ADDICTION, Issue 12 2009
Annette Thierauf
ABSTRACT Aim Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) is used commonly as a marker for the detection of non-compliance of patients in alcohol withdrawal therapy in psychiatric hospitals in Europe and in work-place monitoring programmes in the United States. With the increased use of this new marker, questions related to an unintentional uptake of ethanol resulting in detectable EtG concentrations have been discussed. The aim of this study was to determine the concentration ranges of EtG and ethyl sulphate (EtS) after the consumption of very small amounts of ethanol (1 and 3 g), which are more likely to be incidental than intended. Methods Drinking experiments with ethanol amounts of 1 and 3 g, respectively, were performed on a total of 31 volunteers. EtG and EtS analysis in urine was performed by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS), and creatinine concentration was determined using the Jaffé reaction. Furthermore, data obtained from this experimentation were then compared to data from literature. Results and conclusions The maximum concentration of EtG normalized to creatinine after the uptake of 1 g and 3 g of ethanol was found to be 0.32 mg/l and 1.53 mg/l, respectively, and 0.15 mg/l and 1.17 mg/l for EtS; these peak concentrations are considered to be positive by many laboratories testing urine for ethanol conjugates in work-place testing progammes. [source]

Electrochemical Investigation of Strontium,Metallothionein Interactions , Analysis of Serum and Urine of Patients with Osteoporosis

ELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 3-5 2009
Ivo Fabrik
Abstract The main aim of this paper is to study interaction between strontium and metallothionein (MT), and to determine changes in strontium and thiols (MT, reduced glutathione, cysteine, and homocysteine) level in plasma, serum, and urine samples of patients treated with strontium ranelate (SrR). To investigate the interactions between MT and strontium(II) ions, adsorptive transfer stripping technique coupled with differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) the Brdicka reaction was employed. Besides standard Brdicka signals (Co, RS2Co, Cat1, Cat2, Cat3), we observed new signal related to Sr-MT interaction. Further we investigated the effect of various time of interaction, concentration of strontium(II) ions and temperature of supporting electrolyte on Brdicka signals. Optimal time of interaction was 240,s. Under temperature of supporting electrolyte 20,°C, we measured linear dependence of Cat3 signal height on strontium(II) ions concentration. After that we have investigated the possibility of strontium-MT interactions, we were interested in strontium, MT and low molecular mass thiols levels in serum and urine of patients treated with strontium(II) ions to cure osteoporosis. Strontium concentration determined by atomic absorption spectrometry was 55±5,,g/L before and 10,500±1,400,,g/L at the 30th day of SrR administration. Levels of metallothionein in serum ranged from 0.1 to 6.4,,M. Correlation between serum strontium concentration and MT level was determined and correlation coefficient was R=0.93. [source]

Determination of Reserpine in Urine by Capillary Electrophoresis with Electrochemiluminescence Detection

ELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 3 2004
Weidong Cao
Abstract A fast and sensitive approach to detect reserpine in urine using micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography with electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of Ru(bpy)32+ detection is described. Using a 25,,m i.d. capillary as separation column, the ECL detector was coupled to the capillary in the absence of an electric field decoupler. Field-amplified injection was used to minimize the effect of ionic strength in the sample and to achieve high sensitivity. In this way, the sample was analyzed directly without any pretreatment. The method was validated for reserpine in the urine over the range of 1×10,6,1×10,4,mol/L with a correlation coefficient of 0.996. The RSD for reserpine at a level of 5,,mol/L was 4.3%. The LOD (S/N=3) was estimated to be 7.0×10,8,mol/L. The average recoveries for 10,,mol/L reserpine spiked in human urine were 94%. [source]

Glycan profiling of urine, amniotic fluid and ascitic fluid from galactosialidosis patients reveals novel oligosaccharides with reducing end hexose and aldohexonic acid residues

FEBS JOURNAL, Issue 14 2010
Cees Bruggink
Urine, amniotic fluid and ascitic fluid samples of galactosialidosis patients were analyzed and structurally characterized for free oligosaccharides using capillary high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection and online mass spectrometry. In addition to the expected endo-,- N- acetylglucosaminidase-cleaved products of complex-type sialylated N -glycans, O -sulfated oligosaccharide moieties were detected. Moreover, novel carbohydrate moieties with reducing-end hexose residues were detected. On the basis of structural features such as a hexose,N -acetylhexosamine,hexose,hexose consensus sequence and di-sialic acid units, these oligosaccharides are thought to represent, at least in part, glycan moieties of glycosphingolipids. In addition, C1 -oxidized, aldohexonic acid-containing versions of most of these oligosaccharides were observed. These observations suggest an alternative catabolism of glycosphingolipids in galactosialidosis patients: oligosaccharide moieties from glycosphingolipids would be released by a hitherto unknown ceramide glycanase activity. The results show the potential and versatility of the analytical approach for structural characterization of oligosaccharides in various body fluids. [source]

Identification of Major Alkaloids in Rat Urine by HPLC/DAD/ESI-MS/MS Method Following Oral Administration of Cortex Phellodendri Decoction

