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Biomedical subjects

B Bucher

Publications and source records attributed to B Bucher.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Effect of distance between sites and region of the body on results of skin prick tests.

BACKGROUND: Two variables in skin prick testing were examined: the effect of a positive reaction to histamine or allergen on adjacent negative test sites and the relative size of reactions to allergen and histamine on the back and forearm. METHODS: Fifty-two subjects were tested on the back and arm with an allergen extract to which they reacted with a wheal of 8 mm or greater in diameter and with 50% glycerin at sites ranging from 2 to 7.5 cm distant from the allergen test site. A similar study was performed in 50 subjects by using 1.8 mg/ml histamine base to produce the positive reaction. The data were analyzed for the effect of a positive reaction on an adjacent negative control site and also for the relative size of positive reactions on the back and forearm. Data from a second study were also examined for the difference in reactivity on the back and arm. In this study 77 subjects underwent skin prick testing (in duplicate) with seven allergen extracts, 50% glycerin, and 1.8 mg/ml histamine base on the forearm and back. RESULTS: Positive reactions at the 50% glycerin sites were observed at a rate of 0.52% when defined as wheals of 3 mm in diameter or greater and at a rate of 1.11% when defined as flares of 10 mm in diameter or greater. There was no increase in the rate of false-positive reactions over the range of 2 to 5 cm distance from the sites of positive reactions to allergen or histamine. Fewer reactions were present at the 50% glycerin sites, 7.5 cm from the positive sites. The diameters of the reactions to allergen in the primary study were significantly (p < 0.001) smaller on the forearms than on the back (27% less for the wheal and 14% less for the flare). The mean diameter of the wheals induced by histamine did not vary between back and arm (p = 0.3); however, the mean diameter of the flares on the forearm with histamine were 8% smaller than those on the back (p = 0.003). In the second study the reactions to cat extract (n = 59) were significantly smaller on the forearm than on the back (mean wheal diameter 16% less, mean flare diameter 14% less, p < 0.001 for both). The reactions to histamine (n = 76) in this study were also significantly smaller on the forearm (mean wheal diameter 6% less, p = 0.027, and mean flare diameter 14% less, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: If a relatively nontraumatic technique for skin testing is used, adjacent positive test reaction sites of moderate size, which are 2 cm or more from the site of the prick test, are unlikely to cause false-positive reactions on either the back or forearm. Skin test reactivity is less notable on the forearm than on the back for both histamine and allergen. This effect was more pronounced for allergen tests (16% to 27% decrease in mean wheal diameter) than for histamine tests.

Adolescent↗

Discrimination between neuropeptide Y and peptide YY in the rat tail artery by the neuropeptide Y1-selective antagonist, BIBP 3226.

1. The ability of the novel, nonpeptide, neuropeptide Y (NPY) Y1-selective antagonist, BIBP 3226 ¿(R)-N2-(diphenylacetyl)-N-[(4-hydroxyphenyl)methyl]-D-arginine amide¿, to antagonize the increase in perfusion pressure induced by NPY and peptide Y (PYY) was tested in the perfused rat tail artery, a postjunctional Y1-receptor bioassay, precontracted by 1 microM phenylephrine. 2. NPY and PYY produced a concentration-dependent enhancement of the vasoconstrictor response evoked by 1 microM phenylephrine. Although NPY and PYY are roughly equipotent, the maximal contractile response elicited by PYY was about twice that elicited by NPY. 3. Increasing concentrations of BIBP 3226 caused a parallel and rightward shift in the NPY concentration-response curve without depressing the maximal response. The contractile effect of NPY was potently inhibited in a competitive manner. The pA2 value for BIBP 3226 was 7.01 +/- 0.08, a value equivalent to that observed in the rabbit saphenous vein. Although increasing concentrations of BIBP 3226 shifted the concentration-response curve of PYY to the right without any significant decrease in the maximal vasoconstrictor response, the antagonism appeared non-competitive as the slope of the Schild plot was significantly different from unity (0.58 +/- 0.04). 4. In conclusion, these data confirm that BIBP 3226 is a potent and selective nonpeptide Y1 receptor antagonist. Moreover, they show that complex interactions occur between BIBP 3226 and postjunctional receptors activated by PYY. We postulate that BIBP 3226 might discriminate between the effects of NPY and PYY at the postjunctional level in the rat tail artery. It may be that distinct receptors for NPY and PYY exist; these may or may not allosterically interact with each other. Another working hypothesis would be that there is a single receptor complex with allosterically interacting binding sites for the two peptides.

Animals↗

Increase in serum NG-hydroxy-L-arginine in rats treated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide.

Aortic rings isolated from rats 4 h after an injection i.p. of 30 mg/kg Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide showed a marked hyporeactivity to noradrenaline. This effect was paralleled by an increase in the level of nitrite/nitrate in the serum of lipopolysaccharide-treated rats, indicative of an enhanced nitric oxide (NO) synthase activity. Most important, however, the serum concentration of the NO synthase intermediate, NG-hydroxy-L-arginine, was also markedly elevated from 3.7 to 15.8 microM. Circulating NG-hydroxy-L-arginine may thus represent a sensitive and specific marker of NO synthase activity in vivo.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗

Inhibition of cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase-mediated effects by (Rp)-8-bromo-PET-cyclic GMPS.

1. The modulation of the guanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic GMP)- and adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP)-dependent protein kinase activities by the diastereomers of 8-bromo-beta phenyl-1, N2-ethenoguanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate, ((Rp)- and (Sp)-8-bromo-PET-cyclic GMPS) was investigated by use of purified protein kinases. In addition, the effects of (Rp)-8-bromo-PET-cyclic GMPS on protein phosphorylation in intact human platelets and on [3H]-noradrenaline release and neurogenic vasoconstriction in electrical field stimulated rat tail arteries were also studied. 2. Kinetic analysis with purified cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) type I alpha and I beta, which are expressed in the rat tail artery, revealed that (Rp)-8-bromo-PET-cyclic GMPS is a competitive inhibitor with an apparent Ki of 0.03 microM. The activation of purified cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) type II was antagonized with an apparent Ki of 10 microM. 3. In human platelets, (Rp)-8-bromo-PET-cyclic GMPS (0.1 mM) antagonized the activation of the PKG by the selective activator 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-guanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-pCPT-cyclic GMP; 0.2 mM) without affecting the activation of PKA by (Sp)-5, 6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofurano-sylbenzimidazole- 3':5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate ((Sp)-5,6-DCl-cyclic BiMPS; 0.1 mM). 4. (Rp)-8-bromo-PET-cyclic GMPS was not hydrolysed by the cyclic GMP specific phosphodiesterase (PDE) type V from bovine aorta but potently inhibited this PDE. 5. The corresponding sulphur free cyclic nucleotide of the two studied phosphorothioate derivatives, 8-bromo-beta-phenyl-1, N2-ethenoguanosine-3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-bromo-PET-cyclic GMP), had no effect on electrically-induced [3H]-noradrenaline release but concentration-dependently decreased the stimulation-induced vasoconstriction. (Rp)-8-bromo-PET-cyclic GMPS (3 microM) shifted the vasoconstriction response to the right without affecting stimulation evoked tritium overflow. 6. The NO donor, 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1) relaxed rat tail arteries precontracted with phenylephrine (1 microM). The SIN-1 concentration-relaxation curve was shifted in a parallel manner to the right by (Rp)-8-bromo-PET-cyclic GMPS, suggesting that the relaxation was mediated by a cyclic GMP/PKG-dependent mechanism. 7. The [3H]-noradrenaline release-enhancing effect and stimulation-induced decrease in vasoconstriction of forskolin were unaffected by (Rp)-8-bromo-PET-cyclic GMPS. Moreover, the forskolin concentration-relaxation curve was not changed in the presence of the PKG inhibitor, suggesting a high selectivity in intact cells for PKG- over PKA-mediated effects. 8. The results obtained indicate that (Rp)-8-bromo-PET-cyclic GMPS presently is the most potent and selective inhibitor of PKG and is helpful in distinguishing between cyclic GMP and cyclic AMP messenger pathways activation. Therefore, this phosphorothioate stereomer may be a useful tool for studying the role of cyclic GMP in vitro.

