Search

The albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score is derived from albumin and bilirubin levels. Currently, the ALBI score is widely used in various clinical settings. A recent article in the World Journal of Gastroenterology summarized the application of the ALBI score in various non-malignant liver diseases. The ALBI score has a predictive power that is superior or non-inferior to established numerous measures. This may be related to its contiguity, sensitivity, and inclusion of albumin. While we recognize the good results of the ALBI score in a number of diseases, the ALBI score also has limitations. Variation studies for population characteristics and other factors should be performed to validate the performance of ALBI. Further modifications or optimization of ALBI scores should be taken into account., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no conflicts of interest in publishing the manuscript., (©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

The purpose of the study was to investigate correlation and concordance between total serum bilirubin (TSB) and transcutaneous bilirubin measured at covered (TcBC) and uncovered (TcBU) skin during and after discontinuation of phototherapy. A cross-sectional study included ≥ 34 weeks gestation infants requiring phototherapy for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. In-house, photo-opaque patches were placed on infants' sternums before phototherapy initiation. Simultaneous blood sampling for TSB, TcBC, and TcBU measurements were performed. Among 103 infants included in the final analysis, 70% were full-term. Covering skin during phototherapy resulted in strong TcBC-TSB correlation (r = 0.91, 95% CI 0.87-0.94, P < 0.001) compared to TcBU (r = 0.53, 95% CI 0.37-0.65, P < 0.001), persisting post-phototherapy (r = 0.88, 95% CI 0.82-0.91, P < 0.001). Bland-Altman analysis showed a higher mean difference and wider 95% limits of agreement for TcBU-TSB during phototherapy (-6.3 mg/dL and -11.1 to -1.6) vs TcBC-TSB (0.9 mg/dL and -1.2 to 2.9). Passing-Bablok regression analysis confirmed good agreement between TcBC and TSB., Conclusions: The application of in-house, photo-opaque patches enhanced the correlation and agreement between TcBC and TSB during and after discontinuation of phototherapy. This may prove particularly useful in resource-limited settings where commercial devices are unavailable., What Is Known: • Transcutaneous bilirubin measurement has been widely used as a screening method for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. • The accuracy of transcutaneous bilirubin measurements during and after phototherapy in infants with hyperbilirubinemia has been debated., What Is New: • Our study demonstrated that utilizing carefully designed photo-opaque patches enhanced the accuracy of transcutaneous bilirubin measurement during and after phototherapy. • Effective in-house alternatives are crucial in resource-limited settings where commercial opaque patches are not always accessible or affordable., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The abnormally high level of bilirubin (BR) in biofluids (human serum and urine) indicates a high probability of jaundice and liver dysfunction. However, quantification of BR as the Jaundice biomarker is difficult due to the interference of various biomolecules in serum and urine. To address this issue, we developed a fluorescence-based detection strategy, for which yellow emissive carbon dots (YCDs) were produced from a one-step solvothermal process using phloroglucinol and thionin acetate as chemical precursors. The as-fabricated YCDs exhibited a strong fluorescence peak at the wavelength of 542 nm upon excitation at 390 nm. We used YCDs for detecting BR through the fluorescence turn-off mechanism, unveiling the excellent sensitivity in the linear range of 0.5-12.5 μM with a limit of detection (LOD) of 9.62 nM, which was far below the clinically relevant range. The analytical nanoprobe also offered excellent detection specificity for quantifying BR in real samples. Moreover, the biocompatible fluorescent nanoprobe was successfully employed to target mitochondria in live cancer cells. A colocalization study confirmed that YCDs possessed the ability to target mitochondria and overlapped completely with MitoTracker Red. The developed nanoprobe of YCDs turned out to be straightforward in their synthesis, noninvasive, and can be utilized for biomedical sensors to diagnose the onset of jaundice as well as for mitochondria targeting.

Introduction: There is insufficient evidence to determine if non-invasive transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) measurement can replace serum bilirubin (SBR) in assessing rebound hyperbilirubinaemia after phototherapy., Objective: To investigate if TcB can safely guide management of neonates after phototherapy., Subjects: 100 well neonates ≥35 weeks' gestation who had received inpatient phototherapy., Method: Measurement of both helix (manufacturer's recommendation) and earlobe TcB coincidentally with routine SBR 12 hours after cessation of phototherapy. All mothers gave written informed consent., Results: Gestation ranged from 35 +0 to 41 +5 (median 37 +6 ) weeks; birth weight 2018-4566 (median 3230) g; age 55-222 (median 109) hours at testing. 86% neonates were Caucasian. Outcomes determined by SBR included restarting phototherapy (n=0), repeat SBR next day (n=29), no further routine follow-up (n=71).TcB and SBR measurements were unpredictably inconsistent. Helix TcB tended to underestimate SBR (mean difference 50.1 (95% CI 113.9 to -13.7) μmols/L); for earlobe TcB mean difference was -13.4 (95% CI 46.3 to -73.2) μmols/L (overestimate), but bias was greater over the range of mean differences. No demographic factor predicted consistency between TcB and SBR. TcB was 25% (helix) and 76% (earlobe) sensitive in predicting repeat phototherapy and/or repeat SBR; specificities were 92% and 58%, respectively. Adding a safety margin of 120 μmols/L to helix TcB value could have safely avoided invasive SBR measurement in 50/98 (51%) babies., Conclusions: Consistency between TcB and rebound SBR is unpredictable in well neonates > 35 weeks' gestation but adopting a wide safety margin has potential to reduce blood sampling. Recommencement of phototherapy is uncommon in this population., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Despite substantial progress in the diagnosis of jaundice/hyperbilirubinemia as the most common disease and cause of hospitalization of newborns, on the eve of Industry/Healthcare 5.0, the development of accurate and reliable wearable diagnostic sensors for noninvasive smart monitoring of bilirubin (BIL) is still in high demand. Aiming to fabricate a smart wearable sensor for early diagnosis of neonatal jaundice and its therapeutic monitoring, we here report a fluorescent dermal nanotattoo that further coupled with an IoT-integrated wearable optoelectronic reader for minimally invasive, continuous, and real-time monitoring of BIL in interstitial fluid. Selective recovery of quenched fluorescence of the dermal tattoo sensor, composed of biocompatible dissolving/hydrogel microneedles loaded with fluorescent carbon quantum dots, upon blue light exposure used for jaundice phototherapy was utilized for highly selective BIL sensing. The fascinating features of our developed smart wearable tattoo sensor and its successful results with high correlation with blood BIL results make it a highly promising sensor for easy, minimally invasive, reliable, and smart eDiagnostics and continuous therapeutic eMonitoring of jaundice and other BIL-induced diseases at the point of care. We envision that the developed nanotattoo sensing bioplatform will inspire the development of future smart tattoo sensors in various diagnostic and monitoring scenarios.

Background: Neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia (NH) is a common problem worldwide and is a cause of morbidity and mortality especially in low-resource settings., Methods: A study was carried out at Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU) clinics along the Thailand-Myanmar border to evaluate a non-invasive test for diagnosis of NH in a low-resource setting. Performance of a transcutaneous bilirubinometer Dräger Jaundice Meter JM-105 was assessed against routine capillary serum bilirubin testing (with BR-501 microbilirubinometer) before phototherapy during neonatal care in the first week of life. Results were analysed by direct agreement and by various bilirubin thresholds used in clinical practice. Total serum bilirubin was also measured in cord blood at birth and tested for prediction of hyperbilirubinaemia requiring phototherapy in the first week of life., Results: Between April 2020 and May 2023, 742 neonates born at SMRU facilities were included in the study. A total of 695 neonates provided one to nine capillary blood samples for analysis of serum bilirubin (total 1244 tests) during the first week of life. Performance of transcutaneous bilirubinometer was assessed in 307 neonates who provided 687 paired transcutaneous capillary blood tests. Bilirubin levels were also measured in 738 cord blood samples. Adjusted values of transcutaneous bilirubinometer showed excellent agreement with capillary serum bilirubin concentration (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.923) and high sensitivity (>98%) at all clinical thresholds analysed across 3 years of sampling and multiple users. Concentrations of bilirubin detected in cord blood were not useful in identifying neonates at risk of hyperbilirubinaemia requiring treatment., Conclusions: The transcutaneous bilirubinometer is a reliable tool to screen neonates and identify those needing confirmatory blood testing. Bilirubin concentrations in cord blood are not predictive of hyperbilirubinaemia in neonates., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.)

