Low activities of glutathione-related enzymes as factors in the genesis of urinary bladder cancer.

A comparative study of reduced glutathione (GSH) concentrations and activities of GSH related-enzymes in urinary bladder transitional epithelium (UBTE), urinary bladder nontransitional tissue (UBNT), and liver of the rabbit, was carried out to investigate the reasons for the susceptibility of UBTE towards peroxidase-mediated chemical carcinogenesis. Cooxidative activation of chemical carcinogens by prostaglandin H synthase occurs at high levels in UBTE and minimally in UBNT. Other peroxidases are also likely to activate carcinogenic xenobiotics in the urinary bladder. GSH concentrations in UBTE and UBNT were low compared to that in the liver. gamma-Glutamyl transpeptidase activities were much lower in UBTE and in UBNT than those in the liver. Activities of selenium-dependent and selenium-independent glutathione peroxidases were very low in UBTE and UBNT. Cytosolic glutathione S-transferase activity towards 1,2-epoxy-(4-nitrophenoxy)propane was very low in UBTE. Microsomal glutathione S-transferase activity towards 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene was much lower in UBTE than in the liver. We propose that the low GSH concentration and diminished activities of glutathione peroxidases, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, and certain isozymes of glutathione S-transferase could be responsible for the vulnerability of UBTE towards chemical carcinogenesis.

Kinetic difference between hydrolyses of gamma-cyclodextrin by human salivary and pancreatic alpha-amylases.

gamma-Cyclodextrin was found to be hydrolyzed by human salivary and pancreatic alpha-amylases (1,4-alpha-D-glucan glucanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.1) at appreciable rates. The optimum pH for the enzyme reactions at 37 degrees C in the presence of 0.1 M NaCl was at around pH 5, which was remarkably different from the optimum pH (pH 6.9) of the enzymes for starch. The Km value (2.9 mg/ml) of pancreatic alpha-amylase for gamma-cyclodextrin was smaller than that (5.3 mg/ml) of salivary alpha-amylase at pH 5.3, while the V value of the former was 3.7-times larger than that of the latter. The hydrolyses of gamma-cyclodextrin by both enzymes took place via the multiple attack mechanism. The degrees of multiple attack by salivary and pancreatic alpha-amylases for gamma-cyclodextrin at pH 5.3 were 2.0 and 1.1, respectively. The distribution of maltodextrins produced by hydrolysis of gamma-cyclodextrin by salivary alpha-amylase was suggested to be independent of the substrate concentration, while that produced by pancreatic alpha-amylase was presumably dependent on the substrate concentration.

Endothelium-derived relaxing factors. A perspective from in vivo data.

We review below published studies of endothelium-dependent vasodilation in vivo. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation has been demonstrated in conduit arteries in vivo and in the cerebral, coronary, mesenteric, and femoral vascular beds as well as in the microcirculation of the brain and the microcirculation of cremaster muscle. The available evidence, although not complete, strongly suggests that the endothelium-derived relaxing factor generated by acetylcholine in the cerebral microcirculation is a nitrosothiol. The endothelium-derived relaxing factor generated by bradykinin in this vascular bed is an oxygen radical generated in association with enhanced arachidonate metabolism via cyclooxygenase. In the microcirculation of skeletal muscle, on the other hand, the vasodilation from bradykinin is mediated partly by prostacyclin and partly by an endothelium-derived relaxing factor similar to that generated by acetylcholine. Basal secretion of endothelium-derived relaxing factor is controversial in vivo but is usually present in vitro. On the other hand, it appears that endothelium-derived relaxing factor mediates flow-dependent vasodilation in both large vessels and in the microcirculation in vivo. The generation and release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor from endothelium may be abnormal in a variety of conditions including acute and chronic hypertension, atherosclerosis, and ischemia followed by reperfusion. Several mechanisms for these abnormalities have been identified. These include inability to generate endothelium-derived relaxing factor or destruction of endothelium-derived relaxing factor by oxidants after its release in the extracellular space. These abnormalities in endothelium-dependent relaxation may contribute to the vascular abnormalities in these conditions.

The growth of nerves in relation to the formation of premuscle cell masses in the developing chick forelimb.

