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Biomedical subjects

M Borgers

Publications and source records attributed to M Borgers.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Ultrastructural changes produced by ketoconazole in the yeast-like phase of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and Histoplasma capsulatum.

The ultrastructural changes produced by ketoconazole in the yeast-phase of H. capsulatum and P. brasiliensis were studied by means of scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The observed alterations on both fungi were very similar to those induced by the same drug on the ultrastructure of C. albicans. These alterations include surface changes, abnormal membrane proliferation, fatty degeneration of the cytoplasm and lysis of the subcellular organelles. P. brasiliensis seems to be more sensitive to ketoconazole than H. capsulatum, since the necrosis of most of the cells was obtained in the former at a concentration of 0.1 microgram/ml and in the latter at 1 microgram/ml.

Cell Membrane↗

Oxatomide protects against degranulation of rat peritoneal mast cells during in vitro challenge with antigen or compound 48/80. Ultrastructural aspects.

The ultrastructure of isolated rat peritoneal mast cells was evaluated after in vitro degranulation and treatment with oxatomide, a new anti-allergic compound. In a first series of experiments, mast cells of rats infected with Trichinella spiralis larvae were incubated with Trichinella larvae somatic antigen to produce histamine release. The release was visualized in the electron microscope by exocytosis of the peripheral amine-containing granules, which resulted from fusion between several perigranular membranes and fusion of these membranes with the plasma membrane. A more drastic degranulation was provoked in a second series by incubation of unsensitized mast cells in the presence of the amine liberator compound 48/80. This treatment led to a complete extrusion of the granules in most of the cells, while in a smaller number of cells, only large vacuoles containing remnants of several granules were seen. The plasma membrane of these cells however was intact and there were no signs of exocytosis. The effect of oxatomide against mast cell degranulation was dose-dependent and comparable for the two types of histamine release. After incubation with high doses (10(-4) M, 5.10(-5) M) granule liberation was rarely observed in antigen-challenged and compound 48/80-challenged cells. Protection was apparently situated at the level of the plasma membrane which seemed to be unable to fuse with the perigranular membranes while fusion of perigranular membranes of individual granules was still possible. None of the tested concentrations of oxatomide induced spontaneous degranulation. High doses, however, led in a number of cells to some ultrastructural alterations such as partial disappearance of plasmalemmal folds, slight cytoplasmic oedema and the appearance of intranuclear microtubules. The latter were also seen in oxatomide-treated challenged mast cells.

Animals↗

Comparative effects of oxatomide on the release of histamine from rat peritoneal mast cells.

Oxatomide inhibits the release of histamine from rat peritoneal mast cells in vitro induced by C 48/80, antigen, anti-IgE and ionophore A 23 187, without effect on non-specific release by n-decylamine. Its effect is concentration- and pH-dependent and decreases with increasing extracellular Ca2+-concentrations. Prolonged incubation does not enhance the inhibition, which is lost after one single wash-out. Aminophylline and isoproterenol are not potentiated by oxatomide. The present study points to an effect of oxatomide on a Ca2+-dependent process at the level of cell membrane common to antigen, C 48/80 and ionophore A 23 187.

Animals↗

Ultrastructural correlates of left ventricular contraction abnormalities in patients with chronic ischemic heart disease: determinants of reversible segmental asynergy postrevascularization surgery.

The relationships between structural alterations and left ventricular (LV) contraction abnormalities were studied in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Transmural biopsies of the LV anterior free wall were taken during aortocoronary bypass surgery (CABG) in 62 patients. When preoperative anterior wall motion (AWM) was reduced, significant myocardial cell degeneration was found in patients with as well as without previous anterior infarction (MI). The amount of myocardial fibrosis was increased only in patients with ECG evidence of previous anterior MI (p less than 0.001). In a second series of 139 CAD patients, cineventriculograms performed before and 8 months after CABG were examined. In patients with patent grafts to the LV anterior wall not previously infarcted, reduced AWM became normal. In patients with previous anterior MI the outcome of AWM was unpredictable (usually unimproved). Thus the histologic correlate of reduced AWM in segments not previously infarcted was progressive loss of contractile material in otherwise viable myocardial cells. Some reversibility was suggested by restoration of resting function after CABG. Unpredictable results in segments associated with pathologic Q waves appear related to the fibrous component of these previously infarcted areas.

Adult↗

St. Thomas cardioplegia versus topical cooling: ultrastructural and biochemical studies in humans.

