Journal of Medical Biochemistry最新文献

Background: COVID-19 is a new pandemic that has infected millions of people worldwide and caused a high morbidity and mortality rate. COVID-19 may have a harmful effect on organs, especially the kidneys. Aims: The main aim of our research is to study the association between the severity of COVID-19 disease and biochemical parameters related to kidney function and to investigate certain risk factors of COVID-19-associated kidney disease.

Methods: A total of 174 individuals, 121 COVID-19 positive and 53 COVID-19 negative, were enrolled in this study. The relation between COVID-19 infection, severity, kidney function test, and hematological indicators were examined.

Results: The most prominent symptoms among COVID-19 were fever (95% ) and fatigue (92%). Regarding biochemical parameters, median creatinine, MPV, and CRP were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients, whereas median eGFR, Na+, WBC, MCH, MCHC, and eosinophil percentages were significantly lower in this group. Severely infected patients were observed to have higher urea, creatinine, neutrophils, and NLR. However, median sodium, eGFR, hemoglobin, hematocrit, RBC, lymphocytes, and platelet count were significantly lower in the severe group. Urine examination of the severe group showed a significantly lower specific gravity, while urine pH, protein, and glucose were significantly higher.

Conclusions: Our analysis indicates that COVID-19 infection affects kidney function, mainly creatinine level, urea, eGFR, Na+ and urine protein. Additionally, comorbidities such as older age (>65), hypertension, taking medications, and CRP (>33.55 mg/L) are considered risk factors that are more likely to contribute to kidney impairment in COVID-19 positive patients.

Background: Lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the most serious complications in the development of systemic lupus erythematosus, that can adversely affect the course and prognosis of this autoimmune disease. Therefore, monitoring the effect of applied therapy, achieving remission, or monitoring class IV LN activity is still a great challenge for nephrologists. This study aimed to compare the urinary neutrophile gelatinase associated lipocalin (u/NGAL) with traditionally accepted parameters for LNactivity to indicate the importance of its determination in these patients.

Methods: The study group consisted of 40 patients with class IV LN, who were prospectively followed for a period of 4 months within three control visits to 2 months. The first group (20/40) had active disease (Group A), and the second group had diseasein remission (Group B). The parameters we monitored and compared at each visit were standard biochemical parameters and kidney function parameters: C-reactive protein (CRP), blood count (CBC), creatinine, total proteins, albumin, cholesterol, triglycerides, glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Regarding immune parameters, complement C3 and C4, antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-double stranded DNA antibody(anti ds DNA Ab) were monitored. Urine sediment, proteinuria 24h, urine culture, urinary protein/creatinine ratio - Up/Cre, and urinary NGAL (u/NGAL) were monitored in.

Results: Comparing standard parameters of disease activity and u/NGAL between groups, a statistically significant difference was obtained (p < 0.001). Within Group A, comparing the parameters by visits (0 : 2) for anti-ds-DNA Ab a significance of p< 0.05 was obtained, for albumin/s and C3 a significance of p<0.01 was obtained, and proteinuria/24h, Up/Cre, u/NGAL had a significance of p < 0.001. The mean level of u/NGAL was elevated at the initially visit (173.25 ± 172.12 ng/mL), after two months 73.2 ± 48.7 ng/mL, and in the second visit a lower level was recorded (49.60 ± 72.57 ng/mL). The negative correlation of u/NGAL was statistically significant at initial visit with albumin/s (p< 0.01) as well as the positive correlation with proteinuria 24h and Up/Cre (p< 0.001). In visit 2 significant negative correlation of u/NGAL with albumin/s and C3 p< 0.05, and positive correlation with anti-ds-DNA Ab, proteinuria 24h and Up/Cre p < 0.001.

Conclusions: The results of our study indicate that the level of u/N GLA is elevated in patients with active Lupus nephritis class IV, as well as that it correlates with other parameters of disease activity. Serial determination of u/NGAL could be significant in monitoring disease course and treatment.

Background: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a progressive form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The diagnostic gold standard for detecting NASH still relies upon an invasive pathological biopsy. There is, therefore, a need to identify non-invasive diagnostic markers. Oxidative stress mediates fatty liver progression to NASH. Imbalanced iron metabolism produces many reactive oxygen species (ROS). Ceruloplasmin is associated with oxidase and iron metabolism-related activities. The current study aimed to determine whether there was a correlation between ceruloplasmin levels and NASH and whether such a relationship may be associated with altered iron metabolism in NASH patients.

