Metabolic profile of methylazoxymethanol model of schizophrenia in rats and effects of three antipsychotics in long-acting formulation.

Mortality in psychiatric patients with severe mental illnesses reaches a 2-3 times higher mortality rate compared to the general population, primarily due to somatic comorbidities. A high prevalence of cardiovascular morbidity can be attributed to the adverse metabolic effects of atypical antipsychotics (atypical APs), but also to metabolic dysregulation present in drug-naïve patients. The metabolic aspects of neurodevelopmental schizophrenia-like models are understudied. This study evaluated the metabolic phenotype of a methylazoxymethanol (MAM) schizophrenia-like model together with the metabolic effects of three APs [olanzapine (OLA), risperidone (RIS) and haloperidol (HAL)] administered via long-acting formulations for 8 weeks in female rats. Body weight, feed efficiency, serum lipid profile, gastrointestinal and adipose tissue-derived hormones (leptin, ghrelin, glucagon and glucagon-like peptide 1) were determined. The lipid profile was assessed in APs-naïve MAM and control cohorts of both sexes. Body weight was not altered by the MAM model, though cumulative food intake and feed efficiency was lowered in the MAM compared to CTR animals. The effect of the APs was also present; body weight gain was increased by OLA and RIS, while OLA induced lower weight gain in the MAM rats. Further, the MAM model showed lower abdominal adiposity, while OLA increased it. Serum lipid profile revealed MAM model-induced alterations in both sexes; total, HDL and LDL cholesterol levels were increased. The MAM model did not exert significant alterations in hormonal parameters except for elevation in leptin level. The results support intrinsic metabolic dysregulation in the MAM model in both sexes, but the MAM model did not manifest higher sensitivity to metabolic effects induced by antipsychotic treatment.

Impact of cardiopulmonary bypass surgery on cytokines in epicardial adipose tissue: comparison with subcutaneous fat.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) have been shown to stimulate a systemic inflammatory response which has been associated with adverse postoperative outcomes. Adipose tissue, both epicardial (EAT) and subcutaneous (SAT), is a known source of inflammatory cytokines, but its role in the pathophysiology of surgery- and CPB-induced systemic inflammatory response has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, we conducted a study to establish levels of selected cytokines in EAT and SAT prior to and after surgery with CPB. METHODS: Adipose tissue samples were obtained from patients undergoing planned cardiac surgery on CPB. Samples from EAT and SAT were collected before and immediately after CPB. Levels of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (AFABP), leptin and adiponectin were determined by ELISA, which were adjusted for a total concentration of proteins in the individual samples. RESULTS: Samples from 77 patients (mean age 67.68 ± 11.5 years) were obtained and analysed. Leptin, adiponectin, TNF-α and AFABP were shown to decrease their concentrations statistically significantly in the EAT after CPB while no statistically significant drop was observed in the SAT. On the contrary, IL-6 showed only a slight and statistically insignificant decrease in the EAT after CPB and it was in the SAT where a statistically significant drop was observed. DISCUSSION: One of the most relevant findings of this study was the marked decrease in EAT levels of TNF-α, AFABP, leptin and adiponectin after the CPB termination. Our results suggest that EAT might serve as a pool of cytokines which are released into the circulation in reaction to surgery with CPB. Should these novel findings be confirmed, new strategies to assess and possibly reduce EAT contribution on adverse outcomes of cardiac surgery may be developed.

Development of high-sensitive ELISA method for detection of adipophilin levels in human colostrum and breast milk.

