Multiple ionization of atomic and molecular iodine in strong laser fields.
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Journal Article↗
Biomedical subjects
M Schmidt
Publications and source records attributed to M Schmidt.
Product-state distributions in the dissociative recombination of 3HeD+ and 4HeH+
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Journal Article↗
Effect of arterial chemoreceptor stimulation with almitrine bismesylate on plasma renin activity, aldosterone, ACTH and cortisol in anaesthetized, artificially ventilated cats.
1. Changes in plasma renin activity (PRA) and in the plasma concentration of aldosterone, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol in response to an intravenous infusion of the chemoreceptor stimulant almitrine bismesylate (0.2 mg/kg) were studied in two groups of anaesthetized, paralysed and constantly ventilated cats. In one group, the peripheral arterial chemoreceptors remained innervated, whereas in the other they were denervated by bilateral cervical vagotomy and section of the carotid sinus nerves. 2. Animals with innervated chemoreceptors (n = 16) reacted to almitrine bismesylate with a significant (P <0.05) increase in both ACTH and cortisol. These responses were not present in cats in which the peripheral arterial chemoreceptors had been surgically denervated (n = 16). 3. Plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone increased with time during experiments on both the chemoreceptor-intact and chemoreceptor-denervated cats. Almitrine did not affect the time course of the rise in PRA and plasma aldosterone in either group of animals. 4. These data indicate that, under the conditions of our experiments, almitrine induced arterial chemoreceptor reflex mechanisms stimulate ACTH and cortisol release, but has no chemoreceptor-dependent influence on PRA or plasma aldosterone.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
Improving accelerometer-based rate adaptive pacing by means of second-generation signal processing.
Accelerometer-based rate adaptive pacing has gained widespread clinical use. Limitations exist for the distinction between walking upstairs and downstairs. It was the aim of this study to evaluate a new signal processing algorithm for more physiological rate adaptation. A custom-made pacemaker incorporating an accelerometer was randomly fixed to the left or right chest of 16 pacemaker patients (7 females, age: 64 +/- 11 years), 18 elderly study participants (6 females, age: 62 +/- 11 years), and 15 students (7 females age: 23 +/- 2 years). Study participants walked on level ground, upstairs and downstairs at five different step rates (72, 84, 96, 108, and 120 steps/min) controlled by an acoustic quartz metronome. The accelerometer signals, recorded on a portable data recorder, were analyzed with respect to frequency content, peak average of the mean acceleration, and morphology characteristics of the acceleration signal above and below zero baseline. By calculating the quotient of the signal's duration above and below zero baseline, a reliable discrimination between walking upstairs and downstairs was possible. A correction of the Leaky integrator signal by the new quotient yielded a more adequate rate adaptation to walking up and downstairs to represent at the patient's daily life activities. A more physiological rate adaptation can be achieved when using not only the accelerometer signal's amplitude, but applying additionally the morphology criterium of the acceleration signal's content in the positive and negative direction.
Acceleration↗
Detection of rubella virus-specific immunoglobulin M antibodies with a baculovirus-expressed E1 protein.
The structural proteins of rubella virus (RV) were expressed in insect cells by using the baculovirus expression vector system. The recombinant E1 envelope glycoprotein was purified by immunoaffinity chromatography and used to detect RV-specific immunoglobulin M antibodies in a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay. Correlation analysis between the reactivities of antibodies against this recombinant E1 and the reactivities against authentic RV antigen shows that purified E1 can detect RV antibodies of the immunoglobulin M type.
Antibodies, Viral↗
Neurons in the cat pretectum that project to the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus are activated during saccades.
