Serum and urinary carnosinase-1 correlate with kidney function and inflammation.

The carnosinase dipeptidase 1 (CNDP1) gene has been reported as a susceptibility locus for the development of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). While the (CTG)5 allele affords protection in the Caucasian population, we have previously shown that this allele is less frequently present in the Chinese population and therefore a protective role for the (CTG)5 allele is difficult to demonstrate. In the present study, we sought to assess if carnosinase-1 (CN-1) concentrations in serum and/or urine are associated with progression of DKD and to what extent CN-1 influences diabetes-associated inflammation. From a total of 622 individuals that enrolled in our study, 247 patients had type 2 diabetes without DKD, 165 patients had DKD and 210 subjects served as healthy controls. Uni- and multivariate regression analyses were performed to identify potential factors predicting urinary albumin creatinine ratio (UACR), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and CN-1 concentration in serum and urine. The results indicated that serum CN-1 indeed correlated with eGFR (p = 0.001). In addition, urinary CN-1 associated with eGFR and tubular injury indicator: urinary cystatin C (Cys-C) and urinary retinol-binding protein (RBP). Interestingly, serum CN-1 also positively correlated with inflammatory indicators: neutrophils and lymphocytes. With regard to this, a STZ injected C57BL/6 mice model with surgically made skin wound was established for the generation of skin inflammation. This animal model further proved that the expression of CN-1 in liver and kidney increased remarkably in diabetic mice with skin wound as compared to those without. In conclusion, serum and urinary CN-1 significantly related to the surrogates of impaired renal function in diabetic patients; besides, CN-1 expression might also be associated with the process of inflammation.

Ascorbic acid enhances low-density lipoprotein receptor expression by suppressing proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 expression.

Ascorbic acid, a water-soluble antioxidant, regulates various biological processes and is thought to influence cholesterol. However, little is known about the mechanisms underpinning ascorbic acid-mediated cholesterol metabolism. Here, we determined if ascorbic acid can regulate expression of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9), which binds low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) leading to its intracellular degradation, to influence low-density lipoprotein (LDL) metabolism. At cellular levels, ascorbic acid inhibited PCSK9 expression in HepG2 and Huh7 cell lines. Consequently, LDLR expression and cellular LDL uptake were enhanced. Similar effects of ascorbic acid on PCSK9 and LDLR expression were observed in mouse primary hepatocytes. Mechanistically, ascorbic acid suppressed PCSK9 expression in a forkhead box O3-dependent manner. In addition, ascorbic acid increased LDLR transcription by regulating sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2. In vivo, administration of ascorbic acid reduced serum PCSK9 levels and enhanced liver LDLR expression in C57BL/6J mice. Reciprocally, lack of ascorbic acid supplementation in L-gulono-γ-lactone oxidase deficient (Gulo-/-) mice increased circulating PCSK9 and LDL levels, and decreased liver LDLR expression, whereas ascorbic acid supplementation decreased PCSK9 and increased LDLR expression, ameliorating LDL levels in Gulo-/- mice fed a high fat diet. Moreover, ascorbic acid levels were negatively correlated to PCSK9, total and LDL levels in human serum samples. Taken together, these findings suggest that ascorbic acid reduces PCSK9 expression, leading to increased LDLR expression and cellular LDL uptake. Thus, supplementation of ascorbic acid may ameliorate lipid profiles in ascorbic acid-deficient species.

The prevalence and risk factors of prostatic calculi in Han Chinese: a cross-sectional study based on health examinations.

PURPOSE: Prostatic calculi (PCal) are commonly present with prostate disease; we aim to map the incidence and associated clinical risk factors of PCal in Han Chinese. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively selected men who sought a medical check-up in 2018. Basic clinical items, including age, weight, height, prostate specific antigen (PSA), uric acid (UA), fasting blood glucose (FBG), urinalysis results, and transabdominal prostate ultrasound, were recorded. Univariate and logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate whether these factors were associated with the presence of PCal. RESULT: We recorded the parameters of laboratory tests and clinical information from 14,427 men; men with PCal comprised 51.65% of the total group and 76.61% of the subgroup of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) patients. All the enrolled parameters showed meaningful differences, but the logistic regression analysis only indicated significant effects related to age (OR = 1.044, 95% CI = 1.040-1.047, and p < .001), body mass index (BMI) (OR = 1.035, 95% CI = 1.022-1.048, and p < .001), UA (OR = 0.999, 95% CI = 0.999-1.000, and p = .029), BPH (OR = 2.923, 95% CI = 2.678-3.191, and p < .001), and prostate cysts (OR = 0.609, 95% CI = 0.471-0.788, and p < .001). The odds ratio of the predicted combined model is 1.068. CONCLUSIONS: PCal was detected in 51.65% of men among healthy Han Chinese and in 76.61% of BPH patients. Age, BMI, UA, BPH, and prostate cysts were independent risk factors for the presence of PCal.