AIM: To develop and validate high-sensitive (hs) ELISA method for detection of adipophilin (adipose differentiation-related protein, ADRP) in human breast milk (BM) and to analyze adipophilin levels in BM during 12 months of lactation. METHODS: ADRP levels were determined using hsELISA method (Biovendor-Laboratory Medicine, Inc.) in colostrum (D0) and BM of 72 mothers was collected 1, 3, 6, and 12 months following delivery (M1, 3, 6, 12). RESULTS: ADRP was detectable in BM up to 12 months of lactation. Mean levels at D0 were 1.98 ± 0.12; M1, 2.83 ± 0.21; M3, 2.39 ± 0.17; M6, 2.57 ± 0.16; and at M12 3.25 ± 0.21 µg/ml. Significantly higher levels of ADRP were found in M1 and M12 when compared to D0 and in M12 when compared to M3 (overall P = 0.0001). No significant correlation was seen between ADRP levels in BM and adiponectin, body weight of infants, their birth length, body weight gain during the first year of life, or BMI of mothers before pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: We developed and validated hsELISA for detection of ADRP in human BM. ADRP was detectable in human BM during the whole 12 months of lactation period and its levels were intraindividually well-conserved.

[Metabolic syndrome after kidney transplantation]. / Metabolický syndrom po transplantaci ledviny.

INTRODUCTION: Metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Higher risk of the metabolic syndrome and its components in patients after kidney transplantation is caused by immunosuppressive therapy. THE AIM OF OUR STUDY was to evaluate the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its components in kidney transplant recipients and to analyse their influence on allograft function and albuminuria. PATIENTS, METHOD AND RESULTS: In the study we monitored 69 patients after cadaveric kidney transplantation. The prevalence of the meta-bolic syndrome was 61.3 % 3 years after kidney transplantation. The prevalence of new onset diabetes mellitus after transplantation was 27 % and that of abdominal obesity 59.7 % of patients. The age of kidney transplant recipients with the metabolic syndrome was higher than of these without it, but not statistically significant. The age of kidney transplant recipients with new onset diabetes mellitus after transplantation was significantly higher, 54.0 (35.0; 69.0) years, than in patients without it, 45.5 (27.0; 60.0) years, OR (95% IS) 1.116 (1.031; 1.207), p = 0.006.The number of components of the metabolic syndrome was negatively correlated with the graft function (rs -0,275, p = 0,031). In patients with impaired renal function with estimated glomerular filtration (using MDRD equation) < 1 ml/s 3 years after kidney transplantation the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and hypertriglyceridaemia was significantly higher. Chronic allograft dysfunction was predicted by donor age, delayed allograft function, rejection, low level of HDL-cholesterol, hypertriglyceridaemia and hyperuricaemia. Hyperuricaemia was the only significant predictor of allograft dysfunction independently of the presence of delayed allograft function, rejection episodes and donor age. The metabolic syndrome, elevation of apolipoprotein B and nonHDL-cholesterol and increased systolic blood pressure were associated with albuminuria. Higher levels of apolipoprotein B and total cholesterol were independent predictors of increased albumin-creatinine ratio. Obesity had no impact on graft function nor on albuminuria, the influence of the new onset diabetes mellitus after transplantation was not significant independently on other factors. We confirmed the correlation of the presence of the metabolic syndrome with increased levels of AFABP (adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein) and leptin. Increased level of AFABP predicted allograft dysfunction 3 years after kidney transplantation. CONCLUSION: The influence of imunosuppressive treatment on new onset diabetes mellitus after transplantation is well documented. However, we conclude that age is an important additional risk factor for the development of diabetes mellitus in kidney transplant recipients group and it is recommended to follow mainly older patients. Early detection of metabolic abnormalities and dietary and therapeutic intervention in kidney transplant recipients may help to prevent chronic allograft dysfunction.

Patient Stratification for Antibiotic Prescriptions Based on the Bound-Free Phase Detection Immunoassay of C-Reactive Protein in Serum Samples.

