Serum Hcy Levels Research Articles

Cystathionine β-Synthase Suppresses NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation via Redox Regulation in Microglia.

Aims: Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) is essential for homocysteine (Hcy) transsulfuration, yielding cysteine as a common precursor of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), glutathione (GSH), and other sulfur molecules, which produce neuroprotective effects in neurological conditions. We previously reported a disruption of microglial CBS/H2S signaling in a Parkinson's disease (PD) mouse model. Yet, it remains unclear whether CBS affects nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain, leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activity and other pathologies in PD. Results: Microglial CBS expression decreased after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Elevated GSSG (the oxidized GSH) content and decreased H2S generation were found in the brains of microglial cbs conditional-knockout (cbscKO) mice, whereas serum and brain Hcy levels remained unaltered. Moreover, microglial cbscKO mice were susceptible to NLRP3 inflammasome activation and dopaminergic neuron losses caused by LPS injection into the substantia nigra, whereas cbs overexpression or activation produced opposite effects. In vitro studies showed that cbs overexpression or activation suppressed microglial NLRP3 inflammasome activation and interleukin (IL)-1β secretion by reducing mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mitoROS) level. Conversely, ablation of cbs enhanced NLRP3 expression and mitoROS generation and augmented microglial NLRP3 inflammasome activity in response to adenosine triphosphate challenge, which was blocked by the mitoROS scavenger. Innovation and Conclusion: The study demonstrated an elevated GSSG level and reduced H2S generation, which correlated with a susceptible status of microglia in the brain of cbscKO mice. Our findings reveal a critical role of CBS in restraining the microglial NLRP3 inflammasome by controlling redox homeostasis and highlight that activation or upregulation of CBS may become a potential strategy for PD treatment.

Trimester-specific reference intervals of serum homocysteine levels for pregnant women: a longitudinal study in China

Objective To investigate the physiological changes of serum homocysteine (Hcy) levels and to establish trimester-specific reference intervals of serum Hcy levels for Chinese pregnant women. Method According to the guideline of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) C28-A3 document, 476 healthy women were recruited in West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University from January 2021 to October 2021. Among them, 120 were non-pregnant, 118 were in the first trimester, 120 were in the second and 118 were in the third trimester of gestation. The enzymatic cycling method was performed to detect serum Hcy levels. Non-parametric percentiles (2.5th percentile and 97.5th percentile) were calculated to establish the reference intervals for non-pregnant women and pregnant women in different trimester of gestation. Results There was a significant statistical difference for serum Hcy levels between non-pregnant women and pregnant women (p < 0.05), and serum Hcy levels in the first, second, and third trimesters of gestation were statistically different (p < 0.05). The trimester-specific reference intervals of serum Hcy levels were 4.35 ∼ 10.16 μmol/L, 3.38 ∼ 8.60 μmol/L, and 3.75 ∼ 11.17 μmol/L for pregnant women in the first, second, and third trimester of gestation, respectively. Conclusions Compared to non-pregnant women, serum Hcy levels physiologically decreased after pregnancy, and the physiological changes in serum Hcy levels during pregnancy were also found. Establishing trimester-specific reference intervals of serum Hcy levels for pregnant women was valuable for clinical practice.

Susceptibility to preoperative seizures in glioma patients with elevated homocysteine levels.

