Contaminated toothbrushes and pharyngitis.
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Humans↗
Biomedical subjects
H Fischer
Publications and source records attributed to H Fischer.
Blood-brain barrier permeation: molecular parameters governing passive diffusion.
53 compounds with clinically established ability to cross or not to cross the blood-brain barrier by passive diffusion were characterized by means of surface activity measurements in terms of three parameters, i.e., the air-water partition coefficient, Kaw, the critical micelle concentration, CMCD, and the cross-sectional area, AD. A three-dimensional plot in which the surface area, AD, is plotted as a function of K-1aw and CMCD shows essentially three groups of compounds: (i) very hydrophobic compounds with large air-water partition coefficients and large cross-sectional areas, AD > 80 A2 which do not cross the blood-brain barrier, (ii) compounds with lower air-water partition coefficients and an average cross-sectional area, AD congruent with 50 A2 which easily cross the blood-brain barrier, and (iii) hydrophilic compounds with low air-water partition coefficients (AD < 50 A2) which cross the blood-brain barrier only if applied at high concentrations. It was shown that the lipid membrane-water partition coefficient, Klw, measured previously, can be correlated with the air-water partition coefficient if the additional work against the internal lateral bilayer pressure, pibi = 34 +/- 4 mN/m is taken into account. The partitioning into anisotropic lipid membranes decreases exponentially with increasing cross-sectional areas, AD, according to Klw = const. Kaw exp(-ADpibi/kT) where kT is the thermal energy. The cross-sectional area of the molecule oriented at a hydrophilic-hydrophobic interface is thus the main determinant for membrane permeation provided the molecule is surface active and has a pKa > 4 for acids and a pKa < 10 for bases.
ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
Efficient expression of CFTR function with adeno-associated virus vectors that carry shortened CFTR genes.
Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based vectors have been shown to be effective in transferring the cystic fibrosis gene (CFTR) into airway epithelial cells in animal models and in patients. However, the level of CFTR gene expression has been low because the vector cannot accommodate the CFTR gene together with a promoter. In this study, we described a strategy to reduce the size of the CFTR cDNA to allow the incorporation of an effective promoter with the CFTR gene into AAV vectors. We engineered and tested 20 CFTR mini-genes containing deletions that were targeted to regions that may contain nonessential sequences. Functional analyses showed that four of the shortened CFTRs (one with combined deletions) retained the function and the characteristics of a wild-type CFTR, as measured by open probability, time voltage dependence, and regulation by cAMP. By using an AAV vector with a P5 promoter, we transduced these short forms of CFTR genes into target cells and demonstrated high levels of CFTR expression. We also demonstrated that smaller AAV/CFTR vectors with a P5 promoter expressed the CFTR gene more efficiently than larger vectors or a vector in which CFTR gene was expressed from the AAV inverted terminal repeat sequence. The CFTR mini-gene with combined deletions was packaged into AAV virions more efficiently, generated higher titers of transducing virions, and more effectively transferred CFTR function into target cells. These new vectors should circumvent the limitations of AAV vector for CFTR expression. Our strategy also may be applicable to other genes, the sizes of which exceed the packaging limit of an AAV vector.
Cell Line↗
Brain correlates of an unexpected panic attack: a human positron emission tomographic study.
Previous brain imaging studies on symptom provocation in panic anxiety have used either drug-infusions or sensory related stimulation to induce panic attacks. We here report positron emission tomographic measurements of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) during an unexpected panic attack in a healthy female volunteer participating in a fear conditioning study. During a first but not a second run with electric shock presentations the woman unexpectedly experienced a panic attack that fulfilled the DSM-IV criteria. Panic was associated with decreased rCBF in the right orbitofrontal (Brodmann area 11), prelimbic (area 25), anterior cingulate (area 32) and anterior temporal cortices (area 15). These findings suggest that neural activity in brain regions previously associated with symptom provocation in specific phobics and subjects with posttraumatic stress disorder also are involved during panic in healthy individuals.
