Method For Determination Of Activity Research Articles

Exact determination of phagocytic activity of alveolar macrophages toward polymer microspheres by elimination of those attached to the macrophage membrane

A method for exact determination of phagocytic activity of alveolar macrophage (Mϕ) cells toward synthetic microspheres (MS) by optical microscopy was developed. We examined the effectiveness of the treatment of Mϕ samples with trypsin, acid or xylene to remove the polystyrene latex microspheres (PSL MS) attached to Mϕ cell membranes during their phagocytosis by Mϕ cells. We found that centrifugation, which was employed to collect Mϕ samples after incubation with MS, affected significantly the efficiency of the various treatments. Of the three treatments, xylene treatment without centrifugation was the most effective to determine the phagocytic activity of Mϕ cells, as xylene dissolved the PSL MS on the cell surface almost completely. This treatment was also effective in the case of poly(lactic- co-glycolic acid) MS (PLGA MS), which have been commonly used as an efficient vehicle for drug delivery system.

A HPLC-fluorescence detection method for determination of phosphatidic acid phosphohydrolase activity: Application in human myocardium

Phosphatidic acid phosphohydrolase (PAP) catalyzes the dephosphorylation of phosphatidic acid (PA) to diacylglycerol, the second messenger responsible for activation of protein kinase C. Despite the crucial role of PAP lipid signaling, there are no data on PAP signaling function in the human heart. Here we present a nonradioactive assay for the investigation of PAP activity in human myocardium using a fluorescent derivative of PA, 2-(4,4-difluoro-5,7-dimethyl-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza- s-indacene-3-pentanoyl)-1-hexadecanoyl- sn-glycero-3-phosphate (BODIPY-PA), as substrate in an in vitro PAP-catalyzed reaction. Unreacted BODIPY-PA was resolved from the PAP products by a binary gradient HPLC system and BODIPY-diacylglycerol was detected by fluorimetry. The reaction proceeded at a linear rate for up to 60 min and increased linearly with increasing amounts of cardiac protein in a range of 0.25 to 8.0 μg. This assay proved to be sensitive for accurate quantitation of total PAP activity, PAP-1 activity, and PAP-2 activity in human atrial tissue and right ventricular endomyocardial biopsies. Total PAP activity was approximately fourfold higher in ventricular myocardium than in atrial tissue. There was negligible PAP-1 activity in atrial myocardium compared with ventricular myocardium, indicating regional differences in activities and distribution pattern of PAP-1 and PAP-2 in the human heart.

Method for determination of recombination activity of cylindric conduction channels for back-contacted solar cells

A method for the determination of the surface recombination velocity of cylindric vias for the application in back-contacted silicon solar cells is proposed. By applying a theoretical framework for the lifetime dependence on dislocation density, the measured minority carrier lifetime as a function of via density can be described accurately; thus the value for the surface recombination velocity at the cylinder barrel Svia is extracted. Accordingly, Svia after SiNx deposition from the front and the rear of the wafers systematically decreases if material surrounding the laser drilled via is removed prior to passivation by etching from 106to100cm∕s.

A fluorimetric method for determination of calcineurin activity

Calcineurin is a calcium-dependent, serine/threonine phosphatase that is involved in a variety of signaling pathways. Calcineurin is distinct among phosphatases because its activity requires calcium and is not sensitive to inhibition by compounds that block the related phosphatases PP1A and PP2A. Therefore, the most common methods to measure calcineurin activity rely on calcium-dependent dephosphorylation of a substrate derived from the RII subunit of protein kinase A in the presence of PP1A/PP2A inhibitors. However, current techniques quantify activity by measurement of released radioactive phosphate or detection of free phosphate with malachite green. Both methods involve technical challenges and have undesirable features. We report a new calcineurin fluorimetric assay that utilizes a fluorescently labeled phosphopeptide substrate and separation of dephosphorylated peptide product by titanium-oxide. The method is rapid, quantitative, involves no radioactivity and is suitable for high throughput assays. Furthermore, with the use of a standard curve, precise measurements of calcineurin activity can be obtained.

The use of standard methodology for determination of antifungal activity of natural products against medical yeasts Candida sp and Cryptococcus sp

Methodology for testing natural compounds for determination of antifungal activity had been developed with adaptations. The most used are bioautography and agar diffusion with a complex and no defined media. In this study, different methods for determination of antifungal activity of natural products are discussed and the use of M27-A2 microdilution test from CLSI (Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, 2002), as general standard methodology for testing plant extracts activity is recommended.

