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Objective@#To determine the association between the intake of five major types of prepackaged foods and the growth and development of school aged children, so as to provide a theoretical basis for guiding school aged children and their parents to make healthy prepackaged food choices.@*Methods@#Based on data from the South West China Childhood Nutrition and Growth Cohort (SCCNG), 381 children (6-11 years of age) were selected by stratified cluster sampling. Dietary intake and pubertal development were collected using questionnaires, and anthropometric measurements were obtained. Children were followed up until November 2022. Binary Logistic regression models were used to analyze the prospective association between prepackaged food intake and the growth and development of school aged children.@*Results@#The total intake of the five major types of prepackaged foods was 316.1 (197.1,501.4) g/d. After 2 years of follow up evaluations, 16.5% of school aged children were shown to be overweight and obese. Early spermarche occurred in 12.6% of boys and early menarche occurred in 15.4% of girls. The following findings were suggested after adjusting for the mothers education level, average gross monthly family income, whether or not the family had one child only, geographic area of residence, body mass index Z score, average duration of daily exercise, and total dietary energy intake: convenience food intake might increase the risk of early spermarche ( OR =9.37); fruit and vegetable intake might decrease the risk of early spermarche and menarche ( OR =0.33,0.17); and fish, poultry, meat, and egg intake might increase the risk of early menarche ( OR =7.59)( P <0.05). Intake of the five types of prepackaged foods was not associated with being overweight or obese after adjusting for confounders ( OR =1.40, 0.57, 0.73, 1.33,1.57, P >0.05).@*Conclusions@#The relationship between intake of the five major types of prepackaged foods and pubertal development is inconsistent and no significant correlation was detected between the intake of prepackaged foods and overweight or obese children. Nutrition education should be strengthened to help children and their parents choose healthy prepackaged foods.
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Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of elderly-onset gouty arthritis and risk factors of tophi.Methods:A total of 1 239 gout patients were retrospective selected in the outpatient department of the Gout Clinical Medical Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from 2016 to 2022. According to age of onset, they were divided into the young and middle-aged group(aged<60) consisted of 826 cases, and the elderly group(aged≥60) consisted of 413 cases. Compare the clinical characteristics of elderly with Young and Middle-aged patients.Results:The systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, creatinine, regular exercise, comorbidities, and tophi in the elderly group was higher than that in the middle-aged and young group. The proportion of diastolic blood pressure, serum triglycerides, eGFR, serum uric acid, alcohol consumption rate, and family history of gout was lower than that of young and middle-aged group( P<0.05); In the elderly-onset group, the initial site of arthritis was commonly observed in the first metatarsophalangeal joint. The proportion of the first attack with the upper limb joint was higher in old age group than in young and middle age group( P<0.05). Renal underexcretion type was the main subtype in the elderly group, and the proportion of overproduction type was higher than that of the young and middle-aged group( P<0.05). The logistic regression analysis showed that age, urea nitrogen, disease duration≥10 years and family history of gout were risk factors for tophi in elderly patients( P<0.05). Conclusion:The elderly-onset gout has unique clinical characteristics, characterized by a higher prevalence of tophi, a higher rate of complications. An initial site of arthritis commonly observed in the first metatarsophalangeal joint and the predominant type of uric acid excretion is renal excretion impairment. Early diagnosis and treatment, control of blood uric acid levels, smoking cessation and alcohol, regular exercise should be applied to prevent or delay the formation of tophi.
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Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and risk factors of multiple tophi among gout patients.Methods:Gout patients treated at Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from September 2017 to September 2021 were included retrospectively. According to the number of tophi, the patients were divided into the multiple tophi group, the single tophi group and the non-tophi group. Clinical data were collected, biochemical indices and urine pH value were determined. One- way ANOVA or Chi-square test was used to compare groups, and multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors. Results:The age, disease course, blood pressure, serum uric acid, urea nitrogen, and the rate of family history, smoking, drinking, gout attacks≥2 twice per year, hypertension, cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, kidney stones in the multiple tophi group were significantly higher than those in the single tophi group and the non-tophi group. The glomerular filtration rate, urine pH value and the rate of regular exercise were significantly lower than those of single tophi group and non-tophi group. In the multiple tophi group, 245 cases(44.46%) were involved in the interphalangeal joint or metacarpophalangeal joint, 212 cases(38.47%) were involved in other joints of the upper limb, which was second only to the first metatarsophalangeal joint(349 cases, 63.33%). Logistic regression analysis showed that the course of disease, urea nitrogen, serum uric acid, positive family history, drinking, gout attacks ≥twice per year and hypertension were the risk factors for multiple tophi in gout patients. Conclusion:Patients with a long disease course, elevated uric acid, high urea nitrogen, positive family history, alcohol consumption, frequent gout flare and hypertension are more likely to develop multiple tophi.
