Biomarkers are measurable changes associated with the disease. Urine can reflect the changes of the body while blood is under control of the homeostatic mechanisms; thus, urine is considered an important source for early and sensitive disease biomarker discovery. A comprehensive profile of the urinary proteome will provide a basic understanding of urinary proteins. In this paper, we present an in-depth analysis of the urinary proteome based on different separation strategies, including direct one dimensional liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS), two dimensional LC/MS/MS, and gel-eluted liquid fraction entrapment electrophoresis/liquid-phase isoelectric focusing followed by two dimensional LC/MS/MS. A total of 6085 proteins were identified in healthy urine, of which 2001 were not reported in previous studies and the concentrations of 2571 proteins were estimated (spanning a magnitude of 106) with an intensity-based absolute quantification algorithm. The urinary proteins were annotated by their tissue distribution. Detailed information can be accessed at the “Human Urine Proteome Database” (www.urimarker.com/urine).

We confirmed that NUDT15 c.415C>T, c.36_37insGGAGTC, and c.52G>A variants were risk factors for thiopurine-induced leukopenia. Combined detection of the 3 variants could increase the predictive sensitivity of thiopurine-induced leukopenia and help to distinguish early leukopenia in heterozygote of c.415C>T in Chinese patients with IBD. Treatment monitoring by NUDT15 variants may be promising in individualized therapy.

Background: Mobile health interventions may support risk factor management and are readily scalable in healthcare systems. We aim to evaluate the efficacy of a text messaging–based intervention to improve glycemic control in patients with coronary heart disease and diabetes mellitus in China. Methods and Results: The CHAT-DM study (Cardiovascular Health and Texting-Diabetes Mellitus) was a parallel-group, single-blind, randomized clinical trial that included 502 patients with both coronary heart disease and diabetes mellitus from 34 hospitals in China. The intervention group (n=251) received 6 text messages per week for 6 months in addition to usual care. Messages were theory driven and culturally tailored to provide educational and motivational information on glucose monitoring, blood pressure control, medication adherence, physical activity, and lifestyle. The control group (n=251) received usual care and 2 thank you messages per month. The primary outcome was change in glycated hemoglobin (HbA 1C [hemoglobin A 1C ]) from baseline to 6 months. Secondary outcomes were change in proportion of patients achieving HbA 1C <7%, fasting blood glucose, systolic blood pressure, LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, body mass index, and physical activity from baseline to 6 months. The end points were assessed using analyses of covariance. The follow-up rate was 99%. When compared with control group at 6 months, the intervention group had a greater reduction in HbA 1C (−0.2% versus 0.1%; P =0.003) and a greater proportion of participants who achieved HbA 1C <7% (69.3% versus 52.6%; P =0.004). Change in fasting blood glucose was larger in the intervention group (between-group difference: −0.6 mmol/L; 95% CI, −1.1 to −0.2; P =0.011), but no other outcome differences were observed. Nearly all participants reported that messages were easy to understand (97.1%) and useful (94.1%). Conclusions: A text message intervention resulted in better glycemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease. While the mechanism of this benefit remains to be determined, the results suggest that a simple, culturally sensitive mobile text messaging program may provide an effective and feasible way to improve disease self-management. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT02883842.

Background: Mobile health technologies are low cost, scalable interventions with the potential to promote patient engagement and behavior change. We aimed to test whether a culturally sensitive text messaging intervention supporting secondary prevention improves the control of risk factors in patients with coronary heart disease in China. Methods and Results: In this multicenter, single-blinded randomized controlled trial, 822 patients (mean age, 56.4 [SD, 9.5] years; 14.1% women) with coronary heart disease and without diabetes mellitus from 37 hospitals in China were enrolled between August 2016 and March 2017. In addition to usual care, the control group (n=411) received 2 thank you messages/month; the intervention group (n=411) received 6 text messages/week for 6 months delivered by an automated computerized system. The messages provided educational and motivational information related to disease-specific knowledge, risk factor control, physical activity, and medication adherence. The primary end point was change in systolic blood pressure from baseline to 6 months. Secondary end points included the proportion with systolic blood pressure <140 mm Hg, smoking status, and change in body mass index, LDL-C (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol), and physical activity (assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire). The end points were assessed using analyses of covariance. Follow-up was 99.6%. At 6 months, systolic blood pressure was not significantly lower in the intervention group compared with the control group, with a mean change (SD) of 3.2 (14.3) mm Hg and 2.0 (15.0) mm Hg ( P >0.05) from baseline, respectively (mean net change, −1.3 mm Hg [95% CI, −3.3 to 0.8]; P =0.221). There were no significant differences in the change in LDL-C level, physical activity, body mass index, or smoking status between the 2 groups. Nearly all patients in the intervention group reported the text messages to be useful (96.1%), easy to understand (98.8%), appropriate in frequency (93.8%), and reported being willing to receive future text messages (94.8%). Conclusions: Text messages supporting secondary prevention among patients with coronary heart disease did not lead to a greater reduction in blood pressure at 6 months. Mobile phone text messaging for secondary prevention was feasible and highly acceptable to patients. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT02888769.

