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Inhibition of induced angiogenesis in a human microvascular endothelial cell line by ET-18-OCH3.

Alkyl-lysophospholipids are a group of anti-cancer compounds that have previously been shown to have the unique feature of being selectively toxic to neoplastic tissues. One of these compounds, ET-18-OCH3, has been used for purging bone marrow of cancer cells in phase I clinical trials. Tumor-induced angiogenesis has been directly correlated with tumor growth and metastasis. In this study, we examined the effect ET-18-OCH3 has on a human microvascular endothelial cell line (HMEC-1), including the following functions: angiogenesis, cell-adhesion molecule expression, and cell-junction integrity. We found that ET-18-OCH3 (in vitro) reversibly inhibited induced angiogenesis at levels that did not affect viability. At lower concentrations, ET-18-OCH3 down-regulated the expression of cell-adhesion molecules and affected the integrity of cell-to-cell junctions. This observation demonstrates this versatile family of compounds to have additional targets of action.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Inhibition of frog skeletal muscle sodium channels by newly synthesized chiral derivatives of mexiletine and tocainide.

To search for potent use-dependent blockers of skeletal muscle sodium channels as potential antimyotonic agents, the actions of newly synthesized chiral analogs of mexiletine and tocainide were tested in vitro on sodium currents of single fibers of frog semitendinosus muscle by vaseline-gap voltage clamp method. The effect of each drug on the maximal peak Na+ transient (I(Na) max) was evaluated as both tonic and use-dependent block by using infrequent depolarizing stimulation and trains of pulses at 2-10 Hz frequency, respectively. The mexiletine analog 3-(2,6-dimethylphenoxy)-2-methylpropanamine (Me2), having an increased distance between the phenyl and the amino groups, was less potent than mexiletine in producing a tonic block but produced a remarkable use-dependent block. In fact, the half-maximal concentration (IC50) for tonic block of S(-)-Me2 was 108 microM vs. 54.5 microM of R(-)-mexiletine, but the IC50 was 6.2 times lowered by the 10 Hz stimulation with respect to the 2.4 fold decrease observed with mexiletine. The R(-)-mexiletine and the S(-)-Me2 were about twofold more potent than the corresponding enantiomers in producing a tonic block, but the stereoselectivity attenuated during use-dependent blockade. The more lipophilic 2-(4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)-1-phenylethylamine (Me1), presently available as raceme, produced a potent and irreversible tonic block of the sodium currents with an IC50 of 29 microM, but had a less pronounced use-dependent inhibition, with a 1.9 fold decrease of the IC50 at 10 Hz. The R(-) isomer of 2',6'-valinoxylidide (To1), a tocainide derivative with an increased hindrance on the chiral carbon atom, was twofold (IC50 = 209 microM) and tenfold (IC50 = 27.4 microM) more potent than R(-)-tocainide in tonic and use-dependent block, respectively. Tocainide was almost devoid of stereoselectivity, whereas the eudismic ratio of To1 [(IC50 S(+)-To1/IC50 R(-)-To1] was 1.7. As for mexiletine and Me2, the stereoselectivity of To1 was the weaker the higher the frequency of stimulation. The cyclic pyrrolo-imidazolonic tocainide analog To2 produced a small tonic block at 500 microM, and 1 min stimulation at 10 Hz was needed to show up a 50% block of I(Na) max. All the compounds produced a left-shift of the steady-state inactivation curve correlated positively with the extent of use-dependent inhibition, with the exception of the cyclic To2 that acted as an open-channel blocker. The highly use-dependent blockers Me2 and To1 might be promising drugs to solve high frequency discharges of action potentials typical of myotonic muscles. Concomitantly the high potency of Me1 and the open-channel block exerted by To2 can represent important features to get selective blockers for skeletal muscle sodium channels.

Animals↗

Comparison of response properties of dorsal and ventral spinocerebellar tract neurons to a physiological stimulus.

