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Biomedical subjects

L Stein

Publications and source records attributed to L Stein.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Characterization of the anxiolytic properties of a novel neuroactive steroid, Co 2-6749 (GMA-839; WAY-141839; 3alpha, 21-dihydroxy-3beta-trifluoromethyl-19-nor-5beta-pregnan-20-one), a selective modulator of gamma-aminobutyric acid(A) receptors.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a novel neuroactive steroid, Co 2-6749 (GMA-839; WAY-141839; 3alpha, 21-dihydroxy-3beta-trifluoromethyl-19-nor-5beta-pregnan-20-one), on gamma-aminobutyric acid(A) receptors in vitro and to define its anxiolytic-like effects and side effect profile in vivo. Co 2-6749 fully inhibited [(35)S]t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate binding in rat brain cortical membranes with an IC(50) value of 230 nM and in human gamma-aminobutyric acid(A) receptor subunit combinations of alpha1beta2gamma2L, alpha2beta2gamma2L, alpha3beta2gamma2L, alpha4beta3gamma2L, alpha5beta2gamma2L, and alpha6beta3gamma2L receptors (IC(50) values of 200, 200, 96, 2300, 210, and 2000 nM). Rats were trained in a Geller-Seifter operant conflict paradigm. Co 2-6749 caused a dose-related increase in punished responding with a minimum effective dose of 1.6 mg/kg, p.o., a wide therapeutic index relative to a decrease in unpunished responding and relative to ataxia, and no tolerance. Additionally, ethanol caused less than a 2-fold shift to the left in the dose-response function of Co 2-6749 in the rotorod procedure in rats. In a pigeon conflict paradigm, punished responding was maximally increased to 784% of vehicle control by 30 mg/kg, p.o., with a 2-h duration and no effect on unpunished responding at this dose. Similarly, punished responding in squirrel monkeys was maximally increased to 1774% of control by 10 mg/kg, p.o., with no effect on unpunished responding at this dose. With robust anxiolytic-like activity across species, a large separation between anxiolytic-like effects and sedation/ataxia, a minimal interaction with ethanol, a lack of tolerance, and apparent oral bioavailability, Co 2-6749 makes an ideal candidate for development as a novel anxiolytic drug.

Alprazolam↗
PubMed1999

Differential methylation of genes and retrotransposons facilitates shotgun sequencing of the maize genome.

The genomes of higher plants and animals are highly differentiated, and are composed of a relatively small number of genes and a large fraction of repetitive DNA. The bulk of this repetitive DNA constitutes transposable, and especially retrotransposable, elements. It has been hypothesized that most of these elements are heavily methylated relative to genes, but the evidence for this is controversial. We show here that repeat sequences in maize are largely excluded from genomic shotgun libraries by the selection of an appropriate host strain because of their sensitivity to bacterial restriction-modification systems. In contrast, unmethylated genic regions are preserved in these genetically filtered libraries if the insert size is less than the average size of genes. The representation of unique maize sequences not found in plant reference genomes is also greatly enriched. This demonstrates that repeats, and not genes, are the primary targets of methylation in maize. The use of restrictive libraries in genome shotgun sequencing in plant genomes should allow significant representation of genes, reducing the number of reactions required.

Cloning, Molecular↗
PubMed1999

Localization of rat cathepsin K in osteoclasts and resorption pits: inhibition of bone resorption and cathepsin K-activity by peptidyl vinyl sulfones.

