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Biomedical subjects

R See

Publications and source records attributed to R See.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A conserved transcription motif suggesting functional parallels between Caenorhabditis elegans SKN-1 and Cap'n'Collar-related basic leucine zipper proteins.

In Caenorhabditis elegans, the predicted transcription factor SKN-1 is required for embryonic endodermal and mesodermal specification and for maintaining differentiated intestinal cells post-embryonically. The SKN-1 DNA-binding region is related to the Cap'n'Collar (CNC) family of basic leucine zipper proteins, but uniquely, SKN-1 binds DNA as a monomer. CNC proteins are absent in C. elegans, however; and their involvement in the endoderm and mesoderm suggests some functional parallels to SKN-1. Using a cell culture assay, we show that SKN-1 induces transcription and contains three potent activation domains. The functional core of one domain is a short motif, the DIDLID element, which is highly conserved in a subgroup of vertebrate CNC proteins. The DIDLID element is important for SKN-1-driven transcription, suggesting a likely significance in other CNC proteins. SKN-1 binds to and activates transcription through the p300/cAMP-responsive element-binding protein-binding protein (CBP) coactivator, supporting the genetic prediction that SKN-1 recruits the C. elegans p300/CBP ortholog, CBP-1. The DIDLID element appears to act independently of p300/CBP, however, suggesting a distinct conserved target. The evolutionarily preservation of the DIDLID transcriptional element supports the model that SKN-1 and some CNC proteins interact with analogous cofactors and may have preserved some similar functions despite having divergent DNA-binding domains.

Animals↗

Chronic neuroleptics alter the effects of the D1 agonist SK&F 38393 and the D2 agonist LY171555 on oral movements in rats.

Vacuous oral movements (OMs) in rats chronically administered haloperidol (HAL), fluphenazine (FLU), or no drug were studied following injections of one of three doses of either a D1 agonist (SK&F 38393) or a D2 agonist (LY171555). Oral movements were observed via closed-circuit television and simultaneously recorded using a computerized video analysis system which measured the distance between two fluorescent dots painted above and below the rat's mouth. SK&F 38393 induced a dose-dependent increase in tremorous oral movements and repetitive chewing movements in the controls; this effect was more pronounced in rats treated with chronic HAL or FLU, both during chronic neuroleptic treatment and even more so when they were tested after drug withdrawal following 5 or 14 months of chronic neuroleptic administration. Conversely, LY171555 produced an inhibition of oral activity at all dose levels in controls. This inhibition was attenuated during chronic administration of HAL or FLU, but returned to control levels (without any signs of supersensitivity) when the animals were retested shortly after discontinuation of neuroleptics. These results indicate that heightened oral movements in rodents following chronic neuroleptic administration can be more clearly induced by D1 than by D2 receptor activation.

2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-ben↗

Praziquantel and oltipraz: the treatment of schoolchildren infected with Schistosoma mansoni and/or Schistosoma haematobium in Gezira, Sudan.

Of 111 schoolchildren--all of whom were infected with Schistosoma mansoni and 97 of whom were also infected with S. haematobium--54 were treated with Praziquantel (2 x 20 mg kg-1) and 57 with Oltipraz (2 x 15 mg kg-1). There was no apparent difference between the efficacy of the two drugs. Follow-up studies over the following 12 months indicated that mass chemotherapy of schoolchildren can be expected to reduce the egg output of those treated by almost 100%, but that, unless there is some break in transmission, the egg output may well be as high after 12 months as it was before treatment--at least in the boys. After a round of chemotherapy, retreatment of school-aged boys in an area where transmission is heavy will be necessary six to 12 months later.

Child↗

Tremorous mouth movements in rats administered chronic neuroleptics.

Oral movements (OMs) in rats administered chronic haloperidol (HAL) were quantified simultaneously by a human observer and via a computerized video analysis system which monitored the distance between the upper and low lips using TV images. The human observer data indicated that during HAL administration the total duration of OMs was initially decreased, gradually returned to levels slightly above controls, and then increased substantially upon drug withdrawal. The computer records confirmed these findings and further indicated that after prolonged HAL administration a syndrome developed in which large-amplitude OMs remained suppressed but OMs of the smallest detectable amplitudes increased. Upon drug withdrawal, these small OMs increased in amplitude and rhythmicity, developing into repetitive tremors.

Animals↗

A survey for arboviral antibodies in sera of humans and animals in Lombok, Republic of Indonesia.

