Showing papers by "University of Alabama at Birmingham published in 1981"

Normal mode determination in crystals

Abstract: The group theoretical methods by which the symmetries of normal modes in crystals may be determined are outlined, and a series of tables are presented to facilitate rapid determination of the selection rules for vibrational transitions. Emphasis is placed on the method of nuclear site group analysis in which the number of infrared and Raman active modes of each symmetry may be obtained without detailed analysis of the symmetry elements in the crystallographic unit cell or the construction of tables. By using the tables presented here for most cases identification of the crystallographic space group is sufficient information to allow determination of the vibrational mode selection rules by inspection. Several examples are included in which crystals are analyzed by each of the methods.

Substituted benzimidazoles inhibit gastric acid secretion by blocking (H + + K + ) ATPase

Abstract: Studies both in vivo and in vitro have shown that substituted benzimidazoles inhibit the stimulation of acid secretion produced by dibutyryl cyclic AMP and histamine. Furthermore, the results differ from those produced by H2 antagonists and anticholinergic agents in that the inhibition is not competitive, and the site of action is intracellular and peripheral to that of dibutyryl cyclic AMP. To investigate the biochemical mechanism of action of substituted benzimidazoles, one such compound, H 149/94 (2-([2-(3-methyl)pyridyl-methyl]-sulphinyl)-5-methoxycarbonyl-6-methylbenzimidazol), has been tested either directly on an (H+ + K+)ATPase isolated from pig and human gastric mucosa or on the function of this enzyme in gastric glands isolated from rabbit and human gastric mucosa. (H+ + K+)ATPase, which has only been found at the secretory surface of the parietal cell, catalyses a one-to-one exchange of protons and potassium ions. It is possibly the proton pump within the gastric mucosa, and may thus be the terminal or one of the terminal steps of the acid secretory process. We show here that H 149/94 inhibits (H+ + K+)ATPase, which may explain its inhibitory action on acid secretion in vitro and in vivo. Because of the unique distribution and properties of the (H+ + K+)ATPase, the inhibitory action of H 149/94 on this enzyme may be a highly selective clinical means of suppressing the acid secretory process.

Heterogeneity of Malignant Cells from a Human Colonic Carcinoma

Abstract: Three subpopulations of malignant cells were isolated from a primary cell culture of a single human colonic carcinoma. The variant cells were established as cell lines designated HCT 116, HCT 116a, and HCT 116b, respectively. In vitro characterizations of the variant lines included growth in 0.5% agarose and growth on confluent layers of mouse fibroblasts. HCT 116a showed the highest colony formation in agarose and on confluent fibroblasts, while colony formation by HCT 116 was higher than that of HCT 116b in both of these systems. All of the variant lines were tumorigenic in athymic nude mice given injections of 10 x 10(6) cells, but the time between inoculation and tumor development (latency period) was approximately 10 times longer for HCT 116b as for HCT 116a and 8 times longer than for HCT 116. HCT 116b was not tumorigenic at an inoculum of 5 x 10(6) cells, while both HCT 116 and 116a were tumorgenic at this level. However, HCT 116a was clearly more tumorigenic than was HCT 116 on the basis of the number of animals developing tumors at inoculate of both 10 x 10(6) and 5 x 10(6) cells and on the basis of their differences in latency periods. While all the cell lines had near diploid numbers of chromosomes, each line showed a distinct histological pattern when grown as xenografts in athymic nude mice.

Lysosomal glycogen storage disease with normal acid maltase.

Abstract: Two unrelated 16-year-old boys had mental retardation, cardiomegaly, and proximal myopathy. One also had hepatomegaly. Histochemistry and electronmicroscopy of muscle biopsies showed lysosomal glycogen storage resembling acid maltase deficiency. Biochemical studies of skeletal muscle showed increased content of glycogen of normal structure; acid a-glucosidase activity in both urine and muscle was normal. Other enzymes of glycogen metabolism were also normal. The cause of this apparently generalized glycogenosis with no demonstrable enzyme defect is unknown.

