Biomedical subjects

Alex Brown

Publications and source records attributed to Alex Brown.

21 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2003

New vitamin D analogs.

BACKGROUND: 1,25-(OH)2D3 (calcitriol) controls parathyroid gland growth and suppresses the synthesis and secretion of parathyroid hormone. Because of this, 1,25-(OH)2D3 has been used successfully for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism, which almost always accompanies renal failure. However, the potent effect of 1,25-(OH)2D3 on intestinal calcium and phosphorus absorption and bone mineral mobilization often leads to the development of hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia precluding 1,25-(OH)2D3 therapy. METHODS: This has led to the development of vitamin D analogs that retain the suppressive action on PTH and parathyroid gland growth, but that have less calcemic and phosphatemic activity. Currently, two analogs, 19-nor-1,25-(OH)2D2 and 1,alpha(OH)D2, are being used for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in the United States, and two are being used in Japan, 22-oxa-calcitriol and 1,25-(OH)2-26,27F6 D3. RESULTS: All four analogs suppressed PTH, but had less calcemic and phosphatemic activity than 1,25-(OH)2D3. In rats, 19-nor-1,25-(OH)2D2 has been shown to be less calcemic and phosphatemic compared to 1,alpha(OH)D2. CONCLUSION: Therapeutic doses of 19-nor-1,25-(OH)2D2 could produce a lower Ca x P product compared to 1,alpha(OH)D2, which could be an important consideration in patient treatment. Further studies are necessary to define these differences and to understand the mechanisms behind the differential actions of vitamin D analogs.

Humans↗

PubMed2002

Reappearance of human cases due to Murray Valley encephalitis virus and Kunjin virus in central Australia after an absence of 26 years.

Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) and Kunjin virus disease are endemic in the tropical parts of the Northern Territory and Western Australia, but have been absent from Central Australia since 1974. In 2000, 5 laboratory-confirmed cases of encephalitis occurred over a short period in the normally dry inland region of Central Australia. The sudden occurrence of cases in March and April 2000 followed unusually high rainfall in the preceding months and evidence of flavivirus activity in the endemic areas in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Further cases were reported in the following wet season, without preceding human cases in known endemic areas. These findings indicate the reintroduction of these viruses into Central Australia and establishment of local cycles of infection with an ongoing risk to the local population. This area may also act as a potential source for reintroduction of MVE into south-eastern Australia.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Theoretical Study of Collision-Induced Double Transitions in CO(2)-X(2) (X(2) = H(2), N(2), and O(2)) Pairs.

The double vibrational collision-induced absorptions CO(2) (nu(3) = 1) + X(2) (nu(1) = 1) <-- CO(2) (nu(3) = 0) + X(2) (nu(1) = 0), for X(2) = H(2), N(2), and O(2) are studied on the basis of quantum lineshapes computed using isotropic potentials and dipole-induced dipole functions. The linestrengths and energies of the vibration-rotation transitions are treated explicitly for X(2) and utilizing the HITRAN database for CO(2). From the frequency-dependent absorption profiles, the integrated absorption intensities are determined to be 7.2 +/- 1.2, 1.2 +/- 0.1, and 1.1 +/- 0.2 (10(-4) cm(-2) amagat(-2)) for the H(2), N(2), and O(2) collision partners, respectively. The integrated intensities for H(2) and N(2) agree well with previously measured and calculated results, while the value for O(2), which represents the first theoretical determination for this absorption, is approximately four times greater than the only experimental measurement (0.29 x 10(-4) cm(-2) amagat(-2)). Copyright 2001 Academic Press.

Journal Article↗