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Objective:To perform cross-cultural adaption of the KING′s Parkinson′s Disease Pain Scale (KPPS), explore its reliability and validity in Chinese Parkinson′s disease (PD) patients, and to create the new version of the pain scale which adapts to the Chinese PD patients.Methods:This study enrolled 225 patients, including 121 men and 104 women who were selected from the Outpatient Center of Movement Disorders Clinic of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from July 2018 to July 2020. All patients completed the evaluation of the Chinese Version of KPPS (KPPS-CV). According to the preliminary evaluation results, the expert group modified KPPS-CV after discussion, and developed a Modified KPPS-CV (MKPPS-CV). These patients then completed the MKPPS-CV evaluation during the 3-month follow-up. Cross-cultural adaptation was performed according to published international guidelines that include translation, back-translation, expert review, and pretesting. The following psychometric properties were evaluated: basic item analysis; floor and ceiling effects; construct validity; content validity; criterion validity (Spearman′s rho between the KPPS-CV and Numeric Rating Scale); internal consistency reliability (Cronbach′s alpha); test-retest reliability (intra-class correlation coefficient, ICC).Results:In item analysis, 50% of the items had poor discrimination (critical ratio<3.0), and floor effect was found in all domains (proportion of 0 point>15%). The items were reclassified after exploratory factor analysis. The content validity of item 3, item 10 and item 11 was low (item-level content validity index<0.78). Criterion validity showed the highest correlations (Spearman′s rho>0.88) between the KPPS-CV and Numeric Rating Scale. While overall scale reliability was minimally acceptable at 0.46, which showed a poor reliability of this scale. Test-retest reliability was excellent for each item (Spearman's rho>0.85). The Cronbach′s alpha of MKPPS-CV (0.76) was higher than that of KPPS-CV (0.46). It showed a great improvement after the modifying.Conclusions:When using scales that are not developed for local populations, differences in culture and clinical practices should be taken into account. MKPPS-CV is an acceptable, valid measure to evaluate pain in Chinese PD patients, which is more suitable for Chinese people.
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Gastrointestinal symptoms are common nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson′s disease, which are related closely to occurrence and progress of Parkinson′s disease, as well as throughout its whole process. For example, constipation can be an important symptom in prodromal stage of Parkinson′s disease, and gastroparesis would weaken the effect of drug by interfering pharmacokinetics. However, insufficient attention has been paid to the gastrointestinal symptoms of Parkinson′s disease presently, and there are few effective treatments, which compromise the quality of patients′ life greatly. The intervention focus on gut-brain axis, microbiota and gastrointestinal barrier may play a positive role in improving gastrointestinal symptoms and delaying the process of Parkinson′s disease.
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Objective To investigate the difference in the prognosis of hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) caused by hepatitis recurrence after withdrawal of nucleos(t)ide analogues (NUC) and possible causes in HBeAg-positive versus HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Methods A total of 108 CHB patients with HBV-ACLF caused by withdrawal of NUC who were admitted to The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from January 2017 to December 2018 were enrolled, and according to HBeAg status, these patients were divided into HBeAg-positive group with 57 patients and HBeAg-negative group with 51 patients. The two groups were compared in terms of sex, age, clinical manifestation, signs, levels of total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time/international normalized ratio, and HBV DNA quantification on admission, complications (including hepatic encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome, and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis), and prognosis of HBV-ACLF. In addition, 48 CHB patients with continuous NUC antiviral therapy for > 2 years and HBV DNA < 20 IU/mL were enrolled, and the serum level of HBV pgRNA was measured to investigate the possible causes of the difference in the prognosis of HBV-ACLF between the patients with different HBeAg statuses. The two-independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups, and the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups; the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data. Results For the 108 patients with HBV-ACLF caused by drug withdrawal and recurrence, the HBeAg-positive group had an improvement rate of 49.1% and the HBeAg-negative group had an improvement rate of 74.5%. The HBeAg-negative group had a significantly higher improvement rate than the HBeAg-positive group ( χ 2 =2.811, P =0.006). The HBeAg-positive group had a significantly higher level of HBV DNA than the HBeAg-negative group on admission ( t =-3.138, P =0.002). For the 48 CHB patients who achieved virologic response after long-term antiviral therapy, the HBeAg-positive group had a significantly higher HBV pgRNA load than the HBeAg-negative group ( H =2.814, P =0.049). Conclusion Compared with the HBeAg-positive CHB patients, HBeAg-negative CHB patients have a significantly better improvement rate of HBV-ACLF caused by hepatitis recurrence after withdrawal of NUC antiviral therapy. The difference in baseline HBV pgRNA level may be associated with the difference in the prognosis of HBV-ACLF in patients with different HBeAg statuses.
