Meconium Proteins Involved in Iron Metabolism.

The lack of specific biological materials and biomarkers limits our knowledge of the mechanisms underlying intrauterine regulation of iron supply to the fetus. Determining the meconium content of proteins commonly used in the laboratory to assess the transport, storage, and distribution of iron in the body may elucidate their roles in fetal development. Ferritin, transferrin, haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin, lactoferrin, myeloperoxidase (MPO), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and calprotectin were determined by ELISA in meconium samples obtained from 122 neonates.

Meconium Transferrin and Ferritin as Markers of Homeostasis in the Developing Fetus.

The molecular mechanisms regulating homeostasis in the developing fetus have not been satisfactorily elucidated. Meconium contains substances accumulated in the fetal intestines. Measurements of transferrin and ferritin concentrations in meconium and assessment of transferrin-ferritin relationships could enhance knowledge about specific processes of the intrauterine period involving the two proteins and their effects on the development and growth of the fetus.

Investigation of the Changes in Concentrations of Vitamin D-Binding Protein and Lactoferin in Plasma and Peritoneal Fluid of Patients with Endometriosis.

An evaluation of the association between the concentrations of vitamin D-binding protein and lactoferrin in the plasma and peritoneal fluid may facilitate the elucidation of molecular mechanisms in endometriosis. Vitamin D-binding protein and lactoferrin concentrations were measured by ELISA in plasma and peritoneal fluid samples from 95 women with suspected endometriosis as classified by laparoscopy into groups with (n = 59) and without endometriosis (n = 36). There were no differences ( > 0.

Links Between Vitamin D-Binding Protein, Alpha-1 Antitrypsin and Neutrophil Proteins in Meconium.

Background/aims: Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT), vitamin-D binding protein (VDBP) and neutrophil granule proteins are specifically related to the neutrophil function and may be considered candidate biomarkers detected and measured in meconium (the first feces of newborn infants) as signals indicating abnormal processes in the fetal stage. Individual proteins found in meconium can be a source of information pertaining to the intrauterine metabolic processes.

Methods: Concentrations of AAT, VDBP, calprotectin, myeloperoxidase, lactoferrin and elastase were measured using ELISA tests in 80 meconium samples collected from 19 healthy, full-term neonates.

The Influence of Lactoferrin in Plasma and Peritoneal Fluid on Iron Metabolism in Women with Endometriosis.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between lactoferrin and iron and its binding proteins in women with endometriosis by simultaneously measuring these parameters in plasma and peritoneal fluid. Ninety women were evaluated, of whom 57 were confirmed as having endometriosis. Lactoferrin was measured by ELISA, transferrin, ferritin and iron on a Cobas 8000 analyser.

Exploring associations of anthropometric parameters and serum triglycerides with serum thyroid hormones in young women.

Establishing links between serum thyroid hormone panel and triglyceride (TG) concentrations with non-invasively obtained measurements of anthropometric parameters of young women may provide preliminary knowledge about the homeostasis of metabolic processes and body composition and about the strategic role of the tested parameters as early screening tests for assessing the health status of apparently healthy women in the period preceding pregnancy. The study was conducted in 381 healthy female students (aged 18-26 years, mean ± SD = 22.1 ± 1.

Serum indoxyl sulphate and its relation to albumin and α1-acid glycoprotein as a potential biomarkers of maternal intestinal metabolism during pregnancy and postpartum.

Background: Serum indoxyl sulfate (IS) levels depend on the production of indole in the gut. The biological effects of IS in the vascular bed could be confirmed by changes in the levels of individual serum proteins during normal pregnancy and in the postpartum period as compared with non-pregnant controls. Albumin (Alb) and α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP, orosomucoid) are the most abundant serum carrier proteins with potential interrelationships with serum levels of IS.

Associations between the thyroid panel and serum protein concentrations across pregnancy.

