Human urinary epidermal growth factor: effects of age, sex and pregnancy

Urinary concentrations of immunoreactive human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) were determined by specific homologous radioimmunoassay in 169 healthy men (aged 20-69 years), 275 healthy women (20-8 years). healthy women (20-68 years) and 413 pregnant women (20-39 years). Relative hEGF concentrations in urine (micrograms/g creatinine) decreased significantly in both sexes between 24 and 64 years of age. The relative concentrations of hEGF in urine were significantly higher in women than in men at ages 20-69 years. The mean values of relative urinary hEGF concentrations in pregnant women in their twenties and thirties (30.0 +/- 0.7 micrograms/g creatinine and 29.6 +/- 1.2 micrograms/g creatinine) were significantly higher than those in age-matched nonpregnant women (27.3 +/- 1.8 micrograms/g creatinine and 22.8 +/- 0.7 micrograms/g creatinine). Among the trimesters, it was highest in the 2nd trimester of women in the twenties and thirties (33.4 +/- 1.3 micrograms/g creatinine and 31.7 +/- 1.9 micrograms/g creatinine). The significance of the increased urinary excretion of hEGF (micrograms/g creatinine) in pregnancy is not known. Further studies are required to find a source of hEGF in urine and a possible relation between increased hEGF excretion and fetoplacental growth and development.     

Age-dependent excretion of alanine aminopeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase in human urine

Urinary excretion of alanine aminopeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase was determined in gel-filtered samples of morning random urine specimens of 442 subjects of various ages (5 days to 58 years). Enzyme excretion related to urinary creatinine (enzyme/creatinine ratio; U/mmol creatinine) significantly decreased with increasing age. Sex-related differences of some enzyme excretions were found in age groups over 6 years. From these investigations, we calculated upper reference intervals (97.5 percentiles) for 5 age-dependent groups of children and adolescents and for one group of adults.     

Screening for neuroblastoma in the north of England.

OBJECTIVE--To determine the feasibility of establishing a system of screening for neuroblastoma. DESIGN--Prospective study of mass screening in four clearly defined geographical areas. SETTING--Four health districts of the Northern region of England. SUBJECTS--20,829 babies aged 6 months, 92% of target population. INTERVENTIONS--Collection of urine on filter paper for analysis of content of homovanillic and vanillylmandelic acid in relation to urinary creatinine concentrations. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Derivation of reference range. Identification of babies with homovanillic or vanillylmandelic acid > 3 SD above the mean (positive cases). Investigation of positive cases for evidence of neuroblastoma. RESULTS--The upper limit of normal (3 SD above the mean) for vanillylmandelic acid was 15 mumol/mmol creatinine and for homovanillic acid 24 mumol/mmol creatinine. Of the 20,829 babies screened, 2537 (12.2%) required a second sample to be taken because the first sample was inadequate. Of these, 527 (2.5%) provided a liquid urine specimen and 10 (0.04%) had positive results for neuroblastoma. Two of them had neuroblastoma (true positives) and eight did not (false positives). A further three children from the cohort were subsequently found to have neuroblastoma; they had raised homovanillic acid or vanillylmandelic acid values, or both, but screened negative at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS--Screening for neuroblastoma is possible in the health care system of the United Kingdom. Evaluation of the efficacy of screening in reducing the mortality from neuroblastoma requires a controlled trial.     

