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PubMed1982

The sodium currents of nerve under voltage clamp as heterogeneous kinetics. A model that is consistent with possible kinetic behavior.

A model is presented which explains in Na+ currents of voltage-clamped nerve as resulting from a heterogeneous initiation of a sequential kinetic process. This is in analogy with the heterogeneity of the kinetics of other dielectric relaxations. The results suggest that: (1) The kinetic processes responsible for the voltage response occur within the membrane rather than at the surface; (2) The heterogeneity is due to simultaneous thermal diffusion and electric field-induced charge migration: (3) The slow turnoff upon prolonged depolarization is a voltage-independent, thermally controlled process; (4) The fast turnoff upon instantaneous repolarization is the reverse of the turning-on process. All the kinetic parameters depend on the transmembrane potential in accord with the possible behavior expected from activated-state theory. The diffusion coefficient of the charged species in the membrane as found from the data agrees with that found by photobleaching experiments on general proteins in membranes. The charge on the molecule responsible for the heterogeneous "gating' can be calculated unambiguously from the data.

Electric Conductivity↗
PubMed1986

Further evidence for the heterogeneity of serum albumin.

Albumin samples from three species (avian, bovine and human) were electrophoresed on gradient polyacrylamide gels in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS-PAGE). The resulting electrophoregram from each sample of serum albumin investigated showed multiple protein bands of a wide range of molecular weights. All seven samples of human serum albumin were found, using gel immunodiffusion, to be contaminated with other proteins. All but one sample was contaminated with proteins such as haptoglobin, alpha 1-glycoprotein, alpha 1-trypsin inhibitor, and prealbumin. This contamination accounts for part of the heterogeneity of these samples. Immunoblots, where the proteins were transferred to nitrocellulose and incubated with antisera, gave a better demonstration of the heterogeneity than Coomassie Blue staining and the immunoblotting procedure appeared to be more sensitive than the gel immunodiffusion technique. The heterogeneity of serum albumin demonstrated by the former technique included that of the monomer which was shown to be contaminated with antithrombin III. The commercial samples of human serum albumin, claimed as pure, were found to vary greatly in their tryptophan content, which also indicated heterogeneity. Heat treatment of human serum albumin with 1% SDS, followed by chromatography on agarose, removed the protein contaminants and with it the tryptophan. The presence of tryptophan in human serum albumin, therefore, indicated the presence of impurities.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

The annual cycle of Erinaceus europaeus L. as a model for a further study of cytochemical heterogeneity in Purkinje neuron nuclei.

The cytochemical heterogeneity of nuclei in Purkinje cells, which reflects differences in metabolic states within the population, has been studied by comparing cerebellar hemispheres of the hedgehog during periods of activity and hibernation. Cerebellar granule cells and hepatocytes served as controls for diploid cells. Three different cytochemical stains (Feulgen reaction, Propidium iodide and Hoechst 33342 fluorochromes) were used in order to evaluate by microdensitometry and microfluorometry how much the heterogeneity is dependent on the variations in DNA content and degree of chromatin compaction. In the active period, Feulgen-DNA values of Purkinje cells were more widely dispersed than in control cells. Some values (18-40% of the population) exceeded (hyperdiploid) the diploid value. With Propidium iodide and Hoechst 33342 (under conditions for quantitative evaluation of DNA), a few values also exceeded the maximum value for control cells. We conclude that there is nuclear heterogeneity (diploid-hyperdiploid) in the Purkinje neuron population during normal activity. The percentage of hyperdiploid nuclei changes according to the technique used; in particular, the comparison of the different stains indicates that a different chromatin compaction is mainly responsible for hyperdiploid Feulgen-DNA values, but in a few hyperdiploid cells there is an actual surplus of DNA. In view of the modalities of detection of DNA by the different cytochemical approaches utilized, this may be mainly single-stranded DNA. During hibernation nuclear heterogeneity is still present in Purkinje neurons, but with a shift of the distribution towards lower values; hyperdiploid nuclei were not detected with all the procedures used. Moreover, when Propidium iodide is used at the concentration suitable for qualitative studies, the dye intercalation is lower than during activity. Data suggest that both decreased DNA and increased chromatin compaction occur in Purkinje cells, thus pointing to a lower metabolic activity of these neurons in hibernating animals. The changes in diploid granule cells were always less than those in Purkinje neurons and could be ascribed to a further increase in chromatin compaction only, not requiring changes in DNA content.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Heterogeneity in induced thermal resistance of rat tumor cell clones.

