Plasma lipid-bound sialic acid alterations in neoplastic diseases

Plasma lipid-bound sialic acid (LSA) was assayed in normal volunteers, patients with non-malignant diseases, and a variety of cancer patients. Mean plasma LSA in 50 normal volunteers, 16 patients with non-malignant diseases, 54 breast cancer, 17 lung cancer, 15 colon cancer, 7 ovarian cancer, 5 prostate cancer, 4 leukemia, 4 gastrointestinal, 3 thyroid cancer, 3 pancreas cancer and 2 adrenal cancer patients were 17.7, 23.2, 58, 85, 56.7, 46.2, 56.7, 53.3, 31.1, 33.2 and 119.5 mg/dl, respectively. None of the normal volunteers had elevated plasma LSA values. Plasma LSA level was not significantly different in male and female volunteers. Two out of 114 different cancer patients had plasma LSA levels within normal range exhibiting 98.2% sensitivity of the assay. Plasma LSA, which is relatively simple to assay, may be used as a tumor marker in wide variety of neoplastic diseases.     

Catecholamines in adult iron deficiency patients.

Patients with iron deficiency whether uncomplicated or associated with other types of anemias, had plasma catecholamine levels which were significantly increased above normal controls. Patients with a variety of other anemias had no significant increase in catecholamine levels. Plasma catecholamine levels in uncomplicated iron deficient patients approached normal values as early as 3 h following oral FeSO4.     

Catecholamines in adult iron deficiency patients

Summary Patients with iron deficiency whether uncomplicated or associated with other types of anemias, had plasma catecholamine levels which were significantly increased above normal controls. Patients with a variety of other anemias had no significant increase in catecholamine levels. Plasma catecholamine levels in uncomplicated iron deficient patients approached normal values as early as 3 h following oral FeSO₄.Acknowledgment. Funded in part by an NIH grant No. R01 HL 19933.     

Interaction of cortisol and epinephrine in the regulation of leucine kinetics in man

To assess the interaction of the two major stress hormones epinephrine and cortisol in the regulation of leucine kinetics in man, epinephrine (50 ng/kg/min) was infused either alone or in combination with cortisol (2 micrograms/kg/min) into two groups of 6 postabsorptive normal male subjects during 180 min. Plasma leucine concentrations decreased by 28% (p less than 0.05) from baseline during epinephrine treatment (plasma levels 515 pg/ml); this was due to a decrease of leucine appearance (determined by 1-13C-leucine infusions) by 23% (p less than 0.025); leucine oxidation decreased by 29% (p less than 0.05). However, when plasma cortisol concentrations were elevated to supraphysiological levels (16.3 mumol/l) during epinephrine administration, the decreases of leucine plasma concentrations, appearance and oxidation were abolished. Plasma glucose and FFA concentrations were similarly elevated during both kinds of treatment. Since leucine appearance represents a measurement of total body protein breakdown and leucine disappearance into non-oxidative pathways reflects protein synthesis, the data indicate that plasma epinephrine concentrations during severe stress exert a protein anabolic effect in man which may counteract catabolic properties of elevated plasma cortisol.     

Sexual differences in the development of plasma thyroxine levels in the embryo and young chick]

Plasma thyroxine (T4) levels were separately ascertained in male and female embryo and young chicken from the 12th day of incubation till the 4th day after hatching by the thyroxine binding globulin technique. In both sexes, plasma T4 reach a peak the 20th day of incubation, but values are significantly higher in females. A sharp decrease occurred thereafter, plasma T4 tending toward adult values the 4th day after hatching.     

Colony stimulating activity in acute and chronic endotoxinemia in man

Summary Blood granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating activity (GM CSF) was measured in 6 normal individuals challenged with low-dose endotoxin and in 63 unselected patients with nonhaematological disorders. 5/63 patients were febrile and 5 other patients showed detectable endotoxin levels, as measured by the Limulus assay. CSA levels showed a rapid increase in normal individuals following endotoxin administration, but were in the normal range in patients with chronic endotoxinemia or in those with febrile disorders. Thus, unlike acute endotoxinemia, chronic endotoxinemia is not associated with elevated activity that promotes growth of myeloid commited stem cells. In addition, fever per se did not coincide with elevated blood CSA levels.     

Colony stimulating activity in acute and chronic endotoxinemia in man.

Blood granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating activity (GM CSF) was measured in 6 normal individuals challenged with low-dose endotoxin and in 63 unselected patients with nonhaematological disorders. 5/63 patients were febrile and 5 other patients whoed detectable endotoxin levels, as measured by the Limulus assay. CSA levels showed a rapid increase in normal individuals following endotoxin administration, but were in the normal range in patients with chronic endotoxinemia or in those with febrile disorders. Thus, unlike acute endotoxinemia, chronic endotoxinemia is not associated with elevated activity that promotes growth of myeloid commited stem cells. In addition, fever per se did not coincide with elevated blood CSA levels.     

eIF4E和 VEGF C在大肠癌中的表达及其意义

目的探讨大肠癌组织中真核细胞翻译起始因子4E(eIF4E)和血管内皮生长因子 C(VEGF C)的表达及意义.方法应用免疫组织化学技术检测46例大肠癌及20例正常大肠组织中 eIF4E和 VEGF C的表达,同时结合患者的临床病理资料进行分析.结果46例大肠癌组织中的 elF4E和 VEGF C的表达阳性率分别为91.3和76.1%.而正常大肠组织中 elF4E和 VEGF C的表达阳性率分别为10%和20%.eIF4E和 VEGF的表达都与大肠癌患者性别、年龄、肿瘤病理分化程度无明显相关,但与肿瘤浸润深度、临床分期、有无淋巴结转移有关(P<0.05);两者的表达具有正相关(r=0.347,P<0.05).结论 eIF4E和 VEGF C与大肠癌的发生发展密切相关,可作为判断大肠癌侵袭转移及预后的重要指标     

Catecholamine levels in newborn human plasma in normal and abnormal conditions and in maternal plasma at delivery.