HELVETICA CHIMICA ACTA, Issue 2 2009
Chun-Hui Ma
Abstract A rapid, sensitive, and specific high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), diode-array detection, and mass-spectrometry techniques were developed for an identification of the constituents of Cortex Phellodendri and their metabolites in rat urine. The dose of 10,ml/kg of Cortex Phellodendri decoction was used for rats' oral administration. 0,24-h Urine was purified using a C18 solid-phase extraction cartridge, and then analyzed by an on-line MS detector. A total of 13,characteristic HPLC peaks were detected in the urine samples. Nine of them, including five alkaloids and four of their metabolites, were tentatively elucidated as magnoflorine (1), the glucuronide conjugate of demethyleneberberine (2), menisperine (3), jatrorrhizine 3- O -glucuronide (4), berberubine 9- O -glucuronide (5), jatrorrhizine (6), the monomethyl and monohydroxy catabolite of berberubine (7), palmatine (8), and berberine (9). Identification and structural elucidation of the metabolites were performed by comparing their MSn spectra data with those reported. [source]

Sexual behavior survey and screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea in university students in South Korea

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 2 2005
SEUNG-JU LEE
Abstract Background: The purpose of the present study was to define the prevalence of genital Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections and status of sexual risk behavior among university students (18,25 years old) in the capital region of South Korea. Methods: Participants filled out a self-administered questionnaire related to sexuality. First-void urine was analyzed for chlamydial and gonococcal infection by strand displacement amplification (BDProbTecET, BD Diagnostic Systems, MD). Results: A total of 622 students from 15 colleges in three universities took part in the study. The median age was 21 and 39.1% of them reported having sexual intercourse at least once. The prevalence of C. trachomatis among sexually active men and women was 8.4% and 10.6%, respectively. Gonococcal infection was noted in one symptomatic male. Factors significantly associated with infection were the number of sexual partners during past year and lifetime and condom use. Conclusions: This is the first sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening in university students in South Korea. Urine-based STI screening was both feasible and acceptable in university students in South Korea. It should be considered a routine part of programs to control STI nationally. [source]

Residual Urine as a Risk Factor for Lower Urinary Tract Infection: A 1-Year Follow-Up Study in Nursing Homes

JOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 5 2008
Ragnhild Omli RN
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether postvoid urine is a risk factor for the development of lower urinary tract infections (UTIs) in nursing home residents. DESIGN: Prospective surveillance with a follow-up period of 1 year. SETTING: Six Norwegian nursing homes. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred fifty nursing home residents. METHODS: Postvoid residual (PVR) urine volumes were measured using a portable ultrasound. UTIs were registered prospectively for 1 year. RESULTS: Ninety-eight residents (65.3%) had a PVR less than 100 mL, and 52 (34.7%) had a PVR of 100 mL or greater. During the follow-up period, 51 residents (34.0%) developed one or more UTIs. The prevalence of UTI in women was higher than in men (40.4% vs 19.6%; P=.02). There was no significant difference in mean PVR between residents who did and did not develop a UTI (79 vs 97 mL, P=.26). PVR of 100 mL or greater was not associated with greater risk of developing a UTI (P=.59). CONCLUSION: High PVR is common in nursing home residents. No association between PVR and UTI was found. [source]

Metabolomics in the assessment of chemical-induced reproductive and developmental outcomes using non-invasive biological fluids: application to the study of butylbenzyl phthalate

JOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY, Issue 8 2009
Susan Sumner
Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate the use of metabolomics for improving our ability to draw correlations between early life exposures and reproductive and/or developmental outcomes. Pregnant CD rats were exposed by gavage daily during gestation to vehicle or to butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP) in vehicle at a level known to induce effects in the offspring and at a level previously not shown to induce effects. Urine was collected for 24,h (on dry ice using all glass metabolism chambers) from dams on gestational day 18 (during exposure) and on post natal day (pnd) 21, and from pnd 25 pups. Traditional phenotypic anchors were measured in pups (between pnd 0 and pnd 26). Metabolomics of urine collected from dams exposed to vehicle or BBP exhibited different patterns for endogenous metabolites. Even three weeks after gestational exposure, metabolic profiles of endogenous compounds in urine could differentiate dams that received the vehicle, low dose or high dose of BBP. Metabolic profiles could differentiate male from female pups, pups born to dams receiving the vehicle, low or high BBP dose, and pups with observable adverse reproductive effects from pups with no observed effects. Metabolites significant to the separation of dose groups and their relationship with effects measured in the study were mapped to biochemical pathways for determining mechanistic relevance. The application of metabolomics to understanding the mechanistic link between low levels of environmental exposure and disease/dysfunction holds huge promise, because this technology is ideal for the analysis of biological fluids in human populations. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Urine drinking in wild Cercopithecus ascanius: evidence of nitrogen balancing

AFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 4 2000
Joanna E. Lambert
First page of article [source]

Relationships Between Concentrations of Cocaine and Its Hydrolysates in Peripheral Blood, Heart Blood, Vitreous Humor and Urine

JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, Issue 2 2006
Wayne C. Duer Ph.D.
ABSTRACT: Cocaine is known to degrade in vivo and in vitro by several hydrolytic mechanisms. A previous study found that the initial amount of cocaine added to plasma could be accounted for by summing the molar concentrations of cocaine's hydrolysis products and the cocaine remaining after hydrolysis. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether or not relationships might exist between such molar concentration sums for different postmortem bodily fluids. Determinations of cocaine, benzoylecgonine, ecgonine methyl ester, and ecgonine were performed using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) with heart blood, femoral blood, vitreous humor (VH), and urine (UR). The results demonstrate a strong correlation between blood and VH concentrations (correlation coefficients of 0.88,0.94), weak correlation between the UR and blood concentrations (correlation coefficients of 0.61,0.64), and weak correlation between UR and VH concentrations (correlation coefficient of 0.59). The results demonstrate that ecgonine is a significant hydrolysate with concentrations on the same order of magnitude as benzoylecgonine. The results are consistent with rapid distribution of the parent drug and its hydrolysates in the blood and VH. The strong correlation between the blood and VH demonstrates that VH is an important medium for toxicology testing when attempting to make a determination of cocaine intoxication. [source]

Animal urine as painting materials in African rock art revealed by cluster ToF-SIMS mass spectrometry imaging

JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY (INCORP BIOLOGICAL MASS SPECTROMETRY), Issue 8 2010
Vincent Mazel
Abstract The rock art site at the village of Songo in Mali is a very important Dogon ritual place where, since the end of the nineteenth century until today, takes place the ceremony of circumcision. During these ceremonies, paintings are performed on the walls of the shelter with mainly three colors: red, black and white. Ethnological literature mentions the use of animal urine of different species such as birds, lizards or snakes as a white pigment. Urine of these animals is mainly composed of uric acid or urate salts. In this article, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) is used to compare uric acid, snake urine and a sample of a white pigment of a Dogon painting coming from the rock art site of Songo. ToF-SIMS measurements in both positive and negative ion modes on reference compounds and snake urine proved useful for the study of uric acid and urate salts. This method enables to identify unambiguously these compounds owing to the detection in negative ion mode of the ion corresponding to the deprotonated molecule ([M , H], at m/z 167.01) and its fragment ions. Moreover, the mass spectra obtained in positive ion mode permit to differentiate uric acid and urate salts on the basis of specific ions. Applying this method to the Dogon white pigments sample, we show that the sample is entirely composed of uric acid. This proves for the first time, that animal urine was used as a pigment by the Dogon. The presence of uric acid instead of urate salts as normally expected in animal urine could be explained by the preparation of the pigment for its application on the stone. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Concentration compared with total urinary excretion of 11,17-DOA in cynomolgus monkey urine

JOURNAL OF MEDICAL PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 4 2009
J. Hau
Abstract Strees sensitive molecules exhibit great variation in concentration in the circulation and it may often be advantageous to quantify these in urine or feces rather than in serum or plasma. We advocate that all urine-or feces-should be collected, and that excretion of stress sensitive molecules should be expressed as amounts excreted per time unit per kg body-weight, rather than being expressed as concentrations in samples. Urine and feces excretion varies significantly within and between animals over time, which may render simple concentration measures of molecules of little biological relevance. [source]

Melatonin attenuates ifosfamide-induced Fanconi syndrome in rats

JOURNAL OF PINEAL RESEARCH, Issue 1 2004
Goksel Sener
Abstract:, Regarding the mechanisms of ifosfamide (IFO)-induced nephrotoxicity and hemorrhagic cystitis, several hypotheses have been put forward, among which oxidative stress and depletion of glutathione (GSH) are suggested. This investigation elucidates the role of free radicals in IFO-induced toxicity and the protection by melatonin. Wistar albino rats were injected intraperitoneally with saline (0.9% NaCl; control-C group), melatonin (Mel group; 10 mg/kg daily for 5 days) or ifosfamide (50 mg/kg daily for 5 days; IFO group) or IFO + Mel. On the 5th day (120 hr) after the first IFO dose, animals were killed by decapitation and trunk blood was collected. Kidney and bladder tissues were obtained for biochemical and histological analysis. Urine was collected 24 hr before the rats were killed. The results demonstrated that IFO induced a Fanconi syndrome (FS) characterized by wasting of sodium, phosphate, and glucose, along with increased serum creatinine and urea. Melatonin markedly ameliorated the severity of renal dysfunction induced by IFO with a significant decrease in urinary sodium, phosphate, and glucose and increased creatinine excretion. Moreover, melatonin significantly improved the IFO-induced GSH depletion, malondialdehayde accumulation and neutrophil infiltration in both renal and bladder tissues. In the kidney, Na+,K+ -ATPase activity which was significantly reduced by IFO, was increased with melatonin treatment. Increased collagen contents of the kidney and bladder tissues by IFO treatment were reversed back to the control levels with melatonin. Our results suggest that IFO causes oxidative damage in renal and bladder tissues and melatonin, via its antioxidant effects, protects these tissues. These data suggest that melatonin may be of therapeutic use in preventing acquired FS due to IFO toxicity. [source]

Detection of Recent Ethanol Intake With New Markers: Comparison of Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters in Serum and of Ethyl Glucuronide and the Ratio of 5-Hydroxytryptophol to 5-Hydroxyindole Acetic Acid in Urine

