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Biomedical subjects

M Sussman

Publications and source records attributed to M Sussman.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

The influence of human immunodeficiency virus infection and intravenous drug abuse on complications of hemodialysis access surgery.

To examine the influence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection on complications in dialysis access surgery, a review was performed on patients undergoing hemodialysis at two major metropolitan medical centers over a 30-month period. One hundred eight patients underwent a total of 169 graft procedures; mean follow-up was 14 1/2 months. There were 18 (17%) patients who were HIV-positive who had no symptoms, 11 (10%) patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and 79 (73%) patients who were HIV-negative. Twenty-three percent (25/108) of patients had a history of intravenous drug abuse (IVDA), most of whom also had either AIDS or asymptomatic HIV infection. Dialysis procedures included 44 autogenous reconstructions (26%), 117 polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts (69%), and 8 (5%) procedures of unknown type. Arteriovenous fistula or graft thrombosis was a frequent complication. The overall 12-month graft patency rate was 41%, and patients with HIV infection or a history of IVDA did not have a significantly increased risk of thrombosis. Multivariate analysis showed that the use of PTFE as opposed to autogenous reconstruction was the only significant risk factor found for occlusion within the first 12 months after operation (p < 0.01). Twenty-five graft infections occurred, all in PTFE grafts. The PTFE graft infection rate was 43% in patients with AIDS, 36% in patients who were HIV-positive and who had no symptoms, and 15% in patients who were HIV-negative (p < 0.05). Patients with a history of IVDA had a 41% PTFE graft infection rate versus a 13% infection rate in patients who did not have a history of IVDA (p < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult

Spore differentiation by isolated Dictyostelium discoideum cells, triggered by prior cell contact.

Cells of D. discoideum mutant Fr-17 were allowed to form multicellular aggregates and develop undisturbed through 12 h (out of 18-required for terminal morphogenesis and cytodifferentiation). Then the cells were disaggregated and redeposited at densities so low as to preclude further sustained cell contacts and were incubated in the presence of certain diffusible metabolites. In this condition they transformed into spores and stalk cells with normal timing and, in the case of the spores, in proportions approaching those observed in undisturbed fruiting bodies. In contrast, mutant cells dispersed from aggregates at earlier stages or wild type cells dispersed from aggregates at any stage, remained as amoebae under the same conditions. The completion of cytodifferentiation by the isolated cells was found to require threshold concentrations of diffusible, dialysable metabolites. A part of this requirement could be satisfied by addition of 10 mM NH4Cl particularly in conjunction with an amino acid mixture. At least one metabolite, however, had to be supplied by feeder cells separated from the test cells by a dialysis membrane or by increasing the population density of the test cells themselves.

Amino Acids

Haemodialysis-induced leucopenia and activation of complement: effects of different membranes.

The effects on neutrophil count and complement activity of five different haemodialysis membranes were studied. There was no correlation between the degree of neutropenia and intensity of complement activation. With cuprophan membrane both occurred simultaneously but to unrelated degrees; polyacronitrile induced mild, not significant neutropenia but marked activation of complement; polycarbonate membranes induced severe neutropenia without detectable complement activation. Where complement activation occurred it was via the alternative pathway. Haemodialysis induced neutropenia may have many causes and complement activation is probably not the major responsible factor.

Acrylic Resins

Mutant of Dictyostelium discoideum defective in cell contact regulation of enzyme expression.

Previous work has shown that aggregation and disaggregation of cells during development of D. discoldeum significantly affects the expression of certain developmentally regulated enzymes. We have examined this cell contact regulation in a previously isolated mutant, Fr-17, and found that during the course of its developmental sequence it becomes specifically defective in this function.

Adenosine

Guanosine metabolism and regulation of fruiting body construction in dictyostelium discoideum.

A cell aggregate of Dictyostelium discoideum either constructs a fruiting body directly or transforms into a migrating slug and fruits later on in some other locale. In the presence of formycin B, an inosine analog, and in an environment that otherwise favors fruiting, aggregates having reached a relatively late (17 hr) stage of fruit construction abandon that program and transform into migrating slugs. They then revert to the fruiting mode and construct normal fruiting bodies without further interference [Brackenbury et al. (1974) J. Mol. Biol. 90, 529-539]. The data presented here suggest that formycin B exerts its morphogenetic effect by interfering competitively with the metabolism of guanosine. Thus: see article. The recovery from formycin B is thought to result from the ensuing accumulation of guanosine and reversal of the inhibition. In support of this are the following: (1) Formycin B does cause, in vivo, an accumulation of guanosine. Exogenoug guanosine reverses the effect of formycin B, depending on their relative concentrations. (2) Guanosine is phosphorylitically cleaved to guanine and ribose-1-P by purine ribonucleoside phosphorylase (purine-nucleoside:orthophosphate ribosyl transferase, EC 2.4.2.1), present in D. discoideum extracts, and formycin B is a competitive inhibitor or this reaction with a very high affinity for the enzyme. (3) Four other analogs, also competitive inhibitors of this enzyme, produce precisely the same morphogenetic deviation. The concentrations required are consistent with the relative K1 values.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic

Mutants of Dictyostelium discoideum defective in spore germination.

After activation, wild-type Dictyostelium discoideum spores germinate rapidly and synchronously in phosphate buffer as well as in complex medium. Mutants defective in spore germination were isolated and characterized. These mutants (called grm) did not germinate normally in buffer but did germinate in complex medium in the presence of bacteria. One mutant (grm B) swelled normally, but amoebae were not formed. Another mutant (grm F) swelled and germinated poorly in buffer. The members of the third group of mutants (A, C, D, and E) did not swell or give rise to amoebae in buffer.

Buffers