Search results for " serum"
showing 10 items of 377 documents
Development and validation of a radioimmunoassay for serum melatonin.
1989
A radioimmunoassay using N-[3-(4-hydroxy-3-[4-hydroxy-3- [125I]iodophenylpropionyl)]-5-methoxytryptamine as tracer for determination of melatonin in the serum of different species is described. Melatonin antisera were raised in rabbits by immunization with a bovine serum albumin conjugate of N-[3-(2-aminoethyl)-5-methoxy indole] hemisuccinamide. A single high affinity, specific antiserum was obtained. In contrast to previous studies, the tracer was synthesised in one step in the absence of water, giving an excellent yield of highly pure product. No chromatographic purification step was needed. Polyethylene glycol in combination with goat antirabbit immunoglobulins was used to separate bound…
Perlecan-Induced Suppression of Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation Is Mediated Through Increased Activity of the Tumor Suppressor PTEN
2004
We were interested in the elucidation of the interaction between the heparan sulfate proteoglycan, perlecan, and PTEN in the regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) growth. We verified serum-stimulated DNA synthesis, and Akt and FAK phosphorylation were significantly reduced in SMCs overexpressing wild-type PTEN. Our previous studies showed perlecan is a potent inhibitor of serum-stimulated SMC growth. We report in the present study, compared with SMCs plated on fibronectin, serum-stimulated SMCs plated on perlecan exhibited increased PTEN activity, decreased FAK and Akt activities, and high levels of p27, consistent with SMC growth arrest. Adenoviral-mediated overexpression of cons…
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis outcome measures and the role of albumin and creatinine: a population-based study.
2014
Importance There is an urgent need to identify reliable biomarkers of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) progression for clinical practice and pharmacological trials. Objectives To correlate several hematological markers evaluated at diagnosis with ALS outcome in a population-based series of patients (discovery cohort) and replicate the findings in an independent validation cohort from an ALS tertiary center. Design, Setting, and Participants The discovery cohort included 712 patients with ALS from the Piemonte and Valle d’Aosta Register for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2011. The validation cohort comprised 122 patients with ALS at different stages of…
Contact sensitizers modulate mechanisms of receptor-mediated endocytosis but not fluid-phase endocytosis in murine epidermal Langerhans cells.
1995
In order to define the influence of contact allergens on the fluid-phase endocytosis (FPE) of soluble molecules of murine epidermal Langerhans cells (LC), we studied the internalization of FITC-labeled bovine serum albumin (FITC-BSA), TRITC-labeled dextrane (TRITC-DEX) as well as horseradish peroxidase by LC. A 3-parameter flow-cytometric technique was performed for quantification of internalized FITC-BSA in LC using quantum red-labeled reagents for detection of la-antigen expression by LC and propidium iodide for exclusion of dead cells from analysis. A temperature-dependent rapid accumulation of FITC-BSA was noticed in time-course studies reaching a plateau between 1 and 2 h of in vitro c…
Albumin replacement in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock.
2014
BACKGROUND: Although previous studies have suggested the potential advantages of albumin administration in patients with severe sepsis, its efficacy has not been fully established. METHODS: In this multicenter, open-label trial, we randomly assigned 1818 patients with severe sepsis, in 100 intensive care units (ICUs), to receive either 20% albumin and crystalloid solution or crystalloid solution alone. In the albumin group, the target serum albumin concentration was 30 g per liter or more until discharge from the ICU or 28 days after randomization. The primary outcome was death from any cause at 28 days. Secondary outcomes were death from any cause at 90 days, the number of patients with or…
Serum selenium and prognosis in cardiovascular disease: results from the AtheroGene study
2010
Experimental data suggest a protective role of the essential trace element selenium against cardiovascular disease (CVD), whereas epidemiological data remains controversial. We aimed to investigate the impact of serum selenium concentration in patients presenting with stable angina pectoris (SAP) or acute coronary syndrome (ACS) on long term prognosis.Baseline selenium concentration was measured in 1731 individuals (852 with SAP, and 879 with ACS). During a median follow-up of 6.1 years, 190 individuals died from cardiovascular causes.In those ACS patients who subsequently died of cardiac causes, selenium levels were lower compared to survivors (61.0microg/L versus 71.5microg/L; P0.0001). I…
Effects of chlorpromazine and some of its metabolites on the EEG and on dopamine metabolism of the isolated perfused rat brain.
1979
Abstract The study concerned the effects of chlorpromazine (CPZ), monodesmethyl-chlorpromazine (NOR1-CPZ), didesmethyl-chlorpromazine (NOR2-CPZ), and chlorpromazine-N-oxide (CPZ-NO) on the EGG and on dopamine metabolism of the isolated perfused rat brain. Isolated brains were perfused with 100 ml of a perfusion medium containing 30% bovine red cells (v/v), 2 g bovine serum albumin, 14 mM glucose as well as one of the agents in a concentration of 10 μM. The main dopamine metabolite homovanillic acid (HVA) was measured fluorimetrically in the striatum of the isolated brain. The EGG was recorded by two symmetrical bipolar leads from the parietal regions at various times during the 30 min perfu…
Serum uric acid and incident osteoporotic fractures in old people: The PRO.V.A study
2015
Purpose: Although high serum uric acid (SUA) levels are associated with negative outcomes in older people, recent studies reported that hyperuricemia could help protect against the onset of bone fractures. We consequently examined whether baseline SUA levels were associated with risk of incident osteoporotic fractures in a representative group of elderly people with no fractures or other bone-modifying conditions or drugs at the baseline. Methods: Among 3099 people aged ≥ 65. years initially involved in the PRO.V.A. study, 1586 participants with no prior diagnosis of osteoporotic fractures, and no conditions or medication affecting bone metabolism at the baseline were followed up for 4.4. ±…
Long-term expression of differentiated functions in hepatocytes cultured in three-dimensional collagen matrix.
1998
Hepatocytes entrapped in collagen gel and cultured in serum-free conditions survived longer than cells cultured on plastic (5 days vs. 3 weeks), showed fewer signs of early cell senescence (no increase in c-fos oncoprotein expression), and maintained the expression of differentiated hepatic metabolic functions over a longer period of time. Cells cultured in collagen gels retained their ability to respond to hormones. The insulin-stimulated glycogen synthesis rate remained fairly constant during 18 days in culture (between 5.4 +/- 0.37 and 9 +/- 2.7 nmol glucose/h/microg DNA). Collagen-cultured hepatocytes recovered glycogen stores to levels similar to those found in liver, or in hepatocytes…
Serum ionized magnesium levels in relation to metabolic syndrome in type 2 diabetic patients
2006
Objective: To evaluate circulating serum ionized magnesium (i-Mg) concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and to investigate its relationship with the components of the metabolic syndrome. Design: cross-sectional study. Setting: Outpatients' service for diabetic patients at the University Hospital of Messina, Italy. Subjects: 290 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Measures of Outcome: Serum i-Mg was measured by ion selective electrode. Age, gender, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose, HbA1c, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) were considered in the analyses. Patients with hypomagnesemia, de…