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Biomedical subjects

J Christofides

Publications and source records attributed to J Christofides.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Blood 5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and melatonin levels in patients with either Huntington's disease or chronic brain injury.

Following a study of oxidative tryptophan metabolism to kynurenines, we have now analysed the blood of patients with either Huntington's disease or traumatic brain injury for levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and melatonin. There were no differences in the baseline levels of these compounds between patients and healthy controls. Tryptophan depletion did not reduce 5-HT levels in either the controls or in the patients with Huntington's disease, but it increased 5-HT levels in patients with brain injury and lowered 5-HIAA in the control and Huntington's disease groups. An oral tryptophan load did not modify 5-HT levels in the patients but increased 5-HT in control subjects. The tryptophan load restored 5-HIAA to baseline levels in controls and patients with brain injury, but not in those with Huntington's disease, in whom 5-HIAA remained significantly depressed. Melatonin levels increased on tryptophan loading in all subjects, with levels in patients with brain injury increasing significantly more than in controls. Baseline levels of neopterin and lipid peroxidation products were higher in patients than in controls. It is concluded that both groups of patients exhibit abnormalities in tryptophan metabolism, which may be related to increased inflammatory status and oxidative stress. Interactions between the kynurenine, 5-HT and melatonin pathways should be considered when interpreting changes of tryptophan metabolism.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2006

Tryptophan metabolism and oxidative stress in patients with chronic brain injury.

The kynurenine pathway generates the excitotoxic N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor agonist, quinolinic acid and the glutamate antagonist, kynurenic acid, as well as free-radical generators. We investigated the status of the pathway following severe brain injury sustained at least 1 year previously in 15 patients compared with controls. At baseline, patients with brain injury showed increased levels of neopterin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein and peroxidation products in the blood compared with controls, indicating persistent inflammation and oxidative stress. At baseline and following tryptophan depletion, more tryptophan was converted to kynurenine in patients than controls, but less kynurenine was converted into the neuroprotectant, kynurenic acid. This suggests that neuroprotection by kynurenic acid may be inadequate in brain-damaged patients even many years after injury. On tryptophan loading, patients metabolized more kynurenine into kynurenic acid than controls, a process which may be neuroprotective. In addition, lower levels of 3-hydroxykynurenine and 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid in patients after tryptophan loading should be protective since these compounds generate free radicals. The results suggest that for brain-damaged patients, increased activation of the kynurenine pathway, oxidative stress and raised levels of inflammation continue many years after the original insult, possibly contributing to the continuing cerebral dysfunction in these patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Tryptophan metabolism and oxidative stress in patients with Huntington's disease.

Abnormalities in the kynurenine pathway may play a role in Huntington's disease (HD). In this study, tryptophan depletion and loading were used to investigate changes in blood kynurenine pathway metabolites, as well as markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in HD patients and healthy controls. Results showed that the kynurenine : tryptophan ratio was greater in HD than controls in the baseline state and after tryptophan depletion, indicating increased indoleamine dioxygenase activity in HD. Evidence for persistent inflammation in HD was provided by elevated baseline levels of C-reactive protein, neopterin and lipid peroxidation products compared with controls. The kynurenate : kynurenine ratio suggested lower kynurenine aminotransferase activity in patients and the higher levels of kynurenine in patients at baseline, after depletion and loading, do not result in any differences in kynurenic acid levels, providing no supportive evidence for a compensatory neuroprotective role for kynurenic acid. Quinolinic acid showed wide variations in blood levels. The lipid peroxidation data indicate a high level of oxidative stress in HD patients many years after disease onset. Levels of the free radical generators 3-hydroxykynurenine and 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid were decreased in HD patients, and hence did not appear to contribute to the oxidative stress. It is concluded that patients with HD exhibit abnormal handling of tryptophan metabolism and increased oxidative stress, and that these factors could contribute to ongoing brain dysfunction.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Tryptophan loading induces oxidative stress.

In previous studies tryptophan loads have been administered to human subjects in order to raise central levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) and assess the effects of 5HT on behaviour and mood. However, tryptophan is metabolised primarily along the oxidative kynurenine pathway. In this study a 6 g oral tryptophan load was administered to 15 healthy volunteers and the levels of kynurenines and lipid peroxidation products (indicative of oxidative stress) were measured. The results demonstrate that tryptophan loading produces a highly significant increase in lipid peroxidation products in parallel with increased kynurenines. The oxidative stress may result from the generation of quinolinic acid, 3-hydroxykynurenine, and 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid, all of which are known to have the ability to generate free radicals. The results may have implications for the use of tryptophan loading in psychiatric practice, and for the chronic use of diets high in tryptophan.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Increased mean platelet volume after oestrogen replacement therapy.

The effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on platelet size was examined in 38 post-menopausal women before and at end of a 6 week period of HRT. Subjects were treated with cyclical L-norgestrel 75 mg daily from days 17 to 28 of a 28-day cycle combined with continuous conjugated equine oestrogens 0.625 mg daily. Platelet-rich plasma was obtained to measure platelet indices by Coulter analysis. Plasma measurements of luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone and 17 beta-oestradiol were measured by immunoassays. Platelet membrane fatty acids were measured by gas-liquid chromatography. A significant reduction in platelet membrane linoleic acid, di-homo-gamma-linoleic acid and arachidonic acid of 8.1%, 14.3% and 17.8%, respectively was noted after 6 weeks of HRT (p < 0.01). There was an increase in the platelet count (not significant) and platelet volume (MPV) (P < 0.05) after 6 weeks of hormone therapy. HRT appears to increase mean platelet volume which may indicate an increase in platelet reactivity. There was no correlation between the changes in mean platelet volume and membrane fatty acid changes in platelets after such therapy.

8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid↗
PubMed1986

The effect of cimetidine on platelet function: a study involving gastric fluid measurements.

Gastric fluid samples were aspirated 30 and 60 minutes after the ingestion of two 200 mg tablets of cimetidine. The concentration of cimetidine in these samples was measured and their effect on platelet aggregation assessed in vitro. Gastric fluid samples significantly inhibited adrenaline- and ADP-induced platelet aggregation in vitro. In a further series of experiments, cimetidine solutions, at concentrations found in gastric fluid, inhibited platelet aggregation and thromboxane A2 (TXA2) release, in vitro. Ranitidine, another H2-receptor antagonist, was a more potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation than cimetidine. Since ranitidine is also the more potent H2-receptor antagonist which, unlike cimetidine, does not include an imidazole group (which is known to inhibit TXA2 synthesis) in its structure, we conclude that H2 blockade mediates the observed inhibition of aggregation. This platelet anti-aggregatory effect may be relevant to haemostatic mechanisms involved in bleeding peptic ulcers or gastric erosions exposed to high local concentrations of H2-receptor antagonists.

Blood Platelets↗