Biomedical subjects

Paul R Gordon

Publications and source records attributed to Paul R Gordon.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Biology and plasticity of CD133+ hematopoietic stem cells.

AC133 (CD133) is a highly conserved antigen expressed on hematopoietic stem cells with unknown function. In order to further characterize CD133(+) progenitor cells, we purified CD133(+) stem cells using the method of magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) from healthy adult volunteers mobilized with granulocyte colony-stimulating growth factor (G-CSF) to a mean purity of 94%. The purified CD133(+) cells highly engrafted NOD/SCID mice. In addition, unseparated mononuclear cells or CD133(+) stem cells isolated from the bone marrow of transplanted NOD/SCID mice gave rise to engraftment of secondary recipients. Upon ex vivo culture of purified CD133(+) cells with FLT3/Flk2 ligand (FL) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), a plastic-adherent cell population could be observed after 6 weeks in culture. These adherent cells did not express CD34 or CD133 antigens on their surface, nor did they express markers for endothelial, mesenchymal, or dendritic cells. After incubation of these adherent cells with stem cell factor (SCF), non-adherent cells were observed which partially co-expressed CD133, but were negative for CD34. These nonadherent CD34(-) cells showed a high engraftment capacity in NOD/SCID mice. From our results, we conclude that CD133 might be a marker of early progenitors with a high NOD/SCID engraftment potential. The fact that CD133(+) hematopoietic progenitors can give rise to an adherent population which is CD133(-) and CD34(-) and that these cells can again give rise to a CD133(+)CD34(-) stem cell population with high NOD/SCID engraftment potential indicates the plasticity of hematopoietic precursors. CD133(+) stem cells might be useful for research and for clinical application.

AC133 Antigen↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Sertraline to treat hot flashes: a randomized controlled, double-blind, crossover trial in a general population.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) (sertraline) in decreasing hot flashes in a general population of women. DESIGN: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial was conducted in a southwestern urban setting. A total of 102 women aged 40 to 65 who were experiencing hot flashes and not taking any hormone therapy were recruited. After 1 week of baseline hot flash data collection, study participants were randomized to receive placebo or active drug (sertraline 50 mg) for 4 weeks. This intervention was followed by a 1-week washout and cross over to the opposite treatment for 4 weeks. The number and severity of hot flashes were measured. RESULTS: One hundred two women were enrolled in the study. Five dropped out before providing baseline data. Of the 97 remaining, 52 were randomized to active drug first and 45 to placebo first. Ten dropped out of the study before completing all 10 weeks, leaving 46 in the active drug-first arm and 41 in the placebo-first arm. At baseline, the mean number of hot flashes reported was 45.6 per week (SD = 29.6), ranging from 2 to 148. During the sertraline phase of the study, women experienced five fewer hot flashes per week than they did on the placebo (P = 0.002). The severity of hot flashes was not significantly different; however, the hot flash score (number x average severity) was significantly improved during the sertraline phase. CONCLUSION: Sertraline reduced the number of hot flashes and improved the hot flash score relative to placebo and may be an acceptable alternative treatment for women experiencing hot flashes.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Thoughts on communication.

Living without the ability to communicate is humbling. Time spent on a sabbatical in Florence, Italy, taught me that my outgoing manner, my interactional skills, and my ability to establish rapport, all personality traits and skills that I thought would overcome my inadequacies as a communicator in Italian are not immutable. I gained some understanding of what our nonnative English-speaking patients might feel. I learned the following lessons: (1) be cautious-what appears to be a lack of interest may be a lack of understanding; (2) our perceptions of aptitude may be mistaken if based on patients' facial expressions and body language; (3) we should not adjust our words and speed of speech just because we think a patient cannot understand what we are saying; and (4) language is an amazingly powerful tool-the inability to communicate transforms us.

Communication↗