Construction of Biosensing System for Glycated Albumin Using an Electron Transfer Peptide-Modified Protein Probe.

Glycated albumin (GA) is one of the proteins that replaces several sugar moieties and can be used as an indicator of diabetes mellitus. We developed a sensing system that uses GA in the early detection of diabetes mellitus. In this study, H6Y4C acetylated (Ac-) at the N-terminals of the peptide was combined with wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) to recognize glucose moieties. The Ac-H6Y4C-WGA was constructed as a GA-sensing probe. The tyrosine residues of Y4C exhibited an oxidation peak, and His-tag moieties were introduced to separate Ac-H6Y4C-WGA in the synthesis of the probe. The Ac-H6Y4C-WGA probe binds with the 1-2 molecules of Ac-H6Y4C per WGA using matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF)-MS. Next, the functions of Ac-H6Y4C-WGA were evaluated using voltammetry. The number of electron-transfers was calculated based on the relationship between the peak potential and logarithm of scan rate and was 3.03. In the electrochemical measurements with mannose and bovine serum albumin, the peak currents were similar to that of GA alone. By contrast, a decrease in the peak current was suppressed when glucose was added to the solution containing the probe. As a result, Ac-H6Y4C-WGA was selectively bound to the glucose moieties of GA. The calibration curve via differential pulse voltammetry was proportional to the concentrations of GA and ranged from 1.0 × 10-12 to 2.0 × 10-11 M with a detection limit of 3.3 × 10-13 M.

A case of fetal leukemia with intracranial hemorrhage and early-onset jaundice. Fetal leukemia with intracranial hemorrhage and jaundice.

We report a case of a neonate who was diagnosed as having congenital leukemia after presenting with an intracranial hemorrhage. The chief symptom was early-onset jaundice due to the hemorrhage. The intracranial hemorrhage and post-hemorrhage hydrocephalus advanced. In addition, the leukemia worsened leading to death at 14 days old. The possibility of leukemia, although rare, should be considered as a cause of intracranial hemorrhage in term babies.

Neonatal periventricular leukomalacia due to severe, poorly controlled asthma in the mother.

BACKGROUND: We report a neonatal case of cystic periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) in which the hypoxia was considered to have been caused by severe asthma in the mother, who had not taken any medication during pregnancy because she was anxious about its possible effects on her unborn child. METHODS: After the mother had severe exacerbation of asthma for five days, the baby was born at 36 weeks in gestation, weighing 2100 g, and with moderate asphyxia. Although the baby had been aggressively treated in a neonatal intensive care unit, at birth, an ischemic area had been formed in the periventricular areas in the brain echogram. We suspected that she had severe brain damage due to prenatal hypoxia. RESULTS: The baby was found to have cystic PVL by ultrasonography at age 15 days, and diplegia at age 4 months. CONCLUSIONS: The poorly controlled, persistent and severe asthma of the mother may have caused prenatal hypoxia, resulting in the cystic PVL and lower limb palsy. Pregnant patients with poorly controlled asthma should be advised of the great risk of this condition to the fetus. Also, patients should be assured of the safety of modern asthma treatments.