MicroRNA­100­5p inhibits osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption by regulating fibroblast growth factor 21.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) are post­transcriptional regulators that serve important roles in osteoclastogenesis and bone metabolism; however, the roles of miRNAs have not been completely clarified. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of miR­100­5p on the mechanism of liver­bone endocrine metabolism. A miRNA microarray analysis was conducted to evaluate the miRNA expression profile during receptor activator of nuclear factor­κB ligand­stimulated osteoclastogenesis. Hematoxylin and eosin and tartrate­resistant acid phosphatase staining were performed to analyze the trabecular bone microstructure and osteoclast differentiation. The mRNA and protein expression levels were assessed by reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively. The results revealed that in vitro osteoclast differentiation and in vivo bone resorption were suppressed by miR­100­5p overexpression. In vivo, a decrease in miR­100­5p and an increase in FGF21 were simultaneously observed in mice following ovariectomy (OVX). Bioinformatics analysis and experimental data confirmed that FGF21 was a direct target of miR­100­5p. Conversely, augmentation of miR­100­5p using a specific agomir in OVX­operated mice decreased the levels of FGF21 in the serum and liver, and prevented osteoclastogenesis and bone loss. The present study revealed that FGF21 may be a signal molecule associated with the mechanism of liver­bone endocrine metabolism and may be targeted by miR­100­5p. In addition, miR­100­5p may serve an important role in protecting against OVX­induced osteoporosis.

What Roles Do Probiotics Play in the Eradication of Helicobacter pylori? Current Knowledge and Ongoing Research.

With the rising global prevalence of antibiotic resistance, the eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori (HP) is continuing to decrease. Probiotics are beneficial to human health and may be an adjunct therapy to increase the eradication rate of HP, lower treatment-associated side effects, and reduce HP-associated gastric inflammation. However, inconsistent test results have prevented conclusions about the therapeutic prowess of probiotics for HP. The mechanisms of actions of probiotics include the production of substances that inhibit or kill HP or compete with HP for the adhesion site on gastric epithelial cells. Probiotics can also reduce the release of inflammatory factors by regulating the local immune response of the host. We searched the available literature for full-length articles focusing on the role of probiotics in HP management. This review presents the latest advances in this area.

Can eradication rate of gastric Helicobacter pylori be improved by killing oral Helicobacter pylori?

AIM: To evaluate the influence of oral Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) on the success of eradication therapy against gastric H. pylori. METHODS: A total of 391 patients with dyspepsia were examined for H. pylori using the saliva H. pylori antigen test (HPS), ¹³C-urea breath test (UBT), gastroscopy, and gastric mucosal histopathological detection. Another 40 volunteers without discomfort were subjected to HPS and ¹³C-UBT, and served as the control group. The 233 patients who were (¹³C-UBT+ were enrolled in this study and divided into 4 groups. Patients who were HPS- and ¹³C-UBT+ (n = 53) received triple therapy alone. Those who were both HPS+ and ¹³C-UBT+ (n = 180) were randomly divided into 3 groups: (1) the O+G+t group which received triple therapy alone (n = 53); (2) the O+G+tm group which received both triple therapy and mouthrinse treatment (n = 65); and (3) the O+G+tmp group which received triple therapy, mouthrinse, and periodontal treatment (n = 62). The HPS and ¹³C-UBT were continued for 4 wk after completion of treatment, and the eradication rate of gastric H. pylori and the prevalence of oral H. pylori in the 4 groups were then compared. RESULTS: The eradication rates of gastric H. pylori in the O-G+t group, the O+G+tm group, and the O+G+tmp group were 93.3%, 90.0%, and 94.7% respectively; all of these rates were higher than that of the O+G+t group (78.4%) [O-G+t group vs O+G+t group (P = 0.039); O+G+tm group vs O+G+t group (P = 0.092); O+G+tmp group vs O+G+t group (P = 0.012); O+G+tm group vs O-G+t group (P = 0.546); O+G+tmp group vs O-G+t group (P = 0.765); O+G+tm group vs O+G+tmp group (P = 0.924)]. The eradication of gastric H. pylori was significantly improved using the combination of triple therapy, mouthrinse, and periodontal treatment. The eradication rates of gastric H. pylori in the peptic ulcer group, chronic atrophic gastritis group and control group were higher than in the duodenitis group and the superficial gastritis group. The prevalence rates of oral H. pylori in the O-G+t group, O+G+t group, O+G+tm group and O+G+tmp group following treatment were 0%, 76.5%, 53.3%, and 50.9%, respectively [O-G+t group vs O+G+t group (P < 0.0001); O+G+tm group vs O+G+t group (P = 0.011); O+G+tmp group vs O+G+t group (P = 0.006); O+G+tm group vs O-G+t group (P < 0.0001); O+G+tmp group vs O-G+t group (P < 0.0001); O+G+tm group vs the O+G+tmp group (P = 0.790)]. Both mouthrinse and periodontal treatment significantly reduced the prevalence of oral H. pylori. CONCLUSION: Mouthrinse treatment alone or combined with periodontal treatment can, to some extent, reduce the prevalence of oral H. pylori and improve the eradication rate of gastric H. pylori.