METHOD FOR MAKING A FINDING FOR THE FUNCTIONALITY OF AN ANOREXIGENIC SIGNAL PATH FOR A PATIENT

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of providing an FAS finding (30) for the functionality of an anorexigenic signal path for a patient (1). Said method comprises the following steps: placing the patient (1) in a normalised preparation state in preparation for a normalised sample collection, providing a normalised sample matrix (10) collected from a patient (1) who was in the normalised preparation state, and determining at least one FAS indicator (11, 12, 13) from the normalised sample matrix (10), generating the FAS finding (30) based on the at least one determined FAS indicator (11, 12, 13).

Claims

1. Method of providing a FAS finding (30) for the functionality of an anorexigenic signal path for a patient (1), comprising the steps: placing the patient (1) in a normalised preparation state in preparation for a normalised sample collection, providing a normalised sample matrix (10) collected from a patient (1) who was in the normalised preparation state, and determining at least one FAS indicator (11, 12, 13) from the normalised sample matrix (10), generating the FAS finding (30) based on the at least one determined FAS indicator (11, 12, 13).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that in preparation for the sample collection, the patient (1) is subjected for a defined period of time to an exclusion of light, in particular an exclusion of sunlight.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that the exclusion of light is carried out for at least 10 hours, in particular for at least 20 hours.

4. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the patient (1) is placed in the normalised preparation state in preparation for a normalised blood sample collection, wherein the normalised sample matrix (10) is a plasma sample.

5. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that in preparation for the sample collection, the patient (1) is required to fast for a defined period of time.

6. Method according to claim 5, characterised in that the fasting is carried out for at least 6 hours, in particular within a time window of 12 hours to 36 hours.

7. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the at least one FAS indicator (11, 12) is determined on the basis of at least one measured value (11n, 12n) for an analyte in the sample matrix.

8. Method according to claim 7, characterised in that the analyte is extracted from the sample matrix (10) chromatographically or by immunoprecipitation and determined by a subsequent mass spectrometry.

9. Method according to claim 7, characterised in that the analyte is MSH, in particular α-MSH.

10. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the at least one FAS indicator (11, 12) comprises a CLIP concentration in the normalised sample matrix (10).

11. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the at least one FAS indicator (11, 12) comprises the concentration of at least one peptide hormone in the normalised sample matrix (10).

12. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the at least one FAS indicator (11, 12) in each case comprises the concentration of different peptide hormones in the sample matrix (10).

Description

[0034] In each case schematically:

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a representation explaining a method according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a representation explaining a method according to a second embodiment of the present invention,

[0037] FIG. 3 shows a representation explaining a method according to a third embodiment of the present invention,

[0038] FIG. 4 shows a representation explaining a method according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Elements with the same function and mode of action are in each case given the same reference signs in FIGS. 1 to 4.

[0040] A method of providing a FAS finding 30 for the functionality of an anorexigenic signal path for a human patient 1 according to a first embodiment is now explained with reference to FIG. 1. The patient 1 represented in FIG. 1 is first placed in a normalised preparation state in preparation for a normalised blood sample collection. In preparation for the sample collection, the patient is subjected to an exclusion of sunlight for approx. 24 hours. In preparation for the sample collection, the patient is also is required to fast during these 24 hours.

[0041] A normalised sample matrix 10 is then provided in the form of a blood sample which was collected from a patient 1 who was in the normalised preparation state. According to the example shown in FIG. 1, three different FAS indicators 11, 12, 13 are then derived from the normalised sample matrix 10. The three FAS indicators 11, 12, 13 form an indicator spectrum 20. Based on the predominantly positive indication, a FAS finding 30 can now be derived from the overall consideration of the indicator spectrum 20 to the effect that there is probably no, or only a very weakly manifested, malfunction of the anorexigenic signal value. In other words, the anorexigenic signal value appears to function normally or substantially normally. As a result, it can now in turn be concluded that an obesity in question is not, or only scarcely, caused by genetic factors. The illustrated marking of the FAS indicators 11, 12, 13 and of the FAS finding 30 with “+” and “−” also allows exactly the opposite diagnosis, depending on a previously specified interpretation of the sign.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows an example according to a second embodiment in which all FAS indicators 11, 12, 13 come up negative, i.e. according to a specified interpretation they indicate a malfunction of the anorexigenic signal value. By considering the associated indicator spectrum 20, a FAS finding 30 can now be derived which indicates a genetic malfunction of the anorexigenic signal value.

