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Biomedical subjects

D Jones

Publications and source records attributed to D Jones.

At least 613 records · Page 34Linked to original sources

Immunochemical characterization of juvenile hormone esterase from different species of Lepidoptera.

Cross-immunoreactivity of juvenile hormone esterase (JHE) from different species was tested using anti-JHE (Trichoplusia ni) (Noctuidae) polyclonal antibody. Partial cross-reactivity was observed between JHE from Hyphantria cunea, Isia isabella (Arctuidae) and Spodoptera exigua (Noctuidae) in immunoblot analysis. Soluble antigen-antibody complex formation was observed between anti-JHE (T. ni) and antigen(s) from Heliothis virescens (Noctuidae) during immunotitration of antigen(s). Using an ELISA method the highest cross-reactivity was observed for both species from Arctuidae and lower cross-reactivity for antigen(s) from H. virescens.

Animals↗

Expression of intron-containing C. elegans heat shock genes in mouse cells demonstrates divergence of 3' splice site recognition sequences between nematodes and vertebrates, and an inhibitory effect of heat shock on the mammalian splicing apparatus.

Splicing of a pair of intron-containing heat shock genes from Caenorhabditis elegans has been studied in transfected mouse cells. The hsp16-1 and hsp16-48 genes of C. elegans encode 16,000 Da heat shock polypeptides. Each gene contains a short intron of 52 (hsp16-1) or 55 (hsp16-48) base pairs. When these genes were introduced into mouse cells, they were efficiently induced following heat shock, but splicing of the introns was abnormal. In mouse cells, cleavage of the hsp16 transcripts occurred at the correct 5' splice sites, but the 3' splice sites were located at AG dinucleotides downstream of the correct sites. This aberrant splicing was not solely due to the small size of the C. elegans introns, since a hsp16-1 gene containing an intron enlarged by tandem duplication showed exactly the same splicing pattern. The mouse cells thus seem to be unable to recognize the natural 3' splice sites of the C. elegans transcripts. The efficiency of splicing was greatly reduced under heat shock conditions, and unspliced transcripts accumulated in the nucleus. During a subsequent recovery period at 37 degrees C, these transcripts were spliced and transported to the cytoplasm.

Animals↗

Aphasic performance on a lexical decision task: multiple meanings and word frequency.

The lexical access of words varying in the number of meanings and frequency of occurrence was examined in fluent and nonfluent aphasic individuals and a control group of non-brain-damaged adults, using a lexical decision task. Fluent aphasic subjects performed similarly to nonfluent aphasic and normal subjects, showing that words with a high number of meanings and with a high frequency of occurrence were recognized as real words faster than words with few meanings or a low frequency of occurrence. While previous research has demonstrated that the number of meanings associated with a word exerts a powerful influence on the internal lexicon of normals, the results of this study suggest that brain damage resulting in aphasia does not disrupt this semantic organization.

Aged↗

Acetylcholinesterase prophylaxis against organophosphate toxicity.

Fetal bovine serum acetylcholinesterase (FBS-AChE) protected mice from multiple LD50 doses of organophosphorus (OP) nerve agents. Mice were injected intraperitoneally (ip) with up to 3.3 mg (11,000 U) of FBS-AChE which exhibited a relatively long serum half-life and appeared well tolerated. The enzyme protected mice from the OP ethyl-S-2-diisopropylamino-ethylmethylphosphonothiolate (VX) with a stoichiometry equal to approximately 2 moles of enzyme active site per mole of VX. FBS-AChE, at a lower enzyme OP ratio, protected mice from 2 LD50s of the nerve agent methylphosphonofluoridic acid 1,2,2,-trimethylpropyl ester (soman) when used in conjunction with atropine and 2[(hydroxyimino)methyl]-1-methylpyridinium chloride. It is concluded that sequestration of highly toxic OPs by administration of AChE occurs in mice and suggests a new approach to treatment of OP intoxication.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

A radiolucent bite-block apparatus.

A bite-block, patient immobilization apparatus has been constructed using all plastic parts. The apparatus may be used in C-T scanning without detriment to the images produced. The construction details are given and the procedure used to produce a bite block is described. A method to reduce electron backscattering onto the buccal mucosa from metal fillings is given.

Head↗

Significance of metastatic disease in subaortic lymph nodes.