Animals↗

Prevention of thromboses in human patients with Bothrops lanceolatus envenoming in Martinique: failure of anticoagulants and efficacy of a monospecific antivenom. Research Group on Snake Bites in Martinique.

Envenomation by the Bothrops lanceolatus, a snake found only in Martinique, leads to swelling and pain, and occasionally to systemic signs and/or coagulopathy. Severe thromboses at some distance from the site of the bite may appear within 48 hr. Uncertainties as to the actual development of thrombotic complications in patients appearing to be suffering from moderate poisoning and as to the availability and the toxicity of a monospecific antivenom (AVS) initially led us to reserve antivenom for the most severe cases, and to use anticoagulants to prevent thromboses in all patients. This approach was modified after we observed serious thromboses in patients with moderate poisoning. Of 50 adult snake bite cases hospitalized between June 1991 and August 1994, 11 developed serious thrombotic complications at 36 /+- 27 hr (mean +/- SD) (range 12-96) following envenomation, despite early preventive anticoagulant therapy. Those included pulmonary embolism (two cases), cerebral infarction (six cases), myocardial infarction (one case), and cerebral and myocardial infarctions (two cases). Sixteen patients were not treated with AVS: 10 of these recovered without complications and six developed systemic thrombosis causing permanent disability in three cases. Thirty were treated with an intravenous infusion of 2-6 vials of AVS given 2-48 hr after the bite. Of these, three died of cerebral infarction that developed before the initiation of serotherapy. All others recovered. Among patients treated with AVS, three presented with mild anaphylactic reactions, while one developed serum sickness that responded to steroids. These data indicate that preventive anticoagulant therapy is of limited efficacy in Martinique.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Suppression of the skin reaction to histamine by ebastine.

BACKGROUND: Ebastine is a nonsedating histamine H-1 antagonist undergoing evaluation for treatment of allergic rhinitis and urticaria. OBJECTIVE: To compare the suppression of prick and intradermal skin reactions to histamine over a period of 24 hours produced by a single dose of ebastine. Also to record side effects and assess changes in the electrocardiogram, particularly the QTc interval. METHOD: Single doses of 1, 3, 10, and 30 mg of ebastine or placebo were administered double-blind at approximately 8 AM after baseline measurement of the reaction to intradermal testing with 5 micrograms histamine base and prick skin testing with three concentrations of histamine. Intradermal testing with histamine was repeated hourly for four hours, every two hours for eight hours, and after 24 hours. Titrated prick skin testing with histamine was performed at 6, 12, and 24 hours. Potential side effects were recorded each time skin testing was performed. Electrocardiograms were repeated at 4 and 24 hours. RESULTS: Intradermal skin test reactions were suppressed between 4 and 24 hours and prick skin tests to 10 mg/mL histamine base were suppressed between 6 and 24 hours with all doses of ebastine. Prick skin test reactions were significantly smaller at 12 and 24 hours in the group receiving the 30 mg dose of ebastine than in all other groups. CONCLUSION: Ebastine is a potent antihistamine that suppresses skin reactions to histamine for 24 hours following single doses in the doses tested (1 to 30 mg). No differences from placebo were noted in either the incidence of side effects or in the QTc intervals of serial electrocardiograms.

Adult↗

A pertussis toxin-insensitive calcium influx mediated by neuropeptide Y2 receptors in a human neuroblastoma cell line.

