Dynamic changes in extracellular vesicle-associated miRNAs elicited by ultrasound in inflammatory bowel disease patients.

Blood-based biomarkers that reliably indicate disease activity in the intestinal tract are an important unmet need in the management of patients with IBD. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-derived membranous microparticles, which reflect the cellular and functional state of their site of site of origin. As ultrasound waves may lead to molecular shifts of EV contents, we hypothesized that application of ultrasound waves on inflamed intestinal tissue in IBD may amplify the inflammation-specific molecular shifts in EVs like altered EV-miRNA expression, which in turn can be detected in the peripheral blood.

Insight into the molecular pathophysiology of delayed bone healing in a sheep model.

Delayed and nonunions are still challenging problems. In this study, we examined the endogenous mRNA expression of genes regulating cartilage formation, bone formation, endochondral ossification, and bone remodeling during mechanically induced delayed bone healing in a large animal model. A tibial osteotomy was performed in two groups of sheep and stabilized with either a rigid external fixator leading to standard healing or with a rotationally unstable fixator leading to delayed healing.