Improved method for measurement of human plasma xanthine oxidoreductase activity

The XOR activity in human plasma was measured by quantifying the XOR-derived uric acid (UA) in plasma using the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipped with a UV detector. Chromatographic separation consisted of the mobile phase (a mixture of 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid in Milli-Q water and 0.085% trifluoroacetic acid in acetonitrile in a mix ratio of 99:1) running through a Zorbax StableBond SB-C(18) column at a flow-rate of 1 ml/min. Deproteinization with heat-treatment of plasma samples after the reaction was used in the assay to avoid splitting of the UA and xanthine peaks caused by acid deproteinization that could interfere the accurate determination of human plasma XOR activity in our case. Based on the examination of the dependence of XOR activity on added amounts of xanthine and reaction times, the amount of xanthine and reaction time for XOR activity assay were determined to prevent the errors caused by the limiting effect of substrates and plateau phase of the reaction. Using this method, human plasma XOR activities of 25 healthy people were measured. The average human plasma XOR activity was 2.1+/-0.8 (x10(-3) U/ml).     

血清UA、sdLDL、sST2对急性心肌梗死患者PCI术后无复流的预测价值分析

摘要 目的：探讨血清尿酸（UA）、小而密低密度脂蛋白（sdLDL）、可溶性致癌抑制因子2（sST2）对急性心肌梗死（AMI）患者经皮冠状动脉介入治疗（PCI）术后无复流（NRF）的预测价值。方法：选取2021年1月～2023年1月睢宁县人民医院收治的196例AMI患者为AMI组，根据PCI术后是否发生NRF分为NRF组和血流正常组，另选取同期120名体检健康志愿者为对照组。比较AMI组与对照组血清UA、sdLDL、sST2水平。采用多因素Logistic回归分析AMI患者PCI术后NRF的影响因素，采用受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析血清UA、sdLDL、sST2水平对AMI患者PCI术后NRF的预测价值。结果：与对照组比较，AMI组血清UA、sdLDL、sST2水平升高（P＜0.05）。196例AMI患者PCI术后NRF发生率为34.69%，NRF组年龄大于血流正常组，糖尿病比例、肌酸激酶同工酶（CK-MB）、肌钙蛋白I（cTnI）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）、UA、sdLDL、sST2水平高于血流正常组（P＜0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析显示，年龄增加和UA、sdLDL、sST2升高为AMI患者PCI术后NRF的独立危险因素（P＜0.05）。ROC曲线分析显示，血清UA、sdLDL、sST2水平单独和联合预测AMI患者PCI术后NRF的曲线下面积AUC(0.95CI)分别为0.707(0.481～0.934)、0.742(0.513～0.955)、0.737(0.480～0.970)、0.863(0.737～0.960)，联合预测大于单独预测指标。结论：血清UA、sdLDL、sST2水平升高为AMI患者PCI术后NRF的独立危险因素，血清UA、sdLDL、sST2水平联合预测AMI患者PCI术后NRF的价值较高。     

Toxicity of depleted uranium on isolated rat kidney mitochondria

Background

Kidney is known as the most sensitive target organ for depleted uranium (DU) toxicity in comparison to other organs. Although the oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage induced by DU has been well investigated, the precise mechanism of DU-induced nephrotoxicity has not been thoroughly recognized yet.

Methods

Kidney mitochondria were obtained using differential centrifugation from Wistar rats and mitochondrial toxicity endpoints were then determined in both in vivo and in vitro uranyl acetate (UA) exposure cases.

Results

Single injection of UA (0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/kg, i.p.) caused a significant increase in blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels. Isolated mitochondria from the UA-treated rat kidney showed a marked elevation in oxidative stress accompanied by mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) collapse as compared to control group. Incubation of isolated kidney mitochondria with UA (50, 100 and 200 μM) manifested that UA can disrupt the electron transfer chain at complex II and III that leads to induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, lipid peroxidation, and glutathione oxidation. Disturbances in oxidative phosphorylation were also demonstrated through decreased ATP concentration and ATP/ADP ratio in UA-treated mitochondria. In addition, UA induced a significant damage in mitochondrial outer membrane. Moreover, MMP collapse, mitochondrial swelling and cytochrome c release were observed following the UA treatment in isolated mitochondria.

General significance

Both our in vivo and in vitro results showed that UA-induced nephrotoxicity is linked to the impairment of electron transfer chain especially at complex II and III which leads to subsequent oxidative stress.     

Rapid incorporation of functional rhodopsin into nanoscale apolipoprotein bound bilayer (NABB) particles

Human apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) and its engineered constructs form discoidal lipid bilayers upon interaction with lipids in vitro. We now report the cloning, expression, and purification of apo A-I derived from zebrafish (Danio rerio), which combines with phospholipids to form similar discoidal bilayers and may prove to be superior to human apo A-I constructs for rapid reconstitution of seven-transmembrane helix receptors into nanoscale apolipoprotein bound bilayers (NABBs). We characterized NABBs by gel-filtration chromatography, native polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis, UV-visible photobleaching difference spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy. We used electron microscopy to determine the stoichiometry and orientation of rhodopsin (rho)-containing NABBs prepared under various conditions and correlated stability and signaling efficiency of rho in NABBs with either one or two receptors. We discovered that the specific activity of G protein coupling for single rhos sequestered in individual NABBs was nearly identical with that of two rhos per NABB under conditions where stoichiometry and orientation could be inferred by electron microscopy imaging. Thermal stability of rho in NABBs was superior to that of rho in various commonly used detergents. We conclude that the NABB system using engineered zebrafish apo A-I is a native-like membrane mimetic system for G-protein-coupled receptors and discuss strategies for rapid incorporation of expressed membrane proteins into NABBs.     

