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Biomedical subjects

F Chen

Publications and source records attributed to F Chen.

At least 613 records · Page 34Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

Traumatically acquired color vision defect.

A 24-year-old man acquired a color vision defect shortly after an accident in which he struck the back of his head. Results of the Farnsworth-Munsell 100-hue test showed that the patient had poor color discrimination in both eyes. His color matches on the Nagel anomaloscope suggested a red/green disturbance. Results from increment threshold testing demonstrated on absence of the blue mechanism. Results of field sensitivity measurements confirmed that foveal vision was mediated by the red or green mechanism. This case showed both similarities and differences to previously reported cases of acquired color vision defects secondary to cortical trauma.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1978

Cholesterol oxidase: thermochemical studies and the influence of hydroorganic solvents on enzyme activity.

Thermal and binary cosolvent studies of the cholesterol oxidase (cholesterol: oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.3.6) reaction have been carried out using batch microcalorimetry and ultraviolet spectrophotometry respectively. Heat conduction measurements are shown to provide the basis for a serum cholesterol assay yielding results comparable to conventional automated clinical assay. The enthalpy of the reaction for cholesterol oxidation, measured with different sources of the enzyme in the presence and absence of catalase is -113 +/- 7.2 mJ/mumol. The value is agreement with calculated estimates based on bond energies, enthalpies of formation and trigonal additivity contribution calculations. From this heat of reaction the deltaHf0 of cholestenone (c) is calculated to be -490 kJ . mol-1. No evidence for the reverse reaction could be adduced. Enzyme activation with detergent (Surfal) is attributed to the formation of mixed micelles of cholesterol with detergent molecules. The detergent concentration at which the enzyme is half activated corresponds to the critical micelle concentration of Surfal. The enhanced enzyme activity found when ethanol, acetonitrile and dioxane were examined as binary cosolvents with water is ascribed to a conformational change in the enzyme mediated through the altered structuredness of water. This cosolvent effect is abolished in the presence of 0.18% Surfal due to the formation of inverted mixed micelles of detergent with cholesterol.

3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗
PubMed1978

The formation of photoreceptor synapses in the retina of larval Xenopus.

The first appearance and early development of synapses between photoreceptors, bipolar cells and horizontal cells were studied in the retina of larval Xenopus, between stages 37/8 and 46. Synapse morphology was reconstructed from examination of serial sections. Additional data were obtained from E-PTA stained tissue, Photoreceptors initially contacted horizontal cell dendrites via ribbon synapses at the photoreceptor basal surface (stages 37/8--39). Later, horizontal cell dendrites penetrated the receptor as digitiform processes (stages 39--40) which subsequently expanded extensively within the invagination (stages 40--44). At stages 41--46, a photoreceptor ribbon generally was associated with two horizontal processes in a synaptic dyad complex; each ribbon participated in 1 or 2 such complexes. Bipolar cell dendrites made contact with receptors via superficial or invaginating basal-type junctions. Such junctions were observed first at stage 39, but increased greatly in number beginning at stage 42. Basal junctions were characterized by marked staining of the paramembranous receptor cell cytoplasm and a 9--13 nm wide cleft containing an electron-dense material. No association of bipolar cell dendrites with photoreceptor ribbons was noted. Junctional complexes presumed to be gap junctions first were observed at stage 39 between photoreceptor bases and basal processes emitted by neighbouring photoreceptors.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Effects of pressure on visible spectra of complexes of myoglobin, hemoglobin, cytochrome c, and horse radish peroxidase.

