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Biomedical subjects

G Moore

Publications and source records attributed to G Moore.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Cytotoxic effects of biphenyl and hydroxybiphenyls on isolated rat hepatocytes.

The cytotoxic effects of biphenyl (BP) and its hydroxylated derivatives, o-phenylphenol (OPP), m-phenylphenol (MPP), p-phenylphenol (PPP), 2-biphenylyl glycidyl ether (OPP-epoxide), phenyl-hydroquinone (PHQ), o,o'-biphenol (o,o'-BPol) and p,p'-biphenol (p,p'-BPol), were investigated in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes. OPP, MPP and PPP, at concentration of 0.75 mM, resulted in the loss of intracellular ATP, glutathione (GSH) and protein thiols, causing cell death. OPP-epoxide and BP were less toxic than the OPP isomers. MPP or PPP compared with OPP caused serious impairments in oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria isolated from rat liver. PHQ (0.75 mM) caused a rapid loss of intracellular ATP which preceded the onset of cell death. PHQ was more toxic than o,o'-BPol or p,p'-BPol. PHQ dissolved in Krebs-Henseleit buffer without hepatocytes was rapidly converted to its corresponding quinone, phenyl-benzoquinone. The cytotoxicity produced by PHQ depends on the rate of formation of reactive intermediates. These results indicate that the addition of a hydroxyl group to the aromatic ring of BP enhances BP-induced cytotoxicity and that the mitochondria are a common target of the OPP isomers and other BP derivatives. In addition, the para- or meta-hydroxyl groups rather than the ortho-hydroxyl group increase the toxicity. The cytotoxicity produced by PHQ depends on the rate of formation of reactive intermediate(s) such as phenyl-benzoquinone.

Animals

Key features of cereal genome organization as revealed by the use of cytosine methylation-sensitive restriction endonucleases.

Unlike mammalian genomes, cereal (Gramineae) genomes exhibit little suppression of CpG dinucleotides. In cereal genomes, however, most of the numerous potential recognition sites for CpG methylation-sensitive restriction enzymes are methylated. Analysis of cereal genomic libraries and of regions flanking genes indicates that unmethylated NotI sites are useful landmarks for regions containing genes/single-copy sequences. Studies of a rye chromosome arm indicate that its pericentromeric region has a reduced density of unmethylated NotI (and MluI) sites and therefore of genes. Unmethylated MluI and NruI sites are distributed nonrandomly in the genomes of wheat, barley, and rice. Analysis of the genomic blocks defined by these sites in wheat and barley indicates that they are most likely to have arisen by amplification. These observations form the basis of a proposed model for the organization and evolution of the wheat, barley, and rice genomes.

Bacterial Proteins

The localization of a gene causing X-linked cleft palate and ankyloglossia (CPX) in an Icelandic kindred is between DXS326 and DXYS1X.

The locus responsible for X-linked, nonsyndromic cleft palate and/or ankyloglossia (CPX) has previously been mapped to the proximal long arm of the human X chromosome between Xq21.31 and q21.33 in an Icelandic kindred. We have extended these studies by analyzing an additional 14 informative markers in the family as well as including several newly investigated family members. Recombination analysis indicates that the CPX locus is more proximal than previously thought, within the interval Xq21.1-q21.31. Two recombinants place DXYS1X as the distal flanking marker, while one recombinant defines DXS326 as the proximal flanking marker, an interval of less than 5 cM. Each of the flanking markers recombines with the CPX locus, giving 2-point lod scores of Zmax = 4.16 at theta = 0.08 (DXS326) and Zmax = 5.80 at theta = 0.06 (DXYS1X).

Abnormalities, Multiple

Stabilisation of a yeast artificial chromosome containing plant DNA using a recombination-deficient host.

The large genomes of many plant species contain numerous dispersed repeat sequences. The problem of large-scale structural instability due to the presence of such repeats in yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clones was assessed. The feasibility of stabilising plant sequences prone to rearrangement in YACs was demonstrated using a host yeast strain deficient in recombination.

Chromosomes, Fungal

Expression of a common cellular phospholipase A2 by human intrauterine tissues.

