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Biomedical subjects

R H Gross

Publications and source records attributed to R H Gross.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Splicing thermotolerance maintains Pre-mRNA transcripts in the splicing pathway during severe heat shock.

Thermotolerance, the ability of cells and organisms to withstand severe elevated temperatures after brief exposure to mild elevated temperatures, has been studied in numerous laboratories. Survival thermotolerance is defined as the increase in cell or organism survival at severe elevated temperatures after a pretreatment at mild elevated temperatures. This study examines splicing thermotolerance in Drosophila melanogaster, the ability to splice pre-mRNAs made at the severe temperature (38 degrees C) after a brief pretreatment at a milder temperature (35 degrees C). It is probably one of a number of mechanisms by which cells adapt to heat shock. These experiments demonstrate that pre-mRNAs synthesized at the severe temperatures in splicing thermotolerant cells, although protected in splicing-competent complexes, are not actually processed to mature mRNAs until the cells are returned to their normal temperature. We have also studied the kinetics of acquisition and loss of splicing thermotolerance. As little as 10 min of pretreatment at 35 degrees C was sufficient to provide full splicing thermotolerance to a 30-min severe heat shock of 38 degrees C. Pretreatments of less than 10 min provide partial splicing thermotolerance for a 30-min severe heat shock. Full splicing thermotolerance activity begins to decay about 4 h after the cessation of the 35 degrees C incubation and is completely lost by 8 h after the pretreatment. The kinetics experiments of pre-mRNAs synthesized during the 38 degrees C treatment in splicing thermotolerant cells indicate that one or more splicing thermotolerance factors are synthesized during the 35 degrees C pretreatment which interact with pre-mRNA-containing complexes to keep them in a splicing-competent state. These kinetic experiments also indicate that in cells which are partially splicing thermotolerant, the pre-mRNAs synthesized early during the 38 degrees C incubation are protected, whereas those synthesized late are not. In the absence of splicing thermotolerant factors, the pre-mRNA-containing complexes leave the normal splicing pathway and are allowed to exit to the cytoplasm.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Distal femoral physeal problem fractures.

Treatment options in the past for distal femoral physeal fractures have varied from closed reduction to open reduction with internal fixation to balanced skeletal traction. In this study, ten patients with distal femoral physeal fractures treated with closed reduction and casting or skeletal traction are reviewed. Seven fractures lost position in comparison with original reduction films. Nine patients developed subsequent deformity. No consensus exists regarding the use of open versus closed treatment with internal fixation. This review of closed treatment yielded a high rate of unacceptable results. Initial anatomic reduction with rigid fixation of physeal injuries about the ankle has been demonstrated to decrease the incidence of growth deformity. The authors' experience and a review of the literature suggest that a similar approach is applicable to distal femoral physeal fractures.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

The Gene Construction Kit: a new computer program for manipulating and presenting DNA constructs.

The Gene Construction Kit is a new tool for manipulating and displaying DNA sequence information. Constructs can be displayed either graphically or as formatted sequence. Segments of DNA can be cut out with restriction enzymes and pasted into other sites. The program keeps track of staggered ends and notifies the user of incompatibilities and offers a choice of ligation options. Each segment of a construct can have its own defined thickness, pattern, direction and color. The sequence listing can be displayed in any font and style in user defined grouping. Nucleotide positions can be displayed as can restriction sites and protein sequences. The DNA can be displayed as either single- or double-stranded. Restriction sites can be readily marked. Alternative views of the DNA can be maintained and the history of the construct automatically stored. Gel electrophoresis patterns can be generated and can be used in cloning project design. Extensive comments can be stored with the construct and can be searched rapidly for key words. High quality illustrations showing multiple editable constructs with added graphics and text information can be generated for slides, posters or publication.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Disorders of the sacro-iliac joint in children.

The cases of seventeen children whose ages ranged from two to eighteen years and who were treated for a disorder of a sacro-iliac joint between 1975 and 1983 were reviewed retrospectively. Thirteen children were acutely ill, with a temperature of more than 38 degrees Celsius, and four had chronic symptoms that had persisted for three weeks to one year. Pain in the hip, thigh, and buttock was the most common symptom. Of the thirteen acutely ill patients, eleven had septic arthritis of a sacro-iliac joint, while one who had ankylosing spondylitis and one who had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis had acutely painful arthritis of a sacro-iliac joint. Of the four patients who had chronic symptoms, two had septic arthritis of a sacro-iliac joint; one, ankylosing spondylitis with sacro-iliac involvement; and one, eosinophilic granuloma of the ilium. Thus, thirteen patients had septic arthritis of a sacro-iliac joint and four had some other disorder. For the seventeen children who had acute or chronic symptoms, at admission the white blood-cell count ranged from 3,500 to 26,200 per cubic millimeter (average, 11,100 per cubic millimeter) and the sedimentation rate, as determined by the Westergren technique, ranged from twenty-two to sixty-five millimeters per hour (average, fifty millimeters per hour). Twelve of the plain radiographs of the seventeen patients were negative. The initial bone scans of all seventeen patients were positive in eleven and negative in six. Of these six, five had septic arthritis and one, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. A computed tomographic scan was performed in four patients and was positive in all of them: three had septic arthritis and one had ankylosing spondylitis. Organisms were cultured successfully from blood, from material aspirated from the sacro-iliac joint, or from stool of all thirteen patients who had sepsis. The thirteen infections responded well to appropriate antibiotics, which were administered intravenously to seven patients and first intravenously and then orally to six.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

A gene for rabbit synovial cell collagenase: member of a family of metalloproteinases that degrade the connective tissue matrix.

