Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is a fibrosing disorder that may develop in patients who have advanced reduction in renal function. A causal relation between gadolinium (Gd(3+))-based contrast agents (Gd-CA) and NSF is probable and is supported by the accumulating data in the literature. From those data, the prevalence of NSF is seen to be significantly higher after exposure to gadodiamide ...

BACKGROUND The newly developed magnetic-resonance-imaging (MRI) hepatocyte-specific contrast agent, gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA), has different excretion pathways from the conventional MRI contrast agent, gadolinium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA). In this study, we compare the enhancement effect of the liver and renal parenchyma betwee...

Several cell membrane proteins have been identified as herpes simplex virus (HSV) entry mediators (Hve). HveA (formerly HVEM) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family, whereas the poliovirus receptor-related proteins 1 and 2 (PRR1 and PRR2, renamed HveC and HveB) belong to the immunoglobulin superfamily. Here we show that a truncated form of HveC directly binds to HSV glycoprote...

Extracellular gadolinium contrast agents (Gd-CA) are either linear or macrocyclic chelates available as ionic or non-ionic preparations. The molecular structure whether cyclic or linear and ionicity determines the stability of Gd-CA. Linear chelates are flexible open chains which do not offer a strong binding to Gd(3+). In contrast, the macrocyclic chelates offer a strong binding to Gd(3+) by t...

We present an X-ray absorption spectroscopy study of the local structures of Gd(DTPA)(2)(-) and Gd(DOTA)(-) complexes in the crystalline state (at room and low temperatures) and in aqueous solutions exhibiting various pH values (0.15-7) at different temperatures (25-90 degrees C). Using X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) analysis procedures and ab initio multiple scattering calculations of ...

Gd(3+) blocks stretch-activated channels and suppresses stretch-induced arrhythmias. We used whole cell voltage clamp to examine whether effects on Na(+) channels might contribute to the antiarrhythmic efficacy of Gd(3+). Gd(3+) inhibited Na(+) current (I(Na)) in rabbit ventricle (IC(50) = 48 microM at -35 mV, holding potential -120 mV), and block increased at more negative test potentials. Gd(...

BACKGROUND Gadolinium (Gd)-based magnetic resonance contrast agents (GBMCA), including gadodiamide, have been identified as the probable causative agents of the serious disease, nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF). OBJECTIVES To investigate retained Gd-containing deposits in skin biopsies from patients with NSF and to determine their relative concentrations over time from administration of GB...

This study is to evaluate the association of 9 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with Graves' disease (GD) in different homogenous samples of the Chinese Han population. A total of 2,865 unrelated individuals were enrolled from Linyi City, Shandong Province, China, including 1,139 patients of GD and 1,726 controls. All 9 SNPs showed significant associations with GD (P < 1.3×10(-4), Bonferr...

BACKGROUND Graves' disease (GD), a highly rampant autoimmune disorder of the thyroid gland, is responsible for 60-80% of the clinical cases of hyperthyroidism. Over the past decades, genetic association studies have identified several GD susceptibility loci in CTLA-4, TSHR and major histocompatibility complex regions. The information on the association between the human leukocyte antigens (HLA)...