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At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Signal transducing mechanisms involved in human T cell activation via surface T44 molecules. Comparison with signals transduced via the T cell receptor complex.

Antibodies against the T44 surface molecule have been shown to activate human T cells to produce interleukin 2. The role of Ca2+ in the triggering of the interleukin 2-producing Jurkat T cell line by anti-T44 monoclonal antibody has been investigated. We show that activation is initiated by an increase in the concentration of free cytoplasmic calcium ions [Ca2+]i. Subsequently, we have investigated the mechanism by which perturbation of T44 molecules induces increases of [Ca2+]i in Jurkat cells. We show that the anti-T44-mediated increase in [Ca2+]i can occur only in presence of extracellular Ca2+, since no increment is detectable when extracellular Ca2+ is depleted by EGTA. Thus, it appears that perturbation of T44 molecules, unlike that of T3-Ti antigen receptor complex, fails to mobilize Ca2+ from intracellular stores. As inositol triphosphate is considered the putative mobilizer of Ca2+ from internal stores, we measured the levels of inositol triphosphate and of the other inositol phosphate compounds in Jurkat cells after stimulation with anti-T44 antibodies. In contrast to the stimulation via the T3-Ti antigen receptor complex, stimulation via T44 molecule does not induce increments of all three inositol phosphates. Taken together, these data indicate that stimulation mediated by the T44 molecule proceeds via a mechanism independent from the typical inositol lipid metabolism which does not involve mobilization of Ca2+ from internal stores.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1992

Genetic correction of cultured T cells from an adenosine deaminase-deficient patient: characteristics of non-transduced and transduced T cells.

T lymphocytes derived from peripheral blood of a patient with adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency were expanded in vitro. The human ADA (hADA) gene was introduced into these replicating ADA- T cells with the use of an amphotropic recombinant retrovirus carrying the hADA gene. Subsequently, infected T cells were selected on the basis of their ADA expression, by exposure to a combination of the toxic agent xylofuranosyl-adenine and the specific ADA inhibitor 2'-deoxycoformycin. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells could be infected and selected with equal efficiencies. The genetically modified T cells were shown to contain intact copies of the provirus and to express normal levels of hADA. As expected, uninfected T cells from the ADA-deficient patient displayed an increased sensitivity to 2'-deoxyadenosine. Following genetic modification, however, this sensitivity was restored to normal levels in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. The introduction of the hADA gene into the genome of the in vitro expanded T cells did not alter their phenotype, proliferative capacity or cytotoxic potential. These characteristics were identical to those of T cells derived from healthy individuals. These findings are of critical importance for the clinical application of hADA gene-transducted T cells.

Adenosine Deaminase↗
PubMed2005

[Transducer hygiene -- an underrated topic?].

Transducers are medical products that are categorized as uncritical, semicritical and critical, depending on their applications and perceived risks. Uncritical medical products are transducers that solely come in contact with the intact skin, such as transducers used for sonography of the abdomen or breast. Semicritical medical products are transducers that come in contact with mucosal membranes or diseased skin, comprising transducers used for transesophageal, transvesical, transvaginal, transrectal and perineal sonography. Critical medical products are transducers that come in contact with blood, internal tissues or organs, such as transducers used for intraoperative sonography. Under the most unfavorable circumstances, sonographic transducers can become contaminated with pathogenic agents (e. g., MRSA, HBV, HCV, HIV, Herpes viruses) and turn into a not to be underrated source of infection. For this reason, correct handling as well as cleaning and disinfection of the transducers are indispensable. Depending on the application, the recommended handling of the transducers differs. Transducers counted to the uncritical medical products are adequately cleaned by removal of the applied ultrasound gel with subsequent wipe disinfection (e. g., foam spray). Transducers counted to the semicritical medical products, such as transvaginal or perineal transducers , should be exclusively used after a suitable cover has been applied. A Latex(R) allergy must be excluded before the examination. The cover is to be disposed after completion of the examination and the transducer itself cleaned and disinfected. The disinfecting agent must be antiviral but also compatible with the material (caution: damage to the transducer membrane when using an unsuited alcoholic disinfecting agent). In case of rupture of the protecting cover during the examination, the transducer is considered contaminated with secretion or even blood and must be thoroughly cleaned with subsequent disinfection, whereby ample contact time must be allowed for the disinfecting agent. Coarse contamination of the transducer should be removed with disposable tissue. Above all, dried blood spots should be avoided. Intraoperatively used transducers (= critical medical products), which, for instance, come in contact with abdominal organs, are subject to applicable rules and regulation for cleaning and disinfection. Before each use, an adequately long sterile cover must be placed over the transducer and connecting cable. When the examination is completed, the cover is removed and discarded, and the transducer cleaned and disinfected. The applicability of a reusable medical product implies that each manufacturer is obligated to provide care instruction, including formulated instructions for cleaning and disinfection. This entails that each manufacturer of sonographic equipment must make available a detailed summary of the appropriate disinfectants suitable for the respective transducers. Customarily, recommendations for care and cleaning of the transducers can be found in the manual that comes with the sonographic unit. In the absence of such a manual, a written request should be sent to the manufacturer of the sonographic equipment. Sonographic equipment manufacturers and disinfectant producers prefer disinfecting agents for instruments that are based on glutaraldehyde, aldehydes and quaternary agents, mostly for reason of material compatibility rather than their anti-infective effectiveness. Most recommended disinfectants are not tested for antiviral properties, but this is obligatory when applied to transducers that enter a body cavity potentially harboring a virus load - regardless whether the work is done with protective cover . Further information about the topic "medical products" can be found in the guidelines for hospital hygiene and infection prevention published by the Robert Koch Institute (Section: Required Hygienic Standards for Medical Products ), the website of the Robert Koch Institute for hospital hygiene control and the Rules and Regulation for Medical Products Distributors .

