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Decreased Serum (decreased + serum)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Medical Sciences75%

Terms modified by Decreased Serum

  • decreased serum level
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    Selected Abstracts

    Down-regulation of reduced folate carrier may result in folate malabsorption across intestinal brush border membrane during experimental alcoholism

    FEBS JOURNAL, Issue 24 2007
    Abid Hamid
    Folate plays a critical role in maintaining normal metabolic, energy, differentiation and growth status of all mammalian cells. The intestinal folate uptake is tightly and diversely regulated, and disturbances in folate homeostasis are observed in alcoholism, attributable, in part, to intestinal malabsorption of folate. The aim of this study was to delineate the regulatory mechanisms of folate transport in intestinal absorptive epithelia in order to obtain insights into folate malabsorption in a rat model of alcoholism. The rats were fed 1 g·kg,1 body weight of ethanol daily for 3 months. A reduced uptake of [3H]folic acid in intestinal brush border membrane was observed over the course of ethanol administration for 3 months. Folate transport exhibited saturable kinetics and the decreased intestinal brush border membrane folate transport in chronic alcoholism was associated with an increased Km value and a low Vmax value. Importantly, the lower intestinal [3H]folic acid uptake in ethanol-fed rats was observed in all cell fractions corresponding to villus tip, mid-villus and crypt base. RT-PCR analysis for reduced folate carrier, the major folate transporter, revealed that reduced folate carrier mRNA levels were decreased in jejunal tissue derived from ethanol-fed rats. Parallel changes were observed in reduced folate carrier protein levels in brush border membrane along the entire crypt,villus axis. In addition, immunohistochemical staining for reduced folate carrier protein showed that, in alcoholic conditions, deranged reduced folate carrier localization was observed along the entire crypt,villus axis, with a more prominent effect in differentiating crypt base stem cells. These changes in functional activity of the membrane transport system were not caused by a general loss of intestinal architecture, and hence can be attributed to the specific effect of ethanol ingestion on the folate transport system. The low folate uptake activity observed in ethanol-fed rats was found to be associated with decreased serum and red blood cell folate levels, which might explain the observed jejunal genomic hypomethylation. These findings offer possible mechanistic insights into folate malabsorption during alcoholism. [source]

    Clinical trial: comparison of alendronate and alfacalcidol in glucocorticoid-associated osteoporosis in patients with ulcerative colitis

    ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 4 2009
    S. KITAZAKI
    Summary Background, Bone loss is often observed in patients with ulcerative colitis, particularly if they require glucocorticoids. Aim, To determine whether the bisphosphonate, alendronate, is safe and effective in preserving bone mass compared to the active vitamin D3, alfacalcidol, in ulcerative colitis patients receiving glucocorticoids. Methods, Thirty-nine patients with ulcerative colitis and treated with glucocorticoids were randomized to receive alendronate (5 mg/day) or alfacalcidol (1 ,g/day) daily for 12 months. Loss of bone mass was evaluated by bone mineral density, bone resorption by urinary N -telopeptide for type I collagen, and bone formation by serum bone alkaline phosphatase. Results, Alendronate, but not alfacalcidol, significantly increased bone mineral density in the lumbar spine. Alendronate decreased serum bone alkaline phosphatase levels, but alfacalcidol did not. Urinary N -telopeptide for type I collagen levels decreased in both groups, but were significantly lower in the alendronate group. There were no significant differences in the adverse events in the two groups. Conclusion, Our study indicates that alendronate is a safe, well-tolerated and more effective therapy than alfacalcidol for preventing glucocorticoid-associated bone loss in patients with ulcerative colitis. [source]

    Inhibition of adjuvant-induced arthritis by systemic tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 4 gene delivery

    ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 12 2002
    Mahmut Y. Çeliker
    Objective An imbalance in the matrix metalloproteinase:tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (MMP:TIMP) ratio in favor of MMP appears to be an important determinant of tissue damage in arthritis. We undertook this study to explore whether reversal of this imbalance in favor of TIMP would alter this process and to examine the mechanism of this alteration. Methods We administered human TIMP-4 by electroporation-mediated intramuscular injection of naked DNA using the rat adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) model. Results Intramuscular naked TIMP-4 gene administration resulted in high circulating TIMP-4 levels and completely abolished arthritis development in the rat AIA model. This inhibition was associated with significantly decreased MMP activity in the joint tissue as well as with significantly decreased serum and tissue tumor necrosis factor , levels and serum interleukin-1, levels compared with animals with arthritis. The mutation of cysteine at position 1 of TIMP-4 failed to block the development of AIA. Conclusion Our data indicate that TIMP-4 is a potent antiinflammatory agent, and that its antiarthritis function may be mediated by MMPs. Arthritis-inhibiting effects of TIMP-4 may suggest a unique application of this gene therapy method for arthritis. [source]

    Evaluation of zinc level in skin of patients with necrolytic acral erythema

    BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2010
    H.A.M. Moneib
    Summary Background, Necrolytic acral erythema (NAE) is considered a cutaneous sign of hepatitis C virus infection. Its exact pathogenesis is still not fully understood, with some reports about decreased serum zinc levels but none about its level in the skin. Objectives, To assess skin (lesional and perilesional) and serum zinc levels in patients with NAE and compare them with levels in control subjects. Methods, Fifteen patients with NAE and 10 healthy controls were included in this study. Assessment of zinc level, in serum by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry and in lesional and perilesional skin biopsies by flame atomic absorption spectrometry, was done in all subjects. Re-evaluation of serum and lesional skin zinc level was done after oral zinc treatment. Results, Mean ± SD zinc levels were significantly lower in patients (serum 0·44 ± 0·13 mg L,1; lesional skin 42·6 ± 18·9 mg L,1; perilesional skin 32·5 ± 17·2 mg L,1) than controls (serum 1·17 ± 0·29 mg L,1; skin 100·1 ± 2·77 mg L,1), with a positive correlation between lesional and perilesional skin zinc (r = 0·91, P < 0·01). Oral zinc supplementation significantly increased serum and skin zinc levels (by 159% and 4%, respectively; P < 0·05). Conclusions, NAE is associated with decreased serum and skin zinc levels. Oral zinc supplementation corrects decreased levels of plasma and skin zinc much earlier than the desired clinical benefits appear. [source]