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Biomedical subjects

J Stadler

Publications and source records attributed to J Stadler.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Dopamine-beta-hydroxylase in behaviorally disturbed youth. Relationship between teacher and parent ratings.

A series of neurotransmitters, metabolites, and enzymes considered relevant to emotional and behavioral disorders was studied in blood samples obtained from boys admitted to a residential setting because of disruptive or unmanageable behavior in their home environments. The youth were categorized into mainly prepubertal (under 12.0 years) and pubertal/post pubertal (12.0 years and over) groups. Behavior ratings of the younger group completed by parents revealed significant inverse correlations between several behavioral factors and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity levels, notably in the aggressive behavior and antisocial domains. Teacher ratings completed after about 1 month of living in the residential setting also showed numerous significant, but positive, correlations between several behavior factors and DBH activity levels. Furthermore, teacher and parent ratings themselves often were significantly and inversely correlated. The findings related to DBH activity levels were strongest in the younger group of boys. The results are discussed in terms of the possibility that low DBH activity in boys reflects a vulnerability towards behavioral disorder, which in certain environments becomes manifested by conduct problems and antisocial behavior.

Adolescent↗

Endogenous nitric oxide inhibits the synthesis of cyclooxygenase products and interleukin-6 by rat Kupffer cells.

Macrophage production of nitric oxide (.N = O) leads to considerable alterations of vital metabolic pathways in various target cells. The present study tested whether .N = O synthesis by Kupffer cells (KCs), the resident macrophages of the liver, interferes with the secretory function of these cells. As in other macrophage-type cells, the combination of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) was a potent stimulus of .N = O synthesis by KC. Treatment with LPS and IFN-gamma also induced significant production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), thromboxane B2 (TBX2), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and IL-6. Inhibition of .N = O synthesis by KC. Treatment with LPS and IFN-gamma also induced significant production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), thromboxane B2 (TBX2), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and IL-6. Inhibition of .N = O synthesis by the L-arginine analogue of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (NMA) resulted in a further increase of PGE2, TXB2, and IL-6 but not IL-1 and TNF-alpha production, indicating specific inhibitory effects of endogenous .N = O synthesis on the secretory activity of KCs. PGE2 production was most sensitive to the suppressive effect of .N = O and increased 24 h after stimulation with LPS and IFN-gamma from 16.3 +/- 4.9 ng/10(6) KCs without NMA to 94.3 +/- 17.9 ng/10(6) KCs with NMA. This effect of NMA was reversed by a 10-fold increase of the L-arginine concentration. No recovery of PGE2 production was seen when .N = O synthesis was blocked after 24 h. NMA treatment increased cyclooxygenase activity more than threefold, suggesting that .N = O inhibits PGE2 and TXB2 production through diminished PGH2 availability. .N = O synthesis did not significantly affect total protein synthesis or viability of the KCs. These results show that .N = O influences the production of specific inflammatory mediators by KCs.

