We report here our preliminary results on the use of catalytic antibodies as an approach to neutralizing organophosphorus chemical weapons. A first-generation hapten, methyl-alpha-hydroxyphosphinate Ha, was designed to mimic the approach of an incoming water molecule for the hydrolysis of exceedingly toxic methylphosphonothioate VX (1a). A moderate protective activity was first observed on poly...

A case of bilateral phaeochromocytoma with catecholamine-induced myocarditis is described. The two operations needed allowed comparison of the use of alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine alone and in conjunction with adrenergic blocks in the management of the patient. The combination of both drugs was particularly successful in the relief of symptoms and reduction of catecholamine metabolism as monitored by...

Nonenzymatic intramolecular reactions can result in the deamidation, isomerization, and racemization of protein and peptide asparaginyl and aspartyl residues via succinimide intermediates. To understand the sequence dependence of these reactions, we measured the rate of succinimide formation in a series of synthetic peptides at pH 7.4. These peptides (Val-Tyr-Pro-X-Y-Ala) contained an internal ...

Administration of haloperidol, a common neuroleptic, to pregnant or lactating rats impaired the masculine sex behavior of their male offspring. Prenatal haloperidol did not affect testosterone concentrations in fetuses. Maternal administration of apomorphine, a dopamine agonist, and of alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine, an inhibitor of dopamine synthesis, also demasculinized male offspring. In both exper...

Hypertension is an independent risk factor of cardiovascular diseases. Several factors contribute to its development, including chronic stress, which may induce hypertension by increasing sympathetic activity. The signs of increasing sympathetic activity can be primarily detected in the initial phase of hypertension, which is characterized by the increase in cardiac output. In addition to the h...

The neuropil surrounding sympathetic preganglionic neurons (SPNs) receives an abundant catecholaminergic innervation originating from the brain stem. The effect of catecholamines (CA) released at this spinal level on the activity of SPNs is still controversial as is the extent to which this particular CA transmission is affected by central antihypertensive drugs, such as clonidine and alpha-met...

The trial of the European Working Party on High blood pressure in the Elderly (EWPHE) revealed an overall decrease in cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in the actively treated patients. They received as first-line drugs a combination of hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene; methyldopa was added as necessary. The present post hoc analysis examined the effect of the diuretic treatment on card...