A new method for determination of antithrombotic activity of egg white protein hydrolysate by microplate reader

A new method for the determination of antithrombotic activity of egg white protein hydrolysate (EWPH) was developed using a microplate reader. Reaction was carried out at 37 °C and pH 7.2 with fibrinogen concentration 0.1%. Microplate reading was conducted at 405 nm. Inhibition rate of EWPH on thrombin activity showed linearity ( R 2 = 0.9971), when the inhibition rate was in the range of 10–90%. The lower limit of detection (LLD, at 99.7% probability) and the biological limit of detection (BLD, at 99.7% probability) of the method were 10.643 and 40 mg/mL, respectively. The repeatability standard deviation (R.S.D.) was 1.08%. The standard deviation of the method was ±0.027 AT-U.

New Findings about Ellman’s Method to Determine Cholinesterase Activity

The original Ellman's spectrophotometrical method for cholinesterase activity determination uses 5,5'-dithiobis-2-nitrobenzoic acid (DTNB, Ellman's reagent) as a chromogen and records the level of cholinesterase activity as an increase of absorbance at 412 nm. Although this procedure usually poses no problem, exceptions arise when the concentration of DTNB is far higher than the concentration of acetylthiocholine (ATCH). It was found that the ratio of concentrations of DTNB/ATCH is an important parameter for the ATCH hydrolysis course: high excess of DTNB decreases the hydrolysis rate resulting in a lower measured enzyme activity. Our experiments indicate that this influence of DTNB concentration can be explained by the inhibition of ATCH hydrolysis by DTNB.

Quantitative Determination of Enzyme Activity in Single Cells by Scanning Microelectrode Coupled with a Nitrocellulose Film-Covered Microreactor by Means of a Scanning Electrochemical Microscope

An electrochemical method for quantitative determination of enzyme activity in single cells was developed by scanning a microelectrode (ME) over a nitrocellulose film-covered microreactor with micropores by means of a scanning electrochemical microscope (SECM). Peroxidase (PO) in neutrophils was chosen as the model system. The microreactor consisted of a microwell with a solution and a nitrocellulose film with micropores. A single cell perforated by digitonin was injected into the microwell. After the perforated cell was lysed and allowed to dry, physiological buffer saline (PBS) containing hydroquinone (H2Q) and H2O2 as substrates of the enzyme-catalyzed reaction was added in the microwell. The microwell containing the extract of the lysed cell and the enzyme substrates was covered with Parafilm to prevent evaporation. The solution in the microwell was incubated for 20 min. In this case, the released PO from the cell converted H2Q into benzoquinone (BQ). Then, the Parafilm was replaced by a nitrocellulose film with micropores to fabricate the microreactor. The microreactor was placed in an electrochemical cell containing PBS, H2Q, and H2O2. After a 10-microm-radius Au ME was inserted into the electrochemical cell and approached down to the microreactor, the ME was scanned along the central line across the microreactor by means of a SECM. The scan curve with a peak was obtained by detecting BQ that diffused out from the microreactor through the micropores on the nitrocellulose film. PO activity could be quantified on the basis of the peak current on the scan curve using a calibration curve. This method had two obvious advantages: no electrode fouling and no oxygen interference.

Rapid and Inexpensive Method for the Spectroscopic Determination of Innate Immune Activity of Crocodilians

We have employed a spectroscopic assay based on the hemolysis of sheep red blood cells (SRBCs) to assess the immune system of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). The assay is based on the hemolytic disruption of the SRBCs by the immunological proteins in the crocodilian serum. Incubation of 1% SRBCs (v/v) with alligator serum resulted in hemolysis that was measured at 540 nm in a microtiter plate reader. The hemolysis was concentration‐, time‐, and temperature‐dependent. This assay is rapid, inexpensive, easy to perform, requires small sample volumes, and is useful for evaluating the humoral immune response of crocodilians.

