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Biomedical subjects

C Rees

Publications and source records attributed to C Rees.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

Cooperative binding of the globular domains of histones H1 and H5 to DNA.

In view of the likely role of H1-H1 interactions in the stabilization of chromatin higher order structure, we have asked whether interactions can occur between the globular domains of the histone molecules. We have studied the properties of the isolated globular domains of H1 and the variant H5 (GH1 and GH5) and we have shown (by sedimentation analysis, electron microscopy, chemical cross-linking and nucleoprotein gel electrophoresis) that although GH1 shows no, and GH5 little if any, tendency to self-associate in dilute solution, they bind highly cooperatively to DNA. The resulting complexes appear to contain essentially continuous arrays of globular domains bridging 'tramlines' of DNA, similar to those formed with intact H1, presumably reflecting the ability of the globular domain to bind more than one DNA segment, as it is likely to do in the nucleosome. Additional (thicker) complexes are also formed with GH5, probably resulting from association of the primary complexes, possibly with binding of additional GH5. The highly cooperative nature of the binding, in close apposition, of GH1 and GH5 to DNA is fully compatible with the involvement of interactions between the globular domains of H1 and its variants in chromatin folding.

Animals

Facilitating project feedback: the use of poster presentations.

This article describes the use of student poster presentations as a means of feeding back to the whole group the results of project work. A technique usually associated with conferences, this format has been successfully used here to provide stimulation and creativity amongst one group of post-registration course members. It is suggested that not only could his approach be used by others, but that it has also the potential to be developed and applied in a variety of situations.

Audiovisual Aids

Septic pulmonary arteriovenous fistula. An unusual conduit for systemic embolization in right-sided valvular endocarditis.

Right-sided valvular (tricuspid, pulmonic) endocarditis is frequently complicated by septic pulmonary embolization. Systemic embolization may also rarely occur due to associated left-sided endocarditis or right-to-left shunting in patients with septal defects. This report documents the occurrence of systemic embolization causing a cerebrovascular accident in an intravenous drug abuser with recurrent tricuspid valve endocarditis due to an isolated peripheral septic pulmonary arteriovenous fistula. Noninvasive diagnosis of the fistula by cardiac auscultation, contrast echocardiography, and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging was confirmed by selective pulmonary angiography. Subselective balloon embolization of the pulmonary arteries feeding this fistula was accomplished.

Adult

Neurotoxicology dose/response assessment for several cholinesterase inhibitors: use of uncertainty factors.

Dose/response assessment for non-carcinogenic endpoints typically uses the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) or Reference Dose (RfD) approach, in which a dose believed to cause no toxic effect is divided by a number of safety or uncertainty factors (e.g., to control for variability and cross-species extrapolation), in order to estimate a dose presumed to have no adverse effects in humans. With the establishment of neurotoxicology testing guidelines, routine use of uncertainty factors to undertake neurotoxicity dose/response assessment procedures is likely. This approach to dose/response assessment has not yet been widely applied to neurotoxicity data. The purpose of this study was to assess the use of uncertainty factors and the assumptions underlying the use of the uncertainty factor method in assessing risk for several known human neurotoxicants. Because of the availability of a large neurotoxicity data base which included human exposure data, parathion, diisopropylfluorophosphate, physostigmine and acrylamide were chosen for this analysis. Literature searches were conducted for both human and animal data. The resulting data were assigned to one of five end point categories: Neurochemistry/neuropathology, physiology/consummatory behavior, sensory/motor, electrophysiology, and learning/memory behavior. No-observed-adverse-effect levels (NOAELs) and/or lowest-observed-adverse-effect levels (LOAELs) were determined when possible for each end point and for several species. Reference doses (RfDs) were calculated and compared across species. A number of issues and critical assumptions were identified.

Animals

Road to recovery.

The role of the nurse in giving information to patients has grown considerably following the work of researchers such as Hayward (1975), Boore (1978) and Wilson-Barnett (1978). From admission to discharge the nurse has a valuable educational role to play in helping patients come to terms with their present position and preparing them for the future. The questions facing nursing now are not whether nurses should undertake this role, but how well do they provide information? Do patients act on advice? And how far should relatives be included in the process of patient education? These are the questions that prompted the present study, in which 43 people completed questionnaires 6 to 8 weeks following discharge from hospital after cardiac surgery. Eighty-two per cent were completely or 'on the whole' satisfied with the information given, though the perceived adequacy varied between topics; 70% reported some associated behaviour change and in each case their relatives had been involved in receiving pre-discharge advice.

Aged

Normal and stenotic renal arteries: experimental balloon-expandable intraluminal stenting.

Elastic recoil of the vessel wall is a common cause of failure of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in renal arteries. To oppose such recoil, balloon-expandable metal stents were implanted in artificially stenotic renal arteries in pigs and normal renal arteries in dogs and pigs. The stents were then examined angiographically and histologically at regular intervals. All stents were completely covered with endothelialized neointima in 3 weeks. There was no difference in intimal thickness between the stenotic and nonstenotic renal arteries. A large stent diameter and a large open or nonmetal surface may cause less intimal hyperplasia, but nonturbulent, fast arterial flow is probably the most important factor in ensuring long-term patency of the vessel.

Angioplasty, Balloon

Isolation of parietal cells from guinea-pig gastric mucosa and the immunological characterization of their antigenic structure.

A method is described for the isolation of parietal cells from the gastric mucosa of the guinea pig by enzymatic digestion with collagenase. A suspension was obtained that contained 70-80% parietal cells. About 80% of the cells were viable immediately after incubation, but viability dropped sharply after one hour. Parietal cells were identified by their morphology on light and electron microscopy, by their uptake of neutral red, by immunofluorescent staining and by carbonic anhydrase activity. Antibodies to four distinct parietal-cell antigens were obtained from rabbits immunized with the isolated parietal cells or fractions thereof. These antibodies were directed against the microsomal fraction of the parietal-cell cytoplasm, the plasma and nuclear membranes, the soluble proteins, and Castle's intrinsic factor. The antibody against the microsomal fraction, though reacting in the same way as the antibody to parietal cell canaliculi found in the serum of patients with pernicious anaemia, showed greater species specificity.

Anemia, Pernicious

Paradoxical cerebral emboli associated with pulmonary arteriovenous shunts: report of three cases.

Paradoxical embolism to the cerebral circulation is rarely diagnosed in life; however, three such cases have recently been observed: two with multiple congenital pulmonary arteriovenous malformations and one with an acquired arteriovenous fistula. In each case the pulmonary lesion(s) were treated by percutaneous balloon embolizations. Paradoxical embolism should be included in the differential diagnosis of cerebral arterial embolism for which there is no obvious source, especially when there is also evidence of concurrent peripheral venous thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism.

Adult