We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
LGC Clinical Diagnostics

Download Mobile App




Potential Biomarker Found for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 23 May 2022
Print article
Image: The DetectX Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) Fluorescent Activity Kit measures BChE activity in a wide variety of samples, utilizing a proprietary non-fluorescent molecule, ThioStar, which fluoresces when bound to the thiol reaction product of BChE and its substrate (Photo courtesy of Arbor Assays)
Image: The DetectX Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) Fluorescent Activity Kit measures BChE activity in a wide variety of samples, utilizing a proprietary non-fluorescent molecule, ThioStar, which fluoresces when bound to the thiol reaction product of BChE and its substrate (Photo courtesy of Arbor Assays)

The term Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI) covers both explained and unexplained deaths. The unexplained deaths are termed Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Despite intensive studies over the past decades, the mechanisms which lead to SIDS remain elusive.

It is currently believed that SIDS is not due to a single factor, but is multi-factorial in origin. Acetylcholine (ACh) is a major neurotransmitter of the autonomic nervous system and the principal neurotransmitter of the parasympathetic nervous system. It is hydrolyzed at cholinergic synapses by two enzymes, Acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and Butyrlycholinesterase (BChE) (also known as pseudocholinesterase).

Clinical Scientists at the Children's Hospital at Westmead (Westmead, Australia) analyzed 722 dried blood samples (DBS) including 67 DBS (58% male) from SUDI infants (26 SIDS and 41 Non-SIDS), and 655 date of birth- and gender-matched controls: SIDS cases, mean age-at death 15.7 (± 8·1) weeks, (4-35 weeks), 54% male and Non-SIDS cases, mean age at death 31.7 (± 30) weeks, (1-103 weeks), 64% male.

Total BChE for each sample was quantified using the DetectX Butyrylcholinesterase Fluorescent Activity Kit (Arbor Assays, Ann Arbor, MI, USA) and the signal was read at 510nm with excitation at 390nm. Total protein in each sample was quantified using the BCA (Bicinchoninic acid) Dual Range Protein Detection Kit (Arbor Assays). The specific activity of BChE (BChEsa) was calculated by dividing BChE activity (mU/mL) by the total protein content (µg/ml) giving BChEsa in mU/µg. Results were reported in U/mg.

The investigators reported that conditional logistic regression showed that in groups where cases were reported as “SIDS death” there was strong evidence that lower BChE specific activity (BChEsa) was associated with death (OR=0.73 per U/mg, 95% CI 0.60-0.89), whereas in groups with a “Non-SIDS death” as the case there was no evidence of a linear association between BChEsa and death (OR=1.001 per U/mg, 95% CI 0.89-1.13).

The authors concluded that BChEsa, measured in dried blood spots taken 2-3 days after birth, was lower in babies who subsequently died of SIDS compared to surviving controls and other Non-SIDS deaths. They concluded that a previously unidentified cholinergic deficit, identifiable by abnormal-BChEsa, is present at birth in SIDS babies and represents a measurable, specific vulnerability prior to their death. The study was published on May 06, 2022 in the journal EBioMedicine.

Related Links:
Children's Hospital at Westmead 
Arbor Assays 

Gold Member
Pharmacogenetics Panel
VeriDose Core Panel v2.0
Verification Panels for Assay Development & QC
Seroconversion Panels
New
Binocular Laboratory LED Illuminated Microscope
HumaScope Classic LED
New
Silver Member
Verification Panels for Assay Development & QC
Seroconversion Panels

Print article

Channels

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: Researcher Kanta Horie places a sample in a mass spectrometer that measures protein levels in blood plasma and other fluids (Photo courtesy of WashU Medicine)

Highly Accurate Blood Test Diagnoses Alzheimer’s and Measures Dementia Progression

Several blood tests are currently available to assist doctors in diagnosing Alzheimer's disease in individuals experiencing cognitive symptoms. However, these tests do not provide insights into the clinical... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The findings were based on patients from the ADAURA clinical trial of the targeted therapy osimertinib for patients with NSCLC with EGFR-activated mutations (Photo courtesy of YSM Multimedia Team)

Post-Treatment Blood Test Could Inform Future Cancer Therapy Decisions

In the ongoing advancement of personalized medicine, a new study has provided evidence supporting the use of a tool that detects cancer-derived molecules in the blood of lung cancer patients years after... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: Schematic representation illustrating the key findings of the study (Photo courtesy of UNIST)

Breakthrough Diagnostic Technology Identifies Bacterial Infections with Almost 100% Accuracy within Three Hours

Rapid and precise identification of pathogenic microbes in patient samples is essential for the effective treatment of acute infectious diseases, such as sepsis. The fluorescence in situ hybridization... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.