TY - JOUR A1 - Danquah, Ina A1 - Dobrucky, C. Lydia A1 - Frank, Laura K. A1 - Henze, Andrea A1 - Amoako, Yaw A. A1 - Bedu-Addo, George A1 - Raila, Jens A1 - Schulze, Matthias Bernd A1 - Mockenhaupt, Frank P. A1 - Schweigert, Florian J. T1 - Vitamin A: potential misclassification of vitamin A status among patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension in urban Ghana JF - The American journal of clinical nutrition : a publication of the American Society for Nutrition, Inc. N2 - Background: Sub-Saharan Africa is facing a double burden of malnutrition: vitamin A deficiency (VAD) prevails, whereas the nutrition-related chronic conditions type 2 diabetes (T2D) and hypertension are emerging. Serum retinol a VAD marker increases in kidney disease and decreases in inflammation, which can partly be attributed to alterations in the vitamin A transport proteins retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and prealbumin. Kidney dysfunction and inflammation commonly accompany T2D and hypertension. Objective: Among urban Ghanaians, we investigated the associations of T2D and hypertension with serum retinol as well as the importance of kidney function and inflammation in this regard. Design: A hospital-based, case-control study in individuals for risk factors of T2D, hypertension, or both was conducted in Kumasi, Ghana (328 controls, 197 with T2D, 354 with hypertension, and 340 with T2D plus hypertension). In 1219 blood samples, serum retinol, RBP4, and prealbumin were measured. Urinary albumin and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) defined kidney function. C-reactive protein (CRP) >5 mg/L indicated inflammation. We identified associations of T2D and hypertension with retinol by linear regression and calculated the contribution of RBP4, prealbumin, urinary albumin, eGFR, and CRP to these associations as the percentages of the explained variance of retinol. Results: VAD (retinol <1.05 mu mol/L) was present in 10% of this predominantly female, middle-aged, overweight, and deprived population. Hypertension, but not T2D, was positively associated with retinol (beta: 0.12; 95% CI: 0.08, 0,17), adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic factors, anthropometric measurements, and lifestyle. In addition to RBP4 (72%) and prealbumin (22%), the effect of increased retinol on individuals with hypertension was mainly attributed to impaired kidney function (eGFR: 30%; urinary albumin: 5%) but not to inflammation. Conclusions: In patients with hypertension, VAD might be underestimated because of increased serum retinol in the context of kidney dysfunction. Thus, the interpretation of serum retinol in sub-Saharan Africa should account for hypertension status. KW - hypertension KW - inflammation KW - kidney dysfunction KW - type 2 diabetes KW - vitamin A deficiency Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.114.101345 SN - 0002-9165 SN - 1938-3207 VL - 102 IS - 1 SP - 207 EP - 214 PB - American Society for Nutrition, Inc. CY - Bethesda ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Henze, Andrea A1 - Raila, Jens A1 - Kempf, Caroline A1 - Reinke, Petra A1 - Sefrin, Anett A1 - Querfeld, Uwe A1 - Schweigert, Florian J. T1 - Vitamin A metabolism is changed in donors after living-kidney transplantation an observational study JF - Lipids in health and disease N2 - Background: The kidneys are essential for the metabolism of vitamin A (retinol) and its transport proteins retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and transthyretin. Little is known about changes in serum concentration after living donor kidney transplantation (LDKT) as a consequence of unilateral nephrectomy; although an association of these parameters with the risk of cardiovascular diseases and insulin resistance has been suggested. Therefore we analyzed the concentration of retinol, RBP4, apoRBP4 and transthyretin in serum of 20 living-kidney donors and respective recipients at baseline as well as 6 weeks and 6 months after LDKT. Results: As a consequence of LDKT, the kidney function of recipients was improved while the kidney function of donors was moderately reduced within 6 weeks after LDKT. With regard to vitamin A metabolism, the recipients revealed higher levels of retinol, RBP4, transthyretin and apoRBP4 before LDKT in comparison to donors. After LDKT, the levels of all four parameters decreased in serum of the recipients, while retinol, RBP4 as well as apoRBP4 serum levels of donors increased and remained increased during the follow-up period of 6 months. Conclusion: LDKT is generally regarded