Healthy Food Pyramid as Well as Physical and Mental Activity in the Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease.

The ageing of the population is resulting in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), which are an increasing social, economic and medical problem. Diet and physical activity are now considered as important modifiable factors that help prevent or delay the development of AD and other dementia-related diseases. The pyramid of healthy nutrition and lifestyle is a way of presenting the principles, the implementation of which gives a chance for proper development and a long healthy life. The basis of the pyramid, in the first place, is physical activity. Our review of the literature in the PubMed database supports the hypothesis that complementary factors, such as proper diet, physical exercise and mental activity, have a positive impact on the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases. The nutritional recommendations for healthy adults primarily include the consumption of vegetables, fruits, cereals, legumes, vegetable oils and fishes. Therefore, the introduction of Mediterranean and Asian diets may reduce the risk of the neurodegenerative diseases associated with dementia, whereas dairy products and meat-the main sources of L-carnitine-should be consumed in moderate amounts. The aim of our work is to provide up-to-date knowledge about the appropriate dietary model and healthy lifestyle elements and their impact on good health and the long life of people.

Effect of Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammatory Challenge on ß-Glucuronidase Activity and the Concentration of Quercetin and Its Metabolites in the Choroid Plexus, Blood Plasma and Cerebrospinal Fluid.

Quercetin-3-glucuronide (Q3GA), the main phase II metabolite of quercetin (Q) in human plasma, is considered to be a more stable form of Q for transport with the bloodstream to tissues, where it can be potentially deconjugated by ß-glucuronidase (ß-Gluc) to Q aglycone, which easily enters the brain. This study evaluates the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute inflammation on ß-Gluc gene expression in the choroid plexus (ChP) and its activity in blood plasma, ChP and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and the concentration of Q and its phase II metabolites in blood plasma and CSF. Studies were performed on saline- and LPS-treated adult ewes (n = 40) receiving Q3GA intravenously (n = 16) and on primary rat ChP epithelial cells and human ChP epithelial papilloma cells. We observed that acute inflammation stimulated ß-Gluc activity in the ChP and blood plasma, but not in ChP epithelial cells and CSF, and did not affect Q and its phase II metabolite concentrations in plasma and CSF, except Q3GA, for which the plasma concentration was higher 30 min after administration (p < 0.05) in LPS- compared to saline-treated ewes. The lack of Q3GA deconjugation in the ChP observed under physiological and acute inflammatory conditions, however, does not exclude its possible role in the course of neurodegenerative diseases.

Potential Role of L-Carnitine in Autism Spectrum Disorder.

L-carnitine plays an important role in the functioning of the central nervous system, and especially in the mitochondrial metabolism of fatty acids. Altered carnitine metabolism, abnormal fatty acid metabolism in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been documented. ASD is a complex heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition that is usually diagnosed in early childhood. Patients with ASD require careful classification as this heterogeneous clinical category may include patients with an intellectual disability or high functioning, epilepsy, language impairments, or associated Mendelian genetic conditions. L-carnitine participates in the long-chain oxidation of fatty acids in the brain, stimulates acetylcholine synthesis (donor of the acyl groups), stimulates expression of growth-associated protein-43, prevents cell apoptosis and neuron damage and stimulates neurotransmission. Determination of L-carnitine in serum/plasma and analysis of acylcarnitines in a dried blood spot may be useful in ASD diagnosis and treatment. Changes in the acylcarnitine profiles may indicate potential mitochondrial dysfunctions and abnormal fatty acid metabolism in ASD children. L-carnitine deficiency or deregulation of L-carnitine metabolism in ASD is accompanied by disturbances of other metabolic pathways, e.g., Krebs cycle, the activity of respiratory chain complexes, indicative of mitochondrial dysfunction. Supplementation of L-carnitine may be beneficial to alleviate behavioral and cognitive symptoms in ASD patients.

Salivary Biomarkers of Stress, Anxiety and Depression.

