BACKGROUND Platelet-activating factor (PAF) seems to be implicated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with associated renal diseases. AIMS In this study, we ensured the role of PAF in SLE patients without renal complications. METHODS Blood PAF and acetylhydrolase activity, plasma soluble phospholipase A(2), and the presence of antibodies against PAF were investigated in 17 SLE p...

INTRODUCTION Acute pancreatitis causes platelet-activating factor (PAF) to be released which induces systemic effects that contribute to circulatory disturbances and multiple organ failure. PAF has also been implicated as a key mediator in the progression of severe acute pancreatitis, which can lead to complications and unacceptably high mortality rates. MODE OF ACTION OF PAF IN ACUTE PANCREA...

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) inhibits single inwardly rectifying K(+) channels in guinea-pig ventricular cells. There is currently little information as to the mechanism by which these channels are modulated. The effect of PAF on quasi steady-state inwardly rectifying K(+) currents (presumably of the I(K1) type) of auricular, atrial and ventricular cardiomyocytes from guinea-pig were studie...

We investigated the properties of platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) derived from Trichoderma harzianum. The enzyme, comprised of 572 amino acids, shares high homology with PAF-AH proteins from T. koningii and other microbial species. The optimum enzymatic activity of PAF-AH occurred at pH 6 in the absence of Ca2+ and it localized in the cytoplasm, and we observed the upregulat...

Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (pAF) is a major risk factor for stroke but remains often unobserved. To predict the presence of pAF, we developed model scores based on echocardiographic and other clinical parameters from routine cardiac assessment. The scores can be easily implemented to clinical practice and might improve the early detection of pAF. In total, 47 echocardiographic and other cli...

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a potent pro-inflammatory phospholipid mediator. In response to extracellular stimuli, PAF is rapidly biosynthesized by lyso-PAF acetyltransferase (lyso-PAFAT). Previously, we identified two types of lyso-PAFATs: lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase (LPCAT)1, mostly expressed in the lungs where it produces PAF and dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine essential ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) is often difficult to detect in patients with acute ischemic stroke. We aimed to assess the predictive value of a prolonged QT interval corrected for heart rate (QTc) in PAF detection after acute ischemic stroke. METHODS We enrolled 972 patients with acute ischemic stroke consecutively extracted from our observational stroke registry...

The production of delta-toxin is supposed to be responsible for various pathophysiological effects during infection with Staphylococcus aureus. We compared the effects of delta-toxin with the structurally related bee venom toxin melittin on granulocyte functions and inflammatory mediator release. Delta-toxin and melittin induced a rapid Ca2+ influx, as was shown by fluorescence detection. Furth...

Grassi, Silvarosa, Ermelinda Francescangeli, Gianfrancesco anism, as mGluRs are greatly implied in increasing the glutaGoracci, and Vito E. Pettorossi. Role of platelet-activating factor mate release (Pin and Duvoisin 1995). The possible exisin long-term potentiation of the rat medial vestibular nuclei. J. tence of presynaptic mechanisms at vestibular level leads us Neurophysiol. 79: 3266–3271,...

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is implicated in pathogenesis of chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in some animal models and in neonates. Effects of chronic hypoxia on PAF receptor (PAF-R) system in fetal pulmonary vasculature are unknown. We investigated the effect of chronic high altitude hypoxia (HAH) in fetal lambs [pregnant ewes were kept at 3,801 m (12,470 ft) altitude from ...