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Biomedical subjects

J M Berman

Publications and source records attributed to J M Berman.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Dexamethasone administration induces increased glutaminase specific activity in the jejunum and colon.

Exogenous glucocorticoids markedly increase the in vivo uptake and utilization of glutamine by the intestine. Since glutamine is the major oxidative fuel for the small intestine, we investigated whether glucocorticoids induce changes in the specific activity of the enzymes that mediate glutamine degradation (glutaminase) and synthesis (glutamine synthetase). Male Sprague-Dawley rats received a 7-day elemental diet. On Day 5, animals were randomized to one of four groups and received either saline (Control) or one of three doses of dexamethasone im: 0.1 mg/kg (Lodex); 0.3 mg/kg (Middex); or 0.6 mg/kg (Hidex). Forty-eight hours later jejunal and colonic segments were assayed for protein, glutaminase, and glutamine synthetase activity. A stress dose of dexamethasone (Hidex) produced a significant increase in both jejunal and colonic glutaminase specific activity (P less than 0.02 vs Control and P less than 0.05 vs Control, respectively). These data suggest a mechanism whereby glucocorticoids increase the intestinal utilization of glutamine by increasing the specific activity of intestinal glutaminase.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Inhibition of TPN-associated intestinal mucosal atrophy with monoacetoacetin.

Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is associated with intestinal mucosal atrophy. Acetoacetate is oxidized in preference to glucose by both enterocytes and colonocytes and is not present in TPN. The purpose of this study was to determine whether replacement of a portion of glucose calories with monoacetoacetin, the glycerol ester of acetoacetate, could inhibit TPN-associated intestinal atrophy. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (200-250 g) underwent superior vena caval cannulation and were assigned to receive chow ad libitium (CHOW), TPN with 0.86 M monoacetoacetin (ACAC), or TPN with 0.86 M glycerol to control for the glycerol component of monoacetoacetin (GLYC). Nitrogen balance was measured over 7 days after which time the animals were weighed and sacrificed. Jejunal and colonic segments were harvested and the mucosal weight, protein, RNA, and DNA contents measured. All groups showed comparable weight gain. Cumulative nitrogen balance was positive for both TPN groups. Significant decreases in mucosal parameters occurred in both TPN groups compared to the CHOW group, but atrophy was significantly inhibited in both jejunum and colon of the ACAC group compared to the GLYC group. Thus, the substitution of monoacetoacetin for glucose calories in parenteral nutrition solutions inhibited TPN-related atrophy of intestinal mucosa while maintaining normal growth.

Acetoacetates↗
PubMed1988

Synthesis and activity of partial retro-inverso modified atrial natriuretic factor analogs.

The synthesis and pharmacological activity of partial retro-inverso modified rat atrial natriuretic factor (rANF) analogs is described. The route to these compounds utilized a combination of solution and solid-phase methods. The analogs prepared all contain a reversed amide bond (psi[NHCO]) at the Ser 25 to Phe26 linkage. This bond has been suggested to play a key role in the metabolic inactivation of ANF. The analogs are of comparable potency to the endogenous peptide rANF1-28 in binding to cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells, in relaxing serotonin contracted rabbit aortic rings, and as natriuretic/diuretic agents in anesthetized rats. None of the peptides has an extended duration of action in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

In vitro processing of rANF7-28-NH2 by rat kidney homogenates.

The major rat kidney in vitro degradation products of the rat atrial natriuretic factor analog, H-Cys7-Phe-Gly-Gly-Arg-Ile-Asp-Arg-Ile-Gly-Ala-Gln-Ser-Gly-Leu-Gly -Cys-Asn-Ser-Phe-Arg-Tyr28-NH2 (with a Cys27-Cys23 disulfide bridge), have been identified. The degradation products are the C-terminal modified compounds rANF7-27, rANF7-26, and rANF7-25.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1984

Treatment of theophylline toxicity with oral activated charcoal.

Oral activated charcoal was administered to 4 patients with theophylline toxicity, who had gastrointestinal and neurologic symptoms as well as cardiac arrhythmias. Administration of oral charcoal significantly reduced the theophylline half-life in the serum of each patient. The charcoal was well tolerated and symptoms of toxicity rapidly resolved. We conclude that administration of oral charcoal rapidly reduces the serum theophylline concentration and should be used as the initial treatment in patients with theophylline toxicity.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1984

Synthesis of cyclic and acyclic partial retro-inverso modified enkephalins.

