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Biomedical subjects

M Fleming

Publications and source records attributed to M Fleming.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Isolation and characterization of abaecin, a major antibacterial response peptide in the honeybee (Apis mellifera).

Honeybee (Apis mellifera) are frequently exposed to and likely to be infected by plant-associated bacteria. We mimicked this process by injecting bees with live bacteria and isolated five induced antibacterial substances by comparative liquid chromatographic mapping of the hemolymph. Three of these antibiotics belong to a unique family of small (18 amino acids) peptides: the apidaecins [Casteels et al. (1989) EMBO J. 8, 2387-2391]. We have now characterized a fourth bee immune response peptide. The complete sequence was established by Edman degradation of the peptide and fragments thereof. It is 34 amino acids long and contains 10 proline residues. The amino-terminal half is related to the apidaecins; similar proline motifs are also present in the amino-terminal quarter of the much longer fly diptericins. The newly identified peptide's broad spectrum, lower specific activities against Gram-negative plant pathogens and its inability to inhibit bacterial growth at medium ionic strength are different from the apidaecins. Moreover, the highest observed specific activity was against an apidaecin-resistant Xanthomonas strain. In contrast to the immediate action of apidaecins, bactericidal activity is delayed. We propose the name 'abaecin' for this new antibacterial response peptide.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Internal sequence analysis of proteins separated on polyacrylamide gels at the submicrogram level: improved methods, applications and gene cloning strategies.

The fields of protein chemistry and molecular biology are currently merging for study of biologically relevant events and conditions. To obtain partial sequences of microamounts of protein, efficient integration of high resolution separation and sequencing technologies is required. We report here on improved methods that allow extensive internal sequencing of 10 to 20 picomoles protein recovered from one- or two-dimensional gels. Each step of the standard protocol of Aebersold et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1987, 84, 6970-6974) and the required instrumentation were examined and specifically adapted for use with submicrogram amounts of protein. Optimizations of in situ microdigests and liquid chromatography were needed for improved peptide recovery. Subsequent automated sequencing required subpicomole analysis. New methods for S-alkylation of gel-separated proteins and accurate identification of tryptophan-containing peptides were introduced to insure overall higher efficiencies. The acquired internal sequences facilitated cloning of the genes and several strategies are discussed. Applying our method, several proteins of unknown structure were sequenced and successfully identified or cloned. Internal sequences of submicrogram protein amounts, recovered from a single two-dimensional gel of Escherichia coli total protein (120 micrograms), allowed unambiguous identification of the spots but pre-gel enrichment will be required for analysis of most (90-95%) other spots. Integration of comprehensive two-dimensional gel protein databases with methods and strategies outlined here could potentially be an abundant source of DNA probes and markers useful for guidance of the human genome sequencing project and for analysis of the emerging vast amounts of data.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Molecular analysis of original antigenic sin. I. Clonal selection, somatic mutation, and isotype switching during a memory B cell response.

To determine how the memory B cell population elicited to one epitope might be used in immune responses to other, structurally related epitopes, we explored the phenomenon of original antigenic sin. Strain A/J mice reproducibly respond to immunization with p-azophenylarsonate (Ars) by production of anti-Ars antibodies encoded predominantly by a single VH gene segment (VHIdCR). The structural analogue of Ars p-azophenylsulfonate (Sulf) fails alone to elicit such V regions, but can do so in A/J mice previously immunized with Ars, providing a means to specifically examine B cells capable of responding secondarily to a crossreactive antigen (i.e., memory cells). VHIdCR-expressing hybridomas were derived from the Ars-primed, Sulf-boosted original antigenic sin response of A/J mice at various times after Ars priming, and the properties of the antibodies they express and the structure of the genes encoding these antibodies were characterized. The data obtained support the following conclusions: (a) The Ars-induced memory B cell population capable of being crossreactively stimulated by Sulf is largely formed from a small fraction of all B cells participating in the anti-Ars primary response that express somatically mutated V regions; (b) the antibody repertoire and clonal composition of this population are stable over long periods of time; (c) memory B cells are capable of clonal expansion in the absence of a high rate of V gene somatic mutation; (d) the activation requirements for clonal selection of memory, versus naive B cells appear to differ; and (e) a major fraction of Ars-induced memory B cells express either IgM or IgG3 prior to and during the initial stages of the sin response.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

A comparison of health promotion practices of general practitioners and residency trained family physicians.

Physicians who specialize in family medicine and general practice have the potential to assume a major role in helping patients change their health promotion practices. Little is known about the proportion of routine consultation time devoted to primary prevention counseling or the factors that influence the provision of this kind of patient education. A survey of General and Family Practitioners was conducted to determine the extent to which these physicians perform health promotion counseling as well as their perceptions regarding constraints affecting their efforts, confidence in their ability to change patient's behaviors, and the training required to enhance their efforts. Differences, with respect to their health promotion practices, between General and Family Practitioners, were also examined. One hundred and ninety-five physicians completed the survey for a response rate of 68%. When year of graduation from medical school was controlled there was little difference in the health promotion practices of General and Family Practitioners. This study suggests residency training in the specialty of family medicine does not provide residents with the knowledge, confidence and skills to perform health prevention counseling at a level different than that practiced by General Practitioners.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed1987

Quality of care for life-supported children who require prolonged mechanical ventilation at home.

Home care is now possible for ventilator-dependent children. It is crucial, however, to ensure that the children's conditions are medically stable and that their home care is carefully planned before they are discharged. The Ventilator-Dependent Discharge Program at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago uses a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to discharge planning. The program includes training for parent caregivers, organization of community resources, and arrangement for funding.

