Determining metabolic features of maintenance hemodialysis patients with diabetic nephropathy treated with glucose-added dialysate based on HPLC-MS/MS Q-TOF

AIM：To investigate the metabolic features of maintenance hemodialysis patients with diabetic nephropathy treated with glucose-added dialysate (containing glucose at concentration of 5.5 mmol/L for one time) by high-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS Q-TOF). METHODS：Self-control study was conducted in 10 maintenance hemodialysis patients with diabetic nephropathy, who were dialyzed with glucose-free dialysate for one time (as glucose-free dialysate group, G- group) and then changed to glucose-added dialysate for another time (as glucose-added dialysate group, G+ group). The serum samples from the patients in G- group and G+ group before and after hemodialysis were analyzed and tested by the method of HPLC-MS/MS Q-TOF. In order to identify the differential metabolites, the metabonomic data was processed by principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal signal correction-partial least square discriminate analysis (OSC-PLS-DA). RESULTS：Regardless of before or after hemodialysis, the PCA model could not distinguish the serum samples from G+ group and G- group, but the samples could be effectively distinguish by OSC-PLS-DA model. The substances lined with variable importance in projection (VIP) value > 3 in the OSC-PLS-DA model and P<0.05 in the paired sample t-test as differential metabolites of the 2 groups and included metabolites such as hydrocortisone, lithocholic acid, aspartic acid, N-methyl niacinamide and dihydroxyprostaglandin F. The concentrations of hydrocortisone and lithochlic acid, which was able to raise the levels of blood glucose and gluconeogenesis, were lower in G+ group than those in G- group. The concentration of aspartic acid, which was involved in gluconeogenesis and also a kind of excitatory neurotransmitter, was lower in G+ group than that in G- group. The concentrations of N-methyl niacinamide and dihydroxyprostaglandin F, which reflected the level of oxidative stress, were higher in G+ gfroup than those in G- group. CONCLUSION：Using glucose-added dialysis for one time compared with glucose-free dialysis, metabolomics method confirms that the metabolic state in the maintenance hemodialysis patients with diabetic nephropathy is stable, and might reduce the level of gluconeogenesis and be superior in protecting central nervous system and improving nutritional status. However, according to the results of our present study, it might have the risk of increasing the level of oxidative stress.     

基于代谢组学分析平菇栽培用培养料发酵过程中代谢物的变化

为了解发酵培养料制备过程中微生物代谢产物的组成和变化规律,采用非靶向代谢组学技术,检测分析发酵2、4、6、8和10 d时培养料的代谢组数据。结果表明:在正离子(POS)模式下,分别在T2 vs T1、T3 vs T2、T4 vs T3和T5 vs T4中筛选得到331、145、161和115种差异代谢物;在负离子(NEG)模式下,分别筛选得到251、159、106和76种差异代谢物。这些差异代谢物主要包括糖类及其衍生物、氨基酸、肽类及其类似物、脂肪酸类、维生素类、苯丙素类和聚酮类物质及其他次级代谢产物。此外,在发酵培养料中还含有植物生长调节剂(如吲哚-3-乙酸、茉莉酸和赤霉素)和抑菌物质(如绿原酸、抗生素、白藜芦醇)。该研究可为制备质量稳定的发酵培养料和掌握发酵培养料栽培平菇技术提供参考。     

