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Background MicroRNAs (miRs) have received extensive attention in osteoarthritis (OA) pathogenesis in recent years, and our previous study have confirmed that single intra-articular injection (IAJ) of miR-140-5p alleviates early-stage OA (EOA) progression in rats. This study aims to further investigate the effects of single IAJ of miR-140-5p on different stage OA and multiple IAJs of miR-140-5p on EOA, as well as the potential mechanisms. Methods Firstly, OA model was surgically induced in rats, 9 rats were treated with IAJ of Cy5-miR-140-5p at 1 week after surgery, and fluorescence distribution was measured. Then, 72 rats were treated with single IAJ of miR-140-5p at different time after surgery or multiple IAJs of miR-140-5p at 1 week after surgery, and OA progression were evaluated macroscopically and histologically. Finally, bioinformatics analyses were performed and the potential targets and molecular mechanisms of miR-140-5p were predicted. Results Strong fluorescence was observed in the chondrocytes and joint where Cy5-miR-140-5p was injected. Behavioural scores, chondrocyte numbers and cartilage thickness in cartilage were higher, while pathological scores were lower in the miR-140-5p group than in the control group. Specifically, the earlier a single IAJ of miR-140-5p, the better the therapeutic effect, and multiple IAJs exhibited better therapeutic effect than single IAJ on EOA. Bioinformatics analyses predicted 84 potential target genes of rno-miR-140-5p and revealed that these genes enrich in various biological processes and pathways. Conclusions IAJs of miR-140-5p effectively alleviate EOA progression by modulating various biological processes and pathways, and may be a promising therapeutics for EOA.

The present meta-analysis synthesized evidence from 10 articles encompassing 28 independent studies to verify the association between hypertension and osteoporotic fracture risk in women and men. Our results indicate that the risk of osteoporotic fracture among individuals with hypertension was higher than that among individuals without hypertension. Epidemiological studies have suggested that hypertension is related to osteoporotic fracture. However, discrepancies exist in the reported findings. In this study, a systematic review of relevant published articles was conducted to verify the association between hypertension and osteoporotic fracture risk in women and men. PubMed (1953_October 5th, 2016) and Embase (1974_October 5th, 2016) were systematically searched for relevant articles. Odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs) were derived using random effect models. Categorical, subgroup, heterogeneity, publication bias, and meta-regression analyses were conducted. We analyzed 10 articles encompassing 28 independent studies, 1,430,431 participants, and 148,048 osteoporotic fracture cases. The risk of osteoporotic fracture among individuals with hypertension was higher (pooled OR = 1.33, 95% CI 1.25–1.40; I 2 = 72.3%, P

Low birth weight (LBW) and preterm birth (PB) are associated with newborn mortality and diseases in adulthood. We explored factors related to LBW and PB by conducting a population-based case-control study from January 2011 to December 2013 in Wuhan, China. A total of 337 LBW newborn babies, 472 PB babies, and 708 babies with normal birth weights and born from term pregnancies were included in this study. Information of newborns and their parents was collected by trained investigators using questionnaires and referring to medical records. Univariate and logistic regression analyses with the stepwise selection method were used to determine the associations of related factors with LBW and PB. Results showed that maternal hypertension (OR=6.78, 95% CI: 2.27-20.29, P=0.001), maternal high-risk pregnancy (OR=1.53, 95% CI: 1.06-2.21, P=0.022), and maternal fruit intake ≥300 g per day during the first trimester (OR=1.70, 95% CI: 1.17-2.45, P=0.005) were associated with LBW. BMI ≥24 kg/m2 of mother prior to delivery (OR=0.48, 95% CI: 0.32-0.74, P=0.001) and gestation ≥37 weeks (OR=0.01, 95% CI: 0.00-0.02, P

Since 1980, with the advent of the personal computer (PC), and the development of the Internet, the first “online shopping” appeared in the world. However, many limitations still exist in current online shopping. For instance, experience, environment, interface, or the screen size are entirely different from physical shopping stores. Here, we implemented a system prototype—Virtual Reality Online Shopping (VROS) Platform, which brought the physical shopping experience into the VR world by incorporating VR hardware—Samsung HMD Odyssey+ as the platform base. The VROS was created by the core concept of “home-hub”, which included five different spaces: living room, kitchen, farm, home library and walk-in closets. Different spaces represented as the entrance of shopping categories were connected to the different online shopping stores. The users were able to organize the shopping goods (no matter the user had or still on the wishlist) in the VROS home. To evaluate the VROS, we recruited two subjects to do the two-step experiments by using protocol analysis. The VROS is current an off-line system but is able to apply to real online shopping stores in next version, such as Amazon and eBay.

