Growth and other factors affecting peak expiratory flow in Greek children.

Aim: The estimation of peak expiratory flow (PEF) in children is a very easy and practical way to check lung function and helps in the diagnosis, treatment follow-up and evaluation of the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Methods: Using a Mini-Wright flowmeter (Clement Clarke International Ltd, England), we studied the Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) of 7,067 healthy Greek children of age range 6-17 years. All the children have a height ranging between mean value+/-2 Standard Deviations for age and sex.

Protective effect of L-phenylalanine on rat brain acetylcholinesterase inhibition induced by free radicals.

Objective: To investigate whether the preincubation of brain homogenates with L-phenylalanine (Phe) could reverse the free radical effects on brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, since it has been reported that Phe binds hydroxyl radicals ((*)OH).

Design And Methods: Two well established systems were used for production of free radicals: (a) FeSO(4) (84 microM) plus ascorbic acid (400 microM), and (b) FeSO(4), ascorbic acid and H(2)O(2) (1 mM) at 37 degrees C in homogenates of adult rat whole brain. Changes in brain AChE activity were studied in the presence of each system separately.

Mutations of the ACTH receptor gene in a new family with isolated glucocorticoid deficiency.

Isolated glucocorticoid deficiency (IGD) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by primary adrenocortical insufficiency, without mineralocorticoid deficiency. Mutations of the ACTH receptor gene have been reported in several families with IGD. We have amplified and directly sequenced the entire intronless ACTH receptor gene in a new family with IGD.

The effect of disease activity related cytokines on the fibrinolytic potential and cICAM-1 expression in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: We studied the relation of pro and antiinflammatory cytokines to disease activity, coagulation, and fibrinolytic variables as well as to circulating intercellular adhesive molecule- 1 (cICAM-1), so as to better understand the cascade of events implicated in the inflammatory process in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, cICAM-1, tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor- 1 (PAI-1), and D-dimer antigens were measured by ELISA in the blood of 45 RA patients and 33 healthy subjects (HS). The Stoke Index was used to describe the disease activity in patients, who were divided into subgroups: A: minimal-mild disease activity (n = 23, Stoke Index = 1-7); B: moderate disease activity (n = 12, Stoke Index = 8-11); C: severe disease activity (n = 9, Stoke Index = 12-17).

Serum levels of tetranectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and interleukin-10 in B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Background And Objective: The fibrinolytic regulator tetranectin (TN), in association with the circulating intercellular adhesive molecule-1 (cICAM-1) and interleukin -10 (IL-10), may be involved in the metastatic cascade of B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). Our aim was to investigate the potential usefulness of these molecules as prognostic markers in B-CLL.

Design And Methods: Therefore, TN, cICAM-1, and IL-10 were assessed (ELISA) in the serum of 53 B-CLL patients, classified in Binet A, B, and C stages in comparison with those in 45 healthy subjects (HS).

Circulating tumor necrosis factor alpha concentrations are higher in abdominal versus peripheral obesity.

Fat tissue is a significant source of endogenous tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), the pluripotent cytokine that plays an important role as a mediator of the peripheral insulin resistance found in obesity. The majority of evidence for this role of TNFalpha is from studies in animal models of obesity. To explore further the role of TNFalpha in the pathogenesis of obesity-related insulin resistance in humans, we compared plasma levels of TNFalpha and the other main endocrine cytokine, interleukin-6 ([IL-6] both measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), in 26 obese women (body mass index [BMI] > 30 kg/m2) and 13 female controls (BMI < 26 kg/m2) without a history of recent or active infection.

Comparative study of serum and synovial fluid interleukin-11 levels in patients with various arthritides.

Objective: To determine the levels of serum and synovial fluid (SF) interleukin (IL)-11 in patients with various arthritides and estimate the contribution of IL-11 to acute phase response (APR).

Design And Methods: Serum and SF IL-11 were measured by ELISA in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA, n = 31), seronegative spondyloarthritis (SSA, n = 23), gout (GT, n = 14) and osteoarthritis (OA, n = 20) and were correlated with ESR and acute phase proteins as well as with cytokines IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF alpha.

Results: IL-11 was detected in both serum and SF in each group, with IL-11 being statistically higher in SF than serum in all groups, suggesting reduced catabolism or increased synthesis of IL-11 intra-articularly.

Comparative study of tetranectin levels in serum and synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, seronegative spondylarthritis and osteoarthritis.

Tetranectin (TN) was assessed in paired synovial fluid (SF) and serum (S) samples from 27 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 23 with seronegative spondylarthritis (SSA) and 22 with osteoarthritis (OA). RA patients had a stronger correlation between serum and SF TN and a higher SF/S TN ratio than did SSA and OA patients. Moreover, the SF/S TN ratio exceeded 1 in most RA patients but not in SSA and OA patients, indicating the possibility of intra-articular TN synthesis in RA.

Modulation of rat brain synaptosomal plasma membrane achieved by atracurium and its metabolite laudanosine.

