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Biomedical subjects

K Jacobson

Publications and source records attributed to K Jacobson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The mechanism of altered neural function in a rat model of acute colitis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Distal colitis induced in rats by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) causes a suppression of [3H]noradrenaline release from the myenteric plexus, of inflamed distal colon, as well as in noninflamed regions of colon and ileum. The aim of this study was to explore the mechanisms underlying these neural changes in TNBS colitis. METHODS: Colitis was induced by intrarectal administration of TNBS, and the animals were killed on day 5. Inflammation was assessed by measuring myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and noradrenaline release was measured as 3H release from rats myenteric plexus preparations preloaded with [3H]noradrenaline. These end points were examined: (1) after administration of the locally active steroid budesonide; (2) in congenitally athymic rats; and (3) in rats treated with the interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) to interleukin 1 beta. RESULTS: In colitis, both topical budesonide and systemic IL-1ra treatments attenuated the suppression of KCl-evoked 3H release from longitudinal muscle myenteric plexus in both inflamed and noninflamed segments. However, neither of these treatments altered MPO activity. A similar suppression of [3H]noradrenaline release was observed in athymic rats after TNBS, although there was a substantially greater increase in MPO activity compared with euthymic rats with colitis. CONCLUSIONS: TNBS-induced colitis alters myenteric nerve function at inflamed and noninflamed sites via a steroid-sensitive and interleukin 1-mediated process that does not require T lymphocytes.

Acute Disease

Pseudomonas aeruginosa in otitis externa. A particular variety of the bacteria?

BACKGROUND: Pseudomonas aeruginosa rarely affects the epithelium in healthy persons except for the external ear canal, raising the possibility that P aeruginosa in otitis externa is a specific variety that displays particular characteristics. DESIGN: A cohort study was designed to outline distinct characteristics of P aeruginosa in otitis externa compared with P aeruginosa in other infections. The study period was October 1, 1994, to March 27, 1995. PATIENTS: Isolates of P aeruginosa from nonhospitalized patients were collected at the bacteriological laboratory at Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; there were 53 strains of P aeruginosa isolated from otitis externa and 59 strains of P aeruginosa from varicose ulcers and urinary tract infections. METHODS: Pseudomonas aeruginosa was characterized by pigmentation, growth habits, production of mucoid, and biochemical characteristics. RESULTS: Pseudomonas aeruginosa in otitis externa produced less pyocyanin and less urease and exhibited no mucoid-producing strains. CONCLUSIONS: Pseudomonas aeruginosa in otitis externa displayed fewer of the usual biochemical features of the species than did the strains isolated from other infections. Some of these features, such as the production of pyocyanin, are influenced by nutritional factors; strains found in otitis externa probably represent the type of strains present in the natural habitat in water, as opposed to the strains that have adapted to the environment of other human infections. Increased knowledge of the characteristics of the strains found in otitis externa is important in understanding the pathogenesis of the disease and why P aeruginosa is the dominant infectious agent in otitis externa.

Humans

Imaging the traction stresses exerted by locomoting cells with the elastic substratum method.

The cytoskeletal activity of motile or adherent cells is frequently seen to induce detectable displacements of sufficiently compliant substrata. The physics of this phenomenon is discussed in terms of the classical theory of small-strain, plane-stress elasticity. The main results of such analysis is a transform expressing the displacement field of the elastic substrate as an integral over the traction field. The existence of this transform is used to derive a Bayesian method for converting noisy measurements of substratum displacement into "images" of the actual traction forces exerted by adherent or locomoting cells. Finally, the Monte Carlo validation of the statistical method is discussed, some new rheological studies of films are presented, and a practical application is given.

Animals

Previous inflammation alters the response of the rat colon to stress.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease have symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with a higher than expected prevalence. Stress is an important factor in the pathogenesis of IBS. Thus, previous inflammation may predispose to IBS by rendering the bowel more susceptible to the impact of stress. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of previous colitis on stress-induced responses in rats. METHODS: Acute colitis was induced in rats by intrarectal administration of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS), and the rats were allowed to recover for 6 weeks before application of mild restraint stress for 3 consecutive days. In vitro measurements included myeloperoxidase activity, plasma corticosterone levels, interleukin 1 beta messenger RNA expression, and [3H]noradrenaline release from the myenteric plexus. RESULTS: Six weeks after administration of TNBS, stress caused a significant increase in myeloperoxidase activity in TNBS-treated rats but not in stressed controls; plasma corticosterone responses were similar. Stress also caused an exaggerated and significant suppression of [3H]noradrenaline release in TNBS-treated stressed rats compared with stressed controls. This was accompanied by a significant decrease in interleukin 1 beta messenger RNA expression in the colon. CONCLUSIONS: Previous colitis rendered the colon more susceptible to effects of stress on enteric nerve function and also increased some parameters of inflammation in response to stress.

