UPLC-MS/MS-Based Serum Metabolomics Signature as Biomarkers of Esophagogastric Variceal Bleeding in Patients With Cirrhosis

Visualizing global progress and challenges in esophagogastric variceal bleeding

BACKGROUND

Esophageal and gastric variceal bleeding is a catastrophic complication of portal hypertension, most commonly caused by cirrhosis of various etiologies. Although a considerable body of research has been conducted in this area, the complexity of the disease and the lack of standardized treatment strategies have led to fragmented findings, insufficient information, and a lack of systematic investigation. Bibliometric analysis can help clarify research trends, identify core topics, and reveal potential future directions. Therefore, this study aims to use bibliometric methods to conduct an in-depth exploration of research progress in this field, with the expectation of providing new insights for both clinical practice and scientific research.

AIM

To evaluate research trends and advancements in esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EGVB) over the past twenty years.

METHODS

Relevant publications on EGVB were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. VOSviewer, Pajek, CiteSpace, and the bibliometrix package were then employed to perform bibliometric visualizations of publication volume, countries, institutions, journals, authors, keywords, and citation counts.

RESULTS

The analysis focused on original research articles and review papers. From 2004 to 2023, a total of 2097 records on EGVB were retrieved. The number of relevant publications has increased significantly over the past two decades, especially in China and the United States. The leading contributors in this field, in terms of countries, institutions, authors, and journals, were China, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Bosch Jaime, and World Journal of Gastroenterology, respectively. Core keywords in this field include portal hypertension, management, liver cirrhosis, risk, prevention, and diagnosis. Future research directions may focus on optimizing diagnostic methods, personalized treatment, and multidisciplinary collaboration.

CONCLUSION

Using bibliometric methods, this study reveals the developmental trajectory and trends in research on EGVB, underscoring risk assessment and diagnostic optimization as the core areas of current focus. The study provides an innovative and systematic perspective for this field, indicating that future research could center on multidisciplinary collaboration, personalized treatment approaches, and the development of new diagnostic tools. Moreover, this work offers practical research directions for both the academic community and clinical practice, driving continued advancement in this domain.

Quantum chemical study of molecular properties of small branched-chain amino acids in water

Four aliphatic amino acids-α-aminobutyric acid (AABA), β-aminobutyric acid (BABA), α-aminoisobutyric acid (AAIBA) and β-aminoisobutyric acid (BAIBA) were investigated in water as a solvent by two quantum chemical methods. B3LYP hybrid version of DFT was used for geometry optimization and a full vibrational analysis of neutral molecules, their cations and anions in the canonical and zwitterionic forms (6 forms for each species). Ab initio DLPNO-CCSD(T) method was applied in the geometry pre-optimized by B3LYP. Calculated molecular descriptors involve dipole moment, quadrupole moment, dipole polarizability, energy of zero-point vibration and total entropic term which enter the standard Gibbs energy. In addition, a set of collective electronic and thermodynamic properties associated with redox process were evaluated: ionization energy, electron affinity, chemical hardness, molecular electronegativity, electrophilicity index, absolute oxidation and reduction potentials. A mutual comparison of these structural isomers including γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) shows high degree of similarity in molecular descriptors. However, cluster analysis of 12 electro neutral, linear and branched amino acids with 2 - 6 carbon atoms discriminates them into five clusters. It is found that the electrophilicity index correlates with the absolute reduction potential along a straight line (24 items). The reduction potential for canonical structure varies between 1.21 V (glycine) and 1.45 V (AABA) whereas for the zwitterionic form it is visibly lower 0.52-1.11 V. The highest absolute reduction potential > 1.43 V is shown by α-amino acids: α-alanine, AABA (homoalanine) and AAIBA having 2-methyl or 2-ethyl functional group. The calculated absolute oxidation potential correlates with the adiabatic ionization energy and can be used as a criterion of the antioxidant capacity. According to thermodynamic data, the SPLET mechanism of the electron-proton coupled transfer is favored over the alternative SET-PT mechanism. This work contributes to the creation of a database of molecular properties of amino acids based on the same method and basis set.

Exploration of the metabolomic mechanisms of postmenopausal hypertension induced by low estrogen state

Estrogen significantly impacts women's health, and postmenopausal hypertension is a common issue characterized by blood pressure fluctuations. Current control strategies for this condition are limited in efficacy, necessitating further research into the underlying mechanisms. Although metabolomics has been applied to study various diseases, its use in understanding postmenopausal hypertension is scarce. Therefore, an ovariectomized rat model was used to simulate postmenopausal conditions. Estrogen levels, blood pressure, and aortic tissue metabolomics were analyzed. Animal models were divided into Sham, OVX, and OVX +E groups. Serum estrogen levels, blood pressure measurements, and aortic tissue metabolomics analyses were performed using radioimmunoassay, UHPLC-Q-TOF, and bioinformatics techniques. Based on the above research content, we successfully established a correlation between low estrogen levels and postmenopausal hypertension in rats. Notable differences in blood pressure parameters and aortic tissue metabolites were observed across the experimental groups. Specifically, metabolites that were differentially expressed, particularly L-alpha-aminobutyric acid (L-AABA), showed potential as a biomarker for postmenopausal hypertension, potentially exerting a protective function through macrophage activation and vascular remodeling. Enrichment analysis revealed alterations in sugar metabolism pathways, such as the Warburg effect and glycolysis, indicating their involvement in postmenopausal hypertension. Overall, this current research provides insights into the metabolic changes associated with postmenopausal hypertension, highlighting the role of L-AABA and sugar metabolism reprogramming in aortic tissue. The findings suggest a potential link between low estrogen levels, macrophage function, and vascular remodeling in the pathogenesis of postmenopausal hypertension. Further investigations are needed to validate these findings and explore their clinical implications for postmenopausal women.

