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Biomedical subjects

A Fine

Publications and source records attributed to A Fine.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Effect of insoluble extracellular matrix molecules on Fas expression in epithelial cells.

Fas, which functions to initiate a signal causing apoptosis, is expressed in epithelia, thus, suggesting a role in controlling cell number during states of cell and matrix turnover. In view of this, we hypothesized that cell-matrix interactions may be an important determinant of Fas expression in epithelial cells. To investigate this, we examined the effect of insoluble extracellular matrix molecules on Fas expression in murine lung epithelial (MLE) cells, a transformed mouse lung epithelial cell line. We report that 1) insoluble extracellular matrices increased Fas mRNA in a time and concentration-dependent manner; 2) induced increases in Fas mRNA were associated with concomitantly increased Fas protein; and 3) nonspecific adherence to a polylysine substrate did not induce Fas mRNA. Consistent with these findings, Fas-induced apoptosis was significantly enhanced in cultures plated on type IV collagen. Employing rat hepatocytes, we confirmed that the insoluble extracellular matrix also increases Fas expression in primary epithelial cells. By amplifying Fas-mediated apoptosis, these data suggest a mechanism whereby the extracellular matrix regulates the fate of specific epithelial cell populations.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Loss of adenylyl cyclase I activity disrupts patterning of mouse somatosensory cortex.

The somatosensory (SI) cortex of mice displays a patterned, nonuniform distribution of neurons in layer IV called the 'barrelfield' (ref. 1). Thalamocortical afferents (TCAs) that terminate in layer IV are segregated such that each barrel, a readily visible cylindrical array of neurons surrounding a cell-sparse center, represents a distinct receptive field. TCA arbors are confined to the barrel hollow and synapse on barrel-wall neurons whose dendrites are oriented toward the center of the barrel. Mice homozygous for the barrelless (brl) mutation, which occurred spontaneously in ICR stock at Université de Lausanne (Switzerland), fail to develop this patterned distribution of neurons, but still display normal topological organization of the SI cortex. Despite the absence of barrels and the overlapping zones of TCA arborization, the size of individual whisker representations, as judged by 2-deoxyglucose uptake, is similar to that of wild-type mice. We identified adenylyl cyclase type I (Adcy1) as the gene disrupted in brl mutant mice by fine mapping of proximal chromosome 11, enzyme assay, mutation analysis and examination of mice homozygous for a targeted disruption of Adcy1. These results provide the first evidence for involvement of cAMP signalling pathways in pattern formation of the brain.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1998

Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus and the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone: a case report with very late onset systemic lupus erythematosus.

The syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) associated with neuropsychiatric lupus (NP-SLE) is rare. We report a case of SIADH associated with the new onset of SLE in an 88-yr-old female. The unique features of this case include the extreme age of onset of SLE presenting with neuropsychiatric manifestations and positive antiribosomal P antibody titres. Both the NP manifestations of SLE and SIADH were highly correlated with the SLE disease activity. This case illustrates a novel presentation of NP-SLE with SIADH which may develop due to antibody-mediated hypothalamic dysfunction.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Airway epithelial Fas ligand expression: potential role in modulating bronchial inflammation.

Epithelium-derived Fas ligand is believed to modulate inflammation within various tissues. In this paper, we report findings that suggest a similar immunoregulatory role for Fas ligand in the lung. First, Fas ligand was localized to nonciliated, cuboidal airway epithelial cells (Clara cells) throughout the airways in the normal murine lung by employing nonisotopic in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Second, gld mutant mice, which express a dysfunctional Fas ligand protein, were noted to develop prominent infiltration of inflammatory cells in submucosal and peribronchial regions of the upper and lower airways. Third, during allergic airway inflammation induced by ovalbumin in mice, cell-associated staining for Fas ligand mRNA and protein was markedly reduced in the airway epithelium. These data suggest that Clara cell-derived Fas ligand may control immune activity in the airway; thus alterations in this protective mechanism may be involved in the pathogenesis of certain inflammatory conditions of the airway, such as asthma.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Programmed cell death contributes to postnatal lung development.

The rat lung undergoes the phase of maturation of the alveolar septa and of the parenchymal microvascular network mainly during the third postnatal week. Speculating that programmed cell death may contribute to the thinning of the alveolar septa, we searched for the presence of DNA fragmentation in rat lungs between postnatal days 6 and 36 using the TUNEL procedure. The number of positive nuclei was compared at different days. We observed an 8-fold increase of programmed cell death toward the end of the third week as compared to the days before and after this time point. The precise timing of the appearance of the peak depended on the size of the litter. Double-labeling for DNA fragmentation (TUNEL) and for type I and type II epithelial cells (antibodies E11 and MNF-116), as well as morphologic studies at electron microscopic level, revealed that during the peak of programmed cell death mainly fibroblasts and type II epithelial cells were dying. While both dying cell types were TUNEL-positive, nuclear fragments and apoptotic bodies were exclusively observed in the dying fibroblasts. We conclude that programmed cell death is involved in the structural maturation of the lung by reducing the number of fibroblasts and type II epithelial cells in the third postnatal week. We observed that the dying fibroblasts are cleared by neighboring fibroblasts in a later stage of apoptosis, and we hypothesize that type II epithelial cells are cleared by alveolar macrophages in early stages of the programmed cell death process.

Aging↗
PubMed1998

Preparing for full-risk capitation.

Full-risk capitation arrangements involve shared financial risk among all participants and place providers at risk not only for their own financial performance, but also for the performance of other providers in the network. Providers that wish to assume full risk must understand the types of risks they need to manage to ensure financial success for all network participants. They also must choose a method of paying network participants. The five principal physician payment models currently used in conjunction with full-risk capitation contracts are fee-for-service, salary, entrepreneurial, subcapitation, and hospital reimbursement. No matter which model is used, measurement and feedback systems should be established to increase the effectiveness of the payment systems. Such measurement and feedback systems should facilitate risk management, cost management, process management, revenue distribution, and contract renegotiation and follow-up monitoring.

Capitation Fee↗
PubMed1998

Provider sponsored organizations: emerging opportunities for growth.

As providers struggle to identify mechanisms to serve the Medicare population, the Medicare program continues to evolve. Of course, providers may serve the beneficiaries through traditional Medicare, Medicare HMOs, or a Medicare Select product, but as this book shows, under the appropriate conditions, the best way may be through the formation of a PSO.

Capitation Fee↗