bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Differential binding of serum glycoproteins to lectins during hepatic regeneration in hepatocellular carcinoma and fulminant hepatic failure
Authors: Du M.-Q. , Hutchinson W. L. , Johnson P. J. , Williams Roger 
Published: August 2015

1. The concentrations of four serum glycoproteins, thyroxine-binding globulin, α2-macroglobulin, α1-antitrypsin and transferrin, as well as their reactivities with concanavalin A and lentil-lectin, were measured in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma or fulminant hepatic failure and in normal subjects.
2. Serum concentrations of thyroxine-binding globulin and α1-antitrypsin were significantly greater in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma than in normal subjects, and the percentage lentil-lectin reactivity of these two proteins was markedly increased.
3. With the exception of transferrin, which did not bind to lentil-lectin, an enhancement of lentil-lectin reactivity was observed for the glycoproteins in serum from patients with fulminant hepatic failure. No difference in concanavalin A binding was found between the groups for any of the glycoproteins.
4. Altered fucosylation, as indicated by increased lentil-lectin binding, occurs in several glycoproteins arising in malignant and non-malignant conditions associated with abnormal hepatic regeneration.
Effect of Urate on Calcium Oxalate Crystallization in Human Urine: Evidence for a Promotory Role of Hyperuricosuria in Urolithiasis
Authors: Grover Phulwinder K. , Ryall Rosemary L. , Marshall Villis R. 
Published: August 2015

1. The effect of hyperuricosuria, simulated by increasing the concentration of dissolved urate, on the crystallization of calcium oxalate in human urine was examined.
2. Twenty urine samples were studied. Ten of these, designated type A, spontaneously precipitated calcium oxalate dihydrate crystals upon the addition of a solution of sodium urate solution which raised the median urate concentration from 3.1 to 7.0 mmol/l.
3. Adding dissolved urate to the remaining type B samples raised the median urate concentration from 2.2 to 6.2 mmol/l, but did not cause the precipitation of calcium oxalate. This was induced in these samples by the addition of a standard load of oxalate above an empirically determined metastable limit.
4. In the type B urine samples, the addition of urate decreased the median metastable limit from 125 to 66 μmol of oxalate, trebled the median volume of crystalline calcium oxalate deposited from 35 000 to 105 000 μm3/μl and significantly increased the overall size of the particles precipitated. Calcium oxalate monohydrate was exclusively precipitated, and the individual crystals deposited in the presence of urate were markedly smaller, more numerous, and more highly aggregated than those produced in its absence.
5. These results constitute the most convincing evidence yet obtained that hyperuricosuria may be a powerful promoter of calcium oxalate stone formation.
Role of Atrial Natriuretic Factor in Changes in the Responsiveness of Aldosterone to Angiotensin II Secondary to Sodium Loading and Depletion in Man
Authors: Tuchelt H. , Eschenhagen G. , Bähr V. , Schwietzer G. , Thiede H. M. , Oelkers W. 
Published: August 2015

1. Sodium loading blunts the response of aldosterone to infusion of angiotensin II, whereas sodium depletion leads to an enhanced response. The hypothesis was tested that these changes in responsiveness of the zona glomerulosa are mediated in part by changes in plasma atrial natriuretic factor levels.
2. To this end, plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone were measured in the upright and recumbent position and during incremental infusions of angiotensin II (1, 3 and 6 ng of angiotensin II amide min−1 kg−1 for 1 h each dose) after 6 days of sodium loading (study 1), after 5 days of sodium depletion (study 2) and after sodium depletion plus infusion of atrial natriuretic factor (0.13 μg/min for 8 h) on the test day (study 3). Six normal young males were investigated.
3. Plasma atrial natriuretic factor levels were around 5 pmol/l in study 2, 15 pmol/l in study 1 and 15 pmol/l in study 3 during infusion of atrial natriuretic factor. Two hours after the onset of atrial natriuretic factor infusion, plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone (recumbent) were markedly and significantly lower in study 3 than in study 2, but still significantly higher than in study 1. The increase in plasma aldosterone after infusion of angiotensin II was slightly, but not significantly, blunted by infusion of atrial natriuretic factor in study 3 compared with study 2. The overall increase in plasma aldosterone was still significantly greater in study 3 than in study 1.
4. The fall in renal plasma flow, determined as p-aminohippurate clearance, during infusion of angiotensin II was greater in study 1 than in studies 2 and 3. Small differences between study 3 and study 2 were not significant.
5. It is concluded that infusions of atrial natriuretic factor in the low-sodium state that mimic plasma atrial natriuretic factor levels after sodium loading lead to a marked fall in recumbent plasma aldosterone, which is to a large extent secondary to a fall in plasma renin activity. A small direct effect of these physiologically elevated atrial natriuretic factor levels on the zona glomerulosa itself (the increase in plasma aldosterone during angiotensin II infusion) was only of borderline significance. Thus, atrial natriuretic factor at physiological plasma concentrations is a regulator of renin and aldosterone secretion, whereas a modulating effect on the renal vasoconstrictor action of angiotensin II could not be demonstrated.
Sodium and Water Excretion in Nephrotic Patients: Effects of Changes in Renal Haemodynamics
Authors: Allon Michael , Pasque Charles B. , Rodriguez Mariano 
Published: August 2015

