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Biomedical subjects

E Howard

Publications and source records attributed to E Howard.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Changes in rat uterine estrogen receptor messenger ribonucleic acid levels during estrogen- and progesterone-induced estrogen receptor depletion and subsequent replenishment.

The overall objectives of this study were to determine whether the rapid decrease in estrogen receptor (ER) binding in the rat uterus after an injection of estradiol and subsequent recovery of ER levels was accompanied by similar changes in ER mRNA levels. Furthermore, the effect of progesterone administered under conditions known to decrease ER binding, in the rat uterus, on ER mRNA levels was also investigated. Ovariectomy for 14 days brought about a 3-fold increase in rat uterine ER mRNA levels, and these elevated levels were decreased by a 3-day treatment with 2 micrograms of estradiol in ethanol/saline injected i.p. In the ovariectomized rat, 1 and 5 micrograms of estradiol brought about small but significant decreases in ER mRNA levels in 1 h, which did not parallel the rapid decrease in ER binding at that time reported earlier. The 10-micrograms dose of estradiol brought about a bigger decrease in ER mRNA levels. In the ovariectomized rat primed with estradiol (2 micrograms/day in ethanol/saline), the administration of 2 micrograms of estradiol brought about no change in uterine ER mRNA levels at 6 h as compared to the 1-h time point if the values were not corrected for beta-actin, which was significantly increased at 6 h. A dramatic increase in ER mRNA levels 12 h after the estradiol injection preceded the increase in ER binding observed at 18 h. Progesterone (0.8 mg/kg body weight [BW]) in the absence of estrogen priming brought about minimal but significant inhibition of ER mRNA levels 12 and 18 h after administration, with no effects at 1 and 6 h. In the presence of estrogen priming, the 0.8-mg/kg BW dose of progesterone did not cause any changes in ER mRNA levels beyond those brought about by estrogen alone after 1 h, even though it has been shown to significantly decrease ER binding. This was also true when a larger dose of progesterone (2.0 mg/kg BW) was used, a dose that decreases ER binding to a significantly greater extent than the 0.8-mg/kg BW dose. However, the 4.0-mg/kg BW dose of progesterone decreased ER mRNA levels. Thus a single injection of estradiol appears to cause a decrease in ER binding primarily by accelerated receptor processing and degradation with small changes in ER mRNA within the first hour. A significant increase in uterine ER mRNA at 12 h precedes increased ER binding at 18 h. This indicates new synthesis of ER during the recovery period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Actins↗
PubMed1992

T-kininogen, processing and functions.

Studies are presented which indicate that T-kininogen, the acute phase kininogen of the rat, could be a healing protein because of its properties as a cysteine protease inhibitor. Evidence is also presented that mRNA of T-kininogen synthesis may be a function of interleukin 6 production. A regulatory mechanism is postulated by which SH cofactors could determine if T-kinin is released or whether the T-kininogen molecule would remain intact. Evidence is also presented that T-kinin acts through kinin B2 receptors. No specific binding of bradykinin or T-kinin could be detected in rat heart preparations.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗
PubMed1992

Five DNA tumor viruses undetectable in human retinoblastomas.

Retinoblastoma (RB) is a childhood eye cancer that arises when a retinal cell lacks a functional RB gene. Recent data indicate the transforming proteins of adenovirus, papillomavirus, and the polyomaviruses BK and JC all can bind to the product of the RB gene. Furthermore, adenovirus 12, JC virus, and simian virus 40 are able to induce RB-like tumors in rodents. In view of these findings, 50 human RBs were tested for the presence of five human DNA tumor viruses: adenovirus 12, BK virus, JC virus, and human papillomaviruses 16 and 18. Using the polymerase chain reaction, no viral sequences were detected in 50 RB DNAs. These data provide no evidence that these viruses have an etiologic role in human RB.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Incidence and clinical significance of transient creatine kinase elevations and the diagnosis of non-Q wave myocardial infarction associated with coronary angioplasty.

To assess the incidence and clinical significance of elevated total plasma creatine kinase (CK) and MB isoenzyme fraction after apparently successful coronary angioplasty, a prospective study of 272 consecutive elective procedures was undertaken. Total CK (normal less than 100 IU/liter) and CK MB isoenzyme (normal less than 4%) were measured immediately after successful completion of the procedure and every 6 h for 24 h. All nonelective procedures and results not fulfilling all American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Task Force guideline criteria for a successful result were excluded from analysis. Of the 272 elective procedures, 249 (92%) were successfully; abnormally elevated CK or CK MB serum levels, or both, were found in 38 (15%) of the successful outcomes. Three patterns of abnormal enzymes were identified: 15 patients with CK greater than or equal to 200 IU/liter and CK MB greater than or equal to 5% (group 1), 4 patients with CK greater than or equal to 200 IU/litter and CK MB less than or equal to 4% (group 2) and 19 patients with CK less than 200 IU/liter and CK MB greater than or equal to 5% (group 3). The three groups were distinguishable by the nature of the complications causing the enzyme release (in particular, the etiology and clinical manifestations). There were significantly more clinically apparent events in group 1 than in the other groups (13 of 15 versus 11 of 23, p less than 0.01) and more events associated with persistent electrocardiographic changes (p = 0.05) and chest pain (p less than 0.05). However, no clinically important sequelae were recognizable in any group at hospital discharge. Thus, abnormal cardiac serum enzyme release after apparently successful coronary angioplasty is 1) relatively common; 2) has many possible causes, including both minor complications and early reversibility of impending major complications; and 3) results in no permanent clinical sequelae.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Glial cells express both mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors.

