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Biomedical subjects

J Henry

Publications and source records attributed to J Henry.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

The biochemically and immunologically distinct CSPG of notochord is a product of the aggrecan gene.

Using the monoclonal antibody S103L, which reacts specifically with an epitope in the chondroitin sulfate-rich domain of the chick cartilage chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) core protein, we have identified the predominant CSPG expressed by notochord. This large notochord CSPG is first detected immunohistochemically as early as stage 16, long before chondrogenesis occurs, and is expressed continuously during the time of active neural crest migration and through the onset of sclerotomal differentiation. Because of the cross-reactivity of both notochord and cartilage CSPGs with the S103L antibody, extensive molecular and biochemical analysis of the two CSPGs was carried out. Striking differences distinguish the notochord and cartilage (aggrecan) CSPGs at the level of posttranslational modification. Notably, cartilage aggrecan carries a significant content of keratan sulfate (KS) chains, while the notochord CSPG is devoid of KS. In contrast, cartilage aggrecan lacks the HNK-1 epitope, while the notochord CSPG has a high content of HNK-1. Three different approaches were used to establish the relationship of the two CSPGs at the molecular level. Northern blot analysis, using aggrecan probes, detected same-sized messages from notochord and cartilage RNA. Overlapping fragments, generated by RT-PCR using primers covering 98% of the entire coding sequence from the known cartilage structure, were of identical size in notochord and cartilage. Taking advantage of our recent studies, which demonstrated a single base change in the aggrecan gene resulting in conversion of Glu to a STOP codon in exon 12 of chick aggrecan as the molecular basis of the defect nanomelia, we demonstrated that the same mutation was present in notochord mRNA from nanomelic chicks. These results provide evidence that the chick aggrecan gene is expressed very early in development in notochord and confirm that the core proteins expressed in chick notochord and cartilage are derived from the same gene. These findings strongly support the hypothesis that the final structural characteristics of each proteoglycan are determined not only by the core protein but also by tissue-specific, developmentally regulated posttranslational mechanisms, functioning within the context of the requirement for specific extracellular matrices.

Aggrecans↗
PubMed1995

Up-regulation of TNF alpha mRNA in the rat spleen following induction of acute pancreatitis.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) is postulated to be a mediator of the systemic complications associated with acute pancreatitis. Neutralization of TNF alpha with monoclonal antibody ameliorates the morbidity and mortality associated with acute pancreatitis in a rat model. Although high levels of TNF alpha are measurable in peripheral blood in acute pancreatitis, specific sites of TNF alpha production in this disease have not been described. In this study we show that induction of pancreatitis causes up-regulation of TNF alpha messenger RNA (mRNA) at a distant organ site, the spleen. Hemisplenectomies were performed in male Sprague-Dawley rats prior to induction of pancreatitis by pancreatic duct infusion of artificial bile. Completion hemisplenectomies were then performed at 30 min, 1 hr, and 2 hr after pancreatitis induction. Quantitation of TNF alpha mRNA in the hemispleens before and after pancreatitis using a semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction method revealed an 80-fold increase in amount of TNF alpha mRNA by 2 hr after induction of pancreatitis. By contrast, control rats receiving a sham operation showed no significant increase in TNF alpha mRNA expression after infusion of the pancreatic duct with saline. The increase in TNF alpha mRNA production was associated with increased serum TNF alpha product levels and was independent of endotoxin. We conclude that severe acute pancreatitis in the rat model is associated with significant up-regulation of TNF alpha mRNA in splenic mononuclear cells. These data provide evidence that the local events of acute pancreatitis can induce up-regulation of TNF alpha mRNA at a distant site and suggest a possible mechanism of pathogenesis of the systemic manifestations of this disease.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1995

Enterococcal arthritis: case report and review.

