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Serum Parameters (serum + parameter)
Selected AbstractsChanges in selected serum parameters of broiler chicken fed supplemental chromiumJOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 11-12 2004B. Króliczewska Summary The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of chromium (Cr) from Cr yeast on the growth performance and total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, total protein and Cr concentration in the serum of broiler chicken. The birds were fed a control diet or a control diet supplemented with Cr at a level of 300, 500 ,g/kg Cr. The supplementation of 500 ,g/kg Cr increased body weight, weight gain and feed efficiency (p < 0.05). In addition, supplementation with Cr decreased the serum total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (p < 0.05), triglycerides (p < 0.05) and glucose (p < 0.05) concentrations whereas serum HDL cholesterol increased. Serum total protein and serum Cr concentration slightly but not significantly increased in both Cr groups. The study suggest that Cr supplementation particularly at 500 ,g/kg Cr from Cr yeast can influence on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism of broiler chicken and can be used as additives in animal diet but it still needs more investigations. [source] Infliximab improves inflammation and anthropometric measures in pediatric Crohn's diseaseJOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 4 2010Daniel M Sinitsky Abstract Background and Aim:, Infliximab (IFX) is a monoclonal antibody licensed to treat medically refractory Crohn's disease (CD). Our aim was to elucidate the effects of IFX therapy on clinical, growth and serum parameters in children with CD in a single pediatric center in Sydney, Australia. Methods:, A retrospective case series review of children treated with IFX for CD at Sydney Children's Hospital, Australia was undertaken, with a review of outcomes after starting IFX. Main outcome measures were response and remission (as measured according to improvements in Pediatric Crohn's Disease Activity Index scores and Physician Global Assessment), laboratory markers (C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, hemoglobin, white cell count, lymphocytes, neutrophils, platelets, albumin) and growth (Z scores). Results:, The 16 patients included had a mean age at first infusion of 13.0 years (1.25,17.5 years). Six of 12 patients (with adequate data available) were in remission at 2 weeks following the first infusion. At 1 year, 10 of 12 patients (83%) were in remission. Mean C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate had fallen significantly (P < 0.05) at 2 weeks (from 29 to 7 mg/L and 40 to 19 mm/h, respectively). Positive trends were observed for all other parameters, excluding lymphocytes and white cell count. At 1 year, mean Z score for body mass index improved significantly from ,0.9 to ,0.1 (P < 0.01). Conclusions:, Disease activity subsides in most children treated with IFX for CD. IFX therapy also improves some growth parameters. The pattern of improvement requires further elucidation, as the results in the present study suggest differing dosing frequency of infusion may achieve better efficacy. [source] Role of neutrophils in sinusoidal endothelial cell injury after extensive hepatectomy in cholestatic ratsJOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 8 2000Masayuki Ohtsuka Abstract Background and Aims: The authors have shown previously that sinusoidal endothelial cell injury developed concomitantly with the accumulation of neutrophils in the hepatic sinusoidal space in cholestatic rats after extensive hepatectomy. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of neutrophils in the development of this kind of endothelial cell injury. Methods: Rats underwent 78% partial hepatectomy after 2 weeks of cholestasis, and subsequent external biliary drainage for 5 days. To decrease the number of neutrophils, antirat neutrophil serum was administered intraperitoneally. Some serum parameters and histological specimens were examined 48 h after partial hepatectomy. Results: Anti-neutrophil serum significantly reduced the number of accumulated neutrophils in the hepatic sinusoids. Although the purine nucleoside phosphorylase : alanine aminotransferase ratio, a marker of non-parenchymal cell injury, was increased in cholestatic-hepatectomized rats, this abnormality was significantly attenuated by the treatment with antineutrophil serum. Electron microscopically, focal detachment of cytoplasms of sinusoidal endothelial cells was observed occasionally in cholestatic-hepatectomized rats, but was not found in the antirat neutrophil serum-treated rats. Conclusion: These results indicate that accumulated neutrophils might be important effector cells in the pathogenesis of sinusoidal endothelial cell injury after extensive hepatectomy in cholestatic rats, even after appropriate external biliary drainage. [source] The effect of long-term streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus (STZ-DM) on cynomolgus (Macaca Fascicularis) monkeysJOURNAL OF MEDICAL PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2009D. Wu Abstract Background, This study aimed to retrospectively analyze