Key circular RNAs identified in male osteoporosis patients by whole transcriptome sequencing.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis (OP) is a systemic disease with bone loss and microstructural deterioration. Numerous noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been proved to participate in various diseases, especially circular RNAs (circRNAs). However, the expression profile and mechanisms underlying circRNAs in male osteoporosis have not yet been explored. METHODS: The whole transcriptome expression profile and differences in mRNAs, circRNAs, and microRNAs (miRNAs) were investigated in peripheral blood samples of patients with osteoporosis and healthy controls consisting of males ≥ 60-years-old. RESULTS: A total of 398 circRNAs, 51 miRNAs, and 642 mRNAs were significantly and differentially expressed in osteoporosis compared to healthy controls. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis showed that the host genes of significantly differentially expressed circRNAs were mainly enriched in the regulation of cell cycle process: biological process (BP), organelle part cellular components (CC), protein binding molecular function (MF), Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway, and thyroid hormone signaling pathway. circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network was constructed using the differentially expressed RNAs. Moreover, key circRNAs (hsa_circ_0042409) in osteoporosis were discovered and validated by qPCR. CONCLUSIONS: The key cicrRNAs plays a major role in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis and could be used as potential biomarkers or targets in the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis.

Inhibitory effect of wild-type P53 gene transfer on graft coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of wild-type P53 gene transfer on graft coronary artery disease (GCAD) after heart transplantation and the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: A rat model of heterotopic heart transplantation was established using Wistar rats as donors and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats as recipients. The donor hearts were collected and perfused, via the coronary artery, with 800 µl of recombinant adenovirus carrying the P53 gene (Ad-P53). Thirty minutes later, heart transplant was performed. At 5 d after the transplant surgery, the expression of the exogenous P53 gene and protein in the coronary artery tissues of the donor hearts was examined. At 28 d after the transplant surgery, tissues were collected from the transplanted hearts. The degree of coronary artery stenosis was examined, and apoptosis of the coronary artery smooth muscle cells in the donor hearts was analysed. In addition, histological changes in the vital organs of the recipient rats and the levels of serum biochemical indicators in the rats were also examined. RESULTS: The exogenous gene was successfully transferred into donor heart tissues and the coronary artery and was highly expressed. At 28 d after the transplant surgery, the ratio of tunica intima thickness to tunica media thickness (I/M) and the ratio of wall thickness to the lumen diameter of the coronary artery were decreased in the Ad-P53 group compared to those in the Ad-LacZ group and the control group (P < 0.05). A terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay revealed that the percentage of apoptotic coronary artery smooth muscle cells in the donor hearts was significantly increased in the Ad-P53 group compared to that in the Ad-LacZ group and the control group (P < 0.01). The wild-type P53 gene had no effect on the morphology and functions of the vital organs of the recipient rats. CONCLUSIONS: P53 gene transfer inhibits coronary artery intimal hyperplasia and reduces the degree of luminal stenosis in transplanted hearts. The inhibitory effect may be related to the wild-type P53 gene-induced apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells and inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. This approach is effective and safe and may have good prospects for clinical application.

Elevated whole blood viscosity in patients with lumbar disc herniation.

BACKGROUND: Various vascular risk factors such as smoking, obesity, and diabetes mellitus are associated with hyperviscosity and lumbar disc herniation (LDH). However, the changes of viscosity in LDH have not been examined. AIMS: The present study was to elucidate 1) the rheological parameter levels in patients with LDH, 2) the risk factors that were related to rheological parameters. METHODS: Our study evaluated the rheological parameters in 307 cases with LDH and in 307 control subjects. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to assess the significant factors for whole blood viscosity (WBV) at low shear rate. RESULTS: LDH patients had markedly lower physical activity and significantly higher WBV 3 s-1 compared with non-LDH subjects (p < 0.001). Moreover, WBV (3 s-1) tended to increase as physical activity decreased. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that reduced physical activity was a significant factor contributing to elevated WBV (3 s-1). CONCLUSIONS: WBV (3 s-1) is elevated in patients with LDH. In addition, reduced physical activity is a significant factor for WBV (3 s-1). Further studies are warranted to determine the role of WBV (3 s-1) in LDH.

Key details of the duodenal-jejunal bypass in type 2 diabetes mellitus rats.

AIM: To investigate which surgical techniques and perioperative regimens yielded the best survival rates for diabetic rats undergoing gastric bypass. METHODS: We performed Roux-en-Y gastric bypass with reserved gastric volume, a procedure in which gastrointestinal continuity was reestablished while excluding the entire duodenum and proximal jejunal loop. We observed the procedural success rate, long-term survival, and histopathological sequelae associated with a number of technical modifications. These included: use of anatomical markers to precisely identify Treitz's ligament; careful dissection along surgical planes; careful attention to the choice of regional transection sites; reconstruction using full-thickness anastomoses; use of a minimally invasive procedure with prohemostatic pretreatment and hemorrhage control; prevention of hypothermic damage; reduction in the length of the procedure; and accelerated surgical recovery using fast-track surgical modalities such as perioperative permissive underfeeding and goal-directed volume therapy. RESULTS: The series of modifications we adopted reduced operation time from 110.02 ± 12.34 min to 78.39 ± 7.26 min (P < 0.01), and the procedural success rate increased from 43.3% (13/30) to 90% (18/20) (P < 0.01), with a long-term survival of 83.3% (15/18) (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Using a number of fast-track and damage control surgical techniques, we have successfully established a stable model of gastric bypass in diabetic rats.