DZ2002 alleviates corneal angiogenesis and inflammation in rodent models of dry eye disease via regulating STAT3-PI3K-Akt-NF-κB pathway.

Dry eye disease (DED) is a prevalent ocular disorder with a multifactorial etiology. The pre-angiogenic and pre-inflammatory milieu of the ocular surface plays a critical role in its pathogenesis. DZ2002 is a reversible type III S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase (SAHH) inhibitor, which has shown excellent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activities in vivo and in vitro. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of DZ2002 in rodent models of DED. SCOP-induced dry eye models were established in female rats and mice, while BAC-induced dry eye model was established in female rats. DZ2002 was administered as eye drops (0.25%, 1%) four times daily (20 µL per eye) for 7 or 14 consecutive days. We showed that topical application of DZ2002 concentration-dependently reduced corneal neovascularization and corneal opacity, as well as alleviated conjunctival irritation in both DED models. Furthermore, we observed that DZ2002 treatment decreased the expression of genes associated with angiogenesis and the levels of inflammation in the cornea and conjunctiva. Moreover, DZ2002 treatment in the BAC-induced DED model abolished the activation of the STAT3-PI3K-Akt-NF-κB pathways in corneal tissues. We also found that DZ2002 significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and tube formation of human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVECs) while downregulating the activation of the STAT3-PI3K-Akt-NF-κB pathway. These results suggest that DZ2002 exerts a therapeutic effect on corneal angiogenesis in DED, potentially by preventing the upregulation of the STAT3-PI3K-Akt-NF-κB pathways. Collectively, DZ2002 is a promising candidate for ophthalmic therapy, particularly in treating DED.

MicroRNA alteration in cerebrospinal fluid from comatose patients with traumatic brain injury after right median nerve stimulation.

Electrical stimulation of the right median nerve can aid coma arousal after traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study aimed to confirm the efficacy further and explore possible mechanisms of right median nerve electrical stimulation (RMNS). Five comatose patients after severe TBI from May to September 2020 in the Tianjin Medical University General Hospital received RMNS for 2 weeks besides standard management. After the 2-week treatment, the mean Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and neurophysiological examination were used. We then investigated the alterations in microRNA (miRNA) expression in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by high-throughput whole transcriptome sequencing, analyzed the data by Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway analysis, and constructed the miRNA-target gene network. Patient awareness and brain function showed a more rapid increase after treatment. We also found 38 differently expressed miRNAs, 34 of which were upregulated and 4 downregulated. GO analysis showed a relation of these differentially expressed miRNAs with neuronal growth, repair, and neural signal transmission. The most highly correlated pathways were primarily associated with the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway and dopaminergic synapse. The application of RMNS effectively promoted early awakening in comatose patients with severe TBI. Moreover, differentially expressed miRNAs might reduce neuronal apoptosis and increase dopamine levels by regulating target gene expression, thus participating in the specific biological process after arousal therapy. Our study provided novel targets for further research on the molecular mechanisms of RMNS arousal treatment and a new way to treat neurotraumatic diseases.

Epithelial cell adhesion molecule promotes breast cancer resistance protein-mediated multidrug resistance in breast cancer by inducing partial epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Overexpression of breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) plays a crucial role in the acquired multidrug resistance (MDR) in breast cancer. The elucidation of molecular events that confer BCRP-mediated MDR is of major therapeutic importance in breast cancer. Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) has been implicated in tumor progression and drug resistance in various types of cancers, including breast cancer. However, the role of EpCAM in BCRP-mediated MDR in breast cancer remains unknown. In the present study, we revealed that EpCAM expression was upregulated in BCRP-overexpressing breast cancer MCF-7/MX cells, and EpCAM knockdown using siRNA reduced BCRP expression and increased the sensitivity of MCF-7/MX cells to mitoxantrone (MX). The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) promoted BCRP-mediated MDR in breast cancer cells, and EpCAM knockdown partially suppressed EMT progression in MCF-7/MX cells. In addition, Wnt/ß-catenin signaling was activated in MCF-7/MX cells, and the inhibition of this signaling attenuated EpCAM and BCRP expression and partially reversed EMT. Together, this study illustrates that EpCAM upregulation by Wnt/ß-catenin signaling induces partial EMT to promote BCRP-mediated MDR resistance in breast cancer cells. EpCAM may be a potential therapeutic target for overcoming BCRP-mediated resistance in human breast cancer.

