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Biomedical subjects

C A Martin

Publications and source records attributed to C A Martin.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Imipramine treatment of ADHD in a fragile X child.

Fragile X syndrome, an X-linked genetic disorder, is the third most common cause of mental retardation. The following is a case of a 6-year-old boy with fragile X syndrome and its characteristic cognitive and behavioral symptomatology, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In addition, this child experienced initial insomnia and nocturnal enuresis, problems not previously reported with fragile X. Previous pharmacological treatment of the syndrome's behavioral difficulties and attention deficit has included stimulants, folic acid, and neuroleptics. This is the first report of the successful use of imipramine. Imipramine also improved the boy's insomnia and enuresis, whereas methylphenidate caused an overall worsening of his condition.

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity↗

Antigen-specific and antibody-mediated growth inhibition of suppressor T cell hybridomas. Roles of H-2 and the CD3-T cell receptor-alpha/beta complex.

Eight different Ts cell hybridomas (including inducer (Ts1) and effector (Ts3) suppressor cells) specific for the 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl acetyl (NP) hapten were tested for their ability to respond to Ag or anti-CD3 antibody in a growth-inhibition assay. Results suggest that the expression of the TCR-CD3 complex on Ts hybridomas is required for the Ag or anti-CD3-mediated growth inhibition. One of the CD3+, Ts hybridomas (CKB-Ts3-9.H3) was tested in detail; this CD4- effector suppressor cell hybridoma showed specific inhibition of growth in the presence of NP or NIP-coupled protein conjugates but not in the presence of other irrelevant hapten-protein conjugates. In addition, growth of this hybridoma was specifically inhibited by anti-CD3 and anti-TCR-alpha/beta antibodies but not by control hamster antibodies. In order to study the role of MHC molecules in Ag-mediated growth inhibition, Ts cell hybridomas were incubated with Ag (NP-keyhole limpet hemocyanin) in the presence of spleen cells from various H-2 congenic strains. The results suggest that the Ts hybridomas that express donor Ts-derived TCR beta-chain recognize Ag in an MHC-restricted manner, whereas the two Ts3 hybridomas that utilize BW5147-derived TCR-beta recognize Ag in H-2 unrestricted way. Co-incubation of anti-CD3 and anti-TCR-alpha/beta antibodies with specific Ag enhanced the Ag-mediated growth inhibition, whereas anti-LFA-1 antibody completely blocked the Ag-mediated effect. The combined data suggest that, like Th hybridomas, expression of CD3-associated-TCR complex is essential for the Ag responsiveness of Ts cell hybridomas.

Animals↗

Enhanced expression of c-fos is not obligatory for retinoic acid-induced F9 cell differentiation.

c-fos was studied in F9 cells to determine whether changes in its expression are an early and/or obligatory event in retinoic acid-induced F9 cell differentiation. Induction of c-fos transcripts was not observed at times early or late during retinoic acid-promoted differentiation, but a decrease in c-myc mRNA was noted as early as 1 h after retinoic acid dosing. Induction of a rapid and transient change in c-fos expression in F9 cells was observed only in response to serum stimulation. Therefore, although expression of c-fos may be involved in the cellular growth and proliferation of F9 cells, as indicated by the response to serum, an increase in c-fos is not required for retinoic acid-induced differentiation.

Blood↗

A refractive and histopathologic study of excimer laser keratectomy in primates.

Using a 193-nm excimer laser, we produced wide-area, refractive keratectomies on 18 cynomolgus monkey corneas and followed them up for up to 18 months. All corneas developed some subepithelial haze by one month. Electron microscopy disclosed epithelial thickening, absence of Bowman's layer, and subepithelial activated fibroblasts surrounded by disorganized collagen. By six months, the haze faded to a variable degree, the epithelium regained normal thickness, and the collagen was more organized. Persistent corneal haze at 12 months in some corneas correlated with electronlucent spaces in the subepithelial zone. Corneas were 90 microns thinner centrally two weeks after myopic ablation, but returned to preoperative thickness by six months. Myopic flattening and hyperopic steepening of 6 diopters were targeted, and over 7 diopters of each were achieved initially. Regression of induced curvature stabilized over several months. At 18 months, 4.4 diopters of myopic flattening and 5.2 diopters of hyperopic steepening remained.

Animals↗

Enhancement of in vivo cell-mediated immune responses by three distinct cytokines.

