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Biomedical subjects

B Jackson

Publications and source records attributed to B Jackson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Antimicrobial-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from Australian wildlife admitted to a veterinary hospital.

Although antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing One Health concern, little is known about AMR in Staphylococcus aureus from Australian wildlife. This study investigated the occurrence, phenotypic AMR profiles, and genetic characteristics of S. aureus from six representative Australian wildlife species admitted to a wildlife hospital in Western Australia, including the western grey kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus), quenda (Isoodon fusciventer), pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus), galah (Eolophus roseicapilla), shingleback skink (Tiliqua rugosa) and long-necked turtle (Chelodina colliei). Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 11.7% (21/180, 95% CI: 7.4%-17.3%) of the animals on admission. Whole genome sequencing identified 13 multi-locus sequence types (STs) and various virulence factors, including the human-specific immune evasion cluster (IEC). Resistance to at least one antimicrobial class was observed in 63.6% of the isolates. The blaZ, erm(T), aac(6')-aph(2″), and tet(L) AMR genes were detected in 63.6%, 13.6%, 4.5%, and 4.5% of S. aureus, respectively. After 7 days of hospitalisation, S. aureus was isolated from 16.5% (16/97, 95% CI: 9.7%-25.4%) of the animals, including two methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolated from two pelicans. The two MRSA were identified as community-associated MRSA clones (mecA-positive ST1-IV and ST93-IV), suggesting direct or indirect transmission between humans and wildlife during hospitalisation may have occurred. This study highlighted Australian wildlife may be a potential reservoir for genetically diverse antimicrobial-resistant S. aureus. AMR surveillance including wildlife using a One Health approach may be required.

Animals

Glutathione in foods listed in the National Cancer Institute's Health Habits and History Food Frequency Questionnaire.

Glutathione (GSH) is an antioxidant and anticarcinogen that is present in plant and animal tissues that form the bulk of the human diet. Recent studies show that GSH is absorbed intact in rat small intestine and that oral GSH increases plasma GSH concentration in humans. To provide a database for epidemiological studies of dietary intake of GSH and risk of diseases in humans, we have measured the content of GSH in the foods listed in the National Cancer Institute's Health Habits and History Questionnaire. Foods were purchased in the Atlanta area and prepared as most commonly consumed in the United States. GSH analyses were performed using a high-performance liquid chromatography technique with a method of additions to correct for losses during sample preparation. A separate set of samples was run after treatment with dithiothreitol to measure the total of GSH and its disulfide forms (GSH). The results show that dairy products, cereals, and breads are generally low in GSH; fruits and vegetables have moderate to high amounts of GSH; and freshly prepared meats are relatively high in GSH. Frozen foods generally had GSH contents similar to fresh foods, whereas other forms of processing and preservation generally resulted in extensive loss of GSH. Thus this database will allow researchers to examine the relationship between dietary GSH and risk of cancers and other diseases.

Beverages

Characterization of angiotensin converting enzyme in isolated cerebral microvessels from spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive rats.

OBJECTIVE: Abnormalities in the vascular renin-angiotensin system have been hypothesized to contribute to the pathogenesis and complications of hypertension. In animal models of hypertension, there is wide variation in reported vascular angiotensin converting activity, particularly in cerebral microvessels. In this study, we sought to characterize, quantitate and compare cerebral microvessel angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) in genetically hypertensive rats and normotensive rats. DESIGN: Brain microvascular ACE from 14-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) was measured and compared with ACE from brain microvessels of normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) controls. METHODS: Isolated cerebral microvascular ACE was measured using two methods, enzyme kinetic assay or radioligand binding assay. RESULTS: In SHR, cerebral microvessel ACE was of similar activity and concentration and had similar ligand binding affinities to WKY rats. Plasma ACE activity was significantly elevated in WKY rats compared with SHR. CONCLUSION: Cerebral microvascular ACE is similar in SHR and WKY rats. Microvascular ACE is unlikely to participate in the pathogenesis or complications of hypertension in this model.

Animals

Steady-state pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of cilazapril in the presence and absence of cyclopenthiazide.

