To investigate the application of bromocresol green Colorimetry (BCG) method in measuring serum albumin (ALB) and to evaluate its influencing factors in different diseases. This study was a cross-sectional study that included 128 people admitted to the department of nephrology, department of general surgery, department of infectious diseases and other departments of the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University in July 2021. They were divided into groups according to disease types, including chronic kidney disease group (47 cases), liver disease group (40 cases), other diseases group (41 cases), serum ALB was detected by BCG method and immunoturbidimetry at the same time, and the results were expressed as ALB_BCG and ALB_I respectively, each group was subdivided into three subgroups according to ALB_I results: relatively high-value subgroup, relatively intermediate-value subgroup and relatively low-value subgroup of albumin. ALB_I and ALB_BCG were compared in all groups and subgroups. Passing-Bablok regression and Bland-Altman diagram analysis were used to evaluate the application of ALB_BCG in each group. Immunoturbidimetry was used as a reference method to evaluate the bias of ALB_BCG, and the differences between ALB_I and ALB_BCG were shown as follows:ΔALB= ALB_BCG-ALB_I. Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were used to assess the correlation between ΔALB and ALB autoconcentration (ALB_I), α₁-globulin, α₂-globulin, β₁-globulin, β₂-globulin, γ-globulin, creatinine (Cr), urea (UN), uric acid (UA), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin (TBil), direct bilirubin (DBil), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.The results showed that ALB_BCG were higher than ALB_I in the relative low subgroups of total patients group, chronic kidney disease group, liver disease group and other disease groups, and the differences were statistically significant (t value was 8.025, 6.878, 2.628, 4.915, respectively, P<0.05). In the relatively high value subgroup, ALB_BCG was lower than ALB_I, and the differences were statistically significant in the relative high value subgroup of total patients group, liver disease group and other disease groups (t value was -4.388, -2.927, -3.979, P<0.05). Passing-Bablok regression and Bland-Altman analysis showed that the BCG method had proportional bias. In the chronic kidney disease group, the concentrations of ALB_I and Cr had the greatest influence on BCG bias, and the regression model equation was ΔALB=5.437-0.146× Alb_I-0.001 ×Cr, R²=0.505. In the liver disease group, the concentrations of ALB_I, α₁-globulin, β₁-globulin had the greatest influence on BCG bias, and the regression model equation was ΔALB=3.652-0.230×ALB_I+0.398×α₁-globulin+1.171×β₁-globulin, R²=0.658. In the other disease group, the concentration of ALB_I and α₂-globulin had the greatest influence on BCG bias, and the regression equation was ΔALB=5.558-0.225×Alb_I-0.281×α₂-globulin, R²=0.646. The BCG method has a proportion error, and its bias may lead to unacceptable differences. BCG method is mainly affected by the concentration of ALB itself, and may also be affected by α₁-globulin, α ₂-globulin, β₁-globulin, Cr.
BCG Vaccine ; Bilirubin ; Bromcresol Green ; Colorimetry ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Globulins ; Humans ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Retrospective Studies ; Serum Albumin/analysis*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of serum globulin levels before treatment in predicting the prognosis of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

METHODSA total of 127 patients with non-disseminated NPC were recruited between January, 2009 and December, 2013 at Nanfang Hospital. The pretreatment serum globulin levels were analyzed with the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to select the cut-off point for low and high pretreatment serum globulin levels. Kaplan-Meier and multivariable analyses were used to evaluate the predictive value of serum globulin levels.

RESULTSThe ROC curve analysis determined 30.05 g/L as the optimal cut-off value for pretreatment serum globulin level, which was significantly associated with gender (P=0.024) and N stage (P=0.016). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that a high pretreatment serum globulin level (>30.05 g/L) significantly predicted poor progression-free survival (P=0.019), overall survival (P=0.034) and distant metastasis-free survival (P=0.049); multivariate analysis identified pretreatment serum globulin level as an independent prognostic factor for progression-free survival (HR=2.344, P=0.031).

CONCLUSIONPretreatment serum globulin level may serve as a valuable marker to predict the prognosis of patients with NPC.

Carcinoma ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; Prognosis ; ROC Curve ; Serum Globulins ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of intravenous injection of low-dose versus high-dose gamma globulin combined with glucocorticoid pulse therapy in the treatment of children with moderate/severe acute Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).

METHODSA total of 100 children with moderate/severe acute GBS were randomly assigned to low-dose group (n=48) and high-dose group (n=52). The children in the low-dose and high-dose groups were treated with 0.2 g/(kg · d) and 0.4 g/(kg · d) gamma globulin respectively combined with methylprednisolone. The two groups were compared in terms of the time to improvements of symptoms after treatment, serum levels of inflammatory factors, proportion of children undergoing invasive ventilation, treatment response rate, and adverse events.