A multifactorial analysis of melanoma: III. Prognostic factors in melanoma patients with lymph node metastases (stage II)

Abstract: Twelve prognostic features of melanoma were examined in a series of 185 patients with nodal metastases (Stage II), who underwent surgical treatment at our institution during the past 20 years. Forty-four per cent of the patients presented with synchronous nodal metastases (substage IIA), 44% of the patients had delayed nodal metastases (substage IIB), and 12% of the patients had nodal metastases from an unknown primary site (substage IIC). The patients with IIB (delayed) metastases had a better overall survival rate than patients with IIA (synchronous) metastases, when calculated from the time of diagnosis. These differences could be explained on the basis of tumor burden at the time of initial diagnosis (microscopic for IIB patients versus macroscopic for IIA patients). Once nodal metastases became evident in IIB patients, their survival rates were the same as for substage IIA patients, when calculated from the onset of nodal metastases. The survival rates for both subgroups was 28% at five years and 15% for ten years. Substage IIC patients (unknown 1 degrees site) had better five-year survival rates (39%), but the sample size was small and the differences were not statistically significant. A multifactorial analysis was used to identify the dominant prognostic variables from among 12 clinical and pathologic parameters. Only two factors were found to independently influence survival rates: 1) the number of metastatic nodes (p = 0.005), and the presence or absence of ulceration (p = 0.0019). Additional factors considered that had either indirect or no influence on survival rates (p > 0.10) were: anatomic location, age, sex, remission duration, substage of disease, tumor thickness, level of invasion, pigmentation, and lymphocyte infiltration. All combinations of nodal metastases were analyzed from survival differences. The combination that showed the greatest differences was one versus two to four versus more than four nodes. Their five-year survival rates were 58%, 27% and 10%, respectively (p < 0.001). Ulceration of the primary cutaneous melanoma was associated with a <15% five-year survival rate, while nonulcerative melanomas had a 30% five-year survival rate (p < 0.001). The combination of ulceration and multiple metastatic nodes had a profound adverse effect on survival rates. While tumor thickness was the most important factor in predicting the risk of nodal metastases in Stage I patients (p < 10(-8)), it had no predictive value on the patient's clinical course once nodal metastases had occurred (p = 0.507). The number of metastatic nodes and the presence of ulceration are important factors to account for when comparing surgical results, and when analyzing the efficacy of adjunctive systemic treatments.

An autoradiographic study of the efferent connections of the entorhinal cortex in the rat

Abstract: The longer connections of the entorhinal cortex have been studied autoradiographically in a series of rats, each of which received a small injection of 3H-amino acids in one of the various cytoarchitectonic subfields of the entorhinal cortex. The major findings can be summarized as follows. Whereas the projection of the lateral entorhinal area (LEA) to the dentate gyrus is broad in its longitudinal extent, the medial entorhinal area (MEA), and especially the ventral portion of this zone, projects in a more lamellar fashion. In the transverse plane the LEA preferentially projects to the inner (dorsal) blade of the dentate gyrus, while the MEA innervates both blades equally. Within the radial dimension, the entorhinal cortex projects to the dentate gyrus according to a medial to lateral gradient, with lateral portions of the LEA projecting along the pial surface and successively more medial portions of the entorhinal projecting closer to the granule cells. The commissural entorhinal to dentate projections are similar to the ipsilateral projections in location; however, they are considerably reduced in septotemporal extent and do not arise from cells in the ventral half of either LEA or the intermediate entorhinal area (IEA). The projection of the entorhinal cortex to Ammon's horn reflects the same longitudinal characteristics as the dentate projections. An alvear input which extends only to the pyramidal cells at the CA1-subicular junction was most noticeable at ventral hippocampal levels. Finally the extrahippocampal projections have been analyzed. These arise predominantly from cells in the LEA and project forward along the angular bundle to the piriform and periamygdaloid cortices, as well as the endopiriform nucleus, the lateral, basolateral, and cortical amygdaloid nuclei, the nucleus of the lateral olfactory tract, the olfactory tubercle, the anterior olfactory nucleus, the taenia tecta, and the indusium griseum. These extrinsic projections are to a large extent reciprocal to the major extrinsic inputs to the LEA.

Cell-surface heparan sulfate: an intercalated membrane proteoglycan.

Abstract: Two pools of heparan sulfate proteoglycans have been selectively solubilized from rat liver plasma membranes by successive incubations with heparin and detergent. The two populations of proteoglycans have similar polyanionic properties as indicated by identical elution positions on ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel but differ in buoyant density in CsCl when analyzed by density gradient centrifugation in the presence of 4 M guanidine. The detergent-extracted proteoglycan has a lower buoyant density (less than or equal to 1.40 g/ml) and is, as determined by gel chromatography, slightly larger than the heparin-released proteoglycan (buoyant density, greater than or equal to 1.55 g/ml). Furthermore, in contrast to the heparin-released proteoglycan, the detergent-extracted proteoglycan is able to bind detergent micelles, shows affinity for the hydrophobic gel octyl-Sepharose, and can be inserted into liposomes. We conclude that the detergent-extracted heparan sulfate represents a proteoglycan species that has its core protein rooted in the lipid bilayer of the plasma membrane.