Transmural left ventricular biopsies were studied from 28 patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass with anoxic cardiac arrest. The myocardium was protected by topical cooling (20 degrees C) (Group 1, 15 patients) or by cardioplegia with St. Thomas' solution (Group 2, 13 patients). Biopsies were taken at the start of bypass and 3 to 5 minutes after unclamping of the aorta. Mean cross-clamp time was not significantly different between the groups (50 minutes for Group 1 and 53 minutes for Group 2; p greater than 0.05). The ultrastructural changes induced by ischemia and subsequent reperfusion were almost exclusively related to the mitochondria. The degree of mitochondrial damage was evaluated by a semiquantitative analysis based on mitochondrial fine structure. The frequency of severe postischemic mitochondrial damage was significantly higher in Group 1 (20.1% versus 2.7% in Group 2; p less than 0.05). Biochemical analysis of the biopsies indicates that the myocardial concentration of creatine phosphate decreases by about 50% after topical cooling (p less than 0.05). With St. Thomas cardioplegia, no significant change in the tissue level of this high-energy phosphate takes place. The results show evidence of the superiority of the St. Thomas cardioplegia to topical cooling alone.

Adult↗

Ketoconazole (R 41 400) in the treatment of dermatophyte infections: a clinical, mycological, and morphological study.

Ketoconazole (100 mg, orally, once daily) was investigated in nine patients with extensive dermatophyte infections. After treatment ranging between one week and three months, clinical cures (healing of lesions and negative cultures) were observed in all cases. In vitro growth of Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, and T. verrucosum isolated from infected skin scales were completely inhibited by concentrations of ketoconazole of 10 microgram/ml and above. No evidence for the development of drug resistance was obtained from regular in vitro sensitivity tests.

Administration, Oral↗

Cardioprotective effects of lidoflazine during 1-hour normothermic global ischemia.

The cardioprotective effects of lidoflazine, a drug with calcium homeostatic properties, were investigated in dogs subjected to 1 hour of normothermic global ischemia, followed by reperfusion. None of the eight control dogs could be weaned from the extracorporeal bypass, confirming the severity of the ischemic model. All eight acutely pretreated dogs showed rapid recovery from the prolonged ischemic arrest and could support their own circulation. Recovery of preischemic values was 95% for systolic aortic pressure, 71% for diastolic aortic pressure, 99% for left ventricular dP/dt max and 80% for cardiac output. Light and electron microscopy and calcium cytochemistry were performed on left ventricular biopsies taken before, during and after ischemic arrest. In the control dogs, loss of structural integrity of the sarcolemma and mitochondria was prominent at the end of the ischemic period. Intracellular edema, hypercontraction of sarcomeres and great accumulation of calcium in severely damaged mitochondria occurred after 5 and 30 minutes of reperfusion. In the lidoflazine-treated dogs, such lesions were largely prevented during the ischemic period and completely reversed after reperfusion. These observations suggest that the tolerance of ischemia is markedly augmented by lidoflazine.

Animals↗

Ultrastructure of Coccidioides immitis after exposure to the imidazole antifungals miconazole and ketoconazole.

Scanning and transmission electron microscopy was performed on the various phases of Coccidioides immitis, exposed for different periods of time to the imidazole antifungals miconazole and ketoconazole. The development of spherules into endospores, which takes place in cultures under normal growth conditions, was suppressed in the drug treated cultures. Typical ultrastructural changes were localized at the cell periphery and in the vacuolar system. The drugs did induce changes in mature, resting endospore cultures and in cultures incubated statically at room temperature. Aerobically growing endospores were not susceptible to either drug. The transformation of arthroconidia into mycelium was fully prevented after treatment. Mycelial cells were most susceptible to the antifungals for necrosis was induced in a substantial part of the hyphae after exposure for 24 h.

Coccidioides↗

The activity of ketoconazole in mixed cultures of leukocytes and Candida albicans.

A system is described which allows the semi-quantitative investigation of the interaction between Candida albicans and leukocytes in culture with and without the addition of chemotherapeutic agents. Both polymorphonuclear leukocytes and macrophages avidly engulfed added yeast cells. However, they did not succeed in eradicating the fungus even when only 450 yeast cells were added to 3 X 10(6) leukocytes. This is probably due to several factors, including the decline in the functiontional capacity of the leukocytes with time in culture. The major way for the fungus to escape intracellular killing, however, seems to be the switch to the mycellial form in the presence of leukocytes. Engulfed yeasts produce germ tubes, grow out of the leukocytes and form hyphae which are much more resistant to the lytic action of the leukocytes. The leukocytes become necrotic through their interaction with the mycelia. Ketoconazole, a potent, orally active systemic antifungal agent inhibited the growth of C. albicans and completely suppressed the formation of mycelia in culture at very low concentrations (0.01 microgram ml-1). It was toxic to the leukocytes themselves only at 100 microgram ml-1. Addition of ketoconazole (10 (10-1.01 microgram ml-1) to mixed cultures of leukocytes and C. albicans allowed complete elimination of the fungus, probably because the leukocytes could easily remove the remaining yeast cells. The data show the usefulness of the system in the search for systemic antifungals and provide a possible explanation for the efficacy of ketoconazole in vivo.

