Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P Rose

Publications and source records attributed to P Rose.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Selective and sensitive method for PCR amplification of Escherichia coli 16S rRNA genes in soil.

A set of PCR primers targeting 16S rRNA gene sequences was designed, and PCR parameters were optimized to develop a robust and reliable protocol for selective amplification of Escherichia coli 16S rRNA genes. The method was capable of discriminating E. coli from other enteric bacteria, including its closest relative, Shigella. Selective amplification of E. coli occurred only when the annealing temperature in the PCR was elevated to 72 degrees C, which is 10 degrees C higher than the optimum for the primers. Sensitivity was retained by modifying the length of steps in the PCR, by increasing the number of cycles, and most importantly by optimizing the MgCl(2) concentration. The PCR protocol developed can be completed in less then 2 h and, by using Southern hybridization, has a detection limit of ca. 10 genomic equivalents per reaction. The method was demonstrated to be effective for detecting E. coli DNA in heterogeneous DNA samples, such as those extracted from soil.

Blotting, Southern↗

Use of injectable potassium chloride for euthanasia of American lobsters (Homarus americanus).

Potassium chloride (KCl: 330 mg/ml) was assessed as an euthanasia agent in American lobsters (Homarus americanus). Two groups of 10 lobsters (408.2 to 849.9 g) were maintained at 11.9 to 12.1 degrees C ('warm') and 1.5 to 2.5 degrees C ('cold') to evaluate the possible effect of ambient temperature on response to KCl. Death was defined as time of cardiac arrest, as viewed and measured by use of ultrasound. The KCl solution was injected (100 mg of KCl/100 g of body weight) at the base of the second walking leg to flood the hemolymph sinus containing the ventral nerve cord with potassium. Disruption of this 'central nervous system' was immediate, followed by cardiac arrest within 60 to 90 seconds. Group median ( +/- SD) baseline heart rate was 42 +/- 14 'warm' and 36 +/- 5 'cold' beats per minute. Time until cardiac arrest ranged from 35 to 90 (57 +/- 18) seconds in the 'warm' group and from 40 to 132 (53 +/- 34) seconds in the 'cold' group. There was no significant difference between group medians for either parameter. Histologic lesions were limited to mild to moderate acute degeneration, characterized by cell swelling, loss of contraction bands, and occasional mild cytoplasmic vacuolation of skeletal muscle at the injection site. Injectable KCl solution was an effective, reliable method for euthanasia of H. americanus.

Abdominal Muscles↗

Homogeneous purification of human recombinant GST-Akt/PKB from Sf9 cells.

The plethora of extracellular stimuli modulating the status of a cell results in the engagement of relatively few pathways responsible for transducing signals to the interior of the cell. One such pathway is the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI-3K), which results in the generation of a membrane-restricted second messenger, polyphosphatidylinositide 3'-phosphate. Among the enzymes activated by 3'-phosphorylated inositol lipids is Akt/protein kinase B (PKB). Here we describe a protocol for the expression and one-step purification of human recombinant GST-PKB in Sf9 cells. This scheme allows generating large amounts of homogeneously purified GST-PKB with high specific activity to be employed in high-throughput screening or structural studies.

Animals↗

Role of glycosphingolipids in HIV-1 entry: requirement of globotriosylceramide (Gb3) in CD4/CXCR4-dependent fusion.

We have recently shown that addition of human erythrocyte glycosphingolipids (GSL) to non-human CD4+ or GSL-depleted human CD4+ cells rendered those cells susceptible to gp120-gp41-mediated cell fusion (Puri et al., BBRC, 1998). One GSL fraction (Fraction 3) isolated from human erythrocyte GSL mixture exhibited the highest recovery of fusion following incorporation into CD4+ non-human and GSL-depleted HeLa-CD4 cells (HeLa-CD4/GSL-). Structural analysis of Fraction 3 showed that this GSL had identical head group as the known GSL, Gal(alpha1-->4)Gal(beta1-->4)Glc-Ceramide (Gb3) (Puri et al., PNAS, 1998). Here we report that presence of Gb3 in CD4+/CXCR4+ cells but not CD4+/CXCR4 cells allows fusion with HIV-1Lai-envelope glycoprotein expressing cells (TF228). Therefore, Gb3 functions in conjunction with HIV-1 co-receptor, CXCR4 to promote fusion. We propose that Gb3 functions by recruiting CD4 and/or CXCR4 at the fusion site through structurally specific interactions.

