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Biomedical subjects

K A Walker

Publications and source records attributed to K A Walker.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Effect of acute hypercapnia on renal and proximal tubular total carbon dioxide reabsorption in the acetazolamide-treated rat.

The present study evaluates the effect of acute hypercapnia on renal total CO2 (tCO2) reabsorption after inhibition of renal carbonic anhydrase. Simultaneous renal clearance studies and free-flow micropuncture studies of the superficial proximal tubule were performed on plasma-repleted Sprague-Dawley rats treated with acetazolamide, 50 mg/kg body weight. Acute hypercapnia (arterial PCO2, 120 mmHg; blood pH, 7.02) was induced by ventilation with a 10% CO2-90% O2 gas mixture. Control rats (PCO2, 49.5 mmHg, pH 7.34) were ventilated with room air. The renal fractional excretion of tCO2 was approximately 20% lower in the hypercapnic group compared with the rats given acetazolamide alone. Acute hypercapnia reduced the fractional delivery of tCO2 to the late proximal tubule by a comparable amount. The absolute proximal reabsorption of tCO2 was increased by hypercapnia to 410 +/- 47 vs. 170 +/- 74 pmol X min-1, P less than 0.05. The single nephron glomerular filtration rate was 32.6 +/- 0.7 nl X min-1 in the hypercapnic group and 43.8 +/- 1.7 nl X min-1 in the rats given acetazolamide only, P less than 0.01. Acute hypercapnia enhances renal sympathetic nerve activity. To eliminate this effect, additional experiments were performed in which the experimental kidney was denervated before study. Denervation prevented the change in the single nephron filtration rate during acute hypercapnia, but absolute and fractional proximal tCO2 reabsorption remained elevated in comparison to denervated controls. The concentration of H2CO3 in the late proximal tubule, calculated from the measured luminal pH and bicarbonate concentration and the estimated cortical PCO2, was higher in the hypercapnic group, which was a finding compatible with H2CO3 cycling from lumen into proximal tubular cell, which provided a source of hydrogen ions for secretion.

Absorption↗
PubMed1986

Butoconazole vaginal cream in the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis. Comparison with miconazole nitrate and placebo.

A double-blind, parallel study was conducted comparing a new imidazole derivative, butoconazole nitrate, with placebo and miconazole nitrate for the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis. Patients were randomly assigned to six treatment regimens. Butoconazole was found to be an effective antifungal agent in both the six- and three-day treatment schedules. The incidence of local side effects from both tested imidazoles was low.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Localization of chloroplastic fatty acid synthesis de novo in the stroma.

The synthesis of fatty acids de novo from [2-14C]malonyl-CoA was studied in fractions from lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and pea (Pisum sativum) chloroplasts. When lettuce chloroplasts were subjected to osmotic lysis, disintegration through a Yeda press and high-speed centrifugation, essentially all of the fatty-acid-synthetic activity was found to be soluble. The distribution of the activity in various chloroplast fractions was similar to that of soluble marker enzymes such as ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase and NADP+-linked glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Marked differences were apparent in the quality of products from fatty acid synthesis de novo in the various fractions of chloroplasts. Thus soluble fractions produced predominantly stearate, whereas those containing membranes produced a greater proportion of palmitate. In pea chloroplasts, osmotic lysis released almost all of the fatty acid synthetase into the stromal fraction. In this instance, no major alterations in the products of fatty acid synthesis were observed. The fatty-acid-synthetic activity of the stromal fraction was still soluble after prolonged ultracentrifugation. The results show clearly the soluble nature of fatty acid synthesis de novo in lettuce and pea chloroplasts. Thus fatty acid synthesis measured in microsomal fractions from such plant tissues is not due to the presence of chloroplastic membranes.

Chlorophyll↗
PubMed1985

Antitrichomonal activity of mesoionic thiazolo[3,2-a]pyridines.

Screening of mesoionic compounds as potential electron acceptors by analogy with metronidazole led to the finding of in vitro antitrichomonal activity for anhydro-2-phenyl-3-hydroxythiazolo [3,2-a]pyridinium hydroxide (1). In a series of analogues, potent in vitro activity was found to be associated with amino substitution; however, such activity was dependent on specific structural features and not on the reduction potential. The most active compounds showed only poor in vivo activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Effect of metabolic acidosis on proximal tubular total CO2 absorption.