ALCOHOLISM, Issue 5 2005
K Borucki
Background: At present, recent ethanol consumption can be routinely detected with certainty only by direct measurement of ethanol concentration in blood or urine. Because ethanol is rapidly eliminated from the circulation, however, the time span for this detection is in the range of hours. Several new markers have been proposed to extend the detection interval, but their characteristics have not yet justified their use in routine clinical practice. We therefore investigated three new markers and compared their kinetics and sensitivities: (1) fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) in serum, (2) ethyl glucuronide (EtG) in urine, and (3) the ratio of 5-hydroxytryptophol to 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HTOL/5-HIAA) in urine. Methods: Seventeen healthy men participated in a drinking experiment. Blood and urine samples were collected twice daily on three consecutive days and once daily on days 4 and 5. Ethanol concentration was determined by gas chromatography, FAEE levels, by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry, EtG concentration, by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and 5-HTOL/5-HIAA ratio, by high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: The peak serum ethanol concentrations of the subjects ranged from 5.4 to 44.7 mmol/liter (mean ± SD, 30.1 ± 9.1 mmol/liter). In the case of the serum ethanol determination, 100% sensitivity was reached only immediately after the end of the drinking experiment, and in the case of FAEE levels and 5-HTOL/5-HIAA ratio, it tested for 6.7 hr after the end of the ethanol intake. Thereafter, these latter parameters declined until 15.3 hr (FAEEs) and 29.4 hr (5-HTOL/5-HIAA), subsequently remaining in a stable range until 78.5 hr without further decrease. In contrast, EtG concentration showed 100% sensitivity until 39.3 hr and thereafter decreased, falling to below the limit of quantification of 0.1 mg/liter at 102.5 hr. Conclusion: After moderate drinking, EtG in the urine proved to be a superior marker of recent ethanol consumption in healthy subjects. This is because EtG is a direct ethanol metabolite, it occurs in the urine only when ethanol has been consumed, and its sensitivity remains at the level of 100% for 39.3 hr. [source]

TRACING THE ORIGIN OF MULTI-DRUG RESISTANT (MDR) ESCHERICHIA COLI INFECTIONS FROM URINARY CATHETERS IN ICU CANINE PATIENTS

JOURNAL OF VETERINARY EMERGENCY AND CRITICAL CARE, Issue S1 2004
J Ogeer-Gyles
Introduction: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) in dogs with urinary catheters in intensive care units (ICUs) are frequent. Historically, multi-drug resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli account for about 10% of the UTIs. The objectives of this study were to determine the frequency of E. coli infections and of MDR E. coli in dogs with UTIs in our ICU, and to assess whether the MDR E. coli were community-acquired or nosocomial in origin. Methods: Over a 1-year period, rectal swabs were taken from all dogs in the ICU on the day of admission (D0) and on days 3 (D3), 6 (D6), 9 (D9) and 12 (D12). Urine was collected on these days from dogs with an indwelling urinary catheter (n=190). Rectal swabs and urine were routinely cultured. E. coli isolates were identified by biochemical tests. Using NCCLS guidelines, antibiotic susceptibility testing was done by disk diffusion method on fecal and urinary E. coli isolates. Twelve antimicrobial agents were used: nalidixic acid, enrofloxacin, cephalothin, cefoxitin, cefotaxime, ceftiofur, trimethoprim-sulfa, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, tetracycline, ampicillin, and amoxicillin/clavulanate. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to compare MDR E. coli UTI strains with fecal E. coli strains from the same patient and with MDR fecal E. coli from patients that were adjacent to, or housed in the same cages. Results: E. coli was cultured from 12 (48%) of 25 UTIs. Two of the E. coli were MDR. For one dog, PFGE showed no similarities among fecal E. coli and the urinary MDR E. coli isolates from the patient or between these isolates and fecal E. coli from a dog housed in the same kennel on the previous day. The MDR E. coli UTI was likely acquired prior to admission to the ICU, as it was present on D0. For the other dog, PFGE showed genetic similarity but not complete identity between the D3 MDR E. coli urinary isolate and the D3, D6, D9 fecal MDR isolates. This suggests that the UTI originated with the fecal E. coli. Using selective plates, fecal MDR E. coli were not found on D0. Selection of the MDR strain in the intestine by the use of antibiotics occurred while the dog was in the ICU and possibly led to the UTI. Conclusions: Multi-drug resistant E. coli accounted for 2 of 12 E. coli UTIs in dogs in the ICU over a 1-year period. Genotyping showed that one of the two MDR E. coli infections could possibly be of nosocomial origin. [source]

Minimal renal dysfunction in inflammatory bowel disease is related to disease activity but not to 5-ASA use

ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 3 2001
K. R. Herrlinger
Background: Conflicting data exist about proteinuria in inflammatory bowel diseases. It is still unclear whether the occurrence of proteinuria in inflammatory bowel disease patients is an extra-intestinal manifestation of disease or the result of adverse effects to medication, especially to aminosalicylates (ASA). Methods: A total of 95 patients (51 with Crohn's disease and 44 with ulcerative colitis) were enrolled in the study. Disease activity was assessed by Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) or the Truelove index, respectively. Urine was collected over 24 h and protein excretion of specific marker proteins for tubular (,1-microglobulin-,1-MG) and glomerular (albumin-Alb, Immunoglobulin G-IgG) dysfunction was measured using a highly sensitive immunoluminometric assay. Results: Out of 51 Crohn's disease patients, 20 showed elevated urinary ,1-MG. The amount of ,1-MGuria was strongly correlated to the CDAI (r=0.6, P < 0.001). Only four Crohn's disease patients showed slightly elevated values for glomerular proteins in urine. Similar results were obtained for ulcerative colitis: whereas only two ulcerative colitis patients showed albuminuria, tubular proteinuria was detected in 28 out of 44 ulcerative colitis patients. Proteinuria was strongly dependent on disease activity (P < 0.01) but was not related to ASA treatment. Conclusions: Proteinuria of tubular marker proteins occurs in the majority of inflammatory bowel disease patients and is related to disease activity rather than to ASA treatment. Tubular proteinuria seems to reflect a renal extra-intestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease and may serve as a new relevant marker of disease activity. [source]

