Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M F Smith

Publications and source records attributed to M F Smith.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Intraoperative and post operative treatment with 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin-c: long term effects in vivo on subconjunctival and scleral fibroblasts.

Rabbits undergoing full thickness glaucoma filtering surgery were exposed to one of 4 treatments. Group 1 received intraoperative distilled water, group 2 received intraoperative mitomycin-c 0.2 mg/ml for 5 minutes, group 3 received 5 post operative injections of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) 5 mg in 0.1 ml, and group 4 received intraoperative 5-FU 50 mg/ml followed by 5 post operative injections of 5-FU. 30 days after the operation tissue biopsies were taken from the subconjunctival and scleral tissue at the treated area and 90 and 180 degrees from the treated area. The biopsies were then placed in tissue culture media and the outgrowths quantitated. The fibroblast outgrowths from all areas did not differ significantly from each other except for the outgrowths from the areas directly treated with mitomycin 0.2 mg/ml which were significantly smaller. In addition then cells were morphologically abnormal although there were foci of normal cells which appeared to be growing from localised areas in the tissue biopsies. The outgrowths from the areas 90 and 180 degrees from the treated area were normal. Intraoperative treatments with mitomycin-c result in long term inhibition of fibroblast proliferation limited to the treated area, when compared with intraoperative and postoperative treatment with 5-FU. Failure of filtration surgery in eyes treated with intraoperative mitomycin may in part be due to unaffected cells reproliferating.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Control of FSH, follicular development and estrus synchronization in the mare with steroid-free follicular fluid.

Twenty-two pony mares were used in a project designed to determine the effectiveness of different treatments in controlling FSH, follicular development and synchronization of estrus and ovulation. Mares in Group 1 (n=8) received daily oral altrenogest (0.044 mg/kg); those in Group 2 (n=7) received daily altrenogest (0.044 g/kg) and, during the last 4 days of treatment they received steroid-free follicular fluid, (15 cc) intravenously (I.V.) two times a day; Mares in Group 3 (n=7) received daily intramuscular (I.M.) injections of progesterone (80 mg) and estradiol valerate (7 mg). All treatments lasted for 10 days, at the end of which prostaglandin (PgF(2)alpha, 10 mg) was administered. Sexual behavior, follicular development and FSH concentrations were monitor daily. Concentrations of FSH in Group 2 mares, were not significantly different (P>0.05) from those of Group 1 until the mares in Group 2 were treated with follicular fluid (P<0.05). Concentrations of FSH in Group 3 mares, were significantly lower than those of Groups 1 and 2 (P<0.05) until the mares in Group 2 were treated with steroid-free follicular fluid. At this point there was no significant difference between groups 2 and 3 (P>0.05). Steroid-free follicular fluid appears to induce atresia in larger follicles (>11 mm), and the initiation of new follicular wave. The combination of progesterone and estradiol valerate appears to delay follicular growth and not to induce atresia, since larger follicles (>11 mm) continued to grow after treatment. Both treatments (groups 2 and 3) resulted in ovulations within 5 days period. The treatment in Group 1 did not have any effect on FSH or follicular development and ovulations were dispersed through a 9-day period. We concluded that steroid-free follicular fluid offers a new possibility to synchronize ovulation in the mare by controlling FSH and follicular development.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1992

Quantitative energy-filtered electron microscopy of biological molecules in ice.

The theoretical and experimental bases for quantitative electron microscopy of frozen-hydrated specimens are described, with special considerations of energy filtration to improve the images. The elastic and inelastic scattering from molecules in vacuum and in ice are calculated, and simple methods to approximate scattering are introduced. Multiple scattering calculations are used to describe the scattering from vitreous ice and to predict the characteristics of images of frozen-hydrated molecules as a function of ice thickness and accelerating voltage. Energy filtration is predicted to improve image contrast and signal-to-noise ratio. Experimental values for the inelastic scattering of ice, the energy spectrum of thick ice, and the contrast of biological specimens are determined. The principles of compensation for the contrast transfer function are presented. Tobacco mosaic virus is used to quantify the accuracy of interpreting image intensities to derive the absolute mass, mass per unit length, and internal mass densities of biological molecules. It is shown that compensation for the contrast transfer function is necessary and sufficient to convert the images into accurate representations of molecular density. At a resolution of 2 nm, the radial density reconstructions of tobacco mosaic virus are in quantitative agreement with the atomic model derived from X-ray results.

