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Biomedical subjects

J Anderson

Publications and source records attributed to J Anderson.

At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources

The detection of antibodies against peste des petits ruminants virus in cattle, sheep and goats and the possible implications to rinderpest control programmes.

Monoclonal antibody-based competitive ELISA (C-ELISA) have been used for the specific measurement of antibodies to both rinderpest and peste des petits ruminants (PPR) viruses in cattle, sheep and goats. Examination of serum samples from sheep and goats in Gambia, before and after vaccination with rinderpest vaccine, suggested that antibodies to PPR virus could prevent an immune response to the rinderpest vaccine. Cattle sera from Nigeria and Ghana showed a high prevalence of antibody against PPR virus which may explain the difficulty experienced in some countries in achieving high post-vaccination immunity levels against rinderpest. Because antibodies against PPR virus are both cross-neutralizing and cross-protective against rinderpest virus further vaccination in the presence of antibodies against PPR virus may be a waste of national resources. This paper presents serological evidence for the transmission of PPR virus from sheep and goats to cattle and highlights the need to include PPR serology in the sero-monitoring programme to give a better indication of national herd immunity.

Animals↗

Anti-tumor antibody BR96 blocks cell migration and binds to a lysosomal membrane glycoprotein on cell surface microspikes and ruffled membranes.

BR 96 is an internalizing antibody that binds to Lewis Y (Le(y)), a carbohydrate determinant expressed at high levels on many human carcinomas (Hellström, I., H. J. Garrigues, U. Garrigues, and K. E. Hellström. 1990. Cancer Res. 50:2183-2190). Breast carcinoma cell lines grown to confluence bind less BR96 than subconfluent cultures (Garrigues, J., U. Garrigues, I. Hellström, and K. E. Hellström. 1993. Am. J. Path. 142:607-622). However, when the confluent cells are induced to migrate by scratch wounding, they again bind BR96 suggesting that antigens bearing the Le(y) determinant may promote cell migration. In the present study, BR96 was found to be highly enriched on microspikes and ruffled membranes, cell surface structures involved in cell migration. In addition, BR96 was a potent inhibitor of cell migration in vitro. When stationary BR96 treated cells were exposed to fresh culture media, membrane ruffles and microspikes developed at the cell margin and migration resumed. Immunogold microscopy showed that BR96 antigens were enriched on these membrane protrusions. BR96 cell surface immunoprecipitation analysis of 3H-glucosamine labeled breast carcinoma cells identified antigens with approximate molecular weights of 135 kd (upper antigen) and 85 kd (lower antigen). A short amino terminal sequence (8 residues) of the upper antigen matched that of human lysosomal membrane glycoprotein 1 (LAMP-1). In addition, the upper antigen was detected on immunoblots probed with anti-LAMP-1, and within the intracellular compartment BR96 was found predominantly in endosomes and lysosomes. A soluble LAMP-1/immunoglobulin fusion protein (LAMP-1/Ig) was transiently expressed in both BR96 binding and nonbinding cell lines. Immunoblot analysis of LAMP-1/Ig's from the various cell lines showed that (a) acquisition of the BR96 epitope is probably controlled at the level of polylactosamine modification (e.g., fucosylation) rather than LAMP-1 gene expression; (b) alternate forms of LAMP-1/Ig comigrate with the lower BR96 antigen raising the possibility that it may be a degradation product of the upper antigen; and (c) LAMP-1/Ig expressed in 3396 breast carcinoma cells has approximately 30-fold more BR96 epitopes than LAMP-1/Ig from non-tumorigenic mammary epithelial cells. Together these data indicate that a major BR96 antigen, LAMP-1, is present on unique cell surface domains involved in cell locomotion as well as membranes of the endocytic compartment. Altered glycosylation of LAMP-1 expressed in transformed cells may contribute to their ability to disseminate.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Consumption of reduced-energy/low-fat diet or constant-energy/high-fat diet during mezerein treatment inhibited mouse skin tumor promotion.

