Functional correlation between kallikrein and factor XII activated in human plasma

Plasma kallikrein and FXIIa were assayed in acetone-treated human citrated plasma (CPLa) with the chromogenic peptide Bz-Ile-Glu-Gly-Arg-pNA (S-2222) as substrate. In end point assays with short incubation periods (1–10 min.) nearly all kallikrein present could be blocked by a low concentration of soybean trypsin inhibitor (STI). In 30 min. assays the main part of the kallikrein was recovered in a functional state not inhibited by STI, and at the same time the level of FXIIa (as amidase activity blocked by corn inhibitor, C.I.) was reduced to about 2/3 of the initial value. The formation of an association between FXIIa and kallikrein is suggested. In fractions from gel filtration of CPLa kallikrein was assayed as S-2302 amidase, high molecular weight kininogen (HK) was measured in rocket immunoassays, and HK and FXII were studied in PAGE immunoblot experiments. Kallikrein appeared as one peak together with HK (gel mol. wt. 300 KD), about 40% of HK was free (220 KD), and no FXII was observed in the kallikrein or HK peaks, but in two areas corresponding to 78–79 KD and 39–42 KD. When experiments, however, were carried out with plasma acetone-activated and gel filtered in the presence of benzamidine (5 mM), part of the amidase activity present in kallikrein peak fractions was blocked by C.I. This observation supports the above suggestion of an association between FXIIa and kallikrein.     

Hormonal regulation of plasminogen activator production by rat hepatocytes in primary culture

Hormonal regulation in the production of a plasminogen activator (PA) was studied in rat hepatocytes in primary culture. Insulin and epidermal growth factor had no effect on the hepatic PA activity. However, glucagon and epinephrine augmented the activity, whereas dexamethasone suppressed it by lowering the production of hepatic PA rather than by inducing plasmin inhibitors or a plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI). Dibutyryl cAMP, an analogue of cAMP, also augmented hepatic PA activity. The augmented activity level was lowered by either H-8, cycloheximide, or actinomycin D, suggesting that A-kinase and protein biosynthesis are closely associated with the augmentation. Glucocorticoid and hormones that act to raise the intracellular cAMP level may participate in hepatic PA production by the liver.     

Magnetic resonance imaging of intracranial venous angiomas

Magnetic resonance imagings (MRI) were made of intracranial venous angioma (six angiographically proved, four presumed). All draining veins were identified as a linear or a small round structure with a flow void. The stellate configuration was observed in seven of the ten patients. In two of the ten, the associated intraparenchymal hematoma was evident. Increased intensity of adjacent parenchyma on T2-weighted images was detected in four of ten patients, and a decreased intensity on the T1-weighted images was noted in three of eight. Thus, MRI is a pertinent diagnostic modality for evaluating intracranial venous angioma. Angiography does not seem to be required for confirmation in patients with typical MR findings.     

Pharmacology of r-hirudin in renal impairment

The pharmacokinetic properties of r-hirudin were studied in nine patients suffering from different degrees of renal insufficiency. To this end, r-hirudin was administered intravenously at dosages of 0.1 mg/kg. The elimination half-life t_1/2β was determined in blood plasma and the cumulative r-hirudin excretion in urine was measured over 48 h.

In healthy volunteers t_1/2β was 0.9 ± 0.2 h; the cumulative r-hirudin excretion in urine after 48 h amounted to 38 ± 10 % of the dose administered, most of this quantity was excreted during the first hours. In seven patients with chronic renal failure, t_1/2β was 15 to 41 h; in three of these patients cumulative urinary r-hirudin excretion was increased to 70 – 80 %, in four patients cumulative r-hirudin excretion in urine within 48 h amounted to 39 ± 8 %, but was delayed in time. In 2 bilaterally nephrectomized patients, t_1/2β was 168 and 316 h, resp. The renal clearance of hirudin was significantly and linearly correlated with the creatinine clearance (r=0.872). In all patients aPTT and bleeding time were only moderately prolonged.

Because of the modified pharmacokinetic behaviour the administration of hirudin in patients with impaired renal function requires individually adjusted dosages or prolonged administration intervals.     

不同方法测量甲状腺重量对131I治疗甲亢疗效的影响

目的 131I治疗甲亢时利用不同方法测量甲状腺重量来计算给药剂量,对疗效进行对比分析.方法 265例接受131I治疗的甲亢患者分为4组,分别根据甲状腺SPECT断层显像、核素平面显像、B超以及触诊法测量的甲状腺重量来计算给药剂量,对比分析治疗后6个月的疗效.结果 4组患者疗效差异有显著性(P＜0.05),SPECT核素断层显像组疗效最好, B超组次之,触诊法疗效最差.结论 131I治疗甲亢时利用SPECT断层显像测量的甲状腺重量来计算剂量,可以弥补其他方法的缺陷,能在提高治愈率的同时减少甲状腺功能低下的发生率.     

Assessment of the universality and utility of a set of conserved mitochondrial COI primers in insects

A set of mitochondrial COI primers has been studied by genomic PCR and many primer combinations shown to work universally well across Insects. They are able to amplify various amplicons with different variability which enables the selection of a particular amplicon as a suitable DNA marker for a project. The potential usefulness of different amplicons is examined, with analysis on published study cases employing these regions. With respect to their variability, amplicons UEA5/UEA6, UEA7/UEA8 and UEA5/UEA8 could be useful for low- to mid-level phylogenetic analysis, i. e. from species, genus to-perhaps family level depending on taxa involved. UEA5/UEA6 will be too conserved for intraspecific studies. Amplicons UEA3/UEA4 and UEA9/UEA10 would be better suited to low-level phylogenetic investigations, such as analysis of relationships among closely related species and population genetic studies. However, these guidelines should not be over-generalized for the reasons given. Amplification conditions of various primer combinations, and general problems in the use of conserved PCR primers are discussed.     

A comparative study of three serine proteases from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and D. farinae

Studies have shown that the dust mites Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and D. farinae contain several serine proteases, two of which have been shown to be allergenic, and to include trypasin and chymotrypsin, corresponding to the groups III and VI mite allergens. However, mites also contain other serine proteases, and the data reported in this study show that an elastase-like enzyme is present in both species. This enzyme was differentiated from the other serine proteases, particularly chymotrypsin, on the basis of charge, substrate specificity, and inhibition by copper and mercury cations. Its apparent mol. mass, as judged by gel filtration, was similar to those previously described for trypsain and chymotrypsin, i.e., 30 kDa. Several isoforms were detected by isoelectric focusing, but the isoelectric points of the major forms in both D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae were 10.5 and 9.8, respectively, contrasting with the acidic mite chymotrypsins. All three serine proteases were detected in whole mite and faecally enriched extracts, but the activities of trypsin and the elastase-like enzyme were greater in the latter type of extract. These data were similar to those obtained by quantitative immunochemical analysis of the D. farinae group III allergen in appropriate extracts, suggesting that culture conditions may modulate protease production. A monoclonal antibody affinity matrix specific for the group III allergen from D. farinae was shown to bind mite trypsin. However, a small amount of mite chymotrypsin also bound, suggesting limited immunologic cross-reactivity, a finding consistent with known sequence data.     

Eosinophilia associated with a composite lymphoma

We report a case of composite lymphoma heralded by a hyper-eosinophilia syndrome. Combination of immunophenotyping and gene rearrangement analysis allowed us to confirm malignancy and to detect a minor oligoclone B within a malignant T-cell predominant population. No evidence of retroviral infection was found using western blot and gene amplification techniques.