Neuroprotective effects of creatine in a transgenic animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Mitochondria are particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress, and mitochondrial swelling and vacuolization are among the earliest pathologic features found in two strains of transgenic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) mice with SOD1 mutations. Mice with the G93A human SOD1 mutation have altered electron transport enzymes, and expression of the mutant enzyme in vitro results in a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and elevated cytosolic calcium concentration. Mitochondrial dysfunction may lead to ATP depletion, which may contribute to cell death. If this is true, then buffering intracellular energy levels could exert neuroprotective effects. Creatine kinase and its substrates creatine and phosphocreatine constitute an intricate cellular energy buffering and transport system connecting sites of energy production (mitochondria) with sites of energy consumption, and creatine administration stabilizes the mitochondrial creatine kinase and inhibits opening of the mitochondrial transition pore. We found that oral administration of creatine produced a dose-dependent improvement in motor performance and extended survival in G93A transgenic mice, and it protected mice from loss of both motor neurons and substantia nigra neurons at 120 days of age. Creatine administration protected G93A transgenic mice from increases in biochemical indices of oxidative damage. Therefore, creatine administration may be a new therapeutic strategy for ALS.

A carbon column-based liquid chromatography electrochemical approach to routine 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine measurements in urine and other biologic matrices: a one-year evaluation of methods.

8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8OH2'dG) is a principal stable marker of hydroxyl radical damage to DNA. It has been related to a wide variety of disorders and environmental insults, and has been proposed as a useful systematic marker of oxidative stress. Analytic procedures for 8OH2'dG in DNA digests are well established; however, routine measurement of free 8OH2'dG in other body fluids such as urine or plasma has been problematic. This has hindered its evaluation as a general clinical, therapeutic monitoring, or environmental assessment tool. Therefore, we developed a liquid chromatography electrochemical column-switching system based on the use of the unique purine selectivity of porous carbon columns that allows routine accurate measurement of 8OH2'dG in a variety of biologic matrices. This paper describes the rationale of the system design and the protocols developed for 8OH2'dG in urine, plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, tissue, DNA, saliva, sweat, kidney dialysis fluid, foods, feces, culture matrix, and microdialysates. Concentrations in both human and animal body fluids and tissues are reported. The system performance is discussed in the context of a 1-year evaluation of the methods applied to approximately 3600 samples, using internal quality control and external blind testing to determine long-term accuracy. The methods are reliable and accurate, and therefore should prove useful in assessing the role and utility of oxidative DNA damage in aging and human illness.

Oxidative stress in patients with Friedreich ataxia.

Increased generation of reactive oxygen species may underlie the pathophysiology of Friedreich ataxia (FRDA). The authors measured concentrations of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8OH2'dG), a marker of oxidative DNA damage, in urine and of dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA), a marker of hydroxyl radical attack, in plasma of 33 patients with FRDA. They found a 2.6-fold increase in normalized urinary 8OH2'dG but no change in plasma DHBA as compared with controls. Oral treatment with 5 mg/kg/day of the antioxidant idebenone for 8 weeks significantly decreased urinary 8OH2'dG concentrations, indicating that 8OH2'dG may be useful in monitoring therapeutic interventions in patients with FRDA.-1721

Remoxipride and raclopride differ from metoclopramide by their effects on striatal dopamine release and biosynthesis in rats.

Effects of new neuroleptics remoxipride (2.4 mg/kg, i.p.) and raclopride (1.2 mg/kg, i.p.) in comparison to metoclopramide (5 mg/kg, i.p.) on the extracellular levels of DA and its metabolites using microdialysis technique in freely moving rats were studied. The effects of these drugs as well as that of cis- and trans-carbidine (25 and 1 mg/kg, i.p., respectively), sulpride (50 mg/kg, i.p.) and haloperidol (1 mg/kg, i.p.) on the DA biosynthesis rate by accumulation of L-DOPA after inhibition of L-DOPA decarboxylase (NSD-1015 model) in rat striatum were also investigated. All the drugs studied increased significantly DA biosynthesis rate. The order of potency of drugs was: metoclopramide > haloperidol > raclopride > remoxipride > sulpride > cis-carbidine > trans-carbidine. In microdialysis study metoclopramide was shown to produce much greater increase in HVA and DOPAC and only modest rise in DA levels. Meanwhile remoxipride and raclopride were found to differ from the former drug being approximately equally effective in increasing both DA and its metabolite extracellular levels. It is suggested that typical and atypical neuroleptics may differentially affect dopamine release and synthesis in rat striatum.

