Effects of 0.5% apraclonidine on optic nerve head and peripapillary retinal blood flow

AIMS: To examine the effects of 0.5% apraclonidine on optic nerve head (ONH) and peripapillary retinal blood flow by scanning laser Doppler flowmetry (SLDF). METHODS: ONH and peripapillary retinal blood flow of 17 healthy subjects were measured by SLDF before and 1 hour and 3 hours after unilateral administration of 0.5% apraclonidine. The fellow eyes were treated with balanced salt solution and the examiners were masked as to which eye was treated with apraclonidine. On each occasion, three scans were obtained and haemodynamic variables (volume, flow, and velocity) were analysed at eight locations, four in the neural rim and four in the peripapillary retina, avoiding ophthalmoscopically visible vessels. The statistical significance of changes from the baseline value of variables and the differences in the measured quantities between apraclonidine treated eyes and fellow eyes at each time point were evaluated using Wilcoxon signed rank test. RESULTS: The intraocular pressure was reduced significantly in apraclonidine treated eyes by 15.0% (p = 0.001) at 1 hour and 30.0% (p = 0.000) at 3 hours after administration. In the volume, flow, or velocity of ONH and peripapillary retinal blood flow, there were no significant changes from the baseline values at 1 hour and 3 hours after apraclonidine administration in either apraclonidine treated eyes (p > 0.4) or fellow eyes (p > 0.2). Also, no significant differences were found in the measured quantities between apraclonidine treated eyes and fellow eyes at each time point (p > 0.1). CONCLUSION: A single dose of topical apraclonidine 0.5% in healthy subjects does not have adverse effects on the ONH and peripapillary retinal blood flow.     

Effect of CYP2D1 inhibition on the behavioural effects of d-amphetamine

In rats, amphetamine (AMP) conversion to 4-OH-AMP is metabolized by CYP2D1, the rat equivalent of the human enzyme CYP2D6. To determine the impact of impaired AMP metabolism on its behavioural effects, AMP-induced hyperactivity, AMP discrimination and AMP self-administration were examined in male Wistar rats with or without pretreatment with the CYP2D1 inhibitors quinine and budipine. In vivo, quinine (20 mg/kg) and budipine (10 mg/kg) increased the plasma area under the curve of AMP 4-fold and 3.6-fold respectively, and decreased the plasma levels of 4-OH-AMP, 3-fold and 8.6-fold, confirming that the doses used suppressed CYP2D1 activity. Both inhibitors prolonged AMP-induced hyperactivity (0.3 mg/kg) and prolonged the duration of AMP-appropriate responding for periods of up to 90 min post-AMP administration in a drug discrimination procedure. In rats given a preload dose of AMP (0.8 mg/kg) 3 h prior to the self-administration test session, CYP2D1 inhibition resulted in fewer AMP infusions being taken compared with rats receiving the AMP preload dose alone. These studies indicate that AMP is responsible for the behavioural effects seen in rats and that a rat phenocopy model of the human CYP2D6 deficiency state can be produced by CYP2D1 inhibitors.     

ETA receptor blockade prevents hypertension associated with exogenous endothelin-1 but not renal mass reduction in the rat

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of chronic ETA receptor blockade, using the orally active antagonist A-127722 in rats with reduced renal mass. The initial series of experiments was designed to characterize the effects of the ETA-selective antagonist A-127722 on arterial pressure and renal function when administered via drinking water over a 4-wk period. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were acclimated to metabolism cages, and baseline 24-h urine collections were obtained. A-127722 was placed in the drinking water at concentrations that delivered doses of 1 to 10 mg/kg per d. The compound had no effect on any of the variables measured, including arterial pressure, food and water intake, urine volume, and sodium and potassium excretion. In a separate group of rats, ETA receptor blockade was verified after 3 d of drinking water containing A-127722. Rats were anesthetized, a jugular vein catheter was inserted for infusions, and a femoral artery catheter was used for monitoring arterial pressure. The pressor response to intravenous injection of Big endothelin-1 (1 nmol/kg, intravenously) was inhibited by > 50% in rats given A-127722 at 10 mg/kg per d, which confirms the efficacy of A-127722 in blocking ETA-mediated responses when placed in drinking water. In an additional series of experiments, rats were anesthetized, the right kidney was removed, and two of three major branches of the left renal artery were ligated. After recovery, rats were returned to their cages and given A-127722 in the drinking water to deliver 1 or 10 mg/kg per d. Control rats underwent the same surgical procedures but were given tap water to drink. After 4 wk, rats that were treated with A-127722 developed similar increases in arterial pressure and urinary protein excretion as rats that received tap water. Therefore, although the ETA receptor antagonist A-127722 can inhibit ETA-mediated hypertension, it has no effect on hypertension produced by a reduction in renal mass. It is concluded that ETA receptor activation does not play a significant role in the functional derangements associated with renal mass reduction in the rat.     

