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R Rej

Publications and source records attributed to R Rej.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Emulsions of perfluorinated compounds for use in quality control of blood gas analyses.

We prepared emulsions of perfluorinated compounds and examined their utility as liquid matrixes for tonometry in quality control of blood pH and gas analyses. Emulsions of perfluorotributylamine and perfluorodecalin, prepared by sonication, consisted largely of particles not exceeding 0.2 micrometer in diameter. Unlike most aqueous solutions these materials were not easily contaminated by room air and can be reliably used for tonometry liquids. Results for pCO2 and pO2 agreed well with calculated values. Average day-to-day coefficients of variation for emulsions of perfluorotributylamine were 2.9% for pH (within the range 7.11-7.60), 4.4% for pCO2 (2.88-9.17 kPa), and 1.6% for pO2 (7.76-40.67 kPa).

Blood Gas Analysis↗
PubMed1981

Multiple molecular forms of human cytoplasmic aspartate aminotransferase.

Human liver cytoplasmic aspartate aminotransferase was found to exhibit five subforms with isoelectric points of 5.15, 5.30, 5.45, 5.60, and 5.80. Treatment with neuraminidase did not affect their electrophoretic mobility. The immunochemical and steady-state kinetic properties of the subforms were identical. Heat treatment increased the proportion of acidic subforms, but all forms were present in fresh tissue. 2-Mercaptoethanol or inhibitors of proteolysis failed to protect against the formation of the subforms with lower isoelectric points. Multiple molecular forms with similar properties were found for the enzyme of human erythrocytes. This evidence is consistent with deamidation of asparaginyl or glutaminyl residues as the origin of the multiple forms. Human mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase presented as a single molecular form with an isoelectric point of 9.7.

Aspartate Aminotransferases↗
PubMed1981

Suitability of control materials for determination of alpha-amylase activity.

The suitability of control materials for determination of alpha-amylase activity was assessed in comparison with reference groups of authentic human serum specimens containing alpha-amylase of either pancreatic or salivary origin, specimens from patients with no pancreatic pathology, and normal specimens to which porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase was added. After determination of alpha-amylase activity by 11 commonly used techniques (five different principles), the results were processed by both classical (linear representation, regression) and multivariate (correspondence analysis, principal-components analysis) statistical techniques. Specimens containing porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase did not behave like any of the other groups. We conclude that porcine enzyme should not be used for interlaboratory quality-control surveys or intermethod comparison studies. Determination of human salivary and pancreatic alpha-amylase showed intermethod biases similar to those for authentic patients' specimens. Human salivary alpha-amylase, both because of its behavior and its commercial availability, is a satisfactory source for alpha-amylase activity of quality-control specimens. The nature of the matrix (polyvinylpyrrolidone, albumin, delipidated serum, bovine serum, or human serum) little influenced the behavior of the specimens for any of the methods studied.

Amylases↗
PubMed1981

Measurement of aspartate aminotransferase isoenzymes: six procedures compared.

Six procedures were evaluated for aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1) isoenzyme assay in human serum and tissue homogenates. Results of procedures based on immunochemical precipitation by use of antibodies directed against either the mitochondrial or (with greater precision) soluble isoenzyme correlated well with those by a differential kinetic assay involving both different pH conditions and adipate inhibition. Results with a DEAE-Sephadex ion-exchange chromatographic procedure correlated well with these techniques for specimens containing purified isoenzymes, but showed substantial positive bias for determination of the mitochondrial isoenzyme in human serum. An assay based on the differential effects of pH alone discriminated between the isoenzymes with less bias than did the chromatographic assay. Precision of the two differential pH assays was limited by significant reagent blank activity resulting from destruction of NADH at pH 6.0 or 6.2. An electrophoretic procedure in which diazonium salt is used to make oxalacetate visible was least accurate for measuring samples for which the isoenzyme composition was known.

Aspartate Aminotransferases↗
PubMed1981

Suitability of control materials. General principles and methods of investigation.