Bilirubin is a product of the metabolism of hemoglobin from red blood cells. Higher levels of bilirubin are a sign that either there is an unusual breaking down rate of red blood cells or the liver is not able to eliminate bilirubin, through bile, into the gastrointestinal tract. For adults, bilirubin is occasionally monitored through urine or invasive blood sampling, whilst all newborns are routinely monitored visually, or non-invasively with transcutaneous measurements (TcBs), due to their biological immaturity to conjugate bilirubin. Neonatal jaundice is a common condition, with higher levels of unconjugated bilirubin concentration having neurotoxic effects. Actual devices used in TcBs are focused on newborn populations, are hand-held, and, in some cases, operate in only two wavelengths, which does not necessarily guarantee reliable results over all skin tones. The same occurs with visual inspections. Based on that, a continuous bilirubin monitoring device for newborns is being developed to overcome visual inspection errors and to reduce invasive procedures. This device, operating optically with a mini-spectrometer in the visible range, is susceptible to patient movements and, consequently, to situations with a lower signal quality for reliable bilirubin concentration estimates on different types of skin. Therefore, as an intermediate development step and, based on skin spectra measurements from adults, this work addresses the device's placement status prediction as a signal quality indication index. This was implemented by using machine learning (ML), with the best performances being achieved by support vector machine (SVM) models, based on the spectra acquired on the arm and forehead areas.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of increasing bilirubin concentration on 34 commonly measured clinical chemistry analytes on four different analytical platforms. We hypothesized that differences in icteria interference are not only method dependent, but also analyzer dependent., Methods: Serum pool was prepared using leftover samples after routine laboratory blood testing. Serum pool was then spiked with dissolved bilirubin stock. Measurements were performed on all four locations at the same time. All measurements were done in duplicate. Mean value was calculated as: (value 1  + value 2 )/2. Those values were multiplied by corresponding dilution factors obtained during the preparation of icteric samples. For each icteric sample (I x ), bias against native (I 0 ) sample was calculated as ((value I x - valueI 0 )/ valueI 0 ) × 100 %. Bias was calculated with actual average values. Obtained bias values were compared against acceptance criteria according to External quality assurance (EQA) providers. Difference in bilirubin concentration across platforms was tested using Friedman ANOVA. P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Data are collected and analyzed in MS Excel 2016 (Microsoft, Redmond, Washington) and MedCalc® Statistical Software version 20.015 (MedCalc Software Ltd, Ostend, Belgium)., Results: Many of the tested parameters demonstrated low sensitivity to icterus interference. The highest sensitivity to icterus was observed for triglycerides, cholesterol, and urate., Conclusions: Our results indicate that while some common icteric interferences were consistent across all tested platforms, others were specific to the analyzer used, even when employing the same analytical methods., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In recent years, miniaturized analytical instruments have been developing to meet the needs of portable and rapid analysis. The key of miniaturized analytical equipment is the miniaturization and integration of functional modules. This paper aims to develop a miniaturized photometric detector and separation microfluidic chip for a liquid chromatography (LC) system. The detector uses a light-emitting diode to emit ultraviolet light, which is collimated by an internal double lens. A Z-shaped flow cell with a long optical path is designed and fabricated in the separation microfluidic chip with a three-layer structure, which provides a tubing-free connection between the separation and detection unit. Detector performance is evaluated using hemoglobin (Hb) samples, with an upper limit of detection linearity (95 %) of 0.345 AU and stray light level as low as 0.08 %. Additionally, the microchip channel can be filled with cation exchange resin and C18 particles. Finally, an ion LC system and a reversed-phase LC system were constructed based on the miniaturized photometric detector and two microchips with different packed columns, respectively, and were successfully used in the separation and detection of two metabolic markers (glycated hemoglobin or bilirubin). The results of this study are expected to facilitate the development of a portable LC system and their application in community health services and family health management of chronic diseases., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The functionalization of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with organic small molecules by in situ postsynthetic modification has garnered considerable attention. However, the precise engineering of recognition sites using this method remains rarely explored in optically controlled bioelectronics. Herein, employing the Schiff base reaction to embed the small molecule (THBA) into a Zr-MOF, we fabricated a hydroxyl-rich MOF on the surface of titanium dioxide nanorod arrays (U6H@TiO 2 NRs) to develop light-sensitive gate electrodes with tailored recognition capabilities. The U6H@TiO 2 NR gate electrodes were integrated into organic photoelectrochemical transistor (OPECT) sensing systems to tailor a sensitive device for bilirubin (I-Bil) detection. In the presence of I-Bil, coordination effects, hydrogen bonding, and π-π interactions facilitated strong binding between U6H@TiO 2 NRs and the target I-Bil. The electron-donating property of I-Bil influenced the gate voltage, enabling precise control of the channel status and modulation of the channel current. The OPECT device exhibited exceptional analytical performance toward I-Bil with wide linearity ranging from 1 × 10 -16 to 1 × 10 -9 M and a low limit detection of 0.022 fM. Leveraging the versatility of small molecules for boosting the functionalization of materials, this work demonstrates the great potential of the small molecule family for OPECT bioanalysis and holds promise for the advancement of OPECT sensors.

Copper nanoclusters (Cu NCs) have shown significant attention in sensing of molecular and ionic species. In this work, a single-step biosynthetic approach was introduced for the preparation of fluorescent Cu NCs using Holarrhena pubescens (H. pubescens) leaves extract as a template. The synthesized H. pubescens-Cu NCs act as a nanomolecular probe for the detection of bilirubin in biofluids. The synthesized H. pubescens-Cu NCs displayed highest fluorescence intensity at 454 nm, when excited at 330 nm. Importantly, selective detection of bilirubin was obtained by introducing H. pubescens-Cu NCs as a simple molecular probe. The interaction of bilirubin and H. pubescens-Cu NCs resulted in a remarkable decrease in the emission peak intensity. The developed H. pubescens-Cu NCs-based bilirubin molecular probe has a wide linear range of 0.5-20.00 μM with the limit of detection of 30.54 nM for bilirubin. The promising application of H. pubescens-Cu NCs-based molecular probe was assessed by assaying bilirubin in spiked biofluids., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: Reflux hypersensitivity (RH) is a form of refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease in which duodenogastroesophageal reflux (DGER) plays a role. This study aimed to determine the usefulness of an endoscopy system equipped with image-enhanced technology for evaluating DGER and RH., Methods: The image enhancement mode for detecting bilirubin and calculated values were defined as the Bil mode and Bil value, respectively. First, the visibility of the Bil mode was validated for a bilirubin solution and bile concentrations ranging from 0.01% to 100% (0.002-20 mg/dL). Second, visibility scores of the Bil mode, when applied to the porcine esophagus sprayed with a bilirubin solution, were compared to those of the blue laser imaging (BLI) and white light imaging (WLI) modes. Third, a clinical study was conducted to determine the correlations between esophageal Bil values and the number of nonacid reflux events (NNRE) during multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH monitoring as well as the utility of esophageal Bil values for the differential diagnosis of RH., Results: Bilirubin solution and bile concentrations higher than 1% were visualized in red using the Bil mode. The visibility score was significantly higher with the Bil mode than with the BLI and WLI modes for 1% to 6% bilirubin solutions (P < 0.05). The esophageal Bil value and NNRE were significantly positively correlated (P = 0.031). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the differential diagnosis of RH was 0.817., Conclusion: The Bil mode can detect bilirubin with high accuracy and could be used to evaluate DGER in clinical practice., (© 2023 Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society.)