C-reactive protein is a well-studied host response biomarker, whose diagnostic performance depends on its accurate classification into concentration zones defined by clinical scenario-specific cutoff values. We validated a newly developed, bead-based, bound-free phase detection immunoassay (BFPD-IA) versus a commercial CE-IVD enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit and a commercial CE-IVD immunoturbidimetric assay (ITA) kit. The latter was performed on a fully automated DPC Konelab 60i clinical analyzer used in routine diagnosis. We classified 53 samples into concentration zones derived from four different sets of cutoff values that are related to antibiotic prescription scenarios in the case of respiratory tract infections. The agreements between the methods were ELISA/ITA at 87.7%, ELISA/BFPD-IA at 87.3%, and ITA/-BFPD-IA at 93.9%, reaching 98-99% in all cases when considering the calculated relative combined uncertainty of the single measurement of each sample. In a subgroup of 37 samples, which were analyzed for absolute concentration quantification, the scatter plot slopes' correlations were as follows: ELISA/ITA 1.15, R2 = 0.97; BFPD-IA/ELISA 1.12, R2 = 0.95; BFPD-IA/ITA 0.95, R2 = 0.93. These very good performances and the agreement between BFPD-IA and ITA (routine diagnostic), combined with BFPD-IA's functional advantages over ITA (and ELISA)-such as quick time to result (~20 min), reduced consumed reagents (only one assay buffer and no washing), few and easy steps, and compatibility with nucleic-acid-amplification instruments-render it a potential approach for a reliable, cost-efficient, evidence-based point-of-care diagnostic test for guiding antibiotic prescriptions.

ImmunoDisk-A Fully Automated Bead-Based Immunoassay Cartridge with All Reagents Pre-Stored.

In this paper, we present the ImmunoDisk, a fully automated sample-to-answer centrifugal microfluidic cartridge, integrating a heterogeneous, wash-free, magnetic- and fluorescent bead-based immunoassay (bound-free phase detection immunoassay/BFPD-IA). The BFPD-IA allows the implementation of a simple fluidic structure, where the assay incubation, bead separation and detection are performed in the same chamber. The system was characterized using a C-reactive protein (CRP) competitive immunoassay. A parametric investigation on air drying of protein-coupled beads for pre-storage at room temperature is presented. The key parameters were buffer composition, drying temperature and duration. A protocol for drying two different types of protein-coupled beads with the same temperature and duration using different drying buffers is presented. The sample-to-answer workflow was demonstrated measuring CRP in 5 µL of human serum, without prior dilution, utilizing only one incubation step, in 20 min turnaround time, in the clinically relevant concentration range of 15-115 mg/L. A reproducibility assessment over three disk batches revealed an average signal coefficient of variation (CV) of 5.8 ± 1.3%. A CRP certified reference material was used for method verification with a concentration CV of 8.6%. Our results encourage future testing of the CRP-ImmunoDisk in clinical studies and its point-of-care implementation in many diagnostic applications.

Adiponectin, AFABP, and leptin in human breast milk during 12 months of lactation.

OBJECTIVES: Adiponectin, adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (AFABP), and leptin have been shown to be present in human breast milk (BM). We determined intraindividual changes of BM levels of these proteins during 12 months of lactation. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Proteins were measured using a high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method in 72 healthy mothers after delivery (day 0, D0) and after 1, 3, 6, and 12 months of lactation. RESULTS: Adiponectin levels in BM on D0 were 22.8 ± 0.8 (mean ± standard error of the mean), in 1 month (M1) 22.0 ± 0.6, in 3 months (M3) 20.5 ± 0.6, in 6 months (M6) 21.4 ± 0.8, and in 12 months (M12) 25.7 ± 1.4 ng/mL. AFABP levels were 12.3 ± 2.0, 6.2 ± 1.3, 1.3 ± 0.2, 2.5 ± 1.0, and 4.6 ± 1.9 ng/mL, respectively. Leptin levels were 0.3 ± 0.04, 0.2 ± 0.03, 0.1 ± 0.01, 0.1 ± 0.02, and 0.2 ± 0.04 ng/mL, respectively. We found significantly higher levels of adiponectin in M12 in comparison to M3 and M6 (P = 0.0026), higher levels of AFABP in D0 and M1 when compared with M3, M6, and M12 (P < 0.0001), and higher levels of leptin on D0 than in M1, M3, M6, and M12 (P < 0.0001). AFABP levels correlated negatively with infants' body weight in M1, but there was no correlation throughout the lactation period between body weight and other proteins. We found positive correlation between adiponectin, AFABP, and leptin throughout the lactation. CONCLUSIONS: All of the hormones were detectable in BM up to 12 months of lactation, with decreasing trend until M3 and subsequent increase till M12. We speculate that higher levels in M6 and M12 may be caused by longer intervals between breast-feeding due to the introduction of complementary food.

