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Biomedical subjects

M Hanson

Publications and source records attributed to M Hanson.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

AIDS awareness and risk behaviors among dually disordered adults.

An exploratory needs assessment was conducted among 50 clients of an abstinence-oriented outpatient clinic for adults experiencing coexisting drug abuse and chronic mental disorders. Findings revealed that, despite education and prevention efforts, sample members possessed considerable misinformation about AIDS and continued to engage in high risk heterosexual practices. Their knowledge level was not associated significantly with their admission diagnoses. Knowledge level also did not correlate significantly with safer sexual practices. These findings have implications for the development of AIDS education and prevention programs for dually disordered clients. To be effective, AIDS prevention and education efforts must be targeted at the clients' specific needs. Clear, explicit information about AIDS must be provided. In addition, behavioral-attitudinal change strategies that focus on the high-risk situations encountered by the clients and teach them alternative safer sex practices are required.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Neonatal transport in Texas.

The critically ill newborn requires specialized care, which is generally provided in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). We surveyed all identifiable NICUs in the state of Texas to study deficiencies in the current system. Despite the existence of many neonatal transport teams, little or nothing has been done to coordinate similar efforts at different programs or to organize programs into sharing the responsibility of transport among the less served areas of Texas. The lack of adequate reimbursement may be a limiting factor in the organization and regionalization of neonatal transport. We urge further efforts toward coordination and regionalization of transport with an examination of reimbursement policies to allow teams to share equally the responsibility of neonatal transport in Texas.

Catchment Area, Health↗

Interleukin 7 receptor engagement stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation, inositol phospholipid turnover, proliferation, and selective differentiation to the CD4 lineage by human fetal thymocytes.

The purposes of this study were to elucidate the effects of recombinant human interleukin 7 (rhIL-7) on proliferation as well as differentiation of human fetal thymocytes and to analyze the biochemical nature of the IL-7 receptor-linked transmembrane signal. In the absence of costimulants, rhIL-7 stimulated the in vitro proliferation and colony formation of CD4+CD8+ double-positive immature fetal thymocytes. Furthermore, rhIL-7 promoted partial differentiation of immature thymocytes with a selective advantage for the development of CD4+CD8- single-positive thymocytes. Our observations suggest that IL-7 likely has an important regulatory role during the earliest stages of human T-cell ontogeny. Stimulation of fetal thymocytes with rhIL-7 resulted in enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of three distinct phosphoproteins with molecular masses of 72, 98, 123, and 190 kDa and induced a rapid and biphasic increase in the production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, which was inhibitable by the tyrosine protein kinase inhibitor genistein. Thus, the transmembrane signal triggered by engagement of the IL-7 receptor is intimately linked to a functional tyrosine protein kinase pathway and stimulates the inositol phospholipid turnover and proliferation, as well as selective differentiation to the CD4 lineage, by human fetal thymocytes.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Interleukin 7 receptor ligation stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation, inositol phospholipid turnover, and clonal proliferation of human B-cell precursors.

Functional interleukin 7 (IL-7) receptors are expressed on the surface of multiphenotypic, biphenotypic, and immature B-lineage human lymphoid precursor cells with germ-line immunoglobulin heavy-chain genes but not on more mature B-lineage lymphoid cells with rearranged and/or expressed immunoglobulin heavy-chain genes. Thus, IL-7 may have an important regulatory role during the earliest stages of human B-cell ontogeny. The engagement of the surface IL-7 receptors on immature B-cell precursor cells with recombinant human IL-7 (rhIL-7) results in enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple phosphoproteins, stimulates inositol phospholipid turnover and DNA synthesis, and promotes their clonal proliferation. These effects are (i) specific for rhIL-7, since rhIL-3, rhIL-4, rhIL-5, rhIL-6, and recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor do not elicit similar activities on IL-7 receptor-positive human pro-B cells; and (ii) mediated by IL-7 receptors, since they are not observed in IL-7 receptor-negative B-lineage lymphoid cell populations. rhIL-7-induced tyrosine phosphorylation on the 35-, 53-, 55-, 62-, 69-, 76-, 94-, 150-, 170-, and 190-kDa substrates as well as rhIL-7-induced stimulation of inositol phospholipid turnover are abrogated by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein. These results demonstrate that the IL-7 receptor on immature human B-cell precursor populations is intimately linked to a functional tyrosine kinase pathway and tyrosine phosphorylation is an important and perhaps mandatory step in the generation of the IL-7 receptor-linked transmembrane signal.