Stimulation of neuropeptide Y (NPY) Y2 receptors induced an intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) increase in a human neuroblastoma cell line, CHP-234. When NPY in a Ca(2+)-free solution was applied, this increase was abolished. Depolarization with high KCl evoked no response, suggesting that the responses were not mediated by voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. There was no evidence that the NPY response consisted of a capacitative Ca2+ entry sensitive to internal Ca2+ store levels. The [Ca2+]i elevation was diminished by Ni2+, a blocker of Ca2+ entry. Mn2+ induced a quench of the fura-2 fluorescence, which ceased promptly upon the removal of NPY, indicating that Ca2+ entry was linked tightly to receptor activation. Although thapsigargin- and ryanodine-sensitive Ca2+ stores were present, NPY-induced responses were not impaired by pretreatment with either drug. Furthermore, NPY had no effect on the thapsigargin-sensitive store. Pertussis toxin did not affect the NPY-stimulated [Ca2+]i increase, although it abolished the NPY-dependent inhibition of cAMP production. It is concluded that the Y2 receptors couple directly to receptor-operated Ca2+ channels without the involvement of intracellular Ca2+ stores. The results also indicate that Y2 receptors can activate both pertussis toxin-sensitive and -insensitive mechanisms in the same cell.

Calcium↗

Immunogenicity of a recombinant Pre-S2-containing hepatitis B vaccine versus plasma-derived vaccine administered as a booster.

GenHevac B Pasteur is a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine derived from a mammalian cell line and containing HBs as well as pre-S2 antigens. Its immunogenicity was compared to that of the plasma-derived vaccine Hevac B Pasteur in a population primovaccinated 5.5 years earlier with four injections of the same plasma vaccine. The booster injection with either GenHevac or Hevac was administered to 295 subjects with residual anti-HBs titres below 500 IU/l (group 1: 0-9; group 2: 10-99; group 3: 100-499 IU/l). After four weeks, GenHevac had induced higher anti-HBs responses than Hevac in all groups, particularly among the low responders of group 1. Response to the vaccine occurred earlier with GenHevac. Mean anti-pre-S2 production was moderate in all groups for both vaccines (GenHevac: 60 IU/l; Hevac: 31 IU/l) and was not found in the 32 subjects who produced less than 100 IU/l anti-HBs. The results of the present study indicate that GenHevac is at least as immunogenic as Hevac.

Adult↗

Effects of cyclic GMP and analogues on neurogenic transmission in the rat tail artery.

1. The effects of membrane permeable analogues of guanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic GMP), and of the NO donor, 3-morpholinosydnonimine-N-ethylcarbamide (SIN-1) were investigated on [3H]-noradrenaline release and neurogenic vasoconstriction in electrical field stimulated rat tail arteries. 2. Two 8-substituted analogues of cyclic GMP (8-bromoguanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate; 8-bromo-cyclic GMP and 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-guanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate; 8-pCPT-cyclic GMP) concentration-dependently enhanced stimulation-induced [3H]-noradrenaline release. These prejunctional effects were antagonized by the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) inhibitor N-[2-((3-(4-bromophenyl)-2-propenyl)-amino)-ethyl]-5 isoquinolinesulphonamide dihydrochloride (H-89; 100 nM) but not by the cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) inhibitors, Rp-8-bromoguanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate (Rp-8-bromo-cyclic GMPS; 10 microM) or Rp-8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-guanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate (Rp-8-pCPT-cyclic GMPS; 10 microM). 3. beta-Phenyl-1,N2-ethenoguanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (PET-cyclic GMP) had no effect on stimulation-induced [3H]-noradrenaline release but concentration-dependently decreased the stimulation-induced vasoconstriction. 4. The two 8-substituted cyclic GMP derivatives, PET-cyclic GMP and SIN-1, both decreased stimulation-induced vasoconstriction. In addition, SIN-1 relaxed rat tail arteries precontracted with phenylephrine (1 microM). The SIN-1 concentration-relaxation curve was shifted in parallel manner to the right by Rp-8-bromo-cyclic GMPS (10 microM) and Rp-8-pCPT-cyclic GMPS (10 microM) with no change in the maximum effect, showing that the relaxation was mediated by a cyclic GMP/PKG-dependent mechanism. 5. It is concluded that PKA activation is involved in the noradrenaline release enhancing effect of the two 8-substituted cyclic GMP analogues, whereas a cyclic GMP/PKG-operated pathway accounts for the inhibitory effects of the cyclic GMP and its analogues on vascular smooth muscle contraction.

