Enzyme Immunometric Assay Research Articles

Serum human pregnancy specific glycoprotein 1 in pregnant women with preeclampsia in comparison with normal pregnancy

To compare the serum pregnancy specific glycoprotein 1 values of women with preeclampsia with the values of healthy pregnant women. A total of 90 pregnant women, whom were recruited during their antenatal care visits to the obstetrical department in Hospital, were included. They were divided into two groups: 45 women with diagnosis of preeclampsia and 45 controls who were the women with healthy pregnancy. Blood samples were collected from both groups and the measurement of pregnancy specific glycoprotein 1 was done using an enzyme immunometric assay. The groups of preeclampsia pregnant women had markedly lower pregnancy specific glycoprotein 1 than the women with the uneventful pregnancies (9.8±3.8 vs 14.3±6.0 ng/ml; p value <0.001). Pregnancy specific glycoprotein 1 can significantly predict preeclampsia (P value <0.001) with an odds ratio of 0.839 and 95% confidence interval of 0.763 – 0.924. By application of receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, it was observed that the cut-off value of pregnancy specific glycoprotien1 for predicting preeclampsia was 10.4 ng/ml with 77% sensitivity and 60% specificity, the area under the curve 0.728 with 95% confidence interval between 0.622 and 0.835, P value < 0.001. Pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia are associated with decreased maternal serum level of pregnancy specific glycoprotien. This abnormally decreased levels of might be a reflection of stressed or dysfunctional syncytiotrophoblasts, which is related to the pathogenesis of this placental disorder.

B-080 Analytical Performance of ESPLINE HTLV-I/II

Abstract Background The human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) infects a type of white blood cell called T-cell or T-lymphocyte. There are two types of HTLV, HTLV-I and HTLV-II, which are closely related to human C retroviruses. HTLV-I is endemic in the Caribbean, Japan, South America, and parts of Africa. HTLV-I has been recognized as a cause of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and HTLV-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). HTLV-II is found among Africa and the Americas, and injecting drug users in many cities of Western Europe and North America. Currently, an effective vaccine against HTLV is not available, and clinical treatment is limited. The diagnosis and identification of patients are very important for controlling the spread of HTLV infection. There are HTLV-infected lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of patients, but little virus in the serum or plasma can be detected. Therefore, screening tests for HTLV that generally detect antibodies using reagents need dedicated instruments. We have developed an anti-HTLV-I/II reagent ( ESPLINE HTLV-I/II) based on the immunochromatography principal using an enzyme immunometric assay that can easily detect both anti-HTLV-I and anti-HTLV-II antibodies in serum and plasma. This report evaluates its efficacy. Methods This reagent has a test line coated with a recombinant protein and peptides derived from three env gene proteins (HTLV-I gp21, HTLV-I gp46, and HTLV-II gp46) to detect anti-HTLV-I/II antibodies. The antibodies in the sample bind to antigens labelled with alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and then immunocomplexes are formed. These complexes are captured by the antigens on the test line, and the blue line is detected by ALP enzymatic reaction with a colorimetric substrate. It only takes 15 minutes to obtain the results without any instruments. To evaluate the fundamental performance, we tested specificity, limit of detection, and method comparison with Lumipulse HTLV-I/II, Lumipulse Presto HTLV-I/II, and Serodia HTLV-I, following the CLSI protocol. Commercially available serum and/or plasma were used for most evaluations. Results Regarding specificity, 1014 anti-HTLV-I/II negative serum samples, which were confirmed by highly sensitive CLEIA Lumipulse Presto HTLV-I/II, were tested by ESPLINE HTLV-I/II. Then, all 1014 samples were shown as nonreactive, demonstrating a specificity of 100.0%. Regarding the limit of detection, by the analysis of serial dilution from 2 positive plasma specimens, ESPLINE HTLV-I/II assay showed high sensitivity compared to conventional Serodia HTLV-I. Regarding the method comparison, 57 anti-HTLV-I and 30 anti-HTLV-II positive plasma samples from different individuals were tested. All samples showed positive results with ELPLINE HTLV-I/II, Lumipulse Presto HTLV-I/II, Lumipulse G HTLV-I/II, and conventional Particle Agglutination Serodia HTLV-I. Conclusion The novel anti-HTLV-I and anti-HTLV-II antibodies assay, ESPLINE HTLV-I/II, showed higher sensitivity than Particle Agglutination Serodia HTLV-I and had good concordance with highly sensitive CLEIA Lumipulse Presto HTLV-I/II and Lumipulse G HTLV-I/II. The ESPLINE system can be used easily to complete an assay in 15 min. This procedure is considered useful in situations such as on-site tests at health centers, screening tests at medical institutions with a small number of specimens, and other emergency tests.

