Showing papers by "Rush University Medical Center published in 1977"

Characterization of C-reactive protein and the complement subcomponent C1t as homologous proteins displaying cyclic pentameric symmetry (pentraxins)

Abstract: Partial amino acid sequences of rabbit C-reactive protein, a peptide derived from human C-reactive protein by cyanogen bromide cleavage, and the C1t subcomponent of the human complement component C1 have been determined. Extensive sequence homology between these proteins establish their evolutionary relationships. In addition, examination of C-reactive proteins by negative-stain electron microscopy revealed that the protein is composed of five subunits arranged in cyclic symmetry. This structure is similar to that reported for both C1t and the amyloid P-component. The extensive structural relationship suggests similar or overlapping functions and the term pentraxin is proposed to describe these homologous proteins.

Levodopa-induced dopamine receptor hypersensitivity.

Abstract: Chronic administration of levodopa with a dopa decarboxylase inhibitor to young guinea pigs resulted in increased behavioral response to levodopa itself as well as to d-amphetamine and apomorphine. The chronic levodopa pretreatment resulted in a decreased threshold for stereotyped behavior for all three types of dopamine agonists. Our results suggest that chronic agonism with levodopa can produce postsynaptic dopaminergic hypersensitivity within the striatum. These experiments act as a model of levodopa-induced dyskinesia in patients receiving long-term levodopa therapy. The results reported here suggest that receptor site hypersensitivity may play a role in levodopa-induced dyskinesias and that chronic levodopa (dopamine) agonism may itself be involved in the pathogenesis of this movement disorder.

Levodopa-Induced dopamine receptor hypersensitivity

Abstract: Chronic administration of levodopa with a dopa decarboxylase inhibitor to young guinea pigs resulted in increased behavioral response to levodopa itself as well as to d-amphetamine and apomorphine. The chronic levodopa pretreatment resulted in a decreased threshold for stereotyped behavior for all three types of dopamine agonists. Our results suggest that chronic agonism with levodopa can produce postsynaptic dopaminergic hypersensitivity within the striatum. These experiments act as a model of levodopa-induced dyskinesia in patients receiving long-term levodopa therapy. The results reported here suggest that receptor site hypersensitivity may play a role in levodopa-induced dyskinesias and that chronic levodopa (dopamine) agonism may itself be involved in the pathogenesis of this movement disorder.

Dual resolution method and apparatus for use in automated classification of pap smear and other samples

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for use in performing automated classification of cells of a pap smear as well as other types of cells, such as red blood cells and blood cell neutrophiles. The apparatus generates an image that is split into two paths, (1) a high resolution image of primarily the nucleus of a cell, and (2) a low resolution image of the total cell, nucleus and cytoplasm. An image scanning device located in the first path provides output signals representing the image and circuitry performs measurement and analysis relating to texture of the nucleus. The image in the other path is demagnified which provides an enlarged, lower resolution image of the entire cell, including the nucleus and the cytoplasm and it is projected to a second image scanning device, which provides electrical signals that represent the image of the larger area and circuitry performs measurement and analysis relating to the size, density and color of the cytoplasm and the nucleus. The analysis obtained from each of the two circuits are applied to classification logic circuitry for the purpose of determining malignant cells.

Affective and sensory dimensions of back pain.

Abstract: Pain words used to communicate suffering were analyzed to identify specific dimensions of back pain. The words were obtained from a group of 131 patients suffering from back pain who described their discomfort on a standardized 87-item pain questionnaire. The results indicate that words descriptive of back pain are not associated in completely random ways. When patients complain of back pain, their report falls into 7 distinguishable patterns. The major pattern accounts for 38% of the variance and refers almost entirely to emotional discomfort. The second pattern accounts for 9% of the variance and is a mixed emotional and sensory factor. The remaining 5 patterns account for 29% of the variance and constitute an entirely sensory class of factors.

Oscillation of the human ankle joint in response to applied sinusoidal torque on the foot.