Animals↗

Nonheme iron-nitrosyl complex formation in rat hepatocytes: detection by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Isolated rat hepatocytes were examined by EPR spectroscopy after exposure to inflammatory stimuli (interferon-gamma [IFN-gamma], tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha], interleukin-1 beta [IL-1 beta], and lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) in vitro, after in vivo immune activation by Corynebacterium parvum, and after exposure to .N = O and to nitroprusside (nitroferricyanide), an NO-donating nitrovasodilator. Hepatocytes exposed to IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and LPS demonstrated the appearance of a g = 2.04 axial EPR signal indicative of the formation of nonheme iron-nitrosyl complexes. Concurrent incubation with L-NG-monomethylarginine (L-NMMA), a competitive inhibitor of .N = O synthase, prevented the appearance of the signal. The g = 2.04 signal was localized in the cytosolic fraction of hepatocyte extracts. Hepatocytes freshly isolated from C. parvum-treated rats exhibited a modest g = 2.04 signal, which was increased by a factor of approximately 2.5-fold upon subsequent 24-h culture in media without additional stimuli. This increase was prevented by L-NMMA in the culture medium and also by the presence of rat erythrocytes added to the culture. In the presence of erythrocytes, virtually all of the .N = O produced was oxidized by reaction with intracellular hemoglobin within the erythrocyte, as judged by the relative amounts of nitrite and nitrate detected. These results suggest that in this model system .N = O is sufficiently stable and diffusible to escape from the hepatocyte and diffuse into the erythrocyte without first reacting with oxygen or with intracellular iron at the site of its formation within the hepatocyte. Treatment of hepatocytes with exogenous .N = O or nitroprusside generated an identical g = 2.04 signal of much greater intensity than with cytokines plus LPS. Treatment with nitroprusside also caused the appearance of a signal from pentacyanonitrosylferrate ion, verifying the previously reported metabolism of this nitrovasodilator by reduction and liberation of cyanide ion and .N = O. These results indicate significant differences in intracellular nonheme iron nitrosylation in hepatocytes compared to cytotoxic activated macrophages, which may correlate with the differences in physiological function of .N = O in these two systems.

Animals↗

Biodevelopmental aspects of conduct disorder in boys.

The association between biochemical parameters and conduct disorder (CD) was studied in 22 boys admitted to a residential center. Three-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) levels were significantly higher in prepubertal CD youth than in pubertal/post pubertal CD youth. Homovanillic acid (HVA) levels were significantly lower in CD youth under age 12.0 years than in non CD youth under age 12.0 years. The implications of these biodevelopmental findings in the study of CD are discussed.

Age Factors↗

Hepatocyte injury by activated neutrophils in vitro is mediated by proteases.

OBJECTIVE: This study determined the mechanism used by neutrophils (PMNs) to induce hepatocellular injury. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Neutrophils have been shown to be potent mediators of cell and tissue injury and have been hypothesized to contribute to the hepatic injury that occurs after trauma and infection. Oxygen radical scavengers protect the liver in vivo from inflammatory injury and it has been suggested that PMNs are the source of these toxic oxygen radicals. The specific mechanism used by PMNs to produce hepatocellular damage, however, has not been determined. METHODS: Neutrophils were cultured in vitro with hepatocytes (HCs) and stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) to induce HC injury in the presence of oxygen radical scavengers and protease inhibitors. RESULTS: PMA induced a PMN-mediated HC injury that was dependent on the number of PMNs present and the concentration of PMA. Protease inhibitors reduced the extent of HC injury, while oxygen radical scavengers had no effect. Hydrogen peroxide, directly applied, was able to injure HCs, but only at concentrations greater than those that could be produced by PMA-stimulated PMNs. CONCLUSIONS: PMNs are cytotoxic to cultured HCs, predominantly due to the release of proteolytic enzymes, while HCs appear relatively resistant to oxidative injury. Involvement of neutrophil toxic oxygen radicals in hepatic damage in vivo may require impairment of HC antioxidant defenses or may involve injury to nonparenchymal liver cells with secondary effects on HCs.

Animals↗

Leukergy--a new diagnostic test for bone infection.

This new blood test for infection is based on the phenomenon of leukergy in which white cells agglomerate in the peripheral blood of patients with inflammatory diseases. It was used in 26 patients with proven bone or joint infection and was positive in 25. The leukergy test was more accurate than the ESR, white cell count or blood culture. The percentage of cells agglomerated correlated with the clinical severity of the infection and the test detected reactivation of the septic process better than the other haematological tests. It is a rapid and inexpensive method which is useful in the diagnosis and management of bone and joint infections.

Adult↗

Inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis during endotoxemia promotes intrahepatic thrombosis and an oxygen radical-mediated hepatic injury.

Corynebacterium parvum-treated mice produce large amounts of circulating nitrogen oxides and develop a severe liver injury in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Concurrent administration of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine not only suppresses nitric oxide synthesis in these animals but also profoundly increases the hepatic damage following LPS. In this report, we present evidence that the increased hepatic damage from inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis is mediated in part by superoxide and hydroxyl radicals. The hepatic damage induced by suppressing nitric oxide production during endotoxemia could be reduced by treating mice with superoxide dismutase and deferoxamine, scavengers of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, respectively. This damage could also be prevented by treating mice with the anticoagulant heparin sodium. The results suggest that nitric oxide synthesis during endotoxemia is important in preventing hepatic damage by reducing oxygen radical-mediated hepatic injury and preventing intravascular thrombosis.

Animals↗

The effect of lowering faecal pH on the rate of proliferation of the normal colonic mucosa.

Epidemiological and animal studies suggest that faecal pH may be a risk factor for colorectal cancer with low faecal pH associated with a lower incidence of the disease. The aim of this study was to determine whether faecal pH (or dietary fibre) affects the short-term risk factors for colon cancer. Sixty-nine normal volunteers were randomized into three equal groups (A-C). They provided food records, faecal specimens and submitted to rectal biopsy for thymidine labelling studies before and after a 2-week intervention. Group A received a placebo of fruit juice. Group B, approximately 3.0 g d-1 sodium sulphate in juice. Group C, 30 g d-1 supplementary dietary fibre as wheat bran in bread. Age, sex, weight, height and intake of macronutrients and minerals were similar in the groups prior to intervention. Faecal pH was similar for the three groups before and was reduced in Group B after intervention (P = 0.001) with a relative reduction of 0.5 pH units. The labelling index for the three groups was similar prior to intervention; after, it was lowest in Group B with a relative reduction of 0.5% points, although this difference was not statistically significant. The results thus do not support the hypothesis that an acidification of faecal pH leads to a reduction in risk markers for colon cancer.

Adult↗

Tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibits hepatocyte mitochondrial respiration.

Although direct cytotoxicity is a well-established phenomenon of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha)-induced tissue damage, the intracellular events leading to cell death are still poorly understood. To study the cytotoxic effects of TNF alpha on normal parenchymal cells, rat hepatocytes were purified and incubated with various concentrations of TNF alpha. Mitochondrial respiration, total protein synthesis, and enzyme release were measured to assess metabolic performance and cell integrity. Treatment with TNF alpha suppressed mitochondrial respiration in a concentration-dependent fashion, resulting in a reduction of the activity of complex I of the respiratory chain to 67.0 +/- 3.5% of that of untreated hepatocytes by 2000 U/mL TNF alpha. Under these conditions protein synthesis and the release of intracellular enzymes were significantly increased. Both hepatocellular enzyme release and inhibition of mitochondrial respiration appear to be associated with the generation of reactive oxygen intermediates by the hepatocyte itself, because oxygen radical scavengers prevented these adverse effects of TNF alpha. Inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide as well as addition of cyclic adenosine monophosphate synergistically enhanced the suppression of mitochondrial respiration by TNF alpha, resulting in complex I activity of 6.9 +/- 1.6% and 24.9 +/- 2.9% of that of untreated cells. These data indicate that inhibition of mitochondrial respiration is one of the mechanisms by which TNF alpha induces tissue injury.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Nitric oxide synthesis serves to reduce hepatic damage during acute murine endotoxemia.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: Nitric oxide synthesis occurs both in vitro and in vivo in response to inflammatory stimuli and can have profound effects on the local cellular environment. Hepatocytes, Kupffer cells, and endothelial cells produce nitric oxide in vitro, but the in vivo role of this reactive mediator in the liver is unknown. We assessed the role of nitric oxide synthesis during endotoxemia in mice by inhibiting its synthesis with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine after lipopolysaccharide injection and by determining the effects of this inhibition on hepatic damage. RESULTS: Injection of lipopolysaccharide in mice increased plasma nitrite and nitrate concentrations, the stable end products of nitric oxide metabolism, and caused mild hepatic damage as measured by increased circulating hepatocellular enzyme levels. NG-monomethyl-L-arginine decreased plasma nitrite and nitrate values, but increased the lipopolysaccharide-induced hepatic injury. NG-monomethyl-L-arginine caused no hepatic damage when given without lipopolysaccharide. The extent of hepatic damage with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine was proportional to the dose of lipopolysaccharide used and could be reduced with concurrent administration of L-arginine but not D-arginine. CONCLUSIONS: Nitric oxide synthesis provides a protective function against lipopolysaccharide-induced liver injury that increases in importance as the degree of endotoxemia increases. The production of nitric oxide is, therefore, an important part of the liver's response to a systemic inflammatory stimulus.

Acute Disease↗

Association between synthesis and release of cGMP and nitric oxide biosynthesis by hepatocytes.

Hepatocytes are known to synthesize nitric oxide (NO) from L-arginine via an inducible NO synthase. Studies were performed to determine the relationship between hepatocyte NO production and the stimulation of hepatocyte soluble guanylate cyclase. A combination of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor, and interleukin-1 stimulates the biosynthesis of large quantities of nitrite and nitrate (NO2- + NO3-). Hepatocyte NO2- + NO3- production was associated with only small increases in intracellular guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) levels but much greater increases in extracellular cGMP release over an 18-h time period. This cGMP synthesis was dependent on the L-arginine concentration and was inhibited in a reversible manner by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine. The cytokines or LPS added alone induced small increases in nitrogen oxide production and concomitant minor elevations in cGMP release. Atrial natriuretic peptide also stimulated the release of cGMP by hepatocytes which appeared to be independent of the cytokine+LPS-induced cGMP release. The addition of probenecid reduced the cGMP release by 66%, while cell damage was excluded as a cause for the extracellular release. Addition of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, but not M&B 22948, increased hepatocyte intra- and extracellular cGMP levels after cytokine+LPS stimulation. Induction of nitrogen oxide synthesis by hepatocytes in vivo by injecting rats with killed Corynebacterium parvum resulted in increased cGMP levels in freshly isolated hepatocytes and increased cGMP release by the hepatocytes when placed in culture.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Articular chondrocytes synthesize nitric oxide in response to cytokines and lipopolysaccharide.

Although IL-1 is an important modulator of chondrocyte metabolism, the postreceptor events triggered by IL-1 remain obscure. The present study shows that IL-1 induces the biosynthesis of nitric oxide (.N = O) by articular chondrocytes. Synthesis of .N = O is also induced by LPS. Other inflammatory mediators such as IFN-gamma, fibroblast growth factor, and TNF-alpha fail to provoke the production of .N = O, but they increase the potency of IL-1. A combination of IL-1, LPS, and TNF-alpha was shown to induce maximal production of 355 +/- 51 nmol/10(6) cells/72 h of nitrite (NO2-), which was measured as a stable end-product of .N = O generation. The biosynthesis of .N = O requires an induction period of approximately 6 h and continues for at least 72 h. Inhibition of .N = O production with the competitive inhibitor NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (NMA) leads to a suppression of gelatinase and PGE2 synthesis by chondrocytes activated with IL-1 alone. In contrast, NMA enhances the synthesis of both gelatinase and PGE2 after activation with a combination of IL-1, LPS, and TNF-alpha. An increase of PGE2 synthesis from 42.0 +/- 21.0 to 174.0 +/- 33.5 ng/10(6) cells/72 h resulted from the addition of NMA when these stimulatory agents were combined. Exposure of IL-1 and fibroblast growth factor-stimulated chondrocytes to authentic, exogenous .N = O led to an increase of PGE2 synthesis from 5.6 +/- 1.7 of untreated cells to 15.8 +/- 6.8 ng/10(6) of .N = O treated cells within the 1st h. This was followed by a suppression of PGE2 synthesis within the next 2 h.

Animals↗

Effect of endogenous nitric oxide on mitochondrial respiration of rat hepatocytes in vitro and in vivo.

