Mean Neutrophil Gelatinase-associated Lipocalin Levels Research Articles

Preoperative and postoperative urinary NGAL levels in children with bladder exstrophy.

Urinary NGAL (neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin) levels have been shown to predict renal damage in various medical conditions. The present study was conducted to study the role of urinary NGAL levels in children with bladder exstrophy-epispadias complex post single-stage total reconstruction (SSTR) as markers of early renal functionreduction. Urine samples were collected from children with bladder exstrophy before SSTR (Group A, n = 11), 5years post SSTR (Group B, n = 40) and controls (Group C, n = 41) and stored at - 20°C. NGAL levels were estimated using double antibody sandwich ELISA. Mean NGAL levels in Groups A, B and C were 1.39, 34.24 and 2.58ng/ml, respectively. Mean NGAL levels among Group B subjects with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) ≥ 80ml/min/1.73m2 body surface area (BSA) was 29.8ng/ml, while it was 31.74ng/ml in those with GFR < 80ml/min. Urine samples were also evaluated 6months post SSTR. Mean NGAL at 6months was 6.76ng/ml, while at 12months it was 30.3ng/ml, remaining > 30ng/ml at 18 and 24months. Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scans did not show any scarring, and GFRon diethylenetriamine pentaacetate (DTPA) scans remained stable. Increasing levels of urinary NGAL following bladder-exstrophyandepispadias complex repair suggest that NGAL detects the earliest signs of renal damage even before any deterioration is observed in DMSA and/or DTPA-GFR scans. Further studies with an adequate sample size and periodic measurement of NGAL need to be performed before any definitive conclusion can be drawn.

The Measurement of Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalin in Umbilical Cord Blood and the Assessment of Its Relationship with Neonatal Results

Objectives: In this study, the relationship of cord blood Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) with neonatal diseases was investigated.&#x0D; Methods: NGAL levels were measured in the cord blood of 180 babies born between 2015 and 2016. Patients were classified according to maternal diseases, neonatal diseases and demographic characteristics. Obtained data were compared with cord blood NGAL levels.&#x0D; Results: In our study, the mean NGAL levels were 1283.99 ng/mL in boys and 1306.52 ng/mL in girls. Umbilical cord blood NGAL levels of infants diagnosed with intrauterine growth retardation (1913.4±2833.5 ng/mL) and prolonged premature rupture of membranes (2594.2±2037.1 ng/mL) were found to be statistically high (p0.05).&#x0D; Conclusions: Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin, may be useful as a diagnostic biomarker in the evaluation of maternal and neonatal diseases. However, studies on larger patient populations are needed.

The Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) as a Biomarker for Monitoring Renal Function in Patients with Solitary Kidney Stones: A Single-Center, Retrospective Analysis of 23 Cases.

To assess the efficacy of flexible ureteroscopy (F-URS) in treating single kidney stones and the role of Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) in detecting early renal function abnormalities in patients with solitary kidney stones. We retrospectively analyzed 23 patients with solitary kidney nephrolithiasis who underwent F-URS at the Sichuan Science City Hospital between January 2017 and November 2020. We collected data on the following variables: Age, gender, stone size, surgery time, perioperative outcomes, and complications; Stone-free rates (SFRs) were calculated using computed tomography (CT). Serum creatinine (SCr) and NGAL levels were tested before surgery and at one-day and one-month postoperatively. The average size of the stones was 1.53 ± 0.57 cm. The average operating time was 59.28 ± 21.25 minutes. For urethral stricture, three patients (13.0%) required second-stage F-URS. The SFRs were 91.3% following the first and second treatments. The mean NGAL levels were significantly increased at one-day postoperatively compared to baseline (768.91 ± 514.50 ng/mL vs. 173.39 ± 147.94 ng/mL, respectively, p < 0.001). Minor complications, including gross hematuria (n = 5) and mild fever (n = 3), occurred in 34.8% of cases (n = 8), who recovered quickly. F-URS is a safe and efficient therapeutic approach for patients with solitary kidney nephrolithiasis, and NGAL has huge prospects as an indicator of early-stage renal injury in this patient population.

