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Biomedical subjects

A Alonso

Publications and source records attributed to A Alonso.

At least 451 records · Page 25Linked to original sources

The impact of object relations theory on psychodynamic group therapy.

Object relations theory is seen as a conceptual framework that adds to the classical Freudian structural theory. The synchrony between the two theories is manifest in psychodynamic group psychotherapy. This paper explores the convergence of these theories, emphasizing concepts from object relations theory and focusing on three major aspects as they appear in therapy groups: the evolution of the transference neurosis, group membership as a transitional phenomenon, and group therapy for the resolution of ego-syntonic character pathology. Examples of patients emerging from schizoid to paranoid and then to depressive positions of ego organization illustrate the concepts.

Adult↗

Soluble suppressor of T cell proliferation in primary in vitro response to murine minor histocompatibility antigens.

Normal mouse lymphocytes are not capable of mounting a primary cytotoxic T cell response to Mls encoded, non H-2, allodeterminants, although a strong lymphoproliferative response is observed in primary MLR between Mls incompatible cells. In this study it is reported that in the supernatant of primary cultures between AKR macrophages and CBA/H lymphocytes (H-2 identical, incompatible for Mls and other minor antigens) a suppressor of T cell proliferation in MLR is detected. By contrast, a suppressor is not detected in supernatants from primary cultures between BALB/C macrophages and CBA/H lymphocytes (H-2 incompatible, Mls identical), B10.BR macrophages and CBA/H macrophages and CBA/H lymphocytes (syngeneic) suggesting that the production of the suppressor factor occurs only when an Mls incompatibility exists. The suppressive activity of the Mls incompatible culture supernatant upon MLR between incompatible macrophages and lymphocytes is neither antigen specific nor Mls or H-2 restricted, nor is it due to an irreversible toxic effect on T lymphocytes or macrophages. The inhibition of T cell proliferation could be explained by inhibition of IL 2 production, by blocking its union to T cells or by a combination of both effects. Our findings could help explain previous observations that lymphocytes from mice preimmunized with Mls incompatible cells have a depressed proliferative response as well as depressed cytotoxicity against alloantigens.

Animals↗

Isolation and characterization of Drosophila melanogaster U2 small nuclear RNA genes.

We describe here the organization of DNA sequences complementary to Drosophila melanogaster U2 small nuclear (sn) RNA. From a genomic library we isolated two recombinants containing two genes each. Genomic reconstruction experiments and Southern analysis revealed that D. melanogaster possesses only four to five U2 snRNA genes or very closely related sequences. The nucleotide sequence of one of the clones analysed shows 77% homology with rat U2 snRNA. A stretch of 12 nucleotides that has been implicated in heterogeneous nuclear RNA splicing is conserved between rat and Drosophila. The genomic organization of these genes is very similar in different melanogaster strains but diverges highly in different Drosophila species.

Animals↗

Cross-reaction of snRNA and an Alu I-like sequence from rat with DNAs from different eucaryotic species.

Sequence homologies to rat U1-snRNA and U2-snRNA were investigated in DNA from 23 eucaryotic species (3 lower eucaryotes, 4 plants, and 16 animals) using dot hybridization at various stringency conditions. Cross-hybridization among very distantly related species in e.g. plants-insects or mold-vertebrates is not the rule; there are, however, examples for stronger homologies like Rattus-Dictyostelium. Furthermore, DNA from all 23 species was analysed for sequence homologies with the repetitive DNA sequence B1 (an Alu I family equivalent) from rat. We observed a wide range of homologies covering some plants and insects, up to vertebrates. Hybridization at increasing stringency conditions revealed species with higher degree of homology to the rat B1 sequence: maize, chicken, and hamster.

Animals↗

The biosynthetic incorporation of diacetylenic fatty acids into the biomembranes of Acholeplasma laidlawii A cells and polymerisation of the biomembranes by irradiation with ultraviolet light.

Acholeplasma laidlawii A has been grown in media containing synthetic, long chain C20- and C23-fatty acids possessing a diacetylene group in their acyl chains. Growth on the C23 diacetylenic acid was poor but was good on the C20 acid. Biosynthetic incorporation of the fatty acids occurs; as much as 90% of the membrane lipid fatty acyl chains consisting of the C20-diacetylenic fatty acid, the remainder being shorter chain, saturated fatty acids. The thermal phase transition of this biomembrane has been studied and a differential scanning calorimetry heating curve shows the presence of an endotherm corresponding to a membrane lipid phase transition occurring at about 26 degrees C. The lipid class composition of membranes containing the C20-diacetylene lipids was examined and found to be similar to membranes from cells grown on oleic acid-containing medium. (The ratio of monoglucosyl- to diglucosyldiacylglycerols was the same but the ratio of glycolipid to phosphatidylglycerol was higher in the cells grown with diacetylene fatty acids). Upon irradiation with ultraviolet light the cells and isolated biomembranes become coloured, either red or yellow depending upon their thermal history. The colour change indicates that extensive cross-linking of the lipids of the biomembranes of A. laidlawii has occurred and that a conjugated polymeric structure has been formed. Analysis of the extracted lipids from the biomembranes by GLC indicates that extensive cross-linking of the lipid chains within the biomembrane of a natural cell system has been achieved. The monoglucosyldiacylglycerols cross-link more readily that do the phosphatidylglycerol lipids. The effect of such lipid cross-linking or polymerisation on the activity at 35 degrees C of an intrinsic membrane-bound enzyme, NADH oxidase, and ribonuclease, an extrinsic membrane-bound enzyme, was studied. The NADH oxidase activity decreased rapidly upon cross-linking of the lipid environment whereas ribonuclease activity was unaffected. The potential for future studies of polymerised model and natural biomembranes is discussed.

