Trefoil factor 3: New highlights in chronic kidney disease research.

Trefoil factor 3 (TFF3, also known as intestinal trefoil factor) is a small-molecule peptide containing a typical trefoil structure. TFF3 has several biological effects, such as wound healing, immune regulation, neuroprotection, and cell migration and proliferation promotion. Although TFF3 binding sites were identified in rat kidneys more than a decade ago, the specific effects of this small-molecule peptide on kidneys remain unclear. Until recently, much of the research on TFF3 in the kidney field has focused exclusively on its role as a biomarker. Notably, a large prospective randomized study of patients with 29 common clinical diseases revealed that chronic kidney disease (CKD) was associated with the highest serum TFF3 levels, which were 3-fold higher than in acute gastroenteritis, which had the second-highest levels. Examination of each stage of CKD revealed that urine and serum TFF3 levels significantly increased with the progression of CKD. These results suggest that the role of TFF3 in CKD needs further research. The present review summarizes the renal physiological expression, biological functions, and downstream signaling of TFF3, as well as the upstream events that lead to high expression of TFF3 in CKD.

Fast and effective low-temperature freezing extraction technique to determine organotin compounds in edible vegetable oil.

Most organotin compounds that have been widely used in food packaging materials and production process show serious toxicity effects to human health. In this study, a simple and low-cost method based on high-performance liquid chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for the simultaneous determination of four organotins in edible vegetable oil samples was developed. Four organotins including dibutyltin dichloride, tributyltin chloride, diphenyltin dichloride, and triphenyltin chloride were simultaneously extracted with methanol using the low-temperature precipitation process. After being concentrated, the extracts were purified by matrix solid-phase dispersion using graphitized carbon black. The experimental parameters such as extraction solvent and clean-up material were optimized. To evaluate the accuracy of the new method, the recoveries were investigated. In addition, a liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method was also proposed for comparison. The procedures of extracting and purifying samples for the analysis were simple and easy to perform batch operations, also showed good efficiency with lower relative standard deviation. The limits of detection of the four organotins were 0.28-0.59 µg/L, and the limits of quantification of the four organotins were 0.93-1.8 µg/L, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to the simultaneous analysis of the four organotins in edible vegetable oil. Some analytes were detected at the level of 2.5-28.8 µg/kg.

Validation of the Pangao PG-800B5 for clinical use and self-measurement according to the European Society of Hypertension International Protocol revision 2010.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to validate the Pangao PG-800B5 upper arm blood pressure monitor according to the European Society of Hypertension International Protocol revision 2010. METHODS: A total of 33 participants, 16 men and 17 women, were included in the device evaluation. The protocol requirements were followed precisely. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 56.4±21.0 years (range 22-84 years). The mean systolic blood pressure was 143.6±25.5 mmHg (range 98-188 mmHg), the mean diastolic blood pressure was 85.7±17.2 mmHg (range 49-125 mmHg), and the mean arm circumference was 26.1±2.2 cm (range 23-32 cm). On average, the device overestimated the systolic blood pressure by 0.9±4.2 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 0.7±4.5 mmHg. CONCLUSIONS: The device passed all requirements, fulfilling the standards of the protocol. Therefore, the Pangao PG-800B5 upper arm blood pressure monitor can be recommended for clinical use and self-measurement in an adult population.

[Determination of trace elements in danggui blood-supplementing decoction by ICP-AES].

The method for the determination of trace elements in danggui blood-supplementing decoction by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry(ICP-AES) was presented. The contents and solubility of the trace elements in Angelica sinensis and Radix Astragali of different proportion were compared. The recovery rates of the procedure were between 97. 2% and 115. 6%. The RSDs were between 0. 82% and 5. 56%. When Angelica sinensis: Radix Astragali was 1 : 5, the solubility of trace elements was the highest. The couplng of danggui blood-supplementing decoction was proved reasonable. The method was simple, rapid, precise, convenient and suitable for traditional Chinese medicine.