Generation of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin by enzymatic deglycosylation of human transferrin.

Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) molecules are transferrin isoforms that lack one or both of the carbohydrate groups attached to a normal human transferrin molecule. CDT has been reported to be a sensitive and specific marker for diagnosing alcoholism. This report demonstrates the in vitro generation of CDT molecules that can potentially be used as the standard in measuring CDT concentrations.

ONTRAK TESTCUP: a novel, on-site, multi-analyte screen for the detection of abused drugs.

We developed a rapid, sensitive, and simple-to-use multi-analyte diagnostic device for the detection of drugs of abuse in urine: the ONTRAK TESTCUP. No sample or reagent handling is necessary with this device, and the device also serves as the sample collection cup. The TESTCUP contains immunochromatographic reagents that qualitatively and simultaneously detect the presence of benzoylecgonine, morphine, and cannabinoids (delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol [THC] in urine.

Autonomic regulation of type 1 protein phosphatase in cardiac muscle.

Muscarinic cholinergic agonists such as acetylcholine attenuate phosphorylation of phospholamban induced by agents that activate cAMP-dependent protein kinase. However, cAMP accumulation is variably affected or only slightly reduced; thus, the choline ester might produce effects in addition to inhibition of adenylate cyclase. We hypothesized that acetylcholine might regulate a phosphatase in mammalina myocardium.