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Biomedical subjects

M Schwartz

Publications and source records attributed to M Schwartz.

At least 505 records · Page 28Linked to original sources

Exclusion mapping of 12 X-linked disease loci and 10 DNA probes from the long arm of the X-chromosome.

Specific chromosome rearrangements associated with disease entities are invaluable resources for physical mapping. A deletion on the X chromosome of a male leads to the nullisomy for X-linked genes, resulting in the onset of genetic diseases and/or the absence of the DNA probe detectable sequences. This permits the localization of these loci within the deleted area. On the other hand, the region for some other X-linked loci can be excluded from the deleted area according to the absence of the characteristic symptoms of the disease and/or the presence of the hybridization signals. An interstitial deletion on the long arm of the X chromosome of a male has been characterized by high resolution banding. The karyotype of the proband is 46,Y,del(X)(pter----q21.1::q21.33----qter). The regions for 12 X-linked disease loci as well as 10 DNA probes are excluded from the deleted area, and localized either proximally or distally to the deletion. The results also reveal a controversy in the present linkage data concerning the assignment of these loci.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Fish apolipoprotein-A-I has heparin binding activity: implication for nerve regeneration.

This study provides evidence that apolipoprotein-A-I (apo-A-I), derived from fish plasma and nerve, has heparin binding activity. We have shown previously that injury in a regenerative CNS, such as that of fish optic nerves, leads to increased levels of apo-A-I in media conditioned by these nerves, as compared with media conditioned by noninjured nerves. In the present study, we have purified and characterized apo-A-I from both fish plasma and optic nerves. Sequence analysis of the 15 N-terminal amino acids revealed that at least 14 amino acids are identical in these two purified apo-A-I samples. The purified apo-A-I derived from both fish plasma and optic nerves binds to heparin. Binding measurements using [3H]heparin followed by Scatchard analysis revealed that apo-A-I binds to heparin with relatively low affinity (KD = 2.8 x 10(-6) M). Results are discussed with respect to the possibility that accumulation of apo-A-I in the extracellular matrix of fish optic nerves is made possible via heparin binding, like that to apolipoprotein-E in mammals.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Aland eye disease (Forsius-Eriksson-Miyake syndrome) with probability established in a Danish family.

A reinvestigation of a Danish family with X-linked inherited congenital nystagmus through 6 generations revealed a congenital stationary retinal dysfunction syndrome with characteristics of both incomplete congenital stationary night blindness and Aland Eye Disease. In spite of rather uniform electrophysiological findings in our patients, this retinal disorder which affects both cones and rods demonstrated considerable intrafamilial diversity with respect to visual acuity, nystagmus, refractive state and fundus pigmentation.

Adolescent↗

Sulpiride in tardive dyskinesia.

The abnormal involuntary movements in tardive dyskinesia can be reduced by the dopamine antagonist drugs, phenothiazines and butyrophenones, but most cause an increase in Parkinsonian signs. Sulpiride, a benzamide derivative, and selective antagonist of D2 receptors had a significantly beneficial effect on most of 15 patients (p less than 0.01). In 12 patients the improvement was marked. The reduction of abnormal movements was observed even with low doses, and it was not necessary to increase the dose of sulpiride above 600 mg daily. There were no significant side effects during the trial nor during an additional three months of treatment.

Adult↗

Antenatal diagnosis and treatment of fetal bronchopulmonary sequestration.

Bronchopulmonary sequestration with associated nonimmune hydrops has been previously reported with generally poor prognosis for the neonate. We report a case of bronchopulmonary sequestration and associated pleural effusion successfully managed with a transthoracic catheter placement. The embryology and clinical pathophysiology of bronchopulmonary sequestration are discussed.

Adult↗

Trimetrexate in prostatic cancer: preliminary observations on the use of prostate-specific antigen and acid phosphatase as a marker in measurable hormone-refractory disease.

Thirty-one patients with bidimensionally measurable hormone-refractory prostatic cancer received trimetrexate (TMTX). Serial values of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and acid phosphatase (SAP) were correlated with response. Five patients (17%; 95% confidence interval, 3% to 30%) achieved a partial remission for a median of 3 months (range, 3 to 7.5 months). Marker levels showed large variations with no discernible patterns. Serial PSA and SAP in 19 patients with abnormal baseline values showed a correlation with measurable disease response in only 68% (13 of 19) and 47% (nine of 19) of patients, respectively. Values were then smoothed using an exploratory data analysis technique of running medians and averages. Trends in marker changes were much more apparent. Several "decision rules" were evaluated for use of markers as indices of disease progression. A 50% increase from the patient's minimum value in either PSA or SAP on two successive determinations correlated with progression in 90% of cases in this trial. TMTX has modest activity in prostatic cancer, and further trials are not warranted. Biochemical markers do not uniformly reflect disease activity in hormone-refractory disease, and changes in biochemical markers must be interpreted cautiously when used as the sole end point to assess efficacy in clinical trials.

Acid Phosphatase↗

X-linked myopia: Bornholm eye disease. Linkage to DNA markers on the distal part of Xq.

Linkage analysis in a family with X-linked myopia gave a positive LOD score (z = 4.8 at theta = 0) for linkage to F8C. These results suggest a provisional assignment for the locus of this syndrome to the distal part of the X chromosome at Xq28. Based on the clinical and genetic evidence, a redefinition of this clinical syndrome, named Bornholm Eye Disease (BED), was made to include amblyopia, myopia, and deuteranopia. Facultative signs were optic nerve hypoplasia, reduced electroretinographic flicker function, and non-specific retinal pigment abnormalities.

