Associations between serum lipids and mannose levels in coronary artery disease among nondiabetic patients.

Aim: Nondiabetic patients have been studied to determine whether modest elevations in plasma mannose levels may be associated with a greater incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD). Materials & methods: The plasma mannose, lipids (triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, very low-density lipoprotein) and lactate dehydrogenase levels were successfully evaluated with respect to subsequent CAD using records of 120 nondiabetic patients and 120 healthy volunteers. CAD was identified from myocardial infarction and new diagnoses of angina. Results: Of 120 patients studied, the plasma mannose, triglyceride, lactate dehydrogenase and very low-density lipoprotein levels of patients were significantly higher than control groups. Conclusion: Our findings showed that elevated baseline mannose in plasma was associated with a progressive risk of CAD with time.

Molecular and Biochemical Parameters Related to Plasma Mannose Levels in Coronary Artery Disease Among Nondiabetic Patients.

Aims: Nondiabetic patients were studied to determine whether modest elevations in plasma mannose may be associated with a greater incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD). Materials and Methods: Plasma insulin, mannose, glucose, hexokinase 1-2, GLUT1-GLUT4 levels, and serum mannose phosphate isomerase enzyme levels were evaluated with respect to subsequent CAD using records from 120 nondiabetic CAD patients and 120 healthy volunteers. CAD was identified from myocardial infarction and new diagnoses of angina. Results: Of 120 nondiabetic CAD patients studied, their plasma GLUT4 and HK1 levels were significantly lower than those of the control group. In addition, a significant increase in plasma mannose levels was found in the patient group compared to the control group. Conclusion: Our findings showed that elevated baseline mannose levels in plasma are associated with an increased risk of CAD over time.

Predictive Value of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Markers in Low Ejection Fractional Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress plays a critical role in the development of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. Heart failure is a crucial health problem that affects 23 million people worldwide, causes approximately 2.4 million people to be hospitalized every year in the USA, and leads to the death of more than 300,000 people. In this study, we aimed to investigate the clinical significance of ER stress markers and the predictive value of acute decompensated heart failure in patients with low ejection fraction heart failure (ADHF). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a prospective case control study. The data included laboratory parameters pertaining to patients with ADHF in the emergency service and lipid parameters obtained during their admission to the hospital. In addition, the same parameters obtained from the control group patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) during their routine polyclinic control were recorded in the data set. Admission time to the hospital and length of hospital stay were included in the data. The levels of glucose regulated protein (GRP78), protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) in peripheral blood serum obtained from the patients and the control group were measured using the ELISA method. RESULTS: Serum GRP78 concentration was lower in the HF group (p=0.003) compared to the control. The median value of serum PERK concentration in the HF group was higher than that of the control group (573 pg/ml, IQR=477.5-650 vs. 495.5 pg/ml, IQR=294-648, respectively) (p=0.001). However, there were no statistically significant differences in GRP78 and PERK serum concentrations between ADHF and CHF subgroups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed greater area under the curve (AUC) for the serum GRP78 levels of the healthy individuals (AUC=0.748, 95% CI=0.681-0.814, p=0.0003). The serum GRP78 level was found to be 80% sensitive and 70% specific at 147.5 pg/ml (p=0.0003) for distinguishing healthy individuals from HF patients. In the ADHF subgroup, there was a moderate correlation between hospitalization time and serum CHOP concentrations (Spearman rho=0.586 and p=0.001). CONCLUSION: High GRP78 serum concentration may protect the patient from ER stress. In addition, the serum PERK level is high in patients with HF, whereas it is insufficient in predicting acute decompensation. CHOP may be useful in predicting the length of hospital stay in patients with ADHF.

Conversion of trypsin to a copper enzyme: tyrosinase/catechol oxidase by chemical modification.

New active sites can be introduced into naturally occurring enzymes by the chemical modification of specific amino acid residues in concert with genetic techniques. Chemical strategies have had a significant impact in the field of enzyme design such as modifying the selectivity and catalytic activity which is very different from those of the corresponding native enzymes. Thus, chemical modification has been exploited for the incorporation of active site binding analogs onto protein templates and for atom replacement in order to generate new functionality such as the conversion of a hydrolase into a peroxidase. The introduction of a coordination complex into a substrate binding pocket of trypsin could probably also be extended to various enzymes of significant therapeutic and biotechnological importance. The aim of this study is the conversion of trypsin into a copper enzyme: tyrosinase by chemical modification. Tyrosinase is a biocatalyst (EC.1.14.18.1) containing two atoms of copper per active site with monooxygenase activity. The active site of trypsin (EC 3.4.21.4), a serine protease was chemically modified by copper (Cu(+2)) introduced p-aminobenzamidine (pABA- Cu(+2): guanidine containing schiff base metal chelate) which exhibits affinity for the carboxylate group in the active site as trypsin-like inhibitor. Trypsin and the resultant semisynthetic enzyme preparation was analysed by means of its trypsin and catechol oxidase/tyrosinase activity. After chemical modification, trypsin-pABA-Cu(+2) preparation lost 63% of its trypsin activity and gained tyrosinase/catechol oxidase activity. The kinetic properties (K(cat), K(m), K(cat)/K(m)), optimum pH and temperature of the trypsin-pABA-Cu(+2) complex was also investigated.

Differentially displayed proteins as a tool for the development of type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes is a complex disease that still requires a great deal of work to be carried out to understand the pathophysiology. Recently, researchers have focused on studying the organs and tissues known to be involved in the development of the type 2 phenotype using a proteomic approach. Little work has been reported on plasma of type 2 diabetics in whom the clinical status has been well characterized. In this study, changes in plasma proteins of type 2 diabetics were investigated by proteomic analysis in well-characterized individuals with type 2 diabetes (early and late stage) and control groups (with or without a family history of diabetes). METHODS: Samples were analysed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and significantly differentiated proteins were identified by nano-LC-ESI-MS. RESULTS: A total of 12 protein signatures that were differentially displayed with high significance compared with controls were selected. Four of the differentially displayed proteins were identified as haptoglobin alpha2, haptoglobin Hp2(fragment) and transthyretin and Chain A (formerly prealbumin), and all were up-regulated. Thiol-specific antioxidant protein, Chain A, tertiary structures of three amyloidogenic transthretin variants and haptoglobin-related protein precursor were all down-regulated in controls with a family history of diabetes, early and late diabetic patients in comparison with the control. CONCLUSION: A proteomic-based approach was used to discover and identify the differentially expressed proteins in various states of type 2 diabetes.

Bioaccumulation of toxic metals (Cd and Cu) by Groenlandia densa (L.) Fourr.

In this study, Groenlandia densa (L.) Fourr. (opposite-leaved pondweed), was exposed to prepared stock solution of cadmium and copper with 1.0, 3.0, 5.0 and 7.0 mg L(-1) concentration in certain periods (24, 48, 72 and 96 h) and changing amount of accumulation of plants in depending on time and concentration was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results show that under experimental conditions, G. densa (L.) Fourr. proved to be a good accumulator of Cd and Cu. Removal of the metals from solution was fast in the first 4 days. The accumulation of Cd and Cu increased with the initial concentration and also with time. The highest concentrations of each trace element accumulated in opposite-leaved pondweed tissues were 1,955 mug Cd g(-1), 6,135 microg Cu g(-1) after 4 days. The maximum values of bioconcentration factor (BCF) were found for Cd and Cu 724 and 1,669, respectively. BCF values for Cd and Cu increased with time.