Serum Uric Acid Concentration Research Articles

Effects of in ovo feeding of disaccharide and/or methionine on hatchability, growth performance, blood hematology, and serum antioxidant parameters in geese.

A completely randomized design employing a 2 × 2 factorial experiment was designed in this study to evaluate the effects of in ovo injection of disaccharide (DS) and/or methionine (Met) on hatchability, growth performance, blood hematology, and serum antioxidant parameters in geese. A total of 600 fertilized geese's eggs containing live embryo were randomly assigned into 4 groups with 6 replicates and 25 eggs per replicate. Factors in four groups comprised noninjection, DS injection (25g/L maltose + 25g/L sucrose + 7.5g/L NaCl), Met injection (5g/L Met + 7.5g/L NaCl), or DS plus Met injection (25g/L maltose + 25g/L sucrose + 5g/L Met + 7.5g/L NaCl), respectively. We found that the administration of DS in embryo increased hatching time, yolk sac-free carcass weight, yolk sac-free carcass indexes and decreased assisted hatching ratio, yolk sac weight, yolk sac indexes, but did not affect hatchability and mortality. Moreover, higher body weight and serum glucose concentrations in DS injection group compared with noninjection group were observed on day of hatching. The body weight and average daily gain (ADG) of geese in DS injection group were higher than noninjection group after incubation. In ovo injection of Met increased hatching time and yolk sac-free carcass indexes, but decreased yolk sac indexes. In addition, the strategy of in ovo feeding of Met led to higher body weight, ADG, serum uric acid, glutathione (GSH), and glutathione peroxidase concentrations, as well as lower GSSG/GSH ratio, serum glutathione disulfide (GSSG), and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations than the noninjection group on day of hatching. The post-hatching body weight, ADG, serum total protein, albumin, and uric acid concentrations increased, whereas post-hatching serum GSSG and MDA concentrations and GSSG/GSH ratio decreased when injected with Met. In addition, synergistic effects of in ovo injection of DS plus Met on hatching time as well as post-hatching body weight and ADG were observed. Therefore, in ovo injection of DS plus Met was demonstrated to be a way to improve the development of geese during early incubation stages.

Renal Toxicity Induced by Nicotine in Male Albino Rats and Attenuation by Fenugreek Seeds and Curcumin

The present study aimed to evaluate the harmful effects of nicotine on serum urea, creatinine, and uric acid concentrations, and histological structure of the kidney, and assessment of the ameliorative effects of fenugreek seeds, and curcumin on renal toxicity induced by nicotine in male albino rats. 30 male F-344/NHsd Fischer rats, weighing from 180 to 200g were used in the present study. The animals were divided into five groups (6 rats for each); Group I (control group), Group II (nicotine treated group), Group III (nicotine/fenugreek seeds co-administered), Group IV (nicotine/curcumin co-administered), and Group V (nicotine/curcumin& fenugreek seeds co-administered). At the end of the experimentation and 24 hours after the last dose, all animals were anaesthetized with ether and blood samples were collected by heart puncture. The blood samples were collected in clean dry tubes. The allowed to clot at room temperature for about 30 minutes and centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 15 minutes then, serum was separated and kept in a deep freezer at -20◦C until biochemical measurements were carried out. Animals were immediately dissected, and small pieces of the kidney were quickly removed and fixed in 10% formalin for histological examination. The results showed that the animals treated with nicotine for 4 weeks induced a significant increase in serum urea, creatinine, and uric acid concentrations compared with the control group. Also, administration of nicotine to rats induced a severe structural change in the renal tissues. Co-administration of nicotine with fenugreek and/or curcumin caused improvement in serum urea, creatinine, and uric acid concentrations and histological structure of the kidney when compared with nicotine group. It can be concluded that nicotine had a strong effect on the kidney function and histological structure of the kidney. The ingestion of fenugreek and/or curcumin attenuated the renal toxicity induced by nicotine. The current study suggests that fenugreek and curcumin may be useful in combating free radical-induced renal toxicity induced by nicotine.

