Synthesis and biological activity of bile acid-derived HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. The role of 21-methyl in recognition of HMG-CoA reductase and the ileal bile acid transport system

To increase hepatoselectivity of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors by using the specific bile acid transport systems, deoxycholic acid-derived inhibitors 9 and 11 have been synthesized, on the basis of the concept of combining in one molecule structural requirements for specific inhibition of the HMG-CoA reductase and specific recognition by the ileal bile acid transport system. The 1-methyl-3-carboxylpropyl subunit of deoxycholic acid was replaced by the 3,5-dihydroxyheptanoic acid lactone of lovastatin, and position 12-OH was esterified with 2-methylbutyric acid. Compounds 9 and 11 were evaluated for their inhibitory activity on rat liver HMG-CoA reductase, cholesterol biosynthesis in HEP G2 cells, and [3H]taurocholate uptake in rabbit brush border membrane vesicles and compared with methyl derivatives 8 and 10. The steroidal 21-CH3 group affects both activity on HMG-CoA reductase and recognition by the ileal bile acid transport system.     

Recombinant soluble murine IL-4 receptor can inhibit or enhance IgE responses in vivo

This study examines the effects of soluble IL-4R (sIL-4R) administration on IgE production in vivo by using an anti-IgD injection model. Anti-IgD-treated mice were given various doses of sIL-4R or anti-IL-4 mAb over a 3-day period and serum IgE levels were determined by ELISA on day 9. The sIL-4R inhibited IgE production by up to 85%. Anti-IL-4 mAb administration resulted in comparable levels of inhibition at considerably lower doses. The disparity in efficacy between sIL-4R and anti-IL-4 mAb was likely the result of differences in the biodistribution and in vivo half-life of the two IL-4-binding proteins. The specificity of the sIL-4R inhibitory effect was assessed by mixing sIL-4R with various concentrations of IL-4 before injection. Exogenous IL-4 partially overcame the inhibitory effect of high-dose sIL-4R or anti-IL-4 mAb. Unexpectedly, coadministration of suboptimal concentrations of anti-IL-4 mAb or sIL-4R with IL-4 resulted in superinduction of the IgE response. This stimulatory effect was dose dependent for both IL-4 and the IL-4 cognates and was not seen in the absence of exogenous IL-4 over the entire concentration range tested for either sIL-4R or anti-IL mAb. The results indicate that sIL-4R can block IgE secretion by neutralizing endogenous IL-4. Furthermore, sIL-4R can enhance, in a dose-dependent manner, the biologic effects of exogenously administered IL-4, presumably by altering the biodistribution of the cytokine. These findings suggest two alternative applications for cytokine-binding proteins, i.e., 1) as antagonists of biologic activities of endogenously produced cytokines and, 2) as vehicles for cytokine delivery.     

The somatostatin analogue octreotide protects against ethanol-induced microcirculatory stasis and elevated vascular permeability in rat gastric mucosa

The plant pathogenic isolate RI-64 of anastomosis group 4 of Rhizoctonia solani possesses three linear DNA plasmids (pRS64-1, -2, and -3). Unique poly(A)- RNA, 0.5 kb in length and hybridizable with the pRS64 DNAs was found in mycelial cells of the isolate RI-64. The overall homology at the nucleotide level between pRS64-1, -2, and -3, and the cDNA prepared from the poly(A)- RNA was 100%, 73%, and 84%, respectively. The open reading frames found in pRS64-1, -2, and -3 (ORF1-1, ORF2-1, and ORF3-1) are 68 amino acids long. The amino acids sequence showed no significant homology with known proteins. Extracts from Escherichia coli cells expressing ORF1-1 contain a specific protein of 7 kDa. Antisera raised against the ORF1-1 product obtained from E. coli cells cross-reacted with the specific proteins found in the mycelia. The results indicate that the DNA plasmids found in R. solani contain a sequence that encodes a specific protein which may be involved in determination of plant pathogenicity.     

Decreased melphalan accumulation in a human breast cancer cell line selected for resistance to melphalan

