Comparison of N-Glycopeptide to Released N-Glycan Abundances and the Influence of Glycopeptide Mass and Charge States on N-Linked Glycosylation of IgG Antibodies.

We report the comparison of mass-spectral-based abundances of tryptic glycopeptides to fluorescence abundances of released labeled glycans and the effects of mass and charge state and in-source fragmentation on glycopeptide abundances. The primary glycoforms derived from Rituximab, NISTmAb, Evolocumab, and Infliximab were high-mannose and biantennary complex galactosylated and fucosylated N-glycans. Except for Evolocumab, in-source ions derived from the loss of HexNAc or HexNAc-Hex sugars are prominent for other therapeutic IgGs.

Mass Spectral Library of Acylcarnitines Derived from Human Urine.

We describe the creation of a mass spectral library of acylcarnitines and conjugated acylcarnitines from the LC-MS/MS analysis of six NIST urine reference materials. To recognize acylcarnitines, we conducted in-depth analyses of fragmentation patterns of acylcarnitines and developed a set of rules, derived from spectra in the NIST17 Tandem MS Library and those identified in urine, using the newly developed hybrid search method. Acylcarnitine tandem spectra were annotated with fragments from carnitine and acyl moieties as well as neutral loss peaks from precursors.

Hybrid Search: A Method for Identifying Metabolites Absent from Tandem Mass Spectrometry Libraries.

Metabolomics has a critical need for better tools for mass spectral identification. Common metabolites may be identified by searching libraries of tandem mass spectra, which offers important advantages over other approaches to identification. But tandem libraries are not nearly complete enough to represent the full molecular diversity present in complex biological samples.

Probing the conformational behavior of a monoclonal antibody with surfactant affinity capillary electrophoresis (SurfACE).

Multiple peaks are observed for a monoclonal antibody (mAb) when analyzed by "protein MEKC" (micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography) using SDS-containing run buffers. We present our efforts to understand the mechanism of peak formation and the factors that affect the distribution of the mAb between these peaks. We used "intrinsic" charge ladders of the mAb to determine that peak-to-peak differences in the amount of bound surfactant are comparable to the aggregation numbers of protein-bound micelles.

Endoscopic surveillance for Barrett's oesophagus: the patients' perspective.

Objective: Barrett's oesophagus (BO) is associated with the development of oesophageal adenocarcinoma and endoscopic surveillance is commonly practised. In view of the clinical, psychological and economic implications of BO, we have studied patients' attitudes towards surveillance, their levels of anxiety and quality of life.

Methods: Patients with BO undergoing endoscopic surveillance were asked to complete a questionnaire,including seven questions on their experience of surveillance, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale,the Trust in Physician Scale (TIPS) and the Short Form-36 quality of life questionnaire.

Differential ferritin expression is associated with iron deficiency in coeliac disease.

Background: Sixty percent of people with coeliac disease (CD) are iron deficient. Many, however, remain iron replete despite the disease.

Aims: (i) To characterize the changes in duodenal iron transport proteins in CD with and without iron deficiency.

Breast-conservation treatment outcomes: a community hospital's experience.

In the United States, the majority of early breast cancer patients choose breast-conserving treatment in the community setting, yet there is a paucity of literature describing outcomes. In this paper, we describe our experience with breast-conserving treatment in a small community hospital. Our hospital tumor registry was used to identify breast cancer cases diagnosed at our hospital between 1997 and 2003.

Outcome of surgical fundoplication for extraesophageal (atypical) manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease in adults: a systematic review.

Background: A significant proportion of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) present with atypical symptoms (extraesophageal reflux; EER). The effectiveness of surgical fundoplication in treating classical reflux symptoms is well documented, but the role of surgery in alleviating EER symptoms is less clear. The aim of this study was to review the published literature to determine whether surgical fundoplication is effective in controlling EER.

Hypertension and hepatic steatosis.

Hepatic steatosis (fatty liver) is increasingly recognized as a major component of the metabolic (insulin resistance) syndrome. It can progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, leading to liver-related mortality. Increasing evidence shows a significant association between hepatic steatosis and hypertension; both are linked to the metabolic syndrome.

Intrinsic charge ladders of a monoclonal antibody in hydroxypropylcellulose-coated capillaries.

Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) has been used to resolve the charge heterogeneity of an intact ( approximately 150 kDa) monoclonal IgG antibody (mAb). Although this microheterogeneity can also be observed by isoelectric focusing, CZE allows the net charge of each variant to be measured as a function of pH and other solution conditions. Separation was achieved in both borate and Tris run buffers using capillaries that had been statically coated with hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC).

Barrett's oesophagus: an audit of surveillance over a 17-year period.

Objective: To audit whether our patients with Barrett's oesophagus (BO) enter into our endoscopic surveillance programme and whether they continue with it after entry. We have determined the incidence of oesophageal adenocarcinoma among our surveyed patients.

Design: We retrospectively audited prospectively collected data from our BO surveillance programme over the years 1987-2003.

Ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status as risk factors for esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus.

Barrett's esophagus is thought to be a disease occurring predominantly in White Caucasian males of higher socioeconomic status. There are no published studies simultaneously examining risk of Barrett's esophagus according to ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status within a single data set. The authors conducted a retrospective case-control analysis within a cross-sectional study to determine risk of Barrett's esophagus in relation to sociodemographic variables in a large United Kingdom population.

The emerging role of the liver in iron metabolism.

Iron is essential in health and well-being and its dysregulation is a common theme in disease. Recent advances in our understanding of the molecular biology underlying hemochromatosis and anemia has provided insight into the complex mechanisms implicated in iron metabolism. The proximal small bowel is the major site of iron absorption and, it is becoming increasingly clear that the regulation of this process involves the liver and, in particular, the hepatic antimicrobial peptide hepcidin.

Factors relating to compliance with a gluten-free diet in patients with coeliac disease: comparison of white Caucasian and South Asian patients.

Background & Aims: To identify factors relating to compliance with a gluten-free diet amongst white Caucasian and South Asians with coeliac disease.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey, with case note review of 130 adult patients with coeliac disease (90 white Caucasian and 40 South Asians).

Results: 87 (66.

The role of hemochromatosis susceptibility gene mutations in protecting against iron deficiency in celiac disease.

Background & Aims: Celiac disease and hereditary hemochromatosis are common HLA-defined conditions in northwestern Europe. We sought to determine whether there is a genetic relationship between the 2 diseases and if hemochromatosis susceptibility gene (HFE) mutations are protective against iron deficiency in celiac disease.

Methods: Polymerase chain reaction amplification using sequence-specific primers capable of identifying the 2 HFE gene mutations (H63D and C282Y) and the HLA class I and II alleles was used to type 145 white patients with celiac disease and 187 matched controls.

Disproportionation Kinetics of Hypoiodous Acid As Catalyzed and Suppressed by Acetic Acid-Acetate Buffer.

The kinetics of the disproportionation of hypoiodous acid to give iodine and iodate ion (5HOI right harpoon over left harpoon 2I(2) + IO(3)(-) + H(+) + 2H(2)O) are investigated in aqueous acetic acid-sodium acetate buffer. The rate of iodine formation is followed photometrically at -log [H(+)] = 3.50, 4.