The spectra of the ferric form of most heme proteins [metmyoglobin, methemoglobin, horse radish peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7), and ferricytochrome c at pH 1.5] are converted from high-spin (open crevice) structure to low-spin (closed crevice) form under pressure. Pressures up to 8000 kg/cm2 (780 MPa) have no effect on the spectra of high-spin ferro- and ferricytochrome c, which have a closed crevice structure at pH 7.0. Spectra of deoxy-ferromyoglobin and deoxy-ferrohemoglobin are reduced in intensity, but pressure does not change the positions of the absorption maxima. Cyanide ion prevents pressure-induced spectral changes in metmyoglobin and methemoglobin up to 8000 kg/cm2. Carbon monoxide (with a high affinity for the ferro heme iron) has a similar effect on ferromyoglobin and ferrohemoglobin. The pressure required to cause spectral changes in the heme proteins falls in the order, cytochrome c (pH 7.0) greater than horse radish peroxidase greater than myoglobin greater than hemoglobin. We have calculated a volume change of --50 cm3/mol associated with the configurational change accompanying the reformation of the iron-methionine bond in cytochrome c at low pH.

Cytochrome c Group↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The swelling behavior and wet morphology of water-absorbable polymer materials.

In this research work, a low-temperature examination method for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is introduced. A water-absorbable polymer material, the sulfonated polyethylene (SPE) ion-exchange hollow fiber membrane, was used for the experiments. With this low-temperature technique, the wet morphology of the water-absorbable sulfonated polyethylene hollow fiber membrane was revealed. The results obtained from this investigation offer some important information to explain the behavior of the SPE hollow fiber membranes when they are applied in pervaporation separation of water/organic solvent mixtures, such as water/ethylene glycol, water/ethanol, and so forth.

Membranes, Artificial↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A model for deepwater oil/gas blowouts.

When gas is released in deepwater, the high pressure and low temperature can convert the gases into hydrates, which are buoyant. As these hydrates travel upwards they will encounter regions of lower pressure and can decompose into free gas. The presence or absence of hydrates has a significant impact on the behaviour of the jet/plume due to the alteration of the buoyancy. The free gas may dissolve in water. This paper describes a computer model developed to simulate the behaviour of oil and gas released from deepwater locations in the ocean. The model integrates the hydrodynamics and thermodynamics of the jet/plume with kinetics and thermodynamics of hydrate formation/decomposition. Model formulation and comparison of results with laboratory data for hydrates is presented. Scenario simulations show the behaviour of oil/gas under different deepwater conditions.

Explosions↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Plasma membrane-resident glucocorticoid receptors in rodent lymphoma and human leukemia models.

The presence of the glucocorticoid (GC) receptor is required for GC-evoked apoptosis. However, the explicit mechanism of involvement of this receptor continues to be debated. Employing the murine (S-49) and human (CCRF-CEM) lymphoid cell lines, we demonstrated that this response requires a specialized form of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) that resides in the plasma membrane (mGR). Our studies of mGR have been done in our stable mGR-enriched (by sequential cell separation--immunopanning, fluorescent cell sorting, soft agar cloning) S-49 and CCRF-CEM cells. Direct and indirect immunofluorescent studies of live intact cells showed GR-specific periplasma membrane staining. Immunoanalysis by flow cytometry demonstrated abundant mGR in mGR++ cells, but only barely detectable mGR in mGR-- cells. Western blot and autoradiographic analyses of immunoprecipitated membrane extracts from these cells show they contain immunoreactive and competitively labeled high Mr receptor ranging from 94 to 150 kDa. Using mGR++ CCRF-CEM cells and three synchronization procedures (double thymidine, thymidine/colcemid, and colcemid blocks), we have investigated the influence of cell cycle on regulation and function of mGR. Both mGR expression and GC-mediated lymphocytolysis appear highest at late S-G2/M. Analysis of mGR in lymphocytes of several leukemic patients indicated differences in the levels of receptor expression. These findings might provide diagnostic clues about patients' differential response to steroid therapy and potential therapeutic avenues for effective treatment of hormone-responsive leukemic patients.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Normal brain development in PS1 hypomorphic mice with markedly reduced gamma-secretase cleavage of betaAPP.