Previous studies in our laboratory have shown that promotion of two-stage skin carcinogenesis in the SENCAR mouse model was inhibited in mice fed energy-restricted/low-fat diets, and elevated in mice fed high-fat diets. Studies reported here describe the influence of dietary energy restriction from fat and carbohydrate (ER) or high-fat (HF) diet on early promotion by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and on late promotion by mezerein (MEZ). Female SENCAR mice were initiated topically with 10 nmol 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) in 0.2 ml acetone at 9 weeks of age. For the following 2 weeks they received 3.2 nmol TPA in 0.2 ml acetone twice weekly, and for the next 16 weeks they received 10 nmol MEZ in 0.2 ml acetone twice weekly. All mice were fed control diet before TPA began and following the final MEZ treatment. Control mice received the control diet (c) throughout TPA and MEZ (C/C). The six experimental groups received: (1) ER diet throughout TPA and MEZ treatment (ER/ER); (2) HF diet throughout TPA and MEZ treatment (HF/HF); (3) ER during TPA (ER/C); (4) ER during MEZ (C/ER); (5) HF diet during TPA (HF/C); or (6) HF diet during MEZ (C/HF). Papilloma incidence and multiplicity, and carcinoma incidence were similarly reduced in the mice fed ER diet during MEZ (ER/ER and C/ER groups). In comparing the HF groups, papilloma multiplicity was highest in the HF/C group, intermediate in the C/C and lowest in the C/HF groups, but papilloma and carcinoma incidences were not modified by the HF diet protocols. Papilloma regression was greater in the C/HF group (27%, 4 regressions/15 tumor-bearing mice) than in the controls (0/18) during weeks 21-23, immediately following the end of MEZ treatment (P < 0.05).

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Dietary energy restriction and fat modulation of protein kinase C isoenzymes and phorbol ester binding in Sencar mouse epidermis.

The purpose of our research is to understand the biochemical basis for dietary enhancement of phorbol ester induced tumor promotion in mice fed high-fat (HF) diet, and the inhibition of promotion in mice fed diets restricted in energy from fat and carbohydrate (ER). The present study assessed the presence of protein kinase C (PKC) isoenzymes in the Sencar mouse epidermis by Western blot and determined the influence of diet on the isoenzymes found. Mice were fed control, HF (24.5% corn oil) or ER (60% of control energy) diets for 6-29 weeks. Our initial studies assessed the immunoreactive levels of PKC alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon and zeta and PKC alpha beta gamma using an antibody to a shared epitope. We detected PKC alpha, epsilon, delta and zeta in sufficient quantity for dietary studies. Dietary fat and energy did not significantly modify the presence of PKC epsilon or delta. We observed a 30% and 40% reduction in PKC alpha in comparison with control diet in cytosolic and particulate fractions respectively, from mice pre-fed ER diet. Reductions of 72% and 82% in cytosolic and particulate PKC were observed respectively with the alpha beta gamma antibody. ER diet reduced the overall amount of PKC zeta in cytosol and particulate by 42% and 59% respectively, with the cytosolic reduction being greater in mice pre-fed the restricted diets for 21-29 weeks. HF diet did not modify the protein levels of the PKC isoenzymes studied. The level of phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate binding to epidermal cells was assessed to determine if the reduction in PKC protein in the epidermis of ER mice would result in altered phorbol binding. Phorbol binding in cells isolated from mice fed ER diet was reduced in mice pre-fed the ER diet for 20-22 weeks in comparison with binding to cells from mice fed control diet. These results suggest that ER diet reduces specific PKC isoenzymes and the binding of phorbol esters in epidermis of mice. These observations may account for the inhibition of phorbol ester promotion of skin tumors in ER mice.

Animals↗

Accumulation of human chorionic gonadotrophin in the serum of patients during in-vitro fertilization treatment cycles with Pergonal.

We examined the possible contribution of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) in Pergonal to the serum luteinizing hormone (LH)-like bioactivity in 10 patients (median age 32 years, range 28-38) with tubal infertility who were undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF), together with 19 controls (median age 30 years, range 21-43). IVF patients were treated with clomiphene (50 mg twice daily) over days 2-6 and Pergonal (150 IU i.m.) daily from day 5 until at least day 10. Serum LH was measured by fluoro-immunometric assay (I-LH) and in-vitro Leydig cell bioassay (B-LH). Serum HCG was measured by fluoro-immunometric assay. The data were analysed by paired two-tailed t-test, following logarithmic transformation. From days 1-5, there was an increase in serum B-LH (mean, 95% confidence intervals given in parentheses) from 8.3 (6.8, 10.2) IU/l to 11.7 (9.8, 13.9) IU/l [P = 0.004], and in serum I-LH from 4.5 (3.7, 5.4) IU/l to 5.4 (4.6, 6.3) IU/l [P = 0.002]. From days 5-8, there was a rise in B-LH to 16.6 (12.6, 21.9) IU/l [P = 0.023]. The rise in I-LH to 6.3 (5.1, 7.8) IU/l [P = 0.081] failed to reach significance. Furthermore, serum HCG was < 0.75 IU/l until after Pergonal was administered on day 5, then rose to a plateau on day 8 at 1.2 (0.8, 1.6) IU/l. Serum HCG in the controls remained < 0.75 IU/l throughout.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Comparison of clinical manifestations of HIV infection between male and female injecting drug users.

