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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1977

Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in cystic fibrosis. Bactericidal effect of serum from normal individuals and patients with cystic fibrosis on P. aeruginosa strains from patients with cystic fibrosis or other diseases.

P. aeruginosa strains originating from the respiratory tract of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and patients with other diseases (non-CF) were analysed with regard to their sensitivity to the bactericidal activity of human serum. P. aeruginosa strains isolated from CF patients were more sensitive than strains from non-CF patients to the bactericidal activity of normal human serum. The bactericidal activity was heatlabile. As regards the sensitivity to normal human serum, mucoid and non-mucoid variants were not found to differ. Strains originating from chronically infected CF patients with many precipitins against these bacteria did not differ with respect to serum sensitivity from strains originating from intermittently colonized CF patients without P. aeruginosa precipitins. Compared with normal sera, CF sera showed similar or higher bactericidal activity against a panel of P. aeruginosa strains. In this respect, any difference between CF sera with precipitins and CF sera without precipitins against P. aeurginosa was not found. Sera from three CF patients chronically infected with P. aeruginosa, and with many precipitins against these bacteria, showed a selective inability in bactericidal activity against the patients' own P. aeruginosa isolate possibly reflecting the presence of "bactericidal blocking" antibodies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Morphologic-physiologic correlates of the severity of fibrosis and degree of cellularity in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive disease of lung parenchyma characterized by a chronic inflammatory cellular infiltration and varying degrees of interstitial fibrosis. Current data indicate that the severity of fibrosis and the degree of cellularity determine, in part, the prognosis of IPF and the response to therapy. Whereas lung biopsy gives the best assessement of fibrosis and cellularity, physiologic studies are used to stage and monitor the disease process. To determine which physiologic studies correlate best with severity of fibrosis and degree of cellularity, these parameters were graded in lung biopsies of 23 patients with IPF and compared with a variety of physiologic studies. Although vital capacity, total lung capacity, and diffusing capacity are commonly used as objective monitors of the disease process, none of these parameters correlated with either the severity of fibrosis or the degree of cellularity in biopsy specimens. In contrast, almost all parameters of lung distensibility correlated with the morphologic assessment of degree of fibrosis; compliance had the best correlation. Parameters of distensibility, however, correlated poorly with the degree of cellularity. In comparison, gas exchange during exercise correlated with both morphologic parameters; the exercise-induced changes in arterial oxygen pressure per liter of oxygen consumed had a high correlation with the degree of fibrosis (r = 0.89; P less than 0.001) and correlated to a lesser extent with the degree of cellularity (r = 0.56; P = 0.009). In contrast, neither the resting arterial oxygen tension nor the arterial oxygen tension at maximal exercise correlated with the morphologic assessment of degree of fibrosis or the degree of cellularity. These morphologic-physiologic comparisons suggest that (a) lung volumes and diffusing capacity are poor monitors of both the degree of fibrosis and the degree of cellularity; (b) the fibrotic process contributes, at least in part, to parameters of lung distensibility, and both fibrosis and cellularity contribute to gas exchange alterations during exercise; and (c) parameters of lung distensibility and exercise-induced gas exchange alterations may be useful in staging the severity of disease in IPF.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

The pineal and regulation of fibrosis: pinealectomy as a model of primary biliary cirrhosis: roles of melatonin and prostaglandins in fibrosis and regulation of T lymphocytes.