Four 13762NF rat mammary adenocarcinoma clones were examined for their survival response to heating under conditions that induced transient thermal resistance (thermotolerance). Clones MTC and MTF7 were isolated from the subcutaneous locally growing tumor, whereas clones MTLn2 and MTLn3 were derived from spontaneous lung metastases. There was heterogeneity among these clones in thermotolerance induced by either fractionated 45 degrees C or continuous 42 degrees C heating, but the order of sensitivity was not necessarily the same. The clones developed thermal resistance at different rates and to different degrees within the same time intervals. There was heterogeneity between clones isolated from within either the primary site or metastatic lesions. However, clones derived from metastatic foci did not intrinsically acquire more or less thermotolerance to fractionated 45 degrees C or continuous 42 degrees C heating than did clones from the primary tumor. Further, there was no apparent relationship between any phenotypic properties that conferred more or less thermotolerance in vitro and any phenotypic properties that conferred enhanced metastatic success of these same clones by spontaneous (subcutaneous) or experimental (intravenous) routes in vivo. These tumor clones also differ in their karyotype, metastatic potential, cell surface features, sensitivity to x-irradiation and drugs, and ability to repair sublethal radiation damage. These results provide further credence to the concept that inherent heterogeneity within tumors may be as important in therapeutic success as other known modifiers of outcome such as site and treatment heterogeneity.

Acclimatization↗
PubMed1990

Heterogeneity in tumor microvascular response to radiation.

Viable hypoxic cells have reduced radiosensitivity and could be a potential cause for treatment failure with radiotherapy. The process of reoxygenation, which may occur after radiation exposure, could increase the probability for control. However, incomplete or insufficient reoxygenation may still be a potential cause for local treatment failure. One mechanism that has been thought to be responsible for reoxygenation is an increase in vascular prominence after radiation. However, the effect is known to be heterogeneous. In this study, tumor microvascular hemodynamics and morphologies were studied using the R3230 Ac mammary adenocarcinoma transplanted in a dorsal flap window chamber of the Fischer-344 rat. Measurements were made before and after (at 24 and 72 hr) 5-Gy radiation exposure to assess microvascular changes and to explore possible explanations for the heterogeneity of the effect. There was considerable heterogeneity between tumors prior to radiation. Vascular densities ranged from 67 to 3000 vessels/mm3 and median vessel diameters from 22 to 85 microns. Pretreatment perfusion values varied by a factor of six. In irradiated tumors, conjoint increases in both vascular density and perfusion occurred in most tumors, although the degree of change was variable from one individual to the next. The degree of change in density was inversely related to median pretreatment diameter. Relative change in flow, as predicted by morphometric measurements, overestimated observed changes in flow measured hemodynamically. These results support that heterogeneity in tumor vascular effects from radiation are somewhat dependent on pretreatment morphology as well as relative change in morphology. Since changes in flow could not be completely explained by morphometric measurements, however, it is likely that radiation induced changes in pressure and/or viscosity contribute to the overall effect. Further work in this laboratory will investigate these hypotheses.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1995

Implications of tissue heterogeneity for radiosurgery in head and neck tumors.

