In the circulation, the A-type natriuretic peptide and the B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) regulate cardiovascular homeostasis. Each hormone is derived from biosynthetic precursors that are processed to the active C-terminal hormones and the N-terminal fragments (1). Measurements of both BNP and N-terminal proBNP in plasma are recommended as diagnostic tools for heart failure. The peptides are...

In many pathological conditions such as inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, the in vivo toxicity of nitric oxide has been attributed to the toxic oxidant peroxynitrite. Interaction of peroxynitrite with biological molecules can modify tyrosine residues on the proteins at the ortho position resulting in the formation of the stable end-product, 3-nitro-L-tyrosine (3-NT). Recent investiga...

Objective. Regarding interactions between pro-inflammatory cytokines and bone metabolism in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we investigated the relationship between the serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1b, IL-6, soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2r), C-reactive protein (CRP), the vitamin D metabolites 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25OHD3) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3 ], intact parathyroid hor...

The snow flea (Hypogastrum harveyi) is protected from freezing at sub-zero temperatures by a glycine-rich antifreeze protein (AFP) that binds to seed ice crystals and prevents them from growing larger. This AFP is hyperactive and comprises two isoforms [Graham, L. A., and Davies, P. L. (2005) Science 310, 461]. The larger isoform (15.7 kDa) exhibits several-fold higher activity than the smaller...

The development of transgenic insect technology has the potential to combat a broad range of vector-borne diseases and insect pests. Current technologies involve transposable genetic elements such as piggyBac, Hermes, mariner-Mos1 and Minos. These have been used successfully to integrate transgenes into the genomes of numerous insect species, including Diptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and Hymen...

The combination of Diosmin and Hesperidin can be used as capillary stabilizing and antihemorrhoidal agent. A rapid, simple, precise and cost effective and reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method has been developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of Diosmin and Hesperidin in pharmaceutical formulations. Separation of both Diosmin and Hesperidin was...

The purpose of this study is to characterize the absorption, metabolism, and excretion of carbon 14-labeled temozolomide (C-TMZ) administered p.o. to adult patients with advanced solid malignancies. On day 1 of cycle 1, six patients received a single oral 200-mg dose of C-TMZ (70.2 mCi). Whole blood, plasma, urine, and feces were collected from days 1–8 and on day 14 of cycle 1. Total radioacti...