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Biomedical subjects

J Taylor

Publications and source records attributed to J Taylor.

At least 649 records · Page 36Linked to original sources

The TYCHO system for computer analysis of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis patterns.

We describe here a computer system for the analysis of high-resolution two-dimensional gel-electrophoresis patterns, with some initial applications. The system (called TYCHO) comprises programs for image acquisition, background subtraction and smoothing, spot detection, gaussian spot modeling, and pattern matching and comparison. It is based on a conventional minicomputer, but makes extensive use of a high-speed array processor in the image-processing and -modeling steps. Used in concert with the ISO-DALT two-dimensional electrophoresis system (Anal. Biochem. 85:331-354, 1978), TYCHO allows quantitative measurement of hundreds of proteins in complex biological samples, and constitutes the initial data-reduction system required for work towards a Human Protein Index.

Blood Proteins↗

Foot rot of pigs: the influence of biotin supplementation on foot lesions in sows.

A herd of 116 sows with a high frequency of foot lesions and lameness was divided into two groups, A and B. Group B was supplemented with 1160 microgram per day of biotin in pregnancy and 2320 microgram per day in lactation, over a 12-month period. No improvement occurred in the condition of the feet or skin. Gilts introduced as replacements to the herd were allocated alternately to the groups. Those receiving biotin (group B) showed significantly fewer lesions of heel erosion, white-line, heel bruising and "corn", and the severity and number of lesions of the lateral hind claws were also significantly improved.

Animals↗

Measurement of antigen-antibody complexes in mouse sera by conglutinin, C1q and rheumatoid factor solid phase binding assays.

The application of three solid phase tests for the detection of antigen-antibody complexes in the sera of inbred and selectively-bred mice with experimentally induced chronic antigen-antibody complex disease is described. Two of the tests used--the C1q binding assay (C1qBA) and the conglutinin binding assay (KBA)--were previously described methods which we have modified for the detection of murine complexes. The third test is a new solid phase polyclonal rheumatoid factor binding assay (RFBA). The results demonstrate that the correlation of positivity with the three methods varied during the course of a chronic disease but in general results with the KBA showed a better correlation with the RFBA than with the C1qBA. Furthermore, the KBA and RFBA preferentially bound complexes of lower molecular weight than did the C1qBA. It is suggested that the parallel use of these three tests during the study of murine antigen-antibody complex disease will provide valuable information concerning the nature of the complexes involved; since the three tests, when run in parallel, will detect large complement fixing complexes (C1q), small complement fixing complexes (KBA) and small non-complement fixing complexes (RFBA).

Animals↗

Antibody response to influenza A/New Jersey and A/Victoria virus vaccines in 1976 and subsequent antibody levels after influenza A epidemics, 1977-1979.

Antibody levels before and after vaccination were studied among schoolchildren and young adults given commercial A/New Jersey/76 (HswN1), A/Victoria/75 (H3N2), and B/Hong Kong/72 vaccines in the fall of 1976. Children responded better to a single dose of the A/New Jersey subvirion vaccine than had previously been observed, particularly to a new subvirion vaccine. Hemagglutination-inhibiting antibody titers decreased during the first six months after vaccination but appeared stable thereafter. Persistence seemed to depend on the antigenic mass in the first dose, since persons given one or two doses of the most potent whole-virus vaccine had by far the highest levels of antibody to A/New Jersey virus after 2 1/2 years, higher than for those given two doses of any of the other vaccines. Natural infection with A/USSR (H1N1) influenza virus boostered the titers of antibody to A/New Jersey virus, particularly in children. Persons given a bivalent subvirion vaccine had the best response to A/Victoria antigen. Subvirion vaccines induced complement-fixing antibodies in half of the children.

Adolescent↗

Sagittal and horizontal plane movement of the human lumbar vertebral column in cadavers and in the living.

The ranges of sagittal and horizontal plane movements of the human lumbar vertebral column have been measured in 204 cadavers and 437 living subjects of both sexes. The cadaveric measurements were made on fresh specimens within 24-48 hours of death and compared with similar measurements from the living subjects. The data from the two sources correlate well and provide an estimate of the decline in the normal ranges of movements with increasing age, in both sexes.

Adolescent↗

Plasma membrane mediated thymidine transport in AKR spleen cells.

In this paper we characterize the thymidine transport systems in nonadherent spleen cells from normal leukemic (AKR) mice and from AKR mice which have been stimulated in vivo with concanavalin A (Con A). We have shown that splenic lymphocytes from normal AKR mice transport thymidine (two kinetic components, Km values of 34 microM and 1.6 mM) whereas lymphoid cells from C57L/J and outbred (CD-1) mice do not. Following Con A stimulation of AKR mice, three components (Km values of 6 microM, 212 microM, and millimolar range) were observed. The current data should be compared with previously published results for splenocytes from Con A stimulated CD-1 mice. Although those cells transport thymidine with two kinetic components (Km values of 160 microM), they lacked the lowest Km system present in AKR splenocytes. Thymidine transport was also examined in lymphocytes from several AK x L recombinant inbred mouse strains derived from the cross AKR/J x C57L/J. Two strains which lacked MuLV did not show time-dependent thymidine translocation whereas two strains which possessed MuLV demonstrated time-dependent thymidine translocation. Moreover, cells from the congenic strain L.AKR-Akv-2, which carried the Akv-2 genome on a C57L background, also showed thymidine transport. Thus a unique ability to transport thymidine can be correlated with the presence of the murine leukemia virus genome.

