Effects of cocultivation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells with Bowes melanoma cells.
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Cells, Cultured↗
Biomedical subjects
G Christ
Publications and source records attributed to G Christ.
Polar secretion of endothelin-1 by cultured endothelial cells.
The aim of this study was to determine the permeability of endothelial monolayers for endothelin-1 and a possible directionality of the endothelin-1 secretion process. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were cultured on acellular amniotic membranes, dividing the tissue culture wells into an apical (luminal) and a basolateral (abluminal) compartment. Whereas in the absence of endothelial monolayers 44.9 +/- 2.3 and 43.5 +/- 2.0% of the unilaterally added endothelin-1 permeated from the apical to the basolateral side and from the basolateral to the apical side, respectively, only 6.5 +/- 0.6 and 6.6 +/- 0.4% diffused in the presence of endothelial cells. Analyzing endothelin-1 secretion, approximately 80% of the total amount of synthesized endothelin-1 was found in the basolateral compartment; thrombin (10 units/ml) stimulated the production of endothelin-1 approximately 2-fold, but did not change the relative distribution of endothelin-1 between the apical and basolateral compartments. In the presence of dexamethasone (10(-7) M), a decrease in the level of endothelin-1 was found in the apical compartment, whereas the total amount of endothelin-1 produced was not affected. Dexamethasone did not influence the permeability of human umbilical vein endothelial cell monolayers for endothelin-1. These results strongly support the hypothesis that endothelin-1 is a local paracrine regulator of vasotone.
Amnion↗
Reducing the prevalence of unmet needs for concrete services of patients with cancer. Evaluation of a computerized telephone outreach system.
A two-stage study was undertaken of outpatients with advanced cancer who were receiving chemotherapy. In Stage 1 of the study, their needs for practical services and the barriers to those needs being met were assessed. Based on these results, an intervention was designed to reduce the prevalence of patients' unmet needs. The intervention was an automated telephone needs assessment coupled with social worker follow-up. The efficacy of this intervention was evaluated using an independent sample in Stage 2 in an experimental trial. Patients in the experimental group (n = 109), who received three automated surveys, reported fewer unmet needs in a subsequent comprehensive assessment than those in the control group (n = 130). The computerized telephone outreach system proved to be a cost-effective and reliable method for the early identification of unmet patient needs soon after they emerge and efficient deployment of limited professional staff.
Aged↗
Psychosocial adjustment of children with a terminally ill parent.
Although a substantial number of children experience serious parental illness and death, the adjustment problems attendant to the stress of having a fatally ill parent have not been examined systematically. This paper compares the psychosocial adjustment of 62 school-aged children with a terminally ill parent (study sample) with that of children in a community sample, using several standard rating scales. Study children had significantly higher levels of self-reported depression (Children's Depression Inventory) and anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) and lower self-esteem (Self-Esteem Inventory). Parents also reported study children's significantly higher behavior problems and lower social competence (Child Behavior Checklist). Increased professional attention to this vulnerable population is encouraged.
Adaptation, Psychological↗
Fibrinolytic parameters in spermatozoas and seminal plasma.
Urokinase-type (u-PA) and tissue-type plasminogen activator antigen (t-PA) as well as plasminogen activator-inhibitor activity were determined in seminal plasma and lysates of the respective spermatozoas in 67 ejaculate of males in infertile marriage without genito urinary pathology. U-PA was determined by a competition RIA, t-PA by an ELISA and PAI by a spectrophotometric assay. 15 patients showed normozoospermia, 11 azoospermia and 41 oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT-syndrome). In lysates of spermatozoas, significantly higher levels of both plasminogenactivators and PAI were found in patients with OAT syndrome as compared to those exhibiting normozoospermia. Whereas PAI was absent in the seminal plasma of normozoospermic ejaculate, patients with azoospermia (180 +/- 13 mU/ml.) and OAT-syndrome (60 +/- 5 mU/ml.) showed high PAI levels. The similarly high values of t-PA (190.8-227.8 ng./ml.) and u-PA (19.4-32 ng./ml.) in the same compartment confirm their predominantly prostatic origin and seem to have no influence on the quality of the ejaculate.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay↗
Hyperthermia stimulates plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro.
