To evaluate the predictive value of serum fibronectin and roll-over test for pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH), we studies 79 patients between the twenty-eighth and thirty-second week of gestation from October 1995 to May 1996. The results were as follows . 1) There was no significant difference of mean diastolic pressure difference in roll-over test and serum fibronectin levels between 13 PIH patients and 66 controls. Between two groups of patients, mean diastolic blood pressure differences were 14.3+/-3.9mmHg, 12.0+/-4.4mmHg and mean serum fibronectin levels were 231.2+/-90.8 pg/ml, 196.5+/-61.2 pg/ml respectively(p> 0.1). 2) For prediction of PIH, the sensitivity, the positive predictive value and the negative predictive value of roll-over test were 8%, 14% and 83%.
Blood Pressure ; Female ; Fibronectins* ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy*

Of 119 full-term pregnant subjects studied from October, 1995 to March, 1996, 79 hadpreeclampsia(severe; 43, mild; 36) and 40 were normotensive controls. The plasma fibronectinlevels of each subject were assayed by turbidometric immunoassy(Boehringer Mannheim).The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship of plasma fibronectin withpreeclampsia as a marker for vascular injury.The results were as follows:1. There were significant differences of plasma fibronectin values among the normotensivepregnancy, mild preeclampsia and severe preeclampsia. Within each group of patients,plasm a fibronectin values were 101.7 +/- 59.4 ng/ml and 249.7 +/- 96.3 ng/ml and 329.2 +/- 169.5 ng/ml, respectively (p < 0.001).2. Plasma fibronectin values had positive correlations with severity of preeclampsia,proteinuria, diastlic blood pressure and systolic blood pressure, but negative correlationswith birth weight and platelet count(p < 0.001).3. When the severity of proteinuria on preeclampsia were +1, +2, and +3 or more,plasma fibr onectin values revealed 246.0 +/- 93.3 ng/ml, 342.3 +/- 185.1 ng/ml and 345.0 +/- 168.1ng/ml, respectively and there were significant differences among three groups.4. To verify the variables correlated with plasma fibronectin by using mutiple regressionanalysis, the only variable which was selected significantly was the severity of preeclampsia(r(2) : 0.529).5. With receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve analysis of the relationship betweenplasma fibronectin values and preeclampsia, if cut off value was selected at the levelof 175ng/ml or more, the sensitivity for diagnosis of preeclampsia was 87.3%, specificity90.0%, positive predictive value 94.5%, and negative predictive value 78.3%, respectively.
Birth Weight ; Blood Platelets ; Blood Pressure ; Diagnosis ; Fibronectins* ; Plasma* ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Proteinuria

The binding of microorganisms to platelets is a critical step in the development of infective endocarditis. In Streptococcus gordonii, this binding is mediated in part by serine-rich repeat proteins, which interact directly with sialic acid residues located on GPIIb receptors in the platelet membrane. In this study, we found that S. gordonii DL1 strain binds to platelets through bridging between sialic acid residue of fibronectin and serine-rich repeat protein (Hsa). Pretreatment of fibronectin with sialidases specific for alpha(2-3)-linked sialic acids was shown to significantly inhibit binding of the DL1 strain and the binding region(BR) of Hsa protein. Similarly, pre-incubation of bacteria or BR of Hsa with alpha(2-3)-sialyl-N-acetyllactosamine blocked fibronectin binding in the DL1 strain, but not the M99 strain. Together, these data show that the alpha(2-3)-sialic acid residues of fibronectin play an important role in the binding of S. gordonii DL1 to fibronectin through interactions with the Hsa receptor. This interaction is thought to play an important role in the development of pathogenic endocarditis, and may represent an important therapeutic target for the treatment of infective endocarditis.
Bacteria ; Blood Platelets ; Endocarditis ; Etorphine ; Fibronectins* ; Membrane Glycoproteins* ; Membranes ; N-Acetylneuraminic Acid* ; Sialic Acids ; Streptococcus gordonii*

In diabetes mellitus, thickening of basement membrane in capillaries and small vessels is a well-known finding and important in the progression of diabetic microangiopathy. We evaluated whether the plasma levels of type IV collagen and fibronectin, which are important factors of basement membrane, are related with the presence of diabetic microangiopathy. Plasma type IV collagen and fibronectin levels were measured in 40 healthy controls (Mean +/- SD, age; 50.3 +/- 5.5 yr) and 94 diabetic patients (age; 52.4 +/- 13.5 yr) with and without microvascular complications. The mean plasma levels of type IV collagen (5.3 +/- 2.9 ng/ml) and fibronectin (474.4 +/- 119.4 ug/ml) in diabetic patients were significantly higher (p < 0.01) than in healthy controls (3.7 +/- 1.3 ng/ml and 319 +/- 50.9 ug/ml). The mean plasma level of type IV collagen in diabetic patients with complications (6.6 +/- 3.7 ng/ml) was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than in those without complications (4.3 +/- 1.7 ng/ml) and became higher in more complicated patients. Furthermore, the severity of retinopathy and several indicators of nephropathy such as serum BUN, creatinine and proteinuria were closely associated with plasma type IV collagen level and a significant correlation was found between plasma type IV collagen and creatinine clearance (r = -0.31, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in plasma fibronectin concentrations, however, between the diabetic patients with complications and those without complications.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Adult ; Aged ; Biological Markers/blood ; Blood Proteins/urine ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Collagen/*blood ; Creatinine/blood ; Diabetic Angiopathies/*blood/diagnosis ; Diabetic Nephropathies/blood/diagnosis ; Diabetic Retinopathy/blood/diagnosis ; Female ; Fibronectins/*blood ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age

In order to evaluate the effects of a topical application of homologous fibronectin on the healing of skin wounds, we made 2 excisional wounds on the back skin of each rat, applied ointment with or without fibronectin purified from citrated homologous plasma, and evaluated the effect according to wound size and microscopic findings. Excised lesions treated with carrier alone, but the difference was significant only in the early phase of wound healing, 2 and 3 days, according to wound size and microscopic changes. A significant decrease in wound size could be found in both groups, treated with ointment containing and not containing fibronectin, between day 4 and 9 when wound contraction was a major contributor to wound closure. Therefore it can be concluded that topical application of fibronectin has a beneficial effect on wound healing during its early phase, but no significant influence on wound contraction.
Administration, Topical ; Animals ; Fibronectins/blood/*therapeutic use ; Ointment Bases ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred Strains ; Skin/pathology ; Wound Healing/*drug effects

Fibronectin(FN), a glycoprotein present in plasma and extracellular matrix, has been reported to be effective on various corneal disorders such as persistent epithelial defect, corneal trophic ulcer, herpetic keratitis, etc. We performed the study of the preparation of purified FN from 35 persons' plasma(male: 19, female: 16)by the use of Sepharose 48 Affinity Chromatography and Gel filtration. The prepared FN was pure electrophoretically, and no other plasma proteins were contaminated, and confirmed as pure by multiple methods such as SDS-P AGE, Ouchterlony double gel diffusion and immunoelectro phoresis. Only 40 minutes was taken for preparation. The result showed that FN concentrations in plasma and in prepared solution were 288.9 +/- 72.8 microgram/ml and 294.3 +/- 41.4 microgram/ml respectively. FN concentrations in plasma and FN eyedrops showed no difference between sex, but increased their level with age(p<0.05). The biological activity was better preserved at 4 degrees C(in the refrigerator) than at room temperature till about 4 weeks after preparation. Applicability of this method as a useful preparation of purified FN is recommendable.
Blood Proteins ; Chromatography, Affinity ; Chromatography, Gel ; Diffusion ; Extracellular Matrix ; Female ; Fibronectins* ; Glycoproteins ; Humans* ; Keratitis, Herpetic ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Plasma* ; Sepharose ; Ulcer

