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Biomedical subjects

C Becker

Publications and source records attributed to C Becker.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

The DNA Rx. Advances in genetics give physicians ability to tailor drugs to patients' unique makeup.

Thanks to the recently completed first draft of the human genome map, the potential for advances in medical science seems endless. That's especially true in pharmacogenomics, with futuristic-sounding drugs and screening tests already available. William Evans (left), chairman of pharmaceutical science at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tenn., developed one of only a few pharmacogenomic applications available so far.

Cost Savings↗
PubMed2000

High-performance liquid chromatography of non-polar retinoid isomers.

Normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatograms of retinal, retinol and retinyl palmitate isomers using n-heptane-tert.-butyl methyl ether as mobile phase are presented. Methods for the synthesis of various isomers of these retinoids are described. This enables one to produce standard chromatograms and to select various isomers for cochromatography and the identification of the various peaks under study. Assignment of the peaks is based on chromatograms published previously in this journal. For the main isomers it is possible to get baseline separation of the commonly occurring isomeric forms in a reasonably short analysis time.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed2000

Efficient gene transfer into primary human CD8+ T lymphocytes by MuLV-10A1 retrovirus pseudotype.

Efficient and stable gene transfer into primary human T lymphocytes would greatly improve their use for adoptive transfer to treat acquired disorders, viral diseases, and cancer. We have constructed retroviral vector pseudotypes of amphotropic murine leukemia viruses (A-MuLV, MuLV-10A1), gibbon ape leukemia virus (GaLV), and feline endogenous virus (RD114) containing the enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a marker gene. Transduction of primary human CD8+ T lymphocytes by the different GFP-retrovirus pseudotypes revealed the superiority of MuLV-10A1 in comparison with A-MuLV, GaLV, and RD114, respectively. The superior transduction efficacy of CD8+ T cells by MuLV-10A1 correlates with a longer half-life of this pseudotype in comparison with A-MuLV and, as shown by interference analysis with the human T cell line HUT78, by the utilization of both the A-MuLV receptor (Pit2) and the GaLV receptor (Pit1) for cell entry.

CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes↗
PubMed2000

Delta-opioid receptor-mediated increase in cortical extracellular levels of cholecystokinin-like material by subchronic morphine in rats.

Numerous pharmacological data indirectly support the idea that interactions between cholecystokinin (CCK) and opioids participate in the development of tolerance to morphine. Biochemical investigations were performed with the aim of directly assessing the status of such interactions in morphine treated rats. Tolerance to the alkaloid after s.c. implantation of morphine pellets for three days was not associated with any change in the levels of both CCK like-material (CCKLM) and proCCK mRNA in the frontal cortex. However, microdialysis in the freely moving rat showed that this morphine treatment produced a significant increase (+40%) of the cortical spontaneous CCKLM outflow, which could be completely prevented by intracortical infusion of naloxone (10 microM). The opioid receptors responsible for morphine-induced cortical CCKLM overflow appeared to be of the delta type because intracortical infusion of selective delta-opioid receptor antagonists such as naltriben (10 microM) and 7-benzylidenenaltrexone (10 microM) also prevented the effect of morphine, whereas CTOP (10 microM), a selective mu-opioid receptor antagonist, and nor-binaltorphimine (10 microM), a selective K-opioid receptor antagonist, were inactive. These data indicate that morphine tolerance is associated with delta-opioid receptor mediated activation of cortical CCKergic systems in rats.

Analgesics, Opioid↗
PubMed2000

Acute left colonic diverticulitis--compared performance of computed tomography and water-soluble contrast enema: prospective evaluation of 420 patients.

PURPOSE: The most valuable radiologic examination to be done initially when acute left colonic diverticulitis is suspected is still a matter of controversy. This study compares the performance between water-soluble contrast enema and computed tomography. METHODS: From 1986 to 1997, all patients admitted in our emergency center with clinically suspected left-colonic diverticulitis had a contrast enema and a computed tomography within 72 hours of their admission, unless clinical findings required immediate laparotomy. They were prospectively included in the study if one or both radiologic examinations showed signs of acute diverticulitis or diverticulitis was surgically removed and histologically proven or both. Diverticulitis was considered moderate when computed tomography showed localized thickening of the colonic wall (5 mm or more) and inflammation of pericolic fat and contrast enema showed segmental lumen narrowing and tethered mucosa; it was considered severe when abscess or extraluminal air or contrast or all three were observed on computed tomography and when one or both of the last two signs were seen on contrast enema. Of 542 patients, 420 who had both computed tomography and contrast enema entered the study. RESULTS: The performance of computed tomography was significantly superior to contrast enema in terms of sensitivity (98 vs. 92 percent; P = 0.01), which was calculated from patients who had their colon removed and whose diverticulitis was histologically proven, and in the evaluation of the severity of the inflammation (26 vs. 9 percent; P = 0.02). Moreover, of 69 patients who had an associated abscess seen on computed tomography, only 20 (29 percent) had indirect signs of this complication on contrast enema. CONCLUSIONS: In the diagnostic evaluation of acute left-colonic diverticulitis, computed tomography should be preferred to contrast enema as the initial radiologic examination because of its statistically significant superiority in sensitivity and for its significantly better performance in the detection of severe infection, especially when an abscess is associated with the disease.

Abscess↗