Animals↗

Effects of cyclic AMP and analogues on neurogenic transmission in the rat tail artery.

1 The effects of two 8-substituted analogues of adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) were compared with those of forskolin and isoprenaline on [3H]-noradrenaline release and vasoconstriction induced by electrical field stimulation (24 pulses at 0.4 Hz, 200 mA, 0.3 ms duration) in the rat tail artery, in the absence and in the presence of protein kinase inhibitors. 2 8-Bromo-adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-bromo-cyclic AMP, 10-300 microM), 8-(4-chlorophenyl-thio)-adenosine 3':5' cyclic monophosphate (8-pCPT-cyclic AMP, 3-300 microM), forskolin (0.3-10 microM) and isoprenaline (1 nM-1 microM) all concentration-dependently enhanced stimulation-induced [3H]-noradrenaline release. The effect of cyclic AMP analogues was larger (2.5 fold at 300 microM) than those of cyclic AMP elevating drugs (1.6 fold at 10 microM for forskolin and 1.5 fold at 30 nM for isoprenaline). 3 At concentrations active at the prejunctional level, the four drugs had differential effects on stimulation-induced vasoconstriction, which was enhanced by the two cyclic AMP analogues, decreased by forskolin and not significantly altered by isoprenaline. 4 The [3H]-noradrenaline release-enhancing effects of 8-bromo-cyclic AMP, forskolin and isoprenaline were significantly decreased by the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) inhibitor (N-[2-((3-(4-bromophenyl)-2-propenyl)-amino)-ethyl]-5- isoquinolinesulphonamide, di-hydrochloride) (H-89; 100 nM). By contrast they were unaffected by the cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) inhibitor, 8-bromo-guanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate, Rp-isomer (Rp-8-bromo-cyclic GMPS; 10 microM). By contrast they were unaffected by the cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) inhibitor,8-bromo-guanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate, Rp-isomer (Rp-8-bromo-cyclic GMPS; 10 MicroM).At the same concentrations the PKA inhibitor attenuated only the nerve-induced vasoconstrictor responses obtained in the presence of 8-bromo-cyclic AMP, whereas the PKG inhibitor did not modify that obtained in the presence of 8-bromo-cycic AMP or forskolin.5. Exposure to the protein kinase C (PKC) activator, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (1 MicroM) enhanced nerve-evoked [3H]-noradrenaline release, and this effect was decreased by the PKC inhibitor, 2-[1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-indol-3-yl]-3-(-indol-3-yl)-maleimide (GF 109203X; 100 nM). However, the latter drug did not modify the enhancing effect of 8-bromo-cyclic AMP on [3H]-noradrenaline release.6. It is concluded that activation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase is involved in the enhancing effect of cyclic AMP-elevating compounds on prejunctional release of noradrenaline. In addition the results provide no clear-cut evidence for a vasodilator role of PKA.

Animals↗

Effect of bacterial lipopolysaccharide on function of rat small femoral arteries.

