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Biomedical subjects

G C White

Publications and source records attributed to G C White.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Human immunodeficiency virus-related conditions in children and adults with hemophilia: rates, relationship to CD4 counts, and predictive value.

To further elucidate the natural history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, we studied intermediate HIV-related conditions occurring before acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in a prospectively observed multicenter cohort of 738 HIV-infected persons with hemophilia. We analyzed the frequency in adults and children of common HIV-related conditions and the relative risk of AIDS after occurrence of these conditions, controlling for age at seroconversion and the percentage of CD4+ lymphocytes. Thrombocytopenia was the most frequently observed condition with cumulative incidences of 43% +/- 7% in adults and 27% +/- 6% in children and adolescents by 10 years after seroconversion. Oral candidiasis, fever, weight loss, and non-AIDS pneumonia were two to four times more common in adults than children, whereas herpes zoster risk was similar in the two age groups. HIV-related conditions were infrequent during the first 4 years of infection, particularly in children. With the exception of thrombocytopenia, mean CD4 counts were less than 350 cells/microL at the onset of the conditions. The relative hazard of AIDS after oral candidiasis was 18 in children and 3.8 in adults. Relative hazard in adults was also increased after persistent fever (10), weight loss (3.2), and non-AIDS pneumonia (2.2). Herpes zoster and thrombocytopenia were not significantly associated with AIDS in either age group. We conclude that intermediate HIV-related conditions occur more frequently in adults than in children with hemophilia. Persistent fever is the strongest predictor of AIDS in adults, whereas oral candidiasis is the strongest predictor in children. These findings should facilitate the design and conduct of clinical trials as well as the management of HIV-infected children and adults.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Hydrophobic affinity chromatography of human thrombin.

Hydrophobic affinity chromatography on p-chlorobenzylamido-agarose (p-CBA-agarose) was used to characterize various modified forms of human thrombin. Native alpha-thrombin bound tightly to the column and was eluted with either acetonitrile or 1,4-dioxane, while the catalytically inactive prethrombin 2 did not bind to the matrix. Site-specific chemical modification with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate resulted in the loss of at least 80% of fibrinogen clotting activity but did not influence the binding of thrombin to p-CBA agarose. Modification of thrombin with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate is thought to occur at the fibrinogen-binding site and the heparin-binding site. In contrast, binding of thrombin to p-CBA agarose was eliminated by modification of the active site histidine using either H-D-phenylalanyl-L-prolyl-L-arginine chloromethylketone or dansyl-L-glutamyl-glycyl-L-arginine chloromethylketone but not with tosyl-L-lysine chloromethylketone. The presence of either hirudin or heparin blocked the binding of thrombin to p-CBA-agarose but dansyl-arginine-N-(3-ethyl-1,5-pentanediyl)amide had no effect. These results indicate that p-CBA agarose binds to thrombin outside of the enzyme active site and its use should be valuable in characterizing site-specific modified thrombins obtained by either protein engineering or chemical modification.

Acetonitriles↗

Cytoskeletal interactions of Rap1b in platelets.

We have presented evidence that rap1b, a 22 kDa low molecular weight GTP binding protein, becomes associated with the cytoskeleton in thrombin-activated platelets. The initial incorporation is very rapid and occurs as fast as we can measure it. Thus, some rap1b is associated with the cytoskeleton as fast as it is formed. The remainder of the rap1b is incorporated more slowly. This biphasic incorporation of rap1b is similar to the incorporation of GPIIb/IIIa into the cytoskeleton, but no interaction between GPIIb/IIIa and rap1b could be demonstrated. Phosphorylation of rap1b by cAMP-dependent protein kinase did not inhibit its association with the cytoskeleton. We conclude that rap1b is one of an increasing number of proteins that associate with the cytoskeleton during cell activation. The function of rap1b in the cytoskeleton is unclear at this time. However, it is possible to speculate on potential roles. There is growing evidence that low molecular weight G proteins participate in the formation of multi-molecular aggregates. For example, p21rac promotes the assembly of a membrane-associated complex composed of NADPH oxidase, p47, and p67 and this complex is important for activation of NADPH oxidase in neutrophils. Similarly, in yeast, BUD1, a homolog of rap1, forms a complex with BUD5 (a homolog of GDI), BEMI, CDC24, and CDC42 (a homolog of G25K). This multi-protein aggregate may be important in cytoskeletal structure in yeast. In platelets, rad1b, which is membrane associated, may promote the assembly of a complex of proteins during cell activation and may localize this complex to the plasma membrane.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Blood Platelets↗

Increasing incidence of cryptococcosis in the United Kingdom.