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Objective:To analyze the influencing factors of gout patients and explore whether there is an interaction between serum uric acid and diastolic blood pressure affecting the onset of tophi.Methods:A total of 4 798 gout patients were retrospective selected in the outpatient Department of the Gout Clinical Medical Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from September 2016 to May 2020. It was divided into tophi group and non-tophi group to compare the differences in indicators. A logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of tophi, and an interaction model was constructed to analyze the interactions.Results:Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed significant associations between age, diastolic blood pressure, alcohol consumption history, gout family history, blood uric acid, urea nitrogen, and creatinine clearance and tophi formation. The results of blood uric acid-related interaction analysis showed a significant interaction between blood uric acid and diastolic blood pressure( Pinteraction=0.014), and the risk of developing tophi in low diastolic blood pressure and high diastolic blood pressure group increased by 34.4%( OR=1.344, 95% CI 1.105-1.635, P=0.003) and 95.4%( OR=1.954, 95% CI 1.558-2.450, P<0.001) in the high blood uric acid group compared with the low blood uric acid group. The results of diastolic blood pressure and blood uric acid subgroup analysis showed that there was no statistical difference in the risk of developing tophi in people with low uric acid levels( P=0.238), but in people with high uric acid levels, the risk of developing tophi was 67%( OR=1.670, 95% CI 1.379-2.022, P<0.001) higher than that in the low uric acid group. Conclusion:Age, diastolic blood pressure, combined alcohol consumption history and gout family history, blood uric acid, renal function are related to the occurrence of tophi. High uric acid and high diastolic blood pressure have interaction on the occurrence of tophi. Attention and proactive intervention shall be applied to this group of patients.
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Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics and risk factors of impaired liver and renal function in hospitalized patients with gout.Methods:A total of 494 hospitalized patients with confirmed gout were selected and divided into four groups according to liver and renal function, control(Con), impaired liver function (ILF), impaired renal function (IRF), and both function impaired (ILRF) group. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors related with impaired liver and renal function.Results:Compared to Con group, ILF group were younger with shorter gout duration, higher body mass index, waist circumference, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), serum uric acid, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol, triglycerides, C reactive protein, higher prevalence of dyslipidemia, obesity, fatty liver, and monosodium urate crystal (MSU) deposition (all P<0.05). IRF group were older and with higher serum uric acid, serum creatinine, C reactive protein, and hypertension, MSU deposition prevalence, with lower prevalence of fatty liver (all P<0.05). Compared to ILF group, IRF group were older, with longer gout duration, lower level of body mass index, waist circumference, HOMA-IR, LDL-C, total cholesterol, triglycerides, lower prevalence of obesity, fatty liver, and higher prevalence of hypertension and type 2 diabetes (all P<0.05). The univariate logistic regression analysis showed that age( OR=0.941, 95% CI 0.906-0.977, P<0.001), serum uric acid ( OR=1.002, 95% CI 1.000-1.005, P=0.043), HOMA-IR ( OR=1.147, 95% CI 1.024-1.285, P=0.018), and MSU deposition ( OR=1.959, 95% CI 1.154-3.326, P=0.013) were the independent risk factors of impaired liver function, while the independent risk factors of impaired renal function were age ( OR=1.104, 95% CI 1.048-1.162, P<0.001), serum uric acid ( OR=1.007, 95% CI 1.004-1.010, P<0.001), and MSU deposition ( OR=2.393, 95% CI 1.191-4.805, P=0.014). Conclusions:Serum uric acid and MSU deposition are the common independent risk factors for impaired liver and renal function in patients with gout. Younger patients with insulin resistance are susceptible to impaired liver function, older patients with hypertension and diabetes are susceptible to impaired renal function.
