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Biomedical subjects

C Robinson

Publications and source records attributed to C Robinson.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Determining appropriate models for joint control using surface electrical stimulation of soleus in spinal cord injury.

The mechanical impedance of the ankle joint during electrical stimulation of the soleus is studied by applying constant-velocity 10 degrees angular perturbations to the ankle and measuring the resultant torque. Both neurologically intact subjects and spinal cord injured subjects are tested. Lumped, piecewise linear models are developed to predict the torque from the measured displacement and acceleration signals. The commonly used second-order mass-spring-dashpot model fails to predict the changes in torque that occur following imposed movements. A five-element, directionally-dependent piecewise linear model is much better at predicting the measured responses for velocities up to 50 degrees s-1. Numerical least squared error identification techniques are used to estimate the model parameters for three neurologically intact and three spinal cord injured subjects. The average error between the model's response and the measured response across all subjects is 10.9%. There is some evidence that a velocity-dependent non-linear model could produce better results than the directionally-dependent piecewise linear model.

Ankle Joint↗
PubMed1994

Fluoride distribution in dentine and cementum in human permanent teeth with vital and non-vital pulps.

Twenty-two selected permanent teeth [11 with vital pulps and 11 with non-vital (necrotic) pulps] were obtained from patients aged from 20 to 73 yr in Nagoya, Japan. Fluoride (F) profiles in tooth samples were examined by using an abrasive micro-sampling technique. F levels in the pulpal dentine were significantly higher in vital than non-vital teeth for each age group, although there were observed increases of F with age. In the cementum the F levels were strongly related to age and there were few differences in profiles and levels of F between vital and non-vital teeth. It was concluded that vital pulp is an important factor for the pulpal dentine to absorb fluoride.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Fluoride profiles in different surfaces of human permanent molar enamels from a naturally fluoridated and a non-fluoridated area.

The surfaces, sites and depths of fluoride profiles of enamel from a naturally fluoridated area (West Hartlepool, WHP, 1.9 parts/10(6) F in drinking water) and a non-fluoridated area (Leeds, LDS, < 0.1 parts/10(6) F in drinking water) were examined in detail. Using a regression curve, y = ax-b, comparisons of fluoride concentrations were made at depths of 1, 3, 5, 10, 20 and 30 microns at occlusal, middle and cervical sites of buccal, lingual, mesial and distal molar enamel surfaces. In the outermost enamels (< 10 mu in depth), fluoride concentrations tended to be lower in the occlusal sites than in the cervical sites. In interior enamels (> 20 microns in depth), the fluoride concentrations of molars from WHP were statistically higher than those from LDS, while few significant differences were found in the outermost layers. In the mesio- and disto-occlusal sites of approximal surfaces, there were some significant differences in the exponential regression coefficients of fluoride profiles between the two groups of molars.

Dental Enamel↗
PubMed1994

The anaphylaxis hypothesis of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS): mast cell degranulation in cot death revealed by elevated concentrations of tryptase in serum.

A series of cases of sudden unexpected post-neonatal deaths from two centres in the UK have been investigated for evidence of mast cell activation using the biochemical markers tryptase and 9 alpha,11 beta-PGF2. Tryptase was selected as a possible marker because it is a component of mast cell secretory granules and, unlike histamine, it is not released from basophils. The prostaglandin 9 alpha,11 beta-PGF2 is an initial and pharmacologically active metabolite of PGD2, the major mast cell-derived cyclooxygenase product. This prostaglandin was chosen to serve as a marker of newly generated mediator release. In the study, unexplained infant deaths were associated with a higher concentration of tryptase in serum compared with cases of unexpected, but subsequently explained death. However, 9 alpha,11 beta-PGF2 was found to be an unsuitable post mortem marker in this situation. These results provide direct evidence that mast cell degranulation, possibly as a result of anaphylaxis, may be occurring around the time of death in some cases of cot death.

Anaphylaxis↗
PubMed1994

Effects of frequency and duration of acid exposure on demineralization/remineralization behaviour of human enamel in vitro.

An in vitro oscillating system, employing human enamel and realistic time intervals and temperature (approximately 35 degrees C) and measuring mineral loss/gain on a volume basis, was used to investigate the effects of both frequency and duration of exposure to low pH (< 5) on the demineralization and remineralization behaviour of human enamel. Sections of human teeth were cycled through one of three different regimens: (1) 3 x 20-min acid challenges; (2) 6 x 10-min acid challenges and (3) 6 x 20 min acid challenges, over single 24-hour periods. The acid challenge periods of 3 x 20, 6 x 10 and 6 x 20 min produced no significant differences in net mineral lost, i.e., the volume of mineral lost per volume of enamel exposed was similar irrespective of frequency or duration of acid exposure (approximately 0.5% vol/vol). Increased frequency of acid exposure did, however, tend to alter the total demineralization/total remineralization amounts, resulting in significantly greater amounts of mineral loss and gain. The data suggest that the remineralization capacity of enamel is considerable and that factors such as inhibition of remineralization may be important in determination of net mineral loss from the tooth.

Acetates↗
PubMed1994

The role of Myb proteins in normal and neoplastic cell proliferation.

