PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

H Perry

Publications and source records attributed to H Perry.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The human archain gene, ARCN1, has highly conserved homologs in rice and Drosophila.

A novel human gene, ARCN1, has been identified in chromosome band 11q23.3. It maps approximately 50 kb telomeric to MLL, a gene that is disrupted in a number of leukemia-associated translocation chromosomes. cDNA clones representing ARCN1 hybridize to 4-kb mRNA species present in all tissues tested. Sequencing of cDNAs suggests that at least two forms of mRNA with alternative 5' ends are present within the cell. The mRNA with the longest open reading frame gives rise to a protein of 57 kDa. Although the sequence reported is novel, remarkable similarity is observed with two predicted protein sequences from partial DNA sequences generated by rice (Oryza sativa) and fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) genome projects. The degree of sequence conservation is comparable to that observed for highly conserved structural proteins, such as heat shock protein HSP70, and is greater than that of gamma-tubulin and heat shock protein HSP60. A more distant relationship to the group of clathrin-associated proteins suggests a possible role in vesicle structure or trafficking. In view of its ancient pedigree and a potential involvement in cellular architecture, we propose that the ARCN1 protein be named archain.

Amino Acid Sequence

Reactionary dentinogenesis.

Reactionary dentinogenesis is the secretion of a tertiary dentine matrix by surviving odontoblast cells in response to an appropriate stimulus. Whilst this stimulus may be exogenous in nature, it may also be from endogenous tissue components released from the matrix during pathological processes. Implantation of isolated dentine extracellular matrix components in unexposed cavities of ferret teeth led to stimulation of underlying odontoblasts and a response of reactionary dentinogenesis. Affinity chromatography of the active components prior to implantation and assay for growth factors indicated that this material contained significant amounts of TGF-beta 1, a growth factor previously shown to influence odontoblast differentiation and secretory behavior. Reactionary dentinogenesis during dental caries probably results from solubilization of growth factors, TGF-beta in particular, from the dentine matrix which then are responsible for initiating the stimulatory effect on the odontoblasts. Compositional differences in tertiary dentine matrices beneath carious lesions in human teeth have also been shown indicating modulation of odontoblast secretion during reactionary and reparative dentinogenesis.

Animals

HLA class I gene, antigen and haplotype frequencies in New Zealand Maori and Europeans.

AIM: To determine class I HLA gene, antigen and haplotype frequencies for New Zealand Maori and Europeans. METHODS: Statistical analysis was performed using accumulated data from Maori (n = 576) and European (n = 1747) parentage studies. RESULTS: HLA class I gene, antigen and haplotype frequencies are as tabulated. Significant statistical differences were shown to exist between New Zealand Maori, New Zealand Europeans and Europeans. Gene frequencies of HLA A1, 3, 9, 11, 19 and HLA B7, 8, 12, 16, 22, and 40 differed significantly between New Zealand Maori and New Zealand European data. Gene frequencies of HLA A1 and B12 differed significantly between New Zealand European and European data. CONCLUSIONS: This HLA frequency data can be used for calculating more reliable indices of paternity or for determining the potential availability of matched organs for transplantation, as well as for anthropological studies. The data may also be useful in forensic investigations.

Europe

Perceived risk of cancer and practice of cancer prevention behaviors among employees in an oncology center.

METHODS: A survey of oncology center employees was conducted to determine those factors associated with perceived risk of cancer and compliance with preventive care guidelines. Five hundred six employees participated in the survey. RESULTS: The average perceived absolute risk of developing cancer in the next 20 years was 29%. Perceived risk for cancer was higher among women than men. Among men, only current smoking and duration of employment, adjusting for age, were significantly associated with the perceived risk of developing cancer. For women, in addition to smoking, personal experience with cancer among family and friends and perceived health status were significantly associated with the perceived risk of cancer. The practice of cancer preventive behaviors was unrelated to personal risk perception. Less than one-fourth of participants age 40 years and older had a sigmoidoscopy in the last 3 years and less than one-third reported having had their stool checked for blood. The majority of women had a pap smear in the past 10 years; 89% had a pap smear in the past 3 years. Eighty-eight percent of women over 40 and 94% of women over 50 had ever had a mammogram; the majority of these women had had mammograms in the past two years. CONCLUSION: Perceived risk of developing cancer was significantly higher than in projected probabilities based on the incidence of cancer in the United States. Despite the high perceived risk of developing cancer, the practice of colon cancer screening was low. Factors other than perception of personal risk of cancer may be important in encouraging participation in screening programs.

Adult

A panel of sequence tagged sites for chromosome band 11q23.

A panel of sequence tagged sites (STSs) representing 30 markers previously assigned to human chromosome band 11q23 has been assembled. Eleven STSs represent cloned genes, and the remainder are from anonymous DNA segments. The STSs have been used in PCR experiments to localize their cognate sequences further with respect to five translocation breakpoints that define three intervals in 11q23. Two of these translocation breakpoints have been mapped more precisely by the STS assignments. The STS panel will form a useful starting point for the generation of a genomic contig of band 11q23.

Base Sequence

Boron neutron capture therapy of anterior chamber melanoma with p-boronophenylalanine.

