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A Aronson

Publications and source records attributed to A Aronson.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Two different parasporal inclusions are produced by Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. finitimus.

Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. finitimus produced at least two parasporal inclusions. One inclusion was formed within the exosporium and remained with the spore after mother cell lysis. A second inclusion formed somewhat later exterior to the exosporium. Each inclusion contained a major polypeptide of about 135,000 daltons with unique antigenic determinants. This subspecies contained only two plasmids, of 98 and 77 megadaltons (MDa). Strains cured of these plasmids produced only the free inclusion. Since the plasmid-cured strains did not contain DNA sequences homologous to plasmid DNA, the gene for the free-inclusion protein must be encoded in the chromosome. In contrast, the enclosed parasporal inclusion was produced only when the plasmid of 98 MDa was present. In addition, transfer of the 98-MDa plasmid to Bacillus cereus resulted in transcipients that produced small inclusions enclosed within the exosporium, and the protein extracted from these inclusions reacted with antibody specific for enclosed inclusion protein of B. thuringiensis subsp. finitimus. Genes in both the chromosome and a plasmid function in the synthesis of distinct parasporal proteins in this subspecies.

Bacillus thuringiensis↗

Evaluation of a new defibrillation pathway: tongue-epigastric/tongue-apex route. II. Impedance characteristics in human subjects.

An automated device for defibrillation using a vertical shock pathway (tongue-epigastric or tongue-apex) has been developed. The energy requirements for defibrillation using vertical pathways are uncertain and will be determined largely by the impedance of the pathway. The purpose of this study was to determine the impedance characteristics of vertical defibrillation pathways in human subjects. Twenty patients undergoing elective cardioversion of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, or both, were studied. Patients received shocks from electrodes placed in tongue-epigastric or tongue-cardiac apex positions. The tongue electrode was a 12 cm2 metal plate fixed to a standard plastic oropharyngeal airway. The epigastric or cardiac apex electrode was a 40 cm2 self-adhesive pad. The electrodes were connected to a standard damped-sinusoidal waveform defibrillator. It was found that the two vertical shock pathways had substantially higher impedance than the standard transthoracic pathway: tongue-epigastric pathway 130 +/- 11 omega (SD), tongue-apex pathway 115 +/- 12 omega, transthoracic pathway 68 +/- 11 omega (p less than 0.05). The higher impedance is probably due to the longer interelectrode distances of vertical pathways: tongue-epigastric 33 +/- 3 cm, tongue-apex 28 +/- 3 cm, transthoracic 23 +/- 3 cm (p less than 0.05). Vertical pathway shocks were successful in the cardioversion of 15 of 20 patients. Four of the five patients in whom vertical shocks were unsuccessful subsequently underwent successful cardioversion by transthoracic shocks; the transthoracic shocks achieved a higher current because of lower impedance of the transthoracic route.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Abdomen↗

Evaluation of a new defibrillation pathway--the tongue-epigastric route. I. Experimental studies in dogs.

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of a tongue-epigastric defibrillation route in anesthetized dogs. Ventricular fibrillation was induced by rectangular pulses passed down a transvenous catheter into the right ventricle. Three groups of dogs were studied. Group I (15 dogs) received shocks from a 12 cm2 tongue electrode, a 50 cm2 circular, gelled self-adhesive electrode pad placed on the epigastrium and standard transthoracic defibrillator paddle electrodes. Shocks were given at energy levels of 50 to 460 joules (delivered energy, 50 ohm resistance). The success of the tongue-epigastric shocks in achieving defibrillation, and the resistance and current flow were determined at each energy level and compared with the same energy shocks from the standard transthoracic electrodes. In Group II (five dogs), comparisons were made between the 12 cm2 tongue electrode used in the first group of dogs and a larger tongue electrode of 40 cm2. In Group III (five dogs), intracardiac current flow (potential gradient) with tongue-epigastric and standard transthoracic electrodes was studied. In Group I, defibrillation success with the tongue-epigastric electrodes ranged from no success at 50 to 100 joules to 83% success at 460 joules. With standard transthoracic electrodes, success rates ranged from 65% at 50 joules to 100% at 300 joules. At all energies tested, the resistance was significantly higher and current significantly lower using tongue-epigastric compared with transthoracic electrodes. The higher tongue-epigastric resistance is probably related to the longer interelectrode distance; the correlation between interelectrode distance (x, in centimeters) and resistance (y, in ohms) in these dogs was y = 2.2x + 29.6, r = 0.78.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Abdomen↗

Regulation of dipicolinic acid biosynthesis in sporulating Bacillus cereus. Characterization of enzymic changes and analysis of mutants.

Some of the early enzymes in the lysine-biosynthetic pathway also function for dipicolinic acid synthesis in sporulating Bacillus cereus T. 1. The first enzyme, aspartokinase, loses its sensitivity to feedback inhibition by lysing. This change occurs before the time of dipicolinic acid synthesis but at a time when diaminopimelic acid is required for spore cortex formation. 2. A possible regulatory change at a branch point in the pathway was studied by examining the properties of a key enzyme, dihydrodipicolinic acid reductase. No alteration in the feedback sensitivity or sedimentation rate of this enzyme could be detected during sporulation. 3. Two mutants producing heat-sensitive spores were analysed. Both produced spores that contained decreased amounts of dipicolinic acid. Although neither was a lysine auxotroph, they both had greatly decreased activities of certain lysine-biosynthetic enzymes in sporulating cells. 4. Starvation of cells for calcium also results in the production of spores that are heat-sensitive and contain less dipicolinic acid than the control. A decreased content of one of the lysine-biosynthetic enzymes, dihydrodipicolinic acid synthetase, in calcium-starved cells could account for the lower concentration of dipicolinic acid in the spores.

Bacillus cereus↗

Comparison of 6- with 9-week trials of adjunctive imipramine in postpsychotic depression.

Outcome at 6 weeks versus outcome at 9 weeks was compared in 23 patients with syndromally defined episodes of postpsychotic depression who underwent a trial of adjunctive imipramine added to their continuing treatment with fluphenazine decanoate and benztropine. The global outcome after 9 weeks was found to be superior. The implications of this finding for the treatment of secondary depressions in patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder is discussed.

Adult↗