Dysregulation of metalloproteins in ischemic heart disease patients with systolic dysfunction.

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Metalloproteins have been linked to human health and diseases. The molecular functions of metalloproteins in IHD is not well understood and require further exploration. The objective of this study was to find out the role of metalloproteins in the pericardial fluid of IHD patients having normal (EF > 45) and impaired (EF < 45) left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). IHD patients were grouped into two categories: LVEF<45 (n = 12) and LVEF >45 (n = 33). Pooled samples of pericardial fluid were fractionated by using ZOOM-isoelectric focusing (IEF) followed by further processing using one-dimensional gel electrophoresis (1D SDS-PAGE) and filter-aided sample preparation (FASP). Tryptic peptides of each fraction and differential bands were then analyzed by nano-LC-ESI-MS/MS. Protein identification was performed through a Mascot search engine using NCBI-Prot and SwissProt databases. A total of 1082 proteins including 154 metalloproteins were identified. In the differential bands, 60 metalloproteins were identified, while 115 metalloproteins were identified in all ZOOM-IEF fractions. Twelve differentially expressed metalloproteins were selected in the intense bands according to their molecular weight (MW) and isoelectric point (pI). The 12 differentially expressed metalloprotein includes ceruloplasmin, Prothrombin, Vitamin K-dependent protein, Fibulin-1, Ribosomal protein S6 kinase alpha-6, nidogen, partial, Serum albumin, Hemopexin, C-reactive protein, Serum amyloid P-component, and Intelectin-1 protein which were all up-regulated while serotransferrin is the only metalloprotein that was down-regulated in impaired (LVEF<45) group. Among the metalloproteins, Zn-binding proteins are 36.5 % followed by Ca-binging 32.2 %, and Fe-binging 12.2 %. KEGG, pathway analysis revealed the association of ceruloplasmin and serotransferrin with the ferroptosis pathway. In conclusion, 154 metalloproteins were identified of them the Zn-binding protein followed by Ca-binding and Fe-binding proteins were the most abundant metalloproteins. The two metalloproteins, the Cu-binding protein ceruloplasmin, and Fe-binding protein serotransferrin are involved in the ferroptosis pathway, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death that has been linked to cardiac pathology, especially in IHD patients having impaired systolic (LVEF<45) dysfunction. However, further research is required to validate these findings.

Metaproteomics reveals the structural and functional diversity of Dermatocarpon miniatum (L.) W. Mann. Microbiota.

Metaproteomics is a strategy to understand the taxonomy, functionality and metabolic pathways of the microbial communities. The relationship among the symbiotic microbiota in the entire lichen thallus, Dermatocarpon miniatum, was evaluated using the metaproteomic approach. Proteomic profiling using one-dimensional SDS-PAGE followed by LC-MS/MS analysis resulted in a total of 138 identified proteins via Mascot search against UniRef100 and Swiss-Prot databases. In addition to the fungal and algal partners, D. miniatum proteome encompasses proteins from prokaryotes, which is a multifarious community mainly dominated by cyanobacteria and proteobacteria. While proteins assigned to fungus were the most abundant (55 %), followed by protists (16 %), bacterial (13 %), plant (11 %), and viral (1 %) origin, whereas 4 % remained undefined. Various proteins were assigned to the different lichen symbionts by using Gene Ontology (GO) terms, e.g. fungal proteins involved in the oxidation-reduction process, protein folding and glycolytic process, while protists and bacterial proteins were involved in photosynthetic electron transport in photosystem II (PS II), ATP synthesis coupled proton transport, and carbon fixation. The presence of bacterial communities extended the traditional concept of fungal-algal lichen symbiotic interaction.

Pericardial fluid proteomic label-free quantification of differentially expressed proteins in ischemic heart disease patients with systolic dysfunction by nano-LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis.

Left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) is common in patients with pre-existing ischemic heart disease (IHD) and myocardial infarction. An untargeted proteomic approach is used to improve the understanding of the molecular mechanisms associated with LVSD and to find out potential proteomic signatures in pericardial fluid. The pericardial fluid of IHD (n = 45) patients was grouped into two categories according to the left ventricular ejection fraction, LVEF ≥45 (n = 33) and LVEF <45 (n = 12), and analyzed by using nano-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (nano-LC-MS/MS) technique. The nano-LC-MS/MS analysis resulted in the identification of 709 pericardial fluid (PF) proteins in both normal and impaired systolic functional groups (LVEF ≥45 vs. LVEF <45). Sixteen proteins were found to be differentially expressed (p < 0.05, fold change >2) including 12 down-regulated and 4 up-regulated in the impaired systolic functional group (LVEF <45) compared to the normal group (LVEF ≥45). Among the differentially expressed proteins the inflammatory marker albumin, atherosclerosis marker apolipoprotein A-IV and hedgehog-interacting protein marker of angiogenesis were predominantly associated with the impaired LVEF <45 group. KEGG pathway analysis revealed that the hedgehog (Hh) signalling pathway is up-regulated in LVSD reflecting the underlying molecular and pathophysiological processes.

Outcome of 7-S, TQM technique for healthcare waste management.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the present waste management system of healthcare facilities (HCFs) attached with Shalamar Hospital, Lahore by applying the 7-S technique of Total Quality Management (TQM) and to find out the outcome after imparting training. STUDY DESIGN: Interventional quasi-experimental study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The Shalamar Hospital, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, November, 2009 to November, 2010. METHODOLOGY: Mckinsey's 7-S, technique of TQM was applied to assess the 220 HCFs from Lahore, Gujranwala and Sheikhupura districts for segregation, collection, transportation and disposal (SCTD) of hospital waste. Direct interview method was applied. Trainings were provided in each institution. After one year action period, the status of four areas of concern was compared before and after training. The parameters studied were segregation, collection, transportation and disposal systems in the 220 HCFs. Each of these were further elaborated by strategy, structure, system, staff, skill, style and stakeholder/shared value factors. Standard error of difference of proportion was applied to assess significance using 95% confidence level. RESULTS: There was marked improvement in all these areas ranging from 20% to 77% following a training program of 3 months. In case of disposal of the waste strategy, structure and system an increase of 60%, 65% and 75% was observed after training. CONCLUSION: The 7-S technique played a vital role in assessing the hospital waste management system. Training for the healthcare workers played a significant role in healthcare facilities.