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The effects of some beta lactam antibiotics on (3H)-methyl-yohimbine binding to intact human platelets.

Several antibiotics have been reported to cause a bleeding diathesis in man, characterized by reduced platelet aggregation. We investigated the effects of several of the penicillins and of moxalactam on the binding of (3H)-methyl-yohimbine to intact human platelets. The (3H)-methyl-yohimbine binding met the criteria for interaction at an alpha2 adrenergic binding site and showed low interindividual variability. Penicillin G, ticarcillin, carbenicillin, piperacillin and moxalactam all inhibited (3H)-methyl-yohimbine binding, but at concentrations far in excess of clinically achievable plasma levels. We conclude that these compounds exert their antiplatelet effects by a mechanism other than competitive inhibition of catecholamine binding.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists

DNA hypomethylation in breast cancer: an independent parameter of tumor progression?

The global DNA methylation status was investigated on a series of 59 breast cancers by Southern blotting, using methylation sensitive restriction enzymes. By comparison to control DNA, almost all tumor DNAs were found globally hypomethylated. However, the demethylation was variable from tumor to tumor. Compared to other biological parameters, the methylation did not correlate with chromosome alterations, steroid hormone receptor status, or histopathological grading. Tumors which appeared to be the most evolved for other parameters were only mildly hypomethylated, whereas tumors with strongly hypomethylated DNA corresponded to those with slight alterations of the other parameters. Thus, DNA hypomethylation is a consistent characteristic of breast cancer, but its variations may not correlate with tumor progression of most breast cancers.

Age Factors

Antiadrenergic antihypertensive drugs: their effect on renal function.

Peripheral alpha antagonists not only preserve renal hemodynamics, but decrease RVR and maintain renal perfusion autoregulation in the face of decreased systemic perfusion pressures. On the other hand, central alpha agonists appear to have variable effects. Clonidine preserves RBF and GFR both acutely and chronically, guanabenz decreases RBF acutely but not chronically, and alpha-methyl dopa preserved RBF but decreases GFR. Beta blockers also have variable effects on RBF: the most-often-studied beta blocker, propranolol, has reduced RBF by 10-20% while other commonly used beta blockers, such as nadolol and metoprolol, may preserve RBF. This may reflect propranolol's inability to maintain renal perfusion autoregulation in the face of decreased systemic blood pressure. This failure of propranolol is not completely understood but may be a function of its lack of cardioselectivity or ISA (49). It is also possible that inhibition of renal vasodilators such as the kallikrein-kinin system plays a role (49). Finally, it appears that patients with normal renal vascular tone may be at highest risk to suffer decrements in RBF with beta blockers. Perhaps most importantly, the clinical impact of propranolol's effect on renal function is unclear, since the reductions in GFR have not been sufficient to produce azotemia.

Administration, Oral

The effect of T-DNA copy number, position and methylation on reporter gene expression in tobacco transformants.

Inter-transformant variability in the expression of introduced genes was studied in the R1 and R2 generations of 10 tobacco transformants, produced by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. In replicated and physiologically equivalent material, tranformants showed considerable variability in the expression of the reporter gene uidA as shown by transcript levels and beta-glucuronidase (GUS) activity. However, homozygous R2 material could be investigated for seven of the transformants and among these, and in one line in which two inserts could segregate independently, this inter-transformant variability was reduced to simple bimodal expression. The two levels of expression for GUS activity in leaves were high or low (approximately 2.5 or 0.3 nmol cm-2 min-1 respectively), with no continuous variation. Transformants in the high group had single T-DNA insertions, while those in the low group had multiple T-DNA insertions, at the same or different loci. Within each group, although T-DNA was apparently integrated at different sites in the plant genome, there was no evidence of position effects. GUS activity levels of the transformants were very similar in the field and in environmentally controlled conditions under high or low light. Plants with multiple insertions and low expression also tended to have increased methylation of the integrated T-DNA.

