Showing papers by "University of Alabama at Birmingham published in 1983"
TL;DR: The damaging effects of CPB are demonstrated, relates them in part to complement activation by the foreign surfaces encountered by the blood, and supports the hypothesis that the mechanisms of the damaging effects include a whole-body inflammatory reaction.
1,279 citations
TL;DR: Reduced retinal illuminance characteristic of the aged eye could account for a large part of older adults' deficit in spatial vision, but appeared to play little role in their deficit in temporal vision.
774 citations
TL;DR: A characteristic long-short ventricular cycle length as the initiating sequence was found in 41 of 44 episodes of torsade de pointes and it is suggested that this electrocardiographic characteristic will aid in both establishing the diagnosis and distinguishing it from other polymorphic forms of ventricular tachycardia.
453 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that compensation remains intact after elimination of extraocular muscle proprioception, demonstrating that corollary discharge provides accurate eye position information.
Abstract: The saccadic system accurately compensates for perturbations of eye position produced by microstimulation of the superior colliculus This requires that information about the stimulation-induced change in eye position be provided by an extraretinal source--either proprioceptive endings in extraocular muscles or a centrally generated corollary discharge It is shown that compensation remains intact after elimination of extraocular muscle proprioception, demonstrating that corollary discharge provides accurate eye position information
406 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that essential hypertension in human beings is shown to be similar to the hypertension seen in spontaneously hypertensive rats in that both can be corrected by transplantation of a kidney from a normotensive donor.
Abstract: Six patients in whom "essential hypertension" led to nephrosclerosis and kidney failure received kidney transplants from normotensive donors. After an average follow-up of 4.5 years, all were normotensive and had evidence of reversal of hypertensive damage to the heart and retinal vessels. These six patients, all of whom were black, and six control subjects matched for age, sex, and race were admitted to the General Clinical Research Center for 11 days for observation of their blood pressure and their responses to salt deprivation and salt loading. Mean arterial pressure (+/- S.E.M.) among the patients who had previously had essential hypertension was similar to that of the normal controls (92 +/- 1.9 vs. 94 +/- 3.9; P not significant), and both groups had similar responses to salt deprivation and salt loading. Thus, essential hypertension in human beings is shown to be similar to the hypertension seen in spontaneously hypertensive rats in that both can be corrected by transplantation of a kidney from a normotensive donor. This observation supports the concept of the primary of the kidney in causing essential hypertension.
383 citations
TL;DR: Pulmonary metastases were associated with a significantly higher survival rate than metastatic melanoma in any other visceral site and emphasizes the importance of careful physical exams in routine metastatic evaluations.
Abstract: A multifactorial analysis of 200 cutaneous melanoma patients with distant metastasis (stage III) was performed on 13 clinical and pathological factors using the Cox regression analysis. There were only three dominant prognostic variables that independently predicted the patient's clinical course: (1) number of metastatic sites (1 vs. 2 vs. greater than or equal to 3, p less than 0.00001), (2) remission duration (less than 12 mo vs. greater than or equal to 12 mo, p = 0.0186), and (3) the location of the metastases (visceral vs. nonvisceral vs. combined, p = 0.0192). Factors that were not significant in the multifactorial analysis included the patients' age and sex, the site of the primary melanoma, the sequence of metastases, and all histopathological features of the primary melanoma (thickness, level of invasion, ulceration, growth pattern, pigmentation, and lymphocyte infiltration). For a single metastatic site, the 1-yr survival rate was 36%, while it was only 13% for 2 sites, and 0% for greater than or equal to 3 sites (p less than 0.00001). The 1-yr survival for patients was 40% for nonvisceral sites (skin, subcutaneous, distant lymph nodes) compared to only 11% for visceral metastases and 8% for combined sites (p less than 0.00001). Pulmonary metastases were associated with a significantly higher survival rate than metastatic melanoma in any other visceral site. The most common first site of distant metastases (either alone or in combination) was skin (38%), lung (36%), liver (20%), and brain (20%). The skin, subcutaneous and distant lymph node group was the first site of metastases in 59% of patients. This finding emphasizes the importance of careful physical exams in routine metastatic evaluations. Only a minority (25%) of stage I patients progressed to stage III disease after a median interval of 2.8 years. In contrast, the majority (75%) of melanoma patients with nodal metastases (stage II) progressed to stage III disease after a median duration of only 11 mo. Of the patients who eventually developed stage III disease, 95% of those who initially presented with stage II disease progressed within 3 yr, while stage I patients who progressed to stage III did not reach a 95% cumulative incidence until 8 yr.
