Forensic aspects of postmortem serum carbohydrate-deficient transferrin analysis as a marker of alcohol abuse

Introduction. Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) has been suggested as one of alcohol abuse indicators having produced good results in forensic medicine for years. Objective. The aim of the study was to identify correlation between present methodology of alcohol abuse diagnosis at autopsy (macroscopic and microscopic findings) and CDT examination using the method of isoelectrofocusing (IEF) in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). We also analyzed if the time interval between the moment of death and blood sample collection influences CDT findings. Methods The method used for CDT analysis was IEF-PAGE. Sera of 49 males and 11 females aged 14-87 years, average age 46.85?18.53, were used in this study. Control group consisted of five patients who died after medical treatment that lasted longer than 15 days, and five patients who started Disulfiram therapy in controlled hospital environment. Results. The results obtained in CDT examination in dead bodies? sera showed sensitivity 59% and specificity 71%. A high incidence of falsely positive CDT result was noticed in liver failure and cirrhosis of non-alcoholic origin. CDT analysis is also possible to be done in samples collected postmortem up to 76 hours. Conclusion. In forensic medicine, the method of CDT determination is reliable for the diagnosis of alcohol abuse.

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Comparison of the Axis %CDT TIA and the CDTect method as laboratory tests of alcohol abuse

Clinical Chemistry ◽

10.1093/clinchem/44.6.1209 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 44 (6) ◽

pp. 1209-1215 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Katja Viitala ◽

Kaija Lähdesmäki ◽

Onni Niemelä

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Abuse ◽

Problem Drinking ◽

Inverse Correlation ◽

High Serum ◽

Control Group ◽

Specific Marker ◽

Serum Transferrin ◽

Alcohol Abusers ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Carbohydrate Deficient Transferrin

Abstract Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) has been suggested as a specific marker of alcohol abuse. We designed this study to compare the conventional CDTect method (Pharmacia & Upjohn) and the new semiautomated Axis %CDT turbidimetric immunoassay (%CDT TIA) for their diagnostic performance to identify problem drinking. The sensitivities of the %CDT TIA and CDTect for correctly classifying heavy drinkers (n = 90) were 29% and 59% with the thresholds currently recommended by the manufacturers, respectively. In the control group (n = 114), which included hospitalized patients with abnormal serum transferrin concentrations, the CDTect assay gave 21 false-positive values (18%), whereas the %CDT TIA showed 100% specificity. With the cutoff limits based on the present healthy control group (mean + 2 SD), the sensitivities of the %CDT TIA and CDTect were 61% and 86%, respectively. For men, the ROC plot area of the CDTect results in comparisons of alcohol abusers and healthy controls was significantly (P <0.05) higher than that of the %CDT TIA results, whereas for women, there was no significant difference in this respect. The slope and intercept (with 95% confidence intervals) for linear regression between CDTect and %CDT TIA were 0.13 (0.12–0.15) and 1.16 (0.73–1.59), respectively (Sy‖x = 1.51, r = 0.744). CDTect results correlated positively with serum transferrin (r = 0.224, P <0.001), whereas the %CDT TIA results showed a slight inverse correlation with serum transferrin (r = −0.132, P = 0.07). The data suggest that CDTect is more sensitive than %CDT TIA in detecting drinking problems. However, the %CDT TIA method yields more specificity when analyzing samples from patients with high serum transferrin concentrations.

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The influence of supraliminal priming on energy density of food selection: a randomised control trial

BMC Psychology ◽

10.1186/s40359-021-00554-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Isabelle Schlegel ◽

Sharon A. Carstairs ◽

Gozde Ozakinci

Keyword(s):

