Beneficial effects of coconut oil (Cocos nucifera) on hematobiochemicl and histopathological markers in CCL4-intoxicated rabbits / Efeitos benéficos do óleo de coco (Cocos nucifera) em marcadores hematobioquímicos e histopatológicos em coelhos intoxicados com CCL4

The study was designed to investigate the effect of Coconut Oil on the levels of some liver and hematological parameters in carbon tetrachloride intoxicated rabbits. Also the antioxidant capacity of Coconut Oil for various concentrations was assessed on the basis of percent scavenging of (DPPH) free radical. Experimental animals were divided into five groups, eight rabbits in each group. These were: group A (Normal control), group B (Toxic control), group C (Standard control), group D (Treated with Coconut Oil 50 mL/kg body weight after CCl4 intoxication), group E (Treated with Coconut Oil 200 mL/kg body weight after CCl4 intoxication). The effects observed were compared with a standard hepatoprotective drug silymarine (50 mL/kg body weight). The Coconut Oil (200 mL/kg body weight) significantly (P<0.05) reduced the elevated serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) when compared to a toxic control rabbits. The results of extract treated rabbits were similar to silymarine administered rabbits group. Treatment with Coconut Oil root and silymarine caused no significant changes in RBC, Platelets, (Hb), (MCH) concentration and (HCT) values. However, significant (P<0.05) increase was observed in the total WBC count. The present study suggested that Coconut Oil can be used as an herbal alternative (need further exploration i.e to detect its bioactive compound and its efficacy) for hepatoprotective activit.

O estudo foi desenhado para investigar o efeito do óleo de coco nos níveis de alguns parâmetros hepáticos e hematológicos em coelhos intoxicados com tetracloreto de carbono. Também a capacidade antioxidante do óleo de coco para várias concentrações foi avaliada com base na porcentagem de eliminação de radicais livres (DPPH). Os animais experimentais foram divididos em cinco grupos, oito coelhos em cada grupo. Estes foram: grupo A (controle normal), grupo B (controle tóxico), grupo C (controle padrão), grupo D (tratado com óleo de coco 50 mL/kg de peso corporal após intoxicação por CCl4), grupo E (tratado com óleo de coco 200 mL/kg de peso corporal após intoxicação por CCl4). Os efeitos observados foram comparados com um fármaco hepatoprotetor padrão silimarina (50 mL/kg de peso corporal). O óleo de coco (200 mL/kg de peso corporal) reduziu significativamente (P<0,05) os níveis séricos elevados de alanina transaminase (ALT), aspartato transaminase (AST) e fosfatase alcalina (ALP), quando comparado a um coelho controle tóxico. Os resultados dos coelhos tratados com extrato foram semelhantes aos do grupo de coelhos administrados com silimarina. O tratamento com raiz de óleo de coco e silimarina não causou alterações significativas nos valores de RBC, Plaquetas, (Hb), (MCH) e (HCT). No entanto, observou-se aumento significativo (P<0,05) na contagem total de leucócitos. O presente estudo sugeriu que o óleo de coco pode ser usado como uma alternativa fitoterápica (precisa de mais exploração, ou seja, para detectar seu composto bioativo e sua eficácia) para atividade hepatoprotetora.

Definition, Staging, and Role of Biomarkers in Acute Kidney Injury in the Context of Cardiovascular Interventions.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequently occurring complication of cardiovascular interventions, and associated with adverse outcomes. Therefore, a clear definition of AKI is of paramount importance to enable timely recognition and treatment. Historically, changes in the serum creatinine and urine output have been used to define AKI, and the criteria have evolved over time with better understanding of the impact of AKI on the outcomes. However, the reliance on serum creatinine for these AKI definitions carries numerous limitations including delayed rise, inability to differentiate between hemodynamics versus structural injury and assay variability to name a few.

