Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to G Kelly.
A general method for the synthesis of (14)C-acrylic acid is described in detail. The material is used for the synthesis of a range of radiolabeled poly(acrylic acid)s in which the (14)C-label forms an integral part of the polymer backbone. The chemical structure of the synthesized polymers is examined in the light of spectroscopic data, molecular weight determinations, and rheological studies.
A tendency for over-utilization of the radiological examinations of facial bones and sinuses has been observed. The radiosensitive lens is exposed to radiation during such examination. Comparison of routine roentgenography and spiral axial and coronal CT in sequential and spiral acquisition modes with different mAs values was undertaken using Alderson Rando Phantom. The spiral-CT technique with pitch 1.5 performed in the coronal plane gave the lowest radiation dose to the lens as compared with other CT methods and only seven times higher than routine sinus roentgenography.
Cross-saturation experiments have been shown to give accurate information regarding the interacting surfaces in protein-protein and protein-RNA complexes. The rate of magnetization transfer depends on a number of factors including geometry, spin topology, and effective correlation times. To assess the influence of these variables on such experiments, and to determine the range of applicability of the technique, we have simulated the time-course of magnetization transfer across the interface in a variety of protein-nucleic acid complexes (434 Cro, SRY, MetJ and U1A), each having a different binding geometry. The simulations have been carried out primarily to provide information about the experimentally accessible targets for selective saturation, such as the anomeric protons and the imino protons of the nucleic acid. Saturation of either of these groups of signals leads to partial excitation throughout the nucleic acid molecule, and the resulting transfer of saturation to the labelled protein moiety can be readily detected by the reduction in intensity of particular peaks in the HSQC spectrum of the protein. The simulations show that information can be obtained about the residues in contact with the nucleic acid without any need for deuteration. Experimental cross-saturation data have been obtained from the Mbp1-DNA complex and interpreted in conjunction with the simulations to map out the binding surface in detail.
The interaction between alpha-actinin and titin, two modular muscle proteins, is essential for sarcomere assembly. We have solved the solution structure of a complex between the calcium-insensitive C-terminal EF-hand domain of alpha-actinin-2 and the seventh Z-repeat of titin. The structure of the complex is in a semi-open conformation and closely resembles that of myosin light chains in their complexes with heavy chain IQ motifs. However, no IQ motif is present in the Z-repeat, suggesting that the semi-open conformation is a general structural solution for calcium-independent recognition of EF-hand domains.
From previous work, it appears that glutamate can activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis by an interaction at either ionotopic or metabotropic (G-protein coupled) receptors. For example, (1S,3R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylate (ACPD), a metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptor agonist, has been shown to increase the levels of serum corticosterone in rats. The present study was undertaken to further characterize which of the mGlu receptors are substantially involved in control of the HPA axis. The group I mGlu receptor agonists, 3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG), 1S,3R-ACPD, and 2-chloro-5-hydroxyphenylglycine (CHPG) but not the inactive isomer 1R,3S-ACPD were found to dose-dependently increase serum corticosterone 1 h after intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection in male rats. The relative potency, DHPG (EC50 = 520 nmol) > 1S,3R-ACPD (1.4 micromol) = CHPG (2.7 micromol) >> 1R,3S-ACPD (>> 3 micromol) is consistent with activation of group I (mGlu1/5) receptors. The effects of DHPG were long lasting with substantial elevations in corticosterone remaining for at least 3 h. In a similar manner, the group III mGlu receptor agonists, L-AP4 (4-phosphono-2-aminobutyric acid) and L-SOP (serine-O-phosphate), were found to increase serum corticosterone levels at 1 h. In contrast, the mGlu group II selective agonists LY354740 (10 mg/kg, i.p.) and subtype-selective doses of the group II antagonist LY341495 (1 mg/kg, i.p.) did not significantly elevate serum corticosterone. Given the group I agonists results, it was surprising to find that group I selective and mGlu1 selective antagonists given alone also increased serum corticosterone. As with the agonists, the rise in serum corticosterone with LY393675 (an mGlu1/5 antagonist, EC50 = 20 nmol, i.c.v.) and LY367385 (an mGlu1 antagonist, 325 nmol, i.c.v.) were dose-dependent and consistent with their relative affinity for the group I mGlu receptors. The selective mGlu5 antagonist MPEP [2-methyl-6-(phenylethylnyl)pyridine] increased serum corticosterone but only at high doses (> 30 mg/kg, i.p.). A model involving the high glutamatergic tone on GABAergic interneurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus is discussed as a possible explanation for these results.
