Enhanced oxidative stress with a gradient between plasma and muscle interstitial fluid in patients with end stage renal failure on hemodialysis.

Objective: The concentration of 8-iso-prostaglandin-F2 alpha (8-iso-PGF2 alpha in biological fluids has been considered as the most reliable biochemical index of the lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress in patients with several pathological conditions including end stage renal failure. However, there is no reference regarding the influence of Hemodialysis (HD) on the values of 8-iso-PGF2 alpha in the muscle Interstitial Fluid (IF) of patients with end stage renal failure. The aim of our study was to determine 8-iso-PGF2 alpha concentration in the IF during hemodialysis and the gradient between plasma and IF in patients with end stage renal failure.

Increase in oxidative stress but not in antioxidant capacity with advancing stages of chronic kidney disease.

Background/aims: Increased oxidative stress in chronic kidney disease (CKD) was suggested to be both a cause and an effect of renal injury. However, the evolution of oxidant stress from early stages of renal function decline is not fully clear. This study aimed to determine the oxidant-antioxidant balance across the whole range of renal function.

Effects of a low-calorie diet associated with weight loss on lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) activity in healthy obese women.

Introduction: Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH or Lp-PLA(2)) is a Ca(2+)-independent phospholipase A(2) primarily associated in plasma with low density lipoproteins (LDL), especially with small dense LDL (sdLDL) particles. Increased plasma Lp-PLA(2) levels have been associated with increased cardiovascular risk in large clinical trials.

Aim: To assess the effects of weight loss on Lp-PLA(2) activity and to examine the association of Lp-PLA(2) activity changes with the alterations of sdLDL, the primary carrier of Lp-PLA(2) in plasma.

Effect of weight loss with or without orlistat treatment on adipocytokines, inflammation, and oxidative markers in obese women.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of adipose tissue related hormones, cytokines, and antioxidative substances in obese women before and after intervention with diet alone or with diet plus an inhibitor of gastrointestinental lipase-orlistat.

Design: Seventy-one obese women of childbearing age were included in the study and were randomly assigned into two groups according to the type of intervention: group A1 (n=35) included women who received orlistat as well as a hypocaloric diet, and group A2 (n=36) included women who were only on hypocaloric diet. The intervention period lasted 6 months.

Plasma interleukin-6 levels, glutathione peroxidase and isoprostane in obese women before and after weight loss. Association with cardiovascular risk factors.

Objective: To evaluate the levels of Interleukin-6 (IL-6), glutathione peroxidase and isoprostane in obese women and their association with markers of cardiovascular risk factors before and after weight loss.

Design: 36 healthy obese women of reproductive age (group A: age (mean+/-SD) 35.4+/-9.

Early decreases in plasma lipid transfer proteins during weight reduction.

Objective: To determine the effect of short-term weight loss in obese women on concentrations of plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) and phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP), two new risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Research Methods And Procedures: Plasma CETP and PLTP mass concentrations were measured in 38 obese, non-diabetic women before and after a moderate, 4% weight loss that was obtained by a 1250 kcal/d diet for 4 weeks. Anthropometric and biological parameters were measured before and after weight loss.

Short-term human chorionic gonadotropin-induced testosterone rise does not modify leptin levels in eugonadal men.

The aim of this study was to monitor serum leptin concentrations after altering the levels of testosterone, by intramuscular administration of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), in eugonadal men. A 7-day monitoring of hCG, testosterone and leptin levels was performed after intramuscular administration of a dose of 5000 IU hCG in these men. Thirty fertile men aged 23-38 years were studied.

The significance of PSA/IGF-1 ratio in differentiating benign prostate hyperplasia from prostate cancer.

The importance of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in human serum for the early diagnosis of prostate cancer is controversial. The IGF-1/PSA ratio may improve the performance of prostate specific antigen (PSA) as a prostate cancer marker. IGF-1, along with PSA and free PSA concentration, was measured in the serum of 34 patients with prostate cancer and in 131 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Leptin levels in maternal and cord serum: relationship with fetal development and placental weight.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that the circulating levels of leptin in the maternal and cord serum correlate with the birthweight of the newborns and with the weight of the placenta.

