PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

B W Wilson

Publications and source records attributed to B W Wilson.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Magnetic field characteristics of electric bed-heating devices.

Measurements of the flux density and spectra of magnetic fields (MFs) generated by several types of electric bed heaters (EBH) were made in order to characterize the MFs to which the fetus may be exposed in utero from the mother's use of these devices. Data on MPs were gathered from more than 1,300 in-home and laboratory spot measurements. In-home measurements taken at seven different positions 10 cm from the EBHs determined that the mean flux density at the estimated position of the fetus relative to the device was 0.45 microT (4.5 mG) for electric blankets and 0.20 microT (2.0 mG) for electrically heated water beds. A rate-of-change (RC) metric applied to the nighttime segment of 24 h EMDEX-C personal-dosimeter measurements, which were taken next to the bed of volunteers, yielded an approximate fourfold to sixfold higher value for electric blanket users compared to water-bed heater users. These same data records yielded an approximate twofold difference for the same measurements when evaluated by the time-weighted-average (TWA)MF exposure metric. Performance of exposure meters was checked against standard fields generated in the laboratory, and studies of sources of variance in the in-home measurement protocols were carried out. Spectral measurements showed that the EBH's measured produced no appreciable high-frequency MFs. Data gathered during this work will be used in interpreting results from a component of the California Pregnancy Outcome Study, which evaluates the use of EBHs as a possible risk factor in miscarriage.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1996

Identification and isolation of a 155-kDa protein with neuropathy target esterase activity.

A method is presented for the isolation of a 155-kDa protein that possesses phenyl valerate hydrolysis activity in the presence of paraoxon but is inhibited by mipafox; the functional definition of neuropathy target esterase (neurotoxic esterase; NTE). Microsomes, isolated from 18-day-old chicken embryos were treated with phospholipase A2 to solubilize the NTE activity. The extract was then combined with polyoxyethylene W1 detergent and resolved by gel filtration chromatography to yield an active fraction with an approximate mass of 200 kDa. This fraction was further purified by preparative isoelectric focusing and native electrophoresis to yield two separate bands possessing NTE activity. The slower migrating band was highly enriched in a 155-kDa protein that was identified as a source of the NTE activity by affinity chromatography using 3-(9'-mercaptononylthio)-1,1,1-trifluoro-propan-2-one bound to Sepharose CL6B. This represents the first report of the isolation of NTE in its active form and aids in the confirmation of the 155-kDa protein as the most likely candidate for NTE.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Methyl and phenyl esters and thioesters of carboxylic acids as surrogate substrates for microassay of proteinase K esterase activity.

The development of a microassay for proteinase K esterase activity with carboxylic acid esters is reported using novel substrates of the general formula R-C(O)-XR'. Highest rates of hydrolysis have been obtained with the O-phenyl esters CH(3)(CH(2))(n = 1 - 2)-S-(CH(2))(n = 1 - 2) C(O)-O-phenyl and their thioester analogs in studies where R, X and R' have been varied. The phenol release has been measured with 4-aminoantipyrine and potassium ferricyanide to determine the rates of O-phenyl ester hydrolyses. Thioester hydrolyses have been monitored continuously with 5,5'-dithio-bis (2-nitrobenzoic acid).

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

Development of surrogate substrates for neuropathy target esterase.

Seventeen substrates were synthesized and their activities as surrogate substrates for Neuropathy Target Esterase were tested. Substrates investigated are carbon analogs of phenylvalerate (1) with oxygen and sulfur substituted at the alpha, beta and gamma positions. Phenol and thiophenol esters of these analogs constitute two series of compounds tested. The ratio of catalytic hydrolysis to background hydrolysis increased at lower pH values with all substrates tested including phenylvalerate (1). There was more than a 2.5-fold increase in specific activity with phenylthiopropylethanoate (6) at pH of 6.75 compared to phenylvalerate (1). Furthermore, a 19-fold decrease in Km is reported with compound 6. This and related compounds can be used as the basis of more sensitive assays for neuropathy target esterase. Thiophenyl esters in this series are sufficiently good substrates to hold promise in continuous assays.

Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases↗
PubMed1994

Adult leukemia risk and personal appliance use: a preliminary study.

The hypothesis that use of personal electric appliances may be associated with increased risk of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia in adults was tested using interview data from a previously completed case-control study of 114 cases and 133 controls conducted between 1981 and 1984. Cases were obtained from a population-based cancer registry in western Washington state, and controls were obtained from the same area by random digit dialing. Of 32 electrical home appliances for which data on use were available for adult acute nonlymphocytic leukemia cases and controls, three motor-driven personal appliances (electric razors, hair dryers, and massage units) were selected a priori because their use represents exposure to higher peak magnetic fields than that from most other home appliances. When compared on an "ever used" versus "never used" basis, use of one or more of these appliances was not associated with increased risk of leukemia in the population studied (odds ratio (OR) = 0.71, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.41-1.24). When the appliances were considered individually, massage units were more likely to have been used by cases than by controls (OR = 3.00, 95% CI 1.43-6.32), while hair dryers were more likely to have been used by controls than cases (OR = 0.38, 95% CI 0.22-0.66). There was a nonsignificant tendency for electric razor use to differentiate the cases from controls (OR = 1.33, 95% CI 0.80-2.23). When reported daily time of use was stratified, there was no overall increased risk with increased time of use except for electric razors (p < 0.05). In addition to the analysis of appliance use data from the case-control study, the authors obtained several models of these motor-driven personal appliances and characterized the magnetic fields they produce. Magnetic field flux density, or the B-field, and spectral measurements showed that partial body exposure from such appliances may exceed 0.5 mTesla (root mean squared) at rates-of-change exceeding 10 Tesla/sec. These epidemiologic data must be interpreted cautiously because the number of cases is limited and because of proxy reporting of appliance use for deceased cases. Nevertheless, the authors believe these data indicate that peak magnetic field exposure from personal appliances warrants further investigation as a possible risk factor for acute nonlymphocytic leukemia in adults.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Genotoxicity of the phosphoramidate agent tabun (GA).

Five mutagenicity tests were performed on Agent GA (Tabun, phosphoramidocyanidic acid, dimethyl-, ethyl ester) as part of a program to demilitarize chemical warfare agents. GA was mutagenic in Salmonella spp. assays with S-9 and it was a direct-acting mutagen to mouse lymphoma cells. GA did not promote unscheduled DNA synthesis in rat hepatocytes; it induced sister chromatid exchanges in mouse cells in vitro but in vivo. The conclusion that GA is a weakly acting mutagen is supported by the fact that it was mutagenic in only three of the five assays, and that increases in mutagenicity were often less than 2-fold the controls and occurred near toxic levels.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Magnetic-field flux density and spectral characteristics of motor-driven personal appliances.

Flux density and spectral measurements were carried out on magnetic fields generated by several types of motor-driven personal appliances used near the body. Among the units tested were several for which the average flux densities, as determined at the surfaces of the appliance, exceeded 0.4 mT. Time-rates-of-change (dB/dt) for several units exceeded 1000 T/s, and several units exhibited high-frequency components in the low-MHz range. Use of such appliances, although normally of short duration, can represent exposure to magnetic fields of relatively high flux density, which may also have high-frequency components. Compared to other household and commercial sources of magnetic fields, those generated by certain motor-driven personal appliances may represent a significant contribution to time-weighted average exposure and may represent an important source of local induced currents in the body. Furthermore, high-frequency transients that represent only a minor contribution to time-weighted average exposure may generate significant instantaneous induced currents.

Calibration↗
PubMed1994

Design and fabrication of well confined uniform magnetic field exposure systems.

