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Biomedical subjects

J M Friedman

Publications and source records attributed to J M Friedman.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Unaffected carrier males in families with fragile X syndrome.

Males who transmit the fragile X chromosome but are themselves clinically normal have occasionally been observed. We have studied three families segregating the fragile X. In one family, there are three unaffected carrier males, and in each of the other two families, there is one unaffected carrier male. Three of these carrier males were studied cytogenetically, and none exhibited the fra(X)(q27) marker. The occurrence of carrier males and of other unusual genetic features in fragile X families suggest that this condition is not inherited as a standard recessive trait linked to the X chromosome.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Transcriptional and post-transcriptional control of specific messenger RNAs in adult and embryonic liver.

The rate of synthesis and the concentrations of a variety of messenger RNA sequences have been compared between adult mouse liver cells and cells in other adult tissues, and between cells in fetal and neonatal liver. The sequences were distinguished as "liver-specific" or "common" in a previous report, where liver was compared with brain cells and cultured cells. Most of the liver-specific mRNAs are greatly decreased or absent in a large group of other adult mouse tissues. In two cases, kidney shares mRNA sequences with liver. The levels of the common mRNAs varied from two to fivefold in various tissues. For the liver-specific mRNAs, the transcription rates in nuclei from adult tissues and from fetal liver showed a good correspondence to the presence and the level of mRNA. However, most of the common RNA sequences were transcribed at similar rates in all nuclei despite their different cytoplasmic concentrations. In addition, two liver-specific RNAs were transcribed in fetal liver nuclei but were not present as mRNA. Thus, the presence of tissue-specific mRNAs in adult cells is based first (and probably most importantly) on transcriptional control, but several instances were observed where post-transcriptional control also contributes to the level of mRNA.

Aging↗
PubMed1984

Gene expression during liver regeneration.

The concentration of a group of messenger RNAs, some of which are expressed only (or mainly) in the liver and others of which are expressed in all tissues, was examined during liver regeneration. Most of the tissue-specific mRNAs did not change greatly in concentration or in transcription rate, but mRNAs such as actin and tubulin increased by as much as tenfold without an equivalent transcriptional increase. However, the mRNAs for "acute phase" proteins such as serum amyloid A and metallothionine did increase dramatically and increased transcription was easily detected. In addition to these findings, there was no increase in the rate of synthesis of the RNA constituents necessary to make ribosomes, pre-rRNA and mRNA for ribosomal proteins. Thus, the differentiated hepatocyte continues to function as a differentiated cell during the two or so replications necessary for regeneration, and many of the constituents necessary to increase cell mass may be supplied by increased preservation and utilization of transcribed RNAs.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Etiologic heterogeneity of fetal hydrocephalus diagnosed by ultrasound.

Increased use of fetal ultrasound imaging by obstetricians has led to an increased rate of in utero detection of fetal malformations. Eight patients referred for level II sonography for confirmation of suspected fetal hydrocephalus were found to have affected fetuses. Examination of the resulting fetuses and infants revealed remarkable etiologic heterogeneity for the hydrocephalus. The risk for recurrence of hydrocephalus and other malformations in future offspring of these mothers varies from negligible to 25%. This experience emphasizes that there are many causes of fetal hydrocephalus and that careful diagnostic studies must be performed on any fetus or infant found to have hydrocephalus, so that accurate genetic counseling can be provided to the family.

Female↗
PubMed1984

Genetic heterogeneity in spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita.

Two unrelated infants seen for evaluation of short stature at 14 and 27 months, respectively, had clinical and radiographic findings consistent with the diagnosis of spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita (SED congenita). No other anomalies were noted. Both sets of parents were normal, both family histories were unremarkable, and neither couple was consanguineous. Both families were counseled that SED congenita is an autosomal dominant disorder and that sporadic cases probably result from new mutations; a low recurrence risk was given. Both families subsequently produced a second affected child. Our experiences suggest that genocopies of autosomal dominant SED congenita exist that are clinically and radiographically indistinguishable, at least within the first 3 years. Autosomal recessive inheritance seems most likely, although alternative explanations are possible. Genetic heterogeneity should be considered when providing genetic counseling for sporadic SED congenita in young children.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1984

A "new" lethal multiple congenital anomaly syndrome: joint contractures, cerebellar hypoplasia, renal hypoplasia, urogenital anomalies, tongue cysts, shortness of limbs, eye abnormalities, defects of the heart, gallbladder agenesis, and ear malformations.

