PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

J Kinsella

Publications and source records attributed to J Kinsella.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PDGF receptor-to-nucleus signaling of p91 (STAT1 alpha) transcription factor in rat smooth muscle cells.

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) are the predominant cell type in the media of a normal artery. Injury to the vessel wall leads to platelet deposition and the release of numerous factors, including PDGF, which exerts its biological effects by binding to specific surface receptors on the smooth muscle cell membrane. We demonstrate that PDGF-stimulated smooth muscle cells activate the STAT (signal transducers and activators of transcription) family of proteins in addition to other signaling pathways (e.g., RAS-RAF-MAP Kinase). We show that the transcription factor p91 (STAT1 alpha) is rapidly activated by PDGF in VSMC and specifically binds to the regulatory elements SIE or GAS. We hypothesize that signal transduction by p91 plays an important role in VSMC, especially after injury with the release of growth factors such as PDGF.

Animals

A metabolic complication of severe burns.

A 32-year-old male was referred to intensive care with possible respiratory sepsis 15 days after sustaining 73 per cent TBSA electrical burns. Investigation revealed previously undiagnosed hyperosmolar non-ketotic diabetic coma. The aetiology, pathogenesis and management of this recognized complication of major burns is discussed. An interesting feature of this case is recovery from 73 per cent burns, severe hyperosmolar non-ketotic diabetic coma and a serum osmolality of 429 mosmol/kg, each of which carry a high mortality probability.

Accidents, Occupational

Differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid with extrathyroidal extension.

BACKGROUND: We have analyzed our experience with differentiated thyroid cancer patients with extrathyroidal extension (ETE) to investigate patterns of recurrence and define factors that predict failure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The records of 1,012 patients treated surgically from 1930 to 1985 were reviewed. A total of 79 patients (8%) had ETE. The median length of follow-up was 10 years. RESULTS: Patients with ETE were more likely to fail treatment and to die of their disease than were patients without ETE (77% versus 34% and 71% versus 13%, respectively; P < 0.0001). Local, regional, and distant failures were more prominent among patients with ETE than among those without ETE (48% versus 9%, 41% versus 16%, and 37% versus 11% respectively; P < 0.0001). Survival of patients with ETE was adversely affected by nonpapillary histology, distant metastasis, age > 45, tumor size > 4 cm, and incomplete excision (P < or = 0.05). After stratification for age, survival in older patients was not affected by tumor size or incomplete excision, while in younger patients tumor size or the presence of distant metastasis did not adversely affect survival. Patients younger than 45 with negative margins had similar survival to patients without ETE (P = 0.46). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ETE are more likely to die of their disease and to fail at all sites. Survival in older patients was not affected by incomplete excision while it was in younger patients. The presence of distant metastasis did not affect survival in younger patients. Our results suggest that among patients under 45, the presence of ETE does not adversely impact upon survival when the primary tumor is completely resected.

Adenocarcinoma

Adjuvant immunotoxin therapy with anti-B4-blocked ricin after autologous bone marrow transplantation for patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Anti-B-blocked ricin (anti-B4-bR) combines the specificity of the anti-B4 (CD19) monoclonal antibody with the protein toxin "blocked ricin." In blocked ricin, affinity ligands are attached to the ricin B-chain to attenuate its lectin binding capacity. In a phase I trial, Anti-B4-bR was administered by 7-day continuous infusion to 12 patients in complete remission after autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) for relapsed B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Patients were treated at 20, 40, and 50 micrograms/kg/d for 7 days. Potentially therapeutic serum levels could be sustained for 3 to 4 days. The maximum tolerated dose was 40 micrograms/kg/d for 7 days (total 280 micrograms/kg). The dose-limiting toxicities were reversible grade IV thrombocytopenia and elevation of hepatic transaminases. Mild capillary leak syndrome was manifested by hypoalbuminemia, peripheral edema (4 patients), and dyspnea (1 patient). Anti-immunotoxin antibodies developed in 7 patients. Eleven patients remain in complete remission between 13 and 26 months post-ABMT (median 17 months). These results show that Anti-B4-bR can be administered with tolerable, reversible toxicities to patients with B-cell NHL in complete remission following ABMT.

Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic

Anti-B4-blocked ricin: a phase I trial of 7-day continuous infusion in patients with B-cell neoplasms.