OBJECTIVE: To compare occurrence of clinical symptoms, physical examination findings and hematologic variables in male and female HIV-seropositive injecting drug users (IDU) with similar CD4+ lymphocyte counts. METHOD: We interviewed and examined 118 female and 444 male AIDS-free HIV-seropositive IDU for clinical signs and symptoms. HIV serology and T-lymphocyte subset evaluations were performed. Comparisons were analyzed by Mantel-Haenszel procedures. RESULTS: In this population, median age for men was 35 years versus 33 years for women; median CD4 cell count was 490 x 10(6)/l for men versus 480 x 10(6)/l for women. The overall frequency of oral candidiasis increased as CD4 cell count decreased, but did not vary by sex. Recent history of genital herpes was more frequent (P < 0.05) in women than men, but this difference was not significant on physical examination. Symptoms of diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, shortness of breath, presence of enlarged posterior cervical lymph nodes did not vary by CD4 cell count or sex, and no strong interactions were evident. Although absolute values of hematocrit were higher (P < 0.001) and platelet count lower (P < 0.001) in HIV-seropositive men than women, distributions of hematocrit and platelet count by sex were similar for HIV-seropositive participants and HIV-seronegative controls. CONCLUSION: Our data on IDU prior to a diagnosis of AIDS suggest that constitutional signs and symptoms are generally similar among men and women early in HIV infection. Additional follow-up is needed to determine whether differential rates of signs and symptoms by sex appear with progression of HIV infection.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Small area variations in hospitalization rates: how much you see depends on how you look.

This research investigates the degree that estimates of the magnitude of small area variations in hospitalization rates depend on both the estimation method and the number of years of data used. Hospital discharge abstracts for patients 65 and older from acute care hospitals in Massachusetts from 1982 to 1987 were analyzed. The SCV statistic, the approach used in many current small area variation studies, and empirical Bayes (EB), an approach that adjusts more fully for the effect of random variation, were compared. EB estimates based on 3 years of data were best able to predict future area-specific hospitalization rates. Compared to EB estimates using 3 years of data, the SCV statistic with 1 year of data overestimated the median amount of systematic variation by over 70% for the 68 conditions studied; with 3 years of data, the SCV overestimated the median by 55%. Regardless of method, the same conditions were identified as relatively more variable and the same geographic areas were found to have higher than expected hospitalization rates. The magnitude of differences in hospitalization rates depends on how the data are analyzed and how many years of data are used. Hospitalization rates across small geographic areas may vary substantially less than reported previously.

Aged↗

Influence of endothelium and surgical preparation on responses of human saphenous vein and internal thoracic artery to angiotensin II.

1. The saphenous vein (SV) and internal thoracic artery (ITA) are the most commonly used conduits for coronary artery bypass surgery (CABS). The ITA shows better long term patency than the SV, at least in part due to their different responses to agonists, as well as physical differences between the ITA and SV at the time of grafting. 2. Angiotensin II (A II), a potent endogenous vasoconstrictor circulates at augmented levels during and after CABS, but little is known about the effects of A II on the SV and ITA. 3. We studied the contractile effects of A II on SV and ITA as intact rings from a heterogeneous group of patients undergoing CABS. Two groups of SV samples were studied; freshly excised SV (FSV) with no further manipulation and SV that had been surgically prepared for use as a bypass conduit (PSV). We also assessed the function of the endothelium in FSV, PSV and ITA, by measuring the relaxation of preconstricted rings to bradykinin. In some tissues endothelial presence was examined histologically. 4. Surgical preparation of SV affected the contractile ability of the smooth muscle, as PSV contracted less than FSV to potassium chloride (KCl, 90 mM) (P < 0.0001). Loss of endothelial function was seen in 25% of FSV, 50% of PSV and 33% of ITA. 5. A II caused concentration dependent contractions in all rings, over the same concentration range (1 nM-100 nM). In rings of FSV the presence of functional endothelium attenuated the response, median values with endothelium being less than half that without endothelium (P < 0.0007, at 100 nM).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Distended iliopsoas bursa: case reports and anatomical dissection.

Distension of the iliopsoas bursa is usually seen in association with underlying hip joint disease. The computed tomography (CT) appearance is characteristic and allows a diagnosis to be readily made. Computed tomography will also facilitate needle placement for aspiration of bursa contents and the injection of water-soluble contrast media for CT bursography. Three cases of iliopsoas bursa enlargement of varying underlying aetiology are presented. The dissection of seven cadavers demonstrated the anatomy of the normal bursa and highlighted its important role in the normal functioning of the iliopsoas muscle.

Aged↗

Measuring the costs and quality of palliative care: a discussion paper.

In an era of ever increasing emphasis on cost-effectiveness of health care, and with the introduction of the internal market, there is now an urgent need for information on the costs and quality of palliative care. This paper highlights the complexities involved in acquiring and measuring such information and discusses methods which were tried out in an exploratory study. The study took the form of in-depth case studies in two hospices, one in the voluntary sector and one in the NHS.

