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Biomedical subjects

L Miller

Publications and source records attributed to L Miller.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

AIDS: what you and your friends need to know--a lesson plan for adolescents.

The AIDS knowledge and attitudes of students attending an urban high school in Seattle were pretested. Subsequently, a 50-minute AIDS lesson plan was designed using the findings. Instruction occurred one month following the pretest, with a posttest administered one week after instruction. Significant increases in knowledge about AIDS, and parallel changes in tolerant and compassionate beliefs about people with AIDS were observed. Learning outcomes were retained at retesting eight weeks after instruction. Prior to receiving the AIDS lesion, 34% of students listed schools as their source of learning about AIDS. Schools became the major source of learning (82%) after one hour of instruction.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1988

Conservation of protective and nonprotective epitopes in M proteins of group A streptococci.

Carefully controlled hybridization experiments with probes from a cloned serotype 5 M protein (M5) gene (smp5) were performed with DNA isolated from heterologous M types of group A streptococci, and the homologies detected by hybridization were compared with the ability of anti-pepM5 serum to cross-opsonize heterologous M types. As previously reported (J.R. Scott, S.K. Hollingshead, and V.A. Fischetti, Infect. Immun. 52:609-612, 1986), extensive structural homologies exist among the 3' ends of heterologous M protein genes, but there appears to be an increase in sequence variation as one moves towards the 5' ends. However, a clear, predictive correlation between the hybridization patterns and cross-opsonization was not observed. Antibodies raised to a synthetic peptide corresponding to central, conserved sequences adjacent to the C-terminal sides of the pepsin cleavage sites in M5, serotype 6 M protein, and serotype 24 M protein cross-reacted with heterologous acid-extracted M antigens but were not protective and did not bind to intact streptococcal cells, indicating that these epitopes are inaccessible on the intact cell surface. Removal of the N-terminal half of M5, serotype 6 M protein, or serotype 24 M protein by pepsin exposed the conserved epitope on the cell surface. These results suggest that immunoaccessible protective epitopes are confined to the highly variable N-terminal halves of M proteins and that a single, broadly conserved protective M protein epitope does not exist.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Cyclic watering of broiler cockerels.

Two trials were designed to compare the performance of broilers receiving free access to water with those receiving cyclic access to water. Birds that received water in cyclic pattern were presented water by the activation of waterers for 15 min in each 3-h cycle (Trial 1) or 30 min in each 4-h cycle (Trial 2). In each trial, the control group received water ad libitum. Feed and water consumption and body weight were reduced in the cyclic-watered birds after 21 days of age in Trial 1 and were not different in the cyclic-watered birds in Trial 2 when compared with values for controls. Water:feed ratio and feed conversion values of the cyclic-watered birds were not altered by the cyclic watering regimens used in Trials 1 and 2. Observations of drinking patterns in Trial 2 demonstrate that the cyclic presentation of water can induce meal-drinking in cyclic-watered birds, but the feeding pattern of these birds was not altered. These data demonstrate that alteration of drinking activity can be accomplished without affecting growth and feed efficiency, and that altered drinking activity does not necessarily alter feeding activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Treatment of condyloma acuminatum with three different interferons administered intralesionally. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy and toxicity of intralesionally administered interferons in the treatment of condyloma acuminatum. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study. SETTING: Outpatient clinics at university medical centers. PATIENTS: Seventy-nine patients with biopsy-proved condyloma acuminatum that was refractory to conventional therapy were enrolled in the study. INTERVENTIONS: Alpha-2b, alpha-nl-, and beta-interferons were used. One wart on each patients was injected three times per week for 4 weeks with either 1 x 10(6) units of interferon or placebo. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Forty-seven percent of warts injected with interferon resolved completely, compared with 22% of placebo-injected warts (P = 0.009). In addition, more recipients of interferon had a complete resolution of uninjected lesions. No differences in rates of response were noted among the different interferon groups. Approximately one third of interferon-injected warts recurred, compared with none of four placebo-injected warts. Intralesionally administered interferon was nontoxic and well tolerated, although transient pain on injection was observed frequently. CONCLUSIONS: Intralesional administration of each of these three interferons appears to be useful in treating condyloma acuminatum. However, the frequent recurrence of disease and the failure of many lesions to resolve indicate that different regimens, such as longer courses of therapy or different routes of administration, should be evaluated to maximize beneficial effects of interferon for treating this common sexually transmitted disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

AIDS: prevention means precautions.

