Eavesdropping on quantum-cryptographical systems.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A Peres.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Application of 10 nM Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) to single EGFR-T17 fibroblasts induced a marked hyperpolarization that could last for tens of minutes; in many cases the first transient was followed by a series of oscillations of the membrane potential. The outward current responsible for the hyperpolarizing response could be recorded simultaneously to an increase in the intracellular calcium concentration, as measured with the fluorescent indicator fura-2. The conductance was nearly linear in the voltage range from -100 to +50 mV. While the EGF-induced current had many characteristics of a K+ current and was strongly reduced by 50 nM charybdotoxin (ChTx), its reversal potential was apparently more negative than the potassium equilibrium potential (VK). The application of 2 microM ouabain prior to EGF stimulation produced responses that were similar to those obtained without ouabain; however, under these conditions the EGF-induced current showed a reversal potential of -96.6 +/- 3.2 mV, very close to VK. Simultaneous application of both 2 microM ouabain and 50 nM ChTx completely abolished the response. It can be concluded that the response to EGF stimulation in EGFR-T17 cells consists of two components: the first is a current carried through Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels; the second is due to the acceleration of the operation of the Na+/K(+)-ATPase.
The ability of purinergic agonists to induce Ca2+ responses has been tested in two lines of murine fibroblasts: normal NIH 3T3 fibroblasts and NIH 115.14, a clone expressing high levels [1] of the c-ras protooncogene. Both kinds of cells are responsive to ATP in the range 1 microM-1 mM; ADP and ATP gamma S are almost as potent as ATP, while AMP is unable to elicit a response. Ca2+ measurements performed in single cells by image analysis show great variability among cells but in each individual responding cell the Ca2+ rise occurs in an all-or-none fashion. The transient Ca2+ response does not depend on influx from the extracellular medium. Electrophysiological experiments reveal the activation of an outward current (at -50 mV) by ATP, probably due to Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels, confirming the absence of a substantial Ca2+ influx. Finally, stimulation by ATP produces a small but significant increase in the production of inositol phosphates. These results indicate that these cell lines possess purinergic receptors which are not integral membrane channels and which are coupled to InsP3 formation and may be therefore classified as P2Y.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
PURPOSE: To discuss the clinical and the electrophysiologic findings, the differential diagnosis and the behaviour of concealed retrograde long conduction time accessory pathways. METHODS: Seventeen patients were submitted to electrophysiologic study using programmed electrical stimulation of the heart to assess the electrophysiologic properties of the accessory pathway. RESULTS: In all 17 studied patients, it was possible to advance the next atrial activation by giving a ventricular premature beat during the refractoriness of the His bundle. Of 17 patients, 7 developed signs and symptoms of heart failure (tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy) due to the presence of incessant tachycardia. Eight patients were cured surgically and 1 underwent DC catheter ablation of the AV node. Six patients were successfully treated with antiarrhythmic drugs, one die of cancer and one still presents incessant tachycardia. CONCLUSION: The electrophysiologic study is essential for the differential diagnosis of the supraventricular tachycardias with a R-P' interval longer than P'-R interval where the incidence of tachycardiomyopathy is high in this group of patients. Surgery provides definitive cure of those patients leading to the regression of the signs and symptoms of heart failure.
Stimulation in vivo of Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in the presence of orthovanadate induces the tyrosine phosphorylation of a 39 kDa protein, identified as the phosphorylated slow-migrating form of calpactin I (annexin II) heavy chain, p36. In fact, in PDGF-stimulated cells, anti-(calpactin I) antibodies recognize a doublet of bands, p36 and p39, and the latter disappears upon treatment with phosphatase. In many regards phosphorylation of p39 differs from the rapid and transient phosphorylation of the PDGF receptor and of other substrates: (a) it has slower kinetics but is then stable for longer periods of time; (b) it occurs at 37 degrees C but not at 4 degrees C; and (c) whereas most of the tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins are associated with membrane-enriched preparations, membrane association of p39 only occurs in the presence of Ca2+. Moreover, calpactin I leaks out of permeabilized cells at 0.1 microM free Ca2+, whereas it remains associated with the cells at concentrations of Ca2+ greater than or equal to 1 microM. PDGF does not stimulate phosphoinositide turnover (and thus Ca2+ mobilization) at 4 degrees C; thus it can be suggested that the Ca(2+)-dependent translocation of the protein to membrane/cytoskeletal structures is a necessary condition for its phosphorylation. In addition, calpactin I may not be a direct substrate for the PDGF receptor kinase, but rather the substrate of another tyrosine kinase activated by the receptor.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
