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D E Matthews

Publications and source records attributed to D E Matthews.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

On testing for a constant hazard against a change-point alternative.

A frequently recurring question posed by leukemia researchers concerns a test of a constant failure rate against the alternative of a failure rate involving a single change-point. In answer to this question, a likelihood ratio test appropriate for the stated alternative is derived and simulated. Consideration is given also to tests based on alternatives in the log gamma family, which perform quite well when the change-point model is correct. A practical application is given.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

Stable isotope tracer methods for in vivo investigations.

During the last two decades, in parallel with the growth of modern electronics, several new techniques have been developed for measuring stable isotopic enrichments in biochemistry and medicine. The development and potential of these techniques are discussed. Of these methods, mass spectrometry has been developed and refined the fullest to quantitate stable isotope tracers in very minute samples and for very large dilutions of tracer. No single mass spectrometric technique can measure this entire range, and different techniques are used for different applications. Examples of the different methods are presented for determining whole-body amino acid and protein dynamics in humans with stable isotopically labeled amino acid tracers.

Activation Analysis↗

Regulation of leucine metabolism in man: a stable isotope study.

Leucine catabolism is regulated by either of the first two degradative steps: (reversible) transamination to the keto acid or subsequent decarboxylation. A method is described to measure rates of leucine transamination, reamination, and keto acid oxidation. The method is applied directly to humans by infusing the nonradioactive tracer, L-[15N,1-13C]leucine. Leucine transamination was found to be operating several times faster than the keto acid decarboxylation and to be of equal magnitude in adult human males under two different dietary conditions, postabsorptive and fed. These results indicate that decarboxylation, not transamination, is the rate-limiting step in normal human leucine metabolism.

Adult↗

Whole-body leucine and lysine metabolism: response to dietary protein intake in young men.

Whole-body leucine and lysine metabolism was explored in young adult men by a primed constant intravenous infusion of a mixture of L-[1-13C]leucine and L-[alpha-15N]lysine over a 4-h period. Subjects were studied after an overnight fast (postabsorptive state) or while consuming hourly meals (fed state) after adaptation to diets providing either a surfeit level of protein (1.5 g.kg body-1.day-1), a level approximating maintenance requirements (marginal intake) (0.6 g.kg body wt-1.day-1), or a grossly inadequate level (0.1 g.kg-1.day-1). The change in protein intake from a marginal to a surfeit level was associated with an increased leucine flux and incorporation of leucine into body protein. In the fed state, oxidation of leucine increased sharply and release of leucine from tissue protein diminished. When dietary protein intake was reduced from the requirement to inadequate level, leucine flux and body protein synthesis and protein breakdown were reduced, together with a smaller reduction in leucine oxidation. The response of the metabolism of [15N]lysine was responsible for maintenance of leucine and other essential amino acid economy, and they appear to be related to the nitrogen and amino acid requirements of the subject. These findings also demonstrate an effect of meals, modulated by their protein content, on the dynamics of whole-body amino acid metabolism.

Adolescent↗

Measurement of leucine metabolism in man from a primed, continuous infusion of L-[1-3C]leucine.

Leucine metabolism in vivo can be determined from a primed, continuous infusion of L-[1-13C]leucine by measuring, at isotopic steady state, plasm [-13C]leucine enrichment, expired 13CO2 enrichment, and CO2 production rate. With an appropriate priming dose of L-[1-13C]leucine and NaH13CO3, isotopic steady state is reached in less than 2 h, and the infusion is completed in 4 h. The method can determine rates of leucine turnover, oxidation, and incorporation into protein with typical relative uncertainties of 2, 10, and 4%, respectively. The method requires no more than 1 ml of blood and uses stable isotope rather than radioisotope techniques. Thus, the method is applicable to studies of human beings of all ages. L-[1-13C]leucine may be infused with a second amino acid labeled with 15N for simultaneous determination of the kinetics of two amino acids.

Adolescent↗

Branched-chain amino acid nitrogen transfer to alamine in vivo in dogs. Direct isotopic determination with [15N]leucine.

To investigate the contribution of branched-chain amino acids as a nitrogen source for alanine in vivo, dogs were infused with l-[(15)N]leucine, l-[U-(14)C]leucine, l-[2,3,3,3-(2)H(4)]alanine, and d-[6,6-(2)H(2)]-glucose. (14)C and (15)N isotopic equilibrium in plasma leucine, and deuterium enrichment in arterial and femoral plasma glucose and alanine were achieved within 3 h of initiation of the respective isotope infusion in all animals. The average flux of leucine determined by [(15)N]leucine was 5.4 mumol.kg(-1).min(-1), whereas using [(14)C]leucine it was 3.7 mumol.kg(-1).min(-1). Turnover rates for alanine and glucose were 11.0 and 17.2 mumol.kg(-1).min(-1), respectively.[(15)N]alanine was detected as early as 30 min, but nitrogen isotopic equilibrium in alanine was not achieved until 6 h. The absolute rate of leucine nitrogen transfer to alanine was 1.92 mumol.kg(-1).min(-1), which represented 41-73% (mean 53%) of leucine's nitrogen and 15-20% (mean 18%) of alanine's nitrogen. Fractional extraction of alanine and leucine by the dog hindlimb was 35 and 24%, respectively. Average net alanine balance was -6.7 mumol.leg(-1).min(-1), reflecting a release rate (17.4 mumol.kg(-1).min(-1)) that exceeded the rate of uptake (10.8 mumol.leg(-1).min(-1)). Of the leucine taken up by the hindlimb, 34% transferred its nitrogen to alanine and 8% was oxidized to CO(2). Since the latter value reflects transamination as well as irreversible catabolism, the nitrogen derived from the oxidation of leucine by the hindlimb could account for only 25% of the observed (15)N incorporation into alanine. The significantly faster flux of leucine nitrogen when compared with leucine carbon suggests significant recycling of the leucine alpha-ketoacid. These studies demonstrate that leucine is a major donor of nitrogen to circulating alanine in vivo.