English

BACKGROUND Acute myocardial infarction is a form of ischemic heart disease in which there is an inadequate supply of blood and oxygen to a portion of the myocardium. It typically occurs when there is an imbalance between myocardial oxygen supply & demand. In this study, we wanted to determine the prognostic significance of serum uric acid concentration in acute myocardial infarction. METHODS This is a cross-sectional comparative study conducted among 100 acute myocardial infarction patients admitted at VIMSAR, Burla during the study period from November 2017 to October 2019 and also 50 age and gender-matched healthy controls person who presented to the hospital OPD with other reasons. All patients were diagnosed with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction based on clinical history, examination, ECG changes, and biochemical markers. Detailed general examination and detailed systemic examination of cardiovascular, neuromuscular, gastrointestinal, respiratory & genitourinary system were done with routine tests: Hb%, TLC, DC, ESR, S. Urea, S. Creatinine, Fasting/RBS, Blood Sugar, Urine, R/M, Serum uric acid, Troponin I & CPK-MB and ECG in all leads. Evaluation of patient was done to access the Killip class on the day of admission and once among 50 age and gender-matched healthy controls. RESULTS The mean serum uric acid level was higher in patients with acute myocardial infarction than the healthy controls. There was no significant difference in the mean serum uric acid level between males & females and the mean serum uric acid level between diabetic & non-diabetic patients. Patients in the higher Killip class had higher serum uric acid levels. All patients who died in the study were in the higher Killip class and had higher S.uric acid levels. CONCLUSIONS A combination of Killip class & serum uric acid level after acute myocardial infarction is a good predictor of mortality. KEY WORDS Myocardial Infarction, ST Segment Elevation, CPK-MB, Serum Uric Acid.

Simple and effective serum biomarkers potential for predicting status epilepticus in anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis

BackgroundPatients with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis who also present with status epilepticus (SE) often have a poor prognosis. The aim of this study is to explore simple and effective predictors for anti-NMDAR encephalitis accompanied with SE.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed 65 anti-NMDAR encephalitis patients from January 2015 to December 2018 who admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. Patients were divided into SE group and non-SE groups. Their pre-treatment data and 3-month follow-up data were retrospectively analyzed.ResultsThe results showed that compared with the non-SE group, the levels of serum uric acid (UA) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in anti-NMDAR encephalitis patients with SE decreased significantly before treatment. Additionally, the levels of serum UA and HDL-C increased while the level of C-reactive protein (CRP) decreased 3 months after treatment in the SE group. Compared with the non-SE group, the SE patients had higher modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores before (mRS1) and after treatment (mRS2). Serum UA concentrations before treatment showed significantly negative correlations with mRS1 (r = − 0.407, p < 0.01) and mRS2 (r = − 0.458, p < 0.001), while the level of serum CRP before treatment had strong positive correlations with mRS1 (r = 0.304, p < 0.05) and mRS2 (r = 0.301, p < 0.05) in anti-NMDAR encephalitis patients. The receiver operating characteristic curve demonstrated that the combined detection of UA, HDL-C and CRP before treatment had a significantly higher value (the area under the curve = 0.848; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.74–0.957; p < 0.001) to predict anti-NMDAR encephalitis accompanied with SE than that of single detection.ConclusionsHence, the combined detection of serum UA, HDL-C and CRP before treatment may be simple and effective indicators for predicting SE in anti-NMDAR encephalitis, which may be helpful in early stages to remind clinicians to be alert to the emergence of SE.

A Case Study on Exercise-Induced Acute Kidney Injury - Test

Hypouricemia is a condition which refers to hyper-uric acid clearance due to a defect in renal tubular transport. It is considered as a hereditary renal problem. Patients with hereditary renal hypouricemia have a higher risk of exercise-induced acute kidney injury and reduced kidney function. Although avoiding exercise is considered as the best preventive measure, there are many kinds of jobs that require occupational exercise. A 32-year-old male physical trainer suffered from stage 3 Acute Kidney Injury after performing a 18-m multistage shuttle run test. His father had previously been diagnosed as having renal hypouricemia at another facility. The patient had reported having hypouricemia during a health check, but his serum uric acid concentration was within the normal range at our hospital. After treatment, he recovered from exercise-induced acute kidney injury and exhibited low serum uric acid and hyper-uric acid clearance. Since the patient desired to continue his career requiring strenuous exercise, it was difficult to propose a preventive plan against the recurrence of exercise-induced acute kidney injury. Patients suffering with hereditary renal hypouricemia are at higher risk of developing Acute Kidney Injury when undergo strenuous occupational anaerobic exercise than other workers. Hence the risks of exercise-induced acute kidney injury among patients with hypouricemia should be considered when undergoing physical occupational training.