The ability of recombinant/purified cytokines to augment delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses was investigated. Suboptimal doses of haptenized SC were treated in vitro with purified or recombinant derived cytokines and tested for their ability to enhance DTH in vivo. With the use of this protocol, it was shown that both human and mouse rIL-6, as well as mouse rTNF-alpha, potentiated DTH in a dose-dependent manner. In accordance with these data, IL-6/TNF-alpha-containing supernatant from long term nonlymphoid cell lines also possessed the ability to augment DTH. By using the same protocol, we have also identified T cell hybridomas that produce DTH-augmenting activity constitutively. The hybridoma-derived factor, termed the T cell enhancing factor (TCEF), was functionally distinguishable from the defined cytokines IL-1 through IL-6, IFN-gamma, and TNF by bioassay. Furthermore, RNA derived from the hybridoma failed to hybridize with cDNA probes specific for IL-1 to IL-6, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and granulocyte-macrophage CSF. Further characterization of the serum-free conditioned media derived from the hybridoma indicated that the TCEF was a soluble acid labile glycoprotein (Mr greater than 30,000). Finally, we investigated the cellular requirements for DTH augmentation by IL-6, TNF-alpha, and TCEF; all are dependent upon the presence of T cells in the immunizing inoculum. We propose that these cytokines play a critical role in the development of DTH responses in vivo.

Animals↗

Unrecognized left ventricular dysfunction in an apparently healthy cocaine abuse population.

To determine the frequency and severity of clinically unrecognized left ventricular (LV) dysfunction related to cocaine use, 84 asymptomatic cocaine abusers underwent cardiac evaluation which included chest x-ray, electrocardiography (ECG), and radionuclide angiography after a two-week abstinence from cocaine use. LV dysfunction was discovered in 6/84 (7%). Regional wall motion abnormalities suggesting a localized myocardial abnormality were found in 2, whereas an ejection fraction less than 50% suggesting a more global process was noted in 4. An abnormal chest x-ray was found in only 1 subject and none had abnormal ECGs. In each of these cases, repeated and protracted use of cocaine was documented and the suggestion of cardiac dysfunction was supported by at least one other independent abnormal finding. In these 6 cases, the dysfunction was clinically unrecognized and unsuspected after routine evaluation. The significance of subclinical LV dysfunction in this population has not been determined and requires long-term study.

Adult↗

Interleukin-6 production by murine macrophage cell lines P388D1 and J774A.1: stimulation requirements and kinetics.

The murine macrophage tumor lines, P388D1 and J774A.1 were stimulated with LPS, IL-6, IL-1 alpha, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, PMA, or combinations of these reagents to induce the production of IL-6, IL-1, and TNF-alpha. Using Northern blot analysis and bioassays for the detection of cytokine production, it was noted that identical stimuli induced all three inflammatory mediators. However, unlike fibroblasts or endothelial cells, neither P388D1 nor J774A.1 macrophages respond to IL-1 alpha or TNF-alpha by producing IL-6. The results imply that these cytokines are not autoregulatory for macrophages and may be tissue-specific in their stimulatory effects. IFN-gamma and PMA synergize with LPS in the production of IL-6 as well as IL-1 and TNF-alpha. These observations suggest that IFN-gamma may mediate amplification pathways important in the production of inflammatory mediators. Kinetic studies on the transcription of mRNA and secretion of IL-6, IL-1, and TNF-alpha revealed that TNF-alpha mRNA transcription and cytokine production occur very rapidly. TNF-alpha mRNA accumulation peaked 1-2 hr after stimulation and maximum concentrations of cytokine are found in supernatants collected after 2-4 hr of culture. IL-6 and IL-1 alpha mRNA accumulation peaked simultaneously after 4-8 hr. However, IL-6 bioactivity peaks between 8 and 12 hr whereas maximum concentrations of IL-1 bioactivity are not detected in supernatants from stimulated cells collected prior to 12 hr of culture. Thus even though TNF-alpha production precedes that of IL-1 and IL-6, and stimulates IL-6 production in fibroblasts, there is no evidence that TNF-alpha acts to amplify the production of IL-6 or IL-1 by murine macrophage cell lines. The results suggest differential regulation of IL-6 expression between fibroblasts and macrophages.

Animals↗

Retinoic acid, dibutyryl-cAMP, and differentiation affect the expression of retinoic acid receptors in F9 cells.

