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Biomedical subjects

J Bullock

Publications and source records attributed to J Bullock.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Characterization of the heterogeneity of polyethylene glycol-modified superoxide dismutase by chromatographic and electrophoretic techniques.

Covalent attachment of polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains to the enzyme Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) produces a heterogeneous mixture of modified protein species. The heterogeneity of the product (PEG-SOD) derives from a variable stoichiometric combination of PEG with individual SOD molecules in addition to the polydispersity of the PEG reagent. Characterization of PEG-SOD presents significant challenges due in part to this heterogeneity in addition to the hybrid nature of the modified enzyme. The application of classical methods of protein characterization is not always successful for these PEG-proteins requiring the development of alternative or modified procedures. A series of chromatographic techniques including reversed-phase, ion-exchange, size-exclusion, and hydrophobic interaction high-performance liquid chromatography along with electrophoretic techniques including isoelectric focusing, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and capillary zone electrophoresis have been developed for assessing the degree of heterogeneity of PEG-SOD samples which encompass a range of different stoichiometries. Examples will be given demonstrating the application of these techniques to characterize PEG-SOD samples of different composition produced during the course of the reaction between SOD and an activated PEG reagent.

Animals

Infra red coagulation for bleeding mucosal telangiectasia.

The technique of infra red coagulation is well suited to the destruction of superficial blood vessels in the skin and/or mucosal surfaces. A method is described here for the destruction of resistant bleeding telangiectasia of the palate and lip in Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome.

Diathermy

The SEC receptor recognizes a pentapeptide neodomain of alpha 1-antitrypsin-protease complexes.

Formation of the covalently stabilized alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1-AT)-neutrophil elastase complex, the archetype of serpin-enzyme complexes, results in a structurally rearranged alpha 1-AT molecule that possesses chemo-attractant activities, mediates an increase in synthesis of alpha 1-AT by mononuclear phagocytes and hepatocytes, and is more rapidly cleared from the circulation than is the native alpha 1-AT molecule. We have recently identified an abundant, high affinity cell surface receptor on human hepatoma HepG2 cells and human monocytes that binds alpha 1-AT-elastase complexes, mediates endocytosis and lysosomal degradation of alpha 1-AT-elastase complexes, and induces an increase in synthesis of alpha 1-AT. We have referred to this receptor as the serpin-enzyme complex, or SEC, receptor because it also recognizes complexes of serpins antithrombin III, alpha 1-antichymotrypsin, and C1 inhibitor with their cognate enzymes. In the current study, we show that a pentapeptide domain in the carboxyl terminal fragment of alpha 1-AT (amino acids 370-374, FVFLM) is sufficient for binding to the SEC receptor. A synthetic analog of this pentapeptide (peptide 105C, FVYLI) blocks binding and internalization of alpha 1-AT-125I-trypsin complexes by HepG2 cells. 125I-Peptide 105C binds specifically and saturably to HepG2 cells, and its binding is blocked by alpha 1-AT-trypsin or alpha 1-AT-elastase complexes. Alterations of this sequence introduced into synthetic peptides (mutations, deletions, or scrambling) demonstrate that binding of the pentapeptide domain is sequence-specific. Comparisons with the sequences of other serpins in the corresponding region indicate that this pentapeptide neodomain is highly conserved.

Amino Acid Sequence

Mechanism of induction of cytochrome P-450ac (P-450j) in chemically induced and spontaneously diabetic rats.

Previous studies demonstrated that a microsomal high-affinity N-nitrosodimethylamine demethylase activity and cytochrome P-450ac (an acetone/ethanol-inducible form) were induced by streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats. In the present work, the induction was studied in detail in two chemically induced (by streptozotocin and alloxan) diabetic rat models and one spontaneously (BB/Wor) diabetic rat model. All the diabetic conditions caused increases in three parameters: (a) microsomal N-nitrosodimethylamine demethylase activity which is known to be a good indicator of the level of P-450ac; (b) the levels of P-450ac as determined by immunoblot analysis; and (c) the levels of mRNA of P-450ac as determined by hybridization assays with a cDNA probe for this enzyme. These increases were abolished by treatment of the diabetic rats with insulin. The results suggest that the pathophysiological condition of diabetes is responsible for the induction of P-450ac and elevation of mRNA is involved in all of the three diabetic models investigated.

Animals

Ursodeoxycholic acid, 7-ketolithocholic acid, and chenodeoxycholic acid are primary bile acids of the nutria (Myocastor coypus).

Because ursodeoxycholic and chenodeoxycholic acids are interconverted in humans via 7-ketolithocholic acid, bile acid metabolism was studied in the nutria (Myocastor coypus), the bile of which is known to contain these three bile acids. Relative concentrations of ursodeoxycholic (37% +/- 20%), 7-ketolithocholic (33% +/- 17%), and chenodeoxycholic (17% +/- 9%) acids in gallbladder bile were unchanged by 5-20 h of complete biliary diversion (n = 7). Injection of either [14C]cholesterol, [14C]ursodeoxycholic, [14C]7-ketolithocholic acid, or a mixture of [7 beta-3H]chenodeoxycholic acid and [14C]chenodeoxycholic acid into bile fistula nutria demonstrated that all three bile acids can be synthesized hepatically from cholesterol, that they are interconverted sparingly (2%-5%) by the liver, but that 7-ketolithocholic acid is an intermediate in the hepatic transformation of chenodeoxycholic acid to ursodeoxycholic acid. An animal that had been fed antibiotics showed an unusually elevated concentration of ursodeoxycholic acid in gallbladder and hepatic bile, suggesting that bacterial transformation of ursodeoxycholic acid in the intestine may be a source of some biliary chenodeoxycholic acid and 7-ketolithocholic acid.