Animals

Lateral mobility of Fc gamma RIIa is reduced by protein kinase C activation.

The lateral mobility of membrane proteins can reflect the extent of various protein-protein interactions. Using the fluorescence recovery after photobleaching technique, we have studied the lateral mobility of human Fc gamma RIIa and some Fc gamma RIIa mutants expressed in either P388D1 cells, a mouse macrophage-like cell line, or in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells [1]. After treatment with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), only the Fc gamma RIIa molecules capable of mediating rapid endocytosis of immune complexes exhibited a reduced lateral diffusion coefficient with respect to untreated controls. Wild type Fc gamma RIIa expressed in CHO cells, and nonfunctional Fc gamma RIIa mutants expressed in P388D1 cells did not show any differences upon PMA treatment. This finding suggests that protein kinase C activation evokes additional protein-protein interactions with the cytoplasmic domain of functional Fc gamma RIIa, which reduced receptor lateral mobility. The identity of these putative interacting proteins and the nature of the interactions remain to be elucidated.

Animals

Traction forces in locomoting cells.

A means of determining quantitative maps of the tractions exerted by locomoting cells on a substratum has been developed. This method is similar to the Harris silicone substratum assay [Harris et al., 1980: Science 208:177-179], but uses an improved non-wrinkling film that deforms more predictably in response to traction forces. The method also utilizes a mathematical analysis of rubber deformation to produce the final map of the distribution of tractions. The resulting maps consistently showed that fish keratocytes exert a steady-state "pinching" on the substratum, perpendicular to the cell's direction of locomotion. No significant rearward tractions were detected at or near the front edge of the cell. Likewise, no significant forward tractions associated with peeling of adhesions were found at the back of the cell. A second assay uses deflection of a lightly attached glass microneedle to measure the total force exerted by locomoting cells. Forces of approximately 4.5 x 10(-3) dyn were required to "stall" locomoting keratocytes. The implications of these findings for cell movement are discussed.

Animals

Experimental colitis alters myenteric nerve function at inflamed and noninflamed sites in the rat.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Studies in inflammatory bowel disease have shown extensive structural abnormalities in the enteric nervous system of inflamed and noninflamed gut; however, functional correlates are lacking. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of colitis on myenteric nerve function at inflamed and noninflamed sites in rat intestine. METHODS: Tritiated noradrenaline release was measured from longitudinal muscle myenteric plexus preparations from the distal and transverse colon and terminal ileum of rats with colitis induced by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid or Trichinella spiralis larvae. RESULTS: As characterized by myeloperoxidase activity and histology, both models induced inflammation restricted to the distal colon. In distal colon in trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid colitis, KCl- or electrical field stimulation-evoked 3H release was suppressed by 56% and 60%, respectively; in T. spiralis-infected rats, the KCl-evoked release was suppressed by 58%. 3H release was also suppressed by similar magnitudes in noninflamed transverse colon and terminal ileum of each model. CONCLUSIONS: Experimental distal colitis alters myenteric nerve function in inflamed distal colon and noninflamed gut regions. These changes are independent of the manner in which colitis is induced and provide a basis for the extensive disruption of physiological function observed in inflammatory bowel disease.

Adrenergic Fibers

New insights into membrane dynamics from the analysis of cell surface interactions by physical methods.

The physical, chemical and mechanical properties of the cell surface can be probed using a variety of microscopy-based techniques. The movements of membrane components are currently being characterized, and recent experiments have begun to define the structural origins of these modes of transport at a molecular level. However, explicit relationships between new knowledge of membrane structure and complex, linked functions, such as signal transduction and adhesion, remain elusive.

Animals

Detection of temporary lateral confinement of membrane proteins using single-particle tracking analysis.

Techniques such as single-particle tracking allow the characterization of the movements of single or very few molecules. Features of the molecular trajectories, such as confined diffusion or directed transport, can reveal interesting biological interactions, but they can also arise from simple Brownian motion. Careful analysis of the data, therefore, is necessary to identify interesting effects from pure random movements. A method was developed to detect temporary confinement in the trajectories of membrane proteins that cannot be accounted for by Brownian motion. This analysis was applied to trajectories of two lipid-linked members of the immunoglobulin superfamily, Thy-1 and a neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM 125), and the results were compared with those for simulated random walks. Approximately 28% of the trajectories for both proteins exhibited periods of transient confinement, which were < 0.07% likely to arise from random movements. In contrast to these results, only 1.5% of the simulated trajectories showed confined periods. Transient confinement for both proteins lasted on average 8 s in regions that were approximately 280 nm in diameter.

