Negative association of obesity and its related chronic inflammation with serum glycated albumin but not glycated hemoglobin levels

BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. We evaluated the relative contribution of genetic and non-genetic variables to serum MMP-8 concentrations in nondiabetic subjects without known cardiovascular disease. METHODS: A blood sample was obtained from 100 subjects > or =18 y. Total serum MMP-8 concentrations were assayed by ELISA. MMP8 genotypes (-799 C/T and -381 A/G) were determined by PCR-pyrosequencing. RESULTS: MMP-8 concentrations were significantly higher in subjects with the metabolic syndrome (n=40) compared to those without the metabolic syndrome (11.71 vs 6.81 ng/ml, p<0.001) and in current smokers compared to non-smokers (13.51 vs 7.53 ng/ml, p=0.001). MMP-8 concentrations were significantly correlated with body mass index, triglyceride/HDL ratio, triglycerides, fasting plasma glucose, and age. MMP-8 concentrations were not significantly different between MMP8 genotype groups. In regression analysis, variables that were significantly associated with serum MMP-8 concentrations were presence of the metabolic syndrome and smoking (p<0.001 and p=0.009, respectively), accounting for 21.4% of the variability in serum MMP-8 concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that the metabolic syndrome and smoking are independently associated with elevated serum MMP-8 concentrations. The relationship between MMP-8 concentrations and cardiovascular risk merits further investigation.     

ASO Author Reflections: Changes in the Gustave Roussy Immune Score is an Important Biomarker for Therapeutic Sensitivity of Nivolumab in Gastric Cancer

Annals of Surgical Oncology -     

Cystic cavernous hemangioma of the liver

We report an unusual case of multilocular cystic cavernous hemangioma of the liver. The patient was a 61-year-old woman without liver disfunction but who had multicystic mass lesions in the liver. Although cavernous hemangiomas are usually accurately diagnosed by the various imaging modalities, our case showed atypical features.     

Hepatocyte growth factor: from diagnosis to clinical applications

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), initially identified and molecularly cloned as a potent mitogen of primary cultured hepatocytes, has multiple activities in a variety of tissues during the course of development and also in various disease states. HGF plays key roles in the attenuation of disease progression as an intrinsic repair factor. It is also evident that HGF levels are regulated under different conditions, for example, during the course of pregnancy, aging, and disease. This review focuses on the levels of HGF in normal and pathophysiological situations and examines the relationships between HGF levels and disease, disease stage, and disease prognosis. The clinical potential of HGF as a treatment for subjects with various diseases is also given attention.     

Prognostic Significance of Hiatal Hernia in Patients with Gastric Cancer Located within the Upper-Third of the Stomach

World Journal of Surgery - Gastric cancers located within the upper-third of the stomach (UGC), especially the esophagogastric junction GC (EGJGC), have distinct clinicopathological features due to...     

Species identification of Asini Corii Collas (donkey glue) by PCR amplification of cytochrome b gene

Asini Corii Collas (ACC; donkey glue) is a crude drug used to promote hematopoiesis and arrest bleeding. Because adulteration of the drug with substances from other animals such as horses, cattle, and pigs has been found, we examined PCR methods based on the sequence of the cytochrome b gene for source species identification. Two strategies for extracting DNA from ACC were compared, and the ion-exchange resin procedure was revealed to be more suitable than the silica-based one. Using DNA extracted from ACC by the ion-exchange resin procedure, PCR methods for species-specific detection of donkey, horse, cattle, and pig substances were established. When these species-specific PCR methods were applied to ACC, amplicons were obtained only by the donkey-specific PCR. Cattle-specific PCR detected as little as 0.1 % admixture of cattle glue in the ACC. These results suggest that the species-specific PCR methods established in this study would be useful for simple and easy detection of adulteration of ACC.