Muscle membrane polarisation after provocative tests, and after cooling: the normal CMAP changes to be expected.

OBJECTIVE: To know the range of changes of compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) in the muscles innervated by the ulnar nerve after diverse provocative tests, 14 healthy patients were studied with the same protocol. METHODS: CMAPs were measured at rest, just after a short exercise test (SET), during short 5 and 10c/s repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS) trains, at approximately 32 and approximately 20 degrees C. RESULTS: At 32 degrees C, the SET induced a significant but transient enlargement of the CMAPs (amplitude increased by 8.3%, duration decreased by 9%) that was only partially reproduced by RNS trains, except for a significant shortening of the CMAPs at 10c/s. At 20 degrees C without exercise, CMAPs increased significantly by approximately 30% in amplitude, duration and area, and after the SET the inverse of what has been seen at 32 degrees C was observed (amplitude decreased by 1.7% and duration increased by 9%). RNS at 20 degrees C produced a marked interpatient heterogeneity except for a significant shortening of the CMAPs at 10c/s. In one pure autonomic failure patient, the infusion of norepinephrine induced potentiation of the responses at rest and a decrease in the expected changes after provocative tests. CONCLUSIONS: CMAP amplitude and duration are significantly modified just after the SET at 32 degrees C, at rest at 20 degrees C and after RNS at 10c/s but not at 5c/s. Although providing indirect evidence, these findings indicate that provocative tests make the muscle membrane hyperexcitable by the way of a direct influence on the electrical events and by an indirect local catecholamine spillover.     

Cyclic AMP increases the release of parathyroid hormone-related protein from a lung-cancer cell line

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of malignant hypercalcemia by stimulating bone resorption and/or renal tubular reabsorption of calcium. In cultured cancer cells, its production can be influenced by various factors or ions, but the regulation of its production is still poorly understood. We investigated the effects of stimulators of cAMP synthesis on PTHrP release by a human lung squamous-carcinoma cell line (BEN). In supervised cells grown on microcarrier beads, PTHrP production was significantly increased after incubation with calcitonin for only 20 min. The release of immunoreactive and bioactive PTHrP was increased by incubating the cells with forskolin, 3-isobutyl-I-methylxanthine or dibutyryl cAMP even in the presence of the protein-synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide for 6 hr. The calcitonin-mediated stimulation was not accompanied by. concomitant changes in PTHrP mRNA. The microfilament-disrupter cytocha-lasin D was shown to enhance the basal and calcitonin-induced production of PTHrP. These results indicate that stimulators of cAMP synthesis enhanced PTHrP release by BEN cells.     

Biodistribution study of 99mTc-labeled LDL in B16-melanoma-bearing mice. Visualization of a preferential uptake by the tumor

Since there is strong evidence of a preferential LDL accumulation in tumor cells, LDL might be of interest for tumor imaging. We have tested the ability of ^99mTc-LDL in tumor imaging with B16-melanoma-bearing mice as a model for further applications in human studies. The LDL fixation rate was higher with 99^mTc-labeled LDL than with ¹²⁵I labeled LDL. Since technetium-99m remains trapped in the cells, ^99mTc-LDL is a well-adapted radioligand because of information given by this radiotracer on the receptor metabolism. We observed that, at early growth stages, the tumor took up the LDL at a maximal rate, suggesting differences in cholesterol metabolism as a function of tumor growth. Accumulation of label in the tumor area was perfectly observable in tumor-bearing mice on scintigraphic images. Computerized quantification of the regions of interest (as well as biodistribution studies including killing of the animals) showed a 1.81 -fold increase in uptake by the tumor as compared to the liver and a 28-fold increase as compared with corresponding normal tissue (muscle of the left leg) at day 8 of tumor growth. These data give strong support to the value of this non-invasive method in visualizing and quantifying the tissue LDL uptake in vivo, including the precise information provided by nuclear scintigraphy on the distribution of the radiolabeled LDL in the different tissues. ^99mTc-LDL could be an efficient tool for further diagnostic or therapeutic exploration in cancer patients.     