Antifungal Agents↗

Effects of flunarizine on the distribution of calcium in vascular smooth muscle.

Exposure of depolarized caudal artery preparations of the rat to various calcium concentrations evoked sustained contractions of the smooth muscle in a dose-dependent way. Flunarizine was shown to suppress this sustained muscle contraction. Experiments were undertaken to determine the subcellular site where flunarizine interferes with the calcium-induced contractile process. The subcellular distribution of calcium was assessed by electron microscopy, using a combined oxalate-pyroantimonate method. In depolarized strips precipitated calcium was mainly distributed over the contractile elements and the microvesicles lining the cell membrane. When flunarizine was added to the preparation, the precipitate was predominantly confined to the extracellular space, whereas only spotty precipitates were seen in mitochondria and sarcoplasmic reticulum. The myofibrils were almost free of deposits. Without previous depolarization, the smooth muscle cells demonstrated a moderate amount of precipitate over the mitochondria, nuclei, sarcoplasmic vesicles, plasmalemmal microvesicles and myofibrils. In these conditions neither the amount nor the intracellular distribution of the precipitate was influenced by the addition of flunarizine. These observations suggest that flunarizine interfers with the entry of calcium at the plasma membrane level, but only in conditions where the influx of the ion is stimulated.

Animals↗

Ultrastructural and cytochemical correlates of myocardial protection by cardiac hypothermia in man.

We report observations on ultrastructural and cytochemical changes in the myocardium after hypothermic protection in 21 patients who underwent cardiac operation. Two general categories of hypothermic protection were studied. (1) topical cooling during anoxic arrest and moderate general hypothermia (10 patients with aortic valve replacement, Group 1) and (2) intermittent perfusion during moderate general hypothermia combined with topical cooling (11 patients with multiple valve replacement, Group II). Transmural left ventricular biopsies were taken at the start of the cardiopulmonary bypass and shortly after the end of aortic cross-clamping. In Group I (cross-clamp time, 51 +/- 12 minutes) only minor pathologic changes of the myocardial fine structure were found, with no differences among the left ventricular layers. In most mitochondria, structure remained intact but the mitochondrial granules disappeared. Cytochrome-c-oxidase activity was unchanged. In Group II (total cross-clamp time, 83 +/- 16 minutes) the subendocardium was well preserved. Slight subcellular damage comparable with that of resulting from topical cooling was seen in all hearts even after a total cross-clamp period of 106 minutes. Cytochrome-c-oxidase activity was unchanged. In the subepicardium, however, a positive correlation was found between the severity of ultrastructural damage and total cross-clamp time (p less than 0.05). Matrix clearing, damage to the cristae and the mitochondrial membranes, and nuclear abnormalities occurred when the aorta was cross-clamped for morethan 60 minutes. Cytochrome-c-oxidase activities decreased in these samples. It is concluded that: (1) no significant subcellular injury was found in hearts cooled topically during 1 hour of anoxic arrest; and (2) in hearts protected by intermittent perfusion during moderate general hypothermia and additional external cooling, the subendocardium was well preserved for anoxic periods of up to 106 minutes. However, after 60 minutes of aortic cross-clamping subcellular damage increased progressively in the subepicardium.

Aged↗

Some observations on the phosphatase cytochemistry of the submandibular gland of cat.

The localization of reaction product arising from incubation with thiamine pyrophosphate at pH 7.2 and beta-glycerophosphate or nitrophenylphosphate at pH 5 has been examined in central and demilunar acinar cells, myoepithelial cells, and cells of the striated ducts. Thiamine pyrophosphate reaction product was seen in the inner saccules of the Golgi apparatuses of the different types of cell. beta-Glycerophosphate and nitrophenylphosphate reaction products were seen in lysosomes, and in GERL-like structures in all except the cells of the striated ducts, in which the reaction products were observed in the Golgi apparatus. In central cells, the latter two reactions products were also seen in secretory granules and the cytosol.

Animals↗