Characterization of Hemoglobin Variants by Capillary Electrophoresis, UV-Vis, and FTIR Spectroscopy.

Hemoglobinopathies, hereditary disorders affecting the structure or production of hemoglobin, were detected by routine HbA measurements by capillary electrophoresis (CE) at the University Hospital Motol, Prague. The potential of ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for the detection and characterization of hemoglobinopathies was investigated. FTIR spectra were recorded with a very high resolution (0.

Analysis of metalothionein in patients with malignant liver tumors.

Background: Malignant liver tumors are highly aggressive with a poor prognosis. Metalothionein (MT) is a low-molecular intracellular protein, whose primary function is to regulate the homeostasis of heavy metals in many organisms. There are only few studies focusing on the molecular mechanisms of MT expression.

Short-term impact of vitamin K2 supplementation on biochemical parameters and lipoprotein fractions.

This study explored the short-term effects of vitamin K2 (VK2) supplementation on biochemical parameters (vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin A, alkaline phosphatase, calcium, phosphorus (P), magnesium, metallothionein, triglycerides, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and lipoprotein fractions (albumin, HDL, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), LDL, and chylomicrons). A short-term experiment (24 h, six probands) was performed to track changes in VK2 levels after a single-dose intake (360 µg/day). Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to monitor vitamin K levels (menaquinone-4 (MK-4), menaquinone-7 (MK-7), and vitamin K1 [VK1]) with a limit of detection of 1.

Spectrophotometric and chromatographic analysis of creatine:creatinine crystals in urine.

Creatinine is the end product of the catabolism of creatine and creatine phosphate. Creatine phosphate serves as a reservoir of high-energy phosphate, especially in skeletal and cardiac muscle. Besides typical known changes in serum and urinary creatinine concentrations, rare cases associated with changes in serum and urinary creatine levels have been described in the literature in humans.

Electrochemical Sensors and Biosensors for Identification of Viruses: A Critical Review.

Due to their life cycle, viruses can disrupt the metabolism of their hosts, causing diseases. If we want to disrupt their life cycle, it is necessary to identify their presence. For this purpose, it is possible to use several molecular-biological and bioanalytical methods.

Vitamin K Status Based on K1, MK-4, MK-7, and Undercarboxylated Prothrombin Levels in Adolescent and Adult Patients with Cystic Fibrosis: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The available evidence on vitamin K status in cystic fibrosis (CF) is scarce, lacking data on vitamin K2 (menaquinones-MK). Therefore, we assessed vitamin K1, MK-4 and MK-7 concentrations (LC-MS/MS) in 63 pancreatic insufficient and modulator naïve CF patients, and compared to 61 healthy subjects (HS). Vitamin K1 levels did not differ between studied groups.

Clinical utility of methicillin-resistant nasal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays beyond respiratory infections.

We estimated the predictive value of methicillin-resistant (MRSA) nasal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for blood, bone, and soft-tissue cultures. The specificities were 88.8%, 88.

Perioperative changes of FGF23 in patients undergoing surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism.

Background: Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is a key regulator of urine phosphate excretion. The aim of the study was to investigate the perioperative (intraoperative and postoperative) changes of plasma intact and C-terminal FGF23 (iFGF23, cFGF23) concentrations in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) submitted to surgery.

Materials And Methods: The study involved 38 adult patients with pHPT caused by adenoma.

Hyaluronic acid concentration in the middle ear fluid as an indicator of severity of the secretory otitis in newborns with cleft palate.

The aim of the study was to investigate the hyaluronic acid concentration in middle ear fluid of patients with cleft palate as an indicator of the severity of the disease. Hyaluronic acid was examined in the middle ear fluid of 65 children (48 boys and 17 girls) subjected to cleft lip surgery in neonatal period up to 10 days of age. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the course of the disease.

Early prediction of prostate cancer biochemical recurrence and identification of disease persistence using PSA isoforms and human kallikrein-2.