336 citations
TL;DR: Evaluated Adriamycin with and without dimethyl‐triazeno‐imid‐azole‐carboxamide in the treatment of Stage III or IV and recurrent sarcomas of the uterus and there was no survival advantage.
Abstract: Various drug combinations including Adriamycin have been tested in soft tissue sarcomas, but optimal treatment remains unclear. We have evaluated Adriamycin with and without dimethyl-triazeno-imidazole-carboxamide (DTIC) in the treatment of Stage III or IV and recurrent sarcomas of the uterus. Two hundred and forty cases of these rare tumors were evaluable. Of 146 evaluable patients with measurable disease, 13/80 (16.3%) of Adriamycin-treated patients and 16/66 (24.2%) of patients receiving the combination showed an objective response (P greater than 0.05). Lung metastases responded more frequently (P equal to 0.04) to combination therapy, but there was no survival advantage. For patients with nonmeasurable disease the progression-free interval was similar (10.0 months for Adriamycin and 8.0 months for the combination). Leiomyosarcomas had a significantly longer survival than other cell types (12.1 versus 6.0 months, P less than 0.001) but there was no advantage for either regimen. There was a suggestion that heterologous mixed mesodermal sarcomas were more responsive to the combination (27.3 versus 8.7%). The addition of DTIC produced significantly more hematologic and gastrointestinal toxicity. Other Adriamycin combinations should be evaluated in uterine sarcomas.
322 citations
TL;DR: The psychological and cognitive impairment that follows minor head injury is discussed in relation to diagnostic and intervention issues.
Abstract: Seventy-one patients with minor head injury were given extensive neuropsychological evaluations 3 months after injury. A significant percentage of the patients demonstrated cognitive impairment, which seemed essentially unrelated to the length of unconsciousness or of posttraumatic amnesia. Impaired patients evidenced memory and visuospatial deficits. Cognitively impaired patients also had difficulty returning to work after injury. The psychological and cognitive impairment that follows minor head injury is discussed in relation to diagnostic and intervention issues.
320 citations
TL;DR: The possibility that an unnecessary and perhaps more severe illness might occur in low-birth-weight seronegative infants fed banked human milk from sources other than the mother is disturbing and needs resolution.
Abstract: Of unselected postpartum women, 39% reactivated cytomegalovirus in breast milk, vaginal secretions, urine, and/or saliva. Consumption of infected breast milk led to infection of 69% of the infants. Although there was some milk secretory immune response to this virus, it prevented neither viral shedding nor viral transmission. All infected infants chronically shed cytomegalovirus. However, no infants have yet demonstrated chronic sequelae. Two preterm infants did develop a significantly acute problem, pneumonitis, which did resolve. The possibility that an unnecessary and perhaps more severe illness might occur in low-birth-weight seronegative infants fed banked human milk from sources other than the mother is disturbing and needs resolution.
286 citations
TL;DR: If interruption of a tachycardia by overdrive pacing is associated with localized conduction block to a site followed by activation of that site by the next pacing impulse from a different direction and with a shorter conduction time, then the underlying mechanism of the arrhythmia can be best explained by reentry.
