Background And Objective: Toenail is an advantageous biomarker to assess exposure to metals such as manganese and mercury. Toenail Mn and Hg are in general analyzed by chemical methods such as ICP-MS and AAS. In this project, a practical and convenient technology - portable x-ray florescence (XRF) - is studied for the non-invasive in vivo quantification of manganese and mercury in toenail. Read More
a Department of Clinical Sciences, Respiratory Medicine and Allergology , Lund University , Lund , Sweden.
Background: Club cell protein (CC16) is a pneumoprotein secreted by epithelial club cells. CC16 possesses anti-inflammatory properties and is a potential biomarker for airway epithelial damage. We studied the effect of inhaled allergen on pulmonary and systemic CC16 levels. Read More
Objective: We present an ultra-sensitive, minimally-invasive method for quantifying cotinine in dried blood spot (DBS) samples as a biomarker of exposure to tobacco smoke that can be collected using a simple heel or finger prick to obtain blood samples.
Methods: Cotinine levels were measured in matched plasma and reconstituted DBS samples from smokers and nonsmokers to evaluate assay parameters. In addition, we applied this new method to finger-prick DBS samples that were collected from infants, children and young adults ages 1-21 to estimate exposure to tobacco smoke. Read More
b Department of Prevention and Control for Occupational Disease , Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Prevention and Control , Nanjing , Jiangsu , China.
Context: Acute or chronic exposure of N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) is responsible for abnormal liver function. It appears that DMAc is mainly metabolized by cytochrome P450 in the liver and thereby produces reactive oxygen species (ROS). The elimination of ROS and the repairing of ROS-induced DNA damage are relevant to the ultimate toxicity of DMAc. Read More
Context: Nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles (NPs) with appropriate surface chemistry have been widely used for their potential new applications in biomedical industry. Increased usage of these NPs enhances the chance of exposure of personnel involved in the work place.
Objective: This study was designed to assess the ability of NiO NPs to cause biochemical alterations post-acute oral exposure in female Wistar rats. Read More
Context: Histone modifications regulate gene expression; dysregulation has been linked with cardiovascular diseases. Associations between histone modification levels and blood pressure in humans are unclear.
Objective: We examine the relationship between global histone concentrations and various markers of blood pressure. Read More
Background: Suitable biomarkers that have prognostic values are one of the key points of interest in ischaemic stroke. Increased sympathetic nervous system activity in ischaemic stroke causes multiple local and systemic effects that can be detrimental to the outcome. The mechanism of action is increased secretion and activity of catecholamines, whose end metabolic products are vanillylmandelic acid and homovanilic acid. Read More
Context: Genetics play a major role in development and pathophysiology of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Objective: To asses the association of Guanine nucleotide-binding protein (GNB3) (C825T) gene's polymorphism with T2DM.
Materials And Methods: A case-control study including 400 North Indians was performed using Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) approach to analyze genetic polymorphism. Read More
Biomarkers 2017 Sep 19;22(6):566-574. Epub 2017 Jun 19.
a Université Clermont Auvergne, Institut Universitaire de Technologie de Clermont-Fd INSERM, UMR 1240 Imagerie Moléculaire et Stratégies Théranostiques , Clermont Ferrand , France.
Context: P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is a ubiquitous membrane detoxification pump involved in cellular defence against xenobiotics. Blood is a hub for the trade and transport of physiological molecules and xenobiotics. Our recent studies have highlighted the expression of a 140-kDa P-gp in brown trout erythrocytes in primary cell culture and its dose-dependent response to Benzo[a]pyrene pollutant. Read More
Biomarkers 2017 Sep 21;22(6):489-501. Epub 2017 Jun 21.
a Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions , The State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo , Buffalo , NY , USA.
Purpose: This review focuses on studies among pregnant women that used biomarkers to assess air pollution exposure, or to understand the mechanisms by which it affects perinatal outcomes.
Methods: We searched PubMed and Google scholar databases to find articles.
