Serum albumin

About: Serum albumin is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 16337 publications have been published within this topic receiving 516395 citations. The topic is also known as: blood albumin & ANALBA.

Increased serum albumin, gamma globulin, immunoglobulin IgG, and IgG2 and IgG4 in autism.

Abstract: Background. Research on the biological pathophysiology of autism has found some evidence that immune alterations may play a role in the pathophysiology of that illness. As a consequence we expected to find that autism is accompanied by abnormalities in the pattern obtained in serum protein electrophoresis and in the serum immunoglobulin (Ig) and IgG subclass profile.Method. We examined whether subjects with autism showed changes in total serum protein (TSP) and the serum concentrations of albumin, α1 globulin, α2 globulin, β globulin and γ globulins, IgA, IgM and IgG and the IgG subclasses IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4, compared with normal controls.Results. We found significantly increased concentrations of TSP in autistic subjects, which were attributable to increased serum concentrations of albumin and γ globulin. Serum IgG, IgG2 and IgG4 were also significantly raised. In autism there were significant and positive correlations between social problems and TSP and serum γ globulin and between withdrawal symptoms and TSP and serum albumin and IgG.Conclusions. The results suggest that autism is characterized by increased TSP, a unique pattern obtained in serum protein electrophoresis, i.e. increased serum albumin and IgG, and by a specific IgG subclass profile, i.e. increased serum IgG2 and IgG4. The increased serum concentrations of IgGs in autism may point towards an underlying autoimmune disorder and/or an enhanced susceptibility to infections resulting in chronic viral infections, whereas the IgG subclass skewing may reflect different cytokine-dependent influences on autoimmune B cells and their products.

Binding of Perfluorocarboxylates to Serum Albumin: A Comparison of Analytical Methods

Abstract: Perfluorochemicals are globally pervasive contaminants that are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic Perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) with 8−13 carbons accumulate in the liver and blood of aquatic organisms; PFCA−protein interactions may explain this accumulation pattern Here, the interactions between PFCAs with 8−11 carbons and serum albumin are examined using three experimental approaches: surface tension titrations, 19F NMR spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy Surface tension titrations indicate complex formation at high (mM) PFCA concentrations Secondary association constants ranging from 102 to 104 M−1 were determined from 19F NMR titrations at high PFCA:albumin mole ratios Fluorescence measurements indicate that PFCA−albumin interactions alter the protein conformation at low PFCA:albumin mole ratios (up to 5:1) and suggest two binding classes with association constants around 105 and 102 M−1 While 19F NMR and fluorescence provide both qualitative and quantitative information about PF

Thermosensitive and Salt-Sensitive Molecularly Imprinted Hydrogel for Bovine Serum Albumin

Abstract: A novel stimuli-responsive protein imprinted polymer for selective recognition of bovine serum albumin is presented. N-[3-(Dimethylamino)propyl]-methacrylamide, which is positively charged in neutral solution and is able to self-assemble onto the template protein through electrostatic interaction, was chosen as the functional monomer. Polymerization was carried out in the presence of N-isopropylacrylamide as an assistant monomer, which resulted in a stimuli-responsive protein imprinted polymer. The template proteins were easily removed by treatment with 500 mmol L(-1) NaCl solution. The influences of the external stimuli, such as temperature and ionic strength, on the polymer affinity were investigated, and a clear conformational memory was observed. The association constant ( Ka) and binding capacity ( Qmax) for the specific interaction between the protein imprinted polymer and the template protein were determined by Scatchard plots and found to be 9.6 x 10(4) L mol(-1) and 4.7 micromol g(-1), respectively. Several proteins different in molecular weight and isoelectric point were employed as reference, and it was shown that the charge effect and the shape memory effect were the major factors affecting the imprint formation and template recognition. Finally, this imprinted polymer was used to purify the bovine serum albumin from the protein mixture and real sample, which demonstrated its high selectivity.

Serum Albumin Concentration and Clinical Assessments of Nutritional Status in Hospitalized Older People: Different Sides of Different Coins?

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: Malnutrition is common in hospitalized older people, and some have advocated routine nutritional screening. Serum albumin and clinically based measures such as the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) are two potential methods of assessing nutritional status in hospitalized older people. Although both measures are strongly associated with prognosis, it is not clear whether they measure similar or different clinical constructs. Our goal was to assess the degree of clinical concordance between these measures. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: The inpatient medical service of a university teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred eleven older (aged ≥70) patients. MEASUREMENTS: We independently measured serum albumin and performed the SGA on 311 older medical patients (aged ≥70) shortly after hospital admission. The SGA classified patients as well nourished, moderately malnourished (generally 5% weight loss with mild examination findings), or severely malnourished (generally>10% weight loss with marked findings) based on findings from a directed history and examination. We compared the distribution of clinical rating in patients with differing albumin levels and examined diagnostic test characteristics of albumin as a predictor of malnutrition as diagnosed on clinical examination. RESULTS: The mean age of subjects was 79.9; 64% were women, 42% were African American. Discordance between albumin and the SGA was common. For example, 38% of patients with albumin levels of 4.0 g/dL or higher were at least moderately malnourished on the SGA, whereas 28% of patients with albumin levels lower than 3.0 g/dL were rated as well nourished. No choice of albumin level was associated with simultaneously acceptable sensitivity and specificity as a predictor of SGA ratings. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for albumin level as a predictor of SGA rating was 0.58, suggesting that the ability of either measure to predict the other measure is only marginally better than chance. CONCLUSIONS: Albumin levels and clinical assessments, two possible measures of nutritional status in hospitalized older people, are often discordant. To some extent, this reflects limitations in both measures as markers of nutritional status. However, it also demonstrates that, in this population, albumin and clinical assessments of nutritional status reflect fundamentally different clinical processes. J Am Geriatr Soc 50:631–637, 2002.