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Biomedical subjects

M F Johnson

Publications and source records attributed to M F Johnson.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Assessing perceived physical environmental variables that may influence physical activity.

The present study evaluated a measure of perceived physical environments that may influence physical activity. Forty-three self-report items were used to assess environmental variables at homes, in neighborhoods, or on frequently traveled routes. The presence of facilitators of (e.g., equipment, programs, attractive surroundings) and barriers to (e.g., high crime) physical activity was assessed. In 110 college students, test-retest reliabilities were .89 for the home equipment scale, .68 for the neighborhood scale, and .80 for the convenient facilities scale. Home equipment and convenient facilities scales were correlated with self-reported physical activity. In multiple regression analyses, the only significant association, after adjusting for neighborhood socioeconomic status, was home equipment with strength exercise. Further research is needed to identify other environmental characteristics that may influence physical activity.

Adult↗

Discovery of 1,5-benzodiazepines with peripheral cholecystokinin (CCK-A) receptor agonist activity (II): Optimization of the C3 amino substituent.

Analogs of the previously reported 1,5-benzodiazepine peripheral cholecystokinin (CCK-A) receptor agonist 1 were prepared which explore substitution and/or replacement of the C-3 phenyl urea moiety. Agonist efficacy on the isolated guinea pig gallbladder (GPGB) was retained with a variety of substituted ureas and amide analogs. Three compounds were identified which were orally active in the mouse gallbladder emptying assay (MGBE). The 2-indolamide (52) and N-(carboxymethyl)-2-indolamide (54) derivatives had improved affinity for the human CCK-A receptor but reduced agonist efficacy on the GPGB. Neither indolamide was orally active in a rat feeding assay. In contrast, the (3-carboxyphenyl)urea derivative (29, GW7854) had moderately increased affinity for the human CCK-B receptor but was a potent full agonist on the GPGB and was orally active in both the MGBE and rat feeding assays. GW7854 was a full agonist (EC50 = 60 nM) for calcium mobilization on CHO K1 cells expressing hCCK-A receptors and a potent antagonist of CCK-8 (pA2 = 9.1) on CHO K1 cells expressing hCCK-B receptors. GW7854 is a potent mixed CCK-A agonist/CCK-B antagonist which is orally active in two in vivo models of CCK-A-mediated agonist activity.

Animals↗

3-[2-(N-phenylacetamide)]-1,5-benzodiazepines: orally active, binding selective CCK-A agonists.

A series of modifications were made to the C-3 substituent of the 1,5-benzodiazepine CCK-A agonist 1. Replacement of the inner urea NH and addition of a methyl group to generate a C-3 quaternary carbon resulted in acetamide 6, which showed CCK-A receptor binding selectivity and sub-micromolar agonist activity in vitro. Benzodiazepine 6 was active in an in vivo mouse gallbladder emptying assay and represents a novel orally active, binding selective CCK-A agonist.

Acetanilides↗

Discovery of 1,5-benzodiazepines with peripheral cholecystokinin (CCK-A) receptor agonist activity. 1. Optimization of the agonist "trigger".

Directed screening of compounds selected from the Glaxo registry file for contractile activity on the isolated guinea pig gallbladder (GPGB) identified a series of 1,5-benzodiazepines with peripheral cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor agonist activity. Agonist efficacy within this series was modulated by variation of substituents on the N1-anilinoacetamide moiety. Remarkably, a single methyl group confers agonist activity, with an N-isopropyl substituent providing optimal efficacy. Hydrophilic substituents on the anilino nitrogen abolish agonist activity or produce antagonists of CCK. In contrast, hydrophilic electron-donating groups at the para-position of the anilino ring enhance or maintain in vitro and in vivo agonist activity. Despite decreased affinity for the human CCK-A receptor, relative to CCK-8, some of these compounds are equipotent to CCK as anorectic agents in rats following intraperitoneal administration.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Several roles of CCKA and CCKB receptor subtypes in CCK-8-induced and LiCl-induced taste aversion conditioning.