Pinealectomy leads to increased formation of fibrous tissue in the abdominal cavity, increased skin pigmentation and elevated cholesterol and alkaline phosphatase levels. It also leads to reduced formation and/or action of prostaglandin (PG) E1 and thromboxane (TX) A2. PGE1 plays an important role in enhancing function of T suppressor lymphocytes which control overactive antibody-producing B lymphocytes. In primary biliary cirrhosis there are increased skin pigmentation, hepatic fibrosis, elevated cholesterol and alkaline phosphatase levels, defective T lymphocytes and hyperactive B lymphocytes. Primary biliary cirrhosis may be a pineal deficiency disease. Serotonin is important in the pineal and the serotonin antagonist methysergide may cause retroperitoneal fibrosis by interfering with pineal function. There is a good deal of other evidence which suggests that melatonin PGE1 and TXA2 are important in the regulation of fibrosis in other situations such as "collagen" diseases, lithium-induced fibrosis and cardiomyopathies. This suggests that enhancement of formation of PGE1 and TXA2 may be of value in diseases associated with excess fibrosis and defective T suppressor cell function. PGE1 levels may be raised by zinc, penicillin, penicillamine and essential fatty acids. TXA2 levels may be raised by low dose colchicine. These new approaches to treatment may prove safer and more effective than existing ones. They may be of value in disorders such as cardiomyopathy, Hodgkin's disease and other lymphomas, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, atopy and other diseases in which defective T cell function is suspected.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Studies on cystic fibrosis using isoelectric focusing. I. An assay for detection of cystic fibrosis homozygotes and heterozygote carriers from serum.

We have developed a standardized biophysical assay for the rapid detection of individuals homozygous or heterozygous for cystic fibrosis (C/F). The assay employs isoelectric focusing in thin layer polyacrylamide gels to analyze microliter quantities of whole serum for the presence of a C/F factor protein and for deletions in a group of proteins called proteins B, C, and D (Fig, 1). A pH 5-10 gradient is used (Fig. 2) and each sample is screened using a serum volume which contains 300 micrograms immunoglobulin G (IgG). Individuals homozygous or heterozygous for C/F are distinguished from normal unaffected individuals on the basis of the presence of a C/F factor protein band (Table 1). Heterozygous carriers for C/F are distinguished from C/F homozygotes 75 percent of the time, on the basis of a deletion in either band B, C, or D (Table 2). On the basis of screening 65 patients with cystic fibrosis, 61 heterozygous carriers for C/F, and 105 normal control subjects, it was concluded that no obvious correlation existed between either sex, age, or severity of the disease in the individual C/F patient, and the absolute presence or absence of the C/F factor. In addition, no correlation existed between sex or age and the presence of the C/F factor or deletions in proteins B, C, and D in the individual heterozygous carrier for C/F or normal control subjects. Analysis of serum samples from 68 patients with a variety of other diseases, many with clinical symptoms resembling those seen in the patient with cystic fibrosis (Table 3), indicated that the C/F factor protein described in this study appears to be diagnostic for C/F genotypes, with the possible exception of patients with certain types of leukemia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Calcium and sodium transport processes in patients with cystic fibrosis 2. Mg2+- dependent, Ca2+ ATPase activity in fibroblast membrane preparations from cystic fibrosis patients and controls.

Mg2+-dependent Ca2+-ATPase activity was determined in membrane preparations of fibroblasts grown from skin biopsies of cystic fibrosis patients and age-matched controls. This enzyme was stimulated by increasing free calcium concentrations with an apparent Kdiss for calcium of approximately 45 micron. Although there was a great deal of variation in Ca2+-ATPase activity observed between individual strains, there was a significant decrease in the maximal activation of the Ca2+-ATPase in membrane preparations of fibroblasts obtained from cystic fibrosis patients compared to the controls (P less than 0.05). This observation indicates that decreased Ca2+-ATPase activity is a generalized phenomenon in cystic fibrosis found in more than one cell-type. This decrease in Ca2+-ATPase activity may have a number of implications that may explain some of the manifestations of the disease.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1977

Cystic fibrosis: the effect of medium from cultured cystic fibrosis fibroblasts on ATPase activity.

Culture medium from fibroblasts of cystic fibrosis patients and controls was examined for the ability to inhibit (calcium plus magnesium)-activated ATPase and (sodium plus potassium)-activated ATPase. The ATPase systems used were both a solubilised preparation from dog-fish and a membrane associated preparation from human erythrocyes. Contrary to other reports the medium from cystic fibrosis fibroblasts did not inhibit ATPase activity.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1979

Protease deficiency in plasma of patients with cystic fibrosis. Reduced reaction of 4-methylumbelliferylguanidinobenzoate with plasma of patients with cystic fibrosis.