The value of urinary NGAL compared to serum creatinine level in predicting acute kidney injury among neonates

Background: The diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) is focused on the measurement of glomerular filtration rate based on serum creatinine; nevertheless, due to the effects of the underlying confounding parameters, this procedure tends to have some problems. Recent findings identified neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) to be a critical marker for predicting AKI in humans. The aim of the present study was to evaluate changes in urinary NGAL levels in neonates with AKI and those without AKI.Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on a total of 75 neonates hospitalized for AKI and 81 neonates hospitalized for reasons not related to kidney disease. The serum concentrations of NGAL creatinine and urine were measured in both groups.Results: The mean NGAL levels were 825.81±175.08 and 292.20±322.03 ng/ml in the case and control groups with a substantial difference, respectively. The NGAL had a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 55.6%, positive predictive value of 67.6%, negative predictive value of 100%, and accuracy of 76.9% in predicting AKI. Assessing the region under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) showed that measurement by NGAL effectively discriminated AKI from normal conditions (area under the ROC curve=0.899). The NGAL’s best cut-off value for predicting AKI among neonates was estimated at 427 ng/ml, resulting in a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 67.9%. Using Pearson’s correlation coefficient test revealed a strong linear connection between the NGAL level and altered creatinine level (r=0.395; p <0.001).Conclusion: The measurement of urinary NGAL in predicting AKI among neonates has high sensitivity and proper specificity, compared to that reported for the creatinine level.

Environmental risk factors for acute kidney injury in agricultural workers in Spain

TPS 792: Occupational health 2, Exhibition Hall, Ground floor, August 27, 2019, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM A high burden of kidney diseases, including acute kidney injury (AKI), has been reported among agricultural workers in tropical areas. Dehydration caused by strenuous work at high temperatures has been suggested as a risk factor for AKI. In the Mediterranean region, agricultural workers are exposed during the summer months to temperatures similar to those observed in tropical latitudes. The aim of the study is to evaluate if agricultural work during the summer months in Spain is a risk factor for AKI. Seventy-four agricultural workers were enrolled in two provinces of Spain: 57 were enrolled in Alicante during the grape harvest season (summer months) and 17 were enrolled in Tarragona during the citrus harvest (winter months). From each participant we obtained the following information before and after the work-shift: i) blood and urine samples to analyse creatinine serum levels and creatinine, albumin and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) urine levels; ii) anthropometric measurements; and iii) information about life-style and working conditions. Temperature and humidity were measured at the workplace to estimate the wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) Age and sex distribution were similar between regions (% of men: 84% in Alicante, 94% in Tarragona, p-value= 0.294; mean (SD) age: 41 (1.7) in Alicante, 43 (2.1) in Tarragona, p-value=0.386). There were no differences in mean NGAL levels between provinces before the work-shift [Alicante=2.7 (0.4), Tarragona=3.5 (0.8), t-test p-value=0.347] or after it [Alicante=7.7 (0.9), Tarragona=5.9 (1.3), t-test p-value=0.321). NGAL levels were higher after work-shift in workers from Alicante (Wilcoxon matched-pairs p –value<0.001) but no differences were observed in workers from Tarragona (Wilcoxon matched-pairs p –value=0.166). Results are in concordance with the hypotheses under study. These results have to be verified with measurements of serum and urine creatinine levels, urine albumin levels, and estimates of WBGT. These data will be available before the ISEE conference.

Levels of neutrophil gelatinase-assosciated lipocalin in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in Indian population from Haryana state.