B-Lymphocytes↗

The dental amalgam issue. A review.

Using an interdisciplinary approach, the current position in the dental amalgam controversy and the potential impact of amalgam mercury on human health are reviewed. Aspects of materials science, corrosion, mercury exposure, toxicology, neurology and immunology are included. New data on mercury exposure from corroded amalgam fillings in vivo are presented. The exposure can reach levels considerably over known threshold limit values. Also, measurements of mercury absorption from intraoral air are presented. The vital importance of avoiding a galvanic amalgam-gold coupling is emphasized. The symptomatology of a disabled patient, who recovered after amalgam removal, has been included. It is concluded that discussion of the dental amalgam issue has suffered from the lack of an interdisciplinary approach. It would be wise to learn from the lesson of acrodynia, and consider amalgam mercury among other possible factors in neurological and immunological diseases of unclear etiology.

Dental Amalgam↗

Stimulatory effect of counterflow centrifugal elutriation in large-scale separation of peripheral blood monocytes can be reversed by storing the cells at 37 degrees C.

Transfusion of peripheral blood monocytes may be of benefit as adjuvant treatment of leukopenic patients with serious infections. To study the feasibility of this approach, a large-scale monocyte separation procedure employing leukapheresis, density gradient centrifugation, and counterflow centrifugal elutriation was established. By processing 5 to 6 liters of normal donor blood, it was possible to obtain a mean of 1.1 x 10(9) (range: 0.5-1.7 x 10(9) cells) of mononuclear cells, of which 89% (range: 82-94%) were monocytes by Wright's stain morphology. When the elutriation was performed in XVIVO-10, a commercially available, serum-free medium developed for adoptive immunotherapy, spontaneous secretion of superoxide by the monocytes was significantly higher than for monocytes elutriated in Hanks' balanced salt solution without calcium and magnesium or non-elutriated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. This stimulated state of the monocytes was observed both immediately after elutriation and after overnight storage at 4 degrees C, and it was not affected by the type of storage vessel used. Overnight storage of the monocytes at 37 degrees C resulted in a reversal of the stimulated state of the cells. Monocytes elutriated in XVIVO-10 and kept overnight at 4 degrees C released high amounts of arachidonic acid. A subsequent decrease in this release was seen after additional storage at 37 degrees C for 18 hours. These observations demonstrate that separation and storage variables have important effects on the state of stimulation of monocytes. Further investigations of such variables may suggest improved procedures for preparation and storage of these cells, as well as possible ways to stimulate monocytes prior to transfusion.

Arachidonic Acid↗

Alternative fat-restricted diets for hypercholesterolemia and combined hyperlipidemia: feasibility, design, subject recruitment, and baseline characteristics of the dietary alternatives study.

UNLABELLED: Dietary recommendations for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia (HC) emphasize stepwise reductions in fat intake, but there is no agreement on what lower limit is desirable or achievable. These recommendations have applied broadly to persons with HC alone, as well as to those with a combined elevation in triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol, even though they may differ in pathophysiological mechanisms and response. In this paper, we describe the design and feasibility of recruiting and randomizing subjects with HC or combined hyperlipidemia (CHL) to an outpatient dietary intervention study of progressively fat-restricted diets. Diets were designed to contain 30, 26, 22, and 18% of calories from fat; 300, 200, 100, and 100 mg cholesterol/day; and a polyunsaturated/saturated fat ratio of approximately 1.0. Triglyceride and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) cutpoints were based on the age-specific 75th percentile value. Over 18 months, 8372 men were screened, yielding 320 HC subjects randomized to the four diets and 211 CHL subjects randomized to the first three diets (because of fewer CHL subjects). At baseline, HC and CHL subjects were similar in age, education, lifestyle, dietary intake, and LDL-C, but CHL subjects were heavier, more hyperglycemic, hyperinsulinemic, and hypertensive. CONCLUSIONS: Recruiting a large cohort of HC and CHL subjects from an industrial workforce is feasible in a restricted time frame. CHL subjects demonstrate features of the insulin resistance/hypertension syndrome, differing from HC subjects. CHL is sufficiently common relative to HC (2:3) to permit a comparison of dietary responses between the two conditions. Finally, the randomization of HC and CHL subjects to the diets yielded statistically indistinguishable groups, permitting a test of the efficacy of the alternative diets within each hyperlipidemic (HL) category.