Seizures are a common clinical presentation in patients with glioma and substantially impact patients' quality of life. Hyperhomocysteinemia is defined as abnormally high serum levels of homocysteine (Hcy) and is reportedly linked to susceptibility to various nervous system diseases. However, it remains unclear whether and how hyperhomocysteinemia and its associated genetic polymorphisms promote seizures in glioma patients. We retrospectively reviewed all medical data from 127 patients with malignant gliomas, who underwent initial tumor resection by our team between July 2019 and June 2021 and had preoperative measurements of serum Hcy levels. According to whether they had at least one seizure before surgery, they were divided into the seizure and nonseizure groups. We also detected polymorphisms in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene and measured intratumoral Hcy levels in these patients. Hyperhomocysteinemia was a susceptibility factor for preoperative seizures in glioma patients according to both univariate analyses (P < 0.001) and multivariate logistic regression analyses (OR 1.239, 95% CI 1.062-1.445, P = 0.007). Patients with the MTHFR C677T variant exhibited elevated serum Hcy levels (P = 0.027) and an increased prevalence of preoperative seizures (P = 0.019). Intratumoral Hcy levels were positively correlated with serum Hcy levels (R = 0.231, P = 0.046) and were elevated in patients with hyperhomocysteinemia (P = 0.031), the MTHFR C677T variant (P = 0.002) and preoperative seizures (P = 0.003). High intratumoral Hcy levels, rather than hyperhomocysteinemia or the MTHFR C677T variant, emerged as an independent risk factor for preoperative seizures (OR 1.303, 95% CI 1.015-1.673, P = 0.038). Furthermore, the effects of hyperhomocysteinemia on epileptic susceptibility were reduced to nonsignificance when intratumoral Hcy was controlled to the same level between groups. Glioma patients with hyperhomocysteinemia and the MTHFR C677T variant were susceptible to preoperative seizures, suggesting their potential as biomarkers for the management of seizures in glioma patients. The elevation of intratumoral Hcy is a possible mechanism underlying this susceptibility.

Genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation and its relationship with serum homocysteine levels in patients with hypertension.

Homocysteine (Hcy) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, and elevated plasma Hcy levels could aggravate vascular injury in hypertension. Hyperhomocysteinemia can change the methylation status of global DNA and specific genes. In the present study, we aim to examine the comprehensive influence of Hcy levels on DNA methylation status in patients with hypertension. Epigenome-wide methylation profiles of the peripheral leukocyte DNA of 218 patients with hypertension were analyzed using the Illumina Infinium Methylation EPIC BeadChip. Differentially methylated positions (DMPs) associated with serum Hcy levels were identified by mixed linear regression with the adjustment of potential confounders. Gene Ontology analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis were conducted to determine the potential functions of the identified DMPs. The association between the methylation level of DMPs and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (Cf-PWV) was also analyzed. Five DMPs at cg13169662, cg03179312, cg21976560, cg25262698, and cg09433843 showed significant association with serum Hcy levels (false discovery rate-corrected P < 0.05). An additional six CpG sites met the threshold for suggestive significance ( P < 1 × 10 -6 ), among which three DMPs (cg25781123, cg26463106, and cg06679221) were annotated to THUMPD3 . Furthermore, the methylation levels of cg13169662 and cg25262698 (RPRD1A) were significantly associated with Cf-PWV. Our results suggest that Hcy could induce DNA methylation alteration in patients with hypertension. Further functional research is warranted to elucidate the concrete role of DMPs in hypertension.

Differences and correlations of biochemical index levels in patients with bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder during a stable period.

The differences and correlation of biochemical indexes between bipolar disorder (BPD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) in stable stage were analyzed and discussed. Patients diagnosed with BPD and MDD in the Third People's Hospital of Foshan from January 2019 to December 2021 were selected as the research subjects, with 200 cases in each. Fasting serum was collected from patients and then detected regarding TC, TG, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), aspartate aminotransferase, lactic dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, creatine kinase-MB, urea, creatinine, uric acid, alanine aminotransferase, glucose (GLU), hemoglobin A1c, prolactin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, homocysteine. The results showed that the mean age and serum LDL, GLU, and HbAc1 levels of the MDD group were significantly higher than those of the BPD group (P < .05), while there was no significant difference in other indexes (P > .05). The prevalence of BPD was significantly negatively correlated with patient age (r = -0.164, P = .020), LDL (r = -0.150, P = .034), GLU (r = -0.140, P = .048), and HbAc1 (r = -0.215, P = .002) (P < .05). There were no significant differences in serum Hcy and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels between the BPD and MDD groups. The age, fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, and LDL of BPD patients were negatively correlated with their incidence.

