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Biomedical subjects

A J Higgins

Publications and source records attributed to A J Higgins.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Absorption of phenylbutazone from a paste formulation administered orally to the horse.

The absorption pattern of phenylbutazone was studied in five horses during administration of the drug in a paste formulation on days 1, 5, 8 and 12 of a 12-day dosing schedule. Since two or more plasma concentration peaks were usually obtained following each oral dose, it was concluded that phasic absorption was a particular feature of the oil:water formulation of the product. Possible causes of this unusual absorption pattern are discussed and the therapeutic implications of both phasic absorption and the recorded values of Cmax, tmax and AUC024 for phenylbutazone and its active metabolite oxyphenbutazone are considered.

Absorption↗
PubMed1985

Aspirin in cats.

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Animals↗
PubMed1985

Two mechanisms produce tissue-specific inhibition of fatty acid oxidation by oxfenicine.

Oxfenicine [S-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)glycine] is transaminated in heart and liver to 4-hydroxyphenylglyoxylate, an inhibitor of fatty acid oxidation shown in this study to act at the level of carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (EC 2.3.1.21). Oxfenicine was an effective inhibitor of fatty acid oxidation in heart, but not in liver. Tissue specificity of oxfenicine inhibition of fatty acid oxidation was due to greater oxfenicine transaminase activity in heart and to greater sensitivity of heart carnitine palmitoyltransferase I to inhibition by 4-hydroxyphenylglyoxylate [I50 (concentration giving 50% inhibition) of 11 and 510 microM for the enzymes of heart and liver mitochondria, respectively]. Branched-chain-amino-acid aminotransferase (isoenzyme I, EC 2.6.1.42) was responsible for the transamination of oxfenicine in heart. A positive correlation was found between the capacity of various tissues to transaminate oxfenicine and the known content of branched-chain-amino-acid aminotransferase in these tissues. Out of three observed liver oxfenicine aminotransferase activities, one may correspond to asparagine aminotransferase, but the major activity could not be identified by partial purification and characterization. As reported previously for malonyl-CoA inhibition of carnitine palmitoyltransferase I, 4-hydroxyphenylglyoxylate inhibition of this enzyme was found to be very pH-dependent. In striking contrast with the kinetics of malonyl-CoA inhibition, 4-hydroxyphenylglyoxylate inhibition was not affected by oleoyl-CoA concentration, but was partially reversed by increasing carnitine concentrations.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Eicosanoids in health and in disease: an appraisal.

Oxygenation of the 20-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acid, arachidonic acid, which is found in most body cells of all domestic animals, leads to the formation of a group of compounds possessing biological activity. These compounds, collectively known was eicosanoids, currently receive considerable attention owing to their involvement in a wide variety of physiological and pathophysiological processes. Particular interest has been focussed in recent years on the role and control of prostanoids and leukotrienes in inflammatory and allergic conditions in animals and man. Arachidonic acid metabolites are also recognised to be intimately involved in reproductive and perinatal processes; with platelet aggregation and vascular homeostasis; kidney function; fever; certain tumours and many other normal and disease conditions. Eicosanoid research in veterinary medicine is still at a relatively early stage in many respects and in this review an attempt is given to highlight some of the functions of this important series of compounds both in health and in disease. As more evidence comes to light, it is possible that veterinary surgeons may have to consider revising their clinical approach to the treatment of certain disease states where eicosanoids are implicated or where chemotherapy may interfere with their normal physiological activities.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

The biology, pathophysiology and control of eicosanoids in inflammation.

The involvement in inflammatory conditions of those cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase derivatives of arachidonic acid (5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid), which are known as the eicosanoids, is reviewed in the light of recent studies. Although it is now generally recognized that cyclo-oxygenase products are fundamental to the inflammatory process as chemical mediators, and that inhibition of the cyclo-oxygenase enzyme pathway explains the mode of action of most non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) commonly prescribed in veterinary practice, evidence for the involvement of lipoxygenase products of arachidonate metabolism in inflammation is increasing. The leukotrienes (LTs) are 5-lipoxygenase-derived eicosanoids which have been shown to be leucotactic and involved in anaphylactic and hypersensitivity reactions. Leucocytes, drawn to sites of injury by chemotaxis, themselves liberate pro-inflammatory eicosanoids which perpetuate the response and may aggravate the clinical condition. At therapeutic dose rates, most NSAIDs have no effect on the biosynthesis of LTs, whereas corticosteroids, by inhibiting the release of arachidonic acid, may prevent the formation of both cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase products. However, because of the undesirable side-effects of steroids, the clinical use of these agents in treating inflammatory conditions is sometimes limited. Novel non-steroid inhibitors of cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase enzyme pathways could offer more effective and safer control of inflammation in animals.

Animal Diseases↗
PubMed1985

Clinical pharmacology and therapeutic uses of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the horse.

