Uric Acid Concentration Research Articles

Rationalization design, soluble expression and PEG modification of highly active recombinant human-porcine uricase mutant protein

Uric acid is the end product of purine metabolism in humans due to inactivation of the uricase determined by the mutated uricase gene. Uricase catalyzes the conversion of uric acid into water-soluble allantoin that is easily excreted by the kidneys. Hyperuricemia occurs when the serum concentration of uric acid exceeds its solubility (7 mg/dL). However, modifications to improve the uricase activity is under development for treating the hyperuricemia. Here we designed 7 types of human-porcine chimeric uricase by multiple sequence comparisons and targeted mutagenesis. An optimal human-porcine chimeric uricase mutant (uricase-10) with both high activity (6.33 U/mg) and high homology (91.45 %) was determined by enzyme activity measurement. The engineering uricase was further modified with PEGylation to improve the stability of recombinant protein drugs and reduce immunogenicity, uricase-10 could be more suitable for the treatment of gout and hyperuricemia theoretically.

Effect of per os administration of fucoxanthin alcoholic and oil extracts to Balb/c mice on biochemical parameters and serum cytokine level

Microalgae are a source of various biologically active substances, including carotenoids. One of the carotenoids of diatom microalgae is fucoxanthin, which has antioxidant, antimicrobial, antitumour and anti-inflammatory properties that can be used in the treatment of a wide range of human and animal pathologies. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of alcohol and oil extract of fucoxanthin on biochemical parameters and levels of serum cytokines in mice during intragastric administration. Material and methods. Fucoxanthin extracts from the microalga Nanofrustulum shiloi were used. Mice of Balb/c strain were intragastrically administrated with 0.5 ml of oil (500 μg/ml) or alcoholic extract of fucoxanthin (187.5 μg/ml), mice in the comparison group were given 0.5 ml of olive oil or 45% ethyl alcohol once a day within 5 days. On the 8th day, blood serum was obtained and the level of albumin, triglycerides, cholesterol, low (LDL) and high density lipoproteins (HDL), urea, uric acid, creatinine, aspartate (AST) and alanine aminotransferases (ALT), lactate, stable nitric oxide (NO) metabolites (nitrites), cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ) was determined using ELISA with photometric detection. Results and discussion. In the comparison group, ethyl alcohol promoted an increase in serum triglyceride, cholesterol, LDL, HDL, ALT, AST, nitrite, IL-10, IFN-γ and TNF-α content compared to intact animals. Fucoxanthin alcoholic extract administration increased the level of LDL, HDL, uric acid, TNF-α and decreased albumin, cholesterol, uric acid, creatinine, ALT, AST, IL-6 content compared to control. The olive oil group showed a decrease in serum triglycerides, cholesterol, urea, uric acid, ALT and AST content but an increase in LDL, HDL, nitrite level compared to the control. Administration of fucoxanthin oil extract to animals decreased albumin, triglycerides, cholesterol, HDL, uric acid, ALT, AST, lactate, IL-6, IL-10 compared to control. Conclusions. Thus, it was discovered that fucoxanthin in Balb/c mice contributes to a decrease in hepatic synthetic function, as evidenced by the change in the concentration of albumin, triglycerides, uric acid), influences energy metabolism (creatinine, lactate), cell membrane stability (cholesterol, LDL, HDL), serum transaminase activity, pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines content.

Ramadan Fasting in Relation to Salivary Uric Acid and Selective Physical Parameters

Background: Ramadan is the holy month in which all Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset. The impact of Ramadan fasting on the oral cavity and saliva needs more attention because of the important function of saliva in the protection of the mouth. Objective: To determine the impact of Ramadan fasting on salivary uric acid, flow rate, and pH among Iraqi male dental students. Patients and Methods: The subject population consisted of thirty healthy male dental students (College of Dentistry/University of Baghdad) with an age range of 20–23 years who intended to fast the whole of Ramadan (1443 Hijri calendar). Saliva samples were obtained from all dental students one week prior to the start of Ramadan, the last week of Ramadan, and one month after the end of Ramadan. The salivary flow rate was calculated, and the salivary pH was measured using a digital pH meter. Then a saliva sample was analyzed to detect the concentration of uric acid by using the spectrophotometer. Results: The data analysis for this study revealed that the salivary flow rate decreased from baseline to Ramadan and then increased again after one month of Ramadan with significant differences (p<0.05). While salivary uric acid increased continuously with significant differences from baseline to Ramadan and after one month of Ramadan fasting (p<0.05), on the other hand, salivary pH showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) among the three time periods of the study. Conclusion: Saliva was affected by Ramadan fasting through a decrease in salivary flow rate during fasting and a return to normal salivary flow rate after the end of Ramadan. In addition, uric acid, which acts as a salivary antioxidant, shows an increase during Ramadan fasting.