Qi Wei Anti-burn Tincture Remodels Liver Metabolic Pathways and Treats Burn Wounds Efficiently

This work aims to elucidate the molecular mechanism of Qi Wei anti-burn Tincture (QW) on wound healing in burnt mice using metabolomics and molecular biology techniques. A scald model was first established in Kunming mice. After treatment, biochemical indicators for liver function and burnt skin tissues were then evaluated via biochemical detection and HE staining, respectively. Liver tissues were further analyzed for differential metabolites, inflammatory factors, and mRNA levels of cytokines using metabolomics and molecular biology techniques. Involved metabolic pathways were also identified using software. QW treatment did promote the healing of the burn wounds in Kunming mice with a downregulation of ALP, ALT, and AST to normal levels. In mouse liver tissue, the contents of glutamine, aspartic acid, and citrulline were significantly reduced, while the contents of 5-hydroxyproline, taurine, hypotaurine, and glutamic acid significantly increased. These major differential compounds are involved in the arginine metabolic pathway, nitrogen excretion, and the metabolism of taurine and hypotaurine, suggesting that QW reprogramed the above metabolic processes in the liver. Furthermore, the application of QW increased the expression of TGF-β1 and FGF-2 and reduced the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and reactive oxygen species in the liver of mice induced by burn injury. This study found that QW treatment promoted metabolic pathway remodeling in the liver, which might be a potential mechanism for QW to treat burn wounds.

Metabolomics in cirrhosis: Recent advances and opportunities

Liver cirrhosis (LC) represents a significant hepatic disorder that persistently commands the attention of the scientific community, especially concerning its pathogenesis and therapeutic approaches. Metabolomics, the comprehensive profiling of an organism's metabolome, has been increasingly applied in the research of cirrhosis over the past decade. This review summarizes the recent advancements and applications of metabolomics within the context of LC research, in recent five years. It highlights the role of metabolomics in the diagnosis of LC, the assessment of prognostic markers, and the evaluation of therapeutic outcomes. The discussion focuses on the potential and challenges of metabolomics in LC research, including the evolution of analytical technologies, advancements in bioinformatics, and the challenges impeding clinical implementation. Additionally, the review anticipates the forthcoming developments in metabolomics related to LC research, with the objective of facilitating innovative approaches for early detection and intervention in LC.

Study on potential markers for diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma by serum untargeted metabolomics based on UPLC-MS/MS

Objective: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common malignancy of the kidney. However, there is no reliable biomarker with high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis and differential diagnosis. This study aims to analyze serum metabolite profile of patients with RCC and screen for potential diagnostic biomarkers. Methods: Forty-five healthy controls (HC), 40 patients with benign kidney tumor (BKT) and 46 patients with RCC were enrolled in this study. Serum metabolites were detected by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), and then subjected to multivariate statistical analysis, metabolic pathway analysis and diagnostic performance evaluation. Results: The changes of glycerophospholipid metabolism, phosphatidylinositol signaling system, glycerolipid metabolism, d-glutamine and d-glutamate metabolism, galactose metabolism, and folate biosynthesis were observed in RCC group. Two hundred and forty differential metabolites were screened between RCC and HC groups, and 64 differential metabolites were screened between RCC and BKT groups. Among them, 4 differential metabolites, including 3-β-D-Galactosyl-sn-glycerol, 7,8-Dihydroneopterin, lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) 19:2, and γ-Aminobutyryl-lysine (an amino acid metabolite), were of high clinical value not only in the diagnosis of RCC (RCC group vs. HC group; AUC = 0.990, 0.916, 0.909, and 0.962; Sensitivity = 97.73%, 97.73%, 93.18%, and 86.36%; Specificity = 100.00%, 73.33%, 80.00%, and 95.56%), but also in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant kidney tumors (RCC group vs. BKT group; AUC = 0.989, 0.941, 0.845 and 0.981; Sensitivity = 93.33%, 93.33%, 77.27% and 93.33%; Specificity = 100.00%, 84.21%, 78.38% and 92.11%). Conclusion: The occurrence of RCC may involve changes in multiple metabolic pathways. The 3-β-D-Galactosyl-sn-glycerol, 7,8-Dihydroneopterin, LPC 19:2 and γ-Aminobutyryl-lysine may be potential biomarkers for the diagnosis or differential diagnosis of RCC.