Abstract: We studied transient entrainment and interruption of atrioventricular (AV) bypass pathway-type paroxysmal atrial tachycardia in 15 patients during overdrive pacing from selected atrial sites. Overdrive atrial pacing at less than a critically rapid rate for interruption transiently entrained the tachycardia. Transient entrainment was due to repeated early entrance of the wave front from the pacing impulse into the reentry loop in both antidromic and orthodromic directions. The antidromic wave front of each pacing impulse was repeatedly blocked as it collided with the orthodromic wave front of the previous beat, in effect extinguishing the tachycardia. However, the early entrance of the orthodromic wave front of each pacing impulse repeatedly reset the tachycardia. The result was that during transient entrainment, the tachycardia rate increased to the pacing rate. Interruption of the tachycardia occurred when overdrive pacing produced block within the reentry loop of both the antidromic and orthodromic wave fronts of the same pacing impulse, the block occurring either at separate sites within the reentry loop or at the same site. Atrial fusion beats were demonstrated during transient entrainment in nine patients and resulted from intraatrial collision of the antidromic wave front from the pacing impulse with the orthodromic wave front of the previous beat. The presence offusion beats depended critically on the relationship of the pacing site to the reentry loop and the duration of conduction around the reentry loop, particularly through the area of slow conduction.The data from this study suggest that (1) if one can demonstrate constant fusion beats during transient entrainment of a tachyarrhythmia except for the last transiently entrained beat; or (2) if during transient entrainment of a tachyarrhythmia at two or more different pacing rates, one can demonstrate constant fusion at each of the different pacing rates, but different degrees of fusion at the different rates; or (3) if interruption of a tachyarrhythmia by overdrive pacing is associated with localized conduction block to a site followed by activation of that site by the next pacing impulse from a different direction and with a shorter conduction time, then the underlying mechanism of the arrhythmia can be best explained by reentry.
227 citations
TL;DR: During the development of this ELISA assay, it was observed that certain myasthenic patients appeared to have antibodies which bound to ACR–24 alone, suggesting that the discovery of naturally occurring anti-idiotype antibodies in myastshenie sera had been discovered.
Abstract: Aberrant regulation of the immune system can lead to the development of autoimmune diseases such as myasthenia gravis. Autoantibodies against the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) are found in the serum of myasthenia gravis patients and trigger a reduction of AChR at the muscle endplate resulting in increased muscle fatiguability1. It is possible that the autoimmune response results from altered idiotype anti-idiotype network interactions2,3. Here we have used a monoclonal and-AChR antibody (ACR-24, γ1, κ) in an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) to measure anti-AChR immunoglobulin in human sera. In this assay, ACR-24 is attached to microtitre plates followed by the addition of solubilized human AChR which is bound by the immobilized ACR-24. However, during the development of this assay, it was observed that certain myasthenic patients appeared to have antibodies which bound to ACR–24 alone. This unexpected finding suggested that we had discovered naturally occurring anti-idiotype antibodies in myasthenie sera.
TL;DR: This technique, or a modified version of it in which sequential plaque assays are performed on identified cells--used together with immunocytochemistry, autoradiography or electron microscopy of those cells--should provide better answers to commonly asked questions about secretory systems.
Abstract: Prolactin (Prl) secreting cells in a mixed pituitary cell culture form microscopically-identifiable plaques (zones of hemolysis around the lactotropes) when incubated in a monolayer with staphylococcal protein-A-coated ovine erythrocytes in the presence of Prl antiserum and complement. Plaques form first at 15-30 min and are maximal in size and number at 2 h. Approximately 70% of the adenohypophyseal cells form plaques under these conditions. TRH increases, and dopamine decreases, the size and number of plaques at early times during incubation. This reverse hemolytic plaque assay probably can be used to detect any cell secretion for which an antibody is available. This technique, or a modified version of it in which sequential plaque assays are performed on identified cells--used together with immunocytochemistry, autoradiography or electron microscopy of those cells--should provide better answers to commonly asked questions about secretory systems: Do all or only a subset of cells containing the same hormone respond to a particular secretagogue? Can cells that contain two hormones release one of them preferentially?
TL;DR: It appears that regional chemotherapy with an implantable pump appears to prolong life by 12 to 18 months more than matched historical controls, although these results must be confirmed by a randomized (phase III) prospective clinical trial.