RESULTSAfter 5 days of treatment, the low- and high-dose groups had significant reductions in serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and C-reactive protein, and there were no significant differences in the reductions of these markers between the two groups. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the time to recovery of respiratory muscle paralysis, time to an improvement in muscle strength of one grade, time to recovery of sensory disturbance, and length of hospital stay. There was no significant difference in the treatment response rate between the low- and high-dose groups (90% vs 92%). There were also no significant differences in the incidence rates of pyrexia, headache, nausea, and palpitation between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSLow-dose versus high-dose gamma globulin combined with methylprednisolone pulse therapy have comparable clinical efficacy and safety in the treatment of children with moderate/severe acute GBS.

Adolescent ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Methylprednisolone ; administration & dosage ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; gamma-Globulins ; administration & dosage

OBJECTIVETo investigate the common mutation spectrum of α- and β-thalassemia in Yunnan childbearing-aged population.

METHODSThe common mutation types of α- or β-globin genes were detected by multiple Gap-PCR and the PCR-reversed dot blotting, and the unknown mutation types were determined by DNA sequencing in DNA samples of hypochromic microcytic anemia patients and carriers who were confirmed to be positive by serologic screaning, then the mutation types of globin in Yunnan population were analyzed statistically.

RESULTSA total of 40 kinds of mutation types were detected in 685 detected persons, among them the 3 commonest mutation types of α-globin genes were --(SEA)/αα (49.09%), -α(3.7)/αα (36.67%) and α(CS)α/αα (8.79%), the 3 commonest genetypes of β-globin gene were CD26(GAG>AAG)/N (43.78%), CD41-42(-CTTT)/N (20.1%) and CD17(AAG>TAG)/N (18.9%). There were 348 Han and 212 Dai ethnic persons in 685 cases, but their mutation of globin genes were different between these 2 ethnic groups. The results also showed that the gene mutation types were mostly concentrated in Dai ethnic individuals, since 28 of 38 detected α-β-thalassemia cases were Dai ethnic individuals.

CONCLUSIONThe mutation spectrums of α- and β-globin genes in Yunnan childbearing-aged population are diverse and different from that in other areas of China.

Alpha-Globulins ; genetics ; Anemia, Hypochromic ; ethnology ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Ethnic Groups ; genetics ; Genetic Testing ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; alpha-Thalassemia ; ethnology ; genetics ; beta-Globins ; genetics ; beta-Thalassemia ; ethnology ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety and the clinical value of external use of jiuyi Powder (JP) in treating plasma cell mastitis using partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA).

METHODSTotally 50 patients with plasma cell mastitis treated by external use of JP were observed and biochemical examinations of blood and urine detected before application, at day 4 after application, at day 1 and 14 after discontinuation. Blood mercury and urinary mercury were detected before application, at day 1, 4, and 7 after application, at day 1 and 14 after discontinuation. Urinary mercury was also detected at 28 after discontinuation and 3 months after discontinuation. The information of wound, days of external application and the total dosage of external application were recorded before application, at day 1, 4, and 7 after application, as well as at day 1 after discontinuation. Then a discriminant model covering potential safety factors was set up by PLSDA after screening safety indices with important effects. The applicability of the model was assessed using area under ROC curve. Potential safety factors were assessed using variable importance in the projection (VIP).

RESULTSUrinary β2-microglobulin (β2-MG), urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), 24 h urinary protein, and urinary α1-microglobulin (α1-MG) were greatly affected by external use of JP in treating plasma cell mastitis. The accuracy rate of PLSDA discriminate model was 74. 00%. The sensitivity, specificity, and the area under ROC curve was 0. 7826, 0. 7037, and 0. 8084, respectively. Three factors with greater effect on the potential safety were screened as follows: pre-application volume of the sore cavity, days of external application, and the total dosage of external application.

CONCLUSIONSPLSDA method could be used in analyzing bioinformation of clinical Chinese medicine. Urinary β2-MG and urinary NAG were two main safety monitoring indices. Days of external application and the total dosage of external application were main factors influencing blood mercury and urine mercury. A safety classification simulation model of treating plasma cell mastitis by external therapy of JP was established by the two factors, which could be used to assess the safety of external application of JP to some extent.

Acetylglucosaminidase ; Alpha-Globulins ; Discriminant Analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Mastitis ; drug therapy ; Plasma Cells ; ROC Curve ; Safety

