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Biomedical subjects

M White

Publications and source records attributed to M White.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources

Structure, expression, and T cell costimulatory activity of the murine homologue of the human B lymphocyte activation antigen B7.

Following occupancy of the T cell receptor by antigen, T cell proliferation and lymphokine production are determined by a second costimulatory signal delivered by a ligand expressed on antigen presenting cells. The human B cell activation antigen B7, which is expressed on antigen presenting cells including activated B cells and gamma interferon treated monocytes, has been shown to deliver such a costimulatory signal upon attachment to its ligand on T cells, CD28. We have cloned and sequenced the murine homologue of the human B7 gene. The predicted murine protein has 44% amino acid identity with human B7. The greatest similarity is in the Ig-V and Ig-C like domains. Murine B7 mRNA was detected in murine hematopoietic cells of B cell but not T cell origin. Cells transfected with murine B7 provided a costimulatory signal to human CD28+ T lymphocytes. These results demonstrate the costimulatory activity of murine B7 and provide evidence that the ligand attachment site is conserved between the two species.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Purification and partial sequence analysis of pp185, the major cellular substrate of the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase.

Insulin stimulates the tyrosine phosphorylation of a 185-kDa putative cytosolic substrate protein (pp185) in diverse cell types. After intravenous insulin infusion into the live intact rat, pp185 and the 95-kDa insulin receptor beta-subunit were the major proteins that tyrosine phosphorylated in liver, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue. Both proteins were maximally phosphorylated within 30 s, and both increased in phosphotyrosine content in parallel with increasing insulin dose. However, pp185 tyrosine phosphorylation was transient, with almost complete dephosphorylation within 2-3 min despite continued insulin stimulation. To identify pp185 directly, we purified pp185 from insulin-stimulated rat liver, using a denaturation-based extraction procedure that blocks endogenous protein phosphatases and thus allows a high yield, single step isolation of phosphotyrosyl proteins by anti-phosphotyrosine antibody immunoaffinity absorption. From 50 rat livers, 50-100 pmol of pp185 was isolated. Edman degradation of seven internal tryptic peptide fragments of pp185 yielded novel amino acid sequences, indicating that pp185 is a new protein. Antipeptide antibodies were raised which specifically recognize a single, 185-kDa insulin-stimulated phosphotyrosyl protein in liver, skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, and several cultured cell lines. These results indicate that pp185 is expressed in a variety of insulin-responsive tissues, is the major protein rapidly tyrosine phosphorylated under physiological conditions in the intact animal, and also provide a route for cloning the pp185 gene and elucidating the function of pp185 in insulin signal transduction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Expression of transferrin receptors on monocytes in hemochromatosis.

To assess whether an abnormality in transferrin receptor expression or regulation could represent an underlying metabolic defect in the reticuloendothelial (RE) system in hemochromatosis, monocytes were analyzed for the expression of the transferrin receptor using a monoclonal antibody (Act II) to the transferrin receptor (CD71) and flow cytometric analysis. Hemochromatosis patients (n = 14), and normal volunteers with no clinical evidence of iron overload (n = 14) were studied. A significant inverse relationship was observed for the relationship between the expression of transferrin receptor on monocytes and log(hepatic iron concentration) in hemochromatosis patients (r = -0.59, P less than .02) and also for the relationship between the expression of transferrin receptor and log(serum ferritin) in normal volunteers (r = -0.90, P less than .001). There was no significant difference in the mean expression of monocyte transferrin receptor between hemochromatosis patients and normal volunteers. However, the expression of the transferrin receptor in hemochromatosis patients was disproportionately higher than would be predicted from the relationship between serum ferritin and transferrin receptor expression in normal volunteers. The inverse relationship of the monocyte transferrin receptor relative to body iron stores in hemochromatosis is consistent with observations in other tissues, and suggests that non-transferrin iron metabolism, including ferritin, requires further investigation in the RE cell in hemochromatosis.

Antibodies↗

Exacerbation of fibrous dysplasia associated with an adolescent pregnancy.

Fibrous dysplasia is a metabolic skeletal disorder in which the medullary spaces of affected bones are replaced by fibro-osseous tissue. Patients with fibrous dysplasia usually become symptomatic during childhood; the adolescent patient we describe is unusual because she was not known to suffer from fibrous dysplasia until she became pregnant and experienced a dramatic reactivation of the symptoms. The therapeutic implication of this case and reproductive counselling for young women with fibrous dysplasia are discussed.

Adolescent↗

Decreased coronary sinus oxygen content: a predictor of adverse prognosis in patients with severe congestive heart failure.