Bacterial Proteins

Extraction with methyl tert-butyl ether overcomes erratic elution patterns of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha on high pressure liquid chromatography.

Solvent extraction of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha from aqueous solutions with ethyl acetate was found to result in variable and irreproducible elution patterns, when the extracts were subjected to high pressure liquid chromatography. These problems could not be resolved satisfactorily by using ethyl acetate from different suppliers, nor by changing acids or pH for acidification. After a number of unsuccessful attempts to resolve this problem, we found that variable and irreproducible elution patterns could be avoided by using methyl t-butyl ether as extraction solvent.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha

Intra- and interindividual variability in systemic exposure in humans to 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline and 2-amino-1-methyl- 6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine, carcinogens present in cooked beef.

During the cooking of beef, the genotoxic heterocyclic aromatic amines 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx), 2-amino-3,4,8-trimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (DiMeIQx), and 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) are formed. Little is known about the fate of these compounds in humans or the factors affecting it. We have developed assays based on capillary column gas chromatography-negative ion mass spectrometry capable of the simultaneous measurement of MeIQx, DiMeIQx, and PhIP in cooked meat and in human urine using stable isotope labeled analogues. Ten normal, healthy male volunteers were invited to consume a standard cooked meat meal (400-450 g lean beef, cooked as patties on a griddle hotplate) on four separate occasions over a period of 14 months. Following consumption of the test meals, urine was collected from 0 to 8 h, during which time all free amines were excreted and analyzed for MeIQx, DiMeIQx, and PhIP. Subjects ingested 240 +/- 9 (SEM) g cooked meat, which contained 2.2 +/- 0.2 ng MeIQx/g meat, 0.7 +/- 0.1 ng DiMeIQx/g meat, and 16.4 +/- 2.1 ng PhIP/g meat. The variability in relative systemic bioavailability was assessed from the percentage of ingested amine excreted unchanged in the urine. Subjects excreted 2.1 +/- 1.1% of MeIQx and 1.1 +/- 0.5% of PhIP ingested as unchanged amine in the urine. Levels of DiMeIQx in urine, if present, were below the sensitivity of our assay (20 pg/ml) and could not be detected in any of the samples analyzed. Irrespective of dose, urinary excretion of unchanged MeIQx or PhIP (expressed as a percentage of the ingested dose) remained constant for each individual subject. The intraindividual coefficients of variation for MeIQx (28.4%) and PhIP (23.7%) were low and the pooled interday (intrasubject) coefficients of variation for both compounds were only 19 and 3.4%, respectively. In contrast, inter-subject (intraday) variation was greater, with pooled coefficients of variation of 145% for MeIQx and 71% for PhIP. Based on these studies, it should be possible to use the percentage excretion of MeIQx and PhIP to assess the relative bioavailability of these compounds in humans.

Adult

Structure-activity relationships and pH dependence of binding of 8-alkyl-N5-deazapterins to dihydrofolate reductase.

