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Biomedical subjects

C Ferguson

Publications and source records attributed to C Ferguson.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Crystallization of p68 on lipid monolayers and as three-dimensional single crystals.

Two-dimensional crystals of p68, a Ca2+ -binding protein that has homology with members of the lipocortin/calpactin family, were obtained by interaction with a phospholipid monolayer. By measuring surface pressure at constant surface area, p68 was found to interact in a Ca2+ -dependent manner specifically with phosphatidylethanolamine, less so with phosphatidylserine and not at all with phosphatidylcholine. With dimyristoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine, two-dimensional crystalline arrays were formed. Image analysis of electron micrographs of these crystals, which diffracted to about 50 A, revealed p3 symmetry with a unit cell of about 178 A by 178 A; the protein densities showed a two-domain structure giving a cylindrical molecule of about 100 A by 35 A diameter packed as trimers. Three-dimensional microcrystals obtained without lipid or Ca2+ were suitable for electron microscopy and gave a tetragonal unit cell of about 256 A by 68 A. The implications of these observations on the structure and lipid specificity of p68 binding are discussed.

Annexin A6↗
PubMed1989

Prediction of pancreatic necrosis by dynamic pancreatography.

Parenchymal necrosis has recently been recognized as the principal determinant of the incidence of secondary infection in acute pancreatitis. Because secondary infection of pancreatic necrosis accounts for more than 80% of all deaths from acute pancreatitis, a method for determining the presence or absence of parenchymal necrosis would offer considerable prognostic and therapeutic information. Thirty seven patients with unequivocal acute pancreatitis and five normal controls were prospectively studied with intravenous bolus, contrast-enhanced computed tomography (dynamic pancreatography). In the absence of pancreatic necrosis, there were no significant differences in parenchymal enhancement between any of the following patient groups: controls (5), uncomplicated pancreatitis (20), pancreatic abscess (7), or peripancreatic necrosis (4)(p less than 0.05). On the other hand, pancreatic parenchymal enhancement was significantly reduced or absent in all six patients with segmental or diffuse pancreatic necrosis (p less than 0.05). Postcontrast pancreatic parenchymal enhancement was also found to be inversely correlated with the number of Ranson signs (p less than 0.001). Dynamic pancreatography offers prognostic information and is a safe and reliable technique for predicting the presence or absence of pancreatic parenchymal necrosis.

Abscess↗
PubMed1988

Electron microscopic study of crystals of the Xenopus laevis transcription factor IIIA-5S ribosomal RNA complex.

A novel method has been developed to grow crystals of the Xenopus laevis transcription factor IIIA-5S RNA complex directly on grids for examination by electron microscopy. Microcrystals were examined in negative stain and in thin sections to reveal a hexagonal lattice with unit-cell dimensions a = b = 87.1 +/- 4.4 A and c = 143.8 +/- 12.7 A. Optical diffraction patterns from micrographs were obtained about the major crystal axes extending to about 40-A resolution. A packing scheme is proposed for which there are three or six transcription factor IIIA-5S RNA complexes in the unit cell related by 3(1) symmetry along the long cell axis. This would require that the 5S RNA molecules are arranged end-to-end, with the terminal loops of adjacent molecules overlapping.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

The ultrasonic features of an unusual cholesterol gallstone.

We describe a cholesterol gallstone with an unusual macroscopic appearance and only mild acoustic shadowing on ultrasonography with a 3.5 MHz transducer used in vivo; there was greater shadowing using 5.0 and 7.5 Mhz transducters in vitro.

Cholelithiasis↗
PubMed1986

Metastatic osteosarcoma and multiple lung resection. A case report.

The existence of pulmonary metastases in patients presenting with osteosarcoma is known to indicate a poor prognosis. Lung resection of solitary lesions is now a standard treatment approach, but with limited successful long-term results. We report the progress of a 16-year-old girl with osteosarcoma of the proximal tibia who underwent 11 lung resections for pulmonary metastases over a two-year period, and who has since then been free of disease for seven years.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Sequential methotrexate plus 5-FU in advanced breast and colorectal cancers: a phase II study.

Fifty-two patients with advanced breast or colorectal cancer have been treated with methotrexate (MTX) (50 mg/m2) followed 6 hours later by 5-FU (600 mg/m2). The mean serum MTX level immediately prior to 5-FU administration was 1.37 mumols/L (1.37 X 10(-6) M). Of 29 evaluable patients with breast cancer (six of whom had received prior chemotherapy), one achieved a complete response and five achieved a partial response (total response rate, 21%). Among 16 evaluable patients with colorectal cancer (three of whom had received prior chemotherapy), there were no objective responses. Although hematologic toxicity was generally mild, mucositis occurred in 20 patients (severe in three), and at least one early death was attributable to toxicity. These results indicate that at doses of MTX and 5-FU which are in general use in combination chemotherapy for breast cancer, sequential treatment does not have a therapeutic advantage. In colorectal cancer, the same combination is inactive.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1976

Accumulation of cystine auxotrophic thymocytes accompanying type C viral leukemogenesis in the mouse.

Certain continuous lymphoid and myeloid tumor cell lines of rodent origin are unable to grow in tissue culture in the absence of pre-formed L-cystine (CYS). In contrast, three NZB murine lymphoid cell lines obtained from NZB mice free of hematopoietic neoplasm can grow as well in cystine-deficient media containing L-cystathionine (CSN), the immediate precursor of CYS in the biosynthetic pathway, as in cystine sufficient medium. The former class of cells is, therefore, CYS auxotrophs (CYS-) and the latter CYS prototrophs (CYS+). Compared to CYS+ cells, the CYS- lines appear to be relatively deficient in the enzyme cystathionase, which catalyzes the cleavage of CSN to CYS and alpha-ketobutyrate. Using protein synthetic capacity as a criterion, normal thymocytes from mixed-bred Swiss mice behave like CYS prototrophs, while those from littermates bearing Moloney type C virus-induced thymic tumors behave like CYS auxotrophs. The former are also characterized by substantially higher levels of cystathionase than the latter. Extracts of thymocytes from tumor-free AKR mouse thymus are also characterized by higher levels of cystathionase activity than extracts of spontaneous AKR thymomas. Exogenous in vitro type C virus infection of a CYS+ cell results in vigorous virus production but no concomitant reduction in cystathionase activity. Thus viral replication alone in any random lymphoid cell is not sufficient to alter the enzyme level. The data therefore suggests that CYS auxotrophy may closely accompany neoplastic transformation of certain hematopoietic cells in vivo, including that induced by certain "thymic" type C viruses.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Effects of Medicare on hospital use: a disease-specific study.

This paper presents results of a study to determine 1) the effects of Medicare on the patients of hospital use in specific disease groups, and 2) the sensitivity of length of stay and proportions of admission in specific disease groups to "short-run" changes in hospital occupancy rates. The analysis indicates that Medicare did increase utilization of hospital services by patients 65 and over through increases in both admissions and average length of stay. The largest increases occurred in the lower risk disease categories, although it is pointed out that this result does not necessarily imply a misallocation of hospital resources. The results also indicate significant differences among different socioeconomic groups and a much greater initial impact on the 75 and over age group than on the 65-74 age group.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Diversity and commonality in international nursing.

The cultural differences within and between countries influence everything from the philosophy of life, accepted behaviours and human relations to the way in which people perform their work. Below, nurses from Spain, Scotland and Canada argue that this cultural diversity also influences the profile of nursing and has implications for nursing practice, education and research.

Canada↗