Oxidized LDL Regulates Endothelin-1 and Oxidative Stress in Vascular Endothelial Cells: Role of Extracellular Regulated Kinase1/2 (ERK1/2)

Article Oxidized LDL Regulates Endothelin-1 and Oxidative Stress in Vascular Endothelial Cells: Role of Extracellular Regulated Kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) Haishan Xu 1,#, Jinhong Duan 1,#, Jun Tao 2, Wen Wang 3, Yunqing Wu 1,^, Shunling Dai 1,*, and Jun Ren 4,5, 1 Faculty of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005 China 2 Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510000 China 3 Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China 4 Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China 5 National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China # These two authors contributed equally to this work ^ Deceased * Correspondence: daishunling@aliyun.com (Shunling Dai); corresponding author:jren_aldh2@outlook.com (Jun Ren) Abstract: It is perceived that oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) perturbs endothelial function and fosters endothelin-1 (ET-1) secretion although the underlying mechanism remains elusive. This study was designed to decipher potential mechanisms underscoring oxLDL-evoked regulation of ET-1 and signaling pathways involved in endothelial cells. ET-1 mRNA expression, secretion and promoter function were determined using RT-PCR, enzyme immunometric and luciferase assays, respectively. GO and GSEA bioinformatics analyses depicted differentially expressed genes (DEGs) mainly associated with cell proliferation, cell division, cellular structure, energy supply, and apoptosis in oxLDL-challenged endothelial cells. Incubation of oxLDL overtly increased ROS production, apoptosis, mRNA level, secretion and promoter activity of ET-1 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), the effects were mitigated by N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC). Moreover, oxLDL challenge evoked phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) in HUVECs, the effect was reversed by NAC and MEK inhibitor PD98059. NAC and PD98059 nullified oxLDL- induced rises in mRNA expression, secretion and promoter activity of ET-1. Truncation of 5’-flanking sequence of ET-1 (–566 bpLuc to –250 bpLuc) displayed elevated luciferase activity with 24-h oxLDL incubation. Fusion plasmid from –233 and –185 bp Luc drastically dampened luciferase activity in basal and oxLDL-challenged HUVECs. Transfection of reporter construct –250 bp Luc with a 2 bp mutation at AP-1 locus, removed basal and oxLDL- evoked rises in ET-1 promoter activity. Collectively, our findings support that oxLDL evoked activation of ERK1/2 signaling likely through ROS production, en route to upregulation of endothelial transcriptional factor AP-1, resulting in expression and secretion of ET-1.

Comparison of two immunoassays for the measurement of serum HE4 for ovarian cancer

IntroductionThe use of Human Epididymis Protein 4 (HE4) as a biomarker for ovarian cancer is gaining traction, providing the impetus for development of a high throughput automated HE4 assay that is comparable to the conventional manual enzyme immunometric-assay (EIA). The aim of this study was to compare two immunoassay methods for the measurement of serum HE4. Materials and methods1348 serum samples were analysed for serum HE4 using both the EIA and the automated chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLEIA) methods. HE4 values were compared using a Passing-Bablok regression and agreement assessed using Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (CCC). The absolute and percentage bias of the CLEIA compared to EIA was determined. ResultsThere was moderate agreement between the two methods (CCC 0.929, 95%CI 0.923-0.936). Passing-Bablok regression demonstrated an overestimation of the CLEIA [constant 4.44 (95%CI 2.96-5.68), slope 1.04 (95%CI 1.02-1.07)]. The CLEIA method had a mean percentage bias of 16.25% compared to the EIA method. ConclusionThe CLEIA significantly overestimated serum HE4 values compared to the EIA, which could impact clinical interpretation and patient management. Further studies are required to develop an appropriate cut-off depending on the population being investigated and the analytic method being used.

