BackgroundOsteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disease causes irreversible damage to the articular cartilage resulting in loss of joint function and subchondral bone remodeling. There is no cure for OA and currently the available treatment like pain management, and joint replacement surgery is used to treat this disease. MiRNAs are small non-coding RNAs consist of 21-29 nucleotides which regulate gene expression by targeting the 3’ untranslated region (UTR) leading to translation inhibition. In recent years, many studies showed that microRNAs could be a target for many diseases including OA. Our preliminary data on osteoactivin showed that the GPNMB acts as a protective protein in osteoarthritis by reducing catabolic gene expression. Our lab group results have been shown that miRNA-150 targets the 3’UTR of osteoactivin in osteoblast cells.ObjectivesThere is no study regarding the role of miRNA 150 on cartilage homeostasis and because the miRNA 150 targets osteoactivin in lung and bone cells, we hypothesized that miRNA-150 targets osteoactivin in chondrocytes and protect cartilage ECM degradation.MethodsRNAs were isolated from primary chondrocytes of miRNA- 150 knockout pups, then was used in qPCR to measure gene expression. Western blot used to detect MMP-3, MMP-9, MMP-13, IL-6, collagen type-II and aggrecan. In addition, histological analysis was used to test the role of miRNA-150 vivo through evaluating proteoglycan degradation by toluidine blue staining and immunohistochemistry after 12 weeks from DMM surgery. PCR transcription factors and signaling pathway finder array were used to elucidate the altered genes and transcriptions factors compared to the wild type in primary chondrocytes culture.ResultsPrimary chondrocytes from 150 KO mice showed high mRNA expression levels of GPNMB compared to the wild type mice. Medial tibia plateau (MTP) and medial femur condyle (MFC) have been graded by OARSI scoring system after 12 weeks of DMM surgery. Histological results showed that the 150 KO mice have less cartilage damaged compared to the wild type. To determine whether epigenetic modifiers (miRNAs) regulating GPNMB/Osteoactivin expression can modulate the cartilage protective effects of GPNMB/Osteoactivin, we found that miRNA 150 targets GPNMB/Osteoactivin in chondrocytes. Next, we examined the effects of miRNA 150 deficiency on the OA progression in vivo and found that miRNA 150 KO are more protected against post-traumatic OA compared to WT mice. Furthermore, we assessed the expression of GPNMB/Osteoactivin in miRNA 150 KO chondrocytes and showed a significant increase compared to WT cells.ConclusionThese results showed that miRNA is negative regulator of cartilage homeostasis and blocking miRNA might have therapeutic potential fort he treatment of age-related osteoarthritis and post-traumatic induced osteoarthritis.ReferencesThe surgical destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) model of osteoarthritis in the 129/SvEv mouse. Methods in Molecular Biology: Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis. Loeser RF, Goldring SR, ...
Background and objectivesDiabetes mellitus is considered one of the most common chronic diseases affecting adult population worldwide, particularly the Middle East. According to recent statistics, Saudi Arabia is ranked as the seventh highest prevalence of diabetes in the world and the first highest prevalence in the MENA region with 3.8 million cases. In parallel, more than 60% of Saudi population is using the Internet and WhatsApp, which is considered the most popular mobile application in Saudi. The hypothesis in this study is that social network can play a significant role on managing the diabetes by promoting healthy-life behavior, providing education to increase the knowledge of diabetic patients, change bad habits, reduce the complications and improve life quality and the level of physical activity. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of using mobile technology (Whatsapp) for health care to improve the level of knowledge of diabetic patients and to control the level of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) along with enhancing their self-efficacy level.MethodologyA randomized controlled trial on Type 2 diabetes patients was conducted. Ninety-two patients (Saudi, female, not pregnant) were selected at a Teaching Hospital in Al-Khobar, Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Diabetes knowledge test (DKT) and Diabetes Management Self-Efficacy Scale (DMSES) were recorded from all participants at the baseline and after the intervention by face-to-face interview. The Diabetic Knowledge Test (DKT) is a questionnaire of 24 items represents a test of general knowledge of diabetes. While the Dutch/US Diabetes Management Self-Efficacy Scale (DMSES) is a tool used to measure the patient's efficacy expectation for engaging in 20 self-management activities of Type 2 diabetes. HbA1C was also collected only at the enrollment for some participants from their medical records. The period of intervention was 8 weeks. During this period, free messages via Whatsapp were sent to the intervention group weekly, a message per week. While the control group followed their usual diabetes care. The messages were written in Arabic and have been reviewed by a specialist in diabetes. Its content was about general diabetes care knowledge; included diabetes signs and symptoms, pathophysiology, etiology, diet therapy, exercising, etc. The main educational goal was to improve the level of knowledge of diabetic patients.ResultsChi-square test showed there were no significant differences between study groups in demographic or clinical characteristics. The results showed significant improvement in patients' knowledge and self-efficacy level (p < 0.001) when comparing the intervention group with the control group. The mean knowledge increased from 14.45 ± 2.38 to 21.28 ± 1.59 (mean ± SD), and mean self-efficacy also increased from 6.65 ± 1.47 to 7.34 ± 1.26 (mean ± SD).ConclusionThere are very few studies in Saudi Arabia investigating the effectiveness of mobile technology in managing patients with diabetes. However, this study considered the first of its kind applied in Saudi Arabia demonstrates that mobile technology, specifically WhatsApp, can be an acceptable approach to improve the knowledge and disease-management in patients with Type 2 diabetes in Dammam region. In addition to provision of ongoing healthcare support to patients considering the progressively widespread use of Internet and mobile applications in Saudi Arabia.
