Monte Carlo study of self-avoiding walks on a critical percolation cluster.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Y Kim.
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To assess the role of neutrophils and arachidonate metabolites in evolving myocardial infarction, the effect of inhibitors of arachidonate metabolism on the extent of myocardial damage and neutrophil function was examined in a 90-minute occlusion/5-hour reperfusion model of canine myocardial infarction. A thromboxane A2 synthetase inhibitor, CV-4151, and a lipoxygenase inhibitor, AA-861, greatly reduced the infarct size. They also attenuated the production of chemoattractant leukotriene B4 and chemotactic activity of neutrophils isolated from peripheral circulation. Under these conditions, both the increases in peripheral leukocyte count and neutrophil infiltration in ischemic myocardium were inhibited. These results indicate that the inhibition of 2 pathways of arachidonate metabolism may decrease infiltration of activated neutrophils in ischemic myocardium by attenuating chemotactic function of neutrophils, resulting in reduction of the extent of myocardial infarction.
The sal gene encoding Pseudomonas cepacia salicylate hydroxylase was cloned and the sal encoding Pseudomonas putida salicylate hydroxylase was subcloned into plasmid vector pRO2317 to generate recombinant plasmids pTK3 and pTK1, respectively. Both cloned genes were expressed in the host Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. The parental strain can utilize catechol, a product of the salicylate hydroxylase-catalyzed reaction, but not salicylate as the sole carbon source for growth due to a natural deficiency of salicylate hydroxylase. The pTK1- or pTK3-transformed P. aeruginosa PAO1, however, can be grown on salicylate as the sole carbon source and exhibited activities for the cloned salicylate hydroxylase in crude cell lysates. In wild-type P. cepacia as well as in pTK1- or pTK3-transformed P. aeruginosa PAO1, the presence of glucose in addition to salicylate in media resulted in lower efficiencies of sal expression P. cepacia apparently can degrade salicylate via the meta cleavage pathway which, unlike the plasmid-encoded pathway in P. putida, appears to be encoded on chromosome. As revealed by DNA cross hybridizations, the P. cepacia hsd and ht genes showed significant homology with the corresponding plasmid-borne genes of P. putida but the P. cepacia sal was not homologous to the P. putida sal. Furthermore, polyclonal antibodies developed against purified P. cepacia salicylate hydroxylase inactivated the cloned P. cepacia salicylate hydroxylase but not the cloned P. putida salicylate hydroxylase in P. aeruginosa PAO1. It appears that P. cepacia and P. putida salicylate hydroxylases, being structurally distinct, were probably derived through convergent evolution.
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Purified murine lymphocyte pore-forming protein (PFP or perforin) was partially sequenced. Oligonucleotides synthesized on the basis of this sequence information were used to screen a murine cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) cDNA library. Seven clones were obtained, two of which were sequenced, providing full-length sequence information on PFP. Murine PFP (534 a.a.) is 68% identical to human PFP. Hydropathic analysis revealed a predominantly hydrophilic protein with some hydrophobic domains, including a region (a.a. 191-251) that could contain putative membrane-spanning domains. PFP is approx. 20% identical to human C7, C8 and C9 within a region encompassing 270 a.a., confirming previous immunological cross-reactivity studies. Northern blot analysis showed that expression of PFP but not of a serine esterase transcript is enhanced in a CTL line by antigen receptor-stimulation. Southern blot analysis of mouse genomic DNA indicated that PFP is encoded as a single-copy gene with the coding region contained within 10 kilobases of genomic DNA.
Chemotaxis, chemokinesis and cellular orientation were measured for unstimulated and 10(-7) n-formyl methionyl leucyl phenylalanine (F-met-leu-phe) stimulated polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNS) of nine patients with recent 10-80 per cent burns using a computer-assisted image analysis technique. The technique records PMN movement, as viewed with a phase-contrast microscope on videotapes, and then uses computer programs to calculate the speed and direction of up to 50 PMNS over a 5-min period. Orientation was determined visually. Cellular adherence was also measured by attachment methods. PMNS from burn patients were slower (av. speed 16.8 microns/min), responded less well to F-met-leu-phe (av. speed 20.9 microns/min, av. McCutcheon index 0.32), were less often oriented towards the chemoattractant (av. 39 per cent) and were more adherent (av. 50 per cent) than control cells (av. speed 21.8 microns/min; av. speed F-met-leu-phe 32.2 microns/min; McCutcheon index 0.61; oriented 59 per cent adherent; 16 per cent). Thus PMNS from burn patients orient less well, are significantly slower and have less directionality in response to a chemoattractant, and are more adherent suggesting activation.
Four Drosophila melanogaster homeobox genes were found by screening a genomic DNA library with oligodeoxynucleotides that correspond to a conserved amino acid sequence that is part of the putative of homeobox proteins that recognizes nucleotide sequences in DNA. The amino acid sequences of NK-2, NK-3, and NK-4 homeoboxes are more closely related to one another (59-66% homology) than they are to other Drosophila homeoboxes (28-54% homology), whereas the homeobox of NK-1 is most closely related, in order of decreasing homology, to muscle segment homeobox, zerknüllt-1, NK-3, and distal-less homeoboxes. Three of the genes, NK-1, NK-3, and NK-4, comprise a cluster of homeobox genes located in the 93E1-5 region of the right arm of the third chromosome, whereas the fourth homeobox gene, NK-2, is located in the 1C1-5 region of the X chromosome.