The Relation of Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity and Serum Uric Acid Using the National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES) 2003-2004.

Objective: Gout is a crystal-induced inflammatory arthritis caused by elevated uric acid. Physical activity has the potential to reduce serum uric acid (SUA), thus improving the disease burden of gout. In this study, we examined the association of objectively-measured physical activity and SUA.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using survey, laboratory, and accelerometer data from the 2003–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). SUA concentrations (mg/dL) were obtained during an initial exam, and then physical activity (kCal/day) was measured with 7 days of ActiGraph accelerometry in participants (n = 3,475) representative of the ambulatory, non-institutionalized US civilian population. Regression, including restricted cubic splines, was used to assess the relation of physical activity and SUA in bivariate and adjusted models. Covariates included age, gender, race/ethnicity, alcohol use, body mass index, renal function, and urate-lowering therapy.Results: In the bivariate model, physical activity was correlated with SUA concentrations and included a non-linear component (p < 0.01). In the adjusted model, linear splines were employed with a node at the SUA nadir of 5.37mg/dL; this occurred at 703 kCal/day of physical activity. The association of physical activity and SUA was negative from 0 to 703 kCal/day (p = 0.07) and positive >703 kCal/day (p < 0.01 for the change in slope).Conclusion: Physical activity and SUA are associated in a non-linear fashion, with a minimum estimated SUA at 703 kCal/day of objectively-measured physical activity. These findings raise intriguing questions about the use of physical activity as a potential adjunctive therapy in patients with gout, and further interventional studies are needed to elucidate the effects of moderate intensity exercise on SUA concentrations.

Hyperuricemia Resistant to a Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitor, Topiroxostat: a Case Report

Hyperuricemia is a common complication of chronic kidney disease. Gout is a clinical symptom of hyperuricemia, and lowering serum uric acid concentration (sUA) is recommended to prevent its recurrence. Febuxostat and topiroxostat are sUA-lowering agents, which are presumed to act on the same site of xanthine oxidase (XO), the rate-limiting enzyme for urate production. We present a case of gout where febuxostat but not topiroxostat lowered sUA. The different efficacy between them indicates that XO inhibitors are not interchangeable even among those acting on the same site of XO.

Serum Uric Acid Might Be Positively Associated With Hypertension in Chinese Adults: An Analysis of the China Health and Nutrition Survey.

Background: Previous studies have clarified the relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) and hypertension; most of previous studies suggest that elevated uric acid levels are associated with an increased risk of hypertension, while in China, there are relatively few studies to explore above association. The objective of this longitudinal study is to investigate the correlation of SUA and hypertension in Chinese adults with a nationwide large-scale sample.Methods: Data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey 2009, 2011, and 2016 were used; a total of 8,469 participants (3,973 men and 4,496 women) were involved. This study was conducted separately by gender. Clinical characteristics of the participants among different uric acid groups are compared. The binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between SUA and hypertension. Restricted cubic spline analysis with three knots of the SUA concentration were used to characterize the dose-response relationship. Additionally, we compared the incidence of hypertension in the different baseline uric acid groups during follow-up in 2011 and 2015.Results: After the covariates were fully adjusted, we found that elevated uric acid levels were correlated with increased risk of hypertension in both males (p < 0.01) and females (p < 0.01). With 2-year or 6-year of follow-up, we found participants with higher baseline uric acid levels had a higher incidence of hypertension (p < 0.01). In stratified analysis by obesity, above relationship remained significant in nonobesity population (males: p < 0.05, females: p < 0.01) and became nonsignificant in obesity people. In stratified analysis by age, above positively correlation remained significant in middle-aged men (p < 0.05) and elderly women (p < 0.01). Restricted cubic spline revealed the dose-response relationship between SUA and hypertension; we also found that above relationship was much stronger in females.Conclusion: This study suggests that elevated SUA levels might be positively associated with an increased risk of hypertension in general Chinese adults.

