Evaluation of circ_100219 and miR-135b in serum and exosomes of healthy pregnant women.

AIM: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are recently discovered and highly stable noncoding RNAs acting as gene regulators. These circRNAs can function as miRNA sponges, thereby upregulating or downregulating miRNA target gene expression. MiR-135b is expressed in placenta tissue and can be found in maternal circulation, thus playing a functional role in pregnancy. This miR is a target of circ_100219. This preliminary study was aimed to evaluate circ_100219 and miR-135b expression in pregnant and nonpregnant women, and explore the relationship between circ_100219 and miR-135b in serum and exosomes. METHODS: Total RNA was isolated from serum and exosomes of 30 healthy pregnant women (32.9 ± 5.1 years) between 23-27 gestational weeks and 30 healthy nonpregnant women (31.3 ± 5.4 years). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to quantify circ_100219 and miR-135b expression. GAPDH and U6 snRNA were chosen as reference for normalizing expression levels. The differences between pregnant and nonpregnant women were assessed with Mann-Whitney test and correlation with Spearman's test. RESULTS: The circ_100219 expression levels were significantly lower both in serum and exosomes of second trimester pregnant women compared to the control group (p < .0001), whilst Mir-135b expression levels were significantly higher in pregnant than in the control group (p < .0001). A significant negative correlation was observed between circ_100219 and miR-135b expression levels in both serum and exosomes (r = -0.34 and p = .009; r = -0.31 and p = .01, respectively). The circ_100219:miR-135b ratio was significantly increased in nonpregnant women compared to the pregnant group, in both serum and exosomes (49.0 versus 1.1, p < .0001 and 2042.4 versus 28.5, p < .0001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm a role for circ_100219 and miR-135b in physiological pregnancy. Further studies are needed to investigate the circ_100219:miR-135b ratio in pregnancy complications.

No Sting Barrier Film to Protect Skin in Adult Patients: Findings From a Scoping Review With Implications for Evidence-Based Practice.

BACKGROUND: In the industrialized world, approximately 1-1.5% of the population has received treatments for skin lesions. In the 1990s, a polymeric barrier film called the No Sting Barrier Film (NSBF) was developed as an alternative to petrolatum-based ointments and zinc oxide formulas. To date, few studies have explored the effectiveness of NSBF in protecting skin integrity. AIMS: To map the methods, fields and outcomes used to produce evidence on NSBF effectiveness. METHODS: A scoping review was performed in 2015. A search strategy for identifying relevant studies was designed and performed. Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, controlled clinical trials, and comparative studies for all types of interventions were included; research conducted in any clinical context was eligible for inclusion. Studies were selected by two reviewers; data extraction and analysis also was performed by two reviewers and disagreements were discussed. RESULTS: Six studies were included. NSBF's potential as a skin protector was investigated with respect to (a) chronic wounds (pressure ulcers or vascular leg ulcers); (b) urinary or fecal incontinence; and (c) post-mastectomy irradiation. The principal clinical outcomes investigated were, respectively: (a) wound healing, wound exudates and erythema control; (b) incidence of incontinence-associated dermatitis and skin reactions; and (c) intensity of pruritus and skin reactions. Pain and comfort were measured in all clinical applications. The main process outcomes investigated were: (a) ease of application, (b) application and removal time, and (c) costs. Zinc oxide and petroleum formulations were the most common comparison interventions in research on chronic ulcers and incontinence; sorbolene cream and topical corticosteroids were the most frequent comparisons in the context of post-mastectomy irradiation. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: NBSF may be used for peri-wound skin protection in patients with chronic wounds, with urinary or fecal incontinence and for women undergoing post-mastectomy irradiation. However, more robust experimental studies are needed in all clinical fields where NBSF is applied.