The effect of exposure to hyperthermia on the fibrinolytic potential of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in culture was studied. HUVEC responded to exposure to 42 degrees C with a time-dependent increase in plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) activity and antigen accompanied by a four- to fivefold increase in PAI-1 specific m-RNA and a decrease in tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) antigen. The effect of 8 hours exposure to hyperthermia on PAI-1 activity and antigen could not be reversed by reexposure of the cells to 37 degrees C for 24 hours as evidenced by continuously increased amounts of PAI-1 released into the conditioned media. t-PA release, however, decreased during the 24-hour period at 37 degrees C after exposure to hyperthermia. No difference in PAI-1 antigen present in the extracellular matrix of heat treated HUVEC as compared to HUVEC kept at 37 degrees C could be found. Our data supports the idea that hyperthermia is one stress factor that influences the fibrinolytic potential of endothelial cells.
Blotting, Northern↗
[Computer-assisted irradiation planning in whole-body irradiation].
Using a commercial system designed for external beam radiation treatment planning a simple method is described for calculating dose distribution in total body irradiation. Scaling factors are applied to keep the range of all distances within the limits preset for the routine use of the planning system. As an example the validity of the method is tested in the lung region which due to dose inhomogeneities is especially critical to an accurate dose determination. Comparing dose calculation and phantom measurements reasonable agreement is obtained.
Humans↗
Monitoring quality-of-life needs of cancer patients.
The advent of prepayment systems in hospitals has greatly shortened the length of stay of patients who are therefore increasingly treated and cared for in outpatient settings while living at home with family or other caretakers. This shift in the locus of treatment has created a critical need for the development of organized systems of follow-up that monitor a patient's needs while he or she is undergoing active treatment but living at home. Over time, failure to develop such systems of care is likely to result in major gaps in the continuity of care, a decrease in the quality of patients' lives while on treatment, tremendous stress on caretakers, and a general decrease in the quality of services provided to patients. This article reports on a study of one such system of monitoring i.e., a computer-automated telephone outreach system that would routinely assess the concrete needs of chemotherapy outpatients (e.g., transportation to the hospital and need for assistance with activities of daily living). This automated intervention was designed in response to previous findings that 62% of chemotherapy outpatients had at least one unmet need within the month before assessment and 39% had two or more; clinical knowledge that cancer patients' needs vary considerably over time as a consequence of both the disease and its treatment; and that, because of limited professional staff, patients' needs cannot be routinely assessed without the aid of automation, particularly as the proportion of cancer patients treated as outpatients continues to increase. These conditions suggested the need to develop a cost-efficient strategy for the universal assessment of patients' need on a periodic basis, so that emerging needs could be identified in a timely way. For the feasibility study, 97 chemotherapy outpatients were surveyed at least once over the telephone by a computer in a high quality digitally-stored voice asking 12 questions regarding the patients' concrete needs. The data suggested that our computer-automated telephone outreach system is reliable and valid and has the potential for relatively broad-based acceptance. In addition, the intervention frequently allows for timely social work assistance for identified needs. It further serves as a form of outreach that can compensate for patients' reluctance to identify themselves as needing help and for passivity that may be associated with depression or physical illness. This intervention appears to have the potential to be a time- and labor-efficient strategy for ongoing assessment of the changing needs of large numbers of cancer or other chronic diseased outpatients, insuring timely professional intervention as needs arise.
Activities of Daily Living↗
TBI technique and clinical results of leukemia patients at the University of Tübingen.