We have localized cathepsin K in rat osteoclasts and within exposed resorption pits by immuno-fluorescence microscopy. Intracellular staining using an antibody raised against recombinant mouse cathepsin K was vesicular and uniformly distributed throughout the cell. Confocal microscopy analysis did not reveal an accumulation of cathepsin K containing vesicles opposing the ruffled border and the resorption lacuna. Exposed resorption pits exhibited a uniform distribution of cathepsin K, and no differences were observed between the edges and the centers of the pits. The immunostaining of resorption pits with anti-cathepsin K antibodies demonstrates that the protease is secreted into the sub-osteoclastic compartment. Cathepsin K-specific inhibition using peptidyl vinyl sulfones as selective cysteine protease inactivators reduced bone resorption by 80% in a dose-dependent manner at sub-micromolar concentrations. No reduction of bone resorption was observed at those low concentrations using a potent cathepsin L, S, B-specific inhibitor. That the inhibition of bone resorption can be attributed to cathepsin K-like protease inhibition was corroborated by the selective inhibition of the osteoclastic Z-Gly-Pro-Arg-MbetaNA hydrolyzing activity by the cathepsin K, L, S, B-inhibitor, but not by the cathepsin L, B, and S inhibitor. Z-Gly-Pro-Arg-MbetaNA is efficiently hydrolyzed by cathepsin K but only poorly by cathepsins L, S, and B. On the contrary, the intracellular hydrolysis of the cathepsin B-specific substrate, Z-Arg-Arg-MbetaNA, was prevented by both types of inhibitors. The identification of cathepsin K in resorption pits and the inhibition of bone resorption and intracellular cathepsin K activity by selective vinyl sulfone inhibitors indicate the critical role of the protease in osteoclastic bone resorption.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Large-scale identification, mapping, and genotyping of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the human genome.

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are the most frequent type of variation in the human genome, and they provide powerful tools for a variety of medical genetic studies. In a large-scale survey for SNPs, 2.3 megabases of human genomic DNA was examined by a combination of gel-based sequencing and high-density variation-detection DNA chips. A total of 3241 candidate SNPs were identified. A genetic map was constructed showing the location of 2227 of these SNPs. Prototype genotyping chips were developed that allow simultaneous genotyping of 500 SNPs. The results provide a characterization of human diversity at the nucleotide level and demonstrate the feasibility of large-scale identification of human SNPs.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1998

Human osteoclast formation and activity in vitro: effects of alendronate.

Recent advances in technique have made it possible to study human osteoclast (OC) formation and activity in vitro. The object of the present study was to determine the effects of alendronate (ALN) on human OCs generated from precursors obtained from standard peripheral blood samples. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 14 postmenopausal women were cocultured with ST2 stromal cells on bone slices in the presence of 10(-7) M 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, 10(-8) M dexamethasone, and 25 ng/ml human macrophage colony-stimulating factor. After 21 days, the cultures contained numerous OCs, which were characterized by multinuclearity, the presence of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, calcitonin and vitronectin receptors, and the ability to resorb substantial amounts of bone, which was inhibited by calcitonin. The percentage area of bone resorbed per slice was highly correlated (r = 0.89, p < 0.001) with the concentration of Type I collagen cross-linked C-telopeptides (CTx) released into the culture medium. When added to the medium, ALN inhibited bone resorption at concentrations < or =10(-7) M. At 10(-7) M, inhibition was achieved primarily by a reduction in OC activity without a marked effect on OC number. At the highest concentration studied (10(-5) M), both OC number and resorption were profoundly decreased. Overnight preincubation of bone slices in ALN, without further exposure to ALN, resulted in an inhibition of resorption that was similar to that seen when ALN was present in the medium throughout the entire culture period. We conclude that, except at very high concentrations, the predominant mechanism of action of ALN is to inhibit the activity of differentiated human OCs with little or no effect on recruitment. Interaction between the OC and ALN on the bone surface is an important component of the inhibitory mechanism. Measurement of CTx in tissue culture medium is a convenient method for assessment of bone resorption in human OC cultures and offers a number of advantages over morphometric analysis of the bone slice.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Anxiolytic and anticonvulsant activity of a synthetic neuroactive steroid Co 3-0593.