This article is based on a true experience that occurred after a needle puncture accident in the OR. The surgical technologist involved felt that her experience would be beneficial to many. With the fear of AIDS being a daily reality to all surgical personnel, daily safeguards cannot be stressed enough. The purpose of the article is to educate surgical technologists in ways to protect themselves at work. The only way to stop AIDS at this time is to prevent its spread. Prevention means education. There is no reason to fear caring for AIDS-stricken patients when precautions are taken.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1988

Ego autonomy, creativity, and cognitive style. A neuropsychodynamic approach.

True creativity cannot be understood apart from its psychologic prerequisite, ego autonomy. This in turn may depend on some optimum level of functioning in what has been described as the frontal-interhemispheric axis. In this model, the frontal lobes facilitate the programming, guidance, and recursive evaluation of goal-directed behavior, while the left-hemisphere language system provides for the self-articulatory integration of experience and action into a stable self-system. Fluid interactions between the hemispheres provide the raw material for creativity but also for certain forms of psychopathology, particularly manic-depression. The capacity for reflectivity, enabled by the frontal-interhemispheric control system, permits the consolidation of diverse kinds of experience into forms that can be expressed creatively. Schizophrenic thought disorder and psychopathic impulsivity both seem superficially to embody the seeds of primary process-driven creativity, but the deficit in frontal-hemispheric consolidation mechanisms keeps these cognitive products at a noncreatively primitive level. Conversely, the superfocused, hyperrational cognitive style of the obsessive-compulsive precludes the degree of spontaneity in the personality facilitated by easy interhemispheric communication, and so while the machinery for creative production may be operative, the spark that could ignite the whole process dies for lack of fuel. Finally, the present neuropsychodynamic approach emphasizes the interaction of multiple of brain systems in varying and flexible ways as the substrate for complex aspects of human behavior and personality.

Corpus Callosum↗
PubMed1988

An assay using embryo aggregation chimeras for the detection of nonlethal changes in X-irradiated mouse preimplantation embryos.

We have developed a short-term in vitro assay for the detection of sublethal effects produced by very low levels of ionizing radiation. The assay utilizes mouse embryo aggregation chimeras consisting of one irradiated embryo paired with an unirradiated embryo whose blastomeres have been labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). X irradiation (from 0.05 to 2 Gy) and chimera construction were performed with four-cell stage embryos, and the chimeras were cultured for 40 h to the morula stage. The morulae were partially dissociated with calcium-free culture medium and viewed under phase contrast and epifluorescence microscopy to obtain total embryo cell number and the cellular contribution of irradiated (unlabeled) and control (FITC labeled) embryos per chimera. In chimeras where neither embryo was irradiated, the ratio of the unlabeled blastomeres to the total number of blastomeres per chimera embryo was 0.50 (17.8 +/- 5.6 cells per unlabeled embryo and 17.4 +/- 5.5 cells per FITC-labeled partner embryo). However, in chimeras formed after the unlabeled embryos were irradiated with as little as 0.05 Gy, the ratio of unlabeled blastomeres to the total number of blastomeres per chimera embryo was 0.43 (P less than 0.01). The apparent decreases in cell proliferation were not observed in irradiated embryos that were merely cocultured with control embryos, regardless of whether the embryos were zona enclosed or zona free. We conclude that very low levels of radiation induce sublethal changes in cleaving embryos that are expressed as a proliferative disadvantage within two cell cycles when irradiated embryos are in direct cell-to-cell contact with unirradiated embryos.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Esophagectomy for complex benign esophageal disease.