Protease activity in plasma is assayed using 4-methylumbelliferylguanidinobenzoate. The assay is modified by carrying out the reaction in the presence and absence of benzamidine, a competitive inhibitor of trypsin-like proteases. The parameters of the assay are described in detail. Using this assay, our earlier demonstration of a deficiency of protease activity in plasma of patients with cystic fibrosis is confirmed. The activity, corrected for the nonspecific hydrolysis of 4-methylumbelliferylguanidinobenzoate by benzamidine, is expressed as nanomoles of 4-methylumbelliferone released per milliliter plasma. Under standard conditions, the activity in plasma activated with chloroform-ellagic acid was 127.2 +/- 23.1 in 7 controls, 70.4 +/- 11.7 in 11 obligate heterozygotes, and 48.7 +/- 16.6 in 12 patients with cystic fibrosis. Identical results were obtained when unactivated plasma was used. These data demonstrate that the judicious use of specific inhibitors such as benzamidine might be useful in assaying low levels of protease activity in crude systems.

Benzamidines↗
PubMed1975

[14 cases of constrictive endocardial fibrosis (or endomyocardial fibrosis].

Constrictive endocardial fibrosis (CEF) or endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) was studied on 14 files of this rather frequent disease in Ivory Coast. On the basis of the data derived from angiocardiography, catheterization and mechanograms, the clinical signs are interpreted better. Thus one is able to describe with accuracy some clinical forms, the commonest of which being a right heart restriction combined with left-sided signs. It seems important underline how useful the external pulse recordings might be useful for the diagnosis in view of their analogy with the pressure curves. In this disease with a severe course, bold surgical treatments provide some hope. On the contrary, its aetiology remains mysterious. Our best landmark being the link of CEP with tropical ecology, and in particular, in our cases, with the warm and damp forest ecology of some areas.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Studies on cystic fibrosis using isoelectric focusing. II. Demonstration of deficient proteolytic cleavage of alpha2-macroglobulin in cystic fibrosis plasma.

A protein with an isoelectric point (pI) of 5.48 was found to be deficient in plasma from most cystic fibrosis (CF) homozygotes and obligate heterozygote carriers of CF as compared with normal control plasma. Purification of the protein with a pI of 5.48 from normal plasma was performed using ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE-cellulose and CM-cellulose chromatography, Sephadex G-200- gel filtration, starch block electrophoresis, and Sepharose 4B gel filtration. The purified protein migrated as a single band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and displayed a single arc on immunoelectrophoresis against polyvalent antiserum to whole human serum. Results from various techniques used in its characterization indicate that this protein is a fragment of alpha2-macroglobulin (alpha2M) which is derived from alpha2M by proteolytic cleavage of intact alpha2M subunits. Quantitation of alpha2M levels in plasma indicated no significant differences between levels of alpha2M in CF homozygote, obligate heterozygote carrier, or normal control plasma samples. Quantitation of arginine esterase activity in plasma treated with cloroform and ellagic acid indicated that both the total arginine esterase activity and that fraction of arginine esterase activity inhibited by soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI) were decreased in most CF homozygote and obligate heterozygote plasma samples relative to normal control values. The results of this study indicate that plasma samples from CF homozygotes and obligate heterozygote carriers for CF show deficient proteolytic cleavage of alpha2M as compared with normal control plasma, and suggest that a structural abnormality in alpha2M or a deficiency in plasma proteolytic activity may be responsible for this deficiency in proteolysis.

Arginase↗
PubMed1977

The biologic activities of cystic fibrosis serum. I. The effects of cystic fibrosis sera and calcium ionophore A 23187 on rabbit tracheal explants.

