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V Ross

Publications and source records attributed to V Ross.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The effect of monocyclic and bicyclic analogs of human parathyroid hormone (hPTH)-(1-31)NH2 on bone formation and mechanical strength in ovariectomized rats.

The [Leu27]cyclo(Glu22-Lys26)-hPTH-(1-31)NH2 lactam is a stronger stimulator of adenylyl cyclase activity and a better stimulator of trabecular bone in the ovariectomized (OVX) rat model of osteopenia than hPTH-(1-31)NH2. This enhanced activity is due in large part to the stabilization of the amphiphilic receptor-binding alpha-helix in the Ser17-Gln29 region. The goal of the present study was to determine whether further cyclization could produce a more active hPTH analog. To this end, we compared the relative bioactivities of the bicyclic hPTH analog [Glu17,Leu27]cyclo(Lys13-Glu17,Glu22-Lys26)-hPTH-(1-31)NH2, made by replacing Ser17 with Glu17 and introducing a second lactam linkage between Lys13 and Glu17. The relative EC50 for adenylyl cyclase stimulation by the bicyclic hPTH analog was similar to the EC50 of the monocyclic [Leu27]cyclo(Glu22-Lys26)-hPTH-(1-31)NH2, but the bicyclic analog was still more active than hPTH-(1-31)NH2. As expected from adenylyl cyclase stimulation being responsible for PTH's anabolic action, the bicyclic hPTH analog [Glu17, Leu27]cyclo(Lys13-Glu17, Glu22-Lys26)-hPTH-(1-31)NH2 was able to increase femoral trabecular volume and thickness and mechanical strength in OVX rats, but it was no more effective than [Leu27]cyclo(Glu22-Lys26)-hPTH-(1-31)NH2 when injected once daily in a dose of 0.8 nmol/100 g body weight. Thus, further constraint of the conformation of hPTH-(1-31)NH2 by introducing two lactam link-ages between Lys13-Glu17 and Glu22-Lys26 did not raise the osteogenicity above that of the monocyclic analog.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

The stimulation of vertebral and tibial bone growth by the parathyroid hormone fragments, hPTH-(1-31)NH2, [Leu27]cyclo(Glu22-Lys26)hPTH-(1-31)NH2, and hPTH-(1-30)NH2.

The native human parathyroid hormone, hPTH-(1-84), and certain carboxyl truncated analogs such as hPTH-(1-34) and even smaller fragments such as hPTH-(1-31)NH2, [Leu27]cyclo(Glu22-Lys26)hPTH-(1-31)NH2, and hPTH-(1-30)NH2 stimulate femoral trabecular and cortical bone growth in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Here we show that when injected once daily for 6 weeks starting 2 weeks after OVX in doses of 1 or 2 nmol/100 g of body weight, hPTH-(1-31)NH2, [Leu27] cyclo(Glu22-Lys26)hPTH-(1-31)NH2, and hPTH-(1-34)NH2 prevented the loss of trabecular volume in the L5 vertebrae induced by OVX. In fact, by the end of the sixth week of injections (i.e., the eighth week after OVX) the fragments had increased the volume and trabecular thickness significantly above the values in vehicle-injected sham-operated rats. hPTH-(1-30)NH2 can stimulate vertebral bone growth as much as the larger fragments, but 10-25 times more of it was needed to do so. The same daily doses of hPTH-(1-31)NH2, [Leu27]cyclo(Glu22-Lys26)hPTH-(1-31)NH2, and hPTH-(1-34)NH2 also raised the trabecular volume and thickness in the L5 vertebrae of rats well above the values in vehicle-treated animals when the injections were started 9 weeks after OVX. This restoration of trabecular bone in the L5 vertebrae in estrogen-deprived animals was accompanied by a significant increase in the bone mineral density (BMD) of the L1-L4 vertebrae and tibias. However, there was no significant drop in the pelvic BMD in the estrogen-deprived animals and the effects of hPTH-(1-31)NH2, [Leu27]cyclo(Glu22-(Lys) hPTH-(1-31)NH2, and hPTH-(1-34)NH2 on the pelvic BMD were equivocal.

