Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:2.7.10.1 (ERK)
 95,504 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A staphylococcal enterotoxin visual immunoassay kit (TECRA) has recently become commercially available. Since the kit is an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay system equipped with polyvalent antisera against staphylococcal enterotoxin types A to E (SEA to SEE) and the test is simple and rapid to perform (4 h), it has been widely used for screening purposes. In this study, the sensitivity of the kit for detection of SEA, SEB, and SEC in ham, cheese, and mushrooms was similar to those of kits based on an enzyme immunoassay and reversed passive latex agglutination: 0.75 to 1.0 ng of SEA per ml, 0.5 to 0.75 ng of SEB per ml, and 1.0 to 1.25 ng of SEC per ml. However, the TECRA kit showed nonspecific reactions with food samples contaminated by microorganisms other than Staphylococcus aureus, such as Enterobacter agglomerans, Enterobacter cloacae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Serratia marcescens. The substance contributing to the false-positive results differed from true staphylococcal enterotoxins in that it was (i) heat labile (completely inactivated by heating for 2 min at 100 degrees C, whereas true staphylococcal enterotoxins were inactivated by about 10% with this treatment), (ii) lower in molecular weight than staphylococcal enterotoxins, and (iii) not bound to a copper chelate Sepharose gel (all of the substance remained in the unbound wash fraction, whereas staphylococcal enterotoxins were quantitatively bound to the gel). The problem of false-positive results with the TECRA kit could be resolved by heat treatment (2 min at 100 degrees C) or by cleanup procedures involving metal chelate affinity chromatography with copper chelate Sepharose for 4 h before use of the TECRA kit.
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PMID:Nonspecific reactions of a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit (TECRA) for detection of staphylococcal enterotoxins in foods. 151 98

Several complications in pregnancy seem to be related to the fluctuations of serum copper. In particular, values of serum copper over the normal range, have been associated to pregnancies complicated by EPH-gestosis. In this study we have evaluated the copper concentration in samples of placenta from 15 gravidas affected by EPH-gestosis and from 15 healthy gravidas with atom absorption spectrophotometry. The results of our study confirm the presence of an elevated copper concentration in the EPH-gestosis patients group (mean value: 196 micrograms/100 g of placental tissue). We can hypothesize that the result is due to a reduced copper uptake from the fetus.
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PMID:[Determination of the copper content in healthy placenta and placenta in gestosis using atomic absorption spectrophotometry]. 178 6

In this study, plasma levels of magnesium, calcium, zinc and copper were simultaneously determined in pregnancies complicated by either abortion, intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), diabetes or EPH (edema, proteinuria, hypertension) gestosis. The levels of the four cations in non-pregnant women and in healthy, pregnant women were also determined. Compared with controls, a significant decrease in magnesium, with increase of the Ca/Mg ratio, was found in spontaneous abortions, but not when patients had a successful continuation of pregnancy. In EPH gestosis, total calcium was reduced, with a significant decrease of the plasma Ca/Mg ratio. A slight, but significant, increase in plasma zinc was observed in women affected by either diabetes or IUGR, probably as a result of reduced zinc uptake by the fetus. In addition, higher copper levels were found in the pathologies studied, with the exception of missed abortions. The possible role of an altered Ca/Mg ratio homeostasis in relation to gestational pathologies is discussed.
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PMID:Maternal plasma concentrations of magnesium, calcium, zinc and copper in normal and pathological pregnancies. 227 Apr 73

The return of fertility following discontinuation of norethisterone oenanthate (NET EN) 200 mg injectable contraceptive after use for a minimum period of six months or more was studied in 69 women who discontinued the method for planning pregnancy. Former users of copper intra-uterine device (CuT 200) were enrolled as a control group. Another 161 women who had discontinued NET EN due to other reasons (e.g. amenorrohea, excessive bleeding or personal reasons) were also studied for return of fertility after ensuring that they were not using any other method of contraception and were exposed to the risk of pregnancy. The subjects from both groups were followed for a period of one year. The cumulative conception rates at one year were 72.5 and 83.6 per 100 subjects for ex-NET EN and ex-CuT 200 users who had discontinued the method for planning pregnancy and this difference was not statistically significant (P greater than 0.05). The median time for conception for ex-NET EN users was 7.8 months as compared to 3.7 months in ex-CuT 200 users but the cumulative conception rates at the end of one year show that future return of fertility in NET EN users does not appear to be adversely affected. In 51 subjects who had discontinued NET EN due to amenorrhoea, the return of fertility was predictably slower and less. The return of fertility in subjects who discontinued NET EN for other reasons (e.g. excessive bleeding and other personal reasons) was similar to ex-NET EN and ex-CuT 200 users.
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PMID:ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) Task Force on Hormonal Contraception. Return of fertility following discontinuation of an injectable contraceptive--norethisterone oenanthate (NET EN) 200mg dose. Council of Medical Research. 354 41

