Clinical laboratory practice recommendations for high-sensitivity cardiac troponin testing

The role of cardiac troponins (cTn) have become increasingly important in diagnosing myocardial infarction (MI), especially in patients without electrocardiogram abnormalities (1)

Potential biomarkers for diagnosis of sarcoidosis using proteomics in serum

SummaryBackgroundSarcoidosis is a multi-systemic inflammatory disorder, which affects the lungs in 90% of the cases. The main pathologic feature is chronic inflammation resulting in non-caseating granuloma formation. Until now there is no satisfying biomarker for diagnosis or prognosis of sarcoidosis. This study is focused on the detection of potential biomarkers in serum for the diagnosis of sarcoidosis using surface-enhanced laser desorption ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS).MethodsFor detection of potential biomarkers, protein profiles of anion exchange fractionated serum of 35 sarcoidosis patients and 35 healthy controls were compared using SELDI-TOF-MS. Sensitivities and specificities of the potential biomarkers obtained with SELDI-TOF-MS, generated with decision tree algorithm, were compared to the conventional markers angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R).ResultsOptimal classification was achieved with metal affinity binding arrays. A single marker with a mass-to-charge (m/z) value of 11,955 resulted in a sensitivity and specificity of 86% and 63%, respectively. A multimarker approach of two peaks, m/z values of 11,734 and 17,377, resulted in a sensitivity and specificity of 74% and 71%, respectively. These sensitivities and specificities were higher compared to measurements of ACE and sIL-2R. Identification of the peak at m/z 17,377 resulted in the α-2chain of haptoglobin.ConclusionsThis study acts as a proof-of-principle for the use of SELDI-TOF-MS in the detection of new biomarkers for sarcoidosis. The peak of the multimarker at m/z 17,377 was identified as the α-2chain of haptoglobin

Validation, optimisation, and application data in support of the development of a targeted selected ion monitoring assay for degraded cardiac troponin T

AbstractCardiac troponin T (cTnT) fragmentation in human serum was investigated using a newly developed targeted selected ion monitoring assay, as described in the accompanying article: “Development of a targeted selected ion monitoring assay for the elucidation of protease induced structural changes in cardiac troponin T” [1]. This article presents data describing aspects of the validation and optimisation of this assay. The data consists of several figures, an excel file containing the results of a sequence identity search, and a description of the raw mass spectrometry (MS) data files, deposited in the ProteomeXchange repository with id PRIDE: PXD003187

FSH isoform pattern in classic galactosemia

Female classic galactosemia patients suffer from primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). The cause for this long-term complication is not fully understood. One of the proposed mechanisms is that hypoglycosylation of complex molecules, a known secondary phenomenon of galactosemia, leads to FSH dysfunction. An earlier study showed less acidic isoforms of FSH in serum samples of two classic galactosemia patients compared to controls, indicating hypoglycosylation. In this study, FSH isoform patterns of five classic galactosemia patients with POI were compared to the pattern obtained in two patients with a primary glycosylation disorder (phosphomannomutase-2-deficient congenital disorders of glycosylation, PMM2-CDG) and POI, and in five postmenopausal women as controls. We used FPLC chromatofocussing with measurement of FSH concentration per fraction, and discovered that there were no significant differences between galactosemia patients, PMM2-CDG patients and postmenopausal controls. Our results do not support that FSH dysfunction due to a less acidic isoform pattern because of hypoglycosylation is a key mechanism of POI in this disease

Potato Protein Ingestion Increases Muscle Protein Synthesis Rates at Rest and during Recovery from Exercise in Humans

INTRODUCTION: Plant-derived proteins have received considerable attention as an alternative to animal-based proteins and are now frequently used in both plant-based diets and sports nutrition products. However, little information is available on the anabolic properties of potato-derived protein. This study compares muscle protein synthesis rates after the ingestion of 30 g potato protein versus 30 g milk protein at rest and during recovery from a single bout of resistance exercise in healthy, young males. METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group design, 24 healthy young males (24 ± 4 yr) received primed continuous l-[ring-(13)C(6)]-phenylalanine infusions while ingesting 30 g potato-derived protein or 30 g milk protein after a single bout of unilateral resistance exercise. Blood and muscle biopsies were collected for 5 h after protein ingestion to assess postprandial plasma amino acid profiles and mixed muscle protein synthesis rates at rest and during recovery from exercise. RESULTS: Ingestion of both potato and milk protein increased mixed muscle protein synthesis rates when compared with basal postabsorptive values (from 0.020% ± 0.011% to 0.053% ± 0.017%·h(−1) and from 0.021% ± 0.014% to 0.050% ± 0.012%·h(−1), respectively; P < 0.001), with no differences between treatments (P = 0.54). In the exercised leg, mixed muscle protein synthesis rates increased to 0.069% ± 0.019% and 0.064% ± 0.015%·h(−1) after ingesting potato and milk protein, respectively (P < 0.001), with no differences between treatments (P = 0.52). The muscle protein synthetic response was greater in the exercised compared with the resting leg (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Ingestion of 30 g potato protein concentrate increases muscle protein synthesis rates at rest and during recovery from exercise in healthy, young males. Muscle protein synthesis rates after the ingestion of 30 g potato protein do not differ from rates observed after ingesting an equivalent amount of milk protein