The occurrence of 4-methylthio-2-hydroxybutyrate in human urine

A method for determination of 4-methylthio-2-hydroxybutyrate and 4-methylthio-2-oxobutyrate in human urine has been devised, based on metoxime formation of the keto acid and a clean-up procedure using a strong anion-exchange resin AG 2 X 8 and ethyl acetate extraction. After alkylation, the compounds were quantified by GC, using a flame photometric sulfur-selective detector. A normal urinary excretion of 0.14 to 0.25 mmol/mol creatinine and 0.07 to 0.22 mmol/mol creatinine of the alpha-hydroxy and alpha-keto acid, respectively, was found, whereas a markedly elevated excretion of the hydroxy acid was noted in subjects with hypermethioninemia. The enzymatic reduction of 4-methylthio-2-oxobutyric acid by lactate dehydrogenase: NAD+ oxidoreductase (EC 1.1.1.17) was also studied. The Km and Kequil values for 4-methylthio-2-oxobutyrate were 1.41 mM and 0.92 X 10(8) M-1. The Vmax value of the enzyme at infinite concentrations of the two substrates was 7.2 mumol/s/mumol enzyme, which indicates low affinity and reduced catalytic activity compared to other known substrates of lactate dehydrogenase. The reaction product 4-methylthio-2-hydroxybutyrate was not inhibitory on the reaction. The M4 isoenzyme of lactate dehydrogenase (rabbit and pig muscle) possessed approximately 20% of the activity of the H4 isoenzyme (pig heart) for the substrate.     

Effect of difructose anhydride III on calcium absorption in humans

The effects of difructose anhydride III (DFAIII) on stimulating calcium absorption was investigated in humans. We studied changes in the time-course of characteristics urinary calcium excretion in 12 healthy men given 0.3, 1.0 or 3.0 g of DFAIII and 300 mg of calcium as calcium carbonate. In addition, urinary excretion and urine concentrations of creatinine and deoxypyridinoline were determined. Urine calcium excretion every 2 hours after the intake were higher over than that of the control subjects. The total amount of urinary calcium excretion for 10 hours was significantly greates in the subjects given 1.0 g or 3.0 g of DFAIII than that of the control subjects. However, there were no differences in the urine concentrations of creatinine and deoxypyridinoline between the subjects given DFAIII and the control subjects. These findings suggests that low dose of DFAIII had a stimulating effect on calcium absorption in humans.     

Long term renal outcome of childhood haemolytic uraemic syndrome.

OBJECTIVE--To evaluate the long term outcome of renal function in infants and children after diarrhoea associated haemolytic uraemic syndrome. SETTING--The Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, and the Royal Free Hospital, London. SUBJECTS--103 children with the syndrome who presented between 1966 and 1985; 88 attended for follow up investigations (40 male, 48 female) with a mean age 11.6 (range 5.2-22.6) years and a mean duration of follow up of 8.5 (range 5.1-21.3) years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Blood pressure, ratio of early morning urine albumin to creatinine concentration, glomerular filtration rate, and plasma renin activity. RESULTS--The mean (SD) systolic blood pressure standard deviation score was 0.38 (0.67) and diastolic blood pressure SD score was 0.10 (0.76). The geometric mean ratio of overnight urine albumin to creatinine concentration was 1.27 (range 0.03-48.2), significantly higher than the value observed in 77 normal children (0.32 (0.05-1.95), p less than 0.0001). Glomerular filtration rate estimated from the plasma clearance of chromium-51 EDTA was 95.1 (22.7) ml/min/1.73 m2 surface area, and 16 children had a rate of less than or equal to 80 ml/min/1.73 m2. Significant negative correlations were found between glomerular filtration rate and urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (r = -0.41, p less than 0.0001) and glomerular filtration rate and systolic blood pressure SD score (r = -0.48, p less than 0.0001). A significant positive correlation was found between urinary albumin to creatinine ratio and systolic blood pressure SD score (r = 0.25, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS--After an acute episode of diarrhoea associated haemolytic uraemic syndrome 31% (27/88) of children had an increased albumin excretion, 18% (16/88) had a reduced glomerular filtration rate and 10% (9/88) had both, in association with a higher systolic blood pressure, indicating considerable residual nephropathy in this group.     