Solitary lucent epiphyseal lesions in children

We evaluated retrospectively the varying radiographic appearances of 15 solitary lucent epiphyseal lesions occurring in children. Imaging modalities used included plain films, conventional tomography, nuclear scintigraphy, and computed tomography. Forty percent of the lesions (6) were due to osteomyelitis. The remaining lesions included tuberculosis (1), foreign body granuloma (1), chondroblastoma (2), chondromyxoid fibroma (1), enchondroma (1), osteoid osteoma (2), and eosinophilic granuloma (1). Although the radiographic appearances of such lesions may be particularly characteristic, pathologic correlation is frequently necessary. The high incidence of osteomyelitis in our cases emphasizes its importance as a cause for a lucent epiphyseal lesion.     

Failure to demonstrate complement activation during bronchial challenge test

In order to demonstrate a possible complement activation during early bronchospastic reaction in asthma, we have measured plasmatic C3d (a split product of C3) and the C3d/C3 index, both of which are sensitive indices of complement activation. Twenty-nine allergenic bronchial challenge tests were accomplished, with an absence of response in six cases, an early reaction in sixteen cases and a dual reaction in seven cases. Changes in plasmatic C3d or C3d/C3 five min after an early reaction, or five min after the last dose of allergen (in the six cases without bronchial response) were insignificant. However, complement activation in the lungs during asthmatic reaction cannot be completely excluded without studies using the bronchoalveolar technique.     

Disposition of oral and intravenous pravastatin in MRP2-deficient TR- rats.

The aim of this study was to characterize the role of the efflux transporter Mrp2 (Abcc2) in the pharmacokinetics of orally and intravenously administered pravastatin in rats. Eight Mrp2-deficient TR- rats and eight wild-type rats were given an oral dose of 20 mg/kg pravastatin. Four TR- animals and four wild-type animals were studied after intravenous administration of pravastatin (5 mg/kg). The TR(-) rats showed a 6.1-fold higher mean area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of pravastatin (p < 0.001) after oral administration and a 4.7-fold higher AUC (p < 0.01) after intravenous administration of pravastatin as compared with the wild-type animals. The mean systemic (total) clearance of pravastatin was 4.6-fold higher (39.2 versus 8.50 l/h/kg, p < 0.001) and the mean V 4.3-fold higher (14.1 versus 3.29 l/kg, p < 0.01) in the wild-type rats. The mean renal clearance of pravastatin in the TR(-) rats was 16.5-fold increased as compared with the wild-type animals (0.695 versus 0.042 l/h/kg, p < 0.05). The increased systemic exposure to oral pravastatin in the TR- rats was associated with a greater inhibitory effect on 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase, as shown by smaller lathosterol to cholesterol concentration ratios. These results suggest that the reduced biliary pravastatin excretion in the Mrp2-deficient TR- rats is partly compensated for by increased urinary excretion of pravastatin. Furthermore, intestinal Mrp2 does not appear to play a major role in the oral absorption of pravastatin in normal rats.     

Relationship of resting energy expenditure with liver function and nutritional status in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis.

Resting energy expenditures (REEs) were measured in 40 alcoholic cirrhotic (AC) patients by indirect calorimetry and corrected for 24-h urinary creatinine and excretion. These REEs were compared according to the stage of severity of the cirrhosis, the nutritional status, and the presence or absence of alcoholic hepatitis (AH). Mean REE was not significantly different between the Child class A, B, and C patients, even when corrected for 24-h urinary creatinine. Mean REE was significantly less in malnourished AC than in well-nourished patients (1308 +/- 285 vs. 1531 +/- 255 kcal, p less than 0.02). However, when measured energy expenditure was corrected for 24-h urinary creatinine, the difference between the two groups of patients disappeared (1800 +/- 540 kcal/g creatinine in malnourished patients vs. 1890 +/- 780 kcal/g creatinine in well-nourished patients). Finally, there was no significant difference between the REE, corrected or not, for the 24-h urinary creatinine in AC with or without AH. Thus, when REE is normalized to lean body mass, represented by 24-h urinary creatinine, the metabolic activity in AC is not dependent on the severity of the cirrhosis, nutritional status, or existence of AH.     