Patients with congestive heart failure have abnormal coronary hemodynamics, characterized by decreased coronary sinus oxygen content, increased coronary sinus blood flow and increased myocardial oxygen consumption. To evaluate their prognostic importance, the clinical characteristics and systemic and coronary hemodynamics were related to survival in 91 patients with severe congestive heart failure and decreased ejection fraction (25.5 +/- 10% [mean +/- SD]). In 69 patients congestive heart failure was due to or secondary to coronary artery disease (group 1) and in 22 it was due to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (group 2). Five patients were in functional class II, 48 in class III and 38 in class IV. The median survival time was 20.7 months. As assessed with the Cox proportional hazards model, coronary sinus oxygen content was most strongly associated with a poor prognosis. On the basis of a comparison between the lowest (coronary sinus oxygen content less than or equal to 4.44 vol%) and highest quintile (coronary sinus oxygen content greater than 4.44 vol%), a low coronary sinus oxygen content was associated with a 2.34-fold increased risk of dying (95% confidence interval, 1.31 to 4.08). A low systolic blood pressure and a high diastolic pulmonary artery pressure were also significantly associated with increased mortality. Patients in the subgroup with a low coronary sinus oxygen content had values for functional class, ejection fraction and systemic hemodynamics similar to those of patients in the subgroup with high coronary sinus oxygen content. It is concluded that a low coronary sinus oxygen content indicative of noncompensated metabolic demand suggests a poor prognosis in patients with severe congestive heart failure.

Aged↗

Pharmacokinetic model driven infusion of propofol in children.

A computer controlled infusion device for propofol was used to induce and maintain general anaesthesia in 20 children undergoing minor surgical procedures. The device was programmed with an adult pharmacokinetic model for propofol. During and after anaesthesia, blood samples were taken for measurement of propofol concentrations and it was found that the values obtained were systematically overpredicted by the delivery system algorithm. New pharmacokinetic microconstants were derived from our data which reflected more accurately the elimination and distribution of propofol in a prospective study involving another 10 children.

Adult↗

Effects of pericardiectomy on canine pulmonary blood volume during hypervolaemia.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim was to determine the effect of the pericardium on the pulmonary blood volume response to intravascular volume loading. DESIGN: Changes in pulmonary lung volume were measured from radioactive counts over the lung during radionuclide ventriculography. Baseline measurements, and repeat measurements after infusion of 21 ml.kg-1 of the dog's own blood, were made both before and after a pericardiectomy. SUBJECTS: Ten closed chest, anaesthetised dogs were studied. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Prior to and following pericardiectomy, volume loading produced equivalent and significant increases in left atrial, mean pulmonary artery, and right atrial pressures (all p less than 0.05). Before pericardiectomy, radionuclide lung counts increased from 1606(SEM 348) to 1870(402) with volume loading, corresponding to a 16% rise in lung counts from baseline (p less than 0.05). Following pericardiectomy, a similar volume load did not result in a significant rise in lung counts [1588(245) to 1697(255), 9%, p = 0.16], but was accompanied by an increase in left ventricular diastolic volume, from 39.7(6.6) to 58.7(6.4) ml, p less than 0.05, and a decrease in systemic vascular resistance index, from 122,600(14,600) to 86,600(10,000) dynes.s.cm-5 x kg, p less than 0.05. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the concept that removal of the pericardium is accompanied by reduced pulmonary blood volume overload in response to intravascular volume loading. The mechanism appears to be related to improved left ventricular diastolic filling, perhaps the result of diminished ventricular interaction, and to redistribution of excess intravascular volume from the pulmonary to the systemic circuit.

Animals↗

Effect of chemical form of selenium on tissue glutathione peroxidase activity in developing rats.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of various forms of selenium (Se) on the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) in liver, heart, kidney and eyes of the developing rat. In experiment 1, throughout mating, pregnancy and lactation, female rats consumed one of three diets: basal (less than 0.05 microgram Se/g); selenite (0.15 microgram Se/g) and selenomethionine (0.15 microgram Se/g). Some pups born to dams in the basal group were also given intraperitoneal doses of saline, selenite or selenomethionine. GSHPx activity was measured in tissues from fetuses, 7-d-old and 14-d-old nursing pups and the dams. In all tissues studied, GSHPx activity was highest in the 14-d-old pups whose mothers were in the selenomethionine group. Rat pups given intraperitoneal selenite (3 micrograms/kg body weight) had higher liver and kidney GSHPx activity than pups given the same amount of selenium as intraperitoneal selenomethionine. In experiment 2, all dams were fed the same basal diet, and pups were weaned to diets containing one of two levels of selenium (0.1 or 0.2 microgram/g), one of three forms of selenium (selenite, selenomethionine or selenocystine) or no added selenium. After 14 d of repletion, the highest level of hepatic GSHPx activity occurred in the selenite group and the lowest in the basal diet group. After 21 d of repletion, renal GSHPx activity was lowest in the basal group followed by the selenocystine group. The highest tissue selenium concentration was found in kidney tissues of the selenocystine group. These data support the hypothesis that these dietary forms of selenium are differentially available for GSHPx activity.

Animals↗

The impact of the appearance of the anaesthetist on the patient's perception of the pre-operative visit.

