Hemophagocytic syndrome in the critically ill.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to I Novak.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
An accurate thermochemical database for 28 halides of carbon, silicon, nitrogen, and phosphorus is presented. The database provides improved standard enthalpies of formation for several compounds of ecological importance (CH3F, CF2Cl2, CFCl3) together with enthalpies of other compounds which are not known due to experimental difficulties in measuring their enthalpies. We also present a comparison of the latest ab initio methods (CBS-QB3 and G3) which are used for thermochemical predictions. The comparison shows that the G3 method consistently underestimates delta H degree f by 1-2 kJ/mol (relative to CBS-QB3).
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
In epithelia, extracellular nucleotides are often associated with regulation of ion transporters, especially Cl(-) channels. In this study, we investigated which purinoceptors are present in native pancreatic ducts and how they regulate ion transport. We applied whole-cell patch-clamp recordings, intracellular Ca(2+) and pH measurements, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. The data show two types of purinoceptors and cellular responses. UTP and ATP produced large Ca(2+) transients, a decrease in intracellular pH, 8-10-mV depolarization of the membrane voltage, and a decrease in the whole-cell conductance. The membrane effects were due to closure of K(+) channels, as confirmed by dependence on extracellular K(+). UTP/ATP effects could be associated with P2Y(2) purinoceptors, and RT-PCR revealed mRNAs for P2Y(2) and P2Y(4) receptors. On the other hand, 2', 3'-O-4-benzoylbenzoyl-ATP induced Ca(2+) influx and approximately 20-mV depolarization of the membrane voltage with a concomitant increase in the whole-cell conductance. These effects were dependent on extracellular Na(+), not Cl(-), indicating opening of cation channels associated with P2X(7) purinoceptors. RT-PCR showed mRNAs for P2X(7) and P2X(4) receptors. In microperfused ducts, luminal (but not basolateral) ATP caused large depolarizations of membrane voltages recorded with microelectrodes, consistent with luminal localization of P2X(7) receptors. Thus, P2Y(2) (and possibly P2Y(4)) purinoceptors inhibit K(+) channels and may not support secretion in native ducts. P2X(7) (and possibly P2X(4)) receptors are associated with cation channels and may contribute to regulation of secretion.
We present the analysis of the electronic structure for 31 steroids by using HeI UV photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) and MO calculations. The electronic structure of molecules in the gas phase is related directly to steroid-receptor binding measurements. The results indicate that formally 'inert' sigma-skeleton plays a crucial role in diversifying the electronic structures of the title compounds ('ribbon-orbital effect'). This is an attempt to rationalize the biological activity of steroids (represented through steroid-receptor binding) by making direct correlation between spectroscopic and biological data.
Severe protein-calorie malnutrition is a major problem in many intensive care (ICU) patients, due to the increased catabolic state often associated with acute severe illness and the frequent presence of prior chronic wasting conditions. Nutritional support is thus an important part of these patient's management. Over the years, enteral nutrition (EN) has gained considerable popularity, due to its favorable effects on the digestive tract and its lower cost and rate of complications compared to parenteral nutrition. However, clinicians caring for ICU patients are often faced with contradictory data and difficult decision-making when having to determine the optimal timing and modalities of EN administration, estimation of patient requirements and choice of formulas. The purpose of this paper is to provide practical guidelines on these various aspects of enteral nutritional support, based on presently available evidence.
Severe protein-calorie malnutrition is a major problem in many intensive care (ICU) patients, due to the increased catabolic state often associated with acute severe illness and the frequent presence of prior chronic wasting conditions. Nutritional support is thus an important part of the management of these patients. Over the years, enteral nutrition (EN) has gained considerable popularity, due to its favorable effects on the digestive tract and its lower cost and rate of complications compared to parenteral nutrition. However, clinicians caring for ICU patients are often faced with contradictory data and difficult decisions when having to determine the optimal timing and modalities of EN administration, estimation of patient requirements, and choice of formulas. The purpose of this paper is to provide practical guidelines on these various aspects of enteral nutritional support, based on presently available evidence.
