PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

K McAllister

Publications and source records attributed to K McAllister.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Estrogen receptor alpha and beta profiling in human breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The identification of a second estrogen receptor (ER-beta) has significant implications for therapeutic strategy in breast cancer management arising from the potential agonist effect of Tamoxifen at estrogen receptor sites and as such, antiestrogen therapy may be inappropriate in patients with a dominance of ER-beta. METHODS: To determine the proportion of breast cancer patients who may be so at risk, we developed a novel multiplexed RT-PCR technique to establish the relative ER-alpha and ER-beta levels in 53 primary breast cancers, 11 normal breast tissues and six cell lines. We further assessed the prognostic significance of receptor status relative to the Nottingham prognostic index (NPI). The ER-alpha and ER-beta status was also determined by immunohistochemistry using previously published and 'in-house' scoring systems. RESULTS: Using RT-PCR analysis, 46 tumours were hormone receptor positive (ER+) with 42 displaying ER-alpha predominance. Comparison with immunohistochemistry demonstrated 44/53 (ER-alpha) and 27/50 (ER-beta) concordance rates. There was no significant difference in the NPI between ER-alpha and ER-beta predominant cohorts or between ER+ and ER- cohorts. CONCLUSION: This study identifies the existence of a subgroup of ER+ patients in whom Tamoxifen therapy may be inappropriate and has significant implications for adjuvant therapy of primary breast cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Bradykinin does not mediate cutaneous active vasodilation during heat stress in humans.

To test the hypothesis that bradykinin effects cutaneous active vasodilation during hyperthermia, we examined whether the increase in skin blood flow (SkBF) during heat stress was affected by blockade of bradykinin B(2) receptors with the receptor antagonist HOE-140. Two adjacent sites on the forearm were instrumented with intradermal microdialysis probes for local delivery of drugs in eight healthy subjects. HOE-140 was dissolved in Ringer solution (40 microM) and perfused at one site, whereas the second site was perfused with Ringer alone. SkBF was monitored by laser-Doppler flowmetry (LDF) at both sites. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was monitored from a finger, and cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) was calculated (CVC = LDF/MAP). Water-perfused suits were used to control body temperature and evoke hyperthermia. After hyperthermia, both microdialysis sites were perfused with 28 mM nitroprusside to effect maximal vasodilation. During hyperthermia, CVC increased at HOE-140 (69 +/- 2% maximal CVC, P < 0.01) and untreated sites (65 +/- 2% maximal CVC, P < 0.01). These responses did not differ between sites (P > 0.05). Because the bradykinin B(2)-receptor antagonist HOE-140 did not alter SkBF responses to heat stress, we conclude that bradykinin does not mediate cutaneous active vasodilation.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Spatial and temporal expression of the Cre gene under the control of the MMTV-LTR in different lines of transgenic mice.

Cre-loxP based gene deletion approaches hold great promise to enhance our understanding of molecular pathways controlling mammary development and breast cancer. We reported earlier the generation of transgenic mice that express the Cre recombinase under the control of the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) long terminal repeat (LTR). These mice have become a valuable research tool to delete genes specifically in the mammary gland, other secretory organs, and the female germline. We have now characterized in depth the expression of the MMTV-Cre transgene using the ROSA26-lox-Stop-lox-LacZ reporter strain to determine the temporal and spatial activation of Cre on the level of single cells. Our results show that MMTV-mediated Cre-activation is restricted to specific cell types of various secretory tissues and the hematopoietic system. Secondly, the timing of Cre expression varies between tissues and cell types. Some tissues express Cre during embryonic development, while other selected cell types highly activate Cre around puberty, suggesting a strong influence of steroid hormones on the transcriptional activation of the MMTV-LTR. Thirdly, Cre expression in the female germline is restricted to individual mouse lines and is therefore dependent on the site of integration of the transgene. Information provided by this study will guide the researcher to those cell types and developmental stages at which a phenotype can be expected upon deletion of relevant genes.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Activated eosinophils elicit substance P release from cultured dorsal root ganglion neurons.

