Activity-Based Protein Profiling of Intraoperative Serine Hydrolase Activities during Cardiac Surgery.

The processes involved in the initiation of acute kidney injury (AKI) following cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) are thought to occur during the intraoperative period. Such a rapid development might indicate that some of the inductive events are not dependent on de novo protein synthesis, raising the possibility that changes in activities of pre-existing enzymes could contribute to the development of AKI. Activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) was used to compare the serine hydrolase enzyme activities present in the urines of CPB patients who subsequently developed AKI versus those who did not (non-AKI) during the intra- and immediate postoperative periods.

A proteomic evaluation of urinary changes associated with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Background: The urinary proteome of patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) may provide important insights into systemic and renal changes associated with the procedure. Such information may ultimately provide a basis to differentiate changes or properties associated with the development of acute kidney injury. While mass spectrometry (MS) analysis offers the potential for in-depth compositional analysis it is often limited in coverage and relative quantitation capacity.

Development of an SRM method for absolute quantitation of MYDGF/C19orf10 protein.

Purpose: To develop a MS-based selected reaction monitoring (SRM) assay for quantitation of myeloid-derived growth factor (MYDGF) formerly chromosome 19 open reading frame (C19orf10).

Experimental Design: Candidate reporter peptides were identified in digests of recombinant MYDGF. Isotopically labeled forms of these reporter peptides were employed as internal standards for assay development.

Systematic review of carcinoma arising in pharyngeal diverticula: a 112-year analysis.

Background: Carcinoma is a rare complication of pharyngeal diverticula. There is a paucity of information about its incidence, presentation, management, and treatment outcomes. A systematic review and analysis of all reported cases has been carried out.

Proteomic analysis of Clostridium thermocellum core metabolism: relative protein expression profiles and growth phase-dependent changes in protein expression.

Background: Clostridium thermocellum produces H2 and ethanol, as well as CO2, acetate, formate, and lactate, directly from cellulosic biomass. It is therefore an attractive model for biofuel production via consolidated bioprocessing. Optimization of end-product yields and titres is crucial for making biofuel production economically feasible.

Mitochondrial dysfunction resulting from the absence of mitochondrial porin in Neurospora crassa.

Porin, the voltage-dependent anion-selective channel (VDAC) in the mitochondrial outer membrane, contributes to metabolism and apoptosis. VDAC function was investigated in Neurospora, an obligate aerobe with a single porin. Porinless strains are viable, with cold-sensitive growth, cytochrome deficiencies and overexpression of alternative oxidase.

Assessment of the reproducibility of random hexapeptide peptide library-based protein normalization.

The wide dynamic range of proteins in biological samples poses a challenge for the detection of low-abundance proteins. Recently, combinatorial hexapeptide peptide libraries have been suggested as an approach to normalization of proteins in such mixtures. We examined the reproducibility of a commercial hexapeptide ligand library for quantitative and comparative serum proteomic analysis.

The effects of infliximab therapy on the serum proteome of rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Introduction: Although the clinical effects of infliximab therapy in rheumatoid arthritis have been documented extensively, the biological effects of this intervention continue to be defined. We sought to examine the impact of infliximab therapy on the serum proteome of rheumatoid arthritis patients by means of a mass spectrometry-based approach.

Methods: Sera from 10 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were obtained prior to and following 12 weeks of infliximab therapy using a standard clinical protocol.

Low-cost dual-action aural foreign-body extractor.

Adequate visualization, appropriate equipment, a cooperative patient, and a skilled physician are keys to successful foreign body removal. The first attempt at removal is critical because success rates markedly decrease after the first failed attempt.

Lymphadenovarix of the head-neck region--a rare presentation of Bancroftian filariasis.

Cystic swellings of the neck in children have limited differential diagnoses, often either lymphatic or vascular malformations. Other cystic inflammations can be the result of tuberculous abscesses, suppurated lymph nodes and actinomycosis. Microfilaria causing lmphadenovarix of head-neck region has not yet been described in the literature.

Practical implementation of 2D HPLC scheme with accurate peptide retention prediction in both dimensions for high-throughput bottom-up proteomics.

We describe the practical implementation of a new RP (pH 10 - pH 2) 2D HPLC-ESI/MS scheme for large-scale bottom-up analysis in proteomics. When compared to the common SCX-RP approach, it provides a higher separation efficiency in the first dimension and increases the number of identified peptides/proteins. We also employed the methodology of our sequence-specific retention calculator (SSRCalc) and developed peptide retention prediction algorithms for both LC dimensions.