MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) are a class of endogenous small non-coding RNAs that consist of about 22 nucleotides and play critical roles in various biological processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and tumorigenesis. In recent years, some specific miRNA, such as miR-219, miR-138, miR-9, miR-23, and miR-19b were found to participate in the regulation of oligodendrocyte (OL) differentiation and myelin maintenance, as well as in the pathogenesis of demyelination-related diseases (e.g., multiple sclerosis, ischemic stroke, and leukodystrophy). These miRNAs control their target mRNA or regulate the protein levels of some signaling pathways, and participate in OL differentiation and the pathogenesis of demyelination-related diseases. During pathologic processes, the expression levels of specific miRNAs are dynamically altered. Therefore, miRNAs act as diagnostic and prognostic indicators of defects in OL differentiation and demyelination-related diseases, and they can provide potential targets for therapeutic drug development.
A Ln3+-doped (Yb3+, Tm3+ or Yb3+, Er3+ co-doped) NaYF4 nanoparticle/polystyrene hybrid fibrous membrane (HFM) was fabricated using an electrospinning technique. The HFM shows upconversion luminescence (UCL), flexibility, superhydrophobicity and processability. The UCL membrane can be used as a fluorescence sensor to detect bioinformation from a single water droplet (~10 μl). Based on the fluorescence resonance energy transfer, the detection limits of this sensor can reach 1 and 10 ppb for the biomolecule, avidin, and the dye molecule, Rhodamine B, respectively, which are superior to most of the fluorescence sensors reported in previous works. After the fluorescence detection, the target droplet was easily removed without residues on the UCL membrane surface due to its superhydrophobic property, which exhibits an excellent recyclability that cannot be achieved by traditional liquid-based detection systems.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) are a class of non-coding single-stranded RNAs, which can negatively regulate gene expression at posttranscriptional levels by miRNA-mRNA interaction. It has been demonstrated that miRNAs play important roles in a variety of biological process, including cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and tumorigenesis. Recent studies have shown crucial roles of specific miRNAs in controlling oligodendrocyte (OL) differentiation and myelination. Dysregulation of miRNAs is a vital event in the pathogenesis of demyelinating diseases. Furthermore, new patents of miRNAs also provide new strategies for gene therapy and miR-drug development for demyelinating diseases, especially multiple sclerosis. In this review, we briefly introduce the roles of miRNAs in OL differentiation and in the pathogenesis of demyelinating diseases, with emphasis on the implication of miRNAs patents in disease diagnostic and therapeutic perspective and its related technologies and challenges in clinical application.
We have read with great interest the article by Eminler et al 1 concerning how the method of wire-guided cannulation over a pancreatic stent (WGC-PS) increases the need for needle-knife precutting (NKP) in comparison with the double-guidewire technique (DGW) in patients with difficult biliary cannulation. This is an interesting prospective randomized study; however, we believe that the research design can still be improved.First, in terms of the randomization of the study, "The first patient was randomized by pitch-and-toss technique, and subsequent patients were alternately randomized." Actually, this is a method called "quasirandomized," which is not truly random. This method could not randomize all the patients because once the first patient is grouped, the subsequent patient's assignment would be determined, leading to selection bias and weaker evidence. This deficiency in randomization would make it harder to rule out confounding variables and to effect internal validity. 2 Second, there might be a study design limitation about the ERCP procedure in this study. Considering that the time of grouping is unintentional passage of a guidewire to the pancreatic duct, it might be less appropriate to perform NKP as an alternative when WGC-PS or DGW failed. Because it is a high-risk procedure, 3-6 NKP should be considered cautiously for the patient's safety. A guideline from the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy recommended that transpancreatic precut sphincterotomy (TPS) should take precedence over NKP if precutting is needed, especially when unintentional insertion of a guidewire into the pancreatic duct occurs in patients with difficult biliary cannulation. 4 NKP could be a rescue method only when pancreatic duct cannulation or TPS cannot be achieved. 7 In addition, it is reported that sole use of the DGW appears to increase the risk of post-ERCP pancreatitis and need for precut sphincterotomy. 8,9 Considering the optimal strategy for difficult biliary cannulation, especially in patients with unintentional passage of the guidewire into the main pancreatic duct, we suggest a stepwise algorithm using DGW followed by WGC-PS or TPS.In general, this is valuable research about 2 difficult biliary cannulation techniques. Nevertheless, a better research design could increase the reliability of the conclusion.
DISCLOSUREAll authors disclosed no financial relationships relevant to this publication.
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