The recently discovered dendritic cell nuclear protein-1 is the product of a novel candidate gene for major depression. The A allele encodes full-length dendritic cell nuclear protein-1, while the T allele encodes a premature termination of translation at codon number 117 on chromosome 5. In the present study we investigate whether the two forms of dendritic cell nuclear protein-1 might act on ...

We describe a time-resolved immunofluorometric assay (IFMA) for corticotropin in unextracted human plasma, based on the use of two monoclonal antibodies: europium-labeled antibody 1A12 and antibody 2A3 coated onto microtiter wells. We compared the results of this assay with those of an immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) performed with the same antibodies working ranges (CV less than 10%) were 25 to...

The postresuscitation phase after out-of-hospital circulatory arrest shares similarities with severe sepsis. Corticosteroid replacement is beneficial in patients with septic shock and adrenal dysfunction. The goal of this study was to assess baseline cortisol and adrenal reserve of out-of-hospital circulatory arrest patients after recovery of spontaneous circulation. Thirty-three consecutive pa...

A cytosolic peptide activator (Mr approximately equal to 2,200) of cholesterol side-chain cleavage in the adrenal cortex has been isolated from normal corticotropin-treated rats and from rats implanted with the MtT/F4 corticotropin-secreting pituitary tumor. The isolation techniques were those common to peptide hormone purification, including tissue extraction into a highly acidic medium, gel f...

A comparative analysis was made on the influence of corticotropin oligopeptides on rabbits' behaviour under acute stress conditions, or after the electrostimulation of the Vmh. The 4-10 fragment and analogue of corticotropin and tripeptide Pro-Gly-Pro was administered icv to the rabbits. It was proved that the analogue and 4-10 fragment had a significant influence on modification of animals' be...

In the course of fractionation of neurohypophysial extracts in search for corticotropin-releasing factor (1) we sometimes observed materials with low pressor activity, consistent corticotropin-releasing activity, and with the same molar ratios of amino acids as lysine-vasopressin. In view of the report by Ressler on a possible dimerkation of oxytocin (2), it was decided to investigate these mat...

Methods. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 113 traumatic brain injury patients within 10 days of their injury. They all had a high-dose corticotropin stimulation test performed because of haemodynamic instability. Blood cortisol concentrations were measured at baseline, 30 and 60 min after the administration of high-dose corticotropin. The incidence of adrenal insufficiency was determin...

As the balance of evidence regarding corticosteroid treatment for septic shock shifts once again toward the negative, the study by Sprung et al.1 in this issue of the Journal elicits a strong feeling of déjà vu. Will the historical fate of high-dose corticosteroids, which were largely abandoned when the benefit observed in early studies could not be replicated in larger trials,2,3 now befall “p...