Sample records for high-normal plasma fibrinogen

  1. Human plasma fibrinogen adsorption and platelet adhesion to polystyrene.

    PubMed

    Tsai, W B; Grunkemeier, J M; Horbett, T A

    1999-02-01

    The purpose of this study was to further investigate the role of fibrinogen adsorbed from plasma in mediating platelet adhesion to polymeric biomaterials. Polystyrene was used as a model hydrophobic polymer; i.e., we expected that the role of fibrinogen in platelet adhesion to polystyrene would be representative of other hydrophobic polymers. Platelet adhesion was compared to both the amount and conformation of adsorbed fibrinogen. The strategy was to compare platelet adhesion to surfaces preadsorbed with normal, afibrinogenemic, and fibrinogen-replenished afibrinogenemic plasmas. Platelet adhesion was determined by the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) method, which was found to be closely correlated with adhesion of 111In-labeled platelets. Fibrinogen adsorption from afibrinogenemic plasma to polystyrene (Immulon I(R)) was low and <10 ng/cm2. Platelet adhesion was absent on surfaces preadsorbed with afibrinogenemic plasma when the residual fibrinogen was low enough (<60 microg/mL). Platelet adhesion was restored on polystyrene preadsorbed with fibrinogen-replenished afibrinogenemic plasma. Addition of even small, subnormal concentrations of fibrinogen to afibrinogenemic plasma greatly increased platelet adhesion. In addition, surface-bound fibrinogen's ability to mediate platelet adhesion was different, depending on the plasma concentration from which fibrinogen was adsorbed. These differences correlated with changes in the binding of a monoclonal antibody that binds to the Aalpha chain RGDS (572-575), suggesting alteration in the conformation or orientation of the adsorbed fibrinogen. Platelet adhesion to polystyrene preadsorbed with blood plasma thus appears to be a strongly bivariate function of adsorbed fibrinogen, responsive to both low amounts and altered states of the adsorbed molecule. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

  2. Plasma Fibrinogen in Patients With Bell Palsy.

    PubMed

    Zhao, Hua; Zhang, Xin; Tang, Yinda; Li, Shiting

    2016-10-01

    To determine the plasma fibrinogen level in patients with Bell palsy and explore the significances of it in Bell palsy. One hundred five consecutive patients with facial paralysis were divided into 3 groups: group I (Bell palsy), group II (temporal bone fractures), and group III (facial nerve schwannoma). In addition, 22 volunteers were defined as control group. Two milliliters fasting venous blood from elbow was collected, and was evaluated by CA-7000 Full-Automatic Coagulation Analyzer. The plasma fibrinogen concentration was significantly higher in the group of patients with Bell palsy (HB IV-VI) than that in the control group (P <0.05). There was no significant difference between group II and control group (P >0.05); similarly, there was also no marked difference between group III and control group (P >0.05). In group I, the plasma fibrinogen levels became higher with the HB grading increase. The plasma fibrinogen level of HB-VI was highest. Plasma fibrinogen has an important clinical meaning in Bell palsy, which should be used as routine examination items. Defibrinogen in treatment for patients with high plasma fibrinogen content also should be suggested.

  3. Fibrinogen Reduction During Selective Plasma Exchange due to Membrane Fouling.

    PubMed

    Ohkubo, Atsushi; Okado, Tomokazu; Miyamoto, Satoko; Hashimoto, Yurie; Komori, Shigeto; Yamamoto, Motoki; Maeda, Takuma; Itagaki, Ayako; Yamamoto, Hiroko; Seshima, Hiroshi; Kurashima, Naoki; Iimori, Soichiro; Naito, Shotaro; Sohara, Eisei; Uchida, Shinichi; Rai, Tatemitsu

    2017-06-01

    Fibrinogen is substantially reduced by most plasmapheresis modalities but retained in selective plasma exchange using Evacure EC-4A10 (EC-4A). Although EC-4A's fibrinogen sieving coefficient is 0, a session of selective plasma exchange reduced fibrinogen by approximately 19%. Here, we investigated sieving coefficient in five patients. When the mean processed plasma volume was 1.15 × plasma volume, the mean reduction of fibrinogen during selective plasma exchange was approximately 15%. Fibrinogen sieving coefficient was 0 when the processed plasma volume was 1.0 L, increasing to 0.07 when the processed plasma volume was 3.0 L, with a mean of 0.03 during selective plasma exchange. When fibrinogen sieving coefficient was 0, selective plasma exchange reduced fibrinogen by approximately 10%. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed internal fouling of EC-4A's hollow fiber membrane by substances such as fibrinogen fibrils. Thus, fibrinogen reduction by selective plasma exchange may be predominantly caused by membrane fouling rather than filtration. © 2017 International Society for Apheresis, Japanese Society for Apheresis, and Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy.

  4. Association between job characteristics and plasma fibrinogen in a normal working population: a cross sectional analysis in referents of the SHEEP Study. Stockholm Heart Epidemiology Program.

    PubMed

    Tsutsumi, A; Theorell, T; Hallqvist, J; Reuterwall, C; de Faire, U

    1999-06-01

    To explore the association between job characteristics and plasma fibrinogen concentrations. Cross sectional design. The Greater Stockholm area. A total of 1018 men and 490 women aged 45-70 who were randomly selected from the general population during 1992-1994. They were all employed and had no history of myocardial infarction. The self reported job characteristics were measured by a Swedish version of the Karasek demand-control questionnaire. For inferred scoring of job characteristics, psychosocial exposure categories (job control and psychological demands) were assigned by linking each subject's occupational history with a work organisation exposure matrix. Job strain was defined as the ratio between demands and control. In univariate analyses, expected linear trends were found in three of four tests of association between high plasma fibrinogen and low control (the self reported score for women and the inferred score for both sexes), in one of four tests of association between high plasma fibrinogen and high demands (the inferred score for women) and in two of four tests of association between high plasma fibrinogen and job strain (the inferred score for both sexes). Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that men in the inferred job strain group have an increased risk of falling into the increased plasma fibrinogen concentration group (above median level of the distribution) (odds ratio (OR) 1.2; 95% CI 1.0, 1.5) after adjustment for the variables that were associated with plasma fibrinogen in the univariate analyses. In women, low self reported control, high inferred demand, and inferred job strain were significantly associated with increased plasma fibrinogen concentration (OR 1.3; 95% CI 1.0, 1.8, OR 1.5; 95% CI 1.0, 2.2, OR 1.5; 95% CI 1.1, 2.2, respectively). These results indicate that adverse job characteristics may be related to plasma fibrinogen concentrations and this relation is more relevant in female workers. The clearest evidence for

  5. Fibrinogen Brescia

    PubMed Central

    Brennan, Stephen O.; Wyatt, Jane; Medicina, Daniela; Callea, Francesco; George, Peter M.

    2000-01-01

    The proposita suffered from liver cirrhosis and biopsy showed type 1 membrane-bound fiberglass inclusions. The hepatic inclusion bodies were weakly periodic acid-Schiff diastase-positive, and on immunoperoxidase staining reacted specifically with anti-fibrinogen antisera. Coagulation investigations revealed low functional and antigenic fibrinogen together with a prolonged thrombin time of 37 seconds (normal, 17 to 22 seconds) suggestive of a hypodysfibrinogenemia. DNA sequencing of all three fibrinogen genes showed a single heterozygous mutation of GGG (Gly)→CGG (Arg) at codon 284 of the γ-chain gene. However, examination of purified fibrinogen chains by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, ion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography, and isoelectric focusing, failed to show any evidence of the mutant γBr chain in plasma fibrinogen. This finding was substantiated by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, which showed only a normal γ (and Bβ) chain mass, but a large increase in the portion of their disialo isoforms. We speculate that misfolding of the variant protein causes hepatic retention and the subsequent hypofibrinogenemia, and that the functional defect (dysfibrinogenemia) results from hypersialylation of otherwise normal Bβ and γ chains consequent to the liver cirrhosis. These conclusions were supported by studies on six other family members with hypofibrinogenemia, and essentially normal clotting times, who were heterozygous for the γ284 Gly→Arg mutation. PMID:10880389

  6. Association between job characteristics and plasma fibrinogen in a normal working population: a cross sectional analysis in referents of the SHEEP Study. Stockholm Heart Epidemiology Program

    PubMed Central

    Tsutsumi, A.; Theorell, T.; Hallqvist, J.; Reuterwall, C.; de Faire, U.

    1999-01-01

    STUDY OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between job characteristics and plasma fibrinogen concentrations. DESIGN: Cross sectional design. SETTING: The Greater Stockholm area. SUBJECTS: A total of 1018 men and 490 women aged 45-70 who were randomly selected from the general population during 1992-1994. They were all employed and had no history of myocardial infarction. MAIN RESULTS: The self reported job characteristics were measured by a Swedish version of the Karasek demand-control questionnaire. For inferred scoring of job characteristics, psychosocial exposure categories (job control and psychological demands) were assigned by linking each subject's occupational history with a work organisation exposure matrix. Job strain was defined as the ratio between demands and control. In univariate analyses, expected linear trends were found in three of four tests of association between high plasma fibrinogen and low control (the self reported score for women and the inferred score for both sexes), in one of four tests of association between high plasma fibrinogen and high demands (the inferred score for women) and in two of four tests of association between high plasma fibrinogen and job strain (the inferred score for both sexes). Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that men in the inferred job strain group have an increased risk of falling into the increased plasma fibrinogen concentration group (above median level of the distribution) (odds ratio (OR) 1.2; 95% CI 1.0, 1.5) after adjustment for the variables that were associated with plasma fibrinogen in the univariate analyses. In women, low self reported control, high inferred demand, and inferred job strain were significantly associated with increased plasma fibrinogen concentration (OR 1.3; 95% CI 1.0, 1.8, OR 1.5; 95% CI 1.0, 2.2, OR 1.5; 95% CI 1.1, 2.2, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that adverse job characteristics may be related to plasma fibrinogen concentrations and this

  7. Two novel fibrinogen variants in the C-terminus of the Bβ-chain: fibrinogen Rokycany and fibrinogen Znojmo.

    PubMed

    Kotlín, Roman; Reicheltová, Zuzana; Suttnar, Jirí; Salaj, Peter; Hrachovinová, Ingrid; Riedel, Tomás; Malý, Martin; Oravec, Milan; Kvasnicka, Jan; Dyr, Jan Evangelista

    2010-10-01

    Hereditary dysfibrinogenemia is a rare disorder wherein an inherited abnormality in fibrinogen structure may result in defective fibrin function and/or structure. Congenital hypofibrinogenemia is a rare autosomal bleeding disorder, either recessive or dominant, characterized by a low fibrinogen plasma level. A 28-year-old asymptomatic woman (fibrinogen Rokycany) and a 54-year-old man with thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (fibrinogen Znojmo) were investigated for a suspected fibrinogen mutation after abnormal coagulation tests results were obtained. DNA sequencing showed the heterozygous point mutation Bβ Asn351Lys in fibrinogen Rokycany and the heterozygous point mutation Bβ Arg237Ser in fibrinogen Znojmo, respectively. The kinetics of fibrinopeptide release was found to be normal in both cases. Fibrinolysis was impaired in the Znojmo variant. The average fibril diameters of Znojmo fibrin was slightly increased, but not differing significantly from normal; formed by less fibrils with abrupt fibril terminations. Rheological studies revealed a softer clot. Rokycany fibrin was formed by significantly narrower fibrils than normal fibrin; and the clot was denser than the control clot. Rheological studies revealed a stiffer clot. Impaired fibrinolysis and abnormal clot morphology may be the cause of thrombotic episodes in the patient with Znojmo mutation. New cases of hypofibrinogenemia and dysfibrinogenemia, found by routine coagulation testing, were genetically identified as a novel fibrinogen variants Bβ Asn351Lys (fibrinogen Rokycany) and Bβ Arg237Ser (fibrinogen Znojmo), respectively.

  8. Clinical and Prognostic Effect of Plasma Fibrinogen in Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Meta-Analysis.

    PubMed

    Tian, Yuejun; Hong, Mei; Jing, Suoshi; Liu, Xingchen; Wang, Hanzhang; Wang, Xinping; Kaushik, Dharam; Rodriguez, Ronald; Wang, Zhiping

    2017-01-01

    Background . Although numerous studies have shown that plasma fibrinogen is linked to renal cell carcinoma (RCC) risk, the consistency and magnitude of the effect of plasma fibrinogen are unclear. The aim of the study was to explore the association between plasma fibrinogen and RCC prognosis. Methods . An electronic search of Embase, PubMed/MEDLINE, and the Cochrane databases was performed to identify relevant studies published prior to June 1, 2016. Results . A total of 3744 patients with RCC from 7 published studies were included in the meta-analysis. The prognostic and clinical relevance of plasma fibrinogen are evaluated in RCC patients. Statistical significance of the combined hazard ratio (HR) was detected for overall survival, cancer-specific survival, and disease-free survival. Our pooled results showed that elevated plasma fibrinogen was significantly associated with clinical stage and Fuhrman grading. The level of plasma fibrinogen was not found to be associated with tumor type and gender. Conclusions . Elevated plasma fibrinogen is a strong indicator of poorer prognosis of patients with RCC, whereas the plasma fibrinogen is not significantly associated with tumor type. Therefore, plasma fibrinogen could be used in patients with RCC for risk stratification and decision providing a proper therapeutic strategy.

  9. Plasma circulating fibrinogen stability and moderate beer consumption.

    PubMed

    Gorinstein, Shela; Caspi, Abraham; Zemser, Marina; Libman, Imanuel; Goshev, Ivan; Trakhtenberg, Simon

    2003-12-01

    MODERATE BEER CONSUMPTION (MBC) IS CARDIOPROTECTIVE: it positively influences plasma lipid levels and plasma antioxidant activity in beer-consuming individuals. The connection between MBC and blood coagulation is not clearly defined. Forty-two volunteers were equally divided into experimental (EG) and control (CG) groups following coronary bypass surgery. For 30 consecutive days, only patients of the EG consumed 330 mL of beer per day (about 20 g of alcohol). A comprehensive clinical investigation of 42 patients was done. Blood samples were collected before and after the investigation for a wide range of laboratory tests. The plasma fibrinogen was denatured with 8 M urea and intrinsic fluorescence (IF), hydrophobicity and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to reveal possible qualitative changes. After 30 days of moderate beer consumption, positive changes in the plasma lipid levels, plasma anticoagulant and plasma antioxidant activities were registered in patients of the EG group. In 17 out of 21 patients of the same group, differences in plasma circulating fibrinogen's (PCF), secondary and tertiary structures were found. The stability of fibrinogen, expressed in thermodynamic parameters, has shown that the loosening of the structure takes place under ethanol and urea denaturation. Also fluorescence stability of PCF was decreased. No changes in the lipid levels, anticoagulant and antioxidant activity or changes in PCF were detected in patients of CG. In conclusion, for the first time after a short term of moderate beer consumption some qualitative changes in the plasma circulating fibrinogen were detected: differences in the emission peak response, fluorescence intensity and all thermodynamic data. Together, with the decrease in the PCF concentration it may lead to an elevation of the blood anticoagulant activity.

  10. Prognostic value of plasma fibrinogen levels in patients with localized upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Tanaka, Nobuyuki; Kikuchi, Eiji; Matsumoto, Kazuhiro; Hayakawa, Nozomi; Ide, Hiroki; Miyajima, Akira; Nakamura, So; Oya, Mototsugu

    2013-05-01

    WHAT'S KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT? AND WHAT DOES THE STUDY ADD?: Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is relatively uncommon, accounting for only ~5% of urothelial malignancies and 10% of all renal tumours. Radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) with bladder cuff excision is the surgical standard of care for treating localized UTUC, but the prognosis for patients who undergo RNU remains poor. Evidence suggests that an interactive relationship exists between haemostatic factors and tumour biology. A number of procoagulant and fibrinolytic factors have been found to be overexpressed in tumours. One of these factors is plasma fibrinogen. Recent studies have shown that elevated pre-therapeutic plasma fibrinogen levels are associated with worse outcome in various malignancies; however, the prognostic value of plasma fibrinogen levels for UTUC has not yet been reported. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper to evaluate the prognostic impact of preoperative plasma fibrinogen levels in patients with localized UTUC treated surgically. We believe that the present results may assist in decision-making with respect to the need for lymph node dissection and neoadjuvant chemotherapy. To investigate the prognostic value of plasma fibrinogen levels as a predictor of patient outcome in upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). A total of 218 patients who underwent radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for localized UTUC (pTa-4N0M0) were identified between 1995 and 2009. The association between preoperative plasma fibrinogen levels and clinicopathological variables was analysed. Forty-five patients experienced tumour recurrence, and 36 died from disease during the mean follow-up of 51 months. The mean (sd) preoperative plasma fibrinogen level was 362 (103) mg/dL. Kaplan-Meier curves showed that subsequent tumour recurrence was strongly predicted in patients with preoperative plasma fibrinogen levels ≥450 mg/dL, and similar results were observed for cancer-specific survival. On

  11. Randomised clinical trial of an intensive intervention in the primary care setting of patients with high plasma fibrinogen in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    Background We have studied the possible effects of an intensive lifestyle change program on plasma fibrinogen levels, in patients with no cardiovascular disease, with elevated levels of fibrinogen, normal cholesterol levels, and a moderate estimated risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and we have also analysed whether the effect on fibrinogen is independent of the effect on lipids. Results This clinical trial was controlled, unblinded and randomized, with parallel groups, done in 13 Basic Health Areas (BHA) in l'Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona) and Barcelona city. The study included 436 patients, aged between 35 and 75 years, with no cardiovascular disease, elevated levels of fibrinogen (> 300 mg/dl), cholesterol < 250 mg/dl, 218 of whom received a more intensive intervention consisting of advice on lifestyle and treatment. The follow-up frequency of the intervention group was every 2 months. The other 218 patients followed their standard care in the BHAs. Fibrinogen, plasma cholesterol and other clinical biochemistry parameters were assessed. The evaluation of the baseline characteristics of the patients showed that both groups were homogenous. Obesity and hypertension were the most prevalent risk factors. After 24 months of the study, statistically significant changes were seen between the adjusted means of the two groups, for the following parameters: fibrinogen, plasma cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and body mass index. Conclusion Intensive intervention to achieve lifestyle changes has shown to be effective in reducing some of the estimated CHD factors. However, the effect of intensive intervention on plasma fibrinogen levels did not correlate with the variations in cholesterol. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01089530 PMID:22381072

  12. Relationship between visceral obesity and plasma fibrinogen in obese children.

    PubMed

    Hafez, Mona; El-Masry, Sahar; Musa, Noha; Fathy, Marwa; Hassan, Mona; Hassan, Nayera; El Husseiny, Mohamed; Tareef, Mahmoud

    2016-03-01

    The prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents has increased significantly worldwide with an alarming rise of its co-morbidities. The excess of visceral adipose tissue is associated with hypertension, prothrombotic and pro-inflammatory states. Our aim was to find a possible association between visceral obesity and plasma fibrinogen, as one of the cardiovascular risk factors, in obese children. Forty-three obese children and 40 non-obese controls were studied regarding their history, complete physical examination, anthropometric assessment, body composition analysis, ultrasonographic measurement of visceral adipose tissue and subcutaneous fat as well as laboratory measurement of plasma fibrinogen. Our study revealed significant higher levels of fibrinogen in obese children than controls (14.5+5.1 and 2.9+0.52 mg/mL, respectively) with p-value <0.01. Moreover, the obese group had statistically significant difference in visceral fat (5.96+0.77 cm) and subcutaneous fat (2.66+0.70 cm) than controls (2.45+0.65 and 0.70+0.18 mg/mL, respectively) with p-value <0.01. In addition, fibrinogen had significant positive correlation with body mass index (r=0.327), waist/hip ratio (r=0.394), fat percentage (r=0.301), visceral adipose tissue (r=0.323) and subcutaneous fat (r=0.301). There was highly significant increase in the fibrinogen level, visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat in the obese group with insignificant sex differences. Fibrinogen had a significant positive correlation with the different adiposity markers, blood pressure, visceral and subcutaneous fat. Visceral adipose tissue is a stronger predictor for cardiovascular risk compared to subcutaneous fat.

  13. Fibrinogen blood test

    MedlinePlus

    Serum fibrinogen; Plasma fibrinogen; Factor I; Hypofibrinogenemia test ... Chernecky CC, Berger BJ. Fibrinogen (factor I) - plasma. In: ... Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders; 2013:525. Schmaier AH. Laboratory ...

  14. Fibrinogen Bastia (gamma 318 Asp-->Tyr) a novel abnormal fibrinogen characterized by defective fibrin polymerization.

    PubMed

    Lounes, K C; Soria, C; Valognes, A; Turchini, M F; Soria, J; Koopman, J

    1999-12-01

    A new congenital dysfibrinogen, Fibrinogen Bastia, was discovered in a 20-year-old woman with no clinical symptoms. The plasma thrombin-clotting time was severely prolonged. The functional plasma fibrinogen concentration was low (0.2 mg/ml), whereas the immunological concentration was normal (2.9 mg/ml). Purified fibrinogen Bastia displayed a markedly prolonged thrombin-clotting time related to a delayed thrombin-induced fibrin polymerization. Both the thrombin-clotting time and the fibrin polymerization were partially corrected by the addition of calcium ions. The anomaly of fibrinogen Bastia was found to be located in the gamma-chain since by SDS-PAGE performed according to the method of Laemmli two gamma-chains were detected, one normal and one with an apparently lower molecular weight. Furthermore, analysis of plasmin degradation products demonstrated that calcium ions only partially protect fibrinogen Bastia gamma-chain against plasmin digestion, suggesting that the anomaly is located in the C-terminal part of the gamma-chain. Sequence analysis of PCR-amplified genomic DNA fragments of the propositus demonstrated a single base substitution (G-->T) in the exon VIII of the gamma chain gene, resulting in the amino acid substitution 318 Asp (GAC)-->Tyr (TAC). The PCR clones were recloned and 50% of them contained the mutation, indicating that the patient was heterozygous. These data indicate that residue Asp 318 is important for normal fibrin polymerization and the protective effect of calcium ions against plasmin degradation of the C-terminal part of the gamma-chain.

  15. The preoperative plasma fibrinogen level is an independent prognostic factor for overall survival of breast cancer patients who underwent surgical treatment.

    PubMed

    Wen, Jiahuai; Yang, Yanning; Ye, Feng; Huang, Xiaojia; Li, Shuaijie; Wang, Qiong; Xie, Xiaoming

    2015-12-01

    Previous studies have suggested that plasma fibrinogen contributes to tumor cell proliferation, progression and metastasis. The current study was performed to evaluate the prognostic relevance of preoperative plasma fibrinogen in breast cancer patients. Data of 2073 consecutive breast cancer patients, who underwent surgery between January 2002 and December 2008 at the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, were retrospectively evaluated. Plasma fibrinogen levels were routinely measured before surgeries. Participants were grouped by the cutoff value estimated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Overall survival (OS) was assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis, and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model was performed to evaluate the independent prognostic value of plasma fibrinogen level. The optimal cutoff value of preoperative plasma fibrinogen was determined to be 2.83 g/L. The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients with high fibrinogen levels had shorter OS than patients with low fibrinogen levels (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis suggested preoperative plasma fibrinogen as an independent prognostic factor for OS in breast cancer patients (HR = 1.475, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.177-1.848, p = 0.001). Subgroup analyses revealed that plasma fibrinogen level was an unfavorable prognostic parameter in stage II-III, Luminal subtypes and triple-negative breast cancer patients. Elevated preoperative plasma fibrinogen was independently associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer patients and may serve as a valuable parameter for risk assessment in breast cancer patients. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

  16. Direct detection of fibrinogen in human plasma using electric-double-layer gated AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Regmi, Abiral; Sarangadharan, Indu; Chen, Yen-Wen; Hsu, Chen-Pin; Lee, Geng-Yen; Chyi, Jen-Inn; Shiesh, Shu-Chu; Lee, Gwo-Bin; Wang, Yu-Lin

    2017-08-01

    Fibrinogen found in blood plasma is an important protein biomarker for potentially fatal diseases such as cardiovascular diseases. This study focuses on the development of an assay to detect plasmatic fibrinogen using electrical double layer gated AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor biosensors without complex sample pre-treatment methods used in the traditional assays. The test results in buffer solution and clinical plasma samples show high sensitivity, specificity, and dynamic range. The sensor exhibits an ultra-low detection limit of 0.5 g/l and a detection range of 0.5-4.5 g/l in 1× PBS with 1% BSA. The concentration dependent sensor signal in human serum samples demonstrates the specificity to fibrinogen in a highly dense matrix of background proteins. The sensor does not require complicated automation, and quantitative results are obtained in 5 min with <5 μl sample volume. This sensing technique is ideal for speedy blood based diagnostics such as POC (point of care) tests, homecare tests, or personalized healthcare.

  17. In vitro sealing of iatrogenic fetal membrane defects by a collagen plug imbued with fibrinogen and plasma.

    PubMed

    Engels, A C; Hoylaerts, M F; Endo, M; Loyen, S; Verbist, G; Manodoro, S; DeKoninck, P; Richter, J; Deprest, J A

    2013-02-01

    We aimed to demonstrate local thrombin generation by fetal membranes, as well as its ability to generate fibrin from fibrinogen concentrate. Furthermore, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of collagen plugs, soaked with plasma and fibrinogen, to seal iatrogenic fetal membrane defects. Thrombin generation by homogenized fetal membranes was measured by calibrated automated thrombography. To identify the coagulation caused by an iatrogenic membrane defect, we analyzed fibrin formation by optical densitometry, upon various concentrations of fibrinogen. The ability of a collagen plug soaked with fibrinogen and plasma was tested in an ex vivo model for its ability to seal an iatrogenic fetal membrane defect. Fetal membrane homogenates potently induced thrombin generation in amniotic fluid and diluted plasma. Upon the addition of fibrinogen concentrate, potent fibrin formation was triggered. Measured by densiometry, fibrin formation was optimal at 1250 µg/mL fibrinogen in combination with 4% plasma. A collagen plug soaked with fibrinogen and plasma sealed an iatrogenic membrane defect about 35% better than collagen plugs without these additives (P = 0.037). These in vitro experiments suggest that the addition of fibrinogen and plasma may enhance the sealing efficacy of collagen plugs in closing iatrogenic fetal membrane defects. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  18. Fibrinogen Gamma Chain Mutations Provoke Fibrinogen and Apolipoprotein B Plasma Deficiency and Liver Storage

    PubMed Central

    Callea, Francesco; Giovannoni, Isabella; Sari, Sinan; Guldal, Esendagli; Dalgic, Buket; Akyol, Gulen; Sogo, Tsuyoshi; Al-Hussaini, Abdulrahman; Maggiore, Giuseppe; Bartuli, Andrea; Boldrini, Renata; Francalanci, Paola; Bellacchio, Emanuele

    2017-01-01

    p.R375W (Fibrinogen Aguadilla) is one out of seven identified mutations (Brescia, Aguadilla, Angers, Al du Pont, Pisa, Beograd, and Ankara) causing hepatic storage of the mutant fibrinogen γ. The Aguadilla mutation has been reported in children from the Caribbean, Europe, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and China. All reported children presented with a variable degree of histologically proven chronic liver disease and low plasma fibrinogen levels. In addition, one Japanese and one Turkish child had concomitant hypo-APOB-lipoproteinemia of unknown origin. We report here on an additional child from Turkey with hypofibrinogenemia due to the Aguadilla mutation, massive hepatic storage of the mutant protein, and severe hypo-APOB-lipoproteinemia. The liver biopsy of the patient was studied by light microscopy, electron microscopy (EM), and immunohistochemistry. The investigation included the DNA sequencing of the three fibrinogen and APOB–lipoprotein regulatory genes and the analysis of the encoded protein structures. Six additional Fibrinogen Storage Disease (FSD) patients with either the Aguadilla, Ankara, or Brescia mutations were investigated with the same methodology. A molecular analysis revealed the fibrinogen gamma p.R375W mutation (Aguadilla) but no changes in the APOB and MTTP genes. APOB and MTTP genes showed no abnormalities in the other study cases. Light microscopy and EM studies of liver tissue samples from the child led to the demonstration of the simultaneous accumulation of both fibrinogen and APOB in the same inclusions. Interestingly enough, APOB-containing lipid droplets were entrapped within the fibrinogen inclusions in the hepatocytic Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER). Similar histological, immunohistochemical, EM, and molecular genetics findings were found in the other six FSD cases associated with the Aguadilla, as well as with the Ankara and Brescia mutations. The simultaneous retention of fibrinogen and APOB-lipoproteins in FSD can be detected in

  19. The acute phase reactant, fibrinogen, as a guide to plasma exchange therapy for acute Guillain-Barré syndrome.

    PubMed

    Sanjay, Rashmi; Flanagan, Janice; Sodano, Donata; Gorson, Kenneth C; Ropper, Allan H; Weinstein, Robert

    2006-07-01

    The Guillian Barré syndrome is an acute inflammatory disorder for which plasma exchange is effective treatment. Up to 10% relapse after plasma exchange suggesting that treatment sometimes finishes before disease activity has resolved. We studied whether plasma fibrinogen, an inflammatory marker, might be used to determine when to discontinue plasma exchange in patients with acute Guillain-Barré syndrome. We conducted a post-hoc analysis of apheresis database and hospital records of patients treated with plasma exchange for acute Guillain-Barré syndrome during 1999-2004. Data were analyzed from 28 patients who underwent a total of 29 courses of plasma exchange for acute Guillain-Barré syndrome. The mean (+/-SD) plasma fibrinogen concentration was 422.5 (+/-96.4) mg/dl at the time of presentation and, in 17 of the 29, it was above 400 mg/dl (reference range 200-400). Twenty of the 21 patients whose fibrinogen fell by more than 30% from baseline by the time of the final plasma exchange treatment had neurological improvement. There was improvement in only 3 of the 8 instances where fibrinogen decreased by less than 30% by the end of plasma exchange therapy. A > or =30% decrease in fibrinogen by the conclusion of plasma exchange was significantly associated with sustained neurological improvement (P = 0.0025). The plasma fibrinogen level appears to reflect disease activity in acute Guillain-Barré syndrome. A <30% fall in fibrinogen level despite plasma exchange may indicate the need to continue plasma exchange to maximize the benefit of treatment or minimize the risk of relapse. Therapeutic plasma exchange need not be extended when plasma fibrinogen remains > or =30% below its level at presentation by the time of the final planned plasma exchange procedure.

  20. Fibrin(ogen) mediates acute inflammatory responses to biomaterials

    PubMed Central

    1993-01-01

    Although "biocompatible" polymeric elastomers are generally nontoxic, nonimmunogenic, and chemically inert, implants made of these materials may trigger acute and chronic inflammatory responses. Early interactions between implants and inflammatory cells are probably mediated by a layer of host proteins on the material surface. To evaluate the importance of this protein layer, we studied acute inflammatory responses of mice to samples of polyester terephthalate film (PET) that were implanted intraperitoneally for short periods. Material preincubated with albumin is "passivated," accumulating very few adherent neutrophils or macrophages, whereas uncoated or plasma- coated PET attracts large numbers of phagocytes. Neither IgG adsorption nor surface complement activation is necessary for this acute inflammation; phagocyte accumulation on uncoated implants is normal in hypogammaglobulinemic mice and in severely hypocomplementemic mice. Rather, spontaneous adsorption of fibrinogen appears to be critical: (a) PET coated with serum or hypofibrinogenemic plasma attracts as few phagocytes as does albumin-coated material; (b) in contrast, PET preincubated with serum or hypofibrinogenemic plasma containing physiologic amounts of fibrinogen elicits "normal" phagocyte recruitment; (c) most importantly, hypofibrinogenemic mice do not mount an inflammatory response to implanted PET unless the material is coated with fibrinogen or the animals are injected with fibrinogen before implantation. Thus, spontaneous adsorption of fibrinogen appears to initiate the acute inflammatory response to an implanted polymer, suggesting an interesting nexus between two major iatrogenic effects of biomaterials: clotting and inflammation. PMID:8245787

  1. Two novel mutations in the fibrinogen γ nodule.

    PubMed

    Kotlín, Roman; Pastva, Ondřej; Stikarová, Jana; Hlaváčková, Alžběta; Suttnar, Jiří; Chrastinová, Leona; Riedel, Tomáš; Salaj, Peter; Dyr, Jan E

    2014-10-01

    Congenital dysfibrinogenemia and hypofibrinogenemia are rare diseases characterized by inherited abnormality in the fibrinogen molecule, resulting in functional defects (dysfibrinogenemia) or low fibrinogen plasma levels (hypofibrinogenemia). We have described two abnormal fibrinogens - fibrinogen Hranice (γ Phe204Val) and Praha IV (γ Ser313Gly). The carrier of the Hranice mutation was a 40-year-old female with low fibrinogen levels. The carrier of the Praha IV mutation was a 42-year-old man with a history of idiopathic thrombosis, low functional fibrinogen levels, and a prolonged thrombin time. Fibrin polymerization kinetics measurement was normal in both cases (after the addition of either thrombin or reptilase), as well as was fibrinolysis. Scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy revealed significantly wider fibers in both cases, when compared with fibers prepared from healthy control samples. Although both cases are situated in the γ-nodule, they manifested differently. While the γ Ser313Gly mutation manifested as dysfibrinogenemia with a thrombotic background, the γ Phe204Val mutation manifested as hypofibrinogenemia without clinical symptoms. The mutation sites of both fibrinogens are in highly conserved regions of the fibrinogen γ chains. γ Ser313 is situated in a class 16:18 β hairpin and is involved in hydrogen bonding with γ Asp320. γ Phe204 is situated in an inverse γ turn and may be involved in π-π interactions. Both mutations cause conformational changes in fibrinogen, which lead either to impaired fibrinogen assembly (fibrinogen Hranice) or abnormal fibrinogen function (fibrinogen Praha IV). Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  2. Laboratory and Genetic Investigation of Mutations Accounting for Congenital Fibrinogen Disorders.

    PubMed

    Neerman-Arbez, Marguerite; de Moerloose, Philippe; Casini, Alessandro

    2016-06-01

    Congenital fibrinogen disorders are classified into two types of plasma fibrinogen defects: type I (quantitative fibrinogen deficiencies), that is, hypofibrinogenemia or afibrinogenemia, in which there are low or absent plasma fibrinogen antigen levels, respectively, and type II (qualitative fibrinogen deficiencies), that is, dysfibrinogenemia or hypodysfibrinogenemia, in which there are normal or reduced antigen levels associated with disproportionately low functional activity. These disorders are caused by mutations in the three fibrinogen-encoding genes FGA, FGB, and FGG. Afibrinogenemia is associated with mild to severe bleeding, whereas hypofibrinogenemia is often asymptomatic. For these quantitative disorders, the majority of mutations prevent protein production. However, in some cases, missense or late-truncating nonsense mutations allow synthesis of the mutant fibrinogen chain, but intracellular fibrinogen assembly and/or secretion are impaired. Qualitative fibrinogen disorders are associated with bleeding, thrombosis, or both thrombosis and bleeding, but many dysfibrinogenemias are asymptomatic. The majority of cases are caused by heterozygous missense mutations. Here, we review the laboratory and genetic diagnosis of fibrinogen gene anomalies with an updated discussion of causative mutations identified. Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

  3. A novel fibrinogen variant--Liberec: dysfibrinogenaemia associated with gamma Tyr262Cys substitution.

    PubMed

    Kotlín, Roman; Sobotková, Alzbeta; Suttnar, Jirí; Salaj, Peter; Walterová, Lenka; Riedel, Tomás; Reicheltová, Zuzana; Dyr, Jan Evangelista

    2008-08-01

    A 22-yr-old woman had abnormal preoperative coagulation test results and congenital dysfibrinogenaemia was suspected. The patient from Liberec (Czech Republic) had a low fibrinogen plasma level as determined by Clauss method, normal fibrinogen level as determined by immunoturbidimetrical method, and prolonged thrombin time. To identify the genetic mutation responsible for this dysfibrinogen, genomic DNA extracted from the blood was analysed. Fibrin polymerisation measurement, kinetics of fibrinopeptide release, fibrinogen clottability measurement and scanning electron microscopy were performed. DNA sequencing showed the heterozygous fibrinogen gamma Y262C mutation. Kinetics of fibrinopeptide release was normal, however fibrin polymerisation was impaired. Fibrinogen clottability measurement showed that only about 45% molecules of fibrinogen are involved in the clot formation. Scanning electron microscopy revealed thicker fibres, which were significantly different from the normal control. A case of dysfibrinogenaemia, found by routine coagulation testing, was genetically identified as a novel fibrinogen variant (gamma Y262C) that has been named Liberec.

  4. Evaluation of plasma fibrinogen concentration as a diagnostic indicator of inflammation in red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans).

    PubMed

    Moore, A Russell; Allender, Matthew C; Mitchell, Mark A; MacNeill, Amy L

    2015-01-15

    To critically evaluate plasma fibrinogen concentration as a diagnostic indicator of inflammation in red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans). Prospective induced-disease model and prospective cross-sectional study. Plasma samples from 12 purpose-bred red-eared sliders and 153 farm-raised red-eared sliders. A modification of the Jacobsson method was developed to measure fibrinogen concentration in platelet-poor plasma from red-eared sliders. Purpose-bred turtles had been inoculated with a ranavirus (n = 4) or sterile PBS solution (8) as part of another study. Farm-raised red-eared sliders were categorized as healthy (n = 138) or overtly ill (15) on the basis of physical examination findings at the time of blood sample collection. Samples from 124 of the 138 healthy red-eared sliders were used to establish a fibrinogen concentration reference interval as measured by the modified Jacobsson method. Fibrinogen concentrations in ranavirus-infected and physically ill turtles were compared with those of healthy turtles to determine whether fibrinogen concentration would be a useful diagnostic indicator of inflammation in red-eared sliders. The modified Jacobsson method was reliably used to measure fibrinogen concentration. The fibrinogen concentration reference interval from healthy reproductively active female red-eared sliders was right skewed. Fibrinogen concentration did not differ significantly between healthy red-eared sliders and ranavirus-infected or overtly ill red-eared sliders. A reference interval for red-eared slider plasma fibrinogen concentration was established and partitioned by sex to account for considerable right skewing observed for females. Fibrinogen concentration was not a useful indicator of inflammation in red-eared sliders with ranavirus infection or other overt illnesses.

  5. A novel natural mutation AαPhe98Ile in the fibrinogen coiled-coil affects fibrinogen function.

    PubMed

    Riedelová-Reicheltová, Zuzana; Kotlín, Roman; Suttnar, Jiří; Geierová, Véra; Riedel, Tomáš; Májek, Pavel; Dyr, Jan Evangelista

    2014-01-01

    The aim of this study was to investigate the structure and function of fibrinogen obtained from a patient with normal coagulation times and idiopathic thrombophilia. This was done by SDS-PAGE and DNA sequence analyses, scanning electron microscopy, fibrinopeptide release, fibrin polymerisation initiated by thrombin and reptilase, fibrinolysis, and platelet aggregometry. A novel heterozygous point mutation in the fibrinogen Aα chain, Phe98 to Ile, was found and designated as fibrinogen Vizovice. The mutation, which is located in the RGDF sequence (Aα 95-98) of the fibrinogen coiled-coil region, significantly affected fibrin clot morphology. Namely, the clot formed by fibrinogen Vizovice contained thinner and curled fibrin fibers with reduced length. Lysis of the clots prepared from Vizovice plasma and isolated fibrinogen were found to be impaired. The lysis rate of Vizovice clots was almost four times slower than the lysis rate of control clots. In the presence of platelets agonists the mutant fibrinogen caused increased platelet aggregation. The data obtained show that natural mutation of Phe98 to Ile in the fibrinogen Aα chain influences lateral aggregation of fibrin protofibrils, fibrinolysis, and platelet aggregation. They also suggest that delayed fibrinolysis, together with the abnormal fibrin network morphology and increased platelet aggregation, may be the direct cause of thrombotic complications in the patient associated with pregnancy loss.

  6. Examination of the relation between periodontal health status and cardiovascular risk factors: serum total and high density lipoprotein cholesterol, C-reactive protein, and plasma fibrinogen.

    PubMed

    Wu, T; Trevisan, M; Genco, R J; Falkner, K L; Dorn, J P; Sempos, C T

    2000-02-01

    Using data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994), the authors examined the relation between periodontal health and cardiovascular risk factors: serum total and high density lipoprotein cholesterol, C-reactive protein, and plasma fibrinogen. A total of 10,146 participants were included in the analyses of cholesterol and C-reactive protein and 4,461 in the analyses of fibrinogen. Periodontal health indicators included the gingival bleeding index, calculus index, and periodontal disease status (defined by pocket depth and attachment loss). While cholesterol and fibrinogen were analyzed as continuous variables, C-reactive protein was dichotomized into two levels. The results show a significant relation between indicators of poor periodontal status and increased C-reactive protein and fibrinogen. The association between periodontal status and total cholesterol level is much weaker. No consistent association between periodontal status and high density lipoprotein cholesterol was detectable. Similar patterns of association were observed for participants aged 17-54 years and those 55 years and older. In conclusion, this study suggests that total cholesterol, C-reactive protein, and fibrinogen are possible intermediate factors that may link periodontal disease to elevated cardiovascular risk.

  7. Prognostic significance of pretreatment plasma fibrinogen level in patients with digestive system tumors: a meta-analysis.

    PubMed

    Ji, Rui; Ren, Qian; Bai, Suyang; Wang, Yuping; Zhou, Yongning

    2018-06-01

    High pretreatment levels of plasma fibrinogen have been widely reported to be a potential predictor of prognosis in digestive system tumors; however, the conclusions are not consistent. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to comprehensively assess the prognostic roles of high pretreatment plasma fibrinogen levels in digestive system tumors. We searched for eligible studies in the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science electronic databases for publications from the database inception to 1 September 2017. The endpoints of interest included overall survival, disease-free survival, and recurrence-free survival. We investigated the relationship between fibrinogenemia and overall survival in colorectal cancer (10 studies), gastric cancer (6), pancreatic cancer (6), hepatocellular carcinoma (7), and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (10); the pooled results indicated that fibrinogenemia was significantly related to a worse overall survival (hazard ratio (HR) 1.73; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.52, 1.97; P <0.001; HR 1.71; 95% CI 1.28, 2.28; P <0.001; HR 1.57; 95% CI 1.13, 2.17; P = 0.007; HR 1.89; 95% CI 1.57, 2.27; P <0.001, and HR 1.67; 95% CI 1.35, 2.07; P <0.001). Taken together, an increased pretreatment plasma fibrinogen level was related to worse survival in digestive system tumors, indicating that it could be a useful prognostic marker in these types of tumors.

  8. Psychosocial job characteristics and plasma fibrinogen in Japanese male and female workers: the Jichi Medical School cohort study.

    PubMed

    Hirokawa, Kumi; Tsutsumi, Akizumi; Kayaba, Kazunori

    2008-06-01

    The aim of the study was to explore the association between psychosocial job characteristics and plasma fibrinogen levels among 1588 male and 1677 female Japanese workers aged 65 and younger. Sociodemographic and behavioral variables were obtained by a standardized questionnaire, which included the Japanese version of the demand-control questionnaire. Fibrinogen levels were determined with a one-stage clotting assay kit. Job strain - a ratio of demand to control - was positively associated with plasma fibrinogen (p for trend<0.05) but ANCOVA showed that the main effect was only marginally statistically significant in men. Analyses by individual job characteristics components revealed that men with a high level of job demand (Age-adjusted geometric mean (mg/dl)=234.6, 95% CI: 230.9-238.2) showed a higher fibrinogen level than those with other levels (middle; 227.9, 223.6-232.3, low; 224.8, 220.5-229.1) (F (2, 1584)=6.63, p<0.001). Adjustment for potential confounders including total cholesterol and CRP did not reduce the association. No significant association was found between psychosocial job characteristics and fibrinogen in women. The findings appear to imply a mechanism through which adverse psychosocial job characteristics lead to cardiovascular diseases in men.

  9. Beta-fibrinogen allele frequencies in Peruvian Quechua, a high-altitude native population.

    PubMed

    Rupert, J L; Devine, D V; Monsalve, M V; Hochachka, P W

    1999-06-01

    Elevated hematocrits, which are found in many high-altitude populations, increase the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood and may represent an adaptation to hypoxic environments. However, as high hematocrit increases blood viscosity, which in turn is associated with hypertension and heart disease, it may be advantageous for high-altitude populations to limit other factors that contribute to increased blood viscosity. One such factor is the plasma concentration of the coagulation protein fibrinogen. Several common polymorphisms in the beta-fibrinogen gene have been identified that affect fibrinogen concentrations. We determined the allele frequencies of three of these polymorphisms (G/A-455(HaeIII), C/T-148(HindIII), and G/A+448(MnlI)) in sample groups drawn from three populations: Quechua-speaking natives living at over 3,200 m in the Peruvian Andes, North American natives (Na-Dene) from coastal British Columbia, and Caucasian North Americans. The frequencies of the alleles previously shown to be associated with increased fibrinogen levels were so low in the Quechuas that their presence could be accounted for solely by genetic admixture with Caucasians. Frequencies in the Na-Dene, a Native American group unrelated to the Quechua, were not significantly different from those in Caucasians.

  10. Association of preoperative plasma fibrinogen level with postoperative bleeding after on-pump coronary bypass surgery: does plasma fibrinogen level affect the amount of postoperative bleeding?

    PubMed

    Alagha, Sameh; Songur, Murat; Avci, Tugba; Vural, Kerem; Kaplan, Sadi

    2018-05-15

    Our primary aim was to investigate the association between the preoperative concentration of plasma fibrinogen and the volume of postoperative bleeding. Our secondary aim was to identify whether there is a possible correlation between the patients' different characteristics and haemostatic laboratory variables and the postoperative amount of bleeding after on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting procedures. A total of 550 adult patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting on cardiopulmonary bypass in our hospital were enrolled and investigated retrospectively. The total amount of chest tube drainage within the first 24 postoperative hours or until the patient was re-explored for bleeding was assessed. Excessive bleeding was defined as more than 500 ml drainage in the first 24 h. The patients were divided into 2 groups: Group 1: the patients who bled ≤500 ml in the first 24 h and Group 2: the patients who bled >500 ml in the first 24 h. A preoperative fibrinogen threshold associated with excessive bleeding was investigated by receiver operating characteristic curve analyses, revealing a calculated cutoff value of 3.1 g/l. Risk factors for increased bleeding were analysed by a logistic regression model that revealed male gender (P < 0.001), body mass index ≤28.3 kg/m2 (P < 0.001), platelet count ≤233 × 103/µl (P < 0.001), estimated glomerular filtration rate ≤90.8 ml/min (P < 0.001) and fibrinogen ≤3.1 g/l (P = 0.01) as significant predictors. A preoperative plasma fibrinogen concentration <3.1 g/l was associated with increased risk of excessive bleeding in patients undergoing on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. The amount of postoperative blood loss can be roughly predicted with simple preoperative blood tests.

  11. Circulating immune complexes contain citrullinated fibrinogen in rheumatoid arthritis

    PubMed Central

    Zhao, Xiaoyan; Okeke, Nwora Lance; Sharpe, Orr; Batliwalla, Franak M; Lee, Annette T; Ho, Peggy P; Tomooka, Beren H; Gregersen, Peter K; Robinson, William H

    2008-01-01

    Introduction There is increasing evidence that autoantibodies and immune complexes (ICs) contribute to synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), yet the autoantigens incorporated in ICs in RA remain incompletely characterised. Methods We used the C1q protein to capture ICs from plasma derived from human RA and control patients. Antibodies specific for immunoglobulin were used to detect ICs, and fibrinogen antibodies were used to detect fibrinogen-containing ICs. RA and control plasma were separated by liquid chromatography, and fractions then characterised by ELISA, immunoblotting and mass spectrometry. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on rheumatoid synovial tissue. Results C1q-immunoassays demonstrated increased levels of IgG (p = 0.01) and IgM (p = 0.0002) ICs in plasma derived from RA patients possessing anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP+) autoantibodies as compared with healthy controls. About one-half of the anti-CCP+ RA possessed circulating ICs containing fibrinogen (p = 0.0004). Fractionation of whole RA plasma revealed citrullinated fibrinogen in the high molecular weight fractions that contained ICs. Positive correlations were observed between fibrinogen-containing ICs and anti-citrullinated fibrinogen autoantibodies, anti-CCP antibody, rheumatoid factor and certain clinical characteristics. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated co-localisation of fibrinogen, immunoglobulin and complement component C3 in RA pannus tissue. Mass spectrometry analysis of immune complexes immunoprecipitated from RA pannus tissue lysates demonstrated the presence of citrullinated fibrinogen. Conclusion Circulating ICs containing citrullinated fibrinogen are present in one-half of anti-CCP+ RA patients, and these ICs co-localise with C3 in the rheumatoid synovium suggesting that they contribute to synovitis in a subset of RA patients. PMID:18710572

  12. Label-Free Quantitative Immunoassay of Fibrinogen in Alzheimer Disease Patient Plasma Using Fiber Optical Surface Plasmon Resonance

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kim, Jisoo; Kim, SeJin; Nguyen, Tan Tai; Lee, Renee; Li, Tiehua; Yun, Changhyun; Ham, Youngeun; An, Seong Soo A.; Ju, Heongkyu

    2016-05-01

    We present a real-time quantitative immunoassay to detect fibrinogen in the blood plasma of Alzheimer's disease patients using multimode fiber optical sensors in which surface plasmon resonance (SPR) was employed. Nanometer-thick bimetals including silver and aluminum were coated onto the core surface of the clad-free part (5 cm long) of the fiber for SPR excitation at the He-Ne laser wavelength of 632.8 nm. The histidine-tagged peptide was then coated on the metal surface to immobilize the fibrinogen antibody for the selective capture of fibrinogen among the proteins in the patient blood plasma. The SPR fiber optical sensor enabled quantitative detection of concentrations of fibrinogen from the different human patient blood at a detection limit of ˜20 ng/ml. We also observed a correlation in the fibrinogen concentration measurement between enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and our SPR fiber-based sensors. This suggests that the presented SPR fiber-based sensors that do not rely on the use of labels such as fluorophores can be used for a real-time quantitative assay of a specific protein such as fibrinogen in a human blood that is known to contain many other kinds of proteins together.

  13. Levels of plasma fibrinogen and D-dimer in subjects with subclinical hyperthyroidism.

    PubMed

    Coban, Erkan; Aydemir, Mustafa

    2008-01-01

    During the last 15 years, several risk markers for atherosclerosis, such as fibrinogen and D-dimer, have been identified. The role of elevated fibrinogen levels as an independent risk factor for coronary, cerebral, and peripheral vascular disease is well established on the basis of clinical and epidemiological studies. Increased D-dimer levels are associated with increased risk of future myocardial infarction, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the alterations in fibrinogen and D-dimer, which indicates overall thrombotic activity, in subjects with subclinical hyperthyroidism. Thirty-six subclinical hyperthyroidic subjects and 36 euthyroidic control subjects matched for age, gender, and body mass index were selected. The levels of plasma fibrinogen and D-dimer in all subjects were measured. The level of fibrinogen was significantly higher in the subclinical hyperthyroidic group than in the euthyroidic group (296.9+/-74.3 mg/dl vs. 255.0+/-41.7 mg/dl, p<0.001). The level of D-dimer was significantly higher in the subclinical hyperthyroidic group than in the euthyroidic group (261.9+/-47.8 mg/dl vs. 216.4+/-32.1 mg/dl, p<0.000). The results suggest that subjects with subclinical hyperthyroidism present a relatively hypercoagulable state. This state could contribute to increased thromboembolic risk in subclinical hyperthyroidism.

  14. Cushing`s disease: Fibrinogen and D-dimer levels fail to normalize despite early postoperative remission - a prospective, controlled study.

    PubMed

    Witek, Przemysław; Zieliński, Grzegorz; Szamotulska, Katarzyna; Witek, Joanna; Kamiński, Grzegorz

    2016-01-01

    Effective transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) for Cushing`s disease (CD) normalizes cortisol levels and reduces complications of hypercortisolism. However, there is evidence of increased cardiovascular morbidity even after successful surgery. A prospective, controlled study on the dynamics of fibrinogen and D-dimer levels with a six-month follow-up after an effective TSS for CD. Forty patients with CD and forty healthy age- and sex-matched subjects were included. We assessed ACTH, urinary and serum cortisol, and fibrinogen and D-dimer levels before TSS and during follow-up. Baseline BMI (P < 0.001), fibrinogen (P = 0.002), and D-dimer (P = 0.001) levels in CD patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls. High fibrinogen levels in the CD group were independent of BMI, and were positively associated with hsCRP (rS = 0.61, P < 0.001) and arterial hypertension (P = 0.029). After the six-month follow-up we confirmed a sustained difference between the remission group and controls in fibrinogen and D-dimer levels (P = 0.001 and P = 0.017, respectively). Despite early biochemical remission of CD the levels of fibrinogen and D-dimer failed to decrease. This probably contributes to the high risk of thrombotic events and indicates the need for a close follow-up for signs of thromboembolic and cardiovascular complications in patients with early CD remission. (Endokrynol Pol 2016; 67 (3): 283-291).

  15. Neutropenia fails to prevent the acute phase stimulation of fibrinogen synthesis

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kernoff, L.; Colman, J.

    This study evaluates the role of neutrophil granulocytes in mediating acute phase stimulation of fibrinogen synthesis. Turpentine was administered to neutropenic and non-neutropenic rats and fibrinogen synthetic rates measured in an isolated liver perfusion system. Using the (/sup 14/C) carbonate technique for the measurement of the absolute synthetic rates of liver produced plasma proteins it was observed that the rates of fibrinogen synthesis of the neutropenic and non-neutropenic rats were significantly greater (p less than 0.01) than those of normal control animals, but were not significantly different from each other. These results suggest that the neutrophil granulocyte may not bemore » of major importance in mediating acute phase stimulation of fibrinogen synthesis.« less

  16. Aronia melanocarpa as a protector against nitration of fibrinogen.

    PubMed

    Bijak, Michał; Saluk, Joanna; Antosik, Adam; Ponczek, Michał B; Żbikowska, Halina M; Borowiecka, Marta; Nowak, Paweł

    2013-04-01

    Fibrinogen (Fg) also known as coagulation factor I represents about 4% of the total human plasma proteins. The main function of Fg is its involvement in last phase of blood coagulation cascade, when thrombin-induced conversion of dissolved plasma fibrinogen into an insoluble fibrin clot occurs. The reaction of fibrinogen with peroxynitrite causes both structural modifications and changes of the biological properties of this plasma glycoprotein. Recently, there is an increased interest in the screening of natural products present in fruits, vegetables and herbs for their possible antioxidative activities. Therefore, the aim of our study was to estimate the effect of extract from berries of Aronia melanocarpa against nitrative and oxidative damage induced by peroxynitrite. The extract from A. melanocarpa (0.5-50 μg/ml) added to Fg 10 min before peroxynitrite (100 μM) significantly inhibited both the formation of the high molecular weight protein aggregates and nitration of Fg molecule. The extract also abolished peroxynitrite-induced inhibition of fibrinogen polymerization (by 95% at 50 μg/ml). The obtained results indicate that natural extract from berries of A. melanocarpa has protective effects against peroxynitrite-induced nitrative damage of plasma fibrinogen, and therefore may contribute in the prevention of peroxynitrite-related cardiovascular or inflammatory diseases. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  17. Increasing plasma fibrinogen, but unchanged levels of intraplatelet cyclic nucleotides, plasma endothelin-1, factor VII, and neopterin during cholesterol lowering with fluvastatin.

    PubMed

    Gottsäter, A; Anwaar, I; Lind, P; Mattiasson, I; Lindgärde, F

    1999-04-01

    Lipid-lowering statin treatment reduces cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and improves endothelial function in patients with hypercholesterolemia. The aim of the present study was to evaluate plasma levels of fibrinogen, factor VII, and the macrophage-derived inflammatory mediator neopterin during lipid lowering. In addition, the endothelial production of platelet antiaggregatory and vasodilatory factors such as nitric oxide and prostacyclin, and vasoconstrictive factors such as endothelin-1, was assessed. Plasma fibrinogen, factor VII, endothelin-1, and the neopterin and intraplatelet nitric oxide and prostacyclin mediators cyclic 3'-5'guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and cyclic 3'-5'adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) were measured before and 6 months after the institution of treatment with fluvastatin in 17 patients (eight men and nine women, median age 60 years) with vascular disease and previously untreated hypercholesterolemia. After 6 months, a decrease of 1.62 mmol/l [1.26-2.18 (19%); P < 0.01] was noted in levels of total cholesterol, and a decrease of 1.70 mmol/l [1.52-2.30 (28%); P < 0.01] in levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Plasma levels of fibrinogen had increased [from 4.81 g/l (4.26-5.27) to 5.17 g/l (4.81-5.67); P < 0.05], whereas no significant changes had occurred in intraplatelet levels of cGMP [decrease by 0.05 pmol/10(9) platelets (-0.17 to 0.24); NS], cAMP [decrease by 0.13 pmol/10(9) platelets (-0.37 to 0.86); NS], plasma endothelin-1 [decrease by 0.05 pg/ml (-0.60 to 0.70); NS], plasma factor VII [from 1.14 IE/ml (0.58-1.38) to 1.22 IE/ml (0.96-1.46); NS], or plasma neopterin [from 8.6 nmol/l (7.1-11.5) to 8.7 nmol/l (7.9-11.3); NS]. In conclusion, during cholesterol-lowering treatment with fluvastatin, plasma levels of fibrinogen increased whereas intraplatelet cyclic nucleotide levels and plasma endothelin-1, factor VII and neopterin levels were unchanged.

  18. Effect of Metformin on Plasma Fibrinogen Concentrations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trials.

    PubMed

    Simental-Mendia, Luis E; Pirro, Matteo; Atkin, Stephen L; Banach, Maciej; Mikhailidis, Dimitri P; Sahebkar, Amirhossein

    2018-01-01

    Fibrinogen is a key mediator of thrombosis and it has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Because metformin has shown a potential protective effect on different atherothrombotic risk factors, we assessed in this meta-analysis its effect on plasma fibrinogen concentrations. A systematic review and meta-analysis was carried out to identify randomized placebo-controlled trials evaluating the effect of metformin administration on fibrinogen levels. The search included PubMed-Medline, Scopus, ISI Web of Knowledge and Google Scholar databases (by June 2, 2017) and quality of studies was performed according to Cochrane criteria. Quantitative data synthesis was conducted using a random-effects model and sensitivity analysis by the leave-one-out method. Meta-regression analysis was performed to assess the modifiers of treatment response. Meta-analysis of data from 9 randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials with 2302 patients comprising 10 treatment arms did not suggest a significant change in plasma fibrinogen concentrations following metformin therapy (WMD: -0.25 g/L, 95% CI: -0.53, 0.04, p = 0.092). The effect size was robust in the leave-one-out sensitivity analysis and remained non-significant after omission of each single study from the meta-analysis. No significant effect of metformin on plasma fibrinogen concentrations was demonstrated in the current meta-analysis. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

  19. Interaction of platelets, fibrinogen and endothelial cells with plasma deposited PEO-like films

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yang, Zhilu; Wang, Jin; Li, Xin; Tu, Qiufen; Sun, Hong; Huang, Nan

    2012-02-01

    For blood-contacting biomedical implants like retrievable vena cava filters, surface-based diagnostic devices or in vivo sensors, limiting thrombosis and cell adhesion is paramount, due to a decrease even failure in performance. Plasma deposited PEO-like films were investigated as surface modifications. In this work, mixed gas composed of tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether (tetraglyme) vapor and oxygen was used as precursor. It was revealed that plasma polymerization under high ratio of oxygen/tetraglyme led to deposition of the films that had high content of ether groups. This kind of PEO-like films had good stability in phosphate buffer solution. In vitro hemocompatibility and endothelial cell (EC) adhesion revealed low platelet adhesion, platelet activation, fibrinogen adhesion, EC adhesion and proliferation on such plasma deposited PEO-like films. This made it a potential candidate for the applications in anti-fouling surfaces of blood-contacting biomedical devices.

  20. In vitro pleural fluid clottability and fibrinogen content.

    PubMed

    Glauser, F L; Otis, P T; Levine, R I; Smith, W R

    1975-08-01

    Twenty-three specimens of pleural fluid from 23 patients were examined for quantitative fibrinogen, total protein levels, and for clottability in vitro using the recalcification time. Of the 19 specimens of pleural fluid from patients without loculation, 11 (seven exudates) had no detectable fibrinogen; another 8 (six exudates) had a mean fibrinogen level of 55.0 +/- 10.2 mg percent, and a mean recalcification time of 19.4 +/- 2.6 minutes. The pleural fluids from the four patients with loculation had no detectable fibrinogen. The only fluids containing fibrinolytic activity were from the nonloculated non-fibrinogen-containing group. No correlation existed between pleural fluid/plasma total protein ratios and pleural fluid/plasma fibrinogen ratios. In vitro clottability in this study did not reflect the in vivo tendency for coagulation and loculation.

  1. Haem-assisted dityrosine-cross-linking of fibrinogen under non-thermal plasma exposure: one important mechanism of facilitated blood coagulation

    PubMed Central

    Ke, Zhigang; Huang, Qing

    2016-01-01

    Although blood coagulation facilitated by non-thermal plasma has been reported several years ago, the insight to the involved mechanisms is still rather limited. In this work, we report our discovery of a new mechanism for the haem-promoted blood-coagulation caused by non-thermal plasma treatment. The reason for the haem role is due to that its oxidized form, namely, hematin, can promote the dityrosine cross-linking of fibrinogen, the most important coagulation protein, to form a membrane-like layer on the surface of the treated blood with plasma exposure. Both haem and non-thermal-plasma generated hydrogen peroxide are requisite for the cross-linking process. We confirmed that fibrinogen can coordinate with the haem iron to form a protein-haem complex which shows pseudo-peroxidase activity, and in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, the complex can induce the dityrosine formation between fibrinogen molecules, leading to the fibrin network necessary for the blood coagulation. Understanding of such an underlying mechanism can be useful to guide more efficient application of non-thermal plasma in the management of hemostasis, thrombosis and etc. PMID:27229173

  2. Fibrinogen Vicenza and Genova II: two new cases of congenital dysfibrinogenemia with isolated defect of fibrin monomer polymerization and inhibitory activity on normal coagulation.

    PubMed

    Rodeghiero, F; Castaman, G C; Dal Belin Peruffo, A; Dini, E; Galletti, A; Barone, E; Gastaldi, G

    1987-06-03

    Two new cases of congenital dysfibrinogenemia are presented in which defective fibrin monomer polymerization and inhibitory activity on normal coagulation were observed. They have been tentatively called fibrinogen Vicenza and Genova II. The first was discovered in a family with mild bleeding diathesis, the second in an asymptomatic family. In almost all reported cases of fibrinogens with defective fibrin monomer polymerization, additional functional or structural defects have been detected. In our cases, on the contrary, detailed investigations failed to show any other abnormality. Fibrinogen Genova II is apparently identical to fibrinogen Baltimore IV, whereas fibrinogen Vicenza is similar to fibrinogen Troyes and Genova I, but also exerts an evident inhibitory activity on normal coagulation and differs from fibrinogen Genova II and Baltimore IV showing a different kinetic pattern of fibrin monomer polymerization.

  3. Plasma levels of thrombomodulin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and fibrinogen in elderly, diabetic patients with depressive symptoms.

    PubMed

    Gorska-Ciebiada, Malgorzata; Saryusz-Wolska, Malgorzata; Borkowska, Anna; Ciebiada, Maciej; Loba, Jerzy

    2016-10-01

    Diabetes, depression and aging have been associated with pro-inflammatory and prothrombotic state. The aim of the study was to determine the plasma levels of thrombomodulin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and fibrinogen in elderly diabetic patients with and without depressive symptoms and to examine factors (including thrombomodulin, PAI-1, fibrinogen levels) associated with depressive symptoms in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). A total of 276 T2DM elders were evaluated: 82 subjects with depressive symptoms and 194 controls. Data were collected concerning biochemical parameters and biomarkers. Plasma thrombomodulin, PAI-1 and fibrinogen were elevated in patients with depressive symptoms compared to controls. Thrombomodulin level was correlated with fibrinogen and PAI-1 levels. All parameters were correlated with the Geriatric Depression Scale-30 score. The univariate logistic regression models revealed that variables which increased the likelihood of diagnosis of depressive symptoms in elderly patients with T2DM were: female sex, smoking habit, longer duration of T2DM, hyperlipidemia, neuropathy, increased number of co-morbidities, higher BMI, and higher levels of total and LDL cholesterol, thrombomodulin, PAI-1 and fibrinogen. In addition, the multivariable analysis indicated that female sex, smoking habit, increased number of co-morbidities, higher BMI, and higher levels of LDL cholesterol and thrombomodulin are the predisposing factors for depressive symptoms. Elderly diabetic patients with depressive symptoms have higher levels of thrombomodulin, PAI-1 and fibrinogen. Further prospective larger studies are needed to provide potential directions for the research, treatment and prevention of co-morbid depression and diabetes.

  4. Three cases of congenital dysfibrinogenemia in unrelated Chinese families: heterozygous missense mutation in fibrinogen alpha chain Argl6His

    PubMed Central

    Luo, Meiling; Deng, Donghong; Xiang, Liqun; Cheng, Peng; Liao, Lin; Deng, Xuelian; Yan, Jie; Lin, Faquan

    2016-01-01

    Abstract Congenital dysfibrinogenemia (CD) is a qualitative fibrinogen disorder caused by an abnormal fibrinogen molecule structure, leading to dysfunctional blood coagulation. This study describes 3 cases of dysfibrinogenemia identified in the unrelated Chinese pedigrees. Routine coagulation screening tests were performed on the probands and their families. The antigens and functionality of fibrinogen was measured using an immunoturbidimetry assay and the Clauss method, respectively. To identify the genetic mutation responsible for these dysfibrinogens, genomic DNA extracted from the blood was analyzed using PCR amplification and direct sequencing. The presence of the mutant chains was determined using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectroscopy. Purified plasma fibrinogen of 3 probands was analyzed using SDS–PAGE, fibrinogen clottability, fibrin polymerization, fibrinopeptide release, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The 3 probands had a long thrombin time. Levels of functional fibrinogen were found to be very low, while the fibrinogen antigen was within the normal range. DNA sequencing revealed a heterozygous Arg16His substitution in the fibrinogen Aα chain (FGA). The mutant chains were found to be expressed using MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy. SDS–PAGE did not reveal any difference in the molecular weights of 3 polypeptide chains between normal and abnormal fibrinogens. Fibrinogen clottability showed a slower fibrin clot formation than the healthy control. Fibrin polymerization, after addition of thrombin, showed a prolonged lag phase and decreased final turbidity. The kinetics of fibrinopeptides release revealed a decreased amount of the released fibrinopeptide A. SEM of the patient's fibrin clot was found to be abnormal. Results indicate that the 3 probands with dysfibrinogenemia were caused by mutations of Aα chain Arg16His. Mutation of this fibrinogen induced dysfunction of plasma fibrinogen. PMID

  5. The plasma protein fibrinogen stabilizes clusters of red blood cells in microcapillary flows

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Brust, M.; Aouane, O.; Thiébaud, M.; Flormann, D.; Verdier, C.; Kaestner, L.; Laschke, M. W.; Selmi, H.; Benyoussef, A.; Podgorski, T.; Coupier, G.; Misbah, C.; Wagner, C.

    2014-03-01

    The supply of oxygen and nutrients and the disposal of metabolic waste in the organs depend strongly on how blood, especially red blood cells, flow through the microvascular network. Macromolecular plasma proteins such as fibrinogen cause red blood cells to form large aggregates, called rouleaux, which are usually assumed to be disaggregated in the circulation due to the shear forces present in bulk flow. This leads to the assumption that rouleaux formation is only relevant in the venule network and in arterioles at low shear rates or stasis. Thanks to an excellent agreement between combined experimental and numerical approaches, we show that despite the large shear rates present in microcapillaries, the presence of either fibrinogen or the synthetic polymer dextran leads to an enhanced formation of robust clusters of red blood cells, even at haematocrits as low as 1%. Robust aggregates are shown to exist in microcapillaries even for fibrinogen concentrations within the healthy physiological range. These persistent aggregates should strongly affect cell distribution and blood perfusion in the microvasculature, with putative implications for blood disorders even within apparently asymptomatic subjects.

  6. Rapid measurement of fibrinogen concentration in whole blood using a steel ball coagulometer

    PubMed Central

    Schlimp, Christoph J.; Khadem, Anna; Klotz, Anton; Solomon, Cristina; Hochleitner, Gerald; Ponschab, Martin; Redl, Heinz; Schöchl, Herbert

    2015-01-01

    BACKGROUND Fibrinogen plays a key role in hemostasis and is the first coagulation factor to reach critical levels in bleeding patients. Current European guidelines on the management of traumatic or perioperative bleeding recommend fibrinogen supplementation at specific threshold levels. Whole blood viscoelastic tests provide fast evaluation of fibrin deficits. Fast measurement of plasma fibrinogen concentration is not yet available. We investigated a method to rapidly determine whole blood fibrinogen concentration using standard Clauss assays and a steel ball coagulometer and provide an estimate of the “plasma-equivalent” fibrinogen concentration within minutes by adjustment of the measured whole blood fibrinogen concentration with a quickly measureable hemoglobin-derived hematocrit. METHODS The feasibility of this approach was tested with a Clauss assay using multiple porcine fresh blood samples obtained during in vivo bleeding, hemodilution, and after treatment with hemostatic therapy. Two different Clauss assays were then tested using multiple human volunteers’ blood samples diluted in vitro and supplemented with fibrinogen concentrate. Comparative measurements with fibrin-based thromboelastometry tests were performed. RESULTS Regression and Bland-Altman analyses of derived “plasma-equivalent” fibrinogen and measured plasma fibrinogen concentration was excellent in porcine and human blood samples, especially in the ranges relevant to traumatic or perioperative bleeding. CONCLUSION Fast whole blood fibrinogen measurements could be considered as an alternative to plasma fibrinogen measurement for acute bleeding management in trauma and perioperative care settings. Further studies are needed to prove this concept and determine the turnaround times for its clinical application in emergency departments and operating theaters. PMID:25742256

  7. Sequence of Fibrinogen Proteolysis and Platelet Release after Intrauterine Infusion of Hypertonic Saline

    PubMed Central

    Nossel, H. L.; Wasser, J.; Kaplan, K. L.; Lagamma, K. S.; Yudelman, I.; Canfield, R. E.

    1979-01-01

    Plasma fibrinopeptide B (Bβ1-14 or FPB) immunoreactivity was studied by radioimmunoassay in patients who received intrauterine infusion of hypertonic saline to terminate pregnancy. FPB immunoreactivity increased with thrombin treatment (TIFPB) suggesting the presence of a larger FPB-containing peptide, since purified FPB is not altered by thrombin, whereas thrombin increases the immunoreactivity of Bβ1-42 (which includes FPB) 10-fold. TIFPB immunoreactivity in plasma, drawn 4 h after hypertonic saline infusion eluted from Sephadex G-50 similarly to isolated Bβ1-42. Streptokinase, incubated with normal plasma progressively generated TIFPB immunoreactivity, which showed a major component which eluted from Sephadex G-50 similarly to Bβ1-42. Streptokinase generated TIFPB much more rapidly in reptilase-treated plasma that contains fibrin I, (which still includes FPB), indicating that fibrin I is preferred over fibrinogen as a substrate for plasmin cleavage of arginine (Bβ42)-alanine (Bβ43). Serial studies were then made in 10 patients receiving intrauterine hypertonic saline. Fibrinopeptide A (FPA) levels rose immediately, reached a peak between 1 and 2 h, were declining at 4 h, and were normal at 24 and 48 h. TIFPB levels rose slightly in the 1st h, reached a peak at 4 h, and had returned to base-line values at 24 h. Serum fibrinogen degradation product levels were unchanged at 1 h, reached their highest level at 4 h, and were still markedly elevated at 24 and 48 h. Fibrinogen levels dropped slightly being lowest at 4 and 24 h. Platelet counts declined in parallel with the fibrinogen levels over the first 4 h, but continued to decrease through 48 h. Beta thromboglobulin (βTG) levels generally paralleled FPA levels whereas platelet factor 4 (PF4) levels showed only slight changes. The data indicate that immediately after intrauterine hypertonic saline infusion thrombin is formed that cleaves FPA from fibrinogen to produce fibrin I and releases βTG and PF4 from

  8. The down-regulation of the mitogenic fibrinogen receptor (MFR) in serum-containing medium does not occur in defined medium.

    PubMed

    Levesque, J P; Hatzfeld, A; Domart, I; Hatzfeld, J

    1990-02-01

    Normal human hemopoietic cells such as early bone marrow progenitors, or lymphoma-derived cell lines such as Raji or JM cells, possess a low-affinity receptor specific for fibrinogen. This receptor triggers a mitogenic effect. It differs from the glycoprotein IIb-IIIa which is involved in fibrinogen-induced platelet aggregation. We demonstrate here that this mitogenic fibrinogen receptor (MFR) can be internalized or reexpressed, depending on culture conditions. Internalization was temperature-dependent. At 37 degrees C in the presence of cycloheximide or actinomycin D, the half-life of cell surface MFRs was 2 h, independent of receptor occupancy. Binding of fibrinogen to the MFR resulted in a down-regulation which was fibrinogen dose-dependent. This occurred in serum-supplemented medium but not in defined medium supplemented with fatty acids. Reexpression of MFRs could be induced in 28 to 42 h by serum removal. The down-regulation of mitogenic receptors in plasma or serum could explain why normal cells do not proliferate in the peripheral blood.

  9. Lecithin has no effect on serum lipoprotein, plasma fibrinogen and macro molecular protein complex levels in hyperlipidaemic men in a double-blind controlled study.

    PubMed

    Oosthuizen, W; Vorster, H H; Vermaak, W J; Smuts, C M; Jerling, J C; Veldman, F J; Burger, H M

    1998-06-01

    To examine the effects of lecithin on serum lipoprotein, plasma fibrinogen and macro molecular protein complex (MPC) levels. Twenty free living hyperlipidaemic men participated in this double-blind study which controlled for possible indirect effects. The subjects were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: frozen yoghurt or frozen yoghurt with 20 g soya bean lecithin or frozen yoghurt with 17 g sunflower oil. Sunflower oil was used to control for the increased energy and linoleic acid intake from lecithin. Yoghurt served as the 'vehicle' for the lecithin and sunflower oil and yoghurt alone was given to one group to control for possible effects due to the yoghurt 'vehicle', as well as other environmental influences. Variables were measured with standard methods twice at baseline and after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment. Plasma linoleic acid levels increased significantly with lecithin and sunflower oil treatments indicating that compliance to the treatments were obtained. Lecithin treatment did not have significant effects on serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein A, apolipoprotein B or lipoprotein (a) levels. Plasma fibrinogen and MPC levels were also not affected by lecithin therapy. Sunflower oil treatment resulted in significant increased body weight, serum TC and decreased MPC levels. Lecithin treatment had no independent effects on serum lipoprotein, plasma fibrinogen or MPC levels in hyperlipidaemic men.

  10. Fibrinogen deficiency suppresses the development of early and delayed radiation enteropathy

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Junru; Pathak, Rupak; Garg, Sarita; Hauer-Jensen, Martin

    2017-01-01

    AIM To determine the mechanistic role of fibrinogen, a key regulator of inflammation and fibrosis, in early and delayed radiation enteropathy. METHODS Fibrinogen wild-type (Fib+/+), fibrinogen heterozygous (Fib+/-), and fibrinogen knockout (Fib-/-) mice were exposed to localized intestinal irradiation and assessed for early and delayed structural changes in the intestinal tissue. A 5-cm segment of ileum of mice was exteriorized and exposed to 18.5 Gy of x-irradiation. Intestinal tissue injury was assessed by quantitative histology, morphometry, and immunohistochemistry at 2 wk and 26 wk after radiation. Plasma fibrinogen level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS There was no difference between sham-irradiated Fib+/+ and Fib+/- mice in terms of fibrinogen concentration in plasma and intestinal tissue, intestinal histology, morphometry, intestinal smooth muscle cell proliferation, and neutrophil infiltration. Therefore, Fib+/- mice were used as littermate controls. Unlike sham-irradiated Fib+/+ and Fib+/- mice, no fibrinogen was detected in the plasma and intestinal tissue of sham-irradiated Fib-/- mice. Moreover, fibrinogen level was not elevated after irradiation in the intestinal tissue of Fib-/- mice, while significant increase in intestinal fibrinogen level was noticed in irradiated Fib+/+ and Fib+/- mice. Importantly, irradiated Fib-/- mice exhibited substantially less overall intestinal structural injury (RIS, P = 0.000002), intestinal wall thickness (P = 0.003), intestinal serosal thickness (P = 0.009), collagen deposition (P = 0.01), TGF-β immunoreactivity (P = 0.03), intestinal smooth muscle proliferation (P = 0.046), neutrophil infiltration (P = 0.01), and intestinal mucosal injury (P = 0.0003), compared to irradiated Fib+/+ and Fib+/- mice at both 2 wk and 26 wk. CONCLUSION These data demonstrate that fibrinogen deficiency directly attenuates development of early and delayed radiation enteropathy. Fibrinogen could be a novel target

  11. THE EFFECT OF ORALLY ADMINISTERED EPSILON AMINOCAPROIC ACID ON THE DEPOSITION AND/OR RETENTION OF RADIOIODINATED FIBRINOGEN AND ANTIBODIES TO FIBRINOGEN IN SUBCUTANEOUS RAT PLASMA CLOTS AND TURPENTINE-INDUCED ABSCESSES OF THE RAT

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Mutschler, L.E.

    1963-01-25

    Treatment of metastatic cancer through the use of highly radioactive labeled tumor-localizing antibodies would have the advantage over conventional radiation therapy techniques of delivering large doses of radiation to areas of malignancy while at the same time sparing vital normal tissue from excessive radiation. Intravenously administered I/sup 131/-labeled rat fibrinogen and antibodies to rat fibrin or fibrinogen were found to localize with considerable specificity in the rat-carried Murphy-Sturm lymphosarcoma. lt was suggested that fibrin deposition in tumors is a phenomenon associated with the growth of these tumors and may be of significance in rapidly growing tumors. An apparent lack ofmore » I/sup 131/-fibrinogen localization was observed in some transplantable rat tumors, such as the Walker carcinoma 256. The hypothesis that fibrin deposition is masked by its subsequent rapid removal by fibrinolytic processes was investigated. Data are presented from an investigation of the in vivo antifibrinolytic properties of epsilon aminocapronic acid (EACA), a potent in vitro fibrinolytic inhibitor. Two basic test systems, both using the rat as an experimental animal, were employed. The first involved measuring the effect of orally administered EACA on the retention of subcutaneous clots labeled with either I/sup 131/-fibrinogen or I/sup 131/-antibody against rat fibrinogen. The second system involved measuring the effect of EACA treatment on the deposition and retention of intravenously injected I/sup 131/-fibrinogen and I/sup 131/- antibody in subcutaneous turpentine-induced abscesses. Data indicate that EACA is a potent in vivo anti-fibrinolytic agent and that the mechanism by which EACA treatment brings about increased tumor localization of I/sup 131/-fibrinogen and I/sup 131/antibody is the inhibition of their subsequent removal by fibrinolytic processes. (C.H.)« less

  12. Nattokinase decreases plasma levels of fibrinogen, factor VII, and factor VIII in human subjects.

    PubMed

    Hsia, Chien-Hsun; Shen, Ming-Ching; Lin, Jen-Shiou; Wen, Yao-Ke; Hwang, Kai-Lin; Cham, Thau-Ming; Yang, Nae-Cherng

    2009-03-01

    Nattokinase, a serine proteinase from Bacillus subtilis, is considered to be one of the most active functional ingredients found in natto. In this study, we hypothesized that nattokinase could reduce certain factors of blood clotting and lipids that are associated with an increase risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Thus, an open-label, self-controlled clinical trial was conducted on subjects of the following groups: healthy volunteers (Healthy Group), patients with cardiovascular risk factors (Cardiovascular Group), and patients undergoing dialysis (Dialysis Group). All subjects ingested 2 capsules of nattokinase (2000 fibrinolysis units per capsule) daily orally for 2 months. The laboratory measurements were performed on the screening visit and, subsequently, regularly after the initiation of the study. The intent-to-treat analysis was performed on all 45 enrolled subjects. By use of mixed model analysis, a significant time effect, but not group effect, was observed in the change from baseline of fibrinogen (P = .003), factor VII (P < .001), and factor VIII (P < .001), suggesting that the plasma levels of the 3 coagulation factors continuously declined during intake; also, the extents of decrease were similar between groups. After 2 months of administration, fibrinogen, factor VII, and factor VIII decreased 9%, 14%, and 17%, respectively, for the Healthy Group; 7%, 13%, and 19%, respectively, for the Cardiovascular Group; and 10%, 7%, and 19%, respectively, for the Dialysis Group, whereas blood lipids were unaffected by nattokinase. No significant changes of uric acid or notable adverse events were observed in any of the subjects. In summary, this study showed that oral administration of nattokinase could be considered as a CVD nutraceutical by decreasing plasma levels of fibrinogen, factor VII, and factor VIII.

  13. The fibrous form of intracellular inclusion bodies in recombinant variant fibrinogen-producing cells is specific to the hepatic fibrinogen storage disease-inducible variant fibrinogen.

    PubMed

    Arai, Shinpei; Ogiwara, Naoko; Mukai, Saki; Takezawa, Yuka; Sugano, Mitsutoshi; Honda, Takayuki; Okumura, Nobuo

    2017-06-01

    Fibrinogen storage disease (FSD) is a rare disorder that is characterized by the accumulation of fibrinogen in hepatocytes and induces liver injury. Six mutations in the γC domain (γG284R, γT314P, γD316N, the deletion of γG346-Q350, γG366S, and γR375W) have been identified for FSD. Our group previously established γ375W fibrinogen-producing Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and observed aberrant large granular and fibrous forms of intracellular inclusion bodies. The aim of this study was to investigate whether fibrous intracellular inclusion bodies are specific to FSD-inducible variant fibrinogen. Thirteen expression vectors encoding the variant γ-chain were stably or transiently transfected into CHO cells expressing normal fibrinogen Aα- and Bβ-chains or HuH-7 cells, which were then immunofluorescently stained. Six CHO and HuH-7 cell lines that transiently produced FSD-inducible variant fibrinogen presented the fibrous (3.2-22.7 and 2.1-24.5%, respectively) and large granular (5.4-25.5 and 7.7-23.9%) forms of intracellular inclusion bodies. Seven CHO and HuH-7 cell lines that transiently produced FSD-non-inducible variant fibrinogen only exhibit the large granular form. These results demonstrate that transiently transfected variant fibrinogen-producing CHO cells and inclusion bodies of the fibrous form may be useful in non-invasive screening for FSD risk factors for FSD before its onset.

  14. The effect of reagents mimicking oxidative stress on fibrinogen function.

    PubMed

    Štikarová, Jana; Kotlín, Roman; Riedel, Tomáš; Suttnar, Jiří; Pimková, Kristýna; Chrastinová, Leona; Dyr, Jan E

    2013-01-01

    Fibrinogen is one of the plasma proteins most susceptible to oxidative modification. It has been suggested that modification of fibrinogen may cause thrombotic/bleeding complications associated with many pathophysiological states of organism. We exposed fibrinogen molecules to three different modification reagents-malondialdehyde, sodium hypochlorite, and peroxynitrite-that are presented to various degrees in different stages of oxidative stress. We studied the changes in fibrin network formation and platelet interactions with modified fibrinogens under flow conditions. The fastest modification of fibrinogen was caused by hypochlorite. Fibers from fibrinogen modified with either reagent were thinner in comparison with control fibers. We found that platelet dynamic adhesion was significantly lower on fibrinogen modified with malondialdehyde and significantly higher on fibrinogen modified either with hypochlorite or peroxynitrite reflecting different prothrombotic/antithrombotic properties of oxidatively modified fibrinogens. It seems that, in the complex reactions ongoing in living organisms at conditions of oxidation stress, hypochlorite modifies proteins (e.g., fibrinogen) faster and more preferentially than malondialdehyde. It suggests that the prothrombotic effects of prior fibrinogen modifications may outweigh the antithrombotic effect of malondialdehyde-modified fibrinogen in real living systems.

  15. Aronia melanocarpa extract suppresses the biotoxicity of homocysteine and its metabolite on the hemostatic activity of fibrinogen and plasma.

    PubMed

    Malinowska, Joanna; Babicz, Karolina; Olas, Beata; Stochmal, Anna; Oleszek, Wieslaw

    2012-07-01

    Aronia melanocarpa fruits (Rosaceae) are one of the richest plant sources of phenolic substances, and it has been shown to have various biological activities. Berries of A. melanocarpa (chokeberry) have been supposed to be beneficial for the prevention of cardiovascular events. In this study the influence of aronia extract on the clot formation (using human plasma and purified fibrinogen) and the fibrin lysis during the model of hyperhomocysteinemia was investigated. Hyperhomocysteinemia was induced using a reduced form of Hcys (at final dose of 0.1mM) and the most reactive form of Hcys - its cyclic thioester, homocysteine thiolactone (HTL, 1 μM). The aim of our study in vitro was also to investigate the modifications of human plasma total proteins and the oxidative stress (by measuring the total antioxidant level - TAS) in plasma after incubation with Hcys, HTL and/or aronia extract. The biological properties of aronia extract were compared with the action of a well characterized antioxidative commercial polyphenol - resveratrol (3,4',5- trihydroxystilbene). The HTL, like its precursor, Hcys stimulated polymerization of fibrinogen. The results also demonstrated that Hcys (0.1mM) and HLT at lower doses than Hcys (1 μM) reduced the fibrin lysis in human plasma. Moreover, Hcys and HTL change the level of thiol and amino groups in plasma total proteins and induce the oxidative stress in plasma. Our results indicate that aronia extract reduced the biotoxicity action of Hcys and HTL on hemostatic properties of fibrinogen or plasma, suggesting its possible protective properties in hyperhomocysteinemia - induced cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, our results showed that the extract from berries of A. melanocarpa due to antioxidant action, significantly reduced the oxidative stress (measured by TAS) in plasma during the model of hyperhomocysteinemia. In the comparative studies, the extract from berries of A. melanocarpa and reseveratrol had similar protective properties

  16. Analysis of the safety and pharmacodynamics of human fibrinogen concentrate in animals

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Beyerle, Andrea, E-mail: andrea.beyerle@cslbehring.com; Nolte, Marc W.; Solomon, Cristina

    Fibrinogen, a soluble 340 kDa plasma glycoprotein, is critical in achieving and maintaining hemostasis. Reduced fibrinogen levels are associated with an increased risk of bleeding and recent research has investigated the efficacy of fibrinogen concentrate for controlling perioperative bleeding. European guidelines on the management of perioperative bleeding recommend the use of fibrinogen concentrate if significant bleeding is accompanied by plasma fibrinogen levels less than 1.5–2.0 g/l. Plasma-derived human fibrinogen concentrate has been available for therapeutic use since 1956. The overall aim of the comprehensive series of non-clinical investigations presented was to evaluate i) the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic characteristics and ii)more » the safety and tolerability profile of human fibrinogen concentrate Haemocomplettan P® (RiaSTAP®). Pharmacodynamic characteristics were assessed in rabbits, pharmacokinetic parameters were determined in rabbits and rats and a safety pharmacology study was performed in beagle dogs. Additional toxicology tests included: single-dose toxicity tests in mice and rats; local tolerance tests in rabbits; and neoantigenicity tests in rabbits and guinea pigs following the introduction of pasteurization in the manufacturing process. Human fibrinogen concentrate was shown to be pharmacodynamically active in rabbits and dogs and well tolerated, with no adverse events and no influence on circulation, respiration or hematological parameters in rabbits, mice, rats and dogs. In these non-clinical investigations, human fibrinogen concentrate showed a good safety profile. This data adds to the safety information available to date, strengthening the current body of knowledge regarding this hemostatic agent. - Highlights: • A comprehensive series of pre-clinical investigations of human fibrinogen concentrate. • Human fibrinogen concentrate was shown to be pharmacodynamically active. • Human fibrinogen concentrate was well

  17. Fibrinogen is not elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis

    PubMed Central

    2011-01-01

    Background Elevated plasma fibrinogen levels are a well known finding in acute infectious diseases, acute stroke and myocardial infarction. However its role in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of acute and chronic central (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) diseases is unclear. Findings We analyzed CSF and plasma fibrinogen levels together with routine parameters in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), acute inflammatory diseases of the CNS (bacterial and viral meningoencephalitis, BM and VM) and PNS (Guillain-Barré syndrome; GBS), as well as in non-inflammatory neurological controls (OND) in a total of 103 patients. Additionally, MS patients underwent cerebral MRI scans at time of lumbar puncture. CSF and plasma fibrinogen levels were significantly lower in patients with MS and OND patients as compared to patients with BM, VM and GBS. There was a close correlation between fibrinogen levels and albumin quotient (rho = 0.769, p < 0.001) which strongly suggests passive transfer of fibrinogen through the blood-CSF-barrier during acute inflammation. Hence, in MS, the prototype of chronic neuroinflammation, CSF fibrinogen levels were not elevated and could not be correlated to clinical and neuroradiological outcome parameters. Conclusions Although previous work has shown clear evidence of the involvement of fibrinogen in MS pathogenesis, this is not accompanied by increased fibrinogen in the CSF compartment. PMID:22029888

  18. The role of complement C3 and fibrinogen in monocyte adhesion to PEO like plasma deposited tetraglyme

    PubMed Central

    Szott, Luisa M.; Horbett, Thomas A.

    2010-01-01

    The role of complement C3 in mediating adhesion of monocytes to plasma deposited tetraglyme surfaces was studied. Although fibrinogen (Fg) is usually considered the main factor in mediating phagocyte attachment, plasma deposited PEO-like tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether (tetraglyme) coatings that have ultra-low Fg adsorption (< 10 ng/cm2) from low concentration solutions and low monocyte adhesion in vitro still show high phagocyte adhesion after short implantations and later become encapsulated when tested in vivo. To test whether higher Fg adsorption under in vivo conditions could explain the higher in vivo reactivity, we again measured the resistance of tetraglyme films to Fg adsorption. We found a surprising and previously unreported increased amount of adsorbed Fg on tetraglyme surfaces from higher concentration protein solutions. However, monocyte adhesion to tetraglyme did not markedly increase despite the increased Fg adsorption. We thus suspected proteins other than Fg must be responsible for the increased in vivo reactivity. We found that on tetraglyme pre-adsorbed with C3-depleted serum, monocyte adhesion was greatly reduced as compared to samples adsorbed with normal serum. Addition of exogenous pure C3 to the serum used to pre-adsorb the surfaces restored monocyte adhesion to tetraglyme coatings. While Fg clearly plays an important role in mediating monocyte adhesion to tetraglyme surfaces, the results show an additional role for adsorbed C3 in monocyte adhesion. PMID:20939050

  19. The significance of variations in immunoreactive and clottable fibrinogen in health and following thrombosis

    PubMed Central

    Wolf, P.; Farrell, G. W.; Walton, K. W.

