1,25(OH)(2)D(3) increased intracellular calcium concentration, sperm motility and induced the acrosome reaction in mature spermatozoa, and VD serum levels were positively associated with sperm motility, suggesting a role for VD in human sperm function.
The primary structure of inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor is partially elucidated, but controversy about the construction of the polypeptide backbone still exists. We present evidence suggesting that inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor represents a novel plasma protein structure with two separate polypeptide chains covalently crosslinked only by carbohydrate (chondroitin sulphate).
In vivo binding of human inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor to hyaluronate was investigated by immunoelectrophoretic techniques. Pathological synovial fluids and follicular fluids both contain high concentrations of soluble hyaluronate. Heavy chain epitopes of inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor were firmly associated with the hyaluronate in synovial fluid and follicular fluid. The hyaluronate-bound inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor epitopes did not cross-react immunologically with bikunin. Several hyaluronate-bound inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor fragments with molecular masses in the range 120,000-30,000 Da were demonstrated by immunoblotting. Heavy chain 1 of inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor was shown to associate with hyaluronate by amino acid sequence analysis of isolated hyaluronate-bound proteins. These data indicate that in vivo metabolism of inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor takes place in pathological synovial fluid and in ovarian follicular fluid shortly before ovulation.
Aim
To develop a fast bedside test for prediction and early targeted intervention of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) to improve the outcome.
Methods
In a multicentre study of preterm infants with gestational age 24‐31 weeks, clinical data present at birth were combined with spectral data of gastric aspirate samples taken at birth and analysed using artificial intelligence. The study was designed to develop an algorithm to predict development of BPD. The BPD definition used was the consensus definition of the US National Institutes of Health: Requirement of supplemental oxygen for at least 28 days with subsequent assessment at 36 weeks postmenstrual age.
Results
Twenty‐six (43%) of the 61 included infants developed BPD. Spectral data analysis of the gastric aspirates identified the most important wave numbers for classification and surfactant treatment, and birth weight and gestational age were the most important predictive clinical data. By combining these data, the resulting algorithm for early diagnosis of BPD had a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 91%.
Conclusion
A point‐of‐care test to predict subsequent development of BPD at birth has been developed using a new software algorithm allowing early targeted intervention of BPD which could improve the outcome.
AimTo evaluate the accuracy of our new rapid point‐of‐care (POC) test for lung maturity. The method as we describe in an accompanying article was developed with the purpose of improving the outcome from respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). The test enables the delivery of surfactant in infants with immature lungs already at birth and ensures that infants with mature lungs are not treated unnecessarily.MethodsFresh gastric aspirate (GAS) was sampled at birth in a cohort of preterm infants with gestational ages ranging between 24 and 31 completed weeks for lung surfactant measurement as lecithin–sphingomyelin ratio (L/S). L/S was prospectively compared with RDS development. The clinical outcome was blinded for the investigators of L/S. The time for analysis was <15 minutes.ResultsGAS was obtained from 72 infants. Forty‐four (61%) developed RDS. The cut‐off for L/S was 3.05; predicting RDS with a sensitivity of 91% and specificity of 79%.ConclusionThe new improved spectroscopic L/S method of lung maturity on GAS has high sensitivity. The method is designed for use as a POC test at birth, and a spectroscopic prototype has been developed for bedside use. Clinical trials with this new lung maturity test are planned.
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