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| 5. |
- Cheng, Q, et al.
(author)
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Clinical features of patients with multiple sclerosis from a survey in Shanghai, China
- 2008
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In: Multiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England). - : SAGE Publications. - 1352-4585 .- 1477-0970. ; 14:5, s. 671-678
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective To describe clinical features of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in Shanghai, China. Methods Prevalent patients with MS were identified and investigated by a network of physicians in 11 districts of Shanghai during the period from 1 September 2004 to 31 August 2005. Admission registries of each hospital in the study area were checked systematically for patients with a diagnosis of MS, neuromyelitis optica or other demyelinating disorders. All patients with collected information were evaluated by four senior neurologists according to the McDonald criteria. Results There were 249 (146 female and 103 male) patients with a confirmed MS diagnosis, at a female-to-male ratio of 1.4. The mean age at onset of MS was 37.4 years for the 249 patients with MS and, on the prevalence day, 42.7 years. The most frequent location of clinical MS lesions in the central nervous system was the spinal cord (61%), followed by the cerebrum (55%) and optic nerves (41%). Nearly all (96%) of the patients with MS had been examined by magnetic resonance imaging, and 226 (94%) patients of those examined were suggestive of MS. No family history of MS was found in any of the patients. Most (86%) of the patients had no or mild disability on the prevalence day (31 December 2004). Almost all (96%) patients with MS had been treated with corticosteroids. Conclusion Clinical features of patients with MS are described based on the information from the largest case series reported among Chinese. Comparisons and discussions are made with findings from the other populations.
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- Gao, TL, et al.
(author)
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Antinociceptive Effects of Sinomenine Combined With Ligustrazine or Paracetamol in Animal Models of Incisional and Inflammatory Pain
- 2021
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In: Frontiers in physiology. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1664-042X. ; 11, s. 523769-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The management of postoperative and inflammatory pain has been a pressing challenge in clinical settings. Sinomenine (SN) is a morphinan derived alkaloid with remarkable analgesic properties in various kinds of pain models. The aim of the current study is to investigate if SN can enhance the effect of ligustrazine hydrochloride (LGZ) or paracetamol (PCM) in animal models of postoperative and inflammatory pain. And to determine if the combined therapeutic efficacies can be explained by pharmacokinetics changes. Pharmacological studies were performed using a rat model of incisional pain, and a mouse model of carrageenan induced inflammatory pain. Pharmacokinetic studies were performed using a microdialysis sampling and HPLC-MS/MS assay method to quantify SN, LGZ, and PCM levels in blood and extracellular fluid in brain. We found that SN plus LGZ or SN plus PCM produced marked synergistic analgesic effects. However, such synergy was subjected to pain modalities, and differed among pain models. Pharmacological discoveries could be partially linked to pharmacokinetic alterations in SN combinations. Though further evaluation is needed, our findings advocate the potential benefits of SN plus LGZ for postoperative pain management, and SN plus PCM for controlling inflammatory pain.
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| 9. |
- Ruilope, LM, et al.
(author)
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Design and Baseline Characteristics of the Finerenone in Reducing Cardiovascular Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease Trial
- 2019
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In: American journal of nephrology. - : S. Karger AG. - 1421-9670 .- 0250-8095. ; 50:5, s. 345-356
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- <b><i>Background:</i></b> Among people with diabetes, those with kidney disease have exceptionally high rates of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality and progression of their underlying kidney disease. Finerenone is a novel, nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has shown to reduce albuminuria in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) while revealing only a low risk of hyperkalemia. However, the effect of finerenone on CV and renal outcomes has not yet been investigated in long-term trials. <b><i>Patients and</i></b> <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The Finerenone in Reducing CV Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease (FIGARO-DKD) trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of finerenone compared to placebo at reducing clinically important CV and renal outcomes in T2D patients with CKD. FIGARO-DKD is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, event-driven trial running in 47 countries with an expected duration of approximately 6 years. FIGARO-DKD randomized 7,437 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥25 mL/min/1.73 m<sup>2</sup> and albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio ≥30 to ≤5,000 mg/g). The study has at least 90% power to detect a 20% reduction in the risk of the primary outcome (overall two-sided significance level α = 0.05), the composite of time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> FIGARO-DKD will determine whether an optimally treated cohort of T2D patients with CKD at high risk of CV and renal events will experience cardiorenal benefits with the addition of finerenone to their treatment regimen. Trial Registration: EudraCT number: 2015-000950-39; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02545049.