Weak organic acids possessing anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic properties--commonly known as aspirin-like drugs--have been used in equine medicine for almost 100 years. These non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be classified chemically into two groups; the enolic acids such as phenylbutazone and carboxylic acids like flunixin, meclofenamate and naproxen. All NSAIDs have similar and possibly identical modes of action accounting for both their therapeutic and their toxic effects. They block some part of the cyclo-oxygenase enzyme pathway and thereby suppress the synthesis of several chemical mediators of inflammation, collectively known as eicosanoids. The available evidence indicates that some of the newer NSAIDs have a reasonable safety margin but further studies are required. The toxicity of phenylbutazone in the horse has been investigated very thoroughly in recent years and it has been shown to cause renotoxicity and, most significantly, ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract when relatively high doses are administered. Several factors may predispose towards phenylbutazone toxicity in the horse, including breed and age, but high dosage is considered to be particularly important. The absorption into, and fate within, the body of NSAIDs are considered and particular attention is drawn to the ways in which these pharmacokinetic properties relate to the drugs' toxicity and clinical efficacy. In reviewing current knowledge of the clinical pharmacology of this important group of drugs, it is hoped to provide the clinician with a rational, scientific basis for their safe and effective use in equine practice.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Coronary hyperemia and cardiac hypertrophy following inhibition of fatty acid oxidation. Evidence of a regulatory role for cytosolic phosphorylation potential.

Oxfenicine (S-4-hydroxyphenylglycine) is a cardioselective inhibitor of long-chain fatty acid oxidation. In anesthetized dogs, oxfenicine (3.3 mg/kg, i.v.) increased myocardial blood flow by 33% under normal conditions and by 71% during isoprenaline infusion, but produced no other hemodynamic changes. Similar results were obtained with two other inhibitors of fatty acid oxidation, 2-bromopalmitate and 2-tetradecylglycidate. Chronic administration of oxfenicine to dogs for 1 year produced dose-related, nonpathological increases in relative heart weight (up to 85% at 750 mg/kg per day). Smaller effects (up to 30% at 900 mg/kg per day) were observed in a similar study in rats. Cardiac hypertrophy has previously been reported in rodents treated with 2-tetradecylglycidate. Moreover, cardiomegaly is frequently observed in cases of carnitine deficiency. We therefore suggest that coronary hyperemia and cardiac hypertrophy following either inhibition of fatty acid oxidation or an increase in cardiac work load may be adaptive changes triggered by a common mechanism-namely, a fall in cytosolic phosphorylation potential. In support of this, oxfenicine decreased the phosphocreatine/creatine ratio in rat hearts perfused in the presence of oleate. These findings suggest the possibility that metabolic abnormalities may provide the key to many idiopathic cardiomyopathies of uncertain origin.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1984

Prevention of reperfusion damage in working rat hearts by calcium antagonists and calmodulin antagonists.

The direct myocardial protection afforded by three structurally distinct calcium antagonists (0.1 micron nifedipine, 0.1 micron verapamil and 0.4 micron diltiazem), and a calmodulin antagonist (20 micron W-7) was assessed in isolated working rat hearts subjected to 30 min global ischaemia followed by 30 min reperfusion. At these concentrations, no drug-induced cardiac depression nor coronary vasodilatation was observed prior to ischaemia. All four agents improved recovery of cardiac function (assessed as total cardiac output) on reperfusion (by 49%, 29%, 64% and 72% respectively, compared to controls), attenuated the release of lactate dehydrogenase (by 52%, 55%, 65% and 66% respectively) and inhibited intracellular 45Ca accumulation (by 42%, 35%, 49% and 45% respectively). Despite the increased tissue calcium and enzyme leakage in reperfused hearts, the [3H]inulin-impermeable space was not decreased, suggesting specific changes in membrane permeability rather than partial sarcolemmal rupture. Drug treatment did not alter the rate nor extent of high-energy phosphate depletion during ischaemia, thus eliminating ATP preservation and negative inotropy as mechanisms for the protective effects observed in this system. Improved restoration of coronary flow was obtained in treated hearts but we believe this was more likely to be a consequence of myocardial protection rather than direct coronary vasodilatation. Thus, the beneficial effects observed probably resulted from direct preservation of cellular viability. When given only during the reperfusion phase, nifedipine and W-7 were almost as effective as when given before ischaemia, whereas verapamil and diltiazem were inactive. This highlights differences between the various structural subclasses of calcium antagonists. Furthermore, the efficacy of the calmodulin antagonist, W-7, in this system suggests a possible key role for calmodulin-activated enzymes in the progression of reperfusion damage.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1984

Arachidonic acid metabolites in carrageenin-induced equine inflammatory exudate.