as beneficial for allograft recipients and not particularly detrimental for the donors. However, it could be demonstrated in this study that a moderate reduction of kidney function by unilateral nephrectomy, resulted in an imbalance of components of vitamin A metabolism with a significant increase of retinol and RBP4 and apoRBP4 concentration in serum of donors. KW - Donors KW - glomerular filtration rate KW - kidney transplantation KW - retinol KW - retinol-binding protein 4 KW - transthyretin Y1 - 2011 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-511X-10-231 SN - 1476-511X VL - 10 IS - 23 PB - BioMed Central CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schweigert, Florian J. A1 - Raila, Jens A1 - Haebel, Sophie T1 - Vitamin A excreted in the urine of canines is associated with a Tamm-Horsfall-like Glycoprotein Y1 - 1998 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Raila, Jens A1 - Kawashima, Chiho A1 - Sauerwein, Helga A1 - Hülsmann, Nadine A1 - Knorr, Christoph A1 - Myamoto, Akio A1 - Schweigert, Florian J. T1 - Validation of blood vitamin A concentrations in cattle: comparison of a new cow-side test (iCheck™ FLUORO) with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) JF - BMC veterinary research N2 - Background: Plasma concentration of retinol is an accepted indicator to assess the vitamin A (retinol) status in cattle. However, the determination of vitamin A requires a time consuming multi-step procedure, which needs specific equipment to perform extraction, centrifugation or saponification prior to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Methods: The concentrations of retinol in whole blood (n = 10), plasma (n = 132) and serum (n = 61) were measured by a new rapid cow-side test (iCheck™ FLUORO) and compared with those by HPLC in two independent laboratories in Germany (DE) and Japan (JP). Results: Retinol concentrations in plasma ranged from 0.033 to 0.532 mg/L, and in serum from 0.043 to 0.360 mg/L (HPLC method). No significant differences in retinol levels were observed between the new rapid cow-side test and HPLC performed in different laboratories (HPLC vs. iCheck™ FLUORO: 0.320 ± 0.047 mg/L vs. 0.333 ± 0.044 mg/L, and 0.240 ± 0.096 mg/L vs. 0.241 ± 0.069 mg/L, lab DE and lab JP, respectively). A similar comparability was observed when whole blood was used (HPLC vs. iCheck™ FLUORO: 0.353 ± 0.084 mg/L vs. 0.341 ± 0.064 mg/L). Results showed a good agreement between both methods based on correlation coefficients of r2 = 0.87 (P < 0.001) and Bland-Altman blots revealed no significant bias for all comparison. Conclusions: With the new rapid cow-side test (iCheck™ FLUORO) retinol concentrations in cattle can be reliably assessed within a few minutes and directly in the barn using even whole blood without the necessity of prior centrifugation. The ease of the application of the new rapid cow-side test and its portability can improve the diagnostic of vitamin A status and will help to control vitamin A supplementation in specific vitamin A feeding regimes such as used to optimize health status in calves or meat marbling in Japanese Black cattle. KW - Cattle KW - Vitamin A KW - Biomarker KW - Blood KW - Method comparison KW - Cow-side assay Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-017-1042-3 VL - 13 PB - BioMed Central CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Raila, Jens A1 - Enjalbert, Francis A1 - Mothes, Ralf A1 - Hurtienne, Andrea A1 - Schweigert, Florian J. T1 - Validation of a new point-of-care assay for determination of ss-carotene concentration in bovine whole blood and plasma JF - Veterinary clinical pathology N2 - Background: beta-Carotene is an important precursor of vitamin A, and is associated with bovine fertility. beta-Carotene concentrations in plasma are used to optimize beta-carotene supplementation in cattle, but measurement requires specialized equipment to separate plasma and extract and measure beta-carotene, either using spectrophotometry or high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Objective: The objective of this study was to validate a new 2-step point-of-care (POC) assay for measuring beta-carotene in whole blood and plasma. Methods: beta-carotene concentrations in plasma from 166 cows were measured using HPLC and compared with results obtained using a POC assay, the iCheck-iEx-Carotene test kit. Whole blood samples from 23 of these cattle were also evaluated using the POC assay and compared with HPLC-plasma results from the same 23 animals. The POC assay includes an extraction vial (iEx Carotene) and