International journal of clinical & laboratory research最新文献

{"title":"High background levels compromise the use of cardiac troponin I RNA detection in peripheral blood as a diagnostic tool in cardiology.","authors":"P Tschentscher,&nbsp;C Heeschen,&nbsp;C Hamm,&nbsp;C Wagener","doi":"10.1007/s005990070027","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s005990070027","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The detection of cardiac troponins in peripheral blood as protein markers of myocardial infarction is a new diagnostic tool in the diagnosis of cardiac disease. In order to increase the sensitivity and specificity of this diagnostic approach, a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay has been developed to detect the mRNA encoding cardiac troponin I from myocardial cells hypothetically released from damaged cardiac tissue. The detection is specific for cardiac troponin I mRNA, with no amplification of homologous sequences of other troponin I isoforms, i.e., troponin I from skeletal muscle cells. However, a strong amplification signal for cardiac troponin I mRNA was detected in samples of peripheral blood from healthy human volunteers. In patients with acute myocardial infarction or angina pectoris, the cardiac troponin I mRNA levels were not increased over background levels. In conclusion, a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction approach based on the amplification of cardiac troponin I mRNA is not feasible in the diagnosis of cardiac diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":77180,"journal":{"name":"International journal of clinical & laboratory research","volume":"30 1","pages":"13-5"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2000-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/s005990070027","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21819144","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Measurement of soluble adhesion molecules in primary Raynaud's phenomenon and in Raynaud's phenomenon secondary to connective tissue diseases.","authors":"G Brevetti,&nbsp;M De Caterina,&nbsp;V D Martone,&nbsp;S Corrado,&nbsp;A Silvestro,&nbsp;G Spadaro,&nbsp;F Scopacasa","doi":"10.1007/s005990070018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s005990070018","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Adhesion molecules play a role in the inflammation and pathogenesis of vascular diseases. In 13 patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon, 19 with Raynaud's phenomenon associated with connective tissue disease, and 16 control subjects, we measured plasma levels of soluble forms of intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, E-selectin, and von Willebrand factor. Patients with secondary Raynaud's phenomenon had plasma levels of soluble forms of intercellular adhesion molecule- 1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, E-selectin, and von Willebrand factor which were significantly higher than in those with primary Raynaud's phenomenon and controls, while no difference was observed between patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon and controls. Within the group with secondary Raynaud's phenomenon, the strongest correlations were between soluble forms of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and both E-selectin, (r=0.67, P<0.001) and von Willebrand factor (r=0.58, P<0.01). In none of the three groups were the levels of soluble adhesion molecules and von Willebrand factor changed by exposure of hands to cold, although all patients had a definite vasospasm. In conclusion, this study indicates that primary Raynaud's phenomenon is not associated with elevation of soluble adhesion molecules and von Willebrand factor. Prospective studies are now required to investigate the role of these molecules as predictors of secondary diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":77180,"journal":{"name":"International journal of clinical & laboratory research","volume":"30 2","pages":"75-81"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2000-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/s005990070018","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21872855","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Combined leukocyte and erythrocyte aggregation in the peripheral venous blood during sepsis. An indication of commonly shared adhesive protein(s).","authors":"A S Berliner,&nbsp;I Shapira,&nbsp;O Rogowski,&nbsp;N Sadees,&nbsp;R Rotstein,&nbsp;R Fusman,&nbsp;D Avitzour,&nbsp;S Cohen,&nbsp;N Arber,&nbsp;D Zeltser","doi":"10.1007/s005990070030","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s005990070030","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We have used a simple slide test and image analysis to reveal the state of leukocyte and erythrocyte adhesiveness/aggregation in the peripheral blood of 28 patients with sepsis and 28 controls. A significant (P<0.00001) increment in both leukocyte and erythrocyte adhesiveness/aggregation was noted in patients compared with controls. Moreover, a significant (r=0.73, n=56, P<0.001) correlation was noted between the two adhesiveness/aggregation variables themselves, suggesting a common mechanism responsible for these adhesive phenomena. The significant correlation with fibrinogen suggests that this protein might be such a \"non-specific glue.