Hsp70 Gene Polymorphisms Are Associated With Disease Susceptibility and HRQOL Improvement in Chinese Han Population With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to investigate whether heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) gene polymorphisms are implicated in systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) susceptibility, the efficacy of glucocorticoids (GCs) treatment, and improvement of health-related quality of life. METHODS: A total of 499 SLE patients and 499 controls were included in a case-control study, and 468 SLE patients treated with GCs for 12 weeks were involved in a follow-up study. Patients who completed the 12-week follow-up were divided into GCs-sensitive and GCs-insensitive group by using the SLE disease activity index. The SF-36 was used to evaluate the health-related quality of life of SLE patients, and genotyping was performed by improved multiplex ligation detection reaction. RESULTS: rs2075800 was associated with SLE susceptibility (adjusted odds ratio [ORadj], 1.437; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.113-1.855; Padj = 0.005; PBH = 0.020 by dominant model; ORadj, 1.602; 95% CI, 1.072-2.395; Padj = 0.022; PBH = 0.029 by TT vs CC model; ORadj = 1.396; 95% CI = 1.067-1.826; Padj = 0.015; PBH = 0.029 by TC vs CC model). In the follow-up study, rs2075799 was associated with the improvement in mental health (p = 0.004, PBH = 0.044), but we failed to find any association between the efficacy of GCs and Hsp70 gene polymorphisms. CONCLUSIONS: Hsp70 gene polymorphisms may be associated with susceptibility to SLE and improvement of mental health in Chinese Han population.

Association of oestrogen receptor alpha gene polymorphisms with systemic lupus erythematosus risk: An updated meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex, chronic autoimmune disease, and oestrogen is considered to be a predisposing factor for SLE. Although some studies are conducted to explore the association between oestrogen receptor alpha (ERα) gene polymorphisms and SLE susceptibility, their results are inconsistent. METHODS: Meta-analysis was conducted to confirm whether ERα gene polymorphisms were associated with SLE susceptibility, and the strength of association was anticipated by pooled ORs with 95% CIs. Stata software package version 12.0 was used to calculate all the statistical analyses. RESULTS: Twelve studies included 2494 cases and 4176 controls were incorporated in our meta-analysis. A significant association was found for ERα PvuII polymorphism in the overall population (CC+CT vs TT: OR = 1.334, 95% CI = 1.195-1.490, P < 0.001; CC vs TT: OR = 1.401, 95% CI = 1.096-1.791, P = 0.007; CT vs TT: OR = 1.284, 95% CI = 1.141-1.444, P < 0.001; C vs T: OR = 1.221, 95% CI = 1.084-1.375, P = 0.001), while there was no significant association for ERα XbaI polymorphism. Besides, in stratification analyses by ethnicity, the PvuII polymorphism was associated with an increased risk of SLE in Asians (CC+CT vs TT: OR = 1.379, 95% CI = 1.203-1.581, P < 0.001; CT vs TT: OR = 1.308, 95% CI = 1.130-1.515, P < 0.001; C vs T: OR = 1.240, 95% CI = 1.052-1.462, P = 0.010), while for ESR1 XbaI polymorphism, a significantly increased risk of SLE susceptibility was found in Asians (GA vs AA: OR = 1.271, 95% CI = 1.101-1.467, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis indicated that the ERα PvuII polymorphism was significantly associated with SLE susceptibility in the overall and Asian populations, while the ERα XbaI GA genotype only played a key role in SLE susceptibility in Asian populations.

Age, height, BMI and FBG predict prostate volume in ageing benign prostatic hyperplasia: Evidence from 5285 patients.

