Biomedical subjects

Jessica White

Publications and source records attributed to Jessica White.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

SAGE of the developing wheat caryopsis.

Understanding the development of the cereal caryopsis holds the future for metabolic engineering in the interests of enhancing global food production. We have developed a Serial Analysis of Gene Expression (SAGE) data platform to investigate the developing wheat (Triticum aestivum) caryopsis. LongSAGE libraries have been constructed at five time-points post-anthesis to coincide with key processes in caryopsis development. More than 90,000 LongSAGE tags have been sequenced generating 29,261 unique tag sequences across all five libraries. Tag abundance, generated from cumulative tag counts, provides insight into the redundancy and diversity of each library. Annotation of the 500 most abundant tags spanning development highlights the array of functional groups being expressed. The relative frequency of these more abundant transcripts allows quantitative analysis of patterns of expression during grain development. We have identified activities of cellular proliferation/differentiation, the accumulation of storage proteins and starch biosynthesis. The abundance of calcium-dependent protein kinases indicate their importance in signalling across development. Acquisition of a broad array of defence coincides with storage accumulation and is dominated by inhibitors of amylase activity. Differential expression profiles of abundant tags from each library reveal the coordinated expression of genes responsible for the cellular events constituting caryopsis development. This SAGE platform has also provided a resource of novel sequence and expression information including the identification of potentially useful promoter activities. Further investigations into both the abundant and low expressing transcripts will provide greater insight into wheat caryopsis development and assist in wheat improvement programmes.

Gene Expression Profiling↗

PubMed2006

Abundant transcripts of malting barley identified by serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE).

Serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) was applied to the major cereal crop barley (Hordeum vulgare) to characterize the transcriptional profile of grain during the malting process. Seven SAGE libraries were generated from seed at different time points during malting, in addition to one library from dry mature seed. A total of 155,206 LongSAGE tags, representing 41,909 unique sequences, was generated. This study reports an in-depth analysis of the most abundant transcripts from each of eight specific time points in a malting barley time course. The 100 most abundant tags from each library were analysed to identify the putative functional role of highly abundant transcripts. The largest functional groups included transcripts coding for stress response and cell defence, ribosomal proteins and storage proteins. The most abundant tag represented B22EL8, a barley metallothionein, which showed significant up-regulation across the malting time course. Considerable changes in the abundance profiles of some of the highly abundant tags occurred at 24 h post-steeping, indicating that it may be an important time point for gene expression changes associated with barley seed germination.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2006

Effects of three food enrichment items on the behavior of black lemurs (Eulemur macaco macaco) and Ringtail Lemurs (Lemur catta) at the Henson Robinson Zoo, Springfield, Illinois.

This study tested 3 food enrichment items mentioned in a laboratory primate newsletter with 6 adult Eulemur macaco and 3 adult Lemur catta to examine whether the items would affect the behavior of the lemurs. The results suggest that Food Enrichment Item 3 (a wire box filled with whole grapes, apples, or both hidden in straw hung from a branch within the enclosure) caused a significant decrease in the incidence of resting and a significant increase in the incidences of playing and grooming, with no significant effect on the incidence of feeding or foraging. The lemurs' behavior appeared to be most affected by the food enrichment item that required the most manipulation, closely followed by an enrichment that required a moderate amount of manipulation. The order of the exposure to the food enrichment items and the day of the week appear to have an attenuation effect on these behaviors and did affect the incidence of 3 stereotypic behaviors exhibited by a male L. catta such that 3 behaviors declined in occurrence as the study progressed.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Vaccination with gp120-depleted HIV-1 plus immunostimulatory CpG oligodeoxynucleotides in incomplete Freund's adjuvant stimulates cellular and humoral immunity in rhesus macaques.

Whole killed human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) immunogens contain the more conserved epitopes of HIV-1 and therefore may provide some utility as potential HIV-1 vaccine candidates. Previous studies have shown that synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) containing unmethylated cytosine-guanine (CpG) dinucleotides trigger rapid stimulation of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Here, we investigated whether immunization of rhesus macaques with an inactivated gp120-depleted HIV-1 immunogen, emulsified in incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) together with immunostimulatory CpG-containing ODN (ODN 2006), would elicit HIV-specific cellular and humoral immune responses. High titer anti-p24 antibody levels were induced in all four immunized animals that were sustained 6 weeks after the fifth and final boost at 23 months. These anti-gag antibodies mapped to linear B-cell epitopes within the matrix (MA), capsid (CA), p2, nucleocapsid (NC) and p6 proteins of HIV-1 gag. HIV-specific interferon-gamma-producing CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses were measured before and after the fourth and fifth immunizations by both intracellular cytokine (ICC) and ELISPOT techniques; responses were detected in three of the four immunized animals. CD4+ T-cell epitopes appear to map within amino acids 261-290 and 291-320 of p24 CA protein. Immunizations were well tolerated both locally and systemically. Based on these results, further studies of this approach are warranted.