Results And Conclusions: We found 29 articles, mostly consisting of cohort studies. Read More
Context: Methylation reactions are particularly important in the brain and their inhibition can lead to a number of serious pathologies. Multiple sclerosis is one of the most common neurological disorders caused by interaction of genetic and environmental factors, but little is known about its cause or factors that contribute to the disorder. Although multiple sclerosis is primarily regarded as demyelinating disorder, there are no many articles focusing on methionine determination. Read More
Introduction: Although the association between periodontal disease (PD) and adverse pregnancy outcomes has gained recognition amongst antenatal healthcare workers, not much has changed in practice to address it. This prospective study tested the hypothesis that BANA (N-benzoyl-DL-arginine-2-naphthylamide), a diagnostic test for PD, may inform obstetricians and other antenatal healthcare practitioners, of the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in mothers attending antenatal clinics.
Methods: At first visit, the presence of suspected periodontopathogens was assessed by BANA testing of dental plaque from 443 mothers attending antenatal clinics in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and an association later sought with pregnancy outcomes. Read More
a Pharmacotherapeutics Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences , Universiti Putra Malaysia , Serdang , Selangor , Malaysia.
Context: Rash and oral mucositis are major non-haematological adverse events (AEs) of docetaxel, in addition to fatigue, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, which restrict the use of the drug in cancer therapy. Alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AAG) is an acute phase reactant glycoprotein and is a primary carrier of docetaxel in the blood. Docetaxel has extensive binding (>98%) to plasma proteins such as AAG, lipoproteins and albumin. Read More
Background: Cardiac-specific troponin T (cTnT) and troponin I (cTnI) are considered diagnostically equal in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The aim of this systematic review was to compare the prevalence and prognostic strength of elevations of cTnT and cTnI in patients with other conditions than ACS.
Methods: A systemic review was conducted in concordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Read More
Purpose: To describe the baseline, 1 hr and delta high sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTnT) values in patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction (AMI) but without a final acute coronary syndrome (ACS) diagnosis.
Materials And Methods: hs-cTnT assay for RAPID rule out of acute myocardial infarction (TRAPID-AMI) was a prospective diagnostic trial that enrolled emergency department (ED) patients with suspected AMI. Final patient diagnoses were adjudicated by a clinical events committee and subjects placed in different clinical groups: AMI, unstable angina, non-ACS cardiac, non-cardiac and unknown origin. Read More
Purpose: Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) exists as two isoforms, 5a and 5b. TRAP 5a is elevated in adipose tissue of obese women, interacts with pre-adipocytes and is linked to insulin-sensitive hyperplastic obesity when overexpressed in mice. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between serum TRAP 5a, adiposity indices and metabolic syndrome risk markers in lean and obese women, using a newly developed TRAP 5a-specific ELISA. Read More
Context: Hospital workers are at risk for genotoxic damage following occupationally exposure to xenobiotics. Pathologists are exposed to chemicals during their use in health care environments, particularly throughout inhalation of airborne agents, absorption through skin or contact with the patient's body fluids.
Objective: We evaluated the level of genomic damage in a sample of 61 hospital pathologists (occupationally exposed to antineoplastic drugs and sterilizing agents) and 60 control subjects. Read More
Objective: We tested the hypothesis that early measurement of galectin-3 at the emergency department (ED) during an episode of acute heart failure (AHF) allows predicting short- and long-term outcomes.
Methods: We performed an exploratory study including 115 patients consecutively diagnosed with AHF in a single ED. Clinical and analytical variables were recorded. Read More
Objective: To evaluate whether the urinary HSP72 levels (uHSP72) are a useful biomarker for early diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) induced by two widely used drugs: cisplatin and acetaminophen.
Materials And Methods: To analyze the time-course of nephrotoxic injury and uHSP72 levels, male Wistar rats were administered a single high dose of cisplatin (7 mg/kg) or acetaminophen (750 mg/kg) and were assessed at 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h.
Results: AKI induced by cisplatin was characterized by tubular injury that started at 6 h and was enhanced after 48 h. Read More
a Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine , Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society , Bangkok , Thailand.
Context: The associations between serum leptin, vitamin D status, sarcopenic obesity, muscle strength and physical performance in osteoarthritis (OA) remain uncertain.
Objective: To analyse the relationships between serum leptin, vitamin D status, muscle strength and physical performance in OA patients.