The c-myb protooncogene is the prototype of a gene family that contains two other recently described members, A-myb and B-myb. The c-myb gene encodes a transcription regulatory protein, c-Myb, that has distinct DNA-binding domain structure and binding specificity compared with unrelated transcription factors. All three members of the myb protein family, however, display a high degree of homology within their DNA-binding domain, suggesting that they may regulate transcription of a similar set of target genes. We examine here whether, by implication, the individual members of the myb gene family play analogous roles within the cell, in particular focusing on their potential functions in the control of cell proliferation. Expression of both c-myb and B-myb is subject to regulation in the cell cycle, transcripts of these genes being induced within the G1 phase of the cell cycle and persisting at maximal levels through S phase. Consistent with this timing of expression, inhibition of c-Myb and B-Myb synthesis by treatment of cells with anti-sense oligonucleotides indicates that both proteins are required for transition from the G1 to S phase of the cell cycle. The c-Myb and B-Myb proteins cannot be considered as analogs, however, as they show certain differences in trans-activation activity of their target genes. Moreover, while superficially similar, expression of c-myb and B-myb is not coordinated, and it is conceivable that their products have quite distinct functions in the regulation of cell proliferation. The ubiquitous expression of B-myb in cycling cells and its strict regulation during late G1 suggest a universal function for B-Myb in G1 to S phase transition. Consistent with this conclusion, B-myb transcription is controlled by the transcription factor E2F, which has been implicated in cell cycle regulation of a number of genes involved in DNA synthesis. The restricted tissue tropism of c-myb expression and its regulation by certain growth factors such as IL-2 suggest a specific function in transduction of extrinsic proliferation (and differentiation) signals. The role of A-myb in the cell remains to be determined; however, its expression shows no correlation with cell cycling, implying that it has no direct role in cell proliferation. Recent data show that the necessity for c-myb function in proliferation of a number of cell types provides a promising opportunity for intervention in the treatment of certain tumors.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Protein translocation across the thylakoid membrane--a tale of two mechanisms.

In vitro reconstitution assays have been used in recent years to probe the mechanisms by which a variety of cytosolically synthesised proteins are transported across the thylakoid membrane within higher plant chloroplasts. The emerging data suggest that two distinct mechanisms operate. Translocation of a subset of lumenal proteins, namely the 23 kDa and 16 kDa proteins of the oxygen-evolving complex, and of the CFo2 protein (an integral membrane protein), requires only the presence of the thylakoidal delta pH. In contrast, two other lumenal proteins, the 33 kDa oxygen-evolving complex protein and plastocyanin, require also the presence of ATP and at least one stromal factor for efficient transport into isolated thylakoids to take place.

Biological Transport↗
PubMed1993

Transcription regulation by murine B-myb is distinct from that by c-myb.

The transcription regulatory properties of murine B-myb protein were compared to those of c-myb. Whereas c-Myb trans-activated an SV40 early promoter containing multiple copies of an upstream c-Myb DNA-binding site (MBS-1), and similarly the human c-myc promoter, B-Myb was unable to do so. Full-length B-Myb translated in vitro did not bind MBS-1; however, truncation of the B-Myb C-terminus or fusion of the B-Myb DNA-binding domain to the c-Myb C-terminus showed that it was inherently competent to interact with this motif. Further evidence from co-transfection experiments, demonstrating that B-Myb inhibited trans-activation by c-Myb, suggested that failure of B-Myb to trans-activate these promoters did not simply occur through lack of binding to MBS-1. Moreover, using GAL4/B-Myb fusions, it was found that an acidic region of B-Myb, which by comparison to c-Myb was expected to contain a transcription activation domain, actually had no inherent trans-activation activity and indeed appeared to trans-inhibit c-Myb. In contrast to the above findings, both B-Myb and c-Myb were able to weakly trans-activate the DNA polymerase alpha promoter. Results obtained here demonstrate that the activities of B-Myb and c-Myb are clearly distinct and suggest that these related proteins may have different functions in regulation of target gene expression.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1993

Job tasks, potential exposures, and health risks of laborers employed in the construction industry.

Construction laborers have some of the highest death rates of any occupation in the United States. There has been very little systematic research focused exclusively on "laborers" as opposed to other workers in the construction industry. We reviewed the English language literature and various data bases describing the occupational tasks, exposures, and work-related health risks of construction laborers. The sources of information included 1) occupational mortality surveillance data collected by the states of California and Washington and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH); 2) National Occupational Exposure Survey; 3) national fatality data; 4) cancer registry data; and 5) case reports of specific causes of morbidity. While the literature reported that construction laborers have increased risk for mesothelioma, on-the-job trauma, acute lead poisoning, musculoskeletal injury, and dermatitis, the work relatedness of excess risks for all-cause mortality, cirrhosis, cerebrovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischemic heart disease, and leukemia is less clear. Furthermore, while laborers are known to be potentially exposed to asbestos, noise, and lead, and the NIOSH Job Exposure Matrix describes other potential hazardous exposures, little research has characterized other possible exposures and no research has been found that describes the exposures associated with specific job tasks. More advanced study designs are needed that include a better understanding of the job tasks and exposures to construction laborers, in order to evaluate specific exposure-disease relationships and to develop intervention programs aimed at reducing the rate of work-related diseases.

Facility Design and Construction↗
PubMed1993

Precursors of one integral and five lumenal thylakoid proteins are imported by isolated pea and barley thylakoids: optimisation of in vitro assays.

In vitro assays for the import of proteins by isolated pea thylakoids have been refined and optimised with respect to (a) the method of thylakoid preparation, (b) the concentration of thylakoids in the import assay, and (c) the pH and temperature of the import assay. As a result, the 23 kDa and 16 kDa proteins of the photosynthetic oxygen-evolving complex are imported with efficiencies approaching 100%; import of the third oxygen-evolving complex protein is also observed, albeit with lower efficiencies. We have also demonstrated import of three further thylakoid proteins: plastocyanin, the CFoII subunit of the ATP synthase, and the photosystem I subunit, PSI-N, using this import assay. Import of plastocyanin, PSI-N and the 33 kDa oxygen-evolving complex protein subunit requires the presence of stromal extract whereas the other three proteins are efficiently imported in the absence of added soluble proteins. Import into isolated barley thylakoids was achieved under identical assay conditions, although with somewhat lower efficiency than into pea thylakoids.

Biological Transport↗