TNF-alpha and IL-6 synergistically inhibit ketogenesis from fatty acids and alpha-ketoisocaproate in isolated rat hepatocytes.

Background: During sepsis, lipid metabolism is shunted toward triacylglycerol synthesis and hepatic lipogenesis. A decrease in ketogenesis from free fatty acids also is observed, probably mediated by cytokines involved in host response to infection. Whether such an inhibition of ketogenesis occurs with other ketone body precursors such as ketoacids is not known.

How useful is aminolevulinic acid dehydratase as a marker of recent alcohol intake?

Erythroycte delta aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) has been suggested as a marker for detecting recent alcohol intake. Unlike other markers, ALAD activity decreases after alcohol intake. Review of the literature suggests that the main interest in this marker is because it increases rapidly after withdrawal.

New aspects of urolithiasis in France. GERBAP: Groupe d'Evaluation et de Recherche des Biologistes de l'Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris.

Objective: To confirm epidemiological studies showing a continuous progression of calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis in western countries, we investigated some aspects of the evolution of stone disease in France.

Methods: Calculi collected from 1977 to 1993 in 10,438 adult French patients were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy. Only 8,631 well-documented cases were available.

alpha-tocopherol enrichment of high-density lipoproteins: stabilization of hydroperoxides produced during copper oxidation.

In the aim to study the effect of an in vitro enrichment of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) with alpha-tocopherol in alcoholic solution on a copper-induced peroxidation, we monitored several markers of lipid peroxidation (alpha-tocopherol consumption, formation of conjugated dienes and of fatty acid hydroperoxides, production of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances) and the integrity of apolipoprotein A-I. High-density lipoproteins (1.063 < d < 1.

Smoking and coffee intake following alcohol withdrawal in alcoholic inpatients.

The aim of this study was to assess alcoholic inpatients' smoking and coffee intake variation following withdrawal. Only moderate smokers (less than 30 cigarettes/day) showed a significant increase of cigarette consumption after alcohol withdrawal. However, their urinary cotinine level did not vary, suggesting a behavioral, and not biological, compensation through smoking following alcohol withdrawal.

Sex- and age-related composition of 10 617 calculi analyzed by infrared spectroscopy.

A series of 10 617 calculi were analyzed by stereomicroscopy and infrared spectroscopy. This first study of French calculi was compared with large series in the literature. That the frequency of pure calculi was the lowest ever observed can be related to the methodology routinely used in our laboratory, which includes microsampling.

[Determination of serum or plasma alpha-tocopherol by high performance liquid chromatography: optimization of operative models].

A previous multicentric study set up by the Société française de biologie clinique has emphasized the usefulness of a standardized procedure for the determination by high performance liquid chromatography of alpha-tocopherol in serum or plasma. In our study, we have tested every step of the different published procedures: internal standard adduct, lipoprotein denaturation and vitamin extraction. Reproducibility of results was improved by the use of tocol as an internal standard when compared to retinol or alpha-tocopherol acetates.

[Stability of alpha-tocopherol: pre-analytical conditions in its determination in blood samples].

Incomplete and controversial data exist concerning vitamin E or alpha-tocopherol stability in biological samples. Recent clinical interest in the protective function of alpha-tocopherol provided another reason for the setting-up of a multicenter study by the Sociéte Française de Biologie Clinique. Our purpose was to examine the effects on alpha-tocopherol stability, firstly, of collection and transportation of blood samples, and, secondly, of the temperature (-20 degrees C and -80 degrees C) and period of storage of serum or plasma.

Catecholamines in autistic disorder: effects of amisulpride and bromocriptine in a controlled crossover study.

ABSTRACT The biochemical effects on catecholaminergic systems of the dopamine antagonist amisulpride and the dopamine agonist bromocriptine were evaluated in a double-blind, randomized, crossover study in children with autistic disorder. Plasma levels of dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine; urinary concentrations of homovanillic acid (HVA), vanillyImandelic acid (VMA) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylene glycol (MHPG); and plasma prolactin were measured. At doses of amisulpride and bromocriptine that had the expected opposing effects on plasma prolactin, the drugs' effects on the catecholaminergic systems were similar.

