No abstract available.
Acute-Phase Proteins ; Bacterial Infections*

BACKGROUND: We measured the clearance rate of inhaled 99mTc-diethyl triaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) aerosol in patients with systemic sclerosis. We also investigated its correlation with respiratory function test and acute phase reactant proteins. METHODS: Ten patients with systemic sclerosis, ten patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and ten healthy controls were included. Dynamic scintigrams (20 seconds/frame, up to 30 minutes) were obtained following inhalation of 99mTc-DTPA aerosol through a radioaerosol delivery system. The time to half clearance (T1/2) was calculated from the time-activity curves. High resolution computed tomography, pulmonary function test and laboratory tests such as ESR, CRP, and complement (C3/C4) were performed. RESULTS: 1) Mean T1/2 values of 99mTc-DTPA clearance after inhalation were 28.1+/-3.8, 57.9+/-20.9, and 64.3+/-13.0 minutes in systemic sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and normal controls, respectively. Mean T1/2 value in systemic sclerosis was significantly reduced compared with those of rheumatoid arthritis group (p<0.001) and normal controls (p=0.001).2) No significant correlations were found between mean T1/2 and FEV1/FVC, FVC or DLco in patients with systemic sclerosis. 3) There was no significant correlation between mean T1/2 and ESR or CRP in patients with systemic sclerosis. And in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, mean T1/2 value correlated significantly with ESR and CRP. CONCLUSION: The clearance rate of inhaled 99mTc-DTPA was significantly increased in patients with systemic sclerosis and had no significant correlation with pulmonary function test and acute phase reactants, but was found to have significant correlations with ESR and CRP in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Acute-Phase Proteins ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Complement System Proteins ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Scleroderma, Systemic*

The present study was designed to assess the dynamic patterns of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6, acute phase protein (α1-acid-glycoprotein, AGP), and an inflammation associated factor (adenosine deaminase; ADA) following experimental caprine coccidiosis. Ten kids aging from 2 to 4 months were infected orally with 5×104 sporulated oocysts and 10 animals served as controls. Blood samples were collected in both groups before infection and at days 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 post-infection (PI), and the levels of above-mentioned factors were measured. IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6, AGP, and ADA activities were significantly higher in infected animals from day 7 PI (P<0.05). In conclusion, the circulatory levels of most systemic inflammatory markers, including pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6), AGP, and ADA increased significantly starting from day 3 to day 7 PI in caprine coccidiosis.
Acute-Phase Proteins ; Aging ; Animals ; Coccidiosis* ; Cytokines ; Immunity, Innate* ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-6 ; Oocysts

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic disease characterized by chronic inflammation of synovial joints accompanied by a marked acute phase response, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a major mediator of the inflammatory response which is involved in the induction of acute phase protein, To evaluate the significance of IL-6 levels in patients with RA, IL-6 activity was measured by radioimmunoassay in 13 patients with RA and 5 patients with traumatic arthritis (TA) or osteoarthritis (OA) was used as a control group. Serum IL-6 activity was significantly elevated in 2 RA patients without treatment compared with that of 11 RA patients with treatment and all the TA and OA patients. Synovial fluid IL-6 activity was elevated in all RA patients (markedly elevated in 2 RA patients without treatment) compared with that of TA and OA patients. Immunohistochemical analysis of synovial tissue from 3 RA patients revealed strong expression of IL-6 in most inflammatory synovial cells. The results indicate that IL-6 level, especially that of synovial fluid, is related to disease activity in patients with RA.
Acute-Phase Proteins ; Arthritis ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-6* ; Joints ; Osteoarthritis ; Radioimmunoassay ; Synovial Fluid

INTRODUCTION: Creatinine has limitations in identifying and predicting acute kidney injury (AKI). Our study examined the utility of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in predicting AKI in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED), and in predicting the need for renal replacement therapy (RRT), occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and all-cause mortality at three months post visit. METHODS: This is a single-centre prospective cohort study conducted at Singapore General Hospital (SGH). Patients presenting to SGH ED from July 2011 to August 2012 were recruited. They were aged ≥21 years, with an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m², and had congestive cardiac failure, systemic inflammatory response syndrome or required hospital admission. AKI was diagnosed by researchers blinded to experimental measurements. Serum NGAL was measured as a point-of-care test. RESULTS: A total of 784 patients were enrolled, of whom 107 (13.6%) had AKI. Mean serum NGAL levels were raised (P < 0.001) in patients with AKI (670.0 ± 431.9 ng/dL) compared with patients without AKI (490.3 ± 391.6 ng/dL). The sensitivity and specificity of NGAL levels >490 ng/dL for AKI were 59% (95% confidence interval [CI] 49%-68%) and 65% (95% CI 61%-68%), respectively. Need for RRT increased 21% per 100 ng/dL increase in NGAL (P < 0.001), whereas odds of death in three months increased 10% per 100 ng/dL increase in NGAL (P = 0.028). No clear relationship was observed between NGAL levels and MACE. CONCLUSION Serum NGAL identifies AKI and predicts three-month mortality.
Humans ; Lipocalin-2 ; Prospective Studies ; Lipocalins ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; Acute-Phase Proteins ; Biomarkers ; Acute Kidney Injury/diagnosis* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Predictive Value of Tests

