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Biomedical subjects

M A Davis

Publications and source records attributed to M A Davis.

286 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Intraluminal contrast agents for MR imaging of the abdomen and pelvis.

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the abdomen and pelvis with use of gastrointestinal (GI) contrast agents is slowly emerging as a valuable diagnostic tool. In the past few years, considerable effort has been expended on developing an oral contrast agent to serve as a bowel marker during abdominal and pelvic imaging. Four major categories of agents have been studied: compounds with positive contrast-enhancing characteristics (ie, which increase signal intensity), which may be either miscible or immiscible with bowel contents, and compounds with negative contrast-enhancing characteristics (ie, which decrease signal intensity), which also may be miscible or immiscible. Compared with precontrast images, MR images acquired after administration of GI contrast agents have shown increased anatomic delineation of the bowel lumen, pancreas, and paraaortic nodes, allowing increased detection of pancreatic lesions, improved assessment of bowel wall lesions, and distinction between intrahepatic and extrahepatic lesions. This review focuses on the general physics and requirements for intraluminal GI contrast media for MR imaging, the currently used intraluminal agents and their regulatory status, current and near-future availability, and cost considerations.

Barium Sulfate↗
PubMedDate not supplied

HAP-Like CCAAT-binding complexes in filamentous fungi: implications for biotechnology.

Regulatory CCAAT boxes are found frequently in eukaryotic promoter regions. They are bound by different CCAAT-binding factors. Until now, a single CCAAT-binding complex has been reported in fungi. It is also found in higher eukaryotes and is highly conserved among eukaryotic organisms. This multimeric protein complex is designated HAP, AnCF, CBF, or NF-Y. The complex consists of at least three subunits. In fungi, only the HAP complex of Saccharomyces cerevisiae had been known for a long time. The recent cloning of genes encoding the components of the corresponding complex (AnCF/PENR1) of Aspergillus nidulans and characterization of CCAAT-regulated genes in A. nidulans, as well as other filamentous fungi, led to a deeper insight into the role of this transcription complex, in particular in aerobically growing fungi. An overview of the function of HAP-like complexes in gene regulation in filamentous fungi is presented. Some of the genes that have been found to be regulated by HAP-like complexes encode enzymes of biotechnological interest, like taka-amylase, xylanases, cellobiohydrolase, and penicillin biosynthesis enzymes. The importance of HAP-like complexes in controlling the expression of biotechnologically important genes is discussed.

Biotechnology↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Determination of methylxanthine stimulants in urine of racing greyhounds by high-performance liquid chromatography. Resolution of a contested drug administration case.

Results of urine drug analyses for three racing greyhounds that tested positive for caffeine in this laboratory were contested by the animal trainer, who asserted that positives were achieved from deliberate chocolate feeding by a rival kennel. The metabolism and excretion of methylxanthines was examined by high-performance liquid chromatography of extracts of the urine of racing greyhounds force-fed either caffeine (No Doz) or chocolate (Hersheys chocolate drops). Samples from untreated animals served as controls. Study results showed that test animals fed chocolate could be very easily distinguished from those fed caffeine. While the former animals exhibited a prominent theobromine peak with trace amounts of caffeine and theophylline, the caffeine-treated animals gave a prominent caffeine peak with moderate theophylline levels and almost nondetectable theobromine amounts. When these results were compared with the results from the positive authentic racing animals, chocolate feeding was clearly ruled out as an alternative to caffeine administration.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

An analysis of social services in hospices.

Data were obtained in 34 hospices from social workers, nurses, and volunteers on how frequently they performed 27 social service activities and how much time they spent performing them. Findings revealed that social workers were employed part time and did not play an unique role in service provision. In contrast, nurses were employed full time and provided services commonly associated with social work practice. The authors discuss the study's implications for the future of social workers in hospice settings.

Data Collection↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Liposomes carrying diatrizoate. Characterization of biophysical properties and imaging applications.

