Prediagnostic Plasma Bile Acid Levels and Colon Cancer Risk: A Prospective Study.

Background: Bile acids have been proposed to promote colon carcinogenesis. However, there are limited prospective data on circulating bile acid levels and colon cancer risk in humans.

Methods: Associations between prediagnostic plasma levels of 17 primary, secondary, and tertiary bile acid metabolites (conjugated and unconjugated) and colon cancer risk were evaluated in a nested case-control study within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort.

A Network Involving Gut Microbiota, Circulating Bile Acids, and Hepatic Metabolism Genes That Protects Against Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Scope: Gut microbiota contributes to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) pathogenesis by multiple mechanisms not yet completely understood. Novel differential features between germ-free mice (GFm) transplanted with protective or non-protective cecal microbiota against NAFLD are investigated.

Methods And Results: Gut microbiota composition, plasma, and fecal bile acids (BAs) and liver mRNAs are quantified in GFm recipients from four donor mice differing in NAFLD severity (control diet, high-fat diet [HFD]-responder, HFD-non-responder, and quercetin-supplemented HFD).

A very mild phenotype of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 4H caused by two novel mutations in FGD4.

Background: Mutations in the FGD4 gene cause an autosomal recessive demyelinating peripheral neuropathy referred to as CMT4H, characterized by its onset in infancy or early-childhood and its slow progression.

Methods: The clinical and genetic status of two patients with CMT4H was studied, performing genetic testing with a panel of genes and analysing FGD4 mRNA expression by quantitative PCR.

Results: Two novel FGD4 variants (c.

RNA Sequencing Analysis for the Identification of a PCM1/PDGFRB Fusion Gene Responsive to Imatinib.

The platelet-derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFRB) gene translocations lead to a spectrum of chronic myeloid neoplasms, frequently associated with eosinophilia. Clinical heterogeneity is associated with a molecular one. Here, we report a novel case of a patient harboring a t(5;8)(q33;p22) translocation, resulting in the PCM1/PDGFRB fusion.

Comparison of isotope pattern deconvolution and calibration curve quantification methods for the determination of estrone and 17β-estradiol in human serum.

A Liquid Chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) based method have been developed for the determination of the main estrogen compounds -estrone (E1) and 17β-estradiol (E2)- in human serum. Two isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) quantification procedures have been used: a classical calibration curve-based method were compared to a recently developed isotope pattern deconvolution (IPD) method. IPD is based on isotopic abundance measurements and multiple linear regression.

Risk factors for anastomotic leakage after colorectal resection in ovarian cancer surgery: A multi-centre study.

Objective: To determine pre-/intraoperative risk factors for anastomotic leak after modified posterior pelvic exenteration (MPE) or colorectal resection in ovarian cancer and to create a practical instrument for predicting anastomotic leak risk.

Background: In advanced ovarian cancer surgery, there is rather limited published evidence, drawn from a small sample, providing information about risk factors for anastomotic leak.

Methods: Eight hospitals participated in this retrospective study.

Adrenic acid non-enzymatic peroxidation products in biofluids of moderate preterm infants.

Oxidative stress plays an essential role in processes of signaling and damage to biomolecules during early perinatal life. Isoprostanoids and isofuranoids from the free radical-catalyzed peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are widely recognized as reliable biomarkers of oxidative stress. However, their quantification is not straightforward due to high structural similarity of the compounds formed.

New mutations found by Next-Generation Sequencing screening of Spanish patients with Nemaline Myopathy.

Nemaline Myopathy (NM) is a rare genetic disorder that encompasses a large spectrum of myopathies characterized by hypotonia and generalized muscle weakness. To date, mutations in thirteen different genes have been associated with NM. The most frequently responsible genes are NEB (50% of cases) and ACTA1 (15-25% of cases).

Mobilisation Mechanism of Pathogenicity Islands by Endogenous Phages in Staphylococcus aureus clinical strains.

Staphylococcus aureus pathogenicity islands (SaPIs) are a type of mobile genetic element that play a significant role in the pathogenesis and virulence of this microorganism. SaPIs are integrated in the chromosome under the control of the master repressor Stl, but they can be horizontally transferred at a high frequency due to certain bacteriophages. Thus, a phage protein can bind to the SaPI Stl and induce the SaPI cycle, spreading the SaPI virulence factors to other bacterial populations.

Assessment of discriminant models in infrared imaging using constrained repeated random sampling - Cross validation.

Infrared (IR) imaging is an emerging and powerful approach for studying the molecular composition of cells and tissues. It is a non-destructive and phenotypic technique which combines label-free molecular specific information from cells and tissues provided by IR with spatial resolution, offering great potential in biochemical and biomedical research and routine applications. The application of multivariate discriminant analysis using bilinear models such as Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) to IR images requires to unfold the spatial directions in a two-way matrix, resulting in a loss of spatial information and structure.

DHA and therapeutic hypothermia in a short-term follow-up piglet model of hypoxia-ischemia: Effects on H+MRS biomarkers.

Background: Therapeutic hypothermia has become the standard of care for newborns with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in high and middle income countries. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has neuroprotective properties of reducing excitotoxicity, neuroinflammation and apoptosis in rodent models. We aim to study whether post hypoxic administration of i.