We report a case of septic arthritis due to Enterococcus species and review 18 additional cases reported in the literature from 1966 through 1993 for which clinical or treatment data were available. In 11 of the 19 cases, prosthetic joints were affected (9 knees, 2 hips) and in 8 cases, native joints were affected. Of those patients with prosthetic joint infections, 6 had preexisting osteoarthritis and 3 had rheumatoid arthritis; only one patient with native joint infection had a recognized (although unspecified), preexisting joint abnormality. Pain, fever (temperature, > 37 degrees C), and tenderness were the most common clinical findings in patients with native joint infections. The microbiological diagnosis was made by culture of synovial fluid or synovial tissue (16 of 19), blood (1 of 19), or an unstated specimen (2 of 19). Polymicrobial infection was present in 6 (32%) of 19 patients. Of fourteen patients treated with either a parenteral penicillin (11 of 19) or a glycopeptide (3 of 19), 11 made an uncomplicated recovery. An aminoglycoside was also used to treat 7 of these 14 patients (4 of these 7 had prosthetic joints). All 11 prosthetic joint infections were ultimately clinically cured; for most of these patients, the original prosthesis was removed. For two patients with native joint infections, amputation of the infected limb was necessary to cure the infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Trypsinogen and other pancreatic enzymes in patients with renal disease: a comparison of high-efficiency hemodialysis and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Although serum amylase and lipase levels have been studied extensively in patients with renal disease, there are fewer data regarding trypsinogen levels in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) treated with different dialytic modalities. We therefore evaluated the blood concentrations of trypsinogen, amylase, and lipase in asymptomatic patients with chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) and ESRD, to determine whether treatment modality or renal handling of these enzymes is important in determining steady-state levels in asymptomatic patients with chronic renal disease. Mean trypsinogen concentration levels were higher in hemodialysis (HD) patients and patients with CRI compared with normal subjects when values in the different groups were compared. There was no difference in the mean trypsinogen levels between patients treated with HD and those with CRI, between patients treated with chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and those treated with HD, or between CAPD patients and patients with CRI. The mean circulating trypsinogen concentration was elevated more frequently and to a higher level than amylase or lipase in patients with CRI and ESRD. HD treatment did not result in a lowering of mean circulating pancreatic enzyme levels. We propose that decreased peripheral clearance, pancreatic overproduction, increased release from the pancreas, or a combination of these mechanisms is responsible, at least in part, for the increased plasma concentration of trypsinogen in patients with CRI, rather than simply a decrease in renal clearance.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Discrimination between temperature- and brefeldin A-sensitive steps in the sulfation, phosphorylation, and cleavage of progastrin and its derivatives.

Maturation of the acid-stimulating hormone gastrin involves precursor cleavage, tyrosine sulfation, serine phosphorylation, and COOH-terminal amidation. We have used brefeldin A and incubation at 22 degrees C to determine where and when these modifications occur. Immunogold studies of gastrin cells incubated at 22 degrees C revealed swollen Golgi cisternae, the terminal regions of which were associated with an accumulation of progastrin immunoreactivity. At 22 degrees C, [3H]tyrosine and [35S]sulfate were incorporated into progastrin, but Arg94-Arg95 cleavage, and Ser96 phosphorylation, were inhibited. When pulse labeling at 22 degrees C for 120 min was followed by a chase at 37 degrees C, [35S]progastrin was cleaved at Arg94-Arg95 with a t1/2 of about 10 min, compared with about 20 min for [3H]progastrin. Approximately 60% of the COOH-terminal cleavage fragment was phosphorylated, but there was little or no incorporation of [32P]phosphate into progastrin. Addition of brefeldin A during the chase substantially inhibited cleavage of [3H]progastrin, but not [35S]progastrin. However, when pulse labeling was limited to 20 min at 22 degrees C, the presence of brefeldin A in a subsequent chase at 37 degrees C completely inhibited cleavage of [35S]progastrin. The data indicate that progastrin sulfation occurs in the trans-Golgi network, exit from which involves passage through first a brefeldin A-sensitive and then a temperature-sensitive step. Cleavage at Arg94-Arg95 and Ser phosphorylation are closely linked, occur distal to the temperature-sensitive step, and are followed by amidation in secretory granules. It is known that mature secretory granules do not phosphorylate progastrin-derived peptides, and so phosphorylation appears to coincides with, and may provide a marker for, delivery of peptide from trans-Golgi work to immature secretory granules in gastrin cells.

Amides↗
PubMed1994

Clinical and immunologic evaluation of HIV-infected patients treated with dinitrochlorobenzene.

BACKGROUND: Promotion of cell-mediated immunity appears to be an important goal in the control of HIV infection. Topical dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) stimulates systemic cell-mediated immunity via the induction of cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity. OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to evaluate the clinical and immunologic effects of chronic DNCB application in a group of 24 HIV-infected patients. METHODS: We observed the patients for a mean of 28 months (range, 14 to 44 months). Of the 24 patients, 13 continued weekly DNCB application throughout the study (the compliant group), and 11 discontinued DNCB use after a mean of 10.9 months (the noncompliant group). RESULTS: Two of the 13 compliant patients progressed to AIDS; none of these patients died. In contrast, AIDS developed in 5 of the 11 noncompliant patients and four of these patients died. Analysis of lymphocyte subsets revealed significant increases in natural killer cells and activated/cytotoxic CD8 T-cell subsets in the compliant group. In contrast, these cellular immune-related lymphocyte subsets decreased in the noncompliant subjects. Although CD4 T-cell levels decreased in both groups, there was a significantly greater drop in the noncompliant patients. CD8+CD38+ T cells increased significantly in both groups. CONCLUSION: Chronic DNCB application appears to have a beneficial clinical and immunomodulatory effect in HIV-infected patients.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1994

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: meta-analysis of discontinuation rates.

