A study was done to explore the changes in serum Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and Osteopontin (OPN) in gout patients and their diagnostic value for early renal injury. In this research, 174 gout patients (January 2022-October 2024) were divided into the early renal injury group (50 cases) and non-early renal injury group (124 cases). Additionally, 169 healthy individuals were included as controls.

Clinical indicators such as serum creatinine, cystatin C (CysC), and GFR were recorded. MCP-1 and OPN levels were measured using ELISA. Pearson's correlation was used to analyze relationships; Logit regression was applied to identify influencing factors, and ROC curves assessed diagnostic value, with AUC comparisons via Z-test. Results: Serum MCP-1 and OPN levels were significantly higher in the gout group compared to controls (P<0.05) and further elevated in the early renal injury group (P<0.05). MCP-1 and OPN correlated positively with creatinine and CysC and negatively with GFR (P<0.05). Logit regression identified MCP-1 (OR: 2.765, 95% CI: 1.308-5.846) and OPN (OR: 3.019, 95% CI: 1.468-6.210) as independent risk factors (P<0.05).

The AUC for diagnosing early renal injury was 0.775 (MCP-1), 0.827 (OPN), and 0.938 (combined), with the combination significantly outperforming either marker alone (Z=3.075, 2.273, P<0.05). The combination of serum MCP-1 and OPN in gout patients has a higher diagnostic value for early renal injury, it is obviously higher than the individual diagnosis of each indicator, and demonstrates significant clinical implications.

Reference:

Chang H, Lv J, Zheng Y, Li D, Li Y. The Diagnostic Value of Serum MCP-1 Combined with OPN Detection for Early Renal Injury in Gout Patients. Int J Gen Med. 2025;18:1423-1429. Published 2025 Mar 11. doi:10.2147/IJGM.S508220

Santo Domingo.- Former Health Minister Bautista Rojas Gómez has accused Agriculture Minister Limber Cruz of irresponsibility in handling the swine flu outbreak affecting Dominican farmers. He argues that the government’s failure to take timely action poses a serious threat to national pork production.

Speaking on the morning program Uno Más Uno, Rojas Gómez warned that delays in addressing the outbreak endanger small producers, putting their livelihoods and the country’s food security at risk. As a member of the Fuerza del Pueblo (FP) party, he has repeatedly criticized what he sees as mismanagement of the crisis.

He urged President Luis Abinader to seek better advisors on the matter, arguing that the president is being misled about the severity of the situation. He also emphasized that disease control is the State’s responsibility, not that of farmers, who should only focus on biosecurity measures on their farms.

Basel: Novartis has announced the appointment of Karen Hale to the expanded role of Chief Legal and Compliance Officer for Novartis, effective April 14, 2025. She will continue to report to Vas Narasimhan, M.D., CEO of Novartis and remain on the Executive Committee of Novartis (ECN).

Klaus Moosmayer, currently Chief Ethics, Risk & Compliance Officer of Novartis, has decided to leave the company and will step down from the ECN to pursue his next chapter of leadership outside Novartis. The current Ethics Risk & Compliance (ERC) function will move under the leadership of Karen Hale.“Klaus has been integral to building trust with society by solving our legacy compliance topics and putting an ethics, risk and compliance system in place, which is regarded highly internally and externally. The impact he has had on our company, our people and our reputation will be long-lasting,” said Vas Narasimhan, CEO of Novartis. “I want to thank Klaus for his extraordinary leadership since he joined the company and ECN and wish him the very best as he pursues his next chapter. I have confidence that Karen will continue the strong commitment and rigor we have around ethics, risk management and compliance at Novartis.”Karen joined Novartis as Chief Legal Officer in May 2021, bringing almost 30 years of experience in resolving legal and compliance issues in the global pharmaceutical industry. Prior to joining Novartis, she held a succession of senior roles at AbbVie including vice president, deputy general counsel and chief ethics and compliance officer.“I am looking forward to leveraging the strengths of Legal and ERC to best align on risk management across the enterprise and to leading our efforts in ensuring our commitment to ethics, risk management, compliance and integrity remain unwavering,” said Karen Hale.Reflecting on his journey in ERC, Klaus Moosmayer shared, “after joining Novartis in 2018, I leave the company with a strong sense of pride on what we have accomplished together in strengthening our reputation and building a holistic integrated assurance system for Novartis.”