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Biomedical subjects

H Weinstein

Publications and source records attributed to H Weinstein.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1979

Studies on histamine H2 receptors coupled to cardiac adenylate cyclase. Effects of guanylnucleotides and structural requirements for agonist activity.

In particulate preparations from guinea-pig ventricle, histamine in the concentration range 10(-6)--10(-3) M caused a 3--5fold stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity which was dependent on the presence of GTP. The effects of fourteen analogs of histamine were examined on this cyclase preparation. Five of the compounds studied proved to be partial agonists relative to histamine while nine others had essentially the same intrinsic activity as histamine. The intrinsic activities of the partial agonists were increased by GppNHp to the extent that dimaprit, which was a partial agonist in the presence of GTP, became a full agonist in the presence of GppNHp. The relative potencies of the full agonists as activators of the cyclase were found to correlate with the relative potencies on physiologically defined H2 receptor systems. Activation of the cyclase by histamine, as well as by several of the agonist analogs, including dimaprit and tolazoline, was completely blocked by the H2 antagonist cimetidine, but was not affected by pharmacologically relevant concentrations of the H1 antagonist mepyramine, the beta-blocker alprenolol, or the alpha-blocker phentolamine. The results suggest that all the agonists studied probably interact with a common H2 receptor site on the cardiac muscle cell leading to activation of adenylate cyclase. The accompanying increase in cyclic AMP is presumably responsible for the chronotropic and inotropic effects of histamine and related compounds on cardiac muscle.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1979

Nonfatal graft-versus-host disease occurring after transfusion with leukocytes and platelets obtained from normal donors.

There have been two previous reports of fatal graft-versus-host (GVH) disease following transfusion of leukocytes from normal donors for the supportive care of leukemic patients. We have reported a nonfatal case of GVH disease in a child with acute monoblastic leukemia who received leukocyte and platelet transfusions from normal donors. The dose of lymphocytes contained in both leukocyte and platelet concentrates obtained with a semicontinuous-flow cell separator is sufficient to cause GVH disease. Irradiation of all blood products administered to severely immunocompromised and myelosuppressed patients should be considered.

Blood Transfusion↗
PubMed1979

Some structure activity relationships of phencyclidine derivatives as anticholinergic agents in vitro and in vivo.

Phencylidine derivatives exhibit multiple interactions with cholinergic systems: they block nicotinic and muscarinic receptors,and inhibit both acetyl and butyrylcholinesterase. In peripheral tissue, the net pharmacological effects of the phencyclidines is antiacetylcholine activity. The dissociation constants measured in isolated smooth muscle and from competition experiments for the muscarinic high-affinity binding sites in brain homogenates (Kd = 10(-5) - 10(-6) M) are 3--4 orders of magnitude lower than those of anticholinergic glycolate esters. However, phencyclidines have comparable potency to that of d-tubocurarine in blocking the nicotinic receptor in the isolated frog rectus abdominis (Kd = 10(-6) M). Brain uptake experiments of (3H) labeled phencyclidine showed that during the time period in which central effects are observed with these drugs their concentration in brain reaches values close to the Kd (10(-5) - 10(-6) M). This finding, and the cross tolerance observed in vivo between phencyclidine and other centrally acting cholinergic drugs supports the possible involvement of cholinergic interactions in the psychotropic action of phenyclidine derivatives. Quantum chemical calculations of the interaction pharmacophores of drugs in the phencyclidine series have indicated the molecular determinants for the interaction of these drugs with the muscarinic receptor. The calculations revealed that these drugs can match the reactivity characteristics of ACh and the semi-rigid muscarinic agonist 3-acetoxyquinuclidine, but their rigid molecular frame will be conductive to antagonistic rather than agonistic activity when the drug-receptor complex is formed. The identification of a "cholinergic interaction pharmacophore" for these drugs by quantum mechanical calculations made possible the suggestion of other active phencyclidine derivatives, e.g. p-NH2 and p-OH analogs which proved to be equipotent to phencyclidine. The inactivity of the p-NO2 derivative was also predicted on this basis and served as an additional confirmation of the theoretical criterion for activity; the difference between the activities of the ethynyl and cyano derivatives was explained by the modification of the cholinergic interaction pharmacophore. On the basis of these theoretical predictions, electrophysiological studies were carried out by the others and the results prompted the suggestion that "physostigmine is of potential value in the treatment of post-operative patients emerging from ketamine anesthesia and in the treatment of phencyclidine overdosed patients".

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Defining the histamine H2-receptor in brain: the interaction with LSD.

Two aspects of the complexities of the mode of action of drugs are described. One is the criteria and pitfalls of defining the interaction with specific receptors. The other is the need to consider each of the pharmacological effects of a drug as a concatenation of receptor events, because it has become clear that each drug may have substantial affinity for many specific receptors. Illustrating these ideas is a characterization of the histamine receptor linked to adenylate cyclase in brain. The activities of a series of H2-antagonists and H2-agaonists were shown to be the same on the histamine receptor linked to adenylate cyclase as on known H2-receptors. The KB values of antagonists and ED50 values of agonists were not distinguishable among these receptors. Notably, at high concentrations, the H1-antagonists are also competitive antagonists of the H2-receptor. Cyproheptadine has especially high affinity for the H2-receptor. It is the most potent H2-antagonist yet reported. Other published results are reviewed to show the variety of receptors that cyproheptadine has affinity for. Its affinity for serotonin receptors led us to examine other serotonin antagonists. On this H2-receptor linked to adenylate cyclase in homogenates of guinea pig hippocampus and cortex, D-LSD and D-2-bromo-LSD (BrLSD) were shown to be competitive antagonists of histamine. L-LSD, mescaline and psilocin were inactive. Noting congurency in the molecular structyre of D-LSD and known H2-antagonists, we predicted a new H2-antagonist. This prediction is shown to be correct: the compound has similar affinity to the H2-receptor as has LSD. The affinities of D-LSD and BrLSD for the H2-receptor are compared with their affinities for other receptors. The pharmacology of D-LSD and BrLSD is reviewed. Evidence is assembled that BrLSD has considerable central effects.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1977

Multidisciplinary treatment for childhood sarcoma.

Surgical extirpation of the primary tumor has traditionally been utilized as initial treatment for sarcomas in children. The present report, however, demonstrates that sarcomas are optimally treated by means of a coordianted multidisciplinary approach. The latter offers the potential for achieving improved survival and preservation of organs and limbs, particularly for structures of the head and neck, for extremities, and in the genitourinary system.

Adolescent↗