Fluid Proteins In Patients Research Articles

Cerebrospinal Fluid of Preeclamptic and Normotensive Pregnant Women Compared to Nonpregnant Women Analyzed with Mass Spectrometry.

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific multiorgan disorder in which impaired placental functioning and excessive oxidative stress play an important role. We previously showed distinct differences between cerebrospinal fluid proteins in patients with preeclampsia and normotensive pregnant women. An additional group of nonpregnant women was included to study the presence of pregnancy-related proteins in normotensive and preeclamptic pregnancies and whether pregnancy-related proteins were associated with preeclampsia. Cerebrospinal fluid samples were tryptically digested and subsequently measured with a nano-LC-tribrid Orbitrap mass spectrometry system. Proteins were identified by shotgun proteomic analysis based on a data-dependent acquisition method. Proteins identified in preeclampsia, normotensive pregnant controls, and nonpregnant groups were compared to the Progenesis method according to the criteria as previously described and with a secondary analysis using a Scaffold method including Benjamini–Hochberg correction for multiple testing. For preeclampsia, the Progenesis and the Scaffold method together identified 15 (eight proteins for both analyses with one overlap) proteins that were significantly different compared to normotensive control pregnancies. Three of these 15 proteins, which were elevated in cerebrospinal fluid of preeclamptic women, were described to be pregnancy proteins with a calcium-binding function. Using two analysis methods (Progenesis and Scaffold), four out of 15 differential proteins were associated with pregnancy, as described in the literature. Three out of the four pregnancy-related proteins were elevated in preeclampsia. Furthermore, the contribution of elevated (n = 4/15) and downregulated (n = 2/15) calcium-binding proteins in preeclampsia is remarkably high (40%) and needs to be elucidated further.

Elevation of Cerebrospinal Fluid Protein in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Is Associated with Duration of Diabetes

We investigated the relationships between total cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein in diabetic patients and the clinical characteristics of diabetes mellitus. The subjects comprised 16 diabetic patients (median age = 60.5 years, range = 47–71) who were studied retrospectively. Patients with diseases known to be associated with increases in total CSF protein were excluded as far as possible. The median total CSF protein and albumin quotient in the diabetic group were 52.5 mg/dl (range = 41–84) and 6.13 × 10^–3 (range = 4.0 × 10^–3 to 13.1 × 10^–3), respectively. These results were significantly higher than those in 28 age-matched nondiabetic patients (median = 59.0 years, range = 50–71) (p < 0.01). Duration of diabetes was associated with total CSF protein (r = 0.642, p < 0.01). If the CSF shows increased total protein in a diabetic patient who has not suffered from long-term diabetes (≧5 years), causes other than diabetes should be considered to explain increases in total CSF protein. We need to confirm the present results by studying a larger population of diabetic patients.

Electrophoretic separation of the synovial fluid proteins in patients with temporomandibular joint disorders

The present study was performed to characterize the patterns of protein expression in the synovial fluid (SF) of patients with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) by electrophoretic fractionation. Samples of the SF of 26 consecutive patients consisting of 16 with closed locking (CL group) and 10 with osteoarthritis (OA group), as well as 7 asymptomatic control subjects (AS group), were analyzed in the present study. SF samples were obtained from the upper compartment of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and equal quantities of SF protein were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The mean total protein concentrations in the SF from both of the TMD groups were higher than that in the AS group (1353 microg/mL in the CL group and 2485 microg/mL in the OA group vs 615 microg/mL in the AS group; P < .01). Moreover, the mean total SF protein concentration was higher in the OA group than in the CL group (P < .01). There was a correlation between the total protein concentration in the SF from both patient groups and the degree of expanded joint effusion (P = .003, r = 0.685). Approximately 22 different protein bands with molecular weights ranging from 14 to 700 kd were clearly discernible on electrophoresis. The relative amounts of specific proteins in the SF of the TMD group were also different from those in the AS group (P < .05). The major difference in total protein concentration appeared to be due to the increased abundance of relatively high molecular weight proteins (>140 kd) in the TMD patients as compared to the AS group. The SF of patients with TMD showed significant quantitative differences in total protein abundance as compared to healthy subjects. Moreover, this protein abundance was correlated strongly with the degree of expanded joint effusion. The major difference in total protein concentration appeared to be due to the increased abundance of relatively high molecular weight polypeptides in the TMD patients as compared to the healthy control subjects. These observations of changes in the pattern of protein expression may help in understanding the etiological factors involved in the pathophysiology of TMD.