The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Porphyromonas gingivalis is an important pro-inflammatory molecule in periodontal disease and a significant target of the host's specific immune response. In addition, we recently demonstrated using monoclonal antibodies that the Arg-gingipains of P. gingivalis are post-translationally modified with glycan chains that are immunologically related to an LPS preparation from this organism. In the present investigation, we determined the structure of the O-polysaccharide of P. gingivalis W50 that was fully characterized on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR (DQF-COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, ROESY, 1H-13C HSQC and 1H-31P HXTOCSY) and GC-MS data. These data allowed us to conclude that the O-polysaccharide is built up of the tetrasaccharide repeating sequence: -->6)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->4)-alpha-L-Rhap-(1-->3)-beta-D-GalNAc-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Galp-(1--> and carries a monophosphoethanolamine residue at position C-2 of the alpha-rhamnose residue in a nonstoichiometric (approximately 60%) amount. These data indicate that the O-polysaccharide of P. gingivalis LPS is composed of an unusually modified tetrasaccharide repeating unit.
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A putative 1079A-->T mutation in the alpha1 isoform of the Na(+), K(+)-ATPase (Atp1a1) gene of the Dahl salt-sensitive rat inbred by John Rapp (SS/Jr) strain was projected to cause a conformation change in the membrane hydrophobic region of the protein product, possibly resulting in hypertension. The existence of the mutation was challenged, but the challenge was apparently rebutted. The New Zealand genetically hypertensive (GH) rat is known to have a blood pressure quantitative trait locus on chromosome 2 containing the gene for the ATPase. Thus, we sought to determine whether the GH rat carried the 1079A-->T transversion. We chose a method, first nucleotide change analysis, that can detect point mutations in a mixed population of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products, even in the presence of PCR bias, and confirmed our analysis by restriction enzyme digestion of PCR products. To ensure the validity of our analyses, we used site-directed mutagenesis to create positive controls containing the mutation. Surprisingly, we found that neither the GH nor the SS/Jr strain had the A1079T transversion. Indeed, the transversion was not found in any strain tested. As an incidental observation, we have sequenced the intron preceding the exon containing the putative A1079T transversion. Within this intron, a single-base C/T polymorphism was observed at base 132. Our results definitively eliminate the putative A1079T transversion in Atp1a1 as a causative factor underlying hypertension in the GH, spontaneously hypertensive, and SS/Jr rat strains and indicate that alternative candidate genes in the region defined by the chromosome 2 hypertension quantitative trait locus should be examined.
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Polypyrimidine tract binding protein (PTB), an RNA binding protein containing four RNA recognition motifs (RRMs), is involved in both pre-mRNA splicing and translation initiation directed by picornaviral internal ribosome entry sites. Sequence comparisons previously indicated that PTB is a non-canonical RRM protein. The solution structure of a PTB fragment containing RRMs 3 and 4 shows that the protein consists of two domains connected by a long, flexible linker. The two domains tumble independently in solution, having no fixed relative orientation. In addition to the betaalphabetabetaalphabeta topology, which is characteristic of RRM domains, the C-terminal extension of PTB RRM-3 incorporates an unanticipated fifth beta-strand, which extends the RNA binding surface. The long, disordered polypeptide connecting beta4 and beta5 in RRM-3 is poised above the RNA binding surface and is likely to contribute to RNA recognition. Mutational analyses show that both RRM-3 and RRM-4 contribute to RNA binding specificity and that, despite its unusual sequence, PTB binds RNA in a manner akin to that of other RRM proteins.