Estimation of Serum, Salivary, and Gingival Crevicular Uric Acid of Individuals With and Without Periodontal Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

ABSTRACTIntroduction:Uric acid (UA) levels in serum, salivary, and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) may be associated with periodontal diseases. Hence, this study aimed to estimate the UA concentration in serum, saliva, and GCF of periodontal disease and non-periodontal disease subjects by conducting a systematic review and a meta-analysis of the reported studies.Materials and Methods:A review of the available literature was searched in the electronic databases of PubMed, Cochrane, Science Direct, and EBSCO for the relevant publications. All the related case–control, cross-sectional, and cohort studies reporting the UA levels in the blood, salivary, and GCF between periodontal disease patients and healthy controls were analyzed. Significant heterogeneity was observed in the studies. Hence, a continuous random-effects model was used. The findings are described in forest plots with the point estimations and 95% confidence interval (CI). A value of P less than 5% was considered as a significant heterogeneity test.Results:Of the initial 166 study titles screened, 14 reported papers were eligible for quantitative review. The subgroup analysis of serum UA revealed a mean difference of 0.299 (95% CI: 0.029–0.569, I2=85.64%, P<0.001), indicating an increase in the UA levels in periodontal disease. However, the subgroup analysis by salivary UA demonstrated a mean difference of −0.783 (95% CI: −1.577–0.011, I2= 94.62%, P<0.001), suggesting a lower side of the UA level in periodontal diseases. The subgroup analysis based on case–control studies showed a mean difference of 0.004 (95% CI: −0.286–0.294, I2=84.99%, P<0.001), indicating no changes in UA levels in periodontal disease. On the contrary, cohort studies and cross-sectional studies showed a mean difference : 95% CI: −1.016, −3.272–1.241, I2=97.84%, P<0.001 and 95%: −1.230, −4.410–1.949, I2=97.7%, P<0.001, indicating reduction in UA levels in periodontal disease cases.Conclusion:The current review suggests an increase in the serum UA levels in periodontal disease than in healthy controls. Contrarily, the salivary UA levels decreased in periodontal disease patients. It is unknown why UA levels are opposite in the blood and saliva of periodontal disease patients requiring further explanation.

Benefits of D-005, a lipid extract from Acrocomia crispa fruits, in the prevention of acute kidney njury induced by nephrotoxicity in rats.

Introduction:Aminoglycoside-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) is a pathology closely linked to oxidative and inflammatory reactions. Taking into account the previous reported antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of D-005, a lipid extract obtained from Cuban palm Acrocomia crispa (Arecaceae) fruits, this work aimed to evaluate the effects of D-005 on kanamycin-induced AKI.Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into 7 groups: negative control (vehicle, Tween 65/H2O) and six groups treated with kanamycin to induce AKI: positive control (vehicle), D-005 (25, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) and grape seed extract (GSE, 200 mg/kg). D-005, vehicle, and GSE oral treatments were administered once daily for seven days, 1 h before kanamycin (500 mg/kg, i.p.). Serum uric acid and urea concentrations, renal histopathology, and oxidative markers (malondialdehyde (MDA), sulfhydryl (SH) groups, and catalase (CAT) activity) were assessed.Results:D-005 significantly reduced uric acid and urea levels, starting from D-005 100 mg/kg. Histopathologically, D-005, at all the tested doses, protected renal parenchyma structures (glomeruli, proximal tubules, and interstitium). These findings were accompanied by a significant reduction of MDA and SH group concentrations as well as restoration of CAT activity. The highest percentages of inhibition were obtained with the dose of 400 mg/kg. GSE, the reference substance, also prevented kanamycin-induced biochemical and histopathological changes, as well as reduced MDA and SH groups and restored CAT activity.Conclusion:The administration of repeated oral doses of D-005 significantly protected against kanamycin-induced AKI, which could be associated with the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of this extract.

Selected matrix metalloproteinases activity and hypertension-mediated organ damage in relation to uric acid serum level.

