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1.
Faraday Discuss ; 194: 621-638, 2016 12 16.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27711803

RESUMO

The ultra-bright femtosecond X-ray pulses provided by X-ray Free Electron Lasers (XFELs) open capabilities for studying the structure and dynamics of a wide variety of biological and inorganic systems beyond what is possible at synchrotron sources. Although the structure and chemistry at the catalytic sites have been studied intensively in both biological and inorganic systems, a full understanding of the atomic-scale chemistry requires new approaches beyond the steady state X-ray crystallography and X-ray spectroscopy at cryogenic temperatures. Following the dynamic changes in the geometric and electronic structure at ambient conditions, while overcoming X-ray damage to the redox active catalytic center, is key for deriving reaction mechanisms. Such studies become possible by using the intense and ultra-short femtosecond X-ray pulses from an XFEL, where sample is probed before it is damaged. We have developed methodology for simultaneously collecting X-ray diffraction data and X-ray emission spectra, using an energy dispersive spectrometer, at ambient conditions, and used this approach to study the room temperature structure and intermediate states of the photosynthetic water oxidizing metallo-protein, photosystem II. Moreover, we have also used this setup to simultaneously collect the X-ray emission spectra from multiple metals to follow the ultrafast dynamics of light-induced charge transfer between multiple metal sites. A Mn-Ti containing system was studied at an XFEL to demonstrate the efficacy and potential of this method.


Assuntos
Cristalografia por Raios X , Elétrons , Lasers , Catálise , Raios X
2.
Br J Cancer ; 111(10): 1924-31, 2014 Nov 11.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25211659

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Patients (pts) with metastatic rectal cancer and symptomatic primary, require local and systemic control. Chemotherapy used during chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is adequate for radiosensitisation, but suboptimal for systemic control. The aim of this phase II study was to assess tolerability, local/systemic benefits, of a novel regimen delivering interdigitating intensive chemotherapy with radical CRT. METHODS: Eligible pts had untreated synchronous symptomatic primary/metastatic rectal cancer. A total of 12 weeks of treatment with split-course pelvic CRT (total 50.4 Gy with concurrent oxaliplatin and 5-FU infusion) alternating with FOLFOX chemotherapy. All pts staged with CT, MRI and FDG-PET pre and post treatment. RESULTS: Twenty-six pts were treated. Rectal primary MRI stage: T3 81% and T4 15%. Liver metastases in 81%. Twenty-four pts (92%) completed the 12-week regimen. All patients received planned RT dose, and for both agents over 88% of patients achieved a relative dose intensity of >75%. Grade 3 toxicities: neutropenia 23%, diarrhoea 15%, and radiation skin reaction 12%. Grade 4 toxicity: neutropenia 15%. FDG-PET metabolic response rate for rectal primary 96%, and for metastatic disease 60%. CONCLUSIONS: Delivery of interdigitating chemotherapy with radical CRT was feasible to treat both primary and metastatic rectal cancer. High completion and response rates were encouraging.


Assuntos
Adenocarcinoma/terapia , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapêutico , Quimiorradioterapia , Neoplasias Hepáticas/terapia , Neoplasias Pulmonares/terapia , Neoplasias Pélvicas/terapia , Neoplasias Retais/terapia , Adenocarcinoma/mortalidade , Adenocarcinoma/patologia , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Estudos de Coortes , Estudos de Viabilidade , Feminino , Fluoruracila/administração & dosagem , Seguimentos , Humanos , Leucovorina/administração & dosagem , Neoplasias Hepáticas/mortalidade , Neoplasias Hepáticas/secundário , Neoplasias Pulmonares/mortalidade , Neoplasias Pulmonares/secundário , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Terapia Neoadjuvante , Estadiamento de Neoplasias , Compostos Organoplatínicos/administração & dosagem , Oxaliplatina , Neoplasias Pélvicas/mortalidade , Neoplasias Pélvicas/secundário , Prognóstico , Dosagem Radioterapêutica , Neoplasias Retais/mortalidade , Neoplasias Retais/patologia , Taxa de Sobrevida
3.
Transl Psychiatry ; 3: e327, 2013 Dec 03.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24301645

