Expression Levels Of Biomarkers Research Articles

Extra virgin olive oil beneficial effects on memory, synaptic function, and neuroinflammation in a mouse model of Down syndrome.

Clinical and preclinical studies have shown that extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), a major component of the Mediterranean diet, has beneficial effects on brain aging and cognition. Individuals with Down syndrome develop age-dependent cognitive decline and synaptic dysfunction. However, whether EVOO intake is beneficial in Down syndrome is not known. In this study, by implementing a mouse model of Down syndrome, we aimed to investigate the effect that chronic administration of EVOO has on memory, synaptic function, and neuroinflammation. Starting at 4 months of age Ts65dn mice were randomized to receive EVOO for 5 months in their diet, after which they were tested for learning and memory impairment. After euthanasia, synaptic function was measured in freshly obtained hippocampal slices, whereas brain tissues were assessed for inflammatory biomarkers. Compared with controls, mice receiving EVOO had a significant improvement in learning and spatial memory. Additionally, field potential recordings showed that treated mice had an improvement in synaptic function. Finally, array analysis showed that EVOO modulated the expression levels of several inflammatory biomarkers. Chronic administration of EVOO to a mouse model of Down syndrome has beneficial effects on memory impairments, synaptic function deficits and neuroinflammation. Our findings provide additional support for the potential therapeutic effects of EVOO also in individuals with Down syndrome.

CSTB, FABP4, IBP-1 and ST2 are strong predictors of mortality after transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair

Abstract Introduction Various clinical characteristics have emerged as prognostic factors in patients undergoing transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (M-TEER). The use of biomarkers for outcome prediction has enormous potential. The goal of this study was to identify novel biomarkers linked with adverse events after M-TEER. Methods We prospectively included 242 patients undergoing M-TEER at our center and obtained pre-procedural blood samples for biomarker analysis. Additionally, 94 follow-up samples were taken three months after M-TEER. A commercial multiplex protein assay (Cardiovascular III, Olink, Uppsala, Sweden) was used to quantify expression levels of 92 defined biomarkers. We analyzed differences in biomarker expression levels between patients that had died within one year after M-TEER and patients that had survived. Results 39 patients (16.3%) had died within one year after M-TEER. In these patients the most significantly upregulated biomarkers were NT-proBNP (expression 3.0-fold compared to survivors, p < 0.001), Cystatin B (CSTB; 2.0-fold, p < 0.001), fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4; 2.0-fold, p < 0.001), insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 1 (IBP-1; 1.9-fold, p < 0.001) and suppression of tumourigenicity 2 (ST2; 1.7-fold, p < 0.001). In non-survivors, expression levels of NT-proBNP (6.1-fold, p = 0.036), CSTB (3.2-fold, p = 0.050), FABP4 (3.7-fold, p = 0.037) and ST2 (2.1-fold, p = 0.017) were persistently elevated at the time of follow-up. Since its prognostic impact has already been described elsewhere, NT-proBNP was excluded from further analysis. Kaplan Meier analysis for 1-year mortality was carried out using tertiles of the respective biomarker expression levels. Mortality risk increased significantly with rising expression levels (CSTB: 3.4% in tertile 1, 12.2% in tertile 2, 37.9% in tertile 3; FABP4: 5.1%, 14.2% and 31.7%; IBP-1: 3.3%, 13.2% and 36.2%; ST2: 4.9%, 11.9% and 36.7%; p by log-rank-test < 0.001 for all biomarkers). Patients in which all 4 biomarkers were elevated to the highest tertile had an excessively high mortality risk of 52.9 vs. 13.5% (p by log-rank-test < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis suggested higher predictive performances for mortality of all 4 biomarkers as compared to the EuroSCORE II (CSTB: area under the curve (AUC) 78.1%, 95% CI 70.7 – 85.5%; FABP4: AUC 71.6%, 95% CI 63.1 – 80.0%; IBP-1: AUC 73.9%, 95% CI 65.7 – 82.1%; ST2: AUC 76.2%, 95% CI 68.5 – 84.0%; EuroSCORE II: AUC 68.4%, 95% CI 59.3 – 77.5%). Conclusion This analysis has revealed novel biomarkers (CSTB, FABP4, IBP-1, ST2), which so far have not been characterized in M-TEER and suggests significant prognostic implications. Predictive performance of each of the respective biomarkers was superior to the most commonly used pre-operative risk stratification tool: the surgical EuroSCORE II. This hypothesis-generating study warrants further examination of these promising biomarkers.

