Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Colombo

Publications and source records attributed to G Colombo.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Orphenadrine serum levels in a poisoned patient.

A patient ingested about 5 g of orphenadrine hydrochloride. He had gastric lavage and oral administration of activated charcoal. The main symptoms were neuropsychiatric in nature. Possible relation between serum levels of the drug and time course of the toxic effects are described.

Adult↗

Abnormal OKT4/OKT8 ratio and deranged capping in ataxia-telangiectasia.

Two sisters with ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) and their parents were investigated for some parameters related to immunological functions. We found a decrease of total mature T lymphocytes, a decrease of OKT4+ helper-inducer T subset, and normal values of OKT8+ suppressor-cytotoxic T subset; a normal decrease of E rosette formation after incubation in vitro with theophylline, with a lowered E rosette capacity in one patient. The responses to phytohemagglutinin (PHA)and concanavalin A (ConA) were lowered. In addition we observed a reduction of basal capping of B lymphocytes in one patient and in her parents: this phenomenon could be related to cytoskeletal disorders, possibly involved in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Adolescent↗

Nitroderm TTS in exercise-induced angina pectoris--a randomized double-blind study.

Nitroderm TTS is a new transdermal delivery system for nitroglycerin, consisting of a self adhesive disc from which the drug diffuses into the skin at a predetermined rate through a microporous membrane. In an acute, randomized, double-blind, within-patient study, a TTS formulation releasing 10 mg of nitroglycerin over 24 hours (TTS 10) was compared with placebo and isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) 20 mg slow-release. TTS 10, ISDN and placebo were given on 3 successive days, according to a 3 X 3 latin square design 3 times replicated, to 9 in-patients with coronary heart disease and stable exercise-induced angina pectoris. At rest, both TTS 10 and ISDN significantly lowered lying (p less than 0.05) and standing (p less than 0.01) systolic blood pressure as compared to placebo, but there was no difference between the 2 active treatments. On the symptoms-limited cycloergometric exercise test, carried out 4 hours post-dosing, both TTS 10 and ISDN significantly (p less than 0.05) improved exercise tolerance in respect to placebo. Treatments were well tolerated. In conclusion, both TTS 10 and ISDN, 4 hours post-dosing, are superior to placebo in improving exercise tolerance in patients with coronary heart disease and exercise-induced angina pectoris. The transdermal therapeutic system, allowing constant plasma nitroglycerin levels over 24 hours, has the advantage of once daily administration.

Adult↗

An acetylenic mechanism-based inhibitor of dopamine beta-hydroxylase.

The catalytic action of dopamine beta-hydroxylase on 1-phenyl-1-propyne results in concomitant loss of enzyme activity. At pH 5.5 and 25 degrees C, 1-phenyl-1-propyne inactivates dopamine beta-hydroxylase in a mechanism-based fashion. The inactivation rate is first-order, follows saturation kinetics, and is strictly dependent on catalysis (oxygen and ascorbate are essential). The inactivation rate of saturating 1-phenyl-1-propyne (kinact) increases from 0.08 to 0.22 min-1 when the oxygen saturation increases from 21 to 100%, respectively. Inactivation also requires a copper-containing catalytically competent enzyme. Tyramine and norepinephrine (respectively, substrate and product of the normal catalytic reaction) protect against inactivation, and no regain of enzyme activity occurs after prolonged dialysis. Experiments with ether-extracted incubation solutions (+/- enzyme) showed no difference in their gas chromatography-mass spectral patterns implying that inactivation of dopamine beta-hydroxylase by 1-phenyl-1-propyne occurs through a kinetic process with a partition ratio (kcat/kinact) equal to or near 1. Thus, this acetylenic substrate analog appears to be a very efficient mechanism-based inhibitor of dopamine beta-hydroxylase. We propose that inactivation of this enzyme by 1-phenyl-1-propyne proceeds by formation of a reactive intermediate that occurs prior to product formation and that alkylates an amino acid residue at the active site of the enzyme.

Adrenal Medulla↗

Mechanism-based inhibitors of dopamine beta-hydroxylase: inhibition by 2-bromo-3-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-1-propene.