Since 1976, more than 180 patients suffering from leukemia or aplastic anemia have been treated with BMT and TBI. The improvement of TBI-technique starting from single fraction irradiation without any shielding to different types of fractionation schemes with lung, head and neck shielding and an electron boost to the thoracal wall is shown. A more detailed description of the actual TBI-technique is given; this has been applied to 64 patients to-date. Some clinical results are summarised into four subgroups. Life table analyses are shown for single fraction irradiation as well as for fractionated irradiation separated for high and for low risk patient groups.
Anemia, Aplastic↗
Plasminogen activators, plasminogen activator inhibitor, and fibronectin in human granulosa cells and follicular fluid related to oocyte maturation and intrafollicular gonadotropin levels.
We determined the relative distribution of tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) antigen, urokinase-type PA antigen, PA inhibitor activity, and fibronectin levels in lysates of human granulosa cells (GC) and the respective follicular fluid (FF) in relationship to oocyte-corona-cumulus complex morphology. In addition, FF gonadotropins were measured to investigate a possible relationship of gonadotropins to PA activity. A significant increase of TPA antigen in GC lysates of intermediate and mature oocyte-corona-cumulus complex was found when compared with immature oocyte-corona-cumulus complex. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator levels and PA inhibitor levels did not reveal any significant differences between the different groups. In FF the concentrations of PA and PA inhibitor were significantly lower than in GC lysates and showed no significant difference between the oocyte-corona-cumulus complex groups. The concentration of fibronectin was significantly elevated in GC lysates of mature follicles. The marked increase of TPA in human GC during oocyte maturation showed a positive correlation with the increase of FF follicle-stimulating hormone and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin in the group of mature oocyte-corona-cumulus complex. The data obtained suggest that in man TPA is the predominant PA involved in the process leading to follicular rupture.
Adult↗
A prevention program for bereaved children.
The death of a parent seriously threatens children's social and emotional development. When the death can be anticipated, early intervention may facilitate children's adjustment. A prevention program designed to enable parents to foster their children's necessary grief work and resolution of the loss is described.
Adaptation, Psychological↗
Perceptions of parental competence while facing the death of a spouse.
Healthy parents' perceptions of their competence to meet children's needs during the terminal illness of the other parent were measured on five major domains of parent-child relationships and parental functioning central to children's healthy development. Significant declines from pre-illness competence were perceived, of which the greatest were in emotional sensitivity and responsiveness, and ability to set limits and impose discipline. Implications for the development of preventive intervention strategies are discussed.
Adolescent↗
[Water-energy dosage calibration and standard ion dosage calibration--a comparison in ultrahard x-ray radiation].
Ten ionization chambers (PTW), partly of different type, which all have been calibrated in terms of absorbed dose to water, were used to compare the absorbed dose indicated in a reference geometry at 8 MV X-rays. The standard deviation of the mean value of the absorbed dose determined for all chambers was 0.5%. Since 4 chambers have been calibrated in terms of absorbed dose to water and in exposure, the absorbed dose to water was determined from indicated value according to both calibration procedures. The dose values obtained via the energy dose calibration turned out to be about 2.5% less compared to the result when applying the exposure calibration factor.
Calibration↗
Language learning efficiency, dreams and REM sleep.
As a follow-up from a previous study, four subjects taking a 6-week French language immersion program maintained a dream diary starting 2 weeks before until 2 weeks after the course. They also slept in the laboratory during four series of nights: one before the course, two during the course and one after the course. Confirming previous observations, it was observed that those subjects who made significant progress in French learning, experienced French incorporations into dreams earlier and had more verbal communication in their dreams during the language training than those who made little progress. Combining these results with those of the earlier study revealed significant positive correlations between language learning efficiency and both increases in REM sleep percentages, and verbal communication in dreams, as well as a negative correlation with latency to the first French incorporation in dreams. These results support the notion that REM sleep and dreaming are related to waking cognitive processes.
Adult↗
Growth stimulation of human epidermal cells by urokinase is restricted to the intact active enzyme.
