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Biomedical subjects

B Lorber

Publications and source records attributed to B Lorber.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Yeast tRNAAsp-aspartyl-tRNA synthetase: the crystalline complex.

Aspartyl-tRNA synthetase from yeast, a dimer of molecular weight 125,000 and its cognate tRNA (Mr = 24,160) were co-crystallized using ammonium sulfate as precipitant agent. The presence in the crystals of both components in the two-to-one stoichiometric ratio was demonstrated by electrophoresis, biological activity assays and crystallographic data. Crystals belong to the cubic space group I432 with cell parameter of 354 A and one complex particle per asymmetric unit. The solvent content of about 78% is favorable for a low resolution structural investigation. By exchanging H2O for D2O in mother liquors, advantage can be taken from contrast variation techniques with neutron radiations. Diffraction data to 20 A resolution were measured at five different contrasts, two of them being close to the theoretical matching point of RNA and protein in the presence of ammonium sulfate. The experimental extinction of the diffracted signal was observed to be close to 36% D2O, significantly different from the predicted value of 41%. The phenomenon can be explained by the existence of a large interface region between the two tRNAs and the enzyme. These parts of the molecules are hidden from the solvent and their protons are less easily exchangeable. Accessibility studies toward chemicals of tRNAAsp in solution and in the presence of synthetase are in agreement with such a model.

Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases↗
PubMed1983

Clindamycin compared with penicillin for the treatment of anaerobic lung abscess.

The clinical efficacy of clindamycin was compared with that of penicillin in a randomized study of the treatment of community-acquired putrid lung abscess. After starting therapy, patients treated with clindamycin had a shorter febrile period and fewer days of fetid sputum than patients treated with penicillin (mean 4.4 versus 7.6 days and 4.2 versus 8.0 days, respectively, p less than 0.05). Four of 20 patients treated with penicillin had clinically significant pulmonary or pleural extension of their infection within 10 days after starting therapy; this was not found in any of 19 patients treated with clindamycin (p less than 0.05). Penicillin treatment failed in two additional patients after 20 days of therapy. Within 1 month after treatment, 1 of 4 patients given penicillin for 3 weeks had relapse, but none of the 13 patients given clindamycin for 3 or 6 weeks, and none of the 5 patients given penicillin for 6 weeks had relapse. Overall, only 8 of 15 patients treated with penicillin who could be followed to the end of the study were cured, whereas all 13 patients treated with clindamycin who could be followed were cured (p less than 0.01). These results suggest that penicillin may not be optimal therapy for anaerobic lung abscess.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Correction of drug binding defects in uremia in vitro by anion exchange resin treatment.

Serum protein binding of weakly acidic drugs is impaired in uremia, but that of basic drugs tends to be normal. Treatment of uremic serum with anion exchange resin (Amberlite CG-400, acetate form) corrected binding defects for three acidic drugs (nafcillin, salicylate and sulfamethoxazole) but did not affect the binding of two basic drugs (trimethoprim and quinidine). Resin treatment of normal human serum did not alter the binding of these five drugs. Extraction of the acetate buffer eluate from resin exposed to uremic serum with n-butyl chloride at acidic pH (3.0) resulted in a fraction that could induce similar binding defects in normal human serum. The factor(s) responsible for binding defects in uremia appears to be lipid soluble, weakly acidic, and dialyzable. It is believed to be tightly bound to albumin at physiologic pH, but dissociates from it at acidic pH. These findings further support the previously proposed hypothesis that drug-binding defects in uremia are due to accumulation of certain endogenous metabolic product(s).

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Covalent attachment of aspartic acid to yeast aspartyl-tRNA synthetase induced by the enzyme.

Aspartic acid can be covalently linked to yeast aspartyl-tRNA synthetase and to other proteins, in the absence of tRNA, under conditions where the synthetase activates the amino acid into aspartyl-adenylate, i.e., in the presence of ATP and MgCl2. The linkage between aspartic acid and the protein is acid and alkali resistant; thus it is likely a peptide-like amide bond formed between the activated carboxylate group of aspartic acid and the primary amine function of the side chain of lysine residues.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1982

Formation of a catalytically active complex between tRNAAsp and aspartyl-tRNA synthetase from yeast in high concentrations of ammonium sulphate.

The interactions of yeast tRNAAsp with cognate aspartyl-tRNA synthetase have been studied in high concentrations of either sodium chloride or ammonium sulphate by fluorescence titration and small-angle neutron scattering. In solutions containing more than 1M NaCl no complex is formed and enzymatic activity is abolished. In strong contrast, however, the physical measurements showed the formation of a two-to-one tRNA-enzyme complex, with high affinity, in 1.6 M (NH4)2SO4. Aminoacylation assays under the same salt conditions showed the enzymatic fixation of aspartic acid to tRNAAsp to occur at an appreciable rate. The present study emphasizes that the effects of salts on protein-nucleic acid interactions do not depend only on ionic strength but also on the nature of the salt. This study has allowed a rational approach to the crystallisation of a functional tRNAAsp-aspartyl-tRNA synthetase complex (Giegé, Lorber, Ebel, Thierry and Moras (1980) C.R. Acad. Sci. Paris, série D, 291, 393-396).

Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases↗
PubMed1981

Cerebrospinal fluid shunt colonization and obstruction by Paecilomyces variotii. Case report.

