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Biomedical subjects

J L Montgomery

Publications and source records attributed to J L Montgomery.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Effects of biological type of beef steers on vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus status.

Feedlot steers (n = 36) from three biological types (Bos indicus, Bos taurus-Continental, and Bos taurus-English) were used to determine the Ca, P, and vitamin D3 status of feedlot cattle. The USDA yield and quality grade traits were measured at slaughter, and the concentrations of vitamin D3 (VITD) and the metabolites 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OH D) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2 D) were determined in LM, liver, kidney, and plasma. Plasma and muscle Ca and P concentrations also were determined. Biological type of cattle affected a number of carcass traits. Carcasses from Bos taurus-English cattle had more marbling, resulting in higher quality grades (P < 0.05). Carcasses from Bos taurus-Continental cattle had lower calculated yield grades (P < 0.05) than did carcasses from cattle in the other biological types. In general, differences in carcass traits resulting from biological type were consistent with other reports. Plasma and LM Ca and P concentrations were not affected (P = 0.06) by biological type of cattle, indicating that Ca and P homeostasis is a conserved trait across the different types of cattle. Plasma VITD and 25-OH D concentrations were not affected (P = 0.41) by biological type, whereas plasma 1,25-(OH)2 D concentration was lower (P < 0.05) in Bos taurus-English cattle than in Bos taurus-Continental and Bos indicus cattle. Liver VITD and 25-OH D were not affected by biological type (P = 0.76), but liver 1,25-(OH)2 D concentration was greater (P < 0.05) in Bos indicus cattle than in Bos taurus-Continental cattle. Kidney vitamin D metabolite concentrations were not affected by biological type of cattle (P = 0.21). Muscle VITD concentration was greater (P < 0.05) in Bos taurus-English cattle than in the other two biological types, and muscle 25-OH D concentrations were greater (P < 0.05) in Bos taurus-English cattle than in Bos indicus cattle. Muscle 1,25-(OH)2 D concentration was less (P < 0.05) in the Bos taurus-Continental cattle than in the other two biological types. Cooking eliminated vitamin D metabolite differences among the biological types. Our results suggest that Bos indicus cattle had greater 1,25-(OH)2 D (the biologically active form) in tissues, and greater 1,25-(OH)2 D plasma concentrations than Bos taurus cattle. Thus, the need for VITD supplementation and optimal levels of Ca and P in feedlot diets might differ between Bos indicus and Bos taurus cattle.

Animal Feed↗

Supplemental vitamin D3 concentration and biological type of beef steers. I. Feedlot performance and carcass traits.

Because of the Ca dependency of the calpains, oral supplementation of vitamin D3 (VITD) can increase the Ca content of muscle to activate the calpains and improve tenderness. Feedlot steers (n = 142) were arranged in a 4 x 3 factorial arrangement consisting of four levels of VITD (0, 0.5, 1, and 5 million IU/[steer x d]) for eight consecutive days antemortem using three biological types (Bos indicus, Bos taurus-Continental, and Bos taurus-English). Feedlot performance factors of ADG, DMI, and G:F were measured, and carcass quality, yield, and color data were collected. Plasma Ca and P concentrations were measured during d 4 to 6 of supplementation and at exsanguination, and carcass pH and temperature were measured in the LM at 3 and 24 h postmortem. Vitamin D3 treatment at 5 million IU/(steer x d) decreased ADG (P < 0.05) over the supplementation and feed intake for the last 2 d of feeding compared with untreated control steers. Likewise, G:F was decreased (P = 0.03) in steers supplemented with 5 million IU/d compared with controls. Overall, there was a linear decrease (P < 0.01) in ADG and G:F as a result of VITD supplementation. Plasma concentrations of Ca and P were increased (P < 0.05) by VITD concentrations of 1 and 5 million IU/(steer x d). All VITD treatments increased (P < 0.05) LM temperature at 3 h postmortem and pH at 24 h postmortem. Vitamin D3 treatments did not affect (P = 0.07) any other carcass measurements, including USDA yield and quality grade; thus, any improvements in meat tenderness as a result of VITD supplementation can be made without adversely affecting economically important carcass factors. Biological type of cattle did not interact with VITD treatment for any carcass or feedlot performance trait. Although feeding 5 million IU/(steer x d) of VITD for eight consecutive days had negative effects on performance, supplementing VITD at 0.5 million IU/ (steer x d) did not significantly alter feedlot performance.

