Comparative affinity of the major genetic variants of human group-specific component (vitamin D-binding protein) for 25-(OH) vitamin D.

Binding studies with [3H] 25-(OH) D3 were performed under a variety of conditions using Gc (Vitamin D-binding protein) purified from individuals displaying different phenotypes. No significant differences in affinity of binding were found between Gc1f, Gc1s and Gc2 allelle products in either homozygous or heterozygous individuals, nor between Gc1 anodal and Gc1 cathodal isotypes. Affinity was not significantly affected by different reaction temperatures (4, 22 or 37 degrees C), the presence or absence of Ca2+ ions, and binary and ternary interactions with G-actin and G-actin-DNase complexes respectively.

The synthesis of human alpha-2-HS glycoprotein is down-regulated by cytokines in hepatoma HepG2 cells.

The regulation of the synthesis of alpha-2-HS glycoprotein (AHSG) by inflammatory mediators from activated monocytes was studied on the human hepatoma cell line HepG2 and compared to that of albumin. Monocyte-conditioned medium, recombinant human interleukin-6 (rhIL6) and interleukin-1 beta (rhIL1 beta) all down-regulated the synthesis of AHSG. This decrease was found both at the protein and the mRNA level.

Effect of combining electrocardiographic interpretation results on diagnostic accuracy.

In order to test the diagnostic performance of various ECG computer programs a reference library of ECGs is being established and evaluation methods are being developed in an international co-operative project. A pilot study was undertaken in which 250 validated electrocardiograms (ECG) and vectorcardiograms (VCG) comprising seven diagnostic groups i.e.

Changes in magnesium, zinc, calcium, potassium, cholesterol, and creatine kinase concentrations in patients from pre-infarction syndrome to fatal myocardial infarction.

We measured changes in concentrations of magnesium, zinc, calcium, potassium, cholesterol [total and high-density lipoproteins (HDL)], total creatine kinase (CK), and CK isoenzyme-MB in plasma (PI) and/or erythrocytes (Erc) from apparently healthy subjects and from patients with either pre-infarction syndrome (PIS) or myocardial infarction (MI) with a favorable (MI1) or fatal (MI2) outcome, to assess the relationship of these changes to the increasing severity of ischemic disease. Significant sex-related differences led us to study men and women separately. In MI1 and MI2 patients, concentrations of Mg in PI and Erc were increased as a function of time since the infarct, confirming the cardiac Mg leaves the heart and enters the circulatory compartment.

An improved method to evaluate the precision of computer ECG measurement programs.

We present a new graphical evaluation method aimed at displaying the main characteristics of computer ECG measurement program results. The proposed graphs provide information on the number of rejected measurements and gross program errors, and on the precision of the results, i.e.

The use of dye-ligand affinity chromatography for the purification of non-enzymatic human plasma proteins.

Literature data are analysed in this review on the use of immobilized triazine dyes for the characterization, isolation and purification of non-enzymatic human plasma proteins in both conventional and high-pressure liquid chromatography systems. Attention is focused on the mode of interaction between the dyes and these proteins, as well as on the advantages over previously reported techniques. Future developments are discussed.

Electrotransfer of proteins following polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Nitrocellulose versus nylon membranes.

We found that some plasma proteins such as haptoglobin (Mr 200,000) and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (Mr 40,000) do not bind at all to nitrocellulose membranes in classical transfer conditions. In contrast, these proteins can be clearly identified when a charged nylon membrane is disposed on the anodal side of the nitrocellulose membrane. Several factors which are important in modifying the adherence between proteins and the blotting membrane have been studied.

A reference data base for multilead electrocardiographic computer measurement programs.

In an effort to standardize and evaluate the performance of electrocardiographic computer measurement programs, a 15 lead reference library has been developed based on simultaneously recorded standard 12 lead and orthogonal XYZ lead data. A set of 250 electrocardiograms (ECGs) with selected abnormalities was analyzed by a group of five referee cardiologists and 11 different 12 lead and 6 XYZ computer programs. Attention was focused on the exact determination of the onsets and offsets of P, QRS and T waves.

Influence of noise on wave boundary recognition by ECG measurement programs. Recommendations for preprocessing.