AIMS: Several studies have reported a potential association between prostate volume (PV) and prostate disease. Here, we classified the risk factors for PV among benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients. METHODS: In all, 4293 BPH patients with available clinical information were enrolled. Body mass index (BMI) was obtained as weight divided by height squared. PV was calculated as length × width × height (cm) × π/6. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to determine the differences between PV subgroups. Univariate and multiple linear regression tests were performed to uncover the connection between clinical features and PV. The differences in the age, BMI, height and fasting blood glucose (FBG) of the subgroups were evaluated by Kruskal-Wallis tests and adjusted with Bonferroni post hoc correction. A nomogram was created to directly illustrate the mutual interaction of amalgamator parameters. RESULTS: PV did not influence the incidence of kidney stones (P = .815), whereas prostate calculi were positively associated with an enlarged prostate (>30 mL) (P < .001). Age (adjusted R = 0.363, P < .001), height (adjusted R = 0.088, P < .001), BMI (adjusted R = 0.039, P = .013) and FBG (adjusted R = -0.034, P = .027) were the independent risk/protective factors related to enlarged PV among BPH patients. The nomogram illustrated the predictive risk of an enlarged prostate (>30 mL) in men. The area under the ROC curve value was 0.659 in the training cohort and 0.677 in an internal validation cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Age, height and BMI were positive independent risk factors of enlarged PV in BPH patients, and FBG had a protective role.

MicroRNAs in alcoholic liver disease: Recent advances and future applications.

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is characterized by hepatocyte damage, inflammatory cell activation, and increased intestinal permeability leading to the clinical manifestations of alcoholic hepatitis. Selected members of the family of microRNAs (miRNAs) are affected by alcohol, resulting in an abnormal miRNA profile in the liver and circulation in ALD. Increasing evidence suggests that miRNAs that regulate inflammation, lipid metabolism and promote cancer are affected by excessive alcohol administration in mouse models of ALD. This communication highlights recent findings in miRNA expression and functions as they relate to the pathogenesis of ALD. The cell-specific distribution of miRNAs, as well as the significance of circulating extracellular miRNAs, is discussed as potential biomarkers. Finally, the prospects of miRNA-based therapies are evaluated in ALD.

Serum dsDNA is environmentally contingent.

Psoriasis is a recurrent autoimmune disease characterized by seasonal and latitudinal variations. Double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) is a crucial component of nucleic acids and nucleosomes that provoke innate immune responses. Given the potential influence of climate on immunity and the development of autoimmune diseases, a comprehensive quantitative analysis of dsDNA levels in the population is warranted. In this case-control study conducted from 2016 to 2020, 10,110 psoriasis patients and matched controls from 12 regions in China were included. This study examined variations in serum dsDNA levels based on season and latitude. The results revealed significant associations between geographical location, climatic conditions, and season with serum dsDNA concentration. Individuals residing in Northern China exhibited significantly higher serum dsDNA levels compared to those in the South (1.00 vs. 0.96 ng/ml), and those in medium latitude regions had higher levels than their counterparts in areas with extreme latitudes (0.98 vs. 0.96 ng/ml). Furthermore, individuals in regions with low to medium ultraviolet exposure demonstrated higher serum dsDNA concentrations than those in areas with high ultraviolet levels (1.03 vs. 0.93 ng/ml), and individuals in winter showed higher levels than those in summer (1.03 vs. 0.92 ng/ml). Factors such as sex, UV index, humidity, and sunshine duration were inversely related to serum dsDNA levels, while age and daylight hours showed a positive association. These findings suggest that meteorological and climatic factors play a role in influencing serum dsDNA levels.

High ambient temperature increases the number of emergency visits for upper urolithiasis in Hefei City, China.

Background: Few studies have examined the effect of ambient temperature on upper urolithiasis in developing countries, with even fewer considering individual factors. Methods: The present study analyzed data on emergency department visits for upper urolithiasis from three hospital sites of a large hospital in Hefei, China, during 2016-2020. Data on environmental factors during the same period were also analyzed. A time series analysis employing a generalized Poisson regression model (GPRM) combined with a distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) was conducted to evaluate the effect of ambient temperature on the number of emergency department visits for upper urolithiasis. Results: We found that ambient temperatures above 9 °C were positively associated with the frequency of upper urolithiasis visits, with the relationship being most significant on the current day and with a one-day lag. In the single-day lag effect, the most significant relative risk (RR) for mild heat (75th percentile) and high heat (95th percentile) was 1.229 (95% CI: 1.100-1.373) and 1.337 (95% CI: 1.134-1.577), respectively. The cumulative lag effect was significantly higher than the single-day lag effect, with maximum relative risks (RRs) of 1.779 (95% CI: 1.356-2.335) and 2.498 (95% CI: 1.688-3.697), respectively. The maximum lag time was 7 days. RRs were also higher among women and individuals aged 30-44 years. Conclusions: Increased ambient temperature is a risk factor for upper urolithiasis, and there is a hysteresis effect. Women and individuals aged 30-44 years are the most susceptible.

