Total Protein Assay as a Step in Peptidomics Analytical Frame Work

Peptidomics is the complete quantitative and qualitative analysis of endogenous peptides in a biological sample. The total protein content is an important analytical task for peptidomics as it allows for the determination of the sample size required for such analysis. One particular method that is used for the quantitation of total protein is the BCA method. The BCA method uses the reaction of two cuprous ions with a bicinchoninic acid (BCA) molecule to produce a purple colored product. In addition, the BCA/copper complex absorbs at a wavelength of 562 nm, and this wavelength is used to detect the absorption of the sample. For this particular project, the Thermo ScientificTM Micro BCATM Protein Assay Kit was used to assay the total protein in frozen, pulverized mouse brain tissue. The kit used diluted protein standards and concentrated reagents along with a period of incubation at 37°C to produce a colorimetric protein assay in a 384-well plate. Using the Epoch microplate spectrophotometer, a wavelength of 562 nm was selected to interact with the samples, and the number of photons absorbed by the samples was detected by the photometer. The data was collected by the Gen5 software, and a standard curve was prepared by plotting the absorbance against concentration. This curve was used to determine the concentration of protein in the unknown mouse brain samples.UIUC Neuroproteomics and Neurometabolomics Center on Cell-Cell SignalingP30DA018310Ope

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially