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Biomedical subjects

S Izraeli

Publications and source records attributed to S Izraeli.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Trp207Gly in platelet glycoprotein Ibalpha is a novel mutation that disrupts the connection between the leucine-rich repeat domain and the disulfide loop structure and causes Bernard-Soulier syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Bernard-Soulier syndrome (BSS) is a severe inherited bleeding disorder that is caused by a defect in glycoprotein (GP)Ib-IX-V complex, the platelet membrane receptor for von Willebrand factor. PATIENTS: The diagnosis of BSS was made in two members of a Bukharian Jewish family who had life-long thrombocytopenia associated with mucocutaneous bleeding manifestations. METHODS AND RESULTS: Flow cytometry and Western blot analyses showed only trace amounts of GPIb and GPIX on the patients' platelets. Sequence analysis of the GPIbalpha gene revealed a homozygous T > G transversion at nucleotide 709 predicting Trp207Gly substitution in the mature protein. Introduction of the mutation into a mammalian expression construct abolished the surface expression of GPIbalpha in transfected baby hamster kidney cells. The crystal structure of the N-terminus of GPIbalpha (PDB: 1SQ0) indicates that Trp207 is completely buried and located in a disulfide loop structure that interacts with the leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain. CONCLUSION: A novel mutation, Trp207Gly, causes BSS and predicts disruption of the interaction between a disulfide loop and the LRR domain that is essential for the integrity of GPIbalpha structure.

Adolescent↗

Tetraploid myeloid cells in donors of peripheral blood stem cells treated with rhG-CSF.

Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) is frequently used to mobilize CD34+ cells in healthy donors and patient with malignant diseases prior to peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) harvest. To analyze the effects of rhG-CSF on morphology and genotype of white blood cells, a novel multiparametric cell scanning system that combines morphologic, immune and genotypic analyses of the same cells was used. We report here that tetraploid myeloid cells are present in the peripheral blood of donors treated with rhG-CSF. The tetraploidy was detected in up to 0.6% of differentiated myeloid cells and all observed CD34+ cells were diploid. Thus, short treatment with rhG-CSF of PBSC donors induces numerfical chromosomal alterations in a small subset of mature myeloid cells.

Case-Control Studies↗

The genomic structure, chromosomal localization, and analysis of SIL as a candidate gene for holoprosencephaly.

Holoprosencephaly (HPE) is the most common congenital malformation of the brain and face in humans. In this study we report the analysis of SIL (Sumacr;CL iumacr;nterrupting lumacr;ocus) as a candidate gene for HPE. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis using a BAC 246e16 confirmed the assignment of SIL to 1p32. Computational analysis of SIL at the protein level revealed a 73% overall identity between the human and murine proteins. Denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (dHPLC) techniques were used to screen for mutations and these studies identified several common polymorphisms but no disease-associated mutations, suggesting that SIL is not a common factor in HPE pathogenesis in humans.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Genetic evidence that Sil is required for the Sonic Hedgehog response pathway.

The Sil gene encodes a cytosolic protein required for mouse embryonic midline and left/right axial development. Based on the phenotype of Sil mutant embryos, we hypothesized that Sil may be required for the activity of Sonic Hedgehog (Shh), a secreted signaling molecule also critically important for the development of the embryonic axes and found mutated in multiple types of cancer. Here we tested the genetic interaction between Sil and the Shh pathway by generating and analyzing embryos carrying mutations in both Sil and Patched (Ptch), a Shh receptor that normally inhibits the signaling pathway in the absence of ligand and when mutated leads to constitutive activation of the pathway. We find that Sil(-/-) Ptch(-/-) embryos do not activate the Shh pathway and instead have a phenotype indistinguishable from Sil(-/-) embryos, in which there is a loss of activity of Shh. These results provide genetic evidence that Sil is an essential component of the Shh response, acting downstream to Ptch.

Animals↗

The SIL gene is required for mouse embryonic axial development and left-right specification.

The establishment of the main body axis and the determination of left-right asymmetry are fundamental aspects of vertebrate embryonic development. A link between these processes has been revealed by the frequent finding of midline defects in humans with left-right anomalies. This association is also seen in a number of mutations in mouse and zebrafish, and in experimentally manipulated Xenopus embryos. However, the severity of laterality defects accompanying abnormal midline development varies, and the molecular basis for this variation is unknown. Here we show that mouse embryos lacking the early-response gene SIL have axial midline defects, a block in midline Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signalling and randomized cardiac looping. Comparison with Shh mutant embryos, which have axial defects but normal cardiac looping, indicates that the consequences of abnormal midline development for left-right patterning depend on the time of onset, duration and severity of disruption of the normal asymmetric patterns of expression of nodal, lefty-2 and Pitx2.

Animals↗

Can gender differences during exercise-heat stress be assessed by the physiological strain index?

A physiological strain index (PSI) based on rectal temperature (Tre) and heart rate (HR) was recently suggested to evaluate exercise-heat stress. The purpose of this study was to evaluate PSI for gender differences under various combinations of exercise intensity and climate. Two groups of eight men each were formed according to maximal rate of O2 consumption (VO2 max). The first group of men (M) was matched to a group of nine women (W) with similar (P > 0.001) VO2 max (46.1 +/- 2.0 and 43.6 +/- 2.9 ml. kg-1. min-1, respectively). The second group of men (MF) was significantly (P < 0. 001) more fit than M or W with VO2 max of 59.1 +/- 1.8 ml. kg-1. min-1. Subjects completed a matrix of nine experimental combinations consisting of three different exercise intensities for 60 min [low, moderate, and high (300, 500, and 650 W, respectively)] each at three climates (comfortable, hot wet, and hot dry [20 degrees C 50% relative humidity (RH), 35 degrees C 70% RH, and 40 degrees C 35% RH, respectively]). No significant differences (P > 0.05) were found between matched genders (M and W) at the same exposure for sweat rate, relative VO2 max (%VO2 max), and PSI. However, MF had significantly (P < 0.05) lower strain than M and W as reflected by %VO2 max and PSI. In summary, PSI applicability was extended for exercise-heat stress and gender. This index continues to show potential for wide acceptance and application.

Adult↗

Expression of the SIL gene is correlated with growth induction and cellular proliferation.

The SIL gene was discovered at the site of a cancer-associated interstitial deletion in which its promoter assumed the regulation of a second gene, SCL. The human SIL gene encodes a 1287-amino acid cytosolic protein that has been found to be highly conserved in the mouse. SIL is expressed in proliferating cells and is down-regulated when cellular proliferation ceases because of serum starvation, contact inhibition, or induction of terminal differentiation. SIL is induced within 1 h of stimulation by 20% serum in growth-arrested 3T3 cells. This induction is independent of protein synthesis because "superinduction" is observed in the presence of the protein synthesis inhibitor cyclohexamide. Thus, SIL is an immediate-early gene. Upon release from serum starvation of 3T3 fibroblasts, SIL mRNA and protein levels display a biphasic pattern during the first cell cycle. In contrast, in exponentially growing EL4 lymphoblasts, SIL mRNA is stable throughout the cell cycle, whereas SIL protein accumulates into G2 phase and then falls precipitously at the completion of the cell cycle. This pattern of cell cycle expression suggests that SIL may play an important role in cellular growth and proliferation.

Animals↗

Role of tissue diagnosis in pulmonary involvement in pediatric human immunodeficiency virus infection.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary complications occur commonly during HIV infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical value of lung tissue examination in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary disorders in children with HIV infection. METHODS: The medical records of 347 children enrolled between January, 1990, and April, 1994, into various antiretroviral therapy protocols were reviewed to identify patients who underwent a lung biopsy. RESULTS: Fourteen patients underwent diagnostic lung biopsies on 16 separate occasions. The most common radiologic findings were nodular infiltrates which were localized in 7 patients and diffuse in 6. Eight patients presented with fever and progressive respiratory distress unresponsive to empiric therapy, whereas the rest had progressive nodular infiltrates. The pathologic diagnoses included opportunistic infection in 7 patients, lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis in 5, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 3 and interstitial fibrosis in 1. The biopsy led to a major change in the treatment of 7 patients which resulted in a significant improvement of the pulmonary process in all of them. In an additional patient the excisional biopsy proved curative. CONCLUSIONS: When patients are selected appropriately, lung biopsy might have a significant impact on therapy and outcome in HIV-infected children with pulmonary infiltrates.

Adolescent↗

A prospective evaluation of ifosfamide-related nephrotoxicity in children and young adults.

BACKGROUND: Ifosfamide has been associated with proximal renal tubular dysfunction resembling Fanconi-like syndrome and leading to rickets in young children. The characteristic manifestations of this nephrotoxicity include phosphaturia and hypophosphatemia, glycosuria, aminoaciduria, renal tubular acidosis, and urinary loss of low molecular weight serum proteins. However, the relationship between acute ifosfamide nephrotoxicity, which is frequently subclinical, and long term renal damage is unclear. In this prospective study, the laboratory features of ifosfamide-induced acute nephrotoxicity were characterized further and correlated with the development of chronic nephropathy. METHODS: The renal function of newly diagnosed children and young adults with high risk sarcomas was followed during therapy with a high dose ifosfamide-containing regimen. Serum and urine were collected regularly immediately before and after 5-day cycles of ifosfamide throughout treatment for determination of the fractional excretion of electrolytes (sodium, potassium, phosphate, magnesium, calcium) and glucose and urinary excretion of amino acids and beta 2-microglobulin. RESULTS: Significant changes in the renal threshold of phosphate excretion, the fractional excretion of calcium and glucose, and the urinary excretion of beta 2-microglobulin were observed when comparing pretreatment values with those at the end of a 5-day treatment cycle. The median renal threshold of phosphate excretion decreased from 1.22 to 0.82 mmol/L (P < 0.0001). The median fractional excretions of calcium and glucose increased from 1.05% to 1.68% (P < 0.0001) and 0.05% to 0.08% (P = 0.0006), respectively. Beta 2-microglobulin excretion increased by 70-fold from 0.02 to 1.42 mg/mmol (P < 0.0001). Except for glucose and beta 2-microglobulin excretion, renal parameters returned to baseline before the next ifosfamide treatment cycle. Acute aminoaciduria was observed in 21 of 23 patients. Chronic nephrotoxicity, as defined by the development of a Fanconi-like syndrome or chronic tubular electrolyte loss requiring oral supplementation, developed in the three patients with the highest urinary excretion of beta 2-microglobulin after ifosfamide therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Prospectively, high dose ifosfamide was associated with a 4% incidence of Fanconi-like syndrome; however, evidence of acute reversible subclinical nephrotoxicity was observed for all patients. Severe beta 2-microglobulinuria appeared to be a prognostic laboratory indicator for the development of chronic nephrotoxicity.

Adolescent↗

Ocular effects of hyoscine in double dose transdermal administration and its reversal by low dose pyridostigmine.

The potential of low dose (30 mg t.i.d) pyridostigmine to reduce the ocular side effects of double dose transdermal controlled release hyoscine was evaluated by the study of near visual acuity, accommodation amplitude and pupil diameter in a placebo controlled, double masked study. We studied 47 healthy men (age 18-21 yr) in 3 groups: 16 assigned to placebo hyoscine and placebo pyridostigmine, 15 assigned to double dose hyoscine and placebo pyridostigmine, and 16 to double dose hyoscine and pyridostigmine. Subjects were tested during 48 h of treatment and 48 h of washout period. Blood cholinesterase inhibition level and amount of hyoscine released from the patches were used as parameters of reliability. Difference between groups was assessed using change from baseline scores. Double dose hyoscine caused decrease in near visual acuity to a mean of 14/18. Accommodation amplitude was decreased in the double dose transdermal hyoscine group from 9.19 +/- 1.04 to 4.83 +/- 1.97 diopters of accommodation. This decrease was significant when compared to the placebo group (p < 0.05) and to the pyridostigmine-protected group (p < 0.05). Pyridostigmine, however, did not significantly change the hyoscine-induced mydriasis of 1.47 + 0.15 mm change from baseline (p < 0.05). These results suggest that pyridostigmine administration may be beneficial in shortening recovery time when near vision impairment is experienced following single and double dose transdermal hyoscine administration.

Adolescent↗

Acute pancreatitis after ifosfamide therapy.

