OBJECTIVES: Concentrations of neopterin, kynurenine and kynurenine/tryptophan ratios predict prognosis and the need for oxygen therapy in patients hospitalized for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the changes of these biomarkers early in the course of infection, the association with the prior coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination and therapeutic administration of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies, investigation of other potential biomarkers including neuropilin, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine and 8-hydroxyguanosine in patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection and an assessment of these biomarkers and vitamins A, E and D in patients with post-COVID syndrome. METHODS: Urine and blood samples were obtained on the 1st to the 4th day and 4th to 7th day from 108 patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Chromatography tandem mass spectrometry methods were used to analyse neopterin, kynurenine, tryptophan, liposoluble vitamins, and DNA damage biomarkers. RESULTS: A statistically significant decrease of neopterin, kynurenine and kynurenine/tryptophan ratios was observed on after 4th to 7th day of hospitalization, and concentrations of these biomarkers were increased in patients with poor prognosis and subsequent post-COVID syndrome. The concentrations of remaining biomarker and vitamins were not associated with outcomes, although markedly decreased concentrations of vitamin A, E and D were noted. CONCLUSIONS: The concentrations of neopterin, kynurenine and kynurenine/tryptophan ratios decrease during the course of infection SARS-CoV-2 and are associated with the post-COVID syndrome. No other prognostic biomarkers were identified.
- MeSH
- Biomarkers * blood MeSH
- COVID-19 * blood MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Hospitalization MeSH
- Kynurenine * blood MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Neopterin * blood urine MeSH
- Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome MeSH
- SARS-CoV-2 * isolation & purification MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Tryptophan * blood MeSH
- Vitamin A blood MeSH
- Vitamin D blood MeSH
- Vitamin E blood MeSH
- Vitamins blood MeSH
- Inflammation blood MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
Deficiency in vitamin D plays a role in the onset and development of insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). A normal level of vitamin D is able to reduce low grade inflammation, which is a major process in inducing insulin resistance. It is also engaged in maintaining low resting levels of reactive species and radicals, normal Ca2+ signaling, a low expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines but increased formation of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Vitamin D is also able to prevent hypermethylation (of DNA) and consequent functional inactivation of many genes, as well as other epigenetic alterations in β cells and in other insulin-sensitive peripheral tissues, mainly liver, adipose tissue and muscle. Vitamin D deficiency thus belongs to key factors accelerating the development of IR and consequently T2DM as well. However, vitamin D supplementation aimed at the control of glucose homeostasis in humans showed controversial effects. As a result, further studies are running to gain more detailed data needed for the full clinical utilization of vitamin D supplementation in the prevention and treatment of T2DM. Until new results are published, supplementation with high doses of vitamin D deficiency is not recommended. However, prevention of vitamin D deficiency and its correction are highly desired.
- MeSH
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 blood etiology physiopathology prevention & control MeSH
- Insulin Resistance MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Vitamin D Deficiency blood complications drug therapy physiopathology MeSH
- Vitamin D blood therapeutic use MeSH
- Vitamins blood therapeutic use MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Review MeSH
Recent studies reported association of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) with testosterone and vitamin D deficiency. Low testosterone and vitamin D levels have been linked to fatigue and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). However, the impact of testosterone and vitamin D deficiency on EDS in subjects with SDB remains unknown. The aim of this study was to explore the predictors of EDS in habitual snorers. Role of testosterone, and vitamin D was studied in detail. We also looked for associations between testosterone, vitamin D, and sleep-related indices. We prospectively enrolled 291 consecutive male patients with habitual snoring. Baseline clinical characteristics were recorded on admission. Standard overnight polysomnography was performed to detect SDB, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) was used to assess EDS. Blood samples were obtained in a fasting condition in the morning after polysomnography to determine levels of testosterone and vitamin D. Respiratory disturbance index (RDI) (95 % CI: 1.004-1.024, p=0.005) and the use of antihistamines (95 % CI: 1.083-11.901, p=0.037) were the only independent variables significantly associated with EDS in binary logistic regression analysis. In linear multiple regression analysis, body mass index (BMI) (Beta=-0.282, p<0.001) and oxygen desaturation index (Beta=-0.150, p=0.043) were the only independent variables significantly associated with testosterone levels, and BMI (Beta=-0.142, p=0.016) was the only independent variable significantly associated with vitamin D. We failed to find any independent association of testosterone and vitamin D with subjectively rated EDS among habitual snorers. Our results suggest an independent association between the magnitude of nocturnal desaturation and testosterone levels.