1. Neurons in the pretectal nuclear complex that project to the ipsilateral dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGNd) were identified by antidromic activation after electrical LGNd stimulation in awake cats, and their response properties were characterized to retinal image shifts elicited either by external visual stimulus movements or during spontaneous saccadic eye movements on a stationary visual stimulus, and to saccades in darkness. Eye position was monitored with the use of a scleral search coil and care was taken to assure stability of the eyes during presentation of moving visual stimuli. 2. Of a total sample of 134 cells recorded, 27 neurons were antidromically activated by electrical LGNd stimulation. In addition, responses from neurons that were not activated from the LGNd were also analyzed, including 19 "retinal slip" cells, which selectively respond to slow horizontal stimulus movements, and 21 "jerk" cells, which are specifically activated by rapid stimulus shifts. All recorded neurons were located in the nucleus of the optic tract and in the posterior pretectal nucleus. 3. In the light, neurons identified as projecting to the LGNd responded maximally to saccadic eye movements and to externally generated sudden shifts of large visual stimuli. Slow stimulus drifts did not activate these neurons. Response latencies were shorter and peak activities were increased during saccades compared with pure visual stimulation. No systematic correlation between response latency, response duration, or the number of spikes in the response and saccade direction, saccade amplitude, or saccade duration was found. Saccades and rapid stimulus shifts in the light also activated jerk cells but not retinal slip cells. 4. All 27 antidromically activated neurons also responded to spontaneous saccadic eye movements in complete darkness. Responses to saccades in the dark, however, had longer response latencies and lower peak activities than responses to saccades in light. As in the light, response parameters in darkness seemed not to code specific saccade parameters. Cells that were not activated from LGNd were found to be unresponsive to saccades in the dark. 5. According to their specific activation by saccades in darkness, LGNd-projecting pretectal neurons are termed "saccade neurons" to distinguish them from other pretectal cell populations, in particular from jerk neurons, which show similar response properties in light. 6. The saccade-related activation of pretectal saccade neurons may be used to modulate visual responses of LGNd relay cells following saccadic eye movements. Because the pretectogeniculate projection in cat most likely is GABAergic and terminates on inhibitory LGNd interneurons, its activation may lead to a saccade-locked disinhibition of relay cells. This input could counter the strong inhibition induced in the LGNd after shifts of gaze direction and lead to a resetting of LGNd cell activity.
Animals↗
Acute influence of cigarette smoke on secretion of pulmonary surfactant in rat alveolar type II cells in culture.
It has been shown, that smoking results in a lower yield of surfactant associated phospholipids in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Indirect evidence suggests impaired secretion. In the present study, we investigated the influence of cigarette smoke on surfactant secretion in cultured rat alveolar type II cells. Smoke exposure was achieved by bubbling the smoke of four cigarettes through Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) which was adjusted to a reference absorption value of 1.36 at 320 nm. Cells were preincubated with various dilutions of cigarette smoke-treated medium for 30 min, and were then exposed to this medium for 2 h. After this time, secretion of 3H-choline-labelled phosphatidylcholine (PC) was measured as a marker of surfactant secretion. A 10 fold dilution of cigarette smoke-treated medium inhibited PC secretion stimulated by a combination of terbutaline, adenosine triphosphate and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate by over 50%, but did not alter basal secretion. Exposure to less concentrated cigarette smoke-treated medium resulted in less inhibition. Cellular injury was not observed with the concentrations of cigarette smoke-treated medium used in this study. The gas phase of cigarette smoke was not inhibitory at comparable concentrations. Longer exposure to cigarette smoke-treated medium resulted in increased inhibition of PC secretion. The cigarette smoke ingredients, nicotine and benzo[a]pyrene, failed to inhibit PC secretion. Secretion of type II cells exposed to cigarette smoke-treated medium at lower temperatures was not affected. Addition of antioxidants to medium and cells during the preincubation and secretion period did not alter cigarette smoke-treated medium-induced inhibition of stimulated PC secretion. These results demonstrate a direct inhibitory effect of cigarette smoke constituents on surfactant secretion in type II cells. Inhibition is mediated by compounds contained predominantly in the particulate phase of cigarette smoke. Inactivation of the inhibitory effect by lower temperatures suggests involvement of processes such as enzymatic bioactivation or active transport mechanisms.
Animals↗
A microbiological assay for the quantitative determination of glutathione.
