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Biomedical subjects

C Franck

Publications and source records attributed to C Franck.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Fractionation of elastase-type enzyme activity in biological fluids using a centrifugal analyser.

We here describe a simple, rapid and sensitive spectrophotometric method for fractionation of elastase-type enzyme activity on a centrifugal analyser using the chromogenic substrate Suc-[Ala]3-pNA. For quantitation of metalloelastase and serine elastase, respectively, the method utilizes 20mM EDTA as ametalloenzyme inhibitor and the serine enzyme inhibitor soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI) in a final concentration of 2.5 g/l. Containing both serine- and metalloelastase, a pool of synovial fluids from patients with rheumatoid arthritis was used. The method is suitable for clinical studies on different body fluids or cell constituents. The investigation points out the necessity of using inhibitors when chromogenic substrates are used to measure elastase activity in biological fluids.

Body Fluids↗
PubMed1989

Foam at inner eye canthus in office workers, compared with an average Danish population as control group.

Foam formation in the eye canthus is well-known. The presence of foam was observed in 169 office workers in 4 town halls in Copenhagen County compared with 112 control persons from the general population in the same area. The presence of foam depends on age and gender. A significant increase with age was observed in the control population (P = 0.0078). In both groups, females had a significantly lower occurrence of foam than males (P = 0.0043, P = 0.010). This difference was mainly caused by the use of eye make-up. After correction for age, gender and use of eye make-up, the prevalence of foam was significantly lower in the office population than in the control population (P less than 0.0001). Furthermore, low foam formation was significantly correlated to reported subjective eye irritation in the office population (P = 0.0074), but not in the control population (P = 0.40). Also, significant positive correlation between absence of foam and different degrees of dry eyes (expressed as a combination of premature break-up of the precorneal tearfilm and lissamine green stained epithelial damage of the bulbar conjunctiva) was found both in the office population and in the control population (P = 0.0090, P = 0.0034). However, after correction for the more frequent appearance of dry eyes in the office population, foam was still observed significantly less frequently in the office population than in the control population (P = 0.0001). It is concluded that the decreased foam formation in the office worker constitutes a key symptom in the development of 'office eye syndrome'. In what way the office environment influences the foam formation is unknown. Possible mechanisms are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

A simple and sensitive chromogen assay for the measurement of elastase-type enzyme activity in human plasma.

A highly sensitive, precise and fast automatic chromogen assay has been developed for estimation of elastase-type activity in plasma using 3-carboxypropionyl-trialanine p-nitro-anilide as substrate. The assay is linear up to at least 8.7 U/l and has a detection limit of 0.003 U/l. The study demonstrates that this enzyme activity is due to one or several metalloproteinases with pH optimum at physiological pH. The plasma enzyme activity in 37 healthy persons ranged from 0.10 U/l to 0.63 U/l. The individual day to day variation was found to be about 12%. In plasma pools prepared from randomly taken samples of in- and out-patients the activity was found up to 8.7 U/l. The origin of the metalloelastase activity is discussed.

Chromogenic Compounds↗
PubMed1987

Increased serum levels of ceruloplasmin in severe chronic airflow obstruction.

Serum levels of ceruloplasmin were investigated in 20 patients with severe chronic airflow obstruction (CAO) and emphysematous changes, but in whom no acute exacerbation was present. For comparison, 20 age- and sex-matched controls with a similar current tobacco consumption were investigated. Also 20 age- and sex-matched non-smoking controls were investigated. Ceruloplasmin was assessed by rocket immuno-electrophoresis, haptoglobin and orosomucoid by a laser-nephelometric method. Patients were selected on grounds of spirometric values; the reversibility test for isoprenaline was performed. Diffusing capacity was used as a measure for emphysematous lesions. Ceruloplasmin levels were found to be significantly elevated in patients with CAO, as compared with smoking and non-smoking control groups. There was no correlation between patients' current tobacco consumption and ceruloplasmin level. The other two acute phase reactants, haptoglobin and orosomucoid, were normal. It is suggested that the increased ceruloplasmin in CAO is a measure of antioxidant activity, which may play a part in the pathogenesis of pulmonary emphysema.

Adult↗