Anaplastic gastric adenocarcinoma with extensive neutrophilic infiltration.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Adenocarcinoma↗
Biomedical subjects
A Rice
Publications and source records attributed to A Rice.
The ovary is not a major source of placental protein 14 (glycodelin).
Placental protein 14 (PP14) is the major glycoprotein synthesized by late secretory endometrium and gestational decidua. The control mechanisms of PP14 production are uncertain but might include progesterone or an ovarian factor. It has been suggested that PP14 might be produced by the ovary itself. The aim of the present study was to evaluate if the ovary is a major source of PP14. We measured PP14 and also insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1), another protein produced in large amounts by the secretory endometrium though not specific to that tissue. The samples included sera from the ovarian vein in one subject, sera of three women affected with Rokitansky syndrome (absent uterus) and follicular fluid samples collected during oocyte recovery in 46 in-vitro fertilization patients. PP14 was undetectable in the sample collected from the ovarian vein at the mid-luteal phase and was absent or at very low concentrations in most of the follicular fluid samples. Furthermore, the predominantly uterine origin was confirmed by the inability to detect any PP14 in sera throughout the menstrual cycle from patients with congenital absence of the uterus (Rokitansky syndrome). In conclusion this study shows that the ovary is not a major source of PP14.
Adult↗
Setting speech and language therapy priorities: theory and practice.
Within speech and language therapy (SLT) systems for prioritising treatment waiting lists are emerging in response to demand exceeding resources and difficult decisions having to be made. This study evaluates the theoretical issues, the methods and criteria SLTs use to prioritise caseloads and the relationship between priority setting at the clinical, provider and purchaser levels. The results indicate that there is consensus about the priority criteria SLTs use and that the criteria can be ethically defended. Consensus is also found between SLTs and the purchasers and provider interviewed regarding the priority criteria that are valued but the relatively 'sophisticated' systems that exist at the clinical level are not reflected at these levels of the organisation. Three criteria are identified as being of relatively more importance and a framework for good practice is proposed.
Ethics, Professional↗
Determinants of positive and negative attitudes toward dentistry.
Previous studies have primarily investigated the determinants of negative attitudes toward dentistry. Little is known about the reasons for positive attitudes. Using a group of university students who were surveyed during 1996, this study therefore examined both positive and negative attitudes to dentistry. It was initially predicted that dentally anxious individuals would be more likely to have negative feelings about dentistry than non-dentally anxious individuals, and would attribute this attitude to specific experiences. The study found that the majority of participating students had a positive attitude toward dentistry, and that participants with low levels of dental anxiety were more likely to have a positive attitude than those with a high level of anxiety. However, highly dentally anxious individuals were just as likely to feel positive toward dentistry as they were to feel negative. A substantial proportion of students claimed to have had painful or distressing experiences at the dentist during their adolescence. However, experiencing a painful or distressing incident was not related to having a negative attitude. The majority of the students who felt negative toward dentistry attributed this attitude to an unspecific experience, although dentally anxious individuals were likely to be more specific than non-dentally anxious individuals. Women participants appeared to have experienced painful or distressing incidents at a younger age than the men. The authors concluded that the factors involved in the development and maintenance of an individual's attitude toward dentistry are complex, and that dentists should be concerned with the promotion of positive attitudes rather than attempting to resolve negative ones.
Adult↗
Identification of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (orosomucoid) in human synovial fluid by capillary electrophoresis.
Capillary electrophoresis of human synovial fluid in a phosphate borate run buffer containing sodium dodecyl sulphate separates a hydrophilic glycoprotein, hyaluronan and a number of low-molecular-mass components. The hydrophilic glycoprotein is identified as alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), orosomucoid, by co-injection methods with human AGP and by reaction with neuraminidase which released N-acetylneuraminic acid. Finally, a sample of the glycoprotein was isolated by micropreparative capillary electrophoresis, examined by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis methods and shown to give a positive reaction with AGP antibodies. The peak due to AGP in the capillary electrophoresis is broad and gives evidence for the presence of glycoforms.