‘红元宝’紫玉兰两次花芽分化差异代谢通路及关键调控基因筛选

为了探究调控‘红元宝’紫玉兰一年两次花芽分化的成花关键基因和代谢通路，对其两次花芽分化过程的前、中、后期花芽样本进行转录组和代谢组测序分析。转录组拼接后共得到43 257条Unigene，其中鉴定出35个差异表达的成花关键基因；代谢组共检测到569个代谢物。结合转录组和代谢组分析，两次花芽分化中期产生差异基因最多，共4 074个。第二次花芽分化产生的差异代谢物蔗糖（Sucrose）和3–氰基丙氨酸（3-Cyanoalanine）大幅上调，甲基丙二酸（Methylmalonic acid）大幅下调，它们在4条KEGG通路上与相应时期的差异基因的相关性值|PCC| > 0.80且P < 0.05。蔗糖与淀粉代谢通路中，差异代谢物海藻糖（Trehalose）与该通路中7个差异基因相关性值|PCC| > 0.80。通过CCA（Canonical correspondence analysis）分析：两次花芽分化的中期，筛选出存在差异转录调控机制的KEGG通路共3条，分别为ko01200碳代谢、ko00630乙醛酸和二羧酸代谢和ko02010ABC转运蛋白。从35个成花基因中随机挑选6个（MlCOL9、MlGA9、MlGAI、MlSPL4、MlSPY、MlSVP）进行qPCR验证，其表达模式与转录组基本一致，说明转录组数据可靠。研究表明：‘红元宝’紫玉兰二次花芽分化是受到光周期途径、春化途径、年龄途径和赤霉素途径的共同影响以及8条代谢通路的协同作用而产生，且代谢物蔗糖和海藻糖在其中发挥重要的作用。     

粒径对平菇栽培用玉米芯发酵料代谢物的影响

为了解玉米芯粒径对平菇栽培用发酵料中代谢物的影响,采用代谢组学技术分析添加不同粒径玉米芯的发酵料中微生物代谢物及其代谢通路。结果表明,添加小粒径玉米芯(D₅₀=0.5 cm)和大粒径玉米芯(D₅₀=1.5 cm)的发酵料中微生物代谢物差异显著。在正离子(POS)和负离子(NEG)模式下分别筛选得到464种和201种差异代谢物,包括芳香族化合物、氨基酸、糖及醇类、脂质、生物碱等。差异代谢物分别富集到90条(POS模式)和94条(NEG模式)代谢通路,差异显著的有2条,分别为源自鸟氨酸、赖氨酸、烟酸生物合成生物碱和组氨酸代谢。说明不同粒径玉米芯发酵料中微生物代谢物具有显著差异,为发酵料栽培平菇原料选择提供了理论依据。     

Effects of PM2.5 on metabolic pathways based on metabolomics

As one of the common air pollutants, fine particulate matter/particulate matter 2.5 (PM_2.5) is an important risk factor affecting human health. Many epidemiological studies have shown that PM_2.5 increases the risk of various diseases. However, its underlying biological mechanisms have not been well understood. Metabolomics is an emerging field that has been used to identify the metabolic pathways involved in pathogenesis by analyzing changes in metabolite levels for disease diagnosis and treatment development. Many metabolomics-based studies have shown that the pathophysiological changes caused by PM_2.5 exposure may involve disturbances in various metabolites and metabolic pathways. In this paper, a brief review of the research progress of the effects of PM_2.5 on the metabolic pathways using metabolomics is presented.     

Correlation between fecal metabolites and body weight/food intake in rats after chronic immobilization stress

AIM:To explore the correlation between fecal metabolites and body weight/food intake in rats after chronic immobilization stress (CIS). METHODS:Healthy male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (n=48) were randomly divided into control group and CIS group. The rats in CIS group were subjected to 3 h of immobilization stress a day for 21 consecutive days, and the rats in control group were kept for 21 d without stress intervention. The behaviors in open-field test (OFT) and elevated plus-maze test (EPM test), the sucrose consumption, the serum D-xylose content, and the small bowel transit rate were detected. The fecal metabolites were determined by ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-NMR) technique, and differential metabolites in the rats of 2 groups were analyzed by multivariate statistics. The correlation between body weight/food intake and above indexes of CIS rats were observed by Pearson correlation analysis. RESULTS:Compared with the control rats, the body weight of CIS rats was increased slowly and the food intake was decreased significantly (P<0.01). In the OFT, both the total and central distance covered in CIS rats were reduced significantly than those in control group within 5 min (P<0.01). In the EPM test, the residence time in open-arms of CIS rats within 5 min was shortened dramatically than those in the control group (P<0.01). The content of serum D-xylose and the sucrose consumption of the rats after stress for 21 d were decreased markedly (P<0.05). The small bowel transit rate of CIS rats was lower than that of control rats, but no statistical difference was observed (P>0.05). Acetate, butyrate, glucose, propionate, glutamate, ribose, pimelate, lactate, alanine, valerate, total 10 kinds of differential metabolites in fecal samples were detected, and the 10 kinds of metabolites in CIS rats were higher than that of the control rats (P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that food intake of CIS rats was negatively correlated with metabolites of acetate and pimelate (P<0.05), and no correlation between body weight and above indexes was found. CONCLUSION:Under the CIS condition, there are certain correlations between food intake and metabolites of acetate and pimelate, but the mechanism still need further study.     

