Search results for "PLASMA"
showing 10 items of 4043 documents
Evidence for the importance of the human dopamine transporter gene for withdrawal symptomatology of alcoholics in a German population
2002
Two new polymorphisms in the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of the dopamine transporter (DAT1) gene, adjacent to the known variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphism, have been investigated in the present population-based association study including 351 alcoholics and 336 controls. The DraI restriction site was not polymorphic in our population. The G2319A polymorphism was not significantly different with respect to genotype or allele distribution between alcoholics and controls. Subsequently, in individuals with VNTR homozygosity for the ten repeat allele, we found a higher prevalence of A/A homozygosity in patients with seizure history (P = 0.001, odds ratio (OR) = 7.913), with…
Pepsinogen testing for evaluation of the success of Helicobacter pylori eradication at 4 weeks after completion of therapy.
2014
Background and objective: Pepsinogen levels in plasma are increased by inflammation in the gastric mucosa, including inflammation resulting from Helicobacter pylori infection. A decrease in pepsinogen II level has been suggested as a reliable marker to confirm the successful eradication of infection. The aim of our study was to evaluate the potential role of pepsinogens I and II, gastrin-17 and H. pylori antibodies in confirming successful eradication. Material and methods: Altogether 42 patients (25 women, 17 men), mean age 45 years (range 23–74), were enrolled. Pepsinogens I and II, gastrin-17 and H. pylori IgG antibodies were measured in plasma samples using an ELISA test (Biohit, Oyj., …
Genetic and environmental contributions to plasma C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels--a study in twins.
2006
Elevated baseline levels of acute-phase proteins such as C-reactive protein (CRP) or cytokines like interleukin-6 (IL-6) are known risk factors for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. However, until today, there is only controversial information about the contribution of genetic and environmental factors. Therefore, we performed an open prospective study in 108 monozygotic (MZ) and 60 same-sex dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs to analyse the genetic and environmental contributions to plasma CRP and IL-6 levels. Heritability of IL-6 was 0.61, indicating that plasma IL-6 levels are to a major part influenced by genetic determinants; however, for CRP, heritability was only 0.22, p…
Plasma catecholamine responses to four resistance exercise tests in men and women
1999
The plasma adrenaline ([A]) and noradrenaline ([NA]) concentration responses of nine men and eight women were investigated in four resistance exercise tests (E80, E60, E40 and E20), in which the subjects had to perform a maximal number of bilateral knee extension-flexion movements at a given cycle pace of 0.5 Hz, but at different load levels (80%, 60%, 40% and 20% of 1 repetition maximum, respectively). The four test sessions were separated by a minimal interval of 3 rest days. The number of repetitions (Repmax), the total work (Wtot) done normalized for the lean body mass and the heart rate (HR) responses were similar in the two groups in each test. In addition, no differences were found b…
High liver RBP4 protein content is associated with histological features in patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C and with nonalcoholic steato…
2011
Abstract Background and aim To investigate the hepatic expression of retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP4) in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) patients, and its association with biochemical and histological patterns of liver damage. Materials and methods Sixty-six genotype 1 CHC and 32 NASH patients were tested for hepatic RBP4 expression. Liver expression at immunostaining was scored as 0 (slight), 1 (mild), 2 (moderate), and 3 (intense). In addition, the mRNA and the quantitative protein expressions of RBP4 were tested by PCR and by western blot, respectively, in 12 NASH and 28 CHC patients. Twelve subjects undergoing elective cholecystectomy served as controls…
Magnetic resonance and ultrasound in achilles tendinopathy: Predictive role and response assessment to platelet-rich plasma and adipose-derived strom…
2017
To assess the correlation between magnetic resonance and ultrasound findings and clinical outcome after intratendinous injection of leucocyte-rich platelet-rich plasma or adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction in patients with non-insertional Achilles tendinopathy.Forty-three patients (age: 47.8±5.1, range 29-55) with unilateral or bilateral non-insertional Achilles tendinopathy (58 tendons overall) were randomly assigned to platelet-rich plasma (22 patients, 28 tendons) or adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction (21 patients, 30 tendons) injection group. All patients underwent magnetic resonance (tendon cross-sectional area, signal intensity, maximum anteroposterior thickness were mea…
Relapsing and Progressive Complications of Severe Hypertriglyceridemia: Effective Long-Term Treatment with Double Filtration Plasmapheresis
2019
<b><i>Background:</i></b> Severe hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is associated with major complications such as acute or relapsing pancreatitis (AP) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Rapid elimination of triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoproteins (LP) with double filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) without need for substitution has been found to be effective for the acute, short-term treatment of HTG-induced AP. Data on the long-term use of DFPP to prevent HTG-associated complications are scarce. <b><i>Objectives:</i></b> To evaluate the use and efficacy of regular DFPP treatment in clinical practice for preventing recurrence of HTG-associa…
Exercise Diminishes Plasma Neurofilament Light Chain and Reroutes the Kynurenine Pathway in Multiple Sclerosis
2020
ObjectiveTo examine acute (single-bout) and training effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) vs standard exercise therapy (moderate continuous training [MCT]) on plasma neurofilament light chain (pNfL) and kynurenine (KYN) pathway of tryptophan degradation metabolites in persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS).MethodsSixty-nine pwMS (Expanded Disability Status Scale score 3.0–6.0) were randomly assigned to a HIIT or an MCT group. Changes in pNfL and KYN pathway metabolites measured in blood plasma were assessed before, after, and 3 hours after the first training session as well as after the 3-week training intervention.ResultsAcute exercise reduced pNfL and increased the KYN pathw…
Clinical Epidemiological Survey of Legionella pneumophila Infections in Italy
1986
A clinical epidemiological survey of Legionella pneumophila infections occurring in Italy between 1 December 1985 and 31 May 1986 was carried out to evaluate the incidence of sporadic, epidemic and nosocomial L. pneumophila pneumonia. A total of 355 cases of pneumonia were studied of which 11.5% were due to Gram positive bacteria, 11% were due to Gram negative bacteria, 7.9% were due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae, 4.5% were due to L. pneumophila and 8.5% were due to sundry aetiological agents. The remainder (45.6%) could not be diagnosed accurately. In addition, the anti L. pneumophila antibody titres were assessed. The results are discussed in terms of the occurrence of the disease in Italy an…
Co-detection of respiratory pathogens in patients hospitalized with Coronavirus viral disease-2019 pneumonia.
2020
ABSTRACTThere is scarce information on the frequency of co-detection of respiratory pathogens (RP) in patients with Covid-19. Documentation of coinfections in Covid-19 pneumonia patients may be relevant for appropriate clinical and therapeutic management of patients. Between March 4th and March 28th, 2020, a total of 183 adult patients testing positive by SARS CoV-2 RT-PCR on respiratory specimens were hospitalized with interstitial pneumonia at our center, of whom 103 were tested for other RP by a multiplexed PCR assay. Three patients had a positive result for either one (n=2; Coronavirus HKU1 or Mycoplasma pneumoniae) or two targets (n=1; Influenza virus A (H3) and Respiratory syncytial v…