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Biomedical subjects

S Fischer

Publications and source records attributed to S Fischer.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Disorders of bile acid metabolism in cholesterol gallstone disease.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the metabolism of individual bile acids in patients with cholesterol gallstone disease. Therefore, we determined pool size and turnover of deoxycholic (DCA), cholic (CA), and chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) in 23 female gallstone patients classified according to their gallbladder function and in 15 healthy female controls. Gallstone patients had normal hepatic bile acid synthesis, but, depending on gallbladder function, differed with respect to turnover and size of the bile acid pools: Patients with well-emptying gallbladder (group A, n = 9) had enhanced turnover and reduced pools of CA (-46%; P less than 0.01 vs. controls) and CDCA (-24%; P less than 0.05), but normal input and size of the DCA pool. With reduced gallbladder emptying (less than 50% of volume; group B, n = 6), turnover and pools of CA, CDCA, and DCA were similar as in controls. Patients with loss of gallbladder reservoir (group C, n = 8) had increased input (+100%; P less than 0.01) and pool size of DCA (+45%; P = 0.07) caused by rapid conversion of CA to DCA, while the pools of CA (-71%; P less than 0.001 vs. controls) and CDCA (-36%; P less than 0.05) were reduced by enhanced turnover. Thus, in patients with cholesterol gallstones, the pools of primary bile acids are diminished, unless gallbladder emptying is reduced. Furthermore, in a subgroup of gallstone patients, who had completely lost gallbladder function, the CA pool is largely replaced by DCA owing to rapid transfer of CA to the DCA pool. This probably contributes to supersaturation of bile with cholesterol.

Adult

[Rhinoscopy in dogs and cats].

Rostral and caudal rhinoscopy in dogs and cats facilitates the investigation of the nasal cavity and accurate biopsy. Rostral rhinoscopy can be performed by rigid endoscopes; caudal rhinoscopy requires flexible endoscopes. Deep anaesthesia or additional analgesia with local anaesthesia is necessary. The nasal cavity is assessed by its form, colour, surface of the mucous membrane, hyperemia, plaques, lesions, and the secretion is assessed by its quantity, colour and viscosity. Foreign bodies and neoplasia must also be looked for. Case reports with abnormal findings are described.

Animals

Regulation of SRC-family protein tyrosine kinases by interleukins, IL-2, and IL-3.

Unlike many other growth factor receptors, the known subunits of the receptors for the Interleukins IL-2 and IL-3 lack intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity, and yet increases in the phosphorylation of proteins on tyrosines is a rapid event in hematolymphoid cells following stimulation with these lymphokines. Here we show that IL-2 and IL-3 regulate the activity of specific members of the SRC-family of non-receptor protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs). In IL-2-dependent T-cell lines, IL-2 induced rapid and transient increases in the activity of the p56-LCK kinase without influencing the activities of other SRC-like PTKs (p59-FYN, p62-YES) in these T-lymphocytes. In contrast to IL-2's effects on p56-LCK in T-cells, studies of an IL-2-responsive cell line of the B-cell lineage that lacks p56-LCK revealed that IL-2 specifically regulates the activity of the p53/56-LYN kinase. Thus, some flexibility exists in the ability of various SRC-like PTKs to functionally couple to IL-2 signalling pathways. In several IL-3-dependent myeloid-committed leukemic cell lines, IL-3 was found to specifically regulate the activity of the p53/56-LYN kinase without affecting the activities of other SRC-like PTKs (p59/64-HCK, p59-FYN, p62-YES) in these hematopoietic cells. This finding that p53/56-LYN can be regulated by both IL-2 in B-lineage cells and IL-3 in myeloid-committed cells demonstrates that the same SRC-family PTK can participate in signal transduction events mediated via two independent receptor systems. Taken together, our findings imply that the specific combinations of lymphokine receptors and SRC-like PTKs available for coupling with those receptors are coordinately controlled during the differentiation of hematopoietic cells.

Animals

Peptides reproducing the phosphoacceptor sites of pp60c-src as substrates for TPK-IIB, a splenic tyrosine kinase devoid of autophosphorylation activity.