Myocardial SGLT2 expression and cardiac remodeling in patients with severe aortic stenosis: the BIO-AS Study

Abstract Background Cardiac remodeling plays a major role in the prognosis of patients with aortic stenosis (AS) and could impact the benefits of aortic valve replacement. Blood and tissue biomarkers have a differential pattern and expression level in patients with AS, which may retain a pathophysiological role in cardiac remodeling and metabolism. However, the data available are limited and contradictory. Aim Our study aimed to evaluate the expression of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) gene and protein in patients with severe AS stratified in high gradient (HG) and low flow-low gradient (LF-LG) AS and its association with cardiac functional impairments. Methods Gene expression and protein levels of main biomarkers of cardiac fibrosis (Galectin-3, sST2, Serpin-4, PINP, PICP, Collagen, TGF-b), inflammation (GDF-15, IL-6, NF-kB), oxidative stress (SOD1, SOD2), and cardiac metabolism (NHE, PPAR-a, PPAR-g, GLUT1, and GLUT4) were evaluated in blood samples and heart biopsies of 45 patients with AS. Results Our study showed SGLT2 gene and protein hyper-expression in patients with LF-LG AS, compared to controls and HG AS (p<0.05). These differences remained significant even after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, history of diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, and coronary artery disease. SGLT2 gene expression was positively correlated with: i) TGF-b (r=0.72, p<0.001) and collagen (r=0.73, p<0.001) as markers of fibrosis; ii) NF-kB (r=0.36, p<0.01) and myocardial IL-6 (r=0.68, p<0.001) as markers of inflammation: iii) SOD2 (r=-0.38, p<0.006) as a marker of oxidative stress; iv) GLUT4 (r= 0.33, p<0.02) and PPAR-a (r=0.36, p<0.01) as markers of cardiac metabolism (Figure 1). Conclusion In patients with LF-LG AS, SGLT2 gene and protein were hyper-expressed in cardiomyocytes and associated with myocardial fibrosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress. The hyper-expression of the SGLT2 gene and protein in patients with LF-LG might pave the way for using SGLT2-Is in this subset population, with the potential to improve the outcomes of AVR and reduce the likelihood of re-hospitalization within one year.Figure 1

Evaluating Biomarker Dynamics in Breast Cancer Post-Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: A Retrospective Cross-sectional Study

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is integral to breast cancer management, yet its influence on biomarkers, notably androgen receptor (AR), remains underexplored. This study examines post-NACT alterations in receptor status, including ER, PR AR, HER2 and Ki67 index in breast cancer patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study, spanning three years at a tertiary care center, enrolled patients with invasive breast cancer undergoing mastectomy post-NACT. Pre- and post-NACT specimens underwent histological grading and immunohistochemistry for hormone status, HER2 status, and Ki67 index. Discordance between pre- and post-NACT receptor statuses and expression levels of biomarkers was assessed using McNemar’s and Wilcoxon signed rank tests respectively. Results: Among 100 patients, 35 were assessed. Mean age was 43.83 years, with prevalent T1 tumors (34.3%) and N1 nodal involvement (37.1%). Post-NACT, 54.2% showed no histological grade change. Notable alterations included changes in ER (14.2%), PR (14.2%), and HER2 status (8.57%). AR expression showed a significant change following NACT (p=0.03), while ER expression exhibited a trend towards significance (p=0.06). Ki67 index decreased in only 5.7% of cases. Conclusion: This study unveils intricate biomarker dynamics following NACT in breast cancer, with particular emphasis on AR, hitherto not evaluated. Larger investigations are imperative to elucidate clinical implications and tailor treatment strategies for breast cancer patients undergoing NACT.

Biomarkers of mature neuronal differentiation and related diseases.

The nervous system regulates perception, cognition and behavioral responses by serving as the body's primary communication system for receiving, regulating and transmitting information. Neurons are the fundamental structures and units of the nervous system. Their differentiation and maturation processes rely on the expression of specific biomarkers. Neuron-specific intracellular markers can be used to determine the degree of neuronal maturation. Neuronal cytoskeletal proteins dictate the shape and structure of neurons, while synaptic plasticity and signaling processes are intricately associated with neuronal synaptic markers. Furthermore, abnormal expression levels of biomarkers can serve as diagnostic indicators for nervous system diseases. This article reviews the markers of mature neuronal differentiation and their relationship with nervous system diseases.

Unveiling shared diagnostic biomarkers and molecular mechanisms between T2DM and sepsis: Insights from bioinformatics to experimental assays.

