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Biomedical subjects

M Jacob

Publications and source records attributed to M Jacob.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Principles of hand ontogenesis in man.

Human hand anlagen of different developmental stages are studied light and scanning electron microscopically. The findings are compared with experimental and ultrastructural results obtained from avian limb anlagen. Shaping, cell differentiation and the spatial arrangement of different cells are found to be the basic processes of hand development. The shaping of the arm and hand seems to anticipate future grasping movements. Factors controlling this developmental process are on the one hand the apical ectodermal ridge (AER) that maintains in the underlying mesoderm a high level of mitotic activity, and on the other hand a species-specific pattern of cell death in different zones of arm and hand. Interdigital cell death, microfilament bundles included in the basal compartment of AER cells, and local anchorings of the AER ectoderm by collagen fibrils are involved in finger separation. The flexion creases are genetically fixed and their development cannot be explained by mechanical factors. It is found that the early hand anlage is already composed of relatively autonomous founder cells committed to different lineages. This is true for the muscle precursor cells which originate from the brachial somites. These migrating somite cells are determined to belong to the myogenic lineage. However, their distribution, mitotic activity and later arrangement in single muscles are controlled by factors localized within the hand itself. Tendons develop autonomously from somatopleural cells. Other already committed cells are the angioblasts forming the endothelial lining of the blood vessels, the neural crest cells differentiating into melanocytes and Schwann cells, and the blood-derived cells like chrondro- or osteoclasts. The differentiation of somatopleural cells into cartilage, connective tissue or smooth muscle depends on their position within the hand anlage. Possible mechanisms leading to the specific pattern are discussed.

Animals↗

Identification of fentanyl derivatives.

An interpretative approach to the identification of fentanyl homologs and analogs is presented. The techniques employed are liquid/liquid extractions; capillary gas chromatography; and infrared, mass, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectral characterization. Spectral data are presented for eight fentanyl derivatives of clandestine origin.

Chemical Phenomena↗

Ontogeny of avian extrinsic ocular muscles. I. A light- and electron-microscopic study.

Light- and electron-microscopic studies were performed on those tissues that are supposed to deliver the anlagen of the extrinsic ocular muscles. Since the blastemata of the ocular muscles can be traced back into the prechordal mesoderm, it can be concluded that this tissue is the source of these muscles. In embryos from stage 8-10 according to Hamburger and Hamilton (HH) cells are found to detach from the lateral border of the prechordal mesoderm. These cells are assumed to give rise to the trochlearis and abducens musculature. In stage-14 embryos the paired premandibular cavity arises within the lateral wings of the prechordal mesenchyme. In 4-day embryos the lateral wall of each premandibular cavity becomes denser forming a premuscular mass, which is subdivided into the anlagen of the oculomotorius muscles in 5-day embryos. The head cavities are not homologous to somites because their structures, origins and sites are very different.

Animals↗

Attrition in maintenance therapy for recurrent depression. A preliminary report.

All maintenance treatment programs are complicated by the issue of patient noncompliance. This report investigates factors contributing to noncompliance during a 2-year study designed to evaluate the efficacy of long-term antidepressant medication in patients with recurrent unipolar depression. Only 21 of 51 patients (49%) who entered maintenance treatment successfully completed this phase of the study. Fifteen patients (8 completers and 7 dropouts) were randomly selected for an interview which focused on their previous psychiatric treatment history and attitudes towards the maintenance treatment program. In addition, these patients also completed a comprehensive personality battery. Results indicate that, while both groups had similar attitudes about the treatment program, they differed significantly along personality and psychiatric treatment history variables. Dropouts scored higher than completers on a measure of hysterical personality style. They were also more likely to have received psychotherapy in previous treatment experiences and to rate it as beneficial, while completers consistently rated prior treatment, which did not include antidepressant medication, as being of no benefit whatsoever. In order to enhance patient compliance, it is important to obtain information early in treatment about patients' treatment histories and their expectations about effective treatment for depression.

Adult↗

A family of small nucleoplasmic RNAs with common structural features.

The four small nucleoplasmic RNAs designated as U1, U2, U4 and U5 RNA have a common structural domain or domain A. It is characterized by the presence of consensus sequence Pu-A-(U)5-G-Pup in a free single-stranded region and of the sequence Py-N-Py-Gp in the top loop of a hairpin located at the 3' end of the free region. Domain A is likely to be involved in a function common to the four small RNAs. Other domains possibly involved in the specific function of U1 and U5 RNAs are also presented. Several molecular forms of a same U RNA may be found in a same cellular type. These variant U RNAs are particularly numerous for U5 RNA. The possible origin of such new molecular forms is discussed in relation to multigene families for U RNAs. U1, U2, U4 and U5 RNAs are capped (with trimethylguanosine) and the consensus sequence for their 6 first nucleotides is A-(Py)5p. Thus, their 5' end resembles that of premessenger RNA, also capped (with monomethylguanosine) and bearing A-(Py)5p. Both classes of RNA are synthesized by RNA polymerase B, but the presence of a "TATA box" upstream of the capsite has not yet been demonstrated for U RNA genes. U1, U2, U4 and U5 RNAs bear a sequence C-Py-Pu at their 3' end or very close to it. This trinucleotide might be part of a site of post-transcriptional cleavage of U RNA precursors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

High evolutionary conservation of the secondary structure and of certain nucleotide sequences of U5 RNA.

The nucleotide sequence of chicken, pheasant, duck and Tetrahymena pyriformis U5 RNAs as well as that of new mammalian variant U5 RNAs was determined and compared to that of rat and HeLa cells U5 RNAs. Primary structure conservation is about 95% between rat and human cells, 82% between mammals and birds and 57% between the Protozoan and mammals. The same model of secondary structure, a free single-stranded region flanked by two hairpins can be constructed from all RNAs and is identical to the model previously proposed for mammalian U5 RNA on an experimental basis (1). Thus, this model is confirmed and is likely to be that of an ancestor U5 RNA. The 3' region of the U5 RNA molecule constitutes domain A, and is common to U1, U2, U4 and U5 RNAs (2). The characteristic nucleotide sequences of domain A are highly conserved throughout the phylogenetic evolution of U5 RNA suggesting that they are important elements in the function of the four small RNAs. Another region of high evolutionary conservation is the top part of the 5' side hairpin whose conserved sequence is specific to U5 RNA. It might participate in the particular function of U5 RNA.

Animals↗