The response characteristics of dorsal spinocerebellar tract (DSCT) neurons and ventral spinocerebellar tract (VSCT) neurons to the cutaneous inputs applied to footpads were studied in the cat. Three different wave forms were used: step displacement of varying amplitudes (0.1-3.5 mm); constant amplitude ramps with different slopes (5-120 mm/s); and constant amplitude sinusoidal displacements of varying frequencies (1-20 Hz). Both DSCT and VSCT neurons responded phasically to cutaneous stimuli of different wave forms. The phasic responses were related to both the amplitude and velocity of the peripheral stimulus. However, the responses of DSCT neurons were graded over only a very narrow, low range of stimulus intensities, whereas the responses of VSCT neurons were graded over a larger range of skin indentation up to 3 mm. Only the DSCT neurons exhibited some length sensitivity to ramp stimuli, and only DSCT neurons were activated repetitively by periodic stimuli. These results suggest both DSCT and VSCT can transmit exteroceptive information but respond selectively to different features of these stimuli.

Afferent Pathways↗

A computer program suitable for analysis of choice of categories in biomedical data recognition problems.

The optimum choice of categories in problems of medical data recognition is governed by the choice of categories, the selection of appropriate features, and by the choice of a loss function. Under these circumstances it is often difficult to find out the suitable classification scheme. The computer program described here serves for the design of the optimum recognition procedure. The Bayes rule is used as decision rule. A criterion for the comparison of different choice of categories is given. The program can be performed after estimation of the underlying prior probabilities and the conditional densities obtained from a training set, and before testing the decision rule with real data.

Classification↗

A comparison of methods for measuring event-related potentials.

Visual event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded from 21 hyperactive children under 2 attention conditions and 4 doses of stimulant drug (methylphenidate). This data base was used to evaluate several methods of EP component measurement. These methods were (1) conventional visual peak and trough selection; (2) automatic feature extraction based on peaks; (3) automatic features extraction based on segments; (4) gross amplitude measures; (5) principal components analysis on normalized data and latency-adjusted data. No one method emerged as the best overall. Rather it is the case that different methods are best suited to different purposes, and criteria for choosing methods are outlined.

Brain↗

Neurometrics does not detect 'pure' dyslexics.

Thirty-eight severely dyslexic boys and 38 good readers were evaluated with neurometrics, a diagnostic procedure based on the application of numerical taxonomy to EEG spectra obtained during resting conditions, supplemented by selected evoked potential features. This procedure generates deviance scores for the EEG spectra by comparing each individual's values to those obtained from a normative population and has been reported to discriminate learning disabled children from normal controls (Ahn et al. 1980). In the present study, all subjects, dyslexic and control, passed stringent screening to assure normal intellectual, neurological, sensory and emotional status. The false positive rate obtained in our control group was comparable to that reported earlier. However, none of the deviance scores significantly discriminated dyslexics from controls; most subjects from both groups were classified as normal. Severe dyslexia per se is thus not associated with the specific neurometric abnormalities reported previously in more heterogeneous learning disabled populations.

Adolescent↗

Comparison of the peptide structural requirements for high affinity interaction with bombesin receptors.

Recently it has been established that both a gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP)-preferring bombesin receptor and a neuromedin B-preferring bombesin receptor mediate the mammalian actions of bombesin-related peptides. Because many tissues used for studies of the structure-activity relationship of these peptides possess both receptor subtypes and none possess only the neuromedin B-preferring subtype, there is minimal information on the peptide structural features determining receptor selectivity and it is unknown whether the determinants of agonism at both bombesin receptor subtypes are similar. In the present study we have used native cells either possessing only one bombesin receptor subtype or stably transfected with one subtype to study in detail the peptide structural requirements for interacting and activating each receptor subtype. For the naturally occurring agonists, at the GRP-preferring bombesin receptor the relative affinities were litorin = ranatensin = bombesin > GRP >> neuromedin B, phyllolitorin and at the neuromedin B-preferring bombesin receptor were litorin = neuromedin B = ranatensin > bombesin, phyllolitorin >> GRP. For the GRP-preferring bombesin receptor the heptapeptide and for the neuromedin B-preferring bombesin receptor the octapeptide was the minimal carboxyl fragment interacting with the receptor/or causing biologic activity, and the nonapeptide and full decapeptide, respectively, were the minimal required for full affinity. Making neuromedin B more bombesin- or GRP-like by replacing amino acids in position 3, 6, and 9 demonstrated that position 3 was the most important, followed by position 9 for receptor subtype selectivity. A conformationally restricted GRP analogue, [D-Cys6,D-Ala11,Cys14]bombesin-(6-14) had a significantly higher affinity for GRP-preferring bombesin receptor than NMB receptor. These results demonstrate that: (1) the structure-function relations for the two mammalian bombesin receptors have important differences; (2) suggest that the active conformation of neuromedin B must differ markedly from the beta-sheet model proposed for GRP; and (3) suggest that one important function of the NH2 terminus of GRP and neuromedin B is determining receptor subtype selectivity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Comparison of the specificities of p70 S6 kinase and MAPKAP kinase-1 identifies a relatively specific substrate for p70 S6 kinase: the N-terminal kinase domain of MAPKAP kinase-1 is essential for peptide phosphorylation.