[0043] A method according to a third embodiment is now explained with reference to FIG. 3. The FAS indicators 11, 12 shown in FIG. 3 are in each case determined on the basis of a measured value 11n, 12n for an analyte in the sample matrix. More precisely, according to the embodiment shown, a plurality of first measured values 11n are determined for a first analyte in the sample matrix 10 and a plurality of second measured values 12n are determined for a second analyte in the sample matrix 10, wherein the first measured values 11n are expanded to form a first group of measured values 11n+ and the second measured values 12n are expanded to form a second group of measured values 12n+. The first FAS indicator 11 is determined on the basis of the first group of measured values 11n+ and the second FAS indicator 12 is determined on the basis of the second group of measured values 12n+. The first analyte and the second analyte are located at different points within a control loop or a synthesis chain.

[0044] In the present case, the first FAS indicator 11 comprises an α-MSH concentration in the normalised sample matrix 10. That is to say, the first analyte is α-MSH. The second FAS indicator 12 comprises a CLIP concentration in the normalised sample matrix 10. According to the present method the analytes from the sample matrix 10 are in each case extracted chromatographically and determined through subsequent mass spectrometry.

[0045] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the values of the first group of measured values 11n+ are compared with a first reference value 40 and the values of the second group of measured values 12+ are compared with a second reference value. The respective FAS indicator 11, 12 is now concluded on the basis of the respective comparison. Purely by way of example, the reference values 40, 50 shown in FIG. 3 lie above or substantially above the respective group of measured values 11n+, 12n+. Depending on the previous interpretation and definition, the reference values can, alternatively or additionally, also be lower, in particular also below the respective group of measured values, whereby the present result is nevertheless achieved. That is to say, in this case, a FAS indicator would lead to a meaningful result even if a group of measured values were above or essentially above a corresponding reference value. Thus, both an increased and a decreased FAS indicator can lead to the present FAS finding 30. Decisive, in particular, is the amount of the distance between the group of measured values and the reference value. This applies to all corresponding figures or associated embodiments.

[0046] According to FIG. 3, a positive first FAS indicator 11 can be assumed, since the expanded first group of measured values 11n+ is located in a range adjacent to the first reference value 40 and partly above this. Likewise, a positive second FAS indicator 12 can be assumed, since the expanded second group of measured values 12n+ is also located in a range adjacent to the second reference value 50 and partly above this. The FAS finding 30 is consequently also positive. That is to say, in this case a normal or substantially normal functioning or functionality of the anorexigenic signal path can be assumed. However, depending on the specification regarding the interpretation of the respective group of measured values 11n+, 12n+, the result represented in FIG. 3 could also be interpreted to the effect that the first FAS indicator 11 and the second FAS indicator 12 are in each case evaluated negatively, since an insufficient number of measured values 11n, 12n lie above the respective reference value 40, 50. As mentioned above, the overall consideration of the indicator spectrum according to predefined specifications is decisive.

[0047] In the fourth exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a quantitative mean first deviation value 60 of the first group of measured values 11n+ from the predefined first reference value 40 and a quantitative mean second deviation value 70 of the second group of measured values 12n+ from the predefined second reference value 50 are determined, and the FAS finding 30 is generated as a function of the first deviation value 60 and the second deviation value 70. With regard to the first group of measured values 11n+, it can be seen that although it lies relatively close to the first reference value 40, it is not close enough. Therefore, a correspondingly negative value is determined for the first FAS indicator 11. The second group of measured values 12n+ is relatively far from the second reference value 50, for which reason the second FAS indicator is also evaluated negatively. This also results in a negative overall result in the sense of a corresponding FAS finding 30.

[0048] In addition to the embodiments illustrated, the invention allows for further design principles. Thus, the blood sample can be provided as a liquid blood sample or as a dried blood sample. A whole blood sample, a plasma sample, a serum sample, a cerebrospinal fluid sample and/or a urine sample, in each case in liquid or dry form, can also be used as sample matrix 10. The first FAS indicator 11, the second FAS indicator 12 or the third FAS indicator 13 can comprise the concentration of at least one peptide hormone or in each case the concentration of different peptide hormones in the normalised sample matrix 10. The first FAS indicator 11, the second FAS indicator 12 and/or the third FAS indicator 13 can be multiplied by a weighting factor, wherein the FAS finding 30 is generated as a function of the weighted FAS indicators 11, 12, 13. In general, the first FAS indicator 11 can also be understood as second FAS indicator 12 or third FAS indicator 13, and vice versa. Furthermore, a plurality of first, second and/or third FAS indicators 11, 12, 13 can in each case be determined. The fasting and the exclusion of light can also last for a significantly shorter period.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0049] 1 patient

[0050] 10 sample matrix

[0051] 11 first FAS indicator

[0052] 11n first measured value

[0053] 11n+ first group of measured values

[0054] 12 second FAS indicator

[0055] 12n second measured value

[0056] 12n+ second group of measured values

[0057] 13 third FAS indicator

[0058] 20 indicator spectrum

[0059] 30 FAS finding

[0060] 40 first reference value

[0061] 50 second reference value

[0062] 60 mean first deviation value

[0063] 70 mean second deviation value