Adult↗
Mass-independent oxygen isotope fractionation in atmospheric CO as a result of the reaction CO + OH
Atmospheric carbon monoxide (CO) exhibits mass-independent fractionation in the oxygen isotopes. An 17O excess up to 7.5 per mil was observed in summer at high northern latitudes. The major source of this puzzling fractionation in this important trace gas is its dominant atmospheric removal reaction, CO + OH --> CO2 + H, in which the surviving CO gains excess 17O. The occurrence of mass-independent fractionation in the reaction of CO with OH raises fundamental questions about kinetic processes. At the same time the effect is a useful marker for the degree to which CO in the atmosphere has been reacting with OH.
Journal Article↗
Glial cells participate in histamine inactivation in vivo.
The ability of glial cells to take up histamine in vitro suggests that these cells may be involved in histamine inactivation. This prompted us to study the possible interactions between neuronal and glial processes which determine the histamine concentration in the synaptic cleft. In vitro experiments showed that the glial metabolic toxin, fluoroacetate (20 and 40 mmol/l) depressed histamine uptake into cultured astroglial cells and dissociated hypothalamic cells of rats. For in vivo experiments, the push-pull superfusion technique was used. In anaesthetized rat, the anterior hypothalamic area was superfused through the push-pull cannula with artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) or with aCSF which contained fluoroacetate and the release of endogenous histamine was determined in the superfusate. Hypothalamic superfusion with fluoroacetate (20 mmol/l) led to a pronounced increase in extracellular histamine. The effect of fluoroacetate was inhibited by 5 micromol/l tetrodotoxin. Superfusion with Ca++-free, Mg++-rich (12 mmol/l) aCSF inhibited the basal release rate of histamine. Under these conditions, 20 mmol/l fluoroacetate did not modify the level of the amine in the superfusate. These data demonstrate that depression of glial function enhances the concentration of histamine in the extracellular space by slowing down the uptake of the amine into the glial cells. Thus, under in vivo conditions, glial cells are directly involved in the continuous removal of neuronal histamine from the synaptic cleft.
Animals↗
Regulation of CFTR by protein phosphatase 2B and protein kinase C.
The activity of the CFTR Cl- channel is dependent on its phosphorylation status set by kinases and phosphatases. We report here that protein phosphatase 2B (PP2B) and protein kinase C (PKC) are potential regulators of the cystic fibrosis conductance regulator (CFTR). Treating CFTR-expressing 3T3 cells with either of the two specific PP2B blockers cyclosporin A (CsA, 1 microM) or deltamethrin (DM, 30 nM) caused rapid activation of CFTR in cell-attached patches. As determined by noise analysis of multi channel patches, DM- or CsA-activated CFTR displayed gating kinetics comparable to those of forskolin-activated CFTR. After activation of CFTR by blocking PP2B, CFTR still inactivated. CFTR-mediated currents were, on average, 6.1 times larger when cells were stimulated by forskolin during PP2B block compared to stimulation by forskolin alone. This suggests that, in CFTR-expressing 3T3 cells, a phosphorylation site of CFTR is regulated by cellular PKA, PP2B and another phosphatase. However, in the epithelial cell lines Calu-3 and HT-29/B6, CsA and DM had no effect on CFTR activity in both cell-attached patch-clamp and transepithelial experiments. In contrast, when exogenous PP2B was added to patches excised from 3T3 or Calu-3 cells, PKA-activated CFTR currents were quickly inactivated. This indicates that free exogenous PP2B can inactivate CFTR in patches from both cell types. We propose that in order to regulate CFTR in an intact cell, PP2B may require a selective subcellular localization to become active. When excised patches were PKC-phosphorylated, the gating kinetics of CFTR were significantly different from those of PKA-phosphorylated CFTR. Addition of PP2B also inactivated PKC-activated CFTR showing the indiscriminate dephosphorylation of different phosphorylation sites by PP2B.
3T3 Cells↗
Nitric oxide-induced release of acetylcholine in the nucleus accumbens: role of cyclic GMP, glutamate, and GABA.
We have previously shown that the basal acetylcholine release in the ventral striatum is under the enhancing influence of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) and that NO donors cause pronounced increases in the acetylcholine release rate. To investigate the role of cyclic GMP, glutamate, and GABA in the NO-induced acetylcholine release, we superfused the nucleus accumbens, (Nac) of the anesthetized rat with various compounds through a push-pull cannula and determined the neurotransmitter released in the perfusate. Superfusion of the Nac with the NO donors diethylamine/NO (DEANO; 100 micromol/L), S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP; 200 micromol/L), or 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1; 200 micromol/L) enhanced the acetylcholine release rate. The guanylyl cyclase inhibitor 1H-(1,2,4)-oxodiazolo(4,3-a)quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ; 10 micromol/L) abolished the effects of DEANO and SIN-1. 6-(Phenylamino)-5,8-quinolinedione (LY-83583; 100 micromol/L), which also inhibits cyclic GMP synthesis, inhibited the releasing effects of DEANO and of SNAP, whereas the effect of SIN-1 on acetylcholine release was not influenced. The DEANO-induced release of acetylcholine was also abolished in the presence of 20 micromol/L 6,6-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX) and 10 micromol/L (+/-)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (AP-5). Simultaneous superfusion with 50 micromol/L quinpirole and 10 micromol/L 7-bromo-8-hydroxy-3-methyl-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine (SKF 83566) was ineffective. Superfusion with 500 micromol/L DEANO decreased the release of acetylcholine. The inhibitory effect of 500 micromol/L DEANO was reversed to an enhanced release on superfusion with 20 micromol/L bicuculline. Bicuculline also enhanced the basal release rate. These findings indicate that cyclic GMP mediates the NO-induced release of acetylcholine by enhancing the outflow of glutamate. Dopamine is not involved in this process. Only high concentrations of NO increase the output of GABA, which in turn decreases acetylcholine release. Our results suggest that cells that are able to release glutamate, such as glutamatergic neurons, are the main target of NO in the Nac.
2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-ben↗
Oral bioavailability of hyperforin from hypericum extracts in rats and human volunteers.
Validated analytical methods suitable for determining hyperforin in plasma after administration of alcoholic Hypericum perforatum extracts containing hyperforin are described. After oral administration of 300 mg/kg Hypericum extract (WS 5572, containing 5% hyperforin) to rats maximum plasma levels of approximately 370 ng/ml (approx. 690 nM) were reached after 3 h, as quantified by a HPLC and UV detection method. Estimated half-life and clearance values were 6 h and 70 ml/min/kg respectively. Since therapeutic doses of Hypericum extracts are much lower than that used in rats, a more sensitive LC/MS/MS method was developed. The lower limit of quantification of this method was 1 ng/ml. Using this method, plasma levels of hyperforin could be followed for up to 24 h in healthy volunteers after administration of film coated tablets containing 300 mg hypericum extracts representing 14.8 mg hyperforin. The maximum plasma levels of approximately 150 ng/ml (approx. 280 nM) were reached 3.5 h after administration. Half-life and mean residence time were 9 and 12 h respectively. Hyperforin pharmacokinetics were linear up to 600 mg of the extract. Increasing the doses to 900 or 1200 mg of extract resulted in lower Cmax and AUC values than those expected from linear extrapolation of data from lower doses. Plasma concentration curves in volunteers fitted well in an open two-compartment model. In a repeated dose study, no accumulation of hyperforin in plasma was observed. Using the observed AUC values from the repeated dose study, the estimated steady state plasma concentrations of hyperforin after 3 x 300 mg/day of the extract, i.e., after normal therapeutic dose regimen, was approximately 100 ng/ml (approx. 180 nM).
Administration, Oral↗
Genetic disorders of membrane transport. II. Regulation of CFTR by small molecules including HCO3-.
Cystic fibrosis (CF) affects a number of epithelial tissues, including those in the gastrointestinal tract. The goal of this review is to summarize data related to regulation of the protein product of the CF gene, CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), by a variety of small molecules. There has been a surge of interest in discovering small molecules that could be exogenously added to cells and tissues to regulate CFTR and could potentially be used alone or in combination with genetic approaches for therapy in CF. We will discuss the apparent mechanisms of action of genistein, milrinone, 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine, IBMX, and NS-004; several of which appear to interact directly with one or both nucleotide binding domains of CFTR. We also discuss how HCO-3 interacts with CFTR as both a permeating anion and a potential regulator of Cl- permeation through the CFTR ion channel. It is likely that there are complicated interactions between Cl- and HCO-3 in the secretion of both ions through the CFTR and the anion exchanger in intestinal cells, and these may yield a role of CFTR in regulation of intestinal HCO-3 secretion as well as of intra- and extracellular pH.
Bicarbonates↗
Flavonoids stimulate Cl conductance of human airway epithelium in vitro and in vivo.
The ability of the flavonoids genistein, apigenin, kaempferol, and quercetin to activate cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator-mediated Cl currents in human airway epithelium was investigated. We used the patch-clamp technique on single Calu-3 cells, transepithelial measurements in Calu-3 monolayers, and in vivo measurements of nasal potential difference. All flavonoids stimulated Cl currents in transepithelial experiments dose dependently. Half-maximal stimulatory concentrations were kaempferol (5.5 +/- 1.7 microM) </= apigenin (11.2 +/- 2.1 microM) </= genistein (13.6 +/- 3.5 microM) </= quercetin (22.1 +/- 4.5 microM). Stimulation of monolayers with forskolin significantly increased their sensitivity to flavonoids: kaempferol (2.5 +/- 0.7 microM) </= apigenin (3.4 +/- 0.9 microM) </= quercetin (4.1 +/- 0.7 microM) </= genistein (6.9 +/- 2.2 microM). Forskolin pretreatment significantly reduced the Hill coefficient (nH) for all flavonoids. Control monolayers showed nH = 2.00 +/- 0.21 (all flavonoids combined), and forskolin-stimulated monolayers showed nH = 1.07 +/- 0.07, which was not different among the flavonoids. These data imply that the activation kinetics and the binding site(s) for flavonoids were significantly altered by forskolin stimulation. In whole cell patch-clamp experiments, maximal flavonoid-stimulated currents (percentage of forskolin-stimulated currents) were apigenin (429 +/- 86%) >/= kaempferol (318 +/- 45%) >/= genistein (258 +/- 20%) = quercetin (256 +/- 26%). Stimulation of the currents was caused by an increase in channel open probability. No other Cl conductances contributed significantly to the flavonoid-activated Cl currents in Calu-3 cells. In vivo, flavonoids significantly stimulated nasal potential difference by, on average, 27.8% of isoproterenol responses.
Cell Line↗
cAMP-dependent absorption of chloride across airway epithelium.
Elevated levels of Na and Cl in airway surface liquid may play a major role in the airway pathology of cystic fibrosis (CF) (J. J. Smith, S. M. Travis, E. P. Greenberg, and M. J. Welsh. Cell 85: 229-236, 1996) and could be caused by block of transcellular Cl absorption due to lack of a functional CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). To test for transcellular absorption of Cl across non-CF epithelium, we studied how fluid absorption was affected by the opening and closing of Cl channels. Forskolin (an activator of CFTR) tripled fluid absorption across primary cultures of bovine tracheal epithelium but had no effect on human cells. However, in both species, fluid absorption was markedly inhibited by 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoate, a blocker of CFTR. Microelectrode studies suggested that the magnitude of the absorptive response to forskolin in bovine cells depended on the size of an inwardly directed electrochemical driving force for Cl movement across the apical membrane. Patch-clamp measurements of bovine cells revealed CFTR in the apical membrane and a cAMP-activated, inwardly rectifying Cl channel in the basolateral membrane. We conclude that a significant fraction of absorbed Cl passes transcellularly in bovine tracheal epithelial cultures, with CFTR as the path of entry in the apical membrane and a novel cAMP-activated Cl channel as the exit route in the basolateral membrane. Our data further indicate that a similar pathway may exist in non-CF human tracheal epithelium.