Val109Asp Polymorphism of the Omentin-1 Gene and Incidence of Knee Osteoarthritis in a Chinese Han Population: A Correlation Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation of the Val109Asp polymorphism of the omentin-1 gene with the risk and severity of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) in a Chinese Han population. METHODS: This study enrolled 383 patients with primary KOA and 460 healthy controls. The genotypes were determined by the detection of single nucleotide polymorphism. To explore the interaction between omentin-1 gene polymorphism and obesity and age, the body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg/m2 and the age of 55 years old were preset as the cut-off value of stratified analysis. Furthermore, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the levels of omentin-1, interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6 in peripheral blood and synovial fluid and the contents of IL-1ß, IL-6, metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 and collagen (COL)-II in the supernatant of knee joint cartilage tissue. RESULTS: The Val109Asp polymorphism of the omentin-1 gene showed no obvious correlation with KOA. Compared with Asp/Asp genotype carriers with BMI <25 kg/m2 and age <55 years old, Val109 allele carriers with BMI≥25 kg/m2 and age ≥55 years old had obviously increased risk of KOA (adjusted OR = 1.416, p = 0.042; adjusted OR = 1.735, p = 0.038, respectively). In the KOA group, only the omentin-1 levels were significantly lower in the plasma and synovial fluid of Ala/Ala genotype carriers than in those of Asp/Asp genotype carriers. Meanwhile, the proportion of patients with moderate-severe K-L Classification, the levels of IL-1ß, IL-6 in synovial fluid and the expression levels of IL-1ß, IL-6 and MMP-13 in cartilage tissue significantly increased (p < 0.05). By contrast, the expression level of COL-II in cartilage tissue significantly decreased (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The Val109Asp polymorphism of the omentin-1 gene may not be the primary pathogenic factor of KOA in Chinese. The Val/Val genotype can be regarded as a potential biomarker for the risk of KOA progression.

Decrease of peripheral blood mucosal-associated invariant T cells and impaired serum Granzyme-B production in patients with gastric cancer.

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are an invariant T cell subset, which have been reported to play an antimicrobial role in infectious diseases. However, little is known about it in malignant diseases and tumors, especially in gastric cancer (GC). So in this study, we aim to examine the frequency, phenotype, partial functional capacity and clinical relevance of this cells from GC patients' peripheral blood by flow cytometry. It was shown that the frequency of peripheral blood MAIT cells was negatively correlated with their increasing age in healthy adults. Importantly, comparing to the healthy controls (HC), the frequency and the absolute number of MAIT cells from GC patients' peripheral blood with or without chemotherapy were both significantly lower than those. For the phenotype, the proportion of CD4-MAIT cell subset in GC patients without chemotherapy was lower than in HC, but higher than in GC patients with chemotherapy. Whereas, the proportion of CD4-CD8+MAIT cell subset in GC patients without chemotherapy was significantly lower than that in HC. Finally, the level of Granzyme-B (GrB), a molecule associated with MAIT cells was markedly lower in GC patients. But the correlation between the serum levels of GC-associated tumor antigens and the percentages of MAIT cells in GC patients was not observed. In conclusion, our study shows the decreased frequency, changed phenotypes and partial potentially impaired function of MAIT cells in GC patients, suggesting a possible MAIT cell-based immunological surveillance of GC.

Lack of Association Between Helicobacter pylori Infection and the Risk of Thyroid Nodule Types: A Multicenter Case-Control Study in China.