We have prepared and characterized a suspension of liposomes carrying diatrizoate. Vesicles were made with egg lecithin, cholesterol, and stearylamine in a 4:1:1 molar ratio, and contained meglumine sodium diatrizoate in their aqueous phase. They ranged up to 2.0 microns in size and had a multilamellar structure. These vesicles were then injected into normal and tumor-bearing rats, as well as normal dogs and a baboon. The iodine component proved to have a prolonged blood pool residence time, was cleared through reticuloendothelial and urinary tissues, and was completely excreted within seven days. The LD50 in mice was 2.3 g I/kg (38.5 g of liposome suspension/kg). Imaging studies with diatrizoate-carrying liposomes demonstrated marked and prolonged contrast enhancement of blood pool, liver, spleen, kidneys, urine, and tumor rims. Furthermore, the blood, liver, and spleen opacification was greater and longer sustained than when an equivalent amount of iodine in free diatrizoate was used. These diatrizoate-carrying liposomes are particularly well suited for computed tomographic imaging of blood pool and reticuloendothelial structures.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

In vivo 19F NMR imaging of liver, tumor, and abscess in rats. Preliminary results.

In vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has employed almost exclusively the proton because of its high gyromagnetic ratio and natural abundance relative to other nuclei. Recent research has focused on imaging using nuclei other than 1H, but has been limited by the decreased sensitivity and/or low biologic concentrations of the nuclei. Fluorine (19F), with a gyromagnetic ratio second only to that of hydrogen, is a theoretically attractive nucleus for MRI, but fluorine is present in only minute amounts in most tissues. Perfluorochemical emulsions (PFC), developed as blood replacement agents, appear to be safe vehicles for fluorine administration. We report our initial results of in vivo 19F magnetic resonance imaging of liver, tumor, and abscess in rats given exogenous fluorine.

Abscess↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Charge-coupled device detector: performance considerations and potential for small-field mammographic imaging applications.

The physical characteristics of a charge-coupled device (CCD) image detector were evaluated, as well as its potential as a digital imaging device for small field mammographic applications such as preoperative needle localization. The detection system is based on a 2048 x 2048 pixel CCD operated in 1024 x 1024 mode. The CCD was optically coupled to an intensifying screen via a lens, without intermediate intensification. The thermal noise was suppressed to 0.15 electrons pixel-1s-1 by cooling the CCD with liquid nitrogen. The dominant source of noise was attributed to the on-chip amplifier during the readout process that was performed at 50,000 pixels s-1. The measured readout noise level was 15 electrons per pixel. The low-noise characteristics of this CCD prototype detector produced encouraging results under conditions simulating mammography, with a signal level close to one electron per pixel for each detected x ray. The mean glandular dose to the breast, based on the entrance exposure measured from a standard mammographic phantom would be 1.52 mGy (152 mrad). The ultimate spatial resolution of the system was approximately 8 cycles/mm but it was limited to about 5 cycles/mm when operated in the 1024 x 1024 imaging mode. Other physical characteristics of the system such as optical coupling efficiency, exposure response, and signal-to-noise ratio were evaluated. The results of this study suggest that the use of a scientific-grade CCD allows for very good low-contrast discrimination and moderate spatial resolution under conditions simulating mammography, but the current prototype is limited to a 9 x 9-cm2 field of view.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Characterization of a renal epithelial cell model of apoptosis using okadaic acid and the NRK-52E cell line.

Apoptotic cell death plays an important role in the pathogenesis of renal tubular epithelial damage and repair following tubular injury. Presently, the cellular factors involved in regulating apoptotic pathways in the kidney are unknown. To address the possibility that protein phosphorylation may regulate apoptosis in kidney cells, okadaic acid (OKA), a specific inhibitor of protein phosphatases 1A and 2A, was tested for its morphologic and biochemical effects on normal rat kidney epithelial cells (NRK-52E) in culture. As revealed by the DNA-specific stain DAPI, nuclei of cells treated with 1.0 microM okadaic acid contained irregular clumps of dense chromatin. Additional morphologic alterations typical of apoptosis were apparent within 2 hr after treatment with 1.0 microM OKA, including marked cellular rounding, cytoplasmic condensation, and cytoplasmic blebs. Ultrastructurally, 1.0 microM OKA caused cytoplasmic bleb formation, cellular fragmentation, condensation of heterochromatin into clumps, and segregation of nucleoli. At this stage, the cytoplasmic fragments and blebs contained many normal mitochondria. The attached, rounded cells also effectively excluded propidium iodide, demonstrating maintenance of membrane integrity despite pronounced morphologic alterations. A 2-fold increase in intracellular free Ca2+ was apparent 90 min after treatment with 1.0 microM okadaic acid. Transverse alternating field electrophoresis revealed the appearance of large DNA fragments of approximately 300-kbp. The appearance of these 300-kbp fragments correlated temporally with the observed elevation in intracellular calcium and the onset of morphologic alterations. However, preloading cells with EGTA-AM, an intracellular calcium chelator, obliterated the calcium elevation and had no effect on OKA-induced morphology, DNA fragmentation, or cell death. Detectable internucleosomal fragmentation occurred much later than the onset of morphologic changes (24-hr treatment time) and did not correlate with elevations in cellular calcium. These studies support the hypothesis that during apoptosis, chromatin condensation reflects chromatin cleavage at nuclease-sensitive sites between hexameric rosettes. These results also suggest that morphologic and nuclear alterations in the pathway of OKA-induced apoptosis occur independent of observed increases in intracellular calcium.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Apoptosis in the kidney.

