PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C L Wood

Publications and source records attributed to C L Wood.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Using USRDS generated mortality tables to compare local ESRD mortality rates to national rates.

Mortality tables of the U.S. Renal Data System allow description of national mortality rates among prevalent dialysis patients in five-year age groups and four major categories of causes of ESRD for Black and White patients. Based on these tables derived from over 50,000 deaths in dialysis patients during 1987 to 1989 a methodology is described that allows comparison of local or regional mortality rates to national rates with determination of a standardized mortality ratio and statistical significance. Since this methodology adjusts for patient age, race and cause of ESRD, it can serve as a useful tool for dialysis research and local quality assurance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Oat bran increases serum acetate of hypercholesterolemic men.

Mechanisms for the hypocholesterolemic effects of oat bran remain unclear. Soluble fibers such as oat bran are fermented in the colon to short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which may enter the portal vein and attenuate hepatic cholesterol synthesis. To compare effects of oat bran and wheat bran on serum SCFA concentrations, 20 hypercholesterolemic men entered a metabolic ward and received control diets for 1 wk followed by oat-bran or wheat-bran diets for 3 wk. Oat bran decreased serum cholesterol 12.8% (P less than 0.001) whereas wheat bran had no effect. Peripheral serum SCFA concentrations were measured seven times over 14 h at the end of each diet. Serum acetate values from 1200 to 2200 were significantly higher in subjects fed oat-bran vs wheat-bran diets. Peak and incremental peak acetate values were also significantly higher than control values in subjects fed oat bran but not in subjects fed wheat bran. SCFA responses may contribute to the hypocholesterolemic effects of oat bran.

Acetates↗
PubMed1992

Prospective, randomized, controlled comparison of the effects of low-fat and low-fat plus high-fiber diets on serum lipid concentrations.

Previous studies examining the hypocholesterolemic effects of high-soluble-fiber diets have not been designed to control for dietary fat intake. Serum cholesterol reductions may therefore be accounted for by differences in consumption of fat. Moderately hypercholesterolemic, nonobese, Caucasian men and women, 30-50 y old were randomly assigned to low-fat, low-fat plus high-fiber, or usual-diet groups and followed for 12 mo. At 12 mo the high-fiber group consumed significantly more soluble fiber than both the low-fat and usual-diet groups (P = 0.0063 and P = 0.0001); the high-fiber group did not differ from the low-fat group in quantity of dietary fat consumed. The high-fiber group experienced a greater average reduction (13%) in serum cholesterol than did the low-fat (9%) and usual-diet (7%) groups. After adjustment for relevant covariates, the reduction in the high-fiber group was significantly greater than that in the low-fat group (P = 0.0482). Supplementation with soluble fiber reduces serum cholesterol beyond the reduction observed with low-fat diet alone.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Mumps outbreak in a highly vaccinated population.

From October 1988 to April 1989, a large mumps outbreak occurred in Douglas County, Kansas. Of the 269 cases, 208 (77.3%) occurred among primary and secondary school students, of whom 203 (97.6%) had documentation of mumps vaccination. Attack rates were highest for students attending junior high school (8.0%), followed by high school (2.0%) and elementary school (0.7%). A retrospective cohort study conducted at one junior high school with an attack rate of 12.9% did not find age at vaccination or type of vaccine received (single or combined antigen) to be risk factors for vaccine failure. Students vaccinated more than 4 years before the outbreak appeared to have a higher attack rate than those vaccinated more recently (relative risk (RR) = 4.3; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.6, 30.0); however, this association did not exist when risk was evaluated based on number of vaccine doses received. Students who had documentation of receiving only one dose of vaccine were at greater risk than those who had received two doses (RR = 5.2; 95% CI = 1.0, 206.2). Overall, vaccine effectiveness among Douglas County junior high school students was estimated to be 83% (95% CI = 57%, 94%). These data suggest that mumps vaccine failure and the failure to vaccinate have contributed to the relative resurgence of mumps observed in the United States since 1986. The recent change in immunization policy to recommend a two-dose schedule of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine should help reduce the occurrence of mumps outbreaks in highly vaccinated populations.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1991

Metabolic effects of high-carbohydrate, high-fiber diets for insulin-dependent diabetic individuals.