The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection is high worldwide, while numerous research has focused on unraveling the relationship between H. pylori infection and extragastric diseases. Although H. pylori infection has been associated with thyroid diseases, including thyroid nodule (TN), the relationship has mainly focused on potential physiological mechanisms and has not been validated by large population epidemiological investigations. Therefore, we thus designed a case-control study comprising participants who received regular health examination between 2017 and 2019. The cases and controls were diagnosed via ultrasound, while TN types were classified according to the guidelines of the American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (ACR TI-RADS). Moreover, H. pylori infection was determined by C14 urea breath test, while its relationship with TN type risk and severity was analyzed using binary and ordinal logistic regression analyses. A total of 43,411 participants, including 13,036 TN patients and 30,375 controls, were finally recruited in the study. The crude odds ratio (OR) was 1.07 in Model 1 (95% CI = 1.03-1.14) without adjustment compared to the H. pylori non-infection group. However, it was negative in Model 2 (OR = 1.02, 95% CI = 0.97-1.06) after being adjusted for gender, age, body mass index (BMI), and blood pressure and in Model 3 (OR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.97-1.06) after being adjusted for total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein on the basis of Model 2. Control variables, including gender, age, BMI, and diastolic pressure, were significantly correlated with the risk of TN types. Additionally, ordinal logistic regression results revealed that H. pylori infection was positively correlated with malignant differentiation of TN (Model 1: OR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.02-1.11), while Model 2 and Model 3 showed negative results (Model 2: OR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.96-1.06; Model 3: OR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.96-1.05). In conclusion, H. pylori infection was not significantly associated with both TN type risk and severity of its malignant differentiation. These findings provide relevant insights for correcting possible misconceptions regarding TN type pathogenesis and will help guide optimization of therapeutic strategies for thyroid diseases.

[Correlation between Anxiety, Depression and Changes in Th17/Treg and Inflammatory Levels in Patients with Pulmonary Nodules].

BACKGROUND: The incidence of lung cancer is increasing annually. Clinicians pay special attention to lung tests during physical examinations. Due to the popularity of low-dose computed tomography, not only can lung cancer be diagnosed early, but physical examinations often reveal the presence of pulmonary nodules, an important health issue that cannot be ignored. Patients with pulmonary nodules are prone to adverse emotions such as anxiety and depression. Many studies have shown that patients with emotional disorders have immune system dysfunction and changes in inflammation levels. This study aimed to investigate the changes in anxiety, depression, the ratios of T helper cells 17 (Th17) and regulatory T cells (Tregs), and inflammation levels in patients with pulmonary nodules. METHODS: A total of 143 subjects from The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University were included from April 2019 to July 2019. All of the subjects were assessed with the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Overall, 40 cases were healthy controls (HC) and 103 cases were patients with pulmonary nodules. The patients were divided into two groups according to the scale scores: 62 cases in a non-anxiety and non-depression (NAD) group and 41 cases in an anxiety and/or depression (AD) group. The percentage of Th17 and Tregs in the peripheral blood and inflammatory factors in the serum were detected. The absolute Th17 cell counts were calculated and the differences between the groups and correlations between these indicators were analyzed. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences in the percentage of Th17 cells, the absolute counts of Th17 and Th17/Treg cells, and the levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) among three groups (all P<0.001). The AD group was higher than the HC and NAD groups (all P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the HC and NAD groups (all P>0.05). The previously described indicators had no significant correlation with the severity of anxiety and depression (P>0.05). There were no significant differences in the percentage of Tregs or levels of IL-4 and IL-10 between the groups (all P>0.05). The proportion of anxiety and/or depression in female patients with pulmonary nodules was higher than that in males (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with pulmonary nodules are prone to varying degrees of anxiety and depression, which leads to immune dysfunction and low-grade inflammation.

Human papillomavirus infection and follow-up on positive results in 7222 female samples obtained from 2016 to 2019 in Hefei, China.

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection rates in women vary regionally. This study analyzed HPV infection in women of different age groups in Hefei, China, performed follow-up on positive cases, and discussed infection prognoses. METHODS: Samples (7,222) of exfoliated cervical cells were collected in Hefei and tested with an HPV assay kit against 27 HPV genotypes. Statistical software was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The total positive rate of infection was 17.13% (1,068 women), and the 51-60-year age group had the highest HPV infection rate (19.82%). There were statistically significant differences between rates in the 21-30 and 31-40 (P = 0.002), 21-30 and 41-50 (P = 0.0003), 21-30 and 51-60 (P = 0.00003), and 51-60 and >60 age groups (P = 0.046). High-risk infection (15.67%) and single infection (13.01%) were the main types of HPV infection. The dominant genotypes of high-risk infection were HPV 52 (2.42%), HPV 16 (2.01%), HPV 53 (1.43%), HPV 58 (1.32%) and HPV 66 (1.01%). We conducted follow-up on cases in 69 of 94 women who had a history of 1-4 years of positive infection, and in 18 (seven treated, 11 untreated) patients, infection status turned negative (26.09%). Seventeen of the fifty-one women whose infections did not turn negative received treatment. Persistent infection was predominantly observed in high-risk genotypes (56 of 69). CONCLUSIONS: The results recommend that women in Hefei improve health awareness and receive a 9-valent vaccine. Additionally, women with persistent infections should consult a gynecologist to prevent cervical lesions.

