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Biomedical subjects

R French

Publications and source records attributed to R French.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Effectiveness of combinations of bispecific antibodies for delivering saporin to human acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukaemia cell lines via CD7 and CD38 as cellular target molecules.

We have investigated the effectiveness of three different F(ab' gamma)2 bispecific antibodies (BsAb) for delivering the ribosome inactivating protein (RIP) saporin via the CD7 or CD38 cell surface molecules to the human T-ALL cell lines HSB-2 and HPB-ALL. Inhibition of 3H-leucine uptake by target cells was used as the parameter of cellular cytotoxicity. Used singly against HSB-2 cells in the presence of varied concentrations of saporin, an anti-CD7 BsAb, (HB2 x DB7-18) and an anti-CD38 BsAb (OKT10 x RabSap), gave 435- and 286-fold increases in saporin toxicity, respectively. For HPB-ALL cells the anti-CD7 BsAb performed poorly giving only an eight-fold increase in toxicity whilst on the same cell line the anti-CD38 BsAb was highly potent giving an 80,000-fold increase in saporin toxicity. A combination of both BsAb used together against HSB-2 cells was ten times more effective, than the best single BsAb HB2 x DB7-18 used alone. Kinetic studies conducted with HSB-2 cells revealed that the BsAb combination also gave an increased rate of protein synthesis inactivation in comparison to either BsAb used alone. These investigations clearly demonstrate a synergistic action when both BsAb are used in combination to target saporin against CD7 and CD38 expressed on the surface of the HSB-2 cell line.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase↗

Influence of selected reinforcers on the cardiorespiratory exercise behavior of profoundly mentally retarded youth.

6 profoundly mentally retarded youth were provided a 5-wk. stair-climbing program to improve cardiorespiratory fitness behavior. Three subjects were provided verbal plus food reinforcement and the other three received verbal reinforcement during the intervention phase. Based on the visual inspection of the data, both types of reinforcement increased the number of steps taken and exercise time.

Exercise↗

Use of reinforcement to increase independence in physical fitness performance of profoundly mentally retarded youth.

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of verbal praise and verbal praise plus music or vibratory reinforcement on the level of independent performance on abdominal strength and endurance, lower back and hip flexibility, and upper body strength/endurance exercises of 12 profoundly mentally retarded, ambulatory youth, ages 10 to 18 years. A single-subject AB design with a control group was used to assess the difference in performance of physical fitness under the baseline condition of no reinforcement and under the two experimental conditions of verbal praise and verbal praise plus music or vibratory reinforcement. In contrast to previous results reported in the literature, verbal praise and verbal praise plus music or vibratory reinforcement were not effective in increasing the level of independence in performing selected physical fitness tasks.

Adolescent↗

Use of group-specific primers and the polymerase chain reaction for the detection and identification of luteoviruses.

A general diagnostic assay for a number of distinct luteoviruses was developed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction enzyme analysis. Two minimally degenerate, group-specific primers were derived from previously published RNA sequences of three luteoviruses. This primer pair generated specific PCR fragments of about 530 bp from extracts of plants infected with potato leafroll virus, beet western yellows virus, or New York barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) serotypes MAV, PAV, RMV, RPV and SGV, which span much of the respective viral coat protein gene. Each virus was easily distinguished from the others by restriction enzyme analysis of the amplified DNA products. Samples from BYDV-infected oat and wheat collected in Nebraska were identified as containing PAV-like serotypes; micro-heterogeneity was detected in several samples. This method provides a rapid, sensitive and relatively inexpensive means of luteovirus detection and identification. It is the first test capable of simultaneously detecting all five BYDV serotypes.

Base Sequence↗

Injury surveillance in agriculture.

