and neurocytes are crucial for endosseous nerve and ensuing bone regeneration. However, absence of neural stem cells in bone makes the innervation of implant osseointegration a major challenge. Herein, a nanorod-like array of sodium hydrogen titanate (ST) co-doped with Co2+ and Co3+, namely STCh that behaves as a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging enzyme, was hydrothermally formed on Ti substrate. We show that the doped Co2+ and Co3+ locate at TiO6 octahedral interlayers and within octahedra of STCh lattice, appearing releasable and un-releasable, respectively, leading to an increase in Co3+/Co2+ ratio and enzyme activity of the array with immersion. The nanoenzyme-released Co2+ triggers macrophages (MΦs) towards M1 phenotype, then the nanoenzyme scavenges extracellular ROS inducing M1-to-M2 transition. The neurogenic factors secreted by STCh-regulated MΦs, in combination with the released Co2+, promote mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate into neurons and Schwann cells compared to sole Co2+and ST. STCh array greatly enhances nerve reconstruction, type-H capillary formation and ensuing osseointegration in normal rat bone, and antibacteria via engulfing S. aureus by MΦs and osteogenesis in infective case. This nanoenzyme provides an alternative strategy to orchestrate endosseous nerve regeneration for osseointegration without loading exogenous neurotrophins in implants.

Sono-Catalytic Tooth Whitening and Oral Health Enhancement with Oxygen Vacancies-Enriched Mesoporous TiO2 Nanospheres: A Nondestructive Approach for Daily Tooth Care.

Tooth discoloration and the breeding of oral microorganisms pose threats to both one's aesthetic appearance and oral health. Clinical whitening agents based on H2O2 with high concentrations are effective in tooth whitening and bacterial elimination but may also cause enamel demineralization, gingival irritation, or cytotoxicity, necessitating professional supervision. Herein, leveraging sono-catalysis effects, a nondestructive and convenient tooth whitening strategy was developed, utilizing oxygen vacancies (OVs)-enriched mesoporous TiO2 nanospheres. The introduction of OVs leads to TiO2 bandgap narrowing, boosting the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by TiO2 under ultrasound treatment. Additionally, through the chemocatalysis effect, the ROS yield can be further augmented by employing OVs-enriched TiO2 in conjunction with an extremely low concentration of H2O2 (1%) during ultrasound treatment. Hence, under ultrasound treatment simulating daily tooth brushing using an electronic toothbrush, the combination of OVs-enriched TiO2 and 1% H2O2 proves to be effective in whitening teeth stained by tea, coffee, and mix juice. Furthermore, the combination of OVs-enriched TiO2 and 1% H2O2 demonstrates potent bacterial-killing and biofilm-eradicating effects under ultrasound treatment within an extremely short duration (5 min). Additionally, given the mesoporous structure, curcumin, serving as an anti-inflammatory agent, can be efficiently loaded into OVs-enriched TiO2 and then controllably released through ultrasound treatment. The curcumin-loaded TiO2 facilitates the transition of macrophages to the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype, potentially alleviating oral inflammation induced by bacterial infection without showing any biotoxicity. The OVs-enriched TiO2 based sono-catalysis tooth whitening procedure provides the convenience of whitening teeth during daily brushing without requiring professional supervision.

Causal associations between circulating inflammatory cytokines and blinding eye diseases: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis.

Background: Previous studies have explored the associations between circulating inflammatory cytokines and blinding eye diseases, including glaucoma, cataract and macular degeneration. However, the causality of these associations remains controversial. This study employs a bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) study to investigate the causal relationships between 41 circulating inflammatory cytokines and these blinding eye diseases. Methods: Summary data for glaucoma, cataract, macular degeneration and 41 circulating inflammatory cytokines were publicly available. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was employed as the main analysis method. Additionally, various sensitivity tests, including MR-Egger regression, weighted median, weight mode, Cochran's Q test, MR pleiotropy Residual Sum and Outlier test, and leave-one-out test, were conducted to evaluate sensitivity and stability of results. Results: The IVW analysis identified six circulating inflammatory cytokines causally associated with the risk of blinding eye diseases: Monokine induced by interferon-gamma (MIG) for glaucoma, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), IL-6, IL-10, and platelet derived growth factor BB (PDGFbb) for cataract, and MIG and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) for macular degeneration. However, it is noteworthy that none of these associations remained significant after Bonferroni correction (p < 0.0004). Reverse MR analyses indicated that cataract may lead to a decrease in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels (OR: 3.326 × 10-04, 95% CI: 5.198 × 10-07 - 2.129 × 10-01, p = 0.0151). Conclusion: This study highlights the potential roles of specific inflammatory cytokines in the development of glaucoma, cataract and macular degeneration. Moreover, it suggests that VEGF is likely to be involved in cataract development downstream. These findings offer insights for early prevention and novel therapeutic strategies for these blinding eye diseases.