Genetically predicted circulating serum homocysteine levels on osteoporosis: a two-sample mendelian randomization study

To investigate the causal relationship between circulating serum homocysteine (Hcy) levels and osteoporosis (OP). Using public datasets gathered from independently published genome-wide association studies (GWAS), Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was done to investigate the causal influence of Hcy on OP. SNPs were selected from a meta-analysis of GWAS on Hcy concentrations in 44,147 individuals of European ancestry. Meanwhile, SNPs of individuals of European descent for OP were extracted from the Genetic Factors of Osteoporosis Consortium (GEFOS) UK Biobank. The odds ratio (OR) of inverse variance weighted (IVW) approaches was established as the primary outcome. Moreover, weighted median (WM) and MR-Egger regressions were included in the sensitivity analysis. There were no causal effects of Hcy on forearm bone mineral density and lumbar bone mineral density according to IVW, MR-Egger, and WM analyses (all p > 0.05). In the IVW, we discovered the causality between genetically predicted Hcy and heel bone mineral density (H-BMD) with an OR of 0.96 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.927–0.990, p = 0.011]. In the additional sensitivity analysis, WM regression (OR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.995–1.076, p = 0.084) and MR-Egger regression (OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.918–1.049, p = 0.609) yielded values that were comparable in direction but less precise. The MR-Egger intercept, funnel plot, and IVW all indicate the absence of any discernible directional pleiotropy. The leave-one-out analysis revealed that a single SNP did not influence the results of the MR analysis. In conclusion, our MR investigation revealed evidence of a causal relationship between circulating serum Hcy levels and H-BMD, but not OP in the European population. However, larger sample sizes are needed in the future to get more reliable conclusions.

Correlation Analysis and Diagnostic Value of Serum Homocysteine, Cystatin C and Uric Acid Levels with the Severity of Coronary Artery Stenosis in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease.

Coronary angiography (CAG) is an invasive examination with high risks and costs and various complications may occur. It is necessary to find a diagnostic method, non-invasiveness, inexpensive with low risk. This study aims to analyze the correlation between the levels of serum homocysteine (Hcy), cystatin C (Cys C) and uric acid (UA) and Gensini score in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and assess their diagnostic value for CHD. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 1412 patients underwent CAG from October 2019 to December 2021, and we conducted this study from January to July 2022. A total of 765 patients with CHD confirmed by CAG were selected as the research group, while 647 patients revealed as non-obstructive stenosis by CAG as the control group. The serum Hcy, Cys C and UA levels were detected and the correlation between Gensini score and variables was analyzed. The receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was performed to assess the diagnostic value of the Hcy, Cys C and UA for CHD. The serum Hcy, Cys C and UA levels in the research group were higher as compared with the control group (p<0.05). Spearman correlation and multivariate linear regression analysis showed that there was a significantly positive correlation between Gensini score and serum Hcy, Cys C and UA levels (p<0.05). The ROC curve analysis presented the combined Hcy and Cys C with UA having the highest specificity of diagnostic value for CHD (area under the curve (AUC)=0.768, 95% CI 0.706-0.823, specificity = 72.34%, sensitivity = 67.88%, Youden Index = 0.4022). The serum Hcy, Cys C and UA levels in patients with CHD were significantly increased, positive correlation with Gensini score. The combined Hcy and Cys C with UA could be used to assess the severity of coronary artery stenosis and provide predictive and early intervention treatment values for CHD and a new way of diagnosing CHD, which is cheap, safe, effective and deserving of clinical application.

