PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Kilian

Publications and source records attributed to G Kilian.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

The biological activity of the histidine-containing diketopiperazines cyclo(His-Ala) and cyclo(His-Gly).

Two cyclic dipeptides, cyclo(His-Ala) and cyclo(His-Gly,) were synthesized from their linear counterparts and their structures elucidated using standard elucidation techniques. Molecular modeling and predictive NMR results indicated that the majority of energetically favourable conformers adopted a boat conformation with respect to the diketopiperazine ring. Cyclo(His-Ala), at concentrations of 100 microM inhibited the growth, in vitro, of various cancer cell lines, including HT-29, MCF-7 and HeLa carcinoma cells while cyclo(His-Gly) inhibited the growth of MCF-7 cells. While the antibacterial potential of these two compounds was limited, both cyclic dipeptides significantly inhibited the growth of C. albicans. Both compounds at a concentration of 100 microM resulted in a decrease in heart rate, coronary flow rate and left ventricular systolic pressure in the isolated rat heart. Inhibition of thrombin, amounting to a 63.3% and 36.7% reduction in the rate of fibrin formation, was noted for cyclo(His-Ala) and cyclo(His-Gly), respectively. While cyclo(His-Ala) showed no notable effects on platelet aggregation, cyclo(His-Gly) significantly inhibited both pathways tested with greatest effects on thrombin-induced platelet aggregation, yielding an IC(50) of 0.0662 mM (R(2)=0.989). The results of the anticancer and hematological studies indicate that histidine-containing diketopiperazines have potential as a novel group of cytotoxic agents with antithrombotic effects.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Biological activity of selected tyrosine-containing 2,5-diketopiperazines.

The study investigates two cyclic dipeptides, cyclo(Tyr-Tyr) (cTT) and cyclo(Phe-Tyr) (cPT) with respect to their biological activity. Investigations using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique testing the effects of 100 microM cyclic dipeptide on ion channels, revealed reversible voltage-dependant blockade for cTT, while cPT exhibited irreversible time-dependant blockade of L-type calcium channels. The isolated retrogradely-perfused rat heart was used to determine the effects of 100 microM of either cTT or cPT on heart rate (HR), coronary flow rate (CFR), left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and cardiac conduction speed. Results indicated opposing effects for the two compounds, where cTT increased HR and CF while cPT decreased HR, CF, LVSP as well as conduction speed. Other biological investigations included opioid binding and anti-neoplastic assays. Competitive binding curves, using tritiated DAMGO, revealed significant binding to micro-opioid receptors with IC50 values for cTT and cPT being 0.82 microM and 69.7 microM respectively. Anti-neoplastic activity was tested using three cultured cell lines: HT-29, MCF-7 and HeLa which were exposed to 2.5 mM cyclic dipeptide or 0.1 mM melphalan as a positive control. While cTT showed little activity against these lines, cPT resulted in as much as a 75.6% growth inhibition of MCF-7 cells, while also being active against HeLa (73.4% inhibition) and HT-29 (60.6%). The results indicate potential biological activity, showing a need for more investigation into tyrosine containing cyclic dipeptides and their analogues as potential bioactive compounds.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2002

The effects of creatine on the retrogradely perfused isolated rat heart.

Although the role of creatine in muscle metabolism is well understood, there is still uncertainty as to its effects at supplemented levels. With this in mind, this study was designed to investigate the direct effects of commercially available creatine on the isolated rat heart, retrogradely perfused and infused with varying concentrations of creatine (1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10 mM) to determine its effects on heart rate, coronary flow and ventricular pressure. Furthermore, tissue from these hearts was used to investigate the cardiotoxic potential of supplemented levels of creatine. Results indicate that creatine directly improves the functioning of the heart under normal conditions with respect to heart rate and ventricular pressure, but may be detrimental to the functioning of energy-deprived hearts. It also showed no cardiotoxic properties since it increased the baseline levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and decreased the levels of isocitrate dehydrogenase (lCD), indicating a decrease in cellular death compared with non-supplemented control hearts.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed2002

Hepatotoxicity of the isomers of cyclo(Trp-Pro).

