Relationship between hyperuricemia and metabolic syndrome

Objective: To investigate the relationship between metabolic syndrome and hyperuricemia. Methods: A total of 2 374 subjects who received health examination in our hospital from Jan. 2004 to Dec. 2006 were enrolled in our study. Hyperuricemia is defined as ≥7 mg/dl (in men) or ≥6.0 mg/dl (in women). Metabolic syndrome was defined using AHA/NHLBI (American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) criteria. Results: (1) The overall prevalence of hyperuricemia was 13.10%. The condition was more common in men than in women (19.07% vs 3.42%). (2) Among men, uric acid concentration is statistically significantly positively correlated with waist circumference, blood pressure, and triglyceride. Uric acid is negatively correlated with serum high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C). Uric acid concentration is most strongly correlated with serum triglyceride (r=0.379) and waist circumference (r=0.297). Among women, statistically significant positive correlations were noted for the serum uric acid concentrations with waist circumference, triglyceride and fasting plasma glucose. Serum triglyceride (r=0.329) and waist circumference (r=0.234) are most strongly correlated with uric acid concentrations. (3) Men with hyperuricemia had a 1.634-fold increased risk of metabolic syndrome as compared with those without hyperuricemia odds ratio (OR)=1.634, P=0.000. Women with hyperuricemia had a 1.626-fold increased risk of metabolic syndrome (OR=1.626, P=0.000) as compared with those without hyperuricemia. Conclusion: Hyperuricemia is prevalent among Chinese population. Additionally, serum uric acid is positively associated with metabolic syndrome.     

Relationship between resistin level in serum and acute coronary syndrome or stable angina pectoris

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum resistin level and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or stable angina pectoris (SAP). Methods Sixty-five patients, with coronary artery disease, were enrolled and divided into three subgroupsacute myocardial infarction (AMI), unstable angina pectoris (UAP) and SAP, and 26 healthy people were recruited as controls in the cross-sectional study. Serum resistin levels were determined by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), and WBC (white blood cell count), hsCRP (high sensitive C-reaction protein), CKmax (maximum ofcreatinkinase), CK-MBmax (maximum of isozyme of creatinkinase) and cTnImax (maximum oftroponin) were measured by standard laboratory methods. Results The serum resistin levels were 4 folds higher in AMI patients, 2.43 folds in UAP patients and 1.12 folds in SAP patients than in the healthy controls (P＜0.05). The resistin levels were also significantly different between AMI [(8.16±0.79) ng/ml], UAP [(5.59±0.75) ng/ml]and SAP [(3.45±0.56) ng/ml] groups (P＜0.01); WBC, hsCRP, CKmax, CK-MBmax and cTnImax were significantly increased in AMI patients over UAP and SAP patients. Spearman analysis showed that serum resistin levels were positively correlated with WBC (r=0.412, P=0.046), hsCRP (r=0.427, P=0.037), CKmax, CK-MBmax and cTnImax (r=0.731, 0.678, 0.656; P＜0.01). ConclusionSerum resistin levels increased with inflammatory factors and myocardial impairment. The results suggest that human resistin might play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and AMI as an inflammatory factor.     

Relation of uric acid levels to aortic root dilatation in hypertensive patients with and without metabolic syndrome

Objective:Uric acid(UA) is considered to be a powerful predictor of cardiovascular risk and hyperuricemia might be involved in the metabolic syndrome(MS).This study aims to investigate the relation between UA levels and aortic root dilatation.Methods:A total of 348 hypertensive patients [age(67.5±9.8) years] with or without MS were included in the study.The aortic root diameters at the aortic annulus,the sinuses of Valsalva,the sinotubular junction,and the proximal part of the ascending aorta were measured using a two-dimensional(2D) echocardiography.Serum UA levels were also measured for all patients.Results:A high UA level is independently associated with aortic root diameters at the sinuses of Valsalva(P=0.001) and the proximal ascending aorta(P0.0001) in the hypertensive patients without MS.In contrast,aortic root diameters were not significantly related to UA levels in the hypertensive patients with MS.Furthermore,increased UA levels were associated with an increased risk for aortic root dilatation in the patients without MS(sex-adjusted hazard ratio 1.75,95% confidence intervals(CI) 1.27-2.41),but not in those with MS.Conclusions:This study demonstrated an independent relationship between the aortic root dimensions and increased levels of serum UA in the hypertensive patients without MS.Further understanding of the mechanisms underlying these associations may allow a clearer interpretation of the potential value of specific urate-lowering treatment on cardiovascular disease.     

