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Biomedical subjects

A Banks

Publications and source records attributed to A Banks.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

3-nitropropionic acid induced in vivo protein oxidation in striatal and cortical synaptosomes: insights into Huntington's disease.

3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) administered systemically daily for 4 days to rats inhibits mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and induces selective lesions in the striatum in a manner reminiscent of Huntington's disease (HD). To investigate the potential oxidative nature of these lesions, rats were injected with 3-NP (20 mg/kg, i.p. daily for 4 days) and subsequently isolated brain synaptosomal membranes were examined for evidence of oxidative stress. Brain synaptosomal membrane proteins from rats injected with 3-NP exhibited a decreased in W/S ratio, the relevant electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) parameter used to determine levels of protein oxidation (76% of control), and Western blot analysis for protein carbonyls revealed direct evidence of increased synaptosomal membrane protein oxidation (248% of control). Similar results were obtained in synaptosomes isolated from striatum and from cerebral cortex, demonstrating that the oxidative changes are not restricted to the lesion site. Moreover, increased oxidative stress was evident prior to the appearance of morphological lesions. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that 3-NP-induced striatal lesions, and perhaps those in HD, are associated with oxidative processes.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

The National Lesbian Family Study: 3. Interviews with mothers of five-year-olds.

This third report from a longitudinal study of lesbian families presents data obtained from interviews with mothers of five-year-old children conceived by donor insemination. Results indicated that 87% of the children related well to peers, 18% had experienced homophobia from peers or teachers, and 63% had grandparents who frankly acknowledged their grandchild's lesbian family. Of the original couples, 31% had divorced. Of the remainder, 68% felt that their child was equally bonded to both mothers. Concerns of lesbian families are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2000

Effect of exogenous and endogenous antioxidants on 3-nitropionic acid-induced in vivo oxidative stress and striatal lesions: insights into Huntington's disease.

3-Nitropropionic acid (3-NP) is an irreversible inhibitor of complex II in the mitochondria. 3-NP toxicity has gained acceptance as an animal model of Huntington's disease (HD). In the present study, we confirmed that rats injected with 3-NP (20 mg/kg, i.p., daily for 4 days) exhibit increased oxidative stress in both striatum and cortical synaptosomes as well as lesions in the striatum. Synaptosomal membrane proteins from rats injected with 3-NP exhibited a decrease in W/S ratio, the relevant electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) parameter used to determine levels of protein oxidation, and western blot analysis for protein carbonyls revealed direct evidence of increased synaptosomal protein oxidation. Treatment of rats with the brain-accessible free radical spin trap 5-diethoxyphosphoryl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DEPMPO; 30 mg/kg, i.p., daily 2 h before 3-NP injection) or with N-acetylcysteine (NAC; 100 mg/kg, i.p., daily 2 h before 3-NP injection), a known glutathione precursor, before 3-NP treatments protects against oxidative damage induced by 3-NP as measured by EPR and western blot analysis for protein carbonyls. Furthermore, both DEMPMPO and NAC treatments before 3-NP administration significantly reduce striatal lesion volumes. These data suggest oxidative damage is a prerequisite for striatal lesion formation and that antioxidant treatment may be a useful therapeutic strategy against 3-NP neurotoxicity and perhaps against HD as well.

Acetylcysteine↗
PubMed1999

Human ligands of the Notch receptor.

During development, the Notch signaling pathway is essential for the appropriate differentiation of many cell types in organisms across the phylogenetic scale, including humans. Notch signaling is also implicated in human diseases, including a leukemia and two hereditary syndromes known as Alagille and CADASIL. To generate tools for pursuing the role of the Notch pathway in human disease and development, we have cloned and analyzed the expression of three human homologues of the Notch ligands Delta and Serrate, human Jagged1 (HJ1), human Jagged2 (HJ2), and human Delta1 (H-Delta-1), and determined their chromosomal localizations. We have also raised antibodies to HJ1, and used these antibodies in conjunction with in situ hybridization to examine the expression of these ligands in normal and cancerous cervical tissue. We find that, as reported previously for Notch, the ligands are up-regulated in certain neoplastic tissues. This observation is consistent with the notion that Notch signaling is an important element in these pathogenic conditions, raising the possibility that modulation of Notch activity could be used to influence the fate of the cells and offering a conceivable therapeutic avenue.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

The National Lesbian Family Study: 2. Interviews with mothers of toddlers.