We propose methods for characterizing the behavior of quality-control specimens. Candidate quality-control specimens and authentic patients' specimens were analyzed by various methods. Patients' specimens were chosen to be fully representative of those encountered, including subsets from persons who were healthy, had defined disease states, were in therapy, or whose specimens were lipemic, icteric, etc. The analytical methods chosen include those most commonly used as well as reference analytical methods. Procedures for characterizing the behavior of patients' specimens and candidate quality-control specimens are proposed and their applicability is demonstrated. The linear ratio method is a univariate graphical approach in which differences in accuracy among methods for any specimen or group of specimens are each displayed on a linear scale. Correspondence analysis is a descriptive multivariate statistical technique that allows both the specimens and the analytical methods to be characterized. The statistical techniques, in our application, allow the behavior of quality-control specimens to be assessed with respect to authentic patients' specimens without influencing the assessment process. Correspondence analysis provides a graphic representation by projecting both the specimens and the analytical methods on factorial planes. The appropriateness of te behavior of a quality-control specimen may be inferred from its position relative to those of authentic patients' specimens. These statistical techniques also provide some information regarding the specificity of analytical methods.

Blood Chemical Analysis↗
PubMed1981

Direct immunological determination of aspartate aminotransferase isoenzymes.

We examined the suitability of a rapid immunological technique to determine the amount of aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1) isoenzymes in human serum or tissue extracts. Purified isoenzymes were absorbed as a monolayer to the surface of an indium metal film on glass. The enzyme retains immunological reactivity, allowing the specific binding of aspartate aminotransferase antibodies at the surface. The amount of isoenzyme in a specimen is estimated from the competition for the antibody between the free isoenzyme in the specimen and that at the surface. The surface is further incubated with goat antibodies to rabbit IgG, and the extent of antibody binding is determined by densitometry. There is no cross reactivity between the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial forms, so these two isoenzymes can be determined simultaneously. The minimum detectable concentration by this technique is about 50 micrograms of enzyme protein per liter. The within-day coefficient of variation for determination of either isoenzyme was about 20%. Our results suggest that normal and patients' sera contain considerably more immunologically active than catalytically active isoenzymes.

Aspartate Aminotransferases↗
PubMed1981

Measurement of alkaline phosphatase activity: characterization and identification of an inactivator in 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol.

An inactivator of alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) in 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol is demonstrated and characterized. This time-dependent inactivation results from chelation of enzyme-bound Zn2+; it is reversed by addition of Zn2+ and, to a lesser extent, other divalent metal ions. Cu2+ is an effective spectral indicator and can be used to determine the presence and quantity of inactivator. Data obtained from enzyme inactivation, Cu2+ absorbance spectra, "high-performance" liquid chromatography, thin-layer chromatography, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and mass spectroscopy indicate that the inactivator is 5-amino-3-aza-2,2,5-trimethylhexanol. This compound, even in trace amounts (less than 0.05% on a molar basis), shown to inactivate alkaline phosphatase.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1981

Effects of temperature on the steady-state kinetics and measurement of aspartate aminotransferases.

We examined the effects of temperature on the activity and steady-state kinetics of aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1), using purified human soluble (s-AspAT) and mitochondrial (m-AspAT) isoenzymes, human serum, and porcine s-AspAT. All enzymes obeyed similar linear Arrhenius relationships over the range 20-40 degrees C. Apparent energies of activation (52.3 kJ.mol-1) and ratios of activity between 30 and 37 degrees C (0.626) were identical for the human s- and m-AspAT. This ratio was 0.623 (SEM 0.004) for human sera; deviation from the predicted ratio by individual sera was within analytical error. Similar activity/temperature relationships were observed for porcine s-AspAT. The use of factors to convert AspAT activities at 30 and 37 degrees C influenced neither precision of measurement of frequency distributions of results. The apparent Michaelis constants for the human isoenzymes increased with temperature. The least-influenced Km was for 2-oxoglutarate and s-AspAT: K2-oxoglutarate was 0.24 mmol.L-1 at 25 degrees C and 0.29 mmol.L-1 at 37 degrees C; apparent enthalpy change for substrate binding (delta HS) was 12.1 kJ.mol-1. The largest variation was for 2-oxoglutarate and m-AspAT: K2-oxoglutarate was 0.46 mmol.L-1 at 25 degrees C and 1.02 mmol.L-1 at 37 degrees C; delta HS was 50.8 kJ.mol-1. Incubation of the human isoenzymes with substrate mixture (without 2-oxoglutarate) at 23 and 37 degrees C did not affect activity during 60 min if tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane buffer was used. When the isoenzymes were diluted to 10 nmol-L-1 (about 200 U.L-1) in buffer alone and incubated at 50 degrees C, m-AspAT activity was decreased by 20% after 120 min; the cytoplasmic enzyme was unaffected.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

An immunochemical procedure for determination of mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase in human serum.

