| 摘要 |
In accordance with the present invention, non-invasive methods have been developed for the measurement of NO levels in a variety of fluid media, e.g., in mammalian fluids. The present invention embraces the use of a semi-permeable membrane bag containing a nitric oxide reacting substance to trap NO diffusing in to the bag. The permeability of selected semi-permeable membranes to nitric oxide, but not to nitrate/nitrite, makes is possible for the semi-permeable membranes bags employed in the practice of the present invention to selectively collect NO, even in the presence of potentially competing species such as nitrate and nitrite. The simple, easy and non-invasive methods of the invention for the measurement of NO levels in fluid media will find a variety of uses, e.g., for diagnosis and monitoring of NO overproduction or underproduction that has been associated with many inflammatory and infectious diseases. |