PURPOSE: This phase I trial was undertaken to determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) and dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) of the B-cell-restricted immunotoxin anti-B4-blocked ricin (anti-B4-bR) when it is administered by 7-day continuous infusion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-four patients with relapsed and refractory B-cell neoplasms (26 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma [NHL], four chronic lymphocytic leukemia [CLL], four acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL]) received 7-day continuous infusion anti-B4-bR. Successive cohorts of at least three patients were treated at doses of 10 to 70 micrograms/kg/d for 7 days with the dose increased by 10 micrograms/kg/d for each cohort. The initial three cohorts of patients (10, 20, and 30 micrograms/kg/d x 7 days) also received a bolus infusion of 20 micrograms/kg before beginning the continuous infusion. RESULTS: The MTD was reached at 50 micrograms/kg/d x 7 days. The DLTs were National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria (NCI CTC) grade IV reversible increases in AST and ALT, and grade IV decreases in platelet counts. Adverse reactions included fevers, nausea, headaches, myalgias, hypoalbuminemia, dyspnea, edema, and capillary leak syndrome. Potentially therapeutic serum levels of anti-B4-bR could be sustained for 4 days in patients treated at the MTD. Two complete responses (CRs), three partial responses (PRs), and 11 transient responses (TRs) were observed. CONCLUSION: Anti-B4-bR can be administered safely by 7-day continuous infusion with tolerable, reversible toxicities to patients with relapsed B-cell neoplasms. Although occasional responses were seen, future trials will use anti-B4-bR in patients with lower tumor burdens to circumvent the obstacle of immunotoxin delivery to bulk disease.

Adult

Ketorolac trometamol for postoperative analgesia after orthopaedic surgery.

We have compared the postoperative morphine requirements and analgesic efficacy of four doses of i.m. ketorolac 30 mg administered 6-hourly with placebo in a double-blind study of patients undergoing major or minor orthopaedic surgery. During the 24-h postoperative study period which began at the end of surgery, patients were prescribed i.m. morphine 10 mg as required 2-hourly and assessments were made of pain at 4 and 24 h. After major surgery, the median morphine consumption over 24 h was 10 mg in patients who received ketorolac, compared with 30 mg in those who received placebo (P = 0.008). Visual analogue pain scores and verbal pain assessments were better than placebo at 4 h (P = 0.028 and P = 0.008, respectively), but were not statistically different between the groups at 24 h. Overall assessment of pain was similar in both groups who had undergone major surgery. In the minor surgery groups, median morphine consumption was 0 mg in patients who received ketorolac, compared with 10 mg in those given placebo (ns). Visual analogue pain scores at 24 h after surgery were significantly less in patients who had received ketorolac compared with placebo (P = 0.046) and the overall assessment of pain relief was better in the ketorolac group (P = 0.0007). Mandatory administration of ketorolac appeared to be of benefit in both major and minor orthopaedic surgery, although the principal effects were reduction in requirement for supplementary morphine for major surgery and better overall analgesia for minor surgery.

Adolescent

Age-associated changes in ammoniagenesis in isolated rat renal tubule segments.

We investigated renal ammoniagenesis in isolated nephron segments from control and acidotic senescent and young adult rats. When young (6 mo) and senescent (24 mo) control groups were compared, there was no significant difference in glutamine-dependent ammonia production in any nephron tubule segments. However, ammonia production rates in glomeruli from old rats were significantly greater than the rate from young rats and were correlated with the serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels. After giving young and old rats an equivalent acid load (by gavage) of ammonia chloride solutions (6 mo, blood pH 7.34; 24 mo, blood pH 7.07), we measured a significant increase in ammoniagenesis on the S1 and S2 segments of proximal tubules and the distal convoluted tubules from old rats, and no increase in any segment from young rats. When we increased the acid load in young rats to an equivalent severity of acidosis (blood pH 7.07), we found significant increases in ammonia production in the S1, S2, S3, and distal convoluted tubule. With comparable blood pH values, ammoniagenesis in S1, S2, and S3 segments from young rats was about double the values measured in segments from senescent rats. The severity of the acidosis in the 24-mo-old rats was related to serum creatinine and BUN. Our findings show that ammoniagenesis in isolated segments from senescent rats is qualitatively similar to their younger counterparts but that this maximum capacity to generate ammonia is reduced. The change in nephron capacity to synthesize ammonia may be the result of age-associated physiological changes and/or the chronic renal failure exhibited in old rats.

Acidosis

Increased airways reactivity after smoke inhalation.