The influence of urinary flow rate on mercury excretion in children

ProjectThere is limited literature concerning the effect of urinary flow rate on mercury excretion at low-level exposure. The aim of the present study is to examine the influence of urinary flow rate on mercury excretion in children. Also of interest is the influence of flow rate on creatinine excretion and creatinine-corrected mercury, which arisearises with spot urine samples.ProcedureA substudy of the New England Children's Amalgam Trial collected pairs of urine samples from children aged 10–16 years: a timed overnight collection and a spot daytime sample collected the following day. These samples were analyzed for mercury and creatinine concentration. Regression analysis was used to model the effect of urinary flow rate in the timed overnight samples. A paired t-test compared concentrations and creatinine-corrected mercury between overnight and daytime samples.ResultsCreatinine excretion rate (mg/h) increased significantly with urinary flow rate (mL/h), whereas creatinine concentration (g/L) decreased with flow rate. We found a non-significant increase in mercury excretion rate (ng/h) with flow rate, and mercury concentration decreased with flow rate. Mercury and creatinine concentrations were significantly higher in the overnight compared to daytime samples. For creatinine-corrected mercury, no significant impact of urinary flow rate was found.ConclusionsAlthough the creatinine excretion rate, and probably the mercury excretion rate, increased with urinary flow rate, the mercury/creatinine ratio seemed relatively unaffected by urinary flow rate.     

Free and protein-bound glutathione in normal and cataractous human lenses

Protein-bound glutathione was identified and measured in normal and cataractous human lenses. In a major group of cataracto us lenses the bound glutathione concentration was higher than normal. Study of normal lenses showed that their glutathione content is age-dependent, decreasing steadily from about 3.5mumol/g of lens at age 20 years to about 1.8mumol/g of lens at age 65 years. Cataract brings further decreases.     

Polyamine concentrations in red cells and urine of patients with chronic renal failure

Spermidine and spermine concentrations were measured in 6 healthy subjects, 18 patients with chronic renal failure and 6 patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. In nondialyzed patients with advanced renal failure (serum creatinine levels greater than 6 mg %), red cell spermidine concentrations were significantly higher than in normal subjects (54.8±14.5 vs. 24.8±63 SD nmoles/ml packed cells). However red cell spermine concentrations were unchanged as compared to normal subjects (18.7±7.3 vs. 12.4±3.4 nmoles/ml packed cells). In patients with serum creatinine levels below 6 mg%, neither red cell spermidine or spermine concentrations were significantly different from normal subjects. There was a significant correlation between red cell spermidine values and both serum urea and serum creatinine levels, but no correlations were observed for red cell spermine. Red cell spermidine values were also significantly higher in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis than in normal subjects. In each patient, red cell spermidine concentrations were no different after a hemodialysis treatment than immediately prior to dialysis. In urine, excretion rates of polyamines as well as the precursor diamine, putrescine, were lower in patients with chronic renal failure than in normal subjects. Hence in renal failure, one factor contributing to the accumulation of spermidine in red cells would appear to be a decrease in the urinary excretion of polyamines.     

Age-dependence of urinary normal and modified nucleosides in childhood as determined by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

Modified nucleosides have been characterized as tumor markers for a number of malignant diseases. In order to use these markers in children, the age-dependence of the nucleoside levels in healthy children has to be established and taken into account in diagnostic decisions. In this study, the levels of 12 normal and modified nucleosides in urine of 166 healthy children and adolescents with an age between 1 day and 19 years are determined by reversed-phase HPLC, and age-dependent reference ranges are defined. The urinary nucleoside concentrations are related to the creatinine concentrations, which allows the use of randomly collected urine samples. All nucleoside levels in urine of children decrease with age, most pronounced during the first 4 years of life, and the age-dependence of the reference values of the individual nucleosides can be approximated by a mathematical function y = b(0) + b(1) (1/x) with the regression coefficients b(0) and b(1,) the nucleoside levels y and the age x between 1 year and 19 years. In the very young children, the shifts in the nucleoside concentrations are more differentiated. Starting with low levels on the first day of life, the concentrations of all studied nucleosides rise up to an age of 1-2 months, when they reach their absolute maximum for all age periods, and then decrease.     

