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D Scalise

Publications and source records attributed to D Scalise.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Hindlimb unloading induces a collagen isoform shift in the soleus muscle of the rat.

To determine whether hindlimb unloading (HU) alters the extracellular matrix of skeletal muscle, male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 0 (n = 11), 1 (n = 11), 14 (n = 13), or 28 (n = 11) days of unloading. Remodeling of the soleus and plantaris muscles was examined biochemically for collagen abundance via measurement of hydroxyproline, and the percentage of cross-sectional area of collagen was determined histologically with picrosirius red staining. Total hydroxyproline content in the soleus and plantaris muscles was unaltered by HU at any time point. However, the relative proportions of type I collagen in the soleus muscle decreased relative to control (Con) with 14 and 28 days HU (Con 68 +/- 5%; 14 days HU 53 +/- 4%; 28 days HU 53 +/- 7%). Correspondingly, type III collagen increased in soleus muscle with 14 and 28 days HU (Con 32 +/- 5%; 14 days HU 47 +/- 4%; 28 days HU 48 +/- 7%). The proportion of type I muscle fibers in soleus muscle was diminished with HU (Con 96 +/- 2%; 14 days HU 86 +/- 1%; 28 days HU 83 +/- 1%), and the proportion of hybrid type I/IIB fibers increased (Con 0%; 14 days HU 8 +/- 2%; 28 days HU 14 +/- 2%). HU had no effect on the proportion of type I and III collagen or muscle fiber composition in plantaris muscle. The data demonstrate that HU induces a shift in the relative proportion of collagen isoform (type I to III) in the antigravity soleus muscle, which occurs concomitantly with a slow-to-fast myofiber transformation.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

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Aircraft↗
PubMed2001

Who's rating you?

Web sites judging providers' quality are proliferating, and the number of employers, payers and consumers consulting them is ballooning. Critics say many sites are based on faulty conceptions, but if hospitals don't pay more attention, they risk losing their place in the quality debate and being judged by standards that they find neither valid nor fair.

Benchmarking↗
PubMed2001

Six sigma. The quest for quality.

Many hospitals are looking for a way to improve their quality performance to improve outcomes, increase patient satisfaction and lower costs. Frustrated by the slow gains from traditional quality programs, some executives have turned to Six Sigma, the statistical quality method made famous by Motorola and General Electric. But Six Sigma can be a difficult concept to grasp. Our toolkit will serve as a primer for health care executives to find out what Six Sigma is, how it can be applied to health care organizations, and how some hospital executives have made it work for them.

Cost Control↗
PubMed2000

Muscle type-specific myosin isoforms in crustacean muscles.

Differential expression of multiple myosin heavy chain (MyHC) genes largely determines the diversity of critical physiological, histochemical, and enzymatic properties characteristic of skeletal muscle. Hypotheses to explain myofiber diversity range from intrinsic control of expression based on myoblast lineage to extrinsic control by innervation, hormones, and usage. The unique innervation and specialized function of crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) appendicular and abdominal musculature provide a model to test these hypotheses. The leg opener and superficial abdominal extensor muscles are innervated by tonic excitatory motoneurons. High resolution SDS-PAGE revealed that these two muscles express the same MyHC profile. In contrast, the deep abdominal extensor muscles, innervated by phasic motoneurons, express MyHC profiles different from the tonic profiles. The claw closer muscles are dually innervated by tonic and phasic motoneurons and a mixed phenotype was observed, albeit biased toward the phasic profile seen in the closer muscle. These results indicate that multiple MyHC isoforms are present in the crayfish and that differential expression is associated with diversity of muscle type and function.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Intermittent stimulation enhances function of conditioned muscle.

