BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Increased levels of uremic toxins and decreased antioxidant capacity have a significant impact on the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, it remains unclear whether they interact with each other to mediate the damage of kidney function. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether uremic toxins (i.e., homocysteine and indoxyl sulfate [IS]), as well as glutathione-dependent antioxidant enzyme activities are dependently or independently associated with kidney function during different stages of CKD patients. SUBJECTS/METHODS: One hundred thirty-two patients diagnosed with CKD at stages 1 to 5 participated in this cross-sectional study. RESULTS: Patients who had reached an advanced CKD stage experienced an increase in plasma uremic toxin levels, along with decreased glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity.Plasma homocysteine, cysteine, and IS concentrations were all positively associated with each other, but negatively correlated to GSH-Px activity levels after adjusting for potential confounders in all CKD patients. Although plasma homocysteine, cysteine, IS, and GSHPx levels were significantly associated with kidney function, only plasma IS levels still had a significant association with kidney function after these parameters were simultaneously adjusted. In addition, plasma IS could interact with GSH-Px activity to be associated with kidney function. CONCLUSIONS IS plays a more dominant role than homocysteine and GSH-Px activity in relation to kidney function.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of Yin Yang 1 (YY1) protein in human insulinoma and explore its clinical significance.

METHODSNineteen pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor tissue were collected from patients treated in Nanfang Hospital between 2000 and 2014. The protein expression of YY1 in benign and malignant insulinoma tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSPositive expression for YY1 protein was detected in both benign and malignant tumor tissues, but the malignant tissues had a significantly greater intensity of YY1 expression than the benign tissues (P=0.042). The intensity of YY1 expression was positively correlated with the nature of the tumor, and the insulinomas with high expressions of YY1 had significantly greater malignant potentials (P=0.037).

CONCLUSIONThe high expression of YY1 protein is associated with the development of insulinima. YY1 may serve as a new tumor marker for detecting the malignant transformation of insulinoma.

Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Insulinoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; YY1 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; metabolism

Aim To investigate the effect of vanillin on the regulation of cyclic guanylate adenylate synthetase(cGAS)/stimulator of interferon gene(STING)signa-ling pathway on hepatic tissue injury in rats with intra-hepatic cholestasis(IC).Methods SD rats were randomly divided into normal group,IC group,vanillin group,cGAS overexpression group,and vanillin+cGAS overexpression group,with continuous adminis-tration for seven days.The body weight,liver weight and liver to body weight ratio of rats were measured.Liver function(ALT,AST,ALP,LDH),IC(TBIL,TBA)and liver fibrosis(HA,LN,PC Ⅲ)index were determined by ELISA.Liver pathology and fibrosis were observed using HE and Masson staining,and col-lagen volume fraction was calculated.The expression of cGAS/STING pathway related proteins in liver tissue was detected by Western blot.Results Vanillin could improve liver pathology and fibrosis,increase body weight,and decrease liver weight,ALT,AST,ALP,LDH,TBIL,TBA,HA,LN,PC Ⅲ,collagen volume fraction,cGAS,STING protein in IC rats(P＜0.05).Overexpression of cGAS could reverse the effects of vanillin on the above indicators in IC rats(P＜0.05).Conclusions Vanillin may improve liver function,IC,liver fibrosis,and liver tissue damage in IC rats by downregulating the cGAS/STING signaling pathway.

Background/Aims: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is closely associated with diabetes. The cumulative impact of both diseases synergistically increases risk of adverse events. However, present population analysis is predominantly conducted with reference to non-NAFLD individuals and has not yet examined the impact of prediabetes. Hence, we sought to conduct a retrospective analysis on the impact of diabetic status in NAFLD patients, referencing non-diabetic NAFLD individuals. Methods: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2018 was used. Hepatic steatosis was defined with United States Fatty Liver Index (US-FLI) and FLI at a cut-off of 30 and 60 respectively, in absence of substantial alcohol use. A multivariate generalized linear model was used for risk ratios of binary outcomes while survival analysis was conducted with Cox regression and Fine Gray model for competing risk. Results: Of 32,234 patients, 28.92% were identified to have NAFLD. 36.04%, 38.32% and 25.63% were non-diabetic, prediabetic and diabetic respectively. Diabetic NAFLD significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), stroke, chronic kidney disease, all-cause and CVD mortality compared to non-diabetic NAFLD. However, prediabetic NAFLD only significantly increased the risk of CVD and did not result in a higher risk of mortality. Conclusions Given the increased risk of adverse outcomes, this study highlights the importance of regular diabetes screening in NAFLD and adoption of prompt lifestyle modifications to reduce disease progression. Facing high cardiovascular burden, prediabetic and diabetic NAFLD individuals can benefit from early cardiovascular referrals to reduce risk of CVD events and mortality.

Objective In this study, human bronchial epithelial cell were inoculated with positive sputum specimens of HBoV. Methods After four days infection, cytopathic effect (CPE) were observed by inverted microscopy. These viruses all cause typical cell damages such as rounded and shrivelled, fusion and fallout.Results These damages got quick following increased future degenerations. The other assay result of CPE within the infected cells were observed by inverted microscopy, have typical "owl's eye" plaque and above 90 percent hemadsorption within the infected cells by erthrocytes for hemadsorption technique. The typical fluorescence lump of nucleus within the infected cells was found by indirect immunofluorescence technique. Conclusion Isolation and identification of HBoV could be done in the human bronchial epithelial cell, and we found some characterizing CPE in the human bronchial epithelial cell after HBoV infection. The above studies pave a way for studying pathogenicty of human bocavirus.

Objective To clone and express VP_2 gene from HBoV,and the expressed VP_2 protein was as the antigen in order to detect serum from children in Wenling area with lower respiratory tract infections.Methods The VP_2 gene was reeombined with the genome of Baculovirus,which infected the insect cell.The fusion protein with HA tag was applied to confirm the specificity of expressed protein.Furthermore,the recombinant protein was observed using electron microscopy.The 176 serum from children in Wenling area with lower respiratory tract infections was screened using Western blot.Results The expressed VP_2 protein was more than 60% in total proteins from insect cell,and MWt about 60 ×10~3.The virus-like particle(VLP)Was observed using electron microscopy,and size about 20nm.The 176 serum from children in wenling area with lower respiratory tract infections was screened using Western blot.The HBoV positive rate Was 2.28%(4/176).Conclusion The VP_2 protein from human bocavims was expressed in insect cell successfully.Through HA tag the VP_2 protein wag specific,and then the assay using SDS-PAGE with Western blot could detect and screen the antibody in serum from children with lower respiratory tract infections rapidly and accurately.