Antibodies↗
Cytokine mediated expansion of human umbilical cord blood CD34+ cells: comparison of the use of partially purified and pure CD34+ target cells.
To determine the optimal cell population for cytokine mediated expansion, we compared the use of Magnetic Cell Sorting (MACS) system enriched CD34+ human umbilical cord blood (HUCB) cells with that of MACS enriched, flow purified CD34+ HUCB cells. Both MACS enriched CD34+ cells and MACS enriched, flow purified CD34+ cells (mean starting purity of CD34+ SC 51.27 +/- 7.6% and 96.36 +/- 1.34% respectively n = 6) were incubated for seven days with Interleukin-1 (IL-1) + IL-3 + Stem Cell Factor (SCF) and showed a fold increase in the number of nucleated cells (10.02 +/- 2.6 and 18.23 +/- 4.73 respectively) and a reduction in the percentage of CD34+ cells (5.55 +/- 1.23% and 12.21 +/- 3.29% respectively). An increase in the absolute numbers of CD34+ cells (4.8 x 10(4) +/- 2.3 x 10(4)) was observed with MACS enriched CD34+ cells as compared to no change (1.3 x 10(5) +/- 8.8 x 10(4) with MACS enriched, flow purified CD34+ cells. An increase in IL-3 + GM-CSF + SCF responsive colony forming unit (CFU) (1.7 x 10(4) +/- 9.4 x 10(3) and 1.6 x 10(5) +/- 7.7 x 10(4) respectively) was also observed as compared with input values (1.5 x 10(4) +/- 1 x 10(4) and 2.3 x 10(4) +/- 8.9 x 10(3) respectively). We conclude that MACS enriched, flow sorted CD34+ HUCB cells have greater cytokine mediated expansion potential as measured by progenitor expansion, than MACS enriched CD34+ HUCB cells.
Antigens, CD34↗
Hematopoietic stem cell expansion.
This review addresses two issues: (1) cytokine-mediated expansion of functional end cells for the abrogation of short term neutropenia and thrombopenia following high dose chemotherapy and (2) cytokine-driven increase in absolute numbers of functional stem cells. The literature suggests that the short term exposure of CD34+ cells to cytokines produces mature progenitors which in turn give rise to functional neutrophils and platelets. The expansion of functional stem cells is a more complex issue, as primitive stem cells are quiescent and their growth requirements are less clearly defined.
Animals↗
Carbohydrate-protein interaction studies by laser photo CIDNP NMR methods.
The side chains of tyrosine, tryptophan and histidine are able to produce CIDNP (Chemically Induced Dynamic Nuclear Polarization) signals after laser irradiation in the presence of a suitable radical pair-generating dye. Elicitation of such a response in proteins implies surface accessibility of the respective groups to the light-absorbing dye. In principle, this technique allows the monitoring of the effect of ligand binding to a receptor and of site-directed mutagenesis on conformational aspects of any protein if CIDNP-reactive amino acids are involved. The application of this method in glycosciences can provide insights into the protein-carbohydrate interaction process, as illustrated in this initial model study for several N-acetyl-glucosamine-binding lectins of increasing structural complexity as well as for a wild type bacterial sialidase and its mutants. Experimentally, the shape and intensity of CIDNP signals are determined in the absence and in the presence of specific glycoligands. When the carbohydrate is bound, CIDNP signals of side chain protons of tyrosine, tryptophan or histidine residues can be broadened and of reduced intensity. This is the case for hevein, pseudo-hevein, the four hevein domains-containing lectin wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and the cloned B-domain of WGA 1 (domB) representing one hevein domain. This response indicates either a spatial protection by the ligand or a ligand-induced positioning of formerly surface-exposed side chains into the protein's interior part, thereby precluding interaction with the photo-activated dye. Some signals of protons from the reactive side chains can even disappear when the lectin-ligand complexes are monitored. The ligand binding, however, can apparently also induce a conformational change in a related lectin that causes the appearance of a new signal, as seen for Urtica dioica agglutinin (UDA) which consists of two hevein domains. Additionally, the three CIDNP-reactive amino acids are used as sensors for the detection of conformational changes caused by pH variations or by deliberate amino acid exchanges, as determined for the isolectins hevein and pseudo-hevein as well as for the cloned small sialidase of Clostridium perfringens and two of its mutants. Therefore, CIDNP has proven to be an excellent tool for protein-carbohydrate binding studies and can be established in glycosciences as a third biophysical method beside X-ray-crystallography and high-resolution multidimensional NMR studies which provides reliable information of certain structural aspects of carbohydrate-binding proteins in solution.