Oxidized BAL fluid proteins in patients with interstitial lung diseases.

Oxygen-derived free radicals, released by phagocytic cells, have been postulated to contribute to lung tissue damage. We therefore investigated oxidative damage to proteins from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) as an indicator of oxidative stress and to assess antioxidant defences in the lungs. We examined BAL fluids from patients with interstitial lung diseases, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF, nonsmokers (NS) and smokers (S)), sarcoidosis (SARC, nonsmokers), and asbestosis (ASB, ex-smokers (EXS)). The oxidation of BALF proteins is accompanied by the introduction of carbonyl groups into their amino acid side-chains and can be quantitated by labeling these groups with tritiated borohydride. The total lung content of oxidized proteins recovered by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was 0.3 +/- 0.07 nmol carbonyl.mL-1 BALF (mean +/- SEM) in the NS control group (n = 9) and tended to be increased, in the asymptomatic S group (n = 8; 0.59 +/- 0.14 nmol.mL-1). This parameter was significantly elevated both in IPF-NS (n = 14; 0.84 +/- 0.2 nmol carbonyl.mL-1 BALF) and SARC-NS (n = 15; 0.73 +/- 0.16 nmol.mL-1) as compared with the NS control. On the contrary, in smoking patients with IPF (n = 6; 0.41 +/- 0.1 nmol carbonyl.mL-1 BALF) and also in ASB-EXS (n = 6; 0.37 +/- 0.06 nmol.mL-1) it was not different from NS controls. The total amount of oxidized proteins correlated positively with the absolute number of eosinophils (EOS) in IPF-NS, IPF-S and SARC, and also with absolute polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) numbers in IPF-NS and IPF-S. In conclusion, oxidative damage of BALF proteins occurred in nonsmoking patients with IPF and SARC. The amount of oxidized bronchoalveolar lavage fluid protein may provide a quantitative assessment of oxygen burden, a balance between oxidant stress and antioxidant defences.

Cerebrospinal fluid proteins in patients with leucoaraiosis: Possible abnormalities in blood-brain barrier function

Some CSF protein abnormalities have been proposed as a possible marker for vascular dementia. We studied the CSF protein levels and albumin ratio in 21 patients (mean age 64.04 ± 7.5) with progressive bilateral motor impairment, and a CT picture of leucoaraiosis. Seven of these patients also presented with dementia. Twenty-seven Alzheimer's disease patients (mean age 59.59 ± 5.30) without leucoaraiosis were taken as controls. We also evaluated the correlations of the albumin ratio values with the diagnosis of dementia, the severity of cognitive impairment, the degree of cerebral atrophy and presence of infarcts on CT, and the abnormalities in CSF circulation, found on isotopic cisternography, in the leucoaraiosis group. After controlling for age and sex, the patients with leucoaraiosis showed greater CSF albumin levels (0.27 mg/l ± 0.11 vs. 0.21 mg/l ± 0.06; covariance analysis P = 0.066), CSF IgG values ( 4.68 mg 100 ml ± 1.45 vs. 2.85 mg 100 ml ± 1.03 ; covariance analysis P < 0.001), and a higher albumin ratio (0.0078 ± 0.0027 vs. 0.0058 ± 0.0019; covariance analysis P = 0.013) than those with Alzheimer's disease. The variations of these parameters were not apparently related to the presence of dementia in the leucoaraiosis group. A significantly higher albumin ratio was observed in patients with a slowed CSF circulation compared to those with normal CSF circulation (0.0086 ± 0.0028 vs. 0.0059 ± 0.0019; covariance analysis P = 0.05). We conclude that, independently from the presence of dementia, patients with leucoaraiosis have CSF abnormalities consistent with functional blood-brain barrier alterations.

