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Biomedical subjects

A E Miller

Publications and source records attributed to A E Miller.

70 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

The C-group pachytene bivalent with a locus characteristic for parachromosomally situated particulate bodies (parameres): a provisional map in human males.

During prophase stages of the first meiotic division in human males, an autosomal divalent in the C group (autosomes 6-12) characteristically has associated with it, at a specific locus, small, DNA-containing bodies (parameres). A pachytene chromomere map is presented, as is evidence suggesting that the parameres are disposed in two lateral loops, each of which is coaxial with one of the homologs. Stereophotographs of stacks of plates from electron micrographs of serial ultrathin sections show the parameres in their in situ configuration to be composed of tightly compacted fibrils, 85-90 A in diameter.

Chromosome Mapping↗

A microcantilever-based pathogen detector.

The ability to detect small amounts of materials, especially bacterial organisms, is important for medical diagnostics and national security issues. Engineered micromechanical systems provide one approach for constructing multifunctional, highly sensitive, real-time, immunospecific biological detectors. We present qualitative detection of specific Salmonella enterica strains using a functionalized silicon nitride microcantilever. Detection is achieved due to a change in the surface stress on the cantilever surface in situ upon binding of a small number of bacteria. Scanning electron micrographs indicate that less than 25 adsorbed bacteria are required for detection.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

The role of blood platelets in nucleoside metabolism: regulation of platelet thymidine phosphorylase.

Blood platelets are the smallest cellular elements in mammalian blood. Because of their small size, platelets have an unusually large surface area: volume ratio and are exquisitely sensitive to a multitude of physiological and environmental stimuli. Platelets lack nuclei, but most possess functional mitochondria and remain capable of both anaerobic and aerobic energy metabolism, for which they utilise a variety of substrates including many which are cytotoxic and genotoxic for other (nucleated) cells. Nucleic acid precursors are amongst the potentially genotoxic compounds for which platelets have an apparently insatiable appetite. In particular platelets actively scavenge adenine and adenosine, which they convert to nucleotides and use in energy metabolism, but they also rapidly phosphorylase thymidine and liberate thymine into the extracellular medium. In addition, platelets contain non-metabolisable membrane-bound pools of adenine nucleotides which they secrete in response to strong agonists. Taken together, these observations suggest that blood platelets play an important role in nucleic acid precursor metabolism. In the previous paper we have shown that most thymidine phosphorylase activity present in normal human blood resides in the cytoplasm of platelets. Here we demonstrate that this enzyme activity can be modulated in a dose-dependent fashion, not only by substances recognised as platelet agonists and antagonists, but also by some compounds which are considered to be toxic, mutagenic and/or carcinogenic. The data which we present provide additional support for our previous suggestion that platelets regulate thymidine homeostasis and further imply that this is the normal, physiological, platelet function. Preliminary results suggest that assays of blood platelet thymidine metabolism may provide data with a wide variety of applications.

Alcohols↗

Chemistry of aminoiminomethanesulfinic and -sulfonic acids related to the toxicity of thioureas.

The reactions of aminoiminomethanesulfonic acid, phenylaminoiminomethanesulfonic acid, and N,N'-diphenylaminoiminomethanesulfonic acid in aqueous media at pH 7.4, 10, and 13-14 were investigated. At neutral pH hydrolysis to the corresponding urea was the major pathway for all three compounds. At higher pH phenylaminoiminomethanesulfonic acid reacted to give phenylcyanamide in nearly quantitative yield, while N,N'-diphenylaminoiminomethanesulfonic acid gave diphenylcarbodiimide which reacted further to give N,N'-diphenylurea. At pH 10 aminoiminomethanesulfonic acid reacted with itself, eventually giving N-cyanoguanidine, while at pH 13-14, elimination to cyanamide predominated. The reactions of glycine with the aminoiminomethanesulfonic acids gave guanylated acetic acids as products. The rates of these nucleophilic substitutions of the sulfonic acid group of the aminoiminomethanesulfonic acids by the amino group of glycine decreased in the order aminoiminomethanesulfonic acid greater than phenylaminoiminomethanesulfonic acid greater than (2-methylphenyl)aminoiminomethanesulfonic acid greater than (2,6-dimethylphenyl)aminoiminomethanesulfonic acid. Higher relative rates of substitution of the aminoiminomethanesulfonic acids appear to be related to higher relative toxicities for the corresponding thioureas.

Amines↗

Haglund's deformity and the Keck and Kelly osteotomy: a retrospective analysis.

A short historical review of Haglund's deformity and its surgical treatment is presented. An analysis of the results obtained with the use of the Keck and Kelly osteotomy in conjunction with resection of the osseous prominence is then performed on 18 such procedures. Results have been gratifying, with no complications experienced with healing of the osteotomy and no recurrence of the deformity.

Achilles Tendon↗

Resection of plantar fibromatosis with interposition of Marlex surgical mesh.

Successful surgical resection of plantar fibromatosis is often difficult because of high recurrence rates and frequent postoperative complications. In this study, two different surgical procedures, both used to excise plantar fibromatosis permanently, are compared and evaluated. These procedures are local resection of plantar fibromatosis and local resection of plantar fibromatosis with interposition of Marlex surgical mesh. A 10-year follow-up study comparing the results of both procedures is presented. Interpretation of our results indicates that recurrence of plantar fibromatosis after surgical resection can be significantly reduced by utilizing Marlex surgical mesh.

Adult↗