Golgi glycoprotein 73(GP73) is a transmembrane glycoprotein residing in the cis-Golgi complex, which is strongly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and secreted into the blood. It has been regarded as a promising serum tumor marker for the detection of HCC with higher sensitivity and specificity than AFP. GP73 is also significantly elevated in kidney cancer, prostate cancer, lung adenocarcinoma, esophageal cancer and seminomas; therefore, it would be helpful for the diagnosis of these diseases. However, the function of GP73 and the regulatory mechanism for its expression are unclear. In this article, the physical-chemical properties, the regulation of its expression, the relation with various cancers and the clinical applications of GP73 are reviewed.
Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Humans ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Liver Diseases ; metabolism ; Membrane Proteins ; chemistry ; metabolism ; physiology ; Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism

Articular cartilage is a connective tissue consisting of a specialized extracellular matrix (ECM) that dominates the bulk of its wet and dry weight. Type II collagen and aggrecan are the main ECM proteins in cartilage. However, little attention has been paid to less abundant molecular components, especially minor collagens, including type IV, VI, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, and XIV, etc. Although accounting for only a small fraction of the mature matrix, these minor collagens not only play essential structural roles in the mechanical properties, organization, and shape of articular cartilage, but also fulfil specific biological functions. Genetic studies of these minor collagens have revealed that they are associated with multiple connective tissue diseases, especially degenerative joint disease. The progressive destruction of cartilage involves the degradation of matrix constituents including these minor collagens. The generation and release of fragmented molecules could generate novel biochemical markers with the capacity to monitor disease progression, facilitate drug development and add to the existing toolbox for in vitro studies, preclinical research and clinical trials.
Aggrecans ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Cartilage, Articular ; chemistry ; metabolism ; pathology ; Collagen ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; metabolism ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Osteoarthritis ; diagnosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Protein Isoforms ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features and differential diagnosis of olfactory carcinoma (OC). Methods: Twenty-one cases of sinonasal tumors, including those initially diagnosed as olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) and those with uncertain diagnosis, were collected from the Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (Anhui Provincial Hospital) from January 2016 to August 2022, among which 3 cases were reclassified as OC. The clinicopathological features were investigated, and the remaining 18 cases were used as control. Results: Of the three OC patients, 2 were male and 1 was female, with an average age of 57 years ranging from 35 to 74 years. Microscopically, the tumor cells were arranged in solid, nested or lobulated patterns with occasional palisading around the solid nests. The stroma was highly vascular with focal neurofibrillary areas. There were prominent rosettes or pseudorosettes formation. The tumor cells were mainly ovoid to spindly with scant to moderate amount of cytoplasm, one or several small nucleoli, and fine chromatin content. Brisk mitotic figures were seen. In all 3 cases of OC, there were scanty atypical glands and some were ciliated. Immunohistochemically, at least one epithelial marker and neuroendocrine marker were diffusely expressed in the tumor. Some of the tumor cells were positive for p40 and p63, and the sustentacular cells showed the expression of S-100 protein. All cases tested were negative for NUT, CD99 and desmin, with intact expression of SMARCA4 (BRG1) and SMARCB1 (INI-1). Ki-67 proliferation index varied from 20% to 80%. Follow-up after 16-18 months showed no mortality with tumor recurrence from 1 patient after 16 months. Conclusion: OC is a rare sinonasal tumor with neuroepithelial differentiation, its histomorphology is diverse, and the combination of immunohistochemical markers is essential for appropriate diagnosis.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms/chemistry* ; Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism* ; Carcinoma/chemistry* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; S100 Proteins ; DNA Helicases/metabolism* ; Nuclear Proteins/metabolism* ; Transcription Factors/metabolism*

Clinical microdialysis allows a discrete volume of the brain to be sampled for neurochemical analysis of neurotransmitters, metabolites, biomarkers, and drugs. The technique can be safely used in humans intraoperatively, in the intensive care unit, and in ambulatory settings. Microdialysis probes, micropumps, and analytical equipment are commercially available and have been used extensively for neurochemical monitoring in traumatic brain injury, stroke, and subarachnoid hemorrhage. There has been very limited use of microdialysis in neuro-oncology, but this technique has great promise in the study of the basic neurochemistry of brain tumors, alterations in neurochemistry in response to therapy, and the pharmacokinetics of chemotherapeutic agents. Microdialysis probes may also be used to deliver drugs while simultaneously permitting monitoring of neurochemical changes induced by this therapy.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacokinetics ; therapeutic use ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Brain Neoplasms ; chemistry ; metabolism ; therapy ; Glioma ; chemistry ; metabolism ; therapy ; Humans ; Microdialysis ; instrumentation ; methods ; Monitoring, Physiologic

OBJECTIVETo explore whether fecal calprotectin (f-calprotectin, FC) may be an early marker for the identification of gastrointestinal injury in preterm infants by measuring FC concentration and changes of FC concentration in infants with different perinatal factors.

METHODSFC concentration was measured using ELISA in 76 samples (50-100 mg) obtained from 38 preterm infants (gestation 29 to 33 weeks), at birth and on the third day after birth (the 1st and the 2nd FC levels). The infants were classified into three groups according to the reason for preterm birth: premature rupture of membranes (PROM; n=13), spontaneous preterm birth (SPB; n=5) and indicated preterm birth (IPB; n=20).

