Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a potent inflammatory stimulus derived from the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria, has been implicated in septic shock. Plasma levels of adrenomedullin (AM), a potent vasorelaxant, are increased in septic shock and possibly contribute to the characteristic hypotension. As macrophages play a central role in the host response to LPS, we studied AM production by LP...

1. Holmes JH IV, Brundage SI, Yuen P, Hall RA, Maier RV, Jurkovich GJ. Complications of surgical feeding jejunostomy in trauma patients. J Trauma 1999;47(6):1009-12. 2. Brotman S, Marshall WJ. Complications from needle catheter jejunostomy in posttraumatic surgery. Contemp Surg 1985;27: 52-6. 3. Rai J, Flint LM, Ferrara JJ. Small bowel necrosis in association with jejunostomy tube feedings. Am ...

A radioimmunoassay is described for plasma corticotropin whereby concentrationsover the range of 6 to 1000 ng/liter can be measured. Corticotropin extracted from plasma on fuller’s earth under carefully standardized conditions is assayed by a long-used double antibody radioimmunoassay procedure. Within (n = 6) and between (n = 12) assay precision is 39 ± 2 (SD) ng/liter and 44 ± 6 (SD) ng/liter...

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling is implied in opioid reinforcement, reward, and withdrawal. Here, we explored whether TLR4 signaling is involved in the acute psychomotor-stimulating effects of heroin, 6-acetylmorphine (6-AM), and morphine as well as whether there are differences between the three opioids regarding TLR4 signaling. To address this, we examined how pretreatment with (+)-nalo...

An automated solid-phase extraction-liquid chromatography- tandem mass spectrometry (SPE-LC-MS-MS) method using the Spark Holland Symbiosis Pharma SPE-LC coupled to a Waters Quattro Micro MS-MS was developed for the analysis of 6-acetylmorphine (6-AM) in human urine specimens. The method was linear (R² = 0.9983) to 100 ng/mL, with no carryover at 200 ng/mL. Limits of quantification and detectio...