Low Plasma Protein Levels Research Articles

Impaction of the Stomachs in Farmed Ostriches (Struthio camelus) in Botswana

Impaction of the proventriculus, gizzard, and sometimes intestines due to sand was confirmed at postmortem in 25 cases involving ostriches (Struthio camelus). Although there was no age predisposition, impaction was more common in juvenile over 3 mo old. Clinical signs included sternal recumbency, outstretched neck, debility, and inability to stand. Palpation of the impacted stomachs gave a gritty sensation. Depletion of coronary fat was a consistent postmortem finding. The most common material causing impaction was sand. This report highlights impaction as one of the major causes of debility and death in intensively farmed ostriches. High levels of alkaline phosphatase coupled with low levels of plasma glucose, protein, and albumin detected in impacted ostriches may be useful diagnostic antemortem indicators of the syndrome.

Haemocytic and humoral activities of eastern and Pacific oysters following challenge by the protozoan Perkinsus marinus

Eastern oysters ( Crassostrea virginica) and Pacific oysters ( Crassostrea gigas) were exposed to the protozoan parasite Perkinsus marinus. Pacific oysters were less susceptible to P. marinus infection than eastern oysters. The concentration of circulating haemocytes, percentage of granulocytes and plasma haemagglutinin titre increased in Pacific oysters exposed to P. marinus as compared to unexposed Pacific oysters. Similar increases were not observed in eastern oysters exposed to P. marinus. The percentage of granulocytes, percentage of phagocytic haemocytes, number of zymosan per phagocytic haemocytes and plasma haemagglutinin titre were greater in Pacific oysters than in eastern oysters heavily infected with P. marinus. However, the concentration of circulating haemocytes and the concentrations of plasma protein and lysozyme were lower in Pacific oysters. The data suggest that Pacific oysters may offer a less favourable environment for the development of P. marinus as compared to eastern oysters for at least two possible reasons; i.e. the elevated cellular and humoral activities may degrade the parasite more effectively, and/or the lower plasma protein levels may limit parasite growth.

Assignment of the human gene for pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPPA) to 9q33.1 by fluorescence in situ hybridization to mitotic and meiotic chromosomes

Low levels of pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPPA) during the first trimester has been suggested as a biochemical indicator of pregnancies with aneuploid fetuses. Furthermore, the complete absence of PAPPA in pregnancies associated with Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CL) has suggested a causal connection between PAPPA and the development of CL. We have assigned the locus for PAPPA to chromosome region 9q33.1 on mitotic and meiotic chromosomes by fluorescence in situ hybridization, using a 3.7-kb partial PAPPA cDNA probe.

Urinary calcium excretion in pregnancy.

Urinary calcium excretion and creatinine clearance studies have been conducted in 50 women at 36 weeks of pregnancy and 50 normal controls. Of the pregnant women, 25 had been administered 600,000 IU vitamin D in the 24-26 weeks of pregnancy (supplemented group). The non-supplemented group showed significant hypocalcaemia (even after accounting for low plasma protein levels) and hypocalciuria, while the supplemented group showed normocalcaemia as well as significantly greater 24-hour urinary calcium excretion than the controls. 24-hour creatinine clearance was increased in both groups of pregnant women. It was concluded that, due to increased GFR, urinary calcium excretion tends to increase in pregnancy provided the subject is not deficient in vitamin D. Occurrence of hypocalciuria in pregnancy suggests vitamin D deficiency and should not be considered a physiological adaptation.

An evaluation of the safety of cefuroxime axetil during six months oral administration to beagle dogs.