Value of increased soluble suppressor tumorigenicity biomarker 2 (sST2) on admission as an indicator of severity in patients with COVID-19 / Valor del aumento del biomarcador supresor soluble de tumorigenicidad 2 (sST2) al ingreso como indicador de gravedad en pacientes con COVID-19

Background Soluble suppressor of tumorigenicity-2 (sST2) is a biomarker for heart failure and pulmonary injury. We hypothesize that sST2 could help predict severity of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Methods sST2 was analyzed in patients consecutively admitted for SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. Other prognostic markers were also measured. In-hospital complications were registered, including death, ICU admission, and respiratory support requirements. Results 495 patients were studied (53% male, age: 57.6±17.6). At admission, median sST2 concentrations was 48.5ng/mL [IQR, 30.6–83.1ng/mL] and correlated with male gender, older age, comorbidities, other severity biomarkers, and respiratory support requirements. sST2 levels were higher in patients who died (n=45, 9.1%) (45.6 [28.0, 75.9]ng/mL vs. 144 [82.6, 319] ng/mL, p<0.001) and those admitted to ICU (n=46, 9.3%) (44.7 [27.5, 71.3] ng/mL vs. 125 [69.0, 262]ng/mL, p<0.001). sST2 levels>210ng/mL were a strong predictor of complicated in-hospital courses, with higher risk of death (OR, 39.3, CI95% 15.9, 103) and death/ICU (OR 38.3, CI95% 16.3–97.5) after adjusting for all other risk factors. The addition of sST2 enhanced the predictive capacity of mortality risk models. Conclusions sST2 represents a robust severity predictor in COVID-19 and could be an important tool for identifying at-risk patients who may benefit from closer follow-up and specific therapies (AU)

Antecedentes El supresor soluble de tumorigenicidad 2 (sST2) es un biomarcador de insuficiencia cardiaca y daño pulmonar. Nuestra hipótesis es que la determinación de sST2 al ingreso podría ayudar a predecir la gravedad de la infección por SARS-CoV-2. Métodos Se analizó la concentración de sST2 en pacientes ingresados por neumonía por SARS-CoV-2, junto con otros biomarcadores pronósticos conocidos. Asimismo, se registraron las complicaciones durante la estancia hospitalaria, incluidas la muerte, el ingreso en Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) y los requerimientos de soporte respiratorio. Resultados Se estudiaron 495 pacientes (53% hombres, edad 57,6 ± 17,6). Al ingreso, la mediana de la concentración de sST2 fue 48,5 ng/mL (índice intercuartílico [IQR] 30,6-83,1 ng/mL) y correlacionó con el género masculino, una mayor edad, comorbilidades, otros biomarcadores de gravedad, así como necesidad de soporte respiratorio. Los niveles de sST2 fueron mayores en pacientes que fallecieron (n = 45, 9,1%) (45,6 [28,0, 75,9] ng/mL vs. 144 [82,6, 319] ng/mL, p < 0,001) y aquellos que requirieron ingreso en UCI (n = 46, 9,3%) (44,7 [27,5, 71,3] ng/mL vs. 125 [69,0, 262] ng/mL, p < 0,001). Así, los valores de sST2 > 210 ng/mL se han demostrado como un fuerte predictor de complicaciones, con un mayor riesgo de fallecimiento (odds ratio [OR], 39,3, intervalo de confianza [IC] 95% 15,9, 103) y fallecimiento o ingreso en UCI (OR 38,3, IC 95% 16,3-97,5), tras el ajuste por todos los demás factores de riesgo. La adición de la determinación de los niveles de sST2 mejoró la potencia predictiva de los modelos de riesgo desarrollados. Conclusiones El sST2 representa un predictor robusto de la gravedad en pacientes con COVID-19 y podría convertirse en una herramienta importante para la identificación de pacientes en riesgo que podrían beneficiarse de un mayor seguimiento y terapias específicas (AU)

The role of anti-HMGB1 antibody and anti-moesin antibody in ANCA-associated vasculitis / Papel de los anticuerpos anti-HMGB1 y antimoesina en la vasculitis asociada a ANCA