13 fire victims who required treatment after smoke inhalation underwent lung function assessment within 3 days of injury and 3 months later. Initial airways hyperreactivity improved over this period, but FEV1 and airways specific conductance did not change significantly. There was a strong correlation between exposure carboxyhaemoglobin concentration (an indicator of smoke exposure) and initial airways specific conductance (r + 0.79; p = 0.006). Airways obstruction after smoke inhalation in house fires may be more common and more persistent than is generally recognised. Early lung function tests would allow the incidence of pulmonary complications after smoke inhalation and the potential benefits of early use of inhaled antiinflammatory drugs to be assessed.

Adult

Alveolar macrophage chemotaxis in fire victims with smoke inhalation and burns injury.

In vitro migration of alveolar macrophages was studied in 24 fire victims and 19 controls; all subjects were cigarette smokers. Unstimulated (P = 0.01) and stimulated migration towards casein-(P = 0.01) and zymosan-activated serum (P = 0.002) of macrophages from smoke inhalation patients (SI) (n = 19) was increased when compared to control subjects (CS). Migration of alveolar macrophages from patients with burns without smoke inhalation (burns only, BO) was not increased. Patients with smoke inhalation and no burns (smoke only, SO) (n = 9) had increased migration when compared to controls but this was not statistically significant. Patients with smoke inhalation and burns (SB) (n = 10) had increased unstimulated migration (P = 0.01) and increased migration towards casein (P less than 0.005), ZAS (P less than 0.002) and F-met-leu-phe (P less than 0.05) when compared to controls (CS). Lavage fluid from the fire victims displayed chemotactic activity towards normal human neutrophils and its analysis for the components of the complement cascade proved positive (Clq, Clr, Factor B and C3). These data suggest that activation of alveolar macrophages may contribute to the development of pathophysiological changes in patients with smoke inhalation (SI) and particularly those with smoke inhalation and burns (SB).

Burns

Changes in alveolar macrophage, monocyte, and neutrophil cell profiles after smoke inhalation injury.

Thirty two fire victims with smoke inhalation, with or without burns, and 26 control subjects had bronchoalveolar lavage performed. Cell yields and differential cell counts were assessed. All patients and controls were cigarette smokers. Patients with smoke inhalation (SI) injury generally showed higher total bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cell yields, and this was significant on repeat lavage from 12 patients. The increase was almost entirely due to an increase in the proportion of neutrophils in patients with smoke inhalation alone (S) and those with cutaneous burns as well as smoke inhalation (S + B). On sequential lavage of 12 patients with smoke inhalation (SI) the proportion of neutrophils had increased; this was significantly higher than on initial lavage. Using various macrophage markers, the proportions of macrophage subgroups were determined. There was an increase in UCHM1 and RFD9 positive cells in each subgroup: the increase in UCHM1 positive cells was significant in patients with burns as well as smoke inhalation, and the increase in RFD9 positive cells was significant in patients with smoke inhalation alone. Assessment of the role of such cells in the development of acute lung injury (such as adult respiratory distress syndrome) may be important in our understanding of the mechanisms entailed.

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid

A transfected m5 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor stimulates phospholipase A2 by inducing both calcium influx and activation of protein kinase C.

Receptor-mediated arachidonic acid release and its relationship to phospholipase A2 and phospholipase C activation were investigated in Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with and expressing the m5 muscarinic receptor. Carbachol, a muscarinic receptor agonist, stimulated the release of arachidonic acid and inositol phosphates with similar potencies. In addition, carbachol and the phorbol ester, phorbol-12-myristate, 13-acetate (PMA), stimulated protein kinase C (PKC) activity. PMA potentiated the carbachol-stimulated release of arachidonic acid, but had no effect on release of inositol phosphates. Long-term preincubation with PMA or carbachol inhibited PKC activity and prevented carbachol-stimulated release of arachidonic acid, but not inositol phosphates, suggesting that release of arachidonic acid, but not release of inositol phosphates, required activation of PKC. Carbachol stimulated the release of [3H]lysophosphatidylcholine from [3H]choline prelabeled cells, suggesting that phospholipase A2 was involved in the release of arachidonic acid. The role of calcium in carbachol-stimulated release of arachidonic acid was also investigated. Carbachol stimulated a transient followed by a sustained increase in intracellular calcium. In the absence of extracellular calcium, the transient rise in intracellular calcium was maintained but the sustained increase in intracellular calcium and the release of arachidonic acid were abolished. Carbachol stimulated a sustained influx of 45Ca++. We conclude that the combined effect of PKC activation and sustained elevation of intracellular calcium, from an extracellular source, is essential for m5 muscarinic receptor activation of phospholipase A2.