Abstract: 1. Low-frequency (3-30 Hz) oscillatory rotation of the ankle joint in plantarflexion—dorsiflexion was generated with a torque motor. Torque, rotation about the ankle and electromyograms (e.m.g.s) for the gastrocnemius—soleus and the anterior tibial muscles were recorded. 2. Fourier coefficients at each drive frequency were used to calculate the effective compliance (ratio of rotation and torque). The compliance has a sharp resonance when tonic, voluntary muscle activity is present. 3. The resonant frequency of compliance is between 3 and 8 Hz. The location of the resonant frequency and the magnitude of the compliance at resonance depend upon both the degree of tonic muscle activity and the amplitude of the driving torque. The resonant frequency increases with increasing tonic activity. 4. With tonic muscle activity, the compliance in the frequency range below resonance increases with increasing amplitudes of driving torque. 5. The e.m.g., when evoked by the rhythmic stretch, lags the start of stretching by between 50 and 70 msec. 6. When tonic muscle activity is present, the resonant frequency of the stretch reflex is between 5 and 6·5 Hz. 7. Following the start of driven oscillation at frequencies near resonance, slowly increasing amplitudes of angular rotation (to a limit) are observed. 8. Distortion (from the sinusoidal wave shape) of angular rotation is frequently observed with drive frequencies between 8 and 12 Hz during which there sometimes occur spontaneous recurrences of oscillation at the drive frequency. For the angular rotation, a significant portion of the power may be in subharmonic frequency components of the drive frequency when that frequency is between 8 and 12 Hz. 9. Self-sustaining oscillation (clonus) near the resonant frequency of the compliance is sometimes observed after the modulation signal to the motor is turned off. This is most often seen when the gastrocnemius—soleus muscles are fatigued. Clonus may be evoked by driven oscillation at any frequency. 10. The hypothesis that physiological tremor, which occurs between 8 and 12 Hz, is a consequence of stretch reflex servo properties seems to be at odds with the observations of resonance in the compliance and of self-generated clonus both occurring in the 5-8 Hz region.

Method of and an apparatus for automatic classification of red blood cells

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically classifying abnormal and normal red blood cells is disclosed. The abnormal cells may be differentiated into mutually exclusive subpopulations. The individual hemoglobin characteristic for each red blood cell is measured and a hemoglobin parameter may be reported for each subpopulation of cells. Additionally, cell sizes are measured and the mean cell size and Wintrobe indices may be reported. The interior cell structures for red blood cells are analyzed and the cells are classified based on the presence or lack of a central pallor, their shape, size, and hemoglobin content.

Intelligence among persons with Turner's syndrome

Abstract: Wechsler intelligence scale IQ distributions from a representative sample of 67 persons with Turner's syndrome are compared with distributions from a control sample of subjects individually matched for age, race, education, and other social characteristics. Among the probands, there is no increased incidence of either severe or moderate retardation, intelligence is similar regardless of karyotype or somatic stigmata, and the characteristic cognitive deficit is similar among both children and young adults.

The coronary-prone behavior pattern in employed men and women.

Abstract: The Coronary-Prone Behavior Pattern is a hard-driving, aggressive style of life which previous work has shown to be associated with a substantially increased risk of coronary heart disease. A questionnaire, the Jenkins Activity Survey, yields a Type A score which is a measure of the Coronary-Prone Behavior Pattern. A previous factor analysis of questionnaire responses given by older employed white men yielded three factors designated Speed-and-Impatience, Job-Involvement and Hard-Driving-and-Competitive. Factor analyses for our sub-samples of younger and older employed white men and women all yielded factors closely related to the three factors derived previously. Factor analyses for the subsamples of black men and black women yielded factors which were similar but suggested some cultural differences. For employed women, maximum values of Type A and Speed-and-Impatience scores were observed at ages 30–35. The scores for employed men did not show this peak. We hypothesize that women who are more T...

Freeze-fracture of monolayer cultures.

Abstract: This paper describes a simple method for the freeze-fracturing of cells in monolayers or multi-layer tissue cultures. The method produces high quality replicas and is applicable to the study of virtually any tissue culture or organ culture system. It uses standard materials and equipment for both tissue culture and freeze-fracturing.

Irradiation of hepatic metastases.

Abstract: This paper presents the study of liver metastases and the role of radiation therapy in its management. A total of 27 patients were treated in the Radiation Therapy Department of Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center between January 1973 and March 1975. The site of primary lesion, histology and interval between the detection of primary and liver metastases were studied in each case. The present study shows that liver irradiation is an effective way of managing patients with symptomatic liver metastases. Our study suggests selection of non-terminal patients for therapy. Roughly 70% of the total series of patients or 9596 of the group completing therapy showed symptomatic relief of pain. Jaundice and ascites improved in a small group as well. More than half of the patients with subjective improvement experienced regression in the liver size. No definite conclusion can be drawn about the effect of therapy on liver functions. The survival of patients is probably unchanged by therapy. The average survival since therapy was found to be 4 months.

Early nodal and extra‐nodal non‐Hodgkin's lymphomas

Abstract: There were 54 Stage I and 38 Stage II patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas treated with curative radiotherapy between 1964 and 1975. The initial biopsy material was reclassified according to the criteria of Rappaport et al.10 The frequency of nodular vs diffuse histological pattern was 26% vs 74%. The survival and recurrence free survival were significantly superior for the nodular pattern as compared with diffuse in both Stages I and II. The sites of first recurrence were evaluated. Fourteen out of 20 Stage I and 18 out of 26 Stage II patients recurred in one of the nodal areas only as their first site of recurrence. In 50%, this was in contiguous lymph node areas only. Extra-nodal non-Hodgkins's lymphomas survival and recurrence-free survival rates at five years were identical. Cancer 40:98–104,1977.