RESULTSThere were no significant differences between the 1st and 2nd FC levels in the 38 infants. The 1st FC level in the PROM group was significantly higher than that in the IPB group (P<0.05). The 1st FC level in infants whose mothers received antenatal antibiotics treatment was significantly lower. Infants born by cesarean section had a significantly lower 1st FC level than those born by vaginal delivery (P<0.05). Both the 1st and 2nd FC levels in infants with feeding intolerance were significantly higher than in infants with feeding tolerance (P<0.05). The 2nd FC level was negatively correlated with 1 min Apgar score (r=-0.3, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPremature rupture of membranes and perinatal asphyxia may lead to an increase in the excretion of FC in preterm infants. FC may be used as a marker for early evaluation of gastrointestinal conditions in preterm infants.

Biomarkers ; Feces ; chemistry ; Female ; Humans ; Infant Nutrition Disorders ; metabolism ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; metabolism ; Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex ; analysis ; Male

More and more evidences support the cancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis which postulates that CSCs are responsible for tumor initiation metastasis recurrence and resistance to treatments. Therefore they are the targets of antitumor therapy. Sorting CSCs using specific surface markers is the premise of investigating their biological behaviors. Recently CD133 has been used extensively as a marker for the identification of stem cells from normal and cancerous tissues. Moreover CD133- positive (CD133+) tumor cells associate with the self-renewal differentiation potentials signal pathway drug-resistance recurrence and prognosis of tumors. Therefore CD133+ cells could be potential targets of antitumor therapy in the future.
AC133 Antigen ; Animals ; Antigens, CD ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Cell Separation ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Glycoproteins ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; therapy ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; metabolism ; Peptides ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; physiology ; Stem Cell Transplantation

In order to evaluate the effect and mechanism of the mulberry leaf alkaloid, flavones, and polysaccharide intervention on diabetes, the overall metabolite profiling characteristics for the plasma of diabetic mouse was performed by using an ultra-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS). The 8 potential biomarkers were found in diabetic mice plasma based on the data of MS/MS characteristics obtained from the UPLC-OrbitrapMS analysis, which mainly involved in sphingolipids, amino acid metabolic pathway. The principal component analysis showed that the normal group and model group were obviously distinguished and implied that metabolic disturbance was happened in diabetic mice plasma. The extracts of mulberry leaf flavonoids, polysaccharide, alkaloid had exhibited the effects of callback function for diabetic mice through regulating the amino acid metabolism and sphingolipid metabolism.
Alkaloids ; chemistry ; Amino Acids ; metabolism ; Animals ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Flavones ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Metabolomics ; Mice ; Morus ; chemistry ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Sphingolipids ; metabolism ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) is a potential biomarker for joint destruction associated with osteoarthritis, which is first and best investigated biomarkers to reflect osteoarthritis occurs, progress and the prognosis. In this article, multiple uses and related reports of COMP are summarized briefly to promote further investigation of COMP.
Biomarkers ; blood ; Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins ; blood ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Glycoproteins ; blood ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Humans ; Matrilin Proteins ; Osteoarthritis ; blood ; diagnosis ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the concentrations of seminal plasma and serum inhibin B in the differential diagnosis of obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia.

METHODSWe included 37 infertile men with obstructive azoospermia, another 33 with non-obstructive azoospermia and 25 normal fertile men as controls, and measured the concentrations of their FSH serum, seminal plasma and serum inhibin B, using Testicular Histology Johnson Score for the azoospermia infertile men.

RESULTSThe concentration ratio of seminal plasma to serum inhibin B was 2.17 in the control and 3.63 in the non-obstructive azoospermia group, with no significant difference (P = 0.29) in between, but obviously lower in the obstructive azoospermia group (0.18), significantly different from the above two (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe concentration ratio of seminal plasma to serum inhibin B can be used as a predictor in the diagnosis of obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia.

Adult ; Azoospermia ; blood ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Biomarkers ; analysis ; blood ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; blood ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Inhibins ; analysis ; blood ; Male ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Semen ; chemistry ; Testis ; chemistry ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo access the capability of 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) -based metabonomics in the evaluation of graft function in the perioperation period of liver transplantation.

METHODSPlasma samples of 15 male primary hepatic carcinoma patients were collected for clinical biochemical analysis and 1H NMR spectroscopy 1 day before operation, 1 day and 1 week after the operation. The NMR data were analyzed using principal component analysis.

RESULTSMetabonomic analysis indicated that, compared with those before operation, blood concentrations of valine, alanine, acetone, succinic acid, glutamine, choline, lactate, and glucose increased significantly 1 day after transplantation. One week later, the levels of lipids and choline increased notably, while those of glucose and amino acids decreased. Principal component analysis showed significant difference between metabolic profiles of plasma samples of variant periods of liver transplantation, due to the variation of the levels of glucose, lipids, lactate, and choline. A good agreement was observed between clinical chemistry and metabonomic data.

CONCLUSIONSMetabonomic analysis can clearly identify the difference between the plasma samples of primary hepatic carcinoma patients at different time during the perioperation period of liver transplantation. It therefore may be a promising new technology in predicting the outcomes of liver transplantation.

Acetone ; blood ; chemistry ; Alanine ; blood ; chemistry ; Biomarkers ; blood ; chemistry ; Blood Glucose ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Carcinoma ; blood ; chemistry ; surgery ; Choline ; blood ; chemistry ; Glutamine ; blood ; chemistry ; Humans ; Lactic Acid ; blood ; chemistry ; Liver ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; chemistry ; surgery ; Liver Transplantation ; physiology ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Male ; Metabolome ; Succinic Acid ; blood ; chemistry ; Treatment Outcome ; Valine ; blood ; chemistry