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Biomedical subjects

L Weiss

Publications and source records attributed to L Weiss.

At least 505 records · Page 28Linked to original sources

Synthesis and characterization of N-(2,4-diphosphobenzyl)-1-amino-5-naphthalenesulfonic acid, a new fluorescent analogue of diphosphoglyceric acid.

The synthesis of N-(2,4-diphosphobenzyl)-1-amino-5-naphthalenesulfonic acid (DIPANS) is described. It entails the synthesis of 2,4-diphosphobenzaldehyde from the action of POCl3 on 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde. This is followed by coupling of the 2,4-diphosphobenzaldehyde to 1-amino-5-naphthalenesulfonic acid. Subsequent reduction with NaBH4 yields the desired product. The DIPANS exhibits an excitation maximum at 337 nm and a fluorescence emission maximum at 504 nm. This dye is quantitatively displaced by inositol hexaphosphate and is an effective analogus of diphosphoglyceric acid (DPG), possessing a KD at pH 7.0 in 0.05 M [bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]tris(hydroxymethyl)methane (bis-Tris) plus 0.1 M chloride of 6.88 microgram, with 1.0 molecule bound/hemoglobin tetramer. Like DPG its binding to deoxyhemoglobin decreases with increasing pH; in the presence of 0.1 M chloride it binds 0.031 times as tightly to CO hemoglobin and it yields a value for free energy coupling of 2.0 kcal/mol. The presence of 1 mM DIPANS decreases the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen in the absence of salt from p1/2 of 0.8 mm Hg to 12.4 mm Hg. Using DPG as a competitor of DIPANS binding, a dissociation constant of 11.4 micrometer was calculated for DPG binding to deoxy-Hb at pH 7.0 in the presence of 0.05 M bis-Tris and 0.1 M chloride.

Binding, Competitive↗

Selective vacuolar myopathy with atrophy of type II fibers. Occurrence in a childhood case of acid maltase deficiency.

A 12-year-old boy being examined for vague chest pains was found to be suffering from acid maltase deficiency. Unlike previously reported cases in which vacuolization was most commonly noted in type I fibers, type II fibers were selectively involved in this patient and were atrophic Type I fibers were spared, or occasionally contained one or more small globular structures consisting of large, complex aggregates of lysosomal profiles.

Atrophy↗

Visualization of breast lesions with an advanced ultrasonic device: results of a pilot study.

A pilot study is described in which a new design of a sensitive ultrasonic device was used to visualize breast lesions in nine patients. The results were in general accord with clinical, histologic, and x-ray examinations, although ultrasound was superior to x-ray mammography in the visualization of discrete cysts in breasts having a "dense" background. As the device provides an indication of the capabilities of ultrasonic equipment which will be generally available within the next two years, projections are made on the impact of this equipment on the earlier diagnosis and prognosis of cancer, together with a discussion of the negligible radiation bio-hazards posed by devices of this type, in the light of present knowledge.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Cytogenic studies of cryptorchid testes.

Twenty-nine patients with unilateral or bilateral cryptochism underwent biopsies of the testis at the time of orchiopexy. Karyotype evaluation of fibroblasts obtained from tissue cultures of the biopsy specimen was completed counting a minimum of twenty-five cells. In 1 patient with multiple anomalies a 46,XYDq+ karyotype was identified. All other karyotypes were normal suggesting cryptorchism is not associated with abnormal testicular cytogenetics.

Child↗

Arrest patterns of circulating lymphosarcoma cells in tumour-bearing mice as modified by previously injected cell suspensions.

The effects were determined of an initial i.v. injection of 0.2 ml suspensions of 125IUdR-labelled lymphosarcoma cells on the early arrest patterns of a second injection of cancer cells into tumour-bearing mice. The results indicate that interactions between the first injection and the host markedly affected the arrest pattern of the second dose in the lungs, but not the livers, of tumour-bearing animals. These observations are explained on the basis of the injected fluid volumes, which are considerable in mice, in relation to their total blood volumes of approximately 2 ml.