    1972-01-01

    In individuals in a steady state of fibrinogen metabolism, immunoreactive and clottable fibrinogen estimates of plasma fibrinogen show close agreement. These estimates also detect any increase of plasma fibrinogen (due to increased synthesis) following metabolic stresses but in certain circumstances discrepancies between immunoreactive and clottable fibrinogen values occur which are of diagnostic assistance. During extensive thrombosis, circulating `cryoprofibrin' (fibrin intermediates) may be formed. These fail to give full quantitative immunodiffusion reactions with antifibrinogen. Values for immunoreactive are therefore lower than for clottable fibrinogen. When intravascular catabolism (due to plasmin action) accompanies increased synthesis, since some of the molecular breakdown products of fibrin or fibrinogen react with antifibrinogen but are not clottable, immunoreactive values exceed those for clottable fibrinogen. This discrepancy is therefore an indicator of thrombolysis. Each discrepancy in turn may be encountered during the alternating predominance of thrombosis or thrombolysis in vivo: (a) physiologically, in association with the menstrual cycle; (b) pathologically, following surgical operations or extensive intravascular thrombosis. Images PMID:4259368

  20. The Effect of Reagents Mimicking Oxidative Stress on Fibrinogen Function

    PubMed Central

    Štikarová, Jana; Kotlín, Roman; Riedel, Tomáš; Suttnar, Jiří; Pimková, Kristýna; Chrastinová, Leona; Dyr, Jan E.

    2013-01-01

    Fibrinogen is one of the plasma proteins most susceptible to oxidative modification. It has been suggested that modification of fibrinogen may cause thrombotic/bleeding complications associated with many pathophysiological states of organism. We exposed fibrinogen molecules to three different modification reagents—malondialdehyde, sodium hypochlorite, and peroxynitrite—that are presented to various degrees in different stages of oxidative stress. We studied the changes in fibrin network formation and platelet interactions with modified fibrinogens under flow conditions. The fastest modification of fibrinogen was caused by hypochlorite. Fibers from fibrinogen modified with either reagent were thinner in comparison with control fibers. We found that platelet dynamic adhesion was significantly lower on fibrinogen modified with malondialdehyde and significantly higher on fibrinogen modified either with hypochlorite or peroxynitrite reflecting different prothrombotic/antithrombotic properties of oxidatively modified fibrinogens. It seems that, in the complex reactions ongoing in living organisms at conditions of oxidation stress, hypochlorite modifies proteins (e.g., fibrinogen) faster and more preferentially than malondialdehyde. It suggests that the prothrombotic effects of prior fibrinogen modifications may outweigh the antithrombotic effect of malondialdehyde-modified fibrinogen in real living systems. PMID:24235886

  1. Fibrinogen catabolism within the procoagulant VX-2 tumor of rabbit lung in vivo: Effluxing fibrin(ogen) fragments contain antiangiogenic activity.

    PubMed

    Hatton, Mark W C; Southward, Suzanne M R; Legault, Kimberly J; Ross, Bonnie L; Clarke, Bryan J; Bajzar, Laszlo; Blajchman, Morris A; Singh, Gurmit; Richardson, Mary

    2004-04-01

    Many types of solid tumors are known to be procoagulant environments. This is partly because a hyperpermeable vascular system within the tumor allows plasma hemostatic factors to accumulate in relatively high concentrations in the stroma, and many solid-tumor cells express tissue factor or a procoagulant factor. These circumstances appear to exist in the VX-2 lung tumor of the New Zealand White (NZW) rabbit, and they sustain a measurable turnover of stromal deposits of fibrin(ogen). We have measured the turnover of fibrinogen within tumors of the VX-2 tumor-burdened rabbit and analysed the catabolic products of fibrin(ogen) and the status of fibrinolysis in tumor-derived interpleural effusate. Using intravenously injected (125)I-labeled rabbit fibrinogen as a marker, we found that fibrinogen (approximate blood concentration 1740 microg/mL) passed from blood to VX-2 tumor stroma, saturating the tumor at a concentration of approximately 348 microg fibrinogen/g in approximately 12 hours. We measured fibrin(ogen) fragments, at a concentration of approximately 292 microg/mL, in interpleural effusates that we recovered from 13% of the VX-2-burdened rabbits. Unreduced fibrin(ogen) fragments consisted of 4 major components with a relative molecular mass of approximately 250,000 (assumed to be fragment X; approximately 9% of total fragments from densitometry of immunoblots), 200,000 (d-dimer; 41%), 110,000 (fragment D; 49%), and 50,000 to 55,000 (fragment E; 1%-2%) kD. Total fibrin(ogen) fragments immunopurified from effusates exhibited an antiangiogenic effect when subjected to a chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane procedure. Interpleural effusates were devoid of plasmin activity or active plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 but contained plasmin complexes and active urokinase-like plasminogen activator (uPA), alpha(2)-antiplasmin, and thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor. We speculate that VX-2 cells release uPA to activate fibrinolysis within the tumor stroma

  2. The in vivo effect of fibrinogen and factor XIII on clot formation and fibrinolysis in Glanzmann's thrombasthenia.

    PubMed

    Shenkman, Boris; Livnat, Tami; Misgav, Mudi; Budnik, Ivan; Einav, Yulia; Martinowitz, Uriel

    2012-01-01

    Glanzmann's thrombasthenia (GT) is characterized by increased bleeding risk. The treatment options in GT are limited. The aim of this study was to test the effect of GT blood supplementation with fibrinogen and factor XIII on thrombin generation, blood clotting, and fibrinolysis. Whole blood samples of GT patients and normal donors treated with eptifibatide (GT model) were subjected to clotting by CaCl(2) and tissue factor. Thrombin generation was measured in platelet-rich plasma. Clot formation and tPA-induced fibrinolysis were evaluated in whole blood by rotation thromboelastometry (ROTEM). Blood was supplemented with fibrinogen (3 g/L) and/or FXIII (2 IU/mL). Thrombin generation analysis of blood derived from GT model and GT patients revealed decreased endogenous thrombin potential and peak height and extended lag time compared to control. However, this method was not sensitive to blood spiking with fibrinogen and FXIII. ROTEM revealed lower maximum clot firmness (MCF) and area under curve (AUC) in the blood of GT model and GT patients. In the absence of exogenous tPA, blood spiking with fibrinogen markedly enhanced clot quality while FXIII had no effect. Combination of fibrinogen and FXIII did not add to the effect of fibrinogen. In contrast, by the addition of tPA, both fibrinogen and FXIII separately and, to more extent, in combination enhanced clot quality as well as resistance against tPA-induced fibrinolysis (increasing MCF, AUC, and lysis onset time). In conclusion, fibrinogen and FXIII exerted stimulation of blood clotting and inhibition of fibrinolysis. Treating normal blood with eptifibatide mimics the changes of coagulopathy in GT blood.

  3. High fibrin/fibrinogen degradation product to fibrinogen ratio is associated with 28-day mortality and massive transfusion in severe trauma.

    PubMed

    Lee, D H; Lee, B K; Noh, S M; Cho, Y S

    2018-04-01

    There is a lack of association between coagulation biomarkers and long-term mortality in severe trauma. We aimed to investigate the association between coagulation biomarkers on admission and outcome of late stage of trauma. This retrospective observational study included patients admitted with severe trauma between 2012 and 2015. We used the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of coagulation biomarkers to determine 28-day mortality. Head Abbreviated Injury Scale scores greater than 3 were defined as traumatic brain injury (TBI). The primary outcome was 28-day mortality and the secondary outcome was massive transfusion. Of the 1266 patients included in the study, 28-day mortality rate was 19.7% (n = 249) and 7.9% (n = 100) of patients received massive transfusion. The AUROC of fibrin/fibrinogen degradation product (FDP) to fibrinogen ratio had a significantly higher prognostic performance than other markers. Multivariate analysis revealed that D-dimer level [odds ratio (OR) 1.033; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.016-1.051] and FDP/fibrinogen ratio (OR 1.007; 95% CI 1.001-1.013) were independently associated with 28-day mortality. D-dimer (OR 1.028; 95% CI 1.003-1.055) and FDP/fibrinogen ratio (OR 1.035; 95% CI 1.012-1.058) were associated with 28-day mortality in the TBI group. In the non-TBI group, D-dimer was associated with 28-day mortality (OR 1.033; 95% CI 1.008-1.059), but the FDP/fibrinogen ratio was not. FDP/fibrinogen ratio, not D-dimer level, was an independent predictor for massive transfusion (OR 1.005; 95% CI 1.001-1.010). High FDP/fibrinogen ratio on arrival is a predictor of 28-day mortality and the requirement for massive transfusion in severe trauma.

  4. A liver enhancer in the fibrinogen gene cluster.

    PubMed

    Fort, Alexandre; Fish, Richard J; Attanasio, Catia; Dosch, Roland; Visel, Axel; Neerman-Arbez, Marguerite

    2011-01-06

    The plasma concentration of fibrinogen varies in the healthy human population between 1.5 and 3.5 g/L. Understanding the basis of this variability has clinical importance because elevated fibrinogen levels are associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk. To identify novel regulatory elements involved in the control of fibrinogen expression, we used sequence conservation and in silico-predicted regulatory potential to select 14 conserved noncoding sequences (CNCs) within the conserved block of synteny containing the fibrinogen locus. The regulatory potential of each CNC was tested in vitro using a luciferase reporter gene assay in fibrinogen-expressing hepatoma cell lines (HuH7 and HepG2). 4 potential enhancers were tested for their ability to direct enhanced green fluorescent protein expression in zebrafish embryos. CNC12, a sequence equidistant from the human fibrinogen alpha and beta chain genes, activates strong liver enhanced green fluorescent protein expression in injected embryos and their transgenic progeny. A transgenic assay in embryonic day 14.5 mouse embryos confirmed the ability of CNC12 to activate transcription in the liver. While additional experiments are necessary to prove the role of CNC12 in the regulation of fibrinogen, our study reveals a novel regulatory element in the fibrinogen locus that is active in the liver and may contribute to variable fibrinogen expression in humans.

  5. Fibrinogen variant B[beta]D432A has normal polymerization but does not bind knob 'B'

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Bowley, Sheryl R.; Lord, Susan T.; UNC)

    2009-10-23

    Fibrinogen residue B{beta}432Asp is part of hole 'b' that interacts with knob 'B,' whose sequence starts with Gly-His-Arg-Pro-amide (GHRP). Because previous studies showed B{beta}D432A has normal polymerization, we hypothesized that B{beta}432Asp is not critical for knob 'B' binding and that new knob-hole interactions would compensate for the loss of this Asp residue. To test this hypothesis, we solved the crystal structure of fragment D from B{beta}D432A. Surprisingly, the structure (rfD-B{beta}D432A+GH) showed the peptide GHRP was not bound to hole 'b.' We then re-evaluated the polymerization of this variant by examining clot turbidity, clot structure, and the rate of FXIIIa cross-linking.more » The turbidity and the rate of - dimer formation for B{beta}D432A were indistinguishable compared with normal fibrinogen. Scanning electron microscopy showed no significant differences between the clots of B{beta}D432A and normal, but the thrombin-derived clots had thicker fibers than clots obtained from batroxobin, suggesting that cleavage of FpB is more important than 'B:b' interactions. We conclude that hole 'b' and 'B:b' knob-hole binding per se have no influence on fibrin polymerization.« less

  6. Natural hidden autoantibodies to tissue transglutaminase cross-react with fibrinogen.

    PubMed

    Zöller-Utz, Ingrid M; Esslinger, Birgit; Schulze-Krebs, Anja; Dieterich, Walburga

    2010-03-01

    Patients with celiac disease display autoantibodies against tissue transglutaminase (TG2), and the high sensitivity and specificity of these autoantibodies render them a reliable tool for diagnosis. However, we found that denatured sera from healthy persons also showed reactivity against TG2. To further examine the specificity of this phenomenon, sera of healthy individuals and celiac patients were denatured by heat or pH shift. Denatured sera of all individuals showed autoantibodies against TG2 in ELISA that could be specifically inhibited by TG2, but the biological role of these autoantibodies remains unknown. The alpha fibrinogen precursor could be isolated as serum protein that reacts with TG2 antibodies and treated sera reacted with fibrinogen in Western blotting. Cross-reactivity of TG2 antibodies with fibrinogen and vice versa was observed. We hypothesise that denaturation of sera reveals hidden autoantibodies against TG2, which might be normally masked by fibrinogen.

  7. Relative effects of plasma, fibrinogen concentrate, and factor XIII on ROTEM coagulation profiles in an in vitro model of massive transfusion in trauma.

    PubMed

    Schmidt, David E; Halmin, Märit; Wikman, Agneta; Östlund, Anders; Ågren, Anna

    2017-10-01

    Massive traumatic haemorrhage is aggravated through the development of trauma-induced coagulopathy, which is managed by plasma transfusion and/or fibrinogen concentrate administration. It is yet unclear whether these treatments are equally potent in ensuring adequate haemostasis, and whether additional factor XIII (FXIII) administration provides further benefits. In this study, we compared ROTEM whole blood coagulation profiles after experimental massive transfusion with different transfusion regimens in an in vitro model of dilution- and transfusion-related coagulopathy. Healthy donor blood was mixed 1 + 1 with six different transfusion regimens. Each regimen contained RBC, platelet concentrate, and either fresh frozen plasma (FFP) or Ringer's acetate (RA). The regimens were further augmented through addition of a low- or medium-dose fibrinogen concentrate and FXIII. Transfusion with FFP alone was insufficient to maintain tissue-factor activated clot strength, coincidental with a deficiency in fibrin-based clot strength. Fibrinogen concentrate conserved, but did not improve coagulation kinetics and overall clot strength. Only combination therapy with FFP and low-dose fibrinogen concentrate improved both coagulation kinetics and fibrin-based clot strength. Administration of FXIII did not result in an improvement of clot strength. In conclusion, combination therapy with both FFP and low-dose fibrinogen concentrate improved clotting time and produced firm clots, representing a possible preferred first-line regimen to manage trauma-induced coagulopathy when RBC and platelets are also transfused. Further research is required to identify optimal first-line transfusion fluids for massive traumatic haemorrhage.

  8. Passive participation of fixed platelets in aggregation facilitated by covalently bound fibrinogen.

    PubMed

    Agam, G; Livne, A

    1983-01-01

    The role of fibrinogen in interplatelet recognition during aggregation was examined by combining two cell types: fresh platelets (in limiting density) activated by thrombin or A23187, and formaldehyde-fixed platelets, bearing cross-linked fibrinogen. The fixed platelets did not aggregate by themselves, nor with resting platelets, but were capable of interacting with activated platelets and of participating passively in aggregation. The participation, expressed by enhanced aggregation, was assayed by the conventional turbidometric traces and by cosedimentation of fixed 3H-platelets with aggregates of fresh platelets. Platelet suspensions, prepared without special means to avert spontaneous activation, retained plasma fibrinogen to the extent of 50 micrograms/ml of a suspension containing 10(8) platelets, and the derived fixed platelets participated in aggregation, independently of added fibrinogen. The capability of such fixed platelets to participate in aggregation was sensitive to proteolytic digestion and to massive acetylation. When platelet separation was aided by apyrase or aspirin, PGE1 and gel filtration, the residual plasma fibrinogen was limited to 0.4 micrograms/ml of 10(8) platelet suspension. The derived fixed platelets were incapable of participating in aggregation unless fibrinogen was added prior to fixation. The affixed fibrinogen could not be replaced by soluble fibrinogen or affixed albumin. It is concluded that fibrinogen, which binds to platelets upon activation or is linked to them covalently, is a recognition site for platelet-platelet interaction during aggregation.

  9. The tick plasma lectin, Dorin M, is a fibrinogen-related molecule.

    PubMed

    Rego, Ryan O M; Kovár, Vojtĕch; Kopácek, Petr; Weise, Christoph; Man, Petr; Sauman, Ivo; Grubhoffer, Libor

    2006-04-01

    A lectin, named Dorin M, previously isolated and characterized from the hemolymph plasma of the soft tick, Ornithodoros moubata, was cloned and sequenced. The immunofluorescence using confocal microscopy revealed that Dorin M is produced in the tick hemocytes. A tryptic cleavage of Dorin M was performed and the resulting peptide fragments were sequenced by Edman degradation and/or mass spectrometry. Two of three internal peptide sequences displayed a significant similarity to the family of fibrinogen-related molecules. Degenerate primers were designed and used for PCR with hemocyte cDNA as a template. The sequence of the whole Dorin M cDNA was completed by the method of RACE. The tissue-specific expression investigated by RT-PCR revealed that Dorin M, in addition to hemocytes, is significantly expressed in salivary glands. The derived amino-acid sequence clearly shows that Dorin M has a fibrinogen-like domain, and exhibited the most significant similarity with tachylectins 5A and 5B from a horseshoe crab, Tachypleus tridentatus. In addition, other protein and binding characteristics suggest that Dorin M is closely related to tachylectins-5. Since these lectins have been reported to function as non-self recognizing molecules, we believe that Dorin M may play a similar role in an innate immunity of the tick and, possibly, also in pathogen transmission by this vector.

  10. Does fibrinogen add to prediction of cardiovascular disease? Results from the Scottish Heart Health Extended Cohort Study.

    PubMed

    Woodward, Mark; Tunstall-Pedoe, Hugh; Rumley, Ann; Lowe, Gordon D O

    2009-08-01

    Plasma fibrinogen is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), but it has not been established whether it adds predictive value to risk scores. In the Scottish Heart Health Extended Cohort Study, we measured plasma fibrinogen in 13 060 men and women, aged 30-74 years, initially free of CVD. After follow-up for a median of 19.2 years, 2626 subjects had at least one CVD event. After adjusting for classical CVD risk factors and socio-economic status, the hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for a one unit (g/l) increase in plasma fibrinogen were 1.09 (1.02, 1.16) for men and 1.10 (1.02, 1.19) for women. Although fibrinogen added significantly to the discrimination of the Framingham risk score for women, it failed to do so for men. Fibrinogen did not add significantly to the ASSIGN risk score. Fibrinogen added between 1.3% and 3.2% to the classification of CVD status by the existing risk scores. We conclude that the added value of fibrinogen to two currently used risk scores is low; hence population screening with fibrinogen for this purpose is unlikely to be clinically useful or cost-effective.

  11. SPM analysis of fibrinogen adsorption on solid surfaces

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Choukourov, A.; Grinevich, A.; Saito, N.; Takai, O.

    2007-09-01

    The adsorption kinetics, adhesion and orientation of human fibrinogen on solid surfaces have been studied by surface probe microscopy (SPM) and quartz crystal microbalance techniques (QCM). CF 3-, NH 2-terminated organo-silane self-assembled monolayers (SAM) and OH-terminated silicon dioxide have been used as model surfaces. Furthermore, the interaction of fibrinogen with nanocomposite Ti/hydrocarbon plasma polymer films (Ti/ppCH) deposited by dc magnetron sputtering has also been studied.

  12. Periodontal therapy reduces plasma levels of interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and fibrinogen in patients with severe periodontitis and refractory arterial hypertension.

    PubMed

    Vidal, Fábio; Figueredo, Carlos Marcelo S; Cordovil, Ivan; Fischer, Ricardo G

    2009-05-01

    Recent epidemiologic studies suggest that inflammation is the link between periodontal diseases and cardiovascular complications. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of non-surgical periodontal treatment on plasma levels of inflammatory markers (interleukin [IL]-6, C-reactive protein [CRP], and fibrinogen) in patients with severe periodontitis and refractory arterial hypertension. Twenty-two patients were examined and randomly divided into two groups. The test group was composed of 11 patients (mean age, 48.9 +/- 3.9 years) who received periodontal treatment, whereas the control group had 11 patients (mean age, 49.7 +/- 6.0 years) whose treatment was delayed for 3 months. Demographic and clinical periodontal data were collected, and blood tests were performed to measure the levels of IL-6, CRP, and fibrinogen at baseline and 3 months later. The clinical results showed that the mean percentages of sites with bleeding on probing, probing depth (PD) 4 to 5 mm, PD > or =6 mm, clinical attachment loss (CAL) 4 to 5 mm, and CAL > or =6 mm were significantly reduced in the test group 3 months after periodontal treatment. There were no significant differences between the data at baseline and 3 months in the control group. Periodontal treatment significantly reduced the blood levels of fibrinogen, CRP, and IL-6 in the test group. Non-surgical periodontal therapy was effective in improving periodontal clinical data and in reducing the plasma levels of IL-6, CRP, and fibrinogen in hypertensive patients with severe periodontitis.

  13. Fibrinogen and associated risk factors in a high-risk population: urban Indigenous Australians, the DRUID Study.

    PubMed

    Maple-Brown, Louise J; Cunningham, Joan; Nandi, Nirjhar; Hodge, Allison; O'Dea, Kerin

    2010-10-29

    Epidemiological evidence suggests that fibrinogen and CRP are associated with coronary heart disease risk. High CRP in Indigenous Australians has been reported in previous studies including our 'Diabetes and Related diseases in Urban Indigenous population in Darwin region' (DRUID) Study. We studied levels of fibrinogen and its cross-sectional relationship with traditional and non-traditional cardiovascular risk factors in an urban Indigenous Australian cohort. Fibrinogen data were available from 287 males and 628 females (aged ≥ 15 years) from the DRUID study. Analysis was performed for associations with the following risk factors: diabetes, HbA1c, age, BMI, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, C-reactive protein, homocysteine, blood pressure, heart rate, urine ACR, smoking status, alcohol abstinence. Fibrinogen generally increased with age in both genders; levels by age group were higher than those previously reported in other populations, including Native Americans. Fibrinogen was higher in those with than without diabetes (4.24 vs 3.56 g/L, p < 0.001). After adjusting for age and sex, the following were significantly associated with fibrinogen: BMI, waist, waist-hip ratio, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, fasting triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, HbA1c, CRP, ACR and alcohol abstinence. On multivariate regression (age and sex-adjusted) CRP and HbA1c were significant independent predictors of fibrinogen, explaining 27% of its variance; CRP alone explained 25% of fibrinogen variance. On factor analysis, both CRP and fibrinogen clustered with obesity in women (this factor explained 20% of variance); but in men, CRP clustered with obesity (factor explained 18% of variance) whilst fibrinogen clustered with HbA1c and urine ACR (factor explained 13% of variance). Fibrinogen is associated with traditional and non-traditional cardiovascular risk factors in this urban Indigenous cohort and may be a useful biomarker of

  14. Influence of biological factors on lipid and fibrinogen measurements in young men. An epidemiological study in 2009 recruits.

    PubMed

    Pitsavos, C; Skoumas, J; Dernellis, J; Toutouza, M; Doulalas, A; Stefanadis, C; Toutouzas, P

    1998-11-01

    The aim of the present study was to detect significant relationships between lipid and fibrinogen measurements and several biological factors in young men. Medical history was obtained, and plasma lipids, lipoprotein (a) and fibrinogen levels were measured in 2009 male Greek army recruits (mean age 22.37+/-3.03 years) not taking any drugs. Plasma levels were as follows: total cholesterol, 171+/-34 mg x dl(-1), low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, 111+/-34 mg x dl(-1), high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, 45+/-10 mg x dl(1), and triglycerides, 74+/-32 mg x dl(-1). Lipoprotein (a) and fibrinogen were 18+/-13 and 278+/-67 mg x dl(-1). The atherosclerotic index, calculated as the ratio of total cholesterol/HDL, was 4+/-1. Analysis of multivariate models that included potentially confounding factors revealed the following: body mass index, season of year during which blood examinations were performed, alcohol consumption, and place of residence were found to be significantly associated with plasma levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, fibrinogen and the atherosclerotic index in the pooled population. Season and physical activity were significantly associated with HDL-cholesterol, whereas season and family history of acute myocardial infarction were associated with triglycerides levels. Body mass index, family history of myocardial infarction and physical activity were associated with lipoprotein (a). Body mass index, season, alcohol consumption and place of residence are markers of plasma lipid profile and fibrinogen in young men. A family history of acute myocardial infarction and physical activity are related to lipoprotein (a).

  15. Fibrinogen adsorption, platelet adhesion and activation on mixed hydroxyl-/methyl-terminated self-assembled monolayers.

    PubMed

    Rodrigues, Sofia N; Gonçalves, Inês C; Martins, M C L; Barbosa, Mário A; Ratner, Buddy D

    2006-11-01

    The effect of surface wettability on fibrinogen adsorption, platelet adhesion and platelet activation was investigated using self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) containing different ratios of longer chain methyl- and shorter chain hydroxyl-terminated alkanethiols (C15CH3 vs. C11OH) on gold. Protein adsorption studies were performed using radiolabeled human fibrinogen (HFG). Platelet adhesion and activation studies with and without pre-adsorbed fibrinogen, albumin and plasma were assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a glutaraldehyde-induced fluorescence technique (GIFT). Results demonstrated a linear decrease of HFG adsorption with the increase of OH groups on the monolayer (increase of the hydrophilicity). Platelet adhesion and activation also decrease with increase of hydrophilicity of surface. Concerning SAMs pre-immersed in proteins, fibrinogen adsorption was related with high platelet adhesion and activation. The passivant effect of albumin on platelet adhesion and activation was only demonstrated on SAMs contained C11OH. When all the blood proteins are present (plasma) platelet adhesion was almost absent on SAMs with 65% and 100% C11OH. This could be explained by the higher albumin affinity of the SAMs with 65% C11OH and the lower total protein adsorption associated with SAMs with 100% C11OH.

  16. Recombinant γT305A fibrinogen indicates severely impaired fibrin polymerization due to the aberrant function of hole 'A' and calcium binding sites.

    PubMed

    Ikeda, Minami; Kobayashi, Tamaki; Arai, Shinpei; Mukai, Saki; Takezawa, Yuka; Terasawa, Fumiko; Okumura, Nobuo

    2014-08-01

    We examined a 6-month-old girl with inherited fibrinogen abnormality and no history of bleeding or thrombosis. Routine coagulation screening tests showed a markedly low level of plasma fibrinogen determined by functional measurement and also a low level by antigenic measurement (functional/antigenic ratio=0.295), suggesting hypodysfibrinogenemia. DNA sequence analysis was performed, and γT305A fibrinogen was synthesized in Chinese hamster ovary cells based on the results. We then functionally analyzed and compared with that of nearby recombinant γN308K fibrinogen. DNA sequence analysis revealed a heterozygous γT305A substitution (mature protein residue number). The γT305A fibrinogen indicated markedly impaired thrombin-catalyzed fibrin polymerization both in the presence or absence of 1mM calcium ion compared with that of γN308K fibrinogen. Protection of plasmin degradation in the presence of calcium ion or Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro peptide (analogue for so-called knob 'A') and factor XIIIa-catalyzed fibrinogen crosslinking demonstrated that the calcium binding sites, hole 'a' and D:D interaction sites were all markedly impaired, whereas γN308Kwas impaired at the latter two sites. Molecular modeling demonstrated that γT305 is localized at a shorter distance than γN308 from the high affinity calcium binding site and hole 'a'. Our findings suggest that γT305 might be important for construction of the overall structure of the γ module of fibrinogen. Substitution of γT305A leads to both dysfibrinogenemic and hypofibrinogenemic characterization, namely hypodysfibrinogenemia. We have already reported that recombinant γT305A fibrinogen was synthesized normally and secreted slightly, but was significantly reduced. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  17. Early fibrinogen degradation coagulopathy: a predictive factor of parenchymal hematomas in cerebral rt-PA thrombolysis.

    PubMed

    Sun, Xuhong; Berthiller, Julien; Trouillas, Paul; Derex, Laurent; Diallo, Laho; Hanss, Michel

    2015-04-15

    The purpose of this study was to systematically determine the correlations between the post-thrombolytic changes of hemostasis parameters and the occurrence of early intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). In 72 consecutive patients with cerebral infarcts treated with rt-PA, plasma levels of fibrinogen, plasminogen, alpha2-antiplasmin, factor XIII, fibrin(ogen) degradation products (FDPs) and d-Dimers were measured at baseline, 2 and 24h after thrombolysis. Correlations were studied between the hemostasis events and early (less than 24h) hemorrhagic infarcts (HIs) or parenchymatous hematomas (PH). Of 72 patients, 6 patients (8.3%) had early PHs, 11 (15.3%) had early HIs, and 55 (76.4%) had no bleeding. Early HIs were not linked to any hemostasis parameter at any time. Univariate comparison of patients having early PHs with non-bleeding patients showed hemostasis abnormalities at 2h: high FDP (p=0.01), high Log FDP (p=0.01), low fibrinogen (p=0.01), and low Log fibrinogen (p=0.01). Logistic regression adjusted for age, NIHSS and diabetes confirmed these 2hour predictors: Log FDP (OR: 7.50; CI: 1.26 to 44.61, p=0.03), and Log fibrinogen (OR: 19.32; CI: 1.81 to 205.98, p=0.01). The decrease in fibrinogen less than 2g/L multiplies the odds of early PH by a factor 12.82. An early fibrinogen degradation coagulopathy involving an increase of FDP and a massive consumption of circulating fibrinogen is predictive of early parenchymal hematomas, indicating the occurrence of a particularly intense lysis of circulating fibrinogen. These results, if confirmed by future studies, suggest that early assays of fibrinogen and FDP may be useful in predicting the risk of post-thrombolytic intracerebral hematoma. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  18. ESTABLISHMENT OF A FIBRINOGEN REFERENCE INTERVAL IN ORNATE BOX TURTLES (TERRAPENE ORNATA ORNATA).

    PubMed

    Parkinson, Lily; Olea-Popelka, Francisco; Klaphake, Eric; Dadone, Liza; Johnston, Matthew

    2016-09-01

    This study sought to establish a reference interval for fibrinogen in healthy ornate box turtles ( Terrapene ornata ornata). A total of 48 turtles were enrolled, with 42 turtles deemed to be noninflammatory and thus fitting the inclusion criteria and utilized to estimate a fibrinogen reference interval. Turtles were excluded based upon physical examination and blood work abnormalities. A Shapiro-Wilk normality test indicated that the noninflammatory turtle fibrinogen values were normally distributed (Gaussian distribution) with an average of 108 mg/dl and a 95% confidence interval of the mean of 97.9-117 mg/dl. Those turtles excluded from the reference interval because of abnormalities affecting their health had significantly different fibrinogen values (P = 0.313). A reference interval for healthy ornate box turtles was calculated. Further investigation into the utility of fibrinogen measurement for clinical usage in ornate box turtles is warranted.

  19. Circulating fibrinogen but not D-dimer level is associated with vital exhaustion in school teachers.

    PubMed

    Kudielka, Brigitte M; Bellingrath, Silja; von Känel, Roland

    2008-07-01

    Meta-analyses have established elevated fibrinogen and D-dimer levels in the circulation as biological risk factors for the development and progression of coronary artery disease (CAD). Here, we investigated whether vital exhaustion (VE), a known psychosocial risk factor for CAD, is associated with fibrinogen and D-dimer levels in a sample of apparently healthy school teachers. The teaching profession has been proposed as a potentially high stressful occupation due to enhanced psychosocial stress at the workplace. Plasma fibrinogen and D-dimer levels were measured in 150 middle-aged male and female teachers derived from the first year of the Trier-Teacher-Stress-Study. Log-transformed levels were analyzed using linear regression. Results yielded a significant association between VE and fibrinogen (p = 0.02) but not D-dimer controlling for relevant covariates. Further investigation of possible interaction effects resulted in a significant association between fibrinogen and the interaction term "VE x gender" (p = 0.05). In a secondary analysis, we reran linear regression models for males and females separately. Gender-specific results revealed that the association between fibrinogen and VE remained significant in males but not females. In sum, the present data support the notion that fibrinogen levels are positively related to VE. Elevated fibrinogen might be one biological pathway by which chronic work stress may impact on teachers' cardiovascular health in the long run.

  20. Familial hypofibrinogenaemia associated with heterozygous substitution of a conserved arginine residue; Bbeta255 Arg-->His (Fibrinogen Merivale).

    PubMed

    Maghzal, Ghassan J; Brennan, Stephen O; Fellowes, Andrew P; Spearing, Ruth; George, Peter M

    2003-02-21

    Sequencing of all three fibrinogen genes from an individual with hypofibrinogenaemia led to the identification of two new point mutations in the Bbeta gene. Family studies showed the mutations Bbeta255 Arg-->His (Fibrinogen Merivale) and Bbeta148 Lys-->Asn (Fibrinogen Merivale II) were on different alleles and that only the Bbeta255 Arg-->His mutation segregated with hypofibrinogenaemia. Three simple heterozygotes for this mutation had mean fibrinogen concentrations of 1.4 mg/ml, while heterozygotes for the Bbeta148 Lys-->Asn mutation had normal fibrinogen concentrations. ESI MS analysis of endoproteinase Asp-N digests of Bbeta chains showed that the Bbeta255 Arg-->His substitution was not expressed in plasma, confirming it as the cause of the hypofibrinogenaemia. The Bbeta148 Lys-->Asn chains, on the other hand, were equally expressed with wild-type Bbeta chains in simple heterozygotes. Genotype analysis failed to detect either substitution in 182 healthy controls. Arg(255) is located in the first strand of the five-stranded sheet that forms the main feature of the betaD domain and appears to form an essential H bond with Gly(414). Both the Arg and Gly are absolutely conserved, not only in all known Bbeta chains, but also in all homologous alphaE and gamma chains and in all fibrinogen-related proteins. Protein instability from loss of this contact could easily explain the association of this mutation with hypofibrinogenaemia.

  1. Two cases of congenital dysfibrinogenemia associated with thrombosis - Fibrinogen Praha III and Fibrinogen Plzen.

    PubMed

    Kotlín, Roman; Reicheltová, Zuzana; Malý, Martin; Suttnar, Jirí; Sobotková, Alzbeta; Salaj, Peter; Hirmerová, Jana; Riedel, Tomás; Dyr, Jan E

    2009-09-01

    Congenital dysfibrinogenemia is a rare disease characterised by inherited abnormality in the fibrinogen molecule, resulting in functional defects. Two patients, a 26-year-old woman and a 61-year-old man, both with history of thrombotic events, had abnormal coagulation test results. DNA sequencing showed the heterozygous gamma Y363N mutation (Fibrinogen Praha III) and the heterozygous Aalpha N106D mutation (Fibrinogen Plzen), respectively. Fibrin polymerisation, after addition of either thrombin or reptilase, showed remarkably delayed polymerisation in both cases. Fibrinolysis experiments showed slower tPA initiated lysis of clots. SDS-PAGE did not show any difference between normal and Praha III and Plzen fibrinogens. Both mutations had a significant effect on platelet aggregation. In the presence of either ADP or TRAP, both mutations caused the decrease of platelet aggregation. SEM revealed abnormal clot morphology, with a large number of free ends and narrower fibres of both fibrin Praha III and Plzen. Praha III mutation was situated in the polymerisation pocket "a". The replacement of the bulky aromatic side chain of tyrosine by the polar uncharged small side chain of asparagine may lead to a conformational change, possibly altering the conformation of the polymerisation pocket. The Plzen mutation is situated in the coiled-coil connector and this replacement of polar uncharged asparagine residue by polar acidic aspartate changes the alpha-helical conformation of the coiled-coil connector; and may destabilise hydrogen bonds in its neighborhood. Although both mutations are situated in different regions of the molecule, both mutations have a very similar effect on fibrinogen functions and both are connected with thromboses.

  2. Fibrinogen storage disease in a Chinese boy with de novo fibrinogen Aguadilla mutation: Incomplete response to carbamazepine and ursodeoxycholic acid.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Mei-Hong; Knisely, A S; Wang, Neng-Li; Gong, Jing-Yu; Wang, Jian-She

    2016-08-12

    Fibrinogen storage disease (FSD) is a rare autosomal-dominant disorder caused by mutation in FGG, encoding the fibrinogen gamma chain. Here we report the first Han Chinese patient with FSD, caused by de novo fibrinogen Aguadilla mutation, and his response to pharmacologic management. Epistaxis and persistent clinical-biochemistry test-result abnormalities prompted liver biopsy in a boy, with molecular study of FGG in him and his parents. He was treated with the autophagy enhancer carbamazepine, reportedly effective in FSD, and with ursodeoxycholic acid thereafter. Inclusion bodies in hepatocellular cytoplasm stained immune-histochemically for fibrinogen. Selective analysis of FGG found the heterozygous mutation c.1201C > T (p.Arg401Trp), absent in both parents. Over more than one year's follow-up, transaminase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activities have lessened but not normalized. This report expands the epidemiology of FSD and demonstrates idiosyncrasy in response to oral carbamazepine and/or ursodeoxycholic acid in FSD.

  3. A novel fibrinogen variant--Praha I: hypofibrinogenemia associated with gamma Gly351Ser substitution.

    PubMed

    Kotlín, Roman; Chytilová, Martina; Suttnar, Jirí; Salaj, Peter; Riedel, Tomás; Santrůcek, Jirí; Klener, Pavel; Dyr, Jan Evangelista

    2007-05-01

    A 25-yr-old man from Prague had abnormal bleeding after several surgical operations with low fibrinogen level and hypofibrinogenemia was suspected. The patient, 25 yr-old male had a low fibrinogen concentration as determined by the thrombin time and immunoturbidimetrical method. His 48-yr-old mother presented with normal coagulation tests, normal fibrinogen level and reported no history of bleeding. To identify the genetic mutation responsible for this hypofibrinogen, genomic DNA extracted from the blood was analyzed. Fibrin polymerization measurement, kinetics of fibrinopeptide release, fibrinogen clottability measurement, mass spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy were performed. DNA sequencing showed heterogeneous fibrinogen gammaG351S mutation in the propositus. The mutant chain was found not to be expressed to the circulation by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. Scanning electron micrographs of the patient's fibrin clot as well as kinetics of fibrinopeptide release and fibrin polymerization were found to be normal. A case of hypofibrinogenemia gammaG351S was found by routine coagulation testing and was genetically identified.

  4. Neprilysin Inhibits Coagulation through Proteolytic Inactivation of Fibrinogen

    PubMed Central

    Burrell, Matthew; Henderson, Simon J.; Ravnefjord, Anna; Schweikart, Fritz; Fowler, Susan B.; Witt, Susanne; Hansson, Kenny M.; Webster, Carl I.

    2016-01-01

    Neprilysin (NEP) is an endogenous protease that degrades a wide range of peptides including amyloid beta (Aβ), the main pathological component of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We have engineered NEP as a potential therapeutic for AD but found in pre-clinical safety testing that this variant increased prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). The objective of the current study was to investigate the effect of wild type NEP and the engineered variant on coagulation and define the mechanism by which this effect is mediated. PT and APTT were measured in cynomolgus monkeys and rats dosed with a human serum albumin fusion with an engineered variant of NEP (HSA-NEPv) as well as in control plasma spiked with wild type or variant enzyme. The coagulation factor targeted by NEP was determined using in vitro prothrombinase, calibrated automated thrombogram (CAT) and fibrin formation assays as well as N-terminal sequencing of fibrinogen treated with the enzyme. We demonstrate that HSA-NEP wild type and HSA-NEPv unexpectedly impaired coagulation, increasing PT and APTT in plasma samples and abolishing fibrin formation from fibrinogen. This effect was mediated through cleavage of the N-termini of the Aα- and Bβ-chains of fibrinogen thereby significantly impairing initiation of fibrin formation by thrombin. Fibrinogen has therefore been identified for the first time as a substrate for NEP wild type suggesting that the enzyme may have a role in regulating fibrin formation. Reductions in NEP levels observed in AD and cerebral amyloid angiopathy may contribute to neurovascular degeneration observed in these conditions. PMID:27437944

  5. The Staphylococcus aureus polysaccharide capsule and Efb-dependent fibrinogen shield act in concert to protect against phagocytosis

    PubMed Central

    Kuipers, Annemarie; Stapels, Daphne A. C.; Weerwind, Lleroy T.; Ko, Ya-Ping; Ruyken, Maartje; Lee, Jean C.; van Kessel, Kok P. M.

    2016-01-01

    Staphylococcus aureus has developed many mechanisms to escape from human immune responses. To resist phagocytic clearance, S. aureus expresses a polysaccharide capsule, which effectively masks the bacterial surface and surface-associated proteins, such as opsonins, from recognition by phagocytic cells. Additionally, secretion of the extracellular fibrinogen binding protein (Efb) potently blocks phagocytic uptake of the pathogen. Efb creates a fibrinogen shield surrounding the bacteria by simultaneously binding complement C3b and fibrinogen at the bacterial surface. By means of neutrophil phagocytosis assays with fluorescently labelled encapsulated serotype 5 (CP5) and serotype 8 (CP8) strains we compare the immune-modulating function of these shielding mechanisms. The data indicate that, in highly encapsulated S. aureus strains, the polysaccharide capsule is able to prevent phagocytic uptake at plasma concentrations <10 %, but loses its protective ability at higher concentrations of plasma. Interestingly, Efb shows a strong inhibitory effect on both capsule-negative and encapsulated strains at all tested plasma concentrations. Furthermore, the results suggest that both shielding mechanisms can exist simultaneously and collaborate to provide optimal protection against phagocytosis at a broad range of plasma concentrations. As opsonizing antibodies will be shielded from recognition by either mechanism, incorporating both capsular polysaccharides and Efb in future vaccines could be of great importance. PMID:27112346

  6. The Staphylococcus aureus polysaccharide capsule and Efb-dependent fibrinogen shield act in concert to protect against phagocytosis.

    PubMed

    Kuipers, Annemarie; Stapels, Daphne A C; Weerwind, Lleroy T; Ko, Ya-Ping; Ruyken, Maartje; Lee, Jean C; van Kessel, Kok P M; Rooijakkers, Suzan H M

    2016-07-01

    Staphylococcus aureus has developed many mechanisms to escape from human immune responses. To resist phagocytic clearance, S. aureus expresses a polysaccharide capsule, which effectively masks the bacterial surface and surface-associated proteins, such as opsonins, from recognition by phagocytic cells. Additionally, secretion of the extracellular fibrinogen binding protein (Efb) potently blocks phagocytic uptake of the pathogen. Efb creates a fibrinogen shield surrounding the bacteria by simultaneously binding complement C3b and fibrinogen at the bacterial surface. By means of neutrophil phagocytosis assays with fluorescently labelled encapsulated serotype 5 (CP5) and serotype 8 (CP8) strains we compare the immune-modulating function of these shielding mechanisms. The data indicate that, in highly encapsulated S. aureus strains, the polysaccharide capsule is able to prevent phagocytic uptake at plasma concentrations <10 %, but loses its protective ability at higher concentrations of plasma. Interestingly, Efb shows a strong inhibitory effect on both capsule-negative and encapsulated strains at all tested plasma concentrations. Furthermore, the results suggest that both shielding mechanisms can exist simultaneously and collaborate to provide optimal protection against phagocytosis at a broad range of plasma concentrations. As opsonizing antibodies will be shielded from recognition by either mechanism, incorporating both capsular polysaccharides and Efb in future vaccines could be of great importance.

  7. A Multi-Ethnic Meta-Analysis of Genome-Wide Association Studies in Over 100,000 Subjects Identifies 23 Fibrinogen-Associated Loci but no Strong Evidence of a Causal Association between Circulating Fibrinogen and Cardiovascular Disease

    PubMed Central

    Sabater-Lleal, Maria; Huang, Jie; Chasman, Daniel; Naitza, Silvia; Dehghan, Abbas; Johnson, Andrew D; Teumer, Alexander; Reiner, Alex P; Folkersen, Lasse; Basu, Saonli; Rudnicka, Alicja R; Trompet, Stella; Mälarstig, Anders; Baumert, Jens; Bis, Joshua C.; Guo, Xiuqing; Hottenga, Jouke J; Shin, So-Youn; Lopez, Lorna M; Lahti, Jari; Tanaka, Toshiko; Yanek, Lisa R; Oudot-Mellakh, Tiphaine; Wilson, James F; Navarro, Pau; Huffman, Jennifer E; Zemunik, Tatijana; Redline, Susan; Mehra, Reena; Pulanic, Drazen; Rudan, Igor; Wright, Alan F; Kolcic, Ivana; Polasek, Ozren; Wild, Sarah H; Campbell, Harry; Curb, J David; Wallace, Robert; Liu, Simin; Eaton, Charles B.; Becker, Diane M.; Becker, Lewis C.; Bandinelli, Stefania; Räikkönen, Katri; Widen, Elisabeth; Palotie, Aarno; Fornage, Myriam; Green, David; Gross, Myron; Davies, Gail; Harris, Sarah E; Liewald, David C; Starr, John M; Williams, Frances M.K.; Grant, P.J.; Spector, Timothy D.; Strawbridge, Rona J; Silveira, Angela; Sennblad, Bengt; Rivadeneira, Fernando; Uitterlinden, Andre G; Franco, Oscar H; Hofman, Albert; van Dongen, Jenny; Willemsen, G; Boomsma, Dorret I; Yao, Jie; Jenny, Nancy Swords; Haritunians, Talin; McKnight, Barbara; Lumley, Thomas; Taylor, Kent D; Rotter, Jerome I; Psaty, Bruce M; Peters, Annette; Gieger, Christian; Illig, Thomas; Grotevendt, Anne; Homuth, Georg; Völzke, Henry; Kocher, Thomas; Goel, Anuj; Franzosi, Maria Grazia; Seedorf, Udo; Clarke, Robert; Steri, Maristella; Tarasov, Kirill V; Sanna, Serena; Schlessinger, David; Stott, David J; Sattar, Naveed; Buckley, Brendan M; Rumley, Ann; Lowe, Gordon D; McArdle, Wendy L; Chen, Ming-Huei; Tofler, Geoffrey H; Song, Jaejoon; Boerwinkle, Eric; Folsom, Aaron R.; Rose, Lynda M.; Franco-Cereceda, Anders; Teichert, Martina; Ikram, M Arfan; Mosley, Thomas H; Bevan, Steve; Dichgans, Martin; Rothwell, Peter M.; Sudlow, Cathie L M; Hopewell, Jemma C.; Chambers, John C.; Saleheen, Danish; Kooner, Jaspal S.; Danesh, John; Nelson, Christopher P; Erdmann, Jeanette; Reilly, Muredach P.; Kathiresan, Sekar; Schunkert, Heribert; Morange, Pierre-Emmanuel; Ferrucci, Luigi; Eriksson, Johan G; Jacobs, David; Deary, Ian J; Soranzo, Nicole; Witteman, Jacqueline CM; de Geus, Eco JC; Tracy, Russell P.; Hayward, Caroline; Koenig, Wolfgang; Cucca, Francesco; Jukema, J Wouter; Eriksson, Per; Seshadri, Sudha; Markus, Hugh S.; Watkins, Hugh; Samani, Nilesh J; Wallaschofski, Henri; Smith, Nicholas L.; Tregouet, David; Ridker, Paul M.; Tang, Weihong; Strachan, David P.; Hamsten, Anders; O’Donnell, Christopher J.

    2013-01-01

    Background Estimates of the heritability of plasma fibrinogen concentration, an established predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD), range from 34 to 50%. Genetic variants so far identified by genome-wide association (GWA) studies only explain a small proportion (< 2%) of its variation. Methods and Results We conducted a meta-analysis of 28 GWA studies, including more than 90,000 subjects of European ancestry, the first GWA meta-analysis of fibrinogen levels in 7 African Americans studies totaling 8,289 samples, and a GWA study in Hispanic-Americans totaling 1,366 samples. Evaluation for association of SNPs with clinical outcomes included a total of 40,695 cases and 85,582 controls for coronary artery disease (CAD), 4,752 cases and 24,030 controls for stroke, and 3,208 cases and 46,167 controls for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Overall, we identified 24 genome-wide significant (P<5×10−8) independent signals in 23 loci, including 15 novel associations, together accounting for 3.7% of plasma fibrinogen variation. Gene-set enrichment analysis highlighted key roles in fibrinogen regulation for the three structural fibrinogen genes and pathways related to inflammation, adipocytokines and thyrotrophin-releasing hormone signaling. Whereas lead SNPs in a few loci were significantly associated with CAD, the combined effect of all 24 fibrinogen-associated lead SNPs was not significant for CAD, stroke or VTE. Conclusion We identify 23 robustly associated fibrinogen loci, 15 of which are new. Clinical outcome analysis of these loci does not support a causal relationship between circulating levels of fibrinogen and CAD, stroke or VTE. PMID:23969696

  8. [Relationship of fibrinogen with cardiovascular risk factors in healthy men from Maracaibo, Venezuela].

    PubMed

    Campos, Gilberto; Diez-Ewald, María; Ryder, Elena; Torres-Guerra, Enrique; Fernández, Virginia; Rivero, Francisco; Arocha-Piñango, Carmen Luisa

    2008-09-01

    The purpose of this paper was to determine the relationship between fibrinogen concentration and cardiovascular ischaemic risk factors in a group of apparently healthy men from Maracaibo, Venezuela. Two hundred and forty six individuals, ages 31 to 65 years were evaluated by means of clinical and laboratory examination. In each person plasma fibrinogen concentration was measured by coagulometry, serum glucose and lipids by enzymatic methods and insulin by radioimmunoanalysis. 31.7% of subjects had fibrinogen values in the highest tertil of the whole group (> or = 311 mg/dL), they also showed significantly higher values of total cholesterol (p < 0.03) and LDL-C (p < 0.01). In addition, the individuals in this tertil showed a significant and positive correlation between the values of triglycerides with insulin (p < 0.02) and with HOMA-IR (p < 0.01). On the other hand, correlation analysis also showed a positive significant association between the fibrinogen levels and total cholesterol (p < 0.02), dependent of individuals with family history of ischaemic cardiovascular disease (total cholesterol: p < 0.02 and LDL-C: p < 0.003). In consideration of the high concentrations of fibrinogen found in 31.7% of apparently healthy men and their significant positive correlation with total cholesterol and LDL-C, on the group of men with a family history of ischaemic cardiovascular disease, it would be advisable to include the determination of fibrinogen in the cardiovascular evaluation of these particular subjects.

  9. Orphan nuclear receptor ERRγ is a key regulator of human fibrinogen gene expression

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Yaochen; Kim, Don-Kyu; Lu, Yan; Jung, Yoon Seok; Lee, Ji-min; Kim, Young-Hoon; Lee, Yong Soo; Kim, Jina; Dewidar, Bedair; Jeong, Won-IL; Lee, In-Kyu; Cho, Sung Jin; Dooley, Steven; Lee, Chul-Ho; Li, Xiaoying

    2017-01-01

    Fibrinogen, 1 of 13 coagulation factors responsible for normal blood clotting, is synthesized by hepatocytes. Detailed roles of the orphan nuclear receptors regulating fibrinogen gene expression have not yet been fully elucidated. Here, we identified estrogen-related receptor gamma (ERRγ) as a novel transcriptional regulator of human fibrinogen gene expression. Overexpression of ERRγ specially increased fibrinogen expression in human hepatoma cell line. Cannabinoid receptor types 1(CB1R) agonist arachidonyl-2'-chloroethylamide (ACEA) up-regulated transcription of fibrinogen via induction of ERRγ, whereas knockdown of ERRγ attenuated fibrinogen expression. Deletion analyses of the fibrinogen γ (FGG) gene promoter and ChIP assays revealed binding sites of ERRγ on human fibrinogen γ gene promoter. Moreover, overexpression of ERRγ was sufficient to increase fibrinogen gene expression, whereas treatment with GSK5182, a selective inverse agonist of ERRγ led to its attenuation in cell culture. Finally, fibrinogen and ERRγ gene expression were elevated in liver tissue of obese patients suggesting a conservation of this mechanism. Overall, this study elucidates a molecular mechanism linking CB1R signaling, ERRγ expression and fibrinogen gene transcription. GSK5182 may have therapeutic potential to treat hyperfibrinogenemia. PMID:28750085

  10. Biocompatible and biodegradable fibrinogen microspheres for tumor-targeted doxorubicin delivery

    PubMed Central

    Joo, Jae Yeon; Park, Gil Yong; An, Seong Soo A

    2015-01-01

    In the development of effective drug delivery carriers, many researchers have focused on the usage of nontoxic and biocompatible materials and surface modification with targeting molecules for tumor-specific drug delivery. Fibrinogen (Fbg), an abundant glycoprotein in plasma, could be a potential candidate for developing drug carriers because of its biocompatibility and tumor-targeting property via arginine–glycine–aspartate (RGD) peptide sequences. Doxorubicin (DOX), a chemotherapeutic agent, was covalently conjugated to Fbg, and the microspheres were prepared. Acid-labile and non-cleavable linkers were used for the conjugation of DOX to Fbg, resulting in an acid-triggered drug release under a mild acidic condition and a slow-controlled drug release, respectively. In vitro cytotoxicity tests confirmed low cytotoxicity in normal cells and high antitumor effect toward cancer cells. In addition, it was discovered that a longer linker could make the binding of cells to Fbg drug carriers easier. Therefore, DOX–linker–Fbg microspheres could be a suitable drug carrier for safer and effective drug delivery. PMID:26366073

  11. CONNECTION BETWEEN THE INCREASED FIBRINOGEN CONCENTRATION IN DOGS WITH RADIATION SICKNESS AND THE FIBRINOGENASE ACTIVITY

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Gordeeva, K.V.

    1963-11-01

    A study was made of the concentration of blood plasma fibrinogen in relation to the changes of fibrinogenase activity. Dogs with radiation sickness (severe, moderately severe, and mild) served as experimental animals. A rise of the blood plasma fibrinogen content was observed in dogs with severe and moderately severe radiation sickness. This phenomenon is especially pronounced at the height of radiation sickness. The activity of fibrinogenase in severe radiation sickness was considerably decreased at the initial period and at the height of the disease. The rise of fibrinogen content in severe and moderately severe radiation sickness should be regarded asmore » an adaptive reaction directed to control hemorrhages, not as the sequence of raduced fibrinogenase activity. (auth)« less

  12. Adhesion of normal erythrocytes at depressed venous shear rates to activated neutrophils, activated platelets, and fibrin polymerized from plasma.

    PubMed

    Goel, Mukul S; Diamond, Scott L

    2002-11-15

    Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a low flow pathology often prevented by vascular compression to increase blood movement. We report new heterotypic adhesive interactions of normal erythrocytes operative at low wall shear rates (gamma(w)) below 100 s(-1). Adhesion at gamma(w) = 50 s(-1) of washed red blood cells (RBCs) to fibrinogen-adherent platelets was 4-fold less (P <.005) than to collagen-adherent platelets (279 +/- 105 RBC/mm(2)). This glycoprotein VI (GPVI)-triggered adhesion was antagonized (> 80% reduction) by soluble fibrinogen (3 mg/mL) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). RBC-platelet adhesion was reduced in half by antibodies against CD36 or GPIb, but not by antibodies against GPIIb/IIIa, von Willebrand factor (VWF), thrombospondin (TSP), P-selectin, beta(1), alpha(v), or CD47. Adhesion of washed RBCs to fibrinogen-adherent neutrophils was increased 6-fold in the presence of 20 microM N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe to a level of 67 RBCs per 100 neutrophils after 5 minutes at 50 s(-1). RBC-neutrophil adhesion was diminished by anti-CD11b (76%), anti-RBC Landsteiner-Wiener (LW) (ICAM4; 40%), or by EDTA (> 80%), but not by soluble fibrinogen or antibodies against CD11a, CD11c, CD36, TSP, beta(1), alpha(v), or CD47. RBC adhesion to activated platelets and activated neutrophils was prevented by wall shear stress above 1 dyne/cm(2) (at 100 s(-1)). Whereas washed RBCs did not adhere to fibrin formed from purified fibrinogen, adhesion was marked when pure fibrin was precoated with TSP or when RBCs were perfused over fibrin formed from recalcified plasma. Endothelial activation and unusually low flow may be a setting prone to receptor-mediated RBC adhesion to adherent neutrophils (or platelets/fibrin), all of which may contribute to DVT.

  13. Evaluation of C-Reactive Protein and Fibrinogen in Patients with Chronic and Aggressive Periodontitis: A Clinico-Biochemical Study.

    PubMed

    Chandy, Swaroop; Joseph, Kiran; Sankaranarayanan, Anila; Issac, Annie; Babu, George; Wilson, Bobby; Joseph, Jumol

    2017-03-01

    Periodontal disease is characterised by chronic infection and inflammation in periodontal tissues leading to destruction of alveolar bone with subsequent tooth loss. Periodontal infections are the result of an interaction between tooth associated microbial biofilms and the host defences. Periodontal pathogens can affect local and systemic immune and inflammatory responses. The aim of the present study was to evaluate serum C-Reactive Protein (CRP), plasma fibrinogen and peripheral blood levels in healthy subjects, chronic and aggressive periodontitis patients. A total of 55 subjects, 27 males and 28 females were selected for the study. Blood samples were taken from healthy controls (n=20) and patients with chronic periodontitis (n=20) and aggressive periodontitis (n=15). The periodontal status of each patient was assessed by recording Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S), Bleeding Index (BI), Probing Pocket Depth (PPD) and Clinical Attachment Level (CAL). The levels of serum CRP were measured using high sensitivity Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and levels of plasma fibrinogen were measured using Quantitative Immunoturbidimetric assay. Data description was done in the form of mean and standard deviation and analysis of data was done using one way ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) and Students t-test to test the statistical significance between groups. The levels of serum CRP and plasma fibrinogen was increased in patients with chronic and aggressive periodontitis when compared to healthy controls (p<0.001). A positive correlation was found to exist between levels of clinical parameters like OHI-S, BI, PPD and CAL when compared with CRP and fibrinogen as well as with the study groups. The finding of the present study suggests the role of serum as a diagnostic marker in inflammatory conditions and indicates that levels of CRP and fibrinogen may serve as important biomarkers for evaluating the association between periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases.

  14. Fibrinogen and ceruloplasmin in plasma and milk from dairy cows with subclinical and clinical mastitis.

    PubMed

    Tabrizi, A Davasaz; Batavani, R A; Rezaei, S Asri; Ahmadi, M

    2008-02-15

    The potential using of Acute Phase Proteins (APPs) in the assessment of mammary gland health was studied by examining the levels of Fibrinogen (Fb) and Ceruloplasmin (Cp) in plasma and milk from dairy cows with different grades of mastitis. Plasma samples were taken from jugular vein and milk samples were collected from quarters of cows with subclinical and clinical mastitis, as well as healthy controls. California Mastitis Test (CMT) were performed on each udder quarter of cows for detection of CMT2+ and CMT3+ quarters. CMT (0) and culture negative cases were considered healthy cows. Clinical mastitis, was graded as mild (clots in milk) or moderate (clots in milk and visible signs of inflammation in the mammary gland/s). The concentrations of Fb in the plasma of the cows with subclinical and clinical mastitis were higher than in the plasma of the healthy cows (p<0.01). There was no significant difference in plasma concentration of Cp between healthy and subclinical groups (p>0.05), but differences between clinical and healthy groups were significant (p<0.05). The concentrations of Fb and Cp in the milk of the cows with subclinical and clinical mastitis were higher than in the milk of the healthy cows (p<0.01). The results indicated that measurement of Fb in plasma and milk and Cp only in milk might be suitable for early diagnosis of mastitis in dairy cows.

  15. Solute removal capacity of high cut-off membrane plasma separators.

    PubMed

    Ohkubo, Atsushi; Kurashima, Naoki; Nakamura, Ayako; Miyamoto, Satoko; Iimori, Soichiro; Rai, Tatemitsu

    2013-10-01

    In vitro blood filtration was performed by a closed circuit using high cut-off membrane plasma separators, EVACURE EC-2A10 (EC-2A) and EVACURE EC-4A10 (EC-4A). Samples were obtained from sampling sites before the plasma separator, after each plasma separator, and from the ultrafiltrate of each separator. The sieving coefficient (S.C.) of total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), IgG, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), fibrinogen (Fib), antithrombin III (AT-III), and coagulation factor XIII (FXIII) were calculated. The S.C. of each solute using EC-2A and EC-A4 were as follows; TP: 0.25 and 0.56, Alb: 0.32 and 0.73, IgG: 0.16 and 0.50, IL-6:0.73 and 0.95, IL-8:0.85 and 0.82, TNF-α: 1.07 and 0.99, Fib: 0 and 0, FXIII: 0.07 and 0.17, respectively. When compared with the conventional type of membrane plasma separators, EVACURE could efficiently remove cytokines while retaining coagulation factors such as fibrinogen. Moreover, EC-2A prevented protein loss, whereas EC-4A could remove approximately 50% of IgG. © 2013 The Authors. Therapeutic Apheresis and Dialysis © 2013 International Society for Apheresis.

  16. Fibrinogen and fibrin.

    PubMed

    Weisel, John W

    2005-01-01

    Fibrinogen is a large, complex, fibrous glycoprotein with three pairs of polypeptide chains linked together by 29 disulfide bonds. It is 45 nm in length, with globular domains at each end and in the middle connected by alpha-helical coiled-coil rods. Both strongly and weakly bound calcium ions are important for maintenance of fibrinogen's structure and functions. The fibrinopeptides, which are in the central region, are cleaved by thrombin to convert soluble fibrinogen to insoluble fibrin polymer, via intermolecular interactions of the "knobs" exposed by fibrinopeptide removal with "holes" always exposed at the ends of the molecules. Fibrin monomers polymerize via these specific and tightly controlled binding interactions to make half-staggered oligomers that lengthen into protofibrils. The protofibrils aggregate laterally to make fibers, which then branch to yield a three-dimensional network-the fibrin clot-essential for hemostasis. X-ray crystallographic structures of portions of fibrinogen have provided some details on how these interactions occur. Finally, the transglutaminase, Factor XIIIa, covalently binds specific glutamine residues in one fibrin molecule to lysine residues in another via isopeptide bonds, stabilizing the clot against mechanical, chemical, and proteolytic insults. The gene regulation of fibrinogen synthesis and its assembly into multichain complexes proceed via a series of well-defined steps. Alternate splicing of two of the chains yields common variant molecular isoforms. The mechanical properties of clots, which can be quite variable, are essential to fibrin's functions in hemostasis and wound healing. The fibrinolytic system, with the zymogen plasminogen binding to fibrin together with tissue-type plasminogen activator to promote activation to the active enzyme plasmin, results in digestion of fibrin at specific lysine residues. Fibrin(ogen) also specifically binds a variety of other proteins, including fibronectin, albumin

  17. Reduced Transfusion During OLT by POC Coagulation Management and TEG Functional Fibrinogen: A Retrospective Observational Study.

    PubMed

    De Pietri, Lesley; Ragusa, Francesca; Deleuterio, Annalisa; Begliomini, Bruno; Serra, Valentina

    2016-01-01

    Patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation are at high risk of bleeding complications. Several Authors have shown that thromboelastography (TEG)-based coagulation management and the administration of fibrinogen concentrate reduce the need for blood transfusion. We conducted a single-center, retrospective cohort observational study (Modena Polyclinic, Italy) on 386 consecutive patients undergoing liver transplantation. We assessed the impact on resource consumption and patient survival after the introduction of a new TEG-based transfusion algorithm, requiring also the introduction of the fibrinogen functional thromboelastography test and a maximum amplitude of functional fibrinogen thromboelastography transfusion cutoff (7 mm) to direct in administering fibrinogen (2012-2014, n = 118) compared with a purely TEG-based algorithm previously used (2005-2011, n = 268). After 2012, there was a significant decrease in the use of homologous blood (1502 ± 1376 vs 794 ± 717 mL, P < 0.001), fresh frozen plasma (537 ± 798 vs 98 ± 375 mL, P < 0.001), and platelets (158 ± 280 vs 75 ± 148 mL, P < 0.005), whereas the use of fibrinogen increased (0.1 ± 0.5 vs 1.4 ± 1.8 g, P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in 30-day and 6-month survival between the 2 groups. The implementation of a new coagulation management method featuring the addition of the fibrinogen functional thromboelastography test to the TEG test according to an algorithm which provides for the administration of fibrinogen has helped in reducing the need for transfusion in patients undergoing liver transplantation with no impact on their survival.

  18. A Protocol for the Preparation of Cryoprecipitate and Cryo-depleted Plasma for Proteomic Studies.

    PubMed

    Sparrow, Rosemary L; Simpson, Richard J; Greening, David W

    2017-01-01

    Cryoprecipitate is a concentrate of high-molecular-weight plasma proteins that precipitate when frozen plasma is slowly thawed at 1-6 °C. The concentrate contains factor VIII (antihemophilic factor), von Willebrand factor (vWF), fibrinogen, factor XIII, fibronectin, and small amounts of other plasma proteins. Clinical grade preparations of cryoprecipitate are mainly used to treat fibrinogen deficiency caused by acute bleeding or functional abnormalities of the fibrinogen protein. In the past, cryoprecipitate was used to treat von Willebrand disease and hemophilia A (factor VIII deficiency), but the availability of more highly purified coagulation factor concentrates or recombinant protein preparations has superseded the use of cryoprecipitate for these coagulopathies. Cryo-depleted plasma ("cryosupernatant") is the plasma supernatant remaining following removal of the cryoprecipitate from frozen-thawed plasma. It contains all the other plasma proteins and clotting factors present in plasma that remain soluble during cold-temperature thawing of the plasma. This protocol describes the clinical-scale preparation of cryoprecipitate and cryo-depleted plasma for proteomic studies.

  19. Plasma lipid profile in Nigerians with high--normal blood pressure.

    PubMed

    Saidu, Hadiza; Karaye, Kamilu Musa; Okeahialam, Basil N

    2014-12-18

    those in group 3 (P-value for trend<0.001). Mean fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was 3.8±0.4 mmol/L, 4.7±1.1 mmol/L, 5.1±1.9 mmol/L and for subjects in groups 1, 2 and 3 respectively (p>0.05 for groups 2 Vs 1 and p<0.001 for groups 2 Vs 3). The differences in mean body mass index (BMI) between the groups followed a similar trend as that of FPG. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that FPG, TG and BMI were the strongest predictors of prehypertension [odds ratio (OR) 10.14, 95% CI (confidence interval) 3.63-28.33, P=0.000; OR 5.75, 95% CI 2.20-15.05, P=0.000; and OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.57-2.62, P=0.000 respectively]. The study has shown a significant increase in plasma TC, LDL-C and TG values as blood pressure levels increased from optimally normal, across high-normal to hypertensive levels. There was a similar trend for FPG and BMI, demonstrating the central role that blood pressure plays in these metabolic disorders in Nigerians. These findings are relevant in terms of both prevention and treatment of cardiovascular morbidities and mortality.

  20. Importance of fibrinogen in dilutional coagulopathy after neurosurgical procedures: A descriptive study.

    PubMed

    Nair, Shalini; Nair, Bijesh Ravindran; Vidyasagar, Ajay; Joseph, Mathew

    2016-08-01

    The routine management of coagulopathy during surgery involves assessing haemoglobin, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and platelets. Correction of these parameters involves administration of blood, fresh frozen plasma and platelet concentrates. The study was aimed at identifying the most common coagulation abnormality during neurosurgical procedures and the treatment of dilutional coagulopathy with blood components. During 2 years period, all adult patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures who were transfused two or more units of red cells were prospectively evaluated for the presence of a coagulopathy. PT, aPTT, platelet count and fibrinogen levels were estimated before starting a component therapy. After assessing PT, aPTT, platelet count and fibrinogen levels following two or more blood transfusions, thirty patients were found to have at least one abnormal parameter that required administration of a blood product. The most common abnormality was a low fibrinogen level, seen in 26 patients; this was the only abnormality in three patients. No patient was found to have an abnormal PT or aPTT without either the fibrinogen concentration or platelet count or both being low. Low fibrinogen concentration was the most common coagulation abnormality found after blood transfusions for neurosurgical procedures.

  1. Radioimmunoassay of human high molecular weight kininogen in normal and deficient plasmas

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Proud, D.; Pierce, J.V.; Pisano, J.J.

    1980-04-01

    An RIA for human HMW kininogen, capable of detecting 150 pg of antigen, has been developed. Antibody to HMW kininogen was purified by immunoaffinity chromatography, and double-antibody precipitation was used to separate free and bound antigen. Of the LMW kininogens only one of the forms tested (B3.2) showed significant cross-reaction (2%). Bradykinin and human plasma kallikrein both showed no cross-reaction, and monkey HMW kininogen showed identity to the human antigen. Intraassay and interassay coefficients of variation were 2 and 1.5%, respectively. Recovery of HMW kininogen added to 6 plasmas was 97.7% +- 1.8%. Assay of 17 normal plasmas gave amore » level of 90.8 +- 2.5 ..mu..g/ml HMW kininogen (mean +- S.E.M.). A bioassay of the samples, based on specific release of kinin by purified plasma kallikrein, yielded a level of 90.2 +- 2.8 ..mu..g/ml HMW kininogen (r = 0.83, p < 0.001). In neither assay was any significant sex difference observed. No evidence of any antigenic fragments was seen upon gel filtration of normal plasmas. RIA measurements were also performed on seven plasmas reportedly deficient in HMW kininogen. Williams, Dayton, San Francisco, and Flaujeac plasmas all showed no significant cross-reaction, whereas Fitzgerald, Reid, and Detroit plasmas showed 1.0, 2.5, and 3.5% of normal antigenic levels, respectively. This sensitive, convenient method should facilitate studies on the role of the kallikrein-kinin system in health and disease.« less

  2. Substitution of the human αC region with the analogous chicken domain generates a fibrinogen with severely impaired lateral aggregation: fibrin monomers assemble into protofibrils but protofibrils do not assemble into fibers.†

    PubMed Central

    Ping, Lifang; Huang, Lihong; Cardinali, Barbara; Profumo, Aldo; Gorkun, Oleg V.; Lord, Susan T.

    2011-01-01

    Fibrin polymerization occurs in two steps: the assembly of fibrin monomers into protofibrils and the lateral aggregation of protofibrils into fibers. Here we describe a novel fibrinogen that apparently impairs only lateral aggregation. This variant is a hybrid, where the human αC region has been replaced with the homologous chicken region. Several experiments indicate this hybrid human-chicken (HC) fibrinogen has an overall structure similar to normal. Thrombin-catalyzed fibrinopeptide release from HC fibrinogen was normal. Plasmin digests of HC fibrinogen produced fragments that were similar to normal D and E; further, as with normal fibrinogen, the knob ‘A’ peptide, GPRP, reversed the plasmin cleavage associated with addition of EDTA. Dynamic light scattering and turbidity studies with HC fibrinogen showed polymerization was not normal. Whereas early small increases in hydrodynamic radius and absorbance paralleled the increases seen during the assembly of normal protofibrils, HC fibrinogen showed no dramatic increase in scattering as observed with normal lateral aggregation. To determine whether HC and normal fibrinogen could form a copolymer, we examined mixtures of these. Polymerization of normal fibrinogen was markedly changed by HC fibrinogen, as expected for mixed polymers. When the mixture contained 0.45 μM normal and 0.15 M HC fibrinogen, the initiation of lateral aggregation was delayed and the final fiber size was reduced relative to normal fibrinogen at 0.45 μM. Considered altogether our data suggest that HC fibrin monomers can assemble into protofibrils or protofibril-like structures but these either cannot assemble into fibers or assemble into very thin fibers. PMID:21932842

  3. Genetic associations between fibrinogen and cognitive performance in three Scottish cohorts.

    PubMed

    Marioni, Riccardo E; Deary, Ian J; Murray, Gordon D; Lowe, Gordon D O; Strachan, Mark W J; Luciano, Michelle; Houlihan, Lorna M; Gow, Alan J; Harris, Sarah E; Rumley, Ann; Stewart, Marlene C; Fowkes, F Gerry R; Price, Jackie F

    2011-09-01

    There is increasing evidence to suggest that elevated plasma levels of fibrinogen are associated with late-life cognitive performance. This study tested the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the fibrinogen α (FGA) and β (FGB) genes with cognitive performance. Data were analysed from three community-dwelling populations of older persons (>50 years) in central Scotland: the Aspirin for Asymptomatic Atherosclerosis (AAA) Trial (n = 2,091), the Edinburgh Type 2 Diabetes Study (ET2DS, n = 1,066), and the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 (LBC1936, n = 1,091). Cognition was assessed using a battery of five, seven, and four psychometric tests, respectively. This information was used to derive a general cognitive factor. Weakly significant associations were found between the rs4220 (FGB), and rs2227412 (FGB) SNPs and a single test of cognitive performance in the AAA Trial (p < 0.05). These findings did not replicate in the LBC1936 or ET2DS cohorts, except for the rs2227412 SNP, which was significantly associated with the general cognitive factor in the ET2DS (p = 3.3 × 10(-4)). A summary term that combined results from all three studies suggested that the rs2227412 genotype associated with reduced cognitive ability also associated with higher plasma fibrinogen levels. These findings suggest a tentative role for fibrinogen as a determinant of late-life cognitive performance and justify further attempts at replication in older persons.

  4. Histamine release and fibrinogen adsorption mediate acute inflammatory responses to biomaterial implants in humans

    PubMed Central

    Zdolsek, Johann; Eaton, John W; Tang, Liping

    2007-01-01

    Background Medical implants often fail as a result of so-called foreign body reactions during which inflammatory cells are recruited to implant surfaces. Despite the clinical importance of this phenomenon, the mechanisms involved in these reactions to biomedical implants in humans are not well understood. The results from animal studies suggest that both fibrinogen adsorption to the implant surface and histamine release by local mast cells are involved in biomaterial-mediated acute inflammatory responses. The purpose of this study was to test this hypothesis in humans. Methods Thirteen male medical student volunteers (Caucasian, 21–30 years of age) were employed for this study. To assess the importance of fibrinogen adsorption, six volunteers were implanted with polyethylene teraphthalate disks pre-coated with their own (fibrinogen-containing) plasma or (fibrinogen-free) serum. To evaluate the importance of histamine, seven volunteers were implanted with uncoated disks with or without prior oral administration of histamine receptor antagonists. The acute inflammatory response was estimated 24 hours later by measuring the activities of implant-associated phagocyte-specific enzymes. Results Plasma coated implants accumulated significantly more phagocytes than did serum coated implants and the recruited cells were predominantly macrophage/monocytes. Administration of both H1 and H2 histamine receptor antagonists greatly reduced the recruitment of macrophages/monocytes and neutrophils on implant surfaces. Conclusion In humans – as in rodents – biomaterial-mediated inflammatory responses involve at least two crucial events: histamine-mediated phagocyte recruitment and phagocyte accumulation on implant surfaces engendered by spontaneously adsorbed host fibrinogen. Based on these results, we conclude that reducing fibrinogen:surface interactions should enhance biocompatibility and that administration of histamine receptor antagonists prior to, and shortly after

  5. Stimulation of fibrinogen synthesis in cultured rat hepatocytes by fibrinogen degradation product fragment D

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    LaDuca, F.M.; Tinsley, L.A.; Dang, C.V.

    The direct stimulation of fibrinogen biosynthesis by fibrinogen degradation produces (FDPs) was studied in rat hepatocyte cultures. Pure rat FDP fragment D (FDP-D) (Mr 90,000) and FDP fragment E (FDP-E) (Mr 40,000) and mixtures of the two (FDP-DE) were added to rat hepatocytes cultured in serum-free hormonally defined medium. Hydrocortisone (20 microM) significantly increased synthesis of fibrinogen, as determined by incorporation of (35S)methionine. FDP-D and FDP-E did not increase fibrinogen synthesis in the presence of hydrocortisone. However, hepatocytes cultured without hydrocortisone displayed increased fibrinogen synthesis (2.0- to 2.8-fold) with FDP-D (2.6-6.7 microM) but not with FDP-E (5.7 microM). At thesemore » FDP concentrations the synthesis of albumin, haptoglobin, and transferrin was not increased. FDP-D-induced fibrinogen synthesis was inhibited (greater than 90%) by actinomycin D and cycloheximide, indicating that the increase in (35S)methionine incorporation was from de novo protein synthesis. The role of FDP-D was further substantiated by showing that FDP-D, but not FDP-E, bound to the hepatocytes. These data indicate that FDP-D, but not FDP-E, directly and specifically stimulates fibrinogen synthesis in rat hepatocytes; this stimulation does not require any additional serum or protein cofactors.« less

  6. Technetium-fibrinogen lung scanning in canine lung contusion

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Geller, E.; Khaw, B.A.; Strauss, H.W.

    1984-07-01

    To detect experimentally induced acute lung contusion in anesthetized dogs, serial radionuclide images of the lung were recorded following intravenous infusion of 99mTc-labelled human fibrinogen (Tc-HF). The accumulation of Tc-HF in canine lungs was serially quantitated for up to 20 hours after lung contusion. A contusion (number1) was produced in one lung, Tc-HF was injected IV after 15 minutes, and 75 minutes later a contralateral lung contusion (number2) was produced in a series of 14 dogs. At autopsy the excised lungs were scanned, sectioned, and counted for radioactivity. Radiolabelled fibrinogen accumulated within 2-4 minutes of contusion number2 and remained stablemore » over the next 20 hours in 14 dogs; contusion number1 was barely visible in four dogs. Lung Tc-HF activity in the central region of contusion number2 remained sixfold higher than in normal lung tissue. These data suggest that following lung contusion, fibrinogen deposition occurs rapidly and remains stable over a 20-hour interval of observation.« less

  7. Plasma iron, C-reactive protein, albumin, and plasma fibrinogen concentrations in dogs with systemic inflammatory response syndrome.

    PubMed

    Torrente, Carlos; Manzanilla, Edgar G; Bosch, Luis; Fresno, Laura; Rivera Del Alamo, Montserrat; Andaluz, Anna; Saco, Yolanda; Ruiz de Gopegui, Rafael

    2015-01-01

    To investigate the diagnostic and prognostic value over time of plasma iron compared with the inflammatory markers albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and fibrinogen in dogs with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Prospective observational study of sequentially enrolled dogs. ICU of a veterinary teaching hospital. One hundred and sixteen client-owned dogs: 54 dogs with SIRS or sepsis, 42 with focal inflammation, and 20 clinically healthy dogs. Blood samples were obtained on admission in all study groups, and then on alternate days until discharge or death in both inflammation groups. On admission, dogs with SIRS had significantly lower plasma iron (65 ± 5.8 μg/dL, P = 0.001) concentrations than dogs with focal inflammation (89.5 ± 6.2 μg/dL, P = 0.001). Plasma iron, albumin, and CRP effectively discriminated the SIRS/sepsis group from those presenting with focal inflammation with areas under the curve for the receiver operating curves of 0.679, 0.834, and 0.704, respectively. The admission values for these variables did not discriminate survivors from nonsurvivors within the SIRS/sepsis group. However, the magnitude of increase in iron concentration and the decrease in CRP concentration from admission to hospital discharge was higher in survivors than in nonsurvivors within the SIRS/septic group (22.8 vs. 2.51 μg/dL, respectively, P = 0.021 for iron; -67.1 vs. -4.1 mg/L, respectively, P = 0.002 for CRP), resulting in iron and CRP concentrations at hospital discharge for survivors similar to those in the focal inflammation group. Hypoferremia is a sensitive marker of systemic inflammation in dogs. In this study, the increase in iron concentrations during the hospitalization period of SIRS/septic dogs was associated with a better prognosis, suggesting that plasma iron in combination with CRP and albumin concentrations might be used to monitor dogs with inflammatory disease processes. © Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society 2015.

  8. C-reactive protein and fibrinogen of bedridden older patients in a six-month vitamin D supplementation trial.

    PubMed

    Bjorkman, M P; Sorva, A J; Tilvis, R S

    2009-05-01

    To elucidate the association between vitamin D status, C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen. Secondary analysis of a randomised double-blind placebo controlled trial. Four longterm care hospitals (1215 beds) in Helsinki, Finland. 218 long-term inpatients aged over 65 years. Eligible patients (n = 218) were randomized to receive 0 IU/d, 400 IU/d, or 1200 IU/d cholecalciferol for six months. Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), parathyroid hormone (PTH), high sensitive CRP, fibrinogen, amino-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP), and carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) were measured. The patients were aged (84.5 +/- 7.5 years), vitamin D deficient (25-OHD = 23 +/- 10 nmol/l), chronically bedridden and in stable general condition. The mean baseline CRP and fibrinogen were 10.86 mg/l (0.12 mg/l - 125.00 mg/l) and 4,7 g/l (2.3 g/l - 8.6 g/l), respectively. CRP correlated with ICTP (r = 0.217, p = 0.001), but not with vitamin D status. Supplementation significantly increased 25-OHD concentrations, but the changes in CRP and fibrinogen were insignificant and inconsistent. The post-trial CRP concentrations (0.23 mg/l -138.00 mg/l) correlated with ICTP (r = 0.156, p < 0.001), but no association was found with vitamin D status. The baseline and post-trial fibrinogen correlated with CRP, only. CRP concentrations are associated with bone turnover, but not with vitamin D status, and vitamin D supplementation has no major effect on CRP or fibrinogen concentrations in bedridden older patients.

  9. Effects of tibolone on fibrinogen and antithrombin III: A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials.

    PubMed

    Bała, Małgorzata; Sahebkar, Amirhossein; Ursoniu, Sorin; Serban, Maria-Corina; Undas, Anetta; Mikhailidis, Dimitri P; Lip, Gregory Y H; Rysz, Jacek; Banach, Maciej

    2017-10-01

    Tibolone is a synthetic steroid with estrogenic, androgenic and progestogenic activity, but the evidence regarding its effects on fibrinogen and antithrombin III (ATIII) has not been conclusive. We assessed the impact of tibolone on fibrinogen and ATIII through a systematic review and meta-analysis of available randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The search included PUBMED, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar (up to January 31st, 2016) to identify controlled clinical studies investigating the effects of oral tibolone treatment on fibrinogen and ATIII. Overall, the impact of tibolone on plasma fibrinogen concentrations was reported in 10 trials comprising 11 treatment arms. Meta-analysis did not suggest a significant reduction of fibrinogen levels following treatment with tibolone (WMD: -5.38%, 95% CI: -11.92, +1.16, p=0.107). This result was robust in the sensitivity analysis and not influenced after omitting each of the included studies from meta-analysis. When the studies were categorized according to the duration of treatment, there was no effect in the subsets of trials lasting either <12months (WMD: -7.64%, 95% CI: -16.58, +1.29, p=0.094) or ≥12months (WMD: -0.62%, 95% CI: -8.40, +7.17, p=0.876). With regard to ATIII, there was no change following treatment with tibolone (WMD: +0.74%, 95% CI: -1.44, +2.93, p=0.505) and this effect was robust in sensitivity analysis. There was no differential effect of tibolone on plasma ATIII concentrations in trials with either <12months (WMD: +2.26%, 95% CI: -3.14, +7.66, p=0.411) or≥12months (WMD: +0.06%, 95% CI: -1.16, +1.28, p=0.926) duration. Consistent with the results of subgroup analysis, meta-regression did not suggest any significant association between the changes in plasma concentrations of fibrinogen (slope: +0.40; 95% CI: -0.39, +1.19; p=0.317) and ATIII (slope: -0.17; 95% CI: -0.54, +0.20; p=0.374) with duration of treatment. In conclusion, meta-analysis did not suggest a significant reduction of

  10. Fibrinogen: cardiometabolic risk marker in obese or overweight children and adolescents.

    PubMed

    Azevedo, Waldeneide F; Cantalice, Anajás S C; Gonzaga, Nathalia C; Simões, Mônica O da S; Guimarães, Anna Larissa V; Carvalho, Danielle F de; Medeiros, Carla Campos Muniz

    2015-01-01

    To determine the prevalence of increased serum fibrinogen levels and its association with cardiometabolic risk factors in overweight or obese children and adolescents. Cross-sectional study with 138 children and adolescents (overweight or obese) followed at a reference outpatient clinic of the public health care network. Fibrinogen concentration was divided into quartiles, and values above or equal to the third quartile were considered high. The association between high fibrinogen values and cardiometabolic risk factors was assessed using Pearson's chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test, as necessary. Logistic regression was used to adjust variables predictive of fibrinogen levels. Analyses were performed using SPSS version 22.0 and SAS software, considering a confidence interval of 95%. Serum fibrinogen levels were elevated in 28.3% of individuals, showing association with the presence of high CRP (p=0.003, PR: 2.41, 95% CI: 1.30-4.46) and the presence of four or more risk factors (p=0.042; PR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.00-3.17). After a logistic regression, only elevated CRP remained associated with altered fibrinogen levels (p=0.024; PR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.09-5.25). Increased fibrinogen was prevalent in the study population and was associated with ultrasensitive C-reactive protein and the presence of four or more cardiovascular risk factors; it should be included in the assessment of individuals at risk. Copyright © 2015 Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.

  11. Plasma Electrolyte Distributions in Humans-Normal or Skewed?

    PubMed

    Feldman, Mark; Dickson, Beverly

    2017-11-01

    It is widely believed that plasma electrolyte levels are normally distributed. Statistical tests and calculations using plasma electrolyte data are often reported based on this assumption of normality. Examples include t tests, analysis of variance, correlations and confidence intervals. The purpose of our study was to determine whether plasma sodium (Na + ), potassium (K + ), chloride (Cl - ) and bicarbonate [Formula: see text] distributions are indeed normally distributed. We analyzed plasma electrolyte data from 237 consecutive adults (137 women and 100 men) who had normal results on a standard basic metabolic panel which included plasma electrolyte measurements. The skewness of each distribution (as a measure of its asymmetry) was compared to the zero skewness of a normal (Gaussian) distribution. The plasma Na + distribution was skewed slightly to the right, but the skew was not significantly different from zero skew. The plasma Cl - distribution was skewed slightly to the left, but again the skew was not significantly different from zero skew. On the contrary, both the plasma K + and [Formula: see text] distributions were significantly skewed to the right (P < 0.01 zero skew). There was also a suggestion from examining frequency distribution curves that K + and [Formula: see text] distributions were bimodal. In adults with a normal basic metabolic panel, plasma potassium and bicarbonate levels are not normally distributed and may be bimodal. Thus, statistical methods to evaluate these 2 plasma electrolytes should be nonparametric tests and not parametric ones that require a normal distribution. Copyright © 2017 Southern Society for Clinical Investigation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  12. Management of congenital quantitative fibrinogen disorders: a Delphi consensus.

    PubMed

    Casini, A; de Moerloose, P

    2016-11-01

    No evidence-based guidelines for the management of patients suffering from afibrinogenaemia and hypofibrinogenaemia are available. The aim of this study was to harmonize patient's care among invited haemophilia experts from Belgium, France and Switzerland. A Delphi-like methodology was used to reach a consensus on: prophylaxis, bleeding, surgery, pregnancy and thrombosis management. The main final statements are as follows: (i) a secondary fibrinogen prophylaxis should be started after a first life-threatening bleeding in patients with afibrinogenaemia; (ii) during prophylaxis the target trough fibrinogen level should be 0.5 g L -1 ; (iii) if an adaptation of dosage is required, the frequency of infusions rather than the fibrinogen amount should be modified; (iv) afibrinogenaemic patients undergoing a surgery at high bleeding risk should receive fibrinogen concentrates regardless of the personal or family history of bleeding; (v) moderate hypofibrinogenaemic patients (i.e. ≥0.5 g L -1 ) without previous bleeding (despite haemostatic challenges) undergoing a surgery at low bleeding risk may not receive fibrinogen concentrates as prophylaxis; (vi) monitoring the trough fibrinogen levels should be performed at least once a month throughout the pregnancy and a foetal growth and placenta development close monitoring by ultrasound is recommended; (vii) fibrinogen replacement should be started concomitantly to the introduction of anticoagulation in afibrinogenaemic patients suffering from a venous thromboembolic event; and (viii) low-molecular-weight heparin is the anticoagulant of choice in case of venous thromboembolism. The results of this initiative should help clinicians in the difficult management of patients with congenital fibrinogen disorders. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  13. Severe Bleeding In a Woman Heterozygous for the Fibrinogen γR275C Mutation

    PubMed Central

    Rein, Chantelle M.; Anderson, Brian L; Ballard, Morgan M.; Domes, Christopher M.; Johnston, Joshua M.; Madsen, R. Jared; Wolper, Kathryn K. M.; Terker, Andrew S.; Strother, John M.; Deloughery, Thomas G.; Farrell, David H.

    2010-01-01

    The dysfibrinogen γR275C can be a clinically silent mutation, with only two out of seventeen cases in the literature reporting a hemorrhagic presentation, and four cases reporting a thrombotic presentation. We describe here a particularly severe presentation in 54-year-old female patient who required a hysterectomy at 47 years of age due to heavy menstrual bleeding. Coagulation studies revealed a prolonged prothrombin time and thrombin time, a normal fibrinogen antigen level, and a low fibrinogen activity level. Molecular analysis of the patient’s DNA revealed a γ chain gene mutation resulting in an amino acid substitution at residue 275 (γR275C). Protein sequencing of the fibrinogen γ chain confirmed this mutation, which was named Fibrinogen Portland I. This case demonstrates that the γR275C mutation can lead to a severe hemorrhagic phenotype. PMID:20386430

  14. Polymorphism in beta fibrinogen -455 g/a gene was associated with diabetic in severe ischemic stroke patients

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ritarwan, Kiking; Kadri, Alfansuri; Juwita Sembiring, Rosita

    2018-03-01

    There is a association of polymorphism in the promoter region of the beta fibrinogen gene -455 G/A with enhancement plasma fibrinogen level. Diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for early neurologic deterioration in acute ischemic stroke. The prothrombotic fibrinogen protein is frequently elevated in patients with diabetes and may be association with poorer prognosis. This study evaluated the association of beta fibrinogen gene -455 G/A promoter polymorphism on modified Ranking Scale of Ischemic Stroke patients treated with diabetic and nondiabetic group. In a Cohort study design comprises 200 consecutive patients diabetic and a nondiabetic who, three months using completed a detailed outcome stroke. Of 200 samples genotype distribution were 27.1% for GG+GA and 0% for AA with diabetic and than 4.4% for GG+GA and 0.05% diabetic patients. Fibrinogen levels were higher in diabetic than nondiabetic group patients (307.7 + 106.3 vs 278 + 84 gr/dl, p=0.002). Fibrinogen level was found to be an independent predictor for diabetic patients. On Genotype GG+GA were associated wth diabetic and nondiabetic group patients. Modified Rankin Scale on day 90 were found associated with diabetic and nondiabetic patients. Conclusion: Elevated fibrinogen level is dose-dependently associated with 90 days outcome severity stroke with diabetic following ischemic stroke

  15. [Correlation between the changes of fibrinogen and the treatment effect of all-frequency sudden deafness].

    PubMed

    Fang, X; Yu, L S; Ma, X; Xia, R M; Jiang, Y H; Liu, H X; Jing, Y Y

    2018-01-07

    Objective: To analyze the correlation between the changes of fibrinogen and the treatment effect of all-frequency sudden deafness, and to explore the individualized treatment strategy for the use of Batroxobin. Methods: Patients with all-frequency sudden deafness who were admitted to Department of Otorhinolaryngology, People's Hospital of Peking University, from January 2010 to September 2016 were selected. All patients were given standard treatment and regular use of Batroxobin. Value of fibrinogen on D1 (before treatment) / D3 / D7 (±1) and D14 (±2) were recorded, at the same time, the correlation between the changes of fibrinogen and prognosis of all-frequency sudden deafness by the audiograms of onset and after-treatment of all patients were analyzed. Independent t -test was used to analyze normal distributed measurement data and chi square linear trend test was used to analyze the curative effect of different fibrinogen groups. Results: A total of 148 patients were included, the outcomes were worst when the patient's fibrinogen was below 2 g/L or above 4 g/L before treatment, ineffective rate were both 50%. The fibrinogen was lowest when the treatment came to the third day. Normally, the patient's prognosis was best when this value waved between 0.7 and 0.9 g/L, with a total effective rate between 73.9% and 83.3%. The fibrinogen value of the 7th day was a good indicator of the outcome, and Fib7 value was significant lower in patients of effective group than ineffective ones ((1.25±0.37)g/L vs (1.38±0.35) g/L, t =-0.27, P =0.04). Patients found a best recovery when Fib7 was below 1 g/L, and the higher the Fib7 value, the higher the inefficiency (χ(2)=7.55, P =0.01). Batroxobin showed safety during the treatment and found no complications. Conclusion: The change of fibrinogen in the process of all-frequency sudden deafness is closely related to the curative effect.