Methods: A total of 135 NAFLD patients were enrolled in this study. A pathological biopsy confirmed that 60 of those patients had NAFLD activity scores (NAS) 5, while the remaining 75 had NAS<5.

Results: Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves confirmed that serum ceruloplasmin and ferritin levels were predictors of NAS 5 and NAS<5, with area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.80 and 0.81, respectively. The serum ceruloplasmin levels in NAS 5 patients were significantly lower than those in NAS<5 patients (p< 0.001). Serum ceruloplasmin levels were also negatively correlated with ferritin levels. Lower serum ceruloplasmin levels were associated with more severe histopathological findings.

Conclusions: Low serum ceruloplasmin and high serum ferritin are correlated with NASH. A high concentration of serum ferritin is a viable clinical biomarker of NASH, and low serum ceruloplasmin may participate in the occurrence of NASH by regulating iron load, which can be used as a non-invasive diagnostic marker of NASH.

Background: We intended to investigate the role and regulatory mechanism of EPS8L3 in increase the development of pancreatic cancer (PC).

Methods: In order to analyze the relationship between EPS8L3 level and clinicopathological indicators of PC patients, qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of EPS8L3 in tumor specimens of 40 PC patients. EPS8L3 knockdown models were then constructed in PC cell lines. Furthermore, the effect of EPS8L3 on PC cell function was analyzed by CCK-8 and Transwell assay. Dual luciferase reporter gene assay and recovery assay were used to further investigate the underlying mechanism.

Results: qRT-PCR results indicated that EPS8L3 was highly expressed in PC tissues compared with adjacent ones. At the same time, the incidence of distant metastasis was higher in PC patients with high EPS8L3 level. In vitro analysis such as CCK-8 and Transwell experimentations indicated that knockdown of EPS8L3 markedly inhibited the proliferative and metastatic ability. Bio-informatics together with luciferase report assay proposing that EPS8L3 can target GSK3B. Western Blot results revealed that knockdown of EPS8L3 markedly reduced the GSK3B expression in PC cells, and there was a positively associated between the two in PC cells. In addition, the recovery experimentation proved that EPS8L3 and GSK3B have a mutual regulation effect. Overexpression of GSK3B can reversal the prohibitive effect of EPS8L3 knockdown on the malignant development of PC cells, thereby jointly regulating the occurrence and development of PC.

Conclusions: EPS8L3 promotes the development of PC by regulating GSK3B, suggesting that EPS8L3 can be used as a biomarker for early diagnosis and treatment of PC.

Background: Serum osmolality can be measured (Omeas) or calculated (Ocal). Many formulas for Ocal have been already published, but data regarding the most accurate equation in small babies is not available. Thus, we aim to compare Omeas and Ocal obtained by different formulas in newborns and small children.

Methods: The study included 280 serum samples taken from children, from the first day of life to 2 years (mean age 8.2 ± 7.6 months) treated in the University Children's Hospital in Krakow. The serum osmolality was measured by osmometer and calculated by 8 common formulas.

Results: The mean value of Omeas (2 8 5 .8 ± 5 .1 mOsm/kgH2O) was significantly different as compared to the mean values of Ocal (p< 0.01) for all formulas, except Ocal obtained by the formula: 1.86*(N a + K) +1.15*Glu + Urea + 14. According to Bland-Altman analysis, this formula showed the best performance for estimating osmolality. In children under 3 months of life Passing-Bablok regression indicated both systematic and proportional error for results obtained by each formula compared to the measured values.

Conclusions: To calculate osmolarity in children aged between 3 months and 2 years old the following equation: 1 .86*(N a + K) + 1.1 5*G lu+ U rea+ 14 might be used, whereas serum osmolality in children up to 3 month of life should be measured.

Background: The investigation of the prevalence of the IgG and the IgM isotypes of anticardiolipin (aCL) and antib2glycoprotein I (ab2gpI) Abs in healthy Serbian middleaged subjects was the main goal of our study. In addition, we analyzed the potential associations of above-mentioned Abs with serum proteins and lipids/lipoproteins.

Methods: Forty healthy subjects were included in our study. Obesity (BMI 30 kg/m2) was present in 8/40 (20%) subjects. Titers of analyzed Abs were measured by ELISA.