Simple method for quantifying alpha-tocopherol in low-density+very-low-density lipoproteins and in high-density lipoproteins.

We assessed the distribution of alpha-tocopherol in serum lipoprotein samples after separating the lipoprotein fractions by either sequential ultracentrifugation or selective precipitation with sodium phosphotungstate-magnesium chloride reagent. alpha-Tocopherol concentrations were determined by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. After ultracentrifugation, we found that in men, low- and very-low-density serum lipoproteins (LDL-VLDL) contained 53.

Plasma free amino acid profiles and nutrition proteins in chronic renal failure; effect of dialysis treatment.

A well preserved nutritional status is beneficial in chronically uremic patients for slowing the pace of deterioration of renal function, and delaying the need for dialysis therapy. The purpose of this study was to assess the nutritional profile of 10 patients in a steady state of advanced CRF, and of 15 patients with terminal renal failure immediately prior to their first hemodialysis session (J0), and 7, 14, 45, 60, days post start of dialysis. Patients were 18 to 65 years old with total plasma proteins ≥ 60g/1.

Glucuronoconjugates in chronic renal failure. Comparative determination with values in healthy adult.

We have isolated substances of molecular weight ranging between 350 and 2,000 daltons from ultrafiltrates of patients traited by maintenance haemodialysis for chronic renal failure (CRF). Such substances might have a role in the genesis of uremic toxicity. They were found to be glucuronoconjugates.

Amino acid content of human semen in normal and infertility cases.

Reports concerning the content of alpha-amino-nitrogen and amino-acids in human semen are few and results are different with authors. These variations could be explained by the no considerations of the changes due to liquefaction. In order to test this possible effect, measures were performed 30 mm, 1 h 30, 3 h and 5 h after seminal collection.

[Course of the concentration of serum free amino acids as a function of time and the method of preservation].

In order to determine the optimal conditions for storage in the case of deferred serum amino acid assay, the authors studied the effect of storing the sample for four hours at two different temperatures: melting ice and ambient temperature, as well as the effect of storing the amino acids for three months according to four methods of storage; freezing at -20 degrees C and -80 degrees C of deproteinised and non-deproteinised serum. When the analysis was performed within four hours of collection of the specimen, the best conditions are obtained when the sample is kept at the temperature of melting ice. The optimal conservation consists of immediately deproteinising the sample and storing it frozen for 14 days.

Study of carbohydrate material isolated from ultrafiltrates in patients with chronic renal failure.

We have isolated substances of molecular weight ranging between 350 and 2,000 daltons from ultrafiltrates of 3 patients treated by maintenance haemodialysis for chronic renal failure. Such substances might have a role in the genesis of uraemic toxicity. We have chiefly studied their carbohydrate content.

Carbohydrate content of middle molecular weight substances (MMWS) in uraemic patients: preliminary results.

MMWS (between 500 and 10,000 daltons) have been isolated from peritoneal dialysis fluid. Materials were fractionated according to a procedure previously applied to urine in healthy controls and in patients with various glycoproteins. Successive use of ion-exchange, charcoal-Celite and paper chromatography leads to the isolation of 20 oligosaccharidic fractions whose MW range between 400 and 2000 daltons.

Determination of levels of carcinoembryonic antigen and nonspecific cross-reacting antigen in the sera of neonatal infants: brief communication.

Seventy-eight sera from neonatal infants, born at full term or prematurely, were studied for their carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and nonspecific cross-reacting antigen (NCA) concentrations, which were compared to the normal adult concentrations. The levels of CEA in the sera were significantly higher in newborns than in adults: 9.05 ng CEA/ml in newborns as compared to 2.