Group C beta-hemolytic streptococci in college students with pharyngitis.
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Adolescent↗
Biomedical subjects
L Cook
Publications and source records attributed to L Cook.
Discriminative stimulus effects of spiradoline, a kappa-opioid agonist.
This study represents the initial step in assessing the discriminative effects of spiradoline (U62,066), a potent congener of the selective kappa-opioid agonist, U50,488. Separate groups of rats were trained to discriminate between SC injections of saline and either 3.0 mg/kg spiradoline or 3.0 mg/kg morphine in a discrete-trial shock-avoidance/escape procedure. Spiradoline-trained rats generalized completely to U50,488 (ED50S for spiradoline and U50,488 were 0.66 and 8.71 mg/kg, respectively), but selected the choice lever appropriate for saline in generalization tests with graded doses of morphine, phencyclidine, and agonist-antagonist opioids with varying degrees of kappa activity, ethylketocyclazocine, nalorphine, and butorphanol. Morphine-trained rats did not generalize to spiradoline. Naltrexone (0.01 or 0.1 mg/kg) blocked surmountably the discriminative effects of both spiradoline and morphine, but was approximately 10-fold less potent against spiradoline. These results indicate that the discriminative effects of spiradoline are mediated by kappa-opioid receptors; meaningful mu-opioid and PCP/sigma components of action were not in evidence. The potency and apparent pharmacological selectivity of spiradoline suggest the potential value of this drug for studying kappa-opioid-mediated stimulus control of behavior.
3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cycloh↗
Do rat kidney cortex microsomes possess the enzymatic machinery to desaturate and chain elongate fatty acyl-CoA derivatives?
Rat kidney cortex microsomal preparations were unable to catalyze delta 9, delta 6 and delta 5 desaturation of stearoyl-coenzyme A (CoA), linoleoyl-CoA and dihomo-gamma-linolenoyl-CoA, respectively. The kidney cortex microsomal fraction, however, did catalyze the malonyl-CoA dependent fatty acyl-CoA elongation. The biochemical properties of palmitoyl-CoA elongation were studied as a function of protein concentration, time, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), malonyl-CoA and substrate concentrations; of the substrates investigated, delta 6,9,12-18:3 was the most active. Unlike what was observed in the hepatic system, a high-carbohydrate, fat-free diet did not induce kidney fatty acid chain elongation. All intermediate kidney cortex microsomal reactions, i.e., beta-ketoacyl-CoA reductase, beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrase and trans-2-enoyl-CoA reductase activities, were significantly higher (greater than one order of magnitude) than the condensing enzyme activity, suggesting that the rate-limiting step in total elongation is the initial condensation reaction. Contrary to other reports, the results suggest that the kidney cannot synthesize arachidonic acid needed for eicosanoid production.
Acyl Coenzyme A↗
Phenobarbital increases rat hepatic prostaglandin F2 alpha, glutathione S-transferase activity and oxidative stress.
Eight-week-old female F344/N rats were fed 3.0 or 6.0% of calories (kcal%) as linoleate with or without 0.05% phenobarbital (PB) for 35 days. PB treatment increased glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity by 80% and prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha levels 4-fold (p less than 0.05). PB decreased hepatic alpha-tocopherol significantly. Hepatic linoleate was decreased by PB in rats fed 6 kcal% but not 3 kcal% linoleate. Increased dietary linoleate had no significant effect on hepatic PGF2 alpha or alpha-tocopherol levels or GST activity. This study suggests that PB hepatotoxicity and tumor-promoting ability may be mediated, at least in part, by PGF2 alpha. PB's effect on PGF2 alpha could be a result of both GST-mediated prostaglandin synthesis and oxidative stress. The removal of significant amounts of hepatic alpha-tocopherol during oxidative stress induced by PB might diminish endogenous inhibition of hepatic PG synthesis by a-tocopherol.
Animals↗
Hypertonic citrate solution as an alternative to modified Euro-Collins' solution for lung preservation.