Information on agricultural trauma is limited and difficult to find. Planning for effective prevention strategies and evaluation is compromised by lack of a good surveillance system. Several agencies and organizations have provided some data. Although their summation is at best an approximation of the real situation, a critical review of current data bases is presented. The literature is also reviewed attempting to characterize agricultural trauma. This characterization was classified into: 1) case descriptions, 2) reviews of general articles on the hazards of farming, and 3) descriptive surveys of agricultural injuries. A summary of the available literature still leaves a rather superficial understanding of the entire injury picture. A new approach to surveillance is necessary to overcome past deficiencies. A combined modality approach is suggested, utilizing on-site survey, mail survey, telephone interviewing, and medical record verification. Trial applications of two such systems in Minnesota are described.

Accidents, Occupational↗

Identification of barley stripe mosaic virus genes involved in viral RNA replication and systemic movement.

Barley stripe mosaic hordeivirus (BSMV) has a tripartite positive-sense RNA genome which encodes seven major polypeptides. Infectious in vitro transcripts derived from full-length wild-type and mutant cDNA clones have been used to investigate the contribution made by various BSMV gene products to viral RNA replication and systemic movement. We show that whereas all three of the BSMV RNA components are required for plant infection, RNAs alpha and gamma can replicate together in barley protoplasts, and therefore RNA beta must encode functions required for systemic invasion of plants. The alpha a and gamma a proteins, which contain helicase and RNA polymerase sequence motifs, together comprise the essential virus-encoded components of BSMV RNA replicase. A second BSMV protein (beta b) which contains a helicase motif is not required for RNA replication. A small cysteine-rich protein (gamma b) is dispensable for infection of plants, but in its absence the accumulation of viral coat (beta a) and beta b proteins is significantly reduced. In addition, mutations in both the gamma b and gamma a (replicase) proteins can affect the systemic movement phenotype.

Drug Combinations↗

Attitudes of physical educators toward the integration of handicapped students.

The effectiveness of a 2-day workshop to enhance the attitudes of 28 elementary and secondary physical educators toward integrating handicapped students into regular classes was investigated. Subjects in the treated group were matched with the control group by sex, grade taught, and years teaching experience. The control group did not participate in the workshop. Data were collected before the workshop, immediately after the workshop, and about 4 months later. Analysis of covariance indicated although the mean score of the workshop group showed some positive shift in attitudes, no significant differences were evident so the workshop was ineffective in promoting positive attitudes.

Attitude↗

Comparison of wheelchair athletes and nonathletes on selected mood states.

The Profile of Mood States was administered to two groups of male university students in wheelchairs. Both the 26 wheelchair athletes and the 28 wheelchair nonathletes exhibited the iceberg profile associated with positive mental health. Multivariate analysis indicated that wheelchair athletes had a significantly lower score on Depression than the wheelchair nonathletes but all scores were in the normal range.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Motor development of Puerto Rican children: cross-cultural perspectives.

The Test of Gross Motor Development was administered to 300 children, ages 5 to 7 yr., attending public schools in Puerto Rico. Statistical comparisons indicated that the test-manual norms for US children were applicable to Puerto Rican children except for 7-yr.-old girls. A 2 x 3 x 2 factor analysis of intercorrelations of Puerto Rican scores indicated no significant difference between rural and urban children, expected age group differences, and sex differences favoring boys.

Child↗

Hybrid brome mosaic virus RNAs express and are packaged in tobacco mosaic virus coat protein in vivo.

Brome mosaic virus (BMV) is an icosahedral virus with a tripartite RNA genome which infects monocotyledonous plants, while the cowpea or legume strain of tobacco mosaic virus (CcTMV) is a rod-shaped virus with a single component RNA genome which infects dicotyledonous plants. To examine the potential for exchanging entire genes between RNA viruses, biologically active cDNA clones were used to replace the natural coat gene of BMV RNA3 with the coat gene and encapsidation origin of CcTMV. In protoplasts coinoculated with BMV RNAs 1 and 2, the resulting hybrid RNA3 was replicated by BMV trans-acting factors but was packaged in TMV coat protein to give rod-shaped particles rather than the usual BMV icosahedra. When the CcTMV encapsidation origin was suitably inserted in derivatives of BMV RNAs 1 and 2, these RNAs were also packaged in a ribonuclease-resistant form in protoplasts coinoculated with the hybrid RNA3 expressing TMV rather than BMV coat protein. Thus, despite the markedly divergent nature of BMV and TMV, replicating hybrids bearing characters derived from both parent viruses were produced. Such hybrid viruses could be of considerable value for studying specific steps in infection and for assigning functions to particular virus genes.