RESUMO

Dopamine (DA) neurotransmission requires a complex series of enzymatic reactions that are tightly linked to catecholamine exocytosis and receptor interactions on pre- and postsynaptic neurons. Regulation of dopaminergic signalling is primarily achieved through reuptake of extracellular DA by the DA transporter (DAT) on presynaptic neurons. Aberrant regulation of DA signalling, and in particular hyperactivation, has been proposed as a key insult in the presentation of schizophrenia and related neuropsychiatric disorders. We recently identified 14-3-3ζ as an essential component of neurodevelopment and a central risk factor in the schizophrenia protein interaction network. Our analysis of 14-3-3ζ-deficient mice now shows that baseline hyperactivity of knockout (KO) mice is rescued by the antipsychotic drug clozapine. 14-3-3ζ KO mice displayed enhanced locomotor hyperactivity induced by the DA releaser amphetamine. Consistent with 14-3-3ζ having a role in DA signalling, we found increased levels of DA in the striatum of 14-3-3ζ KO mice. Although 14-3-3ζ is proposed to modulate activity of the rate-limiting DA biosynthesis enzyme, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), we were unable to identify any differences in total TH levels, TH localization or TH activation in 14-3-3ζ KO mice. Rather, our analysis identified significantly reduced levels of DAT in the absence of notable differences in RNA or protein levels of DA receptors D1-D5. Providing insight into the mechanisms by which 14-3-3ζ controls DAT stability, we found a physical association between 14-3-3ζ and DAT by co-immunoprecipitation. Taken together, our results identify a novel role for 14-3-3ζ in DA neurotransmission and provide support to the hyperdopaminergic basis of pathologies associated with schizophrenia and related disorders.


Assuntos
Proteínas 14-3-3/genética , Proteínas da Membrana Plasmática de Transporte de Dopamina/metabolismo , Dopamina/metabolismo , Atividade Motora/genética , Neostriado/metabolismo , Esquizofrenia/genética , Transmissão Sináptica/genética , Anfetamina/farmacologia , Animais , Antipsicóticos/farmacologia , Comportamento Animal/efeitos dos fármacos , Clozapina/farmacologia , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Dopaminérgicos/farmacologia , Proteínas da Membrana Plasmática de Transporte de Dopamina/efeitos dos fármacos , Camundongos , Camundongos Knockout , Atividade Motora/efeitos dos fármacos , Esquizofrenia/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais/efeitos dos fármacos , Transdução de Sinais/genética , Transmissão Sináptica/efeitos dos fármacos
4.
Br J Pharmacol ; 165(3): 705-15, 2012 Feb.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21740410

RESUMO

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Insulin resistance is often found to be associated with high blood pressure. We propose that in insulin-resistant hypertension, endothelial dysfunction is the consequence of increased activity of vascular MMP-2. As MMP-2 proteolytically cleaves a number of extracellular matrix proteins, we hypothesized that MMP-2 impairs endothelial function by proteolytic degradation of endothelial NOS (eNOS) or its cofactor, heat shock protein 90 (HSP90). EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: We tested our hypothesis in bovine coronary artery endothelial cells and fructose-fed hypertensive rats (FHR), a model of acquired systolic hypertension and insulin resistance. KEY RESULTS: Treatment of FHRs with the MMP inhibitor doxycycline, preserved endothelial function as well as prevented the development of hypertension, suggesting that MMPs impair endothelial function. Furthermore, incubating endothelial cells in vitro with a recombinant MMP-2 decreased NO production in a dose-dependent manner. Using substrate cleavage assays and immunofluorescence microscopy studies, we found that MMP-2 not only cleaves and degrades HSP90, an eNOS cofactor but also co-localizes with both eNOS and HSP90 in endothelial cells, suggesting that MMPs functionally interact with the eNOS system. Treatment of FHRs with doxycycline attenuated the decrease in eNOS and HSP90 expression but did not improve insulin sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Our data suggest that increased activity of MMP-2 in FHRs impairs endothelial function and promotes hypertension. Inhibition of MMP-2 could be a potential therapeutic strategy for the management of hypertension.


Assuntos
Doxiciclina/farmacologia , Células Endoteliais/efeitos dos fármacos , Hipertensão/prevenção & controle , Inibidores de Metaloproteinases de Matriz , Artérias Mesentéricas/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Aorta Torácica/citologia , Bovinos , Células Cultivadas , Células Endoteliais/metabolismo , Endotélio Vascular/efeitos dos fármacos , Endotélio Vascular/fisiologia , Frutose , Proteínas de Choque Térmico HSP90/metabolismo , Hipertensão/induzido quimicamente , Hipertensão/metabolismo , Hipertensão/fisiopatologia , Resistência à Insulina/fisiologia , Masculino , Metaloproteinase 2 da Matriz/fisiologia , Artérias Mesentéricas/fisiologia , Óxido Nítrico/metabolismo , Óxido Nítrico Sintase Tipo III/metabolismo , Ratos , Ratos Wistar
5.
Int J Artif Organs ; 28(12): 1219-23, 2005 Dec.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16404697