Identification of Autophagy-Related Genes in Patients with Acute Spinal Cord Injury and Analysis of Potential Therapeutic Targets.

Autophagy has been implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of spinal cord injury (SCI); however, its specific mechanisms remain unclear. This study is aimed at identifying potential molecular biomarkers related to autophagy in SCI through bioinformatics analysis and exploring potential therapeutic targets. The mRNA expression profile dataset GSE151371 was obtained from the GEO database, and R software was used to screen for differentially expressed autophagy-related genes (DE-ARGs) in SCI. A total of 39 DE-ARGs were detected in this study. Enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, TF-mRNA-miRNA regulatory network analysis, and the DSigDB database were used to investigate the regulatory mechanisms between DE-ARGs and identify potential drugs for SCI. Enrichment analysis revealed associations with autophagy, apoptosis, and cell death. PPI analysis identified the highest-scoring module and selected 10 hub genes to construct the TF-mRNA-miRNA network, revealing regulatory mechanisms. Analysis of the DSigDB database indicated that 1,9-Pyrazoloanthrone may be a potential therapeutic drug. Machine learning algorithms identified 3 key genes as candidate biomarkers. Additionally, immune cell infiltration results revealed significant correlations between PINK1, NLRC4, VAMP3, and immune cell accumulation. Molecular docking simulations revealed that imatinib can exert relatively strong regulatory effects on the three key proteins. Finally, in vivo experimental data revealed that the overall biological process of autophagy was disrupted. In summary, this study successfully identified 39 DE-ARGs and discovered several promising biomarkers, significantly contributing to our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of autophagy in SCI. These findings offer valuable insights for the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

Activation of Notch Signaling Pathway is involved in Extracellular Matrix Degradation in human induced pluripotent stem cells chondrocytes induced by HT-2 toxin.

Notch signaling regulates cartilage formation and homeostasis. Kashin-Beck Disease (KBD), an endemic osteochondropathy, is characterized by severe cartilage degradation. The etiology of KBD is related to the exposure of HT-2 toxin, a mycotoxin and primary metabolite of T-2 toxin. This study aims to explore the role of HT-2 toxin in the Notch signaling regulation and extracellular matrix (ECM) metabolism of hiPSCs-Chondrocytes. Immunohistochemistry and qRT-PCR were employed to investigate the expression of Notch pathway molecules in KBD articular cartilage and primary chondrocytes. hiPSCs-Chondrocytes, derived from hiPSCs, were treated with 100 ng/mL HT-2 toxin and the γ-secretase inhibitor (DAPT) for 48h, respectively. The markers related to the Notch signaling pathway and ECM were assessed using qRT-PCR and Western blot. Notch pathway dysregulation was prominent in KBD cartilage. HT-2 toxin exposure caused cytotoxicity in hiPSCs-Chondrocytes, and activated Notch signaling by increasing the mRNA and protein levels of NOTCH1 and HES1. HT-2 toxin also upregulated ECM catabolic enzymes and downregulated ECM components (COL2A1 and ACAN), indicating ECM degradation. DAPT-mediated Notch signaling inhibition suppressed the mRNA and protein level of ADAMTS5 expression while enhancing ECM component expression in hiPSCs-Chondrocytes. This study suggests that HT-2 toxin may induce ECM degradation in hiPSCs-Chondrocytes through activating Notch signaling.

Reduced apoptosis correlates with enhanced autophagy in synovial tissues of rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Defective apoptosis contributes to the massive synovial hyperplasia in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but the mechanism is largely unknown. To investigate the reasons for the reduced apoptosis in RA synovium, we analyzed autophagy and its relationship to apoptosis in synovial tissues from RA and osteoarthritis (OA) patients. METHODS: Synovial tissues were obtained from seven RA and 12 OA patients undergoing knee replacement surgery. Apoptosis was detected by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and staining for p85 fragment of PolyADP-ribose polymerase (PARP). Autophagy was determined by immunoblotting for the autophagic markers Beclin-1 and LC3. MicroRNA-30a (miR-30a), which targets Beclin-1, was measured by real-time RT-PCR. The interplay between autophagy and apoptosis was determined via Spearman's correlation analysis. RESULTS: In comparison with OA, the synovial tissues from RA displayed decreased TUNEL-positive nuclei (P < 0.01). In contrast, Beclin-1 and LC3 were overexpressed in the synovial lining layers of RA, which was correlated with decreased levels of miR-30a. Moreover, there was a significant reverse relationship between apoptosis and autophagy in RA synovial tissues (P < 0.01 and r = -0.8937). CONCLUSION: The impaired apoptosis in RA synovium might result from increased autophagy, which in turn could be due to the deregulation of miRNA-30a.