TPK-IIB, a spleen tyrosine protein kinase devoid of autophosphorylation activity (Brunati, A. M., and Pinna, L. A. (1988) Eur. J. Biochem. 172, 451-457), has been purified to near homogeneity and assayed for its ability to phosphorylate the synthetic peptides EDNEYTA and EPQYQPA reproducing the two conserved phosphoacceptor sites of pp60c-src (Tyr-416 and Tyr-527). While EPQYQPA was phosphorylated with low efficiency (Km = 16.7 mM, Kcat = 14.4), EDNEYTA is an excellent substrate displaying a Km value of 58 microM and a Kcat value of 31.2. The single substitution, in the latter peptide, of the glutamic acid adjacent to the tyrosine by alanine to give EDNAYTA caused a 6-fold increase in the Km. The positive influence on the phosphorylation of the acidic residues at -3 and -4 relative to the tyrosine is indicated by comparison of the kinetic constants for peptides EDAAYAA (Kcat = 4.6, Km 0.325 mM) and QNAAYAA (Kcat 2.4, Km 1.7 mM). Furthermore, when residues in the peptide NEYTA were replaced by alanine, the phosphorylation of the peptides NAYTA and AAYAA, was almost negligible (in terms of Kcat/Km ratio). However, AEYTA, NEYAA and AEYAA were still phosphorylated, albeit less efficiently than NEYTA. The probability that these peptides will adopt a beta-turn is EDNAYTA = EDNEYTA, NAYTA greater than NEYTA, and no predicted beta-turn for AEYTA, NEYAA, and AEYAA. Therefore these results support the concept that an amino-terminal acidic residue(s) is strictly required by TPK-IIB, irrespective of peptide conformation, although a beta-turn may enhance the phosphorylation of those peptides that satisfy this requirement. Two other spleen tyrosine kinases, TPK-I/lyn and TPK-III, both related to the src family, also have a far greater preference for the peptide EDNEYTA over EPQYQPA. However, they can be distinguished from TPK-IIB by their lower affinity for the peptides EDNEYTA and NEYTA and by their different specificity towards the substituted derivatives of NEYTA. TPK-I/lyn, accepts most of the substitutions that are detrimental to TPK-IIB, the triply substituted peptide AAYAA being actually preferred over the parent peptide NEYTA. The substitution of glutamic acid by alanine is also tolerated by TPK-III, although, in contrast to TPK-IIB, the phosphorylation efficiency is drastically decreased by the substitution of the asparagine at position -2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence

Thrombolysis with an Escherichia coli-produced recombinant plasminogen activator (BM 06.022) in the rabbit model of jugular vein thrombosis.

The recombinant plasminogen activator BM 06.022 consists of the kringle 2 and the protease domains of human t-PA and is unglycosylated because of the expression in Escherichia coli. The thrombolytic and pharmacokinetic properties as well as the hemostasis effects of BM 06.022 were investigated in the rabbit model of jugular vein thrombosis. The thrombi were 125I-fibrin labeled. Intravenous bolus injection of 50, 100, 200, and 400 kU/kg BM 06.022 or 400, 800, and 1600 kU/kg alteplase over 15 s to six rabbits/dose produced a dose-dependent increase of thrombolysis determined 2 h post injection. The dose-response curve of BM 06.022 was located left compared with that of alteplase. The effective dose of 50% thrombolysis (ED50) obtained by half-logarithmic regression analysis was 163 kU/kg (= 0.28 mg/kg) for BM 06.022 and 871 kU/kg (= 1.09 mg/kg) for alteplase. At equipotent doses (50% thrombolysis), the residual concentration of fibrinogen was 74.2% and 76.5%, that of plasminogen 66.7% and 69.4%, and that of alpha 2-antiplasmin 47.3% and 46% for BM 06.022 and alteplase, respectively. Pharmacokinetic analysis for plasma activity at a dose of 400 kU/kg revealed a half-life of 18.9 +/- 1.5 min for BM 06.022, whereas alteplase was distributed with a half-life of 2.1 +/- 0.1 min, accounting for 86.7 +/- 1.9% of the total AUC, followed by a beta-phase with a half-life of 13.8 +/- 0.9 min. Plasma clearance of BM 06.022 was 4.7 +/- 0.7 ml min-1 kg-1 compared with 20 +/- 1.2 ml min-1 kg-1 for alteplase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Pharmacokinetic properties of an Escherichia-coli-produced recombinant plasminogen activator (BM 06.022) in rabbits.