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: The National Kidney Foundation Dialysis Outcome Quality Initiative clinical practice guidelines have suggested that serum phosphate levels be maintained at < or =5.5 mg/dL in patients maintained on dialysis. Over 45% of anuric patients maintained on CAPD have serum phosphate levels >5.5 mg/dL. The present study was designed to address the question whether phosphate removal could be enhanced by increasing the dialysate volume during cycler peritoneal dialysis therapy. METHODS: Medically stable patients maintained on chronic peritoneal dialysis therapy, who were high or high-average transporters and had serum phosphate levels > or =5.5 mg/dL, were invited to participate in the study. The protocol involved measuring phosphate and creatinine clearances at weekly intervals on three different cycler prescriptions consisting of 7 and 12 full cycles or 24 cycles with 50% tidal PD (TPD) over 9 hours. Ten patients agreed to participate. Those patients (n=7) with a BMI > 22 had 2 liter (L) fill volumes and 14 L of total dialysate (7 cycles of 2 L) or 24 L total dialysate (12 cycles of 2 L or 50% TPD with 24 cycles).The patients (n=3) with a BMI < 20 had 1.2 L fill volumes and 8.4 L total dialysate (7 cycles) or 14.4 L total dialysate (12 cycles of 1.2 L or 50% TPD with 24 cycles). RESULTS: The mean age (+/- SD) of the study patients was 50.8 (+/- 9.3) years. There were 6 females, 6 Caucasians and 4 African-Americans. The mean weight of the patients was 71.5 (+/- 24.2) kg and mean height 1.65 (+ 7.6) meters. The mean BMI was 18.3 (+/- 1.27) in the < 20 BMI group and 30.3 (+/- 6.6) in the > 22 BMI group. The mean phosphate clearance (L/night/1.73m 2 ) increased from 3.96 (+/- 1.16) with 7 cycles to 4.71 (+ 1.81) with 12 cycles and 4.51 (+/- 1.61) with 50% TPD. Creatinine clearance (L/night/1.73m 2 ) was 4.74 (+/- 1.74) with 7 cycles, 6.06 (+/- 2.04) with 12 cycles and 5.61 (+/- 2.01) with TPD. CONCLUSION: The present study indicates that there is a significant, 19% (P < 0.005) rise in phosphate clearance by increasing dialysate volume 71% from 7 cycles to 14 cycles compared to a 27% increase in creatinine clearance. With tidal PD, phosphate clearance increased by 12% (p=NS) and creatinine clearance increased 18 % (p, 0.02). This increase in phosphate clearance translates into <50 mg net phosphate removal in 9 hours, assuming a serum phosphate of 6 mg/%. Thus, increasing dialysis cycles and volume results in only a minimal increase in net phosphate removal.


Assuntos
Diálise Peritoneal Ambulatorial Contínua/métodos , Fósforo/sangue , Creatinina/sangue , Soluções para Diálise/administração & dosagem , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade
6.
J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr ; 37(5): 550-3, 2003 Nov.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-14581795

RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: The role of "novel substrates" in neonatal nutrition has generated much interest in recent years. Glutamine has been recognized as a "conditionally essential" amino acid in critically ill adults, particularly for gut and immune function; however, its potential role in the neonate remains unclear. The authors examined the safety and benefits of parenteral glutamine in ill, preterm neonates. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Thirty-five ill preterm neonates of <1000 g birth-weight were randomized to receive either glutamine-supplemented parenteral nutrition (PN) (n = 17) or standard PN (n = 18). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in birth-weight, gestational age, male-to-female ratio, or Clinical Risk Index for Babies (CRIB) score between the two groups. During PN there were no significant differences between the groups in white cell count, differential white cell count, blood urea nitrogen, plasma ammonia, lactate, pyruvate, plasma glutamine, or glutamate. The median time to achieving full enteral nutrition (FEN) was shorter in the study group (13 days vs. 21 days, P < 0.05). The number of episodes of culture-positive sepsis or age at discharge did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Parenteral glutamine appears to be well tolerated and safe in the ill, preterm neonate. It may reduce the time to achieving FEN.


