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Biomedical subjects

A N Jones

Publications and source records attributed to A N Jones.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Decreased expression of smooth muscle alpha-actin results in decreased contractile function of the mouse bladder.

PURPOSE: Smooth muscle alpha-actin (SMalphaA) is an important actin isoform for functional contractility in the mouse bladder. Alterations in the expression of SMalphaA have been associated with a variety of bladder pathological conditions. Recently, a SMalphaA-null mouse was generated and differences in vascular tone and contractility were observed between wild-type and SMalphaA-null mice suggesting alterations in function of vascular smooth muscle. We used SMalphaA-null mice to explore the hypothesis that SMalphaA is necessary for normal bladder function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining were used to confirm the absence of SMalphaA transcript and protein in the bladder of SMalphaA-null mice. In vitro bladder contractility compared between bladder rings harvested from wild-type and SMalphaA-null mice was determined by force measurement following electrical field stimulation (EFS), and exposure to chemical agonists and antagonists including KCl, carbachol, atropine and tetrodotoxin. Resulting force generation profiles for each tissue and agent were analyzed. RESULTS: There was no detectable SMalphaA transcript and protein expression in the bladder of SMalphaA-null mice. Nine wild-type and 9 SMalphaA-null mice were used in the contractility study. Bladders from SMalphaA-null mice generated significantly less force than wild-type mice in response to EFS after KCl. Similarly, bladders from SMalphaA-null mice generated less force than wild-type mice in response to pretreatment EFS, and EFS after carbachol and atropine, although the difference was not significant. Surprisingly, the bladders in SMalphaA-null mice appeared to function normally and showed no gross or histological abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: SMalphaA appears to be necessary for the bladder to be able to generate normal levels of contractile force. No functional deficits were observed in the bladders of these animals but no stress was placed on these bladders. To our knowledge this study represents the first report to demonstrate the importance of expression of SMalphaA in force generation in the bladder.

Actins↗
PubMed2000

The absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of rofecoxib, a potent and selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, in rats and dogs.

Absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion studies were conducted in rats and dogs with rofecoxib (VIOXX, MK-0966), a potent and highly selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). In rats, the nonexponential decay during the terminal phase (4- to 10-h time interval) of rofecoxib plasma concentration versus time curves after i.v. or oral administration of [(14)C]rofecoxib precluded accurate determinations of half-life, AUC(0-infinity) (area under the plasma concentration versus time curve extrapolated to infinity), and hence, bioavailability. After i.v. administration of [(14)C]rofecoxib to dogs, plasma clearance, volume of distribution at steady state, and elimination half-life values of rofecoxib were 3.6 ml/min/kg, 1.0 l/kg, and 2.6 h, respectively. Oral absorption (5 mg/kg) was rapid in both species with C(max) occurring by 0.5 h (rats) and 1.5 h (dogs). Bioavailability in dogs was 26%. Systemic exposure increased with increasing dosage in rats and dogs after i.v. (1, 2, and 4 mg/kg), or oral (2, 5, and 10 mg/kg) administration, except in rats where no additional increase was observed between the 5 and 10 mg/kg doses. Radioactivity distributed rapidly to tissues, with the highest concentrations of the i.v. dose observed in most tissues by 5 min and by 30 min in liver, skin, fat, prostate, and bladder. Excretion occurred primarily by the biliary route in rats and dogs, except after i.v. administration of [(14)C]rofecoxib to dogs, where excretion was divided between biliary and renal routes. Metabolism of rofecoxib was extensive. 5-Hydroxyrofecoxib-O-beta-D-glucuronide was the major metabolite excreted by rats in urine and bile. 5-Hydroxyrofecoxib, rofecoxib-3',4'-dihydrodiol, and 4'-hydroxyrofecoxib sulfate were less abundant, whereas cis- and trans-3,4-dihydro-rofecoxib were minor. Major metabolites in dog were 5-hydroxyrofecoxib-O-beta-D-glucuronide (urine), trans-3, 4-dihydro-rofecoxib (urine), and 5-hydroxyrofecoxib (bile).

Absorption↗
PubMed1984

Synthesis and evaluation of furan, thiophene, and azole bis[(carbamoyloxy)methyl] derivatives as potential antineoplastic agents.

A series of bis(hydroxymethyl)-substituted heterocycles were synthesized and converted to the corresponding bis(methylcarbamate) derivatives. The heterocyclic systems studied were based on 2-phenyl-3-methylfuran (2-4), 1-phenylpyrazole (5-7), 1-phenyl-5-methylpyrazole (9-11), 1-phenyl-5-methylthiophene (13), 1-phenyl-1,2,3-triazole (14), 3-phenylisoxazole (15), 3-phenylisothiazole (16), 2-phenylthiazole (17), and 2-phenyloxazole (18). None of the bis(carbamates) prepared was active against murine P388 lymphocytic leukemia. Pyrrole bis(carbamates) 20 and 21, which exhibited antileukemic activity, also showed reactivity toward 4-(p-nitrobenzyl)pyridine while the inactive bis(carbamates) were unreactive in the 4-(p-nitrobenzyl)pyridine assay.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Vinylogous carbinolamine tumor inhibitors. 8. Activity of bis(acyloxymethyl) derivatives of pyrroles and pyrrolizines against a panel of murine leukemias and solid tumors.

The activity of three pyrroles and four pyrrolizines is compared in several different experimental leukemias and solid tumors in mice. Two compounds were particularly noteworthy, the bis(N-cyclohexylcarbamate) and the bis[N-(2-propyl)] derivatives of 2,3-dihydro-5-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-6,7-bis(hydroxymethyl)-1H-pyrrolizine. These two compounds showed a very high level of activity against B16 melanocarcinoma, CD8F1 mammary tumor, colon tumor 26, and colon tumor 38, and a significant number of "cures" were recorded. The isopropyl compound was more potent than the cyclohexyl compound, but both showed a similar profile of activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Effect of restrictions on prescribing patterns for dextropropoxyphene.

Prescribing of compound analgesics containing dextropropoxyphene was limited to consultants only in a teaching hospital. Inpatient prescribing (mainly by junior staff) fell immediately to very low levels but outpatient prescribing (by consultants) fell more slowly to about one-third of the original level, suggesting that patients and doctors find dextropropoxyphene compounds useful. Prescriptions for paracetamol increased but so did those for other compound analgesics, particularly those containing high doses of codeine, indicating a belief that compound analgesics have a role in treatment. Restrictions may produce unexpected results and monitoring is essential, but the method of audit used by pharmacies is not suitable for detailed analysis.

Acetaminophen↗
PubMed1972

Pathology of radiation myelopathy.

After nothing the rarity of papers describing the pathology of delayed radiation necrosis of the spinal cord, the clinical and pathological findings from four cases are presented. The main pathological features are asymmetric demyelination of the lateral columns and to a lesser degree the posterior and anterior columns of white matter, with coagulative necrosis at the level of irradiation which affected the grey matter to a lesser degree. There is ascending and descending secondary tract degeneration, and poor glial response in the lesions themselves. Vascular changes, mainly hyalilne thickening of arteriolar walls, are present, but not in degree sufficient to explain the primary lesion. The discussion of the pathogenesis of the myelopathy weighs the merits of a primary vascular lesion against those of a primary effect of the radiation on neural tissue. The latter is favoured.

Adult↗