Spectrophotometric determination of paracetamol in urine with tetrahydroxycalix[4]arene as a coupling reagent and preconcentration with triton X-114 using cloud point extraction.

In the present paper, conventional spectrophotometry in conjunction with cloud point extraction-preconcentration were investigated as alternative methods for paracetamol (PCT) assay in urine samples. Cloud point extraction (CPE) was employed for the preconcentration of p-aminophenol (PAP) prior to spectrophotometric determination using the non-ionic surfactant Triton X-114 (TX-114) as an extractant. The developed methods were based on acidic hydrolysis of PCT to PAP, which reacted at room temperature with 25,26,27,28-tetrahydroxycalix[4]arene (CAL4) in the presence of an oxidant (KIO(4)) to form an blue colored product.

Risperidone attenuates brain damage after focal cerebral ischemia in vivo.

Since their introduction, atypical neuroleptic agents have been discovered to have some beneficial effects beyond their effectiveness as neuroleptic drugs. Among these initially unexpected effects are their potential effects as mood stabilizers in bipolar disorder and their efficacy in improving long-term outcome in schizophrenia. These effects recently raised the question whether these drugs may also have some neuroprotective effect in the brain.

Nasal chondrosarcoma in a Simmental cow.

The pathologic features of a nasal chondrosarcoma, a rare tumor of bovines, in a Simmental cow are described. Upon clinical examination, stertor, difficulty in breathing, poor body condition, and a nasal mass were found. Histopathologic examination revealed that the mass was composed mostly of numerous cartilaginous lobules surrounded by spindle-shaped cells, often showing mitotic figures, atypical chondrocytes, and lacunae containing 2 or more cells.

The phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/Akt pathway mediates VEGF's neuroprotective activity and induces blood brain barrier permeability after focal cerebral ischemia.

Based on its trophic influence on neurons and vascular cells, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a promising candidate for stroke treatment. VEGF's survival-promoting effects are purchased at the expense of an increased blood brain barrier permeability, which potentially compromises tissue survival. The mechanisms via which VEGF protects the brain against ischemia remained unknown.

TAT-GDNF in neurodegeneration and ischemic stroke.

The delivery of proteins across the blood-brain barrier is severely limited by their size and biochemical properties. Numerous peptides have been characterized in recent years that prevent neuronal death in vitro, but cannot be used therapeutically, since they do not cross cell membrane barriers. It has been shown in the 1990s that the HIV TAT protein is able to cross cell membranes even when coupled with larger peptides.

Epoetin alfa improves survival after chemoradiation for stage III esophageal cancer: final results of a prospective observational study.

Purpose: This prospective, nonrandomized study evaluates the effectiveness of epoetin alfa to maintain the hemoglobin levels at 12 to 14 g/dL (optimal range for tumor oxygenation) during chemoradiation for Stage III esophageal cancer and its impact on overall survival (OS), metastatic-free survival (MFS), and locoregional control (LC).

Methods And Materials: Ninety-six patients were included. Forty-two patients received epoetin alfa (150 IU/kg, 3 times a week) during radiotherapy, which was started at hemoglobin less than 13 g/dL and stopped at 14 g/dL or higher.

CEA-related cell adhesion molecule-1 is involved in angiogenic switch in prostate cancer.

We demonstrate here that epithelial carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-related cell adhesion molecule-1 (CEACAM1) downregulation in prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) is inversely correlated with its upregulation in adjacent blood vessels. CEACAM1 silencing in prostate cancer cell line DU-145 via small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) increased but its overexpression suppressed the expression of angiogenic/lymphangiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A, -C and -D, and angiogenic inhibitor collagen 18/endostatin. Furthermore, CEACAM1 overexpression in DU-145 cells increased but CEACAM1 silencing reduced angiopoietin-1 expression.

Inhibition of multidrug resistance transporter-1 facilitates neuroprotective therapies after focal cerebral ischemia.

