Biomedical subjects

David Stejskal

Publications and source records attributed to David Stejskal.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Adiponectin, adipocyte fatty acid binding protein, and epidermal fatty acid binding protein: proteins newly identified in human breast milk.

BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding may protect children from developing metabolic syndrome and other diseases later in life. We investigated novel proteins in human breast milk that might play a role in this process. METHODS: We used ELISA to measure adiponectin, adipocyte and epidermal fatty acid binding proteins (AFABP, EFABP), and leptin concentrations in human breast milk obtained from 59 mothers 48 h after initiation of lactation. Using a questionnaire and medical records, we collected information about the mothers and newborns. RESULTS: Mean (SE) adiponectin concentrations in breast milk were 13.7 (0.8), range 3.9-30.4 microg/L; AFABP concentrations 26.7 (4.4), range 1.2-137.0 microg/L; EFABP concentrations 18.1 (1.4), range 0.8-47.0 microg/L; and leptin concentrations 0.50 (0.05), range 0-1.37 microg/L. We found a significant correlation between AFABP and EFABP concentrations (r = 0.593, P <0.0001). Maternal EFABP concentrations were significantly higher in mothers who delivered boys than in those who delivered girls [21.7 (2.3) vs 15.4 (1.7) microg/L, P = 0.028] and correlated with newborn birth weight (r = 0.266, P = 0.045). Maternal leptin correlated with body weight before pregnancy (r = 0.272, P = 0.043) and at delivery (r = 0.370, P = 0.005), body mass index before pregnancy (r = 0.397, P = 0.003) and at delivery (r = 0.498, P <0.0001), body weight gain during pregnancy (r = 0.267, P = 0.047), and newborn gestational age (r = 0.266, P = 0.048). Leptin was significantly lower in mothers who delivered preterm vs term babies [0.30 (0.09) vs 0.60 (0.05) ug/L, P = 0.026]. CONCLUSIONS: Concentrations of adiponectin, AFABP, and EFABP in human breast milk are related to nutritional variables of mothers and newborns and thus may play a role in the protective effects of breastfeeding.

Adipocytes↗

PubMed2006

Adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein is a plasma biomarker closely associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) is traditionally thought to be a cytosolic fatty acid chaperone expressed in adipocytes. Mice with targeted disruption of the A-FABP gene exhibit a striking phenotype with strong protection from insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, and atherosclerosis. The clinical relevance of these findings remains to be confirmed. METHODS: We used tandem mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis to identify proteins secreted from adipocytes and present in human serum. We measured serum A-FABP concentrations in 229 persons (121 men and 108 women; age range, 33-72 years), including 100 lean [body mass index (BMI) <25 kg/m2] and 129 overweight/obese individuals (BMI >25 kg/m2) selected from a previous cross-sectional study. RESULTS: A-FABP was released from adipocytes and was abundantly present in human serum. Mean (SD) circulating concentrations of A-FABP were significantly higher in overweight/obese than in lean persons [32.3 (14.8) vs 20.0 (9.8) microg/L; P < 0.001]. Age- and sex-adjusted serum A-FABP concentrations correlated positively (P < 0.005) with waist circumference, blood pressure, dyslipidemia, fasting insulin, and the homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index. Moreover, we observed a significant increase in A-FABP concentrations corresponding with increases in the number of components of the metabolic syndrome (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A-FABP is a circulating biomarker closely associated with obesity and components of the metabolic syndrome, and measurement of serum concentrations of A-FABP might be useful for clinical diagnosis of obesity-related metabolic and cardiovascular disorders.

Adipocytes↗

PubMed2006

Assessment of serum beta-trace protein (BTP) measurement in the prediction of glomerular filtration rate. Comparison with serum cystatin C.

