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Biomedical subjects

V Hung

Publications and source records attributed to V Hung.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Developmental binge exposure to ethanol and artificial rearing do not affect the social transfer of diet preference.

BACKGROUND: A previous study reported no effect of binge exposure to ethanol during the brain growth spurt on the social acquisition of enhanced diet preference in male rats. The objective of this study was to replicate this finding by using the artificial rearing technique and to investigate whether delay-dependent mnemonic deficits previously observed in the water maze would extend to social memory of diet preference. We also addressed whether this naturalistic behavior was dependent on the presentation of diet odor in the context of a rat-produced component in ethanol-exposed rats, as it is in normal controls. METHODS: Male rat pups were reared artificially from postnatal days 5 to 18, during which (postnatal days 6-9) they were fed either 6.5 g/kg/day of ethanol in a binge model or an isocaloric maltose-dextrin solution (gastrostomy controls). A third suckled control group was reared normally. These test rats were allowed to interact with conspecifics that had previously consumed a distinctive diet, X. Subsequently, the experimental rats were provided a choice between two novel diets, one of which was X, after delays of 0 hr (experiment 1), 24 hr, and 4 weeks (experiment 2). In experiment 3, the rats were again given the two-choice preference test, but after exposure to the diet odor alone. RESULTS: All groups demonstrated a significant preference for the socially cued diet in experiments 1 and 2, and the strength of this inclination remained consistent across the 0-hr, 24-hr, and 4-week retention intervals. Moreover, all groups demonstrated sensitivity to the social context of this task, as shown by a lesser preference for the diet exposed alone in experiment 3. CONCLUSIONS: Intact performance on the ethologically meaningful diet-preference test supports specificity in the cognitive/behavioral effects of developmental exposure to ethanol. Interestingly, early isolation, as experienced in the artificial-rearing procedure, also did not impair performance on this social task.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of new pyrrolecarboxylic acid derivatives of ampicillin and amoxicillin.

Twelve new penicillin derivatives were prepared for microbiological evaluation by N-acylation of ampicillin (CAS 69-53-4) and amoxicillin (CAS 26787-78-0) with activated pyrrolecarbocylic acids via mixed anhydrides following the Schotten-Baumann procedure. An alternative synthetic approach via chloroanhydrides was checked and rejected because of the instability established for these intermediates. NMR and IR spectral data together with TLC confirmed the structure and the purity of the new products. Antimicrobial tests in vitro indicated a reduction of the antibacterial activity compared with that of ampicillin and amoxicillin as reference antibiotics, but their minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were still in the range of 0.62-16 micrograms/ml against standard and clinical Gram positive strains. Preliminary toxicological evaluations showed low toxicity.

Acylation↗
PubMed2000

Copolymer 1 inhibits experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis.