BackgroundAtherosclerosis is as a systemic inflammatory disease associated with the activation of many mediators, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and may be amplified by abnormal high serum uric acid (UA) concentration (hyperuricemia, HU). The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between serum UA concentration and activity of MMPs and their correlation with the hypertension-mediated organ damage (HMOD) intensity.MethodsOne hundred and nine patients untreated with antihypertensive, hypolipemic or urate-lowering drugs with diagnosed stage 1–2 essential hypertension were included in this study. In all participants blood pressure (BP) was measured, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), intima–media thickness (IMT), echocardiography and blood tests including UA, lipids and serum concentrations of MMPs (1, 2, 3, 9) were observed. The participants were divided into hyper- and normuricemic groups.ResultsUric acid concentration in the whole study group positively correlated with some HMOD parameters (IMT, PWV, left ventricular mass index, left atrial dimension). Among the studied metalloproteinases only MMP-3 activity positively correlated with serum UA concentration independently of age, body mass index and serum lipids (R2 = 0.11, p = 0.048). Multivariate regression analysis showed positive association between IMT and BP, UA concentration and MMP-3 activity, independently of waist circumference and serum lipids (R2 = 0.328, p < 0.002). Patients with HU were characterized by higher activity of MMP-3 than those without (19.41 [14.45; 21.74] vs. 13.98 [9.52; 18.97] ng/mL, p = 0.016).ConclusionsThe present results may support the thesis that UA and the increased by UA activity of MMPs may take part in the development of HMOD, especially IMT.

Serum uric acid is an independent risk factor of worse mid- and long-term outcomes in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes.

The data on the association between serum uric acid (sUA) concentration and outcomes in patients with an ACS are inconsistent and do not focus on patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS). The aim of this study was to analyze an association of sUA concentration on admission and outcomes in those patients. Data from the prospective, single-center registry of patients hospitalized due to NSTE-ACS from January 2006 to December 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. The population was divided into quartiles according to the baseline sUA. The primary outcome was the incidence of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, stroke and ACS-driven revascularization at 36 months. Total of 2,824 patients with sUA measured on admission were included in this analysis with a median sUA of 352 µmol/L (5.92 mg/dL). Patients with higher sUA were older and more burdened with cardiovascular risk factors and history of coronary events. The prevalence of multivessel coronary artery disease and left main stenosis was significantly higher in patients with higher sUA. Elevated sUA concentration was associated with significantly worse short-, mid- and long-term outcomes. All-cause mortality was significantly higher in each analyzed period. In the multivariable analysis, sUA elevation was identified as an independent predictor of all-cause mortality at 12-month and 36-month follow-up. Elevated baseline sUA concentration was independently associated with worse mid- and long-term outcomes in patients with NSTE-ACS. Baseline sUA concentration could identify patients with NSTE-ACS at higher risk of more dismal prognosis.

Melinjo seed extract stimulates intestinal ABCG2 expression to reduce serum uric acid levels in hyperuricemic rats

• We examined the association between ABCG2 and MjR in hyperuricemia rats. • ABCG2 upregulation by MjR may play an important role in decreasing serum uric acid. • Gnemonoside D was likely the main component that increases ABCG2 expression. • MjR could have potential in the treatment of hyperuricemia. Melinjo resveratrol (MjR) is a resveratrol derivative from the seed extract of melinjo ( Gnetum gnemon L.). Although it may reduce serum uric acid concentration in humans, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Thus, we investigated the effect of MjR on the uric acid metabolism in the setting of hyperuricemia model rats induced by orally administered oxonic acid. MjR administered for three weeks significantly lowered serum uric acid levels in hyperuricemia rats. While urinary excretion of uric acid did not change, fecal excretion of uric acid significantly increased by MjR. The expression of ATP-binding cassette sub-family G member (ABCG2) was upregulated with MjR treatment in the ileum but not in the kidney. In a human epithelial colorectal cell line, Caco-2, uric acid and MjR additively stimulated ABCG2 expression. These data suggest that MjR could reduce serum uric acid by enhancing fecal excretion of uric acid in the ileum by upregulating ABCG2 protein expression.