Animals

Dual mechanism for catecholamine secretion in the dogfish shark Squalus acanthias.

Both 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium iodide, a ganglionic stimulating drug (DMPP), and potassium ion (K+) cause a pressor response when injected into Squalus acanthias, an elasmobranch. The pressor responses are due to increased secretion of epinephrine and norepinephrine. The pressor response to DMPP can be blocked by prior infusion of hexamethonium, a ganglionic blocking drug. However, ganglionic blockade does not inhibit the pressor response to K+. Plasma catecholamine concentrations do not increase significantly in response to challenge with DMPP after hexamethonium infusion, but exceedingly high levels of plasma catecholamines quickly appear after K+ injection following hexamethonium infusion. It is concluded that there are at least two mechanisms controlling catecholamine secretion in the dogfish, one of which involves the ganglion cells that are intimately associated with chromaffin cells in the chromophil bodies that are so characteristic of this species and elasmobranchs in general.

Animals

Effect of ganglionic blockade on catecholamine secretion in exercised dogfish.

A brief bout of vigorous exercise results in significant increases in plasma epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine (NE) in the dogfish, Squalus acanthias. Since the presence of a functioning sympathetic nervous system in dogfish is in doubt, experiments were undertaken to show whether or not exercise-induced catecholamine (CA) secretion is under autonomic neurogenic control. Changes in plasma E and NE in a control group of exercised fish were compared with changes in fish exercised while under the influence of ganglionic blockade. Ganglionic blockade was induced in dogfish by hexamethonium infusion before exercise. CA secretion in response to a subsequent bout of exercise was significantly reduced without impairment of the ability of the fish to exercise. The pattern of systemic arterial pressure response to exercise and recovery (initial decrease during exercise followed by a prompt recovery to control level) was not significantly altered by ganglionic blockade. It is concluded that in dogfish some fraction of CA secretion capacity is possibly or potentially under neurogenically related control. Apparently the fraction of CA secretion under such control is not essential for performing exercise. The pattern of CA secretion accompanying the events of exercise and recovery in dogfish suggests that CA may play a more important role in recovery from exercise than in its performance.

Animals

The influence of a wide range of absorbed cholesterol on plasma cholesterol levels in man.

The influence of absorbed dietary cholesterol on plasma cholesterol concentration was studied in two populations, one Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) vegetarian and one nonvegetarian, representing a broad range of plasma cholesterol values and dietary cholesterol intakes. As a group, the SDA vegetarians had significantly lower levels of plasma cholesterol and triglycerides than did the nonvegetarians. This hypolipidemic pattern in the SDA vegetarians was apparently closely related to dietary habits, sinceanother group of SDA who were nonvegetarian had significantly higher plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels than their vegetarian counterparts. Both the dietary intake of cholesterol and the percentage absorption of cholesterol were lower in vegetarians than in nonvegetarians. The mass of cholesterol absorbed increased linearly with the mass of cholesterol ingested in all groups, but no relationship could be demonstrated between absorbed cholesterol and plasma cholesterol concentration.

Absorption

Vigilance performance of mildly mentally retarded adults.

Mildly mentally retarded adults were compared on both an auditory and a visual vigilance task with subjects having greater than average intelligence. Contrary to results reported by Semmel (1965) using a visual task, no difference was found in the rate of decline of performance between the two groups in either of the two tasks, although overall performance of the above-average group was superior to that of the retarded group. The results offered no support for the hypothesis that mentally retarded persons suffer from a more rapid decay in arousal under conditions of reduced sensory variation. Nor did they support a suggestion that in this particular situation retarded subjects would demonstrate more inattention than would nonretarded subjects.

Adolescent

Glaucomatous cupping of the optic disk by ultrasonography.

B-scan ultrasonography was used to evaluate advance glaucomatous cupping of the optic disk (0.7 cup/disk ratio or greater) in one normal subject and six patients with glaucoma. The normal eye emitted a continuous echo from the posterior pole, which conformed to its mild degree of concavity. The glaucomatous eyes emitted echos from the posterior pole, demonstrating the more extreme concavity of the optic cup. Ultrasonographic evaluation of an acrylic plate containing holes of known diameter demonstrated the limits of resolution and artifacts that resulted from this examination.

Glaucoma

Transplantability and biological behavior of a rapidly growing secondary Morris hepatoma.

Transplantable hepatomas have a special importance in cancer research because most are well-differentiated and grow at widely differing rates. A simple and reproducible technique was developed to transplant the rapidly growing Morris hepatoma 9618A2 from a subcutaneous to an intrahepatic site. The tumor has been maintained for over 80 successive transplant generations by inoculating Buffalo rats subcutaneously. The hepatoma, transplanted many times from the subcutaneous site to the liver, was examined histologically on various occasions. By varying inoculum size, growth of the hepatocarcinoma could be controlled. Throughout transplantation, the donor animals were bled without causing the death of the animal. Histological studies revealed that the tumor, when transplanted intrahepatically, remains a highly differentiated neoplasm with no observable morphological changes.

Animals

Dysphagia.

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Deglutition Disorders

Oxalate retinopathy: an experimental model of a flecked retina.

The clinical picture resembling fundus albipunctatus was seen to develop in rabbits following subcutaneous injection with dibutyl oxalate. On histologic examination, the flecks were found to be due to intracellular accumulation of calcium oxalate in the RPE cells. The clinical and histologic features of this animal model closely resemble the recently described entity of oxalate retinopathy in humans which was seen in the presence of high circulating oxalate levels. It is suggested that the presence of metabolic disorders or toxicity which are known to cause oxalate depositions should be sought in patients with fundus albipunctatus.

Animals