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Biomedical subjects

Mark Turner

Publications and source records attributed to Mark Turner.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Comparison of left ventricular-biventricular pacing on ventricular synchrony, mitral regurgitation, and global left ventricular function in patients with severe chronic heart failure.

We compared the effects of left ventricular and biventricular pacing in 16 patients (15 men and 1 woman; aged 64 +/- 8 years) with severe heart failure by conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography. Intraventricular synchrony, regional and global systolic function, diastolic function and filling time, and the severity of secondary mitral regurgitation were similar between left ventricular and biventricular pacing.

Aged↗

Diagnosis of intra-amniotic infection by proteomic profiling and identification of novel biomarkers.

CONTEXT: Intra-amniotic infection (IAI) is commonly associated with preterm birth and adverse neonatal sequelae. Early diagnosis of IAI, however, has been hindered by insensitive or nonspecific tests. OBJECTIVE: To identify unique protein signatures in rhesus monkeys with experimental IAI, a proteomics-based analysis of amniotic fluid was used to develop diagnostic biomarkers for subclinical IAI in amniotic fluid and blood of women with preterm labor. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Surface-enhanced laser desorption-ionization/time-of-flight mass spectrometry, gel electrophoresis, and tandem mass spectrometry were used to characterize amniotic fluid peptides in 19 chronically instrumented pregnant rhesus monkeys before and after experimental IAI. Candidate biomarkers were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Polyclonal antibodies were generated from synthetic peptides for validation of biomarkers of IAI. Amniotic fluid peptide profiles identified in experimental IAI were subsequently tested in a cohort of 33 women admitted to Seattle, Wash, hospitals between June 25, 1991, and June 30, 1997, with preterm delivery at 35 weeks or earlier associated with subclinical IAI (n = 11), preterm delivery at 35 weeks or earlier without IAI (n = 11), and preterm contractions with subsequent term delivery at later than 35 weeks (n = 11). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Identification of peptide biomarkers for occult IAI. RESULTS: Protein expression profiles in amniotic fluid showed unique signatures of overexpression of polypeptides in the 3- to 5-kDa and 10- to 12-kDa molecular weight ranges in all animals after infection and in no animal prior to infection. In women, the 10- to 12-kDa signature was identified in all 11 patients with subclinical IAI, in 2 of 11 with preterm delivery without IAI, and in 0 of 11 with preterm labor and term delivery without infection (P<.001). Peptide fragment analysis of the diagnostic peak in amniotic fluid identified calgranulin B and a unique fragment of insulinlike growth factor binding protein 1, which were also expressed in maternal serum. Mapping of other amniotic fluid proteins differentially expressed in IAI identified several immunoregulators not previously described in amniotic fluid. CONCLUSIONS: This proteomics-based characterization of the differential expression of amniotic fluid proteins in IAI identified a distinct proteomic profile in an experimental primate chorioamnionitis model that detected subclinical IAI in a human cohort with preterm labor. These diagnostic protein expression signatures, complemented by immunodetection of specific biomarkers in amniotic fluid and in maternal serum, might have application in the early detection of IAI.

Adult↗

High-throughput identification of proteins and unanticipated sequence modifications using a mass-based alignment algorithm for MS/MS de novo sequencing results.

With the increasing availability of de novo sequencing algorithms for interpreting high-mass accuracy tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) data, there is a growing need for programs that accurately identify proteins from de novo sequencing results. De novo sequences derived from tandem mass spectra of peptides often contain ambiguous regions where the exact amino acid order cannot be determined. One problem this poses for sequence alignment algorithms is the difficulty in distinguishing discrepancies due to de novo sequencing errors from actual genomic sequence variation and posttranslational modifications. We present a novel, mass-based approach to sequence alignment, implemented as a program called OpenSea, to resolve these problems. In this approach, de novo and database sequences are interpreted as masses of residues, and the masses, rather than the amino acid codes, are compared. To provide further flexibility, the masses can be aligned in groups, which can resolve many de novo sequencing errors. The performance of OpenSea was tested with three types of data: a mixture of known proteins, a mixture of unknown proteins that commonly contain sequence variations, and a mixture of posttranslationally modified known proteins. In all three cases, we demonstrate that OpenSea can identify more peptides and proteins than commonly used database-searching programs (SEQUEST and ProteinLynx) while accurately locating sequence variation sites and unanticipated posttranslational modifications in a high-throughput environment.

Algorithms↗

How to validate a packaging process.

Some of the key elements of achieving a validated packaging process are described. A peel-pouch sealing machine is used as an example.

Equipment Failure↗

Genetic basis for chamber-specific ventricular phenotypes in the rat infarct model.

