AIM:To investigate the role of microRNA (miR)-199a-5p in myocardial fibrosis and the potential target of miR-199a-5p.METHODS:C57BL/6 mouse cardiac fibroblasts were isolated and cultured for cellular experimen-tal study.Dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to confirm the interaction between miR-199a-5p and the 3'-untrans-lated region (3'-UTR) of silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1).The expression of SIRT1 and fibrosis markers collagen (Col) 1a1, Col3a1 and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) at mRNA and protein levels was determined by RT-qPCR and Western blot, respectively.RESULTS:The expression levels of miR-199a-5p, Col1a1, Col3a1 andα-SMA were marked-ly increased in cardiac fibroblasts after treatment with angiotensin Ⅱ(AngⅡ).The over-expression of miR-199a-5p signif-icantly increased the expression of Col1a1, Col3a1 andα-SMA in cardiac fibroblasts.Moreover, the results of dual-lucifer-ase reporter assay revealed that miR-199a-5p interacted with the 3'-UTR of SIRT1.miR-199a-5p inhibited SIRT1 expres-sion at post-transcriptional level.Meanwhile, miR-199a-5p mimic, in parallel to SIRT1 siRNA, inhibited SIRT1 expres-sion, increased the expression of Col1a1, Col3a1 and α-SMA in cardiac fibroblasts.Inactivation of NF-κB signaling con-tributed to the decrease in miR-199a-5p in Ang II-treated cardiac fibroblasts .CONCLUSION:SIRT1 is a target gene of miR-199a-5p, which mediates the pro-fibrotic effect of miR-199a-5p on cardiac fibroblasts .

INTRODUCTIONCommunity-based exercise programmes have been shown to be effective in the Western world. However, there is a dearth of literature on their effectiveness in Asia. This pilot study aims to assess the effectiveness of the Asian community-based Health Wellness Programme (HWP) in Singapore. The HWP provides community cardiac rehabilitation services.

METHODSA retrospective database analysis was conducted on cardiac rehabilitation patients who had completed the one-year wellness programme from 2010 to 2011. Patients were included in the programme if they had an underlying cardiac disease such as ischaemic heart disease and were deemed as stable by their cardiologist. Patients with New York Heart Association Class III or IV heart failure were excluded from this programme. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, clinical and laboratory data was recorded. Changes between the baseline and final measurements were analysed.

RESULTSComplete data from a total of 136 patients was analysed. Improvements were noted in body fat percentage (change [Δ] -1.3%, p < 0.01), distance walked (Δ 9.7 m, p = 0.01), total cholesterol (Δ -7.8 mg/dL, p = 0.03), low-density lipoprotein (Δ -7.8 mg/dL, p = 0.03) and triglyceride (Δ -17.8 mg/dL, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe low-to-moderate intensity HWP seems to be effective in a multiethnic community setting. To confirm the quality and effectiveness of such a programme in secondary cardiovascular prevention, more evidence from prospective controlled trials with suitable controls is needed.

Aged ; Cardiac Rehabilitation ; methods ; Ethnic Groups ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Health Promotion ; organization & administration ; Heart Failure ; ethnology ; rehabilitation ; Humans ; Male ; Morbidity ; trends ; Pilot Projects ; Retrospective Studies ; Singapore ; epidemiology

INTRODUCTIONAs the effectiveness of intensive glycaemic control is unclear and recommended glycaemic targets are inconsistent, this study aimed to ascertain the prevalence of dysglycaemia among hospitalised patients with diabetes mellitus in an Asian population and evaluate the current standards of inpatient glycaemic control.

METHODSA retrospective observational study was conducted at a secondary hospital. Point-of-care blood glucose (BG) values, demographic data, medical history, glycaemic therapy and clinical characteristics were recorded. Dysglycaemia prevalence was calculated as proportions of BG-monitored days with at least one reading exceeding the cut points of 8, 10 and 15 mmol/L for hyperglycaemia, and below the cut point of 4 mmol/L for hypoglycaemia.

RESULTSAmong the 288 patients recruited, hyperglycaemia was highly prevalent (90.3%, 81.3% and 47.6% for the respective cut points), while hypoglycaemia was the least prevalent (18.8%). Dysglycaemic patients were more likely than normoglycaemic patients to have poorer glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels (8.4% ± 2.6% vs. 7.3% ± 1.9%; p = 0.002 for BG > 10 mmol/L) and longer lengths of stay (10.1 ± 8.2 days vs. 6.8 ± 4.7 days; p = 0.007 for BG < 4 mmol/L). Hyperglycaemia was more prevalent in patients on more intensive treatment regimens, such as basal-bolus combination therapy and the use of both insulin and oral hypoglycaemic agents (100.0% and 96.0%, respectively; p < 0.001 for BG > 10 mmol/L).

CONCLUSIONInpatient glycaemic control is suboptimal. Factors (e.g. type of treatment regimen, discipline and baseline HbA1c) associated with greater prevalence of dysglycaemia should be given due consideration in patient management.

Aged ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Diabetes Mellitus ; drug therapy ; Female ; Hospitals ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; complications ; drug therapy ; Hypoglycemia ; complications ; drug therapy ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Inpatients ; Insulin ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Point-of-Care Systems ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Singapore ; Treatment Outcome

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of leucine-rich repeats and immunoglobulin-like domains 3 (LRIG3) on the biological features of bladder cancer cell lines. The plasmids of over-expressed LRIG3 and the blank plasmid serving as control were transfected into the bladder cancer cell lines, T24, EJ and BIU-87, and the expression levels of LRIG3 mRNA and protein were detected by using real-time PCR and Western blotting. The changes in the cell cycle and apoptosis were examined by using flow cytometry. The invasive ability was measured by Transwell assay, and CCK-8 assays were used to measure the proliferation of cells. As compared with the control group, the LRIG3 mRNA and protein expression levels in LRIG3 cDNA-transfected group were raised significantly (P<0.05). The average number of cells with up-regulated LRIG3 passing through the inserted filter was decreased significantly as compared with the control group (P<0.05). Up-regulation of LRIG3 also could inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of T24, EJ and BIU-87 cells. Except BIU-87, the T24 and EJ cells transfected with LIRG3 cDNA were arrested in G(0)/G(1) phase compared to the control group (P<0.05). In conclusion, the over-expression of LRIG3 could influence the cell cycle and invasion, inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in the three bladder cancer cell lines.
Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Up-Regulation ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo construct the zinc finger protein-activating transcription factor (ZFP-ATF) plasmid and evaluate its efficacy in inducing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in EY.HY926 endothelial cells.

METHODSFirstly, we constructed the ZFP-ATF plasmid, then testified the quantity of VEGF protein in EY.HY926 endothelial cells after transfected with ZFP-ATP plasmid by Western blot, finally, we used the RT-PCR to testify whether the ZFP-ATF can stimulate expression of VEGF splice variants.

RESULTSThe ZFP-ATF DNA sequences were located the multiclone sites of PVAX1 vector between the site of BamH1and Xhol.Western blot result showed VEGF expression in EY.HY926 endothelial cells transfected with ZFP-ATF plasmid was significantly higher than that in cells transfected with VEGF165 (19.95±3.95 vs.12.15±1.55 μg÷μL, P<0.01).RT-PCR result showed VEGF-A mRNA expression level induced by ZFP-ATF was high than that induced by VEGF165.

CONCLUSIONZFP-ATF can up-regulate the VEGF-A expression in comparison with VEGF165, which might have beneficial effects in angiogenesis process.

Activating Transcription Factors ; physiology ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; Plasmids ; Up-Regulation ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; Zinc Fingers ; physiology