Serum BTP measurement is sometimes believed to be an alternative marker of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) assessment. The aim of the present work was to investigate the correlation between creatinine, cystatin C, and BTP values in sera and to compare the diagnostic efficacy for serum BTP and cystatin C with the glomerular filtration rate estimate. 25 individuals were tested. GFR was estimated from creatinine clearance, serum cystatin C and BTP and urine alpha-1 microglobulin, albumin, GMT and creatinine were measured. BTP values correlated with cystatin C (r = 0.75; p < 0.01), creatinine (r = 0.73, p < 0.01), GFR (r = -0.46; p = 0.02), urine alpha-1-microglobulin (r = 0.66; p < 0.01). The diagnostic efficacy of BTP for reduced GFR was insufficient and the calculation of GFR with BTP was not included in the regression model.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Guanylins--agents with natriuretic effect.

Guanylins and uroguanylins are natriuretic peptides with different effects in many of tissues. In context with guanylins, the intestine-renal axis is presented. The overproduction of guanylin or uroguanylin leads to secondary diarrhea with stimulation of Cl(-) secretion. A diet high in salt lead especially to increased guanylin and uroguanylin secretion. Interesting applications with guanylins measurement could to be in hypertension diagnosis, monitoring of heart dysfunction treatment, intensive care etc.

Gastrointestinal Hormones↗

PubMed2006

Adiponectin added into the plasma of healthy probands does not affect platelet aggregability.

Six healthy non-obese probands without medical therapy and history of disease were tested. In all of them platelet aggregability with addition of human recombinant adiponectin in different concentrations (100; 75; 50 and 25 ng/l) were measured. It is concluded that increased level of adiponectin has no significant antiaggregation effect on platelets from individuals without hypoadiponectinemia.

Adiponectin↗

PubMed2006

Reg-Ialpha in the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome--a pilot study.

The commonly used laboratory markers of coronary involvement in subjects with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are not yet myocardial ischemia-specific and show a late irreversible involvement of the myocardium. A laboratory test has been searched for in order to distinguish persons with myocardial ischemia and typical CAD symptoms to CAD-free individuals. Reg-Ialpha is the product of Reg-I gene which plays a significant role in myocardial regeneration. 38 individuals with suspicion of acute coronary syndrome were tested on admission, after 2 and 6 hours. In all of them cardiac troponin I, myoglobin, C-reactive protein (CRP) and Reg-I alpha were analysed. Our findings did not support the hypothesis that measurement of Reg-Ia maybe the useful marker of myocardial stress.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

MCL-1 (myosin light chains-1) in differential diagnosis of dyspnea.

Myosin light chains-1 (MLC-1) have been recently associated with the markers of heart function (NYHA, LVEF, NT-proBNP). Verification of the relationship between markers of heart function (New York Heart Association classification (NYHA), left ventricle ejection fraction determination (LVEF), N terminal prohormone of natriuretic peptide B type BNP (NT-proBNP) and concentrations of myosin light chains-1 (MLC-1) was assessed. Patients examined for dyspnea without signs of acute coronary syndrome. All patients underwent echocardiography (calculation of left ventricle ejection fraction--LVEF) and in the serum of all subjects NT-proBNP (ELEIA) and MLC-1 (ELISA) were determined. In the 38 patients (21 men, 17 women), mean age of 58 years (+/-12 years as 1 SD), a significant negative correlation was found between NT-proBNP and LVEF (r = - 0.47; p = 0.02, Spearman). The median levels of NT pro-BNP were closely associated with NYHA classification (type II--584 ng/l, type III--2792 ng/l, type IV--6400 ng/l; p < 0.05). Individuals with clinical NYHA IV differed significantly in median MLC-1 concentrations from persons with clinical NYHA classification II and III (type II--5.7 ng/l, type III--8.9 ng/l, type IV--17 ng/l; p < 0.05). A significant negative correlation between MLC-1 and LVEF (-0.35; p < 0.03) and significant positive correlations between MLC-1 and NT-proBNP (0.42; p < 0.012) were found. In conclusion MLC-1 cannot be used as a diagnostic marker in differential diagnosis of dyspnea.

Biomarkers↗

PubMed2005

Applications of new laboratory marker assays in neurological diagnoses - a pilot study.

