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Biomedical subjects

M Dietz

Publications and source records attributed to M Dietz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

2-(2-Oxo-1,4-dihydro-2H-quinazolin-3-yl)- and 2-(2,2-dioxo-1,4-dihydro-2H-2lambda6-benzo[1,2,6]thiadiazin-3-yl)-N-hydroxy-acetamides as potent and selective peptide deformylase inhibitors.

Potent, selective, and structurally new inhibitors of the Fe(II) enzyme Escherichia coli peptide deformylase (PDF) were obtained by rational optimization of the weakly binding screening hit (5-chloro-2-oxo-1,4-dihydro-2H-quinazolin-3-yl)-acetic acid hydrazide (1). Three-dimensional structural information, gathered from Ni-PDF complexed with 1, suggested the preparation of two series of related hydroxamic acid analogues, 2-(2-oxo-1,4-dihydro-2H-quinazolin-3-yl)-N-hydroxy-acetamides (A) and 2-(2,2-dioxo-1,4-dihydro-2H-2lambda(6)-benzo[1,2,6]thiadiazin-3-yl)-N-hydroxy-acetamides (B), among which potent PDF inhibitors (37, 42, and 48) were identified. Moreover, two selected compounds, one from each series, 36 and 41, showed good selectivity for PDF over several endoproteases including matrix metalloproteases. However, these compounds showed only weak antibacterial activity.

Amidohydrolases↗

The negative regulator Opi1 of phospholipid biosynthesis in yeast contacts the pleiotropic repressor Sin3 and the transcriptional activator Ino2.

Structural genes of phospholipid biosynthesis in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae are transcriptionally co-regulated by ICRE (inositol/choline-responsive element) promoter motifs. Gene activation by an ICRE is mediated by binding of the Ino2/Ino4 transcription factor, whereas repression in the presence of high concentrations of inositol and choline (IC) requires an intact Opi1 repressor. However, the mechanism of specific repression and the functional interplay among these regulators remained unclear from previous work. Using in vivo as well as in vitro interaction assays, we show binding of the pleiotropic repressor Sin3 to the pathway-specific regulator Opi1. The paired amphipathic helix 1 (PAH1) within Sin3 and OSID (Opi1-Sin3 interaction domain) in the N-terminus of Opi1 were mapped as contact sites. The regulatory significance of the Opi1-Sin3 interaction was shown by the obvious deregulation of an ICRE-dependent reporter gene in a sin3 mutant. Opi1 also interacts with a newly identified functional domain of the transcriptional activator Ino2 (RID, repressor interaction domain). These results define the molecular composition of the transcription complex mediating control of ICRE-dependent genes and allow a hypothesis on the flow of regulatory information in response to phospholipid precursors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Levodopa pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling and 6-[18F]levodopa positron emission tomography in patients with Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVE: Parameters of a pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) model of levodopa have been claimed to reflect the magnitude of the dopaminergic deficit in patients with Parkinson's disease. The aim of this study was to correlate such parameters with positron emission tomography (PET) with levodopa tagged with 6-fluorine 18, an established imaging method for striatal dopaminergic neurons. METHODS: Twenty-three patients in different disease stages (Hoehm and Yahr stage 2.5-5 [Hoehn MM, Yahr MD. Parkinsonism: onset, progression and mortality. Neurology 1967;4:427-42]; median duration, 12 years) were studied. PK-PD modeling followed a single oral dose of levodopa/benserazide. The sum score of the Columbia Rating Scale (CURSSigma) was used for clinical assessments. A nonparametric effect compartment approach assuming a sigmoidal E(max) model was applied to the PK-PD analysis of plasma levodopa concentrations and corresponding CURSSigma. Thereafter 6-[18F]levodopa PET was performed, and the influx rate constants (k(c)) for the putamen and the caudatus region were correlated with the median effective concentration (EC(50)) and the equilibrium half-life (T(eq)) of the PK-PD model. RESULTS: (1) A significant correlation was observed between PK-PD parameters or with k(c) putamen as the dependent variable and the duration of the disease as the independent variable, which explains 33% of the variability of the EC(50), 42% of the variability of T(eq), and 36% of the variability of k(c). (2) Significant correlations were observed between k(c) and either EC(50) or T(eq), yielding the closest correlation for the putamen region (r = -0.47, P <.05; and r = 0.55, P <.01; respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that key parameters of a PK-PD model of levodopa were in fairly close agreement with imaging of dopaminergic neurons by 6-[18F]levodopa PET. However, although PK-PD modeling of levodopa has been proven as a useful investigation of approaches aimed to restore dopaminergic deficits or to monitor disease progression, this modeling cannot serve as a pathomorphologic surrogate for the loss of striatal dopaminergic neurons.