The recombinant plasminogen activator BM 06.022 consists of the kringle 2 and the protease domains of human t-PA and is unglycosylated because of its expression in Escherichia coli. The pharmacokinetic properties of BM 06.022 following intravenous injection over 1 min were characterized in anesthetized male New Zealand white rabbits. BM 06.022 was injected at doses of 50, 100, 200, and 400 kU/kg bw (n = 5-6/dose). Activity concentrations in plasma were determined using an indirect spectrophotometric assay. The maximum plasma concentration and the area under the plasma concentration vs. time curve (AUC0-00) of BM 06.022 increased linearly with dose. The systemic clearance ranged from 2.5 to 3.0 ml.min-1.kg-1 and did not show dose-dependency, in contrast to alteplase which was studied at doses of 200, 400, 800, and 1600 kU/kg. A direct comparison of clearance rates of BM 06.022 and alteplase at doses of 200 and 400 kU/kg each revealed a 8.5-fold slower clearance rate of BM 06.022. The majority (18/23) of rabbits with BM 06.022 injection showed a pharmacokinetic profile which was best characterized by a one-compartment model in contrast to alteplase (10/23). The dose-groups of BM 06.022 showed an average dominant half-life ranging from 11.6 to 15.4 min, which was about five-times longer than the dominant half-life values of alteplase (2.3 to 4.5 min). Assuming a two-compartment model in the remaining animals, the initial alpha-phase of BM 06.022 accounted for 40.1 +/- 13.2% (n = 5) of the total AUC, whereas the alpha-phase of alteplase accounted for 82.7 +/- 3% (n = 13) of the total AUC.

Animals

Stimulation by NaCl, polylysine and heparin of two forms of spleen tyrosine protein kinase immunologically related with the protein expressed by lyn oncogene.

The previously isolated spleen tyrosine protein kinase, conventionally termed TPK-IIA, displaying activation by either positively or negatively charged polyelectrolytes has been further characterized. TPK-IIA is immunologically related with the tyrosine protein kinase encoded by the lyn gene, a member of src subfamily and is dramatically activated by very high NaCl concentration. The stimulatory effects of NaCl and polylysine, which are not additive, are accounted for by increased Vmax values, the Km being virtually unchanged, suggesting that both effectors probably interact with the same site(s). Stimulation of TPK-IIA by heparin appears to be partially additive to that promoted by NaCl and possibly occurring through a different mechanism. The NaCl activatory effect correlates with the electrolytic nature of synthetic peptides used as substrates, being much more consistent with neutral peptides as compared with acidic ones. Of the other three spleen tyrosine protein kinases, TPK-I shows similar biochemical and immunological features, suggestive of close relatedness with TPK-IIA, while TPK-IIB and TPK-III are neither related with the lyn protein nor with the products of three other oncogenes of the src subfamily, namely lck, hck and fyn.

Animals

The tyrosine kinase activity of p56lck is increased in human T cells activated via CD2.

An early biochemical event associated with T cell activation is tyrosine phosphorylation. We have previously shown that p56lck, a lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase, is hyperphosphorylated on serine and tyrosine residues 15 minutes after activation via CD2 with a concomitant shift to a higher molecular mass. We now demonstrate that the tyrosine kinase activity of p56lck is increased within seconds following CD2 triggering. This activity decreases thereafter correlating with the appearance of changes in phosphorylation previously described. These results suggest that p56lck may play an important role in the CD2 activation pathway.

Antigens, CD

Formation of iso-ursodeoxycholic acid during administration of ursodeoxycholic acid in man.