Based on the requirement of a glutathione-deficient mutant strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to take up external glutathione for growth on synthetic media, a simple agar diffusion test for quantitative detection of total glutathione from various sources was established. Glutathione concentrations can be reliably detected in a less expensive way, requiring less technical effort compared to enzymatic or biochemical detection methods.
Glutathione↗
Prognostic significance of p53 expression, chromosome 17 copy number, and DNA ploidy in non-metastasized colorectal carcinomas (stages IB and II).
BACKGROUND AND METHODS: Paraffin-embedded tumor tissue from 101 non-metastasized colorectal adenocarcinomas (tumor stages IB and II--that is, pT2 and 3, pN0, M0) was investigated for p53 expression by immunohistology (IH) (moab DO1), chromosome 17 (#17) copy number by interphase cytogenetics using non-radioactive in situ hybridization (NISH) with a centromer-specific DNA probe (D17Z1), and DNA ploidy by flow cytometry (FCM). The aims of the study were 1) to test whether numerical #17 aberrations are involved in functional TP53 loss in locally confined colorectal carcinomas; 2) to search for correlations between aberrant p53 expression and #17 aberrations with DNA ploidy and histopathology; and 3) to test the prognostic significance of these factors. RESULTS: Sixty cases (59.4%) showed nuclear p53 expression IH (low-grade p53 accumulation (< 50%), n = 16 (15.8%); high-grade (> or = 50%), n = 44 (43.6%)). Nish showed #17 aneusomy in 46% of the carcinomas (34% deletions, 12% gains). In FCM analysis, 43% of the carcinomas were DNA non-diploid. p53 overexpression correlated statistically significantly with FCM non-diploidy (p = 0.013). Furthermore, #17 aneusomy also correlated with FCM non-diploidy (p = 0.001). However, there was no association between #17 status and p53 expression (IH). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest a role for the TP53 gene in the aneuploidization process. Numerical deletions of #17, however, were not associated with p53 immunoreactivity in the analyzed tumors. With regard to prognosis, the most important independent variable in stage IB/II colorectal carcinomas was tumor stage, followed by high-grade p53 expression of tumor cells; #17 aneusomy was an independent risk factor for tumor relapse/progression but not for survival. As alterations of the investigated variables were not found in all carcinomas under study, different pathogenetic pathways seem to exist in colorectal carcinogenesis.
Adenocarcinoma↗
Overexpression of ADH1 confers hyper-resistance to formaldehyde in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
In an attempt to clone genes involved in resistance to formaldehyde we have screened a genomic library based on the episomal plasmid YEp24 for the ability to increase resistance to formaldehyde in a wild-type strain. In addition to SFA, the gene encoding the formaldehyde dehydrogenase Adh5, an enzyme most potent in formaldehyde de-toxification, we isolated a second plasmid that conferred a less pronounced but significant hyper-resistance to formaldehyde. Its passenger DNA contained the gene ADH1, encoding alcohol dehydrogenase 1 (EC 1.1.1.1), which could be shown to be responsible for the observed hyper-resistance phenotype. Construction of an adh1-0 mutant revealed that yeast lacking a functional ADH1 gene is sensitive to formaldehyde. While glutathione is essential for Adh5-mediated formaldehyde de-toxification, Adh1 reduced formaldehyde best in the absence of this thiol compound. Evidence is presented that formaldehyde is a substrate for Adh1 in vivo and in vitro and that its cellular de-toxification employs a reductive step that may yield methanol.
1-Propanol↗
CA 15-3: a multicentre evaluation of automated and manual tests.