Carbohydrates↗
Expansion of blood CD34+ cells: committed precursor expansion does not affect immature hematopoietic progenitors.
The CD34 antigen is present at all differentiation stages of hematopoietic cells, from immature progenitor cells to committed precursor cells. In vivo, transplantation of CD34+ cells is sufficient to allow hematopoietic recovery after myeloablative chemotherapy, but a neutropenic period of 9-12 days still exists, even when hematopoietic growth factors are given posttransplantation. After ex vivo expansion cultures in the presence of cytokines, CD34+ cells can generate mature precursor cells in a stroma-free liquid culture system. This could lead to a shortening of the aplasia duration, but the persistence of primitive progenitor cells in the expanded CD34+ compartment remains to be demonstrated. In this study, CD34+ cells were isolated from eight peripheral blood (PB) and eight cord blood (CB) samples using either Isolex 50 (n = 6), Ceprate LC CD34 kit (n = 6), or Microcellector T-25 Stem Cell kit (n = 4). We have evaluated the functional potential of CD34+ cells after 7 days of ex vivo expansion culture in the presence of 500 UI/ml of interleukin-1 (IL-1), 10 ng/ml of IL-3, and 10 ng/ml of stem cell factor (SCF). The expansions of nucleated cells, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-responsive committed precursors, IL-1 + IL-3 + SCF + erythropoietin (EPO)-responsive multilineage progenitors, and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-resistant quiescent progenitor were 8-fold, 59-fold, 4.4-fold, and 2.2-fold, respectively. There was no significant difference in the amplification/expansion parameters between cultures initiated with CD34+ cells from PBSC or CB. Our data confirm that cytokine-mediated ex vivo expansion of blood CD34+ cells can produce large numbers of committed precursors and does not significantly affect the compartment containing more immature progenitors. Cytokine-mediated expansion could be of great interest in autologous transplantation to decrease the duration of marrow aplasia.
Antigens, CD34↗
Role of aromatic amino acids in carbohydrate binding of plant lectins: laser photo chemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization study of hevein domain-containing lectins.
Carbohydrate recognition by lectins often involves the side chains of tyrosine, tryptophan, and histidine residues. These moieties are able to produce chemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization (CIDNP) signals after laser irradiation in the presence of a suitable radical pair-generating dye. Elicitation of such a response in proteins implies accessibility of the respective groups to the light-absorbing dye. In principle, this technique is suitable to monitor surface properties of a receptor and the effect of ligand binding if CIDNP-reactive amino acids are affected. The application of this method in glycosciences can provide insights into the protein-carbohydrate interaction process, as illustrated in this initial study. It focuses on a series of N-acetylglucosamine-binding plant lectins of increasing structural complexity (hevein, pseudohevein, Urtica dioica agglutinin and wheat germ agglutinin and its domain B), for which structural NMR- or X-ray crystallographic data permit a decision of the validity of the CIDNP method-derived conclusions. On the other hand, the CIDNP data presented in this study can be used for a rating of our molecular models of hevein, pseudohevein, and domain B obtained by various modeling techniques. Experimentally, the shape and intensity of CIDNP signals are determined in the absence and in the presence of specific glycoligands. When the carbohydrate ligand is bound, CIDNP signals of side chain protons of tyrosine, tryptophan, or histidine residues are altered, for example, they are broadened and of reduced intensity or disappear completely. In the case of UDA, the appearance of a new tryptophan signal upon ligand binding was interpreted as an indication for a conformational change of the corresponding indole ring. Therefore, CIDNP represents a suitable tool to study protein-carbohydrate interactions in solution, complementing methods such as X-ray crystallography, high-resolution multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance, transferred nuclear Overhauser effect experiments, and molecular modeling.
