Heterologous expression of human transketolase.

Transketolase belongs to the family of thiamin diphosphate dependent enzymes. The aim of this study was to establish a bacterial expression system for human transketolase in order to investigate the functional characteristics of mammalian transketolases. The level of recombinant human enzyme expressed in Escherichia coli was modest.

The role of His113 and His114 in pyruvate decarboxylase from Zymomonas mobilis.

Pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC) is one of several enzymes that require thiamin diphosphate (ThDP) and a divalent cation as essential cofactors. Recently, the three-dimensional structures of the enzyme from two yeasts have been determined. While these structures shed light on the binding of the cofactors and the reaction mechanism, the interactions between the substrate pyruvate and the enzyme remain unclear.

Molecular evolutionary analysis of the thiamine-diphosphate-dependent enzyme, transketolase.

Members of the transketolase group of thiamine-diphosphate-dependent enzymes from 17 different organisms including mammals, yeast, bacteria, and plants have been used for phylogenetic reconstruction. Alignment of the amino acid and DNA sequences for 21 transketolase enzymes and one putative transketolase reveals a number of highly conserved regions and invariant residues that are of predicted importance for enzyme activity, based on the crystal structure of yeast transketolase. One particular sequence of 36 residues has some similarities to the nucleotide-binding motif and we designate it as the transketolase motif.

Experiences of photodynamic therapy in dermatology.

From March 1988 to May 1994, 15 patients underwent the treatment protocol of superficial photodynamic therapy (PDT) in dermatological localized malignancies. Two tumours (one M. Queyrat of the penis, one basalioma) were treated primarily; the other 13 patients experienced relapses of underlying disease after treatment by surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

Hypericin in phototherapy.

We describe the first local use of hypericin as photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy in a patient with recurrent malignant mesothelioma. Hypericin is a polycyclic quinone, which has been shown to possess in vivo and in vitro antiretroviral and photosensitizing activity; moreover, it is used in depressive disorders. The semiquinone radical, singlet oxygen, and superoxide anion radical are reported to be the toxic agents in hypericin phototherapy.

Induratio penis plastica: effectivity of low-dose radiotherapy at different clinical stages.

This study describes the treatment of Peyronie's disease by means of low-dose radiotherapy. We treated 265 men aged 24.5-79.

[ROKO--computer-assisted roentgen quality control].

To guarantee the quality of 30 x-ray machines and 8 photographic processors 24,000 data are collected yearly. A computer system is introduced (ROKO-Röntgenkonstanzprüfung) which helps to collect the monthly data easily and to measure on-line dose and voltage. If given tolerance values are exceeded acoustic and graphic warnings appear, a trend analysis is made to assure the correctness of the collected data, a generator to design the layout of check form facilitates the controlling and an on-line documentation for each x-ray machine is available.

Photodynamic therapy--an alternative pathway in the treatment of recurrent breast cancer.

Purpose: Validity of photodynamic therapy for treatment of recurrent breast cancer.

Methods And Materials: Patients were intravenously administered with a metal-free haematoporphyrine derivative for tumor sensibilization. For irradiation both monochromatic and white light was used.

Opioid-induced respiratory depression and analgesia may be mediated by different subreceptors.

Use of selective delta opioid antagonists provide evidence that the delta receptor within the brain seems an integrated part in the mediation of respiratory depression induced by a potent analgesic like fentanyl. Low doses of the delta antagonists RX-8008M (3-6 micrograms/kg) as well as ICI 174,864 (3-6 micrograms/kg) reversed fentanyl-related respiratory depression (arterial blood gases) in the unanesthetized canine. Opioid-induced blockade of afferent sensory nerve volleys (amplitude height of the somatosensory-evoked potential) could be reversed only by a high dose (9 micrograms/kg) of RX-8008M.

[MRT of orofacial tumors--initial clinical experiences with turbo-flash intensity studies].

We examined 36 patients with carcinomas of the tongue and the floor of the mouth. In 11 cases, a clear definition of the tumor extent was not possible using T2 w. spin echo sequences and T1 w.

Somatosensory-evoked potentials during block of surgical stimulation with propofol.

The effect of propofol on somatosensory evoked potentials was assessed during different intra-operative stimuli in prolonged (greater than 2 h) abdominal operations. SSEP were used to evaluate the extent of block of sensory nerve conduction at the following stages: preinduction; during steady state anaesthesia; during traction of the mesentery; 10 min after anaesthesia. Propofol 100 micrograms kg-1 min-1 and nitrous oxide in oxygen anaesthesia induced a significant decrease in amplitude of the SSEP; noxious stimulation resulted in an increase in afferent nerve transmission and a concomitant increase of amplitude of the late evoked potential.

Metabolism of the calcium antagonist gallopamil in man.

The metabolism of gallopamil (5-[(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)methylamino]-2-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl) -2- isopropylvaleronitrile hydrochloride, Procorum, G) was studied after single administration (2 mg i.v., 50 mg p.

Methotrexate serum-level determinations during low-dose therapy of rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis.

In 29 patients, 21 suffering from psoriatic arthritis and eight patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, methotrexate serum-levels were determined by means of radioimmunoassay. The aim of the investigation was to recognize an eventual dependence of the serum level of methotrexate on the total cumulative dose and to test the possibility of a concomitant therapy control. Beside the determinations of the serum levels of methotrexate, clinical examinations and laboratory tests were done at regular intervals.

