LncRNA HCG11 regulates proliferation and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cell through targeting miR-144-3p/FOXF1 axis in atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis (AS) is the main pathological basis of coronary heart disease, cerebral infarction and peripheral vascular disease, which seriously endanger people's life and health. In recent years, long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) has been found to be involved in gene expression regulation, but the research on AS is still in the initial stage. In this study, we mainly studied the role of HCG11 in patients with AS. Quantitative Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (QRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of HCG11 and miR-144 in the serum of AS patients and healthy volunteers. Oxidation Low Lipoprotein (Ox-LDL), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF α) radiation were used to establish human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in vitro model. Cell proliferation was determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The apoptosis rate was determined by flow cytometry (FACS) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling assay (TUNEL) staining. The expression levels of Forkhead box protein F1 (FOXF1), B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and BCL2-Associated X (Bax) were detected by qRT-PCR. Luciferase gene reporter and RNA pull down experiments confirmed the relationship between HCG11 and miR-144, miR-144 and FOXF1. RESULTS: This study showed that HCG11 was significantly upregulated in patients with AS, while miR-144 was down-regulated in patients with AS. Ox-LDL and IL-6 in VSMCs induced up-regulation of HCG11 and down-regulation of miR-144. Overexpression of HCG11 promoted the proliferation and inhibited apoptosis of VSMCs. Luciferase gene reporter gene assay showed that HCG11 could bind to miR-144, and miR-144 could bind to FOXF1. Overexpression of miR-144 reversed the effect of HCG11 on VSMCs. CONCLUSIONS: LncRNA HCG11 regulates proliferation and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cell through targeting miR-144-3p/FOXF1 axis.

Comparison of entecavir and adefovir for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B

The results of several new clinical trials that compared the effectiveness of entecavir (ETV) treatment with that of adefovir (ADV) treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) were published in recent years. However, the numbers of patients included in these clinical trials were too small to draw a clear conclusion as to whether ETV is more effective than ADV. Therefore, a new meta-analysis was needed to compare ETV with ADV for the treatment of CHB. A search of the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CCTR), MEDLINE, the Science Citation Index, Embase, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and the Wanfang Database for relevant studies published between 1966 and 2010 was performed. Trials comparing the use of ETV and ADV for the treatment of CHB were assessed. Of the 2,358 studies screened, 13 randomized controlled clinical trials comprising 1,230 patients (ETV therapy, 621; ADV therapy, 609) were analyzed. The serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA clearance rate obtained in patients treated with ETV was significantly higher than that in patients treated with ADV at the 24th and 48th weeks of treatment (24 weeks: 59.6% vs. 31.8%, relative risk [RR], 1.82, 95% CI: 1.49-2.23; 48 weeks: 78.3% vs. 50.4%, RR, 1.61, 95% CI: 1.32-1.96). The serum HBeAg clearance rate, the HBeAg seroconversion rate, and the ALT normalization rate obtained for patients treated with ETV were also higher than the corresponding values for patients treated with ADV at the 48th week of treatment. The safety profiles were similar between patients treated with ETV and those treated with ADV. The evidence reviewed in this meta-analysis suggests that patients with hepatitis B have a greater likelihood of achieving a viral response and a biomedical response when treated with ETV than when treated with ADV.

Preliminary clinical outcomes from the Peruvian National Cataract Elimination Plan / Resultados clínicos preliminares del Plan Nacional de Lucha contra la Ceguera por Catarata del Perú

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of a publicly funded cataract elimination program. METHODS: Outcomes of all patients (186) who received extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) surgery free of charge at the Instituto Regional de Oftalmología in northern Peru in the first year (August 2008 to July 2009) of the Peruvian National Cataract Elimination Plan were compared retrospectively with the outcomes of all patients (68) who paid in the highest charge tier for ECCE surgery during the same period. Preoperatively, the median uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) of National Plan patients was Hand Motion; the UCVA of paying patients was Counting Fingers (P = 0.09). Complication frequency and visual acuity (uncorrected visual acuity, pinhole visual acuity, and best correct visual acuity) were the primary outcome measures. The World Health Organization (WHO) Vision 2020 goal is for 85 percent of operated eyes to achieve 20/60 vision; the Ministerio de Salud del Perú goal is for 75 percent of eyes to achieve 20/50. RESULTS: One month postoperatively, only 24 percent of National Plan patients achieved a UCVA of 20/60. The median UCVA for both groups was 20/100 (P = 0.23). Intraoperative complications occurred in 27 percent of all patients; postoperative complications occurred in 39 percent. Patients more likely to have a poor outcome (UCVA < 20/200) were those who experienced a postoperative complication (odds ratio [OR] 3.3, P = 0.002), who experienced an intraoperative complication (OR 2.5, P = 0.01), and who were 75 years or older (OR 2.7, P = 0.008). National Plan patients were more likely to have an OCTET Grade II intraoperative complication (OR 4.2, P = 0.03) and were less likely to receive refractive services (OR 1.5, P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Neither WHO nor Peruvian benchmarks for surgical outcome were achieved in the first year of the Peruvian National Cataract Elimination Plan. Providing more comprehensive services to patients and addressing variables correlated with poor outcomes may improve interventions and help achieve Vision 2020 goals.

OBJETIVO: Evaluar los resultados clínicos de un programa de lucha contra la ceguera por catarata con financiamiento público. MÉTODOS: Los resultados obtenidos de todos los pacientes (186) sometidos a una operación gratuita de extracción extracapsular de catarata (EECC) en el Instituto Regional de Oftalmología del norte del Perú, durante el primer año (de agosto del 2008 a julio del 2009) de la ejecución del Plan Nacional de Lucha contra la Ceguera por Catarata del Perú, se compararon retrospectivamente con los resultados de los pacientes (68) que pagaron los honorarios más elevados por una operación quirúrgica de EECC durante el mismo período. Antes de la intervención, la mediana de la agudeza visual sin corrección (AVSC) de los pacientes beneficiarios del plan nacional era de percepción de los movimientos de la mano; mientras que en los pacientes de pago era de conteo de dedos (P = 0,09). Como mediciones primarias de los resultados se consideraron la frecuencia de complicaciones y la agudeza visual (agudeza visual sin corrección, agudeza visual con agujero estenopéico y mejor agudeza visual correcta). La meta de la iniciativa Visión 2020 de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) es lograr que 85 por ciento de los ojos operados alcancen un nivel de visión mínimo de 20/60; la meta del Ministerio de Salud del Perú es que 75 por ciento alcancen un nivel de 20/50. RESULTADOS: Un mes después de la intervención, solo 24 por ciento de los pacientes beneficiarios del plan nacional alcanzaron una AVSC de 20/60. La AVCS mediana en ambos grupos fue de 20/100 (P = 0,23). En 27 por ciento de los pacientes aparecieron complicaciones intraoperatorias; y en 39 por ciento, complicaciones posoperatorias. Los pacientes con mayor probabilidad de obtener un resultado deficiente (AVSC < 20/200) fueron los que presentaron alguna complicación posoperatoria (razón de posibilidades [OR] 3,3,P = 0,002), los que padecieron una complicación intraoperatoria (OR 2,5, P = 0,01) y los de 75 años de edad o mayores (OR 2,7, P = 0,008). Los pacientes beneficiarios del Plan Nacional tuvieron mayores probabilidades de tener complicaciones intraoperatorias de grado II de la escala de OCTET (OR 4,2, P = 0,03) y menores probabilidades de recibir servicios de corrección refractiva (OR 1,5, P = 0,002). CONCLUSIONES: Durante el primer año de ejecución del Plan Nacional de Lucha contra la Ceguera por Catarata del Perú no se alcanzaron los puntos de referencia peruanos ni los de la OMS en cuanto a los resultados de la cirugía. La prestación de servicios más integrales a los pacientes y la atención de las variables correlacionadas con los resultados deficientes pueden mejorar las intervenciones y contribuir a que se alcancen las metas de la iniciativa Visión 2020.