Eighteen patients with advanced COPD, 8 with chronic respiratory failure (RF) and 10 without (nonRF, NRF) were investigated using spirometry, arterial blood gas analysis and biopsies taken from the quadriceps femorls muscle. The biopsies were analysed for ATP, creatine phosphate (CrP), creatine (Cr), lactate and glycogen content. Muscle fibre composition was also studied. Low concentrations of ...

Creatine kinase isoenzymes (CK; EC 2.7.3.2) play a pivotal role in high-energy phosphoryl metabolism through subcellular compartmentation of the creatine-phosphate < = > ATP conversion reaction. In mouse, protein subunits constituting the ubiquitous mitochondrial CK (UbCKmit) and cytosolic B-CK isoforms are co-expressed in various cells and tissues with high and fluctuating energy demands such ...

A method is described for the determination of low plasma levels of adenosine-5'-diphosphate (ADP) using a Dupont Biometer to measure luminescence produced by the luciferin-luciferase reaction. Endogenous ATP is removed by incubation with luciferase. The remaining ADP is then quantitated, following its conversion to ATP, after incubation with creatine phosphate and creatine kinase. The mean coe...

The mechanism of the protein leak from exercised muscle remains obscure, but may be related to depletion of intracellular high-energy phosphate and/or to mechanical disruption. The high levels of creatine kinase (CK) and other muscle proteins found in plasma for several days after marathon running, especially downhill running, are due to protein efflux from skeletal muscle. There is no evidence...

Two stable analogues of prostaglandin endoperoxides9.1 1 -azo-prostanoid III (9-1 1 -azo PGH2) and 9.1 1 -methanoepoxy PGH2 (U4661 9 compound)-caused aggregation of washed human platelets and release of a-granule contents. Platelet aggregation induced by these compounds was potentiated by the addition of purified human fibrinogen in a dose-dependent manner. Incubation of prostaglandin endoperox...

C rush injury leading to rhabdomyolysis is one of the dreaded complications of natural catastrophes such as earthquakes. Rhabdomyolysis is a syndrome characterized by muscle necrosis and the release of intracellular muscle constituents, namely creatine phosphokinase, myoglobin, and various electrolytes into the circulation. Precipitation of myoglobin in the renal tubules with secondary obstruct...

The failing ventricular myocardium is characterized by reduction of high-energy phosphates and reduced activity of the phosphotransfer enzymes creatine kinase (CK) and adenylate kinase (AK), which are responsible for transfer of high-energy phosphoryls from sites of production to sites of utilization, thereby compromising excitation-contraction coupling. In humans with chronic atrial fibrillati...