Publications by authors named "Maichao Li"
Purpose: Previous studies have linked high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) to gout, but little is known about the dose-effect relationship between serum HDL-C levels and gout flares. This study aimed to quantify the association between the two during urate-lowering therapy initiation and develop a regression equation to predict gout flares.
Patients And Methods: We conducted a prospective, observational, single-center cohort study of men with gout.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the genetic factors contributing to early-onset gout, particularly focusing on adolescents aged 12 to 19, through whole-genome sequencing of a large cohort.
- Researchers identified common and low-frequency single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) associated with gout and analyzed gene regulation related to the identified loci, including novel genes RCOR1 and FSTL5-MIR4454.
- Findings indicate that these genetic risks are linked to inflammatory responses in gout, providing insights that could enhance risk prediction and inform treatments for preventing adolescent-onset gout.
Objectives: To evaluate whether ultrasound findings of monosodium urate (MSU) crystal deposition predict frequent gout flares in index joints over 12 months.
Methods: This single-center study enrolled people with at least one gout flare involving the MTP1, ankle or knee joint. The most painful or most frequently joint was identified as index joint for analysis.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigates the effects of C-cell mineral water on metabolism in hyperuricemic male mice over a 13-week period, focusing on body weight, liver metabolites, and gut microbiota composition.
- - Results indicated that mice consuming C-cell mineral water had lower body weight and experienced significant metabolic changes, including alterations in pathways related to amino acids and energy metabolism.
- - The findings suggest that this natural mineral water can positively influence gut microbiota by promoting beneficial bacteria while inhibiting harmful ones, potentially offering a protective effect against obesity linked to hyperuricemia.
Objective: There is an unmet need for simpler urate-lowering therapy (ULT) regimens that achieve the serum urate target and improve the overall quality of gout care. We report a comparative effectiveness trial of febuxostat monotherapy versus benzbromarone add-on to low-dose febuxostat in gout specifically with combined renal urate underexcretion and overload.
Methods: A prospective randomized trial was conducted on patients with combined-type hyperuricemia and estimated glomerular filtration rate >60 mL/min/1.
Cadmium (Cd) exposure has been associated with the development of enterohepatic circulation disorders and hyperuricemia, but the possible contribution of chronic low-dose Cd exposure to disease progression is still need to be explored. A mouse model of wild-type mice (WT) and Uox-knockout mice (Uox-KO) to find out the toxic effects of chronic low-dose Cd exposure on liver purine metabolism by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) platform and associated intestinal flora. High throughput omics analysis including metabolomics and transcriptomics showed that Cd exposure can cause disruption of purine metabolism and energy metabolism.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Higher baseline serum urate or higher initial urate-lowering medication dose increased risk of gout flares during urate-lowering therapy (ULT) initiation. The decrease in serum urate may play a crucial role in this process. Therefore, we aim to explore the relationship between decrease in serum urate and the risk of gout flares during ULT initiation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study investigates the impact of different preparation methods of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals on inflammation levels associated with gout arthritis.
- Three methods (neutralization, alkali titration, and acid titration) were utilized to create MSU crystals, and various properties and inflammatory responses were assessed using animal models.
- Results showed that the acid titration method produced the least swelling and inflammatory response, while the alkalization method yielded the highest quantity of crystals, suggesting differences in the efficacy of each preparation method.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to explore if serum CA72-4 levels could predict gout flares during the start of urate-lowering therapy (ULT).
- Between March 2021 and January 2022, 193 men with gout participated, categorized by their serum CA72-4 levels, and observed over 24 weeks.
- Results showed a higher incidence of gout flares in those with elevated CA72-4 levels, identifying it as an independent risk factor for both initial and recurrent flares during ULT initiation.
Kidney and plasma metabolomics provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of urate nephropathy in a mouse model of hyperuricemia.
Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis
June 2022
Article Synopsis
- Hyperuricemia (HUA) is linked to kidney damage, but the specific mechanisms are not fully understood; a study using Uox-Knockout mice aimed to uncover these mechanisms by analyzing kidney and plasma metabolic profiles.
- The Uox-Knockout mice showed significant changes in metabolite levels, including increased uric acid and several other compounds, indicating disruptions in key metabolic pathways like purine and amino acid metabolism.
- Betaine and biotin emerged as potential biomarkers for predicting urate nephropathy (UN), suggesting that targeting these pathways could lead to new treatment options for kidney diseases associated with HUA.
Article Synopsis
- Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) are toxic heavy metals that may contribute to gout flare-ups, as shown in a cohort study involving 408 blood samples and 346 urine samples from gout clinic participants.
- The study found that median levels of Cd and Pb in both blood and urine were significantly higher in individuals experiencing gout flares compared to those in control or intercritical groups.
- Higher levels of Cd in blood and urine, along with Pb in urine, were statistically linked to an increased risk of gout flare status, suggesting these heavy metals could be contributing factors in gout exacerbations.
Background: The Reporting Items for Practice Guidelines in Healthcare (RIGHT) checklist was used to assess the reporting quality of 2009-2019 clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) regarding gout and hyperuricemia, aimed to improve the reporting quality of future guidelines.
Methods: We searched PubMed, the Chinese Biomedical Literature database, the Wanfang Database, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure from January 2009 to June 2019 for guidelines regarding gout and hyperuricemia. We also searched the websites of guideline development organizations (the Guidelines International Network, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, the American College of Rheumatology, and the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR)).