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Biomedical subjects

L R Solomon

Publications and source records attributed to L R Solomon.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Donor screening for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen and hepatitis B virus infection in transfusion recipients.

BACKGROUND: Testing for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) as a surrogate for hepatitis C viremia is no longer needed for blood donor screening. Currently, the important question is how much its use supplements hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) donor screening in preventing transfusion-transmitted hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In a study conducted in the 1970s, 64 blood donors were associated with 15 cases of HBV (1.0%) in 1533 transfusion recipients. Sera from 61 donors at donation and 29 follow-up visits were available for present-day assays for HBsAg, HBV DNA, anti-HBc, and antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs). RESULTS: HBsAg was found in four previously negative blood donors; HBV DNA was limited to three of these four. Anti-HBc was detected in six HBsAg-negative donors. Two other donors were negative in all assays at donation, but positive for anti-HBc and anti-HBs 2 to 4 months later. The remaining donors were negative for all HBV markers, which left five recipient cases unexplained. No HBV transmission was observed when anti-HBs sample-to-negative control values were > or = 10. CONCLUSION: Some 33 to 50 percent of cases of hepatitis B that could be transmitted by transfusion of blood from HBsAg-negative donors are prevented by anti-HBc screening. Anti-HBc-positive donors unequivocally positive for anti-HBs should be considered noninfectious for HBV and should be allowed to donate. Anti-HBc screening of paid plasmapheresis donors, supplemented by anti-HBs testing, would reduce the amount of HBV to be processed by virus inactivation and increase the content of anti-HBs in plasma pools.

Blood Donors↗
PubMed1992

Enzymatic syntheses of DNA-silicas using DNA polymerase.

Oligothymidylic acids couple to an activated ester silica (N-hydroxysuccinimidyl-silica) only when they contain an added aminoalkyl group. Heteropolymeric oligomers containing other nucleotide bases were shown to also couple by way of the nucleotide base (adenine, cytosine, or guanine); however, when a heteropolymeric oligonucleotide also contains a 5'-aminoalkyl moiety, coupling by way of the latter is the favored reaction. When duplex hybrids of oligonucleotides are formed, the nucleotide bases are protected from chemical coupling. Coupling by way of nucleotide bases would be detrimental to some chromatography experiments. On the basis of these observations, two different procedures were developed to produce DNA-silicas in which a single strand of the DNA is coupled by only its 5'-terminus. In the first of these, the polymerase chain reaction was used with a 5'-aminoalkyl primer to make a duplex DNA with one strand containing the 5'-aminoalkyl group and the duplex DNA is then coupled to the activated ester silica. This yielded a silica containing about 0.17 nmol of a 242-mer per gram silica which bound only probes specific for the coupled strand. In the other procedure, a template DNA strand was poly(A) tailed and hybridized to (dT)18-silica. DNA polymerase I (Klenow large fragments) was then used to copy the template-specified sequence directly onto the 3'-terminus of the (dT)18. This procedure yielded about 1.2 to 2.7 nmol DNA copied/g of silica of a specific 21-mer sequence. The DNA-silica produced selectively hybridized only with complementary sequences and not with DNA lacking that sequence. Either of these procedures thus produces DNA-silicas from heteropolymeric DNA sequences with a predetermined, specific 5'-terminal site of attachment.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Effect of xamoterol in a patient with idiopathic autonomic failure.

We report the effect of xamoterol on autonomic, humoral and haemodynamic function in a patient with idiopathic autonomic neuropathy. Xamoterol produced marked symptomatic improvement, slightly increased heart rates in the sitting, supine and upright tilt positions and higher blood pressures while seated and on recovery from upright tilt. There were, however, no differences in blood pressure responses following a meal or during head-up tilt. We suggest that before ascribing symptomatic benefit to xamoterol in this condition, objective haemodynamic improvement should be recorded. Further studies of treatment in idiopathic autonomic failure require to be placebo controlled.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
PubMed1992

Morphologic, biochemical, and cytogenetic studies of bone marrow and circulating blood cells in painters exposed to ethylene glycol ethers.

In a previous cross-sectional survey, up to 15% of shipyard painters were found to have mild anemia or granulocytopenia, mostly acquired since employment. Environmental studies had suggested a possible etiologic role for ethylene glycol ethers, solvents to which the men were heavily exposed and which have established myelotoxic potential. To exclude alternative hypotheses, examine possible common patterns of injury, and identify potential risk factors and markers for such an effect, the affected painters were further studied. The painters were matched with two groups of controls: exposed painters without evidence of hematologic abnormality on the previous survey and unexposed controls. Altogether 25 subjects were studied by histopathologic examination of bone marrow, cytogenetic studies of marrow cells, and peripheral lymphocytes and peripheral red cell studies of membrane and metabolic function. Except for an unexpected finding of a race-associated effect on marrow histology, insignificant differences were seen among the groups in terms of marrow morphology and cellularity, stem cell growth kinetics, and marrow or peripheral cytogenetics. Two metabolic abnormalities of peripheral red cells related to exposure or clinical status of the subjects were found. Pyruvate kinase, an established marker of acquired myelodysplasia, was significantly depressed in the subjects with previously abnormal counts. Although reduced glutathione levels and holoenzyme activities of glutathione reductase (GSHR) did not differ among groups, exposed subjects had decreased saturation of GSHR with flavin adenine dinucleotide which could be restored in vitro, suggesting riboflavin deficiency or impaired riboflavin metabolism. Thus, although a unique pattern of bone marrow injury by histologic or genetic assay attributable to ethylene glycol ethers was not defined, biochemical effects of possible mechanistic importance were identified. The relevance of these findings as subclinical disease markers remains to be established.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Prospective controlled study of androgen effects on red cell oxygen transport and work capacity in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Effects of androgens on red blood cell (RBC) oxygen transport, RBC metabolism and work capacity in chronic hemodialysis patients were evaluated in a prospective controlled study. Compared to control subjects, patients given nandrolone decanoate had a sustained fall in RBC ATP and a transient rise in RBC DPG but P50 values were unchanged. Despite increases in RBC mass of 16-44% on androgen therapy, exercise on the treadmill improved in only 1 patient and actually declined in 3 others. Thus, these preliminary observations suggest that androgens may not improve hemoglobin-oxygen transport and that androgen-induced increases in red cell mass may only balance increased tissue oxygen requirements produced by these anabolic hormones.

Anabolic Agents↗
PubMed1990

Hypernatraemia in the elderly patient.

The elderly are at risk of developing hypernatraemia because of age-related changes in renal function and body composition. The pathophysiology and aetiology of hypernatraemia are reviewed with emphasis on iatrogenic factors. A rational approach to management is discussed and clear guidelines for treatment described.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

delta-Aminolevulinic acid dehydratase in rat liver: studies on the effects of ethanol, acetaldehyde, and B6 vitamers.

Because ethanol ingestion lowers delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity in liver and red cells, effects of ethanol and acetaldehyde on ALAD in rat liver cytosol were studied. When added to the assay mix, as little as 0.5 mmol/L acetaldehyde competitively inhibited ALAD even in the presence of dithiothreitol, a sulfhydryl reagent. ALAD activity also fell when undiluted cytosol was incubated at 37 degrees with as little as 0.25 mmol/L acetaldehyde for 8 hours before enzyme assay. Inactivation of ALAD by acetaldehyde was prevented by the metabolic inhibitor NaF but not by the aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor cyanamide. Incubation of undiluted cytosol with 20 mmol/L ethanol also decreased ALAD activity, but addition of ethanol to the assay mix had no effect. Ethanol-mediated inactivation of ALAD was reduced by inhibition of alcohol dehydrogenase with 4-methylpyrazole, but ALAD activity was not decreased by incubation of undiluted cytosol with acetate or sorbitol or by addition of acetate to the assay mix. The aldehydic B6 vitamers, pyridoxal and pyridoxal phosphate, also inhibited ALAD activity when added to the assay mix. However, these vitamers increased ALAD activity and decreased acetaldehyde-mediated inactivation of ALAD when incubated for 8 hours with undiluted cytosol. We conclude that (1) acetaldehyde decreases ALAD activity both by competitive inhibition with substrate and by inactivation of enzyme protein and that (2) inactivation of ALAD by acetaldehyde may require nonoxidative metabolism of acetaldehyde. The net pharmacologic effect of B6 vitamers on ALAD activity and on inactivation of ALAD by acetaldehyde remains to be determined.