N tau-Ribosylhistidine, a novel histidine derivative in urine of histidinemic patients. Isolation, structure, and tissue level

On amino acid analysis of urine of histidinemic patients, an unidentified compound was eluted in a position between beta-aminoisobutyric acid and gamma-aminobutyric acid. This compound was purified to homogeneity from the urine by a combination of extraction with 80% ethanol, repeated column chromatography on Bio-Rad AG-50, and high performance liquid chromatography on a strongly cationic ion exchanger. The compound yielded free histidine on hydrolysis in an evacuated sealed tube with 0.1-6.0 M HCl at 145 degrees C for 5 h, but not at 100 degrees C for 24 h. This compound was determined to be N tau-ribosylhistidine by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopies. The urinary content of this material in normal and histidinemic children was 17.8 +/- 13.4 (n = 10) and 126 +/- 51 (n = 14) mumol/g creatinine (mean +/- S.D.), respectively, and were closely correlated with those of urinary histidine. The renal clearance value of N tau-ribosylhistidine in humans was 96% of that of creatinine. When rats were fed on diets rich in histidine, the urinary excretion of N tau-ribosylhistidine increased greatly and was well correlated with the intake of histidine.     

Identification and quantification of N(epsilon)-(Hexanoyl)lysine in human urine by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

The identification and quantification of N(epsilon)-(hexanoyl)lysine (N(epsilon)-HEL), which was found from the reactions between lipid hydroperoxide and lysine, from human urine was examined using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). The N(epsilon)-HEL in the partially purified urine fraction was identified using LC/MS/MS by several approaches including precursor/product ion scans. The peak found by the multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) of the collision-induced fragmentation of N(epsilon)-HEL was clearly observed in urine, and the elution position coincided with the synthetic standard N(epsilon)-HEL. The product, estimated N(epsilon)-HEL, was absorbed by a specific antibody to N(epsilon)-HEL. Moreover, N(alpha)-HEL, one of the plausible hexanoyl adducts from the reaction between the N(alpha) moiety of L-lysine and the peroxidized lipid, was hardly detected in urine samples, suggesting that the origin of the N(epsilon)-HEL is the peroxidized lipid-modified proteins but not artificial hexanoylated L-lysine. Using the MRM technique, the amount of urinary N(epsilon)-HEL from the control subjects (observed healthy) was estimated to be 1.58 +/- 0.23 mumol/mol of creatinine. A comparative study of the urinary N(epsilon)-HEL with an oxidative stress marker, 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine, showed a high correlation (r = 0.844) between the two biomarkers. Furthermore, the quantification of N(epsilon)-HEL in the control and diabetic urines revealed that the urinary N(epsilon)-HEL from diabetic subjects (3.21 +/- 0.65 mumol/mol of creatinine) was significantly higher than that from the control subjects.     

Renal function after long-term treatment with lithium.

Daily urine volumes, plasma creatinine concentrations, and creatinine clearance were measured in 106 patients with unipolar and bipolar affective disorders attending a "lithium" clinic. Urine volumes exceeded 3.51 in only six patients, plasma creatinine concentrations exceeded 150 mumol/1 (1.7 mg/100 ml) in only five, and creatinine clearance was below 50 ml/min in 16. Renal function was assessed by measuring creatinine clearance and renal tubular function, including response to 20 hours of water deprivation, in a representative sample of 30 patients from the lithium clinic and 30 psychiatric patients matched for age and sex who were taking other psychotropic drugs. Creatinine clearance and tubular function, including urine osmolality after water deprivation, were not significantly different between the two groups. Urinary excretion of arginine vasopressin (AVP), however, was much greater in the lithium-treated patients, who therefore had a diminished tubular responsiveness to AVP. The findings do not support suggestions that long-term lithium treatment results in seriously impaired renal function, renal damage, and polyuria. Compared with other series, however, the patients were being maintained with low serum lithium concentrations, which apparently area as effective prophylactically as higher concentrations.     