Characteristics and pathomechanisms of hyperuricemia combined with hypertriglyceridemia and hyperglycemia in a coturnix model induced by high-purine diet

AIM: To investigate the pathomechanisms in a coturnix model of high-purine diet and the metabolic characteristics of glucose and lipids. METHODS: Twenty-four French male quails were randomly divided into 2 groups: control group and model group. The animals in control group were fed with normal diet and the quails in model group were fed with high-purine diet. The body weight, serum uric acid (UA), triglyceride (TG), glucose (GLU), the activity of xanthine oxidase (XOD), guanine deaminase (GuDa) and glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), and the level of insulin (Ins) were determined. RESULTS: No change of body weight in model group was observed. In model group, the serum levels of UA,TG and GLU were significantly increased from 10 d to 140 d, 60 d to 140 d and 90 d to 140 d, respectively. At 10 d, 60 d and 140 d, the activity of XOD in model group was significantly higher than that in control group. From 30 d to 140 d, the activity of GAPDH was significantly decreased. From 60 d to 140 d, the level of Ins was significantly increased. CONCLUSION: (1) High-purine diet induces multiple metabolic disorders of UA, TG and GLU. (2) The pathologic processes can be divided into three stages: simple hyperuricemia in the first stage, hyperuricemia combined with hypertriglyceridemia in the second stage and hyperuricemia combined with hypertriglyceridemia and hyperglycemia in the third stage. (3) The pathomechanisms may relate to the increased activity of XOD, decreased activity of GAPDH and increased level of Ins.     

Association of serum soluble E-selectin concentrations with insulin resistance in essential hypertension patients

AIM: To investigate the relationship between serum soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) and insulin resistance, serum uric acid, serum lipid in essential hypertension patients. METHODS: Fasting serum sE-selectin concentration, plasma glucose, serum insulin, serum uric acid, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol were determined in 186 patients with essential hypertension (75 males, 111 females). Homeostasis model assessment was applied to assess the status of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). RESULTS: Based on the HOMA-IR, the essential hypertension patients were divided into insulin-sensitive individuals (IS) and insulin resistant subjects (IR). The serum sE-selectin concentration was significantly higher in male group [(50.1±17.8)g/L]than in female group [(40.6±16.6)g/L](P<0.01). No difference between IR group [(51.6±16.8)g/L]and IS group [(48.5±18.8)g/L] in male, and significantly higher in IR group [(45.1±18.0)g/L]than in IS group [(36.0±13.7)g/L](P<0.01) in female were observed. A stepwise multiple linear regression analysis showed that HOMA-IR was an independent predictor of serum sE-selectin concentrations in female group and not in male group, and both serum uric acid and serum lipid were not independent predictors of serum sE-selectin concentrations. CONCLUSION: Serum sE-selectin concentrations were directly related to insulin resistance in females with essential hypertension and not in males with essential hypertension. Both serum uric acid and serum lipid were not directly related to serum sE-selectin concentrations.     

