Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0040822 (tremor)
 18,428 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

To develop an efficient method for the production of urocanic acid, optimal conditions for the production of microbial L-histidine ammonia lyase and for the conversion of L-histidine to urocanic acid by this enzyme were studied. A number of microorganisms were screened to test their ability to form and accumulate urocanic acid from L-histidine. Achromobacter liquidum was selected as the best organism. With this organism, enzyme activity as high as 2.0 units/ml could be produced by a shaking culture at 30 C in a medium containing glucose, urea, potassium phosphate, L-histidine, yeast extract, peptone, and inorganic salts. Appropriate addition of a surface-active agent to the reaction mixture shortened the time required for the conversion. A large amount of L-histidine was converted stoichiometrically to urocanic acid in 48 h at 40 C. Accumulated urocanic acid was readily isolated in pure form by ordinary procedures with isoelectric precipitation. Yields of isolated urocanic acid of over 92% from L-histidine were easily attainable. When the culture of Achromobacter liquidum was added to DL-histidine, D-histidine and urocanic acid were simultaneously obtained in high yields.
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PMID:Enzymatic production of urocanic acid by Achromobacter liquidum. 415 Nov 17

Dementia, a syndrome of acquired intellectual deterioration, is an etiologically nonspecific condition that can be permanent or reversible. When evaluating demented patients, a careful exposure history will determine the possible role of drugs, metals, or toxins. Physical examination may reveal focal deficits in cases of intracranial mass lesions and spasticity or ataxia of the lower limbs if hydrocephalus is present. Coexistence of dementia and a peripheral neuropathy usually indicates the existence of a toxic or metabolic disorder. Depressed mood, sleep disturbance, anorexia, impotence, constipation, and psychomotor retardation indicate the presence of a depressive syndrome. Asterixis, myoclonus, and postural tremor are common in toxic-metabolic dementias, whereas resting tremor, choreoathetosis, or rigidity occur in progressive extrapyramidal disorder. EEG is focally abnormal in cases of cerebral mass lesions and shows generalized slowing in toxic-metabolic encephalopathies. CT will aid in the identification of hydrocephalus, subdural hematomas, and intracranial mass lesions. A thorough laboratory evaluation including complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, electrolytes, blood urea nitrogen and blood sugar, liver and thyroid function tests, serum calcium and phosphorus levels, B12 and folate levels, serum copper and ceruloplasmin, VDRL, chest X-ray, electrocardiogram, and lumbar puncture may demonstrate treatable disorders that are adversely affecting intellectual function. Elderly individuals are particularly susceptible to the effects of toxic or metabolic disorders, and a mild dementia may be exaggerated by relatively minor fluctuations in metabolic status. Treatable causes of dementia should be sought in all demented patients.
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PMID:Treatable dementias. 635 58

It has recently been demonstrated that human pancreatic GH-releasing factor (hpGRF-44) and Tyr-D-Trp-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-NH2 (subsequently referred to as 'the peptide') release GH from rat pituitary glands maintained in vitro and, in the former case, increase circulating GH in rats and man. The commercial importance of discovering an agent capable of specifically enhancing GH secretion in ruminants stimulated the present study which examined: the intravenous administration of both peptides on plasma GH, prolactin, insulin, glucose, urea and non-esterified fatty acids in goats and the effect of the peptide on the release of GH from sheep pituitary glands maintained in vitro. The peptide was injected into the jugular vein of goats in three different forms and at several concentrations (dispersal by shaking, 0.07 microgram/kg; 0.7 microgram/kg; ball-milled, 7.0 micrograms/kg, 70 micrograms/kg; dimethyl sulphoxide (5%), 7.0 micrograms/kg, 70 micrograms/kg). None of the treatments stimulated a significant increase in circulating GH. Nevertheless the peptide (20 micrograms/ml medium) was found to stimulate a 50-60% increase in the production of GH from sheep pituitary glands maintained in vitro. The effect of intravenously injecting hpGRF-44 (1.0 microgram/kg) was investigated in the present and absence of passive immunization with sheep anti-somatostatin immunoglobulin G (IgG) (a bolus of 600 mg, 3 h before treatment with hpGRF-44). Plasma GH was increased (P less than 0.001) within 15 min of treatment and the magnitude of the response was the same for both the immunized and non-immunized goats. A second peak was measured after approximately 75 min which was only significant (P less than 0.05) in the immunized group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Effect of intravenous administration of growth hormone-releasing factor (hpGRF-44) and Tyr-D-Trp-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-NH2 on plasma hormones and metabolites in goats. 643 24

