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Biomedical subjects

S Moore

Publications and source records attributed to S Moore.

At least 451 records · Page 25Linked to original sources

C-terminal peptides of calcitonin gene-related peptide act as agonists at the cholecystokinin receptor.

We have previously described that [Tyr0]CGRP(28-37) acts as a receptor antagonist of rat CGRP in guinea pig pancreatic acini. We therefore examined other C-terminal peptides of CGRP for such activity. CGRP-acetyl(28-37) acetate did act as a rat CGRP antagonist. However, C-terminal CGRP peptides of 4 to 8 amino acid residues did not antagonize the actions of rat CGRP but stimulated amylase secretion. In pancreatic acini, a maximally effective concentration of rat CGRP (100 nM) caused a 2.1-fold increase in amylase secretion. When the C-terminal peptides of CGRP were tested in at 100 microM, CGRP(34-37) caused a 1.8-fold increase in amylase secretion, CGRP(33-37) a 2.8-fold increase. CGRP(32-37) a 9.2-fold increase, CGRP(31-37) a 4.1-fold increase, and CGRP(30-37) a 5.1-fold increase. Further studies with the most effective peptide, CGRP(32-37), demonstrated that it did not cause release of lactate dehydrogenase, and thus did not cause amylase release by cell damage. Unlike rat CGRP, CGRP(32-37) did not increase cellular cyclic AMP, but did stimulate outflux of 45Ca. CGRP(32-37)-stimulated amylase release was not inhibited by the substance P receptor antagonist, spantide, by the bombesin receptor antagonist, [D-Phe6]bombesin(6-13) propylamide, or by the muscarinic receptor antagonist, atropine, but was inhibited by the CCK receptor antagonist L364,718. C-terminal peptides of CGRP inhibited binding of 125I-BH-CCK-8, with the relative potencies of the peptides being the same as their relative potencies for stimulating amylase secretion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The concept of microglia in relation to central nervous system disease and regeneration.

In a relatively short period of time, the microglial cell has gone from a strongly contested component of the central nervous system (CNS), to being recognised as one of the main players in the response to brain injury. Microglia are thought to arise from cells of haematopoietic origin, and enter the brain in response to naturally occurring cell death. As a result, the microglial cell is the representative of the immune system within the brain. However, the main role of microglia in the adult CNS is to respond to disruption of the homeostasis of the brain, whether that disruption comes from direct damage to neurons, neuronal degeneration or through disease. In this paper we investigate three main causes of cell death in the CNS: inherited degeneration, traumatic lesions and human diseases, and the microglial response to each. Then we examine the mechanisms by which microglia control their surroundings and the methods employed by these cells to instigate neuronal death. Recent observations suggest that under no conditions where neurons are dying or regrowing are microglia not involved, and control of microglia is likely to be just as important in regeneration as providing a favourable environment for neurons to grow. In short, microglia cannot be seen merely as cells of a certain type within the brain, possessing certain functions, but instead must be regarded as a concept that shapes the approaches taken to nervous system development, cell death, disease and trauma, and nervous system regeneration.

Animals↗

Non-A, non-B hepatitis associated with blood transfusion.

Posttransfusion hepatitis of the non-A, non-B variety continues to be a significant problem in current hemotherapy. This disorder is many times more common than transfusion-associated disease caused by hepatitis B virus, cytomegalovirus, and Epstein-Barr virus, and also seems to be viral in origin. Several potential etiological agents have been implicated, but none has been identified with certainty, despite concerted efforts at doing so. Clinical disease is usually attended by few symptoms and signs, but evolution to chronic liver disease is distressingly common; over 50 percent of all cases of non-A, non-B posttransfusion hepatitis manifest this transition. Efforts at prevention of non-A, non-B hepatitis associated with blood transfusion have thus far been hampered by the lack of reliable laboratory markers for carriers of this disease, and controversy exists over the implementation of screening tests on blood donors, using such nonspecific indicators of possible viral carriage as serum alanine aminotransferase levels. It is probable, however, that simple measures such as more restrained blood usage, encouraged by greater educational efforts within the medical community, could be beneficial in minimizing the number of new cases of non-A, non-B posttransfusion hepatitis seen each year in the United States.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Three-dimensional CT and MR imaging in congenital dislocation of the hip: clinical and technical considerations.