Animals↗

High-yield expression of fully bioactive N-terminal parathyroid hormone analog in Escherichia coli.

A fully active analog of human parathyroid hormone (hPTH) has been produced by recombinant expression in Escherichia coli. Initially, a nucleotide sequence encoding hPTH(1-34)-Asp-Pro was ligated to a proinsulin gene in the plasmid pUC8, for the eventual expression of a fusion protein of 137 amino acids. Unexpectedly, the proinsulin gene and 340 bp downstream were deleted by an unknown mechanism during transformation of the E. coli. This resulted in a new plasmid encoding a small (72-amino acid) fusion product of hPTH(1-34)-Asp35-Pro36-X, where X is a 36-residue "arbitrary" downstream sequence of pUC8. The fusion product was efficiently expressed and the hPTH analog, [Asp35]hPTH-(1-35), was readily released by acid cleavage, with a yield of 100 mg/L. This analog had an effective concentration for half-maximal adenylyl cyclase stimulation (EC50) in rat osteosarcoma cells of 14 nM, which was identical to that for hPTH-(1-34). In the ovariectomized rat model of osteoporosis, [Asp35]hPTH-(1-35) was fully active as a bone anabolic agent.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Does spirometry predict dyspnoea in advanced cancer?

This study explores the similarities and differences between subjective assessments of dyspnoea and objective spirometric indices of respiratory function in advanced cancer. Of 155 patients investigated, 71 (46%) were dyspnoeic and 108 (70%) had spirometry (94 post-salbutamol). Of the 94, 84 had height and weight measured to calculate predicted spirometry. Average dyspnoea levels over 24 h were measured by patient visual analogue scales (VASMe 24). Forced expiratory volume after 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were almost always lower than predicted, indicating frequent impaired respiratory function. Mean spirometric increase post-salbutamol was 21% for FEV1 and 12% for FVC. Correlations between VAS dyspnoea scores and spirometry were low; hence, the latter cannot be relied upon as a measure of the former. Respiratory impairment tended to be obstructive (mean FEV1/FVC = 65%).

Albuterol↗

Lactam formation increases receptor binding, adenylyl cyclase stimulation and bone growth stimulation by human parathyroid hormone (hPTH)(1-28)NH2.