The evaluation of serum apelin levels in patients complicated with preeclampsia

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the serum levels of mild, severe preeclamptic pregnants and normotensive pregnant women to determine whether there is a correlation between preeclampsia and their serum levels. Methods This prospective case-control study included 48 preeclamptic and 39 healthy normotensive pregnants. The control group was composed of body mass index and age matched pregnant women. Preeclamptic patients were divided into two groups as mild preeclampsia and severe preeclampsia. Serum apelin levels were determined by EnzymeImmunometricAssay (EIA) biochemical test. Results Serum apelin levels were found to be significantly lower in the preeclampsia group. It was 0.75 ± 0.24 ng/ml in mild preeclampsia and 0.55 ± 0.18 ng/ml in the severe preeclampsia and 0.91 ± 0.20 ng/ml in the control group. There was a strong inverse correlation between serum apelin levels and Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) (r: −0.429 p: 0.002). Conclusions In conclusion, the role of apelin and apelinergic system in cardiovascular system and placental development and their place in preeclampsia is still an issue. In preeclampsia, the deterioration of the cardiovascular protective effect of apelin by other enzymes may also contribute to the deterioration of fetal development. More detailed studies are needed.

Feline plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone: validation of a chemiluminescent assay and concentrations in cats with hypercortisolism, primary hypoadrenocorticism and other diseases.

The aims of this study were to validate a commercially available chemiluminescent assay for measurement of feline plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone concentration (ACTH), to determine the normal reference interval (RI) of plasma ACTH in healthy cats, to assess plasma ACTH in cats with naturally occurring hypercortisolism (HC), primary hypoadrenocorticism (PH) and other diseases (OD), and to evaluate the effect of aprotinin on plasma ACTH degradation. Forty healthy cats, 10 with HC, 11 with PH and 30 with OD, were included. The chemiluminescent enzyme immunometric assay was evaluated by measurement of intra-assay precision, interassay precision and linearity. The RI for plasma ACTH in healthy cats was established using robust methods. Plasma ACTH of samples collected with and without aprotinin, stored at 4°C and assayed over a 6-day period, was measured. The intra-assay coefficients of variance (CVs) ranged from 2.7% to 4.3% and interassay CVs from 3.3% to 10.7%. Dilution studies showed excellent accuracy (R2 >0.99). The RI for plasma ACTH in healthy cats was 32-370 pg/ml. Plasma ACTH was not significantly different between healthy cats and the OD group. Cats with pituitary-dependent hypercortisolism (PDH) and PH had significantly higher plasma ACTH than the other groups. Plasma ACTH did not show significant differences when samples collected with and without aprotinin were compared. The Immulite chemiluminescent assay is a valid technique for measuring plasma ACTH in cats and the RI of plasma ACTH is quite wide. Owing to the low overlap between healthy or OD cats and cats with HC or PH, the measurement of plasma ACTH appears to be useful and should be included in the diagnostic work-up when HC or PH are suspected. Furthermore, the measurement of plasma ACTH may be an accurate test for differentiating PDH from adrenal-dependent hypercortisolism.

The value of serum CA19‐9 in predicting primary sclerosing cholangitis in patients with ulcerative colitis

AbstractIn the present study, we postulated that using CA19‐9 in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients may be a useful method for the screening of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Considering the presence of other extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) in IBD such as arthritis that may associate with the elevated level of CA19‐9, in the present study we aimed to compare the CA19‐9 level in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients with PSC or other EIMs and also evaluate the value of CA19‐9 in the detection of PSC in UC patients. In the present cross‐sectional study, 192 patients with UC were selected. EIMs were diagnosed based on patients recall and after a thorough physical examination. PSC was diagnosed by magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography by expert gastroenterologist and radiologist. Serum level of CA19‐9 was measured using chemiluminescent enzyme immunometric assay. About 6.77% of participants had PSC and 24.47% of them had other EIMs. The results showed that the CA19‐9 level in patients with PSC (median [interquartile range (IQR)]: 93 [10‐125]) was significantly higher than that of patients diagnosed with other EIMs (median [IQR]: 11 [6‐17.30]) or with no EIMs (median [IQR]: 7.15 [4.82‐11.00]). CA19‐9 value of >75 U/mL could predict PSC by the sensitivity of 69% and specificity of 99% with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.83 in UC patients and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) > 299.5 could predict PSC with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 99% and AUC of 0.99. In addition, 23.07% of PSC patients had CA19‐9 level of >129 U/mL. According to the results, ALP had higher sensitivity and specificity for the screening of PSC compared to CA19‐9 in UC patients. Moreover, 23.07% of PSC patients had CA19‐9 level of >129 U/mL. So it could be concluded that cut‐off of >129 U/mL may not be an accurate cut‐off for the diagnosis of CCA in IBD patients.

