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At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Localization ability in infants with simulated unilateral hearing loss.

This study investigated the feasibility of using a localization task to rule out unilateral hearing loss in infants. Fourcorner localization ability was assessed in 29 normal-hearing infants (9-20 mo) using four different test stimuli. In these same infants, a mild unilateral hearing loss was simulated by occlusion of the external auditory canal and the test sequence was repeated. Analysis of front-back, right-left, and combined errors for each of the test stimuli revealed that this type of task may allow detection of unilateral hearing loss as slight as 25 dB HL.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1989

Motor learning in ideomotor apraxia.

Using Luria's motor sequence test, we studied the learning ability of 34 right-handed patients with unilateral hemisphere lesions. Patients with ideomotor apraxia needed 4 to 6 trials in the test, while the remainder needed only 1 or 2. Ideomotor apraxics also required more time to complete the test. The lesions of patients who failed to master this test were not always found in the frontal lobes. These results suggest that the ability to learn motor sequences is impaired in apraxic patients and that the left hemisphere of the brain plays the major role in learning a new motor sequence. Patients with ideomotor apraxia are impaired not only when performing previously learned motor tasks but also when learning a new motor task.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

CRH and alpha-helical-CRH modulate behavioral measures of arousal in monkeys.

Several neuropeptides involved in the control of pituitary-adrenal activation have also been shown to have behavioral effects which may be mediated by actions on brain mechanisms independent of pituitary release. The behavioral effects of intraventricular administration of CRH and the synthetic peptide antagonist alpha-helical-CRH were assessed in socially separated squirrel monkeys. Treated monkeys were presented with a sequence of behavioral challenges including undisturbed social separation, presentation of a mirror image, and presentation of a "predator" stimulus. The test sequence was repeated at several time intervals after administration of the peptides. CRH produced dose-related increases in several species-typical measures of arousal including motor activity, vigilance-checking, and marking. Pretreatment with alpha-helical-CRH prevented the increased motor activity but not the marking behavior associated with CRH. When administered alone, alpha-helical-CRH increased vigilance-checking. In addition, alpha-helical-CRH increased aggressive behaviors exhibited at the mirror stimulus. The data provide further support for a central role for CRH in the mediation of both activational and inhibitory behavioral responses to stressful stimuli. These data also suggest both antagonistic and partial agonist effects for alpha-helical-CRH.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Characterization and organization of DNA sequences adjacent to the human telomere associated repeat (TTAGGG)n.

We present a strategy for the cloning of DNA sequences adjacent to the tandemly repeated DNA sequence (TTAGGG)n. Sequence analysis of 14 independently isolated clones revealed the presence of non-repetitive sequences immediately adjacent to or flanked by blocks of the simple repeat (TTAGGG)n. In addition, we provide sequence information on two previously undescribed tandemly repeated sequences, including a 9 bp repeat and a modification of the (TTAGGG)n repeat. Using different mapping approaches six sub-clones, free of the TTAGGG repeat, were assigned to a single human chromosome. Moreover, in situ hybridization mapped one of these subclones, G2 - 1H, definitively to the telomeric band on chromosome 4q. However, Bal 31 insensitivity suggests a location in a more subterminal region. All the (TTAGGG)n-adjacent unique sequences tested are highly conserved among primates but are not present in other mammalian species. Identification and mapping of TTAGGG-adjacent sequences will provide a refined insight into the genomic organization of the (TTAGGG)n repeat. The isolation of chromosome specific TTAGGG-adjacent sequences from subtelomeric regions of all human chromosomes will serve as important end points for the genetic maps and will be useful for the molecular characterization of chromosomal rearrangements involving telomeres.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Cognitive screening tests for organic mental disorders in psychiatric inpatients. A hopeless task?