Communicable Disease Control↗
PubMed1987

Does transducer selection affect aortic arch velocities?

The hypothesis tested was that transducers of different types and shapes would produce different peak and mean ascending aortic (AAo) velocities. Additionally, we sought to determine if mean and peak velocity recorded from the descending aorta (DAo) were similar to velocities in the AAo. Twenty-eight consecutive individuals who had normal hearts were studied. AAo velocities were measured with four transducers including a nonimaging device that transmitted Doppler at right angles to the transducer handle, a 30-degree angled continuous wave transducer, an imaging transducer that transmitted Doppler in line with the transducer handle, and a second imaging transducer that sectored at 25 degrees to the transducer handle. DAo was studied with a standard in-line imaging transducer. Results showed that mean and peak AAo velocities recorded by transducers that transmitted off the axis of the transducer handle were similar, but the transducer that imaged along the transducer handle axis produced significantly lower peak and mean velocities. The problem that caused lower velocity for the on-axis transducer was inability to image the area immediately posterior to the sternum to permit alignment in the azimuthal dimension. The continuous wave transducer provided a wide spectral dispersion. Mean DAo velocity was similar to mean AAo velocity, but variability was large.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Accuracy of disposable blood pressure transducers used in the critical care setting.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the initial accuracy, drift in calibration over several hours, and decline in accuracy over daily use of blood pressure transducers used in the critical care setting. DESIGN: Prospective, criterion standard. SETTING: Three critical care units in a university hospital. SUBJECTS: Twenty-seven consecutively available high-pressure transducers were used to measure intra-arterial blood pressures, and 11 consecutively available low-pressure transducers were used to measure central venous and pulmonary arterial blood pressures. INTERVENTIONS: High-pressure transducers were compared with a mercury column manometer, and low-pressure transducers were compared with a water column manometer at three pressure levels. Data were collected initially after installation of the pressure transducer, at 3 hrs, and at 6 hrs. Data collections were repeated on subsequent days. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: a) The majority of pressure transducers are accurate; b) there is no drift in the accuracy of pressure transducers over several hours; c) the accuracy of pressure transducers does not decline over subsequent days. Some transducers over-estimated standard pressures by 10 mm Hg and/or underestimated standard pressure by 17 mm Hg. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of pressure transducers used in the critical care setting are accurate, although there are some transducers that may compromise patient care. Blood pressure transducers should be checked against a standard manometer upon installation, and daily during use.

Blood Pressure Determination↗
PubMed2003

In vivo characterization of piezoelectric transducers for implantable hearing AIDS.

