AIM: To determine serum leptin levels and investigate their correlations with anthropometric and metabolic parameters and biochemical liver function in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and their...AIM: To determine serum leptin levels and investigate their correlations with anthropometric and metabolic parameters and biochemical liver function in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and their potential clinical implications.METHODS: Forty-two chronic HCV-infected patients without anti-viral treatment were enrolled in this study, 30 patients had chronic hepatitis C, 10 had cirrhosis, and 2 had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Thirty age- and sex-matched healthy individuals served as controls. Serum leptin levels were determined by ELISA. The biochemical liver function and serum lipids were determined at the same time. The height and body weight of patients and controls were measured, and body mass index (BMI) and body fat were calculated simultaneously. The correlations of serum leptin levels with anthropometric and metabolic parameters and biochemical liver function were assessed statistically.RESULTS: The mean of serum leptin levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C, HCV-associated cirrhosis, HCVassociated HCC and control groups was (6.13±3.94),(5.25±4.21), (4.17±0.28), and (3.59±3.44) ng/mL, respectively. The serum leptin level in patients with chronic hepatitis C was significantly higher than that in controls. The serum leptin levels between cirrhotic patients and controls and between male and female cirrhotic patients had no significant difference. Serum leptin levels were positively-correlated with body fat, BMI, and apolipoprotein B (Apo B) in patients with chronic HCV infection. The serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were closelycorrelated with BMI in patients with chronic hepatitis C. CONCLUSION: HCV infection interferes with fat and lipid metabolism in patients with chronic HCV infection and leptin may play a role in hepatosteatosis.展开更多
Brucella melitensis is a facultative intracellular bacterium that replicates within macrophages. The ability of Brucella to survive and multiply in the hostile environment of host macrophages is essential for its viru...Brucella melitensis is a facultative intracellular bacterium that replicates within macrophages. The ability of Brucella to survive and multiply in the hostile environment of host macrophages is essential for its virulence. The cold shock protein Csp A plays an important role in the virulence of B. melitensis. To analyze the genes regulated by Csp A, the whole transcriptomes of B. melitensis NI?csp A and its parental wild-type strain, B. melitensis NI, were sequenced and analyzed using the Solexa/Illumina sequencing platform. A total of 446 differentially expressed genes were identified, including 324 up-regulated and 122 down-regulated genes. Numerous genes identified are involved in amino acid, fatty acid, nitrogen, and energy metabolism. Interestingly, all genes involved in the type IV secretion system and Lux R-type regulatory protein Vjb R were significantly down-regulated in NI?csp A. In addition, an effector translocation assay confirmed that the function of T4 SS in NI?csp A is influenced by deletion of the csp A gene. These results revealed the differential phenomena associated with virulence and metabolism in NI?csp A and NI, providing important information for understanding detailed Csp A-regulated interaction networks and Brucella pathogenesis.展开更多
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30170842
文摘AIM: To determine serum leptin levels and investigate their correlations with anthropometric and metabolic parameters and biochemical liver function in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and their potential clinical implications.METHODS: Forty-two chronic HCV-infected patients without anti-viral treatment were enrolled in this study, 30 patients had chronic hepatitis C, 10 had cirrhosis, and 2 had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Thirty age- and sex-matched healthy individuals served as controls. Serum leptin levels were determined by ELISA. The biochemical liver function and serum lipids were determined at the same time. The height and body weight of patients and controls were measured, and body mass index (BMI) and body fat were calculated simultaneously. The correlations of serum leptin levels with anthropometric and metabolic parameters and biochemical liver function were assessed statistically.RESULTS: The mean of serum leptin levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C, HCV-associated cirrhosis, HCVassociated HCC and control groups was (6.13±3.94),(5.25±4.21), (4.17±0.28), and (3.59±3.44) ng/mL, respectively. The serum leptin level in patients with chronic hepatitis C was significantly higher than that in controls. The serum leptin levels between cirrhotic patients and controls and between male and female cirrhotic patients had no significant difference. Serum leptin levels were positively-correlated with body fat, BMI, and apolipoprotein B (Apo B) in patients with chronic HCV infection. The serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were closelycorrelated with BMI in patients with chronic hepatitis C. CONCLUSION: HCV infection interferes with fat and lipid metabolism in patients with chronic HCV infection and leptin may play a role in hepatosteatosis.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31402197, 31372446)
文摘Brucella melitensis is a facultative intracellular bacterium that replicates within macrophages. The ability of Brucella to survive and multiply in the hostile environment of host macrophages is essential for its virulence. The cold shock protein Csp A plays an important role in the virulence of B. melitensis. To analyze the genes regulated by Csp A, the whole transcriptomes of B. melitensis NI?csp A and its parental wild-type strain, B. melitensis NI, were sequenced and analyzed using the Solexa/Illumina sequencing platform. A total of 446 differentially expressed genes were identified, including 324 up-regulated and 122 down-regulated genes. Numerous genes identified are involved in amino acid, fatty acid, nitrogen, and energy metabolism. Interestingly, all genes involved in the type IV secretion system and Lux R-type regulatory protein Vjb R were significantly down-regulated in NI?csp A. In addition, an effector translocation assay confirmed that the function of T4 SS in NI?csp A is influenced by deletion of the csp A gene. These results revealed the differential phenomena associated with virulence and metabolism in NI?csp A and NI, providing important information for understanding detailed Csp A-regulated interaction networks and Brucella pathogenesis.