Rapid and Effective Elimination of Myoglobin with CytoSorb® Hemoadsorber in Patients with Severe Rhabdomyolysis.

Introduction: Rhabdomyolysis is characterized by destruction of muscle fibers by various causes and is diagnosed by increased creatine kinase concentrations in the blood. Myoglobin released into the blood may cause acute kidney injury. In this randomized controlled study, we hypothesized that myoglobin elimination would be faster when a hemoadsorber was added to a continuous veno-venous hemodialysis (CVVHD).

The Kynurenine Pathway Is Upregulated by Methyl-deficient Diet and Changes Are Averted by Probiotics.

Scope: Probiotics exert immunomodulatory effects and may influence tryptophan metabolism in the host. Deficiency of nutrients related to C1 metabolism might stimulate inflammation by enhancing the kynurenine pathway. This study used Sprague Dawley rats to investigate whether a methyl-deficient diet (MDD) may influence tryptophan/kynurenine pathways and cytokines and whether probiotics can mitigate these effects.

Association between neuropathy and B-vitamins: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is common in patients with diseases that are in turn associated with deficiency of the B-vitamins, and vitamin treatment has shown mixed results.

Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis studied the association between PN/pain and B-vitamin biomarkers and investigated whether vitamin treatment can ameliorate the symptoms. PubMed and Web of Science were searched according to the study protocol.

Determinants of soluble angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 concentrations in adult patients with complex congenital heart disease.

Background: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) 2 is known to be a functional receptor for SARS-CoV-2 in the current pandemic. Soluble ACE2 (sACE2) concentrations are elevated in patients with various cardiovascular disorders including heart failure.

Methods: In a total of 182 consecutive adult patients with complex congenital heart disease (CHD) and 63 healthy controls, sACE2 concentrations were measured in serum using the Human ACE2 assay by Cloud-Clone Corporation and associated with clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic parameters.

4-Pyridoxic Acid/Pyridoxine Ratio in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes is Related to Global Cardiovascular Risk Scores.

Background: Vascular diseases are multifactorial and several risk factors may have synergetic effect on the global vascular risk. Among patients with diabetes, we investigated whether vitamin B6 species differ according to global cardiovascular risk.

Methods: The present observational study included 122 patients with type 2 diabetes (mean (SD) age = 69.

Behavioral and metabolic effects of S-adenosylmethionine and imipramine in the Flinders Sensitive Line rat model of depression.

Depression is associated with dysregulation of methyl group metabolism such as low S-adenosylmethionine (SAM). We previously reported that Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL) rats, an animal model of depression, had lower concentrations of liver SAM than the control rats, Flinders Resistant Line (FRL) rats. The present study investigated if SAM supplementation may correct liver SAM and behavioral abnormalities in this model.

Serum concentrations of folate vitamers in patients with a newly diagnosed prostate cancer or hyperplasia.

Background: Folate is required for synthesis of methyl groups and DNA in growing cells. The association between folate and prostate cancer (PCa) is not conclusive.

Methods: We investigated concentrations of folate vitamers, S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) and S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) in blood of men with PCa (n = 129) or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (n = 73) who were recruited just after the first diagnosis.

Probiotics Affect One-Carbon Metabolites and Catecholamines in a Genetic Rat Model of Depression.

Scope: Probiotics may influence one-carbon (C1) metabolism, neurotransmitters, liver function markers, or behavior.

Methods And Results: Male adult Flinders Sensitive Line rats (model of depression, FSL; n = 22) received Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 and Bifidobacterium longum R0175 (10 or 10 colony-forming units per day) or vehicle for 10 weeks. The controls, Flinders Resistant Line rats (FRL, n = 8), only received vehicle.

Vitamin B-12-fortified toothpaste improves vitamin status in vegans: a 12-wk randomized placebo-controlled study.