Animal Feed↗

Supplemental vitamin D3 concentration and biological type of steers. II. Tenderness, quality, and residues of beef.

Vitamin D3 was orally supplemented to determine the supplemental dose that improved beef tenderness in different cattle breed types. Feedlot steers (n = 142) were arranged in a 4 x 3 factorial arrangement consisting of four levels of supplemental vitamin D3 (0, 0.5, 1, and 5 million IU/steer daily) administered for eight consecutive days antemortem using three biological types (Bos indicus, Bos Taurus-Continental, and Bos Taurus-English). Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) was measured at 3, 7, 10, 14, and 21 d postmortem, and trained sensory analysis was conducted at 7 d postmortem on LM, semimembranosus, gluteus medius, and supraspinatus steaks. Concentrations of vitamin D3 and the metabolites 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 were determined in the LM, liver, kidney, and plasma. Biological type of cattle did not interact (P > 0.10) with vitamin D3 supplementation for sensory or tenderness traits, suggesting that feeding vitamin D3 for 8 d before slaughter affected the different biological types of cattle similarly. Supplementing steers with 0.5, 1, or 5 million IU/(steer(d) decreased (P < 0.05) LM WBSF at 7, 10, 14, and 21 d postmortem compared with controls, and vitamin D3 treatments of 0.5, 1, and 5 million IU decreased (P < 0.05) semimembranosus WBSF at 3, 7, and 14 d postmortem. In general, vitamin D3-induced improvements in WBSF were most consistent and intense in LM steaks. Sensory panel tenderness was improved (P < 0.05) by all vitamin D3 treatments in LM steaks. Sensory traits ofjuiciness, flavor, connective tissue, and off-flavor were not (P > 0.05) affected by vitamin D3 treatments. All vitamin D3 treatments decreased micro-calpain activity and increased muscle Ca concentrations (P < 0.05). Vitamin D3 concentrations were increased (P < 0.05) by supplementation in all tissues tested (liver, kidney, LM, and plasma); however, cooking steaks to 71 degrees C decreased (P < 0.05) treatment residue effects. The vitamin D metabolite 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 was increased (P < 0.05) only in plasma samples as a result of the vitamin D3 treatments. These results indicate that supplementation with vitamin D3 at 0.5 million IU/steer daily for eight consecutive days before slaughter improved tenderness in steaks from different subprimal cuts by affecting muscle Ca concentrations, micro-calpain activities, and muscle proteolysis, with only a small effect on tissue residues of vitamin D3.

Administration, Oral↗

Effect of supplemental vitamin D3 concentration on concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium relative to protein in subcellular components of the longissimus and the distribution of calcium within longissimus muscle of beef steers.

The effect of supplementing diets with various levels of vitamin D3 to provide 0, 0.5, 1, and 5 million IU/(steer x d) for 8 d before slaughter on the mineral content and localization of Ca in LM and muscle fragments was studied during the postmortem aging process. Twelve feedlot steers of three biological types were given access to the four levels of vitamin D for 8 d before slaughter. Differential centrifugation techniques were used to determine the concentrations of minerals relative to protein in different muscle fragments on d 3 and 21 postmortem. Electron microscopy visualization of bound Ca indicated that vitamin D3 mobilized Ca from the sarcoplasmic reticulum and transverse tubule system into the myofibrils. Bound Ca was concentrated near the Z-line at the A-band/I-band juncture within the sarcomere. Supplementing steers with 1 and 5 million IU/(steer x d) of vitamin D3 increased (P < 0.05) Ca, P, and Mg concentrations per unit of protein in the cytosol. Soluble cytosolic Ca concentrations were greater (P < 0.05) on d 21 than on d 3 postmortem only when steers were supplemented with 5 million IU/d. Concentrations of Ca, P, and Mg in isolated tissues were increased (P < 0.05) in nuclei and myofibrilar proteins by supplementing steers with 1 and 5 million IU/ (steer x d) of vitamin D3. All supplemental vitamin D3 treatments also increased (P < 0.001) Mg concentrations in the cytosol, regardless of aging treatment, and increased Mg concentrations (P < 0.04) within the mitochondria at d 3 postmortem. Thus, supplementation of feedlot steers with vitamin D3 at levels of 0.5 to 5 million IU/(steer x d) increased Ca concentrations within respiring muscle, resulting in increased bound tissue Ca concentrations. When the respiring muscle was converted to meat, the increased bound tissue Ca resulting from vitamin D3 treatment released Ca concentrations into the cytosol during aging (P < 0.05). Results of this study indicate that vitamin D3 supplementation increased total cytosolic Ca, P, and Mg concentrations in meat.

