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Biomedical subjects

P Walter

Publications and source records attributed to P Walter.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Protrusion without fracture of the Accufix atrial "J" lead retention wire.

The Telectronics Accufix atrial "J" lead has been associated with injury and death. These complications have occurred as the result of retention wire fracture, extrusion, and perforation of cardiac or vascular structures. This report describes a patient who was found to have protrusion of the proximal end of a nonfractured retention wire during fluoroscopic surveillance. The wire extrusion appeared to result from angulation of the lead. The lead was extracted and replaced without adverse consequences. Further prospective analysis will be needed to determine the clinical implications and approach to this complication.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Plasminogen in proliferative vitreoretinal disorders.

OBJECTIVE: Intravitreal fibrin formation is a frequent observation after vitrectomy performed for a variety of vitreoretinal disorders including proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), and endophthalmitis. Plasminogen activators (PA) have been used for the management of this postoperative complication. This approach requires the presence of plasminogen, the substrate for PA mediated fibrinolysis, in the vitreal cavity. METHODS: Quantification of plasminogen in the vitreous of 60 patients with PVR, PDR, and macular pucker was performed by streptokinase mediated activation using a chromogenic substrate. The presence of immunoreactive plasminogen was confirmed by immunoblot analysis of vitreal proteins and immunocytochemistry of surgically removed epiretinal membranes. RESULTS: Plasminogen levels were dramatically increased in the vitreous of PVR and PDR patients compared with macular pucker patients and normal controls. Staining for plasminogen in epiretinal membranes was confined to the extracellular matrix. Predominant staining of perivascular areas in PDR specimens indicated that breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier is an important source of intravitreal plasminogen in that condition. CONCLUSION: Plasminogen may play a role in traction membrane formation in PVR and PDR. Our biochemical analysis of presurgical vitreous indicates that there may be abundant substrate for PA mediated fibrinolysis in the vitreous cavity after vitrectomy.

Eye Diseases↗
PubMed1997

[Isolation of Helicobacter pylori: necessity of control of transport conditions].

The aim of the study was the influence of transport conditions of antrum biopsies on the diagnostis of Helicobacter pylori infection by mean of bacteriological methods. We compare bacteriological to anatomopathological methods of Helicobacter pylori infection during two periods which differed by the transport conditions for antrum biopsies. During the first period (P1), 57 specimens were carried to the laboratory at room temperature and physiological serum immersion was inconstant. During the second period (P2), 56 specimens were all correctly immerged into 5 ml of physiological serum, in a 15 mm diameter tube which was vertically maintained in ice. Anatomopathological methods were considered as the reference method for the diagnostic of Helicobacter pylori infection. The sensibility of bacteriological culture was increased from 59% (P1) to 84% (P2) (p < 0.05) when specificity was unchanged. Furthermore sensibility of bacteriological direct examination was increased from 41% (P1) to 61% (P2). Complete biopsy immersion and ice transport of samples appear as necessary conditions for the optimal diagnostic of Helicobacter infections by mean of bacteriological methods.

Bacteriological Techniques↗
PubMed1997

Effects of vitamin C on phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase from rat liver.

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP) (PEPCK) is one of the key enzymes of gluconeogenesis. Mechanisms responsible for rapid regulation of enzyme activity include activation by bivalent cations such as Mn2+ and Fe2+ and/or alterations of the oxidation state of the enzyme's SH groups. A cytosolic cell free system prepared from rat liver was used to study the effects of the thiol reagents GSH and dithiothreitol (DTT) and particularly of vitamin C on PEPCK activity. (1) Basal activity and Mn(2+)-stimulated activity were not affected by variations in the concentrations of GSH and DTT, indicating that some components of the cell free system provided sufficient protection against PEPCK-inactivation due to disulfide bond formation. The latter phenomenon is known to occur with purified PEPCK in the absence of added thiols. Only in the presence of 2 microM Fe2+, GSH/DTT addition increased PEPCK activity. (2) Addition of vitamin C in the range of 0.6-1.2 mM resulted in a marked stimulation of the PEPCK reaction, ranging from 1.5-fold (with 2 microM Mn2+) to 4-7-fold (for basal activity and with 2 microM Fe2+). (3) When 5,5'-dithio-bis (2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) was used to induce disulfide bond formation and subsequent inactivation of PEPCK, reactivation experiments with GSH/DTT but not with vitamin C restored full enzyme activity. It is concluded that vitamin C activates PEPCK or protects it from inactivation caused by oxidants by a mechanism that does not involve the reduction of the enzyme's thiols.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

