PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Badr

Publications and source records attributed to M Badr.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Digitalis intoxication during the neonatal period: role of dehydration].

BACKGROUND: Despite the great progress which has been made in the treatment of acute digitalis intoxication by digoxin-immune Fab, it still remains a severe complication of cardiotonic therapy. CASE REPORT: A neonate with ventricular septal defect and large left-to-right shunt was treated with digitalis and diuretics at the usual starting doses. An intensive phototherapy was also required because of a hyperbilirubinemia due to glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. Toxic digoxin accumulation (plasma level 14 ng/mL) was diagnosed three days after the initiation of treatment by the presence of sinus bradycardia and bursts of ventricular fibrillation. Intravenous administration of digoxin-specific antibody Fab fragments (Digidot) was effective, with a rapid improvement of the digitalis poisoning. CONCLUSION: Because of the particularities concerning drug distribution, metabolism and elimination of drugs in the neonatal period, the digoxin therapeutic index is narrow. This case report suggests the involvement of phototherapy and diuretics, which might induce a significant decrease in extracellular water and drug distribution volumes, ultimately promoting the occurrence of an intoxication.

Cardiotonic Agents↗

Diminished energy metabolism and enhanced apoptosis in livers of B6C3F1 mice treated with the antihepatocarcinogen rotenone.

Rotenone decreases the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma and lowers rates of hepatocellular proliferation. In an effort to delineate mechanisms involved, the in vivo effect of rotenone on liver mitochondrial metabolism, apoptotic machinery as well as elements of the hepatic signal transduction pathways were investigated. Mitochondria from livers of male B6C3F1 mice fed a standard diet containing 600 ppm rotenone for 7 days were uncoupled or inhibited when succinate or glutamate plus malate were used as the substrate, respectively. These livers also showed a significant increase in apoptosis compared with control livers. Furthermore, rotenone increased the expression of c-myc mRNA to 5-fold of control values within 3 days, an effect which was still observed (3-fold) after 7 days. Levels of p53 mRNA were also increased 3-fold after 1 day, but declined to control levels by 7 days. Rotenone also caused a transient, yet marked increase in liver particulate glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) protein expression, while it did not alter the expression of the cytosolic form of the enzyme. Conversely, mRNA of the proto-oncogene H-ras showed a decline of 35% after 3 days of rotenone treatment, and remained diminished for the duration of the experiment. These data suggest that rotenone may act as an anticancer agent by diminishing mitochondrial bioenergetics which prevents basal hepatocyte proliferation and lowers the threshold for liver cells with DNA damage to undergo apoptosis.

Animals↗

Biology of senescent liver peroxisomes: role in hepatocellular aging and disease.

Despite rising interest in the health problems of the elderly, information on senescence-related alterations in essential metabolic pathways and their responses to various chemicals is scarce. Although peroxisomal pathways are involved in a multitude of cellular functions, little attention has been given to the potential relationship between senescence of these organelles and the process of aging and disease. Although the prevailing experimental evidence points to a decline in liver peroxisomal enzyme activities and a muted response to peroxisome-proliferating chemicals in aged animals, it is also evident that aged animals are more susceptible, in comparison to their young counterparts, to the hepatocarcinogenic effects of these chemicals. Furthermore, little is known about extraperoxisomal effects of peroxisome proliferators in aged animals. This review evaluates published studies on the impact of aging on basal hepatic peroxisomal metabolism, response to peroxisome proliferators, and changes in signal transduction pathways involved in these processes, with the aim of stimulating research efforts in this important area. The potential intricate relationship among senescent peroxisomes, aged hepatocytes, and health are also discussed.

Aging↗

Extraperoxisomal targets of peroxisome proliferators: mitochondrial, microsomal, and cytosolic effects. Implications for health and disease.

