Assessment of expression of regulatory T cell differentiation genes in autism spectrum disorder

Dysfunction of regulatory T cells (Tregs) has been shown to affect the etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Differentiation of this group of T cells has been found to be regulated by a group of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). In this study, we have examined the expression of five lncRNAs that regulate this process in the blood samples of ASD cases compared with controls. These lncRNAs were FOXP3 regulating long intergenic non-coding RNA (FLICR), MAF transcriptional regulator RNA (MAFTRR), NEST (IFNG-AS1), RNA component of mitochondrial RNA processing endoribonuclease (RMRP), and Th2 cytokine locus control region (TH2-LCR). Expression of RMRP was significantly lower in total ASD cases compared to controls [expression ratio (95% CI) = 0.11 (0.08–0.18), adjusted P -value < 0.0001]. This pattern was also detected in both men and women cases compared with corresponding controls [expression ratio (95% CI) = 0.15 (0.08–0.29) and 0.08 (0.03–0.2), respectively]. Likewise, expression of NEST was reduced in total cases and cases among men and women compared with corresponding controls [expression ratio (95% CI) = 0.2 (0.14–0.28); 0.22 (0.12–0.37); and 0.19 (0.09–0.43), respectively; adjusted P -value < 0.0001]. Lastly, FLICR was downregulated in total cases and cases among both boys and girls compared with matched controls [expression ratio (95% CI) = 0.1 (0.06–0.19); 0.19 (0.08–0.46); and 0.06 (0.01–0.21), respectively; adjusted P -value < 0.0001]. These three lncRNAs had appropriate diagnostic power for differentiation of ASD cases from controls. Cumulatively, our study supports dysregulation of Treg-related lncRNAs in patients with ASD and suggests these lncRNAs as proper peripheral markers for ASD

Identification of key long non-coding RNA-associated competing endogenous RNA axes in Brodmann Area 10 brain region of schizophrenia patients

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a serious mental condition with an unknown cause. According to the reports, Brodmann Area 10 (BA10) is linked to the pathology and cortical dysfunction of SCZ, which demonstrates a number of replicated findings related to research on SCZ and the dysfunction in tasks requiring cognitive control in particular. Genetics' role in the pathophysiology of SCZ is still unclear. Therefore, it may be helpful to understand the effects of these changes on the onset and progression of SCZ to find novel mechanisms involved in the regulation of gene transcription. In order to determine the molecular regulatory mechanisms affecting the SCZ, the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)-associated competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) axes in the BA10 area were determined using a bioinformatics approach in the present work. A microarray dataset (GSE17612) consisted of brain post-mortem tissues of the BA10 area from SCZ patients and matched healthy subjects was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. This dataset included probes for both lncRNAs and mRNAs. Using the R software's limma package, the differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) and mRNAs (DEmRNAs) were found. The RNA interactions were also discovered using the DIANA-LncBase and miRTarBase databases. In the ceRNA network, positive correlations between DEmRNAs and DElncRNAs were evaluated using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Finally, lncRNA-associated ceRNA axes were built by using the co-expression and DElncRNA-miRNA-DEmRNA connections. We identified the DElncRNA-miRNA-DEmRNA axes, which included two key lncRNAs ( PEG3-AS1, MIR570HG ), seven key miRNAs ( hsa-miR-124-3p , hsa-miR-17-5p, hsa-miR-181a-5p, hsa-miR-191-5p, hsa-miR-26a-5p, hsa-miR-29a-3p, hsa-miR-29b-3p ), and eight key mRNAs ( EGR1, ETV1, DUSP6, PLOD2, CD93, SERPINB9, ANGPTL4, TGFB2 ). Furthermore, DEmRNAs were found to be enriched in the “AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications”, “Amoebiasis”, “Transcriptional misregulation in cancer”, “Human T-cell leukemia virus 1 infection”, and “MAPK signaling pathway”. This study offers research targets for examining significant molecular pathways connected to the pathogenesis of SCZ, even though the function of these ceRNA axes still needs to be investigated

Sleep Hygiene Pattern in Medical Residents

Background and Objective: Medical residents have a crucial role in the development of the healthcare system and medical services. This study aimed to determine the quality of life, job satisfaction, and sleep hygiene pattern of the medical residents of various specialties working in teaching centers affiliated with Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, before and after the beginning of the residency period. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional and descriptive-analytical study with a convenience sampling method assessed 162 medical residents who filled out the research questionnaires twice during a six-month period from September 2018 to March 2018. The required data were collected using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment, Job Satisfaction Questionnaire, and Sleep Hygiene Index. Results: The results of the study revealed that the quality of life (P=0.000), job satisfaction (P=0.000), and sleep hygiene pattern (P=0.000) significantly decreased in medical residents six months after starting the residency program. Quality of life was found to be lower in men than in women (P=0.000); however, in the field of specialty, no significant difference was found in terms of the relevant variables six months after starting the residency period (P>0.05). Furthermore, having more than 15 shifts per month was significantly related to decreased quality of life in medical residents (P=0.01). Conclusion: Considering the results of the present study, there is a necessity to provide programs in medical universities to improve the quality of life, job satisfaction, and sleep hygiene pattern among medical residents during their academic period