xxR/KxRxxSxx sequences were phosphorylated with high efficiency by both p70 S6 kinase (p70S6K) and MAPKAP kinase-1. The best substrate for MAPKAP kinase-1 (KKKNRTLSVA) was phosphorylated with a Km of 0.17 microM, and the best substrate for p70S6K (KKRNRTLSVA) with a Km of 1.5 microM. The requirement of both enzymes for Arg/Lys at position n-5 could be partially replaced by inserting basic residues at other positions, especially by an Arg at n-2 or n-4. MAPKAP kinase-1 (but not p70S6K) tolerated lack of any residue at n-5 if Arg was present at n-2 and n-3. p70S6K (but not p90S6K) tolerated Thr at position n and absence of any residue at n + 2. The peptide KKRNRTLTV, which combined these features, was relatively selective for p70S6K having a 50-fold higher Vmax/Km than MAPKAP kinase-1. Inactivation of the N-terminal kinase domain of MAPKAP kinase-1, which is 60% identical to p70S6K, abolished activity towards all peptides tested, but the enzyme retained 30-40% of its activity if the C-terminal kinase domain was inactivated.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

By-passing immunization. Human antibodies from V-gene libraries displayed on phage.

We have mimicked features of immune selection to make human antibodies in bacteria. Diverse libraries of immunoglobulin heavy (VH) and light (V kappa and V lambda) chain variable (V) genes were prepared from peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) of unimmunized donors by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. Genes encoding single chain Fv fragments were made by randomly combining heavy and light chain V-genes using PCR, and the combinatorial library (greater than 10(7) members) cloned for display on the surface of a phage. Rare phage with "antigen-binding" activities were selected by four rounds of growth and panning with "antigen" (turkey egg-white lysozyme (TEL) or bovine serum albumin) or "hapten" (2-phenyloxazol-5-one (phOx], and the encoding heavy and light chain genes were sequenced. The V-genes were human with some nearly identical to known germ-line V-genes, while others were more heavily mutated. Soluble antibody fragments were prepared and shown to bind specifically to antigen or hapten and with good affinities, Ka (TEL) = 10(7) M-1; Ka (phOx) = 2 x 10(6) M-1. Isolation of higher-affinity fragments may require the use of larger primary libraries or the construction of secondary libraries from the binders. Nevertheless, our results suggest that a single large phage display library can be used to isolate human antibodies against any antigen, by-passing both hybridoma technology and immunization.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Neuroleptic binding to muscarinic M2 receptors of normal human heart in vitro and comparison with binding to M1 and dopamine D2 receptors of brain.

We determined by radioligand binding the equilibrium dissociation constants (Kd's) for seventeen neuroleptics at muscarinic M2 receptors of human heart atrium and compared these data with our previous data for binding to muscarinic M1 and dopamine D2 receptors of human brain. At the M2 receptor, the most potent compound was thioridazine; the least, molindone. If selectivity is defined as Kd at one receptor less than or equal to 0.1 Kd at the other receptor, no compound was selective for the M2 subtype. Two compounds, clozapine and triflupromazine, were selective for the M1 subtype. Thus, few neuroleptics have the assumed preferred property of M1 over M2 subtype selectivity. Such a feature could reduce extrapyramidal side effects, while reducing the likelihood of certain cardiac side effects.

