Biomarkers : biochemical indicators of exposure, response, and susceptibility to chemicals
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The tobacco-specific carcinogen 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL), a metabolite of the tobacco-specific nitrosamine (TSNA) 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), has been measured in urine samples from all participants aged 6 years and older from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2008. Participants with a serum cotinine concentration of ≥ 10 ng/mL were identified as tobacco users, primarily cigarette smokers. Regression models were developed to calculate geometric mean NNAL concentrations adjusted for serum cotinine, urinary creatinine, cigarettes per day, and Federal Trade Commission tar values of the cigarettes smoked. ⋯ The results from this study demonstrated significant relationships between NNAL concentrations and serum cotinine (p<0.001) and urine creatinine (p<0.001). The joint effect of linear and quadratic terms for number of cigarettes smoked per day was also statistically significant (p=0.001). In addition to addressing current NNK exposure levels, these results will form a baseline for future estimates of tobacco users' exposure to this carcinogen.
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Elevated resistance and reduced compliance of the pulmonary vasculature increase right ventricular (RV) afterload. Local and systemic inflammation and haemostatic abnormalities are prominent in pulmonary vascular diseases. We hypothesized that plasma biomarker levels indicating greater inflammation and coagulability associated with pulmonary vascular disease would be associated with RV structure and function measured by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). ⋯ Higher levels of MMP-9 and PAI-1 were also associated with smaller RVEDV (p<0.05). Higher PAI-1 levels were associated with lower RVEF even after adjustment for LV ejection fraction (p=0.017). In conclusion, MMP-9 and PAI-1 are associated with changes in RV structure and function which could be potentially related to a subclinical increase in pulmonary vascular resistance.
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To determine the clinical value of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in diagnosing left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) associated with maintenance haemodialysis (MHD) population. ⋯ Plasma BNP may serve as a potential biomarker in diagnosing LVDD in MHD patients with normal systolic function.
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Acute kidney injury (AKI) following cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) causes increased morbidity and mortality. ⋯ Biomarkers associated with AKI following CPB may merit further study.
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Tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines (TSNA) include 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN), N'-nitrosoanabasine (NAB) and N'-nitrosoanatabine (NAT) and are found in tobacco and tobacco smoke. TSNA are of interest for biomonitoring of tobacco-smoke exposure as they are associated with carcinogenesis. Both NNK and NNN are classified by IARC as Group 1 carcinogens. ⋯ In smokers, urinary excretion of total TSNA correlated significantly (r > 0.5) with markers of smoking dose, such as daily cigarette consumption, salivary cotinine and urinary nicotine equivalents and increased with the ISO tar yield of cigarettes smoked. The correlation between urinary total NNN and the smoking dose was weaker (r = 0.4-0.5). In conclusion, this new method is suitable for assessing tobacco use-related exposure to NNK, NNN, NAB and NAT.