Validation and verification of predictive salivary biomarkers for oral health.

Oral health is important not only due to the diseases emerging in the oral cavity but also due to the direct relation to systemic health. Thus, early and accurate characterization of the oral health status is of utmost importance. There are several salivary biomarkers as candidates for gingivitis and periodontitis, which are major oral health threats, affecting the gums. These need to be verified and validated for their potential use as differentiators of health, gingivitis and periodontitis status, before they are translated to chair-side for diagnostics and personalized monitoring. We aimed to measure 10 candidates using high sensitivity ELISAs in a well-controlled cohort of 127 individuals from three groups: periodontitis (60), gingivitis (31) and healthy (36). The statistical approaches included univariate statistical tests, receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) with the corresponding Area Under the Curve (AUC) and Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis. The main outcomes were that the combination of multiple biomarker assays, rather than the use of single ones, can offer a predictive accuracy of > 90% for gingivitis versus health groups; and 100% for periodontitis versus health and periodontitis versus gingivitis groups. Furthermore, ratios of biomarkers MMP-8, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were also proven to be powerful differentiating values compared to the single biomarkers.

One-step, wash-free, bead-based immunoassay employing bound-free phase detection.

We present a simple and fast one-step heterogeneous immunoassay, with performance characteristics that can enable easy and versatile adaptation to miniaturized, automated point-of-care systems. This novel analytical method uses magnetic and fluorescent beads as capture and detection agents respectively. Its main feature is the measurement of the fluorescent signal in the bound-free phase for (semi-)quantitative detection of analytes. Thus, no washing is required and the workflow consists only of sample and reagent supply, incubation, separation and detection. The immunoassay concept is demonstrated with C-reactive protein (CRP), a systemic inflammation marker. CRP in only 5 µL of undiluted serum was measured in the range 20-140 mg L-1 (includes clinically relevant cut-off values). The limit of detection (LOD) was 22.1 ± 6.3 mg L-1 (incubation 15 min). A CRP certified reference material was measured on five different days. Intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were 4.6 ± 1.9% and 5.6% respectively. To demonstrate the compatibility of the assay concept with additional matrices and concentration ranges, three oral inflammation markers, namely matrix metalloproteinases 8 and 9 (MMP-8, MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1), were measured in saliva in the ranges 0.47-30 ng mL-1 for MMP-8 and MMP-9, and 0.69-44 ng mL-1 for TIMP-1. LODs were 0.24 ng mL-1, 0.38 ng mL-1 and 0.39 ng mL-1 respectively (incubation 20 min). Multiplexing capacity of the assay concept was also shown with these markers. The demonstrated excellent reproducibility of the results, combined with the versatility and low complexity of the introduced immunoassay concept, make it an attractive candidate for applied analytical chemistry and automated point-of-care testing.

MiR-126-3p and MiR-223-3p as Biomarkers for Prediction of Thrombotic Risk in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction and Primary Angioplasty.

Aim. This study was designed to evaluate the relationship between microRNAs (miRNAs), miR-126-3p and miR-223-3p, as new biomarkers of platelet activation, and predicting recurrent thrombotic events after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods and Results. The analysis included 598 patients randomized in the PRAGUE-18 study (ticagrelor vs. prasugrel in AMI). The measurements of miRNAs were performed by using a novel miRNA immunoassay method. The association of miRNAs with the occurrence of the ischemic endpoint (EP) (cardiovascular death, nonfatal MI, or stroke) and bleeding were analyzed. The miR-223-3p level was significantly related to an increased risk of occurrence of the ischemic EP within 30 days (odds ratio (OR) = 15.74, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.07-119.93, p = 0.008) and one year (OR = 3.18, 95% CI: 1.40-7.19, p = 0.006), respectively. The miR-126-3p to miR-223-3p ratio was related to a decreased risk of occurrence of EP within 30 days (OR = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.03-0.61, p = 0.009) and one year (OR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.17-0.82, p = 0.014), respectively. MiRNAs were identified as independent predictors of EP even after adjustment for confounding clinical predictors. Adding miR-223-3p and miR-126-3p to miR-223-3p ratios as predictors into the model calculating the ischemic risk significantly increased the predictive accuracy for combined ischemic EP within one year more than using only clinical ischemic risk parameters. No associations between miRNAs and bleeding complications were identified. Conclusion. The miR-223-3p and the miR-126-3p are promising independent predictors of thrombotic events and can be used for ischemic risk stratification after AMI.