Introduction: Calculus bovis (C. bovis) is a typical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) derived from animals, which has a remarkable curative effect and high price., Objectives: Rapid identification of C. bovis from different types was realized based on spectral technology, and a rapid quantitative analysis method for the main quality control indicator bilirubin was established., Methods: We conducted a supervised and unsupervised pattern recognition study on 44 batches of different types of C. bovis by five spectral pretreatment methods. Three variable selection methods were used to extract the essential information, and the partial least squares regression (PLSR) quantitative model of bilirubin by near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy was constructed., Results: The partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) model could achieve 100% accuracy in identifying different types of C. bovis. The R 2 of the NIR quantitative model was 0.979, which is close to 1, and the root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC) was 2.3515, indicating the good prediction ability of the model., Conclusion: The study was carried out to further improve the basic data of quality control of C. bovis and help the high-quality development of TCM derived from animals., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: Biological variation is a relevant component of diagnostic uncertainty. In addition to within-subject and between-subject variation, preanalytical variation also includes components that contribute to biological variability. Among these, daily recurring, i.e., diurnal physiological variation is of particular importance, as it contains both a random and a non-random component if the exact time of blood collection is not known., Methods: We introduce four time-dependent characteristics (TDC) of diurnal variations for measurands to assess the relevance and extent of time dependence on the evaluation of laboratory results., Results: TDC address (i) a threshold for considering diurnality, (ii) the expected relative changes per time unit, (iii) the permissible time interval between two blood collections at different daytimes within which the expected time dependence does not exceed a defined analytical uncertainty, and (iv) a rhythm-expanded reference change value. TDC and their importance will be exemplified by the measurands aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, glucose, thyroid stimulating hormone, and total bilirubin. TDCs are calculated for four time slots that reflect known blood collection schedules, i.e., 07:00-09:00, 08:00-12:00, 06:00-18:00, and 00:00-24:00. The amplitude and the temporal location of the acrophase are major determinates impacting the diagnostic uncertainty and thus the medical interpretation, especially within the typical blood collection time from 07:00 to 09:00., Conclusions: We propose to check measurands for the existence of diurnal variations and, if applicable, to specify their time-dependent characteristics as outlined in our concept., (© 2024 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.)

Measurement of transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) is a non-invasive, widely used technique to estimate serum bilirubin (SB). However, its reliability in multiethnic populations during and after phototherapy is still controversial even in covered skin. The aim of this study was to determine the reliability of TcB in covered (cTcB) and exposed (eTcB) skin during and after phototherapy in a multiethnic population of term and preterm neonates according to Neomar's neonatal skin color scale. Prospective, observational study comparing SB and TcB. We determined SB when clinically indicated and, at the same time, measured cTcB under a photo-opaque patch and eTcB next to it with a jaundice meter (Dräger JM-105TM). All dyads TcB-SB were compared, both globally and according to skin color. We obtained data from 200 newborns (color1: 44, color2: 111, color3: 41, color4: 4) and compared 296 dyads TcB/SB. Correlation between cTcB and SB is strong during (0.74-0.83) and after (0.79-0.88) phototherapy, both globally and by color group. The SB-cTcB bias depends on gestational age during phototherapy and on skin color following phototherapy. The correlation between eTcB and SB during phototherapy is not strong (0.54), but becomes so 12 h after discontinuing phototherapy (0.78).  Conclusions: Our study supports the reliability of cTcB to assess SB during and after phototherapy, with differences among skin tones after the treatment. The use of cTcB and Neomar's scale during and mainly after phototherapy may help reduce the number of blood samples required. What is Known: • Controversies exist on the reliability of jaundice meters during and after phototherapy in covered skin. Only a few studies have analyzed their accuracy in multiethnic populations, but none has used a validated neonatal skin color scale. What is New: • We verified correlation between serum and transcutaneous bilirubin in covered skin in a multiethnic population depending on skin color based on our own validated neonatal skin color scale during and after phototherapy., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Even though significant advances have been made, there is still a lack of reliable sensors capable of noninvasively monitoring bilirubin and diagnosing jaundice as the most common neonatal disease, particularly at the point-of-care (POC) where blood sampling from infants is accompanied by serious challenges and concerns. Herein, for the first time, using an easy-to-fabricate/use assay, we demonstrate the capability of curcumin embedded within paper for noninvasive optical monitoring of bilirubin in saliva. The highly selective sensing of the developed sensor toward bilirubin is attributed to bilirubin photoisomerization under blue light exposure, which can selectively restore the bilirubin-induced quenched fluorescence of curcumin. We also fabricated an IoT-enabled hand-held optoelectronic reader to measure and quantify the fluorescence and color signals of our sensor. Clinical analysis on the saliva of 18 jaundiced infants by using our developed smart salivary sensor proved that it is amenable to be widely exploited in POC applications for bilirubin monitoring as there are good correlations between its results with those of reference methods in saliva and blood. Meeting all WHO's REASSURED criteria by our developed sensor makes it a highly promising sensor for smart noninvasive diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of jaundice, hepatitis, and other bilirubin-induced neurologic diseases at the POC.

Objectives: To determine, among neonates at-risk for hyperbilirubinemia, whether measuring end-tidal carbon monoxide concentration (ETCOc) twice before 48 hours could identify those who would develop hyperbilirubinemia and differentiate hemolytic vs. non-hemolytic causes., Methods: Prospective study on neonates meeting criteria "at-risk for hyperbilirubinemia." Routine bilirubin measurements and 10-day follow-up were used to categorize neonates as; (1) normal (no hyperbilirubinemia, all bilirubins <95th percentile of Bhutani nomogram), (2) having hemolytic hyperbilirubinemia (bilirubin ≥95th percentile, DAT+, elevated retic, or G6PD+), or (3) having non-hemolytic hyperbilirubinemia., Results: 386 neonates were enrolled. 321 (83%) did not develop hyperbilirubinemia and 65 (17%) did, of which 29 were judged hemolytic and 36 non-hemolytic. High ETCOc differentiated the hemolytic group (p < 0.001). First-day ETCOc correlated with bilirubin and with reticulocyte count (r = 0.896 and 0.878) and sensitivity and specificity for predicting hyperbilirubinemia were excellent (83% and 95%)., Conclusions: ETCO measurement in the first 48 hours after birth predicts hemolytic hyperbilirubinemia., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature America, Inc.)

One of the most common problems many babies encounter is neonatal jaundice. The symptoms are yellowing of the skin or eyes because of bilirubin (from above 2.0 to 2.5 mg/dL in the blood). If left untreated, it can lead to serious neurological complications. Traditionally, jaundice detection has relied on invasive blood tests, but developing non-invasive biosensors has provided an alternative approach. This systematic review aims to assess the advancement of these biosensors. This review discusses the many known invasive and non-invasive diagnostic modalities for detecting neonatal jaundice and their limitations. It also notes that the recent research and development on non-invasive biosensors for neonatal jaundice diagnosis is still in its early stages, with the majority of investigations being in vitro or at the pre-clinical level. Non-invasive biosensors could revolutionize neonatal jaundice detection; however, a number of issues still need to be solved before this can happen. These consist of in-depth validation studies, affordable and user-friendly gadgets, and regulatory authority approval. To create biosensors that meet regulatory requirements, additional research is required to make them more precise and affordable.

Human gallstones are the most common disorder in the biliary system, affecting up to 20 % of the adult population. The formation of gallstones is primarily due to the supersaturating of cholesterol in bile. In order to comprehend gallstone disease in detail, it is necessary to have accurate information about phase identification and molecular structure. Different types of gallstone samples were collected from the Middle East area after surgical operations including; cholesterol, pigment, and mixed gallstones. To estimate the basic information about the stone formation and the pathophysiology of cholelithiasis as well as to classify the collected human gallstones, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform Infrared spectrometry (ATR-FTIR) was used to analyze the different gallstone structures in the wavenumber range from 400 to 4000 cm -1 . Calcium bilirubinate was specified by the bands at 1662 cm -1 , 1626 cm -1 , and 1572 cm -1 , while cholesterol rings were designated by the bands at 1464, 1438, 1055, and 1022 cm -1 . It can be assumed that all samples consist of mixed gallstones based on the doublets at 1375 cm -1 and 1365 cm -1 . The levels of calcium bilirubin and various minerals varied among the analyzed samples, indicating the heterogeneity in their composition and suggesting potential implications for gallstone formation. Based on the quantitative phase analysis using synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction (SR-XRD), two phases of anhydrous cholesterol as a major content and one phase of monohydrate cholesterols as trace content represent the main components of most of the gallstones. Additional phases of calcium carbonate in the form of calcite, vaterite, aragonite, and bilirubinate were also quantified. According to the outcomes of the FTIR and the SR-XRD measurements, there exists a statistical correlation between the different types of chemical constituents of the gallstones., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Diagnosing benign vs. malignant extrahepatic cholestasis is challenging despite the currently available advanced imaging and endoscopic techniques. This study aims to determine the predictive accuracy of initial biochemical data and bile duct dilatation findings in transabdominal ultrasound (US) to differentiate between benign and malignant disease in patients with extrahepatic cholestasis., Patients and Methods: We reviewed the case records of 814 patients who had undergone endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) or percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (in cases of unsuccessful ERCP) for extrahepatic cholestasis. The etiology of biliary obstruction was determined based on ERCP, endoscopic ultrasonography, radiology, cytology, biopsy, and/or clinical follow-up at one year. The patients were divided into benign and malignant groups according to the underlying etiology of biliary obstruction. A complete biochemical profile, transabdominal ultrasonography at presentation, and other demographic data were recorded., Results: Alkaline phosphatase (p = 0.002), aspartate aminotransferase (p = 0.038), and bilirubin levels were significantly higher in malignant patients. The mean age of patients with malignancy was 69.5 years, vs. 60.6 years in benign patients (p < 0.001). The likelihood of malignancy increased with the increased bilirubin levels (> 200 µmol/l: 30.0% sensitivity, 97.6% specificity). The total bilirubin level predicting malignancy as the best cut-off value was 111 mmol/L with optimum sensitivity and specificity (61.8% and 83.8%, respectively) and area under the curve = 0.756, (p < 0.001). Intrahepatic bile duct (IHBD) dilatation was significantly higher in malignant patients (p < 0.001)., Conclusions: A serum bilirubin level of 111 µmol/L or higher and the detection of IHBD dilatation on abdominal ultrasonography are important predictors in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant causes of extrahepatic cholestasis.