A novel mechanism for regulating activity of a transcription factor that controls the unfolded protein response.

Cells respond to an accumulation of unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by increasing transcription of genes encoding ER-resident proteins. The information is transmitted from the ER lumen to the nucleus by an intracellular signaling pathway, the unfolded protein response (UPR). We have identified a basic-leucine zipper transcription factor, Hac1p, that is required for the UPR and binds to the UPR element in the promoter of UPR-regulated genes. Surprisingly, Hac1p is found in UPR-activated cells only, and its level is controlled by regulated splicing of its mRNA. Splicing replaces the C-terminal tail of Hac1p with a different peptide that renders Hac1p more resistant to an otherwise extremely rapid ubiquitin-dependent degradation. We propose that the complex regulation of Hac1p expression serves to provide multiple levels at which the UPR can be controlled.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

tRNA ligase is required for regulated mRNA splicing in the unfolded protein response.

The accumulation of unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) triggers an intracellular signaling pathway, the unfolded protein response (UPR), that leads to increased transcription of genes encoding ER-resident proteins. Transcriptional activation is mediated by a dedicated transcription factor, Hac1p, whose activity is controlled by regulated splicing of its mRNA. We have identified a mutation in tRNA ligase that disrupts the UPR in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this mutant, splicing of HAC1 mRNA, but not tRNA, is blocked. In contrast, HAC1 mRNA splicing is not impaired in cells that are blocked in spliceosome-mediated mRNA splicing. Furthermore, the splice junctions of HAC1 mRNA do not conform to the consensus sequences of other yeast pre-mRNAs. Our results suggest that the regulated splicing of HAC1 mRNA occurs by a novel pathway, involving tRNA ligase and bypassing the spliceosome.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Characterization of murine lung interstitial macrophages in comparison with alveolar macrophages in vitro.

The present study was performed to characterize the immunologic potential of interstitial macrophages (INT) in comparison with alveolar macrophages (AL). The data showed that AL, compared with INT, have a more efficient phagocytic potential. In addition, they have a strong microbicidal activity and secrete large amounts of reactive oxygen radicals, nitric oxides, TNF, and IFN on appropriate stimulation. They also exert strong tumoricidal and parasiticidal activities. In contrast, INT are more efficient in releasing immunoregulatory cytokines such as IL-1 and IL-6. As determined by Ab staining, INT express more MHC class II molecules and are more effective in functioning as accessory cells for mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation compared with AL. Thus, AL appear to be particularly effective as nonspecific first line defense cells against infectious agents, whereas INT are equipped to cooperate with interstitial lymphocytes in inducing a specific immune reaction.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Oligomerization and phosphorylation of the Ire1p kinase during intracellular signaling from the endoplasmic reticulum to the nucleus.

The transmembrane kinase Ire1p is required for activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR), the increase in transcription of genes encoding endoplasmic reticulum (ER) resident proteins that occurs in response to the accumulation of unfolded proteins in the ER. Ire1p spans the ER membrane (or the nuclear membrane with which the ER is continuous), with its kinase domain localized in the cytoplasm or in the nucleus. Consistent with this arrangement, it has been proposed that Ire1p senses the accumulation of unfolded proteins in the ER and transmits the signal across the membrane toward the transcription machinery, possibly by phosphorylating downstream components of the UPR pathway. Molecular genetic and biochemical studies described here suggest that, as in the case of growth factor receptors of higher eukaryotic cells, Ire1p oligomerizes in response to the accumulation of unfolded proteins in the ER and is phosphorylated in trans by other Ire1p molecules as a result of oligomerization. In addition to its kinase domain, a C-terminal tail domain of Ire1p is required for induction of the UPR. The role of the tail is probably to bind other proteins that transmit the unfolded protein signal to the nucleus.

