Human and bovine antithrombin, purified by affinity chromatography on heparin‐agarose, have been characterized with regard to chemical composition, size, shape and conformation. Both preparations were found to contain several active components of identical or similar size but different electrical charge. Amino acid and carbohydrate analyses revealed striking similarities between human and bovine antithrombin, while immunological analyses failed to demonstrate any cross‐reactivity. The molecular weights were determined by sedimentation equilibrium to be 58000 for human and 56000 for bovine antithrombin. The small molecular weight difference suggested by these values was verified by several empirical methods of molecular weight estimation. Hydrodynamic measurements indicated that the two proteins have similar molecular shapes, both of which are slightly more extended than that of typical globular proteins. The internal folding of the two polypeptide chains is also similar, as evidenced by the identity of the far‐ultraviolet circular dichroism spectra. Specifically, these analyses suggested a low α‐helix content of both proteins. In conclusion, the marked structural similarity of human and bovine antithrombin indicates that the two proteins may also exhibit extensive functional similarities in the binding of heparin and the inhibition of various coagulation factors.
Twenty-five patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) according to RDC were examined with computerized EEG before antidepressive treatment was initiated. Relationships between EEG parameters and clinical characteristics were studied. Age and pharmacological treatment were taken into account. Primary MDD was associated with an increase of delta amplitude. Retarded MDD was associated with an increase of delta and theta amplitudes and EEG variability. Recurrent unipolar MDD was related to a decrease of total alpha symmetry. Thus, subdiagnoses according to RDC were validated. The anxiety subsyndrome and to some extent vital symptoms, depressed mood, and CPRS total sum, were associated with asymmetry of the EEG pattern, whereas retardation was not. The number of former depressive episodes was positively correlated to amplitude of beta activity and negatively correlated to symmetry of EEG in the delta frequency band.
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