Serum SHBG Is Associated With the Development and Regression of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Prospective Study.

SHBG, a homodimeric glycoprotein produced by hepatocytes has been shown to be associated with metabolic disorders. Whether circulating SHBG levels are predictive of later risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains unknown. In this study, we prospectively investigated the association between SHBG and NAFLD progression through a community-based cohort comprising 3389 Chinese adults. NAFLD was diagnosed using abdominal ultrasonography. Serum SHBG levels were measured by chemiluminescent enzyme immunometric assay, and their relationship with NAFLD development and regression was investigated after a mean follow-up of 3.09 years using multivariable logistic regression. Basal SHBG was negatively associated with NAFLD development, with a fully adjusted odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.22 (0.12-0.40) (P < .001). In contrast, basal SHBG was positively associated with NAFLD regression, with a fully adjusted OR of 4.83 (2.38-9.81) (P < .001). Multiple-stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that SHBG concentration was an independent predictor of NAFLD development (OR, 0.28 [0.18-0.45]; P < .001) and regression (OR, 3.89 [2.43-6.22]; P < .001). In addition, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves were 0.764 (95% CI, 0.740-0.787) and 0.762 (95% CI, 0.738-0.785) for the prediction models of NAFLD development and regression, respectively. Serum SHBG concentration is associated with the development and regression of NAFLD; moreover, it can be a potential biomarker for predicting NAFLD progression, and also a novel preventive and therapeutic target for NAFLD.

Association between circulating zinc-α2-glycoprotein levels and the different phenotypes of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) diagnosis combines various clinical phenotypes. The definition of PCOS is still controversial because insulin resistance (IR) and dysmetabolism do not constitute PCOS diagnostic criteria. We analyzed whether a circulating biomarker zinc-α2-glycoprotein (ZAG) related to IR and metabolic dysfunction can predict PCOS phenotypes. We then recruited 100 PCOS patients and 99 healthy women as the control group to assess the relationship between ZAG and metabolic characteristics. The euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp helped assess insulin sensitivity, and the enzyme immunometric assay was deployed for ZAG levels. Our PCOS cohort presented sixty-nine patients with hyperandrogenism, eighty-six patients with chronic oligoanovulation, and eighty-one patients with polycystic ovaries by ultrasonographic evaluation. Additionally, the circulating ZAG levels were considerably reduced in all PCOS patients compared with healthy women (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). Additionally, sixty-nine PCOS patients had IR, and circulating ZAG levels were also different among the phenotypes. Furthermore, the normoandrogenic type specifically exhibited the highest circulating ZAG levels among all PCOS phenotypes (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). Additionally, normoandrogenic phenotype patients had reduced HOMA-IR scores and greater M-values than those in the classic phenotypes (p < 0.05). The circulating ZAG levels, however, were not associated with oligoanovulation but were correlated with hyperandrogenism and PCO morphology. In summary, circulating ZAG levels serve as suitable PCOS phenotype biomarkers, aiding physicians to identify women who merit screening.

Platelet Serotonin Level and Impulsivity in Human Self-destructive Behavior: A Biological and Psychological Study.

