Results: The predialysis values of serum I-beta(2)m and N-beta(2)m were 2.7 8 +/- 1.4 and 29.4 +/- 6.8 mg/l, respectively, in the HD patients. The presence of serum I-beta(2)m correlated weakly with the total serum beta(2)m concentration in all HD patients. The serum

N-beta(2)m concentration decreased significantly during two types of dialysis treatment: by 32.8% on HD using a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) membrane and by 71.2% on online hemodiafiltration (HDF) with a polysulfone (PS) membrane. On the other hand, a dialysis-associated change in serum I-beta(2)m varied from -36.4 to +203.5% in HD patients using PMMA and from -70.8 to +62.5% in online HDF patients using PS. Moreover, a rebound beta(2)m profile suggested that signaling pathway I-beta(2)m might be immobilized in the extracellular space. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that two or three conformational isomers of beta(2)m were probably ubiquitously recognized in human serum. Though no progressive increase in serum I-beta(2)m concentration could be found along with HD, this study shows a significantly poor removal of I-beta(2)m in comparison to N-beta(2)m in patients receiving ongoing dialysis treatment, even with online HDF. 3MA Copyright (C) 2009

S. Karger AG, Basel”
“A series of oligomers, containing oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG) moieties, with the same composition of amphiphilic functionalities has been designed, synthesized, and characterized on the basis of their temperature-sensitive behavior. The non-covalent amphiphilic aggregates, formed from these molecules, influence their temperature sensitivity. Covalent tethering of the amphiphilic units also has a significant influence on their temperature sensitivity. The lower critical solution temperatures of these oligomers show increasingly Selleckchem MLN4924 sharp transitions with increasing numbers of OEG functional

groups, indicating enhanced cooperativity in dehydration of the OEG moieties when they are covalently tethered. These molecules were also engineered to be concurrently sensitive to enzymatic reaction and pH. This possibility was investigated using porcine liver esterase as the enzyme; we show that enzymatic action on the pentamer lowers its temperature sensitivity. The product moiety from the enzymatic reaction also gives the amphiphilic oligomer a pH-dependent temperature sensitivity.”
“Introduction. The accurate assessment of standard liver volume (SLV) is necessary for the safety of both the donor and the recipient in living donor liver transplantation. However, the accuracy of SLV formulas relates to cohorts or races. This study examined the accuracy of a simple linear formula versus previous formulas of SLV for Chinese adults.\n\nMethods. Among 112 patients with normal liver, we created anew formula for SLV with stepwise regression analysis using the following variables: age, gender, body weight, body height, body mass index, and body surface area.