Properties, evaluation and application of naringin magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer based on synergistic imprinting strategy.

A novel and facile surface molecularly imprinted polymer coated on magnetic chitosan (Fe3O4@CS@MIP) was fabricated for the selective recognition and enrichment of naringin (NRG). The Fe3O4@CS@MIP was prepared based on covalent-noncovalent synergistic imprinting strategies, utilizing 4-vinyl phenyl boric acid as covalent functional monomer, deep eutectic solvent (choline chloride/methacrylic acid [ChCl/MAA]) as non-covalent functional monomer and Fe3O4@CS nanoparticles as the magnetic support. The obtained Fe3O4@CS@MIP exhibited a uniform morphology, excellent crystallinity, outstanding magnetic properties, and high surface area. Owing to the double recognition abilities, the resultant polymer showed exceptional binding performance and rapid mass transfer in phosphate buffer (pH 7.0). The maximum binding amount of Fe3O4@CS@MIP was found to be 15.08 mg g-1, and the equilibrium adsorption could be achieved within 180 min. Moreover, they also exhibited stronger selectivity for NRG and satisfactory reusability, with only 11.0% loss after five adsorption-desorption cycles. Additionally, the Fe3O4@CS@MIP, serving as an adsorbent, presented practical application potential in the separation and enrichment of NRG from pummelo peel, with extraction efficiency in the range of 79.53% to 84.63%. This work provided a new strategy for improving the performance of MIP and contributed an attractive option for the extraction of NRG in complex samples.

Single-cell transcriptomics of blood identified IFIT1+ neutrophil subcluster expansion in NTM-PD patients.

OBJECTIVE: Non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) is caused by an imbalance between pathogens and impaired host immune responses. Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and Mycobacterium abscessus (MAB) are the two major pathogens that cause NTM-PD. In this study, we sought to dissect the transcriptomes of peripheral blood immune cells at the single-cell resolution in NTM-PD patients and explore potential clinical markers for NTM-PD diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were collected from six NTM-PD patients, including three MAB-PD patients, three MAC-PD patients, and two healthy controls. We employed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to define the transcriptomic landscape at a single-cell resolution. A comprehensive scRNA-seq analysis was performed, and flow cytometry was conducted to validate the results of scRNA-seq. RESULTS: A total of 27,898 cells were analyzed. Nine T-cells, six mononuclear phagocytes (MPs), and four neutrophil subclusters were defined. During NTM infection, naïve T-cells were reduced, and effector T-cells increased. High cytotoxic activities were shown in T-cells of NTM-PD patients. The proportion of inflammatory and activated MPs subclusters was enriched in NTM-PD patients. Among neutrophil subclusters, an IFIT1+ neutrophil subcluster was expanded in NTM-PD compared to healthy controls. This suggests that IFIT1+ neutrophil subcluster might play an important role in host defense against NTM. Functional enrichment analysis of this subcluster suggested that it is related to interferon response. Cell-cell interaction analysis revealed enhanced CXCL8-CXCR1/2 interactions between the IFIT1+ neutrophil subcluster and NK cells, NKT cells, classical mononuclear phagocytes subcluster 1 (classical Mo1), classical mononuclear phagocytes subcluster 2 (classical Mo2) in NTM-PD patients compared to healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: Our data revealed disease-specific immune cell subclusters and provided potential new targets of NTM-PD. Specific expansion of IFIT1+ neutrophil subclusters and the CXCL8-CXCR1/2 axis may be involved in the pathogenesis of NTM-PD. These insights may have implications for the diagnosis and treatment of NTM-PD.

Deep-Learning Driven, High-Precision Plasmonic Scattering Interferometry for Single-Particle Identification.

Label-free probing of the material composition of (bio)nano-objects directly in solution at the single-particle level is crucial in various fields, including colloid analysis and medical diagnostics. However, it remains challenging to decipher the constituents of heterogeneous mixtures of nano-objects with high sensitivity and resolution. Here, we present deep-learning plasmonic scattering interferometric microscopy, which is capable of identifying the composition of nanoparticles automatically with high throughput at the single-particle level. By employing deep learning to decode the quantitative relationship between the interferometric scattering patterns of nanoparticles and their intrinsic material properties, this technique is capable of high-throughput, label-free identification of diverse nanoparticle types. We demonstrate its versatility in analyzing dynamic surface chemical reactions on single nanoparticles, revealing its potential as a universal platform for nanoparticle imaging and reaction analysis. This technique not only streamlines the process of nanoparticle characterization, but also proposes a methodology for a deeper understanding of nanoscale dynamics, holding great potential for addressing extensive fundamental questions in nanoscience and nanotechnology.