This study was performed to test the hypothesis that activated eosinophils or their secretory products can directly stimulate sensory neurons to release their neuropeptides. Neurons derived from neonatal rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG), which synthesize and store sensory neuropeptides, were placed in primary cell culture and were exposed to eosinophils or their bioactive mediators. The resultant release of substance P (SP) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and was expressed as a percent (mean +/- SE) of total neuronal SP content. Eosinophils were isolated from human volunteers with a history of allergic rhinitis and/or mild asthma and were activated by incubation with cytochalasin B (5 micrograms/ml) and N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP, 1 microM). Activated eosinophils [6 x 10(6)/ml, suspended in Hanks' buffered salt solution (HBSS)] applied to cultured DRG neurons for 30 min increased basal SP release 2.4-fold compared with HBSS-exposed neurons (activated eosinophils 11.10 +/- 2.48% vs. HBSS 4.59 +/- 0.99%; P = 0.002), whereas neither nonactivated eosinophils nor cytochalasin B and FMLP in HBSS influenced SP release. Additional cultured DRG neurons were exposed to soluble products made by eosinophils. Compared with SP release under control conditions (2.37 +/- 0.34%), major basic protein (MBP) increased release in a concentration-related fashion (e.g., 3 microM MBP: 6.23 +/- 0.67%, P = 0.006 vs. control), whereas neither eosinophil cationic protein (3 microM), eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (3 microM), leukotriene D4 (500 nM), platelet-activating factor (100 nM), nor H2O2 (100 microM) affected SP release. These studies demonstrate that activated eosinophils can stimulate cultured DRG neurons directly and suggest that MBP may be the responsible mediator.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

SDZ PSD 958, a novel D1 receptor antagonist with potential limbic selectivity.

SDZ PSD 958, a novel benzo[g]quinoxaline derivative exhibits the properties of a potent orally active selective D1 receptor antagonist. It has high affinity for D1-like receptors (D1, D5; pKi = 9.7-9.8) labelled by [3H]SCH23390 and is at least 400 fold less active at D2-like receptors (i.e. D2, D4) labelled by [3H]spiperone. Effects in functional tests are consistent with D1 receptor antagonist properties. SDZ PSD 958 inhibited apomorphine-induced rearing in mice and prevented prolongation of novelty-induced locomotion in rats elicited by the selective D1 receptor agonist CY 208-243. By contrast, SDZ PSD 958 did not induce catalepsy and only weakly inhibited apomorphine-induced stereotyped gnawing in rats. This suggests that SDZ PSD 958 preferentially inhibits responses mediated by dopamine systems innervating the limbic system.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1996

Eosinophil VLA-4 binding to fibronectin augments bronchial narrowing through 5-lipoxygenase activation.

We examined the effect of ligation of human eosinophils activated by platelet-activating factor (PAF) to soluble human fibronectin (FN) on the augmented contractile response of human bronchial explants. Styrene microplate wells were FN-coated and eosinophils were allowed to adhere in the presence of 1) buffer control, 2) 20 micrograms/ml monoclonal antibody (HP2/1) to the alpha 4 beta 1 ligand (VLA-4) on the eosinophils, 3) 20 micrograms/ml anti-CD18 R15.7, 4) 20 micrograms/ml anti-CD16 3G8, or 5) 10(-6) M A63162, a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor. Sixty minutes later, treated cells were activated with either buffer or 10(-6) M PAF. Airway luminal diameter was assessed by computerized videomicrometry as a function of pixel number, and activation of eosinophils was confirmed by measurement of leukotriene C4 (LTC4) secretion. Ligation with FN caused an increase in PAF-stimulated LTC4 secretion from 276 +/- 75.6 pg/10(6) cell at baseline to 606 +/- 90.2 pg/10(6) cell (P < 0.01). This corresponded to augmented luminal narrowing of human bronchial explants from 25.3 +/- 9.39% (PAF activation alone) to 42.9 +/- 8.0% (PAF-activated eosinophils + FN) (P < 0.01). Both augmented airway luminal narrowing and increased LTC4 secretion caused by PAF-activated cells after FN ligation were blocked completely by anti-VLA-4 MAb (P < 0.05 vs. control). Pretreatment with 10(-6) MA63162 inhibited completely the PAF-stimulated LTC4 secretion to baseline level ( P < 0.001). Inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase similarly blocked luminal narrowing caused by eosinophils stimulated by PAF by > 95% (P < 0.001). We demonstrate that the binding of human eosinophils to the matrix protein FN causes augmented secretion of LTC4 which, in turn, causes augmented luminal narrowing of explanted human bronchi in vitro. We also demonstrate that the augmented activity is blocked selectively by pretreatment with specific monoclonal antibody against VLA-4 and blockade of eosinophil 5-lipoxygenase inhibits both LTC4 secretion and airway narrowing after PAF-stimulation.

