Current Understanding of Circular RNAs in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a common and potentially fatal autoimmune disease that affects multiple organs. To date, its etiology and pathogenesis remains elusive. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel class of endogenous non-coding RNAs with covalently closed loop structure.

Antibody to peptidoglycan recognition protein (PGLYRP)-2 as a novel biomarker in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: To identify novel autoantigens from circulating immune complexes (CICs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and further explore their clinical significance.

Methods: From serum samples of 10 early RA (ERA) patients and 10 healthy donors, CICs were isolated and subjected to orbitrap mass spectrometry for autoantigen identification. Antibodies against the peptidoglycan recognition protein-2 (PGLYRP-2) derived from CICs were further detected by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 178 patients with RA, compared with 59 osteoarthritis (OA), 59 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 55 ankylosing spondylitis (AS), 95 primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) and 50 healthy controls (HC).

Monocytic MDSCs skew Th17 cells toward a pro-osteoclastogenic phenotype and potentiate bone erosion in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: While myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) were previously shown to promote a proinflammatory T helper (Th) 17 response in autoimmune conditions, a potential impact of the MDSC-Th17 immune axis on abnormal bone destruction in RA remains largely unknown.

Methods: We investigated the correlation between the frequency of MDSCs or its subsets and joint destruction in RA patients. The reciprocal actions of patient-derived MDSCs and Th17 cells were studied using osteoclast (OC) differentiation and bone resorption assays in vitro, which were further validated using mouse models of RA.

Identification of lncRNA-NR_104160 as a biomarker and construction of a lncRNA-related ceRNA network for essential hypertension.

Objectives: To identify long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and construct a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network for essential hypertension.

Methods: An RNA microarray and two-step quantitative real-time PCR were applied to identify differentially expressed RNAs (DE-RNAs), and a luciferase assay was performed to explore the binding relationship between RNAs. A generalized linear model and logistic regression model were used to analyze the associations between different RNAs and of RNAs with hypertension.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress perpetuated toll-like receptor signalling-mediated inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis via X-box-binding protein-1.

Objectives: Multiple physiological and pathological conditions interfere with the function of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). However, much remains unknown regarding the impact of ER stress on toll-like receptors (TLRs) -induced inflammatory responses in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this study was to reveal the effects of ER stress and its regulator, X-box-binding protein-1 (XBP-1), on the inflammatory response of RA synovial fibroblasts (RASF) to different TLRs ligands.

Self-Assembling Glycopeptide Conjugate as a Versatile Platform for Mimicking Complex Polysaccharides.

Polysaccharides are a class of carbohydrates that play pivotal roles in living systems such as being chemical messengers in many vital biological pathways. However, the complexity and heterogeneity of these natural structures have posed daunting challenges on their production, characterization, evaluation, and applications. While there have been various types of synthetic skeletons that could mimic some biological aspects of polysaccharides, a safer and more easily accessed system is still desired to avoid the unnatural components and difficulties in modifying the structures.

Multipoint transcutaneous electrical stimulation reduces median effective plasma concentration of propofol: A randomised clinical trial.

Background And Aims: Previous work shows that transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) has analgesic and sedative effects. However, it is unclear whether TES can affect the sedative effect of propofol or not. This study was designed to assess the effect of TES on median effective plasma concentration (Cp50) of propofol and haemodynamic changes before and after tracheal intubation.

Decreased expression of TRPM4 is associated with unfavorable prognosis and aggressive progression of endometrial carcinoma.

Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 4 (TRPM4) is a nonselective channel conducting monovalent ions and indirectly regulates intracellular Ca. Aberrant expression has been reported in a number of cancers. However, the biological function of TRPM4 in endometrial carcinoma (EC) is still unknown.

Changes and roles of intestinal fungal microbiota in coronary heart disease complicated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: Patients who suffered coronary heart disease (CHD) complicated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were reported to have worse cardiac function and clinical outcomes than patients with CHD only. The mechanism was unclear. Previous study focused on the metabolism and showed it could be regulated by the microbiota.

Tissue engineering in female pelvic floor reconstruction.

Pelvic organ prolapse is a common and frequently occurring disease in middle-aged and elderly women. Mesh implantation is an ideal surgical treatment. The polypropylene mesh commonly used in clinical practice has good mechanical properties, but there are long-term complications.

LAG3 (CD223) and autoimmunity: Emerging evidence.

Immune checkpoint molecules play pivotal roles in maintaining the immune homeostasis. Targeting these molecules, such as the classical Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Antigen 4 (CTLA4) and Programmed Cell Death Protein 1 (PD1), achieves great success in treating cancers. However, not all the patients respond well.

[Effect of dental varnish containing fluoride either with CPP-ACP or bioglass on root caries].

Purpose: To investigate the effect of dental varnish containing fluoride either with casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate(CPP-ACP) or bioglass on root caries.

Methods: The active roots collected in Peking University People's Hospital from April 2017 to October 2018 were randomly divided into group A, group B, group C, and group D, each with 18 teeth. All groups received toothbrushing containing fluoride, in addition, group B received another 5% sodium fluoride, group C added 5% sodium fluoride + CPP-ACP, and group D added 5% sodium fluoride + bioglass.

Conductive conduit small gap tubulization for peripheral nerve repair.

Despite advances in surgical techniques, functional recovery following epineurial neurorrhaphy of transected peripheral nerves often remains quite unsatisfactory. Small gap tubulisation is a promising approach that has shown potential to traditional epineurial neurorrhaphy in the treatment of peripheral nerve injury. Thus, the goal of this study is to evaluate sciatic nerve regeneration after nerve transection, followed by small gap tubulization using a reduced graphene oxide-based conductive conduit.