The metabolic effects of high-carbohydrate (70%), high-fiber (70 g) (HCHF) and low-carbohydrate (39%), low-fiber (10 g) (LCLF) diets were examined for 10 subjects with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). After a 1-wk control period subjects on a metabolic ward were randomly allocated to HCHF or LCLF diets for 4 wk. After a 6-wk washout period subjects re-entered the metabolic ward for 4 wk on the alternate diet. Artificial-pancreas studies were performed on each diet for measurement of insulin requirements. Compared with the LCLF diet, the HCHF diet reduced basal insulin requirements (P less than 0.025), increased carbohydrate disposed of per unit insulin (P less than 0.0008), and lowered total (P less than 0.0004) and high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (P less than 0.0013). Glycemic control and other lipid fractions did not differ significantly. These results suggest that in IDDM patients, HCHF diets enhance peripheral glucose disposal, decrease basal insulin requirements, and lower total cholesterol without altering glycemic control or triglycerides.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Aging and endothelial barrier function in culture: effects of chronic exposure to fatty acid hydroperoxides and vitamin E.

As the endothelium ages it may become more susceptible to damage by atherogenic plasma components such as toxic lipid oxidation products. Vitamin E (vit E) might prove to be anti-atherogenic by reducing oxidative injury. This study investigated the effects of age and chronic exposure to fatty acid hydroperoxides (OFA) and/or vit E on endothelial barrier function (EBF) and cell growth characteristics. Chronic exposure to 5 microM OFA for 40 passages resulted in an age-related decrease in EBF, while supplementation of OFA-treated cultures with 25 microM vit E protected against the OFA-mediated decrease in EBF, independent of cell age. Vit E treatment alone had no significant effect on EBF relative to control cultures. No changes in growth characteristics, i.e., total DNA or protein per culture, were noted, regardless of treatment, although total DNA per culture decreased with increasing culture passage. These results suggest that chronic oxidative stress decreases EBF, predisposing the artery to infiltration by blood components and subsequent atherogenesis and that vit E delays cumulative changes in EBF related to chronic OFA exposure.

Aging↗
PubMed1989

Ganglioside modulation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase in vitro.

Purified cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (cAK) catalytic subunit phosphorylated 180-, 49-, 31-, 19-, and 14-kilodalton (kDa) proteins of rabbit sciatic nerve membranes. The ability of cAK to phosphorylate these membrane substrate proteins was inhibited by gangliosides GM1, GD1a, and GT1b with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (I50) = 7-25 microM. Neutral glycolipids and lysophosphatidylcholine were much less effective. Cyclic AMP (cAMP) kinase phosphorylation of histone IIA was inhibited by GM1, GD1a, and GT1b (I50 = 115 microM, 75 microM, and 75 microM, respectively). Inhibition by GM1 was competitive with respect to histone (Ki = 108 microM). Autophosphorylation of cAMP kinase was inhibited by GM1 (I50 = 15 microM). GT1b, GD1a, and GM1 half-maximally stimulated calmodulin-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase at 0.1 microM, 0.2 microM, and 0.3 microM, respectively. Although GT1b stimulated phosphodiesterase by increasing Vmax and decreasing Km (similar to calmodulin), GD1a and GM1 produced only an increase in Vmax. These results suggest that ganglioside can modulate the activity of cAMP kinase by both direct inhibition of the enzyme and indirect reduction of cAMP levels through activation of phosphodiesterase. Through these mechanisms, gangliosides may alter cAMP-dependent protein phosphorylation and cell function within the nervous system.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Characterization of receptors for VIP on pancreatic acinar cell plasma membranes using covalent cross-linking.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) receptors on guinea pig pancreatic acini differ from those on all other tissues in containing a high-affinity VIP receptor and a low-affinity VIP receptor that has a high affinity for secretin. To characterize the molecular components of these receptors, 125I-VIP was covalently cross-linked to these receptors by four different cross-linking agents: disuccinimidyl suberate, ethylene glycol bis (succinimidyl succinate), dithiobis (succinimidylpropionate), and m-maleimidobenzoyl N-hydroxysuccinimide ester. Analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated a single major polypeptide band of Mr 45,000 and a minor polypeptide band of Mr 30,000 were cross-linked to 125I-VIP. Covalent cross-linking only occurred when a cross-linking agent was added, was inhibited by GTP, was inhibited by VIP receptor agonists or antagonists that interact with VIP receptors, and not by other pancreatic secretagogues that interact with different receptors. For inhibiting both cross-linking and binding of 125I-VIP to the major polypeptide Mr 45,000 and the minor polypeptide Mr 30,000 components, the relative potencies were VIP greater than helodermin greater than rat growth hormone releasing factor greater than peptide histidine isoleucine greater than secretin. The apparent molecular weight of the cross-linked polypeptides were unchanged by dithiothreitol. Thus the high-affinity VIP receptor on pancreatic acinar cell membranes consists of a single major polypeptide of Mr 45,000, and this polypeptide is not a subunit of a larger disulfide-linked structure. Furthermore, either the low-affinity VIP/secretin-preferring receptor was not covalently cross-linked under the experimental conditions or it consists of a major polypeptide with the same molecular weight as the high-affinity VIP receptor.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Osteoporosis: significance, risk factors and treatment.