Methods: A total of 208 knee OA patients were enrolled. Read More
Objective: this work evaluates the expression of several biomarker genes (i.e. CAT, HSPs, MT10, p53, GSTpi, ER1/2) in Mytilus galloprovincialis native specimens to identify pollution related transcriptional changes. Read More
a Cooperation Group Comprehensive Molecular Analytics, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen - German Research Centre for Environmental Health GmbH , Neuherberg , Germany.
Objective: The influence of different exposures to PM2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter below 2.5 μm) on the concentrations of biomarkers of exposure and oxidative stress should be investigated. Read More
Context: Non-invasive markers for diagnosis of acute rejection (AR) following liver transplantation have not been developed, yet.
Objective: We analyzed the correlation of plasma microparticle levels (MP) with AR.
Materials And Methods: MP (CD4, CD8, CD25, CD31, MHC) of 11 AR patients and 11 controls were analyzed within the first week after transplantation. Read More
Purpose: Since oxidative stress involves a variety of cellular changes, no single biomarker can serve as a complete measure of this complex biological process. The analytic technique of structural equation modeling (SEM) provides a possible solution to this problem by modelling a latent (unobserved) variable constructed from the covariance of multiple biomarkers.
Methods: Using three pooled datasets, we modelled a latent oxidative stress variable from five biomarkers related to oxidative stress: F2-isoprostanes (FIP), fluorescent oxidation products, mitochondrial DNA copy number, γ-tocopherol (Gtoc) and C-reactive protein (CRP, an inflammation marker closely linked to oxidative stress). Read More
Context: Clinical study of breast cancer patients in Chicago, IL, USA.
Objective: Ascertain the utility of measurements of single-strand breaks (SSB) in DNA for assessment of breast cancer risk.
Methods: Fine-needle aspirates of the breast, SSB by nick translation, percent breast density (PBD), Gail model risk, cumulative methylation index (CMI), enzymes of DNA repair and tissue antioxidants. Read More
Context: Circulating MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as novel biomarkers for tumour.
Objective: Evaluate the diagnostic potential of plasma miR-200b-3p in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
Materials And Methods: miR-200b-3p was detected by qRT-PCR in paired pre-operative and post-operative plasmas from 80 OSCC patients and 80 healthy controls. Read More
Background: Some patients have good prognosis despite elevated B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), while others have ominous outcome with low BNP. We aimed at characterising these groups of patients.
Methods: We analysed patients prospectively included in an acute HF registry. Read More
Biomarkers 2017 May - Jun;22(3-4):200-209. Epub 2017 Feb 14.
b Neurovascular Research Laboratory , Vall d'Hebron University Hospital Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.
Purpose: To determine levels of urinary aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in children and correlate the concentrations with previously reported aflatoxin albumin adduct (AF-alb) levels in these children.
Materials And Methods: Matched urine and blood samples were collected from 84 Tanzanian children aged 6-14 months old. From 31 children in one village (Kigwa), samples were collected at three time points six months apart. Read More
Purpose: The objective of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic properties of urinary biomarkers in adults with ureteropelvic junction obstruction: KIM-1, NGAL, CA19-9, and β2-microglobulin. We also assessed urinary biomarker concentrations following pyeloplasty.
Material And Methods: We prospectively studied adults from December 2013 to February 2015. Read More
Context: Diabetes is a growing global metabolic epidemic. Current research is focussing on exploring how the biological processes and clinical outcomes of diabetes are related and developing novel biomarkers to measure these relationships, as this can subsequently improve diagnostic, therapeutic and management capacity.
Objective: The objective of this study is to identify the most recent advances in molecular biomarkers of diabetes and directions that warrant further research. Read More
Purpose: Diagnostic and prognostic evaluation remains challenging in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). We measured plasma concentration of soluble ST2 (sST2) and assessed its association with right ventricular (RV) function and ventricular arrhythmias in patients with ARVC.
Methods: We included patients with ARVC and genotype positive relatives. Read More
Context: Carboxymethyl-lysine (CML) results from oxidative stress and has been linked to cardiovascular disease.
Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the association between sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) - a source of oxidative stress - and CML.
Materials And Methods: About 1002 participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) were studied. Read More
Biomarkers 2017 May - Jun;22(3-4):383-386. Epub 2017 Jan 25.
a Department of Cardiology , Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center affiliated with the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University , Tel-Aviv , Israel.