Exposure systems that provide good magnetic field uniformity, minimum stray fields, and minimal heating, vibration, and hum, as well as capability for true sham exposure in which current flows in the coils, are needed to determine rigorously the biological effects of weak magnetic fields. Designs based on acrylic polymer coil support structures and twisted pair bifilary coil windings were employed to fabricate several different systems for the exposure of laboratory animals and cell cultures to magnetic fields. These systems exhibit excellent performance characteristics in terms of exposure field uniformity, stray field containment, and exposure field cancellation in the sham exposure mode. A custom-written computer program was used to determine the best arrangement for coils with regard to field uniformity in the exposure volume and stray field containment. For in vivo exposures, modules were made up of four Merritt four-coil sets, built into a single structure and positioned to form an octapole with fields directed in the horizontal plane. For in vitro applications, two different coil configurations were selected to produce the vertical fields required. A quadrupole system, comprising modules consisting of two Merritt four-coil sets arranged side by side to limit stray fields, was built as a prototype. In the second configuration, one Merritt four-coil set was positioned inside the other to form a concentric coil set. In both in vitro systems, exposure chambers were connected to remote commercial incubators in order to reduce ambient magnetic fields in the exposure volume.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acrylates↗
PubMed1994

Avian embryonic brain reaggregate culture system. I. Characterization for organophosphorus compound toxicity studies.

An avian reaggregate culture system was characterized biochemically and morphologically for use in acute and chronic organophosphorus compound (OP) toxicity studies. Ten-day-old chick embryo brains were dissociated, reaggregated, and maintained in a chemically defined, serum- and antibiotic-free media. Acetylcholinesterase (ACHE), neuropathy target esterase (NTE), and 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNP) were examined due to inhibition of these enzymes as a result of acute OP toxicity (ACHE) or delayed toxicity (NTE, CNP). The selected enzymes also indicate reaggregate neuronal (ACHE, possibly NTE), oligodendroglial (CNP), and astrocytic (glutamine synthetase (GS)) activities. Enzyme activities were compared to those in age-matched chick embryo and hatched chick brains. Reaggregate ACHE specific activity was similar to or higher than that of chick embryo or hatched chick. Reaggregate NTE specific activity was initially similar to that of 10-day-old chick embryo, and then increased but subsequently averaged 7.8 nmol/min/mg protein. In chick brain, NTE peaked at hatching and averaged 28 nmol/min/mg protein thereafter. Reaggregate CNP specific activity ranged from 103 to 426 nmol/min/mg protein, whereas activity gradually increased in chick embryo brain to an average of 140 nmol/min/mg protein posthatching. The mean GS activity ranged from 0.15 (Culture Day 4) to 1.09 nmol/min/mg protein (Culture Day 62). Mean protein values per flask ranged from 2.47 to 7.58 mg. Ultrastructurally, myelination was detected at Culture Day 7 and synapses at Day 6. The biochemical and ultrastructural features demonstrate that this reaggregate culture is a practical and sensitive in vitro system for studying both the acute and the long-term neurotoxicological effects of organophosphorus compounds.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1994

Avian embryonic brain reaggregate culture system. II. NTE activity discriminates between effects of a single neuropathic or nonneuropathic organophosphorus compound exposure.

Biochemical responses after a single exposure to either a neuropathic or a nonneuropathic organophosphorus compound (OP) were compared using chick embryonic brain cell reaggregates. Ten-day-old chick embryo brains were dissociated and then reaggregated and maintained in a chemically defined, serum-free medium without antibiotics. Seven days later, these cultures were treated for 20 min with either neuropathic diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate (DFP, 10(-4) M) or nonneuropathic paraoxon (10(-6) M). Reaggregates were assayed for acetylcholinesterase (ACHE), neuropathy target esterase (NTE), and 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNP) activities for up to 32 days after exposure. These enzymes were examined due to inhibition of activity as a result of acute OP toxicity (ACHE) or delayed toxicity (NTE, CNP). DFP inhibited > 95% of NTE activity immediately after exposure. By Postexposure Day 2, NTE specific activity was 22% of untreated activity but was similar to the untreated group levels by Postexposure Day 7. Paraoxon exposure did not affect NTE activity. Both paraoxon and DFP inhibited > 99% of ACHE activity immediately after exposure. By Postexposure Day 2, ACHE specific activity in paraoxon-exposed cultures had recovered while ACHE remained 56% inhibited in DFP-exposed cultures. Both paraoxon- and DFP-exposed cultures recovered ACHE activity immediately following OP exposure if treated postexposure with an oxime reactivator, 2-pralidoxime. CNP specific activity was not affected by either paraoxon or DFP. These results demonstrated distinct differences in reaggregate NTE and ACHE activities after single exposure to neuropathic DFP and nonneuropathic paraoxon similar to those in avian in vivo assays.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1994

