Deep Learning-Enhanced Hand Grip and Release Test for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: Shortening Assessment Duration to 6 Seconds.

OBJECTIVE: Hand clumsiness and reduced hand dexterity can signal early signs of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM). While the 10-second grip and release (10-s G&R) test is a common clinical tool for evaluating hand function, a more accessible method is warranted. This study explores the use of deep learning-enhanced hand grip and release test (DL-HGRT) for predicting DCM and evaluates its capability to reduce the duration of the 10-s G&R test. METHODS: The retrospective study included 508 DCM patients and 1,194 control subjects. Propensity score matching (PSM) was utilized to minimize the confounding effects related to age and sex. Videos of the 10-s G&R test were captured using a smartphone application. The 3D-MobileNetV2 was utilized for analysis, generating a series of parameters. Additionally, receiver operating characteristic curves were employed to assess the performance of the 10-s G&R test in predicting DCM and to evaluate the effectiveness of a shortened testing duration. RESULTS: Patients with DCM exhibited impairments in most 10-s G&R test parameters. Before PSM, the number of cycles achieved the best diagnostic performance (area under the curve [AUC], 0.85; sensitivity, 80.12%; specificity, 74.29% at 20 cycles), followed by average grip time. Following PSM for age and gender, the AUC remained above 0.80. The average grip time achieved the highest AUC of 0.83 after 6 seconds, plateauing with no significant improvement in extending the duration to 10 seconds, indicating that 6 seconds is an adequate timeframe to efficiently evaluate hand motor dysfunction in DCM based on DL-HGRT. CONCLUSION: DL-HGRT demonstrates potential as a promising supplementary tool for predicting DCM. Notably, a testing duration of 6 seconds appears to be sufficient for accurate assessment, enhancing the test more feasible and practical without compromising diagnostic performance.

Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance-Enhanced Photocatalytic Antibacterial of In-situ Sprayed 0D/2D Heterojunction Composite Hydrogel for Treating Diabetic Wound.

Chronic diabetic wounds pose significant challenges due to uncontrolled bacterial infections, prolonged inflammation, and impaired angiogenesis. The rapid advancement of photo-responsive antibacterial therapy showed promise in addressing these complex issues, particularly utilizing 2D heterojunction materials, which offer unique properties. Herein, we designed an in situ sprayed Bi/BiOCl 0D/2D heterojunction composite fibrin gel with the characteristics of rapid formation and effective near-infrared activation for the treatment of non-healing diabetes-infected wounds. The sprayed composite gel can provide protective shielding for skin tissues and promote endothelial cell proliferation, vascularization, and angiogenesis. The Bi/BiOCl 0D/2D heterojunction, with its localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), can overcome the wide bandgap limitation of BiOCl, enhancing the generation of local heat and reactive oxygen species under near-infrared irradiation. This facilitated bacterial elimination and reduced inflammation, supporting the accelerated healing of diabetes-infected wounds. Our study underscores the potential of LSPR-enhanced heterojunctions as advanced wound therapies for chronic diabetic wounds. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Classifying Hand Dexterity Impairment in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy With 10-Second Grip and Release Test.

STUDY DESIGN: Diagnostic accuracy study with prospectively collected data. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to establish optimal cutoff values for the 10-second grip and release (10s-G&R) Test to distinguish between mild, moderate, and severe levels of hand dexterity impairment in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM). BACKGROUND: The 10s-G&R test is widely utilized to assess hand function in DCM patients. However, whether this test can effectively distinguish between varying severities of hand dexterity impairment, along with the relevant cutoff values, remains unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors analyzed hand motion data from 551 consecutively enrolled DCM patients using an artificial intelligent system. In addition, the authors conducted evaluations of functional status, quality of life, and outcome measures. Receiver operating curve analysis was performed to determine cutoff values that differentiate mild, moderate, and severe hand dexterity impairments based on the ability to fasten buttons, as assessed by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation Questionnaire Q2-1. The validity of these cutoffs was assessed by comparing G&R parameters, upper limb disability, overall disease severity, and quality of life among patients in different severity groups. RESULTS: The authors identified 16 G&R cycles as the cutoff for moderate hand dexterity impairment and 13 G&R cycles as the cutoff for severe impairment. Patients with severe impairment exhibited significantly worse G&R parameters, more severe upper limb symptoms, greater overall disease severity, and reduced quality of life. Patients completing fewer than 13 G&R cycles within 10 seconds were more likely to have moderate-to-severe DCM, indicating the need for potential surgical intervention. CONCLUSION: The authors propose classifying mild hand dexterity impairment as 17 to 20 cycles on the 10s-G&R test, moderate as 14 to 16 cycles, and severe as 13 cycles or less. Our study underscores that the 10s-G&R test can serve as an effective supplementary tool within the context of other currently available measurement tools.

