Blood samples were obtained at 08:00 AM following overnight fasting of 12 h and ensuring a minimum of 12 h since the last use of antihypertensive drugs. The included variables were fasting plasma glucose (FPG), uric acid, creatinine, total proteins, total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG). All concentrations were expressed in mg/dL except for total protein levels, which were given in g/dL.
We evaluated the serum protein profile using capillary electrophoresis with a Capillarys 2 analyzer (Sebia, Lisses, France). The concentrations of alpha-, beta-, and gamma-globulins were expressed in g/dL. The alpha band includes some acute phase proteins, such as CRP. We measured wide-range CRP (wrCRP) concentrations by immunoturbidimetry in an Advia 2400 Clinical Chemistry System (Siemens, Munich, Germany) and the levels were expressed in mg/dL. The beta band includes inflammation-linked proteins such as those related to iron (Fe) homeostasis, coagulation, lipid metabolism, beta-2-microglobulin, and complement compounds. We evaluated fibrinogen levels by the Clauss method using the coagulation analyzer ACL TOP® 350 (Werfen Company, Bedford, MA, USA) and concentrations were expressed in mg/dL. Beta-2-microglobulin levels were measured by nephelometry employing a Dimension Vista® system (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc., Tarrytown, NY, USA) and concentrations were expressed in mg/dL. The gamma band mainly includes the immunoglobulins whose quantitative and qualitative evaluation allows the characterization of the immuno-inflammatory response [21 ,22 (link),23 (link),24 (link)].
Because of its relevance in inflammatory states, we included IL-6 as a pro-inflammatory cytokine. IL-6 levels were measured by a chemiluminescent immunoassay (Immulite-2000 System, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc., Tarrytown, NY, USA) and concentrations were expressed as pg/mL. Tissue polypeptide-specific (TPS) antigen levels were measured by a chemiluminescent immunoassay (Immulite-TPS; Siemens Medical Solutions Diagnostics, Gwynedd, UK) that detects cytokeratin-18 fragments, generated by cytolysis or epithelial apoptosis and concentrations were expressed in U/L. ESR is an acute phase reactant that depends mostly on the concentration of circulating acute-phase proteins, specifically fibrinogen. We measured the ESR employing an automated TEST-1 device (Alifax, Padua, Italy) that was validated using the reference Westergren method. ESR was expressed in mm/h. [25 (link),26 (link),27 (link)].
We evaluated the serum protein profile using capillary electrophoresis with a Capillarys 2 analyzer (Sebia, Lisses, France). The concentrations of alpha-, beta-, and gamma-globulins were expressed in g/dL. The alpha band includes some acute phase proteins, such as CRP. We measured wide-range CRP (wrCRP) concentrations by immunoturbidimetry in an Advia 2400 Clinical Chemistry System (Siemens, Munich, Germany) and the levels were expressed in mg/dL. The beta band includes inflammation-linked proteins such as those related to iron (Fe) homeostasis, coagulation, lipid metabolism, beta-2-microglobulin, and complement compounds. We evaluated fibrinogen levels by the Clauss method using the coagulation analyzer ACL TOP® 350 (Werfen Company, Bedford, MA, USA) and concentrations were expressed in mg/dL. Beta-2-microglobulin levels were measured by nephelometry employing a Dimension Vista® system (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc., Tarrytown, NY, USA) and concentrations were expressed in mg/dL. The gamma band mainly includes the immunoglobulins whose quantitative and qualitative evaluation allows the characterization of the immuno-inflammatory response [21 ,22 (link),23 (link),24 (link)].
Because of its relevance in inflammatory states, we included IL-6 as a pro-inflammatory cytokine. IL-6 levels were measured by a chemiluminescent immunoassay (Immulite-2000 System, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc., Tarrytown, NY, USA) and concentrations were expressed as pg/mL. Tissue polypeptide-specific (TPS) antigen levels were measured by a chemiluminescent immunoassay (Immulite-TPS; Siemens Medical Solutions Diagnostics, Gwynedd, UK) that detects cytokeratin-18 fragments, generated by cytolysis or epithelial apoptosis and concentrations were expressed in U/L. ESR is an acute phase reactant that depends mostly on the concentration of circulating acute-phase proteins, specifically fibrinogen. We measured the ESR employing an automated TEST-1 device (Alifax, Padua, Italy) that was validated using the reference Westergren method. ESR was expressed in mm/h. [25 (link),26 (link),27 (link)].
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