Skeletal muscle is highly adaptable in that its metabolic and contractile characteristics are largely regulated by its pattern of use. It is known that muscle phenotype can be manipulated via chronic electrical stimulation to enhance fatigue resistance at the expense of contractile power. Type 2A fibers are fatigue resistant, powerful, and considered most desirable for cardiac assist purposes. We have found that 12-wk of intermittent-burst stimulation produces a high percentage of 2A fibers and increases fatigue resistance and power in rabbit latissimus dorsi muscle. Fixed-load endurance tests were used to quantify fatigue resistance among normal and trained muscle groups. Control muscles were found to fatigue completely within 10-20 min. Muscles stimulated continuously for 6 wk retained 35% (71.5 +/- 19.5 g. cm) of their initial stroke work at 40 min. Muscles stimulated 12 h/day for 12 wk had the highest initial stroke work (449.7 +/- 92.4 g. cm) and the highest remaining stroke work (234.7 +/- 50.1 g. cm) at 40 min. Results suggest that employing regular resting periods during conditioning preserves strength in fatigue-resistant muscle.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Interleukin-2-induces development of denditric cells from cord blood CD34+ cells.

Dendritic cells (DC) have been shown to develop along a myeloid or lymphoid lineage of differentiation propagated from bone marrow or early thymic precursor cells with hematopoietic cytokines. In our study, we have induced growth and differentiation of DC from cord blood CD34+ cells initiated in interleukin-2 (IL-2) alone or in IL-2 + stem cell factor (SCF) + tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha)-supplemented medium and cultured with IL-2 or IL-2 + SCF for 28-35 days. Dendritic morphology and antigenic phenotype of DC grown with IL-2 were characteristic for DC cultured in the presence of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Growth and differentiation of DC was followed by an increase in expression of MHC II and co-stimulating molecules CD80 and CD86. We have also shown the expression of the IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) gamma-chain in CD34+ cells after 2-3 days of culture with IL-2 alone. The co-expression of the IL-2R alpha, beta, and gamma subunits in both DC cultured with IL-2- or GM-CSF-containing cocktail of cytokines was also shown. The time curve for induction of IL-2R demonstrated low levels of subunit expression at the beginning of culture. The number of CD1a cells co-expressing CD25, CD122, and CDgamma increased to about 24-68 and to 78-95% after 21 and 28-35 days, respectively. Development of natural killer cells was shown along with DC. The proportion of CD56+ cells and cytotoxicity increased in a time-dependent manner.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1995

Upper eyelid retraction in the absence of other evidence for progressive ophthalmopathy is associated with eye muscle autoantibodies.

We have studied 25 clinically euthyroid patients with eyelid lag and retraction referred to thyroid/eye clinic for clinical and orbital imaging evidence of extraocular eye muscle (EM) involvement, evidence of progressive ophthalmopathy and serum antibodies reactive with EM membrane antigens in immunoblotting. Fourteen patients had Graves' hyperthyroidism, 5 had Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and 6 had euthyroid Graves' disease. By carrying out orbital imaging we showed EM abnormalities in 10 of 23 patients (43%). Serum antibodies reactive with EM membrane antigens were detected in 96% of patients. Antibodies reactive with a 64-kDa antigen were detected in 66% of patients, while those reactive with 35-, 55-, and 95-kDa antigens were found in 21, 33, and 25% of patients, respectively. Antibody prevalences compared to normals were significantly different (P < 0.005) only for the 64-kDa protein. The prevalence and the degree of reactivity of 64-kDa antibodies were significantly different in patients with abnormal EM compared to those with normal EM at orbital imaging (P < 0.04 and P < 0.01, respectively). The results of this work suggest that in some patients inflammation of the eyelid muscles may be an isolated feature of ophthalmopathy and remains as the only sign of a "subclinical" eye disease in patients with thyroid autoimmunity.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Serum antibodies reactive with eye muscle membrane antigens are detected in patients with nonspecific orbital inflammation.