Yap controls notochord formation and neural tube patterning by integrating mechanotransduction with FoxA2 and Shh expression.

Correct notochord and neural tube (NT) formation is crucial to the development of the central nervous system and midline structures. Integrated biochemical and biophysical signaling controls embryonic growth and patterning; however, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we took the opportunities of marked morphological changes during notochord and NT formation and identified both necessary and sufficient roles of Yap, a key mechanosensor and mechanotransducer, in biochemical signaling activation during formation of notochord and floor plate, the ventral signaling centers that pattern the dorsal-ventral axis of NT and the surrounding tissues. We showed that Yap activation by a gradient of mechanical stress and tissue stiffness in the notochord and ventral NT induces FoxA2 and Shh expression. Hedgehog signaling activation rescued NT patterning defects caused by Yap deficiency, but not notochord formation. Therefore, mechanotransduction via Yap activation acts in feedforward mechanisms to induce FoxA2 expression for notochord formation and activate Shh expression for floor plate induction by synergistically interacting with FoxA2.

A Potential ABA Analog to Increase Drought Tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Abscisic acid (ABA) plays an important role in the response of plants to drought stress. However, the chemical structure of ABA is unstable, which severely limits its application in agricultural production. Here, we report the identification of a small molecule compound of tetrazolium as an ABA analog (named SLG1) through virtual screening. SLG1 inhibits the seedling growth and promotes drought resistance of Arabidopsis thaliana with higher stability. Yeast two-hybrid and PP2C inhibition assays show that SLG1 acts as a potent activator of multiple ABA receptors in A. thaliana. Results of molecular docking and molecular dynamics show that SLG1 mainly binds to PYL2 and PYL3 through its tetrazolium group and the combination is stable. Together, these results demonstrate that SLG1, as an ABA analogue, protects A. thaliana from drought stress. Moreover, the newly identified tetrazolium group of SLG1 that binds to ABA receptors can be used as a new option for structural modification of ABA analogs.

Accuracy of Realigned K-line for Predicting Surgical Outcomes After Laminoplasty in Patients With Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy.

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective cohort study. OBJECTIVES: To report a new index, the realigned K-line, for predicting surgical outcomes after laminoplasty in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM). METHODS: One hundred twenty-eight patients with DCM undergoing laminoplasty were enrolled from January 2018 to April 2021 in our department. A realigned K-line was defined as the line connecting the midpoints of the spinal cord between C2 and C7 on realigned T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. The minimum interval between the anterior compression factors of the spinal cord and the realigned K-line (INTrea), and the modified K-line (INTmod) were measured. A logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with unsatisfactory surgical outcomes. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the area under the curve (AUC) was applied to evaluate the reliability of the multivariate logistic regression model. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed that the score for the bladder function section of the Japanese Orthopedic Association Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation Questionnaire, numeric rating scale scores for arm pain, and INTrea might be related to the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) recovery rate (RR) not achieving the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) (P < .05). Only INTrea (odds ratio = .744, P < .05) was an independent preoperative factor related to the JOA RR not achieving the MCID (area under the curve, .743). A cutoff of 5.0 mm for INTrea had an accuracy of 71.9% and specificity of 80.3% for predicting the JOA RR not achieving the MCID. CONCLUSIONS: INTrea is an independent preoperative risk factor related to the JOA RR not achieving the MCID in patients with DCM. A cutoff point of 5.0 mm is most appropriate for alerting spine surgeons to a high likelihood of the JOA RR not achieving the MCID.

Comparison of blood loss between tranexamic acid-soaked absorbable Gelfoam and topical retrograde injection via drainage catheter plus clamping in cervical laminoplasty surgery.