Bedside cognitive screening tests have been suggested as a way to quickly determine the likelihood of a patient's having an organic mental disorder (OMD). The Mini-Mental State (MMS) examination and a number of separate bedside neurobehavioral tests were administered to 206 patients who were consecutively admitted to the University of Iowa Psychiatric Hospital. Both examinations were completed by 150 subjects. Of the sample, 7% had an OMD diagnosis. The most frequent neurological causes of OMD were probable Alzheimer's and closed head trauma. The predictive value positive, predictive value negative, specificity, and sensitivity of the MMS were examined for a number of different cutoff scores. The maximum sensitivity was 75% with a cutoff score of 30. The maximum specificity was 100% with a cutoff of 12. However, only two OMD patients had scores less than 12. There was no cutoff that resulted in a clinically useful screening test. A stepwise multiple logistic regression model using the separately administered bedside tests as independent variables and OMD as the dependent variable resulted in two significant predictors of an OMD diagnosis: the alternating sequence test and a reading test. This model was not appreciably better than the MMS in predicting an OMD diagnosis. A number of problems make the development of a clinically useful cognitive screening test for OMD in inpatients unlikely. These include poor cooperation of the patients, the rarity of OMD in psychiatric inpatients, the heterogeneity of OMD etiologies, and the confounding neuropsychological deficits of a number of common psychiatric disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

[Intraindividual comparison of the elimination kinetics of Lipofundin S and Intralipid in consecutive lipid tolerance tests].

Two intravenous fat tolerance tests (IVFTT) were performed in 16 healthy volunteers and 8 patients suffering from hypertriglyceridemia (HTG). We compared Lipofundin S (Braun, Melsungen) with Intralipid (Kabi Vitrum, Stockholm), using both 10- and 20% concentrations. Time intervals between the tests were 1 h for the volunteers and 2 h for the patients with HTG, respectively. Fractional elimination rates were obtained from light scattering intensity of serum samples. They were significantly higher for Lipofundin S (9.61%/min for healthy men and 12.48%/min for healthy women) compared to Intralipid (7.09%/min for healthy men and 9.41%/min for healthy women). This difference occurred independently of (1) serum triglyceride concentrations and sex of the volunteers, (2) concentrations of lipid emulsions (10 vs. 20%), and (3) the test sequence (Lipofundin S or Intralipid first). This means that the elimination kinetics during an IVFTT are not influenced by a foregoing test. Similar features of both emulsion types were: (1) Faster elimination in women compared to men, and in healthy volunteers compared to HTG patients; (2) inverse correlation between fractional elimination rates and serum triglyceride concentrations. Fractional elimination rates of Lipofundin S and Intralipid were closely interrelated. Obviously there exists an intra-individually characteristic elimination capacity for exogenous triglycerides.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Clinical and economic considerations associated with testing for fetal lung maturity.

Performing multiple tests of fetal lung maturity on amniotic fluid samples may not use the individual test results and laboratory personnel most effectively. To determine the best strategy for fetal lung maturity testing, we analyzed our experience with use of a variety of procedures. Clinical usefulness was assessed according to sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and efficiency. Economic and technical aspects analyzed included time and personnel requirements, availability of tests, and expense of each procedure. Several testing sequence approaches were compared for efficiency and cost. In our laboratory the foam stability index proved to be the most useful initial test of fetal lung maturity, reserving more expensive and time-consuming tests for instances in which the foam stability index is immature. Routine multiple testing did not enhance clinical usefulness and greatly increased costs. Development of a testing strategy using a rapid, inexpensive, and widely available test such as the foam stability index would promote clinical and economic efficiency.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1987

A quantitative approach to sequence comparisons of nitrogenase MoFe protein alpha- and beta-subunits including the newly sequenced nifK gene from Klebsiella pneumoniae.

The nucleotide sequence was determined for part of the Klebsiella pneumoniae nif gene cluster containing the 3' end of the nifD gene and the entire length of the nifK gene (encoding the alpha- and beta-subunits of the nitrogenase MoFe protein respectively), as well as the putative start of the nifY gene, a gene of as yet unknown function. A broad-based comparison of a number of MoFe protein alpha-subunits, beta-subunits and alpha-versus beta-subunits was carried out by the use of a computer program that simultaneously aligns three protein sequences according to the mutation data matrix of Dayhoff. A new kind of quantitative statistical measure of the similarity between the aligned sequences was obtained by calculating and plotting standardized similarity scores for overlapping segments along the aligned proteins. This calculation determines if a test sequence is similar to the consensus sequence of two other proteins that are known to be related to each other. The different beta-subunits compared were found to be significantly similar along most of their sequence, with the exception of two relatively short regions centred around residues 225 and 300, which contain insertions/deletions. The overall pattern of similarity between different alpha-subunits exhibits resemblance to the overall pattern of similarity between different beta-subunits, including regions of low similarity centred around residues 225 and 340. Comparison of alpha-subunits with beta-subunits showed that a region of significant similarity between the two types of subunits was located approximately between residues 120 and 180 in both subunits, but other parts of the proteins were only marginally similar. These results provide insights into likely tertiary structural features of the MoFe protein subunits.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1982

Cloned bacteriophage phi X174 DNA sequence interferes with synthesis of the complementary strand of infecting bacteriophage phi X174.

The insertion of a particular phi X DNA sequence in the plasmid pACYC177 strongly decreased the capacity of Escherichia coli cells containing such a plasmid to propagate bacteriophage phi X174. The smallest DNA sequence tested that showed the effect was the HindII fragment R4. This fragment does not code for a complete protein. It contains the sequence specifying the C-terminal part of the gene H protein and the N-terminal part of the gene A protein, as well as the noncoding region between these genes. Analysis of cells that contain plasmids with the "reduction sequence" showed that (i) the adsorption of the phages to the host cells is normal, (ii) in a single infection cycle much less phage is formed, (iii) only 10% of the infecting viral single-stranded DNA is converted to double-stranded replicative-form DNA, and (iv) less progeny replicative form DNA is synthesized. The reduction process is phi X174 specific, since the growth of the related G4 and St-1 phages was not affected in these cells. The effect of the recombinant plasmids on infecting phage DNA shows similarity to the process of superinfection exclusion.

Bacteriophage phi X 174↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sound localization with phase audiometry.

A 500 Hz pure tone is presented binaurally with earphones. The tone is adjusted to give a midline impression at confortable loudness level. An electronic variable time delay line unit and a generator for randomizing the shift of the phase lag of the signal to the right or to the left ear, respectively, are used. By shortening the time delay the threshold of the recognition of the phase difference is reached. At every test sequence the tone is first presented in the center of the head without delay and then with delay. The patient runs the test by indicating in which ear the tone is heard. The phase difference is thus gradually reduced from 500 musec down to a threshold value of about 48 musec equal on right and left ears in normal-hearing subjects. The results of phase audiometry on subjects with normal hearing and with different types of hearing losses are in good agreement with the results of sound localization tests in free field. Phase audiometry seems to be of especial value in diagnosing retrocochlear lesions.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1989

Nuclear and nucleolar targeting sequences of c-erb-A, c-myb, N-myc, p53, HSP70, and HIV tat proteins.

Protein import into the cell nucleus requires specific binding of nuclear proteins to the nuclear pore complex. Based on amino acid sequence "motifs" of known nuclear targeting signals, we identified peptides within a number of nuclear proteins with likely nuclear targeting potential and tested their function by transfecting into cells fusion genes that produce the cytoplasmic "reporter" protein, pyruvate kinase (PK), joined to the test sequence. Sequences within c-myb (PLLKKIKQ), N-myc (PPQKKIKS), p53 (PQPKKKP), and c-erb-A (SKRVAKRKL) oncoproteins that direct PK hybrids into the nucleus were identified. A peptide (GRKKRRQRRRAP) of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) tat protein (Tat), which contains two short basic regions, targets fusion proteins to the nucleolus. The COOH-terminal basic Tat region (QRRRAP) does not target PK hybrid proteins into the nucleus, but mutation of two basic amino acids in this region decreases but does not abolish nucleolar accumulation mediated by the entire Tat nucleolar targeting sequence. Moreover, the c-Myc nuclear targeting sequence fused to the COOH-terminal basic Tat region (PAAKRVKLDQRRRAP) effectively localizes PK hybrids to the nucleus and nucleolus. A similar sequence (FKRKHKKDISQNKRAVRR) in the human heat-shock protein HSP70 also localizes PK to the nucleus and nucleolus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

c-Ha-ras transfection induces human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transcription through the HIV-enhancer in human fibroblasts and astrocytes.