GENOME-WIDE DNA METHYLATION ANALYSIS IDENTIFIES SERUM HOMOCYSTEINE-ASSOCIATED CPG SITES IN HYPERTENSIVES

Objective: Homocysteine (Hcy) is associated with DNA methylation in cardiovascular disease (CVD). Moreover, the relationship between Hyperhomocysteine (HHcy) and CVD risk is stronger in individuals with hypertension. However, no research has focused on the influence of Hcy on DNA methylation status in patients with hypertension. We performed an epigenome-wide association study to identify DNA methylation loci associated with Hcy among 218 hypertensive patients using the Illumina Infinium Methylation EPIC BeadChip (850k chip) and further explored their effects on arteriosclerosis. Design and method: Epigenome-wide methylation profiles were assessed using the Illumina Infinium Methylation EPIC BeadChip (850k chip) in peripheral leukocyte DNA from 218 patients with hypertension. Differentially methylated positions (DMPs) associated with serum homocysteine levels were identified using a mixed linear regression with adjustment for potential confounders. Gene Ontology analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses were conducted to explore the possible functions of the identified DMPs. The association of these differentially methylated loci with hypertension- and Hcy- related arteriosclerosis, Cf-PWV (Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity) was further analyzed. Results: Five DMPs at cg13169662, cg03179312, cg21976560, cg25262698, and cg09433843 showed significant association with serum Hcy levels (FDR-corrected p &lt;0.05). Six additional CpG sites met the threshold for suggestive significance (p&lt;1 × 10-6), among which three DMPs (cg25781123, cg26463106, and cg06679221) were annotated to the THUMPD3 gene. Furthermore, the methylation levels of cg13169662 and cg25262698 (RPRD1A) were significantly associated with Cf-PWV. Conclusions: Our study provides preliminary evidence for an association between DNA methylation and serum Hcy levels in patients with hypertension. This study may give an insight into the role of DNA methylation in cardiovascular injury underlying HHcy in patients with hypertension.

Effects of acupuncture on neurologic function and serum inflammatory factors after thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke

To observe the effects of acupuncture on neurologic function and serum inflammatory factors in patients after thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke (AIS).A total of 102 AIS patients with onset to treatment time (OTT) ≤3 h were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 51 cases each group. In the control group, thrombolysis and conventional medical treatment were applied. On the basis of the treatment as the control group, acupuncture at Shuigou (GV 26), Zhongwan (CV 12), Qihai (CV 6), Neiguan (PC 6), etc. was applied in the observation group, 30 min each time, once a day. Both groups were treated for 2 weeks. Before and after treatment, the scores of National Institutes of Health stroke scale (NIHSS), modified Rankin scale (mRS), modified Barthel index (MBI) and serum level of homocysteine (Hcy), hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were compared, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated in the two groups.After treatment, the scores of NIHSS, mRS and serum level of Hcy, hs-CRP were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), while the MBI scores were increased (P<0.05) in the two groups. The scores of NIHSS, mRS and serum level of Hcy, hs-CRP in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01), the MBI score in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.01). The total effective rate was 88.2% (45/51) in the observation group, which was superior to 70.6% (36/51) in the control group (P<0.05).Acupuncture could promote the recovery of neurologic function in patients after thrombolysis in AIS, improve the ability of daily living, which may be related to reducing the level of inflammatory factors, thus inhibiting inflammatory response and improving cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury.目的：观察针刺对急性缺血性脑卒中（AIS）溶栓患者神经功能及血清炎性因子水平的影响。方法：将102例发病至进行溶栓的治疗时间（OTT）≤3 h的AIS患者随机分为观察组和对照组，每组51例。对照组采用溶栓与内科常规治疗；在对照组治疗基础上，观察组予针刺治疗，穴取水沟、中脘、气海、内关等，每次30 min，每日1次，两组均治疗2周。比较两组患者治疗前后美国国立卫生研究院卒中量表（NIHSS）、改良Rankin量表（mRS）、改良Barthel指数（MBI）评分及血清同型半胱氨酸（Hcy）、超敏C反应蛋白（hs-CRP）水平，并评定两组临床疗效。结果：治疗后，两组患者NIHSS、mRS评分及血清Hcy、hs-CRP水平均较治疗前降低（P<0.05），MBI评分较治疗前升高（P<0.05）；观察组患者NIHSS、mRS评分及血清Hcy、hs-CRP水平均低于对照组（P<0.05，P<0.01），MBI评分高于对照组（P<0.01）。观察组总有效率为88.2%（45/51），高于对照组的70.6%（36/51，P<0.05）。结论：针刺可促进AIS溶栓患者神经功能恢复，改善日常生活能力，可能与降低炎性因子水平从而抑制炎性反应、改善脑血管缺血后再灌注损伤有关。.