Acute pancreatitis is an uncommon but serious complication of cancer chemotherapy. A 16-year-old girl with metastatic osteosarcoma experienced recurrent bouts of symptomatic pancreatitis 24 hours after treatment with ifosfamide administered as a single agent. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of an association between ifosfamide and pancreatitis. Because serum amylase levels are not monitored routinely during treatment with most chemotherapeutic agents, subclinical cases of pancreatitis with ifosfamide and other agents may go undetected.

Acute Disease↗

Spectral analysis of heart rate in vasovagal syncope: the autonomic nervous system in vasovagal syncope.

Spectral analysis of heart rate fluctuations was used to investigate the role of the autonomic nervous system in the pathogenesis of vasovagal syncope. Nine adolescents with a history of at least three episodes of vasovagal syncope and nine age-matched healthy controls were studied. All subjects were tested in supine position and at a 60 degrees inclination for 60 min or less if syncope developed. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured, while the ECG and respiration traces were recorded on magnetic tape for later spectral analysis. Baseline heart rate was lower in control subjects than in patients, increased with tilt in both groups, and remained lower in the control subjects throughout the experiment. Baseline systolic and diastolic blood pressure was similar in both groups. Diastolic blood pressure initially increased with tilt in all subjects and decreased significantly thereafter in patients. Pulse pressure was lower in patients throughout the experiment. The heart rate power spectra displayed a higher baseline level of low frequency fluctuations in the control group. The high frequency fluctuations component was similar in all subjects. The results of the test, regarding haemodynamic parameters and autonomic control of the heart rate, as expressed by low and high frequency fluctuations, are consistent with a reduced sympathetic reserve in the individuals with previous episodes of syncope.

Adolescent↗

Lactic acid as a predictor for erythrocyte transfusion in healthy preterm infants with anemia of prematurity.

Elevated blood lactate levels that declined to normal after erythrocyte transfusion were observed in 17 of 37 otherwise healthy infants with anemia of prematurity (26.1 +/- 2.1 mg/dl vs 12.3 +/- 0.9 mg/dl; p < 0.001). Posttransfusion heart rate in this group decreased from 155 +/- 1 beats/min to 150 +/- 2 beats/min (p = 0.01). Blood lactate concentration may be a predictor of the need for transfusion in anemia of prematurity.

Anemia, Neonatal↗

Expression of identical E2A/PBX1 fusion transcripts occurs in both pre-B and early pre-B immunological subtypes of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The translocation t(1;19)(q23;p13) in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was demonstrated in early reports to result in a consistent fusion between the E2A and PBX1 gene sequences and in the expression of a uniform, chimeric E2A/PBX1 mRNA with transforming potential. More recent observations suggested that cytogenetically identical t(1;19) translocations can result in the transcription of different mRNA species and that expression of the E2A/PBX1 message may be restricted to patients with the t(1;19) who display a pre-B phenotype of ALL. To further assess the correlation between the immunologic subtypes of the disease and specific genetic alterations, we have performed cytogenetic and molecular analyses in 221 children with B-lineage ALL. Expression of the chimeric E2A/PBX1 message was detected in 21 patients. Out of 14 patients, in whom cytoplasmic immunoglobulin (cig) analyses were available, no less than four had a cig- B-cell precursor ALL, whereas 10 displayed a cig+ B-ALL immunophenotype. These findings are at variance with a recent report in which expression of the E2A/PBX1 message was linked exclusively to a subset of patients who displayed a cig+ pre-B-cell precursor phenotype of ALL. In seven cases diagnosed before 1986, cig analyses were not available, and consequently E2A/PBX1 expression could not be correlated to a particular immunological subtype of B-cell precursor ALL. Our results have important implications for the detection of residual disease in pediatric patients where expression of the typical E2A/PBX1 mRNA may occur both in cig+ (pre-B) and cig- (early pre-B) immunologic subtypes of ALL.

Child↗

Detection and clinical relevance of genetic abnormalities in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a comparison between cytogenetic and polymerase chain reaction analyses.

