No abstract

Our results concerning correlations suggest that disturbances in BMI, body fat, and lipid metabolism may contribute to altered oxidative status in NAFLD, and insulin resistance may be related to decreased antioxidants in NAFLD as well as products of lipid peroxidation. However, although our results suggest interesting correlations, this different mostly "weak" relationships must be taken with caution.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked neuromuscular disorder caused by a mutation in the dystrophin gene. DMD is characterized by progressive weakness of skeletal, cardiac, and respiratory muscles. The molecular mechanisms underlying dystrophy-associated muscle weakness and damage are not well understood. Quantitative proteomics techniques could help to identify disease-specific pathways. Recent advances in the in vivo labeling strategies such as stable isotope labeling in mouse (SILAC mouse) with 13 C 6 -lysine or stable isotope labeling in mammals (SILAM) with 15 N have enabled accurate quantitative analysis of the proteomes of whole organs and tissues as a function of disease. Here we describe the use of the SILAC mouse strategy to define the underlying pathological mechanisms in dystrophindeficient skeletal muscle. Differential SILAC proteome profiling was performed on the gastrocnemius muscles of 3-week-old (early stage) dystrophin-deficient mdx mice and wild-type (normal) mice. The generated data were further confirmed in an independent set of mdx and normal mice using a SILAC spike-in strategy. A total of 789 proteins were quantified; of these, 73 were found to be significantly altered between mdx and normal mice (p < 0.05). Bioinformatics analyses using Ingenuity Pathway software established that the integrin-linked kinase pathway, actin cytoskeleton signaling, mitochondrial energy metabolism, and calcium homeostasis are the pathways initially affected in dystrophin-deficient muscle at early stages of pathogenesis. The key proteins involved in these pathways were validated by means of immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry in independent sets of mdx mice and in human DMD muscle biopsies. The specific involvement of these molecular networks early in dystrophic pathology makes them potential therapeutic targets. In sum, our findings indicate that SILAC mouse strategy has uncovered previously unidentified pathological pathways in mouse models of human skeletal muscle disease. Molecular & Cellular

The plasma homocysteine concentrations were significantly higher in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, while the concentrations were not affected by chronic viral hepatitis. Plasma homocysteine is a parameter for discriminating steatohepatitis from simple steatosis. Determining the plasma homocysteine concentrations may facilitate selection of steatosis patients in whom a liver biopsy should be performed.

The rationale of this study is based on the fact that, both proteinuria and elevated asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA) levels have been linked to the progression of vascular disease. Currently, there is not enough knowledge about any association between the levels of proteinuria and ADMA levels. Seventy-eight non-diabetic patients (42 men, 36 women, mean age of 26.1+/-5.2 years) with proteinuria having normal glomerular filtration rate were enrolled along with 38 healthy subjects (20 men, 18 women, mean age of 26.9+/-5.9 years). Proteinuria was below 3.5 g/day in 40 patients and above 3.5 g/day in 38 patients. Both groups had similar age, gender, and body mass index distributions. Serum ADMA, symmetric dimethyl arginine (SDMA), immunoreactive insulin, and high sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP) levels were measured. Insulin resistance was determined by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). Serum ADMA, SDMA, insulin, hsCRP levels, and HOMA indexes were significantly higher in patients than in healthy control subjects. The above parameters were higher in the nephrotic range proteinuria group when compared to patients having protein levels below 3.5 g/day. There were significant correlations between the levels of proteinuria and the above parameters. According to the regression analysis, levels of proteinuria and hsCRP were significant determinants of serum ADMA levels. Our results indicate that, independent of other risk factors, ADMA is directly associated with proteinuria. Further studies are recommended to find out whether elevated ADMA levels are implicated in the high cardiovascular risk of proteinuric nephropathies.

Background and objectives: Vascular calcification and endothelial dysfunction contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Sevelamer, a non-calcium-based phosphate binder, has been shown to attenuate cardiovascular calcification in CKD patients, although the exact mechanism has not been clarified. This study was designed to investigate the effect of short-term sevelamer treatment on both serum fetuin-A concentrations and endothelial dysfunction seen in CKD patients.Design, setting, participants, & measurements: Fifty nondiabetic stage 4 CKD patients whose phosphate levels were >5.5 mg/dl were enrolled in this 8-wk randomized prospective study. Thirty-six healthy volunteers served as matched controls. Patients were treated with either sevelamer (n ‫؍‬ 25, 12 males) or calcium acetate (n ‫؍‬ 25, 13 males). Fetuin-A, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, Ca ؋ PO 4 product, flow-mediated dilation (FMD), insulin, and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) were obtained at baseline and after the treatment period.Results: As expected, CKD patients had significantly lower levels of fetuin-A and FMD, and significantly higher levels of intact parathyroid hormone, Ca ؋ PO 4 product, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein than controls (P < 0.001 for all). The use of sevelamer led to a significant increase in the fetuin-A concentration with improvement in FMD, whereas no significant difference was observed in the calcium acetate group. In a multiple regression analysis, FMD levels were independently related to fetuin-A both before (␤ ‫؍‬ 0.63, P < 0.001) and after (␤ ‫؍‬ 0.38, P ‫؍‬ 0.004) treatment.Conclusions: This small, randomized, prospective study shows that short-term sevelamer treatment significantly increases fetuin-A levels and improves FMD in nondiabetic stage 4 CKD patients.

The present study suggests that the presence of proteinuria, regardless of the degree of renal function impairment, is an important predictor of endothelial dysfunction in early diabetic nephropathy and that it is associated with altered circulating levels of NAMPT/visfatin and adiponectin.

NLR is independently related to endothelial dysfunction and could predict composite cardiovascular endpoints independent of traditional confounding factors in patients with moderate to severe CKD.