  16. Fresh frozen plasma resuscitation attenuates platelet dysfunction compared with normal saline in a large animal model of multisystem trauma.

    PubMed

    Sillesen, Martin; Johansson, Pär I; Rasmussen, Lars S; Jin, Guang; Jepsen, Cecilie H; Imam, Ayesha; Hwabejire, John O; Deperalta, Danielle; Duggan, Michael; DeMoya, Marc; Velmahos, George C; Alam, Hasan B

    2014-04-01

    Platelet dysfunction following trauma has been identified as an independent predictor of mortality. We hypothesized that fresh frozen plasma (FFP) resuscitation would attenuate platelet dysfunction compared with 0.9% normal saline (NS). Twelve swine were subjected to multisystem trauma (traumatic brain injury, liver injury, rib fracture, and soft tissue injury) with hemorrhagic shock (40% of estimated blood volume). Animals were left in shock (mean arterial pressure, 30-35 mm Hg) for 2 hours followed by resuscitation with three times shed volume NS (n = 6) or one times volume FFP (n = 6) and monitored for 6 hours. Platelet function was assessed by adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation at baseline, after 2 hours of shock following resuscitation, and 6 hours after resuscitation. Fibrinogen levels and markers of platelet activation (transforming growth factor β [TGF-β], sP-Selectin, and CD40L) as well as endothelial injury (intercellular adhesion molecule 1 [ICAM-1], vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 [VCAM-1]) were also assayed. Thromboelastography was used to measure clotting activity. ADP-induced platelet aggregation was significantly higher in the FFP group (46.3 U vs. 25.5 U, p < 0.01) following resuscitation. This was associated with higher fibrinogen levels (202 mg/dL vs. 80 mg/dL, p < 0.01) but lower endothelial activation (VCAM-1, 1.25 ng/mL vs. 3.87 ng/mL, p = 0.05). Other markers did not differ.After 6 hours of observation, ADP-induced platelet aggregation remained higher in the FFP group (53.8 U vs. 37.0 U, p = 0.03) as was fibrinogen levels (229 mg/dL vs. 153 mg/dL, p < 0.01). Endothelial activation was lower (ICAM-1, 21.0 ng/mL vs. 24.4 ng/mL, p = 0.05), whereas TGF-β levels were higher (2,138 pg/mL vs. 1,802 pg/mL, p = 0.03) in the FFP group. Other markers did not differ. Thromboelastography revealed increased clot strength in the FFP group at both postresuscitation time points. Resuscitation with FFP resulted in an immediate and

  17. Rare and low-frequency variants and their association with plasma levels of fibrinogen, FVII, FVIII, and vWF

    PubMed Central

    Huffman, Jennifer E.; de Vries, Paul S.; Morrison, Alanna C.; Sabater-Lleal, Maria; Kacprowski, Tim; Auer, Paul L.; Brody, Jennifer A.; Chasman, Daniel I.; Chen, Ming-Huei; Guo, Xiuqing; Lin, Li-An; Marioni, Riccardo E.; Müller-Nurasyid, Martina; Yanek, Lisa R.; Pankratz, Nathan; Grove, Megan L.; de Maat, Moniek P. M.; Cushman, Mary; Wiggins, Kerri L.; Qi, Lihong; Sennblad, Bengt; Harris, Sarah E.; Polasek, Ozren; Riess, Helene; Rivadeneira, Fernando; Rose, Lynda M.; Goel, Anuj; Taylor, Kent D.; Teumer, Alexander; Uitterlinden, André G.; Vaidya, Dhananjay; Yao, Jie; Tang, Weihong; Levy, Daniel; Waldenberger, Melanie; Becker, Diane M.; Folsom, Aaron R.; Giulianini, Franco; Greinacher, Andreas; Hofman, Albert; Huang, Chiang-Ching; Kooperberg, Charles; Silveira, Angela; Starr, John M.; Strauch, Konstantin; Strawbridge, Rona J.; Wright, Alan F.; McKnight, Barbara; Franco, Oscar H.; Zakai, Neil; Mathias, Rasika A.; Psaty, Bruce M.; Ridker, Paul M.; Tofler, Geoffrey H.; Völker, Uwe; Watkins, Hugh; Fornage, Myriam; Hamsten, Anders; Deary, Ian J.; Boerwinkle, Eric; Koenig, Wolfgang; Rotter, Jerome I.; Hayward, Caroline; Dehghan, Abbas; Reiner, Alex P.; O’Donnell, Christopher J.

    2015-01-01

    Fibrinogen, coagulation factor VII (FVII), and factor VIII (FVIII) and its carrier von Willebrand factor (vWF) play key roles in hemostasis. Previously identified common variants explain only a small fraction of the trait heritabilities, and additional variations may be explained by associations with rarer variants with larger effects. The aim of this study was to identify low-frequency (minor allele frequency [MAF] ≥0.01 and <0.05) and rare (MAF <0.01) variants that influence plasma concentrations of these 4 hemostatic factors by meta-analyzing exome chip data from up to 76 000 participants of 4 ancestries. We identified 12 novel associations of low-frequency (n = 2) and rare (n = 10) variants across the fibrinogen, FVII, FVIII, and vWF traits that were independent of previously identified associations. Novel loci were found within previously reported genes and had effect sizes much larger than and independent of previously identified common variants. In addition, associations at KCNT1, HID1, and KATNB1 identified new candidate genes related to hemostasis for follow-up replication and functional genomic analysis. Newly identified low-frequency and rare-variant associations accounted for modest amounts of trait variance and therefore are unlikely to increase predicted trait heritability but provide new information for understanding individual variation in hemostasis pathways. PMID:26105150

  18. Fibrinogen gamma-A chain precursor in CSF: a candidate biomarker for Alzheimer's disease

    PubMed Central

    Lee, Joung Wook; Namkoong, Hong; Kim, Hyun Kee; Kim, Sanghee; Hwang, Dong Whi; Na, Hae Ri; Ha, Seon-Ah; Kim, Jae-Ryong; Kim, Jin Woo

    2007-01-01

    Background Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may be valuable for exploring protein markers for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The prospect of early detection and treatment, to slow progression, holds hope for aging populations with increased average lifespan. The aim of the present study was to investigate candidate CSF biological markers in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD and compare them with age-matched normal control subjects. Methods We applied proteomics approaches to analyze CSF samples derived from 27 patients with AD, 3 subjects with MCI and 30 controls. The AD group was subdivided into three groups by clinical severity according to clinical dementia rating (CDR), a well known clinical scale for dementia. Results We demonstrated an elevated level of fibrinogen gamma-A chain precursor protein in CSF from patients with mild cognitive impairment and AD compared to the age-matched normal subjects. Moreover, its expression was more prominent in the AD group than in the MCI and correlated with disease severity and progression. In contrast, fibrinogen gamma-A chain precursor protein was detected very low in the age-matched normal group. Conclusion These findings suggest that the CSF level of fibrinogen gamma-A chain precursor may be a candidate biomarker for AD. PMID:17565664

  19. Fibrinogen adsorption on blocked surface of albumin.

    PubMed

    Holmberg, Maria; Hou, Xiaolin

    2011-05-01

    We have investigated the adsorption of albumin and fibrinogen onto PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and glass surfaces and how pre-adsorption of albumin onto these surfaces can affect the adsorption of later added fibrinogen. For materials and devices being exposed to blood, adsorption of fibrinogen is often a non-wanted event, since fibrinogen is part of the clotting cascade and unspecific adsorption of fibrinogen can have an influence on the activation of platelets. Albumin is often used as blocking agent for avoiding unspecific protein adsorption onto surfaces in devices designed to handle biological samples, including protein solutions. It is based on the assumption that proteins adsorbs as a monolayer on surfaces and that proteins do not adsorb on top of each other. By labelling albumin and fibrinogen with two different radioactive iodine isotopes that emit gamma radiation with different energies, the adsorption of both albumin and fibrinogen has been monitored simultaneously on the same sample. Information about topography and coverage of adsorbed protein layers has been obtained using AFM (Atomic Force Microscopy) analysis in liquid. Our studies show that albumin adsorbs in a multilayer fashion on PET and that fibrinogen adsorbs on top of albumin when albumin is pre-adsorbed on the surfaces. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. Interaction of fibrinogen and albumin with titanium dioxide nanoparticles of different crystalline phases

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Marucco, Arianna; Fenoglio, Ivana; Turci, Francesco; Fubini, Bice

    2013-04-01

    TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) are contained in different kinds of industrial products including paints, self-cleaning glasses, sunscreens. TiO2 is also employed in photocatalysis and it has been proposed for waste water treatment. Micrometric TiO2 is generally considered a safe material, while there is concern on the possible health effects of nanometric titania. Due to their small size NPs may migrate within the human body possibly entering in the blood stream. Therefore studies on the interaction of NPs with plasma proteins are needed. In fact, the interaction with proteins is believed to ultimately influences the NPs biological fate. Fibrinogen and albumin are two of the most abundant plasma proteins. They are involved in several important physiological functions. Furthermore, fibrinogen is known to trigger platelet adhesion and inflammation. For these reasons the study of the interaction between these protein and nanoparticles is an important step toward the understanding of the behavior of NPs in the body. In this study we investigated the interaction of albumin and fibrinogen with TiO2 nanoparticles of different crystal phases (rutile and anatase) using an integrated set of techniques. The amount of adsorbed fibrinogen and albumin for each TiO2 surface was investigated by using the bicinchoninic acid assay (BCA). The variation of the surface charge of the NP-protein conjugates respect to the naked NPs was used to indirectly estimate both surface coverage and reversibility of the adsorption upon dilution. Surface charge was monitored by measuring the ζ potential with a conventional electrophoretic light scattering (ELS) system. The extent of protein deformation was evaluated by Raman Spectroscopy. We found that both proteins adsorb irreversibly against electrostatic repulsion, likely undergoing conformational changes or selective orientation upon adsorption. The size of primary particles and the particles aggregation rather than the crystal phase modulate the

  1. Fibrinogen Nový Jicín and Praha II: cases of hereditary Aalpha 16 Arg-->Cys and Aalpha 16 Arg-->His dysfibrinogenemia.

    PubMed

    Kotlín, Roman; Chytilová, Martina; Suttnar, Jirí; Riedel, Tomás; Salaj, Peter; Blatný, Jan; Santrůcek, Jirí; Klener, Pavel; Dyr, Jan E

    2007-01-01

    Various dysfibrinogenemias have been described worldwide. This paper describes two new cases of dysfibrinogenemia identified in the Czech Republic. The proposita of fibrinogen Nový Jicín, a 12-year-old girl, presented with hemorrhagic complications, low Clauss fibrinogen level (0.3 g/l) and prolonged both thrombin (70.8 s) and reptilase (>180 s) time. Her mother and sister both presented with normal coagulation tests, normal fibrinogen level and reported no history of bleeding. The carriers of the fibrinogen Praha II were a 31-year-old man and his 11-year-old daughter. They both presented with low fibrinogen Clauss level (0.88 g/l) and prolonged thrombin and reptilase time. To identify the genetic mutation responsible for these dysfibrinogens, genomic DNA extracted from the blood was analyzed. The presence of the mutant chains in the circulation was determined by MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy. Scanning electron micrographs of the patients' fibrin clots were obtained. The kinetics of fibrinopeptide release and fibrin polymerization were impaired for both fibrinogen Nový Jicín and Praha II. DNA sequencing showed heterogeneous fibrinogen Aalpha R16C mutation in the fibrinogen Nový Jicín case and heterogeneous fibrinogen Aalpha R16H in the fibrinogen Praha II case. The mutant chains were found to be expressed to the circulation by MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy. Scanning electron micrographs of the patient's fibrin clot were found to be abnormal. The case of dysfibrinogenemia Aalpha R16C-fibrinogen Nový Jicín and the case of dysfibrinogenemia Aalpha R16H were found by routine coagulation testing and were genetically identified.

  2. Fibrin-based tissue engineering: comparison of different methods of autologous fibrinogen isolation.

    PubMed

    Dietrich, Maren; Heselhaus, Johanna; Wozniak, Justyna; Weinandy, Stefan; Mela, Petra; Tschoeke, Beate; Schmitz-Rode, Thomas; Jockenhoevel, Stefan

    2013-03-01

    This study is focussed on the optimal method of autologous fibrinogen isolation with regard to the yield and the use as a scaffold material. This is particularly relevant for pediatric patients with strictly limited volumes of blood. The following isolation methods were evaluated: cryoprecipitation, ethanol (EtOH) precipitation, ammonium sulfate [(NH(4))(2)SO(4))] precipitation, ammonium sulfate precipitation combined with cryoprecipitation, and polyethylene glycol precipitation combined with cryoprecipitation. Fibrinogen yields were quantified spectrophotometrically and by electrophoretic analyses. To test the influence of the different isolation methods on the microstructure of the fibrin gels, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used and the mechanical strength of the cell-free and cell-seeded fibrin gels was tested by burst strength measurements. Cytotoxicity assays were performed to analyze the effect of various fibrinogen isolation methods on proliferation, apoptosis, and necrosis. Tissue development and cell migration were analyzed in all samples using immunohistochemical techniques. The synthesis of collagen as an extracellular matrix component by human umbilical cord artery smooth muscle cells in fibrin gels was measured using hydroxyproline assay. Compared to cryoprecipitation, all other considered methods were superior in quantitative analyses, with maximum fibrinogen yields of ∼80% of total plasma fibrinogen concentration using ethanol precipitation. SEM imaging demonstrated minor differences in the gel microstructure. Ethanol-precipitated fibrin gels exhibited the best mechanical properties. None of the isolation methods had a cytotoxic effect on the cells. Collagen production was similar in all gels except those from ammonium sulfate precipitation. Histological analysis showed good cell compatibility for ethanol-precipitated gels. The results of the present study demonstrated that ethanol precipitation is a simple and effective method for

  3. A G-to-A mutation in IVS-3 of the human gamma fibrinogen gene causing afibrinogenemia due to abnormal RNA splicing.

    PubMed

    Margaglione, M; Santacroce, R; Colaizzo, D; Seripa, D; Vecchione, G; Lupone, M R; De Lucia, D; Fortina, P; Grandone, E; Perricone, C; Di Minno, G

    2000-10-01

    Congenital afibrinogenemia is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by a hemorrhagic diathesis of variable severity. Although more than 100 families with this disorder have been described, genetic defects have been characterized in few cases. An investigation of a young propositus, offspring of a consanguineous marriage, with undetectable levels of functional and quantitative fibrinogen, was conducted. Sequence analysis of the fibrinogen genes showed a homozygous G-to-A mutation at the fifth nucleotide (nt 2395) of the third intervening sequence (IVS) of the gamma-chain gene. Her first-degree relatives, who had approximately half the normal fibrinogen values and showed concordance between functional and immunologic levels, were heterozygtes. The G-to-A change predicts the disappearance of a donor splice site. After transfection with a construct, containing either the wild-type or the mutated sequence, cells with the mutant construct showed an aberrant messenger RNA (mRNA), consistent with skipping of exon 3, but not the expected mRNA. Sequencing of the abnormal mRNA showed the complete absence of exon 3. Skipping of exon 3 predicts the deletion of amino acid sequence from residue 16 to residue 75 and shifting of reading frame at amino acid 76 with a premature stop codon within exon 4 at position 77. Thus, the truncated gamma-chain gene product would not interact with other chains to form the mature fibrinogen molecule. The current findings show that mutations within highly conserved IVS regions of fibrinogen genes could affect the efficiency of normal splicing, giving rise to congenital afibrinogenemia.

  4. The long term immunological response of swine after two exposures to a salmon thrombin and fibrinogen hemostatic bandage

    PubMed Central

    Rothwell, Stephen W.; Settle, Timothy; Wallace, Shannon; Dorsey, Jennifer; Simpson, David; Bowman, James R.; Janmey, Paul; Sawyer, Evelyn

    2014-01-01

    Experimental salmon thrombin/fibrinogen dressings have been shown to provide effective hemostasis in severe hemorrhage situations. The hypothesis for this study was that swine would still remain healthy without coagulopathy six months after exposure to salmon thrombin/fibrinogen dressings. Initial exposure was by insertion of the salmon dressing into the peritoneal cavity. Three months after the initial exposure, the same animals were subjected to two full thickness dermal wounds on the dorsal surface. One wound was bandaged with the salmon thrombin/fibrinogen bandage and the other wound was dressed with a standard bandage. The animals were monitored for an additional three months. Blood was drawn every 14 days over the six months for immunological and coagulation function analysis. All of the animals (8 pigs) remained healthy during the six month period and the dermal wounds healed without incidence. Lymph nodes and spleen showed signs of normal immune response and Western blots showed development of antibodies against salmon fibrinogen, but none of the animals made antibodies that recognized any species of thrombin. Coagulation parameters (fibrinogen concentration, thrombin time, PT and aPTT) and hematological parameters remained normal over the course of the study when compared to initial values of the subject swine. PMID:20705479

  5. Physics of collisionless scrape-off-layer plasma during normal and off-normal Tokamak operating conditions.

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Hassanein, A.; Konkashbaev, I.

    1999-03-15

    The structure of a collisionless scrape-off-layer (SOL) plasma in tokamak reactors is being studied to define the electron distribution function and the corresponding sheath potential between the divertor plate and the edge plasma. The collisionless model is shown to be valid during the thermal phase of a plasma disruption, as well as during the newly desired low-recycling normal phase of operation with low-density, high-temperature, edge plasma conditions. An analytical solution is developed by solving the Fokker-Planck equation for electron distribution and balance in the SOL. The solution is in good agreement with numerical studies using Monte-Carlo methods. The analytical solutionsmore » provide an insight to the role of different physical and geometrical processes in a collisionless SOL during disruptions and during the enhanced phase of normal operation over a wide range of parameters.« less

  6. Fibrinogen-binding and platelet-aggregation activities of a Lactobacillus salivarius septicaemia isolate are mediated by a novel fibrinogen-binding protein.

    PubMed

    Collins, James; van Pijkeren, Jan-Peter; Svensson, Lisbeth; Claesson, Marcus J; Sturme, Mark; Li, Yin; Cooney, Jakki C; van Sinderen, Douwe; Walker, Alan W; Parkhill, Julian; Shannon, Oonagh; O'Toole, Paul W

    2012-09-01

    The marketplace for probiotic foods is burgeoning, measured in billions of euro per annum. It is imperative, however, that all bacterial strains are fully assessed for human safety. The ability to bind fibrinogen is considered a potential pathogenicity trait that can lead to platelet aggregation, serious medical complications, and in some instances, death. Here we examined strains from species frequently used as probiotics for their ability to bind human fibrinogen. Only one strain (CCUG 47825), a Lactobacillus salivarius isolate from a case of septicaemia, was found to strongly adhere to fibrinogen. Furthermore, this strain was found to aggregate human platelets at a level comparable to the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. By sequencing the genome of CCUG 47825, we were able to identify candidate genes responsible for fibrinogen binding. Complementing the genetic analysis with traditional molecular microbiological techniques enabled the identification of the novel fibrinogen receptor, CCUG_2371. Although only strain CCUG 47825 bound fibrinogen under laboratory conditions, homologues of the novel fibrinogen binding gene CCUG_2371 are widespread among L. salivarius strains, maintaining their potential to bind fibrinogen if expressed. We highlight the fact that without a full genetic analysis of strains for human consumption, potential pathogenicity traits may go undetected. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

  7. Variability of fibrinogen measurements in post-myocardial infarction patients. Results from the AIRGENE study center Augsburg.

    PubMed

    Baumert, Jens; Karakas, Mahir; Greven, Sonja; Rückerl, Regina; Peters, Annette; Koenig, Wolfgang

    2012-05-01

    Elevated fibrinogen levels are strongly and consistently associated with incident coronary heart disease (CHD). A possible causal contribution of fibrinogen in the pathway leading to atherothrombotic cardiovascular disease complications has been suggested. However, for implementation in clinical practice, data on validity and reliability, which are still scarce, are needed that are still scarce, especially in subjects with a history of CHD. For the present study, levels of plasma fibrinogen were measured in 200 post-myocardial infarction (post-MI) patients aged 39-76 years, with approximately six blood samples collected at monthly intervals between May 2003 and March 2004, giving a total of 1,144 samples. Inter-individual variability (between-subject variance component, VCb and coefficient of variation, CVb), intra-individual and analytical variability (VCw+a and CVw+a), intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the number of measurements required for an ICC of 0.75 were estimated to assess the reliability of serial fibrinogen measurements. Mean fibrinogen concentration of all subjects over all samples was 3.34 g/l (standard deviation 0.67). Between-subject variation for fibrinogen was VCb = 0.34 (CVb'=17.5%) whereas within-subject and analytical variation was estimated as VCw+a = 0.14 (CVw+a=11.0%). The variation was mainly explained by between-subject variability, shown by the proportion of total variance of 71.3%. Two different measurements were required to reach sufficient reliability, if subjects with extreme values were not excluded. The present study indicates a fairly good reproducibility of serial individual fibrinogen measurements in post-MI subjects.

  8. Higher Fasting Plasma Glucose Levels, within the Normal Range, are Associated with Decreased Processing Speed in High Functioning Young Elderly.

    PubMed

    Raizes, Meytal; Elkana, Odelia; Franko, Motty; Ravona Springer, Ramit; Segev, Shlomo; Beeri, Michal Schnaider

    2016-01-01

    We explored the association of plasma glucose levels within the normal range with processing speed in high functioning young elderly, free of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A sample of 41 participants (mean age = 64.7, SD = 10; glucose 94.5 mg/dL, SD = 9.3), were examined with a computerized cognitive battery. Hierarchical linear regression analysis showed that higher plasma glucose levels, albeit within the normal range (<110 mg/dL), were associated with longer reaction times (p <  0.01). These findings suggest that even in the subclinical range and in the absence of T2DM, monitoring plasma glucose levels may have an impact on cognitive function.

  9. The Primary Role of Fibrinogen-Related Proteins in Invertebrates Is Defense, Not Coagulation

    PubMed Central

    Hanington, Patrick C.; Zhang, Si-Ming

    2010-01-01

    In vertebrates, the conversion of fibrinogen into fibrin is an essential process that underlies the establishment of the supporting protein framework required for coagulation. In invertebrates, fibrinogen-domain-containing proteins play a role in the defense response generated against pathogens; however, they do not function in coagulation, suggesting that this role has been recently acquired. Molecules containing fibrinogen motifs have been identified in numerous invertebrate organisms, and most of these molecules known to date have been linked to defense. Moreover, recent genome projects of invertebrate animals have revealed surprisingly high numbers of fibrinogen-like loci in their genomes, suggesting important and perhaps diverse functions of fibrinogen-like proteins in invertebrates. The ancestral role of molecules containing fibrinogen-related domains (FReDs) with immunity is the focus of this review, with emphasis on specific FReDs called fibrinogen-related proteins (FREPs) identified from the schistosome-transmitting mollusc Biomphalaria glabrata. Herein, we outline the range of invertebrate organisms FREPs can be found in, and detail the roles these molecules play in defense and protection against infection. PMID:21063081

  10. Integrin-associated protein (CD47) is a putative mediator for soluble fibrinogen interaction with human red blood cells membrane.

    PubMed

    De Oliveira, S; Vitorino de Almeida, V; Calado, A; Rosário, H S; Saldanha, C

    2012-03-01

    Fibrinogen is a multifunctional plasma protein that plays a crucial role in several biological processes. Elevated fibrinogen induces erythrocyte hyperaggregation, suggesting an interaction between this protein and red blood cells (RBCs). Several studies support the concept that fibrinogen interacts with RBC membrane and this binding, due to specific and non-specific mechanisms, may be a trigger to RBC hyperaggregation in inflammation. The main goals of our work were to prove that human RBCs are able to specifically bind soluble fibrinogen, and identify membrane molecular targets that could be involved in this process. RBCs were first isolated from blood of healthy individuals and then separated in different age fractions by discontinuous Percoll gradients. After isolation RBC samples were incubated with human soluble fibrinogen and/or with a blocking antibody against CD47 followed by fluorescence confocal microscopy, flow cytometry acquisitions and zeta potential measurements. Our data show that soluble fibrinogen interacts with the human RBC membrane in an age-dependent manner, with younger RBCs interacting more with soluble fibrinogen than the older cells. Importantly, this interaction is abrogated in the presence of a specific antibody against CD47. Our results support a specific and age-dependent interaction of soluble fibrinogen with human RBC membrane; additionally we present CD47 as a putative mediator in this process. This interaction may contribute to RBC hyperaggregation in inflammation. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  11. Rapid evaluation of fibrinogen levels using the CG02N whole blood coagulation analyzer.

    PubMed

    Hayakawa, Mineji; Gando, Satoshi; Ono, Yuichi; Mizugaki, Asumi; Katabami, Kenichi; Maekawa, Kunihiko; Miyamoto, Daisuke; Wada, Takeshi; Yanagida, Yuichiro; Sawamura, Atsushi

    2015-04-01

    Rapid evaluation of fibrinogen (Fbg) levels is essential for maintaining homeostasis in patients with massive bleeding during severe trauma and major surgery. This study evaluated the accuracy of fibrinogen levels measured by the CG02N whole blood coagulation analyzer (A&T Corporation, Kanagawa, Japan) using heparinized blood drawn for blood gas analysis (whole blood-Fbg). A total of 100 matched pairs of heparinized blood samples and citrated blood samples were simultaneously collected from patients in the intensive care unit. Whole blood-Fbg results were compared with those of citrated plasma (standard-Fbg). The whole blood coagulation analyzer measured fibrinogen levels within 2 minutes. Strong correlations between standard-Fbg and whole blood-Fbg were observed (ρ = 0.91, p < 0.001). Error grid analysis showed that 88% of the values were clinically acceptable, and 12% were in a range with possible effects on clinical decision-making; none were in a clinically dangerous range without appropriate treatment. Using a fibrinogen cutoff value of 1.5 g/L for standard-Fbg, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of whole blood-Fbg was 0.980 (95% confidence interval 0.951-1.000, p < 0.001). The whole blood coagulation analyzer can rapidly measure fibrinogen levels in heparinized blood and could be useful in critical care settings where excessive bleeding is a concern. Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

  12. Human fibrinogen adsorption on positively charged latex particles.

    PubMed

    Zeliszewska, Paulina; Bratek-Skicki, Anna; Adamczyk, Zbigniew; Cieśla, Michał

    2014-09-23

    Fibrinogen (Fb) adsorption on positively charged latex particles (average diameter of 800 nm) was studied using the microelectrophoretic and the concentration depletion methods based on AFM imaging. Monolayers on latex were adsorbed from diluted bulk solutions at pH 7.4 and an ionic strength in the range of 10(-3) to 0.15 M where fibrinogen molecules exhibited an average negative charge. The electrophoretic mobility of the latex after controlled fibrinogen adsorption was systematically measured. A monotonic decrease in the electrophoretic mobility of fibrinogen-covered latex was observed for all ionic strengths. The results of these experiments were interpreted according to the three-dimensional electrokinetic model. It was also determined using the concentration depletion method that fibrinogen adsorption was irreversible and the maximum coverage was equal to 0.6 mg m(-2) for ionic strength 10(-3) M and 1.3 mg m(-2) for ionic strength 0.15 M. The increase of the maximum coverage was confirmed by theoretical modeling based on the random sequential adsorption approach. Paradoxically, the maximum coverage of fibrinogen on positively charged latex particles was more than two times lower than the maximum coverage obtained for negative latex particles (3.2 mg m(-2)) at pH 7.4 and ionic strength of 0.15 M. This was interpreted as a result of the side-on adsorption of fibrinogen molecules with their negatively charged core attached to the positively charged latex surface. The stability and acid base properties of fibrinogen monolayers on latex were also determined in pH cycling experiments where it was observed that there were no irreversible conformational changes in the fibrinogen monolayers. Additionally, the zeta potential of monolayers was more positive than the zeta potential of fibrinogen in the bulk, which proves a heterogeneous charge distribution. These experimental data reveal a new, side-on adsorption mechanism of fibrinogen on positively charged surfaces and

  13. Commentary on Reconstituting Fibrinogen Concentrate to Maintain Blinding in a Double-blind, Randomized Trial in an Emergency Setting.

    PubMed

    Bruynseels, Daniel; Solomon, Cristina; Hallam, Angela; Collins, Peter W; Collis, Rachel E; Hamlyn, Vincent; Hall, Judith E

    2016-01-01

    The gold standard of trial design is the double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. Intravenous medication, which needs reconstitution by the attending clinician in an emergency situation, can be challenging to incorporate into a suitably blinded study. We have developed a method of blindly reconstituting and administering fibrinogen concentrate (presented as a lyophilized powder), where the placebo is normal saline. Fibrinogen concentrate is increasingly being used early in the treatment of major hemorrhage. Our methodology was designed for a multicenter study investigating the role of fibrinogen concentrate in the treatment of the coagulopathy associated with major obstetric hemorrhage. The method has been verified by a stand-alone pharmaceutical manufacturing unit with an investigational medicinal products license, and to date has successfully been applied 45 times in four study centers. There have been no difficulties in reconstitution and no related adverse events reported. We feel our method is simple to perform and maintains blinding throughout, making it potentially suitable for use in other trials conducted in psychologically high-pressure environments. Although fibrinogen concentrate was the focus of our study, it is likely that the method is applicable to other lyophilized medication with limited shelf life (e.g., antibiotics). Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  14. Role of serum fibrinogen levels in patients with rotator cuff tears.

    PubMed

    Longo, Umile Giuseppe; Petrillo, Stefano; Berton, Alessandra; Spiezia, Filippo; Loppini, Mattia; Maffulli, Nicola; Denaro, Vincenzo

    2014-01-01

    Although rotator cuff (RC) tendinopathy is a frequent pathology of the shoulder, the real understanding of its aetiopathogenesis is still unclear. Several studies showed that RC tendinopathy is more frequent in patients with hyperglycemia, diabetes, obesity, or metabolic syndrome. This paper aims to evaluate the serum concentration of fibrinogen in patients with RC tears. Metabolic disorders have been related to high concentration of serum fibrinogen and the activity of fibrinogen has been proven to be crucial in the development of microvascular damage. Thus, it may produce progression of RC degeneration by reducing the vascular supply of tendons. We report the results of a cross-sectional frequency-matched case-control study comparing the serum concentration of fibrinogen of patients with RC tears with that of a control group of patients without history of RC tears who underwent arthroscopic meniscectomy. We choose to enrol in the control group patients with pathology of the lower limb with a likely mechanic, not metabolic, cause, different from tendon pathology. We found no statistically significant differences in serum concentration of fibrinogen when comparing patients with RC tears and patients who underwent arthroscopic meniscectomy (P = 0.5). Further studies are necessary to clarify the role of fibrinogen in RC disease.

  15. Recovery of fibrinogen concentrate after intraosseous application is equivalent to the intravenous route in a porcine model of hemodilution

    PubMed Central

    Schlimp, Christoph J.; Solomon, Cristina; Keibl, Claudia; Zipperle, Johannes; Nürnberger, Sylvia; Öhlinger, Wolfgang; Redl, Heinz; Schöchl, Herbert

    2014-01-01

    BACKGROUND Fibrinogen concentrate is increasingly considered as a hemostatic agent for trauma patients experiencing bleeding. Placing a venous access is sometimes challenging during severe hemorrhage. Intraosseous access may be considered instead. Studies of intraosseous infusion of coagulation factor concentrates are limited. We investigated in vivo recovery following intraosseous administration of fibrinogen concentrate and compared the results with intravenous administration. METHODS This study was performed on 12 pigs (mean [SD] body weight, 34.1 [2.8] kg). Following controlled blood loss (35 mL/kg) and fluid replacement with balanced crystalloid solution, intraosseous (n = 6) administration of fibrinogen concentrate (80 mg per kilogram of bodyweight) in the proximal tibia was compared with intravenous (n = 6) administration of the same dose (fibrinogen infusion time approximately 5 minutes in both groups). The following laboratory parameters were assessed: blood cell count, prothrombin time index, activated partial thromboplastin time, and plasma fibrinogen concentration (Clauss assay). Coagulation status was also assessed by thromboelastometry. RESULTS All tested laboratory parameters were comparable between the intraosseous and intravenous groups at baseline, hemodilution, and 30 minutes after fibrinogen concentrate administration. In vivo recovery of fibrinogen was also similar in the two groups (89% [23%] and 91% [22%], respectively). There were no significant between-group differences in any of the thromboelastometric parameters. Histologic examination indicated no adverse effects on the tissue surrounding the intraosseous administration site. CONCLUSION This study suggests that intraosseous administration of fibrinogen concentrate results in a recovery of fibrinogen similar to that of intravenous administration. The intraosseous route of fibrinogen concentrate could be a valuable alternative in situations where intravenous access is not feasible or would

  16. Fibrinogen Demonstration in Oral Lichen Planus: An Immunofluorescence Study on Archival Tissues.

    PubMed

    Shirol, Pallavi D; Naik, Veena; Kale, Alka

    2015-10-01

    Lichen planus is a premalignant condition with minimal diagnostic aids. This study is an attempt to use paraffin embedded sections of lichen planus with immunofluorescein stain and to evaluate the immunofluorescent sections to establish pattern of fibrinogen deposition. Thirty-five paraffin embedded sections of old and new cases of oral lichen planus (study group) and five normal oral mucosa (control group) were chosen. Two sections of each (H & E) case were taken, one was stained with hematoxylin and eosin and another with fluorescein isothiocynate conjugate (FITC) polyclonal rabbit antibody against fibrinogen. Fluorescent findings were examined with a fluorescent microscope. A high statistical significant correlation was found in respect to fluorescence positivity, intensity of fluorescence and distribution of fluorescence each with p < 0.0001 and fluorescence at blood vessel walls (p = 0.0003). This study suggested that paraffin embedded sections can be successfully used in direct immunofluorescence staining in routine set up where only formalin fixed tissues are received. Paraffin embedded sections can be successfully used in direct immunofluorescence staining when only formalin fixed tissues are received.

  17. Time and force dependence of the rupture of glycoprotein IIb-IIIa-fibrinogen bonds between latex spheres.

    PubMed Central

    Goldsmith, H L; McIntosh, F A; Shahin, J; Frojmovic, M M

    2000-01-01

    We studied the shear-induced breakup of doublets of aldehyde/sulfate (A/S) latex spheres covalently linked with purified platelet GPIIb-IIIa receptor, and cross-linked by fibrinogen. Flow cytometry with fluorescein isothiocyanate-fibrinogen showed than an average of 22,500 molecules of active GPIIb-IIIa were captured per sphere, with a mean K(d) = 56 nM for fibrinogen binding. The spheres, suspended in buffered 19% Ficoll 400 containing 120 or 240 pM fibrinogen, were subjected to Couette flow in a counter-rotating cone-plate rheoscope. Doublets, formed by two-body collisions at low shear rate (G = 8 s(-1)) for < or =15 min, were subjected to shear stress from 0.6 to 2.9 Nm(-2), their rotations recorded until they broke up or were lost to view. Although breakup was time dependent, occurring mostly in the first 2 rotations after the onset of shear, the percentage of doublets broken up after 10 rotations were almost independent of normal hydrodynamic force, F(n): at 240 pN, 15.6, 16.0, and 17.0% broke up in the force range 70-150 pN, 150-230 pN, and 230-310 pN. Unexpectedly, at both [fibrinogen], the initial rate of breakup was highest in the lowest force range, and computer simulation using a stochastic model of breakup was unable to simulate the time course of breakup. When pre-sheared at low G for >15 min, no doublets broke up within 10 rotations at 70 < F(n) < 310 pN; it required >3 min shear (>1110 rotations) at F(n) = 210 pN for significant breakup to occur. Other published work has shown that binding of fibrinogen to GPIIb-IIIa immobilized on plane surfaces exhibits an initial fast reversible process with relative low affinity succeeded by transformation of GPIIb-IIIa to a stable high-affinity complex. We postulate that most doublet breakups observed within 10 rotations were from a population of young doublets having low numbers of bonds, by dissociation of the initial receptor complex relatively unresponsive to force. The remaining, older doublets with GPIIb

  18. Differential regulation of macrophage inflammatory activation by fibrin and fibrinogen.

    PubMed

    Hsieh, Jessica Y; Smith, Tim D; Meli, Vijaykumar S; Tran, Thi N; Botvinick, Elliot L; Liu, Wendy F

    2017-01-01

    Fibrin is a major component of the provisional extracellular matrix formed during tissue repair following injury, and enables cell infiltration and anchoring at the wound site. Macrophages are dynamic regulators of this process, advancing and resolving inflammation in response to cues in their microenvironment. Although much is known about how soluble factors such as cytokines and chemokines regulate macrophage polarization, less is understood about how insoluble and adhesive cues, specifically the blood coagulation matrix fibrin, influence macrophage behavior. In this study, we observed that fibrin and its precursor fibrinogen elicit distinct macrophage functions. Culturing macrophages on fibrin gels fabricated by combining fibrinogen with thrombin stimulated secretion of the anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-10 (IL-10). In contrast, exposure of macrophages to soluble fibrinogen stimulated high levels of inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Macrophages maintained their anti-inflammatory behavior when cultured on fibrin gels in the presence of soluble fibrinogen. In addition, adhesion to fibrin matrices inhibited TNF-α production in response to stimulation with LPS and IFN-γ, cytokines known to promote inflammatory macrophage polarization. Our data demonstrate that fibrin exerts a protective effect on macrophages, preventing inflammatory activation by stimuli including fibrinogen, LPS, and IFN-γ. Together, our study suggests that the presentation of fibrin(ogen) may be a key switch in regulating macrophage phenotype behavior, and this feature may provide a valuable immunomodulatory strategy for tissue healing and regeneration. Fibrin is a fibrous protein resulting from blood clotting and provides a provisional matrix into which cells migrate and to which they adhere during wound healing. Macrophages play an important role in this process, and are needed for both advancing and resolving inflammation. We demonstrate that culture of

  19. Deposition of Fibrinogen on the Surface of in vitro Thrombi Prevents Platelet Adhesion

    PubMed Central

    Owaynat, Hadil; Yermolenko, Ivan S.; Turaga, Ramya; Lishko, Valeryi K.; Sheller, Michael R.; Ugarova, Tatiana P.

    2015-01-01

    The initial accumulation of platelets after vessel injury is followed by thrombin-mediated generation of fibrin which is deposited around the plug. While numerous in vitro studies have shown that fibrin is highly adhesive for platelets, the surface of experimental thrombi in vivo contains very few platelets suggesting the existence of natural anti-adhesive mechanisms protecting stabilized thrombi from platelet accumulation and continuous thrombus propagation. We previously showed that adsorption of fibrinogen on pure fibrin clots results in the formation of a nonadhesive matrix, highlighting a possible role of this process in surface-mediated control of thrombus growth. However, the deposition of fibrinogen on the surface of blood clots has not been examined. In this study, we investigated the presence of intact fibrinogen on the surface of fibrin-rich thrombi generated from flowing blood and determined whether deposited fibrinogen is nonadhesive for platelets. Stabilized fibrin-rich thrombi were generated using a flow chamber and the time that platelets spend on the surface of thrombi was determined by video recording. The presence of fibrinogen and fibrin on the surface of thrombi was analyzed by confocal microscopy using specific antibodies. Examination of the spatial distribution of two proteins revealed the presence of intact fibrinogen on the surface of stabilized thrombi. By manipulating the surface of thrombi to display either fibrin or intact fibrinogen, we found that platelets adhere to fibrin- but not to fibrinogen-coated thrombi. These results indicate that the fibrinogen matrix assembled on the outer layer of stabilized in vitro thrombi protects them from platelet adhesion. PMID:26482763

  20. Two-Component System RgfA/C Activates the fbsB Gene Encoding Major Fibrinogen-Binding Protein in Highly Virulent CC17 Clone Group B Streptococcus

    PubMed Central

    Safadi, Rim Al; Mereghetti, Laurent; Salloum, Mazen; Lartigue, Marie-Frédérique; Virlogeux-Payant, Isabelle; Quentin, Roland; Rosenau, Agnès

    2011-01-01

    Group B streptococcus (GBS) strains with the highest ability to bind to human fibrinogen belong to the highly invasive clonal complex (CC) 17. To investigate the fibrinogen-binding mechanisms of CC17 strains, we determined the prevalence of fibrinogen-binding genes (fbsA and fbsB), and fbs regulator genes (rogB encoding an fbsA activator, rovS encoding an fbsA repressor and rgf encoding a two-component system [TCS] whose role on fbs genes was not determined yet) in a collection of 134 strains representing the major CCs of the species. We showed that specific gene combinations were related to particular CCs; only CC17 strains contained the fbsA, fbsB, and rgf genes combination. Non polar rgfAC deletion mutants of three CC17 serotype III strains were constructed. They showed a 3.2- to 5.1-fold increase of fbsA transcripts, a 4.8- to 6.7-fold decrease of fbsB transcripts, and a 52% to 68% decreased fibrinogen-binding ability, demonstrating that the RgfA/RgfC TCS inhibits the fbsA gene and activates the fbsB gene. The relative contribution of the two fbs genes in fibrinogen-binding ability was determined by constructing isogenic fbsA, fbsB, deletion mutants of the three CC17 strains. The ability to bind to fibrinogen was reduced by 49% to 57% in ΔfbsA mutants, and by 78% to 80% in ΔfbsB mutants, suggesting that FbsB protein plays a greater role in the fibrinogen-binding ability of CC17 strains. Moreover, the relative transcription level of fbsB gene was 9.2- to 12.7-fold higher than that of fbsA gene for the three wild type strains. Fibrinogen-binding ability could be restored by plasmid-mediated expression of rgfAC, fbsA, and fbsB genes in the corresponding deletion mutants. Thus, our results demonstrate that a specific combination of fbs genes and fbs regulator genes account for the high fibrinogen-binding ability of CC17 strains that may participate to their enhanced invasiveness for neonates as compared to strains of other CCs. PMID:21326613

  1. Control of diabetes and fibrinogen levels as well as improvement in health care might delay low cognitive performance in societies aging progressively.

    PubMed

    Lopes, Daniele Almeida; Moraes, Suzana Alves de; Freitas, Isabel Cristina Martins de

    2015-01-01

    To know the prevalence and factors associated to low cognitive performance in a representative sample of the adult population in a society aging progressively. Cross-sectional population-based study carried out in a three-stage sampling: 81 census tracts (primary sampling unity) were randomly selected, followed by 1,672 households and 2,471 participants (weighted sample) corresponding to the second and third stages, respectively. The outcome prevalence was calculated according sociodemographic, behavioral and health related variables. Crude and adjusted prevalence ratios were estimated using Poisson regression. The prevalence of low cognitive performance was high, mainly among females, and indicated linear trends into categories of age, schooling, income, plasma fibrinogen and self-reported health status. In multivariate models, gender, diabetes, fibrinogen and self-reported health status presented positive associations, while schooling, employment and sitting time presented negative associations with the outcome. Interventions related to diabetes and fibrinogen levels control as well as improvement in health care might delay low cognitive performance in societies aging progressively as such the study population.

  2. Normally-off p-GaN/AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors using hydrogen plasma treatment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hao, Ronghui; Fu, Kai; Yu, Guohao; Li, Weiyi; Yuan, Jie; Song, Liang; Zhang, Zhili; Sun, Shichuang; Li, Xiajun; Cai, Yong; Zhang, Xinping; Zhang, Baoshun

    2016-10-01

    In this letter, we report a method by introducing hydrogen plasma treatment to realize normally-off p-GaN/AlGaN/GaN HEMT devices. Instead of using etching technology, hydrogen plasma was adopted to compensate holes in the p-GaN above the two dimensional electron gas (2DEG) channel to release electrons in the 2DEG channel and form high-resistivity area to reduce leakage current and increase gate control capability. The fabricated p-GaN/AlGaN/GaN HEMT exhibits normally-off operation with a threshold voltage of 1.75 V, a subthreshold swing of 90 mV/dec, a maximum transconductance of 73.1 mS/mm, an ON/OFF ratio of 1 × 107, a breakdown voltage of 393 V, and a maximum drain current density of 188 mA/mm at a gate bias of 6 V. The comparison of the two processes of hydrogen plasma treatment and p-GaN etching has also been made in this work.

  3. FDP-E induces adipocyte inflammation and suppresses insulin-stimulated glucose disposal: effect of inflammation and obesity on fibrinogen Bβ mRNA.

    PubMed

    Kang, Minsung; Vaughan, Roger A; Paton, Chad M

    2015-12-01

    Obesity is associated with increased fibrinogen production and fibrin formation, which produces fibrin degradation products (FDP-E and FDP-D). Fibrin and FDPs both contribute to inflammation, which would be expected to suppress glucose uptake and insulin signaling in adipose tissue, yet the effect of FDP-E and FDP-D on adipocyte function and glucose disposal is completely unknown. We tested the effects of FDPs on inflammation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and primary macrophages and adipocyte glucose uptake in vitro. High-fat-fed mice increased hepatic fibrinogen mRNA expression ninefold over chow-fed mice, with concomitant increases in plasma fibrinogen protein levels. Obese mice also displayed increased fibrinogen content of epididymal fat pads. We treated cultured 3T3-L1 adipocytes and primary macrophages with FDP-E, FDP-D, or fibrinogen degradation products (FgnDP-E). FDP-D and FgnDP-E had no effect on inflammation or glucose uptake. Cytokine mRNA expression in RAW264.7 macrophage-like cells and 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with FDP-E induced inflammation with maximal effects at 100 nM and 6 h. Insulin-stimulated 2-deoxy-d-[(3)H]glucose uptake was reduced by 71% in adipocytes treated with FDP-E. FDP-E, but not FDP-D or FgnDP-E, induces inflammation in macrophages and adipocytes and decreases glucose uptake in vitro. FDP-E may contribute toward obesity-associated acute inflammation and glucose intolerance, although its chronic role in obesity remains to be elucidated. Copyright © 2015 the American Physiological Society.

  4. Elevated 1-h post-challenge plasma glucose levels in subjects with normal glucose tolerance or impaired glucose tolerance are associated with whole blood viscosity.

    PubMed

    Marini, Maria Adelaide; Fiorentino, Teresa Vanessa; Andreozzi, Francesco; Mannino, Gaia Chiara; Perticone, Maria; Sciacqua, Angela; Perticone, Francesco; Sesti, Giorgio

    2017-08-01

    It has been suggested that glucose levels ≥155 mg/dl at 1-h during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) may predict development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular events among adults with normal glucose tolerance (NGT 1 h-high). Studies showed a link between increased blood viscosity and type 2 diabetes. However, whether blood viscosity is associated with dysglycemic conditions such as NGT 1 h-high, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or impaired fasting glucose (IFG) is unsettled. 1723 non-diabetic adults underwent biochemical evaluation and OGTT. A validated formula based on hematocrit and total plasma proteins was employed to estimate whole blood viscosity. Subjects were categorized into NGT with 1 h glucose <155 mg/dL (NGT-1 h-low), NGT-1 h-high, IFG and/or IGT. Hematocrit and blood viscosity values appeared significantly higher in individuals with NGT 1 h-high, IFG and/or IGT as compared to NGT 1 h-low subjects. Blood viscosity was significantly correlated with age, waist circumference, blood pressure, HbA1c, fasting, 1- and 2-h post-challenge insulin levels, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, fibrinogen, white blood cell, and inversely correlated with high-density lipoprotein and insulin sensitivity. Of the four glycemic parameters, 1-h post-challenge glucose showed the strongest correlation with blood viscosity (β = 0.158, P < 0.0001) in a multivariate regression analysis model including several atherosclerosis risk factors. Our results demonstrate a positive relationship between blood viscosity and 1-h post-challenge plasma glucose. They also suggest that a subgroup of NGT individuals with 1-h post-challenge plasma >155 mg/dl have increased blood viscosity comparable to that observed in subjects with IFG and/or IGT.

  5. 21 CFR 864.7320 - Fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products assay.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products assay. 864.7320 Section 864.7320 Food and Drugs FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN....7320 Fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products assay. (a) Identification. A fibrinogen/fibrin degradation...

  6. Deposition of fibrinogen on the surface of in vitro thrombi prevents platelet adhesion.

    PubMed

    Owaynat, Hadil; Yermolenko, Ivan S; Turaga, Ramya; Lishko, Valeryi K; Sheller, Michael R; Ugarova, Tatiana P

    2015-12-01

    The initial accumulation of platelets after vessel injury is followed by thrombin-mediated generation of fibrin which is deposited around the plug. While numerous in vitro studies have shown that fibrin is highly adhesive for platelets, the surface of experimental thrombi in vivo contains very few platelets suggesting the existence of natural anti-adhesive mechanisms protecting stabilized thrombi from platelet accumulation and continuous thrombus propagation. We previously showed that adsorption of fibrinogen on pure fibrin clots results in the formation of a nonadhesive matrix, highlighting a possible role of this process in surface-mediated control of thrombus growth. However, the deposition of fibrinogen on the surface of blood clots has not been examined. In this study, we investigated the presence of intact fibrinogen on the surface of fibrin-rich thrombi generated from flowing blood and determined whether deposited fibrinogen is nonadhesive for platelets. Stabilized fibrin-rich thrombi were generated using a flow chamber and the time that platelets spend on the surface of thrombi was determined by video recording. The presence of fibrinogen and fibrin on the surface of thrombi was analyzed by confocal microscopy using specific antibodies. Examination of the spatial distribution of two proteins revealed the presence of intact fibrinogen on the surface of stabilized thrombi. By manipulating the surface of thrombi to display either fibrin or intact fibrinogen, we found that platelets adhere to fibrin- but not to fibrinogen-coated thrombi. These results indicate that the fibrinogen matrix assembled on the outer layer of stabilized in vitro thrombi protects them from platelet adhesion. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. Is it acceptable to use coagulation plasma samples stored at room temperature and 4°C for 24 hours for additional prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, antithrombin, and D-dimer testing?

    PubMed

    Rimac, V; Coen Herak, D

    2017-10-01

    Coagulation laboratories are faced on daily basis with requests for additional testing in already analyzed fresh plasma samples. This prompted us to examine whether plasma samples stored at room temperature (RT), and 4°C for 24 hours can be accepted for additional prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), fibrinogen (Fbg), antithrombin (AT), and D-dimer testing. We measured PT, aPTT, Fbg in 50 and AT in 30 plasma samples with normal and pathological values, within 4 hours of blood collection (baseline results) and after 24-hours storage at RT (primary tubes), and 4°C (aliquots). D-dimer stability was investigated in 20 samples stored in primary tubes at 4°C. No statistically significant difference between baseline results and results in samples stored at RT and 4°C was observed for PT (P=.938), aPTT (P=.186), Fbg (P=.962), AT (P=.713), and D-dimers (P=.169). The highest median percentage changes were found for aPTT, being more pronounced for samples stored at 4°C (13.0%) than at RT (8.7%). Plasma samples stored both at RT and 4°C for 24 hours are acceptable for additional PT, Fbg, and AT testing. Plasma samples stored 24 hours in primary tubes at 4°C are suitable for D-dimer testing. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  8. Daily Profiles of Fibrinogen Metabolism for 5 Days Following Hemorrhage and Lactated Ringer’s Resuscitation in Pigs

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-01-01

    Sterile stable isotope solutions of 1 13C phenylalanine (1 13C phe, 100 2mol/mL) and d5 phe (100 2mol/mL) were made in 0.45% saline and infused via the left...described by Stein et al. (15). The enrichments of phenylalanine from isolated fibrinogen were determined by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC MS...baseline of 5.5 T 0.3 to 4.3 T 0.3 g/ dL (P G 0.05) on day 1 but returned to baseline on day 2 and thereafter. Changes in plasma fibrinogen

  9. Differential roles of fibrinogen and von Willebrand factor on clot formation and platelet adhesion in reconstituted and immune thrombocytopenia.

    PubMed

    Misgav, Mudi; Shenkman, Boris; Budnik, Ivan; Einav, Yulia; Martinowitz, Uri

    2011-05-01

    Bleeding tendencies in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) do not always correlate with the number of platelets, suggesting platelet function variation. We used a model of normal whole blood thrombocytopenia to compare platelet function and other hemostatic variables with ITP patients. We further investigated the effect of in vitro spiking with von Willebrand factor (vWF) and fibrinogen on platelet function and hemostatic variables. The Cone and Plate(let) Analyzer was used to measure platelet adhesion (surface coverage [SC], %) and aggregation (average size, μm(2)) under defined shear rate (1200 s(-1)). Rotational thromboelastometry was used to determine variables of clot formation triggered by CaCl(2) and tissue factor. In both the model of thrombocytopenia as well as in ITP, the SC and to some extent the average size were correlated to the platelet number over a range of 5 to 80 × 10(6)/mL. The results obtained for most ITP samples were within the boundaries of the lower and upper limits set by the whole blood model of thrombocytopenia. The addition of 2 U/mL vWF (Haemate-P) to whole blood (calculated to plasma volume) results in an increase in the SC and average size without affecting clot formation. Spiking with fibrinogen (100 and 300 mg/dL) did not affect platelet deposition but improved clot formation. Using a model of whole blood thrombocytopenia enables us to establish reference variables for the Cone and Plate(let) Analyzer and rotational thromboelastometry and to assess platelet function and clot formation in the presence of severe thrombocytopenia. We demonstrated that in most cases of ITP, platelet function is comparable to normal platelets. This work also suggests that vWF and fibrinogen differentially affect primary and secondary hemostasis and therefore both may perform a function in the bleeding phenotype and possibly may be considered for treatment in patients with ITP. © 2011 International Anesthesia Research Society

  10. C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, and cardiovascular disease prediction.

    PubMed

    Kaptoge, Stephen; Di Angelantonio, Emanuele; Pennells, Lisa; Wood, Angela M; White, Ian R; Gao, Pei; Walker, Matthew; Thompson, Alexander; Sarwar, Nadeem; Caslake, Muriel; Butterworth, Adam S; Amouyel, Philippe; Assmann, Gerd; Bakker, Stephan J L; Barr, Elizabeth L M; Barrett-Connor, Elizabeth; Benjamin, Emelia J; Björkelund, Cecilia; Brenner, Hermann; Brunner, Eric; Clarke, Robert; Cooper, Jackie A; Cremer, Peter; Cushman, Mary; Dagenais, Gilles R; D'Agostino, Ralph B; Dankner, Rachel; Davey-Smith, George; Deeg, Dorly; Dekker, Jacqueline M; Engström, Gunnar; Folsom, Aaron R; Fowkes, F Gerry R; Gallacher, John; Gaziano, J Michael; Giampaoli, Simona; Gillum, Richard F; Hofman, Albert; Howard, Barbara V; Ingelsson, Erik; Iso, Hiroyasu; Jørgensen, Torben; Kiechl, Stefan; Kitamura, Akihiko; Kiyohara, Yutaka; Koenig, Wolfgang; Kromhout, Daan; Kuller, Lewis H; Lawlor, Debbie A; Meade, Tom W; Nissinen, Aulikki; Nordestgaard, Børge G; Onat, Altan; Panagiotakos, Demosthenes B; Psaty, Bruce M; Rodriguez, Beatriz; Rosengren, Annika; Salomaa, Veikko; Kauhanen, Jussi; Salonen, Jukka T; Shaffer, Jonathan A; Shea, Steven; Ford, Ian; Stehouwer, Coen D A; Strandberg, Timo E; Tipping, Robert W; Tosetto, Alberto; Wassertheil-Smoller, Sylvia; Wennberg, Patrik; Westendorp, Rudi G; Whincup, Peter H; Wilhelmsen, Lars; Woodward, Mark; Lowe, Gordon D O; Wareham, Nicholas J; Khaw, Kay-Tee; Sattar, Naveed; Packard, Chris J; Gudnason, Vilmundur; Ridker, Paul M; Pepys, Mark B; Thompson, Simon G; Danesh, John

    2012-10-04

    There is debate about the value of assessing levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and other biomarkers of inflammation for the prediction of first cardiovascular events. We analyzed data from 52 prospective studies that included 246,669 participants without a history of cardiovascular disease to investigate the value of adding CRP or fibrinogen levels to conventional risk factors for the prediction of cardiovascular risk. We calculated measures of discrimination and reclassification during follow-up and modeled the clinical implications of initiation of statin therapy after the assessment of CRP or fibrinogen. The addition of information on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to a prognostic model for cardiovascular disease that included age, sex, smoking status, blood pressure, history of diabetes, and total cholesterol level increased the C-index, a measure of risk discrimination, by 0.0050. The further addition to this model of information on CRP or fibrinogen increased the C-index by 0.0039 and 0.0027, respectively (P<0.001), and yielded a net reclassification improvement of 1.52% and 0.83%, respectively, for the predicted 10-year risk categories of "low" (<10%), "intermediate" (10% to <20%), and "high" (≥20%) (P<0.02 for both comparisons). We estimated that among 100,000 adults 40 years of age or older, 15,025 persons would initially be classified as being at intermediate risk for a cardiovascular event if conventional risk factors alone were used to calculate risk. Assuming that statin therapy would be initiated in accordance with Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines (i.e., for persons with a predicted risk of ≥20% and for those with certain other risk factors, such as diabetes, irrespective of their 10-year predicted risk), additional targeted assessment of CRP or fibrinogen levels in the 13,199 remaining participants at intermediate risk could help prevent approximately 30 additional cardiovascular events over the course of 10 years. In a study of people

  11. Clotting of mammalian fibrinogens by papain: a re-examination.

    PubMed

    Doolittle, Russell F

    2014-10-28

    Papain has long been known to cause the gelation of mammalian fibrinogens. It has also been reported that papain-fibrin is insoluble in dispersing solvents like strong urea or sodium bromide solutions, similar to what is observed with thrombin-generated clots in the presence of factor XIIIa and calcium. In those old studies, both the gelation and subsequent clot stabilization were attributed to papain, although the possibility that the second step might be due to contaminating factor XIII in fibrinogen preparations was considered. I have revisited this problem in light of knowledge acquired over the past half-century about thiol proteases like papain, which mostly cleave peptide bonds, and transglutaminases like factor XIIIa that catalyze the formation of ε-lysyl-γ-glutamyl cross-links. Recombinant fibrinogen, inherently free of factor XIII and other plasma proteins, formed a stable gel when treated with papain alone. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that the intermolecular cross-linking in papain-fibrin leads to γ-chain dimers, trimers, and tetramers, just as is the case with thrombin-factor XIIIa-stabilized fibrin. Mass spectrometry of bands excised from gels showed that the cross-linked material is quite different from what occurs with factor XIIIa, however. With papain, the cross-linking occurs between γ chains in neighboring protofibrils becoming covalently linked in a "head-to-tail" fashion by a transpeptidation reaction involving the α-amino group of γ-Tyr1 and a papain cleavage site at γ-Gly403 near the carboxy terminus, rather than by the (reciprocal) "tail-to-tail" manner that occurs with factor XIIIa and that depends on cross-links between γ-Lys406 and γ-Gln398.

  12. An application of mass spectrometry for quality control of biologicals: Highly sensitive profiling of plasma residuals in human plasma-derived immunoglobulin.

    PubMed

    Limonier, Franck; Van Steendam, Katleen; Waeterloos, Geneviève; Brusselmans, Koen; Sneyers, Myriam; Deforce, Dieter

    2017-01-30

    Thromboembolic events (TEE) associated to trace amounts of plasmatic activated coagulation factor XI (FXIa) in administrated immunoglobulin (Ig) have recently raised concerns and hence there is a need for highly sensitive profiling of residual plasma source proteins. This study aims to consider LC-ESI-QTOF data-dependent acquisition in combination with sample fractionation for this purpose. Sample fractionation proved mandatory to enable identification of plasma residuals. Two approaches were compared: Ig depletion with protein G - protein A affinity chromatography and low-abundant protein enrichment with a combinatorial peptide ligand library (ProteoMiner™, Bio-Rad). The latter allowed a higher number of identifications. Highly sensitive detection of prothrombotic FXIa was assessed with confident identification of a 1ng/mg spike. Moreover, different residuals compositions were profiled for various commercial Ig products. Using a quantitative label free analysis, a TEE-positive Ig batch was distinguished from other regular Ig products, with increased levels of FXIa but also other unique proteins. This could have prevented the recently observed TEE problems with Ig. The method is a convenient tool to better characterize Ig products after any plasma pool or manufacture process change, gaining insights in the product quality profile without any prior information required. This study characterized residual plasma proteins in Ig products, using bottom-up LC-MS/MS with conventional data-dependent acquisition, preceded by sample fractionation. Without any prior information or target-specific development, >30 proteins were identified in a commercial Ig product. Quality control relevance was demonstrated with the identification of FXIa spiked at 1ng/mg in Ig, which is below the minimal thrombotic dose of 3ng/mg observed in an in vivo model. Relative label-free quantitation highlighted significant differences in normalized abundances of residual proteins between Ig

  13. A sensitive HPLC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous detection of microbial transglutaminase, and bovine and porcine fibrinogen/thrombin in restructured meat.

    PubMed

    Jira, Wolfgang; Schwägele, Fredi

    2017-12-15

    A sensitive HPLC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous detection of microbial transglutaminase (TG) from Streptomyces mobaraensis, and bovine and porcine fibrinogen/thrombin in restructured meat was developed using tryptic marker peptides of TG (five markers), and bovine and porcine fibrinogen (six markers each). Meat binding experiments with beef and pork were performed using a technical TG mixture (Activa, Ajinomoto), and bovine and porcine plasmapowder FG (PPFG; Sonac B.V.). The method developed allows the simultaneous detection of the use of these cold-set binders in raw and heated samples. The peak areas of the fibrinogen marker peptides were increased by a factor of about 100, compared to blank values originating from the occurrence of residual blood in meat, using a concentration of 0.6% bovine and porcine PPFG. A differentiation between the use of blood plasma powder and PPFG using the ratios of fibrinogen to serotransferrin peptide peak areas seems to be possible. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  14. Interactions of proteins in human plasma with modified polystyrene resins.

    PubMed

    Boisson-Vidal, C; Jozefonvicz, J; Brash, J L

    1991-01-01

    Investigations are reported on the composition of protein layers adsorbed from plasma to various modified polystyrene resins. As well as polystyrene itself, polystyrene bearing sulfonate groups in the benzene rings, and polystyrene sulfonate in which the sulfonate groups were converted to amino acid sulfamide, were investigated. Some of these resins were shown in previous work to have anticoagulant properties. To study the adsorption of proteins from plasma, the resins were exposed to citrate anticoagulated human plasma for 3 h. Adsorbed proteins were then eluted sequentially by 1M Tris buffer and 4% SDS solution, and examined by SDS-PAGE. The gel patterns were similar on all resins except polystyrene. From the MWs of the gel bands, the major protein component appeared to be fibrinogen. Smaller amounts of plasminogen, transferrin, albumin, and IgG were also present. In addition, Ouchterlony immunoassay of the eluates from one resin gave positive identification of complement C3, fibronectin, IgG, and IgM. Many other minor gel bands remain unidentified. A consistent finding for all resins was the presence of plasmin-type fibrinogen degradation products though the amounts varied with resin type. It is concluded from this (and from experiments showing FDP formation when fibrinogen was absorbed to the resins, from buffer containing a trace of plasminogen) that the functional groups in these materials promote the adsorption of plasminogen and its activation to a plasmin-like molecule. It appears from the substantial quantities of fibrinogen adsorbed to these materials after 3 h exposure to plasma that the Vroman effect (giving transient adsorption of fibrinogen) is not operative on these materials. It is hypothesized that specific interactions occur between fibrinogen and sulfonate groups.

  15. The place of fibrinogen concentrates in the management of perioperative bleeding: A position paper from the Francophone Working Group on Perioperative Haemostasis (GIHP).

    PubMed

    Samama, Charles Marc; Ickx, Brigitte; Ozier, Yves; Steib, Annick; Susen, Sophie; Godier, Anne

    2018-04-13

    The consumption of fibrinogen concentrates has been increasing steadily for several years in surgery, trauma and obstetrics. However, data from the literature are conflicting. The French Working Group on Perioperative Haemostasis (GIHP) proposes a position paper based on a narrative review of the literature, and addresses the following questions: What is the exact role of fibrinogen in haemostasis? Which rational support for the use of perioperative fibrinogen? Which thrombotic risk? What are the most recent professional recommendations on the use of fibrinogen concentrates? Then, evidence-based recommendations are proposed: 1) it is suggested not to administer prophylactic FC to prevent haemorrhage; 2) it is suggested not to use FC alone. Haemostatic treatment must be comprehensive, include other haemostatic treatments and must be limited in cases of severe active haemorrhage; 3) the GIHP suggests urgent measurement of fibrinogen plasma concentration in a biology laboratory or functional fibrinogen by viscoelastic methods. The choice between the two methods must be guided by the time to receive the results from a certified organisation with, in particular, authorisation to perform delocalised biologic examinations; 4) it is suggested not to administer FC when the fibrinogen concentration is superior to 1.5g/L or when there is a functional fibrinogen deficit (with the possible exception in obstetrics where the threshold could be 2.0g/L); 5) if FC are administered, an initial dose of 25-50mg/kg is proposed. Copyright © 2018 Société française d'anesthésie et de réanimation (Sfar). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  16. Fibrinogen adsorption onto 316L stainless steel under polarized conditions.

    PubMed

    Gettens, Robert T T; Gilbert, Jeremy L

    2008-04-01

    Adsorption of the plasma protein fibrinogen onto electrically polarized 316L stainless steel was observed and quantified using both in situ and ex situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. Significant differences in fibrinogen adsorption were observed across voltages. Ex situ studies showed significantly lower area coverage (theta) and height of adsorbed Fb on cathodically polarized surfaces when compared to anodically polarized surfaces. Conformational differences in the protein may explain the distinctions in Fb surface area coverage (theta) and height between the anodic and cathodic cases. In situ studies showed significantly slower kinetics of Fb adsorption onto surfaces below -100 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl) compared to surfaces polarized above -100 mV. Electrochemical current density data showed large charge transfer processes (approximately 1 x 10(-5) to 1 x 10(-4) A/cm(2)) taking place on the 316L SS surfaces at voltages below -100 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl). These relatively large current densities point to flux of ionic species away from the surface as a major source of the reduction in adsorption kinetics rather than just hydrophilic or electrostatic effects. Copyright 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  17. Use of human fibrinogen concentrate during proximal aortic reconstruction with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest.

    PubMed

    Hanna, Jennifer M; Keenan, Jeffrey E; Wang, Hanghang; Andersen, Nicholas D; Gaca, Jeffrey G; Lombard, Frederick W; Welsby, Ian J; Hughes, G Chad

    2016-02-01

    Human fibrinogen concentrate (HFC) is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use at 70 mg/kg to treat congenital afibrinogenemia. We sought to determine whether this dose of HFC increases fibrinogen levels in the setting of high-risk bleeding associated with aortic reconstruction and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA). This was a prospective, pilot, off-label study in which 22 patients undergoing elective proximal aortic reconstruction with DHCA were administered 70 mg/kg HFC upon separation from cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Fibrinogen levels were measured at baseline, just before, and 10 minutes after HFC administration, on skin closure, and the day after surgery. The primary study outcome was the difference in fibrinogen level immediately after separation from CPB, when HFC was administered, and the fibrinogen level 10 minutes following HFC administration. Additionally, postoperative thromboembolic events were assessed as a safety analysis. The mean baseline fibrinogen level was 317 ± 49 mg/dL and fell to 235 ± 39 mg/dL just before separation from CPB. After HFC administration, the fibrinogen level rose to 331 ± 41 mg/dL (P < .001) and averaged 372 ± 45 mg/dL the next day. No postoperative thromboembolic complications occurred. Administration of 70 mg/kg HFC upon separation from CPB raises fibrinogen levels by approximately 100 mg/dL without an apparent increase in thrombotic complications during proximal aortic reconstruction with DHCA. Further prospective study in a larger cohort of patients will be needed to definitively determine the safety and evaluate the efficacy of HFC as a hemostatic adjunct during these procedures. Copyright © 2016 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  18. Modified High-Sucrose Diet-Induced Abdominally Obese and Normal-Weight Rats Developed High Plasma Free Fatty Acid and Insulin Resistance

    PubMed Central

    Cao, Li; Liu, Xuehui; Cao, Hongyi; Lv, Qingguo; Tong, Nanwei

    2012-01-01

    Introduction. Metabolically obese but normal-weight (MONW) individuals have metabolic features of overt obesity, and abdominal adiposity is common in them. Animal models of MONW individuals are lacking. We aimed to develop an abdominally obese and normal-weight (AONW) rat model. Methods and Results. Young male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed chow or a modified high-sucrose (HS) diet for 20 weeks. The HS diet induced increased visceral adipose tissue without increased body weight, reduced glucose disposal rates, and increased hepatic glucose output during the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, increased plasma glucose during the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test, and increased plasma free fatty acids. Hepatic lipidosis and hepatocyte mitochondria swelling were found in HS rats through light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy; similar impairments were not observed in muscle. RT-PCR showed that mRNA expression of uncoupling protein 3 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1α increased in muscle of HS rats, while expression of mitochondrial transcription factor A, glucose transporter type 4, and insulin receptor substrate-1 did not change significantly. Conclusion. AONW rats developed metabolic disorders seen in MONW individuals. Steatosis, mitochondrial morphologic changes, and insulin resistance were more serious in liver than in muscle. Genes involved in fatty acid metabolism and mitochondrial function changed in less impaired muscle. PMID:23320128

  19. Modified high-sucrose diet-induced abdominally obese and normal-weight rats developed high plasma free fatty acid and insulin resistance.

    PubMed

    Cao, Li; Liu, Xuehui; Cao, Hongyi; Lv, Qingguo; Tong, Nanwei

    2012-01-01

    Metabolically obese but normal-weight (MONW) individuals have metabolic features of overt obesity, and abdominal adiposity is common in them. Animal models of MONW individuals are lacking. We aimed to develop an abdominally obese and normal-weight (AONW) rat model. Young male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed chow or a modified high-sucrose (HS) diet for 20 weeks. The HS diet induced increased visceral adipose tissue without increased body weight, reduced glucose disposal rates, and increased hepatic glucose output during the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, increased plasma glucose during the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test, and increased plasma free fatty acids. Hepatic lipidosis and hepatocyte mitochondria swelling were found in HS rats through light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy; similar impairments were not observed in muscle. RT-PCR showed that mRNA expression of uncoupling protein 3 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1α increased in muscle of HS rats, while expression of mitochondrial transcription factor A, glucose transporter type 4, and insulin receptor substrate-1 did not change significantly. AONW rats developed metabolic disorders seen in MONW individuals. Steatosis, mitochondrial morphologic changes, and insulin resistance were more serious in liver than in muscle. Genes involved in fatty acid metabolism and mitochondrial function changed in less impaired muscle.

  20. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and fibrinogen concentration of whole blood influences the cellular composition of platelet-rich plasma obtained from centrifugation methods.

    PubMed

    Yin, Wenjing; Xu, Zhengliang; Sheng, Jiagen; Xie, Xuetao; Zhang, Changqing

    2017-09-01

    Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), which reflects the sedimentation rate of platelets, leukocytes and erythrocytes in response to centrifugal force, may influence the cellular composition of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) obtained via centrifugation methods. However, no relevant studies have substantiated this. In the present study, blood was collected from 40 healthy volunteers and used to prepare PRP with two plasma-based preparation systems [YinPRP and Plasma Rich in Growth Factor (PRGF) systems] and two buffy coat-based systems (RegenPRP and WEGOPRP systems) in a single-donor model. Volumes of PRP and platelet-poor plasma (PPP) that were removed in the preparation process were recorded. Analyses of ESR, haematocrit, C-reaction protein, coagulation, serum glucose and serum lipid of the whole blood used for PRP preparation were performed to evaluate the levels of ESR and the factors known to influence it. Whole blood analysis was performed to evaluate the cellular composition of PRP. Results demonstrated that there were marked positive correlations between the ESR of the whole blood used for PRP preparation and PPP removal efficiencies, platelet concentrations, platelet capture efficiencies and platelet enrichment factors of PRP formulations obtained from plasma-based systems, and PRP yield efficiency of RegenPRP and PPP removal efficiency of WEGOPRP. Furthermore, there were marked negative correlations between ESR and concentrations and enrichment factors of platelets, leukocytes and erythrocytes of RegenPRP. Fibrinogen concentration of the whole blood, which had a marked positive correlation with ESR, also influenced the cellular composition of PRP. These findings may increase the understanding of PRP preparation and provide substantial evidence for the individualised optimisation of PRP preparation systems used in clinical practice.

  1. Effect of High-Intensity Interval Training on Plasma Omentin-1 Concentration in Overweight/Obese and Normal-Weight Youth

    PubMed Central

    Ouerghi, Nejmeddine; Fradj, Mohamed Kacem Ben; Bezrati, Ikram; Feki, Moncef; Kaabachi, Naziha; Bouassida, Anissa

    2017-01-01

    Objectives Omentin-1 is a recently discovered adipokine, mainly produced by visceral adipose tissue, which is thought to improve insulin sensitivity. The study aimed to assess the association of plasma omentin-1 with cardiometabolic traits and physical performance and to test its response to high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in obese and normal-weight subjects. Methods Nine overweight/obese (OG) and 9 normal-weight (NWG) young men performed an 8-week HIIT program. Body composition, physical performance, homeostasis model assessment index for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) as well as plasma omentin-1and lipid levels were assessed before and after the HIIT program. Results Baseline plasma omentin-1 was lower in OG than NWG men (359 ± 138 vs. 470 ± 114 ng/ml; p = 0.052). Plasma omentin-1 was related to body fat (r = −0.57; p = 0.03) and LDL-cholesterol (r = −0.49; p = 0.04). There was a trend towards significant association of omentin-1 with BMI (r = −0.47; p = 0.06) and VO2max (r = 0.41; p = 0.09). However, no association was observed with HOMA-IR. Following the HIIT program, omentin-1 concentrations have significantly (p < 0.01) increased in OG (359 ± 138 to 455 ± 126 ng/ml) and NWG men (470 ± 114 to 572 ± 115 ng/ml). In parallel, the cardiometabolic profile has improved with a significant decrease of HOMA-IR in OG. Conclusions HIIT resulted in a plasma omentin-1 increase and an improvement with regard to cardiometabolic traits in the OG men, which may contribute to modulate insulin sensitivity. PMID:28787708

  2. Effect of High-Intensity Interval Training on Plasma Omentin-1 Concentration in Overweight/Obese and Normal-Weight Youth.

    PubMed

    Ouerghi, Nejmeddine; Ben Fradj, Mohamed Kacem; Bezrati, Ikram; Feki, Moncef; Kaabachi, Naziha; Bouassida, Anissa

    2017-01-01

    Omentin-1 is a recently discovered adipokine, mainly produced by visceral adipose tissue, which is thought to improve insulin sensitivity. The study aimed to assess the association of plasma omentin-1 with cardiometabolic traits and physical performance and to test its response to high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in obese and normal-weight subjects. Nine overweight/obese (OG) and 9 normal-weight (NWG) young men performed an 8-week HIIT program. Body composition, physical performance, homeostasis model assessment index for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) as well as plasma omentin-1and lipid levels were assessed before and after the HIIT program. Baseline plasma omentin-1 was lower in OG than NWG men (359 ± 138 vs. 470 ± 114 ng/ml; p = 0.052). Plasma omentin-1 was related to body fat (r = -0.57; p = 0.03) and LDL-cholesterol (r = -0.49; p = 0.04). There was a trend towards significant association of omentin-1 with BMI (r = -0.47; p = 0.06) and VO2max (r = 0.41; p = 0.09). However, no association was observed with HOMA-IR. Following the HIIT program, omentin-1 concentrations have significantly (p < 0.01) increased in OG (359 ± 138 to 455 ± 126 ng/ml) and NWG men (470 ± 114 to 572 ± 115 ng/ml). In parallel, the cardiometabolic profile has improved with a significant decrease of HOMA-IR in OG. HIIT resulted in a plasma omentin-1 increase and an improvement with regard to cardiometabolic traits in the OG men, which may contribute to modulate insulin sensitivity. © 2017 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger GmbH, Freiburg.

  3. Normal and abnormal evolution of argon metastable density in high-density plasmas

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Seo, B. H.; Kim, J. H., E-mail: jhkim86@kriss.re.kr; You, S. J., E-mail: sjyou@cnu.ac.kr

    2015-05-15

    A controversial problem on the evolution of Ar metastable density as a function of electron density (increasing trend versus decreasing trend) was resolved by discovering the anomalous evolution of the argon metastable density with increasing electron density (discharge power), including both trends of the metastable density [Daltrini et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 92, 061504 (2008)]. Later, by virtue of an adequate physical explanation based on a simple global model, both evolutions of the metastable density were comprehensively understood as part of the abnormal evolution occurring at low- and high-density regimes, respectively, and thus the physics behind the metastable evolution hasmore » seemed to be clearly disclosed. In this study, however, a remarkable result for the metastable density behavior with increasing electron density was observed: even in the same electron density regime, there are both normal and abnormal evolutions of metastable-state density with electron density depending on the measurement position: The metastable density increases with increasing electron density at a position far from the inductively coupled plasma antenna but decreases at a position close to the antenna. The effect of electron temperature, which is spatially nonuniform in the plasma, on the electron population and depopulation processes of Argon metastable atoms with increasing electron density is a clue to understanding the results. The calculated results of the global model, including multistep ionization for the argon metastable state and measured electron temperature, are in a good agreement with the experimental results.« less

  4. /sup 99m/Tc-fibrinogen scanning in adult respiratory distress syndrome

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Quinn, D.A.; Carvalho, A.C.; Geller, E.

    1987-01-01

    Fibrin is often seen occluding the lung vessels of patients dying from ARDS and is surrounded by regions of lung necrosis. To learn if we could observe increased or focal fibrin deposition and assess the kinetics of plasma fibrinogen turnover during severe acute respiratory failure, we injected technetium 99m-labeled human purified fibrinogen (Tc-HF) and used gamma camera scanning for as long as 12 h in 13 sequential patients as soon as possible after ICU admission. The fibrinogen uptake rates were determined by calculating the lung:heart radioactivity ratios at each time point. Slopes of the lung:heart ratio versus time were comparedmore » between ARDS and mild acute respiratory failure (ARF). The slope of the lung:heart Tc-HF ratio of the 9 patients with ARDS (2.9 +/- 0.4 units) was markedly higher (p less than 0.02) than the slope of the 4 patients with mild ARF (1.1 +/- 0.4) and the 3 patients studied 5 to 9 months after recovery from respiratory failure (0.7 +/- 0.07). In the 1 patient with ARDS and the 2 patients with mild ARF studied both during acute lung injury and after recovery, the lung:heart Tc-HF ratio had decreased at recovery. To compare the pulmonary uptake of Tc-HF to /sup 99m/Tc-labeled human serum albumin (Tc-HSA), 5 patients were injected with 10 mCi of Tc-HSA, and scanning of the thorax was performed with a similar sequential imaging protocol 24 h after conclusion of the Tc-HF study.« less

  5. Pathophysiologic roles of the fibrinogen gamma chain.

    PubMed

    Farrell, David H

    2004-05-01

    Fibrinogen binds through its gamma chains to cell surface receptors, growth factors, and coagulation factors to perform its key roles in fibrin clot formation, platelet aggregation, and wound healing. However, these binding interactions can also contribute to pathophysiologic processes, including inflammation and thrombosis. This review summarizes the latest findings on the role of the fibrinogen gamma chain in these processes, and illustrates the potential for therapeutic intervention. Novel gamma chain epitopes that bind platelet integrin alpha IIbbeta3 and leukocyte integrin alphaMbeta2 have been characterized, leading to the revision of former dogma regarding the processes of platelet aggregation, clot retraction, inflammation, and thrombosis. A series of studies has shown that the gamma chain serves as a depot for fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), which is likely to play an important role in wound healing. Inhibition of gamma chain function with the monoclonal antibody 7E9 has been shown to interfere with multiple fibrinogen activities, including factor XIIIa crosslinking, platelet adhesion, and platelet-mediated clot retraction. The role of the enigmatic variant fibrinogen gamma chain has also become clearer. Studies have shown that gamma chain binding to thrombin and factor XIII results in clots that are mechanically stiffer and resistant to fibrinolysis, which may explain the association between gammaA/gamma' fibrinogen levels and cardiovascular disease. The identification of new interactions with gamma chains has revealed novel targets for the treatment of inflammation and thrombosis. In addition, several exciting studies have shown new functions for the variant gamma chain that may contribute to cardiovascular disease.

  6. French lyophilized plasma versus fresh frozen plasma for the initial management of trauma-induced coagulopathy: a randomized open-label trial.

    PubMed

    Garrigue, D; Godier, A; Glacet, A; Labreuche, J; Kipnis, E; Paris, C; Duhamel, A; Resch, E; Bauters, A; Machuron, F; Renom, P; Goldstein, P; Tavernier, B; Sailliol, A; Susen, S

    2018-03-01

    Essentials An immediate supply of plasma in case of trauma-induced coagulopathy is required. The Traucc trial compared French Lyophilised Plasma (FLyP) and Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP). FLyP achieved higher fibrinogen concentrations compared with FFP. FLyP led to a more rapid coagulopathy improvement than FFP. Background Guidelines recommend beginning hemostatic resuscitation immediately in trauma patients. We aimed to investigate if French lyophilized plasma (FLyP) was more effective than fresh frozen plasma (FFP) for the initial management of trauma-induced coagulopathy. Methods In an open-label, phase 3, randomized trial (NCT02750150), we enrolled adult trauma patients requiring an emergency pack of 4 plasma units within 6 h of injury. We randomly assigned patients to receive 4-FLyP units or 4-FFP units. The primary endpoint was fibrinogen concentration at 45 min after randomization. Secondary outcomes included time to transfusion, changes in hemostatic parameters at different time-points, blood product requirements and 30-day in-hospital mortality. Results Forty-eight patients were randomized (FLyP, n = 24; FFP, n = 24). FLyP reduced the time from randomization to transfusion of first plasma unit compared with FFP (median[IQR],14[5-30] vs. 77[64-90] min). FLyP achieved a higher fibrinogen concentration 45 min after randomization compared with FFP (baseline-adjusted mean difference, 0.29 g L -1 ; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.08-0.49) and a greater improvement in prothrombin time ratio, factor V and factor II. The between-group differences in coagulation parameters remained significant at 6 h. FLyP reduced fibrinogen concentrate requirements. Thirty-day in-hospital mortality rate was 22% with FLyP and 29% with FFP. Conclusion FLyP led to a more rapid, pronounced and extended increase in fibrinogen concentrations and coagulopathy improvement compared with FFP in the initial management of trauma patients. FLyP represents an attractive option for

  7. Propagation of high frequency electrostatic surface waves along the planar interface between plasma and dusty plasma

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mishra, Rinku; Dey, M.

    2018-04-01

    An analytical model is developed that explains the propagation of a high frequency electrostatic surface wave along the interface of a plasma system where semi-infinite electron-ion plasma is interfaced with semi-infinite dusty plasma. The model emphasizes that the source of such high frequency waves is inherent in the presence of ion acoustic and dust ion acoustic/dust acoustic volume waves in electron-ion plasma and dusty plasma region. Wave dispersion relation is obtained for two distinct cases and the role of plasma parameters on wave dispersion is analyzed in short and long wavelength limits. The normalized surface wave frequency is seen to grow linearly for lower wave number but becomes constant for higher wave numbers in both the cases. It is observed that the normalized frequency depends on ion plasma frequencies when dust oscillation frequency is neglected.

  8. Post-authorization safety study of Clottafact® , a triply secured fibrinogen concentrate in congenital afibrinogenemia. A prospective observational study.

    PubMed

    Négrier, C; Rothschild, C; Borg, J-Y; Lambert, T; Claeyssens, S; Sanhes, L; Stieltjes, N; Bertrand, A; André, M-H; Sié, P; Gruel, Y; Tellier, Z

    2016-11-01

    A new fibrinogen concentrate Clottafact ® was developed according to European guidelines on plasma-derived products. A post-authorization safety study was set up in 2009 as part of the risk management plan. This was a non-interventional, prospective, non-comparative, multicenter study of the use of fibrinogen concentrate for congenital afibrinogenemia in real-life medical practice in France. The analysis was descriptive and performed on 3 subgroups: prophylaxis vs. on-demand treatment, age (<6, <12 and ≥12) and severity of the deficiency. Fourteen patients [1-78 years] were included in 7 centres and followed for 1 year. Twenty-one adverse drug reactions (ADRs) classically reported with fibrinogen (pallor, chills, cough, vomiting, headache, urticaria and erythematous rash) were reported in 5 of 14 patients. Two ADRs were serious: an anaphylactic shock and a subclavian venous thrombosis with a favourable outcome without sequelae. In the nine patients under prophylaxis, 365 of 367 infusions were considered as successful (99·5%) and 2 as failures. For the five patients treated on-demand, the efficacy was rated as excellent for 27 of 48 infusions and good for the 21 others. This study confirms that the benefit/risk balance for this fibrinogen concentrate is favourable. © 2016 International Society of Blood Transfusion.

  9. High sensitivity C reactive protein, fibrinogen levels and the onset of major depressive disorder in post-acute coronary syndrome.

    PubMed

    Lafitte, Marianne; Tastet, Sandrine; Perez, Paul; Serisé, Marie-Aimée; Grandoulier, Anne-Sophie; Aouizerate, Bruno; Sibon, Igor; Capuron, Lucile; Couffinhal, Thierry

    2015-03-18

    Major depression disorder (MDD) is a common condition in patients suffering from acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and depression is a risk factor for mortality following an ACS. Growing evidence suggests that there is an intricate interplay between atherosclerosis, inflammation and depression. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of atherosclerosis-induced inflammation in the mediation of MDD. 87 patients without depression were recruited at the time of an ACS, evaluated at 3 and 7 days and followed at 1, 3 and 9 months for the occurrence of a MDD as assessed by structured interviews (MINI). At each time point, they were monitored for inflammatory markers (high sensitivity C Reactive Protein {hsCRP} and fibrinogen), cardiovascular risk factors and atherosclerosis burden. Association between possible predictive characteristics and depression was assessed using a multivariable logistic regression model. The overall incidence of MDD, in this population, was 28.7% [95% CI: 19.5 - 39.4] during the 9-month follow up period. Elevated hsCRP was not associated with depression onset after an ACS (adjusted OR: 1.07 [0.77 - 1.48]; p = 0.70), and similarly no association was found with fibrinogen. Furthermore, we found no association between hsCRP, fibrinogen or atherosclerosis burden at any time-point, and the occurrence of a MDD (or HDRS-17 and MADRS). The only factor associated with depression occurrence after an ACS was a previous personal history of depression (adjusted OR: 11.02 [2.74 to 44.34]; p = 0.0007). The present study shows that after an ACS, patients treated with optimal medications could have a MDD independent of elevated hsCRP or fibrinogen levels. Personal history of depression may be a good marker to select patients who should be screened for depression after an ACS.

  10. The Effects of Hypothermia on Fibrinogen Metabolism and Coagulation Function in Swine

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2007-01-01

    blanket with circulating water at 48C. Fibrinogen synthesis and breakdown were quantified using a 6-hour stable isotope infusion with subsequent gas...tion and sufficient fibrinogen in the circulation . The effects of hypothermia on the coagulation process have been estimated 0026-0495/$ – see front...and released to circulation in 1 hour. Fibrinogen breakdown rate is the total loss of fibrinogen (expressed as milligram per kilogram of body weight

  11. Scanning probe microscopy for the analysis of composite Ti/hydrocarbon plasma polymer thin films

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Choukourov, A.; Grinevich, A.; Slavinska, D.; Biederman, H.; Saito, N.; Takai, O.

    2008-03-01

    Composite Ti/hydrocarbon plasma polymer films with different Ti concentration were deposited on silicon by dc magnetron sputtering of titanium in an atmosphere of argon and hexane. As measured by Kelvin force microscopy and visco-elastic atomic force microscopy, respectively, surface potential and hardness increase with increasing Ti content. Adhesion force to silicon and to fibrinogen molecules was stronger for the Ti-rich films as evaluated from the AFM force-distance curves. Fibrinogen forms a very soft layer on these composites with part of the protein molecules embedded in the outermost region of the plasma polymer. An increase of the surface charge due to fibrinogen adsorption has been observed and attributed to positively charged αC domains of fibrinogen molecule.

  12. Fabrication and physical and biological properties of fibrin gel derived from human plasma.

    PubMed

    Zhao, Haiguang; Ma, Lie; Zhou, Jie; Mao, Zhengwei; Gao, Changyou; Shen, Jiacong

    2008-03-01

    The fast development of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine drives the old biomaterials, for example, fibrin glue, to find new applications in these areas. Aiming at developing a commercially available hydrogel for cell entrapment and delivery, in this study we optimized the fabrication and gelation conditions of fibrin gel. Fibrinogen was isolated from human plasma by a freeze-thaw circle. Gelation of the fibrinogen was accomplished by mixing with thrombin. Absorbance of the fibrinogen/thrombin mixture at 550 nm as a function of reaction time was monitored by UV-VIS spectroscopy. It was found that the clotting time is significantly influenced by the thrombin concentration and the temperature, while less influenced by the fibrinogen concentration. After freeze-drying, the fibrin gel was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), revealing fibrous microstructure. Thermal gravimetric analysis found that the degradation temperature of the crosslinked fibrin gel starts from 288 degrees C, which is about 30 degrees C higher than that of the fibrinogen. The hydrogel has an initial water-uptake ratio of approximately 50, decreased to 30-40 after incubation in water for 11 h depending on the thrombin concentration. The fibrin gels lost their weights in PBS very rapidly, while slowly in DMEM/fetal bovine serum and DMEM. In vitro cell culture found that human fibroblasts could normally proliferate in the fibrin gel with spreading morphology. In conclusion, the fibrin gel containing higher concentration of fibrinogen (20 mg ml(-1)) and thrombin (5 U ml(-1)) has suitable gelation time and handling properties, and thus is applicable as a delivery vehicle for cells such as fibroblasts.

  13. Fabrication and physical and biological properties of fibrin gel derived from human plasma

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhao, Haiguang; Ma, Lie; Zhou, Jie; Mao, Zhengwei; Gao, Changyou; Shen, Jiacong

    2008-03-01

    The fast development of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine drives the old biomaterials, for example, fibrin glue, to find new applications in these areas. Aiming at developing a commercially available hydrogel for cell entrapment and delivery, in this study we optimized the fabrication and gelation conditions of fibrin gel. Fibrinogen was isolated from human plasma by a freeze-thaw circle. Gelation of the fibrinogen was accomplished by mixing with thrombin. Absorbance of the fibrinogen/thrombin mixture at 550 nm as a function of reaction time was monitored by UV-VIS spectroscopy. It was found that the clotting time is significantly influenced by the thrombin concentration and the temperature, while less influenced by the fibrinogen concentration. After freeze-drying, the fibrin gel was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), revealing fibrous microstructure. Thermal gravimetric analysis found that the degradation temperature of the crosslinked fibrin gel starts from 288 °C, which is about 30 °C higher than that of the fibrinogen. The hydrogel has an initial water-uptake ratio of ~50, decreased to 30-40 after incubation in water for 11 h depending on the thrombin concentration. The fibrin gels lost their weights in PBS very rapidly, while slowly in DMEM/fetal bovine serum and DMEM. In vitro cell culture found that human fibroblasts could normally proliferate in the fibrin gel with spreading morphology. In conclusion, the fibrin gel containing higher concentration of fibrinogen (20 mg ml-1) and thrombin (5 U ml-1) has suitable gelation time and handling properties, and thus is applicable as a delivery vehicle for cells such as fibroblasts.

  14. Metabolism of plasma cholesterol and lipoprotein parameters are related to a higher degree of insulin sensitivity in high HDL-C healthy normal weight subjects.