Objective The study aims to evaluate the role of anti-high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) antibody and anti-moesin antibody in the diagnosis of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) and its possible relationship with the different clinical manifestations. Methods The study involved 60 AAV patients, 58 patients with autoimmune disease other than AAV and 50 healthy subjects. The serum levels of anti-HMGB1 and anti-moesin antibodies were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the second determination was made 3 months after treatment of AAV patients. Results Serum levels of anti-HMGB1 and anti-moesin antibodies in AAV group were significantly higher than those in non-AAV group and HC group. The area under the curve (AUC) of anti-HMGB1 and anti-moesin in diagnosing AAV were 0.977 and 0.670, respectively. Anti-HMGB1 levels were significantly elevated in AAV patients with pulmonary involvement, while the concentrations of anti-moesin were significantly increased in patients with renal damage. Anti-moesin were positively correlated with BVAS (r=0.261, P=0.044), creatinine (r=0.296, P=0.024) and negatively correlated with complement C3 (r=−0.363, P=0.013). Besides, anti-moesin levels of active AAV patients were significantly higher than those in inactive patients. The concentrations of serum anti-HMGB1 could be significantly decreased after induction remission treatment (P<0.05). Conclusion Anti-HMGB1 and anti-moesin antibodies play important roles in the diagnosis and prognosis of AAV, which may act as potential disease markers for AAV (AU)

Objetivo El estudio tiene como objetivo evaluar el papel del anticuerpo antigrupo de alta movilidad box 1 (HMGB1) y el anticuerpo antimoesina en el diagnóstico de la vasculitis asociada (VAA) a anticuerpos citoplasmáticos antineutrófilos (ANCA) y su posible relación con las diferentes manifestaciones clínicas. Métodos En el estudio participaron 60 pacientes con VAA, 58 pacientes con enfermedad autoinmune distinta de la VAA y 50 sujetos sanos. Los niveles séricos de anticuerpos anti-HMGB1 y antimoesina se determinaron mediante ensayo inmunoabsorbente ligado a enzimas (ELISA), y la segunda determinación se realizó tres meses después del tratamiento de pacientes con VAA. Resultados Los niveles séricos de anticuerpos anti-HMGB1 y antimoesina en el grupo AAV fueron significativamente más altos que los del grupo sin VAA y el grupo control sanitario. El área bajo la curva (AUC) de anti-HMGB1 y antimoesina en el diagnóstico de VAA fueron 0,977 y 0,670, respectivamente. Los niveles de anti-HMGB1 se elevaron significativamente en pacientes con VAA con afectación pulmonar, mientras que las concentraciones de antimoesina aumentaron significativamente en pacientes con daño renal. La antimoesina se correlacionó positivamente con puntuación de actividad vascular de Birmingham (r=0,261, p=0,044), creatinina (r=0,296, p=0,024) y se correlacionó negativamente con el complemento C3 (r=−0,363, p=0,013). Además, los niveles de antimoesina de los pacientes activos con VAA fueron significativamente más altos que los de los pacientes inactivos. Las concentraciones séricas de anti-HMGB1 podrían disminuir significativamente después del tratamiento de remisión de inducción (p<0,05). Conclusión Los anticuerpos anti-HMGB1 y antimoesina juegan un papel importante en el diagnóstico y pronóstico de VAA, que pueden actuar como marcadores potenciales de enfermedad para VAA (AU)

Follicle-stimulating hormone is negatively associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in a Chinese elderly population: a retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have explored the connection between follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the impact of FSH elevation on NAFLD remains a topic of debate. Hence, this investigation aimed to evaluate the potential correlation between FSH levels and NAFLD in the aging population. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational cross-sectional study between July 2017 and August 2018 in our hospital. We used data obtained from 455 patients over 60 years old. Anthropometrics and laboratory tests were performed for each patient. NAFLD was diagnosed by sonographic features and the fatty liver index (LFI). RESULTS: Of the 455 patients, 200 (43.96%) had NAFLD on their ultrasound and 169 (37.14%) had NAFLD according to the LFI. An intraclass correlation coefficient of the two methods was 80.4% (P < 0.001). People with NAFLD on their ultrasound showed lower FSH levels (52.68 vs. 61.39 IU/L) and more unfavorable metabolic profiles. FSH was negatively correlated with age, alanine aminotransferase, estradiol, testosterone, systolic blood pressure, waist, body mass index, fasting blood glucose, postload plasma glucose and positive associated with total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol by Spearman correlation analysis (all P < 0.05). By controlling for all confounding factors, the odds ratios (OR) of FSH for NAFLD were determined in elderly individuals, both men and women, aged 60-70 years and over 70 years. These ORs were found to be 0.937, 0.982, 0.983, and 0.973, respectively, with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) of 0.892-0.984 (P = 0.009), 0.971-0.993 (P = 0.002), 0.967-0.999 (P = 0.033), and 0.958-0.989 (P = 0.001). In addition, our findings demonstrated no significant correlation between FSH and advanced fibrosis when adjusting for potential covariates. The OR for advanced fibrosis was 0.979 (95% CI, 0.938-1.022, P = 0.339). Additionally, ROC curve analysis showed an optimal cut-off value of 66.91 for women and 15.25 for men for NAFLD diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: There was an inverse relationship observed between levels of FSH in the blood serum and NAFLD in the elderly population. These findings suggest that reduced FSH levels might serve as a potential risk factor or biomarker for NAFLD in the elderly.