The present dose-response meta-analysis shows linearly decreased hip fracture (HF) risk and nonlinearly decreased osteoporotic fracture (OF) risk associated with increasing number of parity of up to five live births among postmenopausal women. Epidemiological reports suggest that parity is associated with reduced OF risk among women. However, these findings are controversial. Here, we present a meta-analysis of prospective studies of parity in relation to OF risk. We performed systematic searches using Medline and Embase from January 1, 1966, to December 31, 2014, with limits of language in English and prospective study design. Relative risks (RRs) and confidence intervals (CIs) were derived mainly using random-effects models. Categorical, dose-response, heterogeneity, publication bias, and subgroup analyses were conducted. We analyzed 10 articles of 19 independent reports from 1966 to 2014, comprising a total of 217,295 participants and 26,525 cases of OF. Compared to nulliparous women, the OF and HF risks of parous women with at least one live birth were reduced by 11 % (95 % confidence interval (CI) 3–19 %; I 2 = 77.1 %, p

Pregnancy is a critical stimulator of bone mineral resorption. We used to find the MTHFR gene polymorphisms are related with blood lead levels among pregnant women. Pregnancy-stimulated bone turnover may be associated with MTHFR gene polymorphisms too. In this article, we aimed to determine the relationship between MTHFR gene polymorphisms and bone turnover rates among the pregnant women. The participants including pregnant and non-pregnant women were selected and recruited during their routine prenatal or physical examination from July to October in 2012. A total of 1000 participants, including 250 pregnant women in the first, second, and third trimesters and 250 non-pregnant women, were enrolled in the study. Finally, after excluding 27 participants unable to provide blood samples, 973 eligible participants (i.e., 234,249, and 248 pregnant women in the first, second, and third trimesters, respectively, and 242 non-pregnant women) were included in the research. The MTHFR gene 1298CC homozygote carriers were more susceptible to yield higher plasma homocysteine levels than the 1298AA/AC carriers, with standardized coefficients of 0.086 (P

To quantitatively assess the association between parity and all-cause mortality, we conducted a meta-analysis of cohort studies. Relevant reports were identified from PubMed and Embase databases. Cohort studies with relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of all-cause mortality in three or more categories of parity were eligible. Eighteen articles with 2,813,418 participants were included. Results showed that participants with no live birth had higher risk of all-cause mortality (RR= 1.19, 95% CI = 1.03–1.38; I2 = 96.7%, P P for non-linearity

Few studies have focused on the accuracy of using the Integrated Exposure Uptake Biokinetic (IEUBK) model in Chinese children with site- and age-specific exposure data. This study aimed to validate the accuracy and sensitivity of the IEUBK model in lead risk assessment of Chinese children aged 61-84 months old. A total of 760 children were enrolled from two respective counties in Central China by using random cluster sampling method. Blood lead levels (BLLs) of all subjects were determined using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, as well as that in the environmental media, such as air, drinking water, soil, dust and food. Age- and site-specific time-activity patterns and water consumption were evaluated by using questionnaires for children. Exposure parameters including outdoor and indoor activity time, ventilation rate and water consumption in this study were different from the default values of the IEUBK model. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences between the predicted and observed BLLs. Diet and soil/dust lead intake contributed approximately 83.39% (57.40%-93.84% range) and 15.18% (3.25%-41.60% range) of total lead intake, respectively. These findings showed that the IEUBK model is suitable for lead risk assessment of Chinese children aged 61-84 months old and diet acts as an important lead source.

The Construction of the Meta-Synthetic of Army Material Facility System of Systems(MSOAMFSOS) is a complicated systems engineering, which relates to the classification & composition, architecture & organization, and operational application, etc. This paper discusses the ideal and theory based on meta-synthesis, and the meta-synthetic assessment process from qualitative hypothesis to quantitative validation, establish general path and technique route of its system analysis.