Plasma Homocysteine (Hcy) Concentration Functions as a Predictive Biomarker of SPECT-Evaluated Post-Ischemic Hyperperfusion in Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Homocysteine (Hcy) concentration has been reported to be associated with ischemic stroke. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential of plasma Hcy in the prediction of post-ischemic hyperperfusion in AIS patients, which was diagnosed with the single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) method. A total of 112 ischemic stroke patients were recruited in this study. According to whether the patients were subjected to post-ischemic hyperperfusion, all recruited subjects were divided into a post-ischemic hyperperfusion (+) group (N=48) and post-ischemic hyperperfusion (-) group (N=64). The basic demographical data, clinicopathological data and laboratory biochemical data were collected and compared. Level of homocysteine (Hcy) and cystatin-C (Cys-C) and their potential as predictive biomarker are also investigated. No significant differences were spotted between the post-ischemic hyperperfusion group (+) and post-ischemic hyperperfusion (-) group in respect to the basic demographical and clinicopathological data. And the serum Hcy levels were lower in the post-ischemic hyperperfusion (+) group. Moreover, ROC analysis indicated significant relationships between Hcy levels and the onset of post-ischemic hyperperfusion. In conclusion, we validated that the plasma Hcy concentration can be used as a predictive biomarker of SPECT-evaluated post-ischemic hyperperfusion in patients suffering from acute ischemic stroke.

Dapagliflozin's effect on serum homocysteine in patients with hypertension complicated with insulin resistance.

Most patients with hypertension are complicated with insulin resistance (IR), which is one of the risk factors of hypertension and can increase the level of serum homocysteine (Hcy) by affecting Hcy's metabolic enzyme and insulin level. Investigations in recent years have shown that Hcy is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. At present, folic acid is the prominent medicine used to reduce Hcy, but its effection for Hcy has an obvious individual difference, which is closely related to individual genes. Moreover, folic acid is chiefly used in patients with Hcy ≥15μmol/L, but Hcy ≥10μmol/L has had an adverse effect on the cardiovascular system. Randomized clinical trials have shown that dapagliflozin can improve IR. Therefore, whether it can reduce Hcy has become a new direction. This study was a retrospective case-control study. Patients with high serum Hcy and hypertension complicated with IR were divided into two groups: the dapagliflozin group (n=166) and the control group (n=198). Before and after 12weeks of treatment, the changes in serum Hcy and IR index were measured and compared. We found that dapagliflozin could reduce the serum Hcy level of patients with hypertension and IR to a certain extent. Dapagliflozin could be a viable option for hypertension complicated with IR and hyperhomocysteinemia. However, these findings need to be further confirmed in future randomized clinical trials with a large number of samples.

Oxidative stress impairs cognitive function by affecting hippocampal fimbria volume in drug-naïve, first-episode schizophrenia.

The aim of the present study was to explore influencing factors of cognitive impairments and their interrelationships in drug-naïve, first-episode schizophrenia (SCZ). Patients with drug naïve, first episode SCZ and healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled. Cognitive function was assessed by the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). Serum levels of oxidative stress indices, including folate, superoxide dismutase (SOD), uric acid (UA) and homocysteine (Hcy), were determined after an overnight fast. Hippocampal subfield volumes were measured using FreeSurfer. Mediation models were conducted using the SPSS PROCESS v3.4 macro. A false discovery rate (FDR) correction was applied for multiple comparisons. Sixty-seven patients with SCZ and 65 HCs were enrolled in our study. The patient group had significantly lower serum levels of folate and SOD and higher serum levels of HCY compared with the HCs (all p < 0.05). The patient group had a significantly smaller volume of the whole hippocampus than the HC group (p < 0.05). We also found significant volume differences between the two groups in the following subfields: CA1, molecular layer, GC-ML-DG and fimbria (all p < 0.05, uncorrected). The partial correlation analysis controlling for age and sex showed that the fimbria volume in the patient group was significantly positively associated with NAB scores (r = 0.382, pFDR = 0.024); serum levels of SOD in the patient group showed a significantly positive correlation with fimbria volume (r = 0.360, pFDR = 0.036). Mediation analyses controlling for age and sex showed that the serum levels of SOD in patients with SCZ had significant indirect effects on the NAB scores which were mediated by the fimbria volume [indirect effect = 0.0565, 95% CI from the bootstrap test excluding zero (0.0066 to 0.0891)]. Oxidative stress, a reduction in hippocampal subfield volumes and cognitive impairments occur in early SCZ. Oxidative stress impairs cognitive function by affecting hippocampal subfield volumes.