Adult↗

Hydroxamic acid derivatives as potent peptide deformylase inhibitors and antibacterial agents.

Low-molecular-weight beta-sulfonyl- and beta-sulfinylhydroxamic acid derivatives have been synthesized and found to be potent inhibitors of Escherichia coli peptide deformylase (PDF). Most of the compounds synthesized and tested displayed antibacterial activities that cover several pathogens found in respiratory tract infections, including Chlamydia pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis. The potential of these compounds as antibacterial agents is discussed with respect to selectivity, intracellular concentrations in bacteria, and potential for resistance development.

Amidohydrolases↗

Viral cytokines.

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Animals↗

Viral cytokines.

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Antibody Formation↗

Impaired visual function in focal idiopathic dystonia.

Visual dysfunctions have previously been reported in Parkinson's disease and Huntington's chorea. To further characterize the pathophysiology of vision in basal ganglion diseases, we studied visual functions in focal dystonic syndromes. Colour discrimination and visual contrast perception were investigated in 37 patients with focal idiopathic dystonia (ID; 20 spasmodic torticollis, 17 blepharospasm) and in age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers using the Farnsworth-Munsell 100-hue test and stationary contrast targets (Vistech plates). The mean total error score as well as the partial scores for the 'red-green' and the 'blue-yellow' axes in the Farnsworth-Munsell 100-hue test of the patients with ID were significantly elevated as compared to controls (spasmodic torticollis mean total error score 90.9 +/- 67.6, controls: 16.6 +/- 10.2; blepharospasm mean total error score 119.4 +/- 78.6, controls: 22.7 +/- 7.9). Additionally, the spatial contrast sensitivity was impaired in patients as compared to controls. The results indicate that the visual system is affected in ID. The visual disorder may be related to an imbalance of certain neurotransmitters in the visual system of patients, e.g. in the catecholaminergic pathways.

Adult↗

Genome scan of human systemic lupus erythematosus: evidence for linkage on chromosome 1q in African-American pedigrees.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by production of autoantibodies against intracellular antigens including DNA, ribosomal P, Ro (SS-A), La (SS-B), and the spliceosome. Etiology is suspected to involve genetic and environmental factors. Evidence of genetic involvement includes: associations with HLA-DR3, HLA-DR2, Fcgamma receptors (FcgammaR) IIA and IIIA, and hereditary complement component deficiencies, as well as familial aggregation, monozygotic twin concordance >20%, lambdas > 10, purported linkage at 1q41-42, and inbred mouse strains that consistently develop lupus. We have completed a genome scan in 94 extended multiplex pedigrees by using model-based linkage analysis. Potential [log10 of the odds for linkage (lod) > 2.0] SLE loci have been identified at chromosomes 1q41, 1q23, and 11q14-23 in African-Americans; 14q11, 4p15, 11q25, 2q32, 19q13, 6q26-27, and 12p12-11 in European-Americans; and 1q23, 13q32, 20q13, and 1q31 in all pedigrees combined. An effect for the FcgammaRIIA candidate polymorphism) at 1q23 (lod = 3.37 in African-Americans) is syntenic with linkage in a murine model of lupus. Sib-pair and multipoint nonparametric analyses also support linkage (P < 0.05) at nine loci detected by using two-point lod score analysis (lod > 2.0). Our results are consistent with the presumed complexity of genetic susceptibility to SLE and illustrate racial origin is likely to influence the specific nature of these genetic effects.