Septic patients with T2DM were prone to prolonged recovery and unfavorable prognoses. Thus, this study aimed to pinpoint potential genes related to sepsis with T2DM and develop a predictive model for the disease. The candidate genes were screened using protein-protein interaction networks (PPI) and machine learning algorithms. The nomogram and receiver operating characteristic curve were developed to assess the diagnostic efficiency of the biomarkers. The relationship between sepsis and immune cells was analyzed using the CIBERSORT algorithm. The biomarkers were validated by qPCR and western blotting in basic experiments, and differences in organ damage in mice were studied. Three genes (MMP8, CD177, and S100A12) were identified using PPI and machine learning algorithms, demonstrating strong predictive capabilities. These biomarkers presented significant differences in gene expression patterns between diseased and healthy conditions. Additionally, the expression levels of biomarkers in mouse models and blood samples were consistent with the findings of the bioinformatics analysis. The study elucidated the common molecular mechanisms associated with the pathogenesis of T2DM and sepsis and developed a gene signature-based prediction model for sepsis. These findings provide new targets for the diagnosis and intervention of sepsis complicated with T2DM.

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CLINICOHISTOPATHOLOGICAL CORRELATION IN PATIENTS OF PSORIASIS AND PSORIASIFORM LESIONS WITH KI67 AND CD34 IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL EXPRESSION

Objectives: Psoriasis, characterized by chronic inflammation of the skin, stands as a notable example of a psoriasiform tissue pattern. In dermatology, the term “psoriasiform dermatitis” frequently appears across various inflammatory skin conditions, presenting challenges for dermatologists and pathologists alike in accurate differentiation. Relying solely on clinical features may prove insufficient in distinguishing between psoriasis and other psoriasiform dermatoses. Therefore, comprehensive differentiation requires consideration of clinical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical factors. Our study is to compare the clinicohistopathological features of psoriasis and psoriasiform dermatitis and to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of CD34 and Ki67 in psoriasis and psoriasiform dermatitis. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at the Department of Pathology, Mediciti Institute of Medical Sciences, Ghanpur, focusing on cases between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2022. Clinical histories were extracted from requisition forms submitted by the Department of Dermatology. The study analyzed paraffin blocks from 50 patients each diagnosed with psoriasis and psoriasiform dermatitis. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples were processed into 4-micron sections and initially stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The immunohistochemical analysis included primary antibodies against Ki-67 and CD34, with positive controls sourced from strongly positive samples of squamous cell carcinoma and capillary hemangioma, respectively. Appropriate negative controls were employed to ensure the accuracy of our findings. Results: In our study, we analyzed a total of 100 cases, comprising 50 cases each of psoriasis and psoriasiform dermatitis. Among the psoriasis cases, there was a male predominance with 29 males and 21 females, while psoriasiform dermatitis also showed male predominance with 32 males. The mean age was 33.8 years for psoriasis and 34.8 years for psoriasiform dermatitis. The majority of psoriasis cases fell in the 21–30 years age range, whereas for psoriasiform dermatitis, it was between 31 and 40 years. Significantly, our immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the mean staining intensity of the two markers was notably higher in psoriasis compared to psoriasiform dermatitis. Conclusions: In our study, we observed that the expression levels of Ki-67 and CD34 biomarkers were significantly elevated in psoriasis compared to psoriasiform dermatitis. Notably, four cases of psoriasiform dermatitis demonstrated positivity for CD34 in our analysis. This finding suggests a potential avenue for further research to explore the implications of CD34 positivity in psoriasis.

Integrated Single-cell RNA-seq and Bulk RNA-seq Identify Diagnostic Biomarkers for Postmenopausal Osteoporosis.

We aimed to explore diagnostic biomarkers of postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP). PMOP brings enormous physical and economic burden to elderly women. This study aims to screen new biomarkers for osteoporosis, providing insights for early diagnosis and therapeutic targets of osteoporosis. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was applied to identify osteoporosis-related hub genes. Single-cell transcriptomic atlas of osteoporosis was depicted and the heterogeneity of monocytes was analyzed, based on which the biomarkers for osteoporosis were screened. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was conducted on the biomarkers. The diagnostic model (nomogram) was established and evaluated based on the expression levels of biomarkers. Additionally, the transcription factor (TF) regulatory network was constructed to predict the potential TF and targeted miRNA of biomarkers. The drugs with significant correlation with biomarkers were identified by Spearman correlation analysis. We obtained 30 osteoporosis-associated hub genes. 9 cell types were identified, and the monocytes were subdivided to 4 subtypes. Three biomarkers, DHX29, LSM5, and UBE2V2, were screened. DHX29 and UBE2V2 were highly expressed in non-classical monocytes, while LSM5 exhibited the highest expression in other monocytes, followed by non-classical monocytes. GSEA indicated that osteoporosis may be correlated with vascular calcification and the biomarkers may be involved in the formation of immune cells. Then, nomogram was constructed and exhibited good robustness. In addition, MYC and SETDB1 were the shared IF in three biomarkers, which may play critical regulatory roles in the progression of osteoporosis. Moreover, 41, 49, and 68 drugs appeared significant correlations with DHX29, LSM5, and UBE2V2, respectively. This study provided a basis for early diagnosis and targeted treatment of osteoporosis.

