Plasma fibronectin concentration in obese/overweight pregnant women: a possible risk factor for preeclampsia.

Plasma fibronectin (FN) levels in obese/overweight and non-obese pregnant women were evaluated as a possible risk factor for preeclampsia. A total of one hundred and sixty three pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at University of Calabar Teaching Hospital participated in the study and sixty non-pregnant women served as control. About 77 (47.

Osteocalcin and specific markers of bone resorption in sickle cell disease.

Sickle cell disease commonly causes avascular necrosis of bone. Plain radiographs are not useful if obtained early in the disease. Radionuclide scans do not appear to increase the sensitivity of the diagnosis.

Biochemical markers, extracellular components in liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.

Liver fibrosis and cirrhosis are common sequelae to diverse liver injuries in the tropics or Nigeria. The development of hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis is due to increased synthesis, deposition, and possibly reduced degradation of hepatic extracellular matrix components, especially collagens, such as interstitial type I and III, basement membrane type IV, microfibrillar type VI, and pericellular type V, non-collagenous proteins, such as laminin, fibronectin, undulin, etc., and various types of proteoglycans, such as hyaluronan, etc.

Osteocalcin and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase in sickle cell haemoglobinopathies.

Osteocalcin or bone gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (gla) protein and Bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (b-AP) total protein levels were evaluated as indicators of bone turnover in twenty patients with sickle cell haemoglobinopathies and in twenty normal healthy individuals. The serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase total protein level was measured by immunoradiometric (IRMA) method. The concentrations of serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase total protein were higher in the study group than in the control group [P < 0.

Bone-specific alkaline phosphatase protein, total alkaline phosphatase activity and lactate dehydrogenase in sera of patients with sickle cell disease.

Serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase protein (bAP) was evaluated as indicator of bone turnover by immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) in twenty patients with sickle cell disease and in twenty healthy control subjects. Serum bAP was also compared with serum total alkaline phosphatase activity and serum lactate dehydrogenase in the same group. The concentrations of serum bAP and serum lactate dehydrogenase were significantly higher in the study group than in the control group (p < 0.

Serum concentrations of laminin P1 and aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen in sickle cell disease.

We determined serum levels of laminin and aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) in 20 patients with sickle cell hemoglobinopathies. Elevated levels of soluble laminin and PIIINP were observed in the patients--1.5 +/- 0.

Type I collagen as a marker of bone metabolism in sickle cell hemoglobinopathies.

Avascular necrosis of the skeletal system is a complication of sickle cell hemoglobinopathies. Type I collagen, which is synthesized by osteoblasts, comprises about 90% of the total organic matrix of bone. This preliminary study of skeletal changes in sickle cell hemoglobinopathies measured type I collagen formation and degradation using specific radioimmunoassays to determine the plasma concentrations of carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP) and carboxyterminal pyridinoline cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP), respectively.

Seroprevalence and coprevalence of HIV and HBsAg in Nigerian children with/without protein energy malnutrition.

In order to assess the seroprevalence and coprevalence of hepatitis-B surface antigen (HBsAg), human immunodeficiency virus-1 and -2 (HIV-1 and -2) antibodies in Nigerian children with/without protein energy malnutrition (PEM), we studied plasma specimens of 206 children with PEM and 200 apparently healthy reference children aged between 1 and 3 years by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). HIV-seropositive cases were confirmed by immunoblotting (IB). Of the children studied, eight (4%) of the healthy and four (1.

Assessment of plasma fibronectin in malnourished Nigerian children.

Background: Severe malnutrition is associated with septic infections. The concentrations of fibronectin, albumin, and transferrin in plasma were measured in three groups of children with protein-energy malnutrition, aged 1-3 years, each group comprising 20 children. The aim of which was to test whether plasma fibronectin, being an opsonic protein, was reduced in such children, and if it was a useful index for assessing the severity of malnutrition.

Liver collagen glucosyltransferase in experimental primary liver carcinoma.

Collagen glucosyltransferase activity (EC 2.4.1.

Sequential observation of pathomorphological alterations in liver of experimental murine schistosomiasis mansoni.

Fifty CFI female mice were experimentally infected with schistosomiasis mansoni (50 cercariae per mouse). This study was designed to follow the stages of structural changes that may take place in the liver of patients infected by this parasite. Histological examination of liver tissue samples were carried out weekly for ten weeks after infection with schistosomiasis mansoni cercariae.

Serum prolyl hydroxylase protein in experimental liver cancer.

Total prolyl hydroxylase protein was measured in serum of rats fed with 0.06% of azodye, 3-methyl-4-dimethyl-aminoazobenzene (3-MeDAB). Serum enzyme protein values in the group progressing to primary hepatoma and those which had the tumors were significantly different (p less than 0.

Enzyme markers of collagen synthesis in carbon tetrachloride-induced fibrosis and during colchicine modification of CCl4-induced liver injury.

Serum galactosylhydroxylysyl glucosyltransferase (S-Glu-Gal-Hyl-Tase), liver galactosylhydroxylysyl glucosyltransferase (L-Glu-Gal-Hyl-Tase), liver hydroxylysyl galactosyltransferase (L-Gal-Hyl-Tase), and liver prolyl hydroxylase (L-PH) activities were measured in rats during the development of CCl4-induced cirrhosis (0.2 ml of 33% CCl4 in light mineral oil two times weekly for 10 weeks followed by 6 weeks of no treatment). Serum and liver markers of collagen synthesis increased in a time-dependent manner reaching maximum activity at 6 weeks (S-Glu-Gal-Hyl-Tase, two times; L-PH, two times).