Presenilin 1-null mice die at birth from brain and skeletal developmental deformities due to disrupted Notch signaling. Presenilin 1-null mice also have severely reduced gamma-secretase cleavage of betaAPP. The assumption has been that facilitation of Notch signaling and betaAPP processing by presenilin 1 are analogous functions. Here we describe a presenilin 1-targetted mouse model that expresses extremely low levels ( approximately 1% of normal) of mutant PS1-M146L. Homozygous mice have significantly reduced viability due to a Notch-like phenotype. The animals that survive have severe axial skeletal deformities and markedly diminished gamma-secretase activity and accumulation of betaAPP-C100, but no obvious abnormalities in brain development. These results suggest that, in mice, a marked reduction of PS1-facilitated gamma-secretase activity is not detrimental to normal brain development.

Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

split ends, a new component of the Drosophila EGF receptor pathway, regulates development of midline glial cells.

Signaling by DER, the Drosophila epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK), is essential for proper migration and survival of midline glial cells (MGCs) in the embryonic central nervous system (CNS) [1-4]. We recently isolated a gene called split ends (spen) in a screen designed to identify new components of the RTK/Ras pathway [5]. Drosophila Spen and its orthologs are characterized by a distinct set of RNA recognition motifs (RRMs) and a SPOC domain, a highly conserved carboxy-terminal domain of unknown function [5-7]. To investigate spen function in the context of RTK signaling, we examined the consequences of spen loss-of-function mutations on embryonic CNS development. We found that spen was required for normal migration and survival of MGCs and that embryos lacking spen had CNS defects strikingly reminiscent of those seen in mutants of several known components of the DER signaling pathway. In addition, spen interacted synergistically with the RTK effector pointed. Using MGC-targeted expression, we found that increased Ras signaling rescued the lethality associated with expression of a dominant-negative spen transgene. Therefore, spen encodes a positively acting component of the DER/Ras signaling pathway.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Determinants of intravenous conscious sedation for arteriography.

PURPOSE: To assess factors that determine the amount of drugs given for intravenous conscious sedation during arteriography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 254 patients undergoing infradiaphragmatic arteriography at three institutions were evaluated. The effect of age, sex, procedure time, attending physician, and institution on drug use was assessed by analysis of variance and covariance with repeated measures. In a subset of 34 patients, pain and anxiety scores before and after medication were correlated with drug scores. RESULTS: Institution identity and procedure time significantly affected the amount of medication used (both, P = .000). Patient's age and sex, and identity of the physician had no significant effects. While drug use was relatively constant in each institution among different staff physicians, the institutional differences prevailed when the same physicians performed procedures at different institutions. Drug deliveries did not correlate with anxiety and pain scores before or after medication. CONCLUSION: Habits and philosophies of particular institutions, rather than physician guidance or patients' needs, tend to govern the use of intravenous sedatives and analgesics. There is a need for a more patient-oriented standardization of intravenous conscious sedation and analgesia.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Gamma imaging of atherosclerotic lesions: the role of antibody affinity in in vivo target localization.