Context:Suicide is a disease and a global public health problem. Suicidology has come to become a topic of study for intervention and research. The serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5HT]) system has remained a prime area of investigation. The neurons and platelets display structural and functional similarities. Ninety-nine percent of 5HT is contained in platelets, which shares similar 5HT uptake and release mechanisms with 5HT neurons.Aims:This study aims to study human self-destructive behavior (HSDB).Objectives:Exploring the biological (serotonin levels in platelets) and psychological aspects (impulsivity) of attempted suicide or HSDB.Settings and Design:Thirty-one patients, above the age of 18 years, with a recent history of HSDB, were studied and given an International Classification of Diseases-10 diagnosis, after a detailed interview.Subjects and Methods:For the platelet 5HT estimation, blood samples were collected, and enzyme immunometric assay carried out. Detailed assessment of the impulsivity was done by the 25-item structured diagnostic interview for borderlines by Zanarini et al.Statistical Analysis Used:We obtained both categorical and continuous data. Chi-square test, Fisher's test, Student's t-test, and Pearson's product moment correlation were used.Results:Female subjects outnumbered males by 2:1. Major depression, adjustment disorder, personality disorder were predominant diagnoses. The mean platelet serotonin concentration for males = 57.3 ng/ml, that of females = 56.05 ng/ml (P > 0.05). Platelet 5HT levels were found to be negatively correlated with impulsivity scores (P < 0.05).Conclusions:Platelet serotonin levels in our study sample were quite low when compared with those reported in published literature. Low serotonin levels were inversely related to impulsivity, but only in males.

Research Article. Comparative Analysis of Hepcidin-25 and Inflammatory Markers in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease with and without Anemia

Abstract Introduction: Hepcidin is a regulatory protein in iron metabolism; we do not know the role in chronic kidney disease anemia. Methods: 22 patients with CKD anemia and 15 patients with CKD without anemia were investigated. CKD anemia-inclusion criteria: over 18 years, hemoglobin ≤12 g/dl for women and ≤13 g/dl for men, no treatment for anemia 6 months before enrollment, glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) &lt;60 ml/min/1.73m2 and stable creatinine three months before enrollment. Exclusion criteria: infection, bleeding, malignancy, systemic or liver disease, immunosuppression, renal replacement therapy. CKD without anemia-inclusion criteria: over 18 years, no anemia or treatment for anemia, CKD with stable creatinine values three months before enrollment. Exclusion criteria: medical conditions known to have a role in the development of polycythemia. Hepcidin-25 and ferritin were measured by ELISA method. Erythropoietin (EPO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 were evaluated using chemiluminescent enzyme immunometric assays. Unpaired T test, Pearson correlation and multiple regression were used for statistical analysis. Results: Hemoglobin values were significantly lower in anemia group. There were no differences in terms of eGFR, age, body mass index, serum hepcidin, erythropoietin, fibrinogen, IL-6, and TNF-α between CKD patients with and without anemia. Serum hepcidin correlated positively with ferritin (r=0.45 p&lt;0.05), TNF-α (r=0.54, p&lt;0.05) and negatively with erythropoietin (r=-0.51, p&lt;0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that TNF-α is an independent predictor of serum hepcidin in our patients (p=0.003, R=0.71). Conclusion: We found no differences in serum hepcidin, erythropoietin and inflammatory markers in non-dialysis CKD patients with and without anemia.

Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3β: Variation over Time and the Possible Association with Mood and Cognition in Healthy Individuals

Evidence indicates a role for glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) in the pathophysiology of mood disorders and in cognitive disturbances; however, the natural variation in GSK-3β activity over time is unknown. We aimed to investigate GSK-3β activity over time and its possible correlation with emotional lability, subjective mood fluctuations and cognitive function in healthy individuals. Thirty-seven healthy subjects were evaluated with neuropsychological tests and blood samples at baseline and 12-week follow-up. Total GSK-3β and serine-9-phosphorylated GSK-3β in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were quantitated using enzyme immunometric assays. The activity of GSK-3β (serine-9-phosphorylated GSK-3β/total GSK-3β) was lower at baseline compared with follow-up. No significant mean change over time was observed in levels of total GSK-3β and serine-9-phosphorylated GSK-3β. Exploratory analysis revealed lower activity of GSK-3β in spring and summer compared with the fall season. No correlation was observed between GSK-3β activity and emotional lability, subjective mood fluctuations or cognitive function. The results suggest that intra- and interindividual variation in GSK-3β activity over time could contribute to the heterogeneity of findings in clinical studies. The stability of GSK-3β activity and the role of potential moderators of GSK-3β activity warrant further investigation. Clinical studies of GSK-3β should consider including repeated measures of both cases and healthy individuals.

Neuron-specific enolase in nasal secretions as a novel biomarker of olfactory dysfunction in chronic rhinosinusitis.