Serum enzymes of collagen synthesis and type III procollagen aminopropeptide in Nigerian patients with sickle cell disease.

Serum immunoreactive prolyl hydroxylase protein (S-IRPH), galactosylhydroxylysyl glucosyltransferase activity (S-GGT), and the aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen (S-Pro(III)-N-P) were measured in 20 patients with sickle cell disease and the values were compared with those in 20 apparently healthy Nigerians. The means for the two enzymes and S-Pro(III)-N-P were significantly elevated in the sickle cell disease patients. Significant correlations were found between the values of the two enzymes and the protein (S-Pro(III)-N-P) within the sickle cell disease patients.

Plasma fibronectin in sickle cell disease.

Immunoturbidimetric assay technique was used to determine plasma fibronectin concentration in healthy Nigerian children (age 2-14 years), patients with sickle cell disease in steady state and patients with sickle cell disease in crises. Compared with controls, the plasma levels of fibronectin were greatly reduced in patients with sickle cell crises. Values within the normal reference range were seen in the group of patients with sickle cell disease in steady state.

Serum and liver enzymes of collagen synthesis in hepatic murine schistosomiasis mansoni.

Serum galactosylhydroxylysyl glucosyltransferase (S-GGT), liver galactosylhydroxylysyl glucosyltransferase (L-GGT), liver hydroxylysyl galactosyltransferase (L-GGal-T) and liver prolyl hydroxylase (L-PH) activities were measured in CF1 female mice each week for 10 weeks after infection with Schistosoma mansoni (50 cercariae per mouse). None of the enzyme activities measured were significantly increased in the first six weeks following the infection. However, the activities increased thereafter reaching a maximum of seven-fold for S-GGT, five-fold for L-GGT, three-fold for L-GGal-T and ten-fold for L-PH compared with control animals.

Serum bile acid in the evaluation of colchicine treatment of carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury.

The usefulness of measuring serum-conjugated bile acid concentrations by radioimmunoassay in colchicine-modified carbon tetrachloride-induced liver lesions in rats was assessed by comparing the concentrations with the results of some routinely employed liver function tests such as serum aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, and serum total protein. The serum cholylglycine levels were significantly (P less than 0.003) raised along with the serum aspartate transaminase (P less than 0.

Three serum markers of collagen biosynthesis in Nigerians with cirrhosis and various infectious diseases.

Serum immunoreactive prolyl hydroxylase protein, galactosylhydroxylysyl glucosyltransferase activity, and the aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen (S-Pro(III)-N-P) were measured in twenty patients with cirrhosis and ninety with various infectious diseases, and the values were compared with those in sixty apparently healthy Nigerians. The means for all three markers were elevated significantly in the patients with cirrhosis (P less than 0.001), acute viral hepatitis (P less than 0.

Enzymes of collagen synthesis in lung tissues of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

The activities of prolyl hydroxylase (Pro-OHase), galactosylhydroxylysyl glucosyltransferase (Glu-Gal-Hyl-Tase), and hydroxylysyl galactosyltransferase (Gal-Hyl-Tase) were assayed in lung tissues of hamsters with bleomycin-induced experimental pulmonary fibrosis. Serum Glu-Gal-Hyl-Tase and aspartate transaminase (Asp-NH2-Tase) were measured in the same animals. Lung fibrosis was induced by intratracheal bleomycin instillation, and the enzyme activities were assayed 2, 3, and 4 weeks after bleomycin administration.

Radioimmunoassay of serum conjugated cholic acid in hepatic murine schistosomiasis.

Cholylglycine levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in sera from 10 control CFI female mice and 22 CFI female mice experimentally infected with Schistosoma mansoni. Cholylglycine was significantly elevated in sera of all but one of the chronically infected animals. Serum aspartate transaminase was within normal limits in all the infected animals; while five infected mice had elevated serum alkaline phosphatase and all these five also had high levels of serum cholylglycine.

Liver immunoreactive prolyl hydroxylase protein in human primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

Total prolyl hydroxylase protein was measured in hepatic tissues of 8 patients with primary hepatocellular (PHC), 5 with acute viral hepatitis, and 5 with cirrhosis (3 alcoholic and 2 with secondary biliary cirrhosis). The mean values were compared with the mean value of 10 normal hepatic tissues. The mean values were all highly significantly elevated (P less than 0.

Liver function and the diagnostic significance of conjugated cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid in serum of African patients with sickle cell disease.

Concentrations of two primary bile acids (cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid) were determined by radioimmunoassay in the serum of 15 African homozygous sickle cell patients, ages ranging from 4 to 22 years. The mean serum levels of the two primary bile acids studied were significantly elevated when compared with the normal mean values. About 67% of the patients had pathological elevation of both primary bile acids, thereby indicating some hepatobiliary damage.

Enzymes of collagen synthesis and type III procollagen amino-propeptide in serum from Nigerians with chronic endomyocardial fibrosis.

The hallmark of cardiac pathology in chronic African endomyocardial fibrosis is the laying down of excess collagen in the endomyocardium. Preliminary observations on the assay of enzymes of collagen synthesis and type III procollagen aminopropeptide in chronic African endomyocardial fibrosis are reported. Serum immunoreactive prolyl hydroxylase protein was elevated in 4, serum galactosyl-hydroxylysyl glucosyl transferase activity was elevated in 5, and type III procollagen aminopropeptide was also elevated in 5 patients.