Spectral hole burning in the gain region of an inverted semiconductor.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A Paul.
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Primary tracheal epithelial cells obtained from two fetuses with cystic fibrosis (CF) were successfully transfected with a plasmid vector recombined with the large T oncogene of SV40. The resulting tracheal cells were propagated in culture for up to 25 passages and retained the mutations of the CF genes carried by the two fetuses, one heterozygous for the S549N and N1303K substitutions (CFT-1 cells), and the other homozygous for the most common deletion delta F508 (CFT-2 cells). The transfected cells: (a) expressed the SV40 large T oncogene, as determined by immunofluorescence and Northern blot analysis; (b) retained typical epithelial morphology, as assessed by the presence of microvilli, desmosomes, gap junctions, and cytokeratin expression; (c) were fully responsive to the cAMP-stimulating agents isoproterenol, forskolin and vasoactive intestinal peptide for cAMP production and PKA activation; (d) do not produce any tumour in the athymic nude mice; (e) were diploid and tetraploid with a normal chromosomal complement at early passages, and (f) exhibited the abnormal regulation of chloride conductance characteristic of CF. These results indicate that CFT-1 and CFT-2 cells constitute a suitable model for: (a) comparison of the maturation and function of the CFTR protein mutated in the two nucleotide-binding domains; (2) analysis of the biochemical defect in CF epithelial airway cells, (c) development of new therapeutic agents, and correction of the CF defect by gene replacement therapy in vitro.
A flanged socket was introduced by Sir John Charnley for use in his low-friction hip arthroplasty in 1976. Experimental evidence has suggested that the flange offers an advantage in terms of cement pressurisation at the time of implantation. We have reviewed 302 primary Charnley arthroplasties followed for 9 to 11 years to determine the effect of the flanged socket on the radiological appearance. The incidence of radiological demarcation at the cement-bone interface is significantly reduced in early radiographs after the use of a flanged socket, and the advantage is maintained in the long-term results.
Epithelial tracheal cells isolated from two fetuses with cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF fetus (control) were transfected with a plasmid vector recombined with the large T oncogene of SV40. All transfected cells expressed SV40 antigen and exhibited an epithelial morphology (junctional complex, cytokeratins). CFT cells retained the mutations of the CF gene, one heterozygous for the S549N/N1303K substitutions (CFT-1 cells), the other homozygous for the deletion delta F508 (CFT-2 cells). Accordingly, these CFT cells exhibited the defective beta-adrenergic regulation of chloride conductance. We compared the responsiveness of control (NT-1 cells) and CF cells (CFT-1 and CFT-2 cells) to agonists of the protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent pathway for stimulation of glycoconjugate secretion. We show that the isoproterenol (10(-5) M) and forskolin (10(-5) M) markedly increased the cAMP content and the PKA activity of all three cell lines. In contrast, these effectors produced an increase in glycoconjugate secretion in control cells, but not in CFT-1 and CFT-2 cells. In conclusion, our results indicate that CFT cells do not respond to agonists of the PKA-dependent pathway for stimulation of both glycoconjugate secretion and chloride transport, which suggests the involvement of CFTR in these two processes.
While diagnostic laparoscopy is a well established tool, therapeutic laparoscopy for acute abdominal disorders has recently been made possible by video-endoscopic techniques. From July 1989 to April 1992, 243 laparoscopic interventions were carried out in patients with an acute abdomen. After a pilot phase, patients with acute appendicitis were entered into a randomized trial, those with acute cholecystitis were operated within the next day list. Among the 243 operations were 202 appendectomies, 12 closures of perforated peptic ulcers, 4 successful interventions for intestinal obstruction, 4 irrigations for intraabdominal abscesses and 35 further operations, some of which had to be finished as laparotomies. Laparoscopic appendectomy was less painful but technically more difficult. In cases which needed bowel resection for ischemic necrosis or diverticular disease, conversion to open surgery had to be performed. Laparoscopic treatment of acute abdominal disorders including peritonitis can be effective and beneficial in one out of two patients. Adequate surgical training, expertise and respect to the safety of the patient are mandatory. The application of endoscopic suture devices will further enlarge the spectrum of laparoscopic treatment options for the acute abdomen.
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Platelet activating factor (PAF) stimulated aggregation and [32P]-phosphatidic acid (PA) production was compared in normal and diabetic human subjects in platelet rich plasma. The concentration of PAF for half maximal (50%) aggregation of normal and diabetic platelets was 50 nM and 8 nM, respectively. PAF stimulated [32P]-PA production (a metabolite of phospholipase C pathway) was also greater in the platelets from diabetic subjects. This [32P]-PA production was inhibited by the PAF receptor antagonists SRI-63441 and SRI-63675. When the levels of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were compared with the PAF stimulated [32P]-PA production a significant relationship was observed. These studies have demonstrated for the first time that diabetic human platelets show hypersensitivity to PAF in both aggregation and [32P]-PA production compared to normal subjects. This may be a result of some modification in phospholipid turnover mechanism and is receptor mediated. Further, the relationship of the degree of aggregation and [32P]-PA production to the level of HbA1c suggest that the insulin deficiency may contribute to these effects.
A complement-mediated liposome immune lysis assay using entrapped calcein was developed for a plant toxin gelonin. Gelonin was covalently coupled to DPPE, and then adsorbed on to the surface of liposomes. Such antigen-bearing liposomes when incubated with anti-gelonin antibody in the presence of guinea pig complement undergo lysis. The detection range is from 3 ng to 60 ng. The method was used to monitor isolation of gelonin by affinity chromatography. It was observed that a minor peak in addition to the major one comes with gelonin, shared common epitopes/epitope with gelonin in immunological reaction. This was further confirmed by SDS-gel electrophoresis indicating the former being an isoform of gelonin. A comparative study of the immunocross-reactivity of ricin and ricin A chain with anti-gelonin antibody was carried out. It was found that while ricin A chain cross-reacted extensively with gelonin antibody and intact ricin elicited little or no cross-reactivity. It is suggested that the present LILA may be employed for the detection and quantitation of ricin A chain by this LILA method.
The solubilized surface protein of the Gram-negative bacterium Comamonas acidovorans was reconstituted on lipid vesicles by means of controlled dialysis. To this end, a multichamber dialysis apparatus was built which allows one to control the temperature and the dialysis rate, to apply various temperatures or buffer systems and sample conditions in a single experiment, and to monitor the turbidity of the sample by means of light scattering. The reconstitution conditions were optimized such that the surface protein formed two-dimensional crystals suitable for electron crystallography. The recrystallized surface protein arrays gave a resolution of approximately 1.3 nm in projection after correlation averaging of negatively stained preparations. The surface protein assembled into partially self-contained two-dimensional crystals which possess a strong shape-determining effect and formed cylinders and various cone-shaped vesicles. The development of the various vesicle forms is described in a model.
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1. The characteristics of vasopressin-stimulated phosphatidylinositol 4,5 bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P2) and phosphatidylcholine (PtdCh) hydrolysis were examined in A10 vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), by assessing the formation of [3H]-inositol phosphates ([3H]-IP) and the accumulation of the phospholipase D (PLD) specific product, [3H]-phosphatidylbutanol ([3H]-PtdBuOH). 2. Vasopressin ([Arg8]-VP) and a number of related analogues stimulated the accumulation of [3H]-IP and [3H]-PtdBuOH with similar EC50 values, generating the same rank order of potency for each response (Arg8-VP = vasotocin = Lys8-VP much greater than oxytocin). 3. Inhibition of vasopressin-stimulated [3H]-IP and [3H]-PtdBuOH accumulation by the V1a receptor antagonists, Des-Gly9[beta-mercapto-beta,beta,-cyclopentamethylene propionyl, O-Et-Tyr2,Val4,Arg8]-vasopressin generated similar IC50 values suggesting that both these responses are mediated through the activation of a single V1a receptor subtype. 4. The onset of vasopressin-stimulated inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) mass formation preceded [3H]-PtdBuOH accumulation indicating that PtdCh hydrolysis was activated subsequent to PtdIns(4,5)P2 breakdown. 5. The protein kinase C (PKC) activator, tetradecanoylphorbol acetate (TPA) also stimulated [3H]-PtdBuOH accumulation. Preincubation with the PKC inhibitor Ro-31-8220 abolished both TPA- and vasopressin-stimulated [3H]-PtdBuOH, suggesting that the intermediate activation of protein kinase C is involved in the regulation of PLD by vasopressin. 6. Pretreatment of the A10 VSMC with Ro-31-8220 (100 microM) also potentiated vasopressin-stimulated Ins(1,4,5)P3 mass formation.Therefore stimulation of PKC may have opposing roles in the regulation of agonist activation of PLC and PLD.7. Preincubation of the cells with EGTA, verapamil, or the receptor-operated calcium channel antagonist, SK&F 96365, reduced vasopressin-stimulated [3H]-PtdBuOH accumulation by approximately 30%, suggesting that influx of calcium has a significant role to play in the regulation of vasopressinstimulated PLD activity.
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Hypo- and hypertension, arrhythmias, bradycardia extending to cardiac arrest with circulatory failure, pneumothorax, allergic reactions with or without anaphylactic shock, production of methaemoglobin, vomiting, vertigo, disorientation, acoustic and visual disorders, tinnitus, slurred speech, muscle contractions, unconsciousness, and epileptic seizures are well-known complications associated with local anaesthetics. We have observed an additional central nervous system complication: a case of transient, total motor aphasia (Broca aphasia) in a 50-year-old patient after axillary blockade of the brachial plexus. Possible causes such as type and dosage of local anaesthetic or a transient ischaemic attack in the area of the prerolandic artery are discussed and related to the literature. Ultimately, however, it is still not apparent why this complication could appear although there was no overdosage intravascular injection, or abnormality of the pulse or blood pressure, and why its manifestation was limited to a motor aphasia.