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| 10. |
- Alberts, R, et al.
(author)
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Genetic association analysis identifies variants associated with disease progression in primary sclerosing cholangitis
- 2018
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In: Gut. - : BMJ. - 1468-3288 .- 0017-5749. ; 67:8, s. 1517-1524
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a genetically complex, inflammatory bile duct disease of largely unknown aetiology often leading to liver transplantation or death. Little is known about the genetic contribution to the severity and progression of PSC. The aim of this study is to identify genetic variants associated with PSC disease progression and development of complications.DesignWe collected standardised PSC subphenotypes in a large cohort of 3402 patients with PSC. After quality control, we combined 130 422 single nucleotide polymorphisms of all patients—obtained using the Illumina immunochip—with their disease subphenotypes. Using logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models, we identified genetic variants associated with binary and time-to-event PSC subphenotypes.ResultsWe identified genetic variant rs853974 to be associated with liver transplant-free survival (p=6.07×10–9). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed a 50.9% (95% CI 41.5% to 59.5%) transplant-free survival for homozygous AA allele carriers of rs853974 compared with 72.8% (95% CI 69.6% to 75.7%) for GG carriers at 10 years after PSC diagnosis. For the candidate gene in the region, RSPO3, we demonstrated expression in key liver-resident effector cells, such as human and murine cholangiocytes and human hepatic stellate cells.ConclusionWe present a large international PSC cohort, and report genetic loci associated with PSC disease progression. For liver transplant-free survival, we identified a genome-wide significant signal and demonstrated expression of the candidate gene RSPO3 in key liver-resident effector cells. This warrants further assessments of the role of this potential key PSC modifier gene.
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- Chang, ZG, et al.
(author)
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The TatD-like DNase of Plasmodium is a virulence factor and a potential malaria vaccine candidate
- 2016
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In: Nature communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 7, s. 11537-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), composed primarily of DNA and proteases, are released from activated neutrophils and contribute to the innate immune response by capturing pathogens. Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of severe malaria, thrives in its host by counteracting immune elimination. Here, we report the discovery of a novel virulence factor of P. falciparum, a TatD-like DNase (PfTatD) that is expressed primarily in the asexual blood stage and is likely utilized by the parasite to counteract NETs. PfTatD exhibits typical deoxyribonuclease activity, and its expression is higher in virulent parasites than in avirulent parasites. A P. berghei TatD-knockout parasite displays reduced pathogenicity in mice. Mice immunized with recombinant TatD exhibit increased immunity against lethal challenge. Our results suggest that the TatD-like DNase is an essential factor for the survival of malarial parasites in the host and is a potential malaria vaccine candidate.
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- Chen, XD, et al.
(author)
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Non-invasive early detection of cancer four years before conventional diagnosis using a blood test
- 2020
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In: Nature communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 11:1, s. 3475-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Early detection has the potential to reduce cancer mortality, but an effective screening test must demonstrate asymptomatic cancer detection years before conventional diagnosis in a longitudinal study. In the Taizhou Longitudinal Study (TZL), 123,115 healthy subjects provided plasma samples for long-term storage and were then monitored for cancer occurrence. Here we report the preliminary results of PanSeer, a noninvasive blood test based on circulating tumor DNA methylation, on TZL plasma samples from 605 asymptomatic individuals, 191 of whom were later diagnosed with stomach, esophageal, colorectal, lung or liver cancer within four years of blood draw. We also assay plasma samples from an additional 223 cancer patients, plus 200 primary tumor and normal tissues. We show that PanSeer detects five common types of cancer in 88% (95% CI: 80–93%) of post-diagnosis patients with a specificity of 96% (95% CI: 93–98%), We also demonstrate that PanSeer detects cancer in 95% (95% CI: 89–98%) of asymptomatic individuals who were later diagnosed, though future longitudinal studies are required to confirm this result. These results demonstrate that cancer can be non-invasively detected up to four years before current standard of care.
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| 23. |
- Cheng, Q, et al.