Peroxisome proliferators are a structurally diverse group of compounds that include the fibrate hypolipidemic drugs, the phthalate ester industrial plasticizers, the phenoxy acid herbicides, and the anti-wetting corrosion inhibitors perfluorinated straight-chain monocarboxylic fatty acids. Administration of these chemicals to rodents results in a number of effects, the most prominent being hepatomegaly and induction of peroxisomal enzyme activities. Several of these compounds have also been associated with the production of liver tumors in rodents and are classified as nongenotoxic hepatocarcinogens. Experimental evidence suggests that humans are not susceptible to these effects following exposure to peroxisome-proliferating compounds. This has led to the proposal that an "actual threat to humans" from exposure to one of these compounds seems "rather unlikely". Indeed, recent reports suggest that peroxisome proliferators may prove valuable as antitumor agents in humans. However, this assessment is preliminary given that peroxisome proliferators also produce a myriad of extraperoxisomal effects in livers and other tissues of experimental animals. Such effects include both stimulation and inhibition of mitochondrial and microsomal metabolism and alteration of the activities of various cytosolic enzymes. These responses may be directly or indirectly related to the effects on peroxisomes or may be totally independent of these events. Whether the extraperoxisomal effects of these compounds occur in humans is not known and their potential impact on human health remains to be investigated.

Animals↗

Activated Kupffer cells attenuate the liver response to the peroxisome proliferator perfluorooctanoic acid.

It has been suggested that peroxisome proliferators stimulate Kupffer cells, an effect which may be involved in their mechanism of action. To evaluate this hypothesis, this study was designed to investigate the effect of stimulating Kupffer cells on basal as well as induced peroxisomal enzyme activity. Twenty four hours following treatment of male Sprague-Dawley rats with the peroxisome proliferating agent perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in corn oil or with corn oil alone, hepatic peroxisomal beta-oxidation was 4.6 +/- 0.2 and 1.8 +/- 0.1 U/g liver, respectively. As expected, PFOA did not influence the catalase activity. Stimulating Kupffer cells in vivo by zymosan A (25 mg/kg, i.v.) prior to treatment with corn oil or PFOA diminished basal as well as PFOA-induced peroxisomal beta-oxidation by 20-35%. Activation of Kupffer cells by zymosan A also diminished catalase activity by over 60%. Furthermore, PFOA reduced blood colloidal carbon clearance by 35% within 2 h of its administration. The data suggest that activation of Kupffer cells exerts a negative effect on basal as well as PFOA-induced peroxisomal enzyme activities. Data also suggest that PFOA inhibits Kupffer cells. Activated Kupffer cells may indeed produce factors which interfere with normal hepatic peroxisomal functions and responses.

Animals↗

Hyperinsulinemia inhibits hepatic peroxisomal beta-oxidation in rats.

Studies show that insulin deficiency enhances peroxisomal enzyme activities. It is not known, however, whether hyperinsulinemia exerts the opposite effect on peroxisomes. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were infused with normal saline, glucose or galactose for 7 days. Only glucose caused an increase in serum insulin levels. The increase in insulin secretion, in response to glucose, was blocked with diazoxide. Data show an inverse relationship between serum insulin levels and hepatic peroxisomal beta-oxidation (r2 = 0.90, p < 0.01). While hyperinsulinemic rats had diminished peroxisomal beta-oxidation, lowering serum insulin restored peroxisomal enzyme activity to normal levels. These effects were independent of blood glucose levels (r2 = 0.35). In addition to decreasing peroxisomal beta-oxidation, hyperinsulinemia was accompanied by accelerated animal mortality, an effect which was also prevented by lowering serum insulin levels. Peroxisomal deficit may be a potentially lethal consequence of hyperinsulinemia.

Animals↗

Evaluation of hepatic metabolism of salicylic acid in perfused rat liver.

Hepatic metabolism of salicylic acid was studied using a single-pass liver perfusion technique. Livers obtained from male, Sprague-Dawley rats (200-300 g) were perfused with Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer containing the drug (50-100 micrograms/mL) and glycine (0.5 or 5 mM) or glucose (5.5 mM) or bovine serum albumin (0.33%). Effluent samples over a 30-50 min interval were analyzed for salicylic acid and its metabolites (gentisic acid, salicyluric acid, and salicyl acyl and salicyl phenolic glucuronides). Effluent concentrations of salicylic acid did not differ from those in the perfusate, indicating that the liver is not a site for the metabolism of this drug. Hepatic uptake studies are needed to confirm this finding.