The source of urinary epidermal growth factor in humans

To clarify the source of human urine EGF, we studied EGF renal clearance in 20 healthy, young adult subjects. Immunoreactive EGF was measured hourly in EDTA plasma, heparin plasma, serum and urine of 12 males and 8 females during a 3 h study period. Plasma and urine creatinine and creatinine clearance were measured and calculated hourly. Mean (and SEM) creatinine clearance was similar in males and females (118 +/- 12 vs 105 +/- 6 ml/min). EGF was not detectable in plasma, whereas relatively high levels were measured in serum (2.5 +/- 0.25 vs 1.5 +/- 0.18 ng/ml in males and females respectively p less than 0.05). Urine EGF excretion averaged 1641 +/- 233 ng/h in males and 1507 +/- 191 ng/h in females (p greater than 0.05). A significant correlation was observed between urine creatinine and urine EGF concentrations in both male (r = 0.98, p less than 0.01) and female (r = 0.94, p less than 0.01) subjects. EGF immunoreactivity in urine and serum eluted from G-75 sephadex columns similarly to recombinant 6000 Mr hEGF. Urine excretion of EGF approximated 1.5 micrograms/h or 25 ng/mg creatine. The high concentrations of EGF found in urine in the face of non-detectable levels of EGF in plasma favor the hypothesis that EGF in urine is derived from kidney synthesis and secretion. The significant positive correlation between urine creatinine and urine EGF suggests a functional correlation between glomerular filtration and the process of tubular EGF excretion.     

Dietary sodium intake and age in spontaneously hypertensive rats: effects on blood pressure and sympathetic activity

Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) were placed on sodium restricted diets (9 and 17 mumol/g) or on a regular sodium diet (101 mumol/g) at 2, 4, 7, or 10 weeks of age, and continued until 16 weeks of age. Severe sodium restriction (9 mumol/g) initiated at 2 or 4 weeks of age prevented hypertension development in SHR and severely retarded growth. Hypertension development was attenuated when 9 mumol/g was initiated at 7 weeks of age, and was not affected when started at 10 weeks of age. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) in WKY receiving 9 mumol Na/g initiated at 2 and 4 weeks of age was below normal, but was not affected when this diet was given at 7 or 10 weeks of age. Less severe sodium restriction (17 mumol Na/g) resulted in a reduction in hypertension development when initiated at 2, 4, and 7 weeks of age, but not at 10 weeks of age. MAP was normal in WKY receiving 17 mumol Na/g at all ages of diet initiation. When the 9 or 17 mumol Na/g diet were initiated at 2, 4, and 7 weeks of age, the response of blood pressure to hexamethonium administration was blunted in SHR relative to both WKY receiving the same diet, and to control SHR receiving 101 mumol Na/g. We conclude that both WKY and SHR require a minimum amount of dietary sodium for normal growth and for the achievement of normal BP in WKY, and hypertension in SHR. This sodium requirement decreases with age. SHR and WKY exhibit similar sensitivities to sodium intake with respect to body weight, but the effects on BP are more pronounced in SHR. The BP lowering effects of dietary sodium restriction may be due to a blunting of the pressor effectiveness of the sympathetic nervous system.     

Equol producer status, salivary estradiol profile and urinary excretion of isoflavones in Irish Caucasian women, following ingestion of soymilk

