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Biomedical subjects

A J Carmichael

Publications and source records attributed to A J Carmichael.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Reaction of disodium cromoglycate with hydrated electrons.

A possible mechanism by which disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) prevents a decrease in regional cerebral blood flow but not hypotension in primates following whole body gamma-irradiation was studied. Several studies have implicated superoxide radicals (O2-.) in intestinal and cerebral vascular disorders following ischemia and ionizing radiation, respectively. O2-. is formed during radiolysis in the reaction between hydrated electrons (e-aq) and dissolved oxygen. For this reason, the efficiency of DSCG to scavenge e-q and possibly prevent the formation of O2-. was studied. Hydrated electrons were produced by photolysis of potassium ferrocyanide solutions. The rate constant, k = 2.92 x 10(10) M-1s-1 for the reaction between e-aq and DSCG was determined in competition experiments using the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO). This spin trap reacts rapidly with e-aq followed by protonation to yield the ESR observable DMPO-H spin adduct. The results show that DSCG is an efficient e-aq scavenger and may effectively compete with oxygen for e-aq preventing the radiolytic formation of O2-..

Cromolyn Sodium↗

Evidence for free radicals produced in aqueous solutions by diagnostic ultrasound.

Recent theoretical calculations have shown that small gas nuclei in water exposed to microsecond ultrasonic pulses above an intensity threshold may grow into transient cavities that collapse violently, leading to the formation of .OH radicals and .H atoms. We have detected these free radicals in aqueous solutions exposed to microsecond pulsed ultrasound using spin trapping and electron spin resonance (ESR). The public health implications of our results are discussed.

Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy↗

On the spin trapping and ESR detection of oxygen-derived radicals generated inside cells.

Recently several attempts to identify oxygen-derived radicals in whole cells by spin trapping and electron spin resonance have been reported by using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide as the spin trap. In the present study, the feasibility of this method is examined. Chinese hamster V79 cells and human erythrocytes served as the test systems, while OH radicals were generated by gamma radiolysis. Several spin traps were used to scavange the radicals and a distinction between exo- and endocellular ESR observable species was achieved using tri(oxalato) chromiate(III) as a line broadening agent. To distinguish between exo- and endocellular sites of radical formation, we studied the effects of high molecular weight scavengers (polyethylene glycols), which do not enter the cell. Various possible obstacles associated with trapping and detecting the radicals inside the cells were examined. The results indicate that the primary radicals react with the spin traps. However, these spin adducts decayed within the cells. Cellularly induced decay of 2-hydroxy-5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrrolidinyloxyl radical presented the major difficulty in detecting the endogenous radicals, and potential experimental approaches to overcome this difficulty are discussed.

Animals↗

Neutron-induced free radicals in oriented DNA.

Samples of oriented DNA containing 30 per cent water were irradiated with neutrons at 77 K. The electron spin resonance (e.s.r.) spectra obtained from these irradiated DNA samples show that the formation of radicals is different when the incident neutrons are parallel or perpendicular to the DNA helix. When the incident neutrons are perpendicular to the DNA helix the e.s.r. spectra of thymine and guanine ionic radicals (T-., G+.) are observed. An additional e.s.r. spectrum corresponding to the hydrogen addition radical on thymine (TH.) is observed when the incident neutrons are parallel to DNA helix. The TH. radical appears to be formed by protonation of T-. .

DNA↗

Photoinduced reactions of anthraquinone antitumor agents with peptides and nucleic acid bases: an electron spin resonance and spin trapping study.

