Expression of group XIIA phospholipase A2 in human digestive organs.

Cellular distribution of group XIIA phospholipase A2 (GXIIA PLA2) was studied in human digestive organs by immunohistochemistry. GXIIA PLA2 protein was detected in epithelial cells of normal gastrointestinal tract, gallbladder and pancreatic acinar cells. The GXIIA PLA2 protein was evenly distributed in the cytoplasm in contrast to secretory granular distribution of GIB PLA2 and GIIA PLA2 in pancreatic acinar cells and small intestinal Paneth cells respectively.

Role of plasma bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein, group IIA phospholipase A(2), C-reactive protein, and white blood cell count in the early detection of severe sepsis in the emergency department.

Objectives: To study the diagnostic values of bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI), group IIA phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)GIIA), white blood cell count (WBC), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in identifying severe sepsis upon admission in an emergency room.

Methods: This was a single-centre prospective cohort study involving 525 adult patients admitted to the emergency room with suspected infection. Plasma samples were taken concurrently with the blood cultures.

Early detection of severe sepsis in the emergency room: diagnostic value of plasma C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and interleukin-6.

Objectives: To determine the diagnostic values of plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) method (Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim, Germany) to identify severe sepsis in an emergency room (ER) setting.

Methods: This was a single-centre prospective follow-up study of 539 consecutive adult patients admitted to the ER with suspected infection. Blood samples were taken concurrently with blood cultures at admission.

Pancreatic phospholipase A2 contributes to lung injury in experimental meconium aspiration.

To investigate the role of pancreatic (group I) secretory PLA2 (sPLA2-I) in the pathogenesis of meconium aspiration syndrome, human particulate meconium or its supernatant either before or after extraction of PLA2-I was insufflated into rat lungs. In addition, the pulmonary effects of intra-tracheal human and bovine PLA2-I were studied. Lungs with saline instillation served as controls.

Bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein in lacrimal gland and in tears of healthy subjects.

Background: To determine the expression of bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI), a novel antimicrobial molecule, in the main lacrimal gland and its content in tears of young healthy subjects.

Methods: BPI concentration of tears was measured in 42 healthy volunteers, 13 men and 29 women, with ages ranging from 22 to 30 (mean 24.7+/-2.

Group IIA phospholipase A2 content of tears in patients with atopic blepharoconjunctivitis.

Background: To determine the concentration of group IIA phospholipase A(2) (GIIAPLA(2)) in tears of patients with atopic blepharoconjunctivitis (ABC), and to compare it with the GIIAPLA(2) concentration of tears in age-matched healthy controls.

Methods: The diagnosis of ABC was confirmed with a positive skin prick test and the presence of atopic dermatitis in lids. Conjunctival brush cytology was taken, and the cells including eosinophils, neutrophils, lymphocytes, squamous epithelial cells, columnar epithelial cells, metaplastic changes and the goblet cells were calculated separately.

Phospholipase A2 in cnidaria.

Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is an enzyme present in snake and other venoms and body fluids. We measured PLA2 catalytic activity in tissue homogenates of 22 species representing the classes Anthozoa, Hydrozoa, Scyphozoa and Cubozoa of the phylum Cnidaria. High PLA2 levels were found in the hydrozoan fire coral Millepora sp.

Meconium induces only localized inflammatory lung injury in piglets.

Neonatal meconium aspiration often produces severe respiratory distress due to an inflammatory pulmonary injury, but the extension of this damaging reaction to the noncontaminated lung regions is still uncertain. To investigate the presence of generalized pulmonary inflammatory response, 31 anesthetized and ventilated neonatal piglets (1-3 d) were studied. Meconium (n = 16) or saline (n = 15) was instilled unilaterally into the right lung, and analysis of the lung tissue or bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from both lungs was performed after 12 h.

Diurnal variation in group IIa phospholipase A2 content in tears of contact lens wearers and normal controls.

Purpose: To study the diurnal rhythm in group IIA phospholipase A(2) (GIIAPLA(2)) content of tears and the effect of the wearing time of soft contact lenses (CL) on the content of GIIAPLA(2 )in tears.

Methods: The GIIAPLA(2 )content of tears was measured by a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay in 22 healthy controls at 8 a.m.

Extracellular release of bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein in newborn infants.

Upon activation, polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) release bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein, (BPI) from their azurophil granules. BPI selectively binds to the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on gram-negative bacteria and induces their death. This study examined plasma BPI concentration levels in healthy newborns and in newborns with clinical sepsis, and the ability of PMN from preterm and term infants to release BPI.