The appearance of iso-ursodeoxycholic acid (isoUDCA; 3 beta,7 beta-dihydroxy-5 beta-cholan-24-oic acid) in serum of patients with chronic cholestatic liver disease and of healthy subjects during administration of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is reported. Comparison of the mass spectrum of the newly appearing bile acid with that of authentic 3 beta,7 beta-dihydroxy-5 beta-cholan-24-oic acid revealed its identity as the 3 beta-epimer of UDCA. The appearance of 13C-isoUDCA in serum after ingestion of 13C-UDCA proved its product precursor relationship with UDCA. The putative intermediate in the epimerization of UDCA to isoUDCA, 3-oxo-7 beta-hydroxy-5 beta-cholan-24-oic acid, was identified in serum of patients with cholestatic liver disease during treatment with UDCA. Serum concentrations of isoUDCA after 4 weeks of UDCA treatment were 1.37 +/- 0.79 mumol/l (mean +/- S.D.) in eight patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), 1.25 +/- 0.91 mumol/l in six patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and 3.87 +/- 0.44 mumol/l in four healthy controls. The intestinal bacterial flora as well as microsomal enzymes of the liver may be involved in the epimerization of UDCA to isoUDCA as indicated by decreased serum levels of isoUDCA under antibiotic treatment with doxycycline (100 mg/day) in healthy subjects and a correlation (r = 0.873, p less than 0.001) between the hepatic microsomal function measured by the 14C-aminopyrine breath test and the fractional conversion of applied UDCA to isoUDCA (isoUDCA/UDCA + isoUDCA) in patients with PBC or PSC. Future studies of bile acid metabolism under UDCA treatment should include measurement of isoUDCA to further elucidate its biological role.

Adult

Expression of S14-mRNA and its translational product in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells.

During adipogenic conversion of 3T3-L1 cells S14-mRNA increased from undetectable levels in preadipocytes to high levels in differentiated adipocytes (adipocyte-like cells). In vitro translation of hybrid-selected S14-mRNA revealed an identical protein in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and in rat liver with regard to migration properties in two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. No translation product was found in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. In conclusion, protein-S14 is very similar or even identical in rat lipogenic tissues and in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Therefore, this cell line can be employed to elucidate further physiological aspects of protein-S14.

Adipose Tissue

Magnesium sulphate subcutaneously injected protects against kainate-induced convulsions and neurodegeneration: in vivo study on the rat hippocampus.

Kainate, an agonist of a unique subclass of glutamate receptors (kainate receptor), was injected intracerebroventricularly in rats to induce convulsive reactions and hippocampal damage in order to model glutamate-mediated brain injury. Rats treated with magnesium sulfate (subcutaneously injected, up to 600 mg/kg) were found to be protected from kainate neurotoxicity depending on the dose and time of application. Results were largely consistent with those obtained previously by using quinolinate as an excitotoxic N-methyl-D-aspartate-receptor agonist. Magnesium is discussed as being a natural and relatively safe therapeutic in cases of glutamate-induced (hypoxic, ischemic, traumatic, or convulsive) disorders of the brain.

Animals

Coronary thrombolytic properties of a novel recombinant plasminogen activator (BM 06.022) in a canine model.

We studied the thrombolytic dose-response relationship of a recombinant plasminogen activator (rPA) (BM 06.022) compared with alteplase in a canine model of coronary artery thrombosis. BM 06.022 consists of the kringle 2 and protease domains of human tissue PA (tPA) and lacks oligosaccharide side chains because of its expression in Escherichia coli. Thrombus formation in anesthetized, open-chest dogs was induced by electrical injury to the intimal surface of the left circumflex coronary artery in the presence of a critical stenosis. Intravenous bolus injection of BM 06.022 (50, 100, 140, and 200 kU/kg) or of alteplase (200, 800, 1,130, and 1,600 kU/kg) 30 min after coronary occlusion to six heparinized dogs per group achieved a dose-dependent increase in reperfusion rate and decrease in residual thrombus wet weight. Vehicle-treated dogs did not reperfuse. Semilogarithmic regression analysis showed that the effective dose that produced 50% reperfusion of BM 06.022 (83 kU/kg) was 11.6-fold lower than that of alteplase (951 kU/kg). Comparison with infusion experiments showed that intravenous bolus injection of 140 kU/kg of BM 06.022 was equieffective to a 90-min infusion of 800 kU/kg (= 1 mg/kg) of alteplase as a standard treatment regarding reperfusion rate (66%) and time to reperfusion (15 +/- 6 vs. 18 +/- 8 min). Pharmacokinetic analysis for functionally active BM 06.022 or alteplase in plasma revealed a total plasma clearance of 4.1-6.6 ml/min/kg for BM 06.022 and of 12.6-42.3 ml/min/kg for alteplase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anesthesia

Influence of lipophilic counter ions on the transport of ionizable hydrophilic drugs.

