A new commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit has been evaluated for the measurement of neopterin concentrations in serum, plasma and urine. This competitive ELISA is technically simple, requires only small sample volume and is rapid to perform. The assay procedure consists of sequential 1.5 h and 10 min room temperature incubation steps. The ELISA is accurate, sensitive, specific, and precise. Linear regression analysis of neopterin concentrations measured with the new ELISA and with an established method yielded a highly significant correlation (r = 0.99). The new assay is applicable to ELISA workstations, thus enabling determination of neopterin in large series of samples. The neopterin ELISA kit has been used in routine laboratory testing of blood donations in a blood bank.
In an earlier publication we found significantly more estrogen receptor-positive cases in the stroma if compared with the epithelium of human benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). We were therefore interested to find out whether this preferential assay of estrogen receptor in stroma is reflected by a higher estrogen content in this tissue fraction. Estradiol (E2) and estrone (E1) were measured by RIA in whole BPH tissue, stroma, and epithelium as well as in the nuclear fraction of stroma and epithelium. For comparison, E2 and E1 were measured in blood also. The main results are as follows: 1) In all BPH samples the E2 (26.0 +/- 3.5 (SEM) pg/g (n = 20)) and E1 (53.5 +/- 7.4 (14)) content was significantly higher than in the corresponding plasma (E2: 17.5 +/- 2.3 pg/ml (11); E1: 26.5 +/- 4.4(7)), the mean ratio of E2/E1 was 0.52 and 0.69 for BPH and plasma, respectively; 2) in stroma significantly more E2 (53.6 +/- 7.8 fmol/mg DNA (18)) and E1 (55.9 +/- 8.4 (12)) were measured than in epithelium (E2: 15.7 +/- 1.9 (16); E1: 20.7 +/- 3.2 (13)); 3) in nuclei of stroma significantly higher E2 (38.0 +/- 5.3 fmol/mg DNA (20)) and E1 (19.2 +/- 4.8 (14)) concentrations were present than in epithelium (E2: 6.8 +/- 3.1 (19); E1: 2.5 +/- 0.5 (13)), the mean ratio of E2/E1 for the nuclear fractions of stroma (2.3) and epithelium (2.7) increased dramatically if compared with the respective ratio in whole BPH tissue. In conclusion, there is a distinct accumulation of estrogens in the nuclei of stroma, E2 concentration being significantly higher than E1. These data support the hypothesis that E2 could play a preferential role in stimulating the growth of the BPH stroma.
Dihydroergotoxine mesylate (DHETM, CAS 8067-24-1), the combination of the mesylates of four dihydrogenated ergot alkaloid derivatives (dihydroergocornine, dihydroergocristine, alpha-dihydroergocryptine and beta-dihydroergocryptine), is used mainly for age-related cognitive impairment. The bioavailability of DHETM was investigated in a cross-over study on 20 male healthy volunteers to whom two single doses of 9 mg DHETM were administered either in tablets (Orphol spezial) or in oral solution (Orphol forte). DHETM was assayed in serum with a double radioimmunoassay method displaying a satisfactory cross-reactivity with the principal components of DHETM. After administration of tablets the peak of DHETM was (mean +/- SE) 124 +/- 16 pg/ml, the tmax 1.15 +/- 0.21 h, the AUC 790 +/- 93 pg/ml x h and the terminal elimination half-life 7.54 +/- 1.23 h. After oral solution the peak of DHETM was 176 +/- 16 pg/ml, the tmax 0.50 +/- 0.04 h, the AUC 779 +/- 94 pg/ml x h and the terminal elimination half-life 6.13 +/- 0.76 h. The bioavailability of DHETM from tablets vs. that from oral solution differed only by a retard related to the dissolution time of DHETM from the tablets, but not for other pharmacokinetic parameters. The relatively high two single doses of 9 mg DHETM administered to the 20 subjects were well tolerated, causing only known and expected adverse reactions to DHETM (tiredness, headache and vertigo) that did not require discontinuation of the study.
Androgen metabolites with 3 beta-hydroxy configuration--ie, dehydroepiandrosterone (3 beta-hydroxy-5-androsten-17-one, DHEA), 5-androstene-3 beta-17 beta-diol (A-Diol), and 5 alpha-androstane-3 beta, 17 beta-diol (3 beta-Diol)--were measured by radioimmunoassay in the homogenate, in the mechanically separated epithelium and stroma, and in the nuclear fractions of epithelium and stroma of benign hyperplastic (BPH) and normal human prostatic tissue, in muscle homogenates and in plasma. The main results were: 1) Mean prostatic DHEA, A-Diol and 3 beta-Diol were 6-7 times as high as plasma values (1 g = 1 ml). Compared to muscle, prostatic values were more than tenfold higher. 2) The values in homogenates of BPH and normal prostate were not statistically different (pmol/mg DNA, mean +/- SEM, BPH: DHEA 46.8 +/- 7.2, n = 11; A-Diol 5.7 +/- 1.2, n = 12; 3 beta-Diol 3.7 +/- 0.6, n = 13; normal prostate: DHEA 56.0 +/- 5.5, n = 2; A-Diol 7.4 +/- 2.4, n = 5; 3 beta-Diol 5.8 +/- 1.7, n = 5). 3) In the nuclear fractions of epithelium and stroma the values were low compared to the homogenates and could not be discriminated from unspecific retention. Although we could not demonstrate either a specific retention of the 3 beta-hydroxysteroids in the nuclei or conclusive differences in steroid accumulation between epithelium and stroma of BPH and normal prostate, which could explain the development of the disease, the high levels in the tissue particularly of A-Diol would be compatible with estrogenic action at the prostate level.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.