Animals↗

Left ventricular hypertrophy and its reversibility in young spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The development of an increased ventricular wall mass was followed from birth until five weeks of age and also later in life in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) which were compared with normotensive control rats (NCR). It was shown that the first signs of enhanced ventricular growth were already evident in SHR in the first week of life. At 10 months of age left ventricular weight was 68% higher in SHR than in matched NCR, at a mean pressure difference of 30%. Treatment of SHR with antihypertensive agents, like hydralazine, hydralazine-guanethidine, propranolol, or metoprolol, from three weeks up to 10 months of age reduced this gross increase in left ventricular weight by only about 10% while the mean pressure difference between SHR and NCR was reduced by 50 to 70%. It appears that the increase in left ventricular wall mass in SHR is initiated so early in life and is of such a character that it can only, to a fairly minor extent, be reversed or prevented by pressure-lowering procedures. Part of the explanation may be a substantial contribution of myocardial hyperplasia, in association with a genetically linked predisposal to structural cardiovascular adaptation, either 'inherent' in the effectors and/or caused by 'trophic' influences of a hormonal and/or transmitter nature.

Animals↗

The effects of tumour cells on embryonic cell aggregation, adhesion and detachment.

The presence of small numbers of tumour cells inhibits the aggregation of embryonic chicken neural retina cells grown in gyratory shaker culture. The aggregation of neural retina cells was also inhibited by ascites cell medium. We investigated whether the inhibitory effect of the tumour cells on aggregate size is effected by inhibition of the initial adhesion or by enhancement of their separation. The number of neural retina cells adherent to microtest plate surfaces was significantly reduced after incubation with either Ehrlich ascites cells or cell-free, conditioned medium, while the percentage of cells removed from glass by shearing was unchanged under those conditions. These results suggest that the reduction in neural retina cell aggregate size produced by Ehrlich ascites cells and their products is due to partial inhibition of neural retina cell adhesion processes, as distinct from enhancement of separation.

Animals↗

Translational movements of macrophages through media of different viscosities.

The extent of the migration of guinea-pig peritoneal macrophages from capillary tubes over the surfaces of plastic Petri dishes, was quantitated by planimetry. It was observed that the amount of migration decreased as the viscosity of the medium was increased by the addition of agarose. An essential component of translational movement is the formation of adhesions between cells and their substrata. It is suggested on the basis of the present migration and adhesion experiments, that the increased viscosity reduces migration by retarding the formation of adhesions between the cells and their substrata. The experiments do not support the suggestion that agarose adsorbed to the dish surface affects the adhesion-dependent arm of migration or that viscous 'drag' on whole cells (over the viscosity range of 0.71 to 3.9 x 10(-3) N s m-2) reduces their movements.

Animals↗

Transfer of C2-units across the mitochondrial membrane. Direct recording of citrate, acetate and acetoacetate production rates.

Methods are described for the direct optical assay of citrate, acetate, and acetoacetate production by isolated, incubated rat liver mitochondria. Each metabolite is converted into acetyl-CoA, using ATP: citrate lyase or acetyl-CoA synthetase or acetoacetyl-CoA synthetase and acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase, respectively. Arylamine acetyltransferase acts as auxiliary enzyme. It was shown that isolated rat liver mitochondria produce citrate, acetate and acetoacetate, and that production rates are stimulated by pyruvate and hexanoate. It was concluded that these three products might contribute to the transport of acetyl units across the mitochondrial membrane and thus serve as precursors in fatty acid synthesis. The rate of acetyl transfer does not seem to be rate-limiting with regard to the overall-process of fatty acid synthesis from carbohydrates.

Acetates↗

Cell adhesion.

Before cells can adhere to a surface, the atoms forming the adhesive bonds must come to within 0.5 nanometers of each other. Distances of this order may not correspond to the averaged electron micrographic data. The events leading to close approach of parts of cells are discussed in terms of electrical parameters, with an emphasis on the surface heterogeneities of cellular adherends. The distinct phenomenon of cell detachment is not simply the reverse of cell adhesion, and must be measured by different techniques. The effects of various pathophysiologic factors on cell attachment and detachment is discussed, with illustrative examples of direct and indirect factors. These include regeneration, degeneration, metabolic inhibitors, endotoxin and antisera. It is concluded the stability of the union between cells and teeth represents a delicate balance between factors promoting contact and initial adhesions, factors strengthening the adhesive interphase and factors promoting separation.

