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Catachem Announces the Introduction of the Lithium (Li) In-Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) Chemistry Reagent Kit. Bridgeport,
Connecticut, USA (November 26, 2003)…. Catachem, Inc. (Catachem, Private)
today announced the addition of the Lithium (Li) in vitro diagnostic chemistry
reagent kit to Catachem’s product line of over 30 chemistries and more than
100 products. Lithium is an antimanic agent, a monovalent cation
which belongs to the group of alkali metals together with sodium, potassium and
other elements with which it shares some of its properties. The mechanism
whereby lithium controls manic episodes and possibly influences affective
disorders is not yet known. Unlike
other antimanic agents, it does not possess general sedative properties. There
is evidence, however, that lithium alters sodium transport and may interfere
with ion exchange mechanisms and nerve conduction. Fluid and electrolyte
metabolism are believed to be altered in affective disorders and this may be
related to the therapeutic action of lithium. Lithium enhances the uptake of
norepinephrine and serotonin into the synaptosomes, thus reducing their action.
It reduces release of norepinephrine from synaptic vesicles and inhibits
production of cyclic AMP. Lithium is inactive in most screening
psychopharmacological tests but it produces marked potentiation of amphetamine
hyperactivity in animals. It does not appear to protect against the action of
stimulant and convulsive drugs and produces only slight potentiation of CNS
depressants. Lithium can replace sodium in extracellular fluid and during the
process of depolarization it has an extremely rapid intracellular influx.
However, it is not effectively removed by the sodium pump, thereby preventing
the cellular reentry of potassium. As a result, it interferes with electrolyte
distribution across the neuronal membrane, leading to a fall in membrane
potential and changes in conduction and neuronal excitability. In humans,
lithium alters the excitability of the CNS as measured by cortical evoked
potentials. Lithum
(Li) is determined spectrophotometrically through a kinetic coupling assay
system involving a proprietary enzyme NaPase, which is sensitive to lithium for
its activity. After a series of enzymatic coupling, the substrate is converted
to hypoxanthine by catalysis of NaPase, phosphatase, 5'-Nucleotidase, Adenosine
Deaminase and Purine Nucleoside Phosphorylase (PNP). Hypoxanthine is then
further oxidized by xanthine oxidase (XOD) to generate uric acid and hydrogen
peroxide (H2O2). H2O2 generated reacts with
N-Ethyl-N-(2-hydroxy-3-sulfopropyl)-3-m-toluidine (EHSPT) and 4-aminoantipyrine
(4-AA) in the presence of peroxidase (POD) to form a quinone dye, which has
maximal absorbance at 556 nm. Lithium is a two reagent chemistry available in
one size. Reagents are packaged
ready-to-use in glass bottles. Calibrator and controls are available separately:
Li Kit PN CC116A performs 250 tests. Benjamin
Twombly, Vice President Sales and Marketing, commented, “We are pleased to
have established an expectation for high quality chemistries that work, and
continued new product development. The
addition of this assay to our Electrolyte Panel provides a more comprehensive
service for our customers.“ Luis
P. Leon, President, commented, “We are pleased to add this assay to our
growing product line”. About
Catachem, Inc. Catachem
has a rich 20 year history in clinical chemistry as a manufacturer and
distributor of in-vitro chemistry products and services for human, veterinary
and environmental laboratories. Catachem chemists helped develop many of the
automated diagnostic chemistries widely in use today. Catachem created the DiscretePak™
and VetSpec™ line of reagents
for human and veterinary automated analyzers.
Catachem offers FDA approved (510K) chemistries (liquid and dry)
including enzymatic chemistries developed in conjunction with IFCC and CDC.
Catachem has more than 500 applications for all types of analyzers
including the Roche™, Hitachi™, Olympus™,
AU Series™, RA Series™, Opera™,
DAX™, Bayer™, Advia™,
Synchron™, Beckman™, Abbott™
and many other analyzers. Corporate
headquarters, research, custom formulation laboratories, and manufacturing are
located in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Catachem
supplies leading laboratories and equipment manufacturers from distributors
around the world. Forward-looking
statements in this release are made pursuant to the ``safe harbor'' provision of
the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the
results of research and development efforts, the effect of regulation by the
United States Food and Drug Administration and other agencies, the impact of
competitive products, product development commercialization and
technological difficulties, and other risks detailed in the Company's
periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Keywords: Catachem,
Chemistry, Reagents, In-Vitro Diagnostics, IVD, Lithium, Li For
more information contact: Benjamin Twombly Catachem
chemistries include: 5'-Nucleotidase (5NT), Adenosine Deaminase (ADA), Alanine
Aminotransferase (ALT), Albumin BCG (ALB), a-L-Fucosidase (AFU), Alkaline
Phosphatase (ALP), Ammonia (NH), Amylase (AMY), Aspartate Aminotransferase
(ALP), β-Hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), Bicarbonate (HC03), Bile Acids (BA),
Bilirubin, Direct with Blank (DBILI), Bilirubin, Total with Blank (TBILI),
Bilirubin, Total (TBILI), Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), Bromide (BR), CO2 [340]
(CO2), CO2 [380] (CO2), CO2 [single reagent] (CO2), Ca+++ Arsenazo [650NM]
(CA3), Chloride [340 NM] (CL), Cholesterol (CH), Creatine Kinase (CK),
Creatinine (CREAT), Fructosamine [millimole method] (FR), Fructosamine, Glycated
Serum Protein [enzymatic] (FR), Gamma-Glutamyl Transpeptidase (GGT), Glucose
Hexokinase (GLU), Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c), High Density Lipoproteins,
Dextran Sulfate (HDL), Inorganic Phosphorus (IP), Lactate Dehydrogenase (LD),
Lipase (LIP), Lithium [enzymatic] (LI), Magnesium (MG), N-Acetyl-ß-D-glucosaminidase
(NAG), Potassium [enzymatic] (K), Plasma Free Hemoglobin (PFH), Pre-albumin (TBPA),
Sodium [enzymatic] (NA), Sorbitol Dehydrogenase (SDH), Thiopurine
methyltransferase (TPMT), Total Bile Acids (TBA), Total Iron (TI), Total Protein
(TP), Triglycerides (TRIG), UIBC and TIBC (UIBC), Uric Acid (UA), Vitamin B6
(V6B), Multipoint Calibrator Catacal, Catatrol Level 1 Catatrol Level 2, Bile
Acids Control, Bile Acids Calibrator, BHBA Calibrator, BHBA Control Level 1,
BHBA Control Level 2; Bromide Calibrator, BR Control Level 1, BR Control Level
2; Fructosamine Calibrator, FR Control Level 1, FR Control Level 2, SDH Control
Level 1, SDH Control Level 2. Call
+1 (203) 335-9277 or Write Catachem@aol.com. |
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