In a canine model of acute ischemic lung injury, a hypertonic citrate solution (HTC) widely used for renal preservation in the United Kingdom, was compared with modified Euro-Collins' solution (ECS) currently the most widely clinically used pulmonary perfusate. Ten beagle dogs underwent left thoracotomy and exclusion of the left lung in situ. The lung was flushed with 30 ml/kg of either HTC or ECS and subjected to 60 min of warm ischemia. The circulation to the lung was then restored, the contralateral lung excluded, and the animal ventilated at a fixed FiO2 of 0.4 for 4 hr. Lung function was assessed by arterial oxygenation and hemodynamic measurements and, following sacrifice, by lung weight gain, bronchoalveolar lavage, and ultrastructural studies. Flush perfusion with HTC was associated with significantly less severe reperfusion injury, as determined by superior arterial oxygenation (PaO2 at 1 hr: HTC--152 mmHg [(95% confidence interval) CI] [122-182], ECS--59 [47-70]; PaO2 at 4 hr: HTC--124 [100-149], ECS--51 [42-61]), lower pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRI at 4 hrs: HTC--838 dynes sec cm-5m-2 [651-1075], ECS--1233 [963-1588]); and lower lung weight (HTC--85 g [66-107], ECS--146 [114-184]). Bronchoalveolar lavage studies demonstrated an influx of neutrophils following reperfusion that was significantly less marked in the HTC group (increase in % neutrophils: HTC 24 [19-29], ECS 77 [72-82]). Lung injury assessed by electron microscopy tended to be less severe in the HTC animals. We conclude that HTC may offer an alternative superior to ECS for lung preservation.
Animals↗
Decreased long-chain fatty acyl CoA elongation activity in quaking and jimpy mouse brain: deficiency in one enzyme or multiple enzyme activities?
Using long-chain fatty acyl CoAs (arachidoyl CoA and behenoyl CoA), a decrease in overall fatty acid chain elongation activity was observed in the quaking and jimpy mouse brain microsomes relative to controls. Arachidoyl CoA (20:0) and behenoyl CoA (22:0) elongation activities were depressed to about 50% and 80% of control values in quaking and jimpy mice, respectively. Measurement of the individual enzymatic activities of the elongation system revealed a single deficiency in enzyme activity; only the condensation activity was reduced to the same extent as total elongation in both quaking and jimpy mice. The activities of the other three enzymes, beta-ketoacyl CoA reductase, beta-hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrase, and trans-2-enoyl CoA reductase, in both mutants were similar to the activities present in the control mouse. In addition, the activities of these three enzymes were more than two to three orders of magnitude greater than the condensing enzyme activity in all three groups, establishing that the condensing enzyme catalyzes the rate-limiting reaction step of total elongation. When the elongation of palmitoyl CoA was measured, only a 25% decrease in total elongation occurred in both mutants; a similar percent decrease in the condensation of palmitoyl CoA also was observed. The activities of the other three enzymes were unaffected. These results support the concept of either multiple elongation pathways or multiple condensing enzymes.
Acetyltransferases↗
Overwhelming fatal infection in a young woman after intravenous cyclophosphamide therapy for lupus nephritis.
We describe the case of a 19-year-old woman who died of overwhelming aspergillosis 3 months after receiving intravenous (IV) cyclophosphamide for progressive lupus nephritis. Her history is instructive because it illustrates the wisdom of strict adherence to the National Institutes of Health protocol for this treatment, specifically, the contraindication to use of IV cyclophosphamide when other immunosuppressive therapy has recently been employed.
Adult↗
Quantitative DNA analysis in breast carcinomas: a comparison between image analysis and flow cytometry.
We compared the results of quantitative DNA analysis of fresh tumor tissue from 50 invasive breast carcinomas by image analysis and flow cytometry. For image analysis, Feulgen-stained slides of tumor imprints and of disaggregated tumor cytospin preparations were evaluated with the CAS-200 image analyzer. For flow cytometry, propidium iodide-stained disaggregated tumor cells were analyzed with the Coulter EPICS-C flow cytometer. The two methods yielded comparable results. The DNA indices obtained by the two methods showed close correlation by linear regression analysis (r = 0.86, P less than 0.001). There were 26 diploid (52%) and 24 nondiploid (48%) carcinomas. The ploidy pattern between the two methods showed agreement in 41 carcinomas (82%) and discordance in two (4%). Three tumors (6%) were equivocal by flow cytometry and four (8%) by image analysis. The equivocal cases presented potential sources of error in the evaluation of histograms in the near-tetraploid region by flow cytometry and in the near-diploid region by image analysis. Image analysis required smaller tissue samples and permitted direct visualization and selection of tumor cells. It also detected more tetraploid carcinomas. In contrast, flow cytometry analyzed larger cell samples and provided histograms with better resolution. It more readily detected the presence of multiple aneuploid peaks and also the presence of aneuploid peaks in the near-diploid range. The presence of aneuploidy was significantly related to the loss of hormone receptor expression, high mitotic rate, and high histologic and nuclear grades. Our study indicates that image analysis and flow cytometry provide comparable results in a majority of breast carcinomas.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Breast Neoplasms↗
Enzyme site-specific changes in hepatic microsomal fatty acid chain elongation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
The hepatic microsomal fatty acid chain elongation of palmitoyl-CoA and gamma-linolenoyl-CoA was diminished by 40-50% in male Sprague-Dawley rats made diabetic for 2 and 4 weeks following the intravenous administration of a single dose (65 mg/kg) of streptozotocin. Analysis of the activities of the four enzymatic components showed that only one enzyme, the condensing enzyme, which catalyzes the initial and rate-limiting step in chain elongation, was altered by the diabetic state. Both chain elongation and condensation activities were depressed to the same extent, whereas beta-ketoacyl-CoA reductase, beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrase and trans-2-enoyl-CoA reductase activities were the same as the values obtained with non-diabetic controls. 2 week administration of 10 units of insulin per day to rats which were diabetic for a 2-week period resulted in the reversal of the reduced palmitoyl-CoA elongation and condensation activities to control values. However, neither the condensation nor the elongation of gamma-linolenoyl was reversed by the insulin treatment. These results support the notion of multiple condensing enzymes or chain elongation systems.