Twenty-two patients with essential hypertension received a single dose of 2.5 mg cilazapril and were then randomised into a double-blind parallel group study to receive either placebo, 1.25 mg cilazapril + 0.5 mg cyclopenthiazide (CPTZ), 2.5 mg cilazapril + 0.5 mg CPTZ, or 2.5 mg cilazapril alone for 1 month. After oral administration of a single dose of 2.5 mg cilazapril, the active diacid cilazaprilat appeared rapidly in the plasma (Tmax 2.0 +/- 0.2 h). With the radioinhibitor assay used in this study, a single elimination phase of cilazaprilat was evident, with a half-life (t1/2) of 2-3 h. At steady state, the pharmacokinetics of cilazaprilat were similar to single-dose administration and were not altered by CPTZ. The Cmax and area under the curve (AUC) of cilazaprilat were directly proportional to dose. Cilazapril administration in the dose range of 1.25-2.5 mg produced a dose-proportional inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity that was maximum 2 h after drug administration. The degree of ACE inhibition correlated with the plasma concentration-time profile of cilazaprilat and the maximum decrease in blood pressure (BP). The EC50 for ACE inhibition by cilazaprilat was 7.7 ng/ml after acute treatment and was not significantly altered during chronic administration or by concomitant administration of CPTZ. There was no evidence of a dose-related antihypertensive effect of cilazapril at steady state and, with the small numbers of subjects used in this study, there was no evidence of 24-h BP control with monotherapy.

Aged

Mesenteric vascular angiotensin-converting enzyme is increased in experimental diabetes mellitus.

1. Diabetes mellitus was induced by streptozotocin in male Wistar rats, and angiotensin-converting enzyme measured in plasma and mesenteric vessels 3 weeks later. 2. Diabetes was associated with increased mesenteric wet weight/bodyweight ratio (control 0.2 s.e.m. 0.02 mg/g, n = 21, vs diabetes 1.0 s.e.m. 0.3 mg/g, n = 27, P less than 0.01, ANOVA). 3. Plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme activity was increased in diabetic rats (98 s.e.m. 3 nmol HL/mL per min) compared with controls (64 s.e.m. 6 nmol HL/mL per min, P less than 0.01, ANOVA). 4. Mesenteric vessel angiotensin-converting enzyme was increased in diabetes mellitus estimated by radioligand binding site density (fmol/mg protein; 1407 s.e.m. 166 fmol/mg protein) compared with controls (890 s.e.m. 56 fmol/mg protein, P less than 0.05, ANOVA) and by enzyme kinetic assay (diabetes, 15.5 s.e.m. 1.5 nmol HL/mg protein per min, controls, 8.3 s.e.m. 0.7 nmol HL/mg protein per min, P less than 0.01, ANOVA). The equilibrium dissociation constant of ligand-angiotensin-converting enzyme interaction was unchanged. 5. Increased vascular angiotensin-converting enzyme concentration may contribute to vascular hypertrophy and diabetic vasculopathy by increased local synthesis of angiotensin II.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors

Mesenteric resistance and brain microvascular angiotensin-converting enzyme in the spontaneously hypertensive rat.

1. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) concentration was measured in mesenteric and brain microvessels from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and compared with normotensive controls using a specific radioligand binding assay. 2. Plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme activity was similar in SHR (n = 15) and normotensive controls (n = 21; 58 +/- 1 nmol HL/mL per min, vs 64 +/- 6 nmol HL/mL per min). 3. There was no significant difference between the mesenteric vascular angiotensin-converting enzyme radioligand binding site density (Bmax, fmol/mg protein) of SHR and normotensive controls (954 +/- 77 vs 890 +/- 56, P = 0.5, unpaired Student's t-test), despite significant differences in systolic blood pressure (220 +/- 8 mm Hg vs 120 +/- 6 mm Hg respectively, P less than 0.01) and increased mesenteric wet weight to bodyweight ratio in the hypertensive rats (0.28 +/- 0.02 mg/g, n = 5 vs 0.16 +/- 0.02 mg/g, n = 7, P less than 0.01). 4. Brain vascular angiotensin-converting enzyme radioligand binding site density (Bmax, fmol/mg protein) was also similar in SHR and normotensive controls (467 +/- 62, n = 5 vs 497 +/- 64, n = 5, P = 0.7, unpaired Student's t-test). 5. These results demonstrate that vascular angiotensin-converting enzyme concentration is not altered in the SHR and that vascular ACE is not increased in this form of vascular hypertrophy or regulated by the blood pressure level.

Animals

Variation in angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor affinity at two binding sites on rat pulmonary ACE: influence on bradykinin hydrolysis.