PKM2 promotes myoblast growth and inosine monophosphate-specific deposition in Jingyuan chicken

Inosine monophosphate (IMP) is widely regarded as an important indicator for evaluating the flavour of poultry meat. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms affecting the specific deposition of IMP. In this study, we functionally verified PKM2 (Pyruvate kinase M2), a candidate gene related to IMP synthesis, in order to reveal the important role of PKM2 in meat flavour and muscle development of Jingyuan chickens. The results showed that the IMP content in breast muscle of Jingyuan chickens was negatively correlated with PKM2 mRNA expression (r = −0.1710), while the IMP content in leg muscle was significantly positively correlated with PKM2 mRNA expression (r = 0.7350) (P < 0.05). During myogenesis, PKM2 promoted the proliferation rate of myoblasts and the expression of proliferation marker genes, inhibited the apoptosis rate and the expression of apoptosis marker genes, and decreased the expression of differentiation marker genes. Up-regulation of PKM2 enhanced the expression of key genes in the purine metabolic pathway and the de novo synthesis pathway of IMP, and suppressed the expression of key genes in the salvage pathway. ELISA assays showed that PKM2 decreased IMP and hypoxanthine (HX) contents, while adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and uric acid (UA) contents were clearly elevated. In summary, these studies revealed that PKM2 regulates myogenesis and specific deposition of IMP, which can be used to improve the quality of Jingyuan chicken meat.

Uricase conjugated nanostructured NiFe2O4/rGO modified flexible screen-printed carbon electrode based interface for long-range electrochemical determination of uric acid

Uric acid (UA) is a biomarker linked with gout and kidney stones that is harmful to the human body. Thus, this study explores the detection of UA using the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) method. Initially synthesizing a highly active Nickel ferrite/reduced graphene oxide (NiFe2O4/rGO) nanocomposite ferrite material by simple surfactant-free low-temperature hydrothermal approach. The as-synthesized material was studied using various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. The bioelectrode was fabricated on a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE), and the as-prepared Uricase/NiFe2O4/rGO/SPCE demonstrated improved electrochemical oxidation peak current (Ipa). While its electrochemical biosensing performance towards various UA concentrations shows a wide linear range from 5 to 900 μM, with a lower limit of detection (21·9 μM), high sensitivity (1·05×10−4 mA/μM cm2), good selectivity (RSD < 5·7 %), excellent stability, and repeatability. In addition, the fabricated bioelectrode was also explored to quantify the amount of UA in bovine serum albumin (BSA) real spiked samples. Hence, the proposed biosensor has potential applications in point-of-care-treatment of numerous disorders related to UA metabolism.

A potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of hyperuricemia and gout: 3,4-Dihydroxy-5-nitrobenzaldehyde phenylthiosemicarbazide

Uric acid, the metabolic product of purines, relies on xanthine oxidase (XOD) for production. XOD is a target for the development of drugs for hyperuricemia (HUA) and gout. Currently, treatment options remain limited for gout patients. 3, 4-Dihydroxy-5-nitrobenzaldehyde (DHNB) is a derivative of the natural product protocatechualdehyde with good biological activity. In this work, we identify a DHNB thiosemicarbazide class of compounds that targets XOD. 3,4-Dihydroxy-5-nitrobenzaldehyde phenylthiosemicarbazone can effectively inhibit XOD activity (IC50 value: 0.0437 μM) and exhibits a mixed inhibitory effect. In a mouse model of acute hyperuricemia, a moderate dose (10 mg/kg.w) of 3,4-dihydroxy-5-nitrobenzaldehyde phenylthiosemicarbazide effectively controlled the serum uric acid content and significantly inhibited serum XOD activity. In addition, 3,4-Dihydroxy-5-nitrobenzaldehyde phenylthiosemicarbazide showed favorable safety profiles, and mice treated with the target compound did not show any symptoms of general toxicity following a single dose of 500 mg/kg. In the allopurinol group, 50 % of the mice died. These results provide a structural framework and mechanism of XOD inhibition that may facilitate the design of hyperuricemia and gout treatments.