Establishing any characteristic associations between the serum parameters of thyroid function and serum proteins in pregnancy may aid in elucidating the role of the thyroid gland in the regulation of pregnancy-specific metabolic processes and in selecting candidate biomarkers for use in their clinical assessment. Concentrations of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free tri-iodothyronine (fT3) and free thyroxine (fT4), six electrophoretically separated protein fractions (albumin, alpha-1-, alpha2-, beta-1-, beta-2- and gamma-globulins), representative proteins-albumin (ALB), transferrin (TRF), alpha-2-macroglobulin (AMG) and ceruloplasmin (CER) were measured in 136 serum samples from 65 women in their consecutive trimesters of pregnancy. The concentrations of TSH, fT4 and fT3 were significantly correlated (p < 0.

Meconium proteases and antiproteases as a potential source of biomarkers for the assessment of the intrauterine environment of the fetus.

Background: A protease-antiprotease balance is required to maintain the homeostasis of the intrauterine environment in which the fetus develops. Proteases and antiproteases accumulate in meconium exclusively during intrauterine life and are excreted after birth.

Methods: Proteomic analysis was used to investigate the protein composition in pooled 50 serial meconium portions from 10 neonates.

Can variability of serum electrophoretic fractions during pregnancy provide knowledge about maternal and fetal health.

Aim: Characteristics of variability of concentrations total protein and its electrophoretic fractions in serum of healthy pregnant women between successive trimesters and post-partum for initial classification of proteins involved in specific metabolic processes associated with pregnancy.

Methods: Total serum protein concentrations were measured by biuret method and serum protein fractions were electrophoretically separated in 166 serum samples collected from healthy pregnant women in three trimesters of pregnancy (1st, n = 55; 2nd, n = 42; 3rd, n = 39) and in post-partum (n = 30), and in 20 samples from nonpregnant controls.

Results: Across pregnancy, there were gradual, but occurring at different rates, decreases over time in serum total protein, albumin and gamma globulins compared to controls (P < 0.

Comparison of protease and aminopeptidase activities in meconium: A pilot study.

The successive accumulation of proteases and aminopeptidases in meconium are important physiological components of the intrauterine environment in which a fetus develops. The aim of the present study was to assess the changes in the activities of these enzymes in meconium of healthy infants, and to investigate whether there were any statistically significant associations between activity of the enzymes of interest and the mode of delivery. The activities of proteases and aminopeptidases were determined in meconium portions (n=110) using the substrates BODIPY FL casein and L-leucine-7-amido-4-methylcoumarin hydrochloride, respectively.

Can aminopeptidase N determined in the meconium be a candidate for biomarker of fetal intrauterine environment?

Aim: To investigate possible association of aminopeptidase N/CD13 with other parameters of possible homeostatic mechanisms in meconium for potential use in identifying intrauterine environmental stress factors during fetal and perinatal life.

Methods: Aminopeptidase N/CD13 (APN/CD13), calprotectin (CAL), myeloperoxidase (MPO), ceruloplasmin (CER), lactoferrin (LF) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) were determined using ELISA kits in 115 meconium samples collected from 30 healthy full term neonates.

Results: Significant correlations were established between meconium APN/CD13 [μg/g] (mean ± SD, median, range: 2.

Vitamin D-binding protein as a biomarker to confirm specific clinical diagnoses.

: Vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) performs a variety of functions as a transporter for various ligands and takes part in a number of systemic and local physiological and pathological processes. The knowledge about the pathomechanisms of this protein involvement justifies its use as a biomarker to confirm specific clinical diagnoses suggested by nonspecific signs and symptoms.: DBP has properties of both systemic laboratory parameters measured in the blood plasma and specific parameters measured in variety of physiological fluids to assess local changes in specific body organs.

Protein and peptide profiles in neonatal meconium.

Aim: The proteins accumulated in the meconium reflect the intrauterine environment and are naturally excreted by a neonate. The identification and classification of individual meconium proteins may be a valuable source of information about physiological and pathological processes in utero.

Methods: Proteomic analysis was used to study the protein composition in pooled 50 serial meconium portions from 10 neonates.

Relationships between meconium concentrations of acute phase proteins.

Meconium concentrations of naturally accumulated ceruloplasmin (CER), lactoferrin (LF), and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and their relationships considered as a panel of acute phase proteins could be used for the assessment of fetal homeostasis. CER, LF and NGAL concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits in meconium portions (n = 80) collected from 19 healthy neonates. The coefficients of variation (CV) of the meconium LF (1.