Olfactory dysfunction is a diagnostic criterion for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). During chronic inflammation and olfactory neuronal damage in CRS, it is likely that neuron-specific enolase (NSE) can leak into nasal secretions (NS) and serum. Therefore, we postulated that NSE levels in NS and in circulation may be indicative of olfactory dysfunction in CRS. To evaluate the relationship between the NS and serum concentrations of NSE with olfactory dysfunction in subjects with CRS. The patients with CRS were classified into two groups, depending on the presence of polyps: CRS without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) and CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). A group of age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers served as controls. Olfactory function assessment was performed by using Sniffin' Sticks. NSE concentrations in serum and NS were analyzed by using the enzyme immunometric assay kit specific for the γ subunit. The study included 46 patients with CRSsNP, 25 women (54.3%) and 21 men (45.7%), mean (standard deviation [SD]) age, 34.1 ± 12.3 years; and 54 patients with CRSwNP, 24 women (44.4%) and 30 men (55.6%), mean (SD) age, 37.9 ± 17.5 years. A group of 40 healthy volunteers who were matched for age and sex served as controls. Significantly higher serum and NS levels of NSE were measured in patients with CRS compared with healthy controls (p < 0.001). In the CRSwNP group, both mean (SD) serum (83.5 ± 37.6 ng/mL) and mean (SD) NS (6.1 ± 2.3 ng/mL) levels of NSE were significantly higher than in the CRSsNP group (46.4 ± 7.3 ng/mL [p < 0.001] and 1.7 ± 0.5 ng/mL [p < 0.001], respectively). In both the CRSsNP and CRSwNP groups (but not in the healthy controls), significant negative correlations between NS NSE levels and TDI scores (r = -0.63, p < 0.001 for the CRSwNP group, and r = -0.51, p < 0.001 for CRSsNP group) were observed, which meant that higher NSE was associated with worse olfactory function. The study demonstrated a contribution of CRS to NSE and olfactory dysfunction.

Effects of acute resistance exercise on acyl-ghrelin and obestatin levels in hemodialysis patients: a pilot study

Chronic physical exercises may be beneficial to modulate appetite hormones as acyl-ghrelin (orexigenic) and obestatin (anorexigenic) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients; however, there are no data about the effects of acute exercises on these hormones. Thus, the aim of the present study was to assess the effect of acute resistance exercise on appetite hormones (acyl-ghrelin and obestatin) of patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). Twenty-five patients (44.7 ± 12.9 years, 68% women) on regular HD program were enrolled into two groups, 16 patients performed exercises and 9 patients comprised the control group. The patients performed the exercises in both lower limbs with ankle-cuffs and elastic bands, 30 min after the initiation of hemodialysis session. Blood samples of both the groups were drawn in the morning before and after 30 min with exercise session (exercise group) and, before and after the same time without exercise (control group). Acyl-ghrelin and obestatin plasma levels were measured using an enzyme immunometric assay. Acyl-ghrelin plasma levels did not change in both the groups. However, when stratified by gender the acyl-ghrelin increased significantly right after exercise in men [32.1 pg/mL (25.6–41.2) to 46.0 pg/mL (39.0–59.5)] (p = 0.04). Obestatin plasma levels reduced after a single bout of exercise and changes remained significantly when the sample was stratified by gender. There was no change in obestatin plasma levels in control group. A single bout of resistance exercise seems to modulate the levels of appetite hormones in HD patients.

Lithium increases platelet serine-9 phosphorylated GSK-3β levels in drug-free bipolar disorder during depressive episodes

BackgroundGlycogen synthase kinase-3 β (GSK3β) is an intracellular enzyme directly implicated in several neural processes relevant to bipolar disorder (BD) pathophysiology. GSK3β is also an important target for lithium and antidepressants. When phosphorylated at serine-9, GSK3β becomes inactive. Few studies evaluated serine-9 phosphorylated GSK3β (phospho-GSK3β) levels in BD subjects in vivo and no study has assessed it specifically in bipolar depression. Also, the effect of lithium monotherapy on GSK3β has never been studied in humans. MethodsIn 27 patients with bipolar depression, total GSK3β and phospho-GSK3β were assessed in platelets by enzyme immunometric assay. Subjects were evaluated before and after 6 weeks of lithium treatment at therapeutic levels. Healthy subjects (n = 22) were used as a control group. ResultsNo differences in phospho-GSK3β or total GSK3β were observed when comparing drug-free BD subjects in depression and healthy controls. Baseline HAM-D scores were not correlated with phospho-GSK3β and total GSK3β levels. From baseline to endpoint, lithium treatment inactivated GSK3β by significantly increasing phospho-GSK3β levels (p = 0.010). Clinical improvement (baseline HAM-D — endpoint HAM-D) negatively correlated with the increase in phospho-GSK3β (p = 0.03). ConclusionThe present results show that lithium inactivates platelet GSK3β in BD during mood episodes. No direct association with pathophysiology of BD was observed. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of GSK3β as a key biomarker in BD and its association with treatment response as well as the relevance of GSK3β in other neuropsychiatric disorders and as a new therapeutic target per se.