Nephroprotective Effect of Hibiscus Sabdariffa Leaf Flavonoid Extracts via KIM-1 and TGF-1β Signaling Pathways in Streptozotocin-Induced Rats.

Diabetes-induced kidney damage represents a substantial health hazard, emphasizing the imperative to explore potential therapeutic interventions. This study investigates the nephroprotective activity of flavonoid-rich extracts from Hibiscus sabdariffa leaves in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The flavonoid-rich extracts of H. sabdariffa leaves was obtained using a standard procedure. The animals were induced with streptozotocin and thereafter treated with both low (LDHSFL) and high doses (HDHSFL) of flavonoid-rich extracts from H. sabdariffa leaves and metformin (MET), and other groups are diabetic control (DC) and normal control (NC). The study assesses diverse renal parameters, encompassing kidney redox stress biomarkers, serum electrolyte levels, kidney inflammatory biomarkers, serum concentrations of creatinine, urea, and uric acid, kidney phosphatase activities, renal histopathology, and relative gene expressions of kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) and transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-1β), comparing these measurements with normal and diabetic control groups (NC and DC). The findings indicate that the use of extracts from H. sabdariffa leaves markedly (p < 0.05) enhanced renal well-being by mitigating nephropathy, as demonstrated through the adjustment of various biochemical and gene expression biomarkers, indicating a pronounced antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effect, improved kidney morphology, and mitigation of renal dysfunction. These findings suggest that H. sabdariffa leaf flavonoid extracts exhibit nephroprotective properties, presenting a potential natural therapeutic approach for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.

Targeted Metabolomics Highlights Dramatic Antioxidant Depletion, Increased Oxidative/Nitrosative Stress and Altered Purine and Pyrimidine Concentrations in Serum of Primary Myelofibrosis Patients.

To date, little is known concerning the circulating levels of biochemically relevant metabolites (antioxidants, oxidative/nitrosative stress biomarkers, purines, and pyrimidines) in patients with primary myelofibrosis (PMF), a rare form of myeloproliferative tumor causing a dramatic decrease in erythropoiesis and angiogenesis. In this study, using a targeted metabolomic approach, serum samples of 22 PMF patients and of 22 control healthy donors were analyzed to quantify the circulating concentrations of hypoxanthine, xanthine, uric acid (as representative purines), uracil, β-pseudouridine, uridine (as representative pyrimidines), reduced glutathione (GSH), ascorbic acid (as two of the main water-soluble antioxidants), malondialdehyde, nitrite, nitrate (as oxidative/nitrosative stress biomarkers) and creatinine, using well-established HPLC method for their determination. Results showed that PMF patients have dramatic depletions of both ascorbic acid and GSH (37.3- and 3.81-times lower circulating concentrations, respectively, than those recorded in healthy controls, p < 0.0001), accompanied by significant increases in malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitrite + nitrate (4.73- and 1.66-times higher circulating concentrations, respectively, than those recorded in healthy controls, p < 0.0001). Additionally, PMF patients have remarkable alterations of circulating purines, pyrimidines, and creatinine, suggesting potential mitochondrial dysfunctions causing energy metabolism imbalance and consequent increases in these cell energy-related compounds. Overall, these results, besides evidencing previously unknown serum metabolic alterations in PMF patients, suggest that the determination of serum levels of the aforementioned compounds may be useful to evaluate PMF patients on hospital admission for adjunctive therapies aimed at recovering their correct antioxidant status, as well as to monitor patients' status and potential pharmacological treatments.

Single-cell calcium monitoring of Caco-2 cell co-cultured with intestinal microbiome through carbon fiber based potentiometric microelectrode

The Caco-2 cells were used as intestinal epithelial cell model to illustrate the hyperuricemia (HUA) mechanism under the co-culture of the imbalanced intestinal microbiome in this work. The uric acid (UA) concentration in the HUA process was monitored, and could be up to 425 μmol/L at 8 h co-cultured with the imbalanced intestinal microbiome. Single-cell potentiometry based on ion-selective microelectrode was used to study extracellular calcium change, which is hypothesized to play an important role in the UA excretion. The potential signal of the calcium in the extremely limited microenvironment around single Caco-2 cell was recorded through the single-cell analysis platform. The potential signal of sharp decrease and slow increase followed within a few seconds indicates the sudden uptake and gradually excretion process of calcium through the cell membrane. Moreover, the value of the potential decrease increases with the increase of the time co-cultured with the imbalanced intestinal microbiome ranging from 0 to 8 h. The Ca2+ concentration around the cell membrane could decrease from 1.3 mM to 0.4 mM according to the potential decrease of 27.0 mV at the co-culture time of 8 h. The apoptosis ratio of the Caco-2 cells also exhibits time dependent with the co-culture of the imbalanced intestinal microbiome, and was 39.1 ± 3.6 % at the co-culture time of 8 h, which is much higher than the Caco-2 cells without any treatment (3.9 ± 2.9 %). These results firstly provide the links between the UA excretion with the apoptosis of the intestinal epithelial cell under the interaction of the imbalanced intestinal microbiome. Moreover, the apoptosis could be triggered by the calcium signaling.

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) as a means of assessing the presence of uric acid in archeological human remains: Challenges and future directions.

This research aimed to replicate the Swinson, D., Snaith, J., Buckberry, J., & Brickley, M. (2010). High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in the investigation of gout in paleopathology. International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, 20, 135-143. https://doi.org/10.1002/oa.1009 method for detecting uric acid in archeological human remains to investigate gout in past populations and to improve the original High Performance Liquid Chromatography-ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) method by using HPLC-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS), a more sensitive, compound-specific detection method. We used reference samples of uric acid to create a dilution series to assess the limits of quantification and detection. Samples from individuals with and without gout lesions were taken from foot bones and ribs from the English cemeteries of Tanyard, Hickleton, Gloucester, and Lincoln. We could not replicate the results of Swinson and colleagues using HPLC-UV. Tests using a dilution series of uric acid showed HPLC-MS was approximately 100× more sensitive than HPLC-UV, with the additional benefit of being compound specific. A newly developed hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) method improved retention characteristics. Fourteen samples from eight individuals, five with skeletal lesions consistent with gout, were analyzed with the final method. None showed evidence of uric acid despite the newly developed method's improved sensitivity and specificity. The lack of detectable uric acid extracted from these samples suggests that (1) urate crystals were not present in any of the bone samples, regardless of gout status; (2) urate crystals did not survive these specific archeological conditions; or (3) the concentration of uric acid in our bone extracts was low, and thus larger samples would be required.

Prediction of Acute Kidney Injury After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft From Preoperative Serum Uric Acid

ObjectiveAcute kidney injury (AKI) frequently occurs during coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedures and poses challenges in terms of prognostication. This study aimed to examine the association of a heightened level of uric acid (UA) in the bloodstream and a heightened likelihood of AKI following CABG surgery. DesignThis is a retrospective cohort study. The research utilised a multivariate logistic regression model. SettingThe study was performed as a single institution. ParticipantsAll patients underwent CABG. InterventionNo interventions were imposed on participants. Measurements and Main ResultsA total of 761 individuals who underwent CABG were included in our study. The participants were categorised into four groups based on their UA levels: the Q1 group (UA <292.5 μmol/L), the Q2 group (292.5≤ UA <353 μmol/L), the Q3 group (353≤ UA <423 μmol/L), and the Q4 group (UA ≥423 μmol/L). A total of 167 patients, accounting for 21.9% of the sample, experienced postoperative AKI. The study found the risk of AKI was significantly higher in the Q4 group compared to the Q1 group, with percentages of 40.4% and 8.9% respectively (P< 0.001). Following the adjustment for confounding variables, it was determined that there exists an independent association between serum UA concentration and an elevated risk of AKI subsequent to CABG (odds ratio [OR], 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.41, 3.49-12.32, P< 0.001, P for trend< 0.001). ConclusionA relationship can be observed between preoperative blood UA levels and the occurrence of AKI following CABG surgery.