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Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with the formation of subcutaneous tophi among young gout patients.Methods:Gout patients treated at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from September 2016 to June 2020 were included. The clinical information was collected and relevant biochemical indices were detected. Fasting urine was collected to test urine pH value, urine uric acid and urine creatinine. Patients were divided into young tophi group and non-tophi group according to age. The measurement data of normal distribution was expressed as Mean±Standard deviation, and independent sample t test and one-way analysis of variance were used. The counting data was tested by Chi-square test. The risk factors were analyzed by logistic regression. Results:A total of 4 798 primary gout patients were collected. There were 915 patients with subcutaneous tophi, 2 308 young gout patients, 252 young gouty tophi patients among them. The average BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, triglyceride level, serum uric acid level, glomerular filtration rate, alanineamino -transferase (ALT) and aspartate amino -transferase (AST) in the young tophi group were significantly higher than those in the middle-age tophi group ( F=46.074, 2.551, 9.203, 10.370, 15.118, 68.741, 35.023, 5.175, all P<0.05). Average age of disease onset, systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, urine FEUA, Uua/Ucr and urea nitrogen level in young tophi group were significantly lower than those in middle-age tophi group ( F=474.876, 7.629, 6.441, 34.877, 3.633, 50.867, all P<0.05]. The age [(35±7) years old vs (33±7) years old], disease course [(7±4) years vs (4±3) years], blood pressure [(139±17) mmHg vs (135±16) mmHg], [(90±13) mmHg vs (86±12) mmHg], serum triglyceride [(2.6±2.1) mmol/L vs (2.4±2.0) mmol/L], total cholesterol [(4.9±1.4) mmol/L vs (4.6±1.4) mmol/L], serum uric acid [(547±171) μmol/L vs (490±160) μmol/L], urea nitrogen [(5.0±2.0) mmol/L vs (4.4±1.7) mmol/L], family history (27.0% vs 19.6%) and smoking rate(56.0% vs 48.9%) of tophi patients were significantly higher than those of non-tophi patients in young patients ( t=4.717, P<0.05; t=12.838, P<0.05; t=3.414, P<0.05; t=4.676, P<0.05; t=2.085, P<0.05; t=2.451, P<0.05; t=5.308, P<0.05; t=4.090, P<0.05; χ2=7.423, P<0.05; χ2=4.235, P<0.05) . The age of disease onset [(28±6) years vs (29±7) years] and glomerular filtration rate [(96±21) ml·min -1·1.73 m -2vs (103±21) ml·min -1·1.73 m -2] were statistically significantly lower than those of non-tophi patients ( t=-2.711, P<0.01; t=-4.907, P<0.01). Logistics regression analysis showed that age, course of disease, blood pressure, blood lipids level, serum uric acid level, family history of gout and smoking were risk factors for the formation of tophi in young people. After further adjusted for age, course of disease and family history of gout, it was found that serum uric acid, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and urea nitrogen remined risk factors for tophi, while glomerular filtration rate remained a protective factor in young patients. Conclusion:Young tophi patients are always obese and have lipid metabolism disorder. Young patients with high level of serum uric acid and blood pressure, decreased renal function are prone to complicate with subcutaneous tophi. More attention should be paid in clinical practice to prevent or delay the formation of tophi.
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Objective:To screen gene mutation information of gout pedigree through whole genome sequencing and to carry out preliminary analysis.Methods:One typical gout pedigree was selected as the study subjects. The clinical data and the peripheral blood samples were collected and constructed charts of the pedigree. DNAs were extracted from peripheral blood and analyzed by the whole genome sequencing, and by the software analysis and comparison, screening out the pathogenic genes and related mutations. Then the verifications were conducted in the family members and the controls. Bioinformatics software was applied to predict the effect of mutation on gene expression.Results:Based on the sequencing results, advanced informational analysis was performed to screen out the mutations 1040-8 A> G near the 5 ′end near the exon 8 of the PLAA gene. The results showed that all the gout patients in the family had 1040 -8 A> G sites, and none of the mutants were found in the non-gout group and 200 controls; bioinformatics analysis suggested that the mutation could affect PLAA gene expression, but not affecting PLAA mRNA structure.Conclusion:PLAA gene 1040-8 A> G mutation is separated from patients in the gout pedigree, and the newly discovered PLAA gene may act as a gout pathogenic gene.