The characteristics of cholecystokinin (CCK) binding to its receptors in a particulate membrane fraction of mouse cerebral cortex were studied by employing biologically active radioiodinated CCK prepared by conjugation with 125I-Bolton-Hunter (125I-BH) reagent. At 24 degrees C binding was rapid, reversible, and linearly related to protein content. Binding was maximal at acidic pH (6.5) and reduced by the presence of monovalent cations. Under physiological conditions (pH 7.4, 118 mM-NaCL, 4.7 mM-KCl) Scatchard plots of CCK binding were linear with a KD value of 1.27 nM and binding capacity of 115 fmol/mg protein. Optimal binding required the presence of both Mg2+ and EGTA, and was inhibited by the addition of micromolar concentrations of Cu2+ (ID50 = 30 microM). The cortical receptor recognized all major forms of CCK, with an order of potency of: cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK8) greater than CCK greater than cholecystokinin tetrapeptide (CCK4). Desulfated cholecystokinin octapeptide (dCCK8) had a 10-fold lower affinity than CCK8. Dibutyryl cyclic GMP, a potent competitive inhibitor of CCK binding to receptors in pancreas, was not a specific inhibitor of CCK binding to brain receptors. These present results support the concept that CCK may function as a regulatory peptide in brain, and that the cortical CCK receptor is different from the receptors mediating the peripheral action of CCK.
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PMID:Characterization of receptors for cholecystokinin and related peptides in mouse cerebral cortex. 626 5

Human prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a 33 kDa kallikrein-like serine protease, occurring in the prostate, in seminal plasma and in blood, was prepared under nonreducing conditions in an enzymatically active form from seminal plasma by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), followed by fast copper staining, electroelution from gel slices and dialysis against isotonic phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Enzymatic activity was demonstrated for the first time directly by cleavage of semenogelin, one of the biological substrates of PSA, isolated by the same procedure, i.e. SDS-PAGE and electroelution, but from seminal vesicle fluid. The purified PSA formed SDS-stable complexes with the two major extracellular protease inhibitors in blood, alpha 1-antichymotrypsin (alpha 1-ACH) and alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2-M). PSA isolated under reducing conditions was enzymatically inactive and could not bind to the protease inhibitors alpha 1-ACH and alpha 2-M.
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PMID:Biological activity of prostate-specific antigen isolated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and electroelution. 758 64

Irregularity in vaginal bleeding patterns is the most common clinical side effect causing discontinuation of the method reported by the-users of the newer contraceptive methods, especially hormonal ones. An objective assessment of vaginal bleeding pattern is, therefore, critical in evaluation of a new contraceptive method for its acceptance and continued use. The menstrual diary records of women participating in clinical trials of several contraceptive methods undertaken by the Indian Council of Medical Research were analysed. It was observed that the long-acting progestogen-only hormonal contraceptives like levonorgestrel (LNG)-releasing subdermal implants Norplant or intrauterine devices (LNG-IUD) as well as injectable contraceptive NET-EN 200mg given 2 or 3 monthly produced disturbances in bleeding pattern in the majority of their users. Very heavy or prolonged bleeding, a potential health hazard was uncommon and a shift more towards infrequent bleeding was observed. In Norplant-II implants users, 75 to 80% of women had irregularities in bleeding pattern during the first year of use which improved with prolonged use. However, even at 4 years of use, about half of the users of Norplant-II implants continued to have irregular bleeding patterns. The bleeding disturbances occurred in 80% users of 200mg NET-EN injectable contraceptives also during first year of use, however unlike Norplant-II implants users, there was no improvement with prolonged use. Combined monthly injectable contraceptives containing 50mg NET-EN and 5mg estradiol valerate caused less bleeding problems with half of the users experiencing normal pattern during one year of its use. Combined low-dose oral pills, both triphasic and monophasic, produced much better cycle control as compared to any of the other hormonal contraceptive-treated groups; about 90% of combined oral pill users had normal bleeding patterns during one year of method use. The use of copper IUDs was associated with increased bleeding in 18 to 20% of women during the initial period of three months which improved with prolonged use. It was observed that the women having frequent or prolonged bleeding had discontinued the contraceptive method more often as compared to those having delayed bleeding episodes or oligomenorrhoea. However, discontinuation rates due to bleeding irregularities at one year were lower in Norplant-II implants users as compared to other long acting hormonal contraceptive methods such as injectables or IUDs in spite of similar or better bleeding patterns in women using these methods.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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PMID:Vaginal bleeding patterns of women using different contraceptive methods (implants, injectables, IUDs, oral pills)--an Indian experience. An ICMR Task Force Study. Indian Council of Medical Research. 762 84