Animals

Transient state kinetic evidence for an oligomer in the mechanism of Na+-H+ exchange.

Pre-steady-state kinetic measurements of 22Na+ uptake by the amiloride-sensitive Na+-H+ exchanger in renal brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) were performed at 0 degrees C to characterize the intermediate reactions of the exchange cycle. At 1 mM Na+, the initial time course of Na+ uptake was resolved into three separate components: (i) a lag phase, (ii) an exponential or "burst" phase, and (iii) a constant velocity or steady-state phase. Pulse-chase experiments using partially loaded BBMV showed no evidence for 22Na+ back-flux, suggesting that the decline in the rate of Na+ uptake rate following the burst represents completion of the first turnover of the exchanger. Gramicidin completely abolished Na+ uptake, indicating that the burst phase results from the translocation of Na+ rather than from residual Na+ binding to external sites. Raising the [Na+] from 1 to 10 mM at constant pH (internal pH 5.7; external pH 7.7) produced a sigmoidal increase in the amplitude of the burst phase without affecting the lag duration or the apparent burst rate. In contrast, Na+ uptake in the steady state obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics. These results suggest that a minimum of two Na+ transport sites must be occupied to activate Na+ uptake in the pre-steady state. The transition to Michaelis-Menten kinetics in the steady state can be explained by a "flip-flop" or alternating site mechanism in which the functional transport unit is an oligomer and only one promoter per cycle is allowed to form a translocation complex with Na+ after the first turnover.

Amiloride

Patient-controlled analgesia for burn patients: a preliminary report.

The introduction of patient-controlled analgesia for burn patients is reported. It has been used for 18 postoperative patients and five patients with acute thermal injury. The system has been found to be easy to use. Wide variations in patient morphine consumption have been seen. Patient-controlled analgesia may have a role in the management of pain associated with burns.

Adolescent

Na+-H+ exchange and Na+-dependent transport systems in streptozotocin diabetic rat kidneys.

The streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat was used to test the hypothesis that Na+-H+ exchange activity in the proximal tubule luminal membrane would be increased in association with renal hypertrophy, altered glomerular hemodynamics, enhanced filtered load and tubular reabsorption of Na+, and stimulated Na+ pump activity in the basolateral membrane, previously reported characteristics of this experimental animal model. Amiloride-sensitive H+ gradient-dependent Na+ uptake and Na+ gradient-dependent H+ flux were increased in brush-border membrane vesicles from the streptozotocin-treated animals. Na+ gradient-dependent uptakes of phosphate, D-glucose, L-proline, and myoinositol were decreased in the drug-induced diabetic animals. These membrane transport alterations were not found when the streptozotocin-diabetic animals were treated with insulin.

Animals

Glucocorticoids and metabolic acidosis-induced renal transports of inorganic phosphate, calcium, and NH4.

The initial rate (5 s) of Na+-dependent inorganic phosphate (Pi) uptake in brush-border membrane vesicles isolated from rat proximal tubule was decreased in metabolic acidosis, 0.42 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.59 +/- 0.05 nmol/mg protein, in vesicles from control animals. Phosphate, ammonium, and Ca2+ excretions were increased 100, 600, and 56%, respectively. These changes in brush-border Pi transport and urinary excretion of ions were largely dependent on intact adrenal glands. After adrenalectomy there were no significant changes in brush-border Pi transport, Pi, and Ca2+ excretion, whereas ammonium excretion increased only 300% compared with controls. When the glucocorticoid dexamethasone was administered to adrenalectomized animals, it mimicked the effects of metabolic acidosis both in the presence and the absence of metabolic acidosis. The initial rate of brush-border Pi transport was decreased by dexamethasone administration to 0.37 +/- 0.04 nmol/mg protein in adrenalectomized acidotic animals and 0.39 +/- 0.03 nmol/mg protein in adrenalectomized animals. Dexamethasone administered to adrenalectomized acidotic animals increased Pi, ammonium, and Ca2+ excretion 190, 690, and 23%, respectively. Dexamethasone administered to nonacidotic adrenalectomized animals increased Pi ammonium and Ca2+ excretion 165, 240, and 31%, respectively. We conclude that changes in Pi, ammonium, and Ca2+ excretion observed during metabolic acidosis were dependent on intact adrenal glands and that glucocorticoids administered to adrenalectomized acidotic or nonacidotic animals mimicked the changes observed in acidotic animals with intact adrenal glands.

Acidosis