Acetaldehyde↗
PubMed1989

Bleomycin-iron can degrade DNA in the presence of excess ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid in vitro.

The antineoplastic drug bleomycin, when complexed to Fe(II), causes both single- and double-stranded lesions in DNA in vitro. EDTA is commonly used to inhibit the reaction of bleomycin-Fe with DNA, presumably by removing the metal cofactor. In this study, we utilized a simple assay involving the conversion of supercoiled plasmid DNA to the nicked or linear forms to further investigate the ability of bleomycin-Fe to degrade DNA in the presence of EDTA. We found that a 1:1 complex of bleomycin and Fe can degrade plasmid DNA even in the presence of a 10(6) molar excess of EDTA over bleomycin. Furthermore, we found that the half-life for inactivation of bleomycin-Fe by excess EDTA is about 1.5 h. Finally, we demonstrate that excess bleomycin associated with the outer plasma membranes of cells can damage DNA after the cells are lysed in buffers containing EDTA and SDS. These results suggest that EDTA may not be an efficient inhibitor of the reaction of bleomycin-Fe with DNA.

Bleomycin↗
PubMed1989

Inhibition of rat liver transaminases by low levels of acetaldehyde and the pharmacologic effects of B6 vitamers.

To better define the significance and mechanism of acetaldehyde-mediated transaminase inhibition, acetaldehyde metabolism was studied in rat liver homogenates and cytosols. When either preparation was incubated at 37 degrees with 1.5 mM acetaldehyde for 4 hr, acetaldehyde levels fell rapidly in the first 30 min and little inhibition of aspartate aminotransferase (GOT) or alanine aminotransferase (GPT) resulted. In contrast, incubation with 50 mM ethanol also resulted in a peak acetaldehyde level of 1.0 to 1.5 mM by 2 hr, but this level was then maintained for the next 2 hr and transaminases were inhibited by 20-35%. Sequential addition of low dose (125-250 microM) pulses of acetaldehyde to rat liver preparations resulted in a progressive decrease in the rate of acetaldehyde disappearance. When the pulsing schedule was adjusted accordingly to maintain acetaldehyde levels between 50 and 250 microM for 8 hr, transaminases were again inhibited by 20-40%. Finally, addition of 1-5 mM pyridoxal and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, aldehydic B6 vitamers, to cytosols 2-4 hr after pulsing with acetaldehyde was begun, almost completely prevented further transaminase inhibition. In contrast, the non-aldehydic B6 vitamers, pyridoxine, pyridoxamine and pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate, did not affect acetaldehyde-mediated transaminase inhibition. These findings suggest that (1) prolonged exposure to low levels of acetaldehyde impairs acetaldehyde metabolism in rat liver homogenates and cytosols; (2) acetaldehyde toxicity may be more dependent on sustained exposure to acetaldehyde than on the peak level of acetaldehyde attained; and (3) aldehydic B6 vitamers can modify on-going acetaldehyde-mediated transaminase inhibition.

Acetaldehyde↗
PubMed1989

Studies on the mechanism of acetaldehyde-mediated inhibition of aspartate aminotransferase (GOT) in human erythrocytes.

The mechanism of acetaldehyde-mediated GOT inhibition was studied in human red cells. In the GOT assay mix, acetaldehyde competitively inhibits activation of apoGOT by pyridoxal phosphate and pyridoxamine phosphate. However, Ki values are 100-1000 times greater than Km values for these B6 vitamers. Moreover, incubation of undiluted lysates with acetaldehyde at 37 degrees inhibits GOT activity without increasing apoGOT levels and without altering affinity of apoGOT for either B6 coenzyme. In undiluted lysates, inhibition is not prevented by disulfiram. However, incubation at 4 degrees prevents both acetaldehyde metabolism and GOT inhibition while preincubation with NaF prevents GOT inhibition without affecting acetaldehyde disappearance. The effect of NaF is completely reversed by pyruvate but only partially reversed by NADH. Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, the only glycolytic intermediate which directly inhibits GOT, does not reverse the NaF effect. Thus, inhibition of GOT by acetaldehyde (a) requires nonoxidative metabolism of acetaldehyde and (b) is not mediated either by glycolytic substrates or by impaired binding of B6 vitamers to the GOT apoenzyme. Since NaF had no effect on a lysate deficient in glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, the hexose monophosphate shunt may play a role in acetaldehyde-mediated GOT inhibition.