The blood-brain barrier possesses active transporters carrying brain-permeable xenobiotics back into the blood against concentration gradients. We demonstrate that multidrug resistance transporter (Mdr)-1 is upregulated on capillary endothelium after focal cerebral ischemia; moreover, Mdr-1 deactivation by pharmacological inhibition or genetic knockout preferably enhances the accumulation and efficacy of two neuroprotectants known as Mdr-1 substrates in the ischemic brain. We predict that Mdr-1 inhibition may greatly facilitate neuroprotective therapies.

An amperometric enzyme electrode for creatine determination prepared by the immobilization of creatinase and sarcosine oxidase in poly(vinylferrocenium).

A new enzyme electrode for the determination of creatine was developed by immobilizing creatinase (CI) and sarcosine oxidase (SO). The enzymes were co-immobilized in a poly(vinylferrocenium) matrix onto the surface of a platinum working electrode. Crosslinking with glutaraldehyte (GA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was selected as the best immobilization method for the enzymatic system.

An amperometric biosensor for xanthine determination prepared from xanthine oxidase immobilized in polypyrrole film.

In order to prepare a biosensor for the determination of xanthine, electropolymerization of pyrrole on Pt surface was carried out with an electrochemical cell containing pyrrole, ferrocene (as a electron mediator) and tetrabutylamonium tetrafluoroborat in acetonitrile by cyclic voltammetry between 0.0 and 0.9V (vs SCE) at a scan rate of 50mV/s upon Pt electrode.

TAT fusion proteins against ischemic stroke: current status and future perspectives.

The delivery of proteins across the blood-brain barrier is severely limited by the proteins' size and biochemical properties. Thus, a large number of peptides have been characterized in recent years that efficaciously prevent neuronal death in vitro, but which may not be applied in vivo, since they are unable to cross cell membrane barriers. In the 1990ies, it had been shown that the HIV TAT protein is able to cross cell membranes even when coupled with larger peptides.

Reduced melanoma-related mortality in uveal melanoma by preenucleation radiotherapy.

Background: Radiotherapy of an eye before enucleation, so called preenucleation radiotherapy (PER), of patients with uveal melanoma was initiated to reduce enucleation-induced systemic metastasis. Earlier studies with a short follow-up period have not demonstrated a significant effect on survival.

Objective: To study the effect of PER on melanoma-related mortality after more than 9 years of follow-up.

Brain-derived erythropoietin protects from focal cerebral ischemia by dual activation of ERK-1/-2 and Akt pathways.

Apart from its hematopoietic function, erythropoietin (Epo) exerts neuroprotective functions in brain hypoxia and ischemia. To examine the mechanisms mediating Epo's neuroprotective activity in vivo, we made use of our transgenic mouse line tg21 that constitutively expresses human Epo in brain without inducing excessive erythrocytosis. We show that human Epo is expressed in tg21 brains and that cortical and striatal neurons carry the Epo receptor.

Neuroprotection by hypoxic preconditioning: HIF-1 and erythropoietin protect from retinal degeneration.

Hypoxic exposure of cells or organisms induces expression of a number of hypoxia responsive genes through the activation of the hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1). One of the most prominent HIF-1 targets is erythropoietin that has beneficial effects on ischemia-related injury in the brain. Exposure to low environmental oxygen concentrations can be used as a preconditioning paradigm to protect cells or tissues against a variety of harmful conditions.

Investigation of protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

We aimed to determine the importance of neutrophil activation and the source of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by quantification of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and total thiol levels as markers of oxidative protein damage, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels as a marker of lipid peroxidation and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity as a marker of neutrophil activation in patients with RA. Fifty-seven rheumatoid arthritis patients were included in the study and sub-grouped according to disease activity (active, n = 31; inactive, n = 26) and compared with healthy controls (n = 25). Serum MPO activity, AOPP, MDA, and thiol levels were measured by an enzymic spectrophotometric method.

Tissue-plasminogen activator-induced ischemic brain injury is reversed by melatonin: role of iNOS and Akt.

In vivo studies showed that tissue-plasminogen activator (t-PA) may aggravate neuronal injury after focal cerebral ischemia. We hypothesized that t-PA impairs survival-promoting cell signaling in the ischemic brain, which may be reversed by a neuroprotectant, i.e.