Hyperhomocysteinemia acts via DNA-hypomethylation to induce atherosclerosis

Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis responsible for chronic and acute cardiovascular events, such as myocardial infarction, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. The aim of this review is to evaluate the mechanisms through which increased homocysteine (Hcy) ​​levels cause atherosclerotic events. It is knonw that the amino-acid Hcy, through the trans-methylation pathway, results in S-adenosyl-methionine (SAM). In turn, SAM transfers a methyl group (-CH3) to some substrates, such as DNA, turning in S-Adenosyl-Homocysteine (SAH). But, this compound is able to inhibit DNA methyltransferase (DNT), that is the enzyme responsible for DNA methylation. The consequent DNA hypomethylation favors the Cyclin A inhibition, responsible for the atherosclerotic findings. Thus, DNA hypomethylation is a risk factor for atherosclerosis rather than HHcy, that is a simple indicator of this complication. Concordantly, several reports and large trials indicate that folate (vit. B-9) and B-6-12 vitamins supplementation, even lowers HHcy levels, did not reduce the incidence of atherosclerosis. But, that can be antagonized by the product of Hcy-transsulfuration, as H2S. Conclusively, the contemporary administration of H2S + folic acid (that antagonizes HHcy) should reduce both high Hcy serum levels and cardiovascular acute events.

The diagnostic value of echocardiography combined with serum Hcy and PCSK9 in coronary heart disease

ABSTRACT Coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases. This study analyzed the diagnostic value of echocardiography combined with serum homocysteine (Hcy) and proprotein convertase subtilisin 9 (PCSK9) in CHD. Here, 108 CHD patients were selected as the study group. Additionally, 108 patients with suspected CHD excluded by coronary angiography were selected as the control group. Serum Hcy and PCSK9 levels were detected by circulating enzymatic and biochemical analysis assay. The contrast echocardiography showed that the contrast agent filling velocity (β) and the maximum number of microbubbles (A) in the study group were declined compared to the control group. Serum Hcy and PCSK9 levels in the study group were higher than those in the control group. In addition, β, A, Hcy and PCSK9 are important influencing factors of CHD. The coronary artery disease branch numbers and the degree of stenosis in CHD patients were negatively correlated with β and A values, and positively correlated with serum Hcy and PCSK9 levels. β, A combined with serum Hcy and PCSK9 levels have diagnostic value for CHD, and are significantly correlated with the severity of CHD.

Value of N-Terminal Pro B-Type Natriuretic Peptide, High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein, and Homocysteine Levels in Predicting Cardiovascular Events in Chronic Heart Failure Patients After Discharge

Objective: To investigate the value of N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and homocysteine (Hcy) levels in predicting cardiovascular events (CV) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods: A total of 63 patients with CHF admitted to our hospital between June 2019 and July 2021 were selected. Their NT-proBNP, hs-CRP, and Hcy levels were detected at discharge, and a 12-month follow-up was done after their discharge to collect clinical data. The collected data were inclusive of data from 21 CHF patients with cardiovascular disease and 42 CHF patients without cardiovascular disease. The effect of NT-proBNP, hs-CRP, and Hcy levels on the occurrence of CV was analyzed. Results: The levels of NT-proBNP, hs-CRP, and Hcy in the group with cardiovascular disease were significantly higher than those in the group without cardiovascular disease (P &lt; 0.05); the levels of serum NT-proBNP, hs-CRP, and Hcy at discharge had certain value in predicting short-term CV in CHF patients (P &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: NT-proBNP, hs-CRP, and Hcy levels can be used to predict CV in CHF patients, thus having clinical application value.