1. Eight nephrotic patients were studied in order to evaluate the effects of acute changes in renal plasma flow and glomerular filtration rate on renal solute and water handling, in the absence of plasma volume expansion.
2. The subjects were studied first after the administration of captopril, a manoeuvre that increased renal plasma flow without a significant change in glomerular filtration rate, and a second time after receiving combined therapy with captopril and ibuprofen, a manoeuvre that decreased glomerular filtration rate without a significant change in renal plasma flow.
3. After captopril therapy, despite the increase in renal plasma flow, there was no significant change in proximal sodium reabsorption (as estimated from fractional lithium reabsorption), urine volume or urine osmolality.
4. The decrease in glomerular filtration rate observed after the administration of captopril plus ibuprofen was associated with decreases in fractional excretion of sodium and urine volume, and an increase in urine osmolality. The changes in these parameters of tubular function were proportionate to the changes in glomerular filtration rate. Fractional proximal sodium reabsorption increased substantially.
5. These observations suggest that, in the absence of plasma volume expansion, an increase in renal plasma flow does not increase sodium or water excretion by the nephrotic kidney. Moreover, during acute decreases in glomerular filtration rate, glomerulotubular balance appears to be disrupted, resulting in disproportionately high rates of proximal tubule sodium reabsorption.
Effects of Oxygen Withdrawal on Catecholamine Release in Patients on Home Oxygen Therapy
Authors: Balter M. S. , Chapman K. R. , Maleki-Yazdi M. R. , Leenen F. H. H. , Rebuck A. S. 
Published: August 2015

1. Long-term oxygen therapy in appropriate patients prolongs survival and corrects neuropsychological function. Some tests of mental function paradoxically improve during short periods of oxygen withdrawal in patients on long-term oxygen therapy, although the mechanism of this response is unknown.
2. To evaluate the effects of transient hypoxaemia on plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline levels, we studied eight oxygen-dependent patients who underwent either a 4 h period of oxygen withdrawal or their routine therapy, in a randomized, blinded fashion, on 2 separate days.
3. Plasma noradrenaline did not differ at baseline between study days. During normoxic conditions, plasma noradrenaline levels did not increase significantly with time. By contrast, under hypoxic conditions, plasma levels of noradrenaline rose significantly from 0 to 4 h (P &lt; 0.05). The magnitude of the noradrenaline response was correlated with baseline noradrenaline such that subjects with the highest resting levels had the largest increase during hypoxia (r = 0.95, P &lt; 0.001).
4. Plasma adrenaline did not differ at baseline between study days and there were no significant effects of hypoxia on plasma adrenaline levels.
5. We conclude that the sympathetic nervous system, but not the adrenal medulla, is stimulated in chronically oxygen-dependent subjects made acutely hypoxaemic. The magnitude of this stimulation appears to be related to the state of sympathetic nervous system activity at baseline. Improvement in some tests of mental function during transient periods of oxygen withdrawal may be due to non-specific arousal caused by a catecholamine surge.
Effects of Isosorbide Dinitrate on the Pattern of Arterial Blood Flow in Healthy Human Subjects
Authors: Caro C. G. , Fish P. J. , Goss D. E. , Halls J. , Lever M. J. , Parker K. H. , Clear A. Stacey 
Published: August 2015