In vivo microperfusion studies of the proximal convoluted tubule of the rat were performed to determine the effect of metabolic acidosis on total CO2 (tCO2) absorption. In series I, tubular perfusion was performed in control and acidotic rats in a manner by which similar mean total CO2 concentrations in the proximal tubule were maintained. Comparable ranges of perfusion rate were studied in both groups. Following 3 days of HCl ingestion, plasma tCO2 was 20.0 +/- 0.9 mM in the acidotic rats whereas it was 29.6 +/- 0.53 mM in control rats. The arterial blood pH values were 7.25 +/- 0.02 vs. 7.43 +/- 0.01. Starting tCO2 perfusate concentrations were identical in both groups, 29.3 and 29.7 mM, as were the concentrations at the end of the perfused segments, 21.2 and 21.9 mM. The absorption of tCO2 (JtCO2, pmol X mm-1 X min-1) was significantly greater in the acidotic rats than in the controls, 576 +/- 39 vs. 256 +/- 21. At all perfusion rates studied, proximal tubular JtCO2 was higher in the acidotic than in the control rats. In series II, similar lengths of the late proximal tubule were perfused at the same rate in control and acidotic rats. Again, JtCO2 was higher in the acidotic rats, 352 +/- 19 vs. 198 +/- 13. The results indicate that at comparable luminal tCO2 concentration and tubular fluid flow rates, tCO2 absorption is significantly increased in the acidotic state. Although other mechanisms cannot be excluded, the finding of an increase in proximal tCO2 absorption in the acidotic rats is in agreement with the presence of an accelerated Na+/H+ exchange rate in brush border membrane vesicles obtained from the renal cortex of animals with metabolic acidosis.

Acidosis↗
PubMed1984

1-(4-Aminophenyl)isoquinoline derivatives. Potent inhibitors of calcium-independent and calcium-dependent phosphodiesterases from rat cerebral cortex.

The effects of a series of 1-(4-aminophenyl)isoquinoline derivatives on the activity of calcium-independent and calcium-dependent phosphodiesterases purified from rat cerebral cortex were examined. Agents were approximately equipotent (IC50 values, 0.2 to 25 microM) in inhibiting the calcium-dependent hydrolysis of either cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP, while they were 6-35 times more effective as inhibitors of cyclic AMP hydrolysis when compared to cyclic GMP hydrolysis using the calcium-independent enzyme. The diastereomers of 3-(carbomethoxy)propenamido demonstrated a marked difference in specificity. The cis-isomer was very potent in inhibiting cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP hydrolysis by either enzyme (IC50 values, 0.2 to 8 microM) while the trans-isomer was only effective in inhibiting calcium-independent cyclic AMP hydrolysis (IC50 values, 2.5 microM). Kinetic analyses of the type of inhibition of the calcium-dependent enzyme revealed that the various agents were competitive inhibitors of cyclic GMP hydrolysis and noncompetitive inhibitors of cyclic AMP hydrolysis. A reverse pattern of inhibition by the isoquinoline derivatives was found using the calcium-independent phosphodiesterase, i.e. noncompetitive inhibition of cyclic GMP while competitive inhibition of cyclic AMP. Inhibition of phosphodiesterases by these agents was also manifest using intact brain slices prepared from rat cerebral cortex. Thus, the agents were found to potentiate forskolin-elicited accumulations of cyclic AMP by 100-700% and increased the half-time for the decline in cyclic AMP following forskolin stimulation from 3 to 6 min.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗
PubMed1984

Glutamic Acid metabolism and the photorespiratory nitrogen cycle in wheat leaves: metabolic consequences of elevated ammonia concentrations and of blocking ammonia assimilation.

The effects of methionine sulfoximine and ammonium chloride on [(14)C] glutamate metabolism in excised leaves of Triticum aestivum were investigated. Glutamine was the principal product derived from [U(14)C]glutamate in the light and in the absence of inhibitor or NH(4)Cl. Other amino acids, organic acids, sugars, sugar phosphates, and CO(2) became slightly radioactive. Ammonium chloride (10 mm) increased formation of [(14)C] glutamine, aspartate, citrate, and malate but decreased incorporation into 2-oxoglutarate, alanine, and (14)CO(2). Methionine sulfoximine (1 mm) suppressed glutamine synthesis, caused NH(3) to accumulate, increased metabolism of the added radioactive glutamate, decreased tissue levels of glutamate, and decreased incorporation of radioactivity into other amino acids. Methionine sulfoximine also caused most of the (14)C from [U-(14)C]glutamate to be incorporated into malate and succinate, whereas most of the (14)C from [1-(14)C]glutamate was metabolized to CO(2) and sugar phosphates. Thus, formation of radioactive organic acids in the presence of methionine sulfoximine does not take place indirectly through "dark" fixation of CO(2) released by degradation of glutamate when ammonia assimilation is blocked. When illuminated leaves supplied with [U-(14)C] glutamate without inhibitor or NH(4)Cl were transferred to darkness, there was increased metabolism of the glutamate to glutamine, aspartate, succinate, malate, and (14)CO(2). Darkening had little effect on the labeling pattern in leaves treated with methionine sulfoximine.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1983

Assessment of a new spermicidal agent against ejaculated dog and human spermatozoa in vitro.