Gas chromatographic,mass spectrometric urinary metabolome analysis to study mutations of inborn errors of metabolism

MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS, Issue 6 2005
Tomiko Kuhara
Abstract Urine contains numerous metabolites, and can provide evidence for the screening or molecular diagnosis of many inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs). The metabolomic analysis of urine by the combined use of urease pretreatment, stable-isotope dilution, and capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry offers reliable and quantitative data for the simultaneous screening or molecular diagnosis of more than 130 IEMs. Those IEMs include hyperammonemias and lactic acidemias, and the IEMs of amino acids, pyrimidines, purines, carbohydrates, and others including primary hyperoxalurias, hereditary fructose intolerance, propionic acidemia, and methylmalonic acidemia. Metabolite analysis is comprehensive for mutant genotypes. Enzyme dysfunction,either by the abnormal structure of an enzyme/apoenzyme, the reduced quantity of a normal enzyme/apoenzyme, or the lack of a coenzyme,is involved. Enzyme dysfunction,either by an abnormal regulatory gene, abnormal sub-cellular localization, or by abnormal post-transcriptional or post-translational modification,is included. Mutations,either known or unknown, common or uncommon,are involved. If the urine metabolome approach can accurately observe quantitative abnormality for hundreds of metabolites, reflecting 100 different disease-causing reactions in a body, then it is possible to simultaneously detect different mutant genotypes of far more than tens of thousands. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., Mass Spec Rev 24:814,827, 2005 [source]

Urine collected in the field as a source of DNA for species and individual identification

MOLECULAR ECOLOGY, Issue 12 2000
Nathaniel Valiere
[source]

Prenatal screening for serious congenital heart defects using nuchal translucency: a meta-analysis

PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS, Issue 12 2008
Nicholas J. Wald
Abstract Objectives To assess the performance of nuchal translucency (NT) measurements in screening for congenital heart defects (CHD) which would benefit from prenatal detection. Methods A literature search was conducted of studies published prior to August 2007 of CHD and NT measurements in fetuses without chromosome defects. From this, data on 159 pregnancies were obtained. Fetuses with CHD that would benefit from prenatal detection were identified and their NT measurements were compared with NT measurements in 29 776 unaffected fetuses without Down syndrome from the Serum Urine and Ultrasound Screening Study (SURUSS) trial to determine the screening performance of NT measurements. Results In all 67 fetuses with CHD were identified as potentially likely to benefit from prenatal detection. Using NT measurements, the estimated detection rate (DR) for a 5% false-positive rate (FPR) was 52% (95% CI: 42,71). Conclusion Prenatal screening for CHD using NT measurements is likely to be effective, and given that NT measurement is already in place as part of prenatal screening for Down syndrome; this is an ideal time to set up demonstration projects to validate these results. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Sequential and contingent prenatal screening for Down syndrome

PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS, Issue 9 2006
Nicholas J Wald
Abstract Objective To compare the Integrated test in three policies for prenatal Down syndrome screening: Integrated screening for all women, sequential screening (first-trimester tests allowing early completion of screening for high-risk pregnancies), and Contingent screening (early completion of screening for high- and low-risk pregnancies). Design and Methods Estimation of detection rates (DRs) and false-positive rates (FPRs) using Monte Carlo simulation and cost effectiveness for each method. Setting and Population Down syndrome affected and unaffected pregnancies studied in the Serum Urine and Ultrasound Screening Study (SURUSS). Results and Main Outcomes Integrated screening has the best screening performance. The performance of the other two policies approached that of Integrated screening as the first-trimester test FPR decreased. If the first-trimester FPR is set to 0.5% (risk , 1 in 30) with an overall DR of 90%, sequential and contingent screening yield overall FPRs of 2.25% and 2.42%, respectively, and 66% of the affected pregnancies are detected by the first-trimester test. The Integrated test on all women yields an FPR of 2.15%. With sequential screening, 99.5% of women would proceed to an Integrated test, or 30% with contingent screening if those with first-trimester test risks of ,1 in 2000 are classified screen-negative and receive no further testing. About 20% of affected pregnancies identified in the first trimester using sequential or contingent screening would have unnecessary terminations (they would miscarry before the early second trimester). Contingent screening is the most cost-effective if there is no alphafetoprotein screening for neural tube defects, otherwise Integrated screening is more cost-effective. Conclusions Integrated screening for all women is the simplest, most effective, and the safest policy. Contingent screening is the most complex with the lowest screening performance. Making an earlier diagnosis with sequential and contingent screening has adverse consequences that are sufficient to discourage their use. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Advantages of deuterium-labelled mixed triacylglycerol in studies of intraluminal fat digestion

RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY, Issue 2 2006
Christine Slater
The 13C-mixed triacylglcerol (MTG, 1,3-distearyl, 2-[1- 13C]octanoyl glycerol) breath test is a non-invasive measure of intraluminal fat digestion. Recovery of 13C in breath CO2 is incomplete (<50%) owing to sequestration of 13C into organic molecules via the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. In addition lack of knowledge of CO2 production rate (VCO2) during the test leads to errors in the calculated percentage dose recovered (PDR). 2H sequestration into organic molecules is low (,4%) and is not influenced by factors that affect VCO2 such as food intake or physical activity. After oxidation of 2H-labelled macromolecules, the label appears in body water, which can be sampled non-invasively in urine or saliva. After an overnight fast, two healthy adults consumed [2H]MTG (1,3-distearyl, 2-[2H15]octanoyl glycerol) and [13C]MTG (1,3 distearyl, 2-[1- 13C]octanoyl glycerol) simultaneously. Total body water (TBW) was measured by 18O dilution and also estimated from height and weight. Urine and saliva were sampled at baseline and for 10,h after consumption of the test meal. The abundance of 2HOH and H218O in urine and saliva was measured by continuous-flow isotope-ratio mass spectrometry. Cumulative PDR of 2H and 18O was calculated from the plateau enrichment, which was reached by 6,h in both saliva and urine. Recovery of 2H calculated using measured TBW was compared with that using an estimated value of TBW. Mean recovery of 2H in saliva was 99.3% and in urine was 96.4%. Errors introduced by estimating TBW were <5%. [2H]MTG could provide a simpler, more robust, indirect test of intraluminal fat digestion compared with the 13C-breath test. Further studies are required in pancreatic insufficient patients. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Urine flowing: A phenomenological study of living with a urinary catheter,

RESEARCH IN NURSING & HEALTH, Issue 1 2002
Mary H. Wilde
Abstract The experience of living with a long-term urinary catheter was investigated with a community-dwelling sample of 14 adults ranging in age from 35 to 95 who had worn a catheter for 6 months to 18 years. Data were obtained by audiotaped face-to-face interviews. Merleau-Ponty's phenomenology and van Manen's methodology guided the study. Living with a urinary catheter was found to be like living with the forces of flowing water. People were keenly aware of the flow of urine through their catheters, and they noticed when their bags needed emptying or when urine drainage seemed sluggish or obstructed. The metaphor of urine flowing like water may provide a teaching heuristic for assisting clients in adjusting to living with a catheter. Implications for further research focus on understanding the relationship between sensitivity to the dynamics of urine flow and urinary tract infection. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Res Nurs Health 25:14,24, 2002. [source]

Measurement of urinary and fecal steroid metabolites during the ovarian cycle in captive and wild Japanese macaques, Macaca fuscata

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 4 2001
Shiho Fujita
Abstract We measured the concentration of steroid hormones from urine, feces, and blood samples of two captive Japanese macaques, Macaca fuscata, during nonconceptive ovarian cycles to compare the patterns of the excreted steroids with those of circulating steroids. Urine and feces were analyzed for estrone conjugates (E1C) and pregnanediol-3-glucronide (PdG) using enzyme immunoassays (EIAs), while plasma was analyzed for estradiol-17,(E2), progesterone (P), and luteinizing hormone (LH) using radioimmunoassays (RIAs). Urinary and fecal E1C and PdG levels were approximately parallel to plasma E2 and P levels, respectively. The E1C profiles of daily urinary and fecal samples revealed a midcycle peak, followed by a sustained PdG increase lasting up to two weeks from the E1C peak. A fecal E1C peak was one day later than the urinary E1C peak. One of the captive females exhibited a discrete plasma LH peak, one indicator that ovulation has occurred, on the day following the urinary E1C peak, i.e., the same day of fecal E1C peak. We measured excreted steroids in nine wild females and determined the timing of ovulation by comparing fecal steroid profiles to those obtained in captive monkeys. Data from wild females indicated that eight of nine females conceived during their first ovulatory cycle of the sampling period, whereas the remaining female failed to conceive during the sampling period even though she ovulated. In the eight females that conceived, E1C increased again following the detected or estimated E1C peak, with levels comparable to the preovulatory peak levels, and sustained elevations of PdG for over 40 days. These data illustrate that the urinary and fecal profiles of ovarian steroid excretion obtained through the application of these noninvasive techniques provide an accurate approach for monitoring conceptive and nonconceptive ovarian cycle in captive and free-living Japanese macaques. Am. J. Primatol. 53:167,176, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Effect of perioperative steroids on renal function after liver transplantation,

