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Biomedical subjects

R Ingram

Publications and source records attributed to R Ingram.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Multiple regulatory elements in the intergenic region between the alpha-fetoprotein and albumin genes.

Three enhancer elements spanning a distance of 7 kilobases have been found at the 5' end of the alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) gene. These elements were identified by transient expression assay after the introduction of a modified mouse AFP gene with variable amounts of 5' flanking sequence into a human hepatoma cell line, Hep G2. These regulatory elements function in a position-independent and orientation-independent manner that is typical of enhancers. All three elements will stimulate transcription from the promoter of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene. In Hep G2 cells, transcriptional activation from the heterologous promoter was approximately 25- to 50-fold higher than the basal levels obtained in the absence of AFP enhancer elements. In HeLa cells, the increase in thymidine kinase gene transcription varied from 6- to 14-fold, indicating that the enhancer elements exhibit some cell type specificity. Deletion analysis of the region proximal to the AFP transcription initiation site identified an essential region between 85 and 52 bases upstream of the site of initiation of transcription whose removal resulted in almost complete extinction of transcriptional activity. This region, which has been shown to be dispensable for transcription in HeLa cells, defines a second tissue-specific regulatory region in the gene.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗

Nonhomogeneous alveolar pressure swings: effect of different respiratory muscles.

We tested the hypothesis in dogs that during isovolumic inspiratory efforts the degree of nonhomogeneity of alveolar pressure changes is influenced by regional differences in respiratory muscle activity. Pressure distal to an occluded right lower lobe bronchus (PRLL) was compared with pressure in the occluded airway opening (PaO) during spontaneous inspiratory efforts (S), during right (RP), left (LP), and bilateral (BP) phrenic nerve stimulation, and during spontaneous inspiratory efforts after cutting both phrenic nerves (SCP), Upper and lower rib cage and abdominal dimensional changes were monitored by magnetometers. PRLL was greater than Pao during S and the difference was greater during BP and greater during RP, whereas with LP and SCP Pao exceeded PRLL. Compared with S, during RP, LP, and BP there was greater upper rib cage inward motion relative to abdominal outward motion. SCP resulted in opposite upper rib cage-abdomen relative motions. Thus activities of various muscle groups produced different regional pressures and deformations of rib cage and abdomen. These results may relate to potential errors in plethysmographic determination of thoracic gas volume in the presence of airway closure.

Abdominal Muscles↗

Effect of practice on visual backward masking.

Five experiments studied practice effects for 4, 7, 11 subjects on visual backward masking using a signal-detection procedure under various conditions. Exp. I determined the minimum perceptible critical stimulus duration (CSD) for criterion identification of a target stimulus, the letter T or A. In Exp. II, the stimulus was presented at the critical stimulus duration (CSD) followed by a pattern mask at intervals of 20 to 120 msec. for 15 separate sessions. In Exp. III (N = 4) the mask followed the CSD in intervals of 2-msec. increments until subjects reached criterion accuracy. Exps. IV and V (Ns = 4, 7) provided partial replications of Exps. II and III. Naive subjects were used, and the stimulus duration was constant for all subjects. When masking functions were obtained at a threshold, considerable variability was found and subjects improve slowly or not at all over sessions. With a fixed supra-threshold stimulus, all subjects improve with practice. The inportance of these findings is discussed as they relate to common (and largely untested) assumptions made in the backward masking and perception literature.

Adult↗

Changes in hepatic messenger RNA for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP) during development.

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP) [GTP;oxaloacetate carboxy-lyase(transphosphorylating); EC 4.1.1.32] is absent in rat liver cytosol during fetal life and is synthesized initially at birth. De novo synthesis of the enzyme can be induced prematurely by injection of dibutyryl cyclic AMP or glucagon into fetal animals in utero. In this study a wheat germ translation assay was used to quantitate the level of total functional mRNA for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in the liver of fetal rats at 21 days of pregnancy under different induction situations. The translatable mRNA for the enzyme was marginally detectable in fetal rat liver. Administration of either glucagon or dibutyryl cyclic AMP to fetal rats in utero caused a marked induction of functional mRNA for this enzyme. Three hours after administration of dibutyryl cyclic AMP, the level of translatable mRNA increased almost 23-fold, but by 6 hr the level dropped approximately 60%. Administration of actinomycin D prior to dibutyryl cyclic AMP in 21-day fetal rats prevented the appearance of newly synthesized poly(A)-containing RNA in the cytoplasm as well as the induction of translatable mRNA for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. In animals delivered prematurely and maintained for varying periods, the translatable mRNA for the enzyme accumulated in the liver at a rate comparable to that observed for enzyme synthesis.

Age Factors↗

Visionary work.

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Aged↗

Alternate-site testing.

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Clinical Laboratory Techniques↗