The cyclic partial retro-inverso modified enkephalins, H-Tyr-cyclo[-D-Glu-Gly-gPhe-D-Leu-] (I), H-Tyr-cyclo[-D-A2bu-Gly-gPhe-R&S-mLeu-] (IIf, IIs), and H-Tyr-cyclo[-D-Glu-Gly-Phe-gLeu-] (III), have been synthesized by solution methodology. In a like manner, their corresponding acyclic analogs Ia-IIIa containing D-Ala2 have also been prepared. Gem-diaminoalkyl residues were generated by conversion of Boc-dipeptide carboxamide to the corresponding gem-diaminoalkyl "dipeptide" salt using [bis(trifluoroacetoxy)iodo] benzene. Cyclizations were achieved at high dilution utilizing diphenylphosphoryl azide as the coupling reagent.

Enkephalins↗
PubMed1983

Cyclic and acyclic partial retro-inverso enkephalinamides: Mu receptor selective enzyme resistant analogs.

The cyclic partial retro-inverso modified enkephalins, H-Tyr-cyclo[-D-Glu-Gly-gPhe-D-Leu-] (I), H-Tyr-cyclo[-D-A2bu-Gly-gPhe-R&S-mLeu-] (IIf, IIs), H-Tyr-cyclo[-D-Glu-Gly-Phe-gLeu-] (III), and their corresponding acyclic analogs, H-Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-gPhe-D-Leu-For (Ia), H-Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-gPhe-R,S-mLeu-NH2 (IIa), H-Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-Phe-gLeu-For (IIIa) have been evaluated in in vitro bioassays. Relative to Leu-enkephalin, the modified compounds are more potent in the guinea pig ileum assay and more effectively displace [3H]naloxone from rat brain receptors, while they are generally less potent in the mouse vas deferens assay and only weakly able to displace [3H] (D-Ala2, D-Leu5)enkephalin. The analogs are highly resistant to proteolytic degradation by rat brain membrane preparations that readily hydrolyze Leu-enkephalin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1983

Increased serum theophylline clearance with orally administered activated charcoal.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the oral administration of activated charcoal would increase the clearance of theophylline. Seven normal subjects received aminophylline intravenously (8 mg/kg) on 2 separate days. On Day 1 at 2-h intervals starting immediately after the completion of the aminophylline infusion, subjects ingested 4 doses of a slurry of activated charcoal (30 g each). On Day 2 they received no charcoal. The order of the days the subjects received charcoal or no charcoal was randomized. Plasma theophylline levels were determined by an enzyme immunoassay (Syva) every 2 h after the completion of the intravenous infusion. The theophylline half-life was reduced with charcoal from 10.2 to 4.6 h (p less than 0.001), and clearance increased from 35.6 to 72.6 ml/kg/h (p less than 0.001). In a patient with an initial serum theophylline concentration of 31.0 micrograms/ml and signs of toxicity (arrhythmias and seizures), the administration of charcoal (4 doses of 30 g every 2 h) reduced the half-life from 34.4 to 5.7 h concomitant with rapid resolution of signs of toxicity. We conclude that orally administered activated charcoal significantly enhances the clearance of theophylline and offers a new therapeutic modality in the treatment of theophylline toxicity.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1982

Peptide sweeteners. 5. Side-chain homologues relating zwitterionic and trifluoroacetylated amino acid anilide and dipeptide sweeteners.

Side-chain homologues of sweet trifluoroacetyl-alpha-L-aspartyl-p-cyanoanilide have been synthesized and tasted. Removal of the trifluoroacetyl group only changes the potency of sweet taste, not the taste property. These results have been compared with the structure-taste relationships of dipeptide sweeteners. An informative discontinuity of taste effects was found to exist with novel aminomalonyl dipeptide derivatives. The results are explained on topochemical grounds.

Anilides↗
PubMed1980

The nasopharyngeal angiofibroma.