Potato protein ingestion increases muscle protein synthesis rates at rest and during recovery from exercise in humans

Introduction Plant-derived proteins have received considerable attention as an alternative to animal-based proteins and are now frequently used in both plant-based diets and sports nutrition products. However, little information is available on the anabolic properties of potato-derived protein. This study compares muscle protein synthesis rates after the ingestion of 30 g potato protein versus 30 g milk protein at rest and during recovery from a single bout of resistance exercise in healthy, young males. Methods In a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group design, 24 healthy young males (24 ± 4 yr) received primed continuous l-[ring-13C6]-phenylalanine infusions while ingesting 30 g potato-derived protein or 30 g milk protein after a single bout of unilateral resistance exercise. Blood and muscle biopsies were collected for 5 h after protein ingestion to assess postprandial plasma amino acid profiles and mixed muscle protein synthesis rates at rest and during recovery from exercise. Results Ingestion of both potato and milk protein increased mixed muscle protein synthesis rates when compared with basal postabsorptive values (from 0.020% ± 0.011% to 0.053% ± 0.017%·h−1 and from 0.021% ± 0.014% to 0.050% ± 0.012%·h−1, respectively; P < 0.001), with no differences between treatments (P = 0.54). In the exercised leg, mixed muscle protein synthesis rates increased to 0.069% ± 0.019% and 0.064% ± 0.015%·h−1 after ingesting potato and milk protein, respectively (P < 0.001), with no differences between treatments (P = 0.52). The muscle protein synthetic response was greater in the exercised compared with the resting leg (P < 0.05). Conclusions Ingestion of 30 g potato protein concentrate increases muscle protein synthesis rates at rest and during recovery from exercise in healthy, young males. Muscle protein synthesis rates after the ingestion of 30 g potato protein do not differ from rates observed after ingesting an equivalent amount of milk protein

Impact of exercise training on oxidative stress in individuals with a spinal cord injury

Individuals with a spinal cord injury (SCI) have an increased cardiovascular risk. We hypothesize that (anti)oxidative imbalance is associated with the increased cardiovascular risk in SCI, while exercise can reverse this status. The aim of the study is to compare baseline levels of oxidative stress and antioxidative capacity between individuals with SCI and able-bodied (AB) subjects, and to assess acute and long-term effects of functional electrical stimulation (FES) exercise on oxidative stress and antioxidative capacity in SCI. Venous blood was taken from subjects with an SCI (n = 9) and age- and gender-matched AB subjects (n = 9) to examine oxidative stress through malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, while superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) enzyme levels represented anti-oxidative capacity. Subsequently, subjects with an SCI performed an 8-week FES exercise training period. Blood was taken before and after the first exercise bout and after the last FES session to examine the acute and chronic effect of FES exercise, respectively. Baseline levels of MDA, SOD and GPx were not different between individuals with SCI and AB subjects. SCI demonstrated a correlation between initial fitness level and MDA (R = −0.83, P = 0.05). MDA, SOD and GPx levels were neither altered by a single FES exercise bout nor by 8 weeks FES training. In conclusion, although individuals with an SCI demonstrate a preserved (anti)oxidative status, the correlation between fitness level and (anti)oxidative balance suggests that higher fitness levels are related to improved (anti)oxidative status in SCI. Nonetheless, the FES exercise stimulus was insufficient to acutely or chronically change (anti)oxidative status in individuals with an SCI

Ascorbic acid serum levels are reduced in patients with hematological malignancies

AbstractIn this paper we demonstrate that patients treated with chemotherapy and/or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) have highly significant reduced serum ascorbic acid (AA) levels compared to healthy controls. We recently observed in in vitro experiments that growth of both T and NK cells from hematopoietic stem cells is positively influenced by AA. It might be of clinical relevance to study the function and recovery of immune cells after intensive treatment, its correlation to AA serum levels and the possible effect of AA supplementation

Estimation of Myocardial Infarct Size from Plasma Myoglobin or Fatty Acid-Binding Protein. Influence of Renal Function

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