Human parathyroid hormone (1-28)NH2 [hPTH(1-28)NH2] is the smallest of the PTH fragments that can fully stimulate adenylyl cyclase in ROS 17/2 rat osteoblast-like osteosarcoma cells. This fragment has an IC50 of 110 nM for displacing 125I-[Nle8,18,Tyr34]bovine PTH(1-34)NH2 from HKRK B7 porcine kidney cells, which stably express 950,000 human type 1 PTH/PTH-related protein (PTHrP) receptors (PTH1Rs) per cell. It also has an EC50 of 23.9 nM for stimulating adenylyl cyclase in ROS 17/2 cells. Increasing the amphiphilicity of the alpha-helix in the residue 17-28 region by replacing Lys27 with Leu and stabilizing the helix by forming a lactam between Glu22 and Lys26 to produce the [Leu27]cyclo(Glu22-Lys26)hPTH(1-28)NH2 analog dramatically reduced the IC50 for displacing 125I-[Nle8,18,Tyr34]bPTH(1-34)NH2 from hPTH1Rs from 110 to 6 nM and dropped the EC50 for adenylyl cyclase stimulation in ROS 17/2 cells from 23.9 to 9.6 nM. These modifications also increased the osteogenic potency of hPTH(1-28)NH2. Thus, hPTH(1-28)NH2 did not significantly stimulate either femoral or vertebral trabecular bone growth in rats when injected daily at a dose of 5 nmol/100 g body weight for 6 weeks, beginning 2 weeks after ovariectomy (OVX), but it strongly stimulated the growth of trabeculae in the cancellous bone of the distal femurs and L5 vertebrae when injected at 25 nmol/100 g body weight. By contrast [Leu27]cyclo(Glu22-Lys26)hPTH(1-28)NH2 significantly stimulated trabecular bone growth when injected at 5 nmol/100 g of body weight. Thus, these modifications have brought the bone anabolic potency of hPTH(1-28)NH2 considerably closer to the potencies of the larger PTH peptides and analogs.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Comparison of erbium:YAG and carbon dioxide lasers in resurfacing of facial rhytides.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy, adverse effects, and histological findings of erbium:YAG (Er:YAG) and carbon dioxide (CO2) laser treatment in removing facial rhytides. DESIGN: An intervention study of 21 subjects with facial rhytides. All participants were followed up for 6 months. The end points of the study were wrinkle improvement and duration of adverse effects. SETTING: Academic referral center. SUBJECTS: Nineteen female and 2 male volunteers with skin type I to III and wrinkle class I to III participated in the study. INTERVENTION: In all subjects, 1 side of the face was treated with a CO2 laser and other side with an Er:YAG laser. Skin biopsies were performed in 6 subjects before treatment and immediately, 1 day, 2 days, and 6 months after treatment. Observations were recorded by subjects, investigators, and a blinded panel of experts. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Improvement in wrinkles and severity and duration of adverse effects. RESULTS: The CO2 laser-treated side had relatively better wrinkle improvement when evaluating all subjects (P<.03). However, in subjects receiving more than 5 passes of Er:YAG laser, improvement scores were not significantly different from those for 2 to 3 passes of CO2 laser treatment. Posttreatment erythema was noted at 2 weeks in 14 subjects (67%) on the Er:YAG laser-treated side and 20 subjects (95%) on the CO2 laser-treated side. The frequency of erythema was significantly less after Er:YAG laser treatment at 2 (P=.001) and 8 (P=.03) weeks. Hypopigmentation was seen in 1 Er:YAG-treated (5%) and 9 CO2-treated (43%) sides (chi2, P<.05). Histological evaluation showed residual thermal damage of up to 50 microm on the Er:YAG-treated side and up to 200 microm on the CO2-treated side. CONCLUSIONS: Erbium:YAG laser is safe and effective in removing facial rhytides. Subjects treated with Er:YAG laser recover more quickly from the procedure than those receiving CO2 laser treatment.

Adolescent↗

Stimulation of femoral trabecular bone growth in ovariectomized rats by human parathyroid hormone (hPTH)-(1-30)NH(2).

It has been proposed that intermittent bursts of adenylyl cyclase and the surges of cyclic AMP (cAMP) they produce can trigger PTH's bone anabolic action without the activation of phospholipase-C (PLC). This was based on the osteogenic action in ovariectomized (OVX) rats of hPTH-(1-31)NH(2), which can stimulate adenylyl cyclase but not PLC in ROS 17/2 rat osteosarcoma cells, and the osteogenic impotence of fragments such as 1-desamino-hPTH-(1-34) and hPTH-(8-84) which strongly stimulate PLC but not adenylyl cyclase. But this seems to have been disproven by the inability of hPTH-(1-30)NH(2) to stimulate bone growth despite its having hPTH-(1-31)NH(2)'s ability to strongly stimulate adenylyl cyclase but not PLC in cells with rat type1 PTH/PTHrP receptors. Because of the importance of hPTH-(1-30)NH(2)'s apparent osteogenic impotence for knowing how PTH triggers bone growth, we have reinvestigated the fragment's ability to stimulate trabecular bone growth in the femurs of young OVX rats and have found it to be strongly osteogenic at doses 2-10 times higher than the highest dose used previously. Thus, 6 weeks of once-daily subcutaneous injections of 10-50 nmol of hPTH-(1-30)NH(2)/100 g of body weight into young rats starting 2 weeks after OVX significantly increased the femoral trabecular volume and mean thickness of individual trabeculae above those in sham-operated control rats. In OVX rats treated with 50 nmol of hPTH-(1-30)NH(2)/100 g of body weight, the trabecular volume was 2.6 times higher and the mean trabecular thickness nearly 4 times higher than in the sham-operated control rats. This very large increase in the mean trabecular thickness was as much as the increase induced by 2 nmol/100 g of body weight of hPTH-(1-31)NH(2), [Leu(27)]cyclo(Glu(22)-Lys(26))-hPTH-(1-31)NH(2), hPTH-(1-34)NH(2) and [Leu(27)]cyclo(Glu(22)-Lys(26))-hPTH-(1-34)NH(2). These results have removed a major objection to the proposal that PTH's osteogenic action in rats can be triggered solely by intermittent surges of cAMP and the bursts of cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity they cause.