Consumer Behavior↗

The effects of recall on estimating annual nonfatal injury rates for children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: This study used a recent national population survey on childhood and adolescent non-fatal injuries to investigate the effects of recall bias on estimating annual injury rates. Strategies to adjust for recall bias are recommended. METHODS: The 1988 Child Health Supplement to the National Health Interview Survey collected 12-month recall information on injuries that occurred to a national sample of 17,110 children aged 0 through 17 years. Using information on timing of interviews and reported injuries, estimated annual injury rates were calculated for 12 accumulative recall periods (from 1 to 12 months). RESULTS: The data show significantly declining rates, from 24.4 per 100 for a 1-month recall period to 14.7 per 100 for a 12-month recall period. The largest declines were found for the 0- through 4-year-old age group and for minor injuries. Rates of injuries that caused a school loss day, a bed day, surgery, or hospitalization showed higher stability throughout recall periods. CONCLUSIONS: Varying recall periods have profound effects on the patterns of childhood injury epidemiology that emerge from the data. Recall periods of between 1 and 3 months are recommended for use in similar survey settings.

Adolescent↗

Efficacy of part- and full-time early intervention.

The effectiveness of an early intervention program to remediate developmental delays in children age birth to 3 years was examined in part- and full-time groups (Study 1). Significant improvements on age-appropriate measures of developmental standing were observed for both groups, with the greatest gains observed for the full-time group. In Study 2, the stress of parents with developmentally delayed children was measured on the Parental Stress Inventory. Reductions in stress related to children's characteristics and dysfunctional parenting skills were observed on some subscales, supporting prior research which indicated extension of the outcomes of early intervention beyond the child was desirable.

Child, Preschool↗

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) measures of brain function in schizophrenia.

This study explores SPECT measured in schizophrenic patients at rest. Left temporal lobe activity was found to be decreased with increasing positive symptoms' scores scores. Medicated patients showed a reversal of this pattern underlying this positive symptom effect. Patients with a recent history of auditory hallucinations showed an atypical right temporal lobe dominance, which occurred independently of medication status. These preliminary data are suggestive of the potential utility of SPECT to elucidate symptom/medication/brain activity interrelationships in schizophrenia.

Antipsychotic Agents↗

Women's protective sexual behaviors: a test of the health belief model.

Heterosexual transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has become a significant health issue for women. The present study describes the extent to which a sample of women from an urban area report making efforts to protect themselves from becoming infected with HIV through several protective sexual behaviors. Secondly, we assess the extent to which adoption of these protective behaviors can be explained by health beliefs and previous HIV testing. Forty-nine percent of the sample reported having used a condom in the past year because of fear of AIDS and 48% reported having carried condoms. Women in this sample perceived themselves to be moderately susceptible to AIDS and they were well aware of the severity of the disease. Women tended to think that protecting themselves from AIDS would not be overly burdensome and that the recommended sexual protective behaviors were highly effective for preventing AIDS. Messages about the severity of AIDS and the effectiveness of protective sexual behaviors seem to be reaching women. Beliefs about personal susceptibility were consistently associated with the adoption of multiple protective behaviors, suggesting that messages emphasizing the ubiquity of risk, especially in demographically high-risk populations, may be particularly appropriate and effective.

Adult↗

Prosimian MHC-DQB allelic polymorphisms.

In this report the first description of MHC-DQB homologues in prosimians, the lemurs (Lemur fulvus sanfordi) and galagos (Galago garnetti and G. senegalensis moholi), is presented. In these species the class II alleles are similar to their human counterparts, in that the number and position of substitutions are analogous to the substitutions among various human DQB alleles. Presence of allelic variants for both DQB1 and DQB2 in all three species of prosimians studied suggests that the divergence of DQB1-DQB2 allelic lineages predates the divergence of human and prosimian lineages. The DQB2-like sequences from both species of the Galago seem more distant to human DQB2, and somewhat distant to that of the lemur DQB2 and bear numerous species-specific substitutions. It is not clear whether these DQB2-like alleles belong to a third DQB locus or are a true homologue of the contemporary HLA-DQB2 locus.

Alleles↗

Sophomore medical students as substance abuse prevention teachers.

Medical education should emphasize health promotion and disease prevention and should offer educational experiences that require students to be active, independent learners and problem solvers. The purpose of this project was to enable sophomore medical students to apply their own innovative methods of instruction to a program for adolescent substance abuse prevention. Medical students developed and taught a school-based prevention program to 36 middle school students who represented a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds and abilities. They used demonstrations, role-playing, and drug abuse prevention commercials created by the adolescents for their peers. Medical students kept weekly journals to record their thoughts about and activities used in teaching substance abuse prevention to adolescents. The journals revealed an increased understanding of adolescent thinking and behavior and an increased confidence in teaching substance abuse prevention to adolescents.

Adolescent↗