Association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and arterial stiffness in the non-obese,non-hypertensive,and non-diabetic young and middle-aged Chinese population

Background and objective: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with arterial stiffness in the general population. Age, obesity, hypertension, and diabetics are risk factors for arterial stiffness. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between NAFLD and arterial stiffness as measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in the non-obese, non-hypertensive, and non-diabetic young and middle-aged Chinese population. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 1296 non-obese, non-hypertensive, and non-diabetic young and middle-aged (20–65 years) subjects undergoing routine medical check-ups in the International Health Care Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine of Zhejiang University was carried out. Fatty liver was diagnosed by ultrasonography, and baPWV was measured using an automatic waveform analyzer. The subjects were classified into two groups according to the presence of NAFLD, and divided into a further two groups according to their baPWV. Results: The overall incidence of NAFLD was 19.0%, and NAFLD patients had a significantly higher level of baPWV than the controls ((1321±158) cm/s vs. (1244±154) cm/s; P<0.001). The incidence of NAFLD was clearly higher in the increased baPWV group than in the normal baPWV group (29.3% vs. 16.9%; P<0.001), and the incidence increased in line with the increase of baPWV quartiles in the normal range as well as with the severity of arterial stiffness (both P for trend <0.001). Multiple linear logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of NAFLD was positively and independently associated with baPWV. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the presence of NAFLD is associated with arterial stiffness as measured by baPWV in the non-obese, non-hypertensive, and non-diabetic young and middle-aged Chinese population.     

Adiponectin levels are associated with the number and activity of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in patients with coronary artery disease

Objective: To study the relationship between plasma adiponectin concentration and the functional activities of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: Circulating EPCs were enumerated as AC133+/KDR+ cells via flow cytometry and identified by co-staining with Dii-acLDL and fluorescein isothiocy-anate (FITC)-conjugated lectin under a fluorescent microscope. The migratory capacity of EPCs was measured by modified Boyden chamber assay. Adhesion capacity was performed to count adherent cells after replating EPCs on six-well culture dishes coated with fibronectin. Results: The number of circulating EPCs (AC133+/KDR+ cells) decreased significantly in CAD patients, compared with control subjects [(74.2±12.3) vs (83.5±12.9) cells/ml blood, P<0.0\]. In addition, the number of EPCs also decreased in CAD patients after ex vivo cultivation [(54.4±8.6) vs (71.9±11.6) EPCs/field, P<0.01]. Both circulating EPCs and differentiated EPCs were positively correlated with plasma adiponectin concentration. The functional activities of EPCs from CAD patients, such as migratory and adherent capacities, were also impaired, compared with control subjects, and positively correlated with plasma adiponectin concentration. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that the impairment of the number and functional activities of EPCs in CAD patients is correlated with their lower plasma adiponectin concentrations.     

Association between SNP rs1800875, serum chymase and immunoglobulin E levels in patients with coronary heart disease

Objective  

The gene for mast cell chymase (CMA1) is an ideal candidate for investigating the genetic predisposition to coronary heart disease (CHD), as activated mast cells have been found to be present in a greater proportion in the shoulder region of atheroma than in normal coronary intimae. Previous studies have indicated that CMA1 promoter polymorphism rs1800875 may be involved in regulating immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels in patients with eczema, and it is associated with the progression of immunoglobulin A nephropathy.     

运用高通量测序研究Alport综合征多能干细胞的microRNA及其靶基因(英文)

目的:寻找来源于Alport综合征患者与正常对照者的多能干细胞差异性表达的microR NA,并对差异性表达的microR NA靶基因进行预测。创新点:本研究不同于一般的试验标本,试验标本是来源于尿肾脏管细胞诱导而成的多能干细胞。基于Alport综合征是遗传疾病,我们对一遗传家系进行了系统的分析。寻找特异性的差异性表达microR NA及其靶基因,从基因水平对Alport综合征进行研究。方法:在前期工作中,成功地从实验者与对照者的尿肾脏管细胞诱导成多能干细胞。运用高通量测序技术分析并发现实验者与对照者之间差异性表达的microR NA。对差异性表达的microR NA靶基因进行预测,并进行靶基因聚集分析,研究靶基因主要参与的生物学过程。同时进行靶基因信号传导通路的分析,研究靶基因主要参与的细胞信号传导通路。结论:在实验组与对照组之间,发现了30个具有显著差异性表达的microR NAs,包括19个上调表达与11个下调表达。差异性表达的microR NA的靶基因主要聚集在细胞膜和细胞代谢过程;靶基因主要参与嘌呤代谢通路与丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(MAPK)通路。