Apparent inactivation of alpha 1-antiproteinase by sulphur-containing radicals derived from penicillamine

alpha 1-Antiproteinase is the major inhibitor of proteolytic enzymes, such as elastase, in human plasma. Its elastase-inhibitory capacity can be inactivated by exposure to hydroxyl radicals (.OH) generated either by pulse radiolysis or by an Fe3+-EDTA/H2O2/ascorbic acid system. Inactivation of alpha 1-antiproteinase by radiolytically-generated .OH under anoxic conditions was decreased by adding a range of anti-inflammatory drugs to the reaction mixtures, including the thiol compound penicillamine. However, under conditions favouring formation of oxysulphur radicals, protection by thiols such as penicillamine was much decreased. It is proposed that sulphur-containing radicals resulting from attack of biologically-produced oxidants upon penicillamine in the presence of O2 can themselves inactivate alpha 1-antiproteinase, and that such radicals might contribute to the side-effects produced by penicillamine or gold thiol therapy in rheumatoid arthritis.     

Coralline hydroxyapatite bone graft substitutes: preliminary report of radiographic evaluation

A new bone graft substitute made by conversion of the calcium carbonate exoskeleton of reef-building sea coral into hydroxyapatite has recently become clinically available. The normal radiographic appearance of two forms of this material is described. In the immediate postoperative period, the exoskeletal architecture of these implants is readily appreciated. With graft incorporation over the ensuing months, their intrinsic structure is gradually lost in association with poor marginal definition. Evolving radiographic findings reflect the biocompatible nature of these implants, which provides the potential for ingrowth of native bone with preservation of the coralline scaffold, resulting in enhanced biomechanical properties.     

Antioxidant and pro-oxidant actions of the plant phenolics quercetin, gossypol and myricetin. Effects on lipid peroxidation, hydroxyl radical generation and bleomycin-dependent damage to DNA

The plant-derived phenolic compounds gossypol, quercetin and myricetin are powerful inhibitors of iron-induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes, under all five experimental conditions tested and at low micromolar concentrations (IC50 less than or equal to 1.5 microM). However, they greatly accelerate the generation of hydroxyl radicals (.OH) from H2O2 in the presence of Fe3+-EDTA at pH 7.4, as measured by the deoxyribose assay. At 100 microM, the three phenolic compounds enhanced .OH formation up to eight-fold. The hydroxyl radical generation was inhibited by catalase and superoxide dismutase, suggesting a mechanism in which the phenols oxidize to produce superoxide radical, which then assists .OH generation from H2O2 in the presence of Fe3+-EDTA. At concentrations up to 75 microM, quercetin and myricetin also accelerate bleomycin-dependent DNA damage in the presence of Fe3+, possibly by reducing the Fe3+-bleomycin-DNA complex to the Fe2+ form. Hence these naturally-occurring substances can have pro-oxidant effects under some reaction conditions and cannot be classified simplistically as "antioxidants".     

Canine reaginic antibody. Characterization of the spontaneous anti-ragweed and induced anti-dinitrophenyl reaginic antibodies of the atopic dog

Anti-2,4-dinitrophenyl reaginic antibody has been induced in the atopic dog and compared with anti-ragweed reaginic antibody of spontaneous canine atopic hypersensitivity. Immunization of an atopic dog with ragweed hypersensitivity with dinitrophenylated ragweed pollen produced a high and sustained level of canine reaginic anti-DNP antibody. The induced and spontaneous forms of canine reaginic antibodies were shown to be identical in heat lability, sulfhydryl sensitivity, molecular size, charge, in their ability to remain fixed at passively-sensitized dermal sites for a prolonged period, and in their capacity to sensitized homologous white blood cells from normal donors for an immunospecific release of histamine. The induced anti-DNP and spontaneous anti-ragweed reaginic antibodies were physically separated and immunochemically differentiated from six other classes of canine immunoglobulins: γ2a, γ2b, γ2c, γ1, γA and γM, and shown to be members of a distinct class of canine immunoglobulins analogous to human γE (IgE).A high incidence of spontaneous atopic hypersensitivity has been observed in the progeny of the atopic dog.     

The in vitro cytotoxicity of ascorbate depends on the culture medium used to perform the assay and involves hydrogen peroxide

Reports about the effects of ascorbate (vitamin C) on cultured cells are confusing and conflicting. Some authors show inhibition of cell death by ascorbate, whereas others demonstrate that ascorbate is cytotoxic. In this report, using three different cell types and two different culture media (Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium and RPMI 1640), we show that the toxicity of ascorbate is due to ascorbate-mediated production of H2O2, to an extent that varies with the medium used to culture the cells. For example, 1 mM ascorbate generates 161 +/- 39 microM H2O2 in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium and induces apoptosis in 50% of HL60 cells, whereas in RPMI 1640 only 83 +/- 17 microM H2O2 is produced and no apoptosis is detected. Apoptosis is prevented by catalase, and direct addition of H2O2 at the above concentration to the cells has similar effects to ascorbate. These results show that ascorbate itself is not toxic to the cell lines used and that effects of ascorbate in vivo cannot be predicted from studies on cultured cells. The ability of ascorbate to interact with different cell culture media to produce H2O2 at different rates could account for many or all of the conflicting results obtained using ascorbate in cultured cell assays.     

Paramagnetic macrocyclic complexes as contrast agents for MR imaging: proton nuclear relaxation rate enhancement in aqueous solution and in rat tissues

Paramagnetic macrocyclic chelates show promise as magnetic resonance (MR) imaging contrast agents due to stability and relaxivity comparable to those of DTPA-type chelates. For the three copper and manganese macrocyclic complexes studied in aqueous solution, T1 and T2 relaxivities ranged from 0.14 to 5.88 mM-1sec-1 at 6.25 MHz. In rats, the intravenous administration of 16 mumol/kg of Mn(cyclam) caused the liver T1 relaxation rate to double at 15 minutes after injection. T1 measurements by pulsed MR imaging and manganese analyses on excised tissue showed that both relaxation rate (1/T1) and manganese content of liver and kidney increase linearly with the dosage of Mn(cyclam). The linear relationship between 1/T1 and manganese content can be considered an "in tissue" relaxivity plot for the agent. The resulting relaxivity is 54 mM-1sec-1 in liver, compared with 3.1 mM-1sec-1 in aqueous solution. Although this work is preliminary, the implication for medical MR imaging applications is that macrocyclic contrast agents can be effective at approximately one-tenth the current typical dose used for gadolinium DTPA.