The clinician's appearance is often considered a symbol which identifies and defines specific characteristics of the individual. Opinion of both lay and medical personnel on appropriate clothing inclines towards formal dress. Our aim was to assess the effect of the anaesthetist's appearance during a ward visit on the patient's evaluation of either the visit or the anesthetist himself. In our sample of 66 patients we found no evidence that the style of dress (formal: suit and tie, informal: jeans and open-necked shirt) affected that evaluation. However, when 138 patients were asked to rate the desirability of items of clothing for a male hospital doctor they expressed a preference for traditional clothing; a suit was rated as desirable and jeans as one of the four most undesirable items. We conclude that despite the conservatism of expressed opinions, the clothing worn by the anaesthetist is irrelevant to the patient's satisfaction with the visit.

Adolescent↗

Biological significance of cell cycle kinetics in 128 standard risk newly diagnosed patients with acute myelocytic leukemia.

Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) was administered to 128 newly diagnosed patients with standard risk acute myelocytic leukaemia (AML) for cell cycle measurements. Labelling indices (LI) were obtained from both the bone marrow aspirate (BMasp) and biopsies (bx) and durations of S-phase (Ts) and total cell cycle time (Tc) were measured by double-labelling the S-phase cells in vitro with tritiated thymidine. Median LI BMasp was 8% and from BMbx was 25%. The median Ts was 12 h (range 3.1-35 h) and Tc was 48 h (range 11.5-211 h). All patients received induction therapy with a combination of cytosine arabinoside and an anthracycline. Outcome of therapy or FAB type were not related to cell cycle characteristics. Patients with above median LI BMasp, however, had longer remission durations (P = 0.03) as did patients with above median Ts (P = 0.03) and Tc (P = 0.03). Upon longer follow-ups, even some of the patients with slowly cycling myeloblasts have relapsed (log rank P = 0.453 and 0.203 for Ts and Tc respectively). We conclude that patients with rapidly cycling cells tend to relapse faster; however, slowly cycling nature of myeloblasts is not associated with curability.

Adult↗

Carbohydrate tolerance and serum lipids in acromegaly before and during treatment with high dose octreotide.

Carbohydrate tolerance and serum lipids were studied in 14 patients with acromegaly before and in response to treatment with high dose somatostatin analogue (octreotide) over a 14-week period. Patients were assessed with respect to growth hormone (GH) profile, IGF1, HbA1, fasting lipids, and the GH, glucose, and insulin response to a standard 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) before and during therapy. Prior to treatment mean fasting serum insulin levels were 11.7 +/- 2.8 (+/- SE) mU I-1 with a mean insulin response to OGTT of 49.8 +/- 10.8 mU I-1. Twelve of the 14 patients responded to octreotide with a reduction in mean 24-h serum GH (32.9 +/- 9.3 to 4.3 +/- 0.9 mU I-1), suppression of GH at 60 min during OGTT (3.0 +/- 0.8 mU I-1) and normalization of serum IGF1 (71 +/- 7 to 27 +/- 3 (normal 9-48 nmol I-1)). In this group the fasting insulin levels fell to 2.2 +/- 0.7 mU I-1 (p less than 0.01), and mean insulin response during OGTT was reduced (46.6 +/- 15.0 to 12.3 +/- 2.3 mU I-1) (p less than 0.01). Despite the reduction in insulin secretion there was no significant deterioration in fasting blood glucose (4.8 +/- 0.2 vs 4.6 +/- 0.4 mmol I-1), HbA1 (7.2 +/- 0.3 vs 6.8 +/- 0.3%) or mean blood glucose response to OGTT (7.9 +/- 0.7 vs 8.2 +/- 0.5 mmol I-1). Fasting triglycerides were reduced with treatment from 1.5 +/- 0.2 to 1.1 +/- 0.1 mmol I-1 (p = 0.04) in the responsive group, but serum cholesterol levels were not significantly altered (5.3 +/- 0.3 vs 5.2 +/- 0.3 mmol I-1).

Acromegaly↗

Effect of anaesthesia on intraocular blood flow.

Pulsatile ocular blood flow, intraocular pressure, systemic blood pressure, and heart rate was measured in two groups of 15 patients. One received lignocaine 1.5 mg/kg intravenously prior to induction. There was a significant increase in intraocular pressure after suxamethonium, which was not associated with any rise in ocular blood flow. Both the IOP and ocular blood flow increased significantly after tracheal intubation. A rise in ocular blood flow reflects the stress response associated with intubation. Lignocaine failed to attenuate either response.

Anesthesia, General↗

Colic medication and apparent life-threatening events.

Eight infants with histories of apnea and cyanosis were referred to the Southwest SIDS Research Institute for evaluation of apparent life threatening events (ALTE). All of the infants had been treated for colic with a 1:1 concentration of dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) and phenobarbital, hyoscyamine sulfate, atropine sulfate and scopolamine hydrobromide (Donnatal). The medication was pre-mixed by local pharmacists. A comprehensive work-up failed to reveal a cause for the ALTE in any infant. The Dramamine/Donnatal mixture was withdrawn and polygraphic evaluation was conducted. Cardiorespiratory abnormalities were identified in all eight infants and significant gastroesophageal reflux (GER) was documented in four. The possibility that colic medication contributes to cardiorespiratory instability and GER in vulnerable infants requires serious consideration and further evaluation.

Atropine↗