A subclone of the three prime (3') end of a human extrapancreatic phospholipase cDNA has been generated using the polymerase chain reaction. This has been used to detect mRNA transcripts in RNA extracted from human amnion, chorion-decidua, placenta and myometrium. The carboxyl-terminus of phospholipases A2 is poorly conserved but hybridisation remained stable under conditions of high stringency. This supports the hypothesis that these tissues express a common cellular phospholipase A2 which is identical to that expressed in platelets.

Amnion

Effects of diethyl maleate on phenyl-hydroquinone-induced cytotoxicity in isolated rat hepatocytes.

1. The effects of diethyl maleate (DEM) on the cytotoxicity of phenyl-hydroquinone (PHQ) and other hydroquinones were studied in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes. 2. Addition of PHQ (0.5 or 0.75 mM) to hepatocytes resulted in dose-dependent cell death accompanied by the abrupt depletion of both GSH and protein thiols and the accumulation of phenyl-benzoquinone (PBQ). 3. Pretreatment with DEM (1.25 mM), which causes an abrupt depletion of cellular GSH in hepatocytes, delayed the onset of PHQ-induced cytotoxicity. The delay correlated with inhibition of PBQ formation. 4. Although the pH of the cell suspension was increased slightly (mean pH 0.18) by incubation under carbogen flow, the addition of DEM to the cell suspension inhibited both the increase in pH and the formation of PBQ from PHQ. 5. In hepatocyte suspensions without DEM, PHQ cytotoxicity was dependent on pH, and toxicity was associated with oxidation of PHQ and accumulation of PBQ. 6. Among other hydroquinones (0.5 mM), tert-butyl-hydroquinone-induced cytotoxicity was decreased by DEM (1.25 mM), but DEM did not affect the cytotoxicity of 2,5-di(tert-butyl)-1,4-benzohydroquinone. 7. PHQ-induced cytotoxicity correlated with the accumulation of PBQ in the cell, and the inhibition of PHQ-induced cytotoxicity by DEM correlated with pH-dependent changes in PBQ formation.

Animals

Overexpression of esterase D in kidney from trisomy 13 fetuses.

Human trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome) occurs in approximately 1 in 5,000 live births. It is compatible with life, but prolonged survival is rare. Anomalies often involve the urogenital, cardiac, craniofacial, and central nervous systems. It is possible that these abnormalities may be due to the overexpression of developmentally important genes on chromosome 13. The expression of esterase D (localized to chromosome 13q14.11) has been investigated in both muscle and kidney from trisomy 13 fetuses and has been compared with normal age- and sex-matched fetal tissues, by using northern analysis. More than a twofold increase in expression of esterase D was found in the kidney of two trisomy 13 fetuses, with normal levels in a third. Overexpression was not seen in the muscle tissues from these fetuses.

Abnormalities, Multiple

Tulopafant, a PAF receptor antagonist, increases capillary patency and prolongs survival in discordant cardiac xenotransplants.

Hyperacute rejection is a serious complication of xenogeneic organ transplantation. It is believed that platelets play a pivotal role in this phenomenon. In this study, we provide the first known evidence of the efficacy of the PAF receptor antagonist, tulopafant, in improvement in graft function and histology of discordant cardiac xenografts. Transplantation of guinea pig hearts into recipient rats resulted in hyperacute rejection. Pretreatment of recipient animals with tulopafant (but not indomethacin) extended rejection time by 4-5-fold. Histological examination revealed marked diminution of both interstitial hemorrhage and deposition of platelet and granulocytes in capillaries of cardiac xenografts when recipient animals were pretreated with tulopafant.

Animals

Health of the public. The academic response. Health of the Public Mission Statement Working Group.

Aging of the population, increasing prevalence of chronic and disabling illnesses with multiple social and behavioral risk factors, concern about quality of care, and escalating costs of medical care require fundamental changes in the way that academic health centers discharge their mission. This article describes a newly developed "Mission Statement" for academic health centers that wish to contribute positively to the health of the populations that they serve. A shift toward addressing the needs of the public may produce increasing institutional strength, long-run stability, and enhanced productivity, as well as higher quality, more cost-effective care for patients. Seventeen centers in the Health of the Public Program are currently conducting activities that implement the described mission elements. The goals and objectives described herein create a foundation for change, with more balanced institutional goals, and could turn an emerging confrontation between academe and its public into an opportunity for both.