\" Our results indicate that a simple slide technique and image analysis can assess the aggregability of both white and red blood cells in septic patients. This might have clinical application when interventions to reduce cell aggregability are planned in order to improve blood flow in the microcirculation.</p>","PeriodicalId":77180,"journal":{"name":"International journal of clinical & laboratory research","volume":"30 1","pages":"27-31"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2000-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/s005990070030","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21818424","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Kinetics of chlorination of monochlorodimedone by myeloperoxidase.","authors":"A Jerlich,&nbsp;S Tschabuschnig,&nbsp;J S Fabjan,&nbsp;R J Schaur","doi":"10.1007/s005990070031","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s005990070031","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The phagocyte-derived enzyme myeloperoxidase has been recently implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, because it catalyzes the reaction of hydrogen peroxide with chloride ions to give the highly toxic oxidant hypochlorous acid. The aim of this study was to determine the dependence of this reaction on the concentration of hydrogen peroxide and of the enzyme by means of the photometric monochlorodimedone assay. The initial rate of hypochlorous acid formation increased less than proportionally with increasing myeloperoxidase concentrations. Variation of the concentration of hydrogen peroxide had a biphasic effect, with an optimal concentration of hydrogen peroxide. Above this concentration enzyme destruction is apparently predominant. The progress curves of hypochlorous acid formation showed two distinct maxima. It was concluded that hypochlorous acid not only reacts with monochlorodimedone but also with the amino groups of myeloperoxidase to form intermediary chloramines that may further chlorinate monochlorodimedone. This was supported by the kinetics in the presence of the amino compound glycine, a competitive substrate for chlorination by hypochlorous acid. In the presence of high concentrations of glycine the progress curve rises continuously, yielding a greatly increased concentration of chlorinating species, either hypochlorous acid or chloramines. We concluded that glycine protects myeloperoxidase against hypochlorous acid-induced self-destruction.</p>","PeriodicalId":77180,"journal":{"name":"International journal of clinical & laboratory research","volume":"30 1","pages":"33-7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2000-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/s005990070031","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21818425","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cyclosporine-A plus steroids versus steroids alone in the 12-month treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus.","authors":"F Dammacco,&nbsp;O Della Casa Alberighi,&nbsp;G Ferraccioli,&nbsp;V Racanelli,&nbsp;L Casatta,&nbsp;E Bartoli","doi":"10.1007/s005990070017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s005990070017","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The positive results obtained with cyclosporine-A both in an experimental model and in selected patients with advanced systemic lupus erythematosus support the hypothesis that the drug could be used as a steroid sparer in the earliest stages of active disease. To determine the 12-month clinical efficacy (disease control and steroid sparing), safety, and tolerability of low-dose cyclosporine-A plus steroids versus steroids alone, we designed a multicenter, open, prospective, randomized, pilot study, controlled for parallel groups. The patients were then followed up to month 24. A total of 18 consenting patients with recently diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus of moderate severity indicated for the use of steroids in acute boluses and subsequently per os were enrolled at two university hospital medical centers. The protocol was based on three 1-g boluses of 6-methylprednisolone followed by cyclosporine-A (<5 mg/kg per day) plus prednisone 0.5-1 mg/kg per day per os, reduced by 5 mg/day every 2 weeks following clinical remission, versus the same doses of oral prednisone alone. The efficacy evaluation was based on a four-point scale (from absent/none to severe) for signs and symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus and immunoserological parameters. The disease activity index and cumulative prednisone dose per patient were analyzed. Any adverse events were reported. All patients showed a reduction in disease activity index within the 1st month. The results were significantly better in the group with cyclosporine-A plus prednisone throughout month 12 (baseline and 12-month disease activity indexes: 21.3+/-8.6 and 5.0+/-2.5 versus 20.4+/-7.1 and 8.8+/-6.0 in the prednisone group, P<0.05). The 12-month cumulative mean dose of prednisone was significantly lower in the group with both cyclosporine-A plus prednisone (179.4+/-40.1 versus 231.8+/-97.1 mg/kg, P<0.005). No unusual adverse events related to the study drugs have been reported. In particular, renal function and blood pressure monitoring revealed no significant changes from mean baseline values in either group. No disease flares were reported in the group treated with cyclosporine-A plus prednisone during the 12- to 24-month period. Thus cyclosporine-A represents a useful corticosteroid sparer in the maintenance of clinical remission in patients with an early-stage, active systemic lupus erythematosus.