Active mobilization for mechanically ventilated patients: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of active mobilization on improving physical function and hospital outcomes in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation for more than 24 hours. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, CENTRAL, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, SinoMed, and ISI Web of Knowledge were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-RCTs, other comparative studies, and case series with 10 or more consecutive cases. Additional studies were identified through references, citation tracking, and by contacting the authors of eligible studies. STUDY SELECTION: Two reviewers independently selected potential studies according to the inclusion criteria. DATA EXTRACTION: Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed the methodologic quality. DATA SYNTHESIS: A narrative form was used to summarize study characteristics and outcomes, because the substantial heterogeneity between the individual studies precluded formal meta-analyses. Among the 17 eligible studies, 7 RCTs, 1 quasi-RCT, 1 prospective cohort study, and 1 history controlled study were used to examine the effectiveness; and 2 RCTs, 1 prospective cohort study, and 7 case series were used to examine the safety of active mobilization in patients receiving mechanical ventilation for more than 24 hours. We found that active mobilization may improve muscle strength, functional independence, and the ability to wean from ventilation and may decrease the length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital. However, only 1 study reported that active mobilization reduced the 1-year mortality rate. No serious adverse events were reported among included studies. CONCLUSIONS: Active mobilization appears to have a positive effect on physical function and hospital outcomes in mechanical ventilation patients. Early active mobilization protocols may be initiated safely in the ICU setting and continued in post-ICU settings. However, the current available studies have great heterogeneity and limited methodologic quality. Further research is needed to provide more robust evidence to support the effectiveness and safety of active mobilization.

Negative pressure technology enhances bone regeneration in rabbit skull defects.

BACKGROUND: Bone is a slowly regenerating tissue influenced by various physiological processes, including proliferation, differentiation, and angiogenesis, under the control of growth factors. Shortening this healing time is an important and popular clinical research focus in orthopedics. Negative pressure can stimulate angiogenesis, improve blood circulation, promote granulation tissue growth and accelerate tissue wound healing. We sought to determine whether negative pressure could reduce bone healing time in a rabbit cranial defect model. METHODS: Four symmetrical holes (diameter, 3.5 mm) were drilled into the skulls of 42 New Zealand white rabbits, with two holes in each parietal bone. For each rabbit, the two sides were then randomly assigned into experimental and control groups. Using negative pressure suction tubes, experimental holes were treated with -50 kPa for 15 minutes, four times per day, whereas the control holes remained untreated. After 4 weeks, the negative pressure suction tubes were removed. At 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks, three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction computed tomography (CT), X-ray radiopacity, and two-photon absorptiometry were used to evaluate new bone formation. Histological changes were determined by hematoxylin and eosin (H.E) staining. At weekly intervals until 6 weeks, the mRNA expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 were evaluated by RT-PCR. A paired student's t-test was employed to compare X-ray radiopacity and bone density measurements between the experimental and control groups. RESULTS: 3D-reconstruction CT showed that new bone regeneration in the experimental group was greater than that in the control group at 4 and 6 weeks. At these time points, the experimental group presented with higher X-ray radiopacity and increased bone density (P < 0.05) as compared with the control group. Cartilage islands and new bone were observed by H.E staining at 2 weeks in the experimental group. By 6 weeks, the new bone had matured into lamellar bone in the experimental group. RT-PCR results showed that VEGF and BMP-2 were highly expressed in the experimental group as compared with control. CONCLUSIONS: Intermittent negative pressure can promote the regeneration of bone possibly by enhancing the expression of VEGF and BMP-2.

Decellularized extracellular matrix scaffold seeded with adipose-derived stem cells promotes neurorestoration and functional recovery after spinal cord injury through Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway regulation.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes tissue destruction and neuronal apoptosis, which impede neural function recovery. Therefore, promoting neuronal regeneration and neural pathway reconstruction is crucial. In this study, a novel and facile decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) scaffold seeded with adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) (dECM scaffolds/ADSCs) was reported. The dECM scaffold maintained the original three-dimensional network structure of spinal cord tissue and contained various small pores.In vitrostudies demonstrated that dECM scaffolds exhibited excellent biocompatibility, facilitated efficient adhesion and proliferation of ADSCs, and promoted the secretion of neurotrophin-3 and neuronal differentiation in the microenvironment after SCI.In vivostudies further showed that dECM scaffolds/ADSCs could alleviate inflammatory and apoptotic reactions, providing a favorable microenvironment for promoting endogenous nerve regeneration rather than glial scars formation, ultimately achieving recovery of hind limb function in rats. Notably, ICG-001 effectively reversed the therapeutic effect of dECM scaffolds/ADSCs, proving that dECM scaffolds/ADSCs promoted functional recovery after SCI by regulating the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. Overall, dECM scaffolds/ADSCs can simulate the physiological characteristics of the spinal cord and exert neurorestorative potential, providing a new therapeutic strategy for SCI.