High rates of depression and anxiety have been reported among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The bidirectional relationship between these two conditions, with each affecting the progression of the other, leads to a reduced quality of life. The aim of this study was to identify a miRNA-based pattern that may either be unique to IBD or associated with this complex phenotype. The levels of 179 miRNAs were assessed using qRT-PCR in the plasma of individuals primarily diagnosed with recurrent depressive disorder (SAD), IBD patients (IBD), IBD patients showing symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression (IBD + SAD), and a control group. Four miRNAs were found to be specifically associated with IBD and more than 20 miRNAs with SAD. Notably, the levels of five miRNAs (miR-223-3p, miR-1260a, miR-320d, miR-423-5p, and miR-486-5p) differed in all the comparisons. miR-342-3p and miR-125a-5p were identified as possible biomarkers able to discriminate between IBD and IBD + SAD. The identification of this pattern of miRNA specific to IBD + SAD could be useful for monitoring disease activity and progression in IBD patients struggling with psychiatric symptoms, which can negatively impact adherence to follow-up care.

Background/Objectives: Oral leukoplakia (OLK) is an oral mucosal lesion classified in the oral potentially malignant disorder group and is associated with an increased risk of malignant transformation (MT). The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and histopathological features of two OLK groups, a group of smokers and a group of non-smokers. Methods: In this retrospective study, a cohort of 154 patients with OLK was divided into two groups based on the presence of smoking as a major risk factor. OLK diagnoses were established via clinical and histopathological examination. Results: Females were more abundant in the non-smoking group than in the smoking group, where males were more abundant (p < 0.001). The average age of the smokers was lower than that of the non-smokers (p = 0.003). In the smokers, the buccal mucosa was most frequently affected, while in the non-smokers, the gums and the tongue were primarily involved (p = 0.016). In female smokers, involvement of the buccal area and multiple-site involvement were statistically significantly more frequently observed compared to that in female non-smokers (p = 0.006). Non-dysplastic lesions were predominant in both groups, with severe dysplasia observed more frequently in the non-smokers than in the smokers. MT was higher in the non-smoker group compared to that in the smoker group. Conclusions: OLK in smokers is different from OLK in non-smokers concerning female gender involvement, site location, the number of lesions, and the MT rate.

Bladder cancer (BC) is the most frequent cancer of the urinary system and one of the most common malignancies in the world. In the last decade, many studies have been conducted to better understand the pathophysiological mechanisms of BC to find innovative markers for disease monitoring and treatment. In this study, we aim to identify miRNAs whose expression is associated with specific tumoral characteristics and risks of disease progression. Forty-one BC patients were enrolled in this study. The expression of 84 miRNAs was evaluated by qRT-PCR analysis on tumoral and peritumoral tissues. The results highlighted the association of the miRNA-17-92 cluster with BC, with miR-17-5p, miR-18a-5p, miR-19a-3p, and miR-20a-5p (members of this cluster) being upregulated in the tumoral tissue and correlated with muscle invasion and tumor grading. Taken together, our study identified a panel of 26 dysregulated miRNAs in BC, some of which may be associated with aggressiveness and the risk of progression of this malignancy.

Hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (hEDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) are clinically defined connective tissue conditions lacking molecular biomarkers. We tested whether their transcriptomic convergence extends to miRNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulation. miRNome sequencing was performed in cultured dermal fibroblasts from 12 individuals with hEDS, 12 with HSD, and 24 controls. Twenty-five differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) were assessed by qPCR in pooled discovery material and an independent pooled cohort. No miRNA met differential-expression threshold in the direct hEDS versus HSD comparison, whereas pooled hEDS/HSD analysis identified 88 DE-miRNAs versus controls (42 upregulated, 46 downregulated). qPCR supported cross-platform and pooled group-level concordance but did not assess interindividual validation. Experimentally supported targets of upregulated DE-miRNAs overlapped 388 downregulated genes significantly more than expected by chance; these genes converged on extracellular matrix remodeling, TGF-β/BMP, Wnt/Hippo, focal adhesion, and cytoskeletal programs. The 27-gene inverse overlap for downregulated DE-miRNAs did not exceed chance expectation but included literature-supported chemokine and matrix-degradative candidates. These hypothesis-generating findings define a shared group-level fibroblast miRNA pattern and prioritize candidate regulatory axes. Because the study used cultured cells and pooled qPCR without paired biofluids, longitudinal sampling, or phenotype correlations, its in vivo and biomarker implications remain preliminary.

Hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (hEDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) are clinically diagnosed connective tissue conditions without validated molecular biomarkers. We investigated whether miRNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulation converges between them. miRNome sequencing was performed in dermal fibroblasts from 12 hEDS, 12 HSD, and 24 control individuals, followed by qPCR assessment of 25 selected differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) in the discovery samples and an independent pooled fibroblast cohort, and integration with a previously generated transcriptome. No miRNA reached statistical significance in the direct hEDS-HSD comparison, whereas pooled hEDS/HSD analysis identified 88 DE-miRNAs versus controls (42 upregulated and 46 downregulated). Experimentally supported targets of the upregulated and downregulated miRNAs overlapped, in the expected inverse direction, with 388 downregulated and 27 upregulated genes, respectively. These candidate regulatory axes converged on TGF-β/BMP, Wnt/Hippo, focal-adhesion and cytoskeletal programs, and on a more focused chemokine-inflammatory module. The results define a shared fibroblast miRNA signature across hEDS and HSD, nominate miRNA-mRNA axes for mechanistic testing, and provide a rationale for future validation in individual patients, disease-relevant tissues, and circulating biofluids.