OBJECTIVE: To observe the characteristics of serum protein in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) during the symptomatic period. METHOD: Fifty-five patients with BPPV and 58 control subjects were enrolled in the study. All the patients underwent the Dixe-Hallpike and Roll maneuver to confirm the type of BPPV. The average time of onset was (1.0 ± 0.8)days in the group of BPPV. The clinical features and the laboratory tests of serum protein electrophoresis, blood counts, and liver and kidney function were performed in both groups. RESULT: The levels of serum albumin (Alb), α1 globulin, α2 globulin and β globulin of BPPV group did not differ statistically in the two groups (P > 0.05); The γ-globulin levels were significantly higher in patients with BPPV than in controls (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The γ-globulin levels are increased when BPPV is attacking.
Alpha-Globulins ; analysis ; Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo ; blood ; diagnosis ; Beta-Globulins ; analysis ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Serum Albumin ; analysis ; gamma-Globulins ; analysis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Accurate diagnosis of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is difficult without considering the possibility of underlying diseases, especially autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). We investigated the clinical patterns in patients with a history of medication, liver-function abnormalities, and in whom liver biopsy was conducted, focusing on accompaniment by AIH. METHODS: The clinical, serologic, and histologic findings of 29 patients were compared and analyzed. The patients were aged 46.2+/-12.8 years (mean+/-SD), and 72.4% of patient were female. The most common symptom and causal drug were jaundice (58.6%) and herbal medications (55.2%), respectively. RESULTS: Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase levels were 662.2+/-574.8 U/L, 905.4+/-794.9 U/L, 12.9+/-10.8 mg/dL, 195.8+/-123.3 U/L, and 255.3+/-280.8 U/L, respectively. According to serologic and histologic findings, 21 cases were diagnosed with DILI and 8 with AIH. The AIH group exhibited significantly higher AST levels (537.1+/-519.1 vs. 1043.3+/-600.5 U/L), globulin levels (2.7+/-0.4 vs. 3.3+/-0.5 g/dL), and prothrombin time (12.9+/-2.4 vs. 15.2+/-3.9 s; P<0.05). Antinuclear antibody was positive in 7 of 21 cases of DILI and all 8 cases of AIH (P=0.002). The simplified AIH score was 3.7+/-0.9 in the DILI group and 6.5+/-0.9 in the AIH group (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Accurate diagnosis is necessary for patients with a history of medication and visits for liver-function abnormalities; in particular, the possibility of AIH should be considered.
Adult ; Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Antibodies, Antinuclear/blood ; Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood ; Biopsy ; Drug-Induced Liver Injury/*diagnosis/pathology ; Female ; Globulins/analysis ; Hepatitis, Autoimmune/*diagnosis/pathology ; Herbal Medicine ; Humans ; Jaundice/etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prothrombin Time

Preeclapsia (PE) is a severe disorder that occurs during pregnancy, leading to maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. PE affects about 3-8% of all pregnancies. In this study, we conducted liquid chromatographymass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to analyze serum samples depleted of the six most abundant proteins from normal and PE-affected pregnancies to profile serum proteins. A total of 237 proteins were confidently identified with < 1% false discovery rate from the two groups of duplicate analysis. The expression levels of those identified proteins were compared semiquantitatively by spectral counting. To further validate the candidate proteins with a quantitative mass spectrometric method, selective reaction monitoring (SRM) and enzyme linked immune assay (ELISA) of serum samples collected from pregnant women with severe PE (n = 8) or normal pregnant women (n = 5) was conducted. alpha2-HS-glycoprotein (AHSG), retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) and alpha-1-microglobulin/bikunin (AMBP) and Insulin like growth factor binding protein, acid labile subunit (IGFBP-ALS) were confirmed to be differentially expressed in PE using SRM (P < 0.05). Among these proteins, AHSG was verified by ELISA and showed a statistically significant increase in PE samples when compared to controls.
Adult ; Alpha-Globulins/metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Biological Markers/blood ; Blood Proteins/*analysis ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins/blood ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Pre-Eclampsia/*blood/diagnosis ; Pregnancy ; Proteome/*analysis ; Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma/metabolism ; alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein/metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical and pathological features of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) patients with negative anti-mitochondria antibody (AMA).

METHODSTwo hundreds and eight PBC patients were enrolled. The clinical and histological data of the negative AMA cases were compared with the AMA/AMA-M2 positive cases.

RESULTS30 out of the 208 cases (14.4%) were AMA negative patients in our study. The general status, biochemical tests and histological findings between the two groups had no significant difference (P > 0.05). The Gamma-globulin, IgG, IgM and IgA levels of AMA/AMA-M2 positive PBC patients were higher than that of the AMA negative cases (P < 0.05). The abnormal rate of cholesterol in AMA negative PBC patients was 65.4% as compared to 50.4% in AMA/AMA-M2 positive cases, no significant difference existed between (P > 0.05). Anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) was observed in 29 (96.7%) AMA negative PBC patients, including 14 (48.3%) with granular pattern, 8 (27.6%) with nuclear membrane pattern, 6 (20.7%) with kinetochore pattern and 1 (3.4%) with homogeneous pattern. AMA negative PBC patients had elevated serum ALP, GGT, IgM and cholesterol levels, and decreased serum AST, IgG and IgA levels as compared with that of autoimmune hepatitis patients (P < 0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSIONIn cholestatic patients with elevated IgM and cholesterol levels, ANA positive with non-homogeneous pattern, the diagnosis of PBC should be suspected, albeit AMA negative. The clinical, biochemical and histological features of the AMA negative PBC patients were similar to classic PBC patients, but quite different from autoimmune hepatitis.

Adult ; Antibodies, Antinuclear ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary ; immunology ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitochondria ; immunology ; gamma-Globulins ; metabolism

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Insecticides ; poisoning ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organophosphate Poisoning ; Poisoning ; blood ; Serum Albumin ; analysis ; Serum Globulins ; analysis