Stress, anxiety and depressive disorders are often characterized by the activation of the stress axis, which results in similar symptoms at some point in these disorders. These disorders are closely related to each other-they occur simultaneously or follow one another. The diagnosis of stress, anxiety and depression is not a perfect procedure currently-it is based on patient observation and an interview with the patient and their family. There are no laboratory tests that would dispel the doubts of the doctor making the diagnosis and allow the appropriate treatment to be implemented as soon as possible. Therefore, this study will review the components of saliva that could be helpful in the quick diagnosis of stress, anxiety and/or depression. Such potential salivary biomarkers could also be useful in monitoring the effectiveness of pharmacological treatment prescribed by a psychiatrist. The following are promising salivary biomarkers of stress, anxiety or depression: cortisol, immunoglobulin A (sIgA), lysozyme, melatonin, α-amylase (sAA), chromogranin A (CgA) and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2). To the best valuable potential salivary markers of stress, we can include cortisol, lysozyme, sAA and CgA. To differentiate depression from stress, salivary cortisol and melatonin can be helpful. Fluctuations in the concentrations of the above-mentioned substances in saliva indicate a particularly strong relationship with typical human psychological problems, such as stress, depression or anxiety.

The Activity of N-acetyl-ß-hexosaminidase in the Blood, Urine, Cerebrospinal Fluid and Vitreous Humor Died People Due to Alcohol Intoxication.

BACKGROUND: The article aimed to assess the activity of the hexosaminidase (HEX) and its HEX A and HEX B isoenzymes in persons who suddenly died due to ethanol poisoning and explain the cause of their death. METHODS: The research involved two groups of the deceased group A-22 people (20 males, 2 females; the average age 46 years) who died due to alcohol intoxication (with the blood alcohol content of 4‱ and above in all biological materials at the time of death-blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, and vitreous humor), and group B-30 people (22 males, 8 females; the average age 54 years), who died suddenly due to other reasons than alcohol. RESULTS: The highest activity of the HEX was found in the serum of A and B groups. A significantly lower activity of HEX, HEX A, and HEX B was observed in the urine of group A in comparison to the sober decedents. CONCLUSION: The lower activity of HEX and its isoenzymes in the dead's urine due to ethanol poisoning may suggest its usefulness as a potential marker of harmful alcohol drinking. Damage done to the kidneys by ethanol poisoning may be one of the possible mechanisms leading to death. Kidneys may be damaged intravitally via the inflammatory agent. Thus, it is necessary to conduct further research to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of exoglycosidases while determining the death mechanisms of people who lost their lives due to ethanol poisoning.

Preventive Role of L-Carnitine and Balanced Diet in Alzheimer's Disease.

The prevention or alleviation of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), is a challenge for contemporary health services. The aim of this study was to review the literature on the prevention or alleviation of AD by introducing an appropriate carnitine-rich diet, dietary carnitine supplements and the MIND (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) diet, which contains elements of the Mediterranean diet and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. L-carnitine (LC) plays a crucial role in the energetic metabolism of the cell. A properly balanced diet contains a substantial amount of LC as well as essential amino acids and microelements taking part in endogenous carnitine synthesis. In healthy people, carnitine biosynthesis is sufficient to prevent the symptoms of carnitine deficiency. In persons with dysfunction of mitochondria, e.g., with AD connected with extensive degeneration of the brain structures, there are often serious disturbances in the functioning of the whole organism. The Mediterranean diet is characterized by a high consumption of fruits and vegetables, cereals, nuts, olive oil, and seeds as the major source of fats, moderate consumption of fish and poultry, low to moderate consumption of dairy products and alcohol, and low intake of red and processed meat. The introduction of foodstuffs rich in carnitine and the MIND diet or carnitine supplementation of the AD patients may improve their functioning in everyday life.

Relation of plasma carnitine and aminotransferases to alcohol dose and time of dependence.

