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Biomedical subjects

D L Nelson

Publications and source records attributed to D L Nelson.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources

Protein binding of phenytoin and lidocaine in pediatric patients with type I diabetes mellitus.

We evaluated serum protein binding of phenytoin and lidocaine, the extent of albumin and hemoglobin glycation, and alpha-1-acid glycoprotein concentrations in 47 children and adolescents (9-17 years) with type I diabetes mellitus (DM). Serum was incubated with phenytoin (n = 47) and lidocaine (n = 32) to yield total concentrations of 19.4 +/- 1.34 and 4.6 +/- 0.5 mg/l, respectively. A serum ultrafiltrate was prepared from an aliquot of each sample by membrane centrifugation. Total and free concentrations of phenytoin (free fraction 8.3 +/- 1.0%) and lidocaine (free fraction 25.8 +/- 11.6%) were determined using a fluorescence polarization immunoassay technique. A linear relationship (r = 0.63, p = 0.0001, y = 40.1 + [-0.2x]) was also found between the alpha-1-acid glycoprotein concentration (68.5 +/- 20.9 mg%, range 47.2-134.7 mg%) and lidocaine-free fraction (n = 32). No relationship existed between the extent of glycated albumin and the lidocaine-free fraction, in contrast to the linear correlation (r = 0.49, p = 0.0005, y = 3.7 + 0.4x) found between the extent of glycated albumin and the free fraction of phenytoin in serum (n = 47). A similar correlation (r = 0.49, p = 0.014, y = 3.7 + 0.3x) was found between glycated albumin (%) and the phenytoin-free fraction (3.9 +/- 0.9%) when examined in a separate (n = 17) set of patient samples spiked to contain a total serum phenytoin concentration of 32.6 +/- 1.4 (range 29.4-35.7) mg/l. Our data demonstrate a predictable increase in the free fraction of phenytoin as the extent of albumin glycation increases in pediatric patients with type I DM who are in poor glycemic control. This relationship was not found for lidocaine, a representative basic compound. These findings suggest that glycation of albumin alters the binding of phenytoin in children and adolescents with type I DM.

Adolescent↗

Elevated concentrations of soluble interleukin-2 receptors in serum samples and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids in active sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disorder of unknown cause characterized by activation of T-lymphocytes. We here report the use of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the soluble interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) as a measure of T-cell activation in serum samples and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids in 15 patients with active sarcoidosis. The geometric mean (x divided by SEM) value for soluble IL-2R in serum samples from patients with sarcoidosis was 1,110 (x divided by 1.17) versus 224 (x divided by 1.08) U/ml for normal control subjects (p less than 0.001). Detectable levels of soluble IL-2R were present in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from 10 of 15 patients with sarcoidosis versus only 2 of 36 normal control subjects (p less than 0.001). Levels of soluble IL-2R in serum samples from untreated patients with sarcoidosis correlated with 67gallium lung scanning scores (p less than 0.05) but not with serum angiotensin-converting enzyme concentrations or constituents of bronchoalveolar lavage. In 5 patients, the level of soluble IL-2R in serum samples fell from 1,499 (x divided by 1.20) to 476 (x divided by 1.58) U/ml (p less than 0.05) after 6 wk of successful treatment with corticosteroids, whereas the changes in soluble IL-2R in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids were more variable. These observations suggest that measurements of soluble IL-2R, particularly in serum samples, may reflect disease activity and be clinically useful in the management of patients with sarcoidosis.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

Effects of project versus parallel groups on social interaction and affective responses in senior citizens.

