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Biomedical subjects

F Wu

Publications and source records attributed to F Wu.

211 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

Tn5.7 construction and physical mapping of pRPS404 containing photosynthetic genes from Rhodopseudomonas capsulata.

A transposon, Tn5.7, has been constructed incorporating the transposition functions of Tn5 and the antibiotic-resistance factors from Tn7. It was used to mutagenize the plasmid pRPS404 which contains the photosynthetic genes of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata and is KanamycinR . In conjunction with the mutagenesis, physical mapping of the restriction endonuclease recognition sites for XhoI, BglII, KpnI, and SstI has been accomplished.

Chromosome Mapping↗

T, B and K cells in autoimmune thyroid disease.

The K-cell cytotoxic activity of peripheral blood lymphoid cells from 104 patients with autoimmune thyroid disease and from age and sex matched control subjects was measured using chicken erythrocytes as target cells. Patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis,primary hypothyroidism and thyrotoxicosis who were either newly diagnosed and untreated or had received therapy for less than or equal to 1 year showed a significant increase in K-cell cytotoxic activity. Patients who had received treatment for greater than 1 year and less than or equal to 5 years showed no such comparable increase in cytotoxic activity. Within the group of patients with untreated thyrotoxicosis it was found that K-cell cytotoxic activity was related to both goitre size and serum antibody titre. Thus patients with little or no goitre showed a highly significant elevation of cytotoxic activity whereas patients with moderate to large goitres gave values within the normal range. Similarly patients with no detectable serum thyroid autoantibodies showed high K-cell activity while patients with positive antibody titres did not. It was also shown that neither the absolute number nor the proportion of circulating T and B lymphocytes in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease as assessed by the sheep red cell rosette method and by indirect immunofluorescence was significantly different from that observed in the normal control population. No correlation was found between peripheral blood K-cell cytotoxic activity and the percentage of circulating null cells, i.e. 100-(percentage T + percentage B) in either patients or control subjects.

Adolescent↗

Mono- and dinuclear ruthenium(II) and osmium(II) polypyridine complexes built around spiro-bridged bis(phenanthroline) ligands: synthesis, electrochemistry, and photophysics.

Two new dyads have been synthesized in which terminal Ru(II) and Os(II) polypyridine complexes are separated by sterically constrained spiro bridges. The photophysical properties of the corresponding mononuclear complexes indicate the importance of the decay of the lowest-energy triplet states localized on the metallo fragments through the higher-energy metal-centered excited states. This effect is minimized at 77 K, where triplet lifetimes are relatively long, and for the Os(II)-based systems relative to their Ru(II)-based counterparts. Intramolecular triplet energy transfer takes place from the Ru(II)-based fragment to the appended Os(II)-based unit, the rate constant being dependent on the molecular structure and on temperature. In all cases, the experimental rate constant matches surprisingly well with the rate constant calculated for Förster-type dipole-dipole energy transfer. As such, the disparate rates shown by the two compounds can be attributed to stereochemical factors. It is further concluded that the spiro bridging unit does not favor through-bond electron exchange interactions, a situation confirmed by cyclic voltammetry.

Journal Article↗

An allergy and asthma educational outreach program for school nurses and staff.

We conducted an educational outreach program for school nurses and staff based on survey findings from 73 schools in Indianapolis. The survey revealed the following main concerns school nurses had regarding the care of children with allergies and asthma: 1) lack of information (73%), 2) medication usage (73%), and 3) recognition and treatment of anaphylaxis (34%). Only seven (19%) of the responding schools had an allergy and asthma program. Less than half of the schools had policies dealing with anaphylaxis, and none was equipped with epinephrine. Only 62% of the nurses were willing to administer epinephrine in the event of an anaphylactic emergency. During the ensuing year we conducted four workshops and presented a seminar at the Indiana Health Conference for School Nurses, which used the booklet, Managing Allergies and Asthma at School--Tips for Schoolteachers and Staff, as the primary educational tool. A 1-year follow-up survey revealed the number of schools that implemented an allergy and asthma program increased to 15, whereas school policies and practices dealing with anaphylaxis remained unchanged. The booklet was well received as an educational resource. Major efforts are needed to ensure optimal care of allergies and asthma in the school setting.

Anaphylaxis↗

Uptake of 14C- and 11C-labeled glutamate, glutamine and aspartate in vitro and in vivo.

To explore their potential use as in vivo tracers, the uptake of the amino acids glutamine, glutamate and aspartate, labeled with 11C or 14C, was evaluated in tumor cell aggregates, in vivo in rats and a few pilot studies with positron emission tomography (PET) in patients. The uptake in aggregates increased linearly with time, and was competitively inhibited by the same amino acids. The uptake of 14C-glutamate in carcinoid cells (BON) was inhibited by cystine but not by aspartate, contrary to the result in neuroblastoma (LAN). 6-Diazo-oxy-L-norleucine (a glutamine analogue) and Substance P had different effect on the uptake of glutamate in different cells. The metabolic fate of 14C-glutamate was evaluated with protein separation and with HPLC. The in vivo distribution in rats showed the highest uptake of 11C-glutamine and 11C-glutamate in pancreas and kidney, and of 11C-aspartate in the lung. In the human studies with PET, pancreas had the highest uptake followed by kidney with 11C-glutamate, and followed by spleen with 11C-aspartate. A primary pancreas tumour and metastases in liver were difficult to identify except in one case.

2-Aminoadipic Acid↗

In vitro PET evaluations in lung cancer cell lines.

UNLABELLED: One purpose of the study was to explore the PET tracer 11C-L-DOPA for the discrimination between small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A further aim was to explore the potential antitumoral effects of 6-diazo-5-oxy-L-norleucine (DON) and the use of a PET proliferation marker for the evaluation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four lung cancer and one endocrine tumour cell line (BON) were cultured as monolayer. The uptake of 5-[76Br]-bromo-2-fluoro-deoxyuridine (76Br-BFU), [11C]-L-DOPA (11C-DOPA) and [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (18FDG) were evaluated. The effects of specific enzyme inhibitors affecting the DOPA metabolism were explored. The effect of DON on proliferation and uptake of 76Br-BFU were assessed. RESULTS: All cell types showed a measurable uptake of 11C-DORA, with slightly lower values in lung cancer. There were no clear differences between SCLC and NSCLC. The addition of COMT inhibitor induced a significantly increased uptake of the tracer in BON cells, but not in lung cancer cells. DON significantly reduced the proliferation in all cell lines. The 76Br-BFU uptake was reduced markedly in all cell lines during DOn treatment. CONCLUSION: 11C-DOPA failed to distinguish between SCLC and NSCLC. DON showed strong antiproliferative effects which might motivate renewed interest in this drug for clinical cancer treatment. PET with 76Br-BFU might be used for treatment evaluation.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

Low extracellular magnesium results in cardiac failure in isolated perfused rat hearts.

Previous studies on isolated blood vessels indicate that acute withdrawal of extracellular magnesium ions ([Mg2+]o) induces calcium-dependent contractile responses, including coronary blood vessels. The present study, using isolated perfused rat hearts, was designed to assess whether low [Mg2+]o could result in cardiac failure and to gain some insight into the mechanism of action. The results show that both the myocardial oxygen consumption (by 29-38%) and oxygen tension in the coronary effluent decreased (by 18-26%) as the [Mg2+]o was decreased stepwise from 1.2 to 0.6, 0.3 and 0.0 mM. Linear-regression analysis of a plot of coronary flow versus the rate of oxygen consumption shows that there is a tendency for a rightward shift of this relationship in low [Mg2+]o and a leftward shift of the curve in elevated [Mg2+]o (4.8 mM). The experiments also show that with low [Mg2+]o, coronary flow declines 20-37%, and cardiac output and stroke volume fall 24-50% accompanied by 3- to 4-fold elevations in lactate production and eventual, irreversible cardiac failure. An interesting finding, of this study, is that the alpha-adrenoceptor constrictor agonist, phenylephrine (1-5 microM), was found to have effects very similar to low [Mg2+]o. This latter finding is consonant with our hypothesis that progressive lowering of extracellular, ionized magnesium initiates progressive coronary vasoconstriction, decreased tissue oxygenation and myocardial ischemia, which given time, in situ, in the intact host can lead to cardiac failure.

Animals↗

Beneficial effects of high magnesium on alcohol-induced cardiac failure.

Although alcohol has long been known to induce cardiac depression and cardiomyopathy, it is not known whether drug therapy or pharmacologic manipulation can be used to prevent or reverse these toxicities. With this in mind, high levels (15 mM) of magnesium (Mg) were investigated for their potential antialcohol effects on perfused rat hearts. A high concentration of ethanol (135 mM) was used to induce rapid cardiac failure as assessed by hemodynamic and metabolic parameters. During ethanol perfusion in normal 1.2 mM [Mg2+]o physiologic salt solution, coronary flow decreased immediately, and all of the hemodynamic parameters studied (except for heart rate) were depressed significantly. After 10 min of 135 mM ethanol perfusion, only 60% of the hearts kept beating; at 15 min, only 42% of the hearts continued to beat. Myocardial metabolism under such conditions as assessed by examination of coronary effluent concentrations of lactic acid (LA), lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) was rapidly and severely compromised. Although 15 mM MgSO4 alone did not alter coronary flow and systolic pressure under the conditions studied, it did decrease cardiac output, heart rate and total pressure developed. However, when 15 mM MgSO4 was given 10 min before ethanol, and continued during ethanol perfusion, the usual depression in all assessed cardiac hemodynamic parameters (except heart rate) caused by ethanol was not observed. During 15 min of high [Mg2+]o perfusion, coronary flow recovered from 19.1 +/- 6.8% (ethanol alone) to 68.1 +/- 9.9% of control values (p < 0.01); cardiac output recovered from 10.4 +/- 4.6% (ethanol alone) to 43.6 +/- 7.5% of control (p < 0.01); stroke volume went from 12.9 +/- 5.8% (ethanol alone) to 97.1 +/- 14.5% of control (p < 0.01); systolic pressure from 55.3 +/- 3.6% (ethanol alone) to 88.8 +/- 4.0% of control (p < 0.01), and total pressure developed from 23.9 +/- 7.8% (ethanol alone) to 35.0 +/- 4.5% of control (p < 0.05). Assessment of the metabolic biochemical parameters supported these changes in hemodynamic improvement. For example, LA, LDH and CPK all went from elevated values towards normal levels. There were similar hemodynamic and metabolic responses to high [Mg2+]o given during ethanol perfusion to that given before ethanol perfusion. The hemodynamic and metabolic beneficial effects between groups pretreated or treated with high [Mg2+]o exhibited no significant differences. These results suggest that high [Mg2+]o (15 mM) given either before or during ethanol-induced cardiotoxicity is effective in attenuating both functional and metabolic damage caused by high ethanol perfusion in the rat heart.

