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The present study aimed to explore the expression and effects of microRNA (miR)-155 in synovial fibroblasts of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A total of 89 synovial tissues from RA patients and 49 control synovial tissues were collected, and the levels of miR-155 were measured by reverse transcription quantitative-PCR and western blotting. Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) were isolated from synovial tissues from the control group and were used to evaluate the roles of miR-155 and forkhead box protein O3a (FOXO3a). MTT assay was used to measure the proliferation of FLS. The expression of miR-155 in RA synovial tissues was significantly higher than that in the control group, but the expression of FOXO3a was significantly lower. In RA synovial tissues, miR-155 expression was negatively correlated with FOXO3a expression, but was positively correlated with the release of inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). A dual-luciferase reporter system showed that miR-155 inhibited the expression of FOXO3a in FLS cells. miR-155 also promoted secretion of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α by FLS and proliferation of these cells by targeting FOXO3a.
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The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate the accuracy of subtraction computed tomography angiography (CTA) for diagnosing intracranial aneurysms. A systematic literature search up to January 1, 2013 was performed in PubMed. Two independent reviewers selected 8 studies that compared subtraction CTA with digital subtraction angiography. Data from the studies were used to construct a 2×2 contingency table on a per-patient basis in ≥5 diseased and 5 non-diseased patients, with additional data on a per-aneurysm basis. Overall, subtraction CTA had a pooled sensitivity of 99% [95% confidence interval (CI), 95-100%] and specificity of 94% (95% CI, 86-97%) for detecting and ruling out cerebral aneurysms, respectively, on a per-patient basis. On a per-aneurysm basis, the pooled sensitivity was 96% (95% CI, 90-99%), and the specificity was 91% (95% CI, 85-95%). In conclusion, subtraction CTA is a highly sensitive, specific and non-invasive method for the diagnosis and evaluation of intracranial aneurysms.
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UNLABELLED: The background and purpose: Published data on the association between LOX-1 3'UTR C188T and G501C polymorphisms with coronary artery disease (CAD) risk are inconclusive. In order to derive a more precise estimation of the relationship, a meta-analysis was conducted. METHODS AND SUBJECTS: Crude ORs with 95% CIs were used to assess the strength of association between these polymorphisms and CAD risk. The pooled ORs were performed for homozygous model, heterozygous model, dominant model, and recessive model, respectively. RESULTS: A total of seventeen studies were involved in the meta-analysis with 5006 cases and 15053 controls for LOX-1 3'UTR C188T polymorphism and with 5905 cases and 15050 controls for G501C polymorphism. For LOX-1 3'UTR C188T polymorphism, significantly elevated CAD risk was associated with variant genotype when all studies were pooled into the meta-analysis (TT vs. CC: OR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.08-1.69; dominant model: OR = 1.17, 95% CI 1.02-1.34; and recessive model: OR = 1.23, 95% CI 1.03-1.47). For LOX-1 G501C polymorphism, significantly increased CAD risk was also associated with variant genotype (GG vs. CC: OR = 1.42, 95% CI 1.07-1.87; CG vs. CC: OR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.04-1.56; and dominant model: OR = 1.30, 95% CI 1.07-1.58). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis suggests that the variant G allele of LOX1 3'UTR C188T and the variant C allele of G501C polymorphisms are low penetrant risk factors for developing CAD.
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We report the findings of three-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in a patient with a parachute mitral valve (MV) accompanied by aortic valve (AV) malformation. The results indicated an enhanced echo in MV anterior leaves, incrassate, and shortened subvalvular chordae tendineae, and posteromedial papillary muscle that had echo reinforcement, calcification, retroposition, and a significant decrease compared with anterolateral papillary muscle. In addition, the anterolateral papillary muscle was huge, with the bilateral papillary muscles fused partly, and the posterior subvalvular chordae tendineae incrassate, shortened, and attached parachute-like to the anterolateral papillary muscle. The MV appeared dome-shaped for the open limit in diastole with an MV area of 1.6 cm. Moreover, the left ventricle increased in size and the bicuspid AV was malformed. Continuous wave Doppler angiograph showed that the flow rate increased to 398 cm/seconds at the AV orifice area. A 3D form of the MV structure was observed from the left ventricle using 3D-TEE inspection. The anterolateral papillary muscle was fused with its posteromedial homologue. The chordae tendineae was attached to the anterolateral papillary with the parachute-like structure, indicating dome movement.