Adaptive Potential and Endocrine Profile of Pulp and Paper Workers in Arkhangelsk

Introduction. Maintaining good health and working capacity of the population is one of the main tasks of the healthcare system. Living under adverse climatic conditions of the North and being exposed to dangerous production factors of the pulp and paper industry, strongly represented in the Arkhangelsk Region, can significantly reduce the adaptive capacity of the body. Major role in providing an adequate response to the action of irritators and initiating the adaptation process is played by the neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, and circulatory systems, which reflect qualitative and quantitative changes in the body while being reliable markers of homeostasis. The aim was to study the adaptive potential of workers showing the level of functioning of the circulatory system and to evaluate their endocrine profile depending on the revealed functional capabilities of the body. Materials and methods. The study involved 50 men aged 22–60 years working in the production departments of Solombala Pulp and Paper Mill (Arkhangelsk) with a body mass index of 19–25 and without earlier history of endocrine pathology. Serum levels of thyroxine-binding globulin and oestradiol were determined by means of radioimmunoassay, while serum concentrations of total cortisol, thyrotropin, thyroxine, triiodothyronine, progesterone, testosterone, insulin, C-peptide, and somatotropin were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results. The research demonstrated that in 2/3 of the examined employees of the pulp and paper mill the adaptation mechanisms were under strain, while the condition of two subjects corresponded to the physiological norm, which is characterized by good and satisfactory adaptation. Workers with decreased adaptive capabilities to the point of unsatisfactory adaptation showed increased levels of cortisol, thyroxine-binding globulin, oestradiol, C-peptide, and insulin against the background of a decrease in testosterone, progesterone, and the testosterone/oestradiol ratio. The authors recommend conducting periodic medical examinations of pulp and paper workers, including endocrine profile assessment, and monitoring changes that occur over time.

A Newborn Falsely Suspected of Congenital Hypothyroidism due to Mutated Thyroxine-Binding Globulin with Low Binding Affinity

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Neonatal screening programs for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) have been implemented worldwide to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment. The Dutch neonatal CH screening is primarily based on the measurement of thyroxine (T4). When T4 is low, an additional thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) measurement is performed to reduce the number of false-positive screening results due to harmless TBG deficiency. Here, we present a case of a rare functional TBG deficiency leading to a false suspicion of CH. <b><i>Case Presentation:</i></b> Neonatal screening in this patient revealed a decreased T4, normal TSH, and normal TBG concentration, suggesting central CH. However, free T4 was normal. DNA sequencing analysis revealed a novel, hemizygous mutation (c.139G&#x3e;A) in <i>SERPINA7</i>, the gene encoding TBG, resulting in the substitution of the conserved amino acid alanine to threonine at position 27. Crystal structure analyses showed that this substitution has a detrimental effect on binding of T4 to TBG. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The novel <i>SERPINA7</i> variant in this patient led to a false suspicion of central hypothyroidism in the Dutch T4-based neonatal screening program. It is important to recognize patients with such TBG defects to prevent unnecessary additional testing and treatment.

Alteration of transthyretin and thyroxine-binding globulin in major depressive disorder: multiple reaction monitoring-based proteomic analysis

Background Major depressive disorder (MDD), common mental disorder, lacks objective diagnostic and prognosis biomarkers. The objective of this study was to perform proteomic analysis to identify proteins with changed expression levels after antidepressant treatment and investigate differences in protein expression between MDD patients and healthy individuals. Methods A total of 111 proteins obtained from literature review were subjected to multiple reaction monitoring (MRM)-based protein quantitation. Finally, seven proteins were quantified for plasma specimens of 10 healthy controls and 78 MDD patients (those at baseline and at 6 weeks after antidepressant treatment of either selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or mirtazapine). Results Among 78 MDD patients, 35 patients were treated with SSRIs and 43 patients were treated with mirtazapine. Nineteen (54.3%) and 16 (37.2%) patients responded to SSRIs and mirtazapine, respectively. Comparing MDD patients with healthy individuals, alteration of transthyretin was observed in MDD (P = 0.026). A few differences were observed in protein levels related to SSRIs treatment, although they were not statistically significant. Plasma thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) was different between before and after mirtazapine treatment only in responders (P = 0.007). Conclusions In proteomic analysis of plasma specimens from MDD patients, transthyretin and TBG levels were altered in MDD and changed after antidepressant treatment.