BACKGROUND: To compare the safety and efficacy of tranexamic acid (TXA)-soaked absorbable Gelfoam and the retrograde injection of TXA through a drain with drain-clamping in degenerative cervical laminoplasty patients. METHODS: Patients were assigned into either TXA retrograde injection (TXA-RI), TXA-soaked absorbable Gelfoam (TXA-Gel), or control groups. The demographics, operative measurements, volume and length of drainage, length of hospital stay, complete blood cell count, coagulopathy, postoperative complications, and blood transfusion were recorded. RESULTS: We enrolled 133 patients, with 44, 44, and 45 in the TXA-RI, TXA-Gel, and control groups, respectively. The baseline characteristics did not differ significantly among the three groups. The TXA-RI group exhibited a lower volume and length of postoperative drainage compared to the TXA-Gel and control groups (126.60 ± 31.27 vs. 156.60 ± 38.63 and 275.45 ± 75.27 mL; 49.45 ± 9.70 vs 58.70 ± 10.46 and 89.31 ± 8.50 hours, all P < 0.01). The TXA-RI group also had significantly shorter hospital stays compared to the control group (5.31 ± 1.18 vs 7.50 ± 1.25 days, P < 0.05) and higher hemoglobin and hematocrit levels (12.58 ± 1.67 vs 11.28 ± 1.76 g/dL; 36.62 ± 3.66% vs 33.82 ± 3.57%, both P < 0.05) at hospital discharge. In the TXA-RI and TXA-Gel groups, the D-dimmer (DD) and fibrinogen (FIB) were significantly lower than those in the control group after surgery (P < 0.05). None of the patients required blood transfusion. No complications, including thromboembolic events, were reported. CONCLUSION: Topical retrograde injection of TXA through a drain with drain-clamping at the conclusion of unilateral posterior cervical expansive open-door laminoplasty may effectively reduce postoperative blood loss and the length of hospital stays without increasing postoperative complications.

Severity Assessment of Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Based on Intelligent Video Analysis.

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) has a high incidence in the middle-aged and elderly people. According to clinical research, there is a connection between hand dexterity and cervical nerves. So the surgeon makes a preliminary assessment of the severity of CSM based on a 10-second grip and release (G&R) test. At present, the statistics of G&R test rely on the surgeon's manual counting. When a patient's hand motion speed is too fast, the surgeon's manual counting is prone to error, leading to potential misdiagnosis. On the other hand, in recent years, artificial intelligence has been developed rapidly, where three-dimensional convolutional neural networks (3D-CNNs) have been widely used in video analysis. This work proposes a hand motion analysis model using a 3D-CNN combined with a de-jittering mechanism to assess the severity of CSM on 10-second G&R videos. We collect 1500 10-second G&R videos recorded by 750 subjects to establish a dataset. The proposed model using 3D-MobileNetV2 as the classifier obtains a Levenshtein accuracy of 97.40% and an average GPU inference time of 3.31 seconds for each 10-second G&R video. Such accuracy and inference speed ensure that the proposed model can be used as a screening examination tool for CSM and a medical assistance tool to help decision making during CSM treatment planning.

In Situ Construction of Black Titanium Oxide with a Multilevel Structure on a Titanium Alloy for Photothermal Antibacterial Therapy.

Postsurgical infection of orthopedic fixation materials is considered to be the main cause of fixation failure. To address the problem, clinical treatment often relies on long-term antibiotics, secondary surgery, and so forth, which cause pain and suffering to patients. Constructing a light-responsive surface structure on the implant has attracted widespread attention for the management of postsurgical infections because of its noninvasiveness and controllability. Nevertheless, the application of light-responsive structures on implants is still limited by their unsafety and instability. In this work, a black titanium oxide layer with a multilevel structure and lattice defects was in situ constructed on a titanium alloy through pulsed laser ablation treatment. Under the synergistic effect of the multilevel structure and crystal defects, the surface of the titanium alloy exhibited good near-infrared light-responsive photothermal ability. The black titanium oxide multilevel structure reached high antibacterial efficiencies of about 99.37 and 99.29% against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli under 10 min near-infrared light irradiation. Furthermore, the black titanium oxide layer possessed similar biocompatibility compared with the titanium alloy. This near-infrared light-responsive photothermal therapy based on the construction of a multilevel structure and introduction of lattice defects provides an effective strategy for clinical postsurgical infections of orthopedic fixation.

Comparison of Bazaz scale, Dysphagia Short Questionnaire, and Hospital for Special Surgery-Dysphagia and Dysphonia Inventory for Assessing Dysphagia Symptoms After Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery in Chinese Population.