ACE and ACE2 Activity in Diabetic Mice

ACE-related carboxypeptidase (ACE2) may counterbalance the angiotensin (ANG) II-promoting effects of ACE in tissues where both enzymes are found. Alterations in renal ACE and ACE2 expression have been described in experimental models of diabetes, but ACE2 activity was not assessed in previous studies. We developed a microplate-based fluorometric method for the concurrent determination of ACE and ACE2 activity in tissue samples. Enzymatic activity (relative fluorescence unit [RFU] . microg protein(-1) . h(-1)) was examined in ACE and ACE2 knockout mice and in two rodent models of diabetes, the db/db and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. In kidney cortex, preparations consisting mainly of proximal tubules and cortical collecting tubules, ACE2 activity had a strong positive correlation with ACE2 protein expression (90-kDa band) in both knockout models and their respective wild-type littermates (r = 0.94, P < 0.01). ACE activity, likewise, had a strong positive correlation with renal cortex ACE protein expression (170-kDa band) (r = 0.838, P < 0.005). In renal cortex, ACE2 activity was increased in both models of diabetes (46.7 +/- 4.4 vs. 22.0 +/- 4.7 in db/db and db/m, respectively, P < 0.01, and 22.1 +/- 2.8 vs. 13.1 +/- 1.5 in STZ-induced diabetic versus untreated mice, respectively, P < 0.05). ACE2 mRNA levels in renal cortex from db/db and STZ-induced diabetic mice, by contrast, were not significantly different from their respective controls. In cardiac tissue, ACE2 activity was lower than in renal cortex, and there were no significant differences between diabetic and control mice (db/db 2.03 +/- 0.23 vs. db/m 1.85 +/- 0.10; STZ-induced diabetic 0.42 +/- 0.04 vs. untreated 0.52 +/- 0.07 mice). ACE2 activity in renal cortex correlated positively with ACE2 protein in db/db and db/m mice (r = 0.666, P < 0.005) as well as in STZ-induced diabetic and control mice (r = 0.621, P < 0.05) but not with ACE2 mRNA (r = -0.468 and r = -0.522, respectively). We conclude that in renal cortex from diabetic mice, ACE2 expression is increased at the posttranscriptional level. The availability of an assay for concurrent measurement of ACE and ACE2 activity should be helpful in the evaluation of kidney-specific alterations in the balance of these two carboxypeptidases, which are involved in the control of local ANG II formation and degradation.

Development and Clinical Evaluation of Two Chromogenic Substrate Methods for Monitoring Fondaparinux Sodium

This study was designed to develop methods for monitoring of the selective factor Xa inhibitor fondaparinux sodium (ARIXTRA) based on standard laboratory methods for the chromogenic determination of the anti-factor Xa activity of low molecular weight heparin. To examine the biologic activity of fondaparinux in comparison to its plasma concentration, 2 methods were investigated: 1 working with the addition of antithrombin (AT), the other without exogenous AT. Both methods showed a linear relationship of fondaparinux concentration and OD/min on a log-lin scale in the range from 0.1 to 2 microg/mL. Inter- and intra-assay variability was <6% in all cases. The results of spiked samples from patients on vitamin K antagonists (VKA) were in good agreement with both methods, and the determination of the fondaparinux concentration was not influenced by reduced levels of factor X in plasma caused by VKA-intake. Ex vivo samples from orthopedic patients (n=18) on prophylactic treatment with fondaparinux showed concentrations between 0.2 to 0.7 microg/mL 3 hours after s.c. injection. No significant differences were detected between both methods with these samples. The presented methods are suitable tools for monitoring of fondaparinux. The linear calibration curve in the range 0.1 to 2 microg/mL is suitable for determination of prophylactic and therapeutic application of fondaparinux. Both methods, with and without addition of AT, can be performed fully automated in clinical routine on an automated coagulation analyzer (STA coagulation analyzer). No significant differences were detected between both methods with these samples.

Two methods for determination of transketolase activity

Two new optical methods for transketolase activity assay using only one substrate, xylulose 5-phosphate or glycol aldehyde, have been developed. For transketolase activity assay in the first method, it is necessary to add auxiliary enzyme, glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase. It is not needed in the second method. The range of transketolase concentration in the activity assay is 0.036-0.144 U/ml for the first method and 1.8-6.8 U/ml for the second one.

Potentiometry as a method of antioxidant activity investigation

Problems of terminology applied for antioxidant properties of substances are being discussed. Selection of the term ‘Antioxidant Activity’ is being proved. New method of the determination of this index is offered, where electrode potential shift as a result of redox chemical reaction between substance to be determined and oxidized form of mediator system serves as a source of information. Good correlation is fixed between data obtained by potentiometric method and known chemiluminescent, Randox methods, and photometric method with the use of stable radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrasyl. Accuracy and reliability of the results, simplicity of the analysis procedure and its self-descriptiveness make the method offered to become good alternative to the known methods of antioxidant activity determination.

