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Biomedical subjects

E Middleton

Publications and source records attributed to E Middleton.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Drug-induced changes of adenylate cyclase activity in cells from asthmatic and nonasthmatic subjects.

Monolayers of adherent mononuclear leukocytes prepared from normal subjects and asthmatic children whose bronchodilater therapy did not include sympathomimetic drugs, respond to relatively low concentrations of isoproterenol (ISO) and prostaglandin E1 with increased intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels. The magnitude of in vitro responses to ISO is decreased by previous contact of the cells with ISO or other, orally effective, adrenergic drugs. The desensitization is rapid, concentration- and time-dependent, and is readily reversible after removal of the desensitizing drug. The phenomenon exhibits pharmacologic specificity. Cells in which the response to restimulation with ISO was decreased exhibited full sensitivity to prostaglandin E1. No differences in these behaviors were detected in cells from normal or asthmatic subjects. The results suggest that earlier observations reporting decreased responses to beta adrenergic stimulation in asthmatics may have been due to the treatment of these patients with sympathomimetic agents and not caused by a disease-related beta adrenergic receptor dysfunction.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Clinical conference: Severe obstructive lung disease in a 14-year-old girl with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.

Severe, largely irreversible obstructive lung disease, compatible with emphysema, was found in a 14-yr-old white girl who had been considered to have chronic asthma. She also presented a serum alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Serum values for alpha-1 antitrypsin on two occassions were 95 and 105 mg/100 ml; Pi type was SZ. A family survey disclosed a 13-yr-old brother with the same pattern of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. His serum value was 122.5 mg/100 ml; Pi type was SZ. He was asymptomatic and showed minimal pulmonary function abnormalities.

Adolescent↗

Passage of inulin and p-aminohippuric acid through artificial membranes: implications for measurement of renal function.

Diffusion of inulin and p-aminohippuric acid (PAH) in combined aqueous solution through artificial membranes was measured at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The membranes had pore diameters of 26, 50, 100, 200, 250, 350, 510 or 990 A. The diffusion of PAH was only restricted with a pore size of 26 A, but inulin diffusion was restricted at 100 A. When diffusion of both solutes was unrestricted (pore diameter greater than or equal to 200 A), PAH diffused four times faster than inulin, and in restricted situations this ratio was even greater. The results of these diffusion studies allow the major and minor molecular dimensions of the solutes to be estimated. Filtration of the two solutes was studied in slowly flowing situations and also with increased temperature and pressure. Pore sizes required for unrestricted filtration were the same as for unrestricted diffusion but the passage ratio was reduced from 4 to 2. These results suggest strongly that two conditions are necessary if the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of inulin is to equal the true GFR: membrane pore size must be at least 200 A and passage through the membranes must be by bulk transport.

Aminohippuric Acids↗

Increased adenosine triphosphatase activity in platelets of asthmatic children.

Adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activities were compared in platelets of asthmatic and nonasthmatic children. Significantly elevated Mg2+- and Ca2+-dependent ATPase activities were found in particulate and soluble fractions of platelets from nonsteroid-treated asthmatic children compared to steroid-treated asthmatic and nonasthmatic children. The most pronounced increase (greater than twofold) occurred in the Ca2+-ATPase of the soluble fraction which contains platelet contractile protein. Intact cell surface of ecto ATPase activity was not significantly increased in platelets of asthmatic children. The findings are consistent with adrenergic imbalance in asthma involving depressed adenylate cyclase activity (beta-adrenergic) and increased ATPase activity (alpha-adrenergic) and may relate to abnormal platelet aggregation patterns.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Airway smooth muscle in exercise-induced bronchospasm: some speculations.

Some possible neurophysiological, biochemical, and pharmacological pathways affecting the state of contractility if airway smooth muscle in exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) are described. No unifying hypothesis can be set forth at this time. Indeed, it is likely that the heterogeneous nature of EIB is a reflection of the numerous biochemical loci in smooth muscle cells that could be affected by the various metabolic changes accompanying heavy exertion.

Acetylcholine↗

Increased adenosine triphosphatase in leukocytes of asthmatic children.

Adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activities were compared in leukocytes of asthmatic and nonasthmatic children. Both Mg(2+)- and Ca(2+)-dependent ATPase activities were significantly elevated in two membrane fractions (59 to 66%) and in a superntant fraction (68 to 72%) prepared from sonicated leukocytes of asthmatic subjects. Intact cell surface or ecto ATPase was also elevated (67 to 76%) in asthmatic leukocytes. Alternate day glucocorticosteroid therapy was associated with leukocyte ATPase activities intermediate between those for asthmatics not receiving steroids and for nonasthmatic control subjects. Incubation of normal leukocytes with 10(-8) M hydrocortisone or leukocyte membranes with 10(-4)-10(-3) M hydrocortisone in vitro also resulted in decreased ATPase activities. The elevated leukocyte ATPase activities appear to relate to the adrenergic imbalance in asthma previously characterized by reduced beta adrenergic responsiveness of adenylate cyclase and suggest the possibility of more than one enzymatic abnormality intrinsic to the asthmatic condition.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