Objective To study the profiles and function of small RNA (sRNA)gene during chondrogenesis in rats so as to clarify the mechanisms of chondrocytes proliferation and differentiation.Methods All the sRNAs were identified from the female SD rats femoral head cartilages at three time points:at birth,ablactation and maturation,and three sRNA libraries were constructed.The Solexa sequencing and the bioinformatics analysis were employed to be blasted with the genomes of SD rats.Results The perfect match reads in the three libraries were screened out,which were correspondent to the 21 7 921 (41.23%),1 96 650 (38.74%)and 245 436 (41.54%)unique sRNA sequence,respectively.The percentages of 20-24 nt sRNA were 71.94% (d0),72.85% (d21),and 86.39%(d42).Half of clean sequences were 22 nt sRNA.The distribution characteristics of the reads were in line with the high-quality sRNA.More than 62% clean reads were from mature miRNA while the ratios in the three libraries were only 0.69%,0.78% and 0.63%.About 60% of the unique sRNA could not be matched with miRBase20.0 or Rfam9.1.Conclusion The distribution model of miRNA in the three libraries indicates that the miRNAs with different functions or from different sources are involved in the regulation of chondrocytes proliferation and differentiation in bone development and formation.

Objective To evaluate the stability of U6 and let-7a as internal reference genes of miRNAs in RTqPCR by using femoral head samples of cartilage tissue from inbred DA rats.Methods Total RNA was extracted from femoral head cartilage tissues of female DA rats at three different time points,i.e.at birth (D0),ablactation (D21) and maturation (D42).The expressions of different miRNAs (miR-1,-25,-26a,-140,-146a,-150,-181a,-195,-223 and-337) were detected by RT-qPCR using U6 or let-7a as the internal reference.The two sets of miR expression were compared with the results from Solexa sequencing in our pioneer work to evaluate the stability of the two internal references.Results The relative values of U6 (P =0.045) and let-7a (P =0.021 5) revealed significant difference in the D42 sample.Both in U6 and let-7a systems,miR-26a,-140,-223,and-337 showed a similar tendency in expression and quantification but miR-1 and-146a did not have significant differences.miR-25,-150,-181a and-195 differed significantly (P＜0.05).Comparison of absolute quantification results between the two generations' sequencing showed that let-7a is more stable than U6.Conclusion Let-7a is more suitable to be used as the internal reference gene in RT-qPCR for miRNAs in cartilage tissue.

Objective:To explore the clinical manifestations, genetic disorder, prognosis of 14 neonates with primary immunodeficiency disease(PID).Methods:A total of 14 newborns with PID admitted to Department of Neonatology at Beijing Children′s Hospital from January 2017 to December 2019 were enrolled for retrospective analysis, focusing on their clinical manifestation, peripheral blood cell examnations, gene mutation, and outcomes after hemotopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT).Results:The average gestational age of the newborn was (38.6±1.2) weeks, the birth weight was (3 265±325)g, and the median diagnosis time was 57.5 days.Fourteen newborns with PID were diagnosed by whole exome sequencing as chronic granuloma (6/14), DiGeogre syndrome (3/14), Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (2/14), severe combined immunodeficiency (2/14) and selective IgA deficiency (1/14). Regarding the clinical manifestations, fever, pneumounia and colitis accounted for 7/14, the decrease of T lymphocytes in peripheral blood accounted for 6/14, and the decrease of B lymphocytes accounted for 5/14.The absolute value of eosinophils increased (>500 cells/mm 3) accounted for 12/14, of which moderately increased (1 500 to 5 000 cells/mm 3) accounted for 5/12, and the absolute value of monocytes increased (median>1.5×10 9/L) accounted for 7/14.Follow-up children received HSCT accounted for 7/14, and the median time of receiving transplantation was 330 days after birth.By the time of follow-up, the primary disease resolved after HSCT accounted for 5/7, and the survival rate was 85.7%.Among them, two children with chronic granulomatosis were diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease before transplantation, and the primary disease improved after HSCT.Three-quarters of the deaths had inflammatory bowel disease-like manifestations and died of infectious shock. Conclusion:The clinical manifestations of children with PID during the neonatal period are not specific.The manifestations of colitis need more attention.Some of the newborns with PID will evolve into inflammatory bowel disease or have inflammatory bowel disease-like manifestations or even die of it.HSCT is a fundamental treatment for the primary disease.

Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics and prognosis of children with inborn error of immunity (IEI) onset in the neonatal period.Methods:The clinical data of 21 cases of IEI neonates admitted to the Neonatal Center of Beijing Children′s Hospital were collected, and their clinical manifestations, peripheral blood test characteristics, genetic diagnosis, and primary disease during hospitalization were collected.The prognosis follow-up results were summarized and analyzed.Results:Twenty-one children with IEI were finally diagnosed by whole exome sequencing, including 15 cases of primary immunodeficiency(including 6 cases of chronic granulomatous disease, 3 cases of DiGeogre syndrome, 2 cases of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, 2 cases of severe combined immunodeficiency disease, 1 case of selective IgA deficiency, and 1 case of ectodermal dysplasia with immunodeficiency), 5 cases of infantile inflammatory bowel disease, and 1 case of familial haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.Clinical manifestations of sepsis and colitis were the most common(accounting for 12/21), and 16/21 of the children had an increase in the absolute value of eosinophils(>0.5×10 9/L). Children received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation accounted for 7/21, and the median time of receiving transplantation was 11 months after birth.By the time of follow-up, the primary disease remission after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation accounted for 5/7.Among them, 2 cases were diagnosed with CGD associated inflammatory bowel disease before transplantation, and the primary disease resolved after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.Of the 14 children who did not receive hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, 10 children died.Five of the 11 deaths were treated with systematic steroid before diagnosised. Conclusion:The clinical manifestations of IEI in the neonatal period are not specific.Sepsis and colitis are the most common manifestations.Most of the cases have elevated eosinophils in the peripheral blood.Systematic streoid therapy needs to be cautious, and timely evaluation for hematopoietic stem cells transplantation is an effective option to resolution.