Extracellular adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) has been described to act as a regulator in many cells and tissues, including epithelia, and in the gastrointestinal tract ATP is one of the substances involved in non-cholinergic non-adrenergic control. However, very little is known about the effect of ATP on pancreatic ducts, which normally secrete bicarbonate-rich fluid in response to secretin. Hence, the aim of our present study was to test the effect of ATP and other nucleotides on intracellular Ca2+ activity ([Ca2+]i) of pancreatic ducts, and thereby get information about purinergic receptors that might play a role in the regulation of pancreatic bicarbonate transport. Native intralobular ducts were obtained from rat pancreas and [Ca2+]i in 10-20 cells was measured using the fura-2 method. ATP (10(-4) mol/l) evoked a characteristic biphasic Ca2+ transient in duct cells. Nucleotides, used to classify the P2 receptors, acted with the following potency on the peak Ca2+ in many ducts: uridine 5'-triphosphate (UTP) >/= ATP >inosine 5'-triphosphate >/= 2-methylthio-ATP > beta,gamma-methyl-ATP > adenosine. However, although the peak [Ca2+]i responses to ATP and UTP were similar, the plateau [Ca2+]i was nearly doubled with UTP. Moreover, in about one-third of the ducts studied, UTP had no effect on cell Ca2+, while the response to ATP was normal. In further experiments we found that removal of extracellular Mg2+ increased the peak [Ca2+]i evoked in response to ATP. 2'&3'-O-(4-benzoylbenzoyl) ATP (BzATP) evoked a monophasic and slower increase in [Ca2+]i, which was inhibited by removal of extracellular Ca2+, or by addition of 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2, 2'-disulphonic acid (DIDS). Taken together, our data indicate that there are two types of purinergic receptors on pancreatic ducts through which ATP can act. These are pharmacologically known as P2U and P2Z receptors and may correspond to P2Y2 and P2X7 receptors.
BACKGROUND & AIMS: In the intact pancreas, bicarbonate secretion is thought to be controlled by a number of regulators, including adrenergic agonists. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of adrenergic agonists on pancreatic ducts, which are the site of bicarbonate secretion. METHODS: Small intralobular ducts were isolated from rat pancreas and studied in vitro by the whole-cell patch clamp technique. Cell membrane voltages and currents were indicators of cellular ion transport. In some ducts, intracellular Ca2+ activity was measured by fluorescence optical methods. RESULTS: Unstimulated duct cells had a membrane voltage (Vm) of about -50 mV. Isoproterenol had a concentration-dependent effect on Vm; at 10(-7) mol/L, it depolarized Vm by 20-25 mV and the cell conductance increased by 100 nanosiemens. These effects were a result of opening of luminal Cl- channels. Phenylephrine had much smaller effects. At comparable concentrations, it depolarized Vm by a few millivolts. Neither agonist had significant effects on intracellular Ca2+. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the first direct evidence that adrenergic stimulation, namely, that of beta-adrenoceptors, controls ion transport in pancreatic ducts. Similar to secretin, isoproterenol stimulation leads to opening of luminal Cl- channels, and HCO3- enters the lumen in exchange for Cl-.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
In order to study the mechanism of H+ and HCO3- transport in a HCO3- secreting epithelium, pancreatic ducts, we have measured the intracellular pH (pHi) in this tissue using the pH sensitive probe BCECF. We found that exposures of ducts to solutions containing acetate/acetic acid or NH4+/NH3 buffers (20 mmol/l) led to pHi changes in accordance with entry of lipid-soluble forms of the buffers, followed by back-regulation of pHi by duct cells. In another type of experiment, changes in extracellular pH of solutions containing HEPES or HCO3-/CO2 buffers led to significant changes in pHi that did not seem to be back-regulated efficiently by duct cells. The sensitivity of pHi to the inhibitor HOE 694 and to changes in Na+ gradients, indicate that the Na+/H+ exchanger is present in this epithelium. Similarly, the sensitivity to Cl- and HCO3- gradients indicated the presence of the Cl-/HCO3- exchanger. Under some conditions, these exchangers can be invoked to regulate cell pH.
Only recently has it been recognized that intracellular Ca2+ is an important cellular mediator in pancreatic ducts. The aim of the present study was to characterize the Ca2+ efflux pathway in ducts freshly prepared from rat pancreas. Lowering of extracellular Na+ concentration resulted in a significant increase in intracellular Ca2+. This effect was fast, reversible, dependent on the extracellular Na+ concentration and did not correlate with intracellular pH changes. It was abolished in Ca2+-free solutions, indicating that the outwardly directed Na+ gradient was directly coupled to a flufenamate insensitive Ca2+ influx. Removal and reintroduction of extracellular Na+ induced transient hyperpolarization and depolarization of Vm, respectively. Taken together, our data indicate that pancreatic ducts possess an electrogenic Na+-Ca2+ exchanger, which under control conditions is responsible for transporting Ca2+ out of resting duct cells.
A number of agonists increase intracellular Ca2+ activity, [Ca2+]i, in pancreatic ducts, but the influx/efflux pathways and intracellular Ca2+ stores in this epithelium are unknown. The aim of the present study was to characterise the Ca2+ influx pathways, especially their pH sensitivity, in native pancreatic ducts stimulated by ATP and carbachol, CCH. Under control conditions both agonists led to similar changes in [Ca2+]i. However, these Ca2+ transients, consisting of peak and plateau phases, showed different sensitivities to various experimental manoeuvres. In extracellular Ca2+-free solutions, the ATP-induced [Ca2+]i peak decreased by 25%, but the CCH-induced peak was unaffected; both plateaus were inhibited by 90%. Flufenamate inhibited the ATP-induced peak by 35%, but not the CCH-evoked peak; the plateaus were inhibited by 75-80%. La3+ inhibited the ATP-induced plateau fully, but that induced by CCH by 55%. In resting ducts, an increase in extracellular pH, pHe, by means of HEPES and HCO3-/CO2 buffers, increased [Ca2+]i; a decrease in pHe had the opposite effect. In stimulated ducts the pH-evoked effects on Ca2+ influx were more pronounced and depended on the agonist used. At pHe 6.5 both ATP- and CCH-evoked plateaus were inhibited by about 50%. At pH 8.0 the ATP-stimulated plateau was inhibited by 27%, but that stimulated by CCH was increased by 72%. Taken together, we show that CCH stimulates Ca2+ release followed by Ca2+ influx that is moderately sensitive to flufenamate, La3+, depolarisation, it is inhibited by low pH, but stimulated by high pH. ATP stimulates Ca2+ release and probably an early Ca2+ influx, which is more markedly sensitive to flufenamate and La3+, and is both inhibited by low and high pH. Thus our study indicates that there are at least two separate Ca2+ influx pathways in pancreatic ducts cells.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The pancreatic duct has been regarded as a typical cAMP-regulated epithelium, and our knowledge about its Ca2+ homeostasis is limited. Hence, we studied the regulation of intracellular calcium, [Ca2+]i, in perfused rat pancreatic ducts using the Ca(2+)-sensitive probe fura-2. In some experiments we also measured the basolateral membrane voltage, Vbl, of individual cells. The resting basal [Ca2+]i was relatively high, corresponding to 263 +/- 28 nmol/l, and it decreased rapidly to 106 +/- 28 nmol/l after removal of Ca2+ from the bathing medium (n = 31). Carbachol increased [Ca2+]i in a concentration-dependent manner. At 10 mumol/l the fura-2 fluorescence ratio increased by 0.49 +/- 0.06 (n = 24), corresponding to an increase in [Ca2+]i by 111 +/- 15 nmol/l (n = 17). ATP, added to the basolateral side at 0.1 mmol/l and 1 mmol/l, increased the fluorescence ratio by 0.67 +/- 0.06 and 1.01 +/- 14 (n = 46; 12), corresponding to a [Ca2+]i increase of 136 +/- 22 nmol/l and 294 +/- 73 nmol/l respectively (n = 15; 10). Microelectrode measurements showed that ATP (0.1 mmol/l) hyperpolarized Vbl from -62 +/- 3 mV to -70 +/- 3 mV, an effect which was in some cases only transient (n = 7). This effect of ATP was different from that of carbachol, which depolarized Vbl. Applied together with secretin, ATP delayed the secretin-induced depolarization and prolonged the initial hyperpolarization of Vbl (n = 4). Several other putative agonists of pancreatic HCO3- secretion were also tested for their effects on [Ca2+]i.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The aim of the present study was to study the effect of secretin on the electrophysiological response of pancreatic ducts. Furthermore, we investigated the effects of lipid-soluble buffers and inhibitors of HCO3-/H+ transport. Ducts obtained from fresh rat pancreas were perfused in vitro. Secretin depolarized the basolateral membrane voltage, Vbl, by up to 35 mV (n = 37); a half-maximal response was obtained at 3 x 10(-11) mol/l. In unstimulated ducts a decrease in the luminal Cl- concentration (120 to 37 mmol/l) had a marginal effect on Vbl, but after maximal secretin stimulation it evoked a 14 +/- 2 mV depolarization (n = 6), showing that a luminal Cl- conductance (GCl-) was activated. The depolarizing effect of secretin on Vbl was often preceded by about a 6 mV hyperpolarization, most likely due to an increase in the basolateral GK+. Perfusion of ducts with DIDS (4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid, 0.01 mmol/l) or addition of ethoxzolamide (0.1 mmol/l) to the bath medium diminished the effect of secretin. Acetate or pre-treatment of ducts with NH4+/NH3 (10 mmol/l in the bath) depolarized the resting Vbl of -65 +/- 2 mV by 16 +/- 4 mV (n = 7) and 19 +/- 3 mV (n = 10), respectively. The fractional resistance of the basolateral membrane (FRbl) doubled, and the depolarizing responses to changes in bath K+ concentrations (5 to 20 mmol/l) decreased from 22 +/- 1 to 11 +/- 2 mV.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The regulation of pancreatic exocrine secretion involves hormonal, neural and neurohormonal components. Many agonists are known to be effective in pancreatic acinar cells, but less is known about the ducts. Therefore, we wanted to investigate the influence of various agonists on isolated perfused pancreatic ducts and, as a physiological response, we measured the basolateral membrane voltage of the duct cells (Vbl) with microelectrodes. Pancreatic ducts were dissected from pancreas of normal rats and bathed in a HCO(3-)(-containing solution. Under control conditions, the average Vbl was between -50 and -70 mV. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and carbachol (CCH) reversibly depolarized Vbl when applied to the bath. VIP (9 x 10(-9) mol/l) depolarized Vbl from -72 +/- 3 mV to -53 +/- 3 mV (n = 20) and CCH (10(-5) mol/l) from -62 +/- 3 to -35 +/- 4 mV (n = 10). Furthermore, a decrease of the Cl- concentration in the lumen led to an increase of VIP-induced depolarization of Vbl, suggesting that a luminal Cl- conductance was increased. Cholecystokinin (CCK, 10(-10)-10(-7) mol/l) and bombesin (10(-8), 10(-5) mol/l), which stimulate pancreatic exocrine secretion in acini or whole glands, showed no significant effect on Vbl of the duct cells tested in our preparation (n = 7, 6). Neurotensin (10(-8) mol/l) had a marked depolarizing effect in two out of ten cases; Vbl depolarized from about -65 mV to -29 mV and the effect was reversible. Substance P (2 x 10(-7) mol/l), alone or in combination with secretin, had no effect on Vbl of the tested duct cells (n = 11).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The purpose of this study was to characterize the ion conductances, in particular those for Cl- and K+, of human sweat duct cells grown in primary culture. Sweat duct cells from healthy individuals were grown to confluence on a dialysis membrane, which was then mounted in a mini-Ussing chamber and transepithelial and intracellular potentials were measured under open-circuit conditions. Under control conditions the epithelia developed mucosa-negative transepithelial potentials, Vte, of about -10 mV. The apical membrane potential, Va, was -25 mV to -30 mV (n = 97) in most cells, but several cells had a higher potential of about -55 mV (n = 29). Mucosal amiloride (10 mumol/l) hyperpolarized Va from -31 +/- 1 mV to a new sustained level of -46 +/- 2 mV (n = 36). These changes were accompanied by increase in the fractional resistance of the apical membrane, fRa, and decreases of Vte and the equivalent short-circuit current, Isc. In amiloride-treated tissues an increase in mucosal K+ concentration (5 mmol/l to 25 mmol/l) depolarized Va by 5 +/- 1 mV (n = 8), while the same step on the serosal side depolarized Va by 20 +/- 2 mV (n = 8). A Cl- channel blocker 3',5-dichlorodiphenylamine-2-carboxylate DCl-DPC; 10 mumol/l) depolarized Va by 5 +/- 1 mV (n = 6), an effect that was lost after amiloride application. The blocker had no effect from the serosal side. Reduction of mucosal Cl- (from 120 to 30 or 10 mmol/l) depolarized Va by 9-11 mV (n = 35), an effect that was often followed by a secondary hyperpolarization of 10-30 mV (n = 27).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)