A meta-analysis was carried out of 42 published randomized controlled studies comparing the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) with the tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) that measured discontinuation rates for side effects and lack of efficacy by treatment group in order to compare the discontinuation rates for side effects and lack of efficacy. These discontinuation rates were pooled to produce the main outcome measure. Seven studies were placebo controlled and the discontinuation rates in these studies were also pooled in a separate analysis. Significantly fewer patients receiving SSRIs discontinued treatment because of side effects (14.9%) compared with those receiving TCAs (19%) (p < 0.01). There was also a significant difference in discontinuation rates due to side effects in the placebo- and TCA-controlled studies analysed separately, SSRIs (19%) compared with TCAs (27%) (p < 0.01). In both analyses a similar proportion of patients discontinued for lack of efficacy on SSRIs and TCAs. There is a significant and clinically important advantage for the SSRIs compared with the TCAs in the acceptability of treatment measured by the number of discontinuations due to side effects reported in published studies. The risk-benefit calculation favours the SSRIs since there were similar levels of efficacy but more discontinuations with the TCAs. The selection of an antidepressant for first-line treatment requires critical evaluation of the full risk-benefit equation.

Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic↗
PubMed1993

Experimental evidence of a dual endocrine control of biosynthesis in the main nidamental glands of Sepia officinalis L. by factors from the central nervous system and the ovary.

1. A rapid, reliable and quantitative in vitro bioassay was developed to study the endocrine control of the biosynthesis of the egg capsule: incorporation of 14C-labelled D-glucose in polysaccharides and glycoproteins increased in dispersed-cell suspensions of main nidamental glands from maturing females. 2. Brain, optic lobes (OL) and ovary extracts from mature and maturing females stimulated the incorporation of 14C-labelled D-glucose in polysaccharidic and glycoproteic fractions of a nidamental cell suspension, whereas optic gland (OG) had no effect. 3. These results bring the first experimental evidence that one of the spawning events (egg-capsule edification) is controlled by the central nervous system and the ovary in a cephalopod.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Ipecacuanha-induced emesis: a human model for testing antiemetic drug activity.

In a double-blind, randomized, parallel-group study, five groups of 10 healthy men received single 5-minute infusions of 8 mg, 4 mg, 1 mg, 0.25 mg, or 0.1 mg ondansetron (as hydrochloride dihydrate) 30 minutes before oral administration of 30 ml syrup of ipecacuanha. Emetic episodes and nausea (100 mm visual analog scale) were assessed over an 8-hour period. There were no emetic episodes after 8 or 4 mg ondansetron. Seven, nine, and 10 subjects vomited after 1 mg, 0.25 mg and 0.1 mg ondansetron, respectively, with median times to onset of 62, 31, and 37 minutes. Median peak nausea scores were 0 mm for both 8 and 4 mg ondansetron and 30, 53, and 26 mm for 1, 0.25, and 0.1 mg ondansetron. Adverse events were mild. This model showed a close correlation with clinically effective doses of ondansetron. It may be successfully and safely used to assess the antiemetic potential of 5-HT3-receptor antagonists in healthy subjects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

The development of the Separation Anxiety Symptom Inventory (SASI).

Separation anxiety continues to be implicated as an early risk factor to adult emotional disorder but recent research findings are somewhat contradictory. Inconsistencies in approaches to measuring memories of early separation anxiety may have contributed to this lack of clarity. We report the development of a brief self-report instrument, the Separation Anxiety Symptom Inventory (SASI), which was designed to overcome some of these deficiencies in measurement. The SASI was shown to have a coherent factorial structure, high internal consistency (Cronbach's Alpha > .80) and test-retest reliability over an average of 24 months (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient = .89), with serial scores not being affected by changes in contemporaneous anxiety levels. Some index of the validity of the measure was achieved by (a) comparing SASI scores of index twins with descriptors of their "insecure" behaviours in early life provided by corresponding co-twins; (b) comparing SASI scores with retrospective DSM III-R diagnoses of early anxiety disorders obtained by structured interviews; and (c) examining SASI scores in subjects with histories of school refusal. The SASI provides a useful standardised measure which will aid in the further testing of the separation anxiety hypothesis of adult emotional disorder.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Training nursing staff in airway management for resuscitation. A clinical comparison of the facemask and laryngeal mask.

The place of the laryngeal mask in emergency airway management by nonanaesthetists has yet to be established. We have compared the tidal volume achieved by nurses during hand ventilation using standard resuscitation equipment with a facemask, with or without a Guedel airway, and following placement of a laryngeal mask in the same patients. The tidal volumes measured while using the laryngeal mask were significantly greater (p < 0.01) than those measured during facemask ventilation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Compliance with allergen immunotherapy.