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Objective:To investigate the risk factors for susceptibility of abnormal liver function in patients with gout.Methods:A total of 5 044 cases of male gout patients in remission were selected and divided into normal liver function group with 3 693 patients and abnormal liver function group with 1 351 patients. The clinical information was collected and relevant biochemical indices were detected. Serum uric acid(SUA) was divided into quartiles, and its associations with elevated ALT were evaluated.Results:There were significant differences in the history of drinking, family history, combining with hyperlipidemia, fatty liver, and coronary heart disease between the abnormal liver function group and normal function group( P<0.05 or P<0.01). There were significant statistical differences in age, disease duration, body mass index, waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure, serum cholesterol and triglyceride, uric acid, and creatinine clearance rate between 2 groups( P<0.01), while without significant difference in history of smoking, regular exercise, combining hypertension and diabetes, the means of systolic blood pressure, and fasting blood glucose(all P>0.05). Further logistic regression analysis indicated that body mass, waist circumference, combining fatty liver, higher SUA level, higher cholesterol and triglyceride were risk factors of the early onset of abnormal liver function. ALT and the proportion of abnormal liver function were increased with the increase of UA. After adjustment for BMI, TG, TC and fatty liver, the ALT level and the proportion of abnormal liver function decreased significantly while still showed an upward trend. Conclusion:Patients with obesity, high level of uric acid, high blood lipids and fatty liver were more likely to develop abnormal liver function, SUA was independently associated with elevated ALT.
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Objective:To explore the risk factors for hypogonadism in male patients with hyperuricemia(HUA).Methods:A total of 245 male patients with HUA were enrolled. Height, weight, waist circumference (WC), blood pressure, serum uric acid(SUA), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase, glutamyltranspeptidase, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, fasting blood glucose (FPG), fasting insulin (FINS)and sex hormones were measured in all patients. And then body mass index (BMI), free testosterone(FT), and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR)were calculated. Male androgen deficiency questionnaire (ADAM)and male aging symptom questionnaire (AMS)were conducted. The patients were divided into hypogonadism group ( n=102)and normal gonadal function group ( n=143) according to FT level as well as ADAM and AMS questionnaires. The differences in different metabolic indicators between the two groups and the correlation with hypogonadism were analyzed. Results:Compared with the normal gonadal function group, WC, SUA, BMI, FPG, FINS, HOMA-IR, TG, and ALT were significantly increased, while estradiol level was significantly reduced in the hypogonadism group (all P<0.05). The proportions of nonalcoholic fatty liver, hyperlipidemia, and obesity were significantly increased in the hypogonadism group (all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that SUA, BMI, WC, HOMA-IR, and TG were independent risk factors for hypogonadism in male HUA patients. Multivariate regression analysis showed that SUA still was a risk factor after adjusting for other factors. Conclusion:Male patients with HUA were often accompanied by hypogonadism. SUA, BMI, WC, HOMA-IR, and TG were risk factors for hypogonadism in male patients with HUA.
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Objective:To investigate the therapeutic effect and influencing factors of alkalized urine in patients with gout, thus providing the basis for the clinical treatmeat.Methods:A total of 90 cases of gout patients in remission without alkalization of urine and lowering uric acid treatment were selected from January 2019 to June 2019. All patients were given a low purine diet (purine intake<200 mg/d). 90 patients were randomly divided into different drugs of alkalized urine groups according to rardom number table: sodium bicarbonate group, taking potassium sodium hydrogen citrate 1.0 g tid; the citrate granule group, taking potassium sodium hydrogen citrate 2.5 g tid; and control group, taking low purine diet only. On the 5th day of treatment, fasting urine in the morning was retained, breakfast was prescribed, and alkalized urine drugs were taken after the meal. Their urine pH was determined at 1 h, 2 h, 3 h, and 4 h after the medicine taken, and copmare the changes of urine pH in different groups. Taking urine pH 6.2 as cut-off point, patients receiving alkalized urine drugs were divided into the standard group (urine pH≥6.2) and the non-standard group (urine pH<6.2) according to their mean urine pH at 2 h, 3 h, and 4 h after taking medicine. Finally, the influencing factors of urine pH were compared between the groups.Results:There were no significant differences in fasting urine pH between the sodium bicarbonate group and the control group, but the urine pH of 2 h and 3 h after sodium bicarbonate taken were significantly higher than the control group ( P<0.05). The urine pH of the citrate granule group was higher than the control group and the sodium bicarbonate group on fasting and at any time after taking drugs ( P<0.05 or P<0.01). The peak pH value of urine in the sodium bicarbonate and citrate granule groups was 4 h after taking drugs, followed by 2 h and 3 h. There were statistically significant differences in body mass index, waist circumference, and blood pressure between the standard and non-standard groups ( P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion:Fasting urine pH alone can not be used as an index for the efficacy of alkalized urine, it is recommended to refer to the pH value of 2-4 h after taking drugs. The efficacy of potassium sodium hydrogen citrate was better than that of sodium bicarbonate. Obesity or overweight seems to be an adverse factor affecting the alkalized urine.