BACKGROUND: Serum aspartate, alanine aminotransferases (AST, ALT), and plasma carnitine are all indirect biomarkers of alcohol abuse. Carnitine transfers long-chain fatty acids from cytoplasm to mitochondria for ß-oxidation. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between daily alcohol intake, time of alcohol dependence, plasma carnitine, and serum aminotransferases. PATIENTS: We studied 26 men who were addicted for 2-30 years, consuming ethanol from 75 to 700 g/day (alcoholic group), as well as 17 healthy men (control group). RESULTS: In alcoholics, compared to the controls, we found: a significant increase in serum: AST (p = 0.0014), ALT (p = 0.0071), AST/ALT ratio (p < 0.000); significantly lower plasma free carnitine (FC) (p = 0.0316) and total carnitine (TC) (p = 0.0349); and a significant negative correlation between FC (r = -0.6200; R2 = 0.3844; p = 0.0007), TC (r = -0.4365; R2 = 0.1905; p = 0.0258), and time of alcohol dependence, suggesting carnitine as an indirect marker of alcohol abuse. We did not find any significant correlation between FC, TC, and levels of alcohol or aminotransferase activity. CONCLUSION: In the alcoholic group, there was an increase in serum activity of AST, ALT, and AST/ALT ratio that confirms liver injury. In addition, we found low plasma FC and TC, which may indicate damage to mitochondrial ß-oxidation caused by alcohol metabolites. The significantly higher plasma FC and TC in patients consuming the most, compared to patients consuming smaller doses of alcohol, may be caused by a lower carnitine demand of injured liver cells, decreased urinary carnitine excretion by impaired renal tubules, and leakage of carnitine into the blood from damaged muscles by the higher quantities of alcohol. The negative correlation between carnitine concentration and time of alcohol dependence may suggest the potential use of carnitine for treatment of alcohol abuse.

Long-term changes of salivary exoglycosidases and their applicability as chronic alcohol-drinking and dependence markers.

OBJECTIVES: Investigation of long-term dynamic changes of salivary activity/output of exoglycosidases, deglycosylation processes and their applicability as alcohol markers. METHODS: Exoglycosidase (α-fucosidase (FUC), ß-galactosidase (GAL), ß-glucuronidase (GLU), ß-hexosaminidase (HEX, HEX A and HEX B isoenzymes) and α-mannosidase (MAN)) activities were measured in the saliva of healthy social drinking controls (C), alcohol-dependent non-smokers (ANS) and alcohol-dependent smokers (AS) at the 1st, 15th, 30th and 50th day of abstinence after chronic alcohol drinking. RESULTS: The activity of exoglycosidases was 2-3-fold (MAN), 2-6 fold (FUC), 8-25-fold (HEX A) and 19-40-fold (GLU) higher in the ANS and AS groups than in controls, and had good/excellent sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. The higher outputs of exoglycosidases were in the AS and ANS groups than in controls at the 1st day (GLU, HEX A) and at the 50th day (GLU, FUC, MAN) of abstinence. We found numerous correlations between alcohol-drinking days with GLU and HEX A, alcohol amounts with HEX A and duration of alcohol dependence with FUC and MAN activity/output. CONCLUSIONS: Salivary exoglycosidases/deglycosylation processes were still very high up to 50 days after the end of alcohol consumption. We found markers of chronic alcohol consumption (HEX A), alcohol dependence (FUC and MAN) and chronic alcohol consumption and dependence (GLU).

Activity of lysosomal exoglycosidases in the urine of healthy normotensive and pre-hypertensive children.