Serum malondialdehyde level in children infected with Vampirolepis nana.

Background: Vampirolepis nana is the only human tapeworm in which the intermediate host is not necessary and transmission is from person to person. In this study the changes of serum malondialdehyde level, that is, the oxidative stress hypothesis in patients infected with V. nana, was investigated.

Susceptibility to some antifungal drugs of vaginal lactobacilli isolated from healthy women.

Samples were taken from the lateral vaginal wall of 19 healthy women. Lactobacilli were isolated from ten of these women. Fifty-eight Lactobacillus isolates were identified as L.

Assessment of paraoxonase 1 activity and malondialdehyde levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate antioxidant paraoxonase 1 activity together with malondialdehyde (MDA) (an oxidative stress parameter) levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Design And Methods: Fifty-seven rheumatoid arthritis patients were included in the study and subgrouped according to disease activity (active, n = 31; inactive, n = 26) and compared with healthy controls (n = 25). Serum paraoxonase 1 activity and MDA levels were measured according to an enzymatic spectrophotometric method.

Post-ischemic delivery of the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor rosuvastatin protects against focal cerebral ischemia in mice via inhibition of extracellular-regulated kinase-1/-2.

After recent clinical trials, statins have gained increasing significance in secondary stroke prevention. From experimental studies, it is well established that statins have beneficial action when delivered prophylactically prior to a stroke. Conversely, much less is known about the effects of statins on injury development when delivered after ischemia.

Electrochemical investigation of 1,3,5-triphenylformazan and its nitro derivatives in dimethyl sulfoxide.

Cyclic voltammetric (CV) and chronoamperometric (CA) behaviors of 1,3,5-triphenylformazan (TPF), 3-(p-nitrophenyl)-1,5-diphenylformazan (PNF) and 3-(m-nitrophenyl)-1,5-diphenylformazan (MNF) were studied in dimethyl sulfoxide medium. TPF was found to give a single sharp cathodic CV peak corresponding to a gain of one-electron per molecule. The diffusion coefficient and the number of electrons transferred were calculated using the Baranski equation with the CV-data obtained by an ultramicroelectrode.

Concurrent loss of chromosome arm 1p and chromosome 3 predicts a decreased disease-free survival in uveal melanoma patients.

Purpose: Uveal melanoma is a highly malignant disease with a mortality rate of 50% at 10 to 15 years. Previous studies have shown that chromosomal changes are associated with decreased survival of the patient. However, in these studies the small number of tumors analyzed did not allow robust statistical analysis.

Aggravation of ischemic brain injury by prion protein deficiency: role of ERK-1/-2 and STAT-1.

The cellular isoform of prion protein, PrPc, may confer neuroprotection in the brain, according to recent studies. To elucidate the role of PrPc in stroke pathology, we subjected PrPc-knockout (Prnp(0/0)), wild-type and PrPc-transgenic (tga20) mice to 30 min of intraluminal middle cerebral artery occlusion, followed by 3, 24 or 72 h reperfusion, and examined how PrPc levels influence brain injury and cell signaling. In immunohistochemical experiments and Western blots, we show that PrPc expression is absent in the brains of Prnp(0/0) mice, detectable in wild-type controls and approximately 4.

Clinical features of 35 patients with Parkinson's disease displaying REM behavior disorder.

Objective: To assess and compare the disease severity, the treatment properties and the frequency of motor complications in the patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) having and not having REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD).

Patients And Methods: Based on chart review, patients with Parkinson's disease whose bed partners have reported prominent motor activity while dreaming were identified. Standard questionnaires assessing the presence of RBD have been addressed to these patients and their informants.

Evaluation of oxidative stress in cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Oxidative stress occurs when there is excessive free-radical production or a low antioxidant level. The role of free radicals in the pathogenesis and in the progression of many diseases has often been discussed, but it has not been widely investigated in leishmaniasis. However, measurement of oxidants and antioxidants in the serum seems to be of great value.