Animals

The virgin population of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Stockholm has decreased and antimicrobial resistance is increasing.

AIMS: To investigate the evolution of chromosomal and plasmid mediated resistance for ampicillin and tetracycline of N gonorrhoeae strains in Stockholm during 1982-1993. METHODS: A total of 404 gonococcal strains isolated in 1982, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1993 were analysed for minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of ampicillin and tetracycline and for plasmid content. MIC values were determined by the agar dilution method and plasmid preparations were performed using alkaline lysis. To detect additional gonococcal strains with tet(M) plasmids all strains isolated in 1988-1989 and 1991, in all 234 isolates, were analysed retrospectively for MIC values of tetracycline. If an MIC value of > or = 4.0 mg/l was recorded plasmid analysis was performed. RESULTS: Increased proportions of chromosomally mediated resistance to tetracycline (p < 0.001) as well as plasmid mediated resistance to both ampicillin (p < 0.02) and tetracycline were found in the later part of the study. In 1991 the first gonococcus with tet(M) plasmid was isolated in Sweden. The proportion of strains with chromosomally mediated resistance for ampicillin did not change during the study period. The proportion of gonococcal strains with the 39 kb conjugative plasmid was increased in the later part of the study. CONCLUSIONS: The increased proportion of N gonorrhoeae strains with resistance to ampicillin and tetracycline is most likely due to importation of strains from areas with high prevalence of antibiotic resistant gonococci. The proportion of N gonorrhoeae strains with tet(M) plasmids is low in Sweden, but might increase in the same way as the proportion of PPNG strains has increased during 1982-1993.

Ampicillin Resistance

The selective beneficial effects of nitric oxide inhibition in experimental colitis.

We investigated the involvement of nitric oxide in trinitrobenzene-sulfonic acid (TNB) colitis. Every 24 h after TNB, rats were orally dosed with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 30 mg/kg), NG-nitro-D-arginine methyl ester (D-NAME), or water, and food intake, body weight, and plasma nitrite levels were measured. On day 6, colonic nitric oxide synthase and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, histology, intestinal muscle growth, NADPH-diaphorase, and myenteric nerve function were assessed. Food intake and body weight were reduced during the first 72 h of colitis. On day 6 post-TNB, a fourfold increase in mucosal nitric oxide synthase, a 30-fold increase in MPO, and a fivefold elevation in plasma nitrite were measured. Smooth muscle hyperplasia and hypertrophy in both colonic muscle layers, numerous diaphorase-positive macrophages in the myenteric plexus, and a suppression of myenteric nerve function were also observed. Unlike D-NAME, oral L-NAME reduced MPO and intestinal muscle hyperplasia by > 90%. Likewise, plasma nitrite and colonic nitric oxide synthase were reduced by > 70%. L-NAME completely prevented macrophage infiltration into the muscle. Conversely, it had no effect on anorexia or intestinal smooth muscle hypertrophy, nor did it affect suppressed myenteric nerve neurotransmitter release. These results demonstrate the selective transmural protective effects of L-NAME in the inflamed colon, implicating nitric oxide as a mediator.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases

Forces exerted by locomoting cells.

The movement of cells along substrata is a complex phenomenon involving cell extension and retraction, and cell-substratum adhesion. Knowledge is beginning to accumulate about the forces required for cell protrusion and retraction. Both of these processes also require traction to be exerted on the substratum, and new assays for these forces are under development. This review briefly discusses the forces that locomotory cells exert, in terms of both recent force measurements and possible mechanisms for their generation.

Actins

Quality of life among patients post-myocardial infarction at baseline in the Survival and Ventricular Enlargement (SAVE) trial.

A quality of life ancillary study was incorporated into the Survival and Ventricular Enlargement (SAVE) trial of captopril versus placebo among patients who survived an acute myocardial infarction with compromised ventricular functioning, but no overt heart failure. Assessments included patient symptoms, health perceptions, emotional, cognitive, social and sexual levels of functioning, as well as potential covariates, such as life events and social support. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the quality of life measures in the SAVE at baseline, and provide a pre-randomization profile of the SAVE patients. One hundred and eighty-four patients participated in this aspect of the trial. Reliability alpha coefficients were adequate or better for all questionnaires, except for life events and sexual activities. Consistent with prior studies, the quality of life parameters were uncorrelated with ventricular ejection fraction. Despite experiencing a recent myocardial infarction with compromised ventricular functioning, patients at baseline generally neither appeared depressed nor focused on symptoms. The baseline findings support the inclusion of the quality of life ancillary study in the overall SAVE trial because of the independent contribution likely to be achieved in terms of evaluating both disease progression and treatment efficacy.