    PubMed

    Leança, Camila C; Nunes, Valéria S; Panzoldo, Natália B; Zago, Vanessa S; Parra, Eliane S; Cazita, Patrícia M; Jauhiainen, Matti; Passarelli, Marisa; Nakandakare, Edna R; de Faria, Eliana C; Quintão, Eder C R

    2013-11-22

    We have searched if plasma high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) concentration interferes simultaneously with whole-body cholesterol metabolism and insulin sensitivity in normal weight healthy adult subjects. We have measured the activities of several plasma components that are critically influenced by insulin and that control lipoprotein metabolism in subjects with low and high HDL-C concentrations. These parameters included cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP), lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT), post-heparin lipoprotein lipase (LPL), hepatic lipase (HL), pre-beta-₁HDL, and plasma sterol markers of cholesterol synthesis and intestinal absorption. In the high-HDL-C group, we found lower plasma concentrations of triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase, insulin, HOMA-IR index, activities of LCAT and HL compared with the low HDL-C group; additionally, we found higher activity of LPL and pre-beta-₁HDL concentration in the high-HDL-C group. There were no differences in the plasma CETP and PLTP activities. These findings indicate that in healthy hyperalphalipoproteinemia subjects, several parameters that control the metabolism of plasma cholesterol and lipoproteins are related to a higher degree of insulin sensitivity.

  15. Plasma choline and betaine and their relation to plasma homocysteine in normal pregnancy.

    PubMed

    Velzing-Aarts, Francien V; Holm, Pål I; Fokkema, M Rebecca; van der Dijs, Fey P; Ueland, Per M; Muskiet, Frits A

    2005-06-01

    Plasma concentrations of total homocysteine (tHcy) decrease during pregnancy. This reduction has been investigated in relation to folate status, but no study has addressed the possible role of betaine and its precursor choline. We investigated the courses of plasma choline and betaine during normal human pregnancy and their relations to plasma tHcy. Blood samples were obtained monthly; the initial samples were taken at gestational week (GW) 9, and the last samples were taken approximately 3 mo postpartum. The study population comprised 50 women of West African descent. Most of the subjects took folic acid irregularly. Plasma choline (geometric x; 95% reference interval) increased continuously during pregnancy, from 6.6 (4.5, 9.7) micromol/L at GW 9 to 10.8 (7.4, 15.6) micromol/L at GW 36. Plasma betaine decreased in the first half of pregnancy, from 16.3 (8.6, 30.8) micromol/L at GW 9 to 10.3 (6.6, 16.2) micromol/L at GW 20 and remained constant thereafter. We confirmed a reduction in plasma tHcy, and the lowest concentration was found in the second trimester. From GW 16 onward, an inverse relation between plasma tHcy and betaine was observed. Multiple regression analysis showed that plasma betaine was a strong predictor of plasma tHcy from GW 20 onward. The steady increase in choline throughout gestation may ensure choline availability for placental transfer with subsequent use by the growing fetus. Betaine becomes a strong predictor of tHcy during the course of pregnancy. Both of these findings emphasize the importance of choline and betaine status during normal human pregnancy.

  16. Interaction between Paracoccidioides brasiliensis conidia and the coagulation system: involvement of fibrinogen

    PubMed Central

    Tamayo, Diana; Hernández, Orville; Muñoz-Cadavid, Cesar; Cano, Luz Elena; González, Angel

    2013-01-01

    The infectious process starts with an initial contact between pathogen and host. We have previously demonstrated that Paracoccidioides brasiliensis conidia interact with plasma proteins including fibrinogen, which is considered the major component of the coagulation system. In this study, we evaluated the in vitro capacity of P. brasiliensis conidia to aggregate with plasma proteins and compounds involved in the coagulation system. We assessed the aggregation of P. brasiliensis conidia after incubation with human serum or plasma in the presence or absence of anticoagulants, extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, metabolic and protein inhibitors, monosaccharides and other compounds. Additionally, prothrombin and partial thromboplastin times were determined after the interaction of P. brasiliensis conidia with human plasma. ECM proteins, monosaccharides and human plasma significantly induced P. brasiliensis conidial aggregation; however, anticoagulants and metabolic and protein inhibitors diminished the aggregation process. The extrinsic coagulation pathway was not affected by the interaction between P. brasiliensis conidia and plasma proteins, while the intrinsic pathway was markedly altered. These results indicate that P. brasiliensis conidia interact with proteins involved in the coagulation system. This interaction may play an important role in the initial inflammatory response, as well as fungal disease progression caused by P. brasiliensis dissemination. PMID:23827999

  17. Gallium nitrate induces fibrinogen flocculation: an explanation for its hemostatic effect?

    PubMed

    Bauters, A; Holt, D J; Zerbib, P; Rogosnitzky, M

    2013-12-01

    A novel hemostatic effect of gallium nitrate has recently been discovered. Our aim was to perform a preliminary investigation into its mode of action. Thromboelastography® showed no effect on coagulation but pointed instead to changes in fibrinogen concentration. We measured functional fibrinogen in whole blood after addition of gallium nitrate and nitric acid. We found that gallium nitrate induces fibrinogen precipitation in whole blood to a significantly higher degree than solutions of nitric acid alone. This precipitate is not primarily pH driven, and appears to occur via flocculation. This behavior is in line with the generally observed ability of metals to induce fibrinogen precipitation. Further investigation is required into this novel phenomenon.

  18. Analysis of the Fibrinogen and Neutrophil–Lymphocyte Ratio in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Arigami, Takaaki; Okumura, Hiroshi; Matsumoto, Masataka; Uchikado, Yasuto; Uenosono, Yoshikazu; Kita, Yoshiaki; Owaki, Tetsuhiro; Mori, Shinichiro; Kurahara, Hiroshi; Kijima, Yuko; Ishigami, Sumiya; Natsugoe, Shoji

    2015-01-01

    Abstract Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most aggressive malignancies in gastrointestinal tract cancers and even patients with early ESCC have a high metastatic potential. Difficulties are associated with clinically predicting tumor progression and prognosis based on conventional tumor markers determined from preoperative blood examinations. The aim of the present study was to measure plasma fibrinogen levels and the neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in blood and compare the clinical impacts of their combined values (fibrinogen and neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio score—F-NLR score) and the modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS) in patients with ESCC. We classified 238 patients with ESCC based on cut-off values for hyperfibrinogenemia (>400 mg/dL) and high NLR (>3.0) as F-NLR scores of 2 (both of these hematological abnormalities), 1 (one of these abnormalities), or 0 (neither abnormality). We also categorized patients based on cut-off values for high C-reactive protein (CRP) (>0.5 mg/dL) and hypoalbuminemia (<3.8 g/dL) as mGPS of 2 (elevated CRP and hypoalbuminemia), 1 (either elevated CRP or hypoalbuminemia), or 0 (neither elevated CRP nor hypoalbuminemia). The F-NLR score correlated with the depth of tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, lymphovascular invasion, tumor size, and stage (all P < 0.05). Prognoses among the groups based on the F-NLR score and mGPS significantly differed (all P < 0.001). A multivariate analysis identified the depth of tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, and F-NLR score as independent prognostic factors (P = 0.002, P = 0.007, and P = 0.037, respectively). The results of the present study showed that the F-NLR score is a promising blood predictor for tumor progression and outcomes in patients with ESCC. PMID:26496280

  19. Surface structural conformations of fibrinogen polypeptides for improved biocompatibility.

    PubMed

    Yaseen, Mohammed; Zhao, Xiubo; Freund, Amy; Seifalian, Alexander M; Lu, Jian R

    2010-05-01

    This work reports on how incorporation of silica nanocages into poly(urethane) copolymers (PU) affects conformational orientations of adsorbed fibrinogen and how different surfaces subsequently influenced HeLa cell attachment and proliferation. Incorporation of 2 wt% silica nanocages into poly(urethane) (PU4) substantially altered the surface topography of the films and some 50% of the surface was covered with the nanocages due to their preferential exposure. AFM studies revealed the deposition of a dense protein network on the soft polymeric domains of PU4 and much reduced fibrinogen adsorption on the hard nanocage domains. As on the bare SiO(2) control surface, fibrinogen molecules adsorbed on top of the hard nanocages mainly took the dominant trinodular structures in monomeric and dimeric forms. In addition, net positively charged long alpha chains were prone to being hidden beneath the D domains whilst gamma chains predominantly remained exposed. Dynamic interfacial adsorption as probed by spectroscopic ellipsometry revealed fast changes in interfacial conformation induced by electrostatic interactions between different segments of fibrinogen and the surface, consistent with the AFM imaging. On the PU surfaces without nanocage incorporation (PUA), however, adsorbed fibrinogen molecules formed beads-like chain networks, consistent with the structure featured on the soft PU4 domains, showing very different effects of surface chemical nature. Monoclonal antibodies specific to the alpha and gamma chains showed reduced alpha but increased gamma chain binding at the silicon oxide control and PU4 surfaces, whilst on the PUA, C18 and amine surfaces (organic surface controls) the opposite binding trend was detected with alpha chain binding dominant, showing different fibrinogen conformations. Cell attachment studies revealed differences in cell attachment and proliferation, consistent with the different polypeptide conformations on the two types of surfaces, showing a

  20. Fibrinogen release and deposition on urinary catheters placed during urologic procedures

    PubMed Central

    Potretzke, Aaron M.; Schreiber, Henry L.; Park, Alyssa M.; Pinkner, Jerome S.; Caparon, Michael G.; Hultgren, Scott J.; Desai, Alana

    2016-01-01

    Purpose Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) account for ~40% of all hospital-acquired infections worldwide, with more than one million cases diagnosed annually. Recent data from a CAUTI animal model has shown that inflammation induced by catheterization releases host fibrinogen that accumulates on the catheter. Further, Enterococcus faecalis catheter colonization was found to be dependent on EbpA, a fibrinogen binding adhesin. We sought to evaluate this mechanism in a human model. Materials and methods Urinary catheters were collected from human subjects hospitalized for surgical or non-surgical urologic procedures. Catheters were subjected to immunofluorescence analyses by incubating them with anti-fibrinogen antibody and then stained for fluorescence. The fluorescence intensity was compared to standard catheters. Catheters were incubated with strains of Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, or Candida to assess their binding to fibrinogen-laden catheters. Results Fifty catheters were collected after various surgical and urological procedures. In vivo dwell time ranged from 1 hour to 59 days. All catheters had fibrinogen deposition and its accumulation was dependent on dwell time but not on surgical procedure or catheter material. Catheters were probed ex vivo with E. faecalis, S. aureus, and Candida albicans, which bound to catheters only in those regions where fibrinogen was deposited. Conclusions Taken together, these data show that urinary catheters act as a binding surface for accumulation of fibrinogen, which is released due to inflammation resulting from a urological procedure or from catheter placement, creating a niche that can be exploited by uropathogens to cause CAUTI. PMID:26827873

  1. Utilisation of Quartz Crystal Microbalance Sensors with Dissipation (QCM-D) for a Clauss Fibrinogen Assay in Comparison with Common Coagulation Reference Methods.

    PubMed

    Oberfrank, Stephanie; Drechsel, Hartmut; Sinn, Stefan; Northoff, Hinnak; Gehring, Frank K

    2016-02-24

    The determination of fibrinogen levels is one of the most important coagulation measurements in medicine. It plays a crucial part in diagnostic and therapeutic decisions, often associated with time-critical conditions. The commonly used measurement is the Clauss fibrinogen assay (CFA) where plasma is activated by thrombin reagent and which is conducted by mechanical/turbidimetric devices. As quartz crystal microbalance sensors with dissipation (QCM-D) based devices have a small footprint, can be operated easily and allow measurements independently from sample transportation time, laboratory location, availability and opening hours, they offer a great opportunity to complement laboratory CFA measurements. Therefore, the objective of the work was to (1) transfer the CFA to the QCM-D method; (2) develop an easy, time- and cost-effective procedure and (3) compare the results with references. Different sensor coatings (donor's own plasma; gold surface) and different QCM-D parameters (frequency signal shift; its calculated turning point; dissipation signal shift) were sampled. The results demonstrate the suitability for a QCM-D-based CFA in physiological fibrinogen ranges. Results were obtained in less than 1 min and in very good agreement with a standardized reference (Merlin coagulometer). The results provide a good basis for further investigation and pave the way to a possible application of QCM-D in clinical and non-clinical routine in the medical field.

  2. Utilisation of Quartz Crystal Microbalance Sensors with Dissipation (QCM-D) for a Clauss Fibrinogen Assay in Comparison with Common Coagulation Reference Methods

    PubMed Central

    Oberfrank, Stephanie; Drechsel, Hartmut; Sinn, Stefan; Northoff, Hinnak; Gehring, Frank K.

    2016-01-01

    The determination of fibrinogen levels is one of the most important coagulation measurements in medicine. It plays a crucial part in diagnostic and therapeutic decisions, often associated with time-critical conditions. The commonly used measurement is the Clauss fibrinogen assay (CFA) where plasma is activated by thrombin reagent and which is conducted by mechanical/turbidimetric devices. As quartz crystal microbalance sensors with dissipation (QCM-D) based devices have a small footprint, can be operated easily and allow measurements independently from sample transportation time, laboratory location, availability and opening hours, they offer a great opportunity to complement laboratory CFA measurements. Therefore, the objective of the work was to (1) transfer the CFA to the QCM-D method; (2) develop an easy, time- and cost-effective procedure and (3) compare the results with references. Different sensor coatings (donor’s own plasma; gold surface) and different QCM-D parameters (frequency signal shift; its calculated turning point; dissipation signal shift) were sampled. The results demonstrate the suitability for a QCM-D-based CFA in physiological fibrinogen ranges. Results were obtained in less than 1 min and in very good agreement with a standardized reference (Merlin coagulometer). The results provide a good basis for further investigation and pave the way to a possible application of QCM-D in clinical and non-clinical routine in the medical field. PMID:26927107

  3. High normal post-load plasma glucose, cardiometabolic risk factors and signs of organ damage in obese children.

    PubMed

    Di Bonito, Procolo; Licenziati, Maria Rosaria; Baroni, Marco Giorgio; Congiu, Tiziana; Incani, Michela; Iannuzzi, Arcangelo; Maffeis, Claudio; Perrone, Laura; Valerio, Giuliana; Del Giudice, Emanuele Miraglia

    2014-08-01

    To evaluate normoglycemic overweight/obese (Ow/Ob) children whose post-load plasma glucose (2hPG) cut-point may be significantly associated with cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs) and whether this cut-point predicts preclinical signs of organ damage. One thousand seven hundred and thrity four normoglycemic Ow/Ob children were stratified into quintiles of 2hPG, the sixth group was constituted by 101 children with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Moving from the lower quintiles of 2hPG to IGT, the groups differed for Prepubertal stage, BMI, fasting PG, insulin levels, blood pressure, and lipids. To evaluate the best cut-off of 2hPG related to CMRFs, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve and the Youden's index was calculated. Insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and high triglyceride/HDL-C ratio were associated with a 2hPG cut-off of 110 mg/dl. Children with 2hPG ≥110 mg/dl showed 1.3-3.2 fold higher risk to have high levels of ALT (as surrogate of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease) or increased carotid intima-media thickness. This study, performed in a large cohort of Ow/Ob children, shows that an atherogenic risk profile and preclinical signs of organ damage are associated with post-challenge elevations in plasma glucose still considered in the high normal range. Copyright © 2014 The Obesity Society.

  4. Acetylation and glycation of fibrinogen in vitro occur at specific lysine residues in a concentration dependent manner: A mass spectrometric and isotope labeling study

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Svensson, Jan, E-mail: jan.svensson@ki.se; Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Sciences, Danderyd Hospital, SE-182 88 Stockholm; Bergman, Ann-Charlotte

    Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Fibrinogen was incubated in vitro with glucose or aspirin. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Acetylations and glycations were found at twelve lysine sites by mass spectrometry. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The labeling by aspirin and glucose occurred dose-dependently. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer No competition between glucose and aspirin for binding to fibrinogen was found. -- Abstract: Aspirin may exert part of its antithrombotic effects through platelet-independent mechanisms. Diabetes is a condition in which the beneficial effects of aspirin are less prominent or absent - a phenomenon called 'aspirin resistance'. We investigated whether acetylation and glycation occur at specific sites in fibrinogen and if competition between glucose and aspirinmore » in binding to fibrinogen occurs. Our hypothesis was that such competition might be one explanation to 'aspirin resistance' in diabetes. After incubation of fibrinogen in vitro with aspirin (0.8 mM, 24 h) or glucose (100 mM, 5-10 days), we found 12 modified sites with mass spectrometric techniques. Acetylations in the {alpha}-chain: {alpha}K191, {alpha}K208, {alpha}K224, {alpha}K429, {alpha}K457, {alpha}K539, {alpha}K562, in the {beta}-chain: {beta}K233, and in the {gamma}-chain: {gamma}K170 and {gamma}K273. Glycations were found at {beta}K133 and {gamma}K75, alternatively {gamma}K85. Notably, the lysine 539 is a site involved in FXIII-mediated cross-linking of fibrin. With isotope labeling in vitro, using [{sup 14}C-acetyl]salicylic acid and [{sup 14}C]glucose, a labeling of 0.013-0.084 and 0.12-0.5 mol of acetylated and glycated adduct/mol fibrinogen, respectively, was found for clinically (12.9-100 {mu}M aspirin) and physiologically (2-8 mM glucose) relevant plasma concentrations. No competition between acetylation and glycation could be demonstrated. Thus, fibrinogen is acetylated at several lysine residues, some of which are involved in the cross-linking of fibrinogen

  5. Antibody functionalized graphene biosensor for label-free electrochemical immunosensing of fibrinogen, an indicator of trauma induced coagulopathy.

    PubMed

    Saleem, Waqas; Salinas, Carlos; Watkins, Brian; Garvey, Gavin; Sharma, Anjal C; Ghosh, Ritwik

    2016-12-15

    An antibody, specific to fibrinogen, has been covalently attached to graphene and deposited onto screen printed electrodes using a chitosan hydrogel binder to prepare an inexpensive electrochemical fibrinogen biosensor. Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy has been utilized to confirm the presence of the antibody on the graphene scaffold. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) has been utilized to demonstrate that the biosensor responds in a selective manner to fibrinogen in aqueous media even in the presence of plasminogen, a potentially interfering molecule in the coagulopathy cascade. Furthermore, the biosensor was shown to reliably sense fibrinogen in the presence of high background serum albumin levels. Finally, we demonstrated detection of clinically relevant fibrinogen concentrations (938-44,542μg/dL) from human serum and human whole blood samples using this biosensor. This biosensor can potentially be used in a point-of-care device to detect the onset of coagulopathy and monitor response following therapeutic intervention in trauma patients. Thus this biosensor may improve the clinical management of patients with trauma-induced coagulopathy. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  6. Serum bilirubin levels are inversely associated with PAI-1 and fibrinogen in Korean subjects.

    PubMed

    Cho, Hyun Sun; Lee, Sung Won; Kim, Eun Sook; Shin, Juyoung; Moon, Sung Dae; Han, Je Ho; Cha, Bong Yun

    2016-01-01

    Oxidative stress may contribute to atherosclerosis and increased activation of the coagulation pathway. Bilirubin may reduce activation of the hemostatic system to inhibit oxidative stress, which would explain its cardioprotective properties shown in many epidemiological studies. This study investigated the association of serum bilirubin with fibrinogen and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), respectively. A cross-sectional analysis was performed on 968 subjects (mean age, 56.0 ± 11.2 years; 61.1% men) undergoing a general health checkup. Serum biochemistry was analyzed including bilirubin subtypes, insulin resistance (using homeostasis model of assessment [HOMA]), C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, and PAI-1. Compared with subjects with a total bilirubin (TB) concentration of <10.0 μmol/L, those with a TB concentration of >17.1 μmol/L had a smaller waist circumference, a lower triglyceride level, a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome, and decreased HOMA-IR and CRP levels. Correlation analysis revealed linear relationships of fibrinogen with TB and direct bilirubin (DB), whereas PAI-1 was correlated with DB. After adjustment for confounding factors, bilirubin levels were inversely associated with fibrinogen and PAI-1 levels, respectively. Multivariate regression models showed a negative linear relationship between all types of bilirubin and fibrinogen, whereas there was a significant linear relationship between PAI-1 and DB. High bilirubin concentrations were independently associated with low levels of fibrinogen and PAI-1, respectively. The association between TB and PAI-1 was confined to the highest TB concentration category whereas DB showed a linear association with PAI-1. Bilirubin may protect against the development of atherothrombosis by reducing the hemostatic response. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. Prognostic and diagnostic impact of fibrinogen, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio on thymic epithelial tumors outcome

    PubMed Central

    Janik, Stefan; Raunegger, Thomas; Hacker, Philipp; Ghanim, Bahil; Einwallner, Elisa; Müllauer, Leonhard; Schiefer, Ana-Iris; Moser, Julia; Klepetko, Walter; Ankersmit, Hendrik Jan; Moser, Bernhard

    2018-01-01

    Background Peripheral blood-derived inflammation-based markers, such as Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), and Fibrinogen have been identified as prognostic markers in various solid malignancies. Here we aimed to investigate the prognostic and diagnostic impact of NLR, PLR, and Fibrinogen in patients with thymic epithelial tumors (TETs). Results Pretreatment Fibrinogen serum concentrations, NLRs and PLRs were highest in patients with TCs and advanced tumor stages. High pretreatment Fibrinogen serum concentration (≥452.5 mg/dL) was significantly associated with worse cause specific survival (CSS; p = 0.001) and freedom from recurrence (FFR; p = 0.043), high NLR (≥4.0) with worse FFR (p = 0.008), and high PLR (≥136.5) with worse CSS (p = 0.032). Longitudinal analysis revealed that compared to patients without tumor recurrence, patients with tumor recurrence had significantly higher NLR (11.8 ± 4.0 vs. 4.70 ± 0.5; p = 0.001) and PLR (410.8 ± 149.1 vs. 228.3 ± 23.7; p = 0.031). Conclusion Overall, Fibrinogen serum concentrations, NLRs, and PLRs were associated with higher tumor stage, more aggressive tumor behavior, recurrence, and worse outcome. Prospective multicenter studies of the diagnostic and prognostic potential of Fibrinogen, NLR, and PLR are warranted. Methods This retrospective analysis included 122 patients with TETs who underwent surgical resection between 1999-2015. Fibrinogen serum concentrations, NLRs, and PLRs were measured in patients preoperatively, postoperatively, and later during follow-up. These markers were analyzed for association with several clinical variables, including tumor stage, tumor subtype, FFR, and CSS and to evaluate their prognostic and diagnostic impact for detecting tumor recurrence. PMID:29774108

  8. [Lipid changes of fibrinogen and of platelet aggregation induced by etofibrate].

    PubMed

    Fonseca, F A; Novazzi, J P; Cendoroglo, M S; Duarte, M; Almeida Pinto, L E; Rabelo, L M; da Rocha Martinez, T L

    1996-01-01

    To evaluate modifications on lipid profile, fibrinogen and platelet aggregation induced by etofibrate. Twenty-one adult patients were studied. They all had primary hyperlipidemia and had already been on the AHA step I diet and placebo. Etofibrate (500mg/day) was administered for 60 days in the active phase, when lipid parameters, fibrinogen and platelet aggregation were measured. The % significant reductions were: total cholesterol (-9.50%), LDL-cholesterol (-7.88%), triglycerides (-19.07%), total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol(-11.90%), LDL-cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol (-10.20%), fibrinogen (-12.79%), platelet aggregation with adrenaline (-24.02%), with ADP 1 mumol (-30.13%), and ADP 3 mumol (-24.51%). The beneficial effects of etofibrate were observed not only on the lipid profile but also on the thrombogenic parameters measured by fibrinogen and platelet aggregation.

  9. Fibrinogen concentrate as first-line therapy in aortic surgery reduces transfusion requirements in patients with platelet counts over or under 100×109/L

    PubMed Central

    Solomon, Cristina; Rahe-Meyer, Niels

    2015-01-01

    Background Administration of fibrinogen concentrate, targeting improved maximum clot firmness (MCF) of the thromboelastometric fibrin-based clot quality test (FIBTEM) is effective as first-line haemostatic therapy in aortic surgery. We performed a post-hoc analysis of data from a randomised, placebo-controlled trial of fibrinogen concentrate, to investigate whether fibrinogen concentrate reduced transfusion requirements for patients with platelet counts over or under 100×109/L. Material and methods Aortic surgery patients with coagulopathic bleeding after cardiopulmonary bypass were randomised to receive either fibrinogen concentrate (n=29) or placebo (n=32). Platelet count was measured upon removal of the aortic clamp, and coagulation and haematology parameters were measured peri-operatively. Transfusion of allogeneic blood components was recorded and compared between groups. Results After cardiopulmonary bypass, haemostatic and coagulation parameters worsened in all groups; plasma fibrinogen level (determined by the Clauss method) decreased by 43–58%, platelet count by 53–64%, FIBTEM maximum clot firmness (MCF) by 38–49%, FIBTEM maximum clot elasticity (MCE) by 43–54%, extrinsically activated test (EXTEM) MCF by 11–22%, EXTEM MCE by 25–41% and the platelet component of the clot by 23–39%. Treatment with fibrinogen concentrate (mean dose 7–9 g in the 4 groups) significantly reduced post-operative allogeneic blood component transfusion requirements when compared to placebo both for patients with a platelet count ≥100×109/L and for patients with a platelet count <100×109/L. Discussion FIBTEM-guided administration of fibrinogen concentrate reduced transfusion requirements when used as a first-line haemostatic therapy during aortic surgery in patients with platelet counts over or under 100×109/L. PMID:25369608

  10. Association of fibrinogen with HbA1C in diabetic foot ulcer

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pase, M. A.; Gatot, D.; Lindarto, D.

    2018-03-01

    Fibrinogen is one of the inflammatory markers of vascular changes and endothelial dysfunction in diabetic patients. The aim of this study to associate serum fibrinogen levels with HbA1C in diabetic foot ulcer (DFU). This study was cross-sectional and retrospective in DFU patients from January to July 2017 in Haji Adam Malik Central General Hospital. The patients enrolled in the study were T2DM with DFU as a complication. The grading of DFU was evaluated according to the Wagner’s Classification. Serum fibrinogen level, HbA1C and ankle-brachial index (ABI) were carried out directly in the patients. Fibrinogen serum levels were found significantly with HbA1C (P=0.001, r=0.387) and ABI (P=0.008, r=-0.454). Fibrinogen serum levels in DFU patients were positively correlated with HbA1C and significantly higher in patients with poor glycemic control.

  11. Distinct Adsorption Configurations and Self-Assembly Characteristics of Fibrinogen on Chemically Uniform and Alternating Surfaces including Block Copolymer Nanodomains

    PubMed Central

    2015-01-01

    Understanding protein–surface interactions is crucial to solid-state biomedical applications whose functionality is directly correlated with the precise control of the adsorption configuration, surface packing, loading density, and bioactivity of protein molecules. Because of the small dimensions and highly amphiphilic nature of proteins, investigation of protein adsorption performed on nanoscale topology can shed light on subprotein-level interaction preferences. In this study, we examine the adsorption and assembly behavior of a highly elongated protein, fibrinogen, on both chemically uniform (as-is and buffered HF-treated SiO2/Si, and homopolymers of polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate)) and varying (polystyrene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate)) surfaces. By focusing on high-resolution imaging of individual protein molecules whose configurations are influenced by protein–surface rather than protein–protein interactions, fibrinogen conformations characteristic to each surface are identified and statistically analyzed for structural similarities/differences in key protein domains. By exploiting block copolymer nanodomains whose repeat distance is commensurate with the length of the individual protein, we determine that fibrinogen exhibits a more neutral tendency for interaction with both polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) blocks relative to the case of common globular proteins. Factors affecting fibrinogen–polymer interactions are discussed in terms of hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. In addition, assembly and packing attributes of fibrinogen are determined at different loading conditions. Primary orientations of fibrinogen and its rearrangements with respect to the underlying diblock nanodomains associated with different surface coverage are explained by pertinent protein interaction mechanisms. On the basis of two-dimensional stacking behavior, a protein assembly model is proposed for the formation of an extended fibrinogen network

  12. Fibrinogen inhibits fibroblast-mediated contraction of collagen

    PubMed Central

    Nien, Yih-Dar; Han, Yuan-Ping; Tawil, Bill; Chan, Linda S.; Tuan, Tai-Lan; Garner, Warren L.

    2008-01-01

    Extracellular matrix changes in composition and organization as it transitions from the provisional matrix of the fibrin/platelet plug to collagen scar in healed wounds. The manner in which individual matrix proteins affect these activities is not well established. In this article we describe the interactions of two important extracellular matrix components, fibrin and collagen, using an in vitro model of wound contraction, the fibroblast-populated collagen lattice. We utilized different fibrinogen sources and measured tissue reorganization in floating and tensioned collagen lattices. Our results showed that both fibrin and fibrinogen decreased the contraction of fibroblast populated collagen lattices in a dose-dependent manner. Polymerization of fibrinogen to fibrin using thrombin had no effect on this inhibition. Further, there was no effect due to changes in protein concentration, alternate components of the fibrin sealant, or the enzymatic action of thrombin. These results suggest that the initial stability of the fibrin provisional matrix is due to the fibrin, because this protein appears to inhibit contraction of the matrix. This may be important in the early phases of wound healing when clot stability is vital for hemostasis. Later, as fibrin is replaced by collagen, wound contraction can occur. PMID:12950643

  13. Influence of stearic acid on hemostatic risk factors in humans.

    PubMed

    Tholstrup, Tine

    2005-12-01

    Stearic acid has been claimed to be prothrombotic. Elevated plasma factor VII coagulant activity (FVIIc) may raise the risk of coronary thrombosis in the event of plaque rupture. Fibrinogen, an acute-phase protein, is necessary for normal blood clotting; however, elevated levels of fibrinogen increase the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Here I report the results of three controlled, human dietary intervention studies, which used a randomized crossover design to investigate the hemostatic effects of stearic acid-rich test diets in healthy young men. A diet high in stearic acid (shea butter) resulted in a 13% lower fasting plasma FVIIc than a high palmitic acid diet, and was 18% lower than a diet high in myristic and lauric acids (P = 0.001) after 3 wk of intervention. The stearic acid-rich test fat increased plasma fibrinogen concentrations slightly compared with the myristic-lauric acid diet (P < 0.01). When investigating the acute effects of fatty meals, those high in stearic acid (synthesized test fat) resulted in a smaller postprandial increase in FVII than those high in trans and oleic FA, indicating a smaller increase in activated FVII after ingesting stearic acid compared with fats high in monounsaturated FA, probably caused by lower postprandial lipemia. Thus, the present investigations did not find dietary stearic acid to be more thrombogenic, in either fasting effects compared with other long-chain FA, or in acute effects compared with dietary unsaturated FA, including trans monounsaturated FA. The slightly increased effect on fasting plasma fibrinogen may be biologically insignificant, but it should be investigated further.

  14. Fibrinogen concentration and its role in CVD risk in black South Africans--effect of urbanisation.

    PubMed

    Pieters, Marlien; de Maat, Moniek P M; Jerling, Johann C; Hoekstra, Tiny; Kruger, Annamarie

    2011-09-01

    The aim of this study was to investigate correlates of fibrinogen concentration in black South Africans, as well as its association with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and whether urbanisation influences this association. A total of 1,006 rural and 1,004 urban black South Africans from the PURE study were cross-sectionally analysed. The association of fibrinogen with CVD risk was determined by investigating the association of fibrinogen with other CVD risk markers as well as with predicted CVD risk using the Reynolds Risk score. The rural group had a significantly higher fibrinogen concentration than the urban group, despite higher levels of risk factors and increased predicted CVD risk in the urban group. Increased levels of CVD risk factors were, however, still associated with increased fibrinogen concentration. Fibrinogen correlated significantly, but weakly, with overall predicted CVD risk. This correlation was stronger in the urban than in the rural group. Multiple regression analysis showed that a smaller percentage of the variance in fibrinogen is explained by the traditional CVD risk factors in the rural than in the urban group. In conclusion, fibrinogen is weakly associated with CVD risk (predicted overall risk as well with individual risk factors) in black South Africans, and is related to the degree of urbanisation. Increased fibrinogen concentration, in black South Africans, especially in rural areas, is largely unexplained, and likely not strongly correlated with traditional CVD-related lifestyle and pathophysiological processes. This does, however, not exclude the possibility that once increased, the fibrinogen concentration contributes to future development of CVD.

  15. Monoaminylation of Fibrinogen and Glia-Derived Proteins: Indication for Similar Mechanisms in Posttranslational Protein Modification in Blood and Brain.

    PubMed

    Hummerich, René; Costina, Victor; Findeisen, Peter; Schloss, Patrick

    2015-07-15

    Distinct proteins have been demonstrated to be posttranslationally modified by covalent transamidation of serotonin (5-hydropxytryptamin) to glutamine residues of the target proteins. This process is mediated by transglutaminase (TGase) and has been termed "serotonylation." It has also been shown that other biogenic amines, including the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine, can substitute for serotonin, implying a more general mechanism of "monoaminylation" for this kind of protein modification. Here we transamidated the autofluorescent monoamine monodansylcadaverine (MDC) to purified plasma fibrinogen and to proteins from a primary glia cell culture. Electrophoretic separation of MDC-conjugated proteins followed by mass spectrometry identified three fibrinogen subunits (Aα, Bβ, γ), a homomeric Aα2 dimer, and adducts of >250 kDa molecular weight, as well as several glial proteins. TGase-mediated MDC incorporation was strongly reduced by serotonin, underlining the general mechanism of monoaminylation.

  16. Intercorrelations among plasma high density lipoprotein, obesity and triglycerides in a normal population.

    PubMed

    Albrink, M J; Krauss, R M; Lindgrem, F T; von der Groeben, J; Pan, S; Wood, P D

    1980-09-01

    The interrelationships among fatness measures, plasma triglycerides and high density lipoproteins (HDL) were examined in 131 normal adult subjects: 38 men aged 27-46, 40 men aged 47-66, 29 women aged 27-46 and 24 women aged 47-66. None of the women were taking estrogens or oral contraceptive medication. The HDL concentration was subdivided into HDL2b, HDL2a and HDL3 by a computerized fitting of the total schlieren pattern to reference schlieren patterns. Anthropometric measures employed included skinfolds at 3 sites. 2 weight/height indices and 2 girth measurements. A high correlation was found among the various fatness measures. These measures were negatively correlated with total HDL, reflecting the negative correlation between fatness measures and HDL2 (as the sum of HDL2a and 2b). Fatness measures showed no relationship to HDL3. There was also an inverse correlation between triglyceride concentration and HDL2. No particular fatness measure was better than any other for demonstrating the inverse correlation with HDL but multiple correlations using all of the measures of obesity improved the correlations. Partial correlations controlling for fatness did not reduce any of the significant correlations between triglycerides and HDL2 to insignificance. The weak correlation between fatness and triglycerides was reduced to insignificance when controlled for HDL2.

  17. Effects of carprofen and meloxicam on C-reactive protein, ceruloplasmin, and fibrinogen concentrations in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy.

    PubMed

    Kum, Cavit; Voyvoda, Huseyin; Sekkin, Selim; Karademir, Umit; Tarimcilar, Tugrul

    2013-10-01

    To evaluate the effects of perioperative oral administration of carprofen and meloxicam on concentrations of 3 acute-phase proteins in dogs undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy (OVH). 18 healthy adult anestrous female dogs undergoing elective OVH. Dogs were allocated to 3 groups (6 dogs/group). A placebo treatment, carprofen (2.0 mg/kg), or meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg) was orally administered to the dogs of the respective groups. The initial doses were administered 30 minutes before premedication prior to OVH; additional doses were administered once daily for 4 days after surgery. Blood samples were collected 45 minutes before premedication and 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours after the end of OVH; samples were used for measurement of total WBC and neutrophil counts and concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), ceruloplasmin, and fibrinogen. Values did not differ significantly among groups for WBC and neutrophil counts, serum concentrations of CRP and ceruloplasmin, and plasma concentrations of fibrinogen. Concentrations of all inflammatory markers, except serum ceruloplasmin, increased significantly following OVH, but in a similar manner for each group. No significant changes were detected in serum ceruloplasmin concentrations over time. Perioperative administration of both carprofen and meloxicam did not significantly affect the concentrations of CRP, ceruloplasmin, and fibrinogen in dogs undergoing OVH. Thus, use of carprofen or meloxicam should not affect clinical interpretation of results for these 3 acute-phase proteins.

  18. Fibrinogen concentrate as a treatment for postpartum haemorrhage-induced coagulopathy: A study protocol for a randomised multicentre controlled trial. The fibrinogen in haemorrhage of DELivery (FIDEL) trial.

    PubMed

    Ducloy-Bouthors, Anne-Sophie; Mignon, Alexandre; Huissoud, Cyril; Grouin, Jean-Marie; Mercier, Frédéric J

    2016-08-01

    Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) remains the leading cause for maternal mortality worldwide. Hypofibrinogenaemia has been identified as a major risk factor for progress towards severe PPH. The efficacy of fibrinogen concentrate supplementation in PPH has been shown in various clinical settings but the level of evidence is not sufficient to prove the benefit, evaluate the risks, and determine the value, timing and dose of fibrinogen supplementation in PPH. The FIDEL trial objective is to evaluate the impact of a therapeutic strategy based on the early administration of human fibrinogen concentrate compared to the current practice based on late administration in severe PPH patients requiring second line uterotonics. This is a prospective multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. A total of 412 patients will be randomised if they meet the following criteria: female patients≥18 years old, vaginal delivery, PPH requiring IV administration of prostaglandins (sulprostone) after 20 to 30minutes of oxytocin failure. The participants are assigned to receive either fibrinogen 3g or placebo infusions. The primary endpoint is a composite endpoint defined as the percentage of patients losing at least 4g/dL of Hb, and/or requiring a transfusion of at least 2 units of packed red blood cells, within the 48hours following fibrinogen administration. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of an early fibrinogen concentrate infusion in uncontrolled active PPH. Copyright © 2016 Société française d'anesthésie et de réanimation (Sfar). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  19. Effect of methyl testosterone administration on plasma viscosity in postmenopausal women.

    PubMed

    Basaria, Shehzad; Nguyen, Tam; Rosenson, Robert S; Dobs, Adrian S

    2002-08-01

    , body mass index (BMI) and the duration of menopausal status did not have any significant impact on the changes in plasma viscosity or fibrinogen. Women in the EA-group showed significant reductions in total cholesterol (P = 0.009), high density lipoprotein (HDL) (P < 0.001) and triglyceride (TG) levels (P = 0.001). There was no significant change in these parameters in the E-group. This prospective study shows that the treatment of postmenopausal women on oestrogen with low-dose oral methyltestosterone results in a significant reduction in plasma viscosity. This lowering of plasma viscosity was achieved despite an increase in fibrinogen levels. Significant lowering of lipoproteins, especially TG levels, might have been responsible for this benefit. The combination regimen did not result in major side-effects. Based on these results, we feel confident in recommending low-dose androgens to postmenopausal women with a history of sexual dysfunction and decreased libido.

  20. Estimation of plasma fibrinogen levels based on hemoglobin, base excess and Injury Severity Score upon emergency room admission

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    Introduction Fibrinogen plays a key role in hemostasis and is the first coagulation factor to reach critical levels in massively bleeding trauma patients. Consequently, rapid estimation of plasma fibrinogen (FIB) is essential upon emergency room (ER) admission, but is not part of routine coagulation monitoring in many centers. We investigated the predictive ability of the laboratory parameters hemoglobin (Hb) and base excess (BE) upon admission, as well as the Injury Severity Score (ISS), to estimate FIB in major trauma patients. Methods In this retrospective study, major trauma patients (ISS ≥16) with documented FIB analysis upon ER admission were eligible for inclusion. FIB was correlated with Hb, BE and ISS, alone and in combination, using regression analysis. Results A total of 675 patients were enrolled (median ISS 27). FIB upon admission correlated strongly with Hb, BE and ISS. Multiple regression analysis showed that Hb and BE together predicted FIB (adjusted R2 = 0.46; loge(FIB) = 3.567 + 0.223.Hb - 0.007.Hb2 + 0.044.BE), and predictive strength increased when ISS was included (adjusted R2 = 0.51; loge(FIB) = 4.188 + 0.243.Hb - 0.008.Hb2 + 0.036.BE - 0.031.ISS + 0.0003.ISS2). Of all major trauma patients admitted with Hb <12 g/dL, 74% had low (<200 mg/dL) FIB and 54% had critical (<150 mg/dL) FIB. Of patients admitted with Hb <10 g/dL, 89% had low FIB and 73% had critical FIB. These values increased to 93% and 89%, respectively, among patients with an admission Hb <8 g/dL. Sixty-six percent of patients with only a weakly negative BE (<−2 mmol/L) showed low FIB. Of patients with BE <−6 mmol/L upon admission, 81% had low FIB and 63% had critical FIB. The corresponding values for BE <−10 mmol/L were 89% and 78%, respectively. Conclusions Upon ER admission, FIB of major trauma patients shows strong correlation with rapidly obtainable, routine laboratory parameters such as Hb and BE. These two parameters might provide an insightful and rapid tool to

  1. Fibrinogen Lincoln: a new truncated alpha chain variant with delayed clotting.

    PubMed

    Ridgway, H J; Brennan, S O; Gibbons, S; George, P M

    1996-04-01

    A patient referred for preoperative investigation of prolonged bleeding and easy bruising was found to have increased thrombin and reptilase times; however, the thrombin catalysed release of fibrinopeptides A and B was normal. Analysis of five other family members, spanning three generations, indicated that three had a similar defect and suggested autosomal dominant inheritance. Non-reducing SDS-PAGE of purified fibrinogen from affected individuals showed that the 340 kD form of their fibrinogen ran as a doublet. SSCP (single-stranded conformational polymorphism) analysis of exon 5 of the A alpha gene, which encodes the C-terminal half of the chain, confirmed the presence of a mutation. Cycle sequencing of PCR amplified DNA revealed a 13 base pair deletion (nt 4758-4770), resulting in a frame-shift at Ala 475, which translates as four new amino acids before terminating at a new stop codon (-476His-Cys-Leu-Ala-Stop). The presence of a circulating truncated A alpha chain was confirmed when SDS-PAGE gels were probed with an alpha chain specific antisera; which showed that the variant A alpha chain comigrated with gamma chains. The truncation results in a variant A alpha chain with a deletion of 131 amino acids (480-610), and four new amino acids at the C-terminal.

  2. Modification of the interleukin-6 response to air pollution by interleukin-6 and fibrinogen polymorphisms.

    PubMed

    Ljungman, Petter; Bellander, Tom; Schneider, Alexandra; Breitner, Susanne; Forastiere, Francesco; Hampel, Regina; Illig, Thomas; Jacquemin, Bénédicte; Katsouyanni, Klea; von Klot, Stephanie; Koenig, Wolfgang; Lanki, Timo; Nyberg, Fredrik; Pekkanen, Juha; Pistelli, Riccardo; Pitsavos, Christos; Rosenqvist, Mårten; Sunyer, Jordi; Peters, Annette

    2009-09-01

    Evidence suggests that cardiovascular effects of air pollution are mediated by inflammation and that air pollution can induce genetic expression of the interleukin-6 gene (IL6). We investigated whether IL6 and fibrinogen gene variants can affect plasma IL-6 responses to air pollution in patients with cardiovascular disease. We repeatedly determined plasma IL-6 in 955 myocardial infarction survivors from six European cities (n = 5,539). We conducted city-specific analyses using additive mixed models adjusting for patient characteristics, time trend, and weather to assess the impact of air pollutants on plasma IL-6. We pooled city-specific estimates using meta-analysis methodology. We selected three IL6 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and one SNP each from the fibrinogen alpha-chain gene (FGA) and beta-chain gene (FGB) for gene-environment analyses. We found the most consistent modifications for variants in IL6 rs2069832 and FBG rs1800790 after exposure to carbon monoxide (CO; 24-hr average; p-values for interaction, 0.034 and 0.019, respectively). Nitrogen dioxide effects were consistently modified, but p-values for interaction were larger (0.09 and 0.19, respectively). The strongest effects were seen 6-11 hr after exposure, when, for example, the overall effect of a 2.2% increase in IL-6 per 0.64 mg/m(3) CO was modified to a 10% (95% confidence interval, 4.6-16%) increase in IL-6 (p-value for interaction = 0.002) for minor homozygotes of FGB rs1800790. The effect of gaseous traffic-related air pollution on inflammation may be stronger in genetic subpopulations with ischemic heart disease. This information could offer an opportunity to identify postinfarction patients who would benefit more than others from a cleaner environment and antiinflammatory treatment.

  3. Transport of nattokinase across the rat intestinal tract.

    PubMed

    Fujita, M; Hong, K; Ito, Y; Misawa, S; Takeuchi, N; Kariya, K; Nishimuro, S

    1995-09-01

    Intraduodenal administration of nattokinase (NK) at a dose of 80 mg/kg, resulted in the degradation of fibrinogen in plasma suggesting transport of NK across the intestinal tract in normal rats. The action of NK on the cleavage of fibrinogen in the plasma from blood samples drawn at intervals after intraduodenal administration of the enzyme was investigated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Western blotting analysis with an anti-fibrinogen gamma chain antibody. The 270 kDa fragment carrying antigenic sites for the binding of the anti-fibrinogen gamma chain antibody appeared within 0.5 h and was then degraded gradually to a 105 kDa fragment via a 200 kDa fragment. This suggests that fibrinogen was degraded to a 105 kDa fragment via several intermediates (270 and 200 kDa). In parallel with the degradation process, plasma recalcification times were remarkably prolonged NK was also detected in the plasma from blood samples drawn 3 and 5 h after administration of the enzyme by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting analysis with an anti-NK antibody. The results indicate that NK is absorbed from the rat intestinal tract and that NK cleaves fibrinogen in plasma after intraduodenal administration of the enzyme.

  4. Identification of fibrinogen-binding proteins of Aspergillus fumigatus using proteomic approach.

    PubMed

    Upadhyay, Santosh Kumar; Gautam, Poonam; Pandit, Hrishikesh; Singh, Yogendra; Basir, Seemi Farhat; Madan, Taruna

    2012-03-01

    Aspergillus fumigatus, the main etiological agent for various forms of human aspergillosis, gets access to the respiratory system of human host by inhalation of airborne conidia. These conidia possibly adhere to extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Among the ECM proteins involved in adherence, fibrinogen is thought to be crucial. Here, we studied whether A. fumigatus three-week culture filtrate (3wcf) proteins promote binding of A. fumigatus to ECM proteins and promote fungal growth. We observed that incubation of ECM with 3wcf proteins led to dose- and time-dependent increase in adherence of conidia to the ECM. In order to identify the catalogue of fibrinogen-binding A. fumigatus proteins, we carried out fibrinogen affinity blotting using two-dimensional gel electrophoresed 3wcf proteins. A total of 15 fibrinogen-binding protein spots corresponding to 7 unique proteins were identified in 3wcf using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF-TOF). Among these, 4 proteins, namely, beta-glucosidase, alpha-mannosidase, pectate lyase A and oryzin precursor were predicted to have cell wall or extracellular localization, whereas amidase family protein and two hypothetical proteins did not display the signal sequence. This study reports seven novel fibrinogen-binding proteins of A. fumigatus, some of which could be further explored for targeting the adhesion phenomenon as antifungal strategy.

  5. Clumping factor A-mediated virulence during Staphylococcus aureus infection is retained despite fibrinogen depletion.

    PubMed

    Palmqvist, Niklas; Josefsson, Elisabet; Tarkowski, Andrzej

    2004-02-01

    Clumping factor A (ClfA), a fibrinogen-binding protein expressed on the Staphylococcus aureus cell surface, has previously been shown to act as a virulence factor in experimental septic arthritis. Although the interaction between ClfA and fibrinogen is assumed to be of importance for the virulence of S. aureus, this has not been demonstrated in any in vivo model of infection. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the contribution of this interaction to ClfA-mediated virulence in murine S. aureus-induced arthritis. Ancrod, a serine protease with thrombin-like activity, was used to induce in vivo depletion of fibrinogen in mice. Ancrod treatment significantly aggravated septic arthritis following inoculation with a ClfA-expressing strain (Newman) compared to control treatment. Also, ancrod treatment tended to enhance the arthritis induced by a clfA mutant strain (DU5876), indicating that fibrinogen depletion exacerbates septic arthritis in a ClfA-independent manner. Most importantly, the ClfA-expressing strain was much more arthritogenic than the isogenic clfA mutant, following inoculation of fibrinogen-depleted mice. This finding indicates that the interaction between ClfA and free fibrinogen is not required for ClfA-mediated functions contributing to S. aureus virulence. It is conceivable that ClfA contributes to the virulence of S. aureus through interactions with other host ligands than fibrinogen.

  6. Effect of fibrinogen on blood coagulation detected by optical coherence tomography.

    PubMed

    Xu, Xiangqun; Teng, Xiangshuai

    2015-05-21

    Our previous work demonstrated that an optical coherence tomography (OCT) technique and the parameter 1/e light penetration depth (d1/e) were able to characterize the whole blood coagulation process in contrast to existing optical tests that are performed on plasma samples. To evaluate the feasibility of the technique for quantifying the effect of fibrinogen (Fbg) on blood coagulation, a dynamic study of d1/e of blood in various Fbg concentrations was performed in static state. Two groups of blood samples of hematocrit (HCT) in 35, 45, and 55% were reconstituted of red blood cells with: 1) treated plasma with its intrinsic Fbg removed and commercial Fbg added (0-8 g L(-1)); and 2) native plasma with commercial Fbg added (0-8 g L(-1)). The results revealed a typical behavior due to coagulation induced by calcium ions and the clotting time is Fbg concentration-dependent. The clotting time was decreased by the increasing amount of Fbg in both groups. Besides, the blood of lower HCT with various levels of Fbg took shorter time to coagulate than that of higher HCT. Consequently, the OCT method is a useful and promising tool for the detection of blood-coagulation processes induced with different Fbg levels.

  7. Influence of the normal modes on the plasma uniformity in large scale CCP reactors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Eremin, Denis; Brinkmann, Ralf Peter; Mussenbrock, Thomas; Lane, Barton; Matsukuma, Masaaki; Ventzek, Peter

    2016-09-01

    Large scale capacitively coupled plasmas (CCP) driven by sources with high frequency components often exhibit phenomena which are absent in relatively well understood small scale CCPs driven at low frequencies. Of particular interest are such phenomena which affect discharge parameters of direct relevance to the plasma processing applications. One of such parameters is plasma uniformity. By using a self-consistent 2d3v Particle-in-cell/Monte-Carlo (PIC/MCC) code parallelized on GPU we have been able to show that uniformity of the plasma generated is influenced predominantly by two factors, the ionization pattern caused by high-energy electrons and the average temperature of low-energy plasma electrons. The heating mechanisms for these two groups of electrons appear to be different leading to different transversal (radial) profiles of the corresponding factors, which is well captured by the kinetic PIC/MCC code. We find that the heating mechanisms are intrinsically connected with excitation of normal modes inherent to a plasma-filled CCP reactor. In this work we study the wave nature of these phenomena, such as their excitation, propagation, and interaction with electrons. Supported by SFB-TR 87 project of the German Research Foundation and by the ``Experimental and numerical analysis of very high frequency capacitively coupled plasma discharges'' mutual research project between RUB and Tokyo Electron Ltd.

  8. Intercorrelations among plasma high density lipoprotein, obesity and triglycerides in a normal population

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Albrink, M.J.; Krauss, R.M.; Lindgren, F.T.

    The interrelationships among fatness measures, plasma triglycerides and high density lipoproteins (HDL) were examined in 131 normal adult subjects: 38 men aged 27 to 46, 50 men aged 47 to 66, 29 women aged 27 to 46 and 24 women aged 47 to 66. None of the women were taking estrogens or oral contraceptive medication. The HDL concentration was subdivided into HDL/sub 2b/, HDL/sub 2a/ and HDL by a computerized fitting of the total schileren pattern to reference schlieren patterns. Anthropometric measures employed included skinfolds at 3 sites, 2 weight/height indices and 2 girth measurements. A high correlation was foundmore » among the various fatness measures. These measures were negatively correlated with total HDL, reflecting the negative correlation between fatness measures and HDL/sub 2/ (as the sum of HDL/sub 2a/ and /sub 2b/). Fatness measures showed no relationship to HDL/sub 3/. There was also an inverse correlation between triglyceride concentration and HDL/sub 2/. No particular fatness measure was better than any other for demonstrating the inverse correlation with HDL but multiple correlations using all of the measures of obesity improved the correlations. Partial correlations controlling for fatness did not reduce any of the significnt correlations between triglycerides and HDL/sub 2/ to insignificance. The weak correlation between fatness and triglycerides was reduced to insigifnicance when controlled for HDL/sub 2/.« less

  9. Von Willebrand's disease with spontaneous platelet aggregation induced by an abnormal plasma von Willebrand factor.

    PubMed Central

    Grainick, H R; Williams, S B; McKeown, L P; Rick, M E; Maisonneuve, P; Jenneau, C; Sultan, Y

    1985-01-01

    We have investigated and characterized the abnormalities in four unrelated patients with von Willebrand's disease (vWd) who have (a) enhanced ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation (RIPA) at low ristocetin concentrations, (b) absence of the largest plasma von Willebrand factor (vWf) multimers, and (c) thrombocytopenia. The platelet-rich plasma of these patients aggregates spontaneously without the addition of any agonists. When isolated normal platelets are resuspended in patient plasma spontaneous aggregation occurs; however, the patients' plasmas did not induce platelet aggregation of normal washed formalinized platelets. When the patients' platelets are suspended in normal plasma, spontaneous aggregation is not observed. The spontaneous platelet aggregation (SPA) is associated with dense granule secretion as measured by ATP release and alpha granule release as measured by beta-thromboglobulin and platelet factor 4 release. The SPA is totally inhibited by 5 mM EDTA, prostaglandin I2, and dibutryl cyclic AMP, while it is only partially inhibited by 1 mM EDTA, acetylsalicylic acid, or apyrase. A monoclonal antibody directed against glycoprotein Ib (GPIb) and/or a monoclonal antibody against the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GPIIb/IIIa) complex totally inhibits the SPA. The vWf was isolated from the plasma of one of these patients. The purified vWf induced platelet aggregation of normal platelets resuspended in either normal or severe vWd plasma, but the vWf did not induce platelet aggregation of normal platelets resuspended in afibrinognemic plasma. Sialic acid and galactose quantification of the patient's vWf revealed approximately a 50% reduction compared with normal vWf. These studies indicate that a form of vWd exists, which is characterized by SPA that is induced by the abnormal plasma vWf. The SPA is dependent on the presence of plasma fibrinogen, and the availability of the GPIb and the GPIIb/IIIa complex. In this variant form of vWd the abnormal vWf causes

  10. Rare coagulation disorders: fibrinogen, factor VII and factor XIII.

    PubMed

    de Moerloose, P; Schved, J-F; Nugent, D

    2016-07-01

    Rare coagulation disorders (RCDs) include the inherited deficiencies of fibrinogen, factor (F) II, FV, combined FV and VIII, FVII, FX, combined FVII and X, FXI, FXIII and combined congenital deficiency of vitamin K-dependent factors (VKCFDs). Despite their rarity, a deep comprehension of all these disorders is essential to really understand haemostasis. Indeed, even if they share some common features each RCD has some particularity which makes it unique. In this review, we focus on three disorders: fibrinogen, FVII and FXIII. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  11. Fibrinogen adsorption mechanisms at the gold substrate revealed by QCM-D measurements and RSA modeling.

    PubMed

    Kubiak, Katarzyna; Adamczyk, Zbigniew; Cieśla, Michał

    2016-03-01

    Adsorption kinetics of fibrinogen at a gold substrate at various pHs was thoroughly studied using the QCM-D method. The experimental were interpreted in terms of theoretical calculations performed according to the random sequential adsorption model (RSA). In this way, the hydration functions and water factors of fibrinogen monolayers were quantitatively evaluated at various pHs. It was revealed that for the lower range of fibrinogen coverage the hydration function were considerably lower than previously obtained for the silica sensor [33]. The lower hydration of fibrinogen monolayers on the gold sensor was attributed to its higher roughness. However, for higher fibrinogen coverage the hydration functions for both sensors became identical exhibiting an universal behavior. By using the hydration functions, the fibrinogen adsorption/desorption runs derived from QCM-D measurements were converted to the Γd vs. the time relationships. This allowed to precisely determine the maximum coverage that varied between 1.6mgm(-2) at pH 3.5 and 4.5mgm(-2) at pH 7.4 (for ionic strength of 0.15M). These results agree with theoretical eRSA modeling and previous experimental data derived by using ellipsometry, OWLS and TIRF. Various fibrinogen adsorption mechanisms were revealed by exploiting the maximum coverage data. These results allow one to develop a method for preparing fibrinogen monolayers of well-controlled coverage and molecule orientation. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  12. A retrospective discussion of the prognostic value of combining prothrombin time(PT) and fibrinogen(Fbg) in patients with Hepatocellular carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Wang, Xue-Ping; Mao, Min-Jie; He, Zhong-Lian; Zhang, Lin; Chi, Pei-Dong; Su, Jia-Rui; Dai, Shu-Qin; Liu, Wan-Li

    2017-01-01

    Aims: The levels of coagulation system tests have been studied in various cancers. In this study, our aim is to evaluate the prognostic value of pretreatment plasma coagulation tests in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Patient and methods: A retrospective study was performed in 539 patients with HCC, and follow-up period was at least 60 months until recurrence or death. The prognostic significance of coagulation system tests (prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, fibrinogen) were determined by univariate and multivariate Cox hazard models. Then, according to the results of the multivariate analyses, we proposed the coagulation-Based Stage, which combined the independent risk factors (prothrombin time and fibrinogen). Results: Coagulation system tests including prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT), fibrinogen (Fbg) were analyzed. Patients with prolonged PT (≥12.1 sec) levels had significantly poor overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS), not only in the entire cohort (HR: 1.661, 95%CI: 1.125-2.451, p= 0.011 vs. HR: 1.660, 95%CI: 1.125-2.451, p= 0.011), but also in the subgroups stratified by pathological stage (stage I-II and stage III-IV). Additionally, high Fbg (≥2.83 g/L) levels experienced significantly decreased OS and DFS (HR: 2.158, 95%CI: 1.427-3.263, p< 0.001 vs. HR: 2.161, 95%CI: 1.429-3.267, p< 0.001), not only in the entire cohort but also in the subgroups stratified by pathological stage (stage I-II and stage III-IV). All the patients were then stratified (based on combined PT and Fbg) into three groups, The OS for HCC patients were (41.37±17.76), (31.83±19.84) and (18.68±18.41) months, and the DFS for HCC patients were (41.15±17.88), (31.65±19.81) and (18.66±18.39) months. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the combination of plasma PT and Fbg levels should be evaluated as the valuable predictor of survival in patients with HCC.

  13. THE FLOCCULATION MAXIMUM (pH) OF FIBRINOGEN AND SOME OTHER BLOOD-CLOTTING REAGENTS. (RELATIVE TURBIDIMETRY WITH THE EVELYN PHOTOELECTRIC COLORIMETER)

    PubMed Central

    Ferguson, John H.

    1942-01-01

    By means of a novel adaptation of the Evelyn photoelectric colorimeter to the measurement of relative turbidities, the question of the flocculation maximum (F.M.) in acetate buffer solutions of varying pH and salt content has been studied on (a) an exceptionally stable prothrombin-free fibrinogen and its solutions after incipient thermal denaturation and incomplete tryptic proteolysis, (b) plasma, similarly treated, (c) prothrombin, thrombin, and (brain) thromboplastin solutions. All the fibrinogens show a remarkable uniformity of the precipitation pattern, viz. F.M. =4.7 (±0.2) pH in salt-containing buffer solutions and pH = 5.3 (±0.2) in salt-poor buffer (N/100 acetate). The latter approximates the isoelectric point (5.4) obtained by cataphoresis (14). There is no evidence that denaturation or digestion can produce any "second maximum." The data support the view that fibrin formation (under the specific influence of thrombin) is intrinsically unrelated to denaturation and digestion phenomena, although all three can proceed simultaneously in crude materials. A criticism is offered, therefore, of Wöhlisch's blood clotting theory. Further applications of the photoelectric colorimeter to coagulation problems are suggested, including kinetic study of fibrin formation and the assay of fibrinogen, with a possible sensitivity of 7.5 mg. protein in 100 cc. solution. PMID:19873299

  14. THE FLOCCULATION MAXIMUM (pH) OF FIBRINOGEN AND SOME OTHER BLOOD-CLOTTING REAGENTS. (RELATIVE TURBIDIMETRY WITH THE EVELYN PHOTOELECTRIC COLORIMETER).

    PubMed

    Ferguson, J H

    1942-03-20

    By means of a novel adaptation of the Evelyn photoelectric colorimeter to the measurement of relative turbidities, the question of the flocculation maximum (F.M.) in acetate buffer solutions of varying pH and salt content has been studied on (a) an exceptionally stable prothrombin-free fibrinogen and its solutions after incipient thermal denaturation and incomplete tryptic proteolysis, (b) plasma, similarly treated, (c) prothrombin, thrombin, and (brain) thromboplastin solutions. All the fibrinogens show a remarkable uniformity of the precipitation pattern, viz. F.M. =4.7 (+/-0.2) pH in salt-containing buffer solutions and pH = 5.3 (+/-0.2) in salt-poor buffer (N/100 acetate). The latter approximates the isoelectric point (5.4) obtained by cataphoresis (14). There is no evidence that denaturation or digestion can produce any "second maximum." The data support the view that fibrin formation (under the specific influence of thrombin) is intrinsically unrelated to denaturation and digestion phenomena, although all three can proceed simultaneously in crude materials. A criticism is offered, therefore, of Wöhlisch's blood clotting theory. Further applications of the photoelectric colorimeter to coagulation problems are suggested, including kinetic study of fibrin formation and the assay of fibrinogen, with a possible sensitivity of 7.5 mg. protein in 100 cc. solution.

  15. Efficacy of Substance Removal by Immunoadsorption With a Selective Plasma Separator.

    PubMed

    Hanafusa, Norio; Yamamoto, Hiroko; Tamachi, Masaki; Torato, Toshihiro; Sakurai, Satoko; Tsuchiya, Ken; Nitta, Kosaku; Nangaku, Masaomi

    2017-06-01

    Immunoadsorption with a tryptophan-conjugated column has a limited capacity and reduces fibrinogen. We speculated that immunoadsorption with a selective plasma separator has higher efficiency in removing immunoglobulins than ordinary immunoadsorption without affecting coagulation factors. This study investigated the efficacy of immunoadsorption with a selective plasma separator in vitro. The sieving coefficients, the pool concentration, and the adsorbed amount were investigated serially with up to 5 L of processed plasma. The sieving coefficients of the selective plasma separator were 0.8, 0.5, and 0.1 for albumin, immunoglobulin G (IgG), and factor 13, respectively. The trend of concentrations for the ordinary plasma separator in the pool reached its nadir at 1.5 L and 3.5 L of plasma processed for IgG, IgG1, or IgG2, and IgG3, respectively. However, the volume was doubled for the selective plasma separator. The trends of fibrinogen and factor 13 concentrations differed significantly between two plasma separators. The trends of the absorbed amount were mirror images of the concentration in the pool. Comparison of the peak amount absorbed indicated that the amounts were almost identical between the two separators for IgG, IgG1, and IgG2. On the other hand, the peak amounts were less for albumin, fibrinogen, and IgG3 with the selective plasma separator than with the ordinary separator. Although further investigations about bradykinin are required, immunoadsorption with the selective plasma separator supports the administration of more frequent and intensive treatments to remove IgG1 or IgG2 without affecting coagulation factors. © 2017 International Society for Apheresis, Japanese Society for Apheresis, and Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy.

  16. Laser-assisted fibrinogen bonding of umbilical vein grafts.

    PubMed

    Oz, M C; Williams, M R; Souza, J E; Dardik, H; Treat, M R; Bass, L S; Nowygrod, R

    1993-06-01

    Despite success with autologous tissue welding, laser welding of synthetic vascular prostheses has not been possible. The graft material appears inert and fails to allow the collagen breakdown and electrostatic bonding that results in tissue welding. To develop a laser welding system for graft material, we repaired glutaraldehyde-tanned human umbilical cord vein graft incisions using laser-assisted fibrinogen bonding (LAFB) technology. Modified umbilical vein graft was incised transversely (1.2 cm). Incisions were repaired using sutures, laser energy alone, or LAFB. For LAFB, indocyanine green dye was mixed with human fibrinogen and the compound applied with forceps onto the weld site prior to exposure to 808 nm diode laser energy (power density 4.8 W/cm 2). Bursting pressures for sutured repairs (126.6 +/- 23.4 mm Hg) were similar to LAFB anastomoses (111.6 +/- 55.0 mm Hg). No evidence of collateral thermal injury to the graft material was noted. In vivo evaluation of umbilical graft bonding with canine arteries demonstrates that LAFB can reliably reinforce sutured anastomoses. The described system for bonding graft material with laser exposed fibrinogen may allow creation or reinforcement of vascular anastomoses in procedures where use of autologous tissue is not feasible.

  17. Fibrinogen Šumperk II: dysfibrinogenemia in an individual with two coding mutations.

    PubMed

    Kotlín, Roman; Suttnar, Jiří; Cápová, Irena; Hrachovinová, Ingrid; Urbánková, Marie; Dyr, Jan Evangelista

    2012-05-01

    Fibrinogen—a 340-kDa glycoprotein—plays a crucial role in blood coagulation, platelet aggregation, wound healing, and other physiological processes. A mutation in fibrinogen may lead to congenital dysfibrinogenemia,a rare disease characterized by the functional deficiency of fibrinogen. About 580 cases of abnormal fibrinogens have been reported worldwide; thereof 335 cases in the fibrinogen Aa chain[1]. To our knowledge, only five cases of abnormal fibrinogens with two mutations [2–6] and one case of two different mutations in the same family [7] have been described earlier. A 52-year-old female was examined for bleeding. Routine hemostasis screening resulted in a diagnosis of dysfibrinogenemia. Functional testing revealed prolonged fibrin polymerization, prolonged lysis of the clot, abnormal fibrin morphology,and fibrinopeptides release. Genetic analysis showed two heterozygous nonsense mutations—previously described mutation AaGly13Glu and a novel mutation Aa Ser314Cys. The mutation Aa Gly13-Glu was found in her brother and niece, but there was no evidence in either of the mutation Aa Ser314Cys. While mutation Aa Gly13Glu is responsible for abnormal fibrinopeptide release and prolonged thrombin time, the novel mutation Aa Ser314Cys seems to affect fibrin morphology and fibrinolysis.

  18. Fibrinogen Is at the Interface of Host Defense and Pathogen Virulence in Staphylococcus aureus Infection

    PubMed Central

    Ko, Ya-Ping; Flick, Matthew J.

    2017-01-01

    Fibrinogen not only plays a pivotal role in hemostasis but also serves key roles in antimicrobial host defense. As a rapidly assembled provisional matrix protein, fibrin(ogen) can function as an early line of host protection by limiting bacterial growth, suppressing dissemination of microbes to distant sites, and mediating host bacterial killing. Fibrinogen-mediated host antimicrobial activity occurs predominantly through two general mechanisms, namely, fibrin matrices functioning as a protective barrier and fibrin(ogen) directly or indirectly driving host protective immune function. The potential of fibrin to limit bacterial infection and disease has been countered by numerous bacterial species evolving and maintaining virulence factors that engage hemostatic system components within vertebrate hosts. Bacterial factors have been isolated that simply bind fibrinogen or fibrin, promote fibrin polymer formation, or promote fibrin dissolution. Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic gram-positive bacterium, the causative agent of a wide range of human infectious diseases, and a prime example of a pathogen exquisitely sensitive to host fibrinogen. Indeed, current data suggest fibrinogen serves as a context-dependent determinant of host defense or pathogen virulence in Staphylococcus infection whose ultimate contribution is dictated by the expression of S. aureus virulence factors, the path of infection, and the tissue microenvironment. PMID:27056151

  19. Preoperative serum fibrinogen is an independent prognostic factor in operable esophageal cancer

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Shui-Shen; Lei, Yi-Yan; Cai, Xiao-Li; Yang, Hong; Xia, Xin; Luo, Kong-Jia; Su, Chun-Hua; Zou, Jian-Yong; Zeng, Bo; Hu, Yi; Luo, Hong-He

    2016-01-01

    In order to fully elucidate the association between serum fibrinogen and prognosis of esophageal cancer, we examined serum fibrinogen concentrations in 1512 patients who underwent esophagectomy by the Clauss method. The impact of fibrinogen on overall survival and disease-free survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard models. Hyperfibrinogenemia was significantly associated with older age, male gender, smoking, alcohol consumption, weight loss, advanced pathological T stage and lymph node metastasis. Patients with hyperfibrinogenemia exhibited poor OS (HR=1.20, 95%CI: 1.04-1.38, P=0.012) and DFS (HR=1.18, 95%CI: 1.03-1.35, P=0.019). Subgroup analysis further exhibited an significant association between hyperfibrinogenemia and poor OS (P<0.001), DFS (P<0.001) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (P<0.001) and early pathological stage (I-II) (P=0.001). Collectively, this study indicates that preoperative serum fibrinogen is an independent prognostic factor for survival in esophageal cancer. PMID:27009857

  20. Fibrinogen signal transduction as a mediator and therapeutic target in inflammation: lessons from multiple sclerosis.

    PubMed

    Adams, R A; Schachtrup, C; Davalos, D; Tsigelny, I; Akassoglou, K

    2007-01-01

    The blood protein fibrinogen as a ligand for integrin and non-integrin receptors functions as the molecular nexus of coagulation, inflammation and immunity. Studies in animal models and in human disease have demonstrated that extravascular fibrinogen that is deposited in tissues upon vascular rupture is not merely a marker, but a mediator of diseases with an inflammatory component, such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, sepsis, myocardial infarction and bacterial infection. The present article focuses on the recent discoveries of specific cellular targets and receptors for fibrinogen within tissues that have extended the role of fibrinogen from a coagulation factor to a regulator of inflammation and immunity. Fibrinogen has the potential for selective drug targeting that would target its proinflammatory properties without affecting its beneficial effects in hemostasis, since it interacts with different receptors to mediate blood coagulation and inflammation. Strategies to target receptors for fibrinogen and fibrin within the tissue microenvironment could reveal selective and disease-specific agents for therapeutic intervention in a variety of human diseases associated with fibrin deposition.

  1. Parvovirus B19V DNA contamination in Chinese plasma and plasma derivatives

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    Background To ensure the safety of plasma derivatives, screening for human parvovirus B19V genomic DNA in donated plasma using a pooling strategy is performed in some countries. We investigated the prevalence of B19V DNA and anti-B19V antibodies in Chinese plasma pools, plasma derivatives and plasma donations to evaluate the risk posed by B19V. Methods Using a Q-PCR assay developed in-house, we tested for B19V genomic DNA in 142 plasma pools collected between January 2009 and June 2011 from two Chinese blood products manufacturers. Plasma derivatives collected between 1993–1995 (10 batches of albumin, 155 batches of intravenous immunoglobulin, IVIG) and 2009–2011 (50 batches of albumin, 54 batches of IVIG, 35 batches of factor VIII, 7 batches of fibrinogen, and 17 batches of prothrombin complex concentrate, PCC) were also tested for B19V contamination. In addition, B19V genome prevalence in minipools(including 90 individual donations) of 49680 individual plasma samples collected between August 2011 and March 2012 by a single Chinese manufacturer was investigated. IgM/IgG was also investigated in plasma pools/derivatives and in minipools with B19V-DNA titers above 1x104 and 1x106 geq/mL using B19 ELISA IgM/IgG assay(Virion-Serion, Würzburg, Germany), respectively. Results B19V-DNA was detected in 54.2% of plasma pools from two Chinese blood product manufacturers; among recently produced blood products, B19V was detected in 21/54 IVIG samples, 19/35 factor VIII samples, 6/7 fibrinogen samples, and 12/17 PCC samples, but not in albumin samples. The levels of B19V-DNA in these samples varied from 102-107 geq/mL. In samples with >104 geq/mL genome DNA, B19V-specific IgG was also found in all corresponding plasma pools and IVIG, whereas none was detected in the majority of other plasma derivatives. Screening of plasma donations indicated that most minipools were contaminated with B19V-DNA (102-108 geq/mL) and one donation had 1.09 × 1010 geq/mL B19V genomic DNA

  2. Influence of a constant magnetic field on the fibrinogen-fibrin system. [in blood coagulation process

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Matskevichene, V. B.; Platonova, A. T.

    1974-01-01

    The effect of a constant magnetic field with a strength of 2500 oersteds on the fibrinogen-fibrin system was studied in the organism of healthy rabbits with exposure times of 1 and 5 hours. The results obtained indicate disruptions in the stage of conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin and an increase in the amount of fibrinogen.

  3. Study of plasma adrenomedullin level in normal pregnancy and preclampsia.

    PubMed

    Senna, Azza Abo; Zedan, Magda; el-Salam, Gamal E Abd; el-Mashad, Ashraf I

    2008-02-06

    The aim of this study was to evaluate whether maternal circulating adrenomedullin (AM) values in patients with preeclampsia are different from those in normotensive pregnant women at different gestational ages. In a prospective clinical study, 90 women aged 17 to 40 years old, were divided into 4 main groups: group I (45 women): Normotensive pregnant women at first trimester (15 women), second trimester (15 women), and third trimester (15 women) of pregnancies. Group II (15 women): Pregnant women with preeclampsia at 25 to 38 weeks of gestation. Group III (15 women): Normotensive healthy nonpregnant women. Group IV (15 women): Hypertensive nonpregnant women. The plasma AM concentration was measured in all women by using enzyme immunoassay kits. Plasma AM levels in pregnant women with normal blood pressure at different gestational ages (first, second, and third trimesters) were statistically significantly higher than those detected in nonpregnant normotensive women and significantly increased with increasing gestational age (P < .001). Moreover, there was significant positive correlation between plasma AM levels and increasing gestational age (r = 0.915, P < .001). Preeclamptic patients had the highest mean plasma AM levels compared with all other groups, which is statistically significant (P < .001) and there was a significant positive correlation between plasma AM levels and systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, severity of preeclampsia, and proteinuria in pregnant patients with preeclampsia. Maternal plasma AM concentration increases throughout pregnancy and increases as gestational age progresses. AM production starts very early in gestation, suggesting that it may have an important role in human reproduction, from implantation to delivery. Maternal plasma AM level in preeclampsia appears to be higher than that in normal pregnancy.

  4. Fibrinogen induces biofilm formation by Streptococcus suis and enhances its antibiotic resistance.

    PubMed

    Bonifait, Laetitia; Grignon, Louis; Grenier, Daniel

    2008-08-01

    In this study, we showed that supplementing the culture medium with fibrinogen induced biofilm formation by Streptococcus suis in a dose-dependent manner. Biofilm-grown S. suis cells were much more resistant to penicillin G than planktonic cells. S. suis bound fibrinogen to its surface, a property that likely contributes to biofilm formation.

  5. Regular walking improves plasma protein concentrations that promote blood hyperviscosity in women 65-74 yr with type 2 diabetes.

    PubMed

    Simmonds, Michael J; Sabapathy, Surendran; Serre, Kevin R; Haseler, Luke J; Gass, Gregory C; Marshall-Gradisnik, Sonya M; Minahan, Clare L

    2016-11-25

    The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of regular treadmill walking on plasma factors that increase low-shear blood viscosity and red blood cell aggregation in older women with type 2 diabetes. Eighteen women with type 2 diabetes (age: 69±3 yr; body mass index: 30.5±5.0 kg⋅m-2) performed 12-wk of 120 min⋅wk-1 of supervised treadmill walking at an intensity equivalent to the gas-exchange threshold. Peak exercise values, anthropometry and blood indices of diabetic status, markers of inflammation, and plasma fibrinogen were analysed during a 6-wk pre-training 'control' period, and then after 6 and 12-wk of regular walking. Regular walking significantly increased peak oxygen uptake (p = 0.01). Body mass, waist to hip ratio, and glycaemic control did not change. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures decreased by 8.5% (p < 0.01) and 7.2% (p < 0.01) respectively, cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio decreased by 9.6% (p = 0.01), and HDL concentration significantly increased (p = 0.01). While 12 wk of regular walking did not significantly alter plasma concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-α, or C-reactive protein, plasma fibrinogen concentration decreased by 6.9% (p < 0.01) and plasma interleukin-10 (IL-10) concentration increased from 1.15±0.32 to 1.62±0.22 mmol⋅L-1 (p < 0.04). Improved plasma inflammatory profile and decreased plasma fibrinogen concentration is induced by regular walking, independent of glycaemic control. These factors may mediate the improved haemorheology associated with exercise training in metabolic disorders.

  6. Effects of high-intensity interval training on body composition, aerobic and anaerobic performance and plasma lipids in overweight/obese and normal-weight young men.

    PubMed

    Ouerghi, Nejmeddine; Fradj, Mohamed Kacem Ben; Bezrati, Ikram; Khammassi, Marwa; Feki, Moncef; Kaabachi, Naziha; Bouassida, Anissa

    2017-12-01

    To examine the effects of short high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on body composition, physical performance and plasma lipids in overweight/obese compared to normal-weight young men. Nine overweight/obese and nine normal-weight men (control group) aged 17 to 20 years underwent a HIIT programme three times per week for eight weeks. Body composition, indices of aerobic [maximal aerobic velocity (MAV) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO 2max )] and anaerobic [squat jump (SJ), counter-movement jump (CMJ), five-jump test (FJT), 10-m and 30-m sprint] performances, as well as fasting plasma lipids, were assessed in the two groups at PRE and POST HIIT. The HIIT programme resulted in significant reductions in body mass (-1.62%, P=0.016, ES=0.11) and fat mass (-1.59%, P=0.021, ES=0.23) in obese, but not in normal-weight subjects. MAV (+5.55%, P=0.005, ES=0.60 and +2.96%, P=0.009, ES=0.82), VO 2max (+5.27%, P=0.006, ES=0.63 and +2.88%, P=0.009, ES=0.41), FJT (+3.63%, P=0.005, ES=0.28 and +2.94%, P=0.009, ES=0.52), SJ (+4.92%, P=0.009, ES=0.25 and +6.94%, P=0.009, ES=0.70) and CMJ (+6.84%, P=0.014, ES=0.30 and +6.69%, P=0.002, ES=0.64) significantly increased in overweight/obese and normal-weight groups, respectively. 30-m sprint time significantly decreased in both groups (-1.77%, P=0.038, ES=0.12 and -0.72%, P=0.030, ES=0.16). Plasma total cholesterol (-11.8%, P=0.026, ES=0.96), LDL cholesterol (-11.9%, P=0.050, ES=0.77) and triglycerides (-21.3%, P=0.023, ES=1.08) significantly decreased in the obese group, but not in the normal-weight group. The eight-week HIIT programme resulted in a slight improvement in physical fitness and a significant decrease in plasma lipids in the obese. Short duration HIIT may contribute to an improved cardiometabolic profile in the obese.

  7. Effects of high-intensity interval training on body composition, aerobic and anaerobic performance and plasma lipids in overweight/obese and normal-weight young men

    PubMed Central

    Fradj, Mohamed Kacem Ben; Bezrati, Ikram; Khammassi, Marwa; Feki, Moncef; Kaabachi, Naziha; Bouassida, Anissa

    2017-01-01

    To examine the effects of short high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on body composition, physical performance and plasma lipids in overweight/obese compared to normal-weight young men. Nine overweight/obese and nine normal-weight men (control group) aged 17 to 20 years underwent a HIIT programme three times per week for eight weeks. Body composition, indices of aerobic [maximal aerobic velocity (MAV) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max)] and anaerobic [squat jump (SJ), counter-movement jump (CMJ), five-jump test (FJT), 10-m and 30-m sprint] performances, as well as fasting plasma lipids, were assessed in the two groups at PRE and POST HIIT. The HIIT programme resulted in significant reductions in body mass (-1.62%, P=0.016, ES=0.11) and fat mass (-1.59%, P=0.021, ES=0.23) in obese, but not in normal-weight subjects. MAV (+5.55%, P=0.005, ES=0.60 and +2.96%, P=0.009, ES=0.82), VO2max (+5.27%, P=0.006, ES=0.63 and +2.88%, P=0.009, ES=0.41), FJT (+3.63%, P=0.005, ES=0.28 and +2.94%, P=0.009, ES=0.52), SJ (+4.92%, P=0.009, ES=0.25 and +6.94%, P=0.009, ES=0.70) and CMJ (+6.84%, P=0.014, ES=0.30 and +6.69%, P=0.002, ES=0.64) significantly increased in overweight/obese and normal-weight groups, respectively. 30-m sprint time significantly decreased in both groups (-1.77%, P=0.038, ES=0.12 and -0.72%, P=0.030, ES=0.16). Plasma total cholesterol (-11.8%, P=0.026, ES=0.96), LDL cholesterol (-11.9%, P=0.050, ES=0.77) and triglycerides (-21.3%, P=0.023, ES=1.08) significantly decreased in the obese group, but not in the normal-weight group. The eight-week HIIT programme resulted in a slight improvement in physical fitness and a significant decrease in plasma lipids in the obese. Short duration HIIT may contribute to an improved cardiometabolic profile in the obese. PMID:29472742

  8. Polarized Raman spectroscopic characterization of normal and oral cancer blood plasma

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pachaiappan, Rekha; Prakasarao, Aruna; Singaravelu, Ganesan

    2017-02-01

    In India oral cancer ranks the top due to the habitual usage of tobacco in its various forms and remains the major burden. Hence priority is given for early diagnosis as it is the better solution for cure or to improve the survival rate. For the past three decades, optical spectroscopic techniques have shown its capacity in the discrimination of normal and malignant samples. Many research works have conventional Raman in the effective detection of cancer using the variations in bond vibrations of the molecules. However in addition polarized Raman provides the orientation and symmetry of biomolecules. If so can polarized Raman be the better choice than the conventional Raman in the detection of cancer? The present study aimed to found the answer for the above query. The conventional and polarized Raman spectra were acquired for the same set of blood plasma samples of normal subjects and oral malignant (OSCC) patients. Thus, obtained Raman spectral data were compared using linear discriminant analysis coupled with artificial neural network (LDA-ANN). The depolarization ratio of biomolecules such as antioxidant, amino acid, protein and nucleic acid bases present in blood plasma was proven to be the best attributes in the categorization of the groups. The polarized Raman results were promising in discriminating oral cancer blood plasma from that of normal blood plasma with improved efficiency. The results will be discussed in detail.

  9. Mechanisms of fibrinogen-acebutolol interactions: Insights from DSC, CD and LS.

    PubMed

    Hassan, Natalia; Ruso, Juan M; Somasundaran, P

    2011-02-01

    The complex formed due to the interaction of the amphiphilic betablocker acebutolol with fibrinogen in a buffer solution (50mN glycine, pH of 8.5) has been investigated using a multipronged physicochemical approach. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements of the complexes have shown no reversibility of thermal denaturation as indicated by the three observed peaks and the opposite role that acebutolol plays in the folding different domains of the fibrinogen molecule and the stability of such domains. While circular dichroism measurements have revealed that interaction of acebutolol with fibrinogen affects the protein secondary structure to a different extent depending on the temperature and drug concentration, dynamic light scattering analysis showed evidence for protein aggregation mainly to tetramers and dimers. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  10. Fibrinogen Induces Biofilm Formation by Streptococcus suis and Enhances Its Antibiotic Resistance▿

    PubMed Central

    Bonifait, Laetitia; Grignon, Louis; Grenier, Daniel

    2008-01-01

    In this study, we showed that supplementing the culture medium with fibrinogen induced biofilm formation by Streptococcus suis in a dose-dependent manner. Biofilm-grown S. suis cells were much more resistant to penicillin G than planktonic cells. S. suis bound fibrinogen to its surface, a property that likely contributes to biofilm formation. PMID:18539785

  11. Clot formation is associated with fibrinogen and platelet forces in a cohort of severely-injured Emergency Department trauma patients

    PubMed Central

    White, Nathan J.; Newton, Jason C.; Martin, Erika J.; Mohammed, Bassem M.; Contaifer, Daniel; Bostic, Jessica L.; Brophy, Gretchen M.; Spiess, Bruce D.; Pusateri, Anthony E.; Ward, Kevin R.; Brophy, Donald F.

    2015-01-01

    Introduction Anticoagulation, fibrinogen consumption, fibrinolytic activation, and platelet dysfunction all interact to produce different clot formation responses after trauma. However, the relative contributions of these coagulation components to overall clot formation remains poorly defined. We examined for sources of heterogeneity in clot formation responses after trauma. Methods Blood was sampled in the Emergency Department from patients meeting trauma team activation criteria at an urban trauma center. Plasma prothrombin time (PT) ≥ 18 sec was used to define traumatic coagulopathy. Mean kaolin-activated thrombelastography (TEG) parameters were calculated and tested for heterogeneity using Analysis of Means (ANOM). Discriminant analysis and forward stepwise variable selection with linear regression were used to determine if PT, fibrinogen, platelet contractile force (PCF), and D-Dimer concentration, representing key mechanistic components of coagulopathy, each contribute to heterogeneous TEG responses after trauma. Results Of 95 subjects, 16% met criteria for coagulopathy. Coagulopathic subjects were more severely injured with greater shock, and received more blood products in the first 8 hours compared to non-coagulopathic subjects. Mean (SD) TEG maximal amplitude (MA) was significantly decreased in the coagulopathic group=57.5 (4.7) mm, vs. 62.7 (4.7), T test p<0.001. The MA also exceeded the ANOM predicted upper decision limit for the non-coagulopathic group and the lower decision limit for the coagulopathic group at alpha=0.05, suggesting significant heterogeneity from the overall cohort mean. Fibrinogen and PCF best discriminated TEG MA using discriminant analysis. Fibrinogen, PCF, and D-Dimer were primary covariates for TEG MA using regression analysis. Conclusion Heterogeneity in TEG-based clot formation in Emergency Department trauma patients was linked to changes in MA. Individual parameters representing fibrin polymerization, platelet contractile

  12. Zeolite Nanoparticles for Selective Sorption of Plasma Proteins

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rahimi, M.; Ng, E.-P.; Bakhtiari, K.; Vinciguerra, M.; Ahmad, H. Ali; Awala, H.; Mintova, S.; Daghighi, M.; Bakhshandeh Rostami, F.; de Vries, M.; Motazacker, M. M.; Peppelenbosch, M. P.; Mahmoudi, M.; Rezaee, F.

    2015-11-01

    The affinity of zeolite nanoparticles (diameter of 8-12 nm) possessing high surface area and high pore volume towards human plasma proteins has been investigated. The protein composition (corona) of zeolite nanoparticles has been shown to be more dependent on the plasma protein concentrations and the type of zeolites than zeolite nanoparticles concentration. The number of proteins present in the corona of zeolite nanoparticles at 100% plasma (in vivo state) is less than with 10% plasma exposure. This could be due to a competition between the proteins to occupy the corona of the zeolite nanoparticles. Moreover, a high selective adsorption for apolipoprotein C-III (APOC-III) and fibrinogen on the zeolite nanoparticles at high plasma concentration (100%) was observed. While the zeolite nanoparticles exposed to low plasma concentration (10%) exhibited a high selective adsorption for immunoglobulin gamma (i.e. IGHG1, IGHG2 and IGHG4) proteins. The zeolite nanoparticles can potentially be used for selectively capture of APOC-III in order to reduce the activation of lipoprotein lipase inhibition during hypertriglyceridemia treatment. The zeolite nanoparticles can be adapted to hemophilic patients (hemophilia A (F-VIII deficient) and hemophilia B (F-IX deficient)) with a risk of bleeding, and thus might be potentially used in combination with the existing therapy.

  13. Zeolite Nanoparticles for Selective Sorption of Plasma Proteins.

    PubMed

    Rahimi, M; Ng, E-P; Bakhtiari, K; Vinciguerra, M; Ali Ahmad, H; Awala, H; Mintova, S; Daghighi, M; Bakhshandeh Rostami, F; de Vries, M; Motazacker, M M; Peppelenbosch, M P; Mahmoudi, M; Rezaee, F

    2015-11-30

    The affinity of zeolite nanoparticles (diameter of 8-12 nm) possessing high surface area and high pore volume towards human plasma proteins has been investigated. The protein composition (corona) of zeolite nanoparticles has been shown to be more dependent on the plasma protein concentrations and the type of zeolites than zeolite nanoparticles concentration. The number of proteins present in the corona of zeolite nanoparticles at 100% plasma (in vivo state) is less than with 10% plasma exposure. This could be due to a competition between the proteins to occupy the corona of the zeolite nanoparticles. Moreover, a high selective adsorption for apolipoprotein C-III (APOC-III) and fibrinogen on the zeolite nanoparticles at high plasma concentration (100%) was observed. While the zeolite nanoparticles exposed to low plasma concentration (10%) exhibited a high selective adsorption for immunoglobulin gamma (i.e. IGHG1, IGHG2 and IGHG4) proteins. The zeolite nanoparticles can potentially be used for selectively capture of APOC-III in order to reduce the activation of lipoprotein lipase inhibition during hypertriglyceridemia treatment. The zeolite nanoparticles can be adapted to hemophilic patients (hemophilia A (F-VIII deficient) and hemophilia B (F-IX deficient)) with a risk of bleeding, and thus might be potentially used in combination with the existing therapy.

  14. Zeolite Nanoparticles for Selective Sorption of Plasma Proteins

    PubMed Central

    Rahimi, M.; Ng, E.-P.; Bakhtiari, K.; Vinciguerra, M.; Ahmad, H. Ali; Awala, H.; Mintova, S.; Daghighi, M.; Bakhshandeh Rostami, F.; de Vries, M.; Motazacker, M. M.; Peppelenbosch, M. P.; Mahmoudi, M.; Rezaee, F.

    2015-01-01

    The affinity of zeolite nanoparticles (diameter of 8–12 nm) possessing high surface area and high pore volume towards human plasma proteins has been investigated. The protein composition (corona) of zeolite nanoparticles has been shown to be more dependent on the plasma protein concentrations and the type of zeolites than zeolite nanoparticles concentration. The number of proteins present in the corona of zeolite nanoparticles at 100% plasma (in vivo state) is less than with 10% plasma exposure. This could be due to a competition between the proteins to occupy the corona of the zeolite nanoparticles. Moreover, a high selective adsorption for apolipoprotein C-III (APOC-III) and fibrinogen on the zeolite nanoparticles at high plasma concentration (100%) was observed. While the zeolite nanoparticles exposed to low plasma concentration (10%) exhibited a high selective adsorption for immunoglobulin gamma (i.e. IGHG1, IGHG2 and IGHG4) proteins. The zeolite nanoparticles can potentially be used for selectively capture of APOC-III in order to reduce the activation of lipoprotein lipase inhibition during hypertriglyceridemia treatment. The zeolite nanoparticles can be adapted to hemophilic patients (hemophilia A (F-VIII deficient) and hemophilia B (F-IX deficient)) with a risk of bleeding, and thus might be potentially used in combination with the existing therapy. PMID:26616161

  15. Study of Plasma Adrenomedullin Level In Normal Pregnancy and Preclampsia

    PubMed Central

    Senna, Azza Abo; Zedan, Magda; Abd El Salam, Gamal E.; El Mashad, Ashraf I.

