Urinary di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate metabolites in athletes as screening measure for illicit blood doping: a comparison study with patients receiving blood transfusion.

Background: Subjects submitted to intravenous (IV) blood transfusions for medical reasons or blood doping to increase athletic performance are potentially exposed to the plasticizer di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) found in IV bags. Exposure to DEHP has been evaluated by measuring DEHP metabolites in selected groups of subjects.

Study Design And Methods: Urinary DEHP metabolites, mono-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl)phthalate (MEHHP), and mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl)phthalate (MEOHP) were measured in a control group with no explicit known exposure to DEHP (n = 30), hospitalized patients receiving blood transfusions (n = 25), nontransfused hospitalized patients receiving other medical care involving plastic materials (n = 39), and athletes (n = 127).

Evaluation of protein N-glycosylation in 2-DE: Erythropoietin as a study case.

The structure, function, and physico-chemical properties of many proteins are determined by PTM, being glycosylation the most complex. This study describes how a combination of typical proteomics methods (2-DE) combines with glycomics strategies (HPLC, MALDI-TOF-MS, exoglycosidases sequencing) to yield comprehensive data about single spot-microheterogeneity, providing meaningful information for the detection of disease markers, pharmaceutical industry, antidoping control, etc. Recombinant erythropoietin and its hyperglycosylated analogue darbepoetin-alpha were chosen as showcases because of their relevance in these fields and the analytical challenge they represent.

Assessing the instability of the isoelectric focusing patterns of erythropoietin in urine.

IEF can be used to differentiate human urinary erythropoietin (uEPO), recombinant human erythropoietin or epoetin (rEPO) and darbepoetin (novel erythropoiesis stimulating protein (NESP)). This is the basis of the method currently used to detect misuse of rEPO and NESP by elite athletes. Recently, an unknown activity has been attributed to some urine samples (denominated 'unstable' urine by the World Anti-Doping Agency; WADA).

Increased FasL expression correlates with apoptotic changes in granulocytes cultured with oxidized clozapine.

Clozapine has been associated with a 1% incidence of agranulocytosis. The formation of an oxidized intermediate clozapine metabolite has been implicated in direct polymorphonuclear (PMN) toxicity. We utilized two separate systems to analyze the role of oxidized clozapine in inducing apoptosis in treated cells.

Dual morphometrical changes of the deltoid muscle in patients with COPD.

The present study was specifically aimed at evaluating if the structure of the deltoid muscles is modified in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Twenty-eight male volunteers (61+/-13 yr) were assigned, according to pulmonary function, to either the COPD (n=14, FEV(1)=22-74%pred) or control group (n=14, FEV(1)=83-121%pred). Biopsies from non-dominant deltoid muscle were obtained and processed for morphometric analysis of the fibre types.