</p>","PeriodicalId":77180,"journal":{"name":"International journal of clinical & laboratory research","volume":"30 2","pages":"67-73"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2000-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/s005990070017","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21872854","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association of lipoprotein(a) concentration and apo(a) isoform size with restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.","authors":"O Sirikci,&nbsp;V Aytekin,&nbsp;I C Demiroglu,&nbsp;C Demiroglu,&nbsp;S M Marcovina","doi":"10.1007/s005990070021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s005990070021","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lp(a) is a unique class of lipoprotein particles that exhibits a considerable size heterogeneity resulting from the size polymorphism of apo(a), its unique protein component. An elevated level of Lp(a) in plasma has been proposed to be a risk factor for premature development of coronary artery disease. To evaluate the relationship between Lp(a) concentration and apo(a) isoform size with restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, Lp(a) levels and apo(a) phenotypes were determined in 204 patients who underwent a successful coronary angioplasty procedure and stent implantation. The patients were followed with clinical examinations and exercise tests at 1, 3, and 6 months, and a control coronary angiography was performed after 6 months to evaluate restenosis. Lp(a) levels were determined with an ELISA that is insensitive to the size heterogeneity of Lp(a), and the apo(a) isoforms were determined by a high-resolution agarose gel electrophoresis method followed by immunoblotting with a specific monoclonal antibody. Of the 146 patients who underwent angiographic evaluation, 57 (39%) had restenosis, whereas 89 (61%) did not. Lp(a) levels and the distribution of the expressed apo(a) phenotypes were compared in these two groups of patients. Although the mean and median Lp(a) levels were higher in the restenosed group, the difference was not statistically significant. However, a significant difference in Lp(a) values was found in women (P=0.043), even though, because of the small number of women in the study (n=35), no sound conclusions can be reached on the predictive role of Lp(a) in restenosis. There also was no difference in the distribution of apo(a) phenotypes between the two groups. Because of their wide distribution, Lp(a) values and apo(a) isoforms do not seem to be a useful indicator of risk of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in our study cohort.</p>","PeriodicalId":77180,"journal":{"name":"International journal of clinical & laboratory research","volume":"30 2","pages":"93-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2000-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/s005990070021","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21874158","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Age-associated changes in nitric oxide metabolites nitrite and nitrate.","authors":"M Toprakçi,&nbsp;D Ozmen,&nbsp;I Mutaf,&nbsp;N Turgan,&nbsp;Z Parildar,&nbsp;S Habif,&nbsp;I Güner,&nbsp;O Bayindir","doi":"10.1007/BF02874163","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02874163","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Aging is an important determinant of vascular disease. Endothelial dysfunction accompanying vascular disease may be related to cardiovascular risk factors such as aging, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. Experimental models suggest that endothelium-derived nitric oxide is reduced with aging, and this reduction is implicated in atherogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine whether increased age resulted in altered serum nitrite and nitrate levels, end-products of nitric oxide, in healthy subjects. Sixty-nine healthy individuals were divided into five different age groups: group I (6-15 years), group II (16-30 years), group III (31-45 years), group IV (46-60 years), and group V (>61 years). In these subjects, serum nitrite was measured by the Griess reaction and nitrate by the nitrate reductase method. Statistical analysis showed that serum nitrite levels were not significantly different in any of the groups, while serum nitrate concentrations exhibited significant differences (P<0.001). These findings suggest that nitric oxide synthesis and/or secretion is reduced with age and consequently endothelium-dependent vasodilation is impaired.</p>","PeriodicalId":77180,"journal":{"name":"International journal of clinical & laboratory research","volume":"30 2","pages":"83-5"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2000-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/BF02874163","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21872856","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Beta2-microglobulin gene mutation is not a common mechanism of HLA class I total loss in human tumors.","authors":"M A Fernández,&nbsp;F Ruiz-Cabello,&nbsp;M R Oliva,&nbsp;T Cabrera,&nbsp;P Jimenez,&nbsp;M A López Nevot,&nbsp;F Garrido","doi":"10.1007/BF02874164","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02874164","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>One hundred and sixty-two tumor samples were analyzed for HLA class I expression using immunohistological techniques. HLA class I total loss (phenotype no. I) was detected in 31 cases (19%), comprising 20 colorectal, 