Menopause and Hyperuricemia in Women in the Russian Population (Results of the ESSE-RF Study)

Aims. To evaluate the relationship of menopause and its features with hyperuricemia in Russian women. Methods. In this study, we used data from the cross-sectional phase of the epidemiological study Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Diseases in the Regions of the Russian Federation (ESSE-RF) conducted in 20132014, in 13 regions of Russia. The final random sample size was 12 781 women. According to the interviews, the fact of menopause and the features of climacteric were identified. Hyperuricemia was defined as a serum uric acid concentration greater than 360 mol/L. Age, behavioral risk factors and indicators of health status were assessed as covariates. Logistic regression analysis was used for multivariate assessment of associations. Apart from the assessment of the general sample, the analysis of the groups stratified by obesity, diabetes mellitus and the characteristics of climacteric was carried out. The results of logistic regression analysis are presented as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results. In the general sample, after adjusting for covariates, menopause was directly associated with hyperuricemia (OR = 1.17; 95% CI 1.061.28), the association of hyperuricemia with age was not statistically significant. Menopause was more consistently associated with hyperuricemia in obese compared to non-obese women. In diabetic women, menopause is directly and significantly associated with hyperuricemia, whereas in non-diabetic women there was not the association between menopause and hyperuricemia. Taking into account the features of climacteric, menopause was directly associated with hyperuricemia only in the 410 years after the onset of menopause (OR = 1.13; 95% CI 1.021.26), in natural menopausal women (OR = 1.18; 95% CI 1.071.30) and who were taking hormone replacement therapy (OR = 1.23; 95% CI 1.061.43). Conclusions. The results of the study indicate the direct association of hyperuricemia with menopause, but not with the age of women. The stratified analysis has made it possible to identify some features of the association between hyperuricemia and menopause in women with metabolic disorders, as well as to assess the influence of the features of climacteric.

Hyperuricemia as a Risk Factor for Preterm Delivery in Women with Pre-Eclampsia

Objective: To determine hyperuricemia as a risk factor for preterm delivery in women with pre-eclampsia. Study Type: Case control study. Duration and Place of Study: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Sadiq Abbasi Hospital Bahawalpur from 1st July to 31st December 2019. Material and Methods: One hundred cases of pre-eclamptic and hyperuricemic women admitted for delivery through out-patient and emergency departments were divided in two groups, 50 cases in each group. Results: 70% women had hyperuricemia and pre-eclampsia deliver preterm and 34% women who had hyperuricemia and preeclampsia deliver at term. Conclusion: High serum uric acid concentration increased the chances of preterm delivery in pre-eclamptic women. Keywords: Hyperuricemia, Pre-eclampsia, Gestational hypertension, Uric acid, Pre-term delivery

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among undergraduate students in University of Nigeria, Nsukka

<h2>Summary</h2> Elevation of serum uric acid (SUA) is linked with the development of certain disease conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease, stroke, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome (MS). Although limited information exists to prove its association, a good number of studies and clinical trials support its role. This study investigate the relationship between MS and SUA of the undergraduate students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, fasting blood sugar (FBS), serum lipid profile, and SUA concentrations of 229 students comprising of 89 males and 140 females were determined following standard procedures with little modifications where necessary. Result reveals that body weight, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), FBS, low density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL), triacylglycerol (TAG) and serum uric acid concentration had no significant difference between the age groups while height, pulse, waist, and BMI had significant (p < 0.05) difference between the age groups. The SUA correlates positively with sex (r = 0.650, p < 0.01), SBP (r = 0.250, p < 0.01), TC (r = 0.205, p < 0.01) and triacylglycerol (r = 0.550, p < 0.01). The result of this study demonstrates that an increase in SUA concentration may lead to a concomitant increase in blood pressure, total cholesterol, and triacylglycerol which in turn may predispose the subjects to MS within the different age groups as revealed by our data.

Genetics of hyperuricemia and gout: Insights from recent genome-wide association studies and Mendelian randomization studies.

ABSTRACTGout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis in adults. Elevation serum uric acid (SUA) concentration is known to be the key to gout pathogenesis. Since the first genome-wide association study (GWAS) for SUA was performed in 2007, the number of gene loci known to be associated with hyperuricemia and gout has grown rapidly. GWASs and Mendelian randomization studies have also reported numerous novel results regarding the genetics of hyperuricemia and gout since 2018. We concisely review recent advances in scholarship on the effects of genetics on hyperuricemia and gout risk. We also review data from genetic association studies in Taiwan and perform GWASs of SUA levels among Taiwan Biobank participants.