ObjectiveThe aim of our study was to evaluate the role of 18F-FDG PET/CT integrated imaging in differentiating malignant from benign pleural effusion.MethodsA total of 176 patients with pleural effusion who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT examination to differentiate malignancy from benignancy were retrospectively researched. The images of CT imaging, 18F-FDG PET imaging and 18F-FDG PET/CT integrated imaging were visually analyzed. The suspected malignant effusion was characterized by the presence of nodular or irregular pleural thickening on CT imaging. Whereas on PET imaging, pleural 18F-FDG uptake higher than mediastinal activity was interpreted as malignant effusion. Images of 18F-FDG PET/CT integrated imaging were interpreted by combining the morphologic feature of pleura on CT imaging with the degree and form of pleural 18F-FDG uptake on PET imaging.ResultsOne hundred and eight patients had malignant effusion, including 86 with pleural metastasis and 22 with pleural mesothelioma, whereas 68 patients had benign effusion. The sensitivities of CT imaging, 18F-FDG PET imaging and 18F-FDG PET/CT integrated imaging in detecting malignant effusion were 75.0%, 91.7% and 93.5%, respectively, which were 69.8%, 91.9% and 93.0% in distinguishing metastatic effusion. The sensitivity of 18F-FDG PET/CT integrated imaging in detecting malignant effusion was higher than that of CT imaging (p = 0.000). For metastatic effusion, 18F-FDG PET imaging had higher sensitivity (p = 0.000) and better diagnostic consistency with 18F-FDG PET/CT integrated imaging compared with CT imaging (Kappa = 0.917 and Kappa = 0.295, respectively). The specificities of CT imaging, 18F-FDG PET imaging and 18F-FDG PET/CT integrated imaging were 94.1%, 63.2% and 92.6% in detecting benign effusion. The specificities of CT imaging and 18F-FDG PET/CT integrated imaging were higher than that of 18F-FDG PET imaging (p = 0.000 and p = 0.000, respectively), and CT imaging had better diagnostic consistency with 18F-FDG PET/CT integrated imaging compared with 18F-FDG PET imaging (Kappa = 0.881 and Kappa = 0.240, respectively).Conclusion18F-FDG PET/CT integrated imaging is a more reliable modality in distinguishing malignant from benign pleural effusion than 18F-FDG PET imaging and CT imaging alone. For image interpretation of 18F-FDG PET/CT integrated imaging, the PET and CT portions play a major diagnostic role in identifying metastatic effusion and benign effusion, respectively.

Background and Aim Non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) can lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Currently, lifestyle modification is the only effective treatment. We have shown that human amnion epithelial cells (hAECs) reduce inflammation and fibrosis in toxin‐induced liver injury models. We examined the effect of these cells and the soluble factors released by the cells into culture medium (hAEC conditioned medium [hAEC‐CM]) in a diet‐induced murine NASH model. Methods C57BL/6J male mice received a Western “fast food diet” for 42 weeks. Group 1 received an intraperitoneal injection of 2 × 106 hAECs at week 34, group 2 received an additional hAEC dose at week 38, and group 3 received thrice weekly hAEC‐CM injections intraperitoneal for 8 weeks from week 34. Liver fibrosis area, inflammation, and fibrosis regulators were measured by immunohistochemistry, qPCR, and gelatin zymography. Metabolic parameters were also assessed. Results Fast food diet‐fed mice demonstrated peri‐cellular hepatic fibrosis, inflammation, and steatosis typical of NASH. Liver fibrosis area was reduced by 40% in hAEC‐treated and hAEC‐CM‐treated mice. hAEC treatment significantly reduced pSMAD 2/3 signaling and the number of activated hepatic stellate cells and liver macrophages. Matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9 gene and protein expression were variably affected. hAEC treatment did not alter the NASH activity score or metabolic parameters such as bodyweight, total cholesterol, or glucose tolerance. Conclusion Human amnion epithelial cell and hAEC‐CM significantly reduced hepatic inflammation and fibrosis in a diet‐induced non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease model. Although hAEC and hAEC‐CM did not affect the metabolic components of NASH, their therapeutic potential is promising and warrants further investigation.

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The quantitative comparative functional analysis indicated that body fluids might reflect the diverse functions of the whole body rather than the characteristics of their adjacent tissues. The above data might indicate the potential application of body fluids for biomarker discovery.