Using activity analysis, occupational therapists structure group activities to meet the needs and goals of group members. This study compared the effects of project group structure (subjects participate together on a common task) with parallel group structure (subjects each have a task) in a sample of healthy seniors (32 women and 9 men). Subjects randomly assigned to either experimental condition made creative and imitative collages in a counter-balanced order. Time-sampled observations revealed that project group subjects talked and looked at others significantly more than parallel group subjects. On-task and laughing behaviors were also measured, but results were inconclusive. Project group subjects rated their activities higher on the action factor of the Osgood semantic differential (OSD) than did parallel group subjects, but there were no other differences on the OSD or on MacKenzie's Group Climate Questionnaire. Nor were there significant main effects between the creative collage and the imitative collage. Results are discussed both in terms of group task structure as an occupational therapy tool and in terms of methodologies for future activity analysis research.

Affect↗

Occupation: form and performance.

As used both in everyday language and in the literature of occupational therapy, occupation is an ambiguous term. This article defines occupation unambiguously as the relationship between two things: occupational form and occupational performance. Each occupational form has an objective nature independent of the individual engaged in the occupation; sociocultural as well as physical characteristics constitute each occupational form. Occupational performance, in turn, is the action elicited, guided, or structured by the preexisting occupational form. Although occupational form may be said to predict or explain occupational performance, the nature of occupation is not deterministic. A series of figures in the paper graphically depicts how the individual's interpretation of an occupational form (its meaning) depends on the individual's developmental structure, and how occupational performance depends on the individual's sense of purpose. The dynamics of occupation are such that occupational performance impacts on subsequent occupational forms and promotes adaptations in the individual's own developmental structure. The framework explained here can be applied to different levels of occupation, depending upon the unit of time used by the analyst. A table presents an extensive set of examples oriented to a specific occupation. Recommendations for future scholarly inquiry are made.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Soluble Tac peptide is present in the urine of normal individuals and at elevated levels in patients with adult T cell leukaemia (ATL).

The T lymphocyte-derived lymphokine interleukin 2 and the cell-associated receptor for this molecule play major roles in the activation and regulation of the human immune response. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay has been developed to measure quantitatively a soluble form of one component of the human interleukin 2 receptor, namely the Tac peptide. In the present studies, soluble Tac peptide was measured in the urine of normal individuals (mean = 92 U/ml), a level not significantly different (0.01 less than P less than 0.05) from the corresponding serum concentrations (mean = 175). The urinary Tac peptide had a molecular weight of 40-45 kD by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis and specifically bound interleukin 2. Elevated levels of urinary Tac peptide were found in four patients with adult T cell leukaemia who also had elevated serum levels of Tac peptide. Thus, urine may represent a valuable source of lymphokine-binding proteins that may serve as important markers of immunological activation.

Adult↗

Serum soluble IL-2 receptor as a tumor marker in patients with hairy cell leukemia.

Activated T cells synthesize and express a cell membrane-bound receptor for interleukin-2 (IL-2) and have recently been shown to secrete a soluble form of the same receptor. Hairy cell leukemia is a chronic disorder caused by expansion of a clonal population of an unusual mononuclear cell of B cell origin. These cells have previously been shown to express an IL-2 receptor on the cell membrane. The sera of 26 patients with hairy cell leukemia were examined for the presence of a soluble IL-2 receptor before and during therapy with either recombinant interferon alpha-2a or 2'-deoxycoformycin. Before therapy, all patients had markedly elevated levels of this soluble IL-2 receptor ranging from five to 60 times the highest level observed in normal control sera. In individual patients changes in the level during therapy correlated well with clinical assessments of tumor response; levels fell to near the normal range in patients responding to therapy. Patients not responding to interferon alpha had no significant change in the soluble IL-2 receptor level. These results suggest that hairy cells secrete a soluble IL-2 receptor and that serial measurements of the level of this receptor in the serum can be used as a noninvasive means to assess disease response to therapy.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

The malignant B cells from B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients release TAC-soluble interleukin-2 receptors.

