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Objective@#Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a severe psychiatric disorder with unknown etiology and lacking specific biomarkers. Herein, we aimed to explore plasma biomarkers relevant to SCZ using targeted metabolomics. @*Methods@#Sixty drug-naïve SCZ patients and 36 healthy controls were recruited. Psychotic symptoms were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. We analyzed the levels of 271 metabolites in plasma samples from all subjects using targeted metabolomics, and identified metabolites that differed significantly between the two groups. Then we evaluated the diagnostic power of the metabolites based on receiver operating characteristic curves, and explored metabolites associated with the psychotic symptoms in SCZ patients. @*Results@#Twenty-six metabolites showed significant differences between SCZ patients and healthy controls. Among them, 12 metabolites were phosphatidylcholines and cortisol, ceramide (d18:1/22:0), acetylcarnitine, and γ-aminobutyric acid, which could significantly distinguish SCZ from healthy controls with the area under the curve (AUC) above 0.7. Further, a panel consisting of the above 4 metabolites had an excellent performance with an AUC of 0.867. In SCZ patients, phosphatidylcholines were positively related with positive symptoms, and cholic acid was positively associated with negative symptoms. @*Conclusion@#Our study provides insights into the metabolite alterations associated with SCZ and potential biomarkers for its diagnosis and symptom severity assessment.
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Objective To explore the impact of berberine on serum levels of insulin resistance and cytokines in schizophrenia patients treated with risperidone. Methods Sixty-four schizophrenia patients treated with risperidone were randomized to berberine group (n=31) and control group (n=33). The fasting plasma blood glucose (FBG) and fasting insulin (Fins) were detected before and after treatment in two groups. The homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. The serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were evaluated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay before and after the treatment. Results Compared with control group and pre-treatment group, the levels of FBG, Fins, HOMA-IR, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly decreased after treatment in berberine group (P 0.05). There was positive correlation between HOMA-IR and IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in berberine group (r=0.316, 0.351 and 0.401, P 1β, IL-6 and TNF-α levels in schizophrenia patients treated with risperidone. The HOMA-IR level is closely correlated with IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-αlevels.
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Glucaric acid (GA) is derived from glucose and commonly used in chemical industry. It is also considered as one of the "Top value-added chemicals from biomass" as carbohydrate monomers to produce various synthetic polymers and bioenergy. The demand for GA in food manufacture is increasing. GA has also attracted public attentions due to its therapeutic uses such as regulating hormones, increasing the immune function and reducing the risks of cancers. Currently GA is produced by chemical oxidation. Research on production of GA via microbial synthesis is still at preliminary stage. We reviewed the advances of glucaric acid applications, preparation and quantification methods. The prospects on production of GA by microbial fermentation were also discussed.
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Biomassa , Indústria Química , Fermentação , Ácido Glucárico , Química , Glucose , PolímerosRESUMO
In order to analyze the correlation between critical residues in the catalytic centre of BSH and the enzyme substrate specificity, seven mutants of Lactobacillus salivarius bile salt hydrolase (BSH1) were constructed by using the Escherichia coli pET-20b(+) gene expression system, rational design and site-directed mutagenesis. These BSH1 mutants exhibited different hydrolytic activities against various conjugated bile salts through substrate specificities comparison. Among the residues being tested, Cys2 and Thr264 were deduced as key sites for BSH1 to catalyze taurocholic acid and glycocholic acid, respectively. Moreover, Cys2 and Thr264 were important for keeping the catalytic activity of BSH1. The high conservative Cys2 was not the only active site, other mutant amino acid sites were possibly involved in substrate binding. These mutant residues might influence the space and shape of the substrate-binding pockets or the channel size for substrate passing through and entering active site of BSH1, thus, the hydrolytic activity of BSH1 was changed to different conjugated bile salt.