General Population ◽

Lower Energy ◽

Food Selection ◽

Food Choices ◽

Randomised Control Trial ◽

Future Research ◽

Control Group ◽

The Moment ◽

Overweight Adults ◽

University Athletes

Abstract Background Many people exercise because they know it is good for their health. Although this is true, it can make us feel deserving of a reward and lead us to eat more indulgent, less healthy food than if we had not done any exercise. Generally, lower energy-dense (LED) foods are recognised as healthier choices than higher energy-dense (HED) options. Despite our intention to make healthy choices, seeing tempting higher-calorie foods on offer often side-tracks us. Priming is a psychological tool that makes specific changes to our environment that remind us of our motivation to be healthy. This makes it easier to choose a healthier option, by nudging us towards it without us even realising. However, it is currently unclear which method of priming achieves the best results. Aims Our study explores whether priming people to expect they will receive LED food leads them to make this healthier choice after exercise, even when also offered tempting less healthy HED foods at the moment of selection. Methods Our study observed the foods selected by university athletes after their sports matches. Before the match, half of the participants were primed by asking them to choose a LED snack from the options we offered, which they would receive after the match. The remaining half of participants were not asked this same question. To distract the athletes from our observation of their food choices, participants completed a task prior to choosing their snack, which was disguised as a ‘thank you’ for taking part. Results Overall, we found the priming group did not choose LED foods significantly more than the control group, hence priming did not increase LED food selection. Conclusion Importantly, our results indicate that priming must be more noticeable to achieve its goal. Additionally, we demonstrated that priming may be less successful for young athletic individuals, compared to older and more overweight adults recruited in other studies. This highlights the importance of studying a broader demographic range of individuals from the general population. We support future research into this area, which will help us to tweak priming to achieve the best outcomes. Trial registration ISRCTN Registry, ISRCTN74601698. Date registered: 02/10/2020 (retrospectively registered).

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Effect of a single or two doses of an anti-GnRH vaccine on testicle morpho-functional characteristics in Nelore bulls

Tropical Animal Health and Production ◽

10.1007/s11250-021-02600-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 53 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Emanuel M. Doroteu ◽

Joao H. M. Viana ◽

Jair A. Ferreira Junior ◽

Juliana T. A. Macedo ◽

Rodrigo A. Oliveira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bos Taurus ◽

Active Immunization ◽

Control Group ◽

Histopathological Analysis ◽

Sample Collection ◽

Functional Characteristics ◽

Scrotal Circumference ◽

Bos Taurus Indicus ◽

Boost Dose ◽

And Control

AbstractThe aim of this study was to compare testicle morpho-functional characteristics in bulls undergoing a single or two immunizations against GnRH. Nelore (Bos taurus indicus) bulls were randomly allocated into three experimental groups: G1 (n=12), a single 400 μg dose of anti-GnRH vaccine on day 0; G2 (n=11), a first 400 μg dose of anti-GnRH vaccine on day 0 followed by a second (boost) dose 30 days later; and control group (CG, n=12), 1 mL saline 0.9% at day 0. Every 30 days, from day 0 until slaughter at day 90, the bulls were weighed and underwent testicular biometry, semen collection and analysis, and blood sample collection for testosterone measurement. Immediately after slaughter, the testicles were removed and transport at 15°C to the laboratory for histopathological analysis. There was a decrease in testicular height (P=0.0476), width (P=0.0021), and in scrotal circumference (P=0.0001), after either a single (G1) or two (G2) immunizations against GnRH. Both G1 and G2 had lower testosterone concentrations than CG from day 60 on (P<0.01), but in G2, it was also lower than in G1 at day 90 (P=0.0006). All sperm parameters were affected by active immunization against GnRH (P<0.05), and in G2, averages were lesser (P<0.05) than in G1 from day 60 on. No signs of seminiferous tubule degeneration were found in any sample from the CG, contrasting with 75.0% and 100.0% of the samples from G1 and G2, respectively. In summary, immunocastration affected testicle morpho-functional characteristics in bulls in a time- and dose-dependent way.

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Period-Life of a Branching Process with Migration and Continuous Time

Mathematics ◽

10.3390/math9080868 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 868

Author(s):

Khrystyna Prysyazhnyk ◽

Iryna Bazylevych ◽

Ludmila Mitkova ◽

Iryna Ivanochko

Keyword(s):

Random Process ◽

Generating Function ◽

Continuous Time ◽

Branching Process ◽

Probability Generating Function ◽

Time Interval ◽

The Moment ◽

First Time ◽

Critical Branching Process ◽

Number Of Particles

The homogeneous branching process with migration and continuous time is considered. We investigated the distribution of the period-life τ, i.e., the length of the time interval between the moment when the process is initiated by a positive number of particles and the moment when there are no individuals in the population for the first time. The probability generating function of the random process, which describes the behavior of the process within the period-life, was obtained. The boundary theorem for the period-life of the subcritical or critical branching process with migration was found.

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Clinical correlates of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody profiles in Spanish COVID-19 patients from a high incidence region

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-83969-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Robert Markewitz ◽

Antje Torge ◽

Klaus-Peter Wandinger ◽

Daniela Pauli ◽

Andre Franke ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Case Fatality ◽

