Non-coding RNAs as therapeutic targets for preventing myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury

Introduction: New treatments are required to improve clinical outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), for reduction of myocardial infarct (MI) size and preventing heart failure. Following AMI, acute ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) ensues, resulting in cardiomyocyte death and impaired cardiac function. Emerging studies have implicated a fundamental role for non-coding RNAs (microRNAs [miRNA], and more recently long non-coding RNAs [lncRNA]) in the setting of acute myocardial IRI.

Areas covered: In this article, we discuss the roles of miRNAs and lncRNAs as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the detection and treatment of AMI, review their roles as mediators and effectors of cardioprotection, particularly in the settings of interventions such as ischemic pre- and post-conditioning (IPC & IPost) as well as remote ischemic conditioning (RIC), and highlight future strategies for targeting ncRNAs to reduce MI size and prevent heart failure following AMI.

Expert opinion: Investigating the roles of miRNAs and lncRNAs in the setting of AMI has provided new insights into the pathophysiology underlying acute myocardial IRI, and has identified novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for detecting and treating AMI. Pharmacological and genetic manipulation of these ncRNAs has the therapeutic potential to improve clinical outcomes in AMI patients.     

Sacrococcygeal teratoma in Northeastern Nigeria: 18-years experience

Although sacrococcygeal teratomas are rare, there have been several reports from various parts of Nigeria, outside the Northeast region. This report reviews the experience with this tumour from the northeastern part of Nigeria. A retrospective study of 21 children with histologically confirmed sacrococcygeal teratoma managed in 18 years. Over the 18-year-period, 21 histologically confirmed cases of sacrococcygeal teratoma were seen—80% were girls. Thirteen (60.9%) presented during the neonatal period. Eighteen patients presented with benign sacrococcygeal teratoma while three patients and a recurrence from an initial benign tumour had malignant sacrococcygeal teratoma. All malignant tumours had a significant presacral component. There were associated congenital malformations in 3 (14.3%) of the patients. All the benign tumours were resectable. Using the American Academy of Pediatrics (Altman’s) classification (Altman et al., J Pediatr Surg, 9:389–398, 1974), 13 patients were type I, 5 patients type II, 3 patients type Ill and none was for type IV. The commonest post-operative complication was wound infection in six patients. Others were wound dehiscence in three and post-operative diarrhoea in two patients. Three deaths were recorded in this series. The size of mass greater than 5 cm did not correlate with the incidence of post-operative complications (P=0.367). The post-operative follow-up was very poor; but there was a recurrence in a girl, two-years after the initial surgery. Our study revealed that most of our patients with sacrococcygeal teratoma present early to hospital with benign lesions and the immediate post-operative results were excellent. However, the follow-up was poor as such long-term post-operative results are difficult to study. It is to be recommended that sacrococcygeal teratoma presenting early to hospital should have prompt surgical intervention.     

Effects of rugby sevens matches on human neutrophil-related non-specific immunity

Aims

To evaluate the influences of the accumulative effect of two consecutive rugby sevens matches (Sevens) on aspects of human neutrophil‐related non‐specific immunity.

Methods

In seven players participating in the Japan Sevens, neutrophil reactive oxygen species (ROS) production capability and phagocytic activity were measured using flow cytometry, and serum opsonic activity (SOA) was assessed by measuring neutrophil ROS using the peak height of lucigenin‐dependent chemiluminescence before and after two consecutive matches.

Results

ROS showed no change immediately after the first match, and had significantly (P<0.05) increased 4 h later, but showed a decrease after the second match. Phagocytic activity showed no change immediately after the first match, but had significantly (P<0.01) decreased 4 h later, and showed a further decrease after the second match, although it was not significant. SOA significantly (P<0.01) increased after the first match, and still maintained its high 4 h later, but decreased after the second match. ROS production capability, phagocytic activity and SOA significantly (P<0.01) decreased after the second match.

Conclusions

When rugby players play two consecutive Sevens matches, the exercise loading is thought to be hard, similar to that experienced during a marathon race and intensive or long training in a training camp, although the expected changes were not seen after the first match. Differences between after the first and the second matches may be due to the “cumulative effect”.Rugby is a competitive ball game with a long history, which usually has 15 players per team. The rugby sevens match (Sevens), played with seven players, was recently derived from the original game of rugby, with its own World Cup, and many competitions are held in and outside Japan.Rugby is one of the most intense contact sports among competitive sports, and requires a high degree of physical fitness. The incidence of injuries during rugby matches is higher compared with other sports.¹ The basic rules of Sevens, including the size of the pitch, are the same as for an ordinary rugby match, except for a shorter match duration. As Sevens players must play on a full‐sized pitch, it follows that they have a potentially higher exercise loading than under the conditions of a normal game. Usually, more than two games are held on the same day. It can thus be assumed that Sevens players experience high levels of physiological stress, and the incidence of injury will probably be higher than in the case of a 15‐a‐side game. However, to the best of our knowledge, no study on sports medicine concentrating on Sevens players has ever been carried out.Some reports have shown that intense exercise can adversely affect the immune system. The incidence of upper respiratory tract infection among endurance athletes is notably high, and may be due to decreased neutrophil function.^2,3 In addition, decreases in neutrophil functions have been reported after a rugby match.⁴Neutrophils are one of the cellular factors playing an important part in the first line of defence against foreign substances, including microorganisms. Neutrophils engulf microorganisms (phagocytic activity) and produce reactive oxygen species (ROS).^5,6 Serum opsonic activity (SOA) contributes to this microbicidal activity through opsonisation of microorganisms—that is, an acceleration of adhesion of neutrophils to opsonised substances via immunoglobulin (Ig) G, C3 and others. The expression of CD11b (complement receptor type 3; CR3) and CD16 (Fc γ receptor type 3; FcγR3) on the surface of neutrophils facilitates efficient phagocytosis of opsonised foreign bodies and consequent production of ROS.^7,8A single bout of exercise has been reported to change the neutrophil functions. Depending on the report one reads, ROS production increases^9,10 or decreases after acute exercise.^11,12,13 Phagocytic activity decreases after intense exercise^9,12,14 or increases or does not change after moderate exercise.^15,16,17 SOA does not change or increase after a long‐distance race.^18,19 As changes in these functions are linked to the intensity and duration of exercise, measurements of these functions become interesting when the immune response to repeated bouts of exercise is assessed. The influence of repeated bouts of intense exercise on the same day, such as Sevens matches, on immune function has not been investigated. In addition, as recovery of neutrophil function needs >2 days,⁴ repeated bouts of intense exercise with incomplete immunological recovery might increase the risk of infection.In this study, we examined the influence of two consecutive Sevens games on neutrophil function (ROS and phagocytic activity) and neutrophil‐related activity (SOA).     

Dynamic analysis of human small intestinal microbiota after an ingestion of fermented milk by small-intestinal fluid perfusion using an endoscopic retrograde bowel insertion technique

ABSTRACT

Probiotic products have been shown to have beneficial effects on human hosts, but what happens in the gastrointestinal tract after its ingestion remains unclear. Our aim was to investigate the changes within the small intestines after a single intake of a fermented milk product containing a probiotic. We have periodically collected the small-intestinal fluids from the terminal ileum of seven healthy subjects for up to 7 h after ingestion by small-intestinal fluid perfusion using an endoscopic retrograde bowel insertion technique. The bacterial composition of the terminal ileum clearly revealed that the ingested probiotics (Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota: LcS and Bifidobacterium breve strain Yakult: BbrY) occupied the ileal microbiota for several hours, temporarily representing over 90% of the ileal microbiota in several subjects. Cultivation of ileal fluids showed that under a dramatic pH changes before reaching the terminal ileum, a certain number of the ingested bacteria survived (8.2 ± 6.4% of LcS, 7.8 ± 11.0% of BbrY). This means that more than 1 billion LcS and BbrY cells reached the terminal ileum with their colony-forming ability intact. These results indicate that there is adequate opportunity for the ingested probiotics to continuously stimulate the host cells in the small intestines. Our data suggest that probiotic fermented milk intake affects intestinal microbes and the host, explaining part of the process from the intake of probiotics to the exertion of their beneficial effects on the host.     

Mizoribine for crescentic glomerulonephritis with sarcoidosis: effectiveness not only for urinalysis abnormalities but also for hilar lymph node enlargement

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disease related to helper T cell responses. We recently experienced the case of a 57-year-old woman with sarcoidosis complicated by crescentic glomerulonephritis with low levels of myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody. We herein describe the details of her clinical course and discuss the effectiveness of mizoribine, which has an immunosuppressive effect equivalent to that of mycophenolate mofetil, not only for urinalysis abnormalities but also for hilar lymph node enlargement.     

A case of yellow nail syndrome associated with eosinophilic bronchial disease successfully treated with clarithromycin and budesonide]

A 78-year-old man was referred to our hospital complaining of chronic productive cough. Physical examination revealed yellowish, thin nails and pretibial edema. A chest computed tomograph showed bilateral bronchiectasis. A sinus radiograph showed the findings of chronic sinusitis. From these findings, yellow nail syndrome was diagnosed. Long-term low-dose macrolide therapy with 400 mg/day clarithromycin was started and his symptoms began to gradually improve. However, complete resolution of his symptoms was not achieved and fiberoptic bronchoscopy was performed. Transbronchial biopsy specimen obtained from the right second carina showed bronchial asthma-like findings such as eosinophilic infiltration, thickening of the basement membrane, mucosal edema and goblet cell hyperplasia. Airflow reversibility was not detected. Thus a diagnosis of coexistence of yellow nail syndrome and eosinohilic bronchial disease was established. Further improvement of his symptoms was achieved by additional therapy with 800 microg/day budesonide and 100 microg/day salmeterol. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a case of yellow nail syndrome associated with eosinophilic bronchial disease successfully treated with long-term low-dose macrolides and inhaled corticosteroids.     

Hepatic carcinoma with opisthorchiasis.

Eighty-seven cases of primary hepatic carcinoma associated with opisthorchiasis were reviewed. The prevalence of liver carcinoma among 154 cases of liver fluke infection was 56.6%. The tumours were classified histologically as cholangiocarcinoma in 67 cases (77%), hepatocellular carcinoma in 9 (10.3%), mixed hepatocholangiocarcinoma in 4, squamous carcinoma in 2, and undifferentiated carcinoma in 5. Metastases, found in 71 cases, occurred most frequently in the regional lymph nodes and lungs. There were numerous or moderate numbers of liver flukes in most of these cases.     

Serum pepsinogen levels indicate the requirement of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy among Group A subjects of ABC classification: a multicenter study

Journal of Gastroenterology - ABC classification has been used to assess the risk for gastric cancer. The current problem of ABC classification is that Group A contains individuals with current and...