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Biomedical subjects

Klaus Müller

Publications and source records attributed to Klaus Müller.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Breakdown of adenine nucleotide pool in fatiguing skeletal muscle in McArdle's disease: a noninvasive 31P-MRS and EMG study.

Energy metabolism and electrical muscle activity were studied in the calf muscles of 19 patients with proven McArdle's disease and in 25 healthy subjects. Phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy and surface electromyography (S-EMG) were performed during two isometric muscle contractions of 3 min at 30% maximum voluntary contraction, one performed during normal perfusion and the other during applied ischemia. After about 1 min of ischemic muscle contraction in diseased muscle a significant acceleration in phosphocreatine breakdown was observed, along with a significant decrease in adenosine triphosphate. During both contractions the absence of glycolysis was shown by a significant alkalinization. Furthermore, in patients we observed a greater increase in the S-EMG amplitude than in control subjects. We conclude that early on during moderate exercise, a small number of muscle fibers reach metabolic depletion, indicated by a reduction in the adenine nucleotide pool. An increasing number of motor units, which are still in a high-energy state, are continuously recruited to compensate for muscle fatigue. This functional compartmentation may contribute to the pathophysiology of exercise intolerance in McArdle's disease.

Action Potentials↗

Hit and lead generation: beyond high-throughput screening.

The identification of small-molecule modulators of protein function, and the process of transforming these into high-content lead series, are key activities in modern drug discovery. The decisions taken during this process have far-reaching consequences for success later in lead optimization and even more crucially in clinical development. Recently, there has been an increased focus on these activities due to escalating downstream costs resulting from high clinical failure rates. In addition, the vast emerging opportunities from efforts in functional genomics and proteomics demands a departure from the linear process of identification, evaluation and refinement activities towards a more integrated parallel process. This calls for flexible, fast and cost-effective strategies to meet the demands of producing high-content lead series with improved prospects for clinical success.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

MR imaging of autopsy-proved paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis in non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

We report the case of a 26-year-old man with precursor T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia who developed paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis that was diagnosed on the basis of MR imaging findings and was proved post mortem. In our MR imaging studies, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images and diffusion-weighted echo-planar images clearly depicted bilateral involvement of the medial temporal lobes and multifocal involvement of the brain, whereas T2-weighted turbo spin-echo images failed to show the changes.

Adult↗

Highly potent geminal bisphosphonates. From pamidronate disodium (Aredia) to zoledronic acid (Zometa).

Bisphosphonates (BPs) are pyrophosphate analogues in which the oxygen in P-O-P has been replaced by a carbon, resulting in a metabolically stable P-C-P structure. Pamidronate (1b, Novartis), a second-generation BP, was the starting point for extensive SAR studies. Small changes of the structure of pamidronate lead to marked improvements of the inhibition of osteoclastic resorption potency. Alendronate (1c, MSD), with an extra methylene group in the N-alkyl chain, and olpadronate (1h, Gador), the N,N-dimethyl analogue, are about 10 times more potent than pamidronate. Extending one of the N-methyl groups of olpadronate to a pentyl substituent leads to ibandronate (1k, Roche, Boehringer-Mannheim), which is the most potent close analogue of pamidronate. Even slightly better antiresorptive potency is achieved with derivatives having a phenyl group linked via a short aliphatic tether of three to four atoms to nitrogen, the second substituent being preferentially a methyl group (e.g., 4g, 4j, 5d, or 5r). The most potent BPs are found in the series containing a heteroaromatic moiety (with at least one nitrogen atom), which is linked via a single methylene group to the geminal bisphosphonate unit. Zoledronic acid (6i), the most potent derivative, has an ED(50) of 0.07 mg/kg in the TPTX in vivo assay after sc administration. It not only shows by far the highest therapeutic ratio when comparing resorption inhibition with undesired inhibition of bone mineralization but also exhibits superior renal tolerability. Zoledronic acid (6i) has thus been selected for clinical development under the registered trade name Zometa. The results of the clinical trials indicate that low doses are both efficacious and safe for the treatment of tumor-induced hypercalcemia, Paget's disease of bone, osteolytic metastases, and postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Animals↗

Effect of high-dose creatine therapy on symptoms of exercise intolerance in McArdle disease: double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study.

BACKGROUND: In a recent study, we showed that administration of low-dose creatine (Cr) (60 mg/kg daily) improved work capacity in patients with McArdle disease. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of high-dose Cr therapy in McArdle disease. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. PATIENTS: Nineteen patients with McArdle disease. INTERVENTION: Treatment with Cr, 150 mg/kg daily. Each treatment phase with Cr or placebo lasted 5 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The patient's daily rating of symptoms of exercise intolerance. At the end of each treatment phase, serum creatine and serum creatine kinase levels, phosphorus 31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and surface electromyograms were assessed. RESULTS: Clinical end points revealed increases in the intensity of exercise-induced pain in working muscles (mean treatment-induced difference [d], 0.30 in log(score); 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.05-0.55; P =.02), the limitation of daily activities (d, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.22-0.97;P =.005), and body mass index (d, 0.33 kg/m2, 95% CI, 0.10-0.56 kg/m2; P =.008) with Cr use. Surface electromyograms revealed a smaller increase in the electromyographic amplitude over time during muscle contraction with Cr use (d, -13.52%/min; 95% CI, -23.71%/min to -3.34%/min; P =.01). There were no significant changes in phosphorus 31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy variables. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of high-dose Cr worsened the main clinical symptoms of exercise intolerance in McArdle disease. These neurologic adverse effects represent a major dose-limiting factor in Cr therapy for McArdle disease. Taken together with results of a previous study, the indication for symptomatic therapy with Cr needs to be clarified. An effective Cr dosage without adverse effects may be between 60 and 150 mg/kg daily.

