Disease Markers - Volume 33, issue 1

Authors: Clark, David | Mao, Li

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Biomarker discovery can identify molecular markers in various cancers that can be used for detection, screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of disease progression. Lectin-affinity is a technique that can be used for the enrichment of glycoproteins from a complex sample, facilitating the discovery of novel cancer biomarkers associated with a disease state.

Keywords: Lectins, lectin-affinity, biomarkers, glycosylation, glycoproteins

DOI: 10.3233/DMA-2012-0904

Citation: Disease Markers, vol. 33, no. 1, pp. 1-10, 2012

Authors: Belen, Fatma Burcu | Kocak, Ulker | Albayrak, Meryem | Kaya, Zuhre | Gursel, Turkiz

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Neopterin, a pteridine group compound that is secreted from macrophages is shown to be increased in adult leukemia; however there are few studies in childhood leukemia. This study aimed to investigate neopterin levels during childhood leukemia treatment and neutropenic fever episodes for the possibility of using as a marker for disease activity and differentiation of infections. A total of 44 children with acute leukemia, 19 children with infection (control group 1) and 21 healthy children …(control group 2) were studied. Median serum neopterin level before induction chemotherapy (day 0) in 25 children (patient group 1) was significantly higher (27.7 nmol/L) than those at the beginning of 30 febrile episodes in 19 children in bone marrow remission (2.2 nmol/L) (patient group 2) and in control group 2 (0.4 nmol/L) (p< 0.05). It was (27.7 nmol/L) also significantly higher in control group 1 than in patient group 2 and control group 2 (p< 0.05). Serum neopterin levels at day 15 (2.1 mmol/L) and day 33 (0.4 mmol/L) of induction were significantly lower than day 0 of ALL subgroup at patient group 1. There were no significant difference in neopterin levels between days 0, 3 and 5 of neutropenic fever as well as between patients with microbiologically and/or clinically documented infections and those with fever of unknown origin in patient group 2 (p> 0.05). Serum neopterin did not show significant correlation with absolute neutrophil count and absolute monocyte count (p> 0.05). In conclusion, elevated neopterin at diagnosis of leukemia with decrement during induction therapy suggest that it might be an indicator of leukemic process; however larger studies for its role in identifying infections are warranted. Show more

Keywords: Childhood leukemia, neutropenic fever, neopterin

DOI: 10.3233/DMA-2012-0899

Citation: Disease Markers, vol. 33, no. 1, pp. 11-18, 2012

Authors: Al-Shobaili, Hani A. | Al Robaee, Ahmad A. | Alzolibani, Abdullateef A. | Rasheed, Zafar

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Objectives: This study was undertaken to investigate the role of lipid oxidative-by-product 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE)-modified human serum albumin (HSA), chromatin, reactive oxygen species (ROS)-modified chromatin and nitric oxide (NO)-modified chromatin in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: HSA was modified by HNE. Immunogenicity of modified HSA was probed by inducing polyclonal antibodies in rabbits. Chromatin was isolated from goat liver and modified by ROS or NO. Immunocross-reactions of Protein-A purified anti-HNE-HSA-IgG with chromatin, ROS-chromatin and NO-chromatin were …determined. Autoantibodies from 74 SLE patients were screened. HSA was isolated from SLE patients (SLE-HSA) and immunocross-reactions of isolated SLE-HSA with HNE-specific antibodies were investigated. Results: HNE-HSA was found to be highly immunogenic in rabbits. The notable feature of anti-HNE-HSA-IgG showed cross-reactions with chromatin, ROS-chromatin and NO-chromatin (p< 0.01). High degree of specific binding to HNE-HSA, chromatin, ROS-chromatin or NO-chromatin was observed with antibodies from 55% of SLE patients. SLE anti-native/ oxidized chromatin antibodies showed specificity towards HNE-HSA. Furthermore, SLE-HSA showed binding with HNE-specific antibodies. Conclusions: This is the first study to demonstrate that chromatin and its oxidized forms have been recognized by antibodies against HNE modified epitopes. Our results provide an important insight into the immunological basis of the reported HNE-modified epitopes in SLE. Show more

Keywords: Systemic lupus erythematosus, autoimmunity, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, chromatin, free radicals

DOI: 10.3233/DMA-2012-0900

Citation: Disease Markers, vol. 33, no. 1, pp. 19-34, 2012

Authors: Chen, Jin | Kam-Tao, Philip | Kwan, Bonnie Ching-Ha | Chow, Kai-Ming | Lai, Ka-Bik | Luk, Cathy Choi-Wan | Szeto, Cheuk-Chun