Acetaldehyde↗
PubMed1989

Loss of proliferative potential during terminal differentiation coincides with the decreased abundance of a subset of heterogeneous ribonuclear proteins.

The decrease in abundance of a subset of highly conserved basic nuclear proteins is established to correlate with the loss of proliferative potential in association with the process of terminal differentiation in murine mesenchymal stem cells and human keratinocytes. These proteins, designated P2Ps for proliferation potential proteins, have apparent molecular masses of 30-40 kD, are associated with the 30-40S substructures of nuclear hnRNP complexes, and are recognized by antibodies made against core proteins of hnRNP particles. They also share an epitope in common with heat shock protein-90 (hsp90) and are recognized by two mAbs against hsp90. Two-dimensional electrophoretic Western blots furthermore show that P2Ps make up a subset of hnRNP proteins. Cells that possess these proteins express the potential to proliferate whether or not they are traversing the cell cycle. These include rapidly growing cells, reversibly growth-arrested cells, and nonterminally differentiated cells. In contrast, cells that have irreversibly lost their proliferative potential, such as terminally differentiated cells, show a marked reduction in the abundance of P2Ps as determined by immunodetection on Western blots. A correlation, therefore, exists between the presence of this subset of nuclear proteins and the proliferative potential in two cell types. These results raise the possibility that as a subset of hnRNP proteins, P2Ps may mediate posttranscriptional control of the processing of specific RNAs required for cell proliferation.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Erythrocyte O2 transport and metabolism and effects of vitamin B6 therapy in type II diabetes mellitus.

The effects of vitamin B6 on erythrocyte metabolism, erythrocyte hemoglobin O2 affinity (P50), and nonenzymatic glycosylation were studied in 15 Caucasian men with type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. A control group of 13 healthy Caucasian men was also evaluated. Before treatment, diabetic subjects had low mean cell hemoglobin concentration values and increases in both erythrocyte 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) levels and erythrocyte hexokinase activities. Although all three of these changes are associated with a decrease in hemoglobin O2 (Hb-O2) affinity, P50 values were normal in diabetic subjects. Moreover, P50 values normalized to pH 7.4 (P50(7.4] were inversely related to the level of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Both erythrocyte 2,3-DPG and erythrocyte ATP were also inversely related to HbA1c. Vitamin B6 nutriture, as determined by erythrocyte aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities, was normal in all diabetic subjects before vitamin B6 therapy. Nonetheless, HbA1c levels decreased after 6 wk of treatment with 150 mg/day pyridoxine and increased again during placebo administration. These changes were not explained by changes in fasting blood glucose. Pyridoxine therapy also decreased P50(7.4) values and increased erythrocyte AST and ALT activities but had no effect on 2,3-DPG, ATP, or the activities of hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase. These observations suggest that 1) nonenzymatic glycosylation may play a role in regulating both erythrocyte metabolism and Hb-O2 affinity in diabetic subjects, and 2) vitamin B6 therapy may modify nonenzymatic glycosylation of hemoglobin in this population.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Studies on the role of actin's aspartic acid 3 and aspartic acid 11 using oligodeoxynucleotide-directed site-specific mutagenesis.