The influence of lipophilic counter ions on the transport of the hydrophilic drugs pholedrine and bretylium across artificial lipid membranes has been studied using a permeation model system. The transport of both drugs was markedly enhanced by hexylsalicylate and by salts of fatty acids with a maximum at decanoate. The transport of pholedrine was additionally increased by bile salts such as desoxycholate.

Bretylium Compounds

Unchanged levels of keto bile acids in bile after cholecystectomy.

Cholecystectomy has been hypothesized to cause increased levels of potentially harmful secondary bile acids due to prolonged exposure of primary bile acids to intestinal bacteria. In the present study, we analyzed duodenal bile of the same patients before and after cholecystectomy for keto bile acids and hydroxy bile acids. The ratios of individual keto bile acids to their corresponding precursor hydroxy bile acids were not significantly different before and after cholecystectomy. Keto bile acids constituted 2.5 +/- 1.3 and 2.2 +/- 0.9 mol% of hydroxy bile acids in duodenal bile. 3 alpha-Hydroxy-12-oxo-5 beta-cholanoic acid derived from deoxycholic acid was the main keto bile acid in bile contributing 80 mol% to total keto bile acids. There was a strong positive correlation between 3 alpha-hydroxy-12-oxo-5 beta-cholanoic acid and its precursor deoxycholic acid in bile (r = 0.88; p less than 0.0005). Our findings prove that 7 weeks after cholecystectomy the percentage of keto bile acids in bile as compared to hydroxy bile acids is not increased.

Adult

Characteristics that contribute to effective simultaneous communication.

Simultaneous communication (SC) is commonly used in deaf education. Since it is not always totally successful, it is important to determine what characteristics influence its success. In an earlier study, Stinson, Newell, Castle, Mallery-Ruganis, and Holcomb (1989) identified a number of characteristics deemed important for comprehension, based on interviews with deaf professionals. Our study followed up on the earlier study. Three videotapes used in the previous study were independently measured and evaluated on the basis of the characteristics that had been identified as important. Our study largely confirmed the previous findings. What seemed to contribute most to successful SC were clear lip movement, fingerspelled support for potentially ambiguous signs, eye contact, communication of mood and attitude, modality match, and grammatical facial expression. Equally important was the need to match the semantically appropriate sign to the particular sense of an English word rather than use a superficial one-to-one correspondence. In addition, the results suggest that with deletions, the types rather than the number are crucial in determining comprehension and comfort. It was also found that the perception of pace does not always match actual pace and that the perception of pace can be influenced by other factors.

Communication Methods, Total

Diabetes Intervention Study. Multi-intervention trial in newly diagnosed NIDDM.