In the brain, the action of glucocorticoid steroids is mediated via two intracellular receptors, the mineralocorticoid (MR), or type I receptor, and the glucocorticoid (GR), or type II receptor. These receptors are expressed in many types of neurons and are co-expressed in some neurons such as the hippocampal pyramidal cells. Although glucocorticoids are known to affect gliogenesis and glial cell differentiation, the expression of the GR in different types of glial cells throughout the brain has not been thoroughly studied and the expression of the MR in glia not previously reported. Here we review studies suggesting that both receptors are expressed in astrocytes and oligodendrocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Studies on Tn10 transposition and excision in DNA-repair mutants of Salmonella typhimurium.

Transposition of Tn10 in polA, recA, uvrB, mutH and uvrD mutants of Salmonella typhimurium was studied by a mating-out assay mediated by R plasmid pKM101. A decrease in transposition frequency was observed with polA, recA and uvrD mutants; uvrB and mutH mutants showed frequencies somewhat higher than control values. No effect of dimethyl sulfoxide, sodium acetate or nitrofurazone on Tn10 transposition was observed with this assay. Precise excision of Tn10 from srl202::Tn10 in these DNA-repair mutants was also studied. An increase in excision frequency of about 20 or 150 times in 2 different polA mutants, and a smaller increase, of about 2 or 15 times over control values, was detected in mutH and uvrD mutants, respectively.

Acetates↗
PubMed1989

Budd-Chiari syndrome: shunt selection and post-operative assessment.

Radiological investigation of patients with the Budd-Chiari syndrome is helpful in making the diagnosis and to determine the most suitable method of surgical decompression of the portal venous system where this is indicated. The radiological findings in four patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome who were treated by meso-atrial shunt operations are described. The key pre-operative investigation is inferior vena cavography with pressure measurements. Postoperatively shunt patency is most reliably assessed by dynamic CT scanning. Doppler ultrasound studies may detect flow within the shunt but patency may be inferred by observing reversal of blood flow within the portal vein.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for noncardiogenic pulmonary edema after coronary bypass surgery.

A 71-year-old woman with noncardiogenic acute pulmonary edema early after having a coronary operation was treated with venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for uncontrollable hypoxia. Adequate oxygenation was achieved, the rapid deterioration of her condition was reversed, and ventilatory settings could be moderated. Two and a half days later, the patient was weaned from the system. At the time of this writing, the patient was in her sixth postoperative month and doing well. Details of this fairly simple but powerful technique are described.

Aged↗
PubMed1977

FeLV epidemiology in Los Angeles cats: Appraisal of detection methods.

We investigated the reliability of the fixed cell indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) peripheral blood smear test as an index of systemic infection with FeLV. Positive results with this test were found to correlate well with detectable FeLV p30 antigen in bone-marrow smears by IFA, in serum and tissue by competition immunoassays, and with type-C particles in bone marrow or spleen by electron microscopy. Most cats with lymphoma, anemia or infectious peritonitis were positive for FeLV and showed a poor or absent antibody response to FeLV p30, gp70, and FOCMA antigens. Most older cats with lymphoma, carcinoma, or sarcoma were negative for FeLV expression and also lacked these FeLV-related antibodies. Detectable immunologic response to FeLV p30 and gp70 proteins and a high-titered FOCMA antibody response were generally restricted to certain healthy cats exposed to FeLV. Antibody to endogenous RD-114 viral p30 and gp70 was not detected in any of a large number of feline sera tested. The prevalence of FeLV-related diseases and immunologic responses to FeLV in healthy cats was directly correlated with the degree of FeLV exposure. By using the IFA blood smear and FOCMA antibody tests one can monitor the horizontal spread of FeLV in multi-cat household and accurately predict the FeLV disease susceptibilty or resistance of individual cats in each environments.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Absence of effects of corticosterone given at 22 days.

Mice given a single large dose of corticosterone at 2 days of age, and tested when adult, have shown lasting alterations in operant behavior, associated with reductions in cerebral weight and DNA content. When mice were given corticosterone at 22 days, no changes appeared in cerebral weight, DNA, or in operant behavior, but an apparent decrease did occur in open-field activity. The results suggest that the effects of corticosterone treatment at 2 days on the developing brain are mediated by one or more types of sensitivity to the steroid that have been largely lost by 22 days.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1976

Active avoidance and brain DNA after postnatal food deprivation in rats.

Fond deprivation was produced in infant rats, from 2 to 20 days of age, by a procedure designed to minimize reduction in maternal care. Body weights in the deprived animals were 60% of control weights at 7 days, 65% at 20 days, and, after ad lib feeding, 89% at 4 months. No change was observed in the rate of acquistion of a conditioned active avoidance response in the food-deprived rats when compared with their littermate controls when tested as adults. No lasting reduction in cerebral desoxynucleic acid (DNA) was observed despote a 9% reduction in cerebellar DNA.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

DNA, ganglioside and sulfatide in brains of rats given corticosterone in infancy, with an estimate of cell loss during development.

Evidence of a postnatal loss of cerebral cells has been presented, based on counts of the activity of cerebral DNA following labeling with [3H]thymidine on embryonic day 14. In otherwise untreated rats, the loss was about 15 percent of the labeled cells between postnatal days 3 and 15. There was no further loss of activity thereafter. Littermates given corticosterone at day 3 showed little additional loss of labeled cells. Ganglioside NANA (N-acetylneuraminic acid) was reduced in proportion to the reduction in cerebral weight in the corticosterone treated rats. Sulfatide was reduced more, so that the concentration was 11 percent below that of the controls; It is concluded that the deficit in DNA after postnatal corticosterone treatment must be due primarily to an irreversible suppression of DNA synthesis, involving mainly glia. The reduction in gangliosides may represent a deficit in the growth of neuronal processes, leading to a reduction in the amount of neuropil, and perhaps contributing to a decrease in the number or size of myelinated axons.

Age Factors↗