Circulating proteins to predict adverse COVID-19 outcomes

Predicting COVID-19 severity is difficult, and the biological pathways involved are not fully understood. To approach this problem, we measured 4,701 circulating human protein abundances in two independent cohorts totaling 986 individuals. We then trained prediction models including protein abundances and clinical risk factors to predict adverse COVID-19 outcomes in 417 subjects and tested these models in a separate cohort of 569 individuals. For severe COVID-19, a baseline model including age and sex provided an area under the receiver operator curve (AUC) of 65% in the test cohort. Selecting 92 proteins from the 4,701 unique protein abundances improved the AUC to 88% in the training cohort, which remained relatively stable in the testing cohort at 86%, suggesting good generalizability. Proteins selected from different adverse COVID-19 outcomes were enriched for cytokine and cytokine receptors, but more than half of the enriched pathways were not immune-related. Taken together, these findings suggest that circulating proteins measured at early stages of disease progression are reasonably accurate predictors of adverse COVID-19 outcomes. Further research is needed to understand how to incorporate protein measurement into clinical care.

Histomorphometry and uterine proteomics during the normal reproductive cycle in bitches

We aimed to evaluate the histomorphometry and proteomic profile of the canine uterus during all stages of the reproductive cycle. Eighteen healthy female dogs had their estrous cycle identified by clinical evaluation, vaginal cytology, and serum progesterone levels, which were allocated to the proestrus (n=5), estrus (n=5), diestrus (n=5), and anestrus (n=3) groups. All were submitted to elective ovariosalpingohysterectomy, and the uteri were collected for histomorphometric measurement (Image J software). For proteomic analysis, fragments of the uterine horns were subjected to protein measurement (Bradford method) and extraction by 2D electrophoresis (PDquest software). The results showed that the diestrus promoted greater values of thickness in the uterine structures (μm): uterine wall (2,223.8±229.8), endometrium (819.7±109.1), and myometrium (1,392.6±294.2). Uterus showed a protein profile with good reproducibility per phase (pI: 3.5–9.0; PM: 24–150 KDa), with 11 spots in all phases. Despite the greatest histomorphometric changes in the diestrus, we observed a greater number of spots in the estrus (253±45), followed by the proestrus (185±21), diestrus (113±39), and anestrus (80±21). This finding showed probable participation of these proteins in the uterine preparation for receiving gametes for fertilization. Our results showed greater uterine thickness in the diestrus, and greater protein secretion in the estrus, contributing to the prospection of identification of proteins responsible for the biological reproduction processes.

Optimization of preservation solutions to execute testing on cervical smear sample

Background: The common methods to preserve cell for protein analyses are in cold condition or treated with freeze solution and packaging in dry ice for shipping. Solution which can preserve cervical cells at room temperature is preferable and cost consuming for laboratory testing. Aims and Objective: Research and optimized the storage and transport solution for cervical sample which can preserve cells at room temperature for laboratory testing. Materials and Methods: In this study, cervical specimens were collected in 3 different preservation solutions. Storage and transport of samples was at ambient or refrigerated temperature. The effect of preservation solution and temperature was check by cell visualization under microscope and protein measurement. Results: Presence of cells were detected in all three solutions. Among those, HEPES solution can preserve the highest number of cells and at room temperature. Conclusion: HEPES solution appeared suitable to preserve cervical cytology specimens at ambient temperature for further laboratory testing at protein and DNA level.