BACKGROUND: Piezoelectric bimorph transducers may be used at the input stage of implantable hearing aids to convert ossicle vibrations into electrical waveforms, and at the output stage to convert electrical signals into mechanical motion that drives the ossicles. This study assessed transducer performance in anesthetized, acutely implanted cats using computer-averaged, laser-Doppler vibrometer measures and cochlear potentials. METHODS: Measures of output linearity and distortion for a transducer placed on the umbo were obtained from averaged laser-Doppler vibrometer outputs. Frequency response and equivalent sound pressure level for transducers placed against the stapes were estimated by comparing compound action potentials and cochlear microphonics elicited preoperatively by acoustic signals with responses elicited postoperatively by signals presented through transducers. RESULTS: The transducer placed on the umbo exhibited an effective bandwidth that exceeded 8 kHz, linear response behavior for driving voltages up to 2 Vrms, and harmonic distortion of -40 dB or better at all frequencies greater than 250 Hz. Except for a shorter latency, transducer-elicited cochlear potentials were indistinguishable from acoustically elicited responses. Frequency response varied widely across transducers, ranging from reasonably flat to possessing a bandpass characteristic with a peak at 2 to 4 kHz; 1-Vrms signals applied to transducers with various geometries yielded equivalent intensities of 62 to 108 dB sound pressure level at 4 kHz, 51 to 98 dB sound pressure level at 2 kHz, and 55 to 80 dB sound pressure level at 1 kHz. Differences in frequency response and equivalent sound pressure level stemmed from different resonance frequencies in transducers with dissimilar lengths and, more importantly, from variation in transducer-stapes contact force. CONCLUSIONS: Appropriately designed piezoelectric transducers can provide the cochlea with high-fidelity, wide-bandwidth signals. However, using them in implantable hearing aids requires that geometry and contact force be optimized to reduce variability in output level. Recording cochlear potentials is a cost-effective means of assessing transducer performance intraoperatively, but care must be exercised to take into account any temporary, drill-induced sensitivity loss.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed2005

Modeling of phased array transducers.

Phased array transducers are multi-element transducers, where different elements are activated with different time delays. The advantage of these transducers is that no mechanical movement of the transducer is needed to scan an object. Focusing and beam steering is obtained simply by adjusting the time delay. In this paper the DPSM (distributed point source method) is used to model the ultrasonic field generated by a phased array transducer and to study the interaction effect when two phased array transducers are placed in a homogeneous fluid. Earlier investigations modeled the acoustic field for conventional transducers where all transducer points are excited simultaneously. In this research, combining the concepts of delayed firing and the DPSM, the phased array transducers are modeled semi-analytically. In addition to the single transducer modeling the ultrasonic fields from two phased array transducers placed face to face in a fluid medium is also modeled to study the interaction effect. The importance of considering the interaction effect in multiple transducer modeling is discussed, pointing out that neighboring transducers not only act as ultrasonic wave generators but also as scatterers.

Humans↗
PubMed2002

Theoretical evaluation of moderately focused spherical transducers and multi-focus acoustic lens/transducer systems for ultrasound thermal therapy.

Impractically long treatment times are required for highly focused spherical transducers to destroy large tumours because thermal lesions generated by these transducers are small and a large number of such lesions are required. Moderately focused spherical transducers and multi-focus acoustic lens/transducer systems can generate larger thermal lesions compared to those produced by highly focused spherical transducers, and therefore shorter treatment times can be expected. The decrease in total treatment time by the use of moderately focused spherical transducers and acoustic lens/transducer systems was quantified in this study. A 3D ultrasound thermal model was developed to predict thermal lesion volumes generated by ultrasound transducers. A target model was constructed in order to compare various transducer designs under identical treatment conditions and with identical treatment goals. A design method was developed to determine the thickness of lens elements for production of specified multi-focus fields. Then, a highly focused and a moderately focused spherical transducer, and an acoustic lens/transducer system were compared in terms of total time required to treat a tumour. These transducers had identical apertures and operating frequencies. The radius of curvature of the moderately focused spherical transducer was chosen such that the length of thermal lesions it generated over 10 s single exposures was slightly greater than that of the target. The lens/transducer system was designed to produce a 9 focus field. The simulation results show that for the treatment of a 2 x 2 x 2 cm3 tumour at a depth of 5 cm in the body, the highly focused spherical transducer, the moderately focused spherical transducer and the lens/transducer system required 150, 42 and 30 min, respectively.

