Unravelling inulin molecules in food sources using a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization magnetic resonance mass spectrometry (MALDI-MRMS) pipeline.

Inulin, a polysaccharide characterized by a β-2,1 fructosyl-fructose structure terminating in a glucosyl moiety, is naturally present in plant roots and tubers. Current methods provide average degrees of polymerization (DP) but lack information on the distribution and absolute concentration of each DP. To address this limitation, a reproducible (CV < 10 %) high throughput (<2 min/sample) MALDI-MRMS approach capable of characterizing and quantifying inulin molecules in plants using matched-matrix consisting of α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid butylamine salt (CHCA-BA), chicory inulin-C and inulin-C was developed.

The Rapidly Expanding Nexus of Immunoglobulin G N-Glycomics, Suboptimal Health Status, and Precision Medicine.

Immunoglobulin G is a prevalent glycoprotein, whose downstream immune responses are partially mediated by the N-glycans within the fragment crystallisable domain. Collectively termed the N-glycome, it is considered a complex intermediate phenotype: an amalgamation of genetic predisposition, environmental exposure, and health behaviours over the life-course. Thus, the immunoglobulin G N-glycome may provide an indication of health status on the spectrum from health to disease and infirmary.

N-glycosylation profiling of Type 2 diabetes mellitus from baseline to follow-up: an observational study in a Ghanaian population.

The study sought to determine the patterns of N-glycan profiles among Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients over a 6-month period. Biochemical and clinical data were obtained from 253 T2DM patients at baseline and follow-up. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography and statistical methods were applied for N-glycan profiling.

Utilization of N-glycosylation profiles as risk stratification biomarkers for suboptimal health status and metabolic syndrome in a Ghanaian population.

The study sought to apply N-glycosylation profiles to understand the interplay between suboptimal health status (SHS) and metabolic syndrome (MetS). In this study, 262 Ghanaians were recruited from May to July 2016. After completing a health survey, plasma samples were collected for clinical assessments while ultra performance liquid chromatography was used to measure plasma N-glycans.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is Associated with the Immunoglobulin G N-Glycome through Putative Proinflammatory Mechanisms in an Australian Population.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a common complex trait arising from interactions among multiple environmental, genomic, and postgenomic factors. We report here the first attempt to investigate the association between immunoglobulin G (IgG) N-glycan patterns, T2DM, and their clinical risk factors in an Australian population. N-glycosylation of proteins is one of the most frequently observed co- and post-translational modifications, reflecting, importantly, the real-time status of the interplay between the genomic and postgenomic factors.

Increased central adiposity is associated with pro-inflammatory immunoglobulin G N-glycans.

Background: Increased body fat may be associated with an increased risk of developing an underlying pro-inflammatory state, thus leading to greater risk of developing certain chronic conditions. Immunoglobulin G has the ability to exert both anti- and pro-inflammatory effects, and the N-glycosylation of the fragment crystallisable portion is involved in mediating this process. Body mass index, a rudimentary yet gold standard indication for body fat, has been shown to be associated with agalactosylated immunoglobulin G N-glycans.

Impact of biobanks on research outcomes in rare diseases: a systematic review.

Background: Alleviating the burden of rare diseases requires research into new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. We undertook a systematic review to identify and compare the impact of stand-alone registries, registries with biobanks, and rare disease biobanks on research outcomes in rare diseases.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-aggregation was conducted using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (the PRISMA statement).

High throughput profiling of whole plasma N-glycans in type II diabetes mellitus patients and healthy individuals: A perspective from a Ghanaian population.

Aberrant protein glycosylation may reflect changes in cell metabolism of type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and offers fresh vistas for discovering potential biomarkers. However, the functional significance of T2DM N-glycan alterations is underexplored, since to date, N-glycan profiling studies have been performed in selected populations. Geographically and genetically isolated populations are needed for validation of specific biomarkers.

Unravelling Immunoglobulin G Fc N-Glycosylation: A Dynamic Marker Potentiating Predictive, Preventive and Personalised Medicine.

Multiple factors influence immunoglobulin G glycosylation, which in turn affect the glycoproteins' function on eliciting an anti-inflammatory or pro-inflammatory response. It is prudent to underscore these processes when considering the use of immunoglobulin G -glycan moieties as an indication of disease presence, progress, or response to therapeutics. It has been demonstrated that the altered expression of genes that encode enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of immunoglobulin G -glycans, receptors, or complement factors may significantly modify immunoglobulin G effector response, which is important for regulating the immune system.

Innovation Analysis on Postgenomic Biomarkers: Glycomics for Chronic Diseases.

Despite decades of investment in biomarker research, we still do not have robust and field-tested biomarkers for many chronic diseases so as to anticipate clinical outcomes and thus move toward personalized medicine. Biomarker innovations have tended to focus on genomics, but next-generation biomarkers from the nascent field of glycomics now offer fresh vistas for innovation in chronic disease biomarkers and systems diagnostics. Glycosylation, regarded as a complex enzymatic process where sugars (glycans) bind to proteins and lipids, affects many human biological functions, including cell signaling, adhesion, and motility.

The N-glycosylation of immunoglobulin G as a novel biomarker of Parkinson's disease.

The use of the emerging "omics" technologies for large scale population screening is promising in terms of predictive, preventive and personalized medicine. For Parkinson's disease, it is essential that an accurate diagnosis is obtained and disease progression can be monitored. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) has the ability to exert both anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory effects, and the N-glycosylation of the fragment crystallizable portion of IgG is involved in this process.

Association of Ideal Cardiovascular Health and Brachial-Ankle Pulse Wave Velocity: A Cross-Sectional Study in Northern China.

Background: Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is an index for evaluating arterial stiffness and is recognized as an independent predictor of an impending cardiovascular event. Limited large-scale population data are available regarding the relationship between baPWV and the change in ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) status, particularly among Asians.

Methods: A random sample of 5199 participants (≥40 years of age; 40% women) was enrolled in a cross-sectional study in China to examine the association between ideal CVH and baPWV.

The impact of dementia development concurrent with Parkinson's disease: a new perspective.

Dementia is the leading cause of disability worldwide among chronic diseases in the elderly and is a major contributor to mortality. Importantly, dementia that develops as a comorbid condition significantly compounds the burden of disease on the person, their caregivers and the health care system. Dementia is a frequent comorbidity of Parkinson's disease (PD) and about 80% of people with PD will develop dementia during the course of the disease.

Traditional Chinese medicine and new concepts of predictive, preventive and personalized medicine in diagnosis and treatment of suboptimal health.

Background: The premise of disease-related phenotypes is the definition of the counterpart normality in medical sciences. Contrary to clinical practices that can be carefully planned according to clinical needs, heterogeneity and uncontrollability is the essence of humans in carrying out health studies. Full characterization of consistent phenotypes that define the general population is the basis to individual difference normalization in personalized medicine.

The genetic contribution of CIDEA polymorphisms, haplotypes and loci interaction to obesity in a Han Chinese population.

To investigate the association of tag-SNPs and haplotype structures of the CIDEA gene with obesity in a Han Chinese population. Five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs1154588/V115F, rs4796955/SNP1, rs8092502/SNP2, rs12962340/SNP3 and rs7230480/SNP4) in the CIDEA gene were genotyped in a case-control study. Genotyping was performed using the sequenom matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry iPLEX platform.

The expected number of background disease events during mass immunization in China.

It is critical to distinguish events that are temporarily associated with, but not caused by, vaccination from those caused by vaccination during mass immunization. We performed a literature search in China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Pubmed databases. The number of coincident events was calculated based on its incidence rate and periods after receipt of a dose of hypothesized vaccine.