Lower levels of plasma NT-proBNP are associated with higher prevalence of NASH in patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Emerging evidence suggests that plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels are decreased in patients with imaging-defined nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but no data are currently available on the association between plasma NT-proBNP levels and the histological severity of NAFLD.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We enrolled 351 (73.5% men) consecutive adult patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD without a prior history of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Plasma NT-proBNP levels were measured using a commercially available immunochemical system (VITROS® 5600, Johnson, New Jersey). Fifty-three percent of these subjects had nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). After stratification of patients by plasma NT-proBNP tertiles; compared to those in the 1st tertile (NT-proBNP ≤16 pg/ml), the odds ratio for NASH was 0.52 (95% CI 0.29-0.95) in patients in the 2nd tertile (NT-proBNP of 17-33 pg/ml) and 0.49 (95% CI 0.26-0.93) in those in the 3rd tertile (NT-proBNP ≥34 pg/ml) of plasma NT-proBNP levels, even after adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA)-estimated insulin resistance, pre-existing diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia.

CONCLUSION

In subjects with biopsy-proven NAFLD without known CVD, this cross-sectional study shows for the first time, that lower plasma NT-proBNP levels are strongly associated with a higher prevalence of NASH.

Application of signaling protein 14-3-3 and 26 kDa glutathione-S-transferase to serological diagnosis of Schistosomiasis japonica

Schistosomiasis japonica is currently one of the most serious parasitic diseases and over 670000 people are infected in China by the end of 2006. In order to establish an effective diagnostic method, the gene coding for Sj14-3-3 and Sj26kDa GST were cloned and expressed separately in Escherichia coli as fusion protein with His-tag. The rSj14-3-3 and 26kDa rSjGST were combinedly used as antigens for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) to diagnose acute and chronic S. japonica. Our results showed that the sensitivity in diagnoses of both acute and chronic schistosomiasis was 94.4% (67/71) and 80.7% (96/119), respectively. The specificity was 94.7% applying 132 sera from people living in S. japonicum-free areas. The data also showed that the recombinant proteins cross-react with Clonorchis sinensis and hookworms at a rate of 11.8% and 5.3% respectively. Parallel tests were conducted among ELISA, indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA) and circular ovum precipitin test (COPT) to determine anti-S. japonicum antibodies in sera of patients with schistosomiasis, healthy control, and those infected with other parasites and the results showed no significant difference in sensitivity for acute schistosomiasis between ELISA and IHA assays (chi(2)=1.33, P>0.05), but significant between ELISA and COPT assays (chi(2)=6.72, P<0.01). Our results also revealed significant difference in positive rate between ELISA and IHA (chi(2)=24.74, P<0.005), as well as between ELISA and COPT (chi(2)=58.14, P<0.005). These results suggest that the rSj14-3-3 and r26kDa SjGST would be effective diagnostic antigens for detection of antibodies to S. japonicum in human. Due to the easy production, high sensitivity and specificity, the recombinant proteins tested in this study can be considered as candidate reagent for immunological diagnosis of human schistosomiasis.

Toxoplasma gondii: siRNA can mediate the suppression of adenosine kinase expression

Adenosine kinase (AK) is one of the most important enzymes in the Toxoplasma gondii purine salvage pathway. Three siRNAs specific to the AK gene were designed in the present study. At 24h following electroporation, two of them (siRNA786 and siRNA1200) significantly reduced the mRNA level compared with mock electroporation (P <0.05). The ability to incorporate [3H]-adenosine in the parasites electroporated with 4 microM siRNA786 or 4 microM siRNA1200 was decreased to 39+/-11% and 39+/-7% of the mock electroporation, respectively. At the 48th hour of electroporation, the enzyme's activity was still significantly lower than that of mock electroporation. The data show the siRNAs transfected into cells can work efficiently to regulate gene expression in T. gondii. The application of siRNA in interrupting gene expression in T. gondii would be useful for elucidating gene function as a step toward development of anti-toxoplasmasis vaccines and therapeutic reagents.

gamma-Radiation Synthesis of the Nanocrystalline Semiconductors PbS and CuS

The nanocrystalline semiconductors PbS and CuS were prepared by gamma-irradiation at room temperature in an ethanol system for the first time. Carbon disulfide was used as the sulfur source; lead acetate and copper chloride were used as metal ion sources. X-ray Powder Diffraction was used to characterize the products and Transmission Electron Microscopy to determine their morphology. The purity and compositions of the products were examined by X-ray photoelectron spectra. The photoluminescence property of as-prepared PbS was studied. A blue shift was observed in the PL spectra, indicating the quantum size effect on nanocrystalline PbS. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.