Mitochondria-Related Gene MAOB is a Key Biomarker of Osteoarthritis and Inhibition of Its Expression Reduces LPS-induced Chondrocyte Damage.

The mitochondria are an important organelle in cells responsible for producing energy, and its abnormal function is closely related to the occurrence and development of osteoarthritis. Finding key genes associated with mitochondrial dysfunction in osteoarthritis can provide new ideas for the study of its pathogenesis. Firstly, 371 differential expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained through bioinformatics analysis of the GSE12021 and GSE55235 datasets in the GEO database, and 24 mitochondria-related DEGs (Mito-DEGs) were obtained by crossing differential genes with mitochondrial related genes. Next, KEGG and GO analysis of Mito-DEGs showed that upregulated Mito-DEGs were mainly enriched in small molecule catabolic process and tryptophan metabolism, while downregulated Mito-DEGs were mainly enriched in acetyl-CoA metabolic process and fatty acid biosynthesis. Furthermore, the key genes ME2 and MAOB were obtained through protein-protein interaction network analysis and lasso cox analysis of the 24 Mito-DEGs. In addition, the comparison results of immune cell scores showed differences between T cells CD4 memory resting, T cells regulatory (Tregs), Mast cells resting, and Mast cells activated in the OA group and the control group. More importantly, the potential regulatory mechanisms of key genes were studied through GSEA analysis and their correlation with immune infiltrating cells, immune checkpoints, m6A, and ferroptosis. Finally, in LPS-induced C28/I2 cells, silencing MAOB reduced inflammation injury and inhibited mitochondrial damage. Our research findings suggest that MAOB may hold potential as a target for the diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis.

Perceived health-care quality in China: a comparison of second- and third-tier hospitals.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate disparity in service quality between second- and third-tier hospitals and explore factors that affect patients' perception of service quality in China. DESIGN: Cross sectional study. SETTING: Twelve hospitals in China. PARTICIPANTS: 5714 patients. INTERVENTION: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Total score of the SERVQUAL scale and each of its five dimensions. RESULTS: Patients from third-tier hospitals rated significantly higher scores overall and in all the five dimensions of the SERVQUAL scale. Those with lower education, urban residents and those who had higher degree of life satisfaction and attention paid to health perceived higher service quality. Inpatients perceived higher service quality compared with outpatients. CONCLUSION: We found a significant gap in patient's perceived service quality between second- and third-tier hospitals in China. A variety of demographic and personality factors were found to significantly influence patient's perceived service quality.

Adapted low intensity ergometer aerobic training for early and severely impaired stroke survivors: a pilot randomized controlled trial to explore its feasibility and efficacy.

[Purpose] To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of adapted low intensity ergometer aerobic training for early and severely impaired stroke survivors. [Subjects] The subjects were forty-eight early stroke survivors. [Methods] Eligible subjects were recruited and randomly assigned to an experimental group and a control group. Both groups participated in comprehensive rehabilitation training. Low intensity aerobic training was only performed by the experimental group. Outcome measures were the Fugl-Meyer motor score, Barthel index, exercise test time, peak heart rate, plasma glucose level and serum lipid profiles. [Results] Patients in the experimental group finished 88.6% of the total aerobic training sessions prescribed. In compliant participants (adherence≥80%), aerobic training significantly improved the Barthel index (from 40.1±21.1 to 79.2±14.2), Fugl-Meyer motor score (from 26.4±19.4 to 45.4±12.7), exercise test time (from 12.2±3.62 min to 13.9±3.6 min), 2-hour glucose level (from 9.22±1.16 mmol/L to 7.21±1.36 mmol/L) and homeostasis model of assessment for insulin resistence index (from 1.72±1.01 to 1.28±0.88). [Conclusion] Preliminary findings suggest that early and severely impaired stroke patients may benefit from low intensity ergometer aerobic training.

Effects of routine rehabilitation training on glucose tolerance among nondiabetic stroke patients: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and diabetic glucose tolerance (DGT) are closely associated with vascular disease mortality and morbidity. This study was designed to determine whether routine stroke rehabilitation training can be used to improve the glucose status and whether IGT and DGT persist among nondiabetic stroke patients at discharge after such training. METHODS: Eighty eligible subjects were evaluated using Oral Glucose Tolerance Tests (OGTTs) at entry and discharge at the rehabilitation medical departments of two large hospitals in China. Routine rehabilitation training was provided during hospitalization. The secondary outcome measurements were BMI, Fugl-Meyer motor score, Barthel index, HbA1c, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Non-acute and nondiabetic stroke patients treated at the rehabilitation department. RESULTS: Fifty-four patients had IGT or DGT at entry, while 61 patients exhibited abnormal glucose tolerance at discharge, accounting for 67.7% and 76.25% of all subjects respectively. The mean 2-hour plasma glucose level was 8.98 mmol/L at entry and 9.11 mmol/L at discharge. No changes were noted in the OGTT results or secondary outcomes after training (p>0.05), with the exceptions of significant improvements in the Fugl-Meyer motor score and Barthel index (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These preliminary results suggest that IGT and DGT are present at a high frequency among nondiabetic stroke patients both before and after routine rehabilitation training. Routine stroke rehabilitation training, which greatly improves functional outcomes, may have no effect on the incidence of abnormal glucose tolerance.

Effect of low-intensity ergometer aerobic training on glucose tolerance in severely impaired nondiabetic stroke patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether low-intensity ergometer aerobic training has beneficial effect on glucose tolerance in nondiabetic patients with severely impaired stroke. METHODS: Fifty-four severely impaired stroke survivors were recruited and randomly assigned to the experimental group and control group. They have no diabetes history with fasting plasma glucose less than 7 mmol/L. Both groups participated in a 6-week rehabilitation training program with low-intensity ergometer aerobic training added only in the experimental group 3 times per week. Primary outcome variables were fasting glucose, fasting insulin, 2-hour glucose, and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in oral glucose tolerance test before and after intervention. RESULTS: Before intervention, 36 of 54 (66.7%) were diagnosed with impaired glucose status or diabetic glucose tolerance totally. The average 2-hour plasma glucose level was 9.14 ± 1.39 mmol/L. After intervention, aerobic training significantly improved fasting insulin (from 8.51 ± 2.01 µU/mL to 7.11 ± 2.02 µU/mL), 2-hour glucose level (from 9.13 ± 1.14 mmol/L to 7.22 ± 1.23 mmol/L), and HOMA-IR (from 1.62 ± 1.01 to 1.29 ± .79) in the intervention group compared with the control group (P < .05). Aerobic training also significantly improved their glucose tolerance state (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary findings suggest that abnormal glucose tolerance may be highly present among severely impaired nondiabetic stroke patients and low-intensity ergometer aerobic training may have beneficial role in improving glucose tolerance.