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Objective@#To investigate the risk factors for susceptibility of abnormal liver function in patients with gout.@*Methods@#A total of 5 044 cases of male gout patients in remission were selected and divided into normal liver function group with 3 693 patients and abnormal liver function group with 1 351 patients. The clinical information was collected and relevant biochemical indices were detected. Serum uric acid(SUA) was divided into quartiles, and its associations with elevated ALT were evaluated.@*Results@#There were significant differences in the history of drinking, family history, combining with hyperlipidemia, fatty liver, and coronary heart disease between the abnormal liver function group and normal function group(P<0.05 or P<0.01). There were significant statistical differences in age, disease duration, body mass index, waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure, serum cholesterol and triglyceride, uric acid, and creatinine clearance rate between 2 groups(P<0.01), while without significant difference in history of smoking, regular exercise, combining hypertension and diabetes, the means of systolic blood pressure, and fasting blood glucose(all P>0.05). Further logistic regression analysis indicated that body mass, waist circumference, combining fatty liver, higher SUA level, higher cholesterol and triglyceride were risk factors of the early onset of abnormal liver function. ALT and the proportion of abnormal liver function were increased with the increase of UA. After adjustment for BMI, TG, TC and fatty liver, the ALT level and the proportion of abnormal liver function decreased significantly while still showed an upward trend.@*Conclusion@#Patients with obesity, high level of uric acid, high blood lipids and fatty liver were more likely to develop abnormal liver function, SUA was independently associated with elevated ALT.
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Objective@#To screen gene mutation information of gout pedigree through whole genome sequencing and to carry out preliminary analysis.@*Methods@#One typical gout pedigree was selected as the study subjects. The clinical data and the peripheral blood samples were collected and constructed charts of the pedigree. DNAs were extracted from peripheral blood and analyzed by the whole genome sequencing, and by the software analysis and comparison, screening out the pathogenic genes and related mutations. Then the verifications were conducted in the family members and the controls. Bioinformatics software was applied to predict the effect of mutation on gene expression.@*Results@#Based on the sequencing results, advanced informational analysis was performed to screen out the mutations 1040-8 A> G near the 5 ′end near the exon 8 of the PLAA gene. The results showed that all the gout patients in the family had 1040 -8 A> G sites, and none of the mutants were found in the non-gout group and 200 controls; bioinformatics analysis suggested that the mutation could affect PLAA gene expression, but not affecting PLAA mRNA structure.@*Conclusion@#PLAA gene 1040-8 A> G mutation is separated from patients in the gout pedigree, and the newly discovered PLAA gene may act as a gout pathogenic gene.
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OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effect of calmodulin (CaM) and its mutants on binding to voltage-gated Na channel isoleucine-glutamine domain (Na1.2 IQ).@*METHODS@#The cDNA of Na1.2 IQ was constructed by PCR technique, CaM mutants CaM, CaM and CaM were constructed with Quickchange site-directed mutagenesis kit (QIAGEN). The binding of Na1.2 IQ to CaM and CaM mutants under calcium and calcium free conditions were detected by pull-down assay.@*RESULTS@#Na1.2 IQ and CaM were bound to each other at different calcium concentrations, while GST alone did not bind to CaM. The binding affinity of CaM and Na1.2 IQ at [Ca]-free was greater than that at 100 nmol/L [Ca] ( < 0.05). In the absence of calcium, the binding amount of CaM wild-type to Na1.2 IQ was greater than that of its mutant, and the binding affinity of CaM to Na1.2 IQ was the weakest among the three mutants ( < 0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The binding ability of CaM and CaM mutants to Na1.2 IQ is Ca-dependent. This study has revealed a new mechanism of Na1.2 regulated by CaM, which would be useful for the study of ion channel related diseases.