Context: There is a known association between C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and adverse outcomes in patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The optimal time frame to measure CRP for risk stratification is not known.
Objective: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the relation between the change in CRP velocity (CRPv) and 30-d mortality among STEMI patients. Read More
b Centro de Investigacion e Innovacion Tecnologica Industrial, Unidad Academica de Ingenieria Electrica, Universidad Autonoma de Zacatecas , Zacatecas , Mexico.
Background: Preeclampsia, a pregnancy disorder characterized by hypertension and proteinuria, represents the leading cause of fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality in developing countries. The identification of novel and accurate biomarkers that are predictive of preeclampsia is necessary to improve the prognosis of patients with preeclampsia.
Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of nine urinary metalloproteinases to predict the risk of preeclampsia development. Read More
Purpose: Circulating chromogranin B (CgB) levels are increased in situations characterized by systemic and myocardial stress, but whether CgB provides prognostic information in patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF) is unknown.
Methods: We included 584 patients with ARF, defined as ventilatory support >6 h, and with blood samples available on Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission and day 3 (n = 479). CgB levels were measured by radioimmunoassay and follow-up was 90 days. Read More
Context: Determining the disease's inflammatory activity in spondyloarthritis (SpA) is difficult although very important as it is this that drives treatment.
Objective: To investigate if plasma pentraxin-3 (PTX3) could act as an inflammatory marker in SpA.
Methods: Eighty one SpA patients (11 with psoriatic arthritis (PsoA) and 70 with ankylosing spondylitis (AS)) and 90 gender and age paired controls were studied for plasma PTX3 levels by ELISA. Read More
Objective: To compare chromosomal damage in lymphocytes of individuals who did or did not report first-degree relatives with cancer.
Materials And Methods: Cases and controls (68 each) were matched for sex, age and radon exposure. Chromosomal damage was quantified as frequency of micronucleus-containing cells and proportion of centromere-free micronuclei. Read More
Context: Prevalence of smoking is needed to estimate the need for future public health resources.
Objective: To compute and compare smoking prevalence rates by using self-reported smoking statuses, two serum cotinine (SCOT) based biomarker methods, and one urinary 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) based biomarker method. These estimates were then used to develop correction factors to be applicable to self-reported prevalences to arrive at corrected smoking prevalence rates. Read More
Purpose: We aimed to determine whether serum procalcitonin (PCT) values could help in identifying flu in patient admitted to the emergency department (ED) with influenza-like illness (ILI) during influenza A(H1N1)2009 pandemic.
Methods: An observational retrospective cohort study was performed in a referral ED for emerging infectious diseases. All patients tested for influenza A(H1N1)2009 by Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and procalcitonin between June 2009 and January 2010 were analyzed. Read More
Context: About 50-70% of patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) experience relapse of disease.
Objective: To establish a panel of protein biomarkers incorporated in a multiplexed microarray (BCa chip) and a classifier for diagnosing recurrent NMIBC.
Materials And Methods: Urine samples from 45 patients were tested. Read More
Context: Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHLD) is a rare inherited neoplastic syndrome. Among all the VHLD-associated tumors, clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the major cause of death.
Objective: The aim of this paper is the discovery of new non-invasive biomarker for the monitoring of VHLD patients. Read More
Biomarkers 2017 Jul 12;22(5):470-475. Epub 2017 Jan 12.
a Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health , Sun Yat-sen University , Guangzhou , China.
Objective: This study aims to assess the effects of low-dose benzene on DNA damage and O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) methylation in occupational workers.
Materials And Methods: We recruited 96 nonsmoking male petrochemical industry workers exposed to low-dose benzene and 100 matched control workers. Urinary S-phenylmercapturic acid (SPMA) and S-benzylmercapturic acid (SBMA) were measured for indicating internal exposure of benzene and toluene. Read More
Purpose: Using transrenal DNA to detect KRAS mutations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the study addressed the clinical impact for longitudinal monitoring and prognostic value for disease outcome.
Methods: Digital droplet PCR was used to detect the mutant DNA. A total of 200 NSCLC patients were recruited with varying molecular profiles. Read More