In this study we report on the effect of urokinase fragments on the proliferation of cells of the human epidermal cell line, CCL 20.2, which expresses high-affinity receptors for urokinase and the growth of which is stimulated by intact active 54-kDa urokinase. The 33-kDa fragment containing only the active-site domain, does not bind to the receptors and does not stimulate cell proliferation, while the 17-kDa fragment, containing only the kringle and the growth-factor domains binds to the receptor but does not stimulate growth of the human epidermal cell line. Growth promotion of this tumor cell line by urokinase is therefore restricted to the complete intact and active urokinase molecule.
Cell Division↗
Intensive language learning and increases in rapid eye movement sleep: evidence of a performance factor.
Ten anglophone students taking a 6-week French immersion course were recorded in the sleep laboratory during 4 consecutive nights before the course, during the course and after the course. There was a positive and significant (P less than 0.05) correlation between language learning efficiency and increases in the percentage of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep from pre-course to course periods. This observation suggests that learning performance may be an important factor in the relationship between information processing and REM sleep.
Adolescent↗
Factors distinguishing homosexual males practicing risky and safer sex.
A longitudinal study of patterns of sexual behavior among asymptomatic, homosexual males in New York City was conducted. Participants were interviewed at two time points, 6 months apart. Based on their reports of sexual behavior during a recent 'typical' month, respondents were classified at each time point as engaging in safer (or low-risk) sexual practices versus high-risk sexual behaviors. Discriminant analysis was employed to distinguish the 53 males classified as risky at both time 1 and time 2 from the 47 males classified as safer in both periods. Statistically significant discrimination was achieved with 10 psychosocial predictor variables, four of which were significant while controlling for all other variables in the model. Of these predictors, drug use within sexual contexts was particularly noteworthy, since it provided the greatest relative contribution to the discriminant function and appears to be an important candidate for educational intervention. Other significant variables included perceived adequacy of emotional support, number of years engaged in regular sexual intercourse with other males, and perceived difficulty in modifying sexual behavior. Self-esteem and alcohol consumption approached significance.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
Functional inhibition of endogenously produced urokinase decreases cell proliferation in a human melanoma cell line.
Binding of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) to its receptor has been shown not only to focus proteolytic activity to the cell surface but also to exert a mitogenic effect on the human epidermal tumor cell line CCL 20.2. This report shows that u-PA is an autocrine mitogen in the human melanoma cell line GUBSB and that inhibition of receptor-bound u-PA by specific anti-u-PA antibodies causes a significant suppression of cell proliferation in this system. The GUBSB cell line secretes 70-80% of the u-PA in its active form and expresses high-affinity u-PA receptors with a Kd of 5.2 x 10(-10) M and 2.8 x 10(4) binding sites per cell. Approximately 70% of the u-PA receptors on these cells are occupied by endogenously secreted u-PA. Addition of the monoclonal anti-u-PA antibody MPW5UK (10 nM), directed against the active site of u-PA, twice daily to the cell cultures resulted in a significant decrease of [3H]thymidine incorporation by the tumor cells, whereas a 10 times higher concentration of the monoclonal antibody MPW4UK, which does not inhibit plasminogen activator activity of u-PA, was necessary to achieve the same effect. In addition, diisopropyl fluorophosphate-inactivated u-PA, in a concentration 50-fold higher than the concentration necessary to saturate the u-PA receptor (250 pM), decreased [3H]thymidine incorporation similarly to the specific antibody, proving that active u-PA is required for the mitogenic effect. Inhibition of endogenous u-PA production by cycloheximide reduced [3H]thymidine incorporation significantly; after addition of exogenous u-PA, [3H]thymidine incorporation increased again in the cycloheximide-treated cells. Therefore, inhibition of receptor-bound u-PA might represent a tool not only to inactivate cell-bound proteolytic activity, necessary for invasion, but also to exert a specific antiproliferative effect on certain tumor cells.
Antibodies, Monoclonal↗