Thermodynamic dissociation constants (Kd) have been determined for two series of 8-alkyl-N5-deazapterins in binary complexes with human and chicken dihydrofolate reductases (DHFRs) and ternary complexes with the enzyme.NADPH complex. For an initial series of 12 compounds with variable 8-alkyl substitutents and pyrazine ring-methyl substitution patterns, Kd values at pH 6.6 were found to range from > 100 to 0.5 microM, with consistent trends depending on the enzyme source, the size of the 8-substituent, and the presence and position of the pyrazine ring-methyl substituent. For most compounds in this first series, Kd values were significantly lower for the ternary complex than for the binary complex with ratios of Kd(binary)/Kd(ternary) ranging from 0.6 to 62, suggesting a degree of cooperativity in binding to the enzyme between ligand and cofactor. This effect was more pronounced for the human enzyme. The structure-activity relationships developed in the first series suggested a number of strategies for developing ligands with greater affinity for DHFR. These were tested with a second series of four compounds. The Kd of 80 nM at pH 6.6 of one of these compounds [5-methyl- 8-isobutyl-N5-deazapterin (15)] in ternary complex with human DHFR is more than 200 times lower than that for the lead compound (8-methyl-N5-deazapterin (1); Kd 21 microM). Studies of binding stoichiometry indicated two binding sites in binary complexes with DHFR for 8-alkyl-N5-deazapterins with smaller 8-substituents. The second site was not found in ternary complexes or for ligands with larger 8-substituents, suggesting that the second ligand molecule in binary complexes is probably binding in the cofactor site and that the larger 8-substituents also bind in this area. A detailed study of the inhibition kinetics for one compound, 6,8-dimethyl-N5-deazapterin (5), showed it to be a competitive inhibitor of the chicken DHFR-catalyzed reduction of 6,8-dimethylpterin suggesting that the 8-alkyl-N5-deazapterins bind in the substrate site of DHFR. The pH dependence of the binding of several ligands in binary and ternary complexes with DHFR was examined by determining their Kd values at a range of pH's. This suggested that binding was predominantly between protonated ligand and deprotonated enzyme, but with variable contributions to binding observed between deprotonated enzyme and neutral ligand, and protonated enzyme and protonated ligand, depending on compound and complex type.

Folic Acid Antagonists

Differential methylation at the 5' and the 3' CCGG sites flanking the X chromosomal hypervariable DXS255 locus.

The degree of methylation at the 5' and 3' CCGG sequences flanking the variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) region of the DXS255 locus at Xp11.22 was analysed separately in several haematopoietic cell lineages. The 5' CCGG site on active chromosomes was found to be completely methylated in B and T lymphocytes and granulocytes. Methylation of the 5' site on inactive X chromosomes differed between females (0%-60%), but was consistent in different cell lineages obtained from individual females. In contrast, methylation at the 3' CCGG site on active chromosomes was found to vary in B lymphocytes (40%-100%), whereas complete methylation was found in T lymphocytes and granulocytes. The extent of methylation on inactive X chromosomes was found to differ significantly between B lymphocytes (17%), T lymphocytes (54%) and granulocytes (82%). Thus, methylation at the 5' CCGG site seems to be primarily related to the status of X chromosome inactivation, whereas methylation at the 3' CCGG site is mainly subject to cell-lineage-specific influences.

Blotting, Southern

Differential effects of NBQX on the distal and local toxicity of glutamate agonists administered intra-hippocampally.

The ability of the non-NMDA glutamate antagonist NBQX (2,3-dihydroxy-6-nitro-7-sulphamoyl-benzo(F)quinoxaline) to protect the brain against the neuronal death caused by glutamate agonists was examined. Glutamate agonists and NBQX were co-injected into the dorsal region of the rat hippocampus and 4 days later the brain was examined histochemically for the loss of neurons. 95 nmol NBQX prevented the toxicity of glutamate agonists acting on the AMPA receptor (quisqualate and AMPA [L-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate]), except for the higher dose of AMPA where toxicity was only partially reduced. This dose of NBQX also prevented about 50% of the toxicity of kainate, but produced a slight increase in the size of the lesions caused by NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate). With 190 nmol NBQX, a variable degree of non-specific damage resulted, but was mainly confined to the dentate region. Allowing for this damage, almost complete protection against the toxicity of non-NMDA glutamate agonists was obtained, with a partial protection against NMDA toxicity. Kainate, and a high dose of AMPA (2 nmol), consistently caused neuronal death in other limbic regions of the brain in addition to the hippocampal damage. About 50% of rats treated with 15 nmol quisqualate also showed damage to limbic regions. Both doses of NBQX prevented this distal damage caused by quisqualate, but not that caused by kainate. With AMPA, only the high dose of NBQX blocked the distal toxicity. Diazepam also blocked the distal toxicity of AMPA, but had only a minor effect on the hippocampal damage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Methyl mercury exposure in northern Quebec. I. Neurologic findings in adults.