Animals↗

Protein turnover and sensory traits of longissimus muscle from implanted and nonimplanted heifers.

Primary bovine muscle cell culture studies were conducted to determine whether implanting heifers had a direct effect on in vitro protein synthesis and degradation and to determine the effect of implanting heifers on longissimus muscle palatability. Feedlot heifers (n = 96) were administered one of six implant regimens to characterize their effect on in vitro amino acid uptake and protein degradation. Treatments consisted of: 1) a nonimplanted control (NI/NI); 2) no implant on d 1 and Revalor-H administered on d 84 of the experiment (NI/Rev); 3) Revalor-H on d 1, but no implant given at d 84 (Rev/NI); 4) Revalor-H administered on d 1 and d 84 (Rev/Rev); 5) Revalor-IH administered on d 1 and Revalor-H at d 84 (RIH/Rev); and 6) Synovex-H given at d 1 and Revalor-H administered at d 84 (Syn/Rev). Blood and longissimus lumborum muscle were collected 20 min postmortem, and serum and muscle extracts were incubated with primary bovine muscle cells. Implant treatments had minimal effects on shear force and sensory traits; however, steaks from Rev/Rev heifers were 0.31 kg more tender (P < 0.05) than steaks from NI/NI heifers. Serum protein synthesis and degradation were not affected (P > 0.10) by any implant treatment. When primary bovine muscle cells were treated with muscle extract, amino acid uptake was greater for heifers implanted with Rev/ Rev than for the average of all other treatments (P < 0.01). The Rev/Rev implant regimen also increased (P < 0.05) amino acid uptake compared with heifers treated with RIH/Rev, Syn/Rev, NI/NI, NI/Rev, or Rev/NI. Cellular protein degradation of the muscle cell culture treated with muscle extract tended (P < 0.10) to be higher in NI/NI-treated cells compared with the average of all implant treatments. In addition, cells treated with muscle extract from heifers implanted with Rev/Rev had lower (P < 0.05) protein degradation than the NI/NI control heifers. These results indicate that anabolic implant strategies can directly affect both muscle protein synthesis and degradation via effects that seem to be more autocrine than paracrine in nature.

Amino Acids↗

Measurement of protein synthesis and degradation in C2C2) myoblasts using extracts of muscle from hormone treated bovine.

A detailed methodology is described for determination of treatment effects on muscle cell protein synthesis and muscle cell protein degradation in a cell culture system. C(2)C(22) mouse myoblasts were treated with growth media containing muscle extracts from bovine treated with different pharmaceutical agents. Radiolabeled amino acids were added to the growth media to determine treatment effects on protein synthesis and protein degradation. Percent protein synthesis was calculated by measuring amino acid uptake as a percentage over internal control. Percent protein degradation was measured using a pulse chase technique. These procedures will allow researchers to determine treatment effects on overall protein synthesis and degradation in vitro in a relatively short amount of time without excessive costs. A second benefit is that animals do not have to be fed radiolabeled feedstuffs. These procedures are not intended to elucidate the mechanisms behind pharmaceutical enhancement of muscle cell protein synthesis or protein degradation.

Amino Acids↗

Effect of vitamin D3 supplementation level on the postmortem tenderization of beef from steers.