OBJECTIVE: In a randomized 5-yr multi-intervention trial, we tested the efficacy of intensified health education (IHE) in improving metabolic control and reducing the level of coronary risk factors and incidence of ischemic heart disease (IHD). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Within the intervention group, the benefit of clofibric acid was evaluated in a double-blind study. One thousand one hundred thirty-nine newly diagnosed middle-aged (30- to 55-yr-old) patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) entered the study. They were classified as diet controlled after a 6-wk screening phase with conventional dietary treatment. During the follow-up, the control group (n = 378) was cared for at different diabetes outpatient clinics with a standardized surveillance. The intervention group (n = 761) had a structured IHE that included dietary advice, antismoking and antialcohol education, and ways to enhance physical activity. RESULTS: Randomly, 379 of the IHE patients received 1.6 g clofibric acid/day, and the others received placebo. IHE resulted in improved glucose control (adjusted fasting blood glucose) levels after 5 yr (control subjects 9.27 mM, IHE group 8.71 mM, and IHE plus clofibric acid group 8.60 mM, P less than 0.01). The better glycemic control was achieved with fewer antidiabetic drugs. After 5 yr, antidiabetic drugs were prescribed to 47% of the control subjects, 28% of the IHE group, and 34% of the IHE plus clofibric acid group (cutoff limit for drug application was postprandial blood glucose of greater than or equal to 13.87 mM). The ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids (0.26 vs. 0.40, P less than 0.01) and physical activity (174 vs. 327 scores, P less than 0.01) were increased, and blood pressure, tobacco, and alcohol consumption were significantly reduced by IHE. However, IHE had no effect on calorie intake, percentage of fat in the diet (45%), and body weight. The most important finding was the significant increase of blood cholesterol in all three groups (+0.47, +0.36, and +0.34 mM, respectively). Clofibric acid only prevented the increase of triglyceride levels (+0.56, +0.24, and +0.05 mM, respectively). The incidence rate per 1000 for myocardial infarction was 30.3 for control subjects, 53.6 for the IHE group, and 55.6 for the IHE plus clofibric acid group. The corresponding rates for IHD incidence were 90.9, 97.8, and 98.8, respectively. Men suffered more frequently from myocardial infarction, whereas women developed ECG criteria for IHD more frequently. Among the 35 cases of death, besides cardiovascular diseases, liver cirrhosis and neoplasia were the predominant causes. The death rate per 1000 in control subjects was 46.2, 30.6 in the IHE group, and 27 among patients with IHE plus clofibric acid. CONCLUSIONS: IHE was of substantial benefit for the control of glycemia, significantly diminished the need for antidiabetic drugs, and reduced a cluster of risk factors but had no effect on the control of blood lipids. This could be one major reason for the failure of IHE, effective lowering of blood pressure, and clofibric acid to prevent cardiovascular complications. Clofibric acid was only effective in reducing triglycerides.

Adult

Therapeutic potentials of acarbose as first-line drug in NIDDM insufficiently treated with diet alone.

OBJECTIVE: Acarbose inhibits alpha-glucosidases of the small intestine and thus delays glucose release from complex carbohydrates. Therefore, its efficacy and acceptability as a first-line drug in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) insufficiently treated with diet alone was tested in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Ninety-four NIDDM subjects, aged 43-70 yr with average body mass index of 28 kg/m2 and undergoing a pretreatment period of at least 3 mo with diet alone, were treated with 100 mg acarbose three times daily or placebo for 24 wk. The patients were recruited after a 4-wk screening period of dietary reinforcement. The inclusion limits for patients termed diet not satisfactory were fasting blood glucose (FBG) greater than or equal to 7.8 mM and/or postprandial blood glucose (BG) greater than or equal to 10 mM. RESULTS: FBG was lowered in the acarbose group from 9.8 to 8.4 mM and in the placebo group from 10.2 to 9.6 mM after 24 wk (P = 0.007 vs. placebo). The most impressive therapeutic effect was a highly significant reduction of postprandial hyperglycemia for at least 5 h after the test meal (1-h postprandial BG with acarbose 10.4 mM and placebo 13.5 mM at 24 wk, P less than 0.001) accompanied by a significant decrease in HbA1 (acarbose 8.65%, placebo 9.32%, P = 0.003). Whereas C-peptide and fasting serum insulin were not significantly affected by acarbose, postprandial insulin increment was approximately 30% lower after 24 wk compared with placebo. Furthermore, acarbose significantly reduced 1-h postprandial triglyceride levels. After an initial phase of greater than 4 wk (when 76.6% in the acarbose group vs. 28% on placebo complained about flatulence, P less than 0.001), the drug was well accepted. At the end of the study, only 32% showed mild or moderate gastrointestinal sensations. CONCLUSIONS: Extrapolation shows that acarbose is an efficient and acceptable drug for the treatment of NIDDM with poor metabolic control by diet alone. It has beneficial effects on postprandial hyperinsulinemia and postprandial hypertriglyceridemia.

Acarbose