The aim of this study was to analyze the antibacterial activity of hen egg white cystatin against selected Escherichia coli strains. We used a monomeric solution of hen egg white cystatin in bovine serum albumin (BSA) with added phosphate buffered saline (PBS), and three test strains: Escherichia coli ATCC 23811, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739 and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922. The effect of cystatin...

The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and abdominal aortic aneurysm involves breakdown of the elastic laminae. Elastolytic cysteine proteases, including cathepsins S and K, are overexpressed at sites of arterial elastin damage, but whether endogenous local inhibitors counterbalance these proteases is unknown. We show here that, whereas cystatin C is normally expressed in vascular wall smooth musc...

BACKGROUND An increased prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia with an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease events has been reported among stable renal transplant recipients (RTRs). Preliminary studies in a small number of these individuals have shown that serum creatinine and cystatin C, both markers of kidney function and glomerular filtration rate, are independent determinants of fastin...

OBJECTIVES Cystatin C is emerging as an endogenous marker of glomerular filtration rate. This study sought to assess the usefulness of serum cystatin C as a marker of glomerular filtration rate in comparison with serum creatinine and serum creatinine-based glomerular filtration rate estimations in voluntary kidney donors. MATERIALS AND METHODS Serum cystatin C and serum creatinine were estima...

The cystatin superfamily of cysteine protease inhibitors consists of three major families, including the stefins, cystatins and kininogens. However, the recent identification of several genes that possess sequence similarity with the cystatins but have different gene or protein structures indicates that several new cystatin families or subgroups of families might exist. We previously identified...

BACKGROUND/AIMS The present study aimed to determine the role of cystatin C as a prognostic factor for acute kidney injury and survival in cirrhotic patients. METHODS The study investigated 53 liver cirrhosis patients. The renal function was evaluated by serum creatinine, serum and urine cystatin C, and 24-hour creatinine clearance on admission. Acute kidney injury was defined as a serum crea...

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES The protein cystatin C has a stable plasma concentration and is eliminated exclusively by the kidneys. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of cystatin C in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS The prospective study included 203 hospitalized ACS patients. Clinical evaluation during the first 24 hours of hospitalization include...

AIMS Acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients hospitalized for acute heart failure (AHF) is part of the cardiorenal syndrome and has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. However, definitions and prognostic impact of AKI in AHF have been variable. Cystatin C is a prospective new marker of AKI. The objective of this study was to investigate the use of cystatin C as a marker of ear...

BACKGROUND Chronic kidney disease is a growing public health problem that carries substantial risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Single studies have differentially examined the role of cystatin C, a novel renal index, with varying cut-point use. We undertook a meta-analysis of prospective studies to properly assess the link between cystatin C (dichotomized and continuous) versus CVD. METH...

BACKGROUND Accurate renal function measurements are important in the diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases. In contrast to creatinine, the production of serum cystatin C has been extensively reported to be unaffected by body muscle mass, age, gender, and nutritional status. METHODS Our study included 37 samples from diabetic chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients for whom serum creatinine...