The clinical value of the prostatic exosomal protein expression in the diagnosis of chronic prostatitis: a single-center study.

OBJECTIVE: Levels of urinary prostatic exosomal protein (PSEP) were detected to evaluate the clinical potential of PSEP as a diagnostic marker of chronic prostatitis (CP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The level of urinary PSEP was measured in 412 cases by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit, including 202 controls and 210 CP cases. Of the CP patients, 116 cases met the definition of the USA National Institutes of Health category III (NIH-III), with 60 cases of NIH-IIIA and 56 cases of NIH-IIIB. The ages, body mass indexes (BMI), white blood cell (WBC) levels in expressed prostatic secretions (EPS), lecithin body counts in EPS, urine PSEP levels both before and after prostate massage obtained from the CP patients and NIH-CPSI scores were analyzed. RESULTS: In the diagnosis of CP, the PSEP contents in the urine samples before and after prostate massage manifested a sensitivity of 86.93% vs. 61.06%, and a total coincidence rate of 85.24% vs. 61.06%, respectively. The area under the ROC curve was 0.926 vs. 0.709 for the before and after massage PSEP contents, respectively. Besides, during the follow-up of patients with CP, the improvement in symptoms was not correlated with the level changes of PSEP. CONCLUSION: Measurement of PSEP levels for the clinical diagnosis of CP is objective and painless. It could be a novel, simple, and noninvasive method for the diagnosis of CP. However, differences in fluid intake may result in a concentration or dilution of urine, which would ultimately affect the judgment of PSEP results.

Rosiglitazone alleviates intrahepatic cholestasis induced by α-naphthylisothiocyanate in mice: The role of circulating 15-deoxy-Δ12,14 -PGJ2 and Nogo.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Intrahepatic cholestasis is mainly caused by dysfunction of bile secretion and has limited effective treatment. Rosiglitazone is a synthetic agonist of PPARγ, whose endogenous agonist is 15-deoxy-Δ12,14 -PGJ2 (15d-PGJ2 ). Reticulon 4B (Nogo-B) is the detectable Nogo protein family member in the liver and secreted into circulation. Here, we determined if rosiglitazone can alleviate intrahepatic cholestasis in mice. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Wild-type, hepatocyte-specific PPARγ or Nogo-B knockout mice received intragastric administration of α-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) and/or rosiglitazone, followed by determination of intrahepatic cholestasis and the involved mechanisms. Serum samples from primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) patients and non-PBC controls were analysed for cholestasis-related parameters. KEY RESULTS: Rosiglitazone prevented wild type, but not hepatocyte-specific PPARγ deficient mice from developing ANIT-induced intrahepatic cholestasis by increasing expression of bile homeostatic proteins, reducing hepatic necrosis, and correcting abnormal serum parameters and enterohepatic circulation of bile. Nogo-B knockout provided protection similar to that of rosiglitazone treatment. ANIT-induced intrahepatic cholestasis decreased 15d-PGJ2 but increased Nogo-B in serum, and both were corrected by rosiglitazone. Nogo-B deficiency in the liver increased 15d-PGJ2 production, thereby activating expression of PPARγ and bile homeostatic proteins. Rosiglitazone and Nogo-B deficiency also alleviated cholestasis-associated dyslipidemia. In addition, rosiglitazone reduced symptoms of established intrahepatic cholestasis in mice. In serum from PBC patients, the decreased 15d-PGJ2 and increased Nogo-B levels were significantly correlated with classical cholestatic markers. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Levels of 15d-PGJ2 and Nogo are important biomarkers for intrahepatic cholestasis. Synthetic agonists of PPARγ could be used for treatment of intrahepatic cholestasis and cholestasis-associated dyslipidemia.