AIMTo study the levels of neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).METHODSThis was a non randomized case control study conducted at Department of Biochemistry, in collaboration with Regional Cancer Center over a period of one year. The study population included 50 adult newly diagnosed HNSCC patients reporting in outpatient department at Regional Cancer Center and compared with 50 healthy controls. NGAL was estimated by ELISA technique. Student t test and χ2 test were applied for comparison of means of study groups. Correlations between groups were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient (r) formula.RESULTSPatients with HNSCC exhibited significantly increased levels of NGAL (P < 0.05) as compared to healthy controls (978.88 ± 261.39 ng/mL vs 34.83 ± 7.59 ng/mL). Out of 50, 26 patients (52%) were in stage IV, 21 (42%) in stage III, 1 (2%) patient in stage II and 2 (4%) patients were in stage I. Metastasis was absent in 98% patients and mean NGAL levels were highest in these patients but P value was not significant. Mean NGAL levels were highest in stage IV [1041.54 ± 222.15 ng/mL (stage IV) vs 1040 ± 0.00 ng/mL (stage I); 900 ± 0.00 ng/mL (stage II) and 1031.90 ± 202.55 ng/mL (stage III)] and χ2 test was highly significant (P < 0.001). Thirty-six patients (72%) were having moderately differentiated HNSCC and mean NGAL levels were maximum in patients with well differentiated HNSCC (1164 ± 315.64 ng/mL vs 1013.33 ± 161.19 ng/mL in moderately differentiated and 890 ± 11.55 ng/mL in poorly differentiated) and the results were also highly significant (P < 0.001, χ2 test).CONCLUSIONThe present work demonstrates a potential role of NGAL as cancer biomarker and its use in monitoring the HNSCC progression.

NGAL and cystatin C: two possible early markers of diabetic nephropathy in young patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus: one year follow up.

Diabetic nephropathy constitutes a major long-term complication in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) and its diagnosis is based on microalbuminuria. The aim of this observational follow-up study was to explore the role of neutrophil-gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and cystatin C in unravelling early diabetic nephropathy even in patients with normoalbuminuria. Fifty-six euthyroid patients with T1D, with mean age 13.1 (SD: 3.2) years, and 49 healthy controls with mean age 12.8 (SD: 6.6) were recruited. Besides standard blood chemistry and urinary albumin excretion, serum NGAL (ELISA) and cystatin C (nephelometry) were measured at enrollment and after 12-15 months. GFR was calculated with the bedside Schwartz formula (eGFR) and the Lund strategy formula (L-eGFR). At baseline, mean NGAL levels were not significantly different between children with diabetes and controls. At re-evaluation, mean NGAL value and mean eGFR value in patients with diabetes were increased (p=0.032 and p=0.003 respectively). At both baseline and reevaluation, NGAL was positively correlated with cystatin C (r=0.41, p<0.001), systolic arterial pressure z-score (r=0.3, p=0.031) and creatinine (r=0.32, p=0.010). NGAL correlated negatively with eGFR (r=-0.26, p=0.049) and L-eGFR (r=-0.33, p=0.010). Cystatin C had a negative correlation to eGFR (r=-0.29, p=0.025) and a positive one with creatinine (r=0.35, p=0.009) at reevaluation. No statistically significant correlation was found between cystatin C and microalbuminuria (p=0.736). NGAL and cystatin C, known markers of renal injury, correlate with renal function decline in T1D, suggesting that they may be used as supplementary tests to urine albumin excretion in order to unmask early renal dysfunction.

Epicardial adipose tissue thickness and NGAL levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

BackgroundPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with an increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and early atherosclerosis. Epicardial adipose tissue thickness (EATT) is clinically related to subclinical atherosclerosis. In the present study, considering the major role of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) which is an acute phase protein rapidly releasing upon inflammation and tissue injury, we aimed to evaluate NGAL levels and EATT in PCOS patients and assess their relationship with cardiometabolic factors.Methods64 patients with PCOS and 50 age- and body mass index-matched healthy controls were included in the study. We evaluated anthropometric, hormonal and metabolic parameters. EATT was measured by echocardiography above the free wall of the right ventricle. Serum NGAL and high-sensitive C- reactive protein (hsCRP) levels were measured by ELISA.ResultsMean EATT was 0,38 +/-0,16 mm in the PCOS group and 0,34 +/-0,36 mm in the control group (p = 0,144). In the obese PCOS group (n = 44) EAT was thicker compared to the obese control group (n = 41) (p = 0.026). Mean NGAL levels of the patients with PCOS were 101,98 +/-21,53 pg/ml, while mean NGAL levels were 107,40 +/-26,44 pg/ml in the control group (p = 0,228). We found a significant positive correlation between EATT and age, BMI, waist circumference, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, triglyceride and hsCRP levels in PCOS group.ConclusionsThickness of the epicardial adipose tissue can be used to follow the risk of CVD development in obese PCOS cases. However serum NGAL levels do not differ in patients with PCOS and control group.