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Biomedical subjects

R S Miller

Publications and source records attributed to R S Miller.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Monoclonal antibodies to human coagulation factor V and factor Va.

BALB/c mice were immunized with human factor V. The immunogen was a mixture of procofactor (factor V) and thrombin-activated cofactor (factor Va). Spleen cells were obtained from an immunized animal and fused with NS-1 murine myeloma cells. Hybrid cell cultures were assayed for the production of antibodies to human factor V and factor Va by a solid-phase radioimmunoassay. Factor V and/or factor-Va-specific antibodies were detected in 38 of the 96 cultures assayed. The cells from 10 of these positive cultures were subcloned by limiting dilution and grown as ascites tumors in BALB/c mice. Ascitic fluids were obtained and characterized with respect to their binding interaction with human factor V and factor Va. Three hybridoma cell lines produce monoclonal antibodies that react equally well with factor V and factor Va. Another antibody reacts with both antigens, but the reactivity with factor V is better than with factor Va. An additional two antibodies react with factor Va better than factor V in the radioimmunoassay (RIA). The remaining four antibodies react exclusively with factor V. A previously described murine monoclonal antibody to human factor V (alpha HFV-1) has been used to study the peptides produced during the thrombin-catalyzed activation of human factor V. This antibody binds both factor V and factor Va, releases them at high ionic strength, and has an apparent dissociation constant for factor Va of 3 x 10(-9)M. When human factor V (mol wt 330,000) is activated by thrombin and passed over an alpha HFV-1-Sepharose affinity resin, factor Va binds and subsequently can be eluted. The eluate in 1.2 M NaCl contains two fragments of apparent mol wt 93,000 and 70,000. EDTA, which inactivates factor Va, promotes release of the mol wt 93,000 fragment from factor Va bound to the antibody. Subsequent elution with 1.2 M NaCl releases the mol wt 70,000 fragment. These observations indicate that human factor Va is a two subunit protein and that the epitope for alpha HFV-1 is on the mol wt 70,000 fragment.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Monoclonal antibodies selective for the functional states of bovine factor V and factor Va.

Hybridoma technology has been used for the production of murine monoclonal antibodies to bovine coagulation Factor V and its thrombin-activated product, Factor Va. Hybrid cell cultures were assayed for the production of anti-Factor V and anti-Factor Va antibodies by a solid-phase radioimmunoassay. Antibody-producing cell lines were selected, cloned and grown as ascites tumors. Gel filtration chromatography (Ultrogel AcA34) and affinity chromatography (protein A-Sepharose) were used to isolate the monoclonal immunoglobulins from the ascites fluids. Thirteen monoclonal antibodies have been characterized with respect to their binding to Factor V and Factor Va and their effect on cofactor bioactivity. Six of these thirteen antibodies react with both Factor V and Factor Va. One of these antibodies is strongly inhibitory, while a second antibody is only moderately inhibitory. The antibody produced by another cell line binds Factor V but not Factor Va and is not inhibitory. The remaining six cell lines each produce an antibody that reacts preferentially with Factor Va, and each of these antibodies is inhibitory to some extent. Both a radioimmunoassay and light scattering have been used to study the interaction of the immunoglobulins with Factor V and Factor Va. The light scattering technique has proven useful to study the interaction of isolated antibodies and antigens and permits the determination of interaction stoichiometries. Each of the interactions studied was characterized by a stoichiometry of two antigens per antibody. These monospecific immunochemical reagents will be useful in the study of structure and function relationships of Factor V, Factor Va and activation fragments.

Animals↗

The assessment of social intimacy.

Research exploring the psychological importance of closeness with others has been hampered by the absence of a reliable and valid measure of this variable. The development of the Miller Social Intimacy Scale (MSIS), a 17-item measure of the maximum level of intimacy currently experienced, is presented. Evidence for internal consistency and test-retest reliability as well as for convergent, discriminant and construct validity is discussed in the context of the need for further scientific exploration of this important phenomenon.

Journal Article↗

Successful urban-to-rural professional role transition.

Mental health professionals who move from urban to rural environments to seek changes in lifestyle frequently experience stress in making personal and professional role transitions. Difficulty in making role transitions is a factor that adversely affects the rate of professional retention in the rural mental health field. This article reviews the sociological variables known to affect the ease of transition into new roles utilizing typical rural situations and practice examples to highlight the application of role transition theory to rural practice. The article concludes with recommendations to rural MHC administrators on ways to improve screening procedures for urban job applicants and ways to facilitate the urban professional's transition to rural life.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

Monoclonal antibodies to von Willebrand's factor: reactivity with porcine and human antigens.