Significance: Evaluation of biological chromophore levels is useful for detection of various skin diseases, including cancer, monitoring of health status and tissue metabolism, and assessment of clinical and physiological vascular functions. Clinically, it is useful to assess multiple different chromophores in vivo with a single technique or instrument., Aim: To investigate the possibility of estimating the concentration of four chromophores, bilirubin, oxygenated hemoglobin, deoxygenated hemoglobin, and melanin from diffuse reflectance spectra in the visible region., Approach: A new diffuse reflectance spectroscopic method based on the multiple regression analysis aided by Monte Carlo simulations for light transport was developed to quantify bilirubin, oxygenated hemoglobin, deoxygenated hemoglobin, and melanin. Three different experimental animal models were used to induce hyperbilirubinemia, hypoxemia, and melanogenesis in rats., Results: The estimated bilirubin concentration increased after ligation of the bile duct and reached around 18    mg / dl at 50 h after the onset of ligation, which corresponds to the reference value of bilirubin measured by a commercially available transcutaneous bilirubin meter. The concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin and that of deoxygenated hemoglobin decreased and increased, respectively, as the fraction of inspired oxygen decreased. Consequently, the tissue oxygen saturation dramatically decreased. The time course of melanin concentration after depilation of skin on the back of rats was indicative of the supply of melanosomes produced by melanocytes of hair follicles to the growing hair shaft., Conclusions: The results of our study showed that the proposed method is capable of the in vivo evaluation of percutaneous bilirubin level, skin hemodynamics, and melanogenesis in rats, and that it has potential as a tool for the diagnosis and management of hyperbilirubinemia, hypoxemia, and pigmented skin lesions., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Significance: Bilirubin forms by the breakdown of heme proteins in the liver, but a newborn's sluggish liver can lead to elevated serum bilirubin levels that cross the blood-brain barrier and result in kernicterus. Earlier studies have used the 400 to 500 nm optical wavelength range to characterize the bilirubin content. There is not a universally established correlation among other wavelengths and the amount of bilirubin in clinical whole blood samples., Aim: We demonstrated that the amount of bilirubin could be quantified with ∼ 82 % accuracy in a label-free, self-referenced manner using only a few wavelengths, viz. 468, 492, 500, 560, 605, 645, 660, and 675 nm, wherein band-averaged absorption measurements are used., Approach: We addressed the above problem by conducting a preliminary study containing 50 neonates through an absorption spectrum measurement of whole blood in 3 to 5    μ l samples from the neonates. We constructed a hierarchical decision method that first grossly divides the 30 neonates of the training set into < 10    mg / dl and ≥ 10    mg / dl bilirubin level cohorts. A subsequent boundary condition further divides the ≥ 10    mg / dl group into two > 15    mg / dl and ≤ 15    mg / dl bilirubin level cohorts. A finer measure later predicted the bilirubin content of each of these groups as low ( < 10    mg / dl ), medium (10 to 15    mg / dl ), and high ( > 15    mg / dl )., Results: Using this hierarchical decision model statistical approach, we quantified the amount of bilirubin in the 20 testing set samples with 82% accuracy., Conclusions: We formulated a biostatistical model in which we automated the spectrometric determination of total bilirubin in the whole blood for patients of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Purpose: Hepatic function is a key prognostic marker in patients with hepatocellular cancer (HCC) and central to patient selection for transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). We investigated the clinical utility of the Albumin-Bilirubin (ALBI) grade, an emerging prognostic model, in this heterogenous cohort via a meta-analysis of published studies., Methods: Publications including full text articles and abstracts regarding ALBI grade were sourced by two independent researchers from databases including PubMed, Embase, Medline and Cochrane Library. Studies analysing patients with HCC undergoing TACE treatment were systematically screened utilising the PRISMA tool for data extraction and synthesis, after exclusion of duplicates, irrelevant studies and overlapping cohorts. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS), as determined by ALBI grade and assessed by hazard ratio (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), with analysis of collated data using comprehensive meta-analysis, version 3.0 software., Results: Eight studies were included, with a pooled population of 6538 patients with HCC that underwent TACE treatment. Higher pre-treatment grade was associated with poor OS, with median OS of 12.0 months (P < 0.001) in ALBI grade 3, compared to 33.5 months in ALBI grade 1 (P < 0.001). Significant heterogeneity within each ALBI grade was associated with age and tumour size (P < 0.001) in ALBI grades 1 and 2. In contrast, age and alcohol-related liver disease were significant in the ALBI grade 3 group (P < 0.001)., Conclusions: High pre-treatment ALBI grade is associated with poorer prognosis in patients with HCC undergoing TACE therapy. The ALBI grade demonstrates clinical utility for clinical prognostication and patient selection for TACE., (© 2022. Crown.)

Objectives: In the present study the structural and compositional analysis of gallstones was carried out by various characterization techniques. Also, the utility of the study was evaluated on how the findings can enhance the treatment and dissolution therapies of gallstones?, Methods: Gallstones from the Jharkhand region were analyzed both structurally as well as chemically using Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, inductively coupled optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), Carbon hydrogen and nitrogen analyzer (CHNS), Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) and other instruments. The content of heavy metal was represented statistically as a mean with standard deviation., Results: FESEM analysis unveiled the crystal and globular structure of cholesterol and pigment gallstones respectively. Through ICP-OES analysis metals such as Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, Cr, Zn etc. were detected in gallstones. FTIR and XRD analysis confirmed the presence of cholesterol and calcium carbonate and other compounds in mixed stones and calcium bilirubinate and bilirubin in pigment gallstones. NMR analysis revealed the presence of monohydrate cholesterol (Crystalline) in Cholesterol and mixed gallstones. Mixed gallstones were found to be predominant in this region in contrast to pigmented stones that were prevalent earlier., Conclusion: The present study uncovered the current composition and content of different heavy metals in gallstones of Jharkhand region which can be instrumental in enhancing the dissolution therapies for gallstone treatment. This can serve as a major tool for practitioners for gallstone treatment and change the way they are looked at.