Equol production, isoflavone excretion, and the salivary estradiol profile among 36 females, native Irish Caucasian volunteers following ingestion of 200mL soymilk is reported. The soymilk contained daidzein (73+/-6.7mg) and genistein (86+/-10.2mg). Volunteers provided personal and family medical history. Dietary analysis revealed that all volunteers regularly consumed soy-based or soy-supplemented food products. The mean age, mean age at menarche, and body mass index of volunteers were 46.6+/-12.3 years, 13.1 years and 26.1, respectively. The average number of children per volunteer was 2.13. Twelve (34%) of the volunteers were found to be first-degree relatives of breast cancer patients. Following consumption of the soymilk, equol was detected in the urine of 18 (51%) of the volunteers. Mean urinary daidzein and genistein concentrations during the hours following soymilk ingestion were 13.5 and 16.7microg/mg creatinine, respectively, however, some volunteers excreted little (less than 4.0microg/mg) or no isoflavone. Salivary estradiol in most (24) volunteers had decreased from 51.5+/-28.67pmol/L pre-ingestion to 29.75+/-16.13pmol/L 5h after drinking the soymilk. However, the salivary estradiol in 12 subjects (34%) increased from 33.76+/-13.4pmol/L to 137.4+/-65.64pmol/L over the same period. Individuals whose salivary estradiol increased had significantly less children (1.58 (P<0.05)), were more likely to (a) return urine samples with low isoflavone content (50.3% compared to 25%), (b) to be equol producers (67% compared to 41.7%), and (c) to be first-degree relatives of breast cancer patients (41.7% compared to 25%). Volunteers who reported a first-degree link to breast cancer were more likely to have a higher body mass index (29.0 compared to 26.1 (P<0.05)), to be equol producers (75% compared to 51%), and to excrete isoflavones in low quantities only (60% compared to 50%). First-degree relatives also had fewer children (1.75 (P<0.05)). The results indicate a significant, distinctive variation in equol production, isoflavone excretion and salivary estradiol profile among individual volunteers following ingestion of soymilk.     

Fecal Calprotectin in Healthy Children Aged 1-4 Years

Objective

Calprotectin has been well emulated recently in adults as well as in children. The aim of this study was to assess fecal calprotectin concentrations in healthy children aged from 1 to 4 years.

Methods

Volunteers were enlisted from 3 nurseries. A brief questionnaire was used to ensure these children meet the inclusion criteria, and some clinical and sociodemographic factors were collected. Anthro software (version 3.1) was used to calculated Length-for-age Z-scores (LAZ), weight-for-age Z-scores (WAZ), and weight-for-length Z-scores (WLZ) respectively. Fecal calprotectin was detected by a commercially available ELISA.

Results

In total 274 children were recruited, with age ranging from 1 to 4 years old. The median FC concentration was 83.19 μg/g [range 4.58 to 702.50 μg/g, interquartile range (IQR) 14.69–419.45 μg/g] or 1.92 log10 μg/g (range 0.66 log10 to 2.85 log10 μg/g, IQR 1.17 log10-2.62 log10 μg/g). All of the children were divided into three groups, 1–2 years (12–24 months), 2–3 years (24–36 months), 3–4 years (36–48 months), with median FC concentrations 96.14 μg/g (1.98 log10 μg/g), 81.48 μg/g (1.91 log10 μg/g), 65.36 μg/g (1.82 log10 μg/g), respectively. There was similar FC level between boys and girls. FC concentrations showed a downward trend by the growing age groups. A statistic difference was found in FC concentrations among groups 1–2 years, 2–3 years and 3–4 years (P = 0.016). In inter-groups comparison, a significant difference was found between children aged 1–2 years and children aged 3–4 years (P = 0.007). A negative correlation trend was found between age and FC concentration (Spearman''s rho = -0.167, P = 0.005) in all the participants. A simple correlation was performed among WLZ, WAZ, birth weight, or birth length with FC, and there was no correlation being observed.

Conclusion

Children aged from 1 to 4 years old have lower FC concentrations compared with healthy infants (<1years), and higher FC concentrations when comparing with children older than 4 years and adults.     

Hypoglycin A Content in Blood and Urine Discriminates Horses with Atypical Myopathy from Clinically Normal Horses Grazing on the Same Pasture