Effects of (+)-2-(1-hydroxyl-4-oxocyclohexyl)ethyl caffeate at different doses on rat arthritis model and whole blood inflammation model

AIM:To evaluate the pharmacodynamics of (+)-2-(1-hydroxyl-4-oxocyclohexyl)ethyl caffeate (HOEC), and to explore the possible causes of non-dose-dependent effects of HOEC on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats using the arachidonic acid (AA) metabolic model in rat whole blood. METHODS:The rat CIA model was used to study the treatment with HOEC at 3 doses. The expression of cytoplasmic phospholipase A₂ (cPLA₂), 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) and cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) was assayed by immunohistochemical method. The effects of HOEC and its in vivo metabolite caffeic acid (CA) on AA metabolite in rat whole blood were measured by ELISA. RESULTS:HOEC had a therapeutic effect on rat CIA, but the curative effect at low dose and middle dose (1 and 3 mg/kg) was better than that at high dose (10 mg/kg). The expression levels of cPLA₂, 5-LOX and COX-2 in joint tissues were decreased. HOEC inhibited the metabolites of LOX and COX pathways in the rat whole blood AA metabolic model, while the inhibitory effect of CA on these metabolites was weaker than that of HOEC. CONCLUSION:The anti-inflammatory effect of HOEC on rat CIA may be associated with the inhibition of cPLA₂, 5-LOX and COX-2 expression in the joint tissues. The non-dose-dependent therapeutic effect of HOEC on rat CIA may due to the weaker inhibitory activity of CA on AA metabolic model in rat whole blood than that of HOEC.     

Effect of blood glucose and insulin on serum free fatty acid level after gluconse loading in essential hypertension patients

AIM: To investigate the effects of internal change of serum insulin and plasma glucose levels on serum free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations after glucose loading. METHODS: Serum insulin, plasma glucose and FFA concentrations were measured simultaneously in 234 essential hypertension patients who were undergoing oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)[including 20 cases with 2 type diabetes mellitus(DM),74 impaired glucose tolerance(IGT),140normal glucose tolerance(NGT);98 males,136 females]. RESULTS: Fasting serum FFA concentration (μmol/L) in DM (1 048.47±481.6) was higher than that in IGT (760.1±332.1) (P＜0.05) and in NGT (725.8±353.9) (P＜0.05). Compared with the NGT group, the glucose curve was elevated and the insulin releasing curve was characterized by a low response and a delayed peak in DM group. As for the FFA releasing curve, three groups showed a significantly decreasing trend, which was more evident in DM group. Serum FFA levels at 30 min, 60 min and 120 min after glucose ingestion were not significantly different between the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Easting serum FFA levels were elevated in DM group. The absolute deficiency of insulin secretion decreased rather increased the difference of FFA level difference between DM group and IGT group, NGT group during OGTT. These results suggest the level of glucose utilization may have an important effect on serum FFA concentration.     

Effect of somatostatin analogue octreotide on metabolism of LPS-induced A549 cells

AIM: To investigate the effects of octreotide on metabolism in the A549 cells treated with lipopolysaccharides (LPS). METHODS: The technologies of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) were used to test the metabolism of lung A549 cells subject to different treatment with LPS and/or octreotide. The results were visualized and checked by chromatogram, and the corresponding intensity data were analyzed by the principal component analysis(PCA)method. The metabolites with different expression and the underlying interaction network were resolved. RESULTS: The metabolism analysis by LC/MS method indicated that there were different expression levels between different treated groups. Further analysis was carried out by orthogonal projections to latent structures-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and the different expressed metabolites were obtained, which were mainly amino acids and phospholipids. By analyzing with GC/MS method and t-test, the different expressed metabolites were mainly organic acid, saccharides and amino acid metabolite. The interaction network diagram was constructed about the response of A549 cells induced by LPS and/or octreotide, including glycolysis/gluconenogenesis, tryptophan metabolism, galactose metabolism, urine cycle and citrate cycle. Fourteen key components were found such as serotonin, indole, threonine, serine, glucose, phenylalanine, lactose, fumarate, 4-hydroxyphenyllactate, aspartate, asparagine, putrescine, proline and succinate. CONCLUSION: In octreotide treated LPS-induced A549 cells, the main metabolites are organic acid, saccharides, amino acids and phospholipids. The interaction network is constructed, including 5 metabolic pathways and 14 key components.     