Cree Indians of northern Quebec were exposed to methyl mercury through contamination of local fish. The relationship between measures of exposure and neurologic abnormalities was studied in two communities in 1978 by comparing the exposure of 41 "cases" with selected neurologic abnormalities with that of 179 normal "controls." In the community of Mistassini, a significant positive association was found between neurologic abnormalities and methyl mercury exposure; in Great Whale, the association, although also positive, was not statistically significant. However, although allowance was made for confounding variables, it remains possible that the effects are not entirely attributable to methyl mercury. Further, the data do not permit estimation of a threshold level of exposure above which excess neurologic abnormalities might occur, because recent levels of exposure do not reflect those of the past. Whether the abnormalities observed in this study will remain stable, regress, or progress can only be determined by continued surveillance.

Adult

Selective variegated methylation of the p15 CpG island in acute myeloid leukemia.

Both p15 and p16 are tumor suppressor genes that have 5' CpG islands; aberrant cytosine methylation of these islands has been associated with silencing of their expression. Deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) converts prodrugs to their cytotoxic form, has a 5' CpG island and is a candidate gene for inactivation by hypermethylation. In our study, we used sodium bisulfite sequencing to generate high resolution maps of 5-methylcytosine in the CpG islands associated with p15, p16 and dCK in normal human bone marrow (BM), peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and cytosine arabinoside (ara-C)-resistant acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients, and established human hematopoietic tumor cell lines. In normal cells the p15, p16 and dCK CpG islands were largely unmethylated. The p16 and dCK CpG islands were also unmethylated in the 8 AML specimens. In contrast, the p15 CpG island was aberrantly methylated in 6 of the 8 AML specimens. Furthermore, bisulfite sequencing revealed that the p15 CpG island is heterogeneously methylated in AML, with large intra-individual and inter-individual variability.

Base Sequence

DNA methylation signatures in skeletal muscle associated with physical function in healthy older adults.

Despite the substantial variability in physical function among older adults, the molecular mechanisms remain poorly characterized, particularly within skeletal muscle. This study aimed to determine the patterns of DNA methylation in skeletal muscle associated with physical function in healthy older adults. We analyzed DNA methylation (EPIC v2 array; 875,554 CpG sites) in skeletal muscle from 92 healthy older adults (median age 74; 62% female). Associations were examined across five phenotypes: Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), 6-min walk test (6MWT), handgrip strength, perceived disability (PAT-D), and lifestyle health (modified Life's Essential 8). Linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, race, BMI, and muscle fiber composition. Genomic inflation corrected via the BACON method (FDR&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05). Gene set enrichment analysis was performed on suggestive hits (FDR&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.1). We identified significant differentially methylated probes (DMPs) and regions (DMRs) across all phenotypes: SPPB (70 DMPs, 22 DMRs), 6MWT (16 DMPs, 566 DMRs), handgrip strength (2 DMRs), PAT-D (19 DMPs, 1 DMR), and lifestyle health (2 DMPs). DMRs largely overlapped promoters. Identified genes overlapped known musculoskeletal and neurological GWAS hits, including RUNX2 and FOXL1 (bone mineral density), IGFBP3 (muscle mass), and NEK1 and SHANK1 (neurological function). Enrichment analysis revealed that 6MWT-associated genes relate to nervous and skeletal system development, while handgrip-associated genes involve cytoskeletal dynamics and protein assembly. Epigenetic variation in aging skeletal muscle is associated with physical function. The enrichment of pathways related to nervous and musculoskeletal development suggests specific epigenetic mechanisms underlying functional decline, offering potential targets for intervention in older adults.

DNA methylation

Effects of the NMDA antagonist CP-98,113 on regional cerebral edema and cardiovascular, cognitive, and neurobehavioral function following experimental brain injury in the rat.