Acyl Coenzyme A↗
Comparison of DuP 996, with physostigmine, THA and 3,4-DAP on hypoxia-induced amnesia in rats.
DuP 996, 3,3-bis(4-pyrindinylmethyl)-1-phenylindolin-2-one, physostigmine (PH), tetrahydroaminoacridine (THA) and 3,4-diaminopyridine (3,4-DAP) were compared for their ability to protect against hypoxia-induced performance deficits in a passive avoidance (PA) task. The ability to retain PA response was found to decrease as the oxygen concentration decreased with the largest retention deficit occurring at 6.5% oxygen. DuP 996 (0.01-0.1 mg/kg SC), 3,4-DAP (0.1-10.0 mg/kg SC), THA (0.3-5.0 mg/kg SC) and PH (0.001-0.1 mg/kg SC) administered one minute after PA training produced dose-dependent increases in retention latencies following exposure to 6.5% oxygen. In comparing each compound for side effects, DuP 996 induced tremor and mortality at 10 and 40 mg/kg SC, respectively, and PH at 0.3 and 0.8 mg/kg SC, respectively. With PH the 0.3 mg/kg SC dose also produced hypersalivation and a decrease in lift strength. THA produced tremor and mortality at 6.0 and 40 mg/kg SC, respectively, and 3,4-DAP at 50 and 200 mg/kg SC, respectively. 3,4-DAP also produced chromodacryorrhea and hypersalivation at 50 mg/kg SC. Dividing the dose necessary to produce mortality by the highest effective dose active in the hypoxia test yielded a safety ratio for DuP 996 of 400, for 3,4-DAP 20, for PH 8, and for THA 8, showing a greater safety margin for DuP 996 than the other cholinergic agents. These results suggest that DuP 996 may be of use in the treatment of diseases associated with cognitive impairment and may have a greater safety margin than other cholinergic agents.
4-Aminopyridine↗
Amelioration of lung ischemic injury with prostacyclin.
The single-flush technique of lung preservation is thought to be enhanced by prostaglandin treatment. In order to test this hypothesis, ten beagle dogs underwent thoracotomy and in situ flush perfusion of the excluded left lung with 30 ml/kg of cold, modified Euro-Collins' solution. Group 1 (n = 5) received pretreatment with 30 ng/kg/min of PGI2 by infusion and as an additive to the flush (20 micrograms/L). Group 2 (n = 5) received no PGI2 and served as controls. Following 60 min of warm ischemia, the left lung was reperfused, the contralateral lung excluded, and the animal ventilated at a fixed FiO2 of 0.4 for 4 hr. The severity of reperfusion injury was assessed by arterial oxygenation and hemodynamic measurements and, following sacrifice, by lung weight gain and bronchoalveolar lavage and ultrastructural studies. PGI2 therapy resulted in significant amelioration of reperfusion injury, with superior oxygenation at both 1 and 4 hr (PaO2 at 1 and 4 hr, respectively; PGI2: 145 mmHg +/- 17.0 and 114 +/- 11.2; no PGI2: 59 mmHg +/- 5.8 and 51 +/- 4.5; P less than 0.01 at both times), lower pulmonary vascular resistance index at 4 hr (PVRI; PGI2: 913 dynes sec cm-5m-2 +/- 91; no PGI2: 1239 +/- 68; P less than 0.05) and lower lung weight (PGI2: 76 g +/- 4; no PGI2: 146 +/- 10; P less than 0.001). Bronchoalveolar lavage studies revealed an influx of neutrophils following reperfusion that was less marked in the PGI2 group (increase in % neutrophils; PGI2: 50.4 +/- 6.7; no PGI2: 76.9 +/- 6.0; P less than 0.05). Lung injury score assessed by electron microscopy was lower in the PGI2 group (PGI2: 5.2 +/- 1.1; no PGI2; 8.1 +/- 0.5; P less than 0.05). It is concluded that PGI2 treatment is protective against ischemic lung injury in this model.