Administration of a relatively large IP dose of sulfated cholecystokinin (26-33) (CCK-8; 1.0 mumol/kg) consistently induced moderate taste aversion conditioning (TAC) using a 20-min, one-bottle test in Long-Evans rats. Because CCK-8 has affinity for both CCKA and CCKB receptor subtypes, we wanted to determine the subtype involved in CCK-8-induced TAC. Pretreatment with the selective CCKA antagonist MK-329 (L-364, 718 or devazepide), at doses of 0.1, 1.0, or 10.0 mumol/kg, markedly antagonized (> 70%) CCK-8-induced TAC. Pretreatment with the selective CCKB antagonist L-365,260, at doses of 0.1 or 1.0 mumol/kg, partially antagonized (approximately 50%) CCK-8-induced TAC, although the highest dose of L-365,260. 10.0 mumol/kg, did not. These partial antagonistic effects of L-365,260 on CCK-8-induced TAC were replicated in our second study. In our third study, we observed that another CCKB antagonist, the dipeptoid CI-988, also partially antagonized CCK-8-induced TAC at a dose of 0.1, but not 1.0 or 10.0, mumol/kg. In our final study, pretreatments with a single dose (i.e., 10.0, but not 0.1 or 1.0, mumol/kg) of either MK-329 or L-365,260 were also shown to partially antagonize the formation of moderate TAC induced by treatment with LiCl at 708 mumol/kg. Marked antagonism of LiCl-induced TAC was also observed following pretreatment with the known anxiolytic chlordiazepoxide HCl at 7.4 mumol/kg. Considering the existing data on the induction of TAC by various CCK analogues, we consider an action of CCK-8 on peripheral CCKA, but not CCKB, receptors necessary for the induction of TAC. Our results of partial antagonism of CCK-8- and LiCl-induced TAC by L-365,260, CI-988, or MK-329 suggest, but do not prove, that both CCKA and CCKB mechanisms may be operative during TAC. Because the CCK antagonists affected TAC like chlordiazepoxide, blockade of CCKA and CCKB mechanisms may produce a mild anxiolytic effect.

Animals↗

Modification of receptor selectivity and functional activity in cholecystokinin peptoid ligands.

Hybrid analogs of the cholecystokinin A (CCK-A) receptor selective tetrapeptide agonist Boc-Trp-Lys(Tac)-Asp-MePhe-NH2 (1,A-71623) and the CCK-B receptor selective antagonists PD-135118 (2) and CI-988 (3) were prepared. Incorporation of the Lys(Tac) side chain into 2 produced a moderately potent antagonist of CCK-8 in the isolated guinea pig gallbladder (GPGB). Incorporation of the Lys(Tac) side chain into 3 produced the novel agonist analog 7 (EC50 = 28 nM in the GPGB) with excellent affinity for both human CCK-A (IC50 = 12 nM) and CCK-B (IC50 = 17 nM) receptors. Analog 7 was a full agonist (EC50 = 3.5 nM) for calcium mobilization on CHO-K1 cells expressing hCCK-A receptors but a partial agonist on CHO-K1 cells expressing hCCK-B receptors, eliciting a weak agonist response (EC50 = 2800 nM) and antagonizing CCK-8-induced calcium mobilization (KB = 20 nM). Despite this unusual in vitro profile, analog 7 was a potent anorectic agent in rats (ED50 = 30 nmol/kg) following intraperitoneal administration.

Adamantane↗

Multiple, small doses of cholecystokinin octapeptide are more efficacious at inducing taste aversion conditioning than single, large doses.

Using a one-bottle taste aversion conditioning paradigm, sulfated cholecystokinin(26-33) (CCK-8) has again been shown to induce taste aversion conditioning in rats. Even though the effective doses of CCK-8 are relatively high, they do not induce as strong an aversion as has been demonstrated with LiCl. This pharmacodynamic profile of CCK-8 (i.e., relatively moderate, but not strong, taste aversion induction) may result, in part, from its unusual pharmacokinetic profile. CCK-8 seems to have a plasma half-life of just several minutes, whereas LiCl has a plasma half-life of 6 h in rats. In the present study, CCK-8, CCK-4, or LiCl was administered either as single, large doses immediately following consumption of 0.2% sodium saccharin (SACC), or as 10 half-hourly injections of one-tenth the large dose. Presumably, multiple small doses extended the time CCK-8 and CCK-4 were acting in the body, even though the peak plasma concentrations were quantitatively lower than after the large, single doses. Ten injections of CCK-8 of 10 or 100 nmol/kg (11.4 or 114.3 micrograms/kg) induced significantly stronger taste aversions than single injections of the same total dose of 100 or 1000 nmol/kg (114.3 or 1143.3 micrograms/kg), whereas multiple injections of LiCl of 70.8 mumol/kg (3.0 mg/kg x 10) did not induce stronger taste aversions than single injections of 708 mumol/kg (30.0 mg/kg). Neither single nor multiple injections of CCK-4 of 1000 nmol/kg (596.7 micrograms/kg) x 1, or 100 or 1000 nmol/kg (59.7 or 596.7 micrograms/kg) x 10 induced any sign of taste aversion conditioning.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

The effects of anorectic and aversive agents on deprivation-induced feeding and taste aversion conditioning in rats.

