ABSTRACT
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune and multisystem disease with a high public health impact. Lupus nephritis (LN), commonly known as renal involvement in SLE, is associated with a poorer prognosis and increased rates of morbidity and mortality in patients with SLE. Identifying new urinary biomarkers that can be used for LN prognosis or diagnosis is essential and is part of current active research. In this study, we applied an untargeted metabolomics approach involving liquid and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry to urine samples collected from 17 individuals with SLE and no kidney damage, 23 individuals with LN, and 10 clinically healthy controls (HCs) to identify differential metabolic profiles for SLE and LN. The data analysis revealed a differentially abundant metabolite expression profile for each study group, and those metabolites may act as potential differential biomarkers of SLE and LN. The differential metabolic pathways found between the LN and SLE patients with no kidney involvement included primary bile acid biosynthesis, branched-chain amino acid synthesis and degradation, pantothenate and coenzyme A biosynthesis, lysine degradation, and tryptophan metabolism. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that monopalmitin, glycolic acid, and glutamic acid allowed for the differentiation of individuals with SLE and no kidney involvement and individuals with LN considering high confidence levels. While the results offer promise, it is important to recognize the significant influence of medications and other external factors on metabolomics studies. This impact has the potential to obscure differences in metabolic profiles, presenting a considerable challenge in the identification of disease biomarkers. Therefore, experimental validation should be conducted with a larger sample size to explore the diagnostic potential of the metabolites found as well as to examine how treatment and disease activity influence the identified chemical compounds. This will be crucial for refining the accuracy and effectiveness of using urine metabolomics for diagnosing and monitoring lupus and lupus nephritis.
Subject(s)
Biomarkers , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic , Lupus Nephritis , Metabolomics , Humans , Female , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/urine , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/metabolism , Adult , Metabolomics/methods , Biomarkers/urine , Male , Colombia , Lupus Nephritis/urine , Lupus Nephritis/diagnosis , Lupus Nephritis/metabolism , Metabolome , Middle Aged , Cohort Studies , Case-Control Studies , Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry , Young AdultABSTRACT
Introducción: El aprendizaje basado en problemas es una estrategia pedagógica basada en el estudiante como protagonista de su propio aprendizaje, la cual constituye una nueva perspectiva de la enseñanza. A nivel universitario es una estrategia que se perfila como uno de los enfoques más innovadores en la formación académica actual, cobrando cada vez más espacio en las universidades del mundo. Objetivo: Analizar la estrategia de aprendizaje basado en problemas en el desarrollo de las competencias transversales, instrumentales, sistémicas en estudiantes Universitarios de primer semestre de programas del área de la salud. Métodos: La muestra fue de 465 estudiantes. Todos ellos desarrollaron el tema de valores y medio ambiente en el curso de biología empleando aprendizaje basado en problemas, posterior a lo cual, mediante el cuestionario de evaluación de las competencias transversales se evaluó el desarrollo que lograron en cada una de las competencias. Resultados: Sugirieron un mayor desarrollo de las competencias sistémicas con la implementación de esta estrategia. Conclusiones: Ésta estrategia posiblemente favorece el trabajo colaborativo, en los estudiantes(AU)
Introduction: The Problem-based learning is a pedagogic strategy based on the student as the primary author of his own learning, this strategy constitutes a new perspective of teaching. At college level Problem-based learning is outlined like one of the most innovative approaches in the current academic education. Objective: The aim of this research was to analyze the strategy of Problem-based learning in the development of transversal, instrumental and systemic competencies in college first semester students, in the healthy area. Methods: The sample was composed by 465 students. All of them developed the topic about values and environment in the frame of biology course employing Problem-based learning. following that they completed an evaluation questionnaire about transversal competencies, which evaluated the development achieved in each of the competences. Results: The results suggest a greater development of the systemics competences with the use of the Problem-based learning strategy. Conclusions: We concluded that this strategy Problem-based learning possibly helps to favor the collaborative work in college students(AU)