Acoustics↗
PubMed2005

Comparison of nasal pressure transducer and thermistor for detection of respiratory events during polysomnography in children.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The results of small studies have suggested that a nasal-cannula pressure transducer has a higher sensitivity than a thermistor in detecting hypopneas and diagnosing sleep-disordered breathing in both adults and children. We compared a thermistor alone, and in conjunction with a pressure transducer, for detection of sleep-disordered breathing in children during in-home polysomnography. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of a subsample of a prospective cohort study. SETTING: Students attending elementary school in the Tucson Unified School District. PARTICIPANTS: A subsample of the Tucson Children's Assessment of Sleep Apnea study population. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Polysomnographic recordings of 40 children (24 girls and 16 boys, mean age 9.2 +/- 1.7 years; range 6-11 years) were analyzed to compare the detection of sleep-disordered breathing events by 2 different methods of measuring airflow: thermistor alone and thermistor with nasal-cannula pressure transducer (transducer) used simultaneously. The transducer detected all the respiratory events detected by the thermistor, but the thermistor detected only 84% of the transducer-defined events. Consequently, the transducer-derived mean respiratory disturbance index was higher than that detected by the thermistor (7.0 +/- 3.8 vs 5.9 +/- 3.4, P < .001). The bias error between transducer respiratory disturbance index and thermistor respiratory disturbance index on a Bland-Altman plot was 1.08 (95% confidence interval, 0.8 - 1.4). There was good agreement between the thermistor and the transducer for making the diagnosis of sleep apnea using a cutoff of a respiratory disturbance index greater than 5 (kappa = 0.69). The quality of the tracings with the transducer was comparable to that of the thermistor, but the transducer dislodged more frequently. CONCLUSION: The use of a nasal transducer in conjunction with a thermistor was more sensitive than the thermistor alone in detecting sleep-disordered breathing in children during unattended polysomnography.

Catheterization↗
PubMed2000

Time-dependent pressure distortion in a catheter-transducer system: correction by fast flush.

BACKGROUND: Distortion of the pressure wave by a liquid-filled catheter-transducer system leads most often to an overestimation in systolic arterial blood pressure in pulmonary and systemic circulations. The pressure distortion depends on the catheter-transducer frequency response. Many monitoring systems use either mechanical or electronic filters to reduce this distortion. Such filters assume, however, that the catheter-transducer frequency response does not change over time. The current study aimed to study the changes with time of the catheter-transducer frequency response and design a flush procedure to reverse these changes back to baseline. METHODS: An in vitro setup was devised to assess the catheter-transducer frequency response in conditions approximating some of those met in a clinical environment (slow flushing, 37 degrees C, 48-h test). Several flush protocols were assessed. RESULTS: Within 48 h, catheter-transducer natural frequency decreased from 17.89 +/- 0.36 (mean +/- SD) to 7.35 +/- 0.25 Hz, and the catheter-transducer damping coefficient increased from 0.234 +/- 0.004 to 0.356 +/- 0.010. Slow and rapid flushing by the flush device built into the pressure transducer did not correct these changes, which were reversed only by manual fast flush of the transducer and of the catheter. These changes and parallel changes in catheter-transducer compliance may be explained by bubbles inside the catheter-transducer. CONCLUSIONS: Catheter-transducer-induced blood pressure distortion changes with time. This change may be reversed by a manual fast flush or "rocket flush" procedure, allowing a con. stant correction by a filter.