Virtual counseling has become an increased necessity as a result of the current pandemic as well as the need for methods that comply with the continuous changes and advancements. Studies conducted have shown that the perceptions of counselors of the benefits and barriers reflect whether or not the counseling service will be successful. This study is a descriptive research design following a qualitative approach. The study aimed to explore (a) the school counselor’s perceptions of the benefits and barriers they encounter when using virtual counseling, (b) the perceived differences between conducting virtual counseling and in-person counseling, and (c) whether participation in virtual counseling differs as a result of students’ characteristics in the perception of school counselors. Five private schools in the Beirut region were contacted as they were known to have virtual counseling programs. Both the schools and counselors were purposively chosen. Seven in-depth semi-structured interviews and one focus group discussion (FGD) were carried out with the study participants. Interpretational analysis was carried out to assess and analyze the obtained data. The results showed that through these experiences, counselors were able to develop new methods with regard to technology and other practices to limit the effects of obstacles faced. Counselors’ communication tools were also fine-tuned since they had to rely on unorthodox methods to understand students and deal with them better. Results showed that the benefits also have to do with time and method flexibility, the main barriers were issues of privacy, change in workplace dynamics, and lack of usage of tools. The findings were discussed in relation to four main themes: (a) service delivery adaptation, (b) working with technology, (c) counselor’s practices in delivering virtual counseling, and (d) preparation and training for virtual counseling. Being that it is qualitative research, the interpretational analysis was carried out to assess the obtained data. The results showed that the main benefits have to do with time and method flexibility, and the main barriers were issues of privacy and change in workplace dynamics. The results showed that the new changes and the counselor’s experience, along with the personal attributes of counselors and students, all influenced the efficiency of the counseling sessions.
Background:Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disease causes irreversible damage to the articular cartilage resulting in loss of joint function and subchondral bone remodeling. There is no cure for OA and currently the available treatment like pain management, and joint replacement surgery is used to treat this disease. GPNMB/Osteoactivin is a type-I transmembrane protein plays a vital role in osteogenesis and bone remodeling,Objectives:Howver, the function of GPNMB/Osteoactivin in chondrogenesis and cartilage repair is unknown. Hence, in this study, we examined the role of GPNMB/Osteoactivin using post-traumatic osteoarthritis model and ex vivo chondrocytes cell culture and assessing the effects of GPNMB/Osteoactivin as anti-inflammatory factor in chondrocytes.Methods:We first examined the expression GPNMB/Osteoactivin in noramal cartilage. Next, we assessed the effects of recombinant GPNMB/Osteoactivin on mouse primary chondrocytes profeliation/viabiltiy and extracellular matrix marekrs.Results:We founad that GPNMB/Osteoactivin treatment did not have any effect on cell prolfieration/viability, howwever, there was an increased in Colllagen Type II and aggrecan expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner. These data sugges that GPNMB/Osteoactivin palys a role in cartilage maintainance. Next we determined whether GPNMB/Osteoactivin contributes to the OA disease progression. Human osteoarthritic damaged and undamaged cartilage harvested following knee replacement were used to examine GPNMB/Osteoactivin exmression and founad that GPNMB/Osteoactivin mRNA was 6-7-fold increased in damaged compared to undamaged cartilage. Similar results were obtained from mouse primary chondrocytes treated with IL1-b and showed a significant increase (4-fold) in GPNMB/Osteoactivin mRNA compared to untreated control. Next, we evalauted the effects of GPNMB/Osteoactivin deficiency on the OA progression usign the DMM model. GPNMB/Osteoactivin muntat (DBA/2J) mice showed significant increased in OARSI scores compared to WT mice.Conclusion:Taken together, these data are the first to report a role for GPNMB/Osteoactivin in cartilage maintanance and protection again the prgoression of OA.References[1] The surgical destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) model of osteoarthritis in the 129/SvEv mouse. Methods in Molecular Biology: Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis. Loeser RF, Goldring SR, Scanzello CR, Goldring MB. Osteoarthritis: A disease of the joint as an organ. Arthritis and Rheumatism. 2012. pp. 1697–1707.[2] Zhou, L., Zhuo, H., Ouyang, H., Liu, Y., Yuan, F., Sun, L.,. .. & Liu, H. (2017). Glycoprotein non-metastatic melanoma protein b (Gpnmb) is highly expressed in macrophages of acute injured kidney and promotes M2 macrophages polarization. Cellular immunology, 316, 53-60.[3] Ripoll, V.M., et al., Gpnmb is induced in macrophages by IFN-gamma and lipopolysaccharide and acts as a feedback regulator of proinflammatory responses. J Immunol, 2007. 178(10): p. 655766.[4] Karlsson C, Dehne T, Lindahl A, Brittberg M, Pruss A, Sitting...
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