Female↗

Deletions in patients with classical choroideremia vary in size from 45 kb to several megabases.

Making use of the p1bD5 probe (DXS165), we have isolated several markers from the choroideremia locus by chromosomal jumping, preparative field-inversion gel electrophoresis, and cloning of a deletion junction fragment. With these clones we were able to identify and characterize eight deletions in 69 choroideremia patients investigated. The deletions are heterogeneous, in both size and location. The smallest deletion (patient LGL1134) comprises approximately 45 kb of DNA, whereas the largest ones (patients 25.6 and LGL2905) span a DNA segment of at least 5 megabases, which is comparable in size to the smallest deletion detected in a TCD patient (patient XL45) showing a complex phenotype. The TCD deletions encompass variable parts of 150-200-kb DNA segment that is flanked by p1bD5 (DXS165) at the centromeric side and by pZ 11 at the telomeric side. The deletions in patients 33.1, LGL1101, and LGl1134 do not span a translocation breakpoint which was previously mapped on the X chromosome of a female with TCD. The clones isolated from the TCD locus are valuable diagnostic markers for deletion analysis of patients or carrier females. In addition, they should be useful for the isolation of expressed sequences that are part of the TCD gene.

Blotting, Southern↗

The Self-Adapting Focused Review System. Probability sampling of medical records to monitor utilization and quality of care.

Medical record review is increasing in importance as the need to identify and monitor utilization and quality of care problems grow. To conserve resources, reviews are usually performed on a subset of cases. If judgment is used to identify subgroups for review, this raises the following questions: How should subgroups be determined, particularly since the locus of problems can change over time? What standard of comparison should be used in interpreting rates of problems found in subgroups? How can population problem rates be estimated from observed subgroup rates? How can the bias be avoided that arises because reviewers know that selected cases are suspected of having problems? How can changes in problem rates over time be interpreted when evaluating intervention programs? Simple random sampling, an alternative to subgroup review, overcomes the problems implied by these questions but is inefficient. The Self-Adapting Focused Review System (SAFRS), introduced and described here, provides an adaptive approach to record selection that is based upon model-weighted probability sampling. It retains the desirable inferential properties of random sampling while allowing reviews to be concentrated on cases currently thought most likely to be problematic. Model development and evaluation are illustrated using hospital data to predict inappropriate admissions.

Bias↗

Microelectrode studies of amphotericin B on Na+ and K+ conductance in bullfrog cornea.

Addition of 10(-5) M amphotericin B to the tear solution of an in vitro preparation of the frog cornea increased the transepithelial conductance, gt, and decreased the apical membrane fractional resistance, f(R0), in the presence or absence of tear Na+ and Cl-. In the presence of tear Na+ and Cl-, amphotericin B increased the short-circuit current, Isc, from 3.9 to 8.8 microA.cm-2 and changed the intracellular potential, V0, from -48.5 to -17.9 mV probably due to a higher increase in the Na+ than in the K+ conductance. In the absence of tear Na+ and Cl-, amphotericin B decreased Isc from 5.5 to about 0 microA.cm-2 due to K+ (and possibly Na+) flux from cell to tear and changed V0 from -35.4 to -63.6 mV due to the increase in conductance of both ions. Increase in the tear K+ from 4 to 79 mM (in exchange for choline), in the presence of amphotericin B and absence of tear Na+ and Cl-, decreased f(R0) from 0.09 to 0.06, increased gt from 0.23 to 0.31 mS, increased Isc from 0.63 to 7.3 microA.cm-2, and changed V0 from -65.5 to -17.3 mV due to the change in EK in the presence of a high conductance in the tear membrane. Similar effects were observed with an increase of tear Na+. Results support the concept that the Na+ conductance opened by amphotericin B in the apical membrane is greater than the K+ conductance. Previously observed transepithelial effects of the ionophore may be explained mostly on the basis of its effect on the apical membrane.

Amphotericin B↗

Potential difference responses to nutrient K+, Na+ and Cl- changes with varying nutrient HCO3- in resting frog stomach.

The effects of changes in nutrient concentrations of K+, Na+ and Cl- on the transmucosal potential difference (PD) and resistance were compared for 25 and 5 mM nutrient HCO3- in resting fundus. With 25 mM HCO3-, increase of K+ from 4 to 40 mM, decrease of Na+ from 100 to 10 mM and decrease of Cl- from 81 to 8.1 mM gave, 10 min after the change, delta PD values of -23.2, -15.1 and -21.3 mV, respectively. With 5 mM HCO3-, the same changes in nutrient ion concentration gave delta PD values of -11.9, -9.4 and -10.0 mV, respectively. From these results, in going from 25 to 5 mM HCO3-, it follows that the resistances of the ionic pathways for K+, Na+ and Cl- increased. The anomalous PD response following the increase in nutrient K+ from 4 to 40 mM with 5 mM nutrient HCO3- gave further evidence that the resistance of the simple K+ conductance pathway increased prior to the increase to 40 mM K+. The fact that 2 mM Ba2+ in the 25 mM HCO3- nutrient gave a smaller increase in resistance, compared to the decrease in nutrient HCO3- from 25 to 5 mM, supported the inference that resistances of ion pathways other than that of the K+ pathway increased.

Animals↗