PURPOSE: We investigated the relationship between blood pressure (BP) and the activity of lysosomal exoglycosidases: N-acetyl-ß-hexosaminidase (HEX), its isoenzymes A (HEX A) and B (HEX B), α-fucosidase (FUC), ß-galactosidase (GAL), ß-glucuronidase (GLU) and α-mannosidase (MAN) in pre-hypertensive (high normal blood pressure - HNBP) and normal blood pressure (NBP) children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was carried out with urine samples collected from 176 children, aged 6-17.9 years, divided into 2 groups: 42 HNBP and 134 NBP subjects. The children were stratified depending on systolic and diastolic BP (SBP; DBP): HNBP (SBP and/or DBP greater than or equal to the 90th percentile, but less than the 95th percentile) for sex, age, and height; and NBP (SBP and DBP less than the 90th centile). The activities of lysosomal exoglycosidases were determined by the colorimetric method, and expressed in pKat/mL and pKat/µgCr. RESULTS: The activity of urinary HEX A in HNBP group was significantly higher than in NBP (p < 0.05). The HNBP group showed significant positive correlation between HEX, HEX A (pKat/mL) and SBP. AUC for HEX A was 0.616, cut-off value -29.351 pKat/mL (sensitivity 51.2%, specificity 71.8%), and 0.589, cut-off value -0.054 pKat/µgCr (sensitivity 31.7%, specificity 86.3%). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of the relationship between BP and the activity of urinary lysosomal exoglycosidases: HEX, HEX A and HEX B, FUC, GAL, GLU, and MAN in healthy children and adolescents. It seems that HEX A (pKat/mL) can be used as a useful tool in identifying children with HNBP.

Reference Data on Neonatal Serum N-Acetyl-ß-hexosaminidase Activity.

BACKGROUND: Determination of neonate serum's N-acetyl-ß-hexosaminidase (HEX) activity and correlation results with Apgar scale and factors routinely determined in newborn serum. AIMS: Providing reference values of neonates serum HEX activities, and indicate their diagnostic significance. STUDY DESIGN: The study was performed using random serum samples of 111 infants (53 ♂/58 ♀), aged 1-30 days. The activity of HEX was determined colorimetrically and expressed in nKat/L. RESULTS: Serum HEX activity of 111 newborns was 360.5 ± 114.0 nKat/L and significantly positively correlated with gestation week at the day of delivery, birth weight, weight on day of blood collection, sex, and serum CRP. CONCLUSIONS: Reference values presented for neonatal serum activities of HEX may be used in neonatal diagnostics, for example, to detect inflammation and other diseases or for early assessment of the risk of Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff diseases.

Positive Correlation of Serum N-Acetyl-ß-hexosaminidase with Markers of Atherosclerosis in Diabetes Type 2 Patients with Mild Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety.

BACKGROUND: Analysis of the correlation between diabetes type 2 (DT2) and serum N-acetyl-ß-hexosaminidase (HEX) activity with parameters of fat metabolism and symptoms of anxiety and depression. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study was performed using a random sample of 40 DT2 patients (22 women and 18 men) between the ages of 43 and 71 (median 59) and 40 control persons (28 women and 12 men) between the ages of 18 and 64 (median 46). The activity of HEX was determined by a colorimetric method. The activity of the serum exoglycosidase was expressed in pkat/mL. Each participant underwent Hamilton tests, to evaluate level of anxiety and depression. Additionally, the HEX activity and concentration of particular lipidograms were monitored using a blood sample from each participant. RESULTS: In DT2 patients, a significant positive correlation was found between serum HEX activity and the concentration of serum cholesterol LDL fractions, triacylglycerols (TAG), and Castelligro atherogenic indexes. A significantly increased level of anxiety and depression in comparison to the control group was found as well. CONCLUSION: Serum HEX activity in DT2 patients is a better marker of atherosclerosis than serum total cholesterol level in persons with mild symptoms of depression and anxiety. In DT2 patients, a routine testing of anxiety and depression is recommended. Early detection of these disorders creates the possibility for treatment, an improvement in a patient's quality of life, and the overall longevity of DT2 patients.

