Lipidomic Signature of Plasma and Synovial Fluid in Patients with Osteoarthritis: Putative Biomarkers Determined by UHPLC-QTOF-ESI+MS.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent joint condition causing pain and disability, especially in the elderly. Currently, OA diagnosis relies on clinical data and imaging, but recent interest in metabolomics suggests that early biochemical changes in biofluids, particularly synovial fluid (SF), could enable an earlier diagnosis and understanding of the disease.

Methods: In this regard, we conducted a lipidomics study in 33 plasma and SF samples from OA patients and 20 OA-free controls to assess the diagnostic value of various lipid metabolites, using UHPLC-QTOF-ESI+MS.

Analysis of the Level of Adiponectin and Selected Cytokines in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis.

: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a degenerative disease that is continuously targeting people of different ages, but especially the elderly population, the number of which tends to increase continuously at the global level. Apart from age, excess weight can influence the evolution of the disease, with obesity being associated with a weak inflammation stage and an imbalance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The present work aimed to analyze specific biomarkers, namely ACRP-30, IL-10, TNF-α, and IL-6, in knee synovial fluid, and correlate them with KOA patients' clinical data, radiographic changes, and functional and pain scores.

HB-EGF Plasmatic Level Contributes to the Development of Early Risk Prediction Nomogram for Severe COVID-19 Cases.

(1) Background: Heparin-Binding Epidermal Growth Factor-like Growth Factor (HB-EGF) is involved in wound healing, cardiac hypertrophy, and heart development processes. Recently, circulant HB-EGF was reported upregulated in severely hospitalized COVID-19 patients. However, the clinical correlations of HB-EGF plasma levels with COVID-19 patients' characteristics have not been defined yet.

Involvement of the Expression of G Protein-Coupled Receptors in Schizophrenia.

The expression of GPCRs has been associated with schizophrenia, and their expression may induce morphological changes in brain regions responsible for schizophrenia and disease-specific behavioral changes. The articles included in this review were selected using keywords and databases of scientific research websites. The expressions of GPRs have different involvements in schizophrenia, some increase the risk while others provide protection, and they may also be potential targets for new treatments.

The First Identification of in the Raccoon Dog ( in Romania.

spp. are nematodes distributed throughout the world that affect an impressive number of host animals (mammals, birds, and reptiles) involved in the evolution of two cycles, the domestic and the sylvatic. The raccoon dog () is an omnivorous mammal with great ecological plasticity.

Plasma miR-195-5p predicts the severity of Covid-19 in hospitalized patients.

Predicting the clinical course of Covid-19 is a challenging task, given the multi-systemic character of the disease and the paucity of minimally invasive biomarkers of disease severity. Here, we evaluated the early (first two days post-admission) level of circulating hsa-miR-195-5p (miR-195, a known responder to viral infections and SARS-CoV-2 interactor) in Covid-19 patients and assessed its potential as a biomarker of disease severity. We show that plasma miR-195 correlates with several clinical and paraclinical parameters, and is an excellent discriminator between the severe and mild forms of the disease.

Potential Diagnostic Biomarker Detection for Prostate Cancer Using Untargeted and Targeted Metabolomic Profiling.

Prostate cancer (PCa) remains one of the leading causes of cancer mortality in men worldwide, currently lacking specific, early detection and staging biomarkers. In this regard, modern research focuses efforts on the discovery of novel molecules that could represent potential future non-invasive biomarkers for the diagnosis of PCa, as well as therapeutic targets. Mounting evidence shows that cancer cells express an altered metabolism in their early stages, making metabolomics a promising tool for the discovery of altered pathways and potential biomarker molecules.

Osteoarthritis and microRNAs: Do They Provide Novel Insights into the Pathophysiology of This Degenerative Disorder?

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most prevalent degenerative joint diseases in older adults and a leading cause of disability. Recent research studies have evidenced the importance of mi-croRNAs (miRs) in the pathogenesis of OA. In the present review, we focused on current literature findings on dysregulated miRs involved in the pathophysiology of OA.

Mannose-binding lectin 2 gene polymorphisms and predisposition to allergic bronchial asthma in a western Romanian children population: an observational study.

Objectives: To analyse: (1) the associations between different mannose-binding lectin 2 () genotypes and susceptibility to bronchial asthma (BA) in Romanian children; and (2) the correlations between several patient sociodemographic variables and polymorphisms.

Methods: This prospective observational case-control study included paediatric patients with symptomatic BA and healthy controls. Participants were genotyped for two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): exon 1 codon 54 A/B variant rs1800450, and -550 promoter H/L variant rs11003125 (GenBank accession).

Metabolomic Analysis of Plasma from Breast Cancer Patients Using Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Mass Spectrometry: An Untargeted Study.