Adult↗

Systemic lysis protects against the effects of platelet activation during coronary thrombolysis.

Systemic lysis may protect against the platelet activation and ongoing thrombosis associated with coronary thrombolysis. To address this hypothesis, we compared urokinase and tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) given intravenously in a chronic, canine model of coronary thrombosis. T-PA 10 micrograms/kg per min induced reperfusion in 55 +/- 7 min but complete reocclusion occurred in 9/10 animals. Reocclusion was prevented by combining t-PA with 7E3, an antibody to the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa which abolished ex vivo platelet aggregation. A similar time to reperfusion was seen with urokinase 750-1,000 U/kg per min. In contrast to t-PA, complete reocclusion occurred in only 1/20 cases (P less than 0.001 vs. t-PA), despite evidence of continued platelet activation in vivo and platelet aggregation ex vivo. Furthermore, this did not reflect a difference in the clearance of the two plasminogen activators. However, plasma fibrinogen was undetectable after urokinase in contrast with t-PA. Furthermore, in animals treated with prourokinase 20 micrograms/kg per min, reocclusion (4/7) correlated with the degree of systemic lysis. To determine whether platelet activation modified the response to urokinase, it was combined with 7E3. 7E3 0.8 mg/kg reduced the time to reperfusion with t-PA (30 +/- 5, n = 6; P = 0.025), but not with urokinase (56 +/- 8 vs. 62 +/- 6, P = ns). Systemic lysis protects against the propensity of continued thrombosis during coronary thrombolysis to delay reperfusion and induce reocclusion. This may modify the requirement for adjunctive antiplatelet therapy.

Animals↗

Absence of HIV infection in blood donors with indeterminate western blot tests for antibody to HIV-1.

To determine whether apparently healthy persons who have had repeatedly reactive enzyme immunoassays and an indeterminate Western blot assay for antibody to the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) are infected with HIV-1 or HIV-2, we studied 99 such volunteer blood donors in a low-risk area of the country. The subjects were interviewed about HIV risk factors. Coded blood specimens were tested again for HIV-1 antibody (by two different enzyme immunoassays, a Western blot assay and a radioimmunoprecipitation assay) and for HIV-2 antibody by enzyme immunoassay, for HIV-1 by the serum antigen test, for HIV-1 by culture, for human T-cell leukemia virus Type I or II antibody by enzyme immunoassay, and for sequences of HIV DNA by the polymerase chain reaction. Of the 99 blood donors, 98 reported no risk factors for HIV-1 infection; 1 donor had used intravenous drugs. After a median of 14 months (range, 1 to 30) from the time of the initial test, 65 subjects (66 percent) were still repeatedly reactive for HIV-1 antibody on at least one immunoassay. In 91 subjects (92 percent) the Western blot results were still indeterminate, whereas in 8 they were negative. No donor met the criteria for a positive Western blot assay for HIV-1, and none had evidence of HIV-1 or HIV-2 infection on culture or by any other test. We conclude that persons at low risk for HIV infection who have persistent indeterminate HIV-1 Western blots are rarely if ever infected with HIV-1 or HIV-2.

Adult↗

Functional consequences of phospholipase A2 activation in human monocytes.