225 consecutive patients with different neurological diseases and 101 individuals as the control were examined between 2002-2004. Cystatin C, arginase-I, tau-protein and beta-amyloid were measured. Individuals with CNS inflammation had significantly lower Cystatin-C index (CSF/serum) values. There was no diagnostic significance of the Arginase-I assay in CSF was verified. The CSF tau-protein/beta-amyloid index was shown to be a sufficient efficacy for neurodegenerative disease diagnosis.

Amyloid beta-Peptides↗

PubMed2005

Increased level of advanced oxidation products (AOPP) as a marker of oxidative stress in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Oxidative stress impairs endothelial function and may play an important role in the pathogenesis of acute cardiovascular diseases. Advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) were proposed as one of the possible markers of oxidative injury, which originates under oxidative and carbonyl stress and increase global inflammatory activity. The present study was undertaken to compare AOPP concentrations in a control group of healthy individuals without ICHS (I), patients with stable angina pectoris (II), patients with acute coronary syndrome over 48 hours without ST elevations (III), and patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (IV). Coronaronary angiography, risk factors and anamnestic data were analyzed. We examined 73 probands with signs of myocardial ischemia, mean age of 61.5 years (64% males) subjected to coronarography and 21 healthy individuals. No significant difference was found between venous blood and coronary samples, or between infarction and non-infarction arteries in the group IV. AOPP concentrations in healthy individuals in the group I (82.9 +/- 29.3 mmol/l) did not differ significantly from patients in group II (89.6 +/- 26.7 mmol/l) and group III (112.3 +/- 54.6 mmol/l). A significant difference in AOPP values was found between the groups I and IV, and between the groups II and IV (82.9 +/- 29.3 mmol/l vs. 125.8 +/- 101 mmol/l, p = 0.02, and 89.6 +/- 26.7 mmol/l vs. 125.8 +/- 101 mmol/l, p = 0.02). No correlations were found between AOPP and body mass index (BMI), nicotinism, left ventricular ejection fraction, parameters of glucose and lipid metabolism. ROC analysis revealed that AOPP concentrations of 89 mmol/l had 64% sensitivity and 71% specificity for revealing an acute coronary syndrome (AUC 0.65, 95% CI 0.55-0.80). AOPP are significantly increased in patients with acute coronary syndromes with ST segment elevation, but also tend to increase in patients with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction. Our observations suggest that AOPP may be used as a marker of oxidative stress and as a prognostic factor for severe forms of cardiovascular disease. A cut-off value of 89 mmol/l can be used with 64% sensitivity and 71% specificity for revealing acute coronary syndrome.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

High adiponectin and TNF-alpha levels in moderate drinkers suffering from liver steatosis: comparison with non drinkers suffering from similar hepatopathy.

Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with increased insulin sensitivity and a reduced risk for type 2 diabetes. An important endogenous mediator of insulin sensitivity is adiponectin (AN), an adipokine that displays numerous antiatherogenic, antidiabetogenic and antiinflammatory effects. Recently, acute increase in alcohol consumption has been shown to be associated with increase in plasma adiponectin and, concomitantly, insulin sensitivity. Whether chronic alcohol consumption predicts an increase in plasma AN and whether this is independent of adiposity, markers of liver dysfunction, and plasma adipokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha is not known. We, therefore, investigated these relationships in 75 men who were diagnosed with liver steatosis using ultrasound/liver biopsy. We examined 75 men, who were diagnosed for having liver steatosis (ultrasound/liver biopsy). Each filled in a questionnaire on alcohol intake. Subjects were divided into two subgroups according to alcohol history and CDT concentrations--drinkers and non-drinkers. All individuals were examined for serum concentrations of AN, glucose, triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and glutamate transferase (GMT) activity; carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT%) a marker of chronic alcohol consumption, insulin and TNF-alpha. The Quicki insulin sensitivity index was calculated. Forty-eight individuals were found to be moderate drinkers and 27 subjects non-drinkers. Moderate drinkers had significantly higher concentrations of AN (13.8 +/- 3,7 versus 9.1 +/- 5.4 mg/l, means +/- SD, p = 0.012) compared with non-drinkers, independent of adiposity. Plasma AN concentrations in the whole group were positively correlated with TNF-alpha concentrations (r = 0.6; p = 0.0001), CDT (r = 0.26; p = 0.0084), AST/ALT index (r = 0.3, p = 0.009), AST (r = 0.29; p = 0.011) and GMT (r = 0.29; p = 0.011) and negatively with BMI (r = -0.48; p = 0.0002) and glycemia (r = -0.22; p = 0.049). The positive associations of AN with TNF-alpha (0.8; p = 0.001), CDT (0.55; p = 0.017), AST/ALT index (0.55; p = 0.019) and the negative correlation with glycemia (-0.35; p = 0.0158) were independent of BMI. Stratified according to alcohol intake, in moderate drinkers, a positive correlation was found between AN and TNF-alpha concentrations (r = 0.6, p = 0.0001, AST/ALT index (r = 0.34, p = 0.0295) whereas in non-drinkers no such correlations were found. The concentration of AN and BMI displayed a negative correlation in both drinker and nondrinker patients (r = -0.42, p = 0.01 and -0.61; p = 0.012, respectively). We concluded that plasma AN is higher in moderate drinkers compared to non-drinkers, even after correction for BMI. Drinkers suffering from liver steatosis were found to have a positive correlation between AN concentrations, laboratory markers of liver disease and TNF-alpha. Such correlation was absent in non-drinkers suffering from liver steatosis. This suggests that alcohol may modulate the inhibitory effect of TNF-alpha on AN production, and thus, increase its plasma concentrations.

Adiponectin↗

PubMed2004

The antioxidant acetylcysteine reduces oxidative stress by decreasing level of AOPPs.

Oxidative stress and especially its connection with many diseases has been discussed much recently. Among markers of oxidative stress there appear new and quite specific ones called advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs). We tried to influence the level of AOPPs by an antioxidant therapy with N-acetylcysteine. Fourteen individuals with many cardiovascular risk factors were examined. All these patients were administered acetylcysteine (NAC) 600 mg/day orally during 20 days. Before starting the therapy we determined AOPP, albumin cobalt binding (ACB), glucose, creatinine, urea, ALT, AST, cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides values in peripheral venous blood in all individuals. After finishing our intervention we determined AOPP, ACB and glucose level again. Our results show a statistically significant decrease in AOPP levels after 20-day N-acetylcysteine therapy (medians, initially 82.2, at study end 74.3 umol/l, p = 0.039). We demonstrate a significant decrease in AOPP levels after 20-day N-acetylcysteine therapy in dose 600 mg/day.

Acetylcysteine↗

PubMed2003

Application of determined NT-proBNP in physical standardized exercise.

UNLABELLED: Natriuretic peptides can be used as markers of heart failure, its severity and also in the differential diagnosis of dyspnea. Moreover, the dynamics of natriuretic peptides in physical standardized exercise may be used in the assessment of latent heart failure. AIM OF THE STUDY: Can determination of NT-proBNP be used in the diagnosis of exercise-induced ischemia or latent heart failure? 18 probands (10 men, 8 women) under study were risk persons with unspecified ECG, without signs of manifest heart failure. They were subjected to ergometric bike exercises up to the subjective maximum, SPECT myocardium with estimated ejection fraction of the left ventricle at peak ergometric exercise. The following parameters were followed-up: a) before ergometric exercise: NT-proBNP, CRP, TNF-alpha, Hb, Htc, lactate b) at subjective maximum: NT-proBNP, Hb, Htc, lactate c) 30 min after stopping the exercise: NT-proBNP d) 60 min after stopping the exercise: NT-proBNP. The volume blood changes were taken into account (estimation from the dynamics of Htc, Hb with calculation of metabolic changes of NT-proBNP). To evaluate the dynamics of NT-proBNP, the group was divided into subgroups according to the results obtained in ergometric exercises. RESULTS: initial values of NT-proBNP within normal limits (< 59 pmol/l, 500 ng/l) in 94%, the submaximal pulse rate was reached in 94%, ischemic changes in ECG were observed in 59%, typical clinical signs of heart ischemia were recorded in 35%. Signs of heart dysfunction according to SPECT were found in 47% and ischemic symptoms were observed in 43%. In general, the plasmatic volume decreased by 24% at maximal exercise. Lactate concentration in the plasma increased in all cases. Conversion of NT-proBNP into volume blood changes revealed that increased NT-proBNP occurred only in 22%. Differences between NT-proBNP before exercises and at maximal exercise prior and after correction into volume blood changes were statistically insignificant. 30 and 60 min after the exercise, no significant differences were found in NT-proBNP concentrations. Dividing into subgroups according to the results of ergometric exercises, showed no significant differences in NT-proBNP concentrations. Dynamics of NT-proBNP changes during and after ergometric exercises cannot be used for the diagnosis of exercise-induced heart failure. The high stability of NT-proBNP related to physical activity was confirmed.