We have used the whole cell technique to microinject human fibroblasts with either 1,4,5-inositol trisphosphate (InsP3) or 'caged' InsP3, in order to study the mechanisms of transmembrane signalling related to mitogenic stimulations. Cytosolic Ca2+ elevations in response to 1,4,5 InsP3 diffusing from the patch pipette were difficult to detect, while 1,4,5 InsP3, photoreleased after loading the cell with its inactive precursor, was capable of generating not only a single cytosolic Ca2+ rise but sometimes triggered an oscillatory calcium response, similar to that often observed under mitogenic stimulation. We estimated that less than 100 nM InsP3 was sufficient to generate Ca2+ responses. The Ca2+ rise produced by the photoreleased InsP3 could fully activate the K+ channels present in the plasma membrane of human fibroblasts.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Ca2+ transients (measured with Fluo-3) were induced in single mouse ovarian oocytes by photolytic liberation of InsP3. The time course of cytosolic Ca2+ changes induced in this way is composed of distinct phases: upstroke, fast decline, slow declining plateau and fast decline to rest level. All the phases reflect mainly intracellular redistributions of the ion and not influx, since they are not strongly dependent on external Ca2+ or on changes in transmembrane potential. Often sustained Ca2+ oscillations followed the first InsP3-induced Ca2+ transient. These persisted for several minutes in the absence of external Ca2+. The initial rate of Ca2+ rise and the delay between the InsP3 stimulus and Ca2+ upstroke are correlated with the amount of liberated InsP3. A second InsP3 stimulation, applied during the plateau, causes only small Ca2+ elevations, lacking the upstroke phase. A second, full sized, transient could be elicited only after a complete return to the basal level. Vanadate, applied intracellularly, appeared to inhibit the re-uptake phase into the stores, stabilizing the plateau level. The present observations suggest that in mouse oocytes the InsP3-sensitive stores provide only a small and graded Ca2+ release which may then act as a trigger for a more substantial Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release (CICR) process.
Fast, single cell, measurement of the average cytosolic [Ca2+]i with the Fura-2 technique suggests that the depolarization induced [Ca2+]i rise is entirely due to entry through the voltage-activated Ca2+ channels. Involvement of a Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+)-release process is not evident. Under physiological cytosolic buffering the current-induced [Ca2+]i rise persists for seconds and decays exponentially (tau = 7 s). Analysis of the [Ca2+]i changes during two-pulse protocols indicates that the purely voltage-dependent inactivation of the high voltage-activated (HVA) channels, in the range -80/+70 mV, is a slow process (0.2-1 s) which removes at most 40% of the current. On the contrary, Ca(2+)-dependent inactivation acts in a fast way and it is therefore responsible for the fast inactivating phase of the current; this phase disappears under sustained [Ca2+]i loads, and reappears when redistribution of free Ca2+ takes place. A suitable correction may be devised to compensate for the Ca(2+)-dependent inactivation.
Unusual properties of atrioventricular (AV) accessory pathways were found during electrophysiologic investigations in four patients (three men and one woman). Anterograde longitudinal dissociation of the accessory pathway was observed in two patients and retrograde longitudinal dissociation in two others. Two patients had an accessory pathway with a slow conduction time, one in anterograde direction and one in retrograde direction. These observations further expand our knowledge of the spectrum of electrophysiologic properties of accessory AV pathways.
To better understand the mechanism of intracellular Ca2+ mobilization, mouse oocytes were micro-injected with 'caged'-inositol-1,4,5 triphosphate caged-InsP3) together with the Ca2+ indicator Fluo-3 to directly induce and monitor Ca2+ redistribution. Photo-released InsP3 elicits [Ca2+]i changes exhibiting several kinetic phases and threshold behaviour. Often Ca2+ oscillations were induced after a single InsP3 pulse. Autoregenerative Ca2+ transients could also be induced by injections of Ca2+ itself, demonstrating unequivocally the presence of a Ca2(+)-induced Ca2(+)-release mechanism in these cells.
Antidromic circus movement tachycardia was documented in 36 of 345 consecutive patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome undergoing detailed electrophysiologic evaluation. Twenty-six patients were men and 10 were women (mean age +/- standard deviation 26 +/- 12 years [range 12 to 45]). Multiple accessory pathways were identified in 12 of these 36 patients (33%). Ten of the patients (67%) with clinically documented antidromic tachycardia had multiple accessory pathways. Dizziness and syncope occurred in 61 and 50% of patients with antidromic circus movement tachycardia. Six patients had clinical documentation of atrial fibrillation, and 4 patients (11%) were resuscitated from ventricular fibrillation. In the 36 patients, 56 distinct antidromic tachycardias were recorded and several different pathways were observed. Orthodromic tachycardia was the most frequently associated arrhythmia (72%). Dual atrioventricular nodal pathways were present in 12 patients (33%); however, atrioventricular nodal tachycardia could be initiated in only 2 of them. Interruption of the accessory pathway was successfully performed in all 20 patients undergoing surgery.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.