The incidence of infection with Cryptococcus neoformans in the United Kingdom during the years between 1953 and 1981 is compared with that between 1982 and 1991. The patients were those from whom samples were submitted to the PHLS Mycological Reference Laboratory (MRL), or those in whom the disease was confirmed elsewhere in the United Kingdom and reported to PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (CDSC). In all, 83 cases were identified between 1953 and 1981 and 322 between 1982 and 1991, 201 of which were known to be HIV-associated. The incidence of infection with Cryptococcus neoformans has increased four-fold in the last decade. It is an increasing cause of infection in immunosuppressed patients, most notably those with HIV infection. Currently, 4.0% patients with AIDS in the United Kingdom are known to have developed cryptococcosis.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Affinity chromatography of platelets on immobilized thrombin: retention of catalytic activity by platelet-bound thrombin.

Radioactivity from I125-labeled human platelets was measured to estimate the extent of binding of platelet surface proteins to immobilized thrombin. 1-3% of the radioactivity was bound with 10-20% of this amount apparently irreversibly bound to the thrombin matrix. Site-specific chemical modification of thrombin with pyridoxal-5'-phosphate, N-bromosuccinimide or tetranitromethane resulted in a variable reduction of the amount of radiolabel bound. When thrombin modified with H-D-PheProArg-chloromethyl ketone (PPACK) was coupled to the matrix, there was no difference in the binding of platelet membrane proteins when compared to a control thrombin preparation while thrombin modified with tosyl-Lys-chloromethyl ketone (TLCK) coupled to the matrix did not bind radiolabel any more effectively than albumin which served as the control. However, when thrombin was modified with PPACK after coupling to the agarose matrix, ability to bind radiolabel was lost. Thrombin bound to platelets remained catalytically active when assayed with a peptide nitroanilide substrate. These results suggest tight binding between thrombin and platelets that is not only not dependent on active site integrity but leaves the bound thrombin catalytically competent.

Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones↗

Incidence of lymphomas and other cancers in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected patients with hemophilia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the types and rates of cancers occurring in excess in the presence of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). DESIGN: Cohort analytic study of HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected subjects followed for up to 12 years. SETTING: Fifteen hemophilia treatment centers. PATIENTS: A total of 1701 patients with hemophilia, of whom 1065 (63%) were HIV-1 seropositive. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Morphologic classification and incidence rates of cancers. MAIN RESULTS: The incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma after HIV seroconversion averaged 0.15 case per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.08 to 0.25) and rose exponentially with increasing duration of HIV infection. Although the greatest absolute risk of lymphoma was in the oldest age group, the relative increase compared with general population rates was 38-fold in subjects 10 to 39 years old and 12-fold in older subjects (P less than .05). The CD4+ T-lymphocyte levels for lymphoma cases were similar to HIV-positive subjects without the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who had been infected for the same length of time. The incidence of Kaposi's sarcoma was increased 200-fold (95% CI, 20 to 700). The incidence of cancers other than non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Kaposi's sarcoma were not increased in the HIV-positive subjects (ratio of observed to expected cases, 0.9 [95% CI, 0.4 to 1.9]). The HIV-negative subjects had no significant increase in cancer incidence. CONCLUSIONS: HIV infection has restricted effects on cancer incidence that are only partly explained by immunosuppression. Paradoxically, improvements in therapy of HIV infection that prolong survival may lead to further increases in HIV-associated lymphoma.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Purified factor IX using monoclonal immunoaffinity technique: clinical trials in hemophilia B and comparison to prothrombin complex concentrates.