The variation of the EPR spectra with degree of deuteration of the partially deuterated Tutton salt ammonium hexaaquacopper(II) sulfate, (NH4)2[Cu(H2O)6](SO4)2, has been measured at 293 K. The measurements indicate that the structure changes quite abruptly from that of the pure hydrogenous salt to that of the fully deuterated salt at approximately 50% deuteration. The structure of a crystal in which approximately 42% of the hydrogen atoms were replaced by deuterium was elucidated at 15 K by single-crystal time-of-flight neutron diffraction. The hexaaquacopper(II) complex exhibits an orthorhombically distorted, tetragonally elongated octahedral coordination geometry (Cu-O bond distances of 2.281(1), 2.007(1), and 1.975(1) A). The structure is very similar to that reported for the undeuterated salt at 9.6 K, and markedly different from that of the fully deuterated compound at 15 K, which has similar Cu-O bond lengths but with the directions of the long and intermediate bonds interchanged. There is no evidence for disorder or partial switching of the Cu-O bond directions. This is consistent with the temperature dependence of the EPR spectrum of the approximately 42% deuterated compound, which indicates a thermal equilibrium between the two structural forms close to room temperature similar to that reported for the undeuterated compound, but complete reversion to the low-temperature phase on cooling to 5 K. The possible influence of deuteration upon the hydrogen-bonding distances and the bearing of this upon the structural modifications of the compound are discussed.
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Ten human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients were given rifabutin in addition to fluconazole and clarithromycin. There was a 76% increase in the area under the concentration-time curve of rifabutin when either fluconazole or clarithromycin was given alone and a 152% increase when both drugs were given together with rifabutin. Patients should be monitored for adverse effects of rifabutin administered concomitantly with clarithromycin and/or fluconazole.
Help for people with mental health problems in Japan has traditionally centred on inpatient medical care. In a revision of the Mental Health Welfare Law planned for 2001, responsibility for the support of people with mental health problems will be transferred from central government to local government. Furthermore, local government will, in turn, delegate administrative tasks to a 'community life support centre'. We believe that such a centre could be linked to a university with a telehealth network. Connection to the network could benefit people with mental health problems living at home. We also believe that occupational therapists are ideally positioned to play a significant role in community life support centres. With the expected sustained growth in Japanese occupational therapy, it could become a key profession in the rehabilitation of people with mental health problems.
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A prospective study of 100 consecutive tonsillectomies was performed to assess the incidence of potential blood contamination of the surgeons' conjunctivae. Operating masks with plastic visors were used during these operations and examined by microscopy to detect blood contamination. 46% of visors were contaminated by blood. There was no significant difference with respect to how the operation was performed, or with the addition of adenoidectomy, but there was a significant difference between the rate of contamination between some surgeons. No surgeon performing more than three operations, however, escaped contamination. We recommend that eye protection be worn routinely in tonsillectomy.
Nasogastric tube placement is desirable for the short-term administration of calories when oral feeding is not possible. Enteral nutrition is superior to parenteral nutrition. In some patients this method of feeding is impossible because of repeated failure of nasogastric tube placement, necessitating either general anaesthesia for enteral access, or total parenteral nutrition. We describe a new method for nasogastric tube placement aided by a fibre-optic nasendoscope which has resulted in the successful placement of over 20 nasogastric tubes in our unit and the avoidance of more invasive methods of establishing nutrition with their associated complications.
Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) induce gross cytoskeletal rearrangement within epithelial cells, immediately beneath the attached bacterium. The C-terminal 280 amino acid residues of intimin (Int280; 30.1 kDa), a bacterial cell-adhesion molecule, mediate the intimate bacterial host-cell interaction. Recently, interest in this process has been stimulated by the discovery that the bacterial intimin receptor protein (Tir) is translocated into the host cell membrane, phosphorylated, and after binding intimin triggers the intimate attachment. Using multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and combining perdeuteration with site-specific protonation of methyl groups, we have determined the global fold of Int280. This represents one of the largest, non-oligomeric protein structures to be determined by NMR that has not been previously resolved by X-ray crystallography. Int280 comprises three domains; two immunoglobulin-like domains and a C-type lectin-like module, which define a new family of bacterial adhesion molecules. These findings also imply that carbohydrate recognition may be important in intimin-mediated cell adhesion.