Differential protective impact of peptide vaccine formulae targeting the lung- and liver-stage of challenge Schistosoma mansoni infection in mice

The study aimed to elicit protective immune responses against murine schistosomiasis mansoni at the parasite lung- and liver stage. Two peptides showing amino acid sequence similarity to gut cysteine peptidases, which induce strong memory immune effectors in the liver, were combined with a peptide based on S. mansoni thioredoxin peroxidase (TPX), a prominent lung-stage schistosomula excretory-secretory product, and alum as adjuvant. Only one of the 2 cysteine peptidases-based peptides in a multiple antigenic peptide construct (MAP-3 and MAP-4) appeared to adjuvant protective immune responses induced by the TPX peptide in a MAP form. Production of TPX MAP-specific IgG1 serum antibodies, and increase in lung interleukin-1 (IL-1), uric acid, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) content were associated with significant (P < 0.05) 50 % reduction in recovery of lung-stage larvae. Increase in lung triglycerides and cholesterol levels appeared to provide the surviving worms with nutrients necessary for a stout double lipid bilayer barrier at the parasite-host interface. Surviving worms-released products elicited memory responses to the MAP-3 immunogen, including production of specific IgG1 antibodies and increase in liver IL-33 and ROS. Reduction in challenge worm burden recorded 45 days post infection did not exceed 48 % associated with no differences in parasite egg counts in the host liver and small intestine compared to unimmunized adjuvant control mice. Alum adjuvant assisted the second peptide, MAP-4, in production of IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b and IgA specific antibodies and increase in liver ROS, but with no protective potential, raising doubt about the necessity of adjuvant addition. Accordingly, different vaccine formulas containing TPX MAP and 1, 2 or 3 cysteine peptidases-derived peptides with or without alum were used to immunize parallel groups of mice. Compared to unimmunized control mice, significant (P < 0.05 to < 0.005) 22 to 54 % reduction in worm burden was recorded in the different groups associated with insignificant changes in parasite egg output. The results together indicated that a schistosomiasis vaccine able to entirely prevent disease and halt its transmission still remains elusive.

ZnO nanoflakes decorated graphene oxide acting as an efficient platform for precise detection of uric acid via rhodamine fluorescence quenching

Herein, we report 2D based nanocomposite of metallic architectures as probe material for the detection of uric acid (UA). In brief, ZnO nanoflakes are grown on the basal surface of graphene oxide (GO/ZnO-NF), which eventually influences the fluorescence intensity of Rhodamine B (Rh) with varying concentrations of UA. This nanocomposite was synthesized at a low cost with optimized one-step hydrothermal process. It was observed that the transfer of electrons between GO/ZnO-NF and Rh resulted in the oxidation of UA, corroborating significant quenching of fluorescence intensity of Rh. This conjecture was later applied for the quantitative analysis of UA, affirming gradual quenching of fluorescence as a factor of UA concentration in the range of (50 µM – 8*103 µM) with a detection limit of 5.4 µM. Our fluorescent-based sensor was effective for the serum sample without losing its sensitivity, selectivity and analytical performance. Based on these findings, we anticipate that this simple, non-enzymatic, robust, inexpensive method can be a useful tool for diagnostics and biomedical applications.

Is lactic acid a misunderstood trigger of gout attack for a century?

A gout attack could be viewed as a nucleation event. Many reports have shown that the typical molecular structure of crystallization inhibitors usually contains carboxyl and hydroxyl groups, which could interact with solute molecules through hydrogen bonding, thereby suppressing the nucleation and growth of crystals. Since 1923, l-lactic acid (LA), a molecule with structural features of inhibitors, has been speculated to be a trigger for acute gout because metabolized LA temporarily reduces uric acid excretion and leads to a slow increase in serum uric acid concentration. However, many cases of gout presumably triggered by elevated lactate in a very short period of 4 h are often inexplicable. Here, we present the unexpected result that LA has a significant “opposite effect” on the nucleation and growth of gouty pathological crystals, which is that as the concentration of the additive LA increases, the nucleation and growth of the crystals is suppressed and then facilitated. This approach may help our clarifying the long-standing “misunderstandings” and further understanding the association between metabolized LA and increased risk of gout attacks. Finally, a novel mechanism called "tailed-made occupancy (TMO)" was used to explain the nucleation and crystallization effects of LA on sodium urate monohydrate (MSUM).