Biomarkers↗

PubMed2003

Adiponectin in patients with various stages of coronary heart disease - comparison of its concentration in coronary arteries and peripheral venous circulation.

UNLABELLED: Adiponectin is an adipocytes-produced protein and showing a number of antiatherogenic effects. Adiponectin seems to be extensively deposited in the intersticium of venous lesions of persons with myocardial infarction. It may exhibit antiatherogenic and reparative effects. A decreased adiponectin concentration may be a risk factor of the origin and complications of atherosclerosis. AIM OF THE STUDY: 1) Do the adiponectin concentrations in venous blood of persons with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) differ from those in persons with stress angina pectoris? 2) In these persons do adiponectin concentrations in venous blood differ from those in main coronary arteries? 3) Do adiponectin levels differ in the infarction and non-infarction arteries in persons with STEMI (ST Elevation Myocardial Infarct) and delay within 4 hours after the onset? 4) In persons with ACS does any correlation exist between venous adiponectin and common risk factors of cardiovascular complications? Adiponectin concentration was determined in samples of blood collected from the peripheral vein and during coronarography in various localizations in 4 groups of examined persons (I. - no signs of CAD, II. - stable stress angina pectoris, III. - ACS over 48 hours without elevations of ST segment, IV. - STEMI during first 4 hours after its origin and proved occlusion of coronary artery at coronarography). Coronary angiography, risk factors and anamnestic data were analyzed. The software Medcalc was used to perform statistical analysis. We examined 73 probands with signs of myocardial ischemia (mean age of 61.5 years, 64 % males), who were subjected to coronarography and 21 healthy volunteers. A mean delay (delay from the origin of complaints to the performed coronarography) was 3.1 +/- 0.5 hours in individuals in the group IV. In patients with ACS we found lower adiponectin concentrations in venous blood compared to healthy individuals and persons with stress AP, but changes were not statistically significant (I.: -5.9 +/- 2.7 ng/l, II.: -4.9 +/- 1.2 ng/l, III.: -5.2 +/- 4.1 ng/l, IV.: -4.6 +/- 2.7 ng/l); no differences were found also with BMI. No significant difference was recorded between the samples of venous blood and those of coronary arteries, nor between the infarction and the non-infarction arteries in the group IV. (5.2 +/- 2.6 ng/l vs. 4.8 +/- -2.7 ng/l). Significant negative correlations were observed between adiponectin concentrations and BMI (correlation coefficient -0.29), triacylglycerols (correlation coefficient -0.4), AOPP (correlation coefficient -0.39), and positive correlations with HDL (correlation coefficient 0.32). No correlation was recorded between adiponectin and CRP. Adiponectin concentrations in persons with ACS are lower than in healthy persons or patients with stable angina pectoris, but differences are not statistically significant. The absence of adiponectin differences between the infarction/non-infarction artery may support the hypothesis of adiponectin uptake in the ischemic lesion with subsequent decrease in blood adiponectin. On the contrary, adiponectin decrease may be a risk factor independent of the origin and development of ACS.

Adiponectin↗

PubMed2003

Adiponectin concentrations as a criterion of metabolic control in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus?

