Exercise capacity is a valuable trait in horses, and it has been used as a horse selection criterion. Although exercise affects molecular homeostasis and adaptation in horses, the mechanisms underlying these effects are not fully described. This study was carried out to identify changes in the blood profiles of microRNAs (miRNAs) and mRNAs induced by exercise in horse leukocytes. Total RNAs isolated from the peripheral blood leukocytes of four Warmblood horses before and after exercise were subjected to next-generation sequencing (NGS) and microarray analyses to determine the miRNA and mRNA expression profiles, respectively. The expressions of 6 miRNAs, including 4 known and 2 novel miRNAs, were altered by exercise. The predicted target genes of the differentially expressed miRNAs identified by NGS were matched to the exercise-induced mRNAs determined by microarray analysis. Five genes (LOC100050849, LOC100054517, KHDRBS3, LOC100053996, and LOC100062720) from the microarray analysis were matched to the predicted target genes of the 6 miRNAs. The subset of mRNAs and miRNAs affected by exercise in peripheral blood leukocytes may be useful in elucidating the molecular mechanisms of exercise-associated physiology in horses.
Homeostasis ; Horses ; Leukocytes ; Microarray Analysis ; MicroRNAs ; Physiology ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger

Objective To construct a discriminant analysis model based on the differential expression of multiple microRNAs （miRNAs） in two kinds of blood samples （peripheral blood and menstrual blood） and three non-blood samples （saliva, semen and vaginal secretion）, to form an identification solution for peripheral blood and menstrual blood. Methods Six kinds of miRNA （miR-451a, miR-144-3p, miR-144-5p, miR-214-3p, miR-203-3p and miR-205-5p） were selected from literature, the samples of five kinds of body fluids commonly seen in forensic practice （peripheral blood, menstrual blood, saliva, semen, vaginal secretion） were collected, then the samples were divided into training set and testing set and detected by SYBR Green real-time qPCR. A discriminant analysis model was set up based on the expression data of training set and the expression data of testing set was used to examine the accuracy of the model. Results A discriminant analysis statistical model that could distinguish blood samples from non-blood samples and distinguish peripheral blood samples from menstrual blood samples at the same time was successfully constructed. The identification accuracy of the model was over 99%. Conclusion This study provides a scientific and accurate identification strategy for forensic fluid identification of peripheral blood and menstrual blood samples and could be used in forensic practice.
Body Fluids ; Discriminant Analysis ; Female ; Forensic Genetics ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Semen

Gastrectomy ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; analysis ; Statistics as Topic ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism

Semen stain identification is one of the crucial tasks for collection of criminal evidence by forensic techniques. Substances such as DNA and RNA contained in semen stains can serve as a source of personalized evidence targeting the suspect. Therefore, semen stain identification is vital to inferring the case attributes and the facts of the crime. The conventional methods of forensic stain identification focus on the detection of specific-function protein and/or high-content protein, such as alkaline phosphatase and PSA. Although the specificity of such protein markers is relatively high, these methods yield a limited rate of success for several factors, including poor stability, low sensitivity of the target protein, and possible subjectivity of the performer. In order to overcome these limitations, new technologies such as Raman spectroscopy, mass spectrometry for protein markers, sperm-specific aptamer, mRNA, microRNA, and DNA methylation assays have been studied and recommended by many investigators. These new technologies are paving a new ground for personalized trace analysis and even for detection of over-timed specimens.
DNA ; analysis ; DNA Methylation ; Forensic Medicine ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; analysis ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Semen Analysis ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spermatozoa

Gene Expression Profiling ; methods ; Internet ; MicroRNAs ; analysis ; genetics ; Plants ; genetics ; RNA, Plant ; analysis ; genetics

MicroRNA (miRNA) is a class of non-coding endogenous small molecule single strand RNA which is found in human body fluids. In recent years, miRNAs have been found in breast milk and parts of miRNAs are related to immune organ development and regulation of the immune function in infants. This article summarizes the functions of miRNA in breast milk and evidence-based clinical practice, and the differences between microRNA content and species in breast milk and cow milk. Understanding the role of miRNA can bring new opportunities for childhood nutrition research.
Female ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; analysis ; physiology ; Milk, Human ; chemistry ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVETo provide a set of useful analysis tools for the researchers to explore the microRNA data.

METHODSThe R language was used for generating the Graphical Users Interface and implementing most functions. Some Practical Extraction and Report Language (Perl) scripts were used for parsing source files.

RESULTSWe developed a graphical R package named miRE, which was designated for the analysis of microRNA functions, genomic organization, etc. This package provided effective and convenient tools for molecular biologists to deal with routine analyses in microRNA-related research. With its help, the users would be able to build a desktop-centered microRNA research environment quite easily and effectively. miRE is freely available at http://www. biosino.org/-kanghu/WorkPresentation/miRE/miRE.html. A detailed user manual and tutorials with example code and image are also available.

CONCLUSIONmiRE is a tool providing an open-source, user-friendly, integrated interface for microRNA-related analysis. With its help, researchers can perform microRNA-related analysis more efficiently.

Algorithms ; MicroRNAs ; analysis ; Programming Languages ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Software ; User-Computer Interface

Biomarkers, Tumor ; analysis ; Humans ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; analysis ; Prognosis ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; chemistry ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo discuss the novel biomarkers of microRNAs in prostate cancer.

DATA SOURCESThe literatures about microRNAs and prostate cancer cited in this review were obtained mainly from Pubmed published in English from 2004 to 2012.

STUDY SELECTIONOriginal articles regarding the novel role of microRNAs in prostate cancer were selected.

RESULTSMicroRNAs play an important role in prostate cancer such as cell differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion. Especially microRNAs correlate with prostate cancer cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), cancer stem cells (CSCs), drug sensitivity, cancer microenvironment, energy metabolism, androgen independence transformation, and diagnosis prediction.

CONCLUSIONSMicroRNAs are involved in various aspects of prostate cancer biology. The role of microRNA in the initiation and development of prostate cancer deserves further study.

Biomarkers ; analysis ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Humans ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; analysis ; physiology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; pathology

PURPOSE: Dysregulated microRNAs (miRNAs) can contribute to cancer development by leading to abnormal proliferation of cells, apoptosis, and differentiation. Although several miRNAs that are related to gastric cancer have been identified, the reported results have been inconsistent. The aim of this study was to determine miRNA expression profiles and validate miRNAs up- and down-regulated in gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 34 primary gastric cancer tissues and paired adjacent nontumorous gastric tissues. Total RNA was extracted, and low-molecular-weight RNAs (<200 nucleotides) were isolated for further analysis. Two pairs of tissues were processed for GeneChip microarray analysis, and the identified up- and down-regulated miRNAs were validated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). RESULTS: In the set of differentially expressed miRNAs, 5 were overexpressed by more than 2 fold, and 5 were reduced by 2 fold or less in gastric cancer tissues compared with normal gastric tissues. Four of these miRNAs (miR-196b-5p, miR-375, miR-483-5p, and miR-486-5p) were then validated by qPCR, and the relative expression levels of 2 miRNAs (miR-196b-5p and miR-375) were significantly different between cancer and normal tissues. CONCLUSIONS: Our results revealed that the expression of miR-196b-5p and miR-375 significantly correlates with gastric cancer. These miRNAs could therefore serve as diagnostic biomarkers of gastric cancer.
Apoptosis ; Biomarkers ; Microarray Analysis ; MicroRNAs ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms*