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Biomedical subjects

A Elizur

Publications and source records attributed to A Elizur.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Cloning and characterization of the white and topaz eye color genes from the sheep blowfly Lucilia cuprina.

Clones carrying the white and topaz eye color genes have been isolated from genomic DNA libraries of the blowfly Lucilia cuprina using cloned DNA from the homologous white and scarlet genes, respectively, of Drosophila melanogaster as probes. On the basis of hybridization studies using adjacent restriction fragments, homologous fragments were found to be colinear between the genes from the two species. The nucleotide sequence of a short region of the white gene of L. cuprina has been determined, and the homology to the corresponding region of D. melanogaster is 72%; at the derived amino acid level the homology is greater (84%) due to a marked difference in codon usage between the species. A major difference in genome organization between the two species is that whereas the DNA encompassing the D. melanogaster genes is free of repeated sequences, that encompassing their L. cuprina counterparts contains substantial amounts of repeated sequences. This suggests that the genome of L. cuprina is organized on the short period interspersion pattern. Repeated sequence DNA elements, which appear generally to be short (less than 1 kb) and which vary in repetitive frequency in the genome from greater than 10(4) copies to less than 10(2) copies, are found in at least two different locations in the clones carrying these genes. One type of repeat structure, found by sequencing, consists of tandemly repeating short sequences. Restriction site and restriction fragment length polymorphisms involving both the white and topaz gene regions are found within and between populations of L. cuprina.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Serotonin 5-HT2 receptor binding on blood platelets as a state dependent marker in major affective disorder.

Serotonin receptors of the 5-HT2 type were studied on platelet membranes from 15 patients suffering from major depression. Receptor binding and clinical state (assessed by the Hamilton and Beck rating scales) were examined in a drug free state upon admission and after 1 and 3 weeks of treatment with the antidepressant maprotiline (MPT). 5-HT2 receptor binding changed in correlation with changes in the clinical state of the patients as judged by the rating scales. Since most patients showed a clinical improvement, the patients as a group exhibited a significant decrease in binding concomitant with a drop in depression scores. However, in those patients in whom there was no clinical change or an increase in depression scores, 5-HT2 receptor binding did not change or increased, respectively, thus resulting in a significant correlation between clinical changes and changes in binding. These results support the use of 5-HT2 receptors on platelets in evaluating depression and its treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Pattern formation in the developing eye of Drosophila melanogaster is regulated by the homoeo-box gene, rough.

Homoeo-box genes play a central role in the regulation of embryogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster. Their widespread phylogenetic distribution, and the tissue and stage specificity of their expression in other organisms, argue that they play a general and significant role in animal development. In D. melanogaster, all homoeo-box genes characterized to date are involved in major aspects of embryogenesis. We report here the molecular characterization of a Drosophila homoeo-box gene that has no apparent involvement in early embryogenesis. The gene appears to be rough, a gene implicated in pattern formation in the developing eye. It is expressed in cells within, and posterior to, the morphogenetic furrow, the site of the primary pattern forming events in the developing retina, and also in a region of the brain of the third instar larva. We have found no genetic or molecular evidence of a role for this gene in other aspects of fly development.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1987

The effect of trihexphenidyl (Artane) on memory in schizophrenic patients.

The anticholinergic effect of trihexphenidyl on memory function of 20 schizophrenic patients has been investigated in a double blind crossover design. Impairment of immediate memory and short term memory was evident after trihexphenidyl treatment in comparison with placebo. Sensory short term memory tested by visual tasks and remote memory showed no significant statistical differences. Our data suggested that trihexphenidyl due to its anticholinergic effect might impair memory function.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Physostigmine improves ECT-induced memory disturbances.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) induces transient confusion and amnesia. Using a double-blind crossover method we studied the influence of physostigmine on ECT-induced memory disturbances. We found that physostigmine reverse the impairment of verbal and visual short- and long-term memory after ECT. Immediate recall was neither impaired by ECT nor improved by physostigmine.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Interdependency of attitudes, diagnostic assessments and therapeutic recommendations of medical students towards mental patients.

Interdependencies of attitudes towards vignettes of mentally ill patients and the professional approach of medical students measured by means of diagnostic assessments and therapeutic distance were studied. First, the findings indicate that the attitudes towards the vignettes depended on the behavioral characteristics of each patient presented in the vignettes. Thus, the levels on four attitudinal subscales were different for each of the patients. Second, the two variables of the professional approach of the students towards the patients, i.e., the diagnostic assessment and the therapeutic distance, were dependent on the attitudes towards the patients. The findings indicate that the more disturbed a patient is, and the less he is diagnosed as mentally ill, the more he is rejected from treatment, and the more negative the students' attitudes are towards him.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Interdependency of lithium ratio, plasma lithium level and clinical state in patients with affective disorders.

The interrelationship between lithium ratio, lithium plasma level and the different clinical phases of 31 patients with bipolar affective disorder has been investigated. the interdependency of these variables was followed longitudinally during different phases of the illness while under lithium therapy. Although positive correlations between lithium ratio and lithium plasma levels were evident, the lithium ratio values in the euthymic group were significantly higher than those in the manic and depressive groups, independently of the plasma lithium level. Our data suggested that RBC/plasma lithium ratio might be a sensitive state dependent index in affective bipolar illness.

Adult↗