Objective: Atracurium besylate and laudanosine cause excitement and seizures when introduced into the central nervous system of laboratory animals. We examined the modulation of lipid-protein interaction in the lipid environment of rat brain synaptosomal plasma membrane (SPM)-bound enzymes as a possible mechanism leading to these effects.

Methods: The effect of various concentrations of atracurium besylate and laudanosine, or of varying duration of SPM, on the activity of Na+/K+-stimulated ATPase, Mg2+-stimulated ATPase and 5'-nucleotidase were assessed.

Tetranectin levels in patients with acute myocardial infarction and their alterations during thrombolytic treatment.

Tetranectin (TN), a new regulator of fibrinolysis, was studied in the plasma of 60 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and 30 healthy subjects (HS), in relation to D-dimer (DD) and alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor (alpha 2-PI), to investigate its possible involvement in the pathophysiology of AMI. Thirty patients underwent thrombolytic treatment with fibrin-specific plasminogen activator (rt-PA) (group A); the other 30 patients, according to the exclusion criteria, were conventionally treated (group B). Twenty of the thrombolysized patients established early recanalization (subgroup A1), while 10 failed to respond to thrombolytic treatment (subgroup A2).

Effect of aging on the activities of acetylcholinesterase, Na+,K(+)-ATPase and Mg(2+)-ATPase in rat pituitary and hypothalamus.

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE), Na+,K(+)-ATPase and Mg(2+)-ATPase activities were estimated in homogenised rat pituitary and hypothalamus of 4- and 22-month-old rats. AChE activity was not altered in the pituitary of aged compared to adult rats, while it was found decreased by about 40% in the hypothalamus. Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity remained stable in the hypothalamus, while it was decreased by about 38% in the pituitary.

L-phenylalanine effect on rat brain acetylcholinesterase and Na+,K(+)-ATPase.

The effect of different L-phenylalanine (Phe) concentrations (0.1-12.1 mM), on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and Na+,K(+)-ATPase activities of brain homogenate and pure enzymes, was investigated at 37 degrees C.

Modulation of synaptosomal plasma membrane-bound enzyme activity through the perturbation of plasma membrane lipid structure by bupivacaine.

Unlabelled: We investigated modulations of lipid dynamics and lipid-protein interactions of rat brain synaptosomal plasma membrane (SPM) as one of the possible mechanisms by which the local anesthetic bupivacaine (BPV) has an adverse effect on nerve cell function, with SPM-bound enzyme activity used as a functional probe. The kinetics of BPV impact on the activity of the endoenzymes Ca2+/Mg2+-stimulated ATPase and Na+/K+-stimulated ATPase and the active concentrations of the drug were relevant to those that produce biphasic systemic toxicity. Arrhenius plots of these enzymes showed a transition temperature of 26.

Plasma tetranectin levels and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: We investigated alterations of levels of plasma tetranectin, a new regulator of plasminogen activation, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in relation to disease activity and other fibrinolytic variables.

Methods: Tetranectin (TN), tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) were quantitatively assessed (ELISA) in plasma of 41 patients with RA and 30 healthy subjects, alpha 2-Antiplasmin activity was assessed by the amidolytic method. Disease activity was determined as a composite Stoke Index, which measures inflammatory processes in RA.

Septic and other complications resulting from biliary stones placed in the abdominal cavity. Experimental study in rabbits.

Background: The aim of this experimental study is to assess the consequences of biliary stones placed in the abdominal cavity of rabbits.

Methods: The animals were allocated to five groups. In group A a nonsterile gallstone was used.

The treatment of gynaecological and intra-abdominal infections: a comparative study of cefotetan versus netilmicin plus clindamycin.

In a prospective randomised study 60 patients with gynaecological or intra-abdominal infections were given either 2g iv every 12 hours of cefotetan or a combination of netilmicin (150mg iv every 12 hours) and clindamycin (600mg iv every 8 hours). The clinical condition of nearly half the patients (26 of 60) was characterized as serious and surgical manipulation and drainage were performed in 57 of the 60 patients. The clinical response was similar in both groups with 21 of 29 patients in the cefotetan group and 29 of 33 patients in the netilmicin plus clindamycin group.

Construction of transferrin-coated liposomes for in vivo transport of exogenous DNA to bone marrow erythroblasts in rabbits.

A method for coating liposomes with transferrin is described. Such liposomes have been used for carrying exogenous DNA to rabbit bone marrow (BM) precursor cells, in vivo. A large amount of the DNA contained in the liposomes was delivered specifically into the erythroblasts of the test animals.

The reversible antithrombin activity of incubated plasma.

The thrombin time of normal citrated plasma is progressively prolonged on incubation in open glass tubes at 37 degrees C. The phenomenon is dependent on the temperature and duration of incubation, on the pH, and on the concentration of calcium ions present. Platelet-rich citrated plasma fails to exhibit augmented antithrombin activity when similarly incubated, and the addition of washed platelets to platelet-poor plasma inhibits this activity.