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Researcher

Viviane O M Van Hoof

  • Research Expertise:Performance of amylase electrophoresis and clinical interpretation of the amylase isoenzyme patterns. Amylase consists of isoforms of the tissue-specific pancreatic type isoenzyme (P1 till P6), and isoforms of the tissue-unspecific salivary type isoenzyme (S1 till S6). Normal amylase isoenzyme patterns consist of P2 and S2 with varying S3 and S4 fractions. Acute pancreatitis is characterized by high P2 activity and the presence of a P3 fraction. Low P2 activity suggests the presence of chronic pancreatitis . Salivary type isoenzymes are increased in salivary gland pathology (eg mumps), but also in a variety of non-salivary diseases (eg lung cancer, ovarian cancer). Macroamylasemia is a benign phenomenon whereby amylase is complexed with an immunoglobulin, most often IgA. Free amylase is a small molecule that is readily filtered by the kidney, but the immunoglobulin complexed form is retained by the kidney, causing an increase of total serum amylase activity. Electrophoresis/achromatography are the only methods that can unequivocally detect and identify macroamylasemia.
  • Keywords:ISOENZYMES, VITAMIN D, BONE MATRIX PROTEINS, EXPERT SYSTEMS, PAGET DISEASE, MACROMOLECULAR COMPLEXES, PANCREATITIS, Medicine
  • Disciplines:Scientific computing, Bioinformatics and computational biology, Laboratory medicine, Medical systems biology, Palliative care and end-of-life care, Regenerative medicine, Other basic sciences, Other clinical sciences, Public health care, Public health services, Other health sciences, Nursing, Other paramedical sciences, Medicinal chemistry, Pathophysiology, Other translational sciences, Other medical and health sciences
  • Research techniques:Amylase isoenzyme patterns are obtained by means of agarose electrophoresis. Identification of the fractions is based on their electrophoretic migration. Identification of imunoglobulin bound amylase is performed by a combination of electrophoresis and immunofixation. Clinical interpretation of the amylase isoenzyme patterns is done by means of a rule-base dexpert system that we developed in ProMD, a medical expert system shell.
  • Users of research expertise:Potential users are clinicians and researchers. Separating amylase into its isoforms/isoenzymes is particularly valuable in patients with acute or chronic pancreatitis, in children (mumps) and in patients where macroamylasemia is suspected.