1. ACE from rat lung and testis was characterized by radioligand binding studies using [125I]-Ro 31-8472, the radioiodinated hydroxy derivative of the potent ACE inhibitor cilazaprilat. 2. Analysis of the displacement of [125I]-Ro 31-8472 from ACE by ACE inhibitors of different structure by the LIGAND program was best fitted by a two binding site model for lung ACE and a one binding site model for testis ACE. 3. There was marked variation in ACE inhibitor binding affinity at the two binding sites of lung ACE across the panel of ACE inhibitors studied (equilibrium dissociation constant; Kd; pmol/L) for site one vs site two: cilazaprilat 40 +/- 3 vs 430 +/- 92*; lisinopril 25 +/- 1 vs 848 +/- 107**; and quinaprilat 4 +/- 1 vs 1869 +/- 720; *P less than 0.05; **P less than 0.005, t-test, n = 3). Reduction in binding affinity at site two of lung ACE was related to an increase in ACE inhibitor side chain length or complexity of carboxyl terminal moiety. ACE inhibitor binding affinity at the testis ACE binding site resembled site one of lung ACE. 4. Inhibition of bradykinin hydrolysis by lung ACE in the presence of increasing concentrations of cilazaprilat or quinaprilat was similar (F = 0.64; P greater than 0.05), suggesting that bradykinin cleavage predominates at ACE active site one. 5. The differences in ACE inhibitor affinity at the two ACE active sites has implications in physiological substrate selectivity, and may influence the pharmacodynamic effects of different ACE inhibitors.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors

The tissue renin-angiotensin system and its functional role.

1. The components of the renin-angiotensin system exist in many cardiovascular tissues (heart vessels, kidneys, adrenal glands). 2. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is similar in somatic cells from all these sites. 3. ACE contains two catalytic sites that have different conformation requirements. This suggests that each site may have different substrates and that specific inhibitors could be developed for each site. 4. The cardiovascular functions of tissue ACE may include the regulation of regional blood flow, modulation of local sympathetic activity, stimulation of hyperplasia and hypertrophy and the mediation of inflammation.

Animals

Acute and chronic effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors on tissue angiotensin-converting enzyme.

1. The effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors on the tissue ACE were assessed by quantitative in vitro autoradiography after acute and chronic administrations of the drugs. 2. Following acute administration of lisinopril, perindopril or benazepril, ACE was markedly inhibited in the lung, kidney and blood vessels but not in the testis. In the brain, ACE was inhibited mainly in structures with a deficient blood brain barrier. 3. High doses of perindopril progressively inhibited ACE in other brain structures. Tissue ACE inhibition persisted after serum levels of the enzyme had returned to control levels. In the case of perindopril, the time course of tissue ACE inhibition correlated with the inhibition of the pressor responses to exogenous angiotensin I. 4. After chronic administration of lisinopril or perindopril for 14 days, a similar pattern of ACE inhibition was observed in the kidney, lung and blood vessels. In the lung, however, lisinopril was found to increase total ACE by 30%, while plasma ACE was increased two-threefold by both lisinopril and perindopril. Testicular ACE remained unaltered by chronic lisinopril treatment. 5. Overall, the changes in tissue ACE after the administration of inhibitors more closely parallel the drugs' biological effects than changes in plasma ACE or drug levels. ACE in the testis and brain is protected by permeability barriers that limit access of the drugs.

Administration, Oral

Comparison of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of perindopril, cilazapril and enalapril.

1. The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic responses to enalapril, perindopril and cilazapril have been studied in essential hypertensives (2, 4 and 8 mg perindopril and 2.5 mg cilazapril, single dose and steady state) and normotensive volunteers (10 mg enalapril, single dose). 2. Plasma levels of the active diacid compounds reached similar peaks after single dose administration of the drugs. However, perindoprilat levels persisted for 5 days whereas cilazaprilat levels were not detectable beyond 12 h. 3. The higher levels of perindoprilat were associated with a greater inhibition of plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity in both acute and steady state studies. 4. The potency of the active diacids in inhibiting plasma ACE activity was perindoprilat greater than cilazaprilat greater than enalaprilat. 5. There was a close relationship between plasma concentration, ACE inhibition and blood pressure decrease. Although both cilazapril and perindopril administration reduced blood pressure in hypertensive subjects, only perindopril exerted 24 h blood pressure control at the doses used.

Adult

Reciprocal feedback regulation of kidney angiotensinogen and renin mRNA expressions by angiotensin II.