Thirty-four chemicals-diverse in structure, postulated mechanisms of action, and primary target organs--were tested for cytotoxic response in isolated hepatocyte suspensions from young male Sprague-Dawley rats. Hepatocytes were incubated in the presence and absence of the test chemicals in closed vessels fitted with side arms for serial sampling for up to 5 h at 37 degrees C with gentle shaking under an O2:CO2 (95:5) atmosphere. The parameters evaluated were glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase release from the cells, Trypan blue exclusion, cell count, urea synthesis capability, and steady-state ATP levels. All chemicals cytotoxic in animals following single or short-term repeated exposures caused statistically significant changes in one or more of these parameters in the 0.01-10-mM concentration range. Dimethylnitrosamine and thioacetamide were not as potent in the isolated cell system as expected from their in vivo hepatotoxicity, and the quantitative changes produced with thioacetamide in the hepatocytes were marginal, even at 10 mM. The solvents tested--ethanol, acetone, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and propylene glycol--were without effect. These results indicate that isolated hepatocyte suspensions are useful for the identification of cytotoxins in general and hepatotoxins in particular, but that their capability for yielding a quantitative index of cytotoxic potential for diverse chemical species remains to be demonstrated.
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PMID:Response of isolated hepatocytes to organic and inorganic cytotoxins. 662 Mar 99

Scaling-up purine nucleoside fermentation by a mutant strain of Bacillus subtilis from a shaking flask to a stirred-tank fermentor was attempted. The dimensions and the operating conditions of the stirred tank were determined in order to satisfy the optimum conditions of O2 transfer and power consumption per unit volume for the shaking flask. When the purine nucleoside fermentation was carried out in the stirred-tank fermentor under these conditions, in which the temperature simulated that in the shaking flask, the total amount of purine nucleosides produced was almost the same as that in the shaking flask, but the accumulation ratio of guanosine to total nucleosides was different from that in the flask. Since urea could not be utilized so efficiently in the stirred-tank fermentor, the NH4+ concentration and the pH of the culture broth were lower than those in the shaking-flask culture during fermentation. The activity of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase and the accumulation ratio were significantly affected by the NH+4 concentration. When the pH of the stirred-tank culture was maintained at 6.9 by ammonia water to keep the NH+4 level higher, the ratio was improved to the same level as that observed in the shaking-flask culture. The fermentation heat calculated from the shaking-flask data and its pattern of change were similar to those in the stirred-tank fermentor.
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PMID:Scale-up of purine nucleoside fermentation from a shaking flask to a stirred-tank fermentor. 776 71

We previously reported that a recombinant strain, SB412(pLGM304), was constructed from acidomycin-resistant mutants of Serratia marcescens and produced 200 mg of d-biotin per liter of a medium containing sucrose and urea (Sakurai et al., 1993a, b). In the present work, we intended to improve the d-biotin production. Both ethionine and S-2-aminoethylcysteine resistances were added to the host strain SB412, producing d-biotin at 20 mg l-1, and a resultant strain, ETA23, producing it at 33 mg l-1, was obtained. Cells of ETA23 did not maintain pLGM304 stably after greater than 30 generations under non-selective culture conditions. A new recombinant plasmid, pLGM304P, was constructed so as to be composed of pLGM304 and the parB locus, a plasmid-stabilizing element. ETA23 stably maintained pLGM304P after 50 generations under non-selective culture conditions. ETA23(pLGM304) produced 250 mg l-1 of d-biotin in a shaking flask under batch culture conditions and 500 mg l-1 in a jar fermentor under fed-batch culture conditions.
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PMID:Improvement of a d-biotin-hyperproducing recombinant strain of Serratia marcescens. 776 60

