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Biomedical subjects

E A Miller

Publications and source records attributed to E A Miller.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Membrane cofactor protein of the complement system: alternative splicing of serine/threonine/proline-rich exons and cytoplasmic tails produces multiple isoforms that correlate with protein phenotype.

Membrane cofactor protein (MCP) is a complement regulatory protein that is expressed on human cells and cell lines as two relatively broad species with Mr of 58,000-68,000 and 48,000-56,000. The structure of a previously reported cDNA clone indicated that MCP was a type 1 membrane glycoprotein and a member of the regulators of complement activation gene/protein cluster. However, it did not provide an explanation for the unusual phenotypic pattern of MCP. Therefore, in parallel with an analysis of the gene, additional cDNAs were cloned and characterized. Six different MCP cDNA classes were identified. All encode the same 5' untranslated signal peptide, four SCRs, transmembrane domain, and basic amino acid anchor. However, they differ in the length and composition of an extracellular serine/threonine/proline (STP)-rich area, a site of heavy O-glycosylation, and cytoplasmic tail. Analysis of the MCP gene demonstrated that the variation in cDNA structure was a result of alternative splicing. Peripheral blood cells and cell lines predominantly expressed four of the six isoforms. These varied by the presence or absence of an STP-rich segment of 15 amino acids (STPB) and by the use of one of two cytoplasmic domains. Analysis by polymerase chain reaction, Northern blots, and transfection indicated that the predominance of MCP cDNA isoforms with STPB correlated with the high molecular weight protein phenotype, while the predominance of isoforms without STPB correlated with the lower molecular weight phenotype. The expression in a single cell of four distinct protein species with variable STP-rich regions and cytoplasmic tails represents an interesting example of the use of alternative splicing to provide variability in a mammalian protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Prophylactic ankle bracing.

Many choices are available to athletes seeking an ankle support. The time-honored tradition of ankle taping with adhesive tape does offer protection against ankle sprains during activity. Laced stabilizers offer an equal or possibly greater amount of support, are less costly and easier to apply, and can be retightened frequently during activity. The physician should become familiar with one of these two methods and choose one based on availability and feasibility in the community. The air stirrup may be indicated for patients with a history of ankle injury who are undergoing a graduated rehabilitation program. Nevertheless, the air stirrup has not been shown to provide significantly greater inversion restriction than taping or lace-on braces and is not recommended as a first-line method of support for individuals with no history of recent ankle sprain. High-top shoes are better when the ankle is taped, although low-top shoes are better when a laced stabilizer is worn. Elastic guards help reduce ankle edema but do not provide ankle stability.

Ankle Injuries↗
PubMed1989

A comparison of hypochlorite and phenolic disinfectants for disinfection of clean and soiled surfaces and blood spillages.

Suspension test methods were used to compare phenolic and hypochlorite disinfectants under conditions as recommended for use in hospitals. Using plasma to simulate soiled conditions, Clearsol (1% v/v) and Stericol (2% v/v) produced satisfactory disinfection, (i.e. 5 log reduction in 5 mins against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the presence of up to 50% v/v plasma (25 mg ml-1 plasma protein). Although sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC) at 2500 ppm AvCl2 was effective in the presence of up to 20% plasma, compared to 10% plasma for sodium hypochlorite 2500 ppm, sensitivity of NaDCC to inactivation was greater than for phenolics. In the presence of blood, both hypochlorites and phenolics were substantially inactivated, although here the effectiveness of NaDCC at 10,000 ppm was equivalent to the phenolics. Our results indicate that hypochlorites at 10,000 ppm, Clearsol 1% and Stericol 2% may be ineffective for treatment of blood spills unless applied at v:v ratios of 9 parts disinfectant to 1 part blood. In this situation, chlorine-releasing powder formulations, which produce higher AvCl2 concentrations and contain spilled material, offer an effective alternative.

Body Fluids↗
PubMed1987

Complications of eyelid reconstruction using a semicircular flap.

Complications of the semicircular flap technique of eyelid reconstruction include lateral canthal webbing, ectropion, lid notching, symblepharon, and tissue fullness of the lateral lid. These difficulties occur infrequently and rarely cause significant problems. Attention to surgical details, however, can minimize unfavorable results. It should be emphasized that the semicircular flap remains a superb technique for reconstruction of defects involving up to 80% of the lower eyelid.

Ectropion↗
PubMed1979

Time for loss of increased cardiac responsiveness to isoproterenol in cold-acclimated rats after removal from cold.