24-Hour Urinary Chemistries and Kidney Stone Risk

Rationale & ObjectiveMost previous studies of the relationship between urinary factors and kidney stone risk have either assumed a linear effect of urinary parameters on kidney stone risk or implemented arbitrary thresholds suggesting biologically implausible “all-or-nothing” effects. In addition, little is known about the hierarchy of effects of urinary factors on kidney stone risk. This study evaluated the independent associations between urine chemistries and kidney stone formation and examined their magnitude and shape. Study DesignProspective cohort study. Setting & ParticipantsWe analyzed 9,045 24-hour urine collections from 6,217 participants of the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study and Nurses’ Health Studies I and II. ExposuresUrine volume and pH, and concentrations of calcium, citrate, oxalate, potassium, magnesium, uric acid, phosphorus, and sodium. OutcomeIncident symptomatic kidney stones. Analytical ApproachMultivariable logistic regression analysis incorporating restricted cubic splines to explore potentially non-linear relationships between urinary factors and the risk of forming a kidney stone. Optimal inflection point analysis was implemented for each factor and dominance analysis was performed to establish the relative importance of each urinary factor. ResultsEach urinary factor was significantly associated with stone formation except for urine pH. Higher urinary levels of calcium, oxalate, phosphorus, and sodium were associated with a higher risk of stone formation, whereas higher urine volume, uric acid, citrate, potassium, and magnesium were associated with a lower risk. The relationships were substantially linear for urine calcium, uric acid, and sodium. In contrast, the magnitudes of the relationships were modestly attenuated at levels above the inflection points for urine oxalate, citrate, volume, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium. Dominance analysis identified three categories of factors' relative importance: higher (calcium, volume and citrate), intermediate (oxalate, potassium and magnesium) and lower (uric acid, phosphorus and sodium). LimitationsPredominantly white participants, lack of information on stone composition. ConclusionsUrine chemistries have complex relationships and differential relative associations with the risk of kidney stone formation.

Blood Morphological and Biochemical Indicator Characteristics in Men Performing Different Physical Activities in the Cold-A Preliminary Report.

This descriptive study determined whether winter swimming (WS) and outdoor amateur running (RUN) affect blood morphological and biochemical indicators in men during midseason winter swimming from November to April. There were three groups of participants, with 10 male amateurs each: RUN + WS, WS, and control. The research was performed in the middle of the winter swimming season of 2020/2021. This time period was chosen in consideration of the respondents' adaptation to winter conditions. The study involved only 10 male amateurs in each study group owing to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, which confined people to their homes. In the RUN + WS group compared with the WS group, significant decreases in the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (within standard limits) (p = 0.04) and platelet distribution width (p = 0.006) were observed, with a significant increase in the red blood cell distribution width (p = 0.008) (within standard limits). The renal function, as expressed by the estimated glomerular filtration rate, was higher in the RUN + WS group (p = 0.02) (within standard limits) compared with the WS group, and the uric acid concentration was reduced (p = 0.01). In the RUN + WS group compared with the control group, significant decreases in the leukocyte count (p = 0.02) (within standard limits), monocyte count (p = 0.04) (within standard limits), and platelet distribution width (p = 0.005) were reported. The remaining indicators presented a p-value > 0.05. The two investigated forms of physical activity had no negative effect on blood morphological or biochemical indicators in male amateurs during the winter swimming midseason.

An Eco-Friendly alternative for voltammetric determination of creatinine in urine sample using copper(II) immobilized on biochar

Creatinine (CRE) is the final product of creatine and phosphocreatine metabolism in mammals. CRE is primarily excreted by the kidneys, and a decrease in urinary creatinine content can be an indicator of kidney failure. Therefore, monitoring this biomarker in urine samples is crucial. For this purpose, an electrochemical sensor had been proposed for indirect determination of the target based on the immobilization of copper ions on biochar, an eco-friendly material. First, copper ions (Cu2+) were spontaneously preconcentrated at the surface of a biochar-modified carbon paste electrode. Next, CRE was spontaneously accumulated over this surface, resulting in the suppression of the copper voltammetric signal. This suppression was attributed to the formation of a creatinine-copper complex, and used as the analytical response. A linear dynamic range (LDR) of 300–700 µmol L−1 in the presence of a synthetic urine matrix was achieved, along with limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of 91.0 µmol L−1 and 300 µmol L−1, respectively. Selectivity was suitable for the most common metallic species found in urine and equimolar uric acid concentration. The standard addition method was adopted for CRE determinations in synthetic urine samples, and the recoveries values were 101 ± 7 % for the method's limit of quantification (LOQ) concentration (300 µmol L−1), and 100 ± 7 % for the usual creatinine concentration in urine after a dilution step, 500 µmol L−1. Therefore, an approach based on metal immobilization, using an eco-friendly material, was proposed for indirect creatinine determination, and successfully applied to biomarker analysis in a synthetic urine matrix.

