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D Heaton

Publications and source records attributed to D Heaton.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Metal ion binding to apo, holo, and reconstituted horse spleen ferritin.

The binding of Cd2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Ni2+, Co2+, Mn2+, and Mg2+ to apo, holo, reconstituted horse spleen ferritin (HoSF), and native holo HoSF with phosphate removed was measured by gel-exclusion chromatography. Three classes of strong binding interactions (Kd < 10(-7) M) with apo HoSF at pH 7.5 were found for the various M2+ studied: high stoichiometric binding (30-54 M2+/HoSF) for Cd2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, with two protons released per metal bound; intermediate binding (16 M2+/HoSF) for Ni2+ and Co2+, with one proton released per metal bound; and low levels of binding (2-12 M2+/HoSF) for Mn2+, Mg2+, and Fe2+, with < 0.5 protons released per metal bound. M2+ binding to apo HoSF was nearly abolished at pH 5.5, except for Fe2+ and Cu2+, which remained unaffected by pH alteration. Holo HoSF bound much higher levels of M2+, a result directly attributable to the presence of phosphate binding sites. This conclusion was confirmed by decreased binding of M2+ to HoSF reconstituted in the absence of phosphate and by native holo HoSF with phosphate chemically removed. The binding of Cd2+ to apo HoSF was 54 per HoSF, but in the presence of developing core, the amount bound decreased to about 30 Cd2+/HoSF. This result indicated that Cd2+ and developing core were competing for the same sites on the HoSF interior, suggesting that 24 of the Cd2+ were bound to the inside surface. No other M2+ studied bound to the interior of HoSF by this criterion. Several of the M2+ appeared to bind strongly to the phosphate-free mineral core surface in reconstituted HoSF.

Animals

Enhancement of X-ray toxicity in squamous cell carcinoma cell lines by DNA polymerase inhibitors.

The effect of the DNA polymerase inhibitors adenine 9-beta-arabinofuranoside (ara-A), cytosine 1-beta-arabinofuranoside (ara-C), and aphidicolin on X-radiation sensitivity was studied in a group of exponentially growing squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. The tumour cell lines varied in radiation sensitivity, with D0 (radiation sensitivity) values ranging from 1.0 to 3.9 Gy. The addition of non-toxic concentrations of ara-A 30 min before irradiation and removal 30 min after irradiation potentiated cell killing in five of eight cell lines. Four of these five responsive cell lines were relatively radioresistant lines, having D0 > 2.0 Gy. One of the cell lines was more radiosensitive (D0 = 1.4 Gy). Ara-A was also effective in potentiating killing in the radioresistant cell lines even when added 60 min after irradiation. Pre- or post-treatment with ara-A had no effect on X-ray sensitivity of the other three relatively sensitive cell lines (D0 ranging from 1.0 to 1.3 Gy). Both ara-C and aphidicolin were effective in potentiating X-ray sensitivity in JSQ-3, a relatively resistant cell line that was sensitized by ara-A treatment, but they had no effect on the X-ray sensitivity of SCC-61, a relatively radiosensitive cell line that was insensitive to ara-A effects on X-ray response. At the concentrations used, the polymerase inhibitors were equally effective in inhibiting DNA synthesis.

Aphidicolin

Secondary acute myeloid leukemia in children previously treated with alkylating agents, intercalating topoisomerase II inhibitors, and irradiation.

PURPOSE: Patient records were reviewed to identify cases of secondary acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with clinical and cytogenetic features characteristic of classic epipodophyllotoxin-related AML in patients whose prior treatment for cancer did not include these agents. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Four cases of secondary AML with chromosomal abnormalities involving bands 11q23 and 21q22, in the absence of prior treatment with etoposide or teniposide, were identified among patients treated at St Jude Children's Research Hospital between January 1980 and April 1992. RESULTS: The four identified patients were initially treated for rhabdomyosarcoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (n = 2), and Hodgkins' disease. Prior chemotherapy included relatively low cumulative doses of doxorubicin (median, 150 mg/m2; range, 120 to 375 mg/m2) and cyclophosphamide (median, 3,100 mg/m2; range, 2,250 to 11,400 mg/m2). All four patients had received radiation therapy: 59.4 Gy to the right middle ear for rhabdomyosarcoma; 15 Gy and 12 Gy to the abdomen and right lower quadrant, respectively, for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; 27 Gy to the right orbit for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; and 36.6 Gy to the mantle-paraaortic-spleen regions plus 20.4 Gy inverted-Y radiation at relapse for Hodgkin's disease. Secondary AML was diagnosed a median of 38 months after initial diagnosis (range, 14 to 55). Leukemic cell translocations involved band 11q23 in two cases and band 21q22 in two. Although all patients obtained a complete remission (CR), only one remains disease-free (at 34 months), following an allogeneic bone marrow transplant. CONCLUSION: Intercalating topoisomerase II inhibitors (doxorubicin, dactinomycin), when combined with alkylating agents and irradiation, may cause secondary AML.