Amino Acids↗
Postnatal development of a sexually dimorphic, hypothalamic nucleus in gerbils: a stereological study of neuronal number and apoptosis.
Steroid-sensitive, vocal courtship behavior is a function of a specific, hypothalamic nucleus, the sexually dimorphic area pars compacta (SDApc) in the male adult gerbil. Gender-related differences in the number of neurons in this nucleus are evident immediately after birth. By using unbiased stereological estimates of cell numbers in Nissl-stained, paraffin-wax sections of brain, we investigated the mechanisms differentiating cell number between the sexes in the SDApc on postnatal days 0, 3, 6, and 15. Cell death, identified by pyknosis, was greatest in the SDApc between days 0-3 in males, whereas in females, maximum values were reached between days 3-6. Similarly, the ratio of pyknotic to normal neurons peaked between days 0-3 in males and 3-6 in females but then declined in both sexes. Pyknotic cells were seldom seen in either sex by day 15. Morphological characteristics of apoptosis including chromatin condensation, cell fragmentation, and ingestion of apoptic bodies by macrophages were all demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy. Macrophages showed specific morphological characteristics of microglia. Cell division (mitosis) was identified in the SDApc during postnatal days 0, 3, and 6 but the numbers of mitotic figures were low, negligible on day 15, and similar between the sexes. These results demonstrate that cell death and proliferation occur simultaneously in the neonatal gerbil brain. The stereological estimates of cell death in the developing SDApc indicated a lower incidence of neuronal death occurring earlier in males than in females.
Animals↗
Long-lasting reduction of inhibitory function and gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor subunit mRNA expression in a model of temporal lobe epilepsy.
This study evaluated hippocampal inhibitory function and the level of expression of gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor mRNA in an in vivo model of epilepsy. Chronic recurrent limbic seizures were induced in rats using injections of pilocarpine. Electrophysiological studies performed on hippocampal slices prepared from control and epileptic animals 1 to 2 months after pilocarpine injections demonstrated a significant hyperexcitability in the epileptic animals. Reduced levels of mRNA expression for the alpha 2 and alpha 5 subunits of the GABAA receptors were evident in the CA1, CA2, and CA3 regions of the hippocampus of epileptic animals. No decrease in mRNA encoding alpha 1, beta 2, or gamma 2 GABAA receptor subunits was observed. In addition, no change in the mRNA levels of alpha CaM kinase II was seen. Selective decreases in mRNA expression did not correlate with neuronal cell loss. The results indicate that selective, long-lasting reduction of GABAA subunit mRNA expression and increased excitability, possibly reflecting loss of GABAergic inhibition, occur in an in vivo model of partial complex epilepsy.
Animals↗
Quantitative analysis of hyaluronan in human synovial fluid using capillary electrophoresis.