We evaluated the use of total thoracic esophagectomy and replacement with stomach in a group of 21 patients between 1976 and 1986 who had undergone multiple unsuccessful esophageal operations. All patients had between one and four unsuccessful operations for benign esophageal disorders. Sixteen patients had primary motor disorders: achalasia in nine and esophageal spasm in seven. Of these patients, 11 also had recurrent gastroesophageal reflux and peptic esophagitis. Complicated reflux disease characterized by severe esophagitis, stricture, and impaired peristalsis without primary motor disorder occurred in five patients. In one patient a functionally impaired long-segment colon interposition was removed and replaced with stomach. Total thoracic esophagectomy and cervical esophagogastric reconstruction was done in all patients. The transhiatal approach was chosen for resection in 16 patients and thoracotomy was used in the other five. There was one perioperative death (5%), from massive aspiration 4 days after transhiatal esophagectomy. Other complications included transient anastomotic leak (three patients), tracheoesophageal fistula (one), recurrent nerve palsy (one), and transient hoarseness (two). Follow-up is complete between 1 and 10 years and reveals the following functional results: 12 patients good to excellent, seven fair, one poor. In this patient group in which multiple prior procedures have failed to improve severe incapacitating symptoms, we believe further attempts at hiatal reconstruction are unlikely to succeed. For this circumstance, we recommend total thoracic esophagectomy with the use of stomach as the replacement organ of choice.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Effect of feeding rate on monoclonal antibody production in a modified perfusion-fed fermentor.

Previously we described a perfusion system for production of high yields of monoclonal antibodies in a fermentor. This system incorporated a cylindrically shaped, stainless steel filter mounted around the stirring shaft for retention of cells within a 1 liter fermentor. Modification of this filter by increasing the pore size from 5 micron to 10 micron decreased its tendency to clog and allowed continuous operation for about 3 weeks. Fresh culture medium, containing 6.5 mg glucose/ml and 3% horse serum, was supplied continually at two different perfusion rates, 850 and 1100 ml/day. Spent culture medium containing monoclonal antibody was harvested concomitantly. Highest cell density (5 X 10(7)/ml) and best antibody yield (1.7 g/l culture per day) were obtained at the higher feeding rate.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1987

Antibodies directed against N-terminal residues on actin do not block acto-myosin binding.

Several studies using a variety of approaches have suggested a possible role for the amino-terminal residues of skeletal muscle actin in acto-myosin interaction. In order to assess the significance of acto-S-1 contacts involving the N-terminal segment of actin, we have prepared polyclonal antisera against a synthetic peptide corresponding to the seven amino-terminal residues of rabbit skeletal muscle actin (alpha-N-terminal peptide). Affinity-purified immunoglobulin (Ig) G (and Fab) prepared from these antisera reacts strongly and specifically with the amino-terminal segment of both G- and F-actin but not with myosin subfragment 1 (S-1). This specificity was determined by Western blot analysis of actin and its proteolytic fragments and the inhibition of the above reactivity by the alpha-N-terminal peptide. The alpha-N-terminal peptide did not interact with S-1 in solution, affect S-1 and actin-activated S-1 MgATPase, or cause dissociation of the acto-S-1 complex. In separate experiments F-actin could be cosedimented with S-1 and affinity-purified IgG or Fab by using an air-driven ultracentrifuge. Densitometric analysis of sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gels of pellet and supernatant fractions from such experiments demonstrated the binding of both S-1 and IgG or Fab to the same F-actin protomer. Our results suggest that, while the acidic N-terminal amino acids of actin may contact the myosin head, these residues cannot be the main determinants of acto-S-1 interaction.

Actins↗
PubMed1987

Modulation of membrane transport of alkylating agents and amino acids by an analog of vasopressin in murine L5178Y lymphoblasts in vitro.

The synthetic vasopressin analog 1-deamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (dDAVP) has been shown to influence a wide range of cell-membrane-related events. Accordingly, the effect of dDAVP on membrane transport of various alkylating agents and amino acids was evaluated in L5178Y lymphoblasts in vitro. dDAVP stimulated melphalan uptake but conversely inhibited uptake of nitrogen mustard, choline (the natural transport substrate for the nitrogen mustard carrier), and leucine. No effect on the uptake of cyclophosphamide or glutamine was observed. Increased melphalan uptake was due to effects on both substrate influx and efflux. The effect of dDAVP on melphalan influx was particularly complex: dDAVP stimulated melphalan influx by amino acid transport system ASC but inhibited influx by system L, resulting in a net increase in unidirectional drug influx. Melphalan efflux was inhibited by dDAVP. Decreased uptake of nitrogen mustard, choline and leucine was due, at least in part, to decreased substrate influx. However, the mechanisms of inhibition were dissimilar: inhibition of substrate influx was non-competitive for choline but competitive for leucine. In conclusion, dDAVP induced diverse but apparently specific effects on membrane transport of several alkylating agents and amino acids. Since the accumulation of alkylating agents such as melphalan within tumor cells is a major determinant of cytotoxicity, dDAVP may have a role as a biological response modifier.