Glomerulonephritis (GN) is a leading cause of chronic renal failure in dogs. However, little is known about the efficacy of available treatment options for GN in this species. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of cyclosporine (Cy) administration on the outcome of naturally occurring GN in dogs. Thirteen dogs from 4 institutions were included in the study. Randomization of dogs into placebo-versus Cy-treated groups was stratified according to initial morphological diagnosis and contributing institution. Seven and 6 dogs were assigned to be given placebo or Cy, respectively. The initial Cy dose of 10 mg/kg every 24 hours was adjusted to maintain 24-hour trough, whole blood Cy concentrations between 250 and 400 ng/mL. There were no statistically significant differences between placebo- and Cy-treated groups with respect to serum total protein, albumin, urea nitrogen and creatinine, and plasma protein concentrations; platelet count; urine protein-creatinine ratio; endogenous creatinine clearance; 24-hour urine protein concentrations; or 24-hour urine protein-endogenous creatinine clearance ratio. However, PCV was significantly lower in the Cy-treated group. Decreased appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, involuntary shaking, and thrombocytopenia were noted in both treatment groups; however, clinical signs in Cy-treated dogs subjectively were more severe. One Cy-treated dog developed gingival hyperplasia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:The effects of cyclosporine versus standard care in dogs with naturally occurring glomerulonephritis. 852 23

Seven related Bernese Mountain Dogs developed a syndrome Characterized by progressive cerebellar and hepatic disease. Clinically, stiffness in the hind limbs, mild incoordination, and a slight head tremor were first noticeable when pups were 4 to 6 weeks old. The condition progressed, causing pups to assume a wide-based stance. Other signs included head bobbing, spontaneous nystagmus, and, finally, paresis. Hematologic findings included leukocytosis with a left shift; normocytic, normochromic anemia; hypoproteinemia, low serum creatinine, and urea nitrogen concentrations; excessive fasting plasma ammonia concentration; and an increase in concentration of serum bile acids. Portal venography performed on 1 dog revealed a small liver and extensive extrahepatic varicosities. Necropsy revealed cerebellar hypoplasia, nodular liver, extensive abdominal varicosities, and ascites. Histologically, degeneration and depletion of Purkinje's cells and vacuolation, degeneration, and nodular regeneration of hepatic tissues were evident. Preliminary analysis of the pedigree was suggestive of an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance.
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PMID:Clinical, hematologic, and biochemical features of a syndrome in Bernese mountain dogs characterized by hepatocerebellar degeneration. 863 71

Haematological and serum biochemical measurements in male spontaneously epileptic rats (SER; double mutants homozygous for zitter and tremor genes) were compared with the values for related rat strains. Some haematological values were low in TRM rats and total leukocyte counts were high in ZI and TRM rats. TRM rats showed higher total cholesterol, phospholipid, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and calcium values, and lower albumin value than Kyo: Wistar rats. Zitter homozygous rats including SER exhibited low total cholesterol, phospholipid and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol values. The SER showed an increase in urea nitrogen, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase values, and a decrease in glucose value, suggesting deterioration of the whole body with age.
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PMID:Haematological and serum biochemical values in spontaneously epileptic male rats and related rat strains. 958 5

After separation by isoelectric focusing (IEF) or non-equilibrium pH gradient electrophoresis (NEPHGE) in 9.2 M urea polyacrylamide tube gels, proteins with Mr > 20,000 can be precipitated by shaking the gels in 25% methanol. When a fiber-optic illuminator is placed in contact with the end of the gel, the cylindrical gel transmits light by internal reflection. In regions of the gel where protein is precipitated, this light is scattered, making it visible when the gel is viewed in a darkened room against a black background. The sensitivity of the method is moderate: less than 1 microgram protein per band (in a 3-mm diameter gel) can be detected. Because the protein in the bands precipitates rapidly (30 min), the solution used (25% methanol) is fairly benign to proteins, and the apparatus is not expensive, this technique should be useful in several situations including electrophoretic purification schemes. This method is especially useful for evaluating the quality of an IEF or NEPHGE tube gel before using it for the second dimension of a two-dimensional gel.
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PMID:Using light scattering to locate less than a microgram of protein per band in polyacrylamide tube gels after isoelectric focusing. 964 51


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