Salivary Biomarkers for Dental Caries Detection and Personalized Monitoring.

This study investigated the potential of salivary bacterial and protein markers for evaluating the disease status in healthy individuals or patients with gingivitis or caries. Saliva samples from caries- and gingivitis-free individuals (n = 18), patients with gingivitis (n = 17), or patients with deep caries lesions (n = 38) were collected and analyzed for 44 candidate biomarkers (cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, matrix metalloproteinases, a metallopeptidase inhibitor, proteolytic enzymes, and selected oral bacteria). The resulting data were subjected to principal component analysis and used as a training set for random forest (RF) modeling. This computational analysis revealed four biomarkers (IL-4, IL-13, IL-2-RA, and eotaxin/CCL11) to be of high importance for the correct depiction of caries in 37 of 38 patients. The RF model was then used to classify 10 subjects (five caries-/gingivitis-free and five with caries), who were followed over a period of six months. The results were compared to the clinical assessments of dental specialists, revealing a high correlation between the RF prediction and the clinical classification. Due to the superior sensitivity of the RF model, there was a divergence in the prediction of two caries and four caries-/gingivitis-free subjects. These findings suggest IL-4, IL-13, IL-2-RA, and eotaxin/CCL11 as potential salivary biomarkers for identifying noninvasive caries. Furthermore, we suggest a potential association between JAK/STAT signaling and dental caries onset and progression.

OralDisk: A Chair-Side Compatible Molecular Platform Using Whole Saliva for Monitoring Oral Health at the Dental Practice.

Periodontitis and dental caries are two major bacterially induced, non-communicable diseases that cause the deterioration of oral health, with implications in patients' general health. Early, precise diagnosis and personalized monitoring are essential for the efficient prevention and management of these diseases. Here, we present a disk-shaped microfluidic platform (OralDisk) compatible with chair-side use that enables analysis of non-invasively collected whole saliva samples and molecular-based detection of ten bacteria: seven periodontitis-associated (Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Campylobacter rectus, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola) and three caries-associated (oral Lactobacilli, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus). Each OralDisk test required 400 µL of homogenized whole saliva. The automated workflow included bacterial DNA extraction, purification and hydrolysis probe real-time PCR detection of the target pathogens. All reagents were pre-stored within the disk and sample-to-answer processing took < 3 h using a compact, customized processing device. A technical feasibility study (25 OralDisks) was conducted using samples from healthy, periodontitis and caries patients. The comparison of the OralDisk with a lab-based reference method revealed a ~90% agreement amongst targets detected as positive and negative. This shows the OralDisk's potential and suitability for inclusion in larger prospective implementation studies in dental care settings.

Automated Pre-Analytic Processing of Whole Saliva Using Magnet-Beating for Point-of-Care Protein Biomarker Analysis.

Saliva offers many advantages for point-of-care (PoC) diagnostic applications due to non-invasive, easy, and cost-effective methods of collection. However, the complex matrix with its non-Newtonian behavior and high viscosity poses handling challenges. Several tedious and long pre-analytic steps, incompatible with PoC use, are required to liquefy and homogenize saliva samples before protein analysis can be performed. We apply magnet-beating to reduce hands-on time and to simplify sample preparation. A magnet in a chamber containing the whole saliva is actuated inside a centrifugal microfluidic cartridge by the interplay of centrifugal and magnetic forces. Rigorous mixing, which homogenizes the saliva sample, is then initiated. Consequently, fewer manual steps are required to introduce the whole saliva into the cartridge. After 4 min of magnet-beating, the processed sample can be used for protein analysis. The viscosity of whole saliva has been reduced from 10.4 to 2.3 mPa s. Immunoassay results after magnet-beating for three salivary periodontal markers (MMP-8, MMP-9, TIMP-1) showed a linear correlation with a slope of 0.99 when compared to results of reference method treated samples. Conclusively, magnet-beating has been shown to be a suitable method for the pre-analytic processing of whole saliva for fully automated PoC protein analysis.

