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Biomedical subjects

S Eden

Publications and source records attributed to S Eden.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

An upstream repressor element plays a role in Igf2 imprinting.

The imprinted Igf2 gene is associated with a small upstream region that is differentially methylated on the active paternal allele. We have identified a repressor element within this sequence and shown that repression is probably mediated through a trans- acting factor, GCF2. DNA methylation of this site abrogates both protein binding and repressor activity. Targeting experiments demonstrate that this element plays a role in the repression of the maternal Igf2 gene in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Virtual reality as a tool for improving spatial rotation among deaf and hard-of-hearing children.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the practice of rotating Virtual Reality (VR) three-dimensional (3D) objects will enhance the spatial rotation thinking of deaf and hard-of-hearing children compared to the practice of rotating two-dimensional (2D) objects. Two groups were involved in this study: an experimental group, which included 21 deaf and hardof-hearing children, who played a VR 3D game, and a control group of 23 deaf and hard-of-hearing children, who played a similar 2D (not VR) game. The results clearly indicate that practicing with VR 3D spatial rotations significantly improved the children's performance of spatial rotation, which enhanced their ability to perform better in other intellectual skills as well as in their sign language skills.

Child↗
PubMed2000

Enhancing the Induction Skill of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children with Virtual Reality Technology.

Many researchers have found that for reasoning and reaching a reasoned conclusion, particularly when the process of induction is required, deaf and hard-of-hearing children have unusual difficulty. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the practice of rotating virtual reality (VR) three-dimensional (3D) objects will have a positive effect on the ability of deaf and hard-of-hearing children to use inductive processes when dealing with shapes. Three groups were involved in the study: (1) experimental group, which included 21 deaf and hard-of-hearing children, who played a VR 3D game; (2) control group I, which included 23 deaf and hard-of-hearing children, who played a similar two-dimensional (2D) game (not VR game); and (3) control group II of 16 hearing children for whom no intervention was introduced. The results clearly indicate that practicing with VR 3D spatial rotations significantly improved inductive thinking used by the experimental group for shapes as compared with the first control group, who did not significantly improve their performance. Also, prior to the VR 3D experience, the deaf and hard-of-hearing children attained lower scores in inductive abilities than the children with normal hearing, (control group II). The results for the experimental group, after the VR 3D experience, improved to the extent that there was no noticeable difference between them and the children with normal hearing.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Improving flexible thinking in deaf and hard of hearing children with virtual reality technology.

The study investigated whether rotating three-dimensional (3-D) objects using virtual reality (VR) will affect flexible thinking in deaf and hard of hearing children. Deaf and hard of hearing subjects were distributed into experimental and control groups. The experimental group played virtual 3-D Tetris (a game using VR technology) individually, 15 minutes once weekly over 3 months. The control group played conventional two-dimensional (2-D) Tetris over the same period. Children with normal hearing participated as a second control group in order to establish whether deaf and hard of hearing children really are disadvantaged in flexible thinking. Before-and-after testing showed significantly improved flexible thinking in the experimental group; the deaf and hard of hearing control group showed no significant improvement. Also, before the experiment, the deaf and hard of hearing children scored lower in flexible thinking than the children with normal hearing. After the experiment, the difference between the experimental group and the control group of children with normal hearing was smaller.

Child↗
PubMed1999

DNA methylation represses transcription in vivo.

DNA in somatic tissue is characterized by a bimodal pattern of methylation, which is established in the animal through a series of developmental events. In the mouse blastula, most DNA is unmethylated, but after implantation a wave of de novo methylation modifies most of the genome, excluding the majority of CpG islands, which are mainly associated with housekeeping genes. This genomic methylation pattern is broadly maintained during the life of the organism by maintenance methylation, and generally correlates with gene expression. Experiments both in vitro and in vivo indicate that methylation inhibits transcription. It has not yet been possible, however, to determine the role of DNA methylation on specific sequences during normal development. Cis-acting regulatory elements and trans-acting factors appear to be involved in both stage- and tissue-specific demethylation processes. Sp1-like elements have a key role in protecting the CpG island of Aprt (encoding adenine phosphoribosyltransferase) from de novo methylation, and when these elements are specifically mutated, the Aprt CpG island becomes methylated in transgenic mice. We have now characterized an embryo-specific element from the CpG island sequence upstream of Aprt that can protect itself from de novo methylation in transgenic mice as well as reduce methylation of flanking sequences. We placed this element on a removable cassette adjacent to a human HBB (encoding beta-globin) reporter and generated a transgene whose methylation pattern can be switched in vivo. Analysis of globin transcription in this system showed that methylation in cis inhibits gene expression in a variety of tissues, indicating that DNA modification may serve as a global genomic repressor.

Adenine Phosphoribosyltransferase↗
PubMed1994

Role of DNA methylation in the regulation of transcription.

DNA methylation plays an important role in the regulation of gene expression during development. Methyl moieties at CpG residues suppress transcription by affecting DNA-protein interactions, thus altering the accessibility of genes to trans-acting factors in the cell. Because it works in cis, this mechanism is important in the control of X inactivation and genomic imprinting.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Effects of rhGH and rhIGF-1 on renal growth and morphology.