Acholeplasma laidlawii↗

Sulphate transport in Candida utilis.

Sulphate uptake by Candida utilis follows Michaelis-Menten type kinetics characterized by a Km of 1.43 mM for sulphate. The process is unidirectional, pH, temperature and energy dependent. Molybdate, selenate, thiosulphate, chromate and sulphite are competitive inhibitors. Dithionite is a mixed-type inhibitor of sulphate uptake. If cells are pre-incubated with sulphate, sulphite, thiosulphate, dithionite or sulphide, sulphate uptake is severely blocked. Inhibition by endogenous sulphate, sulphite and thiosulphate was specific for sulphate uptake. Thus, incorporation of extracellular sulphate seems to be under the control of a heterogeneous pool of sulphur compounds. These results are discussed in connection with the regulation of sulphur amino acid biosynthesis in C. utilis.

Biological Transport, Active↗

Interaction of nystatin with nystatin-resistant Candida tropicalis.

Nystatin-resistant yeast Candida tropicalis was obtained after UV illumination and plating on nystatin-containing media. The mutant contained no ergosterol in the plasma membrane but bound nystatin to a degree similar to that of the wild strain (1.2 vs. 1.5 nmol per mg dry solid). Respiration of the mutant on glucose was reduced by 36% in the presence of 25 microM nystatin. This corresponded to a 25-43% decrease of the uptake of monosaccharides. Transport of amino acids was reduced by nystatin in the mutant by 44-86%, as compared with a 84-95% reduction in the wild strain. The intracellular ATP content was reduced by nystatin equally in the wild strain and in the mutant (by 43 and 47%). Nystatin appears to affect specifically membrane transport processes of nonelectrolytes while both the H+-extruding ATPase and the membrane potential are unaffected.

Biological Transport, Active↗

An unusual accumulation of repetitive sequences in the rat genome.

We have found in the rat genomic DNA a fragment 1300 bp long, containing an unusual concentration of members of different repetitive families. Three different repeats were noticed. An Alu-like repeat, homologous to the mouse B1 sequence, was followed by a fragment containing alternating purine-pyrimidine bases as in Z-DNA. Finally, a third repeat was identified, containing 38 TAGA tetranucleotides as described for reptile DNA.

Animals↗

Evidence for separate projections of hippocampal pyramidal and non-pyramidal neurons to different parts of the septum in the rat brain.

Large (200 nl) intraseptal injections of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) resulted in retrograde axonal labeling of both pyramidal and non-pyramidal neurons throughout all septo-temporal levels of the hippocampal formation in the rat brain. Small (50 nl) injections of HRP into the medial septum labeled cells of non-pyramidal shape in the stratum oriens and the stratum radiatum of regio inferior, stratum oriens of regio superior and the hilus of the area dentata. Small (50 nl) injections of HRP restricted to the lateral septum resulted in retrograde labeling of pyramidal cells in regio inferior and regio superior without labeling of non-pyramidal cells. These results suggest a new efferent projection system from the hippocampus consisting of non-pyramidal neurons which innervate the medial septum/diagonal band complex in the rat brain.

Animals↗

Assignment of snRNA gene sequences to the large chromosomes of rat kangaroo and chinese hamster isolated by flow cytometric sorting.

Chromosomes from a rat kangaroo (Potorous tridactylus) cell line (PtK2) and from a Chinese hamster (Cricetulus griseus) cell line (CHV79) were isolated by means of fluorescence activated flow cytometric sorting. DAPI (4'-6-diamino-2-phenylindole) was used as the DNA specific fluorescent dye. The karyotype of the PtK2 cells which exhibits 13 chromosomes was separated into 6, and the 22 chromosomes of the CHV79 cells were resolved into 11 fractions. DNA extracted from these chromosomal fractions was used for restriction enzyme digestion and blotting on nitrocellulose filters. The blots were challenged with gene probes corresponding to ribosomal RNA (18S and 28S) and small nuclear RNA (U1-snRNA) genes. The rRNA genes were exclusively assigned to chromosomes containing the nucleolus organizing region (in PtK2: X chromosome; in CHV79: chromosomes 4, 5, 6, and 11). - Solely the largest chromosomes in both cell lines hybridized with U1-snRNA indicating that these gene sequences are located on those chromosomes only. Further possible genetic and biochemical applications of this experimental system are discussed.

Animals↗

Increase in size of sonicated phospholipid vesicles in the presence of detergents.

Triton X-100, sodium dodecylsulphate, sodium cholate, and beta-octylglucoside increase the size of sonicated, but not of unsonicated, phospholipid vesicles above the Tc gel to liquid-crystalline transition temperature. Lysophosphatidylcholine or glyceryl monooleate do not increase liposome size under these circumstances. The observed phenomenon of vesicle growth is virtually unaffected by phospholipid composition, surface potential, calcium ions, EDTA, or albumin. The presence of cholesterol makes the vesicles more susceptible to detergent-induced growth. The presence of detergents, even at concentrations much lower than required to observe any increase in vesicle size, favors the liberation of vesicle contents. These results may have implications concerning membrane fusion as well as the reconstitution of membrane proteins in the presence of detergents.

Calcium↗