Capsid↗

Characterization and engineering of sequences controlling in vivo synthesis of brome mosaic virus subgenomic RNA.

Expression of brome mosaic virus (BMV) coat protein and internal genes of many other positive-strand RNA viruses requires initiation of subgenomic mRNA synthesis from specific internal sites on minus-strand genomic RNA templates. Biologically active viral cDNA clones were used to investigate the sequences controlling production of BMV subgenomic RNA in vivo. Suitable duplications directed production of specifically initiated, capped subgenomic RNAs from new sites in the BMV genome. Previously implicated promoter sequences extending 20 bases upstream (-20) and 16 bases downstream (+16) of the subgenomic RNA initiation site directed only low-level synthesis. Subgenomic RNA production at normal levels required sequences extending to at least -74 but not beyond -95. Loss of an (rA)18 tract immediately upstream of the -20 to +16 "core promoter" particularly inhibited subgenomic RNA synthesis. The -38 to -95 region required for normal initiation levels contains repeats of sequence elements in the core promoter, and duplications creating additional upstream copies of these repeats stimulated subgenomic RNA synthesis above wild-type levels. At least four different subgenomic RNAs can be produced from a single BMV RNA3 derivative. For all derivatives producing more than one subgenomic RNA, a gradient of accumulation progressively favoring smaller subgenomic RNAs was seen.

Base Sequence↗

Intercistronic as well as terminal sequences are required for efficient amplification of brome mosaic virus RNA3.

The genome of brome mosaic virus (BMV) is divided among messenger polarity RNA1, RNA2, and RNA3 (3.2, 2.9, and 2.1 kilobases, respectively). cis-Acting sequences required for BMV RNA amplification were investigated with RNA3. By using expressible cDNA clones, deletions were constructed throughout RNA3 and tested in barley protoplasts coinoculated with RNA1 and RNA2. In contrast to requirements for 5'- and 3'-terminal noncoding sequences, either of the two RNA3 coding regions can be deleted individually and both can be simultaneously inactivated by N-terminal frameshift mutations without significantly interfering with amplification of RNA3 or production of its subgenomic mRNA. However, simultaneous major deletions in both coding regions greatly attenuate RNA3 accumulation. RNA3 levels can be largely restored by insertion of a heterologous, nonviral sequence in such mutants, suggesting that RNA3 requires physical separation of its terminal domains or a minimum overall size for normal replication or stability. Unexpectedly, deletions in a 150-base segment of the intercistronic noncoding region drastically reduce RNA3 accumulation. This segment contains a sequence element homologous to sequences found near the 5' ends of BMV RNA1 and RNA2 and in analogous positions in the three genomic RNAs of the related cucumber mosaic virus, suggesting a possible role in plus-strand synthesis.

Chromosome Deletion↗

A comparison of the psychological characteristics of male and female able-bodied and wheelchair athletes.

The purpose of this study was to compare selected psychological characteristics between male and female able-bodied and wheelchair athletes. All subjects completed the Profile of Mood States (POMS). Morgan (1980) has reported that based on the POMS elite able-bodied male and female athletes possess superior mental and emotional health compared to the general population. Based on this investigation, this result can now be extended to male and female wheelchair athletes.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Influence of coactors on performance of visually impaired runners.

The purpose of this exploratory study was to determine the influence of coactors on the running performance of 13 visually impaired individuals. There was no significant difference for visually impaired sprint runners running alone and with a coactor. The "mere presence" of a coactor was not enough for social facilitation to occur when visual evaluation was not present.

Adolescent↗