Overestimation of advanced oxidation protein products in uremic plasma due to presence of triglycerides and other endogenous factors

BACKGROUND: Advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), a suggested protein biomarker of oxidative stress, are elevated in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), who also often suffer from hypertriglyceridemia. METHODS: The analysis included plasma AOPP, TG, cholesterol, albumin and total protein, inflammation and oxidative stress markers from healthy subjects, non-dialyzed CKD, HD and CAPD patients. We studied, at two different European centres, effects of a meal, comparison between serum and plasma, L-index (indicating turbidity), spiking with fat and protein, and centrifugation on the AOPP concentrations. AOPP was measured at 340 nm and expressed as chloramine-T equivalents. RESULTS: AOPP correlated with TG levels not only in CKD patients, but also in healthy subjects. Weak to absent correlations were observed between AOPP and markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in CKD patients. A meal increased the TG levels several-fold paralleled by a rise in measured AOPP to patient levels. Spiking of the plasma with Intralipid or protein resulted in increased absorbances at 340 nm, due to turbidity or real absorbance, while centrifugation similarly decreased the apparent AOPP and TG levels. CONCLUSIONS: AOPP concentration, especially due to the influence of turbidity at all levels of TG concentration, but also due to other factors on top of TG, is overestimated in all plasma samples, including controls at fasting and non-fasting conditions. Thus, AOPP is a questionable biomarker of oxidative stress and inflammation in CKD patients.     

Life as Death Scholars: Passion,Personality, and Professional Perspectives

In death-averse American society, the field of thanatology is often socially and academically isolating. The purpose of this article is to describe the experiences of a group of death scholars and share insights gained as members of an interdisciplinary team. They discuss the ways in which they have created a special “safe” space for death study collaboration. The melding of their individual passions, personalities, and professional perspectives has allowed them to form a productive and satisfying work environment. Additional discourse in this field is needed on the nature and processes of such death-studies groups.     

Problem posing and cultural tailoring: developing an HIV/AIDS health literacy toolkit with the African American community

The rate of HIV infection among African Americans is disproportionately higher than for other racial groups in the United States. Previous research suggests that low level of health literacy (HL) is an underlying factor to explain racial disparities in the prevalence and incidence of HIV/AIDS. The present research describes a community and university project to develop a culturally tailored HIV/AIDS HL toolkit in the African American community. Paulo Freire's pedagogical philosophy and problem-posing methodology served as the guiding framework throughout the development process. Developing the HIV/AIDS HL toolkit occurred in a two-stage process. In Stage 1, a nonprofit organization and research team established a collaborative partnership to develop a culturally tailored HIV/AIDS HL toolkit. In Stage 2, African American community members participated in focus groups conducted as Freirian cultural circles to further refine the HIV/AIDS HL toolkit. In both stages, problem posing engaged participants' knowledge, experiences, and concerns to evaluate a working draft toolkit. The discussion and implications highlight how Freire's pedagogical philosophy and methodology enhances the development of culturally tailored health information.     

A Modeling Approach to the Analysis of Nerve Regenerative Experiments

Many experiments aiming at the investigation of nerve repair involve elaborate testing over a certain time period. Data arising from such experiments are often analyzed by time-point. Such a cross-sectional approach is often very inefficient. In this paper, we consider a case study in which repeated measurements of two response variables assumed to be Poisson distributed are obtained. We show how a repeated measures modeling approach, based on generalized linear models, can handle both responses in one model and improve the inference in the nerve repair experiments. The benefits of the model as well as problems that can occur are illustrated and discussed.     

EGFR, TTF-1 and Mdm2 expression in stage III non-small cell lung cancer: a positive association

New biological factors have not been extensively studied in stage III NSCLC as yet. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the association between the expression and the prognostic role on survival of four biological markers in stage III NSCLC. Clinical characteristics were retrieved from the patients charts. EGF-R, Mdm2, p53 and TTF-1 expressions were evaluated by immunohistochemistry by three independent observers. Cox multivariate model was used to assess the impact of clinical and biological factors on patients' survival. A total of 84 stage III NSCLC patients, treated between 03/1987 and 08/2003, were included in the study. There was a statistically significant association between the expression of TTF-1 and EGFR (p=0.01) or TTF-1 and Mdm2 (p=0.04). Positive expressions for EGFR or TTF-1 were almost mutually exclusive. The status EGFR+/TTF-1--was mainly found in squamous cell carcinoma (18 among 19tumours). In multivariate analysis, only treatment with curative intent was independently associated with better survival (p=0.0004). In stage III NSCLC, there was a significant association between TTF-1 and EGFR or TTF-1 and Mdm2. The status EGFR+/TTF-1--was associated with squamous cell carcinoma.