Animals↗
Modulation of ischemic lung injury by corticosteroids.
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Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
Evidence for two separate beta-ketoacyl CoA reductase components of the hepatic microsomal fatty acid chain elongation system in the rat.
The hepatic microsomal fatty acid chain elongation system can utilize either NADPH or NADH. Elongation activity, measured as the rate of malonyl CoA incorporation into palmitoyl CoA, was enhanced by a fat-free diet and by bovine serum albumin (BSA) when either cofactor was employed. When the intermediate products were determined, it was observed that in the presence of BSA and NADPH, the predominant product was the saturated elongated fatty acid, whereas in the presence of BSA and NADH, the major intermediate was the beta-ketoacyl derivative. Employing beta-ketostearoyl CoA as substrate, BSA markedly inhibited NADH-supported beta-ketoacyl CoA reductase activity and stimulated NADPH-supported activity. Furthermore, the sum of the NADH-dependent and NADPH-dependent beta-ketoreductase activities approximated the activity obtained when both cofactors were present in the incubation medium, suggesting the existence of two beta-ketoacyl CoA reductases, one using NADH and the other NADPH.
Acyl Coenzyme A↗
Evidence for two separate beta-ketoacyl CoA reductase components of the hepatic microsomal fatty acid chain elongation system in the rat.
The hepatic microsomal fatty acid chain elongation system can utilize either NADPH or NADH. Elongation activity, measured as the rate of malonyl CoA incorporation into palmitoyl CoA, was enhanced by a fat-free diet and by bovine serum albumin (BSA) when either cofactor was employed. When the intermediate products were determined, it was observed that in the presence of BSA and NADPH, the predominant product was the saturated elongated fatty acid, whereas in the presence of BSA and NADH, the major intermediate was the beta-ketoacyl derivative. Employing beta-ketostearoyl CoA as substrate, BSA markedly inhibited NADH-supported beta-ketoacyl CoA reductase activity and stimulated NADPH-supported activity. Furthermore, the sum of the NADH-dependent and NADPH-dependent beta-ketoreductase activities approximated the activity obtained when both cofactors were present in the incubation medium, suggesting the existence of two beta-ketoacyl CoA reductases, one using NADH and the other, NADPH.
ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
Topography of rat hepatic microsomal enzymatic components of the fatty acid chain elongation system.
The orientation of the condensing enzyme, the beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrase, and the trans-2-enoyl CoA reductase within the rat liver microsomal membrane was investigated by the use of impermeant inhibitors of enzyme activity: trypsin, chymotrypsin, subtilisin, mercury-dextran, and anti-beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrase IgG. The activity of the condensing enzyme was inhibited more than 70% by various proteases and was completely inhibited by 80 microM mercury-dextran. Similar results were obtained for the trans-2-enoyl-CoA reductase activity. On the other hand, in the absence of detergent, proteases inhibited beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrase activity by 25-40%, while in the presence of detergent the inhibition increased to 65-90%. Furthermore, anti-beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrase IgG, which in the absence of detergent produced no inhibition, in the presence of detergent inhibited beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrase activity by more than 80%; under identical conditions, preimmune IgG caused a 13% inhibition. Microsomes used throughout this study displayed greater than 90% latency with respect to mannose-6-phosphatase activity, indicating that the microsomes were intact. Latency was not affected by the proteases, by mercury-dextran, or by the presence of the enzyme assay components. These results suggest that both the condensing enzyme and the reductase are present on the cytoplasmic surface of the membrane, whereas the beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrase is embedded in the microsomal membrane.
Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenases↗
Disruption of rat hepatic microsomal electron transport chains by the selenium-containing anti-inflammatory agent Ebselen.