Thirty-five patients underwent resection of primary bronchogenic carcinoma of the left upper lobe or left main bronchus in the presence of metastatic disease in subaortic lymph nodes. No patient had metastatic disease in other mediastinal node stations. There was 1 postoperative death. Complete follow-up is available on 34 patients. Three-year and five-year actuarial survival for the entire group is 44% and 28%, respectively. For 23 patients undergoing complete resection, five-year actuarial survival is 42%. Resection of primary bronchogenic carcinoma in the presence of subaortic nodal metastases is associated with improved survival relative to reports of survival following resection of metastatic disease in other mediastinal node stations. Resection should be undertaken in these patients especially when it is judged that the resection is likely to be complete.

Adult↗

Radiation dose to patient and personnel during extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.

Radiation dose to the patient and personnel was determined during extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy treatment of 60 patients. Surface radiation dose to the patient's back from the fluoroscopy unit on the side with the kidney stone averaged 10 rem (100 mSv.) per case, although the range was wide (1 to 30 rem). The surface dose from the opposing biplane x-ray unit was less, averaging 5.5 rem (55 mSv.) per case but again with a wide range (0.1 to 21 rem). Exit dose at the lower abdomen averaged 13 mrem. (0.13 mSv.) per case and estimated female gonad dose averaged 100 mrem. (1.2 mSv.). Radiation dose to personnel working in the extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy suite averaged less than 2 mrem. (0.02 mSv.) per case, making it a procedure that is safe in regard to radiation exposure.

Adult↗

A study of antipolynucleotide antibodies, anti-Klebsiella (K30) antibodies and anti-DNA antibody idiotypes in ankylosing spondylitis.

Recent studies have indicated that both ankylosing spondylitis and the anti-DNA antibodies found in systemic lupus erythematosus may be related to Klebsiella surface antigens. In order to explore these possible relationships further, the sera of 24 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and 20 controls, have been examined for binding to a wide range of antipolynucleotide antibodies, antibodies binding to the Klebsiella pneumoniae polysaccharide K30 and two DNA antibody idiotypes designated 16/6 and 134. We report that although 21% of the AS patients had IgG ssDNA antibodies it is evident that the aetiopathogenesis of this disease is not through the mechanism of autoantibodies or the common DNA antibody idiotypes tested.

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗

Embedding of an inverted hard contact lens.

We report the embedding of an inverted contact lens into the upper lid. Inversion of the lens was probably instrumental in giving rise to symptoms of mucoid discharge and in reducing the elapsed time between lens loss and presentation to eight weeks.

Adult↗

Construction of improved bacteriophage phi 105 vectors for cloning by transfection in Bacillus subtilis.

A series of improved phage vectors have been constructed, based on Bacillus subtilis bacteriophage phi 105, which can be used to clone genes in B. subtilis by direct transfection of protoplasts. The new vectors, designated phi 105J23, phi 105J24, phi 105J27 and phi 105J28, show frequencies of plaque formation that are equal to those of wild-type phi 105. This represents at least a 10-fold improvement over phi 105J9, the vector used in previous cloning experiments. Two of the new vectors phi 105J27 and phi 105J28 incorporate a mutation, cts-52, that renders the prophage temperature inducible. This has made it possible to devise a rapid small-scale procedure for screening progeny phage for the presence of inserted DNA. The usefulness of the new vectors is illustrated in the accompanying paper by cloning more than 20 B. subtilis sporulation genes.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Cloning in Bacillus subtilis by transfection with bacteriophage vector phi 105J27: isolation and preliminary characterization of transducing phages for 23 sporulation loci.

Bacteriophage cloning vector phi 105J27, the construction of which is described in an accompanying paper, has been used for shotgun cloning of sporulation genes in Bacillus subtilis. Various genomic libraries have been constructed and screened for the presence of recombinant phages capable of transducing strains containing sporulation (spo) mutations to Spo+. Of a total of 30 spo loci tested, transducing phages have been isolated for 23, more than half of the known spo loci. Included are nine loci (spo0D, spo0J, spoIIIA, spoIIIE, spoIIIF, spoIVF, spoVB, spoVH and spoVJ) that do not appear to have been cloned previously. Preliminary genetic characterization of some of the new clones by a rapid screening procedure has enabled the status of various sporulation loci to be clarified.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Oral acyclovir for herpes zoster: a double-blind controlled trial in normal subjects.