Genetic Study on Small Insertions and Deletions in Psoriasis Reveals a Role in Complex Human Diseases.

Genetic studies based on single-nucleotide polymorphisms have provided valuable insights into the genetic architecture of complex diseases. However, a large fraction of heritability for most of these diseases remains unexplained, and the impact of small insertions and deletions (InDels) has been neglected. We performed a comprehensive screen on the exome sequence data of 1,326 genes using the SOAP-PopIndel method for InDels in 32,043 Chinese Han individuals and identified 29 unreported InDels within 25 susceptibility genes associated with psoriasis. Specifically, we identified 12 common, 9 low-frequency, and 8 rare InDels that explained approximately 1.29% of the heritability of psoriasis. Further analyses identified KIAA0319, RELN, NCAPG, ABO, AADACL2, LMAN1, FLG, HERC5, CCDC66, LEKR1, AFF3, ABCG2, ANXA7, SYTL2,GIPR, METTL1, and FYCO1 as unreported genes for psoriasis. In addition, identified InDels were associated with the following reported genes: IFIH1, ERAP1, ERAP2, LNPEP, UBLCP1, and STAT3; unreported independent associations for exonic InDels were found within GJB2 and ZNF816A. Our study enriched the genetic basis and pathogenesis of psoriasis and highlighted the non-negligible impact of InDels on complex human diseases.

Body mass index and age at natural menopause: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: There is no universal consensus on the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and age at natural menopause (ANM). The primary bias was confounding by cigarette smoking because smoking was a strong confounding factor related to lower BMI and earlier menopause. This meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the effect of BMI on ANM. METHODS: Medline and EMBASE databases were searched for relevant studies up to December 2013. Studies were selected for analysis based on certain inclusion and exclusion criteria. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CI were extracted to assess the association between BMI and early ANM. RESULTS: Nine studies were selected for this meta-analysis. The HR of early ANM was 1.08 (95% CI, 1.03-1.14; P < 0.01) in underweight women compared with women of normal BMI. Compared with women of normal BMI, overweight women (HR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.91-0.96; P < 0.001) and obese women (HR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.79-1.15; P = 0.59) were associated with late ANM. In addition, the HRs of early ANM in overweight and obese women were 0.92 (95% CI, 0.90-0.94; P < 0.001) and 0.88 (95% CI, 0.82-0.95; P < 0.001), respectively, compared with underweight women. A separate meta-analysis indicated that the results (HR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.81-0.90; P < 0.001) changed markedly in the comparison of obese versus normal-weight women in studies that controlled for smoking. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study indicate that increased BMI modestly associates with later ANM. The relationship between BMI and ANM needs further clarification in well-designed studies, especially studies well-controlled for smoking status.

A cutoff point for arterial stiffness using the cardio-ankle vascular index based on carotid arteriosclerosis.

The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) has been widely accepted as a good indicator of arteriosclerosis. However, the lack of a reliable diagnostic criterion for CAVI hampers the proper clinical screening for arteriosclerosis using CAVI and impedes the prompt treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD). There is an urgent need to determine a criterion for CAVI in arteriosclerosis prevention. We conducted a cross-sectional study to determine this criterion based on receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses in a Chinese population consisting of 328 participants. CAVI was measured in duplicate, and carotid ultrasound detection was performed in a quiet environment by well-trained physicians. After multivariate adjustment, CAVI was positively associated with the risk of carotid arteriosclerosis. Compared with participants in the lowest tertile of CAVI (5.15-7.40), those in the medium (7.41-8.65) and highest (8.66-13.60) tertiles had odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of 2.2 (1.0, 4.9) and 4.4 (1.5, 13.3), respectively, for developing carotid arteriosclerosis (P trend=0.007). The areas under the ROC curve (AUC) of the male, female and pooled populations were 0.789, 0.897 and 0.856, respectively. The cutoff point of CAVI≥8.0 resulted in the largest sensitivity and specificity. Furthermore, CAVI and age acted synergistically to increase the risk of carotid arteriosclerosis. CAVI≥8.0 may be an optimal cutoff point for carotid arteriosclerosis prediction. The older population with higher CAVI scores had a higher risk of carotid arteriosclerosis. Additional large prospective studies are needed to confirm our findings.