Animals↗

Characterization and cloning of a Dictyostelium Ste20-like protein kinase that phosphorylates the actin-binding protein severin.

After receiving an external stimulus Dictyostelium amoebae are able to rearrange their actin cytoskeleton within seconds, and phosphorylation is a prime candidate for quick modification of cytoskeletal components. We isolated a kinase from cytosolic extracts that specifically phosphorylated severin, a Ca2+-dependent F-actin fragmenting protein. In gel filtration chromatography severin kinase eluted with a molecular mass of about 300 kDa and contained a 62-kDa component whose autophosphorylation caused a mobility shift in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and stimulated phosphorylation of severin. Severin kinase activity could be specifically precipitated with antibodies raised against the 62-kDa polypeptide. Phosphorylation of severin was strongly reduced in the presence of Ca2+, indicating additional regulation at the substrate level. Peptide sequencing and cloning of the cDNA demonstrated that the 62-kDa protein belongs to the Ste20p- or p21-activated protein kinase family. It is most closely related to the germinal center kinase subfamily with its N-terminal positioned catalytic domain followed by a presumptive regulatory domain at the C terminus. The presence of a Ste20-like severin kinase in Dictyostelium suggests a direct signal transduction from the plasma membrane to the cytoskeleton by phosphorylation of actin-binding proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Baclofen toxicity in a patient with subclinical renal insufficiency.

Baclofen, a centrally acting gamma-aminobutyric acid agonist is a commonly used pharmacotherapy for spasticity of spinal origin. It is primarily excreted by glomerular filtration with a clearance proportional to creatinine clearance. We describe a 39-year-old quadriplegic women who, over a 16-week period, developed clinical signs of baclofen toxicity confirmed by progressively rising serum baclofen levels while on a conventional stable dosing regimen. During this period blood urea nitrogen and creatinine concentrations were normal and stable (9mg/dL and 0.8mg/dL, respectively). However, creatinine clearance values were consistently low (55 to 60m/min), suggesting renal insufficiency as the underlying cause. After a decrease in baclofen dosage, evidence of baclofen toxicity resolved. Clinicians should be alert to signs of evolving baclofen toxicity even in patients on an apparently stable regimen. Baclofen dosage adjustments based on systemic baclofen level may play a role in optimizing the clinical management of spasticity.

Adult↗

Relation of elastosis to biochemical and immunohistochemical steroid receptor findings, Ki-67 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) immunostaining in invasive ductal breast cancer.

We studied 1073 cases of invasive ductal breast cancer, NOS for their elastic content (DEL, ductal+periductal elastosis; TEL, tumour elastosis) and compared the findings with the results of biochemical and immunohistochemical steroid hormone receptor examination. Tumours of patients up to 50 years of age and older were examined separately. In a number of tumours elastosis was also examined in relation to Ki-67 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) immunostaining. Sensitivity and specificity of DEL and TEL for predicting the receptor, Ki-67 and EGFR findings were estimated. Sensitivity of DEL and TEL for oestrogen and progesterone receptors is dependent on the degree of tumour differentiation and the degree of elastosis, increasing from DEL 1 degree and TEL 1 degree to DEL 3 degrees and TEL 3 degrees. It was more evident in grade 1 (G1) and G2 than in G3 carcinomas. Elastosis is a useful predictor of positive receptor findings particularly in G1 and G2 tumours with moderate and high-grade elastosis. It is a similarly useful predictor of negative receptor values in G3 carcinomas. The predictive value of DEL and TEL for the results of Ki-67 and EGFR immunostaining gradually decreases with increasing elastosis, consistent with the assumption that Ki-67 and EGFR identify the degree of tumour proliferation and invasion, while elastosis correlates with the degree of differentiation of breast cancer. Elastosis is a poor predictor of Ki-67 and EGFR findings in any individual breast cancer. Moderate and high-grade elastosis points to positive steroid hormone receptor assays in G1 and G2 carcinomas. In contrast, the lack of elastosis in G3 carcinomas may indicate a negative receptor assay. Both findings have a high degree of reliability.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Efficacy and safety of growth hormone treatment in short children with renal allografts: three year experience. Members of the German Study Group for Growth Hormone Treatment in Children with Renal Allografts.