Objective:To summarize the clinical characteristics and treatment outcome of neonates with laryngopharyngeal congenital structural abnormalities in intensive care unit.Methods:The clinical data of neonates with congenital laryngopharyngeal structural abnormalities in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the National Center of Beijing Children′s Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2017 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed.The general data, birth status, disease types and clinical characteristics of abnormal laryngeal structure, complications, treatment and follow-up of some children with special diseases were summarized.These neonates were divided into the operation group and the conservative treatment group according to treatment methods, and then the outcomes of the two groups were compared.Results:A total of 133 cases of neonates with laryngopharyngeal congenital structural abnormalities were enrolled, including 73 cases(54.88%) with laryngomalacia, and 60 cases(45.12%) with special structural abnormalities.Of 60 cases with special structural abnormalities, 26 cases (19.54%) had pharynx and larynx cysts, 18 cases (13.53%) had vocal cord paralysis, 4 cases (3.00%) had laryngeal cleft, 2 cases (1.50%) had subglottic hemangioma, 3 cases (2.25%) had Pireer Robin, 1 case (0.75%) had laryngeal poof, 5 cases (3.75%) had pharynx softening, 1 case (0.75%) had subglottic stenosis.Nine patients had special structural abnormalities and laryngomalacia simultaneously.Fiber nasopharyngoscope and enhanced CT were main auxiliary examinations.Twenty-two(16.5%) cases received surgical treatment.Conclusions:Early diagnosis is needed for the neonates and abnormal laryngeal structure.The best treatment scheme should be evaluated according to the condition of the newborn.For some acute cases, early operation and multidisciplinary comprehensive treatment are warranted.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is now pandemic worldwide and has heavily overloaded hospitals in Wuhan City, China during the time between late January and February. We reported the clinical features and therapeutic characteristics of moderate COVID-19 cases in Wuhan that were treated via the integration of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine. We collected electronic medical record (EMR) data, which included the full clinical profiles of patients, from a designated TCM hospital in Wuhan. The structured data of symptoms and drugs from admission notes were obtained through an information extraction process. Other key clinical entities were also confirmed and normalized to obtain information on the diagnosis, clinical treatments, laboratory tests, and outcomes of the patients. A total of 293 COVID-19 inpatient cases, including 207 moderate and 86 (29.3%) severe cases, were included in our research. Among these cases, 238 were discharged, 31 were transferred, and 24 (all severe cases) died in the hospital. Our COVID-19 cases involved elderly patients with advanced ages (57 years on average) and high comorbidity rates (61%). Our results reconfirmed several well-recognized risk factors, such as age, gender (male), and comorbidities, as well as provided novel laboratory indications (e.g., cholesterol) and TCM-specific phenotype markers (e.g., dull tongue) that were relevant to COVID-19 infections and prognosis. In addition to antiviral/antibiotics and standard supportive therapies, TCM herbal prescriptions incorporating 290 distinct herbs were used in 273 (93%) cases. The cases that received TCM treatment had lower death rates than those that did not receive TCM treatment (17/273 = 6.2% vs. 7/20= 35%, P = 0.0004 for all cases; 17/77= 22% vs. 7/9= 77.7%, P = 0.002 for severe cases). The TCM herbal prescriptions used for the treatment of COVID-19 infections mainly consisted of Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, Radix Scutellariae, Rhizoma Pinellia, and their combinations, which reflected the practical TCM principles (e.g., clearing heat and dampening phlegm). Lastly, 59% of the patients received treatment, including antiviral, antibiotics, and Chinese patent medicine, before admission. This situation might have some effects on symptoms, such as fever and dry cough. By using EMR data, we described the clinical features and therapeutic characteristics of 293 COVID-19 cases treated via the integration of TCM herbal prescriptions and Western medicine. Clinical manifestations and treatments before admission and in the hospital were investigated. Our results preliminarily showed the potential effectiveness of TCM herbal prescriptions and their regularities in COVID-19 treatment.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; COVID-19/therapy* ; China ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

Pyroptosis, an inflammatory caspase-dependent programmed cell death, plays a vital role in maintaining tissue homeostasis and activating inflammatory responses. Orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) is an aseptic force-induced inflammatory bone remodeling process mediated by the activation of periodontal ligament (PDL) progenitor cells. However, whether and how force induces PDL progenitor cell pyroptosis, thereby influencing OTM and alveolar bone remodeling remains unknown. In this study, we found that mechanical force induced the expression of pyroptosis-related markers in rat OTM and alveolar bone remodeling process. Blocking or enhancing pyroptosis level could suppress or promote OTM and alveolar bone remodeling respectively. Using Caspase-1^-/- mice, we further demonstrated that the functional role of the force-induced pyroptosis in PDL progenitor cells depended on Caspase-1. Moreover, mechanical force could also induce pyroptosis in human ex-vivo force-treated PDL progenitor cells and in compressive force-loaded PDL progenitor cells in vitro, which influenced osteoclastogenesis. Mechanistically, transient receptor potential subfamily V member 4 signaling was involved in force-induced Caspase-1-dependent pyroptosis in PDL progenitor cells. Overall, this study suggested a novel mechanism contributing to the modulation of osteoclastogenesis and alveolar bone remodeling under mechanical stimuli, indicating a promising approach to accelerate OTM by targeting Caspase-1.
Animals ; Humans ; Mice ; Rats ; Bone Remodeling/physiology* ; Caspase 1 ; Periodontal Ligament ; Pyroptosis ; Tooth Movement Techniques