Human monocytes release arachidonic acid upon stimulation with a variety of soluble or particulate agents. These include: phorbol esters (i.e., 12-O-tetradecanoate phorbol-13-acetate, TPA), calcium ionophores (ionomycin), serum-treated zymosan (STZ) concanavalin A (Con A), and, to a minor degree, lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Protein Kinase C activation or increased intracellular Ca2+ are common features of the actions of most, if not all, of these stimuli. Prevention of PKC activation by the use of staurosporine or chelation of extracellular calcium by EGTA selectively impaired AA release, indicating that PLA2 may be regulated by either pathway concurrently. The generation of inositol phosphates and diacylglycerol by the action of phospholipase C, notably upon interaction with opsonized particles during phagocytosis, apparently constitutes the physiological correlate of stimulation via these agents. Release of arachidonic acid by the action of PLA2 or other phospholipid hydrolyzing enzymes leads directly to the formation of cyclooxygenase products. In the presence of markedly elevated calcium concentrations, 5-lipoxygenase (LO) is activated as well, leading to the formation and release of leukotrienes. Agents which stimulate AA release also initiate other monocyte functions, including generation of reactive oxygen intermediates and lymphokine release. This observation makes it tempting to implicate PLA2 activation in many aspects of monocyte physiology. However, no correlation with PLA2 activation and either superoxide or lymphokine release was found when multiple stimuli, including TPA, ionomycin, serum-treated zymosan, concanavalin A, or LPS, were compared simultaneously. Instead, our results indicate that PLA2 activation is regulated by the same mechanisms, including PKC activation and increased Ca2+, as are other enzymes which determine expression of monocyte function. Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) hydrolyzes fatty acid from the sn-2 position of a wide variety of phospholipids. Substrates for this (these) enzyme(s) include species which contain a variety of polar head groups (choline, serine, ethanolamine, etc.) and some phospholipids with either linkages in sn-1. In many cell types, including human monocytes, phospholipase A2 commonly acts on substrates containing arachidonic acid (AA). The liberation of free arachidonate is a first step in the metabolism of prostaglandins, hydroxyeicosatetraeinoic acids, (HETE'S), and leukotrienes (Lt's). Monocytes and macrophages have been shown to be rich sources of arachidonate and its metabolites. Some biologic properties of monocytes, notably their role as immunomodulating cells, have been attributed to eicosanoid production and release. Accordingly, much of the interest regarding PLA2 in human monocytes centers on this aspect of their function.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Arachidonic Acid↗

Outpatient treatment of adults with coexisting substance use and mental disorders.

This study examined the six-month and one-year treatment statuses of 118 patients admitted to an abstinence-oriented, outpatient facility serving dually disordered adults. Findings revealed that persons who have been underserved by the mental health and substance abuse fields can be engaged in treatment and will respond favorably to it. Overall, demographic characteristics, admission diagnoses, and past treatment history did not predict treatment outcomes. Rather, patients who participated more fully in treatment had better recoveries than did those who did not engage in treatment. In addition, patients who complied and responded to treatment during their first six months in treatment were more likely to comply and respond to treatment during the second six months of treatment. These results should encourage other clinicians to develop innovative services that meet the needs of dually disordered adults.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Effects of interleukin-2 and interleukin-2-activated cells on in vitro myelopoiesis.

Lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells cultured with recombinant interleukin-2 (IL-2) have been used clinically in adoptive immunotherapy for cancer patients. To study the influence of LAK cells and IL-2 on haematopoiesis, an in vitro assay system for colony formation of granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells (GM-CFC) was used. LAK cells from cultures of either human peripheral blood (PB) or human bone marrow (BM) mononuclear cells were both inhibitory to allogeneic BM-derived GM-CFC. Inhibitory activity could be transferred with supernatants from co-cultures of LAK cells and BM targets, but also from the IL-2 activated PB- or BM-derived cells alone. The inhibitory activity from the initially non-cytotoxic/non-inhibitory BM population was rapidly induced by IL-2 activation, and preceded the generation of cytotoxic LAK cells in the culture. These experiments show that inhibition of haematopoietic progenitor cells by IL-2 is not dependent on generation of cytotoxic LAK cells, but rather the result of IL-2-induced cytokine production. We conclude that the synergistic action of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) may contribute to inhibition, but that also other cytokines are responsible for the observed inhibition of BM-derived GM-CFC.

Bone Marrow Cells↗

Effect of hyperoxia (PaO2 50-90 mmHg) on fetal breathing movements in the unanaesthetized fetal sheep.