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to investigate the perturbation of small radiation beams by low density heterogeneities and to evaluate the ability of a Monte Carlo code to account for such perturbation. Performance of an inexpensive film scanning system was also evaluated. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Film and diode measurements were made in an acrylic phantom in which the size and position of an air gap were varied. Monte Carlo analysis was used to obtain additional verification of the measurements, to provide insight into photon and electron transport phenomena not directly measurable, and as a benchmark for the code. RESULTS: With 10 MV photons and a 1 cm circular field, a small 3-mm air cavity placed 2.6 cm deep in acrylic (full buildup) results in a reduction in central axis dose of 21% immediately following the cavity. Equilibrium is then reestablished over the next centimeter, after which the dose exceeds that of the homogeneous case by 3-4%. The loss in central axis equilibrium is highly field-size dependent, with some loss occurring even for the largest (32 mm) collimator. In addition, the presence of the air cavity produces a significant increase in dose up to 2 cm lateral and outside the primary field. CONCLUSIONS: Tissue heterogeneities are not presently accounted for in radiosurgery calculations, yet have the ability to perturb dose significantly. Targets may potentially be underdosed, and adjacent critical structures overdosed. Inability to account for tissue heterogeneities may limit the use of the radiosurgery approach in some areas. A Monte Carlo approach may be the method of choice for small field dose calculation when tissue heterogeneities are encountered.

Air↗
PubMed1992

Effect of glycation on the heterogeneity of human serum albumin analysed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography in a solvent containing formic acid.

Non-enzymic glycation of human serum albumin (HSA) induces a change in its charge heterogeneity that may account for its particular renal clearance in patients with early diabetic nephropathy. A new high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis for the study of HSA heterogeneity is described based on a high content of formic acid in the mobile phase combined with a concave gradient of isopropanol. Under these conditions, native HSA was separated into three individual components (I, II and III). When glycated HSA was analysed, it was found that although the present method is not suitable for the separation of glycated from non-glycated HSA, it shows the effect of glycation in producing changes in HSA heterogeneity that are different from those reported on surface change. This finding suggests an additional factor (probably conformational changes) that is contributing to the heterogeneity of glycated HSA.

Chromatography, Affinity↗
PubMed1995

Influences on cognitive heterogeneity in schizophrenia.

A study was conducted of diagnostic reliability, clinical, demographic, iatrogenic, and neurological comorbidity influences on heterogeneity in cognitive function among schizophrenic patients. Comparisons were made between a previously described (Goldstein, 1990) retrospective sample of clinically diagnosed schizophrenic patients and a new sample based on a prospective study of patients meeting strict DSM-III-R diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia. A cluster analysis of a brief battery of cognitive tests suggested a four cluster solution in both samples. The cluster pattern was found to be similar in both samples, indicating that diagnostic unreliability is unlikely to be strongly associated with heterogeneity. Age, general intelligence, and education were found to have significant influences on cluster membership, with length of illness and hospitalization having less robust influences. It was concluded that heterogeneity has a relatively mild relationship with the various influences studied, but a great deal of the diversity in level and pattern of cognitive function found among schizophrenic patients is likely to be a function of heterogeneity within the disorder itself.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Clonal diversity, measured by heterogeneity of Ig and TCR gene rearrangements, in some acute leukaemias of childhood is associated with a more aggressive disease.

The pattern of immune system gene rearrangements in acute leukaemias of childhood is heterogeneous. The biological significance of this heterogeneity in childhood acute leukaemia is still poorly understood. In this study, we analysed 49 children with acute leukaemia (29 B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), 5 relapsed cALL, 6 T-ALL, 7 acute non-lymphocytic (ANLL) and 2 mixed lineage leukaemias), for the presence of different immune system gene rearrangements (Ig JH, C kappa, C lambda, TCR J gamma, C beta, J delta and J alpha) by Southern blot hybridisation. The most prominent heterogeneity of immune system gene rearrangements was observed in the group of B-precursor ALL. The results from our study suggest that the heterogeneity of immune system gene rearrangement reflects clonal diversity in approximately one-third of patients with B-precursor ALL at presentation and in most patients in relapse. The observed association of clonal diversity with high white blood cell count, pre-B immunophenotype and age under 1 year in B-precursor ALL may have clinical significance. There was a significantly shorter disease-free survival in the group of B-precursor ALL patients with clonal diversity compared with those without clonal diversity. Clonal diversity may, therefore, be a mechanism of disease progression common to different types of aggressive B-precursor ALL.

Blotting, Southern↗
PubMed2006

Mitochondrial subpopulations and heterogeneity revealed by confocal imaging: possible physiological role?