Methods: In a population of 85 women from northern Greece who gave birth to an equal number of full-term infants, we calculated the concentration of leptin in the maternal serum as well as in the cord serum, right after delivery, by using an immunoradiometric assay. The correlation between these values, the maternal BMI before pregnancy and at the time of delivery, the neonatal BMI, Ponderal Index, and the placental weight was studied.

Increased growth factor activity in the aqueous humour of patients with exfoliation syndrome.

Background: To investigate the growth factor activity in the aqueous humour of patients with exfoliation syndrome (XFS).

Methods: We collected 154 aqueous humour samples (69 from patients with XFS and 85 from age-matched controls) prior to routine extracapsular cataract surgery. Growth factor activity was investigated using a [3H]thymidine incorporation assay on McCoy cells that assesses DNA synthesis.

Leptin concentrations during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in obese and normal weight women.

Objective: To examine possible changes of leptin concentrations after the acute administration of glucose orally (OGTT).

Design: Seventy-five grams of glucose were administered per os in one group of obese and normal weight individuals and concentrations of glucose, insulin and leptin were measured at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min. In an age matched control group of individuals with similar BMI water was given and leptin concentrations were measured before and after 30, 60, 90 and 120 min.

Possible role of transferrin in exfoliation syndrome.

Protein concentration was measured in 30 exfoliation syndrome samples and 22 age matched controls. Exfoliation samples contained significantly more protein than controls. We also analyzed by SDS gel electrophoresis 32 aqueous samples, 12 with exfoliation syndrome and 20 age matched controls.

In vivo binding of the radioiodinated peptide YIGSR on B16 melanoma cells.

It has been reported that metastatic melanoma cell lines selectively bind in vitro with the synthetic laminin pentapeptide tyrosyl-isoleucyl-glycyl-seryl-arginine (YIGSR). The aim of this study was to investigate whether the same peptide can bind on melanoma cells in vivo as well. Iodine-125-labeled YIGSR was administered to B16 melanoma-bearing animals.

Detection of a high molecular weight heparin binding acidic growth factor in human placenta.

A heparin binding fibroblast growth factor with a molecular weight of approximately 45 kDa has been detected in human placenta. The protein was extracted from placenta and purified by a combination of ammonium sulfate precipitation, DE-52 anion exchange chromatography, G100 gel exclusion and heparin sepharose affinity chromatography. The molecule was shown to be monomeric after treatment with beta-mercaptoethanol, and had an acidic isoelectric point.

Effects of sodium carbonate on milk yield, milk composition, and blood components of dairy cows in early lactation.

Eighteen multiparous Friesian cows were paired according to lactation number and expected calving date and assigned randomly to one of two diets in a crossover design experiment to study effects of sodium carbonate on milk yield, milk composition, blood metabolites plus Na, and K in early lactation. Diets were concentrate containing either 0 or 1.2% sodium carbonate (as fed) for ad libitum intake plus 7.

Cellular and tissue distribution of a single-strand-specific nuclease.

1. Specific antibodies which were raised against a single-strand-specific nuclease isolated from rat liver microsomes were used for characterizing this enzyme and determining its cellular and tissue distribution. 2.

Single-strand-specific nuclease from rat liver endoplasmic reticulum: characterization and mode of action.

1. The characteristics and mode of action of a single-strand-specific nuclease isolated from rat liver endoplasmic reticulum are investigated with respect to its DNA and RNA substrates. 2.

The DNase activity of an endoplasmic reticulum nuclease and its effect on DNA synthesis in vitro.

An endoplasmic reticulum nuclease which was isolated previously in this laboratory from rat liver ( Kouidou et al. (1981) Eur.J.

Endoplasmic reticulum nuclease. Purification and specificity.

An endonuclease, which was originally identified for its RNA polymerase inhibitory activity, was isolated from rat liver endoplasmic reticulum. The enzyme yields on gel chromatography four active fractions of different molecular weights (Mr 5.3 X 10(4), 9 X 10(4), 1.