- MeSH
- Body Mass Index * MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Vitamin D Deficiency blood pathology MeSH
- Sleep Apnea, Obstructive blood pathology MeSH
- Polysomnography methods MeSH
- Disorders of Excessive Somnolence blood pathology MeSH
- Prospective Studies MeSH
- Testosterone blood MeSH
- Vitamin D blood MeSH
- Vitamins blood MeSH
- Check Tag
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Geographicals
- United Kingdom MeSH
Objectives: Previous research has shown that nutrition can influence cognitive abilities in older adults. We examined whether nutritional factors or inflammatory biomarkers moderate the age-cognition association. Method: Analyses included 1,308 participants (age ≥60) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III. Macronutrients (% of calories from fat, protein, and carbohydrates), micronutrients/amino acids (blood serum values: Vitamins B12, C, D, E, folate, iron, homocysteine, and β-carotene), and inflammatory biomarkers (serum C-reactive protein, plasma fibrinogen, and serum ferritin) were examined as moderators with cognition. Cognition was measured by six tasks: immediate and delayed story recall, immediate and delayed word memory, digit subtraction, and questions about place/orientation. Results: Higher values of serum folate were significantly associated with better cognitive scores. Specifically, the interaction between age-cognition and folate indicated the associations of higher age and lower global cognition and lower immediate story recall were weaker in those with higher folate values (p's < .05). A significant interaction between age and plasma fibrinogen indicated that the association between age and worse digit subtraction was stronger with values >3.1 g/L. Discussion: Folate and fibrinogen were significant moderators between age and cognition. Further research into the relationship between nutrition, inflammation, and cognitive aging is needed.
- MeSH
- beta Carotene blood MeSH
- Biomarkers blood MeSH
- C-Reactive Protein analysis MeSH
- Diet statistics & numerical data MeSH
- Ferritins blood MeSH
- Fibrinogen analysis MeSH
- Homocysteine blood MeSH
- Cognition * MeSH
- Cognitive Dysfunction blood etiology MeSH
- Folic Acid blood MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Neuropsychological Tests MeSH
- Nutritional Status * MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Age Factors MeSH
- Vitamins blood MeSH
- Nutrition Surveys MeSH
- Inflammation blood complications MeSH
- Iron blood MeSH
- Check Tag
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
Vitamin D, either in its D2 or D3 form, is essential for normal human development during intrauterine life, kidney function and bone health. Vitamin D deficiency has also been linked to cancer development and some autoimmune diseases. Given this huge impact of vitamin D on human health, it is important for daily clinical practice and clinical research to have reliable tools to judge on the vitamin D status. The major circulating form of vitamin D is 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), although it is not the most active metabolite, the concentrations of total 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the serum are currently routinely used in clinical practice to assess vitamin D status. In the circulation, vitamin D - like other steroid hormones - is bound tightly to a special carrier - vitamin D-binding protein (DBP). Smaller amounts are bound to blood proteins - albumin and lipoproteins. Only very tiny amounts of the total vitamin D are free and potentially biologically active. Currently used vitamin D assays do not distinguish between the three forms of vitamin D - DBP-bound vitamin D, albumin-bound vitamin D and free, biologically active vitamin D. Diseases or conditions that affect the synthesis of DBP or albumin thus have a huge impact on the amount of circulating total vitamin D. DBP and albumin are synthesized in the liver, hence all patients with an impairment of liver function have alterations in their total vitamin D blood concentrations, while free vitamin D levels remain mostly constant. Sex steroids, in particular estrogens, stimulate the synthesis of DBP. This explains why total vitamin D concentrations are higher during pregnancy as compared to non-pregnant women, while the concentrations of free vitamin D remain similar in both groups of women. The vitamin D-DBP as well as vitamin D-albumin complexes are filtered through the glomeruli and re-uptaken by megalin in the proximal tubule. Therefore, all acute and chronic kidney diseases that are characterized by a tubular damage, are associated with a loss of vitamin D-DBP complexes in the urine. Finally, the gene encoding DBP protein is highly polymorphic in different human racial groups. In the current review, we will discuss how liver function, estrogens, kidney function and the genetic background might influence total circulating vitamin D levels and will discuss what vitamin D metabolite is more appropriate to measure under these conditions: free vitamin D or total vitamin D.