Endogeneously occurring neuroactive steroids, metabolites of progesterone and deoxycorticosterone, have been shown previously to interact with the GABAA receptor with great specificity in vitro and to have anticonvulsant, anxiolytic and sedative activity in vivo. However, these endogenously occurring steroids are not useful as therapeutic agents due to their potential metabolism to hormonally active steroids and their poor oral bioavailability. In an attempt to develop therapeutic agents which would maintain the pharmacological profiles of endogeneous neuroactive steroids but with increased oral bioavailability and reduced metabolic liability, we explored simple substitutions at the 3 beta-position of the endogenous neuroactive steroid, 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one (3 alpha, 5 alpha-P). This report describes part of the in vitro and in vivo pharmacological profile of a 3 beta-substituted analog, 3 beta-ethenyl-3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one (Co 3-0593). The compound exhibited anticonvulsant activity against pentylenetrazol-induced seizures in mice and rats (ED50 = 5.6 and 11.5 mg/kg, i.p., respectively). Co 3-0593 showed robust anxiolytic effects, comparable to benzodiazepines in the Geller-Seifter test after both SC and oral administration. Furthermore, the anxiolytic activity was maintained after chronic administration suggesting an absence of tolerance. The compound did not affect the acquisition of a learned response at both anticonvulsant and anxiolytic doses. However, at higher doses the compound showed rotorod deficit which was further enhanced by ethanol. In summary, 3 beta-ethenyl-substituted 3 alpha, 5 alpha-P appeared to maintain the pharmacological activities of the endogenous neuroactive steroid with apparent oral activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Eye manifestations of congenital toxoplasmosis.

PURPOSE: To determine the natural history of treated and untreated congenital toxoplasmosis and impact of this infection on vision. METHODS: In this prospective, longitudinal study, 76 newborns were treated with pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine for approximately one year, and 18 individuals not treated during their first year of life entered the study after age 1 year (historical patients). RESULTS: Chorioretinal scars were the most common eye finding in all patients and were most common in the periphery (58% of treated and 82% of historical patients). Macular scars were present in 54% of the treated patients; 41% were bilateral. Macular scars were present in 76% of the historical patients; 23% were bilateral. Visual acuity in the presence of macular lesions ranged from 20/20 to 20/400. Of the patients followed up from the newborn period and treated, 29% had bilateral visual impairment, with visual acuity for the best eye of less than 20/40. Causes for this visual impairment in eyes with quiescent lesions included macular scars, dragging of the macula secondary to a peripheral lesion, retinal detachment, optic atrophy, cataract, amblyopia, and phthisis. There were recurrences in both treated (13%, 7/54) and previously untreated historical patients (44%, 8/18). The total, median, and range of years of follow-up during which recurrences were observed were, for treated patients, 189 years (total), five years (median) and three to ten years (range) and, for historical, untreated patients, 160 years (total), 11 years (median), and three to 24 years (range). New lesions occurred in previously normal retinas and also contiguous to older scars. Active lesions appeared to become quiescent within ten to 14 days after beginning pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine therapy. CONCLUSION: Many children with congenital toxoplasmosis have substantial retinal damage at birth and consequent loss of vision. Nonetheless, vision may be remarkably good in the presence of large macular scars. Active lesions become quiescent with treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Full-time atropine, intermittent atropine, and optical penalization and binocular outcome in treatment of strabismic amblyopia.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study is to evaluate the monocular and binocular outcome of three types of "penalization" (blurring of the sound eye) treatment of amblyopia: traditional full-time atropine or optical penalization and a new intermittent atropine regimen involving atropine instillation 1 to 3 days a week. DESIGN: The study design was a retrospective study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 163 patients with strabismic amblyopia treated by full-time atropine (n = 38), intermittent atropine (n = 73), or optical (n = 52) penalization participated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity, and binocularity index were determined. RESULTS: All three forms of penalization produced statistically significant mean reduction in amblyopia (1.7-2.7 logMAR lines) and mean improvement in binocularity by the end-of-treatment or long-term follow-up visit or both, with minimal mean loss after discontinuation or slight mean improvement on these measures at long-term mean follow-up of 1.9 to 4 years across groups. Few patients achieved high-grade stereoacuity. Compliance was high. Comparable efficacy was found for all three treatment groups after controlling for age, depth of amblyopia, and binocularity at the initial visit. Initial-visit amblyopia depth was strongly and significantly associated with amblyopia depth at both post-treatment visits. Pretreatment and post-treatment binocularity showed a similar strong relationship. Surprisingly, however, there was no consistent or significant association found between depth of amblyopia and binocularity in any visit combination. Post-treatment measures of these two variables also were not associated with initial-visit age or refractive error at any clinically significant level. Mean treatment duration was 1.1 to 2.9 years and was not found to be associated with visual outcome. Amblyopia reversal was found in one (full-time atropine) case at a clinically important level. CONCLUSIONS: The authors confirmed previous reports of penalization's efficacy as a primary treatment of moderate amblyopia (20/100 or better acuity) and, in some cases, relatively severe amblyopia (>20/100) and also confirmed its ability to significantly improve mean binocularity. Amblyopia and binocularity appear to respond to treatment independently and, within the postinfancy age range of the sample studied, the responses appear to be independent of initial-visit age. The high acceptability to patients and parents of atropine penalization, and particularly of the intermittent regimen introduced here, suggests the need for prospective-study-based re-evaluation of the relative merits of penalization and occlusion as the standard of care for mild-to-moderate amblyopia.

