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Biomedical subjects

J A Irving

Publications and source records attributed to J A Irving.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

The role of alternative splicing of the adhesion molecule, CD44, in lymphoid malignancy.

AIM: To investigate the expression of CD44 isoforms containing variant exon 6 (v6) in a well characterised cohort of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), and to correlate this with phenotype and disease course. METHODS: Cryostat sections of OCT embedded diagnostic nodal material from NHL patients and cryopreserved mononuclear preparations from CLL patients were used as sources of RNA. After reverse transcription, PCR was carried out with amplimers positioned at either side of the variant exon insertion site to amplify all possible CD44 isoforms. Those isoforms containing v6 were identified after Southern blotting and hybridisation with a radiolabelled oligonucleotide. RESULTS: Of 32 NHL samples analysed, 16 did not express CD44 isoforms containing v6, six expressed an isoform containing exon v6 alone, and 10 expressed v6 long isoforms which contained exon v6 in addition to other variant exons. These data did not correlate with lymphoma classification, disease staging, or the presence or absence of extranodal disease. However, those patients expressing v6 long CD44 isoforms had a worse overall survival than those that did not. The plateau of the survival curves was 50% compared with 82%. No v6 long isoforms were detected in the 21 CLL samples investigated. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of v6 long CD44 isoforms is associated with aggressive disease in NHL, independent of grade, stage, or presence of extranodal disease.

Alternative Splicing↗
PubMed1997

An interactive quality of work life model applied to organizational transition.

Most healthcare organizations in the United States are in the process of some type of organizational change or transition. Professional nurses and other healthcare providers practicing in U.S. healthcare delivery organizations are very aware of the dramatic effects of restructuring processes. A phenomenal amount of change and concern is occurring with organizational redesign, generating many questions and uncertainties. These transitions challenge the basic assumptions and principles guiding the practice of clinical and management roles in healthcare.

Career Mobility↗
PubMed1997

Nurse manager perceptions of healthcare executive behaviors during organizational change.

Nurse managers have a large responsibility in implementing healthcare organizational change. To be effective, they need support from healthcare executives. The authors report on a study in which nurse managers described behaviors that facilitated the quality of their work life. Nurse managers in a large (700+ bed) hospital undergoing organizational change were asked to rank behavior of healthcare executives perceived as supportive to a successful transition process and related to maintaining quality of work life. The nurse managers in this study ranked frequent communication about the goals and progression of the organizational change by healthcare executives as most important during a time of organizational change. High visibility and verbalized commitment to the organizational change being implemented were indicated as important by the managers responsible for the operation and realization of the desired vision and goals. Behaviors exhibited by healthcare executives during a time of organizational change may be supportive to nurse managers.

Behavior↗
PubMed1996

A case of mature B-cell ALL with coexistence of t(1;19) and t(14;18) and expression of the E2A/PBX1 fusion gene.

The translocation t(1;19)(q23;p13) is found in 3-5% of all acute lymphoblastic leukaemias (ALL) and results in the expression of an E2A/PBX1 hybrid gene transcript. This translocation is very closely associated with a pre-B phenotype. t(14;18) is associated with follicular B-cell lymphoma and is characterized by over-expression of the bcl-2 oncogene. We describe a case of ALL in an adult with a mature B-cell immunophenotype and a single abnormal cell line with a complex karyotype showing both t(1;19) and t(14;18). Two reports of this phenomenon have been published previously and molecular analysis, where performed, showed the E2A gene was not rearranged, suggesting the t(1;19) was a molecular variant of the established translocation. In contrast, molecular analysis of our case demonstrated expression of the E2A/PBX1 fusion transcript typically associated with t(1;19) in pre-B ALL but showed it to be present at an extremely low level, despite the abnormal karyotype being found in the majority of metaphase cells. Analysis of bcl-2 expression showed a significant up-regulation. A down-regulation of the E2A/PBX1 hybrid gene as a consequence of the enhanced expression of bcl-2 may be a possible mechanism for this finding.

Burkitt Lymphoma↗
PubMed1996

OCT embedded sections of pathological specimens as a source of high quality RNA for reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction.