The effects of endotoxin on endothelial and smooth muscle function were investigated in small femoral arteries removed from rats 4 h after intraperitoneal injection of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 20 mg/kg) or solvent. In the absence of L-arginine in the organ bath, the sensitivity of the arteries to norepinephrine (NE) was decreased only slightly, and the relaxing effects of neither 3-morpholinosydonimine-N-ethyl-carbamide (SIN-1), a nitric oxide (NO) donor, nor acetylcholine (ACh) were modified by LPS treatment despite morphological damage to the endothelium seen with scanning electron microscopy. However, L-arginine (30 microM to 1 mM), which had no effect on control vessels, caused a rapid and stereospecific relaxation of arteries from LPS-treated rats that was abolished by both NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (1 mM), a NO synthase inhibitor, and methylene blue, an inhibitor of the activation of guanylyl cyclase by NO. The relaxing effect of L-arginine was observed in the absence of endothelium, although it was significantly greater in its presence. In addition, a 30-min exposure to extracellular L-arginine (100 microM) moderately but significantly decreased the sensitivity to ACh and SIN-1 of vessels from LPS-treated but not from control rats. These results indicate that LPS treatment induced a NO synthase activity in smooth muscle cells of rat small femoral arteries and that the resulting relaxation was dependent on extracellular L-arginine in these resistance vessels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Vasoconstrictor effects of various neuropeptide Y analogues on the rat tail artery in the presence of phenylephrine.

1. The increase in perfusion pressure induced by neuropeptide Y (NPY), peptide YY (PYY) and related peptides were compared in the perfused rat tail artery precontracted by a submaximal concentration (1 microM) of the vasoconstrictor, phenylephrine. 2. NPY, PYY, [Leu31,Pro34]NPY, [Glu16,Ser18,Ala22,Leu28,31]NPY (ESALL-NPY) and the centrally truncated and stabilized analogues [D-Cys5,8-aminooctanoic acid7-20, Cys24]-NPY (D-Cys5-NPY) and [D-Cys7, 8-aminooctanoic acid8-17,Cys20]-NPY (D-Cys7-NPY) produced a concentration-dependent enhancement of the vasoconstrictor response induced by 1 microM phenylephrine. PYY was two times more potent than NPY and [Leu31,Pro34]NPY while ESALL-NPY, D-Cys7-NPY and D-Cys5-NPY were approximately 3, 5 and 16 times less potent than NPY respectively. NPY, D-Cys5-NPY and D-Cys7-NPY gave similar maximal responses whereas those observed for PYY, [Leu31,Pro34]NPY and ESALL-NPY were much greater than that of NPY. 3. NPY 13-36 and [des-Ser3,Lys4,Cys2,8-aminooctanoic acid3-24, D-Cys27]-NPY ([es-Ser3,Lys4]Cys2-NPY) were practically inactive at concentrations up to 3 microM, whereas [des-Ser3,Lys4,D-Cys2,8-aminooctanoic acid3-24,Cys27]-NPY ([des-Ser3,Lys4]D-Cys2-NPY), which differs from [des-Ser3,Lys4]Cys2-NPY in the disulphide bridge (a D-Cys in position 2 for [des-Ser3,Lys4]D-Cys2-NPY instead of an L-CYs for [des-Ser3,Lys4]Cys2-NPY) was a weak agonist the maximal effect of which could not be ascertained. 4. The contractile effects of [des-Ser3,Lys4]D-Cys2-NPY were additive with those of NPY and [Leu31,Pro34]NPY demonstrating that it is not a partial agonist but may simply not interact competitively with the receptor binding site for NPY. NPY and PYY interacted in a manner expected of agonists competing for the same binding site.5. PYY, NPY and [Leu31,Pro34]NPY were equipotent in displacing the I125-labelled PYY from binding sites on membranes from Y1-receptor expressing SK-N-MC cells, while the centrally truncated analogues were much less potent. The rank order of potencies for displacement of the I125-PYY binding by these peptides in SK-N-MC cells correlated with their activity in enhancing the vasoconstrictor response of phenylephrine in the tail artery. For the [des-Ser3,Lys4]D-Cys2-NPY analogue, the displacement pattern was more complex in that the displacement analysis revealed the presence of two binding sites.6. In conclusion, these data provide no evidence for other than postjunctional Y1-receptors mediating the enhancement of the contractile response elicited by phenylephrine in the perfused rat tail artery. The effects of [des-Ser3,Lys4]D-Cys2-NPY indicate that the Y1-receptor may possess an allosteric binding site.

Amino Acid Sequence↗