Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Jenkins

Publications and source records attributed to G Jenkins.

67 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

An improved methodology for the extraction and partial purification of porcine hypothalamic corticotrophin releasing factor.

In most previous reports material with corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF) activity has been obtained from hypothalami after extraction with dilute aqueous acid. Such conditions allow substantial proteolytic degradation. By adopting conditions designed to precipitate proteases and by using information on the nature of CRF gained from earlier studies, rapid large scale extraction and partial purification of porcine hypothalamic CRF in high yield was achieved. After extraction with 0.2 m-HCl; acetone (1:1, v/v), centrifugation and ultrafiltration, considerable preliminary purification of the CRF activity was achieved by adsorption onto carboxymethylcellulose and subsequent elution at increased salt concentration. Following ion-exchange chromatography of the extract on carboxymethylcellulose, CRF activity was obtained in good yield (minimal effective dose of about 1-2 micrograms/ml) for ACTH release in an in-vitro CRF bioassay utilizing a coupled isolated pituitary cell-adrenal cell system. The data indicated that the previously reported heterogeneous corticotrophin releasing factors of low activity may be a consequence of proteolytic degradation.

Adrenal Glands↗

Protective effect of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine against hypotension inducted by combined tumour necrosis factor-alpha and whole body hyperthermia in rats.

We studied: (a) the adverse effects of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) given during whole body hyperthermia (WBH) on mean arterial pressure (MAP) and gut mucosa in anaesthetized rats; (b) the potential protective effect of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMA), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase; and (c) the influence of L-NMA on the antitumour effect of the trimodality therapy, WBH + TNF + Carboplatin (CBDCA). In normothermic rats, TNF alone (10(5) or 10(6) U/kg) did not cause hypotension, but increased MAP (p < 0.05). L-NMA alone (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg) increased MAP moderately and dose-dependently (p < 0.05). WBH (41.5 degrees C for 2 h) increased MAP markedly (from 103 +/- 4 to 161 +/- 4 mm Hg). This increase in MAP was sustained throughout the hyperthermia, but was followed by a transient relative hypotension (MAP = 80 +/- mm Hg) on cessation of WBH and an eventual return to near baseline at 30 min post-WBH (MAP = 94 +/- 5 mm Hg). WBH + TNF (10(5) or 10(6) U/kg) initially increased MAP similarly to WBH alone. During the second hour of WBH, however, MAP decreased towards pre-treatment levels, and cessation of WBH was followed by sustained hypotension. This late hypotensive state was associated with a mortality during the early (first 2 h) post-WBH period of 17 and 100% at TNF dose of 10(5) and 10(6) U/kg TNF, respectively. L-NMA given to rats receiving WBH + TNF (10(6) U/kg) maintained MAP at levels similar to WBH alone during WBH treatment. L-NMA prevented the post-WBH hypotension, and extended the survival beyond the early (first 2 h) post-WBH period. No rat, however, receiving high dose TNF (10(6) U/kg) survived more than 12 h even with L-NMA (totally 40 mg/kg). WBH + TNF (10(5) and 10(6) U/kg) also produced marked histopathological injury to the gut mucosa at 2 h post-treatment. L-NMA substantially protected the gut from this injury. In rats bearing a transplantable fibrosarcoma, L-NMA did not decrease the antitumour effect consisting of WBH + TNF (10(5) U/kg) + CBDCA, while it decreased (p < 0.05) the general toxicity (weight loss, diarrhea and foot oedema) of this combination. We conclude that L-NMA may prevent or ameliorate the early toxicity but not the late lethal effects of WBH + high dose TNF (10(6) U/kg). Additionally, L-NMA reduces some of the toxicity of WBH + TNF (10(5) U/kg) + CBDCA without decreasing the antitumour effect of this trimodality therapy. Inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase such as L-NMA may provide a novel approach to overcoming the toxicity of TNF in combination with WBH.

Animals↗

The image makers.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Aged↗

Stress and coping among hospice nurses: test of an analytic model.

Nursing is a profession with high levels of occupational stress, especially for those employed in hospice settings. This study considered the stressors, mediators, and adaptations evident among 100 hospice nurses from 20 facilities. The research tested an analytic model of stress that included social and predisposing conditioning factors, stress appraisals, coping strategies, social resources, and adaptive status. Entered as sets in a hierarchical regression analysis, stress appraisals and coping strategies proved to be the best predictors of adaptive status. Social resources exerted a more indirect influence.

Adaptation, Psychological↗