Alleles↗
PubMed1996

Direct observation of iron-induced conformational changes of mitochondrial DNA by high-resolution field-emission in-lens scanning electron microscopy.

When respiring rat liver mitochondria are incubated in the presence of Fe(III) gluconate, their DNA (mtDNA) relaxes from the supercoiled to the open circular form dependent on the iron dose. Anaerobiosis or antioxidants fail to completely inhibit the unwinding. High-resolution field-emission in-lens scanning electron microscopy imaging, in concert with backscattered electron detection, pinpoints nanometer-range iron colloids bound to mtDNA isolated from iron-exposed mitochondria. High-resolution field-emission in-lens scanning electron microscopy with backscattered electron detection imaging permits simultaneous detailed visual analysis of DNA topology, iron dose-dependent mtDNA unwinding, and assessment of iron colloid formation on mtDNA strands.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

5-Iodotubercidin and proglycosyn: a comparison of two glycogenic compounds in hepatocytes from fasted rats.

5-Iodotubercidin (Itu) and proglycosyn (Pro) have similar glycogenic properties. To compare their mechanisms of action, we tested them in hepatocytes from fasted rats. We show that both compounds are similar in that they stimulated glycogen synthesis, increased the concentration of synthase a, decreased that of phosphorylase a and lowered the concentration of F-2,6-P2 in the presence of glucose, lactate-pyruvate and amino acids. However, when amino acids were absent, Pro was the better stimulator of glycogenesis than Itu and in combination they elevated glycogen and synthase a concentrations synergistically. Further they differ in that (1) Itu enhanced the levels of cyclic AMP whereas Pro did not; (2) Pro depressed glucose production from gluconeogenic substrates, whereas Itu stimulated this process; (3) the inhibition of F-2,6-P2 formation and glycolysis by Pro became much weaker than that by Itu when glucose concentrations were raised from 10 to 20 mM. Inhibition of glycolysis but not that of glycogen synthesis was partly due to a phosphorylated metabolite of Itu. The present study indicates that despite their similar glycogenic effects, Itu and Pro do not share a common mechanism of action. Further, the inhibition of glycolysis and F-2,6-P2 formation by Itu cannot be explained if it acts solely as a general inhibitor of protein kinases.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

The nascent polypeptide-associated complex modulates interactions between the signal recognition particle and the ribosome.

BACKGROUND: The first step in the co-translational targeting of secretory proteins to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane involves the recognition of signal sequences by the 54 kDa subunit of the signal recognition particle (SRP) as they emerge from the ribosome. It has recently been proposed that the nascent polypeptide-associated complex (NAC) contributes to the fidelity of targeting by modulating interactions that occur between the ribosome-nascent chain complex, the SRP and the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Precisely how NAC influences SRP function is presently unclear. RESULTS: We have used immunoblotting experiments to monitor interactions between the SRP and the ribosome-nascent chain complex, in the absence and presence of NAC. In the absence of NAC, SRP binds in a high-salt-resistant manner only to ribosomes that contain a signal sequence, confirming the specificity of SRP for signal sequences. Binding of SRP to signalless ribosome nascent chains is observed at lower salt concentrations; however, the amount of SRP bound to this complex is indistinguishable from that bound to ribosomes lacking nascent chains. Thus, this salt-sensitive binding is likely to be the result of interactions between SRP and the ribosome that occur independently of the nascent chain. A minimal particle consisting of SRP54 and SRP RNA is sufficient to confer salt-resistant binding to ribosomes that contain signal sequences, whereas all of the SRP subunits are required for salt-sensitive binding to ribosomes that lack nascent chains. This salt-sensitive binding by SRP is inhibited by the addition of purified NAC. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our results, we define two distinct modes of interaction between SRP and the ribosome-nascent chain complex: salt-resistant interactions between SRP54 and signal sequences, and salt-sensitive interactions between additional components of SRP and the ribosome. We conclude that NAC does not directly influence signal sequence recognition by SRP but, rather, that it negatively modulates interactions that occur between SRP and the ribosome itself. These results are discussed in terms of a model wherein SRP and NAC regulate each others' activity during protein targeting.

