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Biomedical subjects

R Crouch

Publications and source records attributed to R Crouch.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Bathoproducts of rhodopsin, isorhodopsin I, and isorhodopsin II.

Bathorhodopsins were prepared by partially (10--15%) photoconverting bovine rhodopsin (11-cis chromophore) or isorhodopsin I (9-cis chromophore) at 77 degrees K; care was taken to avoid establishing photostationary states. The absorption spectra calculated for the bathorhodopsins derived from the two parent pigments are identical in their lambda max 'S, bandwidths, and extinction coefficients. This result provides further support for the hypothesis that bathorhodopsin is a common intermediate between an 11-cis pigment (rhodopsin) and a 9-cis one (isorhodopsin I) and thus probably has an all-trans chromophore. This in turn is strong evidence for the cis-trans isomerization model of the primary event in vision. The spectrum of the bathoproduct of isorhodopsin II (9,13-dicis chromophore) is different from the other pigments' bathoproducts.

Animals↗

Sensitizing activity of 9,13-dicis retinal in bleached photoreceptors of the skate.

9,13-dicis Retinal was externally applied to photoreceptors of isolated skate retina that previously had been desensitized by bleaching irradiation. This treatment led to a significant lowering of photoreceptor threshold and to the intracellular formation of isorhodopsin II, an artificial visual pigment containing 9,13-dicis retinal as its chromophore. These results suggest that isorhodopsin II can function in situ to promote an increase in the visual sensitivity of skate photoreceptors.

Animals↗

Molecular flow resonance Raman effect from retinal and rhodopsin.

We have performed resonance enhanced Raman measurements of retinal isomers in solution (all-trans, 11-cis, 9-cis, and 13-cis) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) detergent extracts of bovine rhodopsin near physiological temperatures (17 degrees C). In order to measure these photolabile systems, we have developed a general technique which allows Raman measurements of any photosensitive material. This technique involves imposing a molecular velocity transverse to the Raman exciting laser beam sufficient to ensure that any given molecule moves through the beam so that it has little probability of absorbing a photon. We have also measured the resonance Raman spectra of crystals of the same retinal isomers. The data show that each isomer has a distinct and characteristic Raman spectra and that the spectrum of 11-cis-retinal is quite similar but not identical with that of rhodopsin and similarly for 9-cis-retinal compared with isorhodopsin. In agreement with previous work, the Raman data demonstrate that retinal and opsin are joined by a protonated Schiff base. Due to the fact that the Raman spectra of 11-cis-retinal (solution) and rhodopsin show bands near 998 and 1018 cm(-1), a spectral region previously assigned to C-Me stretching motions, it is suggested that 11-cis-retinal in solution is compased of a mixture of 12-s-trans and 12-s-cis, and that the conformation of rhodopsin is (perhaps distorted) 12-s-trans.

Circular Dichroism↗

Photosensitive pigments formed with rat opsin.

Photosensitive pigments are formed in vitro from rat opsin with the rods in suspension or as digitonin solutions. Rhodopsin, isorhodopsin I, and isorhodopsin II were generated with 11-cis, 9-cis and 9, 13-dicis retinal, respectively. An isorhodopsin I analogue was formed on combination with 9-cis 13-desmethyl-14-methylretinal. The absorption spectra and photosensitivities of these pigments were found to be similar to the corresponding bovine pigments although the rates of formation are several fold slower.

Animals↗

Isorhodopsin II: artificial photosensitive pigment formed from 9,13-dicis retinal.

We have found that in addition to the 11-cis and 9-cis isomers of retinal which are known to couple with the visual pigment apoprotein opsin to form pigments, a third isomer 9,13-dicis retinal also will form a pigment. That this isomer is indeed bound to opsin has been shown unequivocally by removing the chromophore without isomerization and subsequent identification by high-speed liquid chromatography. Using similar techniques, we have shown that the product of bleaching by light of all three pigments in Trition X-100 is the all-trans isomer. This specificity in the product of bleaching, as with many other properties of visual pigments, is not shared by the free chromophore. Of particular interest is that when 9,13-dicis retinal is combined with opsin to form a pigment, a single photon can isomerize it about two double bonds, to the all-trans isomer.

Binding Sites↗

Degradation of DNA RNA hybrids by ribonuclease H and DNA polymerases of cellular and viral origin.