The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of different doses of vitamin D3 (VITD) on beef feedlot performance, plasma and muscle Ca2+, tissue residues, and improvement of Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBS) and panel tenderness. A total of 167 steers were fed one of six levels of VITD. The VITD treatments (28 steers/treatment) were 0, 0.5 x 10(6), 1 x 10(6), 2.5 x 10(6), 5 x 10(6), and 7.5 x 10(6) IU/steer daily of VITD fed nine consecutive days before slaughter. Feedlot performance and plasma Ca2+ were measured during the last 21 days on feed. Warner-Bratzler shear force was measured on strip loin and top round steaks at 7, 10, 14, and 21 d postmortem. The VITD treatments of 5 and 7.5 x 10(6) IU/steer daily decreased (P < 0.05) ADG, and VITD supplementation of 2.5, 5, and 7.5 x 10(6) IU/steer daily decreased average dry matter feed intake (P < 0.05) at the end of the feeding trial. Plasma Ca2+ increased linearly with VITD treatment (P < 0.01). Calpastatin and calpain activity were not influenced by treatment (P > 0.05), but muscle Ca2+ was increased (P < 0.05) by VITD treatments of 1, 2.5, 5, and 7.5 10(6) IU/steer daily. Feeding VITD did not influence (P > 0.05) carcass quality or yield traits. Supplementing VITD at levels of 1, 2.5, 5, and 7.5 10(6) IU/steer daily increased (P < 0.05) VITD concentrations in strip loin and liver samples. Cooking liver decreased VITD concentrations 10 to 28%. Vitamin D3 treatments of 0.5 and 7.5 x 10(6) IU/d reduced strip loin steak WBS at d 7 (P < 0.05), but VITD treatments did not decrease strip loin steak WBS at any other time postmortem. The VITD treatments of 0.5, 1, and 5 x 10(6) IU/steer daily decreased top round steak WBS at 7 d, and all VITD treatments decreased 10-d top round steak WBS (P < 0.05). Supplementing steers with 0.5 x 10(6) IU/steer daily of VITD also decreased (P < 0.05) top round steak WBS at 21 d postmortem compared with controls. Sensory tenderness at 7 d postmortem was increased (P < 0.05) by all VITD treatments in top round steaks, yet strip loin tenderness scores were not affected (P > 0.05) by VITD treatment. Treatment with VITD quadratically decreased (P < 0.05) round WBS. Thus, VITD treatment will effectively improve tenderness when cattle tend to be tough and have no impact on cattle that produce tender beef. Feeding steers 0.5 x 10(6) IU of VITD daily for 9 d improved tenderness in two muscles without negatively affecting feedlot performance or tissue residues.

Administration, Oral↗

Shear gradient in longissimus steaks.

Boneless top loin subprimals (n = 320) from Slight and Small marbled carcasses were fabricated into 2.54-cm thick steaks to determine core location effects on tenderness. In Exp. 1, top loins were aged to 7 d before steaks were cut and cooked to an internal temperature of 71 degrees C. After cooking, a maximum of 15 1.27-cm diameter cores were removed and sheared with a Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) device. There was not a marbling score x core location interaction (P = 0.36). However, there was a main effect of core location (P < 0.01). Cores from the medial, middle, and lateral portion of the longissimus muscle (LM) aged for 7 d differed, with less resistance (P < 0.05) in the medial than the lateral end. Also, there was an effect of marbling score on WBSF, with Small-marbled steaks having lower (P < 0.02) WBSF values than Slight-marbled steaks. In a second experiment, steaks were removed from the middle of the top loin subprimals and aged an additional 7 d to produce 14-d aged steaks. Shear values decreased (P < 0.05) from Exp. 1 to 2 for all core locations. Neither the main effect of marbling score nor the core location x marbling score interaction was significant (P > 0.40); however, the same lateral to medial gradient in WBSF values was discovered again in Exp. 2. Both experiments indicated there were regions of WBSF values that differed (P < 0.05) across the cross section of the LM producing a shear-force/tenderness gradient, with the most medial cores having the lowest WBSF values in both experiments independent of marbling score. Regression analyses indicated the middle and center portions of LM steaks tended to have the most predictive capacity of average WBSF. Because of the variability in tenderness caused by location within the LM, care should be exercised when selecting sampling areas for the measurements of tenderness using the WBSF measure.

Aging↗

Tasco-Forage: III. Influence of a seaweed extract on performance, monocyte immune cell response, and carcass characteristics in feedlot-finished steers.