A 57-year-old woman underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement for noncommunicating hydrocephalus. She required several shunt revisions over a 2-year period for recurrent hydrocephalus. The shunt was subsequently found to be obstructed by growth of the saprophytic fungus, Paecilomyces variotii, an infrequent human pathogen. Paecilomyces infections have caused complications associated with prosthetic cardiac valves and synthetic lens implantation; this is the first reported association with a cerebrospinal fluid shunt.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts↗
PubMed1981

Partial purification and characterization of the drug-binding-defect inducer in uremia.

The chemical basis of drug-binding defects in uremia was investigated by studying the effects of extraction of uremic sera with an organic solvent (n-butyl chloride). Extraction of uremic sera at acidic pH (3.0) with n-Butyl chloride fully corrected the binding defects for three acidic drugs (nafcillin, sulfamethoxazole, and salicylate), whereas binding of two basic drugs (trimethoprim and quinidine) was unaffected by similar treatment. When added to normal human serum or purified human serum albumin, the organic solvent layer was capable of inducing binding defects similar to those seen in uremia. Further fractionation of the organic solvent layer with purified human serum albumin at physiologic pH (7.4), followed by reacidification and extraction of the acidified albumin layer with the same solvent, gave a homogeneous fraction on thin-layer chromatography. This homogeneous fraction could induce the binding defects observed in uremia when added to normal human sera. This factor(s) is apparently a dialyzable and weakly acidic compound. It is lipid-soluble and tightly bound to albumin at physiologic pH, but extractable at acidic pH. Its molecular weight is approximately 500 or less. These findings strongly support the hypothesis that the drug-binding defect in uremia is due to accumulation of endogenous metabolic products rather than to an intrinsic structural abnormality in serum albumin.

Biological Products↗
PubMed1979

New rapid assay for nafcillin in serum by spectrofluorometry.

A new, rapid method for measuring serum levels of nafcillin by spectrofluorometry is described. The method involves extraction of 2 ml of acidified serum with n-butyl chloride, subjecting the organic solvent layer to excitation at 340 nm, and measuring the relative intensity of emission fluorescence at 380 nm. An excellent linear correlation exists between serum levels of nafcillin and the relative intensity in a drug concentration range of 0.25 to 150 mug/ml. The results obtained by this spectrofluorometric technique are in complete accord with those obtained by the conventional microbiological assay using Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538P. The method is not interfered with by elevated levels of endogenous metabolic products or the presence of other drugs, including a number of antimicrobial agents. The assay is interfered with, however, by the presence of salicylates, for which appropriate correction can easily be made. A salicylate assay employing a spectrofluorometric technique is also described.

Biological Assay↗
PubMed1979

Rapid assay for determination of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole levels in serum by spectrofluorometry.

A rapid spectrofluorometric method for determining the levels of both trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole from the same specimen of serum is described. The method involves stepwise extraction of the specimen first with chloroform at an alkaline pH (pH 9.0) for trimethoprim followed by n-butyl chloride at an acidic pH (pH 2.0) for sulfamethoxazole. To quantitate trimethoprim, the chloroform layer was subjected to fluorometry by exciting the specimen at 295 nm and measuring the relative intensity at 330 nm. To determine sulfamethoxazole levels, the n-butyl chloride layer was subjected to fluorometry by exciting the specimen at 285 nm and measuring the relative intensity at 330 nm. Relative intensities were linear (r greater than 0.99) over the concentration ranges of 0.5 to 40 microgram/ml for trimethoprim and 1 to 400 microgram/ml for sulfamethoxazole. Values obtained by this spectrofluorometric procedure were in excellent agreement with those obtained by a conventional fluorometric assay for trimethoprim and a colorimetric assay for sulfamethoxazole. Elevated levels of endogenous metabolic products and numerous other drugs, including a number of antimicrobial agents, did not interfere with the method. Although salicylates interfere with the determination of sulfamethoxazole, an appropriate correction can be made. This method can also be used to determine the drug levels in cerebrospinal fluid.

Humans↗
PubMed1977

Anterior sacral meningocele: report of five cases and review of the literature.

Five new cases of anterior sacral meningocele are presented, including one secondary to neurofibromatosis, a previously undescribed association. The literature is reviewed, drawing attention to the relationship between anterior sacral meningocele, sacral dysgenesis, and other congenital anomalies. Special consideration is given to the clinical features of this entity, as well as to the techniques and results of surgical management.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1977

Clindamycin and Carbenicillin in treatment of patients with intraabdominal and female genital tract infections.

Clindamycin alone and with an aminoglycoside or carbenicillin alone and with an aminoglycoside were used in therapy for 173 patients with intraabdominal or genital tract infections. Excellent or good results were obtained in 115 of 131 patients treated with clindamycin and 33 of 42 patients treated with carbenicillin. Few serious side effects were observed in patients who received either drug. The data indicate that clindamycin is an effective drug in these conditions and suggest that carbenicillin may be equally effective.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1976

Carbenicillin in the treatment of infections involving anaerobic bacteria.

Twenty-one patients with serious infections involving anaerobic bacteria were treated with carbenicillin. Multiple anaerobes were involved in 8 cases, and in 10 cases, facultative anaerobes were also isolated. Bacteroides fragilis was isolated in 10 cases. Results were judged excellent in 7 cases, good in 8 cases, and fair in 5 cases. These data suggest that carbenicillin may be an effective antibiotic for the therapy of infections due to anaerobic bacteria, particularly those involving B. fragilis.

Anaerobiosis↗