It is known that in rodents recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) and recombinant human insulin-like growth factor (rhIGF-1) increase renal mass. It is uncertain, however, whether renal mass increases in proportion to body growth, or whether renal growth is stimulated selectively. In 120 to 150 g female Sprague-Dawley rats, we measured the effects of rhGH and rhIGF-1 and their combination by the following parameters: kidney weight/body weight ratio, DNA/protein ratio, mRNA of GH receptor and of IGF-1, mitosis index and PCNA (by immunohistology), zonal architecture and glomerular diameter by micromorphometry. Both rhGH and rhIGF-1 dose-dependently increased renal weight and body weight over vehicle treated controls. With rhGH, liver dry weight/body weight ratio increased, but kidney dry weight/body weight ratio remained unchanged (0.99 +/- 0.06 x 10(-3) vs. 1.02 +/- 0.07 in vehicle controls). In contrast, a significant increase of kidney dry weight/body weight ratio was seen in rats treated with rhIGF-1 (1.3 +/- 0.21 x 10(-3). Addition of high doses of rhGH to high doses of rhIGF-1 caused no further increase of the ratio despite a significant further increase of body weight. rhGH increased the abundance of renal GH receptor mRNA (0.46 +/- 0.32 amol/microgram DNA vs. 0.08 +/- 0.07 in controls) and of IGF-1 mRNA (1.35 +/- 0.5 pg/micrograms DNA vs. 0.35 +/- 0.17), whereas no change was seen with IGF-1 treatment. rhGH and rhIGF-1 increased kidney DNA/protein ratio, mitoses and PCNA expression in various renal structures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Neurological disorders in 166 patients with basal ganglia calcification: a statistical evaluation.

Patients investigated at our institute during the last decade included 166 (1.2%) who showed uni- or bilateral basal ganglia calcification on computed tomography. We tested the significance of this neuroradiological observation by statistical comparison of these patients' clinical disorders with the findings in a random sample of 622 patients without basal ganglia calcification. The odds for the most common neurological disturbances were similar in patients with and without basal ganglia calcification. After adjustment for differences in age and brain atrophy there was no evidence of a significantly increased risk of dementia (odds ratio 1.1), cerebral infarction (1.4), epilepsy (0.9), vertigo (1.6), headache (1.8), or alcoholism (0.9), which represented the most common diagnoses. We conclude that basal ganglia calcification cannot be considered as a clinically relevant neuroradiological finding in the majority of cases and that it should not be used as an explanation for frequently observed neurological disturbances.

Basal Ganglia Diseases↗
PubMed1992

Oral contraception affects osteocalcin serum profiles in young women.

The serum concentrations of osteocalcin (bone Gla protein) were followed by continuous blood sampling for 24 h in 9 healthy young women before and during treatment with oestrogen/progestogen combinations for oral contraception. There were marked fluctuations during the 24 h sampling period, values ranging from 0.5 to 10.0 ng/ml. Values displayed an apparent circadian rhythm. Daytime values were on average lower than nocturnal concentrations. During treatment with oral contraceptives there was a significant decrease in osteocalcin levels but fluctuations during the 24 h sampling period were still observed. Almost all individual values obtained at 30 min intervals were lower during treatment. For the whole group the mean osteocalcin concentration decreased by 1.4 ng/ml (p less than 0.01) during treatment. In postmenopausal women high serum levels of osteocalcin are supposed to reflect increased bone turnover secondary to enhanced bone resorption. Oestrogens are known to reduce osteocalcin levels and may reduce bone resorption. In healthy young women alternative mechanisms should be considered but the reduced osteocalcin serum levels in this short-term study indicate that oral contraceptive use may influence bone metabolism.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

What is the psychiatric significance of bilateral basal ganglia mineralization?

One percent (143) of patients who underwent cranial computed tomography at the Central Institute of Mental Health during the last 10 years had bilateral basal ganglia mineralization (BGM). The relationship of this finding to the psychiatric disorders in the group was evaluated by statistical comparison with a group of patients without BGM (control group). The odds ratios for affective disorders and for organic brain syndromes with affective or paranoid symptoms showed a mild, but statistically significant, increase in patients with BGM. There was no evidence of an increased proportion of dementia, schizophrenia, or alcoholism in those with BGM. Those with BGM had a higher mean age and significantly more cortical atrophy and ventricular enlargement than did patients without. These confounding variables contributed to clinical differences between the BGM and the control groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Secretory pattern of growth hormone regulates steroid sulfatase activity in rat liver.

Steroid sulfatase activity was quantified in liver microsomes from hypophysectomized adult female rats treated with estradiol and continuous or intermittent human growth hormone (hGH). Hypophysectomy clearly enhanced sulfatase activity as compared to intact female rats. Normal female values were completely restored by continuous infusion of hGH (1.4 i.u./kg/day). Neither the same dose of hGH given as two daily injections nor estrogen replacement therapy had any effect. It is concluded that liver microsome sulfatase activity in the non-pregnant rat is regulated by the sexually dimorphic secretory pattern of GH.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

The value of the hydrogen (H2) breath test for the diagnosis of bacterial overgrowth in gastric achlorhydria.