Stereoisomers of the atypical neuroleptic carbidine modulate striatal dopamine release in awake rats.

Intracerebral microdialysis was used to monitor extracellular levels of dopamine (DA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid in awake rats, after intraperitoneal administration of the cis- and trans-isomers (25 mg/kg and 1 mg/kg, respectively) of carbidine, the atypical neuroleptic drug, in comparison with sulpiride (50 mg/kg) and haloperidol (1 mg/kg). Trans-carbidine was found to be more potent than the cis-isomer in increasing the release of DA. In contrast to sulpiride and haloperidol, both isomers at the doses used, produced only a moderate elevation in the levels of the metabolites of DA. Transcarbidine seemed to be more potent as a neuroleptic drug, in comparison with the cis-isomer.

Effects of systemic or oral ad libitum monosodium glutamate administration on striatal glutamate release, as measured using microdialysis in freely moving rats.

We examined effects of high doses of monosodium glutamate (MSG) on extracellular glutamate levels in rat striata, using in vivo microdialysis. Parenteral doses (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0, but not 0.25, g/kg, i.p.) caused dose- and time-dependent increases, peaking after 40 min (at 174 +/- 47%, 485 +/- 99% and 1021 +/- 301% of basal levels, respectively). In contrast, dietary MSG (1.49 +/- 0.10 g/kg/h) was ineffective.

Consumption of a high dietary dose of monosodium glutamate fails to affect extracellular glutamate levels in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus of adult rats.

We examined the effects of systemic or oral ad libitum monosodium glutamate (MSG) administration on glutamate levels in plasma, and on glutamate release from the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (estimated using brain microdialysis). Systemic MSG administration (0.25, 0.5, 1 or 2 g/kg, i.p.) to adult rats caused dose-dependent increases in glutamate levels within arcuate nucleus dialysates. These levels increased during the initial 20 min after systemic MSG administration, and peaked during the second 20-min interval (maximally to 116 +/- 7%, 146 +/- 15%, 790 +/- 191% and 1230 +/- 676% of basal values, respectively). Plasma glutamate levels, measured simultaneously, were increased maximally during the initial 20 min after MSG administration. These increases were 10-, 13-, 76- and 163-fold after doses of 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 g/kg, i.p., respectively. In feeding experiments, consumption of 2.3 g/kg of MSG by previously-trained rats during an 1-h period increased plasma glutamate levels to 352 +/- 61% of basal values 140 min after the start of the feeding period. No changes were observed in glutamate levels of arcuate nucleus dialysates. These findings may explain why ad libitum dietary consumption of MSG apparently lacks neurotoxic potential.

The role of 5-HT1A serotonin and D2 dopamine receptors in buspirone effects on cortical electrical activity in rats.

The effects of buspirone (5 and 10 mg/kg i.p.), 8-OH-DPAT (0.25 mg/kg) and raclopride (2.5 mg/kg) on the EEG power spectra of the sensorimotor cortex were studied in freely moving rats. Buspirone (5 mg/kg) and 8-OH-DPAT produced selective slowing of the theta-activity. Buspirone (10 mg/kg) produced slowing of the theta-activity and increased the power of the alpha-band (9-11 Hz). Raclopride alone did not influence EEG power spectra. Simultaneous injection of 8-OH-DPAT and raclopride produced marked slowing of the theta-activity and increased the power of the alpha-band. The role of 5 HT1A and D2 dopamine receptors in buspirone effects on cortical electrical activity in rats was discussed.

Possible involvement of nitric oxide in NMDA-induced glutamate release in the rat striatum: an in vivo microdialysis study.

The involvement of nitric oxide (NO) production in the release of striatal glutamate induced by local infusion of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) was investigated using microdialysis in freely moving rats. At concentrations of 0.1, 0.25, 0.5 or 1 mM NMDA induced concentration-dependent increases in striatal glutamate release. This effect of NMDA (0.5 mM) was significantly inhibited by tetrodotoxin (10 microM), by striatal perfusion with Ca2+-free medium containing EGTA (5 mM), or by the putative antagonist of intracellular Ca2+, 8-(N,N-diethylamino)octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate (TMB-8) (1, 10 or 100 microM). Local infusion of the competitive inhibitors of NO synthase (NOS), N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) or N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) (both at concentrations 0.1, 0.25, 0.5 or 1 mM) caused the concentration-dependent inhibition of the glutamate response to 0.5 mM NMDA. This effect of NOS inhibition was stereospecific, inasmuch as N(G)-nitro-D-arginine methyl ester (D-NAME) (0.5 or 1 mM) failed to affect NMDA-induced glutamate release. These findings suggest that increased NO production following NMDA receptor activation mediates the increase in release of neurotransmitter glutamate triggered by activation of striatal NMDA receptors.