    2008-01-01

    Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate whether maternal circulating adrenomedullin (AM) values in patients with preeclampsia are different from those in normotensive pregnant women at different gestational ages. Subjects and Methods In a prospective clinical study, 90 women aged 17 to 40 years old, were divided into 4 main groups: group I (45 women): Normotensive pregnant women at first trimester (15 women), second trimester (15 women), and third trimester (15 women) of pregnancies. Group II (15 women): Pregnant women with preeclampsia at 25 to 38 weeks of gestation. Group III (15 women): Normotensive healthy nonpregnant women. Group IV (15 women): Hypertensive nonpregnant women. The plasma AM concentration was measured in all women by using enzyme immunoassay kits. Results Plasma AM levels in pregnant women with normal blood pressure at different gestational ages (first, second, and third trimesters) were statistically significantly higher than those detected in nonpregnant normotensive women and significantly increased with increasing gestational age (P < .001). Moreover, there was significant positive correlation between plasma AM levels and increasing gestational age (r = 0.915, P < .001). Preeclamptic patients had the highest mean plasma AM levels compared with all other groups, which is statistically significant (P < .001) and there was a significant positive correlation between plasma AM levels and systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, severity of preeclampsia, and proteinuria in pregnant patients with preeclampsia. Conclusion Maternal plasma AM concentration increases throughout pregnancy and increases as gestational age progresses. AM production starts very early in gestation, suggesting that it may have an important role in human reproduction, from implantation to delivery. Maternal plasma AM level in preeclampsia appears to be higher than that in normal pregnancy. PMID:18382699

  16. Skin closure with dye-enhanced laser welding and fibrinogen.

    PubMed

    Wider, T M; Libutti, S K; Greenwald, D P; Oz, M C; Yager, J S; Treat, M R; Hugo, N E

    1991-12-01

    The topical application of wavelength-specific dye and fibrinogen has been used to enhance laser closure of vascular anastomoses. We compared the closure of skin incisions by two different dye-enhanced, fibrinogen-based laser welding systems [argon laser (power density 4.78 W/cm2) with fluorescein isothiocyanate dye (n = 32) and diode laser (power density 9.55 W/cm2) with indocyanine green dye (n = 32)] with closure by interrupted 5-0 nylon suture (n = 64) and examined tensile strength, hydroxyproline production, histology, and cosmesis. Two 3-cm full-thickness incisions were made on the shaved backs of 64 rats. One incision was closed with suture, whereas the other, after treatment with the appropriate dye, was welded with either argon- or diode-lasered fibrinogen. At postoperative days 5, 10, 15, and 28, the closure sites were harvested and sectioned for analysis. Initially, wounds closed with argon-lasered fibrinogen showed less inflammatory response, greater collagen production (34.61 +/- 0.74 mg/gm), and greater mean peak stress at rupture (64.85 lbs/in2) than those closed with suture (16.42 +/- 3.20 mg/gm, 26.68 lbs/in2) (p less than 0.05). By 15 days, both argon and diode laser closures are superior in strength and collagen production to suture closure (p less than 0.05). At 28 days, diode laser closures (1315.60 lbs/in2) are stronger than suture closures (998.09 lbs/in2), whereas both are stronger than argon laser closures (813.16 lbs/in2) (p less than 0.05). Cosmetically, argon-welded wounds consistently appeared finer and lacked cross-hatched suture scars.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

  17. Fibrinogen-thrombin collagen patch reinforcement of high-risk colonic anastomoses in rats

    PubMed Central

    Suárez-Grau, Juan Manuel; Bernardos García, Carlos; Cepeda Franco, Carmen; Mendez García, Cristina; García Ruiz, Salud; Docobo Durantez, Fernando; Morales-Conde, Salvador; Padillo Ruiz, Javier

    2016-01-01

    AIM To evaluate the effectiveness of human fibrinogen-thrombin collagen patch (TachoSil®) in the reinforcement of high-risk colon anastomoses. METHODS A quasi-experimental study was conducted in Wistar rats (n = 56) that all underwent high-risk anastomoses (anastomosis with only two sutures) after colectomies. The rats were divided into two randomized groups: Control group (24 rats) and treatment group (24 rats). In the treatment group, high-risk anastomosis was reinforced with TachoSil® (a piece of TachoSil® was applied over this high-risk anastomosis, covering the gap). Leak incidence, overall survival, intra-abdominal adhesions, and histologic healing of anastomoses were analyzed. Survivors were divided into two subgroups and euthanized at 15 and 30 d after intervention in order to analyze the adhesions and histologic changes. RESULTS Overall survival was 71.4% and 57.14% in the TachoSil® group and control group, respectively (P = 0.29); four rats died from other causes and six rats in the treatment group and 10 in the control group experienced colonic leakage (P > 0.05). The intra-abdominal adhesion score was similar in both groups, with no differences between subgroups. We found non-significant differences in the healing process according to the histologic score used in both groups (P = 0.066). CONCLUSION In our study, the use of TachoSil® was associated with a non-statistically significant reduction in the rate of leakage in high-risk anastomoses. TachoSil® has been shown to be a safe product because it does not affect the histologic healing process or increase intra-abdominal adhesions. PMID:27721926

  18. Effects of water immersion on plasma catecholamines in normal humans

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Epstein, M.; Johnson, G.; Denunzio, A. G.

    1983-01-01

    An investigation was conducted in order to determine whether water immersion to the neck (NI) alters plasma catecholamines in normal humans. Eight normal subjects were studied during a seated control study (C) and during 4 hr of NI, and the levels of norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E) as determined by radioenzymatic assay were measured hourly. Results show that despite the induction of a marked natriuresis and diuresis indicating significant central hypervolemia, NI failed to alter plasma NE or E levels compared with those of either C or the corresponding prestudy 1.5 hr. In addition, the diuresis and natriuresis was found to vary independently of NE. These results indicate that the response of the sympathetic nervous system to acute volume alteration may differ from the reported response to chronic volume expansion.

  19. Effects of fibrinogen concentration on fibrin glue and bone powder scaffolds in bone regeneration.

    PubMed

    Kim, Beom-Su; Sung, Hark-Mo; You, Hyung-Keun; Lee, Jun

    2014-10-01

    Fibrin polymers are widely used in the tissue engineering field as biomaterials. Although numerous researchers have studied the fabrication of scaffolds using fibrin glue (FG) and bone powder, the effects of varied fibrinogen content during the fabrication of scaffolds on human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and bone regeneration remain poorly understood. In this study, we formulated scaffolds using demineralized bone powder and various fibrinogen concentrations and analyzed the microstructure and mechanical properties. Cell proliferation, cell viability, and osteoblast differentiation assays were performed. The ability of the scaffold to enhance bone regeneration was evaluated using a rabbit calvarial defect model. Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) showed that bone powders were uniformly distributed on the scaffolds, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the fibrin networks and flattened fibrin layers connected adjacent bone powder particles. When an 80 mg/mL fibrinogen solution was used to formulate scaffolds, the porosity decreased 41.6 ± 3.6%, while the compressive strength increased 1.16 ± 0.02 Mpa, when compared with the values for the 10 mg/mL fibrinogen solution. Proliferation assays and SEM showed that the scaffolds prepared using higher fibrinogen concentrations supported and enhanced cell adhesion and proliferation. In addition, mRNA expression of alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin in cells grown on the scaffolds increased with increasing fibrinogen concentration. Micro-CT and histological analysis revealed that newly formed bone was stimulated in the scaffold implantation group. Our results demonstrate that optimization of the fibrinogen content of fibrin glue/bone powder scaffolds will be beneficial for bone tissue engineering. Copyright © 2014 The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. Plasma protein induced clustering of red blood cells in micro capillaries

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wagner, Christian; Brust, Mathias; Aouane, Othmane; Flormann, Daniel; Thiebaud, Marine; Verdier, Claude; Coupier, Gwennou; Podgorski, Thomas; Misbah, Chaouqi; Selmi, Hassib

    2013-11-01

    The plasma molecule fibrinogen induces aggregation of RBCs to clusters, the so called rouleaux. Higher shear rates in bulk flow can break them up which results in the pronounced shear thinning of blood. This led to the assumption that rouleaux formation does not take place in the microcapillaries of the vascular network where high shear rates are present. However, the question is of high medical relevance. Cardio vascular disorders are still the main cause of death in the western world and cardiac patients have often higher fibrinogen level. We performed AFM based single cell force spectroscopy to determine the work of separation. Measurements at low hematocrit in a microfluidic channel show that the number of size of clusters is determined by the adhesion strength and we found that cluster formation is strongly enhanced by fibrinogen at physiological concentrations, even at shear rate as high as 1000 1/s. Numerical simulations based on a boundary integral method confirm our findings and the clustering transition takes place both in the experiments and in the simulations at the same interaction energies. In vivo measurements with intravital fluorescence microscopy in a dorsal skin fold chamber in a mouse reveal that RBCs indeed form clusters in the micrcapillary flow. This work was supported by the German Science Foundation research imitative SFB1027.

  1. Plasma antibodies to Abeta40 and Abeta42 in patients with Alzheimer's disease and normal controls.

    PubMed

    Xu, Wuhua; Kawarabayashi, Takeshi; Matsubara, Etsuro; Deguchi, Kentaro; Murakami, Tetsuro; Harigaya, Yasuo; Ikeda, Masaki; Amari, Masakuni; Kuwano, Ryozo; Abe, Koji; Shoji, Mikio

    2008-07-11

    Antibodies to amyloid beta protein (Abeta) are present naturally or after Abeta vaccine therapy in human plasma. To clarify their clinical role, we examined plasma samples from 113 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 205 normal controls using the tissue amyloid plaque immunoreactivity (TAPIR) assay. A high positive rate of TAPIR was revealed in AD (45.1%) and age-matched controls (41.2%), however, no significance was observed. No significant difference was observed in the MMS score or disease duration between TAPIR-positive and negative samples. TAPIR-positive plasma reacted with the Abeta40 monomer and dimer, and the Abeta42 monomer weakly, but not with the Abeta42 dimer. TAPIR was even detected in samples from young normal subjects and young Tg2576 transgenic mice. Although the Abeta40 level and Abeta40/42 ratio increased, and Abeta42 was significantly decreased in plasma from AD groups when compared to controls, no significant correlations were revealed between plasma Abeta levels and TAPIR grading. Thus an immune response to Abeta40 and immune tolerance to Abeta42 occurred naturally in humans without a close relationship to the Abeta burden in the brain. Clarification of the mechanism of the immune response to Abeta42 is necessary for realization of an immunotherapy for AD.

  2. Synergistic effect of signaling from receptors of soluble platelet agonists and outside-in signaling in formation of a stable fibrinogen-integrin αIIbβ3-actin cytoskeleton complex.

    PubMed

    Budnik, Ivan; Shenkman, Boris; Savion, Naphtali

    2015-01-01

    Thrombus formation in the injured vessel wall is a highly complex process involving various blood-born components that go through specific temporal and spatial changes as observed by intravital videomicroscopy. Platelets bind transiently to the developing thrombus and may either become stably incorporated into or disengage from the thrombus. The aim of the present study was to reveal the processes involved in the formation of a stable thrombus. Platelet-rich plasma and washed platelets were studied by the aggregometer. The aggregate stability was challenged by eptifibatide. Platelet Triton-insoluble fraction was prepared and the actin and αIIb content in the cytoskeleton was analyzed by western blot. Maximal actin polymerization is achieved 1min after platelet activation while maximal αIIbβ3-actin cytoskeleton association requires 5 to 10min of activation and fibrinogen-mediated platelet-to-platelet bridging. Thus, actin polymerization is dependent on platelet activation and requires neither αIIbβ3 integrin occupation nor platelet aggregation. Formation of a stable aggregate requires platelet activation for more than 1min, complete increase in actin cytoskeleton fraction and partial association of αIIbβ3 with the actin cytoskeleton. However, direct αIIbβ3 activation is not sufficient for cytoskeleton complex formation. Thus, stable αIIbβ3-fibrinogen interaction, representing stable aggregate, is achieved after more than 1min agonist activation, involving inside-out and outside-in signaling but not after direct integrin activation, involving only outside-in signaling. Formation of a stable fibrinogen-αIIbβ3-actin cytoskeleton complex is the result of the combined effect of platelet stimulation by soluble agonists, activation of αIIbβ3, fibrinogen binding and platelet-to-platelet bridging. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  3. Effects of fibrinogen concentrate after shock/resuscitation – A comparison between in vivo microvascular clot formation and thromboelastometry

    PubMed Central

    Martini, Judith; Cabrales, Pedro; Fries, Dietmar; Intaglietta, Marcos; Tsai, Amy G.

    2014-01-01

    Objective Dilutional coagulopathy after resuscitation with crystalloids/colloids clinically often appears as diffuse microvascular bleeding. Administration of fibrinogen reduces bleeding and increases maximum clot firmness (MCF), measured by thromboelastometry. Study objective was to implement a model where microvascular bleeding can be directly assessed by visualizing clot formation in microvessels, and correlations can be made to thromboelastometry. Design Randomized animal study. Setting University research laboratory. Subjects Male Syrian Golden hamsters. Interventions Microvessels of Syrian Golden hamsters fitted with a dorsal window chamber were studied using videomicroscopy. After 50% hemorrhage followed by 1 hr of hypovolemia resuscitation with 35% of blood volume using a high molecular weight (MW) HES solution (Hextend®, Hospira, MW 670 kD) occurred. Animals were then treated with 250 mg/kg fibrinogen iv (Laboratoire français du Fractionnement et des Biotechnologies (LFB), Paris, France) or an equal volume of saline before venular vessel wall injuries were made by directed laser irradiation and the ability of microthrombus formation was assessed. Measurements and main results Thromboelastometric measurements of MCF were performed at the beginning and at the end of the experiment. Resuscitation with HES and sham treatment significantly decreased FIBTEM MCF from 32 ± 9 at baseline vs. 13 ± 5 mm after sham treatment (p < 0.001). Infusion of fibrinogen concentrate significantly increased MCF, restoring baseline levels (baseline 32 ± 9 mm; after fibrinogen administration 29 ± 2 mm). In vivo microthrombus formation in laser injured vessels significantly increased in fibrinogen treated animals compared with sham (77% vs. 18%). Conclusions Fibrinogen treatment leads to increased clot firmness in dilutional coagulopathy as measured with thromboelastometry. At the microvascular level this increased clot strength, corresponds to an increased incidence of

  4. Onset of normal and inverse homoclinic bifurcation in a double plasma system near a plasma fireball

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Mitra, Vramori; Sarma, Bornali; Sarma, Arun

    Plasma fireballs are generated due to a localized discharge and appear as a luminous glow with a sharp boundary, which suggests the presence of a localized electric field such as electrical sheath or double layer structure. The present work reports the observation of normal and inverse homoclinic bifurcation phenomena in plasma oscillations that are excited in the presence of fireball in a double plasma device. The controlling parameters for these observations are the ratio of target to source chamber (n{sub T}/n{sub S}) densities and applied electrode voltage. Homoclinic bifurcation is noticed in the plasma potential fluctuations as the system evolvesmore » from narrow to long time period oscillations and vice versa with the change of control parameter. The dynamical transition in plasma fireball is demonstrated by spectral analysis, recurrence quantification analysis (RQA), and statistical measures, viz., skewness and kurtosis. The increasing trend of normalized variance reflects that enhancing n{sub T}/n{sub S} induces irregularity in plasma dynamics. The exponential growth of the time period is strongly indicative of homoclinic bifurcation in the system. The gradual decrease of skewness and increase of kurtosis with the increase of n{sub T}/n{sub S} also reflect growing complexity in the system. The visual change of recurrence plot and gradual enhancement of RQA variables DET, L{sub max}, and ENT reflects the bifurcation behavior in the dynamics. The combination of RQA and spectral analysis is a clear evidence that homoclinic bifurcation occurs due to the presence of plasma fireball with different density ratios. However, inverse bifurcation takes place due to the change of fireball voltage. Some of the features observed in the experiment are consistent with a model that describes the dynamics of ionization instabilities.« less

  5. Plasma transfusion for patients with severe hemorrhage: what is the evidence?

    PubMed

    Callum, Jeannie L; Rizoli, Sandro

    2012-05-01

    The following review will detail the current knowledge in massive hemorrhage with regard to the pathophysiology of the coagulation disturbance, the role of plasma, the role of alternatives to plasma, and the clinical value of having a massive transfusion protocol. The coagulation disturbance in trauma patients is more than just the result of consumption of clotting factors at sites of injury and dilution from the infusion of intravenous fluids and red blood cells (RBCs). Even before substantial amounts of fluid resuscitation and RBC transfusion, one-quarter of trauma patients already have abnormal coagulation variables. There is an apparent role for the activation of protein C, hypofibrinogenemia, and fibrin(gen)olysis in the coagulation disturbance after trauma and massive hemorrhage. None of these three disturbances would be completely mitigated by the use of plasma alone, suggesting that there may be an opportunity to improve care of these patients with alternative strategies, such as fibrinogen concentrates and antifibrinolytics. Despite numerous retrospective cohort studies evaluating 1:1 plasma to RBC formula-driven resuscitation, the overall clinical value of this approach is unclear. Studies have even raised concerns regarding a potential increase in morbidity associated with this approach, particularly for patients overtriaged to 1:1 where a massive transfusion is unlikely. We also do not have sufficient evidence to recommend either goal-directed therapy with thromboelastography or early use of fibrinogen replacement, with either cryoprecipitate or fibrinogen concentrates. We have high-quality data that argue against the role for recombinant Factor VIIa that should prompt removal of this strategy from existing protocols. In contrast, we have high-level evidence that all bleeding trauma patients should receive tranexamic acid as soon as possible after injury. This therapy must be included in hemorrhage protocols. If we are to improve the care of massively

  6. Different effects of fenofibrate on metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors in mixed dyslipidemic women with normal thyroid function and subclinical hypothyroidism.

    PubMed

    Krysiak, Robert; Gilowski, Wojciech; Szkrobka, Witold; Okopien, Bogusław

    2014-12-01

    Subclinical hypothyroidism is suggested to increase cardiovascular risk. No previous study compared the effect of any fibrate on plasma levels of lipids and other cardiovascular risk factors in patients with different thyroid function status. The study included three age-, weight- and lipid-matched groups of women with mixed dyslipidemia in different thyroid function status: patients with untreated subclinical hypothyroidism (group 1, n = 18), women with treated hypothyroidism (group 2, n = 15), and subjects without thyroid disorders (group 3, n = 19). Plasma lipids, glucose homeostasis markers, as well as plasma levels of uric acid, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), homocysteine, and fibrinogen were determined before and after 12 weeks of fenofibrate therapy. Despite similar plasma lipid levels, mixed dyslipidemic patients with untreated hypothyroidism had decreased insulin sensitivity, as well as higher circulating levels of uric acid, hsCRP, homocysteine, and fibrinogen in comparison with the other groups. The effect of fenofibrate on plasma lipids and, with the exception of homocysteine, on circulating levels of all investigated risk factors was stronger in patients from groups 2 and 3 than in patients from group 1. The obtained results indicate that the effect of fenofibrate on plasma lipids and circulating levels of cardiovascular risk factors is partially related to thyroid function. They also suggest that to improve the strength of fibrate action in dyslipidemic patients with subclinical hypothyroidism, they should be administered together with L-thyroxine. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  7. The effect of fibrinogen concentrate on perioperative bleeding in transurethral resection of the prostate: a double-blind placebo-controlled and randomized study.

    PubMed

    Soleimani, M; Masoumi, N; Nooraei, N; Lashay, A; Safarinejad, M R

    2017-02-01

    Essentials Perioperative bleeding during prostate surgery is still a common morbidity. Anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications contribute to the risk of hemorrhage and prolonged hospital stay. Multiple pharmacological agents have been proposed, but none of them have been widely accepted. It is crucial to find a safe and effective modality to reduce hemorrhage. Background Hemorrhage during transurethral resection of the prostate (TUR-P) has always been a concern. Several studies have shown preoperative administration of fibrinogen concentrate to have promising results in reducing hemorrhage in cardiac surgery. Objectives To investigate the hemostatic effect of fibrinogen concentrate administration on reducing the amount of bleeding during TUR-P in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Methods Sixty men with benign prostatic hyperplasia, who were chosen to undergo TUR-P, entered this prospective randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups: treatment (n = 31) and placebo (n = 29). They received an infusion of 2 g of fibrinogen concentrate (treatment group) or normal saline (placebo group) before surgery. Data regarding the amount of bleeding, the operation and complications were recorded and analyzed. Results No difference was observed in bleeding between the fibrinogen and placebo groups during (521 mL versus 557 mL, respectively) and after (291 mL versus 341 mL, respectively) surgery. This lack of difference was also seen in operation time (43 min versus 42 min), irrigating fluid volume used during (17 L versus 19 L) and after (29 L versus 28 L) surgery, and resected adenoma volume (19 g versus 19 g). The mean blood pressure was also similar in both groups as a confounding factor for the amount of bleeding. Conclusion Preoperative administration of fibrinogen concentrate had no significant influence on intraoperative and postoperative bleeding in TUR-P surgery. © 2016 International Society on

  8. Hydroxyl radical-modified fibrinogen as a marker of thrombosis: the role of iron.

    PubMed

    Lipinski, B; Pretorius, E

    2012-07-01

    Excessive free iron in blood and in organ tissues (so called iron overload) has been observed in degenerative diseases such as atherosclerosis, cancer, neurological, and certain autoimmune diseases, in which fibrin-like deposits are also found. Although most of the body iron is bound to hemoglobin and myoglobin in a divalent ferrous form, a certain amount of iron exists in blood as a trivalent (ferric) ion. This particular chemical state of iron has been shown to be toxic to the human body when not controlled by endogenous and/or dietary chelating agents. Experiments described in this paper show for the first time that ferric ions (Fe(3+)) can generate hydroxyl radicals without participation of any redox agent, thus making it a special case of the Fenton reaction. Ferric chloride was also demonstrated to induce aggregation of purified fibrinogen at the same molar concentrations that were used for the generation of hydroxyl radicals. Iron-aggregated fibrinogen, by contrast to native molecule, could not be dissociated into polypeptide subunit chains as shown in a polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The mechanism of this phenomenon is very likely based on hydroxyl radical-induced modification of fibrinogen tertiary structure with the formation of insoluble aggregates resistant to enzymatic and chemical degradations. Soluble modified fibrinogen species can be determined in blood of thrombotic patients by the reaction with protamine sulfate and/or by scanning electron microscopy. In view of these findings, it is postulated that iron-induced alterations in fibrinogen structure is involved in pathogenesis of certain degenerative diseases associated with iron overload and persistent thrombosis. It is concluded that the detection of hydroxyl radical-modified fibrinogen may be utilized as a marker of a thrombotic condition in human subjects.

  9. Racial and genetic determinants of plasma factor XIII activity.

    PubMed

    Saha, N; Aston, C E; Low, P S; Kamboh, M I

    2000-12-01

    Factor XIII (F XIII), a plasma transglutaminase, is essential for normal hemostasis and fibrinolysis. Plasma F XIII consists of two catalytic A (F XIIIA) and two non-catalytic B (F XIIIB) subunits. Activated F XIII is involved in the formation of fibrin gel by covalently crosslinking fibrin monomers. As the characteristics of the fibrin gel structure have been shown to be associated with the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), F XIII activity may play a seminal role in its etiology. In this investigation, we determined plasma F XIII activity in two racial groups, including Asian Indians (n = 258) and Chinese (n = 385). Adjusted plasma F XIII activity was significantly higher in Indian men (142 vs. 110%; P<0.0001) and women (158 vs. 111%; P<0.0001) than their Chinese counterparts. As compared to Indians where the distribution of F XIII activity was almost normal, in Chinese it was skewed towards low activity. In both racial groups, bivariate and multivariate analyses showed strong correlation of F XIII activity with plasma fibrinogen and plasminogen levels. Race explained about 25% of the variation in F XIII activity even after the adjustment of significant correlates. We also determined the contribution of common genetic polymorphisms in the F XIIIA and F XIIIB genes in affecting plasma F XIII activity. Both loci showed significant and independent effects on plasma F XIII activity in Indians (F XIIIA, P< 0.01; F XIIIB, P<0.05) and Chinese (F XIIIA, P<0.0001; F XIIIB, P<0.13) in a gene dosage fashion. This study shows that both racial and genetic components play a significant role in determining plasma F XIII activity, and consequently it may affect the quantitative risk of CHD. Copyright 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  10. PARTICIPATION OF THE COAGULATION MECHANISM IN TUMOR LOCALIZATION OF I$sup 131$-LABELLED FIBRINOGEN

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Shaeffer, J.R.

    A transplantable tumor of the rat, the Murphy-Sturm lymphosarcoma, was found to contain 15 to 25% of the adminlstered radioactive dose 18 hours after intravenous injection of I/sup 131/-labeled rat fibrinogen in a rat bearing a tumor in the 2 to 12 gm weight range. At this time the concentration of radioactivity per gm of tumor was found to be some 4 to 15 times that of such vascular organs as the liver and kidney, smaller tumors (2 to 5 gm) localizing much more of the injected radioactive dose per gm than larger tumors (8 to 12 gm). These tumorsmore » did not concentrate radioactivity after intravenous injection of either I/sup 131/ gamma -globulin or inorganic NaI/sup 131/. The administration of heparin or warfarin in dosages adequate to completely inhibit the blood coagulation mechanism throughout the 18-hour experimental period decreased this specific tumor localization of I/sup 131/ fibrinogen by 60 to 80%. It is concluded that the coagulation mechanism participates in the localization of I/ sup 131/ fibrinogen in the Murphy-Sturm lymphosarcoma. Physiological mechanisms of action other than the anticoagulative one which could possibly explain the effect of heparin and warfarin on tumor localization are discussed. No experimental evidence for an enhancement of fibrinolysis as the mechanism of tumor I/sup 131/ localization decrease by the drugs was found. In particular, these anticoagulants did not decrease whole--body radioactivity retention, and the radioactivity retained in the tumor-bearing rats receiving anticoagulant was highly clottable 18 hours after injection of I/sup 131/ fibrinogen. (auth)« less

  11. THE LOCALIZATION OF HOMOLGOUS PLASMA PROTEINS IN THE TISSUES OF YOUNG HUMAN BEINGS AS DEMONSTRATED WITH FLUORESCENT ANTIBODIES

    PubMed Central

    Gitlin, David; Landing, Benjamin H.; Whipple, Ann

    1953-01-01

    Employing fluorescent antibodies for the detection of homologous plasma proteins in tissue sections, the distribution of plasma albumin, γ-globulin, β-lipoprotein, β1-metal-combining globulin, and fibrinogen has been studied in the tissues of infants and children. Plasma albumin, γ-globulin, and β1-metal-combining globulin were found in many cells and particularly cell nuclei, connective tissues and interstitial spaces, lymphatics, and blood vessels. β-Lipoprotein was found mostly in the nuclei of all cell types while fibrinogen was restricted largely to the lymphatic and vascular channels, connective tissues and the interstitial spaces. The widespread distribution of these plasma proteins in cells and connective tissues indicates the magnitude of the extravascular plasma protein pool which is in equilibrium with circulating plasma. Unfortunately, these results do not permit accurate localization of the sites of production of these plasma proteins, but do give some idea of their intimate relationship to the tissues. PMID:13022871

  12. Group B Streptococcal Serine-Rich Repeat Proteins Promote Interaction With Fibrinogen and Vaginal Colonization

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Nai-Yu; Patras, Kathryn A.; Seo, Ho Seong; Cavaco, Courtney K.; Rösler, Berenice; Neely, Melody N.; Sullam, Paul M.; Doran, Kelly S.

    2014-01-01

    Group B streptococcus (GBS) can cause severe disease in susceptible hosts, including newborns, pregnant women, and the elderly. GBS serine-rich repeat (Srr) surface glycoproteins are important adhesins/invasins in multiple host tissues, including the vagina. However, exact molecular mechanisms contributing to their importance in colonization are unknown. We have recently determined that Srr proteins contain a fibrinogen-binding region (BR) and hypothesize that Srr-mediated fibrinogen binding may contribute to GBS cervicovaginal colonization. In this study, we observed that fibrinogen enhanced wild-type GBS attachment to cervical and vaginal epithelium, and that this was dependent on Srr1. Moreover, purified Srr1-BR peptide bound directly to host cells, and peptide administration in vivo reduced GBS recovery from the vaginal tract. Furthermore, a GBS mutant strain lacking only the Srr1 “latching” domain exhibited decreased adherence in vitro and decreased persistence in a mouse model of GBS vaginal colonization, suggesting the importance of Srr–fibrinogen interactions in the female reproductive tract. PMID:24620021

  13. High Prevalence of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Normal Plasma Aminotransferase Levels.

    PubMed

    Portillo-Sanchez, Paola; Bril, Fernando; Maximos, Maryann; Lomonaco, Romina; Biernacki, Diane; Orsak, Beverly; Subbarayan, Sreevidya; Webb, Amy; Hecht, Joan; Cusi, Kenneth

    2015-06-01

    Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its more severe form with steatohepatitis (NASH) are common in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, they are usually believed to largely affect those with elevated aminotransferases. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of NAFLD by the gold standard, liver magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) in patients with T2DM and normal aminotransferases, and to characterize their metabolic profile. We recruited 103 patients with T2DM and normal plasma aminotransferases (age, 60 ± 8 y; body mass index [BMI], 33 ± 5 kg/m(2); glycated hemoglobin [A1c], 7.6 ± 1.3%). We measured the following: 1) liver triglyceride content by (1)H-MRS; 2) systemic insulin sensitivity (homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance); and 3) adipose tissue insulin resistance, both fasting (as the adipose tissue insulin resistance index: fasting plasma free fatty acids [FFA] × insulin) and during an oral glucose tolerance test (as the suppression of FFA). The prevalence of NAFLD and NASH were much higher than expected (50% and 56% of NAFLD patients, respectively). The prevalence of NAFLD was higher in obese compared with nonobese patients as well as with increasing BMI (P = .001 for trend). Higher plasma A1c was associated with a greater prevalence of NAFLD and worse liver triglyceride accumulation (P = .01). Compared with nonobese patients without NAFLD, patients with NAFLD had severe systemic (liver/muscle) and, particularly, adipose tissue (fasting/postprandial) insulin resistance (all P < .01). The prevalence of NAFLD is much higher than previously believed in overweight/obese patients with T2DM and normal aminotransferases. Moreover, many are at increased risk of NASH. Physicians should have a lower threshold for screening patients with T2DM for NAFLD/NASH.

  14. Conditioned media from (pre)adipocytes stimulate fibrinogen and PAI-1 production by HepG2 hepatoma cells

    PubMed Central

    Faber, D R; Kalkhoven, E; Westerink, J; Bouwman, J J; Monajemi, H M; Visseren, F L J

    2012-01-01

    Background: Obesity is associated with a prothrombotic state, which may contribute to the increased risk of thrombotic events. Objective: To assess the effects of (pre)adipocyte-derived adipokines on fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and tissue factor (TF) production by hepatocytes. Methods: HepG2 hepatocytes were incubated with conditioned media (CM) derived from preadipocytes and adipocytes, which had been untreated or prestimulated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β or IL-6. After 24 h, supernatants and cell lysates were harvested for measurement of fibrinogen, PAI-1 and TF. Results: (Pre)adipocyte CM significantly enhanced the production of PAI-1 by HepG2 cells 2.5- to 4.4-fold. CM from cytokine-stimulated (pre)adipocytes significantly induced fibrinogen secretion 1.5- to 4.2-fold. TF production was not affected by the CM. After specific depletion of TNF-α, IL-1β or IL-6 from the CM, IL-6 was shown to be the most prominent stimulus of fibrinogen secretion and IL-1β of PAI-1 secretion. In addition, fibrinogen, PAI-1 and tissue factor production was evaluated by direct stimulation of HepG2 cells with TNF-α, IL-1β or IL-6. IL-6 enhanced fibrinogen synthesis 4.3-fold (P<0.01), whereas IL-1β induced PAI-1 production 5.0-fold (P<0.01). Gene expression analyses showed that TNF-α and IL-1β stimulate the adipocyte expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6. Cytokine stimulation of adipocytes may thus have induced an inflammatory response, which may have stimulated fibrinogen and PAI-1 production by HepG2 cells more potently. Conclusions: SGBS (pre)adipocytes release cytokines that increase the production of fibrinogen and PAI-1 by HepG2 cells. IL-6 and IL-1β produced by (pre)adipocytes were the strongest inducers of fibrinogen and PAI-1 secretion, respectively. PMID:23208413

  15. Plasma Renalase is Not Associated with Blood Pressure and Brachial-Ankle Pulse Wave Velocity in Chinese Adults With Normal Renal Function.

    PubMed

    Wang, Yang; Lv, Yong-Bo; Chu, Chao; Wang, Man; Xie, Bing-Qing; Wang, Lan; Yang, Fan; Yan, Ding-Yi; Yang, Rui-Hai; Yang, Jun; Ren, Yong; Yuan, Zu-Yi; Mu, Jian-Jun

    2016-01-01

    This study aimed to investigate the association of renalase with blood pressure (BP) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in order to better understand the role of renalase in the pathogenesis of hypertension and atherosclerosis. A total of 344 subjects with normal kidney function were recruited from our previously established cohort in Shaanxi Province, China. They were divided into the normotensive (NT) and hypertensive (HT) groups or high baPWV and normal baPWV on the basis of BP levels or baPWV measured with an automatic waveform analyzer. Plasma renalase was determined through an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Plasma renalase did not significantly differ between HT and NT groups (3.71 ± 0.69 µg/mL vs. 3.72 ± 0.73 μg/mL, P = 0.905) and between subjects with and without high baPWV (3.67 ± 0.66 µg/mL vs. 3.73 ± 0.74 µg/mL, P = 0.505). However, baPWV was significantly higher in the HT group than in the NT group (1460.4 ± 236.7 vs. 1240.7 ± 174.5 cm/s, P < 0.001). Plasma renalase was not correlated with BP levels and baPWV in the entire group. Linear and logistic regression analysis revealed that plasma renalase was not significantly associated with hypertension and high baPWV. Plasma renalase may not be associated with BP and baPWV in Chinese subjects with normal renal function. © 2016 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.

  16. Fibrinogen Induces RUNX2 Activity and Osteogenic Development from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

    PubMed Central

    Kidwai, Fahad; Edwards, Jessica; Zou, Li; Kaufman, Dan S.

    2016-01-01

    Pluripotent stem cells, both human embryonic stem cells (hESC) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), provide an important resource to produce specialized cells such as osteogenic cells for therapeutic applications such as repair or replacement of injured, diseased or damaged bone. hESCs and iPSCs can also be used to better define basic cellular and genetic mechanisms that regulate the earliest stages of human bone development. However, current strategies to mediate osteogenic differentiation of hESC and iPSC are typically limited by the use of xenogeneic components such as fetal bovine serum (FBS) that make defining specific agents that mediate human osteogenesis difficult. Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) is a key regulator required for osteogenic differentiation. Here, we used a RUNX2-YFP reporter system to characterize the novel ability of fibrinogen to mediate human osteogenic development from hESC and iPSC in defined (serum-free) conditions. These studies demonstrate that fibrinogen mediates significant osteo-induction potential. Specifically, fibrinogen binds to the surface integrin (α9β1) to mediate RUNX2 gene expression through the SMAD1/5/8 signaling pathway. Additional studies characterize the fibrinogen-induced hESC/iPSC-derived osteogenic cells to demonstrate these osteogenic cells retain the capacity to express typical mature osteoblastic markers. Together, these studies define a novel fibrinogen-α9β1-SMAD1/5/8-RUNX2 signaling axis can efficiently induce osteogenic differentiation from hESCs and iPSCs. PMID:27331788

  17. Comparative proteomics evaluation of plasma exosome isolation techniques and assessment of the stability of exosomes in normal human blood plasma.

    PubMed

    Kalra, Hina; Adda, Christopher G; Liem, Michael; Ang, Ching-Seng; Mechler, Adam; Simpson, Richard J; Hulett, Mark D; Mathivanan, Suresh

    2013-11-01

    Exosomes are nanovesicles released by a variety of cells and are detected in body fluids including blood. Recent studies have highlighted the critical application of exosomes as personalized targeted drug delivery vehicles and as reservoirs of disease biomarkers. While these research applications have created significant interest and can be translated into practice, the stability of exosomes needs to be assessed and exosome isolation protocols from blood plasma need to be optimized. To optimize methods to isolate exosomes from blood plasma, we performed a comparative evaluation of three exosome isolation techniques (differential centrifugation coupled with ultracentrifugation, epithelial cell adhesion molecule immunoaffinity pull-down, and OptiPrep(TM) density gradient separation) using normal human plasma. Based on MS, Western blotting and microscopy results, we found that the OptiPrep(TM) density gradient method was superior in isolating pure exosomal populations, devoid of highly abundant plasma proteins. In addition, we assessed the stability of exosomes in plasma over 90 days under various storage conditions. Western blotting analysis using the exosomal marker, TSG101, revealed that exosomes are stable for 90 days. Interestingly, in the context of cellular uptake, the isolated exosomes were able to fuse with target cells revealing that they were indeed biologically active. © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  18. Progress of long pulse operation with high performance plasma in KSTAR

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bae, Young; Kstar Team

    2015-11-01

    Recent KSTAR experiments showed the sustained H-mode operation up to the pulse duration of 46 s at the plasma current of 600 kA. The long-pulse H-mode operation has been supported by long-pulse capable neutral beam injection (NBI) system with high NB current drive efficiency attributed by highly tangential injections of three beam sources. In next phase, aiming to demonstrate the long pulse stationary high performance plasma operation, we are attempting the long pulse inductive operation at the higher performance (MA plasma current, high normalized beta, and low q95) for the final goal of demonstration of ITER-like baseline scenario in KSTAR with progressive improvement of the plasma shape control and higher neutral beam injection power. This paper presents the progress of long pulse operation and the analysis of energy confinement time and non-inductive current drive in KSTAR.

  19. Creation of fibrinogen-enhanced experimental blood clots to evaluate mechanical thrombectomy devices for treatment of acute stroke: an in vitro study.

    PubMed

    Luo, Zhong Hua; Chung, Alex; Choi, Gibok; Lin, Yih Huie; Uchida, Barry T; Pavcnik, Dusan; Loriaux, Marc M; Nesbit, Gary M; Keller, Frederick S; Rösch, Josef

    2012-08-01

    To explore if addition of fibrinogen to the most commonly used experimental blood clot (EBC) model would improve its mechanical properties and histologic structure. Fresh blood from three swine was used to create four EBC types. The Gralla model of thrombin-induced barium-opaque EBC served as the control. In three other EBC types, 50 mg, 100 mg, and 200 mg of bovine fibrinogen were added. Evaluation of EBCs was done with three tests: manual elongation, injection through an 8-F catheter, and an opacity test. Thirty EBCs of each type were evaluated with each test. Histologic evaluation followed. The control EBCs had low tensile strength and broke at 165% elongation. However, they were elastic and returned to their original length after catheter injection. The EBCs with fibrinogen exhibited increased tensile strength with increasing fibrinogen doses and withstood elongation to 213% (P < .01). Their elasticity decreased with increased tensile strength, and they remained elongated after catheter injection (P < .01 for EBC with 100 mg and 200 mg fibrinogen). Histologic examination showed more thorough mixing of blood with barium and a significantly increased amount of fibrin after addition of fibrinogen. Addition of fibrinogen to a Gralla EBC model changes its mechanical properties proportionately to the fibrinogen dose. Fibrinogen increases EBC tensile strength but decreases its elasticity. Fibrinogen also significantly increases the binding of blood cells with fibrin on histologic slides. Copyright © 2012 SIR. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  20. Prognostic significance of hyperfibrinogenemia in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Suzuki, Takashi; Shimada, Hideaki; Nanami, Tatsuki; Oshima, Yoko; Yajima, Satoshi; Washizawa, Naohiro; Kaneko, Hironori

    2017-06-01

    Preoperative hyperfibrinogenemia is associated with inflammatory mediators and a poor prognosis in several types of cancer. However, there is no published information on the monitoring of patients with preoperative hyperfibrinogenemia after surgery. The aim of the study reported here was to assess the clinicopathological and prognostic significance of plasma fibrinogen levels in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma before and after surgical treatment. Plasma fibrinogen levels were analyzed before surgical treatment (endoscopic submucosal dissection and surgery) in 82 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The clinicopathological significance of plasma fibrinogen levels and the relationship of plasma fibrinogen levels with several biomarkers were evaluated. The cutoff value for hyperfibrinogenemia was 321 mg/dl. Univariate and multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model were performed to evaluate the prognostic significance of plasma fibrinogen levels. The changing patterns of plasma fibrinogen were monitored after surgical treatment to evaluate prognostic impact. Hyperfibrinogenemia was significantly associated with advanced pathological stage of cancer and high C-reactive protein levels. Plasma fibrinogen levels significantly decreased after surgical treatment in recurrence-free patients but did not decrease in patients with recurrence. The multivariate analysis indicated that preoperative hyperfibrinogenemia was an independent prognostic factor for poor survival (hazard ratio 1.005, 95% confidence interval 1.000-1.010; P = 0.039). Preoperative hyperfibrinogenemia was associated with inflammatory mediators, tumor progression, and poor survival in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The absence of a decrease in plasma fibrinogen levels after surgical treatment may indicate the possibility of tumor recurrence.

  1. Mechanical fibrinogen-depletion supports heparin-free mesenchymal stem cell propagation in human platelet lysate.

    PubMed

    Laner-Plamberger, Sandra; Lener, Thomas; Schmid, Doris; Streif, Doris A; Salzer, Tina; Öller, Michaela; Hauser-Kronberger, Cornelia; Fischer, Thorsten; Jacobs, Volker R; Schallmoser, Katharina; Gimona, Mario; Rohde, Eva

    2015-11-10

    Pooled human platelet lysate (pHPL) is an efficient alternative to xenogenic supplements for ex vivo expansion of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in clinical studies. Currently, porcine heparin is used in pHPL-supplemented medium to prevent clotting due to plasmatic coagulation factors. We therefore searched for an efficient and reproducible medium preparation method that avoids clot formation while omitting animal-derived heparin. We established a protocol to deplete fibrinogen by clotting of pHPL in medium, subsequent mechanical hydrogel disruption and removal of the fibrin pellet. After primary culture, bone-marrow and umbilical cord derived MSCs were tested for surface markers by flow cytometry and for trilineage differentiation capacity. Proliferation and clonogenicity were analyzed for three passages. The proposed clotting procedure reduced fibrinogen more than 1000-fold, while a volume recovery of 99.5 % was obtained. All MSC types were propagated in standard and fibrinogen-depleted medium. Flow cytometric phenotype profiles and adipogenic, osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation potential in vitro were independent of MSC-source or medium type. Enhanced proliferation of MSCs was observed in the absence of fibrinogen but presence of heparin compared to standard medium. Interestingly, this proliferative response to heparin was not detected after an initial contact with fibrinogen during the isolation procedure. Here, we present an efficient, reproducible and economical method in compliance to good manufacturing practice for the preparation of MSC media avoiding xenogenic components and suitable for clinical studies.

  2. Study of fibrinogen adsorption on hydroxyapatite and TiO2 surfaces by electrochemical piezoelectric quartz crystal impedance and FTIR-ATR spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Yang, Qin; Zhang, Youyu; Liu, Meiling; Ye, Min; Zhang, YuQin; Yao, Shouzhuo

    2007-07-30

    The electrochemical piezoelectric quartz crystal impedance (EQCI), a combined technique of piezoelectric quartz crystal impedance (PQCI), electrochemical impedance (EI), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-attenuated total internal reflectance spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) were used to in situ study the adsorption process of fibrinogen onto the surface of biomaterials-TiO2 and hydroxyapatite (Ca5(PO4)3OH, HAP). The equivalent circuit parameters, the resonance frequencies and the half peak width of the conductance spectrum of the two biomaterial-modified piezoelectric quartz crystal (PQC) resonances as well as the FTIR-ATR spectra of fibrinogen during fibrinogen adsorption on TiO2 and HAP particles modified electrode surface were obtained. The adsorption kinetics and mechanism of fibrinogen were investigated and discussed as well. The results suggested that two consecutive steps occurred during the adsorption of fibrinogen onto TiO2 and hydroxyapatite (HAP) surface. The fibrinogen molecules were firstly adsorbed onto the surface, and then the rearrangement of adsorbed fibrinogen or multi-layered adsorption occurred. The FTIR-ATR spectroscopy investigations showed that the secondary structure of fibrinogen molecules was altered during the adsorption and the adsorption kinetics of fibrinogen related with the variety of biomaterials. These experimental results suggest a way for enriching biological analytical science and developing new applications of analytical techniques, such as PQCI, EI, and FTIR-ATR.

  3. Multi-Step Fibrinogen Binding to the Integrin αIIbβ3 Detected Using Force Spectroscopy

    PubMed Central

    Litvinov, Rustem I.; Bennett, Joel S.; Weisel, John W.; Shuman, Henry

    2005-01-01

    The regulated ability of integrin αIIbβ3 to bind fibrinogen plays a crucial role in platelet aggregation and hemostasis. We have developed a model system based on laser tweezers, enabling us to measure specific rupture forces needed to separate single receptor-ligand complexes. First of all, we performed a thorough and statistically representative analysis of nonspecific protein-protein binding versus specific αIIbβ3-fibrinogen interactions in combination with experimental evidence for single-molecule measurements. The rupture force distribution of purified αIIbβ3 and fibrinogen, covalently attached to underlying surfaces, ranged from ∼20 to 150 pN. This distribution could be fit with a sum of an exponential curve for weak to moderate (20–60 pN) forces, and a Gaussian curve for strong (>60 pN) rupture forces that peaked at 80–90 pN. The interactions corresponding to these rupture force regimes differed in their susceptibility to αIIbβ3 antagonists or Mn2+, an αIIbβ3 activator. Varying the surface density of fibrinogen changed the total binding probability linearly >3.5-fold but did not affect the shape of the rupture force distribution, indicating that the measurements represent single-molecule binding. The yield strength of αIIbβ3-fibrinogen interactions was independent of the loading rate (160–16,000 pN/s), whereas their binding probability markedly correlated with the duration of contact. The aggregate of data provides evidence for complex multi-step binding/unbinding pathways of αIIbβ3 and fibrinogen revealed at the single-molecule level. PMID:16040750

  4. Plasma galanin concentrations in obese, normal weight and anorectic women.

    PubMed

    Invitti, C; Brunani, A; Pasqualinotto, L; Dubini, A; Bendinelli, P; Maroni, P; Cavagnini, F

    1995-05-01

    Galanin is believed to play a role in the control of eating behavior. No information is available on its concentrations in the biological fluids in human obesity, and this study aimed to clarify this. We measured plasma galanin and serum insulin levels in 30 obese, 35 normal weight and 11 anorectic women. Mean galanin values were quite similar in obese and control subjects (76.8 +/- 3.20 vs 76.1 +/- 2.33 pg/ml) and only slightly reduced in anorectic patients (67.9 +/- 2.30 pg/ml). Insulin levels were significantly increased and decreased in obese and anorectic patients, respectively, compared to controls. Insulin correlated positively with BMI in the whole group of subjects studied (r = 0.72, P < 0.0001) and in the obese subgroup (r = 0.56, P < 0.02). No correlations could be detected between WH ratio, insulin and galanin concentrations and between galanin and BMI. In conclusion, plasma galanin concentrations appear to be comparable in obese, normal weight and anorectic subjects. This does not exclude a role of galanin in the regulation of eating behavior since variations of the peptide in discrete brain areas may not be detectable in general circulation and peripheral sources of the peptide may contribute to its plasma levels. Also, our data suggest that galanin does not play a major role in the regulation of insulin secretion in humans.

  5. Procoagulant snake venoms have differential effects in animal plasmas: Implications for antivenom testing in animal models.

    PubMed

    Maduwage, Kalana P; Scorgie, Fiona E; Lincz, Lisa F; O'Leary, Margaret A; Isbister, Geoffrey K

    2016-01-01

    Animal models are used to test toxic effects of snake venoms/toxins and the antivenom required to neutralise them. However, venoms that cause clinically relevant coagulopathy in humans may have differential effects in animals. We aimed to investigate the effect of different procoagulant snake venoms on various animal plasmas. Prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), fibrinogen and D-dimer levels were measured in seven animal plasmas (human, rabbit, cat, guinea pig, pig, cow and rat). In vitro clotting times were then used to calculate the effective concentration (EC50) in each plasma for four snake venoms with different procoagulant toxins: Pseudonaja textilis, Daboia russelli, Echis carinatus and Calloselasma rhodostoma. Compared to human, PT and aPTT were similar for rat, rabbit and pig, but double for cat and cow, while guinea pig had similar aPTT but double PT. Fibrinogen and D-dimer levels were similar for all species. Human and rabbit plasmas had the lowest EC50 for P. textilis (0.1 and 0.4 μg/ml), D. russelli (0.4 and 0.1 μg/ml), E. carinatus (0.6 and 0.1 μg/ml) venoms respectively, while cat plasma had the lowest EC50 for C. rhodostoma (11 μg/ml) venom. Cow, rat, pig and guinea pig plasmas were highly resistant to all four venoms with EC50 10-fold that of human. Different animal plasmas have varying susceptibility to procoagulant venoms, and excepting rabbits, animal models are not appropriate to test procoagulant activity. In vitro assays on human plasma should instead be adopted for this purpose. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  6. A novel mutation in the FGB: c.1105C>T turns the codon for amino acid Bβ Q339 into a stop codon causing hypofibrinogenemia.

    PubMed

    Marchi, Rita; Brennan, Stephen; Meyer, Michael; Rojas, Héctor; Kanzler, Daniela; De Agrela, Marisela; Ruiz-Saez, Arlette

    2013-03-01

    Routine coagulation tests on a 14year-old male with frequent epistaxis showed a prolonged thrombin time together with diminished functional (162mg/dl) and gravimetric (122mg/dl) fibrinogen concentrations. His father showed similar aberrant results and sequencing of the three fibrinogen genes revealed a novel heterozygous nonsense mutation in the FGB gene c.1105C>T, which converts the codon for residue Bβ 339Q to stop, causing deletion of Bβ chain residues 339-461. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and RP-HPLC (reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography) of purified fibrinogen showed only normal Aα, Bβ, and γ chains, indicating that molecules with the truncated 37,990Da β chain were not secreted into plasma. Functional analysis showed impaired fibrin polymerization, fibrin porosity, and elasticity compared to controls. By laser scanning confocal microscopy the patient's fibers were slightly thinner than normal. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS) presented normal sialylation of the oligosaccharide chains, and liver function tests showed no evidence of liver dysfunction that might explain the functional abnormalities. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  7. Group B streptococcal serine-rich repeat proteins promote interaction with fibrinogen and vaginal colonization.

    PubMed

    Wang, Nai-Yu; Patras, Kathryn A; Seo, Ho Seong; Cavaco, Courtney K; Rösler, Berenice; Neely, Melody N; Sullam, Paul M; Doran, Kelly S

    2014-09-15

    Group B streptococcus (GBS) can cause severe disease in susceptible hosts, including newborns, pregnant women, and the elderly. GBS serine-rich repeat (Srr) surface glycoproteins are important adhesins/invasins in multiple host tissues, including the vagina. However, exact molecular mechanisms contributing to their importance in colonization are unknown. We have recently determined that Srr proteins contain a fibrinogen-binding region (BR) and hypothesize that Srr-mediated fibrinogen binding may contribute to GBS cervicovaginal colonization. In this study, we observed that fibrinogen enhanced wild-type GBS attachment to cervical and vaginal epithelium, and that this was dependent on Srr1. Moreover, purified Srr1-BR peptide bound directly to host cells, and peptide administration in vivo reduced GBS recovery from the vaginal tract. Furthermore, a GBS mutant strain lacking only the Srr1 "latching" domain exhibited decreased adherence in vitro and decreased persistence in a mouse model of GBS vaginal colonization, suggesting the importance of Srr-fibrinogen interactions in the female reproductive tract. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  8. High wavenumber Raman spectroscopic characterization of normal and oral cancer using blood plasma

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pachaiappan, Rekha; Prakasarao, Aruna; Suresh Kumar, Murugesan; Singaravelu, Ganesan

    2017-02-01

    Blood plasma possesses the biomolecules released from cells/tissues after metabolism and reflects the pathological conditions of the subjects. The analysis of biofluids for disease diagnosis becomes very attractive in the diagnosis of cancers due to the ease in the collection of samples, easy to transport, multiple sampling for regular screening of the disease and being less invasive to the patients. Hence, the intention of this study was to apply near-infrared (NIR) Raman spectroscopy in the high wavenumber (HW) region (2500-3400 cm-1) for the diagnosis of oral malignancy using blood plasma. From the Raman spectra it is observed that the biomolecules protein and lipid played a major role in the discrimination between groups. The diagnostic algorithms based on principal components analysis coupled with linear discriminant analysis (PCA-LDA) with the leave-one-patient-out cross-validation method on HW Raman spectra yielded a promising results in the identification of oral malignancy. The details of results will be discussed.

  9. High-Gain High-Field Fusion Plasma

    PubMed Central

    Li, Ge

    2015-01-01

    A Faraday wheel (FW)—an electric generator of constant electrical polarity that produces huge currents—could be implemented in an existing tokamak to study high-gain high-field (HGHF) fusion plasma, such as the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST). HGHF plasma can be realized in EAST by updating its pulsed-power system to compress plasma in two steps by induction fields; high gains of the Lawson trinity parameter and fusion power are both predicted by formulating the HGHF plasma. Both gain rates are faster than the decrease rate of the plasma volume. The formulation is checked by earlier ATC tests. Good agreement between theory and tests indicates that scaling to over 10 T at EAST may be possible by two-step compressions with a compression ratio of the minor radius of up to 3. These results point to a quick new path of fusion plasma study, i.e., simulating the Sun by EAST. PMID:26507314

  10. Paradoxical bleeding and thrombosis in a patient with afibrinogenemia and fibrinogen Mumbai mutation.

    PubMed

    Mukaddam, Alfiya; Patil, Rucha; Jadli, Anshul; Chandrakala, S; Ghosh, Kanjaksha; Shetty, Shrimati

    2015-05-01

    Thrombosis is rarely reported in cases of afibrinogenemia and is generally associated with thrombophilia or replacement therapy. Often, it is difficult to predict whether the patients will bleed or whether they are exposed to the risk of thrombosis. We report a patient with afibrinogenemia who presented with complete thrombosis of right hepatic, portal, and splenic veins and who described a lifelong history of bleeding. Direct sequencing of the three fibrinogen genes was performed to identify the mutation. DNA sequencing showed the presence of a homozygous for G8017A substitution in exon 8 of the fibrinogen β-chain gene, resulting in a G434D missense mutation (Fibrinogen Mumbai). Presence of both bleeding and thrombotic manifestations in a patient with afibrinogenemia in the presence of other associated risk factors warrants a very careful individualized approach in the management of patients with afibrinogenemia. Copyright© by the American Society for Clinical Pathology.

  11. Distributed vasculogenesis from modular agarose-hydroxyapatite-fibrinogen microbeads.

    PubMed

    Rioja, Ana Y; Daley, Ethan L H; Habif, Julia C; Putnam, Andrew J; Stegemann, Jan P

    2017-06-01

    Critical limb ischemia impairs circulation to the extremities, causing pain, disrupted wound healing, and potential tissue necrosis. Therapeutic angiogenesis seeks to repair the damaged microvasculature directly to restore blood flow. In this study, we developed modular, micro-scale constructs designed to possess robust handling qualities, allow in vitro pre-culture, and promote microvasculature formation. The microbead matrix consisted of an agarose (AG) base to prevent aggregation, combined with cell-adhesive components of fibrinogen (FGN) and/or hydroxyapatite (HA). Microbeads encapsulating a co-culture of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and fibroblasts were prepared and characterized. Microbeads were generally 80-100µm in diameter, and the size increased with the addition of FGN and HA. Addition of HA increased the yield of microbeads, as well as the homogeneity of distribution of FGN within the matrix. Cell viability was high in all microbead types. When cell-seeded microbeads were embedded in fibrin hydrogels, HUVEC sprouting and inosculation between neighboring microbeads were observed over seven days. Pre-culture of microbeads for an additional seven days prior to embedding in fibrin resulted in significantly greater HUVEC network length in AG+HA+FGN microbeads, as compared to AG, AG+HA or AG+FGN microbeads. Importantly, composite microbeads resulted in more even and widespread endothelial network formation, relative to control microbeads consisting of pure fibrin. These results demonstrate that AG+HA+FGN microbeads support HUVEC sprouting both within and between adjacent microbeads, and can promote distributed vascularization of an external matrix. Such modular microtissues may have utility in treating ischemic tissue by rapidly re-establishing a microvascular network. Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is a chronic disease that can lead to tissue necrosis, amputation, and death. Cell-based therapies are being explored to restore blood flow and

  12. Reference hematologic and plasma chemistry values of brown tree snakes (Boiga irregularis).

    PubMed

    Lamirande, E W; Bratthauer, A D; Fischer, D C; Nichols, D K

    1999-12-01

    Reference hematologic and plasma chemistry values were determined from 103 blood samples collected from 53 clinically healthy brown tree snakes (Boiga irregularis). Female snakes had significantly higher mean plasma values for total solids, total protein, calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), uric acid, and blood monocyte percentage than did males, whereas males had significantly higher mean plasma fibrinogen values. The variances for hematocrit, monocyte percentage, azurophil percentage, plasma total solids, plasma total protein, albumin, Ca, and P also differed significantly between sexes. The higher mean values and greater variances for plasma total protein, plasma total solids, Ca, and P in the female snakes were probably associated with yolk synthesis and accumulation.

  13. The combination of recombinant factor VIIa and fibrinogen correct clotting ex vivo in patient samples obtained following cardiopulmonary bypass surgery.

    PubMed

    Sørensen, Benny; Asvaldsdottir, Hanna S; Gudmundsdottir, Brynja R; Onundarson, Pall T

    2009-12-01

    Cardiac surgery involving cardio pulmonary bypass (CPB) may be associated with development of a coagulopathy that increases risk of bleeding. In the present ex vivo study we investigated the influence of fibrinogen and rFVIIa, alone or in combination, on whole blood coagulation thromboelastometry using pre- and postoperative blood samples from 18 consecutive adult patients undergoing CPB surgery. Dynamic thromboelastometric clotting profiles were recorded using citrated whole blood activated with trace amounts of tissue factor (Innovin, final dilution 1:17000). Blood samples were collected before surgery (control) and postoperative samples were obtained following in vivo neutralization of heparin with protamine sulphate. All blood samples were treated with heparinase to ensure neutralization of possible residual heparin effect. The post-operative blood samples were spiked with buffer, rFVIIa (2 microg/mL), fibrinogen (1 mg/mL), or the combination of rFVIIa and fibrinogen. Despite neutralization of heparin, CPB surgery left a measurable coagulopathy that was thromboelastometrically characterized by prolonged onset of clotting, reduced maximum velocity of clot formation (MaxVel), and decreased maximum clot firmness (MCF). Ex vivo spiking of the postoperative samples with rFVIIa shortened the clotting time. Fibrinogen also shortened the clotting time and, in addition, improved the MaxVel, and MCF. Finally, adding the combination of rFVIIa and fibrinogen to the postoperative samples corrected all thromboelastometric parameters to the preoperative range. In conclusion, the correction of whole blood clotting abnormalities that occurs with rFVIIa and/or fibrinogen suggests that future clinical trials on treatment of bleeding during CPB surgery should study the haemostatic effect of fibrinogen or possibly the combination of rFVIIa and fibrinogen.

  14. A genome-wide search for genes affecting circulating fibrinogen levels in the Framingham Heart Study.

    PubMed

    Yang, Qiong; Tofler, Geoffrey H; Cupples, L Adrienne; Larson, Martin G; Feng, DaLi; Lindpaintner, Klaus; Levy, Daniel; D'Agostino, Ralph B; O'Donnell, Christopher J

    2003-04-15

    Circulating levels of fibrinogen are associated with atherosclerosis and predict future coronary heart disease and stroke. Levels of fibrinogen are correlated among family members, suggesting a heritable component. Variants of the beta-fibrinogen gene subunit on 4q28 are associated with fibrinogen levels but explain only a small proportion of the total genetic variability. It remains unknown what role, if any, is played by other genetic variants in the inter-individual variability in levels of fibrinogen in the general population. We conducted a 10-cM spaced genome-wide scan using 402 original cohort subjects and 1193 offspring subjects from 330 extended families of the Framingham Heart Study. Heritability and linkage analyses were carried out using variance component methods. Regression analyses were performed to adjust for traditional risk factors and HindIII beta-148 genotypes. The total heritability was estimated as 0.24. The highest and second highest LOD scores of linkage were found on chromosomes 2 (LOD=1.5 at 243 cM) and 10 (LOD=2.4 at 87 cM) using only offspring subjects in the analysis, and on chromosomes 2 (LOD=2.1 at 242 cM) and 10(LOD=1.4 at 86 cM), 17 (LOD=1.4 at 96 cM) and 20 (LOD=1.4 at 80 cM) using both original cohort and offspring. These results suggest that there may be influential genetic regions on these chromosomes. While no linkage with genome-wide significance was detected, further research to confirm our findings is warranted.

  15. Influence of spacer length on heparin coupling efficiency and fibrinogen adsorption of modified titanium surfaces

    PubMed Central

    Tebbe, David; Thull, Roger; Gbureck, Uwe

    2007-01-01

    Background Chemical bonding of the drug onto surfaces by means of spacer molecules is accompanied with a reduction of the biological activity of the drug due to a constricted mobility since normally only short spacer molecule like aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APMS) are used for drug coupling. This work aimed to study covalent attachment of heparin to titanium(oxide) surfaces by varying the length of the silane coupling agent, which should affect the biological potency of the drug due to a higher mobility with longer spacer chains. Methods Covalent attachment of heparin to titanium metal and TiO2 powder was carried out using the coupling agents 3-(Trimethoxysilyl)-propylamine (APMS), N- [3-(Trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ethylenediamine (Diamino-APMS) and N1- [3-(Trimethoxy-silyl)-propyl]diethylenetriamine (Triamino-APMS). The amount of bound coupling agent and heparin was quantified photometrically by the ninhydrin reaction and the tolidine-blue test. The biological potency of heparin was determined photometrically by the chromogenic substrate Chromozym TH and fibrinogen adsorption to the modified surfaces was researched using the QCM-D (Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation Monitoring) technique. Results Zeta-potential measurements confirmed the successful coupling reaction; the potential of the unmodified anatase surface (approx. -26 mV) shifted into the positive range (> + 40 mV) after silanisation. Binding of heparin results in a strongly negatively charged surface with zeta-potentials of approx. -39 mV. The retaining biological activity of heparin was highest for the spacer molecule Triamino-APMS. QCM-D measurements showed a lower viscosity for adsorbed fibrinogen films on heparinised surfaces by means of Triamino-APMS. Conclusion The remaining activity of heparin was found to be highest for the covalent attachment with Triamino-APMS as coupling agent due to the long chain of this spacer molecule and therefore the highest mobility of the drug. Furthermore, the

  16. Comparison of fibrinogen- and collagen-based treatments for penetrating wounds with comminuted femur fractures in a Swine model.

    PubMed

    Rothwell, Stephen W; Sawyer, Evelyn; Lombardini, Eric; Royal, Joseph; Tang, Haiyin; Selwyn, Reed; Bodo, Michael; Settle, Timothy L

    2013-01-01

    Military servicemembers in combat operations often sustain injuries to the extremities from highspeed projectiles, resulting in bleeding and comminuted open fractures. Severe injury with bone fragmentation can result in limb amputation. Surgical treatment options include materials that promote osteogenesis and bone proliferation, such as growth hormones, stem cells, or mineralized matrix adjuncts. However, none of these are amenable to use by the first responder, nor do they address the question of hemorrhage control, which is a common problem in traumatic injuries. Our hypothesis was that treatment with a fibrinogen-based protein mixture at the time of the bone injury will provide both hemostasis and a supportive environment for preservation of injured bone. A comminuted femur fracture was produced in 28 female Yorkshire swine, and one of four treatments was instilled into the wound immediately after injury. Each animal was evaluated for the following parameters: inflammation, new bone growth, osteoclast proliferation, callus formation, and femur wound cavity fill, using post-mortem computed tomography and analysis of histological sections. Overall, salmon fibrinogen?thrombin and porcine fibrinogen?thrombin showed a trend for improved healing based on bone filling and calcification. However, statistically significant differences could not be established between treatment groups. These findings indicate that a fibrinogen?thrombin matrix may be a useful as an immediate response product to enhance fracture healing. Salmon fibrinogen?thrombin has the advantages of cost and a pathogen profile compared to mammalian fibrinogens. 2013.

  17. Clot lysis time in platelet-rich plasma: method assessment, comparison with assays in platelet-free and platelet-poor plasmas, and response to tranexamic acid.

    PubMed

    Panes, Olga; Padilla, Oslando; Matus, Valeria; Sáez, Claudia G; Berkovits, Alejandro; Pereira, Jaime; Mezzano, Diego

    2012-01-01

    Fibrinolysis dysfunctions cause bleeding or predisposition to thrombosis. Platelets contain several factors of the fibrinolytic system, which could up or down regulate this process. However, the temporal relationship and relative contributions of plasma and platelet components in clot lysis are mostly unknown. We developed a clot lysis time (CLT) assay in platelet-rich plasma (PRP-CLT, with and without stimulation) and compared it to a similar one in platelet-free plasma (PFP) and to another previously reported test in platelet-poor plasma (PPP). We also studied the differential effects of a single dose of tranexamic acid (TXA) on these tests in healthy subjects. PFP- and PPP-CLT were significantly shorter than PRP-CLT, and the three assays were highly correlated (p < 0.0001). PFP- and PPP-, but more significantly PRP-CLT, were positively correlated with age and plasma PAI-1, von Willebrand factor, fibrinogen, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides (p < 0.001). All these CLT assays had no significant correlations with platelet aggregation/secretion, platelet counts, and pro-coagulant tests to explore factor X activation by platelets, PRP clotting time, and thrombin generation in PRP. Among all the studied variables, PFP-CLT was independently associated with plasma PAI-1, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides and, additionally, stimulated PRP-CLT was also independently associated with plasma fibrinogen. A single 1 g dose of TXA strikingly prolonged all three CLTs, but in contrast to the results without the drug, the lysis times were substantially shorter in non-stimulated or stimulated PRP than in PFP and PPP. This standardized PRP-CLT may become a useful tool to study the role of platelets in clot resistance and lysis. Our results suggest that initially, the platelets enmeshed in the clot slow down the fibrinolysis process. However, the increased clot resistance to lysis induced by TXA is overcome earlier in platelet-rich clots than in PFP or PPP clots. This is

  18. Adsorption of fibrinogen on a biomedical-grade stainless steel 316LVM surface: a PM-IRRAS study of the adsorption thermodynamics, kinetics and secondary structure changes.

    PubMed

    Desroches, Marie-Josee; Omanovic, Sasha

    2008-05-14

    Polarization-modulation infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS) was employed to investigate the interaction of serum protein fibrinogen with a biomedical-grade 316LVM stainless steel surface, in terms of the adsorption thermodynamics, kinetics and secondary structure changes of the protein. Apparent Gibbs energy of adsorption values indicated a highly spontaneous and strong adsorption of fibrinogen onto the surface. The kinetics of fibrinogen adsorption were successfully modeled using a pseudo first-order kinetic model. Deconvolution of the amide I bands indicated that the adsorption of fibrinogen on 316LVM results in significant changes in the protein's secondary structure that occur predominantly within the first minute of adsorption. Among the investigated structures, the alpha-helix structure undergoes the smallest changes, while the beta-sheet and beta-turns structures undergo significant changes. It was shown that lateral interactions between the adsorbed molecules do not play a role in controlling the secondary structure changes. An increase in temperature induced changes in the secondary structure of the protein, characterized by a loss of the alpha-helical content and its transformation into the beta-turns structure.

  19. Association of Plasma Neurofilament Light Chain with Neocortical Amyloid-β Load and Cognitive Performance in Cognitively Normal Elderly Participants.

    PubMed

    Chatterjee, Pratishtha; Goozee, Kathryn; Sohrabi, Hamid R; Shen, Kaikai; Shah, Tejal; Asih, Prita R; Dave, Preeti; ManYan, Candice; Taddei, Kevin; Chung, Roger; Zetterberg, Henrik; Blennow, Kaj; Martins, Ralph N

    2018-01-01

    The disruption of neurofilament, an axonal cytoskeletal protein, in neurodegenerative conditions may result in neuronal damage and its release into the cerebrospinal fluid and blood. In Alzheimer's disease (AD), neurofilament light chain (NFL), a neurofilament subunit, is elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid and blood. Investigate the association of plasma NFL with preclinical-AD features, such as high neocortical amyloid-β load (NAL) and subjective memory complaints, and cognitive performance in cognitively normal older adults. Plasma NFL concentrations were measured employing the single molecule array platform in participants from the Kerr Anglican Retirement Village Initiative in Ageing Health cohort, aged 65- 90 years. Participants underwent a battery of neuropsychological testing to evaluate cognitive performance and were categorized as low NAL (NAL-, n = 65) and high NAL (NAL+, n = 35) assessed via PET, and further stratified into subjective memory complainers (SMC; nNAL- = 51, nNAL+ = 25) and non-SMC (nNAL- = 14, nNAL+ = 10) based on the Memory Assessment Clinic- Questionnaire. Plasma NFL inversely correlated with cognitive performance. No significant difference in NFL was observed between NAL+ and NAL- participants; however, within APOEɛ4 non-carriers, higher NAL was observed in individuals with NFL concentrations within quartiles 3 and 4 (versus quartile 1). Additionally, within the NAL+ participants, SMC had a trend of higher NFL compared to non-SMC. Plasma NFL is inversely associated with cognitive performance in elderly individuals. While plasma NFL may not reflect NAL in individuals with normal global cognition, the current observations indicate that onset of axonal injury, reflected by increased plasma NFL, within the preclinical phase of AD may contribute to the pathogenesis of AD.

  20. High beta plasma operation in a toroidal plasma producing device

    DOEpatents

    Clarke, John F.

    1978-01-01

    A high beta plasma is produced in a plasma producing device of toroidal configuration by ohmic heating and auxiliary heating. The plasma pressure is continuously monitored and used in a control system to program the current in the poloidal field windings. Throughout the heating process, magnetic flux is conserved inside the plasma and the distortion of the flux surfaces drives a current in the plasma. As a consequence, the total current increases and the poloidal field windings are driven with an equal and opposing increasing current. The spatial distribution of the current in the poloidal field windings is determined by the plasma pressure. Plasma equilibrium is maintained thereby, and high temperature, high beta operation results.

  1. Role of 'B-b' knob-hole interactions in fibrin binding to adsorbed fibrinogen.

    PubMed

    Geer, C B; Tripathy, A; Schoenfisch, M H; Lord, S T; Gorkun, O V

    2007-12-01

    The formation of a fibrin clot is supported by multiple interactions, including those between polymerization knobs 'A' and 'B' exposed by thrombin cleavage and polymerization holes 'a' and 'b' present in fibrinogen and fibrin. Although structural studies have defined the 'A-a' and 'B-b' interactions in part, it has not been possible to measure the affinities of individual knob-hole interactions in the absence of the other interactions occurring in fibrin. We designed experiments to determine the affinities of knob-hole interactions, either 'A-a' alone or 'A-a' and 'B-b' together. We used surface plasmon resonance to measure binding between adsorbed fibrinogen and soluble fibrin fragments containing 'A' knobs, desA-NDSK, or both 'A' and 'B' knobs, desAB-NDSK. The desA- and desAB-NDSK fragments bound to fibrinogen with statistically similar K(d)'s of 5.8 +/- 1.1 microm and 3.7 +/- 0.7 microm (P = 0.14), respectively. This binding was specific, as we saw no significant binding of NDSK, which has no exposed knobs. Moreover, the synthetic 'A' knob peptide GPRP and synthetic 'B' knob peptides GHRP and AHRPY, inhibited the binding of desA- and/or desAB-NDSK. The peptide inhibition findings show both 'A-a' and 'B-b' interactions participate in desAB-NDSK binding to fibrinogen, indicating 'B-b' interactions can occur simultaneously with 'A-a'. Furthermore, 'A-a' interactions are much stronger than 'B-b' because the affinity of desA-NDSK was not markedly different from desAB-NDSK.

  2. Role of Fibrinogen in Trauma Induced Coagulopathy

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2010-01-01

    phenylalanine was infused for 6 h and d5- phenylalanine was infused for 4 h. Blood samples were obtained hourly during the infusion and the isotopic...erature was stabilized at 328C, 1-13C- phenylalanine and d5- phenylalanine were infused to quantify fibrinogen meta- bolism.23 Hypothermia of 328C...cases. Vox Sang 1982; 42: 113–23 7 Martini WZ, Chinkes DL , Pusateri AE et al. Acute changes in fibri- nogen metabolism and coagulation after

  3. Glutathione levels in plasma, saliva and gingival crevicular fluid after periodontal therapy in obese and normal weight individuals.

    PubMed

    Öngöz Dede, F; Bozkurt Doğan, Ş; Balli, U; Avci, B; Durmuşlar, M C; Baratzade, T

    2016-12-01

    The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of obesity on reduced and oxidized glutathione (GSH and GSSG) levels in the gingival crevicular fluid, plasma and saliva of patients with chronic periodontitis and to evaluate the changes after nonsurgical periodontal therapy. The study included 60 patients: 30 patients with chronic periodontitis (15 obese patients and 15 normal weight patients) and 30 healthy control subjects (15 obese patients and 15 normal weight patients). Gingival crevicular fluid, plasma and saliva samples were collected, and clinical periodontal measurements were recorded at baseline and at the first month after periodontal therapy from patients with chronic periodontitis. GSH and GSSG levels were analyzed with spectrophotometry. The GSH levels in the plasma, saliva and gingival crevicular fluid in obese individuals with chronic periodontitis were lower than in normal weight individuals at baseline (p < 0.01). There was a significant difference in the GSH/GSSG ratio in plasma and gingival crevicular fluid between the obese and normal weight groups at baseline (p < 0.01). The GSH levels in plasma, gingival crevicular fluid and saliva were significantly increased in both chronic periodontitis groups after nonsurgical periodontal therapy (p < 0.01). A significant positive correlation was found between GSH levels in saliva, plasma and gingival crevicular fluid in all groups (p < 0.001). The study revealed that obesity in patients with chronic periodontitis is associated with decreased GSH levels and the GSH/GSSG ratio. Moreover, nonsurgical periodontal therapy may be helpful for improvement in glutathione values in obese and normal weight individuals with chronic periodontitis. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  4. High-fat diet-induced plasma protein and liver changes in obese rats can be attenuated by melatonin supplementation.

    PubMed

    Wongchitrat, Prapimpun; Klosen, Paul; Pannengpetch, Supitcha; Kitidee, Kuntida; Govitrapong, Piyarat; Isarankura-Na-Ayudhya, Chartchalerm

    2017-06-01

    Obesity triggers changes in protein expression in various organs that might participate in the pathogenesis of obesity. Melatonin has been reported to prevent or attenuate such pathological protein changes in several chronic diseases. However, such melatonin effects on plasma proteins have not yet been studied in an obesity model. Using a proteomic approach, we investigated the effect of melatonin on plasma protein profiles after rats were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) to induce obesity. We hypothesized that melatonin would attenuate abnormal protein expression in obese rats. After 10weeks of the HFD, animals displayed increased body weight and fat accumulation as well as increased glucose levels, indicating an obesity-induced prediabetes mellitus-like state. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry revealed 12 proteins whose expression was altered in response to the HFD and the melatonin treatment. The altered proteins are related to the development of liver pathology, such as cirrhosis (α1-antiproteinase), thrombosis (fibrinogen, plasminogen), and inflammation (mannose-binding protein A, complement C4, complement factor B), contributing to liver steatosis or hepatic cell death. Melatonin treatment most probably reduced the severity of the HFD-induced obesity by reducing the amplitude of HFD-induced plasma protein changes. In conclusion, we identified several potential biomarkers associated with the progression of obesity and its complications, such as liver damage. Furthermore, our findings reveal melatonin's beneficial effect of attenuating plasma protein changes and liver pathogenesis in obese rats. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  5. Quarantine versus pathogen-reduced plasma-coagulation factor content and rotational thromboelastometry coagulation.

    PubMed

    Theusinger, Oliver M; Goslings, David; Studt, Jan-Dirk; Brand-Staufer, Brigitte; Seifert, Burkhardt; Spahn, Donat R; Frey, Beat M

    2017-03-01

    Different types of fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) exist, and the concentrations of plasma proteins vary between individuals and blood groups. Furthermore, processing may also influence the content. Quarantine-stored plasma (qFFP) and plasma that was pathogen-reduced using blood-safety (Intercept) technology (piFFP) were analyzed regarding procoagulant and anticoagulant hemostasis proteins, including endogenous thrombin (thrombin-generation) potential (ETP). Thirty-five samples of each type of FFP were analyzed using only male Blood Group O donors. FFP units were stored frozen for comparable periods of time before plasma protein content was assessed. Once the units were thawed, all tests were completed within 4 hours. The results are presented as means ± standard deviations or as median (minimum; maximum) and were compared using independent-sample t tests (significance, p < 0.01). Significantly higher concentrations of adintegrin-like and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type-13 motifs (ADAMTS13), fibrinogen, Factor (F)V, FVIII, FXIII, protein S, protein S activity, antithrombin, microvesicle (<900 nm), and α2 antiplasmin were observed in qFFP. The variability of factors was significantly lower in piFFP. Tissue factor (TF) at 1 picomolar (pM) exhibited significantly longer lag time, a lower peak, lower ETP, and a lower velocity index in qFFP compared with piFFP. In TF at 5 pM, significant differences in lag time (longer in qFFP), velocity index (lower in qFFP), and peak (lower in qFFP) were observed. Rotational thromboelastometry revealed a significantly longer (p = 0.002) clot-formation time with intrinsic thromboelastometry for piFFP and a significantly shorter clotting time (p = 0.004) with thromboelastometry fibrinogen testing for piFFP. Pathogen reduction reduces procoagulant and anticoagulant coagulation factors as well as variability. A thrombin-generation assay showed no reduced ETP and no supraphysiological thrombin generation. None of the

  6. Everolimus induces rapid plasma glucose normalization in insulinoma patients by effects on tumor as well as normal tissues.

    PubMed

    Fiebrich, Helle-Brit; Siemerink, Ester J M; Brouwers, Adrienne H; Links, Thera P; Remkes, Wouter S; Hospers, Geke A P; de Vries, Elisabeth G E

    2011-01-01

    Mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor everolimus administered to four insulinoma patients rapidly controlled hypoglycemia (Kulke et al., N Engl J Med 2009;360:195-197). We wanted to identify the kinetics of everolimus effects on controlling hypoglycemia and understand underlying mechanisms. Three consecutive patients with a metastasized symptomatic insulinoma were started on 100 μg of octreotide subcutaneously three times daily. Because of persisting hypoglycemias, treatment with daily 10 mg of oral everolimus was initiated. Serial plasma glucose levels and serum insulin levels were measured. Computer tomography (CT) scans were performed before and after 2 and 5 months of treatment. [¹⁸F]fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography (¹⁸F-FDG-PET) scans, to visualize glucose metabolism, were made before and after 2 weeks, 5 weeks, and 5 months of treatment. The ¹⁸F-FDG uptake was quantified as the maximum standardized uptake value. All patients achieved control of hypoglycemia on everolimus within 14 days. Insulin levels were 2.5- to 6.3-fold elevated before start of treatment and declined 14%-64% after 4 weeks of treatment. CT scans showed stable disease at 2 months in all patients, with progressive disease after 5 months in one. Before treatment, both the tumor lesions and the muscles and myocardium showed high ¹⁸F-FDG uptake. Everolimus reduced tumor and muscle ¹⁸F-FDG uptake after 2 weeks by 26% ± 14% and 19% ± 41%, and after 5 months by 31% ± 13% and 27% ± 41%. Everolimus normalizes plasma glucose levels in metastatic insulinoma within 14 days, coinciding with a lower glucose uptake in tumor and muscles and declining (pro)insulin levels. This effect on tumor as well as normal tissues explains the rapid controlling of hypoglycemia.

  7. Investigating the effect of an arterial hypertension drug on the structural properties of plasma protein.

    PubMed

    Hassan, Natalia; Maldonado-Valderrama, Julia; Gunning, A Patrick; Morris, V J; Ruso, Juan M

    2011-10-15

    Propanolol is a betablocker drug used in the treatment of arterial hypertension related diseases. In order to achieve an optimal performance of this drug it is important to consider the possible interactions of propanolol with plasma proteins. In this work, we have used several experimental techniques to characterise the effect of addition of the betablocker propanolol on the properties of bovine plasma fibrinogen (FB). Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), circular dichroism (CD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), surface tension techniques and atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements have been combined to carry out a detailed physicochemical and surface characterization of the mixed system. As a result, DSC measurements show that propranolol can play two opposite roles, either acting as a structure stabilizer at low molar concentrations or as a structure destabilizer at higher concentrations, in different domains of fibrinogen. CD measurements have revealed that the effect of propanolol on the secondary structure of fibrinogen depends on the temperature and the drug concentration and the DLS analysis showed evidence for protein aggregation. Interestingly, surface tension measurements provided further evidence of the conformational change induced by propanolol on the secondary structure of FB by importantly increasing the surface tension of the system. Finally, AFM imaging of the fibrinogen system provided direct visualization of the protein structure in the presence of propanolol. Combination of these techniques has produced complementary information on the behavior of the mixed system, providing new insights into the structural properties of proteins with potential medical interest. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  8. Postauthorization safety study of Clottafact® , a triply secured fibrinogen concentrate in acquired fibrinogen deficiency: a prospective observational study.

    PubMed

    Négrier, C; Ducloy-Bouthors, A-S; Piriou, V; De Maistre, E; Stieltjes, N; Borel-Derlon, A; Colson, P; Picard, J; Lambert, T; Claeyssens, S; Boileau, S; Bertrand, A; André, M-H; Fourrier, F; Ozier, Y; Sié, P; Gruel, Y; Tellier, Z

    2018-02-01

    A postauthorization safety study was performed between 2009 and 2012 to describe the use of Clottafact ® in acquired fibrinogen deficiency in real-life medical practice in France. One hundred and fifty patients were planned for 28 days of prospective follow-up after infusion. The analysis of this observational study was descriptive and performed according to the type of treatment (curative or preventive) and the origin of the bleed. One hundred and fifty-six patients (16-87 years) were included in 13 centres and treated in five different medical bleeding situations: postpartum (59), other gynaecological/obstetrical (6), trauma (34), liver (13), cardiovascular (23) and other various bleeding situations (21). The mean follow-up time was 18·9 ± 12·3 days. Two patients presented adverse drug reactions: one a pulmonary embolism and the other a four-site venous thromboembolic episode. All were serious with a dubious causal relationship with the study treatment. Efficacy data were collected as a secondary objective. In 150 patients receiving curative treatment, 117 of 159 infusions (73·6%) were considered as successful by the investigators, 35 as moderate (22%) and seven as no response (4·4%). The Clottafact ® safety profile observed during the study matched the known profile of fibrinogen during use. © 2017 International Society of Blood Transfusion.

  9. Identification and characterization of α1 -antitrypsin in fibrin clots.

    PubMed

    Talens, S; Malfliet, J J M C; van Hal, P Th W; Leebeek, F W G; Rijken, D C

    2013-07-01

    Preliminary studies indicated that α1 -antitrypsin (A1AT) is the most abundant protein that is non-covalently bound to fibrin clots prepared from plasma. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize fibrin(ogen)-bound A1AT. Plasma clots were prepared and extensively washed with saline. Clot-bound A1AT could only be extracted using denaturing agents such as urea, thiourea or SDS, pointing to an apparently strong association. Purified fibrinogen, but still containing A1AT as a contaminant, was gel filtered, which showed that the A1AT was bound to fibrinogen. A specific ELISA detected the presence of A1AT-fibrinogen complexes in both purified fibrinogen and pooled normal plasma. Finally, fibrin(ogen)-Sepharose chromatography indicated that A1AT purified from plasma contained a small fraction of fibrin(ogen)-binding A1AT. To study the inhibitory activity of fibrin(ogen)-bound A1AT, both fibrinogen containing A1AT and washed plasma clots were incubated with increasing amounts of elastase. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting showed under both conditions the generation of the A1AT-elastase complex as well as cleaved A1AT. The inhibitory activity of fibrin(ogen)-bound A1AT was also demonstrated by measuring elastase-induced lysis of fibrin clots. Fibrin clots contain strongly bound A1AT, which is functionally active as a serine protease inhibitor (serpin). This A1AT might play a role in the local regulation of proteases involved in coagulation or fibrinolysis and represent a novel link between the inflammatory and hemostatic systems. © 2013 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

  10. High-quality electron beam generation in a proton-driven hollow plasma wakefield accelerator

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Y.; Xia, G.; Lotov, K. V.; Sosedkin, A. P.; Hanahoe, K.; Mete-Apsimon, O.

    2017-10-01

    Simulations of proton-driven plasma wakefield accelerators have demonstrated substantially higher accelerating gradients compared to conventional accelerators and the viability of accelerating electrons to the energy frontier in a single plasma stage. However, due to the strong intrinsic transverse fields varying both radially and in time, the witness beam quality is still far from suitable for practical application in future colliders. Here we demonstrate the efficient acceleration of electrons in proton-driven wakefields in a hollow plasma channel. In this regime, the witness bunch is positioned in the region with a strong accelerating field, free from plasma electrons and ions. We show that the electron beam carrying the charge of about 10% of 1 TeV proton driver charge can be accelerated to 0.6 TeV with a preserved normalized emittance in a single channel of 700 m. This high-quality and high-charge beam may pave the way for the development of future plasma-based energy frontier colliders.

  11. The role of fibrinogen glycation in ATTR: evidence for chaperone activity loss in disease.

    PubMed

    Fonseca, Daniel; Gilberto, Samuel; Ribeiro-Silva, Cristina; Ribeiro, Raquel; Guinote, Inês Batista; Saraiva, Susana; Gomes, Ricardo A; Mateus, Élia; Viana, Ana; Barroso, Eduardo; Freire, Ana Ponces; Freire, Patrick; Cordeiro, Carlos; da Costa, Gonçalo

    2016-07-15

    Transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) belongs to a class of disorders caused by protein misfolding and aggregation. ATTR is a disabling disorder of autosomal dominant trait, where transthyretin (TTR) forms amyloid deposits in different organs, causing dysfunction of the peripheral nervous system. We previously discovered that amyloid fibrils from ATTR patients are glycated by methylglyoxal. Even though no consensus has been reached about the actual role of methylglyoxal-derived advanced glycation end-products in amyloid diseases, evidence collected so far points to a role for protein glycation in conformational abnormalities, being ubiquitously found in amyloid deposits in Alzheimer's disease, dialysis-related amyloidosis and Parkinson's diseases. Human fibrinogen, an extracellular chaperone, was reported to specifically interact with a wide spectrum of stressed proteins and suppress their aggregation, being an interacting protein with TTR. Fibrinogen is differentially glycated in ATTR, leading to its chaperone activity loss. Here we show the existence of a proteostasis imbalance in ATTR linked to fibrinogen glycation by methylglyoxal. © 2016 The Author(s). published by Portland Press Limited on behalf of the Biochemical Society.

  12. The Non-catalytic B Subunit of Coagulation Factor XIII Accelerates Fibrin Cross-linking*

    PubMed Central

    Souri, Masayoshi; Osaki, Tsukasa; Ichinose, Akitada

    2015-01-01

    Covalent cross-linking of fibrin chains is required for stable blood clot formation, which is catalyzed by coagulation factor XIII (FXIII), a proenzyme of plasma transglutaminase consisting of catalytic A (FXIII-A) and non-catalytic B subunits (FXIII-B). Herein, we demonstrate that FXIII-B accelerates fibrin cross-linking. Depletion of FXIII-B from normal plasma supplemented with a physiological level of recombinant FXIII-A resulted in delayed fibrin cross-linking, reduced incorporation of FXIII-A into fibrin clots, and impaired activation peptide cleavage by thrombin; the addition of recombinant FXIII-B restored normal fibrin cross-linking, FXIII-A incorporation into fibrin clots, and activation peptide cleavage by thrombin. Immunoprecipitation with an anti-fibrinogen antibody revealed an interaction between the FXIII heterotetramer and fibrinogen mediated by FXIII-B and not FXIII-A. FXIII-B probably binds the γ-chain of fibrinogen with its D-domain, which is near the fibrin polymerization pockets, and dissociates from fibrin during or after cross-linking between γ-chains. Thus, FXIII-B plays important roles in the formation of a ternary complex between proenzyme FXIII, prosubstrate fibrinogen, and activator thrombin. Accordingly, congenital or acquired FXIII-B deficiency may result in increased bleeding tendency through impaired fibrin stabilization due to decreased FXIII-A activation by thrombin and secondary FXIII-A deficiency arising from enhanced circulatory clearance. PMID:25809477

  13. Severe glomerulonephritis complicated by coagulopathy: treatment with anticoaguland and immunosuppresive drugs.

    PubMed

    Robson, A M; Cole, B R; Kienstra, R A; Kissane, J M; Alkjaersig, N; Fletcher, A P

    1977-06-01

    Serial determinations, using plasma fibrinogen gel chromatography as well as standard methodology, demonstrated that six children with severe glomerulonephritis, characterized on renal biopsy by glomerular necrosis and crescent formation, had persistent evidence of intravascular coagulation. Based on these observations, therapy with anticoagulants and azathicoagulants and azathioprine was instituted for one year; treatment with anticoagulants was continued for a second year. Anticoagulant therapy was initiated with heparin, followed by oral anticoagulation with phenindione and dipyridamole. In contrast to our earlier experience with similar patients, each of the present patients improved. Urinalyses returned to normal and glomerular filtration rates to near normal values in all patients at the end of the treatment period and have remained so for up to 3.9 years since treatment has been completed. Post-treatment biopsies showed remarkable improvement, with virtually no glomerulosclerosis even in patients who had had a high incidence of glomerular crescents before treatment. It is suggested that the therapeutic regimen favorably influenced the natural history of disease and that plasma fibrinogen chromatographic findings may be helpful in selecting patients likely to benefit from the use of anticoagulant therapy.

  14. Canine serum protein patterns using high-resolution electrophoresis (HRE).

    PubMed

    Abate, O; Zanatta, R; Malisano, T; Dotta, U

    2000-03-01

    Serum protein values were determined in 26 healthy dogs using agarose gel electrophoresis (SPE), splitting the electrophoretic separation into six regions: albumin, alpha(1), alpha(2), beta(1), beta(2)and gamma globulins. High-resolution electrophoresis (HRE) was used to separate single proteins. Serum proteins from dogs (26 healthy and 20 affected by various diseases) were then characterized by electrophoretic immunofixation (IFE) and Sudan black staining on HRE film. Haemoglobin and normal canine plasma and serum were used to identify haptoglobin and fibrinogen, respectively. In the standard pattern, determined by HRE, the following proteins were identified: albumin, alpha(1)-lipoprotein (alpha(1)-region), haptoglobin and alpha(2)-macroglobulin (alpha(2)-region), beta -lipoprotein and C3 (beta(1)-region), transferrin and IgM (beta(2)-region), IgG (mostly in gamma -region and partly in beta(2)-region). The HRE pattern shown by healthy dogs could be compared with those of dogs affected by various diseases to obtain clinical information. Copyright 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.