Animals↗

Influence of Mg2+ on cardiac performance, intracellular free Mg2+ and pH in perfused hearts as assessed with 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

The cellular bioenergetic responses of isolated perfused working rat hearts to alterations in hemodynamic function caused by acute exposure to elevated levels of extracellular magnesium ions ([Mg2+]o) were examined using 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (31P NMR) spectroscopy. Results showed that in hearts working against 90 cm H2O afterload, an increase in [Mg2+]o from 1.2 to 4.8 mM reduced the heart rate by 35%, while coronary flow was increased by 38%. Unexpectedly, despite the pronounced bradycardia, the rate-pressure product was reduced only slightly (from 2.36 x 10(4) to 2.08 x 10(4) mm Hg/min) due to a significant increase (36%) in systolic pressure. In addition, cardiac output actually increased by 23%, owing to a > 100% increase in stroke volume, indicating that the performance of the heart was improved and suggesting that the efficiency of the heart was improved as well. In a separate series of experiments, 31P NMR measurements performed on hearts perfused in the Langendorff mode revealed that elevated levels of [Mg2+]o increase phosphocreatine (PCr) levels by 23% (from 9.2 to 11.3 mM), while Pi levels declined by a corresponding amount. Perfusion of hearts in the working mode with elevated [Mg2+]o was also observed to increase PCr levels from 6.3 to 9.0 mM, while ATP levels declined by 17%. Measurement of the chemical shift difference between Pi and PCr and that between the alpha and beta phosphate resonances of ATP were used to determine intracellular pH and the cytosolic levels of free Mg2+ ([Mg2+]i), respectively. These results showed that acute exposure of hearts, perfused in either the working or Langendorff mode, to increased levels of [Mg2+]o increased intracellular pH by 0.12-0.13 units, while free Mg2+ nearly doubled to a level of 1.1-1.2 mM. The latter observation may suggest that acute variations in the level of [Mg2+]o can influence a multitude of cellular processes requiring Mg2+ as an essential cofactor. Using the above data and assuming equilibrium of the creatine kinase reaction, the levels of ADP, cytosolic phosphorylation potential ([ATP]/[ADP][Pi]) and free energy change from ATP hydrolysis (-delta G/delta E) were also calculated. Results obtained illustrate that in the presence of elevated [Mg2+]o, ADP levels declined by 33-48%, the cytosolic phosphorylation potential increased from 41 to 112 mM-1 and -delta G/delta E increased from 56.7 to 59.3 kJ/mol. These changes are not completely accountable by the known bradycardia and vasodilatory effects of elevated [Mg2+]o and strongly argue for a direct action of [Mg2+]o on the myocyte as well.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Effect of 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine (DON) on human carcinoid tumor cell aggregates.

The induction of glutamine starvation has been suggested as a potential target for antitumoral treatment using inhibitors of amidotransferase, an enzyme which mediates the conversion of glutamate to glutamine. Using multicellular aggregates from tumor cell lines, the effect of treatment with a suggested glutamine antagonist, 6-diazo-5-axo-L-norleucine (DON), was investigated. As indicators of treatment response, three different parameters were measured: aggregate size, uptake of 14C-methionine and secretion of Chromogranin A. Of six cell types evaluated (carcinoid, glioma, neuroblastoma pancreas and bladder cancer), the largest inhibition of 14Cmethionine uptake, amounting to 60%, was found in the carcinoid cell line BON. In this cell line the maximum effect was reached already at 10 microM concentration. DON induced marked growth inhibition in the BON aggregates which lasted 3-4 weeks after which regrowth started. During this period the secretion of chromogranin and methionine uptake was also inhibited. These studies suggest that the neuroendocrine cell line BON is especially vulnerable to treatment by DON and show that strong inhibitory effects are found at concentrations lower than that achieved in patient blood in previous clinical trials.

2-Aminoadipic Acid↗