A SELDI-TOF-MS study in Lacunar Stroke with Subsequent Haptoglobin Phenotyping.

Using Surface-Enhanced Laser Desorption / Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS), we aimed to detect differences in protein profile in serum samples of two lacunar stroke subtypes. SELDI-TOF-MS, followed by protein identification, was performed in samples of 8 first-ever lacunar stroke patients with MR imaging showing a single symptomatic lacunar lesion (type 1), and 8 with multiple additional "silent" lacunar lesions and extensive white matter lesions (type 2). A 16 kDa protein, identified as alpha-2-chain of haptoglobin (Hp), was found to be overrepresented in type 1 compared to type 2 (peak intensity 12.

A novel probe Au(III) for chemiluminescent image detection of protein blots on nitrocellulose membranes.

A new method, based on the chloroauric acid-enhanced luminol chemiluminescence, is established for the chemiluminescent imaging detection of protein blots on nitrocellulose membranes. After transferring to the nitrocellulose (NC) membranes, various proteins in human serum can be easily detected using this method. Simplicity and wide applicability are achieved, without the need of expensive antibodies or tedious immunoassay procedures.

Evaluation of Sysmex UF-1000i for use in cerebrospinal fluid analysis.

Background: Caution is of paramount importance in the interpretation of flow cytometric white blood cell counts in specimens with a high lymphocyte percentage as it is in the interpretation of bacterial counts in hemorrhagic and ventricular drainage CSF specimens. Recently, flow cytometry using a semiconductor laser along with forward and sideward scatter detection and also a dedicated bacterial channel has been developed (Sysmex UF-1000i). We explored the possible applications of this novel approach in the differential diagnosis of meningitis.

Vitamin D binding protein, a new nutritional marker in cystic fibrosis patients.

Background: Vitamin D binding protein (DBP) is a multifunctional transport protein with a decreased serum concentration in cystic fibrosis (CF). The present study investigates the importance of DBP and its role as an alternative nutritional marker in CF.

Methods: DBP phenotypes of 116 CF patients were determined electrophoretically.

A novel probe for chemiluminescent image detection of proteins in two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.

Carrier ampholytes were found to enhance the chemiluminescence (CL) emission from the 3-aminophthalic hydrazide (luminol)-hydrogen peroxide system. They can be used as a chemiluminescent probe for rapid detection of major proteins in gels. This probe attracted much interest due to its ability to attach proteins, and to the possibility to combine it with separation techniques generating the CL emission directly.

Guanidino compounds after creatine supplementation in renal failure patients and their relation to inflammatory status.

Background: Specific guanidino compounds have been described as uraemic toxins and their concentrations are increased in renal failure due to dimished glomerular filtration, whereas the guanidino compound creatine is used as a performance-enhancing substance in athletes. The present study investigates the effects of creatine supplementation on plasma guanidino compounds in a chronic haemodialysis population.

Methods: Twenty male haemodialysis patients were included in a placebo-controlled cross-over trial.

Testing for recombinant erythropoietin.

Erythropoietin (Epo) is a glycoprotein hormone that promotes the production of red blood cells. Recombinant human Epo (rhEpo) is illicitly used to improve performance in endurance sports. Doping in sports is discouraged by the screening of athletes for rhEpo.

Direct chemiluminescent imaging detection of human serum proteins in two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

A novel chemiluminescence (CL)-based imaging method capable of directly detecting proteins in polyacrylamide gels after electrophoresis is proposed. Human serum proteins are presently detected by a direct CL imaging method after native 2-D PAGE. As a consequence, some proteins, including haptoglobin (Hp), Hp precursor, hemopexin (Hpx) precursor, Ig alpha-1 chain C region, and Complement C3 precursor can be detected and identified by MS and MS/MS techniques.

Vitamin C deficiency and scurvy are not only a dietary problem but are codetermined by the haptoglobin polymorphism.

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is prone to oxidation in vivo. The human plasma protein haptoglobin (Hp) shows a genetic polymorphism with 3 major phenotypes (Hp 1-1, Hp 2-1, and Hp 2-2) that show important functional differences. Despite an adequate nutritional supply, in Hp 2-2 individuals (most common among Asian populations) vitamin C is markedly lower in concentration and particularly prone to oxidation in vivo.

A novel [Ag(NH3)2]+ probe for chemiluminescent imaging detection of proteins after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

The development of a novel [Ag(NH3)2]+ probe chemiluminescence (CL)-based imaging method for the detection of various proteins after PAGE is described. The detection is based upon the probe [Ag(NH3)2]+ catalyzing the CL reaction of the luminol-potassium persulfate system. The proposed method detects various proteins labeled by [Ag(NH3)2]+ and expands the application scope to SDS gels.

Diagnostic performance of combined specific urinary proteins and urinary flow cytometry in urinary tract pathology.

Background: Urinalysis comprises three techniques: urinary flow cytometry, test strip analysis and determination of specific urinary proteins. We investigated the diagnostic possibilities of combining these methods for a cohort of patients with a variety of well-documented urological and nephrological pathology.

Methods: Urinary samples from 407 in- and out-patients with nephrological or urological pathology were retrospectively included in our study.

Use of nanomaterials in capillary and microchip electrophoresis.

This review gives an overview of different separation strategies with nanomaterials and their use in capillary electrophoresis (CE) and capillary electrochromatography, as well as in microchip electrophoresis, including metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, fullerene and polymer nanoparticles, as well as silica nanoparticles. The paper highlights the new developments and innovative applications of nanoparticles as pseudostationary phases or immobilized on the capillary surface for CE separation. The separation and characterization of target nanoparticles with different sizes by CE are reviewed likewise.