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the leading causes of cancer mortality in women worldwide, and therefore, novel biomarkers for early disease detection are critically needed. We performed herein an untargeted plasma metabolomic profiling of 55 BC patients and 55 healthy controls (HC) using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC/Q-TOF-MS). Pre-processed data revealed 2494 ions in total.

Diagnostic Value of microRNA-375 as Future Biomarker for Prostate Cancer Detection: A Meta-Analysis.

Responding to the need for additional biomarkers for the diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa), mounting studies show that microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) possess great potential as future promising diagnostic tools. However, the usefulness of these miRNAs is still highly debated, as the degree of inconsistency between study designs and results is still elevated. Herein, we present a meta-analysis evaluating the diagnostic value and accuracy of circulating miR-375, as it is one of the most studied types of miRs in PCa.

Adiponectin in Osteoarthritis: Pathophysiology, Relationship with Obesity and Presumptive Diagnostic Biomarker Potential.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a multifactorial, irreversible age- and obesity-induced joint degenerative disease, with an increasing incidence in developed countries. With a pathophysiology and etiology that are currently under-investigated, the only available disease-modifying treatment relies solely on total joint arthroplasty, which entails major economic burdens. Recently, the research focus has shifted towards the evaluation of metabolically active mediators secreted by the adipose tissue, which could be potential targets for a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in OA onset and development.

Body Mass Index Influence for the Personalization of the Monoclonal Antibodies Therapy for Psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory, autoimmune-mediated disease that affects millions of individuals worldwide. Advances in treatment with biological agents represented by monoclonal antibodies, such as TNF-α inhibitors (TNFI), IL-17A and IL-12/23 antagonists have not only benefited from outstanding clinical efficacy with lower side effects compared to conventional systemic therapy, but also raised the standards towards therapeutic success, fact reflected in the greater Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) response rates. However, due to their relatively recent introduction in clinical practice, and despite their proven superior efficacy, further research is needed for monitoring the eventual changes in treatment-induced parameters, especially of metabolic origin.

Uncovering the Roles of MicroRNAs in Major Depressive Disorder: From Candidate Diagnostic Biomarkers to Treatment Response Indicators.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a recurrent debilitating illness that represents a major health burden due to its increasing worldwide prevalence, unclear pathological mechanism, nonresponsive treatment, and lack of reliable and specific diagnostic biomarkers. Recently, microRNA species (miRs) have gained particular interest because they have the ability to post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression by modulating mRNA stability and translation in a cohesive fashion. By regulating entire genetic circuitries, miRs have been shown to have dysregulated expression levels in blood samples from MDD patients, when compared to healthy subjects.

Untargeted Plasma Metabolomic Profiling in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder Using Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Mass Spectrometry.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a neuropsychiatric illness with an increasing incidence and a shortfall of efficient diagnostic tools. Interview-based diagnostic tools and clinical examination often lead to misdiagnosis and inefficient systematic treatment selection. Diagnostic and treatment monitoring biomarkers are warranted for MDD.

Long Non-Coding RNA Expression in Laser Micro-Dissected Luminal A and Triple Negative Breast Cancer Tissue Samples-A Pilot Study.

Breast cancer (BC) remains one of the major causes of cancer death in women worldwide. The difficulties in assessing the deep molecular mechanisms involved in this pathology arise from its high complexity and diverse tissue subtypes. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were shown to have great tissue specificity, being differentially expressed within the BC tissue subtypes.

Long Noncoding RNA NEAT1 as a Potential Candidate Biomarker for Prostate Cancer.

Prostate cancer (PCa) remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality in men worldwide, mainly due to unsatisfactory diagnostic methods used at present, which lead to overdiagnosis, unnecessary biopsies and treatment, or misdiagnosis in early asymptomatic stages. New diagnostic biomarkers are needed for a correct and early diagnosis. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been broadly studied for their involvement in PCa biology, as well as for their potential role as diagnostic biomarkers.

Distribution of microRNAs associated with major depressive disorder among blood compartments.

Objective: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a recurrent disorder with an increasing incidence. Alterations in key signaling pathways of the nervous system, such as the Wnt and MAPK pathways, mediated through microRNAs (miRNAs) provide crucial information regarding the etiopathology of MDD. We aimed to analyze whether the heterogeneity of literature findings regarding differential expression of miRNAs in the blood could arise from their different distributions among blood compartments.

Biomarker Potential of Plasma MicroRNA-150-5p in Prostate Cancer.

Over decades, prostate cancer (PCa) has become one of the leading causes of cancer mortality in men. Extensive evidence exists that microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) are key players in PCa and a new class of non-invasive cancer biomarkers. We performed miRNA profiling in plasma and tissues of PCa patients and attempted the validation of candidate individual miRs as biomarkers.