Noninvasive Biomarkers for Alcohol-Related Liver Disease-A Proteomic Related Preliminary Report.

Increased alcohol intake over decades leads to progressive alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) and contributes to increased mortality. It is characterized by reduced platelet count. Platelets have a role in protecting vascular integrity and involved in liver regeneration. Alcohol affects the platelet count and its function. Platelet function is regulated by their proteins, released during pathophysiological conditions. Therefore, platelet proteome plays a vital role during ALD. This preliminary study consists of 10 patients with ALD. It includes the preparation of human platelets for the proteomic approach. We performed liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for the samples. A total of 536 proteins were identified in patients with ALD of which 31 proteins were mentioned as a candidate based on their clinical significance. The advancement of diagnostic or therapeutic tools based on the application of platelet proteins in ALD is still far off. Platform for platelet and its proteome research may give diagnostic and prognostic insights into ALD. Platelet proteomes could possibly be concluded as therapeutic and potential diagnostic or prognostic markers in ALD. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12291-023-01120-9.

Alcoholism and Socioeconomic Status among Patients with Hepatic Encephalopathy in Association with Increased Mortality.

Background: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder indicated by a deterioration in the functioning of hepatocytes. Impaired brain function is observed in advanced alcoholic liver disease particularly manifesting as HE. The pathophysiology of alcohol-related HE remains unclear. Accordingly, this study aimed to assess alcoholism and socioeconomic status of patients with liver disease compared with stages of HE. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 62 alcoholic patients who have been consuming alcohol for more than 14 years. Patients were recruited based on the assessment of clinical symptoms and diagnosed according to the MELD and Child-Pugh scoring systems. Findings: Descriptive statistics including demographic details and clinical features of patients were classified based on alcoholism and socioeconomic status. Patients belonging to the lower- and middle-income classes were more in number with a mean age of 46.66±10.21 and 47.14±6.36 years, respectively compared to upper-middle- and upper-income classes. The amount of alcohol intake was 116.59±45.60 in the middle class and 110.0±62.45 in the upper class. Conclusion: Increased progression of HE leads to a rise in the mortality rate due to higher consumption of alcohol. HE is a severe complication in alcohol-related liver cirrhosis that contributes to impaired cognitive function in patients.

Noncoding RNAs associated with IgA nephropathy.

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is one of the most common glomerulonephritides. The disease is characterized by haematuria, proteinuria, deposition of galactose-deficient IgA1 in the glomerular mesangium and mesangial hypercellularity, further leading to extracellular matrix expansion. Kidney biopsy is the gold standard for IgAN diagnosis. Due to the invasiveness of renal biopsy, there is an unmet need for noninvasive biomarkers to diagnose and estimate the severity of IgAN. Understanding the role of RNA molecules as genetic markers to target diseases may allow developing therapeutic and diagnostic markers. In this review we have focused on intrarenal, extrarenal and extracellular noncoding RNAs involved in the progression of IgAN. This narrative review summarizes the pathogenesis of IgAN along with the correlation of noncoding RNA molecules such as microRNAs, small interfering RNAs, circular RNAs and long non-coding RNAs that play an important role in regulating gene expression, and that represent another type of regulation affecting the expression of specific glycosyltranferases, a key element contributing to the development of IgAN.

Swarna Bindu Prashana-an Ancient Approach to Improve the Infant's Immunity.

Swarna bindu prashana (SBP) is a metallic medicinal preparation widely used in Ayurveda pediatrics. The main ingredients of SBP are swarna prashan (gold nanoparticle), gou ghrita (cow ghee), madhu (honey), and other medhya dravyas (drugs which enhance intellectual, memory). According to the Indian classical text, SBP has been proposed as a potent medicine for immunotherapies and vaccine development due to its indefinite size, shapes, charges, and surface functionality. In this review, we describe the plausible mechanism of SBP in dendritic cells maturation and subsequent T cell activation. But being herbo-metallic preparation, its safety and efficacy are well supported by the classical publications of Ayurveda. To conclude, SBP is an immune booster for infants against any viral disease, and it is necessary to validate its safety and efficacy through systematic methodological research.