- MeSH
- Biomarkers blood MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Vitamin D Deficiency blood diagnosis MeSH
- Vitamin D-Binding Protein metabolism MeSH
- Vitamin D analogs & derivatives blood MeSH
- Vitamins blood MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Review MeSH
AIM: To assess the prognostic importance of serum levels of retinol, retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and vitamin E at the time of diagnosis in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this prospective study, in a cohort of 102 renal cell carcinoma patients, relationships between serum levels of the aforementioned markers and recurrence-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), as well as cancer-specific survival (CSS), were evaluated. The vitamin A and vitamin E levels were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), while the RBP4 level by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 39 months. Renal cell carcinoma recurred in 9 patients; 23 patients died with 12 of them from RCC. The preoperative vitamin E level was associated to RFS (p=0.02). We found a significant relationship between OS and the level of RBP4 (p=0.002), retinol (p=0.037) and vitamin E (p=0.007). The CSS period was significantly associated with the level of RBP4 (p=0.0001) and retinol (p=0.0003). Patients with an RBP4 level less than 21.0 mg/l at the time of diagnosis had a 13.5-times higher risk of death due to RCC progression; this risk was up to 7.7-times higher with vitamin A levels under 0.52 mg/l. CONCLUSION: Low levels of vitamin A, E and RBP4 at the time of RCC diagnosis are associated with a poorer prognosis after surgery.
- MeSH
- Survival Analysis MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Carcinoma, Renal Cell blood diagnostic imaging surgery MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Kidney Neoplasms blood diagnostic imaging surgery MeSH
- Nephrectomy MeSH
- Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma analysis MeSH
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed MeSH
- Preoperative Period MeSH
- Prognosis MeSH
- Aged, 80 and over MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Vitamin A blood MeSH
- Vitamin E blood MeSH
- Vitamins blood MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Aged, 80 and over MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
A high-throughput miniaturized liquid-liquid extraction procedure followed by a simple ultra-high performance liquid chromatography method coupled with fluorescence detection for bioanalytical analysis of all tocopherol isomers and retinol in human serum has been developed and validated. In the extraction procedure, a synthetic internal standard tocol was used, which does not occur in the human body. The separation of structurally related vitamins was achieved using a new generation of pentafluorophenyl propyl core-shell stationary phase with elution using methanol and an aqueous solution of ammonium acetate. The fluorescence of retinol and tocopherol isomers was detected at λex = 325, 295 nm and λem = 480, 325 nm, respectively. The rapid baseline separation of all analytes was accomplished within 4.0 min. The sensitivity of method was demonstrated with lower limits of quantification: retinol 0.01 μM, α-tocopherol 0.38 μM, β-tocopherol 0.18 μM, γ-tocopherol 0.14 μM, and δ-tocopherol 0.01 μM. Possible application of this method in clinical practice was confirmed by the analysis of human serum samples from healthy volunteers. Finally, the simultaneous determination of retinol and all tocopherol isomers in human serum can enable the clarification of their role in metabolism and in diseases such as cancer.
The concentration of carotenoids and fat-soluble vitamins in human plasma may play a significant role in numerous chronic diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and some types of cancer. Although these compounds are of utmost interest for human health, methods for their simultaneous determination are scarce. A new high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) method for the quantification of selected carotenoids and fat-soluble vitamins in human plasma was developed, validated, and then applied in a pilot dietary intervention study with healthy volunteers. In 50 min, 16 analytes were separated with an excellent resolution and suitable MS signal intensity. The proposed HPLC-MS/MS method led to improvements in the limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) for all analyzed compounds compared to the most often used HPLC-DAD methods, in some cases being more than 100-fold lower. LOD values were between 0.001 and 0.422 µg/mL and LOQ values ranged from 0.003 to 1.406 µg/mL, according to the analyte. The accuracy, precision, and stability met with the acceptance criteria of the AOAC (Association of Official Analytical Chemists) International. According to these results, the described HPLC-MS/MS method is adequately sensitive, repeatable and suitable for the large-scale analysis of compounds in biological fluids.
