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Biomedical subjects

Christiane Hesse

Publications and source records attributed to Christiane Hesse.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Alternative to ganglionic blockade with anticholinergic and alpha-2 receptor agents.

The ganglionic blocking agent trimethaphan (TMP) is no longer produced. Therefore, a need exists for alternative pharmacological approaches to investigate baroreflex control of the circulation. The aim of the present study was to examine baroreflex-mediated cardiovascular responses during the administration of a muscarinic receptor antagonist (glycopyrrolate; GLY: ) and a selective alpha-2 receptor agonist (dexmedetomidine; DEX: ) and to compare responses to ganglionic blockade with TMP. We hypothesized that combined GLY-: DEX: would inhibit the baroreflex similar to TMP. Ten volunteers participated in two study days and were instrumented with pulse oximeter, nasal cannula, ECG, continuous blood pressure monitoring (Finapres), and I.V. catheter for drug infusions. Each study day consisted of a control condition followed by either combined GLY: -DEX: or TMP on alternating days. A Valsalva maneuver was performed under each condition with every subject and six subjects received bolus phenylephrine (25 mug) during GLY: -DEX: and TMP. Combined GLY: -DEX: increased (P < 0.05) blood pressure (99 +/- 4 mmHg) and heart rate (99 +/- 3 bpm) relative to control condition (BP: 90 +/- 2 mmHg; HR: 64 +/- 3 bpm) and TMP infusion decreased (P < 0.05) blood pressure (79 +/- 3 mmHg) while increasing heart rate (88 +/- 3 bpm). Valsalva maneuver elicited a persistent drop in arterial pressure (no phase IIb recovery) with the absence of a phase IV overshoot during both GLY: -DEX: and TMP conditions. Phenylephrine increased systolic pressure 34 +/- 4 mmHg under GLY: -DEX: and 23 +/- 3 mmHg with TMP (P < 0.05). Heart rate only decreased 1 +/- 2 bpm during GLY: -DEX: and 1 +/- 1 bpm with TMP. Taken together, our results suggest that GLY: -DEX: is a reasonable alternative to TMP for baroreflex inhibition.

Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists↗

Kinetics and dynamics of the peripheral neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist SLV317 in healthy individuals.

AIMS: To investigate the pharmacokinetics and the pharmacodynamic effects in dorsal hand veins of the neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist SLV317. METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study 19 healthy men received a single oral dose of SLV317 or placebo. Blood samples were collected for analysis of SLV317 plasma concentrations and the inhibition of the venodilator response to substance P was evaluated using the hand vein compliance method. RESULTS: Administration of 250 mg SLV317 as an oral solution was well tolerated and resulted in mean peak plasma concentrations (+/- SEM) of 77 +/- 9 ng ml(-1) within 47 +/- 3 min; the mean half-life was 9.9 +/- 1.6 h. In hand veins preconstricted with phenylephrine, local infusion of substance P resulted in a mean venodilation of 56 +/- 8% and 49 +/- 6% (P = 0.91) before administration of SLV317 or placebo, respectively. SLV317 caused a substantial inhibition of substance P-induced venodilation, whereas placebo had no effect (P < 0.001). The maximum antagonizing effect of SLV317 averaged 95 +/- 8% and was observed after 1.47 +/- 00.24 h. Correspondingly, the mean area under the effect curve after administration of SLV317 [278 +/- 67% h(-1); 95% confidence interval (CI) 198, 358] was significantly higher compared with placebo (49 +/- 12% h(-1); 95% CI -24, 122; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist SLV317 is an orally active and highly effective antagonist of substance P-induced effects in humans.

Administration, Oral↗

Modulation of endothelial and smooth muscle function by bed rest and hypoenergetic, low-fat nutrition.

