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Biomedical subjects

C A Price

Publications and source records attributed to C A Price.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Continuous arteriovenous ultrafiltration: a monitoring guide for ICU nurses.

CAVU has been demonstrated to be a therapeutic intervention for certain critically compromised patients. The objectives of this therapy can be achieved if nurses and physicians are aware of the procedural considerations before, during, and after therapy that enhance effective management. Continuing in-service education, established departmental protocols, and comprehensive guidelines for monitoring are not only extremely helpful but necessary to assure quality patient care.

Critical Care↗

The two genes for the P700 chlorophyll a apoproteins on the Euglena gracilis chloroplast genome contain multiple introns.

We have determined the complete nucleotide sequence of the two genes encoding the P700 chlorophyll a apoproteins of the photosystem I reaction center of the Euglena gracilis chloroplast genome. The two genes are separated by 77 bp, are of the same polarity, and span a region which is greater than 9.0 kbp. The psaA gene (751 codons) is interrupted by three introns and the psaB gene (734 codons) by six introns. The introns range in size from 361 to 590 bp, whereas the exons range in size from 42 to 1,194 bp. The introns are extremely AT rich with a pronounced base bias of T greater than A greater than G greater than C in the RNA-like strand. Like other interrupted protein genes in the Euglena chloroplast genome, the psaA and psaB introns are similar to mitochondrial group II introns in having the splice junction consensus sequence, 5' GTGCGNTTCG ..... INTRON ..... TTAATTTTAT 3' and conserved secondary structural features. Except for the placement of the first intron, the intron-exon organization of these two highly homologous genes is not conserved. The other introns fall at or near putative surface domains of the predicted gene products. The psaA and psaB gene products are 74% homologous to one another and 93% and 95% homologous, respectively, to the psaA and psaB gene products of higher plant chloroplasts. The predicted secondary structure derived from the primary amino acid sequence has 11 potential membrane-spanning domains.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Organization of the psbE, psbF, orf38, and orf42 gene loci on the Euglena gracilis chloroplast genome.

The genes for cytochrome b559, designated psbE and psbF, and two highly conserved open reading frames of 38 and 42 codons have been located and characterized on the chloroplast genome of Euglena gracilis. The organization of the genes is psbE - 8 bp spacer - psbF - 110 bp spacer - orf38 - 87 bp spacer - orf42. All genes are of the same polarity. The psbE gene contains two introns of 350 and 326 bp. The psbF gene contains a single large intron of 1,042 bp. The orf38 and orf42 loci lack introns. The introns are extremely AT rich with a pronounced base composition bias of T greater than A greater than G greater than C in the mRNA-like strand and group II-like boundary sequences at their 3' and 5' ends having the consensus 5'-GTGTG .. INTRON .. TTAATTTNAT-3'. The psbE gene consists of 82 codons and encodes a polypeptide with a predicted molecular weight of 9,212. The psbF gene consists of 42 codons, which specify a polypeptide with a predicted molecular weight of 4,785. The highly conserved open reading frames of 38 and 42 codons code for polypeptides with predicted molecular weights of 4,405 and 4,426, respectively. The gene products of psbE, psbF, orf38 and orf42 are, respectively, 69.5%, 70% and 61.5% identical to those found in higher plants. The predicted secondary structure of the proteins from hydropathy plots is consistent with each containing a single membrane-spanning domain of at least 20 amino acids. Each of the genes is preceded by sequences which may serve as ribosome binding sites. All four genes are transcribed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Organization of ribosomal protein genes rpl23, rpl2, rps19, rpl22 and rps3 on the Euglena gracilis chloroplast genome.