AIDS Vaccines↗

PubMed2004

Race, ethnicity, and sociocultural characteristics predict noncompliance with lipid-lowering medications.

BACKGROUND: Sociocultural factors that predict noncompliance with lipid-lowering medications are not well understood. METHODS: Interviews and medical record review were conducted for 510 patients treated with lipid-lowering medications. Compliance with lipid-lowering medications was measured by patients' self-assessment of medication-taking practices. RESULTS: Adjusted for age and sex, there was a higher frequency of noncompliance among Black and Hispanic subjects. Adjusted for age, sex, and race/ethnicity, noncompliance was associated with medication side effects, feelings of sadness or depression, fair or poor health status, primary use of a language other than English, single or divorced status, fewer and less frequent contact with friends, children in the household, and lower education. Independent predictors of noncompliance in multivariate models were side effects (OR = 3.9, P < 0.01), sadness or depression (OR = 1.9, P = 0.05), Black (OR = 3.7, P < 0.01, vs. White), Hispanic (OR = 6.3, P < 0.01, vs. White), single or divorced (OR = 2.1, P < 0.01), children in the household (OR = 1.5 per child, P < 0.01), and lack of health insurance (OR = 2.4, P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Unmarried status, feelings of sadness or depression, lack of insurance, and children in the household were independently associated with poorer compliance with lipid-lowering medications in this urban population. Nonetheless, higher noncompliance among minority patients persisted independently of these and other specific social, cultural, and economic factors.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Initial head computed tomographic scan characteristics have a linear relationship with initial intracranial pressure after trauma.

BACKGROUND: Despite current recommendations by the Brain Trauma Foundation regarding the placement of intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring devices, advances in computed tomographic (CT) scan technology have led to the suggestion that increased ICP may be predicted by findings on admission head CT scan and that patients without such findings do not require such monitoring. A linear relationship exists between characteristics of admission head CT scan and initial ICP level, allowing for selective placement of ICP monitoring devices. METHODS: From 1997 to 2001, a retrospective review of patients admitted with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score < 8 and head CT scan who underwent ventriculostomy placement at our institution, was conducted. Patients undergoing craniotomy with evacuation of mass lesions before ventriculostomy placement were excluded. Age, sex, mechanism of injury, anoxia, osmotic treatment, presence of drugs/alcohol, initial mean arterial pressure, initial GCS score, and initial ICP were recorded. Initial head CT scans were reviewed independently by two neuroradiologists who were blinded to ICP measurements, neurosurgical treatment, patient outcome, and each other's interpretation. Initial CT scans were evaluated and scored on a 1 (normal) to 3 (abnormal) scale with respect to ventricle size, basilar cistern size, sulci size, degree of transfalcine herniation, and gray/white matter differentiation. Initial ICP readings and CT scan findings were compared to determine whether a significant linear relationship existed between the above CT scan findings and ICPs. Logistic and univariate linear regression were used to compare averaged radiologist score versus dichotomized ICP at baseline. RESULTS: Initial head CT scan characteristics show a linear relationship to baseline ICPs. These findings are associative, but are not uniformly predictive. CONCLUSION: Therefore, the current Brain Trauma Foundation recommendation of ICP monitoring in those patients presenting with a GCS score < 8 with an abnormal CT scan or a normal CT scan with age > 40 years, systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg, or exhibiting posturing should be followed.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Differences by age and race/ethnicity in knowledge about hypercholesterolemia.

This investigation sought to identify gaps in patients' knowledge about hypercholesterolemia and lipid-lowering therapy in an inner-city US population. Chart reviews and interviews were conducted for drug-treated hypercholesterolemic patients at 3 hospital-based cardiology practices in Bronx, NY. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess whether race/ethnicity, sex, and age were predictors of knowledge. Subjects (n = 467, age 65.3 years) were 55% female, 38% Hispanic, 32% black, and 25% white. Most recognized hypercholesterolemia as a cause of heart disease (88%) and stroke (76%), although older subjects (>70 years) and Hispanic subjects, particularly non-English speakers, were significantly less likely to know about cardiovascular disease risks associated with hypercholesterolemia. Only 14% recalled their recent cholesterol levels, and recall was significantly lower among black, Hispanic, and older subjects. Overall, 31% expected to require lipid-lowering medications indefinitely in the future, while 66% did not know how long they would need to continue using medications. Blacks and Hispanics were significantly less likely to believe that they would need to continue taking medications indefinitely. Achieved lipid levels and self-reported medication adherence were relatively favorable although were unrelated to knowledge levels. In summary, among hypercholesterolemic patients in an urban population, relatively few knew their own cholesterol levels or expected to require medications indefinitely in the future. Older patients, black and Hispanic patients, and non-English speakers were significantly less likely to have accurate knowledge about hypercholesterolemia. Therefore, patient and community education efforts targeted to specific populations may lead to improved management of hypercholesterolemia in inner-city regions.

Adult↗