Assuntos
Glutamina/administração & dosagem , Recém-Nascido Prematuro , Recém-Nascido de muito Baixo Peso , Nutrição Parenteral , Aminoácidos/sangue , Amônia/sangue , Peso ao Nascer , Nutrição Enteral , Feminino , Idade Gestacional , Glutamina/sangue , Humanos , Fenômenos Fisiológicos da Nutrição do Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Ácido Láctico/sangue , Testes de Função Hepática , Masculino , Ácido Pirúvico/sangue , Fatores de Risco , Fatores de Tempo , Ureia/sangue
7.
Blood ; 98(10): 3165-8, 2001 Nov 15.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11698308

RESUMO

Transfected murine cell lines are commonly used to study the function of many human cytokine or receptor mutants. This study reports the inappropriate activation of the human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (hGM-CSF) receptor by the human GM-CSF antagonist, E21R, when the human receptor is introduced into the murine cell line BaF-B03. E21R-induced proliferation of the BaF-B03 cells is dependent on transfection with both hGM-CSF receptor alpha and beta(c) subunits. Studies on the underlying mechanism revealed constitutive association between human and mouse beta(c) and GM-CSF receptor-alpha, tyrosine phosphorylation of mouse and human beta(c), and association of phosphorylated mouse beta(c) into an activated human GM-CSF receptor complex in response to E21R and GM-CSF. This interspecies receptor cross-talk of receptor signaling subunits may produce misleading results and emphasizes the need to use cell lines devoid of the cognate endogenous receptors for functional analysis of ligand and receptor mutants.


Assuntos
Fator Estimulador de Colônias de Granulócitos e Macrófagos/farmacologia , Receptor Cross-Talk , Receptores de Fator Estimulador das Colônias de Granulócitos e Macrófagos/efeitos dos fármacos , Proteínas Recombinantes , Animais , Artefatos , Linhagem Celular , Humanos , Leucemia Eritroblástica Aguda/patologia , Leucemia Megacarioblástica Aguda/patologia , Ligantes , Substâncias Macromoleculares , Camundongos , Multimerização Proteica , Subunidades Proteicas , Proteínas Tirosina Quinases/metabolismo , Receptores de Fator Estimulador das Colônias de Granulócitos e Macrófagos/química , Receptores de Fator Estimulador das Colônias de Granulócitos e Macrófagos/genética , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/efeitos dos fármacos , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/genética , Transdução de Sinais , Especificidade da Espécie , Transfecção , Células Tumorais Cultivadas
8.
Immunol Cell Biol ; 79(2): 154-9, 2001 Apr.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11264710

RESUMO

Asthma is a common and complex inflammatory disease of the airways that remains incurable. Current forms of therapy are long term and may exhibit associated side-effect problems. Major participants in the development of an asthma phenotype include the triggering stimuli such as the allergens themselves, cells such as T cells, epithelial cells and mast cells that produce a variety of cytokines including IL-5, GM-CSF, IL-3, IL-4 and IL-13 and chemokines such as eotaxin. Significantly, the eosinophil, a specialized blood cell type, is invariably associated with this disease. The eosinophil has long been incriminated in the pathology of asthma due to its ability to release preformed and unique toxic substances as well as newly formed pro-inflammatory mediators. The regulation of eosinophil production and function is carried out by soluble peptides or factors. Of these IL-5, GM-CSF and IL-3 are of paramount importance as they control eosinophil functional activity and are the only known eosinophilopoietic factors. In addition they regulate the eosinophil life span by inhibiting apoptosis. While one therapeutic approach in asthma is directed at inhibiting single eosinophil products such as leukotrienes or single eosinophil regulators such as IL-5, we believe that the simultaneous inhibition of more than one component is preferable. This may be particularly important with eosinophil regulators in that not only IL-5, but also GM-CSF has been repeatedly implicated in clinical studies of asthma. The fact that GM-CSF is produced by many cells in the body and in copious amounts by lung epithelial cells highlights this need further. Our approach takes advantage of the fact that the IL-5 and GM-CSF receptors (as well as IL-3 receptors) utilize a shared subunit to bind, with high affinity, to these cytokines and the same common subunit mediates signal transduction culminating in all the biological activities mentioned. By generating the monoclonal antibody BION-1 to the cytokine binding region of the common subunit (betac) we have shown that the approach of inhibiting IL-5, GM-CSF and IL-3 binding and the resulting stimulation of eosinophil production and function with a single agent is feasible. Furthermore we have used BION-1 as a tool to crystallize and define the structure of the cytokine binding domain of betac. This knowledge and this approach may lead to the generation of novel therapeutics for the treatment of asthma.