BACKGROUND: We, and others, have previously reported a strong correlation between increased inter-ventricular dispersion of repolarization and the occurrence of fatal arrhythmia in animal models of CHF. The existence of this and other such distinct electrophysiologic phenotypes in right (RV) vs. left ventricles (LV) could be explained by chamber-specific patterns of gene expression. METHODS: We employed microarray gene profiling of 13824 sequence-verified, nonredundant rodent cDNAs to compare myocardial gene expression in RV vs. LV of rats with surgically induced myocardial infarction (MI: n=3) and in sham-operated animals (Sham: n=3). RESULTS: Significant LV infarction (32+/-4% LV) and severe CHF were observed in all MI animals at 4 weeks. In Sham animals, 937 genes exhibited significant differential expression in RV vs. LV myocardium. In MI animals, 1158 genes exhibited significant differential expression in RV vs. LV. Of those genes exhibiting significant differential expression, only 241 were common to both Sham and MI animals. Differentially expressed genes included those involved in signal transduction, cell growth and maintenance, and apoptosis. Genes with potential roles in altered dispersion of repolarization included voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channel gamma subunit (MI 8-fold increasing) and K(+) inwardly rectifying channel subfamily J, member 10 (MI 6-fold decreasing). Gap junction membrane channel protein alpha 4 (MI 6-fold decreasing) and cardiac troponin I (MI 8-fold decreasing) were also significantly differentially expressed. Inter-ventricular comparisons revealed significantly greater alterations in gene expression vs. intra-ventricular comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: Microarray gene profiling has revealed candidate genes, some of them novel, which may account for chamber-specific ventricular electrophysiologic phenotypes, both in physiologic as well as in arrhythmogenic states such as CHF.

Animals↗

Recovery of coronary function and morphology during regression of left ventricular hypertrophy.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate changes in coronary morphology and haemodynamic function during regression of established left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) following surgical unloading. METHODS: LVH was induced in guinea-pigs by aortic banding and sham operated animals served as controls. We examined the degree of LVH, coronary haemodynamic function and contemporaneous vessel morphology 42 days post-operation. Identically treated animals were debanded and the same parameters measured after 1, 3 and 6 weeks to assess haemodynamic and morphological changes as hypertrophy regressed. RESULTS: Banding resulted in an aortic pressure gradient of 41+/-9 mmHg and increases in heart/body weight ratio (46%), myocyte size (26%) and a doubling of arteriolar wall thickness, all P<0.01. These changes were accompanied by a reduction in coronary reserve (38%) and significantly (P<0.01) decreased maximal response to acetylcholine (70%), sodium nitroprusside (87%), adenosine (70%) and reactive hyperaemia (52%). Surgical debanding normalised the systemic haemodynamics and removed the aortic gradient after 7 days. There was some limited improvement in coronary structure and, to a lesser extent, function despite the continued presence of significant LVH. This had completely regressed to normal levels 23 days after debanding and was accompanied by normalisation of coronary structure and function, although systolic impedance to flow remained significantly increased. After 44 days, debanding resulted in complete cardiac morphological and functional recovery. CONCLUSION: Left ventricular haemodynamic unloading can result in complete normalisation of LVH, coronary morphology and haemodynamic function. Although morphological and functional recovery were closely correlated, recovery of coronary morphology and function slightly preceded that of the myocardium in this aortic banded/debanded model.

Acetylcholine↗

Identification of protein modifications using MS/MS de novo sequencing and the OpenSea alignment algorithm.

Algorithms that can robustly identify post-translational protein modifications from mass spectrometry data are needed for data-mining and furthering biological interpretations. In this study, we determined that a mass-based alignment algorithm (OpenSea) for de novo sequencing results could identify post-translationally modified peptides in a high-throughput environment. A complex digest of proteins from human cataractous lens, a tissue containing a high abundance of modified proteins, was analyzed using two-dimensional liquid chromatography, and data was collected on both high and low mass accuracy instruments. The data were analyzed using automated de novo sequencing followed by OpenSea mass-based sequence alignment. A total of 80 modifications were detected, 36 of which were previously unreported in the lens. This demonstrates the potential to identify large numbers of known and previously unknown protein modifications in a given tissue using automated data processing algorithms such as OpenSea.

Aged↗

How to simulate shelf life for ageing trials.

Medical device manufacturers are compelled to validate the shelf-life claims of their products. If the materials used in the product and packaging can withstand elevated temperatures, accelerated ageing regimes may be used to simulate real-time ageing. If elevated temperatures are detrimental to the components involved, then real-time ageing is the only option. All testing should be carried out on sterile product when appropriate.

Equipment and Supplies↗