Abstract: A prospective phase II evaluation of regional FUDR chemotherapy using a totally implantable drug infusion pump was conducted in 81 patients with colorectal metastases to the liver. The survival results were compared to a historical control group of 129 patients with isolated liver metastases. The two groups were comparable with respect to their dominant prognostic factors. The pump patients received their continuous chemotherapy on an outpatient basis and had an 88% response rate, as evidenced by a fall in their serum CEA levels by one-third or greater after two cycles of chemotherapy. By four criteria, the regional chemotherapy patients had an improved survival rate compared to the control series. First, the 1 year survival and median survival was better for the entire group of pump patients vs. controls (82% vs. 36%, 26 months vs. 8 months, p less than 0.0001). The survival for the regional chemotherapy patients was not influenced by the extent of tumor involvement, whether previous systemic 5-FU was given, or whether the patient had symptomatic disease. Second, the entire group of regional chemotherapy patients (including nonresponders) had a greater 1 year survival compared to the most favorable subgroup of control patients with the following characteristics: normal liver function tests, no symptoms, and only one lobe involved (82% vs. 66%, p = 0.009). Third, a subgroup of 49 pump patients, whose initial treatment for metastatic disease was regional chemotherapy (within 3 months of diagnosis) had a better 1 year survival than an exactly matched group of 49 control patients (67% vs. 30%, p = 0.000003). Fourth, the actuarial survival for all 81 pump patients was significantly better than predicted by a mathematical model constructed to predict the patient's clinical course based upon the seven dominant prognostic variables identified in a multifactorial analysis (82% survival at 1 year vs. 33% predicted survival). While liver metastases could be controlled in most patients, the major cause of death was tumor progression in extrahepatic sites, particularly lung metastases and abdominal carcinomatosis. Although it appears that regional chemotherapy with an implantable pump appears to prolong life by 12 to 18 months more than matched historical controls, these results must be confirmed by a randomized (phase III) prospective clinical trial.
TL;DR: This chapter reviews the primate ovarian cycle and the regulation of its endocrine and gametogenic activities, based on the studies in rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys.
Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the primate ovarian cycle and the regulation of its endocrine and gametogenic activities, based on the studies in rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys. Unlike adult male mammals, which continuously produce new sperm, female mammals are born with their lifetime supply of eggs, enclosed in primordial follicles. This pool of primordial follicles serves as a non-replenished, progressively depleted stockpile from which growing follicles and oocytes are continuously withdrawn. Each adult mammalian female ovulates a species-characteristic number of ova each week, month, season, or year—the frequency again being a species characteristic. Thus, litter size and annual fecundity rate of a species are proximately determined by the physiology of the female through the size of the ovulatory quota, frequency of the ovarian cycle, and the duration of pregnancy and lactation. Typically ovulation of a single, fertilizable ovum in each menstrual cycle completes a course of oogenesis that begins during fetal development.
TL;DR: In this paper, a three-dimensional finite element model was developed for the purpose of analyzing the stress distribution in a human mandibular right first molar, taking into account the non-symmetric geometry and loading, and the material inhomogeneities of the tooth.
Abstract: A three-dimensional finite element model has been developed for the purpose of analyzing the stress distribution in a human mandibular right first molar. The model takes into account the non-symmetric geometry and loading, and the material inhomogeneities of the tooth. Comparisons with existing two-dimensional analyses are given.
TL;DR: It is proposed that human NK cells may generate from a separate cell lineage and that they alter their phenotype, morphology, and functional capability during differentiation.
Abstract: Virtually all human granular lymphocytes expressed the HNK-1 differentiation antigen when examined in lymphoid compartments from adults, neonates, and fetuses. The HNK-1+ cells were distinguishable into three subsets having distinct antigenic phenotypes: HNK+T3-M1-, HNK+T3+M1-, and HNK+T3-M1+. Thus, greater than 70% of the HNK-1+ cells from 13-17 wk fetuses (less than 0.2% of nucleated cells) lacked T cell antigens (e.g., T3, T8, T4, and T6) and the M1 myeloid antigen. Morphologically, the HNK+T3-M1- cells consisted of three different types: small granular lymphocytes (less than 10% of HNK-1+ cells), agranular small lymphocytes with a narrow rim of cytoplasm (70-80%), and agranular giant cells (greater than 15 micrometers) with considerable neutrophilic cytoplasm (15%). The purified fetal HNK-1+ cells exhibited a low level of cytotoxicity against K562 target cells. On the other hand, almost all of HNK-1+ cells in neonatal tissues as well as adult bone marrow, lymph node, and thymus, exhibited the HNK+T3+M1- phenotype, contained sparse cytoplasmic granules, and had an intermediate level of NK functional activity. Only adult blood and spleen contained a majority of mature HNK-1+ cells. These cells had an HNK+T3-M1- phenotype, abundant cytoplasmic granules, and maximum NK function. We propose that human NK cells may generate from a separate cell lineage and that they alter their phenotype, morphology, and functional capability during differentiation.