Semiautomated Method for Determination of Serum Paraoxonase Activity Using Paraoxon as Substrate

Serum paraoxonase (PON1) is an enzyme associated with HDL, and its ability to protect LDL from oxidation is one mechanism by which HDL protects against atherosclerosis. Low concentrations of PON1 are found in patients with type 2 diabetes or coronary heart disease. Serum PON1 activity may also be important in avoidance of organophosphate toxicity in industry. The generally accepted method for determining PON1 activity requires use of a recording spectrophotometer and is not suited to large numbers of samples; in addition, automation presents particular problems because of the extreme toxicity of substrates such as paraoxon. We established a relatively safe microtiter plate method that facilitates the determination of PON1 activity at a rate of 120 samples per hour. PON1 activity was determined by the generally accepted method (x) and the new method (y); results correlated with a slope close to unity (y = 0.93x + 8; r = 0.97; P < 0.0001; n = 101). Examination of differences by Bland-Altman plots showed a weak concentration-dependent difference (r = 0.33; P < 0.0001; n = 101). The intra- and interassay sample CVs, obtained with samples with PON1 activities ranging from 41 to 348 nmol x min(-1) x mL(-1), were 3.5% and 2.7%, respectively (n = 16). The proposed method for determination of PON1 activity is simple, relatively safe, and inexpensive and is suitable for analysis of large numbers of samples.

Echocardiographic Strain Imaging for Myocardial Viability

Echocardiographic strain imaging was introduced by Heimdal et al in 19981 as a means to calculate myocardial regional function from tissue Doppler velocity data.2,3 Strain imaging is a variation of the previous concept of tissue Doppler myocardial velocity gradient, which calculates regional thickening independent of passive whole heart motion.4,5 Because routine clinical evaluation of regional function is usually by visual wall-motion assessment, strain imaging has great promise to improve objective quantification of regional function. Strain imaging calculates deformation, which translates clinically to percent shortening in the longitudinal dimension (assessed from apical views) or percent thickening in the radial dimension (assessed from parasternal views).1,6,7 Theoretically, it has the important advantage of differentiating active myocardial motion from passive translational or tethering movements that other echocardiographic-Doppler approaches cannot differentiate. Indeed, there have been literally hundreds of publications over the last 10 years detailing a wide range of experimental and potential clinical applications of strain imaging; however, currently, few centers have adopted strain imaging in their routine clinical practice, preferring visual “eyeball” assessment, even though this is inherently subjective and requires a high level of experience and training.8 An important question remains: Is it now time for strain imaging to be adopted in a widespread clinical sense? Articles pp 3892 and 3901 Two important articles are contained in this issue of Circulation that address the application of strain imaging as a tool to assess myocardial viability: an animal study of experimental ischemia and infarction by Lyseggen et al9 and a clinical study using dobutamine echocardiography with outcome data after revascularization by Hanekom et al.10 The article by Lyseggen et al illustrates the additive value of strain imaging in an elegant open-chest animal model of coronary occlusion and reperfusion. Echocardiographic strain imaging was performed along with simultaneous dimensional …

Development of a microtitre plate method for determination of phenol utilization, biofilm formation and respiratory activity by environmental bacterial isolates

Abstract Twenty-five aerobic phenol-degrading bacteria, isolated from different environmental samples on phenol agar after several subcultures in phenol broth, utilized phenol (0.2 g l −1 ) within 24 h, but removal of phenol was more rapid when other carbon sources were also present. A microtitre plate method was developed to determine growth rate, biofilm formation and respiratory activity of the strains isolated. Pseudomonas putida strain s C5 and D6 showed maximum growth (as O.D. at 600 nm), P. putida D6 and unidentified bacterial strain M1 were more stable at high concentrations of phenol (0.8 g l −1 ), and P. putida C5 formed the greatest amount of biofilm in 0.5 g phenol l −1 medium. Measurement of dehydrogenase activity as reduction of triphenyl tetrazolium chloride supported data on growth rate and biofilm formation. The microtitre plate method provided a selective method for detection of the best phenol degrading and biofilm-forming microorganisms, and was also a rapid, convenient means of studying the effect of phenol concentration on growth rate and biofilm formation.

