Alternative antibody for the detection of CA15-3 antigen: a European multicenter study for the evaluation of the analytical and clinical performance of the Access BR Monitor assay on the UniCel Dxl 800 Immunoassay System.

Background: Cancer antigen CA15-3 antigen is known as a valuable marker for the management of breast cancer.

Methods: The analytical and clinical performance of the Access BR Monitor Immunoassay System (Beckman Coulter) was evaluated at five different European sites and compared with a reference system, defined as CA15-3 on the Elecsys System (Roche Diagnostics).

Results: Total imprecision (% CV) of the BR Monitor ranged between 5.

Alternative antibody for the detection of CA125 antigen: a European multicenter study for the evaluation of the analytical and clinical performance of the Access OV Monitor assay on the UniCel Dxl 800 Immunoassay System.

Background: Cancer antigen CA125 is known as a valuable marker for the management of ovarian cancer.

Methods: The analytical and clinical performance of the Access OV Monitor Immunoassay System (Beckman Coulter) was evaluated at five different European sites and compared with a reference system, defined as CA125 on the Elecsys System (Roche Diagnostics).

Results: Total imprecision (% CV) of the OV Monitor ranged between 3.

Paired associative stimulation.

Paired associative stimulation (PAS) refers to a paradigm consisting of slow-rate repetitive low-frequency median nerve stimulation combined with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the contralateral motor cortex. This protocol has been shown to induce plastic changes of excitability in the human motor cortex. Its principles of design were shaped after associative long-term potentiation (LTP) in experimental animals, a cellular mechanism likely to be relevant for learning and memory.

Temporary occlusion of associative motor cortical plasticity by prior dynamic motor training.

A novel Hebbian stimulation paradigm was employed to examine physiological correlates of motor memory formation in humans. Repetitive pairing of median nerve stimulation with transcranial magnetic stimulation over the contralateral motor cortex (paired associative stimulation, PAS) may decrease human motor cortical excitability at interstimulus intervals of 10 ms (PAS10) or increase excitability at 25 ms (PAS25). The properties of this plasticity have previously been shown to resemble associative timing-dependent long-term depression (LTD) and long-term potentiation (LTP) as established in vitro.

Differential effect of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS-III) on the regulation of adult neurogenesis and behaviour.

Although it has been postulated that adult neurogenesis, i.e. the generation of functional neurons from progenitor cells in the mammalian brain, is involved in both the pathogenesis of depressive disorders and the therapeutic effect of antidepressant drugs, its regulation is still poorly understood.

Modulation of associative human motor cortical plasticity by attention.

The role of attention in generating motor memories remains controversial principally because it is difficult to separate the effects of attention from changes in kinematics of motor performance. We attempted to disentangle attention from performance effects by varying attention while plasticity was induced in human primary motor cortex by external stimulation in the absence of voluntary movement. A paired associative stimulation (PAS) protocol was employed consisting of repetitive application of single afferent electric stimuli, delivered to the right median nerve, paired with single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the optimal site for activation of the right abductor pollicis brevis muscle (APB) to generate near-synchronous events in the left primary motor cortex.