Replacement therapy for hemophilia B (factor IX deficiency) using prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) has been associated with serious complications of thromboembolic events and transmission of viral infections. Monoclonal antibody-purified factor IX (Mononine) provides a highly purified factor IX concentrate, while eliminating other vitamin K-dependent factors (II, VII, and X). Mononine was evaluated for in vivo recovery, half-life, and for its safety and efficacy in 10 patients with hemophilia B. The in vivo recovery of factor IX with Mononine was a 0.67 +/- 0.14 U/dL (mean +/- SD) increase per 1U/kg of infused factor IX, and the biologic half-life (t1/2), determined using the terminal phase of elimination, was 22.6 +/- 8.1 hours. Comparison of in vivo recovery of other vitamin K-dependent factors following a single infusion of either Mononine or PCC showed that, whereas Mononine infusion caused no changes in other vitamin K-dependent factors or in prothrombin activation fragment (F1+2), PCC infusion was associated with significant increases of factors II (2.7 U/dL per 1 U/dL of IX increase) and X (2.2 U/dL for 1 U/dL for 1 U/dL of IX). Patients who used Mononine as their sole therapeutic material during the 12-month period showed an excellent response in hemostasis for their bleeding episodes. Their experience with long-term use of Mononine was at least equivalent to their previous experience with PCC in the frequency and amount of factor usage. No patients developed antibody against mouse IgG or an increase in IX inhibitor during the 12-month period. These results indicate that monoclonal antibody-purified factor IX concentrate provides hemostatically effective factor IX replacement while avoiding extraneous thrombogenic substances.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Nosocomial infection rate as a function of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 status in hemophiliacs.

As part of a prospective cohort study initiated in 1983, the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) status has been periodically determined for patients with clotting disorders (hemophilia A or B, von Willebrand's disease, miscellaneous). The University of North Carolina Hospitals has conducted comprehensive surveillance for nosocomial infections (NI) using modified Centers for Disease Control criteria since 1980 and entered this information in a computerized data base. Cross-matching of our NI data base and hemophiliac/HIV-1 study data base for the time period 1980-1989 revealed that 13 NI occurred in 11 patients during 659 hospitalizations (5,723 hospital days). NI rates per 100 admissions (per 1,000 hospital days) by HIV-1 status were as follows: HIV-1 negative = 0.91 (1.18), HIV-1 positive pre-AIDS = 1.65 (1.84), and AIDS = 6.67 (6.48). NI occurred with a similar frequency in HIV-1 positive pre-AIDS hemophiliacs and HIV-1 negative hemophiliacs (Fisher's exact test, p greater than 0.10). However, NI occurred more frequently in hemophiliacs with AIDS versus HIV-1 positive or negative hemophiliacs (Fisher's exact test, p less than 0.05). We conclude that HIV-1 infection does not appreciably alter the risk of developing a NI, but that patients who have progressed to AIDS are at significantly increased risk of developing a NI per hospital day or per hospitalization.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

The localization of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylation site in the platelet rat protein, rap 1B.

Rap 1B is a low molecular weight G protein which is phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase. In order to identify the site of phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase, purified rap 1B from human platelets was phosphorylated and subjected to limited proteolysis with trypsin. Single digestion fragment containing the phosphorylation site was obtained and purified by reversed-phase HPLC. Sequence analysis of the phosphorylated digestion fragment demonstrated that the sequence of the phosphorylation site was -Lys-Lys-Ser-Ser-. This sequence is near the carboxy terminus and is adjacent to the site of membrane attachment of the protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Hepatocellular carcinoma in hemophilia.

A questionnaire-based survey involving 11,801 hemophiliacs from 54 hemophilia centers in the USA and Europe documented the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in 10 patients. The crude rate of HCC was 3.2/100,000 patients/year, at least 30 times higher than the background incidence of this tumor in the countries of origin of the patients. All patients were Caucasians with hemophilia A, 39 to 74 years of age, and had liver cirrhosis. All had one or more risk factor for cirrhosis and HCC: 5 were positive for serum hepatitis B surface antigen, 4 had the antibody to hepatitis C virus, and 4 had histories of alcohol abuse. Serum alpha-fetoprotein, measured in 6 patients, was significantly elevated in 4 (range: 807-1399 ng/ml), and only moderately elevated in 2 (25 and 171 ng/ml). The onset of HCC was asymptomatic in 5 patients, whereas it was accompanied by jaundice, abdominal pain, or ascites in the remaining patients. Thus, HCC seems to be a more important secondary disease for hemophiliacs than formerly recognized. Since HCC is often asymptomatic, screening hemophiliacs with chronic liver disease with periodic ultrasound scans might increase the changes of detecting HCC at a stage amenable to surgical treatment.