The introduction of a new and automated CA 15-3 immunoassay (IMx Abbott) prompted us to compare the analytical performance of this new test with established tests from CIS ELSA, Sorin, and Boehringer Mannheim in a multicentre study. CA 15-3 measurements in blood samples of breast tumour patients, comparison of intra- and inter-assay variation, dilution linearity, and lower limit of detection are described. The study showed improved precision for the automated over the manual test systems (intra-assay variation: IMx < 5%, CIS ELSA 4-9%, ES 300 < 3% and ETI Sorin > 10%; inter-assay variation: IMx < or = 8%, CIS ELSA < or = 19%, ES 300 < or = 9% and ETI Sorin < or = 27%). Results on patients' samples (n = 101 to 184) showed highly comparable results; IMx vs CIS ELSA site 1: r = 0.950; IMx vs CIS ELSA site 2: r = 0.998; IMx vs ES 300: r = 0.980; IMx vs ETI Sorin: r = 0.931. Slopes of regression lines varied from 0.666 for IMx vs ETI Sorin to 0.988 for IMx vs CIS ELSA (site 1, where heparin plasma was used instead of serum as recommended by the manufacturer found to be only slightly dependent on assay ranges analysed by statistical procedures applied. Despite good correlations between methods, it is recommended that samples collected in the follow-up of disease and at higher CA 15-3 concentrations are analysed by the same test; a changeover to another test is not encouraged.
Automation↗
Interferon therapy, but not busulfan restores normal-sized megakaryopoiesis in CML--a comparative histo- and immunomorphometric study.
To assess possible alterations of megakaryocytes associated with interferon (IFN) and busulfan (BU) therapy of Ph(1+)-CML, an immunohistochemical and morphometric study was performed on trephine biopsies of the bone marrow taken before and at varying intervals during treatment. For the identification of megakaryopoiesis and its endoreduplicative activity the monoclonal antibodies CD61 (anti-platelet glycoprotein IIIa) and PC10 raised against proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were used. We compared 60 specimens from 20 patients following IFN alpha-2b administration (in combination with IFN gamma in seven patients) with 57 specimens from 22 patients after monotherapy with BU. A close correlation with clinical follow-up studies revealed that in the IFN-treated group the prevalence of atypical micro-megakaryocytes, usually characterizing CML, was conspicuously reduced in repeatedly taken bone marrow samples. Initially, even an increase in size which was levelled to normal values during maintenance therapy was observed. These features were most prominently expressed in the 13 patients with a complete hematologic and/or partial cytogenetic response. Associated with this phenomenon was a significant enhancement of the PCNA-labelling index which indicated a stimulation of endoreduplicative (endomitotic) activity necessary for achieving normal size and ploidy. In the second group of patients treated by BU these changes were absent. For this reason, our findings are in keeping with the assumption that during IFN treatment, there is at least partial recovery and expansion of a putative normal (Ph1-) megakaryopoiesis. In conclusion, megakaryocyte morphology, i.e. normalization in size, is thought to be a useful indicator to evaluate the response to IFN in CML patients.
Adult↗
Inhibition by toxin B of inositol phosphate formation induced by G protein-coupled and tyrosine kinase receptors in N1E-115 neuroblastoma cells: involvement of Rho proteins.
G protein-coupled receptors activate phospholipase C (PLC)-beta isoforms by the alpha or beta gamma subunits of G proteins, whereas growth-factor receptors activate PLC-gamma isoforms by phosphorylating tyrosine residues of the enzyme. As a common substrate for PLC enzymes, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [Ptdins(4,5)P2] may play a pivotal role in the regulation of cellular PLC activity. Because small-molecular-weight G proteins have been implicated in the synthesis of Ptdins(4,5)P2, we studied the effect of Clostridium difficile toxin B, which glucosylates and thereby inactivates small G proteins of the Rho family, on receptor-stimulated PLC activity. We report here that in N1E-115 neuroblastoma cells, stimulation of inositol phosphate formation by the G protein-coupled receptor agonists bradykinin and lysophosphatidic acid and by the tyrosine kinase receptor agonist platelet-derived growth factor is largely attenuated by toxin B treatment. Furthermore, inositol phosphate production stimulated by the stable GTP analog guanosine 5'-O-(3-thio)-triphosphate in permeabilized N1E-115 cells was inhibited by C3 exoenzyme, which specifically inactivates Rho proteins. The inhibition by toxin B was apparently not caused by its effect on the cytoskeleton. In addition, the level of platelet-derived growth factor receptors, which was studied with immunoblotting, was unaffected by toxin B. Using exogenous Ptdlns(4,5)P2 as PLC substrate, it was found that the intrinsic enzymatic activity of PLC activated either by Ca2+ or by guanosine 5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate was not altered by toxin B. However, toxin B decreased strongly, by up to 80%, the cellular level of Ptdins(4,5)P2 in a concentration-dependent manner, without changing those of phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate. These results, together with the recent finding that Rho family proteins can regulate phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase activity, demonstrate that Rho proteins are presumably important regulators of Ptdins(4,5)P2 synthesis and, thereby, play an integral role in the regulation of cellular signaling by PLC enzymes.