  15. Sustained high βN plasmas on EAST tokamak

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gao, Xiang; the EAST team

    2018-05-01

    Sustained high normalized beta (βN ∼ 1.9) plasmas with an ITER-like tungsten divertor have been achieved on EAST tokamak recently. The high power NBI heating system of 4.8 MW and the 4.6 GHz lower hybrid wave of 1 MW were developed and applied to produce edge and internal transport barriers in high βN discharges. The central flat q profile with q (ρ) ∼ 1 at ρ < 0.3 region and edge safety factor q95 = 4.7 is identified by the multi-channel far-infrared laser polarimeter and the EFIT code. The fraction of non-inductive current is about 40%. The relation between fishbone activity and ITB formation is observed and discussed.

  16. Scaffold permeability as a means to determine fiber diameter and pore size of electrospun fibrinogen.

    PubMed

    Sell, Scott; Barnes, Catherine; Simpson, David; Bowlin, Gary

    2008-04-01

    The purpose of this study was to construct a flowmeter that could accurately measure the hydraulic permeability of electrospun fibrinogen scaffolds, providing insight into the transport properties of electrospun scaffolds while making the measurement of their topographical features (fiber diameter and pore size) more accurate. Three different concentrations of fibrinogen were used (100, 120, and 150 mg/mL) to create scaffolds with three different fiber diameters and pore sizes. The fiber diameters and pore sizes of the electrospun scaffolds were first analyzed with scanning electron microscopy and image analysis software. The permeability of each scaffold was measured with the flowmeter and used to calculate permeability-based fiber diameters and pore sizes, which were compared to values obtained through image analysis. Permeability measurement revealed scaffold permeability to increase with fibrinogen concentration, much like average fiber diameter and pore size. Comparison between the two measurement methods demonstrated the efficacy of the flowmeter as a way to measure scaffold features. Copyright 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  17. Fibrinogen-Related Proteins in Tissue Repair: How a Unique Domain with a Common Structure Controls Diverse Aspects of Wound Healing.

    PubMed

    Zuliani-Alvarez, Lorena; Midwood, Kim S

    2015-05-01

    Significance: Fibrinogen-related proteins (FRePs) comprise an intriguing collection of extracellular molecules, each containing a conserved fibrinogen-like globe (FBG). This group includes the eponymous fibrinogen as well as the tenascin, angiopoietin, and ficolin families. Many of these proteins are upregulated during tissue repair and exhibit diverse roles during wound healing. Recent Advances: An increasing body of evidence highlights the specific expression of a number of FRePs following tissue injury and infection. Upon induction, each FReP uses its FBG domain to mediate quite distinct effects that contribute to different stages of tissue repair, such as driving coagulation, pathogen detection, inflammation, angiogenesis, and tissue remodeling. Critical Issues: Despite a high degree of homology among FRePs, each contains unique sequences that enable their diversification of function. Comparative analysis of the structure and function of FRePs and precise mapping of regions that interact with a variety of ligands has started to reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms by which these proteins play very different roles using their common domain. Future Directions: Fibrinogen has long been used in the clinic as a synthetic matrix serving as a scaffold or a delivery system to aid tissue repair. Novel therapeutic strategies are now emerging that harness the use of other FRePs to improve wound healing outcomes. As we learn more about the underlying mechanisms by which each FReP contributes to the repair response, specific blockade, or indeed potentiation, of their function offers real potential to enable regulation of distinct processes during pathological wound healing.

  18. A study of the effect of oral glucose loading on plasma oxidant:antioxidant balance in normal subjects.

    PubMed

    Ma, Shuk-Woon; Tomlinson, Brian; Benzie, Iris F F

    2005-06-01

    Antioxidant defence has been reported to decrease, and oxidative stress to increase, after oral glucose loading in both normal and diabetic subjects. If confirmed in normal subjects, glucose-induced antioxidant depletion has important implications for health in relation to the modern, sugar-rich diet. To investigate changes in plasma biomarkers of oxidant:antioxidant balance in non-diabetic subjects following oral glucose loading. Baseline inter-relationships between biomarkers of glycaemic control, oxidant:antioxidant balance and inflammation were also explored. A single-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover intervention trial involving 10 healthy, consenting subjects. Venous blood was collected after ingestion of 75 g glucose in 300 mL water, or of water alone. Blood was collected at 0 time (fasting) and 30, 60, 90, 120 min post-ingestion. Within 2 weeks the procedure was repeated with volunteers crossed-over onto the other treatment. Plasma total antioxidant capacity (as the FRAP value), ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, uric acid, malondialdehyde (MDA), allantoin and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), glucose and insulin, were measured in all samples. Paired results post-glucose and post-water at each time interval were compared using the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test. Normal glucose tolerance was observed in all subjects, although, as expected, plasma glucose and insulin increased significantly (p < 0.05, n = 10) after glucose loading. Post-glucose responses in plasma FRAP and the individual antioxidants tested were not significantly different to the responses seen post-water, although both FRAP and alpha-tocopherol decreased slightly. Neither were post-glucose changes in plasma MDA and allantoin, putative biomarkers of oxidative stress, significantly different to those after intake of water alone. Plasma FRAP and alpha-tocopherol also decreased slightly, but not significantly, after intake of water. A significant direct correlation (r = 0

  19. COMMERCIAL EXTRACT FROM ARONIA AS A MODULATOR OF ADHESIVE PROPERTIES OF FIBRINOGEN TREATED WITH HOMOCYSTEINE AND ITS THIOLACTONE IN VITRO.

    PubMed

    Olas, Beata; Kontek, Bogdan; Oleszek, Wieslaw; Stochmal, Anna

    2016-11-01

    Research has confirmed the positive effect of berries of Aivnia melanocarpa on the cardiovascular system. The protective effects of polyphenol-rich extract from berries of A. melanocarpa against changes in biological properties of fibrinogen were studied. In in vino model of hyperhomocysteinemia the capability of fibrinogen to interact with human blood platelets was measured by platelet adhesion in the presence of extract fromA. nelanocapa. We induced hyperhomocystenemia using a reduced form of homocysteine (Hey, at a final concentration of 0.01. 0.1 and 1 μM) and the most reactive form of Hey - its cyclic thioester, homocysteine thiolactone (HTL, at a final concentration of 0.1, 0.5 and I μM). It was observed that Hey or HTL-treated fibrinogen, in comparison with untreated molecule, had a distinct capability to mediate blood platelet adhesion. The experiments also indicate that polyphenol-rich extract from black chokeberries (at final concentrations of 2.5-10 pM/mL) reduced the toxic action of Hey and HTL on the adhesive properties of fibrinogen. The possible protection exerted by black chokeberry extract, through restoring the platelet adhesion of Hey or HTL treated fibrinogen, may be important for vascular diseases.

  20. Keyhole and weld shapes for plasma arc welding under normal and zero gravity

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Keanini, R. G.; Rubinsky, B.

    1990-01-01

    A first order study of the interfacial (keyhole) shape between a penetrating argon plasma arc jet and a stationary liquid metal weld pool is presented. The interface is determined using the Young-Laplace equation by assuming that the plasma jet behaves as a one-dimensional ideal gas flow and by neglecting flow within the weld pool. The solution for the keyhole shape allows an approximate determination of the liquid-solid metal phase boundary location based on the assumption that the liquid melt is a stagnant thermal boundary layer. Parametric studies examine the effect of plasma mass flow rate, initial plasma enthalpy, liquid metal surface tension, and jet shear on weldment shape under both normal and zero gravity. Among the more important findings of this study is that keyhole and weld geometries are minimally affected by gravity, suggesting that data gathered under gravity can be used in planning in-space welding.

  1. Transport and stability analyses supporting disruption prediction in high beta KSTAR plasmas

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ahn, J.-H.; Sabbagh, S. A.; Park, Y. S.; Berkery, J. W.; Jiang, Y.; Riquezes, J.; Lee, H. H.; Terzolo, L.; Scott, S. D.; Wang, Z.; Glasser, A. H.

    2017-10-01

    KSTAR plasmas have reached high stability parameters in dedicated experiments, with normalized beta βN exceeding 4.3 at relatively low plasma internal inductance li (βN/li>6). Transport and stability analyses have begun on these plasmas to best understand a disruption-free path toward the design target of βN = 5 while aiming to maximize the non-inductive fraction of these plasmas. Initial analysis using the TRANSP code indicates that the non-inductive current fraction in these plasmas has exceeded 50 percent. The advent of KSTAR kinetic equilibrium reconstructions now allows more accurate computation of the MHD stability of these plasmas. Attention is placed on code validation of mode stability using the PEST-3 and resistive DCON codes. Initial evaluation of these analyses for disruption prediction is made using the disruption event characterization and forecasting (DECAF) code. The present global mode kinetic stability model in DECAF developed for low aspect ratio plasmas is evaluated to determine modifications required for successful disruption prediction of KSTAR plasmas. Work supported by U.S. DoE under contract DE-SC0016614.

  2. The effect of mucin, fibrinogen and IgG on the corrosion behaviour of Ni-Ti alloy and stainless steel.

    PubMed

    Chao, Zhang; Yaomu, Xiao; Chufeng, Liu; Conghua, Liu

    2017-06-01

    In this study, Ni-Ti alloy and stainless steal were exposed to artificial saliva containing fibrinogen, IgG or mucin, and the resultant corrosion behavior was studied. The purpose was to determine the mechanisms by which different types of protein contribute to corrosion. The effect of different proteins on the electrochemical resistance of Ni-Ti and SS was tested by potentiodynamic polarization, and the repair capacity of passivation film was tested by cyclic polarization measurements. The dissolved corrosion products were determined by ICP-OES, and the surface was analyzed by SEM and AFM. The results showed fibrinogen, IgG or mucin could have different influences on the susceptibility to corrosion of the same alloy. Adding protein lead to the decrease of corrosion resistance of SS, whereas protein could slow down the corrosion process of Ni-Ti. For Ni-Ti, adding mucin could enhance the corrosion stability and repair capacity of passivation film. The susceptibility to pitting corrosion of Ni-Ti and stainless steal in fibrinogen AS is not as high as mucin and IgG AS. There are different patterns of deposition formation on the metal surface by different types of protein, which is associated with their effects on the corrosion process of the alloys.

  3. Evaluation of the ability of Streptococcus agalactiae strains isolated from genital and neonatal specimens to bind to human fibrinogen and correlation with characteristics of the fbsA and fbsB genes.

    PubMed

    Rosenau, Agnès; Martins, Karine; Amor, Souheila; Gannier, François; Lanotte, Philippe; van der Mee-Marquet, Nathalie; Mereghetti, Laurent; Quentin, Roland

    2007-03-01

    The ability of 111 Streptococcus agalactiae strains to bind to human fibrinogen was quantified. We correlated the percentages of bacteria that bound to immobilized fibrinogen with fibrinogen-binding (fbs) gene characteristics of strains and with clinical origin, serotypes, and phylogenetic positions of strains. Percentages varied from 0.4 to 29.9%. Fifty-five strains (49.5%) had the fbsB gene sensu stricto described by Gutekunst et al. (Infect. Immun., 72:3495-3504, 2004), allowing adhesion to human fibrinogen, and all of the other strains had an fgag variant gene. Ninety strains (81.1%) had a fbsA gene and 55 of them also had the fbsB gene. The other 21 strains (18.9%) had a truncated form of fbsA without the fbsB gene sensu stricto. The numbers of 48-nucleotide repeat sequences (rs) in the fbsA gene varied from 2 to 26. The population of strains with the highest ability to bind to human fibrinogen significantly more frequently had the fbsB gene sensu stricto and 4 to 7 rs in the fbsA gene (P < 0.05). However, the single strain that carried the highest number of rs (26 rs) in the fbsA gene showed high fibrinogen-binding activity (24.3%). Strains exhibiting significantly higher levels of binding to human fibrinogen belonged to a phylogenetic group of strains associated with neonatal meningitis, currently known as the ST-17 clone, that is mostly composed of serotype III strains. These findings indicate that S. agalactiae strains possess a wide variety of fbs gene content that markedly influences the ability of strains to bind to human fibrinogen. Variations in the configuration and the expression of the Fbs proteins may therefore partly explain the variability of virulence in S. agalactiae species.

  4. Mild hypercholesterolemia, normal plasma triglycerides, and normal glucose levels across dementia staging in Alzheimer's disease: a clinical setting-based retrospective study.

    PubMed

    Ramdane, Said; Daoudi-Gueddah, Doria

    2011-08-01

    We examined retrospectively the concurrent relationships between fasting plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose levels, and Alzheimer's disease (AD), in a clinical setting-based study. Total cholesterol level was higher in patients with AD compared to elderly controls; triglycerides or glucose levels did not significantly differ between the 2 groups. Respective plotted trajectories of change in cholesterol level across age were fairly parallel. No significant difference in total cholesterol levels was recorded between patients with AD classified by the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) score subgroups. These results suggest that patients with AD have relative mild total hypercholesterolemia, normal triglyceridemia, and normal fasting plasma glucose level. Mild total hypercholesterolemia seems to be permanent across age, and across dementia severity staging, and fairly parallels the trajectory of age-related change in total cholesterolemia of healthy controls. We speculate that these biochemical parameters pattern may be present long before-a decade at least-the symptomatic onset of the disease.

  5. A comparative study of fibrinogen adsorption onto metal oxide thin films

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Silva-Bermudez, P.; Muhl, S.; Rodil, S. E.

    2013-10-01

    One of the first events occurring upon foreign material-biological medium contact is the adsorption of proteins, which evolution greatly determines the cells response to the material. Protein-surface interactions are a complex phenomenon driven by the physicochemical properties of the surface, protein(s) and liquid medium involve in the interaction. In this article the adsorption of fibrinogen (Fbg) onto Ta2O5, Nb2O5, TiO2 and ZrO2 thin films is reported. The adsorption kinetics and characteristics of the adsorbed fibrinogen layer were studied in situ using dynamic and spectroscopic ellipsometry. The films wettability, surface energy (γLW/AB) and roughness were characterized aiming to elucidate their correlations with Fbg adsorption. The adsorption rate changed accordingly to the film; the fastest adsorption rate and highest Fbg surface mass concentration (Γ) was observed on ZrO2. The hydrophobic/hydrophilic character of the oxide highly influenced Fbg adsorption. On Ta2O5, Nb2O5 and TiO2, which were either hydrophilic or in the breaking-point between hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity, Γ was correlated to the polar component of γLW/AB and roughness of the surface. On ZrO2, clearly hydrophobic, Γ increased significantly off the correlation observed for the other films. The results indicated different adsorption dynamics and orientations of the Fbg molecules dependent on the surface hydrophobic/hydrophilic character.

  6. Effects of Antiadhesion preparation on free fibrinogen and fibrin degrading products in abdominal exudates of rabbits postoperatively

    PubMed Central

    Wang, You-Li; Pan, Cheng-En; Yang, Ping-Lin; Tian, Yuan; Pei, Shu-Wen; Dong, Ming

    2004-01-01

    AIM: To observe effects of ACOL on fibrinogen (FIB), fibrin degrading products (FDP) and changes of FIB and FDP concentration in rabbits with intro-abdominal exudates during 7 d after major abdominal surgery. METHODS: Sixty New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups: ACOL group, the control group, DCT group and the normal group. After being modeled, except the normal group, the other 3 groups were treated with different ways for a week; the intro-abdominal exudates of rabbits in the 4 groups were drawn for FIB and FDP measurement once daily during 7 d after major abdominal surgery. RESULTS: FIB and FDP in the intro-abdominal exudates altered in a regular way and ACOL could change the concentration of FIB and FDP in the intra-abdominal exudates after major abdominal surgery. CONCLUSION: ACOL can prevent intestinal adhesion by reducing the concentration of FIB and raising that of FDP in the intro-abdominal exudates after major abdominal surgery. PMID:15309738

  7. Fibrinogen-like protein 1, a hepatocyte derived protein is an acute phase reactant

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Liu Zhilin; Ukomadu, Chinweike

    2008-01-25

    Fibrinogen-like protein 1 (FGL1) is a hepatocyte derived protein that is upregulated in regenerating rodent livers following partial hepatectomy. It has been implicated as a mitogen for liver cell proliferation. In this study, we show that recombinant human IL-6 induces FGL1 expression in Hep G2 cells in a pattern similar to those of acute phase reactants. Following induction of acute inflammation in rats by subcutaneous injection of turpentine oil, serum FGL1 levels are also enhanced. Although, a recent report suggests that FGL1 associates almost exclusively with the fibrin matrix, we report here that approximately 20% of the total plasma FGL1more » remains free. The enhancement of FGL1 levels in vitro by IL-6 and its induction after turpentine oil injection suggest that it is an acute phase reactant. Its presence in bound and free forms in the blood also implies biological roles that extend beyond the proposed autocrine effect it has on hepatocytes during regeneration.« less

  8. Multiple Magnetic Storm Study of the High-Altitude Redistribution of Equatorial Plasma

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bust, G. S.; Crowley, G.; Curtis, N.; Anderson, D.

    2008-12-01

    During geomagnetic storms, particularly when prompt penetration electric fields (PPE) occur, the equatorial plasma can be lifted to very high altitudes and then diffuse along magnetic field lines to higher than normal latitudes. During these cases very high plasma density (total electron content (TEC) greater than 200 TECU) can be found at these higher latitudes. Shortly after the PPE lifts the equatorial plasma to higher altitudes, at least in the US sector, phenomena known as storm-enhanced density (SED) can occur. SEDs occur in the post-noon time frame and consist of a very high density bulge that seems to occur in the southern USA and Caribbean region, followed by a narrow plume of high density plasma that flows into the high-latitude throat near local noon, and across the polar cap. An outstanding research question is: Exactly how is the high density SED plasma, particularly in the bulge related to the PPE and lifting of the equatorial plasma? Ionospheric imaging of electron density and TEC seem to show a gap in density between the poleward extent of the equatorial plasma and the equatorial extent of the SED plasma. Further, there are magnetic storm events where SEDs do not form (November 2004 as a good example). This paper will investigate the relationship between the equatorial high altitude plasma distribution during magnetic storms, and the initiation and evolution of the SED feature. We will examine eight separate storms from 2003-2006 using the ionospheric data assimilation algorithm IDA4D. In particular we will focus on time periods when LEO satellite GPS TEC data is available from CHAMP, SACC, GRACE and the COSMIC constellation (2006 and beyond). These data sets directly measure the TEC above the satellites, and therefore are good tracers of the high altitude plasma distribution. IDA4D ingests these data sets and uses them to get an improved image of the plasma density for the topside ionosphere and plasmasphere. The resulting 4D images of high

  9. Normalization of Patient-Identified Plasma Biomarkers in SMNΔ7 Mice following Postnatal SMN Restoration

    PubMed Central

    Arnold, W. David; Duque, Sandra; Iyer, Chitra C.; Zaworski, Phillip; McGovern, Vicki L.; Taylor, Shannon J.; von Herrmann, Katharine M.; Kobayashi, Dione T.; Chen, Karen S.; Kolb, Stephen J.; Paushkin, Sergey V.; Burghes, Arthur H. M.

    2016-01-01

    Introduction and Objective Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive motor neuron disorder. SMA is caused by homozygous loss of the SMN1 gene and retention of the SMN2 gene resulting in reduced levels of full length SMN protein that are insufficient for motor neuron function. Various treatments that restore levels of SMN are currently in clinical trials and biomarkers are needed to determine the response to treatment. Here, we sought to investigate in SMA mice a set of plasma analytes, previously identified in patients with SMA to correlate with motor function. The goal was to determine whether levels of plasma markers were altered in the SMNΔ7 mouse model of SMA and whether postnatal SMN restoration resulted in normalization of the biomarkers. Methods SMNΔ7 and control mice were treated with antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) targeting ISS-N1 to increase SMN protein from SMN2 or scramble ASO (sham treatment) via intracerebroventricular injection on postnatal day 1 (P1). Brain, spinal cord, quadriceps muscle, and liver were analyzed for SMN protein levels at P12 and P90. Ten plasma biomarkers (a subset of biomarkers in the SMA-MAP panel available for analysis in mice) were analyzed in plasma obtained at P12, P30, and P90. Results Of the eight plasma biomarkers assessed, 5 were significantly changed in sham treated SMNΔ7 mice compared to control mice and were normalized in SMNΔ7 mice treated with ASO. Conclusion This study defines a subset of the SMA-MAP plasma biomarker panel that is abnormal in the most commonly used mouse model of SMA. Furthermore, some of these markers are responsive to postnatal SMN restoration. These findings support continued clinical development of these potential prognostic and pharmacodynamic biomarkers. PMID:27907033

  10. Cold atmospheric plasma jet-generated RONS and their selective effects on normal and carcinoma cells

    PubMed Central

    Kim, Sun Ja; Chung, T. H.

    2016-01-01

    Cold atmospheric helium plasma jets were fabricated and utilized for plasma–cell interactions. The effect of operating parameters and jet design on the generation of specific reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) within cells and cellular response were investigated. It was found that plasma treatment induced the overproduction of RONS in various cancer cell lines selectively. The plasma under a relatively low applied voltage induced the detachment of cells, a reduction in cell viability, and apoptosis, while the plasma under higher applied voltage led to cellular necrosis in our case. To determine whether plasma-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation occurs through interfering with mitochondria-related cellular response, we examined the plasma effects on ROS generation in both parental A549 cells and A549 ρ0 cells. It was observed that cancer cells were more susceptible to plasma-induced RONS (especially nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2−) radicals) than normal cells, and consequently, plasma induced apoptotic cell responses mainly in cancer cells. PMID:26838306

  11. Regulation of plasma factor XIII levels in healthy individuals; a major impact by subunit B intron K c.1952+144 C>G polymorphism.

    PubMed

    Mezei, Zoltán A; Katona, Éva; Kállai, Judit; Bereczky, Zsuzsanna; Molnár, Éva; Kovács, Bettina; Ajzner, Éva; Bagoly, Zsuzsa; Miklós, Tünde; Muszbek, László

    2016-12-01

    The regulation of plasma factor XIII (FXIII) levels in healthy individuals has been only partially explored. The identification of major non-genetic and genetic regulatory factors might provide important information on the contribution of FXIII to the risk of cardio/cerebrovascular diseases. To determine the effect of age, smoking, BMI, fibrinogen concentration on plasma FXIII activity, complex FXIII antigen (FXIII-A 2 B 2 ) and total FXIII-B subunit (tFXIII-B) level, to correlate FXIII-B level with the other two FXIII parameters and to assess the variation of FXIII levels in carriers of major FXIII subunit polymorphisms. 268 healthy individuals were enrolled in the study. FXIII activity was measured by the ammonia release assay; FXIII-A 2 B 2 and tFXIII-B were determined by ELISAs. FXIII-A p.Val34Leu, FXIII-B p.His95Arg and FXIII-B intron K c.1952+144 C>G polymorphisms were identified by RT-PCR using melting point analysis with fluorescence resonance energy transfer detection. All investigated FXIII parameters showed significant positive correlation with age and fibrinogen level; gender and BMI influenced only tFXIII-B. A highly significant positive correlation was demonstrated between tFXIII-B and the other FXIII parameters. FXIII-A p.Val34Leu polymorphism had only slight, if any effect on FXIII levels. The FXIII-B Arg95 allele moderately increased all three FXIII parameters, but the effect became statistically significant only after adjustment. The FXIII-B intron K G allele drastically decreased FXIII levels, and it seemed to be in synergism with the FXIII-A Leu34 allele. Plasma FXIII levels are subjected to multifactorial regulation, in which age, fibrinogen level and FXIII-B intron K polymorphism are major determinants. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  12. Normal Hemostatic Profiles and Coagulation Factors in Healthy Free-Living Florida Manatees ( Trichechus manatus latirostris).

    PubMed

    Barratclough, Ashley; Floyd, Ruth Francis; Conner, Bobbi; Reep, Roger; Ball, Ray; Stacy, Nicole

    2016-10-01

    Hemostatic disorders presumptively play an important role in the pathophysiology of several important disease conditions in the Florida manatee ( Trichechus manatus latirostris). Prior to pursuing such clinical implications, it is essential to establish normal hemostatic profiles in clinically healthy animals. During annual health assessments of free-living manatees organized by the US Geological Survey, blood samples were collected from 12 healthy animals from the Atlantic coast and 28 from the Gulf of Mexico coast of Florida, with body lengths of 210-324 cm. The following analyses were performed on citrated plasma: prothrombin (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), and concentrations of fibrinogen, D-dimers, and coagulation factors VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, and XII. Compared to other mammalian species, manatees had short PT (9.2±1.5 s) and PTT (10.7±0.5 s), fibrinogen was 369±78.7 mg/dL, antithrombin III was 132±11%, and D-dimer was 142±122 ng/mL. Baseline concentrations for the listed coagulation factors were established. When comparing coagulation factors between locations, Atlantic coast manatees had significantly higher factors VIII, IX, and X than did Gulf Coast manatees. This finding may reflect differences in water salinity, diet, or genetics. There were no differences in coagulation factors when among sexes and sizes. These baselines for hemostatic profiles and coagulation factors in healthy free-living manatees lay the foundation for diagnosis and future research of hemostatic disorders and contribute to understanding their role in the pathophysiology of manatees affected by various diseases.

  13. Influence of Ficoll on urea induced denaturation of fibrinogen

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sankaranarayanan, Kamatchi; Meenakshisundaram, N.

    2016-03-01

    Ficoll is a neutral, highly branched polymer used as a molecular crowder in the study of proteins. Ficoll is also part of Ficoll-Paque used in biology laboratories to separate blood to its components (erythrocytes, leukocytes etc.,). Role of Ficoll in the urea induced denaturation of protein Fibrinogen (Fg) has been analyzed using fluorescence, circular dichroism, molecular docking and interfacial studies. Fluorescence studies show that Ficoll prevents quenching of Fg in the presence of urea. From the circular dichroism spectra, Fg shows conformational transition to random coil with urea of 6 M concentration. Ficoll helps to shift this denaturation concentration to 8 M and thus constraints by shielding Fg during the process. Molecular docking studies indicate that Ficoll interacts favorably with the protein than urea. The surface tension and shear viscosity analysis shows clearly that the protein is shielded by Ficoll.

  14. Acute phase response and plasma carotenoid concentrations in older women: findings from the nun study.

    PubMed

    Boosalis, M G; Snowdon, D A; Tully, C L; Gross, M D

    1996-01-01

    This cross-sectional study investigated whether the acute phase response was associated with suppressed circulating levels of antioxidants in a population of 85 Catholic sisters (nuns) ages 77-99 y. Fasting blood was drawn to determine the presence of an acute phase response, as defined by an elevation in the serum concentration of C-reactive protein. Serum concentrations of albumin, thyroxine-binding prealbumin, zinc, copper, and fibrinogen were determined as were plasma concentrations of carotenoids and alpha tocopherol. Results showed that the presence of an acute phase response was associated with (1) an expected significant decrease in the serum concentrations of albumin (p < 0.001) and thyroxine-binding prealbumin (p < 0.001); (2) an expected significant increase in copper (p < 0.001) and fibrinogen (p = 0.003); and (3) a significant decrease in the plasma concentrations of lycopene (p = 0.03), alpha carotene (p = 0.02), beta carotene (p = 0.02), and total carotenoids (p = 0.01). The acute phase response was associated with decreased plasma levels of the antioxidants lycopene, alpha carotene, and beta carotene. This decrease in circulating antioxidants may further compromise antioxidant status and increase oxidative stress and damage in elders.

  15. Atmospheric pressure plasma jet with high-voltage power supply based on piezoelectric transformer.

    PubMed

    Babij, Michał; Kowalski, Zbigniew W; Nitsch, Karol; Silberring, Jerzy; Gotszalk, Teodor

    2014-05-01

    The dielectric barrier discharge plasma jet, an example of the nonthermal atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ), generates low-temperature plasmas that are suitable for the atomization of volatile species and can also be served as an ionization source for ambient mass and ion mobility spectrometry. A new design of APPJ for mass spectrometry has been built in our group. In these plasma sources magnetic transformers (MTs) and inductors are typically used in power supplies but they present several drawbacks that are even more evident when dealing with high-voltage normally used in APPJs. To overcome these disadvantages, high frequency generators with the absence of MT are proposed in the literature. However, in the case of miniaturized APPJs these conventional power converters, built of ferromagnetic cores and inductors or by means of LC resonant tank circuits, are not so useful as piezoelectric transformer (PT) based power converters due to bulky components and small efficiency. We made and examined a novel atmospheric pressure plasma jet with PT supplier served as ionization source for ambient mass spectrometry, and especially mobile spectrometry where miniaturization, integration of components, and clean plasma are required. The objective of this paper is to describe the concept, design, and implementation of this miniaturized piezoelectric transformer-based atmospheric pressure plasma jet.

  16. Plasma-deposited tetraglyme surfaces greatly reduce total blood protein adsorption, contact activation, platelet adhesion, platelet procoagulant activity, and in vitro thrombus deposition.

    PubMed

    Cao, Lan; Chang, Mark; Lee, Chi-Ying; Castner, David G; Sukavaneshvar, Sivaprasad; Ratner, Buddy D; Horbett, Thomas A

    2007-06-15

    The ability of tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether (tetraglyme) plasma deposited coatings exhibiting ultralow fibrinogen adsorption to reduce blood activation was studied with six in vitro methods, namely fibrinogen and von Willebrand's factor adsorption, total protein adsorption, clotting time in recalcified plasma, platelet adhesion and procoagulant activity, and whole blood thrombosis in a disturbed flow catheter model. Surface plasmon resonance results showed that tetraglyme surfaces strongly resisted the adsorption of all proteins from human plasma. The clotting time in the presence of tetraglyme surfaces was lengthened compared with controls, indicating a lower activation of the intrinsic coagulation cascade. Platelet adhesion and thrombin generation by adherent platelets were greatly reduced on tetraglyme-coated materials, compared with uncoated and Biospan-coated glass slides. In the in vitro disturbed blood flow model, tetraglyme plasma coated catheters had 50% less thrombus than did the uncoated catheters. Tetraglyme-coated materials thus had greatly reduced blood interactions as measured with all six methods. The improved blood compatibility of plasma-deposited tetraglyme is thus not only due to their reduced platelet adhesion and activation, but also to a generalized reduction in blood interactions. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  17. Investigation of temporal-resolved emission spectra of highly charged Al ions from laser-produced plasmas

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Su, M. G., E-mail: sumg@nwnu.edu.cn; Sun, D. X.; Dong, C. Z.

    2016-03-15

    Temporal evolution of extreme ultraviolet emission from laser-produced aluminum (Al) plasma has been experimentally and theoretically investigated. Al plasmas have been measured by using the temporal-spatially resolved laser-produced plasma technique. The emission lines can be identified from 2p-3s, 3d, 4s, 4d, 5d transition lines from Al{sup 3+} to Al{sup 6+} ions. In order to quickly diagnose the plasma, the assumptions of a normalized Boltzmann distribution among the excited states and a steady-state collisional-radiative model are used to estimate the values of electron temperature and electron density in plasma. We succeeded in reproducing the simulated spectra related to the different timemore » delays, which are in good agreement with experiments. Temporal evolution behavior of highly charged Al ions in plasma has been analyzed, and the exponential decay about electron temperature and electron density has been obtained. The results indicate that the temporal-spatially resolved measurement is essential for accurate understanding of evolution behavior of highly charged ions in laser-produced plasmas.« less

  18. Acquired dysfibrinogenemia secondary to multiple myeloma.

    PubMed

    Kotlín, Roman; Sobotková, Alzbeta; Riedel, Tomás; Salaj, Peter; Suttnar, Jirí; Reicheltová, Zuzana; Májek, Pavel; Khaznadar, Tarek; Dyr, Jan E

    2008-01-01

    Abnormal coagulation properties indicative of a dysfibrinogen were found in the plasma of a 72-year-old male with multiple myeloma (IgGkappa, stage IIIA). The patient had high paraprotein concentration (85.75 g/l) and prolonged thrombin time (76.8 s), activated partial thromboplastin time (39.5 s), prothrombin time (23.5 s) and reptilase time (72.0 s). The fibrinogen level was increased. The fibrin polymerization induced by both thrombin and reptilase was impaired. Scanning electron microscopy revealed abnormal clot morphology. After six months of treatment, the paraprotein level decreased (19.48 g/l) and coagulation normalized as well as fibrin polymerization and fibrin clot morphology. It was found that the paraprotein interacts with the gamma-chain of fibrinogen. Acquired dysfibrinogenemia associated with multiple myeloma was diagnosed in the 72-year-old patient.

  19. Immobilization of biomolecules to plasma polymerized pentafluorophenyl methacrylate.

    PubMed

    Duque, Luis; Menges, Bernhard; Borros, Salvador; Förch, Renate

    2010-10-11

    Thin films of plasma polymerized pentafluorophenyl methacrylate (pp-PFM) offer highly reactive ester groups throughout the structure of the film that allow for subsequent reactions with different aminated reagents and biological molecules. The present paper follows on from previous work on the plasma deposition of pentafluorophenyl methacrylate (PFM) for optimum functional group retention (Francesch, L.; Borros, S.; Knoll, W.; Foerch, R. Langmuir 2007, 23, 3927) and reactivity in aqueous solution (Duque, L.; Queralto, N.; Francesch, L.; Bumbu, G. G.; Borros, S.; Berger, R.; Förch, R. Plasma Process. Polym. 2010, accepted for publication) to investigate the binding of a biologically active peptide known to induce cellular adhesion (IKVAV) and of biochemically active proteins such as BSA and fibrinogen. Analyses of the films and of the immobilization of the biomolecules were carried out using infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The attachment of the biomolecules on pulsed plasma polymerized pentafluorophenyl methacrylate was monitored using surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy (SPR). SPR analysis confirmed the presence of immobilized biomolecules on the plasma polymer and was used to determine the mass coverage of the peptide and proteins adsorbed onto the films. The combined analysis of the surfaces suggests the covalent binding of the peptide and proteins to the surface of the pp-PFM.

  20. Detection of Nisin and Fibrinogen Adsorption on Poly(ethylene Oxide) Coated Polyurethane Surfaces by Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (TOF-SIMS)

    PubMed Central

    Schilke, Karl F.; McGuire, Joseph

    2011-01-01

    Stable, pendant polyethylene oxide (PEO) layers were formed on medical-grade Pellethane® and Tygon® polyurethane surfaces, by adsorption and gamma-irradiation of PEO-polybutadiene-PEO triblock surfactants. Coated and uncoated polyurethanes were challenged individually or sequentially with nisin (a small polypeptide with antimicrobial activity) and/or fibrinogen, and then analyzed with time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS). Data reduction by robust principal components analysis (PCA) allowed detection of outliers, and distinguished adsorbed nisin and fibrinogen. Fibrinogen-contacted surfaces, with or without nisin, were very similar on uncoated polymer surfaces, consistent with nearly complete displacement or coverage of previously-adsorbed nisin by fibrinogen. In contrast, nisin-loaded PEO layers remained essentially unchanged upon challenge with fibrinogen, suggesting that the adsorbed nisin is stabilized within the pendant PEO layer, while the peptide-loaded PEO layer retains its ability to repel large proteins. Coatings of PEO loaded with therapeutic polypeptides on medical polymers have the potential to be used to produce anti-fouling and biofunctional surfaces for implantable or blood-contacting devices. PMID:21440897

  1. Fibrinogen binding sites P336 and Y338 of clumping factor A are crucial for Staphylococcus aureus virulence.

    PubMed

    Josefsson, Elisabet; Higgins, Judy; Foster, Timothy J; Tarkowski, Andrej

    2008-05-21

    We have earlier shown that clumping factor A (ClfA), a fibrinogen binding surface protein of Staphylococcus aureus, is an important virulence factor in septic arthritis. When two amino acids in the ClfA molecule, P(336) and Y(338), were changed to serine and alanine, respectively, the fibrinogen binding property was lost. ClfAP(336)Y(338) mutants have been constructed in two virulent S. aureus strains Newman and LS-1. The aim of this study was to analyze if these two amino acids which are vital for the fibrinogen binding of ClfA are of importance for the ability of S. aureus to generate disease. Septic arthritis or sepsis were induced in mice by intravenous inoculation of bacteria. The clfAP(336)Y(338) mutant induced significantly less arthritis than the wild type strain, both with respect to severity and frequency. The mutant infected mice developed also a much milder systemic inflammation, measured as lower mortality, weight loss, bacterial growth in kidneys and lower IL-6 levels. The data were verified with a second mutant where clfAP(336) and Y(338) were changed to alanine and serine respectively. When sepsis was induced by a larger bacterial inoculum, the clfAP(336)Y(338) mutants induced significantly less septic death. Importantly, immunization with the recombinant A domain of ClfAP(336)SY(338)A mutant but not with recombinant ClfA, protected against septic death. Our data strongly suggest that the fibrinogen binding activity of ClfA is crucial for the ability of S. aureus to provoke disease manifestations, and that the vaccine potential of recombinant ClfA is improved by removing its ability to bind fibrinogen.

  2. Testosterone and acute stress are associated with fibrinogen and von Willebrand factor in African men: the SABPA study.

    PubMed

    Malan, Nicolaas T; von Känel, Roland; Schutte, Alta E; Huisman, Hugo W; Schutte, Rudolph; Smith, Wayne; Mels, Carina M; Kruger, Ruan; Meiring, Muriel; van Rooyen, Johannes M; Malan, Leoné

    2013-10-12

    Low testosterone, acute and chronic stress and hypercoagulation are all associated with hypertension and hypertension-related diseases. The interaction between these factors and future risk for coronary artery disease in Africans has not been fully elucidated. In this study, associations of testosterone, acute cardiovascular and coagulation stress responses with fibrinogen and von Willebrand factor in African and Caucasian men in a South African cohort were investigated. Cardiovascular variables were studied by means of beat-to-beat and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Fasting serum-, salivary testosterone and citrate coagulation markers were obtained from venous blood samples. Acute mental stress responses were evoked with the Stroop test. The African group demonstrated a higher cardiovascular risk compared to Caucasian men with elevated blood pressure, low-grade inflammation, chronic hyperglycemia (HbA1c), lower testosterone levels, and elevated von Willebrand factor (VWF) and fibrinogen levels. Blunted testosterone acute mental stress responses were demonstrated in African males. In multiple regression analyses, higher circulating levels of fibrinogen and VWF in Africans were associated with a low T environment (R(2) 0.24-0.28; p≤0.01), but only circulating fibrinogen in Caucasians. Regarding endothelial function, a low testosterone environment and a profile of augmented α-adrenergic acute mental stress responses (diastolic BP, D-dimer and testosterone) were associated with circulating VWF levels in Africans (Adj R(2) 0.24; p<0.05). An interdependence between acute mental stress, salivary testosterone, D-dimer and vascular responses existed in African males in their association with circulating VWF but no interdependence of the independent variables occurred with fibrinogen levels. © 2013.

  3. Seminal plasma proteome of electroejaculated Bos indicus bulls.

    PubMed

    Rego, J P A; Crisp, J M; Moura, A A; Nouwens, A S; Li, Y; Venus, B; Corbet, N J; Corbet, D H; Burns, B M; Boe-Hansen, G B; McGowan, M R

    2014-07-01

    The present study describes the seminal plasma proteome of Bos indicus bulls. Fifty-six, 24-month old Australian Brahman sires were evaluated and subjected to electroejaculation. Seminal plasma proteins were separated by 2-D SDS-PAGE and identified by mass spectrometry. The percentage of progressively motile and morphologically normal sperm of the bulls were 70.4 ± 2.3 and 64 ± 3.2%, respectively. A total of 108 spots were identified in the 2-D maps, corresponding to 46 proteins. Binder of sperm proteins accounted for 55.8% of all spots detected in the maps and spermadhesins comprised the second most abundant constituents. Other proteins of the Bos indicus seminal plasma include clusterin, albumin, transferrin, metalloproteinase inhibitor 2, osteopontin, epididymal secretory protein E1, apolipoprotein A-1, heat shock 70 kDa protein, glutathione peroxidase 3, cathelicidins, alpha-enolase, tripeptidyl-peptidase 1, zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein, plasma serine protease inhibitor, beta 2-microglobulin, proteasome subunit beta type-4, actin, cathepsins, nucleobinding-1, protein S100-A9, hemoglobin subunit alpha, cadherin-1, angiogenin-1, fibrinogen alpha and beta chain, ephirin-A1, protein DJ-1, serpin A3-7, alpha-2-macroglobulin, annexin A1, complement factor B, polymeric immunoglobulin receptor, seminal ribonuclease, ribonuclease-4, prostaglandin-H2 d-isomerase, platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase, and phosphoglycerate kinase 1. In conclusion, this work uniquely portrays the Bos indicus seminal fluid proteome, based on samples from a large set of animals representing the Brahman cattle of the tropical Northern Australia. Based on putative biochemical attributes, seminal proteins act during sperm maturation, protection, capacitation and fertilization. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  4. High Power Helicon Plasma Source for Plasma Processing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Prager, James; Ziemba, Timothy; Miller, Kenneth E.

    2015-09-01

    Eagle Harbor Technologies (EHT), Inc. is developing a high power helicon plasma source. The high power nature and pulsed neutral gas make this source unique compared to traditional helicon source. These properties produce a plasma flow along the magnetic field lines, and therefore allow the source to be decoupled from the reaction chamber. Neutral gas can be injected downstream, which allows for precision control of the ion-neutral ratio at the surface of the sample. Although operated at high power, the source has demonstrated very low impurity production. This source has applications to nanoparticle productions, surface modification, and ionized physical vapor deposition.

  5. Simulation of High-Beta Plasma Confinement

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Font, Gabriel; Welch, Dale; Mitchell, Robert; McGuire, Thomas

    2017-10-01

    The Lockheed Martin Compact Fusion Reactor concept utilizes magnetic cusps to confine the plasma. In order to minimize losses through the axial and ring cusps, the plasma is pushed to a high-beta state. Simulations were made of the plasma and magnetic field system in an effort to quantify particle confinement times and plasma behavior characteristics. Computations are carried out with LSP using implicit PIC methods. Simulations of different sub-scale geometries at high-Beta fusion conditions are used to determine particle loss scaling with reactor size, plasma conditions, and gyro radii. ©2017 Lockheed Martin Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

  6. The effects of normal current density and the plasma spatial structuring in argon DBDs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shkurenkov, I. A.; Mankelevich, Y. A.; Rakhimova, T. V.

    2011-01-01

    This paper presents the results of theoretical studies of high-pressure dielectric barrier discharges (DBD) in argon. Two different DBDs at the megahertz and the kilohertz power frequency range were simulated. The effect of normal current density was obtained in the numerical model for both types of the discharge. The discharge of megahertz range was uniform over the radius. The increase in the discharge current is accompanied by increase in the discharge area. The discharge of kilohertz range is not uniform over the radius. The concentric ring formation was observed during calculations. The increase in the discharge current occurs due to increase in the number of rings and as a result in the discharge area. The developed 2D model is able to describe only the first stage of the filament formation - the formation of concentric plasma rings. The filament formation starts at the edge of the current channel and spreads to its centre. Both the effect of normal current density and the filaments formation are caused by the nonstationarity at the current channel boundary.

  7. High Throughput Plasma Water Treatment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mujovic, Selman; Foster, John

    2016-10-01

    The troublesome emergence of new classes of micro-pollutants, such as pharmaceuticals and endocrine disruptors, poses challenges for conventional water treatment systems. In an effort to address these contaminants and to support water reuse in drought stricken regions, new technologies must be introduced. The interaction of water with plasma rapidly mineralizes organics by inducing advanced oxidation in addition to other chemical, physical and radiative processes. The primary barrier to the implementation of plasma-based water treatment is process volume scale up. In this work, we investigate a potentially scalable, high throughput plasma water reactor that utilizes a packed bed dielectric barrier-like geometry to maximize the plasma-water interface. Here, the water serves as the dielectric medium. High-speed imaging and emission spectroscopy are used to characterize the reactor discharges. Changes in methylene blue concentration and basic water parameters are mapped as a function of plasma treatment time. Experimental results are compared to electrostatic and plasma chemistry computations, which will provide insight into the reactor's operation so that efficiency can be assessed. Supported by NSF (CBET 1336375).

  8. Development of advanced high heat flux and plasma-facing materials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Linsmeier, Ch.; Rieth, M.; Aktaa, J.; Chikada, T.; Hoffmann, A.; Hoffmann, J.; Houben, A.; Kurishita, H.; Jin, X.; Li, M.; Litnovsky, A.; Matsuo, S.; von Müller, A.; Nikolic, V.; Palacios, T.; Pippan, R.; Qu, D.; Reiser, J.; Riesch, J.; Shikama, T.; Stieglitz, R.; Weber, T.; Wurster, S.; You, J.-H.; Zhou, Z.

    2017-09-01

    Plasma-facing materials and components in a fusion reactor are the interface between the plasma and the material part. The operational conditions in this environment are probably the most challenging parameters for any material: high power loads and large particle and neutron fluxes are simultaneously impinging at their surfaces. To realize fusion in a tokamak or stellarator reactor, given the proven geometries and technological solutions, requires an improvement of the thermo-mechanical capabilities of currently available materials. In its first part this article describes the requirements and needs for new, advanced materials for the plasma-facing components. Starting points are capabilities and limitations of tungsten-based alloys and structurally stabilized materials. Furthermore, material requirements from the fusion-specific loading scenarios of a divertor in a water-cooled configuration are described, defining directions for the material development. Finally, safety requirements for a fusion reactor with its specific accident scenarios and their potential environmental impact lead to the definition of inherently passive materials, avoiding release of radioactive material through intrinsic material properties. The second part of this article demonstrates current material development lines answering the fusion-specific requirements for high heat flux materials. New composite materials, in particular fiber-reinforced and laminated structures, as well as mechanically alloyed tungsten materials, allow the extension of the thermo-mechanical operation space towards regions of extreme steady-state and transient loads. Self-passivating tungsten alloys, demonstrating favorable tungsten-like plasma-wall interaction behavior under normal operation conditions, are an intrinsic solution to otherwise catastrophic consequences of loss-of-coolant and air ingress events in a fusion reactor. Permeation barrier layers avoid the escape of tritium into structural and cooling

  9. Amplification of a high-frequency electromagnetic wave by a relativistic plasma

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Yoon, Peter H.

    1990-01-01

    The amplification of a high-frequency transverse electromagnetic wave by a relativistic plasma component, via the synchrotron maser process, is studied. The background plasma that supports the transverse wave is considered to be cold, and the energetic component whose density is much smaller than that of the background component has a loss-cone feature in the perpendicular momentum space and a finite field-aligned drift speed. The ratio of the background plasma frequency squared to the electron gyrofrequency squared is taken to be sufficiently larger than unity. Such a parameter regime is relevant to many space and astrophysical situations. A detailed study of the amplification process is carried out over a wide range of physical parameters including the loss-cone index, the ratio of the electron mass energy to the temperature of the energetic component, the field-aligned drift speed, the normalized density, and the wave propagation angle.

  10. Atmospheric pressure plasma jet with high-voltage power supply based on piezoelectric transformer

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Babij, Michał; Kowalski, Zbigniew W., E-mail: zbigniew.w.kowalski@pwr.wroc.pl; Nitsch, Karol

    The dielectric barrier discharge plasma jet, an example of the nonthermal atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ), generates low-temperature plasmas that are suitable for the atomization of volatile species and can also be served as an ionization source for ambient mass and ion mobility spectrometry. A new design of APPJ for mass spectrometry has been built in our group. In these plasma sources magnetic transformers (MTs) and inductors are typically used in power supplies but they present several drawbacks that are even more evident when dealing with high-voltage normally used in APPJs. To overcome these disadvantages, high frequency generators with themore » absence of MT are proposed in the literature. However, in the case of miniaturized APPJs these conventional power converters, built of ferromagnetic cores and inductors or by means of LC resonant tank circuits, are not so useful as piezoelectric transformer (PT) based power converters due to bulky components and small efficiency. We made and examined a novel atmospheric pressure plasma jet with PT supplier served as ionization source for ambient mass spectrometry, and especially mobile spectrometry where miniaturization, integration of components, and clean plasma are required. The objective of this paper is to describe the concept, design, and implementation of this miniaturized piezoelectric transformer-based atmospheric pressure plasma jet.« less

  11. Isolated elliptically polarized attosecond soft X-ray with high-brilliance using polarization gating of harmonics from relativistic plasmas at oblique incidence.

    PubMed

    Chen, Zi-Yu; Li, Xiao-Ya; Li, Bo-Yuan; Chen, Min; Liu, Feng

    2018-02-19

    The production of intense isolated attosecond pulse is a major goal in ultrafast research. Recent advances in high harmonic generation from relativistic plasma mirrors under oblique incidence interactions gave rise to photon-rich attosecond pulses with circular or elliptical polarization. However, to achieve an isolated elliptical attosecond pulse via polarization gating using currently available long driving pulses remains a challenge, because polarization gating of high harmonics from relativistic plasmas is assumed only possible at normal or near-normal incidence. Here we numerically demonstrate a scheme around this problem. We show that via control of plasma dynamics by managing laser polarization, it is possible to gate an intense single attosecond pulse with high ellipticity extending to the soft X-ray regime at oblique incidence. This approach thus paves the way towards a powerful tool enabling high-time-resolution probe of dynamics of chiral systems and magnetic materials with current laser technology.

  12. Astrocytes Specifically Remove Surface-Adsorbed Fibrinogen and Locally Express Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans

    PubMed Central

    Hsiao, Tony W.; Swarup, Vimal P.; Kuberan, Balagurunathan; Tresco, Patrick A.; Hlady, Vladimir

    2013-01-01

    Surface-adsorbed fibrinogen (FBG) was recognized by adhering astrocytes and removed from the substrates in vitro by a two-phase removal process. The cells removed adsorbed FBG from binary proteins surface patterns (FBG + laminin, or FBG + albumin) while leaving the other protein behind. Astrocytes preferentially expressed chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) at the loci of fibrinogen stimuli; however no differences in overall CSPG production as a function of FBG surface coverage were identified. Removal of FBG by astrocytes was also found to be independent of transforming growth factor type β (TGF-β) receptor based signaling as cells maintained CSPG production in the presence of TGF-β receptor kinase inhibitor, SB 431542. The inhibitor decreased CSPG expression, but did not abolicsh it entirely. Because blood contact and subsequent FBG adsorption are unavoidable in neural implantations, the results indicate that implant-adsorbed FBG may contribute to reactive astrogliosis around the implant as astrocytes specifically recognize adsorbed FBG. PMID:23499985

  13. The effect of D-galactosamine on plasma protein synthesis by the perfused rat liver from turpentine-stimulated donors.

    PubMed Central

    Koj, A.; Dubin, A.

    1978-01-01

    D-galactosamine (100 mg) was added to the reconstituted blood during 4h perfusion of livers isolated either from control rats or those injected with turpentine 20 h or 5 h earlier. This dose of galactosamine administered 30 min before [3H]lysine significantly inhibited the incorporation of the label into liver proteins, and even more into plasma proteins, but albumin and acute-phase reactants (fibrinogen, seromucoid fraction, Concanavalin A-adsorbed glycoproteins) were all similarly affected. When galactosamine was administered in vivo simultaneously with turpentine, and the liver was isolated 5 h later, trauma-induced fibrinogen synthesis was selectively inhibited. This can be explained either by a differential control of synthesis of various acute-phase reactants, or by augmentation of catabolism of fibrinogen in galactosamine-treated rats. Crossed immunoelectrophoresis of the full perfusate or Concanavalin A-adsorbed glycoproteins did not reveal any significant effect of galactosamine on the protein pattern obtained from control or turpentine-stimulated liver donors. Images Fig. 1 PMID:718802

  14. Perioperative haemostatic management of haemophilic mice using normal mouse plasma.

    PubMed

    Tatsumi, K; Ohashi, K; Kanegae, K; Shim, I K; Okano, T

    2013-11-01

    Intense haemostatic interventions are required to avoid bleeding complications when surgical procedures are performed on haemophilia patients. The objective of this study was to establish an appropriate protocol for perioperative haemostatic management of haemophilic mice. We assessed the prophylactic haemostatic effects of normal mouse plasma (NMP) on haemophilia B (HB) mice for both a skin flap procedure and a laparotomy. When 500 μL of NMP was administered to the mice, plasma factor IX (FIX:C) levels peaked at 15.1% immediately after intravenous (IV) administration, at 6.1% 2 h after intraperitoneal (IP) administration and at 2.7% 6 h after subcutaneous administration. Administering 500 μL of NMP via IP or IV 30 min in advance enabled the skin flap procedure to be performed safely without any complications. After the laparotomy procedure, several mice in the IP administration group exhibited lethal bleeding, but all mice survived in the IV administration group. Anti-mouse FIX inhibitors did not develop, even after repetitive administrations of NMP. However, human FIX concentrates, especially plasma-derived concentrates, elicited the anti-human FIX inhibitors. The results show that administering 500 μL of NMP via IV or IP 30 min in advance enables surgical procedures to be safely performed on HB mice, and that IV administration is more desirable than IP if the procedure requires opening of the abdominal wall. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  15. Impact on hepatic estrogen-sensitive proteins by a 1-year contraceptive vaginal ring delivering Nestorone® and ethinyl estradiol.

    PubMed

    Archer, D F; Thomas, M A; Conard, J; Merkatz, R B; Creasy, G W; Roberts, K; Plagianos, M; Blithe, D; Sitruk-Ware, R

    2016-01-01

    Estrogen-sensitive hepatic proteins were assessed in women using a contraceptive vaginal ring (CVR) delivering 150mcg Nestorone® (NES) and 15mcg ethinyl estradiol (EE). A substudy of the Contraceptive Clinical Trials Network of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development enrolled 129 participants, with assessments of factor VIII, fibrinogen, protein S (PS) and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). Thirty-six participants had used combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs) in the cycle preceding first CVR use (recent users) and 70 had no history of recent use (nonusers). Mean values at baseline were within the normal range for all four proteins but were higher for factor VIII, fibrinogen and SHBG and significantly lower for PS in recent compared to nonusers. During NES/EE CVR use, factor VIII, fibrinogen and PS were within the normal range; however, SHBG levels were increased by nearly 100% at Cycle 13. The change from baseline to final evaluation was statistically significant for all proteins in nonusers. The change in recent users was significant for factor VIII at Cycle 6 and for SHBG at Cycles 6 and 13, but not for PS or fibrinogen. NES/EE CVR for up to 13cycles was associated with changes from baseline in plasma levels of factor VIII, fibrinogen and PS that were within the normal range, with SHBG levels above the normal range by Cycle 6. Nonusers of CHC before CVR showed wider changes in values versus recent users whose baseline values were increased by previous EE exposure. Recent use of CHCs demonstrated significant changes in all four measured hepatic proteins at baseline compared to nonusers. Use of the NES/EE CVR further changed these hepatic protein markers, but values remained within the normal range. Prebaseline exposure to estrogen can obscure interpretation of hepatic proteins changes associated with a second CHC. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  16. Extension of operational regime in high-temperature plasmas and effect of ECRH on ion thermal transport in the LHD

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Takahashi, H.; Nagaoka, K.; Murakami, S.; Osakabe, M.; Nakano, H.; Ida, K.; Tsujimura, T. I.; Kubo, S.; Kobayashi, T.; Tanaka, K.; Seki, R.; Takeiri, Y.; Yokoyama, M.; Maeta, S.; Nakata, M.; Yoshinuma, M.; Yamada, I.; Yasuhara, R.; Ido, T.; Shimizu, A.; Tsuchiya, H.; Tokuzawa, T.; Goto, M.; Oishi, T.; Morita, S.; Suzuki, C.; Emoto, M.; Tsumori, K.; Ikeda, K.; Kisaki, M.; Shimozuma, T.; Yoshimura, Y.; Igami, H.; Makino, R.; Seki, T.; Kasahara, H.; Saito, K.; Kamio, S.; Nagasaki, K.; Mutoh, T.; Kaneko, O.; Morisaki, T.; the LHD Experiment Group

    2017-08-01

    A simultaneous high ion temperature (T i) and high electron temperature (T e) regime was successfully extended due to an optimized heating scenario in the LHD. Such high-temperature plasmas were realized by the simultaneous formation of an electron internal transport barrier (ITB) and an ion ITB by the combination of high power NBI and ECRH. Although the ion thermal confinement was degraded in the plasma core with an increase of T e/T i by the on-axis ECRH, it was found that the ion thermal confinement was improved at the plasma edge. The normalized ion thermal diffusivity {χ\\text{i}}/T\\text{i}1.5 at the plasma edge was reduced by 70%. The improvement of the ion thermal confinement at the edge led to an increase in T i in the entire plasma region, even though the core transport was degraded.

  17. Acquired Dysfibrinogenemia Caused by Autoantibody Inhibiting Fibrin Polymerization in a Patient with MELAS Syndrome and Bleeding Tendency.

    PubMed

    Lee, Nuri; Kim, Ji-Eun; Yoo, Hyun Ju; Gu, JaYoon; Kim, Hyori; Chung, Junho; Koh, Youngil; Kim, Hyun Kyung

    2016-12-01

    We present a case of acquired dysfibrinogenemia caused by an autoantibody that inhibited fibrin polymerization in a patient previously diagnosed with MELAS (mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, stroke-like episodes). The patient showed prolonged PT, aPTT, and thrombin time. There was no factor deficiency but fibrinogen antigen and activity were decreased. ELISA for detection of fibrinogen antibodies were performed and IgG purified from the patient's plasma bound to fibrinogen more strongly than did control IgG, indicating the presence of a fibrinogen-specific antibody. Thrombin-mediated fibrin polymerization was severely impaired in the patient, although thrombin-induced fibrinopeptide A release was normal. Scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate the structure of fibrin clots and revealed many pores on the surface of patient's fibrin clots. Since MELAS is often associated with autoimmune disorders, a work-up for the presence of anti-fibrinogen antibody is necessary when bleeding tendency occurs in MELAS patients along with prolonged thrombin time. © 2016 by the Association of Clinical Scientists, Inc.

  18. Thiol oxidation and di-tyrosine formation in human plasma proteins induced by inflammatory concentrations of hypochlorous acid.

    PubMed

    Colombo, Graziano; Clerici, Marco; Altomare, Alessandra; Rusconi, Francesco; Giustarini, Daniela; Portinaro, Nicola; Garavaglia, Maria Lisa; Rossi, Ranieri; Dalle-Donne, Isabella; Milzani, Aldo

    2017-01-30

    In this study, we assessed the oxidative damage occurring in plasma proteins when human blood was exposed to inflammatory concentrations of hypochlorous acid (HOCl). We used specific thiol labelling and Western blot analyses to determine protein thiol oxidation, as well as analytical gel filtration HPLC coupled to fluorescence detection to explore formation of high molecular weight (HMW) protein aggregates. Thiol-containing proteins oxidized by HOCl were identified by redox proteomics. Mass spectrometry (MS) analysis was performed to elucidate the protein composition of HMW aggregates. α1-antitrypsin, transthyretin, and haptoglobin showed thiol oxidation at HOCl concentrations higher than those causing complete oxidation of albumin. At the highest HOCl concentrations, formation of carbonylated and di-tyrosine cross-linked HMW protein aggregates also occurred. MS analysis identified fibrinogen, complement C3 and apolipoprotein A-I as components of HMW protein aggregates. These results could be relevant for human diseases characterized by inflammatory conditions in which myeloperoxidase and HOCl are involved. In this study we evaluated the oxidative damage occurring on plasma proteins when reconstituted human blood was exposed to inflammatory concentrations of hypochlorous acid (HOCl). Pathophysiological concentrations of HOCl are able to induce different modifications on plasma proteins such as carbonylation, sulfhydryl oxidation and formation of high molecular weight (HMW) protein aggregates characterized by di-tyrosine fluorescence. There are two relevant aspects emerging from this paper. The first one consists on identifying low abundant proteins undergoing sulfhydryl oxidation by biotin-maleimide derivatization followed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. This approach suggests three low-abundant proteins undergoing HOCl-induced oxidation: transthyretin, α1-antitrypsin, and haptoglobin. In addition, we analysed HMW protein aggregates forming after HOCl exposure

  19. A rapid method for selecting suitable animal species for studying pathogen interactions with plasma protein ligands in vivo.

    PubMed

    Naudin, Clément; Schumski, Ariane; Salo-Ahen, Outi M H; Herwald, Heiko; Smeds, Emanuel

    2017-05-01

    Species tropism constitutes a serious problem for developing relevant animal models of infection. Human pathogens can express virulence factors that show specific selectivity to human proteins, while their affinity for orthologs from other species can vary significantly. Suitable animal species must be used to analyse whether virulence factors are potential targets for drug development. We developed an assay that rapidly predicts applicable animal species for studying virulence factors binding plasma proteins. We used two well-characterized Staphylococcus aureus proteins, SSL7 and Efb, to develop an ELISA-based inhibition assay using plasma from different animal species. The interaction between SSL7 and human C5 and the binding of Efb to human fibrinogen and human C3 was studied. Affinity experiments and Western blot analyses were used to validate the assay. Human, monkey and cat plasma interfered with binding of SSL7 to human C5. Binding of Efb to human fibrinogen was blocked in human, monkey, gerbil and pig plasma, while human, monkey, gerbil, rabbit, cat and guinea pig plasma inhibited the binding of Efb to human C3. These results emphasize the importance of choosing correct animal models, and thus, our approach is a rapid and cost-effective method that can be used to prevent unnecessary animal experiments. © 2017 The Authors. Microbial Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd and Society for Applied Microbiology.

  20. Platelet Rich Plasma and Knee Surgery

    PubMed Central

    Sánchez, Mikel; Sánchez, Pello; Orive, Gorka; Anitua, Eduardo; Padilla, Sabino

    2014-01-01

    In orthopaedic surgery and sports medicine, the knee joint has traditionally been considered the workhorse. The reconstruction of every damaged element in this joint is crucial in achieving the surgeon's goal to restore the knee function and prevent degeneration towards osteoarthritis. In the last fifteen years, the field of regenerative medicine is witnessing a boost of autologous blood-derived platelet rich plasma products (PRPs) application to effectively mimic and accelerate the tissue healing process. The scientific rationale behind PRPs is the delivery of growth factors, cytokines, and adhesive proteins present in platelets and plasma, as well as other biologically active proteins conveyed by the plasma such as fibrinogen, prothrombin, and fibronectin; with this biological engineering approach, new perspectives in knee surgery were opened. This work describes the use of PRP to construct and repair every single anatomical structure involved in knee surgery, detailing the process conducted in ligament, meniscal, and chondral surgery. PMID:25302310

  1. High-field plasma acceleration in a high-ionization-potential gas

    DOE PAGES

    Corde, S.; Adli, E.; Allen, J. M.; ...

    2016-06-17

    Plasma accelerators driven by particle beams are a very promising future accelerator technology as they can sustain high accelerating fields over long distances with high energy efficiency. They rely on the excitation of a plasma wave in the wake of a drive beam. To generate the plasma, a neutral gas can be field-ionized by the head of the drive beam, in which case the distance of acceleration and energy gain can be strongly limited by head erosion. In our research, we overcome this limit and demonstrate that electrons in the tail of a drive beam can be accelerated by upmore » to 27 GeV in a high-ionization-potential gas (argon), boosting their initial 20.35 GeV energy by 130%. Particle-in-cell simulations show that the argon plasma is sustaining very high electric fields, of ~150 GV m -1, over ~20 cm. Lastly, the results open new possibilities for the design of particle beam drivers and plasma sources.« less

  2. Plasma viscosity increase with progression of peripheral arterial atherosclerotic disease.

    PubMed

    Poredos, P; Zizek, B

    1996-03-01

    Increased blood and plasma viscosity has been described in patients with coronary and peripheral arterial disease. However, the relation of viscosity to the extent of arterial wall deterioration--the most important determinant of clinical manifestation and prognosis of the disease--is not well known. Therefore, the authors studied plasma viscosity as one of the major determinants of blood viscosity in patients with different stages of arterial disease of lower limbs (according to Fontaine) and its relation to the presence of some risk factors of atherosclerosis. The study encompassed four groups of subjects: 19 healthy volunteers (group A), 18 patients with intermittent claudication up to 200 m (stage II; group B), 15 patients with critical ischemia of lower limbs (stage III and IV; group C), and 16 patients with recanalization procedures on peripheral arteries. Venous blood samples were collected from an antecubital vein without stasis for the determination of plasma viscosity (with a rotational capillary microviscometer, PAAR), fibrinogen, total cholesterol, alpha-2-macroglobulin, and glucose concentrations. In patients with recanalization procedure local plasma viscosity was also determined from blood samples taken from a vein on the dorsum of the foot. Plasma viscosity was most significantly elevated in the patients with critical ischemia (1.78 mPa.sec) and was significantly higher than in the claudicants (1.68 mPa.sec), and the claudicants also had significantly higher viscosity than the controls (1.58 mPa.sec). In patients in whom a recanalization procedure was performed, no differences in systemic and local plasma viscosity were detected, neither before nor after recanalization of the diseased artery. In all groups plasma viscosity was correlated with fibrinogen concentration (r=0.70, P < 0.01) and total cholesterol concentration (r=0.24, P < 0.05), but in group C (critical ischemia) plasma viscosity was most closely linked to the concentration of alpha-2

  3. High current plasma electron emitter

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Fiksel, G.; Almagri, A.F.; Craig, D.

    1995-07-01

    A high current plasma electron emitter based on a miniature plasma source has been developed. The emitting plasma is created by a pulsed high current gas discharge. The electron emission current is 1 kA at 300 V at the pulse duration of 10 ms. The prototype injector described in this paper will be used for a 20 kA electrostatic current injection experiment in the Madison Symmetric Torus (MST) reversed-field pinch. The source will be replicated in order to attain this total current requirement. The source has a simple design and has proven very reliable in operation. A high emission current,more » small size (3.7 cm in diameter), and low impurity generation make the source suitable for a variety of fusion and technological applications.« less

  4. High-Energy Two-Stage Pulsed Plasma Thruster

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Markusic, Tom

    2003-01-01

    A high-energy (28 kJ per pulse) two-stage pulsed plasma thruster (MSFC PPT-1) has been constructed and tested. The motivation of this project is to develop a high power (approximately 500 kW), high specific impulse (approximately 10000 s), highly efficient (greater than 50%) thruster for use as primary propulsion in a high power nuclear electric propulsion system. PPT-1 was designed to overcome four negative characteristics which have detracted from the utility of pulsed plasma thrusters: poor electrical efficiency, poor propellant utilization efficiency, electrode erosion, and reliability issues associated with the use of high speed gas valves and high current switches. Traditional PPTs have been plagued with poor efficiency because they have not been operated in a plasma regime that fully exploits the potential benefits of pulsed plasma acceleration by electromagnetic forces. PPTs have generally been used to accelerate low-density plasmas with long current pulses. Operation of thrusters in this plasma regime allows for the development of certain undesirable particle-kinetic effects, such as Hall effect-induced current sheet canting. PPT-1 was designed to propel a highly collisional, dense plasma that has more fluid-like properties and, hence, is more effectively pushed by a magnetic field. The high-density plasma loading into the second stage of the accelerator is achieved through the use of a dense plasma injector (first stage). The injector produces a thermal plasma, derived from a molten lithium propellant feed system, which is subsequently accelerated by the second stage using mega-amp level currents, which eject the plasma at a speed on the order of 100 kilometers per second. Traditional PPTs also suffer from dynamic efficiency losses associated with snowplow loading of distributed neutral propellant. The twostage scheme used in PPT-I allows the propellant to be loaded in a manner which more closely approximates the optimal slug loading. Lithium propellant

  5. Effect of normalized plasma frequency on electron phase-space orbits in a free-electron laser

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ji, Yu-Pin; Wang, Shi-Jian; Xu, Jing-Yue; Xu, Yong-Gen; Liu, Xiao-Xu; Lu, Hong; Huang, Xiao-Li; Zhang, Shi-Chang

    2014-02-01

    Irregular phase-space orbits of the electrons are harmful to the electron-beam transport quality and hence deteriorate the performance of a free-electron laser (FEL). In previous literature, it was demonstrated that the irregularity of the electron phase-space orbits could be caused in several ways, such as varying the wiggler amplitude and inducing sidebands. Based on a Hamiltonian model with a set of self-consistent differential equations, it is shown in this paper that the electron-beam normalized plasma frequency functions not only couple the electron motion with the FEL wave, which results in the evolution of the FEL wave field and a possible power saturation at a large beam current, but also cause the irregularity of the electron phase-space orbits when the normalized plasma frequency has a sufficiently large value, even if the initial energy of the electron is equal to the synchronous energy or the FEL wave does not reach power saturation.

  6. Multi-gap high impedance plasma opening switch

    DOEpatents

    Mason, R.J.

    1996-10-22

    A high impedance plasma opening switch having an anode and a cathode and at least one additional electrode placed between the anode and cathode is disclosed. The presence of the additional electrodes leads to the creation of additional plasma gaps which are in series, increasing the net impedance of the switch. An equivalent effect can be obtained by using two or more conventional plasma switches with their plasma gaps wired in series. Higher impedance switches can provide high current and voltage to higher impedance loads such as plasma radiation sources. 12 figs.

  7. Multi-gap high impedance plasma opening switch

    DOEpatents

    Mason, Rodney J.

    1996-01-01

    A high impedance plasma opening switch having an anode and a cathode and at least one additional electrode placed between the anode and cathode. The presence of the additional electrodes leads to the creation of additional plasma gaps which are in series, increasing the net impedance of the switch. An equivalent effect can be obtained by using two or more conventional plasma switches with their plasma gaps wired in series. Higher impedance switches can provide high current and voltage to higher impedance loads such as plasma radiation sources.

  8. An additional bolus of rapid-acting insulin to normalise postprandial cardiovascular risk factors following a high-carbohydrate high-fat meal in patients with type 1 diabetes: A randomised controlled trial.

    PubMed

    Campbell, Matthew D; Walker, Mark; Ajjan, Ramzi A; Birch, Karen M; Gonzalez, Javier T; West, Daniel J

    2017-07-01

    To evaluate an additional rapid-acting insulin bolus on postprandial lipaemia, inflammation and pro-coagulation following high-carbohydrate high-fat feeding in people with type 1 diabetes. A total of 10 males with type 1 diabetes [HbA 1c 52.5 ± 5.9 mmol/mol (7.0% ± 0.5%)] underwent three conditions: (1) a low-fat (LF) meal with normal bolus insulin, (2), a high-fat (HF) meal with normal bolus insulin and (3) a high-fat meal with normal bolus insulin with an additional 30% insulin bolus administered 3-h post-meal (HFA). Meals had identical carbohydrate and protein content and bolus insulin dose determined by carbohydrate-counting. Blood was sampled periodically for 6-h post-meal and analysed for triglyceride, non-esterified-fatty acids, apolipoprotein B48, glucagon, tumour necrosis factor alpha, fibrinogen, human tissue factor activity and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. Continuous glucose monitoring captured interstitial glucose responses. Triglyceride concentrations following LF remained similar to baseline, whereas triglyceride levels following HF were significantly greater throughout the 6-h observation period. The additional insulin bolus (HFA) normalised triglyceride similarly to low fat 3-6 h following the meal. HF was associated with late postprandial elevations in tumour necrosis factor alpha, whereas LF and HFA was not. Fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and tissue factor pathway levels were similar between conditions. Additional bolus insulin 3 h following a high-carbohydrate high-fat meal prevents late rises in postprandial triglycerides and tumour necrosis factor alpha, thus improving cardiovascular risk profile.

  9. Adhesion of Blood Clots Can Be Enhanced When Copolymerized with a Macromer That Is Crosslinked by Coagulation Factor XIIIa.

    PubMed

    Chan, Karen Y T; Zhao, Chunyi; Siren, Erika M J; Chan, Jeanne C Y; Boschman, Jeffrey; Kastrup, Christian J

    2016-06-13

    The adhesion of blood clots to blood vessels, such as through the adhesion of fibrin, is essential in hemostasis. While numerous strategies for initiating clot formation and preventing clot lysis are being developed to create improved hemostatic agents, strategies for enhancing clot adhesion have not been widely explored. Here, we show that adhesion of blood clots can be increased by adding a previously characterized synthetic polymer that is crosslinked by coagulation factor XIIIa during clotting. Addition of the polymer to normal plasma increased the adhesive strength of clots by 2-fold. It also recovered the adhesive strength of nonadhesive fibrinogen-deficient whole blood clots from <0.06 kPa to 1.9 ± 0.14 kPa, which is similar to the adhesive strength of a fibrinogen-rich clot (1.8 ± 0.64 kPa). The polymer also enabled plasma clots to remain adhered under fibrinolytic conditions. By demonstrating that the adhesive strength of clots can be increased with a synthetic material, this provides a potential strategy for creating advanced hemostatic materials, such as treatments for fibrinogen deficiency in trauma-induced coagulopathy.

  10. The conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin: A brief history of some key events.

    PubMed

    Doolittle, Russell F

    2017-07-01

    The conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin is a process that has long fascinated an army of researchers. In this brief review some early break-through observations are noted and a few later unexpected results described. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  11. High-quality electron beams from beam-driven plasma accelerators by wakefield-induced ionization injection.

    PubMed

    Martinez de la Ossa, A; Grebenyuk, J; Mehrling, T; Schaper, L; Osterhoff, J

    2013-12-13

    We propose a new and simple strategy for controlled ionization-induced trapping of electrons in a beam-driven plasma accelerator. The presented method directly exploits electric wakefields to ionize electrons from a dopant gas and capture them into a well-defined volume of the accelerating and focusing wake phase, leading to high-quality witness bunches. This injection principle is explained by example of three-dimensional particle-in-cell calculations using the code OSIRIS. In these simulations a high-current-density electron-beam driver excites plasma waves in the blowout regime inside a fully ionized hydrogen plasma of density 5×10(17)cm-3. Within an embedded 100  μm long plasma column contaminated with neutral helium gas, the wakefields trigger ionization, trapping of a defined fraction of the released electrons, and subsequent acceleration. The hereby generated electron beam features a 1.5 kA peak current, 1.5  μm transverse normalized emittance, an uncorrelated energy spread of 0.3% on a GeV-energy scale, and few femtosecond bunch length.

  12. The monoclonal antibody that recognizes an epitope in the C-terminal region of the fibrinogen alpha-chain reacts with soluble fibrin and fibrin monomer generated by thrombin but not with those formed as plasmin degradation products.

    PubMed

    Suzuki, Akiko; Ebinuma, Hiroyuki; Matsuo, Masanao; Miyazaki, Osamu; Yago, Hirokazu

    2007-01-01

    The presence of soluble fibrin (SF) provides evidence of thrombin activation in the blood; therefore, SF is a useful marker for diagnosing blood coagulation diseases such as disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The antibody that specifically detects SF could be a useful tool for diagnosing thrombotic diseases. By using an acid-solubilized desAA-FM (fibrin monomer) as an immunogen, we developed a monoclonal antibody, namely J2-23, which specifically reacts with SF and FM. We examined the specificity of J2-23 by ELISA and immunoblotting and confirmed the reactivity of J2-23 with SF and FM by gel filtration. J2-23 specifically reacted with SF, but not with fibrinogen or plasmic fibrinogen-derived Fbg-X, Fbg-Y, Fbg-E, and D; thrombin-treated Fbn-X, Fbn-Y, and Fbn-E; and plasmic cross-linked fibrin (DD, XDP). The epitope recognized by J2-23 was located within the Aalpha 502-521 region on the C-terminal of the fibrinogen alpha-chain. The reactivity of J2-23 disappeared following the action of the fibrinolytic enzyme plasmin. Furthermore, J2-23 reacted not only with SF but also with FM in plasma from DIC patients. This indicated that J2-23 specifically detected coagulation without reflecting the plasmin action. We demonstrated the potential of J2-23 as a useful antibody for detecting SF for diagnosing blood coagulation.

  13. Plasma lipoproteins and the synthesis and turnover of plasma triglyceride in normal and genetically obese mice

    PubMed Central

    Salmon, D. Michael W.; Hems, Douglas A.

    1973-01-01

    1. Lipoproteins in the plasma of mice were characterized by agarose-gel chromatography and polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis: genetically obese (ob/ob) mice exhibited hyperlipoproteinaemia (compared with lean mice), largely owing to an increase in the concentration of cholesterol in high-density lipoprotein. Plasma concentrations of triglyceride and phospholipid were not markedly increased in genetically obese mice. 2. The formation of glycerolipids in liver and plasma was investigated with 14C-labelled precursors. The synthesis of hepatic triglyceride and phospholipid from glucose or palmitate was enhanced in ob/ob mice, compared with lean mice. The rate of entry of triglyceride into plasma, calculated from the time-course of incorporation of 14C from [14C]palmitate into plasma triglyceride, was increased in ob/ob mice (0.5μmol of fatty acid/min, compared with 0.2 in lean mice). 3. The removal from plasma of murine lipoprotein triglyceride-[14C]fatty acid was increased in ob/ob mice (half-time 2.2min, compared with 7.2min in lean mice). Similar results were obtained with an injected lipid emulsion (Intralipid). 4. From these measurements, estimates of the rates of turnover of plasma triglyceride in mice (fed on a mixed diet, female, 3 months old) are about 1.0μmol of fatty acid/min in ob/ob mice, and 0.25 in lean mice. 5. The major precursor of hepatic and plasma triglyceride in lean and ob/ob mice was calculated to be plasma free fatty acid. 6. These results are discussed, in connexion with the role of the liver in triglyceride metabolism in mice, especially in relation to genetic obesity. PMID:4360712

  14. The adhesion of blood platelets on fibrinogen surface: comparison of two biochemical microplate assays.

    PubMed

    Vanícková, Martina; Suttnar, Jirí; Dyr, Jan Evangelista

    2006-11-01

    The biocompatibility of materials is frequently assessed by blood platelet adhesion, since platelet adhesion plays a considerable role in blood interaction with artificial surfaces. Blood platelets adhesion is an essential event in haemostatic and thrombotic processes. The aim of this study was to simultaneously compare simple biochemical assays widely used for evaluation of platelet static adhesion based on the determination of enzymatic activity of either lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) or acid phosphatase (ACP) in lysates of adhered platelets. Adhesion of platelets from platelet-rich plasma and washed platelets activated by either ADP or thrombin on surfaces covered with fibrinogen and well defined fibrin was studied. The results demonstrated that the amounts of adhered platelets estimated by the LDH method were significantly lower as compared with the amount obtained by ACP method. LDH but not ACP release from platelets during adhesion was shown to take place. It suggests that the LDH method should be used rather as an assay of platelet integrity. The ACP method is much more suitable for quantitative determination of platelet adhesion especially in the development and evaluation of haemocompatibility of new biomaterials.

  15. Influence of insulin on beta-endorphin plasma levels in obese and normal weight subjects.

    PubMed

    Brunani, A; Pincelli, A I; Pasqualinotto, L; Tibaldi, A; Baldi, G; Scacchi, M; Fatti, L M; Cavagnini, F

    1996-08-01

    To establish the possible role of hyperinsulinemia in the elevation of plasma beta-endorphin (beta-EP) levels observed in obese patients after an oral glucose load. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp. Two groups of six (age: 22-39 y, BMI: 30-48 kg/m2) and eight obese men (age: 18-37 y, BMI: 35-45 kg/m2), respectively, and five normal weight healthy men (age: 22-30 y, BMI 22-23 kg/m2). Glucose, insulin and beta-EP levels at baseline and every 30 min until 180 min during the OGTT; glucose, insulin, C-peptide and beta-EP concentrations at baseline and in steady state condition (i.e. during the last 30 min of insulin infusion) in the euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp studies. In the six obese patients undergoing the OGTT a significant elevation of beta-EP plasma levels was observed between 60 and 90 min after glucose ingestion. In the clamp studies no significant differences in beta-EP plasma levels, blood glucose and serum insulin were observed between obese and normal weight subjects both at baseline and at steady state. A markedly diminished insulin sensitivity along with a lower inhibition of C-peptide during insulin infusion was observed in obese patients compared to control subjects. A rise in serum insulin levels unaccompanied by a concomitant increase in blood glucose concentration is unable to elicit a beta-EP response in obese patients.

  16. Physical activity opposes the age-related increase in skeletal muscle and plasma endothelin-1 levels and normalizes plasma endothelin-1 levels in individuals with essential hypertension.

    PubMed

    Nyberg, M; Mortensen, S P; Hellsten, Y

    2013-03-01

    Endothelin-1 has potent constrictor and proliferative activity in vascular smooth muscle, and essential hypertension and aging are associated with increased endothelin-1-mediated vasoconstrictor tone. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of physical activity, hypertension and age on endothelin-1 levels in plasma and skeletal muscle and endothelin receptors in skeletal muscle in human subjects. In study 1, normotensive (46 ± 1 years, n = 11) and hypertensive (47 ± 1 years, n = 10) subjects were studied before and after 8 weeks of aerobic exercise training. In study 2, young (23 ± 1 years, n = 8), older lifelong sedentary (66 ± 2 years, n = 8) and older lifelong endurance-trained (62 ± 2 years, n = 8) subjects were studied in a cross-sectional design. Skeletal muscle and plasma endothelin-1 levels were increased with age and plasma endothelin-1 levels were higher in hypertensive than normotensive individuals. Eight weeks of exercise training normalized plasma endothelin-1 levels in the hypertensive subjects and increased the protein expression of the ET(A) receptor in skeletal muscle of normotensive subjects. Similarly, individuals that had performed lifelong physical activity had similar plasma and muscle endothelin-1 levels as the young controls and had higher ET(A) receptor levels. Our findings suggest that aerobic exercise training opposes the age-related increase in skeletal muscle and plasma endothelin-1 levels and normalizes plasma endothelin-1 levels in individuals with essential hypertension. This effect may explain some of the beneficial effects of training on the cardiovascular system in older and hypertensive subjects. © 2012 The Authors Acta Physiologica © 2012 Scandinavian Physiological Society.

  17. Contribution of the Interaction of Streptococcus mutans Serotype k Strains with Fibrinogen to the Pathogenicity of Infective Endocarditis

    PubMed Central

    Nomura, Ryota; Otsugu, Masatoshi; Naka, Shuhei; Teramoto, Noboru; Kojima, Ayuchi; Muranaka, Yoshinori; Matsumoto-Nakano, Michiyo; Ooshima, Takashi

    2014-01-01

    Streptococcus mutans, a pathogen responsible for dental caries, is occasionally isolated from the blood of patients with bacteremia and infective endocarditis (IE). Our previous study demonstrated that serotype k-specific bacterial DNA is frequently detected in S. mutans-positive heart valve specimens extirpated from IE patients. However, the reason for this frequent detection remains unknown. In the present study, we analyzed the virulence of IE from S. mutans strains, focusing on the characterization of serotype k strains, most of which are positive for the 120-kDa cell surface collagen-binding protein Cbm and negative for the 190-kDa protein antigen (PA) known as SpaP, P1, antigen I/II, and other designations. Fibrinogen-binding assays were performed with 85 clinical strains classified by Cbm and PA expression levels. The Cbm+/PA− group strains had significantly higher fibrinogen-binding rates than the other groups. Analysis of platelet aggregation revealed that SA31, a Cbm+/PA− strain, induced an increased level of aggregation in the presence of fibrinogen, while negligible aggregation was induced by the Cbm-defective isogenic mutant SA31CBD. A rat IE model with an artificial impairment of the aortic valve created using a catheter showed that extirpated heart valves in the SA31 group displayed a prominent vegetation mass not seen in those in the SA31CBD group. These findings could explain why Cbm+/PA− strains are highly virulent and are related to the development of IE, and the findings could also explain the frequent detection of serotype k DNA in S. mutans-positive heart valve clinical specimens. PMID:25287921

  18. Contribution of the interaction of Streptococcus mutans serotype k strains with fibrinogen to the pathogenicity of infective endocarditis.

    PubMed

    Nomura, Ryota; Otsugu, Masatoshi; Naka, Shuhei; Teramoto, Noboru; Kojima, Ayuchi; Muranaka, Yoshinori; Matsumoto-Nakano, Michiyo; Ooshima, Takashi; Nakano, Kazuhiko

    2014-12-01

    Streptococcus mutans, a pathogen responsible for dental caries, is occasionally isolated from the blood of patients with bacteremia and infective endocarditis (IE). Our previous study demonstrated that serotype k-specific bacterial DNA is frequently detected in S. mutans-positive heart valve specimens extirpated from IE patients. However, the reason for this frequent detection remains unknown. In the present study, we analyzed the virulence of IE from S. mutans strains, focusing on the characterization of serotype k strains, most of which are positive for the 120-kDa cell surface collagen-binding protein Cbm and negative for the 190-kDa protein antigen (PA) known as SpaP, P1, antigen I/II, and other designations. Fibrinogen-binding assays were performed with 85 clinical strains classified by Cbm and PA expression levels. The Cbm(+)/PA(-) group strains had significantly higher fibrinogen-binding rates than the other groups. Analysis of platelet aggregation revealed that SA31, a Cbm(+)/PA(-) strain, induced an increased level of aggregation in the presence of fibrinogen, while negligible aggregation was induced by the Cbm-defective isogenic mutant SA31CBD. A rat IE model with an artificial impairment of the aortic valve created using a catheter showed that extirpated heart valves in the SA31 group displayed a prominent vegetation mass not seen in those in the SA31CBD group. These findings could explain why Cbm(+)/PA(-) strains are highly virulent and are related to the development of IE, and the findings could also explain the frequent detection of serotype k DNA in S. mutans-positive heart valve clinical specimens. Copyright © 2014, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

  19. High-Speed Imaging of Dusty Plasma Instabilities

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tawidian, H.; Couëdel, L.; Mikikian, M.; Lecas, T.; Boufendi, L.; Vallée, O.

    2011-11-01

    Dust particles in a plasma acquire negative charges by capturing electrons. If the dust particle density is high, a huge loss of free electrons can trigger unstable behaviors in the plasma. Several types of plasma behaviors are analyzed thanks to a high-speed camera like dust particle growth instabilities (DPGI) and a new phenomenon called plasma spheroids. These small plasma spheroids are about a few mm, have a slightly enhanced luminosity, and are observed in the vicinity of the electrodes. Different behaviors are identified for these spheroids like a rotational motion, or a chaotic regime (fast appearance and disappearance).

  20. The fibrinogen/CRP ratio as a new parameter for the diagnosis of disseminated intravascular coagulation in patients with HELLP syndrome and as a predictive factor for neonatal outcome.

    PubMed

    Windsperger, Karin; Lehner, Rainer

    2013-02-01

    The aim of this study was to determine if the fibrinogen/C-reactive protein (CRP) ratio could be used in obstetrics as a predictor for a disseminated intravascular coagulation. One hundred eleven patients with hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count syndrome at the Department of Obstetrics and Fetomaternal Medicine (General Hospital, Vienna, Austria) were selected and divided into 2 groups (overt disseminated intravascular coagulation, no overt disseminated intravascular coagulation). The classical parameters and the fibrinogen/CRP ratio were compared. The analysis was carried out using IBM SPSS statistical package (SPSS, Inc, Cary, NC). The fibrinogen/CRP ratio showed significant differences. The receiver-operating characteristic analysis showed for the ratio (area under the curve, 0.74) significantly better discriminative power than for fibrinogen (area under curve, 0.59). The odds ratio for the fibrinogen/CRP ratio was 7.04. Finally, significant correlations between the ratio and the neonatal outcome were found. We suggest the implementation of the fibrinogen/CRP ratio within patients with hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count syndrome as a diagnostic and prognostic factor for the occurrence of disseminated intravascular coagulation. Copyright © 2013 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. Effects on fibrinogen, fibrin, and blood coagulation of proteolytic extracts from fruits of Pseudananas macrodontes, Bromelia balansae, and B. hieronymi (Bromeliaceae) in comparison with bromelain.

    PubMed

    Errasti, María E; Prospitti, Anabela; Viana, Carolina A; Gonzalez, Mariana M; Ramos, Márcio V; Rotelli, Alejandra E; Caffini, Néstor O

    2016-06-01

    Extracts rich in cysteine proteases obtained from fruits of Pseudananas macrodontes (Pm), Bromelia balansae (Bb), and B. hieronymi (Bh) have previously shown an anti-inflammatory effect on animal models. Given the close relationship between hemostasis and inflammation, it is attractive to investigate therapeutic agents capable of modulating both systems. The aim of this work was to study the effect of Pm, Bb, and Bh on fibrin(ogen) and blood coagulation compared with stem bromelain (Bro). Action on fibrinogen was electrophoretically and spectrophotometrically evaluated, fibrinolytic activity was measured both electrophoretically and by the fibrin plate assay, and the effect on blood coagulation was studied by conventional coagulation tests (PT and APPT). All extracts showed the same proteolytic preference for fibrinogen subunits, that is Aα > Bβ, whereas γ was partially hydrolyzed by 100-fold concentration increase. Unlike Bro, cysteine proteases of Pm, Bb, and Bh increased absorbance at 540 nm of fibrinogen solution, suggesting thrombin-like activity, which was time-dependent and reached maximum values at lower concentration. All extracts showed the same proteolytic preference for fibrin subunits; however Pm, Bb, and Bh showed lower fibrinolytic activity than Bro at the assayed concentrations. Although Bb acted only as anticoagulant, Pm, Bh, and unexpectedly Bro showed dual action on blood coagulation: at low concentration showed procoagulant effect and at high concentration anticoagulant effect. Results reveal new plant species as potential sources of pharmacological agents for the treatment of a wide range of hemostatic disorders as well as to wound healing.

  2. Fibrinogen species as resolved by HPLC-SAXS data processing within the UltraScan Solution Modeler (US-SOMO) enhanced SAS module.

    PubMed

    Brookes, Emre; Pérez, Javier; Cardinali, Barbara; Profumo, Aldo; Vachette, Patrice; Rocco, Mattia

    2013-12-01

    Fibrinogen is a large heterogeneous aggregation/degradation-prone protein playing a central role in blood coagulation and associated pathologies, whose structure is not completely resolved. When a high-molecular-weight fraction was analyzed by size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography/small-angle X-ray scattering (HPLC-SAXS), several composite peaks were apparent and because of the stickiness of fibrinogen the analysis was complicated by severe capillary fouling. Novel SAS analysis tools developed as a part of the UltraScan Solution Modeler ( US-SOMO ; http://somo.uthscsa.edu/), an open-source suite of utilities with advanced graphical user interfaces whose initial goal was the hydrodynamic modeling of biomacromolecules, were implemented and applied to this problem. They include the correction of baseline drift due to the accumulation of material on the SAXS capillary walls, and the Gaussian decomposition of non-baseline-resolved HPLC-SAXS elution peaks. It was thus possible to resolve at least two species co-eluting under the fibrinogen main monomer peak, probably resulting from in-column degradation, and two others under an oligomers peak. The overall and cross-sectional radii of gyration, molecular mass and mass/length ratio of all species were determined using the manual or semi-automated procedures available within the US-SOMO SAS module. Differences between monomeric species and linear and sideways oligomers were thus identified and rationalized. This new US-SOMO version additionally contains several computational and graphical tools, implementing functionalities such as the mapping of residues contributing to particular regions of P ( r ), and an advanced module for the comparison of primary I ( q ) versus q data with model curves computed from atomic level structures or bead models. It should be of great help in multi-resolution studies involving hydrodynamics, solution scattering and crystallographic/NMR data.