The photoexcitation (lambda = 313 +/- 10 nm) of adriamycin, daunomycin, and mitoxantrone in the presence of peptides or pyrimidine nucleic acid bases was investigated. In air-saturated and air-free solutions, peptides are decarboxylated by the photoexcited drug molecules. The decarboxylation reactions were shown to occur specifically at the C-terminal amino acid of the peptide. The decarboxylated peptide radicals were spin-trapped using 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane (MNP) and identified by electron spin resonance (ESR). In air-free solutions, nucleic acid bases are oxidized by the photoexcited drug molecules predominantly generating C(5)-carbon-centered radicals in the pyrimidine rings of uracil, cytosine, and thymine. However, spin adducts of MNP and thymine were also obtained at the N(1) or N(3) positions of the pyrimidine ring. In air-saturated adriamycin and daunomycin solutions, the spin adducts of MNP with uracil or thymine are similar to those obtained following hydroxyl radical reactions with these pyrimidines. This suggests that in the presence of oxygen, the photoexcited adriamycin and daunomycin transfer an electron to oxygen generating the superoxide anion radicals (O2-.), which are precursors of hydroxyl radicals. O2-. was also formed when O2-saturated DNA solutions were photoirradiated (lambda = 313 +/- 10 and 438 +/- 10 nm) in the presence of adriamycin and daunomycin, indicating that the photodegradation of DNA in the presence of these drugs caused by hydroxyl radicals is mediated by dissolved oxygen.

Anthraquinones↗

Quantitative aspects of ESR and spin trapping of hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen atoms in gamma-irradiated aqueous solutions.

The efficiency of 5,5-dimethylpyrroline-1-N-oxide (DMPO) and alpha-(4-pyridyl-1-oxide)-N-tert.-butylnitrone (POBN) to spin trap hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen atoms, respectively, was studied in gamma-irradiated solutions where the radical yields are accurately known. The effects of dose, spin trap concentration, and pH and of the stability of the spin adducts on the spin-trapping efficiency were investigated. In degassed or N2-saturated solutions the spin-trapping efficiencies were 35% for DMPO and hydroxyl radicals and 14% for POBN and hydrogen atoms. The low spin-trapping efficiencies were shown not to be due to the instability of the DMPO-OH and POBN-H spin adducts or to the effects of H2O2 or O2. The low spin-trapping efficiency of DMPO may be explained by the reaction of hydroxyl radicals to abstract hydrogen from the DMPO molecule to produce carbon radicals as well as addition to the N = C double bond to form nitroxide radicals. For POBN the low spin-trapping efficiency for hydrogen atoms is explained in terms of addition reactions of hydrogen atoms to the aromatic ring and the pyridinium and nitrone oxygens.

Cobalt Radioisotopes↗

Photogeneration of superoxide by adriamycin and daunomycin. An electron spin resonance and spin trapping study.

The hydroxyl and superoxide anion spin adducts of DMPO and 4-MePyBN, respectively, were obtained during photoirradiation of adriamycin and daunomycin solutions with visible light. Ethanol and dimethyl sulfoxide did not scavenge hydroxyl radicals in the photoirradiated drug solutions. Furthermore, the hydroxyl-DMPO spin adduct is not formed in the photolysis of air-free drug solutions, indicating that hydroxyl radicals are not directly produced in the photochemical reactions. Instead, the observed hydroxyl-DMPO is formed from the decay of the superoxide anion-DMPO spin adduct. The mechanism for generating the superoxide anion radical appears to be a direct electron transfer from the photoexcited adriamycin and daunomycin to dissolved oxygen.

Daunorubicin↗

Transdermal drug delivery systems and skin sensitivity reactions. Incidence and management.

Transdermal devices are now marketed for the delivery of systemic medication through the skin. Advantages associated with transdermal drug delivery include avoidance of first-pass metabolism and variable absorption as well as improved patient compliance. Drugs currently available by this route include scopolamine, nitroglycerin (glyceryl trinitrate), estradiol, nicotine, clonidine, fentanyl, and testosterone. This novel development has brought about a specific constellation of skin problems which vary widely in incidence between drugs. It is important to vary the site of drug administration to minimize these reactions. Any eczematous reaction can be treated with a moderately potent topical corticosteroid. Patients with topical sensitivity are usually tolerant of oral challenge but systemic sensitization has been reported and caution is still advocated before proceeding to this step. The increasing use of transdermal drug delivery systems across many specialities means that problems of skin sensitivity are of growing relevance to the dermatologist, the hospital specialist, and the primary care physician.

Administration, Cutaneous↗