D-erythro-neopterin biosynthesis in the methanogenic archaea Methanococcus thermophila and Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum deltaH

The steps in the biosynthetic transformation of GTP to 7,8-dihydro-D-erythro-neopterin (H2neopterin), the precursor to the modified folates found in the methanogenic archaea, has been elucidated for the first time in two members of the domain Archaea. In Methanococcus thermophila and Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum deltaH, it has been demonstrated that H2neopterin 2':3'-cyclic phosphate is an intermediate in this conversion. In addition, the formation of the pterin ring of the H2neopterin 2':3'-cyclic phosphate is catalyzed not by a single enzyme, as is known to occur with GTP cyclohydrolase I in the Eucarya and Bacteria, but rather by two or more enzymes. A 2,4,5-triamino-4(3H)-pyrimidinone-containing molecule, most likely 2,5-diamino-6-ribosylamino-4(3H)-pyrimidinone 5'-triphosphate, has been identified as an intermediate in the formation of the H2neopterin 2':3'-cyclic phosphate. Synthetic H2neopterin 2':3'-cyclic phosphate was found to be readily hydrolyzed by cell extracts of M. thermophila via the H2neopterin 3'-phosphate to H2neopterin, a known precursor to the pterin portion of methanopterin.     

Alpha2-macroglobulin complexes with and mediates the endocytosis of beta-amyloid peptide via cell surface low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein

A primary histopathological feature of Alzheimer's disease is the accumulation of beta-amyloid (A beta) in the brain of afflicted individuals. However, A beta is produced continuously as a soluble protein in healthy individuals where it is detected in serum and CSF, suggesting the existence of cellular clearance mechanisms that normally prevent its accumulation and aggregation. Here, we demonstrate that A beta forms stable complexes with activated alpha2-macroglobulin (alpha2M*), a physiological ligand for the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) that is abundantly expressed in the CNS. These alpha2M*/125I-A beta complexes are immunoreactive with both anti-A beta and anti-alpha2M IgG and are stable under various pH conditions, sodium dodecyl sulfate, reducing agents, and boiling. We demonstrate that alpha2M*/125I-A beta complexes can be degraded by glioblastoma cells and fibroblasts via LRP, because degradation is partially inhibited by receptor-associated protein (RAP), an antagonist of ligand interactions with LRP. In contrast, the degradation of free 125I-A beta is not inhibited by RAP and thus must be mediated via an LRP-independent pathway. These results suggest that LRP can function as a clearance receptor for A beta via a physiological ligand.     

Manual circumlaryngeal therapy for functional dysphonia: an evaluation of short- and long-term treatment outcomes

In a liquid environment, at high dilutions, fertility of bull sperm is maintained for 3-5 days when stored at ambient temperatures (10-21 degrees C), after which time it steadily declines at a rate of 3-6% per day. This decline in fertility occurs irrespective of whether the sperm are stored at 5 degrees C or at 15 degrees C, but the rate is greater once storage temperatures exceed 25 degrees C. Sperm motility can be maintained for extended periods in an environment where the extracellular oxidative stress is minimized by reducing the oxygen tension, by addition of antioxidants and chelating agents; however, this will not prevent a significant drop in fertility after five days of storage at ambient temperature. The requirement of energy by the sperm-motility apparatus demands a high level of respiratory activity. This system is very active and the free radicals produced in vivo during this process could lead to chromatin damage. As no internal repair mechanism exists in sperm, an extraneous supply of protectants, or an environment where damage is minimized, is essential to maintain its fertilizing potential. The lack of extended storage potential of sperm, even in the presence of antioxidants, seems to suggest that although oocyte-penetrating ability of the sperm could still be intact, the high rate of intracellular metabolic activity could lead to mitochondrial DNA damage and chromosomal abnormalities that would compromise the viability of the resulting conceptus.     

Misinterpretation of body sensations in panic disorder

Cognitive accounts of panic predict that panic disorder patients will be particularly prone to misinterpret autonomic sensations. Several studies have produced results consistent with this prediction, but each is open to alternative interpretation. To clarify matters, 2 studies administered the Body Sensations Interpretation Questionnaire (BSIQ) to panic patients and controls. Panic patients were more likely to interpret ambiguous autonomic sensations as signs of immediately impending physical or mental disaster and were more likely than other anxiety disorder patients and nonpatients to believe these interpretations. In a 3rd study, a brief version of the BSIQ was shown to have satisfactory test-retest reliability, to change with treatment, and to discriminate treatments that varied in their effects on panic.     

Molecular aspects of the transport and toxicity of ochratoxin a

Ochratoxins are a class of naturally occurring compounds produced by several fungi. The most toxic is ochratoxin A (OTA), and occurrence of some human nephropathies and tumors correlate with enhanced OTA exposure. In this Account, the following areas are examined: molecular details of the binding of OTA to human serum albumin (HSA), the influences of binding to HSA on the trans-port of OTA across epithelial cell membranes by organic anion transport proteins, the oxidative activation of OTA, and the formation of OTA adducts with biological molecules. These studies are beginning to provide a detailed chemical model for the trans-port, accumulation, and genotoxic and carcinogenic effects of OTA.     

Hydroxynaphthoquinone metal complexes as antitumor agents x: synthesis, structure, spectroscopy and in vitro antitumor activity of 3-methyl-phenylazo lawsone derivatives and their metal complexes against human breast cancer cell line mcf-7

The C-3 substituted phenylazo derivatives of lawsone (2-hydroxy-l,4 p-naphthoquinone, III) were synthesized and characterized. The X-ray crystal structure was determined for the ligand 3-(3'-methyl phenylazo) lawsone. The copper complexes of these derivatives were found to possess 1:2 metal stoichiometry and square planar geometries with intermolecular stackings, resulting in antiferromagnetic exchange interactions. The in vitro activity of all the synthesized compounds was examined against human breast cancer cell-line, MCF-7, which revealed enhanced activities for the metal complexes, the highest activity being observed for the copper compound of 3-(3'-methyl phenylazo) lawsone.