Time Frame ◽

Epidemic Outbreak ◽

Sample Collection ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

High Incidence ◽

Duration Of Hospitalization ◽

Reasonable Time Frame ◽

Support Treatment ◽

Diagnostic And Prognostic Value

AbstractLaboratory testing for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) consists of two pillars: the detection of viral RNA via rt-PCR as the diagnostic gold standard in acute cases, and the detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. However, concerning the latter, questions remain about their diagnostic and prognostic value and it is not clear whether all patients develop detectable antibodies. We examined sera from 347 Spanish COVID-19 patients, collected during the peak of the epidemic outbreak in Spain, for the presence of IgA and IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and evaluated possible associations with age, sex and disease severity (as measured by duration of hospitalization, kind of respiratory support, treatment in ICU and death). The presence and to some degree the levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies depended mainly on the amount of time between onset of symptoms and the collection of serum. A subgroup of patients did not develop antibodies at the time of sample collection. Compared to the patients that did, no differences were found. The presence and level of antibodies was not associated with age, sex, duration of hospitalization, treatment in the ICU or death. The case-fatality rate increased exponentially with older age. Neither the presence, nor the levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies served as prognostic markers in our cohort. This is discussed as a possible consequence of the timing of the sample collection. Age is the most important risk factor for an adverse outcome in our cohort. Some patients appear not to develop antibodies within a reasonable time frame. It is unclear, however, why that is, as these patients differ in no respect examined by us from those who developed antibodies.

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Carbohydrate deficient transferrin: a marker for alcohol abuse.

BMJ ◽

10.1136/bmj.299.6696.427 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 299 (6696) ◽

pp. 427-431 ◽

Cited By ~ 61

Author(s):

A. Kapur ◽

G. Wild ◽

A. Milford-Ward ◽

D. R. Triger

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Abuse ◽

Carbohydrate Deficient Transferrin

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Anticarcinogenic effect of probiotic fermented milk and chlorophyllin on aflatoxin-B1-induced liver carcinogenesis in rats

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s0007114511003953 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 107 (7) ◽

pp. 1006-1016 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

M. Kumar ◽

V. Verma ◽

R. Nagpal ◽

A. Kumar ◽

P. V. Behare ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wistar Rats ◽

Lactobacillus Rhamnosus ◽

Thiobarbituric Acid ◽

Fermented Milk ◽

Hepatoprotective Effect ◽

Control Group ◽

Time Interval ◽

Group I ◽

Male Wistar Rats ◽

Aflatoxin B

The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of probiotic fermented milk (FM) containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota, alone as well as in combination with chlorophyllin (CHL) as an antioxidant agent in male Wistar rats administered aflatoxin-B1 (AFB1). AFB1 was injected intraperitoneally at the rate of 450 μg/kg body weight per animal twice a week for 6 weeks, maintaining an equal time interval between the two consecutive AFB1 administrations. A total of 125 male Wistar rats were randomly allocated to five groups, each group having twenty-five animals. Group I was offered FM containing L. rhamnosus GG and L. casei strain Shirota. Group II was administered AFB1 and served as the control group; group III was administered FM-AFB1, in which besides administering AFB1, FM was also offered. Group IV was offered CHL and AFB1, and group V was offered both FM and CHL along with AFB1. The rats were euthanised at the 15th and 25th week of the experiment and examined for the biochemical and hepatopathological profile. A significant reduction in thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) was observed in the FM–CHL–AFB1 group compared with the AFB1 control group. FM alone or in combination with CHL was found to show a significant (P < 0·05) hepatoprotective effect by lowering the levels of TBARS and by enhancing the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione-S-transferase, indicating that probiotic FM alone or in combination with CHL possesses a potent protective effect against AFB1-induced hepatic damage.

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Bicyclol for the treatment of drug-induced liver injury: a propensity score matching analysis using a nationwide inpatient database

Journal of International Medical Research ◽

10.1177/03000605211005945 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 49 (4) ◽

pp. 030006052110059

Author(s):

Yongfeng Wang ◽

Rongtao Lai ◽

Peilan Zong ◽

Qingling Xu ◽

Jia Shang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Liver Injury ◽

Propensity Score ◽

Propensity Score Matching ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Control Group ◽

Time Interval ◽

Potential Candidate ◽

Drug Induced ◽

Drug Induced Liver Injury ◽

Propensity Score Matching Analysis

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of bicyclol in patients with drug-induced liver injury (DILI) using a nationwide database.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of DILI patients in the DILI-R database. Propensity score matching was performed to balance the bicyclol and control groups, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) recovery was compared between the two groups. Factors associated with ALT recovery and safety were identified.ResultsThe analysis included the data of 25,927 patients. Eighty-seven cases were included in the bicyclol group, with 932 cases in the control group. One-to-one propensity score matching created 86 matched pairs. The ALT normalization rate in the bicyclol group was significantly higher than that in the control group (50.00% vs. 24.42%), and statistical significance was found in the superiority test. After adjustment of baseline ALT levels, baseline total bilirubin levels, sex, age, acute or chronic liver diseases, and suspected drugs in the multivariate logic regression analysis, the major influencing factors for ALT recovery included the time interval between ALT tests (days) and the group factor (bicyclol treatment). There were no differences in the proportion of renal function impairment or blood abnormalities between the two groups.ConclusionsBicyclol is a potential candidate for DILI.