Relationship between antipsychotic medication and metabolic indicators changes in patients with first-episode schizophrenia

AIM: To observe the changes of metabolic indicators in the treatment of first-episode schizophrenia with olanzapine or aripiprazole. METHODS: A total of 99 cases of first-episode schizophrenia inpatients randomly received olanzapine or aripiprazole treatment. Body mass index (BMI) and serum levels of leptin and ghrelin were measured before treatment and at the end of the 4th, 8th and 24th weeks during treatment. The status of the patients and the therapeutic efficacy were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). RESULTS: Serum leptin level in these schizophrenia patients was elevated after treatment with olanzapine or aripiprazole, and was positively correlated with BMI. This change appeared at the early stage of treatment (the end of the 4th week), and continued to the end of the 24th week. The relationship between serum ghrelin level and BMI after treatment was only observed in aripiprazole group (r=−0.291, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Serum leptin in first-episode schizophrenia patients after olanzapine or aripiprazole treatment remains at a high level. The correlation between BMI and serum leptin level is more significant in olanzapine group, while more significant correlation between BMI and serum ghrelin level is observed in aripiprazole group. The effect of aripiprazole on BMI may be achieved through the action of ghrelin.     

Effect of metabolites of Clostridium butyricum,butyric acid and hydrogen,on acute gastric mucosal lesion

AIM: To observe the antiulcer effect of butyric acid and hydrogen, the main metabolites of Clostridium butyricum (C. butyricum), and to explore the underlying mechanism. METHODS: The mouse model of acute gastric mucosal lesion was prepared by gavage with ethanol. The mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal group, model group, butyric acid group and hydrogen group. The mice in butyric acid group and hydrogen group were given butyrate and hydrogen prior to model establishment, respectively. Macroscopic observation of the pathological changes in gastric tissues was performed to evaluate the effect of the 2 metabolites of C. butyricum. Meanwhile, the mRNA expression levels of inflammatory factors, such as IL-12, RAN1 and MCP-1, were determined by RT-qPCR. The expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-2 and Bax were detected by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: The macroscopic observation found that butyrate, not hydrogen, protected gastric mucosa. HE staining also showed that butyrate significantly attenuated the pathological damage of the gastric mucosa induced by ethanol. Compared with model group, the mRNA levels of inflammatory factors IL-12, RAN1 and MCP-1 in butyrate group significantly decreased (P<0.01). In butyrate group, the protein level of Bax was obviously decreased compared with model group (P<0.01), while the protein level of Bcl-2 was significantly increased (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The gastric mucosa protective metabolite of C. butyricum may be butyric acid, not hydrogen. Butyric acid protects the gastric mucosa against ethanol-induced lesion by inhibiting the inflammation and reducing the expression ratio of Bax/Bcl-2.     

Changes of pro-inflammatory cytokines in serum and lung of rats with oleic acid-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome and the effect of anisodamine

AIM: To observe the changes of interleukin-6(IL-6), IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in serum and lung at different time, and the effects of anisodamine (654-2) treatment in rats with oleic acid-induced ARDS. METHODS: The ARDS model induced by intravenous injection of oleic acid in the rat was used and levels of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α in serum and lung tissue supernatant were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Levels of serum and lung tissue IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α in oleic acid type ARDS 4 h group were increased significantly. These cytokines in oleic acid type ARDS 8 h group were lower than that of ARDS 4 h group, but serum IL-6, TNF-α and lung tissue IL-6 were still higher than that of control group . In oleic acid type ARDS 16 h group, serum IL-6, TNF-α were lower than that of the ARDS 8 h group and serum TNF-α and lung tissue IL-6 were higher than that of control group. After 654-2 treatment, the levels of serum and lung tissue IL-6, TNF-α were decreased significantly. CONCLUSION: IL-6, IL-8 and TNF- α might play important roles in the oleic acid-induced ARDS in the rat. 654-2 might alleviate ARDS by inhibiting excess production of IL-6 and TNF-α.     

Effects of general anesthesia on lactic acid,S100B,SOD and MDA in umbilical cord blood and placenta stereology

AIM: To explore the safety of anesthesia for neonates by studying the effects of general anesthesia(GA) and spinal-epidural anesthesia(SA) on the levels of lactic acid, S100B, superoxide dismutase(SOD) and malondialdehyde(MDA) in the umbilical cord blood and placental stereological changes. METHODS: The singleton, term pregnancy of 50 patients for elective cesarean section were assigned to 2 groups:GA group and SA group, with 25 patients in each group. Blood pressure(BP) and heart rate(HR) of the parturient women were monitored and recorded at 6 time points. The Apgar score was calculated at 1 min and 5 min after birth. The gas analysis of the umbilical artery blood, S100B protein concentration, blood lactic acid, SOD and MDA were also measured. Stereological evaluation of the vascular adaptations in the human placental villous capillary was performed. RESULTS: BP, HR, Apgar scores, gas analysis, the pH value of the umbilical artery blood, the serum concentrations of S100B protein and the length density of villous capillaries had no significant change between the 2 groups(P>0.05). The levels of blood lactic acid and SOD in GA group were significantly lower than those in SA group(P<0.01). MDA content and volume density of villous capillaries in GA group were significantly higher than those in SA group(P<0.01). CONCLUSION: General anesthesia for cesarean section was safety for neonates. However, as indicated by the oxidation index, general anesthesia may have some harmful effect on the neonates by oxygen free radicals.     

Levels of PEDF and TNF-α in PBMCs of type 2 diabetic retinopathy patients

AIM:To investigate the roles of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), phosphorylated NF-κB p65 and TNF-α in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in diabetic retinopathy (DR) patients. METHODS:Fifty-two healthy persons were enrolled in the study as normal control group (NC group). Type 2 diabetic patients served as DM group (n=108), which were sub-divided into non-diabetic retinopathy group (NDR group, n=52) and diabetic retinopathy group (DR group, n=56) by angiography. The PBMCs were isolated by the technique of density-gradient centrifugation. The protein levels of PEDF, phosphorylated NF-κB p65 and TNF-α in the PBMCs were determined by Western blotting. The levels of plasma PEDF and TNF-α were detected by ELISA. The content of serum uric acid (SUA) and white blood cell count were measured. RESULTS:The levels of PEDF, TNF-α and phosphorylated NF-κB p65 in the PBMCs were statistically higher in NDR group and DR group than those in control group. The level of TNF-α increased significantly in DR group as compared with NDR group. The levels of PEDF and phosphorylated NF-κB p65 were slightly but not significantly higher in DR group than those in NDR group. The plasma levels of PEDF and TNF-α were evidently elevated in NDR group and DR group compared with NC group, and those were obviously higher in DR group than those in NDR group. In the diabetic patients, the plasma level of PEDF was positively correlated with the levels of TNF-α (r=3.39, P<0.05) and SUA (r=0.25, P<0.05). CONCLUSION:The expression of PEDF in PBMCs is markedly increased, accompanied with the elevation of phosphorylated NF-κB p65 and TNF-α in type 2 diabetic patients especially with DR, suggesting that PEDF is possibly involved in the development of DR by inflammatory mechanism.     

Serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, CRP and D-dimer in patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome

AIM: To determine the changes of the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10, C reactive protein (CRP) and D-dimer in the patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and compare the relationship between the levels of cytokines in early stage and MODS. METHODS: The serum values of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, CRP and D-dimer were measured in 27 patients with MODS in 1 d, 3 d and 5 d after undergoing disease, and compared with the adult peripheral blood of 15 normal controls. The levels in the first undergoing day between the lived group (n=19) and died group (n=8) were compared. RESULTS: The serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, CRP and D-dimer in MODS group were higher than that in control (P<0.05). With the development of the MODS, the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, CRP and D-dimer were higher gradually. The level of IL-10 was increased at the third day. The levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, CRP and D-dimer in the first day of MODS in died group were higher than those in lived group, especially IL-6 and D-dimer (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Determining the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, CRP and D-dimer in MODS patients is helpful to guide the diagnosis and outcome.     

