Downregulated Serum Exosomal miR-451a Expression Correlates With Renal Damage and Its Intercellular Communication Role in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multi-system autoimmune disease characterized by continuous inflammation and the production of autoantibodies. Exosomes, acting as a critical tool for communication between cells, are involved in the pathogenesis of SLE, particularly in inflammation and immune imbalance. In this study, we aimed to extract and confirm the pro-inflammatory effect of serum exosomes in SLE. Then, we attempted to find differentially expressed exosomal microRNAs in the serum of healthy subjects and SLE patients via miRNA microarray analysis and validated the target exosomal microRNA, exosomal miR-451a, which expression level decreased in serum of SLE patients by RT-qPCR. Furtherly, we analyzed the correlation between exosomal miR-451a and disease activity, kidney damage and typing, and traditional medicine therapy. Finally, we investigated the intercellular communication role of exosomal miR-451a in SLE by co-culture assay in vitro. Taken together, our study demonstrated that downregulated serum exosomal miR-451a expression correlated with SLE disease activity and renal damage as well as its intercellular communication role in SLE which provided potential therapeutic strategies.

Ozone therapy promotes the differentiation of basal keratinocytes via increasing Tp63-mediated transcription of KRT10 to improve psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory dermatosis. Recently, ozone therapy has been applicated to psoriasis treatment; however, the mechanism by which ozone therapy improves psoriasis remains unclear. The excessive proliferation and the differentiation of basal keratinocytes have been considered critical issues during pathological psoriasis process, in which keratin 6 (KRT6) and KRT10 might be involved. In the present study, KRT6, IL-17 and IL-22 protein within psoriasis lesions was decreased, while KRT10 and Tp63 protein in psoriasis lesions was increased by ozone treatment in both patient and IMQ mice psoriatic tissues. In the meantime, ozone treatment down-regulated KRT6 mRNA and protein expression while up-regulated KRT10 mRNA and protein expression within IL-22 treated primary KCs; the cell viability of KCs was suppressed by ozone treatment. Moreover, Tp63 bound to KRT10 promoter region to activate its transcription in basal keratinocytes; the promotive effects of ozone on Tp63 and KRT10 were significantly reversed by Tp63 silence. Both TP63 and KRT10 mRNA expression were significantly increased by ozone treatment in psoriasis lesions; there was a positive correlation between Tp63 and KRT10 expression within tissue samples, suggesting that ozone induces the expression of Tp63 to enhance the expression of KRT10 and the differentiation of keratinocytes, therefore improving the psoriasis. In conclusion, the application of ozonated oil could be an efficient and safe treatment for psoriasis; ozone promotes the differentiation of keratinocytes via increasing Tp63-mediated transcription of KRT10, therefore improving psoriasis.

[Clinical efficacy of ozonated oil in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety between ozonated oil and compound flumethasone ointment in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris.
 Methods: A left/right self-controlled, parallel group study was conducted. Forty patients with stable psoriasis vulgaris were enrolled in the study, whose lesions were symmetrical and involvement areas were <30% body surface. The patients were divided into 2 groups. Patients with left lesions served as a test group were treated daily for ozonated oil twice, and patients with right lesions served as a control group were treated daily for compound flumetasone ointment twice. The patients in the 2 groups were treated for 4 weeks. The clinical efficacy and safety were observed at 1, 2 and 4 weeks after the treatment.
 Results: After 1 week treatment, the effective rates of the test group and the control group were 60.58% and 72.28%, respectively, with significant difference between them (P<0.05). At 2 weeks and 4 weeks after the treatment, the efficacy in the test group was similar to that in the control group. The effective rates in the test group and the control group were 69.84% and 70.25% after 2 weeks, respectively, 70.88% and 71.23% after 4 weeks, respectively. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups (P<0.05). In addition, the reflectance confocal microscope results in both the test group and the control group after 4 weeks showed that the epidermis was approximately normal. There were few inflammatory cells infiltration in the dermal papilla, and the inflammatory cells infiltration was significantly reduced after treatment.
 Conclusion: Ozonated oil treatment for stable psoriasis is safe and effective, and its efficacy is equivalent to the effect of glucocorticoid topical preparations.

Decreased copper and zinc in sera of Chinese vitiligo patients: a meta-analysis.

Abnormalities of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) are involved in the etiology and pathogenesis of vitiligo. However, controversial results exist now on Cu and Zn in serum of vitiligo patients. The purpose of this study is to compare the serum levels of Cu and Zn between vitiligo patients and healthy controls. In the meta-analysis, 16 studies with a total of 891 vitiligo cases and 1682 healthy controls were included. The levels of serum Cu and Zn were compared between groups of case and control. The serum levels of Cu were significantly lower in vitiligo patients than in healthy controls (Z = 4.04, P < 0.0001; standardized mean difference [SMD], -0.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], -1.34 to -0.47). The levels of serum Zn were also significantly lower in vitiligo patients than in healthy controls (Z = 4.88, P < 0.00001; SMD, -1.09; 95% CI, -1.51 to -0.64). These results demonstrate that decreased levels of serum Cu and Zn are generally present in Chinese vitiligo patients. This may offer support for clinical administration of oral Cu and Zn supplements.

Analysis of prognostic factors in 333 Chinese patients with high-grade osteosarcoma treated by multidisciplinary combined therapy.

AIM: To investigate prognostic factors for long-term outcomes in Chinese patients with high-grade osteosarcoma of the extremities or trunk treated by multidisciplinary combined therapy. METHODS: In total, 333 consecutive patients with non-metastatic or primary metastatic high-grade osteosarcoma of the extremities or trunk were retrospectively reviewed to analyze the correlation between survival and sex, age, site, histological type, clinical stage, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level, preoperative chemotherapy or not, response to preoperative chemotherapy, postoperative chemotherapy cycles and manner of surgery. The combined therapy included preoperative and postoperative chemotherapy as well as limb salvage surgery or amputation. RESULTS: The median survival time was 52 months for all 333 patients. Univariate analysis revealed that sex, ALP level, preoperative chemotherapy and cycle numbers of postoperative chemotherapy may influence the prognosis of high-grade osteosarcoma of the extremities or trunk. Multivariate analysis revealed that the female, a normal ALP level, preoperative chemotherapy with good response and ≥4 cycles of postoperative chemotherapy correlated with a better outcome. CONCLUSION: Preoperative chemotherapy is important in high-grade osteosarcoma treatment and a good response to it is an important marker of prognosis. It should be given with ≥ cycles of postoperative chemotherapy after surgery.

[RP-HPLC determination of tiliroside in Daphne genkwa].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the contents of tiliroside [kaempferol 3-O-beta-D-(6 " -p-coumaroyl) glucopyranoside] in the Daphne genkwa. METHOD: The separation was performed on ZORBAX XDB C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm), using acetonitrile and water/acetic acid mixture (1,000/1) (gradient elution: 0-18 min, 26 : 74; 18-33 min, 80 : 20) as mobile phase with the rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1) at 25 degrees C, the wavelength for measurement was 310 nm. RESULT: The linearity was in the range of 0.1-5.0 microg (n=6), and the correlation coefficient was 0.9999. The average recovery for compound tiliroside was 101.50% (RSD 0.90%) (n=6). CONCLUSION: This method is accurate, reliable and reproducible to determine tiliroside in the D. genkwa.