Oxidative stress is attenuated in mice overexpressing BCL-2.

The protooncogene Bcl-2 inhibits apoptosis in neural cells, which may involve mitochondrial stabilization and decreased generation of reactive oxygen species. Using in vivo microdialysis we found that following administration of the mitochondrial toxin 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) there was a significant increase in the conversion of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4-HBA) to 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (3,4-DHBA) in control mice, but not in Bcl-2 overexpressing mice. Striatal lesions were observed in littermate control mice, whereas, lesions were minimal or absent in Bcl-2 overexpressing mice. This shows that Bcl-2 overexpression in vivo attenuates the generation of reactive oxygen species.

A microdialysis investigation of the release of norepinephrine in the hypothalamus induced by 2-deoxyglucose in awake rats.

The level of norepinephrine in the extracellular space of the lateral hypothalamus was measured by means of intracerebral microdialysis in awake rats. The introduction of desipramine (10 mumole) into the perfusing medium did not affect the basal level of norepinephrine, but increased the release of norepinephrine during local K(+)-stimulation. Neuroglycopenia created under the influence of 500 mg/kg of 2-deoxyglucose induced a threefold increase in the level of norepinephrine in the extracellular space of the hypothalamus, which achieved a maximal value in the first 40 min following the introduction of the substance, and thereafter gradually decreased to the basal level.

[A microdialysis study of noradrenaline release in the hypothalamus evoked by 2-deoxyglucose in waking rats]. / Mikrodializnoe issledovanie vybrosa noradrenalina v gipotalamuse, vyzvannogo 2-dezoksigliukozoi u bodrstvuiushchikh krys.

Intracerebral microdialysis was used to examine extracellular concentrations of noradrenaline (NA) in the lateral hypothalamus of alert rats. Desipramine (0.01 mmol) added to the perfusion medium did not change basal NA release. 2-deoxyglucose-induced (500 mg/kg) neuroglycopenia led to an increase in extracellular NA in hypothalamus which reached maximum 10-30 min after drug administration.

[A comparative study of the neurochemical profiles of carbidine stereoisomers]. / Sravnitel'noe izuchenie neirokhimicheskikh profilei stereoizomerov karbidina.

The effects of cis- and trans-isomers of atypical neuroleptic carbidine on the synthesis of dopamine and its autoreceptor regulation in the striatum and nucleus accumbens of rats were examined by blocking decarboxylase of L-aromatic amino acids and interrupting the nerve impulse flow in the dopaminergic neurons. The striatal release and metabolism of dopamine were studied in vitro by employing K(+)-stimulated efflux from isolated striata and in vivo by the microdialysis in freely moving rats. Carbidine trans-isomer, unlike its cis-isomer, was shown to enhance the biosynthesis of dopamine via blockade of presynaptic autoreceptors presumably located on the dopaminergic terminals. The trans-isomer was found to be much more potent by affecting the neurochemical parameters of dopaminergic neurotransmission, which are essential for the drug to produce its antipsychotic effect.

[Microbiological evaluation of antibiotics for empirical therapy of community-acquired infections of the lower respiratory tract]. / Mikrobiologicheskaia otsenka antibakterial'nykh preparatov, ispol'zuemykh dlia émpiricheskoi terapii vnebol'nichnykh infektsii nizhnikh dykhatel'nykh putei.

During first 3 days after patient hospitalization with pneumonia or chronic obstruction pulmonary disease (COPD) pathogens in sputum were studied according NCCLS standards (for 1999 year). Among 93 pathogens isolated in pneumonia the most frequent were S. pneumoniae (41.9%), H. influenzae (21.5%). Among 232 pathogens isolated in COPD the most frequent were S. pneumoniae (35.5%), H. influenzae (16.8%). Other pathogens were staphylococci, moraxella, gram-negative bacteria. No penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae, were isolated, the strains with moderate penicillin resistance were less than 3% in both groups. Among H. influenzae isolated from patients with pneumonia 25% were beta-lactamase producers, from COPD patients 21% strains produced beta-lactamase. Totally among all studied pathogens only 58% were sensitive to ampicillin in pneumonia groups and 48% in COPD groups, for azithromycin 70.7% and 71% respectively, for cefuroxime 84.5% and 85% respectively. Ampicillin efficacy for empirical treatment of community-acquired low respiratory tract infections was substantially less than that of modern antibiotics.