Prolonged microgravity alters the regulation of the peripheral vasculature. The influence of reduced food intake, as often observed in astronauts, on vascular function is unclear. In a randomized, four-phase, crossover study, the effect of simulated microgravity (13 days of bed rest), energetic restriction (-25%, fat reduced), and their combination on endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilation was compared with ambulatory control conditions. Using venous occlusion plethysmography, cumulative intra-arterial dose-response curves to endothelium-dependent (acetylcholine) and -independent (sodium nitroprusside) vasodilators were constructed in 10 healthy male volunteers before and on day 13 of each of the four intervention periods. Bed rest combined with normoenergetic nutrition impaired the dose-response to acetylcholine (ANOVA, P = 0.004) but not to sodium nitroprusside, whereas hypoenergetic diet under ambulatory conditions improved responses to acetylcholine (P = 0.044) and sodium nitroprusside (P < 0.001). When bed rest was combined with hypoenergetic diet, acetylcholine responses did not change. Similarly, under control conditions, no change was observed. Individual changes in the total cholesterol-to-HDL ratio were correlated with changes in endothelial and vascular smooth muscle relaxation. In conclusion, short-term bed rest impairs endothelium-dependent arterial relaxation in humans. A hypoenergetic, low-fat diet modulates serum lipids, improves endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxation, and may antagonize the unfavorable effects of simulated microgravity on endothelial function.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Hypoxia impairs systemic endothelial function in individuals prone to high-altitude pulmonary edema.

RATIONALE: High-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) is characterized by excessive pulmonary vasoconstriction and is associated with decreased concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) in the lung. OBJECTIVES: We hypothesized that individuals susceptible to HAPE (HAPE-S) would also have dysfunction of the vascular NO vasodilator pathway during hypoxia in the systemic vasculature. METHODS: During normoxia (FI(O(2)) = 0.21) and 4 hours of normobaric hypoxia (FI(O(2)) = 0.12, corresponding to an altitude of 4,500 m above sea level) endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilator responses to intraarterial infusion of acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside, respectively, were measured by forearm venous occlusion plethysmography in nine HAPE-S subjects and in nine HAPE-resistant control subjects. MAIN RESULTS: Pulmonary artery systolic pressure increased from 22 +/- 3 to 33 +/- 6 mm Hg (p < 0.001) during hypoxia in control subjects, and from 25 +/- 4 to 50 +/- 9 mm Hg in HAPE-S subjects (p < 0.001). Despite similar responses during normoxia in both groups, ACh-induced changes in forearm blood flow markedly decreased during hypoxia in HAPE-S subjects (p = 0.01) but not in control subjects. The attenuated vascular response to ACh infusion during hypoxia inversely correlated with increased pulmonary artery systolic pressure (p = 0.04) and decreased plasma nitrite correlated with attenuated ACh-induced vasodilation in HAPE-S subjects (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Hypoxia markedly impairs vascular endothelial function in the systemic circulation in HAPE-S subjects due to a decreased bioavailability of NO. Impairment of the NO pathway could contribute to the enhanced hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction that is central to the pathogenesis of HAPE.

Acetylcholine↗

Fluvoxamine affects sildenafil kinetics and dynamics.

Sildenafil used as oral drug treatment for erectile dysfunction is predominantly metabolized by the cytochrome P450 isozyme 3A4. The antidepressant fluvoxamine is an inhibitor of cytochrome P450 3A4. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, we evaluated the effects of fluvoxamine dosed to steady state on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of sildenafil. Twelve healthy men received oral fluvoxamine or placebo for 10 days (50 mg every day on days 1-3; 100 mg every day on days 4-10). On day 11, all participants received a single, oral, open-label dose of 50 mg sildenafil, and blood samples were collected for analysis of sildenafil plasma concentrations by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Concurrently, the effect of sildenafil on venodilation induced by a constant dose of sodium nitroprusside was assessed using the dorsal hand vein compliance technique. Sildenafil was well tolerated in the presence of fluvoxamine. During fluvoxamine, sildenafil exposure (area under the curve) significantly increased by 40% (P < 0.001), and its half-life increased by 19% (P = 0.034). Concurrently, sodium nitroprusside-induced venodilation was significantly augmented by 59% during fluvoxamine compared to placebo (P = 0.012). In conclusion, sildenafil kinetics are mildly affected by fluvoxamine which translates into an increase in vascular sildenafil effects. Whereas the pharmacokinetic changes do not suggest a large clinically relevant interaction, it may be prudent to consider a starting dose of 25 mg in patients concurrently treated with fluvoxamine.

Adult↗

Autosomal-dominant hypertension with type E brachydactyly is caused by rearrangement on the short arm of chromosome 12.