An immunochemical procedure is described for quantitation of mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase (m-AspAT; EC 2.6.1.1) activity in human serum specimens. Antibodies directed against purified soluble aspartate aminotransferase (s-AspAT) from human erythrocytes were produced in rabbits and partly purified. Antibody sufficient for analyses of > 6000 specimens could be obtained from 15 mL of rabbit antiserum; contaminant AspAT activity of the antibody preparation was < 0.4 U/L. Addition of antibody directly to purified AspAT isoenzymes resulted in inhibition of s-AspAT but had no measurable effect upon m-AspAT. Antibody is incubated with serum in the presence of polyethylene glycol for 60 min at room temperature, then 60 min at 4 degrees C, and centrifuged (7000 x g, 4 degrees C, 15 min). No detectable s-AspAT activity remains in the supernatant fluid; thus m-AspAT activity can be measured directly. Precision, both within-day and day-to-day, was < 1 U/L, or 3.0% of residual m-AspAT activity. The method completely removed 1200 U of purified s-AspAT activity per liter; addition of s-AspAT to serum in increasing concentrations of about 500 U/L had no effect upon the measurement of residual m-AspAT activity. Results of the procedure described showed excellent correlation with those by an alternative procedure involving antibodies directed against m-AspAT. Addition of both anti-s- and anti-m-AspAT antibodies resulted in complete removal of serum AspAT activity. Univalent Fab fragments prepared anti-s-AspAT antibodies were capable of directly inhibiting s-AspAT activity without precipitation. Although a homogeneous immunoinhibition assay was possible, the greater precision of the precipitation assay made it preferable.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Measurement of aspartate aminotransferase activity: effects of oxamate.

Oxamate, a potent inhibitor of lactate dehydrogenase, is shown also to inhibit aspartate aminotransferase activity, both in human serum and in purified isoenzymes of human origin. The inhibition was competitive with respect to 2-oxoglutarate for both isoenzymes. The apparent Ki was 29 mmol/L for the cytoplasmic enzyme and 17 mmol/L for the mitochondrial enzyme. Noncompetitive inhibition was found between oxamate and aspartate. At saturating concentrations of substrate (2-oxoglutarate greater than or equal to 15 mmol/L, L-aspartate greater than or equal 150 mmol/L) oxamate inhibited the mitochondrial enzyme but had less effect on the cytoplasmic isoenzyme. Oxamate at 40 mmol/L inhibited the enzyme in serum by 11 and 9% in assays containing 2-oxoglutarate at 6.7 and 15 mmol/L, respectively. This concentration of oxamate inhibited enzyme activity in serum by 5% more than did the same concentration of Cl- (itself an inhibitor). Oxamate (less than or equal to 30 mmol/L) had no measurable effect on the stability or activity of porcine malate dehydrogenase. Until the effects of its inhibitory properties are considered, addition of oxamate to suppress lactate dehydrogenase-mediated side reactions in the assay of aspartate aminotransferase cannot be recommended.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1978

Aspartate aminotransferase activity and isoenzyme proportions in human liver tissues.

Aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1) activity and the distribution of its isoenzymes in human liver were examined. Rabbit antiserum against porcin soluble (i.e., non-mitochondrial) enzyme cross-reacted with the soluble enzyme of human origin and was used in an immunoprecipitation assay to quantitate the soluble and mitochondrial isoenzymes. These were separated by rapid, semiquantitative electrophoresis on cellulose acetate and by three other quantitative techniques: isoelectric focusing and anion-and cation-exchange chromatography. The mitochrondrial enzyme averaged 81% of the total activity in normal adult human liver (n = 4). Its contribution was dramatically reduced in single specimens of human fetal liver (56% of total activity) and hepatoblastoma tissue (38%). Total enzyme activities (mumol min-1 per gram of tissue) were: adult, 150; fetal, 38; tumor, 6. Total enzyme concentrations (micromoles of enzyme per kilogram of tissue) found were: adult, 10.8; fetal, 2.7; tumor, 0.4. The concentrations and isoenzyme distribution in human liver are compared to those in various animal model systems. Other methods for quantitative estimation of the isoenzymes and their adaptability for use in estimating concentrations in serum are reviewed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Effect of incubation with Mg2+ on the measurement of alkaline phosphatase activity.

