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Biomedical subjects

J F Cameron

Publications and source records attributed to J F Cameron.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

On-wafer spectrofluorometric method for determination of relative quantum yields of photoacid generation in chemically amplified resists.

Chemically amplified resists (CARs) that employ acid catalysts are widely used throughout the semiconductor industry due to the need for high throughput in the lithography process. The quantum yield of the particular photoacid generator (PAG) used to generate a given acid ultimately limits the photospeed of the CAR. Determination of quantum yields of photoacid generation is therefore an important component of resist design. We report the development of an on-wafer spectrofluorometric technique for this purpose. This technique is based on one first reported by Feke et al. (J. Vac. Sci. Technol. 2000, B18, 136- 139), which involves doping the resist formulations containing the candidate PAGs with a fluorescent pH indicator dye, coating one wafer per PAG, patterning the wafers with a dose ramp, and spectroscopically imaging the wafers. The response curve of each PAG is spatially and spectrally encoded in the fluorescence images of each wafer. We investigate the efficacy of coumarin 6, a dye that was introduced as an acid sensor by Pohlers et al. (Chem. Mater. 1997, 9, 3222-3230) for this application. We further apply this technique to the determination of the quantum yield of photoacid generation of four candidate PAGs for prototype 193-nm CARs. This technique is convenient, fast, robust, and nondestructive.

Journal Article↗

Is the cost of home care greater than the cost of nonadherence? Catrina's journey through the maze of HIV medications and managed care.

This article describes the case study of Catrina, a 37-year-old African-American woman with AIDS. Because of managed care visit limitations, Catrina had four admissions to and three discharges from home care services surrounding three different regimens of highly active antiretroviral therapy. By highlighting the toll that the maze of managed care has had on her life, the authors raise issues regarding the inadequacy of home care reimbursement. The Motown and other musical headings in this article are dedicated to Catrina.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Conformational effects on retinoid receptor selectivity. 2. Effects of retinoid bridging group on retinoid X receptor activity and selectivity.

The natural retinoid 9-cis-retinoic acid is an activating ligand for both the retinoic acid receptors (RARs) and the retinoid X receptors (RXRs), which are members of the retinoid/thyroid hormone/steroid hormone family of nuclear receptor proteins that activate gene transcription through specific response elements. The pharmacophoric groups necessary to confer RXR selectivity were established by evaluating the ability of 21 conformationally restricted retinoids to activate the TREpal retinoic acid receptor response element for gene transcription in the presence of one of the three RAR subtypes or RXR alpha. In contrast to those retinoids selective for the RARs, these RXR-selective retinoids have one less atom in the bridge linking the hydrophobic and carboxylic acid termini of the retinoid skeleton. Therefore, a one-carbon bridge replaces the 19-methyl group and 9E-double bond of 9-cis-retinoic acid and is further functionalized by inclusion in an isopropylidene group, a dioxolane ring, or a cyclopropane ring for optimal RXR alpha activity and selectivity. In addition, the beta-geranylidene and 20-methyl-(11E,13E)-dienoic acid groups of 9-cis-retinoic acid are replaced by a 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-2-naphthalenyl ring and a 4-carboxylphenyl ring, respectively, for optimal activation and selectivity. RXR alpha selectivity is reduced on replacement of the 4-carboxylphenyl group by a 2-carboxyl-5-thienyl group or the 9-cis-retinoic acid methylpentadienoic acid terminus.

Cell Line↗

A new class of retinoids with selective inhibition of AP-1 inhibits proliferation.

Retinoids regulate many biological processes, including differentiation, morphogenesis and cell proliferation. They are also important therapeutic agents, but their clinical usefulness is limited because of side effects. Retinoid activities are mediated by specific nuclear receptors, the RARs and RXRs, which can induce transcriptional activation through specific DNA sites or by inhibiting the transcription factor AP-1 (refs 12-15), which usually mediates cell proliferation signals. Because the two types of receptor actions are mechanistically distinct, we investigated whether conformationally restricted retinoids, selective for each type of receptor action, could be identified. Here we describe a new class of retinoids that selectively inhibits AP-1 activity but does not activate transcription. These retinoids do not induce differentiation in F9 cells but inhibit effectively the proliferation of several tumour cell lines, and could thus serve as candidates for new retinoid therapeutic agents with reduced side effects.

Animals↗

9-cis-retinoic acid: effects on normal and leukemic hematopoiesis in vitro.

Retinoic acid exhibits effects on the proliferation and differentiation of many hematopoietic cells. Cellular responsiveness to retinoic acid (RA) is conferred through two distinct classes of nuclear receptors, the RA receptors (RARs) and the retinoid X receptors (RXRs). The RARs bind to both 9-cis- and all-trans-RAs, but 9-cis-RA alone directly binds and activates RXR. This suggested that 9-cis-RA could have expanded hematopoietic activities as compared with all-trans-RA. We compared the abilities of 9-cis- and all-trans-RAs to induce differentiation and inhibit proliferation of three acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cell lines and fresh leukemic cells from 28 patients and found that: (1) 9-cis-RA in general was more potent than all-trans-RA in suppressing the clonal growth of two AML cell lines and 17 AML samples from patients, including four from individuals with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Eleven leukemic samples, including three from patients with chronic myelogenous or chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, were relatively refractory to both retinoids. (2) The range of activities of both retinoids was similar except that the clonal growth of samples from three AML patients were inhibited by 9-cis-RA, but not by all-trans-RA. (3) Both retinoids inhibited the clonal proliferation of leukemia cells without necessarily inducing their differentiation; in fact, the only fresh AML cells that were able to undergo differentiation were from patients with APL and one individual with M2 AML. (4) Both retinoids enhanced myeloid and erythroid clonal growth from normal individuals, and 9-cis-RA showed slightly more stimulation of the myeloid clonal growth than did the all-trans-RA. Our study suggests that 9-cis-RA is worthy of further study for the treatment of selected individuals with AML.

Cell Differentiation↗

Retinoids selective for retinoid X receptor response pathways.

Retinoids have a broad spectrum of biological activities and are useful therapeutic agents. Their physiological activities are mediated by two types of receptors, the retinoic acid receptors (RARs) and the retinoid X receptors (RXRs). RARs, as well as several related receptors, require heterodimerization with RXRs for effective DNA binding and function. However, in the presence of 9-cis-retinoic acid, a ligand for both RARs and RXRs, RXRs can also form homodimers. A series of retinoids is reported that selectively activates RXR homodimers but does not affect RAR-RXR heterodimers and thus demonstrates that both retinoid response pathways can be independently activated.

Animals↗