This study was conducted to observe immunological abnormalities, vscular changes and abnormal maturation, pathway of keratinocyte in the psoriasis, by comparing drposits of IgG, fibrinogen(FG) and fibronectin(FN) in the invnlved and uninvolved skin of 19 psoriaics before treatment, the involved skin of 12 among the above patients after treatment, and the skin of 8 normal controls. The study was carried out by using direct immunofluorescence technique with anti-IpG, anti-FG, anti-FN antibodies. The results are summarized as follows: 1. In the uninvolved skin of 19 psoriatics before treatment, no depasition of IgG was observed while deposition of FG was present at the dermo-epidermal junction in 5.3% of the patients and dermis(10.5 %). Deposition of FN was found at the dermo-epidermal junction(52%), papillary dermis(57.9%) and dermal blood vessels(52.6%). 2. In the involved skin of 19 psoriatics before treatment, deposition of IgG was observed in the horny layer in 84.2% of the patients, upper epidermis(15.8%) and depositicin of FG was present in the horny layer(52.6%), upper epidermi(63.1%), dermo-epidermal junction(15.8%), upper dermis(15.8%) and dermal blood vessels(5.3%). Leposition of FN was found in the horny ayer(26.3%), upper epidermis (36.8%), dermo-epidermal junction(78.9%), upper dermis(89.5%) and ermal blood vessels(68.4%). 3. In the involved skin of 12 psoriatics after treatment, IgG was wealily deposited in the horny layer in 16.7% of the patients and deposition of FG was observed in the horny layer(8.3%), upper epidermis (16.7%), dermo-epidermal junction(8.3%) and dermis(8.3%). Deposition of FN was found in the upper epiderrnis(8.3%), dermo-epiderrnal junction(58.3%), dermis(66.%) and dermal blood vessels (33.3%) 4. In the normal skin of 8 control subjects, no deposition of IgG and, FG was observed while deposition of FN was found at the inummo-epidermal junction in 37.5% of the persons, upper dermis(25%) and dermal blood vessels(12.5%)
Antibodies ; Blood Vessels ; Epidermis ; Fibrinogen ; Fibronectins* ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulins ; Keratinocytes ; Psoriasis ; Skin

Select 106 pregnant women with threatened preterm labor between 28 and 37 weeks of gestation. They have been treated continually by the preventing preterm labor therapy including antibiotics and magnesium sulfate. Cervicovaginal fetal fibronectin (fFN) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in serum were detected before treatment and after 3-day and 7-day treatment respectively. 100 normal pregnant women were included as control group. (1) The fFN and CRP had significant differences between study group and control group (P<0.05). (2) The fFN and CPR were different compared in the treatment period (P<0.05). Fetal fibronectin and CRP can be used can be used in therapeutic effect evaluation of threatened preterm labor.
C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Female ; Fibronectins ; blood ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; diagnosis ; prevention & control ; Pregnancy

In search of the optimal preparation method for large-scale purification of human plasma fibronectin, we adopted affinity chromatography with gelatin and the Sepharose 4B activated with cyanogen bromide to purify fibronectin from type "C" plasma of healthy males, and scanned the best method under the conditions of different amount of plasma loading and different residence time in column. In a given column volume of gelatin, the absorbent was related with the plasma residence time in column and the total amount of plasma loaded. As a result, the optimal loading amount of plasma is 150 ml, and the residence time is 20 minutes. The preparation method, herein, has been proved to require small amount of plasma and yield large amount of fibronectin.
Chromatography, Affinity ; methods ; Cyanogen Bromide ; chemistry ; Fibronectins ; blood ; isolation & purification ; Gelatin ; Humans ; Male ; Sepharose ; chemistry ; Wound Healing

BACKGROUND: In recent years, repair of tympanic membrane(TM) perforation has been investigated using growth promoting factors. Platelet derived growth factor(PDGF), basic 30kD cytokine, promotes wound healing by its mitogenicity for fibroblast and stimulation of the production of fibronectin and hyaluronic acid. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of PDGF-AA on the healing process of TM perforation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The effects of PDGF on the healing process of TM perforation was investigated in rats using the endoscope and light microscope after topical application of 2ug of PDGF-AA or placebo on the edge of TM perforation. The rats were sacrificed at 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15 days following the surgery of TM. The tympanic membranes were also immunohistochemically examined for PDGF-Ralpha and fibronectin to evaluate the mechanism of healing process in the PDGF-treated-TM. RESULTS: 1) Application of PDGF-AA accelerated the healing process of TM perforation and the wound was completely closed at 5 days following surgery. 2) PDGF-AA induced prominent proliferation of the connective tissue layer of TM after surgery, however the connective tissue growth has reduced at 2 weeks following surgery. 3) PDGF-Ralpha was intensely expressed in the epithelial layer of the PDGF-AA-treated TM. 4) Intense expression of fibronectin was observed in the fibroblasts of the connective tissue layer of the PDGF-AA-treated TM. CONCLUSION: From this study, we concluded that PDGF may play a role in the imm-unoregulation of the healing process of TM perforation and it may be an alternative to the surgical management of TM perforation.
Animals ; Blood Platelets ; Connective Tissue ; Endoscopes ; Fibroblasts ; Fibronectins* ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Rats ; Tympanic Membrane Perforation* ; Tympanic Membrane* ; Wound Healing ; Wounds and Injuries