Heterogeneity of mitochondria has been reported for a number of various cell types. Distinct mitochondrial subpopulations may be present in the cell and may be differently involved in physiological and pathological processes. However, the origin and physiological roles of mitochondrial heterogeneity are still unknown. In mice skeletal muscle, a much higher oxidized state of subsarcolemmal mitochondria as compared with intermyofibrillar mitochondria has been demonstrated. Using confocal imaging technique, we present similar phenomenon for rat soleus and gastrocnemius muscles, where higher oxidative state of mitochondrial flavoproteins correlates also with elevated mitochondrial calcium. Moreover, subsarcolemmal mitochondria demonstrate distinct arrangement and organization. In HL-1 cardiomyocytes, long thread mitochondria and small grain mitochondria are observed irrespective of a particular cellular region, showing also heterogeneous membrane potential and ROS production. Possible physiological roles of intracellular mitochondrial heterogeneity and specializations are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Functional consequences of heterogeneous gap junction channel formation and its influence in health and disease.

The capacity of multiple connexins to hetero-oligomerize into functional heterogeneous gap junction channels has been demonstrated in vivo, in vitro, and in nonmammalian expression systems. These heterogeneous channels display gating activity, channel conductances, selectivity and regulatory behaviors that are sometimes not predicted by the behaviors of the corresponding homogeneous channels. Such observations suggest that heteromerization of gap junction proteins offers an efficient cellular strategy for finely regulating cell-to-cell communication. The available evidence strongly indicates that heterogeneous gap junction assembly is important to normal growth and differentiation, and may influence the appearance of several disease states. Definitive evidence that heterogeneous gap junction channels differentially regulate electrical conduction in excitable cells is absent. This review examines the prevalence, regulation, and implications of gap junction channel hetero-oligomerization.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

A new approach to interpretation of heterogeneity of fluorescence decay: effect of induced tautomeric shift and enzyme-->ligand fluorescence resonance energy transfer.

Fluorescence decays in protein-ligand complexes are described by a new efficient model of continuous distribution of fluorescence lifetimes, and compared with multi-exponential models. Resulted analytical power-like decay function provides good fits to highly complex fluorescence kinetics. Moreover, this is a manifestation of so-called Tsallis q-exponential function, which is suitable for description of the systems with long-range interactions, memory effect, as well as with fluctuations of the characteristic lifetime of fluorescence. The proposed decay function was used to study effect of the interaction of E. coli purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP-I, the product of the deoD gene) with its specific inhibitor, viz. formycin A (FA), on fluorescence decays of ligand and enzyme tyrosine residues, in the presence of orthophosphate (P(i), a natural co-substrate). The power-like function provides new information about enzyme-ligand complex formation based on the excited state mean lifetime, heterogeneity parameter (q) and a number (N) of decay channels obtained from the variance of gamma distribution of fluorescence decay rates. With FA, which exists as a 85:15 mixture of the N(1)-H and N(2)-H tautomeric forms in aqueous solution, fluorescence intensity decay (lambda(exc)/lambda(em) 270/335 nm) is described by q approximately 1 and N approximately 200. Consequently power-like decay function converges to the single-exponential form, and lifetime distribution to the Dirac delta function. In contrast, selective excitation of the N(2)-H tautomer at higher wavelength led to a highly heterogenic fluorescence decay characterized by q>1 and 10-fold lower number of decay channels. Heterogeneity of fluorescence decays of both PNP-I and FA is enhanced by PNP-FA-P(i) complex formation, reflecting a shift of the tautomeric equilibrium of FA in favor of the N(2)-H species, and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from protein tyrosine residue (Tyr160) to the bound N(2)-H tautomer. Moreover, proposed model is simple, and objectively describes heterogeneous nature of studied systems.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed2004

Determination of chemical kinetic properties of heterogeneous catalysts.