Acute Disease

Treatment of 29 patients with bulky squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix with simultaneous cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and split-course hyperfractionated radiation therapy.

Attempting to improve local disease control in bulky (greater than 8 cm) primary or recurrent pelvic tumors, 29 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix (stage II, 4; III, 10; IV, 6; recurrent, 9) were treated with concomitant chemotherapy and split-course hyperfractionated radiation therapy between April 1983 and August 1988. Cisplatin (CDDP) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) have been shown to be radiation enhancers; furthermore, CDDP, radiation therapy, and continuous-infusion 5-FU have elicited high local response rates in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. A pilot study of cyclical week on/week off CDDP, continuous-infusion 5-FU, and hyperfractionated radiation therapy was developed. Radiation was administered at 116 cGy twice daily, Days 1-5, every other week for a median dose of 4600 cGy to a pelvic field, with paraaortic extension if indicated. Concomitant chemotherapy included CDDP 60 mg/m2 IV Day 1 and 5-FU 600 mg/m2 IV continuous infusion for 96 hr following CDDP infusion. Patients received a median of four cycles of combined treatment, and intracavitary or interstitial brachytherapy followed in 21 patients. Local pelvic response was achieved in 29 of 29 (100%): complete response (CR) in 19 of 29 (66%), partial response (PR) in 10 of 29 (34%). Among CR patients 10 of 19 (53%) were without evidence of disease at a mean follow-up of 29 (range 12-76) months. Five-year actuarial disease-free survival among complete responders was 65%. Of the 10 CR patients 2 failed in the pelvis, for a local control rate of 17/19 (89%). Chemotherapy-related and acute radiation morbidity was minimal but 2 patients required surgical correction of radiation injury. Aggressive combination of split-course hyperfractionated radiation therapy with radiation enhancers resulted in promising local control of bulky pelvic tumor, with an acceptable complication rate, in this otherwise very poor prognostic group of patients.

Adult

Immune changes associated with insulin dependent diabetes may remit without causing the disease: a study in identical twins.

Activation of T lymphocytes and islet cell antibodies were studied in two groups of insulin dependent diabetics and their non-diabetic identical cotwins. Group 1 comprised 12 "short term" twin pairs (diabetic twin diagnosed less than five years previously) in whom only a third of the cotwins were likely to develop diabetes; 10 of the 12 non-diabetic cotwins showed increased values of activated T lymphocytes, islet cell antibodies, or both. Group 2 comprised 10 "long term" twin pairs (diabetic twin diagnosed more than 11 years previously) in whom none of the non-diabetic cotwins was likely to develop diabetes; these pairs were selected because all the non-diabetic cotwins had shown islet cell antibodies at some time in the past, but only two still did so (one with an increased value of activated T cells). There was relative glucose intolerance in the cotwins of the short term group but not in those of the long term group. Non-diabetic cotwins of diabetics may show the immune changes associated with insulin dependent diabetes and relative glucose intolerance, but these changes may remit without leading to diabetes.

Adolescent

Transabdominal chorionic villus sampling.

Transabdominal chorionic villus sampling, carried out with a fine-bore needle and cannula under ultrasound guidance, was as successful as transcervical aspiration but avoided the risks of bacterial contamination associated with the latter technique. The transabdominal procedure can be carried out under local anaesthesia, and multiple samples can be obtained, if necessary, through a single cannula.

Abdomen

Drug dependence.

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Humans