The present study asks whether angiotensin II (ANG II), a potent inhibitor of renal renin synthesis and release, regulates renal angiotensinogen synthesis. ANG II (or vehicle) was intravenously infused into male Sprague-Dawley rats for 3 days (vehicle or 100, 300, and 1,000 ng.kg-1 x min-1, n = 8/group), significantly increasing mean plasma ANG II concentrations and raising mean arterial blood pressure (MAP). ANG II dose dependently suppressed plasma renin concentration, kidney renin concentration, and renal renin mRNA levels. In contrast, ANG II infusion increased renal angiotensinogen mRNA levels stepwise to 122, 136 (P < 0.05), and 150% (P < 0.05) of control and also increased both liver mRNA levels (P < 0.05) and plasma angiotensinogen concentration (P < 0.05). Three days of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition (10 mg.kg-1 x day-1 quinapril in drinking water, n = 8) significantly decreased MAP (P < 0.05) and increased both mean plasma renin concentration (P < 0.05) and renal renin mRNA levels (P < 0.005). Plasma ANG II concentration tended to decrease (not significant), and neither renal nor hepatic angiotensinogen mRNA levels displayed significant difference. However, when data from ANG II-infused and quinapril-treated rats were analyzed together, correlation between plasma ANG II concentrations and renal angiotensinogen mRNA levels was highly significant (P < 0.005, r = 0.585). Thus plasma ANG II upregulates renal angiotensinogen gene expression and downregulates renal renin gene expression, a reciprocal feedback regulation that may have important physiological consequences.

Angiotensin II

Systemic and renovascular hypertension.

To ascertain the contribution of systemic hypertension in the progression of renal failure, we have studied the effects of pharmacological treatment of hypertension in rats with the remnant kidney model of renal insufficiency, streptozotocin diabetes, or nephrotoxic serum nephritis. Treatment with the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor enalapril lowered systemic blood pressure in the remnant kidney and diabetic animals, but did not lower blood pressure in rats with nephrotoxic serum nephritis. Proteinuria was reduced in all three models, and creatinine clearance improved in the remnant kidney and diabetic animals, when compared with untreated controls. In the remnant kidney and diabetic models systemic blood pressure was lowered to a similar degree by treatments with a calcium blocker, with no improvement in either proteinuria, or glomerular filtration rate. Further studies of the long-term effects of enalapril have been undertaken in rats with the two kidney one clip model of hypertension. Rats treated with enalapril had a lower blood pressure and improved survival over one year of treatment, compared with untreated rats. After 1 year of treatment however the clipped kidney was small and fibrotic, and non functional. Following withdrawal of enalapril therapy there was no functional improvement of the clipped kidney. The possibility that ACE inhibitors have a specific intra-renal effect reducing the rate of progression of renal disease now needs confirmation in human studies. In renovascular hypertension however, intra-renal changes induced by ACE inhibitors may cause irreversible renal damage.

Animals

Two binding sites on angiotensin-converting enzyme: evidence from radioligand binding studies.

Purified angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) from rat lung and testis, membrane preparations of ACE from lung, kidney, and testis, and ACE from plasma were used in radioligand binding studies, to seek evidence for two binding sites in ACE of somatic origin, as predicted by molecular biology studies. 125I-Ro 31-8472, a radioiodinated hydroxy derivative of cilazaprilat, and 125I-351A, a radioiodinated p-hydroxybenzamidine analogue of lisinopril, were used as radioligands. Autoradiographic study of renal ACE using 125I-Ro 31-8472 or 125I-351A showed the same distribution of radioligand binding across kidney sections and identical radioligand binding for purified lung and testis ACE by Western blot, confirming that the same protein bound both radioligands. Analysis of displacement of 125I-Ro 31-8472 binding from ACE by ACE inhibitors 351A and lisinopril yielded biphasic curves for pulmonary, renal, and plasma ACE and a monophasic curve for ACE from the testis. Analysis by LIGAND suggested two binding sites in ACE from plasma or somatic sources and one binding site in ACE of testicular origin, as predicted by molecular biology studies. Displacement of 125I-351A binding from lung and testis ACE by Ro 31-8472 and 351A was monophasic. LIGAND analysis revealed interaction with a single class of binding sites on lung and testis ACE, in agreement with previous studies using 125I-351A. Equilibrium dissociation constants (Kd) for the carboxyl-terminal (KdI) and amino-terminal (KdII) binding sites of purified ACE, using 125I-Ro 31-8472, were similar for Ro 31-8472 (lung kdI, 65 +/- 7 pM; KdII, 175 +/- 38 pM) but were clearly different for 351A (lung KdI, 19 +/- 2 pM; KdII, 2771 +/- 489 pM; p less than 0.01). Cell membrane-associated somatic ACE and plasma ACE, which is devoid of a carboxyl-terminal hydrophobic anchor region, had similar absolute values and differences in 351A binding affinities at the two ACE binding sites. Kd in testis was 46 +/- 6 pM for Ro 31-8472 and 16 +/- 3 pM for 351A, corresponding to estimates at the carboxyl-terminal binding site of somatic ACE. The 65-200-fold reduction in 351A binding affinity at the amino binding site may limit the detection of two binding sites on somatic ACE by 125I-351A radioligand binding analysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors

Cardiac risk factor management. Experience of an outpatient hypertension clinic.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the outcome of the management of cardiovascular risk factors in the hypertension clinic of a teaching hospital over a five-year period. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of risk factor data (blood pressure, plasma cholesterol level, body weight, smoking and drinking habits) obtained from computerised hypertension clinic progress report forms. SETTING: Public teaching hospital. PATIENTS: One hundred and thirty-one patients referred to the clinic from both general practice and from within the hospital who attended the clinic regularly during the five-year study period. INTERVENTION: Long term management of hypertension and coexisting coronary risk factors by dietary, medical and lifestyle intervention. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in diastolic blood pressure control in 1990 versus 1986 in both men and women, while systolic blood pressure improved in women only. The number of patients controlled with monotherapy increased from 38% in 1986 to 45% in 1990. Eighty-nine per cent of the men and 85% of women remained above their maximum desirable weight. Reported levels of alcohol consumption were low and the proportion of smokers was below that of the general population. A significant decline in plasma total cholesterol levels was observed in the women. Despite dietary advice and a limited use of lipid lowering drugs, 53.2% of the men and 66.1% of the women continued to have total plasma cholesterol levels above 5.5 mmol/L in 1990. High density lipoprotein levels increased significantly in the women only. CONCLUSION: A high proportion of our clinic patients have well controlled hypertension, but the clinic program produced little evidence of improvement in risk factors in men stabilised by long term therapy. More intensive methods of achieving lifestyle modification and a wider use of lipid lowering drugs may be needed if we are to achieve satisfactory body weights and lipid profiles in hypertensive patients.

Ambulatory Care Facilities

Felodipine in combination with a beta-adrenoceptor blocker as an effective substitute for triple therapy in severe hypertension. The Australian Felodipine Multicentre Study Group.

We have studied the efficacy and tolerability of felodipine plus a beta-adrenoceptor blocker in 79 patients with essential hypertension previously treated with a combination of three or more anti-hypertensive agents, one of which was a beta-adrenoceptor blocker. After a 4-week run-in period on the same beta-blocker plus placebo (as a substitute for the other agents in the regimen), felodipine was added and its dose titrated to achieve a supine diastolic blood pressure or less than 90 mm Hg. This was followed by a 12-week maintenance phase in all patients, and 47 patients entered an optional long-term follow-up for an additional 9 months. The mean supine blood pressure was 149/88 mm Hg at entry and 174/108 mm Hg after the run-in phase. Felodipine significantly reduced the blood pressure to 142/85 mm Hg after dose titration and to 141/84 mm Hg after 12 weeks, 94% of patients achieving a supine diastolic blood pressure of 90 mm Hg or below. This reduction was maintained in the patients who were followed for 12 months. The adverse events recorded were usually mild, transient, and typical for an effective precapillary vasodilator. Nine of 74 patients (11%) were withdrawn in the first phase of the study because of adverse events and 5 of 47 patients were withdrawn during the long-term follow-up. These results show that the efficacy and tolerability of a combination of felodipine with a beta-blocker allow a simplified regimen for hypertensive patients who were previously taking three or more drugs for satisfactory blood pressure control.

Adolescent

Cholesterol lowering and bile acid excretion in the hamster with cholestyramine treatment.

Cholestyramine was administered to hamsters at 6 doses in the diet for 1 week. Plasma cholesterol, LDL + VLDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol were measured after this period. Bile acid excretion was measured in faeces collected over the final 24 h of the experiment. A dose-response curve for each parameter measured was constructed using data from individual hamsters. For the bile acid and the cholesterol measurements a maximum response was observed at the highest doses. A correlation between the bile acids excreted over 24 h and the LDL + VLDL cholesterol showed that the maximum effect of cholestyramine on lowering plasma and lipoprotein cholesterol occurred at a submaximal excretion level of bile acids. Comparison of the efficiency of cholestyramine in reducing plasma cholesterol in the hamster with limited data in the dog and in man suggest that a greater lowering of plasma cholesterol is achieved in the dog and in man for an equivalent increase in bile acid excretion caused by the sequestrant. As is already known, cholestyramine treatment caused an increase in hepatic cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase and HMG-CoA reductase activity. Interestingly in this study the novel observation was made that the bile acid sequestrant reduced the activity of hepatic acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase.

Animals