Antipsychotic Agents↗

The processing of speech sounds in a patient with cortical auditory disorder.

A 56-yr old woman developed a cortical auditory disorder after two successive strokes involving the temporal lobes. Dichotic listening tests did not show a left car advantage with right ear suppression, as shown in other cases with similar disorders. Tasks exploring phonological analysis showed an impairment limited to the stop consonants. Within this framework, processing of feature place was selectively disturbed, while voicing was normally analysed. The possible role of psychoacoustic deficits in the pathogenesis of cortical auditory disorders is discussed. Some general considerations on cortical auditory disorders are also made.

Auditory Cortex↗

Monocular motion sensing, binocular motion perception.

The two-process account of motion perception and its binocular organization were addressed in experiments on apparent movement (AM) with three types of grating: sinusoidal; random bar width; and square-wave with missing fundamental (MF). Monocular MF gratings sampled four times per cycle of drift always appeared to move backwards. Here AM was unrelated to the spatial appearance of the pattern, and followed the motion of the dominant spatial frequency component (the third harmonic). We take this reversed AM to be characteristic of "short-range" motion sensors. It did not occur dichoptically, implying that the direction-selective mechanism of motion sensors is purely monocular. AM was seen with dichoptic presentation for all three types of grating. Performance improved with the length of the stimulus sequence, as predicted by probability summation. This result reconciles previous positive and negative findings on dichoptic AM. The perceived direction of dichoptic AM was consistent with polarity-selective matching of features over time (the "long-range process"). The most telling effect supporting feature-matching in dichoptic motion was that dichoptic MF motion reversed direction with a change in the visible features of the pattern (induced by changes in contrast and pulse duration); monocular apparent motion did not. Two routes from spatial frequency channels to the perception of object motion are discussed.

Contrast Sensitivity↗

The molecular localization of non-tryptophan chromophores in calf lens crystallins.

A single-step separation of calf lens gamma-crystallin into six protein components is described. UV absorption spectra, characterized by the presence of high absorbance in the 240-250 nm and 310-360 nm spectral regions as well as by fluorescence emission above 400 nm, are shown by six components. alpha-, beta and beta S crystallins have been compared with the gamma-fraction for the presence of non-tryptophan fluorescence. The chromophores responsible for this non-tryptophan fluorescence were found to be associated with gamma-crystallin components only. The spectral features of one selected gamma-crystallin component (characterized by an isoelectric point of 7.68) have been examined. Results seem to suggest the presence of oxidative products of tryptophan. Implications of these findings for the expression of human and bovine genes are also considered.

Animals↗

Site directed spin labeling studies of structure and dynamics in bacteriorhodopsin.

Site-directed spin labeling of membrane proteins has been used to determine: (1) the topography of the polypeptide chain with respect to the membrane/solution interface, and (2) the identity and orientation of secondary structure in selected regions. These features are deduced from the collision rates of nitroxide side chains with paramagnetic reagents in solution, and the principles of the method are reviewed with reference to bacteriorhodopsin. The dynamics of the nitroxide side chains relative to the backbone reveal tertiary interactions of the labeled site, and provide a promising means of time-resolving conformational changes. This aspect is illustrated by recent studies of structural changes in bacteriorhodopsin during the photocycle. In these experiments, nitroxide side chains were introduced at residues 72, 101 and 105 after replacement of the original residues by cysteine. Upon flash photolysis, the electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum of a nitroxide at 101, but not those at 72 or 105, is time-dependent. The spectral change develops during the decay of the M-intermediate, and reverses upon return to the ground state. The results suggest a movement of the C-D or E-F interhelical loops during the protonation changes of aspartate 96.

Bacteriorhodopsins↗

Undifferentiated nasopharyngeal cancer (UCNT): current diagnostic and therapeutic aspects.