The nucleotide sequence (4,814 bp) was determined for a cluster of five ribosomal protein genes and their DNA flanking regions from the chloroplast genome of Euglena gracilis. The genes are organized as rpl23-150 bp spacer-rpl2-59 bp spacer-rps19-110 bp spacer-rpl22-630 bp spacer-rps3. The genes are all of the same polarity and reside 148 bp downstream from an operon for two genes of photosystem I and four genes of photosystem II. The Euglena ribosomal protein gene cluster resembles the S-10 ribosomal protein operon of Escherichia coli in gene organization and follows the exact linear order of the analogous genes in the tobacco and liverwort chloroplast genomes. The number and positions of introns in the Euglena ribosomal protein loci are different from their higher plant counterparts. The Euglena rpl23, rps19 and rps3 loci are unique in that they contain three, two and two introns, respectively, whereas rpl2 and rpl22 lack introns. The introns found in rpl23 (106, 99 and 103 bp), rps19 (103 and 97 bp) and rps3 intron 2 (102 bp) appear to represent either a new class of chloroplast intron found only in constitutively expressed genes, or possibly a degenerate version of Euglena chloroplast group II introns. They are deficient in bases C and G and extremely rich in base T, with a base composition of 53-76% T, 25-34% A, 3-10% G and 2-7% C in the mRNA-like strand. These six introns show minimal resemblance to group II chloroplast introns. They have a degenerate version of the group II intron conserved boundary sequences at their 5' and 3' ends. No conserved internal secondary structures are apparent. By contrast, rps3 intron 1 (409 bp) has a potential group II core secondary structure. The five genes, rpl23 (101 codons), rpl2 (278 codons), rps19 (95 codons), rpl22 (114 codons) and rps3 (220 codons) encode lysine-rich polypeptides with predicted molecular weights of 12,152, 31,029, 10,880, 12,819, and 25,238, respectively. The Euglena gene products are 18-50%, and 29-58% identical in primary structure to their E. coli and higher plant counterparts, respectively. Oligonucleotide sequences corresponding to Euglena chloroplast ribosome binding sites are not apparent in the intergenic regions. Inverted repeat sequences are found in the upstream flanking region of rpl23 and downstream from rps3.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Qualitative variation in the immune response to ovarian follicular fluid proteins in cattle.

In two experiments 44 heifers were immunised with inhibin preparations of partially purified ovarian follicular fluid (PPFF) of ovine, porcine and equine origin in non-ulcerative Freund's adjuvant. In the first experiment 20 cattle were immunised with ovine PPFF1. In the second, a further 24 were immunised with either a different sheep PPFF (ovine PPFF2) or PPFF from pigs or horses. Large molecules of over 30 kDa initiated a strong immune response in some animals, but none in others, although there was no obvious relationship with the MHC Class I (BoLA) phenotype. Immunisation with ovine partly purified follicular fluid affected ovulation rate in some cattle, and only these cows produced detectable antibodies to an approximately 40 kDa protein. These data show that the immunological response of cattle to a mixture of antigens is highly variable between individuals and may explain the variation in the ovarian response to immunological manipulations of ovulation rate seen in this species.

Animals↗

Chromoplast-Specific Proteins in Capsicum annuum.

Chromoplasts are a common differentiation state of plastids in which the photosynthetic apparatus is absent and carotenoids accumulate to high levels. As a first step toward the isolation of chromoplast-specific genes, we have examined plastids of the bell pepper, Capsicum annuum L., for the presence of chromoplast-specific proteins. Intact chromoplasts were isolated from mature fruits of C. annuum var Emerald Giant, Golden Cal Wonder, and DNAP VS-12 by differential centrifugation followed by isopycnic sedimentation in gradients of silica sols. The plastids were then fractionated into soluble and membrane components and the proteins analyzed by one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis using isoelectric focusing, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-urea gels. Two polypeptides with M(r) of 35,000 and 58,000 accumulate to high levels in membrane fractions of chromoplasts of var Emerald Giant. These polypeptides are either not detectable or barely detectable in chloroplasts from immature fruits. Both polypeptides have been purified to near homogeneity. Yellow chromoplasts from var Golden Cal Wonder and red chromoplasts from var DNAP VS-12 contained the 35-kilodalton polypeptide, but not the 58-kilodalton species.

Journal Article↗

Fade and tachyphylaxis of gastric acid secretory response to pentagastrin in rat isolated gastric mucosa.