Decreased Levels of Circulating Carboxylated Osteocalcin in Children with Low Energy Fractures: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: In the past decades, an increased interest in the roles of vitamin D and K has become evident, in particular in relation to bone health and prevention of bone fractures. The aim of the current study was to evaluate vitamin D and K status in children with low-energy fractures and in children without fractures. METHODS: The study group of 20 children (14 boys, 6 girls) aged 5 to 15 years old, with radiologically confirmed low-energy fractures was compared with the control group of 19 healthy children (9 boys, 10 girls), aged 7 to 17 years old, without fractures. Total vitamin D (25(OH)D3 plus 25(OH)D2), calcium, BALP (bone alkaline phosphatase), NTx (N-terminal telopeptide), and uncarboxylated (ucOC) and carboxylated osteocalcin (cOC) serum concentrations were evaluated. Ratio of serum uncarboxylated osteocalcin to serum carboxylated osteocalcin ucOC:cOC (UCR) was used as an indicator of bone vitamin K status. Logistic regression models were created to establish UCR influence for odds ratio of low-energy fractures in both groups. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in the serum calcium, NTx, BALP, or total vitamin D levels between the two groups. There was, however, a statistically significant difference in the UCR ratio. The median UCR in the fracture group was 0.471 compared with the control group value of 0.245 (p < 0.0001). In the logistic regression analysis, odds ratio of low-energy fractures for UCR was calculated, with an increased risk of fractures by some 78.3 times. CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study, better vitamin K status expressed as the ratio of ucOC:cOC-UCR—is positively and statistically significantly correlated with lower rate of low-energy fracture incidence.

Optimization of the method for α-l-fucosidase, ß-d-galactosidase and ß-d-glucuronidase determination in serum from hemolyzed blood.

PURPOSE: Adaptation of the colorimetric method for the determination of ß-d-galactosidase, ß-d-glucuronidase and α-l-fucosidase activities in serums from hemolyzed blood, the material currently being discarded. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The materials included serums from hemolyzed and non-hemolyzed blood, obtained from 26 healthy volunteers. The adaptation of the method involved precipitation of the proteins with trichloroacetic acid after incubating serums with substrates, but before determining the products of enzymatic reactions. RESULTS: In serums from hemolyzed and non-hemolyzed blood of the same persons, we found high correlations among the results obtained using hemolyzed blood (with adapted) and non-hemolyzed blood (with non-adapted) methods. CONCLUSION: We are able to determine the ß-d-galactosidase, ß-d-glucuronidase and α-l-fucosidase activities in serums from hemolyzed blood (with adapted) and non-hemolyzed blood (with non-adapted) methods, with the same accuracy and precision.

Serum Exoglycosidases in Children and Adolescents With Harmful Alcohol Use.

OBJECTIVE: There is a lack of accurate alcohol-use biomarkers in children/adolescents due to a short drinking duration/rapid normalization of elevated markers. We checked if lysosomal exoglycosidases, elevated earlier in binge-drinking young adults, can be applicable in children/adolescents as markers of harmful alcohol use. METHODS: The serum activities (pKat/mL) of α-fucosidase (FUC), ß-galactosidase (GAL), ß-glucuronidase (GLU), ß-hexosaminidase (HEX; its HEX A and HEX B isoenzymes), and α-mannosidase (MAN) were determined in 20 healthy controls (C) and 25 children/adolescents with harmful alcohol use (intoxicated by alcohol at hospital admission -AI1 and on the next day -AI2). RESULTS: The serum HEX A and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity was significantly higher in the AI1 group than in the control. The activities of FUC, GAL, GLU, HEX B, and MAN were lower in the AI group. We found fair and poor accuracy, respectively, for increased enzymes HEX A and ALT. We found fair accuracy for decreased HEX B (AI1) and MAN (AI1), good accuracy for GLU (AI2), FUC (AI2), GAL (AI1, AI2), MAN (AI2), and excellent for FUC (AI1). Correlations were found: ALT with C-reactive protein (CRP), HEX A with white blood cell (WBC) count, blood alcohol concentration with FUC, MAN and HEX B, and WBC with FUC. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased FUC, GLU, GAL, MAN values, and especially FUC (AI1) have the potential to be markers of harmful alcohol use in children/adolescents. The raised activity of HEX A and ALT points to the need for further research to check another inflammatory agent as potential alcohol marker in children and adolescents. Samples need to be collected before intravenous fluid therapy.