The glycosaminoglycan, hyaluronan, can be detected in human synovial fluid by capillary electrophoresis (CE). Variations in peak shape make this technique unsuitable for quantitative analysis of hyaluronan in raw synovial fluid. Quantitative analysis was achieved by hydrolysis of the polymeric hyaluronan to the tetrasaccharide by the action of testicular hyaluronidase and separation of the product using CE. A UV detector operating at 200 nm was used. The X-ray contrast material, omnipaque, a propriety aqueous solution of iohexol was used as internal standard. A second peak in the electropherogram of synovial fluid was quantified. The variation in concentrations of these two components correlate with the arthritic disease state of a joint.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
Androgenic effects on hypothalamic asymmetry in a sexually differentiated nucleus related to vocal behavior in Mongolian gerbils.
The relationship between courtship ultrasound emission rates and the volume of a discrete, sex-related, hypothalamic nucleus, the sexually dimorphic area, pars compacta (SDApc), in male and neonatally androgenized female gerbils is lateralized. Unbiased stereological estimates of neuron number and nuclear and neuropil volume are also laterally asymmetric in male SDApcs. In this study sexual differentiation and lateral asymmetry of stereologically assessed cytoarchitectural SDApc components, and their relationship to male-typical behaviors, including vocal emission, were examined in masculinized females. Female neonates received a single injection of testosterone propionate (TP) or control vehicle (Control) and were then implanted with silastic cannulae of testosterone at 65 days of age. Total SDApc volume, neuron number, nuclear volume, and neuropil volume had significantly greater values in TP compared to Control females. Neuron number was laterally asymmetric in TP females, since the left SDApc contained a greater number of smaller neurons, possibly interneurons, than the right. Courtship vocal emission and two other behaviors were masculinized in TP females. Left SDApc total volume and, most significantly, left neuron number, were correlated with vocal rates. No other lateralized correlations between behaviors and stereological estimates were found. It was concluded that various stereological parameters and the lateralization of vocal behavior and brain asymmetry depend on the early sexually differentiating effects of androgens. It is suggested that in gerbils, androgens have a role in the survival of interneurons in a laterally asymmetric hypothalamic nucleus which is an index of vocal control.
Androgens↗
Conditions affecting the isolation of human umbilical cord blood CD34+ cells.
The magnetic cell sorting (MACS) system was used to isolate CD34+ human umbilical cord blood (HUCB) stem cells (SC). Variables that might affect the detection of CD34+ cells, purity, enrichment, and yield of CD34+ cells, and the co-expression by CD34+ cells of CD38 and HLA-DR and their clonogenic capabilities were investigated. These variables were (a) separation technique [Ficoll, Percoll mononuclear cell (MNC) preparation] and (b) storage of HUCB [fresh, stored overnight (O/N) at 4 degrees C or frozen]. There was no difference between MNC prepared for MACS CD34+ SC isolation by Ficoll or Percoll separation. The use of fresh, O/N, or frozen HUCB did not affect the isolation of CD34+ SC.
Antigens, CD34↗
Stereological estimates of postnatal structural differentiation in a sexually dimorphic hypothalamic nucleus involved in vocal control.
Display of a specific, courtship vocalization and other masculine functions in the adult gerbil, is associated with a sexually differentiated hypothalamic nucleus, the Sexually Dimorphic Area pars compacta (SDApc). Total SDApc volume and vocal function differentiate neonatally. Since total volume is a rudimentary measure of brain nucleus differentiation, we examined the more detailed cytoarchitectural parameters behind SDApc development in gerbils, cell number, density per nucleus and individual nuclear (soma) volume. Unbiased stereological estimates were made on thick (20-40 microm) brain sections from postnatal days 1 (D1), 3 (133), 6 (DO, 16 (D16), 40 (D40) and 60 (D60) animals. Sex differences in stereological parameters were not apparent on D1 but from D3, SDApc growth patterns widely differed between the sexes. Significant differences in (i) cell number, and (ii) nuclear volume were found at D3 and D60, respectively. In males, cell number increased between D1-D6 but subsequently decreased from the D6 value by approximately 80% to reach the value of D16 which remained constant. Cell density paralleled the decrease in cell number between D6-D16 in males, whereas a progressive expansion in nuclear volume occurred between D1-D40. Male total SDApc volume enlarged between D1-D3 and D40-D60. Conversely in females, cell number and density declined between D1-D3 and D1-D40, respectively, and then remained at these low values. Cell volume, however, increased up to D40 and then significantly decreased. The resulting change to female total SDApc volume was a reduction immediately after birth, D1-D3, to a constant low value. We conclude that first, the association between various stereological measures and total SDApc volume was minimal, suggesting independent mechanisms of sexual differentiation for each cytoarchitectonic parameter. Second, the neonatal peak in SDApc cell number indicates cell migration taking place contemporaneously with cell death in males. Third, the effect of changes in cytoarchitectural components between D6-D16 and D40-D60 in males is probably due to SDApc dendritic volume expansion, suggesting that the male SDApc retains plasticity until at least puberty. Fourth, the decrease in the number of cells in females early in neonatal life, suggests programmed cell death.