The present study examined the effects of CP-98,113, an N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor blocker, on cardiovascular variables, neurobehavioral motor function, spatial memory deficits, and cerebral edema formation following lateral (parasagittal) fluid-percussion (FP) brain injury in the rat. In Study 1, we compared the cardiovascular effects of i.p. administration of CP-98, 113 at 15 min postinjury at doses of 1 mg/kg, 2 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg, or 20 mg/kg (n=8/dose). Animals receiving 1 mg/kg to 5 mg/kg CP-98,113 showed slight but nonsignificant decreases in blood pressure, while those receiving the highest dose (20 mg/kg) showed significant hypotension. Based upon those observations, the 5 mg/kg dose was chosen as the optimal dose for subsequent behavioral studies. In Study 2, 15 min following lateral FP brain injury of moderate severity (2.5 atm), animals randomly received either CP-98,113 (5 mg/kg, i.p., n=23) followed by a 24-h subcutaneous infusion (1.5 mg kg-1 h-1) by means of a miniature osmotic pump, or identical volume of vehicle (n=24), and were evaluated for neurologic motor function (n=11/drug vs. 11/vehicle), memory function, and cerebral edema (n=12/drug vs. 13/vehicle). CP-98,113 (5 mg/kg) significantly attenuated neurologic motor dysfunction at 24 h (p<0.01) and 2 weeks (p<0.05) postinjury, reduced posttraumatic impairment in spatial memory observed at 48 h postinjury (p<0.001), and significantly reduced focal brain edema in the cortex adjacent to the site of maximal injury at 48 h postinjury (injury penumbra) (p<0.001). These results suggest that blockade of the NMDA receptor may attenuate the deleterious sequelae of traumatic brain injury.

Animals

Cytosine methylation associated with repeat-induced point mutation causes epigenetic gene silencing in Neurospora crassa.

Repeated DNA sequences are frequently mutated during the sexual cycle in Neurospora crassa by a process named repeat-induced point mutation (RIP). RIP is often associated with methylation of cytosine residues in and around the mutated sequences. Here we demonstrate that this methylation can silence a gene located in nearby, unique sequences. A large proportion of strains that had undergone RIP of a linked duplication flanking a single-copy transgene, hph (hygromycin B phosphotransferase), showed partial silencing of hph. These strains were all heavily methylated throughout the single-copy hph sequences and the flanking sequences. Silencing was alleviated by preventing methylation, either by 5-azacytidine (5AC) treatment or by introduction of a mutation (eth-I) known to reduce intracellular levels of S-adenosylmethionine. Silenced strains exhibited spontaneous reactivation of hph at frequencies of 10(4) to 0.5. Reactivated strains, as well as cells that were treated with 5AC, gave rise to cultures that were hypomethylated and partially hygromycin resistant, indicating that some of the original methylation was propagated by a maintenance mechanism. Gene expression levels were found to be variable within a population of clonally related cells, and this variation was correlated with epigenetically propagated differences in methylation patterns.

Azacitidine

Examination of DNA methylation of chromosomal hot spots associated with breast cancer.

Widespread hypomethylation of DNA and regional hypermethylation, including tumor suppressor regions, have been demonstrated in several human cancers. Since a highly heterogeneous array of genetic anomalies have been associated with breast cancer, we examined several chromosomal hot spots for abnormal methylation patterns. Low-levels of increased methylation of HRAS (11p15) were observed between normal and tumor breast tissue samples from 8 patients. No noticeable variation in methylation was observed with DNA probes from chromosomes 11p15, 1p36, 17q22, 17p13.3 and 3p21 for the 7 ductal breast carcinoma patients, though some variability was observed for a patient with atypical medullary carcinoma. Additionally, the methylation pattern of the estrogen-receptor gene (6q24-27), whose protein product is increased in numerous breast cancers, also did not change. Therefore, as opposed to other cancer types, widespread hypomethylation and regional hypermethylation do not appear to be involved in the early stages of breast cancer and does not account for the molecular heterogeneity of the disease. Proposed alternative mechanisms for the diversity of genetic alterations associated with breast cancer are discussed.

Blotting, Southern

Effects of sodium selenite and caffeine on mutagenesis induced by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and aflatoxin B1 in S. typhimurium.