Hypoglycin A (HGA) in seeds of Acer spp. is suspected to cause seasonal pasture myopathy in North America and equine atypical myopathy (AM) in Europe, fatal diseases in horses on pasture. In previous studies, this suspicion was substantiated by the correlation of seed HGA content with the concentrations of toxic metabolites in urine and serum (MCPA-conjugates) of affected horses. However, seed sampling was conducted after rather than during an outbreak of the disease. The aim of this study was to further confirm the causality between HGA occurrence and disease outbreak by seed sampling during an outbreak and the determination of i) HGA in seeds and of ii) HGA and MCPA-conjugates in urine and serum of diseased horses. Furthermore, cograzing healthy horses, which were present on AM affected pastures, were also investigated. AM-pastures in Germany were visited to identify seeds of Acer pseudoplatanus and serum (n = 8) as well as urine (n = 6) from a total of 16 diseased horses were analyzed for amino acid composition by LC-ESI-MS/MS, with a special focus on the content of HGA. Additionally, the content of its toxic metabolite was measured in its conjugated form in body fluids (UPLC-MS/MS). The seeds contained 1.7–319.8 μg HGA/g seed. The content of HGA in serum of affected horses ranged from 387.8–8493.8 μg/L (controls < 10 μg/L), and in urine from 143.8–926.4 μg/L (controls < 10 μg/L), respectively. Healthy cograzing horses on AM-pastures showed higher serum (108.8 ± 83.76 μg/L) and urine concentrations (26.9 ± 7.39 μg/L) compared to control horses, but lower concentrations compared to diseased horses. The range of MCPA-carnitine and creatinine concentrations found in diseased horses in serum and urine were 0.17–0.65 mmol/L (controls < 0.01), and 0.34–2.05 μmol/mmoL (controls < 0.001), respectively. MCPA-glycine levels in urine of cograzing horses were higher compared to controls. Thus, the causal link between HGA intoxication and disease outbreak could be further substantiated, and the early detection of HGA in cograzing horses, which are clinically normal, might be a promising step in prophylaxis.     

Urinary iodide excretion measured with an iodide-selective ion electrode: studies on normal subjects of varying ages and patients with thyroid diseases

As a part of studies concerning clinical application of the measurement of urinary iodide with an iodide-selective ion electrode, we report here the reference values for the iodide content or concentration in morning spot urine specimens from normal subjects of varying ages and studies with patients with thyroid diseases in Japan. The number distribution of the iodide content or concentration in the morning specimens appeared logarithmic normal in adults, children and infants. Normal ranges found in 95 per cent of populations of healthy subjects were 5.3 to 62.0 mumoles/g Creatinine (Cr) for adults, 5.3 to 42 mumoles/g Cr for children, and 1.9 to 56 microM for infants, respectively. Urinary iodide concentrations in breast-fed infants varied widely compared with those in bottle-fed infants. Mean values were 16.4 microM for breast-fed infants and 8.6 microM for bottle-fed infants, and they were not statistically different. Urine samples from the infants with transient hypothyroidism, who had undergone amniofetography showed extraordinarily high iodide concentrations, even though they were measured at 20th, 29th and 30th days after birth. Although urinary iodide excretion in patients with simple goiter was within normal limits, the mean was statistically lower than that in normal controls (p less than 0.001). Because of the simplicity and rapidity of the electrode method, we strongly recommend it for use in examining iodide excretion in patients with various thyroid diseases.     

Measurement of endogenous lithium levels in serum and urine by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry: a method with potential clinical applications

A highly sensitive flameless atomic absorption method has been adapted for the determination of endogenous trace lithium levels in serum and urine. With ammonium nitrate as the only matrix modifier, serum levels of Li as low as 0.03 mumol/liter are measured accurately and there is no requirement for standard additions. The need for background correction during analysis was clearly established, and tungsten and Zeeman-effect background corrections were compared. The tungsten correction offered superior sensitivity and linearity of standards. Recoveries in urine and serum average 94.8 +/- 7.7 and 95.3 +/- 6.1% (+/- SD), respectively. The endogenous serum Li levels were 0.16 +/- 0.08 mumol/liter for normal subjects dwelling in the Denver metropolitan area. The mean 24-h excretion rate was 5.24 +/- 1.4 mumol/day. The mean fractional excretion of endogenous Li (clearance Li/clearance creatinine) was 23.2 +/- 3.0%, a value similar to values published for exogenously administered Li and measured by conventional methods.