Animals↗
Neutrophil elastase processing of gelatinase A is mediated by extracellular matrix.
Gelatinase A (72-kDa type IV collagenase) is a metalloproteinase that is expressed by many cells in culture and is overexpressed by some tumor cells. It has been suggested that the serine proteinase neutrophil elastase might play a role in the posttranslational processing of gelatinase A and that noncatalytic interactions between gelatinase A and components of the extracellular matrix might alter potential processing pathways. These questions were addressed with the use of gelatin substrate zymography, gelatinolytic activity assays, and amino acid sequence analysis. We found that neutrophil elastase does proteolytically modify gelatinase A by cleaving at a number of sites within gelatinase A. Sequential treatment of gelatinase A with 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate (APMA) and neutrophil elastase yielded an active gelatinase with a 4-fold increase in gelatinolytic activity. The increased gelatinolytic activity correlated with that of a 40-kDa fragment of gelatinase A. Matrix components altered the proteolytic modifications in gelatinase A that were mediated by neutrophil elastase. In the absence of gelatin, neutrophil elastase destructively degraded gelatinase A by hydrolyzing at least two bonds within the fibronectin-like gelatin-binding domain of gelatinase A. In the presence of gelatin, these two inactivating cleavage sites were protected, and cleavage at a site within the hemopexin-like carboxyl-terminal domain resulted in a truncated yet active gelatinase. The results suggest a regulatory role for extracellular matrix molecules in stabilizing gelatinase A fragments and in altering the availability of sites susceptible to destructive proteolysis by neutrophil elastase.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Development of an efficient serum-free semisolid culture system for the evaluation of hematopoietic progenitors.
Three different combinations of serum-free (SF) media proposed by Drouet et al., Ieki et al., and Wu et al. were tested to assess their ability to replace fetal calf serum (FCS) in a human hematopoietic progenitor semisolid culture system using human bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cells. This study confirmed that two (Drouet and Wu) of the three SF media tested were able to induce progenitor growth in the presence of either 5637-conditioned medium or a defined combination of growth factors: stem cell factor (SCF), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-3 (IL-3), and erythropoietin (EPO). The best results were obtained using the SF media described by Wu. The number of 5637-stimulated CFU-GM obtained with the Wu SF media was not different from that obtained with FCS-supplemented media when cultures were assessed on day 14 (79 +/- 14 versus 104 +/- 17), day 18 (64 +/- 11 versus 79 +/- 12), or day 21 (58 +/- 13 versus 62 +/- 12). Similar findings were obtained when the previously defined combination of growth factors was used to stimulate progenitor growth. Because the Wu medium was the most efficient SF medium to promote hematopoietic progenitor growth, we attempted to improve its efficacy by modifying the concentrations of the various components. A reduction in the concentration of bovine serum albumin (BSA) dramatically reduced the total number of clonogenic elements. Soybean lectin was not essential for colony proliferation; however, its presence had an favorable effect on the overall appearance of the colonies (greater number of cells per colony).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Adult↗