The importance of cooperation of heterogeneous catalysis with surface science is stressed for simultaneous adsorptive and catalytic measurements. Inverse gas chromatography and reversed-flow gas chromatography offer a suitable research ground for such collaboration. After a short introduction, adsorption physicochemical quantities of heterogeneous catalysts with typical recent results, chemical kinetic properties and surface energy of catalysts are described, stressing the important aspect of time-resolved chromatography, due to the heterogeneity of the solid surface of catalysts. Adsorption energies, local monolayer capacities, local isotherms and energy distribution functions are extensively described. Also, lateral molecular interactions, surface diffusion and adsorption rates on heterogeneous catalysts are described.

Adsorption↗
PubMed2004

Electrokinetics of heterogeneous interfaces.

The influence of surface heterogeneity of various types on electrokinetic parameters is reviewed. The scope of the paper covers classical electrokinetic phenomena characterized by linear dependence of electrokinetic parameters vs. related driving forces. Neither non-linear effects nor the effects of non-equilibrium electric double layer are considered. A historical description of hydrodynamic aspect of electrokinetic phenomena exploiting the slip plane idea is briefly outlined. Attempts to estimate the slip plane location by comparing the diffuse layer and zeta potential values for some model systems are presented. The surface heterogeneity was divided into three categories. Heterogeneity of the first type was related to geometrical morphology of an interfacial region characterized by a considerable surface development producing a three-dimensional interfacial region. The effects of solid roughness, hairy surface, dense polymer layers and gel-like layers are discussed here. The very high surface conductivity detected for such interfaces seems to be a good indicator of the presence of structured layers of this type. Heterogeneous interfaces of the second class cover systems exhibiting non-uniform distribution of surface charge. The non-uniform surface charge distribution can be either of a molecular (discrete charges) or of a microscale (two-dimensional micropatches or three-dimensional structures formed by polyelectrolyte multilayers). The last class of systems examined includes interfaces composed of charged substrate covered by charged bulky objects (particles). In comparison to the homogeneous surfaces, adsorbed charged particles modify both hydrodynamic flow and the electrostatic field significantly altering the electrokinetic parameters. The new description of electrokinetics of composed interfaces presented here takes into account both hydrodynamic and electric field modification and is free of the previously assumed slip plane shift caused by adsorbed objects. This theoretical approach verified by experiments performed on well defined model systems can be successfully applied to the interpretation of experimental data obtained for surfaces covered by objects difficult to detect.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Urothelial umbrella cells of human ureter are heterogeneous with respect to their uroplakin composition: different degrees of urothelial maturity in ureter and bladder?

Urothelial umbrella cells are characterized by apical, rigid membrane plaques, which contain four major uroplakin proteins (UP Ia, Ib, II and III) forming UPIa/UPII and UPIb/UPIII pairs. These integral membrane proteins are thought to play an important role in maintaining the physical integrity and the permeability barrier function of the urothelium. We asked whether the four uroplakins always coexpress in the entire human lower urinary tract. We stained immunohistochemically (ABC-peroxidase method) paraffin sections of normal human ureter (n = 18) and urinary bladder (n = 10) using rabbit antibodies against UPIa, UPIb, UPII and UPIII; a recently raised mouse monoclonal antibody (MAb), AU1, and two new MAbs, AU2 and AU3, all against UPIII; and mouse MAbs against umbrella cell-associated cytokeratins CK18 and CK20. Immunoblotting showed that AU1, AU2 and AU3 antibodies all recognized the N-terminal extracellular domain of bovine UPIII. By immunohistochemistry, we found that in 15/18 cases of human ureter, but in only 2/10 cases of bladder, groups of normal-looking, CK18-positive umbrella cells lacked both UPIII and UPIb immunostaining. The UPIb/UPIII-negative cells showed either normal or reduced amounts of UPIa and UPII staining. These data were confirmed by double immunofluorescence microscopy. The distribution of the UPIb/UPIII-negative umbrella cells was not correlated with localized urothelial proliferation (Ki-67 staining) or with the distribution pattern of CK20. Similar heterogeneities were observed in bovine but not in mouse ureter. We provide the first evidence that urothelial umbrella cells are heterogeneous as some normal-looking umbrella cells can possess only one, instead of two, uroplakin pairs. This heterogeneity seems more prominent in the urothelium of human ureter than that of bladder. This finding may indicate that ureter urothelium is intrinsically different from bladder urothelium. Alternatively, a single lineage of urothelium may exhibit different phenotypes resulting from extrinsic modulations due to distinct mesenchymal influence and different degrees of pressure and stretch in bladder versus ureter. Additional studies are needed to distinguish these two possibilities and to elucidate the physiological and pathological significance of the observed urothelial and uroplakin heterogeneity.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Effects of powder particle size and binder viscosity on intergranular and intragranular particle size heterogeneity during high shear granulation.