1. Gastric acid secretory responses to pentagastrin were characterized in the rat isolated gastric mucosa. In particular, the mechanisms underlying fade, declining response upon continued stimulation, and tachyphylaxis, progressively reduced responses upon repeated stimulation, were investigated. 2. Pentagastrin, 10(-9)-10(-7) M, resulted in concentration-related increases in acid secretion, with a mean maximum of 2.65 mumol cm-2 h-1 in response to pentagastrin, 10(-7) M. Higher concentrations of pentagastrin produced sub-maximal secretory rates; we define this as auto-inhibition. The responses to all concentrations of pentagastrin demonstrated fade. The rate of fade was correlated with the maximum acid secretory rate, declining at about 36% of the peak over the first 16 min. 3. The PO2, PCO2, [HCO3-], pH, [glucose], [lactate], [Na+] and [K+] did not decline during the fade of the acid secretory response to pentagastrin, 10(-7) M. Addition of a second aliquot of pentagastrin was not able to reverse fade, but these tissues were responsive to histamine. Replacement of the serosal solution, before addition of a second aliquot of pentagastrin, increased the acid response from 3% to 24% of the first response. 4. Serosal solution from donor tissues, allowed to respond to pentagastrin and then the acid secretion to fade, was able to stimulate secretion in fresh recipient tissues, although at lower rates. 5. Acid secretory responses to a second dose of pentagastrin were not significantly different, whether the tissues were previously unstimulated, or stimulated with pentagastrin washed out after attaining its peak secretory response (after 10-20 min). The second response was significantly reduced if the first response was allowed to fade with the pentagastrin in contact for 100 min; i.e. fade significantly influenced the extent of tachyphylaxis. 6. Proglumide, 10(-2) M, a gastrin receptor antagonist, and omeprazole, 10(-5) M, an inhibitor of the gastric (H+ + K+)-ATPase, both inhibited pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretion to similar extents. The second response to pentagastrin after pentagastrin alone, or pentagastrin plus omeprazole were both reduced compared to responses after no stimulation or omeprazole alone, respectively. After pentagastrin plus proglumide, the second response to pentagastrin was not lower than after proglumide alone. Proglumide, but not omeprazole, therefore, prevented pentagastrin tachyphylaxis. 7. It is concluded that gastrin fade and tachyphylaxis are related phenomena. Part of the fade may be due to release of an inhibitor(s). The major proportion of tachyphylaxis is a result of specific interaction of gastrin with its receptors.

Animals↗

Gastric ECL-cell hyperplasia and carcinoids in rodents following chronic administration of H2-antagonists SK&F 93479 and oxmetidine and omeprazole.

The histamine H2-receptor antagonist SK&F 93479 induced gastric neuroendocrine (carcinoid) ECL-cell tumor formation in 6/34 male and 8/37 female rats treated for 22-24 months at 1,000 mg/kg/day po. Focal ECL-cell hyperplasia was present in 21/34 males and 15/37 females, with local infiltration through the muscularis mucosae in half these cases. No focal hyperplasias or carcinoids were present after 200 mg/kg/day po treatment. Investigative studies showed evidence for marked and sustained hypergastrinemia increasing on chronic dosing which was capable of restoring gastric acid secretion and pH to near control values. Using morphometric analysis of immunoperoxidase anti-chromogranin A stained sections, a dose-related and time-dependent neuroendocrine ECL-cell hyperplasia was correlated with the sustained elevated hypergastrinemia. A 21-month mouse oncogenicity study showed no focal neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia or carcinoid tumor induction, but a diffuse neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia and an increase in multifocal glandular hyperplasia of the oxyntic mucosa was observed in mice treated with 1,000 mg/kg SK&F 93479 po. The morphological changes observed in both rat and mouse were considered to be secondary to the hypergastrinemia resulting from the pharmacological suppression of gastric acid secretion by SK&F 93479. These changes were also observed to a more marked degree following omeprazole treatment and were only slight following oxmetidine treatment in the rat.

Animals↗

Steroid control of gonadotropin secretion and ovarian function in heifers.

The failure of anti-steroid treatments to induce multiple ovulations in cattle in a repeatable way, prompted us to examine the role of the gonadal steroids in the control of gonadotropin secretion in this species. A better understanding of the control of gonadotropin secretion in the cow would assist in the development of treatments to control prolificacy. Groups of six heifers were implanted with one of three sizes of estradiol (E2) implant on day 9 of a synchronized estrous cycle, and five control heifers received empty implants. All heifers were ovariectomized during the luteal phase of the subsequent estrous cycle and given progesterone-releasing intravaginal devices (PRID). Blood samples were taken every 10 min for 12 h with PRIDs and for 6 h after PRID withdrawal, for the measurement of LH and FSH concentrations. The two larger implant sizes (increasing E2 concentrations to 7.4 and 18.7 pg/ml plasma during the luteal phase of the cycle) decreased ovulation rate, the number of large follicles, and luteal weight. After ovariectomy, the three implant sizes produced E2 concentrations comparable with those during the luteal and follicular phases of the estrous cycle and at estrus (1.5, 4.4, and 10.5 pg/ml, respectively). E2 alone decreased mean LH and FSH concentrations and LH pulse amplitude, whereas progesterone alone reduced mean gonadotropin concentrations and LH pulse frequency. Only in the presence of progesterone did E2 decrease LH pulse frequency. Steroid concentrations which mimicked those of the luteal and follicular phases of the cycle produced luteal- and follicular-phase patterns of LH and FSH secretion. These results confirm that E2 and progesterone are important regulators of gonadotropin secretion in cattle, and question the role of inhibin in this respect.