CD4 Antigens↗

Double-blind comparison of lansoprazole 15 mg, lansoprazole 30 mg and placebo as maintenance therapy in patients with healed duodenal ulcers resistant to H2-receptor antagonists.

BACKGROUND: Maintenance antisecretory therapy is often used to prevent duodenal ulcer recurrence and control symptoms. This study compared the efficacy and safety of lansoprazole 15 mg and 30 mg daily with placebo in preventing ulcer recurrence in patients with a recent history of duodenal ulcer disease. METHODS: Fifty-six patients were treated with either lansoprazole 15 mg, 30 mg or placebo o.m. RESULTS: Within 1 month of study initiation, 27% (four out of 15) of placebo-treated patients experienced ulcer recurrence as compared to 13% (two out of 15) and 6% (one out of 18) of lansoprazole 15 mg and 30 mg treated patients, respectively. Median time to first ulcer recurrence was > 12 months in lansoprazole patients. At Month 12, significantly (P < 0.001) more lansoprazole 15 mg patients (70%) and lansoprazole 30 mg patients (85%) remained healed. Eighty-two per cent of lansoprazole 15 mg and 76% of lansoprazole 30 mg patients remained asymptomatic during the entire study period. All placebo patients became symptomatic, experienced ulcer recurrence, or withdrew from the study by month six. The incidence of adverse events was comparable among the three treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: Lansoprazole safely and effectively reduces duodenal ulcer recurrence and ulcer-related symptoms.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗

Family history taking and genetic counselling in primary care.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of taking routine family histories and subsequent counselling. METHODS: The study was set in primary care in the UK. The subjects were patients between the ages of 20 and 34 years registered at one general practice. Patients were invited by letter to attend a clinic in their GP surgery, run by a GP and health visitor. A family history was constructed and counselling undertaken for any identified problems. A telephone survey of a sample of nonattenders was also performed. The outcome measures were attendance rate, patient views, patient anxiety as measured by the short form of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and referrals to secondary care. RESULTS: In total, 16.1% patients attended the clinic; 40.3 % had a family history of at least one disease with a possible genetic component. Anxiety levels fell immediately after the consultation and rose to pre-clinic levels at 12 weeks. The clinic generated three referrals to secondary care and a further seven patients who were counselled by the investigators following advice from a consultant geneticist. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to take detailed family histories and provide genetic counselling advice in primary care with minimal training of clinical primary care staff. The service is acceptable to patients, does not induce anxiety and has little effect on numbers of patients referred.

Adult↗

A systematic review of the literature exploring the role of primary care in genetic services.

BACKGROUND: In response to growing demands on genetics departments and advances in genetic medicine, it has been proposed that primary care should provide a frontline service in clinical genetics. However, there are concerns that primary care may be unwilling or ill prepared to take on this new role. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to review systematically the literature exploring the role of primary care in delivering genetic services, and define potential methods of supporting primary care in the provision of genetics services. METHODS: Seven electronic databases were searched. This was complemented by contacting experts in the field and handsearching reference lists. In total, 230 papers were identified, including traditional reviews, of which 96 were examined in detail. Fifty-one papers are included in this review. On account of the heterogeneity of papers identified, we conducted a qualitative synthesis of the results, focusing on five key questions. RESULTS: GPs accept that they have an increasing role to play in genetics, but lack confidence in their ability to do so because of limited knowledge of clinical genetics. Evidence from pilot studies of cystic fibrosis screening provides the strongest evidence for the feasibility of providing genetic services in primary care. CONCLUSIONS: Although genetic issues currently constitute a relatively small part of the overall workload in primary care, this will almost certainly change in the light of new genetic discoveries. Educational programmes and referral guidelines, computer decision support and genetic nurse specialist outreach clinics may provide useful methods of supporting GPs in the new field of primary care genetics.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

Sensitivity of [11C]phenylephrine kinetics to monoamine oxidase activity in normal human heart.