Mouse Igg3 antibodies are highly protective against infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Abstract: Carbohydrate and protein antigens have been shown to elicit the bulk of their antibodies in mutually exclusive IgG subclasses in humans, mice, rats and horses1–4. In the mouse, anti-protein antibodies are primarily of the IgG1 subclass, and anti-carbohydrate antibodies are primarily of the IgG3 subclass1,2. We have now demonstrated that mouse IgG3 antibodies to the phosphocholine (PC) determinant of pneumococcal C-carbohydrate5,6 and to type 3 pneumococcal polysaccharide are highly protective against experimental type 3 pneumococcal infection. This is the first demonstration that antibodies of the IgG3 subclass can protect against bacterial infection.

Infant Pneumonitis Associated with Cytomegalovirus, Chlamydia, Pneumocystis, and Ureaplasma: A Prospective Study

Abstract: In a prospective study of 104 infants between 1 and 3 months of age hospitalized with pneumonitis, 65 (63%) had evidence of infection with one or more potential respiratory pathogens. Single infections were noted in 48 (74%) whereas mixed infections occurred in 17 (26%) of 65 infected infants. The four most common infections were Chlamydia trachomatis (15/59, 25%), Ureaplasma urealyticum (8/38, 21%), cytomegalovirus (21/104, 20%), and Pneumocystis carinii (19/104, 18%). In sharp contrast, the incidence of these infections in control infants was 0% (0/25), 4% (2/49), 3% (3/97), and 0% (0/64), respectively. The clinical, radiologic, and laboratory characteristics of the pneumonitis syndrome associated with Chlamydia, cytomegalovirus, and Pneumocystis were indistinguishable from each other. Patients with mixed infections had a more severe pneumonitis as measured by the occurrence of apnea and the need of oxygen therapy and mechanical ventilation. The patients enrolled in this study are being followed-up to determine the longitudinal course of these infections.

Substrate adhesion of rat hepatocytes: A comparison of laminin and fibronectin as attachment proteins

Abstract: In previous studies rat hepatocytes have been shown to adhere to substrates composed of collagen or fibronectin. In the present communication, the basement membrane protein laminin is reported to mediated the attachment and spreading of hepatocytes. The cell attachment-mediating activity of laminin was compared with that of fibronectin. The activity of fibronectin was heat sensitive, whereas laminin retained its activity after boiling. On the other hand, reduction and alkylation or periodate oxidation of the proteins affected only the cell attachment activity of laminin. Preincubation of cells with soluble fibronectin inhibited initial cell attachment to fibronectin but not to laminin substrates, and, reversely, soluble laminin selectively inhibited cell attachment to laminin. These results suggest that attachment of cells to substrates of the two proteins involves different cellular receptors recognizing distinct and nonidentical structures in the proteins.

Nonocollagenous Proteins of Dentin. Isolation and Partial Characterization of Rat Dentin Proteins and Proteoglycans using a Three-step Preparative Method

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to develop a method for fractionation of dentin proteins and proteoglycans into pools. The sequential procedure consisted of: (1) addition of 1.0 M CaCl2 to solutions of EDTA extracts of rat dentin in the presence of protease inhibitors to form a CaCl2 precipitate (Fraction I), (2) dialysis of the resultant supernatant against 0.1 M formic acid to form an acid precipitate (Fraction II), and (3) passage of the 0.1 M formic acid supernatant over a Sephadex G-50 column to obtain a high molecular weight, excluded peak (Fraction III) and a lower molecular weight, included peak (Fraction IV). Each of the four fractions was characterized by amino acid analysis, slab gel electrophoresis and ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. Fraction I contained almost exclusively phosphoproteins while Fraction II consisted of several acidic proteins, albumin, proteoglycans and a protein with a relatively low level of organic phosphate. A unique glycoprotein with an apparent Mr = 95,000 was found in Fraction III along with smaller amounts of other proteins, including albumin and a phosphoprotein with a relatively low level of organic phosphate. Fraction IV contained several low molecular weight, gamma-carboxyglutamate-containing proteins similar to those found in bone. The data show that the method selectively fractionates the proteins and proteoglycans of rat dentin. Furthermore the method is rapid and allows preparative steps to be performed in the presence of protease inhibitors. This new procedure should be a useful step in the comprehensive isolation of dentin proteins in experiments designed to study their detailed chemical nature and metabolism.