Hypoxia inhibits fetal breathing movements but after birth it stimulates breathing. These differences have long been thought to involve central nervous inhibitory mechanisms. Such mechanisms might exert a tonic inhibition of fetal breathing movements at normal fetal PaO2 and the rise in PaO2 at birth might lift this inhibitory effect. To test this hypothesis 7 fetal sheep were chronically instrumented at 125-130 days for recording electrocortical activity (ECoG), and the electromyograph (EMG) activity of the diaphragm and neck muscles. Catheters were placed in a fetal carotid and a brachial artery and in the fetal trachea. For an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation system a 12 F gauge silastic catheter was placed in the right atrium for draining fetal blood and a 9.6 F gauge catheter was placed in a carotid artery to return oxygenated blood. Three days after operation the fetuses were connected to the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation system and fetal PaO2 was raised to 65.2 +/- 4.4 mmHg (SEM) for 6 to 19 h without changing pH or PaCO2. Neither the incidence of high voltage ECoG (48.5 +/- SEM 2.0% vs 52.8 +/- 3.3%) nor of fetal breathing movements (37.3 +/- 2.6% vs 23.8 +/- 5.9%) changed during the periods of hyperoxia. Since fetal breathing movements did not become continuous, we conclude that the lower PaO2 in the fetus compared to the neonate does not exert a tonic inhibitory influence on fetal breathing movements.

Animals↗

AAEE case report #15: ulnar neuropathy at or distal to the wrist.

A 56-year-old woman developed insidiously progressive, painless weakness of her left hand. Clinical and electrodiagnostic abnormalities were limited to the motor function of the hand, with the hypothenar less affected than more distal ulnar muscles. Compression of the distal ulnar nerve by a ganglionic cyst was surgically relieved and there was postoperative improvement. The electrodiagnosis of ulnar neuropathy at or distal to the wrist is reviewed together with relevant anatomic and clinical aspects of these uncommon lesions.

Electromyography↗

A new dynamometer measuring concentric and eccentric muscle strength in accelerated, decelerated, or isokinetic movements. Validity and reproducibility.

A new computerized dynamometer (the SPARK System) is described. The system can measure concentric and eccentric muscle strength (torque) during linear or nonlinear acceleration or deceleration, isokinetic movements up to 400 degrees.s-1, and isometric torque. Studies were performed to assess: I. validity and reproducibility of torque measurements; II. control of lever arm position; III. control of different velocity patterns; IV. control of velocity during subject testing; and, V. intra-individual reproducibility. No significant difference was found between torque values computed by the system and known torque values (p greater than 0.05). No difference was present between programmed and external measurement of the lever arm position. Accelerating, decelerating and isokinetic velocity patterns were highly reproducible, with differences in elapsed time among 10 trials being never greater than 0.001 s. Velocity during concentric and eccentric isokinetic quadriceps contractions at 30 degrees.s-1, 120 degrees.s-1 and 270 degrees.s-1 never varied by more than 3 degrees.s-1 among subjects (N = 21). Over three days of testing, the overall error for concentric and eccentric quadriceps contraction peak torque values for 5 angular velocities between 30 degrees.s-1 and 270 degrees.s-1 ranged from 5.8% to 9.0% and 5.8% to 9.6% respectively (N = 25). The results indicate that the SPARK System provides valid and reproducible torque measurements and strict control of velocity. In addition, the intra-individual error is in accordance with those reported for other similar devices.

Adult↗

Heterophil-negative mononucleosis-like illnesses with atypical lymphocytosis in patients undergoing seroconversions to the human immunodeficiency virus.

The authors present data from four patients with acute heterophil-negative mononucleosis-like illnesses who were initially thought to have primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections but eventually were shown to be seroconverting to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Widespread lymphadenopathy and blood smears indistinguishable from those typically encountered in the acute phase of infectious mononucleosis were present in all cases. There were also varying combinations of fever, sore throat, and malaise, as well as mild abnormalities of hepatic function and elevated cold agglutinins (anti-I). Anti-HIV was detected by both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot techniques in all cases, with increasing titers noted in two of three serially studied cases. In one patient, a dual infection with the hepatitis B virus was also documented. Diagnostic possibilities in patients with acute mononucleosis-like illnesses dominated by prominent lymphadenopathy should include primary seroconversions to HIV.

Antibodies, Heterophile↗