Adult

Arthroscopic treatment of anterolateral ankle impingement.

Fifty-five ankle arthroscopies performed for anterolateral ankle impingement between January 1987 and April 1992 were reviewed for functional outcome and patient satisfaction. There were 33 men and 22 women with an average age of 34 years (range 20-67). All patients reported a previous history of ankle injury, and 60% of the patients had at least one ankle sprain. At an average follow up of 2.6 years (range 1.0-4.5), 87% of the patients had good/excellent results, 98% were satisfied, and 84% returned to their previous sports.

Adult

Traction forces generated by locomoting keratocytes.

Traction forces produced by moving fibroblasts have been observed as distortions in flexible substrata including wrinkling of thin, silicone rubber films. Traction forces generated by fibroblast lamellae were thought to represent the forces required to move the cell forwards. However, traction forces could not be detected with faster moving cell types such as leukocytes and growth cones (Harris, A. K., D. Stopak, and P. Wild. 1981. Nature (Lond.). 290:249-251). We have developed a new assay in which traction forces produced by rapidly locomoting fish keratocytes can be detected by the two-dimensional displacements of small beads embedded in the plane of an elastic substratum. Traction forces were not detected at the rapidly extending front edge of the cell. Instead the largest traction forces were exerted perpendicular to the left and right cell margins. The maximum traction forces exerted by keratocytes were estimated to be approximately 2 x 10(-8) N. The pattern of traction forces can be related to the locomotion of a single keratocyte in terms of lamellar contractility and area of close cell-substratum contact.

Animals

Adhesion of peripheral blood lymphocytes of children with arthritis to human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

To determine whether adhesion of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) may be enhanced, adhesion of PBL of children with JRA, children with seronegative spondyloarthropathies (SSA), age-appropriate and adult controls, to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) was assessed in vitro. B and CD4 T lymphocytes in initial, adherent, and non-adherent cell fraction were identified by flow cytometry. B lymphocytes of all the younger subjects combined had a higher adherence to activated HUVEC compared with B lymphocytes of the adult donors. Except for greater adherence of HLA-DR+ CD4 T cells, lymphocytes of children with JRA showed no enhanced adhesion to either unactivated or activated HUVEC. The percentage of B cells adherent to activated HUVEC in each of the subject groups was 1.5-3.6-fold higher than adherent CD4 T lymphocytes. Surface analyses indicated higher percentages of CD49d (alpha 4)+ and CD29 (beta 1)+ CD4 T lymphocytes in adherent cells, but less of a differential in CD49 (alpha 4)+ and no difference in CD29 (beta 1)+ B lymphocytes. There were fewer Leu-8 (L-selectin)+ B and Leu-8+ CD4 T cells among adherent cells. The data suggest a greater adhesive capacity of B lymphocytes compared with CD4 T lymphocytes which is unrelated to disease, and the possibility that B lymphocytes may utilize adhesion molecules distinct from those of CD4 T lymphocytes. Only a small subset of T cells of patients with JRA may have an enhanced capacity for adhesion to endothelium.

Adolescent

Comparison of static and dynamic posturography in young and older normal people.

OBJECTIVE: To measure sway velocity during static and dynamic posturography in "normal" older people and to determine which tests best distinguish young from older subjects. SUBJECTS: A sample of 30 young (18-39 years) and 82 community-dwelling older (> 75 years) subjects who reported normal balance underwent a battery of balance tests. MEASUREMENTS: Velocity and frequency of sway, Tinetti gait and balance score, self-reported fear of falling and number of falls. RESULTS: Mean sway velocity and the ratio of high to low frequency sway velocity were significantly increased in older subjects compared with younger subjects for static and dynamic tests with eyes open and with eyes closed. Measures of anterior-posterior sway velocity during angular tilt of the platform with eyes closed best distinguished young from older subjects (almost three-fourths of older subjects had values greater than 2 standard deviations from the young normal mean). Older subjects who reported falls in the past year did not have a significantly higher sway velocity on static or dynamic tests compared with those who did not report falls. However, subjects who reported a fear of falling had significantly higher sway velocity on dynamic tests with eyes closed compared to those who did not report a fear of falling. CONCLUSIONS: On average, velocity of sway is higher in older subjects compared with younger subjects, and the difference between young and old is greater with dynamic posturography than with static posturography.

Accidental Falls