Human serum incubated with 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (860 mmol/liter) and magnesium ion (270 mumol/liter) at pH 10.35 showed greater alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) activity than if an equal amount of magnesium ion was added at the time of measurement. The apparent increase is due in part to a slight lability of serum alkaline phosphatase in 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol, which is prevented by the inclusion of magnesium. For some sera, however, a portion of this increased activity is real rather than artifactual. Use of serum rather than 4-nitrophenylphosphate to initiate the reaction produced relatively low activities and, in some cases, markedly nonlinear (increasing) rate progress curves. The behavior of some commercial lyophilized control sera differed significantly from that of patients' sera, in particular exhibiting a marked lability in the presence of 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol. Incubation of these labile materials with Mg2+ slightly improved their stability; addition of Zn2+ plus Mg2+ markedly stimulated and completely protected their alkaline phosphatase activity.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1975

Interlaboratory proficiency, intermethod comparison, and calibrator suitability in assay of serum aspartate aminotransferase activity.

Sources of variation in assays of aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1) activity were examined in an interlaboratory survey and through an examination of materials used as calibration materials in these assays. Four highly stable lyophilized specimens containing human cytoplasmic enzyme, with activities of 0, 22, 46, and 96 U/liter at 30 degrees C and optimal substrate concentrations, were assayed by 319 laboratories. Mean values obtained on these specimens by laboratories using 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine kits varied among manufacturers and deviated from values expected from this procedure. The average coefficient of variation (CV) with these kits was greater than 20%. Automated continuous-flow procedures with use of diazonium salt showed the best precision (av CV, less than 10%). However, the automated continuous-flow malate dehydrogenase/NADH coupled method produced an average CV greater than 20%. Results from each of the automated methods were related to a reference malate dehydrogenase/NADH coupled continuous kinetic assay method by temperature relationships alone. Mean values from manual diazonium salt procedures were 1.7-fold greater than similar reference values (av CV was 18%). The higher results were attributed to the use of poorly-defined units and to an artifact caused by chromophore stabilizers in this procedure when aqueous samples are used. The average CV in continuous kinetic methods varied among kit manufacturers, ranging from 6 to 28% for the specimen of highest activity. Variations in results were much larger at 366 nm than at 340 nm than at 340ity. Variations in results were much larger at 366 nm than at 340 nm. Interassay relationships of these methods are presented. Concentrations of pyruvate in commercially available calibration materials differed between manufacturers, varied in stability, and deviated from the expected concentration. For some colorimetric assays the precision attained on reported absorbance values for the enzyme specimens was of the same order of magnitude as that for pyruvate standards. Other sources of error are revealed by the interlaboratory survey. The value of commercially available sources of enzyme activity as calibration or control materials was assessed by evaluating the following properties: activity at suboptimal concentrations of L-aspartate or 2-oxoglutarate, temperature effects, preincubation lability owing to aspartate and phosphate, pyridoxal phosphate saturation, contamination with glutamate dehydrogenase, and manufacturer's rated activity. These properties are compared to those of human cytoplasmic enzyme in a human serum matrix.

Aspartate Aminotransferases↗
PubMed1975

Effects of buffers on aspartate aminotransferase activity and association of the enzyme with pyridoxal phosphate.

Using purified enzymes of human origin and patients' sera, we examined factors influencing the in vitro association of pyridoxal phosphate with aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1). The rate of association was markedly retarded by phosphate buffer in comparison with tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane or six other buffers. Pyridoxal phosphate at an incubation concentration of 130 mumol/liter reactivated the entire apoenzyme portion of an apoenzyme/holoenzyme mixture within 5 min in tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane; in contrast, less than 20% was associated during 15 min in phosphate. Activity measured in tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane-buffer without exogenous pyridoxal phosphate was 4% greater than that in phosphate and was slightly increased by increasing the pH of the assay mixture from 7.5 to 8.0. Aspartate in the incubation medium did not retard the stimulation in tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane buffer. While the magnitude of stimulation varied greatly among sera, a consistent mean stimulation of 30% for groups of sera with normal activities was found when asparate at 125 mmol/liter, 2-oxoglutarate at 6.7 mmol/liter and tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane at 90 mmol/liter were used, an increase over the 16% with phosphate buffer [Clin. Chem. 19, 92 (1973)]. Absorbance spectra suggest pyridoxal phosphate exists as the Schiff base of tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane or aspartate, or both, under conditions of assay incubation (without addition of 2-oxoglutarate). Nonenzymatic catalysis of the reaction by pyridoxal phosphate alone or a formation of a protein/pyridoxal phosphate adduct was discounted with use of a D-asparate substrates.

Animals↗