Predictive Value of Serum NGAL and ß2 Microglobulin in Blood and Urine amongst Patients with Acute Pancreatitis and Acute Kidney Injury.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the predictive value of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and ß2 microglobulin (ß2-MG) in blood and urine amongst patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) and acute kidney injury (AKI). METHODS: The clinical data of 80 patients with AP, who were treated in the study hospital from November 2019, to November 2022, were selected for retrospective analysis. They were divided into AKI group (n = 25) and non-AKI group (n = 55) in accordance with the presence of AKI. The levels of serum NGAL and ß2-MG in blood and urine were compared in both groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors of AKI in patients with AP and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive efficacy of serum NGAL and ß2-MG in the blood and urine of patients with AKI and AP. RESULTS: The AKI group had higher serum NGAL and ß2-MG in blood and urine than the non-AKI group. Logistic regression analysis showed that the high levels of serum NGAL and ß2-MG in blood and urine were risk factors for AKI in patients with AP (p < 0.05). The areas under the curve (AUC), sensitivity and specificity of the combined prediction were 0.97, 84.00% and 98.20%, respectively, showing a good prediction efficiency. CONCLUSIONS: The increased levels of serum NGAL and ß2-MG in blood and urine have a warning significance for patients with AP and AKI and a certain predictive value. So, their combination detection provides a reliable reference for the identification of clinical AKI.

An association study of cyclase-associated protein 2 and frailty.

Frailty is a geriatric syndrome that results from multisystem impairment caused by age-associated accumulation of deficits. The frailty index is used to define the level of frailty. Several studies have searched for molecular biomarkers associated with frailty, to meet the needs for personalized care. Cyclase-associated protein 2 (CAP2) is a multifunctional actin-binding protein involved in various physiological and pathological processes, that might reflect frailty's intrinsic complexity. This study aimed to investigate the association between frailty index and circulating CAP2 concentration in 467 community-dwelling older adults (median age: 79; range: 65-92 years) from Milan, Italy. The selected robust regression model showed that circulating CAP2 concentration was not associated with chronological age, as well as sex and education. However, circulating CAP2 concentration was significantly and inversely associated with the frailty index: a 0.1-unit increase in frailty index leads to ~0.5-point mean decrease in CAP2 concentration. Furthermore, mean CAP2 concentration was significantly lower in frail participants (i.e., frailty index ≥0.25) than in non-frail participants. This study shows the association between serum CAP2 concentration and frailty status for the first time, highlighting the potential of CAP2 as a biomarker for age-associated accumulation of deficits.

Lower Plasma miR-223 Level Is Associated with Clopidogrel Resistance in Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between the plasma miR-223 expression level and clopidogrel resistance in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. Methods: We performed a search for publications using online databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Chinese Databases (CNKI database, Weipu database, and Wanfang database) from the inception of the databases to June 18, 2023, to identify studies reporting the relationship between the plasma miR-223 level and clopidogrel resistance in ACS patients. Two researchers independently searched and screened to ensure the consistency of the results and assess the quality of the included studies according to the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. A fixed-effects model was used for pooling data with STATA 14.0. Results: Four articles including 399 Chinese ACS patients were eligible for the meta-analysis. Low plasma miR-223 levels were independently correlated with clopidogrel resistance in Chinese ACS patients (OR 0.58, 95% CI: 0.33-1.04). Conclusion: Lower plasma miR-223 levels are associated with clopidogrel resistance in Chinese ACS patients, suggesting that miR-223 may be a potential diagnostic biomarker of clopidogrel resistance.