UNLABELLED: Adiponectin (ADP) is an adipocytokin with many antiatherogenic properties; its decreased level is associated with numerous atherogenic diseases and syndromes (e.g. diabetes mellitus (DM), dyslipidemia, endothelial dysfunction, hypertension, and obesity). Decreased ADP values in blood may be an independent risk factor of atherosclerotic (ATS) complications. AIM OF THE STUDY: 1) Do persons with type 2 diabetes have lower ADP values than individuals without DM but with a high risk of ATS complications? 2) Do ADP values differ between persons with well controlled and persons with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes? We examined 109 patients of the Metabolic Center of Hospital Sternberk. Out of them, 58 had type 2 diabetes, others were individuals with variously expressed risk factors of early atherosclerosis (obesity, hypertension, age, family history, smoking, dyslipidemia, etc.). In all persons under this study the following parameters were determined in peripheral venous blood: adiponectin, resistin, leptin, ObRe, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triacylglycerols, glucose, HbA1c, creatinine, urea, ALT, AST, CRP, homocysteine, thrombocyte aggregation after CPG induction. The whole group was divided according to the presence of type 2DM into two subgroups; persons with diabetes were divided into the well controlled and uncontrolled subgroups. All data obtained were processed statistically using the software SPSS for Windows and Medcalc. The adiponectin/BMI index correlated negatively with HbA1c value (correlation coefficient -0.37, p = 0.00053), triacylglycerols (-0.4, p = 0.000001), P-glucose (-0.3, p = 0.0017), uricemia (-0.35, p = 0.0007) and positively with HDL-cholesterol value (0.6, p=0.00001). Women had higher adiponectin values than men. Persons with hypertension and with diabetes mellitus, individuals with atherogenic lipotype or persons with inflammation signs had lower values than individuals without these diseases and syndromes. Persons with wellcontrolled diabetes mellitus had higher values than persons with uncontrolled diabetes (medians of the adiponectin/BMI index 9.7 vs. 6.7, p < 0.01). Persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus have lower ADP values than persons with a high ATS risk without diabetes mellitus. Persons with wellcontrolled diabetes mellitus (DM) and with satisfactory compensation have significantly higher ADP levels (independently of other metabolic parameters of DM control). ADP may be a new marker of metabolic control in persons with a high risk of atherosclerotic complications.

Adiponectin↗

PubMed2003

Resistin - concentrations in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus and in individuals with acute inflammatory disease.

UNLABELLED: Resistin is a recently discovered signal molecule, which could help elucidation of the pathophysiology of the insulin resistance and its correlation with obesity. As little information was available about resistin determination in venous blood at the time of our study, we focused on the question whether any correlation exists between persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus, with systemic inflammation, healthy persons and resistin concentrations and laboratory markers of inflammation, peptone, BMI. Differences of resistin values in these types of volunteers were studied as well. METHODS: Persons under study were divided into 3 groups: group A - with clinical signs of inflammatory disease of respiratory tract, leukocytosis > 10000/ul and CRP concentration > 50 mg/l (n = 35); group B - with well controlled type 2 DM treated by oral antidiabetic drugs, without clinical signs of inflammation and negative case history of acute disease (n = 12); group C - without clinical signs of inflammation and negative case history of acute disease (n = 77). For all volunteers we determined BMI index and examined resistin, leptin, interleukin 6, TNF-alpha, Na, K, Cl, insulin, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triacylglycerols, creatinine, uric acid, ALT, AST, GMT, P, Mg and albumin in serum. RESULTS: Persons with clinical signs of severe inflammation had higher concentrations of Il6, CRP, resistin and a markedly lower BMI, decreased values of glucose, sodium, triacylglycerols, cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol compared to diabetics of type 2 (p < 0.05). Persons with clinical signs of severe inflammation showed significantly higher concentrations of TNF-alpha, Il6, CRP, resistin, glucose, leptin and considerably lower values of albumin, sodium and HDL-cholesterol than healthy individuals (p < 0.05). Persons with type 2 DM had markedly higher values of BMI, CRP, glucose, triacylglycerols, LDL-cholesterol, GMT and leptin, compared to healthy volunteers (p < 0.05). None of the three groups differed markedly in age or sex. Healthy volunteers show a significant correlation between leptin and resistin (correlation coefficient 0.82); this correlation was not found in patients with inflammation and type 2 DM. The group of volunteers with inflammations was found to have a significant positive correlation between resistin and inflammatory markers (correlation coefficient 0.3-0.5), negative correlation between resistin and cholesterol. We also found positive correlations between leptin and BMI as well as negative correlations between leptin and CRP. No significant correlations between resistin and other studied parameters were found in persons with type 2 DM. CONCLUSION: In healthy population a correlation was found between leptin and resistin concentrations in serum. In patients with severe inflammatory disease a correlation between resistin concentration and laboratory markers of inflammation was shown, however, no correlation was found between leptin and resistin. Resistin concentration in the serum of these patients is significantly higher ( p < 0.01) compared to healthy subjects and well controlled persons with type 2 DM with signs of insulin resistance. This may be due to a direct effect of inflammatory cytokines on resistin production. In persons with type 2 DM no significant correlations were found between resistin and other individual parameters ( insulin sensitivity markers, BMI or leptin). Resistin concentrations in persons with type 2 DM do not differ from concentrations of common population.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2003