To define the role of oxygen free radicals and neutrophil involvement in evolving myocardial reperfusion injury, we evaluated the effect of 2-octadecylascorbic acid (CV-3611), a novel free radical scavenger, on neutrophil function and the extent of myocardial damage resulting from 90 min of ischaemia followed by 5 h of reperfusion in an experimental model of myocardial infarction. Dogs were randomly assigned to receive CV-3611 (5 mg.kg-1.[5 min]-1, intravenously) just before the onset of reperfusion. Infarct size, as a percent of area at risk, was reduced by 60% in CV-3611 treated group as compared with control, at 16.7(SEM 3.1)% v 41.5(4.5)%, p less than 0.01. Administration of CV-3611 markedly reduced function of neutrophils isolated from peripheral circulation during reperfusion ex vivo as estimated by free radical generation (ferricytochrome c reduction and luminol enhanced chemiluminescence), chemotactic activity, and aggregation induced by A23187. Under these conditions, the enhancement in neutrophil infiltration and free radical generation (luminol enhanced chemiluminescence) in myocardium within area at risk, especially in the border zone between viable and irreversible injured myocardium, was markedly reduced. Haemodynamic profiles were similar between control and CV-3611 treated group. These results suggest that activated neutrophils, especially their generation of oxygen free radicals, contribute to reperfusion induced myocardial injury.
Nineteen patients with poor prognosis squamous cell cancer of the cervix were treated with concurrent radiation therapy (RT) and chemotherapy between February 1986 and July 1988. Treatment consisted of intravenous Mitomycin C 10 mg/m2 on days 1 and 43 and cis-platinum 50 mg/m2 on days 1, 22, and 43. All patients received external RT (5,000 cGy in 28 fractions) and brachytherapy (6,000 cGy to point A.) Additionally, patients with paraaortic lymph node involvement received 4,000 cGy paraaortic RT. The toxicity of this regimen was assessed using Southwest Oncology Group criteria. Toxicity was acceptable and did not significantly delay RT. In addition, complete pelvic response was noted in 18 of 19 (95%) patients within month of completion of therapy and maintained despite distant metastases. At the time of this report, 14 of the 19 patients are alive 9-22 months after initiation of treatment. Chemotherapy with cis-platinum and Mitomycin C concurrently with RT is feasible in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. Further follow-up of our patients is required to determine whether this regimen will have a favorable impact on survival.
Glomerular visceral epithelial cells (GVEC) from normal human glomeruli were grown in tissue culture. Cell surface markers were studied by immunofluorescence microscopy using antibodies against lymphohaemopoietic differentiation antigens which are known to be present early (BA-1, OKB2, BA-2) and late (J5, anti CR1) in renal ontogenesis. Like foetal human glomerular epithelium, the cultured cells reacted with BA-1 and OKB2 (identifying an antigen expressed on B cells and polymorphonuclear leucocytes), and BA-2 (leukaemia-associated antigen), but were consistently negative for CR1 (C3b receptor); J5 which identifies the common acute lymphoblastic leukaemia antigen (CALLA) stained variably. Reactivity with antimyosin or anti factor VIII were absent. The cells produced an extracellular matrix containing laminin, type IV collagen, and fibronectin. This study supports the notion that GVEC undergo dedifferentiation as shown by the acquisition of lymphohaemopoietic differentiation antigens present early in renal ontogeny. In addition, the production of extracellular matrix constituents in vitro may be useful for the investigation of human glomerular basement membranes.
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The occurrence of hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase in adult Hymenolepis diminuta was demonstrated. This activity was negligible in the cestode's cytosolic fraction but was noted when the mitochondrial or microsomal fraction served as the enzyme source. The predominant localization of HMG-CoA reductase activity was with the microsomal fraction. This fraction did not contain appreciable mitochondrial contamination based on the distribution of marker enzymes. The enzymatic nature of HMG-CoA conversion to mevalonic acid by either fraction was apparent because the reaction was heat labile and responded linearly to time of assay and protein content. The enzymatic reduction of HMG-CoA absolutely required NADPH when either fraction was assayed. The lesser activity of the mitochondrial fraction was membrane-associated. The predominant localization of HMG-CoA reductase activity with microsomal membranes and its separation with the membranous component of the mitochondrial fraction suggest that mitochondrial activity reflects the presence of microsomal membranes. In its predominant localization and pyridine nucleotide requirement, the cestode's HMG-CoA reductase activity resembles that of mammalian systems. The finding of HMG-CoA reductase provides an enzymatic mechanism for the intermediate conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonic acid that would be needed for acetate-dependent isoprenoid lipid synthesis by adult H. diminuta.
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Distance constraints from two-dimensional NMR cross-relaxation data are used to derive a three-dimensional structure for acyl carrier protein from Escherichia coli. Several approaches to structure determination are explored. The most successful proves to be an approach that combines the early stages of a distance geometry program with energy minimization in the presence of NMR constraints represented as pseudopotentials. Approximately 450 proton to proton distance constraints including 50 long-range constraints were included in these programs. Starting structures were generated at random by the distance geometry program and energies minimized by a molecular mechanics module to give final structures. Seven of the structures were deemed acceptable on the basis of agreement with experimentally determined distances. Root-mean-square deviations from the mean of these structures for backbone atoms range from 2 to 3 A. All structures show three roughly parallel helices with hydrophobic residues facing inward and hydrophilic residues facing outward. A hydrophobic cleft is recognizable and is identified as a likely site for acyl chain binding.
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