No abstract available.
Amyloid Neuropathies* ; Amyloid* ; Humans ; Prealbumin*

Humans ; Cardiomyopathies/genetics* ; Prealbumin/genetics*

Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial/genetics* ; Humans ; Prealbumin/genetics*

Transthyretin (TTR) is a small liver-secreted plasma protein that shows close correlations with changes in lean body mass (LBM) during the entire human lifespan and agglomerates the bulk of nitrogen (N)-containing substrates, hence constituting the cornerstone of body building. Amino acids (AAs) dietary restriction causes inhibition of TTR production and impairs the accretion of LBM reserves. Inflammatory disorders result in cytokine-induced abrogation of TTR synthesis and urinary leakage of nitrogenous catabolites. Taken together, the data indicate that malnutrition and inflammation may similarly suppress the production of TTR through distinct and unrelated pathophysiological mechanisms while operating in concert to downsize LBM stores. The hepatic synthesis of TTR integrates both machineries, acting as a marker of reduced LBM resources still available for defense and repair processes. TTR operates as a universal surrogate analyte that allows for the grading of residual LBM capacity to reflect disease burden. Measurement of TTR is a simple, rapid, and inexpensive micro-method that may be reproduced on a daily basis, hence ideally suited for the follow-up of the most intricated clinical situations and as a reliable predictor of any morbidity outcome.
Biomarkers ; Humans ; Inflammation/metabolism* ; Liver/metabolism* ; Prealbumin

Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial/diagnosis* ; Cardiomyopathies/diagnosis* ; Humans ; Prealbumin

Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial/drug therapy* ; Benzoxazoles ; Humans ; Prealbumin

China ; Consensus ; Heart ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Prealbumin

Amyloid ; Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial/genetics* ; China ; Humans ; Mutation ; Prealbumin/genetics*

PURPOSE: Serum prealbumin concentration has been proposed as a useful nutritional marker that responds rapidly and sensitively to calory and protein intake. But the reports of prealbumin in premature infants are not sufficient and variable. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of serum prealbumin concentration as a marker for nutritional adequacy in premature infants. METHODS: From March to September, 2000, 42 premature infants in NICU were studied. All infants were appropriate for gestational age and had neither evidence of congenital anomalies nor surgeries. The change of serum prealbumin levels according to postnatal age and the correlation between gestational age, anthropometric measurements, nutritional intake(calory-protein), and serum prealbumin and albumin concentration were evaluated. RESULTS: Serum prealbumin concentration was significantly increased with gestatinoal age and birth weight(P<0.05). Serum prealbumin concentration on day 3 of life was lower than that at birth, it rose by day 14 of life and then it became steady. Serum prealbumin concentration was significantly increased with calory intake and protein intake, but more with protein intake than calory intake(P<0.05). Only serum prealbumin concentration was significantly increased with protein intake. Serum albumin concentration and anthropometric measurements were not. CONCLUSION: The serum prealbumin concentration was significantly correlated with gestatinoal age, birth weight, calory intake, and protein intake and could be used as a rapid and sensitive biochemical marker for nutritional adequacy in premature infants.
Biomarkers ; Birth Weight ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Parturition ; Prealbumin* ; Serum Albumin

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the utility of serum prealbumin as a biochemical marker for nutritional adequacy in neonates. METHODS: From March 1998 to May 1999, 71 fullterm (54 AGA, 9 LGA, 8 SGA) and 46 preterm neonates were enrolled. The correlations among prealbumin, albumin, birth weight and gestational age were obtained. Serum concentrations of albumin and prealbumin according to calory and protein intake were also serially measured in 30 fullterm and 29 preterm neonates on days 0, 3 and 7 of life. RESULTS: Serum prealbumin concentrations at birth were 10.2+/-2.6mg/dL in fullterm AGA, 12.1+/-3.3mg/dL in fullterm LGA, 8.3+/-1.2mg/dL in fullterm SGA and 8.8+/-2.4mg/dL in preterm neonates. Serum prealbumin concentration was significantly correlated with birth weight, gestational age and serum albumin level (P<0.01). In the neonates, prealbumin concentrations on day 3 of life were significantly lower than initial concentrations, and then they rised on the day 7 of life (P< 0.05). Serial serum prealbumin level was significantly correlated with body weight, calory intake and protein intake (P<0.01). When caloric and protein intakes were higher than 100kcal/kg/d and 2g/kg/d, respectively, there were significant differences in the changes of prealbumin concentrations on days 0, 3, and 7 of life, compared with those in neonates with lower intake. CONCLUSION: Serum prealbumin concentration could be used in the early recognition of changes in nutritional state in neonates.
Biomarkers* ; Birth Weight ; Body Weight ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Parturition ; Prealbumin* ; Serum Albumin