Pre-treatment, co-treatment, and post-treatment procedures were comparatively used in order to assess the modulation of mutagenicity in S. typhimurium his- strains. Pre-treatment of bacteria with sodium selenite had no effect on sodium azide mutagenicity. Irrespective of the procedure used neither selenite nor caffeine had any influence on the S9-mediated mutagenicity of aflatoxin B1. In contrast, the mutagenicity of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N- nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) was variably affected, depending on the sequence of exposures of target bacterial cells to mutagens and modulators. In particular, pre-treatment of bacteria with either selenite or caffeine or their combination generally resulted in a potentiation of MNU and MNNG mutagenicity. However, co-incubation of these alkylating agents and test modulators with bacterial cells yielded an evident inhibition of mutagenicity, the methylxanthine being more effective in this case. Caffeine exhibited an an antimutagenic effect towards MNU also when assayed in a post-treatment procedure. Thus, in dependence on the test conditions, selenite and caffeine could act in the same mutagenicity assay as co-mutagens, antimutagens or agents without effect on mutagenesis. These opposite trends reflect the complexity of the mechanisms of action of both mutagens and modulators tested, and underscore the variable outcome of their interactions, also depending on topological and chronological factors. The data reported emphasize the need for a multiple methodological approach in studies investigating the modulation of mutagenicity.

Aflatoxin B1

Poisoning by Gyromitra : a possible mechanism.

"Gyromitra" are considered to be edible mushrooms although their potential toxicity has been long known. They have caused numerous accidents, sometimes lethal. Historical accounts of poisoning are reported and the authors describe the main characteristics : inconstant toxicity, influence of repetitive ingestions and variable individual sensitivity. Knowing the "gyromitrin" (N-methyl-N-formyl-acetyl-hydrazone) can be converted into methyl-hydrazine, the authors suggest a relation between individual sensitivity to the mushrooms and variation of every body's ability to carry out such a conversion. Several metabolites of gyromitrin can produce enzyme activation ith subsequent synthesis of methylhydrazine. The cumulative activating role of consecutive ingestions is emphasized.

Acetaldehyde

The role of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to detect minimal residual disease in locally advanced gastroesophageal carcinoma: the BUTTERFLY study.

BACKGROUND: Despite advances in perioperative and neoadjuvant strategies, patients with locally advanced gastroesophageal cancers remain at high risk of recurrence after curative intent treatment. No validated biomarkers are available to detect minimal residual disease (MRD) or to guide post-operative risk-adapted management. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has emerged as a noninvasive tool for disease monitoring; single-parameter or tumor-informed assays, however, may lack sensitivity in low-tumor burden settings. Multimodal, tumor-agnostic approaches may overcome these limitations. METHODS: The BUTTERFLY study is a prospective, multicenter observational study enrolling patients with stage II-III gastric, gastroesophageal junction, or esophageal cancer treated with perioperative chemotherapy or neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery. It evaluates the diagnostic performance and prognostic value of an academic, tumor-agnostic, multimodal ctDNA assay for MRD detection and prognostic stratification. Serial plasma samples are collected from baseline through post-operative follow-up and at relapse. Cell-free DNA is analyzed using the Agnostic Liquid Biopsy Multimodal Advancement (ALMA) platform, integrating tumor fraction estimation, somatic copy number alterations, fragmentomic features, single-nucleotide variants, and whole-genome methylation profiling. Multimodal features are combined with clinical variables using machine learning-based models to enhance MRD detection and relapse risk stratification. The primary endpoint includes sensitivity and specificity of ALMA-defined ctDNA/MRD status at the 4-8 weeks after surgery landmark, whereas secondary endpoints assess diagnostic performance at other time points and associations between ctDNA status and dynamics with disease-free survival, overall survival, treatment response, and lead time to recurrence. FUTURE PERSPECTIVES: If validated, this tumor-agnostic, multimodal ctDNA approach may enable earlier molecular relapse detection and support personalized post-operative management strategies.

circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)