Female rats exposed to air at 5 +/- 1 degree C for 12 weeks had a greater increase in heart rate in response to s.c. administration of d,l-isoproterenol (8 microgram/kg body weight) than warm-acclimated controls when both were tested in air at 25 +/- 1 degree C. After removal from cold for 24, 48, or 72 h, cold-acclimated rats still showed a greater responsiveness of heart rate to s.c. administration of isoproterenol (8 microgram/kg body weight) when compared with warm-acclimated controls. However, by 96 h after removal from cold, the responsiveness of heart rate to isoproterenol in the cold-treated group no longer differed from that of the warm-acclimated group. Hence, the increased beta-adrenergic responsiveness of heart rate in cold-acclimated rats was lost at some time between 72 and 96 h after removal from cold.

Acclimatization↗
PubMed1975

Enzymes regulating glycogen metabolism in swine subcutaneous adipose tissue. II. Glycogen synthase.

Glycogen synthase from swine adipose tissue was purified to apparent homogeneity using ethanol precipitation, DEAE chromatography, and affinity chromatography utilizing glucosamine 6-phosphate as the ligand. The purified enzyme migrated as a single protein component during electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels at pH 7.3 although some protein failed to enter the running gel. Enzyme incubated with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) migrated as one component (mol wt similar to 90,000) on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme was relatively unstable at all stages of the purification procedure, but stability was increased in the presence of glucose 6-phosphate, UDPG, or glycerol. The isoelectric point of the purified enzyme and of enzyme activity in crude homogenates was pH 4.8. The sedimentation coefficient of the enzyme in crude homogenates was 8.5 S. The pH-activity profile showed an optimum at pH 7.8 in the absence of glucose 6-phosphate but no definable optimum between pH 7.0 and 9.2 in its presence. The Km of glycogen synthase I for UDPG was 250 muM in the absence and 37 muM in the presence of glucose 6-phosphate; the K-a for glucose 6-phosphate was 18 mu-M. The K-m of glycogen synthase D for UDPG was 130 mu-M in the presence of glucose 6-phosphate; the Ka for glucose 6-phosphate was 1 mM. The anions sulfate and phosphate activated the enzyme when assays were performed in the absence of glucose 6-phosphate. Fluoride produced activation of enzyme assayed either in the presence or in the absence of glucose 6-phosphate.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1975

Calcitonin secretion by monolayer cultures of human C-cells derived from medullary thyroid carcinoma.

Monolayer cultures of human calcitonin-secreting cells (C-cells) have been derived from medullary thyroid carcinomas. The cultures were prepared from cell suspensions obtained by enzymatic digestion of surgical specimens of the tumor. Human calcitonin (hCT) secretion by these cells was studied using a specific radioimmunoassay for the hormone. The cultures could be used for reproducible secretion studies up to 40 days after their initiation; they demonstrated a linear rate of hormone secretion in the basal state for at least 4 h. Calcium, pentagastrin, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) each produced a marked increase (up to 7-fold) in hormone secretion. Magnesium had no apparent secretory effect; and compared to PGE2, PGF2alpha had only a small secretory effect. In addition to responding to specific secretagogues shown to regulate calcitonin secretion in vivo, the secretory effects of each of the secretagogues could be raipdly reversed. Therefore, these cultures of human C-cells exhibit secretory responses which are quantitatively and qualitatively similar to C-cells in vivo. Accordingly, such cultures provide a useful model to study the regulation of calcitonin secretion in human C-cells.

Calcitonin↗
PubMed1975

Diminution of early environmental control through perinatal and prenatal somatosensory deafferentation.

Six monkeys subjected to forelimb deafferentation on day of birth (two blinded and four not blinded) spontaneously developed use of the affected limbs for support of body weight, ambulation, and clasping objects. The sighted animals also used them for climbing and reaching toward objects. Thumb-forefinger prehension did not emerge spontaneously but could be brought into existence through training. In another series of experiments, 5 of 11 monkey fetuses, exteriorized two-thirds of the way through gestation and given forelimb deafferentation, survived through caesarian delivery and at least 5 months of infancy. Although all were quadriparetic due to postoperative mechanical deformation of the cervical region, they were able to use the affected limbs to make postural adjustments and for standing and rudimentary ambulation. The results indicate that, after birth, neither spinal reflexes nor local somatosensory feedback and vision are necessary for the development of most types of movement performed by the forelimb musculature in monkeys. Continuance of the prenatal research should permit determination of the role of somatic sensation in the intrauterine development of behavior.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Calculating combined prism for spectacle prescriptions.

1. Combined prisms are required when correction incorporates vertical and horizontal strengths in one lens. 2. Calculations of the resultant prism power requires diagramming the vertical and horizontal vectors and drawing the resultant diagonal vector. The power is either derived from the Pythagorean Theorem or measured on graph paper. 3. The resultant prism base direction or axis designation is calculated from an equation or measured directly off the diagram with a protractor.

Equipment Design↗