Application of porous foams for size-selective measurements of airborne wheat allergen

Background: Exposure to airborne wheat allergen is a well-known cause of bakers' allergy and asthma. Airborne wheat allergen can be measured by enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) in extracts of inhalable dust samples, but only limited knowledge is available on the size distribution of wheat allergen-carrying particles. Recently, a new sampling medium,...

Effect of moderate alcohol consumption on fibrinogen levels in healthy volunteers is discordant with effects on C-reactive protein

In a diet-controlled, crossover trial with 10 middle-aged men and 9 postmenopausal women, baseline concentrations of fibrinogen influenced the magnitude of decrease of fibrinogen after moderate alcohol consumption. The mechanism of reduction is specific for fibrinogen and unrelated to a reduction in C-reactive protein.

Reduced activity of TAFI (thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor) in acute promyelocytic leukaemia

Acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) is a disease that is distinguished from other leukaemias by the high potential for early haemorrhagic death. Several processes are involved, such as disseminated intravascular coagulation and hyperfibrinolysis. Recently, TAFI (thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor) was identified as a link between...

An enzyme immunoassay for polymorphonuclear leucocyte-mediated fibrinogenolysis

Upon stimulation, polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) release potent serine proteases, i.e. elastase, cathepsin C and proteinase 3, which contribute to the degradation of tissue and plasma components. Here, we describe the development of a plasma test to assess PMN-mediated fibrinogenolysis as a biochemical marker for actual PMN-derived...

Effects of gemfibrozil and ciprofibrate on plasma levels of tissue-type plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and fibrinogen in hyperlipidaemic patients

Evaluation of fibrate treatment in humans has focused primarily on its anti-lipidaemic effects. A potentially favourable haemostasis-modulating activity of fibrates has also been recognized but the data are not consistent. We sought to learn more about this variability by examining the effects of gemfibrozil and ciprofibrate on plasma levels of...

Evaluation of monoclonal antibodies with specificity for human IgA, IgA subclasses and allotypes and secretory component. Results of an IUIS/WHO collaborative study

51 monoclonal antibodies (McAb) with putative specificity for human IgA, the IgA subclasses, Am allotypes or secretory component (SC) were evaluated for immunoreactivity and specificity by nine laboratories employing immunodiffusion, agglutination, immunohistological assays, immunoblotting and direct binding and competitive inhibition enzyme...

Biochemistry and measurement of fibrinogen

Fibrinogen is a large heterogeneous family of closely related molecules consisting of three pairs of non-identical polypeptide chains: two Aα-, two Bβ- and two γ-chains, held together by disulphide bridges. The heterogeneity of fibrinogen is due to heterogeneities in all three chains. Four main types of assay are used to determine fibrinogen...

Evaluation of the specificity of antigen assays for plasminogen activator inhibitor 1: Comparison of two new commercial kits

t-PA depleted citrated plasma was used to prepare standards of different molecular forms of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1). These standards were used to evaluate the specificity of two new PAI-1 antigen assays: the TintElize PAI-1 antigen assay (cat. no. 210221) and the Innotest PAI-1. Differences in specificity were apparent: the...

Determination of fibrin(ogen) degradation products (FDP) in plasma, using a monoclonal antibody