Heavy metal intoxication of newborn infants fed with "Ba-Pao-Neu-Hwang-San" has been reported every year by many hospitals in Taiwan. About nine years ago, the National Laboratories of Foods and Drugs of the Department of Health, Executive Yuan, received one case report of a five month old female infant who died as a result of long term feeding with "Ba-Pao-Neu-Hwang-San". The drug was found to have contained lead 44,000 ppm. Although this unfortunate incident was propagated by most newspapers, the prescription of this ancient Chinese medicinal preparation is still widely accepted by ordinary people. Herbal medicine doctors prefer complex mineral drugs as did their ancestors thousands of years ago. In the last two years, we have collected 5 samples of "Ba-Pao-Neu-Hwang-San" from different manufacturers and measured the concentration of 16 heavy metals (including Cadmium, Mercury, Arsenic, Lead, Chromium, Manganese, Selenium, Germanium, Nickel, Calcium, Magnesium, Aluminum, Iron, Copper, Zinc, and Vanadium) in these drugs with Inductively-Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry and Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. The result of our survey revealed that the first sample (from Tainan) contained mercury 52,800 ppm, the fourth (from Ping-tung) contained mercury 34,500 ppm, and the fifth (from Sin-chu) contained mercury 65,700 ppm. The mercurial contents of these samples were apparently too high to be a safe drug.
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PMID:[Heavy metals in traditional Chinese medicine: ba-pao-neu-hwang-san]. 836 65

An interest to the study of superoxide dismutase (SOD) is growing as it has become known that this enzyme may be used as a medical preparation and in the biochemical research. The aim of the work presented is to investigate the influence of temperature and UV radiation on the structural-functional properties of SOD. Copper- and zinc-containing SOD from bovine erythrocytes with the light of a DRT-400 lamp (dose of irradiation 1.5 x 10(3) J/m2) through an UFS-1 light filter (240-390 nm). The influence of temperature (20-85 degrees C) on the functional properties of native and UV modified SOD has been studied. The process of thermodenaturation of the enzyme proceeds at least two consecutive stages. SOD is stable within the temperature interval 20-70 degrees C. Kinetics of thermodenaturation of protein has been studied. It was established that UV light increases enzyme thermostability. Changes found in the kinetic characteristics of the UV-irradiated SOD are apparently due to its conformational rearrangements.
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PMID:[Kinetic regularities of thermal inactivation of superoxide dismutase]. 855 68

The phase variation of type 1 fimbriae in Escherichia coli is associated with the site-specific inversion of a short DNA element. Recombination at fim requires fimB and fimE, and their products are considered to be the fim recombinases. In this study, FimB and FimE were overproduced and extracts containing the proteins were shown to (i) bind to and (ii) invert the fim switch in vitro. Phenanthroline-copper protection of DNA-protein complexes showed that both FimB and FimE bind to half-sites that flank, and overlap with, the left and right inverted repeats (IRL and IRR, respectively) of the fim switch. Alignment of the four half-sites identified a conserved 5'-CA doublet; mutation of these two bases lowers the affinity of binding of both FimB and FimE to the inverted repeats, and greatly diminishes inversion of the fim switch in vivo. The specificity of the fim recombinases observed in vivo (FimB switching in both directions; FimE switching from on-to-off only) was maintained in vitro. Furthermore, the different binding affinities of FimB and FimE for the various half-site combinations suggests that the specificity of FimE could arise, in part, from the low affinity of FimE for IRL (off).
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PMID:Interaction of FimB and FimE with the fim switch that controls the phase variation of type 1 fimbriae in Escherichia coli K-12. 887 36


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