The decrease of serum MMP-2 activity corresponds to alcoholic cirrhosis stage.

Because of numerous limitations for liver biopsy, a noninvasive marker of liver cirrhosis is sought. Promising indicators seem to be matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that are responsible for degradation of extracellular matrix. The aim of the study was to evaluate the gelatinase activities (MMP-2 and MMP-9) in patients with different stages of alcoholic cirrhosis.

Erythropoietin inhibits liver gelatinases during galactosamine-induced hepatic damage in rats.

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 (gelatinases) participate in extracellular protein remodeling. Moreover, they are involved in the development of hepatic fibrosis. The goal of this study was to evaluate liver gelatinase activities after erythropoietin (Epo) treatment (1U/dose, sc) in experimentally damaged livers of rats treated with D-galactosamine (Gal, 800 mg/kg/dose, ip).

The effects of hypo- and hyperthyroidism on nuclear, cytosolic, endoplasmic and mitochondrial fractions of sialoglycoproteins in rabbit hepatocytes.

Enhanced sialylation of glycoproteins occurs during hypo- and hyperthyroidism. The role of sialic acid (SA) in cell membranes is well-standing, but its role in intracellular structures is still under analysis. We wanted to evaluate the influence of thyroid hormones on the sialylation ratio of intracellular proteins presented in cytosolic, mitochondrial, endoplasmic and nuclear fractions of rabbit hepatocytes.

Catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase activities in various rat tissues after carbon tetrachloride intoxication.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the possible relationship between the activity of three different antioxidant enzymes--peroxidase superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase--and carbon tetrachloride-induced injury.

Methods: Male Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g were used in the experiments. Rats of the experimental groups were given carbon tetrachloride 0.

The influence of hypomagnesemia on erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme defence system in mice.

The effect of magnesium deficiency on antioxidant defence system was studied in RBC of mice suffering from hypomagnesemia. The animals were kept for 8, 15 and 22 days on magnesium-deficient diet with consequent reduction of magnesium level in plasma by 38% at the first 8 days and by 64% after 22 days of experiment. The activities of the most important antioxidant enzymes, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, glutahione S-transferase were assayed in hemolysates.

The changes in the antioxidant status of heart during experimental hypomagnesemia in balb/c mice.

The present experiment was performed to assess if hypomagnesemia can influence antioxidant status in mice heart. The results could explain possibly a free radical theory of heart damage in magnesium deficiency. We used a rodent model of hypomagnesemia.

Mitochondrial tRNA in hyperthyroidism.

The mitochondrial tRNA were prepared from liver and brain tissues of thyroxinized and control rabbits. The presence of tRNA for twenty amino acids both in liver and brain mitochondria was revealed. The quantity of radioactive amino acids bound to the mitochondrial tRNA was higher in hyperthyreosis than in control animals but considerable differences between the brain and liver tissues were observed.

Activity of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in experimental hyperthyroidism in muscle tissues of the rabbit.

In cardial and femoral muscles of rabbits specific activities of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases for twenty amino acids were generally similar, namely the activities towards amino acids and their amides, leucine, isoleucine, histidine, tyrosine, proline and serine were considerably lower than towards the remaining amino acids. Specific activities of most aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases were higher in hyperthyroidism than in euthyreosis, and were higher in femoral muscle than in heart. The response to thyroxine treatment of individual aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in both kinds of muscles varied with respect to most of the amino acids.

[Tissue levels of some elements in hyperthyreosis in rabbits].

The aim of the present study was to estimate the concentration of Cu, Zn, Mg, Ca in the following tissues: brain, heart, lung, liver, kidney and femoral muscles in conditions of experimentally induced hyperthyreosis. In general, in state of hyperthyreosis the concentration of all elements was considerably higher compared to euthyreosis. However, there are a few exceptions.

Membrane ATPase, erythrocyte sodium and potassium in haemodialysis patients.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of chronic renal failure as well as dialysate sodium concentration during haemodialysis on membrane ATPase activity and erythrocyte sodium and potassium concentration. Intracellular Na and K were not changed in patients when compared to normal subjects. There was, however, a significant decrease of Na-K-ATPase activity in patients versus controls.