The effects of perfluorooctanoic acid on breast cancer metastasis depend on the phenotypes of the cancer cells: An in vivo study with zebrafish xenograft model

Per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) have been associated with numerous human diseases. Recent in vitro studies have implicated the association of PFAS with an increased risk of breast cancer in humans. This study aimed to assess the toxic effects of PFAS during the development of human breast cancer using a zebrafish xenograft model. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was used as a PFAS chemical of interest for this study. Two common breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, were used to represent the diversity of breast cancer phenotypes. Human preadipocytes were co-implanted with the breast cancer cells into the zebrafish embryos to optimize the microenvironment for tumor cells in vivo. With this modified model, we evaluated the potential effects of the PFOA on the metastatic potential of the two types of breast cancer cells. The presence of human preadipocytes resulted in an enhancement to the metastasis progress of the two types of cells, including the promotion of cell in vivo migration and proliferation, and the increased expression levels of metastatic biomarkers. The enhancement of MCF-7 proliferation by preadipocytes was observed after 2 days post injection (dpi) while the increase of MDA-MB-231 proliferation was seen after 6 dpi. The breast cancer metastatic biomarkers, cadherin 1 (cdh1), and small breast epithelial mucin (sbem) genes demonstrated significant down- and upregulations respectively, by the co-injection of preadipocytes. In the optimized xenograft model, the PFOA consistently promoted cell proliferation and migration and altered the metastatic biomarker expression in MCF-7, which suggested a metastatic effect of PFOA on MCF-7. However, those effects were not consistently observed in MDA-MB-231. The presence of the preadipocytes in the xenograft model may provide a necessary microenvironment for the progress of tumor cells in zebrafish embryos. The finding suggested that the impacts of PFOA exposure on different phenotypes of breast cancers may differ.

The Protective Effects of an Aged Black Garlic Water Extract on the Prostate.

Chronic inflammation is a recognized risk factor for various cancers, including prostate cancer (PCa). We aim to explore the potential protective effects of aged black garlic extract (ABGE) against inflammation-induced prostate damage and its impact on prostate cancer cell lines. We used an ex vivo model of inflammation induced by Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on C57BL/6 male mouse prostate specimens to investigate the anti-inflammatory properties of ABGE. The gene expression levels of pro-inflammatory biomarkers (COX-2, NF-κB, and TNF-α, IL-6) were measured. Additionally, we evaluated ABGE's therapeutic effects on the prostate cancer cell lines through in vitro functional assays, including colony formation, tumorsphere formation, migration assays, and phosphorylation arrays to assess the signaling pathways (MAPK, AKT, JAK/STAT, and TGF-β). ABGE demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in preclinical models, partly attributed to its polyphenolic content, notably catechin and gallic acid. In the ex vivo model, ABGE reduced the gene expression levels of COX-2, NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-6. The in vitro studies showed that ABGE inhibited cell proliferation, colony and tumorsphere formation, and cell migration in the prostate cancer cells, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent. ABGE exhibits promising anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, supporting further investigation into ABGE as a potential agent for managing inflammation and prostate cancer.

Simultaneous Detection of Collagen I Alpha II and Cytokeratin 19 mRNA by Multiplex qPCR in Liquid Biopsy in Diagnosis of Patients with Resectable Solid Tumors.

The early detection of tumors is one of the key factors in increasing overall survival in cancer patients. A wide range of cancers still do not have a system of early diagnosis; therefore, the development of new non-invasive tools in this line is essential. Accordingly, the objective of our work was to develop a non-invasive screening method for the early detection of various carcinomas in plasma using a panel that combines two markers using RT-qPCR. A retrospective case-control study was conducted to develop a cancer screening test based on the detection of stromal and epithelial biomarkers (COL1A2 and KRT19) in plasma. The expression of biomarkers was evaluated using multiplex quantitative PCR applied to 47 cases with non-metastatic tumors and 13 control participants. For both biomarkers, a cut-off value was stablished using Youden's J index through ROC curve analysis and areas under the curve (AUC) were calculated. The plasma mRNA expression level of both biomarkers was significantly higher in diseased versus healthy patients. Moreover, ROC curve analysis showed an AUC value of 0.897 for the combined model. This model also resulted in a cutoff value of 0.664, as well as a sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 84.6%. These results suggest that the plasma expression levels of COL1A2 and KRT19 could a have potential role in detecting various types of cancer at the early stages. The combined analysis of both stromal and epithelial biomarkers would provide a non-invasive screening method that would allow us to differentiate patients with an active neoplastic process.

