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Biomedical subjects

D Young

Publications and source records attributed to D Young.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Is c-Jun involved in nerve cell death following status epilepticus and hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury?

Neurons undergoing delayed neuronal death produced by hypoxia-ischaemia (HI) or status epilepticus (SE) showed a massive expression of c-Jun in their nuclei 24 h after the insult. With SE there was also a weaker induction of c-Fos and Jun B in dying neurons. SE induced in the presence of the NMDA antagonist MK-801 produced no delayed c-Jun expression in the hippocampus and nerve cell death did not occur in this region, although there was a delayed c-jun expression in the amygdala/piriform region, and cell death occurred in this area. Activation of central muscarinic receptors with pilocarpine, or block of D2 dopamine receptors with haloperidol, treatments which do not cause neuronal damage, strongly induced Fos and Jun B in hippocampal and striatal neurons, but only induced c-Jun very weakly. Thus, c-Jun may participate in the genetic cascade of events that produce programmed cell death in neurons.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Two-tag purification of recombinant proteins for the construction of solid matrix-antibody-antigen (SMAA) complexes as vaccines.

In order to facilitate the purification of recombinant proteins for immunization purposes, for example through the construction of solid matrix-antibody-antigen (SMAA) complexes, two small but different tag sequences were attached to the N- and C-termini of recombinant proteins. The 12-amino-acid N-terminal tag (His) contained an array of six histidines which permitted first-step purification by nickel-affinity column chromatography. The C-terminal tag (Pk) was a 14-amino-acid oligopeptide recognized by the monoclonal antibody (mAb) SV5-P-k. The mAb SV5-P-k was linked to a solid matrix and the solid matrix-antibody complexes were saturated with PK-linked recombinant antigens to generate SMAA complexes. The procedure used for construction of the SMAA complexes also acted as a second purification step. Neither of the tag sequences was cleaved from the recombinant proteins before immunization. This two-step purification procedure was used to construct SMAA complexes containing either p17 or reverse transcriptase (rt) of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). Mice immunized with these complexes had high antibody titres recognizing both the respective recombinant and native SIV proteins. A weak antibody response was also measured against both the terminal tags. The advantages of using simple dual purification procedures for isolating tag-linked recombinant proteins for use in vaccines are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Rites of passage: smoking and the construction of social identity.

The following article, based on a qualitative study of young women from a Melbourne suburb, is concerned with the role smoking plays in the presentation of social identity. These women, in their early teens, are viewed as being in the liminal or transitional phase of a rite of passage to adulthood. The passage to adulthood is attained with the construction of a social identity corresponding to popular notions of the feminine, which fall into the familiar categories of the bad and good woman. Smoking is one of the props in the stereotypical representation of the bad woman. Conventional anti-smoking health messages have little relevance for young women who have chosen such a social identity for themselves.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1993

MK-801 sensitizes rats to pilocarpine induced limbic seizures and status epilepticus.

High doses of pilocarpine are known to produce prolonged seizure activity in rats. Previous studies show that pretreatment with LiCl will sensitize rats to the convulsant effects of pilocarpine. Here we report that the anti-epileptogenic and anticonvulsant drug MK-801 (dizocilpine) paradoxically also sensitizes rats to pilocarpine induced limbic seizures and limbic status epilipticus (LSE). If rats were pretreated with MK-801, normally subconvulsive doses of pilocarpine rapidly produced LSE. LSE could be prevented by co-administration of either atropine or diazepam with MK-801.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Vision in aging and dementia.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to determine the extent of visual deficits in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients relative to normal aging changes and to patients with other types of dementia. METHODS: Four groups of subjects were tested: patients with probable AD (N = 10), patients with other dementias (N = 10), age-matched controls (N = 11), and young controls (N = 10). Color vision was assessed with the L'Anthony D-15 desaturated color test, contrast sensitivity with the Pelli-Robson chart, and stereoacuity with the RAN-DOT test. RESULTS: Visual changes were found in AD patients that can be accounted for by age-related deficits (color vision), deficits found in other types of dementia (stereoacuity), and deficits specific to AD (low spatial frequency contrast sensitivity). CONCLUSION: We conclude that AD patients show a variety of visual deficits. With our tests, only deficits in contrast sensitivity were specific to AD.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Transformation with katG restores isoniazid-sensitivity in Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates resistant to a range of drug concentrations.