An ionophore A23187-induced increase in membrane permeability to calcium ions in culture medium produced a rabbit tracheal mucociliary response indistinguishable from that caused by cystic fibrosis (CF) sera on three different occasions. Specific chelation of calcium ions with EGTA in the basal medium Eagle (BME) media with no additive or in native CF sera abolished the mucociliary disturbances in all cases. Increased membrane permeability to calcium may be important in the production of the mucociliary response by CF serum factor(s) in the tracheal assay system.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

The biologic activities of cystic fibrosis serum. II. Ultrastructural aspects of the effect of cystic fibrosis sera and calcium ionophore A23187 on rabbit tracheal explants.

Ultrastructural and cytochemical observations indicate that both cystic fibrosis (CF) sera and calcium ionophore A23187 induce a swelling or an increase in the size and possibly the number of secondary lysosomes and an increase in mucus secretion in epithelium of the rabbit tracheal bioassay system. Extended incubation of the rabbit tracheal explants with either CF or control sera produces a cytotoxic effect on the tracheal epithelium, but only after the termination of the normal bioassay time period. Comparative ultrastructural study of the effect of both CF sera and calcium ionophore A23187 on the rabbit tracheal bioassay system indicates that increased membrane permeability to calcium may be important in the production of the ciliary dyskinesia response by CF serum factor(s) in the rabbit tracheal bioassay system.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Cystic fibrosis: isolation and physical properties of a salivary cystic fibrosis factor.

A ciliostatic factor has been isolated from cystic fibrosis (CF) saliva by dialyzing it from purified alpha-amylase prepared by a glycogen-complex method. This method of isolating the CF factor is an improvement over the previously employed heparin procedure. The activity of the isolated factor is proportional with concentration using the oyster gill ciliostatic assay and in its inhibition of mammalian glycogen debranching enzyme. The ciliostatic action of the factor can be reversed by heparin under certain conditions. The type of inhibition of the debranching enzyme by the isolated CF factor indicates that its chemical structure is similar to that observed with hydroxyalkylamines and polyamine metabolites. Physical properties of the isolated factor indicate that it is of low molecular weight and is labile as a function of pH and temperature. At neutral pH the conditions under which it is maintained have a direct effect on the length of time that it is stable.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Calcium and sodium transport processes in patients with cystic fibrosis. I. A specific decrease in Mg2+-dependent, Ca2+-adenosine triphosphatase activity in erythrocyte membranes from cystic fibrosis patients.

Calcium-ATPase activity (Mg2+-dependent Ca2+-ATPase, ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3) in erythrocyte membrane preparations from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients was greatly reduced compared to erythrocyte membranes from control subjects. The Km for calcium was found to be similar in the two groups; however, the Vmax, the maximal rate of activation of the Ca2+-ATPase, is reduced by 50% in the erythrocyte membrane preparations of the CF patients (P less than 0.001). In contrast, the Mg2+-ATPase activity of erythrocyte membranes from CF patients was unchanged compared to the control subjects. No difference in the Na+,K+-ATPase activity in erythrocyte membranes from CF patients compared to control patients could be observed. This indicates that the Ca2+-ATPase activity noted in CF erythrocytes is not part of a generalized membrane or membrane-bound enzyme alteration. It remains to be determined whether this alteration in Ca2+-ATPase activity is directly related to a defect in calcium transport in these cells and is a generalized phenomenon in CF present in cell types more directly involved in secretion.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2026

[Effects and mechanisms of ethanol extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza on liver fibrosis in mice].

