Bioactive healthy components of bulgur

Bulgur has been one of the most important traditional Durum wheat products in Turkey and Middle Eastern countries for ages. The objective of this study was to reveal the composition of some healthy components of industrial bulgur samples produced in Turkey. Total starch, resistant starch, dietary fibre and total phenolic contents and their high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) profile and antioxidant capacity of bulgur samples using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activity methods were investigated. The results showed that total dietary fibre ranged between 5.8 ± 0.7 and 8.2 ± 0.7% and resistant starch between 2.1 ± 0.2 and 2.8 ± 0.2%. Moreover, phenolic content with an average of 59.5 ± 5.2 mg Gallic acid/100 g dry matter and a moderate level of antioxidant capacity with an average of 22.2 ± 2.4% DPPH scavenging activity and 563.3 ± 60.7 μmol Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity/100 g dry matter of ABTS scavenging activity add value to the health benefits of bulgur product.     

Uncertainty of measurement for 14 immunoassay analytes: application to laboratory result interpretation

Laboratory tests are an integral part of clinical decision making. Therefore, measurement uncertainty comes into prominence in the context of the accuracy of the laboratory result. This study aims to investigate measurement uncertainty of 14 immunoassay analytes, to compare them with different quality goals and to utilize them in the result interpretation. Measurement uncertainties of 14 immunoassay analytes were estimated by using internal and external quality control data by using Nordtest approach. Expanded uncertainties (U) were compared with allowable total error (TEa%), permissible relative deviation in the external quality assessment (PRD_EQA%) and permissible expanded uncertainty for external quality assessment (pU_EQAS%). Uncertainties were incorporated into the calculation of reference change values (RCV) and uncertainty adjusted reference intervals. RCVs of 14 analytes were calculated by three different methods reported by Harris, Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), and National Pathology Accreditation Advisory Council (NPAAC). Measurement uncertainties of TSH, estradiol, LH, progesterone, prolactin, and vitamin B12 were within defined allowable limits. U_{one-sided FT3} and U_{one-sided ferritin} exceeded defined TEa% but U_FT3 and U_ferritin were found below the limits of pU_EQAS%. Measurement uncertainties of FT4, cortisol, DHEAS, FSH, testosterone, and folate did not meet the specification limits. Recently defined permissible expanded uncertainty promises new targets to compare estimated measurement uncertainty. Measurement uncertainty should be applied to the laboratory result interpretation within the scope of RCV and reference interval to obviate misdiagnosis. Furthermore, we suggest that laboratories should inform clinicians about the tests with high uncertainties to assist them making the right clinical diagnosis.

Abbreviations

CLSI: Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute; CV: coefficient of variation; CV_A: analytic coefficient of variation; CV_G: inter-individual coefficient of variation; CV_I: intra-individual coefficient of variation; DHEAS: dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate; FSH: follicle-stimulating hormone; FT3: free triiodothyronine; FT4: free thyroxine; k: coverage factor; LH: luteinizing hormone; LRL: lower reference limit; MD: minimal difference; NPAAC: National Pathology Accreditation Advisory Council; PRD_EQA%: permissible relative deviation in the external quality assessment; pU_EQAS%: permissible expanded uncertainty for external quality assessment; RCV: reference change value; RCV': uncertainty-adjusted reference change value; TSH: thyroid-stimulating hormone; Rw: within-laboratory reproducibility; RMSbias: root mean square of biases; u(Cref): the uncertainty of nominal values; u(bias): uncertainty component for bias; u_c: combined standard uncertainty; TEa%: allowable total error; U: expanded uncertainty; U_one-sided%: one sided estimation of expanded measurement uncertainty using coverage factor “1.65”; URL: upper reference limit     

Oxidative and nitrosative stress in serum of patients with Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the common neurodegenerative disorders. Oxidative stress is considered as a contributing factor to the development of PD. The present study aims to investigate serum oxidative stress status in patients with PD. Oxidative stress was assessed by measuring serum nitric oxide levels, lipid hydroperoxide concentrations, and nitric oxide synthase activity. In addition, total serum antioxidant capacity (TAC) was evaluated using the serum 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical scavenging method in 32 patient with Parkinson’s disease and 32 control subjects. Our results indicated that serum nitric oxide and lipid hydroperoxide levels were significantly lower in patients with PD than controls. Moreover, nitric oxide levels were found to be negatively correlated with Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). However, no statistical difference was observed in total serum antioxidant capacities and nitric oxide synthase activities between patients and controls. The present study indicates that although antioxidant capacity was not changed, lipid hydroperoxide (LPO) level was found decreased. This might show pre-oxidative process in these patients. In addition, decreased nitric oxide (NO) level and negative correlation observed between NO level and disease rating scale implicated a role for NO in the disease process.