The spermatostatic potencies of a new vaginal contraceptive agent, RS-37367, and a standard surfactant compound, nonoxynol-9, have been compared by using ejaculated dog and human spermatozoa. RS-37367 was 25 to 50 times more potent than nonoxynol-9 against dog spermatozoa. Nonparallel concentration-response lines were obtained against human spermatozoa. Concentrations of RS-37367 causing immediate spermatostasis against dog spermatozoa resulted in vesiculation of the plasma and outer acrosomal membranes of spermatozoa; similarly, immediately spermatostatic concentrations of nonoxynol-9 were associated with the previously documented generalized membrane stripping. The activities of both RS-37367 and nonoxynol-9 were affected by the concentration of dog spermatozoa in semen-compound mixtures. Short-term (5-minute) exposure of spermatozoa to concentrations of RS-37367 not immediately spermatostatic resulted in progressive immobilization of spermatozoa. Extensive washing of the spermatozoa was not able to reverse this effect, in contrast to spermatozoa transiently exposed to nonoxynol-9.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

1-(4-Aminobenzyl)-and 1-(4-aminophenyl)isoquinoline derivatives: synthesis and evaluation as potential irreversible cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase inhibitors.

In an effort to increase the specificity of the potent phosphodiesterase inhibitor papaverine, we synthesized two series of novel 1-(4-aminobenzyl)- and 1-(4-aminophenyl)isoquinoline derivatives, incorporating alkylating moieties on the amine substituents. These compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory action on phosphodiesterase preparations from bovine heart and rat cerebral cortex. Studies were also conducted to determine whether these compounds were reacting with the enzymes in an irreversible manner. The compounds were potent inhibitors of the phosphodiesterases; however, no evidence was found for an irreversible inhibition.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗
PubMed1981

1-(Naphthylalkyl)-1H-imidazole derivatives, a new class of anticonvulsant agents.

Potent anticonvulsant activity has been demonstrated for a large number of 1-(naphthylalkyl)-1H-imidazoles containing a variety of functional groups in the alkylene bridge. The presence of a small oxygen function in the bridge, in general, confers a high therapeutic index between anticonvulsant and depressant activity. Clinical expectations are discussed for 1-(2-naphthoylmethyl)imidazole hydrochloride (5), which is undergoing development for testing in humans.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Antimycotic imidazoles. 2. Synthesis and antifungal properties of esters of 1-[2-hydroxy(mercapto)-2-phenylethyl]-1H-imidazoles.

The synthesis of carboxylic and (thio)carbonate esters of 1-[2-hydroxy(mercapto)-2-phenylethyl]-1-H-imidazoles, some of which are formally related to miconazole and its analogues by replacement of an ether with an ester linkage, is described. In antifungal bioassays a number of compounds display in vitro and, in a few cases, in vivo activities comparable to that of miconazole. In this series lipophilicity within a relatively narrow range is shown to be a necessary, although not sufficient, criterion for in vitro and, in particular, in vivo antifungal activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Motor-racing.

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Airway Obstruction↗
PubMed1970

Nasal acquisition of Staphylococcus aureus in a subdivided and mechanically ventilated ward: endemic prevalence of a single staphylococcal strain.

An investigation was made of nasal acquisition of Staphylococcus aureus and of staphylococcal wound sepsis in a hospital ward divided into two sections and provided with mechanical ventilation, so that there was no transfer of air from one of the sections to the other. Although the strains of S. aureus found in the air, and those colonizing the noses of patients, in the protected section could seldom be related to patients nursed elsewhere in the ward, the mechanical ventilation did not lead to any significant reduction in the degree of contamination of the air or in the rate of nasal acquisition of S. aureus.Even in the protected section, nearly 20% of the strains of S. aureus recovered from the air could not be related to known nasal carriers. Since this proportion was nearly as great as that found in the absence of directed air-flow, it seems probable that these strains were derived either from undetected sources within the section or were dispersed from the clothes of persons who entered it.Nearly one-third of the nasal acquisitions in the ward could not be related to known nasal carriers, but about one-half of these (16%) were probably ;spurious' and half of the remainder (8%) could be related to strains recovered from patients' lesions or drawsheets, leaving no more than 8% unaccounted for. A short investigation in which both drawsheet and perineal samples were examined showed that drawsheet samples did not give a reliable indication of perineal carriage unassociated with nasal carriage.During the period of the investigation, a single strain of S. aureus that was resistant to a wide range of antibiotics established itself in the ward. The most notable character of this strain was the profuse dispersion of it by carriers. As a consequence, staphylococcal wound sepsis increased, with nearly three-quarters of the infections attributable to this strain, and nasal carrier rates increased with length of stay in the ward, over 20% of patients who stayed 5-6 weeks acquiring the strain.

Air Microbiology↗