Adipokines are possible risk markers for aortic stenosis requiring surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most prevalent valvular heart disease among adults. The adipocyte-derived hormones, leptin and adiponectin, have profound metabolic actions. We examined whether these adipokines are independently associated with future aortic valve replacement (AVR). DESIGN: In this longitudinal case-control study, we identified 336 cases who had undergone AVR due to AS, and who had previously participated in population-based health surveys. Two referents were matched to each case and leptin and adiponectin concentrations were analysed from stored baseline survey samples. Uni- and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the risk of future AVR. An additional cohort was identified for validation including 106 cases with AVR and 212 matched referents. RESULTS: Median age (interquartile range (IQR)) in years at survey was 59.9 (10.4) and at surgery 68.3 (12.7), and 48% were women. An elevated concentration of leptin was not associated with future AVR (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]) (1.10 [0.92-1.32]), although leptin was associated with a higher risk in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) having more than 5 years between survey and AVR (1.41 [1.08-1.84]). Adiponectin was not associated with higher risk for future AVR (0.95 [0.82-1.11]), although after stratification for age, higher levels were associated with reduced risk for AVR in persons aged ≥60 years at surgery (0.79 [0.64-0.98]). In the validation study, leptin was associated with future AVR whereas adiponectin was not. None of the associations remained significant after adjustment for body mass index (BMI). CONCLUSIONS: The adipokine leptin may promote the development of AS.

Predictive Value of Serum NGAL and B2 Microglobulin in Blood and Urine amongst Patients with Acute Pancreatitis and Acute Kidney Injury

Objective: This study aimed to explore the predictive value of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and β2 microglobulin (β2-MG) in blood and urine amongst patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) and acute kidney injury (AKI). Methods: The clinical data of 80 patients with AP, who were treated in the study hospital from November 2019, to November 2022, were selected for retrospective analysis. They were divided into AKI group (n = 25) and non-AKI group (n = 55) in accordance with the presence of AKI. The levels of serum NGAL and β2-MG in blood and urine were compared in both groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors of AKI in patients with AP and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive efficacy of serum NGAL and β2-MG in the blood and urine of patients with AKI and AP. Results: The AKI group had higher serum NGAL and β2-MG in blood and urine than the non-AKI group. Logistic regression analysis showed that the high levels of serum NGAL and β2-MG in blood and urine were risk factors for AKI in patients with AP (p < 0.05). The areas under the curve (AUC), sensitivity and specificity of the combined prediction were 0.97, 84.00% and 98.20%, respectively, showing a good prediction efficiency. Conclusions: The increased levels of serum NGAL and β2-MG in blood and urine have a warning significance for patients with AP and AKI and a certain predictive value. So, their combination detection provides a reliable reference for the identification of clinical AKI (AU)

Valor pronóstico del cociente lactato/albúmina para la mortalidad en pacientes mayores de 65 años con infección urinaria complicada / Lactate/albumin ratio prognostic value for mortality in patients older than 65 years with complicated urinary tract infection

Antecedentes El cociente lactato/albúmina (LAR) es un biomarcador emergente de sepsis que se ha evaluado para determinar la mortalidad en pacientes con sepsis de distinto foco. Nuestro objetivo es evaluar el valor pronóstico de LAR en pacientes ingresados en el hospital por infecciones urinarias complicadas. Métodos Estudio observacional prospectivo de pacientes mayores de 65 años diagnosticados de ITU. Se calcularon y compararon el área bajo la curva ROC, la sensibilidad y la especificidad para predecir la mortalidad a 30 días para LAR, qSOFA y SOFA. Resultados Se analizaron 341 casos de ITU. La mortalidad a 30 días (20,2 frente a 6,7%, p<0,001) y la mayor estancia hospitalaria (5 [4-8] frente a 4 [3-7], p=0,018) se asociaron con LAR≥0,708. LAR no presenta diferencias estadísticamente significativas en comparación con qSOFA y SOFA para predecir la mortalidad a 30 días (AUROC 0,737 frente a 0,832 y 0,777, respectivamente, p=0,119 y 0,496). La sensibilidad de LAR fue similar a la de qSOFA y SOFA (60,8 frente a 84,4 y 82,2%, respectivamente, p=0,746 y 0,837). Sin embargo, su especificidad fue inferior a la del qSOFA (60,8 frente a 75%, p=0,003), pero similar a la del SOFA (60,8 frente a 57,8%, p=0,787). Conclusiones LAR no presenta diferencias significativas con otras puntuaciones bien establecidas en sepsis, como qSOFA y SOFA, para predecir la mortalidad a 30 días en pacientes con ITU complicada (AU)