Alteration of Transthyretin and Thyroxine-Binding Globulin in Major Depressive Disorder: Multiple Reaction Monitoring-Based Proteomic Analysis

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD), common mental disorder, lacks objective diagnostic and prognosis biomarkers. The objective of this study was to perform proteomic analysis to identify proteins with changed expression levels after antidepressant treatment and investigate differences in protein expression between MDD patients and healthy individuals.Methods: A total of 111 proteins obtained from literature review were subjected to multiple reaction monitoring (MRM)-based protein quantitation. Finally, seven proteins were quantified for plasma specimens of 10 healthy controls and 78 MDD patients (those at baseline and at 6 weeks after antidepressant treatment of either selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or mirtazapine). Results: Among 78 MDD patients, 35 patients were treated with SSRIs and 43 patients were treated with mirtazapine. Nineteen (54.3%) and 16 (37.2%) patients responded to SSRIs and mirtazapine, respectively. Comparing MDD patients with healthy individuals, alteration of transthyretin was observed in MDD (p = 0.026). A few differences were observed in protein levels related to SSRIs treatment, although they were not statistically significant. Plasma thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) was different between before and after mirtazapine treatment only in responders (p = 0.007).Conclusions: In proteomic analysis of plasma specimens from MDD patients, transthyretin and TBG levels were altered in MDD and changed after antidepressant treatment.

Alteration of Transthyretin and Thyroxine-Binding Globulin in Major Depressive Disorder: Multiple Reaction Monitoring-Based Proteomic Analysis

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD), common mental disorder, lacks objective diagnostic and prognosis biomarkers. The objective of this study was to perform proteomic analysis to identify proteins with changed expression levels after antidepressant treatment and investigate differences in protein expression between MDD patients and healthy individuals.Methods: A total of 111 proteins obtained from literature review were subjected to multiple reaction monitoring (MRM)-based protein quantitation. Finally, seven proteins were quantified for plasma specimens of 10 healthy controls and 78 MDD patients (those at baseline and at 6 weeks after antidepressant treatment of either selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or mirtazapine). Results: Among 78 MDD patients, 35 patients were treated with SSRIs and 43 patients were treated with mirtazapine. Nineteen (54.3%) and 16 (37.2%) patients responded to SSRIs and mirtazapine, respectively. Comparing MDD patients with healthy individuals, alteration of transthyretin was observed in MDD (p = 0.026). A few differences were observed in protein levels related to SSRIs treatment, although they were not statistically significant. Plasma thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) was different between before and after mirtazapine treatment only in responders (p = 0.007).Conclusions: In proteomic analysis of plasma specimens from MDD patients, transthyretin and TBG levels were altered in MDD and changed after antidepressant treatment.

Alteration of Transthyretin and Thyroxine-Binding Globulin in Major Depressive Disorder: Multiple Reaction Monitoring-Based Proteomic Analysis

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD), common mental disorder, lacks objective diagnostic and prognosis biomarkers. The objective of this study was to perform proteomic analysis to identify proteins with changed expression levels after antidepressant treatment and investigate differences in protein expression between MDD patients and healthy individuals.Methods: A total of 111 proteins obtained from literature review were subjected to multiple reaction monitoring (MRM)-based protein quantitation. Finally, seven proteins were quantified for plasma specimens of 10 healthy controls and 78 MDD patients (those at baseline and at 6 weeks after antidepressant treatment of either selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or mirtazapine). Results: Among 78 MDD patients, 35 patients were treated with SSRIs and 43 patients were treated with mirtazapine. Nineteen (54.3%) and 16 (37.2%) patients responded to SSRIs and mirtazapine, respectively. Comparing MDD patients with healthy individuals, alteration of transthyretin was observed in MDD (p = 0.026). There was no significant difference in protein levels related to SSRIs treatment. Plasma thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) was different between before and after mirtazapine treatment only in responders (p = 0.007).Conclusions: In proteomic analysis of plasma specimens from MDD patients, transthyretin and TBG levels were altered in MDD and changed after antidepressant treatment.