Both membrane (p55) and soluble (p45) forms of TAC-reactive interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) are expressed and/or released by activated lymphocytes or monocytes. Previous work has detected increased levels of circulating, TAC-soluble IL-2R (soluble TAC antigen) in the serum of most B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) patients. We detected soluble TAC antigen in B-CLL patients (mean of 3,332 U/mL v 410 for controls). Serum soluble TAC antigen levels increased with stage (mean value of 1,187 U/mL for stage 0 v 2,527 for stage 2 and 5,410 for stages 3 and 4). We next attempted to determine whether the elevated serum levels of soluble TAC antigen in B-CLL patients might result from shedding or secretion of the receptor from the circulating, malignant B cells. Purified, malignant B cells from B-CLL patients were capable of producing easily detectable soluble TAC antigen after 48 hours of in vitro culture (range of 60 to 1,563 U/mL). IL-2R production by CLL B cells was dose dependent in most patients over a concentration of 10 x 10(6) to 60 x 10(6)/mL. In contrast, there was little or no detectable soluble TAC antigen when highly purified T cells from the same patients were cultured. Finally, despite elaboration of soluble IL-2R by CLL B cells, membrane expression of B-cell IL-2R was detected in only six of 11 patients. Thus, the cellular source of the elevated serum IL-2R levels is the malignant CLL B cell. Taken together these data suggest that (a) the malignant CLL B cell is "activated" in terms of release of soluble IL-2R and may serve as a tumor marker in this disease and (b) the elevated levels of circulating IL-2R may be an associated factor in the cellular immunodeficiency noted in B-CLL patients.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Lexical and semantic search in cued recall, fragment completion, perceptual identification, and recognition.

Search processes in word-stem cued recall, fragment completion, perceptual identification, and recognition are contrasted. These retention tests involve letters as cues, but the lexical characteristics of these cues vary considerably. In word-stem cued recall, ending letters are presented as recall cues for studied targets (e.g., ONEY as a cue for HONEY). In fragment completion, the test cues consist of letters and spaces (e.g., HO__Y); in perceptual identification, they consist of letter features that survive the mask; and in recognition, they consist of all the letters of the studied word (e.g., HONEY). These differences in retention tests and lexical characteristics were evaluated by manipulating three variables with known effects in cued recall: (a) the presence of study context words emphasizing lexical information, (b) lexical set size corresponding to the number of words that fit the letter cue, and (c) meaning set size corresponding to the number of meaningful associates linked to the studied targets. The results indicated that (a) the presence of study contexts emphasizing lexical information reduced accuracy and response time equally in all tasks, (b) larger lexical set sizes reduced accuracy and response time in all tasks except recognition, and (c) larger meaning set size reduced accuracy in cued recall but not in the other tasks. Lexical search appears to be a significant component process in word-stem cued recall, fragment completion, and identification. Searching through meaning-related concepts encoded during study is a significant component process only in cued recall.

Adult↗

Molecular determinants for recognition of RU 24969 analogs at central 5-hydroxytryptamine recognition sites: use of a bilinear function and substituent volumes to describe steric fit.