Background: Tissue oximetry devices use wavelengths in the 680-870 nm range to separate between oxygenated/deoxygenated hemoglobin. Conjugated bilirubin has an absorption peak at 730 nm., Aims: We hypothesized that ForeSight Elite using 5 wavelengths reduces interference from bilirubin and shows higher regional tissue oxygen saturation (rSO 2 ) than INVOS 5100C incorporating 2 wavelengths., Methods: Infants and children undergoing living donor liver transplantation were included between March 2019 and September 2020. Cerebral and somatic rSO 2 were measured, and real-time simultaneous data were collected. Additionally, measurements were collected at (1) baseline, (2) beginning of dissection phase, (3) beginning of anhepatic phase, (4) reperfusion phase, and (5) skin closure. Bilirubin level was available at baseline and at reperfusion. Hyperbilirubinemia was defined as bilirubin level ≥1.0 mg/dl., Results: Thirty-three patients with median age of 27 months and median weight of 12 kg were included. Baseline bilirubin levels were higher compared to values at reperfusion (p = .021). A linear mixed effects model considering bilirubin as fixed and patient as random effect showed that there was a statistically significant difference in cerebral rSO 2 readings in function of time (p = .031), device (p < .001), and bilirubin concentrations (p = .007) but not for hemoglobin (p = .347), SpO 2 (p = .882), and arterial partial pressure of CO 2 (P a CO 2 ) (p = .146). The model showed that there was a statistically significant difference in somatic rSO 2 readings in function of device (p < .001) and bilirubin concentrations (p = .023) but not for time (p = .074), hemoglobin (p = .954), SpO 2 (p = .108), and P a CO 2 (p = .775). Bland-Altman plot analyzing cerebral and somatic rSO 2 between both devices showed respectively a mean absolute bias and 95% limits of agreement of 21.73% (-10.21 to 53.67) and 19.52% (-29.51 to 68.54)., Conclusions: Oximetry devices emitting light at >2 wavelengths may overcome interference from hyperbilirubinemia providing higher rSO 2 readings., (© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade is an index of liver function based on total bilirubin (T-BIL) and albumin levels, and its usefulness has been widely reported. This study aimed to investigate the effect of different methods of measuring T-BIL and albumin levels on the ALBI grade in patients with liver disease., Methods: In total, 170 patients from our hospital were included in this study. Correlations between T-BIL levels measured using the vanadate oxidation and enzymatic methods were analysed. Similarly, a correlation analysis of albumin levels between the bromocresol green (BCG) and modified bromocresol purple (BCP) methods was performed. Additionally, the ALBI grade was calculated for patients with liver disease, and the differences between each method of albumin measurement were compared., Results: No differences were observed in the measured T-BIL values between the two methods. Contrastingly, the albumin levels of 100 random samples and 70 liver disease patients obtained using the modified BCP method were significantly lower than those measured using the BCG method. The rate of change in the modified ALBI grade between the BCG and BCP methods was 25.7%., Conclusions: Caution should be taken when comparing ALBI grades with those measured by other facilities because the method of albumin measurement can affect the ALBI grade. Standardization of albumin measurement is needed worldwide.

Purpose: The International Study Group of Liver Surgery (ISGLS) defined post-hepatectomy biliary leakage as drain/serum bilirubin ratio > 3 at day 3 or the interventional/surgical revision due to biliary peritonitis. We investigated the definition's applicability., Methods: A retrospective evaluation of all liver resections over a 6-year period was performed. ROC analyses were performed for drain/serum bilirubin ratios on days 1, 2, and 3 including grade A to C (analysis I) and grade B and C biliary leakages (analysis II) to test specific cutoff values., Results: A total of 576 patients were included. One hundred nine (18.9%) postoperative bile leakages occurred (19.6% of the whole population grade A, 16.5% grade B/C). Areas under the curve (AUC) for analysis I were 0.841 (day 1), 0.846 (day 2), and 0.734 (day 3). The highest sensitivity (78% on day 1/77% on day 2) and specificity (78% on day 1/79% on day 2) in analysis I were obtained for a drain/serum bilirubin ratio of 2.0. AUCs for analysis II were similar: 0.788 (day 1), 0.791 (day 2), and 0.650 (day 3). The highest sensitivity (73% on day 1/71% on day 2) and specificity (74% on day 1/76% on day 2) in analysis II were detected for a drain/serum bilirubin ratio of 2.0 on postoperative day 2., Conclusion: Biliary leakages should be defined if the drain/serum bilirubin ratio is > 2.0 on postoperative day 2., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: All term healthy neonates are screened for jaundice before hospital discharge as a standard clinical practice, but methods vary from clinical screening (visual inspection and/or risk factor assessment) to transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) or total serum bilirubin (TSB) testing, depending on the setting., Methods: This systematic review of randomized and non-randomized studies evaluated the effectiveness of universal TcB and universal TSB screening at discharge compared to clinical screening alone for term healthy neonates. The outcomes were neonatal mortality, readmission for jaundice, severe hyperbilirubinemia (>20 mg/dL), jaundice requiring exchange transfusion, and bilirubin-induced neurological dysfunction (BIND). We searched MEDLINE via Ovid, EBM reviews, Embase, CINAHL, clinical trials databases, and reference lists of retrieved articles. Two authors separately evaluated the risk of bias, extracted data, and synthesized effect estimates using relative risk (RR) for randomized and odds ratio (OR) for non-randomized studies., Results: For universal TcB at discharge, we included one randomized trial enrolling 1858 participants and four non-randomized studies enrolling 375 956 participants. No study reported neonatal mortality. The randomized trial suggested that universal TcB at discharge may decrease readmission for jaundice (risk ratio (RR) = 0.24, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.13 to 0.46; low certainty evidence) and severe hyperbilirubinemia (RR = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.08 to 0.97; low certainty evidence), but the effect on jaundice requiring exchange transfusion (RR = 0.20, 95% CI = 0.01 to 41.6) and BIND (RR = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.01 to 8.17) was uncertain. Meta-analysis of non-randomized studies suggested that TcB may decrease severe hyperbilirubinemia (odds ratio (OR) = 0.25, 95% = CI 0.12 to 0.52; low certainty evidence) and jaundice requiring exchange transfusion (OR = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.19 to 0.42; low certainty evidence), but the effect on readmission for jaundice was uncertain (OR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.38 to 2.7; very low certainty evidence). For universal TSB, we included three studies from the United States enrolling 490 426 participants. The effect on severe hyperbilirubinemia (OR = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.15 to 0.88), jaundice requiring exchange transfusion (OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.13 to 2.25) and readmission for jaundice (OR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.62 to 1.67) was uncertain., Conclusions: Universal TcB at discharge may improve clinical outcomes for term healthy neonates. Evidence for universal TSB is uncertain., Registration: PROSPERO 2020 CRD42020187279., Competing Interests: Disclosure of interest: The authors completed the ICMJE Disclosure of Interest Form (available upon request from the corresponding author) and declare the following activities and relationships: Shuchita Gupta and Suman Rao are staff members of the WHO., (Copyright © 2022 by the Journal of Global Health. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Electrolyte, hemoglobin, and bilirubin values are routinely reported with point-of-care (POC) testing for blood gases. Results are rapidly available and require a small blood volume. Yet, these results are underutilized due to noted discrepancies between central laboratory (CL) and POC testing. The study aimed to determine the correlation between POC and CL measurement of electrolytes, hemoglobin, and bilirubin in neonates., Study Design: Electrolyte, hemoglobin, and bilirubin results obtained from capillary blood over a 4-month period were analyzed. Each CL value was matched with a POC value from the same sample or another sample less than 1-hour apart. Agreement was determined by measuring the mean difference (MD) between paired samples with 95% limits of agreement (LOA) and Lin's concordance correlation (LCC)., Results: There were 355-paired sodium/potassium, 139 paired hemoglobin, and 197 paired bilirubin values analyzed. POC sodium values were lower (133.5 ± 5.8 mmol/L) than CL (140.2 ± 5.8 mmol/L), p <0.00001 with poor agreement (LCC = 0.49; MD = 6.7; 95% LOA: -13.6 to 0.14). POC potassium values were lower (4.6 ± 0.98 mmol/L) than CL (4.98 ± 1.24mEq/L), p  < 0.0001, but with better concordance and agreement. (LCC = 0.6; MD = 0.4; 95% LOA: -2.3 to 1.4). There were no differences in hemoglobin between POC (14.3 ± 3.2 g/dL) and CL (14.4 ± 3.1 g/dL), p  = 0.2 with good LCC (0.93) and in bilirubin values between POC (6.0 ± 3.2 mg/dL) and CL (5.8 ± 3.0 mg/dL), MD = 0.18, and p  = 0.07., Conclusion: POC Sodium values are lower than CL. POC potassium levels are also lower, but the differences may not be clinically important while hemoglobin and bilirubin levels are similar between POC and CL. As POC potassium, hemoglobin, and bilirubin levels closely reflect CL values, these results can be relied upon to make clinical judgments in neonates., Key Points: · Electrolyte, hemoglobin, and bilirubin are available as POC.. · POC sodium and potassium values are lower than CL results.. · Hemoglobin and bilirubin values are similar between POC and CL.., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Severe neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia can place a neonate at risk for acute bilirubin encephalopathy and kernicterus spectrum disorder. Early diagnosis is essential to prevent these deleterious sequelae. Currently, screening by visual inspection followed by laboratory-based bilirubin (LBB) quantification is used to identify hyperbilirubinaemia in neonates cared for at home in the Netherlands. However, the reliability of visual inspection is limited. We aim to evaluate the effectiveness of universal transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) screening as compared with visual inspection to: (1) increase the detection of hyperbilirubinaemia necessitating treatment, and (2) reduce the need for heel pricks to quantify bilirubin levels. In parallel, we will evaluate a smartphone app (Picterus), and a point-of-care device for quantifying total bilirubin (Bilistick) as compared with LBB., Methods and Analysis: We will undertake a multicentre prospective cohort study in nine midwifery practices across the Netherlands. Neonates born at a gestational age of 35 weeks or more are eligible if they: (1) are at home at any time between days 2 and 8 of life; (2) have their first midwife visit prior to postnatal day 6 and (3) did not previously receive phototherapy. TcB and the Picterus app will be used after visual inspection. When LBB is deemed necessary based on visual inspection and/or TcB reading, Bilistick will be used in parallel. The coprimary endpoints of the study are: (1) hyperbilirubinaemia necessitating treatment; (2) the number of heel pricks performed to quantify LBB. We aim to include 2310 neonates in a 2-year period. Using a decision tree model, a cost-effectiveness analysis will be performed., Ethics and Dissemination: This study has been approved by the Medical Research Ethical Committee of the Erasmus MC Rotterdam, Netherlands (MEC-2020-0618). Parents will provide written informed consent. The results of this study will be published in peer-reviewed journals., Trial Registration Number: Dutch Trial Register (NL9545)., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Oxidative stress is considered a possible mechanism in Parkinson's disease (PD) progression. Bilirubin has been recognized as a powerful antioxidant that increases due to heme-oxygenase activity. We aimed to investigate the association of total bilirubin (TB) with motor signs and asymmetry in different stages of early PD. A case-control study was performed to investigate the differences in TB levels in PD patients and healthy controls (HC) both carrying LRRK2 variants. We compared TB levels in HC and Hoehn and Yahr (HY) I and II cohorts separately, followed by multiple linear regression analysis to evaluate the association between TB and motor dysfunction in each stage. We used Movement Disorder Society-Sponsored Revision of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) part III scores and asymmetry scores to address motor disability. Asymmetry scores were calculated from the corresponding UPDRS III tasks. TB was significantly increased in HY II compared to HC (P < 0.001). Positive correlations with TB were found for UPDRS III total score (ρ = 0.303, P = 0.034) and asymmetry score (ρ = 0.418, P = 0.003) in HY I. Multiple linear regression found a significant relationship between TB and asymmetry scores in HY I (R 2  = 0.261, P = 0.037), but no relationship was achieved with UPDRS III total scores. Increased TB serves as an important diagnostic marker in earlier stages of PD. A significant relationship was found between TB and motor asymmetry in HY I patients. According to our findings, bilirubin mainly exhibits its protective effects in HY I population., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Free bilirubin (Bf) is a better marker than total serum bilirubin (TSB) for predicting bilirubin encephalopathy (BE). To date, two UGT1A1 genetic variants (rs4148323 and rs3064744) have been associated with neonatal hyperbilirubinemia; however, the direct association between UGT1A1 variants and Bf levels in newborns has not been elucidated., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 484 infants, including the genotype data of two UGT1A1 genetic variants. We divided the infants into a high Bf group (Bf ≥ 1.0 µg/dL, n = 77) and a non-high Bf group (Bf < 1.0 µg/dL, n = 407), based on the peak Bf values. Logistic regression analysis was performed to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) for each variant allele compared to wild-type alleles., Results: The frequencies of the A allele in rs4148323 and (TA) 7 allele in rs3064744 in the high Bf group (29% and 4%, respectively) were significantly different from those in the non-high Bf group (16% and 12%, respectively). In logistic regression analysis, for rs4148323, the A allele was significantly associated with an increased risk of hyper-free bilirubinemia over the G allele (adjusted OR: 1.80, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.19-2.72, p < 0.01). However, for rs3064744, the (TA) 7 allele was significantly associated with a decreased risk of hyper-free bilirubinemia over the (TA) 6 allele (adjusted OR: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.18-0.95, p = 0.04)., Conclusions: This study is the first to show that the A allele in rs4148323 is a risk factor and that the (TA) 7 allele in rs3064744 is a protective factor for developing hyper-free bilirubinemia in Japanese newborns.

Spent hemp biomass (SHB), a byproduct of cannabinoid extraction from the production of industrial hemp has not been approved by FDA-CVM since its effects on animal health, performance, and product quality are unknown. Our objective was to investigate the effects of feeding two levels of SHB and a 4-wk withdrawal period on performance, carcass characteristic, meat quality, and hematological parameters in finishing lambs. A total of 35 weaned, Polypay male lambs kept in single pens were randomly assigned to five feeding treatments (n = 7) and fed diets containing either no SHB (CON) or SHB at 10% (LH1) or 20% (HH1) for 4 wk with 4 wk of clearing period from SHB, or SHB at 10% (LH2) or 20% (HH2) for 8 wk. Chemical analysis revealed SHB to have a nutritive quality similar to alfalfa with no mycotoxin, terpenes, or organic residuals as a result of the extraction process. Feed intake of lambs was negatively affected by 20% SHB in period 1 but not in period 2 where feed intake was the greatest in HH1 and LH2. In contrast, none of the performance data, including liveweight gains, were different across the groups and periods. In period 1, blood glucose, cholesterol, calcium, paraoxonase, and tocopherol were decreased by the level of SHB fed, while bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were increased. In period 2, the concentration in blood of urea, magnesium, bilirubin, ALP, and ferric reducing ability of the plasma (FRAP) were higher in LH2 and HH2 as compared with CON, while β-hydroxybutyrate was lower in HH2. Blood parameters related to liver health, kidney function, immune status, and inflammation were unaffected by feeding SHB. Most carcass and meat quality parameters did not differ across feeding groups either. Except carcass purge loss and meat cook loss were larger in lambs that were fed 20% SHB. Although lower feed intake of lambs that were fed 20% SHB initially in period 1 suggested SHB was not palatable to the lambs, increased feed intake at a lower level of inclusion at 10% in period 2 may point to a positive long-term effect of feeding SHB., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The aqueous solution extracted from raw bile juice is composed primarily of bile salts, with lower levels of bilirubin and its derivatives. Among them, the bilirubin and bilirubin-derived metabolites are the only surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-active components. An analytical scheme indirectly responsive and able to utilize all bile components, including SERS-inactive bile salts, was explored for SERS-based discrimination of gallbladder (GB) polyp and GB cancer. Initially, the surface of a SERS substrate (Au nanodendrite on Ni foil (AuND@NiF)) was covered with an alkanethiol molecule to generate a SERS signal and attract bile components by mutual interaction. For more effective recognition of bile components, 4 independent substrates covered with 4 different alkanethiols with various functional groups (SH(CH 2 ) 2 CH 3 , SH(CH 2 ) 2 NH 2 , SH(CH 2 ) 2 COOH, and SH(CH 2 ) 2 OH) were prepared. The SERS peaks of each substrate clearly varied on interaction with pure bile components as well as aqueous bile samples, and the SERS peaks in each substrate were individually characteristic. When the principal component (PC) scores of spectra obtained using the SH(CH 2 ) 2 CH 3 - and SH(CH 2 ) 2 OH-covered substrates were combined, the k-Nearest Neighbor-based discrimination accuracy was 100%, superior to those (90.6-96.9%) using individual substrates. The use of complementary bile component-induced spectral information provided by the two substrates was responsible for accurate discrimination. On the other hand, when bare AuND@NiF recognizing only SERS-active bilirubin derivatives was used, discrimination was unsatisfactory (accuracy: 75.0%)., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The accuracy and reliability of noninvasive methods of neonatal jaundice assessment are not completely obvious, including which area of the body is more suitable to estimate actual bilirubin with transcutaneous bilirubinometry (TCB)., Methods: This cross-sectional study compares the accuracy of three noninvasive methods for neonatal jaundice estimation included visual estimation, TCB on the forehead, and TCB on the sternum. The mean and standard deviation describe quantitative variables. In addition to analytical analysis, we used the linear regression test to evaluate the association of different variables with the accuracy of TCB as well as paired t test for comparing the TCB results on the sternum with the forehead before and after phototherapy. For all statistical tests, a P value less than 0.05 was considered as significant., Results: We enrolled 100 neonates with a mean age (±SD, standard deviation) of 6.5±1.9 days (range 2-11 days) in our study. The mean gestational age (GA) of the participants was 38.94 weeks±1.00 w SD, and their mean (±SD) weight was 3302 g (±315.60). The mean (mg/dL)±SD for bilirubin level by clinical estimation of jaundice, TCB on the forehead and TCB on the sternum were 17.35±2.88, 17.23±1.63, and 17.77±1.58, respectively. Also, comparing mean differences before and after phototherapy showed that TCB on the sternum is a good predictor for neonatal jaundice before phototherapy (0.539 vs. 0.348)., Conclusion: TCB on the sternum is more predictive than the forehead, especially before phototherapy, to assess the need for treatment in outpatient settings., (© 2022 The Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.)