The majority of children with renal allografts have diminished growth and reduced final height. Impaired allograft function and glucocorticoid treatment are the main contributing factors. Since recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment was able to counteract the growth depressing effects of glucocorticoids in experimental uremia, an open-labeled prospective study in 17 short children with renal allografts was designed to investigate the efficacy of rhGH therapy (30 IU/m2/week) with special emphasis on the safety regarding graft function and carbohydrate metabolism. Height velocity in prepubertal children (N = 10) increased from baseline median 2.2 cm/year to 7.9 cm/year after one year (P < 0.01), 7.2 cm/year after two years (P < 0.01), and 5.5 cm/year (P < 0.05) after three years of rhGH therapy. This resulted in a normalization of height in three out of seven patients after two years and in three out of five after three years of therapy. Growth stimulation in pubertal children was less consistent. Bone maturation paralleled chronological age. The effect of rhGH treatment on longitudinal growth may be partially attributable to the improved ratio between the serum concentration of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and its major binding protein (BP) IGFBP-3 leading to a normal IGF bioactivity. The incidence of acute rejection crises in the study group (corrected for time after grafting) did not differ from that of untreated retrospective "controls" (0.10 vs. 0.12 episodes per patient and year). No systematic effect of rhGH on glomerular filtration rate assessed by repeated inulin and creatinine clearances was noted.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Double-blind comparison of amorolfine and bifonazole in the treatment of dermatomycoses.

A total of 232 patients with mycoses of skin folds, body, or feet were entered into a double-blind, parallel group-study. Therapy with 0.125, 0.25, 0.5% amorolfine cream or 1% bifonazole cream was randomly allocated to patients. The cream was applied once daily for 4 weeks on average. At screening, in 208 patients evaluated for efficacy, a total of 225 fungi were isolated: T. rubrum (77), T. mentagrophytes (65), other dermatophytes (15), C. albicans (34), other yeasts (26) and moulds (8). One to three weeks after ending therapy, the percentage of patients with negative cultures were as follows: 87.3, 91.7, 90.7 and 92.2% in the amorolfine cream 0.125%, 0.25%, 0.5% and bifonazole cream 1% groups respectively. The differences were not statistically significant. Six out of 223 patients evaluated for safety had local adverse events: one (1.7%), two (3.6%) and three (5.4%) in the amorolfine cream 0.125%, 0.25% and bifonazole cream 1% groups respectively. The most common local adverse events were burning and increased itching, erythema or weeping. A once-daily application of amorolfine cream can be recommended for the treatment of dermatomycoses on the basis of the results from this study. However, a further and similar study with a larger number of patients was required to select the concentration of amorolfine cream for therapeutic use.

Antifungal Agents↗

Glutethimide treatment of disabling action tremor in patients with multiple sclerosis and traumatic brain injury.

Glutethimide has been used to control essential tremor. Its efficacy in the treatment of disabling cerebellar and rubral tremor was assessed in an open study of six patients with multiple sclerosis and two patients with traumatic brain injury. Functional and quantitative tremor severity was assessed before treatment and 7 to 14 days after a stable dose was achieved. Six of eight patients exhibited visible functional benefit from treatment with glutethimide; abstract testing results correlated well with functional status in most cases. Four patients chose to continue to receive medication. Controlled trials of glutethimide to compare its efficacy with that of other medications used in the treatment of action tremor are indicated.

Brain Injuries↗

Effects of two years of growth hormone treatment in short children with renal disease. The German Study Group for Growth Hormone Treatment in Chronic Renal Failure.