TL;DR: The risk of developing at least one complication for all patients was increased for obese patients, increasing age and increasing age, and these risk factors should be considered when evaluating melanoma patients for regional lymph node dissection.
Abstract: A series of 204 melanoma patients were studied six months or longer after regional lymph node dissection of the neck (N = 48), axilla (N = 98) and groin (N = 58) in order to determine the degree of morbidity and analyze for risk factors associated with these procedures. Only one-quarter of the patients experienced wound-related, short-term complications that were common at all sites; however, these rarely resulted in long-term functional deficits. Seromas (22%), temporary nerve dysfunction or pain (14%), and wound infections (6%) were the most frequent short-term complications. Wound complications extended the mean hospital stay by 0.6 to 4.8 days. Residual lymphedema of the leg was measurable in 26% of groin dissection patients after six months or longer; most of the edema was confined to the thigh. Only 8% of patients had significant functional deficit from lymphedema. The risk of developing at least one complication for all patients was increased for obese patients (P = 0.05) and increasing age (P = .01). These risk factors should be considered when evaluating melanoma patients for regional lymph node dissection.
TL;DR: Data suggest that the inhibitory activity of the lysate is due to solubilized surface proteins acting as receptors for fibronectin, which suggests the presence of fibronECTin receptors distinctly different from protein A.
TL;DR: The pharmacology, in vitro mycologic activity, toxicity, and efficacy of ketoconazole were studied in a Phase-II evaluation by the National Institutes of Health and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease Mycoses Study Group.
Abstract: The pharmacology, in vitro mycologic activity, toxicity, and efficacy of ketoconazole were studied in a Phase-II evaluation by the National Institutes of Health and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease Mycoses Study Group. This report emphasizes the toxicity and clinical response data in 52 patients with the following systemic mycoses: blastomycosis in 16 patients; nonmeningeal coccidioidomycosis in 13; histoplasmosis in 8; nonmeningeal cryptococcosis in 7; sporotrichosis in 7; and both blastomycosis and nonmeningeal coccidioidomycosis in 1. Maximum daily doses of ketoconazole were 100 mg in 1 patient; 200 mg in 23; 400 mg in 12; and 600 mg in 16. In 52% of the patients, duration of therapy ranged from less than 1 to 6 months, whereas in 35%, duration ranged from 7 to 12 months, and in 13%, from 12 to 22 months. In 35 patients (67%), evidence of toxicity was not seen. Nausea, anorexia, or vomiting occurred in 21%. Cure or marked improvement was shown in 27 patients (52%), whereas failure of the primary course was seen in 14 (27%) and relapse after ketoconazole was discontinued in 11 (21%). Although this evaluation did not provide clear-cut clinical response data, our results indicate that ketoconazole, in the dosage regimens used, was more effective in patients with histoplasmosis and nonmeningeal cryptococcosis than in patients with blastomycosis and nonmeningeal coccidioidomycosis, and least effective in patients with sporotrichosis.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that purified HNK-1+ cells efficiently suppressed both PWM-induced IgG production by B cells and T cell proliferation in mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR) and some of their suppressor cell properties are distinct from those attributed to other types of suppressor lymphocytes.