Urine fetuin-A values in relation to the presence of urolithiasis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of urine fetuin-A and other promotors and inhibitors of urine crystalization with urolithiasis, as fetuin-A inhibits the precipitation of hydroxyapatite from supersaturated solutions of calcium and phosphate in vitro but no information on urine fetuin-A in patients with urolithiasis is available. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 39 patients with urolithiasis and 22 individuals with no urolithiasis or probands with undetected stones were involved. All patients underwent kidney ultrasonography and X-ray examination, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Serum creatinine, parathyroid hormone, calcium, magnesium, anorganic phosphate, uric acid and urine creatinine, albumin, alpha(1)-microglobulin, sulphate, oxalate, citrate and fetuin-A (ELISA) were determined. RESULTS: The patients with urolithiasis had lower urine fetuin-A levels (median 4.9 vs 0.77 mg/day; P < 0.01) and citraturia levels (1.7 vs 5.1 mmol/day; P = 0.02); and higher calciuria (6.5 vs 5.2 mmol/day) and oxaluria (0.47 vs 0.25; P = 0.04). Patients with fetuin-A levels in the lowest quartile had an odds ratio of 36 compared with individuals in the highest quartile. The sensitivity of the urine fetuin-A level for urolithiasis was 97.4% and specificity was 100% (area under the curve 0.99; 95% confidence interval 0.94-1.0) using a urine fetuin-A threshold of

Depot risperidone-induced adverse metabolic alterations in female rats.

Atypical antipsychotics are associated with adverse metabolic effects including weight gain, increased adiposity, dyslipidaemia, alterations in glucose metabolism and insulin resistance. Increasing evidence suggests that metabolic dysregulation precedes weight gain development. The aim of this study was to evaluate alterations in adipokines, hormones and basic serum biochemical parameters induced by chronic treatment with depot risperidone at two doses (20 and 40 mg/kg) in female Sprague-Dawley rats. Dose-dependent metabolic alterations induced by risperidone after 6 weeks of treatment were revealed. Concomitant to weight gain and increased liver weight, an adverse lipid profile with an elevated triglyceride level was observed in the high exposure group, administered a 40 mg/kg dose repeatedly, while the low dose exposure group, administered a 20 mg/kg dose, developed weight gain without alterations in the lipid profile and adipokine levels. An initial peak in leptin serum level after the higher dose was observed in the absence of weight gain. This finding may indicate that the metabolic alterations observed in this study are not consequent to body weight gain. Taken together, these data may support the primary effects of atypical antipsychotics on peripheral tissues.

Aripiprazole-induced adverse metabolic alterations in polyI:C neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia in rats.

Schizophrenia appears to be linked to higher incidence of metabolic syndrome even in the absence of antipsychotic treatment. Atypical antipsychotics substantially differ in their propensity to induce metabolic alterations. Aripiprazole is considered to represent an antipsychotic drug with low risk of metabolic syndrome development. The aim of this study was to evaluate metabolic phenotype of neurodevelopmental polyI:C rat model and assess metabolic effects of chronic aripiprazole treatment with regard to complex neuroendocrine regulations of energy homeostasis. Polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (polyI:C) was administered subcutaneously at a dose of 8 mg/kg in 10 ml on gestational day 15 to female Wistar rats. For this study 20 polyI:C and 20 control adult male offspring were used, randomly divided into 2 groups per 10 animals for chronic aripiprazole treatment and vehicle. Aripiprazole (5 mg/kg, dissolved tablets, ABILIFY®) was administered once daily via oral gavage for a month. Altered lipid profile in polyI:C model was observed and a trend towards different dynamics of weight gain in polyI:C rats was noted in the absence of significant antipsychotic treatment effect. PolyI:C model was not associated with changes in other parameters i.e. adipokines, gastrointestinal hormones and cytokines levels. Aripiprazole did not influence body weight but it induced alterations in neurohumoral regulations. Leptin and GLP-1 serum levels were significantly reduced, while ghrelin level was elevated. Furthermore aripiprazole decreased serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Our data indicate dysregulation of adipokines and gastrointestinal hormones present after chronic treatment with aripiprazole which is considered metabolically neutral in the polyI:C model of schizophrenia.