Mixture effect of parental exposure to triazophos and fenvalerate on the early development of zebrafish offspring

Triazophos (TRI) and fenvalerate (FEN) have been extensively used in the world and frequently coexist in the water environments, might pose health risk to aquatic species. However, investigations of their mixture toxic effects on offspring after parental exposure have been neglected, especially for aquatic vertebrates such fish. To address this knowledge gap, parental zebrafish (F0 generation) were exposed to TRI, FEN and their mixture for 60 days, as well as the embryos (F1 generation) were hatched without or with continued corresponding exposures at the same concentrations until 7 days post fertilization. The results exhibited that exposure to TRI and FEN altered the expression levels of biomarkers associated with several biological processes, such as apoptosis and inflammatory response. Compared to individual exposure in the F1 generation, the co-exposure to TRI and FEN resulted in increased the expression of T4 and cc-chem mRNA and decreased the expression of ROS, trα, il-8, and gpx mRNA when the F0 generation was similarly exposed. These results revealed that the co-exposure to TRI and FEN has detrimental effects on fish progeny following parental exposure, even if the progeny are not directly exposed to the pesticides, and such negative effects may be intensified if the offspring continue to be exposed. This study enhances the understanding of the harmful impacts of parental exposure to the pesticide mixture on descendants and holds implications for the ecological risk assessment of pesticide mixtures in aquatic vertebrates. Further mechanistic studies are necessary to gain a deeper insight into the mixture effects of pesticides and other kinds of pollutants on subsequent offspring following parental exposure.

CYTOTOXICITY OF ALOE VERA EXTRACT ON CHRONIC MYELOID LEUKEMIA CELLS; IN VITRO STUDY ON CYTOTOXICITY ON HL-60 CELLS

Aloe vera has been traditionally used for its various therapeutic properties, but its potential anticancer effects have not been thoroughly explored. Understanding its efficacy against leukemia could significantly impact care recommendations for leukemia patients. Objective: This in-vitro study aims to establish the anti-cancerous effects of Aloe vera on the Human Leukemia HL-60 cell line. Methods: Following approval from the Ethical Review Committee, this study involved culturing the HL-60 cell line and treating it with increasing concentrations of Aloe vera extract to determine the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50). The MTT assay was employed to assess cell viability, and the absorbance was measured using an ELISA reader. Gene expression levels of pro-apoptotic biomarkers, Caspase-3 and Caspase-9, were also quantified to gauge apoptosis induction. Results: Aloe vera demonstrated a relatively low IC50 value of 13.1 µM in the HL-60 cell line, indicating potent cytotoxicity. Notably, pro-apoptotic biomarkers were highly expressed, with Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 recording gene expression levels of 11.1 and 13.7, respectively. Conclusion: Aloe vera exhibited significant pro-apoptotic effects against the leukemia HL-60 cell line, suggesting its potential as an anti-cancer agent. Further in-vivo and clinical studies are warranted to elucidate the specific pathways through which Aloe vera exerts these effects and to validate its use in clinical settings.

Molecular and immunohistochemical alterations in fluoride-induced neurological impediment in adult rats

SummaryThis study highlights the potential neurotoxic and impaired behavioral effects associated with high fluoride concentrations in drinking water. PurposeFluoride is known to cause neurotoxicity, evinced by lower I.Q. levels in children from high-fluoride regions as compared to those in low-fluoride regions. Thus, the present study was designed to investigate the molecular mechanism behind the neurological and behavioural changes induced by sodium fluoride in Wistar rats. Material and methodsA total of 24 female Wistar rats, aged six weeks and weighing approximately 150–220 g, were randomly divided into three groups: Group I (control) received reverse osmosis (R.O.) water, Group II received Sodium Fluoride (NaF) at 10 ppm, and Group III received NaF at 50 ppm in their drinking water for 60 days. The animals underwent behavioural tests including the Forced Swim Test (F.S.T.), Open Field Test (OFT), and Novel Object Recognition Test (N.O.R.T.), to assess any alterations in behaviour. After 60 days, the animals were euthanized, and their blood and brain samples were analysed to evaluate biochemical changes by Western Blot/I.H.C. analysis of B.A.X., Bcl2, LC3B, TLR4, PARP1, p53, Caspase, α-Synuclein, PARKIN, NeuN, KI67, DNM-1, and M.F.N. for assessing molecular pathways for toxicity. ResultsImpaired locomotion, memory impairment, and behaviour resembling depression in the animals were evinced by reduced mobility index in the F.S.T., discrimination index in the N.O.R.T., and reduced locomotor activity in the open field test results. Additionally, alterations in antioxidant levels and oxidative stress parameters were observed in the brain. The expression levels of various apoptotic and inflammatory biomarkers (B.A.X., Bcl2, TLR4, PARP1, p53, and Caspase) showed apoptosis in neurons. The confocal studies showed increased expression of inflammatory (α-Synuclein, PARKIN), apoptotic (LC3B, B.A.X., p53, KI67), and mitochondrial dysfunction (NeuN, DNM-1, M.F.N.) markers in fluoride-treated animals. Toxicity was more prominent in 50 ppm of fluoride-treated animals. ConclusionFluoride showed potent neuronal toxicity as evidenced by alterations of various molecular markers.