Animals↗

Core competencies for preventive medicine residents: Version 2.0.

During the early 1990s, the American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM), with support from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), identified core competencies and performance indicators (measures to assess their achievement) for all preventive medicine residents. After the competencies were approved, distributed by the ACPM and HRSA, and published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, they were integrated in various ways into the operation of individual residency programs. Changes in the health care system during the decade, however, necessitated an update of the original competencies to better equip preventive medicine educators to prepare residents for new roles those in preventive medicine can play in a restructured health care system. HRSA funded an effort to produce Version 2.0 of the preventive medicine competencies based on review and refinement of the original competencies through a consensus process. This article includes these revised core competencies and performance indicators.

Clinical Competence↗

Prolonged low-dose infusion of human parathyroid hormone does not increase femoral cancellous bone volume in ovariectomized rats.

OBJECTIVE: Daily injections of human parathyroid hormone (hPTH) increase bone volume in various animal species and in osteoporotic women. For hPTH to be widely accepted as an anabolic therapy for treating postmenopausal osteoporosis alternative delivery options need to be explored to replace the need for daily patient subcutaneous self-injection. Among these are inhalation, oral delivery and the use of programmable implanted minipumps to deliver the peptide. While infusion of high doses of PTH causes bone loss and hypercalcemia, no studies have assessed the effects of prolonged infusion of low doses of PTH on bone growth. DESIGN AND METHODS: [Leu(27)]-cyclo(Glu(22)-Lys(26))-hPTH-(1--31)NH(2) was delivered by Alzet minipumps to ovariectomized rats for 6 weeks after which histomorphometric indices (cancellous bone volume, trabecular thickness, mean trabecular number) of bone formation were measured in distal femurs. RESULTS: Infusing low doses (0.05 and 0.1 nmole/100g body weight/day) of the hPTH analog, [Leu(27)]-cyclo(Glu(22)-Lys(26))-hPTH-(1--31)NH(2), for 6 weeks does not prevent the ovariectomy-induced loss of rat femoral cancellous bone volume, trabecular thickness or trabecular number. CONCLUSION: These results support the absolute requirement of daily injections for the osteogenic action of hPTH on bone.

Animals↗

Comparison of responses of tattoos to picosecond and nanosecond Q-switched neodymium: YAG lasers.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that picosecond laser pulses are more effective than nanosecond domain pulses in clearing of tattoos. DESIGN: Intratattoo comparison trial of 2 laser treatment modalities. SETTING: A large interdisciplinary biomedical laser laboratory on the campus of a tertiary medical center. PATIENTS: Consecutive patients with black tattoos were enrolled; all 16 patients completed the study. INTERVENTION: We treated designated parts of the same tattoo with 35-picosecond and 10-nanosecond pulses from 2 neodymium:YAG lasers. Patients received a total of 4 treatments at 4-week intervals. All laser pulse parameters were held constant except pulse duration. Radiation exposure was 0.65 J/cm2 at the skin surface. Biopsies were performed for routine microscopic and electron microscopic analysis at the initial treatment session and 4 weeks after the final treatment in 8 consenting patients. Also, ink samples were irradiated in vitro. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: In vivo, on the completion of treatment, a panel of dermatologists not associated with the study (and blinded to the treatment type) evaluated photographs to assess tattoo lightening. Formalin-fixed specimens were examined for qualitative epidermal and dermal changes as well as depth of pigment alteration. Electron micrographs were examined for particle electron density and size changes (in vivo and in vitro). The gross in vitro optical density changes were measured. RESULTS: In 12 of 16 tattoos, there was significant lightening in the picosecond-treated areas compared with those treated with nanosecond pulses. Mean depth of pigment alteration was greater for picosecond pulses, but the difference was not significant. In vivo biopsy specimens showed similar electron-lucent changes for both pulse durations. In vitro results were similar for both pulse durations, showing increases in particle sizes and decreased electron density as well as gross ink lightening. CONCLUSIONS: Picosecond pulses are more efficient than nanosecond pulses in clearing black tattoos. Black tattoos clear principally by laser-induced changes in the intrinsic optical properties of the ink.