One or more of the five acidic amino-terminal residues of skeletal muscle actin have been implicated as being important in a number of actin-related processes. We have constructed a series of actins containing mutations at Asp3 and Asp11 and tested these mutant proteins for their ability to bind to DNase I-agarose, polymerize with rabbit skeletal muscle actin, undergo amino-terminal processing, and bind to the myosin-S1 subfragment. The mutant actins were expressed in vitro using a coupled transcription/translation system which involves the synthesis of mutant RNAs with SP6 RNA polymerase followed by their translation in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate. When Asp3 was changed to Ala, His, or Asn there was no difference in the tested properties as compared to wild type actin. These results suggest that an acidic residue at position 3 is not critical for the actin functions measured. When Asp11 was changed to Glu, Asn, or His or if the conserved Asp-Asn sequence at positions 11 and 12 was reversed, the mutants were able to copolymerize with rabbit skeletal muscle actin and be cross-linked to myosin-S1 to nearly the same extent as wild type actin. However, the amount of in vitro-synthesized actin capable of binding to DNase I-agarose with high affinity or undergoing amino-terminal processing was reduced significantly relative to the wild type actin synthesized in vitro. The Asp11 mutants ran anomalously on native polyacrylamide gels suggestive of a conformational change induced in the actin. Together, these results suggest that Asp11 may be important in proper actin folding and function.

Actins↗
PubMed1988

Effects of acetaldehyde on human red cell metabolism: evidence for the formation of enzyme inhibitors.

Since red cells transport and metabolize acetaldehyde in vivo, the effects of acetaldehyde on human red cell enzyme activities were studied. Incubation of intact red cells or undiluted red cell lysates at 37 degrees C for 4 h with 1-10 mmol/l acetaldehyde decreased only GOT, GPT and aldolase activities among the 26 enzymes tested. No inhibition occurred at 4 degrees C or when acetaldehyde was incubated with dilute hemolysates. Incubation of lysates with other reducing substrates or with acetate inhibited aldolase but not GOT or GPT. Preincubation of lysates with cyanate or fluoride markedly decreased acetaldehyde-mediated transaminase inhibition but not aldolase inhibition. Addition of pyridoxal phosphate, the vitamin B6 transaminase coenzyme, to GOT and GPT assay mixes did not reverse acetaldehyde-mediated transaminase inhibition. These findings suggest that acetaldehyde-mediated aldolase inhibition results from oxidation of acetaldehyde while transaminase inhibition results from nonoxidative acetaldehyde metabolism. When 100-200 mumol/l acetaldehyde is added to lysates at 2-h intervals and when lysates are incubated with ethanol, alcohol dehydrogenase and an NAD-regenerating system, enzyme inhibition occurs at acetaldehyde levels approaching those seen in vivo. Thus, the role of acetaldehyde-mediated enzyme inhibition in the toxicity of alcohol abuse warrants further study.

Acetaldehyde↗
PubMed1988

Cyclosporin: pharmacokinetics and detailed studies of plasma and erythrocyte binding during intravenous and oral administration.

On the basis that unbound concentration better correlates with response than total plasma or blood concentration, the inter- and intra-subject variability in the distribution of cyclosporin within blood and to plasma components was studied in renal transplant patients. Pharmacokinetic aspects were also studied. Blood samples were analysed from patients who received the drug both by a 72-h i.v. infusion and orally (7 mg.kg-1 twice daily). Steady-state was reached within 18 h of starting the i.v. infusion; the plasma data were best fitted by a biexponential equation with half-times of 0.13-1.02 h and 4.3-13.9 h, associated with the two phases. The mean plasma clearance was 700 ml/min. Concentrations during the infusions measured by RIA and HPLC were comparable. Oral profiles showed rapid and extensive absorption. The peak plasma concentrations were 1460-1880 micrograms.l-1 and occurred 2-4 h after dosing, with bioavailability estimates of 41-113%. Concentrations measured by RIA were higher than by HPLC. Blood-to-plasma concentration ratio measurements of cyclosporin at 37 degrees C decreased with increasing plasma concentration and increased with haematocrit. Fraction unbound, measured by ultra-centrifugation, was in the range 0.042-0.122 with an average of 0.068, and varied little in some patients but showed systematic changes with time in others. Cyclosporin binding was found to be related not only to the triglyceride but, more particularly, to the cholesterol-related lipoproteins in plasma. Monitoring cholesterol may be helpful in identifying patients with extremes in binding or with widely varying binding.

Administration, Oral↗