High levels of catecholamines have been found in plasma from the umbilical cord of newborn infants, suggesting a release of catecholamine from the fetus during parturition. Plasma catecholamine levels are also elevated in mothers at delivery.     

Catecholamine levels in newborn human plasma in normal and abnormal conditions and in maternal plasma at delivery

Summary High levels of catecholamines have been found in plasma from the umbilical cord of newborn infants, suggesting a release of catecholamine from the fetus during parturition. Plasma catecholamine levels are also elevated in mothers at delivery.     

Plasma thyroxine levels in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Some young Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients (3-7 years) had total thyroxine (T4) levels and T4 to thyroxine binding globulin (TBG) ratios above the normal range and significantly increased free thyroxine indices (fT4I) which, however, remained within the normal range. Older DMD patients (7-11 years) had T4 and TBG levels and fT4I similar to normal. In both DMD groups the thyroxine binding index (TBI) values were in the normal range.     

不同转移潜能乳腺癌细胞中EGFR的表达及意义

目的 研究表皮生长因子受体（epidermal growth factor receptor,EGFR）在不同转移潜能乳腺癌细胞中的表达,并探讨其在乳腺癌侵袭转移过程中的作用. 方法 利用人工基质膜侵袭实验获得高、低转移潜能乳腺癌细胞亚系,四甲基偶氮唑盐（MTT）法检测两系细胞生长曲线和倍增时间,流式细胞仪检测两系细胞周期,transwell侵袭小室模型比较两系的迁移能力.应用逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）和免疫印迹（Western Blot）检测EGFR在两系细胞中的表达. 结果 利用transwell小室成功筛选出高、低转移潜能乳腺癌细胞亚系;它们的体外生长速度、倍增时间、细胞周期和侵袭力具有明显差异;RT-PCR和Western Blot均显示在高转移潜能乳腺癌细胞中EGFR在基因和蛋白水平的表达均显著高于低转移乳腺癌细胞. 结论 EGFR的过表达与乳腺癌细胞侵袭能力显著性相关,EGFR在乳腺癌侵袭过程中发挥了重要的作用.     

Plasma triiodothyronine,thyroxine and thyrotrophin levels in germfree rats

Summary Plasma T₃, T₄ and TSH levels in developing germfree rats were high, low and normal as compared with those in conventional counterparts. The high T₃/T₄ ratio in germfree rat plasma was lowered by cholestyramine feeding.This work was supported in part by a grant from the Imanaga Foundation, Nagoya, Japan.     

Liver lectins: mediators for metastases?

Development of liver metastases in 1542 cancer patients was investigated. It was found that in certain liver diseases the incidence of liver metastases was reduced compared to that in cancer patients with otherwise normal livers. We propose that this reduction may be due to a reduced function of the liver-specific lectins.     

Plasma branched-chain amino acids in cold- and heat-acclimatised rats

The concentrations of plasma branched-chain amino acids, valine, isoleucine and leucine, were significantly elevated in cold-acclimatised rats, while these values were significantly reduced in heat-acclimatised rats, in both 2-week and 4-week temperature acclimatisation.     

Plasma branched-chain amino acids in cold-and heat-acclimatised rats

Summary The concentrations of plasma branched-chain amino acids, valine, isoleucine and leucine, were significantly elevated in cold-acclimatised rats, while these values were significantly reduced in heat-acclimatised rats, in both 2-week and 4-week temperature acclimatisation.     

Alfalfa seeds: Effects on cholesterol metabolism

Summary Plasma cholesterol concentrations were reduced in 3 human volunteers during ingestion of diets containing alfalfa seeds (AS) for 3 weeks. No signs of toxicity were detected through serum determinations of multiple parameters. The ingestion of AS in rats decreased the concentration of plasma cholesterol, reduced intestinal absorption of exogenous and endogenous cholesterol, and increased fecal biliary excretion.The work described in this article, Publication No. 1082 of the Oregon Regional Primate Research Center, was supported with grants RR-00163 and HL-16587 from the National Institutes of Health.     

La pression intrarénale chez l'homme

Summary The intrarenal pressure has been determined in man using a needle of the lumbal puncture type connected with a mercury manometer. Preliminary results in 8 patients with various renal diseases indicate no significant difference between cases of glomerulonephritis, acute anuria, chronic pyelonephritis and normal or almost normal kidneys. Our values are comprised between 23.5 and 41.5 mm of mercury, with an average of 34 mm. A possible correlation with the mean blood pressure is suggested by our data: intrarenal pressure =0.19 mean blood pressure +9.0. In one case, renal decapsulation had no influence on the intrarenal pressure.     

Effects of photoperiod, temperature and testosterone-treatment on plasma T3 and T4 levels in the Djungarian hamster, Phodopus sungorus

The effects of photoperiod, temperature and testosterone treatment on plasma T3 and T4 levels were investigated in the Djungarian hamster. Plasma T3 level was affected by temperature (25 degrees C less than 7 degrees C) but not by photoperiod. Plasma T4 level was affected by photoperiod (short day less than long day) at 25 degrees C. Administration of testosterone increased plasma T4 level under short photoperiod at 25 degrees C. Thus, higher plasma T4 level under long photoperiod at 25 degrees C might be induced by testosterone.