Apoptosis is a highly regulated mechanism of cell death. Although apoptosis has a functional role in normal development and tissue homeostasis, aberrant triggering of the process by toxicants may lead to abnormal function or disease. Low level exposures to toxicants that induce apoptosis in kidney may therefore create a critical disturbance in kidney homeostasis, contributing to renal neoplasia or renal disease. In this report, we review the involvement of apoptosis in normal kidney development and in renal disease and discuss some of the toxicants and molecular factors involved in regulation of the process in renal cells.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nickel increases susceptibility of a nickel hyperaccumulator to Turnip mosaic virus.

Hyperaccumulated Ni can defend plant tissues against herbivores and pathogens. The effectiveness of this defense, however, has not been tested with a viral pathogen. Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) accumulation was studied in two serpentine species of Streptanthus with different Ni uptake abilities. Plants of a Ni hyperaccumulator, milk-wort jewelflower (S. polygaloides Gray), and a non-hyperaccumulator, plumed jewelflower (S. insignis Jepson), were grown on Ni-amended and unamended soils. Plants were inoculated with TuMV at three different phenological stages: basal rosette, bolting, and flowering. Susceptibility of experimental plants to TuMV was determined either by the magnitude of TuMV accumulation (measured by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]) or by plant survival. Streptanthus polygaloides plants grown on high-Ni soil were more susceptible to TuMV than low-Ni S. polygaloides at all three phenological stages. All rosette and pre-bolt S. insignis plants were infected by TuMV, but survival and TuMV accumulation were not significantly affected by soil Ni. At flowering, only high-Ni S. polygaloides plants became infected. For S. polygaloides, elevated tissue Ni concentrations enhanced TuMV infection instead of defending plants from the virus. To reduce risks to nearby agricultural crops, future phytoremed. iation and phytomining operations using this species should incorporate management plans to prevent the creation of artificial reservoirs of TuMV inoculum.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Lyophilized liposomes: a new method for long-term vesicular storage.

To facilitate acceptance and use of radiopaque liposomes as novel CT contrast agents, we developed a technique that permits their long-term storage at room temperature. This study compares standard storage procedures with the new method. Multilamellar vesicles were prepared with egg lecithin, cholesterol and stearylamine (4:1:1 molar ratio) as well as diatrizoate. After synthesis, the vesicles were separated into batches: one portion was kept frozen (FRO), another was lyophilized and stored at room temperature (LYO-RT), and a third was thawed and stored at room temperature (RT). Size, structure and biodistribution of vesicles in all three groups were assessed over a 6-month period. Freeze-drying the vesicles caused no apparent damage to their membranes The RT group showed marked aggregation after 1 month, while the LYO-RT and FRO vesicles showed only a slight shift to larger particles after 6 months. At this time, there was no significant change in the biodistribution of the LYO-RT vesicles compared to FRO. Uptakes in the reticuloendothelial tissues were 15 per cent and 19 per cent respectively. The LYO-RT materials showed additional advantages in that they were always easy to resuspend. This technique appears to be the most successful and convenient procedure for the long-term storage of liposomes.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Changes in antimicrobial resistance among Salmonella enterica Serovar typhimurium isolates from humans and cattle in the Northwestern United States, 1982-1997.

We compared antimicrobial resistance patterns of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (ST) of isolates from humans (n = 715) and cattle (n = 378) in the Pacific Northwest from 1982 through 1997. The major changes in antimicrobial resistance can be attributed to the widespread clonal dissemination of multidrug-resistant definitive phage type 104 ST.

Animals↗