The putative serotonin (5-HT) agonist RU 24969 [5-methoxy-3-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-4-yl)indole; 5-MeO-THPI] has been extensively used in the study and classification of 5-HT receptors. In order to study molecular determinants for recognition of THPIs at central 5-HT recognition sites, about 25 additional THPI derivatives were synthesized, incorporating, among others, 16 different indole-5-substituents and three different pyridine-N substituents in various combinations. Two saturated derivatives (piperidin-4-ylindoles) and two 2-methyl analogs were also included. Binding affinities at 5-HT1A, 5-HT2, and total 5-HT1 sites were obtained and the data were incorporated in quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) using a combined linear free energy/molecular modeling approach. The QSAR analyses suggest distinct differences in the structural features that determine optimal potency at 5-HT1A sites versus those directing optimal potency for 5-HT2 sites. The parameter of the indole-5 substituent that almost exclusively determines potency for 5-HT1A sites is volume, the optimal size being about 24 cubic angstroms (calculated by fitting the activity versus volume data to a bilinear function). This is approximately the size of a carboxamide group. In contrast, at the 5-HT2 site both volume and hydrophobicity play major but opposing roles for the 5-substituent. A balance between the smallest possible volume and the greatest possible hydrophobicity is required for maximal 5-HT2 potency. Benzyl groups on the indole-1 or pyridyl-1 positions also favor potency at the 5-HT2 site (probably largely due to increased hydrophobic binding) while decreasing potency at the 5-HT1A site. A minor electronic contribution to the QSARs involving the charge on the indole 5-carbon is of opposite sign for 5-HT1A versus 5-HT2 sites and thus may also be useful for selective drug design. The data are consistent with the possibility that the indole and pyridyl rings are in a coplanar configuration when binding at both 5-HT1A and 5-HT2 sites, because the indole-2-methyl substituent, which provides a large energy barrier to the coplanar configuration, greatly reduces the potency of THPIs at both binding sites. Similarities in analog selectivity patterns suggest that the indolic portion of these compounds binds similarly to that of other indole derivatives such as tryptamines; thus, it is possible that optimally selective substituents predicted by these QSARs may be extrapolated to tryptamines and other indoles.

Animals↗

Chromogranin A-like proteins in the secretory granules of a protozoan, Paramecium tetraurelia.

The ciliate protozoan Paramecium tetraurelia produces secretory granules (trichocysts) which release needle-like structures composed of small, acidic proteins. Using antibodies against isolated chromogranin A (CGA) and against trichocyst proteins, we found cross-reactive proteins in chromaffin granules and trichocysts. Four independently derived sera against isolated CGA stained bands of the Mr 15,000-25,000 family of trichocyst proteins on immunoblots. A positive response was also obtained with antiserum against chemically synthesized peptides (PL26 and GE25) corresponding to defined regions of the CGA amino acid sequence. In extracts of whole Paramecium, larger proteins (Mr 53,000 and 49,000) also reacted with antibodies against CGA and the related synthetic peptides. These larger proteins may represent unprocessed precursors to the smaller proteins of mature trichocysts. Antiserum to trichocysts recognized CGA in chromaffin granule lysates. Further evidence of a Paramecium protein related to CGA was provided by hybridization of Paramecium mRNA with cloned cDNA for bovine CGA. Our results suggest striking conservation in evolution of CGA-like proteins that may play some role, as yet unknown, in secretion.

Animals↗

Activated lymphocytes during acute Epstein-Barr virus infection.

Activated lymphocytes, as identified by HLA-DR expression, associated with acute Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-induced infectious mononucleosis (IM) were shown to be a heterogeneous population containing significantly elevated cytotoxic/suppressor (CD8) T cells, natural killer (CD16) cells and helper (CD4) T cells. CD8 T cells were the primary activated population representing 24.5% of the total lymphocyte population. The activated CD4 T cells and natural killer cells accounted for 6.7% and 3.5% of the total lymphocyte population, respectively. Analysis of serum soluble interleukin 2 receptors (IL-2R) demonstrated significantly (p less than 0.001) elevated levels in the serum of acute IM patients compared with normal controls. Elevated levels of serum IL-2R were correlated (r = 0.67) with increased percentages of Leu 2a+/HLA-DR+T cells (i.e., activated CD8 T cells). Patients with X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome and virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome, two syndromes associated with severe acute EBV infections, demonstrated the most dramatic increase in serum IL-2R levels. These data demonstrate that EBV is associated with intense immune stimulation and that during acute IM activated lymphocytes, other than the CD8 T cells, may contribute to the immune response to EBV.

Acute Disease↗

Reconstitution of a functional interleukin 2 receptor in a nonlymphoid cell.