[Effects of Heavy Metal Pollution on the Structure of Microbial Communities in Different Habitats].

Heavy metal pollution seriously threatens the diversity and composition of microbial communities in various ecosystems. However, little is known about the effects of heavy metal pollution on the structure of microbial communities in the three habitats of "surface water-sediment-groundwater." Here, with help of 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing technology, the diversity and composition of microbial communities, as well as the underlying controlling factors, were investigated and compared among the surface water, sediment, and groundwater of the Tanghe sewage reservoir. The results showed significant differences in the diversity of microbial communities among different habitats, with the highest α diversity observed in groundwater rather than surface water or sediment. Meanwhile, microbial communities also displayed distinct compositions among the three different habitats. Specifically, Pedobacter, Hydrogenophaga, Flavobacterium, and Algoriphagus were dominant in surface water; metal-tolerant bacteria such as Ornatilinea, Longilinea, Thermomarinilinea, and Bellilinea prevailedin sediment; and Arthrobacter, Gallionella, and Thiothrix were abundant in groundwater. Furthermore, physicochemical factors and metal variables jointly determined the microbial community structure in the three habitats. Among the influencing factors,pH, NO3--N, and Li were the main factors affecting the microbial structure in surface water; TP, NH4+-N, Cr, Fe, Cu, and Zn significantly impacted microorganisms in sediment; and only pH (not metal pollutants) was weakly associated with the microbial composition in groundwater. Overall, heavy metal pollution significantly shaped the microbial community structure in sediment, followed by that in surface water and groundwater. These results provide important scientific guidance for the ecological restoration and the sustainable development of heavy metal-polluted ecosystems.

Bibliometric Study of Adaptogens in Dermatology: Pharmacophylogeny, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Mechanisms.

Background: Adaptogens are a class of medicinal plants that can nonspecifically enhance human resistance. Most of the plant adaptogens have relevant applications in dermatology, but there are still few studies related to their particular action and co-operative mechanisms in topical skin application. Methods: Plant adaptogens related articles and reviews that published between 1999 and 2022 were obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection database. Various bibliographic elements were collected, including the annual number of publications, countries/regions, and keywords. CiteSpace, a scientometric software, was used to conduct bibliometric analyses. Also, the patsnap global patent database was used to analyze the patent situation of plant adaptogens in the field of cosmetics up to 2021. Results: We found that the effects of plant adaptogens on skin diseases mainly involve atopic dermatitis, acne, allergic contact dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema, and androgenetic alopecia, etc. And the effects on skin health mainly involve anti-aging and anti-photoaging, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, whitening, and anti-hair loss, etc. Also, based on the results of patent analysis, it is found that the effects of plant adaptogens on skin mainly focus on aging retardation. The dermatological effects of plant adaptogens are mainly from Fabaceae Lindl., Araliaceae Juss. and Lamiaceae Martinov., and their mainly efficacy phytochemical components are terpenoids, phenolic compounds and flavonoids. Conclusion: The plant adaptogens can repair the skin barrier and maintain skin homeostasis by regulating the skin HPA-like axis, influencing the oxidative stress pathway to inhibit inflammation, and regulating the extracellular matrix (ECM) components to maintain a dynamic equilibrium, ultimately achieving the treatment of skin diseases and the maintenance of a healthy state.

Targeting GPR65 alleviates hepatic inflammation and fibrosis by suppressing the JNK and NF-κB pathways.

