Square-wave voltammetry of human blood serum.

A study on voltammetric analysis of blood serum diluted in a phosphate buffer is presented using advanced square-wave voltammetry at an edge plane pyrolytic graphite electrode. The results demonstrate that even in a complex medium like human blood serum, electrochemical characterization can be achieved through the use of advanced voltammetric techniques in conjunction with an appropriate commercially available electrode, such as the edge plane pyrolytic graphite electrode, which boosts superior electrocatalytic properties. Without undergoing any chemical treatment of the serum sample, the square-wave voltammetry technique reveals, for the first time, the electrode reactions of uric acid, bilirubin, and albumin in a single experiment, as represented by well-defined, separated, and intense voltammetric signals.

Electrode kinetics from a single experiment: multi-amplitude analysis in square-wave chronoamperometry.

The recently introduced technique of square-wave chronoamperometry (SWCA) is studied under conditions of progressively increasing height of potential pulses (square-wave amplitude) within a single experiment. In multi-amplitude square-wave chronoamperometry (MA-SWCA) a potential modulation consisting of square-wave forward and reverse potential pulses is imposed on a constant mid-potential; the amplitude of pulses increases progressively during the experiment. This allows the fast and reliable estimation of kinetic parameters at a constant pulse frequency in a single experiment, based on the resulting feature known as the amplitude-based quasireversible maximum.

Bioactive Phenolic Compounds from Lingonberry ( L.): Extraction, Chemical Characterization, Fractionation and Cellular Antioxidant Activity.

Lingonberries contain high contents of bioactive compounds such as chlorogenic acids and anthocyanins. In addition to radical scavenging and antioxidant activities, these compounds can protect cells from DNA damage. For this reason, lingonberries might be well suited for nutraceuticals or natural biomedicines.

Person-specific connectivity mapping uncovers differences of bilingual language experience on brain bases of attention in children.

Bilingualism influences children's cognition, yet bilinguals vary greatly in their dual-language experiences. To uncover sources of variation in bilingual and monolingual brain function, the present study used standard analysis and innovative person-specific connectivity models combined with a data-driven grouping algorithm. Children (ages 7-9; N = 52) completed a visuo-spatial attention task while undergoing functional near-infrared spectroscopy neuroimaging.

Differential Square-Wave Voltammetry.

A new voltammetric technique designed as a hybrid between differential pulse and square-wave voltammetry is proposed for the purpose of unifying the advantages of both techniques, i.e., the ability to provide mechanistic information, studying electrode kinetics of both sluggish and very fast electrode reactions, and the ability to suppress effectively residual background current.

X-linked adreno leukodistrophy: Profiles of very long chain fatty acids in plasma and fibroblasts in eigth Serbian patients.

X-linked adrenoleukodistrophy is a severe neurodegenerative disorder with impaired very long chain fatty acid metabolism. The disease associated ABCD1 gene encodes a peroxisomal membrane protein which belongs to the superfamily of ATP-binding cassette transporters. We investigated eight male X-ALD patients diagnosed among 142 suspected patients referred for investigation.

Molecular and phenotypic characteristics of patients with phenylketonuria in Serbia and Montenegro.

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is the most common inborn error of amino acid metabolism in Caucasians. PKU is caused by mutations in the gene encoding phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) enzyme. Here, we report the spectrum and the frequency of mutations in the PAH gene and discuss genotype-phenotype correlation in 34 unrelated patients with PKU from Serbia and Montenegro.

Urinary catecholamine metabolites: Capillary gas chromatography method and experience with 12 cases of neuroblastoma.

We propose a rapid, simple metodology for routine analysis of human urine to detect vanillylmandelic and homovanillic acid related to neuroblastoma. The assay were specific capillary gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. In this methodology an internal standard is used and the procedure involves ethyl ester formation without isolation of the compounds of interest.

Rasmussen syndrome and long-term response to thalidomide.