Animals↗

Interactions between inhibin, oestradiol and progesterone in the control of gonadotrophin secretion in the ewe.

Experiments were carried out to test the hypothesis that inhibin and oestradiol act synergistically to inhibit the secretion of FSH, to test for effects of progesterone, and to compare the FSH and LH responses to ovarian feedback. In Exp. 1, with 11 ovariectomized and 12 intact Romanov ewes during the anoestrous season, doses of oestradiol (administered by means of subcutaneous implants) that restored normal LH pulse frequencies were insufficient to restore normal concentrations of FSH. In Exp. 2, with 48 ovariectomized Welsh Mountain ewes during the breeding season, a factorial design with 4 ewes per cell was used to assess the responses in LH and FSH to 3 doses of oestradiol (s.c. implants) and 4 doses of bovine follicular fluid ('inhibin', 0.2-1.6 ml s.c. every 8 h). This was done initially in the absence of progesterone and then after 7 days of treatment with progesterone (s.c. implants). Analysis of variance revealed a significant synergistic interaction between oestradiol and inhibin on the plasma concentrations of FSH. Progesterone had little effect. In contrast, there was a significant synergistic interaction between oestradiol and progesterone on the concentrations of LH. 'Inhibin' also inhibited LH secretion but this effect was independent of the two steroids. We conclude that there are basic differences in the way that ovarian feedback acts to control the secretion of LH and FSH in the ewe. FSH secretion appears to be primarily controlled by the synergistic action of oestradiol and inhibin on the anterior pituitary gland, while the secretion of LH is inhibited during the follicular phase by an effect of oestrogen at pituitary level and during the luteal phase by the synergistic action of oestradiol and progesterone at the hypothalamic level. Inhibin, or another non-steroidal factor in follicular fluid, may also play a minor role in the control of LH secretion.

Animals↗

Reproductive and endocrine effects of active immunization against a testosterone conjugate in the heifer.

Yearling heifers were actively immunized against 8 mg testosterone-3-carboxymethyloxime-ovalbumin in Non-Ulcerative Freund's Adjuvant, with or without the addition of Corynebacterium parvum (Groups A and B, respectively; N = 4 for each group). After the priming injection, Groups A and B were boosted twice at 4-monthly intervals. Control heifers (N = 9) were not injected. All treated animals except one gave a measurable antibody response, and all responding animals became anoestrous and displayed ovarian cysts after the first booster injection. There were no apparent differences between treatments, and so results for Groups A and B were pooled. At 25 weeks after the second booster 3 of the 7 responding, anoestrous heifers resumed cyclicity; one with two consecutive double ovulations, and one with one double ovulation. The 3rd heifer showed 4 corpora lutea, then became anoestrus again. The 4 remaining acyclic heifers, and the control heifers, were intensively blood sampled; the anoestrous heifers showed significantly higher mean LH and significantly lower mean FSH concentrations and higher LH pulse frequency than did the control animals. These heifers remained anoestrous for 11 months after the second booster, at which point they were injected with GnRH and PGF-2 alpha; only 1 heifer resumed ovarian cyclicity. These results indicate that it is possible to increase ovarian activity in cattle by active immunization against testosterone, but that there is a high incidence of anoestrus.

Anestrus↗

Active immunization of cattle against partly purified follicular fluid from sheep.

Yearling cross-bred heifers were injected with 0.4 or 4 mg total protein in non-ulcerative Freund's adjuvant (Groups A and C, respectively; N = 5 per group), or adjuvant with C. parvum (Groups B and D, respectively; N = 5 per group). Control heifers were not treated (N = 9). No antibodies were detected in heifers in Groups A and C and so these were excluded from the analysis. There was no effect of the treatment on Group B or D heifers after the priming or first booster injection. After a second booster injection one Group D heifer gave a triple ovulation, and two Group D heifers and one Group B heifer gave double ovulations, but for one oestrous cycle only. Group B heifers also showed a significant rise in FSH concentrations after the second booster injection. Group D heifers were given a third booster injection; there was an increase in the mean number of large follicles per heifer, and a decrease in oestrous cycle length, but no increase in ovulation rate. These results indicate that a transient increase in ovulation rate can be induced by actively immunizing cattle against partly purified follicular fluid from sheep.

Animals↗

Structural organization of apolipoprotein B-100 of human plasma low density lipoproteins. Comparison to B-48 of chylomicrons and very low density lipoproteins.

