Polystyrene surfaces obtained by spin-coating a solution of polystyrene in toluene on a gold layer were functionalized with carboxylic acid groups by preadsorption of the sodium salt of undecylenic acid, followed by an argon plasma treatment. A conjugate of albumin and heparin (alb-hep) was covalently immobilized onto the functionalized surface via preactivation of carboxylic acid groups with a...

AIM The aim of this trial was to evaluate the effects of albendazole (ALB) on cyst disappearance, reduction of the number of cysts and seizure recurrence. METHODS 178 patients with new onset symptoms due to active or transitional neurocysticercosis were randomly assigned to receive either 800 mg of ALB daily or placebo for 8 days. All patients also received prednisone. Imaging studies were do...

This study aimed to disclose the potential causality of low bilirubin in patients with nephrotic syndrome (NS). Correlation analysis was carried out on total bilirubin (TBIL) to serum albumin (ALB), urine protein (Upr), and urinary microalbumin/creatinine (Umalb/cr) for three groups in a case-control study. P < 0.001 was observed for TBIL, ALB, Umalb/cr, and Upr between the NS and chronic nephr...

The antifilaricidal drugs ivermectin (IVM), diethylcarbamazine (DEC), and albendazole (ALB), used alone or in combinations against infective third-stage larvae (L3) of nocturnally subperiodic (NSP) Brugia malayi (Narathiwat strain), were tested in vitro for sensitivity, for 7 days. IVM alone reduced larval motility at concentrations of 10(-7), 10(-6), and 10(-5) M on day 3. DEC alone also had t...

BACKGROUND Preanalytical variability, including biological variability and patient preparation, is an important source of variability in laboratory testing. In this study, we assessed whether a regular light meal might bias the results of routine clinical chemistry testing. METHODS We studied 17 healthy volunteers who consumed light meals containing a standardized amount of carbohydrates, pro...

In the animal kingdom, biogenic amines are widespread modulators of the nervous system that frequently interact to control mood. Our previous investigations in crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) have established that stress induces changes in brain serotonin (5-HT) concentrations that are responsible for the appearance of anxiety-like behavior (ALB). Here, we further analyze the roles of 5-HT and a...

A low concentration of hyaluronan (HA) in lymph compared with tissue suggests a large bound fraction. To investigate the distribution and mobility of HA and serum albumin (Alb), we eluted the rat tail tendon with a series of l5 successive centrifugations, each preceded by the addition of 0.15 M NaCl (15% of initial wet wt). The eluate concentration fell exponentially versus the accumulated elua...

Objective(s): Stem cell therapy is believed to be as a promising treatment strategy for tissue repair and regeneration. The plasticity specification of the adult stem cells, such as MSCs, has enabled that these cells to be used in the treatment of a broad spectrum of diseases like liver disorders. In this study, the production of urea and Albumin (Alb), glycogen storage, and expression of some ...

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to observe the effects of ivermectin (IVM), diethylcarbamazine (DEC), and albendazole (ALB) alone, and the drugs in combination (ALB+IVM and ALB+DEC) against infective third stage larvae (L3) of nocturnally subperiodic (NSP) Brugia malayi (Narathiwat strain) in vitro. IVM, at a concentration of 10(-4) M, killed L3 within 1-2 h. The SEM data showed...

The structures and the electronic properties of two aluminum-doped boron clusters, AlB(7)(-) and AlB(8)(-), were investigated using photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio calculations. The photoelectron spectra of AlB(7)(-) and AlB(8)(-) are both broad, suggesting significant geometry changes between the ground states of the anions and the neutrals. Unbiased global minimum searches were carri...