Measurement of serum lipopolysaccharide binding protein for diagnosis and prognosis prediction in septic patients

AIM: To investigate the role of lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) for diagnosis and prognosis prediction in the septic patients. METHODS: A total number of 80 ICU patients were enrolled. The patients were divided into systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) group and sepsis group, the patients in sepsis group were divided into non-survivor sub-group and survivor sub-group. We collected the serum samples and analyzed acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score on the first day of the patients hospitalized in ICU. In addition, we also selected 10 healthy volunteers and collected their serum samples. The serum concentrations of LBP, C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) were measured by ELISA. ROC analysis of LBP, CRP, PCT and APACHE II score was conducted to discriminate among critically ill patients with sepsis and predict the prognosis of the patients with sepsis. RESULTS: The levels of the 4 indicators in the septic patients were higher than those in the patients of SIRS (P<0.05). In addition, serum LBP and APACHE II score in the non-survivor sub-group were higher than those in the survivor sub-group (P<0.05), whereas no difference of the PCT and CRP levels between survivors and non-survivors with sepsis was observed. LBP levels greater than 26.84 mg/L had 97.1% sensitivity and 95.9% specificity to discriminate between SIRS and sepsis. LBP levels greater than 54.16 mg/L had 85.2% sensitivity and 80.0% specificity for prognosis of unfavorable outcome.CONCLUSION: LBP level was more accurately correlated with diagnosis or prognosis prediction than CRP or PCT in patients with sepsis.     

Serum levels of visfatin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in patients with pre-eclampsia and their relationship with insulin resistance

AIM: To explore the serum levels of visfatin (VF) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the patients with pre-eclampsia (PE) and their correlation with insulin resistance (IR). METHODS: The severe PE patients (n=30), mild PE patients (n=30) and normal pregnant women (n=40) were selected according to the classification standard of PE. The serum levels of VF and TNF-α were measured by ELISA. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and fasting insulin (FIns) were detected by glucose oxidase method and radioimmunoassay, respectively. Triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured by an automatic biochemical analyzer. According to calculating the mean arterial pressure (MAP), body mass index (BMI) and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), the correlation between IR and the levels of serum VF as well as TNF-α were analyzed.RESULTS: The levels of VF and TNF-α in severe PE group and mild PE group were significantly lower than those in normal pregnancy group (P<0.05). In addition, the levels of VF and TNF-α in severe PE group were lower than those in mild PE group (P<0.05). Linear correlation analysis showed that serum VF was positively correlated with TNF-α and HDL-C (P<0.05), and negatively with MAP and FIns (P<0.05). The serum TNF-α was positively correlated with HDL-C (P<0.05), and negatively with BMI, TG, MAP and FIns (P<0.05). Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that FBG, FIns and HOMA-IR were relative independent factors of serum VF and TNF-α (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Serum levels of VF and TNF-α are closely related to IR.     

Circulating miRNA-141 as a non-invasive biomarker for prostate cancer detection and prognosis

AIM:To analyze circulating miR-141 in the serum as a non-invasive biomarker in the patients with prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), and healthy individuals. METHODS:A total of 75 patients with PCa, 52 with BPH and 40 healthy individuals were enrolled into this study. Total RNA was isolated from the serum samples and the circulating levels of miR-141 were determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS:The serum levels of miR-141 were significantly higher in the patients with PCa compared to the patients with BPH and the healthy controls (P<0.01). The level of miR-141 in PCa group obviously differed from that in BPH group and healthy control group with high diagnosis performance, with areas under the curve of 0.785 and 0.801, respectively. No statistically significant difference of the serum miR-141 levels between the patients with BPH and healthy individuals was observed (P>0.05). The serum miR-141 level was also found to be related to Gleason score, clinical stage and bone metastasis status of the patients with PCa (P<0.05), and the patients with higher Gleason scores had higher serum miR-141 levels. No relationship was detected between miRNA-141 level and the patient’s age, biochemistry recurrence and serum prostate-specific antigen level (P>0.05 for all comparisons). CONCLUSION: Circulating miR-141 could serve as a non-invasive biomarker for prostate cancer diagnosis, staging and prognosis prediction.