Assuntos
Asma/imunologia , Asma/terapia , Animais , Asma/epidemiologia , Asma/patologia , Ensaios Clínicos como Assunto , Eosinófilos/imunologia , Saúde Global , Fator Estimulador de Colônias de Granulócitos e Macrófagos/imunologia , Humanos , Incidência , Interleucina-3/imunologia , Interleucina-5/imunologia , Contagem de Leucócitos , Pulmão/imunologia , Camundongos
9.
Cytokine ; 13(4): 240-3, 2001 Feb 21.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11237432

RESUMO

The stoichiometry of the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) receptor complex is still unresolved. We have utilised a sensitive, functional assay for receptor homodimerisation to show that GM-CSF induces dimerisation of the common signalling subunit, hbeta(c). We generated a chimeric cytokine receptor in which the extracellular and transmembrane domains of hbeta(c)are fused to the cytoplasmic domain of erythropoietin receptor (EPO-R). Given that to induce EPO-R activation and mitogenic signalling there is a requirement for formation of a specific homodimeric complex, we reasoned that the cytoplasmic domain of EPO-R could be utilised as a highly sensitive reporter for functional homodimer formation. We show that, in the presence of a cytoplasmically truncated GM-CSF alpha-subunit, the hbetac-EPO receptor chimera transduces a mitogenic signal in BaF-B03 in response to GM-CSF. This is consistent with formation of a hbeta(c)homodimer following GM-CSF binding and implies that ligand stimulation induces formation of a higher order complex that contains the hbeta(c)homodimer.


Assuntos
Fator Estimulador de Colônias de Granulócitos e Macrófagos/metabolismo , Receptores de Superfície Celular/metabolismo , Receptores de Fator Estimulador das Colônias de Granulócitos e Macrófagos/metabolismo , Animais , Linhagem Celular , Subunidade beta Comum dos Receptores de Citocinas , Dimerização , Fator Estimulador de Colônias de Granulócitos e Macrófagos/genética , Fator Estimulador de Colônias de Granulócitos e Macrófagos/fisiologia , Humanos , Camundongos , Ligação Proteica/fisiologia , Receptores de Superfície Celular/genética , Receptores de Superfície Celular/fisiologia , Receptores de Fator Estimulador das Colônias de Granulócitos e Macrófagos/fisiologia , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/genética , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/metabolismo , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/fisiologia , Transdução de Sinais/fisiologia
11.
Arch Dis Child ; 84(3): 273-6, 2001 Mar.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11207184

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Monitoring oesophageal pH conventionally detects "acid reflux" (pH less than 4). The pH of the gastric contents determines whether or not reflux can be detected. AIM: To monitor gastric and oesophageal pH simultaneously in order to determine the effect of milk feeds on gastric pH and how this would influence interpretation of the oesophageal pH record. METHODS: Milk fed infants for whom oesophageal pH monitoring was requested underwent simultaneous gastric and oesophageal pH monitoring using a dual channel pH probe. RESULTS: Twenty of 24 records were technically satisfactory. Mean reflux index was 1.0%, range 0.0-4.0%. Gastric pH was less than 4 for 24.5% (range 0.6-69.1%) of the total time. The average time the gastric pH was greater than 4 after feeds was 130 minutes (range 29-212 minutes). The corrected reflux index (limited to the time the gastric pH was less than 4) was 2.6% (range 0.0-11.0%). CONCLUSION: The pH of the gastric contents may be greater than 4 for prolonged intervals, during which oesophageal pH monitoring using current criteria cannot detect reflux nor correlate it with clinical events. A low reflux index may reflect prolonged buffering of gastric acidity rather than the absence of reflux.


Assuntos
Esôfago/química , Refluxo Gastroesofágico/diagnóstico , Alimentos Infantis , Leite , Estômago/química , Animais , Feminino , Humanos , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Masculino , Valor Preditivo dos Testes , Fatores de Tempo
12.
Mol Cell ; 6(1): 99-108, 2000 Jul.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10949031

RESUMO

In the hemopoietic compartment, IL-3, GM-CSF, and IL-5 receptors are major transducers of survival signals; however, the receptor-proximal events that determine this vital function have not been defined. We have found that IL-3 stimulation induces phosphorylation of Ser-585 of beta(c). This promotes the association of phospho-Ser-585 of beta(c) with 14-3-3 and the p85 subunit of PI 3-K. Mutation of Ser-585 specifically impairs the PI 3-K signaling pathway and reduces cell survival in response to IL-3. These results define a distinct IL-3 receptor-mediated survival pathway regulated by site-specific receptor serine phosphorylation and 14-3-3 binding and suggest that this novel mode of signaling may be utilized by disparate transmembrane receptors that have as a common theme the transduction of survival signals.