The presence of cyclooxygenase products of arachidonic acid metabolism in carrageenin-induced inflammatory exudate was investigated in ponies using two models. In the first model, an inflammatory response was stimulated by injecting carrageenin into subcutaneously implanted polypropylene tissue cages and exudates were collected at five predetermined times between 3 and 48 h. In the second model, exudates were harvested at 6, 12 and 24 h from carrageenin-impregnated polyester sponges which had also been inserted beneath the skin. Prostaglandin (PG) E2, thromboxane (TX) B2 and the stable breakdown-product of prostacyclin (PGI2), 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, in exudates were measured by radio-immunoassay (RIA); PGE2-like and PGF2 alpha-like activities were bioassayed following an acid-lipid extraction technique which provided a recovery rate of 78%. Agreement between RIA and bioassay was within acceptable limits. In Model 1, using RIA, mean PGE2 concentration reached 197 ng X ml-1 at 12 h decreasing to less than 12 ng X ml-1 at 24 h. Mean TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha levels were highest at 48 h (22.3 and 34.2 ng X ml-1, respectively) after considerable fluctuations and with wide standard errors prior to this time. In the sponge model, however, PGE2 levels were surprisingly low for each group (mean 12.8 ng X ml-1 at 12 h) and TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha were similarly lower (means of 3.3 and 8.1 ng X ml-1 respectively at 12 h). Mean total leucocyte counts and total protein concentrations were increased in both models after carrageenin stimulus. PGF2 alpha was not detected in measurable quantities in any exudate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗
PubMed1984

The acute inflammatory process, arachidonic acid metabolism and the mode of action of anti-inflammatory drugs.

Arachidonic acid is a polyunsaturated fatty acid covalently bound in esterified form in the cell membranes of most body cells. Following irritation or injury, arachidonic acid is released and oxygenated by enzyme systems leading to the formation of an important group of inflammatory mediators, the eicosanoids. It is now recognised that eicosanoid release is fundamental to the inflammatory process. For example, the prostaglandins and other prostanoids, products of the cyclooxygenase enzyme pathway, have potent inflammatory properties and prostaglandin E2 is readily detectable in equine acute inflammatory exudates. The administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs results in inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis and this explains the mode of action of agents such as phenylbutazone and flunixin. Lipoxygenase enzymes metabolise arachidonic acid to a group of noncyclised eicosanoids, the leukotrienes, some of which are also important inflammatory mediators. They are probably of particular importance in leucocyte-mediated aspects of chronic inflammation. Currently available non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, however, do not inhibit lipoxygenase activity. In the light of recent evidence, the inflammatory process is re-examined and the important emerging roles of both cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase derived eicosanoids are explored. The mode of action of current and future anti-inflammatory drugs offered to the equine clinician can be explained by their interference with arachidonic acid metabolism.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1984

Influence of phenylbutazone on eicosanoid levels in equine acute inflammatory exudate.

In a two part cross-over experiment, acute inflammatory exudates were induced in 7 ponies by subcutaneous implantation of 3 sterile carrageenin-soaked polyester sponge strips. Treatment comprised a single therapeutic geenin-soaked polyester sponge strips. Treatment comprised a single therapeutic dose of 4.4 mg/kg phenylbutazone (PBZ) administered intravenously at the time of sponge implantation. Exudates were harvested at 6, 12 and 24 hours and examined for leukocyte and erythrocyte numbers using the improved Neubauer technique; for eicosanoids by radioimmunoassay and by high performance liquid chromatography for concentrations of PBZ and its principal metabolite oxyphenbutazone. Plasma PBZ and oxyphenbutazone levels were measured in treated animals at 6, 12 and 24 hours. The administration of PBZ produced, at 6 hours, highly significant (P less than 0.001) reductions in exudate levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha (the stable breakdown product of prostacyclin, PGI2). Significant (P less than 0.01) reductions in these eicosanoids were maintained in treated animals at 12 and 24 hours. Levels of thromboxane B2 (TXB2), the catabolite of TXA2, were reduced in treated animals at 6 and 12 hours but these changes were not significant. Leukocyte numbers were significantly (P less than 0.001) increased from 6-hour values at 12 and 24 hours in both control and PBZ-treated animals but differences between control and treated ponies were not significant. This is the first report in ponies of eicosanoid inhibition following the administration of a non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It is proposed that the model of inflammation used in this study might provide a means of assessing the efficacy and duration of action of NSAIDs in the horse.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗
PubMed1984

Tissue-cage model for the collection of inflammatory exudate in ponies.

In a series of experiments to examine equine inflammatory exudates for the presence of metabolites of arachidonic acid, including prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a model for the induction and collection of exudates in ponies has been developed. Multiperforated polypropylene practice golf balls implanted subcutaneously in the mid-neck region were well tolerated and proved to be the most successful model. One such cage was implanted in the neck of each of seven ponies. Inflammatory exudates were induced by injecting 3.0 or 0.5 ml carrageenin into the cages and aspirates collected between three and 48 hours later. These were examined for PGE2-like activity, total protein concentration and leucocytes. All three variables increased following the injection of both dose levels of carrageenin.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Flunixin inhibits prostaglandin E2 production in equine inflammation.

A model of acute inflammation was used in a cross-over study in Welsh mountain ponies to assess the actions of flunixin meglumine on selected components of a localised inflammatory reaction induced by injecting 0.5 ml of a 2 per cent carrageenin solution into subcutaneously implanted tissue cages. Samples of exudate were harvested at predetermined times between three and 48 hours. Increases in leucocyte numbers and protein concentration were not prevented by flunixin treatment. Prostaglandin E2-like activity was present in exudates from untreated ponies with the highest mean concentration occurring at 12 hours. The production of prostaglandin E2-like activity by the inflamed tissues of treated animals was blocked by flunixin for at least 24 hours.

Animals↗