Adenosine↗

The genetic heterogeneity of lactic acidosis: occurrence of recognizable inborn errors of metabolism in pediatric population with lactic acidosis.

A total of 40 skin fibroblast cultures from pediatric cases of lactic acidosis were subjected to a series of tests designed to elucidate the nature of an underlying defect in metabolism. Of these 40 cases, in 14 we were able to define the following problems. Pyruvate carboxylase deficiency was evident in five cases showing < 10% normal activity. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase deficiency was evident in one case where the whole cells showed 17% of normal activity whereas the mitochondrial activity of this enzyme was 6% of normal. Pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency was present in six cases showing 8 to 39% of normal activity, five of them being due to deficient pyruvate decarboxylase activity and one of them being due to deficient dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase activity. Two cases were found with normal enzymes of pyruvate metabolism in which the production of 14CO2 from [3-14C]pyruvate was deficient at 13 and 28% of normal activity, respectively, which we consider to be indicative of reduced activity of the Krebs' cycle. The grounds for the diagnosis of these 14 affected cases are documented, and the clinical presentation of these enzyme deficiencies is assessed in the light of present knowledge about lactic acidosis.

Acidosis↗

Ossified epidural hematoma: case report.

We are reporting a case of ossified epidural hematoma that developed in a patient who had had a craniotomy at a different site for a brain tumor 14 years earlier. There was no history of trauma.

Adult↗

Manipulating metabolic parameters to improve growth rate and milk secretion.

Several opportunities for improving animal efficiency through manipulation of metabolism are discussed. The first opportunity is through identification and selection of animals achieving close to theoretical efficiencies. Based upon differences between highly efficient and average animals, the estimated opportunity for improvement is 20%. A second opportunity for improvement is through manipulation of apparent maintenance requirements. Several contributors to differences in efficiencies are considered. One is the contribution of differences in relative organ weights to differences in apparent maintenance requirements. A potential benefit in the order of 10 to 20% through selection or manipulation seems possible. Manipulations of ion transport and protein turnover could yield maximum benefits of 30 and 15%, respectively. However, complete elimination of these processes is not feasible. Without ion transport, membrane potentials would not be maintained and, without turnover, many important regulatory processes would be affected. the limit to manipulation of these characteristics is unknown. A third opportunity for improvement of animal efficiency is through improvement of apparent biosynthetic efficiency by manipulation of patterns of nutrient utilization. If we could produce, through hormonal or other types of manipulations, an optimum pattern of nutrient use, decreases in heat increments of production in growing animals in the order of 50% might be achieved.

Adipose Tissue↗

Acetoacetyl CoA thiolase deficiency: a cause of severe ketoacidosis in infancy simulating salicylism.

A female child presented at one year of age with a febrile illness and loose stools, then developed severe ketoacidosis with vomiting; an apparent salicylate level of 11 mg/dl was measured. A sibling had died in similar circumstances nine years earlier. Investigation revealed that the child did not have salicylate intoxication, and that high levels of acetoacetate in blood and urine were giving readings indicative of the presence of salicylate on routine testing. Gas-liquid chromatographic analysis combined with mass spectrometry on urine samples revealed the presence of 2-methyl-acetoacetate, 2-methyl-3-hydroxybutyrate, and tiglyl glycine in appreciable amounts, indicating a defect in isoleucine catabolism located at the beta-ketothiolase step. The oxidation of 14C-isoleucine to CO2 in cultured fibroblasts confirmed that this pathway was defective. We present evidence that beta-ketothiolase deficiency is not simply a defect of isoleucine degradation; the deficient enzyme is the K+ dependent short-chain mitochondrial thiolase, which also plays a major catalytic role in ketone body and fatty acid oxidation.

Acetoacetates↗

Ambiguities in IR and X-ray characterization of amphotericin B.

Two distinct IR spectra of amphotericin B have been reported. These differences can be obtained from the same sample by surprisingly small changes in the method of sample preparation. Type I spectra (hand-ground samples) are characterized by a sharp C = O stretching band at 1692 cm-1, and Type II spectra (vibrator-ground samples) are characterized by a broad C = O stretching band near 1710 cm-1. X-ray powder diffraction demonstrates that vibrator grinding promotes a transition from a crystalline to an amorphous phase. The two phases are not bioequivalent. Differential thermal analysis reveals a transition near 157 degrees and samples heated to 158 degrees give only Type II IR spectra. However, a marked color change accompanies such heating (i.e., structural changes affecting the chromophore have been thermally induced), while X-ray spectra show an increase of only about 30% in amorphous content. Furthermore, hand-ground samples heated to 120 degrees still display only Type I IR spectra. Thus, the vibrator-induced transition is not solely a static thermal effect. Many observed spectral lines can be assigned to specific functional groups.

Amphotericin B↗