Elevation of serum xanthine oxidase following halothane anesthesia in the rat

Summary Halothane anesthesia was found to be hepatotoxic in the rat, as demonstrated by a significant elevation of serum xanthine oxidase (SXO) level. SXO appeared to be a more sensitive marker of liver damage than serum, glutamic oxalacetic transaminsa. SXO was found to be elevated also following exposure to relative hypoxia.     

Opsonic activity against zymosan of normal human serum of different blood types

Summary Serum opsonic activity against zymosan was found to be decreased more markedly in highly diluted O type serum than in the other 3 types, among which no difference was noted. Heat-killed bacteria were equally well opsonized with any type of serum. This peculiar activity of O type serum against zymosan was not affected by the removal of isohemagglutinins. No inhibitory activity was demonstrable in O type serum.This work was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid from the Japan Medical Research Foundation and Grants-in-Aid (Project Nos. 157253 and 544050) from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan.     

Dialyzable serum factors alter cellular immunity in pregnancy

Summary Lymphocyte responsiveness was found to be decreased in pregnant and increased in habitually aborting women. This is attributed to a dialyzable serum factor(s), that can be removed from the surface of lymphocytes by repeated washing.     

Metabolic implications in the elevation of serum activity of intestinal alkaline phosphatase in chronic renal failure

The activity of intestinal isoenzyme of serum alkaline phosphatase was evaluated in 21 non-dialyzed patients with advanced renal failure and in 52 patients on regular hemodialysis. In patients without hepatopathy, a significant inverse correlation was found between the enzyme activity and serum calcium levels. Hepatopathy was the most significant variable influencing the enzyme activity in patients on dialysis. Secondary hyperparathyroidism and a decreased rate in enzyme elimination should be assessed for the above-normal activities of intestinal ALP in serum in chronic renal failure.     

Metabolic implications in the elevation of serum activity of intestinal alkaline phosphatase in chronic renal failure

The activity of intestinal isoenzyme of serum alkaline phosphatase was evaluated in 21 non-dialyzed patients with advanced renal failure and in 52 patients on regular hemodialysis. In patients without hepatopathy, a significant inverse correlation was found between the enzyme activity and serum calcium levels. Hepatopathy was the most significant variable influencing the enzyme activity in patients on dialysis. Secondary hyperparathyroidism and a decreased rate in enzyme elimination should be assessed for the above-normal activities of intestinal ALP in serum in chronic renal failure.     

Metabolic implications in the elevation of serum activity of intestinal alkaline phosphatase in chronic renal failure

Summary The activity of intestinal isoenzyme of serum alkaline phosphatase was evaluated in 21 non-dialyzed patients with advanced renal failure and in 52 patients on regular hemodialysis. In patients without hepatopathy, a significant inverse correlation was found between the enzyme activity and serum calcium levels. Hepatopathy was the most significant variable influencing the enzyme activity in patients on dialysis. Secondary hyperparathyroidism and a decreased rate in enzyme elimination should be assessed for the above-normal activities of intestinal ALP in serum in chronic renal failure.     

Metabolic implications in the elevation of serum activity of intestinal alkaline phosphatase in chronic renal failure

Summary The activity of intestinal isoenzyme of serum alkaline phosphatase was evaluated in 21 non-dialyzed patients with advanced renal failure and in 52 patients on regular hemodialysis. In patients without hepatopathy, a significant inverse correlation was found between the enzyme activity and serum calcium levels. Hepatopathy was the most significant variable influencing the enzyme activity in patients on dialysis. Secondary hyperparathyroidism and a decreased rate in enzyme elimination should be assessed for the above-normal activities of intestinal ALP in serum in chronic renal failure.     

Changes in the apoprotein composition of very low density lipoproteins in man following eating

Summary The concentration of certain of the very low density human serum lipoprotein apoproteins were found to increase following a meal, while the concentrations of the majority of the apoproteins were found to be unaffected. This work was supported by grants from the U.S. Public Health Service.     

Effects of pregnancy and lactation on the serum selenium content of rats

The serum selenium content of rats was measured by means of neutron activation analysis. It was found to drop between the 12th day of pregnancy and term and to return to its original level within 2 days after delivery. Hysterectomy on the 10th day of gestation prevented this decrease. Nursing had no influence on the element level. The findings suggest that placental secretions might be involved in the control of the serum selenium content of rats during pregnancy.     

Effects of pregnancy and lactation on the serum selenium content of rats

Summary The serum selenium content of rats was measured by means of neutron activation analysis. It was found to drop between the 12th day of pregnancy and term and to return to its original level within 2 days after delivery. Hysterectomy on the 10th day of gestation prevented this decrease. Nursing had no influence on the element level. The findings suggest that placental secretions might be involved in the control of the serum selenium content of rats during pregnancy.     

Specific reaction of aloe extract with serum proteins of various animals.

We found that aloe extract contains a lectin-like substance which reacts with serum proteins of various animals. Furthermore, in human serum 2 proteins, alpha2-macroglobulin and alpha1-antitrypsin, were shown to be reactive with aloe extract.     

Changes in the apoprotein composition of very low density lipoproteins in man following eating.

The concentrations of certain of the very low density human serum lipoprotein apoproteins were found to increase following a meal, while the concentrations of the majority of the apoproteins were found to be unaffected.     