ADP Ribose Transferases↗
m3 Muscarinic receptor-induced and Gi-mediated heterologous potentiation of phospholipase C stimulation: role of phosphoinositide synthesis.
Agonist activation of thrombin and purinergic receptors endogenously expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells and of the stably expressed m3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) induces phospholipase C (PLC) stimulation, with the most pronounced PLC stimulation observed on mAChR activation. These receptor responses were pertussis toxin (PTX) insensitive and nonadditive, suggesting that the receptors share common signaling pathways. Short term (2 min) pretreatment of HEK cells with carbachol (1 mM), but not ATP, followed by agonist washout, caused a long-lasting (> or = 90 min) sensitization of PLC responses. At 30 min after carbachol treatment and washout, mAChR-stimulated PLC activity, measured as formation of either total inositol phosphates or of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate, was enhanced by 1.5-2-fold. PLC stimulation by thrombin and purinergic receptors was increased by approximately 3-fold. Furthermore, carbachol pretreatment also enhanced, by approximately 2.5-fold, stimulation of PLC activity on direct activation of G proteins by AIF4- and guanosine-5'-O-(3-thio)-triphosphate in intact and permeabilized cells, respectively. In contrast, PLC activities, measured with exogenous phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate [Ptdns(4,5)P2] in HEK cell lysates, were not altered, suggesting that carbachol pretreatment may enhance the cellular level of Ptdlns(4,5)P2. Indeed, the level of Ptdlns(4,5)P2 was found to be increased by approximately 50% in HEK cells 30 min after short term carbachol treatment, whereas the level of phosphatidylinositol was not altered and that of phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate decreased (by 40-50%). Pretreatment of HEK cells with PTX prevented the m3 mAChR-induced PLC potentiation and reduced the elevation in Ptdlns(4,5)P2 level by approximately 50%. In conclusion, short term agonist activation of m3 mAChRs stably expressed in HEK cells can lead to a longlasting heterologous potentiation of PLC signaling, which processes apparently involve PTX-sensitive G proteins and an enhanced PLC substrate supply.
Carbachol↗
Infection by Candida albicans inhibits apoptosis of human monocytes and monocytic U937 cells.
Infectious microorganisms can differently induce or inhibit apoptosis of immunocompetent effector and host cells. In this study we examined the influence of an infection by Candida albicans (C. albicans) on programmed cell death of monocytic U937 cells and human monocytes. Basal and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced DNA fragmentation of U937 cells was significantly inhibited by an infection with C. albicans. Enhanced apoptosis of U937 cells, induced by TNF-alpha, caused a diminished candidacidal activity of the effector cells, whereas inhibition of apoptosis by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was paralleled by an intensified host defense. Pretreatment of U937 cells or monocytes with the cyclooxygenase blocker indomethacin completely abolished the reduction of DNA fragmentation induced by the yeast. Studying the underlying mechanisms we found that C. albicans induced formation of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by U937. Exogenous administration of PGE2 down-regulated apoptosis of U937 or human monocytes to a similar extent as did fungal infection. Activation of protein kinase A by the cAMP analogue 8-bromo-cAMP inhibited U937 apoptosis, as did PGE2. On the other hand, rp-cAMP, a blocker of the cAMP-dependent signal transduction, restored and elevated DNA fragmentation levels down-regulated by C. albicans. U937 cells expressed the bcl-2 protein but the infection with fungi or PGE2 treatment did not increase proto-oncogene expression. Monocytic effector cells may therefore strengthen the defense against C. albicans by an autocrine feedback regulation via a PGE2-dependent, cAMP-transduced inhibition of apoptosis.
