Proteomics. Clinical applications
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Proteomics Clin Appl · Dec 2016
ReviewProteomics and molecular tools for unveiling missing links in the biochemical understanding of schizophrenia.
Psychiatric disorders are one of the biggest burdens to society, with significant personal and economical costs. Schizophrenia (SCZ), among them, is still poorly understood, and its molecular characterization is crucial to improve patients' diagnosis and treatment. ⋯ From postmortem brain to animal models and cell culture, new tools are emerging, including recent advances in proteomics, and there is a need to apply them to solve these problems. Here, we review some of those features, mainly related to where proteomics could help, and discuss whether those new technologies could and should be applied to psychiatric disorder studies.
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Proteomics Clin Appl · Aug 2016
ReviewClinically-oriented proteomic investigation of sickle cell disease: Opportunities and challenges.
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an autosomal recessively inherited β-hemoglobinopathy causing a sickling hemoglobin (HbS) to be expressed in the erythrocyte. Due its unique biophysical properties and tendency to form polymers in deoxygenated conditions, HbS causes dramatic erythrocyte deformation and damage ultimately leading to diffuse hemolysis, vasco-occlusion, and vasculopathy in affected individuals. Albeit SCD was the first molecular disease identified in the human several decades ago, the progress in caring for patients with SCD has been globally limited and faces considerable biological, medical, psychological, and economic challenges. ⋯ It also establishes a tentative conceptual framework for clinically oriented investigations. The ultimate target is the translation of findings into validated and actionable improvements at the bedside. Thanks to significant technological advances, proteomics is poised to play an important role for patients affected by hematological disorders, and SCD could be a paradigm for impactful research.
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Proteomics Clin Appl · Dec 2014
ReviewProteomic and biomarker studies and neurological complications of pediatric sickle cell disease.
Biomarker analysis and proteomic discovery in pediatric sickle cell disease has the potential to lead to important discoveries and improve care. The aim of this review article is to describe proteomic and biomarker articles involving neurological and developmental complications in this population. A systematic review was conducted to identify relevant research publications. ⋯ Positive findings include increases in plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor and platelet-derived growth factor with elevated transcranial Dopplers velocities, increases in platelet-derived growth factor isoform AA with overt stroke, and increases in glial fibrillary acidic protein with acute brain injury. These promising potential neuro-biomarkers provide insight into pathophysiologic processes and clinical events, but their clinical utility is yet to be established. Additional proteomics research is needed, including broad-based proteomic discovery of plasma constituents and blood cell proteins, as well as urine and cerebrospinal fluid components, before, during and after neurological and developmental complications.
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Proteomics Clin Appl · Feb 2014
ReviewThe role of proteomics in understanding biological mechanisms of sepsis.
Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory state caused by infection. Complications of this infection with multiple organ failure lead to more lethal conditions, such as severe sepsis and septic shock. Sepsis is one of the leading causes of US deaths. ⋯ These proteomics studies have discovered many novel biomarker candidates of septic infection. Validation the clinical use of these biomarker candidates may significantly impact the diagnosis and prognosis of sepsis. In addition, the molecular mechanisms revealed by these studies may also guide the development of more effective treatments.
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Proteomics Clin Appl · Jan 2013
ReviewClinical proteomics for diagnosis and typing of systemic amyloidoses.
Amyloidoses are characterized by deposition of misfolded proteins as β-pleated sheet fibrils in organs. Despite the similar morphologic appearance of fibrils, at least 28 different proteins have been identified as causative agents of amyloidosis in humans, 14 of which responsible for systemic forms. Correct identification of the amyloidogenic proteins in each patient is crucial for clinical management, in order to avoid misdiagnosis, inappropriate treatment, and to assess the prognosis. ⋯ However, drawbacks of immunohistochemistry-based techniques have driven the search for alternative methods for direct amyloid typing. In particular, MS-based proteomics, recently introduced in the clinical practice with or without the previous 2DE separation of proteins, has revolutionized amyloid typing. This review provides a description of current proteomics methods for the identification of the amyloidogenic proteins, with special attention to the most innovative MS-based techniques.