Sixteen healthy volunteers, 23 patients with peptic disease, and 38 patients with achlorhydria were investigated with bacterial cultures from gastric juice and a hydrogen (H2) breath test after a standard meal. In acid-secreting subjects upper respiratory tract bacteria were found in 6/39. In every single achlorhydric patient gastric bacterial concentrations were above log 10 5.7/ml. Fecal flora was found in 22/38. The patient with fecal organisms were significantly older than those without (p less than 0.05). The H2 breath test revealed low postprandial carbohydrate fermentation in acid secretors and in achlorhydrics with no fecal flora. The lowest H2 production was found 90 and 120 min after the meal. In achlorhydrics with fecal organisms the mean H2 concentration at these times of measurement was elevated (p less than 0.05). Assuming that a mean H2 concentration at 90 and 120 min above 19 ppm (mean in healthy volunteers at 90 and 120 min + 2 SD) is pathological, the association of fecal bacteria in gastric juice and a "positive" H2 breath test is highly significant (P less than 0.001). Fecal bacteria in the gastric juice would indicate small-intestinal fermentation with a probability of 81%. A gastric culture negative for fecal organisms would predict a "negative" H2 breath test with a probability of 91%.

Achlorhydria↗
PubMed1986

Assessment of orocoecal transit time by means of a hydrogen (H2) breath test as compared with a radiologic control method.

The definition of the orocoecal transit time by means of the hydrogen (H2) breath test is not unequivocal. In this study the orocoecal transit time as measured with an H2 breath test was compared with that obtained with a radiologic method. Two definitions of orocoecal transit time by the H2 breath test were evaluated: the time from eating to the first of three consecutively rising H2 values, and the interval to H2 values 50% above 'small-bowel level'. Transit times measured in accordance with both definitions were closely correlated to that obtained with the radiologic method (A, r = 0.84; B, r = 0.90; for both, p less than 0.001), but transit time measured by definition A gave shorter values than the radiologic method (p less than 0.05). The mean transit time in patients with constipation was significantly longer than that in normal subjects and patients with functional diarrhoea (p less than 0.05). There was a significant correlation between the difference in transit time measured with the H2 breath test and the radiologic method and the transit time measured by the control method. This may indicate that rapid transit is associated with a delayed 'colonic' rise in H2 levels and slow transit with an early H2 rise.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Acute growth hormone deficiency rapidly alters glucose metabolism in rat adipocytes. Relation to insulin responses and binding.

To investigate cellular aspects of the antagonism between endogenous GH and insulin in adipose tissue, we examined glucose metabolism, insulin responses, and insulin binding in adipocytes isolated from rats made GH deficient by treatment with antibodies to rat GH (ArGH), which neutralize the biological actions of GH. Adipocytes were incubated in the presence or absence of insulin, and their ability to convert [14C] glucose to CO2 and lipid was measured. Basal glucose utilization was significantly elevated in adipocytes from ArGH-treated rats after 6, 3, or even 1 h of serum treatment compared to that in controls treated with nonimmune serum. This suggests that endogenous GH suppresses glucose metabolism in adipocytes from normal rats. In the presence of insulin, the absolute values of glucose utilization were also higher in cells from ArGH-treated rats than in controls. However, because basal glucose oxidation was higher with GH deficiency, the percent stimulation by insulin was not different in adipocytes from ArGH-treated rats and controls. In keeping with this, the binding of [125I]iodoinsulin was not altered by GH deficiency. These findings indicate that endogenous GH suppresses basal glucose metabolism in adipocytes, and that this effect is rapidly reversed by treatment of normal rats with ArGH. Furthermore, this effect of GH on adipocyte metabolism is independent of changes in insulin binding and appears to account for the enhanced responses to insulin observed with GH deficiency.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1983

Specific binding of growth hormone to isolated chondrocytes from rabbit ear and epiphyseal plate.

Chondrocytes were isolated from rabbit ear, epiphyseal and rib cartilage, and their ability to bind 125I-labeled human growth hormone (hGH) was investigated. The total binding of hormone to ear chondrocytes increased with time until 4-6 h, whereas non-specific binding did not increase. Total binding was 1-3% of total counts added, and non-specific binding was 10-20% of total binding. Unlabeled hGH, bGH and oPRL competed with the binding of labeled hGH in a dose-dependent manner with half-maximal binding at concentrations of 10-20 ng/ml (hGH) and 100 ng/ml (bGH and oPRL). The two latter hormones displaced almost all specific binding of hGH at higher concentrations. Ear chondrocytes from newborn to 4 week old rabbits all showed specific binding of hGH with no clear age dependence. Rib chondrocytes, on the other hand, showed very little specific binding. Epiphyseal chondrocytes from newborn animals yielded intermediate binding values. The finding of specific hGH binding by cultured chondrocytes supports the concept of a direct effect of GH on chondrocytes.

Animals↗