The hepatotoxicity of the novel cyclic dipeptide cyclo(Trp-Pro), which has shown potential usage in various pharmacological fields, had not been assessed. Further studies on the isomers of this cyclic dipeptide (cyclo(L-Trp-L-Pro), cyclo-(L-Trp-D-Pro), cyclo(D-Trp-L-Pro) and cyclo(D-Trp-D-Pro)) revealed further biological activities. The assessment of hepatotoxicity of these isomers was thus warranted. In vitro screens were performed on primary isolated rat hepatocytes, the Chang liver and N-2-alpha cell lines. In vivo screening involved the assessment of serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate transaminase, ATP, Ca2+ and albumin after intraperitoneal injection over a 1 and 5 day period in the rat model. Liver samples were also obtained for the assessment of lipid peroxidation. It was found that only cyclo(D-Trp-L-Pro) was hepato-specific in its action, while the other isomers were not. The greatest effect on any biochemical or physiological parameter was noted after 5 days. LDH secretion was greatly increased in the presence of cyclo(L-Trp-L-Pro) and cyclo-(L-Trp-D-Pro) (p < 0.05). Significantly increased levels of lipid peroxidation were observed in all the isomer-treated samples (p < 0.05), while Ca2+ concentrations were decreased at day 5. Decreased protein synthesis was noted in the presence of all the isomers at day 1. These results indicate the potential harm involved in the administration of the isomers, which may limit their potential usage in the treatment of various diseases.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed2001

Project ARM: alcohol risk management to prevent sales to underage and intoxicated patrons.

Clear policies and expectations are key to increasing responsible service of alcohol in licensed establishments. Few training programs focus exclusively on owners and managers of alcohol establishments to reduce the risk of alcohol service. Project ARM: Alcohol Risk Management is a one-on-one consultation program for owners and managers. Participants received information on risk level, policies to prevent illegal sales, legal issues, and staff communication. This nonrandomized demonstration project was implemented in five diverse bars. Two waves of underage and pseudo-intoxicated purchase attempts were conducted pre- and postintervention in the five intervention bars and nine matched control bars. Underage sales decreased by 11.5%, and sales to pseudo-intoxicated buyers decreased by 46%. Results were in the hypothesized direction but not statistically significant. A one-on-one, outlet-specific training program for owners and managers is a promising way to reduce illegal alcohol sales, particularly to obviously intoxicated individuals.

Administrative Personnel↗
PubMed1991

Student nurse recruitment: determinants for choosing a nursing program.

Competitive recruitment of nursing school applicants requires a thorough understanding of why they pick a particular school. By applying marketing techniques, nursing schools can identify their institutions' perceived strengths and tailor their recruitment efforts to applicants' needs. Students and alumni (n = 228) responding to a mail survey indicated that their awareness of the nursing program was primarily through personal contacts and direct mail. Other marketing media were perceived as ineffective. Several market segments were identified through canonical correlation analysis: traditional and nontraditional students. Traditional students (under age 25, unmarried, local, in the baccalaureate program) chose the program due to quality of clinical instruction and financial aid. Nontraditional students (age 25 or older, married, returning LPN or RN, transfer, in generic BSN or associate programs) decided to attend based on convenience. The research resulted in the development of recruiting materials emphasizing the unique strengths of the nursing program.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Alcohol sales to pseudo-intoxicated bar patrons.

OBJECTIVES: Many establishments serve alcoholic beverages to obviously intoxicated patrons despite laws against such sales. To guide the development of interventions to reduce these illegal alcohol sales, this study used actors feigning intoxication to determine whether servers recognized obvious signs of intoxication and to assess the tactics servers used when dealing with intoxicated patrons. METHODS: Male actors ages 30 to 50 acted out signs of obvious intoxication as they attempted to purchase alcoholic beverages. If served during the first attempt, these pseudo-intoxicated buyers made second purchase attempts during the same visit. Observers accompanied the actors; after each visit, actors and observers recorded the servers' behavior and comments. RESULTS: Alcoholic beverages were served to actors portraying intoxicated patrons at 68% of first purchase attempts and 53% of second purchase attempts (62% of a total of 106 purchase attempts). The most common refusal technique was a direct refusal (68% of refusals), made with either no excuse or with reference to the actors' apparent intoxication level. Servers' second most commonly used refusal technique was offering alcohol-free beverages, such as coffee or water (18% of refusals). CONCLUSIONS: Further research is needed to determine why servers who recognize intoxication serve alcoholic beverages and what training, outlet policies, and external pressures are needed to reduce illegal alcohol sales to obviously intoxicated patrons.

Adult↗