The oral application of vitamin B-12 may prevent its deficiency if the vitamin is absorbed via the mucosal barrier. We studied the effect of the use of a vitamin B-12-fortified toothpaste on vitamin-status markers in vegans and assessed the efficiency of markers in the identification of vitamin-augmentation status. In this 12-wk, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study, 76 vegans received either a placebo ( = 34) or vitamin B-12 ( = 42) toothpaste.

Determination of trimethylamine, trimethylamine N-oxide, and taurine in human plasma and urine by UHPLC-MS/MS technique.

Background: Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) is produced in the liver from trimethylamine (TMA) and is an important cellular osmolyte and potential atherogenic factor. Taurine is involved in cholesterol metabolism and also serves as a cellular osmolyte. Given their significant biological functions, the development of reliable measurement techniques is crucial to further study their role in health and disease METHODS: A new ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of TMA, TMAO, and taurine in plasma and urine.

Plasma trimethylamine-N-oxide following supplementation with vitamin D or D plus B vitamins.

Scope: We compared the effect of supplementation with vitamin D + B or vitamin D on plasma trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and choline metabolites.

Methods And Results: This is a randomized single-blinded nonplacebo-controlled study. Twenty-seven participants received 1200 IU vitamin D3 and 800 mg calcium, and 25 participants received additionally 0.

Trimethylamine-N-oxide and its biological variations in vegetarians.

Purpose: Restriction of animal foods and choline may affect plasma trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO). In vegetarians, we investigated the association between TMAO concentrations and the strictness of the diet or sex. We also studied the biological variations of TMAO in vegans.

Plasma Amyloid Beta 1-42 and DNA Methylation Pattern Predict Accelerated Aging in Young Subjects with Down Syndrome.

Gene methylation is an age-related dynamic process that influences diseases. Premature aging and disturbed methylation are components of Down syndrome (DS). We studied blood biomarkers and DNA methylation (DNAm) of three CpG sites (ASPA, ITGA2B, and PDE4C) in 60 elderly subjects (mean age = 68 years), 31 subjects with DS (12.

Plasma trimethylamine N-oxide concentration is associated with choline, phospholipids, and methyl metabolism.

Background: Elevated plasma concentrations of the gut bacteria choline metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) are associated with atherosclerosis. However, the determinants of TMAO in humans require additional assessment.

Objective: We examined cardiometabolic risk factors and pathways associated with TMAO concentrations in humans.

Choline-phospholipids inter-conversion is altered in elderly patients with prostate cancer.

Background: Choline is an important source of phospholipids and methyl groups in mammalian cells. High demands for methyl and phospholipids in malignant cells suggest that choline metabolism may be disturbed in patients with cancer.

Objectives And Methods: This case-control study investigated differences in concentrations of choline metabolites between 80 elderly men (age ≥ 65 years) with prostate cancer (PCa) and 51 men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Measurement of concentrations of whole blood levels of choline, betaine, and dimethylglycine and their relations to plasma levels.

We aimed at developing a method for the measurement of choline and its metabolites in whole blood (WB). After an extraction step, quantification of choline, betaine, and dimethylglycine (DMG) was performed using ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Plasma and WB metabolites were evaluated in a group of 61 elderly people.

The role of choline in prostate cancer.

Choline is an essential nutrient that is necessary for cell membrane synthesis and phospholipid metabolism and functions as an important methyl donor. Multiple roles for choline in cancer development have been suggested. Choline can affect DNA methylation and lead to a disruption of DNA repair.

Point-of-care laboratory halves door-to-therapy-decision time in acute stroke.

Currently, stroke laboratory examinations are usually performed in the centralized hospital laboratory, but often planned thrombolysis is given before all results are available, to minimize delay. In this study, we examined the feasibility of gaining valuable time by transferring the complete stroke laboratory workup required by stroke guidelines to a point-of-care laboratory system, that is, placed at a stroke treatment room contiguous to the computed tomography, where the patients are admitted and where they obtain neurological, laboratory, and imaging examinations and treatment by the same dedicated team. Our results showed that reconfiguration of the entire stroke laboratory analysis to a point-of-care system was feasible for 200 consecutively admitted patients.