BACKGROUND: G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are recognized as attractive targets for drug therapy. However, it remains poorly understood how GPCRs, except for a few chemokine receptors, regulate the progression of liver fibrosis. Here, we aimed to reveal the role of GPR65, a proton-sensing receptor, in liver fibrosis and to elucidate the underlying mechanism. METHODS: The expression level of GPR65 was evaluated in both human and mouse fibrotic livers. Furthermore, Gpr65-deficient mice were treated with either bile duct ligation (BDL) for 21 d or carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) for 8 weeks to investigate the role of GPR65 in liver fibrosis. A combination of experimental approaches, including Western blotting, quantitative real-time reverse transcription­polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), confocal microscopy and rescue studies, were used to explore the underlying mechanisms of GPR65's action in liver fibrosis. Additionally, the therapeutic potential of GPR65 inhibitor in the development of liver fibrosis was investigated. RESULTS: We found that hepatic macrophages (HMs)-enriched GPR65 was upregulated in both human and mouse fibrotic livers. Moreover, knockout of Gpr65 significantly alleviated BDL- and CCl4-induced liver inflammation, injury and fibrosis in vivo, and mouse bone marrow transplantation (BMT) experiments further demonstrated that the protective effect of Gpr65 knockout is primarily mediated by bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs). Additionally, in vitro data demonstrated that Gpr65 silencing and GPR65 antagonist inhibited, while GPR65 overexpression and application of GPR65 endogenous and exogenous agonists enhanced the expression and release of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß), all of which subsequently promoted the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and the damage of hepatocytes (HCs). Mechanistically, GPR65 overexpression, the acidic pH and GPR65 exogenous agonist induced up-regulation of TNF-α and IL-6 via the Gαq-Ca2+-JNK/NF-κB pathways, while promoted the expression of TGF-ß through the Gαq-Ca2+-MLK3-MKK7-JNK pathway. Notably, pharmacological GPR65 inhibition retarded the development of inflammation, HCs injury and fibrosis in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: GPR65 is a major regulator that modulates the progression of liver fibrosis. Thus, targeting GPR65 could be an effective therapeutic strategy for the prevention of liver fibrosis.

Facial Skin Aging Stages in Chinese Females.

Background: Facial skin is exposed to the environment, which marks it with obvious signs of aging. Based on multi-dimensional non-invasive evaluation data, female facial skin can be characterized in detail. However, there are few studies on the general aging rules of facial skin. Most skin aging studies divide the ages into 5-10-year intervals, so they have lacked dynamic matching with facial skin aging. Aim: To explore facial skin aging rules, discuss the main parameters of facial skin aging, propose an unequal-distance aging division method based on the main skin parameters, and study the skin characteristics of Chinese women of different aging stages. Methods: We comprehensively described the skin status as 24 non-invasive skin parameters belonging to five dimensions: skin wrinkles, texture, stain, color and barrier function. We performed polynomial fitting on the 21 skin parameters that were significantly correlated with age and derived the rules of aging in the different dimensions. Based on the wrinkle dimension, the facial skin aging process was divided into four stages, and the skin characteristics of the different stages were compared. Results: Skin wrinkles increased, texture deteriorated, acne decreased, pigment spots increased, skin tone darkened, and sebum secretion decreased with age, according to the polynomial fitting. The aging stage was divided into an incubation period (18-30 years old), an aging occurrence period (31-42 years old), a rapid aging period (43-47 years old), and a stable aging period (48-60 years old), according to the wrinkles. Different aging stages had different skin characteristics. Conclusion: The incubation period is the critical period for the appearance of skin stains; the skin texture gradually deteriorates during the aging occurrence period; the rapid aging period is a critical period for the aging of skin parameters; skin status during the stable aging period is the worst.

Advanced Glycation End Products in the Skin: Molecular Mechanisms, Methods of Measurement, and Inhibitory Pathways.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are a series of stable compounds produced under non-enzymatic conditions by the amino groups of biomacromolecules and the free carbonyl groups of glucose or other reducing sugars commonly produced by thermally processed foods. AGEs can cause various diseases, such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, neurodegeneration, and chronic kidney disease, by triggering the receptors of AGE (RAGEs) in the human body. There is evidence that AGEs can also affect the different structures and physiological functions of the skin. However, the mechanism is complicated and cumbersome and causes various harms to the skin. This article aims to identify and summarise the formation and characteristics of AGEs, focussing on the molecular mechanisms by which AGEs affect the composition and structure of normal skin substances at different skin layers and induce skin issues. We also discuss prevention and inhibition pathways, provide a systematic and comprehensive method for measuring the content of AGEs in human skin, and summarise and analyse their advantages and disadvantages. This work can help researchers acquire a deeper understanding of the relationship between AGEs and the skin and provides a basis for the development of effective ingredients that inhibit glycation.

