The 1.8 Å crystal structure of ACTIBIND suggests a mode of action for T2 ribonucleases as antitumorigenic agents.

ACTIBIND and its human homologue RNASET2 are T2 ribonucleases (RNases). RNases are ubiquitous and efficient enzymes that hydrolyze RNA to 3' mononucleotides and also possess antitumorigenic and antiangiogenic activities. Previously, we have shown that ACTIBIND and RNASET2 bind actin and interfere with the cytoskeletal network structure, thereby inhibiting cell motility and invasiveness in cancer and in endothelial cells.

Adenosine deaminase activity in patients with Crohn's disease: distinction between active and nonactive disease.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) is a common chronic inflammatory bowel disease. During the disease a cascade of immunologic events occur including mucosal influx of inflammatory cells like neutrophils. Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is important in inflammatory responses and serves as a marker of activated leukocytes.

C reactive protein (CRP) as a predictor for true bacteremia in children.

Background: Despite the recent advances in methods for culturing bacteria, at least 24 hours are needed for most pathogens to be recognized. This period may be critical for the differentiation of a true bacteremia from a contaminated culture. We studied the value of CRP compared to total leukocytes (WBC) and absolute neutrophil count (ANC) in differentiating positive, contaminated and negative blood cultures in various pediatric infectious diseases (pneumonia, acute gastroenteritis (AGE), urinary tract infection (UTI) and acute otitis media (AOM)).

Oxidative stress, inflammation and neutrophil superoxide release in patients with Crohn's disease: distinction between active and non-active disease.

Increased oxidative stress has been previously demonstrated in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). However, to date, this parameter has not been assessed in a comparative study of patients in prolonged remission and those with the active disease. We report here our study of lipid peroxidation, antioxidant and inflammation status in serum derived from 16 active CD patients, 27 clinically stable patients, and 15 healthy controls.

Paraoxonase activity following exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation program.

Purpose: The effect of gender on paraoxonase activity was determined in 37 ischemic heart disease patients who underwent a 12-week aerobic exercise training program.

Methods: Paraoxonase activity was measured by its arylesterase activity (spectrophotometrically, at 250 degrees C, wavelength 270 nm).

Results: A 16.

The early anti-oxidant effect of carvedilol predicts the clinical course in congestive heart failure patients.

Background: Carvedilol, a beta1 and beta2 as well as an alpha1 adrenoreceptor antagonist with multiple hemodynamic, anti-ischemic and anti-oxidant properties, is widely accepted for the treatment of hypertension and congestive heart failure (CHF). It has been shown to improve morbidity and mortality in CHF.

Objectives: To assess whether the anti-oxidant effect of carvedilol has an impact on the clinical course in post-myocardial infarction (MI) CHF.

Enhanced oxidative stress and leucocyte activation in neoplastic tissues of the colon.

Excess of intracellular reactive oxygen species results in an environment that may modulate gene expression, or damage cellular molecules. These events are assumed to contribute to the process of carcinogenesis. In the present study, we measured the extent of lipid peroxidation and antioxidative status in colonic tumors and normal colonic mucosa obtained from 25 patients with colorectal carcinoma.

Diagnostic accuracy of serum B-type natriuretic peptide for myocardial ischemia detection during exercise testing with spect perfusion imaging.

Objective: To determine whether serum B-type natriuretic peptide measured at rest and peak exercise and DeltaBNP contribute to the predictive value and diagnostic accuracy of exercise test in the diagnosis of myocardial ischemia.

Background: Ventricular myocytes release BNP in response to increased wall stress that occurs in acute ischemia. During exercise testing, transient myocardial ischemia could also cause acute myocardial stress and changes in circulating BNP.

Changes in creatine phosphokinase (CK) concentrations after minor and major surgeries in children.

Background: During surgery, damage occurs to muscles in the area of the operation. The few studies that have examined creatine phosphokinase (CK) values after surgery have been in adults. The only study in children was after cardiac surgery.

Cardiac troponin I serum concentrations in newborns: a study and review of the literature.

Background: Serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is a specific marker of cardiac injury. The use of cTnI in neonates, especially in relation to perinatal asphyxia has not been extensively examined. We defined the range of normal values of cTnI in newborns, and study factors that may influence these concentrations.

Iron status and neurobehavioral development of premature infants.

Objective: This study was conducted to examine the relation between iron status and neurobehavioral development in premature infants.

Study Design: Infants born before 34 weeks postmenstrual age and who were medically stable were studied. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin < or =10 g/Dl and low iron stores as a serum ferritin concentration < or =75 microg/l.

Value of laboratory studies in assessment of dehydration in children.

Background: Due to the lack of a reliable way of clinically measuring dehydration, laboratory tests are usually used to improve the accuracy of clinical assessment of dehydration in children. The purpose of this study was to compare the relationship between clinical and laboratory parameters in the assessment of dehydration and to evaluate the improvement of those parameters over time.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study to assess the relationship between clinical assessment of dehydration and laboratory findings.

Leptin and cytokines levels in children with failure to thrive.