Neuropathology of organophosphate-induced delayed neuropathy (OPIDN) in young chicks.

To examine the phenomenon of apparent age resistance of young chicks to organophosphate-induced delayed neuropathy (OPIDN), groups of either 2- or 10-week-old chicks were exposed subcutaneously daily for 4 days to the neuropathic organophosphate (OP), di-isopropylfluorophosphate (DFP, 1 mg/kg), the non-neuropathic OP, paraoxon (PO, 0.25 mg/kg) or atropine (20 mg/kg). Subsequently, all birds were examined at post-exposure intervals (calculated from the last day of exposure) for up to 56 days for neurological deficits and morphological lesions in the central and peripheral nervous systems (CNS, PNS). Clinically, none of the birds in the 2-week-old groups, or in the 10-week-old PO or atropine exposed groups had neurological deficits. However, all birds in the 10-week-old DFP exposed group developed ataxia by 7 days post-exposure (DPE) and then progressive paralysis. Therefore, all birds in the 10-week-old groups were killed at 14 DPE. Pathologically, the 2-week-old DFP exposed chicks had increasingly severe lesions of Wallerian-like degeneration predominantly in the spinal cord from 7 DPE and subsequently. In the 10-week-old DFP exposed chicks, the degenerative lesions of OPIDN were first detected in the CNS at 3 DPE and then with equally increasing severity in the CNS and PNS up to 14 DPE. A higher incidence of neuronal necrosis and chromatolysis in ventral motor horn neurons of spinal cord grey matter and in dorsal root ganglia occurred in both the DFP exposed age groups compared with those lesions in other groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Factors↗
PubMed1994

Solubilization of neuropathy target esterase and other phenyl valerate carboxylesterases from chicken embryonic brain by phospholipase A2.

Membrane-bound neuropathy target esterase (NTE) and associated phenyl valerate carboxylesterases were solubilized from chicken embryo brain by phospholipase A2. Phospholipase A2 from bee or cobra (Naja) venoms were the most effective preparations in solubilizing brain NTE and other phenyl valerate carboxylesterases. Phospholipase C and several proteinases (endoproteinase, pronase E, proteinase K, thermolysin, trypsin) did not solubilize brain membrane-bound carboxylesterases but reduced their activity. NTE solubilization by phospholipase A2 did not affect its apparent Km and Vmax for the substrate phenyl valerate or the susceptibility of phenyl valerate carboxylesterases to inhibition by paraoxon and mipafox. NTE thermal stability diminished after the treatment of brain membrane fragments with phospholipase A2.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Affinity chromatography of neuropathy target esterase.

