Diurnal Rhythm of Cardiac Troponin: Consequences for the Diagnosis of Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Interpretation of serial high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) measurements for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) assumes random fluctuation of hs-cTn around an individual's homeostatic set point. The aim of this study was to challenge this diagnostic concept.

Methods: Study 1 examined the presence of a diurnal hs-cTn rhythm by hourly blood sampling, day and night, in 24 individuals without a recent history of AMI.

Evaluation of tumour hypoxia during radiotherapy using [F]HX4 PET imaging and blood biomarkers in patients with head and neck cancer.

Background And Purpose: Increased tumour hypoxia is associated with a worse overall survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The aims of this study were to evaluate treatment-associated changes in [F]HX4-PET, hypoxia-related blood biomarkers, and their interdependence.

Material And Methods: [F]HX4-PET/CT scans of 20 patients with HNSCC were acquired at baseline and after ±20Gy of radiotherapy.

A multicenter evaluation of dysthyroxinemia in a defined patient cohort.

Background: In the region Limburg (The Netherlands) almost all of the five participating laboratories use a different immunoassay platform to determine thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thryoxine (FT4). With the frequent transfer of patients within the region, harmonization of test result interpretation is necessary. In this study, we investigated dysthyroxinemia classification between participating laboratories and developed procedures for improvement.

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.

Searching for potential biomarkers that can be used as biomarkers for diagnosing ankylosing spondylitis.

Aim: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic systemic inflammatory rheumatic disorder that primarily affects the axial skeleton. To date there is no satisfactory biomarker for diagnosis or prognosis of AS. This study is focused on detection of potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of AS using surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) with the ultimate goal of developing a progression biomarker for AS.

A specific immunoprecipitation method for isolating isoforms of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 from serum.

Background: This report describes an in-house developed immunoprecipitation method to isolate insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) and its isoforms from serum. The method was compared to other existing immunoprecipitation methods. The study of IGFBP-3 isoforms is relevant for further studies on congenital defects in glycosylation (CDG), galactosemia, and alcoholic liver cirrhosis.

Clinical proteomics in chronic inflammatory diseases: A review.

There is a need for better markers for the diagnosis and prognosis of chronic inflammatory diseases. Proteomic strategies can be helpful to detect new biomarkers. Proteomic analyses are performed to characterize the behaviour of the system rather than the behaviour of any single component.

Potential biomarkers for diagnosis of sarcoidosis using proteomics in serum.

Background: Sarcoidosis is a multi-systemic inflammatory disorder, which affects the lungs in 90% of the cases. The main pathologic feature is chronic inflammation resulting in non-caseating granuloma formation. Until now there is no satisfying biomarker for diagnosis or prognosis of sarcoidosis.

Standardization of calibration and quality control using surface enhanced laser desorption ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry.

Background: Protein profiling by surface enhanced laser desorption ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) is gaining importance as a diagnostic tool for a whole range of diseases. This report describes a QC procedure, which acts prospectively by checking the calibration before starting profiling experiments.

Methods: A well-defined protocol for calibration of the Protein Biosystem IIc instrument was established, using a commercial QC sample containing independent certified standards and by determination of acceptance criteria.

Protein profiling as a diagnostic tool in clinical chemistry: a review.

Serum protein profiling by surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF MS) appears to be an important diagnostic tool for a whole range of diseases. Sensitivities and specificities obtained with this new technology often seem superior to those obtained with current biomarkers. However, reproducibility and standardization are still problematic.