Background Lactate to albumin ratio (LAR) is an emerging sepsis biomarker that has been tested for mortality in patients with sepsis of different focus. Our goal is to evaluate the prognostic value of LAR in patients admitted to the hospital due to complicated urinary tract infections. Methods Prospective observational study of patients older than 65 years diagnosed with UTI. Area under the ROC curve, sensibility, and specificity to predict 30-day mortality were calculated for LAR, qSOFA and SOFA. Results Three hundred and forty-one UTI cases were analyzed. Thirty-day mortality (20.2 vs. 6.7%, p<0.001) and longer hospital stay (5 [4–8] vs. 4 [3–7], p=0.018) were associated with LAR≥0.708. LAR has no statistically significant differences compared to qSOFA and SOFA for predicting 30-day mortality (AUROC 0.737 vs. 0.832 and 0.777, respectively, p=0.119 and 0.496). The sensitivity of LAR was similar to the sensitivity of qSOFA and SOFA (60.8 vs. 84.4 and 82.2%, respectively, p=0.746 and 0.837). However, its specificity was lower than the specificity of qSOFA (60.8 vs. 75%, p=0.003), but similar to the specificity of SOFA (60.8 vs. 57.8%, p=0.787). Conclusions LAR has no significant differences with other well-stablished scores in sepsis, such as qSOFA and SOFA, to predict 30-day mortality in patients with complicated UTI (AU)

Screening of placenta accreta spectrum disorder using maternal serum biomarkers and clinical indicators: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorder is a major cause of postpartum hemorrhage-associated maternal and fetal death, and novel methods for PAS screening are urgently needed for clinical application. METHODS: The purpose of this study was to develop new methods for PAS screening using serum biomarkers and clinical indicators. A total of 95 PAS cases and 137 controls were enrolled in a case-control study as cohort one, and 44 PAS cases and 35 controls in a prospective nested case-control study were enrolled as cohort two. All subjects were pregnant women of Chinese Han population. Biomarkers for PAS from maternal blood samples were screened based on high-throughput immunoassay and were further validated in three phases of cohort one. Screening models for PAS were generated using maternal serum biomarkers and clinical indicators, and were validated in two cohorts. The expression levels of biomarkers were analyzed using histopathological and immunohistochemical (IHC) techniques, and gene expression was examined by QPCR in the human placenta. Binary logistic regression models were built, and the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and Youden index were calculated. Statistical analyses and model building were performed in SPSS and graphs were generated in GraphPad Prism. The independent-sample t test was used to compare numerical data between two groups. For nonparametric variables, a Mann-Whitney U test or a X2 test was used. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that the serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) were consistently higher, while the level of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) was significantly lower in PAS patients compared with normal term controls and patients with pre-eclampsia (PE) and placenta previa (PP). IHC and QPCR analysis confirmed that the expression of the identified biomarkers significantly changed during the third trimester in human placenta. The generated screening model combining serum biomarkers and clinical indicators detected 87% of PAS cases with AUC of 0.94. CONCLUSIONS: Serum biomarkers can be used for PAS screening with low expense and high clinical performance; therefore, it may help to develop a practicable method for clinical prenatal PAS screening.