(author)
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Multiple sclerosis in China--history and future
- 2009
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In: Multiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England). - : SAGE Publications. - 1352-4585 .- 1477-0970. ; 15:6, s. 655-660
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is considered rare in China and reports on MS in the English literature are few. Methods A systematic literature search for articles with MS was made, particularly for papers published in the Chinese medical journals from mainland China. Results In China, the first case of MS was described in the medical records from Xiehe hospital in 1926, and the first autopsy case of MS was reported from Huashan hospital in 1957. Although reports on MS based on the information from hospital case-series have been increased gradually in the recent decades, there is no national surveillance on MS frequency in the population and population-based surveys on MS were few in China. Generally for Chinese patients with MS the mean age at onset of MS is around 30 years, with a few cases younger than 20 years; the most frequent site of the lesions in the central nervous system, based on the clinical symptoms or signs, is the spinal cord (usually more than 60%); there are few patients with a family history of MS; almost all patients are treated with corticosteroids. Reported prevalence rates of MS from population surveys in China are rather low (1–2 per 100,000) and higher in females than in males, which are comparable with the results from other populations in Asia. Conclusion The clinical and epidemiological aspects of MS in China are, in general, similar to that from other populations in Asia. Epidemiological studies and national surveillance on MS are required in China.
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- Guo, JP, et al.
(author)
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Sequencing of the MHC region defines HLA-DQA1 as the major genetic risk for seropositive rheumatoid arthritis in Han Chinese population
- 2019
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In: Annals of the rheumatic diseases. - : BMJ. - 1468-2060 .- 0003-4967. ; 78:6, s. 773-780
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The strong genetic contribution of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been generally attributed to human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1. However, due to the high polymorphisms and linkage disequilibrium within MHC, it is difficult to define novel and/or independent genetic risks using conventional HLA genotyping or chip-based microarray technology. This study aimed to identify novel RA risk variants by performing deep sequencing for MHC.MethodsWe first conducted target sequencing for the entire MHC region in 357 anticitrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA)-positive patients with RA and 1001 healthy controls, and then performed HLA typing in an independent case–control cohort consisting of 1415 samples for validation. All study subjects were Han Chinese. Genetic associations for RA susceptibility and severity were analysed. Comparative modelling was constructed to predict potential functions for the newly discovered RA association variants.ResultsHLA-DQα1:160D conferred the strongest and independent susceptibility to ACPA-positive RA (p=6.16×10−36, OR=2.29). DRβ1:37N had an independent protective effect (p=5.81×10−16, OR=0.49). As predicted by comparative modelling, the negatively charged DQα1:160D stabilises the dimer of dimers, thus may lead to an increased T cell activation. The negatively charged DRβ1:37N encoding alleles preferentially bind with epitope P9 arginine, thus may result in a decreased RA susceptibility.ConclusionsWe provide the first evidence that HLA-DQα1:160D, instead of HLA-DRB1*0405, is the strongest and independent genetic risk for ACPA-positive RA in Han Chinese. Our study also illustrates the value of deep sequencing for fine-mapping disease risk variants in the MHC region.
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| 34. |
- Krook, A, et al.
(author)
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Characterization of signal transduction and glucose transport in skeletal muscle from type 2 diabetic patients
- 2000
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In: Diabetes. - : American Diabetes Association. - 0012-1797 .- 1939-327X. ; 49:2, s. 284-292
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We characterized metabolic and mitogenic signaling pathways in isolated skeletal muscle from well-matched type 2 diabetic and control subjects. Time course studies of the insulin receptor, insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1/2, and phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase revealed that signal transduction through this pathway was engaged between 4 and 40 min. Insulin-stimulated (0.6-60 nmol/l) tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor beta-subunit, mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase phosphorylation, and glycogen synthase activity were not altered in type 2 diabetic subjects. In contrast, insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 and anti-phosphotyrosine-associated PI 3-kinase activity were reduced 40-55% in type 2 diabetic subjects at high insulin concentrations (2.4 and 60 nmol/l, respectively). Impaired glucose transport activity was noted at all insulin concentrations (0.6-60 nmol/l). Aberrant protein expression cannot account for these insulin-signaling defects because expression of insulin receptor, IRS-1, IRS-2, MAP kinase, or glycogen synthase was similar between type 2 diabetic and control subjects. In skeletal muscle from type 2 diabetic subjects, IRS-1 phosphorylation, PI 3-kinase activity, and glucose transport activity were impaired, whereas insulin receptor tyrosine phosphorylation, MAP kinase phosphorylation, and glycogen synthase activity were normal. Impaired insulin signal transduction in skeletal muscle from type 2 diabetic patients may partly account for reduced insulin-stimulated glucose transport; however, additional defects are likely to play a role.
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| 39. |
- Liu, H, et al.