[Blood cell concentration of methotrexate in long-term therapy of inflammatory rheumatic diseases].

To verify the possibility of a concomitant therapy control in 31 patients (18 psoriatic arthritis [PA], 13 rheumatoid arthritis [RA]) the blood cell concentration of Methotrexate (MTX) was continuously measured over a period of 6 months. The determinations were carried out by using a RIA of the CIS Corp. At any time MTX was determined laboratory and clinical examinations were done and the P-III-P serum-level was measured by using a RIA of the Behringwerke.

Somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEPs) are affected differently by mu- and kappa-selective opioids in the dog.

Alfentanil, a mu-opioid receptor ligand, induced a dose-related suppression of the early N50 peak and an increase in latency of the late N140 peak. The highest dose blocked all potentials. These effects were reversible by naloxone.

Apolipoproteins C-II and C-III in serum quantified by zone immunoelectrophoresis.

Zone immunoelectrophoresis assays specific for apolipoprotein C-II and C-III have been developed. These simple, accurate, reproducible, and sensitive methods present valid alternatives to conventional immunoassays. In fasting normolipidemic men and women the concentrations of apolipoprotein C-II and C-III were 49 (SD 25) mg/L and 124 (SD 60) mg/L, respectively, with no sex-related differences for either apolipoprotein.

The determination of thiols with diphenylpicrylhydrazyl as a spectrophotometric reagent.

Diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH), a stable, intensely purple free radical, is used as a reagent in the quantitative determination of various aromatic and aliphatic thiols by indirect spectrophotometric analysis. Plots of degree of reaction vs. time show that thiophenol and its derivatives react more quickly than aliphatic thiols with DPPH.

Naloxone reverses the hypnotic effect and the depressed baroreceptor reflex of halothane anaesthesia in the dog.

In order to evaluate the effect of an opioid antagonist on depressed intrinsic central vaso-motor drive (carotid sinus reflex) and high voltage slow delta waves in the EEG associated with halothane, naloxone was injected intravenously in a bolus of 100 or 200 micrograms.kg-1 on different days in the anaesthetized dog (0.64 Vol% halothane in oxygen).

Bremazocine: an opiate that induces sedation and analgesia without respiratory depression.

The benzomorphan analogue bremazocine has been shown to be a potent analgesic with a low dependence liability and with no respiratory depressant effects in preliminary pharmacologic screening. As this compound may prove to be of potential interest to anesthesiologists, it was tested in the conscious dog in increasing doses (1, 5, 10, 20, and 40 micrograms/kg) while blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, arterial blood-gas tensions, electrical cortical activity, and somatosensory-evoked potentials (SS-EVP) were recorded. Bremazocine had no significant cardiovascular or respiratory effects.

Tifluadom (KC 5103) induces suppression and latency changes on somatosensory evoked potentials which are reversed by opioid antagonists.

Suppression of evoked potentials of the EEG are indicators of analgesia. Tifluadom induces latency changes which are reversed by the kappa-antagonist Mr 2266. Naloxone reverses peak suppression which indicates an additional interaction with the my-opioid-receptor.

Effects of three narcotic antagonists (naltrexone, diprenorphine, and S-20682) on blood pressure, heart rate and electrical cortical activity.

Three narcotic antagonist drugs (EN-1639 or naltrexone, M-5050 or diprenorphine and the 6-oxo analogue of oxilorphan, S-20682) were evaluated in increasing doses (1-80 micrograms/kg) in the unanaesthetised dog for possible effects on blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, arterial blood gases, and convulsive EEG changes. Compared to the control-awake situation, diprenorphine and S-20682 induced hypotension (maximum fall 15%), bradycardia (maximum 12%) and bradypnoea (maximum 25%). These effects were not increased at doses higher than 20 micrograms/kg.

[Naloxone-resistant EEG slowing induced by the synthetic opioid peptide FK 33-824 in the 4th cerebral ventricle of the dog].

In order to determine the importance of opioid peptides in the central control of wakefulness, the synthetic analogue of Met-Enkephalin, FK 33-824 (d-Ala-2-Phe-Met-(O)-ol-Enkephalin) which is more resistant to enzymatic degradation, was perfused in increasing concentrations (20, 100, 200, and 400 micgrograms/ml) through the fourth cerebral ventricle of the conscious dog. In the EEG (Power-spectral density in continuous acquisition) high concentrations (200--400 micgrograms/ml) induce slowing (theta--delta) with overlying beta-activity. This was reflected in the animals behaviour resulting in a sleep-like state which in spite of the administration of high doses of the antagonist Naloxone (100 micrograms/kg i.

Perfusion of the fourth cerebral ventricle with the synthetic opioid peptide, FK 33-824, induces dose-related bradycardia and naloxone-reversible respiratory depression in the awake dog.

The importance of natural opioids in the central control of blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory function was evaluated with a synthetic analogue of Met-enkephalin, FK 33-824, which is more resistant to enzymatic degradation than the natural opioids. Increasing concentrations (20, 100, 200 and 400 micrograms/ml), perfused through the 4th cerebral ventricle of the conscious dog, induced a concentration-related depression of respiratory function - as reflected in arterial pCO2 and pO2 and heart rate. Naloxone (40 micrograms/ml) was able to reverse respiratory depression whereas bradycardia was naloxone-resistant even after massive (100 micrograms/kg) intravenous doses.