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Biomedical subjects

J Kowalski

Publications and source records attributed to J Kowalski.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

A human promyelocyte mRNA transiently induced by TPA is homologous to yeast IPP isomerase.

A cDNA clone was isolated from HL60 human promyelocyte cells on the basis of the induction of its cognate mRNA by the phorbol ester TPA (12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate) in the presence of cycloheximide. Northern analysis showed a peak of induction of a 1.9-kb mRNA at 3-6 h after TPA addition. Sequence analysis revealed that this cDNA was likely a human homolog of yeast isopentenyl diphosphate:dimethylallyl diphosphate isomerase, an enzyme important for isoprenoid synthesis and the prenylation of proteins such as ras p21.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

The effect of short-term myocardial ischemia on the expression of adhesion molecules and the oxidative burst of coronary sinus blood neutrophils.

We examined the influence of transient myocardial ischemia on the number and function of neutrophils in patients with effort angina (EA). We tested fluorometrically the expression of neutrophil membrane molecules (CD11b, CD11c, CD18) and neutrophil oxidative burst using a chemiluminescence (CL) generation system. The estimations were conducted before, 1 min after and 20 min after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in 15 patients qualified for the treatment because of single-vessel disease. Eight EA patients subjected to coronary arteriography (CA) comprised a control group. We did not observe any marked changes in leucocytosis or lymphocyte number in peripheral blood (PB) or in coronary sinus blood (CSB) after the procedure. The percentage of granulocytes in coronary blood decreased significantly 20 min after reperfusion. No significant changes in white blood cell count were noted in peripheral blood of PTCA patients or in control CA subjects. Oxidative burst of nonstimulated and fMLP, PMA and zymosan stimulated sinus blood neutrophils was significantly depressed 1 min after inflation, and enhanced 20 min after reperfusion. We found a significant increase in the percentage of the CD11c+ neutrophils from 56.7 +/- 7.4% to 64 +/- 6.5% 20 min after inflation and postischemic decrease in the CD11c molecule expression on CSB neutrophils. Significant positive linear correlation (Rval = 0.71) between inflation time and the CD11c molecule expression on CSB immediately after reperfusion was also noted. The results may reflect local activation of neutrophils in ischemic myocardium as a response to ischemia induced increase of activating stimuli.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗
PubMed1994

A subunit gIV vaccine, produced by transfected mammalian cells in culture, induces mucosal immunity against bovine herpesvirus-1 in cattle.

A truncated version of bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) glycoprotein IV (tgIV) was produced in a novel, non-destructive expression system based upon regulation of gene expression by the bovine heat-shock protein 70A (hsp70) gene promoter in Madin Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells. In this system, up to 20 micrograms ml-1 of secreted tgIV, which is equivalent to the yield from 4 x 10(6) cells, was produced daily over a period of up to 18 days. Different doses of tgIV were injected intramuscularly into seronegative calves. Virus-neutralizing antibodies were induced by all doses of tgIV, both in the serum and in the nasal superficial mucosa. However, the low dose (2.3 micrograms) induced significantly (p < 0.05) lower antibody titres than the medium (7 micrograms) and high (21 micrograms) doses. The medium and high doses of tgIV conferred protection from BHV-1 infection, as demonstrated by a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in clinical signs of respiratory disease and virus shedding in the nasal secretions postchallenge. However, the 2.3 micrograms group, although partially protected, was not significantly (p > 0.05) different from the placebo group. This study demonstrated the potential of an intramuscularly administered tgIV subunit vaccine to induce mucosal immunity to BHV-1 using an economic protein production system and an acceptable vaccine formulation. In addition, a strong correlation was observed between neutralizing antibodies in the serum and nasal superficial mucosa, virus shedding and clinical disease. Thus, serum neutralizing antibody levels in tgIV-immunized animals may be a good prognosticator of protection from BHV-1 infection and disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Materials managers earn their grades from hospital execs.

The 1994 Survey on CEO/CFO Satisfaction With and Expectations for Hospital Materials Management provides an inside look at how hospital executives size up their materials management departments. The survey of 143 hospital CEOs and CFOs conducted by Kowalski-Dickow Associates, a materials management consulting firm based in Milwaukee, sheds light on executives' perceptions of the performance, characteristics and future of materials management. Materials managers can use the information to begin--or enhance--communications with senior management. The study was completed in cooperation with the American Society for Healthcare Materials Management and Materials Management in Health Care. Funding for the survey was provided by the American Sterilizer Company (AMSCO), Erie, PA; General Medical Corp., Richmond, VA; Kimberly-Clark, Roswell, GA; Milcare/Herman Miller, Zeeland, MI; and Owens & Minor, Glen Allen, VA.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1994

[On the determination of brain death].