Abstract: The HNK-1 (Leu 7) differentiation antigen defines a subpopulation of human granular lymphocytes with natural killer (NK) and K cell function. In this study, we investigated whether HNK-1+ cells, identified with the monoclonal antibody and purified with a fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS), could function as suppressor cells. The results demonstrated that purified HNK-1+ cells efficiently suppressed both PWM-induced IgG production by B cells and T cell proliferation in mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR). Manifestation of this suppressor cell activity required immune complex activation and was partially sensitive to 2000 rad irradiation. This suppressor cell activity was predominantly mediated by a subset of HNK-1+ cells that have previously been shown to have maximum NK function and lack expression of the E rosette (ER) receptor and T cell antigens (e.g., T3 and T8). Thus, HNK-1+ER- cells suppressed a MLR by an average 52%; HNK-1+ER+ were one-half as efficient, causing an average 23% suppression. For comparison, we also examined the characteristics of Leu 2a+ suppressor T lymphocytes. In contrast to HNK-1+ cells, unactivated Leu 2a+ cells suppressed both B and T cell responses. This suppressor activity was not augmented by immune complex activation and was absolutely radio-sensitive in PWM assays. HNK-1+ cells, especially the HNK+ER- subset, can therefore mediate suppressor cell function in addition to their spontaneous cytotoxic function. Furthermore, some of their suppressor cell properties are distinct from those attributed to other types of suppressor lymphocytes.
TL;DR: Five hundred twenty-eight male athletes participating in 26 Olympic events and 298 female athletes partici pating in 15 Olympic events underwent determination of body fat percentage (% fat) and lean body mass (LBM) via hydrostatic weighing and/or anthropometric methods.
Abstract: Five hundred twenty-eight male athletes participating in 26 Olympic events and 298 female athletes participating in 15 Olympic events underwent determination of body fat percentage (% fat) and lean body mass (LBM) via hydrostatic weighing and/or anthropometric methods. All groups of athletes were below the average values for % fat of college age men and women of 15% and 25%, respectively. In general, athletes involved in a sport where their body weight is supported, such as canoe and kayak (males, 13.0 +/- 2.5%; females, 22.2 +/- 4.6%) and swimming (males, 12.4 +/- 3.7%; females 19.5 +/- 2.8%), tended to have higher % fat values. Athletes involved in sports where a weight class has to be made to compete, such as boxing (males, 6.9 +/- 1.6%) and wrestling (male, Junior World Freestyle 7.9 +/- 2.7%), events such as the 100, 200, and 400 meters in athletes (male 100 and 200 meters, 6.5 +/- 1.2%; female 100, 200 and 400 meters, 13.7 +/- 3.6%) that are very anaerobic in nature and extremely aerobic events such as the marathon (males, 6.4 +/- 1.3%) demonstrated lower % fat values. Athletes involved in sports where body size is a definite advantage, such as basketball (males, 84.1 +/- 6.2 kg; females, 55.3 +/- 4.9 kg) and volleyball (males, 75.0 +/- 6.6 kg; females, 58.4 +/- 4.5 kg) tended to have a larger LBM.
TL;DR: A NET microcapsule formulation has been identified for clinical testing which releases NET for 3 months and biodegrades completely within 6 months.
Abstract: Microcapsules made from a biocompatible, biodegradable polymeric excipient, poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (DL-PLGA) that contained 22 weight percent (wt %) norethisterone (NET), were prepared by a solvent-evaporation microencapsulation process. The effects of changing both the lactide-to-glycolide ratio of the DL-PLGA and the size of the microcapsules on the rate of NET release and the rate of excipient biodegradation were determined in vivo. NET release rates were determined in baboons after injecting the microcapsule formulations intramuscularly. Serum samples obtained at various times following treatment were analyzed for NET, progesterone, and estrogen by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Biodegradation kinetics were determined by injecting NET microcapsules made from radiolabeled DL-PLGA intramuscularly into the hind legs of rats. Residual radioactivity at the injection site was determined at various times after treatment by combustion analysis of the muscle tissue. Changing the ratio of the comonomers to include more glycolide (DL-lactide:glycolide-96:4, 92:8, 87:13, 74:26) increased the rate of NET release and accelerated the biodegradation of the copolymer excipient. Decreasing the size of the microcapsules increased the rate of NET release. On the basis of these studies a NET microcapsule formulation has been identified for clinical testing which releases NET for 3 months and biodegrades completely within 6 months.