Immunotherapy has been used for the treatment of allergic rhinitis since the turn of this century. The purpose of this study was to assess the compliance with immunotherapy in a medical center. The charts of 315 patients aged 5 to 18 years, who were prescribed immunotherapy for treatment of allergic rhinitis for at least 1 year before the study, were selected by computer and reviewed. The first analysis consisted of using a log-linear analysis in order to investigate the relationship between source of payment (private or nonprivate), gender, and race. All main effects and interactions were entered into the model (P < .01). The second analysis consisted of using a log-linear analysis to investigate the relationship between the presence/absence of pollen, mold, mite, and animal IgE antibodies, and compliance (model, P < .05). Two hundred fifty-eight patients were private and 57 were nonprivate. Fifty-nine percent (n = 152) of private patients and 46% (n = 26) of nonprivate patients were compliant. Of the 315 patients with allergic rhinitis, 52 also had asthma and 34 had atopic dermatitis. Sixty-one percent of the asthmatic patients and 47% with atopic dermatitis were compliant. Compliance was not increased by the number of allergens to which a patient was allergic. Males were slightly more compliant than females, caucasians were more often private patients and non-whites were more often nonprivate patients. Private patients were more complaint with immunotherapy than nonprivate patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Molecular cloning of the pheromone biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide in Helicoverpa zea.

Pheromone biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide (PBAN) regulates sex pheromone biosynthesis in female Helicoverpa (Heliothis) zea. Two oligonucleotide probes representing two overlapping amino acid regions of PBAN were used to screen 2.5 x 10(5) recombinant plaques, and a positive recombinant clone was isolated. Sequence analysis of the isolated clone showed that the PBAN gene is interrupted after the codon encoding amino acid 14 by a 0.63-kilobase (kb) intron. Preceding the PBAN amino acid sequence is a 10-amino acid sequence containing a pentapeptide Phe-Thr-Pro-Arg-Leu, which is followed by a Gly-Arg-Arg processing site. Immediately after the PBAN amino acid sequence is a Gly-Arg processing site and a short stretch of 10 amino acids. This 10-amino acid sequence contains a repeat of the PBAN C-terminal pentapeptide Phe-Ser-Pro-Arg-Leu and is terminated by another Gly-Arg processing site. It is suggested that the PBAN gene in H. zea might carry, besides PBAN, a 7- and an 8-residue amidated peptide, which share with PBAN the core C-terminal pentapeptide Phe-(Ser or Thr)-Pro-Arg-Leu-NH2. The C-terminal pentapeptide sequence of PBAN represents the minimum sequence required for pheromonotropic activity in H. zea and also bears a high degree of homology to the pyrokinin family of insect peptides with myotropic activity. It is possible that the putative heptapeptide and octapeptide might be new members of the pyrokinin family, with pheromonotropic and/or myotropic activities. Thus, the PBAN gene products, besides affecting sexual behavior, might have broad influence on many biological processes in H. zea.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Transforming growth factor-alpha and epidermal growth factor messenger ribonucleic acid and protein levels in human placentas from early, mid, and late gestation.

OBJECTIVE: Human placenta expresses receptors for transforming growth factor-alpha and epidermal growth factor throughout pregnancy. Experiments were performed to determine whether epidermal growth factor or transforming growth factor-alpha might be synthesized by placental cells and act through an autocrine mechanism to influence functioning of placental cells in vivo. STUDY DESIGN: Human placentas from early, mid, and late gestations were analyzed for transforming growth factor-alpha and epidermal growth factor messenger ribonucleic acid and proteins. Polyadenylic acid-positive ribonucleic acid was isolated from placentas from 10, 11, 13, 21, 32, 38, 39, and 40 weeks of gestation and analyzed by Northern analysis for hybridization with complementary deoxyribonucleic acid probes specific for epidermal growth factor or transforming growth factor-alpha. Levels of immunoreactive epidermal growth factor and transforming growth factor-alpha were measured by specific radioimmunoassays in pools of placentas from early, mid, and late gestations, and levels of epidermal growth factor and transforming growth factor-alpha receptor-active protein were measured by radioreceptor assay. RESULTS: All placentas had a strong transforming growth factor-alpha hybridization band at 4.5 kb and a weak epidermal growth factor hybridization band at 5.2 kb. High levels of transforming growth factor-alpha immunoreactive protein (90 to 180 ng/mg protein) and low levels of immunoreactive epidermal growth factor (3 to 9 pg/mg protein) were detected in pools of placentas from early, mid, and late gestations. High levels of epidermal growth factor and transforming growth factor-alpha receptor-active protein (250 ng/mg protein) were also detected. CONCLUSION: Human placentas contain relatively high levels of immunoreactive and receptor-active transforming growth factor-alpha, as well as transforming growth factor-alpha messenger ribonucleic acid, throughout gestation. This finding suggests that transforming growth factor-alpha may act by an autocrine system to influence human placental cell function in vivo.

Blotting, Northern↗