Clinicohistopathological Correlation and Prognostic Significance of Molecular Biomarkers in Urinary Bladder Neoplasms: A Comprehensive Analysis.

Urinary bladder neoplasms constitute a heterogeneous group of tumors with diverse clinical behaviors and outcomes. Understanding the correlation between clinicopathological characteristics and the prognostic significance of molecular biomarkers in bladder cancer is vital for personalized treatment strategies and improved patient outcomes. This prospective observational studyaimed to comprehensively investigate the clinicopathological correlations and prognostic significance of molecular biomarkers in urinary bladder neoplasms. A cohort of 174 patients diagnosed with urinary bladder neoplasm participated in this study. Clinicopathological data, including demographic information, medical history, imaging findings, and histopathological reports, were collected from the patient records. Tissue samples obtained from transurethral resection or biopsy were subjected to molecular biomarker analysis using immunohistochemistry (IHC), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and molecular profiling techniques. Longitudinal follow-up assessments were conducted to monitor disease progression, recurrence, and overall survival. Out of 174 patients diagnosed with bladder neoplasms, the mean age of the patients was 62.4 years (±8.7), indicating that the study cohort primarily comprised elderly individuals. The majority of patients were male (126, 72.4%), reflecting the higher prevalence of bladder cancer among men compared to women. Preliminary analysis revealed significant associations between clinicopathological parameters, molecular biomarker expression profiles, and clinical outcomes in patients with urinary bladder neoplasms. Elevated expression levels of specific biomarkers such as tumor protein p53 (p53), Ki-67, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (EGFR) were observed in advanced tumor stages (p < 0.001) and higher histological grades (p < 0.05), indicating their potential prognostic significance. Furthermore, genetic alterations detected using molecular profiling techniques, including chromosomal gains and losses, were significantly correlated with aggressive disease phenotypes and increased recurrence risk (p < 0.01). Longitudinal follow-up data demonstrated that patients with elevated biomarker expression levels or genetic alterations had poorer treatment responses and shorter overall survival durations than those with lower biomarker expression levels. This study highlights the importance of integrating clinicopathological parameters and molecular biomarker data for the risk stratification, treatment selection, and prognostic assessment of urinary bladder neoplasms.

SIRT3/AMPK Signaling Pathway Regulates Lipid Metabolism and Improves Vulnerability to Atrial Fibrillation in Dahl Salt-Sensitive Rats.

Hypertension may result in atrial fibrillation (AF) and lipid metabolism disorders. The Sirtuins3 (SIRT3)/AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway has the capacity to regulate lipid metabolism disorders and the onset of AF. We hypothesize that the SIRT3/AMPK signaling pathway suppresses lipid metabolism disorders, thereby mitigating salt-sensitive hypertension (SSHT)-induced susceptibility to AF. The study involved 7-week-old male Dahl salt-sensitive that were fed either a high-salt diet (8% NaCl; DSH group) or a normal diet (0.3% NaCl; DSN group). Then DSH group was administered either oral metformin (MET, an AMPK agonist) or intraperitoneal injection of Honokiol (HK, a SIRT3 agonist). This experimental model allowed for the measurement of Systolic blood pressure (SBP), the expression levels of lipid metabolism-related biomarkers, pathological examination of atrial fibrosis, and lipid accumulation, as well as AF inducibility and AF duration. DSH decrease SIRT3, phosphorylation-AMPK, and very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, (VLCAD) expression, increased FASN and FABP4 expression and concentrations of free fatty acid and triglyceride, atrial fibrosis and lipid accumulation in atrial tissue, enhanced level of SBP, promoted AF induction rate and prolonged AF duration, which are blocked by MET and HK. Our results also showed that the degree of atrial fibrosis was negatively correlated with VLCAD expression, but positively correlated with the expression of FASN and FABP4. We have confirmed that a high-salt diet can result in hypertension, and associated atrial tissue lipid metabolism dysfunction. This condition is linked to the inhibition of the SIRT3/AMPK signaling pathway, which plays a significant role in the progression of susceptibility to AF in SSHT rats.