The compound 2-bromo-3-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-1-propene (I) is a substrate of dopamine beta-hydroxylase from adrenal medulla, and the product has been identified by mass spectrometry as 2-bromo-3-hydroxy-3-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-1-propene (II). Compound I also inactivates dopamine beta-hydroxylase in a mechanism-based fashion. Thus, in acetate buffer at pH 5.0, inactivation by I exhibits saturation kinetics with a KD = 4.5 microM and kinact = 0.09 min-1. The inactivation is strictly dependent on O2 and a reducing agent (ascorbate or ferrocyanide) and is irreversible with no reactivation occurring upon prolonged dialysis or passage through a gel filtration column. The observed rate of inactivation at [I] = 4.5 mM (pH 5.5) increases from 0.045 to 0.17 min-1 when [O2] is increased from 0.25 to 1.2 mM. Norepinephrine affords competitive protection against inactivation of enzyme by I. In initial velocity experiments, I is a linear competitive inhibitor vs. tyramine. The log Kis vs. pH profile is flat while the log kinact vs. pH profile has an inflection corresponding to a group with a pKa of 5.7 +/- 0.1. These data demonstrate that an enzymic group in its protonated form is involved in the inactivation reaction and not in the binding of I to the enzyme. In addition, inactivation requires a catalytically competent enzyme, inasmuch as no inactivation occurs when Cu2+-free enzyme is incubated with I in the presence of ascorbate and O2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenal Medulla↗

In vitro interaction of premazepam with benzodiazepine receptors in rat brain regions.

Premazepam (PRZ) in vitro competitively displaced 3H-diazepam (DIA), 3H-flunitrazepam (FLU) and 3H-RO 15-1788 from their binding sites on rat brain synaptosomes, with a potency intermediate to other benzodiazepines (BDZs), and Hill coefficients near 1 in different brain regions. Incubation at 37 degrees C reduced premazepam's affinity for BDZ receptors to a lower extent than other benzodiazepines and had no effect on the Hill coefficient. The IC50 of PRZ on 3H-RO 15-1788 and 3H-FLU binding was markedly reduced by GABA in rat cortex, like those of reference classical BDZs, but was GABA-independent in the cerebellum. The IC50 of the BDZ antagonist, RO 15-1788 was unaffected by GABA in both brain areas. The possibility that PRZ behaves as a partial agonist in the cortex and as an antagonist in the cerebellum is discussed.

Animals↗

Synthesis of several 2-substituted 3-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-1-propenes and their characterization as mechanism-based inhibitors of dopamine beta-hydroxylase.

Three substrate analogs of dopamine beta-hydroxylase, viz. 2-X-3-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-1- propenes (where X = Br, Cl, H), have been synthesized, and all behave as substrates requiring O2 and ascorbate for the enzyme-catalyzed hydroxylation reaction. The products have been characterized by mass spectrometry as the respective 2-X-3-hydroxy-3-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-1- propenes . The relative kcat values for these compounds at pH 5.5, 0.25 mM O2 are 49 min-1 (2-H), 8.6 min-1 (2-Cl), and 7.0 min-1 (2-Br). All three compounds have the characteristics of mechanism-based inhibitors of dopamine beta-hydroxylase since incubation of enzyme with these compounds under turnover conditions leads to a time-dependent loss of activity. The kinact values at pH 5.5, 0.25 mM O2 are 0.08, 0.20, and 0.51 min-1, respectively, for the 2-Br-, 2-Cl-, and 2-H-substituted analogs. No reactivation was observed after exhaustive dialysis of enzyme inactivated by 2-Br-3-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-1-propene, suggesting irreversible inactivation of dopamine beta-hydroxylase.

Adrenal Medulla↗

[Principal complications in radiographic studies].

After an introductory review of ion radiation sickness and the problem of accidents with contrast media, the main complications in urography, cholecystocholangiography, bronchography, lymphography and computerised axial tomography are listed. The comparative frequency of such complications is deduced from a study of the literature.

Angioedema↗

[Radiographic diagnostic problems in cancer of the gastric stump in subjects gastrectomized for ulcer over 10 years earlier].

On the basis of some observed cases the histological, clinical and radiological aspects of carcinoma of the gastric stump are described in detail. The condition is comparatively rare, but once it occurs, recurrences are fairly frequent and given the high mortality rate it requires prompt diagnosis. Double contrast examination of the digestive tract is a useful additional technique for this purpose.

Female↗

Kinetic and spectroscopic studies of the interaction of copper with dopamine beta-hydroxylase.

The question of the stoichiometry of copper bound to dopamine beta-hydroxylase and the number of copper atoms required for maximal activity was addressed in this study. Incubation of tetrameric enzyme from bovine adrenal medulla with 64Cu2+ followed by rapid gel filtration yielded an enzyme containing 8.3-8.9 mol of Cu/mol of tetramer. An identical stoichiometry was obtained by analysis of bound copper by atomic absorption methods. NMR and EPR were used to monitor titrations of the enzyme with Cu2+ and showed that the longitudinal relaxation rate of solvent water protons and the amplitude of the signal at g approximately 2 increased linearly up to a copper to protein ratio of approximately 8. Additional titrations also indicate that an enzyme-Cu2+-tyramine-CN- inhibitory complex was formed when 8 mol of Cu2+ are bound per mol of enzyme. The rate of inactivation of dopamine beta-hydroxylase by the mechanism-based inhibitor 2-Br-3-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-1-propene was measured and used as a method to follow enzymatic catalysis. An increase in rate was observed with increasing Cu2+ up to a protein to Cu2+ ratio of 8 Cu/tetramer. The rate becomes constant after this ratio is achieved. These data indicate that dopamine beta-hydroxylase specifically binds 8 mol of Cu/tetramer and that this stoichiometry is required for maximal activity.

Adrenal Medulla↗

Lysosomal glycohydrolases in normal T and non-T peripheral lymphocytes.

The optimal assay conditions and the levels of seven lysosomal glycohydrolases (alpha-D-galactosidase, beta-D-galactosidase, beta-D-glucosidase, beta-D-glucuronidase, beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase (2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucoside acetamidodeoxyglucohydrolase), alpha-D-mannosidase, alpha-L-fucosidase) were determined in human peripheral unseparated lymphocytes, T and non-T lymphocyte subpopulations. From fifteen adult volunteers the enzymes were assayed by fluorimetric procedures using the corresponding 4-methylumbelliferyl glycosides as substrates. The enzyme assay procedures displayed good precision and reproducibility. All the tested enzymes had higher activities in non-T than T lymphocytes. This difference was statistically highly significant, especially when the enzyme contents were expressed on a DNA, rather than mg protein, basis. Unseparated lymphocytes displayed levels of lysosomal enzymes which corresponded to the proportion of T and non-T lymphocytes in the unseparated preparation, indicating that the process of lymphocyte fractionation caused neither loss nor activation of lysosomal enzymes. It is concluded that the observed difference in lysosomal enzyme levels is an authentic imprint of the two lymphocyte subpopulations, implying a differential role played by the lysosomal apparatus in the same cells.

Adult↗

Alternate substrates of dopamine beta-hydroxylase. III. Stoichiometry of the inactivation reaction with benzyl cyanides and spectroscopic investigations.

Dopamine beta-hydroxylase was incubated with p-hydroxybenzyl cyanide, ascorbate, and O2 and the products of the hydroxylation reaction were monitored by high performance liquid chromatography. At early times, p-hydroxymandelonitrile was the sole product but this compound slowly decomposed to p-hydroxybenzaldehyde and cyanide. Dopamine beta-hydroxylase was also inhibited under these reaction conditions but the amount of cyanide produced was insufficient to account for the extent of enzyme inhibition. Incubation of dopamine beta-hydroxylase with [ring-3H]p-hydroxybenzyl cyanide, ascorbate, and O2 resulted in incorporation of detectable radiolabel into enzyme only when 100% O2 (0.4 X Km) was present. The amount of incorporated radiolabel was substoichiometric with respect to enzyme subunits (approximately 30%) and also did not correlate with the total amount of inhibited dopamine beta-hydroxylase. These data suggest two different modes of inhibition: covalent-adduct formation at early times and inhibition due to cyanide generated at the active site. Separate K14CN binding studies with dopamine beta-hydroxylase corroborated the latter suggestion since 2 mol of cyanide were bound per tetramer. Tyramine stabilized [14C]cyanide binding to dopamine beta-hydroxylase, consistent with the lack of enzyme reactivation observed under certain conditions (Colombo, G., Giedroc, D. P., Rajashekhar, B., and Villafranca, J. J. 1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 1601-1606). EPR data for dopamine beta-hydroxylase-bound Cu2+ directly demonstrated that a quaternary complex with tyramine and cyanide was formed, since the spectrum of dopamine beta-hydroxylase-Cu2+-tyramine-cyanide is distinct from that of dopamine beta-hydroxylase-Cu2+-cyanide and dopamine beta-hydroxylase-Cu2+-tyramine. A comprehensive mechanism for dopamine beta-hydroxylase inhibition by benzyl cyanides is presented.

Acetonitriles↗

Alternate substrates of dopamine beta-hydroxylase. I. Kinetic investigations of benzyl cyanides as substrates and inhibitors.

A series of benzyl cyanide analogs have been studied as substrates and inhibitors of dopamine beta-hydroxylase to extend our initial report (Baldoni, J. M., and Villafranca, J. J. (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255, 8987-8990) which showed that p-hydroxybenzyl cyanide was a suicide substrate of dopamine beta-hydroxylase. Thus, the appVmax values for benzyl cyanide analogs decrease in the order p-OH greater than m-OH greater than H much greater than p-OCH3,m-OCH3; the m-OH, m-OCH3 and p-OCH3 analogs are competitive inhibitors versus tyramine in initial velocity studies. The Vmax values for tyramine and p-hydroxybenzyl cyanide are nearly identical at saturating O2 and ascorbate (pH 5.0, 37 degrees C) but the Km for O2 is 0.14 and 2.8 mM, respectively, with tyramine and p-hydroxybenzyl cyanide. Studies of the pH dependence of log V/K for tyramine show two pKa values of 5.2 and 5.8 while for m-hydroxybenzyl cyanide the values are 5.3 and 5.9. The log Vmax profile shows one pKa of 5.9 with tyramine as substrate. Thus, nearly identical enzymic groups are involved in binding and/or catalysis with these two substrates. All the benzyl cyanide analogs are suicide inactivators of dopamine beta-hydroxylase. With m-hydroxybenzyl cyanide, the partition between catalysis and inactivation (kcat/kinact) changed from approximately 600 to approximately 17 as the pH varied from 5.0 to 6.7. The log kinact versus pH profile shows one pKa value of 6.0, suggesting that an enzymic group must be deprotonated for maximal inactivation. Copper was essential for the suicide inactivation of dopamine beta-hydroxylase by benzyl cyanides and kinetic studies of partially inhibited dopamine beta-hydroxylase (approximately 50%) showed that inactive enzyme molecules were completely inactive. The following papers in this series discuss the partial reactivation of suicide-inhibited dopamine beta-hydroxylase and the stoichiometry of inactivation by benzyl cyanide analogs.

Adrenal Medulla↗

Alternate substrates of dopamine beta-hydroxylase. II. Inhibition by benzyl cyanides and reactivation of inhibited enzyme.