Sociology of mental disorder

Abstract: 1. The Problem of Mental Disorder. 2. Types of Mental Disorders. 3. Mental Disorder: Concepts of Causes and Cures. 4. Mental Disorder as Deviant Behavior. 5. Mental Disorder: Social Epidemiology. 6. Mental Disorder: Social Class. 7. Mental Disorder: Age, Gender, and Marital Status. 8. Mental Disorder: Urban versus Rural Living and Migration. 9. Mental Disorder: Race. 10. Help-Seeking Behavior and the Prepatient Experience. 11. Acting Mentally Disordered: The Example of Schizophrenia, Anxiety, and Depression. 12. The Mental Hospital Patient. 13. Residing in the Community. 14. Community Care and Public Policy. 15. Mental Disorder and the Law. 16. Mental Disorder and Public Policy in Selected Countries. References. Index.

Transient Entrainment and Interruption of Ventricular Tachycardia

Abstract: The effects on spontaneously occurring ventricular tachycardia of rapidly pacing the right ventricle at rates faster than the rate of the ventricular tachycardia were studied during 10 episodes in seven patients. In three episodes, ventricular pacing interrupted the ventricular tachycardia at the initial pacing rate (111%, 114%, and 119% of the ventricular tachycardia rate, respectively). In seven episodes, the initial pacing rate failed to interrupt the ventricular tachycardia. In six of those seven episodes, the ventricular tachycardia was transiently entrained to the faster pacing rates. In one of those seven episodes, transient entrainment of the ventricular tachycardia could not be distinguished from over-drive suppression. In all seven episodes, the tachycardia was later interrupted by pacing at more rapid rates. The successful pacing rate ranged from 111-141% (mean 125%) of the spontaneous ventricular tachycardia rate. It is concluded that when utilizing rapid ventricular pacing to interrupt ventricular tachycardia, a critical pacing rate may be required before interruption is achieved. Pacing at rates slower than the critical rate but faster than the spontaneous ventricular tachycardia rate may only transiently entrain the ventricular tachycardia to the pacing rate without interrupting it. During the period of transient entrainment, fusion QRS complexes are likely to be present.

Intracardiac Surgery in Infants Under Age 3 Months: Incremental Risk Factors for Hospital Mortality

Abstract: During the 13 year period from January 1967 to July 1980, the hospital mortality rate for open intracardiac operations in infants in the first 3 months of life was 43 percent (75 deaths among 194 patients), higher than the 22 percent mortality rate (35 deaths in 161 patients) for closed operations in the same age group. The mortality rate was lower late in the experience (p = 0.0001). Poor preoperative condition of the patient increased the mortality rate 87 percent in patients preoperatively acidotic or in shock [preoperative class V]and 22 percent in patients with moderate or severe symptoms but without recent hemodynamic deterioration (preoperative class II or III). The presence of major associated cardiac lesions increased hospital mortality (p

A Distinctive Pattern of B Cell Immaturity in Perinatal Humans

Abstract: It has lotig been evident that humans are not fully immunocompetent at birth. An inability of newborns to defend successfully against infectious agents can be a grim reminder of this fact. Since learning that immunocompetent cells begin their development well before the end of the first trimester of gestation and are abundant by the time of birth, the idea of immunological inexperience has become an attractive explanation for the heightened susceptibility of newborns to overwhelming infections. Functional immaturity of nonspecific systems of immunity, such as phagocytic cells and the cotnplement system, has also been invoked. While these factors may contribute to the relative immunodeficiency, it is also well documented that specific immune responses may be quantitatively and qualitatively deficient in newborns and young infants. In studies of the ontogeny of antibody responsiveness, the intriguing observation was made that the capacity to respond to different antigens may be acquired at different times during development (Silverstein 1972). The acquisition ofthe ability to respond first has been referred to as antigenic hierarchy. The idea that clonal diversification of immunocompetent cells is a gradual process, perhaps due to somatic mutational mechanisms, was once held to be a likely explanation. Although not fully discredited, our present understanding of the genetic basis for clonal diversity of immunocompetent cells renders this idea far less appealing. Over the last few years, it has become apparent that specific immune responses, both positive and negative, depend upon a network of interactions between multiple subpopulations of immunocompetent cells. Viewed in its simplest form, this can be thought of in terms of interactions between helper T cells, suppressor T cells and B cells of diverse clones that are initiated via antigen presentation by macrophages. or other la* cells, which may also facilitate T and

Monoclonal vs. heterogeneous anti-H-8 antibodies in the analysis of the anti-phosphorylcholine response in BALB/c mice.