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Calcium , Metabolism , Calmodulin , Genetics , Metabolism , Mutation , Metabolism , Protein Binding , GeneticsABSTRACT
Objective Obesity is one of the risk factors for gout.The aim of the present study was to evaluate clinical characteristics of gout patients with different BMI.Methods A total of 5 104 patients with gout were enrolled and divided into three groups according to the BMI.The clinical information was collected and relevant biochemical indices were detected.SPSS software was applied for the statistical analyses.Results There were significant differences in the ratios of gender,regular exercise,hypertension,tophus,renal insufficiency,hyperlipidemia,impaired glucose metabolism,liver dysfunction among the three groups (all P＜0.01).The onset age in overweight [45(36,55) years] and obese subjects [40(31,50)years] were earlier than that of the normal weight subjects [50 (38,61) years].Moreover,waist circumstances [103(99,108) cm and 94 (90,98) cm vs 87 (82,91) cm],systolic pressure [130 (120,145) mmHg (1 mmHg =0.133 kPa) and 130 (120,140) mmHg vs 128 (115,140) mmHg],diastolic pressure [90 (80,100) mmHg and 85 (80,92) mmHg vs 80 (79,90) mmHg],fasting blood glucose [5.77 (5.30,6.44) mmol/L and 5.65 (5.19,6.26) mmol/L vs 5.55 (5.10,6.15) mmol/L],TG [2.10 (1.46,3.04) mmol/L and1.88 (1.35,2.78) mmol/L vs 1.52 (1.07,2.39) mmol/L],TC [5.20 (4.55,5.93) mmol/L and 5.07 (4.46,5.75) mmol/L vs 4.95 (4.27,5.65) mmol/L],serum uric acid [483(418,552) μmol/L and461(395,524) μmol/L vs440 (368,517) μmol/L],ALT [30 (21,46) U/L and25 (18,36) U/L vs 21 (14,29) U/L],AST [21(17,28) U/L and 20 (17,26) U/L vs 20 (6,25) U/L],the number of joints involved [2 (1,3) joints and 2 (1,2) joints vs 1 (1,2) joints] in the overweight and obese groups were higher than those in the normal weight group (all P ＜ 0.01).There were no statistical differences in family history,involvement of upper limb joints,kidney stones and coronary heart disease among the three groups (all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Obesity is associated with an earlier age of gout onset.With the increase of BMI,the blood pressures,glucose,lipid,serum uric acid,liver transaminase levels and the number of involved joints increased gradually.Cautions should be taken in treating patients with different BMI.
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Objective To discuss the risk factors for susceptibility of subcutaneous tophi with an aim to provide clinical evidence for the prevention and treatment of tophi.Methods A total of 5 321 cases of gout patients whose course of disease was less than 10 years were selected and divided into two groups according to whether a subcutaneous tophus was present. The clinical information was collected and relevant biochemical indices were detected.Results There were significant differences in the ratios of regular exercise, involvement of upper limb joints, combining renal insufficiency, kidney stone and coronary heart disease between the tophus group and the non-tophus group(P0.05). Further logistic regression analysis indicated that disease duration, a large number of joints involved, the involvement of upper limb joints, combining kidney stones, higher serum uric acid level, and higher diastolic pressure were risk factors of the early onset of subcutaneous tophi, while regular exercise and body mass index were protective factors.Conclusion Patients with long duration, high serum level of uric acid, a large number of joints involved, upper limb joint involved, kidney stones, and hypertension were more likely to develop subcutaneous tophi. These risk factors should be intervened actively in clinic.
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Objective To study the impact of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and its antagonist on the expressions of intestinal mucosa claudin-1,Zonula Occludens-1 (ZO-1) and myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) in rat models of acute liver failure.Methods Fifty four healthy male SpragueDawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into normal control group,model group and intervention group according to a random number table.Rats in normal control (n=6) group were intraperitoneally injected with 0.9％ saline (12 mL/kg).Rats in model group (n=24) and intervention group (n=24) were intraperitoneally injected with a full dose of D-galactosamine (D-GalN) at a dose of 1 200 mg/kg to establish model of acute liver failure,while rats in intervention group were intraperitoneally injected with TNF-α antagonists (rhTNFR∶Fc) at a dose of 12.5 mg/kg before 24 hours given D-GalN.At each time point of hour 8,24,48 and 72,six rats in both model group and the intervention group were sacrificed,respectively,while the normal control group were all anesthetized and sacrificed at 72 h.Models were repeated five times.Serum liver function was detected by biochemical method,and serum TNF-α level was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) stained sections of liver and terminal ileum were examined under an optical microscope for pathological changes;and protein expression of the terminal ileum Claudin-1,ZO-1 protein and MLCK were determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.Means among groups were compared with t test.Results Acute liver failure was successfully induced in the D-GalN injected rats.In the model group,alanine aminotransferase (ALT) began to decline,total bilirubin continued to rise,and enzyme-jaundice separation developed at hour 72.But total bilirubin in intervention group at hour 72 was decreased.Light