Animals↗

Enoximone inhibits hepatic mitochondrial long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase.

The phosphodiesterase inhibitor, enoximone, was previously shown to cause paradoxical effects on cardiac lipid metabolism. The present study was undertaken to elucidate the effects of enoximone on the hepatic mitochondrial pathway of fatty acid oxidation. Results presented here show that in isolated rat liver mitochondria, palmitate oxidation was inhibited progressively by increasing concentrations of enoximone. Maximum inhibition (35%) of mitochondrial oxygen uptake was attained at 250 microM enoximone. At this concentration, enoximone did not affect the oxidation of either palmitoyl-CoA or palmitoyl carnitine. Also, enoximone did not inhibit the oxidation of the short-chain fatty acid, hexanoate, neither did it affect the respiratory chain in the mitochondria. These data suggest that enoximone specifically inhibits long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase activity. This was confirmed experimentally when the activity of this enzyme was determined in the absence and presence of enoximone. Discovering inhibitors of specific steps in lipid metabolism should provide a useful tool to investigate mechanisms regulating this pathway.

Animals↗

Stimulation of myocyte insulin-responsive glucose transporters by the inhibition of fatty acid oxidation.

The effects of the fatty acid inhibitor 4-bromocrotonic acid (4-BCA) on glucose utilization was studied in isolated rat myocytes. In contrast to its potent inhibition of [1-14C]palmitate oxidation, 4-BCA strongly stimulated the oxidation of [1-14C]glucose and [2-14C]-pyruvate in a concentration-dependent manner. At a concentration of 300 microM, 4-BCA increased glucose oxidation threefold and that of pyruvate oxidation twofold. The rate of transport of [U-14C]-2-deoxyglucose was significantly stimulated by 4-BCA. The transport of 2-deoxyglucose was increased sevenfold with 200 microM 4-BCA, whereas insulin (10 microU)/ml enhanced 2-deoxyglucose transport twofold. The addition of insulin to myocytes preincubated with 4-BCA did not further increase glucose transport. Cytochalasin B and anti-GLUT 4 antibody decreased the 4-BCA-induced stimulation of glucose transport. These results suggest that the stimulation of 2-deoxy-glucose transport by 4-BCA occurs through an increase in the activity of insulin-responsive glucose transporters, GLUT 4, in the sarcolemmal membrane.

Animals↗

Regulation of perfluorooctanoic acid--induced peroxisomal enzyme activities and hepatocellular growth by adrenal hormones.

A wide variety of compounds, including hypolipidemic drugs, plasticizers and other industrial chemicals, have been found to cause liver enlargement and hepatic peroxisome proliferation by mechanisms that are unclear. Although thyroid and sex hormones have been shown to modulate the hepatic response to these chemicals, the role of adrenal hormones in these phenomena is not clear, and a few studies have produced conflicting data. Therefore this study was undertaken to investigate the role of adrenal hormones in hepatomegaly and peroxisomal enzyme induction caused by peroxisomal proliferators and to further delineate the interrelationship between these parameters. Because adrenalectomy alters hepatic drug metabolism, we have used the nonmetabolizable proliferator perfluorooctanoic acid. Our data show that hepatomegaly caused by perfluorooctanoic acid depends on corticosterone, the major glucocorticoid in rodents. Liver growth caused by perfluorooctanoic acid appears to be predominantly hypertrophic in nature, and DNA synthesis in response to perfluorooctanoic acid predominates in periportal regions of the liver lobule. Data also show that although induction of peroxisomal beta-oxidation by perfluorooctanoic acid is independent of adrenal hormones, induction of catalase is dependent on the presence of these hormones. This study supports the contention that induction of activities of various peroxisomal enzymes is controlled by different regulatory mechanisms.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

Kinetics of aluminum in rats. III: Effect of route of administration.