Urinary exoglycosidases, reference values in healthy children.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of age on lysosomal exoglycosidase activities: α-fucosidase, ß-galactosidase, ß-glucuronidase and α-mannosidase in healthy children and adolescents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Urine samples were collected from 203 healthy children and adolescents (girls = 99, boys = 104), aged six months to 17.9 years. The activities of α-fucosidase, ß-galactosidase, ß-glucuronidase and α-mannosidase were determined by colorimetric method and expressed in pKat/µg of creatine (pKat/µg Cr.). RESULTS: Urinary α-fucosidase, ß-galactosidase, ß-glucuronidase and α-mannosidase activities (pKat/µg Cr.) were the highest in children below 3 years of age in comparison to the remaining age groups. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between urinary α-fucosidase, ß-galactosidase, ß-glucuronidase and α-mannosidase (pKat/µg Cr.) and age (r = -0.36; r = -0.36; r = -0.35; r = -0.35; at p < 0.0001, respectively). In addition, we constructed the reference values for urinary activity of α-fucosidase, ß-galactosidase, ß-glucuronidase and α-mannosidase (pKat/µg Cr.) in percentiles according to age in 3-year intervals. CONCLUSIONS: Our study is the first to show reference values for urinary α-fucosidase, ß-galactosidase, ß-glucuronidase and α-mannosidase in children and adolescents.

Human saliva as a diagnostic material.

Today blood biochemical laboratory tests are essential elements to the diagnosis and monitoring of the treatment of diseases. However, many researchers have suggested saliva as an preferable diagnostic material. The collection of saliva is simple, painless, cheap and safe, both for patients and medical staff. An additional advantage of saliva is the fact that it may be retrieved several times a day, which makes repeat analysis much easier. Furthermore, saliva has very high durability. Although 94-99% of salivary content is water, saliva also contains numerous cellular elements and many organic and inorganic substances, including most biological markers present in the blood and urine that may be used in the early detection and monitoring of many dental and general diseases.

Pediatric reference data on activity of urinary N-acetyl-ß-D-hexosaminidase and its isoenzymes.

PURPOSE: The objective of the study was to establish age - dependent values of the urinary lysosomal exoglycosidases activities: N-acetyl-ß-D-hexosaminidase (HEX) and its isoenzyme A (HEX A) as well as isoenzyme B (HEX B) in healthy children and adolescents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was performed using a random sample of 203 healthy children and adolescents (girls=99, boys=104), aged six months to 17.9 years. The activities of HEX, HEX A and HEX B were determined by a colorimetric method. The activities of the urinary HEX and its isoenzymes were expressed in pKat/µg of creatinine (pKat/µg Cr). RESULTS: Median concentrations of urinary HEX, and its HEX A, HEX B isoenzymes in particular age groups were analyzed using ANOVA. Urinary HEX, HEX A and HEX B activities (pKat/µg Cr) were the highest in children below 3 years, in comparison to remaining age groups. There were statistically significant negative correlations between urinary HEX, HEX A as well as HEX B and age (r=-0.24, p<0.001 (HEX); r=-0.20, p<0.01 (HEX A); r=-0.26, p<0.001 (HEX B), respectively. We constructed the reference values for urinary activity of HEX, HEX A and HEX B (pKat/µg Cr) in centiles according to age, in three-year intervals. CONCLUSIONS: Reported data present, for the first time, reference values for urinary activities of HEX and its isoenzymes HEX A and HEX B in children and adolescent.

Determination of N-acetyl-ß-hexosaminidase in serum from hemolyzed blood.