Acetamides↗
PubMed1995

Assessment of agonist- and cell-mediated responses in airway microsections by computerized videomicrometry.

The objective of this investigation was to develop a method for real-time measurement of changes in luminal area in microexplants of airways during pharmacological and physiological interventions. After guinea pigs were killed, tracheal rings (1- to 2-mm thick) were excised and placed in 300-microliters chambers. The area of the airway lumen was calculated as pixel number with the use of computerized videomicrometry. In 29 epithelium-intact airways, 10(-3) M acetylcholine (ACh) caused decrease in luminal area of 38.1 +/- 2.80% (P < 0.001 vs. 10(-9) M). Spontaneous tone also was demonstrated in 34 preparations from 4 guinea pigs; decrease in area of 17.0 +/- 1.45% after 60-min incubation in buffer alone was blocked completely by 10(-5) M indomethacin (P = 0.01). Luminal narrowing caused by < or = 10(-6) M ACh was reversed completely by 10(-6) M albuterol (P = 0.002). Addition of 100,000 activated human eosinophils caused 24.7 +/- 4.41% decrease in luminal area vs. 7.24 +/- 5.51% for nonactivated cells (P = 0.048). We demonstrate a real-time method for the assessment of auxotonic changes in airway caliber that utilizes microsections of explanted airways and permits the use of extremely small numbers of isolated cells to achieve physiological activation. Concentration-response characteristics and spontaneous tone are similar to those of large chamber preparations, and narrowing is reversed by beta 2-adrenoceptor activation.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1995

Hemodialysis removal of acyclovir.

A 59-y-old with a history of chronic renal failure on hemodialysis was diagnosed with herpes zoster and begun on 800 mg acyclovir 5 times daily. Two days later the patient developed visual hallucinations, ataxia, confusion and memory loss along with focal myoclonus, nausea and vomiting. No fever, elevated WBC count or significant electrolyte imbalance was found. CT scan of the brain was unremarkable. The patient was then dialyzed for presumed acyclovir toxicity. Her acyclovir level was later found to have been 3.4 micrograms/ml (normal peak range 0.4-2 micrograms/ml) prior to dialysis. After 3 h of hemodialysis, her post-dialysis acyclovir level was 1.9 micrograms/ml. After a second course of hemodialysis the next day the patient's mental status improved, and she was discharged 5 d later. Due to its low volume of distribution (0.6 L/kg), low protein binding (about 15%) and water solubility, acyclovir is an example of the ideal drug that can be removed by hemodialysis. About 45% of the total body amount can be extracted through a 3-h course of hemodialysis with resultant improvement in symptoms.

Acyclovir↗
PubMed1995

Paradoxical blockade of beta adrenergically mediated inhibition of stimulated eosinophil secretion by salmeterol.

Salmeterol (SALM) is a long-acting beta 2 adrenoceptor agonist that causes prolonged relaxation of airway smooth muscle. To determine whether this agent also causes prolonged inhibition of stimulated eosinophil secretion, we studied interactions between SALM and albuterol (ALB) in inhibiting eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) secretion in human eosinophils in vitro. Peripheral blood eosinophils were isolated from 18 human volunteers by negative immunoselection, and secretion of EPO was elicited with 10(-6) M formyl-met-leu-phe (fMLP) + 5 micrograms/ml cytochalasin B (CytB) in aliquots of 10(5) cells. Eosinophils were pretreated with either 10(-8) M ALB, 10(-8) M SALM or SALM + ALB for 5 min to 18 hr at 37 degrees C. Pretreatment with ALB for 5 min caused inhibition of stimulated secretion of EPO to 783 +/- 210 ng/10(6) cells vs. 1475 +/- 286 ng/10(6) cells for eosinophils not treated with ALB (P < .05; n = 5). Inhibition of EPO secretion caused by ALB was sustained for 30 min (924 +/- 160 ng/10(6) cells; P < .05 vs. fMLP + CytB; n = 5). By contrast, SALM had no inhibitory effect on fMLP-induced secretion after incubation for 5 min to 18 hr. In cells obtained from four separate isolations, pretreatment with 10(-8)M SALM before addition of ALB blocked the inhibition of EPO release caused by 10(-8)M ALB alone (486 +/- 28 ng/10(6) cells for ALB alone vs. 902 +/- 32 ng/10(6) cells for SALM + ALB; P < .01; n = 4).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
PubMed1994

Beta adrenergic modulation of formyl-methionine-leucine-phenylalanine-stimulated secretion of eosinophil peroxidase and leukotriene C4.