the effect of long-term streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus (STZ-DM) on adolescent cynomolgus monkeys. Methods, A total of 12 monkeys (six STZ-DM and six controls) were monitored for fasting glucose levels and locomotor activities, tested for hematological and serum parameters, measured for body weight and somatometric values. Results, Fasting glucose was maintained at high levels in STZ-DM monkeys. At the age when normal adolescent monkeys dramatically increased their weight, STZ-DM led to the retardation of weight increase in diabetic monkeys. Moreover, STZ-DM monkeys showed abnormal lipid levels and somatometric measurements. In locomotor activity test, STZ-DM monkeys were more active than control ones. Conclusions, Long-term STZ-DM disrupts the normal growth of young monkeys and interferes with some aspects of hormone, lipid metabolism and physical activities. Mean plasma glucose (MPG) appeared to be an important factor in physical activity abnormalities of STZ-DM monkeys. [source] Effects of insulin-mimetic vanadyl-poly(,-glutamic acid) complex on diabetic rat modelJOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 7 2010Rongzhang Hu Abstract Poly-,-glutamic acid (,-PGA) prepared by fermentation of microbe was used as drug carrier for vanadium sulfate to obtain vanadyl-poly-,-glutamic acid (VO-,-PGA) complex. The FI-IR spectrum of the complex demonstrated that the expected VO-,-PGA complex is formed by the coordination of VO2+ through the side chain carboxylic groups of the ,-PGA. Studies of the complex in treating type I diabetes were carried out on alloxan induced diabetes rats. The results of treating the rats in 2 weeks and then stopping administration for 10 days showed that VO-,-PGA can effectively lower blood glucose levels of diabetic rats during administration. But after ceasing treatment there were no differences between groups in blood glucose level and water intake. The results of oral glucose tolerance and some serum parameters also demonstrated that VO-,-PGA was more effective than vanadium sulfate in treating diabetic rats. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 99:3041,3047, 2010 [source] Melatonin reduces uranium-induced nephrotoxicity in ratsJOURNAL OF PINEAL RESEARCH, Issue 1 2007Montserrat Bellés Abstract:, The protective role of exogenous melatonin on U-induced nephrotoxicity was investigated in rats. Animals were given single doses of uranyl acetate dihydrate (UAD) at 5 mg/kg (subcutaneous), melatonin at 10 or 20 mg/kg (intraperitoneal), and UAD (5 mg/kg) plus melatonin (10 or 20 mg/kg), or vehicle (control group). In comparison with the UAD-treated group only, significant beneficial changes were noted in some urinary and serum parameters of rats concurrently exposed to UAD and melatonin. The increase of U excretion after UAD administration was accompanied by a significant reduction in the renal content of U when melatonin was given at a dose of 20 mg/kg. Melatonin also reduced the severity of the U-induced histological alterations in kidney. In renal tissue, the activity of the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels increased significantly as a result of UAD exposure. Following UAD administration, oxidative stress markers in erythrocytes showed a reduction in SOD activity and an increase in TBARS levels, which were significantly restored by melatonin administration. In plasma, reduced glutathione (GSH) and its oxidized form (GSSG) were also altered in UAD-exposed rats. However, only the GSSG/GSH ratio was restored to control levels after melatonin treatment. Oxidative damage was observed in kidneys. Melatonin administration partially restored these adverse effects. It is concluded that melatonin offers some benefit as a potential agent to treat acute U-induced nephrotoxicity. [source] Composition, nutritional aspects and effect on serum parameters of marine algae Ulva rigidaJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 3 2010Cristina Taboada Abstract BACKGROUND: Algae are commonly consumed in Asia and have also gained popularity in Europe. However, data on the bioavailability of their components are limited. The present study was designed to determine the composition of Ulva rigida and the effects of inclusion of 10% of the algae in a standard diet for 4 weeks on nutritive value and serum parameters in order to consider the usefulness of Ulva as a dietary supplement. RESULTS:Ulva rigida is rich in protein, carbohydrates, fibre, vitamins and minerals and has a low lipid content. Analysis of the amino acid composition revealed good-quality protein. The algae were well accepted by experimental animals and did not significantly change nutritional parameters but reduced LDL cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS:Ulva rigida is an excellent source of nutrients and could improve a balanced diet. Further studies are required to research the potential of the seaweed as a natural source of bioactive compounds. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Influence of HFE gene polymorphism on the progression and treatment of chronic hepatitis CJOURNAL OF VIRAL HEPATITIS, Issue 2 2004P. Lebray Summary., We analysed liver histology findings in a large cohort of patients with chronic hepatitis C and in roughly half of them their response to interferon- , -based on iron parameters and HFE status. Histological activity and virological response to antiviral therapy (n = 146) were analysed in 273 immunocompetent and nonalcoholic patients with chronic hepatitis C, in terms of serum iron load, intrahepatic iron load (n = 110) and HFE mutations. Patients who were heterozygous for the C282Y and H63D mutations exhibited higher iron serum parameters than subjects without these mutations. The intrahepatic iron load was higher in H63D patients only. No association was observed between HFE mutations and histological activity. Increased iron parameters were associated with liver disease severity by univariate analysis only. Genotype 1 and ferritinaemia were associated with a poor response to antiviral therapy, whereas the H63D mutation emerged as a positive predictive factor for end of treatment and sustained antiviral response. Therefore, in chronic hepatitis C patients serum and intrahepatic iron levels were weakly correlated with histological activity, while HFE mutations were not. As for the response to interferon- ,, elevated ferritinaemia constituted a negative predictive factor whereas the H63D mutation was a positive one. The H63D mutation might form part of an immunogenetic profile influencing the response to interferon therapy. [source] Serum pepsinogen and gastrin levels in HIV-positive patients: relationship with CD4+ cell count and Helicobacter pylori infectionALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 4 2002P. Fabris Background: The relationship between serum parameters of gastric function and Helicobacter pylori infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients is almost unknown. Aims: To investigate in HIV-infected patients: (i) the relationship between serum gastrin and serum pepsinogens over the progressive phases of HIV-related disease; (ii) the impact of H. pylori infection on gastrin and pepsinogen serum levels and its relation to antral histology; (iii) the prevalence of parietal cell autoantibodies. Methods: Fifty-nine HIV-positive patients were studied by upper endoscopy plus gastric antral biopsy. Serum samples were tested for gastrin, pepsinogen A, pepsinogen C and parietal cell autoantibodies. Results: In patients without overt acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), or with a CD4+ count of > 100 × 106 cells/L, mean serum levels of gastrin and pepsinogen C were higher than in subjects with AIDS or with a CD4+ count of < 100 × 106 cells/L (P < 0.01). Only one patient was found to be positive for parietal cell autoantibodies. H. pylori infection was associated with increased values of gastrin and pepsinogen C only in HIV-positive patients without AIDS or with a CD4+ count of > 100 × 106 cells/L. Atrophy was more frequent in patients with overt AIDS than in those without overt AIDS (57% vs. 33%, P=N.S.), and/or in patients with a CD4+ count of < 100 × 106 cells/L than in those with a CD4+ count of > 100 × 106 cells/L (62% vs. 26%, P < 0.05). Conclusions: HIV-positive patients without overt AIDS have increased serum levels of gastrin and pepsinogen C compared with HIV-positive patients with overt AIDS. [source] Ability of low-molecular-weight heparin to alleviate proteinuria by inhibiting respiratory syncytial virus infectionNEPHROLOGY, Issue 7 2008YANNAN GUO SUMMARY: Aim: Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is a negatively charged glycoprotein and has a very similar structure to that of cell surface heparin sulfate (HS). Thus, LMWH, an analog of HS, may inhibit positively charged respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection through cooperative electrostatic association. Methods: In this study, rats were respectively treated with 400 IU/kg LMWH before, during or after being inoculated with 6 × 106 plaque-forming unit (PFU) RSV. RSV and normal control groups were respectively inoculated by RSV and virus-free Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM). HeLa cells in vitro were pretreated with LMWH, elastase (ELA), heparinase (HpaIII) and protamine before being inoculated with 6 × 101 PFU RSV. RSV infectivity was determined by in situ hybridization and plaque assay. Results: After inoculation, the urinary protein excretion and serum parameters in LMWH-treated rats were significantly lower than those in the RSV group. No abnormalities of glomerular structure were observed in LMWH-treated groups whereas swelling and slight hypercellularity in minority glomeruli and foot process effacement were observed in the RSV group. RSV RNA of LMWH-treated rats had weaker expression than that of the RSV group. In vitro, RSV infection in RSV + LMWH, HpaIII + ELAI, protamine + ELAI, ELAI, HpaIII and protamine treatment cells were significantly lower than that of the RSV control, and that in RSV + LMWH was the least. There were no significant differences in RSV infection between ELAI + LMWH and RSV control. Conclusion: Our study confirmed that there is a correlation between RSV and proteinuria in rats. LMWH can alleviate proteinuria in rats through inhibiting RSV from binding with HS which plays an important role in the onset of RSV infection. [source] Population screening for fetal trisomy 21: easy