Transient transfection of ras expression vectors into human fibroblasts and astrocytes has been used to test the hypothesis that p21 ras, a known membrane signal transductor, may participate in pathways linking cellular activation and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reactivation. Expression vectors carrying the chloramphenicol acetyl transferase coding sequence under the control of various fragments of the long terminal repeat (LTR) of HIV were co-transfected with expression vectors of the mutated (val 12) c-Ha-ras gene or of its normal counterpart. Both forms of the ras gene induced transactivation of the HIV-LTR via the two direct repeat sequences which constitute the HIV enhancer. This repeat sequence was shown to be sufficient for ras-induced LTR transactivation. Other LTR sequences tested were not found to be responsive to co-transfected ras expression vectors. Deletion of the TAR sequence impaired the response to tat, but not to ras co-transfection. The mutated ras gene was more efficient than the proto-oncogene in activating the HIV enhancer. Transfection of ras was shown to enhance transcription of a complete provirus DNA clone of HIV-1. Such findings may shed new light on the mechanisms through which cell membrane activation signals result in HIV reactivation.

Astrocytes↗
PubMed2026

King's Mill anterior-posterior and transverse versus paracervical block in operative outpatient hysteroscopy: a randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: Pain control during operative outpatient hysteroscopy remains a clinical challenge, with the paracervical block (PCB) showing inconsistent efficacy. The King's Mill Anterior-Posterior and Transverse (KAPT) block targets the Lee-Frankenhauser plexus within the uterosacral ligament complex, where the highest density of uterine and cervical sensory fibres lies. We compared the KAPT block with the PCB in operative outpatient hysteroscopy. METHODS: Single-centre, participant- and outcome assessor-blinded randomised controlled trial in a UK district general hospital. Forty-eight women undergoing operative outpatient hysteroscopy were randomised 1:1 to the KAPT block or the PCB, each delivered with 10 ml of prilocaine. Pain was measured on a 10-point Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) during the procedure and 10 minutes post-procedure (co-primary endpoints), and during cervical dilatation (exploratory). Analyses used the Mann-Whitney U test on an intention-to-treat basis, with Hodges-Lehmann median differences, percentile bootstrap 95% confidence intervals, and a hierarchical fixed-sequence testing strategy. RESULTS: Median intra-procedural VAS was 1 (IQR 0 to 3) with the KAPT block versus 2 (IQR 1 to 6) with the PCB (Hodges-Lehmann median difference -1.00, 95% CI -3.00 to 0.00; p = 0.040). At 10 minutes post-procedure, median VAS was 0 (IQR 0 to 1.25) versus 2 (IQR 0 to 3.25) (median difference -1.00, 95% CI -2.00 to 0.00; p = 0.011). Both co-primary endpoints reached significance under hierarchical testing. Cervical dilatation pain did not differ significantly (p = 0.146). Satisfaction was 100% in both arms; willingness to recommend was 100% (KAPT) versus 95.8% (PCB). No serious adverse events occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The KAPT block was associated with lower intra-procedural and post-procedural pain than the PCB, with effect sizes consistent with a clinically meaningful difference. These findings support the KAPT block as a superior, anatomically targeted alternative to the PCB and justify evaluation in a larger multicentre trial.Trial registration: ISRCTN15619382.

Humans↗
PubMed1984

Organization and mapping of a sequence on the Drosophila melanogaster X and Y chromosomes that is transcribed during spermatogenesis.

The D. melanogaster DNA segment in the recombinant phage lambda Dm2L1 contains at least eight copies of a tandemly repeated 1250-base pair (bp) sequence (henceforth called the 2L1 sequence). Testes from XO D. melanogaster males contain an abundant 800-base RNA species that is homologous to a 520-bp region of the 2L1 sequence. Blotting experiments show that the 2L1 sequence is repeated in the D. melanogaster genome and is present on both the X and Y chromosomes. With the use of X-Y translocations, the 2L1 sequence has been mapped to a region between kl-1 and kl-2 on the long arm of the Y chromosome. In Oregon-R wild type there are an estimated 200 copies of the 2L1 sequence on the X chromosome and probably at least 80 copies of the Y chromosome. In some other strains the repetition frequency on the Y chromosome is about the same, but the copy number on the X chromosome is much reduced. On the basis of the five strains investigated, there is a correlation between copy number of the 2L1 sequence on the X chromosome and the presence of a particular allele of the Stellate locus (Ste; 1-45.7). It seems that low copy number corresponds to Ste+ and high copy number corresponds to Ste. The Ste locus determines whether single or star-shaped crystals are observed in the spermatocytes of XO males. Studies using D. simulans and D. mauritiana DNA show that the 2L1 sequence is homologous to restriction fragments in male DNA but not female DNA, indicating that this sequence is present only on the Y chromosome in these two species. In DNA derived from D. erecta, D. teissieri and D. yakuba, there is very little, if any, hybridization with the 2L1 sequence probe.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Dietary tryptophan and the selection of ethyl alcohol in different strains of rats.