Three cases of a lethal malformation syndrome with severe visceral anomalies were seen in two families and include one pair of sibs. The predominating external manifestations are mesomelic dwarfism, micrognathia, V-shaped upper lip, microglossia, thick alveolar ridges, ambiguous genitalia, webbed neck, highly arched palate, clubfeet, fused fontanelles, inclusion cysts of the tongue, four-finger creases, digital anomalies, apparently low-set ears, widely spaced nipples, and dislocated thighs and forearms. The internal findings include oligopapillary renal hypoplasia, severe congenital heart defect, cerebellar hypoplasia, pulmonary hypoplasia, hypoplastic larynx, and hypoplastic gallbladder. Other findings from the two autopsies and one clinical investigation not documented in all three patients include unilobar lungs, hydrocephalus, cataracts, microphthalmia, polydactyly, islet cell hyperplasia, suprapubic skin crease, urethral anomalies, and a decreased number of turns of the cochlea. The hypoplasia seen in the several affected organs is similar to the disordered development seen in experimental models of branching epithelial morphogenesis in which mesenchymal-epithelial interaction has been disrupted.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1984

Does Agent Orange cause birth defects?

Large quantities of the defoliant, Agent Orange, were sprayed in Vietnam during the war. Agent Orange was composed of two herbicides: 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T, the latter contaminated by small amounts of a highly toxic dioxin (TCDD). The constituents of Agent Orange are capable of producing gene mutations and chromosomal aberrations, at least in some experimental circumstances. TCDD and 2,4,5-T are teratogenic in mice and perhaps in other mammals, but the teratogenicity of these chemicals has not been convincingly demonstrated in humans. There is currently no scientific evidence which indicates that men who were previously exposed to Agent Orange are at increased risk of having children with birth defects, but available data are inadequate to assess this possibility critically.

2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid↗
PubMed1983

The iron-proximal histidine linkage and protein control of oxygen binding in hemoglobin. A transient Raman study.

Time-resolved Raman studies have shown that communication between the heme oxygen binding sites and the surrounding globin occurs through the iron-proximal histidine linkage. By comparing the frequency of the Fe-His stretching mode in equilibrium deoxy- and photoinduced transient deoxyhemoglobins, we have found that ligand binding induces protein structural changes that strengthen the Fe-His linkage. The extent of this increase is observed to depend upon the quaternary state. This dependence is reflected in the restricted set of values observed in transient and equilibrium studies for the frequency of the Fe-His stretching mode in both R and T state deoxyhemoglobins. For T state hemoglobins the frequency increases from 215 cm-1 to approximately 222 cm-1 in going from the stable to the nanosecond transient deoxy species. The corresponding change for R state human hemoglobins is from approximately 222 cm-1 to approximately 230 cm-1. Studies on transients derived from Fe-Co hybrid hemoglobins reveal no subunit heterogeneity associated with the R state transient (230 cm-1) at high pH. We also observe that perturbations of the protein known to destabilize the structure of ligand-bound R state hemoglobins are associated with a decrease in the frequency of the iron-proximal histidine stretching mode in the corresponding transient species. Such effects can originate from changes in either quaternary state or solution conditions as well as species-specific variations in protein structure. These results indicate that modulation of the Fe-His linkage could be a general mechanism for regulating ligand binding properties in hemoglobin. A direct connection between ligand binding and the Fe-His bond is suggested from our finding that the structural parameter(s) regulating the barrier height for germinate recombination is likely to be the same as the one(s) modulating the frequency of the Fe-His stretching mode in the transient deoxy species. Based on the recent conclusion that the variation in the tilt of histidine with respect to the heme plane is primarily responsible for the spectrum of frequencies observed for the Fe-His stretching mode we have examined a model in which protein regulation of binding occurs via a protein-induced change in the histidine tilt.