hand-held photometer (iCheck Carotene). Results: Concentrations of beta-carotene in plasma measured using the POC assay ranged from 0.40 to 15.84 mg/L (n = 166). No differences were observed between methods for assay of plasma (mean +/- SD; n = 166): HPLC-plasma 4.23 +/- 2.35 mg/L; POC-plasma 4.49 +/- 2.36 mg/L. Similar good agreement was found when plasma analyzed using HPLC was compared with whole blood analyzed using the POC system (n = 23): HPLC-plasma 3.46 +/- 2.12 mg/L; POC-whole blood 3.67 +/- 2.29 mg/L. Conclusions: Concentrations of beta-carotene can be measured in blood and plasma from cattle easily and rapidly using a POC assay, and results are comparable to those obtained by the highly sophisticated HPLC method. Immediate feedback regarding beta-carotene deficiency facilitates rapid and appropriate optimization of beta-carotene supplementation in feed. KW - Biomarker KW - HPLC KW - method comparison KW - nutritional supplements KW - vitamin A Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-165X.2012.00400.x SN - 0275-6382 VL - 41 IS - 1 SP - 119 EP - 122 PB - Wiley-Blackwell CY - Malden ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Nagl, Britta A1 - Loui, Andrea A1 - Raila, Jens A1 - Felderhoff-Mueser, Ursula A1 - Obladen, Michael A1 - Schweigert, Florian J. T1 - Urinary vitamin A excretion in very low birth weight infants N2 - Vitamin A (VA) deficiency in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants is associated with an increased risk for disorders related to kidney and lung maturation and function. VA losses through increased urinary retinol (ROH) excretion might contribute to this deficiency risk. The mechanism accounting for ROH loss in the urine has not yet been clarified. The aim of this study was to assess the excretion of ROH, retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and transthyretin (TTR) in urine from VLBW infants in comparison with that in term infants in relation to kidney function. Urine specimens were collected from 15 VLBW infants (birth weight < 1,500 g) as well as from 20 term infants during the first 2 days after birth. ROH in urine was detectable in 14 of the 15 VLBW infants at a median concentration of 234 nmol/g creatinine. In the group of term infants, 17 of the 20 excreted ROH, but at an approximately five-times lower concentration (P<0.001). Excretion of RBP4 and TTR was also much higher in VLBW infants (both P<0.001). The urinary ROH excretion in VLBW infants may be related to the impaired tubular handling of its carrier proteins RBP4 and TTR. Thus, ROH excretion might contribute to an increased risk of VA deficiency, especially in VLBW infants. Y1 - 2009 UR - http://www.springerlink.com/content/100382 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-008-0965-0 SN - 0931-041X ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Henze, Andrea A1 - Espe, Katharina M. A1 - Wanner, Christoph A1 - Krane, Vera A1 - Raila, Jens A1 - Hocher, Berthold A1 - Schweigert, Florian J. A1 - Drechsler, Christiane T1 - Transthyretin predicts cardiovascular outcome in hemodialysis patients with type 2 diabetes JF - Diabetes care N2 - OBJECTIVE-BMI and albumin are commonly accepted parameters to recognize wasting in dialysis patients and are powerful predictors of morbidity and mortality. However, both parameters reveal limitations and may not cover the entire range of patients with wasting. The visceral protein transthyretin (TTR) may be helpful in overcoming the diagnostic and prognostic gap. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the association of TTR with morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS-The TTR concentration was determined in plasma samples of 1,177 hemodialysis patients with type 2 diabetes. Cox regression analyses were used to determine hazard ratios (HRs) for the risk of cardiovascular end points (CVEs) and mortality according to quartiles of TTR concentration for the total study cohort and the subgroups BMI >= 23 kg/m(2), albumin concentration >= 3.8 g/dL, and a combination of both. RESULTS-A low TTR concentration was associated with an increased risk for CVE for the total study cohort (HR 1.65 [95% CI 1.27-2.14]), patients with BMI >= 23 kg/m(2) (1.70 [1.22-2.37]), albumin >= 3.8 g/dL (1.68 [1.17-2.42]), and the combination of both (1.69 [1.13-2.53]). Additionally, a low TTR concentration predicted mortality for the total study cohort (1.79 [1.43-2.24]) and patients with BMI >= 23 kg/m(2) (1.46 [1.09-1.95]). CONCLUSIONS-The current study demonstrated that TTR is a useful predictor for cardiovascular outcome and mortality in diabetic hemodialysis patients. TTR was particularly useful in patients who were not identified to be at risk by BMI or albumin status. Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.2337/dc12-0455 SN - 0149-5992 VL - 35 IS - 11 SP - 2365 EP - 2372 PB - American Diabetes Association CY - Alexandria ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schmiedchen, Bettina A1 - Longardt, Ann Carolin A1 - Buehrer, Christoph A1 - Raila, Jens A1 - Loui, Andrea A1 - Schweigert, Florian J. T1 - The relative dose response test based on retinol-binding protein 4 is not suitable to assess vitamin A status in very low birth weight infants JF - Neonatology : fetal and neonatal research KW - Relative dose response test KW - Vitamin A KW - Preterm infant Y1 - 2014 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1159/000356773 SN - 1661-7800 SN - 1661-7819 VL - 105 IS - 2 SP - 155 EP - 160 PB - Karger CY - Basel ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Doll, S. A1 - Gericke, S. A1 - Danicke, S. A1 - Raila, Jens A1 - Ueberschar, K. H. A1 - Valenta, H. A1 - Schnurrbusch, U. A1 - Schweigert, Florian G. A1 - Flachowsky, G. T1 - The efficacy of a modified aluminosilicate as a detoxifying agent in Fusarium toxin contaminated maize containing diets for piglets N2 - Two feeding experiments with female weaned piglets were carried out applying a complete two by two factorial design to investigate the effects of the dietary inclusion of 500 g/kg Fusarium toxin contaminated maize (8.6 mg/kg deoxynivalenol (DON); 1.2 mg/kg zearalenone (ZON)) and of 4 g/kg aluminosilicate (AS) as a detoxifying agent. The resulting four diets were fed ad libitum to a total of 80 piglets (20 piglets per group, allotted to a total of 20 pens) covering a live weight range of 10.5 +/- 1.3 to 27.5 +/- 4.4 kg in experiment 1, and to a total of 48 piglets (12 piglets per group, allotted to 12 pens) covering a live weight range of 9.7 +/- 1.8 to 21.4 +/- 4.8 kg in experiment 2. The animals of experiment 1 were slaughtered on days 34-36 of feeding the experimental diets. The mycotoxin analyses revealed that the control maize also contained considerable concentrations of Fusarium toxins, but the differences in DON and ZON concentrations between control and contaminated diets were sufficiently high to demonstrate both dose- related toxin effects. Voluntary feed intake and live weight gain of the animals were significantly reduced by the inclusion of Fusarium toxin contaminated maize into the diets in both experiments, while a significantly decreased feed to gain ratio was found in experiment 1. Furthermore, the relative weight of the uterus, stomach and heart of the animals fed the contaminated maize containing diets were significantly increased. Serum albumin concentrations and the activity of GLDH were significantly reduced by the inclusion of the contaminated maize. The addition of AS to the Fusarium toxin contaminated diets did not prevent or alleviate any of the mentioned effects. Moreover, the feed intake tended to be decreased by this supplementation in both experiments, while a significantly decreased feed to gain ratio was indicated for this factor in experiment one as well. The serum concentration of albumin and the activities of ASAT and gamma GT were significantly increased if AS was present in the diets while serum concentration of cholesterol and alpha-tocopherol were decreased significantly or in tendency, respectively. The concentrations of retinol and retinyl esters in liver and serum were not altered by the treatments. The analysed concentrations of zearalenone (ZON) and its metabolites in the bile fluid clearly indicated the differences in dietary ZON concentrations and showed that AS was ineffective in preventing the absorption of the toxin from the gastrointestinal tract. Also, serum concentrations of DON reflected the DON intake prior to sampling. However, there were no differences between groups fed diets with or without AS which also suggests the inefficacy of the tested AS in preventing the DON absorption. The present investigations failed to demonstrate a detoxifying capacity of the tested additive and emphasize the general necessity for a critical verification of detoxifying agents in vivo Y1 - 2005 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Raila, Jens A1 - Buchholz, Ingeborg A1 - Aupperle, Heike A1 - Raila, Jens A1 - Schoon, Heinz-Adolf A1 - Schweigert, Florian J. T1 - The distribution of vitamin A and retinol-binding protein (RBP) in the blood plasma, urine, liver and kidney of carnivores Y1 - 2000 ER -