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Biomedical subjects

G Rees

Publications and source records attributed to G Rees.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Isolation of mouse CD44 cDNA: structural features are distinct from the primate cDNA.

CD44 is a glycoprotein that participates in adhesion of lymphocytes to high endothelial cells of lymph organs and likely functions in other intercellular adhesions as well. We have isolated a mouse CD44 cDNA by polymerase chain reaction amplification of cDNA synthesized from total cellular RNA isolated from 38C-13, a B-lymphocyte cell line. The oligonucleotide sequences were based at the 5' end on the baboon CD44 sequence upstream of and including the translation initiator ATG and at the 3' end on a mouse CD44 sequence that was determined from a rare, incomplete cDNA clone. The mouse CD44 DNA sequence is similar to the baboon CD44 sequence but has structural features that are distinct. The external domain has a region that is only 35% similar between the mouse and primate proteins, in contrast to 85%-90% similarity in the rest of the sequence. In addition, just upstream from the predicted cleavage site of the leader peptide, nucleotide insertions result in the addition of two or four amino acids, depending upon the mouse strain. An amino acid replacement between two strains carrying different CD44 (also called Pgp-1) allotypes is likely responsible for the Pgp-1 polymorphism. The most striking aspect of mouse CD44 is that the RNA does not fractionate with polyadenylylated RNA, unlike the CD44 RNA in human, baboon, rat, and chicken.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The influence of dentofacial appearance on the social attractiveness of young adults.

The purpose of the study was to determine whether the social attractiveness of a young adult would be influenced by his or her dentofacial appearance. Black and white photographs of an attractive male, an unattractive male, an attractive female, and an unattractive female were obtained and modified so that, for each face, five different photographic versions were available. In each version, the face was standardized except that a different dentofacial arrangement was demonstrated. These were normal incisors, prominent incisors, absence of upper left lateral incisor, severely crowded incisors, and unilateral cleft lip. Eight hundred young adults were shown one of the twenty photographs and asked to estimate the represented individual's social characteristics along a number of bipolar scales. Each photograph was viewed by a different group of forty young adults, equally divided as to sex. Their impressions of the depicted individuals' social attractiveness were recorded on visual analogue scales. The experimental procedure was such that the effect and interaction of different levels of facial attractiveness, different dentofacial arrangements, sex of the photographed individual, and sex of the judge could be analyzed. Faces displaying a normal incisor relationship gained the most favorable ratings for eight of the ten characteristics examined, and in four of these differences across the range of dental conditions were statistically significant. These were perceived friendliness, social class, popularity, and intelligence. The prominent incisor condition was rated highest for compliance and honesty, while the condition representing a unilateral cleft consistently attracted low ratings. Background facial attractiveness of either the male or female stimuli was often more assertive than the individual dental condition.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Dual isotope stress testing in congenital atresia of left coronary ostium. Applications before and after surgical treatment.

A 38-year-old women presented with an 11-year history of angina pectoris. Coronary arteriography disclosed a large right coronary artery which filled the entire left coronary tree retrogradely. The left main coronary artery ended blindly and was not connected to the aortic root. There were no atherosclerotic lesions in any vessel. Exercise thallium-20l scintigrams showed a perfusion defect in the anterior region of the left ventricle and exercise first pass radionuclide ventriculography showed anterior hypokinesis of the left ventricle with an ejection fraction of 54 per cent, compared with 60 per cent at rest. An aortocoronary saphenous vein graft was constructed to the left coronary artery. Four months after operation the patient is free from symptoms. Repeat thallium scintigrams were normal. Exercise radionuclide ventriculography after operation disclosed no wall motion abnormality, and ejection fraction on exercise was 70 per cent. The mechanism of angina in this patient is unclear but may have been related to the abnormal timing of delivery of blood to the left ventricular myocardium. Dual radionuclide stress testing showed abnormalities after operation. This non-invasive approach may be useful in the assessment of the physiological significance of coronary anomalies and of the value of corrective surgery.

Adult↗

Obstetric anaesthetic and analgesic services in Wales.

A survey of obstetric anaesthetic services in Wales covering 21 major units in which over 31 000 deliveries take place annually showed inadequacies in staffing at consultant and resident anaesthetist level. At least 20 additional consultant sessions were required to meet the recommendations of the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland. If patients' requests for epidural analgesia are to be met some reorganisation and centralisation of facilities is needed.

Anesthesia, Epidural↗