Results: The prevalence of IgG and IgM ab2gpI Abs was 5% and 12.5%, respectively, while the prevalence of IgM aCL was 10%. The IgG ab2gpI Abs were significantly different between subjects with normal triglycerides levels and those with hypertriglyceridemia (Mann-Whitney, P = 0.014). The significant difference in hsCRP concentrations was observed between subjects with the increased levels of the IgM isotype of aCL Abs and those with normal IgM aCL values (Mann-Whitney, P = 0.028).

Conclusions: Dyslipidemia and BMI ≥30 were associated with aPL Abs and therefore, the correction of BMI and lipid status might be beneficial in reduction or elimination of predisposing factors that might trigger thrombotic events in otherwise healthy middle-aged subjects. Larger national study is necessary to confirm our findings.

Background: To investigate the relationship between irisin levels in serum and classification of subtype of acute ischemic stroke, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and Modified Rankin Score (mRS) at the time of discharge from the hospital in Turkish patients who had their first acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

Methods: Serum irisin levels were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) 180 patients who applied to emergency department with the diagnosis of AIS from May 2021 to November 2021.

Results: A significant relationship was found between serum irisin levels and ischemic stroke aetiological factors (TAOST) (p=0.017). Increased serum irisin levels were detected in patients without neurological deficits with localization value than those with it (p<0.01). Serum irisin levels also have a negative correlation with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) value in ischemic stroke (r: -0.272, p<0.01).

Conclusions: High serum irisin levels found in patients with stroke attributed to small vessel disease and in patients with ischemic stroke in whom we did not find any neurological deficits with a localization value. The results of the study show that serum irisin levels have an important role in the etiology of ischemic stroke. Although the question how the irisin is involved in the course of ischemic stroke and what the clinical reflection has not been answered, these findings are a pioneering study on this subject.

Background: Amino acids have an important role in metabolism and may affect COVID-19-related outcomes. In our study, the amino acid serum level of hospitalized COVID19 patients was evaluated to determine a new treatment strategy.

Methods: The amino acid profile covering 43 amino acids in 68 subjects, comprising 30 (14 men and 16 women) controls and 38 (16 men and 22 women) COVID-19 patients, were examined. The amino acid profiles of the participants were screened by LC-MS/MS.

Results: Compared with the control group, serum levels of 27 amino acids increased in the patient group. Alpha-aminopimelic acid, sarcosine, and hydroxyproline amino acids were considerably higher in the control group than in the patient group (p<0.0001). There was no notable difference among control group and the case group for 13 amino acids (p≥0.05). A significant positive correlation was seen among the control and the patient groups in the mean amino acid values (r=0.937; p<0.0001).

Conclusions: These results postulated a clear picture on the serum levels of amino acid in the COVID-19 patients. Serum amino acids measured in hospitalized COVID-19 patients can explain the patient's metabolic status during the disease.

Background: The present study is aimed at reviewing and meta-analyzing the currently published data on the diagnostic accuracy of Ortho VITROS SARS-CoV-2 antigen test for diagnosing acute SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Methods: An electronic search was conducted in Scopus and Medline with the keywords "VITROS" AND "antigen" AND "COVID-19" OR "SARS-CoV-2" AND "immunoassay" within the search fields "TITLE" AND "ABSTRACT" AND "KEYWORDS", without no date (i.e., up to January 23, 2022) or language restrictions, aimed at detecting documents reporting the diagnostic accuracy of this SARSCoV-2 immunoassay compared with reference molecular diagnostic methods.

Results: Overall, 5 studies (n=2734 samples) were finally included in our pooled analysis, four of which also provided diagnostic sensitivity in oro-and nasopharyngeal samples with high viral load. The pooled cumulative diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 0.82 (95%CI, 0.78-0.86) and 1.00 (95%CI, 1.00-1.00), respectively, whilst the area under the curve was 0.995 (95%CI, 0.993-0.997), the cumulative agreement 97.2% (95%CI, 96.5-97.8%), with 0.89 (95%CI, 0.86-0.91) kappa statistics, thus reflecting an almost perfect concordance with reference molecular biology techniques. The pooled diagnostic sensitivity in samples with high viral load was as high as 0.98 (95%CI, 0.96-0.99).

Conclusions: These results confirm that the automated and high-throughput Ortho VITROS SARS-CoV-2 antigen test may represent a valuable surrogate of molecular testing for diagnosing acute SARS-CoV-2 infections, especially in subjects with high viral load.