[Microbiological evaluation of differences between cephalosporins of second and third generations in general hospital]. / Mikrobiologicheskaia otsenka razlichii mezhdu tsefalosporinami vtoroi i tret'ei generatsii v mnogoprofil'nom statsionare.

The aim of the current investigation was to evaluate practical impact of modern NCCLS recommendations for the selection of 2nd and 3rd generation cephalosporins in Moscow teaching multi profile hospital. The sensitivity of clinically significant 96 strains from patients with pyelonephritis and 180 strains from patients with lower respiratory tract infections (pneumonia, COPD) was compared for cefuroxime and cefotaxime or ceftriaxone according NCCLS recommendations during 2000-2001 years. At the lower respiratory tract infection total sensitivity of all pathogens was 70.6% and 72.8%, at the pyelonephritis 71.9% and 76.0% for 2nd and 3rd generations respectively. The differences between cephalosporins were not statistically significant. Based on the application of modern NCCLS recommendations in the routine microbiological practice similar clinical efficacy of 2nd and 3rd generations cephalosporin in lower respiratory tract infections and pyelonephritis could be predicted.

Pharmacometabolomic mapping of early biochemical changes induced by sertraline and placebo.

In this study, we characterized early biochemical changes associated with sertraline and placebo administration and changes associated with a reduction in depressive symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). MDD patients received sertraline or placebo in a double-blind 4-week trial; baseline, 1 week, and 4 weeks serum samples were profiled using a gas chromatography time of flight mass spectrometry metabolomics platform. Intermediates of TCA and urea cycles, fatty acids and intermediates of lipid biosynthesis, amino acids, sugars and gut-derived metabolites were changed after 1 and 4 weeks of treatment. Some of the changes were common to the sertraline- and placebo-treated groups. Changes after 4 weeks of treatment in both groups were more extensive. Pathway analysis in the sertraline group suggested an effect of drug on ABC and solute transporters, fatty acid receptors and transporters, G signaling molecules and regulation of lipid metabolism. Correlation between biochemical changes and treatment outcomes in the sertraline group suggested a strong association with changes in levels of branched chain amino acids (BCAAs), lower BCAAs levels correlated with better treatment outcomes; pathway analysis in this group revealed that methionine and tyrosine correlated with BCAAs. Lower levels of lactic acid, higher levels of TCA/urea cycle intermediates, and 3-hydroxybutanoic acid correlated with better treatment outcomes in placebo group. Results of this study indicate that biochemical changes induced by drug continue to evolve over 4 weeks of treatment and that might explain partially delayed response. Response to drug and response to placebo share common pathways but some pathways are more affected by drug treatment. BCAAs seem to be implicated in mechanisms of recovery from a depressed state following sertraline treatment.

Pretreatment metabotype as a predictor of response to sertraline or placebo in depressed outpatients: a proof of concept.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the baseline metabolic profile (that is, metabotype) of a patient with major depressive disorder (MDD) would define how an individual will respond to treatment. Outpatients with MDD were randomly assigned to sertraline (up to 150 mg per day) (N=43) or placebo (N=46) in a double-blind 4-week trial. Baseline serum samples were profiled using the liquid chromatography electrochemical array; the output was digitized to create a 'digital map' of the entire measurable response for a particular sample. Response was defined as ≥50% reduction baseline to week 4 in the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression total score. Models were built using the one-out method for cross-validation. Multivariate analyses showed that metabolic profiles partially separated responders and non-responders to sertraline or to placebo. For the sertraline models, the overall correct classification rate was 81% whereas it was 72% for the placebo models. Several pathways were implicated in separation of responders and non-responders on sertraline and on placebo including phenylalanine, tryptophan, purine and tocopherol. Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, tocopherols and serotonin were common metabolites in separating responders and non-responders to both drug and placebo. Pretreatment metabotypes may predict which depressed patients will respond to acute treatment (4 weeks) with sertraline or placebo. Some pathways were informative for both treatments whereas other pathways were unique in predicting response to either sertraline or placebo. Metabolomics may inform the biochemical basis for the early efficacy of sertraline.