A description is given of the growth of segmental nerves 13 to 16 (SN13 to SN16) from the brachial myotomes into the ventral and dorsal premuscle cell masses of the chick forelimb. At stage 25 (Hamburger and Hamilton, '51), segmental nerves have converged to form two nerve trunks which enter the ventral and dorsal premuscle cell masses. These nerves grow into the limb, parallel to its proximodistal axis. The nerve trunk in the ventral compartment, the brachialis longus inferior (bli n), grows on the brachial artery as far as the metacarpals. The nerve trunk in the dorsal compartment, the brachialis longus superior (bls n), grows on the precartilage adjacent to a dorsal premuscle density as far as the metacarpals. The brachialis longus inferior and superior nerve trunks give rise to a number of nerves during their growth to the metacarpals. Each of these nerves appears at the time of formation of a new premuscle cell density. At late stage 25, a posterior and ventral premuscle density forms in the middle of the stylopodium; posterior fascicles of the bli n diverge at this level and grow toward this new density to form the ulnar nerve. By stage 26 a posterior and ventral premuscle density is prominent over the bli n, at the junction of the stylopodium and the zeugopodium; ventral fascicles of the bli n grow into this density to form the flexor digitorum profundus nerve. At this stage a posterior and dorsal premuscle density forms just beyond the junction of the stylopodium and zeugopodium. Posterior fascicles of the bls n diverge at this level and grow toward this density to form a nerve from which the extensor metacarpi ulnaris, extensor digitorum communis, and radialis laterialis nerves are destined to form. At stage 29 the premuscle cell masses of the autopodium have formed. The remaining nerve fascicles comprising the bls n (the radialis profundus nerve) grow into the autopodium and branch to innervate each of the dorsal premuscles. The remaining nerve fascicles comprising the bli n (the middle nerve) grow into the autopodium and branch to innervate each of the ventral premuscles.

High level expression of the two outer capsid proteins of bluetongue virus serotype 10: their relationship with the neutralization of virus infection.

DNA representing RNA segments 2 and 5 of bluetongue virus (BTV) serotype 10, corresponding to the genes that code for the outer capsid proteins VP2 and VP5, have been inserted into a baculovirus transfer vector in lieu of the coding region of the polyhedrin gene of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV). After co-transfection of Spodoptera frugiperda cells with wild-type AcNPV DNA in the presence of the recombinant transfer vector DNAs polyhedrin-negative recombinant baculoviruses were recovered. When S. frugiperda cells were infected with these recombinant viruses proteins of similar size and antigenic properties to BTV VP2 and VP5 were synthesised. The recombinant VP2, but not the recombinant VP5, was shown to be capable of inducing antibodies that neutralized the infectivity of BTV-10 in vitro.

Differential distribution of glutathione and glutathione-related enzymes in rabbit kidney. Possible implications in analgesic nephropathy.

Whole tissue reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration was found to be lowest in rabbit renal inner medulla and progressively higher in outer medulla and cortex. Activities of cytosolic glutathione reductase in inner medulla and outer medulla were similar, and each was only approximately 50% of that of cortex. Whole tissue and microsomal gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activities were high in cortex and outer medulla but were low in inner medulla. Cytosolic activity of selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase ( GPx -I) was similar in both outer medulla and inner medulla but was only 50% of that of cortex. Activity of cytosolic selenium-independent glutathione peroxidase ( GPx -II) was highest in cortex and lowest in inner medulla (approximately 15% of cortex and approximately 50% of outer medulla). Cytosolic glutathione S-transferase activity with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene as substrate was high in all three regions of kidney. With 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene and 1,2-epoxy-(4-nitrophenoxy)propane as substrates, cytosolic glutathione S-transferase activities were very low in cortex, outer medulla, and inner medulla. Microsomal activities of glutathione reductase, GPx -I, GPx -II and glutathione S-transferases were much lower than activities of corresponding cytosolic enzymes. Activities of the glutathione peroxidases in renal inner medulla would hence be expected to cause little interference to prostaglandin endoperoxide synthetase mediated cooxidative activation of paracetamol. It has been demonstrated that the paracetamol metabolite can react rapidly with GSH, forming not only glutathione conjugate but also paracetamol itself and oxidized glutathione. Low GSH concentrations, as well as low activities of glutathione reductase, GPx -I, GPx -II, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, may therefore render the inner medullary region of kidney particularly vulnerable to paracetamol-related analgesic nephropathy.

Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting provides complete revascularization with reduced myocardial injury, transfusion requirements, and length of stay: a prospective randomized comparison of two hundred unselected patients undergoing off-pump versus conventional coronary artery bypass grafting.

OBJECTIVE: Retrospective comparisons of selected patients undergoing off-pump versus conventional on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting have yielded inconsistent results and raised concerns about completeness of revascularization in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS: Two hundred unselected patients referred for elective primary coronary artery bypass grafting were randomly assigned to undergo off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting with an Octopus tissue stabilizer (Medtronic, Inc, Minneapolis, Minn) or conventional coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass by a single surgeon. Revascularization intent determined before random assignment was compared with the revascularization performed. All management followed strict, unbiased, criteria-driven protocols. Patients and nonoperative care providers were blinded to surgical group. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were similar. The number of grafts performed per patient (mean +/- SD 3.39 +/- 1.04 for off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting, 3.40 +/- 1.08 for conventional coronary artery bypass grafting) and the index of completeness of revascularization (number of grafts performed/number of grafts intended, 1.00 +/- 0.18 for off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting, 1.01 +/- 0.09 for conventional coronary artery bypass grafting) were similar. Likewise, the index of completeness of revascularization was similar between groups for the lateral wall. Combined hospital and 30-day mortalities and stroke rates were similar. Postoperative myocardial serum enzyme measures were significantly lower after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting, suggesting less myocardial injury. Adjusted postoperative thromboelastogram indices, fibrinogen, international normalized ratio, and platelet levels all showed significantly less coagulopathy after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. Patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting received fewer units of blood, were more likely to avoid transfusion altogether, and had a higher hematocrit at discharge. Cardiopulmonary bypass was an independent predictor of transfusion (odds ratio 2.42, P =.0073) by multivariate analysis. More patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting were extubated in the operating room and within 4 hours. Postoperative length of stay (in days) was shorter for off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (5.1 +/- 6.5 for off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting, 6.1 +/- 8.2 for conventional coronary artery bypass grafting, P =.005 by Wilcoxon test). One patient (in the conventional coronary artery bypass grafting group) required angioplasty for graft closure within 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: When compared with conventional coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass, off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting achieved similar completeness of revascularization, similar in-hospital and 30-day outcomes, shorter length of stay, reduced transfusion requirement, and less myocardial injury.