1. Blood velocity measurements have been made in the superficial femoral artery, 10 cm downstream of the common femoral artery bifurcation, in healthy human subjects, using a multi-channel Doppler ultrasound device.
2. In a randomized double-blind protocol, the effects of isosorbide dinitrate were examined during a 2 h period.
3. The changes induced by isosorbide dinitrate include: (i) an increase in the width of the artery and a reduction in brachial arterial blood pressure, implying relaxation of arterial smooth muscle; (ii) an increase in reverse flow and a decrease in time-averaged mean velocity associated with a relatively small decrease of the velocity excursion during the cardiac cycle, implying an increase in flow pulsatility; and (iii) an alteration of the flow pattern both in the core and near the vessel walls.
Cellular and Muscle Zinc in Surgical Patients with and without Gastrointestinal Cancer
Authors: Goode Helen F. , Kelleher Jerry , Walker Barry E. , Hall Richard I. , Guillou Pierre J. 
Published: August 2015

1. The zinc status of surgical patients with and without gastrointestinal cancer was studied.
2. Plasma zinc was lowest in patients with cancer concurrent with depressed plasma albumin concentrations.
3. Polymorphonuclear cell zinc was decreased in both patient groups and correlated strongly with abdominal muscle zinc (r = 0.89, P &lt; 0.001).
4. Mononuclear cell and total leucocyte zinc were similar to control values in both groups of patients. Total leucocyte, but not mononuclear cell, zinc correlated weakly with muscle zinc (r = 0.48, P &lt; 0.05).
5. The results suggest that polymorphonuclear cell zinc may be better than leucocyte zinc in assessing zinc status and that some surgical patients may be zinc-depleted. The presence of gastrointestinal cancer did not influence the zinc status.
Effect of Nifedipine on Renal Haemodynamics in an Animal Model of Cyclosporin a Nephrotoxicity
Authors: McNally P. G. , Baker F. , Mistry N. , Walls J. , Feehally J. 
Published: August 2015

1. This study investigates the effect of nifedipine on cyclosporin A nephrotoxicity in the spontaneously hypertensive rat.
2. Cyclosporin A, administered daily by subcutaneous injection at 25 mg/kg body weight for 14 days, induced a significant reduction in glomerular filtration rate (35.3%) and effective renal plasma flow (45.0%), and an increase in renal vascular resistance (219%). Using this regimen, tubular, glomerular or vascular morphological damage was not evident on light microscopy.
3. The administration of nifedipine simultaneously with cyclosporin A from day 1 prevented the characteristic decline in renal function and increase in renal vascular resistance. However, the administration of nifedipine to spontaneously hypertensive rats previously exposed to cyclosporin A for 7 days failed to improve renal haemodynamics.
4. This study suggests that the beneficial effect conferred by nifedipine on cyclosporin A nephrotoxicity is present only when treatment is initiated simultaneously with cyclosporin A.
Effect of NG-Monomethyl-l-Arginine on Endothelium-Dependent Relaxation of Human Subcutaneous Resistance Arteries
Authors: Woolfson Robin G. , Poston Lucilla 
Published: August 2015

1. Using a myograph to measure isometric tension, we have looked at the action of NG-monomethyl-l-arginine on the endothelium-dependent relaxation of human subcutaneous resistance arteries.
2. NG-Monomethyl-l-arginine, the novel inhibitor of endothelium-derived relaxing factor synthesis, caused concentration-dependent but only partial inhibition of maximal relaxation induced by acetylcholine in human subcutaneous resistance arteries.
3. The inhibitory action of NG-monomethyl-l-arginine on acetylcholine-induced maximal relaxation was partially reversed by incubation of the arteries in equimolar concentrations of l-arginine and NG-monomethyl-l-arginine. Subsequent incubation in l-arginine led to further reversal, but this was no greater than with incubation in physiological saline.
4. A component of acetylcholine-induced relaxation was sensitive to indomethacin, suggesting that this response is mediated by prostanoids as well as by endothelium-derived relaxing factor.
5. NG-Monomethyl-l-arginine did not increase the tension of resting human subcutaneous resistance arteries. NG-Monomethyl-l-arginine did enhance the contractile response to noradrenaline, possibly due to inhibition of release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor resulting from stimulation of α2-adrenoreceptors on the endothelial cells.
Effect of a Test Meal, without and with Protein, on Muscle and Plasma Free Amino Acids
Authors: Bergström J. , Fürst P. , Vinnars E. 
Published: August 2015

