Paraoxonase 1 (PON1), contained in plasma high-density lipoproteins, plays an important role in the protection of plasma lipoproteins and cell membranes from oxidative damage. Previous studies indicate that human PON1 is stimulated by high NaCl concentrations. The aim of this study was to characterize in more detail the effect of salts on serum PON1. Paraoxon-hydrolyzing activity of human serum...

A density functional theory study of the magnetic couplings in Sr2V3O9 type magnetic oxides suggests that whereas the intrachain coupling is always weakly ferromagnetic, the interchain coupling may be antiferromagnetic or even weakly ferromagnetic depending on the nature of the central tetrahedral atom (As/V) cations, and, to a lesser extent, structural details.

Corpus luteum (CL) function following spontaneous or prostaglandin F2 alpha-induced estrus was studied in 27 Brahman cows and 16 Brahman heifers. Females received one injection of 0, .38, .75 or 2.25 mg alfaprostol (PGF)/100 kg body weight at 12 +/- .1 d post-estrus. Serum progesterone (P4) during CL formation, following the subsequent estrus, increased over time (P less than .001, 1 to 13 d po...

A mouse model termed Cpr-low (CL) was recently generated, in which the expression of the cytochrome P450 reductase (Cpr) gene was globally down-regulated. The decreased CPR expression was accompanied by phenotypical changes, including reduced embryonic survival, decreases in circulating cholesterol, increases in hepatic P450 expression, and female infertility (accompanied by elevated serum test...

Serum opsonic capacity against B. pertussis was studied by using quantitative chemiluminescence (CL), a method known to have several advantages over conventional methods in evaluating opsonization and phagocytosis. Sera from unvaccinated infants was shown not to contain opsonins against B. pertussis and in unvaccinated infants suffering from whooping cough, no opsonins were detected. In ad...

serum opsonic capacity against b. pertussis was studied by using quantitative chemiluminescence (cl), a method known to have several advantages over conventional methods in evaluating opsonization and phagocytosis. sera from unvaccinated infants was shown not to contain opsonins against b. pertussis and in unvaccinated infants suffering from whooping cough, no opsonins were detected. in adults ...

OBJECTIVE To show that alterations in the plasma chloride concentration ([Cl-]plasma) during the postoperative period are largely dependent on the urinary strong ion difference ([SID]urine=[Na+]urine+[K+]urine-[Cl-]urine) and not on differences in fluid therapy. METHODS Measurements were performed at intensive care unit admission and 24 hours later in a total of 148 postoperative patients. Pa...

Artemisinin is an antimalarial substance very sparingly soluble in water. In the attempt to identify environmental-friendly and non-toxic aqueous-based solvents extract it from Artemisia annua L., solubility of artemisinin aqueous solutions different hydrotropes was measured at 303.2 K, for hydrotrope concentrations up 5 M. The ability studied enhancing increases following order: Na[N(CN)2] < N...

Production of innate and adaptive immune cells from hematopoietic stem cells, and maturation of T lymphocytes are effective immune responses to fight severe microbial infection. In sepsis, this emergency myelopoiesis is damaged, leading to failure of bacterial clearance, and excessive stress-induced steroids cause immature T-lymphocyte apoptosis in thymus. We recently found that Cl-amidine, a p...

AIMS Cardiolipin (CL) is a tetra-acyl phospholipid that provides structural and functional support to several proteins in the inner mitochondrial membrane. The majority of CL in the healthy mammalian heart contains four linoleic acid acyl chains (L(4)CL). A selective loss of L(4)CL is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and heart failure in humans and animal models. We examined whether su...