microscope showed that at hour 72,villus lodged at terminal ileum in the model group with part of villus tip failing off in the model group.Villus mucosa and submucosa interstitial were edema and infiltrated with numerous neutrophils.The terminal ileum kept integrate in the intervention group,and villus mucosa and submucosa were mild edema and only infiltrated with a small amount of neutrophil.Expressions of tumor necrosis necrosis factor (TNF)-α in rats of model group and intervention group were gradually increased and peaked at hour 24 ([239.83 ± 15.81] and [182.71± 17.08] ng/L,respectively),which were significantly higher than that of the control group ([24.19±3.57] ng/L,t=22.68and 15.73,respectively;both P＜0.01).Expression of serumTNF-α in the intervention group was significantly lower than that of model group (t=4.58,P＜0.01).Expressions of Claudin-1 and ZO-1 in model group decreased gradually at an early stage and reached the lowest level at hour 24 (0.355 ± 0.068 and 0.387 ± 0.091,respectively),which were both significantly lower than that of control group (1.640±0.188 and 1.015±0.150,respectively;t=12.87 and 7.14,respectively;both P＜0.01).In the intervention group,expressions of Claudin-1 and ZO-1 also decreased to the lowest level at hour 24 (1.051 ± 0.370 and 0.642 ± 0.082,respectivley),which were both significantly lower than that of control group (t =2.84 and 4.36,respectively;both P＜0.05),but significantly higher than model group with stastically difference (t =3.70 and 4.15,respectively;both P＜0.01).MLCK protein levels in the model and intervention group were gradually increased,which peaked at hour 24 (1.298±0.194 and 1.033 ± 0.073,respectively),significantly higher than the control group (0.460±0.069,t=8.16 and 11.44,both P＜0.01);and MLCK in the intervention group was lower than that in the model group with statistically difference (t=2.56,P＜0.05).Conclusions Expression of serum TNF-α in rat model of acute liver failure increases,which leads to decreased expression of Claudin-1 and ZO-1,and increased expression of MLCK,makes cell shrunk and cell gap increased.TNF-α antagonist could significantly reduce the inflammation and liver cell apoptosis,improve liver function by inhibiting MLCK expression and preventing decrease of Claudin-1 and ZO-1 proteins.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the intestinal expression of defensin-5 (RD-5), soluble phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) and lysozyme in acute liver failure (ALF) using rat models, and to determine the relation of these expressions to intestinal bacterial translocation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-eight healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into a control group (n=8) and a model group (n=40; intraperitoneal injection of 10% D-galactosamine). The model group was further divided into five subgroups according to the time lapse after model establishment (8, 16, 24, 48, and 72 hours). At the end of the experiments, homogenates of mesenteric lymph nodes, liver and spleen were cultured in agar for bacterial outgrowth.Hematoxylin-eosin stained sections of liver and terminal ileum were examined under an optical microscope to assess pathological changes. mRNA expression of RD-5, sPLA2 and lysozyme in the terminal ileum was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase reaction (RT-PCR), and protein expression of sPLA2 and lysozyme from the same anatomic location was determined by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Means between groups were compared with one-way analysis of variance.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>ALF was successfully induced in the D-galactosamine injected rats. No bacteria grew in the organ cultures from the control group, while 8.3%, 37.5% and 58.3% of the rats in the 24-, 48-and 72-hour model groups showed positive cultures. Despite this, the structure of the terminal ileum from the rats in the 72-hour model group was nearly intact, without obvious necrosis of mucosal epithelial cells. Expression of RD-5 and sPLA2 mRNA in the model groups gradually increased at early time points and peaked at 16 hours after induction of ALF (1.291+/-0.153 and 1.131+/-0.128), which was significantly higher than that detected in the control group (0.725+/-0.116 and 0.722+/-0.112, t=69.25, 95.71, all P<0.01). After that, the expression of RD-5 and sPLA2 mRNA progressively decreased, and by 72 hours after the induction of ALF, the expression (0.415+/-0.104 and 0.425+/-0.076) was significantly lower than that of the control group (t=31.55 and 44.98, all P<0.01). Lysozyme mRNA expression in the model group peaked at 8 hours after ALF induction (1.211+/-0.107), which was higher than that of the control group at this time point (0.853+/-0.093), and by 72 hours after ALF induction it declined to 0.704+/-0.103, which was significantly lower than that of the control group (t=9.224; all P=0.009). In addition, at 72 hours after ALF induction the protein expression of both lysozyme and sPLA2 was significantly lower in the model group (0.327+/-0.086 and 0.382+/-0.057) than in the control group (0.583+/-0.121 and 0.650+/-0.093, t=12.28 and 15.83, P=0.004 and 0.001). Similar results were obtained with immunohistochemical staining.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The function of the ileal mucosal immune barrier in the rat model of acute liver failure decreased, along with decreases in expression of RD-5, sPLA2 and lysozyme in the Paneth cells.At the same time, the rate of organ bacterial translocation increased without obvious injury to the intestinal mucosa structure.</p>