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) infected with the endophyte Neotyphodium coenophialum ([Morgan-Jones and Gams] Glenn, Bacon, and Hanlin) causes fescue toxicosis in cattle grazing the forage, but effects of the endophyte were considered to be abated soon after removal of the animals from pastures. Tasco-Forage, a proprietary extract from the brown seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum, is a known source of cytokinins and has increased antioxidant activity in both plants and the animals that graze the forage. Tasco was applied at 0 and 3.4 kg/ha to infected and uninfected tall fescue pastures in Virginia and Mississippi. Forty-eight steers grazed the pastures at each location during each of 2 yr (n = 192) before being transported to Texas for feedlot finishing. On arrival at the feedlot, steers from Tasco-treated pastures had higher (P < 0.01) monocyte phagocytic activity and tended (P < 0.07) to have higher major histocompatibility complex class II expression than steers that grazed the untreated pastures. A depression (P < 0.05) in monocyte immune cell function due to grazing infected fescue was detected throughout the feedlot finishing period but was reversed by Tasco. Rectal temperatures were elevated (P < 0.07) in steers that had grazed the infected tall fescue when they arrived in Texas, but by d 14 no difference was detected. However, by d 28 the temperature effects of infected tall fescue were reversed. Steers that had grazed infected fescue had lower (P < 0.01) rectal temperatures on d 112 of the feedlot period, demonstrating a much longer-lasting effect of the endophyte on thermoregulatory mechanisms than previously thought. Steers that had grazed Tasco-treated pastures had higher (P < 0.01) rectal temperatures on d 56 than steers that had grazed untreated fescue. Steers that had grazed the Tasco-treated pastures had higher marbling scores (P < 0.05) regardless of the endophyte, but no effect of Tasco or endophyte on gain was measured. Our data suggest that Tasco application to tall fescue pastures alleviated some of the negative effects of tall fescue toxicity.

Animal Feed↗

Tasco-Forage: IV. Influence of a seaweed extract applied to tall fescue pastures on sensory characteristics, shelf-life, and vitamin E status in feedlot-finished steers.

Tasco-Forage is an Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed-based product that has increased antioxidant activity in both plants and animals. Endophyte (Neotyphodium coenophialum ([Morgan-Jones and Gams] Glenn, Bacon, and Hanlin)-infected and uninfected tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) pastures in Virginia and Mississippi during 1997 were treated or not with 3.4 kg Tasco/ha in April and July. There were two replications of each treatment at each location. Forty-eight steers (6/replication) grazed pastures at each location (n = 96) from April to October prior to transportation to Texas Tech, Lubbock, for finishing during a 160-d period in the feedlot. Blood (antemortem) and liver (postmortem) samples were collected. After slaughter and chilling, the left strip loins (IMPS #180) were collected from three randomly selected steers from within each pasture replication (n = 48). Strip loins were vacuum-packaged and stored at 2 degrees C. At postmortem d 7, 14, 21, and 28, strip loins were removed from packaging and fabricated into 2.54-cm steaks. Following each fabrication day postmortem, the strip loins were repackaged and stored at 2 degrees C until the following postmortem time. After the prescribed fabrication, steaks were overwrapped with polyvinyl chloride film, subjected to simulated retail display at 2 degrees C for up to 3 d, and subjective and objective color were evaluated daily by a trained panel. Steaks from Mississippi steers that had grazed Tasco-treated fescue retained higher (P < 0.05) CIE a* color scores throughout retail display. Steaks were more uniform and had less discoloration and less browning (P < 0.05) if they were from steers that had grazed Tasco-treated fescue, and the effect was greatest for steers from Mississippi (location x Tasco interaction; P < 0.05). The endophyte in tall fescue may decrease uniformity and increase lean discoloration and two-toning of beef steaks when removed from vacuum packaging on or beyond d 21 postmortem (endophyte x Tasco x postmortem day interaction: P < 0.05). Vitamin E in liver was increased (P < 0.06) and serum vitamin E was decreased (P < 0.09) in steers that had grazed the treated pastures. These experiments indicated that Tasco applied to tall fescue during the grazing season can improve color stability and extend beef shelf-life, particularly in cattle grazing infected tall fescue. The mode of action of Tasco is not clear, but antioxidants and specific vitamins may be involved.

Aging↗

A new twist in trypanosome RNA metabolism: cis-splicing of pre-mRNA.