Clinical outcomes, angiographic patency, and resource utilization in 200 consecutive off-pump coronary bypass patients.

BACKGROUND: This retrospective study compared clinical outcomes and resource utilization in patients having off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) versus conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Angiographic patency was documented in the OPCAB group. METHODS: From April 1997 through November 1999, OPCAB was performed in 200 consecutive patients, and the results were compared with those in a contemporaneous matched control group of 1,000 patients undergoing CABG. Patients were matched according to age, sex, preexisting disease (renal failure, diabetes, pulmonary disease, stroke, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, previous myocardial infarction, and primary or redo status. Follow-up in the OPCAB patients was 93% and averaged 13.4 months. RESULTS: Hospital death (1.0%), postoperative stroke (1.5%), myocardial infarction (1.0%), and re-entry for bleeding (1.5%) occurred infrequently in the OPCAB group. There were reductions in the rates of transfusion (33.0% versus 70.0%; p < 0.001) and deep sternal wound infection (0% versus 2.2%; p = 0.067) in the OPCAB group compared with the CABG group. Angiographic assessment of 421 grafted arteries was performed in 167 OPCAB patients (83.5%) prior to hospital discharge. All but five were patent (98.8%) (93.3% FitzGibbon A, 5.5% FitzGibbon B, 1.2% FitzGibbon O). All 163 internal mammary artery grafts were patent. Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting reduced postoperative hospital stay from 5.7 +/- 5.3 days in the CABG group to 3.9 +/- 2.6 days (p < 0.001), with a decrease in hospital cost of 15.0% (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting reduces hospital cost, postoperative length of stay, and morbidity compared with CABG on cardiopulmonary bypass. Off-pump coronary bypass grafting is safe, cost effective, and associated with excellent graft patency and clinical outcomes.

A new serum alpha-amylase assay of high sensitivity.

The use of chemically modified starch substrates for measurement of serum alpha-amylase activity is described. Action of alpha-amylase on such substrates, in the presence of excess fungal glucoamylase, results in the production of glucose in direct proportion to the amount of alpha-amylase present. The glucose produced is measured by a specific enzymic assay. Results obtained by using this new assay correlate well with activities determined by a conventional saccharogenic assay. The new method is of much higher sensitivity, and is less susceptible to interference, than are most other alpha-amylase assay methods.

Preparation and characterization of a dextran-amylase conjugate.

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens alpha-amylase was attached to dextran after activation of the polysaccharide by using a modification of the cyanogen bromide method. The soluble dextran-amylase conjugate was purified by molecular-sieve chromatography. The conjugated enzyme has greater stability than the unmodified enzyme at low pH values, during heat treatment, and on removal of calcium ions with a chelating agent. Attachment of dextran to alpha-amylase did not alter the Michaelis constant of the enzyme acting on starch. The polysaccharide-enzyme conjugate probably consists of a cross-linked aggregate of many dextran and many enzyme molecules, in which a proportion of the enzyme molecules, although not inactivated, are unable to express their activity, except after dextranase treatment.

A purification of Helix pomatia alpha amylase involving a novel affinity-binding procedure.

Shellfish glycogen was cross-linked by treatement with cyanogen bromide followed by 1,6-diaminohexane. The resulting, insoluble product efficiently adsorbed Helix pomatia alpha amylase [(1 linked to 4)-alpha-D-glucan glucanohydrolase] from crude solutions of the enzyme at 0 degrees, but only poorly at higher temperatures. A method was developed for the purification of Helix pomatia alpha amylase involving formation of an enzyme-adsorbent complex in the cold and recovery of the alpha amylase by suspending the washed complex in buffer at 37 degrees. After chromatography of the desorbed alpha amylase on a column of Bio-Gel P-60, the enzyme was homogenous as judged by poly(acrylamide)-gel electrophoresis. An overall purification of 360-fold was achieved with a recovery of 35%.