Background: The role of isoforms of prostate specific antigen (PSA) and other kallikrein-related markers in early detection of biochemical recurrence (BCR) after radical prostatectomy (RP) is not well known and serum PSA is currently used in preoperative risk nomograms.

Objective: The aim of this research was to study pre- and early postoperative levels of important PSA isoforms and human kallikrein-2 to determine their ability to predict BCR and identify disease persistence (DP).

Methods: This study included 128 consecutive patients who underwent RP for clinically localized prostate cancer.

[Concentration of Hyaluronic Acid in Synovial Fluid as an Indicator of Severity and Degree of Impairment in Patients Suffering from Gonarthrosis].

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY Hyaluronic acid is a major component of synovial fluid and an indicator of joint viscosity and viscoelasticity. Decreased concentrations of hyaluronic acid in the synovial fluid indicate the severity of osteoarthritis. The aim of the study was to determine the concentrations of hyaluronic acid in the synovial fluid and to evaluate the correlation with the severity of osteoarthritis determined based on the radiological criteria (evaluation according to X-ray classification) and the physicochemical criteria (measurement of synovial fluid osmolality).

Calcaneal Bone Tumors.

Bone tumors of the foot are an uncommon finding. Most tumors are found incidentally on imaging and are benign. Care must be taken although due to the aggressive nature of malignant bone tumors that can occur in the calcaneus.

Preoperative prostate health index predicts adverse pathology and Gleason score upgrading after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer.

Background: We aimed to explore the utility of prostate specific antigen (PSA) isoform [- 2] proPSA and its derivatives for prediction of pathological outcome after radical prostatectomy (RP).

Methods: Preoperative blood samples were prospectively and consecutivelyanalyzed from 472 patients treated with RP for clinically localized prostate cancerat four medical centers. Measured parameters were PSA, free PSA (fPSA), fPSA/PSA ratio, [- 2] proPSA (p2PSA), p2PSA/fPSA ratio and Prostate Health Index (PHI)(p2PSA/fPSA)*√PSA].

A Multicenter Evaluation of a Nongel Mechanical Separator Plasma Blood Collection Tube for Testing of Selected Therapeutic Drugs.

Background: Some therapeutic drugs are unstable during sample storage in gel tubes. BD Vacutainer® Barricor™ Plasma Blood Collection Tube with nongel separator was compared with plasma gel tubes, BD Vacutainer PST™, PST II, and BD Vacutainer Serum Tube for acetaminophen, salicylate, digoxin, carbamazepine, phenytoin, valproic acid, and vancomycin during sample storage for up to 7 days.

Methods: Seven hospital sites enrolled 705 participants who were taking at least one selected drug.

Diagnostic benefits of mindin as a prostate cancer biomarker: Dijagnostičke prednosti mindina kao biomarkera raka prostate.

Background: It has been shown that decreased expression and activity of extracellular matrix protein mindin correlate with various types of cancers including breast, colon and lung cancers. The aim of the presented study was to investigate the serum mindin levels in prostate cancer.

Methods: Mindin concentrations in serum were measured in 56 patients with prostate cancer (mean age 68 years) and in control group of 29 healthy men (mean age 64 years) using commercially available enzymatic immunoassay (Cusabio, WuHan, China).

Thymidine Kinase-1 as Additional Diagnostic Marker of Prostate Cancer.

Background: Thymidine kinase-1 (TK-1) is associated with proliferation and malignancy and has been extensively studied as a diagnostic biomarker for a variety of tumors, but there are limited data for prostate cancer.

Methods: TK-1 concentrations in serum were measured in 59 patients with prostate cancer (mean age 68 years) and in the control group of 28 healthy men (mean age 63 years) using commercially available enzymatic immunoassay (LSBio, Inc., Seattle, WA, USA).

Revision of the Chronic Syndesmotic Injury.

