Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of microRNA (miRNA) in peripheral venous blood for depressive disorder.Methods Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to verify expression level of miRNAs in peripheral blood of non-specific mental retardation children,which were aberrantly expressed in depressive disorder patients,and then Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC)curve was employed to confirm the sensitivity and specificity of abnormal miRNA expression in depressive disorder and non-specific mental retardation.Results MiR-1972,miR-26b,miR-4485,miR-4498 and miR-4743 were upregulated significantly in case group of depressive disorder(P＜0.05),meanwhile miR-4485 and miR-4743 in aforementioned 5 miRNAs also upregulated significandy in patients of non-specific mental retardation(P＜0.05),but miR-26b showed no significant difference between case group of non-specific mental retardation and the control group (P＞0.05).The ROC curve of miR-26b in depressive disorder patients and their control group showed that the sensitivity and specificity were 0.609,0.664 respectively,and the area square under the curve was 0.614(P=0.021).The ROC curve of miR-26b in patients of depressive disorder and non-specific mental retardation indicated that the sensitivity and specificity were 0.784 and 0.471,and area square under the curve was 0.643 (P=0.003).Conclusion miR-26b probably have diagnostic value for depressive disorder,which may comorbidity with non-specific mental retardation.But genetic and psychosocial mechanism of comorbidity still needs further exploration.

OBJECTIVE To identify differentially expressed microRNA (miRNA) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of anxiety patients and predict their target genes and function by bioinformatics analysis. METHODS The miRNA expression profiles were determined using an Affymetrix array. To validate the results, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis in a larger cohort was employed. The targets of the differentially expressed miRNAs were predicted by Target Scan, miRBD, and DIANA-microT-CDS, and the results were analyzed by gene ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway analysis using FunNet. RESULTS MicroRNA microarray chip analysis has identified 7 miRNAs were detected with significant changes in expression in PBMCs of anxiety patients. qRT-PCR analysis has confirmed that the expression levels of 5 miRNAs (has-miR-4484, has-miR-4505, has-miR-4674, has-miR-501-3p and has-miR-663) were up-regulated. Intersecting the genes by Target Scan, miRBD, and DIANA-microT-CDS has predicted 195 targets. GO analysis showed that biological processes regulated by the predicted target genes have included diverse terms. Some terms, e.g., nervous system development, nerve growth factor receptor signaling pathway, neuron migration, dendrite development, regulation of neuron projection development, midbrain development, regulation of excitatory postsynaptic membrane potential, gliogenesis, dendrite morphogenesis, etc. have direct relationship with the central nervous system and brain functions. Pathway analysis showed that a significant enrichment in several pathways related to neuronal brain functions such as glutamatergic synapse, axon guidance, calcium signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, GnRH signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathway, gap junction, long-term potentiation and VEGF signaling pathway, etc. Among the five microRNAs, has-miR-4484, has-miR-4505, has-miR-4674 and has-miR-501-3p may have more important regulatory functions. CONCLUSION Five miRNAs (has-miR-4484, has-miR-4505, has-miR-4674, has-miR-501-3p and has-miR-663) are up-regulated in PBMCs of anxiety patients and may be closely involved in the pathogenesis of anxiety disorder.
Anxiety Disorders ; genetics ; Computational Biology ; methods ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; analysis ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

Objective : To explore the medication law and mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine compounds in the treatment of periodontal disease through data mining, network pharmacology, and molecular docking. Methods: First, data mining was used to search single medicinal materials for the treatment of periodontal disease, and the active components and their action targets were screened. Second, the disease target database was employed to download the targets related to the pathogenesis of periodontal disease, map them with the action targets of traditional Chinese medicine, and obtain the targets that are considered potential targets of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of periodontal disease. Potential targets were analyzed for gene ontology function and signaling pathway. They were then screened to obtain the key targets for the treatment of periodontal disease. Finally, the active components were docked with key targets. Results: Among the traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions for the treatment of periodontal disease, Shudihuang, Mudanpi, Danggui, Fuling, Jinyinhua, Shanyao and Zhimu had the highest frequencies. Forty-three active components and 118 action targets were screened, and 52 potential targets were obtained by intersection with 856 disease targets. The molecular functions and biological processes in which potential targets may participate mainly focus on vitamin D biosynthesis and RNA polymerase Ⅱ regulation and involve 96 signaling pathways. Through the analysis of network topology parameters, 11 key targets were obtained. The results of molecular docking showed that the active components and RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT1), cellular tumor antigen p53 (TP53), and mitogen-activated protein kinase-1 (MAPK-1) have good binding activity. Conclusion Traditional Chinese medicine compounds may play a role in the treatment of periodontal disease by inhibiting alveolar bone absorption, have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and promote tissue repair. The effective treatment of periodontal disease by traditional Chinese medicine compounds provides a more scientific reference to the sustainable development of traditional Chinese medicine.

Objective : To investigate the effect of different concentrations of MTA on the proliferation and differentiation of stem cells from the apical papilla (SCAP) and the potential of the SCAP to differentiate into odontoblasts. Methods: SCAP were cultured in different concentrations of mineral trioxide aggregate（MTA）. MTA experimental group with concentration of 0.01 mg/mL, 0.02 mg/mL, 0.1 mg/mL, 0.2 mg/mL, 1 mg/mL, 2 mg/mL, 10 mg/mL and 20 mg/mL were prepared. The number of cells at 1 day, 3 days, 5 days and 7 days were measured via a CCK-8 assay to observe the effect of MTA on SCAP proliferation. Real-time PCR was used to detect the gene expression changes. Cells cultured in alpha MEM culture containing 15% FBS without MTA were set as the control group. Results : When cultured for 1 d, statistically significant differences in the promotion of in vitro proliferation of SCAP were not observed between each MTA experimental group and the control group (P>0.05). When cultured for 3 d, 5 d and 7 d, the 0.01 mg/mL MTA group presented obvious promotion of SCAP proliferation compared with the control group (P<0.05), whereas the 0.02 mg/mL, 0.1 mg/mL, 0.2 mg/mL, 1 mg/mL groups did not presented differences with the control group (P>0.05). The in vitro proliferation of the 2 mg/mL, 10 mg/mL and 20 mg/mL groups was lower than that of the control group (P<0.05). Real-time PCR detection showed that the expression levels of DSPP (t=-11.12, P < 0.05) and Runx2 (t=-10.62, P < 0.05) in the experimental group treated with 0.01 mg/mL MTA for 7 days were higher than those in the control group. Conclusion The 0.01 mg/mL concentration of MTA significantly promotes the proliferation of SCAP and shows the best ability to induce osteogenic and odontoblast differentiation in the SCAP, whereas high concentrations of MTA inhibited the proliferation of SCAP.

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are attracting increasing interest for potential biomedical applications. With tailored mesoporous structure, huge surface area and pore volume, selective surface functionality, as well as morphology control, MSNs exhibit high loading capacity for therapeutic agents and controlled release properties if modified with stimuli-responsive groups, polymers or proteins. In this review article, the applications of MSNs in pharmaceutics to improve drug bioavailability, reduce drug toxicity, and deliver with cellular targetability are summarized. Particularly, the exciting progress in the development of MSNs-based effective delivery systems for poorly soluble drugs, anticancer agents, and therapeutic genes are highlighted.