Species-specific differences in the mitogenic activity of heparin-binding growth factors in the sera of various mammals

Sera from different mammalian species displayed great differences in mitogenic activity, as measured by stimulation of DNA synthesis in BALB/c 3T3 cells (3T3 cells). Among the sera examined, fetal bovine serum was least active, and increasing activity was detected in calf serum, human serum, rat serum and mouse serum, in that order. Rat and mouse sera exhibited extremely high mitogenic activity with 3T3 cells, but when TIG-1 human fetal lung fibroblasts were used for the DNA assay instead, the activity levels of all of the sera were lower, and the differences between them were smaller. To determine the reasons for these differences, the heparin-binding growth factors in each serum were separated on a heparin affinity column. Five peaks of DNA-stimulating activity were obtained. Three of these were found in all sera examined, with both 3T3 cells and TIG-1 cells. Two other peaks were found only with 3T3 cells; one was peculiar to rat and mouse sera, with extremely high activity in the rat, and the other was specific to fetal serum. The dependence of the activity of these peaks on the cells used for the test was confirmed using normal rat lung fibroblasts and immortalized rat kidney cells. These findings adequately explain the species-specific differences in mitogenic activity of whole sera, and the variation in activity depending on the cells used for assay of DNA synthesis.     

Species-specific differences in the mitogenic activity of heparin-binding growth factors in the sera of various mammals.

Sera from different mammalian species displayed great differences in mitogenic activity, as measured by stimulation of DNA synthesis in BALB/c 3T3 cells (3T3 cells). Among the sera examined, fetal bovine serum was least active, and increasing activity was detected in calf serum, human serum, rat serum and mouse serum, in that order. Rat and mouse sera exhibited extremely high mitogenic activity with 3T3 cells, but when TIG-1 human fetal lung fibroblasts were used for the DNA assay instead, the activity levels of all of the sera were lower, and the differences between them were smaller. To determine the reasons for these differences, the heparin-binding growth factors in each serum were separated on a heparin affinity column. Five peaks of DNA-stimulating activity were obtained. Three of these were found in all sera examined, with both 3T3 cells and TIG-1 cells. Two other peaks were found only with 3T3 cells; one was peculiar to rat and mouse sera, with extremely high activity in the rat, and the other was specific to fetal serum. The dependence of the activity of these peaks on the cells used for the test was confirmed using normal rat lung fibroblasts and immortalized rat kidney cells. These findings adequately explain the species-specific differences in mitogenic activity of whole sera, and the variation in activity depending on the cells used for assay of DNA synthesis.     

Serum activity inhibiting specific simian virus 40-induced transplantation resistance and its correlation with primary SV40 tumors appearance in hamsters.

Using the modified technique of transplantation test, ITR serum activity was found in most (14 out of 21) individual hamster sera obtained during the latent period of primary SV40 carcinogenesis (60 days after virus infection when newborn). On the other hand, as a rule, no ITR activity was observed in the sera of the same hamsters after tumor appearance and during their growth. ITR activity rapidly disappeared from sera of hamsters neonatally infected with SV40 after their successful immunization with the same virus during the latent period. There appears to be a correlation between the presence of ITR serum factor during the latent period and the subsequent primary SV40 tumor appearance in hamsters.     

D-amino acids in mouse tissues are not of microbial origin

Neutral free D-amino acid contents in the serum, kidney, liver, brain, small intestine and urine in germ-free mice and those in specific pathogen-free mice were compared. No significant difference was found. This strongly suggests that the free D-amino acids which were shown to be present in mice in our previous work did not originate from the enteric microbial flora.     

Specific reaction of aloe extract with serum proteins of various animals

Summary We found that aloe extract contains a lectin-like substance which reacts with serum proteins of various animals. Furthermore, in human serum 2 proteins,a ₂-macroglobulin anda ₁-antitrypsin, were shown to be reactive with aloe extract.     

Insulin requirement of human leukemic cell lines

The growth characteristics of human leukemic cell lines in serum supplemented medium and in serum free medium with and without the addition of insulin were investigated. No relation was found between the insulin binding capacity of the cells and their hormone-dependence for growth.     

Über die Beeinträchtigung der Wirkung von Spindelgiften in der Zellkultur durch menschliches Serum sowie durch Seren verschiedener Tierspezies

Summary Chick embryo fibroblasts, cultivatedin vitro, require higher concentrations of podophyllotoxin derivatives for complete mitotic arrest when the medium contains human adult or cord serum than when it contains horse, bovine, guinea pig, rat, mouse, or cock serum. This difference is due to a higher binding capacity of human serum for these compounds. No such difference was found with a colchicine and a peltatin derivative.     

Effect of Royal Jelly on serum lipids in experimental animals and humans with atherosclerosis

The primary objective of this review was to assess the size and consistency of Royal Jelly (RJ) effect on serum lipids in experimental animals and humans. The data from animal studies were pooled, where possible, and statistically evaluated by Student's t-test. Meta-analysis was used for the evaluation of human trials. It was found that RJ significantly decreased serum and liver total lipids and cholesterol levels in rats and rabbits and also retarded the formation of atheromas in the aorta of rabbits fed a hyperlipemic diet. Meta-analysis of the controlled human trials of RJ to reduce hyperlipidemia showed a significant reduction in total serum lipids and cholesterol levels and normalization of HDL and LDL as determined from decrease in β/α lipoproteins. The best available evidence suggests that RJ at approximately 50 to 100 mg per day, decreased total serum cholesterol levels by about 14%, and total serum lipids by about 10% in the group of patients studied.