Antimetabolites↗

Rabbit bone marrow after administration of saponin. An electron microscopic study.

Saponin rapidly induced injury to the wall of vascular sinuses in rabbit bone marrow so that the barrier between hematopoietic cells and the circulation became defective. This change was followed by hypocellularity and necrosis and fibrosis. Adult male rabbits received saponin intravenously (2 mg. per kg.) every 4 days for periods of up to 4 weeks; the animals were killed at varied times. In untreated animals, much of the sinus wall consisted only of endothelium. Within 2 hours after administration of saponin the endothelium was damaged and hematopoietic cells, mostly reticulocytes and normoblasts, entered the circulation. Some sinuses hemorrhaged into the hematopoietic compartment. At 4 hours, sinuses were markedly dilated and hemorrhage was extensive. By 3 days, extravasated erythrocytes, which were tending to aggregate, were unevenly distributed in the extravascular space of marrow. Damaged hematopoietic cells were dispersed among them. Regenerating blood vessels were noted and a few clusters of hematopoietic cells occurred in association with fibroblasts. At 1 week, a large portion of the marrow was either necrotic or contained large-scale diffuse or focal hemorrhage. Fibrotic areas often surrounded the arteries. After 2 to 4 weeks, myelofibrosis became pronounced. The fibrotic tissue was well vascularized and contained small clusters of hematopoietic cells and a few fat cells. Macrophages were abundant and tended to fuse, forming multinucleated giant cells surrounding pockets of degenerated fat cells.

Animals↗

Spinal cord injury in an inner city hospital.

During the first six years of existence of the rehabilitation unit in a black inner city major municipal hospital, 53 patients with spinal cord injury were admitted. A retrospective study of these patients sought answers to questions concerning etiology, patient characteristics, services provided and method of delivery, and advantages and disadvantages of rehabilitation in a community hospital. Findings revealed differences in causation of spinal cord injury between women and men and between patients with paraplegia and quadriplegia. tthe male paraplegic patients were the youngest; their life style led to spinal cord injury. Social factors such as inadequate housing, lack of transportation, and insufficient financial resources were deterrents to rehabilitation. An approach that emphasized consideration of all the psychosocial factors was developed. Evaluation and treatment were extended into the community. Lack of peer groups and multiphasic programs were the major disadvantages.

Adolescent↗

A likelihood ratio statistic for testing goodness of fit with randomly censored data.

A likelihood ratio statistic is proposed for testing goodness of fit with grouped data which are subject to random right censoring. It is shown that, under appropriate conditions, this statistic has an asymptotic chi-square distribution which is non-central under contiguous alternatives. A formula is given for the non-centrality parameter. Two examples are given. The first concerns data from a large scale animal survival study with serial sacrifice where it is attempted to fit the Weibull, Gompertz and exponential power distributions to life length. The second example concerns marijuana usage and this needs an extension of the test to the doubly censored case. Another use of the statistic is to provide a quantitative method of ranking the fit of various proposed models to survival or reliability data.

Animals↗

The retention of circulating Walker-256 cells by Walker-256 tumours.

When Walker-256 cancer cells are injected into the portal veins of rats bearing Walker-256 tumours in their livers, the retention of the injected cancer cells by the tumours is considerably less than in the surrounding liver. After applying defined general criteria for "homing" phenomena to the data, it is concluded that compared with the liver, they demonstrate "antihoming". The observations are explained in terms of a deficient arrest process within the tumours.

Animals↗

Tumor necrosis and cell detachment.

Cell detachment from and around Walker 256 tumors grown in rats is quantitated by a standardized in vitro shaking procedure. The volume of cells detached from cancers of similar size is virtually the same in tumors growing in the liver, the spleen, in intramuscular and in subcutaneous sites. In cystic tumors, greater volumes are detached from the innermost regions of the walls adjacent to necrotic material than from the outermost parts. More liver perenchymal cells are shaken free of liver adjacent to a tumor interface than from regions 0.5 and 1.0 cm distant from it. Detachment of tumor and liver cells is also enhanced by prior incubation of tissue samples with necrotic extracts. It is suggested that the necrotic regions of tumors, and products derived from them, facilitate the detachment of tumor cells and cells composing the normal tissues surrounding them, thereby potentially promoting metastasis and invasion.

Animals↗