The effect of methionine and folic acid administered in ovo on the blood biochemical parameters of chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus)

Methionine is one of the most frequently supplemented amino acids in raising of poultry. However, an overdose of methionine can cause hyperhomocysteinemia. Folic acid, taking part in the process of homocysteine remethylation, is a factor affecting the reduction of the concentration of this amino acid. The study was carried out in 2 stages. The experiment of step I was to investigate the effect of methionine and/or folic acid administration in ovo in the early stage of embryogenesis (E4), and the experiment of the second stage - in the late stage of embryogenesis (E17) on the following biochemical parameters of chicken blood: glucose concentration in whole blood and concentration of homocysteine and uric acid in plasma of domestic chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus). Our results confirm that methionine supplementation may increase the concentration of uric acid and homocysteine. Moreover, we demonstrated that folic acid administered during embryogenesis decreased homocysteine concentration, also in groups simultaneously supplemented with methionine, especially in the initial stage of postnatal life of the bird.

Evaluation of Renal Function Tests and Electrolytes in Iraqi Males with Repeated Smoking and Alcohol Abuse

Abstract Background: Wrong lifestyles such as smoking and drinking alcohol all lead to negative effects. Moreover, smoking is one of the most dangerous effects on people’s health, and it is considered one of the motives for slow suicide in humans, due to its consist deadly compounds and drinking alcohol has a dangerous effects too on people’s health. Objective: Is to estimate the variables at kidney function tests (uric acid, creatinine, and urea) and electrolytes like Na+, K+, and Cl−) in Iraqi male smokers. The major goal research is to check the variation on kidney function tests (uric acid, creatinine, and urea) and electrolytes like Na+, K+, and Cl−) in Iraqi alcoholic smokers males. Materials and Methods: This research carried out on 115 specimens of alcoholic smoker person’s sera bloods and nonalcoholic smoker persons from Iraqi males. Some kidney functions and electrolytes were determined included: uric acid, creatinine, and urea of kidney functions beside to sodium, potassium, and chloride of the electrolytes. Results: In this study, the results showed that affect smoking and alcohol consumption on kidney role was shown by the sera contents of urea, creatinine, uric acid, and urea values as it was observed that the sera contents of uric acid, creatinine, and urea were higher within alcoholic smokers persons compared with the blood specimens of the control group. The contents ranged of uric acid (5.99–9.25), creatinine (0.78–1.2), and urea contents were ranged between 26.3 and 30.03 of alcoholic smoker specimens. While the same markers in nonalcoholic smoker specimens (control group) were as following: uric acid (5.11), creatinine (0.69), and urea values (27.9) sequentially. Conclusion: There are a significant difference in serum Na+, K+, and Cl− in alcoholic smokers when compared to controls, also there are a significant difference in uric acid, urea, and creatinine levels.

Correlation between Metabolic Parameters and Warfarin Dose in Patients with Heart Valve Replacement of Different Genotypes.

Warfarin has become the first choice for anticoagulation in patients who need lifelong anticoagulation due to its clinical efficacy and low price. However, the anticoagulant effect of warfarin is affected by many drugs, foods, etc. accompanied by a high risk of bleeding and embolism. The Vitamin K epoxide reductase complex 1 (VKORC1) and Cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) genotypic variation can influence the therapeutic dose of warfarin. However, it is not clear whether there is a correlation between warfarin dose and liver function, kidney function and metabolic markers such as uric acid (UA) in patients with different genotypes. We performed a single-center retrospective cohort study to evaluate the factors affecting warfarin dose and to establish a dose conversion model for warfarin patients undergoing heart valve replacement. We studied 343 patients with a mechanical heart valve replacement, compared the doses of warfarin in patients with different warfarin-related genotypes (CYP2C9 and VKORC1), and analyzed the correlation between liver function, kidney function, UA and other metabolic markers and warfarin dose in patients with different genotypes following heart valve replacement. Genotype analysis showed that 72.01% of patients had CYP2C9*1/*1 and VKORC1 mutant AA genotypes. Univariate regression analysis revealed that the warfarin maintenance dose was significantly correlated with gender, age, body surface area (BSA), UA and genotype. There was no correlation with liver or kidney function. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that BSA, genotype and UA were the independent factors influencing warfarin dose. There is a significant correlation between UA content and warfarin dose in patients with heart valve replacement genotypes CYP2C9*1/*1/VKORC1(GA+GG), CYP2C9*1/*1/VKORC1AA and CYP2C9*1/*1/VKORC1AA.