Impact of serum uric acid concentration on ultrasound scanned pregnant women in Calabar, Nigeria

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of serum uric acid elevation on the fetus and to determine the existence of a connection between hyperuricemia and gestational hyperten sion (pre-eclampsia).Materials and method: A prospective cross-sectional case-controlled ultrasound scan study was done on 200 singleton pregnant women between 20 to 40 weeks gestational age in a 12-month period. The age range for the cases and control were from 15 to 39 years. Uric acid concentration in the serum obtained from all the women was analyzed utilizing manual colorimetric method. Pearson’s correlation and the student t-tests were used to analyze the data obtained.Results: Maternal serum uric acid had negative correlation with fetal heart rate (FHR) (p = 0.025) and a positive correlation with estimated gestational age (EGA) (p = 0.040) including estimated fetal weight EFW (p = 0.046). A significant positive correlation between uric acid and proteinuria (p = 0.009) was observed. Uric acid was higher in pre-eclamptics than gestational hypertensives (8.528±2.679 mg/dl versus 6.542±1.746 mg/dl, p = 0.016). Also, uric acid in pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) was higher than the normotensives (7.535±2.165 mg/dl versus 5.437±1.636 mg/dl).Conclusion: Maternal hyperuricemia predisposes to fetal bradycardia which may have possibly led to the two fetal demise recorded in the present study. Increased EFW with hyperuricemia may be due to higher body mass index (BMI) of the subjects. Therefore, high serum uric acid has a significant role in foretelling the appearance of preeclampsia but not gestational hypertension.

Causal Inference of Carnitine on Blood Pressure and potential mediation by uric acid: A mendelian randomization analysis

BackgroundDietary change alters blood pressure (BP) but the specific causal dietary elements are unclear. Given previous observational data suggesting serum carnitine or uric acid affect BP, we investigated the role of serum carnitine and serum uric acid concentrations on BP, and considered mediation by lipids and insulin resistance using two-sample bi-directional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. MethodsWe performed MR to characterize bi-directional causal relationships of carnitine or uric acid on cardiometabolic traits. We performed two-sample MR using genome-wide association summary data from separate large-scale genomic analyses of carnitine, uric acid, BP, lipids, and glycemic traits. We used inverse variance weighted (IVW) meta-analysis and MR Egger regression to test for causal relations in the absence and presence of pleiotropy, respectively, and performed sensitivity analyses to identify confounders and intermediates. ResultsIn our analysis, carnitine was directly, causally associated with systolic BP (IVW effect = 0.2, causal p-value = 0.03) but not diastolic BP (IVW causal p = 0.1). Our findings additionally support direct and indirect relationships of carnitine on TG and on uric acid. No causal associations of carnitine were found with glycemic traits. Uric acid was not associated with BP, nor TG. ConclusionTwo-sample bi-directional MR demonstrated an unconfounded causal effect of carnitine, but not uric acid, on systolic but not diastolic BP, suggesting a role of carnitine in arterial stiffness. Carnitine, but not uric acid, also has direct and indirect effects on TG but are independent of the causal effect of carnitine on systolic BP.

Pharmacotherapy for gout

Background: Gout is a common disease that is mainly caused by hyperuricemia. Although it is relatively easy to treat, adherence to drug treatment and the rate at which treatment targets are met is low.Current Concepts: For the treatment of acute gout attack, colchicine, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and glucocorticoids can be used alone or in combination depending on the severity of symptoms. To prevent gout attacks, patients are started on colchicine prior to or concurrent with treatment with uric acid–lowering drugs. The treatment is maintained until serum uric acid levels have returned to normal, and the patient has had no acute attacks for three to six months. Ultimately, the symptoms of gout are controlled in the long term by treating the patient’s hyperuricemia. For this purpose, allopurinol, febuxostat, and benzbromarone are used, and the side effects and contraindications for each drug should be checked. The goal for the treatment of chronic gout is to maintain a serum uric acid concentration below 6.0 mg/dL.Discussion and Conclusion: Patients visit the emergency departments of hospitals for sudden gout attacks. However, gout is a chronic disease that requires the lifelong use of uric acid–lowering agents. Therefore, it is necessary to educate patients on a serum urate-based treat-to-target approach.