BACKGROUND Until now, a proper biomarker(s) to evaluate sarcoidosis activity has not been recognized. The aims of this study were to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the two biomarkers of sarcoidosis activity already in use (serum angiotensin converting enzyme - ACE and serum chitotriosidase) in a population of 430 sarcoidosis patients. The activities of these markers were also analy...

BACKGROUND Chitotriosidase is a functional chitinase secreted by activated macrophages. It is encoded by a gene located on chromosome 1q31-32, whose mutations may be responsible for chitotriosidase deficiency, encountered in almost 6% of Caucasian population. OBJECTIVE This study reports firstly plasma chitotriosidase activity in African children with acute Plasmodium falciparum malaria. The ...

The optical absorption o f the halogenated meth­ anes is o f importance because these molecules have been implicated in the depletion o f the tropospheric ozone [1 -4 ]. There is an added interest in the elec­ tronic structure of the halogenated methanes be­ cause o f their industrial use in dry processing and reactive ion etching [5]. Despite the wealth o f data available, all permissible exci...

BACKGROUND Madurella mycetomatis is the most prevalent causative agent of eumycetoma in Sudan, an infection characterized by the formation of grains. Many patients are exposed to the causative agent, however only a small number develop infection. M. mycetomatis contains chitin in its cell wall, which can trigger the human immune system. Polymorphisms in the genes encoding for the chitin-degradi...

BACKGROUND Sulfhydryl groups (SH) are considered a key factor in redox sensitive reaction of plasma, and their modification could be considered an expression of abnormal generation of oxygen free radicals. METHODS Fifty consecutive patients with acute brain stroke were enclosed in this study. The plasma concentrations of SH groups were correlated to cytokines (IL-1b, IL-6, IL-8, TNF- α ), pla...

The present work demonstrates that simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid (AA), uric acid (UA) and acetaminophen (ACT) can be performed on a novel single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), chitosan (CHIT) and MCM-41 composite modified glassy carbon electrode (SWCNTs-CHIT-MCM-41/GCE). The electro-oxidations of AA, UA and ACT were investigated by using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), ch...

Velaglucerase alfa is a human β-glucocerebrosidase approved for Gaucher disease type 1 (GD1) treatment. This report summarizes the 7-year experience of the now-completed phase I/II and extension studies of adult GD1 patients who received velaglucerase alfa. Ten patients who completed the 9-month, phase I/II study entered the extension trial TKT025EXT, of which eight completed this study. Doses ...

UNLABELLED A biomarker is an analyte that indicates the presence of a biological process linked to the clinical manifestations and outcome of a particular disease. An ideal biomarker provides indirect but ongoing determinations of disease activity. In the case of lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs), metabolites or proteins specifically secreted by storage cells are good candidates for biomarkers...

BACKGROUND We retrospectively compared biochemical responses in type 1 Gaucher disease patients to treatment with glycosphingolipid synthesis inhibitors miglustat and eliglustat and ERT. METHODS Seventeen GD1 patients were included (n = 6 eliglustat, (two switched from ERT), n = 9 miglustat (seven switchers), n = 4 ERT (median dose 60U/kg/m). Plasma protein markers reflecting disease burden (...

An electrochemical sensing platform was developed based on the integration of redox mediators and carbon nanotubes (CNT) in a polymeric matrix. To demonstrate the concept, a redox mediator Azure dye (AZU) was covalently attached to polysaccharide chains of chitosan (CHIT) and interspersed with CNT to form composite films for the amperometric determination of beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleoti...