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Background: A number of studies have explored the link between neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs) and albumin, the main protein in human plasma. However, the results have been inconsistent, highlighting the necessity for a detailed systemic analysis. Methods: Utilizing data from the United Kingdom Biobank, we investigated the relationship between baseline levels of serum and urine albumin and the occurrence of common NDDs, including Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and dementia, employing Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Results: Our results reveal that elevated baseline serum albumin levels are linked to a decreased risk of developing dementia (beta =-0.024, SE = 0.004, p<0.001). Subgroup and interaction analyses highlighted the impact of factors like body mass index (BMI), age, and alcohol consumption on this relationship. Specifically, participants with higher BMI, younger age, or lower alcohol intake exhibited a stronger protective effect. On the other hand, a higher baseline level of urine microalbumin was connected to a slight increase in dementia risk (beta = 0.003, SE = 3.30E-04, p < 0.001). No significant associations were found between albumin levels and the risk of PD or ALS. Conclusion: Our study underscores the potential role of serum albumin as a biomarker associated with reduced dementia risk. These findings contribute valuable insights into the understanding of albumin's impact on NDDs, suggesting its utility as a biomarker for dementia in clinical settings and informing future therapeutic strategies in clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive condition that affects more than 10% of the world's population. Monitoring urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) has become the gold standard for nephropathy diagnosis and control. The objective of the present study was to develop a simple, accurate, sensitive, and rapid point-of-care test (PoCT) device, MyACR, for uACR measurement, intended for use in community healthcare to screen for the risk and monitor the progress of CKD. Albumin and creatinine concentrations in urine samples were determined using spectrophotometric dye (tetrabromophenol blue)-binding and colorimetric Jaffe assay, respectively. Urine samples were diluted with distilled water (1:80) and mixed separately with albumin and creatinine reaction mixture. The creatinine reaction was incubated at room temperature (25 °C) for 30 min before analysis. Optical density (OD) was measured at the wavelengths of 625 nm (albumin) and 515 nm (creatinine). All calibration curves (0–60 mg/L and 0–2 mg/dL for albumin and creatinine) yielded linear relationships with correlation coefficients (R2) of >0.997. Good accuracy (% deviation of mean value (DMV) ≤ 5.42%) and precision (% coefficients of variation (CV) ≤ 12.69%) were observed from both the intra- and inter-day assays for the determination of albumin and creatinine using MyACR. The limit of quantification (LOQ) of albumin and creatinine in urine samples determined using MyACR and a laboratory spectrophotometer were 5 mg/L and 0.25 mg/dL, respectively, using 37.5 μL urine spiked samples (n = 5). The device was well-applied with clinical samples from 20 CKD patients. The median (range) of %DMV of the central (hospital) laboratory method (immune-based assay) was 3.48 (−17.05 to 21.64)%, with a high correlation coefficient (R2 > 0.98). In conclusion, MyACR showed satisfactory test performance in terms of accuracy, reproducibility, and sensitivity. Cost-effectiveness and improvement in clinical decision making need to be proven in future multisite community and home studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thailand Association of Clinical Biochemists (TACB) introduced External Quality Assurance schemes (EQAs) for urinalysis (UA) using urine strips in medical laboratories of Thailand. The few available External Quality Assessment (EQA) programs on urinary microalbumin rarely include an evaluation of clinical cases. The aim of the present study was to assess a descriptive analysis of biochemical urinalysis including urine microalbumin in the Thailand laboratory practice. From January 2021 to December 2021, four surveys were organized. EQA urine samples were distributed to the participants by mail. The participants measured the UA of 2 samples quarterly and returned the results together with the information about their instruments and suggestion for the performance of the laboratory report quarterly. Moreover, summary of the situation of each laboratory performance was feedbacked by online system. Fifty-eight laboratories participated in the survey. The EQA panels included positive and negative samples. The analytical results for passed parameters of urine chemical test range from 79.3–100%. All special tests; microalbumin, creatinine, and beta-HCG showed correct result from 85.1–96.1%. The overall accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity were 92.6, 85.7, and 75,4%, respectively. The major issues were observed: the low sensitivity for the detection of low-concentration samples and the incapacity of several methods to detect the positive sample. The assessment is needed to continuously evaluate the improvement proficiency of laboratories in Thailand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The urinary N-acetyl-beta-Glucosaminidase can served as a early detectible marker for nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included total ninety (90) subjects, whereas sixty were type 2 diabetes mellitus cases and remaining thirty were healthy controls. For all the subjects biochemical, clinical and experimental parameters are studied. Results: The type 2 diabetes mellitus patients showed a significant increased levels of urinary N-acetyl-beta-Glucosaminidase when compared to healthy controls. Among, the cases the type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with microalbuminuria showed a significantly higher levels of urinary N-acetyl-beta-Glucosaminidase than the type diabetes mellitus with normoalbuminuria. The urinary N-acetyl-beta-Glucosaminidase levels are significant positive correlation with microalbumin and negative correlation with eGFR. Conclusion: The urinary N-acetyl-beta-Glucosaminidase determination might be used as early predictable marker for type 2 diabetic nephropathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The urinary podocalyxin can served as a early detectible marker for nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Materials and Methods: This crosssectional study included total ninety (90) subjects, whereas sixty were type 2 diabetes mellitus cases and remaining thirty were healthy controls. For all the subjects biochemical, clinical and experimental parameters are studied. Results: The type 2 diabetes mellitus patients showed a significant increased levels of urinary podocalyxin when compared to healthy controls. Among, the cases the type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with microalbuminuria showed a significantly higher levels of urinary podocalyxin than the type diabetes mellitus with normoalbuminuria. The urinary podocalyxin levels are significant positive correlation with microalbumin and negative correlation with eGFR. Conclusion: The urinary podocalyxin determination might be used as early predictable marker for type 2 diabetic nephropathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Heat shock protein-27 is the microprotein released from renal parenchyma during diabetic oxidative stress, while microalbumin is the plasma protein that appears in urine in diabetic nephropathy. Methods: This case-control study was conducted from Jan to Sep 2021 in the Physiology department, BMC, BMCH, Quetta. The current study included 105 patients with an age range from 30-50 years and was divided into three groups: i) a control group of healthy participants, ii) a diabetic risk group: participants without signs of diabetic nephropathy and diabetic duration from 1-5 years, iii) diabetic nephropathy group: participants having >30 mg/dl of v microalbumin in urine and diabetic duration from 5-10 years. Results: There were significant mean differences between all groups concerning anthropometric measurements except in height amongst all groups. Statistically significant mean differences were seen in the risk and nephropathy group concerning serum FBG, RBG, and HbA1c. Elevated microalbumin levels in the diabetic nephropathy group (50.9±8.2) compared with the diabetic risk group (15.4±2.9). Similarly, higher levels of HSP-27 were seen in the diabetic nephropathy group (230.46±23.75) as compared with the diabetic risk group (117.60±14.50). Conclusion: HSP-27 is a better biomarker than microalbumin and may show early glomerular injury in the early diabetic stage of diabetic nephropathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronically high blood pressure-related kidney injury is known as hypertensive nephropathy (HN). Podocyte damage in the pathogenesis of this disease can result in the release of the sialoglycoprotein podocalyxin into the urine, so podocalyxin may be useful in the early diagnosis of HN. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationships between urine podocalyxin level and clinical and biochemical parameters in individuals with HN and to assess the diagnostic utility of urinary podocalyxin as an early marker of HN. Participants (114 individuals) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study, including 30 healthy controls and 84 patients with clinically proven chronic hypertension (CH). Biochemical tests were performed on the blood samples. Urinary microalbumin and creatinine levels were measured using immunoturbidimetric and spectrophotometric methods, respectively; urinary podocalyxin level was estimated with ELISA. All CH patients were classified into subgroups according to urine microalbumin/creatinine ratio (UM/CR) and the stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The results obtained showed that urinary podocalyxin level was significantly increased in both UM/CR and CKD staging subgroups compared with the healthy control group. A gradual increase in urinary podocalyxin level with CKD stage, especially in IV and V stages, and the higher sensitivi­ty of urinary podocalyxin as compared to UM/CR ratio in early detection of HN was demonstrated. It was concluded that urinary podocalyxin may be an important and highly sensitive marker for early diagnosis of hypertensive nephropathy in patients with chronic hypertension.

Background: Serum Cystatin C is elevated in diabetic patients even before the appearance of microalbuminuria and hence, it can be used as an early marker for detecting diabetic nephropathy. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare serum Cystatin C levels in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients with microalbuminuria and without microalbuminuria. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based and cross-sectional study conducted among 40 patients with Type 2 diabetic mellitus attending the Endocrinology OPD Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram. Informed consent was obtained. Biochemical parameters like blood glucose was estimated by hexokinase method and serum creatinine by modified Jaffe’s method using fully automated analyzer. HbA1c was determined by turbidimetric immunoinhibition method. Serum Cystatin C and microalbumin was evaluated by ELISA method. Statistical analysis of data was performed using SPSS windows version 26. Statistical tests like unpaired t-test were done to compare the study subjects and Pearson correlation was done to know the correlation between variables and P6.5%. Serum creatinine value

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive condition that affects more than 10% of the world’s population. Monitoring urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) has become the gold standard for nephropathy diagnosis and control. The objective of the present study was to develop a simple, accurate, sensitive, and rapid point-of-care test (PoCT) device, MyACR, for uACR measurement, intended for use in community healthcare to screen for the risk and monitor the progress of CKD. Albumin and creatinine concentrations in urine samples were determined using spectrophotometric dye (tetrabromophenol blue)-binding and colorimetric Jaffe assay, respectively. Urine samples were diluted with distilled water (1:80) and mixed separately with albumin and creatinine reaction mixture. The creatinine reaction was incubated at room temperature (25 °C) for 30 min before analysis. Optical density (OD) was measured at the wavelengths of 625 nm (albumin) and 515 nm (creatinine). All calibration curves (0–60 mg/L and 0–2 mg/dL for albumin and creatinine) yielded linear relationships with correlation coefficients (R2) of >0.997. Good accuracy (% deviation of mean value (DMV) ≤ 5.42%) and precision (% coefficients of variation (CV) ≤ 12.69%) were observed from both the intra- and inter-day assays for the determination of albumin and creatinine using MyACR. The limit of quantification (LOQ) of albumin and creatinine in urine samples determined using MyACR and a laboratory spectrophotometer were 5 mg/L and 0.25 mg/dL, respectively, using 37.5 μL urine spiked samples (n = 5). The device was well-applied with clinical samples from 20 CKD patients. The median (range) of %DMV of the central (hospital) laboratory method (immune-based assay) was 3.48 (−17.05 to 21.64)%, with a high correlation coefficient (R2 > 0.98). In conclusion, MyACR showed satisfactory test performance in terms of accuracy, reproducibility, and sensitivity. Cost-effectiveness and improvement in clinical decision making need to be proven in future multisite community and home studies.

Background: Serum Cystatin C is elevated in diabetic patients even before the appearance of microalbuminuria and hence, it can be used as an early marker for detecting diabetic nephropathy. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare serum Cystatin C levels in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients with microalbuminuria and without microalbuminuria. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based and cross-sectional study conducted among 40 patients with Type 2 diabetic mellitus attending the Endocrinology OPD Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram. Informed consent was obtained. Biochemical parameters like blood glucose was estimated by hexokinase method and serum creatinine by modified Jaffe's method using fully automated analyzer. HbA1c was determined by turbidimetric immunoinhibition method. Serum Cystatin C and microalbumin was evaluated by ELISA method. Statistical analysis of data was performed using SPSS windows version 26. Statistical tests like unpaired t-test were done to compare the study subjects and Pearson correlation was done to know the correlation between variables and P<0.05 was considered as significant. Results: In this study, all the study group had fasting blood level above 126 mg/dL with HbA1c value >6.5%. Serum creatinine value <1.4 mg/dL is considered normal. In this study group subjects, 34 (85%) had normal level of serum creatinine, while 6 (15%) 6 patients had creatinine level more than 1.4 mg/dL. Mean±SD for serum cystatin C levels in Type 2 DM patients with microalbuminuria and without microalbuminuria was 22.7±4.9 and 4.79±3.55, respectively. The serum cystatin C levels were significantly (P<0.01) higher in the microalbuminuria group than in the normoalbuminuric patients. In the present study, there was highly significant positive correlation between serum cystatin C and microalbumin (r=0.93, P<0.001. In the present study, there was highly significant positive correlation between serum cystatin C and fasting blood sugar, serum creatinine, and glycated hemoglobin in patients with microalbuminuria) than without microalbuminuria. Conclusion: Serum cystatin C levels were found to be increased in patients with Type 2 DM with microalbuminuria and can be considered as a valuable early marker of renal damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: While type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is increasing rapidly, developing diabetic complications are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Biochemical markers are important for early diagnosis and treatment of nephropathy, which is a common complication. The aim of this study is to evaluate serum ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) levels in the development of diabetic nephropathy in T2DM patients and to determine the effectiveness of this parameter in predicting the presence and severity of nephropathy. Materials and Methods: 68 adult patients diagnosed with T2DM and 30 healthy controls were included in this study. The T2DM group consisted of 34 patients without microalbuminuria (<30 mg/g) and 34 patients with microalbuminuria (30-300 mg/g) according to albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR). Biochemical data and serum IMA levels of the patient and control groups were measured and compared. Results: In terms of IMA levels, the difference between T2DM patients with microalbuminuria (0.55 ± 0.08 ABSU) and without microalbuminuria (0.42 ± 0.05 ABSU) and control (0.37 ± 0.08 ABSU) groups was significant (p<0.0001). The T2DM group with microalbuminuria had the highest glucose, HbA1c, UACR, and IMA levels. There was a positive correlation between IMA levels and UACR (r = 0.541, p < 0.001). IMA had a weak correlation with HbA1c (r = 0.345, p = 0.002). ROC analysis was performed and the IMA test had a high diagnostic value in the diagnostic differentiation of T2DM patients with microalbuminuria. According to multiple logistic regression analysis, IMA levels were an independent risk factor for DN (p = 0.003). Conclusion: Our data showed that IMA values increased significantly in diabetic patients, especially in those with microalbuminuria, and this increase was correlated with UACR levels. This study has shown that increased IMA levels are an important marker for the presence and severity of microalbuminuria in diabetic patients and therefore may be important in the early detection of renal dysfunction in T2DM. We even think that it can be used as an important marker in the follow-up of diabetic patients, even before the development of microalbuminuria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus can cause complications, one of which is diabetic nephropathy. Parameters that indicate damage to the kidneys are the increase in creatinine and albumin levels. One of the traditional medicines used in the treatment of DM is red fruit (Pandanus conoideus Lam). Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the antihyperglycemic activity and the effect of red fruit oil administration on creatinine levels, microalbumin, and renal histopathology in STZ-NA-induced rats. Methods: This study used 30 male Wistar rats conditioned with type 2 DM with STZ-NA induction. The rats have grouped into 6 groups: group I, the normal control, group II, the negative control, group III, the positive control (pioglitazone 15 mg/kg BW), and groups IV, V, and VI, the red fruit oil respectively 1.35 mL/kg BW,2.7 mL/kg BW, and 5.4 mL/kg BW. Red fruit oil is made in traditional way and prepared for 2 days. Parameters tested in the study include blood glucose levels, creatinine, microalbumin, and kidney histopathology. Data analysis used the ANOVA method followed by Tukey's post hoc test. Results: The results showed that a red fruit oil dose of 5.4 mL/kg BW was an effective dose in reducing blood glucose levels, microalbuminuria, and serum creatinine, and repairing damage to the kidneys of rats. The percent activity of a red fruit oil dose of 5.4 mL/kgBW for blood glucose levels, microalbuminuria and serum creatinine were 84.69%, 76.30%, and 92.20% respectively. Conclusion: Red fruit oil can reduce blood glucose levels, creatinine levels, microalbumin and can repair kidney damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective To estimate the relationship among uric acid (UA), 24-h microalbumin (24 h-MAU) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in hypertensive patients. Method The study enrolled adult patients hospitalized in TEDA International Cardiovascular Hospital. The study was used to explore the correlation among UA, 24 h-MAU and eGFR. Univariate analysis was used to compare continuous or categorical data groups according to data type. Multivariate analysis was used to explore the correlation among UA, Log 24 h-MAU and eGFR by linear regression, and the relationship among UA, 24 h-MAU ≥ 30 mg/24 h (increased 24 h-MAU) and eGFR

Hypertensive nephropathy (HN) is characterized by kidney damage due to chronic high blood pressure. Podocytes play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of HN, thus, nephrin could be important in the early diagnosis of HN. The aim of the study was to investigate the association of urinary nephrin (u-nephrin) levels with clinical and laboratory characteristics in patients with HN and to test diagnostic relevance of u-nephrin as an early biomarker of HN. In this cross-sectional study, 114 subjects were recruited, 84 patients with chronic hypertension (CH) and 30 healthy controls. All patients with CH were classified according to the urinary microalbumin/creatinine ratio (UM/CR) and according to the chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage. Urine samples were collected to estimate the u-nephrin level by ELISA and to determine UM/CR. Blood samples were used for biochemical analyses. We found elevated u-nephrin in 78.3% of normoalbuminuric subjects with CH. The levels of u-nephrin increased gradually with the stage of CKD. ROC curve plotted for u-nephrin showed 89.7% sensitivity and 88.8% specificity, while UM/CR showed a sensitivity of 44.8% and specificity of 86.1% to detect HN in the early stage. It is concluded that u-nephrin can be useful as an early biomarker of HN.

Introduction. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the root cause of diabetic nephropathy, a condition affecting the kidneys (T2DM). The number of people who have type 2 diabetes is growing.

Diabetic nephropathy is one of the most common complications of diabetes mellitus. Early detection of the complication is required for proper effective and timely treatment. This article aims to determine the role of serum uric acid and microalbumin levels in diagnosing diabetic nephropathy. We collected the data from 100 cases with diabetic nephropathy and 100 with diabetes but without nephropathy controls. Fasting plasma glucose, postprandial blood glucose, uric acid, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels, microalbumin and eGFR levels were assessed in all the subjects. As a result, the independent sample t-test showed a significant difference in the levels of FBS, BUN, creatinine, uric acid and microalbumin levels among cases and controls (p-value<0.05). Pearson correlation showed a significant positive correlation between serum uric acid and microalbumin. ROC curve showed AUC for HbA1c, serum uric acid and microalbumin as 0.814, 0.713 and 0.706, respectively. In conclusion, serum uric acid can be used as a biomarker for the early detection of diabetic nephropathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To estimate the relationship among uric acid (UA), 24-h microalbumin (24 h-MAU) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in hypertensive patients. Method: The study enrolled adult patients hospitalized in TEDA International Cardiovascular Hospital. The study was used to explore the correlation among UA, 24 h-MAU and eGFR. Univariate analysis was used to compare continuous or categorical data groups according to data type. Multivariate analysis was used to explore the correlation among UA, Log 24 h-MAU and eGFR by linear regression, and the relationship among UA, 24 h-MAU ≥ 30 mg/24 h (increased 24 h-MAU) and eGFR < 90 ml·min−1·1.73 m−2 (mildly decreased eGFR) by logistic regression. Mediation effect analysis was used to explore the mediating effect of increased 24 h-MAU between UA and mildly decreased eGFR. Subgroup analysis was used to investigate the correlation among UA, 24 h-MAU and eGFR in different gender. Result: Seven hundred and thirty-three inpatients were enrolled in the study, including 257 patients with hyperuricemia. The level of UA was 377.8 ± 99.9 μmol/L in all patients enrolled, and it was about 50.1% higher in hyperuricemia group (482.3 ± 58.8 μmol/L vs. 321.4 ± 63.5 μmol/L, P < 0.001). The prevalence of hyperuricemia was 35.1% (95%CI 31.6–38.5%). The univariate regression analysis showed that UA was significant related to Log 24 h-MAU, increased 24 h-MAU, eGFR and mildly decreased eGFR. After adjusted confounding factors, UA was significant related to Log 24 h-MAU (β = 0.163, P < 0.001), eGFR (β = − 0.196, P < 0.001), increased 24 h-MAU (quantitative analysis: OR = 1.045, 95%CI 1.020–1.071, P < 0.001; qualitative analysis: OR = 2.245, 95%CI 1.410–3.572, P = 0.001), but had no significant relationship with mildly decreased eGFR. Mediating effect analysis showed that increased 24 h-MAU partially mediated the relationship between UA and mildly decreased eGFR (relative indirect effect: 25.0% and 20.3% in quantitative analysis and qualitative analysis respectively). In the subgroup analysis, the results were stable and similar to the analysis for entry patients. Conclusion: The prevalence of hyperuricemia was higher in hypertensive inpatients. UA was strongly associated with Log 24 h-MAU, eGFR and increased 24 h-MAU, while the correlation with mildly decreased eGFR was affected by multiple factors. And increased 24 h-MAU might be the intermediate factor between UA and mildly decreased eGFR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of an immunosensor‐based biosensor to detect the human serum albumin (HSA) was developed as a low‐cost and label‐free electrical detection through silicon nitride ion‐sensitive field‐effect transistor (Si3N4‐ISFET). This sensor was functionalized using 3‐Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES). The silanized Si3N4‐ISFET surface was covalently linked with antibody against HSA (Anti‐HSA) via glutaraldehyde (GA) to function as an HSA immunosensor for detection of HSA. The interaction between HSA and Anti‐HSA on this device is monitored by changing of the gate potential at a constant drain current of 50 μA. The relationship between HSA concentration and the gate potential change of HSA immunosensor is linear up to 500 μg/ml with a detection limit of 5 μg/ml. This HSA immunosensor offers a good precision in both intra‐ and inter‐assay with a relative standard deviation of 6.61%, 7.48%, 10.69%, and 9.67%, 13.16%, 15.52% for 100, 200, and 400 μg/ml. The average percentage of recovery assay for the concentration of 32.1, 102.1, and 202.1 μg/ml is 96.55%. This sensor also provides its satisfactory selectivity when testing with Bence Jones protein solution. In addition, the results that was done by this HSA immunosensor is similar to the conventional method using immunoturbidimetric detection with a linear regression of 0.99; n = 40 with a paired sample t‐test of <0.01. Thus, this HSA immunosensor could be applied to urinary microalbumin detection because of its simplicity and satisfactory correlation value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Aim This study aimed to determine the association of urinary microalbumin concentrations with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), metabolic syndrome (MetS), and its phenotypes. The optimum cut-off values of urinary microalbumin and microalbumin-to-creatinine ratio (MCR) for predicting the chance of having T2DM and MetS were also defined. Methods Adult men and women (n = 1192) participated in the sixth phase (2014-2017) of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS), with completed data, were included in the analyses. Odds ratios (ORs) (and 95% confidence intervals (CIs)) of T2DM, MetS, and its components across tertile categories of urinary microalbumin concentrations were estimated using multivariable logistic regressions. The optimal cut-off points of urinary microalbumin and MCR were determined using the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results Participants’ mean (±SD) age was 44.9 (±14.0) years, and 44.6% of the participants were men. The prevalence of microalbuminuria was 14.4%. Chance of having T2DM was significantly higher in the highest tertile of urinary microalbumin concentration (OR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.43-3.67) and MCR (OR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.15-2.89). Subjects with the highest urinary microalbumin concentration were more likely to have MetS (OR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.17-2.35), hypertension (OR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.16-2.30) and hyperglycemia (OR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.24-2.56). No significant association was observed between urinary microalbumin concentrations and other components of MetS. The optimal cut-off points of urinary microalbumin for predicting the chance of having T2DM and MetS were 14.0 and 13.6 mg/L, respectively. Conclusions Elevated spot urinary microalbumin, below the values defined as microalbuminuria, was associated with the chance of having T2DM and MetS.

Abstract Background The kidney is the main site for the removal of chromogranin A (CgA). Previous studies have found that patients with renal impairment displayed elevated concentrations of CgA in plasma and that CgA concentrations reflect a deterioration of renal function. In this study, we aimed to estimate serum CgA levels and to evaluate the role of serum CgA in the early diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Methods A total of 219 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were included in this cross-sectional study. These patients were classified into normoalbuminuria (n = 121), microalbuminuria (n = 73), or macroalbuminuria (n = 25) groups based on their urine albumin to creatinine ratios (UACRs). The degree of DN is reflected by UACR. A control group consisted of 45 healthy subjects. The serum CgA levels were measured by ELISA, and other key parameters were assayed. Results Serum CgA levels were higher in patients with T2DM than in control subjects, and a statistically significant difference among the studied subgroups regarding CgA was found (P

Objectives: Patients with Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD) and foot ulcer have poor prognosis. However, no study have found association of diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) with diabetic kidney dysfunction and their co-existing risk factors. Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study collected the data for 10,680 patients for 15 years. All variables were analyzed biochemically and statistically by standardized methodology. Results: Levels of HbA1c, creatinine, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, microalbuminuria, spot urine protein, and spot urine protein to creatinine ratio were higher among the groups with foot ulcers (p-value < 0.0001 for all). Average ABI was observed to be lower among the groups demonstrating nephropathy and DKD (p=0.025 and 0.022 respectively. DFU was significantly associated with HTN (odds ratio 2.2; 95% CI 1.66 to 2.9; p < 0.0001), nephropathy (odds ratio 4.77; 95% CI 3.53 to 6.5; p < 0.0001) and DKD (odds ratio 4.77 and 6.83; 95% CI 4.6 to 10.2; p < 0.0001). HbA1c of 7.8% was 60% sensitive and 52% specific for the development of DFU. Creatinine of 1.2 mg/dl was 75% sensitive and 48% specific for DFU. Spot urine protein excretion from nephrons of 35 mg/dl was 88% sensitive and 90% specific for the development of DFU. Conclusion: Nephropathy/DKD are risk factors for the development of DFU. With optimal diabetes control, regular and routine assessment of the feet and early screening of diabetic patients for neuropathy, nephropathy, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and other diabetic complications are essential. Doi: 10.28991/SciMedJ-2021-0304-6 Full Text: PDF

The instability of human serum albumin (HSA) in urine samples makes fresh urine a requirement for microalbumin analyses using immunoturbidimetry. Here, we determined the ability of an aptasensor-based fluorescent platform to detect microalbumin in old, boric acid-preserved urine samples. Our results show that the cleavage site of protease enzymes on urine albumin protein differed from the binding position of the aptamer on HSA protein, suggesting the aptasensor may be effective for albumin detection in non-fresh urine. Furthermore, the addition of boric acid in urine samples over a short term (at ambient temperature (Ta) and 4 °C), long term (−20 and −80 °C), and following freeze–thawing (1–3 cycles) did not significantly affect albumin stability, as analyzed using the aptasensor. Therefore, boric acid stabilized has in urine stored over a short- and long-term. Thus, the aptasensor developed by us is applicable for HSA detection in boric acid-preserved urine that has been stored for 7-d at Ta and 4 °C, and in the long-term at −80 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by persistence hyperglycemia resulting from the defects in insulin secretion, action or both. Diabetes prevalence is rapidly increasing, especially in urban India. The changing lifestyle has majorly contributed to the increasing prevalence of diabetes. Aim: To determine the incidence of microalbuminuria and its correlation with age, sex, duration, Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Postprandial Blood Sugar (PPBS) and Body Mass Index (BMI). Also to detect the presence of vascular complications using Ankle Brachial Index (ABI), Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV), Augmentaion Index (AI) and microalbuminuria. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in Shri B.M. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Vijayapura, Karnataka, India from March 2018 to June 2018. The study included assessment of blood glucose level both fasting blood sugar and postprandial blood sugar, microalbumin levels in 100 known diabetic patients and also ABI, PWV and AI were measured using periscope instrument. Analytical test to measure the differences between two means of the two groups independent t-test was applied and multiple regressoon analysis was done. Results: Out of total 100 subjects 59% were males and 41% were females. The correlation of microalbuminuria with factors like, duration of diabetes, FBS, PPBS, PWV and AI was statistically significant with a p-value of <0.05 in this study. The correlation of duration of diabetes with factors like age, BMI, microalbuminuria was statistically significant with a p-value of <0.05. Conclusion: This study confirmed that incidence of microalbuminuria increases with duration of diabetes, poorly controlled blood sugar levels. Microalbuminuria, ABI, PWV and AI are the reliable, non invasive and simple methods used for the screening of vascular complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterised by persistence hyperglycaemia resulting from the defects in insulin secretion, action or both. Diabetes prevalence is rapidly increasing, especially in urban India. The changing lifestyle has majorly contributed to the increasing prevalence of diabetes. Aim: To determine the incidence of microalbuminuria and its correlation with age, sex, duration, Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Postprandial Blood Sugar (PPBS) and Body Mass Index (BMI). Also to detect the presence of vascular complications using Ankle Brachial Index (ABI), Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV), Augmentation Index (AI) and microalbuminuria. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in Shri B.M. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Vijayapura, Karnataka, India, from March to June 2018. The study included assessment of blood glucose level both FBS and PPBS, microalbumin levels in 100 known diabetic patients and also ABI, PWV and AI were measured using periscope instrument. Analytical test to measure the differences between two means of the two groups independent t-test was applied and multiple regressoon analysis was done. Results: Out of total 100 subjects, 59% were males and 41% were females. The correlation of microalbuminuria with factors like, duration of diabetes, FBS, PPBS, PWV and AI was statistically significant with a p-value of

Two types of cardiac disorders, viz Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and acquired valvular disease, were diagnosed in dogs. Thirty nonazotemic dogs with clinical signs suggestive of cardiovascular dysfunction formed part of this study. Standard treatment regimens as required were administered during the study. Serum inosine, urine specific gravity, and microalbumin were the renal biomarkers evaluated to diagnose these dogs' cardiovascular renal axis disorder subtype H (CvRDH). A decline in serum inosine values on day 45 as compared to day 0 was suggestive of reduced renal functional status. Lowered urine-specific gravity in these non-azotemic dogs indicated renal dysfunction. Urine microalbumin values documented were consistent with microalbuminuria,which proved to be a reliable biomarker of glomerular damage and developing nephropathy. The renal biomarkers aided in the diagnosis of CvRDH in these dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to determine the association of urinary microalbumin concentrations with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), metabolic syndrome (MetS), and its phenotypes. The optimum cut-off values of urinary microalbumin and microalbumin-to-creatinine ratio (MCR) for predicting the chance of having T2DM and MetS were also defined. Methods: Adult men and women (n = 1192) participated in the sixth phase (2014-2017) of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS), with completed data, were included in the analyses. Odds ratios (ORs) (and 95% confidence intervals (CIs)) of T2DM, MetS, and its components across tertile categories of urinary microalbumin concentrations were estimated using multivariable logistic regressions. The optimal cut-off points of urinary microalbumin and MCR were determined using the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: Participants' mean (±SD) age was 44.9 (±14.0) years, and 44.6% of the participants were men. The prevalence of microalbuminuria was 14.4%. Chance of having T2DM was significantly higher in the highest tertile of urinary microalbumin concentration (OR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.43-3.67) and MCR (OR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.15-2.89). Subjects with the highest urinary microalbumin concentration were more likely to have MetS (OR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.17-2.35), hypertension (OR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.16-2.30) and hyperglycemia (OR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.24-2.56). No significant association was observed between urinary microalbumin concentrations and other components of MetS. The optimal cut-off points of urinary microalbumin for predicting the chance of having T2DM and MetS were 14.0 and 13.6 mg/L, respectively. Conclusions: Elevated spot urinary microalbumin, below the values defined as microalbuminuria, was associated with the chance of having T2DM and MetS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Podocyte injury has been reported as an early feature of DN therefore, the assessment of podocyte injury can be accomplished by estimation of podocalyxin in urine. This study aimed to estimate the urinary podocalyxin levels and to determine the sensitivity and specificity of this biomarker for early detection of DN.

Background: The kidney is the main site for the removal of chromogranin A (CgA). Previous studies have found that patients with renal impairment displayed elevated concentrations of CgA in plasma and that CgA concentrations reflect a deterioration of renal function. In this study, we aimed to estimate serum CgA levels and to evaluate the role of serum CgA in the early diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy (DN).Methods: A total of 219 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were included in this cross-sectional study. These patients were classified into normoalbuminuria (n = 121), microalbuminuria (n = 73), or macroalbuminuria (n = 25) groups based on their urine albumin to creatinine ratios (UACRs). The degree of DN is reflected by UACR. A control group consisted of 45 healthy subjects. The serum CgA levels were measured by ELISA, and other key parameters were assayed.Results: Serum CgA levels were higher in patients with T2DM than in control subjects, and a statistically significant difference among the studied subgroups regarding CgA was found (P < 0.05). The levels of serum CgA increased gradually with the degree of DN (P < 0.001). Serum CgA levels showed a moderate-intensity positive correlation with UACRs (P < 0.001). A cutoff level of 3.46 ng/ml CgA showed 69.86% sensitivity and 66.12% specificity to detect DN in the early stage.Conclusion: The levels of serum CgA increased gradually with the degree of DN and can be used as a biomarker in the early detection of DN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a leading cause of end-stage renal disease. Progressive damage and decline in the number of podocytes often occur in the early stages of DN. Thus, nephrin as a podocyte-specific protein may be regarded as a potential biomarker of early detection of DN. The aim of this study is to determine whether urinary nephrin is an earlier marker in DN than microalbuminuria and to test the significance of urinary nephrin as a marker for early detection of DN. Methods: Our cross-sectional study included 90 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), 30 patients with diagnosed DN and 60 patients without diagnosed DN. As a control group, we used 30 healthy subjects. All patients with T2DM were classified into three subgroups according to urinary microalbumin/creatinine ratio (UMCR): normoalbuminuric, microalbuminuric and macroalbuminuric patients. Nephrin in urine was measured by immunoenzyme assay, microalbumin with turbidimetric and creatinine with the photometric method. In blood sera, we measured a few standard biochemical parameters. Results: Nephrinuria was found to be present in 100% of patients with T2DM and macroalbuminuria, in 88% with microalbuminuria, as well as 82% of patients with T2DM and normoalbuminuria. A concentration of urinary nephrin was significantly increased in all groups of subjects with T2DM compared to the control group (p

Background: A number of studies have explored the link between neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs) and albumin, the main protein in human plasma. However, the results have been inconsistent, highlighting the necessity for a detailed systemic analysis., Methods: Utilizing data from the United Kingdom Biobank, we investigated the relationship between baseline levels of serum and urine albumin and the occurrence of common NDDs, including Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and dementia, employing Cox proportional hazards regression analysis., Results: Our results reveal that elevated baseline serum albumin levels are linked to a decreased risk of developing dementia (beta = -0.024, SE = 0.004, p  < 0.001). Subgroup and interaction analyses highlighted the impact of factors like body mass index (BMI), age, and alcohol consumption on this relationship. Specifically, participants with higher BMI, younger age, or lower alcohol intake exhibited a stronger protective effect. On the other hand, a higher baseline level of urine microalbumin was connected to a slight increase in dementia risk (beta = 0.003, SE = 3.30E-04, p  < 0.001). No significant associations were found between albumin levels and the risk of PD or ALS., Conclusion: Our study underscores the potential role of serum albumin as a biomarker associated with reduced dementia risk. These findings contribute valuable insights into the understanding of albumin's impact on NDDs, suggesting its utility as a biomarker for dementia in clinical settings and informing future therapeutic strategies in clinical trials., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2024 Cui, Li, Ke, Xiao, Wang, Jiang, Zheng, Lin, Huang and Shang.)

In this work, we synthesized a mesoporous BiZnSbV-G-SiO2 electrode-based sensor to detect microalbumin in urine, due to graphene based sensor system has a high electrocatalytic movement, electrical conductivity, abundance, and low cost. The synergistic effects of BiZnSbV-G-SiO2 nanocomposites advanced the electrochemical reaction and the affectability of the sensor. The synthesized active materials were characterized with surface morphology techniques, electron behavior controlling spectroscopy and electrochemical performance instrument, individually. Especially, chronoamperometric electrochemical evaluation system was used for the quantitative detection of microalbumin. We did electrochemical evaluations with a few possible compounds that regularly appear in urine (ascorbic acid, uric acid, glucose), which showed the good sensitivity and selectivity for the microalbumin detection. Under ideal conditions, the sensor can distinguish urinary microalbumin in a wide straight run from 0.01 to 0.1 μl with a location constraint of 0.01 μl. The excellent sensing performance of the mesoporous BiZnSbV-G-SiO2 active material was confirmed by analyzing microalbumin obtained from urine. The biosensor proposed here is specified in terms of simplification, low-cost, quick response, and precise screening for the microalbuminuria detection. This approach gives a promising stage for creating clinical point-of-care demonstrative applications. Additionally, the manufactured sensor had good selectivity, great reproducibility, great soundness, and good recuperation, which showed potential for applications in the clinical field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The instability of human serum albumin (HSA) in urine samples makes fresh urine a requirement for microalbumin analyses using immunoturbidimetry. Here, we determined the ability of an aptasensor-based fluorescent platform to detect microalbumin in old, boric acid-preserved urine samples. Our results show that the cleavage site of protease enzymes on urine albumin protein differed from the binding position of the aptamer on HSA protein, suggesting the aptasensor may be effective for albumin detection in non-fresh urine. Furthermore, the addition of boric acid in urine samples over a short term (at ambient temperature (Ta) and 4 °C), long term (−20 and −80 °C), and following freeze–thawing (1–3 cycles) did not significantly affect albumin stability, as analyzed using the aptasensor. Therefore, boric acid stabilized has in urine stored over a short- and long-term. Thus, the aptasensor developed by us is applicable for HSA detection in boric acid-preserved urine that has been stored for 7-d at Ta and 4 °C, and in the long-term at −80 °C.

Albuminuria is an excellent marker for early diagnosis of kidney and cardiovascular disease. Urine dipsticks that are widely used for rapid screening of albumin, lack sensitivity and specificity in lower concentrations (<300 mg/dL) which is clinically very significant for early diagnosis and often provide qualitative or semi-quantitative results. Precise quantification of lower concentrations is based on urinary analyzers that are not portable and cannot be used in point-of-care (PoC) settings. Here, the feasibility of an accessory free analytical device has been demonstrated using a smartphone. Amalgamation of a smartphone with a dipstick enables rapid and inexpensive diagnosis. It estimates not only the standard five concentrations used in dipstick method, but ten different concentrations. This enables accurate detection and quantification of albumin at lower concentration, clinically significant in the early diagnosis of kidney disease. In order to mitigate ambient light conditions and shadow of the smartphone, images of strips were taken in a smartphone camera with “Flash ON” mode. Machine learning algorithms were used to classify ten different albumin concentrations, corresponding to normal, micro albuminuria and macro albuminuria conditions. The study was performed under varying illumination conditions using multiple smartphones. Random Forest algorithm yields an accuracy of 92% in constant illumination and variable smartphone conditions. In variable smartphone and illumination condition, it yields 82% accuracy on the test data. The detection limit of the proposed method is 7.8125 mg / dL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is known to be one of the most common causes of end-stage renal disease. The disease is usually not detected on time, because of the large functioning reserve of the kidney. Currently used markers (serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, urea, and electrolytes) remain relatively normal even when more than 50% of the renal nephron is not functioning. The aim of this study was to determine the level of urinary N-acetyl-beta-d-glucosaminidase (NAG) in diabetic adults in comparison with some currently used markers. A total of 56 diabetic patients between the ages of 23 and 63 were used for this study and 30 nondiabetic between the ages of 18 and 62 were used as control. The diabetic patients were classified into three groups based on how long they have been diagnosed: 5 years (25). Spot midstream urine samples were collected into sterile containers, and blood samples were collected into plain tubes. All the analyses were done spectrophotometrically. Creatinine clearance was calculated using the Cockcroft–Gault Equation. There was a significant increase (P < 0.01) in NAG values of 2–5 years and above 5 years and control. The urinary microalbumin concentration of controls was significantly different (P < 0.05) only with those who have had DM for

Despite the advances in the treatment of chronic heart failure (CHF) the mortality of patients remains high. Development of renal dysfunction is one of the most common conditions comorbid with CHF. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent arrhythmia in clinical practice, the prevalence of which is increasing. The risk factors and mechanisms of AF development and renal dysfunction largely coincide. The markers of early renal damage in patients with CHF and AF are presented and analyzed. The data suggest that the degree of tubular damages assessed by β-2-microglobulin level in blood serum and AU is not always correlate with changes of GFR, but has significant variability.

Objective To investigate the relationship between urinary albumin and urinary creatinine ratio (UACR) and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods A total of 385 hospitalized T2DM patients in Shanghai Jiaotong University Sixth People′s East‑hospital from July 2019 to December 2019 were selected by random sampling method. All patients underwent standard cardiovascular reflex tests (CART) and recorded clinical and biochemical parameters. According to the diagnostic criteria of diabetic kidney disease (DKD), UACR was divided into normal albuminuria, microalbuminuria and a large amount of albuminuria group, and the correlation between urine albumin and CAN was observed. Kruskal‑Wallis test were used for comparison between groups. Count date using χ2 test. Spearman correlation analysis and binary logistic regression analysis were performed. Results The prevalence of CAN was 54.3% (209/385). Normal albuminuria combined with CAN accounted for 46.1% (119/258), microalbuminuria group accounted for 63.6% (56/88), and large albuminuria group accounted for 87.2% (34/39), the difference among three groups was statistically significant (P<0.01). Compared with normal albuminuria group, the Valsalva RR value, the deep respiratory heart rate were smaller in the microalbuminuria group and the large albuminuria group (P<0.05), while the vertical position blood pressure difference was larger (P<0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that UACR was negatively correlated with Valsalva R‑R value, deep respiratory heart rate difference, and deep respiratory heart rate (r=-0.236, -0.180 and -0.202, P<0.01), but positively correlated with the vertical position blood pressure difference (r=0.116 and 0.182, P< 0.03). Stepwise regression analysis was carried out while CAN as the dependent variable. Age, BMI, UACR and HOMA‑IR were independent factors of CAN. Conclusion UACR was associated with the occurrence of CAN in patientswith T2DM, and HOMA‑IR maybe a risk factor for the occurrence of CAN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the application value of Multi-Latex polygranular technique joint detection of kidney injury-related urinary microproteins in noninvasive diagnosis after renal transplantation. Methods Clinical data of 72 recipients undergoing renal transplantation were retrospectively analyzed. According to the level of serum creatinine (Scr), the recipients were divided into normal renal function group (group A, n=14), mild kidney injury (group B, n=37), and severe kidney injury group (group C, n=21). 20 healthy volunteers were selected as the healthy control group (HC group). The contents of urinary retinol binding protein (RBP), microalbumin (mAlb), IgG, transferrin (TRF), α1-microglobulin (MG), and β2-MG of subjects in each group were detected using the Multi-Latex polygranular technique. The correlation between urinary microproteins and Scr, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was analyzed. The differences of urinary microproteins in each group were compared. And the diagnostic value of single and joint detection of urinary microproteins was evaluated. Results Six kinds of urinary microproteins in HC group and group A were significantly lower than those in group B and group C, and six kinds of urinary microproteins in group B were significantly lower than those in group C (all P<0.01). Six kinds of urinary microproteins in renal transplant recipients were positively correlated with BUN. RBP, mAlb, α1-MG, and β2-MG were positively correlated with Scr. The correlations were statistically significant (P<0.001-0.05). The diagnostic value of joint detection of urinary microproteins is better than the detection of single index, among which TRF+mAlb+RBP+α1-MG quadruple detection had the highest diagnostic value. Conclusions Six kinds of urinary microproteins can be used as specific indicators to reflect graft renal function. The polygranular technique can simultaneously detect its contents and achieve noninvasive diagnosis. The diagnosis based on TRF+mAlb+RBP+α1-MG quadruple detection is expected to further improve the noninvasive diagnosis system after renal transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diabetic nephropathy is one of the most prevalent microvascular complications with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The most accurate and widely used marker for diabetic nephropathy is microalbuminuria and it is also regarded as conventional method. However, it is not a sensitive or specific nephropathy biomarker. Therefore, it is of interest to evaluate the role of podocalyxin to predict early onset of nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This cross - sectional study is conducted on 150 subjects. Among these 150 T2DM patients (Group 2: T2DM with normoalbuminuria and Group 3: T2DM with microalbuminuria) and 50 were age, gender and BMI matched healthy controls (Group 1). The biochemical and experimental parameters was analyzed. T2DM patients have higher levels of urine podocalyxin. This level was significantly elevated in patients with T2DM with microalbuminuria than normoalbuminuria. Urinary podocalyxin levels and HbA1c were found to be positively correlated. Thus, urinary podocalyxin is useful as early predictable marker for nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus., (© 2023 Biomedical Informatics.)

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) from extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been proposed as promising biomarkers for a number of diseases. In this study, their potential as urine-based biomarkers of diabetic nephropathy (DN) was assessed. MiRNAs were profiled in urinary EVs from 160 fasting subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and in T2DM patients with either microalbumininuria (MIC) or macroalbuminuria (MAC). A total of 73 miRNAs detected in urinary EVs (NGT) were predicted to target important functions for kidney homoeostasis, thereby validating their use as indicators of kidney dysfunction. Indeed, a urinary EV miRNA signature was found to comprise increased levels of let-7i-3p, miR-24-3p and miR-27b-3p, and decreased levels of miR-15b-5p, to identify patients with MIC. ROC curve analysis confirmed this ability to identify MIC in normo-albuminuria T2DM (T2DM-NA) patients and to differentiate between MAC and T2DM patients. These miRNAs were also predicted to target protein networks involved in the Wnt/β-catenin signalling cascade, activin receptor signalling and cell differentiation/proliferation, and correlated with eGRF, HbA 1c , serum creatinine, urea, albumin and blood pressure. Concentrations of miR-30a-5p were specifically modified in urinary EVs from patients with MAC, but not MIC, suggesting that miR-30a-5p could be related to severe kidney damage. Urinary EV miRNAs correlate with the degree of MIC. As they are also thought to regulate pathways that are targets of pharmacological agents to prevent DN (reticulum stress, activin receptors), they may also serve as non-invasive 'liquid biopsies' to stratify patients at risk of developing MAC and to monitor treatment efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is known to be one of the most common causes of end-stage renal disease. The disease is usually not detected on time, because of the large functioning reserve of the kidney. Currently used markers (serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, urea, and electrolytes) remain relatively normal even when more than 50% of the renal nephron is not functioning. The aim of this study was to determine the level of urinary N-acetyl-beta-d-glucosaminidase (NAG) in diabetic adults in comparison with some currently used markers. A total of 56 diabetic patients between the ages of 23 and 63 were used for this study and 30 nondiabetic between the ages of 18 and 62 were used as control. The diabetic patients were classified into three groups based on how long they have been diagnosed: <2 years (25), 2-5 years (30), and >5 years (25). Spot midstream urine samples were collected into sterile containers, and blood samples were collected into plain tubes. All the analyses were done spectrophotometrically. Creatinine clearance was calculated using the Cockcroft-Gault Equation. There was a significant increase (P < 0.01) in NAG values of 2-5 years and above 5 years and control. The urinary microalbumin concentration of controls was significantly different (P < 0.05) only with those who have had DM for <2 years. Urinary creatinine concentration of control was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than values of all the diabetic groups. There was a significant increase (P < 0.01) in creatinine clearance of control group and those who have had DM for <2 years. It is thus concluded that urinary NAG can be used as an early marker in the diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy since urinary NAG increases first before the other markers analyzed in this current study begins to increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most important complications of diabetes mellitus. Now-a-days, cystatin C (CysC) is introduced as a new marker for diagnosis of renal damages; however, use of this marker in clinical laboratories is still controversial. The present study was aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum CysC for early detection or monitoring treatment of kidney damages in the Kurdish people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Materials and Methods: Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated by Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula. Serum CysC and urine microalbumin were also measured in 126 diabetic and healthy subjects. Blood glycated hemoglobin (Hb) also measured in all healthy and diabetic patients. Two independent samples t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test, one-way ANOVA, and Kruskal-Wallis test, as well as Pearson/Spearman correlation coefficient statistical tests were used as appropriate. Results: Serum CysC was higher (1312.41 ng/ml) in diabetic patients with GFR

Despite the advances in the treatment of chronic heart failure (CHF) the mortality of patients remains high. Development of renal dysfunction is one of the most common conditions comorbid with CHF. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent arrhythmia in clinical practice, the prevalence of which is increasing. The risk factors and mechanisms of AF development and renal dysfunction largely coincide. The markers of early renal damage in patients with CHF and AF are presented and analyzed. The data suggest that the degree of tubular damages assessed by b-2-microglobulin level in blood serum and AU is not always correlate with changes of GFR, but has significant variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a sight threatening complication of diabetes mellitus and is one of the leading causes of acquired blindness in adults. Various precipitating factors such as duration of disease, glycemic control, dyslipidemia, hypomagnesemia and microalbuminuria have been implicated in the development and progression of diabetic retinopathy. This study is an attempt to evaluate the diagnostic value of HbA1c, serum magnesium, microalbuminuria in the onset & progression of Diabetic Retinopathy. Aim: The aim of the study was to find the association between serum magnesium, HbA1c, lipid profile and microalbuminuria in diabetic retinopathy Settings and Design: In this cross-sectional study, 30 diabetic patients with retinopathy, 30 diabetic patients without retinopathy, and 30 age & sex matched controls were selected. Methods and Materials: The serum from these patients was used for the estimation of fasting blood sugar, magnesium, total cholesterol and triglyceride. Two ml of blood, collected in vacutainers containing EDTA was used for the estimation of HbA1c. The random, midstream urine sample (10ml) was collected in sterile containers and assayed for microalbumin and urinary creatinine. Statistical Analysis: The Independent-Samples t-test procedure was used to compare the mean for two groups of cases. The One-Way ANOVA was used for one-way analysis of variance for a quantitative dependent variable by a single factor (independent) variable. The correlation between the parameters was worked out using Pearson’s correlation. p-value < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: There was a positive correlation between HbA1c & microalbuminuria (r=0.597) in diabetic patients with retinopathy & negative correlation between serum magnesium & HbA1c (r=-0.611), microalbuminuria (r= -0.437) in diabetic patients with retinopathy. Conclusion: Regular monitoring of all diabetic patients with various biochemical parameters like HbA1c, magnesium & microabuminuria might reduce the onset & progression of microvascular complications.