Biochimica Clinica: VOL.36 N.4

To evaluate relationships between maternal and fetal adiponectin concentrations and lipoprotein and glycemic parameters in mother-and-child unity at birth, a study was performed with 90 women admitted in the delivery room after a free enlightened consent. Blood samples were taken simultaneously at delivery from mothers (peripheral venous) and newborns (umbilical cord) for glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, and adiponectin determinations. Multiple correlations between different parameters were made. Adiponectin concentrations in cord blood were three times higher than in the mother’s blood, while total, HDL and LDL cholesterol concentrations were higher in mothers. We demonstrated a slight inverse correlation between maternal adiponectin and gestational age (P=0.026) and between maternal adiponectin and concentrations of triglycerides in mothers (P=0.066). On the other hand, there were positive correlations between adiponectin concentrations, both in mothers and newborns, and LDL cholesterol concentrations in newborns (P=0.0072 and P=0.028, respectively). We inferred that at the end of pregnancy the mother undergoes a situation of insulin resistance, with a decrease in adiponectin concentrations. This may cause the re-routing of her metabolites towards the fetus who under insulin sensitivity would use those metabolites for its metabolic needs. If maternal insulin resistance is higher because of obesity or diabetes, the fetus would receive more metabolites than necessary and would store them as long as its biosynthetic needs are met. This could lead to macrosomia at birth and to obesity afterwards.

The determination of free light chains (FLC) in serum of patients with monoclonal gammopathies is a valuable tool for diagnosis, follow-up, and prognosis of these conditions. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of the FLC reagents from New Scientific Company based on polyclonal antibodies with the Siemens assays (N Latex FLC) based on a mixture of monoclonal antibodies for the nephelometric determination of FLC in serum. Ninety-one serum samples were analyzed for FLC using both assays. Comparisons of the two FLC assays showed a slope of 4.87 (r=0.84) for ĸ FLC determination, a slope of 4.38 (r=0.83) for λ FLC determination, and a slope of 3.42 (r=0.60) for the k/λ FLC ratio. The concordance was 65% for ĸ FLC determinations, 63% for λ FLC, and 71% for k/λ FLC ratio. A preliminary evaluation suggests a higher sensitivity for N Latex FLC assays

This document, prepared on behalf of the SIBioC Protein Working Group, reviews the existing evidence for recommending the measurement of the most important plasma proteins. For each protein, the related chapter includes: a) a brief introduction describing main biological characteristics, b) the presentation of the available evidence, based on retrieved meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and international and national guidelines, and c) recommendations for the test ordering. The scientific evidence was searched on electronic databases (Medline, Cochrane’s database of systematic reviews) and on the websites of scientific societies. Recommendations were classified on the basis of the source of the retrieved evidence as follows: (+++) official National or International guidelines, (++) meta-analyses or systematic reviews, (±) expert opinions and/or clinical practice, and (–) none (not recommended). The following proteins were considered in the paper: albumin, 1-antitripsin, 1-acid glycoprotein, 2-macroglobulin, haptoglobin, 2-microglobulin, C-reactive protein (both as marker of inflammation and cardiovascular risk), ceruloplasmin, cystatin C, complement factors, rheumatoid factor, ferritin, immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM, IgD), free light chains, retinol binding protein, soluble transferrin receptor, serum amyloid A, transferrin, and transtyretin.

Macro-, micro-, and nanosized arrays of test sites at various densities have emerged as important types of analytical devices in response to the need for high volume parallel analysis in both the research and the clinical laboratory. This review explores the  diversity of arrays of reaction vessels and arrays of reagents and of samples, with an emphasis on the earliest descriptions of the different variations. The scope of such  arrays includes linear and 2-dimensional arrays of reaction vessels (e.g., microwell strips, microplates); linear and 2-dimensional arrays of reagents arrayed on pillars and posts; beads in wells; and reagents randomly arrayed (or dis-ordered) for use in next-generation sequencing. Micro- and nanofabrication technologies have been applied to the miniaturization of arrays to increase array density (e.g., DNA probe arrays) and produce arrays of analytical structures (e.g., cantilevers, nanoelectrospray nozzles). Arrays are now firmly established in many types of analytical devices, and this analytical format has gained widespread acceptance owing to the advantages of high-throughput automation and multiplex analysis. Ongoing "big biology" genomic and proteomic studies will ensure the continued dominance of array-based methods into the foreseeable future.

This report presents a case of an incidental detection of very high concentrations of serum copper in an apparently healthy adult male. Clinical and laboratory  investigations for Wilson’s disease were negative. The electrophoresis of serum proteins showed a IgG 􀀀 monoclonal peak of 10 g/L. To clarify the nature of this unusual association (high concentration of copper and monoclonal immunoglobulin), an immunosubtraction experiment was performed: after incubation with an anti-IgG antiserum, the vast majority of serum copper was found in the IgG-anti IgG complex when the patient serum was tested; when other samples with monoclonal IgG and physiological copper concentrations were incubated, the copper remained in surnatants. The experiment allowed us to establish that the monoclonal immunoglobulin showed a high affinity for copper. Similar reports can be found in the literature; the main difference with the present case is that our patient did not show any ocular problems due to the copper deposition in the Descemet’s membrane, while in all the previously reported cases an ocular deposition of copper was observed. It is possible to speculate that in our case the affinity of the protein for copper was very high, while in other cases a lower affinity made possible the intraocular release of copper.