Copolymer 1 (Cop 1) inhibits experimental allergic encephalomyelitis induced by a variety of myelin proteins, but has been found ineffective so far in inhibiting other experimental autoimmune diseases such as diabetes or arthritis. Here, we report for the first time that Cop I inhibits the development of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis, induced in mice by interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP). Pooled data of three experiments showed that treatment with Cop 1, at 0.5 mg/mouse, reduced the disease severity by 53% ( p = 0.0002). Cop 1 treatment also inhibited the proliferation and the production of cytokines by lymph node cells in response to IRBP and moderately reduced the antibody response to this antigen. The possible mechanisms of EAU inhibition by Cop 1 are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Sustained reduction in circulating cholesterol in adult hypopituitary patients given low dose titrated growth hormone replacement therapy: a two year study.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of short (6 months) and longer-term (up to 24 months) growth hormone (GH) replacement therapy using a dose titration regimen, on lipid and glucose metabolism in GH-deficient, hypopituitary adults. DESIGN: On-going open study of GH treatment up to 24 months. Measurements were performed at baseline and at 6, 12, 18 months and 2 years during therapy (data shown at 6 months and 2 years only). Using a dose titration regimen the median GH dose used to achieve and maintain IGF-I levels above the median, but below the upper limit of the age-related reference range (median IGF-I 202.5 microg/l, range 76-397 microg/l), was 1.2 IU daily (range 0.4-3 IU) [0.8 IU/day, males; 1.6 IU/day, females]. PATIENTS: Ninety GH-deficient hypopituitary adults (54 female, median age 48 years, range 19-79 years) entered the study and 24 (14 female, median age 45 years, range 32-79 years) have concluded the 2 year period of assessment. MEASUREMENTS: Body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference ratio (WHR), fasting lipids, glucose and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were measured at 6 month intervals during GH therapy. RESULTS: Using the dose titration regimen, compared to pretreatment values, total and low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels were significantly lower at 6 months (mean +/- SEM, 5.61+/-0.1 vs. 5.25+/-0.1, and 3.85+/-0.19 vs. 3.43+/-0.26, respectively, P<0.05), and were maintained throughout the study. Male patients had significantly lower pretreatment total and LDL cholesterol levels than females (mean +/- SEM, 5.33+/-0.16 mmol/l vs. 5.7+/-0.12 mmol/l and 3.8+/-0.23 mmol/l vs. 3.92+/-0.29 mmol/l, respectively, P< 0.05). A decrease in total cholesterol was confined to patients with pretreatment total cholesterol levels above 5.8 mmol/l; patients with the highest pretreatment cholesterol levels (> 6.4 mmol/l) obtained the greatest cholesterol reduction (mean +/- SEM, 7.13 +/- 0.14 mmol/l vs. 5.76+/-0.31 mmol/l, P<0.05). A cholesterol-lowering effect of GH therapy was evident in patients who had elevated pre-GH total cholesterol levels even if they were already receiving and continuing lipid lowering medication (mean +/- SEM, 5.62+/-0.22 vs. 5.03+/-0.285, P<0.05). A modest increment in high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol was evident at 18 months but there was no significant change in triglycerides at any time point. Fasting plasma glucose increased significantly at 6 months but remained within the reference range. Glycated haemoglobin increased significantly at 6 months and was maintained throughout the study; one patient developed frank diabetes mellitus while receiving treatment. There was a weak but significant correlation between the increment in glycated haemoglobin and pretreatment BMI (r = + 0.215, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The effect of GH on lowering total and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol is more prominent in patients with higher pretreatment cholesterol levels and is evident even in patients receiving other lipid-lowering medication. A modest increment in mean fasting glucose (within the reference range) and mean glycated haemoglobin persisted throughout the study. One patient developed diabetes mellitus. A GH replacement regimen using low dose and careful titration to avoid elevated IGF-I levels and adverse effects is associated with sustained beneficial effects on circulating lipids.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Resuscitation of critically ill patients based on the results of gastric tonometry: a prospective, randomized, controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether additional therapy aimed at correcting low gastric intramucosal pH (pHi) improves outcome in conventionally resuscitated, critically ill patients. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled study. SETTING: General intensive care unit (ICU) of a university teaching hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 210 adult patients, with a median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score of 24 (range, 8-51). INTERVENTIONS: All patients were resuscitated according to standard guidelines. After resuscitation, those patients in the intervention group with a pHi of <7.35 were treated with additional colloid and then dobutamine (5 microg/kg/min then 10 microg/kg min) until 24 hrs after enrollment. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: There were no significant differences (p > .05) in ICU mortality (39.6% in the control group vs. 38.5% in the intervention group), hospital mortality (45.3% in the control group vs. 42.3% in the intervention group), and 30-day mortality (43.7% in the control group vs. 40.2 in the intervention group); survival curves; median modified maximal multiorgan dysfunction score (10 points in the control group vs. 13 points in the intervention group); median modified duration of ICU stay (12 days in the control group vs. 11.5 days in the intervention group); or median modified duration of hospital stay (60 days in the control group vs. 42 days in the intervention group). A subgroup analysis of those patients with gastric mucosal pH of > or =7.35 at admission revealed no difference in ICU mortality (10.3% in the control group vs. 14.8% in the intervention group), hospital mortality (13.8% in the control group vs. 29.6% in the intervention group), or 30-day mortality (10.3% in the control group vs. 26.9% in the intervention group). CONCLUSIONS: The routine use of treatment titrated against pHi in the management of critically ill patients cannot be supported. Failure to improve outcome may be caused by an inability to produce a clinically significant change in pHi or because pHi is simply a marker of disease rather than a factor in the pathogenesis of multiorgan failure.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