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a form of radiation therapy that requires selective uptake of boron by the tumor and irradiation with thermal neutrons. Phenylalanine is an amino acid precursor of melanin and when boronated (p-boronophenylalanine [BPA]) was found to be selectively taken up by Greene melanoma cells in the anterior chamber of rabbits. This tumor model was irradiated 24 hr after oral administration of BPA and was used for biodistribution studies that compared BPA and sodium pentaborate. Three groups were irradiated: group 1 (11 rabbits) received BPA followed by thermal neutron irradiation, group 2 (9 rabbits) received thermal neutron irradiation only, and group 3 (9 rabbits) served as unirradiated, undrugged control animals. Eight of the 11 tumors in group 1 were treated successfully; all tumors in groups 2 and 3 grew. Histopathologic examination did not reveal vascular or retina damage in group 1. These preliminary experiments confirm that newer boronated compounds, such as BPA, used in BNCT and improved neutron beams can provide selective irradiation of ocular melanomas.

Administration, Oral

Immunophenotypic analysis of the inflammatory infiltrate in ocular cicatricial pemphigoid. Further evidence for a T cell-mediated disease.

Ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP) is characterized by the deposition of immunoglobulin and complement along the conjunctival epithelial basement membrane zone (BMZ). In order to further elucidate the cellular populations of the local inflammatory infiltrates, the authors used a panel of monoclonal antibodies in cryostat tissue sections to delineate T cell subsets, B lymphocytes, dendritic cells, and macrophages in six patients with OCP. In comparison with matched controls of the epibulbar conjunctiva, the authors discovered a threefold increase in T lymphocytes within the epithelium and a 20-fold increase within the substantia propria. In contrast with the normal-standing population of conjunctival T lymphocytes, there were activated interleukin 2 receptor (IL-2R)-positive lymphocytes in both the epithelium and the substantia propria. Macrophages were the second most common cells in the substantia propria, accounting for 12.7% of the mononuclear population--a threefold increase over the normal percentage. B cells and plasma cells, normally absent from epibulbar conjunctiva, were the next most prominent populations, constituting 6.9 and 4.6%, respectively, of all mononuclear cells. Dendritic cells which process antigen locally constituted only 1.2% of the mononuclear cell population, but were increased 25-fold over normal controls. By elaborating cytokines that promote fibroplasia, the T cells in OCP may be effector cells along with macrophages and other inflammatory cells in bringing about scarification of the substantia propria, and may furthermore be responsible for an immunoregulatory defect that allows local B lymphocytes to produce autoantibodies to the BMZ.

Aged

Oligopeptides inhibit the ribonucleotide reductase of herpes simplex virus by causing subunit separation.

It has recently been reported that a nonapeptide (H-Tyr-Ala-Gly-Ala-Val-Val-Asn-Asp-Leu-OH) identical in sequence to the last nine amino acid residues of RR2, the small subunit of herpes simplex virus (HSV) ribonucleotide reductase (E.C. 1.17.4.1; RR), can inhibit HSV RR activity in vitro. It has been postulated that this peptide acts by interfering with the interaction of the large subunit, RR1, and RR2, but direct demonstration of its mechanism of action has not been reported. We present data which show that the inhibition of HSV RR by this oligopeptide is due to induced subunit dissociation.

Macromolecular Substances

The nicotinic-induced release of endogenous dopamine from rat striatal slices from animals chronically exposed to dimethylphenylpiperazinium (DMPP).

The effect of the nicotinic agonist, dimethylphenylpiperazinium (DMPP), to release endogenous dopamine (DA) from striatal slices obtained from animals chronically treated with the nicotinic agonist for 7 or 14 days was determined. Endogenous DA was measured by high pressure liquid chromatography coupled to electrochemical detection. There was no difference in the DMPP concentration-effect curve for DA release from slices obtained from untreated rats or rats treated with saline. Treatment with DMPP for 7 days did not change the DMPP concentration-effect curve when compared to saline treatment. In contrast, treatment of rats with DMPP for 14 days resulted in a significant attenuation of the DMPP-induced release of DA. These studies support the hypothesis that chronic treatment with nicotinic agonists results in a functional uncoupling of cholinergic nicotinic receptors facilitating DA release in the striatum.

Animals

Cefamandole levels in serum and necrotic bone.

Seven patients with chronic osteomyelitis were treated by surgical debridement. Cefamandole was administered intravenously before surgery. During the debridement, cefamandole concentrations were measured in serum and necrotic bone. Although adequate levels of antibiotic were achieved in the serum, minimal or no concentration of antibiotic was found in the necrotic bone. There was only minimal penetration of cefamandole into necrotic bone.

Bone and Bones

Echinocandin inhibition of 1,3-beta-D-glucan synthase from Candida albicans.

The cyclic peptide antibiotic echinocandin was found to inhibit 1,3-beta-D-glucan synthase activity present in a mixed membrane fraction from Candida albicans. Addition of antibiotic reduced the Vmax of the enzyme, but the Km was unaffected. GTP stimulated enzyme activity approximately 4-fold, but did not affect the percentage inhibition of the enzyme by echinocandin. Treatment of the reaction products with alpha-amylase and beta-glucanase confirmed that the polymer synthesised was 1,3-beta-D-glucan, not glycogen.

Anti-Bacterial Agents