In this second report from a longitudinal study of lesbian families in which the children were conceived by donor insemination, interviews yielded the following data: Most couples shared parenting co-equally; the majority felt closer to their family of origin; adoptive co-mothers felt greater legitimacy as parents; biology and nurture received the same ratings for mother-child bonding; and political and legal action had increased among many participants. The impact of these findings and that of homophobia on lesbian family life are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Pneumococcal vaccine campaign based in general practice.

OBJECTIVE: To show whether a general practice setting is a practical and effective medium for increasing uptake of pneumococcal vaccine. DESIGN: Follow up study of responses of general practices (debriefing by questionnaire or small group session) and patients (questionnaire sent to 429 patients vaccinated in a two week period) to vaccination campaign. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: Patients registered with general practices of one family health services authority. INTERVENTIONS: Pneumococcal vaccination campaign including clinical guidelines and support materials. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Proportion of general practitioners offering pneumococcal vaccine; proportion of patients at risk who were vaccinated between 1 May and 31 December 1995; number of splenectomised patients identified and vaccinated in same period; views of patients who were vaccinated. RESULTS: Proportion of general practitioners offering pneumococcal vaccine increased from 17% to 89% during the campaign. Estimated number of patients at risk who were vaccinated increased from 656 (4%) to 5982 (33%) during campaign. Of 61 splenectomised patients identified, 30 had been vaccinated previously and 27 were vaccinated during campaign. Practices in which a general practitioner took or shared the lead had higher vaccination rates and used vaccine up faster. Of the 384 patients whose questionnaires were used in analysis, only 35 had heard of pneumococcal vaccine before the campaign, 198 reported side effects (mostly minor and local, but systemic and severe local reactions were more common than expected), and 337 were pleased they had been vaccinated (only five expressed dissatisfaction). CONCLUSION: A practice based campaign is an effective method of increasing uptake of pneumococcal vaccine by high risk groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Integration of the cytogenetic, genetic, and physical maps of the human genome by FISH mapping of CEPH YAC clones.

The physical locations on human metaphase chromosomes of over 950 yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clones from the CEPH library have been determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization and described as fractional chromosome length relative to the terminus of the short arm. Collectively, these clones contain approximately 1 billion basepairs of human DNA, about one-third of the human genome. In addition, the locations of 337 of these clones were established in terms of cytogenetic bands for chromosomes 1-18, 20, and X. Since most clones are positive for one or more of the Généthon polymorphic STS markers with defined genetic linkage distances corresponding to their physical locations, these data facilitate the integration of the cytogenetic, genetic, and physical maps of the human genome. Use of these mapping data in conjunction with public database information on CEPH YACs greatly facilitates the identification of YACs or polymorphic markers at specific locations in the genome.

Chromosome Banding↗
PubMed1996

CONTIG EXPLORER: interactive marker-content map assembly.

In STS-content mapping of a region, multiple optimal or near-optimal putative orders of markers exist. Determining which of the markers in this region can be placed reliably on the physical map of the chromosome and which markers lack sufficient evidence to be placed requires software that facilitates exploratory sensitivity analysis and interactive reassembly with different subsets of the imput data and that also assists the evaluation of any arbitrary (user-specified) marker order. We describe CONTIG EXPLORER, a package for interactive assembly of STS-content maps that provides the user with various ways of performing such analyses, thereby facilitating the design of laboratory experiments aimed at reducing ambiguity in STS order. We then compare the output of CONTIG EXPLORER with two other assembly programs, SEGMAP and CONTIGMAKER, for a region of chromosome 12p between 21 and 38 cM on the sex-averaged CEPH/Généthon linkage map.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1996

The national lesbian family study: 1. interviews with prospective mothers.