OCT embedded cryostat sections of stored pathological specimens of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were used to provide RNA. After reverse transcription to produce cDNA, the polymerase chain reaction was performed with primers for standard and variant forms of the CD44 molecule. Using Southern transfer and hybridisation with a probe specific for exon 4 of the CD44 gene, both standard and variant forms were visualised by autoradiography. This method was shown to be applicable to other gene products by using primers specific for the abl and bcr genes. This technique permits retrospective analysis of RNA from small amounts of stored pathological samples.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMed1995

Functional role of cell surface integrins on human trophoblast cell migration: regulation by TGF-beta, IGF-II, and IGFBP-1.

Trophoblast invasion of the human uterus is stringently controlled by the microenvironment. Invasive extravillous trophoblast cells in situ as well as in culture express a selective repertoire of cell surface integrins. Since migration is a necessary step in the invasion cascade, we tested whether certain integrins or invasion-regulating molecules, i.e., TGF-beta, IGF-II, and IGFBP-1 produced at the fetomaternal interface had a functional role on trophoblast migration. Flow cytometric analysis of integrin expression and the use of an in vitro cell migration assay revealed that exogenous TGF-beta upregulates integrin expression and reduces migratory ability to the invasive trophoblast, whereas IGF-II has no effect on integrin expression but stimulates migration. Trophoblast migration was inhibited in the presence of alpha 5 and beta 1 integrin blocking antibodies, indicating its dependence on the expression of these subunits. Furthermore, IGFBP-1, which contains an RGD sequence recognizing certain integrins, stimulated migration, an effect that was blocked by pretreatment with anti-alpha 5 or -beta 1 blocking Abs. These studies demonstrate that the migration of first trimester invasive trophoblast in vitro (1) requires the expression of alpha 5 and beta 1 integrin subunits, (2) is inhibited by TGF-beta, possibly due to increased cell adhesiveness to the extracellular matrix, (3) is stimulated by IGF-II by an as yet undetermined mechanism, and (4) is stimulated by IGFBP-1, likely by interaction with the RGD binding site of the alpha 5 beta 1 integrin. The invasion-regulating effects of TGF-beta, IGF-II, and IGFBP-1 may thus, at least in part, be due to their migration-regulating effects on the invasive trophoblast.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1995

Characteristics of trophoblast cells migrating from first trimester chorionic villus explants and propagated in culture.

We developed a method of propagating pure first trimester human trophoblast cells growing out of primary explants of mechanically derived chorionic villus fragments (Yagel et al, 1989; Graham et al, 1992). We have now extensively characterized these cells during their initial outgrowth and in long-term culture, employing a variety of markers and techniques as outlined below. By double label immunofluorescence using epithelial (cytokeratin) and mesenchymal (vimentin) cell markers, we identified the chorionic villus migrant cell populations as pure trophoblast (39 per cent of outgrowths) or a mixture of trophoblast and fibroblast (61 per cent). Further phenotyping of the pure trophoblast outgrowths by double label immunostaining using anti-cytokeratin antibody and a panel of other primary antisera revealed that these cells exhibit a variety of markers characteristic of extravillous invasive trophoblast cells in situ: insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-II, NDOG-5, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), human leucocyte antigen framework antigen (W6/32) and a distinct set of integrins including alpha 1, alpha 3, alpha 5, alpha v and beta 1 subunits and alpha v beta 3/beta 5 vitonectin receptor. They were negative for alpha 6 and beta 4 integrin subunits. Immunogold electron microscopy of explants grown on type IV collagen gel revealed the production of conventional and oncofetal types of fibronectin by mononucleate trophoblast cells and human placental lactogen by multinucleate cells. Immunolabelling, flow cytometry and immunoprecipitation revealed that this phenotypic profile was retained with complete fidelity in the long-term culture; thus, trophoblasts migrating out of first trimester chorionic villus explants and their propagated progeny belong to the invasive extravillous trophoblast of the placenta.

Cell Movement↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Strategic planning in academic nursing.

Dramatic transformations are occurring in higher education. As colleges of nursing compete with other university colleges for limited resources, new strategies are needed to be successful. One university's unique strategic planning process is presented.

Curriculum↗