ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Serious burn injury leads to oxidative stress resulting in production of meta- and ortho-tyrosine, while para-tyrosine is the physiological isoform. Our aim was to investigate the metabolism of these tyrosine isoforms following major burn injury. METHODS: Fifteen patients requiring intensive care were followed for 5 consecutive days after major burn injury. Serum and urine concentrations of para-, meta-, and ortho-tyrosine were measured with high performance liquid chromatography. Fifteen healthy matching individuals were invited as control group. RESULTS: Median serum concentration of normal isoform para-tyrosine decreased in burned patients between days 2 and 5 (p < 0.01). Mean meta-, and ortho-tyrosine levels were significantly higher in patients compared to controls in the same time period (p < 0.05). Renal excretion of para-tyrosine increased significantly in our observation period (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Pathologic isoforms of tyrosine accumulate in serum meanwhile the level of normal isoform decreases possibly due to belated enhanced renal excretion or, to decreased synthesis after major burn injury.
Subject(s)
Biomarkers , Burns/metabolism , Tyrosine/metabolism , Burns/blood , Burns/etiology , Burns/urine , Case-Control Studies , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Disease Susceptibility , Female , Humans , Male , Metabolomics/methods , Oxidative Stress , Renal Insufficiency/diagnosis , Renal Insufficiency/etiology , Renal Insufficiency/metabolism , Time Factors , Tyrosine/analogs & derivatives , Tyrosine/biosynthesisABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Vitamin D is important in normal brain development. In animals low vitamin D level is associated with brain morphological alterations including enlargement of the brain. Whether a similar association exists in humans is unknown. Here we investigated the relationship between vitamin D and total intracranial volume as well as total volume of the cortical grey and cerebral white matter and that of the ventricles in young healthy women. METHODS: To assess volumes we applied semi-automatic user-independent MR volumetry. For the vitamin D measurements automated electrochemiluminescence immunoassay was used. RESULTS: We found a significant negative correlation between vitamin D and total intracranial volume as well as total cortical grey and cerebral white matter volumes. DISCUSSION: This association may reflect a trait-like relationship between vitamin D and brain size possibly determined in early development.