Assuntos
Sistema Hematopoético/citologia , Sistema Hematopoético/imunologia , Receptores de Interleucina-3/metabolismo , Tirosina 3-Mono-Oxigenase , Proteínas 14-3-3 , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Animais , Sítios de Ligação , Divisão Celular , Linhagem Celular , Sobrevivência Celular , Proteínas Quinases Dependentes de AMP Cíclico/metabolismo , Sistema Hematopoético/metabolismo , Interleucina-3/farmacologia , Camundongos , Mutagênese Sítio-Dirigida , Fosfatidilinositol 3-Quinases/metabolismo , Fosforilação , Proteínas/metabolismo , Receptores de Interleucina-3/química , Receptores de Interleucina-3/genética , Serina/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais
13.
Ann Oncol ; 11(4): 421-6, 2000 Apr.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10847460

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Docetaxel and gemcitabine are active in a broad range of malignancies. The objective of this phase I trial was to determine the maximally tolerated doses of the combination of docetaxel and gemcitabine. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with advanced cancer, WHO performance status 0-2, who had received up to one prior chemotherapy regimen were treated with gemcitabine on days 1 and 8 and docetaxel on day 8 repeated every 21 days. Prophylactic ciprofloxacin was commenced on day 11 of each cycle and continued until the neutrophil count reached 1.0 x 10(9)/l. G-CSF was not administered. Dose levels studied were docetaxel/gemcitabine: 60/800, 60/1000, 75/1000, 75/1200, 85/1200 and 100/1200 mg/m2. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients were entered and all were assessable for toxicity. The highest administered dose level was 100 mg/m2 docetaxel and 1200 mg/m2 gemcitabine with dose limiting toxicities of febrile neutropenia, grade 4 neutropenia > or = 7 days, grade 4 thrombocytopenia, grade 3 stomatitis and/or grade 3 fatigue in three out of six patients. Treatment was well tolerated (40 cycles) in the 10 patients treated at the recommended dose level (85/1200) with only a single episode of febrile neutropenia and grade 3 or 4 non-hematologic toxicity was infrequent. There was no significant pulmonary toxicity. Responses were seen in a range of malignancies including non-small-cell lung cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The recommended dose level of 85 mg/m2 docetaxel and 1200 mg/m2 gemcitabine has a favourable toxicity profile and is suitable for further investigation in phase II trials. This non-platinum containing regimen warrants further investigation as a potential alternative to platinum containing regimens in non-small-cell lung cancer and other malignancies.


Assuntos
Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapêutico , Neoplasias/tratamento farmacológico , Taxoides , Adulto , Idoso , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/tratamento farmacológico , Desoxicitidina/administração & dosagem , Desoxicitidina/efeitos adversos , Desoxicitidina/análogos & derivados , Docetaxel , Feminino , Humanos , Neoplasias Pulmonares/tratamento farmacológico , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Paclitaxel/administração & dosagem , Paclitaxel/efeitos adversos , Paclitaxel/análogos & derivados , Resultado do Tratamento , Gencitabina
14.
Ir Med J ; 93(1): 17-8, 2000.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10740367

RESUMO

It has been suggested that routine antenatal prophylactic anti-D should be introduced for prevention of Rhesus D (RhD) haemolytic disease. Before making changes to the current prevention program it is important, therefore, to have up-to-date data on affected infants. Pregnant women with anti-D antibodies between September 1994 and February 1997 were identified by the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service. The records of 124 women and 130 babies were examined. 26% of planned deliveries occurred in hospitals without paediatric cover. Rhesus isoimmunisation affected 78 babies. Fifty-nine infants were admitted to one of seven neonatal units. There were 2 stillbirths and 1 neonatal death. Two infants have severe neurodevelopmental delay. There is still significant morbidity associated with RhD haemolytic disease. Care for RhD affected pregnancies should be centralised to guarantee training opportunities and maintenance of expertise. The current management of these pregnancies should be re-examined before changing the Rhesus prevention program.