The effect of 1-2 years of growth hormone (GH) treatment (28-30 IU/m2/week) on growth rate, bone age, renal function and metabolic parameters was studied in 61 short, slowly growing children with chronic renal disease (20 with preterminal chronic renal failure (CRF), 24 with end-stage renal failure (ESRF) and 17 with functioning renal transplants). Height velocity (2-year data) significantly increased in children with preterminal CRF from a baseline median of 4.1 cm/year to 9.2 cm/year after 1 year and to 6.6 cm/year after 2 years of treatment. In patients with transplants, the corresponding values were 2.6 cm/year before GH treatment and 8.6 and 7.2 cm/year after 1 and 2 years, respectively. This resulted in normalization of height in 8 of the 16 children who completed 2 years of treatment. The growth response after 1 year in children with preterminal CRF was significantly higher than that in children with ESRF. Bone maturation was in proportion to the increase in chronological age; the expected final height of the children therefore increased by approximately 8-10 cm. In children with preterminal CRF, the decrease in glomerular filtration rate was not affected by 2 years of treatment with GH. The incidence of acute rejection in children with transplants was low; however, a slight stimulatory effect of GH could not be excluded. The major metabolic change induced by exogenous GH was an increase in serum levels of insulin in the three treatment groups, though all glucose tolerance tests remained stable over the 2-year period.

Adolescent↗

Utilization of recombinant human GM-CSF to enhance peripheral progenitor cell yield for autologous transplantation.

Evidence has accumulated which indicates that efficacy of chemotherapy correlates with dose intensity and with total dose. For most cytotoxic agents, the major limiting factor for escalation of dose intensity is myelotoxicity. Attempts have been made to circumvent myelotoxicity by autologous bone marrow transplantation. Recently, it has been demonstrated that progenitors enriched from the peripheral blood can also be used successfully for autografting. The concentration of progenitor cells in peripheral blood is lower than that in bone marrow but myelosuppressive chemotherapy or hematopoietic growth factors, or a combination of both can be exploited to enhance the progenitor cell yield. The studies reported here are sequential. In the first study, eight patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease received myelosuppressive regimen consisting of cytarabine (100 mg/m2/12h SC days 1 to 5) and daunorubicin (45 mg/m2/d, days 3 and 4). Progenitor cell leukapheresis was performed during the rebound phase of hematopoiesis. All eight patients were treated with super-dose chemotherapy with progenitor cell transplantation. One patient died of CNS toxicity 48 days after transplantation but all other seven had sustained engraftment. In the second study, human recombinant GM-CSF (at 250 micrograms/m2/d as continuous infusion) was administered to twelve patients. Leukapheresis was started at a white blood count (WBC) of greater than 10 x 10(9)/L and the dosage of rhGM-CSF adjusted to keep the WBC between 10 x 10(9)/L and 20 x 10(9)/L. The median duration of rhGM-CSF application was 11.5 days and a median number of six leukaphereses performed. The median increase in the number of granulocyte-macrophage colony forming units (CFU-GM)/ml of peripheral blood was 8.5 fold.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Intrabacterial sodium-to-potassium ratios and ATP contents of Mycobacterium leprae from ofloxacin-treated patients.

In a clinical trial including 17 multibacillary leprosy patients the in vivo effectiveness of ofloxacin on Mycobacterium leprae was tested via mass spectrometric determination of intrabacterial ratios of the concentrations of the sodium and potassium ions of individual organisms and of the ATP content per 10(6) bacteria isolated from skin biopsies. After 3 months of treatment, the in vivo drug effect could be determined with at least one of the two methods in 14 cases. Both methods revealed that in two cases the bacteria definitely did not respond to a 3-month ofloxacin monotherapy (200 mg twice daily). In three further cases a nonresponse of the M. leprae organisms was suspected from the mass spectrometric measurements. In the responder cases, the M. leprae were severely impaired. From the intrabacterial cation ratios the percentage of viable organisms averaged over all untreated biopsies was determined to be 58% and the percentage-killing during the first 3 months of treatment was 72%.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