In a prospective study of 20 cases of brain-stem death, EEG and TCD studies were correlated with clinical findings. We suggest that TCD can be incorporated into institutional protocols as a rapid and useful technique for confirmation of brain death. Our observations underline the need for electrophysiological confirmation (evoked potentials) of brain-stem death in patients with primary infratentorial lesions.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Examination of lung function and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in patients with left ventricular insufficiency during the course of mitral valve disease].

We performed lung function tests and measurement of unspecific BHR to histamine in 28 patients with left heart insufficiency in the course of mitral valve disease. The patients were divided into two groups: Group I--persons qualified to mitral valve replacement, Group II--patients with restenosis after previous commissurotomy or never qualified to the operative treatment. We found any statistic significant differences in lung function parameters between both groups. We found an increase in BHR in almost all patients; BHR was markedly higher in the group II (p < 0.001). BHR did not correlate with lung function but a degree of correlation was found between BHR and the patients age.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Influence of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) on superoxide anion generation by whole blood granulocytes in patients with unstable angina pectoris (part I)].

In twenty patients with unstable angina, the effects of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) on superoxide anion generation by neutrophils (PMNs) obtained from ulnar vein (UV) and coronary sinus (CS) were investigated. Blood samples for the investigations were taken from CS just before the procedure, within the first minute after the last balloon inflation and 20 minutes after PTCA; from BV--just before the procedure and 20 minutes following it. The results were compared with those obtained from 12 patients with unstable angina, (in whom coronary angiography was performed, but for various reasons angioplasty was desisted from) and with those obtained from 20 clinically healthy persons. In patients with unstable angina, the significantly increased O2.- generation by PMNs from CS and BV was found at rest as well as following opsonized-zymosan stimulation, compared with healthy persons. Within the first minute after PTCA, the significantly decreased O2.- generation by PMNs from CS was observed, compared with the results before the procedure (rest.--11.29 +/- 0.73 and 10.15 +/- 0.65 nmol/cell/min., p < 0.05; stimulation--27.62 +/- 6.25 and 18.54 +/- 3.37 nmol/cell/min., p < 0.05). Twenty minutes after PTCA O2.- generation by PMNs from CS still decreased (rest--9.23 +/- 1.08 nmol/cell/min., stimulation--15.71 +/- 5.98 nmol/cell/min.). In blood samples taken from BV before and after PTCA, no statistically significant differences in O2.- generation were observed (rest--11.32 +/- 0.79 nmol/cell/min. and 10.77 +/- 1.43 nmol/cell/min.; stimulation--25.96 +/- 6.12 nmol/cell/min. and 21.15 +/- 5.47 nmol/cell/min.).

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Influence of PTCA on neutrophil aggregation in patients with unstable angina pectoris (part II)].

In twenty patients with unstable angina, the effects of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) on aggregation of neutrophils (PMNs) obtained from coronary sinus (CS) and basilic vein (BV) were investigated. Blood samples for the investigations were taken from CS just before the procedure, within the first minute after the last balloon inflation and 20 minutes after PTCA; from BV--just before and 20 minutes after the procedure. The results were compared with those obtained from 12 patients with unstable angina (in whom coronary angiography was performed, but for various reasons angioplasty was desisted from) and with those obtained from 20 clinically healthy persons. In patients with unstable angina the significantly higher percent of aggregated PMNs from CS as well as from BV was found, compared with healthy persons. Within the first minute after the procedure, the significantly increased percentage of aggregated PMNs from CS compared with the results before the procedure, was observed (10.50 +/- 4.06% and 18.36 +/- 7.69%, p < 0.05), but 20 minutes after, the value of the investigated parameter decreased to 5.88 +/- 2.86% and was similar to that in healthy persons. One minute after the procedure, in patients in whom PTCA was performed, the significantly decreased PMNs number in the blood obtained from CS was found, compared with the results before PTCA (4295 +/- 840 and 3850 +/- 825; p < 0.05). Twenty minutes after the procedure no further decrease of PMNs number was observed. In patients with or without PTCA no changes in the number and aggregation of PMNs obtained from BV were observed.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

PMC Patient Severity Scale: derivation and validation.

OBJECTIVE: This study describes the derivation and validation of the Patient Management Category (PMC) Severity Scale, which provides a method of assessing the overall severity of a hospitalized patient's illnesses, based on the patient's unique clinical conditions, their interaction, and the resultant, combined risk of morbidity and mortality. DATA SOURCES: Derivation of the PMC Severity Scale was based on clinical judgment together with empirical analysis of more than a half million patients discharged from acute care hospitals in Maryland during 1989. The scale was validated by using two distinct calendar years (1988 and 1990) of patients data from the same Maryland hospitals and a six-month patient database from California (1990). STUDY DESIGN: The PMC Severity Scale is an ordinal scale with seven levels: Level 7 represents the greatest likelihood of death and major disease burden. The scale quantifies the severity of each of the patient's disease(s) and accounts for the effect of all coexisting conditions and complications. DATA EXTRACTION METHODS: Publicly available, statewide all-payer claims databases were acquired from Maryland and California. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The independent relationships between the PMC Severity Scale with mortality and with length of stay are statistically different across severity levels within each population tested, but the relationships are statistically similar over time. Further, the PMC Severity Scale was determined to be a stable predictor of mortality and LOS across two diverse geographic regions. CONCLUSIONS: Since the severity of a patient's illness is one of the factors that influences the outcomes of care, the PMC Severity Scale can be used successfully as a risk adjustment tool in a variety of quality applications.