Several ring-substituted benzyl cyanides lead to inactivation of dopamine beta-hydroxylase during catalysis. With m-hydroxybenzyl cyanide, maximal inactivation occurs when an enzyme group with a pK alpha of 6.0 +/- 0.2 is ionized (Colombo, G., Rajashekhar, B., Giedroc, D. P., and Villafranca, J.J. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 1593-1600). This paper reports studies conducted to determine the stability of inactivated dopamine beta-hydroxylase. Inactivation of the enzyme by m-hydroxybenzyl cyanide at pH 6.4 is halted by lowering the pH to approximately 5.0 with acetate, fumarate, pyridine, or phosphate buffer in the presence of tyramine. However, if tyramine is omitted, reactivation occurs. The extent of reactivation is dependent upon the final pH value and buffer used to adjust the pH. Reactivation is observed as the pH is lowered from 6.4 to below 5.7 with acetate, fumarate, or HCl. With phosphate, reactivation occurs at any pH value from 6.9 to 4.5 but is greater at lower pH values. Thus, inactivation and reactivation have opposite pH dependencies. Also, reactivation is dependent upon the elapsed time of inactivation. At early times, no reactivation is observed when phosphate is used to adjust the pH, but reactivation is observed later in the inactivation reaction. Reactivation to 100% of the original activity does not occur under these conditions. These data suggest at least two inactivation mechanisms by benzyl cyanides: 1) formation of a tightly bound or covalent adduct between dopamine beta-hydroxylase and enzyme-bound mandelonitrile (or a rearranged form of this molecule), and 2) reversible inhibition resulting from cyanide binding to enzyme-Cu2+. Studies with radiolabeled p-hydroxybenzyl cyanide as well as EPR studies of dopamine beta-hydroxylase-Cu2+ are reported in the following paper.

Adrenal Medulla↗

Central benzodiazepine receptors in the spinal cord and other regions of the CNS of the cat.

Central benzodiazepine (BZ) receptors were looked for in the spinal cord, cerebral cortex and cerebellum of the cat. Both [3H]Ro 15-1788 and [3H]flunitrazepam bound to benzodiazepine receptors with apparent dissociation constants (KD) in the nanomolar range and Hill coefficients near unity. The concentration of binding sites was much greater (10-40 times,depending on the ligand used) in the cortex and cerebellum than in the spinal cord. gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) significantly reduced the KD value of the binding of tritiated flunitrazepam in all three areas of the central nervous system (CNS). The displacement of [3H]Ro 15-1788 by different benzodiazepine ligands indicates a relative prevalence of BZ1 (high affinity for beta-carboline esters and the triazolopyridazine, CL 218 872) in the cerebellum, a predominance of BZ2 (low affinity for the same agents) in the spinal cord and a mixture of both types in the cortex. The possibility that there is regional heterogeneity of receptors for benzodiazepines in CNS of the cat is discussed.

Animals↗

Studies on the luteolytic activity of MDL-646, a new gastroprotective PGE1 analogue, in the hamster.

MDL-646, 11,15-dihydroxy-16-methyl-16-methoxy-9-oxo- prost -13-en-1-oic acid methyl ester, is one of the most active members of a new class of PGE1 analogues with potent gastric cytoprotective and antisecretory activity. The potential luteolytic activities of MDL-646 and its corresponding PGE2 derivative, L 14224 were assessed from their ability to terminate pregnancy and to reduce plasma progesterone levels in the hamster. PGE1 and PGE2 were used as reference compounds. The biological and biochemical data clearly demonstrate that these 16-methyl-16-methoxy PGE derivatives, given s.c. or p.o. either once or for 3 days, have no luteolytic effects up to a daily dose of 2-2.5 mg/kg, and are therefore at most 1/2 to 1/4 as luteolytic as the parent natural PGEs. The dissociation between gastroprotective and luteolytic activity was interpreted to indicate that these new PGE derivatives have a specific action.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

Inhibition of PG production by MDL 035, a new non-steroidal non-acidic anti-inflammatory compound, in rat gastric mucosa and inflammatory exudate.

The effects of 3-(1-methylethyl)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3H-naphth [1,2-d]imidazole, MDL 035, a new non-steroidal non-acidic anti-inflammatory compound, on the production of prostaglandin (PG) in rat gastric mucosa in vivo and in vitro and in inflammatory exudate in vivo were studied. MDL 035 reduced PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha levels more effectively in inflamed tissue than in gastric mucosa when assayed in in vivo experiments, whereas indomethacin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are equally effective in both systems. MDL 035 is almost as active as indomethacin when incubated with gastric tissue in vitro. The better gastric tolerance of MDL 035 than of other NSAIDS is discussed in relation to these differences in in vivo and in vitro effects.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