Changes in Transforming Growth Factor-β1 in Gingival Crevicular Fluid of Patients with Chronic Periodontitis Following Periodontal Flap Surgery.

The aim of the study was to assess changes in Transforming Growth Factor- β1 (TGF-β1) levels in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and examine correlation of TGF-β1 levels and periodontal parameters: probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) in sites with chronic periodontitis at various time intervals before and after periodontal surgery. The effects of non-surgical and surgical therapy on periodontal parameters and GCF TGF-β1 levels in 18 sites affected with chronic periodontitis were assessed upto 6 weeks post conventional flap surgery. GCF was collected and PPD, CAL recorded at Baseline. GCF was collected and PPD, CAL recorded at Pre-surgery and flap surgery performed. GCF was collected from all sites at Two Weeks Post-surgery. GCF was collected and PPD, CAL recorded at Six Weeks Post-surgery. The concentration of TGF-β1 in GCF was determined using a human TGF-β1 enzyme immunometric assay kit. Mean TGF-β1 concentrations were significantly reduced at Pre-surgery, at Two Weeks Post-surgery and at Six Weeks Post-surgery (p<0.05) when compared to Baseline TGF-β1 values. There was a statistically significant reduction in PPD and gain in CAL following non-surgical and surgical therapy when compared to baseline (p<0.05). RESULTS indicate that TGF-β1 may play a role in the pathogenesis and diagnosis of periodontal disease and could be considered as a disease predictive biomarker.

Diagnostic value of serum human epididymis protein 4 versus carbohydrate antigen 125 in ovarian cancer

Objective The aim of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) in patients with ovarian masses in comparison with serum carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125). Study design A diagnostic accuracy study was conducted in gynecological oncology unit at Ain-Shams University Maternity Hospital. A total of 110 patients were consecutively recruited on the basis of radiologic and clinical findings. Preoperative serum HE4 was assessed using enzyme immunometric assay technique, whereas CA125 assay was performed using electrochemiluminesence immunoassay. All patients underwent exploratory laparotomy. Preoperative serum levels of both markers were correlated to histopathological findings obtained from each patient. Results A total of 96 patients were finally analyzed. Of the included 96 patients, 58 (60.4%) had a benign ovarian lesion, whereas 38 (49.6%) had a malignant one. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of HE4 and CA125 were 76.6/86.7% and 94.7/56.9%, respectively. Combination of both markers revealed diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of 76.7 and 100%, respectively. Conclusion In ovarian cancer, HE4 seems to have higher specificity than CA125. Combination of both markers was a more accurate predictor of ovarian cancer than either marker alone.

Association between ghrelin and triglyceride levels in Blacks with and without type 2 diabetes (1029.5)

This cross sectional study examined the association between ghrelin and triglyceride levels in Haitian and African Americans with (n= 258) and without (n=239) type 2 diabetes. Participants were recruited from multiple sources from Miami‐Dade and Broward Counties, Florida. Fasting blood samples were collected and ghrelin was analyzed from whole blood using Enzyme Immunometric Assay. Serum triglyceride levels were assayed by enzymatic methods. Dietary variables were collected using the Willett’s food frequency questionnaire, and Healthy Eating Index 2005 (HEI‐05) scores were calculated. Analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlations and linear regressions. Participants with type 2 diabetes had significantly lower ghrelin (P&lt;0.001) and higher triglyceride levels (p=0.023) as compared to those without type 2 diabetes. Ghrelin was inversely correlated with triglyceride levels in participants with type 2 diabetes (P=0.021). Linear regression analysis indicated that after controlling for covariates, the association between lnghrelin and lntriglycerides was only significant for participants with type 2 diabetes (β=‐.181, SE=.042, P=0.003). Findings of this study suggested a potential role of ghrelin as a biomarker of cardiovascular disease risk in Blacks with type 2 diabetes.Grant Funding Source: Supported by NIH/NIDDK sponsored grant.

