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Biomedical subjects

E Hoffmann

Publications and source records attributed to E Hoffmann.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

Interactions of fatty acids with neutral fatty-acid-binding protein from bovine liver.

Hepatic-type fatty-acid-binding protein (hFABP) from the cytosol of bovine liver is a 14.4-kDa neutral protein with a blocked N-terminus and a disulfide system located on the surface of the protein. It binds two molecules of fatty acid in one binding site, apparent dissociation constants of the oleic acid/hFABP complex are 0.24 microM and 2.15 microM. Computer analysis of circular dichroic spectra predicts that hFABP contains about 12% alpha-helix, 45% beta-structure, 15% beta-turn and 27% unordered structure. Ellipticities indicative of secondary structure are not affected by fatty acid binding. Cationic amino acid residues of hFABP (1 His, 15 Lys, 2 Arg) were screened for ionic fatty acid/protein interactions. His was excluded, as 1H-NMR analysis of His-C2 and His-C4 protons indicated that binding of oleic acid shifts the pK of His from 6.9 to 7.1 only in hFABP with the disulfide system in the oxidized state; acylation of His with diethylpyrocarbonate does not affect the binding of the fatty acid. Acetylation of Lys reduces binding marginally, whereas modification of Arg with phenylglyoxal lowers the binding activity by 65%. From 1H-NMR investigations, conformational changes within the protein, due to a sort of disaggregation of hFABP upon fatty acid binding, were derived. Most of the proton resonances sharpen up with ligand binding, and some of the methyl resonances shift positions, possibly because they are directly involved in the fatty acid/protein interaction.

Animals↗

[Behavior of the histamine level in induction of anesthesia with propofol and methohexital].

In a study of the effect of intravenous anesthetics on plasma histamine levels, propofol and methohexital were administered to patients. Histamine determination was performed using an improved fluometric method specific for imidazole derivatives. As a primary step, the plasma histamine concentration was determined in 60 healthy, fasting probands and used as a comparative value. The mean value obtained from 60 examinations was 0.38 +/- 0.12 ng/ml, the median value was 0.37 ng/ml (Table 1). The next step consisted in determination of plasma histamine values in 20 patients 1 h following premedication with fentanyl. In this group, the mean value was 0.33 +/- 0.11 ng/ml, the median value 0.316 ng/ml (Table 2). In another 20 patients the plasma histamine concentration was determined 1 h following intramuscular injection of 1.4 microgram fentanyl +0.07 mg/kg droperidol (Thalamonal). In this group, the mean value was 0.373 +/- 0.11 ng/ml and the median value was 0.736 ng/ml. Subsequently, the effect of 2.5 mg/kg propofol (Disoprivan) or 1 mg/kg methohexital (Brevimytal) on plasma histamine levels was examined in a randomized, prospective study in 22 patients of ASA class I and II (Table 3, Fig. 2). Two minutes prior to injection of the test substances and 2, 4, 8, and 13 min following injection, plasma histamine levels, blood pressure, and heart rate were examined. In both groups, no changes in plasma histamine levels were observed during the period of examination. Comparison of the individual time columns within a group as well as intergroup comparisons revealed no statistically significant differences in either the t test or the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney U test.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Ultrastructure of the gastric mucosa harboring Campylobacter-like organisms.

The association between Campylobacter-like organisms (CLOs) and lesions of the gastric mucosa was studied in 59 consecutive biopsies. Hematoxylin and eosin and Warthin-Starry silver stains, as well as high-resolution light microscopy (HRLM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), were used. The organisms were found in intimate contact with foveolar cells showing abundant phagolysosomes and alterations of the intercellular complexes. CLOs also were seen in close proximity of parietal cells in resting phase, some of which showed degenerative changes. The findings are discussed in light of recent reports linking CLOs to the cause of gastritis.

Campylobacter↗