3 laryngeal, and 2 bladder carcinomas and 6 melanomas. Twenty-one cases were selected for molecular analysis due to a higher proportion of tumor cells versus stroma cells (75%). We investigated whether beta2-microglobulin mutation was responsible for HLA downregulation. Single-strand conformation polymorphism and sequencing analysis of DNA samples was performed. Alterations were detected only in melanomas M78 (a point mutation in the initiation ATG sequence), M79 (a mutation in codon 31 producing a stop codon), and M34 (a TTCT deletion introducing a termination codon signal). We found no beta2-microglobulin gene mutation in the other 18 samples. Loss of heterozygosity in 15q close to the beta2-microglobulin gene was found in 5 cases. We conclude that HLA class I total loss can frequently occur without beta2-microglobulin gene mutations.</p>","PeriodicalId":77180,"journal":{"name":"International journal of clinical & laboratory research","volume":"30 2","pages":"87-92"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2000-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/BF02874164","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21874157","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lack of association between antiphospholipid antibodies and migraine in children.","authors":"A Verrotti,&nbsp;F Cieri,&nbsp;P Pelliccia,&nbsp;G Morgese,&nbsp;F Chiarelli","doi":"10.1007/s005990070023","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s005990070023","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Anticardiolipin antibodies are found frequently in those suffering from migraine, but it is not clear if this association is real or coincidental. Moreover, there are no data on the prevalence of anticardiolipin antibodies in children. In this study, 40 patients were divided into two groups according to the type of migraine: group I included 22 cases (15 females and 7 males, mean age+/-SD 13.7+/-8.9 years) suffering from migraine with and without aura; group II consisted of 18 children (10 females and 8 males, age 14.7+/-6.9 years) having migraine with prolonged aura or migrainous infarction, also called complicated migraine. We studied two groups of children as controls: a group of 35 children (25 females and 10 males, mean age 13.9+/-7.1 years) with juvenile chronic arthritis (group III) and a group of 40 healthy sex- and age-matched children who did not suffer from migraine or any other neurological disease (group IV). No statistically significant differences in levels of anticardiolipin antibodies were found between group I and II and controls. Our data demonstrate that, in children with migraine, anticardiolipin antibodies are not more frequent than in healthy controls, and suggest that anticardiolipin antibodies are not implicated in the pathogenesis of migraine.</p>","PeriodicalId":77180,"journal":{"name":"International journal of clinical & laboratory research","volume":"30 2","pages":"109-11"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2000-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/s005990070023","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21874160","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of a novel radioimmunoassay using 125I-labelled human recombinant GAD65 for the determination of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65) autoantibodies.","authors":"S M Marcovina,&nbsp;M Landin-Olsson,&nbsp;A Essen-Möller,&nbsp;J P Palmer,&nbsp;A Lernmark","doi":"10.1007/s005990070029","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s005990070029","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Autoantibodies to the islet cell 65-kilodalton isoform of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65) are present in most patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus years before the clinical manifestation of the disease. GAD65 autoantibodies are also present in a subset of patients with type 2 diabetes who frequently become insulin dependent. In the present study, we evaluated a new, commercially available radioimmunoprecipitation assay for measuring GAD65 autoantibodies using 125I-labelled human recombinant GAD65. Results obtained with this assay were compared with those obtained by a reference assay based on 35S-labelled recombinant GAD65. Analyses were performed on 67 patients with type I diabetes, 350 with type 2 diabetes, and 150 apparently healthy individuals. An excellent agreement was found between the results obtained by the 125I-GAD65 assay and those obtained by the reference method. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the two assays. The sensitivity of each assay was determined from the results of the 67 type 1 patients, while the specificity was based on the 150 healthy individuals. Based on the ROC curves, the two assays appeared identical, with a sensitivity of 84% and a clinical specificity of 98%. In conclusion, based on our results, this simple, one-step centrifugation, high-capacity 125I-GAD65 assay has the same sensitivity and specificity as the reference assay and is highly suitable to detect GAD65 autoantibodies in human samples.</p>","PeriodicalId":77180,"journal":{"name":"International journal of clinical & laboratory research","volume":"30 1","pages":"21-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2000-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1007/s005990070029","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21819146","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}