Monoclonal antibodies to porcine von Willebrand's factor (vWf) were obtained from hybridomas derived from the fusion of NS-1 plasmacytoma cells and spleen cells from immunized BALB/c mice. Twenty hybrids were positive in a radioimmunoassay based on the ability of immobilized hybridoma antibodies to bind porcine vWf as detected by the subsequent binding of 125I-polyclonal rabbit anti-vWf. Growth of the hybridomas as ascitic tumors yielded fluids having titers in this assay ranging from 8 x 10(7) to 8 x 10(11). All the antibodies were positive when normal, but not von Willebrand's, plasma was used as the source fo antigen in this RIA, and when normal, but not von Willebrand's, acetone-fixed platelets were used in an indirect immunofluorescence assay. Two of these antibodies inhibited both ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation and platelet aggregating factor. In a second radioimmunoassay, only 13 were of the 20 antibodies were reactive with human vWf, and two of these would not react with human antigen in the presence of 2M Nacl. Bases on these assays, six reactivity groups of antibodies could be identified.

Animals↗

Prescribing psychotropic drugs: whose responsibility?

Through the use of a questionnaire it has been ascertained that a significant number of second-year graduate school social work students at the Columbia University School of Social Work are called upon to monitor and dispense psychotrophic drugs in various placements where they receive their practical clinical training. In some instances they may even fill out prescription blanks that are signed by psychiatrists who do not have the time to see the patients personally. This situation not only represents the abdication of medical responsibility, frequently leaving non-medical personnel with functions beyond their training and professional competence, but also raises important ethical and legal problems. Non-medical professionals in mental health settings should receive appropriate instruction in the essentials of psychopharmacology. Such training should not be left to chance as apparently is the case now. Non-medically trained members of the mental health team, if properly instructed, could cooperate more effectively with the psychiatrists who must in any event retain primary responsibility for pharmacotherapy.

Clinical Competence↗

Human leukocyte interferon: production, purification to homogeneity, and initial characterization.

A method of fractionating proteins by high-performance liquid partition chromatography has been developed and used for isolation and purification to homogeneity of one of the species of human leukocyte interferon. The homogeneous interferon exhibited a sharp peak on high-performance liquid chromatography and a single narrow band on sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol. Extraction of the gel gave a single sharp peak of antiviral activity coinciding with the protein band. The specific activity of pure interferon was found to be 2--4 X 10(8) units/mg, based on amino acid analysis. The molecular weight is 17,500--18,000.

Amino Acids↗

Human leukocyte interferon purified to homogeneity.

One of the species of human interferon produced by incubation of leukocytes with Newcastle disease virus was purified to homogeneity. It exhibited one peak of activity coinciding with a single protein band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Humans↗

Lipogenesis and the synthesis and secretion of very low density lipoprotein by avian liver cells in nonproliferating monolayer culture. Hormonal effects.

The nonproliferating chicken liver cell culture system described yields cell monolayers with morphological and lipogenic properties characteristic of the physiological-nutritional state of donor animals. Synthesis and secretion of fatty acid, cholesterol, and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) occur at in vivo rates and respond to hormones and agents which affect these processes in vivo. Cells derived from fed chickens maintain high rates of synthesis of fatty acid and cholesterol for several days if insulin is present in the medium. High rates of fatty acid synthesis are correlated with the appearance of membrane-enclosed triglyceride-rich vesicles in the cytoplasm; deletion of insulin causes a decrease (T1/2 = 22 h) in fatty acid synthetic activity. Addition of glucagon or cyclic AMP (cAMP) causes an immediate cessation of fatty acid synthesis and blocks the appearance of the triglyceride-rich vesicles. Fatty acid synthesis in liver cells prepared from fasted chickens is less than 5% that of cells from fed animals. After 2-3 days in culture with serum-free medium containing insulin +/- triiodothyronine, fatty acid synthesis is restored to normal; glucagon or dibutyryl cAMP blocks this recovery. Liver cells derived from estradiol-treated chickens synthesize and secrete VLDL for at least 48 h in culture. Electron micrographs of these cells reveal more extensive development of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex compared to cells from untreated chickens. Whereas [3H]leucine incorporation into total protein is unaffected by estrogen treatment, [3H]leucine incorporation into cellular and secreted immunoprecipitable VLDL is markedly increased indicating specific activation of VLDL apopeptide synthesis; 8-10% of the labeled protein synthesized and secreted is VLDL. Dodecyl sulfate-acrylamide gel electrophoresis of immunoprecipitated 3H-VLDL reveals three major apopepetides of 300,000, 11,000, and 8,000 daltons corresponding to those of purified chicken VLDL.

Bucladesine↗