A Urine Metabonomics Study of Rat Bladder Cancer by Combining Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry with Random Forest Algorithm

Insight into Fructose-to-Sucrose Ratio as the Potential Target of Urinalysis in Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer usually has been diagnosed in elderly patients as it stays asymptomatic until it presents. Current detection methods for bladder cancer cannot be considered as an adequate screening strategy due to their high invasiveness and low sensitivity. However, there remains uncertainty about targets with high sensitivity and specificity for non-invasive bladder cancer examination. Our study aims to investigate the actionable non-invasive screening biomarkers in bladder cancer. Here, we employed scRNA-seq to explore the crucial biological processes for bladder cancer development. We then utilized bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to explore the bidirectional causal relationship between ATP-associated metabolites in urine and bladder cancer. Lastly, we used a BBN-induced mouse model of bladder cancer to validate the crucial gene identified by scRNA-seq and MR analysis. We found that (1) the ATP metabolism process plays a critical role in bladder cancer development; (2) there is a bidirectional and negative causal relationship between fructose-to-sucrose ratio in urine and the risk of bladder cancer; and (3) the higher expression of TPI1, a critical gene in the fructose metabolism pathway, was validated in BBN-induced bladder tumors. Our results reveal that fructose-to-sucrose ratio can serve as a potential target of urinalysis in bladder cancer.

Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound Combined With Elastography for the Evaluation of Muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer in Rats

OBJECTIVES

By comparing with the control group, we evaluated the usefulness of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) combined with elastography for the assessment of muscle invasion by bladder cancer (MIBC) in a Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat model.

METHODS

In the experimental group, 40 SD rats developed in situ bladder cancer (BLCA) in response to N-methyl-N-nitrosourea treatment, whereas 40 SD rats were included in the control group for comparison. We compared PI, Emean , microvessel density (MVD), and collagen fiber content (CFC) between the two groups. In the experimental group, Bland-Altman test was used to assess the relationships between various parameters. The largest Youden value was used as the cut-off point, and binomial logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the PI and Emean . Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to determine the diagnostic power of parameters, individually and in combination.

RESULTS

The PI, Emean , MVD, and CFC were significantly lower in the control group than in the experimental group (P < .05). The PI, Emean , MVD, and CFC were significantly higher for MIBC than for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (P < .05). There were significant correlations between PI and MVD, and between Emean and CFC. The diagnostic efficiency analysis showed PI had the highest sensitivity, CFC had the highest specificity, and PI + Emean had the highest diagnostic efficacy.

CONCLUSION

CEUS and elastography can distinguish lesions from normal tissue. PI, MVD, Emean , and CFC were useful for the detection of BLCA myometrial invasion. The comprehensive utilization of PI and Emean improved diagnostic accuracy and have clinical application.

Alterations of the gut microbiota and metabolomics in children with e-waste lead exposure

BACKGROUND

A lead (Pb) exposure can alter the composition and metabolites of gut microbiota. However, few studies investigated this association in the children.

METHODS

A total of 551 children aged 3-7 years were recruited from Guiyu (the e-waste dismantling area) and Haojiang (the reference area). There were finally 70 subjects met the inclusive criteria. Blood and urinary Pb concentrations were detected by GFAAS and ICP-MS techniques. The microbiota and metabolites were measured in stool samples using 16 S rRNA MiSeq sequencing technology and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), respectively.

RESULTS

Average Pb concentrations in the blood and urine of children were higher in Guiyu than in Haojiang. There were 58 kinds of differential genera and 19 types of discrepant metabolites between the two groups, and wide and significant correlations were found between them. Exposure to Pb caused the most significant differences in microbiota, metabolites, and physical development parameters between the two groups in terms of microbiota, metabolites, and physical development indicators. Sphingolipid metabolism and ion transport may also be altered by Pb exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

Exposure to Pb is associated with significant alterations in the gut microbiota and metabolome in children. More research is needed to confirm the findings of this study.