BACKGROUND: Monoclonal antibodies are attractive agents for noninvasive localization of various cardiovascular disorders. Because proliferating intimal smooth muscle cells are important components of atherosclerotic lesions, radiolabeled antibody Z2D3 specific for proliferating smooth muscle cells has been used for immunoscintigraphic localization of experimental atherosclerotic lesions. This study was undertaken to assess the role of antibody affinity in optimization of immunoscintigraphic localization of these lesions. Z2D3 belongs to the immunoglobulin (Ig) M class of antibodies. For immunoscintigraphic studies, attempts were made to prepare F(ab')2 or Fab fragments from the parent cell line. Fragmentation of Z2D3-IgM or its two subclones (B7 and 2B12) was not possible; therefore the parent hybridoma line was subjected to class switching. Cell lines 5C5 and 3E5 secreted antibody of the IgG1 subclass. The Z2D3-IgG1 antibodies were enzymatically digested to provide F(ab')2. Because of a tenfold loss of immunoreactivity of these class-switched antibodies, the parent clone was subsequently genetically engineered to obtain a mouse/human chimeric antibody with human IgG1 constant region. F(ab')2 of Z2D3-73.30 chimeric antibody retained the immunoreactivity relative to the original Z2D3-IgM. Radiolabeled murine and chimeric F(ab')2 fragments were used to assess the role of affinity in gamma scintigraphic visualization of experimental atherosclerotic lesions. METHODS AND RESULTS: Experimental atherosclerotic lesions were induced in 19 rabbits by abdominal aortic balloon deendothelialization followed by a hyperlipidemic diet for 12 weeks. 111In-labeled chimeric high-affinity Z2D3 F(ab')2 fragments (111In-Hi.aff Z2D3) were administered in four animals. Uptake was compared with 111In-labeled F(ab')2 of nonspecific human IgG1 (n = 4), murine low-affinity Z2D3-5C5 (111In-Lo.aff Z2D3; n = 4), nonspecific murine IgG1 monoclonal antibodies (n = 4), and 123I-labeled murine low-affinity Z2D3-3E5 (n = 3). Atherosclerotic lesions were visualized 48 hours after administration of the chimeric Hi.aff-Z2D3 antibody in all animals. Lesions were not visualized in rabbits injected with Lo.aff-Z2D3 or murine or human nonspecific antibodies. Mean percent injected dose per gram in the lesion was significantly higher with the 111In-Hi.aff-Z2D3 (0.112% +/- 0.024%) compared with 111In-Lo.aff-Z2D3 (0.037% +/- 0.005%; p = 0.03), human nonspecific (0.027% +/- 0.004%; p = 0.01), or murine nonspecific antibodies (0.006% +/- 0.001%; p = 0.0004). Nonspecific activity in unballooned thoracic aortic segments (normal) was comparable in the 111In-Hi.aff-Z2D3 (0.019 +/- 0.003) and the 111In-Lo.aff-Z2D3 (0.011% +/- 0.005%; p = 0.3) antibodies. The lesion activities of the Lo.aff-Z2D3 labeled with 111In (0.037 +/- 0.005) or 123I (0.034 +/- 0.007; p = 0.71) were similar regardless of the radioisotopes used for labeling. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that the specificity of an antibody for the target antigen in the atheroma is a necessary condition for in vivo targeting. However, high enough affinity of an antibody is an essential component for noninvasive diagnostic visualization of experimental atherosclerotic lesions.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Noninvasive localization of human atherosclerotic lesions with indium 111-labeled monoclonal Z2D3 antibody specific for proliferating smooth muscle cells.

BACKGROUND: Targeting exclusive antigens in atherosclerotic plaques with antibodies may provide a noninvasive means to detect rapidly proliferative atherosclerotic lesions. 111In-labeled negative charge-modified Z2D3 F(ab')2 (Z2D3) specific for an antigen expressed exclusively by proliferating smooth muscle cells has been shown to accumulate in rabbit atherosclerotic plaques. METHODS: The safety, biodistribution, accumulation, and elimination of Z2D3 were assessed in 11 patients who were candidates for carotid endarterectomy. The presence of atheromas in these patients was confirmed by angiography and Doppler ultrasound. Z2D3 (250 microg) labeled with 5 mCi of 111In was administered by slow intravenous injection. Planar and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images were obtained 4, 24, 48, and 72 hours later. Carotid endarterectomy was performed and the surgical specimens were imaged, weighed, gamma-counted, and analyzed by immunostaining. RESULTS: Uptake of Z2D3 at the site of the carotid plaques was observed in the planar and SPECT views at 4 hours in all subjects. In addition, antibody uptake was noted in the contralateral vessel in 5 subjects. SPECT images identified the atherosclerotic plaques with focal uptake. The antibody uptake corresponded with the angiographic location of the disease. Immunohistochemical studies of the endarterectomy specimens confirmed the localization of Z2D3 into the plaque areas containing smooth muscle cells. Adverse drug reactions were not observed. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the feasibility of targeting atherosclerotic lesions with negative charge-modified antibody. It also proposes the possibility of selective identification of various components of atherosclerotic plaque, which may contribute to determining strategies of intervention in future.

Aged↗