Plasma long non-coding RNAs ASMTL-AS1, AP001363.1, AC005730.3 and AL133415.1 as a potential biomarker for Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play critical role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Human plasma contains lncRNAs that are present in the blood, and their disease-specific profile has been considered a potential biomarker in some diseases. METHODS: This study reports screening of the plasma levels of lncRNAs between Alzheimer disease(AD) (n = 45) and matched healthy controls (n = 45). The plasma samples of 5 AD patients and 5 matched healthy controls were randomly selected for expression levels of lncRNAs using the TruSeq RNA Sample Prep Kit (Illumina). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the curve (AUC) were used to study the potential of lncRNAs as biomarkers. RESULTS: The differential expression profiles of plasma showed that 514 lncRNAs were upregulated, whereas 499 lncRNAs were downregulated.We found that the lncRNAs AL133415.1, AC020916.1, ENST00000654948, ASMTL-AS, AC005730.3, and AP001363.1 levels in the plasma of the AD patients were significantly lower compared to the control group (p1 = 0.0006, p2 < 0.001, p3 < 0.001, p4 = 0.039, p5 = 0.006, p6 < 0.001, respectively). ROC curve analysis revealed that the AUC of AL133415.1 was 0.635 (95% CI]: 0.507-0.763, p = 0.036), the AUC of ASMTL-AS1 was 0.658 (95% CI: 0.513-0.785, p = 0.015), the AUC of AC005730.3 was 0.627 (95%CI: 0.498-0.756, p = 0.049), and the AUC of AP001363.1 was 0.708 (95%CI: 0.595-0.822, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study indicated that the plasma levels of the lncRNAs ASMTL-AS1, AP001363.1, AC005730.3, and AL133415.1 might be considered potential biomarkers for AD in the Chinese Population.

Serum levels of serum amyloid A, interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein correlate with severity of hidradenitis suppurativa.

BACKGROUND: Validated biomarkers enabling an objective, dynamic assessment of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) disease severity do not exist. The aim of our study was to determine the serum concentration of four potential biomarkers with respect to HS disease severity. METHODS: We recruited 50 patients with hidradenitis suppurativa. After obtaining informed consent, patients were requested to fill out multiple questionnaires. Severity of HS was determined based on Hurley and Sartorius scores by an experienced dermatologist. Blood sampling included Serum Amyloid A (SAA), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP) and S100 protein (S100) in a certified laboratory. RESULTS: Moderate and statistically significant correlations of SAA, IL-6 and CRP with the clinical scores Hurley and Sartorius were observed. The respective Spearman's correlation coefficients (r) were: Hurley 0.38, 0.46, 0.35 and Sartorius 0.51, 0.48, 0.48. No relevant changes were detected when comparing S100 to both Hurley (r=0.06) and Sartorius (r=0.09). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that an association between SAA, IL-6, CRP and HS disease severity could exist. Further research is needed to define their potential as biomarkers for quantifying and monitoring disease activity and response to treatment.

Pseudohypercreatininemia after surgery for aortic dissection: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Elevated creatinine concentrations often indicate acute renal injury and renal biopsies are considered in this situation. However,pseudohypercreatininemia is potential cause of elevated creatinine concentrations, and invasive interventions should be avoided. CASE PRESENTATION: A 54-year-old woman underwent surgery for descending aortic dissection.Nine days postoperatively, her creatinine concentration increased from 1 mg/dl to 5.78 mg/dl (normal range, 0.47-0.7 mg/dl). Azotemia and hyperkalemia were absent and physical examination findings were unremarkable. Cystatin C concentration was 1.56 mg/l (normal range, 0.56-0.8 mg/l) and pseudohypercreatininemia was suspected. Testing with different reagents showed a creatinine concentration of 0.84 mg/dl. Immunoglobulin (Ig)G was markedly elevated, and creatinine and IgG fluctuated in parallel, suggesting the cause of the pseudohypercreatininemia. IgG4 was also elevated at 844 mg/dl. Immunosuppressive steroid therapy effectively decreased the IgG concentration and resolved the pseudohypercreatininemia. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of elevated creatinine concentration with the presence of abnormal proteins, pseudohypercreatininemia should be considered. We report a rare case of pseudohypercreatininemia caused by polyclonal IgG.

Glycoprotein non-metastatic protein B (GPNMB) plasma values in patients with chronic visceral acid sphingomyelinase deficiency.