Alanine↗

Alloisoleucine formation in maple syrup urine disease: isotopic evidence for the mechanism.

Of the four possible stereoisomers of isoleucine, only L-alloisoleucine and L-isoleucine were found by capillary gas chromatography in the plasma of two maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) patients, one with classical and one with variant MSUD. The relative plasma concentration ratios of L-alloisoleucine/L-isoleucine were 0.795 +/- 0.025 (+/- 95% confidence limits) and 0.637 +/- 0.016 in the classical- and variant-MSUD patients, respectively. The patients were also studied in the postabsorptive state with a 6-hr continuous infusion of L-[15N]leucine. In each patient plasma leucine 15N enrichment approximated plateau after 150 min, and there was rapid appearance of [15N]isoleucine and [15N]alloisoleucine which were identical at plateau, although in variant-MSUD patient [15N]alloisoleucine enrichment did not equal that of [15N]isoleucine until 240 min of infusion. These results offer direct in vivo evidence for the rapid equilibrium of plasma isoleucine and alloisoleucine through keto-enol tautomerization of alpha-keto-beta-methylvalerate.

Child↗

Helminthosporium maydis Race T Toxin Induces Leakage of NAD from T Cytoplasm Corn Mitochondria.

The mechanism by which Helminthosporium maydis race T toxin inhibits respiration dependent on NAD(+)-linked substrates in T cytoplasm corn mitochondria was investigated. The toxin did not cause leakage of the soluble matrix enzyme malate dehydrogenase from the mitochondria or inhibit malate dehydrogenase or isocitrate dehydrogenase directly. The toxin did increase the permeability of the inner membranes of T cytoplasm, but not N cytoplasm, mitochondria to NAD(+). Added NAD(+) partially or fully restored toxin-inhibited electron transport in T cytoplasm mitochondria. Thiamin pyrophosphate had a similar effect when malate was the substrate. It was concluded that the inhibition of respiration of NAD(+)-linked substrates by the toxin is due to depletion of the intramitochondrial pool of NAD(+) and other coenzymes.

Journal Article↗

Comprehensive mental health care in a pediatric dialysis-transplantation program.

The dialysis-transplantation (D-T) program at The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto has a mental health component directed by a psychiatrist and a social worker. As of Jan. 1, 1975, 53 kidney transplants had been carried out on 44 children. Patients and their families are counselled continuously by the psychiatrist and the social worker before, during and after transplantation. Members of the multidisciplinary team meet regularly to plan treatment for the children. Mental health issues are an integral part of team discussions and help determine D-T program policy. Psychological preparation, mental health consultation, therapeutic intervention and continuous counselling prevent many of the mental health problems that plague a D-T program.

Adolescent↗

Nonhistone chromosomal protein synthesis: utilization of preexisting and newly transcribed messenger RNA's.

Treatment of HeLa S(3) cells with actinomycin D during mitosis suppresses the synthesis of several major classes of nonhistone chromosomal proteins during the subsequent period before DNA replication, but allows the synthesis of other species of these proteins. Such results are consistent with the utilization of preexisting, as well as newly transcribed, messenger RNA's for nonhistone chromosomal protein synthesis during the prereplicative phase of the cell cycle.

Chromatin↗

Venocclusive disease of the liver after bone marrow transplantation: diagnosis, incidence, and predisposing factors.

Venocclusive disease (VOD) of the liver, a fibrous obliteration of small hepatic venules, can be caused by chemoradiation therapy. We reviewed 255 consecutive patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation for malignancy during 1978 to 1980 in order to determine the incidence of VOD and the predisposing factors. Fifty-three of 255 patients met our criteria for VOD, for an incidence of 21%. Multivariate analysis showed that the most significant risk factors for VOD were age over 15, an underlying malignancy other than acute lymphocytic leukemia and hepatitis prior to transplantation. Patients with hepatitis had a 3.4-fold risk of developing VOD, as compared to patients with normal SGOT values (p = 0.0004). Hepatitis in this setting is probably of non-A, non-B viral etiology and represents a relative contraindication to marrow transplantation because of enhanced toxicity from conditioning chemoradiotherapy.

Adolescent↗