Cryopreservation↗
PubMed1992

Three-dimensional photon detection kernels and their application to SPECT reconstruction.

In single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), three-dimensional photon detection kernels characterize the probabilities that photons emitted by radio-isotopes in different parts of the source region will be detected at particular projection pixels of the projection images. Monte Carlo modelling is used to study these kernels for the case of parallel hole collimators. The use of vectorized Monte Carlo computer code speeds the modelling computations. The contributions of direct and scattered photons to projection data in a transverse plane from neighbouring planes are significant for the case of uniform activity within a water-filled cylinder. A reconstruction method using the 3D kernels is proposed in which projection measurements in three adjacent planes are used simultaneously to estimate the source activity of the center plane. This multiple slice method accounts for the fact that photons detected in a given transverse plane may have originated in other transverse planes with different activity distributions. The matrix equations for image reconstruction are solved using generalized matrix inverses. The new method shows compensation for 3D photon detection effects when applied to projection data from a numerical simulation and a cardiac phantom experiment. Quantitation for the numerical study is improved compared with results from a single slice reconstruction method.

Heart↗
PubMed1992

Mitochondrial DNA-like sequence in the nuclear genome of an akodontine rodent.

Initial amplification and sequencing of a 366-bp fragment of the cytochrome b gene by a conserved primer pair (MVZ 03 and MVZ 04) revealed a nonfunctional copy of the gene with two deletions (one of which is 17 bp in length and the other of which is 3 bp in length) in Chroeomys jelskii, a South American akodontine rodent. By means of an alternative primer to MVZ 03--namely, MVZ 05--from the region of the tRNA for glutamic acid, a functional copy of cytochrome b was subsequently amplified. Both primer pairs amplify functional sequence when applied to purified mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Restriction-endonuclease digestion of purified mtDNA from C. jelskii did not reveal any additional sets of bands that would suggest heteroplasmy in the mitochondrial genome. When probed with both functional and nonfunctional gene fragments, MboI restriction digests revealed the same pattern, providing further evidence that the nonfunctional copy must be located in the nucleus. Observed differences in the mitochondrial and nuclear sequences from two populations are consistent with a faster rate of change in mtDNA than in nuclear DNA.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Luteal function after intrauterine infusion of recombinant bovine interferon-alpha I1 into postpartum beef cows expected to have short or normal luteal phases.

This study was conducted to determine whether intrauterine infusion of recombinant bovine interferon-alpha I1 (rboIFN-alpha I1), which has 70% sequence identity to bovine trophoblast protein-1, will prevent regression of corpora lutea anticipated to have a short lifespan. Twenty-six beef cows in good body condition were allotted to four treatment groups at parturition in a 2 x 2 factorial design. Treatments were: group 1, saline; group 2, rboIFN-alpha I1; group 3, norgestomet-saline; and group 4, norgestomet-rboIFN-alpha I1. Norgestomet implants were inserted on days 21-24 postpartum and removed 9 days later (before injection of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG)). Ovulation was induced 30 to 33 days postpartum with 5000 or 10,000 iu hCG. Groups 1 (n = 7) and 3 (n = 5) were given intrauterine infusions (rectocervical approach) twice daily with saline on days 1-12 or 13-24 after hCG injection, respectively. Cows allotted to groups 2 (n = 8) and 4 (n = 6) were given intrauterine infusions (rectocervical approach) of 2 mg rboIFN-alpha I1 twice daily on days 1-12 or 13-24 after hCG injection, respectively. Treatment with both norgestomet and rboIFN-alpha I1 delayed (P less than 0.01) luteolysis. Lengths of luteal phases (days; mean +/- SEM) were 8.4 +/- 0.7 (group 1, saline), 14.1 +/- 1.0 (group 2, rboIFN-alpha I1), 18.6 +/- 1.3 (group 3, norgestomet-saline) and 20.8 +/- 1.2 (group 4, norgestomet-rboIFN-alpha I1). Concentration of progesterone in serum was similar among all groups the first 6 days following hCG-induced ovulation, but differed (P less than 0.01) thereafter.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Comparative validity of two hearing loss screening questionnaires.