We compared the effects of intraperitoneally administered LiCl (0.5-2830 mumol/kg), sulfated cholecystokinin26-33 (10-1000 nmol/kg; CCK-8), nonsulfated CCK-8 (500 and 1000 nmol/kg), sulfated CCK26-29 (500 and 1000 nmol/kg), CCK30-33 (10-1000 nmol/kg) bombesin (10-1000 nmol/kg; BOM), (dl) fenfluramine HCl (0.9-37.3 mumol/kg; fenfluramine), fluoxetine HCl (2.9-86.7 mumol/kg; fluoxetine), and d-amphetamine sulfate (0.27-10.9 mumol/kg; AMPH) on both 18-hr deprivation-induced feeding and one-bottle, taste aversion conditioning in male, Long-Evans rats. Doses of LiCl > or = 177 mumol/kg (or 7.5 mg/kg) induced significant, dose-related taste aversions, but only doses of LiCl > or = 2123 mumol/kg (90 and 120 mg/kg) induced significant anorexia. CCK-8 induced marked anorexia (at doses > or = 25-50 nmol/kg), but only relatively mild taste aversions which were only statistically significant at the highest dose (1000 nmol/kg). The anorectic effects of CCK-8 at 500 and 1000 nmol/kg, but not at lower doses, lasted at least 3 hr. Sulfated CCK26-29, CCK30-33 and nonsulfated CCK-8 induced neither anorexia nor taste aversion. BOM induced marked anorexia at all doses tested, but did not induce statistically significant taste aversions. The nonpeptidal anorectic compounds, fenfluramine, fluoxetine, and AMPH, induced both dose-related anorexia and taste aversion conditioning. We focus on several issues concerning the interpretation of taste aversion conditioning. Our results challenge any simple relationship between the ability of a compound to induce taste aversion and to decrease feeding.

Animals↗

Comparative efficacy of NaF and SMFP dentifrices in caries prevention: a meta-analytic overview.

An overview was conducted of all randomized, controlled studies comparing NaF to SMFP dentifrices in the prevention of caries development. Data from these separate trials were subjected to a pooling procedure, or meta-analysis, in order to obtain a more stable estimate of comparative treatment efficacy and to aid in interpreting the generalizability of results. Based on a pool of studies involving over 7,000 subjects, NaF was associated with a significantly greater reduction in caries development compared to SMFP. The increment in D(M)FS was reduced an average of 0.28 (95% confidence limits 0.10 to 0.46) with the use of NaF as compared to SMFP over a 2- to 3-year follow-up period. This difference represents a 6.4% reduction in the rate of caries development observed with SMFP. The numerical advantage conferred by NaF over SMFP in caries risk reduction must be judged clinically as to its public health implications. Alternative analytic techniques and rules for including studies in the pooling process yielded consistent conclusions. A similar analysis of data from dual-active studies indicated that NaF in combination with SMFP provides greater lowering of the D(M)FS increment (approx. 0.16 over 2-3 years) compared to SMFP at the same total fluoride dose, whereas the dual-active product demonstrated no advantage over NaF alone.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

Clinical features of depressed patients who do and do not improve with placebo.

The substantial placebo response in depression confounds treatment decisions and the assessment of new therapies. Improvement with placebo occurs infrequently in patients with chronic depression and in those with pituitary-adrenocortical hyperfunction, but other consistent predictors of placebo response have not been detected. We divided 241 moderately to severely depressed patients who had received placebo on a double-blind basis for 3 to 6 weeks into responders (greater than or equal to 50% improvement in Hamilton depression score, final Hamilton depression score less than or equal to 10), extreme nonresponders (less than 25% improvement), and partial responders (all others). Improvement with placebo was associated with a relatively short illness, a precipitating event, depression of only moderate global severity, and a good response to previous antidepressant treatment. These observations suggest that depressed patients who do and do not recover with placebo have different conditions that have not yet been fully characterized.

Adult↗

In vivo kinetics of radiolucent gallstone dissolution by oral dihydroxy bile acids.

The rate of decrease of gallstone diameter appeared to be linear with oral bile acid treatment time, as estimated by inspection of graphic data of individual patient serial oral cholecystograms. A theoretical basis for this model was derived. The hypothesis of diameter decrease proportional to treatment time was tested with data from 223 patients with radiolucent gallbladder stones up to 20 mm in diameter treated with 7-8 or 14-15 mg.kg-1.day-1 of either ursodiol or chenodiol for 1 year, followed up after 3, 6, and 12 months of treatment. Linearity of individual sets of data points was tested by mathematical and statistical methods, including polynomial curve fitting, linear regression analysis, quadratic vs. linear analyses of covariance, and prediction of 12-month stone size by linear extrapolation from diameters at 0 and 6 months. Most patients (greater than 70%) had rates of gallstone diameter decrease that were almost linear with treatment time, independently of different dissolution rates on a given regimen. Additional treatment time needed may be estimated from cholecystograms or ultrasonograms performed before treatment and after several months.