access to screening should be balanced against a uniform ultrasound protocolPRENATAL DIAGNOSIS, Issue 11 2005Wilfried J. A. Gyselaers Abstract Objectives To evaluate the performance of a first-trimester fetal aneuploidy screening program, with a documented underestimation of nuchal translucency thickness measurements (NT) compared to the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) reference range. Methods We analysed the data of Algemeen Medisch Laboratorium (AML) in Antwerp, Belgium, on combined screening with pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), free ,-human chorionic gonadotropin (FB-hCG) and NT. NT-multiples of the median (MoM), relative to the FMF reference range, were used for risk calculations. Results The proportion of first-trimester screening tests in the total of serum screening tests increased from 1.3% (125/9424) in 2000 to 53.1% (6577/12 377) in 2003. Only 11.4% (1514/13 267) of NT measurements were performed according to FMF criteria. The 80.8% (21/26) trisomy 21 (T21) detection rate (DR) at cut off 1:300 resulted from maternal serum screening. NT measurements did not add to this DR, but reduced the false-positive rate from 16.8% (2212/13181) to 8.6% (1130/13181). Only 23.8% (5/21) of T21 detections were by FMF trainees. Conclusion Easy access to screening and maternal serum parameters accounted for the majority of T21 detections in our first-trimester combined screening program. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Effect of weaning on behavior and serum parameters in dairy goat kidsANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, Issue 4 2008Cengiz ATASOGLU ABSTRACT This study aimed at investigating the effects of weaning kids abruptly at an average of 55 ± 13 days of age on intake, behavioral and serum parameters and, lasted for a total of six weeks; two weeks pre-weaning and four weeks post-weaning. Sixteen single kids with equal gender were used. Kids were only allowed to stay with their mothers for suckling (45 min/period) both in the morning and in the evening period during pre-weaning. Grower concentrate and hay were offered ad libitum. The duration of the study was divided into three periods for the sampling of behavioral and serum parameters; (i) pre-weaning period lasting for two weeks (P-BW) (ii) early post-weaning period lasting for one week (P-AW1) and (iii) late post-weaning period lasting for three weeks (P-AW2). Daily weight gain of kids gradually decreased as the observation period progressed (P = 0.001). However concentrate feed intake increased from 0.154 kg/day in P-BW to 0.479 kg/day in P-AW1 and 0.499 kg/day in P-AW2. Water intake, rumination and standing behaviors decreased in P-AW2 (P < 0.001), whereas activity towards concentrate feed (CF) (P < 0.001) and roughage (P = 0.012) increased as compared to P-BW and P-AW1. Abnormal oral activity was not affected by the periods (P = 0.906). CF was significantly higher in females (P = 0.003), whereas males displayed higher lying behavior (P = 0.007). Glucose, total protein, urea, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol concentrations (P = 0.001) and ALP activity (P = 0.003) were significantly affected by the periods. The results of the present study suggest that behavioral and serum parameters across the periods describe changes in the nutritional conditions as a result of the transition from milk to solid feed in association with weaning. [source] Mycobacterium vaccae administration during allergen sensitization or challenge suppresses asthmatic featuresCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 8 2003J. J. Smit Summary Background and objective The hygiene hypothesis suggests that a lack of bacterial infections would favour the development of allergic disease. For this reason, bacteria or their components can be used as potential treatment for allergic asthma. We investigated whether heat-killed Mycobacterium vaccae is either able to suppress the induction of allergic asthma or able to suppress already established allergic asthma. Methods Mice were sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA)/alum on days 0 and 14. Thereafter, mice were challenged on days 35, 39 and 42 by inhalation of either OVA or saline aerosols. M. vaccae -treated mice received an injection with 106, 107 or 108 CFU heat-killed M. vaccae on days 0 and 14 or 107 CFU on days 35 and 39. On day 43, the airway responsiveness of the mice to increasing concentrations of methacholine was assessed, blood was withdrawn to measure serum parameters, and lung lavage was performed to detect cytokines and inflammatory cell number. Results Treatment of OVA-sensitized mice with 107 CFU M. vaccae either during sensitization or challenge suppresses airway hyper-responsiveness, airway eosinophilia and IL-5 production after OVA challenge. The increases in OVA-specific serum IgE and in IL-4 by respiratory challenges with OVA were only diminished after M. vaccae treatment (107 CFU) during sensitization. Conclusions Heat-killed M. vaccae prevents allergic and asthmatic manifestations in a mouse model and, more importantly, M. vaccae treatment during challenge suppresses features of asthma, which opens up possibilities for new therapeutic interventions. [source] | ||||||||||||||||