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B Maraj

Publications and source records attributed to B Maraj.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

The effect of nonregulatory stimuli on the triple jump approach run.

The purpose of this experiment was to examine the approach run of the triple jump. Specifically, we examined the effect of nonregulatory stimuli (Gentile, 1972) on two different ability levels in performing the triple jump approach run. These nonregulatory constraints (situational factors such as those seen in actual competition) were employed in three jumping conditions: Control (to obtain baseline performance measures), Distance (where participants attempted to obtain as great a jump as possible), and Accuracy (participants attempted to be as accurate as possible on takeoff without sacrificing distance). The results showed that the footfall position variability for all conditions was similar to those previously reported for the long jump approach run. However, in compliance with the nonregulatory constraints, participants altered other performance parameters in executing the approach run. The situational factors created changes that revealed themselves in foot placement on the takeoff board at the end of the approach run (foot position constant error and number of fouls increased for the Distance condition) and decreased horizontal velocity at takeoff in the Accuracy condition. Changes in performance parameters were related to the context in which the skill was performed and may further reflect changes made by jumpers in the course, such as a visual-motor task in competition. We suggest that the characteristics of the approach run may not be fully revealed by the pattern of footfall variability only, as has been suggested in previous work (e.g., Lee, Lishman, & Thomson, 1982), but that the situation under which the jump is performed may have a significant effect on the performance parameters that emerge in executing this type of motor skill.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Relationship between hydroxy fatty acids and prostaglandin E2 in gingival tissue.

Bacterial hydroxy fatty acids and alpha-hydroxy fatty acids have been demonstrated in complex lipid extracts of subgingival plaque and gingival tissue. However, little is known about the relationship between these hydroxy fatty acids in plaque and gingival tissues or the significance of these complex lipids in promoting inflammatory periodontal disease. The present study determined the percentages of ester-linked and amide-linked hydroxy fatty acids in complex lipids recovered from plaque and gingival tissue samples and the relationship between bacterial hydroxy fatty acids and alpha-hydroxy fatty acids in the lipid extracts. To evaluate a potential role for these hydroxy fatty acids in inflammatory periodontal disease, gingival tissue samples were examined for a relationship between prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and hydroxy fatty acids recovered in gingival lipid. This investigation demonstrated that alpha-hydroxy fatty acids are only ester linked in plaque lipids but are largely amide linked in gingival tissue lipids. Furthermore, the level of alpha-hydroxy fatty acid in gingival lipid is directly related to the level of the bacterial hydroxy fatty acid 3-OH iso-branched C17:0 (3-OH iC17:0) in the same lipid extract. However, the relationship between hydroxy fatty acids in gingival lipids does not parallel the fatty acid relationship observed in plaque lipids. Finally, alpha-hydroxy fatty acid levels in gingival tissue lipids correlate directly with the recovery of PGE2 in the same tissue samples. These results demonstrate that alpha-hydroxy fatty acid levels in gingival lipids are directly related to both 3-OH iC17:0 bacterial lipid levels and PGE2 levels. These results indicate that in periodontal tissues there are unusual host-parasite interactions involving penetration of bacterial lipid in association with an altered gingival lipid metabolism and prostaglandin synthesis.

Amides↗
PubMed1995

Prostate-specific membrane antigen: evidence for the existence of a second related human gene.

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSM) is a glycoprotein recognised by the prostate-specific monoclonal antibody 7E11-C5, which was raised against the human prostatic carcinoma cell line LNCaP. A cDNA clone for PSM has been described. PSM is of clinical importance for a number of reasons. Radiolabelled antibody is being evaluated both as an imaging agent and as an immunotherapeutic in prostate cancer. Use of the PSM promoter has been advocated for gene therapy applications to drive prostate-specific gene expression. Although PSM is expressed in normal prostate as well as in primary and secondary prostatic carcinoma, different splice variants in malignant tissue afford the prospect of developing reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-based diagnostic screens for the presence of prostatic carcinoma cells in the circulation. We have undertaken characterisation of the gene for PSM in view of the protein's interesting characteristics. Unexpectedly, we have found that there are other sequences apparently related to PSM in the human genome and that PSM genomic clones map to two separate and distinct loci on human chromosome 11. Investigation of the function of putative PSM-related genes will be necessary to enable us to define fully the role of PSM itself in the development of prostatic carcinoma and in the clinical management of this malignancy.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