Abstract: Biological activities of monoclonal A/J antibodies to the T15 idiotype in BALB/c mice were compared to heterogeneous antibodies raised by conventional immunization procedures. Two monoclonal antibodies, AB1-2 and GB4-10, which are of the gamma 1, chi class, appeared to have identical specificities by binding criteria and reacted similarly to conventional antibodies in their abilities to induce neonatal suppression, inhibit plaque-forming cell induction by phosphorylcholine (PC) antigens and to inhibit specifically, anti-PC plaque-forming cells. However, in functional analyses of anti-PC responses in various strains of mice, discrepancies were noted in the T15 responses as defined by monoclonal antibodies and conventional antisera. This heterogeneity was also observed in adult mice suppressed with the GB4-10 monoclonal antibody. These animals eventually produced an anti-PC responses of AB1-2 idiotype but lacking the GB4-10 marker. These results show that the T15 IgM anti-PC response in BALB/c and other strains of mice is heterogeneous and probably consists of a family of clones. Particular clones can be precisely eliminated by the use of appropriate monoclonal antibodies, and the anti-PC response that eventually recovers is still T15+ but lacking the suppressed clones.

Empirically Derived Subgroups of Learning Disabled Readers Diagnostic Characteristics

Abstract: A cluster analysis procedure was used to identify subgroups of children who manifested specific learning disabilities in reading (SLD/R) in terms of performance on a battery of eight language and perceptual tests. Subjects included a group of 100 SLD/R children and 50 normal readers (NR). Six SLD/R subgroups were identified. All subgroups were both significantly different from one another as well as significantly different from the NR group's performance on the diagnostic battery. In addition, some significant differences were found among the six subgroups on measures of oral reading and reading comprehension skills. These results were compared with those of previous studies, none of which employed samples of the SLD/R youngsters identified in public schools. Results also were examined for their implications for a more precise match between the SLD/R learner characteristics and type of teaching method or material.

Superior Gastric Reduction Procedure for Morbid Obesity; A Prospective, Randomized Trial

Abstract: A prospective randomized clinical trial was undertaken to compare the effects of gastric bypass with Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy and a gastric partitioning procedure. Operative groups were comparable, with regard to preoperative weight, age, sex, historic findings and operative complications. Post-operative weight loss was followed for one year. Patients receiving the gastric partitioning procedure showed significantly poorer weight loss as early as three months postoperatively than did those receiving gastric bypass. This poorer performance persisted throughout the study period.

Investigations on the galvanic corrosion of multialloy total hip prostheses

Abstract: Total hip prostheses combining cobalt and titanium alloys in direct physical contact are currently being used. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the possibility of an accelerated corrosion occurring due to the coupling of these alloys. Electrochemical corrosion studies based on mixed potential and protection potential theories were used to study the in vitro effects of coupling the titanium and cobalt alloys. Verification of these studies was made by direct coupling experiments. Macroscopic examination of' surface features of four retrieved total hip prostheses ranging from 0-6 years implantation were conducted. The electrochemical studies predicted coupled corrosion potentials of -0.22 V and low coupled corrosion rates of 0.02 microA/cm2. Direct coupling experiments verified these results. Cobalt-titanium interfaces on the implants were macroscopically examined, and no instances of extensive corrosion were found. Overall, the in vitro corrosion studies and the examination of retrieved prostheses predicted no exaggerated in vivo corrosion due to the coupling of these cobalt and titanium alloys.

Dental enamel matrix: sequences of two amelogenin polypeptides.

Abstract: The amino acid sequences of a leucine-rich amelogenin polypeptide (LRAP) and a tyrosine-rich amelogenin polypeptide (TRAP), isolated from foetal bovine enamel matrix, were determined. Both LRAP and TRAP occurred in two forms; in each case, one of the molecular species appeared to be shortened at the COOH terminus by 2 and 4 residues, respectively. A striking finding was that LRAP and TRAP had identical sequences for the first 33 residues but were almost completely different for the remaining 12 amino acids.

Initiation and characterization of cultures of human colonic carcinoma with different biological characteristics utilizing feeder layers of confluent fibroblasts.

Abstract: The tissue culture of human colonic carcinoma with and without feeder layers of confluent C3H 10T1/2 mouse fibroblast was compared In a series of 27 different tumor specimens, 21 long-term cultures (6 mos or more) were obtained by utilizing feeder layers Only 3 long-term cultures were obtained from the same set of specimens when feeder layers were not employed Several of the long-term cultures were established as cell lines weaned from fibroblast feeder layers These lines could be classified into 3 groups based upon their expression of several biological properties including tumorigenicity in nude mice, degree of differentiation of the tumors growing in nude mice, growth in semisolid medium, morphology in vitro and production of carcinoembryonic antigen in vitro