The effects of repeated oral administration of cefuroxime axetil were assessed in Beagles. The test material, an ester, is hydrolysed following absorption from the intestine to yield the therapeutically active moiety, cefuroxime, together with acetic acid and acetaldehyde; in this study cefuroxime and unhydrolyzed cefuroxime axetil were detected in the blood. Cefuroxime axetil was administered twice daily during 27 weeks by gavage of aqueous, suspensions, total daily doses were equivalent to 100, 400 or 1600 mg cefuroxime/kg/day. Apart from three cases of intercurrent illness, unrelated to treatment, the dogs remained in good health. Effects observed in the 1600 mg/kg group included vomiting and slight suppression of body weight gain. Minor variations in haematological measurements included rather low haemoglobin levels, packed cell volumes and erythrocyte counts. Slightly smaller numbers of neutrophils were thought to reflect reduced demand on normal defensive mechanisms due to continued antibiotic treatment. Prolongation of prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time is attributed to disturbance of the intestinal microbial flora and reduced synthesis of vitamin K, on which the dog is highly dependent. Cefuroxime does not have the N-methylthiotetrazole side chain thought to be responsible for inhibition by other cephalosporins of the vitamin K-dependent step in the synthesis of clotting factors. Variations in plasma chemistry included rather low levels of plasma protein. Electrophoresis showed this to be a generalised reduction; only gamma globulins were proportionally decreased and this finding, like the low neutrophil counts, is attributed to the protective action of the antibiotic. Minor metabolic adjustments to the compound are reflected in plasma levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. This spectrum of findings was seen only to a very limited extent in the 400 mg/kg group; the 100 mg/kg group was, with very few exceptions, unaffected by the treatment. Macroscopic post mortem examination and microscopic examination of tissues revealed no treatment-related features indicative of toxicity. Cefuroxime axetil was thus shown to possess very little toxicity when administered repeatedly in large doses to Beagles. The lowest dose level in this study was ten times the proposed daily clinical dose in man.

Altered prednisolone kinetics in patients with the nephrotic syndrome.

The impact of low plasma protein levels on the kinetics of prednisolone was investigated in patients with the nephrotic syndrome. Nephrotics exhibited higher unbound fractions of prednisolone, lower total plasma concentrations than normal volunteers, but normal unbound plasma concentrations and normal mean residence times. Thus altered prednisolone kinetics in patients with low plasma protein levels do not explain the higher frequency of prednisolone-related side-effects in these patients, compared to patients with normal plasma protein levels.

Discrepancy between the Measurement of Thyroxine‐Binding Prealbumin Plasma Level and Binding Capacity in Protein‐Calorie Malnutrition

Abstract. The measurement of thyroxine‐bindung prealbumin (TBPA) in protein‐calorie malnutrition by two different techniques leads to the recognition of an unexpected discrepancy. Whereas TBPA plasma levels as measured by immunodiffusion are markedly decreased to 29.3 % of the normal, those recorded by maximal binding capacity (TBPAcap) are characterized by a wide dispersion. In the control group, the ratio between TBPA and TBPA plasma level is 9.1. In the malnourished group on admission, the same ratio is 30.0. The possibility of a qualitative effect in the tetrameric TBPA structure, with the binding of additional thyroxine (T4) molecules on the secondary binding sites, has been investigated. This hypothesis has been discarded by Scatchard plot studies. The normal 1:1 molar ratio between TBPA and T4 is unaffected in protein‐deficient patients. Discrepant results obtained for TBPAcap and TBPA levels appear to be the consequence of low plasma protein levels, leading to an artifact in the electrophoretic method.

Plasma protein loss in growing pigs during the prepatent and early patent periods of infection with high doses of Hyostrongylus rubidus larvae

Low levels of total plasma protein and albumin have been detected in growing pigs infected with 200 000 and 350 000 larvae of Hyostrongylus rubidus. Further studies using 131I labelled albumin and 131I polyvinyl pyrrolidone have shown that this depression in total plasma protein and albumin results from plasma protein leakage into the gastro-intestinal tract at a time when the worms were migrating, or, had just finished migrating from the gastric glands on to the mucosal surface.

Blood proteins and their distribution in rats with parabiosis intoxication; determined by paper electrophoresis.

SummaryRats which have developed parabiosis intoxication show, in addition to the other hematologic aberrations which characterize the condition, changes in the blood proteins. Anemic partners have a low plasma protein level and polycythemic animals an elevated plasma protein titre. The partitions which albumin and the respective globulins contribute toward the total serum proteins average the same in both anemic and polycythemic twins, although as compared to control levels there is a diminished serum albumin and an elevated α2-globulin component in each.