ANAESTHESIA, Issue 3 2006
S. Turner
Summary Subclinical renal dysfunction is thought to occur as a systemic manifestation of ischaemia-reperfusion injury of other organs. Liver transplantation is associated with major ischaemia-reperfusion injury. Thirty-four patients undergoing elective liver transplantation were randomly allocated to receive either saline or 10 mg.kg,1 methylprednisolone on induction of anaesthesia. Urine was taken for N-acetyl-,-D-glucosaminidase, creatinine and other markers of tubular function. Serum chemistry was measured for 7 days. Creatinine concentration increased in the saline group but not in the methylprednisolone group (p < 0.0001), with the greatest difference on the third postoperative day (mean (SD) 164.8 (135.8) ,mol.l,1vs 88.5 (39.4) ,mol.l,1, respectively). Similar changes were seen in postoperative alanine transferase (865 (739) U.l,1vs 517 (608) U.l,1, respectively; p <,0.0001) on the second postoperative day. Both groups exhibited increases in markers of renal tubular dysfunction and of glomerular permeability. Patients in the saline group sustained more adverse events (8/17 (47%) vs 2/17 (12%); p = 0.02). The data confirm increased proximal tubular lysosomal turnover, consistent with an increased tubular protein load, following liver transplantation, and suggest that methylprednisolone protects against renal and hepatic dysfunction. [source]

R58fs Mutation in the HGD Gene in a Family with Alkaptonuria in the UAE

ANNALS OF HUMAN GENETICS, Issue 1 2009
Yousef M Abdulrazzaq
Summary This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of alkaptonuria in the UAE population and to identify the genotype of affected individuals. In a 3 stage sampling technique 2981 pupils from Government schools in Al Ain and private schools in Dubai were selected to take part in the study, of whom 2857 provided urine samples. Urine collected was analysed for homogentisic acid by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Genomic DNA was isolated from the white blood cells of all family members of the affected case following standard established protocols. Specific PRC primers were designed to amplify all 14 exons of the HGD gene with the flanking intronic sequences including the splice site sequences. 2857 children returned a viable urine sample, of which one was highly positive for homogentisic acid. All 12 members of this girl's family were studied and one, a 22 year old brother, was found to excrete HGA. Another, a sister who had not provided a urine sample, was discovered by genetic testing. There were no complaints of joint pain or other symptoms in any member of this family. Parents were first cousins. We found a single nucleotide deletion c.342delA, located in exon 3, which resulted in a frameshift at amino acid position 58 (p.Arg58fs or p.R58fs). Alkaptonuria may be more common than it is thought to be with an allele prevalence estimated at 0.0107 (95% CI 0.000392 , 0.03473). The R58fs mutation is old, perhaps having occurred several thousand years ago, and has spread over a large geographical area. [source]

Assessment of JC virus DNA in blood and urine from natalizumab-treated patients

ANNALS OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 3 2010
Richard A. Rudick MD
Objective Analyses were conducted to determine the clinical utility of measuring JC virus (JCV) DNA in blood or urine of natalizumab-treated multiple sclerosis (MS) patients to predict the risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Methods A total of 12,850 blood and urine samples from nearly 1,400 patients participating in natalizumab clinical trials were tested for JCV DNA using a commercially available quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay. A subset of these samples was also tested using a more sensitive qPCR assay developed at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Results At the time natalizumab dosing was suspended, JCV DNA was detected in plasma by the commercial assay in 4 of 1,397 (0.3%) patients; the NIH assay confirmed these positive samples and detected JCV DNA in an additional 2 of 205 (1%) patients who tested negative with the commercial assay. None of these 6 JCV DNA positive patients developed PML. In a 48-week study testing the safety of natalizumab redosing, JCV DNA was detected in plasma of 6 of 1,094 (0.3%) patients, none of whom developed PML. Urine at baseline and week 48 was assessed in 224 patients; 58 (26%) were positive at baseline, and 55 (25%) were positive after 48 weeks of natalizumab, treatment. JCV DNA was not detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from any of these 1,094 patients before or after natalizumab treatment. In 5 patients who developed PML, JCV DNA was not detected in blood at any time point before symptoms first occurred. Interpretation Measuring JCV DNA in blood or urine with currently available methods is unlikely to be useful for predicting PML risk in natalizumab-treated MS patients. Ann Neurol 2010 [source]

Metabolism of dimethylarsinic acid in rats: production of unidentified metabolites in vivo

APPLIED ORGANOMETALLIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 6 2001
Kaoru Yoshida
Abstract Our previous study revealed that two unidentified metabolites, M-1 and M-2, were excreted in urine after long-term oral administration of dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), the main metabolite of inorganic arsenic. In the present study, we attempted to clarify the mechanism of production of these unknown metabolites. Male F344/DuCrj rats were administered a single dose of DMA (50,mg kg,1) orally or intraperitoneally with or without pretreatment with L -buthionine-SR-sulfoximine (BSO), which inhibits glutathione (GSH) synthesis. Urine was collected by forced urination at various time points after administration of DMA. Arsenic metabolites in urine were analyzed by ion chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (IC,ICP-MS). The unidentified metabolites M-1 and M-2 were excreted later than elimination of DMA and trimethylarsine oxide (TMAO). GSH depletion decreased in TMAO elimination, suggesting that GSH plays important roles in the methylation of DMA to TMAO in rats. There was no difference in the amount of production of either M-1 or M-2 between BSO-pretreated rats and controls, suggesting that M-1 and M-2 cannot be formed during methylation in the liver. The amounts of elimination of M-1 and M-2 were less after intraperitoneal administration than after oral administration. Male F344/DuCrj rats were given 100,mg As l,1 DMA via drinking water for 20 weeks. Urine and feces were collected forcibly and were analyzed by IC,ICP-MS. A new unidentified metabolite, M-3, was detected only in feces as a metabolite of DMA after 20 weeks exposure to DMA, although M-1 and M-2 were found in both urine and feces. The unidentified metabolites M-1, M-2, and M-3 were excreted mainly as fecal metabolites along with unmetabolized DMA. This finding also suggests that M-1, M-2, and M-3 might be produced in the intestinal tract. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Association of biomarkers with pre,radiographically defined and radiographically defined knee osteoarthritis in a population-based study

ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 5 2009
Jolanda Cibere
Objective To evaluate 10 biomarkers in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),determined, pre,radiographically defined osteoarthritis (pre-ROA) and radiographically defined OA (ROA) in a population-based cohort of subjects with symptomatic knee pain. Methods Two hundred one white subjects with knee pain, ages 40,79 years, were classified into OA subgroups according to MRI-based cartilage (MRC) scores (range 0,4) and Kellgren/Lawrence (K/L) grades of radiographic severity (range 0,4): no OA (MRC score 0, K/L grade <2), pre-ROA (MRC score ,1, K/L grade <2), or ROA (MRC score ,1, K/L grade ,2). Urine and serum samples were assessed for levels of the following biomarkers: urinary biomarkers C-telopeptide of type II collagen (uCTX-II), type II and types I and II collagen cleavage neoepitopes (uC2C and uC1,2C, respectively), and N-telopeptide of type I collagen, and serum biomarkers sC1,2C, sC2C, C-propeptide of type II procollagen (sCPII), chondroitin sulfate 846 epitope, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein, and hyaluronic acid. Multicategory logistic regression was performed to evaluate the association of OA subgroup with individual biomarker levels and biomarker ratios, adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index. Results The risk of ROA versus no OA increased with increasing levels of uCTX-II (odds ratio [OR] 3.12, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.35,7.21), uC2C (OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.04,4.37), and uC1,2C (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.06,4.04), and was reduced in association with high levels of sCPII (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.30,0.94). The risk of pre-ROA versus no OA increased with increasing levels of uC2C (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.05,4.01) and uC1,2C (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.12,3.77). The ratios of type II collagen degradation markers to collagen synthesis markers were better than individual biomarkers at differentiating the OA subgroups, e.g., the ratio of [uCTX-II][uC1,2C] to sCPII was associated with a risk of ROA versus no OA of 3.47 (95% CI 1.34,9.03) and a risk of pre-ROA versus no OA of 2.56 (95% CI 1.03,6.40). Conclusion Different cartilage degradation markers are associated with pre-ROA than are associated with ROA, indicating that their use as diagnostic markers depends on the stage of OA. Biomarker ratios contrasting cartilage degradation with cartilage synthesis are better able to differentiate OA stages compared with levels of the individual markers. [source]

Prospective determination of the specificity of a commercial snake venom detection kit in urine samples from dogs and cats

AUSTRALIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 6 2010
RKC Ong
Objective To determine the specificity of a snake venom detection kit in urine samples from dogs and cats presenting to a referral centre for diseases unrelated to snake envenomation. Design Urine was collected from 50 dog and 25 cats presented for investigation and treatment of diseases unrelated to snake envenomation. Urine was collected as a voided sample, by cystocentesis or by catheterisation, and routine urinanalysis was performed. Snake venom testing was performed within 2 h of collection using a commercially available snake venom detection kit, which was observed continuously during the 10-min colour reaction phase for evidence of a visible colour indicating a positive test. Results No false-positive reactions occurred in any sample analysed. Conclusion The snake venom detection kit appears to have 100% specificity for using urine as a test sample. [source]

A Review of the Effect of the Psychosocial Working Environment on Physiological Changes in Blood and Urine

BASIC AND CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY, Issue 2 2009
Åse M. Hansen
Literature databases (PubMed, Toxline, Biosis and Embase) were screened using the key words job, work-related and stress in combination with selected physiological parameters. In total, 51 work place studies investigated the associations between the psychosocial working environment and physiological changes, of which 20 were longitudinal studies and 12 population-based studies. The studied exposures in work place/population-based studies included: job demands (26/8 studies), job control (24/10 studies), social support and/or leadership behaviour (12/3 studies), effort,reward imbalance (three/one studies), occupational changes (four studies), shift work (eight studies), traumatic events (one study) and other (five studies). The physiological responses were catecholamines (adrenaline, noradrenaline) (14 studies), cortisol (28 studies), cholesterol (23 studies), glycated haemoglobinA1c (six studies), testosterone (nine studies), oestrogens (three studies), dehydroepiandrosterone (six studies), prolactin (14 studies), melatonin (one study), thyroxin (one study), immunoglobulin (Ig) A (five studies), IgG (four studies), IgM (one study) and fibrinogen (eight studies). In general, fibrinogen and catabolic indicators, defined as energy releasing, were increased, whereas the anabolic indicators defined as constructive building up energy resources were decreased when the psychosocial working environment was perceived as poor. In conclusion, in this review the association between an adverse psychosocial working environment and HbA1c, testosterone and fibrinogen in serum was found to be a robust and potential candidate for a physiological effect of the psychosocial working environment. Further, urinary catecholamines appear to reflect the effects of shift work and monotonous work. [source]