Ribonuclease H from human KB cells, chick embryos, calf thymus, avian myeloblastosis virus, and Rous associated virus specifically degrades the RNA of DNA.RNA hybrids, producing mono- and oligoribonucleotides terminated in 5'-phosphates. The cellular RNase H is an endonuclease, whereas the viral enzyme appears to be an exonuclease. Viral DNA polymerase and RNase H copurify through all separation steps. Therefore, RNase H activity is an intrinsic part of the viral DNA polymerase. DNA.RNA hybrids are also degraded by nucleases associated with cellular DNA polymerases and by exonuclease III. However, these nucleases differ from RNase H in their ability to degrade both strands of DNA.RNA hybrids.

Animals↗

Effects of mechanical ventilation and spontaneous respiration on hemodynamics in calves with total artificial hearts.

The effects of respiration on hemodynamics were evaluated in four Holstein calves with total artificial hearts (TAH). The electrohydraulic actuated E4T-TAH has a continuously reciprocating actuator packaged between two alternately ejecting blood pumps that passively fill. The hemodynamic parameters (right atrial pressure [RAP], left atrial pressure [LAP], pulmonary artery pressure [PAP], aortic pressure [AoP]), and right and left pump filling (Rt% fill and Lt% fill) were measured when the animal was intubated and mechanically ventilated. These measurements were repeated with spontaneous respiration after the animal was extubated. With mechanical ventilation, LAP, PAP, and AoP were significantly higher during inspiration than during expiration. However, RAP during inspiration was slightly lower than that during expiration. The Rt% fill during inspiration was significantly lower than during expiration, but Lt% fill during inspiration was significantly higher than during expiration. During spontaneous respiration, these changes were opposite to those observed during mechanical ventilation. That mechanical ventilation generates positive intrathoracic pressure during inspiration, but spontaneous respiration generates negative pressure may explain these results. The change in venous return to the right atrium caused the change in RAP to be opposite in direction to that of the other pressures.

Animals↗

Initial in vivo tests of an electrohydraulic actuated total artificial heart.

The authors are involved in developing a total artificial heart (TAH) for permanent human use. This device was designed to fit human anatomy, and it has housings made of carbon fiber-epoxy composite and titanium. Tissue valves and protein coating of blood contacting surfaces minimize the need for anticoagulants. A continuously reciprocating electrohydraulic actuator is packaged between two alternately ejecting and passively filling ventricles. The control system varies the pump rate to maintain average left ventricular filling at 90%. This TAH in vivo successively progressed through 1, 5, 9, and 45 day implants in calves of 84, 94, 82, and 82 kg preoperative body weights. The operating modes include automatic and fixed rate. The chronic and acute effects of varying the right pump displaced stroke volume indicated the need for it to be limited to 85% of that of the left for stable hemodynamics at maximum flow. The pump exhibited afterload insensitive and preload sensitive performance. Pump output ranged from 4.0-9.5 L/min at left atrial pressures of 7-16 mmHg at pump rates of 80-160 beats/min in these four experiments. These data suggest that this device will meet clinical hemodynamic requirements; it has the potential for total implantable cardiac replacement.

Animals↗

Piloting an A&E and practice nurse educational exchange.

The accident and emergency (A&E) department acts as an interface between primary and secondary care. Traditionally, general practice has been viewed negatively by A&E nurses. This article explores some of the issues surrounding these views. The need to challenge the traditional view of A&E as simply a department within a hospital and replace it by one that identifies A&E within the broader community context is identified. This change in ethos requires nurses who work in the A&E department to challenge their beliefs about the specialty. There is a need to look at the educational preparation of A&E nurses. A pilot educational exchange scheme, developed to explore ways of improving the relationship between A&E nurses and nurses working in general practice, is described.

Clinical Competence↗

A study of out-of-hours telephone advice from an A&E department.

A prospective analysis of telephone calls to an accident and emergency (A&E) department during weekday evenings/nights and weekends was undertaken over a 3-month period. A telephone consultation record (TCR) proforma was developed to record information about each call for advice. The volume of calls, characteristics of callers and patients, nature of presented problems, and advice given were analysed. An average of 9.3 calls were documented during each weekend 24-hour period, and 3.3 calls during each weekday evening/night. Junior nurses took 93% of calls. Advice was sought for a broad range of problems, of which only 11% were musculoskeletal conditions or injuries. Twenty-six per cent of patients were advised to attend A&E, 35% were given self-care advice, and the remainder were advised to contact or see their GP. There is considerable potential to develop a nurse-provided telephone advice service, but the need for staff training and guidelines has to be addressed.

Adolescent↗

Demanding times.

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Emergency Nursing↗