(author)
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A putative causality of vitamin D in common diseases: A mendelian randomization study
- 2022
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In: Frontiers in nutrition. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2296-861X. ; 9, s. 938356-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Vitamin D is considered as a nutrient protecting individuals against an array of diseases based on observational studies. Such a protective effect, however, has not been demonstrated by randomized controlled trials. This study aims to explore a putative causal role of vitamin D in common diseases through a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) framework.MethodsCirculating vitamin D was predicted by 41 genetic variants discovered in European populations. Common diseases were verified through two ways, using information from Japanese patients of Biobank Japan and using information from European patients of FinnGen project. We additionally validated the results by replacing vitamin D-associated instrumental variables (IVs) of European population with that of an independent Japanese population and of an independent Indian population. Inverse-variance weighted method was used as the primary analytical approach while a series of MR methods including MR-Egger regression, weighted median, maximum likelihood, MR-PRESSO and multivariate MR were adopted to guarantee MR model assumptions and to detect horizontal pleiotropy.ResultsGenetically predicted vitamin D was significantly associated with an increased risk of Graves' disease (OR = 1.71, 95%CI: 1.25–2.33, P = 0.001) and cataract (OR = 1.14, 95%CI: 1.03–1.28, P = 0.016); while with a decreased risk of esophageal cancer (OR = 0.66, 95%CI: 0.46–0.93, P = 0.019). This significant causal link between vitamin D and cataract was validated replacing IVs identified in the European population with those from Japanese population. No notable associations of vitamin D with other diseases were observed.ConclusionsOur findings indicate a potential causal role of vitamin D in common diseases, which needs further validation.
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| 40. |
- Lu, WS, et al.
(author)
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PDGFD switches on stem cell endothelial commitment
- 2022
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In: Angiogenesis. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1573-7209 .- 0969-6970. ; 25:4, s. 517-533
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The critical factors regulating stem cell endothelial commitment and renewal remain not well understood. Here, using loss- and gain-of-function assays together with bioinformatic analysis and multiple model systems, we show that PDGFD is an essential factor that switches on endothelial commitment of embryonic stem cells (ESCs). PDGFD genetic deletion or knockdown inhibits ESC differentiation into EC lineage and increases ESC self-renewal, and PDGFD overexpression activates ESC differentiation towards ECs. RNA sequencing reveals a critical requirement of PDGFD for the expression of vascular-differentiation related genes in ESCs. Importantly, PDGFD genetic deletion or knockdown increases ESC self-renewal and decreases blood vessel densities in both embryonic and neonatal mice and in teratomas. Mechanistically, we reveal that PDGFD fulfills this function via the MAPK/ERK pathway. Our findings provide new insight of PDGFD as a novel regulator of ESC fate determination, and suggest therapeutic implications of modulating PDGFD activity in stem cell therapy.
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| 42. |
- Mishra, A, et al.
(author)
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Diminishing benefits of urban living for children and adolescents' growth and development
- 2023
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In: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1476-4687 .- 0028-0836. ; 615:7954, s. 874-883
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Optimal growth and development in childhood and adolescence is crucial for lifelong health and well-being1–6. Here we used data from 2,325 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight from 71 million participants, to report the height and body-mass index (BMI) of children and adolescents aged 5–19 years on the basis of rural and urban place of residence in 200 countries and territories from 1990 to 2020. In 1990, children and adolescents residing in cities were taller than their rural counterparts in all but a few high-income countries. By 2020, the urban height advantage became smaller in most countries, and in many high-income western countries it reversed into a small urban-based disadvantage. The exception was for boys in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa and in some countries in Oceania, south Asia and the region of central Asia, Middle East and north Africa. In these countries, successive cohorts of boys from rural places either did not gain height or possibly became shorter, and hence fell further behind their urban peers. The difference between the age-standardized mean BMI of children in urban and rural areas was <1.1 kg m–2 in the vast majority of countries. Within this small range, BMI increased slightly more in cities than in rural areas, except in south Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and some countries in central and eastern Europe. Our results show that in much of the world, the growth and developmental advantages of living in cities have diminished in the twenty-first century, whereas in much of sub-Saharan Africa they have amplified.
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| 45. |
- Pelaz, B, et al.
(author)
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Diverse Applications of Nanomedicine
- 2017
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In: ACS nano. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1936-086X .- 1936-0851. ; 11:3, s. 2313-2381
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)
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