The influence of Ebselen, an organoselenium anti-inflammatory agent, on the two electron transport chains present in rat liver microsomes has been studied. At low micromolar concentrations, Ebselen markedly inhibited the flow of reducing equivalents from NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase to both its natural electron acceptor, cytochrome P450, and its artificial electron acceptor, cytochrome c. Similarly, the microsomal NADH-cytochrome c reductase system consisting of cytochrome b5 and its flavoprotein, NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase, was also significantly inhibited by Ebselen. The inhibition appears to be due to the inability of the reduced pyridine nucleotide to transfer electrons to the flavin (FAD and/or FMN) in the flavoprotein reductase. This was shown with the purified NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, which in the presence of Ebselen was not converted to the semiquinone form following the addition of NADPH. The addition of Ebselen to a suspension of hepatic microsomes from either untreated or phenobarbital-treated rats did not result in any spectral change characteristic of type I, type II, or reverse type I.
Animals↗
Action of Ebselen on rat hepatic microsomal enzyme-catalyzed fatty acid chain elongation, desaturation, and drug biotransformation.
In the previous study, the organoselenium-containing anti-inflammatory agent, Ebselen, was found to disrupt both hepatic microsomal NADH- and NADPH-dependent electron transport chains. In the current investigation, we focus on the action of Ebselen on three separate metabolic reactions, namely, fatty acid chain elongation, desaturation, and drug biotransformation, which utilize reducing equivalents via these microsomal electron transport pathways. Both NADH-dependent and NADPH-dependent chain elongation reactions showed (i) that the condensation step was inhibited by Ebselen; all three substrates, palmitoyl CoA (16:0), palmitoleoyl CoA (16:1), and gamma-linolenyl CoA (18:3), were differentially affected by Ebselen; for example, the apparent Ki's of Ebselen for the condensation of 16:0, 16:1, and 18:3 in the absence of bovine serum albumin (BSA) preincubation were 7, 14, and 34 microM, and those in the presence of BSA preincubation were 35, 62, and 150 microM, respectively, supporting earlier data for multiple condensing enzymes; (ii) that the beta-ketoacyl CoA reductase-catalyzed reaction step which appears to receive electrons, at least in part, from the cytochrome b5 system, was also markedly inhibited by varying Ebselen concentrations; and (iii) that similar results were obtained with the dehydrase and the enoyl CoA reductase. Hence, each of the four component steps was significantly inhibited by Ebselen. Another important fatty acid biotransformation reaction, delta 9 desaturation of stearoyl CoA to oleoyl CoA, was significantly inhibited (90%) by 30 microM Ebselen. This effect appeared to be directly related to the NADH-dependent electron transport chain rather than to a direct action on the desaturase enzyme. Last, Ebselen also inhibited both aminopyrine and benzphetamine N-demethylations, two cytochrome P450-catalyzed reactions, in untreated rats, in rats on a high carbohydrate diet, and in phenobarbital-treated rats.
3-Oxoacyl-(Acyl-Carrier-Protein) Reductase↗
Spectrophotometric assay for the condensing enzyme activity of the microsomal fatty acid chain elongation system.
A rapid and simple spectrophotometric method was developed to measure the activity of the condensing enzyme component of the microsomal fatty acid chain elongation system. The intermediate product of the condensation reaction is the beta-ketoacyl CoA which exists in two tautomeric forms, i.e., keto and enol. The addition of bovine serum albumin (BSA) to a cuvette cell containing a beta-ketoacyl CoA derivative resulted in the formation of a 303-nm absorbance peak, characteristic of enolate formation. The beta-ketoacyl CoAs with carbon chain length of 6 to 18 interacted with BSA to produce the 303-nm peak; acetoacetyl CoA was the only beta-keto compound tested which did not interact with BSA to produce the peak. Other compounds which were unaffected by BSA included CoA, free beta-keto acid, beta-hydroxyacyl CoA, acyl CoA, trans-2-enoyl CoA, and malonyl CoA. BSA could not be replaced by ovalbumin; furthermore, denatured (boiling) BSA could not induce the 303-nm peak. The specific activity of the condensing enzyme measured by the spectrophotometric method compares favorably with the activity obtained by the radioactive method. The apparent extinction coefficient (epsilon) for the absorbance peak generated by the beta-keto thioester varied from 5 to 30 mM-1 cm-1 depending on the beta-keto derivative. The spectrophotometric procedure can be used in the determination of the condensing enzyme activity in not only hepatic microsomes but also in kidney and brain microsomes both of which have significantly lower activity. The advantages of the novel method over the radioactive method are that (i) it does not involve the use of radioactive compounds, (ii) it is much less cumbersome and significantly less costly, and (iii) it is rapid and easy to perform.
Animals↗