BACKGROUND: Hearing loss is one of the most common of all physical impairments, but physicians seldom screen adults for it, and patients often overlook or deny hearing problems. This study was designed to validate the use of two self-administered hearing loss questionnaires. METHODS: Two self-administered screening questionnaires and a hearing screening evaluation using the Welch Allyn Audioscope 3 instrument were given to 409 consecutive family practice patients over the age of 18 years. Correlational, discriminate, sensitivity, and specificity analyses were conducted on the data. RESULTS: Neither of the existing questionnaires was clinically sensitive enough to be recommended for use. A new tool based on a discriminate function analysis of the existing questionnaires was developed. In contrast, the audioscope proved to be a sensitive screening tool. Of those patients who were identified, 88% did not follow recommendations to obtain further evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Existing self-administered questionnaires cannot be recommended for use. A controlled clinical study using the newly derived questionnaire, the Smith Hearing Screening, should be conducted.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

IL-1 receptor antagonist and IL-1 beta production in human monocytes are regulated differently.

Human monocytes may synthesize simultaneously both the agonist IL-1 beta and a specific receptor antagonist of IL-1 (IL-1ra). These studies examined whether monocyte production of these two structurally related cytokines was regulated differently. IL-1ra and IL-1 beta protein levels in cell supernatants and lysates were measured with specific ELISA. Relative steady-state mRNA levels, relative transcriptional rates as determined by the nuclear run-on technique, and mRNA stability were all assessed using specific cDNA probes. Monocytes were stimulated with LPS alone, adherent IgG, or both LPS and adherent IgG. Monocytes stimulated with LPS produced near equivalent amounts of IL-1ra and IL-1 beta proteins over 22 h; relative steady-state mRNA levels paralleled the protein levels. In addition, LPS-induced monocytes exhibited enhanced rates of transcription for both IL-1ra and IL-1 beta, in comparison to adherent control cells without LPS. mRNA half-lives in LPS-induced monocytes also were similar for IL-1ra and IL-1 beta. Monocytes cultured on adherent IgG exhibited a low level of IL-1 beta transcription with an absence of protein production. In contrast, adherent IgG led to a high and prolonged rate of IL-1ra protein production. Furthermore, monocytes cultured on adherent IgG exhibited a specific induction of IL-1ra transcription and a marked prolongation in IL-1ra mRNA stability. However, LPS in a high concentration, 1 microgram/ml, reversed the IgG induction of IL-1ra production by decreasing both transcriptional rate and mRNA stability. These results indicate that production of IL-1ra by human monocytes is characterized by different patterns of regulation in comparison with IL-1 beta. LPS induces production of both proteins whereas adherent IgG stimulates only IL-1ra production. The effects of IgG and LPS on induction of IL-1ra production in human monocytes are mediated at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels.

Humans↗
PubMed1991

Effect of constant infusion of oxytocin on luteal lifespan and oxytocin-induced release of prostaglandin F2 alpha in heifers.