Sera were collected from humans, cattle, horses, goats, ducks, chickens, wild birds, bats and rats in Lombok, Indonesia, and were tested by haemagglutination inhibition (HI) for antibodies to JE, ZIKA, CHIK and RR. Selected sera were tested by microneutralization tests for antibodies to the following viruses: JE, ZIKA, MVE, TMU, LGT, KUN, SEP, DEN-2, CHIK, RR, GET, SIN, BUN, BAT and BAK. Human sera had JE HI antibody in 135 (30%) of 446 tested. Neutralization tests indicated that DEN-2, ZIKA, TMU, KUN and SEP may have caused flavivirus infections. Antibodies to other arboviruses tested for were not found. HI and neutralization tests on animal sera indicated possible flavivirus infections with JE, MVE, KUN and SEP, and also that infections with BAT and BUN had occurred among domestic animals. No neutralizing antibodies were found for alphaviruses or other viruses used in the tests.

Alphavirus↗

Cancer of the cervix--a sexually transmitted disease. Cytologic screening in a prostitute population.

The epidemiology of cervical cancer has been the subject of many articles centered around the question, "Is cancer of the cervix a sexually transmitted disease? A group of 750 Taiwan prostitutes had cervical cytology performed at the time of required gonorrhea screening. The prostitutes represented a unique group in which the variables of frequent intercourse with multiple partners and multiple infection can be separated from early coital experience. Cervical cytology was obtained and processed by the Pathology Department at Navy Medical Research Unit No. 2. A bilingual questionnaire was completed with the aid of a medical interpreter. The results included only eight of the 750 specimens in the "dysplasia plus" category for a rate of 10.7 per 1,000. The low yield of abnormal cytology suggests the factors of multiple partners, frequent intercourse, and high gonorrhea infection rate are not significant epidemiologically if they occur after the phase of active metaplasia, occurring during the first pregnancy or early adolescence.

Adolescent↗

Dengue with haemorrhage and shock in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Pediatric patients with fever and haemorrhage were studied in Jakarta, Indonesia between May 1973 and January 1974. Eighty-one of 104 demonstrated unequivocable evidence of dengue with clinical findings similar to those reported associated with dengue haemorrhagic fever in Thailand. The majority of patients had extremely high antibody titers against dengue measured by both hemagglutination-inhibition and by plaque reduction neutralization tests and all four types of dengue virus were isolated. Eight of the patients died.

Adolescent↗

Antibodies against murine typhyus in sera from Indonesians.

A sero-epidemiological study of human CF and indirect immunofluorescence antibodies against murine typhus was conducted in Indonesia. Antibody prevalences ranged from 10% to 20% in sera of Indonesians from Java and Sumatra to less than 2% in sera from islands east of Java.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

Failure of cyclophosphamide to significantly enhance isolation of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi from wild Philippine rats.

Treatment of wild rats from a known scrub typhus focus in the Philippines with cyclophosphamide did not significantly enhance the isolation rate of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi using mouse inoculation techniques. Similarly, cyclophosphamide treatment of mice inoculated with organs of wild rats did not increase the recovery of rickettsiae, and isolation of rickettsiae was about equal from biopsies obtained before and after immunosuppression of wild rats.

Animals↗

Parasites of man in remote areas of Central and South Sulawesi, Indonesia.

A biomedical survey was conducted in 10 villages in remote, high mountain valleys of Central and South Sulawesi, Indonesia to learn whether Oriental schistosomiasis was endemic and to determine the prevalences of other intestinal parasites, malaria and filariasis in those areas. Although persons with Oriental schistosomiasis were found in three villages of South Sulawesi, follow-up inquiries revealed that these had recently migrated from a known schistosomiasis area in Central Sulawesi. Other intestinal parasites diagnosed were Ascaris lumbricoides (14%), Trichuris trichiura (7%), hookworm (68%), Entamoeba histolytica (3%), Entamoeba coli (17%), and Giardia lamblia (5%). Enterobius vermicularis, Strongyloides stercoralis, Trichostrongylus sp., Physaloptera sp., Diphyllobothrium sp. heterophyid, echinostome and dicrocoelid-like termatodes, Endolimax nana and Chilomastix mesnili were detected infrequently. Malaria parasitemias due to Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax and P. malariae were detected in 4% of the sampled populations, Malayan filariasis was diagnosed in 21% of the subjects examined.

Adolescent↗

Seroepidemiological survey of hospital-associated populations in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Almost 1,500 sera from hospital-associated groups in Colombo, Sri Lanka were tested for antibodies against melioidosis, scrub typhus, influenza, and group B arboviruses. A low prevalence of antibodies was found against meliodosis and scrub typhus. Crude prevalence rates of more than 50% were encountered for antibodies against A influenza, and there was no apparent difference in rates when these were analysed according to age, sex, or ethnic background. Influenza B antibodies were more prevalent in older individuals. Antibodies against group B arboviruses were found in all groups tested, and were significantly more prevalent in older Tamils, who has estimated attack rates of more than 5% per year.

Adolescent↗