Isoniazid-resistant isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were transformed with a plasmid vector carrying the functional catalase-peroxidase (katG) gene. Expression of katG restored full drug susceptibility in isolates initially resistant to concentrations ranging from 3.2 to > 50 micrograms ml-1. Transformation with the corresponding katG gene from Escherichia coli resulted in low-level expression of catalase and peroxidase activities and conferred partial isoniazid sensitivity.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1993

Expression of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis 19-kilodalton antigen in Mycobacterium smegmatis: immunological analysis and evidence of glycosylation.

The gene encoding a 19-kDa antigen from Mycobacterium tuberculosis was expressed as a recombinant protein in the rapid-growing species Mycobacterium smegmatis. The recombinant antigen was expressed at a level approximately ninefold higher than in M. tuberculosis and, like the native antigen, was found in the pellet fraction after high-speed centrifugation of bacterial extracts. The 19-kDa antigen in crude bacterial extracts, and the purified recombinant antigen, bound strongly to concanavalin A, indicating the possibility of posttranslational glycosylation. The recombinant antigen stimulated T-cell proliferation in vitro when added to assays either in the form of whole recombinant bacteria or as a purified protein. Homologous expression of mycobacterial antigens in a rapid-growing mycobacterial host may be particularly useful for the immunological characterization of proteins which are subject to posttranslational modification.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Characterization of the katG gene encoding a catalase-peroxidase required for the isoniazid susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The isoniazid susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is mediated by the product of the katG gene which encodes the heme-containing enzyme catalase-peroxidase. In this study, the chromosomal location of katG has been established and its nucleotide sequence has been determined so that the primary structure of catalase-peroxidase could be predicted. The M. tuberculosis enzyme is an 80,000-dalton protein containing several motifs characteristic of peroxidases and shows strong similarity to other bacterial catalase-peroxidases. Expression of the katG gene in M. tuberculosis, M. smegmatis, and Escherichia coli was demonstrated by Western blotting (immunoblotting). Homologous genes were detected in other mycobacteria, even those which are naturally insensitive to isoniazid.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Neurokinin receptor mediated plasma extravasation in guinea pig and rat airways: comparison of 125I-labelled human fibrinogen and 99mTc-labelled human serum albumin as markers of leakage.

In the present study we have characterized NK-1 and NK-2 receptor induced microvascular leakage in guinea pig and rat airways, using 125I-labelled human fibrinogen ([125I]FN) versus 99mTc-labelled human serum albumin ([99mTc]HSA) as markers for plasma protein extravasation. Intravenous administration of the selective NK-1 agonist [Sar9, Met(O2)11]SP (1 nmol kg-1) caused a dose-dependent increase of [125I]FN extravasation in guinea pig trachea, main bronchi, secondary bronchi, and intraparenchymal airways. Extravasation of [125I]FN increased by up to 192 (trachea), 284 (main bronchi), 368 (secondary bronchi), and 271% (intraparenchymal bronchi) over control levels in these regions of the airways. Pretreatment of the animals with CP 99,994 and RP 67,580, two NK-1 nonpeptide antagonists, caused a dose-dependent inhibition of [Sar9, Met(O2)11]SP-induced leakage of [125I]FN. [Sar9, Met(O2)11]SP (1 nmol kg-1) did not induce specific leakage of [99mTc]HSA in the intraparenchymal bronchi. Specific NK-2 receptor induced leakage was detected in the lower airways but only when using [125I]FN as a marker. We have also compared the ability of CP 99,994 and RP 67,580 to inhibit [Sar9, Met(O2)11]SP induced extravasation of [125I]FN in rat airways. CP 99,994 was 40-50 (tracheobronchial region) to 75 (lower airways) times more potent in the guinea pig than the rat airways. In contrast, RP 67,580 had higher affinity for rat airways compared with guinea pig airways. The results of this study highlight the superiority of [125I]FN as a sensitive marker of plasma extravasation over [99mTc]HSA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Implementing marketing strategy (Part four).