Between 1948 and 1975, we have seen 48 patients with nasopharyngeal angiofibroma. Radiotherapy is the treatment of choice for most patients. A dose of 3,000 rads in three weeks leads to thrombosis, fibrosis, and tumor regression, although a latent period up to two years may elapse before final disappearance. Coronal tomography demonstrated tumor extension into the accessory air sinuses in 26 of 29 patients examined. Radiation controlled the tumor both clinically and radiologically from two to 20 years in 28 (80%) of 35 patients treated for the first time. Ten patients, initially treated by surgery, underwent irradiation for recurrence, and in seven the tumor was controlled. Overall, ten (22%) of 45 tumors were not controlled by the first course of radiotherapy; seven of these were controlled by a second course and three were treated by surgery. Hormonal study results on 12 patients were normal.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Peripheral facial paralysis secondary to metastatic malignant melanoma. A clinicopathologic report.

We report a case of disseminated malignant melanoma in which the initial sign was an isolated peripheral facial palsy on the left side. The cause of the palsy was established five months later, with the appearance of metastatic axillary nodes. The temporal bones demonstrated tumor infiltration within the marrow spaces of the petrous apices bilaterally. The left facial nerve was also extensively involved with melanoma to the level of the geniculate ganglion.

Autopsy↗
PubMed1979

Metastatic tumors in the temporal bone--a pathophysiologic study.

Nineteen temporal bones were examined from 11 patients who had metastatic temporal bone disease from a distant primary. The salient clinical features were: the high incidence of occult temporal bone involvement (7 of the 10 clinically documented cases), the considerable incidence of melanoma (3 of 10) and the variable correlation between clinical findings and pathologic localization of tumor in the temporal bone. Pathologic examination revealed two distinct modes of tumor spread within the temporal bone: 1) vascularosseous (petrous apex, mastoid, middle ear, external canal); and 2) perineural (nerves in IAC branches, labyrinthine endorgans). Every case was involved by one or both or these routes and no case of CSF-borne metastasis to the perilymphatic space was seen. The external canal was involved extensively in spite of an intact tympanic membrane. Since the presence of symptomatic or occult metastases in the temporal bone affects treatment and prognosis, they must be actively sought by the clinician.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1978

Vertigo after head injury--a five year follow-up.

Three hundred and twenty-one head injury patients investigated at the Workmen's Compensation Board Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre were studied. The patients were classified into two groups, minor and moderate according to the duration of post-traumatic amnesia. Post-traumatic vertigo was a significant symptom in 34 per cent and 50 per cent of the minor and moderate groups respectively. Based on the findings of full otoneurologic and vestibular examination, objective vestibular disorder was noted in 40 per cent and 65 per cent of the two vertiginous groups respectively. An approach to the interpretation of vestibular and oculomotor abnormalities is outlined in order to assign a peripheral (end organ or nerve), central (brainstem or cerebellar) or undertermined localization. Hearing loss occurred in 20 per cent of the minor and 72 per cent of th e moderate head injury patients tested. A five-year post head injury follow-up was available with respect to recovery of vertigo and work rehabilitation. The results of this follow-up are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

[Early effect of Crotalus durissus terrificus venom on kidney circulation].

Local blood flow was measured in renal cortex (1 mm below cortical surface) by means of the hydrogen clearance method in urethanized rats. Recording of blood pressure from femoral artery was performed. Crotalus durissus terrificus venom injection (one mg/kg i.v.) significantly decreased cortical blood flow at 10 min, without a significant arterial pressure modification. Posterior injection of mannitol 200 mg induced a significant increase in cortical blood flow, although initial values were not reached. Electron microscopy showed thromboses in the glomerular capillaries 35 minutes after venom injection. It is suggested that the precocious effect of this venom on renal cortical blood flow may be instrumental in the development of the renal acute insufficiency induced by Crotalus durissus terrificus venom.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Nasal aspects of cystic fibrosis in children.

Despite the extraordinary prevalence of upper respiratory allergy and infection in children nasal polyposis is an extremely rare condition. Seven cases of cystic fibrosis are presented in order to demonstrate the nasal aspects of the disease. All but one had nasal polyposis. The literature has been reviewed with particular reference to clinical, radiological and histo-pathological features. Conservative treatment is stressed.

Child↗