Effects of microrna-93 on mouse cardiac microvascular endothelial cells injury and inflammatory response by mediating SPP1 through the NF-ΚB pathway.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to investigate the regulative role of microRNA-93 (miR-93) in mouse cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs) injury and inflammatory response by negatively targeting SPP1 gene via the NF-κB signaling pathway. METHODS: Healthy Balb/c mice were recruited to establish a mouse model with myocarditis using the CVB3 virus. Mice were grouped into normal, blank, negative control (NC), miR-93 inhibitor, miR-93 mimic, SPP1 short hairpin RNA (shRNA), and miR-93 mimic+SPP1 shRNA groups. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis were applied to determine the expressions of miR-93, SPP1, VEGFA, p50, p65, Bax, and Bcl-2. MTT assay was conducted to evaluate cell viability, annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide double staining was conducted to examine cell apoptosis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was conducted to measure secretion of inflammatory factors, and chemical colorimetry was conducted to determine NO secretion. RESULTS: SPP1 was a target gene of miR-93. Compared with the normal group, other six groups showed increased expressions of SPP1, p50, p65, VEGFA, and Bax, as well as cell apoptosis rate and secretion of cell inflammatory factors, and decreased expression of Bcl-2, cell viability, and NO secretion. Compared with the blank group, the miR-93 inhibitor group showed elevated expressions of SPP1, p50, p65, VEGFA, and Bax, as well as cell apoptosis rate and secretion of cell inflammatory factors, and reduced Bcl-2, cell viability, and NO secretion. While the miR-93 mimic and SPP1 shRNA groups displayed opposite results. CONCLUSION: Taking our results together, we conclude that upregulation of miR-93 reduces CMECs injury and inflammatory response by negatively targeting SPP1 via inactivating the NF-κB signaling pathway.

A scoring system for assessing the severity of acute diarrhea of adult patients.

BACKGROUND: Diarrhea is frequently seen in developed and developing countries, and severe diarrhea is characterized by the high risk of death. Thus, it is very important to assess the severity of diarrhea early. We conducted a multi-center study to identify risk factors for the severity of diarrhea in adult patients and formulate an adult diarrhea state score (ADSS) for out-patient clinicians. METHODS: A total of 219 adult patients with acute diarrhea were divided into two groups: 132 patients with mild diarrhea and 87 with severe diarrhea. Logistic regression was used to determine risk factors for the severity of diarrhea. The risk factors were assessed and an ADSS was formulated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was made to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of ADSS, and the Kappa test was used to confirm the diagnostic reliability. RESULTS: Five risk factors for evaluating the severity of diarrhea in adults included age (P<0.05), axillary temperature (P<0.01), mean arterial pressure (P<0.01), white blood cell count (WBC; P<0.01), and WBC in stool (P<0.01). The area under the ROC curve for ADSS was 0.958 when the cut off value was 4 (a sensitivity of 0.909; a specificity of 0.874), and the Kappa value was 0.781 (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The risk factors associated with the pathogenic condition of diarrhea were identified, quantified and formulated into an ADSS, which has high diagnostic accuracy and reliability for the early identification of patients with severe acute diarrhea.

[Epidemiological analysis on 141 cases of angiostrongyliasis cantonensis in Beijing].

OBJECTIVE: To provide scientific basis for angiostrongyliasis cantonensis control and prevention in Beijing. METHODS: Descriptive epidemiological method was used to analyze angiostrongyliasis cantonensis reported from June to September in 2006. RESULTS: 141 cases were treated at the Beijing Friendship Hospital with the peak in July (61 cases) and August (68 cases). All patients had dined at the same restaurant in Beijing city and they ate undercooked Pomacea canaliculata or related eatables. The source of Pomacea canaliculata was from Guilin in Guangxi. Major manifestations would include fever (56.79%), headache (93.83%), neck stiffness (100%), and skin paresthesia (77.78%). Some cases had significant eosinophil increase in peripheral blood picture and cerebrospinal fluid respectively. CONCLUSION: The source of infection related to angiostrongyliasis cantonensis was clear, suggesting that the improvement of restaurant sanitation and on awareness of personal hygiene were important preventive and control measures on angiostrongyliasis cantonensis.