OBJECTIVES Amylase concentration in respiratory secretions was reported to be a potentially useful marker for aspiration and pneumonia. The aim of this study was to determine accuracy of α-amylase in diagnosing microaspiration in critically ill patients. METHODS Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data collected in a medical ICU. All patients requiring mechanical ventilation for...

Amylase was found in high activity (193 international units per milligram protein) in the tap root of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. cv. Sonora). The activity was separated by gel filtration chromatography into two fractions with molecular weights of 65,700 (heavy amylase) and 41,700 (light amylase). Activity staining of electrophoretic gels indicated the presence of one isozyme in the heavy amyla...

BACKGROUND Few studies have successfully established an amylase-producing lung cancer cell line or have examined its cytological, biochemical and biological features. PATIENTS AND METHODS Cancer cells, isolated from pleural effusion using a gradient method, were cultivated. RESULTS Amylase production from the newly established cell line was confirmed by positive staining for alpha-amylase a...

We describe a column-chromatographic method for measuring amylase activity in cyst fluids of serous ovarian tumors. Using this technique, we confirm and extend the previous report of an "acidic" amylase in serous ovarian tumor cyst fluids. This form of the enzyme was eluted from DEAE-Sephadex mini-columns with a high-salt buffer. It accounted for 45 to 100% of the amylase in 13 cyst fluids. Thi...

In this rapid quantitative assay for pancreatic alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) in serum, we precipitate salivary amylases by 10-min incubation with monoclonal anti-salivary amylase antibody immobilized on particles of polyvinylidene fluoride. We then centrifuge the serum mixture and measure the pancreatic amylase activity remaining in the supernate by a kinetic method. The assay requires 50 microL ...

OBJECTIVES To describe the levels of exposure to fungal alpha-amylase in British bakeries and flour mills, and to describe the relation between exposure to alpha-amylase and sensitisation to fungal alpha-amylase. METHODS 495 personal flour dust samples were taken in seven British bakeries and flour mills and analysed for alpha-amylase with an immunoassay. Workers at the sites were asked to fi...

Objectives—To describe the levels of exposure to fungal á-amylase in British bakeries and flour mills, and to describe the relation between exposure to á-amylase and sensitisation to fungal á-amylase. Methods—495 personal flour dust samples were taken in seven British bakeries and flour mills and analysed for á-amylase with an immunoassay. Workers at the sites were asked to fill out questionnai...

A simple, rapid screening procedure for determining the relative amounts of pancreatic (P)- and salivary (S)-type amylase in serum is presented, involving incorporation of a selective inhibitor (from wheat-germ) into commercially available BMD Single-Vial Amylase and Beckman Enzymatic Amylase-DS procedures for manual and automated isoamylase measurements. Optimal concentrations of inhibitor inh...

α-Amylase from Trichoderma harzianum was covalently immobilized on activated wool by cyanuric chloride. Immobilized α-amylase exhibited 75% of its initial activity after 10 runs. The soluble and immobilized α-amylases exhibited maximum activity at pH values 6.0 and 6.5, respectively. The immobilized enzyme was more thermally stable than the soluble one. Various substrates were hydrolyzed by imm...

The study aimed at isolation and screening of fungal amylase producer, optimization of solid state fermentation conditions for maximum amylase production by the best amylase producer, and characterization of the crude amylases, so produced. Aspergillus fumigatus NTCC1222 showed the highest amylase activity (164.1 U/mL) in secondary screening under SSF conditions and was selected for further stu...