OBJECTIVE: To explore the value of serum microRNA-494 (miR-494) expression in predicting the prognosis of acute renal injury (AKI) after cardiac surgery in children. METHODS: 116 children with AKI after cardiopulmonary bypass for congenital heart disease admitted to Sanya People's Hospital from January 2016 to March 2019 were enrolled. The expression of miR-494 in serum was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and the levels of serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of all the children. The children were divided into survival group and death group according to 28-day survival. Serum levels of miR-494, NGAL and KIM-1 were measured in two groups. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of death in children with AKI after cardiac surgery. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of serum levels of miR-494, NGAL and KIM-1 in predicting prognosis of children with AKI after cardiac surgery was performed. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between serum levels of miR-494 and NGAL, KIM-1. RESULTS: After cardiopulmonary bypass in 116 children with AKI, 27 cases died and 89 cases survived during the 28-day observation. Compared with the survival group, the proportion of cyanosis in the death group was significantly increased, the proportion of blood perfusion was significantly decreased, the time of cardiopulmonary bypass and postoperative mechanical ventilation were significantly prolonged, and the blood glucose level was significantly increased after operation. There was no significant difference in other general data. The serum levels of miR-494, NGAL and KIM-1 in the death group were significantly higher than those in the survival group [miR-494 (2^-ΔΔCt): 3.75±1.28 vs. 1.48±0.71, NGAL (mg/L): 583.60±52.72 vs. 320.52±31.84, KIM-1 (g/L): 30.53±6.38 vs. 17.40±3.72, all P < 0.01]. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed cyanosis [odds ratio (OR) = 1.716, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 1.184-2.982, P = 0.039], postoperative blood glucose (OR = 1.925, 95%CI was 1.262-3.387, P = 0.005), serum miR-494 (OR = 2.527, 95%CI was 1.706-5.148, P < 0.001), NGAL (OR = 2.473, 95%CI was 1.620-4.935, P < 0.001) and KIM-1 (OR = 1.805, 95%CI was 1.213-3.106, P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for death in children with AKI after cardiac surgery. ROC curve analysis showed the area under the curve (AUC) to predict the death of children with postoperative AKI was 0.868, 0.857 and 0.819 respectively, AUC of serum miR-494, NGAL and KIM-1 levels combination to predict the death of children with postoperative AKI was the largest (0.964, 95%CI was 0.908-0.997), with a high sensitivity and specificity of 97.0% and 91.8%. The correlation analysis showed the expression level of serum miR-494 was positively correlated with NGAL and KIM-1 in the death group (r₁ = 0.902, r₂ = 0.873, both P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Serum levels of miR-494 increased significantly in children with AKI after cardiac surgery, which is an independent risk factor for death in children with AKI after cardiac surgery, and the combination of NGAL and KIM-1 levels had a high value in predicting the prognosis of children with AKI after cardiac surgery.
Acute Kidney Injury/diagnosis* ; Acute-Phase Proteins ; Biomarkers ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; Child ; Humans ; Lipocalin-2 ; MicroRNAs/blood* ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression and clinical significance of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and its complex in the urine of the patient with breast cancer.

METHODSUsing substract gel electrophoresis and western-blot analysis, expressions of MMP-9 and MMP-9/NGAL complex in breast cancer (n = 97), breast benign (n = 41) and normal (n = 60) were observed.

RESULTSThere MMP-9 and MMP-9/NGAL complex expressions were 76.29% and 64.95% in breast cancer, 46.34% and 43.90% in breast benign, and 23.33% in normal respectively. The MMP-9 and MMP-9/NGAL complex expressions were higher in breast cancer than those in breast benign and in normal (chi(2) = 7.456, P < 0.01). MMP-9 and MMP-9/NGAL complex expressions in urine of breast cancer had not any relationship with tumor size, TNM stage, patient age, menopause status as well as ER status, but was correlated to lymphatic node status (chi(2) = 5.206, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMMP-9 and MMP-9/NGAL complex expressions in urine are significant in estimating lymphatic node metastasis in breast cancer and a valuable early prognostic factors and screening in breast cancer.

