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Biomedical subjects

D Thompson

Publications and source records attributed to D Thompson.

At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Isolation and characterization of the human tissue-type plasminogen activator structural gene including its 5' flanking region.

mRNA specific for tissue type plasminogen activator (t-PA) is induced in HeLa cells by the tumor promoter phorbol myristate acetate (Waller, E.K., and Schleuning, W.D. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 6354-6360). To study the underlying mechanism, a cDNA library was constructed from phorbol myristate acetate stimulated HeLa cell mRNA and screened with two t-PA mRNA specific oligonucleotides (Edlund, T., Ny, T., Rånby, M., Heden, L.-O., Palm, G., Holmgren, E., and Josephson, S. (1983) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80, 349-352). Two nearly full length double-stranded cDNA clones were obtained. Suitable restriction fragments from the cDNA were employed as probes for the isolation of three recombinant bacteriophages, containing overlapping fragments of the t-PA gene. By restriction analysis, heteroduplex mapping, and DNA sequencing it was determined that the three overlapping fragments contain the complete t-PA structural gene and that the 2658 bases long t-PA mRNA is encoded by a gene of approximately 29 kilobases overall length, which is interrupted by 13 introns. To characterize the presumptive control region, a subcloned gene fragment, containing the 5' sequence of the cDNA, was sequenced, and the transcription initiation site was identified by nuclease S1 protection experiments. The putative transcription start site is located 24 base pairs (bp) downstream of a typical TATA consensus sequence. Two additional TATA motifs with hitherto unknown functions are found 93 and 226 bp upstream of the putative cap site. A recombinant plasmid was constructed, which accommodates the cap site including 475 bp of upstream sequences, fused to a double-stranded cDNA of t-PA mRNA which contains the complete translated and parts of the 5' and 3' untranslated regions. This plasmid directs t-PA biosynthesis in Xenopus laevis oocytes after microinjection into the germinal vesicle.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1985

Microprocessor controlled arthrograph.

This new arthrograph, based on a microcomputer, provides displacements of variable amplitude, frequency and waveform. It is sufficiently small for use on a ward or in a clinic, is simple to use and is readily accepted by patients. One test and its associated analysis, together with printed and plotted results, occupies little more than two minutes.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1985

Reference values for metacarpophalangeal joint stiffness in normals.

A new form of microprocessor-controlled arthrograph is described which measures stiffness parameters of the metacarpophalangeal joints of the index, middle, and ring fingers of both hands. The apparatus is simple and quick to use and gives reproducible results. The arthrograph is used to determine the reference limits for stiffness at the middle finger of the right hand in 128 normal subjects. It is found that incorporating information on the subject's finger circumference allows a much improved precision to be achieved, but the precision is not further enhanced by including details of age and sex.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Measurement of urine prostaglandin E2 as a predictor of acute renal transplant rejection: preliminary findings.

A radioimmunoassay for prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in urine was developed and validated. It was used to provide serial measurements in eight renal transplant patients. Urine PGE2 concentration was increased between 1 and 7 days before any changes in the conventional biochemical indicators of acute rejection, serum creatinine and creatinine clearance. The increases in PGE2 concentration varied from 3 to 50 times that of the previous day. These results suggest that measurement of urinary PGE2 may be useful as an early indicator of acute renal transplant rejection.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1985

Fleas on roof rats in six areas of Los Angeles County, California: their potential role in the transmission of plague and murine typhus to humans.

Roof rats (Rattus rattus) in southern California are rarely involved with plague epizootics and murine typhus. Little evidence exists implicating these rodents as sources of human infection. This might be explained by the absence of fleas capable of transmitting these 2 diseases. From February 1981 through January 1982, roof rats were live-trapped and examined for fleas each month in 4 areas of Los Angeles County. Two other areas were trapped for 9 and 3 months respectively. Areas sampled were in or near the suburban-wilderness fringe where plague and murine typhus occur, and where roof rats coexist with a variety of wild and domestic mammals and humans. From 1,206 roof rats, 827 fleas belonging to eight species were collected. Leptopsylla segnis (54%) and Nosopsyllus fasciatus (39%) were the most abundant and together comprised 93% of all fleas. Xenopsylla cheopis was not found. The relative abundance and diversity of fleas on roof rats varied considerably between areas, making it difficult to predict flea diversity and abundance in unsurveyed areas where similar conditions exist. However, the overall low flea indices and the absence of X. cheopis help to explain why roof rats in Los Angeles County are rarely involved with plague and murine typhus.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Abnormal chromosome in Prader-Willi syndrome.

A Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) patient was found to have an extra satellite chromosome, smaller than the normal Chromosome 22, in 60% of her metaphases. G- and C-bandings showed that the extra chromosome did not derive from a Chromosome 15 as has been reported in some PWS patients. Because of variation in chromosomal abnormalities in the PWS patients reported, it was concluded that the chromosomal abnormalities found in them may be a secondary phenomenon rather than the cause of PWS.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Mucinous cystadenoma of the appendix: a case report of the diagnoses and management.

Cystadenoma of the appendix as a factor in the formation of mucous cysts (mucocele) of the appendix is well recognized. The diagnosis can be made in patients prior to surgery if appropriate investigations are utilized. A 66-year-old white woman with a complaint of increased frequency of bowel movements was investigated and a primary diagnosis of mucocele of the appendix was made preoperatively. As cecal involvement was suggested by these studies, a limited cecal resection was planned. These findings were confirmed at surgery. The appendectomy and limited cecal resection was curative for mucinous cystadenoma of the appendix.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

An improved method for T-cell depletion of allogeneic histoincompatible donor bone marrow.

Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation is the most significant limiting factor preventing the widespread application of transplant therapy in acute leukemia and aplastic anemia. GVHD is mediated by T cells that contaminate harvested marrow in proportions ranging from 5-50% of the mononuclear cell population. T cell depletion (TCD) of large volumes of human marrow by E-rosetting for 24 h at 4 degrees C with modified sheep erythrocytes achieves removal of greater than or equal to 97% of all T cells, as judged by cytofluorographic analysis of the T-depleted bone marrow population with a broad panel of anti-T cell monoclonal antibodies, and abrogates functional T cell activity. Although T-depleted bone marrow cell recoveries were 2 logs below total harvested buffy coat cell numbers, the TCD mononuclear population was more than 99% viable and was enriched twofold for Ia+ cells as judged by cytofluorographic analysis. This method is at least the equivalent of those employing lectin column or monoclonal antibody/complement lysis techniques and is simpler to perform. Successful engraftment of adult patients can safely be obtained with as few as 4 X 10(8) total mononuclear cells following the 24-h procedure suggesting that prolonged or repeated T-depletion procedures do not interfere with stem cell engraftment. Preliminary results suggest that this method of TCD may ameliorate GVHD in histoincompatible transplants.

Bone Marrow↗