PURPOSE: Nonspecific orbital inflammation, also called "orbital pseudotumor," has many of the features of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy, especially when localized to the eye muscle. The purpose of this study is to test for circulating autoantibodies against eye muscle antigens and features of possible thyroid autoimmunity in patients with nonspecific orbital inflammation. METHODS: The authors studied eight patients with diffuse or localized nonspecific orbital inflammation. The presence of autoantibodies reactive with pig eye muscle membrane antigens and 1D, a recombinant 64 kilodaltons (kd) thyroid and eye muscle protein, were tested in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting. RESULTS: The most frequently detected antibodies were those reactive with eye muscle membrane proteins of 55 and 64 kd, which were demonstrated in 62.5% and 62.5%, respectively, of patients with nonspecific orbital inflammation; antibodies against 95- and 45-kd proteins were each detected in 50% of patients. In health subjects, antibodies reactive with the 55- and 64-kd proteins were detected in 16% and 20% of patients, respectively; those reactive with the 95-kd protein were detected in 24% of patients and with the 45-kd protein in 20% of patients. On the other hand, antibodies to 1D were demonstrated in only one patient with nonspecific orbital inflammation and not at all in healthy subjects. The prevalence of positive tests were significantly greater in patients with nonspecific orbital inflammation than healthy patients only for antibodies reactive with a 55-kd protein. Of the four antigens, only the 55-kd protein was expressed in other (systemic) skeletal muscle. No patient had overt thyroid disease or detectable serum antibodies reactive with the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor, and only one had antibodies reactive with the thyroid microsomal antigen. CONCLUSION: Serum autoantibodies reactive with eye muscle membrane proteins are demonstrated in the majority of patients with nonspecific orbital inflammation. Although the pathogenesis of this condition is unknown, autoimmunity against eye muscle antigens is a likely mechanism. While antibodies reactive with the thyroid microsomal antigen were detected in only one patient and anti-thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibodies in none of the patients, a possible association of nonspecific orbital inflammation with thyroid autoimmunity has not been excluded.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

New assays for the measurement of serum antibodies reactive with eye muscle membrane antigens confirm their significance in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy.

Although sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Western blotting are widely used to detect serum antibodies in patients with autoimmune disorders, this procedure unfolds and denatures proteins and may alter antibody binding sites. We have used nondenaturing methods for the purification of a 64-kDa eye muscle (EM) membrane antigen associated with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). Pig EM membrane proteins were prepared from crude homogenates by high-speed centrifugation and solubilized by hand homogenization. The 64-kDa protein was further purified by isoelectric focusing performed in the absence of SDS, detergents, reducing agents, and urea. Sera from patients with active TAO of recent onset and thyroid autoimmunity without ophthalmopathy were tested for reactivity against purified native 64-kDa protein in immunoblotting. Tests were positive in 64% of patients with TAO, in 37.5% of those with Graves' hyperthyroidism without eye disease, in 11% of patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis without eye disease, and in 13% of normal subjects. Many of the same sera were also tested for cytotoxic activity against human EM cells in an antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) assay. ADCC tests were positive in 69% of patients with TAO but in no normal subject. The specificity and sensitivity of these two tests in TAO surpass those for all other published results for orbital tissue reactive autoantibodies. Although there was a tendency for a relationship between reactivity to the 64-kDa protein and cytotoxic activity against EM cells in ADCC there were many exceptions and overall the relationship between the two tests was not significant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Native gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing of a 64-kilodalton eye muscle protein shows that it is an important target for serum autoantibodies in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy and not expressed in other skeletal muscle.