The inhibitory effect of beta-2 adrenergic receptor stimulation on leukotriene C4 (LTC4) secretion and eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) release caused by exogenous activation with 10(-8) to 10(-6) M formyl-met-leu-phe (fMLP) + 5 micrograms/ml of cytochalasin B (Cyto B) in purified human peripheral blood eosinophils was studied. Cells from normal subjects were isolated by negative immunoselection and remained > or = 98% viable as determined by trypan blue exclusion. Duplicate aliquots of eosinophils (10(5) cells/intervention) were activated with 1) fMLP + Cyto B alone, 2) fMLP + Cyto B after pretreatment with 10(-8) M albuterol, 3) 10(-8) M albuterol + fMLP + Cyto B after pretreatment with 10(-8) M propranolol or 4) vehicle control. After incubation, the supernatants were tested for concentration of LTC4 and EPO. Concentration-related release of EPO was demonstrated for 10(-8) M fMLP + 5 micrograms/ml of Cyto B to 10(-6) M fMLP + 5 micrograms/ml of Cyto B, and the greatest concentration of fMLP was used in all subsequent studies. FMLP + Cyto B caused substantial LTC4 secretion in eosinophils (300 +/- 83.0 pg/ml) as compared to sham-activated eosinophils (3.3 +/- 1.9 pg/ml; P < .02). Similarly, maximum EPO release increased from 277 +/- 17.8 to 3956 +/- 1230 ng/10(6) cells (P < .02) after activation with fMLP + Cyto B. Treatment with albuterol decreased markedly both LTC4 secretion to 144 +/- 54.0 pg/ml (P < .05 vs. fMLP + Cyto B-activated eosinophils) and EPO release to 1993 +/- 368 ng/10(6) cells (P < .05 vs. fMLP + Cyto B-activated eosinophils).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Albuterol↗
PubMed1990

The absence of nephrotoxicity and differential nephrotoxicity between tobramycin and gentamicin.

We conducted a prospective, double-blind, randomized trial of gentamicin and tobramycin to evaluate differences in nephrotoxicity. We evaluated levels of creatinine, creatinine clearance, beta 2-microglobulin, and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) as indicators of nephrotoxicity, and attempted to correlate them. Forty patients met the criteria for evaluation; 14 were given tobramycin and the remaining 26 received gentamicin. Significant nephrotoxicity, as defined by an increase in creatinine of 0.5 mg/dL, did not occur in either group. Increases in beta 2-microglobulin values were seen in 67% of the patients in the tobramycin group, and 52% of those in the gentamicin group. Elevations in NAG levels occurred in 54% of those in the tobramycin group and 52% of those in the gentamicin group. Elevation of NAG and beta 2-microglobulin levels was congruent in only 40% of the cases. We conclude that there was no significant difference in nephrotoxicity between gentamicin and tobramycin. Elevations of NAG and beta 2-microglobulin occurred at rates similar to those reported in the literature, but they did not correlate with significant nephrotoxicity.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗
PubMed1987

Malignant rhabdoid tumour of soft tissue. An ultrastructural and immunohistological study of a pelvic tumour.

A case of extrarenal malignant rhabdoid sarcoma arising in the pelvic soft tissues of a 12-year-old girl is described. By routine light microscopy the tumour resembled, in some areas, an embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma and, in other areas, a neuroblastoma. Electron microscopy revealed characteristic cytoplasmic aggregates of intermediate filaments, often with central clusters of organelle membranes surrounded by these filaments. Immunohistochemical stains showed strong cytoplasmic reactivity for vimentin. Staining for cytokeratin, myoglobin, desmin, neurofilaments, neurone specific enolase, S-100 protein and leucocyte common antigen was negative. A histogenetic origin from primitive mesenchymal cells is favoured. We strongly support the use of electron microscopy for the definitive diagnosis of small round cell undifferentiated sarcomas of childhood.

Child↗
PubMed1985

Postspawning mortality of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) associated with Lactobacillus.

A Lactobacillus sp. was consistently isolated from dead and moribund postspawning brood stock rainbow trout. Pathology was characterized by massive chronic inflammation throughout the abdominal cavity and formation of pseudomembranes. The bacteria were most abundant in spent testes. Repeated handling was considered to be the major stressor leading to this infection and subsequent high mortality.

Animals↗