Peptides↗
PubMed1996

Conservation in evolution for a small monomeric phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase of the tRNA(Phe) recognition nucleotides and initial aminoacylation site.

We previously showed that yeast mitochondrial phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase (MSF protein) is evolutionarily distant to the cytoplasmic counterpart based on a high degree of divergence in protein sequence, molecular mass, and quaternary structure. Using yeast cytoplasmic tRNA(Phe) which is efficiently aminoacylated by MSF protein, we report here the tRNA(Phe) primary site of aminoacylation and the identity determinants for MSF protein. As for the cytoplasmic phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase (Sampson, J. R., Di Renzo, A. B., Behlen, L. S., & Uhlenbeck, O. C. (1989) Science 243, 1363-1366), MSF protein recognizes nucleotides from the anticodon and the acceptor end including base A73 and, as shown here, adjacent G1-C72 base pair or at least C72 base. This indicates that the way of tRNA(Phe) binding for the two phenylalanine enzymes is conserved in evolution. However, tRNA(Phe) tertiary structure seems more critical for the interaction with the cytoplasmic enzyme than with MSF protein, and unlike cytoplasmic phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase, the small size of the monomeric MSF protein probably does not allow contacts with residue 20 at the top corner of the L molecule. We also show that MSF protein preferentially aminoacylates the terminal 2'-OH group of tRNA(Phe) but with a catalytic efficiency for tRNA(Phe)-CC-3'-deoxyadenosine reduced 100-fold from that of native tRNA(Phe), suggesting a role of the terminal 3'-OH in catalysis. The loss is only 1.5-fold when tRNA(Phe)-CC-3'-deoxyadenosine is aminoacylated by yeast cytoplasmic PheRS (Sprinzl, M., & Cramer, F. (1973) Nature 245, 3-5), indicating mechanistic differences between the two PheRS's active sites for the amino acid transfer step.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

The triple flash electroretinogram and its significance in macular diseases. B-wave recovery as a diagnostic tool.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate recovery data for the b-wave of the electroretinogram (ERG) elicited using multiple flash stimulation with increasing stimulus intervals in normal controls and in patients with macular diseases. The results will describe effects of age and macular disease and define indexes characterizing the recovery process. METHODS: Scotopic Ganzfeld flash ERGs were elicited using interstimulus intervals of 140, 280, and 560 ms. Relative b-waves were calculated as the ratio b140 ms/b560 ms and b280 ms/b560 ms, respectively. Responses obtained in 134 eyes of 134 normal controls served as reference data. Fifty-four patients with different macular diseases were also examined and their data compared to the reference data. RESULTS: Relative b-wave amplitudes correlated with interstimulus interval and with flash luminance, but not with age. All patients had a normal ERG when recorded following the standard of clinical electroretinography. A sigmoidal model was suggested, providing three indexes characterizing the b-wave recovery process. Relative b-waves and recovery indexes varied in age-related macular degeneration, central serous retinopathy, vitelliform macular degeneration, Stargardt's disease, and pattern dystrophy. CONCLUSION: The triple flash ERG reflects energy-yielding and -utilizing mechanisms. It proved to be more sensitive in detecting functional lesions in macular diseases than the standardized explorating procedure. The b-wave recovery model allows differentiation between two independent mechanisms contributing to the b-wave recovery process. One or more of the three characterizing indexes are affected in different macular diseases.

Adolescent↗