Adenosine A2A Receptor Antagonist Sch58261 Improves the Cognitive Function in Alzheimer's Disease Model Mice Through Activation of Nrf2 via an Autophagy-Dependent Pathway.

Aims: Adenosine, an important endogenous neuromodulator, contributes to a broad set of several neurodegenerative diseases. The adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) is the most involved in neuropathological effects and plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the effect of A2AR antagonist and the underlying mechanism in AD model mice remains unclear. Results: The amyloid beta (Aβ)1-42-induced mice AD models were used in this study. Several behavioral experiments were performed to evaluate the improvement of AD mice treated with A2AR antagonist. For mechanism analysis, autophagy-related proteins, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein1 (Keap1)-nuclear factor erythroid-derived factor 2-related factor (Nrf2) pathway activation, and synaptic function were studied using Western blot, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, transmission electron microscope, real-time quantitative PCR, and patch clamp. Pharmacological blockade of adenosine A2AR by SCH58261 (SCH) ameliorated cognitive deficits and decreased expression levels of several AD biomarkers, including Aβ and hyperphosphorylation of Tau. Moreover, SCH activated the Nrf2 pathway through autophagy mediated Keap1 degradation, resulting in the improvement of neuron autophagy dysfunction, synaptic plasticity, and synaptic transmission. Innovation: Our data clarified that the SCH (an antagonist of A2AR) could increase the level of autophagy, promote the ability of antioxidative stress by the activation of Keap1-Nrf2 pathway, and improve the synaptic function in Aβ1-42-induced AD mice or cell model, which provided a potential therapeutic strategy for AD. Conclusion: A2AR antagonism represents a promising strategy for the anti-AD agent development through autophagy-dependent pathway.

Transcriptome analysis combined with Mendelian randomization screening for biomarkers causally associated with diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is considered one of the most severe complications of diabetes mellitus, but its pathogenesis is still unclear. We hypothesize that certain genes exert a pivotal influence on the progression of DR. This study explored biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of DR through bioinformatics analysis. Within the GSE221521 and GSE189005 datasets, candidate genes were acquired from intersections of genes obtained using WGCNA and DESeq2 packages. Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis selected candidate biomarkers exhibiting causal relationships with DR. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis determined the diagnostic efficacy of biomarkers, the expression levels of biomarkers were verified in the GSE221521 and GSE189005 datasets, and a nomogram for diagnosing DR was constructed. Enrichment analysis delineated the roles and pathways associated with the biomarkers. Immune infiltration analysis analyzed the differences in immune cells between DR and control groups. The miRNet and networkanalyst databases were then used to predict the transcription factors (TFs) and miRNAs, respectively, of biomarkers. Finally, RT-qPCR was used to verify the expression of the biomarkers in vitro. MR analysis identified 13 candidate biomarkers that had causal relationships with DR. The ROC curve demonstrated favorable diagnostic performance of three biomarkers (OSER1, HIPK2, and DDRGK1) for DR, and their expression trends were consistent across GSE221521 and GSE189005 datasets. The calibration curves and ROC curves indicated good predictive performance of the nomogram. The biomarkers were enriched in pathways of immune, cancer, amino acid metabolism, and oxidative phosphorylation. Ten immune cell lines showed notable disparities between the DR and control groups. Among them, effector memory CD8+ T cells, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, and activated CD4+ T cells exhibited good correlation with biomarker expression. The TF-mRNA-miRNA network suggested that hsa-mir-92a-3p, GATA2, and RELA play important roles in biomarker targeting for DR. RT-qPCR results also demonstrated a notably high expression of HIPK2 in patients with DR, whereas notably low expression of OSER1. OSER1, HIPK2, and DDRGK1 were identified as biomarkers for DR. The study findings provide novel insights into the pathogenesis of DR.

