The serum levels of gasdermin D in uremic patients and its relationship with the prognosis: a prospective observational cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the serum levels of gasdermin D (GSDMD) in uremic (end-stage kidney disease, ESKD) patients and their correlation with vascular calcification (VC) and clinical results. METHODS: This prospective observational cohort study enrolled 213 ESKD patients who were undergoing regular maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) for > 3 months in our hospital from August 2019 to July 2022. The abdominal aortic calcification score (AACS) was used to assess the VC condition of patients with ESKD. Serum GSDMD, caspase-1, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1ß, IL-18 and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Demographic and clinical data were obtained. All patients were followed up for 1 year, and patients with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were defined as having a poor prognosis. All data used SPSS 26.0 to statistical analyses. RESULTS: The serum total cholesterol (TC) levels of patients in the AACS > 4 group were significantly elevated compared with those in the AACS ≤ 4 group. In addition, ESKD patients with an AACS > 4 had significantly higher serum levels of GSDMD, caspase-1, IL-6, IL-18 and IL-1ß. Moreover, Pearson's analysis supported a positive correlation between GSDMD and caspase-1, IL-6, and IL-1ß. In addition, we found that GSDMD levels were positively correlated with the clinical data (AACS scores and serum TC levels) of patients with ERSD. Additionally, ROC curves showed that the serum levels of GSDMD could be a potential predictive biomarker of moderate/severe VC and prognosis in patients with ESKD. Finally, the results of logistic regression indicated that GSDMD and AACS scores were risk factors for poor prognosis in patients with ESKD. CONCLUSION: Serum GSDMD levels were remarkably elevated in patients with ESKD with moderate/severe calcification. In addition, serum levels of GSDMD could be a potential predictive biomarker of moderate/severe VC and prognosis in patients with ESKD.

Association between serum copper levels and lung cancer risk: A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between serum copper levels and lung cancer risk. METHODS: We searched the electronic PubMed, WanFang, CNKI, and SinoMed databases to identify studies including information on serum copper levels and lung cancer. Standard mean differences and corresponding 95% confidence intervals were calculated using Stata 12.0 software. We performed a meta-analysis on the identified studies overall and according to geographic location. We also evaluated heterogeneity among the studies and the occurrence of publication bias. RESULTS: Thirty-three articles including 3026 cases and 9439 controls were included in our study. The combined results showed that serum copper levels were higher in patients with lung cancer compared with controls without lung cancer, though the results showed high heterogeneity. In a subgroup analysis according to geographic location, significant associations between copper levels and lung cancer were found for both Asian and European populations. No publication bias was detected in this meta-analysis. CONCLUSIONS: High serum copper levels could increase the risk of lung cancer, suggesting that environmental copper exposure may be a risk factor for the development of lung cancer.

Quantitative proteomic analysis of serum proteins in patients with Parkinson's disease using an isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantification labeling, two-dimensional liquid chromatography, and tandem mass spectrometry.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common disease which occurs in aged people with chronic, progressive degenerative character of the central nervous system. Until now there is no effective treatment method in PD patients before they show obvious symptoms for prevention and early diagnosis. In order to find out early disease specific biomarkers, two-dimensional liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry coupled with isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) labeling was employed to quantitatively identify the differentially expressed proteins among the different disease progress types of PD. 26 proteins were differentially expressed in a total of 258 identified proteins by proteomic techniques. The expression level of eight proteins which included sero-transferrin and clusterin increased. The expression level of eighteen proteins which include complement component 4B, apolipoprotein A-I, α-2-antiplasmin and coagulation factor V decreased. Those proteins may be associated with oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, abnormal protein aggregation and inflammation. In this study, the expression level of apolipoprotein A-I decreased, particularly in the early stage of PD patients. This protein regulated not only the lipid metabolism in the central nervous system, but also influenced the deposition process of proteins which are involved in neural degenerative diseases, such as the pathogenesis of PD.

Wernicke encephalopathy following splenectomy in a patient with liver cirrhosis: a case report and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of Wernicke encephalopathy in the early stage after surgery. METHODS: A nonalcoholic female patient with hepatitis B-related cirrhosis and hypersplenism underwent splenectomy in a local hospital. No surgical complications occurred and the patient recovered well. However, on the eighth postoperative day she developed psychiatric and neurological disturbance without an obvious cause. She was then admitted to our hospital. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with FLAIR T2 showed symmetric high-signal intensities in the periaqueductal area of the midbrain, which were consistent with Wernicke encephalopathy. She was thus given intramuscular thiamine immediately. RESULTS: After the administration of thiamine, the patient's confused mental state resolved within 3 d, and her dystaxia gradually improved over the next 5 d. The brain MRI with FLAIR T2 was re-examined one month after the episode, and showed nearly complete resolution of the previously abnormal signal intensities in the periaqueductal area of the midbrain. CONCLUSION: Physicians should be aware of the possibility of acute Wernicke encephalopathy, especially in patients with liver dysfunction.