Osteoporosis is a serious metabolic bone disorder that results in fractures of the wrist, hip and vertebrae. These fractures frequently occur with little or no trauma. Osteoporosis is seen more frequently in women than men. While the pathogenesis of osteoporosis is incompletely understood at this time, certain risk factors are emerging as important. Among the more important of these are family history, low calcium intake, early menopause and sedentary lifestyle. Other suggested risk factors include high intakes of protein, alcohol and caffeine; low body weight; exercise-induced amenorrhea; and cigarette smoking. No single therapy or combination of therapies for osteoporosis has proven to be uniformly successful. Indeed, once fractures occur, full restoration of the skeleton may not be possible. Currently, calcium, exercise and estrogen form the treatment for osteoporosis. When these conservative measures are ineffective or inadequate, treatment with fluoride, calcitonin, vitamin D or anabolic steroids may be attempted. Research to clearly identify and quantify risk factors and find an effective treatment for osteoporosis continues.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Vasoactive intestinal peptide effects on GH3 pituitary tumor cells: high affinity binding, affinity labeling, and adenylate cyclase stimulation. Comparison with peptide histidine isoleucine and growth hormone-releasing factor.

The vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) receptor was characterized on the GH3 rat pituitary tumor cell line using competitive binding studies with peptides having sequence homology with VIP. Further studies investigated receptor coupling to the adenylate cyclase complex by measurement of cAMP levels. Finally, the molecular weight of the receptor was estimated by affinity labeling techniques. Studies using 125I-VIP and unlabeled competing peptides revealed a single class of high affinity binding sites with a dissociation constant (KD) of 17 +/- 2 nM (mean +/- S.E.M.) for VIP, 275 +/- 46 nM for peptide histidine isoleucine (PHI), and 1380 +/- 800 nM for human pancreatic growth hormone releasing factor (GHRF). VIP and PHI each stimulated intracellular cAMP accumulation in a dose-dependent manner; both peptides demonstrated synergism with forskolin. In contrast, GHRF neither stimulated accumulation of cAMP nor demonstrated synergism with forskolin. VIP plus PHI (1 microM each) caused no significant increase in cAMP over either VIP or PHI alone, implying that the two peptides act through the same receptor. Covalent crosslinking of 125I-VIP to its binding site using either disuccinimidyl suberate (DSS) or ethylene glycol bis(succinimidyl succinate) (EGS) was followed by SDS-PAGE and autoradiography. The result is consistent with an Mr 47 000 VIP-binding subunit comprising or being associated with the VIP receptor of GH3 pituitary tumor cells.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1985

A role for inhibin in the control of follicle-stimulating hormone secretion in male rats.

We examined the relationship of testosterone (T) and porcine follicular fluid (pFF) in the negative feedback control of FSH and LH secretion in adult male rats. Either at the time of castration (acute) or at least 30 days after castration (chronic), we implanted T-filled Silastic capsules, which were 2 mm, 10 mm, or 30 mm long; empty capsules (30 mm) served as controls. Seven days later, we injected either 0.15 ml of pFF or saline (i.v.), decapitated the rats 6 hours later, and collected trunk blood for subsequent serum analysis of FSH, LH, and T by RIA. In the acute groups, T implants suppressed the postcastration rises in plasma FSH and LH levels in a dose-dependent manner, with only the largest implant, 30 mm, able to return them to intact levels. PFF injection significantly suppressed FSH levels in intact and acute rats but had no effect on serum LH. In chronic rats, T therapy for 7 days suppressed plasma LH levels in a dose-dependent relationship, yet did not do so to plasma FSH levels. FSH levels were significantly higher in rats with the 30 mm T implants than in intact rats, but were significantly suppressed as compared to chronic controls. PFF significantly suppressed serum FSH levels in all chronic groups with the chronic controls showing the greatest amount of suppression. We conclude that the role for inhibin in the normal control of FSH secretion is that of a secondary modulator which is superimposed on, yet independent of, the steroid feedback mechanism. At any given moment this modulation is dependent upon the secretory activity of the FSH gonadotrope.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Covalent cross-linking of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide to its receptors on intact human lymphoblasts.