1. The effect of a protein-free meal and a protein-rich meal on the concentration of free amino acids in plasma and muscle tissue was studied in eight healthy subjects. The energy content of the protein-free meal was 3800 kJ. The protein-rich meal was identical in composition except that 50 g of bovine serum albumin was added. Plasma and samples from the quadriceps femoris muscle (percutaneous muscle biopsy) for amino acid determination were collection before and at 1, 3, 5 and 7 h after the meal.
2. After the protein-free meal the concentrations of most essential amino acids and of some non-essential amino acids in plasma decreased continuously below basal levels at 5–7 h. The muscle concentration of essential amino acids fell too, reaching its nadir 3–5 h after the meal. The decrease in plasma amino acid concentration was smaller than the decrease in muscle concentration for all essential amino acids except phenylalanine.
3. The concentrations of most amino acids in plasma increased transiently 1 and 3 h after the protein-rich meal; histidine and several non-essential amino acids fell below the basal levels at 5–7 h after the meal. In muscle, threonine, valine, leucine, lysine and alanine were increased at 1 and 3 h after the protein-rich meal; isoleucine, serine and glycine fell below the basal level after 5 and 7 h. For the essential amino acids except threonine and lysine, the increase in plasma concentration was greater than the increase in muscle concentration.
4. Correlations were observed between the relative content of the essential amino acids in the bovine serum albumin and the increase in concentration of these amino acids in plasma and muscle. Methionine and isoleucine, which had the lowest content in bovine serum albumin, fell below basal levels in plasma and (for isoleucine) in muscle 5–7 h after the meal, suggesting that these two amino acids might have been limiting for protein synthesis.
5. Amino acid analysis in plasma and muscle samples taken postprandially should be evaluated with caution considering the strong influence of meal composition on plasma and muscle free amino acid profiles.
Effect of Cardiac Tamponade on Atrial Natriuretic Peptide Concentrations: Influence of Stretch and Pressure
Authors: Au J. , Brown J. E. , Lee M. R. , Boon N. A. 
Published: August 2015

1. In order to study the role of atrial pressure and atrial stretch on the release of atrial natriuretic peptide we have measured plasma atrial natriuretic peptide concentration, urine output and haemodynamic variables in eight patients during and 30 min after the relief of cardiac tamponade. This condition is characterized by high atrial pressure with little or no atrial stretch.
2. Relief of tamponade was associated with a rise in urine output (53 ± 27.9 to 101 ± 24.5 ml/h, mean ± sem; P = 0.09), systolic blood pressure (95 ± 9.6 to 126 ± 7.0 mmHg, P &lt; 0.0001), and plasma atrial natriuretic peptide concentration (369.5 ± 70.9 to 490.3 ± 94.7 pg/ml, P &lt; 0.05) despite a large fall in right atrial pressure (18.6 ± 1.6 to 9.5 ± 1.3 mmHg, P &lt; 0.001).
3. These results suggest, therefore, that an increase in atrial stretch, rather than in atrial pressure, stimulates the release of atrial natriuretic peptide.
Differential Effects of Amino Acids on the Isolated Perfused Rat Kidney
Authors: El Sayed A. A. , Haylor J. , El Nahas A. M. 
Published: August 2015

1. The direct effects of individual amino acids, including glycine (a neutral amino acid), l-glutamic acid (an acidic amino acid), l-leucine (a neutral, branched-chain amino acid) and l-arginine (a basic amino acid), on renal function were compared with a mixed amino acid solution by using the isolated rat kidney perfused with a physiological saline solution containing 6.7% (w/v) albumin and a basal level of 2 mmol/l mixed amino acids.
2. In a control series, the renal perfusate flow was stable but the glomerular filtration rate, as measured by [14C]inulin clearance, declined with time. A stable glomerular filtration rate could be obtained by increasing the basal perfusate amino acid concentration to 14 mmol/l.
3. The addition of 6 mmol/l mixed amino acids produced a sustained increase in renal perfusate flow and an increase in [14C]inulin clearance, reversing its time-dependent fall. Sodium reabsorption was enhanced, but, unlike the control series, no increase in fractional albumin excretion was obtained.
4. Renal perfusate flow was increased by glycine (6 mmol/l), l-arginine hydrochloride (6 mmoll) and sodium glutamate (6 mmol/l) but remained unaffected by l-leucine. The vasodilatation induced by l-arginine hydrochloride and sodium glutamate was not sustained.
5. The time-dependent fall in [14C]inulin clearance was prevented by glycine, l-arginine and glutamic acid, but not by l-leucine. l-Arginine hydrochloride, like the mixed amino acid solution, produced a significant increase in [14C]inulin clearance.
6. The fractional reabsorption of sodium was increased by glycine and l-leucine, was unaffected by sodium glutamate and was decreased by l-arginine hydrochloride. The time-dependent fall in the fractional excretion of albumin seen in the control series was, however, reversed by all individual amino acids.
7. The results indicate that amino acids can produce renal vasodilatation and hyperfiltration by a direct effect on the kidney, independent of the release of systemic hormones. Individual amino acids, however, differ in their contribution to the response elicited by a mixed amino acid solution. The use of individual amino acids to mimic the renal response to dietary protein in vivo may therefore be inappropriate.
Epidermal Growth Factor Stimulates Synthesis and Secretion of Mucus Glycoproteins in Human Gastric Mucosa
Authors: Kelly S. M. , Hunter J. O. 
Published: August 2015