Two experiments were conducted to determine whether constant infusion of oxytocin would prolong the luteal phase and inhibit uterine prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) secretion in heifers. In Experiment 1, twelve heifers, treated with saline (SAL) or oxytocin (OXY) via jugular cannulae infusions (INF) or osmotic minipumps (OMP), were allotted at estrus into four treatment groups (n = 3). Treatments were: SAL-INF, SAL-OMP, OXY-INF and OXY-OMP. Physiological saline or oxytocin was given from Days 10 to 23 (Day 0 = estrus) of the estrous cycle. Method of treatment (jugular cannula infusion or osmotic minipump) had no effect (P greater than 0.05) on estrous cycle length or pattern of secretion of progesterone; therefore, data were pooled. Estrous cycle lengths were extended (P less than 0.01) for heifers which received oxytocin (25.3 +/- 0.4 d) compared to saline (20.5 +/- 0.4 d). Luteolysis did not occur in oxytocin-treated heifers until after treatment ceased. Experiment 2 was designed and conducted identically to Experiment 1 with the addition of a "challenge" injection of oxytocin (100 IU oxytocin, i.v.) given on Day 16 of the estrous cycle. Treatment of heifers with oxytocin extended (P less than 0.05) estrous cycle length by an average of 3 d compared to heifers treated with saline. The "challenge" injection induced (P less than 0.05) secretion of PGF2 alpha (as measured by the stable PGF2 alpha metabolite, 15-keto-13,14-dihydro-PGF2 alpha) in saline-treated but not oxytocin-treated heifers. In both Experiment 1 and 2, serum concentrations of FSH were elevated (P less than 0.05) in oxytocin-treated heifers. No increase was observed for LH or prolactin. The rise in estradiol-17 beta at luteolysis was not affected (P greater than 0.10) by treatment. In summary, constant infusion of oxytocin extended luteal lifespan, prolonged secretion of progesterone, and inhibited oxytocin-induced secretion of PGF2 alpha. Constant infusion of oxytocin did not affect serum concentrations of estradiol-17 beta, LH or prolactin; however, serum concentrations of FSH were elevated during the oxytocin treatment period.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Problems identified by family caregivers in counseling.

Content analysis of the problems that caregiving daughters and daughters-in-law (N = 51) elected to work on during counseling yielded seven categories: improving coping skills, meeting elder's care needs, responding to family issues, concern over the caregiver-recipient relationship, eliciting formal and informal supports, feelings of inadequacy and guilt, and planning for elder's future. Two global themes of maintaining control and increasing responsibility within the caregiver role were also evident. Case examples illustrate problems, and practice implications are considered.

Counseling↗
PubMed1991

Variation in mitochondrial cytochrome b sequence in natural populations of South American akodontine rodents (Muridae: Sigmodontinae).

A 401-bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene was sequenced from polymerase chain reaction-amplified products for 20 natural populations representing 12 species of South American akodontine rodents (Muridae). Variation among these taxa increased with their hierarchical position, from comparisons within local populations to those among different genera. Two individuals from the same local population differed by less than 1% sequence divergence. Sequence divergence among geographic samples within a species was 0.25%-8%, while that among species was 3%-21%. Comparisons of the akodontine sequences with that for the house mouse show 21%-25% sequence difference. A parsimony-based phylogenetic analysis of the data supports the placement of the taxon Microxus within Akodon (sensu stricto), of Bolomys just outside the Akodon cluster, and of Chroeomys as a separate genus quite distinct from the other members of this group. This phylogenetic hypothesis is identical to that determined from electrophoretic data but is quite divergent from the present taxonomy of the group.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

In vitro secretion of prostaglandins from endometrium of postpartum beef cows expected to have short or normal luteal phases.