Three-dimensional (3D) CT and 3D magnetic resonance (MR) imaging were performed in four patients with congenital dysplasia of the hip. Two patients were studied by 3D CT and two by 3D MR. Prior to volume segmentation, two-dimensional (2D) MR image preprocessing was used to correct for nonuniform signal intensity distribution from local variations in field strength and coil response. An unsharp mask of the original MR scan was computed by extreme blurring of the image to suppress the details of the object. The unsharp mask was divided into the image on a pixel-by-pixel basis. For improved object contrast first and second echo images were combined in a 1:2 ratio. To add an additional feature for volume segmentation, 2D MR image homogeneity was computed based on 3 X 3 pixel neighborhoods. Volume segmentation was performed using one feature for CT, i.e., attenuation range, and two features for MR, i.e., signal intensity and image homogeneity range. Three dimensional CT and 3D MR demonstrated the 3D relationships of femoral heads and acetabula. Three-dimensional CT was limited to patients who had ossified femoral heads, whereas 3D MR demonstrated the cartilaginous femoral head. The extent of acetabular coverage on which the mode of therapy is based was shown. Three-dimensional MR permitted imaging without gonadal irradiation. The 2D MR image preprocessing described here should provide even better results in objects with greater contrast, i.e., nonosseus structures, and those of larger size with relation to image degradation from partial volume effect.

Child↗

Three-dimensional digital displays in congenital dislocation of the hip: preliminary experience.

Four patients with congenital dislocation of the hip (CDH) were studied on a research basis with three-dimensional computed tomography (3-D CT) or, alternatively, with three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (3-D MR). 3-D CT and 3-D MR proved useful in demonstrating the extent of anterior and posterior acetabular coverage. 3-D CT was limited to patients greater than 6 months of age with ossified femoral heads. 3-D MR, in contrast to 3-D CT, demonstrated the cartilaginous femoral head in children less than 6 months of age, while avoiding gonadal irradiation. Both 3-D CT and 3-D MR appear promising in confirming the diagnosis and facilitating the choice of treatment modality in the child with complicated CDH.

Child, Preschool↗

Women's sense of well-being before and after hysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To describe women's perceived sense of well-being before and after hysterectomy by examining a broad array of outcomes experienced by women undergoing hysterectomies for benign conditions. DESIGN: Prospective, descriptive. SETTING: A regional tertiary care facility in central Texas. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred seventy-eight women presenting for hysterectomies for nononcologic reasons who completed all three periods of data collection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Subjects completed a questionnaire assessing information pertinent to their current gynecologic health and the SF-36 Health Survey before surgery and of 4 and 11 months after surgery. The women also completed the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale preoperatively and at 4 months postoperatively. Additional demographic and medical information was extracted from the medical record. RESULTS: In the initial period after surgery, the patients experienced an improved health status. In addition, the women reported on improvement in their psychologic well-being, including less depression and improved sexual functioning. Relationships with others also improved after the surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Outcomes for these women undergoing hysterectomy for nononcologic reasons were generally positive. This information is vital for preoperative counseling by nurses of women contemplating or about to undergo this surgery.

Adult↗

Monoclonal antibodies against Rh and Rh related antigens.

MAB 114 and MAB 120 appeared to have the same or a very similar specificity to BRIC 125 (Avent et al., 1988). MAB 116, and possibly MAB 115, had a similar specificity to R6A (Anstee & Edwards, 1982; Avent et al., 1988). MAB 117, 118 and 119 demonstrated the MB-2D10 specificity and were, in fact, the antibodies reported by von dem Borne et al. (1990). MAB 121 was not anti-Rh34-like since it reacted with RH: 34 red cells. MAB 122 was not anti-HR since it reacted with RH: 18 cells. The specificities of MAB 121 and MAB 122 were not identified and although they probably detect different epitopes insufficient MAB 122 was available to confirm this suspicion. None of the MABS tested appeared to have the same specificity as 1D8 (Miller et al., 1987) or BS58 (Sonneborn et al., 1990). Competitive binding studies with MAB 121 provided evidence of a close association of BRIC 125 polypeptide with Rh polypeptides.

