title: Serum S100B levels in patients with neural tube defects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated the levels of S100B protein in the serum of patients with neural tube defects (NTD), and the ontogenetic variation on this group of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples from 24 control individuals and 25 patients with NTD were studied. S100B protein levels were determined using LIA-mat Sangtec kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed no difference between the levels of S100B in NTD patients (median 0.860 microg/l) and control individuals (median 0.580 microg/l). When groups were classified according to age, decreased levels were observed in subjects > or = 4 y compared to the younger ones, on the control group; no significant difference was observed when the same comparison is performed on the group of patients with NTD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates that the serum concentration of S100B in patients with NTD is similar to that of normal individuals; however, patients with NTD do not show the negative correlation with age which was observed on normal individuals.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, ICBS, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. cristina.netto@ufrgs.br
authors.forename: Cristina B O
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Netto
authors.forename: Luis V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Portela
authors.forename: Têmis M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Félix
authors.forename: Diogo O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Carlos-Alberto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giugliani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D007223:Infant; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000097:blood*; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins; C579160:S100B protein, human