Use of DPPH⋅|DPPH Redox Couple for Biamperometric Determination of Antioxidant Activity

AbstractA novel electrochemical method for selective determination of antioxidant activity based on 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl | 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazin (DPPH⋅|DPPH) redox couple and biamperometric technique is proposed. Two identical glassy carbon disk electrodes were mounted in a classic electrochemical cell and the tested working potential difference was between 50 and 200 mV. The DPPH⋅|DPPH redox couple exhibited a high degree of reversibility. Selectivity of detector was tested by different antioxidant compounds in ethanol‐phosphate buffer solution, pH 7.40. The results of antioxidant activity of pure antioxidant compounds and of actual samples of beverages, expressed as Trolox equivalents and determined by proposed biamperometric and spectroscopic measurements, were in good correlation (R=0.9959). The detection limit for Trolox established by the applied biamperometry was 0.05 μM while the resulting current was linear up to 25 μM of Trolox.

A novel amperometric method for antioxidant activity determination using DPPH free radical

A new method for the determination of antioxidant activity based on the amperometric reduction of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) at the glassy carbon electrode is proposed. All experiments were done in three-electrode electrochemical cell at 140 mV vs. Hg 2Cl 2 | 3 M KCl using ethanolic solution ( φ = 40%) and 0.033 M KCl in 0.033 M phosphate buffer, pH = 7.4. The linear range obtained for Trolox in 100 μM DPPH ethanol–water solution was up to 30 μM, with a limit of detection of 0.05 μM. The developed method was applied for the evaluation of antioxidant activity of some water or ethanol soluble pure compounds of antioxidants and of the samples of tea, wine and some other beverages. The good correlation of measurements ( R 2 = 0.9993) expressed as Trolox equivalent was obtained between the proposed amperometric method and classic spectroscopic method.

Monitoring anticoagulation by fondaparinux: determination of anti factor Xa-level

In contrast to low molecular weight heparin and unfractionated heparin fondaparinux is a selective synthetic factor Xa inhibitor. It was approved for thromboprophylaxis after major orthopaedic surgery three years ago. Because of its excellent bioavailability after subcutaneous application once daily independent of body weight (within the range of 50-100 kg) monitoring of the substance is usually not necessary. Since its recent approval for therapeutic use in acute venous thrombosis monitoring might be useful in special clinical situations (e. g. suspected over- or underdosing, renal insufficiency or severe bleeding complications). Based on standard laboratory methods for the chromogenic determination of the anti-factor Xa activity of low molecular weight heparin several chromogenic substrate assays were published for monitoring. Only fondaparinux should be used for calibration and measured fondaparinux levels should be expressed in mug/ml of the fondaparinux calibrator. Because of its single synthetic chemical entity, a linear dose/response relationship over a wide concentration range is observed and measurements are of high precision.

A spectrophotometric method for the quantification of an enzyme activity producing 4-substituted phenols: Determination of toluene-4-monooxygenase activity

A spectrophotometric method for the quantitative determination of an enzyme activity resulting in the accumulation of 4-substituted phenols is described in this article. Toluene-4-monooxygenase (T4MO) activity in whole cells of Pseudomonas mendocina KR1 is used to demonstrate this method. This spectrophotometric assay is based on the coupling of T4MO activity with tyrosinase activity. The 4-substituted phenol, produced by the action of T4MO on the aromatic ring of a substituted arene, is a substrate for tyrosinase, which converts phenols to o-quinones. The latter react with the nucleophile 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone (MBTH) to produce intensely colored products that absorb light maximally at different wavelengths, depending on the phenolic substrate used. The incubation of whole cells of P. mendocina KRI with fluorobenzene resulted in the accumulation of 4-fluorophenol. The coupling of T4MO activity with tyrosinase activity in the presence of fluorobenzene resulted in the formation of a colored product absorbing maximally at 480 nm. The molar absorptivity ( ε) value for the o-quinone–MBTH adduct formed from 4-fluorophenol was determined experimentally to be 12,827 M −1 cm −1 with a linear range of quantification between 2.5 and 75 μM. The whole cell assay was run as a continuous indirect assay. The initial rates of T4MO activity toward fluorobenzene, as determined spectrophotometrically, were 61.8 ± 4.4 nmol/min/mg P. mendocina KR1 protein (using mushroom tyrosinase), 64.9 ± 4.6 nmol/min/mg P. mendocina KR1 protein (using cell extracts Pseudomonas putida F6), and, as determined by HPLC analysis, 62.6 ± 1.4 nmol/min/mg P. mendocina KR1 protein.