Male Fischer rats received 0.1 mg/kg (bolus) of elemental aluminum as the sulfate salt via the portal (n = 4) or systemic (n = 4) route of administration. Blood and bile were serially sampled over an 8-h period, postadministration. Aluminum was determined by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Blood aluminum concentrations declined in a monoexponential fashion, with half-lives of 0.7 h (portal) and 1.08 h (systemic) (p less than 0.05). The corresponding systemic clearances were 48.9 +/- 10.6 and 35.1 +/- 3.64 mL/(h.kg) (p less than 0.05). The systemic availability following portal administration was 0.66, indicating a significant "first-pass" effect. Biliary aluminum recovery (% dose) was negligible following both routes [0.83 +/- 0.062% (portal) versus 1.3 +/- 0.22% (systemic), p less than 0.05]. Bile flow decreased approximately 40% (p less than 0.05) immediately upon injection of aluminum via the portal route only; flow remained suppressed throughout the study. This decrease in bile flow was most likely responsible for the lower biliary recovery with this route. In contrast, liver recovery of aluminum at 8-h postadministration was higher with the portal route (65.4 +/- 4.1 versus 39.4 +/- 2.52%). These results show that reported values for oral "bioavailability" of aluminum, often calculated by the standard AUC ratio method, underestimate the true extent of absorption. One mechanism of aluminum-related jaundice observed clinically may be due to cholestasis.

Aluminum↗

Selective inhibition of hepatic peroxisomal fatty acid beta-oxidation by enoximone.

Although beta-oxidation of fatty acids occurs in both peroxisomes and mitochondria, beta-oxidizing enzymes in these organelles have distinct differences in their specifity and sensitivity to inhibitors. In this study, the effects of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor enoximone on hepatic peroxisomal and mitochondrial beta-oxidation were investigated. In liver homogenates from control rats, cyanide-insensitive peroxisomal beta-oxidation of palmitoyl-CoA was inhibited progressively by increasing concentrations of enoximone. Similar results were obtained in liver homogenates from rats pretreated with the known peroxisomal proliferator diethylhexylphthalate. In contrast, mitochondrial beta-oxidation of palmitoyl-CoA was not inhibited by enoximone. These data show that enoximone selectively inhibits basal as well as induced peroxisomal, but not mitochondrial, beta-oxidation of the CoA thioester of long-chain fatty acids. The availability of specific inhibitors of peroxisomal beta-oxidation should prove useful in elucidating regulatory mechanisms operative in this pathway in normal as well as in proliferated peroxisomes.

Animals↗

The inhibition of long-chain fatty acyl-CoA synthetase by enoximone in rat heart mitochondria.

The mechanism by which enoximone, a reported phosphodiesterase inhibitor, inhibits the oxidation of long-chain fatty acids was studied in isolated rat heart mitochondria using a series of 14C-labeled substrates. Enoximone decreased palmitate oxidation in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Fifty percent inhibition of palmitate oxidation was achieved with 250 microM of enoximone. In contrast to its effect on palmitate, enoximone (250 microM) increased octanoate oxidation by 30%, whereas pyruvate oxidation was unaffected by enoximone. At that dose there was no effect on the oxidation of palmitoyl-CoA and palmitoyl carnitine. The degree of palmitate oxidation inhibited by enoximone was parallel to the inhibition of acyl-CoA synthetase in both rat heart mitochondria and microsomes. These results suggest that enoximone is a reversible inhibitor of long-chain fatty acyl-CoA synthetase. Moreover, the reaction, which is catalyzed by this enzyme, is a rate-limiting step in the pathway of fatty acid oxidation in rat heart mitochondria.

Acyl Coenzyme A↗

Stimulation of polyunsaturated fatty acid oxidation in myocytes by regulating its cellular uptake. On the rate limiting step of polyunsaturated fatty acid oxidation in heart.

In order to investigate the regulation of polyunsaturated fatty acid oxidation in the heart, the effect of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor enoximone on the oxidation of [1-14C] arachidonic acid, and [1-14C] arachidonyl-CoA, were studied in adult rat myocytes, and isolated rat heart mitochondria. Enoximone stimulated arachidonate oxidation by 94%, at a concentration of 0.25 mM. The apparent Vmax value of arachidonate oxidation in the presence of enoximone (6.98 nmol/mg protein/30 min), was approximately 75% higher than the value observed with the control (4.0 nmol/mg protein/30 min) in isolated myocytes. Also, enoximone stimulated arachidonate uptake by 27% at a concentration of 0.25 mM. On the other hand, enoximone had no effect on the oxidation of [1-14C] arachidonyl-CoA in isolated rat heart mitochondria. These results suggest that the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids in myocytes is regulated by the rate of uptake of these acids across sarcolemmal membranes.