Every organization must monitor and evaluate the performance of its marketing strategies. The health care marketer must continually develop effective measures related to outcomes so that marketing efforts can be justified and garnish the support and resources they deserve. A major task for the marketing executive for the next decade is to develop marketing strategies and prove that those strategies are being met and that they help the health care organization carry out its objective to meet its mission.

Financial Audit↗
PubMed1993

Coronary risk factors, knowledge and beliefs in 'blue collar' men attending general practice.

OBJECTIVE: To describe risk factors, dietary knowledge and beliefs in Australian-born males of low socio-economic status (SES) in relation to coronary heart disease. METHODOLOGY: Cross-sectional prevalence survey of 180 (99.7% of 185) selected attenders at a community health centre with a high proportion of low SES residents in Melbourne. RESULTS: Mean BMI and prevalence of obesity and smoking were higher than in national sample; age-weighted serum cholesterol somewhat lower. A majority believed that their diets were unhealthy and would continue to be so despite high perceived susceptibility to CHD. Seventy-two per cent wanted more dietary information and GPs were the most commonly nominated preferred source for this information. CONCLUSION: GPs have an important role in targeting this 'at risk' group in order to address the knowledge gaps and misconceptions identified in the study and to encourage appropriate behaviour and risk factor modification.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

IL-12 augments antigen-dependent proliferation of activated T lymphocytes.

Ag-dependent T cell activation requires multiple transmembrane signals including activation of Ag-specific T cell receptor in combination with signals delivered through cytokine receptors. IL-12 is a heterodimeric cytokine involved in the regulation of NK and T lymphocyte responses. In examining the role of IL-12 in T cell activation, we found a direct relationship between Ag stimulation and IL-12-induced proliferation. Unlike IL-2, which induced proliferation of CTL either in the presence or absence of a CD3/TCR co-signal, IL-12 mediated proliferation of CTL only when the cells were recently co-stimulated with alloantigen or solid-phase anti-CD3 antibody. After culture in the absence of alloantigen or anti-CD3 for 7 to 14 days, these CTL lost the ability to proliferate to IL-12 alone. Under these conditions, however, IL-12 synergized with low-dose IL-2 to induce CTL proliferation. Restimulation with alloantigen or solid-phase anti-CD3 restored the ability of the CTL to proliferate to IL-12 alone. Not all Ag signals resulted in IL-2 independent proliferation to IL-12. For example, CTL with specificity for influenza matrix peptide proliferated best when co-cultured with peptide Ag presented on self MHC and a combination of IL-2 and IL-12. This evidence suggests that IL-12 may be useful in expanding an Ag-specific T cell population, as the culture of CTL with IL-12 and low-dose IL-2 leads to proliferation only in response to an Ag co-signal.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Natural killer (NK) cell stimulatory factor or IL-12 has differential effects on the proliferation of TCR-alpha beta+, TCR-gamma delta+ T lymphocytes, and NK cells.

We have analyzed the effects of NK cell stimulatory factor/IL-12, on proliferation of PBL and their subsets. IL-12 synergizes with lectins and phorbol diesters to induce proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+ peripheral blood T lymphocytes. In the case of phorbol-diester-induced proliferation, the effect of IL-12 is in part mediated by induced IL-2 production, as suggested by the observation that IL-12 enhances IL-2 production in these cultures and that anti-IL-2 antibodies inhibit proliferation. IL-12 synergizes also with anti-CD3 antibodies and with allogeneic stimulation in MLC in inducing T cell proliferation. IL-12 alone is mitogenic for preactivated T and NK lymphoblasts. This mitogenic effect is observed with similar doses of IL-12 on NK lymphoblasts as well as on CD4+ and CD8+ TCR-alpha beta+ and on TCR-gamma delta+ lymphoblasts. On TCR-alpha beta+ T lymphocytes the effect of IL-12 is always additive to that of IL-2 over a wide dose range. The same effect is observed on highly activated, actively proliferating NK cells. However, on NK and TCR-gamma delta+ lymphoblasts reverting to a resting state after stimulation and on a TCR-gamma delta+ acute leukemia-derived T cell line, IL-12 inhibits significantly the proliferation induced by moderate to high doses (10 to 100 U/ml) of IL-2. This inhibitory effect is, at least in part, indirect, and depends on IL-12-induced production of TNF. Neutralizing anti-TNF antibodies, but not anti-IFN-gamma and anti-transforming growth factor antibodies, restore by more than 70% the inhibition of proliferation induced by IL-12 in these cultures. However, TNF alone cannot mimic the inhibitory effect of IL-12 on the IL-2-induced proliferation of NK and TCR-gamma delta+ lymphoblasts, suggesting the involvement of additional mechanisms. The relevance of these findings for the biology of lymphocyte subsets mediating MHC nonrestricted cytotoxicity is discussed.