Chicago↗
PubMed1985

The dyadic adjustment of female-to-male transsexuals.

Dyadic adjustment, sexual activities, and marital stability in the relationships of female-to-male transsexuals and their spouses were examined. Participants were 22 female-to-male transsexuals who had undergone some form of surgery to alter their anatomical sex, their spouses, and a control group of married or cohabitating nontranssexual men and women. Participants were administered the Dyadic Adjustment Scale and additional items to assess quantitatively their marital relationships. The transsexuals and their spouses were also asked open-ended interview questions concerning marital and life adjustments. Generally, the transsexuals and their spouses reported good and mutually satisfying interpersonal relationships that are in many ways comparable to those of the matched control group. These findings lend support to the previous clinical interview studies that have reported that female-to-male transsexuals form stable and enduring intimate relationships.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Ego development in female-to-male transsexual couples.

The ego development of 22 postoperative female-to-male transsexuals and their spouses or lovers with whom they had been living for a year or more was investigated. The transsexuals, their spouses, and a control group of 22 couples were administered the Washington University Sentence Completion Test of Ego Development, a projective measure of ego functioning. Ego development refers to the framework of meaning that the individual brings to an experience. The construct of ego development incorporates a series of sequential stages that integrate various frames of reference including cognitive style, interpersonal style, conscious preoccupation, and impulse control. These processes have received little attention in studies on female-to-male transsexuals who have successfully negotiated the social barrier of cross-living to the extent that they are living the male role in a heterosexual relationship. No significant differences in the distribution of ego development scores were found between the transsexuals and the control males, or between the transsexuals' spouses and the control spouses. Over 93% of the transsexuals and their spouses scored above the conformist level of ego development. These findings are discussed in terms of some of the previous literature on conformist thinking by transsexuals.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Similarities in becoming: transsexuals and adolescents.

The Gender Identity Service (located in Boston, Massachusetts) is an evaluative and counseling unit designed to provide full services including sexual reassignment to transsexuals. In that capacity, since the spring of 1972, we have seen over 120 transsexuals. During this time we have been impressed with behavioral similarities between our population of transsexuals and adolescents. This emerging observation provided impetus for the present paper. After carefully reviewing our caseload material it is our contention that indeed psychological, biological and sociological similarities do exist. Through a comparison of these, we hope not only to make transsexual behaviors more comprehensible but also to underscore the importance of the adolescent years for the development of adult gender identity. Using primarily an ego psychoanalytic approach, the paper attempts to demystify the diagnosis of transsexual by pointing to its dynamic similarities with adolescence.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1982

Preliminary results of Rorschach protocols of pre and post operative transsexuals.

Presented are initial descriptive results of two administrations of the Rorschach over a 5-year period to a group of 20 transsexuals. Of the 20, 10 were female to male and 10 were male to female. Five of the female to male transsexuals had during the 5-year period gone on for surgery, as had 5 of the female to males. Discussion focuses on the differences and similarities between pre- and post-operative groups as well as contrasting both groups with norms of the general population. Results suggest that there are no obvious differences between the transsexual group and norms for the general population.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

The use of an animal drawing test in the assessment and disposition of transsexualism.

Reported results of a study that compared two projective techniques for a group of 19 transsexuals who were seeking sex reassignment surgery. The Draw-A-Person Test (DAP), widely used in clinical settings, was contrasted to the Animal and Opposite Drawing Technique (AODT), which is a relatively new and little-examined variation of the DAP. Discussion focuses on the use of both measures as predictors of those transsexuals to be recommended for surgery. Use of the AODT as an effective measure in the assessment of transsexualism is investigated.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Freud's "Project" and its relationship to psychoanalytic theory.

Sigmund Freud wrote the "Project for a Scientific Psychology" in 1895. Although the "Project" is essential a neurological model of mind, it will be shown that major concepts in psychoanalytic theory can be traced to this work. These include libido, primary process and the pleasure principle, secondary process and the reality principle, wish fulfillment, the ego, consciousness, and repression. The "Project" signifies a transition in Freud's thinking from a neurological to a psychological realm of discourse.

Consciousness↗
PubMed1981

A study of pre- and postsurgical transsexuals: MMPI characteristics.

This study examines assessment issues concerning transsexualism through the use of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). The MMPI was administered to 20 transsexuals matched within sex on age and education: five presurgical male-to-females, five postsurgical male-to-females, five presurgical female-to-males, and five postsurgical female-to-males. Mean T scores for each of these four subsamples were examined in comparison to normative groups. Comparisons among the four subsamples showed significant differences in mean raw scores attributable to both sex and surgical status. The most striking of these comparisons indicated that postsurgical subjects had a higher level of psychological adjustment.

Female↗
PubMed1980

Folate status and its relation to vitamin C in healthy elderly men and women.

Plasma and red-cell folate levels and dietary folate intake were monitored for about six months, including two months during which supplementary vitamin C was given, in 21 healthy elderly men and women living at home in the north of England. Although biochemical values were consistently low in some subjects, no clinical folate deficiency was detected. Dietary folate intake was significantly correlated with red-cell folate, but not with plasma folate. Before vitamin C supplementation, folate intake was significantly correlated with vitamin C intake, and plasma, but not red-cell, folate was significantly related to plasma and buffy-coat vitamin C levels. During the period of vitamin C supplementation, no significant changes in plasma or red-cell folate levels were detected, even in subjects who had low initial levels of circulating vitamin C.

Aged↗