Animals↗

Proteoglycan distribution in areas of differing permeability to Evans blue dye in the aortas of young pigs. An ultrastructural study.

We studied proteoglycan distribution in areas of spontaneously occurring high and low permeability by TEM examination of ruthenium red-stained sections of the aortic arch of normolipemic and hyperlipemic pigs. We noted granules of two sizes: those smaller than 20 nm contained heparan sulphate, and those from 20 to 50 nm in size contained chondroitin or dermatan sulphate. In the aortas of pigs fed a normal diet, there were significantly more granules of both types in low permeability areas than in areas permeable to Evans blue dye. This is consistent with the theory that glycosaminoglycan provides a component for the control of aortic permeability. In the aortas of pigs fed cholesterol, there was an accumulation of lipid-filled monocytes in areas of high permeability and an increase in proteoglycan granule concentration, suggesting an increase in glycosaminoglycan concentration, which may be the precursor to extracellular lipid deposition.

Animals↗

Lipid composition of rabbit aortic wall following removal of endothelium by balloon catheter.

To determine the lipid content of the neointima formed following balloon catheter deendothelialization, we measured the chemical composition of intimal medial samples of the aortic wall of rabbits at 6, 12, and 24 months after the operation. The areas of endothelial regrowth and the denuded areas were outlined by intravenous injection of Evan's blue dye. Lipids were extracted by chloroform/methanol (2:1, vol/vol) separated by thin-layer chromatography, eluted, and estimated by gas-liquid chromatography. No tendency to regression was observed. By contrast we observed a progressive increase over time in the concentration of most lipid classes in the areas of endothelial regrowth. There is evidence indicating that the increase in the lipid concentration parallels the increase in the glycosaminoglycan content in the areas of endothelial regrowth. It is possible that endothelial injury causes some irreversible changes in the composition of the neointima in areas of endothelial regeneration.

Angioplasty, Balloon↗

Kinetics of low density lipoprotein interactions with rabbit aortic wall following balloon catheter deendothelialization.

The kinetics of the interaction of circulating lipoproteins with the balloon catheter-injured aortic wall of rabbits were investigated. The fate of radioiodinated low density lipoprotein (LDL) was followed up to 48 hours after intravenous injection and compared with radioiodinated albumin injected simultaneously. The accumulation of LDL was calculated from the radioactivity in the aortic tissue divided by the average specific activity, measured from the area below the plasma radioactivity versus the time curve, and expressed as cpm/ml/hr. It was observed that the aortic area of endothelial regeneration (AER), which is relatively impermeable to Evans blue dye and shows very little albumin concentration, accumulated considerably more LDL than control (uninjured) tissues. Furthermore, removal of labeled lipoprotein from the intima during a 24-hour efflux period following the initial 48-hour loading period indicated that there was greater removal from normal and deendothelialized aortic (DEA) tissues than from neointima covered by endothelium. These findings are consistent with previous observations indicating changes in the morphological and chemical composition of AER. There is evidence that greater neointimal lipid accumulation in response to endothelial injury parallels the concentration of glycosaminoglycans (GAG). The relatively increased accumulation of label in AER, while plasma-specific activity is rapidly decreasing, indicates that there may be an ionic interaction of GAG with LDL in the AER.

Animals↗

Pharmacologic treatment of cognitive deficits: a case study.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with a variety of cognitive and behavioural disorders. A few reports have suggested that pharmacotherapy might be useful in the management of these disorders. We present a case of a patient who suffered a left subdural hematoma and herniated. Several months after the injury, his function was severely limited. Nevertheless, he demonstrated a clear improvement in response to oral methylphenidate and parenteral physostigmine. We conclude that specific pharmacotherapy may result in major cognitive and functional improvements in severely impaired patients.

Adult↗