Assuntos
Eritroblastose Fetal/prevenção & controle , Isoimunização Rh/epidemiologia , Imunoglobulina rho(D)/administração & dosagem , Eritroblastose Fetal/epidemiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Recém-Nascido , Irlanda do Norte/epidemiologia , Gravidez , Resultado da Gravidez , Sistema de Registros
15.
Blood ; 95(8): 2491-8, 2000 Apr 15.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10753826

RESUMO

Heterodimeric cytokine receptors generally consist of a major cytokine-binding subunit and a signaling subunit. The latter can transduce signals by more than 1 cytokine, as exemplified by the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and IL-6 receptor systems. However, often the signaling subunits in isolation are unable to bind cytokines, a fact that has made it more difficult to obtain structural definition of their ligand-binding sites. This report details the crystal structure of the ligand-binding domain of the GM-CSF/IL-3/IL-5 receptor beta-chain (beta(c)) signaling subunit in complex with the Fab fragment of the antagonistic monoclonal antibody, BION-1. This is the first single antagonist of all 3 known eosinophil-producing cytokines, and it is therefore capable of regulating eosinophil-related diseases such as asthma. The structure reveals a fibronectin type III domain, and the antagonist-binding site involves major contributions from the loop between the B and C strands and overlaps the cytokine-binding site. Furthermore, tyrosine(421) (Tyr(421)), a key residue involved in receptor activation, lies in the neighboring loop between the F and G strands, although it is not immediately adjacent to the cytokine-binding residues in the B-C loop. Interestingly, functional experiments using receptors mutated across these loops demonstrate that they are cooperatively involved in full receptor activation. The experiments, however, reveal subtle differences between the B-C loop and Tyr(421), which is suggestive of distinct functional roles. The elucidation of the structure of the ligand-binding domain of beta(c) also suggests how different cytokines recognize a single receptor subunit, which may have implications for homologous receptor systems. (Blood. 2000;95:2491-2498)


Assuntos
Receptores de Fator Estimulador das Colônias de Granulócitos e Macrófagos/química , Receptores de Interleucina-3/química , Receptores de Interleucina/química , Anticorpos Monoclonais/metabolismo , Anticorpos Monoclonais/farmacologia , Sítios de Ligação , Linhagem Celular , Mapeamento de Epitopos , Humanos , Ligantes , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Ligação Proteica , Conformação Proteica , Receptores de Fator Estimulador das Colônias de Granulócitos e Macrófagos/antagonistas & inibidores , Receptores de Fator Estimulador das Colônias de Granulócitos e Macrófagos/metabolismo , Receptores de Interleucina/antagonistas & inibidores , Receptores de Interleucina/metabolismo , Receptores de Interleucina-3/antagonistas & inibidores , Receptores de Interleucina-3/metabolismo , Receptores de Interleucina-5
16.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A ; 96(23): 13548-53, 1999 Nov 09.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10557358

RESUMO

Although S-locus RNases (S-RNases) determine the specificity of pollen rejection in self-incompatible (SI) solanaceous plants, they alone are not sufficient to cause S-allele-specific pollen rejection. To identify non-S-RNase sequences that are required for pollen rejection, a Nicotiana alata cDNA library was screened by differential hybridization. One clone, designated HT, hybridized strongly to RNA from N. alata styles but not to RNA from Nicotiana plumbaginifolia, a species known to lack one or more factors necessary for S-allele-specific pollen rejection. Sequence analysis revealed a 101-residue ORF including a putative secretion signal and an asparagine-rich domain near the C terminus. RNA blot analysis showed that the HT-transcript accumulates in the stigma and style before anthesis. The timing of HT-expression lags slightly behind S(C10)-RNase in SI N. alata S(C10)S(C10) and is well correlated with the onset of S-allele-specific pollen rejection in the style. An antisense-HT construct was prepared to test for a role in pollen rejection. Transformed (N. plumbaginifolia x SI N. alata S(C10)S(C10)) hybrids with reduced levels of HT-protein continued to express S(C10)-RNase but failed to reject S(C10)-pollen. Control hybrids expressing both S(C10)-RNase and HT-protein showed a normal S-allele-specific pollen rejection response. We conclude that HT-protein is directly implicated in pollen rejection.