Alkylating Agents↗
PubMed1987

The echolocation and hunting behavior of the bat, Pipistrellus kuhli.

The echolocation and hunting behavior of Pipistrellus kuhli was studied in the field using multi-exposure photography synchronized with high-speed tape recordings. During the search phase, the bats used 8-12 ms signals with sweeps (sweep width 3-6 kHz) and pulse intervals near 100 ms or less often near 200 ms. The bats seemed to have individual terminal frequencies that could lie between 35 and 40 kHz. The duty cycle of searching signals was about 8%. The flight speed of hunting bats was between 4.0 and 4.5 m/s. The bats reacted to insect prey at distances of about 70 to 120 cm. Given the flight speed, the detection distance was estimated to about 110 to 160 cm. Following detection the bat went into the approach phase where the FM sweep steepened (to about 60 kHz bandwidth) and the repetition rate increased (to about 30 Hz). The terminal phase or 'buzz', which indicates prey capture (or attempted capture), was composed of two sections. The first section contained signals similar to those in the approach phase except that the pulse duration decreased and the repetition rate increased. The second section was characterized by a sharp drop in the terminal frequency (to about 20 kHz) and by very short pulses (0.3 ms) at rates of up to 200 Hz. Near the beginning of the buzz the bat prepared for capturing the prey by extending the wings and forming a tail pouch. A pause of about 100 ms in sound emission after the buzz indicated a successful capture (Fig. 4).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Emotional health of families and their members where a child is obese.

A controlled study of families with an obese child showed a small but significantly greater impairment in family functioning when this was elicited and rated using clinical methods. However no significant impairment was found when functioning was elicited with standardized objective methods. Mothers of obese children rated their families as more dysfunctional than mothers of control children. Although the emotional health of individual members in obese families was not worse than in control families, significant differences in the family patterning of emotional health were found. The more overweight the obese child, the healthier the mother rated the family, and the better her own mental health as assessed by a self-report method; and in families of obese girls, the greater the degree of overweight, the worse the rated family functioning. The findings are integrated with the literature and a theoretical explanation in which obesity is seen as an identity disturbance is offered.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1987

Reproductive effects of chlorpromazine exposure to female mice: cell proliferation disadvantage revealed by the Chimera Embryo Assay.

Administration of chlorpromazine-HCl at 5 to 15 mg/kg bodyweight to pregnant CD-1 mice at 24 h after human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) (20-23 h after mating) inhibited blastocyst formation and reduced the cell number of embryos recovered at 95 h after hCG. When embryos are recovered at the two- to four-cell stage (48-50 h after hCG) and cultured for an additional 47 h (to 95 h after hCG) or 72 h (to 120 h after hCG), blastocyst formation and embryo cell number were similarly reduced. When the dose range was reduced to 0.5 to 2 mg/kg bodyweight, no significant effect of the drug was observed on blastocyst formation or on embryo cell number. However, when aggregation chimeras were formed between embryos recovered from drug-exposed females and from untreated females, a decrease in cell proliferation rate of the embryo from the drug-exposed female was observed at a dose of 2 mg/kg bodyweight. This result indicates that exposing pregnant mice to chlorpromazine-HCl at doses as low as 2 mg/kg bodyweight can induce a potential for decreased cleavage rate in their pre-implantation embryos that can be revealed by challenging those embryos by direct contact with embryos from nonexposed females. Finally, when four-cell stage embryos recovered from untreated females cultured in the presence of chlorpromazine (0.1-25 mM), blastocyst formation and embryo cell number were significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner. This last result suggests that in vivo the drug may act directly on the embryo from the pronuclear stage to the early morula stage of development.

Animals↗