Acute-Phase Proteins ; Blotting, Western ; Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; urine ; Carrier Proteins ; urine ; Female ; Humans ; Lipocalin-2 ; Lipocalins ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; urine ; Oncogene Proteins ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins

OBJECTIVETo study the diagnostic value of determinations of serum acute phase reaction protein, such as complement 3 (C3), complement 4 (C4), prealbumin (PA) and C-reactive protein (CRP), etc., in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

METHODSSerum levels of C3, C4, PA and CRP were determined by turbidimetry in 54 cases of SARS, 20 of other pneumonia and 30 normal persons.

RESULTSSerum concentrations of C3, C4, CRP and PA were (1.18 +/- 0.42) g/L, (1.15 +/- 0.56) g/L, (10.52 +/- 8.77) mg/L and (107 +/- 54) mg/L in SARS patients, (1.30 +/- 0.46) g/L, (0.57 +/- 0.31) g/L, (0.88 +/- 0.43) mg/L and (291 +/- 76) mg/L in patients with other pneumonia, and (1.11 +/- 0.56) g/L, (0.38 +/- 0.26) g/L, (0.42 +/- 0.26) mg/L and (376 +/- 74) mg/L in normal persons, respectively. Serum level of PA was significantly lower and levels of C4 and CRP significantly in patients with SARS higher than those in patients with other pneumonia and normal persons (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in serum level of C3 between the three groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDetermination of serum level of C4, CRP and PA in suspected patients is beneficial to early differential diagnosis for SARS.

Acute-Phase Proteins ; analysis ; Acute-Phase Reaction ; blood ; Adult ; Aged ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Complement C3 ; analysis ; Complement C4 ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prealbumin ; analysis ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; blood

Clinical examination, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cytology, acute-phase protein, and pulmonary hemostasis and fibrinolysis marker (fibrinogen, serum amyloid A [SAA], and D-dimer) results were compared between control and respiratory disease-affected horses. Using a clinical scoring system, horses (n = 58) were classified as respiratory disease-free (Controls, n = 15) or with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO; n = 18), inflammatory airway disease (n = 14) or chronic interstitial pneumopathy (n = 11). There were no significant differences in fibrinogen concentrations among groups, but there was a trend toward a lower value in controls (median 0.0024 g/L) than in horses with chronic pneumopathies (median 0.0052 g/L), in particular, those with RAO (median 0.0062 g/L). Fibrinogen concentration was positively correlated with percentage of neutrophils in BALF (r(s) = 0.377, p = 0.004). SAA concentrations were low; 65.5% of samples were below the detection limit. D-dimer concentrations were also low and quantifiable concentrations were only obtained after ultrafiltration and only in RAO (median 0.1 mg/L). In conclusion, there was limited evidence of increased coagulatory activity in chronic pneumopathies, apart from RAO. It is uncertain whether fibrinogen and D-dimer concentrations increased due to their role as acute-phase proteins or as a misbalance of coagulation and fibrinolysis.
Acute-Phase Proteins ; Airway Obstruction ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Fibrinogen ; Fibrinolysis* ; Hemostasis* ; Horses ; Limit of Detection ; Neutrophils ; Serum Amyloid A Protein ; Ultrafiltration

PURPOSE: Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome(FPIES) is a symptom complex of severe vomiting and diarrhea which is known as a food-related gastrointestinal hypersensitivity disorder without evidence of IgE-mediated sensitivity. We described the clinical characteristics of FPIES in young infants. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients, aged 7 to 120 days, were included who were diagnosed as FPIES by clinical criteria and food challenges. The clinical and laboratory features on admission and the findings from endoscopic biopsies were investigated. Food challenges with milk and soy were performed. RESULTS: Nineteen patients(67%) were admitted with diarrhea, four(15%) with vomiting and five (18%) with both vomiting and diarrhea. Fourteen patients(50%) were ill enough to require evaluation for sepsis but with negative results. Leukocytosis was noticed in twenty(71%), acute phase reactants increased in eighteen(64%), metabolic acidosis was observed in seventeen(61%) and hypoalbuminemia in twelve(43%). Duodenal biopsy specimens showed edema and acute inflammation in all patients. Villus atrophy was found in sixteen patients(57%) with no significant correlation between the degree of villus atrophy and the symptom severity. Diarrhea was elicited in 64% of total food challenges, vomiting and diarrhea in 25%, vomiting only in 7%. Shock state was developed in 25% of challenges. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that food-related gastrointestinal hypersensitivity can cause a syndrome similar clinically to severe infection and FPIES should be suspected in young infants who have protracted diarrhea with or without vomiting.
Acidosis ; Acute-Phase Proteins ; Atrophy ; Biopsy ; Diarrhea ; Edema ; Enterocolitis* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Hypoalbuminemia ; Infant ; Inflammation ; Leukocytosis ; Milk ; Sepsis ; Shock ; Vomiting