The Value of Serial Plasma Levels of Carcinoembryonic Antigen and Gross Cyst Disease Fluid Protein in Patients with Breast Carcinoma and Osseous Metastases

Serial plasma levels of the glucoprotein tumor markers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and gross cyst disease fluid protein (GCDFP) were evaluated in 83 patients undergoing treatment for predominant osseous metastases from breast carcinoma. Abnormal plasma levels of CEA (greater than 10 ng/ml) and/or GCDFP (greater than 150 ng/ml) were observed in 53 (63.8%) subjects. Fifty-six courses of hormonal and chemical therapy were evaluated. Clinical response to therapy correlated positively with alterations in serial plasma levels of CEA and/or GCDFP. Increasing plasma levels of tumor markers were associated with clinical disease progression whereas decreasing plasma levels were associated with and generally preceded clinical disease remission. Of patients with metastatic carcinoma of the breast, responses to therapy are most difficult to evaluate in those with bone metastases. Serial determinations of plasma levels of CEA and/or GCDFP provide an objective indication of disease progression and regression and appear to be useful with skeletal x-rays and bone scans in evaluating patients with carcinoma of the breast.

Characterization of salicylate binding to synovial fluid and plasma protein in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Protein binding of salicylate in synovial fluid and plasma from patients with rheumatoid arthritis was studied by equilibrium dialysis. Protein binding in the synovial fluid was considerably lower at all salicylate concentrations studied (0.07 - 2.2 mM). Scatchard plots of the data were analyzed assuming binding to two classes of binding sites, each plasma sample being diluted to an albumin concentration equal to that in synovial fluid from the same patient. Binding to the primary binding sites was considerably decreased in synovial fluid in comparison with plasma. The affinity of the secondary binding sites was slightly lower. Thus, at a low therapeutic drug concentration, the decreased binding of salicylate to synovial fluid protein in patients with rheumatoid arthritis could mainly be accounted for by decreasing affinity of binding to the primary binding sites.

Serum and Synovial Fluid Proteins in Patients with Arthritis

Serum and synovial fluid were collected from 80 patients with osteoarthritis and 10 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and the protein fractions of them were estimated electrophoretically.The following results were obtained:1) Synovial fluid was found to contain 5 welldefined components.2) The electrophoretic patterns of the total serum and synovial fluid proteins were almost similar in each cases.3) Serum and synovial fluid proteins of osteoarthritis showed higher albumin, but lower gamma globulin levels than that of rheumatoid arthritis.4) The total protein in the synovial fluid of osteoarthritis was approximately 3.05/dl in old age.

Electrophoretic analysis of cerebrospinal fluid proteins in patients with central nervous system mass lesions.

✓ The protein constituents of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 234 patients with central nervous system mass lesions and nine patients with pseudotumor syndrome were analyzed by cellulose acetate electrophoresis. The alpha 2 and gamma globulin fractions were most frequently elevated, and more so with metastatic and malignant glial tumors than with benign tumors. Elevation of either fraction frequently occurred independent of the total protein content of the CSF and appears to indicate a primary parenchymal involvement of the brain. Gamma globulin elevations in patients with benign glial tumors were often associated with intracerebral cyst formation. Pituitary adenomas were not associated with elevation of the gamma globulin fraction whereas this was a common finding with other parasellar lesions. All CSF specimens associated with masses of infectious origin had markedly elevated gamma globulin levels irrespective of normal total protein levels. Two metastatic tumors from the gastrointestinal tract, a solitary plasmacytoma, and a case of increased intracranial pressure secondary to nalidixic acid therapy showed dramatic and specific increases in certain CSF protein fractions. The origin of the various protein fractions is discussed as well as the overall clinical applicability of CSF protein electrophoresis in patients with intracranial mass lesions.

PAPER ELECTROPHORESIS OF CEREBROSPINAL FLUID PROTEINS IN PATIENTS WITH MENINGEAL LEUKEMIA.

PAPER ELECTROPHORESIS OF CEREBROSPINAL FLUID PROTEINS IN PATIENTS WITH MENINGEAL LEUKEMIA.

Edema fluid protein in patients with toxemia of pregnancy

1.1. Studies of protein content of edema fluid of the lower extremities in twenty cases of toxemia of pregnancy are presented.2.2. The protein content of edema fluid in these patients varied from 0.10 Gm. per cent to 0.48 Gm. per cent, with a mean of 0.23 Gm. per cent.3.3. There is apparently little if any increase in the capillary permeability to proteins in the lower extremities in the course of toxemia of pregnancy.