Acid sphingomyelinase deficiency (ASMD) is a rare LSD characterized by lysosomal accumulation of sphingomyelin, primarily in macrophages. With the recent availability of enzyme replacement therapy, the need for biomarkers to assess severity of disease has increased. Glycoprotein non-metastatic protein B (GPNMB) plasma levels were demonstrated to be elevated in Gaucher disease. Given the similarities between Gaucher disease and ASMD, the hypothesis was that GPNMB might be a potential biochemical marker for ASMD as well. Plasma samples of ASMD patients were analyzed and GPNMB plasma levels were compared to those of healthy volunteers. Visceral disease severity was classified as severe when splenic, hepatic and pulmonary manifestations were all present and as mild to moderate if this was not the case. Median GPNMB levels in 67 samples of 19 ASMD patients were 185 ng/ml (range 70-811 ng/ml) and were increased compared to 10 healthy controls (median 36 ng/ml, range 9-175 ng/ml, p < 0.001). Median plasma GPNMB levels of ASMD patients with mild to moderate visceral disease compared to patients with severe visceral disease differed significantly and did not overlap (respectively 109 ng/ml, range 70-304 ng/ml and 325 ng/ml, range 165-811 ng/ml, p < 0.001). Correlations with other biochemical markers of ASMD (i.e. chitotriosidase activity, CCL18 and lysosphingomyelin, respectively R = 0.28, p = 0.270; R = 0.34, p = 0.180; R = 0.39, p = 0.100) and clinical parameters (i.e. spleen volume, liver volume, diffusion capacity and forced vital capacity, respectively R = 0.59, p = 0.061, R = 0.5, p = 0.100, R = 0.065, p = 0.810, R = -0.38, p = 0.160) could not be established within this study. The results of this study suggest that GPNMB might be suitable as a biomarker of visceral disease severity in ASMD. Correlations between GPNMB and biochemical or clinical markers of ASMD and response to therapy have to be studied in a larger cohort.

Diagnostic role of CXCL13 biomarker in primary Sjogren's syndrome patients with parotid non-Hodgkin's lymphoma complication / Papel diagnóstico del biomarcador CXCL13 en pacientes con síndrome de Sjogren primario con complicación de linfoma no Hodgkin parotídeo

Introduction Serum biomarkers are important predictive factors for development of parotid non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) complication in primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS) patients. The aim was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of serum CXCL13 chemokine in pSS patients with parotid NHL complication. Material and methods Serum CXCL13 chemokine was assessed in 33 patients with pSS [7 with parotid NHL complication (pSS+NHL subgroup) and 26 without NHL (pSS-NHL subgroup)] and 30 healthy subjects. Results The serum CXCL13 levels in pSS+NHL subgroup [175.2 (107.9–220.4) pg/ml] were significantly higher comparing to the healthy subjects group (p=0.018) and the pSS-NHL subgroup (p=0.048). A cut-off value of 123.45pg/ml (Se=71.4%, Sp=80.8%, AUROC=0.747) was established for parotid lymphoma diagnosis. Conclusion The serum CXCL13 biomarker could be considered a valuable tool for the diagnosis of parotid NHL complication in pSS patients (AU)

Introducción Los biomarcadores séricos son factores predictivos importantes para el desarrollo de complicaciones del linfoma no Hodgkin (LNH) parotídeo en pacientes con síndrome de Sjogren primario (SSp). El objetivo fue evaluar la precisión diagnóstica de la quimiocina sérica CXCL13 en pacientes con SSp con complicación del LNH parotídeo. Material y métodos Se evaluó la quimiocina sérica CXCL13 en 33 pacientes con SSp [7 con complicación de LNH parotídeo (subgrupo SSp+LNH) y 26 sin LNH (subgrupo SSp-LNH)] y 30 sujetos sanos. Resultados Los niveles séricos de CXCL13 en el subgrupo pSS+NHL [175,2 (107,9-220,4) pg/ml] fueron significativamente más altos en comparación con el grupo de sujetos sanos (p=0,018) y el subgrupo pSS-NHL (p=0,048). Se estableció un valor de corte de 123,45 pg/ml (Se=71,4%, Sp=80,8%, AUROC=0,747) para el diagnóstico de linfoma de parótida. Conclusión El biomarcador sérico CXCL13 podría considerarse una herramienta valiosa para el diagnóstico de la complicación del LNH parotídeo en pacientes con SSp (AU)