Study of Homocysteine, SDMA, ADMA, UMOD, AVP, and KIM-1 in serum of chronic renal disease patients suffering from Type-2 diabetes in Basra Province

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a reduction in renal function manifested by a GFR of less than 60 mL/min per 1.73 m2 or kidney damage marker, or maybe both, last about 3 months, regardless of actual cause. Diabetes mellitus (DM) seem to be the causative factors of CKD in all high- middle-income regions, as well as in numerous low country income. Mellitus accounts for 30–50% of all CKD and affects 285 million (6.4%) individuals globally. A case-control study included 30 CKD patients with T2DM and 30 healthy subjects as a control group who visited Al-Basrah Teaching Hospital in Al-Basrah province between October 2021 and February 2022. The Age average for study population was (25-60) years. Serum levels of human AVP, ADMA, KIM-1, HCY, UMOD, and SDMA were measured by a sandwich-ELISA technique. The results revealed a highly significant increase in the levels of homocysteine, SDMA, ADMA, AVP, and KIM-1 in CKD-diabetic patients (P &lt; 0.05) and a highly significant decrease in the level of UMOD (P&lt;0.05) compared to control. According to the results, we conclude: Hyperhomocysteinemia occurs in chronic and end-stage kidney diseases. A potential indicator of renal health, uromodulin allows for the early identification of CKD. This tubular secretion marker may possibly represent intrinsic "kidney function" and residual nephron mass in addition to glomerular filtration. The oxidative stress markers ADMA and SDMA are both known to contribute significantly to the emergence of endothelial dysfunction. Increased kidney damage molecule-1 and arginein vasopressin levels suggest that these molecules may be involved in the etiology of declining renal function.

Investigation of Homocysteine, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin D among Patients with Colorectal Cancer

Background and objectives: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a disease that begins exclusively in the colon or rectum and is caused by the abnormal growth of glandular epithelial cells within the colon. Homocysteine, vitamin B6, and vitamin D are recognized to play a significant role in colorectal tumor pathogenesis. The aim of this study to investigate serum levels of Hcy, vitamin D and vitamin B6 in colorectal cancer. Methods: The current study investigated the vital roles of homocysteine, vitamin B6 and vitamin D in cancer development by comparing serum levels of colorectal cancer patients with those of the healthy control group at Nanakaly hospital. The levels of serum homocysteine (Hcy), vitamin B6 and vitamin D in 50 colorectal cancer patients and 50 from the healthy control group have been examined. Results: The result shows significantly high values of serum homocysteine (p&lt;0.0001) and significant decreases in values of vitamin B6 and vitamin D (p&lt;0.0001and 0.0010) respectively, in patients with CRC when compared with the healthy group. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that increased levels of homocysteine and decreased levels of vitamin B6 and vitamin D could be associated with the pathogenesis and progression of colorectal cancer.

Hyperhomocysteinemia and pregnancy outcomes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A case-control study.

One of the reproductive medicine challenges is to determine the role of hyperhomocysteinemia in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), especially in women with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Determine the correlation between hyperhomocysteinemia and pregnancy outcome in women with PCOS. This case-control study involved 245 women (20-30 yr) and was conducted in Georgia, Tbilisi from 2019-2022. Of these, 175 were women with PCOS (study group) and 70 were healthy women (control group). Women with PCOS were divided into group I with RPL (n = 90), and group II with live births (n = 85). Group I was divided into subgroups A and B with and without insulin resistance. The investigation measured homocysteine (Hcy), follicle-stimulating, luteinizing, anti-Mullerian hormones, total and free testosterone were determined. To determine the ovarian volume and antral follicle count, participants also underwent an ultrasound examination. In women with PCOS, the average Hcy level was significantly higher than in the controls, p 0.05. In group I, the average Hcy level was significantly higher than in group II and controls, p 0.05. There was no significant difference in average Hcy level between group II and controls. The average Hcy level in group I, subgroup A was significantly higher than in subgroup B, p 0.05. The average total, free testosterone levels, and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance levels (HOMA-IR) in group I was significantly higher than in group II and controls. HOMA-IR in group II and controls did not differ significantly. The average anti-Mullerian hormone levels in women with PCOS were significantly higher than controls, p 0.05. No significant difference was observed in average anti-Mullerian hormone level, ovarian volume, antral follicle count, and body mass index between the comparison groups of PCOS. In group I, a positive correlation between Hcy with HOMA-IR was detected. Serum Hcy levels are elevated in women with PCOS and RPL, which correlates with their insulin resistance status.

