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

Humans ; Cardiomyopathies/genetics* ; 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/genetics* ; Humans ; Prealbumin/genetics*

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

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

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

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

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

The transport proteins such as thyroxine-binding-globulin (TBG), albumin and transthyretin carry over 99% of circulating thyroid hormones. TBG is a major thyroid hormone transport protein in serum. Although TBG deficiency does not have metabolic consequences, it has diagnostic implications as it can lead to an incorrect interpretation of thyroid function tests. We experienced a case that a man who had an abnormal thyroid function showed unexpectedly low concentrations of serum total thyroxine. We detected the low TBG in his serum and he was diagnosed the TBG deficiency. We report this case along with a review of the related literature.
Carrier Proteins ; Prealbumin ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Hormones ; Thyroxine