New competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for determination of metallothionein in tissue and sera.

Very little information is available concerning the relationship between metallothionein (MT) and diseases in humans. Several methods to measure MT levels exist but many of these assays are not sensitive to measure MT in human sera. A new sensitive competitive ELISA system has been developed using MT labeled with horseradish peroxidase as a conjugate and high-titre polyclonal antibodies obtained from rabbit immunoglobulin G for MT determination in human sera.

Cholinergic responses of ileal longitudinal muscle under short-lasting exposure to cupric ions.

1 The effect of short-term exposure to cupric ions (Cu2+) on electric field-stimulated (EFS) or agonist-induced contractions of guinea-pig isolated ileum was studied. 2 EFS elicited tetrodotoxin- and atropine-sensitive contractions that were concentration dependently inhibited by Cu2+ (IC50 = 14.7 +/- 4.

Time course and progression of pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy in rats.

Aim: To study the time course and progression of pressure overload-induced left ventricular hypertrophy

Methods: Left ventricular hypertrophy was induced in rats by abdominal aorta constriction and assessed at different time points (10, 15, 20, 25, 35, and 45 days) after operation.

Results: The cardiac index (the ratio of heart weight to body weight) in aortic-banded animals was characterised by phasic changes when compared with the sham operated and the control animals. In aortic-banded rats the cardiac index rose sharply at days 10 and 15 after operation.

A reproducible model of cardiac hypertrophy in rats. Problems and obstacles we faced.

Aim: To develop a reproducible model of significant left ventricular hypertrophy in order to study the role played by the tumor suppressor protein 53 (P53) in the mechanisms of cardiac hypertrophy, the cross-talk with the other factors and the connection between expression and activity of P53, cardiac myocyte apoptosis and heart hypertrophy; to discuss the problems and obstacles we faced.

Methods: Male Wistar rats were used in the experiments. Left ventricular hypertrophy was induced by banding the abdominal aorta.

Effects of immediate versus delayed antihypertensive therapy on outcome in the Systolic Hypertension in Europe Trial.

Background: To assess the impact of immediate versus delayed antihypertensive treatment on the outcome of older patients with isolated systolic hypertension, we extended the double-blind placebo-controlled Systolic Hypertension in Europe (Syst-Eur) trial by an open-label follow-up study lasting 4 years.

Methods: The Syst-Eur trial included 4695 randomized patients with minimum age of 60 years and an untreated blood pressure of 160-219 mmHg systolic and below 95 mmHg diastolic. The double-blind trial ended after a median follow-up of 2.