Anesthesiology↗
PubMed1996

Accuracy and reliability of disposable pressure transducers coupled with modern pressure monitors.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the bedside accuracy of direct patient pressure monitoring when used with new and clinically used disposable blood pressure (BP) transducers. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Laboratory bench and critical care units in an adult and children's hospital. SUBJECTS: Seventy-five bedside patient monitors (25 Marquette Electronics, 25 Spacelab Medical, and 25 Hewlett-Packard), and 100 disposable transducers (50 from Utah Medical Products and 50 from Abbott Critical Care Systems [25 new, 25 clinically used of each manufacturer]) were tested. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A +/- 2% accuracy requirement for bedside monitors and the +/- 3% American National Standards Institute accuracy standard for disposable BP transducers were used. To test the accuracy of the bedside monitors, a certified transducer simulator was used to apply 100 mm Hg to each bedside monitor. To test the accuracy of the disposable BP transducers, a very accurate (+/- 0.05%) pneumatic dead weight tester was used to apply pressures to the transducer. A digital power supply and a 6 1/2 digit voltmeter were used. The average output of the bedside monitors when 100 mm Hg was applied was 99.90 +/- 0.83 mm Hg, with the worst cases being 98 and 103 mm Hg. For all 100 disposable pressure transducers, the average output was 100.03 +/- 0.55 mm Hg, with the worst cases being 98.53 and 101.36 when 100 mm Hg was applied. There was no important difference in the accuracy of the transducers obtained from the two vendors nor whether the transducers had been used clinically. CONCLUSIONS: All disposable BP transducers tested were much more accurate than the American National Standards Institute standard for accuracy. Even the worst case transducers were twice as accurate as required by the American National Standards Institute standard. Only one bedside monitor was outside the +/- 2% accuracy range (103 mm Hg). Based on these findings, this author recommends that fixed calibration disposable transducers and fixed calibration bedside pressure monitoring systems be used. The clinical risks of air embolism and infection from the calibrating mercury manometer and the complexity of the calibration task are the overriding factors for making these recommendations.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Suppressor of cytokine signaling 1/JAB and suppressor of cytokine signaling 3/cytokine-inducible SH2 containing protein 3 negatively regulate the signal transducers and activators of transcription signaling pathway in normal human epidermal keratinocytes.

The suppressor of cytokine signaling/cytokine-inducible SH2 containing proteins are cytokine inducible and are negative regulators of the signal transducers and activators of the transcription signaling pathway. We investigated the mechanism regulating signal transducers and activators of transcription and the suppressor of cytokine signaling/cytokine-inducible SH2 containing protein family in keratinocytes, one of the major target cells for cytokines. Suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 mRNA was upregulated 3 h post-interferon gamma, and a 8.1-fold increase in the suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 mRNA occurred 48 h post-interferon gamma. The suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 mRNA was also upregulated from 1 h post-interferon gamma, and a 6.7-fold increase in the suppressor of cytokine signaling 3/cytokine-inducible SH2 containing protein 3 mRNA occurred between 6 and 12 h post-interferon gamma. Interleukin-6 exposure for 1 h enhanced the expression of the suppressor of cytokine signaling 3/cytokine-inducible SH2 containing protein 3 mRNA, but the suppressor of cytokine signaling 1/JAB mRNA was not induced by interleukin-6. Interleukin-4 upregulated the suppressor of cytokine signaling 1/JAB and cytokine-inducible SH2 containing protein 1 mRNA, with 3.4-fold and 5.1-fold increases in mRNA observed at 1 h post-interleukin-4, respectively. In contrast, epidermal growth factor, which phosphorylates signal transducers and activators of transcription 3, did not influence the level of the suppressor of cytokine signaling/cytokine-inducible SH2 containing protein family mRNA expression. Transfection of an adenovirus vector expressing the suppressor of cytokine signaling 1/JAB completely inhibited interferon gamma-dependent signal transducers and activators of transcription 1 phosphorylation and interleukin-4-dependent signal transducers and activators of transcription 6 phosphorylation. Transfection of adenovirus vector expressing the suppressor of cytokine signaling 1/JAB did not inhibit interleukin-6-dependent signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 phosphorylation-several reports show that the suppressor of cytokine signaling 1/JAB is a potent inhibitor of signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 signaling in the myeloid leukemia M1 cell. Transfection of the adenovirus vector expressing suppressor of cytokine signaling 3/cytokine-inducible SH2 containing protein 3 completely inhibited interleukin-6-dependent signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 phosphorylation and partially inhibited interferon gamma-dependent signal transducers and activators of transcription 1 phosphorylation. Transfection of the adenovirus vector expressing suppressor of cytokine signaling 3/cytokine-inducible SH2 containing protein 3, however, did not inhibit interleukin-4-dependent signal transducers and activators of transcription 6 phosphorylation. Transfection of the adenovirus vector expressing cytokine-inducible SH2 containing protein 1 had no effect on signal transducers and activators of transcription 1, 3, and 6 signaling in normal keratinocytes. Therefore, the relationship between signal transducers and activators of transcription and suppressor of cytokine signaling is unique in the keratinocytes, and the suppressor of cytokine signaling regulates cytokine signals in these cells.

Antineoplastic Agents↗