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Background: The role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in peritoneal transport is uncertain. Methods: We studied 82 new peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, 22 prevalent patients without ultrafiltration problem, and 6 patients with documented ultrafiltration problem. Peritoneal transport was determined by standard peritoneal equilibration test (PET). RNA was extracted from the PD effluent after PET, and intra-peritoneal expression of miRNA targets were quantified. Results: There were significant difference in the PDE expressions of …miR-15a and miR-21. There were modest inverse correlations between ultrafiltration volume and PDE expression of miR-17 (r= −0.198, p =0.041) and miR-377 (r=−0.201, p=0.041). There was an inverse correlations between dialysate-to-plasma creatinine concentration at 4 hours and PDE expression of miR-192 (r=−0.199, p=0.040); while mass transfer area coefficient of creatinine correlated with PDE expression of miR-192 (r=−0.191, p=0.049) and miR-377 (r=0.201, p=0.041). Amongst 7 randomly selected patients who had repeat PET after one year, there was a significant correlation between baseline PDE expression of miR-377 and change in ultrafiltration volume (r=−0.852, p=0.015). Conclusion: The miRNA expression in PDE, including miR-15a, miR-17, miR-21, miR-30, miR-192, and miR-377, correlated with peritoneal transport characteristics. Our result suggests that miRNA may play a role in the regulation of peritoneal membrane function. Show more

Keywords: Gene expression, chronic renal failure, peritoneal equilibration test

DOI: 10.3233/DMA-2012-0901

Citation: Disease Markers, vol. 33, no. 1, pp. 35-42, 2012

Authors: , Anna | Vašků, | Meluzín, Jaroslav | Blahák, Jan | Kincl, Vladimír | Pávková Goldbergová, Monika | Sitar , Jan | Zlámal, Filip | Bienertová-Vašků, Julie | Vítovec, Jiří

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Atherosclerosis as a main etiopathogenetic source for coronary artery disease (CAD) development is intimately related to dynamic changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM). Elevated levels of MMP-13 have been observed in human atherosclerotic plaques which could also involve variability in MMP-13 gene. The aim of the study was to associate rs640198 polymorphism with CAD and/or with its severity. The study comprised 1071 consecutive patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease (CAD), confirmed …by coronary angiography. Genotyping for the rs640198 polymorphism in MMP-13 gene was performed using Taqman® assay. The TT and TG genotypes of rs640198 polymorphism in MMP-13 gene confer the significantly increased risk of triple vessel disease compared to patients without atherosclerotic lesions in coronary arteries (odds ratio=1.64, Pcorr=0.05). Furthermore, an increased risk of having 5 and more stenoses (odds ratio=1.90, Pcorr=0.004) was observed in TT and TG carriers (sensitivity of 0.613 and a specificity of 0.544; power of the test is 0.87). The T allele of MMP-13 intron polymorphism rs640198 is associated with the severity of coronary artery disease, represented by the number of affected arteries as well as by the number of stenoses confirmed by coronarography. Show more

Keywords: MMP-13, CAD, rs640198, severity

DOI: 10.3233/DMA-2012-0902

Citation: Disease Markers, vol. 33, no. 1, pp. 43-49, 2012

Authors: Rocha, Gustavo | Proença, Elisa | Guedes, Ana | Carvalho, Carmen | Areias, Augusta | Ramos, João Pedro | Rodrigues, Teresa | Guimarães, Hercília

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Introduction: Various cytokines have been associated to the occurrence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm neonates. AIM: To establish an association between cord blood cytokines and BPD, so that they could be used, in clinical practice, as early markers of BPD. Material and methods: Preterms less than 30 weeks gestational age, were analysed by ELISA microassay for venous cord blood IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and IL-10, and compared between the BPD and non-BPD groups. …Results: One hundred and fifty neonates completed the study; 31 (21%) small for gestational age (SGA); 16 were deceased before 28 days of life; 36 developed mild BPD and 20 developed moderate/severe BPD. Elevated cord blood IL-8 was associated with death or moderate/severe BPD. SGA patients with moderate/severe BPD presented higher cord blood values of IL-8, lower IL-6 and IL-10 when compared with SGA without moderate/severe BPD; and higher IL-8 levels when compared with patients without moderate/severe BPD. Conclusion: These results support an association between cord blood IL-8 and moderate/severe BPD, independently of the intra-uterine growth; and the association of cord blood IL-6 and IL-10 and moderate/severe BPD in SGA preterm newborns. Show more

Keywords: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia, cytokines, inflammation, small for gestational age, preterm newborn

DOI: 10.3233/DMA-2012-0903

Citation: Disease Markers, vol. 33, no. 1, pp. 51-60, 2012