Biomedical subjects

E Ramm

Publications and source records attributed to E Ramm.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1999

Immunological analysis of beta-thalassemic mouse intestinal proteins reveals up-regulation of sucrase-isomaltase in response to iron overload.

Maintenance of iron homeostasis must balance the demand for iron due to heme synthesis, which is driven by hematopoiesis, and the restricted intestinal uptake of iron, which otherwise limits absorption of this toxic element. The consequences of perturbed iron homeostasis are witnessed in inherited forms of beta-thalassemia in which erythroid hyperplasia results in enhanced intestinal iron absorption despite tissue iron overload. To gain a better understanding of intestinal factors that are induced when iron homeostasis is disrupted, a panel of monoclonal antibodies that recognize intestinal microvillous membrane proteins of the beta-thalassemic Hbbd(th3)/Hbbd(th3) mouse was established. The monoclonal antibodies were screened by differential Western blotting against normal and beta-thalassemic mouse intestine to identify antigens modulated in the disease state. Here we report the initial characterization of one immunoreactive species that is up-regulated in beta-thalassemic mouse intestine and the tentative identification of this antigen as sucrase-isomaltase. Studies in Caco-2 cells revealed the rather unexpected finding that expression of this intestinal hydrolase is increased in response to iron toxicity.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Rab11 is associated with transferrin-containing recycling compartments in K562 cells.

3'RACE PCR was used to survey Rab transcripts synthesized by the human hematopoietic K562 cell line. Among the identified GTP-binding proteins, Rab11 was discovered. This result was unexpected since Rab11 previously had been found associated with polarized and secretory cells. Rab11 mRNA was abundant compared to that for other Rabs in K562 cells; protein levels represented 0.05-0.1% of total membrane protein. Localization of Rab11 using confocal immunofluoresence microscopy revealed extensive overlap with transferrin in recycling and/or exocytic compartments and suggests that Rab11 in non-polarized and non-secretory cells may play a role in the trafficking and recycling of internalized proteins.

Cell Compartmentation↗

PubMed1993

Decline in FEV1 and airflow limitation related to occupational exposures in men of an urban community.

The purpose of this survey was to evaluate the effects of smoking and occupational exposures on the decline in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and the presence of airflow limitation (FEV1 x100/forced vital capacity (FVC) being < 65) at follow-up. A random sample of 1,933 men aged 22-54 years in Bergen, Norway, were invited into the survey. Smoking habits and measurements of FEV1 were recorded at the initial survey in 1965-1970 (n = 1,591) and at follow-up in 1988-1990 (n = 951). Past or present self-reported occupational exposures to eleven airborne agents (dusts, gases, vapours and fumes) and measurements of FVC were recorded at follow-up only. The decline in FEV1 was associated (p < 0.001) with age, body height and smoking. Smoking cessation reduced the decline to the level of lifetime nonsmokers. Accelerated decline in FEV1 was observed in subjects exposed to sulphur dioxide gas and to metal fumes. The adjusted decline in FEV1 increased progressively in subjects exposed to increasing numbers of occupational agents (test for trend: p < 0.01). Airflow limitation was observed in 9.5% at follow-up, and increased with age and cigarette consumption. In this community follow-up survey in men, smoking and occupational exposures to sulphur dioxide gas, metal fumes and the numbers of specific agents were found to be important predictors for accelerated decline in FEV1.

Adult↗

PubMed1985

Marital adjustment and treatment outcome in agoraphobia.

Forty agoraphobics had individual exposure treatment over a period of 28 weeks and were followed up for two years. Outcome in the 27 married patients was as favourable as that in the 13 single patients. However, among the married patients greater improvement occurred in those with better initial marital and sexual adjustment, although even those with poor initial marital adjustment improved significantly during treatment and maintained that improvement during follow-up. Good initial work adjustment and social adjustment were also predictive of particularly good outcome. Reduction of phobias was accompanied by stable or improved marital, sexual, social and work adjustment.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1983

Imipramine and brief therapists-aided exposure in agoraphobics having self-exposure homework.

Forty-five chronic agoraphobics were randomly assigned to treatment by placebo or imipramine in doses up to 200 mg/day for 28 weeks. All patients also had systematic self-exposure homework with an instruction manual. In addition, half of each drug group had therapist-aided exposure and half had therapist-aided relaxation, each totalling three hours. Patients in both drug groups improved substantially and maintained their gains for one year of follow-up. Imipramine had no significant therapeutic effect despite satisfactory plasma levels and significant drug side effects. Patients' low initial Hamilton depression scores might explain the absence of any drug effect. Antidepressants may be ineffective for agoraphobics who have normal mood. Brief therapist-aided exposure improved phobias and panics to a significant but limited extent, and is a useful adjuvant to self-exposure homework, which can be a powerful therapeutic agency by itself.

Adult↗

PubMed1982

Anxiety management training for anxiety states: positive compared with negative self-statements.

Twelve patients complaining of chronic free-floating anxiety, usually also with panic attacks, were assigned at random to treatment by six hour-long sessions of anxiety-management training, either with positive or with negative self-statements, given over six weeks. Patients in both treatment conditions improved, with a small trend favouring positive over negative self-instruction, especially at follow-up. It is unclear how much self-instruction, rather than therapeutic attention or mere passage of time, accounted for the bulk of the modest improvement obtained.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1977