Rats of three different strains were tested systematically for their selection of water or ethanol offered in a two-choice situation. In order that preference-aversion curves could be derived, the concentrations of ethanol were increased in strength from 3 to 30% over an 11 or 12 day test sequence. L-tryptophan was added to the rat's diet in 1% or 3% mixtures for a predetermined interval beginning before or during a test for ethanol preference. Given to female hooded rats of the Royal Victoria strain, excess tryptophan elevated the ethanol preference threshold and significantly increased ethanol intake according to the dose administered. However, in male hooded rats of the Long-Evans strain, tryptophan augmented only slightly the selection of ethanol. Male Sprague-Dawley rats, an albino strain, were unaffected by the addition of this essential amino acid to their diet. Although tryptophan may exert its effect on ethanol intake through an alteration in the metabolism of cerebral serotonin, such an effect seems to be dependent upon the strain of rat tested.

5-Hydroxytryptophan↗
PubMed1984

Separation of sequences defining basal expression from those conferring alpha gene recognition within the regulatory domains of herpes simplex virus 1 alpha genes.

The genes of herpes simplex virus 1 form three major groups--alpha, beta, and gamma--whose expression is coordinately regulated and sequentially ordered in a cascade fashion. To determine how the infected cell differentiates between these gene groups, alpha-regulated chimeric genes were constructed in earlier studies by fusing the structural sequences of the thymidine kinase (TK) gene, a beta gene, to the 5' noncoding sequences of alpha genes. These studies showed that (i) one or more structural components of the virion act in trans to increase alpha gene expression and (ii) the 5' noncoding sequences of alpha genes contain cis-acting domains that promote gene expression and confer alpha-gene regulation. These two domains could be moved independently, but the regulatory domain required a promoter for its function. We report here the properties of three sequences containing features common to the regulatory regions of all alpha genes. Sequence 1, containing (G + C)-rich inverted repeats, increased the basal level of TK expression when fused 5' to either the alpha gene 4 promoter or the truncated beta TK promoter. The effect was to some extent orientation dependent. Moreover, sequence 1 restored beta regulation to the truncated beta TK promoter but did not confer alpha-specific regulation on any of the chimeric genes tested. Sequences 2 (49 base pairs) and 3 (29 base pairs), containing an (A + T)-rich homolog from alpha gene 27 and alpha gene 0, respectively, restored alpha-specific regulation to the alpha promoter gene but only sequence 2 conferred alpha regulation on the truncated beta promoter gene. Our results indicate that (i) in natural beta TK the promoter and regulatory domains overlap, (ii) sequence 1 determines basal level of expression and substitutes for a promoter component that is essential for beta but not alpha regulation, and (iii) conversion of a gene with a promoter into an alpha gene requires two elements. Sequence 2 may contain both whereas sequence 3 contains only one.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Structure prediction and modelling.

Protein structure prediction from sequence remains a major goal in molecular biology. The methods described in this review concentrate on deriving structural information through the detection of similarities between a test sequence and a database of known structures. Such methods are often referred to as knowledge-based strategies reflecting the use of a structural database in the analyses. The past year has seen considerable advances in both the development of automated procedures and their application to protein sequences of outstanding biological interest.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1990

The pyrimidine/purine-biased region of the epidermal growth factor receptor gene is sensitive to S1 nuclease and may form an intramolecular triplex.

The pyrimidine/purine-biased region located upstream of the EGF (epidermal growth factor) receptor gene transcription initiation sites was sensitive to S1 nuclease when under superhelical tension. The structural basis of this specific reactivity to S1 nuclease was probed by the use of diethyl pyrocarbonate. The patterns of modification suggested that the H-form proposed by Mirkin, Lyamichev, Drushlyak, Dobrynin, Filippov & Frank-Kamenetskii [Nature (London) (1987) 330, 495-497], which includes an intramolecular triplex and a single-stranded region, was the most plausible model for the sequence tested. The results of dimethyl sulphate modification also supported this model.

Base Sequence↗