Flow Cytometry↗
PubMed1992

Production of natural killer cell stimulatory factor (interleukin 12) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Natural killer cell stimulatory factor (NKSF), or interleukin 12 (IL-12), is a 70-kD heterodimeric cytokine composed of two covalently linked chains, p40 and p35. NKSF/IL-12 has multiple effects on T and NK cells and was originally identified and purified from the supernatant fluid of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed human B lymphoblastoid cell lines. We have produced a panel of monoclonal antibodies against both chains of NKSF/IL-12. Some of these antibodies have neutralizing activity, and several combinations of them have been used to establish sensitive radioimmunoassays detecting the free p40 chain, the free p35 chain, or the p70 heterodimer. Using these reagents, we have determined that most EBV-transformed human B lymphoblastoid cell lines constitutively produce low levels of the p70 heterodimer and an excess of the free p40 chain, whereas Burkitt lymphoma-derived, T, myeloid, and many solid tumor-derived cell lines produce neither. Production of both p40 and p70 is increased several-fold upon stimulation of the EBV-transformed cell lines with phorbol diesters. The ability of supernatant fluids from unstimulated and phorbol diester-stimulated cell lines to induce interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) production from T and NK cells, one of the effects of NKSF/IL-12, parallels the levels of production of the p70 heterodimer, known to be the biologically active form of NKSF/IL-12. Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I strain (SAC) and other stimuli induce accumulation of p40 mRNA and production of both p40 and p70 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The producer cells appear to include both adherent cells and nonadherent lymphocytes, possibly B cells. The supernatant fluids from SAC-stimulated PBMC mediate the typical functions of NKSF/IL-12 (i.e., IFN-gamma induction, mitogenic effects on T/NK blasts, enhancement of NK cell cytotoxicity) at concentrations of p70 similar to those at which recombinant NKSF/IL-12 mediates the same functions. Moreover, these activities are significantly inhibited by anti-NKSF/IL-12 antibodies. The neutralizing anti-NKSF/IL-12 antibodies also inhibit 85% of the IFN-gamma production in response to SAC, an NKSF/IL-12 inducer, and approximately 50% of the IFN-gamma production in response to non-NKSF/IL-12-inducers such as IL-2, phytohemagglutinin, and anti-CD3 antibodies. These results indicate that induced or constitutively produced NKSF/IL-12 has a major role in facilitating IFN-gamma production by peripheral blood lymphocytes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1992

The catalase-peroxidase gene and isoniazid resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis is responsible for one in four of all avoidable adult deaths in developing countries. Increased frequency and accelerated fatality of the disease among individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus has raised worldwide concern that control programmes may be inadequate, and the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has resulted in several recent fatal outbreaks in the United States. Isonicotinic acid hydrazide (isoniazid, INH) forms the core of antituberculosis regimens; however, clinical isolates that are resistant to INH show reduced catalase activity and a relative lack of virulence in guinea-pigs. Here we use mycobacterial genetics to study the molecular basis of INH resistance. A single M. tuberculosis gene, katG, encoding both catalase and peroxidase, restored sensitivity to INH in a resistant mutant of Mycobacterium smegmatis, and conferred INH susceptibility in some strains of Escherichia coli. Deletion of katG from the chromosome was associated with INH resistance in two patient isolates of M. tuberculosis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