It has been known for almost a decade and a half that in trypanosomes all mRNAs are trans-spliced by addition to the 5' end of the spliced leader (SL) sequence. During the same time period the conviction developed that classical cis-splicing introns are not present in the trypanosome genome and that the trypanosome gene arrangement is highly compact with small intergenic regions separating one gene from the next. We have now discovered that these tenets are no longer true. Poly(A) polymerase (PAP) genes in Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi are split by intervening sequences of 653 and 302 nt, respectively. The intervening sequences occur at identical positions in both organisms and obey the GT/AG rule of cis-splicing introns. PAP mRNAs are trans-spliced at the very 5' end as well as internally at the 3' splice site of the intervening sequence. Interestingly, 11 nucleotide positions past the actual 5' splice site are conserved between the T. bruceiand T. cruzi introns. Point mutations in these conserved positions, as well as in the AG dinucleotide of the 3' splice site, abolish intron removal in vivo. Our results, together with the recent discovery of cis-splicing introns in Euglena gracilis, suggest that both trans- and cis-splicing are ancient acquisitions of the eukaryotic cell.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The use of vitamin D3 to improve beef tenderness.

An experiment was designed to test the hypothesis that short-term oral administration of dietary vitamin D3 to beef cattle before slaughter would increase beef tenderness through greater calcium-activated calpain activity in postmortem aged skeletal muscle. Thirty continental crossbred steers were allotted randomly to three treatment groups housed in one pen. One group served as a control; two other groups were administered boluses with either 5 x 10(6) or 7.5 x 10(6) IU of vitamin D3 daily for 9 d. Cattle were slaughtered 1 d later. The longissimus lumborum was excised from each carcass 72 h postmortem and steaks removed at 3, 7, 14, and 21 d postmortem. The semimembranosus muscle (top round) was excised from each carcass 72 h postmortem and steaks removed at 7, 14, and 21 d postmortem. Blood plasma calcium concentration of cattle treated with 5 or 7.5 x 10(6) IU of vitamin D3 was higher (P < .05) than that of controls. Strip loin and top loin steaks from cattle fed supplemental doses of vitamin D3 had lower (P < .05) Warner-Bratzler (W-B) shear values at 14 d postmortem but were not significantly different from controls at 3, 7, or 21 d (strip loins) or 7 or 21 d (top rounds). No significant difference in strip loin steak tenderness was observed by sensory panel at 14 d postmortem (P < .17) between steaks from control and vitamin D3-treated steers. At 14 d postmortem, strip loin and top round steaks from cattle fed 5 x 10(6) IU of vitamin D3, but not from those given 7.5 x 10(6) IU, showed more proteolysis (P < .05) than did steaks from control cattle, based on Western blotting analysis. Therefore, the use of supplemental dietary vitamin D3 given daily for 9 d before slaughter did improve tenderness (lower W-B shear values) of 14-d postmortem aged beef. Increased proteolysis seems to be the mechanism of tenderization.

Administration, Oral↗

Say no to inadequate tort reform.

From his vantage point as president of a large multispecialty group practice. Dr Montgomery has observed the direct effects that medical malpractice liability has had on healthcare costs. Here he offers a counterpoint to the Clinton plan's malpractice provisions and enumerates his own recommendations for meaningful tort reform.

Group Practice↗

Brush-border tyrosine phosphorylation stimulates ileal neutral NaCl absorption and brush-border Na(+)-H+ exchange.

The drug genistein, a tyrosine (Tyr) kinase inhibitor, was used to define a role for Tyr phosphorylation in regulation of basal and stimulated neutral NaCl absorption in rabbit ileum. Brush-border vesicles contain Tyr-phosphorylated peptides. Genistein freeze-thawed into the vesicles caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of at least three peptides with M(r) 111,000, 83,000, and 80,000. Studied with the Ussing chamber-voltage clamp technique, genistein added to the ileal mucosal surface inhibited neutral NaCl absorption. Direct addition of genistein to brush-border vesicles made from ileal villus cells inhibited brush-border Na(+)-H+ exchange but not D-glucose-stimulated Na+ uptake. These effects were not duplicated by genistin, a drug with similar structure to genistein but lacking Tyr kinase inhibiting properties. Serosal but not mucosal epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulated NaCl absorption. Mucosal genistein but not genistin also altered second-messenger regulation of neutral NaCl absorption, inhibiting the effect of Ca2+ ionophore A-23187 and of serosal EGF but not affecting the transport changes caused by 8-bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-BrcAMP). In contrast, the Cl secretory effects indicated by the increase in short-circuit current for all three agents, A-23187, EGF, and 8-BrcAMP, were inhibited by mucosal genistein. These results suggest that 1) a Tyr kinase is involved in basally stimulating ileal neutral NaCl absorption and brush-border Na(+)-H+ exchange; 2) EGF stimulates NaCl absorption by an effect exerted from the serosal surface, but the effect also involves a brush-border Tyr kinase; 3) brush-border Tyr kinase is involved in the ability of Ca2+ ionophore A-23187 to inhibit neutral NaCl absorption but is not involved in the transport effects of cAMP. This study suggests that Tyr kinase(s) acting over short time periods is involved in stimulation of neutral NaCl absorption and brush-border Na(+)-H+ exchange and also in Ca(2+)-induced inhibition of NaCl absorption. These studies represent the first example of a brush-border Tyr kinase being involved in short-term signal transduction in intestinal epithelial cells.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate↗