Apoptosis↗
Michael reactions of ascorbic acid, 4th communication: nitrostyrene as a Michael acceptor toward vitamin C.
The nitrostyrene derivatives 1a-m, prepared by the reaction of nitromethane with the appropriate substituted benzaldehyde, were reacted with ascorbic acid in a Michael type reaction to the new compounds 2a-h. The structural assignment of the resulting mixture of diastereomers could be performed by means of two dimensional homo- and heterocorrelated NMR spectroscopy and comparison to known Michael adducts of ascorbic acid. Catalytic hydrogenolysis of 2a yielded the rearranged compound 7, formed by intramolecular aminolysis in analogy to the rearrangement of the Michael adduct of ascorbic acid and methylvinylketone 3 given in the literature. On testing, the C-nucleoside 7 did not reveal virostatic or cytostatic effects.
Antineoplastic Agents↗
The role of membrane proximal threonine residues conserved among guanine-nucleotide-binding-protein-coupled receptors in internalization of the m4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor.
Many guanine-nucleotide-binding-protein-coupled receptors contain consensus sequences for phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), often located in the membrane proximal regions critically important for receptor signalling. In the present study, we have evaluated by site-directed mutagenesis the role of the putative PKA phosphorylation sites in the m4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR), i.e. Thr145 in the second cytoplasmic loop and Thr399 in the third cytoplasmic loop, and the influence of PKA on m4 mAChR function and internalization. Antagonist binding was unaltered by any of the mutations studied, while the agonist-binding affinity was either not affected (Thr145 alanine), increased (Thr399 alanine) or decreased (Thr399 serine or aspartic acid). m4 mAChR-mediated inhibition of adenylyl cyclase was unaltered by the mutations, except for an approximately tenfold reduced agonist potency of the Thr399 aspartic acid mutated receptor. Agonist-induced receptor internalization was unaltered with Thr399 serine or aspartic acid mutations of the receptors, but was strongly decreased in its rate and extent upon replacement of Thr399, Thr145 or both of these residues with alanine. These mutational effects could not be reproduced by treatment of wild-type receptor-expressing cells with the PKA inhibitor H-8. Furthermore, maximal stimulation of cellular PKA neither affected receptor internalization nor signalling measured as receptor-mediated Ca2+ mobilization. We conclude that the membrane proximal threonine residues of the m4 mAChR are not required for receptor signalling, but replacement by alanine residues can significantly affect receptor internalization, independently of PKA phosphorylation. Sequence comparisons suggest that threonine residues at corresponding positions may be relevant to internalization of other guanine-nucleotide-binding-protein-coupled receptors.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Evidence for ADP-ribosylation-factor-mediated activation of phospholipase D by m3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor.
Activation of phospholipase D (PLD) is a cellular response to a wide variety of extracellular ligands. However, the exact mechanisms that link cell surface receptors to PLD remain unclear. In this study, we report the involvement of the small-molecular-mass guanine-nucleotide-binding protein, ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF), in the activation of PLD by the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) in human embryonic kidney cells stably expressing the human m3 subtype. PLD stimulation in permeabilized cells by guanosine 5'-O-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]) was dependent on a cytosolic factor and reconstituted by purified recombinant ARF 1. Brefeldin A, a known inhibitor of the ARF guanine-nucleotide-exchange-factor activity in Golgi membranes, inhibited mAChR-stimulated PLD, whereas basal PLD activity and stimulation by GTP[S] were not affected. Upon cell permeabilization without the addition of stimulus, ARF proteins were released. However, the addition of GTP[S] during permeabilization and mAChR activation before permeabilization caused an almost complete and partial (about 60%) inhibition, respectively, of ARF release, indicating that ARF proteins are activated and thereby translocated to membranes. The results indicate that ARF proteins and their nucleotide-exchange factor are apparently involved in the signalling pathway leading from mAChR activation to PLD stimulation in human embryonic kidney cells.
ADP-Ribosylation Factors↗