The E2A/PBX1 and the BCR/ABL fusion genes result from the t(1;19)(q23;p13) and the t(9;22)(q34;q11), respectively, and encode oncoproteins which are thought to play an important role in the development of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) subtypes associated with adverse prognosis. The use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of these genetic rearrangements may offer advantages over cytogenetic techniques which are often unsatisfactory in patients with ALL and, furthermore, provide a useful tool for monitoring of residual disease. However, it has not yet been evaluated whether the employment of PCR at the time of diagnosis improves the detection rate of these clinically relevant genetic anomalies. We have developed a multiprimer-PCR protocol which facilitates the detection of each of the four chimeric E2A/PBX1 and BCR/ABL mRNAs in a single reaction. This protocol was used for the evaluation of bone-marrow or blood samples from 251 children with ALL in whom cytogenetic analyses had been performed. Of the 251 patients, 221 had a B-cell precursor immunophenotype. In this group, 21 patients (9.5%) carrying the E2A/PBX1 rearrangement and three patients (1.4%) with BCR/ABL transcripts were detected by PCR. Twelve of these cases had escaped the detection by conventional cytogenetic analysis. In two of 12 patients with a typical t(1;19)(q23;p13), no E2A/PBX1 transcripts were identified by PCR, thus suggesting the presence of different molecular rearrangements. Residual leukemic cells were detected by PCR in five of eight patients who were followed during complete clinical remission. The frontline use of PCR has an important impact on the timely diagnosis, therapeutic decisions, and monitoring of high-risk patients with B-cell precursor leukemia who carry the E2A/PBX1 or BCR/ABL fusion genes.

Adolescent↗

Unexpected heterogeneity in E2A/PBX1 fusion messenger RNA detected by the polymerase chain reaction in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The t(1;19)(q23;p13) is the most common recurring chromosomal translocation in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and has been associated with adverse prognosis. It involves the rearrangement of two genes, PBX1 and E2A, resulting in the production of transforming chimeric DNA-binding proteins. In all previous reports in which the presence of a chimeric transcript was described, the fusion point between the coding sequences of E2A and PBX1 was found to be constant at the RNA level. We have used RNA-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of E2A/PBX1 messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in children with ALL at the time of diagnosis. Of 21 patients exhibiting this rearrangement, 3 (14%) expressed a variant E2A/PBX1 transcript in addition to the expected one. The relative amounts of the two chimeric mRNAs varied between the patients, but remained constant in the same patient during different stages of the disease. Sequence analysis showed an identical insertion of 27 bp at the E2A/PBX1 junction of the variant RNA species, the translation of which would result in the replacement of Val478 by 10 amino acids. The inserted sequence has not been detected in any other human transcript besides the variant E2A/PBX1 RNA species and probably represents a splicing variant of the chimeric RNA. We conclude that a subset of pediatric patients with ALL that carry the E2A/PBX1 rearrangement express two types of the chimeric mRNA. The biologic significance of this additional E2A/PBX1 transcript is discussed.

Adolescent↗

Albright hereditary osteodystrophy with hypothyroidism, normocalcemia, and normal Gs protein activity: a family presenting with congenital osteoma cutis.

The syndrome of Albright hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO), pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) and pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism (PPHP) is clinically and genetically heterogeneous. Classically, patients with PHP have the skeletal features of AHO, resistance to multiple hormones that work via cAMP such as parathyroid hormone and thyroid stimulating hormone, and deficient activity of Gs protein, the guanine nucleotide-binding protein that stimulates adenylate cyclase. However, patients without hormone resistance but with AHO and Gs deficiency were described (PPHP), as well as patients with multiple hormone resistance but without AHO or Gs deficiency. In a few patients with deficient Gs activity, hypothyroidism rather than hypocalcemia was the initial presentation of the disorder. We describe here a new variant of the syndrome, affecting 5 individuals in a 3 generation family with AHO, normal Gs activity and hypothyroidism. In the first 2 generations, mild features of AHO were present. The 2 sibs in the third generation had severe manifestations of AHO, including mild mental retardation as well as hypothyroidism. Diagnosis of congenital osteoma cutis at birth of the proband led to the diagnosis of the family. Elucidation of the molecular defect will shed light on the relationship between hormone resistance and AHO, as well as on the physiological mechanism of hormonal signal transduction.

Adolescent↗