The present study characterizes the substructural organization of apolipoprotein B-100 (B-100) of human plasma low density lipoproteins (LDL) and its relation to B-74 and B-26 of LDL and B-48 of chylomicrons and very low density lipoproteins. LDL were digested with human kallikrein and thrombin to yield two major fragments: K1 (Mr 410,000) and K2 (Mr 145,000) and T1 (Mr 385,000) and T2 (Mr 170,000), respectively. The antigenic sequences, Mr, and amino acid compositions of K1 and K2 were identical to those of plasma B-74 and B-26; B-26 and K2 had identical NH2-terminal sequences and correspond to the NH2-terminal region of B-100. K1 was further degraded by kallikrein to give K3 (Mr 235,000) and K4 (Mr 170,000); these peptides correspond immunochemically to two newly discovered plasma LDL peptides B-44 and B-30 and are assigned as complementary fragments of B-74. The thrombin cleavage fragments, T1 and T2, did not correspond to B-74 and B-26. Neither kallikrein nor thrombin generated a fragment from B-100 corresponding to B-48 in chylomicrons. However, B-48 showed antigenic homology with B-26 and to the of B-74 adjoining B-26, indicating that its structure is represented in the NH2-terminal half of B-100. The structural studies further clarify the relatedness among the B-100, B-74, B-26, and B-48 polypeptides and should now make possible the delineation of the functional domains mediating the interactions of apolipoprotein B in the circulation and arterial wall.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

N-Methyldimaprit (SK&F92054). A chemical control for the histamine H2-receptor agonist dimaprit.

Dimaprit analogues having alkyl substituents on the isothiourea group have no detectable H2-agonist activity on the guinea-pig atrium. N-Methyldimaprit [S-[3-(N,N-dimethylamino)propyl]-N'-methylisothiourea] (SK&F92054) is identified as a compound which may serve as a suitable chemical control when studying the actions of dimaprit at putative H2-histamine receptors. Concentrations of N-methyl-dimaprit (up to 3 X 10(-3) M) had no agonist activity in vitro on the guinea-pig atrium (less than 0.005% of the activity of histamine), rat uterus (up to 2 X 10(-3) M,) or as a stimulant of guinea-pig ventricular adenylate cyclase (up to 10(-3) M). N-Methyldimaprit at 10(-3) M also did not significantly stimulate acid secretion in the rat isolated stomach preparation; it was a very weak stimulant of gastric acid secretion (less than 0.2% of the activity of histamine) in vivo in the lumen-perfused stomach of the anaesthetised rat but exhibited marked tachyphylaxis on repeated administration. N-Methyldimaprit has two basic centres, macroscopic pKa values 8.31 and 9.58 at 40 degrees C.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Synthesis and Turnover of Proteins in Proplastids and Chloroplasts of Euglena gracilis.

Intact chloroplasts isolated from Euglena gracilis exhibit high rates of light-driven protein synthesis, whereas protein synthesis by isolated proplastids is absolutely dependent upon the addition of an exogenous energy source in the form of equimolar ATP and Mg(2+). ATP and Mg(2+) also stimulate translation by chloroplasts. The greatly increased rates of protein synthesis obtained by supplementing proplastids with ATP and Mg(2+) have allowed the first clear characterization of proplastid translation products. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis of proteins synthesized in organello shows that, while many translation products are common to both plastid types, most are unique to either the proplastid or the chloroplast. Pulse-chase experiments using both proplastids and chloroplasts indicate similar rates of turnover of newly synthesized proteins in both types of plastids. Thus, the differences seen between proplastid and chloroplast translation products are apparently not due to turnover. Immunoprecipitation of large subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (LS) from pulse-chase experiments indicates that LS is made in both proplastids and in chloroplasts and that the rate of LS turnover is similar in both types of plastids.

Journal Article↗

The effect of cross-linking agents on the impact resistance of a linear poly(methyl methacrylate) denture-base polymer.

Eight different cross-linking agents were added to the monomer component of a linear poly(methyl methacrylate) denture-base resin in various concentrations, and their effect on the impact resistance of the cured polymer studied. The cross-linking agents were chosen to provide a range of cross-linking chain lengths and degrees of chain flexibility. When tested under oral conditions, the polymers cross-linked with long and flexible chains did not show the marked reduction in impact resistance found in polymers cross-linked with shorter and stiffer cross-linking chains. It seems likely that by replacing EGDMA in denture-base resins with a cross-linking agent such as PEG 600 DMA, one could use a higher concentration with a consequent improvement in solvent resistance.

Composite Resins↗