BACKGROUND: Determination of lysosomal N-acetyl-ß-hexosaminidase (HEX) in serum from hemolyzed blood, creates serious analytical problems, because hemoglobin absorbs light at a similar wavelength like 4-nitrophenol, which is released from artificial substrate. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the work was to adapt a manual method to allow analysis of HEX in hemolyzed samples. METHODS: Serums without and with hemolysis were incubated with 4-nitrophenol-N-acetylglucosamine as a substrate. Released 4-nitrophenol was determined colorimetrically. After the incubation of the serum from hemolyzed blood with substrate, hemoglobin was precipitated with trichloroacetic acid (TCA) before 4-nitrophenol determination. RESULTS: The mean concentration of HEX activity in non-hemolyzed and hemolyzed blood of the same patients, determined with non-modified and modified methods had no significant differences, and they are: 243.12±119.76 and 233.99±108.76pkat/mL, respectively. A coefficient of correlation between non-modified and modified methods equals the 0.98. For HEX determination with the modified method in serum from hemolyzed blood, optimal reaction time was 60min, pH of reaction mixture was 4.7, and Km was 0.11mMm. CONCLUSION: HEX determinations in the same serums from non-hemolyzed blood by the non-modified method and hemolyzed blood with the modified method, gave similar results with a 0.98 coefficient of correlation. The modified method is appropriate for HEX determination in serum from hemolyzed blood.

Renal carnitine excretion following abstinence after chronic drinking.

PURPOSE: Carnitine participates in the metabolism of lipids and cognitive activity. Excessive consumption of alcohol disturbes renal tubular canalicules, that increases urinary excretion of carnitine and its esters. The study evaluates restoration of the urinary free- and total carnitine as well as acylcarnitine excretion after chronic drinking and during the 49-days of controlled abstinence. MATERIALS/METHODS: In 32 patients (6♀; 26♂), 26-60 years old, 2-30 years of alcohol dependence: 75-700g of pure alcohol (166±94g) of alcohol daily consumption, 2-360 (35±67) days of intoxication and 1.25±0.8 days of abstinence at admission, we determined urinary free (FC) and total carnitine (TC) as well as acylcarnitine (AC) and acylcarnitine/free carnitine ratio (AC/FC) at admission (T0), after 30 (T30) and 49 (T49) days of the controlled abstinence. RESULTS: At T0 excretion of FC, TC and AC as well as AC/FC ratio were significantly higher as compared to the control group. After 30- and 49-days of abstinence, excretion of FC and TC decreased to the level of control group with an exception of the AC and AC/FC ratio at T30 that remained significantly increased. CONCLUSION: 30 days for the FC and TC and 49 days of abstinence for the AC and AC/FC ratio was sufficient to normalize urinary excretion of the carnitines.

Urine exoglycosidases are potential markers of renal tubular injury in children with ureteropelvic junction obstruction.

AIM: Hydronephrosis caused by ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) is an important problem in children and young adults. The aim of this pilot study was to determine the urine profiles of a number of lysosomal exoglycosidases to see whether they indicated tubular renal damage in children with UPJO. METHODS: We measured lysosomal exoglycosidases urine activities in 32 patients with UPJO, dividing them into three groups. The surgical group comprised 16 children with severe hydronephrosis who required surgery, the nonsurgical group comprised 16 patients with mild hydronephrosis, and the reference group comprised 42 healthy children. The following indicators were measured: N-acetyl-ß-hexosaminidase and its A and B isoenzymes, α-fucosidase, ß-galactosidase, α-mannosidase and ß-glucuronidase. RESULTS: The urine activities of all exoglycosidases were significantly higher in children with UPJO than children in the reference group (p < 0.01). A strong positive correlation was also found between most of the urine exoglycosidases and the urine albumin/creatinine ratio (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrated that children with UPJO showed increased renal activities of assessed exoglycosidases, which correlated positively with the urine albumin/creatinine ratio. A larger multicentre study is required to confirm the clinical applications of these observations.