Dysphagia is one of the most common complaints after anterior cervical spine surgery. The Bazaz scale, the Dysphagia Short Questionnaire (DSQ), and the Hospital for Special Surgery-Dysphagia and Dysphonia Inventory (HSS-DDI) were patient-reported outcome measures assessing the patients' perceptions of their swallowing functions after surgery. This prospective diagnostic test study aimed to compare these surveys' psychometric properties in the Chinese population. We evaluated 150 consecutive patients after anterior cervical spine surgery with the Bazaz scale, DSQ, HSS-DDI, and M.D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI). The reliability and validity of the Bazaz scale, DSQ, and HSS-DDI were compared. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of the DSQ, Bazaz scale, and HSS-DDI were constructed using the MDADI as a reference criterion. Their areas under the curve (AUCs) were further analyzed. In total, 132 participants completed all of the surveys. The results showed that all surveys were significantly correlated with each other. The HSS-DDI and HSS-Dysphagia subscale showed near-perfect reliability (Cronbach α = 0.969 and 0.957, respectively). ROC curves showed both HSS-DDI and HSS-Dysphagia subscale had greater accuracy (AUCs > 0.9) in detecting mild dysphagia and moderate/severe dysphagia. The HSS-Dysphagia subscale achieved higher accuracy in assessing the dysphagia symptoms after anterior cervical spine surgery. The Bazaz scale was considered less accurate than other scales. Our results provided guidance for selecting the appropriate measuring tool during clinical and research practices.

The Upregulation of COX2 in Human Degenerated Nucleus Pulposus: The Association of Inflammation with Intervertebral Disc Degeneration.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is an important risk factor of low back pain. We previously found upregulated markers of fibrosis, the late stage of chronic inflammation, in degenerated IVD with a small number of clinical specimens. Here, we aimed to study on a larger scale the association of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2), an inflammation and/or pain marker, with IVDD. This study involved 107 LBP participants. The IVD degeneration level was graded on a 1-5 scale according to the Pfirrmann classification system. Discs at grades 1-3 were further grouped as white discs with grades 4-5 as black discs. We recorded baseline information about age, gender, body mass index (BMI), diabetes history, smoking history, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Their association with IVDD was statistically analyzed. The expression level of COX2 was investigated by immunohistochemistry. The total integrated COX2 optical density (IOD), number of COX2-positive cells, and total cell number of each image were counted and analyzed by Image-Pro Plus software. The IOD and number of COX2-positive cells were divided by the total cell number to obtain COX2 expression density (IOD/cell) and COX2 positivity (cell+/cell). As a result, among the baseline information investigated, only age was found to have a significant association with IVDD. The IOD/cell was found to be significantly increased from grade 2 to grade 5, as well as in black discs compared to white discs. The cell+/cell displayed the same trend that it increased in highly degenerative discs compared to their counterparts. In conclusion, the expression of COX2 is associated with IVDD, which highlights COX2 as a biomarker for IVD degeneration and indicates the involvement of inflammation and pain signaling in IVDD.

Biochemical Characterization and Function of Eight Microbial Type Terpene Synthases from Lycophyte Selaginella moellendorffii.

Selaginella moellendorffii is a lycophyte, a member of an ancient vascular plant lineage. Two distinct types of terpene synthase (TPS) genes were identified from this species, including S. moellendorffii TPS genes (SmTPSs) and S. moellendorffii microbial TPS-like genes (SmMTPSLs). The goal of this study was to investigate the biochemical functions of SmMTPSLs. Here, eight full-length SmMTPSL genes (SmMTPSL5, -15, -19, -23, -33, -37, -46, and -47) were functionally characterized from S. moellendorffii. Escherichia coli-expressed recombinant SmMTPSLs were tested for monoterpenes synthase and sesquiterpenes synthase activities. These enzymatic products were typical monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes that have been previous shown to be generated by typical plant TPSs when provided with geranyl diphosphate (GPP) and farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) as the substrates. Meanwhile, SmMTPSL23, -33, and -37 were up-regulated when induced by alamethicin (ALA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA), suggesting a role for these genes in plants response to abiotic stresses. Furthermore, this study pointed out that the terpenoids products of SmMTPSL23, -33, and -37 have an antibacterial effect on Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 and Staphylococcus aureus. Taken together, these results provide more information about the catalytic and biochemical function of SmMTPSLs in S. moellendorffii plants.

Corrigendum to "RSP5 Positively Regulates the Osteogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Activating the K63-Linked Ubiquitination of Akt".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2020/7073805.].

Advanced Glycation End Products Enhance Biofilm Formation by Promoting Extracellular DNA Release Through sigB Upregulation in Staphylococcus aureus.