Academic Medical Centers

Construction of a chromosome-enriched HpaII library from flow-sorted wheat chromosomes.

We report here the first successful generation of a chromosome-enriched library from flow sorted plant chromosomes. Chromosomes with a characteristic DNA content (a peak) were sorted from a synchronized cell culture (TaKB1, derived from Triticum aestivum). A HpaII library was constructed from the sorted chromosomes and half of the cloned DNA sequences analysed are unique or low copy. Approximately half of these sequences when used as probes detect sequences on wheat chromosome 4A. The generation and analysis of the chromosome library is described in detail and the prospects of using flow-sorted plant chromosomes discussed.

Cells, Cultured

Targeting deletion (homoeologous chromosome pairing locus) or addition line single copy sequences from cereal genomes.

We describe here a protocol for obtaining clones containing sequences present in low copy-number from genomic DNA where moderately and highly repeated sequences predominate. Specific chromosomal regions can be targeted by using deletion or addition line material. We have used this protocol to identify a sequence which has been deleted in both the tetraploid and hexaploid wheat mutants for the homoeologous chromosome pairing locus.

Chromosome Deletion

Sequence analysis of WIS-2-1A, a retrotransposon-like element from wheat.

WIS-2-1A, a 8624 bp insertion in the Glu-1A-2 locus of chromosome 1A of wheat, consists of two 1755 bp long terminal repeats enclosing a 5114 bp internal region. No long open reading frames could be found, but inspection of the predicted amino acid sequence showed regions with homology to retrotransposon structures, including a methionine tRNA initiator binding site, a nucleotide binding domain, a protease, an integrase and a polymerase. DNA replication errors have resulted in frame-shifts in the protein coding region, suggesting that retrotransposition of WIS-2-1A, if it occurs, must be mediated by trans-acting factors.

Amino Acid Sequence

Inverted repeats in the long-terminal repeats of the wheat retrotransposon Wis 2-1A.

The wheat insertion sequence Wis 2-1A possesses all the structural features characteristic of retrotransposons. Its long-terminal repeats (LTRs) are unusually long (1,755 bp) compared with those of other retrotransposons. Sequence analysis revealed that they differ from each other by only six point mutations. They contain a few tandem direct repeats, which could be explained by slippage mechanisms during replication. Almost half (44%) of the length of the LTRs is occupied by hairpin structures, which may relate to their large size. Possible origins of these inverted repeats are proposed, including the insertion and imprecise excision of transposable elements and errors when the DNA replication intermediate switches RNA template during retrotransposon replication.

Base Sequence

A comparison of indomethacin with ibuprofen on gastrointestinal mucosal integrity in conventional and germ-free rats.

The effects of indomethacin and ibuprofen on gastrointestinal mucosal integrity were studied in conventional and germ-free rats. Only ibuprofen induced significant gastric erosion formation in both conventional and germ-free animals, demonstrating that the presence of micro-organisms is not required in this form of damage. Both indomethacin and ibuprofen caused significant intestinal damage and blood loss in germ-free animals. However, in the conventional counterparts, damage due to indomethacin was enhanced whereas that induced by ibuprofen was not. The results from the present work would suggest that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as indomethacin, which are secreted largely in the bile, unlike ibuprofen, may act in concert with bacteria and the constituents of bile to induce, in part, intestinal damage and blood loss.

Animals

Chlamydia trachomatis antigen prevalence among pregnant women in West Virginia.

During 1990, more than 2,100 women who received prenatal care at one of four clinics which serve 11 West Virginia counties, were screened for chlamydial antigen. Overall, 5.6 percent of the women screened had positive antigen tests and 90 percent of these individuals were under the age of 25. The prevalence of chlamydia was different at three geographic sites with the highest rate of positive antigen test being 9.4 percent at one site. These findings led to a careful analysis of the prevalence of this disease among women who lived in rural areas versus those who lived in urban areas. This detailed analysis involved only patients seen in the Grafton and Morgantown clinics, and revealed a tendency for most positive antigen tests to occur among women with urban addresses. Our study indicates that a substantial chlamydial problem exists among pregnant women of young age. Although screening all pregnant women for chlamydia may not be cost effective, knowing which individuals are at highest risk may help target limited screening for these patients.

Adult