Acyl Coenzyme A↗

Stimulation of fatty acid oxidation in myocytes by phosphodiesterase inhibitors and adenosine analogues.

The effect of various phosphodiesterase inhibitors, and adenosine analogues on palmitate oxidation, were studied in isolated rat myocytes. Enoximone, milrinone, and dipyridamole, at a concentration of 250 microM, stimulated palmitate oxidation by 78%, 40%, and 43%, respectively. The specific A1-agonist, N6-cyclopentyladenosine, increased palmitate oxidation by 56%, at a concentration of 250 microM. Moreover, the nucleoside transport inhibitor, S-(P-Nitrobenzyl-)6-thioinosine, increased palmitate oxidation by 40%, at a concentration of 100 microM. These data suggest that the stimulation of palmitate oxidation by enoximone and adenosine analogues may be mediated via the inhibition of the uptake and/or the oxidation of glucose in myocytes.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗

Carbohydrate and oxygen metabolism during hepatocellular proliferation: a study in perfused livers from mirex-treated rats.

Liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy is accompanied by altered hepatic intermediary metabolism. Because the organochlorine compound mirex also causes liver cell growth, the purpose of this study was to investigate hepatic carbohydrate and oxygen metabolism in perfused livers from mirex-treated rats and to localize cell proliferation in this model. Pretreatment with mirex (100 mg/kg, intragastrically) increased liver/body weight ratios and DNA synthesis in livers of fed rats, effects that were markedly diminished in livers of fasted rats. This finding shows that liver growth caused by mirex, as is the case after partial hepatectomy, is hindered when animals are deprived of food. Furthermore, perfused livers from mirex-treated rats had depleted glycogen stores but significantly elevated oxygen uptake compared with livers from control rats. Increases in oxygen uptake and hepatocellular proliferation were observed mostly in periportal regions of the liver lobule. In regenerating livers, most DNA synthesis was reported to also occur in these regions of the liver lobule. Taken together, these data show that liver cell growth caused by mirex is accompanied by changes in hepatic intermediary metabolism and sublobular proliferation similar to those observed after partial hepatectomy.

Animals↗

Mechanism of aluminum-induced inhibition of hepatic glycolysis: inactivation of phosphofructokinase.

Aluminum, an abundant element in the earth's crust, has been implicated in various pathological disorders and low concentrations of this element have recently been shown to inhibit brain glycolysis. However, despite the fact that aluminum accumulates in high concentrations in the liver, potential effects of this metal on hepatic intermediary metabolism have not been explored. In perfused livers from untreated rats, maximal rates of production of lactate plus pyruvate (glycolysis) were 93 +/- 15 mumols/g/hr. Glycolysis was severely inhibited in livers from aluminum-treated rats (0.5 mg/kg, 6 hr before experiment) with maximal rates of only 23 +/- 4 mumols/g/hr. In contrast, glucose production (glycogenolysis) and hepatic oxygen uptake were not altered significantly by prior treatment with aluminum. In livers from fasted rats, pretreatment with aluminum did not influence gluconeogenesis or production of lactate and pyruvate from fructose (5 mM). This finding indicates that pyruvate kinase is not inhibited by aluminum and implicates phosphofructokinase, hexokinase and/or glucokinase as sites for the inhibitory effect of aluminum on glycolysis. In liver homogenates from untreated rats, increasing concentrations of aluminum did not show any appreciable effect on hexokinase or glucokinase activity but did cause progressive decreases in phosphofructokinase activity. Therefore, aluminum-induced inhibition of liver phosphofructokinase, an important control site in the glycolytic pathway, is most likely responsible for aluminum-induced inhibition of hepatic glycolysis.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