We are studying a Turkish family with autosomal-dominant hypertension and brachydactyly; affected persons die of stroke before 50 years of age. With interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization, we found a chromosome 12p deletion, reinsertion, and inversion in affected persons. This finding suggested that the hypertension could be caused by one or more of 3 genes, the ATP-dependent potassium channel Kir6.1, its regulator the sulfonyl urea receptor SUR2, and the phosphodiesterase PDE3A. We further studied 6 affected and 4 nonaffected persons. Buttocks biopsies were done, small vessels were tested on a myograph, and mRNA was extracted. We performed forearm blood flow studies with intrabrachial artery diazoxide, isoproterenol, and milrinone infusions. Systemic pharmacological testing was done with intravenous diazoxide, nitroprusside, and isoproterenol. PDE3A mRNA was high in vessels from 3 affected subjects, but not high in 3 others. The vessels responded similarly to forskolin, with or without glibenclamide, and to cromakalim. However, there was a suggestion that the dilatation after milrinone might be exaggerated. The forearm infusion studies showed no differences in the responses to diazoxide, isoproterenol, or milrinone. Systemically, affected persons showed a greater blood pressure response to diazoxide and nitroprusside, and a greater heart rate response to isoproterenol than nonaffected persons. The results shed doubt on Kir6.1 and SUR2. The differences in PDE3A expression and responses may be the result of hypertension rather than the cause. Although our 3 candidate genes are no longer likely, the rearrangement we describe greatly enhances the perspectives of this project.

Arteries↗

Endothelial venodilator response in carriers of genetic polymorphisms involved in NO synthesis and degradation.

AIMS: Polymorphisms of the NOSIII gene and of the CYBA gene have been associated with a number of pathological conditions such as arterial hypertension, coronary artery disease, and myocardial infarction. Because endothelium-dependent vasodilation is impaired in these disorders, we hypothesized that polymorphisms of NOSIII or CYBA might modulate endothelial function of venous capacitance vessels already before cardiovascular disease becomes overt. METHODS: Endothelium-dependent and -independent venodilation was assessed by measuring local vascular responses to bradykinin and sodium nitroprusside in the dorsal hand vein after preconstriction with phenylephrine in 72 healthy male Caucasians after careful exclusion of cardiovascular risk factors. Genotyping was performed for polymorphisms of the NOSIII gene (T-786C, G894T, (CA)(n)) and the CYBA gene (C242T). RESULTS: Genotype distribution for each polymorphism followed the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. In all studied single nucleotide polymorphisms no significant difference between the respective genotypes and the venodilator response to either sodium nitroprusside or bradykinin was observed, and the number of CA repeat copies was not related to the venodilator response to bradykinin. Mean venodilation induced by bradykinin 50 ng min(-1) (+/-SEM) for homozygote carriers of the single nucleotide polymorphisms was 48.9 +/- 8.5% venodilation (G894T; wild type: 49.8 +/- 6.9), 50.3 +/- 11.0% venodilation (T-786C; wild type: 42.6 +/- 5.2), and 30.4 +/- 9.1% venodilation (C242T; wild type: 49.2 +/- 6.0), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the studied polymorphisms of NOSIII and CYBA do not significantly modulate endothelium-dependent venodilation in individuals without vascular risk factors.

Bradykinin↗

Rapid and reliable genotyping of the C181T polymorphism in the bradykinin B2 receptor gene.

Bradykinin is not only a mediator of pain and inflammation but also a potent vasodilator and is likely to contribute to the cardioprotective effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. The B2 receptor (B2-R) mediating most of the inflammatory and cardiovascular effects of bradykinin represents a candidate gene likely involved in the complex genetic causes of common chronic disorders such as hypertension. The C181T polymorphism of the B2-R gene influences the potency of bradykinin and there is evidence of a possible role of this polymorphism in the development of hypertension and end-stage renal disease. We developed and validated a new, rapid, and reliable method for the detection of the C181T polymorphism based on the hybridization probes format on the LightCycler, which is superior to the conventional PCR-RFLP method commonly used to detect this polymorphism. It allows the solid evaluation of large patient populations with the best time.

Alleles↗