Background: The majority of cases of failure to thrive (FTT) are non-organic. Many of these patients present with significant decreased caloric intake. It appears as if the appetite regulation center in the hypothalamus is not attuned to the calorie requirements of the infant.

Modifications and oxidation of lipids and proteins in human serum detected by thermochemiluminescence.

Detection of electronically excited species (EES) in body fluids may constitute an important diagnostic tool in various pathologies. Examples of such products are triplet excited carbonyls (TEC), which can be a source for photon emission in the 400-550 nm range. The aim of the present study was to determine the actual contribution of lipid and protein components (protein carbonyls) to photon emission generated by thermochemiluminescence (TCL) during the heating of biological fluids.

The role of high-dose oral iron supplementation during erythropoietin therapy for anemia of prematurity.

Objective: To assess whether a high intake of oral iron would increase the effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) on hemoglobin synthesis.

Methods: We studied 30 preterm infants (gestational age 29+/-1.8 weeks, birth weight 1161+/-200 g, at age of 28+/-10 days) who were randomly assigned to receive either 8 mg/kg per day (n=15) or 16 mg/kg per day of oral iron during a course of rHuEPO therapy (900 microg/kg per week) for a duration of 4 weeks.

Cancer antigen 125: a sensitive marker of ascites in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Objective: Cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) is a high molecular mass glycoprotein, usually used for monitoring the course of epithelial ovarian cancer. Recently it has been shown that liver cirrhosis is associated with increased levels of CA 125, particularly in the presence of ascites. The aim of this study was to evaluate CA 125 as a marker for the detection of ascites in patients with chronic liver disease.

Decreased ferritin levels, despite iron supplementation, during erythropoietin therapy in anaemia of prematurity.

Erythropoietin (rHuEPO) therapy has been shown to be beneficial in preventing and treating anaemia of prematurity and to decrease the need for blood transfusions. There is, however, only scanty data on the effect of rHuEPO therapy on iron metabolism. We studied 29 preterm infants (age 34 +/- 14 days) who were randomly assigned to receive either rHuEPO 900 U kg-1 week-1 with 6 mg kg-1 day-1 of iron for 4 weeks (n = 15) or no therapy.

Alcohol-induced changes in urinary aminolevulinic acid and porphyrins: unrelated to liver disease.

Urinary porphyrins and their metabolites aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and porphobilinogen (PBG) were determined in 15 normal volunteers and in 45 alcoholics, subdivided into three groups according to their liver function tests and histology: alcoholics exhibiting no evidence of hepatocellular damage; alcoholics with fatty liver and impaired function of liver enzymes; and alcoholics with proven liver cirrhosis. The dominant trend observed in those alcoholics devoid of any evidence of liver disease was increased ALA, PBG, and uroporphyrin. Coproporphyrinuria was shared by the patients exhibiting liver damage.

Neonatal urinary uric acid/creatinine [correction of ceratinine] ratio as an additional marker of perinatal asphyxia.

Unlabelled: The diagnosis and evaluation of perinatal asphyxia can be problematic and objective means of assessing its severity are lacking. To study the validity of urinary uric acid as a marker of the degree of perinatal asphyxia, the ratio of urinary uric acid to creatinine (UA/Cr) in urine specimens obtained after birth was measured in two groups of infants. Eighteen term infants with Apgar scores < or = 5 at 5 min and/or an umbilical cord blood pH < or = 7.

Aging and food restriction alter some indices of bone metabolism in male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta).

Food restriction increases life span, reduces aging rate and affects a wide variety of biological functions. In rats, food restriction delays bone growth and reduces bone density and mineral content. We report the effects of aging and long-term (> 6.

Relationship of sweat electrolytes to apparent life-threatening events (ALTE): a case control study.

Twenty infants aged 25 days to 6 months who were consecutively investigated for apparent life-threatening events (ALTE) with negative results and 20 matched normal controls underwent an iontophoresis sweat test. A statistically significant elevated sweat potassium level (22.1 +/- 8.

Treatment of severe, resistant familial combined hyperlipidemia with a bezafibrate-lovastatin combination.

Familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL) is a common lipid disorder characterized by high levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, or both. The basic metabolic abnormality is overproduction of apolipoprotein B-100. High atherogenicity has been attributed to all forms of FCHL.

23Na- and 31P-NMR studies of perfused mouse liver during nitrogen hypoxia.

The effects of nitrogen hypoxia on isolated perfused mouse livers from fed mice were studied at 37 degrees C using 23Na and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The paramagnetic shift reagent, dysprosium-triethylenetetraminehexaacetic acid, was used to distinguish intracellular from extracellular sodium. The area of the intracellular sodium resonance remained relatively constant over the first 30 min of hypoxia and then increased by a factor of approximately 2 relative to controls over the next 30 min.

Liver adenosine triphosphate and pH in fasted and well-fed mice after infusion of adenine nucleotide precursors.

Nutrition is a factor which may affect the liver energy charge. Experiments were performed to determine the effect of starvation and of ATP precursors, adenine and ribose on liver energy stores. The 31P NMR spectra of well-fed and starved mice livers were studied in a perfusion system using Krebs-Henseleit buffer (KHB).