Biometric and Psychometric Remote Monitoring and Cardiovascular Risk Biomarkers in Ischemic Heart Disease.

Background Patients with stable ischemic heart disease represent a heterogeneous population at variable risk for major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Because MACE typically occurs outside the hospital, we studied whether biometric and psychometric remote patient monitoring are associated with MACE risk biomarkers. Methods and Results In 198 patients with stable ischemic heart disease (mean age 65±11 years, 60% women), we evaluated baseline measures, including biometric (FitBit 2) and psychometric (acquired via smartphone-administered patient-reported outcomes) remote monitoring, in the PRE-MACE (Prediction, Risk, and Evaluation of Major Adverse Cardiac Events) study.

Quality Control and Outlier Detection of Targeted Mass Spectrometry Data from Multiplex Protein Panels.

Increased throughput as well as increased multiplexing of liquid chromatography coupled to selected reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (LC-SRM-MS) assays for protein quantification challenges routine data analysis. Despite the measurement of multiple transitions from multiple peptides, for clinical applications a single (quantifier) transition from one (quantifier) signature peptide is used to represent the protein quantity with most data used solely to validate the quantifier result. To support the generation of reliable protein results from multiplexed LC-SRM-MS assays with large sample numbers, we developed a data analysis process for quality control and outlier detection using data from an 11-protein multiplex LC-SRM-MS method for dried blood samples (195 492 chromatographic peaks from 1481 samples * 11 proteins * 2 peptides * 3 transitions * 2 isotopologues).

A protocol integrating remote patient monitoring patient reported outcomes and cardiovascular biomarkers.

We describe the protocol, design, and methodology of the Prediction, Risk, and Evaluation of Major Adverse Cardiac Events (PRE-MACE) study as a multicomponent remote patient monitoring in cardiology. Using biosensor, biomarkers, and patient-reported outcomes in participants with stable ischemic heart disease, the PRE-MACE study is designed to measure cross-sectional correlations and establish the ability of remote monitoring to predict major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) biomarkers and incident MACE at baseline and 12-month follow-up. It will further assess the adherence and cost-effectiveness of remote monitoring and blood sampling over the initial months.

Evaluating the Effects of Fibrinogen αC Mutations on the Ability of Factor XIII to Crosslink the Reactive αC Glutamines (Q237, Q328, Q366).

Fibrinogen (Fbg) levels and extent of fibrin polymerization have been associated with various pathological conditions such as cardiovascular disease, arteriosclerosis, and coagulation disorders. Activated factor XIII (FXIIIa) introduces γ-glutamyl-ε-lysinyl isopeptide bonds between reactive glutamines and lysines in the fibrin network to form a blood clot resistant to fibrinolysis. FXIIIa crosslinks the γ-chains and at multiple sites in the αC region of Fbg.

Cigarette Smoke Induces Immune Responses to Vimentin in both, Arthritis-Susceptible and -Resistant Humanized Mice.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease marked by chronic synovial inflammation and both, genetic and environmental factors are involved in its pathogenesis. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DRB1*0401 is associated with susceptibility to develop RA, while cigarette smoke (CS) exposure promotes seropositive disease with increased severity in DRB1*0401+ individuals. Smokers have higher levels of antibodies against citrullinated peptides.

Ranking reactive glutamines in the fibrinogen αC region that are targeted by blood coagulant factor XIII.

Factor XIIIa (FXIIIa) introduces covalent γ-glutamyl-ε-lysyl crosslinks into the blood clot network. These crosslinks involve both the γ and α chains of fibrin. The C-terminal portion of the fibrin α chain extends into the αC region (210-610).

Evaluating factor XIII specificity for glutamine-containing substrates using a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry assay.

Activated factor XIII (FXIIIa) catalyzes the formation of γ-glutamyl-ε-lysyl cross-links within the fibrin blood clot network. Although several cross-linking targets have been identified, the characteristic features that define FXIIIa substrate specificity are not well understood. To learn more about how FXIIIa selects its targets, a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS)-based assay was developed that could directly follow the consumption of a glutamine-containing substrate and the formation of a cross-linked product with glycine ethylester.

Effect of osmolality and selected ions on retraction of the distome body into the cercaria tail chamber of Proterometra macrostoma (Trematoda: Azygiidae).

The furcocystocercous cercariae of the digenetic trematode, Proterometra macrostoma , possess a tail chamber into which their distome body withdraws prior to emergence from their snail intermediate host. The process of distome retraction and the conditions that trigger it in this species are not clear. The objectives of the present study were (1) to describe the retraction process in P.