A cross-sectional study of Chinese women facial skin status with environmental factors and individual lifestyles.

Geographical, environmental and pollution conditions affect facial skin health, but their effects on skin appearance have not been elucidated. This study aimed to describe the skin barrier and skin tone characteristics of Chinese subjects according to lifestyle and environmental conditions using in vitro measurements. In total, 1092 women aged 22-42 years were recruited from 7 representative Chinese cities. Eight skin parameters (hydration, sebum, pH, transdermal water loss, individual type angle, melanin index, erythema index, yellowness) were measured using noninvasive instruments; individual lifestyle data were also collected. Data on four meteorological factors (air temperature, relative humidity, sunshine duration, wind speed) and seven air pollution indicators (air quality index, fine particulate matter, breathable particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and ozone) were collected in each city from the China Meteorological Administration. Facial skin characteristics differed significantly between cities. Facial skin barrier characteristics and skin tones showed regional differences, with a better skin barrier associated with the western region, as indicated by high skin hydration and sebum secretion and a low pH value. According to the value of transdermal water loss, lighter and darker skin tones were found in the western and southern regions, respectively. Environmental conditions affected facial skin status. Air pollution induced facial skin issues, with fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide contributing the most. Individual lifestyles affected the facial skin barrier and skin tone.

Salvianolic acid B regulates collagen synthesis: Indirect influence on human dermal fibroblasts through the microvascular endothelial cell pathway.

BACKGROUND: Salvianolic acid B (SAB) is one of the main active ingredients of Salvia Miltiorrhiza. It has significant skin anti-aging, whitening, and sun protection properties. AIMS: The study aimed at studying the mechanism underlying the effect of salvianolic acid Bon collagen synthesis, which has good anti-aging efficacy and modulates microcirculation. METHODS: This study employed available public databases, bioinformatics methodologies, and the inverse docking approach to explore the effectiveness of SAB in the regulating collagen synthesis, and then used an human dermal fibroblast (HDF)- Human dermal microvascular endothelial cell (HDMEC) in vitro model to validate the predicted mechanism of SAB in influencing collagen synthesis. RESULTS: The results showed that NO production in SAB-treated HDMEC-conditioned medium was increased compared to that in control media, and the same tendency was also observed for growth factor production. SAB also upregulated HDMEC cellular eNOS and VEGF. When SAB-treated HDMEC conditioned medium was transferred to HDFs, the expression of collagen I, collagen III, and elastin in HDFs was upregulated and MMP-1 was downregulated. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that SAB regulates collagen through the HDMEC-HDF pathway. Furthermore, the mechanisms might be closely related to the microcirculation factors NO and VEGF.

Skin inflammation induced by ambient particulate matter in China.

Most published studies on particulate matter (PM) concerning PM2.5 and PM10 have focused on PM-induced effects on the respiratory system (particularly lung) and cardiovascular system effects. However, epidemiological and mechanistic studies suggest that PM2.5 and PM10 also affects the skin, which is a key health issue. In this study, we first reviewed the current status of PM2.5 and PM10 in China, including relevant regulations, concentration levels, chemical components, and emission sources. Next, we summarized the association between PM2.5 and PM10 or its representative components, in relation to skin inflammation as well as inflammatory skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, acne, eczema, and skin aging. Finally, we determined the mechanism of oxidative stress or programmed cell death induced through PM, which can provide useful information for future research on PM-induced skin inflammation.

Mechanical-Resonance-Enhanced Thin-Film Magnetoelectric Heterostructures for Magnetometers, Mechanical Antennas, Tunable RF Inductors, and Filters.

The strong strain-mediated magnetoelectric (ME) coupling found in thin-film ME heterostructures has attracted an ever-increasing interest and enables realization of a great number of integrated multiferroic devices, such as magnetometers, mechanical antennas, RF tunable inductors and filters. This paper first reviews the thin-film characterization techniques for both piezoelectric and magnetostrictive thin films, which are crucial in determining the strength of the ME coupling. After that, the most recent progress on various integrated multiferroic devices based on thin-film ME heterostructures are presented. In particular, rapid development of thin-film ME magnetometers has been seen over the past few years. These ultra-sensitive magnetometers exhibit extremely low limit of detection (sub-pT/Hz1/2) for low-frequency AC magnetic fields, making them potential candidates for applications of medical diagnostics. Other devices reviewed in this paper include acoustically actuated nanomechanical ME antennas with miniaturized size by 1-2 orders compared to the conventional antenna; integrated RF tunable inductors with a wide operation frequency range; integrated RF tunable bandpass filter with dual H- and E-field tunability. All these integrated multiferroic devices are compact, lightweight, power-efficient, and potentially integrable with current complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology, showing great promise for applications in future biomedical, wireless communication, and reconfigurable electronic systems.

