Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel class of non-coding RNAs, which are more stable than linear RNAs for their closed circular structure by covalent bond. CircRNAs exist in a large variety of cells and regulate the expressions of target genes. Moreover, circRNAs are closely related to various diseases and have a potential value as biomarkers and prognostic markers clinically. In this article, the classification and biological functions of circRNA molecules (including being as microRNA sponges, regulating gene transcription, regulating RNA binding protein and the potential translation function) are summarized, and the latest research progress of circRNAs in rheumatoid arthritis is reviewed.
Objective To investigate the situation of human resources of primary health care institutions in Chengdu and provide references for rational allocation of health personnel in primary health care. Methods From October to November 2016, self-administered questionnaire was used to investigate the situation of the human resources of health workers in a total of 390 primary health care institutions in the three circles of Chengdu (including the subsidiary counties, towns, and districts) during 2015. The Health Resources Density Index (HRDI) was calculated and its equilibrium was analyzed. Frequency and constituent ratio were used for descriptive analysis. Results Three hundred and seventy valid questionnaires were recovered. The number of clinical doctors, general practitioners, and registered nurses per 10 000 residents in Chengdu was 5.32, 1.38, and 4.32, respectively. Doctors’ and nurses’ HRDI was 0.52 and 0.42 respectively. The number of intermediate and junior professional titles accounted for 15.91% and 52.13% respectively. The ratio of doctors to nurses was 1∶0.81, and the ratio of general practitioners to nurses was 0.32∶1. Structure rationality of distribution density and professional titles of healthcare personnel showed a decreasing trend from the first circle to the third circle. Conclusions The personnel troop of primary health care service in Chengdu has been formed. However, the professional title structure and the distribution of professional categories still need to be improved. The situation of primary health workers in the third circle is relatively backward compared with other circles in Chengdu. It is suggested that the number of nurses and general practitioners should increase properly, and rational intervation should be carryed out in the distribution of primary health workers, so as to balance and develop the grass-root health personnel in the three circles of Chengdu.
Due to the decline of motor ability and the impact of the diseases, abnormalities in gait is common in the elderly population, which will raise the risk of fall and cause serious injury. This study focuses on the analysis of the gait kinematics parameters of normal adults’ gait, aiming to investigate the characteristics of gait parameters in different age groups and to explore the role of gait parameters in motor function assessment and clinical diagnosis. Based on the gait data gained by electronic walkway, the relationship among the toe out angles and their correlation with age and gender etc. were quantitatively analyzed. The results show that most normal subjects walk with positive toe out angles, and the angles increase with age. Such changes are slow in the young and middle age groups. However, the elevations of the left out toe angle and the angles between the feet are statistically significant after entering elder age ( >60 years). The results also suggest that the angle between the feet is a kind of practical gait parameter for varying applications. This study concludes that feet angle analysis is potential to provide a convenient and quantitative tool for the assessment of lower limb motor ability and the diagnosis of knee joint diseases.