125I-labeled vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (125I-VIP) was covalently cross-linked with its binding sites on intact cultured human lymphoblasts by each of three bifunctional reagents: disuccinimidyl suberate (DSS), ethylene glycol bis(succinimidyl succinate) (EGS), and N-succinimidyl 6-(4'-azido-2'-nitrophenylamino) hexanoate (SANAH). A fourth cross-linking agent with a shorter chain length, N-hydroxysuccinimidyl 4-azidobenzoate (HSAB), was much less effective in cross-linking 125I-VIP to the site. Analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography demonstrated a band of Mr approximately equal to 50,000 +/- 3,000, regardless of which cross-linker was used. The labeling of this band was specific in that it was prevented by 10(-6) M unlabeled VIP and was partially blocked by the homologous hormones secretin and glucagon. The relative potencies of these peptides in blocking the cross-linking of 125I-VIP to the Mr approximately equal to 50,000 band of the lymphoblasts (VIP greater than secretin greater than or equal to glucagon) were similar to those previously found for competitive inhibition of 125I-VIP binding to its putative high-affinity receptor on these cells. The covalent cross-linking required a bifunctional reagent; it was dependent on both the number of Molt cells and the concentration of 125I-VIP. The apparent molecular weight of the cross-linked species was unchanged by treatment with dithiothreitol. These observations suggest that the Mr = 50,000 species represents 125I-VIP cross-linked to a specific plasma membrane receptor and that the receptor does not contain interchain disulfide bonds.

Affinity Labels↗
PubMed1985

Vasoactive intestinal peptide and neuropeptide modulation of the immune response.

Evidence is rapidly accumulating to support the existence of a neuroimmune axis. However, the precise role of individual neurotransmitters in regulating immune function remains to be elucidated. In this review we focus on the role of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in modulation of lymphocyte function. We examine its status as a neurotransmitter, including evidence for neuronal and possible extraneuronal sites of synthesis. Further, we present data to demonstrate the presence of VIP receptors in human lymphocytes and, using the Molt 4b lymphoblastic cell line as a model, show VIP-mediated activation of adenylate cyclase leading to cAMP-dependent protein kinase-mediated phosphorylation of a specific Molt protein. Finally, we discuss the functional significance of VIP receptors on lymphocytes and present a model of neuropeptide-induced inflammation with possible therapeutic applications of this exciting new field of neuroimmunology.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1985

Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in Molt 4b lymphoblasts: identification by photoaffinity labeling and activation in intact cells by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and peptide histidine isoleucine (PHI).

Molt 4b lymphoblasts have previously been shown to possess a single class of pharmacologically specific, high affinity receptors for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). This study further explores the molecular basis for modulation of human lymphocyte function by VIP. Dose-dependent stimulation of adenylate cyclase was observed in Molt lymphoblasts over the range of 0.1 nM to 1 microM VIP. VIP-mediated by guanine nucleotide. Accumulation of intracellular cAMP was observed in the presence of either VIP or the diterpene, forskolin. The effects of these two agonists were synergistic. Two neuropeptides that share sequence homology with VIP were also studied; both peptide histidine isoleucine (PHI) and human pancreatic growth hormone releasing factor (1-44 GHRF) competed for 125I-VIP binding to Molt cells. PHI stimulated intracellular cAMP accumulation and demonstrated synergism with forskolin, whereas GHRF had no effect on cAMP. Photoaffinity labeling of 100,000 X G soluble proteins with 8-N3-[32P]cAMP followed by SDS gel electrophoresis demonstrated the presence of cAMP-dependent protein kinases I and II. Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase II predominated in the soluble fraction and was the only isozyme observed in particulate fractions. Protein phosphorylation was studied in Molt 4b cells preincubated with [32P]PO43- followed by addition of media alone, 1 microM peptide, or 10 microM forskolin. Cells were lysed and subjected to two-dimensional electrophoresis. Increased phosphorylation of a specific 41,000 Mr protein was observed after addition of forskolin, VIP, or PHI. A much lower concentration of VIP (1 nM) also caused a significant net increase in phosphorylation, which was of a lower magnitude. In contrast, no net effect on protein phosphorylation was seen with GHRF. These data demonstrate the presence of a functional VIP receptor that is linked to the G protein-adenylate cyclase complex. The demonstration of cAMP-dependent protein kinase and of VIP- and PHI-mediated protein phosphorylation in Molt 4b lymphoblasts provides evidence on a molecular level for neuropeptide modulation of human lymphocyte function.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