Bacterial biofilms do serious harm to the diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) because they play a crucial role in infection invasion and spread. Staphylococcus aureus, the predominant Gram-positive bacteria in diabetic foot infection (DFI), is often associated with colonization and biofilm formation. Through biofilm formation tests in vitro, we observed that S. aureus bacteria isolated from DFU wounds were more prone to form biofilms than those from non-diabetic patients, while there was no difference in blood sugar between the biofilm (+) diabetics (DB+) and biofilm (-) diabetics (DB-). Furthermore, we found that advanced glycation end products (AGEs) promoted the biofilm formation of S. aureus in clinical isolates and laboratory strains in vitro, including a methicillin-resistant strain. Analysis of biofilm components demonstrated that the biofilms formed mainly by increasing extracellular DNA (eDNA) release; remarkably, the S. aureus global regulator sigB was upregulated, and its downstream factor lrgA was downregulated after AGE treatments. Mechanism studies using a sigB-deleted mutant (Newman-ΔsigB) confirmed that AGEs decreased expression of lrgA via induction of sigB, which is responsible for eDNA release and is a required component for S. aureus biofilm development. In conclusion, the present study suggests that AGEs promote S. aureus biofilm formation via an eDNA-dependent pathway by regulating sigB. The data generated by this study will provide experimental proof and theoretical support to improve DFU infection healing.

Healing pattern classification for thoracolumbar burst fractures after posterior short-segment fixation.

BACKGROUND: Thoracolumbar burst fractures can be treated with posterior short-segment fixation. However, no classification can help to estimate whether the healed vertebral body will have sufficient stability after implant removal. We aimed to develop a Healing Pattern Classification (HPC) to evaluate the stability of the healed vertebra based on cavity size and location. METHODS: Fifty-two thoracolumbar burst fracture patients treated with posterior short-segmental fixation without fusion and followed up for an average of 3.2 years were retrospectively studied. The HPC was divided into 4 types: type I - no cavity; type II - a small cavity with or without the violation of one endplate; type III - a large cavity with or without the violation of one endplate; and type IV - a burst cavity with the violation of both endplates or the lateral cortical shell. The intraobserver and interobserver intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) of the HPC were assessed. The demographic characteristics and clinical outcomes of the cohort were compared between the stable group (types I and II) and the unstable group (types III and IV). Logistic regression was conducted to evaluate risk factors for unstable healing. RESULTS: The intraobserver and interobserver ICCs of the HPC were 0.86 (95% CI = 0.74-0.90) and 0.77 (95% CI = 0.59-0.86), respectively. While the unstable healing group (types III and IV) accounted for 59.6% of the patients, most of these patients were asymptomatic. The preoperative Load Sharing Classification (LSC) comminution score may predict the occurrence of unstable healing (OR = 8.4, 95% CI = 2.4-29.7). CONCLUSIONS: A reliable classification for assessing the stability of a healed vertebra was developed. With type I and II healing, the vertebra is considered stable, and the implant can be removed. With type III healing, the vertebra may have healing potential, but the implant should not be removed unless type II healing is achieved. With type IV healing, the vertebra is considered extremely unstable, and instrumentation should be maintained. Assessing the LSC comminution score preoperatively may help to predict unstable healing after surgery.

RSP5 Positively Regulates the Osteogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Activating the K63-Linked Ubiquitination of Akt.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells that have a strong osteogenic differentiation capacity. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs remains largely unknown and thus hinders further development of MSC-based cell therapies for bone repair in the clinic. RSP5, also called NEDD4L (NEDD4-like E3 ubiquitin protein ligase), belongs to the HECT (homologous to E6-AP carboxyl terminus) domain-containing E3 ligase family. Nevertheless, although many studies have been conducted to elucidate the role of RSP5 in various biological processes, its effect on osteogenesis remains elusive. In this study, we demonstrated that the expression of RSP5 was elevated during the osteogenesis of MSCs and positively regulated the osteogenic capacity of MSCs by inducing K63-linked polyubiquitination and activation of the Akt pathway. Taken together, our findings suggest that RSP5 may be a promising target to improve therapeutic efficiency by using MSCs for bone regeneration and repair.

