Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M Vaughan.
A group training course utilizing videotaped material and discussion proved to be as effective as traditional methods in teaching medical students to obtain information from co-operative psychiatric patients. There were also some clear indications that group video training may prove valuable in teaching specific interview techniques, although its full potential in this area has yet to be explored.
Two different mechanisms for the active accumulation of Ca2+ by subcellular fractions of human umbilical artery are described. One, located in the mitochondrial fraction, was induced by exogenous ATP or respiratory substrates (ADP and succinate) and was inhibited by azide. The other, located in the microsomal fraction, was induced by ATP and potentiated by oxalate, but not inhibited by azide. Increasing ATP concentrations up to 4-5 mM increased microsomal Ca2+ accumulation, whereas increasing ATP concentration above 2-3 mM caused inhibition of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake. Although changing pH from 7.4 to 7.2 had no effect on mitochondrial Ca2+ accumulation, it doubled microsomal uptake. Neither adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate nor guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate in the presence or absence of protein kinase and kinase modulator affected Ca2+ uptake by or phosphorylation of the subcellular fractions. Partially purified protein kinases from umbilical and beef skeletal muscle contained a component(s) distinguishable from the kinase on the basis of its heat stability that enhanced ATP-induced Ca2+ uptake by mitochondrial fractions from the umbilical artery. It is suggested that alterations in Ca2+ sequestration induced by changes in ATP concentration and intracellular pH in mitochondrial and microsomal fractions, respectively, could play a role in the control of arterial patency and closure with changes in PO2.
In man and other animals, urinary excretion of the histidine and histamine metabolite, imidazoleacetate, is increased and that of its conjugated metabolite, ribosylimidazoleacetate, decreased by salicylates. Imidazoleacetate has been reported to produce analgesia and narcosis. Its accumulation as a result of transferase inhibition could play a part in the therapeutic effects of salicylates. To determine the locus of salicylate action, we have investigated the effect of anti-inflammatory drugs on imidazoleacetate phosphoribosyl transferase, the enzyme that catalyzes the ATP-dependent conjugation of imidazoleacetate with phosphoribosylpyrophosphate. As little as 0.2 mM aspirin produced 50% inhibition of the rat liver transferase. In vivo, a 30% decrease in the urinary excretion of ribosylimidazoleacetate has been observed with plasma salicylate concentrations of 0.4 mM. The enzyme was also inhibited by sodium salicylate but not by salicylamide, sodium gentisate, aminopyrine, phenacetin, phenylbutazone, or indomethacin. The last four drugs have been shown previously not to alter the excretion of ribosylimidazoleacetate when administered in vivo. Since both the drug specificity and inhibitory concentrations are similar in vivo and in vitro, it seems probable that the effect of salicylates on imidazoleacetate conjugation results from inhibition of imidazoleacetate phosphoribosyl transferase.
The relationships between obsessional personality, obsessions in depression, and symptoms of depression were investigated by means of a retrospective study of case notes and item sheets. One hundred and sixty-eight cases of depression, aged 20 to 29 years, were rated for obsessional personality as defined by Ingram (1961). The presence of previous obsessions, of obsessions in depression and of eight symptoms of depression was assessed from the item sheets. Obsessional personality was found to be significantly associated only with a decreased frequency of objective apathy, although it seemed to act to reduce the anxiety experienced by those with obsessions, in depression. Obsessions in depression were associated with rapid changes of mood, anxiety, agitation and overactivity and with a relative absence of retardation.
In term gestational human umbilical artery segments incubated in room air at 37 degrees, histamine, acetylcholine, bradykinin, K+, and serotonin (agonists that cause contraction) cause accumulation of guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cGMP) without altering the content of adenosine 3':5'-monosphophate (cAMP); prostaglandin E1 (PGE1), which relaxes the artery, causes cAMP accumulation without affecting the cGMP content (Clyman, R. I., Sandler, J.A., Manganiello, V.C., and Vaughan, M. (1975) J. Clin. Invest., in press). It has been postulated that Ca-2+ is important in the regulation of cyclic nucleotides in other tissues. In the umbilical artery the control of cAMP content by PGE1 was independent of Ca-2+. After incubation in Ca-2+-free medium, the c GMP contentof the artery segments was decreased by 50% and was unaffected by histamine, acetylcholine, bradykinin, and K+. Readdition of Ca-2+ (2.7 mM) or Sr-2+ (3.6 mM) to the medium partially restored the basal cGMP content and the agonist effects on the cGMP content. However, Sr-2+ was not as effective as Ca-2+ in this regard. Ionophores A23187 and X537A (agents that facilitate Ca-2+ movement through membranes) mimicked the effects of these Ca-2+-dependent agonists on cGMP content. Incubation with the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methyl xanthine (0.1 mM) increased both the basal content of cGMP and the histamine-induced accumulation 3-fold. This effect was dependent on the presence of Ca-2+ also. Accumulation of cGMP induced by serotonin, on the other hand, was not diminished in Ca-2+-depleted arteries and, in fact, seemed to be inhibited by 2.7 mM Ca-2+. These observations are consistent with the existence in the umbilical artery of two separate mechanisms for control of cGMP synthesis that are influenced differently by Ca-2+.