To identify clinically advantageous TCMs for anti-hepatic fibrosis and to elucidate the effects and molecular mechanisms of Salvia miltiorrhiza ethanol extract in the intervention of liver fibrosis, this study screened high-frequency anti-hepatic fibrosis TCMs through a review of clinical literature. The S. miltiorrhiza active components, potential targets, and liver fibrosis-related disease targets were obtained using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP), the GeneCards database, and other databases. Gene Ontology(GO) functional annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were performed on the shared targets between drugs and diseases. Molecular docking was conducted to evaluate the binding affinities between key components and core targets. In animal experiments, male Kunming mice were used to establish a liver fibrosis model induced by carbon tetrachloride(CCl_4). The mice were administered low, medium, and high doses of S. miltiorrhiza ethanol extract by gavage. The liver index, as well as serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and alanine aminotransferase(ALT) levels, were measured. Histopathological changes in liver tissue were observed using hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining and Masson's trichrome staining. Western blot analysis was used to detect the protein expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA), Collagen Ⅰ, and heat shock protein 90 alpha family class A member 1(HSP90AA1) in liver tissue. The results showed that S. miltiorrhiza was the most frequently used TCM in clinical anti-hepatic fibrosis. A total of 65 active components and 135 potential targets were identified, and 109 common targets were obtained by intersecting these with liver fibrosis-related targets. The core targets included tumor protein p53(TP53), serine/threonine protein kinase AKT1(AKT1), Jun proto-oncogene(JUN), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3), and HSP90AA1, which were mainly enriched in pathways related to cancer, hepatitis B, and the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. Molecular docking indicated that the main active components of S. miltiorrhiza bound stably to the core targets, with the strongest binding affinity observed for HSP90AA1. Animal experiments demonstrated that the liver index, serum ALT and AST levels, and the expression of α-SMA, Collagen Ⅰ, and HSP90AA1 in liver tissue were significantly increased in the model group, accompanied by obvious pathological manifestations of fibrosis. Compared with the model group, different dose groups of S. miltiorrhiza ethanol extract reduced the liver index and serum ALT and AST levels to varying degrees, alleviated pathological damage and collagen deposition in liver tissue, and downregulated the protein expression of α-SMA, Collagen Ⅰ, and HSP90AA1. In conclusion, S. miltiorrhiza ethanol extract exerts a significant protective effect on CCl_4-induced liver fibrosis in mice, and its mechanisms may be related to the inhibition of HSP90AA1 expression and the regulation of liver fibrosis-related signaling pathways.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Absence of an alpha two-macroglobulin-protease complex in cystic fibrosis.

The present study using immunologic methodology confirms previous observations from this laboratory of an absence of a protease component with arginine esterase activity in plasma of patients with cystic fibrosis. In this study, the pooled plasma from control individuals was activated and partially purified after adsorption on columns of soybean trypsin inhibitor conjugated to Sepharose 4B followed by elution with benzamidine. The fraction was further purified by isoelectrofocusing on polyacrylamide gels. Proteins around the pI range of 5.5 were eluted and utilized to prepare an antiserum. Immunoelectrophoresis of activated plasma samples from control subjects and patients with cystic fibrosis was performed utilizing the antiserum. In controls, four precipitin arcs with residual esterase activity were observed, whereas only three were seen in plasma from patients with cystic fibrosis. Double gel diffusion experiments using specific antisera ruled out the presence of trypsin, chymotrypsin, plasminogen, prothrombin, C1 esterase, alpha one-trypsin inhibitor, and inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor in the concentrated benzamidine eluate. The antisera to alpha two-macroglobulin gave an immunoprecipitate which was readily stained for proteolytic activity. On immunoelectrophoresis, the alpha two-macroglobulin precipitin band corresponded to the band absent in plasma of patients with cystic fibrosis. In contrast, the alpha two-macroglobulin levels were similar in plasma of control subjects and patients with cystic fibrosis. Using the antiserum to the protein fractith proteolytic activity could be demonstrated in control plasma. One specific enzyme-active "rocket" was absent in plasma of patients with cystic fibrosis. In a double blind study of 15 control samples and 15 samples from patients with cystic fibrosis, a specific "rocket" was shown to be present in 13 control samples and absent in 14 cystic fibrosis samples. alpha two-Macroglobulin was determined by both an immunologic procedure and by its trypsin binding (trypsin protein esterase concentration). The ratio of the immunologic assay to the biologic activity assay was 90 for the normal plasma samples and only 65 for cystic fibrosis samples.

Animals↗