The utility of inflammation and platelet biomarkers in patients with acute coronary syndromes

Introduction

Thrombotic and inflammatory mechanisms are involved in the pathophysiology of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The aim of the study was the evaluation of inflammation (white blood cells count/WBC, C-reactive protein/CRP, interleukin-6/IL-6) and platelet (platelet count/PLT, mean platelet volume/MPV, large platelet/LPLT, beta-thromboglobulin/β-TG) biomarkers in the groups of ACS patients depending on the severity of signs and symptoms and compared to controls without coronary artery disease.

熊果酸对酒精性骨质疏松大鼠骨形成、骨矿化的影响

目的：探讨熊果酸对酒精所致骨质疏松大鼠骨形成、骨矿化的影响。方法：雄性Wistar大鼠60只,按体重随机分为空白对照 组、熊果酸对照组、模型组、熊果酸低、中、高剂量组,同时分别给予生理盐水、150 mg/kg 熊果酸、50%酒精,50 mg/kg 熊果酸,100 mg/kg 熊果酸,150 mg/kg 熊果酸灌胃。熊果酸对照组生理盐水剂量同空白组,熊果酸低、中、高剂量组酒精剂量同模型组。灌胃共 持续8 周。磷钼酸法检测血清磷(P)含量,比色法检测血清钙(Ca)含量,酶联免疫吸附（ELISA）法检测血清骨钙素(BGP)、骨形成蛋 白-2(BMP-2)浓度;HE 染色法观察股骨结构的病理学变化。结果：与空白对照组相比较,模型组血清BGP、BMP-2 和Ca、P 均明显 降低,且有统计学差异(P < 0.05),但熊果酸对照与空白对照组各项指标结果相近。熊果酸中、高剂量组大鼠血清BGP、Ca 和P 水 平均较模型组有显著升高,差异具有统计学意义(P < 0.05),但仅熊果酸高剂量组血清BMP-2 显著升高(P < 0.05)。股骨组织HE 染色结果显示,空白对照组骨小梁致密、规则且较粗,粗细均匀;模型组骨小梁稀松、不规则、粗细不均匀,甚至可见骨小梁断裂; 熊果酸中、高剂量组骨小梁致密、规则、较厚、粗细均匀,未见骨小梁断裂。结论：熊果酸能够促进酒精性骨质疏松大鼠的骨形成, 抑制骨矿物质的流失,在改善酒精致骨质疏松方面有一定的保护作用。     

Characterisation of oligosaccharides from the chondroitin/dermatan sulphates: H and C NMR studies of oligosaccharides generated by nitrous acid depolymerisation

The polymers chondroitin sulphate and dermatan sulphate have been fragmented by an anhydrous hydrazine/nitrous acid procedure. The resulting disaccharides from the polymer repeat sequences were reduced with NaBH₄ and purified by ion exchange chromatography. Whereas enzymatic depolymerisation leads to the loss of the distinction between glucuronic and iduronic acids of CS and DS in the resultant disaccharides, nitrous acid depolymerisation retains these structures. Complete ¹H and ¹³C NMR data have been derived for the major components which were shown to have the structures: GlcA-(β1→3)-anTal6S-ol (I) and l-IdoA-(α1→3)-anTal4S-ol (II), where anTal-ol represents (2,5)anhydro-d-talitol and 6S/4S represent O-ester sulphate groups at C-6/C-4 sites.     

Elevated CpG island methylation of GCK gene predicts the risk of type 2 diabetes in Chinese males

Background

The GCK gene encodes hexokinase 4, which catalyzes the first step in most glucose metabolism pathways. The purpose of our study is to assess the contribution of GCK methylation to type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods and results

GCK methylation was evaluated in 48 T2D cases and 48 age- and gender-matched controls using the bisulphite pyrosequencing technology. Among the four CpG sites in the methylation assay, CpG4 and the other three CpGs (CpG1-3) were not in high correlation (r < 0.5). Significantly elevated methylation levels of GCK CpG4 methylation were observed in T2D patients than in the healthy controls (P = 0.004). A breakdown analysis by gender indicated that the association between CpG4 methylation and T2D was specific to males (P = 0.002). It is intriguing that another significant male-specific association was also found between GCK CpG4 methylation and total cholesterol (TC) concentration (r = 0.304, P = 0.036).

Conclusion

Our results showed that elevated GCK CpG4 methylation might suggest a risk of T2D in Chinese males. Gender disparity in GCK CpG4 methylation might provide a clue to elaborate the pathogenesis of T2D.     

血清胆红素与尿酸水平对重症肌无力的临床意义

目的：探讨血清胆红素以及尿酸的水平对重症肌无力患者的临床价值。方法：选取我院确诊的重症肌无力患者作为实验组, 另选择同期体检的健康志愿者作为对照组。检测并比较两组血清直接胆红素(DBIL)、间接胆红素(IBIL)、总胆红素(TBIL)、尿酸 (UA)及肌酐(Cr)等指标水平。结果：实验组血清DBIL、IBIL、TBIL、UA 水平均显著低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05),但实 验组不同类型的MG 患者血清DBIL、IBIL、TBIL、UA水平比较差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。同组男性DBIL、IBIL、TBIL、UA值 均明显高于女性,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);两组间相同性别比较,实验组DBIL、IBIL、TBIL、UA 均低于对照组,差异有统计 学意义(P＜0.05)。结论：检测血清BIL 和UA水平对诊断重症肌无力具有一定的参考价值。