Release of lipoprotein lipase from rat fat cells incubated at 20 degrees in medium with albumin, but without glucose proceeded at a constant rate for 30 min. The initial rate of release was increased when serum was present in the medium. Maximal stimulation (100-300%) was produced with 3.8% serum. The maximal increment in release caused by serum was always greater than that produced by heparin and when both were added release was greater than it was with either one alone. The active component(s) of serum, nondialyzable and stable for 30 min at 56 degrees C, was present in sera from humans and rats in the fed or fasted state. Glucose plus insulin (but neither alone) enhanced the rate of lipase release in the presence of serum but not in its absence. The half-life of the lipase in basal medium of 20 degrees C was 90 min. Heparin decreased this to about 50 min and serum markedly prolonged it whether or not heparin was present. Lipoprotein lipase activity in cells and fractions thereof was assayed in extracts of acetone powders. After centrifugation of fat cell homogenates at 600 times g for 15 min, only 50-60% of the activity was recovered in the supernatant. After centrifugation at 100 000 times g for 60 min, the supernatant contained about 10% of the total activity and the sediment 40%. In some experiments, most of the rest was recovered in the floating fat fraction. Total lipoprotein lipase activity of cells plus medium increased steadily during incubation of fat cells for 1h at 30 degrees C. The major increment occurred in the cells and activity in the medium was always less than 15% of the total. Our observations are consistent with the view that activation may be an important determinant of fat cell lipoprotein lipase activity as well as an integral part of the release process.
In the human umbilical artery O2 has a direct contractile effect and is also required for induction of contraction by several other agents. Agonist that cause contraction (bradykinin, histamine, and serotonin) cause accumulation of guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cGMP) without altering adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cAMP). They appear to act through two different mechanisms: one Ca++-dependent, the other Ca++-inhibited. O2 increased the cGMP content of the artery in a Ca++-dependent manner without affecting the cAMP content. Inhibitors of oxidative phosphorylation (oligomycin and 2,4-dinitrophenol) did not diminish this effect of O2. O2 was required for demonstration of the Ca++-dependent accumulation of cGMP in response to bradykinin, histamine, and ionophore A23187. The effect of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methyl xanthine on basal cGMP content and on the bradykinin-induced accumulation was also dependent on the presence of O2. Methylene blue and sodium ascorbate caused cGMP accumulation in O2-deprived arteries. Their effects were not diminished in Ca++-depleted arteries and, in fact, seemed to be inhibited when 2.7 mM Ca++ was present in the medium. The effects of these agents and of serotonin on cGMP, which were inhibited by Ca++, were also inhibited by O2. These non Ca++-, non O2-dependent agents (methylene blue, ascorbate, and serotonin) did not, however, permit demonstration of the effects of the Ca++- and O2-dependent agonists on O2-deprived arteries. It appears that there are in the umbilical artery (and probably in other tissues also) at least two separate mechanisms for control of cGMP synthesis that are influenced differently by Ca++- and O2-linked processes.
Serotonin, ascorbic acid, and carbamylcholine enhanced the chemotactic responsiveness of human monocytes to endotoxin-treated serum. These agents caused significant accumulation of cyclic GMP in monocytes. PMN leukocyte chemotaxis was also enhanced by these agents although significant increases in cyclic GMP were not demonstrated.
The effects of several putative mediators of inflammatory responses on the cyclic nucleotide content of mononuclear leukocytes from human peripheral blood were investigated. Incubation of mononuclear cells with 100 muM serotonin (a maximally effective concentration) for 5 min caused a five- to eightfold increase in their content of guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP)...