Factors and outcomes associated with discontinuation of basal insulin therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objectives: To assess treatment discontinuation, associated factors and outcomes after initiating basal insulin (BI) among Chinese insulin-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who had previously uncontrolled hyperglycaemia on OADs.

Patients: Insulin-naïve patients with T2DM who had uncontrolled hyperglycaemia (HbA1c ≥7%) by OADs and were willing to initiate BI treatment were enrolled from 209 secondary and tertiary hospitals in eight geographical regions in China.

Design: Each participant was interviewed at baseline, 3 and 6 months to collect study information.

Scavenger receptor-A is a biomarker and effector of rheumatoid arthritis: A large-scale multicenter study.

Early diagnosis is critical to improve outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but current diagnostic tools have limited sensitivity. Here we report a large-scale multicenter study involving training and validation cohorts of 3,262 participants. We show that serum levels of soluble scavenger receptor-A (sSR-A) are increased in patients with RA and correlate positively with clinical and immunological features of the disease.

Effect of Hemoglobin A1c Reduction or Weight Reduction on Blood Pressure in Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist and Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitor Treatment in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Meta-Analysis.

Background Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) have shown their beneficial effects on cardiovascular outcomes and multiple cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension. However, the mechanism of blood pressure (BP)-lowering effects of these agents has not been elucidated. This study aims to evaluate the effect of hemoglobin A1c reduction or body weight reduction with GLP-1RA treatment and SGLT2i treatment on BP changes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Lymph Node Predictive Model with in Vitro Ultrasound Features for Breast Cancer Lymph Node Metastasis.

Ultrasound diagnosis of axillary lymph nodes has the advantages of ease, convenience and low cost; however, most previous studies evaluated lymph node metastasis of the entire axilla rather than the association between the ultrasound features of a single lymph node and its pathology. This prospective study was performed to explore the ultrasound features of lymph nodes observed in bionic medium in vitro and to develop a lymph node-specific model for prediction of metastasis based on analysis of the association between the ultrasound features and pathology of each lymph node. From November 1, 2017 to December 19, 2017, 373 nodes (54 patients) were enrolled into the modeling group; from December 20, 2017 to January 12, 2018, 139 lymph nodes (22 patients) were enrolled into the validation group.

CD70-mediated CD27 expression downregulation contributed to the regulatory B10 cell impairment in rheumatoid arthritis.

Regulatory B10 cells have been shown to exhibit impaired functions in autoimmune diseases. However, the underlying mechanism is still obscure. In the present study, we aimed to understand the regulatory characteristics of regulatory B10 cells and how these cells are involved in the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Targeting silencing androgen receptor gene by shRNA with low-intensity focused ultrasonic irradiation inhibits growth of prostate cancer xenografts in nude mice.

The androgen receptor (AR) plays a pivotal role in prostate cancer, making it a potential therapeutic target. Short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) inhibits gene expression and offers a novel strategy to eradicate disease. Ultrasound-mediated gene transfection is a promising gene delivery method.

Role of endoplasmic reticulum stress-associated gene TRIB3 in rats following kainic acid-induced seizures.

TRIB3 (tribblespseudokinase 3) is a pseudokinase that affects several cellular functions, and its expression is increased during endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress). How recurrent seizures affect the regulation of TRIB3 in the hippocampus during epilepsy remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of TRIB3 in the kainic acid (KA)-induced seizures and related brain injury.

αB crystalline upregulates the expression of matrix metalloproteinases in trabecular meshwork cells through TLR1/2.

Purpose: Our previous study identified the TLR1/2 complex as the receptor for αB crystalline (CRYAB). Here, we aimed to determine whether CRYAB could influence the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in trabecular meshwork (TM) cells through TLR1/2.

Methods: The expression of P65, P38, ERK and JNK, which are downstream of TLR1/2, was identified by western blot (WB) with the interference of a TLR1/2 inhibitor or siRNA-TLR1 (siRNA-TLR2).

Antibodies against carbamylated vimentin exist in systemic lupus erythematosus and correlate with disease activity.

Objectives: Antibodies against carbamylated protein (anti-CarP) were found to be a promising marker to evaluate joint damage and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, whether anti-CarP antibodies were present in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remained ambiguous. We have therefore undertaken this study to assess the levels of serum anti-CarP antibodies and to evaluate their clinical value in SLE.

Fat Accumulation, Liver Fibrosis, and Metabolic Abnormalities in Chinese Patients With Moderate/Severe Versus Mild Hepatic Steatosis.

Several drugs in development for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) aim to decrease the amount of fat in the liver. We compared quantity and quality of fat in subcutaneous, visceral and muscle compartments, liver fibrosis, and prevalence of metabolic abnormalities between Chinese patients with moderate/severe hepatic steatosis versus those with mild hepatic steatosis. NAFLD patients were prospectively recruited from Peking University People's Hospital in Beijing, China.

and evaluation of benzathine foscarnet microcrystals as a potential intravitreal drug depot.

Sodium foscarnet is an antiviral drug against cytomegalovirus retinitis, and clinically it is used frequent intravitreal injection which causes various ocular complications. Here we propose to use benzathine foscarnet in a new salt form with much lower aqueous solubility, and as a potential long-acting intravitreally injectable solid form for foscarnet. Benzathine foscarnet (1 : 1) microcrystals were synthesized and evaluated both and .