Development and multicenter evaluation of the N latex CDT direct immunonephelometric assay for serum carbohydrate-deficient transferrin.

Background: Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) is a promising biomarker of alcohol abuse. We describe the development and multicenter evaluation of N Latex CDT (Dade Behring), an automated, particle-enhanced, homogeneous immunonephelometric assay for directly determining CDT.

Methods: N Latex CDT uses a monoclonal antibody that recognizes the structure of transferrin glycoforms lacking 1 or 2 complete N-glycans [i.

Impact of amines as co-modifiers on the enantioseparation of various amino acid derivatives on a tert-butyl carbamoylated quinine-based chiral stationary phase.

A tert-butyl carbamoylated quinine-based chiral stationary phase (CSP) for direct enantiomer separation of various natural and unnatural amino acid derivatives was studied. The influence of functional groups in the amino acid side chains upon the enantioseparation is discussed with the aim of realizing contributions to their overall chiral recognition. The effects of various amines as co-modifiers upon retention and overall enantioselectivity of amino acid derivatives in polar organic solvents was systematically investigated.

Haptoglobin polymorphism in patients with preeclampsia.

Background: Haptoglobin (Hp) polymorphism has been associated with blood pressure regulation and essential hypertension. We investigated Hp polymorphism in patients with preeclampsia.

Methods: A total of 60 Caucasian women with preeclampsia were prospectively followed from hospital admission until delivery.

Enhanced separation of purine and pyrimidine bases using carboxylic multiwalled carbon nanotubes as additive in capillary zone electrophoresis.

This paper describes the enhanced separation of adenine (A), hypoxanthine (HX), 8-azaadenine (8-AA), thymine (T), cytosine (C), uracil (U) and guanine (G) by CZE dispersing carboxylic multiwalled carbon nanotubes (c-MWNTs) into the running buffer. The effect of important factors such as c-MWNT nanoparticle concentration, the acidity and concentration of running buffer, and separation voltage were investigated to acquire the optimum conditions. The seven purine and pyrimidine bases could be well separated within 16 min in a 35 cm effective length fused-silica capillary at a separation voltage of +8.

Biological and clinical aspects of the vitamin D binding protein (Gc-globulin) and its polymorphism.

The vitamin D binding protein (DBP) is the major plasma carrier protein of vitamin D and its metabolites. Unlike other hydrophobic hormone-binding systems, it circulates in a considerably higher titer compared to its ligands. Apart from its specific sterol binding capacity, DBP exerts several other important biological functions such as actin scavenging, fatty acid transport, macrophage activation and chemotaxis.

False-positive detection of recombinant human erythropoietin in urine following strenuous physical exercise.

Erythropoietin (Epo) is a glycoprotein hormone that promotes the production of red blood cells. Recombinant human Epo (rhEpo) is illicitly used to improve performance in endurance sports. Doping in sports is discouraged by the screening of athletes for rhEPO in urine.

Vitamin D binding protein, bone status and body composition in community-dwelling elderly men.

The vitamin D binding protein (DBP) is the major carrier protein for vitamin D metabolites in plasma. Polymorphisms in DBP have been described to be associated with an increased bone fracture risk and diabetes. The present study investigates the influence of both phenotypic and (TAAA)(n)-Alu repeat DBP-polymorphism and DBP-concentration on bone mineral density, body composition, bone turnover- and metabolic markers in a cohort of ambulatory elderly men.

Direct chemiluminescent imaging detection of Cu/Zn-superoxidase dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, carbonic anhydrase-III, and catalase in rat liver cytosol separated by native porous gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

The cytosolic enzymes extracted from rat hepatocytes were separated by native porous gradient-PAGE (PG-PAGE) and were detected with a sensitive and fast chemiluminescence (CL) imaging method. Several peroxidases including glutathione peroxidase, Cu/Zn-superoxidase dismutase, and some other metallo-enzymes such as catalase, carbonic anhydrase-III (CA-III) present in the cytosol of rat hepatocytes have been selectively and sensitively detected by the direct CL imaging method using the luminol-H(2)O(2) chemiluminescent reagents. All detections after PG-PAGE were completed within 9 min.

Serum vitamin C concentration is influenced by haptoglobin polymorphism and iron status in Chinese.

Background: Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant (free radical scavenger). Apart from the diet, other factors regulating its catabolism may affect its serum concentration. Haptoglobin (Hp) is a plasma protein participating in iron metabolism.

Quantitative measurement of ketone bodies in urine using reflectometry.

Background: Recently, automated urine test strip readers became available that can report quantitative data. We explored the possibility of measuring all ketone bodies (acetone, acetoacetate, 3-hydroxybutyrate) in urine with these test strips. Monitoring urinary ketone concentrations could offer the advantages of measuring higher values (due to the low renal thresholds) and being less sensitive to fluctuations.

Determination of beta2-agonists by ion chromatography with direct conductivity detection.

A simple method for the simultaneous detection of four beta2-agonists (salbutamol, fenoterol, clorprenaline, and clenbuterol) using ion chromatography (IC) with direct conductivity detection (CD) based on their ionization in acidic medium without chemical suppression is presented. The mixture of 1.8 mM HNO3 and 2% (v/v) acetonitrile was used as eluent.