Absorption↗
Torture versus child abuse: what's the difference?
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Child Abuse↗
Disturbed gastric motility and pancreatic hormone release in diabetes mellitus.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The influence of glucose metabolism and postprandial release of glucagon on gastric emptying in diabetes mellitus is still unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between glucose, insulin and glucagon and alterations of gastric motility in symptomatic diabetic subjects with delayed gastric emptying. METHODS: Scintigraphy for solids and liquids, 13C-acetate breath test, electrogastrography and antral manometry were assessed in 20 symptomatic subjects with diabetes mellitus type II and in 20 healthy controls. Simultaneously, serum glucose, glucagon and insulin levels were determined during the functional studies. RESULTS: Postprandial increase in antral motility and myoelectrical activity were seen in controls, but were missing in the group with diabetes mellitus. Moreover, in the fasting state the dominant frequency instability coefficient observed in healthy individuals and in subjects with diabetes of short (<5 years) duration was significantly reduced in subjects with longer duration of diabetes while the postprandial increase in dominant frequency instability coefficient was missing in all diabetics. Following the standard test meal, serum glucose and plasma glucagon in the diabetics increased to a significantly higher degree when compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: Symptomatic subjects with delayed gastric emptying present abnormal patterns of gastric motor and electrical activity. Higher than normal postprandial plasma levels of glucagon may, at least in part, be responsible for disturbed gastric motility in non-insulin-dependent diabetic subjects.
Acetates↗
Functional neuroanatomical correlates of electrodermal activity: a positron emission tomographic study.
To reveal areas in the central nervous system of importance for electrodermal control, regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was correlated to nonspecific skin conductance fluctuations (NSF) during aversive and nonaversive conditions. Participants viewed a TV screen displaying white noise or snake videotapes presented both with and without electric shocks given to the right hand. H2 15 O positron emission tomography was used to measure rCBF, and the constant voltage technique was used to measure NSF from the left hand. Electrodermal activity was positively related to rCBF in the left primary motor cortex (MI, Brodmann's Area 4) and bilaterally in the anterior (Areas 24 and 32) and posterior cingulate cortex (Area 23). Negative relations were observed bilaterally in the secondary visual cortex (Areas 18 and 19) and the right inferior parietal cortex (Area 39), with a tendency also for the right insular cortex (Areas 13, 15, and 16). Because results from lesion and stimulation studies in humans converge with the present imaging results, we conclude that the cingulum and the motor cortex, in addition to the parietal and possibly the insular cortex, form part of one or several distributed neural network(s) involved in electrodermal control. Because these areas also support anticipation, affect, and locomotion, electrodermal responses seem to reflect cognitively or emotionally mediated motor preparation.
Acoustic Stimulation↗
[Assistance systems for minimal invasive surgery].
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Endoscopes↗
The amygdala and individual differences in human fear conditioning.
While animal research on fear conditioning suggests crucial involvement of the amygdala, this has not been corroborated in humans when using subtractive neuroimaging methodology. Correlation analyses might be more able to reveal relations between individual differences in conditionability and central neural activity. Hence, we performed a directed search for amygdalar participation in human fear conditioning by correlating central and autonomic nervous activity. [15O]Butanol positron emission tomography evaluated regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in six subjects before and after aversive conditioning to visual snake stimuli. Non-specific electrodermal fluctuations (EDA) were recorded simultaneously. A significant positive correlation was obtained between conditioned EDA and conditioned rCBF in the right amygdala (r = 0.75, p < 0.05), supporting involvement of the amygdala in human fear conditioning.
Adult↗