Although sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Western blotting are widely used to detect serum antibodies in patients with autoimmune disorders, this procedure unfolds and denatures proteins and may alter antibody-binding sites. We have used a gentle protocol for the preparation and purification of a 64-kilodalton (kDa) eye muscle (EM) membrane antigen associated with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) for use as antigen in immunoblotting. Pig EM membrane proteins were prepared from crude homogenates by high speed centrifugation and solubilized by hand homogenization. These native membrane proteins (NMprot) were then electrophoresed on an 8.5% polyacrylamide gel in the absence of SDS, reducing agents, or urea, and proteins from individual bands were eluted, applied to standard SDS-PAGE, and immunoblotted with selected TAO patient sera. A prominent 64-kDa protein, present in most of the bands, was recognized by autoantibodies in sera from 35% of the patients with TAO and 47% of those with Graves' hyperthyroidism without evident ophthalmopathy, but in only 4% of normal subjects. To further purify the 64-kDa protein and increase the sensitivity of immunoblotting, NMprot were separated by isoelectric focusing (IEF) in the absence of SDS, reducing agent, and urea. The 64-kDa protein appeared mainly in IEF fraction 7 and had an isoelectric point of 6.1-6.2. Similar results were found for a human EM protein of 64 kDa. Sera from groups of patients and normal subjects were tested in immunoblotting against a pig EM 64-kDa protein prepared from NMprot and purified in IEF. Tests were positive in 67% of patients with TAO, in 37.5% of those with Graves' hyperthyroidism without eye disease, in 11% of patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis without eye disease, and in 9% of normal subjects. The 64-kDa protein was not found in other skeletal muscle. The demonstration that a native 64-kDa protein that is specifically targeted by autoantibodies in the serum of patients with TAO is expressed in EM, but not other skeletal muscle, greatly enhances its possible significance in the pathogenesis of this eye disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Antibodies against 1D, a recombinant 64-kDa membrane protein, are associated with ophthalmopathy in patients with thyroid autoimmunity.

We have tested for serum antibodies reactive with 1D, a recombinant 65-kDa human thyroid protein which is also expressed in eye muscle, in patients with thyroid autoimmunity and ophthalmopathy by immunofluorescence and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Western blotting. We also measured antibodies to a 64-kDa pig eye muscle membrane protein which is identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting, correlating the two reactivities. While antibodies to 1D, expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell membrane, were detected in approximately 40% of patients with ophthalmopathy, in both tests the greatest prevalence, by immunofluorescence, 73%, was demonstrated in patients with Graves' hyperthyroidism without clinically evident eye disease, although only 50% of these patients were positive in immunoblotting. When the two tests for anti-1D antibodies were compared, immunofluorescence appeared to be the more specific and immunoblotting appeared to be the more sensitive. The greatest prevalence of antibodies reactive with a 64-kDa pig eye muscle protein, 71%, was in patients with TAO of less than 1 year duration; tests were positive in 49% of patients with more chronic ophthalmopathy and in 50% of patients with Graves' hyperthyroidism without evident eye disease. Antibodies reactive with 1D were detected in 17% of normals by immunofluorescence and 24% by immunoblots, while antibodies reactive with the 64-kDa pig eye muscle protein were detected in only 10% of the normal subjects tested. Lesser prevalences of antibodies to the two 64-kDa proteins in patients with established eye disease suggest that such antibodies may be an early abnormality in patients with Graves' hyperthyroidism who are predisposed to develop ophthalmopathy. Although the association was not close, reactivity against 1D by immunoblotting, but not immunofluorescence, was significantly correlated with reactivity to a 64-kDa eye muscle membrane protein by immunoblotting. On the other hand, when sera containing antibodies reactive with both 1D and the 64-kDa eye muscle protein were incubated with CHO (1D) cell membrane, reactivity against 1D was absorbed while that against the eye muscle protein was not. The precise relationship between the two 64-kDa proteins can only be clarified by cloning the 64-kDa protein from an eye muscle expression library and comparing the sequences with those of 1D.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Serum antibody production to botulinum A toxin.

