Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound   Target Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound

---

Query: EC:3.1.1.8 (cholinesterase)
12,691 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The determination of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) has been shown to be as specific as alphafetoprotein (AFP) for the prenatal detection of open neural tube defects although AFP remains the method of choice. This paper describes a semi-automated technique for the analysis of acetylcholinesterase in amniotic fluid that: A) reduces the cost of the procedure; B) allows for a larger number of samples to be run at a time; and C) provides for more accurate and reproducible procedures and results. Six fetuses with neural tube defects (2 with gastroschisis and 3 where one twin was dead) were detected and found to have elevated AChE, TChE and 2 bands by electrophoresis. Quality control procedures using both pure enzyme and amniotic fluid with low and high levels of the enzyme are described. The analysis of 340 amniotic fluids of normal pregnancies indicates that the normal value for AChE is 5.17 +/- 2.63 mU/ml (97% confidence interval for the mean 4.84-5.49 mU/ml. A group of 27 abnormal pregnancies provides evidence that fetal vomiting and regurgitation, fetal demise, multiple cysts syndrome, idiopathic IUGR, arthrogryposis multiplex, hydrocephaly (stenosis of aqueductus), trisomy 21, trisomy 18, hydronephrosis, pyloric stenosis, heart malformation, ectopia cordis and multiple gestation produce elevated levels of pseudocholinesterase (PChE) in amniotic fluid. The use of pseudocholinesterase levels in amniotic fluid for prenatal diagnosis is proposed and discussed in view of its elevated levels in abnormal pregnancies where AChE is normal. The normal values for PChE are 23.86 mU/ml (mean) and 5.83 for standard deviation. Electrophoretic analysis was performed on all samples with values higher than one standard deviation above the mean.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
...
PMID:Determination of cholinesterase and acetylcholinesterase in amniotic fluid. Uses in prenatal diagnosis and quality control. 242 50

The 2872 second trimester amniocentesis followed by amniotic alphafetoprotein (AFP) estimations carried out in South Wales between 1973 and 1981 on women known to be at increased risk for neural tube defect (NTD) and those who had a raised serum AFP level in an NTD screening programme led to the identification of 78 pregnancies of a fetus with anencephalus, 61 with 'open' spina bifida, 8 with gastroschisis, 3 with exomphalos, 2 with encephalocele and 6 with chromosome abnormality. Pregnancies of fetuses having 4 potentially identifiable NTDs were missed because of an equivocal AFP level and there were two false positive results leading to the termination of one normal fetus. It is emphasized that both the latter problems of one normal fetus. It is emphasized that both the latter problems would not have occurred had gel-electrophoresis for isoenzymes of acetyl cholinesterase been available. Follow-up of pregnancies showed that 7 children with 'closed' NTD and 3 with congenital hydrocephalus were born. The anencephalic and the 'open' spina bifida had a more florid lesion than is usual at term. Nearly all the spina bifida were associated with hydrocephalus, often severe and with an obvious Arnold-Chiari malformation. All but 13 had leg or back deformation or malformations in other systems, mostly in the renal tract.
...
PMID:Amniocentesis carried out for neural tube indications in South Wales 1973-1981: outcome of pregnancies and findings in the malformed abortuses. 619 21

The qualitative acetylcholinesterase (AChE) test has been used in conjunction with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) assay on 255 amniotic fluid samples: 191 from normal pregnancies, 44 from abnormal pregnancies (foetal anomalies or intrauterine death). In all cases of normal amniotic fluid obtained before 25 weeks, gel revealed a single major band of non specific cholinesterase, even in fluids contaminated by maternal of foetal blood, whereas 5 fluids contaminated by foetal blood were false positive on AFP. In 8 normal specimens with clear aspect, obtained after 25 weeks, gel revealed a second (AChE) faint band, inhibited by BW 284 C 51. That result shows the risk of false-positive for samples obtained in late pregnancy. All 20 cases of neural tube defect gave a characteristic AChE band: large and intense band. In 9 cases of abdominal wall defect, 3 presented an AChE faint band, just as 2 cases of atresia and 2 cases of hydronephrosis. Negative AChE results were found un 1 case of congenital nephrosis, 3 cases of hydrocephaly and 1 case of teratoma. The main value of qualitative AChE test seems today in diagnosing neural tube defects with a greater sensibility and in classifying bloody fluids in which the AFP is at or above the cut-off level.
...
PMID:[Amniotic fluid acetylcholinesterase and prenatal diagnosis of neural tube defects. II. Qualitative test]. 713 Sep 61

Synaptosomal membrane peroxidation and alteration in its biophysical properties are associated with Aluminium (Al) toxicity that may lead to cognitive dysfunction and Alzheimer's disease (AD) like pathogenesis. Here we investigated the therapeutic potential of Lepedium sativum (LS) as a natural anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and as acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor in treating Al induced AD-like in rat model. We utilized ATR-IR spectroscopy to follow the restoration in the damaged membrane structure of isolated rat cortical synaptosomes and its biophysical properties, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin trapping to follow NADPH oxidase activity (NOX), and EPR spin labelling in response to LS treatment after Al intoxication. We measured the concentration of Ca²⁺ ions in rat cortical tissue by inductively coupled plasma (ICP), the brain atrophy/curing and hydrocephalus by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) besides light microscope histopathology. Our results revealed significant increase in synaptosomal membrane rgidification, order, lipid packing, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and Ca²⁺ ion concentration as a result of Al intoxication. The dramatic increase in Ca²⁺ ion concentration detected in AD group associated with the increase in synaptic membrane polarity and EPR-detected order S-parameter suggest that release of synaptic vesicles into synaptic cleft might be hindered. LS treatment reversed these changes in synaptic membranes, and rescued an observed deficit in the exploratory behaviour of AD group. Our results also strongly suggest that the synaptosomal membrane phospholipids that underwent free radical attacks mediated by AlCl3, due to greater NOX activity, was prevented in the LS group. The results of ATR-IR and EPR spectroscopic techniques recommend LS as a promising therapeutic agent against synaptic membrane alterations opening a new window for AD drug developers.
...
PMID:ATR-IR and EPR spectroscopy for following the membrane restoration of isolated cortical synaptosomes in aluminium-induced Alzheimer's disease - Like rat model. 3261 64

---