Double Regulation of Supplement-Detoxification on Diabetic Atherosclerosis by Inhibiting Excessive Autophagy

<i>Objecive</i> To explore the mechanism of Huoxue Jiedu Jiangtang recipe (HJJR) in regulating the hyperactivation of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) autophagy PERK-eIF2a-LC3 pathway, and reveal its prevention for diabetic atherosclerosis. <i>Methods</i> First, the rats were injected with streptozotocin intraperitoneally to make the diabetic models, and then the aortic balloon injury combined with high-fat feeding were used to make the models of atherosclerosis who were randomly divided into model group, western medicine group (Gliquidone + Benazepril), low-dose HJJR group (HJJR₁), high-dose HJJR group (HJJR₂), and accepted corresponding drugs for 8 weeks respectively. Another blank group was used as control. The changes of serum glycosylated hemoglobin (GHb), homocysteine (Hcy) and angiotensinII (Ang1I) were compared. HE staining was used to detect aortic pathology. The mRNA transcription of PRK-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), eucaryotic translation initation factor 2α (eIF2α) and CCAAT / Enhance-Binding Protein Homologous Protein (CHOP) were tested by reverse- transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Western blot were used to detect the expression of autophagy activating protein ATG6 (Beclin-1), autophagy protein microtubule-associated protein light chain LC3-1, LC3-II and LC3-II/LC3-I. <i>Results </i>Compared with the model group, after the drug intervention, the aortic tissue injury in each drug group were reduced, and the improvement in the Chinese medicine group was significantly better than that of the western medicine group (P < 0.05). All treatment groups could significantly lowed the levels of serum GHb, Hcy, and Ang1I (P < 0.05), could down regulate the transcription level of PERK, eIF2α and CHOP mRNA (P < 0.05); and decreased the amount of Beclin 1, LC3-II and LC3-II/LC3-1 autophagy protein in aortic cells (P < 0.05). The effect of HJJF group was better, and it was more significant with the increase of HJJF dose. <i>Conclusion</i> HJJR can protect arteries by inhibiting ERS caused by metabolic disorder in diabetes, correcting the homeostasis affecting ER, reducing the overreaction of PERK-eIF2-LC3, and alleviating autophagy effect.

Association of serum homocysteine levels with intestinal flora and cognitive function in schizophrenia

Some studies have indicated that elevated homocysteine (Hcy) levels and intestinal flora may be involved in schizophrenia (SZ) cognition pathophysiology. This study was the first to investigate the association among Hcy, intestinal flora and schizophrenia cognition. Here, 140 individuals were divided into two groups: SZ patients (N = 68) and healthy controls (HCs, N = 72). Participant data on serum Hcy levels, intestinal flora and cognitive function evaluation using the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) were collected. Clinical symptoms of patients were evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Serum Hcy levels and the incidence of hyperhomocysteinaemia were considerably increased in SZ patients compared with HCs. Hcy levels were significantly negatively associated with verbal learning index scores (r = −0.425, p < 0.001) but positively associated with Eubacterium (r = 0.32, p = 0.007), Lactobacillus (r = 0.32, p = 0.008), Corynebacterium (r = 0.26, p = 0.035), Mogibacterium (r = 0.31, p = 0.01), and Bulleidia (r = 0.31, p = 0.01) in SZ patients. Our findings suggest that serum Hcy levels are associated with cognitive function and intestinal flora in SZ patients. However, the mechanism of the interaction between Hcy and intestinal flora and its effects on cognitive function in SZ patients requires further investigation.