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Biomedical subjects

J Cassel

Publications and source records attributed to J Cassel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

[Pro(3)]Dyn A(1-11)-NH(2): a dynorphin analogue with high selectivity for the kappa opioid receptor.

A proline scan at positions 2 and 3 of the opioid peptide dynorphin A(1-11)-NH(2) led to the discovery of the analogue [Pro(3)]Dyn A(1-11)-NH(2). This analogue possesses high affinity and selectivity for the kappa opioid receptor (K(i)(kappa) = 2.7 nM, K(i) ratio kappa/micro/delta = 1/2110/3260). The gain in selectivity is achieved through an overall reduction of opioid receptor affinity which is most pronounced at micro and delta receptors. The Pro(3) analogue exhibits antagonist properties. Despite its high kappa affinity, [Pro(3)]Dyn A(1-11)-NH(2) is a relatively weak antagonist in both the [(35)S]GTPgammaS assay (IC(50) = 380 nM) and the guinea pig ileum assay (K(e) = 244 nM). Discrepancies between GPI and binding assay have often been ascribed to differential kappa receptor subtypes prevailing in central vs peripheral neurons. Since the [(35)S]GTPgammaS assay uses the same membrane preparations as the binding assay, differential kappa subtypes can be ruled out as an explanation in this case, and the observed behavior rather seems to reflect an intrinsic property of the ligand.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

When injected into the fimbria-fornix/cingular bundle, not in the raphe, 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine prevents amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion.

The locomotor effects of acute amphetamine treatment (1 mg/kg, i.p.) were assessed in Long-Evans rats after 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5, 7-DHT) injections into the fimbria-fornix/cingular bundle (FiFx/CB; 4 microg/side), or the dorsal and median raphe (Raphe; 10 microg). In control rats, amphetamine induced a significant increase of home-cage activity for about 2 h. This effect was similar in Raphe rats, but was absent in FiFx/CB rats. The raphe lesions reduced serotonin concentrations by 50% in the dorsal hippocampus, 75% in the ventral hippocampus and 58% in the fronto-parietal cortex. After FiFx/CB lesions, the reduction amounted 50, 61 and only 25%, in each of these regions, respectively. In the fronto-partietal cortex, dopamine concentration was significantly decreased in Raphe (-27%) and FiFx/CB rats (-65%). The results suggest that a serotonergic denervation of the hippocampus by injections of 5,7-DHT into the FiFx/CB pathways hampers the stimulating effects of amphetamine on locomotor activity. This effect might be related to the reduced dopaminergic tone in the fronto-parietal cortex.

5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine↗
PubMed1997

Does intelligence account for the link between maternal literacy and child survival?

The strong and consistent correlation between maternal education and child health is now well known, and numerous studies have shown that wealth and income cannot explain the link. Policy-makers have therefore assumed that the relationship is causal and explicitly advocate schooling as a child health intervention. However, there are other factors which could account for the apparent effect of maternal education on child morbidity and mortality, one of which is intelligence. This paper examines the effect of maternal intelligence on child health and looks at the degree to which it can explain the literacy associations with child survival and risk of malnutrition. The data are from a retrospective cohort study of 1294 mothers and their 7475 offspring, of whom 454 were women who had learned to read and write as adults in Nicaragua's literacy programme, 457 were illiterate, and 383 had become literate as young girls attending school. The women's intelligence was tested using Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices. Acquisition of literacy was strongly related to intelligence. Statistically significant associations with maternal literacy were found for under five mortality, infant mortality, and the risk of low mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC) for age, before and after controlling for a wide range of socio-economic factors. Under five, child (one to four years), infant and post-neonatal mortality plus the risk of low height for age were significantly correlated with intelligence, but only with infant and under mortality rates did the association remain significant after controlling for socio-economic factors. A significant interaction between intelligence and literacy for under five mortality was due to literacy having a strong effect in the women of low intelligence, and a negligible effect among those of high intelligence. This study provides evidence that intelligence is an important determinant of child health among the illiterate, and that education may have the greatest impact on child health for mothers of relatively low intelligence.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Immediate and long-term results of the splinting for acute closure trial.