An in vitro model of acquired melphalan resistance was developed by serial incubation of an MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line in increasing concentrations of melphalan. The resulting derivative cell line, Me1R MCF-7, was 30-fold resistant to melphalan. Uptake studies demonstrated decreased initial melphalan accumulation in Me1R MCF-7 cells. Inverse-reciprocal plots of initial melphalan uptake revealed a 4-fold decrease in the apparent Vmax of Me1R MCF-7 compared with WT MCF-7 (516 amol cell-1 min-1 vs 2110 amol cell-1 min-1 respectively) as well as a decrease in the apparent Kt (36 microM vs 70 microM respectively). Two amino acid transporters have previously been identified as melphalan transporters: system L, which is sodium-independent and inhibited by 2-amino-bicyclo[2,2,1]heptane-2-carboxylic acid (BCH), and system ASC which is sodium dependent and unaffected by BCH. At low concentrations of melphalan (3-30 microM), 1mM BCH competition eliminated the differences between the two cell lines, thus implicating an alteration of the system L transporter in the transport defect in the resistant cells. Me1R MCF-7 cells were also evaluated for glutathione-mediated detoxification mechanisms associated with melphalan resistance. There was no difference between Me1R MCF-7 and WT MCF-7 in glutathione content, glutathione-S-transferase activity and expression of pi class glutathione S-transferase RNA. In addition, buthionine sulfoximine did not reverse melphalan resistance in Me1R MCF-7 cells. Therefore, Me1R MCF-7 cells provide an in vitro model of transport-mediated melphalan resistance in human breast cancer cells.     

Porcine neonatal pancreatic cell clusters (NPCCs): a potential source of tissue for islet transplantation

The issue of third-party reimbursement for advanced nurse practitioners is a policy issue at both the state and federal levels. The article reports on a study that explored the perception of certified nurse midwives (CNMs) on the impact of current reimbursement policies on their ability to practice. The issues and problems identified by CNM Practice Directors related to obtaining payment and contracts. In turn, these issues were seen to influence the number of potential clients that can be seen.     

Sonography of the kidneys and urinary tract in infancy

Sonography is the imaging method of choice in all diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract in infancy. The most important indications are all malformation syndromes, especially malformations of the urinary tract, urinary tract infections, space occupying lesions of the kidney, renal insufficiency, hematuria, arterial hypertension, abdominal pain and inherited kidney diseases.     

A kinetic model for the competitive reactions of ozone with amino acid residues in proteins in reverse micelles

Lysozyme and 10 other proteins are solubilized in reverse micelles formed by 0.1 M sodium di-2-ethyl-hexylsulfosuccinate and 2.0-2.5 M water (pH 7.4) in isooctane solvent. Exposure of the protein-containing reverse micellar solutions to ozone causes oxidative damage to the proteins, as assessed by the oxidation of tryptophan residues. The oxidation product of the protein-bound tryptophan has a molar absorption coefficient of 3275 +/- 81 M-1 cm-1 (mean +/- S.D., n = 6) at 320 nm. The product is suggested to be a Criegee ozonide or a tautomer of the Criegee ozonide and not N-formylkynurenine. Ozonation of lysozyme in reverse micelles results in the formation of hydrogen peroxide in yields of only approximately 0.07 mol/mol of tryptophan residues oxidized. The recovery of hydrogen peroxide added as an internal standard to the lysozyme-containing reverse micellar solutions ranges from 84 to 88%, whether or not the samples are subjected to ozonation. This suggests that hydrogen peroxide is neither destroyed during the process of ozonation nor consumed by the protein to a significant extent in an adventitious reaction. A kinetic model for the overall reaction of ozone with the proteins is developed, taking into account the concentrations and the reactivities of individual amino acid residues toward ozone. The model predicts the fractional reaction of ozone with tryptophan residues in the proteins, despite differences in amino acid composition, molecular weight, and tertiary structures. The lack of influence of protein structure is confirmed further by the observation that the native lysozyme (with and without external S-carboxymethylcysteine) and S-carboxymethylated lysozyme give identical values of the fractional reaction of ozone with tryptophan residues. The kinetic equations for the competitive reactions of ozone with amino acid residues in proteins, with some minor modification, are applicable to ozonations on complex mixtures of lipids, proteins, and antioxidants.     

Acute respiratory failure in tropical malaria during pregnancy. Successful treatment using extracorporeal CO2 elimination

A 32-year-old woman in the 26th week of pregnancy became ill, 6 days after returning from a trip to Indonesia, with a fever up to 42 degrees C, haemolytic anaemia (haemoglobin 7.6 g/dl) and thrombocytopenia (7,000/microliters). She had not been on any malaria prophylaxis. Chloroquine, quinine and pyrimethamine, administered after macrogametocytes of Plasmodium falciparum had been found in the blood smear, eliminated the parasites from the peripheral blood, but respiratory failure and treatment-resistant pneumonia occurred, leading to the adult respiratory distress syndrome (Morel stage 4). Because of threatened intrauterine death (resulting from premature placental separation during artificial ventilation) the child was delivered by an emergency section. Despite extensive conventional therapeutic measures the mother's respiratory state progressively deteriorated so that extracorporeal membrane CO2 elimination was instituted on the 17th day. First signs of improvement in respiratory functions were noted after six days. The extracorporeal CO2 elimination was discontinued after twelve days, because artificial ventilation could now be adequately controlled. The woman was gradually weaned from the ventilator and discharged home without symptoms after a total of 11 weeks in hospital. Her child has not shown any neurological symptoms.