This first report from a longitudinal study of 84 lesbian families, 70 of which include a co-mother as well as a birthmother whose child was conceived by donor insemination, presents interview data on parental relationships, social supports, pregnancy motives and preferences, stigmatization concerns, and coping strategies. Methodological limitations of studying this special population are noted, and plans for follow-up interviews over the course of 25 years are outlined.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1995

A second-generation YAC contig map of human chromosome 12.

Human chromosome 12 constitutes approximately 4.5% of the human genome and has an estimated size of 135 million base pairs (Mb). We have started to construct a high-resolution physical map of chromosome 12 as overlapping yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs), using as a foundation the first-generation physical map of this chromosome covers nearly 102 Mb of DNA and includes 426 highly polymorphic, monomorphic and gene-based markers. We also mapped 119 of the YACs, most of which are part of the physical map, by cytogenetic methods. Thus the map integrates genetic, physical and cytogenetic data and provides information about the organization of this chromosome and will help in the localization and cloning of disease-related genes. The strategy used here to generate the chromosome-12 map could be applied for the rapid construction of physical and expression maps for other human chromosomes.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Serum interleukin-6 levels in the steady state of sickle cell disease.

In patients with childhood sickle cell disease (SCD) serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were measured during the steady (healthy) state of disease. The corresponding measurements were made in comparable healthy normal controls. Serum IL-6 levels were assessed via ELISA in 27 SCD patients and 19 controls. Results revealed significantly higher circulating levels of IL-6 in the SCD patients (60 +/- 7 pg/ml) compared with the healthy controls (12 +/- 5 pg/ml). IL-6 is a multifunctional cytokine that plays a central role in host defense mechanisms. The impact of high circulating levels of IL-6 may be deleterious to humoral and cell-mediated immune functions in SCD, with resultant heightened risk for morbidity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Hormones and sexual orientation: a questionable link.

This paper critically reviews the studies which explore a possible causal relationship between sex hormones and the development of sexual orientation. Early studies focused on hormone measurements in adult men and women. While definitive interpretations are hindered by methodological problems, the studies as a whole do not support a causal relationship between postnatal hormone levels and sexual orientation. More recently, a theory that prenatal hormone levels produce varying degrees of brain androgenization and subsequent dimorphic sex role behavior has consistently been supported by studies in lower mammals. Attempts to generalize the causes of sexual orientation from animals to humans have been controversial. Efforts to measure the estrogen feedback as an indication of brain androgenization have produced inconsistent results. Studies of men and women who experienced defect in hormone metabolism (i.e., CAH and testicular feminization) have not found a concurrent increase in homosexual behavior. Overall, the data do not support a causal connection between hormones and human sexual orientation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Post-atherectomy coronary artery aneurysm.

A 52-year-old man underwent an uneventful directional atherectomy of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Four months after the procedure unstable angina developed and on angiogram an aneurysm of the left anterior descending coronary artery was noted. The patient underwent bypass of the left anterior descending coronary artery. An attempt to exclude the aneurysm resulted in hemodynamic compromise and was discontinued. Follow-up angiogram 2 months after operation showed the aneurysm to be smaller. The patient is doing well 6 months after operation.

Atherectomy, Coronary↗
PubMed1988

Fatal esorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy: report of a case and review of the literature.

A case of fatal dilated cardiomyopathy induced by esorubicin (ESO) at a total dose of 740 mg/m2, given in 27 doses over 650 days, is reported. The sudden onset, rapid clinical deterioration, and fatal outcome are detailed. The outcome was not predicted by serial rest ejection fractions or clinical signs. The data from animal studies, phase 1 and phase 2 clinical testing, are reviewed, demonstrating the almost complete absence of reports of ESO-induced cardiotoxicity. Studies reviewing ejection fractions and myocardial biopsy scores show that ESO can be cardiotoxic and may produce fatal dilated cardiomyopathy.

Cardiomyopathies↗