1. The effects of epidermal growth factor on the synthesis and secretion by human gastric mucosa of radiolabelled mucus glycoprotein have been studied in organ culture.
2. Addition of epidermal growth factor at a concentration of 5 or 10 ng/ml increased the synthesis of glycoprotein from 84 ± 16.2 d.p.m./μg of protein to 132 ± 19.5 and 156 ±20.2 d.p.m./μg of protein, respectively. The same doses increased secretion from 73.75 ± 17 d.p.m./μg of protein to 114.0 ± 26.4 and 141.5 ±31.4 d.p.m./μg of protein (P &lt; 0.001).
3. As glycoproteins are the main constituent of the mucus defence barrier, epidermal growth factor-stimulated mucus production may contribute to gastric cytoprotection.
Effects of Acute and Chronic Ethanol Administration and its Withdrawal on the Level and Binding of Somatostatin in Rat Brain
Authors: Barrios V. , Rodríguez-Sánchez M. N. , Arilla E. 
Published: August 2015

1. Acute ethanol administration resulted in an increase in the total number of specific somatostatin receptors in rat frontoparietal cortex and hippocampus, and a decrease in the level of somatostatin-like immuno-reactivity in the hippocampus but not in the frontoparietal cortex.
2. Chronic administration of ethanol caused a decrease in the number of somatostatin receptors in the frontoparietal cortex but not in the hippocampus, although the level of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity was unchanged in both brain areas.
3. A week after suppressing ethanol the value for specific binding of tracer to somatostatin receptors in the frontoparietal cortex was not significantly different from that of the control rats, although the actual number of receptors was slightly lower.
4. These results suggest a possible role for somatostatin in the nervous system during alcoholism and the post-withdrawal reaction.
Increased Plasma Histamine Levels in Uraemic Pruritus
Authors: Stockenhuber Felix , Kurz Robert W. , Sertl Kaspar , Grimm Georg , Balcke Peter 
Published: August 2015

1. We determined plasma levels of histamine in uraemic patients and examined their correlation with the presence of pruritus.
2. In 27 patients with chronic renal failure, plasma histamine levels were analysed by radioimmunoassay and were compared with those of 40 healthy adult subjects. The control population showed plasma histamine concentrations of 185 ∓ 33 pg/ml, which were significantly lower than those of the patients with renal insufficiency. The highest levels (552 ± 116 pg of histamine/ml) were found in 16 patients with chronic renal failure (mean serum creatinine 5.1 ∓ 1.0 mg/dl) and severe itching.
3. Twelve patients with pronounced pruritus who were on maintenance haemodialysis (serum creatinine 9.2 ±1.2 mg/dl) had a mean plasma histamine concentration of 515 ± 81 pg/ml. Fifteen patients on regular haemodialysis (serum creatinine 9.0 ± 1.5 mg/dl) and who experienced itching had plasma histamine levels (322 ±40 pg/ml) which were significantly lower (P &lt; 0.01) than those of the patients with pruritus but which were elevated compared with those of the control population (P &lt; 0.01).
4. No correlation could be found between increased plasma histamine levels and the type of dialysis membrane used or the method of sterilization of the membrane.
5. Haemodialysis alone did not reduce plasma histamine concentrations, although high concentrations could be detected in the ultrafiltrate. In six patients a rapid decrease in plasma histamine concentration from 565 ∓ 134 pg/ml to within the normal range could be detected after 60 min of combined haemodialysis and haemoperfusion.
6. Our results show that increased plasma levels of histamine are found in patients with renal insufficiency and pruritus, and we conclude that this mediator might be involved in the genesis of uraemic pruritus.