Chenodeoxycholic Acid↗

Oxytocin and vasopressin immunoreactivity in hypothalamic and extrahypothalamic sites in late pregnant and postpartum rats.

This study examines immunoreactive levels of oxytocin (OT) and arginine-vasopressin (AVP) from acid extracts of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), supraoptic nucleus (SON), anterior commissural nucleus (ACN) and the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) as well as selected extrahypothalamic sites in pregnant or postpartum (PP) rats. Animals are sacrificed between 08.30 and 10.30 h 16 or 22 days after sperm is detected in their vaginal smears or on the morning after parturition. Peptide levels of pregnant or PP animals are compared to levels of ovariectomized (OVXed) rats sacrificed and assayed simultaneously. OT immunoreactive levels in the PVN and SON are significantly elevated in late pregnancy and PP. OT content of the ACN is elevated on day 16, but drops to control levels by day 22 of pregnancy and day 1 PP. Concomitant with the falling OT content in the ACN at the end of pregnancy, samples from the ventral septum have significantly increased OT content on day 1 PP. In extracts including the nucleus of the tractus solitarius (NTS) and dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (dMX) OT is also elevated on the day after parturition. AVP levels peak on the day before parturition in all hypothalamic nuclei examined. These increases are significantly greater than in OVXed controls in the PVN and SON. AVP levels in the lateral habenula are elevated both on day 16 of pregnancy and on the first day PP. From these data we conclude that nonapeptide levels are altered across late pregnancy and early postpartum in some hypothalamic synthesis sites and in certain limbic and brainstem sites. We also postulate that OT is transported out of the ACN to extrahypothalamic sites around the time of parturition.

Animals↗

Effects of bacterial endotoxin and platelet activating factor (PAF) on human platelet aggregation in native whole blood.

The effect of bacterial endotoxins E. coli 0111:B4 or S. minnesota and platelet activating factor (1-0-alkyl-2-acetyl-SN-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine) on platelet aggregation in native whole blood (NWB) were evaluated by impedance aggregometry. In the absence of anticoagulants the patterns of impedance changes associated with aggregation were distinct from those of clotting. Both E. coli 0111:B4 and S. minnesota endotoxins shortened the time to clot formation, but impedance changes suggestive of accelerated platelet aggregation were minimal or absent. In contrast, PAF caused an increased impedance, with oscillations characteristic of aggregation, which in some instances was superseded by the smooth impedance change associated with clotting. E. coli 0111:B4 endotoxin blocked aggregation and delayed the onset of clotting after PAF, whereas S. minnesota endotoxin accelerated platelet aggregation by PAF in ten of thirteen experiments. Incubation of E. coli 0111:B4 endotoxin and PAF markedly enhanced aggregation by PAF, whereas the effect of S. minnesota was variable. Although E. coli 0111:B4 and S. minnesota endotoxins accelerated clotting but not platelet aggregation of human NWB in vitro, their interaction with PAF is complex, depending on the type of endotoxin and individual reactivity. The findings suggest that endotoxin could interact with PAF to significantly augment possible hemorrhagic and/or thrombotic complications of septic shock in humans.

Anticoagulants↗

Variations in concentration of oxytocin and vasopressin in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus during the estrous cycle in rats.

Oxytocin (OT) and arginine-8-vasopressin (AVP) were measured by radioimmunoassay in micropunched hypothalamic neurosecretory nuclei of estrous cycling female Sprague-Dawley rats. In the paraventricular nucleus (PVN): the concentration (pg/microgram protein) of OT was significantly higher in rats in diestrus than during proestrus, estrus, or metestrus, while the concentration during metestrus was significantly greater than in proestrus and estrus; the concentration of AVP was significantly lower in animals in estrus than during the other three stages; because the paraventricular OT levels dropped before proestrus, the AVP/OT ratio was significantly greater in animals in proestrus than in diestrus, metestrus, and estrus. In the supraoptic nucleus (SON) a similar trend was noted: the concentration of OT was highest during diestrus, and AVP was lowest during estrus, though neither was significantly different from other stages. Because the OT and AVP cycles in the SON were asynchronous, the ratio of AVP to OT was significantly higher in proestrus than in metestrus or diestrus and significantly greater in estrus than during diestrus. In contrast to these two areas, peptide concentrations did not vary significantly across the estrous cycle in other sites of nonapeptide synthesis, i.e. the anterior commissural nucleus (ACN) and the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN).

Animals↗