Use of cystatin C determination in clinical diagnostics.

This paper presents a current view of the possible clinical uses of cystatin C determination. Cystatin C is an inhibitor of cysteine proteases, and relatively stable in the systemic circulation it is comparatively easily determined. Although in clinical practice it is known primarily as a relatively reliable and endogenous marker for glomerular filtration, lately cystatin C analysis has been discussed in connection with the diagnostics of a variety of diseases such as early atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's dementia, vascular aneurysms, hyperhomocysteinaemia and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Alzheimer Disease↗

PubMed2002

Quantitative analysis of DNA levels in maternal plasma in normal and Down syndrome pregnancies.

BACKGROUND: We investigated fetal and total DNA levels in maternal plasma in patients bearing fetuses affected with Down syndrome in comparison to controls carrying fetuses with normal karyotype. METHODS: DNA levels in maternal plasma were measured using real-time quantitative PCR using SRY and beta-globin genes as markers. Twenty-one pregnant women with a singleton fetus at a gestational age ranging from 15 to 19 weeks recruited before amniocentesis (carried out for reasons including material serum screening and advanced material age), and 16 pregnant women bearing fetuses affected with Down syndrome between 17 to 22 weeks of gestation were involved in the study. RESULTS: The specificity of the system reaches 100% (no Y signal was detected in 14 women pregnant with female fetuses) and the sensitivity 91.7% (SRY amplification in 22 of 24 examined samples). The median fetal DNA levels in women carrying Down syndrome (n=11) and the controls (n=13) were 23.3 (range 0-58.5) genome-equivalents/ml and 24.5 (range 0-47.5) genome-equivalents/ml of maternal plasma, respectively (P = 0.62). The total median DNA levels in pregnancies with Down syndrome and the controls were 10165 (range 615-65000) genome-equivalents/ml and 7330 (range 1300-36750) genome-equivalents/ml, respectively (P = 0.32). The fetal DNA proportion in maternal plasma was 0%-6 % (mean 0.8%) in women carrying Down syndrome and 0%-2.6 % (mean 0.7 %) in the controls, respectively (P=0.86). CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed no difference in fetal DNA levels and fetal DNA: maternal DNA ratio between the patients carrying Down syndrome fetuses and the controls.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2002

Preliminary experience with resistin assessment in common population.

Resistin is a signal peptide produced by adipose tissue. Mice models have confirmed that resistin may play an important role in insulin resistance. Its function in the human organism has not been elucidated yet. Since in common population the resistin concentrations are not known (no validated commercial set is available), we performed resistin assessment using the ELISA method (with satisfying analytical characteristics) in a population of 123 non-obese probands without signs of insulin resistance and/or inflammation. Mean resistin values amounted to 14.3 ng/ml (reference limit of 7.3-21.3 ng/ml).

Adult↗