Expression of the retinoic acid receptors alpha and beta (RAR-alpha and RAR-beta) was examined in F9 cells, an embryonal carcinoma cell model established for the study of retinoid metabolism and function. Addition of retinoic acid to F9 cell medium caused a dose-dependent increase in RAR-beta mRNA within 3 hr that reached 5- to 30-fold greater than the constitutively expressed mRNA by 24 hr. The elevation in mRNA resulted from increased transcription, as demonstrated by nuclear run-on transcription, did not require protein synthesis, and required the constant presence of retinoic acid. N6,O2'-Dibutyryl-cAMP attenuated the retinoic acid-induced increase in RAR-beta mRNA by a post-transcriptional mechanism. In contrast, RAR-alpha mRNA in F9 stem cells was affected less (1.2- to 1.4-fold increase) by retinoic acid and decreased 3-fold transiently when fresh serum was added to the medium. Differentiation of F9 cells resulted in increased steady-state levels of RAR-beta mRNA in primitive (4-fold), parietal (3-fold), and visceral (8-fold) endoderm but decreased steady-state levels of RAR-alpha mRNA in primitive (2-fold), parietal (3-fold), and visceral (1.4-fold) endoderm. These data demonstrate that RAR-beta is a primary target gene for retinoic acid in a characterized model of retinoid function, indicate that constitutive expression of both RAR-beta and RAR-alpha is dependent upon the differentiation state, and suggest hormonal modulation of RAR-beta by cAMP and modulation of RAR-alpha by serum factors. These results distinguish the effects of serum, cAMP, and retinoic acid on the expression of RAR from the effects mediated by differentiation.

Animals↗

Alcoholism treatment: a ten-year follow-up study.

Two hundred male and female patients, selected at random from all patients admitted to an inpatient alcoholism treatment facility in 1973-1974, were surveyed 10 years following treatment. Response rate was 80%, and a validity check was done. Of the 158 unstable responses, 61% reported complete or stable remission of their alcoholism for at least 3 years prior to the survey and 84% reported stable psychosocial status. Successful outcome was possible regardless of severity of drinking history or psychosocial status. Seventy-six percent (76%) of those still alive at follow-up reported remission; at most, 23% of the deceased were reported in remission prior to death. Involvement in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) predicted abstinence, suggesting successful outcome for patients who undergo a treatment regimen, which bridges patients into AA involvement. Of those respondents who continued to sponsor other AA members throughout the follow-up period, 91% were in remission at the time of survey.

Adult↗

Neurologic complications of cloacogenic carcinoma.

Cloacogenic carcinoma is a rare tumor, originating from epithelium of the anal transition zone. We report a 63-yr-old man with pathologically proven cloacogenic carcinoma which caused a rapidly progressive paraparesis and changes in mental status. These were related to extramedullary deposits around the spinal cord and cauda equina and intramedullary deposits in the brain. This pattern of neural involvement with anal canal carcinoma has not been reported previously.

Anus Neoplasms↗

Interleukin 3-dependent and -independent mast cells stimulated with IgE and antigen express multiple cytokines.

In response to IgE and specific multivalent antigen, mast cell lines (both growth factor-dependent and -independent) induce the transcription and/or secretion of a number of cytokines having a wide spectrum of activities. We have identified IL-1, IL-3, IL-5, IL-6, IFN-gamma, GM-CSF, JE, MIP1 alpha, MIP1 beta, and TCA3 RNA in at least two of four mast cell clones. The production of these products (except JE) is activation-associated and can be induced by IgE plus antigen. In selected instances cytokine expression can also be induced by activation with Con A or phorbol ester plus ionophore, albeit to levels less than those observed with IgE plus antigen. In addition, long-term mast cell clones and primary cultures of bone marrow-derived mast cells specifically release IL-1, IL-4, and/or IL-6 bioactivity after activation. These findings suggest that in addition to their inflammatory effector function mast cells may serve as a source of growth and regulatory factors. The relationship of mast cells to cells of the T lymphocyte lineage is discussed.

Animals↗

Excimer laser instrumentation and technique for human corneal surgery.

The design and development of the instrumentation utilized during the clinical and histopathologic evaluations of the first human eyes treated by argon fluoride excimer laser radiation are described. The laser, optical, alignment, measurement, and control subsystems required for this research were constructed to create a laser beam that has an axially symmetric energy distribution, can be calibrated and measured, can be aligned with the target tissue, and can be manipulated to excise surface tissue. The use of this excimer laser system has demonstrated that a nonuniform superficial lamellar keratectomy can be produced to excise areas of opacified, scarred, or abnormal cornea or to create a new anterior corneal curvature in attempts to correct refractive errors.

Cornea↗

Frequency of heterozygous complete hydatidiform moles, estimated by locus-specific minisatellite and Y chromosome-specific probes.

