Validation of the Hemo_Control instrument for determination of B-haemoglobin concentration in primary health care.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the analytical performance of a new portable haemoglobinometer, Hemo_Control (EKF-diagnostic, GmbH, Germany), which measures haemoglobin concentration in venous and capillary samples.

Method: The within series and between series imprecision of the Hemo_Control instrument were calculated after measuring the concentration of venous samples under standardized conditions; by experienced laboratory technicians in a hospital laboratory, and venous and capillary samples under conditions similar to where the instrument is intended for use; by personnel at two primary health care centres. The bias of the Hemo_Control instrument was calculated as the difference between its results and results obtained with a Coulter LH 750 instrument traceable to the ICSH reference method.

alpha1-antitrypsin and its C-terminal fragment attenuate effects of degranulated neutrophil-conditioned medium on lung cancer HCC cells, in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Tumor microenvironment, which is largely affected by inflammatory cells, is a crucial participant in the neoplastic process through promotion of cell proliferation, survival and migration. We measured the effects of polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) conditioned medium alone, and supplemented with serine proteinase inhibitor alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) or its C-terminal fragment (C-36 peptide), on cultured lung cancer cells. METHODS: Lung cancer HCC cells were grown in a regular medium or in a PMN-conditioned medium in the presence or absence of AAT (0.

Increased plasma levels of serine proteinase inhibitors in lung cancer patients.

Background: Tumor growth and invasiveness occur through infiltration of tumor cells into the host cells and by angiogenesis, which is modulated by proteinases and antiproteinases released from tumor cells that carry out tissue remodelling. A number of studies have revealed variations in the plasma levels of serine proteases and their inhibitors among tumor types.

Patients And Methods: By immunological methods we analysed the levels of serine protease inhibitors AAT, ACT and SLPI in newly diagnosed lung cancer patients (n=14) compared to non-smoker and smoker, age- and gender-matched control groups (n=16), and also in an expanded group of lung cancer patients with local tumors (n=14) and with metastasis (n=18).

Divergent effects of alpha1-antitrypsin on neutrophil activation, in vitro.

alpha1-Antitrypsin (AAT) is a major circulating serine proteinase inhibitor in humans. The anti-proteinase activity of AAT is inhibited by chemical modification. These include inter- or intramolecular polymerisation, oxidation, complex formation with target proteinases (e.

Diverse responses between human pancreatic cancer cell lines to native alpha 1-antitrypsin and its C-terminal fragment.

Background: Previous studies imply that human pancreatic cancer cells have a wide heterogeneity and their exposure to various agents may give unpredictable results in clinical situations.

Materials And Methods: The cell lines LPC-3, -5 and -10, established from primary cultures of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, were exposed to 5 microM of AAT or its C-terminal peptide C-36 for 24 hours and analysed for cytokines by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and for NF kappa B by the electrophoretic mobility shift assay.

Results: Native AAT lowers TGF-beta 1 levels and increases NF-kappa B activity in LPC-3 cells, while C-36 increases TGF-beta 1 levels and up-regulates NF-kappa B in LPC-5 cells.

Effects of native and cleaved forms of alpha1-antitrypsin on ME 1477 tumor cell functional activity.

Tumor cells synthesize and release a variety of substances, including proteases and protease inhibitors involved in cell growth and proliferation. alpha1-Antitrypsin (AAT) is a serine proteinase inhibitor synthesized primarily in the liver, but also in extra-hepatic tissues and cells, including tumor cells. AAT exists not only in a native, active inhibitory form, but also in several, non-inhibitory forms, such as cleaved and/or degraded.

Modulation of inflammatory mediators and PPARgamma and NFkappaB expression by pravastatin in response to lipoproteins in human monocytes in vitro.

Statins are inhibitors of the rate-limiting step of cellular cholesterol synthesis. In vitro and in vivo studies suggest that statins have anti-inflammatory properties independent of their cholesterol-lowering effects. These observations prompted us to examine the effects of pravastatin (50 microM) and native or oxidized low density lipoprotein (nLDL or oxLDL) (50 microg ml(-1)) on primary human monocytes.