  3. Effects of acute and repeated oral doses of D-tagatose on plasma uric acid in normal and diabetic humans.

    PubMed

    Saunders, J P; Donner, T W; Sadler, J H; Levin, G V; Makris, N G

    1999-04-01

    D-tagatose, a stereoisomer of D-fructose, is a naturally occurring ketohexose proposed for use as a low-calorie bulk sweetener. Ingested D-tagatose appears to be poorly absorbed. The absorbed portion is metabolized in the liver by a pathway similar to that of D-fructose. The main purpose of this study was to determine if acute or repeated oral doses of D-tagatose would cause elevations in plasma uric acid (as is seen with fructose) in normal humans and Type 2 diabetics. In addition, effects of subchronic D-tagatose ingestion on fasting plasma phosphorus, magnesium, lipids, and glucose homeostasis were studied. Eight normal subjects and eight subjects with Type 2 diabetes participated in this two-phase study. Each group was comprised of four males and four females. In the first phase, all subjects were given separate 75 g 3-h oral glucose and D-tagatose tolerance tests. Uric acid, phosphorus, and magnesium were determined in blood samples collected from each subject at 0, 30, 60, 120, and 180 min after dose. In the 8-week phase of the study, the normals were randomly placed into two groups which received 75 g of either D-tagatose or sucrose (25 g with each meal) daily for 8 weeks. The diabetics were randomized into two groups which received either 75 g D-tagatose or no supplements of sugar daily for 8 weeks. Uric acid, phosphorus, magnesium, lipids, glycosylated hemoglobin, glucose, and insulin were determined in fasting blood plasma of all subjects at baseline (time zero) and biweekly over the 8 weeks. The 8-week test did not demonstrate an increase in fasting plasma uric acid in response to the daily intake of D-tagatose. However, a transient increase of plasma uric acid levels was observed after single doses of 75 g of D-tagatose in the tolerance test. Plasma uric acid levels were found to rise and peak at 60 min after such dosing. No clinical relevance was attributed to this treatment-related effect because excursions of plasma uric acid levels above the normal

  4. Access to high beta advanced inductive plasmas at low injected torque

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Solomon, W. M.; Politzer, P. A.; Buttery, R. J.; Holcomb, C. T.; Ferron, J. R.; Garofalo, A. M.; Grierson, B. A.; Hanson, J. M.; In, Y.; Jackson, G. L.; Kinsey, J. E.; La Haye, R. J.; Lanctot, M. J.; Luce, T. C.; Okabayashi, M.; Petty, C. C.; Turco, F.; Welander, A. S.

    2013-09-01

    Recent experiments on DIII-D demonstrate that advanced inductive (AI) discharges with high equivalent normalized fusion gain can be accessed and sustained with very low amounts (∼1 N m) of externally injected torque, a level of torque that is anticipated to drive a similar amount of rotation as the beams on ITER, via simple consideration of the scaling of the moment of inertia and confinement time. The AI regime is typically characterized by high confinement, and high βN, allowing the possibility for high performance, high gain operation at reduced plasma current. Discharges achieved βN ∼ 3.1 with H98(y,2) ∼ 1 at q95 ∼ 4, and are sustained for the maximum duration of the counter neutral beams (NBs). In addition, plasmas using zero net NB torque from the startup all the way through to the high βN phase have been created. AI discharges are found to become increasingly susceptible to m/n = 2/1 neoclassical tearing modes as the torque is decreased, which if left unmitigated, generally slow and lock, terminating the high performance phase of the discharge. Access is not notably different whether one ramps the torque down at high βN, or ramps βN up at low torque. The use of electron cyclotron heating (ECH) and current drive proved to be an effective method of avoiding such modes, enabling stable operation at high beta and low torque, a portion of phase space that has otherwise been inaccessible. Thermal confinement is significantly reduced at low rotation, a result that is reproduced using the TGLF transport model. Although it is thought that stiffness is increased in regions of low magnetic shear, in these AI plasmas, the reduced confinement occurs at radii outside the low shear, and in fact, higher temperature gradients can be found in the low shear region at low rotation. Momentum transport is also larger at low rotation, but a significant intrinsic torque is measured that is consistent with a previous scaling considering the role of the turbulent

  5. A High-Efficiency Superhydrophobic Plasma Separator

    PubMed Central

    Liu, Changchun; Liao, Shih-Chuan; Song, Jinzhao; Mauk, Michael G.; Li, Xuanwen; Wu, Gaoxiang; Ge, Dengteng; Greenberg, Robert M.; Yang, Shu; Bau, Haim H.

    2016-01-01

    To meet stringent limit-of-detection specifications for low abundance target molecules, a relatively large volume of plasma is needed for many blood-based clinical diagnostics. Conventional centrifugation methods for plasma separation are not suitable for on-site testing or bedside diagnostics. Here, we report a simple, yet high-efficiency, clamshell-style, superhydrophobic plasma separator that is capable of separating a relatively large volume of plasma from several hundred microliters of whole blood (finger-prick blood volume). The plasma separator consists of a superhydrophobic top cover with a separation membrane and a superhydrophobic bottom substrate. Unlike previously reported membrane-based plasma separators, the separation membrane in our device is positioned at the top of the sandwiched whole blood film to increase the membrane separation capacity and plasma yield. In addition, the device’s superhydrophobic characteristics (i) facilitates the formation of well-defined, contracted, thin blood film with a high contact angle; (ii) minimizes biomolecular adhesion to surfaces; (iii) increases blood clotting time; and (iv) reduces blood cell hemolysis. The device demonstrated a “blood in-plasma out” capability, consistently extracting 65±21.5 μL of plasma from 200 μL of whole blood in less than 10 min without electrical power. The device was used to separate plasma from Schistosoma mansoni genomic DNA-spiked whole blood with a recovery efficiency of > 84.5 ± 25.8 %. The S. mansoni genomic DNA in the separated plasma was successfully tested on our custom-made microfluidic chip by using loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method. PMID:26732765

  6. Fibulin-1 purification from human plasma using affinity chromatography on Factor H-Sepharose

    PubMed Central

    DiScipio, Richard G.; Liddington, Robert C.; Schraufstatter, Ingrid U.

    2016-01-01

    A method is reported to purify Fibulin-1 from human plasma resulting in a 36% recovery. The steps involve removal of the cryoglobulin and the vitamin K dependent proteins followed by polyethylene glycol and ammonium sulfate precipitations, DEAE-Sephadex column chromatography and finally Factor H-Sepharose affinity purification. The procedure is designed to be integrated into an overall scheme for the isolation of over 30 plasma proteins from a single batch of human plasma. Results from mass spectroscopy, SDS-PAGE, and Western blotting indicate that human plasma Fibulin-1 is a single chain of the largest isotype. Functional binding assays demonstrated calcium ion dependent interaction of Fibulin-1 for fibrinogen, fibronectin, and Factor H. The procedure described is the first to our knowledge that enables a large scale purification of Fibulin-1 from human plasma. PMID:26826315

  7. High-speed digital signal normalization for feature identification

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ortiz, J. A.; Meredith, B. D.

    1983-01-01

    A design approach for high speed normalization of digital signals was developed. A reciprocal look up table technique is employed, where a digital value is mapped to its reciprocal via a high speed memory. This reciprocal is then multiplied with an input signal to obtain the normalized result. Normalization improves considerably the accuracy of certain feature identification algorithms. By using the concept of pipelining the multispectral sensor data processing rate is limited only by the speed of the multiplier. The breadboard system was found to operate at an execution rate of five million normalizations per second. This design features high precision, a reduced hardware complexity, high flexibility, and expandability which are very important considerations for spaceborne applications. It also accomplishes a high speed normalization rate essential for real time data processing.

  8. High temperature UF6 RF plasma experiments applicable to uranium plasma core reactors

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Roman, W. C.

    1979-01-01

    An investigation was conducted using a 1.2 MW RF induction heater facility to aid in developing the technology necessary for designing a self critical fissioning uranium plasma core reactor. Pure, high temperature uranium hexafluoride (UF6) was injected into an argon fluid mechanically confined, steady state, RF heated plasma while employing different exhaust systems and diagnostic techniques to simulate and investigate some potential characteristics of uranium plasma core nuclear reactors. The development of techniques and equipment for fluid mechanical confinement of RF heated uranium plasmas with a high density of uranium vapor within the plasma, while simultaneously minimizing deposition of uranium and uranium compounds on the test chamber peripheral wall, endwall surfaces, and primary exhaust ducts, is discussed. The material tests and handling techniques suitable for use with high temperature, high pressure, gaseous UF6 are described and the development of complementary diagnostic instrumentation and measurement techniques to characterize the uranium plasma, effluent exhaust gases, and residue deposited on the test chamber and exhaust system components is reported.

  9. Effects of high Z probe on plasma behavior in HT-6M tokamak

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, J.; Gong, X.; Luo, L.; Yin, F. X.; Noda, N.; Wan, B.; Xu, W.; Gao, X.; Yin, F.; Jiang, J. G.; Wu, Z.; Zhao, J. Y.; Wu, M.; Liu, S.; Han, Y.

    1997-02-01

    Molybdenum and tungsten probes have been tested in HT-6M tokamak under various discharge conditions aiming to find out the conditions in which high Z PFC can be used without serious degradation of core plasma performance. In normal OH discharges, the degradation of core plasma performance was found only when the probe was inserted beyond 3.0 cm inside the last closed flux surface (LCFS). The plasma performance did not change with positive biasing to the probe, whereas central Te degraded during negative biasing of -100 V. The insertion of the Mo probe to 1.5 cm inside the LCFS made a change in the threshold power of the L-H transition in EOH discharges. These results suggest a certain operation range of the H-mode in the EOH discharge with the Mo probe in HT-6M.

  10. Plasma 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentration of Dahl salt-sensitive rats decreases during high salt intake

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Thierry-Palmer, Myrtle; Tewolde, Teclemicael K.; Forte, Camille; Wang, Min; Bayorh, Mohamed A.; Emmett, Nerimiah L.; White, Jolanda; Griffin, Keri

    2002-01-01

    Dahl salt-sensitive rats, but not salt-resistant rats, develop hypertension in response to high salt intake. We have previously shown an inverse relationship between plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) concentration and blood pressure of Dahl salt-sensitive rats during high salt intake. In this study, we report on the relationship between high salt intake and plasma 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (24,25-(OH)(2)D) concentration of Dahl salt-sensitive and salt-resistant rats. Rats were fed a high salt diet (8%) and sacrificed at day 2, 7, 14, 21, and 28. Plasma 24,25-(OH)(2)D concentrations of salt-sensitive rats were reduced to 50% of that at baseline at day 2-when blood pressure and plasma 25-OHD concentration were unchanged, but 25-OHD content in the kidney was 81% of that at baseline. Plasma 24,25-(OH)(2)D concentration was reduced further to 10% of that at baseline from day 7 to 14 of high salt intake, a reduction that was prevented in rats switched to a low salt (0.3%) diet at day 7. Exogenous 24,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (24,25-(OH)(2)D(3)), administered at a level that increased plasma 24,25-(OH)(2)D concentration to five times normal, did not attenuate the salt-induced hypertension of salt-sensitive rats. Plasma 24,25-(OH)(2)D concentration of salt-resistant rats was gradually reduced to 50% of that at baseline at day 14 and returned to baseline value at day 28 of high salt intake. We conclude that the decrease in plasma 24,25-(OH)(2)D concentration in salt-sensitive rats during high salt intake is caused by decreased 25-OHD content in the kidney and also by another unidentified mechanism.

  11. VLITL is a major cross-β-sheet signal for fibrinogen Aα-chain frameshift variants

    PubMed Central

    Garnier, Cyrille; Briki, Fatma; Le Pogamp, Patrick; Dogan, Ahmet; Rioux-Leclercq, Nathalie; Goude, Renan; Beugnet, Caroline; Martin, Laurent; Delpech, Marc; Bridoux, Frank; Grateau, Gilles; Doucet, Jean

    2017-01-01

    The first case of hereditary fibrinogen Aα-chain amyloidosis was recognized >20 years ago, but disease mechanisms still remain unknown. Here we report detailed clinical and proteomics studies of a French kindred with a novel amyloidogenic fibrinogen Aα-chain frameshift variant, Phe521Leufs, causing a severe familial form of renal amyloidosis. Next, we focused our investigations to elucidate the molecular basis that render this Aα-chain variant amyloidogenic. We show that a 49-mer peptide derived from the C-terminal part of the Phe521Leufs chain is deposited as fibrils in the patient’s kidneys, establishing that only a small portion of Phe521Leufs directly contributes to amyloid formation in vivo. In silico analysis indicated that this 49-mer Aα-chain peptide contained a motif (VLITL), with a high intrinsic propensity for β-aggregation at residues 44 to 48 of human renal fibrils. To experimentally verify the amyloid propensity of VLITL, we generated synthetic Phe521Leufs-derived peptides and compared their capacity for fibril formation in vitro with that of their VLITL-deleted counterparts. We show that VLITL forms typical amyloid fibrils in vitro and is a major signal for cross-β-sheet self-association of the 49-mer Phe521Leufs peptide identified in vivo, whereas its absence abrogates fibril formation. This study provides compelling evidence that VLITL confers amyloidogenic properties to Aα-chain frameshift variants, yielding a previously unknown molecular basis for the pathogenesis of Aα-chain amyloidosis. PMID:29089309

  12. EMBOLIC MIDDLE CEREBRAL ARTERY OCCLUSION MODEL USING THROMBIN AND FIBRINOGEN COMPOSED CLOTS IN RAT

    PubMed Central

    Ren, Ming; Lin, Zi-Jing; Qian, Hai; Gourav, Choudhury Roy; liu, Ran; Liu, Hanli; Yang, Shao-Hua

    2012-01-01

    Ischemic stroke accounts for over 80% in total human stroke which mostly affect middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory. Embolic stroke models induced by injection of homologous clots into the internal carotid artery and MCA closely mimic human stroke and have been commonly used in stroke research. Studies indicate that the size and composition of clots are critical for the reproducibility of the stroke model. In the present study, we modified the homologous clots formation by addition of thrombin and fibrinogen which produced even distribution of fibrin with tight cross linkage of red blood cells. We optimized the embolic MCA occlusion model in rats using different size of the mixed clots. A precise lodgment of the clots at the MCA bifurcation and highly reproducible ischemic lesion in the MCA territory were demonstrated in the embolic MCA occlusion model induced by injection of 10 pieces of 1-mm long mixed clots made in PE-60 catheter. We further tested the effect of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) in this embolic MCA occlusion model. rtPA induced thrombolysis, improved neurological outcome, and significantly reduced ischemic lesion volume when administered at 1 hour after embolism as compared with control. In summary, we have established a reproducible embolic MCA occlusion model using clots made of homologous blood, thrombin and fibrinogen. The mixed clots enable precise lodgment at the MCA bifurcation which is responsive to thrombolytic therapy of rtPA. PMID:22985597

  13. Embolic middle cerebral artery occlusion model using thrombin and fibrinogen composed clots in rat.

    PubMed

    Ren, Ming; Lin, Zi-Jing; Qian, Hai; Choudhury, Gourav Roy; Liu, Ran; Liu, Hanli; Yang, Shao-Hua

    2012-11-15

    Ischemic stroke accounts for over 80% in total human stroke which mostly affect middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory. Embolic stroke models induced by injection of homologous clots into the internal carotid artery and MCA closely mimic human stroke and have been commonly used in stroke research. Studies indicate that the size and composition of clots are critical for the reproducibility of the stroke model. In the present study, we modified the homologous clots formation by addition of thrombin and fibrinogen which produced even distribution of fibrin with tight cross linkage of red blood cells. We optimized the embolic MCA occlusion model in rats using different size of the mixed clots. A precise lodgment of the clots at the MCA bifurcation and highly reproducible ischemic lesion in the MCA territory were demonstrated in the embolic MCA occlusion model induced by injection of 10 pieces of 1-mm long mixed clots made in PE-60 catheter. We further tested the effect of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) in this embolic MCA occlusion model. rtPA induced thrombolysis, improved neurological outcome, and significantly reduced ischemic lesion volume when administered at 1h after embolism as compared with control. In summary, we have established a reproducible embolic MCA occlusion model using clots made of homologous blood, thrombin and fibrinogen. The mixed clots enable precise lodgment at the MCA bifurcation which is responsive to thrombolytic therapy of rtPA. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  14. Fibrinogen Availability and Coagulation Function After Hemorrhage and Resuscitation in Pigs

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-08-01

    Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to...that reduced clot formation rate and clot strength by ROTEM are indicative of transfusion re- quirements (14). The purpose of this study was to inves...administration and to reduce the usage of blood products (15,16). In this study, we observed a parallel changing pattern between fibrinogen concentration

  15. Fibrinogen, viscosity, and white blood cell count are major risk factors for ischemic heart disease. The Caerphilly and Speedwell collaborative heart disease studies.

    PubMed

    Yarnell, J W; Baker, I A; Sweetnam, P M; Bainton, D; O'Brien, J R; Whitehead, P J; Elwood, P C

    1991-03-01

    Recent studies have suggested that hemostatic factors and white blood cell count are predictive of ischemic heart disease (IHD). The relations of fibrinogen, viscosity, and white blood cell count to the incidence of IHD in the Caerphilly and Speedwell prospective studies are described. The two studies have a common core protocol and are based on a combined cohort of 4,860 middle-aged men from the general population. The first follow-up was at a nearly constant interval of 5.1 years in Caerphilly and 3.2 years in Speedwell; 251 major IHD events had occurred. Age-adjusted relative odds of IHD for men in the top 20% of the distribution compared with the bottom 20% were 4.1 (95% confidence interval, 2.6-6.5) for fibrinogen, 4.5 (95% confidence interval, 2.8-7.4) for viscosity, and 3.2 (95% confidence interval, 2.0-4.9) for white blood cell count. Associations with IHD were similar in men who had never smoked, exsmokers, and current smokers, and the results suggest that at least part of the effect of smoking on IHD is mediated through fibrinogen, viscosity, and white blood cell count. Multivariate analysis shows that white blood cell count is an independent risk factor for IHD as is either fibrinogen or viscosity, or possibly both. Jointly, these three variables significantly improve the fit of a logistic regression model containing all the main conventional risk factors. Further, a model including age, smoking habits, fibrinogen, viscosity, and white blood cell count predicts IHD as well as one in which the three hemostatic/rheological variables are replaced by total cholesterol, diastolic pressure, and body mass index. Jointly, fibrinogen, viscosity, and white blood cell count are important risk factors for IHD.

  16. Device for plasma confinement and heating by high currents and nonclassical plasma transport properties

    DOEpatents

    Coppi, B.; Montgomery, D.B.

    1973-12-11

    A toroidal plasma containment device having means for inducing high total plasma currents and current densities and at the same time emhanced plasma heating, strong magnetic confinement, high energy density containment, magnetic modulation, microwaveinduced heating, and diagnostic accessibility is described. (Official Gazette)

  17. A plasma microlens for ultrashort high power lasers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Katzir, Yiftach; Eisenmann, Shmuel; Ferber, Yair; Zigler, Arie; Hubbard, Richard F.

    2009-07-01

    We present a technique for generation of miniature plasma lens system that can be used for focusing and collimating a high intensity femtosecond laser pulse. The plasma lens was created by a nanosecond laser, which ablated a capillary entrance. The spatial configuration of the ablated plasma focused a high intensity femtosecond laser pulse. This configuration offers versatility in the plasma lens small f-number for extremely tight focusing of high power lasers with no damage threshold restrictions of regular optical components.

  18. Integrated Plasma Control for Alternative Plasma Shape on EAST

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xiao, Bingjia

    2017-10-01

    To support long pulse plasma operation in high performance, a set of plasma control algorithms such as PEFIT real-time equilibrium reconstruction, radiation feedback, Beta and loop voltage feedback and quasi-snowflake shape f control have been implemented on EAST Plasma Control system (PCS) which was adapted from DIII-D PCS. PEFIT is a parallelized version of EFIT by using GPU with highest computation acceleration ratio up to 100 with respect to EFIT. It demonstrated high performance both in DIII-D data analysis and in the real-time shape control on EAST plasma either in normal or quasi-snowflake shape. Loop voltage has been successfully controlled by Low Hybrid Wave (LHW) while the plasma current is maintained by poloidal field coil set. Beta control has been also demonstrated by using LHW and it will be extended to other heating sources because the PCS interface is ready. Radiation feedback control has been achieved by Neon seeding by Super-Sonic Molecular Beam Injection (SMBI). For the plasma operation in quasi-snowflake, we have reached 20 s ELMy free high confinement non-inductive discharges with betap 2, H98 1.1 and plasma current 250 kA. EAST orals.

  19. Acute high-intensity interval exercise induces comparable levels of circulating cell-free DNA and Interleukin-6 in obese and normal-weight individuals.

    PubMed

    Ferrandi, Peter J; Fico, Brandon G; Whitehurst, Michael; Zourdos, Michael C; Bao, Fanchen; Dodge, Katelyn M; Rodriguez, Alexandra L; Pena, Gabriel; Huang, Chun-Jung

    2018-06-01

    Obesity is associated with lipid aggregation in adipocytes and macrophage infiltration, leading to increased oxidative stress and inflammation. Increased cell-free DNA (cfDNA) concentrations have been observed in clinical conditions of systemic inflammation. While the beneficial effects of regular physical activity on the release of circulating cfDNA still remain unknown, acute intense exercise has been shown to increase inflammatory cytokines and cfDNA concentrations in normal-weight individuals. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study was to examine the effect of acute high-intensity interval Exercise (HIIE) on plasma cfDNA and interleukin-6 (IL-6) responses in obese and normal-weight subjects. Fourteen male subjects (7 obese and 7 normal-weight) participated in an acute HIIE protocol (30 min, 4x4min @ 80% - 90% of VO 2max ) on a treadmill. Between HIIE intervals, subjects performed 3 min of active recovery at 50-60% VO 2max . Blood samples were collected prior to, immediately following exercise, and one hour into recovery for measurements of plasma cfDNA and IL-6. Our results demonstrated a significant elevation in plasma cfDNA immediately following acute HIIE in both obese and normal-weight subjects. A comparable elevation in the concentration of plasma IL-6 was also found between two groups in response to acute HIIE. Furthermore, the level of plasma cfDNA was not correlated with IL-6 either at baseline or in response to acute HIIE. These findings may support the utilization of HIIE as a time-efficient exercise protocol to understand the obesity-associated cfDNA and inflammatory responses. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  20. High-frequency plasma-heating apparatus

    DOEpatents

    Brambilla, Marco; Lallia, Pascal

    1978-01-01

    An array of adjacent wave guides feed high-frequency energy into a vacuum chamber in which a toroidal plasma is confined by a magnetic field, the wave guide array being located between two toroidal current windings. Waves are excited in the wave guide at a frequency substantially equal to the lower frequency hybrid wave of the plasma and a substantially equal phase shift is provided from one guide to the next between the waves therein. For plasmas of low peripheral density gradient, the guides are excited in the TE.sub.01 mode and the output electric field is parallel to the direction of the toroidal magnetic field. For exciting waves in plasmas of high peripheral density gradient, the guides are excited in the TM.sub.01 mode and the magnetic field at the wave guide outlets is parallel to the direction of the toroidal magnetic field. The wave excited at the outlet of the wave guide array is a progressive wave propagating in the direction opposite to that of the toroidal current and is, therefore, not absorbed by so-called "runaway" electrons.

  1. Plasma glycoprotein V levels in the general population: normal distribution, associated parameters and implications for clinical studies.

    PubMed

    Aleil, Boris; Meyer, Nicolas; Wolff, Valérie; Kientz, Daniel; Wiesel, Marie-Louise; Gachet, Christian; Cazenave, Jean-Pierre; Lanza, François

    2006-10-01

    Soluble glycoprotein V (sGPV) is a new plasma marker of thrombosis released from the platelet surface by thrombin. sGPV levels are increased in patients with atherothrombotic diseases, but the determinants of sGPV levels are unknown in the general population. Identification of these potential confounding factors is needed for correct design and analysis of clinical studies on cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the normal range of plasma values and the factors controlling sGPV levels in a population of normal individuals. Three hundred blood donors were recruited at the Etablissement Français du Sang-Alsace for the measurement of plasma levels of sGPV, platelet factor 4 (PF4), thrombin-antithrombin complexes (TAT) and D-dimers. The plasma level of sGPV was (median [interquartile range]) 27.5 [23.5-34.4] microg/l and displayed a Gaussian distribution. sGPV had a lower interindividual coefficient of variation (33%) than PF4 (176%), TAT (87%) or D-dimers (82%). sGPV levels were independent of age and sex but sensitive to red cell (r = 0.412; p < 0.0001) and platelet counts (r = 0.267; p = 0.001), total cholesterol (r = -0.313; p < 0.0001), food intake (r = 0.184; p = 0.0014) and smoking (r = -0.154; p = 0.039). Contrary to PF4 and TAT, sGPV did not differ between venous and arterial blood samples of 12 healthy individuals. Red cell and platelet counts, total cholesterol, current smoking and recent food intake are important determinants of sGPV levels and must be taken into account in clinical studies using sGPV as a thrombosis marker. Normal distribution of sGPV levels in the general population supports its use in clinical applications.

  2. Elastic Behavior and Platelet Retraction in Low- and High-Density Fibrin Gels

    PubMed Central

    Wufsus, Adam R.; Rana, Kuldeepsinh; Brown, Andrea; Dorgan, John R.; Liberatore, Matthew W.; Neeves, Keith B.

    2015-01-01

    Fibrin is a biopolymer that gives thrombi the mechanical strength to withstand the forces imparted on them by blood flow. Importantly, fibrin is highly extensible, but strain hardens at low deformation rates. The density of fibrin in clots, especially arterial clots, is higher than that in gels made at plasma concentrations of fibrinogen (3–10 mg/mL), where most rheology studies have been conducted. Our objective in this study was to measure and characterize the elastic regimes of low (3–10 mg/mL) and high (30–100 mg/mL) density fibrin gels using shear and extensional rheology. Confocal microscopy of the gels shows that fiber density increases with fibrinogen concentration. At low strains, fibrin gels act as thermal networks independent of fibrinogen concentration. Within the low-strain regime, one can predict the mesh size of fibrin gels by the elastic modulus using semiflexible polymer theory. Significantly, this provides a link between gel mechanics and interstitial fluid flow. At moderate strains, we find that low-density fibrin gels act as nonaffine mechanical networks and transition to affine mechanical networks with increasing strains within the moderate regime, whereas high-density fibrin gels only act as affine mechanical networks. At high strains, the backbone of individual fibrin fibers stretches for all fibrin gels. Platelets can retract low-density gels by >80% of their initial volumes, but retraction is attenuated in high-density fibrin gels and with decreasing platelet density. Taken together, these results show that the nature of fibrin deformation is a strong function of fibrin fiber density, which has ramifications for the growth, embolization, and lysis of thrombi. PMID:25564864

  3. Dynamics of platelet glycoprotein IIb-IIIa receptor expression and fibrinogen binding. I. Quantal activation of platelet subpopulations varies with adenosine diphosphate concentration.

    PubMed Central

    Frojmovic, M. M.; Mooney, R. F.; Wong, T.

    1994-01-01

    We have previously reported that maximal platelet activation with adenosine diphosphate (100 microM ADP) causes rapid expression of all GPIIb-IIIa receptors for fibrinogen (FgR) (< 1-3 s), measured with FITC-labeled PAC1 by flow cytometry. We have extended these studies to examine the effects of ADP concentration on the graded expression and Fg occupancy of GPIIb-IIIa receptors. Human citrated platelet-rich plasma, diluted 10-fold with Walsh-albumin-Mg+2 (2 mM), was treated with ADP (0.1-100 microM). The rates of GPIIb-IIIa receptor expression or Fg binding were measured in unstirred samples by flow cytometry, using FITC-labeled monoclonal antibodies (mAb) PAC1 and 9F9, respectively, from on-rates, using increasing times between mAb and ADP additions. Fibrinogen receptors were all expressed rapidly at low (1 microM) or high (100 microM) ADP (few seconds), whereas Fg occupancy was 50% of maximal by about 2 min. The maximal extent of GPIIb-IIIa receptor expression and Fg occupancy was determined from maximal binding (Flmax) at 30 min incubation with PAC1 or 9F9. On-rates and maximal extents of binding for either PAC1 or 9F9 probes showed identical [ADP]-response profiles ("KD" approximately 1.4 +/- 0.1 microM). However, Flmax studies showed bimodal histograms consisting of "resting" (Po) and maximally "activated" (P*) platelets for both PAC1 and 9F9 binding, with the fraction of "activated" platelets increasing with ADP concentration. The data best fit a model where platelet subpopulations are "quantally" transformed from Po to P*, expressing all GPIIb-IIIa receptors, rapidly filled by Fg, but "triggered" at critical ADP concentrations. Larger, but not the largest, platelets appear to be the most sensitive subpopulation. The implications for clinical studies are discussed, and the relationship to dynamics of aggregation are described in a companion paper. PMID:7858143

  4. Normal fasting plasma glucose levels and type 2 diabetes in young men.

    PubMed

    Tirosh, Amir; Shai, Iris; Tekes-Manova, Dorit; Israeli, Eran; Pereg, David; Shochat, Tzippora; Kochba, Ilan; Rudich, Assaf

    2005-10-06

    The normal fasting plasma glucose level was recently defined as less than 100 mg per deciliter (5.55 mmol per liter). Whether higher fasting plasma glucose levels within this range independently predict type 2 diabetes in young adults is unclear. We obtained blood measurements, data from physical examinations, and medical and lifestyle information from men in the Israel Defense Forces who were 26 to 45 years of age. A total of 208 incident cases of type 2 diabetes occurred during 74,309 person-years of follow-up (from 1992 through 2004) among 13,163 subjects who had baseline fasting plasma glucose levels of less than 100 mg per deciliter. A multivariate model, adjusted for age, family history of diabetes, body-mass index, physical-activity level, smoking status, and serum triglyceride levels, revealed a progressively increased risk of type 2 diabetes in men with fasting plasma glucose levels of 87 mg per deciliter (4.83 mmol per liter) or more, as compared with those whose levels were in the bottom quintile (less than 81 mg per deciliter [4.5 mmol per liter], P for trend <0.001). In multivariate models, men with serum triglyceride levels of 150 mg per deciliter (1.69 mmol per liter) or more, combined with fasting plasma glucose levels of 91 to 99 mg per deciliter (5.05 to 5.50 mmol per liter), had a hazard ratio of 8.23 (95 percent confidence interval, 3.6 to 19.0) for diabetes, as compared with men with a combined triglyceride level of less than 150 mg per deciliter and fasting glucose levels of less than 86 mg per deciliter (4.77 mmol per liter). The joint effect of a body-mass index (the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters) of 30 or more and a fasting plasma glucose level of 91 to 99 mg per deciliter resulted in a hazard ratio of 8.29 (95 percent confidence interval, 3.8 to 17.8), as compared with a body-mass index of less than 25 and a fasting plasma glucose level of less than 86 mg per deciliter. Higher fasting plasma glucose

  5. Effect of dietary aspartame on plasma concentrations of phenylalanine and tyrosine in normal and homozygous phenylketonuric patients.

    PubMed

    Mackey, S A; Berlin, C M

    1992-07-01

    Six normal subjects each ingested a single 12-oz can of a diet cola (Diet Coke) providing 184 mg aspartame (APM), of which 104 mg is phenylalanine (Phe), and, on another occasion, a single 12-oz can of regular cola (Coke Classic). Neither cola significantly affected plasma concentrations of Phe or tyrosine over the three-hour postingestion study period. Each of five homozygous phenylketonuric (PKU) subjects (ages 11, 16, 17, 21, and 23 years) ingested a single 12-oz can of the same diet cola. In these five subjects (three with classic PKU and two with hyperphenylalinemia), the increase in plasma Phe concentrations varied from 0.26 mg/dL to 1.77 mg/dL two or three hours after ingestion (baseline levels, 5.04 to 17.2 mg/dL). Tyrosine concentrations did not differ significantly from baseline levels. The data indicate that ingestion of dietary Phe, as supplied in a single can of diet cola, is readily handled in both normal and PKU subjects. The small increases in plasma Phe concentrations in the homozygous PKU patients are not considered clinically significant.

  6. [Effects of the adsorbent CAA for hemopurification on normal components of human plasma in removing methylene blue].

    PubMed

    Ma, Yu; Xia, Yun; Yang, Xiaolan; Yu, Ming'an

    2003-06-01

    Virus inactivation of plasma can be achieved by phototreatment with methylene blue (MB). Subsequently, elimination of MB may reduce the adverse effects of MB. This study examined the effects of adsorbing MB with the use of cross-linked agar bead entrapped attapulgite clay (CAA) on normal ingredients in MB-treated plasma units. The biomedical characteristics of CAA were assessed by determination of partial biochemical indexes, coagulation potency and some cationic concentration in a control sample and the MB-treated plasma eluted from CAA column. The biochemistry indexes or K+, Na+ in plasma were almost unaltered before and after CAA adsorption. In contrast, the concentrations of CA2+ and Mg2+ increased and the blood ammonium decreased obviously. The activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) was prolonged from 42 s to 53 s, and prothrombin time (PT) from 13 s to 14 s. The result indicates that CAA as an adsorbent for hemopurification retains the most important characters of human plasma. CAA can be useful for the elimination of MB in MB-treated plasma and does not bring on harmful alteration in clinical significance.

  7. Raised plasma soluble P-selectin in peripheral arterial occlusive disease enhances leukocyte adhesion.

    PubMed

    Woollard, K J; Kling, D; Kulkarni, S; Dart, A M; Jackson, S; Chin-Dusting, J

    2006-01-06

    Raised levels of soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin) have been reported in the plasma of patients with vascular diseases; however, the functional importance of this ligand remains unclear. In this study we have examined a potential role for plasma sP-selectin in regulating neutrophil adhesion in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD). Patients with PAOD had significantly higher levels of sP-selectin (mean+/-SD: 73.3+/-13.0 versus 16.7+/-6.4 ng/mL) and enhanced whole blood leukocyte adhesion to platelets under shear. To examine whether the raised sP-selectin levels can directly influence leukocyte adhesion, isolated neutrophils were incubated with plasma from PAOD patients before and after immunodepletion of sP-selectin. Neutrophil adhesion to fibrinogen increased 2-fold following incubation with PAOD plasma, which was abrogated on sP-selectin immunodepletion. We subsequently demonstrated that recombinant sP-selectin dose-dependently (75 to 250 ng/mL) increased leukocyte adhesion to fibrinogen and platelet monolayers. This increase was PSGL-1 and Src kinase-dependent and correlated with an increase in sP-selectin-mediated Mac-1 activation. sP-selectin-stimulated neutrophil adhesion to platelet monolayers was inversely correlated with shear, such that at low shear (50 s(-1)) a 92.7%+/-15.7 increase in adhesion was observed decreasing to 38.5%+/-11.9 at 150 s(-1) and 10.1%+/-7.4 at 300 s(-1). These studies suggest a potentially important role for sP-selectin in modulating neutrophil adhesion in patients with PAOD, particularly at sites of low shear, where it raises the possibility that raised plasma sP-selectin levels may enhance leukocyte recruitment to vascular injury and promote disease progression.

  8. Adhesion of Blood Plasma Proteins and Platelet-rich Plasma on l-Valine-Based Poly(ester urea).

    PubMed

    Childers, Erin P; Peterson, Gregory I; Ellenberger, Alex B; Domino, Karen; Seifert, Gabrielle V; Becker, Matthew L

    2016-10-10

    The competitive absorption of blood plasma components including fibrinogen (FG), bovine serum albumin (BSA), and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on l-valine-based poly(ester urea) (PEU) surfaces were investigated. Using four different PEU polymers, possessing compositionally dependent trends in thermal, mechanical, and critical surface tension measurements, water uptake studies were carried out to determine in vitro behavior of the materials. Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) measurements were used to quantify the adsorption characteristics of PRP onto PEU thin films by coating the surfaces initially with FG or BSA. Pretreatment of the PEU surfaces with FG inhibited the adsorption of PRP and BSA decreased the absorption 4-fold. In vitro studies demonstrated that cells cultured on l-valine-based PEU thin films allowed attachment and spreading of rat aortic cells. These measurements will be critical toward efforts to use this new class of materials in blood-contacting biomaterials applications.

  9. PULSION® HP: Tunable, High Productivity Plasma Doping

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Felch, S. B.; Torregrosa, F.; Etienne, H.; Spiegel, Y.; Roux, L.; Turnbaugh, D.

    2011-01-01

    Plasma doping has been explored for many implant applications for over two decades and is now being used in semiconductor manufacturing for two applications: DRAM polysilicon counter-doping and contact doping. The PULSION HP is a new plasma doping tool developed by Ion Beam Services for high-volume production that enables customer control of the dominant mechanism—deposition, implant, or etch. The key features of this tool are a proprietary, remote RF plasma source that enables a high density plasma with low chamber pressure, resulting in a wide process space, and special chamber and wafer electrode designs that optimize doping uniformity.

  10. Power law relation between particle concentrations and their sizes in the blood plasma

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kirichenko, M. N.; Chaikov, L. L.; Zaritskii, A. R.

    2016-08-01

    This work is devoted to the investigation of sizes and concentrations of particles in blood plasma by dynamic light scattering (DLS). Blood plasma contains many different proteins and their aggregates, microparticles and vesicles. Their sizes, concentrations and shapes can give information about donor's health. Our DLS study of blood plasma reveals unexpected dependence: with increasing of the particle sizes r (from 1 nm up to 1 μm), their concentrations decrease as r-4 (almost by 12 orders). We found also that such dependence was repeated for model solution of fibrinogen and thrombin with power coefficient is -3,6. We believe that this relation is a fundamental law of nature that shows interaction of proteins (and other substances) in biological liquids.

  11. Pathogen Reduction in Human Plasma Using an Ultrashort Pulsed Laser

    PubMed Central

    Tsen, Shaw-Wei D.; Kingsley, David H.; Kibler, Karen; Jacobs, Bert; Sizemore, Sara; Vaiana, Sara M.; Anderson, Jeanne; Tsen, Kong-Thon; Achilefu, Samuel

    2014-01-01

    Pathogen reduction is a viable approach to ensure the continued safety of the blood supply against emerging pathogens. However, the currently licensed pathogen reduction techniques are ineffective against non-enveloped viruses such as hepatitis A virus, and they introduce chemicals with concerns of side effects which prevent their widespread use. In this report, we demonstrate the inactivation of both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses in human plasma using a novel chemical-free method, a visible ultrashort pulsed laser. We found that laser treatment resulted in 2-log, 1-log, and 3-log reductions in human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis A virus, and murine cytomegalovirus in human plasma, respectively. Laser-treated plasma showed ≥70% retention for most coagulation factors tested. Furthermore, laser treatment did not alter the structure of a model coagulation factor, fibrinogen. Ultrashort pulsed lasers are a promising new method for chemical-free, broad-spectrum pathogen reduction in human plasma. PMID:25372037

  12. High-fat diet with stress impaired islets' insulin secretion by reducing plasma estradiol and pancreatic GLUT2 protein levels in rats' proestrus phase.

    PubMed

    Salimi, M; Zardooz, H; Khodagholi, F; Rostamkhani, F; Shaerzadeh, F

    2016-10-01

    This study was conducted to determine whether two estrus phases (proestrus and diestrus) in female rats may influence the metabolic response to a high-fat diet and/or stress, focusing on pancreatic insulin secretion and content. Animals were divided into high-fat and normal diet groups, then each group was subdivided into stress and non-stress groups, and finally, each one of these was divided into proestrus and diestrus subgroups. At the end of high-fat diet treatment, foot-shock stress was applied to the animals. Then, blood samples were taken to measure plasma factors. Finally, the pancreas was removed for determination of glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) protein levels and assessment of insulin content and secretion of the isolated islets. In the normal and high-fat diet groups, stress increased plasma corticosterone concentration in both phases. In both study phases, high-fat diet consumption decreased estradiol and increased leptin plasma levels. In the high-fat diet group in response to high glucose concentration, a reduction in insulin secretion was observed in the proestrus phase compared with the same phase in the normal diet group in the presence and absence of stress. Also, high-fat diet decreased the insulin content of islets in the proestrus phase compared with the normal diet. High-fat diet and/or stress caused a reduction in islet GLUT2 protein levels in both phases. In conclusion, it seems possible that high-fat diet alone or combined with foot-shock, predispose female rats to impaired insulin secretion, at least in part, by interfering with estradiol levels in the proestrus phase and decreasing pancreatic GLUT2 protein levels.

  13. Plasma Modes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dubin, D. H. E.

    This chapter explores several aspects of the linear electrostatic normal modes of oscillation for a single-species non-neutral plasma in a Penning trap. Linearized fluid equations of motion are developed, assuming the plasma is cold but collisionless, which allow derivation of the cold plasma dielectric tensor and the electrostatic wave equation. Upper hybrid and magnetized plasma waves in an infinite uniform plasma are described. The effect of the plasma surface in a bounded plasma system is considered, and the properties of surface plasma waves are characterized. The normal modes of a cylindrical plasma column are discussed, and finally, modes of spheroidal plasmas, and finite temperature effects on the modes, are briefly described.

  14. CONFINEMENT OF HIGH TEMPERATURE PLASMA

    DOEpatents

    Koenig, H.R.

    1963-05-01

    The confinement of a high temperature plasma in a stellarator in which the magnetic confinement has tended to shift the plasma from the center of the curved, U-shaped end loops is described. Magnetic means are provided for counteracting this tendency of the plasma to be shifted away from the center of the end loops, and in one embodiment this magnetic means is a longitudinally extending magnetic field such as is provided by two sets of parallel conductors bent to follow the U-shaped curvature of the end loops and energized oppositely on the inside and outside of this curvature. (AEC)

  15. Differential effects of mental stress on plasma homovanillic acid in schizophrenia and normal controls.

    PubMed

    Sumiyoshi, T; Saitoh, O; Yotsutsuji, T; Itoh, H; Kurokawa, K; Kurachi, M

    1999-04-01

    We previously reported that mental stress by Kraepelin's arithmetic test decreases plasma homovanillic acid (pHVA) levels in psychiatrically normal healthy human subjects. The present study was undertaken to determine whether this pattern of changes in pHVA concentrations resulting from mental stress is altered in patients with schizophrenia. Fourteen male patients with schizophrenia including those under ongoing neuroleptic treatment and 14 normal male volunteers participated in the study. Following overnight fast and restricted physical activity, the subjects performed Kraepelin's arithmetic test for 30 minutes. Plasma samples were collected immediately before and after the test for measurement of pHVA levels. A significant diagnosis by Kraepelin's test effect was observed due to a decrease in pHVA levels by the Kraepelin test in control subjects but not in patients with schizophrenia. Changes in pHVA levels during the Kraepelin test positively correlated with pre-test pHVA levels in control subjects, while this correlation was not observed in patients with schizophrenia. These results may be further support for the presence of a dopamine-dependent restitutive system in the brain. The absence of response of pHVA levels to mental stress in patients with schizophrenia may indicate that the dopamine restitutive system in these patients is disrupted or already down-regulated, as previously predicted.

  16. Effect of Tranexamic Acid on Blood Loss, D-Dimer, and Fibrinogen Kinetics in Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery.

    PubMed

    Pong, Ryan P; Leveque, Jean-Christophe A; Edwards, Alicia; Yanamadala, Vijay; Wright, Anna K; Herodes, Megan; Sethi, Rajiv K

    2018-05-02

    Antifibrinolytics such as tranexamic acid reduce operative blood loss and blood product transfusion requirements in patients undergoing surgical correction of scoliosis. The factors involved in the unrelenting coagulopathy seen in scoliosis surgery are not well understood. One potential contributor is activation of the fibrinolytic system during a surgical procedure, likely related to clot dissolution and consumption of fibrinogen. The addition of tranexamic acid during a surgical procedure may mitigate the coagulopathy by impeding the derangement in D-dimer and fibrinogen kinetics. We retrospectively studied consecutive patients who had undergone surgical correction of adult spinal deformity between January 2010 and July 2016 at our institution. Intraoperative hemostatic data, surgical time, estimated blood loss, and transfusion records were analyzed for patients before and after the addition of tranexamic acid to our protocol. Each patient who received tranexamic acid and met inclusion criteria was cohort-matched with a patient who underwent a surgical procedure without tranexamic acid administration. There were 17 patients in the tranexamic acid cohort, with a mean age of 60.7 years, and 17 patients in the control cohort, with a mean age of 60.9 years. Estimated blood loss (932 ± 539 mL compared with 1,800 ± 1,029 mL; p = 0.005) and packed red blood-cell transfusions (1.5 ± 1.6 units compared with 4.0 ± 2.1 units; p = 0.001) were significantly lower in the tranexamic acid cohort. In all single-stage surgical procedures that met inclusion criteria, the rise of D-dimer was attenuated from 8.3 ± 5.0 μg/mL in the control cohort to 3.3 ± 3.2 μg/mL for the tranexamic acid cohort (p < 0.001). The consumption of fibrinogen was 98.4 ± 42.6 mg/dL in the control cohort but was reduced in the tranexamic acid cohort to 60.6 ± 35.1 mg/dL (p = 0.004). In patients undergoing spinal surgery, intravenous administration of tranexamic acid is effective at reducing

  17. Fractalkine Signaling Attenuates Perivascular Clustering of Microglia and Fibrinogen Leakage during Systemic Inflammation in Mouse Models of Diabetic Retinopathy

    PubMed Central

    Mendiola, Andrew S.; Garza, Rolando; Cardona, Sandra M.; Mythen, Shannon A.; Lira, Sergio A.; Akassoglou, Katerina; Cardona, Astrid E.

    2017-01-01

    Fractalkine (FKN) is a chemokine expressed constitutively by healthy neurons and signals to microglia upon interaction with the FKN receptor, CX3CR1. Signaling between FKN and CX3CR1 transduces inhibitory signals that ameliorate microglial activation and proinflammatory cytokine release in neuroinflammatory conditions. The aim of this study is to determine the mechanisms associated with microglial activation and vascular leakage during diabetic retinopathy (DR) and under conditions of low-level endotoxemia, common in diabetic patients. Utilizing the Ins2Akita strain (Akita), a mouse model of type 1 diabetes, our results show that leakage of the blood-protein fibrin(ogen) into the retina occurs as a result of chronic (4 months) but not acute (1.5 months) hyperglycemia. Conversely, inducing endotoxin-mediated systemic inflammation during acute diabetes resulted in fibrinogen deposition in the retina, a phenotype that was exacerbated in mice lacking CX3CR1 signaling. Systemic inflammation in Cx3cr1−/− mice led to robust perivascular clustering of proliferating microglia in areas of fibrinogen extravasation, and induced IL-1β expression in microglia and astrocytes. Lastly, we determined a protective effect of modulating FKN/CX3CR1 signaling in the diabetic retina. We show that intravitreal (iv) administration of recombinant FKN into diabetic FKN-KO mice, reduced fibrinogen deposition and perivascular clustering of microglia in the retina during systemic inflammation. These data suggest that dysregulated microglial activation via loss of FKN/CX3CR1 signaling disrupts the vascular integrity in retina during systemic inflammation. PMID:28119571

  18. Quantitative evaluation of plasma after methylene blue and white light treatment in four Chinese blood centers.

    PubMed

    Chunhui, Yang; Guohui, Bian; Hong, Yang; Xiaopu, Xiao; Zherong, Bai; Mingyuan, Wang; Xinsheng, Zhang; Juanjuan, Wang; Changqing, Li; Wuping, Li

    2013-12-01

    Pathogen reduction technology is an important process in the blood safety system, including solvent/detergent treatment, filtration and methylene blue-photochemical technology (MB-PCT). To investigate the quality of MB-PCT-treated plasma, plasma samples from four Chinese blood centers were analyzed over 12 months of storage to determine the recovery of activities and levels of various plasma proteins. Ten plasma units each from the Suzhou, Yancheng, Chongqing and Shandong blood centers were divided into two aliquots. One was subjected to treatment with one of two methylene blue-photochemical technology instruments and the other was used as control. The treated and untreated sample pairs were stored at -30°C. The recovery rates of coagulation factors, inhibitor proteins, total protein, immunoglobulins, and complement proteins were measured at different time points after storage. The mean recovery of most proteins exceeded 80% after MB treatment. The exceptions were factor XI and fibrinogen, of which only 71.3-74% and 69.0-92.3% were retained during storage. The two equipment types differed in terms of residual MB concentration in the plasma samples (0.18 μM and 0.29 μM, respectively). They had similar protein recovery rates at 0.5 month but differed at later time points. The four blood centers differed significantly with regard to factor II, V, VIII and fibrinogen activities. Only the samples from the Shandong blood center met the methylene blue treated fresh frozen plasma requirement. The major factor that influenced the quality of the MB-FFP samples was the time taken between blood collection and storage. Methylene blue treated plasma showed reduced coagulation factor (CF) activity and protein levels. The MB treatment-induced damage to the proteins was acceptable at the four Chinese blood centers, but the quality of the MB-treated plasma in general was not satisfactory. The main factor affecting plasma quality may be the duration of the collection and

  19. The relationship between levels of plasma-soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) and presence of migraine attack and aura.

    PubMed

    Yılmaz, Nigar; Yılmaz, Mustafa; Sirin, Burcu; Yılmaztekin, Sureyya; Kutlu, Gülnihal

    2017-10-01

    Migraine is one of the most common types of pain associated with sterile inflammatory conditions. Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a potential novel inflammatory marker. We aim to determine the association between serum values of suPAR, procalcitonin, fibrinogen, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and migraine disease characteristics. The study involved a total of 60 migraine patients (33 patients in the interictal period, 27 patients in the attack period) and 30 healthy individuals. The serum values of suPAR were found to be significantly higher in migraine patients in the attack period than in migraine patients in the interictal period, and in healthy individuals (p < .01 for both). In addition, levels of suPAR were determined to be higher in migraine with aura patients than in migraine without aura patients. When we subdivided migraine patients according to frequency of attack (attacks/month), significant differences were found between the suPAR and procalcitonin levels (measured during the attack period) of those in the frequent-attack group (4-5 or more) versus those in the less frequent attack group (less than 4). Serum levels of procalcitonin were shown to be significantly higher in migraine patients during the attack period compared with migraine patients in the interictal period and in control subjects (p = .001 for both). Significant differences were found between plasma levels of fibrinogen in migraine patients versus control subjects (p < .01). No statistically significant difference was found between levels of hs-CRP in migraine patients versus the control group. These findings may show that presenting a high level of suPAR in migraine patients with attack and aura results to predisposition to occurring on the symptoms and that high levels of suPAR, procalcitonin and fibrinogen in patients with migraine result in neurogenic inflammation during migraine headaches.

  20. Colloid osmotic pressure and extravasation of plasma proteins following infusion of Ringer's acetate and hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4.

    PubMed

    Zdolsek, J H; Bergek, C; Lindahl, T L; Hahn, R G

    2015-11-01

    During fluid infusion therapy, plasma proteins are diluted and leak from the intravascular space, which alters the colloid osmotic pressure (COP) and potentially affects coagulation. We hypothesised that acetated Ringer's and starch solution, alone or in combination, influence these mechanisms differently. On different occasions, 10 male volunteers were infused with 20 ml/kg acetated Ringer's and 10 ml/kg 6% hyroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 (Voluven(®) ) alone or in combination (first with starch solution followed by Ringer's solution). Blood samples were collected every 30-min for measurements of COP, blood haemoglobin, platelets, and plasma concentrations of albumin, immunoglobulins (IgG and IgM), coagulation factor VII (FVII), fibrinogen, cystatin C, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin international normalised ratio (PT-INR). Changes were compared with the haemoglobin-derived plasma dilution. The COP increased by 8.4% (SD 3) with starch and decreased by 26.2% (7.9) with Ringer's. These infusions diluted the plasma by 23.4% (5.3) and 18.7% (4.9) respectively. The COP changes in the combined experiment followed the same pattern as the individual infusions. Albumin and IgG changes in excess of the plasma dilution were very subtle. The intravascular contents of the IgM and platelets decreased, whereas FVII, fibrinogen and cystatin C increased. PT-INR increased by 1/3 of the plasma dilution, whereas changes in APTT did not correlate with the plasma dilution. The starch increased COP and only minor capillary leak occurred in healthy volunteers. The fluid-induced plasma dilution correlated with mild impairment of the extrinsic coagulation pathway but not of the intrinsic pathway. © 2015 The Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  1. High Frequency Plasma Generators for Ion Thrusters

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Divergilio, W. F.; Goede, H.; Fosnight, V. V.

    1981-01-01

    The results of a one year program to experimentally adapt two new types of high frequency plasma generators to Argon ion thrusters and to analytically study a third high frequency source concept are presented. Conventional 30 cm two grid ion extraction was utilized or proposed for all three sources. The two plasma generating methods selected for experimental study were a radio frequency induction (RFI) source, operating at about 1 MHz, and an electron cyclotron heated (ECH) plasma source operating at about 5 GHz. Both sources utilize multi-linecusp permanent magnet configurations for plasma confinement. The plasma characteristics, plasma loading of the rf antenna, and the rf frequency dependence of source efficiency and antenna circuit efficiency are described for the RFI Multi-cusp source. In a series of tests of this source at Lewis Research Center, minimum discharge losses of 220+/-10 eV/ion were obtained with propellant utilization of .45 at a beam current of 3 amperes. Possible improvement modifications are discussed.

  2. Numerical Analysis of the Effects of Normalized Plasma Pressure on RMP ELM Suppression in DIII-D

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Orlov, D. M.; Moyer, R.A.; Evans, T. E.

    2010-01-01

    The effect of normalized plasma pressure as characterized by normalized pressure parameter (beta(N)) on the suppression of edge localized modes (ELMs) using resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) is studied in low-collisionality (nu* <= 0.2) H-mode plasmas with low-triangularity ( = 0.25) and ITER similar shapes ( = 0.51). Experimental results have suggested that ELM suppression by RMPs requires a minimum threshold in plasma pressure as characterized by beta(N). The variations in the vacuum field topology with beta(N) due to safety factor profile and island overlap changes caused by variation of the Shafranov shift and pedestal bootstrap current are examined numerically withmore » the field line integration code TRIP3D. The results show very small differences in the vacuum field structure in terms of the Chirikov (magnetic island overlap) parameter, Poincare sections and field line loss fractions. These differences do not appear to explain the observed threshold in beta(N) for ELM suppression. Linear peeling-ballooning stability analysis with the ELITE code suggests that the ELMs which persist during the RMPs when beta(N) is below the observed threshold are not type I ELMs, because the pedestal conditions are deep within the stable regime for peeling-ballooning modes. These ELMs have similarities to type III ELMs or low density ELMs.« less

  3. Hemostatic variables, plasma lactate concentration, and inflammatory biomarkers in dogs with gastric dilatation-volvulus.

    PubMed

    Verschoof, J; Moritz, A; Kramer, M; Bauer, N

    2015-01-01

    Prospective characterization of hemostastatic variables, plasma lactate concentration, and inflammatory biomarkers in dogs with gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV). Coagulation variables (platelets, prothrombin time [PT], activated partial thromboplastin time [aPTT], fibrinogen, antithrombin [AT], protein C [PC], protein S [PS], D-dimers), plasma lactate concentration and inflammatory biomarkers (C-reactive protein, white blood cell [WBC] count, lymphocyte and neutrophil numbers) were assessed in 20 dogs with GDV presented between 2011 and 2012. Blood was taken preoperatively and at days 1 and 3 postoperatively. The prognostic value of these variables before and after surgery was evaluated as well as the behavior of variables during the study. Overall, 7/20 (35%) dogs did not survive; two dogs (29%) were euthanized during surgery due to severe gastric necrosis and 5 (71%) dogs after surgery due to sepsis and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. Prior to surgery, median plasma lactate concentration was significantly (p = 0.01) lower in survivors (6.2 mmol/l, range 1.9-9.7 mmol/l) when compared to non-survivors (11.8 mmol/l, range 7.5-16.2 mmol/l). In dogs dying after surgery, significantly higher plasma lactate concentration, coagulation times and D-dimer concentration were present as well as lower fibrinogen concentration and activity of PC and AT compared to survivors. At discharge, activity of AT, PC and PS were markedly below the reference interval in 6/13 (46%), 11/13 (85%), and 8/13 (62%) dogs, respectively. Only lactate plasma concentration was of preoperative prognostic value. After surgery, severe abnormalities of coagulation variables, especially the endogenous anticoagulants were present in most of the dogs. The severity of the abnormalities was associated with survival.

  4. Clinical characteristics of high plasma adiponectin and high plasma leptin as risk factors for arterial stiffness and related end-organ damage.

    PubMed

    Kohara, Katsuhiko; Ochi, Masayuki; Okada, Yoko; Yamashita, Taiji; Ohara, Maya; Kato, Takeaki; Nagai, Tokihisa; Tabara, Yasuharu; Igase, Michiya; Miki, Tetsuro

    2014-08-01

    The relationship between plasma levels of adiponectin and cardiovascular events is inconclusive. We evaluated the clinical characteristics of people with high plasma adiponectin and high plasma leptin levels. Thousand seven hundred participants recruited from visitors to the Anti-Aging Doc were divided into four groups by combining the bipartiles of plasma adiponectin and leptin levels in men and women separately: AL, high adiponectin and high leptin; Al, high adiponectin and low leptin; al, low adiponectin and low leptin; aL, low adiponectin and high leptin. Body composition, including visceral fat area and thigh muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), periventricular hyperintensity, and urinary albumin excretion, were determined. Twenty percent of the studied population fell within the AL group. This group had a significantly higher visceral fat area than the Al group. Thigh muscle CSA was lowest in the AL group among groups. baPWV, brain white matter lesions, and albuminuria findings in the AL group were significantly higher than those of the Al group. Multiple and logistic regression analyses with confounding parameters further confirmed that plasma adiponectin was not an independent determinant for brain and renal small vessel-related disease. These findings suggest that the plasma level of adiponectin alone is not enough for the risk stratification of cardiovascular disease. Leptin resistance associated with skeletal muscle loss in addition to obesity may need to be addressed to identify high risk people with high plasma adiponectin levels. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. Benzodiazepine sensitivity in normal human subjects.

    PubMed

    Hommer, D W; Matsuo, V; Wolkowitz, O; Chrousos, G; Greenblatt, D J; Weingartner, H; Paul, S M

    1986-06-01

    Increasing intravenous doses of diazepam or placebo were administered to ten healthy normal volunteers, and the changes in saccadic eye velocity, self-rated sedation and anxiety, and plasma cortisol and growth hormone concentrations were measured. Diazepam administration (4.4 to 140 micrograms/kg, cumulative dose) resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in saccadic eye velocity and plasma cortisol level as well as a dose-dependent increase in self-rated sedation and plasma growth hormone level. Self-rated anxiety was unaffected in these relatively nonanxious subjects. The diazepam-induced changes in saccadic eye velocity, sedation, and growth hormone and cortisol levels were highly correlated with each other and with increasing plasma diazepam concentration. These results are consistent with a benzodiazepine receptor-mediated action of diazepam. The highly quantifiable and dose-dependent decrease in saccadic eye velocity by benzodiazepines should make this a useful measure of benzodiazepine receptor sensitivity in humans.

  6. X-ray emission from high temperature plasmas

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Harries, W. L.

    1977-01-01

    The physical processes occurring in plasma focus devices were investigated with particular emphasis on X-ray emission. Topics discussed include: trajectories of high energy electrons; detection of ion trajectories; spatial distribution of neutron emission; space and time resolved emission of hard X-rays from a plasma focus; the staged plasma focus as a variation of the hypocloidal pinch; formation of current sheets in a staged plasma focus; and X-ray and neutron emission from a staged plasma focus. The possibility of operating dense plasma-focus type devices in multiple arrays beyond the scaling law for a single gun is discussed.

  7. Sympathetic nerve traffic and baroreflex function in optimal, normal, and high-normal blood pressure states.

    PubMed

    Seravalle, Gino; Lonati, Laura; Buzzi, Silvia; Cairo, Matteo; Quarti Trevano, Fosca; Dell'Oro, Raffaella; Facchetti, Rita; Mancia, Giuseppe; Grassi, Guido

    2015-07-01

    Adrenergic activation and baroreflex dysfunction are common in established essential hypertension, elderly hypertension, masked and white-coat hypertension, resistant hypertension, and obesity-related hypertension. Whether this autonomic behavior is peculiar to established hypertension or is also detectable in the earlier clinical phases of the disease, that is, the high-normal blood pressure (BP) state, is still largely undefined, however. In 24 individuals with optimal BP (age: 37.1  ±  2.1 years, mean  ±  SEM) and in 27 with normal BP and 38 with high-normal BP, age matched with optimal BP, we measured clinic, 24-h and beat-to-beat BP, heart rate (HR), and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) at rest and during baroreceptor stimulation and deactivation. Measurements also included anthropometric as well as echocardiographic and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index. For similar anthropometric values, clinic, 24-h ambulatory, and beat-to-beat BPs were significantly greater in normal BP than in optimal BP. This was the case when the high-normal BP group was compared to the normal and optimal BP groups. MSNA (but not HR) was also significantly greater in high-normal BP than in normal BP and optimal BP (51.3  ±  2.0 vs. 40.3  ±  2.3 and 41.1 ± 2.6  bursts per 100  heartbeats, respectively, P < 0.01). The sympathetic activation seen in high-normal BP was coupled with an impairment of baroreflex HR control (but not MSNA) and with a significant increase in HOMA Index, which showed a significant direct relationship with MSNA. Thus, independently of which BP the diagnosis is based, high-normal BP is a condition characterized by a sympathetic activation. This neurogenic alteration, which is likely to be triggered by metabolic rather than reflex alterations, might be involved, together with other factors, in the progression of the condition to established hypertension.

  8. High-performance modeling of plasma-based acceleration and laser-plasma interactions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vay, Jean-Luc; Blaclard, Guillaume; Godfrey, Brendan; Kirchen, Manuel; Lee, Patrick; Lehe, Remi; Lobet, Mathieu; Vincenti, Henri

    2016-10-01

    Large-scale numerical simulations are essential to the design of plasma-based accelerators and laser-plasma interations for ultra-high intensity (UHI) physics. The electromagnetic Particle-In-Cell (PIC) approach is the method of choice for self-consistent simulations, as it is based on first principles, and captures all kinetic effects, and also scale favorably to many cores on supercomputers. The standard PIC algorithm relies on second-order finite-difference discretization of the Maxwell and Newton-Lorentz equations. We present here novel formulations, based on very high-order pseudo-spectral Maxwell solvers, which enable near-total elimination of the numerical Cherenkov instability and increased accuracy over the standard PIC method for standard laboratory frame and Lorentz boosted frame simulations. We also present the latest implementations in the PIC modules Warp-PICSAR and FBPIC on the Intel Xeon Phi and GPU architectures. Examples of applications will be given on the simulation of laser-plasma accelerators and high-harmonic generation with plasma mirrors. Work supported by US-DOE Contracts DE-AC02-05CH11231 and by the European Commission through the Marie Slowdoska-Curie fellowship PICSSAR Grant Number 624543. Used resources of NERSC.

  9. Merging-compression formation of high temperature tokamak plasma

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gryaznevich, M. P.; Sykes, A.

    2017-07-01

    Merging-compression is a solenoid-free plasma formation method used in spherical tokamaks (STs). Two plasma rings are formed and merged via magnetic reconnection into one plasma ring that then is radially compressed to form the ST configuration. Plasma currents of several hundred kA and plasma temperatures in the keV-range have been produced using this method, however until recently there was no full understanding of the merging-compression formation physics. In this paper we explain in detail, for the first time, all stages of the merging-compression plasma formation. This method will be used to create ST plasmas in the compact (R ~ 0.4-0.6 m) high field, high current (3 T/2 MA) ST40 tokamak. Moderate extrapolation from the available experimental data suggests the possibility of achieving plasma current ~2 MA, and 10 keV range temperatures at densities ~1-5  ×  1020 m-3, bringing ST40 plasmas into a burning plasma (alpha particle heating) relevant conditions directly from the plasma formation. Issues connected with this approach for ST40 and future ST reactors are discussed

  10. Antihypertensive effects of continuous oral administration of nattokinase and its fragments in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

    PubMed

    Fujita, Mitsugu; Ohnishi, Katsunori; Takaoka, Shinsaku; Ogasawara, Kazuya; Fukuyama, Ryo; Nakamuta, Hiromichi

    2011-01-01

    To determine whether the antihypertensive effect of nattokinase is associated with the protease activity of this enzyme, we compared nattokinase with the fragments derived from nattokinase, which possessed no protease activity, in terms of the effect on hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). In the continuous oral administration test, the groups were given a basic diet alone (control), the basic diet containing nattokinase (0.2, 2.6 mg/g diet) or the basic diet containing the fragments derived from nattokinase (0.2, 0.6 mg/g diet). The group fed the basic diet containing high-dosage nattokinase (2.6 mg/g diet) showed significant reductions in systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and plasma fibrinogen level, compared with control group and no influence on activities of renin and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE, EC 3.4.15.1), and plasma angiotensin II level in the renin-angiotensin system. The treatment of the basic diet containing high-dosage fragments (0.6 mg/g diet) significantly decreased SBP, DBP and plasma angiotensin II level in plasma but the treatment did not influence on plasma fibrinogen level. These results suggest that nattokinase and its fragments are different from each other in the mechanism to reduce hypertension. Nattokinase, retained its protease activity after absorbance across the intestines, may decrease blood pressure through cleavage of fibrinogen in plasma. The fragments, which absorbed as nattokinase-degradation products, prevents the elevation of plasma angiotensin II level to suppress hypertension.

  11. Molecular dynamics study of lipid bilayers modeling the plasma membranes of normal murine thymocytes and leukemic GRSL cells.

    PubMed

    Andoh, Yoshimichi; Okazaki, Susumu; Ueoka, Ryuichi

    2013-04-01

    Molecular dynamics (MD) calculations for the plasma membranes of normal murine thymocytes and thymus-derived leukemic GRSL cells in water have been performed under physiological isothermal-isobaric conditions (310.15K and 1 atm) to investigate changes in membrane properties induced by canceration. The model membranes used in our calculations for normal and leukemic thymocytes comprised 23 and 25 kinds of lipids, respectively, including phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol, sphingomyelin, lysophospholipids, and cholesterol. The mole fractions of the lipids adopted here were based on previously published experimental values. Our calculations clearly showed that the membrane area was increased in leukemic cells, and that the isothermal area compressibility of the leukemic plasma membranes was double that of normal cells. The calculated membranes of leukemic cells were thus considerably bulkier and softer in the lateral direction compared with those of normal cells. The tilt angle of the cholesterol and the conformation of the phospholipid fatty acid tails both showed a lower level of order in leukemic cell membranes compared with normal cell membranes. The lateral radial distribution function of the lipids also showed a more disordered structure in leukemic cell membranes than in normal cell membranes. These observations all show that, for the present thymocytes, the lateral structure of the membrane is considerably disordered by canceration. Furthermore, the calculated lateral self-diffusion coefficient of the lipid molecules in leukemic cell membranes was almost double that in normal cell membranes. The calculated rotational and wobbling autocorrelation functions also indicated that the molecular motion of the lipids was enhanced in leukemic cell membranes. Thus, here we have demonstrated that the membranes of thymocyte leukemic cells are more disordered and more fluid than normal cell membranes. Copyright © 2013

  12. DNA damage in oral cancer and normal cells induced by nitrogen atmospheric pressure plasma jets

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Han, Xu; Kapaldo, James; Liu, Yueying; Stack, M. Sharon; Ptasinska, Sylwia

    2015-09-01

    Nitrogen atmospheric pressure plasma jets (APPJs) have been shown to effectively induce DNA double strand breaks in SCC25 oral cancer cells. The APPJ source constructed in our laboratory operates based on dielectric barrier discharge. It consists of two copper electrodes alternatively wrapping around a fused silica tube with nitrogen as a feed gas. It is generally more challenging to ignite plasma in N2 atmosphere than in noble gases. However, N2 provides additional advantages such as lower costs compared to noble gases, thus this design can be beneficial for the future long-term clinical use. To compare the effects of plasma on cancer cells (SCC25) and normal cells (OKF), the cells from both types were treated at the same experimental condition for various treatment times. The effective area with different damage levels after the treatment was visualized as 3D maps. The delayed damage effects were also explored by varying the incubation times after the treatment. All of these studies are critical for a better understanding of the damage responses of cellular systems exposed to the plasma radiation, thus are useful for the development of the advanced plasma cancer therapy. The research described herein was supported by the Division of Chemical Sciences, Geosciences and Biosciences, Basic Energy Sciences, Office of Science, United States Department of Energy through Grant No. DE-FC02-04ER15533.

  13. Normal-mode-based analysis of electron plasma waves with second-order Hermitian formalism

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ramos, J. J.; White, R. L.

    The classic problem of the dynamic evolution and Landau damping of linear Langmuir electron waves in a collisionless plasma with Maxwellian background is cast as a second-order, self-adjoint problem with a continuum spectrum of real and positive squared frequencies. The corresponding complete basis of singular normal modes is obtained, along with their orthogonality relation. This yields easily the general expression of the time-reversal-invariant solution for any initial-value problem. Examples are then given for specific initial conditions that illustrate different behaviors of the Landau-damped macroscopic moments of the perturbations.

  14. Normal-mode-based analysis of electron plasma waves with second-order Hermitian formalism

    DOE PAGES

    Ramos, J. J.; White, R. L.

    2018-03-01

    The classic problem of the dynamic evolution and Landau damping of linear Langmuir electron waves in a collisionless plasma with Maxwellian background is cast as a second-order, self-adjoint problem with a continuum spectrum of real and positive squared frequencies. The corresponding complete basis of singular normal modes is obtained, along with their orthogonality relation. This yields easily the general expression of the time-reversal-invariant solution for any initial-value problem. Examples are then given for specific initial conditions that illustrate different behaviors of the Landau-damped macroscopic moments of the perturbations.

  15. Transport and metabolism of sarcosine in hypersarcosinemic and normal phenotypes

    PubMed Central

    Glorieux, Francis H.; Scriver, Charles R.; Delvin, Edgard; Mohyuddin, Fazl

    1971-01-01

    An adolescent male proband with hypersarcosinemia was discovered incidentally in a French-Canadian family; no specific disease was associated with the trait. The hypersarcosinemia is not diminished by dietary folic acid even in pharmacologic doses (30 mg/day). The normal absence of sarcosine dehydrogenase in cultured human skin fibroblasts and in leukocytes was confirmed, thus eliminating these tissues as useful sources for further investigation of mutant sarcosinemic phenotypes and genotypes. The response in plasma of sarcosine and glycine, after sarcosine loading, distinguished the normal subject from the subjects who were presumably homozygous and heterozygous for the hypersarcosinemia allele. Sarcosine clearance from plasma was delayed greatly (t½, 6.1 hr) in the presumed homozygote and slightly (t½, 2.2 hr) in the presumed heterozygote, while plasma glycine remained constant in the former and rose in the latter. Normal subjects clear sarcosine from plasma rapidly (t½, 1.6 hr) while their plasma glycine trend is downward. The phenotypic responses suggest that hypersarcosinemia is an autosomal recessive trait in this pedigree. Renal tubular transport of sarcosine was normal in the proband even though he presumably lacked the sarcosine oxidation which should normally occur in kidney. Sarcosine catabolism is thus not important for its own renal uptake. Sarcosine interacts with proline and glycine during its absorption in vivo. Studies in vitro in rat kidney showed that sarcosine transport is mediated, saturable, and energy dependent. Sarcosine has no apparent transport system of its own; it uses the low Km transport systems for L-proline and glycine to a minor extent and a high Km system shared by these substances for the major uptake at concentrations encountered in hypersarcosinemia. Intracellular sarcosine at high concentration will exchange with glycine on one of these systems, which may explain a paradoxical improvement in renal transport of glycine after

  16. Comparison between the effects of inhaled isoprenaline and fenoterol on plasma cyclic AMP and heart rate in normal subjects.

    PubMed Central

    Fairfax, A J; Rehahn, M; Jones, D; O'Malley, B

    1984-01-01

    The time course of changes in plasma cyclic AMP, heart rate and bronchial tone after inhalation of fenoterol or isoprenaline from a dose-metered aerosol are reported in a group of normal subjects. After isoprenaline, plasma cyclic AMP increased rapidly reaching a peak by 10 min and returned to basal levels within 60 min. A rapid, transient rise in heart rate occurred that was maximal by 5 min and returned to a basal level by 45 min. After fenoterol, the changes in cyclic AMP and heart rate were of much longer duration. The rise in plasma cyclic AMP was slower in onset and of greater magnitude than for isoprenaline, reaching a peak by 20 min and remaining above basal level for more than 6 h. The maximum increase in heart rate after fenoterol was less than that observed with isoprenaline but an elevated rate persisted for 4 h after inhalation of fenoterol. Fenoterol is known to have a longer duration of action as a bronchodilator in comparison with isoprenaline. The prolonged rise in plasma cyclic AMP in normal subjects given inhaled fenoterol may reflect this long duration of action. The concomitant rise in heart rate, however, suggests that the duration of plasma cyclic AMP response may in part be due to the systemic effect of the fraction of inhaled fenoterol known to be absorbed via the buccal and intestinal routes. PMID:6322828

  17. Behavior of an indigenously fabricated transferred arc plasma furnace for smelting studies

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    A, K. MANDAL; R, K. DISHWAR; O, P. SINHA

    2018-03-01

    The utilization of industrial solid waste for metal recovery requires high-temperature tools due to the presence of silica and alumina, which is reducible at high temperature. In a plasma arc furnace, transferred arc plasma furnace (TAP) can meet all requirements, but the disadvantage of this technology is the high cost. For performing experiments in the laboratory, the TAP was fabricated indigenously in a laboratory based on the different inputs provided in the literature for the furnace design and fabrication. The observed parameters such as arc length, energy consumption, graphite electrode consumption, noise level as well as lining erosion were characterized for this fabricated furnace. The nitrogen plasma increased by around 200 K (200 °C) melt temperature and noise levels decreased by ∼10 dB compared to a normal arc. Hydrogen plasma offered 100 K (100 °C) higher melt temperature with ∼5 dB higher sound level than nitrogen plasma. Nitrogen plasma arc melting showed lower electrode and energy consumption than normal arc melting, whereas hydrogen plasma showed lower energy consumption and higher electrode consumption in comparison to nitrogen plasma. The higher plasma arc temperature resulted in a shorter meltdown time than normal arc with smoother arcing. Hydrogen plasma permitted more heats, reduced meltdown time, and lower energy consumption, but with increased graphite consumption and crucible wear. The present study showed that the fabricated arc plasma is better than the normal arc furnace with respect to temperature generation, energy consumption, and environmental friendliness. Therefore, it could be used effectively for smelting-reduction studies.

  18. Dense Plasma Focus - From Alternative Fusion Source to Versatile High Energy Density Plasma Source for Plasma Nanotechnology

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rawat, R. S.

    2015-03-01

    The dense plasma focus (DPF), a coaxial plasma gun, utilizes pulsed high current electrical discharge to heat and compress the plasma to very high density and temperature with energy densities in the range of 1-10 × 1010 J/m3. The DPF device has always been in the company of several alternative magnetic fusion devices as it produces intense fusion neutrons. Several experiments conducted on many different DPF devices ranging over several order of storage energy have demonstrated that at higher storage energy the neutron production does not follow I4 scaling laws and deteriorate significantly raising concern about the device's capability and relevance for fusion energy. On the other hand, the high energy density pinch plasma in DPF device makes it a multiple radiation source of ions, electron, soft and hard x-rays, and neutrons, making it useful for several applications in many different fields such as lithography, radiography, imaging, activation analysis, radioisotopes production etc. Being a source of hot dense plasma, strong shockwave, intense energetic beams and radiation, etc, the DPF device, additionally, shows tremendous potential for applications in plasma nanoscience and plasma nanotechnology. In the present paper, the key features of plasma focus device are critically discussed to understand the novelties and opportunities that this device offers in processing and synthesis of nanophase materials using, both, the top-down and bottom-up approach. The results of recent key experimental investigations performed on (i) the processing and modification of bulk target substrates for phase change, surface reconstruction and nanostructurization, (ii) the nanostructurization of PLD grown magnetic thin films, and (iii) direct synthesis of nanostructured (nanowire, nanosheets and nanoflowers) materials using anode target material ablation, ablated plasma and background reactive gas based synthesis and purely gas phase synthesis of various different types of

  19. The Longitudinal Relation of Stress during the Menopausal Transition to Fibrinogen Concentrations: Results from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation

    PubMed Central

    Falconi, April M.; Gold, Ellen B.; Janssen, Imke

    2015-01-01

    Objective Life course theory suggests that exposures during critical or sensitive periods have particularly profound effects on health. Most research on this subject has focused on the occurrence of such windows early in life. We investigated whether perimenopause, a period of dramatic neuroendocrine changes at midlife, represents a sensitive period for response to stress by evaluating the relation of perceived stress to fibrinogen, a biomarker for inflammation. Methods The study sample was comprised of participants in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation, a longitudinal study on women's health during the menopausal transition (n=3,287). We fitted linear mixed effects models to estimate the longitudinal relationship between stress and menopausal stage and the association between stress and fibrinogen over the menopausal transition. Results Women in early and late perimenopause reported perceiving higher levels of stress than premenopausal women (p<0.05), adjusted for confounding variables. This increased perception of stress during perimenopause, however, was unrelated to changes in fibrinogen. Conclusions Although neuroendocrine changes during the menopausal transition may exacerbate the negative health effects of stress, the findings of this study do not suggest such interaction, as measured by changes in fibrinogen. The significant association observed between perceived stress and menopausal status may still have important implications, however, given prior literature linking perceived stress with numerous health outcomes. PMID:26886885

  20. The structure of high-temperature solar flare plasma in non-thermal flare models

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Emslie, A. G.

    1985-01-01

    Analytic differential emission measure distributions have been derived for coronal plasma in flare loops heated both by collisions of high-energy suprathermal electrons with background plasma, and by ohmic heating by the beam-normalizing return current. For low densities, reverse current heating predominates, while for higher densities collisional heating predominates. There is thus a minimum peak temperature in an electron-heated loop. In contrast to previous approximate analyses, it is found that a stable reverse current can dominate the heating rate in a flare loop, especially in the low corona. Two 'scaling laws' are found which relate the peak temperature in the loop to the suprathermal electron flux. These laws are testable observationally and constitute a new diagnostic procedure for examining modes of energy transport in flaring loops.

  1. Different antihypertensive effect of beta-blocking drugs in low and normal-high renin hypertension.

    PubMed

    Kralberg, B E; Tolagen, K

    1976-05-31

    The treatment response to beta-adrenoceptor blocking drugs was compared in two groups of patients with primary (essential) hypertension and different renin levels. Each group consisted of 25 patients and was equally distributed regarding age, severity and stage of hypertension. In the first group (group 1), the mean upright plasma renin activity was 0.8 ng ml-1h-1 (range 0.3 to 1.5) and the patients were considered to have low renin hypertension. In the other group (group 2) the patients had a mean plasma renin activity of 2.1 ng ml-1h-1 (range 1.1 to 5.1) and were considered to have normal to high renin hypertension. In both groups the patients were initially treated with beta-blocking drugs; in group 1 with a beta-blocker corresponding to an average dose of 311 mg propranolol a day for at least eight weeks and in group 2 with propranolol 320 mg a day in a fixed dose for eight weeks. The hypotensive response differed significantly between the two groups (p less than 0.001). In group 1 the pretreatment blood pressure was 197/117 mm Hg supine and 198/120 mm Hg standing. During treatment blood pressure decreased only 5/3 mm Hg supine and 9/5 mm Hg standing. The pretreatment blood pressure in group 2 was 187/114 mm Hg supine and 186/117 mm Hg standing. Beta-blocking therapy reduced blood pressure 36/23 and 34/18 mm Hg, respectively (both p less than 0.001). Pulse rates fell significantly in the two groups, both in the lying and standing positions. In 17 patients with low renin hypertension (group 1), a volume-depleting drug was added (spironolactone, 14 patients; thiazides, 3 patients) and this achieved a marked fall in blood pressure levels of 38/16 mm Hg supine and 37/19 mm Hg standing (both p less than 0.001). These results suggest the following: (1) Most patients with normal to high plasma renin activity respond well to moderate doses of propranolol. (2) Propranolol given in the same doses is almost without antihypertensive effect in patients with low renin

  2. Plasma and blood viscosity in the prediction of cardiovascular disease and mortality in the Scottish Heart Health Extended Cohort Study.

    PubMed

    Peters, Sanne Ae; Woodward, Mark; Rumley, Ann; Tunstall-Pedoe, Hugh D; Lowe, Gordon DO

    2017-01-01

    Background There is increasing evidence that blood viscosity and its major determinants (haematocrit and plasma viscosity) are associated with increased risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and premature mortality; however, their predictive value for CVD and mortality is not clear. Methods We prospectively assessed the added predictive value of plasma viscosity and whole blood viscosity and haematocrit in 3386 men and women aged 30-74 years participating in the Scottish Heart Health Extended Cohort study. Results Over a median follow-up of 17 years, 819 CVD events and 778 deaths were recorded. Hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for a 1 SD increase in plasma viscosity, adjusted for major CVD risk factors, were 1.12 (1.04-1.20) for CVD and 1.20 (1.12-1.29) for mortality. These remained significant after further adjustment for plasma fibrinogen: 1.09 (1.01-1.18) and 1.13 (1.04-1.22). The corresponding results for blood viscosity were 0.99 (0.90, 1.09) for CVD, and 1.11 (1.01, 1.22) for total mortality after adjustment for major CVD risk factors; and 0.97 (0.88, 1.08) and 1.06 (0.96, 1.18) after further adjustment for fibrinogen. Haematocrit showed similar associations to blood viscosity. When added to classical CVD risk factors, plasma viscosity improved the discrimination of CVD and mortality by 2.4% (0.7-4.4%) and 4.1% (2.0-6.5%). Conclusions Although plasma and blood viscosity may have a role in the pathogenesis of CVD and mortality, much of their association with CVD and mortality is due to the mutual effects of major CVD risk factors. However, plasma viscosity adds to the discrimination of CVD and mortality and might be considered for inclusion in multivariable risk scores.

  3. High Speed Photographic Analysis Of Railgun Plasmas

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Macintyre, I. B.

    1985-02-01

    Various experiments are underway at the Materials Research Laboratories, Australian Department of Defence, to develop a theory for the behaviour and propulsion action of plasmas in rail guns. Optical recording and imaging devices, with their low vulnerability to the effects of magnetic and electric fields present in the vicinity of electromagnetic launchers, have proven useful as diagnostic tools. This paper describes photoinstrumentation systems developed to provide visual qualitative assessment of the behaviour of plasma travelling along the bore of railgun launchers. In addition, a quantitative system is incorporated providing continuous data (on a microsecond time scale) of (a) Length of plasma during flight along the launcher bore. (b) Velocity of plasma. (c) Distribution of plasma with respect to time after creation. (d) Plasma intensity profile as it travels along the launcher bore. The evolution of the techniques used is discussed. Two systems were employed. The first utilized a modified high speed streak camera to record the light emitted from the plasma, through specially prepared fibre optic cables. The fibre faces external to the bore were then imaged onto moving film. The technique involved the insertion of fibres through the launcher body to enable the plasma to be viewed at discrete positions as it travelled along the launcher bore. Camera configuration, fibre optic preparation and experimental results are outlined. The second system utilized high speed streak and framing photography in conjunction with accurate sensitometric control procedures on the recording film. The two cameras recorded the plasma travelling along the bore of a specially designed transparent launcher. The streak camera, fitted with a precise slit size, recorded a streak image of the upper brightness range of the plasma as it travelled along the launcher's bore. The framing camera recorded an overall view of the launcher and the plasma path, to the maximum possible, governed by

  4. Fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products in children with renal disease

    PubMed Central

    Uttley, W. S.; Maxwell, Heather; Cash, J. D.

    1974-01-01

    Fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) were measured in the serum and urine of children with various forms of renal disease. Serum FDP was raised both with nephrosis and with active proliferative nephritis. Urine FDP was rarely present in nephrosis but was significantly increased during the active phase of proliferative nephritis and also in urinary tract infection with frank haematuria. Urinary FDP correlated with total urinary protein in proliferative nephritis but not in nephrosis, nor did it correlate with serum FDP in either condition. The major application of urinary FDP determination in clinical practice is as an indicator of activity and possible response to treatment in the management of active proliferative nephritis. PMID:4817446

  5. Electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry facilitates detection of fibrinogen (Bbeta 14 Arg --> Cys) mutation in a family with thrombosis.

    PubMed

    Brennan, S O; Hammonds, B; Spearing, R; George, P M

    1997-12-01

    We report the first direct detection of a fibrinogen mutation by electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry. The propositus, from a family with a history of thrombosis, came to attention after a pulmonary embolism subsequent to a spontaneous abortion. Prolonged thrombin (41 s) and reptilase times (26 s) together with an impairment of fibrinopeptide B release suggested a mutation at the thrombin cleavage site of the Bbeta chain. Direct mass analysis of purified fibrin chains from a thrombin induced clot showed that 50% of the Bbeta chains remained uncleaved. The measured mass of the mono sialo isoform of this uncleaved chain was 54150 Da, compared to a value of 54198 Da for normal Bbeta chains. This decrease of 48 Da in the intact protein is indicative of either a Bbeta 14 Arg to Cys, or Arg to Leu substitution. Heterozygosity for the Bbeta 14 Arg --> Cys mutation was verified by PCR amplification and DNA sequence analysis.

  6. Effects of MASP-1 of the Complement System on Activation of Coagulation Factors and Plasma Clot Formation

    PubMed Central

    Hess, Katharina; Ajjan, Ramzi; Phoenix, Fladia; Dobó, József; Gál, Péter; Schroeder, Verena

    2012-01-01

    Background Numerous interactions between the coagulation and complement systems have been shown. Recently, links between coagulation and mannan-binding lectin-associated serine protease-1 (MASP-1) of the complement lectin pathway have been proposed. Our aim was to investigate MASP-1 activation of factor XIII (FXIII), fibrinogen, prothrombin, and thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) in plasma-based systems, and to analyse effects of MASP-1 on plasma clot formation, structure and lysis. Methodology/Principal Findings We used a FXIII incorporation assay and specific assays to measure the activation products prothrombin fragment F1+2, fibrinopeptide A (FPA), and activated TAFI (TAFIa). Clot formation and lysis were assessed by turbidimetric assay. Clot structure was studied by scanning electron microscopy. MASP-1 activated FXIII and, contrary to thrombin, induced FXIII activity faster in the Val34 than the Leu34 variant. MASP-1-dependent generation of F1+2, FPA and TAFIa showed a dose-dependent response in normal citrated plasma (NCP), albeit MASP-1 was much less efficient than FXa or thrombin. MASP-1 activation of prothrombin and TAFI cleavage were confirmed in purified systems. No FPA generation was observed in prothrombin-depleted plasma. MASP-1 induced clot formation in NCP, affected clot structure, and prolonged clot lysis. Conclusions/Significance We show that MASP-1 interacts with plasma clot formation on different levels and influences fibrin structure. Although MASP-1-induced fibrin formation is thrombin-dependent, MASP-1 directly activates prothrombin, FXIII and TAFI. We suggest that MASP-1, in concerted action with other complement and coagulation proteins, may play a role in fibrin clot formation. PMID:22536427

  7. Blood-brain barrier dysfunction and cerebral small vessel disease (arteriolosclerosis) in brains of older people.

    PubMed

    Bridges, Leslie R; Andoh, Joycelyn; Lawrence, Andrew J; Khoong, Cheryl H L; Poon, Wayne; Esiri, Margaret M; Markus, Hugh S; Hainsworth, Atticus H

    2014-11-01

    The blood-brain barrier protects brain tissue from potentially harmful plasma components. Small vessel disease (SVD; also termed arteriolosclerosis) is common in the brains of older people and is associated with lacunar infarcts, leukoaraiosis, and vascular dementia. To determine whether plasma extravasation is associated with SVD, we immunolabeled the plasma proteins fibrinogen and immunoglobulin G, which are assumed to reflect blood-brain barrier dysfunction, in deep gray matter (DGM; anterior caudate-putamen) and deep subcortical white matter (DWM) in the brains of a well-characterized cohort of donated brains with minimal Alzheimer disease pathology (Braak Stages 0-II) (n = 84; aged 65 years or older). Morphometric measures of fibrinogen labeling were compared between people with neuropathologically defined SVD and aged control subjects. Parenchymal cellular labeling with fibrinogen and immunoglobulin G was detectable in DGM and DWM in many subjects (>70%). Quantitative measures of fibrinogen were not associated with SVD in DGM or DWM; SVD severity was correlated between DGM and DWM (p < 0.0001). Fibrinogen in DGM showed a modest association with a history of hypertension; DWM fibrinogen was associated with dementia and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (all p < 0.05). In DWM, SVD was associated with leukoaraiosis identified in life (p < 0.05), but fibrinogen was not. Our data suggest that, in aged brains, plasma extravasation and hence local blood-brain barrier dysfunction are common but do not support an association with SVD.

  8. Sex differences in plasma homovanillic acid levels in schizophrenia and normal controls: relation to neuroleptic resistance.

    PubMed

    Sumiyoshi, T; Hasegawa, M; Jayathilake, K; Meltzer, H Y

    1997-03-01

    Plasma homovanillic acid (pHVA) levels were compared in a large number of neuroleptic-resistant and -responsive schizophrenic patients (male/female = 161/46) and normal controls (67/27), and correlated with various measures of psychopathology. Psychopathology was evaluated with the brief psychiatric rating scale, the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Change version (SADS-C) and SADS-C Global Assessment Scale, the Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms, the Scale for Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS), and the Quality of Life Scale. No significant differences in pHVA levels between neuroleptic-resistant (n = 104) or -responsive (n = 103) schizophrenic patients, and normal controls, were found; however, there was a main effect for sex, due to higher pHVA levels in women than men. There were no diagnosis x gender or age effects on pHVA levels. No significant correlations were observed between psychopathology ratings and baseline pHVA levels, except with the Hallucinations subscale of SAPS in neuroleptic-responsive patients. Neither duration of neuroleptic washout nor plasma prolactin levels correlated with pHVA levels. Further studies on the origin and significance of the gender difference in pHVA are indicated.

  9. Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) in the discrimination of normal and oral cancer blood plasma

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pachaiappan, Rekha; Prakasarao, Aruna; Singaravelu, Ganesan

    2017-02-01

    Oral cancer is the most frequent type of cancer that occurs with 75000 to 80000 new cases reported every year in India. The carcinogens from tobacco and related products are the main cause for the oral cancer. ATR-FTIR method is label free, fast and cost-effective diagnostic method would allow for rapid diagnostic results in earlier stages by the minimal chemical changes occur in the biological metabolites available in the blood plasma. The present study reports the use of ATR-FTIR data with advanced statistical model (LDA-ANN) in the diagnosis of oral cancer from normal with better accuracy. The infrared spectra were acquired on ATR-FTIR Jasco spectrophotometer at 4 cm-1 resolution, 30 scans, in the 1800-900 cm-1 spectral range. Each sample had 5 spectra recorded from each blood plasma sample. The spectral data were routed through the multilayer perception of artificial neural network to evaluate for the statistical efficacy. Among the spectral data it was found that amide II (1486 cm-1) and lipid (1526 cm-1) affords about 90 % in the discrimination between groups using LDA. These preliminary results indicate that ATR-FTIR is useful to differentiate normal subject from oral cancer patients using blood plasma.

  10. High-Frequency Normal Mode Propagation in Aluminum Cylinders

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Lee, Myung W.; Waite, William F.

    2009-01-01

    Acoustic measurements made using compressional-wave (P-wave) and shear-wave (S-wave) transducers in aluminum cylinders reveal waveform features with high amplitudes and with velocities that depend on the feature's dominant frequency. In a given waveform, high-frequency features generally arrive earlier than low-frequency features, typical for normal mode propagation. To analyze these waveforms, the elastic equation is solved in a cylindrical coordinate system for the high-frequency case in which the acoustic wavelength is small compared to the cylinder geometry, and the surrounding medium is air. Dispersive P- and S-wave normal mode propagations are predicted to exist, but owing to complex interference patterns inside a cylinder, the phase and group velocities are not smooth functions of frequency. To assess the normal mode group velocities and relative amplitudes, approximate dispersion relations are derived using Bessel functions. The utility of the normal mode theory and approximations from a theoretical and experimental standpoint are demonstrated by showing how the sequence of P- and S-wave normal mode arrivals can vary between samples of different size, and how fundamental normal modes can be mistaken for the faster, but significantly smaller amplitude, P- and S-body waves from which P- and S-wave speeds are calculated.

