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Biomedical subjects

R Beauchamp

Publications and source records attributed to R Beauchamp.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Neurofibromatosis 2 gene in human colorectal cancer.

Colon cancers commonly have allelic losses of chromosome 22q, which suggests the presence of a tumor suppressor gene on 22q. The candidate tumor suppressor gene on 22q is the neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) gene. Using single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis, we screened 24 pairs of colorectal cancer and adjacent normal mucosa, as well as 10 colon cancer cell lines from non-NF2 patients, for mutations in the coding sequence of the NF2 gene. Two SSCP variants, one in exon 14 and another one in exon 16, were detected in two of the sporadic colorectal cancers, but not in adjacent normal mucosa samples. Sequencing of these variants in one tumor detected an A-to-G transition in bp 1459 of the NF2 cDNA, resulting in the change of Ile to Val at codon 487 of merlin, the NF2 protein product. The other tumor showed a 2-bp (CT) deletion in the intronic sequence of the alternatively spliced exon 16. These results suggest that the NF2 gene is probably involved in some colorectal tumors, but is not the critical chromosome 22q tumor suppressor gene involved in colon tumorigenesis.

Base Sequence

p53 gene analysis of ovarian borderline tumors and stage I carcinomas.

Mutations of the p53 gene are common in human ovarian carcinomas; however, their role in the early development of ovarian cancer is unclear. Twelve ovarian borderline tumors (BTs; eight of them p53 immunopositive) and 10 stage I carcinomas (four of them p53 immunopositive) were studied for genetic alterations in the p53 gene. The study was based on single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis and DNA sequencing of exons 2 through 11 of the p53 gene using DNA preparations from microdissected tumors. Mutations were found in 40% of the carcinomas (including a borderline component adjacent to carcinoma in one lesion) but in none of the pure BTs. These findings suggest that p53 mutations may not be commonly associated with the borderline phenotype of ovarian epithelial tumors but may occur during malignant transformation.

Adult

Correlation between integrated evoked EMG and respiratory function following atracurium administration in unanaesthetized humans.

In six healthy volunteers, integrated evoked electromyography (IEEMG) measured in response to ulnar nerve stimulation was correlated with respiratory function-tidal volume (VT), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), maximum negative inspiratory pressure (NIP), hand grip (HG) and head-lift during steady-state infusion of subparalytic doses of atracurium. Studies were carried out at train-of-four T4/T1 = 0.2 and T4/T1 = 0.6. When T4/T1 = 0.2, all subjects had difficulty with swallowing and phonation, none could sustain any head-lift and HG was 26 per cent of control. However, VT was normal, FVC was 80 per cent, FEV1 was 82 per cent, and NIP was 50 per cent of control. AT T4/T1 = 0.6, all assessments of peripheral strength were normal, and all respiratory measurements were not significantly different from control, except for NIP which was 73 per cent of control (P less than 0.05). We conclude that an IEEMG of 0.6, recorded from the hypothenar muscles, in unanaesthetized subjects is consistent with near normal respiratory function.

Adult

Ultraviolet photosensitivity in goldfish: an independent u.v. retinal mechanism.

Heart rate conditioned goldfish were sensitive to u.v. stimuli at wavelengths down to 340 nm. A u.v. peak had maximum sensitivity at about 380 nm and was depressed selectively by a u.v. adapting background. An opaque cone restricted light to the eye, reducing the probability of a dermal or pineal gland source of the response. Three experiments demonstrated a retinal origin for the u.v. peak. The conditioned response to u.v. stimuli was abolished following injection of Lidocaine into the eye. U.V. sensitivity remained when the cornea, iris and lens were extirpated. Finally, the u.v. peak showed an orderly change in sensitivity with alteration in adapting u.v. illumination.

Animals

Ultrasound measures of vitreous chamber depth during ocular accommodation.

The vitreous chamber decreased in depth about 0.12 mm as accommodative demand increased from 0.2 to 7 D in nine accommodative steps. The depth decreases matched movement of the posterior lens surface toward the retina. Accommodation caused no significant increases in axial length compared to cyclopleged controls. These results do not favor the active role for the vitreous in accommodation proposed by Coleman in 1970. Computer analysis of A-scan interval counts demonstrated that multiple retinal complex peaks might erroneously point to vitreous or axial lengthening. About 30% of total lens thickening during accommodation was accounted for by posterior lens surface displacement.

Accommodation, Ocular

Ocular accommodation in the cat after electrical stimulation of mesencephalic reticular formation.

We measured ocular accommodation in the cat with a continuously recording infrared optometer. The brain stem reticular formation in an anesthetized cat was stimulated electrically with microelectrodes to evoke accommodation. Sites in the mesencephalic reticular formation caudal and ventral to the III nerve nucleus near the midline gave large positive accommodation responses. The velocity and amplitude of postive accommodation was graded, depending on the applied current and frequency of stimulation. Relaxation of accommodation proceeded at a fairly constant rate upon cessation of electrical stimulation. These findings provide new information on the amplitude and dynamic aspects of ocular accommodation in the cat. Also, the location of the stimulating electrodes suggest that in addition to the Edinger-Westphal nucleus, areas in the mesencephalic reticular formation between the cerebellum and the oculomotor nucleus are involved in ocular accommodation in the cat.

Accommodation, Ocular

Ocular accommodation neurons in brain stem of the alert cat.

Ten "ocular accommodation" units in the brain stem reticular formation of alert, unanesthetized cats were studied. While the cat's head was immobilized with a skull mount, ocular accommodation was induced by stimuli presented to the right eye. The consensual accommodation response was measured in the left eye with an infrared optometer. There was a close association between the accommodative demand of the visual stimulus, the discharge frequency of brain stem accommodation neurons, and consequent ocular accommodation. Controls for eye movements, pupil size, et., were applied. The accommodation neurons described were found in brain stem areas not traditionally associated with the accommodative mechanism.

Accommodation, Ocular