Accommodation, Ocular↗
PubMed1997

Building human genome maps with radiation hybrids.

Genome maps are crucial tools in human genetic research, providing known landmarks for locating disease genes and frameworks for large-scale sequencing. Radiation hybrid mapping is one technique for building genome maps. In this paper, we describe the methods used to build radiation hybrid maps of the entire human genome. We present the hidden Markov model that we employ to estimate the likelihood of a map despite uncertainty about the data, and we discuss the problem of searching for maximum-likelihood maps. We describe the graph algorithms used to find sparse but reliable initial maps and our methods of extending them. Finally, we show results validating our software on simulated data, and we describe our genome-wide human radiation hybrid maps and the evidence supporting them.

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed1997

Follow the signs.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Diagnosis↗
PubMed1997

Long-term results of percutaneous endopyelotomy in the treatment of children with failed open pyeloplasty.

PURPOSE: We reviewed our experience with the safety and long-term efficacy of percutaneous endopyelotomy in children with secondary ureteropelvic junction obstruction who previously underwent open pyeloplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine patients a median of 7 years old underwent endopyelotomy between June 1985 and July 1995. Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty had previously been performed in all children. Antegrade endopyelotomy was done with a cold knife in conjunction with balloon dilation in some cases. Postoperative stenting lasted 6 weeks. RESULTS: The median interval between pyeloplasty and endopyelotomy was 7.5 months. Mean operative time was 240 minutes. Percutaneous endopyelotomy was successful in 8 of the 9 patients. One patient who required repeat endopyelotomy after 4 years is presently well at 5 years of followup. Average followup was 5.6 years (range 2 to 10). There was a low morbidity rate, including 1 case of urinary tract infection, 1 of pneumonia and 1 that required blood transfusion. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous antegrade endopyelotomy is a safe, effective and durable alternative for children who previously underwent unsuccessful pyeloplasty.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Self-administration of the D1 agonist SKF 82958 is mediated by D1, not D2, receptors.

We have previously reported that two D1 dopamine agonists, SKF 82958 and SKF 77434, are readily self-administered by rats. However, due to the limited selectivities of these agents, it was not possible to attribute their reinforcing effects exclusively to their D1 actions. To assess the relative involvement of D1 and D2 receptors in SKF 82958 reinforcement, rats were pretreated 30 min before self-administration sessions with either the D1-selective antagonist (+)SCH 23390 or the D2-selective antagonist raclopride. The D1 antagonist (+)SCH 23390 (5-20 micrograms/kg, SC) produced significant, dose-related (compensatory) increases in SKF 82958; in contrast, the D2 antagonist raclopride (25-400 micrograms/kg, SC) did not significantly increase SKF 82958 self-administration, although raclopride did increase cocaine self-administration. Compensatory increases in self-administration rates are thought to reflect antagonist-induced reductions in drug reinforcement. Hence, we conclude that SKF 82958 self-administration depends on activation of a D1-regulated reinforcement substrate.

Animals↗