California↗
PubMed1993

Heat-shock promoter-driven synthesis of secreted bovine herpesvirus glycoproteins in transfected cells.

The bovine hsp70A heat-shock gene promoter was isolated and used to direct the heat-regulated synthesis of bovine herpesvirus glycoproteins gIII and gIV in transfected cultured bovine cells. Sequences encoding the viral glycoproteins incorporated mutations that deleted the transmembrane anchors. Both proteins were efficiently secreted from transfected cells in a temperature-dependent manner and the gIV so produced was found to be antigenically similar to the authentic molecule. Stable cell lines with regulated expression of these proteins were obtained and repeated thermal cycling of the cultures enabled high-yield production of these subunit vaccine antigens. The continuous production demonstrated by this system is highly relevant to the efficient and economic manufacture of vaccines and other protein biopharmaceuticals.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Role of N-linked glycans in antigenicity, processing, and cell surface expression of bovine herpesvirus 1 glycoprotein gIV.

Glycoprotein gIV, a structural component of bovine herpesvirus type 1, stimulates high titers of virus-neutralizing antibody. The protein contains three potential sites for the addition of N-linked carbohydrates. Three mutants were constructed by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis, in each case changing one N-linked glycosylation site from Asn-X-Thr/Ser to Ser-X-Thr/Ser. A fourth mutant was altered at two sites. The altered forms of the gIV gene were cloned into a vaccinia virus transfer vector to generate recombinant vaccinia viruses expressing mutant proteins. Analysis of these mutants revealed that only two (residues 41 and 102) of the three (residues 41, 102, and 411) potential sites for the addition of N-linked glycans are actually utilized. Absence of glycans at residue 41 (gN1) showed no significant effect on the conformation of the protein or induction of a serum neutralizing antibody response. However, mutant proteins lacking glycans at residue 102 (gN2) or residues 41 and 102 (gN1N2) showed altered reactivity with conformation-dependent gIV-specific monoclonal antibodies. These mutants also induced significantly lower serum neutralizing antibody responses than wild-type gIV. Nonetheless, each of the mutant proteins were modified by the addition of O-glycans and transported to the cell surface. Our results demonstrate that absence of N-linked glycans at one (residue 102) or both (residues 41 and 102) utilized N-linked glycosylation sites alters the conformation but does not prevent processing and transport of gIV to the cell surface.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Expression of glycoprotein gIII-human decay-accelerating factor chimera on the bovine herpesvirus 1 virion via a glycosyl phosphatidylinositol-based membrane anchor.

Mutants of bovine herpesvirus 1 that express a truncated envelope glycoprotein gIII or a gIII-human decay-accelerating factor (hDAF) chimeric protein (gIII.hDAF) were employed to evaluate the function of the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of the gIII molecule. Truncated gIII (i.e., lacking the transmembrane and cytoplasmic region) was readily released from infected cells and was not detected on mature virus particles. In contrast, replacement of the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains with the carboxyl-terminal portion of hDAF restored the expression of gIII on the membranes of infected cells as well as on virion surfaces. The presence of the gIII.hDAF chimera on virus particles was also associated with normal gIII function, i.e., the mediation of virus attachment and penetration. The gIII-hDAF chimera, which is present on both infected cell surfaces and virions, could be cleaved by a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C, indicating that it was anchored in the membrane via glycosyl phosphatidylinositol. Our results from this study suggest that the transmembrane and cytoplasmic regions of the gIII molecule serve as a general membrane anchor, but they do not contain structural signals required for the specific assembly of envelope proteins into mature virions.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Impairment of bronchial reactivity in patients with diabetes mellitus type I].

Bronchial provocation tests (histamine and acetylcholine) were performed in 40 subjects (30 of them with type 1 diabetes, and 10 healthy volunteers) without any history of respiratory disease, not smoking and not taking any bronchodilating drugs. Bronchial reactivity was assessed using PC20 estimated spirographically by measuring FEV1. The patients were classified into three groups according to the duration of the disease: group I (0-7 yrs), group II (8-15), and group III (> 15). In all the three groups diabetes was at a similar degree of compensation, as evaluated by the mean circadian glycaemia, serum fructosamine and the Schlichtkrull Mw index. Bronchial reactivity to acetylcholine and histamine decreased with diabetes duration. Reaction to acetylcholine was statistically lower after 7 years of diabetes. An autonomic neuropathy was detected within the respiratory system, parallel to tachycardia at rest, alteration of the Valsalva test and orthostatic hypotension.

Adult↗