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HbA1c is a pivotal biomarker in diabetes management, reflecting long-term glycaemic control. HbA1c is often measured with capillary electrophoresis, which generally is a very precise technique, but there can be interference, especially in the case of haemoglobin diseases. Thus, in patients with underlying conditions, the accurate measurement of HbA1c can be challenging. We present a case of special interference in a 74-year-old female patient referred to a HbA1c test, in whom the measurement was thought to be significantly affected by hyperleukocytosis and led to an unexpected diagnosis of leukemic low-grade lymphoma. This case report highlights the underrecognized potential interference of leukocytosis in HbA1c measurement. It underscores the importance of clinical vigilance when interpreting HbA1c results in patients with underlying haematological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proteinograms, a semiquantitative analytical method that separates proteins into multiple bands, have not been explored in teleosts for diagnostic or prognostic purposes. This study aimed to establish reference values for proteinograms in the serum of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) and European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), two important farmed fish species in the Mediterranean region. Serum proteins were studied using SDS-PAGE, electropherogram, and HPLC-mass spectrometry. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed four major bands of proteins around 11, 25, 70, and 100 kDa in the serum of gilthead seabream and European sea bass. Electropherogram results showed that a protein with a molecular weight of 76.8 kDa was the most abundant protein in the serum of gilthead seabream, while a peak of 75.5 kDa was the most abundant in European sea bass. HPLC-mass spectrometry detected 87 proteins and 119 proteins in the serum of gilthead seabream and European sea bass, respectively, including α1-globulins, α2-globulins, β-globulins, and γ-globulins. Notably, the albumin sequence was not detected in either of the two species. These results help to characterize the serum protein profile and to establish reference proteinograms for these two fish species. They also provide a basis for the development of novel approaches for the rapid detection of loss of haemostasis due to stress, health disorders or disease in farmed fish. [Display omitted] • Electropherograms improve fish serum protein data precision over SDS-PAGE. • SDS-PAGE showed 4 major protein bands in seabream and sea bass sera. • Seabream and sea bass had 4 and 5 fractions, respectively, based on Protein80 and Protein230 results. • Protein80 and Protein230 kits found 24 and 17 peaks in seabream serum, with 76.8 kDa protein as the most abundant. • HPLC-mass spectrometry found 87 proteins in seabream and 119 in sea bass serum, including globulins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ricinus communis L. (Euphorbiaceae), the local name jarak kepyar, is a tropical plant that is widely planted in East Java, Indonesia. The leaves and seeds of this plant have been traditionally utilized to cure liver disease, stomach disorders, inflammation, fever, headache, etc. Ricin, one of the most toxic substances known isolated from R. communis L. seeds, is a heterodimeric two-domain polypeptide protein that includes chain A (30 kDa) and a slightly bigger chain B (35 kDa). The technique to distinguish and separate ricin is not much reported. In this study, we analyzed the crude ricin extracted from R. communis L. seeds originated from Nganjuk, East Java, Indonesia. The techniques used were (1) liquid chromatography (LC); (2) column liquid chromatography (CLC); and (2) fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC), followed by SDS-PAGE. Results show that all techniques positively confirm the presence of ricin protein indicated by a doublet peak in all chromatograms. This study might contribute to understanding the biological and chemical properties of the ricin protein of R. communis L. seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • κ-Carrageenan hydrolysates were analyzed by capillary electrophoresis (CE). • Precise and robust quantitative CE method to detect sulfated oligosaccharides. • CE allowed the detection of up to eight oligosaccharides in crude hydrolysates. • Hexasaccharide alditol derivative isolated and characterized for the first time. • Different hydrolysis conditions produced distinct pools of oligosaccharides. Abstract Different hydrolysis conditions to produce κ-carrageenan oligosaccharide alditols were studied and the depolymerization process monitored by capillary electrophoresis (CE). Semisynthesis, ion-exchange and exclusion chromatography were used to obtain and isolate sulfated di-, tetra- and hexasaccharide alditols, the last being fully characterized for the first time. Those derivatives were used as standards to validate a new quantitative CE analytical method which was used to compare two different partial hydrolysis methodologies: an acid hydrolysis followed by reduction and a one-pot reductive hydrolysis using 4-methylmorpholine borane. The resulting depolymerization profiles were quite different from each other. Optimal hydrolysis conditions to produce high yields of specific sulfated oligosaccharides as well as particular mixtures of oligosaccharide alditols were determined. Moreover, using the novel CE method, we were able to distinguish up to eight different oligosaccharides in the hydrolysate mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Albania continues to be a significant supplier of wild Medicinal and Aromatic Plants to the world markets of which Sage remains the major export item accounting for about 70% of the total sage imports to the US in 2013. Sage plants were randomly picked from different cultivation sites in Albania (North/Koplik; Southeast/Skrapar and South/Libohove) in order to screen genetic diversity amongst them employing Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA markers using twenty decameric oligonucleotide primers. A total of 2132 DNA bands were generated of which notably clear and scorable were 1555 (from 150 to 1999bp). Primers produced between 63 and 156 bands per Sage plant with an average of 107 bands per primer. Cultivated Sage plant generated between 112 to166 DNA bands with an average of 143 bands per plant. DNA banding patterns, obtained from the Shimadzu Multina PCR-RAPD analysis, were quite polymorphic and were used to carry out hierarchical cluster analysis using the average linkage between groups method of SPSS version 22. The dendrogram showed splitting of the North cultivated Sage from the Southern (southeast and south) group due to (dis)similarity in climate and soil structure/texture. Southeast cultivated Sage plants exhibited some genetic diversity within the group (intrinsic factors driven). This study indicates that RAPDs were fast and easy to use and proved to be efficient discriminatory tools detecting a high level of polymorphism within the same species (intraspecific level) which is explained with ecological variation and the genetic make-up of each individual. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of procedures for the automated scoring of amplified fragment length polymorphisms ( AFLP) fragments has recently increased. Corresponding software does not only automatically score the presence or absence of AFLP fragments, but also allows an evaluation of how different settings of scoring parameters influence subsequent population genetic analyses. In this study, we used the automated scoring package rawgeno to evaluate how five scoring parameters influence the number of polymorphic bins and estimates of pairwise genetic differentiation between populations ( Fst). Steps were implemented in r to automatically run the scoring process in rawgeno for a set of different parameter combinations. While we found the scoring parameters minimum bin width and minimum number of samples per bin to have only weak influence on pairwise Fst values, maximum bin width and bin reproducibility had much stronger effects. The minimum average bin fluorescence scoring parameter affected Fst values in an only moderate way. At a range of scoring parameters around the default settings of rawgeno, the number of polymorphic bins as well as pairwise Fst values stayed rather constant. This study thus shows the particularities of AFLP scoring, be it either manual or automatical, can have profound effects on subsequent population genetic analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid DNA analysis is an ultrafast and fully automated DNA-typing system, which can produce interpretable genetic profiles from biological samples within 90 minutes. This "swab in—profile out" method comprises DNA extraction, amplification by PCR multiplex, separation and detection of DNA fragments by capillary electrophoresis. The aim of study was the validation of the Accelerated Nuclear DNA Equipment (ANDE) 6C system as a typing method for reference samples according to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard. Here, we report the evaluation of the validity and reproducibility of results by the comparison of the genetic profiles generated by the ANDE 6C System with those generated by standard technologies. A quantity of 104 buccal swabs were analyzed both through the ANDE 6C technology and the traditional method (DNA extraction and quantification, amplification and separation by capillary electrophoresis). Positive typing was observed in 97% of cases for ANDE 6C technology with only three buccal swabs failing to reveal interpretable signals. Concordance was determined by comparing the allele calls generated by ANDE 6C and conventional technology. Comparison of 2800 genotypes revealed a concordance rate of 99.96%. These results met the ISO/IEC 17025 requirements, enabling us to receive the accreditation for this method. Finally, rapid technology has certainly reached a level of reliability which has made its use in laboratories of forensic genetics a reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]