We have determined the nucleotide sequence of a collagenase mRNA from rabbit synovial cells from which the primary structure of the encoded protein was deduced. This proteinase is 51% homologous to the enzyme that activates it from the zymogen form, rabbit synovial cell activator/stromelysin. Rabbit collagenase and activator/stromelysin thus share comembership in a gene family that includes human skin collagenase; the human and rabbit metalloproteinase, activator/stromelysin; and an oncogene-induced proteinase from rat named transin. The mRNA sequence of collagenase enabled us to completely map the structure of its gene, which is 9.1 kilobases and is composed of 10 exons and 9 introns. This is the first report of the structure of a collagenase gene. We show that it has striking similarity to additional members of this metalloproteinase gene family, transin genes I and II of rat. We have further sequenced genomic DNA flanking the collagenase gene and have identified nucleic acid elements of possible importance in gene regulation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1987

Segmental spinal instrumentation with sublaminar wires. A critical appraisal.

Fifty-eight patients who had scoliosis or kyphosis of varying etiologies were followed for a minimum of two years (average, forty-four months) after segmental spinal instrumentation using sublaminar wires. In eight (19 per cent) of the patients who had been operated on for scoliosis one or both rods broke. The average time that had elapsed before the breakage was discovered was twenty-three months. None of the patients in whom a rod had broken had had postoperative immobilization or a first-stage anterior fusion, and only one had had supplementary grafting with banked bone. Instrumentation to the pelvis was also associated with a greater incidence of broken rods. The use of supplementary grafting with banked bone or the use of postoperative immobilization significantly decreased the loss of postoperative correction. Preliminary anterior spinal fusion helped prevent breakage of rods but not loss of correction. It was concluded that postoperative immobilization and use of large amounts of supplementary bone graft lead to better results when using this implant system.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

A DNA sequence analysis program for the Apple Macintosh.

This paper describes a new set of programs for analyzing DNA sequences using the Apple Macintosh computer, a computer ideally suited for this kind of analysis. Because of the Macintosh interface and the availability of high quality software-only speech synthesis, these programs are truly easy to use. Instead of typing in commands, the user directs the program by making selections with the mouse, thereby eliminating most typographical and syntax errors. Output options are selected by "pressing buttons" and then clicking "OK" with the mouse. DNA sequences are confirmed by having the program speak them. The high resolution graphics on the Macintosh not only allow for explanatory diagrams to be used to aid in deciding on input parameters, but can be used to produce slides for presentations and figures for papers. Because of the clipboard and the ability of the Macintosh to readily share data among different applications, data can be saved for use directly in word processing documents (e.g. manuscripts).

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Characterization of rabbit genes for synovial cell collagenase.

To provide tools for understanding collagenase gene expression in rheumatoid arthritis, we have isolated and characterized genomic clones for rabbit synovial cell collagenase. These clones represent 2 types of collagenase gene, at least 1 of which is transcribed in synovial fibroblasts. By examining the rabbit genome in situ, we provide evidence that there are only 2 different synovial cell collagenase genes found in a haploid genome. Amplification of these genes is not a mechanism for collagenase messenger RNA induction by phorbol esters.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Foot pain in children.

A general approach to the child with foot pain has been described. In that the pediatrician is so often the recipient of parent's questions about children's shoes, he or she should be aware of problems relating to poorly fitting shoes, probably the most common source of complaints of foot pain in children. With a systematic approach, the pediatrician is very capable of managing the majority of such complaints.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Homology between exon-containing portions of rabbit genomic clones for synovial cell collagenase and human foreskin and synovial cell mRNAs.

Portions of rabbit genomic clones containing exons cross-hybridize with human synovial cell and human foreskin fibroblast mRNAs. These cross-hybridizing genomic fragments have been subcloned into pBR328 and may be useful probes in isolating cDNA and genomic clones from human tissue, and perhaps from other species as well. In addition, DNA sequence data on a 530 bp cDNA clone for rabbit synovial-cell collagenase indicate that this clone is composed primarily of 3'-untranslated region. As such, it is probably not useful in cross-species hybridizations.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1985

The role of the Verebelyi-Ogston procedure in the management of the arthrogrypotic foot.

The Verebelyi-Ogston procedure, initially described in the nineteenth century, was recently reported by Stephen Kopits for the treatment of the myelodysplastic foot. The author has used this procedure for the rigid myelodysplastic or arthrogrypotic foot. The operation, consisting of subchondral decancellization of the cuboid and talus, is effective in converting a rigid varus foot into a supple, braceable, plantigrade foot. Based on the author's experience with four arthrogrypotic feet with a minimum follow-up period of 57 months, the procedure is recommended as an alternative to talectomy. Prolonged postoperative orthotic support is necessary to prevent recurrence.

Arthrogryposis↗