Restriction fragment length polymorphisms identified with three locus-specific minisatellite probes and banding patterns with Y chromosome-specific probes have been examined in 39 cases of complete hydatidiform mole (CHM) and the parents. All 39 cases were shown to be androgenetic. Of the 39 cases, 8 were identified as heterozygous CHM using the minisatellite probes. Estimates for the total number of heterozygous CHM in the series ranged from 23%-29%, higher than previously reported. Of the eight identified heterozygous CHM, six had Y chromosome-specific sequences whereas two were female; this is not significantly different from the 2:1 ratio expected. The low frequency of 46,XX heterozygous CHM in the literature may reflect difficulties in distinguishing them from 46,XX homozygous CHM. Examination of RFLPs with a small panel of locus-specific minisatellite probes provides a powerful method of classifying hydatidiform mole, enabling the rare heterozygous 46,XX CHM to be accurately identified.

DNA Probes↗

Human excimer laser lamellar keratectomy. A clinical study.

The first ten blind human eyes in the United States to receive excimer laser (ArFl 193 nm) lamellar keratectomy (reprofiling) are presented. Seven of these patients were followed 6 to 12 months after ablation. All eyes are grossly clear in the region of ablation. Results of slit-lamp examination of all flattened ablated areas show mild superficial haze at the epithelial/stromal interface. This haze might not interfere significantly with vision in patients 7 to 10. Serial pachymetry and keratometry measurements, refraction, and digital keratoscopy show a progressive filling in of the excavated area by approximately two thirds but a loss of initial diopteric correction of only one third. Histopathologic analysis was obtained for four eyes. Transmission electron microscopy of three eyes enucleated 3 to 12 days after ablation shows 40-microns ablation depths through Bowman's layer and superficial stroma with minimal adjacent tissue damage and no inflammatory cells. The epithelium is increased in thickness by 50%, and firmly attached to the underlying stroma. A 4-month postablation specimen shows keratocyte activation with increased protein synthesis (presumed collagen and ground substance).

Blindness↗

Trends in the incidence of myocardial infarction in Western Australia between 1971 and 1982.

Trends in the incidence of and mortality from myocardial infarction in Perth, Western Australia, were studied for the period 1971 to 1982. The estimated age-adjusted incidence rate of myocardial infarction fell by 24% in males and 37% in females over this period. The rate fell in each of six age-sex groups, but the proportional decrease in those aged less than 45 years was nearly double that in those aged 45 years and over, as it was in females compared with males and in fatal cases compared with nonfatal cases. Over 80% of the decline in mortality was in deaths outside hospital. This and seven other comparable studies all showed a net decrease in the estimated incidence of myocardial infarction in both sexes, with median annual decreases of 2% in males and 3% in females. It is concluded that the decline in the incidence of myocardial infarction contributed substantially to the observed decrease in ischemic heart disease mortality, and that the most plausible explanation for the decline in incidence is a reduction in the prevalence of risk factors for myocardial infarction.

Adult↗

Metabolism of the contraceptive steroid desogestrel by the intestinal mucosa.

1. The intestinal mucosal metabolism of the progestogen oral contraceptive desogestrel (Dg) has been studied in vitro using the Ussing chamber technique. Histologically normal ileum or colon was obtained from eight patients undergoing various resections. The mucosal sheets were mounted between two perspex chambers. 2. Two hours after addition of [3H]-Dg (0.2 microCi; 100 ng) to the mucosal chamber, more than 90% of the steroid was present in that chamber. In studies with colon, metabolite analysis showed that 55.4 +/- 11.7% (mean +/- s.d.; n = 6) of drug present was Dg, 28.9 +/- 11.4% as unconjugated Phase I metabolites, 13.3 +/- 2.6% as sulphate conjugates and 2.5 +/- 1.5% as glucuronide conjugates. 3. By co-chromatography with authentic metabolites and mass spectrometry, it was shown that 3-keto desogestrel is formed in the mucosa. This is the active metabolite of desogestrel. A large peak of radioactivity did not co-chromatograph with any known metabolites and has been tentatively identified as ring hydroxylated products of 3-keto desogestrel. 4. The effect of the synthetic oestrogen ethinyloestradiol (EE2) on the metabolite profile of Dg was studied. In the presence of increasing concentrations of EE2 (100 ng, 1 and 10 micrograms), there was competition for sulphation such that the sulphate fraction decreased by 32, 49 and 48% respectively. 5. The results of this study indicate substantial first pass metabolism of desogestrel by the gut mucosa with evidence for the formation of the active metabolite. The extent of phase I metabolism is unusual.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