Relaxin-2 connecting peptide (pro-RLX2) levels in second trimester serum samples to predict preeclampsia.

Objectives: Preeclampsia is a serious complication of pregnancy, threatening fetal and maternal health. The aim of our study is to examine the association between preeclampsia and the connecting peptide of the pregnancy hormone relaxin (pro-RLX2) as a potential new biochemical marker.

Study Design: This is a nested case/control study derived from the cohort of pregnancies delivering at Women & Infants Hospital.

Assessment of circulating Wnt1 inducible signalling pathway protein 1 (WISP-1)/CCN4 as a novel biomarker of obesity.

WNT1 inducible signaling pathway protein 1 (WISP-1/CCN4) is a novel adipokine, which is upregulated in obesity, and induces a pro-inflammatory response in macrophages in-vitro. Preclinical observations suggested WISP-1/CCN4 as a potential candidate for novel obesity therapy targeting adipose tissue inflammation. Whether circulating levels of WISP-1/CCN4 in humans are altered in obesity and/or type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and in the postprandial state, however, is unknown.

Quantification of Relaxin-2 Connecting Peptide (Pro-RLX2) in Human Blood Samples.

Background: The peptide hormone relaxin-2 is implicated in diverse physiological and pathophysiological processes. Several assays are available for quantification of human relaxin-2, but because stability of the mature peptide in serum is limited, measurement of the more stable connecting peptide (pro-RLX2) might be beneficial.

Methods: Pro-RLX2 was measured in a sandwich immunoluminometric assay using 2 monoclonal antibodies.

Proenkephalin predicts acute kidney injury in cardiac surgery patients.

Aims: Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs in up to 40% of patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Proenkephalin A 119-159 (pro-ENK) is a novel, stable surrogate biomarker for enkephalins, endogenous opioids involved in various physiological processes, including neurohormonal stress.

Material And Methods: 92 patients undergoing cardiac surgery at the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System had a post-hoc analysis performed to determine the ability of pro-ENK to predict AKI as well as to compare it against other risk factors for development of AKI.

Diagnostic and short-term prognostic utility of plasma pro-enkephalin (pro-ENK) for acute kidney injury in patients admitted with sepsis in the emergency department.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) aggravates the prognosis of patients with sepsis. Reliable biomarkers for early detection of AKI in this setting are lacking. Enkephalins influence kidney function, and may have a role in AKI from sepsis.