Aluminum Silicates↗

Comparison of the abilities of human parathyroid hormone (hPTH)-(1-34) and [Leu27]-cyclo(Glu22-Lys26)-hPTH-(1-31)NH2 to stimulate femoral trabecular bone growth in ovariectomized rats.

hPTH-(1-31)NH2, so far the smallest of the potently anabolic N-terminal fragments of the human parathyroid hormone, stimulates trabecular growth in the distal femurs of ovariectomized (OVX) rats as strongly as hPTH-(1-34) when injected at a high daily dose such as 1 nmol/100 g of body weight, but it is only about 70% as effective as hPTH-(1-34) when injected at the suboptimal 0.6 nmol/100 g of body weight. A lactam derivative of hPTH-(1-31)-NH2, [Leu27]-cyclo(Glu22-Lys26)-hPTH-(1-31)NH2, is a much more effective stimulator of adenylyl cyclase in ROS 17/2 rat osteoblast-like cells and a significantly more effective stimulator of femoral trabecular growth in OVX rats than hPTH-(1-31)NH2. We have now shown that [Leu27]-cyclo(Glu22-Lys26)-hPTH-(1-31)NH2 prevents the OVX-induced loss of femoral trabeculae significantly more effectively than hPTH-(1-34) and stimulates the thickening of the trabeculae remaining in severely depleted femoral trabecular bone of OVX rats as effectively as hPTH-(1-34) when injected at 0.6 nmol/100 g of body weight.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Defining competencies and performance indicators for physicians in medical management.

The recent and profound changes in the American health care delivery system have created a need for physicians who are trained and willing to assume a high level of responsibility for managing evolving health care organizations. Yet most physicians receive no formal training in medical administration and management because changes in medical school and residency education have lagged behind changes in clinical practice and reimbursement. To avoid haphazard approaches and unnecessary duplication of resources, it is important for physicians involved in managerial medicine to collectively identify competencies in this area needed in the marketplace. The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM), with funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), undertook an effort to identify competencies essential for physicians who will fill leadership roles in medical management. Like ACPM's earlier effort to develop core competencies in preventive medicine, this project drew upon the theoretical model of competency-based education. This article describes the strategy we followed in reaching consensus among a diverse group of physician executives and preventive medicine residency program directors, and includes the list of medical management competencies and performance indicators developed. Recurrent issues that can sidetrack competency development projects are also presented as well as suggestions for overcoming them. The competencies can serve as a framework for expanding current core preventive medicine training in management and administration and for developing new training programs to equip physicians with the special expertise they will need to provide management leadership within the changing landscape of health care delivery.

Competency-Based Education↗

Bioactivities and secondary structures of constrained analogues of human parathyroid hormone: cyclic lactams of the receptor binding region.