- MeSH
- Carotenoids blood MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Limit of Detection MeSH
- Pilot Projects MeSH
- Tandem Mass Spectrometry methods MeSH
- Vitamins blood MeSH
- Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid methods MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Validation Study MeSH
The health of human populations living in industrial regions is negatively affected by exposure to environmental air pollutants. In this study, we investigated the impact of air pollution on a cohort of subjects living in Ostrava, a heavily polluted industrial region and compared it with a cohort of individuals from the relatively clean capital city of Prague. This study consisted of three sampling periods differing in the concentrations of major air pollutants (winter 2009, summer 2009 and winter 2010). During all sampling periods, the study subjects from Ostrava region were exposed to significantly higher concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and benzene than the subjects in Prague as measured by personal monitors. Pollution by B[a]P, particulate matter of aerodynamic diameter <2.5 µm (PM2.5) and benzene in the Ostrava region measured by stationary monitors was also higher than in Prague, with the exception of PM2.5 in summer 2009 when concentration of the pollutant was significantly elevated in Prague. To evaluate DNA damage in subjects from both locations we determined the levels of bulky DNA adducts in peripheral blood lymphocytes using the (32)P-postlabeling method. Despite higher B[a]P air pollution in the Ostrava region during all sampling periods, the levels of B[a]P-like DNA adducts per 10(8) nucleotides were significantly higher in the Ostrava subjects only in winter 2009 (mean ± SD: 0.21 ± 0.06 versus 0.28 ± 0.08 adducts/10(8) nucleotides, P < 0.001 for Prague and Ostrava subjects, respectively; P < 0.001). During the other two sampling periods, the levels of B[a]P-like DNA adducts were significantly higher in the Prague subjects (P < 0.001). Multivariate analyses conducted among subjects from Ostrava and Prague separately during all sampling periods revealed that exposure to B[a]P and PM2.5 significantly increased levels of B[a]P-like DNA adducts in the Ostrava subjects, but not in subjects from Prague.
- MeSH
- DNA Adducts blood MeSH
- Benzo(a)pyrene toxicity MeSH
- Biomarkers analysis blood MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Air Pollutants analysis toxicity MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Environmental Monitoring methods MeSH
- Multivariate Analysis MeSH
- Particulate Matter adverse effects analysis MeSH
- Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons analysis toxicity MeSH
- Seasons MeSH
- Cities MeSH
- Vitamins blood MeSH
- Air Pollution adverse effects MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Geographicals
- Czech Republic MeSH
- Cities MeSH
A higher incidence of asthma is one of the serious problems confronting urban populations worldwide. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effect of age, gender, smoking, vitamin intake, genetic polymorphisms in genes related to the metabolic activation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their detoxification and oxidative damage to DNA, lipids and proteins on the frequency of micronuclei (MN) in a group of 175 children (81 with bronchial asthma and 94 healthy controls) aged 6-15 years. The study group from the most polluted region of the Czech Republic, Ostrava, was followed in November 2008, when the mean concentration of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) measured by stationary monitoring was 11.4±9.8ng/m(3). The results of cotinine analysis revealed active smoking in 15 children. The frequency of MN per 1000 binucleated cells (MN/1000 BNC), measured by automated image analysis, indicated a significant risk for smoking children with asthma in comparison with smoking control children (4.25±1.54 and 3.00±0.77, respectively, p<0.05). Girls in the control group had 16% higher levels of MN in comparison with boys. Markers of oxidative damage to DNA, proteins and lipids were not associated with asthma in this study. Higher levels of MN were associated with increased levels of protein carbonyl groups. We conclude that smoking asthmatic children are at higher risk of DNA damage measured as the frequency of micronuclei in peripheral blood lymphocytes.
- MeSH
- Benzopyrenes toxicity MeSH
- Asthma genetics MeSH
- Child MeSH
- Smoking adverse effects MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective MeSH
- Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons metabolism MeSH
- Polymorphism, Genetic MeSH
- DNA Damage MeSH
- Sex Factors MeSH
- Vitamins blood MeSH
- Check Tag
- Child MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Geographicals
- Czech Republic MeSH