The ability of coronary splinting to salvage acute coronary occlusion was prospectively studied in 22 patients whose coronary occlusion was refractory to a 15-min balloon dilatation. Splinting was successful in 20 patients (91%). One patient required emergency bypass surgery, and one patient was treated medically for continued coronary occlusion. There was no late ischemic events. The peak CK was 1081 +/- 733 U/L and 1,451 +/- 1,646 U/L for the study and control patients (P = NS). The peak CK-MB was 110 +/- 102 mg/dl and 78 +/- 84 mg/dl, respectively (P = NS). There were no differences in electrocardiographic changes or Q-wave myocardial infarction between the groups. At 6-month follow-up, one patient required coronary artery bypass graft surgery. There were no late myocardial infarctions or deaths.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Efficacy of T cell depletion of surgically resected cadaveric marrows by monoclonal antibodies: considerations in HLA-mismatched marrow transplantation.

The potential therapeutic benefits of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) remain generally unavailable to patients who have diseases amenable to treatment by allogeneic BMT, but who lack an identifiable HLA-matched marrow donor. If graft versus host disease and graft rejection can be controlled, then the possibility of expanding allogeneic BMT to minimally HLA-matched or fully mismatched combinations exists and a "universal" donor marrow bank might be established. Towards this end, we have evaluated surgical harvest of cadaveric marrow, T cell depletion of such marrow (for prevention of graft-versus-host disease), influence of surgical harvest on final T cell content, and final cell yield. Marrow harvest was coordinated with the donation of other tissues or organs of cadaveric origin. In a series of twenty-two surgical vertebral body harvests, the initial marrow yield per vertebral body was 4.5 x 10(9) with four to six vertebral bodies per harvest. T cell depletion was evaluated by a limiting dilution assay. Since a combination of multiple monoclonal antibodies with specificity for T cell surface molecules provided greater reproducibility in the depletion of T cells from marrow than the utilization of any single antibody, a pool of monoclonal antibodies and complement were used to treat the marrow. The final cell yield per vertebral body was 2.1 x 10(9) for an average total yield of 9.3 x 10(9) cells per harvest. T cell content for each marrow following T cell depletion was less than 0.001%. These marrow have been cryopreserved as a bank of characterized donor marrow for use in HLA minimally matched or unmatched marrow transplantation.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1985

The Tweener maneuver.

A modification of standard microvascular anastomosis procedure is presented, which helps in training and improves clinical technique by conservation of motion. The speed of anastomosis is at least as rapid as the posterior wall technique on which it is based, and it has the advantage of having fewer unused penetrations of the vessel wall and better eversion of the edges.

Humans↗
PubMed1979

Multiple granular cell tumors of the bronchi: treatment with laser.

Granular cell tumors involving multiple bronchial and extrapulmonary sites were found in a young man. Carbon dioxide laser ray was applied through a specially fitted rigid bronchoscope to a lesion at the left mainstem bronchus. Serial follow-up bronchoscopies revealed a white scarred plaque without evidence of regrowth. A partially obstructing lesion at the left lower lobe bronchus did not respond to one application of laser therapy. Laser treatment of proximal benign bronchial lesions is feasible; however, peripheral lesions may require several courses of laser therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Effects of high-dose cyanate upon cerebral energy metabolism of the rat.

The effect of sodium cyanate (25, 50, 75, and 100 mg/kg body weight i.p. daily for 10 days) upon cerebral metabolism and the EEG of Wistar rats was studied. This treatment resulted in a dose-related carbamylation of hemoglobin and left shift in the oxygen dissociation curve. Animals receiving the highest dose of cyanate developed a significant systemic metabolic acidosis. In brain there was dose-dependent decrease in phosphocreatine, TCO2 and cytoplasmic NADH/NAD+ ratio, reflecting the calculated drop in intracellular pH. Glucose levels were elevated despite a normal calculated energy charge, which suggests a balanced slowing of the energy-producing and energy-utilizing systems. The higher doses of cyanate produced spontaneous seizure activity on the EEG.

Animals↗