Acyl-Ghrelin and Obestatin Plasma Levels in Different Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease

This study assessed acyl-ghrelin and obestatin plasma levels in nondialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) and hemodialysis (HD) patients compared with healthy volunteers. This was a cross-sectional study conducted at Renal Vida Clinic (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Renal Nutrition Ambulatory (Niterói, Brazil). Sixty-four subjects were studied: 29 HD patients (55.4 ± 10.5 years, body mass index [BMI], 24.4 ± 3.9 kg/m(2), 17 men); 19 nondialysis patients (59.8 ± 7.5 years, BMI, 26.3 ± 4.8 kg/m(2), glomerular filtration rate, 28.8 ± 10.5 mL/minute/1.73 m(2), 5 men), and 16 healthy volunteers (53.8 ± 5.4 years, BMI, 24.6 ± 2.7 kg/m(2), 7 men). Acyl-ghrelin and obestatin were assessed using enzyme immunometric assays. Body weight, height, waist circumference (WC), and skinfold were measurement, and body fat percentage, arm muscle area, BMI, and conicity index were calculated. The average daily intake of calories and protein were estimated using a 3-day, 24-hour dietary recall, and the appetite was assessed by the first question of the Hemodialysis Study Appetite Questionnaire. The highest serum acyl-ghrelin (34.1 ± 13.0 pg/mL) and acyl-ghrelin/obestatin ratio (34.0 [6.7-90.2]) were found in nondialysis CKD patients who also presented with the lowest obestatin levels (0.8 [0.30-2.7] ng/mL) when compared with HD patients and healthy volunteers. HD patients presented the highest obestatin plasma levels (3.0 [2.7-3.4] ng/mL) and the lowest acyl-ghrelin/obestatin ratio (P < .05). Obestatin levels inversely correlated with WC (r = -0.6, P < .04) and BMI (r = -0.56, P < .04) in healthy volunteers. Although no correlation was found for appetite and food intake with acyl-ghrelin and obestatin in CKD patients, HD patients have the most important alteration of acyl-ghrelin and obestatin plasma levels and had a more impaired nutritional status than nondialysis CKD individuals.

Detection Level of Salivary Survivin in Patients with OSCC

Abstract Introduction: Survivin is a member of the Inhibitor of Apoptosis (IAP) proteins family, broadly expressed in most solid and haematological malignancies, but almost undetectable in normal adult tissues. Regarding Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC), Survivin expression seems to be correlated with aggressive phenotype and unfavorable outcome. In this work, the effectiveness of Survivin detection in saliva samples as diagnostic tool was investigated. Methods: 55 saliva samples from patients with histological diagnosis of OSCC and 30 samples from healthy controls matched for age and gender were collected. All samples from OSCC were collected before therapy. Saliva was analyzed using Assay Designs human Total Survivin TiterZyme® Enzyme Immunometric Assay (EIA) kit for Survivin detection and quantification. Survivin concentration (pg/ml) was studied in relationship to clinical data. Univariate statistical analysis was performed. Results: 35/55 (63.6%) among OSCC patients were found to be positive for surviving expression in saliva vs 12/30 (40%) among health controls; but the mean value was found to be higher in OSCC group (8,69 pg/ml ± 10,15 vs 2.44 pg/ml ± 4.22) reaching statistical significance (p<0.05). Moreover, samples from patients at an early stage (I+II) displayed a lower content of salivary Survivin than those at advanced stage (III+IV) (7.09 pg/ml ± 8.59 vs 8.13 pg/ml ± 10.94). In addition, cases characterized by lymph node metastasis showed a higher surviving concentration (9.38 pg/ml ± 11.26) than cases without metastasis (5.77 pg/ml ± 8.21). Discussion: Salivary Survivin seems to be an interesting biomarker for OSCC, but its use as a single marker may be not sufficient for the early diagnosis of OSCC