The maintenance of T lymphocytes which are important effectors of immune responses requires the T cell growth factor, interleukin 2 (IL-2). The binding of IL-2 to specific cell-surface receptors (IL-2R) has previously been shown to be essential to the growth and proliferation of activated lymphocytes. A human IL-2R cDNA sequence, placed under the control of the SV40 transcriptional promoter and enhancer, has been transfected into murine L cells. Single cell analysis by autoradiography was used to show that fibroblastic L cells, stably expressing human IL-2R, respond to stimulation with IL-2 by DNA synthesis and proliferation. This response is specifically blocked by the addition of an anti-IL-2R monoclonal antibody, anti-Tac, as previously reported. Neither nonspecific antisera nor 7G7/B6, an anti-IL-2R monoclonal antibody which does not interfere with IL-2 binding to its receptor, had any effect on this response. The induction of DNA synthesis by IL-2 is both rapid and dose-dependent. The ability of IL-2 to stimulate these transfected L cells to proliferate demonstrates that a lymphoid environment is not required for the functional interaction between IL-2 and its receptor, and provides a unique model system for the investigation of the molecular basis for the cellular events mediated by IL-2.

Animals↗

[3H]spiroxatrine labels a serotonin1A-like site in the rat hippocampus.

[3H]Spiroxatrine was examined as a potential ligand for the labeling of 5-HT1A sites in the rat hippocampus. Analysis of the binding of [3H]spiroxatrine in the absence and presence of varying concentrations of three monoamine neurotransmitters revealed that serotonin (5-HT) had high affinity (IC50 = 20.7 nM for the [3H]spiroxatrine binding sites, consistent with the labeling of 5-HT1 sites, while dopamine and norepinephrine had very low affinity (IC50 = 57600 nM and greater than 10(-4) M respectively). Saturation studies of the binding of [3H]spiroxatrine revealed a single population of sites with a Kd = 2.21 nM. Further pharmacologic characterization with the 5-HT1A ligands 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin, ipsapirone, and WB4101 and the butyrophenone compounds spiperone and haloperidol gave results that were consistent with [3H]spiroxatrine labeling 5-HT1A sites. This ligand produced stable, reproducible binding with a good ratio of specific to nonspecific binding. The binding of [3H]spiroxatrine was sensitive to GTP, suggesting that this ligand may act as an agonist. This was supported by the finding that spiroxatrine inhibits forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity (a proposed 5-HT1A receptor model) in the rat hippocampus. Since [3H]spiroxatrine is structurally distinct from other currently available radioligands for the 5-HT1A site, it should provide new information about the properties of this putative serotonergic receptor.

8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin↗

Regulation of ciliary adenylate cyclase by Ca2+ in Paramecium.

In the ciliated protozoan Paramecium, Ca2+ and cyclic nucleotides are believed to act as second messengers in the regulation of the ciliary beat. Ciliary adenylate cyclase was activated 20-30-fold (half-maximal at 0.8 microM) and inhibited by higher concentrations (10-20 microM) of free Ca2+ ion. Ca2+ activation was the result of an increase in Vmax., not a change in Km for ATP. The activation by Ca2+ was seen only with Mg2+ATP as substrate; with Mn2+ATP the basal adenylate cyclase activity was 10-20-fold above that with Mg2+ATP, and there was no further activation by Ca2+. The stimulation by Ca2+ of the enzyme in cilia and ciliary membranes was blocked by the calmodulin antagonists calmidazolium (half-inhibition at 5 microM), trifluoperazine (70 microM) and W-7 (50-100 microM). When ciliary membranes (which contained most of the ciliary adenylate cyclase) were prepared in the presence of Ca2+, their adenylate cyclase was insensitive to Ca2+ in the assay. However, the inclusion of EGTA in buffers used for fractionation of cilia resulted in full retention of Ca2+-sensitivity by the ciliary membrane adenylate cyclase. The membrane-active agent saponin specifically suppressed the Ca2+-dependent adenylate cyclase without inhibiting basal activity with Mg2+ATP or Mn2+ATP. The ciliary adenylate cyclase was shown to be distinct from the Ca2+-dependent guanylate cyclase; the two activities had different kinetic parameters and different responses to added calmodulin and calmodulin antagonists. Our results suggest that Ca2+ influx through the voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels in the ciliary membrane may influence intraciliary cyclic AMP concentrations by regulating adenylate cyclase.