TL;DR: Primary cell cultures of African Green monkey kidney contain polarized epithelial cells in which influenza virus matures predominantly at the apical surfaces above tight junctions, and influenza virus glycoproteins were found to be localized at the same membrane domain from which the virus budded.
TL;DR: The results suggest that angiotensin peptides activate an amiloride‐sensitive Na+ transporter which supplies the Na+ /K+ pump with more Na+, its rate‐limiting substrate.
Abstract: Angiotensin peptides (AI, AII, AIII) increased the rate of Na+ accumulation by smooth muscle cells (SMC) cultured from rat aorta. The stimulatory effect of All on Na+ uptake was observed which Na+ exodus via the Na+/K+ pump was blocked either by ouabain or by the removal of extracellular K+. All was at least ten times more potent than AIII and about 100 times more potent than AI in stimulating Na+ uptake. Saralasin had little effect on Na+ uptake by itself but almost completely blocked the increase caused by All. The stimulation of net Na+ entry by AI, but not AII, was prevented by protease inhibitors. The stimulation of Na+ uptake was almost completely blocked by amiloride. Tetrodotoxin, which prevented veratridine from increasing Na+ uptake, had no effect on the response to AII. Angiotensin increased the rate of ouabain-sensitive 86Rb+ uptake (Na+/K+ pump activity) but had no effect on ouabain-sensitive ATPase activity in frozen-thawed SMC or in microsomal membranes isolated from cultured SMC. The stimulation of ouabain-sensitive 86Rb+ uptake by All was blocked by saralasin. Omitting Na+ from the external medium prevented All from increasing 86Rb+ uptake. All had no effect on cell volume or cyclic AMP levels in the cultured SMC. These results suggest that angiotensin peptides activate an amiloride-sensitive Na+ transporter which supplies the Na+ /K+ pump with more Na+, its rate-limiting substrate.
TL;DR: The data indicate that the extraocular muscles can be selectively deafferented in order to examine the potential role(s) of proprioception in the neural control of eye movements.
Abstract: Neurons that provide sensory and motor innervation of extraocular muscles in the monkey have been identified and localized by retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Injections of HRP into individual extraocular muscles of rhesus or pig-tail monkeys labeled pseudounipolar neurons that were localized within the ipsilateral semilunar ganglion. The distribution of labeled neurons within the ganglion was consistent with its somatotopic organization as the majority were found within the ophthalmic subdivision. Absence of labeled neurons within either the trigeminal mesencephalic or spinal nucleus was in agreement with previous findings in the cat (Porter and Spencer, '82). Intracranial transection of the ophthalmic nerve prior to muscle injection eliminated all labeling within the ganglion. These data indicate that the extraocular muscles can be selectively deafferented in order to examine the potential role(s) of proprioception in the neural control of eye movements.
Injections of HRP into the extraocular muscles also resulted in the la beling of individual motoneuron populations. Each extraocular muscle was found to receive solely unilateral innervation, with contralateral representation of only the superior rectus and superior oblique. Within the oculomotor nucleus there was a moderate topographic segregation of individual motoneuron populations. Primate medial rectus and inferior rectus representations, while at variance with the classical descriptions (Warwick, '53), were consistent with those obtained in contemporary tracer studies (Buttner Ennever and Akert, '81; Spencer and Porter, '81). Superior rectus motoneurons were distributed along the medial aspect of the contralateral nucleus, with the predominant representation at caudal to midnuclear levels. Inferior oblique motoneurons filled the gap lateral to those of the superior rectus and ventral to medial rectus (dorsal subgroup) and inferior rectus representations at their respective levels. Following injections of the lateral rectus and superior oblique labeled motoneurons were found within the ipsilateral abducens nucleus and contralateral trochlear nucleus, respectively. Superior oblique motoneurons were strictly confined to the well-defined neuronal borders of the trochlear nucleus. Those innervating the lateral rectus, in addition to lying within the abducens proper, extended ventrolaterally from the nucleus to form a discrete ventral abducens nucleus. Our data provide a complete description of the innervation pattern of primate extraocular muscles which is based upon contemporary tracer techniques. These findings include the first demonstration of the localization of monkey first-order afferent neurons which subserve extraocular muscle proprioception.