Undifferentiated carcinoma of the nasopharynx (UCNT) is a particular head and neck epidermoid lineage tumor related to the Epstein Barr Virus (EBV). It has geographically selective endemic epidemiologic features, without relation to external carcinogens. Its systemic agressiveness is the source of most disease-related demises, because radiotherapy achieves excellent local control and a significant percentage of cure in patients with exclusive locoregional disease. Difference in the staying systems currently in use, the recent changes in imaging and radiotherapy technology, and the lack of distinction between UCNT and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the nasopharynx in Western literature reports make for some difficulty in therapeutic results evaluation when analyzing available literature. Its chemosensitivity is a relatively recent acknowledged fact, and its use in metastatic patients results in a high percentage of objective responses, many of long duration. Neoadjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy seems to be of benefit, but outstanding controversies in this regard will be soon answered through ongoing phase III trials. After a review of the current literature of all the above-mentioned aspects of this fascinating nosologic entity, our own experience, both in metastatic and locoregional disease patients is analyzed.

Adolescent↗

Sequence of the macronuclear DNA encoding large subunit ribosomal protein 29 (L29) in Euplotes crassus and cycloheximide sensitivity.

As a first step towards developing a DNA transformation method for the ciliated protozoan Euplotes crassus we determined the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for cell division in the presence of cycloheximide (Chx) for several cell lines and the range of Chx sensitivity for 106 different progeny cell lines derived by mating two lines. All of the cell lines are highly sensitive to Chx. Progeny cell lines show a wider range of sensitivities than the parental lines. Because site-directed mutagenesis of the RPL29 gene encoding the large subunit ribosomal protein 29 (L29) has been used to generate a Chx-resistance marker (ChxR) for another ciliate, Tetrahymena thermophila [Yao and Yao, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88 (1991) 9493-9497], we isolated and sequenced the entire E. crassus macronuclear DNA carrying RPL29. The encoded peptide is 52-73% identical in sequence to L29 sequences from organisms ranging from T. thermophila and Saccharomyces cerevisiae to mouse. In E. crassus, the codon that has been mutated to confer Chx resistance in both S. cerevisiae and T. thermophila already encodes the amino-acid residue of one of the mutant forms identified in these other organisms. Thus, E. crassus RPL29 is not a convenient source of a selectable marker. Notable features of the macronuclear DNA carrying RPL29 are its extremely short non-coding regions and a TAG stop codon.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Linearity of synaptic interactions in the assembly of receptive fields in cat visual cortex.

Recent extra- and intracellular recordings from simple cells in the striate cortex have led to the development of detailed models of how novel receptive field properties are generated by the neuronal circuitry of the cortex. The first stage in assembling simple receptive fields appears to be a linear combination of visual inputs. The output of the linear stage is then normalized by a contrast gain control mechanism. Finally, a threshold and expansive nonlinearity in the spike-generating mechanism enhances selectivity for stimulus features such as orientation, direction, and spatial frequency.

Animals↗

Protein expression from an Escherichia coli/Bacillus subtilis multifunctional shuttle plasmid with synthetic promoter sequences.

A plasmid shuttle vector (pSP10) was designed and constructed to simplify screening of cloned DNA and to facilitate expression of the protein products. The plasmid contained the following features: (i) a selection gene, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase; (ii) an indicator gene encoding beta-galactosidase for visual identification of colonies containing DNA inserts; (iii) a cloning region immediately upstream from the indicator gene; (iv) origins of replication recognized by both Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis; and (v) a synthetic DNA expression control sequence, including -35 and -10 regions, ribosomal binding site, and transcriptional and translational start sites. The promoter region is a synthetic consensus sequence derived from published B. subtilis promoters. The plasmid has been shown to replicate actively in E. coli and B. subtilis and to confer chloramphenicol resistance to both hosts. DNA inserted at the cloning region inactivates the indicator gene, resulting in white colonies on 5'-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside plates. beta-Galactosidase has been expressed from pSP10 in both E. coli and B. subtilis. A comparison was made of the expression levels of beta-galactosidase from the same plasmid which had been modified to contain: (i) the synthetic control region, (ii) no promoter region, (iii) the synthetic control region cloned in the opposite orientation, or (iv) the tac promoter.

Bacillus subtilis↗