Reg-Ialpha in the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome--a pilot study.

The commonly used laboratory markers of coronary involvement in subjects with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are not yet myocardial ischemia-specific and show a late irreversible involvement of the myocardium. A laboratory test has been searched for in order to distinguish persons with myocardial ischemia and typical CAD symptoms to CAD-free individuals. Reg-Ialpha is the product of Reg-I gene which plays a significant role in myocardial regeneration. 38 individuals with suspicion of acute coronary syndrome were tested on admission, after 2 and 6 hours. In all of them cardiac troponin I, myoglobin, C-reactive protein (CRP) and Reg-I alpha were analysed. Our findings did not support the hypothesis that measurement of Reg-Ia maybe the useful marker of myocardial stress.

Our experiences with measurement of new potential biomarkers in the diagnosis of latent forms of myocardial ischemia.

BACKGROUND: The need for a laboratory marker of myocardial ischemia has been alluded to for at least the last decade. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic importance of the myosin light chain-1 (MLC-1), clusterin and Reg-Ialpha in patients with suspected myocardial ischemia. METHODS: A group of 176 at high-risk for myocardial ischemia subjects was evaluated and divided into two subgroups using myocardial SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) - individuals with and without signs of myocardial ischemia. Laboratory markers in venous blood were repeatedly examined in all subjects: a) immediately prior to SPECT: C-reactive protein, Haemoglobin, Hematocrite, Lactate, MLC-1, Clusterin, Reg-Ialpha b) at subjective maximum: Hb, Htc, lactate, MLC-1, Clusterin, Reg-Ialpha c) 30 min after stress levels reached their peak: MLC-1, Clusterin, Reg-Ialpha and d) 60 min after peak stress levels: MLC-1, Clusterin, Reg-Ialpha. RESULTS: Patients were divided into subgroups according to their positive and negative SPECT results (positive: n = 37; negative: n = 139). MLC-1 values were different for all 4 blood collections. An increase in MLC-1 > 2.2 mg/l showed 64 % sensitivity and 88 % specificity for the diagnosed presence of myocardial ischemia (AUC 0.81; LR+ 5.9; PPV+ 68 % and NPV- 87 %). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of Clusterin and Reg-Ialpha for any of the sampling periods. CONCLUSIONS: High diagnostic efficacy of detectable MLC-1 was shown for the diagnosis of latent myocardial ischemia. Measurement of serum Clusterin or Reg-Ialpha did not sufficient for the diagnosis of latent myocardial ischemia.

Evaluation of urine N1,N12-Diacetylspermine as potential tumor marker for urinary bladder cancer.

BACKGROUND: N1,N12-diacetylspermine, a diacetylpolyamine which was recently identified in urine, appeared to be a useful tumor marker for a number of cancers. No valid data on urine diacetylspermine concentration in patients with urinary bladder cancer exist. AIM: Evaluation of urine N1,N12-diacetylspermine concentrations in individuals with urinary bladder cancer. METHODS: Urine samples were used from 36 patients with urothelial tumors of the urinary bladder and from 30 patients with benign urological diseases. Urine was collected before cystoscopy. Enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assays (ELISA) were performed for diacetylspermine from urine. RESULTS: Urine diacetylspermine did not differentiate in individuals with urinary bladder cancer from controls (medians 171.5 vs 143.8, p = 0.64). Its efficacy for urinary bladder cancer detection was not shown. CONCLUSIONS: Urine N1,N12-diacetylspermine is probably not a useful marker for urinary bladder cancer.