Neuropathy target esterase (NTE) is a membrane-bound protein which has been proposed as the target site in nerve tissue for initiation of organophosphate induced delayed neuropathy (OPIDN). Efforts to characterize NTE and to determine the mechanism of its involvement in OPIDN have been hampered by the lack of a suitable method for its purification. We describe here the development of a trifluoromethyl ketone liganded affinity gel which selectively binds NTE. Triton X-100/NaCl extracts of NTE from chick embryo brain microsomal membranes were adsorbed to an affinity gel prepared by attachment of 3(9'-mercaptononylthio)-1,1,1-trifluoropropan-2-one to epoxy-activated Sepharose CL4B (MNTFP-Sepharose). Typically 70-80% of NTE activity is bound under conditions in which undetectable quantities of total protein bound (< 4%). It proved difficult to elute active NTE under non-denaturing conditions, but SDS-PAGE analysis of MNTFP-Sepharose bound proteins eluted with 2% SDS identified a 155 kDa NTE-like protein that bound in a trifluoromethylketone- or mipafox-sensitive but paraoxon-insensitive manner. The levels of inhibition of binding correlated with the inhibition of activity and suggested that the 155-kDa band was composed of a single protein. MNTFP-Sepharose affinity chromatography in combination with preparative SDS-PAGE therefore holds promise as a method for obtaining microgram quantities of NTE for chemical analysis and sequencing.

Acetone↗
PubMed1993

The effect of organophosphates on a chicken brain or sea urchin egg kinesin-driven microtubule motility assay.

The effect of neuropathic and non-neuropathic organophosphates (OPs) and acrylamide on an in vitro kinesin-driven microtubule (MT) motility assay was compared. The goal of the study was to determine whether this in vitro assay could confirm that a mechanism of action of neuropathic OPs was to impair kinesin activity and, therefore, possibly fast axonal anterograde transport (FAAT) in vivo. For our study, kinesin from chicken brain (CK) and sea urchin egg (SUK) was initially purified. Western immunoblotting confirmed the close antigenic homology between CK and SUK, using a mouse monoclonal sea urchin kinesin heavy chain-specific antibody (SUK 4). In the presence of microtubules (MTs) and MgATP, both CK- and SUK-driven MT movement was measured using a video-enhanced differential interference contrast microscope system with computer-assisted analysis. Using this assay system, we then tested separately the effect of two neuropathic OPs (diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) and phenyl saligenin phosphate (PSP)) and a non-neuropathic OP (paraoxon (PO)) each at a concentration of 10(-2) M at 27 degrees C. Additionally, we tested acrylamide (10(-2) M), since it is one of the best-characterized neurotoxins impairing FAAT in vivo. Our results demonstrated that none of these compounds significantly affected kinesin-driven MT motility in vitro compared to the standard controls. Further, this assay system was thus not able to discriminate between the neuropathic and non-neuropathic effect of these OPs.

Acrylamide↗
PubMed1993

Ryanodine induces maturation of embryonic acetylcholinesterase forms in cultured quail myotubes.

[3H]Ryanodine is shown to specifically bind to cultured myotubes from 10 day quail embryo pectoralis. The binding of [3H]ryanodine increases in a time-dependent manner reaching 38 +/- 3 fmol/mg protein at 4 h. A level of theophylline (THEO; 5mM) that induces propagated wave-like contractures, doubles the capacity of the myotubes to bind [3H]ryanodine (78 +/- 7 fmol/mg protein at 4 h). Polycationic ruthenium red (100 microM) only partially inhibits (56%) [3H]ryanodine-binding, whereas the membrane permeable channel antagonist [2,6-dichloro-4-dimethyl-amino-phenyl]-isopropylamine (20 microM) inhibits occupancy > 80%. Ryanodine (10 microM) interferes with THEO-induced contractures. Pretreatment with micromolar ryanodine for 48 h, followed by washout for 48 h, causes a persistent decrease in [3H]ryanodine-binding sites. Persistent [3H]ryanodine receptor blockade coincides with a dramatic shift in AChE forms found in the myotubes. A transition from the embryonic 4S and 7S globular forms to the 20S collagen-tailed (adult) form is evident within 12 hr exposure to ryanodine and progresses after removal of the alkaloid from the culture medium, mimicking the transition that normally occurs during myocyte maturation in vivo. These results suggest that SR Ca++ movements and excitation-contraction coupling may, at least in part, contribute to AChE maturation.

Acetylcholinesterase↗