UNLABELLED: Phenylephrine labeled with 11C was developed as a radiotracer for imaging studies of cardiac sympathetic nerves with PET. A structural analog of norepinephrine, (-)-[11C]phenylephrine (PHEN) is transported into cardiac sympathetic nerve varicosities by the neuronal norepinephrine transporter and stored in vesicles. PHEN is also a substrate for monoamine oxidase (MAO). The goal of this study was to assess the importance of neuronal MAO activity on the kinetics of PHEN in the normal human heart. MAO metabolism of PHEN was inhibited at the tracer level by substituting deuterium atoms for the two hydrogen atoms at the alpha-carbon side chain position to yield the MAO-resistant analog D2-PHEN. METHODS: Paired PET studies of PHEN and D2-PHEN were performed in six normal volunteers. Hemodynamic and electrocardiographic responses were monitored. Blood levels of intact radiotracer and radiolabeled metabolites were measured in venous samples taken during the 60 min dynamic PET study. Myocardial retention of the tracers was regionally quantified as a retention index. Tracer efflux between 6 and 50 min after tracer injection was fit to a single exponential process to obtain a washout half-time for all left ventricular regions. RESULTS: Although initial heart uptake of the two tracers was similar, D2-PHEN cleared from the heart 2.6 times more slowly than PHEN (mean half-time 155+/-52 versus 55+/-10 min, respectively; P < 0.01). Correspondingly, heart retention of D2-PHEN at 40-60 min after tracer injection was higher than PHEN (mean retention indices 0.086+/-0.018 versus 0.066+/-0.011 mL blood/ min/mL tissue, respectively; P < 0.003). CONCLUSION: Efflux of radioactivity from normal human heart after uptake of PHEN is primarily due to metabolism of the tracer by neuronal MAO. Related mechanistic studies in the isolated rat heart indicate that vesicular storage of PHEN protects the tracer from rapid metabolism by neuronal MAO, suggesting that MAO metabolism of PHEN leaking from storage vesicles leads to the gradual loss of PHEN from the neurons. Thus, although MAO metabolism influences the rate of clearance of PHEN from the neurons, MAO metabolism is not the rate-determining step in the observed efflux rate under normal conditions. Rather, the rate at which PHEN leaks from storage vesicles is likely to be the rate-limiting step in the observed efflux rate.

Adult↗

Cytotoxic activities of Mannich bases of chalcones and related compounds.

Various Mannich bases of chalcones and related compounds displayed significant cytotoxicity toward murine P388 and L1210 leukemia cells as well as a number of human tumor cell lines. The most promising lead molecule was 21 that had the highest activity toward L1210 and human tumor cells. In addition, 21 exerted preferential toxicity to human tumor lines compared to transformed human T-lymphocytes. Other compounds of interest were 38, with a huge differential in cytotoxicity between P388 and L1210 cells, and 42, with a high therapeutic index when cytotoxicity to P388 cells and Molt 4/C8 T-lymphocytes were compared. In general, the Mannich bases were more cytotoxic than the corresponding chalcones toward L1210 but not P388 cells. A ClusCor analysis of the data obtained from the in vitro human tumor screen revealed that the mode of action of certain groups of compounds was similar. For some groups of compounds, cytotoxicity was correlated with the sigma, pi, or molar refractivity constants in the aryl ring attached to the olefinic group. In addition, the IC50 values in all three screens correlated with the redox potentials of a number of Mannich bases. X-ray crystallography and molecular modeling of representative compounds revealed various structural features which were considered to contribute to cytotoxicity. While a representative compound 15 was stable and unreactive toward glutathione (GSH) in buffer, the Mannich bases 15, 18, and 21 reacted with GSH in the presence of the pi isozyme of glutathione S-transferase, suggesting that thiol alkylation may be one mechanism by which cytotoxicity was exerted in vitro. Representative compounds were shown to be nonmutagenic in an intrachromosomal recombination assay in yeast, devoid of antimicrobial properties and possessing anticonvulsant and neurotoxic properties. Thus Mannich bases of chalcones represent a new group of cytotoxic agents of which 21 in particular serves as an useful prototypic molecule.

