Human Brain Organoid: A Versatile Tool for Modeling Neurodegeneration Diseases and for Drug Screening.

Clinical trials serve as the fundamental prerequisite for clinical therapy of human disease, which is primarily based on biomedical studies in animal models. Undoubtedly, animal models have made a significant contribution to gaining insight into the developmental and pathophysiological understanding of human diseases. However, none of the existing animal models could efficiently simulate the development of human organs and systems due to a lack of spatial information; the discrepancy in genetic, anatomic, and physiological basis between animals and humans limits detailed investigation.

Ten-eleven translocation proteins (TETs): tumor suppressors or tumor enhancers?

The epigenetic memory stored in the dynamic modifications, such as base modifications of cytosine (C) in DNA, including methylation/hydroxymethylation/demethylation, causes heritable phenotypes via regulating gene expression without alteration of DNA sequence. The process from cytosine modification to the epigenetic effect is orchestrated by complicated machinery consisting of writers, erasers, readers, and other factors. The two major forms of cytosine modification include methylcytosine (5-mC) and hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC).

Dynamic changes in gut microbiota under the influence of smoking and TNF-α-blocker in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the relationship among smoking, TNF-α-blocker therapy, and the dynamic changes in gut microbiota in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods: Using a 16S rRNA sequence, 98 fecal samples of 20 AS patients collected after 0, 1, 3 and 6 months of anti-TNF-α treatment and from 20 matched health controls were examined. The variation in composition, abundance, and diversity of gut microbiota was analyzed.

Dynamic Variations in Gut Microbiota in Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients Treated with Anti-TNF-α for Six Months.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is known as a microbiome-driven disease; however, the current understanding of microbiota dynamics in AS is limited. In the present study, we conducted a 16S rDNA sequence-based microbiota survey of 97 fecal samples from healthy subjects and AS patients at baseline, 1, 3 and 6 months after anti-TNF-α treatment to demonstrate the dynamic characteristic variations of gut microbiota in AS patients. The goal of this experiment is to explore the values of gut microbiota as biomarkers of disease activity and therapeutic responses to anti-TNF-α.

LncRNA GAS5 overexpression downregulates IL-18 and induces the apoptosis of fibroblast-like synoviocytes.

Background: Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) growth arrest specific transcript 5 (GAS5) negatively regulates interleukin-18 (IL-18) in ovarian cancer, while IL-18 contributes to the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Therefore, GAS5 may also participate in RA.

Methods: GAS5 and IL-18 in plasma of RA patients (n = 60) and healthy controls (n = 60) were measured by RT-qPCR and ELISA, respectively.

Geldanamycin induces apoptosis and inhibits inflammation in fibroblast-like synoviocytes isolated from rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease of the joints characterized by synovial hyperplasia and chronic inflammation. Fibroblasts-like synoviocytes (FLS), major cells in the synovium, together with infiltrated leukocytes, contribute greatly to RA progression. In our study, we hypothesized that geldanamycin (GA), a cancer drug might be able to inhibit RA FLS growth.

Comparison of the effectiveness on intra-articular and subcutaneous TNF inhibitor in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of single intra-articular (IA) injection of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) inhibitor in knee joints comparing with subcutaneous injection in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Forty-eight RA patients with 73 knee arthritis were divided into three groups, group A: received a single injection of TNF inhibitor into knee joints; group B: received regular subcutaneous injection; and group C: received both of the regimen as groups A and B. Ultrasound, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein (CRP), patients' global visual analogue scale (VAS), and 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28) were collected pre- and post-therapy 4 weeks.

Effects of iguratimod on the levels of circulating regulators of bone remodeling and bone remodeling markers in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

This study aims to investigate the effect of iguratimod, a novel disease-modifying antirheumatic drug, alone or combined with methotrexate (MTX), on the serum levels of regulators of bone remodeling (receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG), and Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1)) and bone remodeling markers (C-telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I) and procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide (PINP)) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Patients with RA were treated with iguratimod, MTX, or their combination for 12 months. Serum samples were collected before treatment and 6 and 12 months afterwards.

Interleukin-34 in rheumatoid arthritis: potential role in clinical therapy.

Objective: To investigate, whether interleukin (IL)-34 can be used as marker for treatment effectiveness in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Serum samples were collected from 35 healthy participants and 83 patients with RA before as well as 4 weeks and 12 weeks after treatment initiation with the tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) inhibitor Etanercept. Related clinical data and hand radiograms of the patients were evaluated and serum IL-34, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) in addition to anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibody concentrations were measured by ELISA.

Low-molecular-weight adiponectin is more closely associated with disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis than other adiponectin multimeric forms.

Adiponectin is divided into high-molecular-weight (HMW), medium-molecular-weight (MMW), and low-molecular-weight (LMW) forms. These forms differ not only in the number of adiponectin molecules but also in their biological activity. There are conflicting findings regarding the role of adiponectin in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Evaluation of factors associated with pain experienced during mammary ductoscopy.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate patient characteristics and findings after mammary ductoscopy in an effort to reduce the pain experienced during the procedure.

Patients And Methods: We evaluated outpatients in whom mammary ductoscopy was performed under local or intraductal anesthesia without preference, and their clinical characteristics and findings were recorded. Average and maximum pain scores were determined after the examination for statistical analysis.

Determinants of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in Chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), and its associated risk factors in Chinese patients with RA.

Methods: 138 Chinese RA patients and 150 healthy subjects were included. baPWV of all the participants was measured.

Lipase entrapment in protamine-induced bio-zirconia particles: characterization and application to the resolution of (R,S)-1-phenylethanol.

Lipase from Burkholderia cepacia was encapsulated inside zirconia particles by biomimetic mineralization of K₂ZrF₆ induced with protamine, a natural cationic protein. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) were employed for the characterization of the novel immobilized lipase. SEM and TEM images showed that both the zirconia particles with and without lipase have good spherical structures with average particle sizes of 150 nm.