Nitric oxide, a highly reactive radical, was recently identified as an intermediate of L-arginine metabolism in mammalian cells. We have shown that nitric oxide synthesis is induced in vitro in cultured hepatocytes by supernatants from activated Kupffer cells or in vivo by injecting rats with nonviable Corynebacterium parvum. In both cases, nitric oxide biosynthesis in hepatocytes was associated with suppression of total protein synthesis. This study attempts to determine the effect of nitric oxide biosynthesis on the activity of specific hepatocytic mitochondrial enzymes and to determine whether inhibition of protein synthesis is caused by suppression of energy metabolism. Exposure of hepatocytes to supernatants from activated Kupffer cells led to a 30% decrease of aconitase (Krebs cycle) and complex I (mitochondrial electron transport chain) activity. Using NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis, we demonstrated that the inhibition of mitochondrial aconitase activity was due, in part, to the action of nitric oxide. In contrast, in vivo nitric oxide synthesis of hepatocytes from Corynebacterium parvum-treated animals had no effect on mitochondrial respiration. This suggests that inhibition of protein synthesis by nitric oxide is not likely to be mediated by inhibition of energy metabolism.

Aconitate Hydratase↗

Intraoperative ultrasonographic detection of occult liver metastases in colorectal cancer.

The efficacy of intraoperative ultrasonographic detection of colorectal cancer liver metastases was evaluated in 85 patients undergoing operation for primary colorectal tumors or liver secondaries. The results of intraoperative ultrasonography were compared with those of preoperative ultrasonography and computed tomography, as well as the intraoperative appearances of the liver. Additional information about the number of metastases was obtained in 12 cases (14.1%); 17 (24.3%) out of 70 metastases could only be detected by intraoperative ultrasonography. In 4 cases (4.7%) these lesions were solitary. As a result, the operative procedure of choice was changed in 15.3% of the patients. We conclude that intraoperative ultrasonography has a significantly higher ability to detect colorectal cancer liver metastases than preoperative methods or intraoperative inspection and palpation. Intraoperative ultrasonography should be performed in patients without preoperative evidence of liver metastases and in all patients with planned resection of metastases.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Oral colon lavage solutions containing polyethylene glycol may interfere with ELISA detection of tumor-associated antigens in colonic effluent.

Immunologic methods for detection of colorectal neoplasia based on examination of stool or colonic effluent are being developed. Most current oral lavage preparations contain polyethylene glycol (PEG), and if PEG adversely interferes with immunologic testing these tests may become less useful. We describe a decrease in sensitivity of ELISA for tumor-associated antigens (TAA) when effluent samples are diluted in PEG-electrolyte lavage solution, equivalent to a commonly used oral lavage solution based on PEG. Radioisotope-labeled antigen binding to plastic plates was decreased by dilution in the PEG lavage solution. Antigen binding, present in colonic effluent collected by the laxative purge method, was absent in effluent collected by PEG oral lavage from the same patient. We conclude that PEG and PEG-containing lavage solutions interfere with ELISA detection of TAA in colonic effluents. We speculate that the in vitro, and possibly the in vivo, effect occurs at the level of antigen binding to the plate either by a steric effect or alteration of charge by the nonpolar properties of PEG.

Absorption↗

Interlaboratory evaluation of three culture media for postimplantation rodent embryos.

The first aim of the study was to compare the ability of rat serum, human serum, and a mixture of human and rat serum (4:1) to support in vitro development of rodent postimplantation embryos. The comparison was made in three laboratories using rat embryos and in one laboratory using mouse embryos. Batches of sera, initial developmental stage, duration of culture, and endpoints were identical in the laboratories. The second aim of the study was to evaluate if other variables that could not be standardized would significantly influence the results of the laboratories. No reproducible difference was observed among the culture media or among the laboratories except that growth and differentiation were slower in the laboratory using mouse embryos. Further experiments are needed to exclude small differences in performance of the media.

Animals↗