Sixty immunocompetent patients with herpes zoster of various dermatomes were treated 5 times a day for 5 days with either acyclovir at a dose of 400 mg or placebo. Acyclovir was shown to reduce significantly the time to full crusting (P = 0.02). There were also trends in favour of acyclovir for time to first dry vesicle and time to first day without macules or papules, but these were not statistically significant. There were no differences between the groups in the occurrence of adverse events or postherpetic neuralgia.

Acyclovir↗

Ophthalmic manifestations of neurofibromatosis.

The eyes of 64 patients known to have neurofibromatosis were examined. Lisch nodules were the commonest manifestation of the disease and were present in 95% of all patients (100% of those aged 16 years or older).

Adolescent↗

Hard contact lens migration into the upper lid: an unexpected lid lump.

Contact lens migration into the upper lid is a rare complication of wearing a hard contact lens. We present a case in which the only complaint was the cosmetically unacceptable appearance of a lump in the upper lid. The 76-month duration of the lesion is, we believe, the longest so far described. The histology and possible natural history of the cyst are also discussed.

Adult↗

Sleep and depression.

Manifestations of sleep disturbances can potentially serve as external criteria for the diagnosis of specific subtypes of major depressive disorder (MDD). Depressed patients generally experience disturbances of sleep continuity and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Disturbances in nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep (stages III and IV) also occur. Characteristic of primary sleep disturbance in many depressed patients are shortened REM latency periods and instabilities in NREM sleep identified by increases in the number of stage shifts, decreases in the duration of stage III and IV sleep, and a shift towards lighter sleep stages (sleep efficiency disturbances). Treatment modalities for these sleep disturbances include sleep deprivation therapy and antidepressant therapy. Sleep deprivation alone has been only moderately successful, while antidepressant therapy usually results in symptomatic improvement. To restore normative sleep, REM sleep periods and stage III and IV sleep must be returned to normal. Trazodone therapy has been shown to reduce the frequency of arousals, the severity of drowsiness, and the duration of REM sleep, and increase restorative slow wave sleep and stage III and IV NREM sleep.

Depressive Disorder↗

The specificity of autoantibodies in Graves' ophthalmopathy.

An autoantibody to orbital antigens is found in patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy. This autoantibody also binds to skeletal muscle antigen. Occasional positive responses have been seen in patients with Hashimoto's disease and with non-organ-specific autoimmune disease. Eye muscle has a higher innervation ratio than skeletal muscle and may be of different embryological origin, but it is nevertheless closely related to skeletal muscle and it is perhaps not surprising that the antibody should interact with both these types of muscle. What remains quite unexplained, is why the disease process apparently affects eye muscle only. The antigen appears to be distinct from thyroidal antigens, but further work with a larger patient population is necessary before one can be certain of this. To date it has been possible to exclude the cytoskeletal proteins, myosin and actin, and also the TSH receptor as possible candidates for the responsible antigens. Further studies are in progress to elucidate the nature of this muscle antigen.

Autoantibodies↗

Primary hypoandrogenism in experimental diabetes in the Long-Evans rat.

The hormonal milieu of the testis was examined in streptozocin-induced diabetic (STZ-D) adult male Wistar and Long-Evans rats. Serum testosterone, creatinine, and urea nitrogen (BUN) levels and blood glucose concentrations were determined in diabetic and control Wistar rats (experiment 1). These parameters plus luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were studied in experiments 2 and 3 with Long-Evans rats in untreated diabetic, control, insulin-treated diabetic, nondiabetic STZ-injected, and semistarved groups. Wistar diabetic rats had significantly decreased serum testosterone and increased blood glucose, BUN, and serum creatinine compared with controls. Several findings in Long-Evans rats suggested the existence of a primary Leydig cell defect in steroidogenesis during untreated diabetes that was completely or partially compensated for by increased pituitary gonadotropin secretion. Serum LH and FSH levels increased in Long-Evans diabetic rats. Serum testosterone was significantly reduced only in experiment 2. These hormonal alterations from control levels were not seen in insulin-treated diabetic animals. Semistarved animals, weight matched to the diabetic group in experiment 2, had significantly decreased serum testosterone and increased FSH levels. In addition, Long-Evans diabetic rat BUN and serum creatinine levels increased much less or were unchanged from control values compared with the increase noted in diabetic Wistar rats. In light of the hypogonadism that complicates clinical uremia, these findings suggest the more apt use of the Long-Evans strain rather than the Wistar strain in the study of STZ-D hypogonadal function.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Androgens↗