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Prolactin is a polypeptide hormone made of 199 amino acids; 50% of the amino acid chain forms helices, and the rest forms loops. This hormone is typically related to initiating and maintaining lactation, although it is also elevated in various pathological conditions. Serum prolactin levels of 2 to 18 ng ml-1 in men, up to 30 ng ml-1 in women, and 10 to 210 ng ml-1 in pregnant women are considered normal. Immunoassay techniques used for detection are susceptible to error in different clinical conditions. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a technique that allows for obtaining the protein spectrum in a simple, fast, and reproducible manner. Nonetheless, proper characterization of human prolactin's Raman/SERS spectrum at different concentrations has so far not been deeply discussed. This study aims to characterize the Raman spectrum of human prolactin at physiological concentrations using silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as the SERS substrate. The Raman spectrum of prolactin at 20 ng ul-1 was acquired. Quasi-spherical AgNPs were obtained using chemical synthesis. For SERS characterization, decreasing dilutions of the protein were made by adding deionized water and then a 1 : 1 volume of the AgNPs colloid. For each mixture, the Raman spectrum was determined. The spectrum of prolactin by SERS was obtained with a concentration of up to 0.1 ng ml-1. It showed characteristic bands corresponding to the side chains of aromatic amino acids in the protein's primary structure and the alpha helices of the secondary structure of prolactin. In conclusion, using quasi-spherical silver nanoparticles as the SERS substrate, the Raman spectrum of human prolactin at physiological concentration was determined.
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Background: TNF-α is a cytokine involved in inflammation. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) could be useful in its detection. Aim: Identify the TNF-α in an aqueous solution, using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as a SERS substrate. Materials & methods: Raman and SERS spectra were obtained from TNF-α samples, combined with AuNPs, with decreasing concentrations of TNF-α. The samples were analyzed using optical transmission spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy. Results: Transmission electron microscopy/dynamic light scattering determined a change in the average diameter of the TNF-α/AuNPs (â¼9.6 nm). Raman bands obtained were associated with aromatic amino acid side chains. We observe Raman signals for TNF-α concentrations as low as 0.125 pg/ml. Conclusion: TNF-α signal at physiological concentrations was determined with SERS.
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Oro , Nanopartículas del Metal , Espectrometría Raman , Factor de Necrosis Tumoral alfaRESUMEN
Low birth weight (LBW) and macrosomia have been associated with later-in-life metabolic alterations. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether the expression levels of circulating microRNAs (c-miRNAs) associated with adult metabolic diseases are also dysregulated in newborns with LBW or macrosomia. The expression levels of five microRNAs (miRNAs) associated with metabolic diseases were quantified in dried blood spots of newborns with adequate birth weight, LBW and macrosomia by stem-loop real-time polymerase chain reaction. miR-29a-5p, miR-126-3p, miR-221-3p, and miR-486-5p were significantly overexpressed in newborns with macrosomia and showed no significant change in the LBW group compared to normal weight controls. miR-320a showed no statistical difference among groups. We predicted the putative target genes and pathways of the overexpressed miRNAs with bioinformatic tools. Bioinformatic analyses of overexpressed miRNAs predicted target genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, participate in FoxO and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways, and are associated with diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. The overexpression of circulating miR-29a-5p, miR-126-3p, miR-221-3p, and miR-486-5p may explain the increased risk of obesity and diabetes associated with macrosomia. The use of dried blood spots from newborn screening cards to quantify miRNAs expression levels could be an early and minimally invasive predictive tool for these metabolic alterations.
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MicroARN Circulante/metabolismo , Macrosomía Fetal/diagnóstico , Regulación del Desarrollo de la Expresión Génica , Enfermedades Metabólicas/epidemiología , Efectos Tardíos de la Exposición Prenatal/epidemiología , Adulto , Estudios de Casos y Controles , MicroARN Circulante/sangre , Biología Computacional , Pruebas con Sangre Seca , Estudios de Factibilidad , Femenino , Macrosomía Fetal/sangre , Macrosomía Fetal/metabolismo , Redes Reguladoras de Genes , Humanos , Recién Nacido de Bajo Peso/sangre , Recién Nacido , Masculino , Enfermedades Metabólicas/etiología , Enfermedades Metabólicas/genética , Enfermedades Metabólicas/prevención & control , Tamizaje Neonatal/métodos , Embarazo , Efectos Tardíos de la Exposición Prenatal/etiología , Efectos Tardíos de la Exposición Prenatal/genética , Efectos Tardíos de la Exposición Prenatal/prevención & control , Medición de Riesgo/métodosRESUMEN
Context: Differential expression profiles of microRNAs have been reported in human obesity suggesting a miRNAs role in the development of obesity and associated disorders. Objective: To review circulating microRNAs (c-miRNAs) dysregulated in human obesity and to predict their possible target genes. Methods: We performed a systematic review on PubMed database (PROSPERO, CRD42017077742) for original works on c-miRNAs and human obesity and recorded c-miRNAs with differential expression profiles. Potential target genes and metabolic pathways for dysregulated miRNAs with at least two independent reports were searched using bioinformatic tools. Results: Twenty-two c-miRNAs are overexpressed, nine underexpressed and two c-miRNAs dysregulated in both directions in people with obesity compared to lean controls. Bioinformatic analyses suggest these c-miRNAs target on genes associated with fatty acid metabolism and PI3k/Akt pathway. Conclusion: Literature records 33 c-miRNAs confirmedly dysregulated in human obesity. Their predicted target genes are involved in pathways that could explain the development of obesity and its comorbidities. Further research will clarify the role of these miRNAs on metabolic diseases and their usefulness for the prognosis, prevention and treatment of obesity.
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MicroARN Circulante/genética , Metabolismo de los Lípidos/genética , Obesidad/diagnóstico , Obesidad/genética , Adulto , Biomarcadores/sangre , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Niño , MicroARN Circulante/sangre , MicroARN Circulante/clasificación , Biología Computacional/estadística & datos numéricos , Ácidos Grasos/metabolismo , Femenino , Regulación de la Expresión Génica , Humanos , Masculino , Redes y Vías Metabólicas/genética , Obesidad/sangre , Obesidad/fisiopatología , Fosfatidilinositol 3-Quinasas/sangre , Fosfatidilinositol 3-Quinasas/genética , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas c-akt/sangre , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas c-akt/genética , Transducción de SeñalRESUMEN
Shock is a complex clinical syndrome caused by an acute failure of circulatory function resulting in inadequate tissue and organ perfusion. Digital infrared thermal imaging is a non-invasive technique that can detect changes in blood perfusion by detecting small changes in the temperature of the skin. In this preliminary study, eight pediatric patients (five boys, three girls), ages ranging from 6 to 14 years (average: 9.8 years), were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at "Dr. Ignacio Morones Prieto" Central Hospital; here, the patients were examined using digital infrared thermal imaging. Patients in shock showed a significant decrease in distal temperature (at least 7°), compared to critically ill patients without shock. The latter group presented a skin temperature pattern very similar to the one previously reported for healthy children. The results show that infrared thermography can be used as a non-invasive method for monitoring the temperature in pediatric patients in intensive care units in order to detect shock in its early stages.