Animals↗

Double-blind comparison of lansoprazole 15 mg, lansoprazole 30 mg, and placebo in the maintenance of healed gastric ulcer.

Our purpose was to compare the safety and efficacy of lansoprazole 15 mg and 30 mg with placebo in preventing recurrence in 49 patients with a history of gastric ulcer. Within one month, 40% of patients receiving placebo experienced ulcer recurrence compared to 0% and 7% of patients receiving lansoprazole 15 mg and 30 mg, respectively. All placebo patients became symptomatic, experienced ulcer recurrence or withdrew from the study by month 9. As compared to placebo, a significantly (P < 0.001) higher percentage of patients treated with lansoprazole 15 mg (83%) and lansoprazole 30 mg (93%) with healed gastric ulcer disease remained healed at month 12. Of patients asymptomatic at baseline, 100% and 59% of those treated with lansoprazole 15 mg and 30 mg, respectively, remained asymptomatic at month 12. The incidence of adverse events was comparable among the treatment groups. Lansoprazole safely and effectively reduces ulcer recurrence in patients with a history of gastric ulcer disease.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗

Triple versus dual therapy for eradicating Helicobacter pylori and preventing ulcer recurrence: a randomized, double-blind, multicenter study of lansoprazole, clarithromycin, and/or amoxicillin in different dosing regimens.

OBJECTIVE: The efficacy and safety of dual and triple therapies with a proton pump inhibitor and antibiotic(s) for therapy of Helicobacter pylori-associated duodenal ulcer disease have been compared using results from independent studies using different methods and regimens, making interpretation difficult. In a large, double-blind, multicenter study conducted in the United States, we compared a triple therapy regimen with four dual therapy and one monotherapy regimens in the eradication of H. pylori and the prevention of ulcer recurrence. METHODS: Patients with active duodenal ulcer disease or history of duodenal ulcer disease within the past year and H. pylori infection were randomized to receive one of six 14-day treatment regimens: lansoprazole 30 mg, clarithromycin 500 mg, and amoxicillin 1 gm b.i.d.; lansoprazole 30 mg b.id. and either clarithromycin 500 mg b.i.d. or t.i.d.; lansoprazole 30 mg b.i.d. or t.i.d. with amoxicillin 1 gm t.i.d.; or lansoprazole 30 mg t.i.d. alone. No additional acid suppression therapy followed eradication therapy. Primary efficacy endpoints were eradication of H. pylori and ulcer recurrence. RESULTS: Of 396 patients enrolled in the study, 352 met the entry criteria for duodenal ulcer status and H. pylori positivity. At 4-6 wk after the end of therapy, H. pylori was eradicated from 94% (44 of 47) of patients receiving lansoprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin triple therapy, 77% (39 of 51) of those receiving lansoprazole t.i.d./amoxicillin t.i.d., 75% (36 of 48) of those receiving lansoprazole b.i.d./clarithromycin t.i.d., 57% (28 of 49) of those receiving lansoprazole b.i.d./clarithromycin b.i.d., 53% (26 of 49) of those receiving lansoprazole b.i.d./amoxicillin t.i.d., and 2% (1 of 53) of those receiving lansoprazole monotherapy (p < or = 0.05, triple therapy vs each dual therapy and each dual therapy vs monotherapy). Of those patients who were documented as free of ulcer at 4-6 wk after treatment, ulcers recurred within 6 months in 7% of patients receiving triple therapy, as compared with 13-23% of patients receiving dual therapy, and 69% of patients receiving lansoprazole monotherapy. Patients who were H. pylori negative at 4-6 wk after treatment were less likely to have an ulcer recurrence than were patients who were H. pylori positive (11% [10 of 95] vs 47% [20 of 43], respectively, across treatment groups). For triple therapy and dual therapy, a similar proportion of patients reported a drug-related adverse event (23% vs 17-33%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with active or a recent history of duodenal ulcer, a 14-day course of lansoprazole-based triple therapy without additional acid suppression therapy is highly effective in the eradication of H. pylori and in preventing ulcer recurrence. Among the dual therapies, higher eradication rates occurred when lansoprazole (with amoxicillin) or clarithromycin (with lansoprazole) was administered t.i.d. vs b.i.d., but the rates were still significantly lower than with lansoprazole triple therapy with all three drugs administered b.i.d.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗

Serine 257 phosphorylation regulates association of polyomavirus middle T antigen with 14-3-3 proteins.

Polyomavirus middle T antigen (MT) is phosphorylated on serine residues. Partial proteolytic mapping and Edman degradation identified serine 257 as a major site of phosphorylation. This was confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis. Isoelectric focusing of immunoprecipitated MT from transfected 293T cells showed that phosphorylation on wild-type MT occurred at near molar stoichiometry at S257. MT was previously shown to be associated with 14-3-3 proteins, which have been connected to cell cycle regulation and signaling. The association of 14-3-3 proteins with MT depended on the serine 257 phosphorylation site. This has been demonstrated by comparing wild-type and S257A mutant MTs expressed with transfected 293T cells or with Sf9 cells infected with recombinant baculoviruses. The 257 site is not critical for transformation of fibroblasts in vitro, since S257A and S257C mutant MTs retained the ability to form foci or colonies in agar. The tumor profile of a virus expressing S257C MT showed a striking deficiency in the induction of salivary gland tumors. The basis for this defect is uncertain. However, differences in activity for the wild type and mutant MT lacking the 14-3-3 binding site have been observed in transient reporter assays.

14-3-3 Proteins↗

Mutation in the Jak kinase JH2 domain hyperactivates Drosophila and mammalian Jak-Stat pathways.

The Jak (Janus) family of nonreceptor tyrosine kinases plays a critical role in cytokine signal transduction pathways. In Drosophila melanogaster, the dominant hop(Tum-l) mutation in the Hop Jak kinase causes leukemia-like and other developmental defects. Previous studies have suggested that the Hop(Tum-l) protein might be a hyperactive kinase. Here, we report on the new dominant mutation hop(T42), which causes abnormalities that are similar to but more extreme than those caused by hop(Tum-l). We determined that Hop(T42) contains a glutamic acid-to-lysine substitution at amino acid residue 695 (E695K). This residue occurs in the JH2 (kinase-like) domain and is conserved among all Jak family members. We determined that Hop(Tum-1) and Hop(T42) both hyperphosphorylated and hyperactivated D-Stat when overexpressed in Drosophila cells. Moreover, we found that the hop(T42) phenotype was partially rescued by a reduction of wild-type D-stat activity. Finally, generation of the corresponding E695K mutation in murine Jak2 resulted in increased autophosphorylation and increased activation of Stat5 in COS cells. These results demonstrate that the mutant Hop proteins do indeed have increased tyrosine kinase activity, that the mutations hyperactivate the Hop-D-Stat pathway, and that Drosophila is a relevant system for the functional dissection of mammalian Jak-Stat pathways. Finally, we propose a model for the role of the Hop-D-Stat pathway in Drosophila hematopoiesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