Human umbilical arteries are unique vessels in that they close quickly and completely at birth. It has been suggested that cyclic uanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) in relaxation. This hypothesis has been evaluated in term gestational human umbilical artery segments incubated at 37 degrees C and in room air. (a) The basal cGMP content (1 pmol/mg protein) of artery segments incubated in room air was almost twice that of cAMP. (b) Bradykinin, histamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, and K+ ion, which cause umbilical artery constriction, can increase the cGMP content of the artery segments within 30 s of exposure without altering the cAMP content. (c) Prostaglandin E1, but not isoproterenol, caused accumulation of cAMP which is consistent with reports that umbilical arteries lack functional beta-receptors and that only prostaglandin E1 can bring about relaxation of umbilical arteries. (d) 1 muM atropine blocked the effect of 100 muM acetylcholine on cGMP content without altering the responses to histamine, bradykinin, serotonin, or K+ ion. (e) Pyrilamine (an H1 antagonist), but not metiamide (an H2 antagonist), blocked the effect of histamine on cGMP from which it is inferred that histamine causes accumulation of cGMP in umbilical artery via its interaction with H1 receptors. The results are consistent with the view that metabolism of the two cyclic nucleotides is independently controlled in the human umbilical artery and that cGMP is involved in contraction of the artery at birth.
When rat fat cells were incubated with ACTH, epinephrine, or theophylline for 2 to 10 min, cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase (3':5'-cyclic-AMP 5'-nucleotidohydrolase, E.C. 3.1.4.17) activity (K(m) about 0.39 muM) in the 100,000 x g sediment fraction of homogenates was increased 35 to 50%. The effects of epinephrine and ACTH were concentration dependent and maximal increases were produced with concentrations similar to those that maximally stimulate lipolysis. Theophylline (0.5 mM) similarly increased phosphodiesterase activity but did not enhance the effects of maximally effective concentrations of the hormones. The changes in phosphodiesterase activity following addition of ACTH or theophylline paralleled changes in cell cyclic AMP content; both reached a maximum within 5 min and then declined, approaching basal levels after 20 or 30 min. The increased phosphodiesterase activity in cells incubated for 5 min with epinephrine reverted to basal levels within 2.5 min after the addition of propranolol. Our data are consistent with the view that there is a component of the fat-cell phosphodiesterase, perhaps localized in the plasma membrane, whose activity can be acutely modified by the concentration of its substrate, cyclic AMP. As previously reported (J. Biol. Chem.248, 7164-7170, 1973), exposure of fat cells to insulin increases the activity of a low K(m) phosphodiesterase also localized in the 100,000 x g sediment fraction of fat cell homogenates. In the presence of insulin, however, phosphodiesterase remained elevated for at least 40 min and there was no significant change in fat-cell cyclic AMP content. When phosphodiesterase activity was elevated and cyclic AMP content maintained at a high level by incubation of cells with ACTH plus theophylline, insulin produced a further increase in enzyme activity. Whether or not insulin and ACTH (or epinephrine or theophylline) affect the same phosphodiesterase, there seems little doubt that the underlying mechanisms are different.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Bradykinin, 1-100 mug/ml, produced a rapid rise in the concentration of 3':5'-guanosine monophosphate (cyclic GMP) and 3':5'-adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP) in slices of guinea pig lung. Concentrations of both nucleotides reached a maximum in about 2 min, then declined to a basal levels in 6-12 min. The transient nature of the effect was presumbaly due to the rapid destruction of bradykinin as evidenced by (1) reaccumulation of nucleotides when bradykinin was added a second time, and (2) potentiation of the bradykinin effects by pyroGlu-Lys-Trp-Ala-Pro, a peptide that inhibits inactivation of bradykinin by kininase. It has been reported elsewhere that histamine, prostaglandins E(1) and E(2), and beta-adrenergic stimulation can cause accumulation of cyclic AMP in lung slices without affecting cyclic GMP concentration, whereas acetylcholine increases the concentrations of both cyclic GMP and cyclic AMP. Thus it was possible that the effects of bradykinin were indirect, i.e., secondary to release of one or more of these compounds. Promethazine (an antihistamine), propranolol (a beta-adrenergic blocking agent) and atropine (an anticholinergic agent) did not alter basal cyclic nucleotide concentrations or the effects of bradykinin. Two inhibitors of prostaglandin synthesis, indomethacin and aspirin, which alone were without effect, in the presence of bradykinin completely prevented the rise in cyclic AMP but did not interfere with cyclic GMP accumulation. Similarly, the effect of acetylcholine on cyclic AMP was abolished by indomethacin while that on cyclic GMP was unaltered. We suggest that in lung and probably in other tissues, bradykinin, acetylcholine, and perhaps other stimuli enhance the synthesis and release of prostaglandins as one of the consequences of their effects on cyclic GMP metabolism.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.