PURPOSE: Conflicting data have been reported regarding development of serum antibodies to botulinum A toxin. The purpose of this study is to determine conclusively whether antibody production to this toxin occurs in humans, and, if so, to determine its relationship, if any, to length of treatment, total cumulative dose, and clinical response to treatment. METHODS: Sixty-five sera samples from 42 adults treated with botulinum A toxin for essential blepharospasm, hemifacial spasm, or spasmodic torticollis were analyzed via a sphere-linked immunodiagnostic assay for antibody production. Results were plotted against length of treatment, number of injections, cumulative dose, and treatment effect produced. RESULTS: Twenty-four (57%) of the 42 patients produced antibodies in all three diagnostic groups. No significant differences were found between antibody producers and nonproducers with respect to age (P = 0.216), length of treatment (P = 0.586), number of injections (P = 0.619), or total cumulative dose (P = 0.286). Within the antibody-producing group, there was no significant correlation between amount of antibody and length of treatment (P = 0.081), number of injections (P = 0.134), or cumulative dose (P = 0.250). The presence of demonstrable antibodies in serum did not affect the clinical responsiveness to injection. CONCLUSION: Antibody production is present in a majority of patients treated with botulinum A toxin. The sphere-linked immunodiagnostic assay is a reliable and reproducible method for detecting and quantifying these antibodies. When antibody production occurs, it is likely due to variations in individual immune responsiveness and appears to have no direct effect on the patient's clinical response to treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Correlation of serum immunoglobulin E elevations with clinical stages of dysthyroid orbitopathy.

Total immunoglobulin E (IgE) was measured by an enzyme-linked immunoassay in serum samples from patients with dysthyroid orbitopathy and from a group of healthy volunteers. All the serum donors had no symptoms of allergy or infection and were not given any immunoregulative treatments for at least 6 months before the sampling. One hundred thirty-seven dysthyroid orbitopathy patients were rated clinically as belonging to one of the following groups: (1) stable dysthyroid orbitopathy; (2) active dysthyroid orbitopathy; (3) chronic or recurrent dysthyroid orbitopathy; or (4) dysthyroid orbitopathy characterized by limited myopathy. The serum IgE levels of all these groups were compared with 26 healthy, nonatopic volunteers. The mean IgE levels of groups 3 and 4 were significantly higher than the mean IgE level of the control group as well as that of the group with stable dysthyroid orbitopathy. Furthermore, serial readings on several patients were consistent with the hypothesis that serum IgE is elevated in connection with certain stages of rapid dysthyroid orbitopathy progression and also with two unusual clinical forms of dysthyroid orbitopathy.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay↗
PubMed1992

Immunohistochemical evidence for IgA1 involvement in Graves ophthalmopathy.

Orbital muscle, adipose tissues, and periorbital muscle from 11 patients with Graves ophthalmopathy were studied with in situ assays using monoclonal antibodies for IgA1, IgA2, IgM, and IgG. Tissue biopsies were taken from varied extraocular muscles and orbital sites. All cases were from patients with severe disease or disease of long duration. Control specimens of extraocular muscle tissues were obtained from nine patients treated for unrelated orbital disorders. Only connective tissue associated with the extraorbital muscles and periorbital muscles showed any reactivity. Of the muscle tissue obtained from patients with Graves disease all exhibited IgA1 positive staining of the endomysium and perimysium, without staining of the muscle fibers themselves. Parallel sections of orbital muscles reacted with anti-IgA2 or anti-IgM antibody failed to demonstrate staining. Control extraocular muscle tissue did not stain with anti-IgM and one control muscle of seven reacted minimally with anti-IgA2. Some reactivity with anti-IgA1 was seen in four of the seven control muscles but this was qualitatively much less than that of muscle tissue from patients with Graves disease. Monoclonal anti-IgG did not stain tissue from the six Graves specimens and three control specimens tested.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1992

Re-examination of peripheral blood T cell subsets in dysthyroid orbitopathy.

Patients with dysthyroid orbitopathy (DO) were grouped according to a multifactorial assessment of disease severity and the rate of disease progression. Using this system and flow cytometric measurements of T cell subsets in the peripheral blood, a significant increase in the percentage of CD4+ lymphocytes correlated with disease severity in DO patients with progressive disease. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that the CD4+ peripheral blood T helper cells play a significant role in the progression of DO.

Adult↗