Adolescent↗

Elevated oxidative stress in patients with ataxia telangiectasia.

Ataxia telangiectasia (AT) is a pleiotropic genetic disorder characterized by progressive neurodegeneration, especially of cerebellar Purkinje cells, immunodeficiency, increased incidence of cancer, and premature aging. The disease is caused by functional inactivation of the ATM (AT-mutated) gene product, which is thought to act as a sensor of reactive oxygen species and oxidative damage of cellular macromolecules and DNA. The compound phenotype of AT might thus be linked to a continuous state of oxidative stress leading to an increase of programmed cell death (apoptosis). To assess this hypothesis, we analyzed lipid peroxidation products and the oxidative stress associated DNA base damage 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine in patients with AT. Oxidative damage to lipids and DNA was found to be markedly increased in AT patients. These results indicate that ATM might play an important role in the maintenance of cell homeostasis in response to oxidative damage. In this context, a better control of levels of reactive oxygen species could be a rational foundation of therapeutic intervention to help alleviate some of the symptoms associated with AT.

8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine↗

An Efficient Strategy to Orthogonally Protected (R)- and (S)-alpha-Methyl(alkyl)serine-Containing Peptides via a Novel Azlactone/Oxazoline Interconversion Reaction.

A novel strategy for the synthesis of (R)- and (S)-alpha-methyl(alkyl)serine-containing peptides is presented. Using (S)-phenylalanine cyclohexylamide 6 as chiral auxiliary, the optically pure azlactones (R)- and (S)-2 were synthesized via a novel azlactone/oxazoline interconversion reaction (Figures 3 and 6). These azlactones constitute fully protected and activated synthetic equivalents of (R)- and (S)-alpha-methylserine and can be directly incorporated into peptides without further protective group manipulations. Like other alpha,alpha-dialkylated glycines, optically pure alpha-alkylserines can be used to stabilize beta-turn and alpha-helical conformations in short peptides.

Journal Article↗

Syntheses of Anthracenones. 1. Sodium Dithionite Reduction of peri-Substituted Anthracenediones.

The reaction of peri-substituted anthracenediones with sodium dithionite in dimethylformamide and water has been investigated. The system selectively reduces the carbonyl group flanked by the peri substituents of the anthracenediones to give the corresponding 4,5-disubstituted 9(10H)-anthracenones and thus provides a route to anthracenones which are otherwise difficult to obtain. Many functional groups can be tolerated, the reaction is compatible with the presence of peri alkoxy groups and unsaturated side chains of the starting anthracenediones, and the reduction does not go beyond the anthracenone stage. However, the formation of anthracenones depends on the nature of the peri substituents. No products were obtained from the 1,8-dimethyl-substituted anthracenedione and the parent compound with no substituents.

Journal Article↗

Syntheses of Anthracenones. 2. Preparation of 1,8-Dimethoxy- (Dimethylanthralin) and 4,5-Dihydroxy-9(10H)-anthracenone (Isoanthralin): A Revision.

The reduction of 1,8-dimethoxyanthracenedione with zinc dust and aqueous ammonia gives a mixture of 1,8-dimethoxyanthracene and 4,5-dimethoxy-9(10H)-anthracenone, rather than the isomeric 1,8-dimethoxy-9(10H)-anthracenone (dimethylanthralin). This isomer was obtained exclusively using SnCl(2) in HCl and acetic acid as reducing agent at room temperature. The structure was confirmed to exist as the tautomeric 1,8-dimethoxy-9-hydroxyanthracene. Furthermore, the reduction of 1,8-diacetoxyanthracenedione with SnCl(2) in HCl and acetic acid leads to 1,8-dihydroxy-9(10H)-anthracenone (anthralin) rather than 4,5-dihydroxy-9(10H)-anthracenone (isoanthralin), which was prepared by ether cleavage of 4,5-dimethoxy-9(10H)-anthracenone. In light of these findings some biological studies on antipsoriatic anthracenones have to be reconsidered.

Journal Article↗

Syntheses of Anthracenones. 3. Revised Preparative Route to 10-Benzoyl-1,8-dihydroxy-9(10H)-anthracenones.

The acylation of anthralin (1,8-dihydroxy-9(10H)-anthracenone) with acetylsalicylic acid chloride in toluene and collidine was found to give the O-acylated product, rather than 10-(acetylsalicyl)anthralin. A procedure is described for benzoylation of anthralin in the 10-position which involves reaction of 1,8-diacetoxy-9(10H)-anthracenone with benzoyl chloride and sodium hydride in THF followed by hydrolysis of an intermediate enol ester. Furthermore, when benzoyl chloride and DMF were used for the acylation of anthralin, a Vilsmeier-type reaction was observed leading to a novel enamine derivative of anthralin which was hydrolyzed or benzoylated to an enol or enol ester, respectively.

Journal Article↗