Identification of immune-associated biomarkers of diabetes nephropathy tubulointerstitial injury based on machine learning: a bioinformatics multi-chip integrated analysis

BackgroundDiabetic nephropathy (DN) is a major microvascular complication of diabetes and has become the leading cause of end-stage renal disease worldwide. A considerable number of DN patients have experienced irreversible end-stage renal disease progression due to the inability to diagnose the disease early. Therefore, reliable biomarkers that are helpful for early diagnosis and treatment are identified. The migration of immune cells to the kidney is considered to be a key step in the progression of DN-related vascular injury. Therefore, finding markers in this process may be more helpful for the early diagnosis and progression prediction of DN.MethodsThe gene chip data were retrieved from the GEO database using the search term ' diabetic nephropathy ‘. The ' limma ' software package was used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between DN and control samples. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed on genes obtained from the molecular characteristic database (MSigDB. The R package ‘WGCNA’ was used to identify gene modules associated with tubulointerstitial injury in DN, and it was crossed with immune-related DEGs to identify target genes. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were performed on differentially expressed genes using the ‘ClusterProfiler’ software package in R. Three methods, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), support vector machine recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE) and random forest (RF), were used to select immune-related biomarkers for diagnosis. We retrieved the tubulointerstitial dataset from the Nephroseq database to construct an external validation dataset. Unsupervised clustering analysis of the expression levels of immune-related biomarkers was performed using the ‘ConsensusClusterPlus ‘R software package. The urine of patients who visited Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine from September 2021 to March 2023 was collected, and Elisa was used to detect the mRNA expression level of immune-related biomarkers in urine. Pearson correlation analysis was used to detect the effect of immune-related biomarker expression on renal function in DN patients.ResultsFour microarray datasets from the GEO database are included in the analysis : GSE30122, GSE47185, GSE99340 and GSE104954. These datasets included 63 DN patients and 55 healthy controls. A total of 9415 genes were detected in the data set. We found 153 differentially expressed immune-related genes, of which 112 genes were up-regulated, 41 genes were down-regulated, and 119 overlapping genes were identified. GO analysis showed that they were involved in various biological processes including leukocyte-mediated immunity. KEGG analysis showed that these target genes were mainly involved in the formation of phagosomes in Staphylococcus aureus infection. Among these 119 overlapping genes, machine learning results identified AGR2, CCR2, CEBPD, CISH, CX3CR1, DEFB1 and FSTL1 as potential tubulointerstitial immune-related biomarkers. External validation suggested that the above markers showed diagnostic efficacy in distinguishing DN patients from healthy controls. Clinical studies have shown that the expression of AGR2, CX3CR1 and FSTL1 in urine samples of DN patients is negatively correlated with GFR, the expression of CX3CR1 and FSTL1 in urine samples of DN is positively correlated with serum creatinine, while the expression of DEFB1 in urine samples of DN is negatively correlated with serum creatinine. In addition, the expression of CX3CR1 in DN urine samples was positively correlated with proteinuria, while the expression of DEFB1 in DN urine samples was negatively correlated with proteinuria. Finally, according to the level of proteinuria, DN patients were divided into nephrotic proteinuria group (n = 24) and subrenal proteinuria group. There were significant differences in urinary AGR2, CCR2 and DEFB1 between the two groups by unpaired t test (P < 0.05).ConclusionsOur study provides new insights into the role of immune-related biomarkers in DN tubulointerstitial injury and provides potential targets for early diagnosis and treatment of DN patients. Seven different genes ( AGR2, CCR2, CEBPD, CISH, CX3CR1, DEFB1, FSTL1 ), as promising sensitive biomarkers, may affect the progression of DN by regulating immune inflammatory response. However, further comprehensive studies are needed to fully understand their exact molecular mechanisms and functional pathways in DN.

Longitudinal Study of Oral Precancerous Lesions: Transformation Rate and Predictive Markers for Malignancy.

One of the main risk factors for the occurrence of oral cancer is oral precancerous lesions (OPLs). Early management and preventive efforts depend on knowing the transformation rate and detecting predictive signs of malignancy. For 6 months, a group of 200 individuals with clinically diagnosed OPLs was followed up on in this longitudinal research. To examine biomarker expression levels and describe the lesions, examinations using immunohistochemistry, histopathology, and clinical methods were carried out. Over the course of 2 years, 200 patients with OPLs were monitored in this study. Most lesions had mild dysplasia, according to histopathological examination. The expression of many biomarkers that were correlated with the dysplasia grade were p53 (60.0%), Ki-67 (40.0%), CDKN2A (30.0%), and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) (25.0%). In summary, this study emphasizes how crucial it is to provide patients with OPLs with individualized care plans and routine surveillance. Certain biomarkers, such EGFR, Ki-67, and p53, can be useful prognostic markers for identifying malignant transformation. To confirm these results and create tailored therapies for high-risk patients, more study is necessary.