The objective of this study was to characterize endometrial secretion (in vitro) of prostaglandin F (PGF), 15-keto-13,14-dihydro-prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGFM), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) on Day 5 following the first postpartum estrus of cows anticipated to have a short compared to a normal estrous cycle. Twenty-seven beef cows were randomly assigned into four groups. The Short Cycle (n = 6; control) and Short Cycle/Explant (n = 8; endometrial explants) groups had their calves weaned at 30-32 days postpartum. The Normal Cycle (n = 5, control) and Normal Cycle/Explant (n = 8; endometrial explants) groups received norgestomet (progestin) implants for 9 days beginning 21-23 days postpartum, and calves were weaned at implant insertion. Estrous cycle length (mean +/- SE; p less than 0.01) for the Short Cycle group was 11.5 +/- 1.9 days compared to 18.8 +/- 0.6 days for the Normal Cycle group. On Day 5 following the first postpartum estrus, cows in the Short Cycle/Explant and Normal Cycle/Explant groups were hysterectomized, and endometrial explants were incubated in Earle's Balanced Salt solution/Medium 199 for 90 min with or without arachidonic acid (AA) in the presence of three levels of oxytocin. Mean concentrations of PGF and PGFM were combined to obtain a value for total PGF. Concentrations of total PGF, PGE2 (from explants without AA treatment), and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha in medium of the Short Cycle/Explant group were higher (p less than 0.01) than in medium of the Normal Cycle/Explant group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Study of the effectiveness of a health-risk reduction program.

A program titled Contemporary Concerns about Food and Health (CCFH) was developed by the Florida Cooperative Extension Service after research in five counties showed 30%-74% of 2,308 middle-aged citizens to have three or more characteristics that placed them at above-average risk for developing diseases such as cardiovascular disease, adult-onset diabetes, and cirrhosis. CCFH addressed the effects of dietary and other practices that contribute to such lifestyle-related diseases. This article describes the test of the effectiveness of this program in increasing participant knowledge about the causes and preventions of health risk and in motivating them to make healthful risk-reducing changes in their lifestyles. A comparison, four-group, quasi-experimental design was used to study the program in five counties. The four groups included (a) those who participated only in CCFH lessons; (b) lesson participants who had also completed a computerized healthrisk profile; (c) a random sample of persons who completed only the health profile; and (d) a control group randomly selected to match both groups of lesson participants closely in age, sex, race, and county of residence. Results showed that lesson participants knew the answers to a significantly greater number of knowledge items than did the comparison groups, and they reported making more, and more important, changes in their lifestyles for reducing their risks of developing health problems.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Secretion of a putative metalloproteinase inhibitor by ovine granulosa cells and luteal tissue.

Ovine granulosa cells respond, through transcriptional mechanisms, to preovulatory concentrations of gonadotrophins by secreting an Mr 30,000 polypeptide. To determine the stages of the oestrous cycle at which this polypeptide is secreted, corpora lutea were collected on Days 3, 7, 10, 13 and 16 (Day 0 = oestrus; n = 4 per group), cut into 1-mm slices, and incubated for 6-7 h with [35S]methionine. Radiolabelled polypeptides of intra- and extra-cellular origin were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and quantitated by densitometry. The Mr 30,000 polypeptide was secreted at all stages of the luteal phase tested (Days 3-16), and represented approximately 24% of the total labelled polypeptide present in the medium; polypeptides of approximate Mr 14,000, 25,000 and 46,000 accounted for most of the other secreted proteins. Neither pituitary hormones (LH, FSH, prolactin) nor cholera toxin (chosen to activate adenylate cyclase) affected the rate of production of Mr 30,000 polypeptide, indicating that, once secretion has been initiated in the granulosa cells, it is not readily modulated by hormonal intervention after luteinization. Incubation of luteinized granulosa cells with tunicamycin (inhibits N-linked glycosylation reactions) showed that the secreted polypeptide consists of a heavily glycosylated amino acid backbone of approximately Mr 20,000. Western blot analysis established further that the polypeptide was not an inhibin subunit. However, NH2-terminal amino acid sequencing of the first 25 amino acids revealed a 68% sequence identity between the secreted polypeptide (Mr 30,000) and a human tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