This study aimed to investigate the potential hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxic, and hematotoxic effects of simultaneous occupational low-level exposure of shoe workers to a mixture of organic solvents. The study included 16 male and 55 female workers and non-exposed subjects ( n  = 60) in the control group. Along with a standard sets of hematological, liver enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), bilirubin total, bilirubin direct, blood glucose, urea, and creatinine were analyzed in all participants. Indoor air quality was monitored using a Gasmet Dx - 4000 multi-component analyzer. Despite the concentration levels of individual chemicals in shoe production units were below the permissible limits, the equivalent exposure (Em) values calculated based on the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) and National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) occupational exposure limits were higher than 1. Statistically significant increase of biochemical parameters (aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin) was obtained in exposed workers of both genders compared with controls ( p  < 0.001). Calculated liver damage risk scores were significantly higher in both females and males compared with controls ( p  < 0.001). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that direct bilirubin was the most important predictor of organic solvent mixture exposure in the studied group of workers. These results suggest that combined exposure to organic solvents even at low concentrations may lead to hepatotoxicity.

Background: Albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade is an objective measure of liver function for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The tyrosine kinase inhibitor cabozantinib is approved for patients with advanced HCC who have received prior sorafenib based on the phase 3 CELESTIAL trial (NCT01908426). Cabozantinib improved overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) versus placebo in patients with previously treated HCC., Methods: Patients were randomised 2:1 to receive cabozantinib 60 mg or placebo orally every day. Clinical outcomes in patients with ALBI grade 1 or 2 at baseline were evaluated in CELESTIAL. ALBI scores were retrospectively calculated based on baseline serum albumin and total bilirubin, with an ALBI grade of 1 defined as  ≤ -2.60 score and a grade of 2 as a score of > -2.60 to  ≤ -1.39., Results: Cabozantinib improved OS and PFS versus placebo in both ALBI grade 1 (hazard ratio [HR] [95% CI]: 0.63 [0.46-0.86] and 0.42 [0.32-0.56]) and ALBI grade 2 (HR [95% CI]: 0.84 [0.66-1.06] and 0.46 [0.37-0.58]) subgroups. Adverse events were consistent with those in the overall population. Rates of grade 3/4 adverse events associated with hepatic decompensation were generally low and were more common among patients in the ALBI grade 2 subgroup., Discussion: These results provide initial support of cabozantinib in patients with advanced HCC irrespective of ALBI grade 1 or 2., Trial Registration Number: ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01908426., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Some events of hepatotoxicity have been linked to consumption of green tea supplements. The association between consumption of green tea or green tea supplements and abnormal liver biomarkers in adults was investigated using cross-sectional data from the 2009-2014 United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (U.S. NHANES). Individuals with levels of either bilirubin or GGT, ALT, AST, and/or ALP in excess of the age- and gender-specific upper limits of normal ranges were classified as having abnormal liver biomarkers. Associations between green tea or green tea supplement use (consumption vs. not) and liver function were determined using multiple logistic regression modelling. 12,289 persons were included in the green tea analyses and 12,274 in the green tea supplement analyses. The odds of having one or more abnormal liver biomarkers were significantly reduced (p = 0.01) with consumption of green tea (OR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.28, 0.85), while no significant association (p = 0.78) was determined for consumption of green tea supplements (OR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.52, 1.64). Based on data from the 2009-2014 U.S. NHANES, green tea consumption was associated with reduced odds of having one or more abnormal liver biomarkers; whereas, no significant association was determined with consumption of green tea supplements., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Due to the developments in the treatment for hepatitis, it is possible to prevent the progression of liver fibrosis and improve patients' prognosis even if it has already led to liver cirrhosis (LC). Consequently, a two-step study was conducted. To begin with, a retrospective study was conducted to identify the potential predictors of non-malignancy-related mortality from LC. Then, we prospectively analyzed the validity of these parameters as well as their association with patients' quality of life. In the retrospective study, 89 cases were included, and the multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that age (P = 0.012), model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score (P = 0.012), and annual rate of change of the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score (P < 0.001) were significantly associated with LC prognosis. In the prospective study, 70 patients were included, and the patients were divided into cirrhosis progression and non-progression groups. The univariate logistic regression analysis indicated the serum procollagen type III N-terminal peptide level (P = 0.040) and MELD score (P = 0.010) were significantly associated with the annual rate of change of the ALBI score. Furthermore, the mean Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire score worsened from 5.3 to 4.9 in the cirrhosis progression group (P = 0.034). In conclusion, a longitudinal increase in the ALBI score is closely associated with non-malignancy-related mortality and quality of life., Competing Interests: Shuji Terai received a research funding from ROHTO Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Introduction: The albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade is a novel indicator of the liver function. Some studies showed that the ALBI grade was a prognostic and predictive biomarker for the efficacy of chemotherapy in cancer patients. The association between the ALBI grade and outcomes in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with cancer immunotherapy, however, is poorly understood., Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 452 patients with advanced or recurrent NSCLC who received anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)-based therapy between 2016 and 2019 at three medical centers in Japan. The ALBI score was calculated from albumin and bilirubin measured at the time of treatment initiation and was stratified into three categories, ALBI grade 1-3, with reference to previous reports. We examined the clinical impact of the ALBI grade on the outcomes of NSCLC patients receiving anti-PD-1-based therapy using Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis with log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis., Results: The classifications of the 452 patients were as follows: grade 1, n = 158 (35.0%); grade 2, n = 271 (60.0%); and grade 3, n = 23 (5.0%). Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the ALBI grade was significantly associated with progression-free survival and overall survival. Moreover, Cox regression analysis revealed that the ALBI grade was an independent prognostic factor for progression-free survival and overall survival., Conclusion: The ALBI grade was an independent prognostic factor for survival in patients with advanced or recurrent NSCLC who receive anti-PD-1-based therapy. These findings should be validated in a prospective study with a larger sample size., Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors have declared no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Aims: To explore the association of total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), and indirect bilirubin (IBIL) levels with, as well as the incremental predictive value of different bilirubin subtypes for, poor outcomes in acute ischemic stroke patients after thrombolysis., Methods: We analyzed 588 individuals out of 718 AIS participants, and all patients were followed up at 3 months after thrombolysis. The primary outcome was 3-month death and major disability (modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 3-6). The secondary outcomes were 3-month mortality (mRS score of 6), moderate-severe cerebral edema, and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), respectively., Results: Elevated DBIL pre-thrombolysis was associated with an increased risk of primary outcome (OR 3.228; 95% CI 1.595-6.535; p for trend = 0.014) after fully adjustment. Elevated TBIL pre-thrombolysis showed the similar results (OR 2.185; 95% CI 1.111-4.298; p for trend = 0.047), while IBIL pre-thrombolysis was not significantly associated with primary outcome (OR 1.895; 95% CI 0.974-3.687; p for trend = 0.090). Multivariable-adjusted spline regression model showed a positive linear dose-response relationship between DBIL pre-thrombolysis and risk of primary outcome (p for linearity = 0.004). Adding DBIL pre-thrombolysis into conventional model had greater incremental predictive value for primary outcome, with net reclassification improvement (NRI) 95% CI = 0.275 (0.084-0.466) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) 95% CI = 0.011 (0.001-0.024). Increased DBIL post-thrombolysis had an association with primary outcome (OR 2.416; 95%CI 1.184-4.930; p for trend = 0.039), and it also elevated the incremental predictive value for primary outcome, with NRI (95% CI) = 0.259 (0.066-0.453) and IDI (95% CI) = 0.025 (0.008-0.043)., Conclusion: Increased DBIL pre-thrombolysis had a stronger association with, as well as greater incremental predictive value for, poor outcomes than TBIL and IBIL did in AIS patients after thrombolysis, which should be understood in the context of retrospective design. The effect of DBIL on targeted populations should be investigated in further researches., (© 2021 The Authors. CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Characteristics of laboratory findings of COVID-19 patients are of great significance for diagnosis and treatment. Studies that have analysed the variations in hepatic profile in correlation with the inflammatory markers in SARS-CoV-2 are limited., Methods: We retrospectively analysed liver function tests and inflammatory markers of 170 admitted patients with confirmed COVID-19 in the tertiary care centre, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), India, using Roche Cobas Autoanalyzer., Results: Number of patients with normal liver enzyme levels were 63 (41.5%), while with raised levels of any of the liver enzymes were 89 (58.5%), out of which 43 (48.31%) had liver injury which manifested as increased severity in terms of intensive care unit (ICU) requirement (p=0.0005). Significantly raised levels of liver enzymes and liver injury were observed with age (p<0.0001) and in males (p=0.004). Significantly decreased levels of albumin and total proteins and increased levels of total bilirubin (p<0.0001) were seen in patients with abnormal liver enzyme levels and liver injury as compared to patients with normal levels. Significant increase in the levels of alanine transaminase and gamma-glutamyl transferase was seen on the 7th day, CRP and ferritin (p<0.0001) peaks were observed on 2nd and 3rd day respectively. A significant positive correlation was found between the levels of these inflammatory markers and liver function parameters., Conclusions: More than half of patients admitted to the hospital with SARS-CoV-2 infection had an abnormal liver function which was found to be associated with raised levels of inflammatory markers. Significantly higher proportions of patients with abnormal liver function were elderly and males and were at higher risk of progressing to severe disease., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Several therapeutic regimens for COVID-19 have been studied, such as combination antiviral therapies. We aimed to compare outcome of two types of combination therapies atazanavir/ritonavir (ATV/r) or lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) plus hydroxychloroquine among COVID-19 patients. 108 patients with moderate and severe forms of COVID-19 were divided into two groups (each group 54 patients). One group received ATV/r plus hydroxychloroquine, and the other group received hydroxychloroquine plus LPV/r. Then, both groups were evaluated and compared for clinical symptoms, recovery rates, and complications of treatment regimens. Our findings showed a significant increase in bilirubin in ATV/r-receiving group compared to LPV/r receivers. There was also a significant increase in arrhythmias in the LPV/r group compared to the ATV/r group during treatment. Other findings including length of hospital stay, outcome, and treatment complications were not statistically significant. There is no significant difference between protease inhibitor drugs including ATV/r and LPV/r in the treatment of COVID-19 regarding clinical outcomes. However, some side effects such as hyperbilirubinemia and arrhythmia were significantly different by application of atazanavir or lopinavir., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 Hossein Mazaherpour et al.)