Therapeutic effect of percutaneous kyphoplasty combined with anti-osteoporosis drug on postmenopausal women with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture and analysis of postoperative bone cement leakage risk factors: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to explore the therapeutic effect of percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) combined with anti-osteoporosis drug, zoledronic acid, on postmenopausal women with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) and to perform an analysis of postoperative bone cement leakage risk factors. METHODS: A total of 112 OVCF patients, according to therapeutic regimens, were divided into control group (n = 52, treated with PKP) and observation group (n = 60, treated with PKP and zoledronic acid injection). RESULTS: Postoperative tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 levels were significantly decreased in the two groups, compared with those before treatment (both P < 0.05); bone mineral density (BMD), serum bone gla protein (BGP), and vertebral height ratio of injured vertebrae were significantly increased, and procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide (PINP), Cobb angle, visual analogue scale/score (VAS), and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment (all P < 0.05). There were significantly higher changes in difference value of BMD, PINP, BGP, vertebral height ratio of injured vertebrae, Cobb angle, VAS, and ODI levels and significantly better therapeutic effect in the observation group than those in the control group (all P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the use of zoledronic acid, vertebral height ratio of injured vertebrae, and ODI were independent factors affecting the therapeutic effect, and that the dosage of bone cement, and peripheral vertebrae wall damage were independent risk factors causing postoperative bone cement leakage. There were no significant differences in postoperative bone cement leakage rate between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral vertebrae wall damage and the dosage of bone cement are independent risk factors causing bone cement leakage in OVCF patients treated with PKP. PKP combined with zoledronic acid has an improvement effect on the condition of postmenopausal women with OVCF and reduces the inflammation and pain in patients, which is beneficial to clinical treatment.

LncRNA SNHG1 was down-regulated after menopause and participates in postmenopausal osteoporosis.

The functions of long (>200 nt) non-coding RNA (lncRNA) small nucleolar RNA host gene 1 (SNHG1) have only been investigated in cancer biology. We found that plasma LncRNA SNHG1 was down-regulated in postmenopausal than in premenopausal females. Among postmenopausal females, the ones with postmenopausal osteoporosis showed much lower expression levels of plasma lncRNA SNHG1. A 6-year follow-up study on postmenopausal females revealed that plasma lncRNA SNHG1 decreased in females with postmenopausal osteoporosis but not in healthy postmenopausal females. Levels of plasma lncRNA SNHG1 at 12 months before diagnosis is sufficient to distinguish postmenopausal osteoporosis patients from healthy controls. After treatment, plasma lncRNA SNHG1 were significantly up-regulated. Therefore, lncRNA SNHG1 was down-regulated after menopause and plasma level of lncRNA SNHG1 may serve as a biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Protective effects of Rhizoma smilacis glabrae extracts on potassium oxonate- and monosodium urate-induced hyperuricemia and gout in mice.

BACKGROUND: Rhizoma smilacis glabrae (RSG, tufuling) has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for deoxidation, dampness relief, and easing joint movement. The chemical composition of RSG has been systematically confirmed, and some of its compounds have been revealed to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, hypouricemic, and hepatoprotective effects. PURPOSE: We aimed to clarify whether a RSG extract attenuates hyperuricemia, paw edema, and renal injury in mice with potassium oxonate (PO)- and monosodium urate (MSU)-induced chronic hyperuricemia and gout. METHODS: RSG water extract was obtained and analyzed by HPLC-DAD-MS/MS. To establish a murine model with chronic hyperuricemia and gout, PO was orally administered daily from day 0 to day 24, whereas MSU was injected into the tibiotarsal joint on day 21. The mice in the drug intervention groups were treated once daily with doses of allopurinol or RSG extract from day 21 to day 24. The diameter of the ankle joints was measured with calipers. Serum TNF-α and IL-1ß concentrations, hepatic XOD activity, and uric acid, creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were also determined. The right kidney and articular cavities were fixed, cut into sections, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. RESULTS: Nine compounds in the RSG water extract were unambiguously identified as 5-O-caffeoylshikimic acid, neoastilbin, astilbin, taxifolin, neoisoastilbin, isoastilbin, engeletin, isoengeletin, and trans-resveratrol. The RSGE treatment dose-dependently reduced PO- and MSU-induced paw edema, serum TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-12, uric acid, and BUN, while significantly elevated serum IL-10, urinary uric acid and creatinine levels as compared with the respective values in the hyperuricemic and gouty mice group (vehicle group). Moreover, the hepatic XOD activity was dose-dependently reduced by the RSGE treatment. In addition, RSGE treatment not only ameliorated the infiltration of inflammatory cells, tubular dilation and vacuole formation in renal tubular, but also improved the synovial hyperplasia, reduced inflammatory cells infiltration into the synovium, and diminished the erosive damage in the cartilage. CONCLUSION: The murine model with chronic hyperuricemia and gout be built in present study is consistent with the clinical symptoms of patients with long-standing hyperuricemia and acute gouty arthritis. RSG water extract has potent efficacy in ameliorating murine hyperuricemia and gout induced by PO and MSU.