A study was performed in order to elucidate the effects of powder particle size and binder viscosity on intergranular and intragranular particle size heterogeneities. Granules were produced by melt granulation in a high shear mixer from each of four calcium carbonates having mean particle sizes in the range of 5.5-63.1 microm. Each of three polyethylene glycols (PEGs) having viscosities in the range of approximately 40-14,000 mPas were applied as meltable binders. The size distribution of the calcium carbonate particles in three granule size fractions (125-250, 355-500, and 800-1000 microm) was measured after disintegration of the granules. Intragranular particle size heterogeneities were evaluated qualitatively by means of scanning electron microscopy. A preferential growth of the smaller particles was found to give rise to a higher content of small particles in large granules when calcium carbonates with mean particle sizes of 11.7, 34.5, and 63.1 microm were granulated with a binder of low viscosity. The use of a binder of medium or high viscosity leads to a marked reduction of these heterogeneities. A preferential growth of larger particles was seen when calcium carbonates with mean particle sizes of 5.5 and 11.7 microm were granulated with a highly viscous binder. The use of a binder with low or medium viscosity resulted in an increased homogeneity. Intragranular particle size heterogeneities were primarily seen when 5.5 and 11.7 microm calcium carbonate particles were granulated with a highly viscous binder.

Excipients↗
PubMed2005

Modelling of short QT syndrome in a heterogeneous model of the human ventricular wall.

AIMS: A percentage of sudden cardiac death events occur in individuals with structurally normal hearts due to an abnormality in the ion channel activity. While the majority of these hereditary syndromes are well-established, little is known about the significance of the short QT syndrome. METHODS: This study is based on discovered insights into the molecular basis of the originally described form of this disease. A biophysically detailed model of cellular electrophysiology was adapted to emulate the behaviour of cells affected by the short QT syndrome. Simulations were performed in single cell and homogeneous as well as heterogeneous anisotropic multi-cellular environment describing the human left ventricle. RESULTS: The short QT mutation increased the activity of the repolarizing outward potassium current I(Kr). The heterogeneous abbreviation of the action potential duration decreased the dispersion of repolarization in heterogeneous tissue. Repolarization was homogenized and the final repolarization was shifted to epicardial sites. The transmural ECG showed a shortened QT interval and a T wave with reduced amplitude. CONCLUSION: The altered characteristics of the mutant I(Kr) current were consistent with experimental findings. The heterogeneous reduction of the action potential duration and the reduced T wave amplitude need to be verified by measurements.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed2005

Molecular heterogeneity in Yersinia enterocolitica and 'Y. enterocolitica-like' species--Implications for epidemiology, typing and taxonomy.

Yersinia enterocolitica is an extremely heterogeneous species. Serotyping and biotyping have been used extensively, in the past, to study its heterogeneity and epidemiology. Application of methods like ribotyping, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and a host of other genomic techniques have further revealed molecular heterogeneity in this species. Furthermore, these methods may be used effectively to supplement serotyping and biotyping schema for studying epidemiology of Y. enterocolitica. This is evident from the ability of some of these methods to subtype strains belonging to serogroups O:3, O:9 and O:8 - which are most commonly encountered in human Yersiniosis. Multilocus enzyme electrophoresis and nucleotide sequencing have reiterated the taxonomic relationships of this organism. However there is paucity of information about the molecular heterogeneity of 'Y. enterocolitica-like' species, which need to be addressed in the future. Also, newer techniques such as amplified fragment length polymorphism, VNTR-based typing and multilocus sequence typing should be applied to further understand epidemiology, population structure and evolutionary genetics of Y. enterocolitica and 'Y. enterocolitica-like' species.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