Optimal healing for fractures requires anatomic reduction and stable fixation. This optimizes not only bone healing, but optimal function within the limb including joint functioning. Proper ligamentous healing is also crucial for optimal functioning.

Revision of Malaligned Lapidus and Nonunited Lapidus.

"Lapidus arthrodesis is becoming more of a common procedure for treatment of hallux valgus deformities. Like other procedures, complications are possible. The common complications associated with Lapidus arthrodesis procedures include nonunion and malunion.

Revision of Failed First Metatarsophalangeal Joint Implant.

Revision surgeries, as well as conversions from implants to arthrodesis, can present unique challenges to the foot and ankle surgeon. Proper perioperative planning assists in optimizing the outcome of the procedure. In general, some amount of bone loss and/or shortening of the first metatarsal takes place, leading to the need for augmenting the site with bone graft or a synthetic substitute.

Polycyanoacrylate (super glue) as bladder concretion in a patient after bilateral inguinal hernioplasty.

A rare case of cyanoacrylate urine bladder urolithiasis in a 60-year-old male is presented. The application of surgical glue (Glubran) as treatment of seroma one month after laparoscopic inguinal hernioplasty led to the instillation of the n-butyl cyanoacrylate into the bladder resulting in the formation of a concretion. Infrared spectroscopy of the urine stone removed by cystoscopic laser lithotripsy four months after the surgery allowed the identification of the nature of the stone and revealed cyanoacrylate as the major component and co-monomer methacryloxy sulfolane as the minor component.

Is Engrailed-2 (EN2) a truly promising biomarker in prostate cancer detection?

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a sensitive but unspecific marker for prostate cancer (PC) detection, which may result in harms including overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Therefore, the development of new markers is of absolute value. The urinary level of engrailed-2 (EN2) protein has been recently suggested as a promising PC biomarker, correlating with tumour volume and stage.

Vancomycin and its crystalline degradation products released from bone grafts and different types of bone cement.

Vancomycin is often used in orthopedic surgery as a local prophylaxis of bacterial infection. The aim of this work was to compare the release of vancomycin and its biologically inactive crystalline degradation products (CDP-1) during in vitro experiments from different types of local antibiotic delivery systems (bone grafts and bone cements). The concentrations of vancomycin and its crystalline degradation products were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography.

LC-MS/MS quantitative analysis of phylloquinone, menaquinone-4 and menaquinone-7 in the human serum of a healthy population.

A novel application of the liquid chromatography method combined with the triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry method was developed for the quantification of vitamin K and two forms of vitamin K (menaquinone-4, menaquinone-7) in human serum. Total chromatography time for each run was 9 min. Time required for the sample pretreatment procedures was approximately 4 h.

The Effect of Inhibin A on Prenatal Screening Results for Down Syndrome in the High Risk Czech Pregnant Women.

Background: Currently, prenatal testing is based on an ultrasound examination, the testing of certain biochemical markers and, most recently, also on the analysis of fragments from the extracellular DNA of the fetus in the mother´s blood. The aim of this work was to verify whether inhibin A testing during pregnancy can help influence the risk distribution of Down syndrome screening results in high risk population and thus possibly reduce the number of unnecessarily invasive procedures, or for better stratification of risks when deciding on non-invasive DNA testing.

Methods: The concentrations of inhibin A were measured using a chemiluminescent immunoassay in two groups of screening tests.

Estimated Total Albumin in Fresh Urine Samples Based on Correlation Between the Roche Immunoturbidimetric and an In-House HPLC Method.

Many studies have reported higher values of urinary albumin measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in comparison with immunochemical methods. The aims of our study were the implementation of the HPLC method for albuminuria, testing the hypothesis about coeluting proteins, comparison of albuminuria assessed by HPLC and immunoturbidimetric (IT) methods in diabetic and non-diabetic patient samples. We compared albuminuria assessed by HPLC with albuminuria assessed by the IT method in fresh urine samples of 636 diabetics and 456 non-diabetics.