Model selection for within-batch effect correction in UPLC-MS metabolomics using quality control - Support vector regression.

Ultra performance liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) is increasingly being used for untargeted metabolomics in biomedical research. Complex matrices and a large number of samples per analytical batch lead to gradual changes in the instrumental response (i.e.

Biomarkers of oxidative stress derived damage to proteins and DNA in human breast milk.

Oxidative stress derived biomarkers have been extensively studied for assessing pathological situations in the neonatal period and their usefulness for an early outcome prediction of oxidative stress related diseases in non-invasive biofluids could be demonstrated. This is the first report on a method for the simultaneous detection of a panel of oxidative stress related biomarkers for quantifying damage to proteins and DNA in human breast milk samples. A straightforward sample clean-up procedure using 1.

Functional Magnetic Mesoporous Silica Microparticles Capped with an Azo-Derivative: A Promising Colon Drug Delivery Device.

Magnetic micro-sized mesoporous silica particles were used for the preparation of a gated material able to release an entrapped cargo in the presence of an azo-reducing agent and, to some extent, at acidic pH. The magnetic mesoporous microparticles were loaded with safranin O and the external surface was functionalized with an azo derivative (bearing a carbamate linkage) yielding solid . Aqueous suspensions of at pH 7.

Novel free-radical mediated lipid peroxidation biomarkers in newborn plasma.

Oxidative stress derived from perinatal asphyxia appears to be closely linked to neonatal brain damage and lipid peroxidation biomarkers have shown to provide predictive power of oxidative stress related pathologies in situations of hypoxia and reoxygenation in the newborn. The objective of this work was to develop and validate of a comprehensive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry approach for the quantitative profiling of 28 isoprostanoids in newborn plasma samples covering a broad range of lipid peroxidation product classes. The method was developed taking into account the specific requirements for its use in neonatology (i.

Toward a Noninvasive, Label-Free Screening Method for Determining Spore Inoculum Quality of Penicillium chrysogenum Using Raman Spectroscopy.

We report on a label-free, noninvasive method for determination of spore inoculum quality of Penicillium chrysogenum prior to cultivation/germination. Raman microspectroscopy providing direct, molecule-specific information was used to extract information on the viability state of spores sampled directly from the spore inoculum. Based on the recorded Raman spectra, a supervised classification method was established for classification between living and dead spores and thus determining spore inoculum quality for optimized process control.

SERCA2a: A potential non-invasive biomarker of cardiac allograft rejection.

Background: The detection of heart transplant rejection by non-invasive methods remains a major challenge. Despite the well-known importance of the study of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase (SERCA2a) in the heart, its role as a rejection marker has never been analyzed. Our objective in this study was to determine whether circulating SERCA2a could be a good marker of cardiac rejection.

DHA reduces oxidative stress following hypoxia-ischemia in newborn piglets: a study of lipid peroxidation products in urine and plasma.

Background: Lipid peroxidation mediated by reactive oxygen species is a major contributor to oxidative stress. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has anti-oxidant and neuroprotective properties. Our objective was to assess how oxidative stress measured by lipid peroxidation was modified by DHA in a newborn piglet model of hypoxia-ischemia (HI).

Plasma metabolite score correlates with Hypoxia time in a newly born piglet model for asphyxia.

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) secondary to perinatal asphyxia is a leading cause of mortality and acquired long-term neurologic co-morbidities in the neonate. The most successful intervention for the treatment of moderate to severe HIE is moderate whole body hypothermia initiated within 6h from birth. The objective and prompt identification of infants who are at risk of developing moderate to severe HIE in the critical first hours still remains a challenge.

Assessment of phospholipid synthesis related biomarkers for perinatal asphyxia: a piglet study.

The prompt and reliable identification of infants at risk of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy secondary to perinatal asphyxia in the first critical hours is important for clinical decision-making and yet still remains a challenge. This work strives for the evaluation of a panel of metabolic biomarkers that have been associated with the hypoxic-ischemic insult in the perinatal period. Plasma and urine samples from a consolidated newborn piglet model of hypoxia and withdrawn before and at different time points after a hypoxic insult were analyzed and compared to a control group.

Short-term effects of cannabidiol after global hypoxia-ischemia in newborn piglets.

Background: Cannabidiol (CBD), a nonpsychoactive cannabinoid, has shown neuroprotective actions after neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) in animals. We wanted to further explore the effects of CBD, alone and in conjunction with hypothermia, in a piglet model of global HI.

Methods: Fifty-five anesthetized newborn piglets were randomized to either controls (n = 7) or HI (n = 48) by ventilation with 8% O until mean arterial blood pressure reached 20 mmHg and/or base excess reached -20 mmol/l.

Mycophenolate mofetil embryopathy: A newly recognized teratogenic syndrome.

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is probably the most common employed immunosuppressant drug in recipients of solid organ transplant and in many autoimmune diseases. In vitro studies, a significant number of single clinical observations and a recent study from a group of different European teratogen information services, have provided very consistent data supporting the existence of a specific MMF embryopathy. The typical malformative pattern of MMF embryopathy includes external ear anomalies ranging from hypoplastic pinna (microtia) to complete absence of pinna (anotia); cleft lip, with or without cleft palate, and ocular anomalies as iris or chorioretinal coloboma and anophthalmia/microphthalmia.