In a search for analogues of human parathyroid hormone (hPTH) with improved activities and bioavailabilities, we have prepared the following three lactam analogues of hPTH-(1-31)-NH2 (1) or [Leu27]hPTH-(1-31)-NH2 (2): [Leu27]cyclo(Glu22-Lys26)-hPTH-(1-31)-NH2 (3), [Leu27]cyclo(Lys26-Asp30)-hPTH-(1-31)-NH2 (4), and cyclo(Lys27-Asp30)-hPTH-(1-31)-NH2 (5). Analogues 1, 2, and 5 had seven or eight residues of alpha-helix, as estimated from their circular dichroism (CD) spectra, in contrast to 12 residues in cyclic analogues 3 and 4. Thus, lactams 3 and 4 stabilized a helix previously shown to exist within residues 17-29. The adenylyl cyclase activity (EC50), measured in rat osteosarcoma 17/2 cells, of 5 (40.3 +/- 2.3 nM) was half that of its linear form 1 (19.9 +/- 3.9 nM). The linear Leu27 mutant 2 was twice as active (11.5 +/- 5.2) as analogue 1, and lactam analogue 3 was 6-fold more active (3.3 +/- 0.3 nM). Lactam analogue 4 had less activity (16.9 +/- 3.3 nM) than 2, its linear form. Peptides hPTH-(1-30)-NH2 (6), [Leu27]hPTH-(1-30)-NH2 (7), and [Leu27]cyclo(Glu22-Lys26)-hPTH-(1-30)-NH2 (8) all had AC-stimulating activities similar to that of 1. When injected intravenously, with a dose of 0.8 nmol/100 g of analogue in acid saline, hypotensive effects paralleled their adenylyl cyclase activities. They behaved quite differently when applied subcutaneously. Analogues 1, 5, and 6, the weakest, showed about half the drop in blood pressure observed with 3 and 4, the most active. In contrast, the time required to reach a maximum drop in blood pressure of 4-8, after subcutaneous administration, was 2-4 times that of the other analogues. Thus, the bioavailabilities of the lactam analogues, unlike their adenylyl cyclase-stimulating activities, were highly dependent on the presence or conformation of Val31.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Comparison of the ability of recombinant human parathyroid hormone, rhPTH-(1-84), and hPTH-(1-31)NH2 to stimulate femoral trabecular bone growth in ovariectomized rats.

A recombinant human parathyroid hormone, rhPTH-(1-84), which is currently in Phase II clinical trial, and hPTH-(1-31)NH2 (Ostabolin) are promising anabolic agents for treating osteoporosis because they can stimulate cortical and trabecular bone growth in osteopenic, ovariectomized (OVX) rats and in osteoporotic, postmenopausal women when injected subcutaneously and intermittently at low doses. We have now found that, despite their different sizes and signaling properties (rhPTH-(1-84) stimulates adenylyl cyclase and phospholipase C; hPTH-(1-31)NH2 only stimulates adenylyl cyclase), they are equally osteogenic in OVX rats. Thus daily subcutaneous injections of 0.6 nmol/100 g of body weight of rhPTH-(1-84) or hPTH-(1-31)NH2 into 3-month-old OVX rats for 6 weeks starting 2 weeks after OVX equally reduced the otherwise large OVX-triggered loss of femoral trabecular bone. Daily subcutaneous injections of 0. 4 or 0.8 nmol/100 g of body weight of the two agents for 6 weeks also equally increased the mean thickness of the remaining femoral trabeculae in 3-month-old and 1-year-old OVX rats to 20 to 80% above the value in normal animals when started 9 weeks after ovariectomy.