TL;DR: Results are presented suggesting that one of the biosynthetic enzymes; the N-deacelylase, which tentatively has been identified as a regulatory enzyme affecting the sulfate content of the polysaccharide chains, may be inhibited in the diabetic rat.
Abstract: Analyses by anion exchange chromatography indicate that heparan sulfate proteoglycans isolated from the livers of experimentally diabetic rats have a reduced net negative charge as compared with heparan sulfate proteoglycans from control rats. In contrast, the size of the normal and diabetic proteoglycans are indistinguishable as are the size of individual polysaccharide chains when compared by gel chromatography. The reduced net negative charge of heparin sulfate from diabetic rats is shown to be caused by a reduced number of sulfate groups present in the diabetic heparan sulfate. Results are presented suggesting that one of the biosynthetic enzymes; the N-deacelylase, which tentatively has been identified as a regulatory enzyme affecting the sulfate content of the polysaccharide chains, may be inhibited in the diabetic rat.
TL;DR: Although specific lymphocyte blastogenesis did not correlate with outcome, the presence of a positive response was associated with cessation of viruria, and the impairment was highly specific for CMV, as patients with congenital CMV infection who had antibody to herpes simplex virus did have a lymphocyte blasting response to the latter virus.
Abstract: Viral excretion, antibody response, and specific cell-mediated immunity were studied in 104 children with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection followed from birth. The study population demonstrated prolonged viral shedding and stable, moderate levels of serum antibody. The majority of patients ceased salivary shedding of CMV by two years of age but continued to have viruria through the fifth year. Patients who had symptomatic infection or CNS sequelae were similar to asymptomatic patients with regard to both viral excretion and antibody response. Although symptomatic patients had significantly weaker specific blastogenic responses from one to seven years of age, the majority of patients from both groups had no detectable response to CMV through their fifth year. The impairment was highly specific for CMV, as patients with congenital CMV infection who had antibody to herpes simplex virus did have a lymphocyte blastogenic response to the latter virus. Although specific lymphocyte blastogenesis did not correlate with outcome, the presence of a positive response was associated with cessation of viruria.
TL;DR: Irrespective of the number of cytotoxic/ suppressor T cells in peripheral blood, these cells (T811 phenotype) were accumulated in the liver at the site of tissue injury, suggesting an important role for these cells in the mechanism leading to tissue injury.
TL;DR: Leakage in the absence of infection was strongly associated with the use of small monofilament suture in a continuous suture technique, and the functional type of mitral valve lesion or its pathology, or the type and size of prosthesis used, was not found to be incremental risk factors.
TL;DR: The data indicate that staphylococcal species isolated from soft tissue infections frequently have the ability to bind fibronectin and suggest that theAbility to bind to this protein may contribute to the virulence of coagulase-positive and coagULase-negative stAPHylococci.
Abstract: Fibronectin, a major protein component of plasma and loose connective tissue has previously been shown to bind to several strains of Staphylococcus aureus. We examined a large number of strains of different species of Staphylococcus with respect to their ability to bind fibronectin. The relative numbers of strains defined as fibronectin-binders among the different species were as follows: S. aureus (22 of 23), S. haemolyticus (5 of 5), S. warneri (8 of 11), S. hyicus (5 of 6), S. hominis (13 of 17), S. saprophyticus (11 of 20), S. epidermidis (4 of 7), and S. simulans (8 of 10). Only three species showed a predominance of nonbinders over binders: S. capitis (4 of 14), S. xylosus (0 of 4), and S. cohnii (3 of 11). These data indicate that staphylococcal species isolated from soft tissue infections frequently have the ability to bind fibronectin and suggest that the ability to bind to this protein may contribute to the virulence of coagulase-positive and coagulase-negative staphylococci.