Small volume retinol binding protein measurement by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Intervention Effect of a Soybean-Based Complementary Food Supplement on Anemic Infants in a Poor Rural Region in China: Evidence from Quasi-RCT

The soybean-based Yingyang Bao complementary food supplement represents a special nutritional improvement method for anemic infants in many intervention projects across China, while its benefits lack rigorous evidence. Using a quasi-randomized controlled trial design, which adhered to randomization and control except for the blinding method, 248 anemic infants were divided randomly into an intervention group (128 cases received the Yingyang Bao intervention based on routine feeding) and a control group (120 cases only received routine feeding). Anthropometric indicators and 16 blood indicators were measured at baseline and 1 year after intervention. The levels of hemoglobin, 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D, homocysteine, retinol, vitamin D3, and soluble transferrin receptor and the height-age-Z score and weight-age-Z score of the intervention group were significantly improved after the intervention (p < 0.05). The homocysteine level improvement appeared to be moderately negatively correlated with the cobalamin level improvement (p < 0.05). The improvements of five indicators were significant correlated with the intervention duration (p < 0.05), and the corresponding three significant regression equations could predict the intervention effect and the intervention duration to a certain extent. This quasi-randomized controlled trial provided more convincing evidence that Yingyang Bao can effectively improve three kinds of malnutrition compared to previous research which only adopted self before and after comparison.

Clinical Proteomics for Solid Organ Tissues

The evaluation of biopsied solid organ tissue has long relied on visual examination using a microscope. Immunohistochemistry is critical in this process, labeling and detecting cell lineage markers and therapeutic targets. However, while the practice of immunohistochemistry has reshaped diagnostic pathology and facilitated improvements in cancer treatment, it has also been subject to pervasive challenges with respect to standardization and reproducibility. Efforts are ongoing to improve immunohistochemistry, but for some applications, the benefit of such initiatives could be impeded by its reliance on monospecific antibody-protein reagents and limited multiplexing capacity. This perspective surveys the relevant challenges facing traditional immunohistochemistry and describes how mass spectrometry, particularly liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, could help alleviate problems. In particular, targeted mass spectrometry assays could facilitate measurements of individual proteins or analyte panels, using internal standards for more robust quantification and improved interlaboratory reproducibility. Meanwhile, untargeted mass spectrometry, showcased to date clinically in the form of amyloid typing, is inherently multiplexed, facilitating the detection and crude quantification of 100s to 1000s of proteins in a single analysis. Further, data-independent acquisition has yet to be applied in clinical practice, but offers particular strengths that could appeal to clinical users. Finally, we discuss the guidance that is needed to facilitate broader utilization in clinical environments and achieve standardization.