A preliminary review of studies on adaptogens: comparison of their bioactivity in TCM with that of ginseng-like herbs used worldwide.

Modern studies have shown that adaptogens can non-specifically enhance the resistance of human body under a wide range of external stress conditions with a multi-targeted and multi-channel network-like manner, especially by affect the immune-neuro-endocrine system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. This review article draws the attention to the relationships of adaptogens, tonics from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and ginseng-like herbs worldwide, which all have similar plant sources and clinical applications. To clarify the sources and pharmacological mechanisms of these plant-originated adaptogens, which will provide useful information for the utilization of adaptogens to improve the human health. Meanwhile, the TCMs and the world-wide ginseng-like herbs from each region's ethnopharmacology will be beneficial modernization and globalization.

Direct electrochemical measurement of metanephrines in spot urine samples for the diagnosis of phaeochromocytomas.

Metanephrines (MNs) were suggested as a potential first-line biochemical index for the diagnosis of phaeochromocytomas (PHEO). In this study, we developed a simple electrochemical method for the quantitative measurement of MNs in spot urine samples. As MNs contain a hydroxyphenyl group, they could be oxidized at a certain potential to quinines, which could be further detected by the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) method using unmodified screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE). Meanwhile, the solid phase extraction (SPE) technique was used to eliminate the matrix effect in the samples. Consequently, free MNs from the extracted urine sample were screened in a linear range from 0.25 mg/L to 12.5 mg/L. The lowest limit of quantification (LLOQ) for MNs was 0.25 mg/L and the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.05 mg/L. Both the precisions and recoveries were sufficient for clinical applications. The urine samples from 22 patients with PHEO and 63 controls were analyzed by the proposed method. The area under the ROC curve was 0.981 (95% CI, 0.958-1.000) with the sensitivity of 95.5% and the specificity of 92.4% at the cut-off value of 0.404 mg/L in these urine samples. Overall, the proposed method provides a cost-effective, rapid and simple tool for clinical diagnosis of PHEO.

Significance of normal range urinary albumin to creatinine ratio in Chinese subjects with metabolic syndrome.

This study was aimed to investigate clinical features of Chinese metabolic syndrome (MS) subjects with normal urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR) and to estimate independent correlation factor for UACR. Data were drawn from a cross-sectional survey in participants having MS. The patients with different grade of albuminuria were divided into 4 groups according to the value of UACR (<10, 10-20, 21-30, >30 mg/g). All underwent biochemical tests. Bioelectrical impedance body fat content, islet ß-cell function and insulin sensitivity were measured. Multivariable linear regression models were applied to further determine association between UACR and clinical factors with adjustment. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), TG, fat mass, fat content and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were significantly higher in the group with UACR at 10-20 mg/g than those in the group with UACA lower than 10 mg/g (P<0.05). Multivariable linear regression showed that TG, HbA1c, waist-hip ratio (WHR) and SBP were independently associated with UACR. The patients with normal UACR had abnormal levels of MS components. The factors independently associated with UACR were TG, HbA1c, WHR and SBP.

[Determination of serum superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidative capacity, malondialdehyde in patients with pneumonia].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the levels of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in patients with pneumonia. METHODS: Sixty-eight patients with pneumonia were divided into group of acute pneumonia, group of chronic bronchitis complicated by lung infection, and group of bronchopneumonia. The levels of serum SOD, GSH-Px, T-AOC and MDA were detected by colorimetry in the 68 patients and 76 normal control subjects. RESULTS: The serum levels of SOD, GSH-Px and MDA were all significantly higher, while T-AOC significantly lower in the 3 patient groups than in the normal subjects. Significant difference in the measurements was also noted between the 3 groups (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The determination of serum SOD, GSH-Px, T-AOC and MDA may be helpful for the diagnosis and treatment of pneumonia.