Limited evidence of chondrocyte outgrowth from adult human articular cartilage.

Objective: Cellular outgrowth from articular cartilage tissue has been described in a number of recent experimental studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of cellular outgrowth from articular cartilage explants isolated from adult human donors.

Method: Macroscopically intact articular cartilage specimens were isolated from adult human donors and cultured either in their native status, or in a cleansed status achieved by forced washing to minimize attaching cells.

Stage-dependent association of BDNF and TGF-β1 with lung function in stable COPD.

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterised by complex inflammatory, neuronal and fibrotic changes. Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) is a key regulator of neuronal plasticity, whereas Transforming Growth Factor-β1 (TGF-β1) plays a crucial role in tissue repair and emphysema pathogenesis. Both mediators are stored in platelets and released from platelets in inflammatory conditions and during serum preparation.

Insular stroke is associated with acute sympathetic hyperactivation and immunodepression.

Background And Purpose: Post-stroke immunodepression has been related to brain lesion size but not a specific lesion location. Here, we studied the influence of lesion location within middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory on parameters related to activation of sympathetic adrenomedullar pathway, immunodepression, and associated infection.

Methods: We analyzed clinical, brain imaging, and laboratory data of 384 patients (174 women; mean age 70.

Intracardiac injection of erythropoietin induces stem cell recruitment and improves cardiac functions in a rat myocardial infarction model.

Erythropoietin (EPO) protects the myocardium from ischaemic injury and promotes beneficial remodelling. We assessed the therapeutic efficacy of intracardiac EPO injection and EPO-mediated stem cell homing in a rat myocardial infarction (MI) model. Following MI, EPO (3000 U/kg) or saline was delivered by intracardiac injection.

Platelet and plasma BDNF in lower respiratory tract infections of the adult.

Enhanced bronchial responsiveness during and following lower respiratory tract infections is a major clinical problem, but its pathogenesis is poorly understood. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which can be released by platelets and leukocytes, has been identified as a mediator of bronchial hyperresponsiveness. It is unknown whether the release of BDNF is altered during lower respiratory tract infections of the adult.

Maternal nerve growth factor serum levels in the perinatal period.

Neurotrophins, such as nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), are potent modulators of neuronal and immune function, and have been implicated recently in diseases associated with pregnancy. In contrast to serum BDNF, which is reportedly suppressed in the perinatal period, regulation of NGF in the perinatal period is unknown. In this study, serum NGF concentrations were measured in 40 pregnant (follow-up: 30th and 37th week of gestation, 1 week and 8 weeks after childbirth) and 40 non-pregnant women.

Maternal serum concentrations of BDNF and depression in the perinatal period.

There is accumulating evidence that a deficiency in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of depression. This is in line with the postulate that low BDNF levels in serum are associated with depression. However, the regulation of maternal BDNF serum levels in the perinatal period, and its relationship to maternal depression is unknown.

Contact activation in low-density lipoprotein apheresis systems.

Background: Anaphylactoid reactions due to contact activation have been observed in patients on ACE inhibitor therapy and hemodialysis with negatively charged dialysis membranes. Negatively charged surfaces are functional constituents of different LDL apheresis systems. Therefore, contact activation was investigated during LDL apheresis with three different systems: (i) heparin-induced extracorporeal LDL precipitation (HELP); (ii) dextran sulfate cellulose (DSC) columns; and (iii) modified polyacrylate gels (DALI) in a clinical setting.

The impact of age, weight and gender on BDNF levels in human platelets and plasma.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a key mediator of neuronal plasticity in the adult. BDNF is known to be stored in human platelets and to circulate in plasma, but the regulation and function of BDNF in peripheral blood is still poorly understood. In this prospective study, we have examined 140 healthy, non-allergic adults (20-60 years old) to elucidate the impact of age and physical parameters on BDNF levels in human platelets and plasma.

Multicentre performance evaluation of the E170 module for modular analytics.

The E170 module was evaluated at 13 sites in an international multicentre study. The objective of the study was to assess the analytical performance of 49 analytes, and to collect feedback on the system's reliability and practicability. The typical, within-run coefficients of variation (CVs) for most of the quantitative assays ranged between 1 and 2% while a range of 2-4% was achieved with the infectious disease methods.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor in platelets and airflow limitation in asthma.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a key mediator of neuronal plasticity, contributes to airway obstruction and hyperresponsiveness in a model of allergic asthma. BDNF is stored in human platelets and circulates in human plasma, but the significance of BDNF in this compartment is poorly understood. We investigated the relationship between platelet and plasma BDNF levels and pulmonary function in a cohort of 26 adult patients with recently diagnosed allergic asthma.

Multicenter analytical performance evaluation of the Elecsys proBNP assay.

The purpose of this multicenter study was to evaluate the technical performance of the automated Elecsys proBNP (brain natriuretic peptide) assay, which is indicated as an aid in the diagnosis of individuals suspected of having congestive heart failure. The Elecsys proBNP assay is an electrochemiluminescent immunoassay employing two polyclonal NT-proBNP-specific antibodies in a sandwich test format. The study was performed on the three Elecsys analyzers (E 1010, E 2010, and E 170) at eight different sites world-wide.

Evaluation of a fully automated procalcitonin chemiluminescence immunoassay.

We evaluated a new fully automated microparticle immunoassay for procalcitonin (LIAISON BRAHMS PCT) in comparison with a previously established manual chemiluminescence assay from the same manufacturer (LUMItest PCT, BRAHMS AG). Procalcitonin (PCT) is an early and rather specific marker of systemic bacterial infection. In addition, the efficacy of antibiotic therapy can be monitored by sequential analysis of PCT values.

[Possible value of positive PSA levels in malignant and nonmalignant breast diseases].

Measurement of serum levels of PSA is widely used as a screening tool for prostate cancer. PSA has been shown to be associated with malignancies of many other organs than prostate, including the female breast. Therefore, PSA is not prostate-specific.

Serum-to-urinary prostate-specific antigen ratio in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer.

Background: Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is the single most important tumor marker in early detection and monitoring of prostate cancer (CaP). However, routine analysis of serum PSA concentrations does not allow differentiation between CaP and prostatic diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of the serum-to-urinary PSA ratio in a clinical setting.

[Carcinoid tumor with cystic liver metastases].

Generally metastases of carcinoid tumours are pseudocystic in nearly 10% of the patients. In our case the guiding diagnostic importance of sonography and computed tomography could be proved. Results have to be completed by histologic findings and hormonal analysis (serotonin, 5-hydroxyindol acetic acid).

Hypoxic modulation of systolic blood pressure and urinary sodium excretion in spontaneously hypertensive rats after carotid body denervation.

To explore the role of arterial chemoreceptors, the effect of hypobaric hypoxia on urinary sodium excretion and systolic blood pressure was investigated in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) with carotid body denervation (CBD) or after sham-operation (SO). Denervation of the carotid bodies was performed by section of the carotid sinus nerves. Exposure to hypobaric hypoxia equivalent to high altitude of 4000 m led to a more pronounced decrease in systolic blood pressure in CBD-rats than in SO-rats.

[The status of prazosin in therapy of chronic heart failure].

Cardiac dysfunction and neurohumoral dysregulation show that the administration of vasodilators is reasonable in a cardiac insufficiency which is therapy-refractory against glycosides and saluretics. The alpha 1-blocker prazosin is a potent substance. On the basis of haemodynamic investigations of 55 patients the acute effects are demonstrated.

Comparison of the response of renal sodium excretion to almitrine and hypoxia in conscious normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The effect of hypobaric hypoxia and almitrine on renal sodium excretion and systolic blood pressure was investigated in conscious adult normotensive control rats (NCR) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Moderate hypoxia caused a significant natriuresis within the first two days in both NCR and SHR. The systolic blood pressure was significantly diminished in SHR only.

[Cell distribution and macrophage function in bronchoalveolar lavage of patients with sarcoidosis and lung tumors].

BAL was performed to differentiate cases of sarcoidosis and bronchial carcinoma. Significant differences in the cell differentiation are stated. An increase of spontaneous interleukin production seems to be another sign of activity of sarcoidosis.

Kidney function during arterial chemoreceptor stimulation. II. Suppression of plasma aldosterone concentration due to hypoxic-hypercapnic perfusion of the carotid bodies in anaesthetized cats.

The reactions of the mean systemic arterial blood pressure, kidney function (clearance technique) and plasma aldosterone concentration (radio-immuno-assay) elicited by perfusion of the vascularly isolated carotid bodies with venous blood were studied in two series of chloralosed, vagotomized, relaxed, and constantly ventilated cats undergoing saline diuresis. In one group of animals the carotid body chemoreceptors were left intact; in the other one, they were abolished by injecting acetic acid into the glomera carotici. In the cats with intact chemoreceptors perfusion of the carotid bodies with venous blood immediately caused a small and transient increase of the blood pressure, whereas renal plasma flow tended to fall despite continuous chemoreceptor stimulation.