Animals↗

The hypotensive actions of osteogenic and nonosteogenic parathyroid hormone fragments.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH), hPTH-(1-84), and its hPTH-(1-34), hPTH-(1-31)NH2, and hPTH-(1-30)NH2 fragments reduced the tail artery pressure in anesthetized female Sprague-Dawley rats by 42.4-67.1% within about 1 minute after injection into a femoral vein, but reduced the pressure by only 8.5-36.2% 2-19 minutes after subcutaneous injection. hPTH-(1-84) and hPTH-(1-34) stimulate both adenylyl cyclase and phospholipase-C in their target cells, but the hypotensive action must have been stimulated specifically by adenylyl cyclase activation, because hPTH-(1-30)NH2 and hPTH-(1-31)NH2, which can only stimulate adenylyl cyclase, were potently hypotensive when injected intravenously whereas hPTH-(7-84), which can only stimulate phospholipase-C, was not significantly hypotensive when injected intravenously. Since PTH's osteogenic action is also mediated by adenylyl cyclase stimulation, it was expected that the hypotensive response might be used to screen new PTH constructs for possible osteogenicity. Indeed, the osteogenic activities of subcutaneously injected hPTH-(1-31)NH2, hPTH-(1-34), and hPTH-(1-84) correlated closely to their hypotensive activities, with hPTH-(1-34) being much more hypotensive and significantly more osteogenic than the other two molecules. hPTH-(1-31)NH2 and hPTH-(1-84) were equally osteogenic and hypotensive. However, this correlation broke down with hPTH-(1-30)NH2 which does not stimulate bone formation, but in the present study it stimulated adenylyl cyclase and reduced tail artery pressure almost as much as hPTH-(1-31)NH2 and hPTH-(1-34). Nevertheless, the ability to significantly reduce arterial pressure is a common property of osteogenic PTH and PTH fragments and is thus a rapidly determinable preliminary indicator of in vivo bioactivity of PTH fragments.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Comparison of the abilities of human parathyroid hormone(1-31)NH2 and human parathyroid hormone-related protein(1-31)NH2 to stimulate femoral trabecular bone growth in ovariectomized rats.

N-terminal fragments of PTH and PTHrP, such as hPTH-(1-34) and hPTHrP-(1-34), are sufficiently similar with respect to amino acid sequence, location of functional domains, and higher order configuration to activate the same PTH/PTHrP receptor and the same two signal enzymes, adenylyl cyclase and phospholipase-Cbeta. Therefore, it was expected that hPTHrP-(1-31)NH2 would stimulate bone growth in ovariectomized rats as strongly as hPTH-(1-31)NH2. Like hPTH-(1-31)NH2, hPTHrP-(1-31)NH2 stimulated adenyly cyclase in ROS 17/2 osteosarcoma cells as strongly as the standard hPTH-(1-34) and like hPTH-(1-31)NH2, triggered a large drop in mean blood pressure when injected intravenously. Unlike hPTH-(1-31)NH2, however, hPTHrP-(1-31)NH2 could not stimulate trabecular growth in the distal femurs of young, sexually mature, ovariectomized rats.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

A pilot study of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation using related donors stimulated with G-CSF.

Growth factor administration to donors prior to bone marrow (BM) harvesting results in an enrichment of the graft for myeloid precursors. In animals, growth factor-primed BM has a higher repopulating ability than untreated BM. Ten patients received an HLA-identical sibling, allogeneic transplant using granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-stimulated BM. Stimulation consisted of G-CSF at 10 microg/kg/day for 2 days prior to harvest. Patients were transplanted for various benign and malignant hematological conditions. The GVHD prophylaxis consisted of cyclosporine, methotrexate and/or prednisone. Compared to untreated historical control BM, stimulated BM infusions contained similar number of nucleated cells (mean +/- s.d.: 3.5 +/- 1.5 vs 4.0 +/- 0.9 x 10(8)/kg), CD34+ cells (mean +/- s.d.: 7.5 +/- 3.0 vs 9.4 +/- 6.7 x 10(6)/kg), and CD3+ cells (mean +/- s.d.: 129 +/- 30 vs 190 +/- 59 x 10(6)/kg) but higher numbers of granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming units (mean +/- s.d.: 20 +/- 12 vs 96 +/- 34 x 10(4)/kg). Patients receiving stimulated BM had prompt and stable engraftment of white cells and platelets. On average they attained an ANC of > or = 1 x 10(9)/l 9 days earlier and a platelet count of > or = 20 x 10(9)/l 6 days earlier than historical controls receiving unstimulated HLA-identical sibling BM. Hospitalization was shortened by a mean of 10 days and transfusion requirements were modest. None of the patients developed severe GVHD or disease relapse. Two patients died of severe VOD post-BMT and thus were unevaluable for platelet engraftment. A third patient died of TTP on day 76 post-BMT. Seven patients are alive and well 49-585 days post-BMT. Stimulated BM may provide a valuable alternative to allogeneic BM and PBSC transplants. Ideal stimulation regimens need to be investigated.

Adolescent↗