In the international cooperative project entitled "Common Standards for Quantitative Electrocardiography" (CSE) systematic noise tests have been performed in order to compare measurement results of electrocardiographic computer programs under degraded operational conditions and to develop recommendations for preprocessing and measurement strategies. The influence of seven different high- and low-frequency noise types on the recognition of P, QRS, and T wave onsets and offsets was investigated. The analysis was performed on 160 electrocardiograms derived from two sets of 10 cases each, by eight electrocardiographic and six vectorcardiographic computer programs.

Testing the performance of ECG computer programs: the CSE diagnostic pilot study.

In an international project investigators from 21 institutes are trying to establish a common reference library and evaluation methods for testing the diagnostic performance of various ECG computer programs using ECG independent clinical information. Preliminary results indicate that the classification accuracy of different programs varies widely.

Development of a reference library for multi-lead ECG measurement programs.

The development of a data base is described which can be used as common reference for ECG computer programs analyzing 12 or 15 simultaneously recorded leads. This data base is an extension of the 3-lead CSE reference library, described previously.

Purification of human alpha 1-beta glycoprotein and study of its microheterogeneity and molecular variants.

Alpha 1-beta glycoprotein (A1B) was purified to homogeneity from human plasma using a three-step procedure involving pseudo-ligand affinity chromatography on immobilized Cibacron Blue 3-GA, gel filtration chromatography on Sephadex G-200 and ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE Affigel Blue. The overall yield of the combined techniques was 31%. The major advantages of this technique include its conveniency, and the fact that no apparent alteration of the purified protein occurred as judged by the absence of modification of its physicochemical parameters.

Changes in magnesium, zinc and calcium in men and women after an acute myocardial infarction.

The relations between different elements in acute myocardial infarction (MI) led us to determine erythrocyte (Erc) and/or plasma (Pl) concentrations of magnesium (Erc-Mg; Pl-Mg), zinc (Erc-Zn; Pl-Zn) and calcium (Pl-Ca) in 34 men and 8 women upon admission to hospital and then on days 2, 3, 6, 10 and 12. On day 1, these two groups were compared with 58 reference men or 53 reference women. The changes in the different variables from day 1 to day 12 were analyzed by one-way ANOVA.

Fractionation of plasma proteins using dye-ligand chromatography: elution profiles on immobilized green TSK-AF.

The fractionation of human plasma by chromatography on immobilized Green TSK-AF was assessed by immunological analysis of the elution profiles of 27 different plasma proteins. A three-step procedure was used to elute proteins from the column. First a low-molarity buffer (30 mM sodium phosphate, pH 7.

Fractionation of plasma proteins by pseudo-ligand affinity chromatography. Elution from immobilized Brown Fractogel TSK-AF.

The fractionation of human plasma by chromatography on immobilized Brown Fractogel TSK-AF was analyzed by following the elution profile of 25 different plasma proteins. A three-step procedure was used to elute proteins from the column. First, a low-molarity buffer (30 mM sodium phosphate, pH 7.

Se, Zn, Mg, Ca, K, cholesterol, and creatine kinase concentrations in men during the 12 days after an acute myocardial infarction.

We determined concentrations of selenium, zinc, magnesium, calcium, potassium, total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and total creatine kinase (EC 2.7.3.

Purification of IgM monoclonal antibody from murine ascitic fluid by a two-step column chromatography procedure.

Two IgM monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) were purified from murine ascitic fluid by a two-step procedure involving pseudoligand affinity chromatography on immobilized Cibacron Blue F3GA and gel filtration chromatography on ACA-22. The purified IgM from one ascites sample, H-1, was determined to be homogeneous by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis while ascites containing E3.1 IgM Mab, was purified to greater than 95% IgM.

Comparison of cytologic and genetic distances between long arm subtelomeric markers of human autosome 14 suggests uneven distribution of crossing-over.

The analysis of two rodent X human somatic cell hybrids, carrying different inborn translocations of the human chromosome 14 long arm, has permitted us to narrow down the localization of the structural locus for alpha-1-antitrypsin (PI) to band 14q32.1, proximally to the highly polymorphic DNA locus D14S1 which has been localized by previous studies between 14q32.1 and 14q32.

Oligoclonal "fingerprint" of CSF IgG in multiple sclerosis patients is not modified following intrathecal administration of natural beta-interferon.

The IgG pattern in CSF was studied in 11 patients with multiple sclerosis who exhibited an oligoclonal banding upon thin-layer polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing followed by silver stain of unconcentrated CSF. Each patient received beta-interferon intrathecally during a 2 month period. No modification was observed over a 6 month period.