2',3'-Cyclic-Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases↗

Expression of functional IL 2 receptors by lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma stimulated human monocytes.

Human peripheral blood monocytes were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) alone or in combination. Stimulated but not resting monocytes displayed the Tac peptide of the interleukin 2 (IL 2) receptor within 24 hr as measured by immunofluorescence staining and [3H] Tac binding. The total number of anti-Tac binding sites on co-stimulated monocytes was 13,700. By using scatchard analysis with radiolabeled IL 2, the activated cells were shown to express low numbers (below 100 sites/cell) of high affinity binding sites with a KD of approximately 15 pM. LPS and IFN-gamma were additive in augmenting the number of IL 2 and anti-Tac binding sites. By using an ELISA assay specific for the soluble released form of the Tac peptide we identified 112 U/ml of IL 2 receptors in the supernatant of monocytes stimulated for 24 hr with IFN-gamma, 233 U/ml after stimulation with LPS, and 519 U/ml after the addition of both stimulating agents. Both the membrane form (55,000 daltons), as well as the soluble form (45,000 to 50,000 daltons) of the Tac, IL 2 receptor, peptide from monocytes were shown by immunoprecipitation and gel electrophoresis to be similar size to the comparable forms of these receptors derived from activated T cells. In addition, monocytes stimulated for 8 hr contained mRNA specifically hybridizing to a cDNA probe coding for the Tac peptide. Finally, activated monocytes responded to the addition of recombinant IL 2 by an increase in H2O2 production that was measured by using fluorescent indicator 2,7-dichlorofluorescein. This response as well as the observed induction of monocytic IL 2 receptors by LPS may point to a functional role for this receptor during monocyte/macrophage responses to microbial infections.

Cell Cycle↗

In vivo administration of purified human interleukin-2 to patients with cancer: development of interleukin-2 receptor positive cells and circulating soluble interleukin-2 receptors following interleukin-2 administration.

Recent studies have demonstrated efficacy of immunotherapies including interleukin-2 (IL-2) in the treatment of malignancies in rodents and humans. High levels of IL-2 receptor-positive cells were found in the peripheral blood of patients receiving recombinant IL-2 in these Phase I clinical trials. This was demonstrated both in patients receiving i.v. IL-2 who had detectable circulating levels of IL-2 as well as in patients receiving i.p. IL-2 who did not. Up to 100% of the anti-Tac binding could be inhibited by preincubation with IL-2 indicating that this was indeed an IL-2 receptor that was identified. Two-color experiments demonstrated that few Leu 2-positive cells (less than 5-10%) but over 30% of the Leu 3-positive cells bore Tac antigen. Most of the M3-positive monocytes were Tac positive (83.7%) and negative for other T-cell (Leu-4) and nonspecific murine markers (Lyt-2 and Thy 1.2). Although normal individuals had a mean of only 186 units/ml (range, 83-335 units/ml) of soluble IL-2 receptor, patients receiving IL-2 had as much as 20,000 units/ml of soluble IL-2 receptor line in their serum. The physiological role of the IL-2 receptor identified on the cell surface of Leu 3 and M3-positive cells as well as in the serum is unclear. Soluble IL-2 receptors appeared in the circulation early following IL-2 administration, approximately 1 week prior to the detection of circulating IL-2 receptor-bearing cells. Further studies will be needed to assess the role of IL-2 in monocyte function, the precise function of IL-2 receptor-bearing Leu 3-positive cells, and the relationship of these findings to the toxicity and success of this immunotherapy in humans.

Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte↗