  11. A case of sleep apnea syndrome manifesting severe hypertension with high plasma norepinephrine levels.

    PubMed

    Makino, Shinya; Iwata, Masanobu; Fujiwara, Masayoshi; Ike, Shinpei; Tateyama, Hitone

    2006-06-01

    A 55-year-old female was admitted to our hospital with severe hypertension (274/140 mmHg). Endocrinological examination revealed that her plasma levels of norepinephrine (NE) was elevated with high levels of urinary NE, normetanephrine and vanillylmandelic acid (VMA), suggesting the presence of pheochromocytoma. However, neither computed tomography nor MIBG scintigraphy detected any catecholamine-producing tumor in or outside the adrenal glands. She was screened with full polysomnography because of heavy snoring, and the diagnosis of severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) was made. She was treated with calcium channel blocker for three weeks, but severe hypertension persisted. After treatment with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) was added, her blood pressure gradually lowered week by week. Concomitantly, the levels of plasma and urinary NE, urinary normetanephrine and urinary VMA were normalized following nasal CPAP therapy for 2 weeks. Additional treatments with alpha-adrenergic blocker further decreased her home blood pressure. After a year, she continued nasal CPAP therapy and her blood pressure was nearly below 160/100 mmHg. Urinary NE level was slightly above normal range and other catecholamines stayed within the normal range. This case shows that patients with OSAS could develop severe hypertension through elevated sympathetic tone, mimicking pheochromocytoma. Nasal CPAP therapy is recommended not only to improve hypertension and catecholamine excess but also to distinguish the condition from pheochromocytoma.

  12. Obesity-Related Metabolic Risk in Sedentary Hispanic Adolescent Girls with Normal BMI.

    PubMed

    van der Heijden, Gert-Jan; Wang, Zhiyue J; Chu, Zili D; Haymond, Morey; Sauer, Pieter J J; Sunehag, Agneta L

    2018-06-15

    Hispanic adolescent girls with normal BMI frequently have high body fat %. Without knowledge of body fat content and distribution, their risk for metabolic complications is unknown. We measured metabolic risk indicators and abdominal fat distribution in post-pubertal Hispanic adolescent girls with Normal BMI (N-BMI: BMI < 85th percentile) and compared these indicators between girls with Normal BMI and High Fat content (N-BMI-HF: body fat ≥ 27%; n = 15) and Normal BMI and Normal Fat content (N-BMI-NF: body fat < 27%; n = 8). Plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, adiponectin, leptin and Hs-CRP were determined. Insulin resistance was calculated using an oral glucose tolerance test. Body fat % was measured by DXA and subcutaneous, visceral and hepatic fat by MRI/MRS. The N-BMI-HF girls had increased abdominal and hepatic fat content and increased insulin resistance, plasma leptin and Hs-CRP concentrations ( p < 0.05) as compared to their N-BMI-NF counterparts. In N-BMI girls, insulin resistance, plasma insulin and leptin correlated with BMI and body fat % ( p < 0.05). This research confirms the necessity of the development of BMI and body fat % cut-off criteria per sex, age and racial/ethnic group based on metabolic risk factors to optimize the effectiveness of metabolic risk screening procedures.

  13. [Relations between plasma-erythrocyte viscosity factors and ESR].

    PubMed

    Cortinovis, A; Crippa, A; Crippa, M; Bosoni, T; Moratti, R

    1992-09-01

    The ESR is usually put in relationship: to the real density of the RBCs (erythrocytes) (difference between the RBC specific gravity and the plasma one), and to the resistance that the RBCs meet moving in a medium, which is due to the plasma viscosity and to the total external RBC surface. When the RBCs take shape of aggregates, their external surface is decreased and ESR increases. The most important plasma factor causing changes in ESR is the fibrinogen level followed by the plasma globulins and by the products arising from the tissue damage. The resistance that the RBCs meet moving in the plasma is well expressed by the measurement of the plasma-RBC viscosity considering that is inclusive of both factors that are the plasma viscosity and the external RBC surface. The plasma-RBC viscosity is the resultant of several factors: Fa = Fb - Fe - Fs - Fm, were: Fa is the resultant, Fb the attracting forces due to the proteic macromolecules, Fe the repulsing forces due the negative charges. Fs the repulsing forces due to the shear-stress, Fm the force which opposes itself against the surface tension of the aggregation; it depends on the RBC morphology and on the RBC rigidity. The ESR has been recently used like an index of the RBC aggregation. The Authors study the relationship between several hemorheological parameters and the ESR in infective and inflammatory processes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

  14. Hemocompatible control of sulfobetaine-grafted polypropylene fibrous membranes in human whole blood via plasma-induced surface zwitterionization.

    PubMed

    Chen, Sheng-Han; Chang, Yung; Lee, Kueir-Rarn; Wei, Ta-Chin; Higuchi, Akon; Ho, Feng-Ming; Tsou, Chia-Chun; Ho, Hsin-Tsung; Lai, Juin-Yih

    2012-12-21

    In this work, the hemocompatibility of zwitterionic polypropylene (PP) fibrous membranes with varying grafting coverage of poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PSBMA) via plasma-induced surface polymerization was studied. Charge neutrality of PSBMA-grafted layers on PP membrane surfaces was controlled by the low-pressure and atmospheric plasma treatment in this study. The effects of grafting composition, surface hydrophilicity, and hydration capability on blood compatibility of the membranes were determined. Protein adsorption onto the different PSBMA-grafted PP membranes from human fibrinogen solutions was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with monoclonal antibodies. Blood platelet adhesion and plasma clotting time measurements from a recalcified platelet-rich plasma solution were used to determine if platelet activation depends on the charge bias of the grafted PSBMA layer. The charge bias of PSBMA layer deviated from the electrical balance of positively and negatively charged moieties can be well-controlled via atmospheric plasma-induced interfacial zwitterionization and was further tested with human whole blood. The optimized PSBMA surface graft layer in overall charge neutrality has a high hydration capability and keeps its original blood-inert property of antifouling, anticoagulant, and antithrmbogenic activities when it comes into contact with human blood. This work suggests that the hemocompatible nature of grafted PSBMA polymers by controlling grafting quality via atmospheric plasma treatment gives a great potential in the surface zwitterionization of hydrophobic membranes for use in human whole blood.

  15. The selective effect of plasma activated medium in an in vitro co-culture of liver cancer and normal cells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Duan, J.; Lu, X.; He, G.

    2017-01-01

    In this work, a co-culture system with liver cancer cell line HepG2 and normal cell line L02 is used to investigate the selective effect on cancer and normal cells by plasma activated medium (PAM), which is closer to the real environment where cancer cells develop. Besides, the co-culture system is a better model to study the selective effect than the widely used separate culture systems, where the cancer cell line and normal cell line are cultured independently. By using the co-culture system, it is found that there is an optimum dose of PAM to induce significant cancer cell apoptosis while keeping minimum damage to normal cells.

  16. The relationship between blood viscosity and blood pressure in a random sample of the population aged 55 to 74 years.

    PubMed

    Fowkes, F G; Lowe, G D; Rumley, A; Lennie, S E; Smith, F B; Donnan, P T

    1993-05-01

    Blood viscosity is elevated in hypertensive subjects, but the association of viscosity with arterial blood pressure in the general population, and the influence of social, lifestyle and disease characteristics on this association, are not established. In the Edinburgh Artery Study, 1592 men and women aged 55-74 years selected randomly from the general population attended a university clinic. A fasting blood sample was taken for the measurement of blood viscosity and its major determinants (haematocrit, plasma viscosity and fibrinogen). Systolic pressure was related univariately to blood viscosity (P < 0.001), plasma viscosity (P < 0.001) and plasma fibrinogen (P < 0.01), but the association with fibrinogen did not persist after adjusting for body mass index. Diastolic pressure was related univariately to blood viscosity (P < 0.001) and plasma viscosity (P < 0.001) and haematocrit (P < 0.001) but not to fibrinogen. The only difference between the sexes was that the association between blood viscosity and systolic pressure was confined to males. Blood viscosity was associated equally with systolic and diastolic pressures in males, and remained independently related on multivariate analysis adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, social class, smoking, alcohol intake, exercise, angina, HDL and non-HDL cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, plasma viscosity, fibrinogen, and haematocrit.

  17. Measurement of Factor V Activity in Human Plasma Using a Microplate Coagulation Assay

    PubMed Central

    Tilley, Derek; Levit, Irina; Samis, John A.

    2012-01-01

    In response to injury, blood coagulation is activated and results in generation of the clotting protease, thrombin. Thrombin cleaves fibrinogen to fibrin which forms an insoluble clot that stops hemorrhage. Factor V (FV) in its activated form, FVa, is a critical cofactor for the protease FXa and accelerator of thrombin generation during fibrin clot formation as part of prothrombinase 1, 2. Manual FV assays have been described 3, 4, but they are time consuming and subjective. Automated FV assays have been reported 5-7, but the analyzer and reagents are expensive and generally provide only the clot time, not the rate and extent of fibrin formation. The microplate platform is preferred for measuring enzyme-catalyzed events because of convenience, time, cost, small volume, continuous monitoring, and high-throughput 8, 9. Microplate assays have been reported for clot lysis 10, platelet aggregation 11, and coagulation Factors 12, but not for FV activity in human plasma. The goal of the method was to develop a microplate assay that measures FV activity during fibrin formation in human plasma. This novel microplate method outlines a simple, inexpensive, and rapid assay of FV activity in human plasma. The assay utilizes a kinetic microplate reader to monitor the absorbance change at 405nm during fibrin formation in human plasma (Figure 1) 13. The assay accurately measures the time, initial rate, and extent of fibrin clot formation. It requires only μl quantities of plasma, is complete in 6 min, has high-throughput, is sensitive to 24-80pM FV, and measures the amount of unintentionally activated (1-stage activity) and thrombin-activated FV (2-stage activity) to obtain a complete assessment of its total functional activity (2-stage activity - 1-stage activity). Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is an acquired coagulopathy that most often develops from pre-existing infections 14. DIC is associated with a poor prognosis and increases mortality above the pre

  18. Measurement of factor v activity in human plasma using a microplate coagulation assay.

    PubMed

    Tilley, Derek; Levit, Irina; Samis, John A

    2012-09-09

    In response to injury, blood coagulation is activated and results in generation of the clotting protease, thrombin. Thrombin cleaves fibrinogen to fibrin which forms an insoluble clot that stops hemorrhage. Factor V (FV) in its activated form, FVa, is a critical cofactor for the protease FXa and accelerator of thrombin generation during fibrin clot formation as part of prothrombinase (1, 2). Manual FV assays have been described (3, 4), but they are time consuming and subjective. Automated FV assays have been reported (5-7), but the analyzer and reagents are expensive and generally provide only the clot time, not the rate and extent of fibrin formation. The microplate platform is preferred for measuring enzyme-catalyzed events because of convenience, time, cost, small volume, continuous monitoring, and high-throughput (8, 9). Microplate assays have been reported for clot lysis (10), platelet aggregation (11), and coagulation Factors (12), but not for FV activity in human plasma. The goal of the method was to develop a microplate assay that measures FV activity during fibrin formation in human plasma. This novel microplate method outlines a simple, inexpensive, and rapid assay of FV activity in human plasma. The assay utilizes a kinetic microplate reader to monitor the absorbance change at 405 nm during fibrin formation in human plasma (Figure 1) (13). The assay accurately measures the time, initial rate, and extent of fibrin clot formation. It requires only μl quantities of plasma, is complete in 6 min, has high-throughput, is sensitive to 24-80 pM FV, and measures the amount of unintentionally activated (1-stage activity) and thrombin-activated FV (2-stage activity) to obtain a complete assessment of its total functional activity (2-stage activity - 1-stage activity). Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is an acquired coagulopathy that most often develops from pre-existing infections (14). DIC is associated with a poor prognosis and increases mortality

  19. Myeloperoxidase in the plasma and placenta of normal pregnant women and women with pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction.

    PubMed

    Hung, T-H; Chen, S-F; Lo, L-M; Li, M-J; Yeh, Y-L; Hsieh, T-T

    2012-04-01

    Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is a heme protein produced and released by activated neutrophils and monocytes, and increased MPO is considered important in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Accumulating evidence suggests that preeclampsia (PE), idiopathic intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and CVD share many similar metabolic disturbances, including an enhanced systemic inflammatory response and endothelial dysfunction. We hypothesized that MPO plays an important role in the development of PE and IUGR. Plasma samples were collected mid-gestation and at delivery from women with normal pregnancies (n = 40) and those who subsequently developed PE (n = 20), IUGR (n = 11) or both (PE + IUGR, n = 8). Placental samples were obtained immediately after delivery from 22 women with normal pregnancies, 19 women with PE, 14 women with IUGR, and 14 women with PE + IUGR. The MPO concentrations were measured using ELISA. Women with PE + IUGR had significantly higher plasma MPO before delivery than normal pregnant women. There was no difference in plasma levels at mid-gestation or the placental concentrations between women with normal pregnancies and those who developed PE, IUGR, or PE + IUGR. Using explants prepared from the placentas of 8 women with normal pregnancies and 8 women with PE, we found no difference in the levels of MPO in the tissue homogenates and culture media between these two groups of women. Together, these results indicate that increased maternal circulating MPO in women with PE + IUGR is likely a result of enhanced systemic inflammation caused by the established disease rather than a primary pathophysiological factor. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. Study of Volumetrically Heated Ultra-High Energy Density Plasmas

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Rocca, Jorge J.

    2016-10-27

    Heating dense matter to millions of degrees is important for applications, but requires complex and expensive methods. The major goal of the project was to demonstrate using a compact laser the creation of a new ultra-high energy density plasma regime characterized by simultaneous extremely high temperature and high density, and to study it combining experimental measurements and advanced simulations. We have demonstrated that trapping of intense femtosecond laser pulses deep within ordered nanowire arrays can heat near solid density matter into a new ultra hot plasma regime. Extreme electron densities, and temperatures of several tens of million degrees were achievedmore » using laser pulses of only 0.5 J energy from a compact laser. Our x-ray spectra and simulations showed that extremely highly ionized plasma volumes several micrometers in depth are generated by irradiation of gold and Nickel nanowire arrays with femtosecond laser pulses of relativistic intensities. We obtained extraordinarily high degrees of ionization (e.g. we peeled 52 electrons from gold atoms, and up to 26 electrons from nickel atoms). In the process we generated Gigabar pressures only exceeded in the central hot spot of highly compressed thermonuclear fusion plasmas.. The plasma created after the dissolved wires expand, collide, and thermalize, is computed to have a thermal energy density of 0.3 GJ cm -3 and a pressure of 1-2 Gigabar. These are pressures only exceeded in highly compressed thermonuclear fusion plasmas. Scaling these results to higher laser intensities promises to create plasmas with temperatures and pressures exceeding those in the center of the sun.« less

  1. Pre-analytical stability of the plasma proteomes based on the storage temperature

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    Background This study examined the effect of storage temperature on the protein profile of human plasma. Plasma samples were stored for 13 days at -80°C, -20°C, +4°C and room temperature (20-25°C) prior to proteomic analysis. The proteomic comparisons were based on the differences of mean intensity values of protein spots between fresh plasma samples (named “time zero”) and plasma samples stored at different temperatures. To better understand the thermally induced biochemical changes that may affect plasma proteins during storage we identified proteins with different expressions with respect to the time zero sample. Results Using two-dimensional electrophoresis followed by MALDI-TOF MS and /or LC-MS/MS 20 protein spots representing 10 proteins were identified with significant differences in abundance when stored at different temperatures. Our results, in agreement with various authors, indicate that during storage for a short period (13 days) at four different temperatures plasma proteins were more affected by degradation processes at +4°C compared to the other temperatures analysed. However, we founded that numerous protein spots (vitamin D binding protein, alpha-1-antitrypsin, serotransferrin, apoplipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein E, haptoglobin and complement factor B) decrease in abundance with increasing temperature up to 4°C, but at room temperature their intensity mean values are similar to those of time zero and -80°C. We hypothesize that these proteins are labile at 4°C, but at the same time they are stable at room temperature (20-25°C). Furthermore we have grouped the proteins based on their different sensitivity to the storage temperature. Spots of serum albumin, fibrinogen gamma chain and haptoglobin are more resistant to the higher temperatures tested, as they have undergone changes in abundance only at room temperature; conversely, other spots of serum albumin, fibrinogen beta chain and serotransferrin are more labile as they have

  2. Deviation from Normal Boltzmann Distribution of High-lying Energy Levels of Iron Atom Excited by Okamoto-cavity Microwave-induced Plasmas Using Pure Nitrogen and Nitrogen-Oxygen Gases.

    PubMed

    Wagatsuma, Kazuaki

    2015-01-01

    This paper describes several interesting excitation phenomena occurring in a microwave-induced plasma (MIP) excited with Okamoto-cavity, especially when a small amount of oxygen was mixed with nitrogen matrix in the composition of the plasma gas. An ion-to-atom ratio of iron, which was estimated from the intensity ratio of ion to atomic lines having almost the same excitation energy, was reduced by adding oxygen gas to the nitrogen MIP, eventually contributing to an enhancement in the emission intensities of the atomic lines. Furthermore, Boltzmann plots for iron atomic lines were observed in a wide range of the excitation energy from 3.4 to 6.9 eV, indicating that plots of the atomic lines having lower excitation energies (3.4 to 4.8 eV) were well fitted on a straight line while those having more than 5.5 eV deviated upwards from the linear relationship. This overpopulation would result from any other excitation process in addition to the thermal excitation that principally determines the Boltzmann distribution. A Penning-type collision with excited species of nitrogen molecules probably explains this additional excitation mechanism, in which the resulting iron ions recombine with captured electrons, followed by cascade de-excitations between closely-spaced excited levels just below the ionization limit. As a result, these high-lying levels might be more populated than the low-lying levels of iron atom. The ionization of iron would be caused less actively in the nitrogen-oxygen plasma than in a pure nitrogen plasma, because excited species of nitrogen molecule, which can provide the ionization energy in a collision with iron atom, are consumed through collisions with oxygen molecules to cause their dissociation. It was also observed that the overpopulation occurred to a lesser extent when oxygen gas was added to the nitrogen plasma. The reason for this was also attributed to decreased number density of the excited nitrogen species due to collisions with oxygen

  3. 1.5-V-threshold-voltage Schottky barrier normally-off AlGaN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors with f T/f max of 41/125 GHz

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hou, Bin; Ma, Xiaohua; Yang, Ling; Zhu, Jiejie; Zhu, Qing; Chen, Lixiang; Mi, Minhan; Zhang, Hengshuang; Zhang, Meng; Zhang, Peng; Zhou, Xiaowei; Hao, Yue

    2017-07-01

    In this paper, a normally-off AlGaN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMT) fabricated using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) CF4 plasma recessing and an implantation technique is reported. A gate-to-channel distance of ˜10 nm and an equivalent negative fluorine sheet charge density of -1.21 × 1013 cm-2 extracted using a simple threshold voltage (V th) analytical model result in a high V th of 1.5 V, a peak transconductance of 356 mS/mm, and a subthreshold slope of 133 mV/decade. A small degradation of channel mobility leads to a high RF performance with f T/f max of 41/125 GHz, resulting in a record high f T × L g product of 10.66 GHz·µm among Schottky barrier AlGaN/GaN normally-off HEMTs with V th exceeding 1 V, to the best of our knowledge.

  4. Surface plasma source with saddle antenna radio frequency plasma generator.

    PubMed

    Dudnikov, V; Johnson, R P; Murray, S; Pennisi, T; Piller, C; Santana, M; Stockli, M; Welton, R

    2012-02-01

    A prototype RF H(-) surface plasma source (SPS) with saddle (SA) RF antenna is developed which will provide better power efficiency for high pulsed and average current, higher brightness with longer lifetime and higher reliability. Several versions of new plasma generators with small AlN discharge chambers and different antennas and magnetic field configurations were tested in the plasma source test stand. A prototype SA SPS was installed in the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) ion source test stand with a larger, normal-sized SNS AlN chamber that achieved unanalyzed peak currents of up to 67 mA with an apparent efficiency up to 1.6 mA∕kW. Control experiments with H(-) beam produced by SNS SPS with internal and external antennas were conducted. A new version of the RF triggering plasma gun has been designed. A saddle antenna SPS with water cooling is fabricated for high duty factor testing.

  5. Coagulopathy by Hypothermia and Acidosis: Mechanisms of Thrombin Generation and Fibrinogen Availability

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-07-01

    lowered to 32°C and stabilized, stable iso- tope 1-13C- phenylalanine was infused for 6 hours and d5- phenylalanine was infused for 4 hours to investigate... phenylalanine (for 6 hours) and d5- phenylalanine (for 4 hours) was performed to inves- tigate changes in fibrinogen metabolism. Blood samples were...Sirchia G. Hemostasis testing during massive blood replacement. A study of 172 cases. Vox Sang. 1982;42: 113–123. 28. Martini WZ, Chinkes DL , Pusateri AE

  6. Effect of Instant Cooked Giant Embryonic Rice on Body Fat Weight and Plasma Lipid Profile in High Fat-Fed Mice

    PubMed Central

    Chung, Soo Im; Kim, Tae Hyeong; Rico, Catherine W.; Kang, Mi Young

    2014-01-01

    The comparative effects of instant cooked rice made from giant embryo mutant or ordinary normal rice on body weight and lipid profile in high fat-fed mice were investigated. The animals were given experimental diets for seven weeks: normal control (NC), high fat (HF), and HF supplemented with instant normal white (HF-NW), normal brown (HF-NB), giant embryonic white (HF-GW), or giant embryonic brown (HF-GB) rice. The HF group showed markedly higher body weight, body fat, plasma and hepatic triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations, and atherogenic index relative to NC group. However, instant rice supplementation counteracted this high fat-induced hyperlipidemia through regulation of lipogenesis and adipokine production. The GB rice exhibited greater hypolipidemic and body fat-lowering effects than the GW or NB rice. These findings illustrate that the giant embryo mutant may be useful as functional biomaterial for the development of instant rice with strong preventive action against high fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia and obesity. PMID:24932656

  7. High voltage AC plasma torches with long electric arcs for plasma-chemical applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Surov, A. V.; Popov, S. D.; Serba, E. O.; Pavlov, A. V.; Nakonechny, Gh V.; Spodobin, V. A.; Nikonov, A. V.; Subbotin, D. I.; Borovskoy, A. M.

    2017-04-01

    Powerful AC plasma torches are in demand for a number of advanced plasma chemical applications, they can provide high enthalpy of the working gas. IEE RAS specialists have developed a number of models of stationary thermal plasma torches for continuous operation on air with the power from 5 to 500 kW, and on mixture of H2O, CO2 and CH4 up to 150 kW. AC plasma torches were tested on the pilot plasmachemical installations. Powerful AC plasma torch with hollow electrodes and the gas vortex stabilization of arc in cylindrical channels and its operation characteristics are presented. Lifetime of its continuous operation on air is 2000 hours and thermal efficiency is about 92%, the electric arc length between two electrodes of the plasma torch exceeds 2 m.

  8. Development of high energy pulsed plasma simulator for plasma-lithium trench experiment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jung, Soonwook

    To simulate detrimental events in a tokamak and provide a test-stand for a liquid lithium infused trench (LiMIT) device, a pulsed plasma source utilizing a theta pinch in conjunction with a coaxial plasma accelerator has been developed. An overall objective of the project is to develop a compact device that can produce 100 MW/m2 to 1 GW/m2 of plasma heat flux (a typical heat flux level in a major fusion device) in ~ 100 mus (≤ 0.1 MJ/m2) for a liquid lithium plasma facing component research. The existing theta pinch device, DEVeX, was built and operated for study on lithium vapor shielding effect. However, a typical plasma energy of 3 - 4 kJ/m2 is too low to study an interaction of plasma and plasma facing components in fusion devices. No or little preionized plasma, ringing of magnetic field, collisions of high energy particles with background gas have been reported as the main issues. Therefore, DEVeX is reconfigured to mitigate these issues. The new device is mainly composed of a plasma gun for a preionization source, a theta pinch for heating, and guiding magnets for a better plasma transportation. Each component will be driven by capacitor banks and controlled by high voltage / current switches. Several diagnostics including triple Langmuir probe, calorimeter, optical emission measurement, Rogowski coil, flux loop, and fast ionization gauge are used to characterize the new device. A coaxial plasma gun is manufactured and installed in the previous theta pinch chamber. The plasma gun is equipped with 500 uF capacitor and a gas puff valve. The increase of the plasma velocity with the plasma gun capacitor voltage is consistent with the theoretical predictions and the velocity is located between the snowplow model and the weak - coupling limit. Plasma energies measured with the calorimeter ranges from 0.02 - 0.065 MJ/m2 and increases with the voltage at the capacitor bank. A cross-check between the plasma energy measured with the calorimeter and the triple probe

  9. Multi-component immunoaffinity subtraction chromatography: an innovative step towards a comprehensive survey of the human plasma proteome.

    PubMed

    Pieper, Rembert; Su, Qin; Gatlin, Christine L; Huang, Shih-Ting; Anderson, N Leigh; Steiner, Sandra

    2003-04-01

    In order to discover novel protein markers indicative of disease processes or drug effects, the proteomics technology platform most commonly used consists of high resolution protein separation by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), mass spectrometric identification of proteins from stained gel spots and a bioinformatic data analysis process supported by statistics. This approach has been more successful in profiling proteins and their disease- or treatment-related quantitative changes in tissue homogenates than in plasma samples. Plasma protein display and quantitation suffer from several disadvantages: very high abundance of a few proteins; high heterogeneity of many proteins resulting in long charge trains; crowding of 2-DE separated protein spots in the molecular mass range between 45-80 kD and in the isoelectric point range between 4.5 and 6. Therefore, proteomic technologies are needed that address these problems and particularly allow accurate quantitation of a larger number of less abundant proteins in plasma and other body fluids. The immunoaffinity-based protein subtraction chromatography (IASC) described here removes multiple proteins present in plasma and serum in high concentrations effectively and reproducibly. Applying IASC as an upfront plasma sample preparation process for 2-DE, the protein spot pattern observed in gels changes dramatically and at least 350 additional lower abundance proteins are visualized. Affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies (pAbs) are the immunoaffinity reagents used to specifically remove the abundant proteins such as albumin, immunoglobulin G, immunoglobulin A, transferrin, haptoglobin, alpha-1-antitrypsin, hemopexin, transthyretin, alpha-2-HS glycoprotein, alpha-1-acid glycoprotein, alpha-2-macroglobulin and fibrinogen from human plasma samples. To render the immunoaffinity subtraction procedure recyclable, the pAbs are immobilized and cross-linked on chromatographic matrices. Antibody-coupled matrices specific for one

  10. Application of Plasma Waveguides to High Energy Accelerators

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Milchberg, Howard M

    2013-03-30

    The eventual success of laser-plasma based acceleration schemes for high-energy particle physics will require the focusing and stable guiding of short intense laser pulses in reproducible plasma channels. For this goal to be realized, many scientific issues need to be addressed. These issues include an understanding of the basic physics of, and an exploration of various schemes for, plasma channel formation. In addition, the coupling of intense laser pulses to these channels and the stable propagation of pulses in the channels require study. Finally, new theoretical and computational tools need to be developed to aid in the design and analysismore » of experiments and future accelerators. Here we propose a 3-year renewal of our combined theoretical and experimental program on the applications of plasma waveguides to high-energy accelerators. During the past grant period we have made a number of significant advances in the science of laser-plasma based acceleration. We pioneered the development of clustered gases as a new highly efficient medium for plasma channel formation. Our contributions here include theoretical and experimental studies of the physics of cluster ionization, heating, explosion, and channel formation. We have demonstrated for the first time the generation of and guiding in a corrugated plasma waveguide. The fine structure demonstrated in these guides is only possible with cluster jet heating by lasers. The corrugated guide is a slow wave structure operable at arbitrarily high laser intensities, allowing direct laser acceleration, a process we have explored in detail with simulations. The development of these guides opens the possibility of direct laser acceleration, a true miniature analogue of the SLAC RF-based accelerator. Our theoretical studies during this period have also contributed to the further development of the simulation codes, Wake and QuickPIC, which can be used for both laser driven and beam driven plasma based acceleration

  11. MHD limits and plasma response in high-beta hybrid operations in ASDEX Upgrade

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Igochine, V.; Piovesan, P.; Classen, I. G. J.; Dunne, M.; Gude, A.; Lauber, P.; Liu, Y.; Maraschek, M.; Marrelli, L.; McDermott, R.; Reich, M.; Ryan, D.; Schneller, M.; Strumberger, E.; Suttrop, W.; Tardini, G.; Zohm, H.; The ASDEX Upgrade Team; The EUROfusion MST1 Team

    2017-11-01

    The improved H-mode scenario (or high β hybrid operations) is one of the main candidates for high-fusion performance tokamak operation that offers a potential steady-state scenario. In this case, the normalized pressure {{β }N} must be maximized and pressure-driven instabilities will limit the plasma performance. These instabilities could have either resistive ((m  =  2, n  =  1) and (3,2) neoclassical tearing modes (NTMs)) or ideal character (n  =  1 ideal kink mode). In ASDEX Upgrade (AUG), the first limit for maximum achievable {{β }N} is set by the NTMs. The application of pre-emptive electron cyclotron current drive at the q  =  2 and q  =  1.5 resonant surfaces reduces this problem, so that higher values of {{β }N} can be reached. AUG experiments have shown that, in spite of the fact that hybrids are mainly limited by NTMs, the proximity to the no-wall limit leads to amplification of the external fields that strongly influence the plasma profiles. For example, rotation braking is observed throughout the plasma and peaks in the core. In this situation, even small external fields are amplified and their effect becomes visible. To quantify these effects, the plasma response to the magnetic fields produced by B-coils is measured as {{β }N} approaches the no-wall limit. These experiments and corresponding modeling allow the identification of the main limiting factors, which depend on the stabilizing influence of the conducting components facing the plasma surface, the existence of external actuators, and the kinetic interaction between the plasma and the marginally stable ideal modes. Analysis of the plasma reaction to external perturbations allowed us to identify optimal correction currents for compensating the intrinsic error field in the device. Such correction, together with the analysis of kinetic effects, will help to increase {{β }N} further in future experiments.

  12. Tracheal anastomosis using indocyanine green dye enhanced fibrinogen with a near-infrared diode laser

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Auteri, Joseph S.; Jeevanandam, Valluvan; Oz, Mehmet C.; Libutti, Steven K.; Kirby, Thomas J.; Smith, Craig R.; Treat, Michael R.

    1990-06-01

    A major obstacle to lung transplantation and combined heart- lung transplantation is dehiscence of the tracheobronchial anastomosis. We explored the possibility of laser welded anastomoses in canine tracheas in vivo. Laser anastomoses were performed on three-quarter circumferential anterior tracheotomies. A continous wave diode laser (808 +1 nm) at a power density of 9.6 watts/cm was used. Human fibrinogen was mixed with indocyanine green dye (ICG, max absorbance 805 nm) and applied to the anastomosis site prior to laser exposure. Animals were sacrificed at 0, 21 and 28 days post-operatively. At sacrifice weld bursting pressures were measured by raising intratracheal pressure using forced ventilation via an endotracheal tube. Sutured and laser welded anastomoses had similar bursting pressures, and exhibited satisfactory histologic evidence of healing. However, compared to polypropylene sutured controls, the laser welded anastomoses exhibited less peritracheal inflammatory reaction and showed visibly smoother luminal surfaces at 21 and 28 days post- operatively. Tracheal anastomosis using ICG dye enhanced fibrinogen combined with the near-infrared diode laser is a promising extension of the technology of laser tissue fusion and deserves further study.

  13. How Does Plasma Activated Media Treatment Differ From Direct Cold Plasma Treatment.

    PubMed

    Attri, Pankaj; Park, Ji Hoon; Ali, Anser; Choi, Eun Ha

    2018-04-06

    The aim of the paper is to investigate the optimum condition for generation of plasma activated media (PAM), where it can deactivate the cancer cells while minimum damage for normal cells. Over past few years, cold atmospheric plasma-activated media (PAM) have shown its promising application in plasma medicine for treatment of cancer. PAM has a tremendous ability for selective anti-cancer capacity in vitro and in vivo. We have analyzed the radicals in air using the optical emission spectroscopy and in culture media using chemical analysis. Further, we have tested the toxicity of PAM using MTT assay. We observed that more cancer cell death is for the Ar plasma followed by the Ar-N2 plasma, and the least cell death was observed for the Ar-O2 plasma at all treatment times both by direct treatment and through PAM treatment. The concentration of the RNS species is high for Ar-N2 plasma in gas as well as inside the culture media compared to that for pure Ar plasma. However, the difference is significantly less between the Ar plasma treatments and the Ar-N2 plasma treatments, showing that ROS is the main factor contributing to cell death. Among all three feeding gas plasmas the best system is Ar-O2 plasma for direct treatments towards the cancer cells. In addition, the best system for PAM preparation is Ar-N2 at low time treatments (1 min and 2 min) because it has no effect on normal cells, but kills the cancer cells. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

  14. Adsorption and covalent binding of fibrinogen as a method for probing the chemical composition of poly(styrene/α-tert-butoxy-ω-vinylbenzyl-polyglycidol) microsphere surfaces.

    PubMed

    Gosecka, Monika; Chehimi, Mohamed M; Basinska, Teresa; Slomkowski, Stanislaw; Makowski, Tomasz

    2017-12-01

    We investigated the distribution of polyglycidol and polystyrene on the surface of poly(styrene/α-tert-butoxy-ω-vinylbenzyl-polyglycidol) microspheres (random distribution or segregated into hydrophilic and hydrophobic patches), using fibrinogen (Fb) as a macromolecular probe. The fibrinogen was adsorbed or covalently attached to the surface of the poly(styrene-co-α-tert-butoxy-ω-vinylbenzyl-polyglycidol) (P(S/PGLy)) microspheres. The P(S/PGLy) particles were prepared by emulsion copolymerization of styrene and α-tert-butoxy-ω-vinylbenzyl-polyglycidol (PGLy) macromonomer initiated with potassium persulfate. The polymerizations yielded P(S/PGLy) particles with various surface fractions of polyglycidol, depending on the amount of added macromonomer and the addition process. In some syntheses, the entire macromonomer amount was added once at the beginning of the polymerization, while in others, the macromonomer was added gradually after the formation of particle seeds from pure polystyrene. XPS studies revealed that the fraction of polyglycidol in the interfacial layer of the microspheres was larger when the entire amount of macromonomer was added at the beginning of the polymerization than when it was added after formation of the polystyrene seeds. Studies of fibrinogen adsorption provided the first evidence of segregation of the hydrophobic (polystyrene) and hydrophilic (polyglycidol) components at the surface of the composite P(S/PGLy) microspheres into patches. The hydrophobic patches are composed mainly of polystyrene. However, they also contain a small amount of polyglycidol chains, making the adsorption of fibrinogen weaker than the adsorption onto the pure polystyrene. Studies of covalent immobilization of fibrinogen on the microspheres via 1,3,5-trichlorotriazine confirmed these findings. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. High Resolution Studies of the Origins of Polyatomic Ions in Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ferguson, Jill Wisnewski

    2006-01-01

    The inductively coupled plasma (ICP) is an atmospheric pressure ionization source. Traditionally, the plasma is sampled via a sampler cone. A supersonic jet develops behind the sampler, and this region is pumped down to a pressure of approximately one Torr. A skimmer cone is located inside this zone of silence to transmit ions into the mass spectrometer. The position of the sampler and skimmer cones relative to the initial radiation and normal analytical zones of the plasma is key to optimizing the useful analytical signal [1]. The ICP both atomizes and ionizes the sample. Polyatomic ions form through ion-molecule interactionsmore » either in the ICP or during ion extraction [l]. Common polyatomic ions that inhibit analysis include metal oxides (MO +), adducts with argon, the gas most commonly used to make up the plasma, and hydride species. While high resolution devices can separate many analytes from common interferences, this is done at great cost in ion transmission efficiency--a loss of 99% when using high versus low resolution on the same instrument [2]. Simple quadrupole devices, which make up the bulk of ICP-MS instruments in existence, do not present this option. Therefore, if the source of polyatomic interferences can be determined and then manipulated, this could potentially improve the figures of merit on all ICP-MS devices, not just the high resolution devices often utilized to study polyatomic interferences.« less

  16. High-fidelity plasma codes for burn physics

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Cooley, James; Graziani, Frank; Marinak, Marty

    Accurate predictions of equation of state (EOS), ionic and electronic transport properties are of critical importance for high-energy-density plasma science. Transport coefficients inform radiation-hydrodynamic codes and impact diagnostic interpretation, which in turn impacts our understanding of the development of instabilities, the overall energy balance of burning plasmas, and the efficacy of self-heating from charged-particle stopping. Important processes include thermal and electrical conduction, electron-ion coupling, inter-diffusion, ion viscosity, and charged particle stopping. However, uncertainties in these coefficients are not well established. Fundamental plasma science codes, also called high-fidelity plasma codes, are a relatively recent computational tool that augments both experimental datamore » and theoretical foundations of transport coefficients. This paper addresses the current status of HFPC codes and their future development, and the potential impact they play in improving the predictive capability of the multi-physics hydrodynamic codes used in HED design.« less

  17. M1 macrophage infiltrations and histological changes in the liver after portal vein embolization using fibrinogen and OK432 in the rat.

    PubMed

    Sato, Tetsu; Marubashi, Shigeru; Kenjo, Akira; Tsuchiya, Takao; Kimura, Takashi; Sato, Naoya; Watanabe, Junichiro; Tasaki, Kazuhiro; Hashimoto, Yuko; Wada, Ikuo; Gotoh, Mitsukazu

    2016-05-01

    The mechanism of anti-tumor effect of transarterial Immuno-Embolization (TIE) using OK-432 has not been well elucidated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the tissue injury and immune response after portal venous embolization (PVE) with/without OK-432. Embolic materials (L group: lipiodol, LF group: lipiodol+fibrinogen, LO group: lipiodol+OK-432, LFO group: lipiodol+fibrinogen+OK-432) were administered via the right portal vein in Wistar rats. The histological findings in LFO group demonstrated liver damage with severe architectural changes. The concentrations of CD68(+) cells were observed in a time-dependent manner; it was significantly increased in the LO group on day 1 and in the LFO group on day 3. CD68(+)CD163(-) macrophages significantly increased in the LFO group on day 7 (P<0.05). In conclusion, PVE with fibrinogen and OK-432 markedly increased the CD68(+)CD163(-) infiltrating macrophages around the peri-portal area in the liver. This novel technique could be applied as immune-enhanced chemo-embolization of liver tumors. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  18. Engaging high school students as plasma science outreach ambassadors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wendt, Amy; Boffard, John

    2017-10-01

    Exposure to plasma science among future scientists and engineers is haphazard. In the U.S., plasma science is rare (or absent) in mainstream high school and introductory college physics curricula. As a result, talented students may be drawn to other careers simply due to a lack of awareness of the stimulating science and wide array of fulfilling career opportunities involving plasmas. In the interest of enabling informed decisions about career options, we have initiated an outreach collaboration with the Madison West High School Rocket Club. Rocket Club members regularly exhibit their activities at public venues, including large-scale expos that draw large audiences of all ages. Building on their historical emphasis on small scale rockets with chemical motors, we worked with the group to add a new feature to their exhibit that highlights plasma-based spacecraft propulsion for interplanetary probes. This new exhibit includes a model satellite with a working (low power) plasma thruster. The participating high school students led the development process, to be described, and enthusiastically learned to articulate concepts related to plasma thruster operation and to compare the relative advantages of chemical vs. plasma/electrical propulsion systems for different scenarios. Supported by NSF Grant PHY-1617602.

  19. X-ray emission from high temperature plasmas

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Harries, W. L.

    1976-01-01

    The physical processes occurring in plasma focus devices were studied. These devices produce dense high temperature plasmas, which emit X rays of hundreds of KeV energy and one to ten billion neutrons per pulse. The processes in the devices seem related to solar flare phenomena, and would also be of interest for controlled thermonuclear fusion applications. The high intensity, short duration bursts of X rays and neutrons could also possibly be used for pumping nuclear lasers.

  20. Superior integrin activating capacity and higher adhesion to fibrinogen matrix in buffy coat-derived platelet concentrates (PCs) compared to PRP-PCs.

    PubMed

    Beshkar, Pezhman; Hosseini, Ehteramolsadat; Ghasemzadeh, Mehran

    2018-02-01

    Regardless of different sources, methods or devices which are applied for preparation of therapeutic platelets, these products are generally isolated from whole blood by the sedimentation techniques which are based on PRP or buffy coat (BC) separation. As a general fact, platelet preparation and storage are also associated with some deleterious changes that known as platelet storage lesion (PSL). Although these alternations in platelet functional activity are aggravated during storage, whether technical issues within preparation can affect integrin activation and platelet adhesion to fibrinogen were investigated in this study. PRP- and BC-platelet concentrates (PCs) were subjected to flowcytometry analysis to examine the expression of platelet activation marker, P-selectin as well as active confirmation of the GPIIb/IIIa (α IIb β 3 ) on day 0, 1, 3 and 5 post-storage. Platelet adhesion to fibrinogen matrix was evaluated by fluorescence microscopy. Glucose concentration and LDH activity were also measured by colorimetric methods. The increasing P-selectin expression during storage was in a reverse correlation with PAC-1 binding (r = -0.67; p = .001). PRP-PCs showed the higher level of P-selectin expression than BC-PCs, whereas the levels of PAC-1 binding and platelet adhesion to fibrinogen matrix were significantly lower in PRP-PCs. Higher levels of active confirmation of the GPIIb/IIIa in BC-PCs were also associated with greater concentration of glucose in these products. We demonstrated the superior capacities of integrin activation and adhesion to fibrinogen for BC-PCs compared to those of PRP-PCs. These findings may provide more advantages for BC method of platelet preparation. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. Normal fasting plasma glucose predicts type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in elderly population in Taiwan.

    PubMed

    Huang, C-L; Chang, H-W; Chang, J-B; Chen, J-H; Lin, J-D; Wu, C-Z; Pei, D; Hung, Y-J; Lee, C-H; Chen, Y-L; Hsieh, C-H

    2016-08-01

    Hyperglycemia increases prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS), type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). But the role of normoglycemia on the development of T2D and CVD in elderly population remains unclear. To determine an optimal cut-off for fasting plasma glucose (FPG) to predict MetS and subsequent risk of T2D and CVD in an elderly Taiwanese population with normal FPG levels. Two stages included cross-sectional (Stage 1) and prospective (Stage 2) cohort study. In Stage 1 18 287 subjects aged  ≥60 years were enrolled; of these, 5039 without T2D and CVD advanced to Stage 2 and a mean follow-up of 3.8 years. MetS components were analysed, and in Stage 1, FPG cut-offs for MetS risk were calculated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses. In Stage 2, subjects without T2D and CVD in Stage 1 were classified into high-FPG and low-FPG groups based on cut-offs, and sex specific differences in incidence for T2D and CVD were calculated. ROC curve analysis gave an optimal FPG cut-off for MetS of 93 mg/dl and 92 mg/dl for males and females, respectively. The high-FPG group had a 1.599- and 1.353-fold higher chance of developing T2D compared with the low-FPG group for males and females, respectively (95% CI: 1.606-2.721 and 1.000-1.831, P  =  0.015 and 0.05). The high-FPG group had a 1.24-fold higher chance of developing CVD for females (95% CI: 1.015-1.515, P  =  0.035); however, there was no difference for males. Our results suggest that FPG within the normal range was associated with MetS, and elderly subjects with high normal levels have a higher incidence of developing T2D for both sexes, and CVD for females, over the short-term. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Association of Physicians. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  2. Global measurement of coagulation in plasma from normal and haemophilia dogs using a novel modified thrombin generation test – Demonstrated in vitro and ex vivo

    PubMed Central

    Madsen, Daniel Elenius; Nichols, Timothy C.; Merricks, Elizabeth P.; Waters, Emily K.; Wiinberg, Bo

    2017-01-01

    Introduction Canine models of severe haemophilia resemble their human equivalents both regarding clinical bleeding phenotype and response to treatment. Therefore pre-clinical studies in haemophilia dogs have allowed researchers to make valuable translational predictions regarding the potency and efficacy of new anti-haemophilia drugs (AHDs) in humans. To refine in vivo experiments and reduce number of animals, such translational studies are ideally preceded by in vitro prediction of compound efficacy using a plasma based global coagulation method. One such widely used method is the thrombin generation test (TGT). Unfortunately, commercially available TGTs are incapable of distinguishing between normal and haemophilia canine plasma, and therefore in vitro prediction using TGT has so far not been possible in canine plasma material. Aim Establish a modified TGT capable of: 1) distinguishing between normal and haemophilia canine plasma, 2) monitoring correlation between canine plasma levels of coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) and IX (FIX) and thrombin generation, 3) assessing for agreement between compound activity and thrombin generation in ex vivo samples. Methods A modified TGT assay was established where coagulation was triggered using a commercially available activated partial thromboplastin time reagent. Results With the modified TGT a significant difference was observed in thrombin generation between normal and haemophilia canine plasma. A dose dependent thrombin generation was observed when assessing haemophilia A and B plasma spiked with dilution series of FVIII and FIX, respectively. Correlation between FVIII activity and thrombin generation was observed when analyzing samples from haemophilia A dogs dosed with canine FVIII. Limit of detection was 0.1% (v/v) FVIII or FIX. Conclusion A novel modified TGT suitable for monitoring and prediction of replacement therapy efficacy in plasma from haemophilia A and B dogs was established. PMID:28384182

  3. Mitigation of hot electrons from laser-plasma instabilities in high-Z, highly ionized plasmas

    DOE PAGES

    Fein, J. R.; Holloway, J. P.; Trantham, M. R.; ...

    2017-03-20

    Intense lasers interacting with under-dense plasma can drive laser-plasma instabilities (LPIs) that generate largeamplitude electron plasma waves (EPWs). Suprathermal or “hot” electrons produced in the EPWs are detrimental to inertial confinement fusion (ICF), by reducing capsule implosion efficiency through preheat, and also present an unwanted source of background on x-ray diagnostics. Mitigation of hot electrons was demonstrated in the past by altering plasma conditions near the quarter-critical density, n c/4, with the interpretation of reduced growth of the twoplasmon decay (TPD) instability. Here, we present measurements of hot electrons generated in laser-irradiated planar foils of material ranging from low- tomore » high-Z, where the fraction of laser energy converted to hot electrons, fhot was reduced by a factor of 10 3 going from CH to Au. This correlates with steepening density gradient length-scales that were also measured. Radiation hydrodynamic simulations produced electron density profiles in reasonable agreement with our measurements. According to the simulations, both multi-beam TPD and stimulated Raman scattering were predicted to be above threshold with linear threshold parameters that decreased with increasing Z due to steepening length-scales, as well as enhanced laser absorption and increased EPW collisional and Landau damping.« less

  4. Mitigation of hot electrons from laser-plasma instabilities in high-Z, highly ionized plasmas

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Fein, J. R.; Holloway, J. P.; Trantham, M. R.

    Intense lasers interacting with under-dense plasma can drive laser-plasma instabilities (LPIs) that generate largeamplitude electron plasma waves (EPWs). Suprathermal or “hot” electrons produced in the EPWs are detrimental to inertial confinement fusion (ICF), by reducing capsule implosion efficiency through preheat, and also present an unwanted source of background on x-ray diagnostics. Mitigation of hot electrons was demonstrated in the past by altering plasma conditions near the quarter-critical density, n c/4, with the interpretation of reduced growth of the twoplasmon decay (TPD) instability. Here, we present measurements of hot electrons generated in laser-irradiated planar foils of material ranging from low- tomore » high-Z, where the fraction of laser energy converted to hot electrons, fhot was reduced by a factor of 10 3 going from CH to Au. This correlates with steepening density gradient length-scales that were also measured. Radiation hydrodynamic simulations produced electron density profiles in reasonable agreement with our measurements. According to the simulations, both multi-beam TPD and stimulated Raman scattering were predicted to be above threshold with linear threshold parameters that decreased with increasing Z due to steepening length-scales, as well as enhanced laser absorption and increased EPW collisional and Landau damping.« less

  5. Surface modification of CoCr alloy using varying concentrations of phosphoric and phosphonoacetic acids: albumin and fibrinogen adsorption, platelet adhesion, activation, and aggregation studies.

    PubMed

    Thiruppathi, Eagappanath; Larson, Mark K; Mani, Gopinath

    2015-01-01

    CoCr alloy is commonly used in various cardiovascular medical devices for its excellent physical and mechanical properties. However, the formation of blood clots on the alloy surfaces is a serious concern. This research is focused on the surface modification of CoCr alloy using varying concentrations (1, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mM) of phosphoric acid (PA) and phosphonoacetic acid (PAA) to generate various surfaces with different wettability, chemistry, and roughness. Then, the adsorption of blood plasma proteins such as albumin and fibrinogen and the adhesion, activation, and aggregation of platelets with the various surfaces generated were investigated. Contact angle analysis showed PA and PAA coatings on CoCr provided a gradient of hydrophilic surfaces. FTIR showed PA and PAA were covalently bound to CoCr surface and formed different bonding configurations depending on the concentrations of coating solutions used. AFM showed the formation of homogeneous PA and PAA coatings on CoCr. The single and dual protein adsorption studies showed that the amount of albumin and fibrinogen adsorbed on the alloy surfaces strongly depend on the type of PA and PAA coatings prepared by different concentrations of coating solutions. All PA coated CoCr showed reduced platelet adhesion and activation when compared to control CoCr. Also, 75 and 100 mM PA-CoCr showed reduced platelet aggregation. For PAA coated CoCr, no significant difference in platelet adhesion and activation was observed between PAA coated CoCr and control CoCr. Thus, this study demonstrated that CoCr can be surface modified using PA for potentially reducing the formation of blood clots and improving the blood compatibility of the alloy.

  6. A randomized controlled trial of fresh frozen plasma for coagulopathy in Russell's viper (Daboia russelii) envenoming.

    PubMed

    Isbister, G K; Jayamanne, S; Mohamed, F; Dawson, A H; Maduwage, K; Gawarammana, I; Lalloo, D G; de Silva, H J; Scorgie, F E; Lincz, L F; Buckley, N A

    2017-04-01

    Essentials Russell's viper envenoming is a major health issue in South Asia and causes coagulopathy. We studied the effect of fresh frozen plasma and two antivenom doses on correcting coagulopathy. Fresh frozen plasma did not hasten recovery of coagulopathy. Low-dose antivenom did not worsen coagulopathy. Background Russell's viper (Daboia russelii) envenoming is a major health issue in South Asia and causes venom-induced consumption coagulopathy (VICC). Objectives To investigate the effects of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and two antivenom doses in correcting VICC. Methods We undertook an open-label randomized controlled trial in patients with VICC at two Sri Lankan hospitals. Patients with suspected Russell's viper bites and coagulopathy were randomly allocated (1 : 1) to high-dose antivenom (20 vials) or low-dose antivenom (10 vials) plus 4 U of FFP. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with an International Normalized Ratio (INR) of < 2 at 6 h after antivenom administration. Secondary outcomes included anaphylaxis, major hemorrhage, death, and clotting factor recovery. Results From 214 eligible patients, 141 were randomized: 71 to high-dose antivenom, and 70 to low-dose antivenom/FFP; five had no post-antivenom blood tests. The groups were similar except for a delay of 1 h in antivenom administration for FFP patients. Six hours after antivenom administration, 23 of 69 (33%) patients allocated to high-dose antivenom had an INR of < 2, as compared with 28 of 67 (42%) allocated to low-dose antivenom/FFP (absolute difference 8%; 95% confidence interval - 8% to 25%). Fifteen patients allocated to FFP did not receive it. Severe anaphylaxis occurred equally frequently in each group. One patient given FFP developed transfusion-related acute lung injury. Three deaths occurred in low-dose antivenom/FFP patients, including one intracranial hemorrhage. There was no difference in recovery rates of INR or fibrinogen, but there was more rapid initial recovery of

  7. Lack of effect of laboratory-provoked anxiety on plasma homovanillic acid concentration in normal subjects.

    PubMed

    Zemishlany, Z; Davidson, M

    1996-08-15

    The present study was undertaken to investigate if acute anxiety can affect plasma concentrations of homovanillic acid (pHVA). Since elevated pHVA levels have been associated with severity of schizophrenic symptoms, the results of this study will help determine if the pHVA elevations are directly related to psychosis or if anxiety is also a contributory factor. Anxiety was provoked in 10 young normal subjects by a combined paradigm of mental arithmetic task and threat of electrical shock. A significant increase in self-ratings of anxiety, blood pressure, and plasma levels of norepinephrine, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol and growth hormone indicated that the paradigm used was effective in provoking anxiety; however, anxiety did not affect pHVA concentrations. The results may support the notion that increased pHVA levels in severely ill schizophrenic patients are related to the schizophrenic pathophysiology rather than to anxiety.

  8. Identification of messenger RNA of fetoplacental source in maternal plasma of women with normal pregnancies and pregnancies with intrauterine growth restriction.

    PubMed

    Ayala Ramírez, Paola; García Robles, Reggie; Rojas, Juan Diego; Bermúdez, Martha; Bernal, Jaime

    2012-07-01

    to quantify placenta-specific RNA in plasma of women carrying foetuses with intrauterine growth restriction and pregnant women with normal pregnancies. 8 pregnant women with foetuses with intrauterine growth restriction were studied as well as 18 women with uncomplicated pregnancies in the third pregnancy trimester. Total free RNA was quantified in maternal plasma by spectrophotometry and the gene expression of hPL (Human Placental Lactogen) at the messenger RNA level through technical Real Time-Chain Reaction Polymerase. plasma RNA of fetoplacental origin was successfully detected in 100% of pregnant women. There were no statistically significant differences between the values of total RNA extracted from plasma (p= 0.5975) nor in the messenger RNA expression of hPL gene (p= 0.5785) between cases and controls. messenger RNA of fetoplacental origin can be detected in maternal plasma during pregnancy.

  9. High frequency plasma generator for ion thrusters

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Goede, H.; Divergilio, W. F.; Fosnight, V. V.; Komatsu, G.

    1984-01-01

    The results of a program to experimentally develop two new types of plasma generators for 30 cm electrostatic argon ion thrusters are presented. The two plasma generating methods selected for this study were by radio frequency induction (RFI), operating at an input power frequency of 1 MHz, and by electron cyclotron heating (ECH) at an operating frequency of 5.0 GHz. Both of these generators utilize multiline cusp permanent magnet configurations for plasma confinement and beam profile optimization. The program goals were to develop a plasma generator possessing the characteristics of high electrical efficiency (low eV/ion) and simplicity of operation while maintaining the reliability and durability of the conventional hollow cathode plasma sources. The RFI plasma generator has achieved minimum discharge losses of 120 eV/ion while the ECH generator has obtained 145 eV/ion, assuming a 90% ion optical transparency of the electrostatic acceleration system. Details of experimental tests with a variety of magnet configurations are presented.

  10. Laser-driven plasma photonic crystals for high-power lasers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lehmann, G.; Spatschek, K. H.

    2017-05-01

    Laser-driven plasma density gratings in underdense plasma are shown to act as photonic crystals for high power lasers. The gratings are created by counterpropagating laser beams that trap electrons, followed by ballistic ion motion. This leads to strong periodic plasma density modulations with a lifetime on the order of picoseconds. The grating structure is interpreted as a plasma photonic crystal time-dependent property, e.g., the photonic band gap width. In Maxwell-Vlasov and particle-in-cell simulations it is demonstrated that the photonic crystals may act as a frequency filter and mirror for ultra-short high-power laser pulses.

  11. The study of the proteome of healthy human blood plasma under conditions of long-term confinement in an isolation chamber.

    PubMed

    Trifonova, O P; Pastushkova, L Kh; Samenkova, N F; Chernobrovkin, A L; Karuzina, I I; Lisitsa, A V; Larina, I M

    2013-05-01

    We identified changes in the proteome of healthy human blood plasma caused by exposure to 105-day confinement in an isolation chamber. After removal of major proteins and concentration of minor proteins, plasma fractions were analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis followed by identification of significantly different protein spots by mass spectrometric analysis of the peptide fragments. The levels of α- and β-chains of fibrinogen, a fragment of complement factor C4, apolipoproteins AI and E, plasminogen factor C1 complement, and immunoglobulin M changed in participants during the isolation period. These changes probably reflect the adaptive response to altered conditions of life.

  12. High Current, High Density Arc Plasma as a New Source for WiPAL

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Waleffe, Roger; Endrizzi, Doug; Myers, Rachel; Wallace, John; Clark, Mike; Forest, Cary; WiPAL Team

    2016-10-01

    The Wisconsin Plasma Astrophysics Lab (WiPAL) has installed a new array of nineteen plasma sources (plasma guns) on its 3 m diameter, spherical vacuum vessel. Each gun is a cylindrical, molybdenum, washer-stabilized, arc plasma source. During discharge, the guns are maintained at 1.2 kA across 100 V for 10 ms by the gun power supply establishing a high density plasma. Each plasma source is fired independently allowing for adjustable plasma parameters, with densities varying between 1018 -1019 m-3 and electron temperatures of 5-15 eV. Measurements were characterized using a 16 tip Langmuir probe. The plasma source will be used as a background plasma for the magnetized coaxial plasma gun (MCPG), the Terrestrial Reconnection Experiment (TREX), and as the plasma source for a magnetic mirror experiment. Temperature, density, and confinement results will be presented. This work is supported by the DoE and the NSF.

  13. Neuropathology of White Matter Lesions, Blood-Brain Barrier Dysfunction, and Dementia.

    PubMed

    Hainsworth, Atticus H; Minett, Thais; Andoh, Joycelyn; Forster, Gillian; Bhide, Ishaan; Barrick, Thomas R; Elderfield, Kay; Jeevahan, Jamuna; Markus, Hugh S; Bridges, Leslie R

    2017-10-01

    We tested whether blood-brain barrier dysfunction in subcortical white matter is associated with white matter abnormalities or risk of clinical dementia in older people (n=126; mean age 86.4, SD: 7.7 years) in the MRC CFAS (Medical Research Council Cognitive Function and Ageing Study). Using digital pathology, we quantified blood-brain barrier dysfunction (defined by immunohistochemical labeling for the plasma marker fibrinogen). This was assessed within subcortical white matter tissue samples harvested from postmortem T 2 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-detected white matter hyperintensities, from normal-appearing white matter (distant from coexistent MRI-defined hyperintensities), and from equivalent areas in MRI normal brains. Histopathologic lesions were defined using a marker for phagocytic microglia (CD68, clone PGM1). Extent of fibrinogen labeling was not significantly associated with white matter abnormalities defined either by MRI (odds ratio, 0.90; 95% confidence interval, 0.79-1.03; P =0.130) or by histopathology (odds ratio, 0.93; 95% confidence interval, 0.77-1.12; P =0.452). Among participants with normal MRI (no detectable white matter hyperintensities), increased fibrinogen was significantly related to decreased risk of clinical dementia (odds ratio, 0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.58-0.94; P =0.013). Among participants with histological lesions, increased fibrinogen was related to increased risk of dementia (odds ratio, 2.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.25-4.08; P =0.007). Our data suggest that some degree of blood-brain barrier dysfunction is common in older people and that this may be related to clinical dementia risk, additional to standard MRI biomarkers. © 2017 American Heart Association, Inc.

  14. High Speed and High Functional Inverter Power Supplies for Plasma Generation and Control, and their Performance

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Uesugi, Yoshihiko; Razzak, Mohammad A.; Kondo, Kenji; Kikuchi, Yusuke; Takamura, Shuichi; Imai, Takahiro; Toyoda, Mitsuhiro

    The Rapid development of high power and high speed semiconductor switching devices has led to their various applications in related plasma fields. Especially, a high speed inverter power supply can be used as an RF power source instead of conventional linear amplifiers and a power supply to control the magnetic field in a fusion plasma device. In this paper, RF thermal plasma production and plasma heating experiments are described emphasis placed on using a static induction transistor inverter at a frequency range between 200 kHz and 2.5 MHz as an RF power supply. Efficient thermal plasma production is achieved experimentally by using a flexible and easily operated high power semiconductor inverter power supply. Insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) inverter power supplies driven by a high speed digital signal processor are applied as tokamak joule coil and vertical coil power supplies to control plasma current waveform and plasma equilibrium. Output characteristics, such as the arbitrary bipolar waveform generation of a pulse width modulation (PWM) inverter using digital signal processor (DSP) can be successfully applied to tokamak power supplies for flexible plasma current operation and fast position control of a small tokamak.

  15. Production of high-density highly-ionized helicon plasmas in the ProtoMPEX

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Caneses, J. F.; Kafle, N.; Showers, M.; Goulding, R. H.; Biewer, T. M.; Caughman, J. B. O.; Bigelow, T.; Rapp, J.

    2017-10-01

    High-density (2-6e19 m-3) Deuterium helicon plasmas in the ProtoMPEX have been produced that successfully use differential pumping to produce neutral gas pressures suitable for testing the RF electron and ion heating concepts. To minimize collisional losses when heating electrons and ions, plasmas with very low neutral gas content (<< 0.1 Pa) in the heating sections are required. This requirement is typically not compatible with the neutral gas pressures (1-2 Pa) commonly used in high-density light-ion helicon sources. By using skimmers, a suitable gas injection scheme and long duration discharges (>0.3 s), high-density plasmas with very low neutral gas pressures (<< 0.1 Pa) in the RF heating sections have been produced. Measurements indicate the presence of a highly-ionized plasma column and that discharges lasting at least 0.3 s are required to significantly reduce the neutral gas pressure in the RF heating sections to levels suitable for investigating electron/ion RF heating concepts in this linear configuration. This work was supported by the US. D.O.E. contract DE-AC05-00OR22725.

  16. Hyperfibrinogenaemia and hyperviscosity in sickle-cell crisis.

    PubMed Central

    Richardson, S G; Breeze, G R; Stuart, J

    1976-01-01

    Plasma fibrinogen concentration and whole-blood viscosity, the latter measured at two shear rates (23 and 230 sec-1), were estimated during eight episodes of sickle-cell crisis and compared with values in 26 sickle-cell anaemia patients who were not in crisis. Painful crisis was associated with a significant increase in both plasma fibrinogen and whole-blood viscosity. Increased fibrinogen-erythrocyte interaction in vivo may be a significant contributory factor to raising blood viscosity and precipitating vaso-occlusive crisis in sickle-cell disease. PMID:977763

  17. Interaction dynamics of high Reynolds number magnetized plasma flow on the CTIX plasma accelerator

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Howard, Stephen James

    The Compact Toroid Injection eXperiment, (CTIX), is a coaxial railgun that forms and accelerates magnetized plasma rings called compact toroids (CT's). CTIX consists of a pair of cylindrical coaxial electrodes with the region between them kept at high vacuum (2 m long, 15 cm outer diameter). Hydrogen is typically the dominant constituent of the CT plasma, however helium can also be used. The railgun effect that accelerates the CT can be accounted for by the Lorentz j x B force density created by the power input from a capacitor bank of roughly a Giga-Watt peak. The final velocity of the CT can be as high as 300 km/s, with an acceleration of about 3 billion times Earth's gravity. The compact toroid is able to withstand these forces because of a large internal magnetic field of about 1 Tesla. Understanding the nature of high speed flow of a magnetized plasma has been the primary challenge of this work. In this dissertation we will explore a sequence of fundamental questions regarding the plasma physics of CTIX. First we will go over some new results about the structure and dynamics of the compact toroid's magnetic field, and its electrical resistivity. Then we will present the results from a sequence of key experiments involving reconnection/compression and thermalization of the plasma during interaction of the CT with target magnetic fields of various geometries. Next, we look at the Doppler shift of a spectral line of the He II ion as a measurement of plasma velocity, and to gain insight into the ionization physics of helium in our plasma. These preliminary experiments provide the background for our primary experimental tool for investigating turbulence, a technique called Gas Puff Imaging (GPI) in which a cloud of helium can be used to enhance plasma brightness, allowing plasma density fluctuations to be imaged. We will conclude with an analysis of the images that show coherent density waves, as well as the transition to turbulence during the interaction with a

  18. Renin stimulation by passive tilting: the influence of an anti-gravity suit on postural changes in plasma renin activity, plasma noradrenaline concentration and kidney function in normal man.

    PubMed

    Hesse, B; Ring-Larsen, H; Nielsen, I; Christensen, N J

    1978-04-01

    Plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma noradrenaline concentration, heart rate, blood pressure, and clearances of para-aminohippurate and inulin were measured in twelve normal subjects (clearances in only three subjects) before and after 40 min of 60 degrees upright tilting. The tilting experiments were repeated after inflation of an anti-gravity suit to 60 mmHg on the lower extremities. Inflation of the anti-gravity suit caused an abolition of the postural PRA increase, a marked reduction of the postural increases in plasma noradrenaline and heart rate, and elimination of the decreases in pulse pressure, inulin and para-aminohippurate clearances and sodium excretion. The results suggest a decisive role of the sympathetic nervous system for postural renin increase, probably mainly activated by stretch receptors in the low-pressure cardiopulmoanry area.

  19. Spatially resolved high-resolution x-ray spectroscopy of high-current plasma-focus discharges.

    PubMed

    Zając, S; Rzadkiewicz, J; Rosmej, O; Scholz, M; Yongtao, Zhao; Gójska, A; Paduch, M; Zielińska, E

    2010-10-01

    Soft x-ray emission from a Mather-type plasma-focus device (PF-1000) operated at ∼400 kJ was measured. The high density and temperature plasma were generated by the discharge in the deuterium-argon gas mixture in the modified (high-current) plasma-focus configuration. A spherically bent mica crystal spectrograph viewing the axial output of the pinch region was used to measure the x-ray spectra. Spatially resolved spectra including the characteristic x-ray lines of highly ionized Ar and continua were recorded by means of an x-ray film. The x-ray emission of PF-1000 device was studied at different areas of the pinch.

  20. Spatially resolved high-resolution x-ray spectroscopy of high-current plasma-focus discharges

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    ZajaPc, S.; Rzadkiewicz, J.; Scholz, M.

    Soft x-ray emission from a Mather-type plasma-focus device (PF-1000) operated at {approx}400 kJ was measured. The high density and temperature plasma were generated by the discharge in the deuterium-argon gas mixture in the modified (high-current) plasma-focus configuration. A spherically bent mica crystal spectrograph viewing the axial output of the pinch region was used to measure the x-ray spectra. Spatially resolved spectra including the characteristic x-ray lines of highly ionized Ar and continua were recorded by means of an x-ray film. The x-ray emission of PF-1000 device was studied at different areas of the pinch.

  1. Stability analysis of the high poloidal bet scenario on DIII-Dtowards operation athigher plasma current

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Guo, W. F.; Gong, X. Z.; Huang, J.; Ren, Q. L.; Qian, J. P.; Ding, S. Y.; Pan, C. K.; Li, G. Q.; Xia, T. Y.; Garofalo, A. M.; Lao, L.; Hyatt, A.; Ferron, J.; Meneghini, O.; Liu, Y. Q.; McClenaghan, J.; Holcomb, C. T.

    2017-10-01

    The high poloidal beta scenario with plasma current IP 600 kA and large-radius internal transport barrier (ITB) on DIII-D is subject to n =1 MHD kink modes when the current profile becomes very broad at internal inductance values li 0.5-0.6. It is desirable to extend this scenario to higer plasma current ( 1 MA) for highernormalized fusionperformance. However, higher current at constant normalized beta, ?N 3, would reducethe poloidal bet, ?P, below the threshold for ITB sustainment, observed at ?P 1.9. Thus, to avoid loss of the IT, ?N?? must be increased together with IP while avoiding the kink instability. MHD analysis is presented that explains possible paths to high ?N stability limit for the kink mode in tis scenario. Work supported by National Magnetic Confinement Fusion Program of Chin under 2015GB110001 and 2015GB102000 - National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No. 1147521 and by US DOE under DE-FC02-04ER54698.

  2. Thrombin-stimulated platelet aggregation is inhibited by kallikrein in a time- and concentration-dependent manner.

    PubMed

    Veloso, D

    2003-01-01

    Many in vitro studies have shown that activation of prekallikrein (PK) to kallikrein (KAL) in normal plasma triggers rapid activation of the coagulation cascade. In agreement, the coagulation activation is impaired in PK-deficient plasma. Paradoxically, PK-deficient patients show a tendency to thrombosis. To investigate the discrepancy between the in vitro and in vivo findings, we analyzed the effect of KAL on the rate of platelet aggregation. For this research, physiologic concentrations of washed human platelets were incubated for 5 and/or 10 min with approximately 2.2 to 88 nM human plasma KAL (< 1/100 to approximately 1/3 of PK concentrations in plasma) prior to the addition of high concentrations of alpha-thrombin (54 nM) or fibrinogen plus ADP. KAL concentrations were arbitrarily selected on the assumption that concentrations of free KAL (the enzymatically active species) were minute in normal plasma and higher when KAL production was enhanced, and/or inhibitors were depleted. Full platelet aggregation was that seen in the absence of KAL or PK. Inhibition of platelet aggregation stimulated by thrombin was markedly increased with increased KAL concentrations and incubation times. The degree of inhibition by KAL was smaller when ADP was the agonist. The data suggest that KAL may play a role in the modulation of platelet aggregation in vivo under normal conditions as well as when prolonged, high concentrations of KAL occur in blood. The data may also help to explain the intriguing observation that PK-deficient patients show a tendency to thrombotic episodes and myocardial infarction whereas in vitro assays predict bleeding.

  3. Stochastic clustering of material surface under high-heat plasma load

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Budaev, Viacheslav P.

    2017-11-01

    The results of a study of a surface formed by high-temperature plasma loads on various materials such as tungsten, carbon and stainless steel are presented. High-temperature plasma irradiation leads to an inhomogeneous stochastic clustering of the surface with self-similar granularity - fractality on the scale from nanoscale to macroscales. Cauliflower-like structure of tungsten and carbon materials are formed under high heat plasma load in fusion devices. The statistical characteristics of hierarchical granularity and scale invariance are estimated. They differ qualitatively from the roughness of the ordinary Brownian surface, which is possibly due to the universal mechanisms of stochastic clustering of material surface under the influence of high-temperature plasma.

  4. High voltage system: Plasma interaction summary

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Stevens, N. John

    1986-01-01

    The possible interactions that could exist between a high voltage system and the space plasma environment are reviewed. A solar array is used as an example of such a system. The emphasis in this review is on the discrepancies that exist in this technology in both flight and ground experiment data. It has been found that, in ground testing, there are facility effects, cell size effects and area scaling uncertainties. For space applications there are area scaling and discharge concerns for an array as well as the influence of the large space structures on the collection process. There are still considerable uncertainties in the high voltage-space plasma interaction technology even after several years of effort.

  5. High Current Systems for HyperV and PLX Plasma Railguns

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Brockington, S.; Case, A.; Messer, S.; Elton, R.; Witherspoon, F. D.

    2011-10-01

    HyperV is developing gas fed, pulsed, plasma railgun accelerators for PLX and other high momentum plasma applications. The present 2.5 cm square-bore plasma railgun forms plasma armatures from high density neutral gas (argon), preionizes it electrothermally, and accelerates the armature with 30 cm long parallel-plate railgun electrodes driven by a pulse forming network (PFN). Recent experiments have successfully formed and accelerated plasma armatures of ~4 mg at 40 km/s, with PFN currents of ~400 kA. In order to further increase railgun performance to the PLX design goal of 8 mg at 50 km/s, the PFN was upgraded to support currents of up to ~750 kA. A high voltage, high current linear array spark-gap switch and flexible, low-inductance transmission line were designed and constructed to handle the increased current load. We will describe these systems and present initial performance data from high current operation of the plasma rail gun from spectroscopy, interferometry, and imaging systems as well as pressure, magnetic field, and optical diagnostics. High current performance of railgun bore materials for electrodes and insulators will also be discussed as well as plans for upcoming experimentation with advanced materials. Supported by the U.S. DOE Joint Program in HEDLP.

  6. Effect of losartan versus candesartan on uric acid, renal function, and fibrinogen in patients with hypertension and hyperuricemia associated with diuretics.

    PubMed

    Rayner, Brian L; Trinder, Yvonne A; Baines, Donette; Isaacs, Sedick; Opie, Lionel H

    2006-02-01

    Hyperuricemia may counter benefits of blood pressure (BP) reduction, although this is controversial. We examined the effects of candesartan and losartan on uric acid, creatinine, and fibrinogen. Patients with hypertension and serum uric acid > or = 0.42 mmol/L (7 mg/dL) associated with diuretics were randomized to receive losartan 50 to 100 mg or candesartan 8 to 16 mg for 24 weeks. At randomization and after 24 weeks, systolic and diastolic BP, serum uric acid, creatinine, and fibrinogen were measured. A total of 59 patients were entered into the study (30 in the losartan and 29 in the candesartan group). Mean systolic and diastolic BP were reduced in the candesartan group, from 156 mm Hg at baseline to 132 mm Hg at 24 weeks, and from 90.9 to 80.8 mm Hg respectively, P < .0001), and in the losartan group from 150.3 to 132 mm Hg and from 89.6 to 77.6 respectively, P < 0001). Overall mean values of fibrinogen levels were again reduced from 4.39 g/L at baseline to 4.01 g/L at 24 weeks (P < .02). Mean values of serum uric acid in the losartan and candesartan groups were similar at baseline (0.44 and 0.46 mmol/L, respectively), but they were lower in the losartan group after 24 weeks (0.39 and 0.48 mmol/L, P = .01). Twelve patients (44%) in the candesartan group had a 10% increase in serum creatinine compared with four patients (14.2%) in the losartan group (P < .02). Candesartan and losartan lowered BP, but only losartan reduced uric acid. The lowering of fibrinogen in both groups may explain the reduction in stroke with angiotensin receptor blockers. The effect of persistent hyperuricemia on renal function requires further study.

  7. Allergen challenge-induced extravasation of plasma in mouse airways.

    PubMed

    Erjefält, J S; Andersson, P; Gustafsson, B; Korsgren, M; Sonmark, B; Persson, C G

    1998-08-01

    Mouse models are extensively used to study genetic and immunological mechanisms of potential importance to inflammatory airway diseases, e.g. asthma. However, the airway pathophysiology in allergic mice has received less attention. For example, plasma extravasation and the ensuing tissue-deposition of plasma proteins, which is a hallmark of inflammation, has not been examined in allergic mice. This study aims to examine the vascular permeability and the distribution of plasma proteins in mouse airways following exposure to allergen and serotonin. Extravasated plasma was quantified by a dual isotop technique using intravascular (131I-albumin) and extrasvascular (125I-albumin) plasma tracers. Histological visualization of fibrinogen and colloidal gold revealed the tissue distribution of extravasated plasma. Allergen aerosol exposure (3% OVA, 15min) of sensitized animals resulted in a marked plasma extravasation response in the trachea (P < 0.01) and the bronchi but not in the lung parenchyma. A similar extravasation response was induced by serotonin (P<0.001). Extravasating vessels (assessed by Monastral blue dye) were identified as intercartilaginous venules. Extravasated plasma abounded in the subepithelial tissue but was absent in the epithelium and airway lumen. The allergen-induced response was dose-dependently inhibited by iv administration of formoterol (P < 0.001), a vascular antipermeability agent. The present study demonstrates that serotonin and allergen challenge of sensitized mice increase airway venular permeability to cause transient extravasation and lamina propria distribution of plasma in the large airways. We suggest that the extravasation response is a useful measure of the intensity and the distribution of active inflammation

  8. Identification of messenger RNA of fetoplacental source in maternal plasma of women with normal pregnancies and pregnancies with intrauterine growth restriction

    PubMed Central

    García Robles, Reggie; Rojas, Juan Diego; Bermúdez, Martha; Bernal, Jaime

    2012-01-01

    Objective: to quantify placenta-specific RNA in plasma of women carrying foetuses with intrauterine growth restriction and pregnant women with normal pregnancies. Methods: 8 pregnant women with foetuses with intrauterine growth restriction were studied as well as 18 women with uncomplicated pregnancies in the third pregnancy trimester. Total free RNA was quantified in maternal plasma by spectrophotometry and the gene expression of hPL (Human Placental Lactogen) at the messenger RNA level through technical Real Time-Chain Reaction Polymerase. Results: plasma RNA of fetoplacental origin was successfully detected in 100% of pregnant women. There were no statistically significant differences between the values of total RNA extracted from plasma (p= 0.5975) nor in the messenger RNA expression of hPL gene (p= 0.5785) between cases and controls. Conclusion: messenger RNA of fetoplacental origin can be detected in maternal plasma during pregnancy. PMID:24893189

  9. Suppressed ion-scale turbulence in a hot highplasma

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schmitz, L.; Fulton, D. P.; Ruskov, E.; Lau, C.; Deng, B. H.; Tajima, T.; Binderbauer, M. W.; Holod, I.; Lin, Z.; Gota, H.; Tuszewski, M.; Dettrick, S. A.; Steinhauer, L. C.

    2016-12-01

    An economic magnetic fusion reactor favours a high ratio of plasma kinetic pressure to magnetic pressure in a well-confined, hot plasma with low thermal losses across the confining magnetic field. Field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasmas are potentially attractive as a reactor concept, achieving high plasma pressure in a simple axisymmetric geometry. Here, we show that FRC plasmas have unique, beneficial microstability properties that differ from typical regimes in toroidal confinement devices. Ion-scale fluctuations are found to be absent or strongly suppressed in the plasma core, mainly due to the large FRC ion orbits, resulting in near-classical thermal ion confinement. In the surrounding boundary layer plasma, ion- and electron-scale turbulence is observed once a critical pressure gradient is exceeded. The critical gradient increases in the presence of sheared plasma flow induced via electrostatic biasing, opening the prospect of active boundary and transport control in view of reactor requirements.

  10. Development of high-density helicon plasma sources and their applications

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Shinohara, Shunjiro; Hada, Tohru; Motomura, Taisei

    2009-05-15

    We report on the development of unique, high-density helicon plasma sources and describe their applications. Characterization of one of the largest helicon plasma sources yet constructed is made. Scalings of the particle production efficiency are derived from various plasma production devices in open literature and our own data from long and short cylinder devices, i.e., high and low values of the aspect ratio A (the ratio of the axial length to the diameter), considering the power balance in the framework of a simple diffusion model. A high plasma production efficiency is demonstrated, and we clarify the structures of the excitedmore » waves in the low A region down to 0.075 (the large device diameter of 73.8 cm with the axial length as short as 5.5 cm). We describe the application to plasma propulsion using a new concept that employs no electrodes. A very small diameter (2.5 cm) helicon plasma with 10{sup 13} cm{sup -3} density is produced, and the preliminary results of electromagnetic plasma acceleration are briefly described.« less

  11. Baseline repeated measures from controlled human exposure studies: associations between ambient air pollution exposure and the systemic inflammatory biomarkers IL-6 and fibrinogen.

    PubMed

    Thompson, Aaron M S; Zanobetti, Antonella; Silverman, Frances; Schwartz, Joel; Coull, Brent; Urch, Bruce; Speck, Mary; Brook, Jeffrey R; Manno, Michael; Gold, Diane R

    2010-01-01

    Systemic inflammation may be one of the mechanisms mediating the association between ambient air pollution and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and fibrinogen are biomarkers of systemic inflammation that are independent risk factors for cardio-vascular disease. We investigated the association between ambient air pollution and systemic inflammation using baseline measurements of IL-6 and fibrinogen from controlled human exposure studies. In this retrospective analysis we used repeated-measures data in 45 nonsmoking subjects. Hourly and daily moving averages were calculated for ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter fibrinogen. Effect modification by season was considered. We observed a positive association between IL-6 and O3 [0.31 SD per O3 interquartile range (IQR); 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.080.54] and between IL-6 and SO2 (0.25 SD per SO2 IQR; 95% CI, 0.060.43). We observed the strongest effects using 4-day moving averages. Responses to pollutants varied by season and tended to be higher in the summer, particularly for O3 and PM2.5. Fibrinogen was not associated with pollution. This study demonstrates a significant association between ambient pollutant levels and baseline levels of systemic IL-6. These findings have potential implications for controlled human exposure studies. Future research should consider whether ambient pollution exposure before chamber exposure modifies IL-6 response.

  12. High energy density Z-pinch plasmas using flow stabilization

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Shumlak, U., E-mail: shumlak@uw.edu; Golingo, R. P., E-mail: shumlak@uw.edu; Nelson, B. A., E-mail: shumlak@uw.edu

    The ZaP Flow Z-Pinch research project[1] at the University of Washington investigates the effect of sheared flows on MHD instabilities. Axially flowing Z-pinch plasmas are produced that are 100 cm long with a 1 cm radius. The plasma remains quiescent for many radial Alfvén times and axial flow times. The quiescent periods are characterized by low magnetic mode activity measured at several locations along the plasma column and by stationary visible plasma emission. Plasma evolution is modeled with high-resolution simulation codes – Mach2, WARPX, NIMROD, and HiFi. Plasma flow profiles are experimentally measured with a multi-chord ion Doppler spectrometer. Amore » sheared flow profile is observed to be coincident with the quiescent period, and is consistent with classical plasma viscosity. Equilibrium is determined by diagnostic measurements: interferometry for density; spectroscopy for ion temperature, plasma flow, and density[2]; Thomson scattering for electron temperature; Zeeman splitting for internal magnetic field measurements[3]; and fast framing photography for global structure. Wall stabilization has been investigated computationally and experimentally by removing 70% of the surrounding conducting wall to demonstrate no change in stability behavior.[4] Experimental evidence suggests that the plasma lifetime is only limited by plasma supply and current waveform. The flow Z-pinch concept provides an approach to achieve high energy density plasmas,[5] which are large, easy to diagnose, and persist for extended durations. A new experiment, ZaP-HD, has been built to investigate this approach by separating the flow Z-pinch formation from the radial compression using a triaxial-electrode configuration. This innovation allows more detailed investigations of the sheared flow stabilizing effect, and it allows compression to much higher densities than previously achieved on ZaP by reducing the linear density and increasing the pinch current. Experimental results

  13. HIGH ENERGY GASEOUS PLASMA CONTAINMENT DEVICE

    DOEpatents

    Josephson, V.; Hammel, J.E.

    1959-01-13

    An apparatus is presenied for producing neutrons as a result of collisions between ions in high temperature plasmas. The invention resides in the particular arrangement of ihe device whereby ihe magneiic and electric fields are made to cross at substantially right angles in several places along a torus shaped containment vessel. A plasma of deuterium gas is generated in the vessel under the electric fields and is "trapped" in any one of the "crossed field" regions to produce a release of energy.

  14. Role of plasma fibronectin in the foreign body response to biomaterials.

    PubMed

    Keselowsky, Benjamin G; Bridges, Amanda W; Burns, Kellie L; Tate, Ciara C; Babensee, Julia E; LaPlaca, Michelle C; García, Andrés J

    2007-09-01

    Host responses to biomaterials control the biological performance of implanted medical devices. Upon implantation, synthetic materials adsorb biomolecules, which trigger an inflammatory cascade comprising coagulation, leukocyte recruitment/adhesion, and foreign body reaction. The foreign body reaction and ensuing fibrous encapsulation severely limit the in vivo performance of numerous biomedical devices. While it is well established that plasma fibrinogen and secreted cytokines modulate leukocyte recruitment and maturation into foreign body giant cells, mediators of chronic inflammation and fibrous encapsulation of implanted biomaterials remain poorly understood. Using plasma fibronectin (pFN) conditional knock-out mice, we demonstrate that pFN modulates the foreign body response to polyethylene terephthalate disks implanted subcutaneously. Fibrous collagenous capsules were two-fold thicker in mice depleted of pFN compared to controls. In contrast, deletion of pFN did not alter acute leukocyte recruitment to the biomaterial, indicating that pFN modulates chronic fibrotic responses. The number of foreign body giant cells associated with the implant was three times higher in the absence of pFN while macrophage numbers were not different, suggesting that pFN regulates the formation of biomaterial-associated foreign body giant cells. Interestingly, cellular FN (cFN) was present in the capsules of both normal and pFN-depleted mice, suggesting that cFN could not compensate for the loss of pFN. These results implicate pFN in the host response to implanted materials and identify a potential target for therapeutic intervention to enhance the biological performance of biomedical devices.

  15. BLOOD PLASMA PROTEIN GIVEN BY VEIN UTILIZED IN BODY METABOLISM

    PubMed Central

    Holman, Russell L.; Mahoney, Earle B.; Whipple, George H.

    1934-01-01

    Large amounts of normal blood plasma can be given intravenously to normal dogs over several weeks without causing any significant escape by way of the urine. There appears to be no renal threshold for plasma protein even with high plasma protein concentration (9.7 per cent). Dogs receiving sugar by mouth and plasma by vein can be kept practically in nitrogen equilibrium and it would seem that the injected protein must be utilized by the body. If this can happen in this emergency we may suspect that normally there is a certain amount of "give and take" between body protein and plasma protein. Plasma protein fed by mouth under identical conditions shows the same general reaction as noted with plasma by vein but the urinary nitrogen is a little higher and suggests that the injected protein is utilized a little more completely to form new protein. The difference may be explained as due to deaminization in the case of protein by mouth. During fasting periods the blood plasma proteins are used up and the total circulating protein may even decrease to one-half the normal level. The plasma protein concentration changes but little and the significant change is a shrinkage of plasma volume. All these facts point to a dynamic equilibrium between tissue protein and plasma protein depending upon the physiological needs of the moment. In the absence of food protein the body can use material coming from one body protein to fabricate badly needed protein material of different character. PMID:19870245

  16. Interaction of notochord-derived fibrinogen-like protein with Notch regulates the patterning of the central nervous system of Ciona intestinalis embryos.

    PubMed

    Yamada, Shigehiro; Hotta, Kohji; Yamamoto, Takamasa S; Ueno, Naoto; Satoh, Nori; Takahashi, Hiroki

    2009-04-01

    The midline organ the notochord and its overlying dorsal neural tube are the most prominent features of the chordate body plan. Although the molecular mechanisms involved in the formation of the central nervous system (CNS) have been studied extensively in vertebrate embryos, none of the genes that are expressed exclusively in notochord cells has been shown to function in this process. Here, we report a gene in the urochordate Ciona intestinalis encoding a fibrinogen-like protein that plays a pivotal role in the notochord-dependent positioning of neuronal cells. While this gene (Ci-fibrn) is expressed exclusively in notochord cells, its protein product is not confined to these cells but is distributed underneath the CNS as fibril-like protrusions. We demonstrated that Ci-fibrn interacts physically and functionally with Ci-Notch that is expressed in the central nervous system, and that the correct distribution of Ci-fibrn protein is dependent on Notch signaling. Disturbance of the Ci-fibrn distribution caused an abnormal positioning of neuronal cells and an abnormal track of axon extension. Therefore, it is highly likely that the interaction between the notochord-based fibrinogen-like protein and the neural tube-based Notch signaling plays an essential role in the proper patterning of CNS.

  17. Suppressed ion-scale turbulence in a hot highplasma

    PubMed Central

    Schmitz, L.; Fulton, D. P.; Ruskov, E.; Lau, C.; Deng, B. H.; Tajima, T.; Binderbauer, M. W.; Holod, I.; Lin, Z.; Gota, H.; Tuszewski, M.; Dettrick, S. A.; Steinhauer, L. C.

    2016-01-01

    An economic magnetic fusion reactor favours a high ratio of plasma kinetic pressure to magnetic pressure in a well-confined, hot plasma with low thermal losses across the confining magnetic field. Field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasmas are potentially attractive as a reactor concept, achieving high plasma pressure in a simple axisymmetric geometry. Here, we show that FRC plasmas have unique, beneficial microstability properties that differ from typical regimes in toroidal confinement devices. Ion-scale fluctuations are found to be absent or strongly suppressed in the plasma core, mainly due to the large FRC ion orbits, resulting in near-classical thermal ion confinement. In the surrounding boundary layer plasma, ion- and electron-scale turbulence is observed once a critical pressure gradient is exceeded. The critical gradient increases in the presence of sheared plasma flow induced via electrostatic biasing, opening the prospect of active boundary and transport control in view of reactor requirements. PMID:28000675

  18. Influence of the normalized ion flux on the constitution of alumina films deposited by plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kurapov, Denis; Reiss, Jennifer; Trinh, David H.

    2007-07-15

    Alumina thin films were deposited onto tempered hot working steel substrates from an AlCl{sub 3}-O{sub 2}-Ar-H{sub 2} gas mixture by plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition. The normalized ion flux was varied during deposition through changes in precursor content while keeping the cathode voltage and the total pressure constant. As the precursor content in the total gas mixture was increased from 0.8% to 5.8%, the deposition rate increased 12-fold, while the normalized ion flux decreased by approximately 90%. The constitution, morphology, impurity incorporation, and the elastic properties of the alumina thin films were found to depend on the normalized ion flux. Thesemore » changes in structure, composition, and properties induced by normalized ion flux may be understood by considering mechanisms related to surface and bulk diffusion.« less

  19. Comparison of growth factor and platelet concentration from commercial platelet-rich plasma separation systems.

    PubMed

    Castillo, Tiffany N; Pouliot, Michael A; Kim, Hyeon Joo; Dragoo, Jason L

    2011-02-01

    Clinical studies claim that platelet-rich plasma (PRP) shortens recovery times because of its high concentration of growth factors that may enhance the tissue repair process. Most of these studies obtained PRP using different separation systems, and few analyzed the content of the PRP used as treatment. This study characterized the composition of single-donor PRP produced by 3 commercially available PRP separation systems. Controlled laboratory study. Five healthy humans donated 100 mL of blood, which was processed to produce PRP using 3 PRP concentration systems (MTF Cascade, Arteriocyte Magellan, Biomet GPS III). Platelet, white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell, and fibrinogen concentrations were analyzed by automated systems in a clinical laboratory, whereas ELISA determined the concentrations of platelet-derived growth factor αβ and ββ (PDGF-αβ, PDGF-ββ), transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). There was no significant difference in mean PRP platelet, red blood cell, active TGF-β1, or fibrinogen concentrations among PRP separation systems. There was a significant difference in platelet capture efficiency. The highest platelet capture efficiency was obtained with Cascade, which was comparable with Magellan but significantly higher than GPS III. There was a significant difference among all systems in the concentrations of WBC, PDGF-αβ, PDGF-ββ, and VEGF. The Cascade system concentrated leukocyte-poor PRP, compared with leukocyte-rich PRP from the GPS III and Magellan systems. The GPS III and Magellan concentrate leukocyte-rich PRP, which results in increased concentrations of WBCs, PDGF-αβ, PDGF-ββ, and VEGF as compared with the leukocyte-poor PRP from Cascade. Overall, there was no significant difference among systems in the platelet concentration, red blood cell, active TGF-β1, or fibrinogen levels. Products from commercially available PRP separation systems produce differing concentrations of

  20. Nitrogen Plasma Optimization for High-Quality Dilute Nitrides

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2005-02-01

    Available online 1 February 2005Abstract Growth of GaInNAs by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) generally requires a nitrogen plasma, which complicates growth...InGaAs and InGaAsP lasers. This paper addresses several of the challenges of plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) of high-quality dilute nitrides...A.L. Holmes, Using beam flux monitor as Langmuir probe for plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy , J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B, in press.