Assuntos
Alelos , Nicotiana/genética , Proteínas de Plantas/metabolismo , Plantas Tóxicas , Pólen/metabolismo , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Sequência de Bases , Clonagem Molecular , Primers do DNA , DNA Complementar , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Fenótipo , Proteínas de Plantas/química , Proteínas de Plantas/genética , Nicotiana/metabolismo , Nicotiana/fisiologia
17.
Blood ; 94(6): 1943-51, 1999 Sep 15.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10477723

RESUMO

Human interleukin-5 (IL-5), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and IL-3 are eosinophilopoietic cytokines implicated in allergy in general and in the inflammation of the airways specifically as seen in asthma. All 3 cytokines function through cell surface receptors that comprise a ligand-specific alpha chain and a shared subunit (beta(c)). Although binding of IL-5, GM-CSF, and IL-3 to their respective receptor alpha chains is the first step in receptor activation, it is the recruitment of beta(c) that allows high-affinity binding and signal transduction to proceed. Thus, beta(c) is a valid yet untested target for antiasthma drugs with the added advantage of potentially allowing antagonism of all 3 eosinophil-acting cytokines with a single compound. We show here the first development of such an agent in the form of a monoclonal antibody (MoAb), BION-1, raised against the isolated membrane proximal domain of beta(c). BION-1 blocked eosinophil production, survival, and activation stimulated by IL-5 as well as by GM-CSF and IL-3. Studies of the mechanism of this antagonism showed that BION-1 prevented the high-affinity binding of (125)I-IL-5, (125)I-GM-CSF, and (125)I-IL-3 to purified human eosinophils and that it bound to the major cytokine binding site of beta(c). Interestingly, epitope analysis using several beta(c) mutants showed that BION-1 interacted with residues different from those used by IL-5, GM-CSF, and IL-3. Furthermore, coimmunoprecipitation experiments showed that BION-1 prevented ligand-induced receptor dimerization and phosphorylation of beta(c), suggesting that ligand contact with beta(c) is a prerequisite for recruitment of beta(c), receptor dimerization, and consequent activation. These results demonstrate the feasibility of simultaneously inhibiting IL-5, GM-CSF, and IL-3 function with a single agent and that BION-1 represents a new tool and lead compound with which to identify and generate further agents for the treatment of eosinophil-dependent diseases such as asthma.


Assuntos
Eosinófilos/fisiologia , Fator Estimulador de Colônias de Granulócitos e Macrófagos/farmacologia , Interleucina-5/farmacologia , Leucócitos/fisiologia , Receptores de Fator Estimulador das Colônias de Granulócitos e Macrófagos/fisiologia , Receptores de Interleucina-3/fisiologia , Receptores de Interleucina/fisiologia , Animais , Sítios de Ligação , Células CHO , Sobrevivência Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Cricetinae , Eosinófilos/citologia , Eosinófilos/efeitos dos fármacos , Humanos , Técnicas In Vitro , Interleucina-3/farmacologia , Cinética , Leucócitos/citologia , Ativação Linfocitária , Monócitos/citologia , Monócitos/fisiologia , Neutrófilos/citologia , Neutrófilos/fisiologia , Receptores de Fator Estimulador das Colônias de Granulócitos e Macrófagos/química , Receptores de Fator Estimulador das Colônias de Granulócitos e Macrófagos/efeitos dos fármacos , Receptores de Interleucina/química , Receptores de Interleucina/efeitos dos fármacos , Receptores de Interleucina-3/química , Receptores de Interleucina-3/efeitos dos fármacos , Receptores de Interleucina-5 , Proteínas Recombinantes/metabolismo , Proteínas Recombinantes/farmacologia , Transfecção
18.
Eur J Pediatr ; 158(2): 152-3, 1999 Feb.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10048614

RESUMO

UNLABELLED: A male infant born at 26 weeks gestation became unwell at 10 days of age with blood-stained pharyngeal aspirates. The chest radiograph revealed a feeding tube in the right pleural cavity, indicating a perforation of the thoracic oesophagus. The infant had had a chest drain inserted on the right side on two previous occasions. These had been allowed to remain across the mediastinum at the site of the subsequent perforation. The infant was successfully managed conservatively with no long-term sequelae The unusual site of the perforation led us to conclude that pressure necrosis from the drains was a contributing factor in the aetiology. CONCLUSION: Oesophageal perforations in the neonate, in contrast to the adult, can be managed conservatively.


Assuntos
Perfuração Esofágica/diagnóstico por imagem , Doenças do Prematuro/diagnóstico por imagem , Recém-Nascido de muito Baixo Peso , Tubos Torácicos/efeitos adversos , Nutrição Enteral , Perfuração Esofágica/etiologia , Esôfago/diagnóstico por imagem , Humanos , Recém-Nascido , Recém-Nascido Prematuro , Doenças do Prematuro/etiologia , Masculino , Radiografia
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