We report a 13-year-old female who experienced symptoms and signs of Rasmussen encephalitis for the first time at the age of 5 years. Various therapeutic procedures, including conventional and new antiepileptic drugs, steroids, immunoglobulin, plasma exchanges, and partial hemispherectomy, were applied, but their results were unsatisfactory. During one of the exacerbations, when the patient's life was endangered, thalidomide was administered.

Fulminant subacute sclerosing panencephalitis:two cases with atypical presentation.

From 1972 to 2002, we diagnosed and treated 22 cases of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. We report on two pediatric patients with fulminant subacute sclerosing panencephalitis who had atypical clinical manifestations. In both patients diagnosis was confirmed by elevated titers of CSF and serum antimeasles antibodies.

Tetraploidy in a 26-month-old girl (cytogenetic and molecular studies).

Liveborn infants with tetraploidy are very rare in human pregnancies and usually die during the first days or months. Seven cases of liveborn infants with tetraploidy have previously been reported. Among them only two 92, XXXX infants survived for longer than 12 months.

Juvenile hyaline fibromatosis: clinical heterogeneity in three patients.

Background: Systemic hyalinoses are genetic generalized fibromatoses characterized by an accumulation of hyalin in the dermis. Two distinctive syndromes are recognized in the literature: infantile systemic hyalinosis (ISH) and juvenile hyaline fibromatosis (JHF). ISH and JHF are sometimes difficult to separate since they show significant overlap.

Human autoantibodies stabilize the quaternary structure of Ku antigen.

Objective: To examine humoral immune responses to the native Ku antigen and to evaluate the role of autoantibodies in stabilizing intermolecular contacts between the p70 and p80 Ku subunits.

Methods: Recombinant free human p70 and p80 Ku subunits and p70/p80 heterodimers were expressed in Sf9 (insect) cells using baculovirus vectors. Affinity-purified recombinant human p70, p80, and p70/p80 dimer were studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoprecipitation to evaluate autoantibody specificities in sera from 58 patients with systemic autoimmune disease.

Autoantibodies that stabilize the molecular interaction of Ku antigen with DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit.

DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) consists of a DNA binding subunit (Ku autoantigen), and a catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs). In the present study, human autoantibodies that recognize novel antigenic determinants of DNA-PK were identified. One type of autoantibody stabilized the interaction of DNA-PKcs with Ku and recognized the DNA-PKcs -Ku complex, but not bio-chemically purified DNA-PKcs.

Correlation of antisynthetase antibody levels with disease course in a patient with interstitial lung disease and elevated muscle enzymes.

Antiglycyl tRNA synthetase is an unusual autoantibody specificity associated with polymyositis and dermatomyositis complicated by interstitial lung disease. We report here autoantibodies to glycyl tRNA synthetase in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and interstitial lung disease. During the course of her disease, the patient developed elevated muscle enzymes and worsening pulmonary function.

Autoantibodies to topoisomerase I in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus without features of scleroderma.

We report a woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis and anti-dsDNA antibodies whose serum contained autoantibodies specific for the phosphorylated form of RNA polymerase II (RNAP IIO), Su and ribosomal P antigen, as well as anti-topoisomerase I antibodies, a marker for scleroderma (SSc). Over 6 years, the patient exhibited clinical manifestations consistent with SLE without clinical evidence of scleroderma. The reactivity of her serum autoantibodies with the phosphoproteins ribosomal P, topoisomerase I, and RNAP IIO is consistent with recognition of autoepitopes comprised in part of phosphate groups.

Growth of allogeneic sarcoma in mice subjected to halothane anesthesia and/or surgical stress.

The present study was designed to clarify mechanisms involved in suppression of cell-mediated immunity reported in patients undergoing major surgery with general anesthesia by determining the effects of halothane anesthesia with and without surgery on the growth of Sarcoma I (Sa I), a tumor allogeneic to BALB/c mice. Mice were given subcutaneous injections of 5 X 10(6) tumor cells from A/Jax mice and then immediately exposed to 0.5%-1.

[Short stature as major clinical sign of coeliac disease in children].

Coeliac disease was found in 16 patients. 3-15 years of age, examined for short stature of unknown origin. Frequency of some clinical and laboratory findings was analysed.