Cytochromes of the P450 2C subfamily are the major enzymes involved in the O-demethylation of verapamil in humans

The calcium channel blocker verapamil [2,8-bis-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-6-methyl-2-isopropyl-6-azaoctanitrile] undergoes extensive biotransformation in man. We have previously demonstrated cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 and 1A2 to be the enzymes responsible for verapamil N-dealkylation (formation of D-617 [2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-5-methylamino-2-isopropylvaleronitrile]), and verapamil N-demethylation (formation of norverapamil [2,8-bis(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-isopropyl-6-azaoctanitrile]), while there was no involvement of CYP3A4 and CYP1A2 in the third initial metabolic step of verapamil, which is verapamil O-demethylation. This pathway yields formation of D-703 [2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-8-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-6-methyl-2-isopropyl-6-azaoctanitrile] and D-702 [2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-8-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)6-methyl-2-isopropyl-6-azaoctanitrile]. The enzymes catalyzing verapamil O-demethylation have not been characterized so far. We have therefore identified and characterized the enzymes involved in verapamil O-demethylation in humans by using the following in vitro approaches: (I) characterization of O-demethylation kinetics in the presence of the microsomal fraction of human liver, (II) inhibition of verapamil O-demethylation by specific antibodies and selective inhibitors and (111) investigation of metabolite formation in microsomes obtained from yeast strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae W(R), that was genetically engineered for stable expression of human CYP2C8, 2C9 and 2C18.In human liver microsomes (n=4), the intrinsic clearance (CL_int), as derived from the ratio of V _max/K_m, was significantly higher for O-demethylation to D-703 compared to formation of D-702 following incubation with racemic verapamil (13.9±1.0 vs 2.4±0.6 ml^*min^{-1 *}g^-1 mean±SD; p<0.05), S-Verapamil (16.8±3.3 vs 2.2±1.2 ml^* mini^*g^-1, p<0.05) and R-verapamil (12.1±2.9 vs 3.6 ±1.3 ml^*min^{-1 *} g^-1; p<0.05), thus indicating regioselectivity of verapamil O-demethylation process. The CL_int of D-703 formation in human liver microsomes showed a modest but significant degree of stereo selectivity (p<0.05) with a S/R-ratio of 1.41±0.17. Anti-LKM2 (anti-liver/kidney microsome) autoantibodies (which inhibit CYP2C9 and 2C19) and sulfaphenazole (a specific CYP2C9 inhibitor) reduced the maximum rate of formation of D-703 by 81.5±4.5% and 45%, that of D-702 by 52.7±7.5% and 72.5%, respectively. Both D-703 and D-702 were formed by stably expressed CYP2C9 and CYP2C18, whereas incubation with CYP2C8 selectively yielded D-703.In conclusion, our results show that enzymes of the CYP2C subfamily are mainly involved in verapamil O-demethylation. Verapamil therefore has the potential to interact with other drugs which inhibit or induce these enzymes.     

In vitro development and stability of tolerance to cloxacillin and vancomycin inStaphylococcus aureus

The stability of tolerance ofStaphylococcus aureus during subculturing at 37°C and development of this property after repeated exposure to cloxacillin or vancomycin were investigated in vitro. Four of five tolerant strains lost this property during repeated subculturing at 37°C for 50 days. Conversely, tolerance emerged in two of four nontolerant strains after repeated cycles of exposure to 25 µg of cloxacillin/ml or 10 µg of vancomycin/ml alternating with growth in antibiotic-free medium. Previous in vivo exposure to cloxacillin did not enhance the development of tolerance in vitro. MICs of both cloxacillin and vancomycin did not change significantly during this procedure. Whether the conversion of nontolerant strains to the tolerant state can also occur during antibiotic exposure in treatment of patients remains to be determined.