Biomedical subjects
John A Lee
Publications and source records attributed to John A Lee.
Cellular phrenology.
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In praise of pragmatism.
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Time's arrow.
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Switching of melanocyte pigmentation associated with pituitary pars intermedia tumors in Rb+/- and p27-/- female mice with yellow pelage.
As an incidental finding in a study of mammary tumorigenesis, two lines of genetically engineered mice were observed to develop pigmentation changes of the fur. Mice with targeted mutations of the Rb1 (Rb) and Cdkn1b (p27kip1) genes were crossed from C57BL/6 (black coat color; eumelanin) and 129Sv (wild-type agouti coat color) backgrounds, respectively, to one with a dominant yellow coat color (phaeomelanin) carrying a transgene for Agouti under a keratinocyte specific promoter. Both Rb+/- and p27-/- mice developed pituitary tumors of the pars intermedia that were associated with a switch to black (eumelanic) fur but were not observed in sibling Rb+/+ and p27+/+ mice. This phenomenon was observed first in the vibrissae and, subsequently one to two weeks later, as periorbital and dorsal patches, and was associated with pituitary lesions larger than four millimeters in the longest dimension. In Rb+/- mice, pigmentation change preceded a moribund state attributable to the tumors by two to four weeks, whereas in p27-/- mice, the pigmentation alteration was earlier, more gradual, and prolonged. The switch from phaeomelanin to eumelanin in the fur is most likely due to out-competition of the agouti gene product by alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone from the pituitary tumors, an effect masked in black or agouti mice.
Arctic microorganisms respond more to elevated UV-B radiation than CO2.
Surface ultraviolet-B radiation and atmospheric CO2 concentrations have increased as a result of ozone depletion and burning of fossil fuels. The effects are likely to be most apparent in polar regions where ozone holes have developed and ecosystems are particularly sensitive to disturbance. Polar plant communities are dependent on nutrient cycling by soil microorganisms, which represent a significant and highly labile portion of soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N). It was thought that the soil microbial biomass was unlikely to be affected by exposure of their associated plant communities to increased UV-B. In contrast, increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations were thought to have a strong effect as a result of greater below-ground C allocation. In addition, there is a growing belief that ozone depletion is of only minor environmental concern because the impacts of UV-B radiation on plant communities are often very subtle. Here we show that 5 years of exposure of a subarctic heath to enhanced UV-B radiation both alone and in combination with elevated CO2 resulted in significant changes in the C:N ratio and in the bacterial community structure of the soil microbial biomass.
A paradox of progress.
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Data, information, and knowledge.
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Faith-based medicine.
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See you there.
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Auto-immune thyroiditis presenting as a thyroglossal tract swelling.
Both thyroglossal cysts and aberrant thyroid tissue may present as a mid-line neck swelling. We report a case of autoimmune thyroiditis presenting as a thyroglossal swelling in a middle-aged woman. This very rare finding is discussed with reference to the optimal management of thyroglossal tract swellings.