Radiographic evaluation of cervical spine trauma. Procedures to avoid catastrophe.

A cervical spine series that includes three views (ie, lateral, open-mouth odontoid, and anteroposterior) is usually adequate to exclude unstable injuries that have the potential for producing spinal cord injury. The films should be of the highest quality and need to be carefully and systematically viewed. Knowledge of cervical spine anatomy and of common types of injuries (including their mechanisms) is essential for accurate interpretation. Conventional tomography, computed tomography, and flexion and extension lateral views may be helpful when findings on the three-view series are equivocal. In patients with neurologic deficits, further radiographic evaluation is also warranted.

Atlanto-Axial Joint↗

Glucocorticoid stimulation of ileal Na+ absorptive cell brush border Na+/H+ exchange and association with an increase in message for NHE-3, an epithelial Na+/H+ exchanger isoform.

Methylprednisolone stimulates rabbit ileal neutral NaCl absorption; and aminoglutethimide, which decreases glucocorticoid levels, decreases NaCl absorption. Studies were carried out to determine the mechanism of these effects and to determine which members of the gene family of mammalian Na+/H+ exchangers were involved. Rabbits were treated subcutaneously with methylprednisolone (40 mg daily for 24 or 72 h), aminoglutethimide (100 mg twice daily for 72 h), or saline as a control. Ileal brush border membranes were prepared by magnesium precipitation, and brush border Na+/H+ exchange was determined by 22Na+ uptake over 3-8 s. The 22Na+ uptake experiments were performed in the presence of a voltage clamp using either valinomycin/potassium or tetramethylammonium/nitrate to eliminate potential contributions by other electrogenic transport processes. Methylprednisolone treatment approximately doubled ileal brush border Na+/H+ exchange, whereas aminoglutethimide led to a 50% decrease in Na+/H+ exchange. These effects were specifically on Na+ uptake with an acid inside pH gradient, whereas diffusive Na+ uptake (no pH gradient), glucose-dependent Na+ uptake, and glucose and Na+ equilibrium volumes were not affected. To determine if the increase in Na+/H+ exchange was associated with an increase in message expression, mRNA levels were measured by ribonuclease protection assay. Methylprednisolone stimulated the NHE-3 mRNA level by 4-6-fold at 24 h, which remained increased at 72 h. In contrast, messages for NHE-1 and NHE-2 were not affected by methylprednisolone. In summary, 1) methylprednisolone stimulation of rabbit ileal Na+ absorption is due to stimulation of ileal villus cell brush border Na+/H+ exchange; 2) basal ileal brush border Na+/H+ exchange is dependent on glucocorticoid levels; and 3) an increase in NHE-3 message, but not in NHE-1 or NHE-2 message, correlates with the stimulation of ileal brush border Na+/H+ exchange. It is likely that NHE-3 is an Na+/H+ exchanger that is involved in ileal Na+ absorption.

Aminoglutethimide↗

Preventing death after traumatic rupture of the aorta. A chest film may help save a life.

Traumatic rupture of the aorta is a life-threatening injury that necessitates immediate diagnosis and surgical repair. Diagnosis depends on recognition of findings on a plain chest film, specifically, mediastinal widening, left hemothorax, and an apical cap sign. Aortography should be done immediately to establish the diagnosis when clinical and/or radiographic findings suggest a rupture.

Aorta, Thoracic↗