Variations in serum concentrations of C-reactive protein, ceruloplasmin, lactoferrin and myeloperoxidase and their interactions during normal human pregnancy and postpartum period.

Background: Serum proteins may provide information about homeostasis of redox status and inflammatory processes also during pregnancy. The aim of the study was to assess the dynamics of changes in serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), ceruloplasmin (CP), lactoferrin (LF) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) and their interactions during normal pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Methods: The concentrations of proteins were measured in serum (n=113) from pregnant in consecutive trimesters and in postpartum period (n=28) and in non-pregnant women (n=17), using immunoturbidimetric assays (CRP, CP) and ELISA Kits (LF, MPO).

Correlation between the concentrations of lactoferrin and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in meconium.

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and lactoferrin (Lf) are among the key components of the innate immune system due to their ability to bind iron with high affinity and thus control inflammation. The aim of this study was to test the use of NGAL and LF measurements in meconium for the assessment of the intrauterine homeostasis. NGAL and Lf concentrations were measured using ELISA kits in all serial meconium portions (n = 81) collected from 20 healthy neonates.

Total proteolytic activity and concentration of alpha-1 antitrypsin in meconium for assessment of the protease/antiprotease balance.

Background: During intrauterine life, various proteolytic enzymes and their main inhibitor, alpha-1 antitrypsin, accumulate naturally in meconium. A protease/antiprotease balance is required to maintain the biological stability of the environment in which the fetus develops.

Methods: The pool of active proteases was determined using the EnzChek Protease Assay Kit.

Meconium microbiome as a new source of information about long-term health and disease: questions and answers.

Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the diagnostic role of meconium microbiota as a source of information about the intrauterine environment of the developing fetus and possibly health and disease in later life.

Methods: The literature review of over 30 papers published in international journals in the years 2001-2017, on the bacterial composition of meconium and early feces, investigated by metagenomic DNA sequencing in experimental studies on animals and clinical studies in neonates born after normal and pathological pregnancies.

Results: The bacterial composition of meconium reflects the in utero microbial environment.

Calprotectin in Serially Collected Meconium Portions as a Biomarker for Intrauterine Fetal Environment.

Objective: Understanding the pathomechanisms underlying high meconium calprotectin concentrations is the key to the potential uses of this parameter for the assessment of the intrauterine environment in which the fetus develops. The aim of this study was to measure calprotectin concentrations in serial meconium portions passed after birth and to calculate the individual variations in the total meconium calprotectin content accumulated during gestation.

Methods: Calprotectin concentrations were measured using Calprotectin ELISA kit (Immundiagnostik AG) in all meconium portions (n = 81) from 20 healthy neonates.

Correlations between ceruloplasmin, lactoferrin and myeloperoxidase in meconium.

Background And Aims: Oxidative stress and the generation of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species has a known significant impact on intrauterine fetal growth and the risk of metabolic diseases in adulthood. Compounds accumulated in fetal meconium may be a source of information about the oxidoreductive status during the intrauterine development. Three metal-containing proteins ceruloplasmin (CP), lactoferrin (LF) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) constitute the complementary panel modulating oxidative stress.

Concentrations of neutrophil-derived proteins in meconium and their correlations.

Aim: The aim was to measure concentrations of four neutrophil-derived proteins in meconium as biomarkers describing prenatal environment.

Methods: Calprotectin, lactoferrin, myeloperoxidase and PMN-elastase concentrations were measured using ELISA kits in serial meconium portions (n = 81) from 20 healthy neonates.

Results: The highest concentration was for calprotectin (286.

Meconium lactoferrin levels in neonates: can we predefine normal values?

Background And Aims: In recent years, Lactoferrin (LF) has become an object of interest to neonatologists. To date, there have been no studies on the presence of LF in neonatal meconium. The aim of the study was to assess LF concentrations in successive portions of meconium passed in the first days of extrauterine life and to calculate the total amount of LF accumulated in the fetal intestine in utero.

Development, validation and application of the HPLC method for determination of mianserin in human serum.

A high performance liquid chromatography method for the determination of mianserin in human serum was developed and validated. Doxepin was used as an internal standard. Mianserin was extracted from human serum using a liquid-liquid extraction with hexane:isoamyl alcohol (99:1, v/v).