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Biomedical subjects

D J Armstrong

Publications and source records attributed to D J Armstrong.

82 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Cytokinin from soluble RNA of Escherichia coli: 6-(3-methyl-2-butenylamino)-2-methylthio-9-beta-D-ribofuranosylpurine.

We have isolated a compound responsible for the cytokinin activity of soluble RNA from Escherichia coli. The structure, indicated as 6-(3-methyl-2-butenylamino)-2-methylthio-9-beta-D-ribofuranosylpurine, C(16)H(23)N(5)0(4)S, on the basis of low-and high-reso!ution mass spectrometry, was established by unequivocal synthesis. The mass spectra, chromatographic behavior, and ultraviolet spectra of the compounds from natural and synthetic sources were identical.

Chromatography, Paper↗

Cytokinin activity: localization in transfer RNA preparations.

Transfer RNA from yeast, liver, and Escherichia coli has cytokinin activity in the tobacco callus bioassay, whereas ribosomal RNA from yeast is inactive. In contrast to fractions of yeast transfer RNA rich in serine acceptor and cytokinin activity, preparations (70 to 90 percent pure) of arginine transfer RNA(2), glycine transfer RNA, phenylalanine transfer RNA, and valine transfer RNA(1) and of highly purified alanine transfer RNA from yeast were inactive at concentrations of 20 to 2500 micrograms per liter. One molecule of 6-(gamma,gamma-dimethylallylamino) purine per 20 molecules of yeast tRNA would account for the observed cytokinin activity. The number of major molecular species contributing to cytokinin activity of transfer RNA, therefore, must be small.

Chromatography↗

Determination of benzene residues in recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PETE) by dynamic headspace-gas chromatography.

A dynamic headspace-gas chromatography (HS/GC) method was developed to quantitate benzene in recycled PETE material derived from 21 PETE beverage bottles. The analytical system consisted of a purge-and-trap apparatus which was interfaced directly with a gas chromatograph/flame ionization detector. Cryofocusing and non-cryofocusing GC systems were used. The technique was applied to spiked PETE test samples which were prepared at various benzene concentrations ranging from 100 ppb to 117 ppm. The initial spiked benzene concentration in the PETE test samples was determined gravimetrically. The HS/GC technique was limited by the slow desorption rate of benzene from the PETE matrix; as a result, multipurges were performed at 60 degrees C. Regression analysis was done on the multipurge data to develop a desorption model which would predict the total amount of benzene in the PETE. The calculated results agreed with the experimental recoveries within +/- 10%. Recovery depended on the initial benzene level in the PETE and ranged from 70 to 90% after the first five purges.

Benzene↗

Investigation of in-vitro release characteristics of NSAID-loaded polylactic acid microspheres.

The intra-pulmonary delivery of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-loaded PLA microspheres has potential utility in the treatment of inflammatory lung conditions such as asthma. Drug encapsulation efficiency and release kinetics depend upon a variety of parameters in the production process, all of which affect the properties of the microspheres produced. The release of piroxicam from PLA microspheres followed an apparently biphasic release profile. PLA microspheres containing indomethacin, however, exhibited kinetics which approached more closely to zero order release. The effect of microsphere production parameters upon these release profiles has been investigated. Results indicate that factors affecting the nature of the microsphere matrix have the greatest influence on release profiles. The use of halothane as organic solvent in the microsphere production increases the burst release effect. Residual halothane is known to be present in the microspheres, producing a less stable matrix, thus allowing much faster release of the drug. The nature of drug incorporated also appears to affect the nature of the microspheres matrix. Piroxicam-loaded microspheres possess a much more porous matrix than indomethacin-loaded microspheres, as evidenced by washing procedures. This difference could explain the difference in release profiles between the two types of microspheres.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

Distinctive effects of G-CSF, GM-CSF and TNFalpha on neutrophil apoptosis in systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of culture with G-CSF GM-CSF and TNFalpha on neutrophil apoptosis, comparing neutrophils from SLE patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and healthy control subjects. METHODS: Neutrophils were isolated from SLE (n= 10), RA (n= 10) and healthy control subjects (n= 10), and cultured with two different concentrations of G-CSF, GM-CSF and TNFalpha. Proportion of apoptotic neutrophils at T=0, T=2hrs and T=24hrs was measured using FITC-labelled annexinV and flow cytometry. RESULTS: Significantly more neutrophils were apoptotic at T=0 in the SLE subjects than in the other groups (median, range--Control 3.5% (0.3-7.9) SLE 9.5% (2.9-29.1) RA 3.0% (0.4-23.0) p<0.05). Following culture for 24 hours with 1ng/ml G-CSF the proportion of apoptotic neutrophils from SLE subjects was significantly increased (median, range = 51.6% (27.0-84.0) without G-CSF v 66.8% (31.8-89.2) with G-CSF p<0.05). This was not observed with RA or control subjects, in whom the trend was towards inhibition of apoptosis. Similar trends were seen with GM-CSF There was significant induction of apoptosis in SLE neutrophils after 2 hr culture with 1ng/ml TNFalpha (median, range = 2.3% (0.1-8.0) without TNFalpha v 5.2% (1.0-22.4) with TNFalpha). No significant change was seen in the other groups. There was an inverse correlation between total neutrophil count and the degree of induction of apoptosis by G-CSF and GM-CSF, determined at a range of time-points and cytokine concentrations CONCLUSIONS: Neutrophils from SLE patients display resistance to the apoptosis-inhibiting effects of G-CSF and possibly GM-CSF, and appear more susceptible to the apoptosis-inducing action of TNFalpha, the greatest resistance being observed in the more neutropenic patients.

Adult↗