Protein phosphorylation at serine and threonine residues has been implicated in the regulation of many cellular processes. More recently, tyrosine residue phosphorylation has been shown to be associated with stimulation of cell proliferation, including viral transformation and stimulation by epidermal growth factors (EGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and other compounds related to cellular growth such as insulin and dimethyl sulphoxide. To compare protein kinases and phosphoproteins of normal and leukaemic human haematopoietic cells in vivo and in vitro, we first have investigated the percentages of phosphoserine, phosphothreonine and phosphotyrosine obtained after hydrolysis of proteins from different blood cell fractions phosphorylated in vitro. We report here that phosphotyrosine formed less than 1% of the soluble fractions from polymorphonuclear cells, mononuclear cells (80% circulating lymphocytes, 20% monocytes), blood platelets and red blood cells (not shown). Surprisingly, high percentages of phosphorylated tyrosine were found only in the particulate fractions from non-proliferating anuclear cells, platelets and red blood cells.

Blood Cells↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Medical assessment of children going into emergency out-of-home placement.

Approximately 500,000 children and infants go into out-of-home placement in the United States each year. Increased attention is being given to the health care of children as they enter and remain in placement. This article describes a model, which has been in operation for 5 years, that provides medical assessments of children as they enter emergency out-of-home placement. The model is a community partnership with the county social service department, the police department, and the hospital. A computerized database that contains records for each child, including medical findings, has been helpful in developing a profile of the children served and contributes to continuity of care.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Modifications of phosphoproteins and protein kinases occurring with in vitro aging of cultured human cells.

We have studied the age-related modifications of endogenous phosphorylations and protein kinases in seven different strains of cultured human cells (two fibroblastic and five human liver-derived strains). Endogenous phosphorylation of phosphopeptides by cells incubated in the presence of [32P]orthophosphate constantly changed with aging; these modifications could not be explained only by loss of replicative capacity of these cells. Total casein and phosvitin kinase activity did not change in the course of in vitro cell aging. Gel filtration chromatography and autophosphorylation of partially purified kinase preparations, however, seemed to indicate some age-related modifications of protein kinases. Electrophoresis of active enzymes demonstrated that some histone/protamine kinases decreased with aging while a new 3':5'-cyclic AMP-independent histone kinase band appeared progressively. It is proposed that new protein kinase isozymes could correspond to new genes progressively activated during cell aging and could be closely related to cell senescence and death.

Cell Survival↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with patellar tendon. An ex vivo study of wear-related damage and failure at the femoral tunnel.

Patellar tendon grafts used in the reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament may be subjected to thousands of knee flexion-extension cycles during the early postoperative period. The purpose of this study was to model experimentally the patellar tendon graft wear-related damage and failure at the femoral tunnel during simulated knee motion of 0 degrees to 112 degrees of flexion at 1 cycle/sec. To evaluate the effects of 2 different femoral tunnel orientations, tunnel chamfering, and 3 different graft loads on graft survival, 25 calf femurs and patellar tendons were used. All 5 specimens with a "straight-line" femoral tunnel and an applied load of 5 pounds (22.3 N) survived greater than 125,000 cycles. All 5 of the 5-pound unchamfered transverse tunnel grafts failed at an average of 19,869 cycles, but chamfering transverse tunnels resulted in the survival of 4 of 5 specimens. Decreasing the load to 2 pounds (8.9 N) for transverse unchamfered tunnels increased survival to 1 of 5, and cycles to failure to 75,132. If patellar tendon grafts used to reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament are subjected to large numbers of flexion-extension cycles, the risk of wear-related damage and early failure may be decreased by straight-line femoral tunnel orientation, by chamfering of more transverse tunnels, or by avoiding large graft preloads.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The use of computers in Poison Control Centres.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Computers↗