Adult↗

Urinary cortisol and urea nitrogen responses in irreversibly undernourished mule deer fawns.

We examined the concentration of urinary cortisol and urea nitrogen of five hand-reared mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) fawns that failed to recover from winter starvation, and compared them to levels found in fawns that recovered. The fawns wintered in fenced pastures stocked with wild deer, and were put back on supplemental feed after losing 15% of their body mass. The five fawns that died began receiving supplemental feed up to 3 wk before death. All continued to lose weight, and were consequently removed from the pasture and fed ad libitum 4 to 10 days before death. In the animals that died, cortisol levels continued to increase regardless of food availability, and were correlated with those of urea nitrogen. Postmortem cortisol and urea nitrogen measurements were significantly greater than concentrations found in the weeks preceding death. We hypothesize that uncontrolled protein catabolism is promoted by high levels of cortisol. These cortisol levels may reach a point at which irreversible multiple-system organ failure occurs, leading to the animal's death.

Animals↗

rap1B, a cAMP-dependent protein kinase substrate, associates with the platelet cytoskeleton.

rap1B is a member of the ras superfamily of low molecular weight GTP binding proteins which constitutes a focal point of GTP and cAMP signal transduction systems. Like other members of this superfamily, rap1B is membrane-associated in resting platelets, presumably through polyisoprenylation. The studies presented here were undertaken to determine the subcellular changes in rap1B localization during cell activation. Activated and unactivated platelets were fractionated by Triton X-100 lysis followed by differential centrifugation to obtain a 10,000 x g cytoskeleton fraction, a 100,000 x g membrane skeleton fraction, and a 100,000 x g supernatant fraction containing solubilized proteins. In unactivated platelets, rap1B was present in the 100,000 x g supernatant fraction. In contrast, in platelets activated with 1 unit/ml alpha-thrombin or with the calcium ionophore, A23187, rap1B was quantitatively recovered in the 10,000 x g cytoskeleton fraction. rap1B was absent from the 100,000 x g fraction containing the membrane skeleton and could not be detected in the 100,000 x g supernatant containing cytosolic proteins and solubilized membrane components. These results indicate that rap1B associates with the cytoskeleton during cell activation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The genomic organization of platelet glycoprotein IIIa.

The platelet membrane glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa complex, a member of the integrin family of adhesive receptors involved in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, contains binding sites for fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor, fibronectin, and vitronectin. Absence or defects of this receptor result in the platelet bleeding disorder Glanzmann's thrombasthenia. In this report, we describe the isolation of genomic DNA coding for the entire mature GPIIIa protein. Mature GPIIIa is encoded by 14 exons which range in length from 90 to 3618 base pairs, which are contained within an approximately 46-kilobase (kb) stretch of genomic DNA on chromosome 17. All of the exon/intron junctions were found to conform to the consensus splice donor and acceptor sequences. The coding region of the GPIIIa gene is identical with the previously described cDNA sequence except for three silent substitutions. One substitution creates a TaqI site which may be the site of a known GPIIIa polymorphism. A second substitution eliminates a SmaI site. Aside from the start of the first exon described, which begins at the second base of the first codon of the mature protein, there is no correlation between the organization of the exons in this gene and proposed functional domains of the protein based on analysis of the primary amino acid sequence. The less frequently used polyadenylation signal AAATTAAA was present at the 3'-end of the major RNA transcript. Recently, an alternatively processed GPIIIa transcript has been described. We demonstrate that this transcript results from nonsplicing of the final intron. The description of the GPIIIa gene organization should be of importance in understanding the evolution of the integrin family of receptors and should be useful in the molecular biology analysis of thrombasthenic patients who have a defect in the GPIIIa gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PECAM-1 (CD31) cloning and relation to adhesion molecules of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily.

An antibody to a platelet integral membrane glycoprotein was found to cross-react with the previously identified CD31 myelomonocytic differentiation antigen and with hec7, an endothelial cell protein that is enriched at intercellular junctions. This antibody identified a complementary DNA clone from an endothelial cell library. The 130-kilodalton translated sequence contained six extracellular immunoglobulin (Ig)-like domains and was most similar to the cell adhesion molecule (CAM) subgroup of the Ig superfamily. This is the only known member of the CAM family on platelets. Its cell surface distribution suggests participation in cellular recognition events.

Amino Acid Sequence↗