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Precipitating factors of porphyria cutanea tarda in Brazil with emphasis on hemochromatosis gene (HFE) mutations. Study of 60 patients

Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia ◽

10.1590/abd1806-4841.20132048 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 88 (4) ◽

pp. 530-540 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Fatima Mendonca Jorge Vieira ◽

Maria Cristina Nakhle ◽

Clarice Pires Abrantes-Lemos ◽

Eduardo Luiz Rachid Cancado ◽

Vitor Manoel Silva dos Reis

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis C ◽

Alcohol Abuse ◽

Porphyria Cutanea Tarda ◽

Hereditary Hemochromatosis ◽

Control Group ◽

Hfe Gene ◽

Precipitating Factors ◽

Serological Tests ◽

Hfe Mutations ◽

Precipitating Factor

BACKGROUND: Porphyria cutanea tarda is the most common form of porphyria, characterized by the decreased activity of the uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase enzyme. Several reports associated HFE gene mutations of hereditary hemochromatosis with porphyria cutanea tarda worldwide, although up to date only one study has been conducted in Brazil. OBJECTIVES: Investigation of porphyria cutanea tarda association with C282Y and H63D mutations in the HFE gene. Identification of precipitating factors (hepatitis C, HIV, alcoholism and estrogen) and their link with HFE mutations. METHODS: An ambispective study of 60 patients with PCT was conducted during the period from 2003 to 2012. Serological tests for hepatitis C and HIV were performed and histories of alcohol abuse and estrogen intake were investigated. HFE mutations were identified with real-time PCR. RESULTS: Porphyria cutanea tarda predominated in males and alcohol abuse was the main precipitating factor. Estrogen intake was the sole precipitating factor present in 25% of female patients. Hepatitis C was present in 41.7%. All HIV-positive patients (15.3%) had a history of alcohol abuse. Allele frequency for HFE mutations, i.e., C282Y (p = 0.0001) and H63D (p = 0.0004), were significantly higher in porphyria cutanea tarda patients, compared to control group. HFE mutations had no association with the other precipitating factors. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol abuse, hepatitis C and estrogen intake are prevalent precipitating factors in our porphyria cutanea tarda population; however, hemochromatosis in itself can also contribute to the outbreak of porphyria cutanea tarda, which makes the research for HFE mutations necessary in these patients

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Does preoperative transarterial embolization decrease blood loss during spine tumor surgery?

Interventional Neuroradiology ◽

10.15274/inr-2014-10091 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 129-135 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Zhihong Qiao ◽

Ningyang Jia ◽

Qian He

Keyword(s):

Blood Loss ◽

Transarterial Embolization ◽

Surgical Excision ◽

Spinal Tumor ◽

Gelatin Sponge ◽

Spinal Tumors ◽

Control Group ◽

Time Interval ◽

Estimated Blood Loss ◽

Spine Tumor Surgery

This paper aimed to evaluate the effect of preoperative transarterial embolization (TAE) on estimated blood loss (EBL) during surgical excision of the vertebral tumors. Three hundred and forty-eight patients with spinal tumors were retrospectively analyzed. The preoperative TAE group consisted of 190 patients and the control group consisted of 158 patients. Gelatin sponge particles mixed withy contrast agent were used in the TAE group to embolize the tumor-feeding artery. The factors evaluated included: the time interval between embolism and surgery; the number of vertebrae involved by the tumor; pathological type of tumor; surgical approach; extent of excision and instrumental fixation. The time interval (P = 0.4669)between embolism and surgery had no significant correlation with EBL during surgery. The pathological diagnosis of vertebral tumor such as plasma cell myeloma, giant cell tumor, chondrosarcoma, hemangioma and metastasis had no significant correlation with EBL between the TAE group and control group during surgery, while the EBL of chordoma in the TAE group was significantly higher than that in the control group (p = 0.0254). The number of vertebrae involved (p = 0.4669, 0.6804, 0.6677), posterior approach (p = 0.3015), anterior approach (p = 0.2446), partial excision (p = 0.1911) and instrumental fixation (p = 0.1789) had no significant correlation with EBL during surgery between the TAE group and the control group. This study showed that preoperative TAE of the spinal tumor had no significant effect on intra-operative blood loss during surgical excision of the spinal tumor. In view of the risk of embolism, this method should be carefully considered.

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