WGCNA Identification of Genes and Pathways Involved in the Pathogenesis of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis.

PURPOSE: Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO) patients may suffer from chronic pain and increased fractures due to brittle bones that seriously affect their normal work and life. Exploring the pathogenesis of PMO can help clinicians construct individualized therapeutic targets. METHODS: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by analyzing the microarray assays of monocytes from 20 PMO and 20 control samples. Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) and gene set enrichment analysis (GAEA) were performed. Genes associated with PMO were identified in the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD). miRNAs associated with osteoporosis were found in miRNet, and target genes were predicted. Hub genes and functional pathways associated with PMO were also identified. miRNA-mRNA networks were constructed. The association between hub genes and PMO was analyzed in the CTD. RESULTS: A total of 1055 genes were up-regulated, and 694 genes were down-regulated in PMO samples (P<0.01). Five modules were identified by WGCNA. The blue module was significantly associated with PMO and selected for further analysis (P < 0.05). A total of 229 genes were significantly associated with PMO gene significance and module membership. Pathway variations were predominantly enriched in mRNA metabolic process, RNA splicing, Notch signaling pathway, apoptosis, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and so on. We identified 10 hub genes associated with PMO with different inference scores. CONCLUSION: We identified genes, miRNAs, and pathways associated with PMO. These molecules may participate in the pathogenesis of PMO and serve as therapeutic targets.

MiR-9-5p inhibits mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress in AD cell models by targeting GSK-3ß.

This study aims to investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of overexpression microRNA-9-5p (miR-9-5p) on the Aß-induced mouse hippocampal neuron cell line HT22. Different concentrations of Aß25-35 (10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 µM) treatment were used to establish AD model in HT22 cells. The CCK-8 assay was used to measure the cell viability. The mRNA expression levels of miR-9-5p and glycogen synthase kinase-3ß (GSK-3ß) were determined by RT-qPCR. HT22 cell apoptosis was analyzed flow cytometry. MiR-9-5p was down-regulated in Aß25-35-induced HT22 cells. GSK-3ß is a functional target for miR-9-5p. MiR-9-5p overexpression inhibited Aß25-35-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, cell apoptosis, and oxidative stress by regulating GSK-3ß expression in HT22 cells. Furthermore, through targeting GSK-3ß, overexpression of miR-9-5p partly activated nuclear factor Nrf2/Keap1 signaling, including part increases of Nrf2, HO-1, SOD-1, GCLC expression and slight decrease of Keap1 expression. Our results showed miR-9-5p may play a powerful role in the pathogenesis of AD.

Effect of eating habits on obesity in adolescents: a study among Chinese college students.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity has been linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and osteoarthritis. Obesity and overweight pose a serious threat to human health, with an estimated 190 million overweight and obese people worldwide. Thus, we investigated the influence of certain eating habits on weight among Chinese college students. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 536 college students in Shijiazhuang, China. The survey included questions about eating habits. We analyzed the relationship between participants' responses and obesity. RESULTS: Sex, residence, speed of eating, number of meals eaten per day, and a diet high in sugar were found to be correlated with obesity. Our results suggest that increasing the number of meals per day, slowing down the pace of eating, and reducing the intake of high-sugar foods have potential benefits for reducing obesity among college students. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, we found that some dietary habits are related to the occurrence of obesity among college-aged individuals.