Background: Bilirubin is a catabolic product of heme metabolism that circulates in the bloodstream in its unconjugated or glucuronide-conjugated form. Because the accumulation of bilirubin in the blood is a common symptom of liver diseases, its measurement in plasma (serum) is important for the diagnosis of these diseases., Method: We developed a method to assess total bilirubin levels in serum and urine, using the fluorescent protein UnaG and β-glucuronidase., Results: Our results indicate good correlation in serum total bilirubin levels between UnaG and the conventional bilirubin oxidase (BOD) methods. We found low levels of conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin in the urine of healthy subject individuals. Urinary bilirubin levels were elevated in patients with liver or bile duct diseases. A simple spot test of bilirubin using serum and urine showed a strong signal in patients with liver diseases., Conclusion: The proposed method to assess bilirubin levels in serum and urine will contribute to the accurate diagnosis of health conditions such as jaundice, anemia, and liver disease., (© American Society for Clinical Pathology, 2021. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The UnaG protein is a ligand (unconjugated bilirubin) dependent fluorescence protein isolated from Unagi freshwater eel larvae and expressed as fusion in heterologous expression systems. Bilirubin is a tetrapyrrole molecule mainly produced from heme catabolism by the destruction of erythrocytes in the body. Bilirubin can cause kernicterus, a serious condition associated with permanent neurological damage in neonates with the passage of brain tissue. Different methods have been developed for plasma bilirubin analysis and quantification. The use of UnaG fluorescence protein triggered by bilirubin has become a new approach in bilirubin studies. In this study, we aimed to investigate the biophysical characterization of ligand interactions with the proteins obtained as a result of mutations (UnaG Y99F&#95;Y134W , UnaG N57E , UnaG L41F , and UnaG F17M ) on the amino acid sequence of TolAIII-UnaG protein. After the purity levels of the expressed proteins have been analyzed by SDS-PAGE, secondary structures and thermal melting temperatures of the proteins have been examined by circular dichroism spectroscopy. Then determination of excitation and emission points by fluorescence spectroscopy, titration studies have been performed with bilirubin, and dissociation constant was calculated. According to the biophysical characterization studies, UnaG L41F has the highest affinity and stability among the mutants.

"Biliary atresia (BA) is a common cause of jaundice in infancy. There is increasing evidence that newborn screening with direct or conjugated bilirubin leads to earlier diagnosis. Although the Kasai portoenterostomy is the primary treatment, there are scientific advances in adjuvant therapies. As pediatric patients transition to adult care, multidisciplinary care is essential, given the complexity of this patient population.", (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

What Is Known and Objective: The primary adverse reaction of linezolid is haematological toxicity, leading to thrombocytopenia and anaemia. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors of linezolid-induced anaemia (LI-AN) and establish a predictive model by multivariate logistic regression model analysis to predict LI-AN risks in Chinese adult patients., Methods: Demographic and clinical data of patients who underwent linezolid therapy for more than three days between January 2014 and December 2020 in Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, were retrieved from the hospital's electronic medical record for analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to establish a predictive model, whose predictability was further evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve., Results and Discussion: The study comprised 298 patients among the 2322 patients who underwent linezolid treatment between 2014 and 2020. Among the 298 patients, 32 (10.7%) developed anaemia with an average of 11.4 (SD 6.2) days after the initiation of linezolid therapy. Multivariate logistic analysis revealed that age ≥60 years (odds ratio [OR] 2.815, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.242-6.379), higher total bilirubin (TBi) (OR 1.031, 95% CI 1.011-1.051), eGFR < 60 ml/(min·1.73 m 2 ) (OR 2.537, 95% CI 1.054-6.106), duration of linezolid therapy (DLT) (OR 1.091, 95% CI 1.023-1.163) and intensive care unit (ICU) admittance (OR 2.664, 95% CI 1.150-6.174) were the independent risk factors for anaemia occurrence among patients receiving linezolid therapy. A logistic regression equation based on the five risk factors was subsequently established and transformed to obtain the calculation formula of the combined predictor: Y (Combined predictor)  = X TBi  + 34.5 × X Age≥60  + 31.1 × X eGFR<60  + 32.7 × X ICU  + 2.9 × X DLT , (where Age ≥60 years, yes = 1, no = 0; eGFR < 60 ml/(min·1.73 m 2 ), yes = 1, no = 0; ICU admittance, yes = 1, no = 0). The area under the ROC curve of the combined predictors equation was 0.773 with an optimal cut-off point value of 92.4, corresponding to a 75.0% sensitivity and 76.7% specificity., What Is New and Conclusion: LI-AN is associated with age (≥60 years), higher TBi, eGFR < 60 ml/(min·1.73 m 2 ), DLT and ICU admittance. Physicians should thus calculate the combined predictor value at the beginning of linezolid treatment to predict and evaluate the risk of LI-AN. An optimal cut-off value larger than 92.4 indicates that the patient has a higher LI-AN risk. As such, Hb levels should be monitored regularly, and dosage regimens adjusted accordingly to prevent anaemia occurrence. This study provides an evidence-based logistic model that reduces LI-AN incidences and promotes the safe clinical use of linezolid., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Bilirubin is a tetrapyrrolic compound originating from heme catabolism. Although originally considered only a potentially dangerous waste product, it has become increasingly evident that this molecule represents an important modulator of various biological functions in the human body. Bilirubin appears to have versatile functions, from cell signaling (behaving almost like a "real" hormonal substance), modulation of metabolism, to immune regulation, affecting biological activities with apparent clinical and even therapeutic consequences. These activities may be the reason for the lower incidence of diseases of civilisation (cardiovascular diseases, arterial hypertension, diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, certain cancers, autoimmune, and neurodegenerative diseases) observed in individuals with a chronic mild unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia, a typical sign of Gilbert's syndrome. While higher serum concentrations of unconjugated bilirubin may serve as an important protective factor against these diseases, low levels of bilirubin are associated with the opposite effect., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest that pertain to this work. Please refer to the accompanying ICMJE disclosure forms for further details., (Copyright © 2021 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)