Hemoglobins↗
PubMed1983

Metastable species of hemoglobin: room temperature transients and cryogenically trapped intermediates.

Resonance Raman spectra of photolyzed carbonmonoxyhemoglobin obtained with 10-nanosecond pulses are compared with the spectra of photolyzed carbonmonoxyhemoglobin stabilized at 80 K. In comparing the deoxy with the photodissociated species, the changes in the Raman spectra are the same for these two experimental regimes. These results show that at ambient and cryogenic temperatures the heme pocket in liganded hemoglobin is significantly different from that of deoxyhemoglobin. It is concluded that measurements of the properties of intermediate species from photodissociated hemoglobin stabilized at low temperatures can be used to probe the short-lived metastable forms of hemoglobin present after photodissociation under biologically relevant solution conditions.

Carboxyhemoglobin↗
PubMed1983

Immunogenetic studies of juvenile dermatomyositis. HLA antigens in patients and their families.

Typing for HLA-A and -B antigens was performed on 87 children with definite juvenile dermatomyositis (JDMS). A significantly increased frequency of HLA-B8 (estimated relative risk = 2.8, Pc less than 0.01) was observed among White patients, but not among Blacks or Latin Americans with JDMS. No abnormality of HLA haplotype segregation was observed among 38 healthy siblings of the JDMS probands.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Transient Raman study of hemoglobin: structural dependence of the iron-histidine linkage.

Low-frequency resonance Raman spectra of transient hemoglobin species were observed within 10 nanoseconds of photolysis. The Raman frequencies of the iron-proximal histidine stretching mode for transient species having either the R or the T quaternary structure are higher than in the corresponding deoxy species. The observed frequency difference in the iron-histidine mode between the R- and T- state transients indicates that there are quaternary structure-dependent protein forces on the iron-histidine bond in the liganded hemoglobins. These differences are interpreted in terms of changes in the tilt of the histidine with respect to the heme plane.

Carboxyhemoglobin↗
PubMed1982

Ligation and quaternary structure induced changes in the heme pocket of hemoglobin: a transient resonance Raman study.

The extent to which ligation and quaternary structure modify the heme-heme pocket configuration is determined by generating and analyzing transient resonance Raman spectra from various photolyzed and partially photolyzed hemoglobins (Hb). From small frequently shifts in Raman band I (approximately 1355 cm-1) it is determined that ligation induces a configurational change about the heme. The extent to which ligation modifies the heme pocket is influenced by the quaternary structure. With respect to the structural parameter responsible for variations in the pi orbital electron density of the porphyrin, the degree of alteration of the heme pocket configuration relative to deoxy-Hb(T) follows the sequence: liganded Hb(R) greater than liganded Hb(R) + IHP greater than liganded Hb(T) [alpha chain greater than beta chain] greater than deoxy-Hb(R). This progression of configurations also forms a sequence with respect to the "retentiveness" of the heme pocket as reflected in the ligand dynamics associated with geminate recombination. The results indicate that the heme-heme pocket of the R-state Hb's, relative to those of the T-state species, favors ligand retention in a dynamic, as well as thermodynamic, sense. The analysis of these and other related data implicates a ligation and quaternary structure modulated electronic and/or electrostatic interaction between the pi system of the porphyrin and the surrounding heme pocket as the basis for this variation in ligand dynamics as well as for the energetics of cooperativity.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Multiaxial problem-oriented system for sexual dysfunctions: an alternative to DSM-III.

In a multiaxial system for classifying the sexual dysfunctions, the axes specify sexual problems associated with the desire, arousal, and orgasm phases of the sexual response cycle, as well as types of coital pain, dissatisfaction with the frequency of sex, and certain other information relevant to sexual functioning. In contrast to DSM-III and other existing diagnostic systems for sexual dysfunctions, this new multiaxial system is based on highly specific empirical descriptions of sexual behavior. There are no inferences made about the cause of the dysfunctions.

Adult↗