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Biomedical subjects

S M Rowe

Publications and source records attributed to S M Rowe.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor of the parasitic nematode Trichinella spiralis.

cDNAs were obtained for macrophage migration-inhibitory factor (MIF)/L-dopachrome methyl ester tautomerase homologues from the parasitic nematodes Trichinella spiralis (TsMIF) and Trichuris trichiura (TtMIF). The translated sequences, which were partly confirmed by sequencing of proteolytic fragments, show 42 and 44% identity respectively with human or mouse MIF, and are shorter by one C-terminal residue. Unlike vertebrate MIF and MIF homologues of filarial nematodes, neither TsMIF nor TtMIF contain cysteine residues. Soluble recombinant TsMIF, expressed in Escherichia coli showed secondary structure (by CD spectroscopy) and quaternary structure (by light-scattering and gel filtration) similar to that of the trimeric mammalian MIFs and D-dopachrome tautomerase. The catalytic specificity of recombinant TsMIF in the ketonization of phenylpyruvate (1.4x10(6) M(-1) x s(-1)) was comparable with that of human MIF, while that of p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate (9.1x10(4) M(-1) x s(-1)) was 71-fold lower. TsMIF showed high specificity in tautomerization of the methyl ester of L-dopachrome compared with non-esterified L-dopachrome (>87000-fold) and a high kcat (approximately 4x10(4) s(-1). The crystal structure, determined to 1.65 A (1 A=0.1 nm), was generally similar to that of human MIF, but differed in the boundaries of the putative active-site pocket, which can explain the low activity towards p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate. The central pore was blocked, but was continuous, with the three putative tautomerase sites. Recombinant TsMIF (5 ng/ml-5 pg/ml) inhibited migration of human peripheral-blood mononuclear cells in a manner similar to that shown by human MIF, but had no effect from 5 to 500 ng/ml on anti-CD3-stimulated murine T-cell proliferation. TsMIF was detected in supernatants of T. spiralis larvae cultured in vitro at 6 ng/ml (55 ng/mg total secreted protein). In conclusion TsMIF has structural, catalytic and cell-migration-inhibitory properties which indicate that it is partially orthologous to mammalian MIF.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Failure after core decompression in osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

In a retrospective study of 39 hips with osteonecrosis of the femoral head treated with core decompression we evaluated the extent of the necrotic area, the Ficat stage and the location of the lesion. The extent of the necrotic lesion was classified into three categories: mild, less than 15%; moderate, 15-30%; and severe, more than 30%. In 14 mild cases core decompression failed in 2, whereas there were 4 failures out of 7 moderate cases and 16 failures out of 19 severe cases. The extent and location of the necrotic portion as well as the Ficat stage can be used as predictors for the result of core decompression in osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Clinical and radiographic outcome of femoral head fractures: 30 patients followed for 3-10 years.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of 30 femoral head fractures. We modified Pipkin's classification into 4 types: I (5 cases) small fracture of head distal to fovea centralis, which was too small or too fragmented to be fixed with screws; II (18 cases), larger fracture of head distal to fovea centralis; III (4 cases), large fracture of head proximal to fovea centralis, and IV (3 cases), comminuted fracture of head. Excision of the head fragment was done in all 5 cases of type I and in 9 type II fractures. Fixation of the head fragment was performed in 9 type II and in all 4 type III cases. The femoral head was replaced in all 3 type IV fractures. After a mean follow-up of 3-10 years, the clinical outcome, according to Epstein et al.'s critieria, were excellent in 7, good in 15, fair in 4 and poor in 1, except in type IV, and the radiographic outcome was excellent in 15, good in 7, fair in 4 and poor in 1. On the basis of our findings, we conclude that excision of the small fragment is a good choice of treatment in type 1. Early accurate reduction with stable internal fixation in type II or III permits bony union. Arthroplasty seems to be indicated in type IV.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed2001

Isolation and characterisation of cervine herpesvirus-1 from red deer semen.

AIM: This communication describes the isolation of herpesvirus during routine export examination of semen collected from red deer stags in New Zealand. METHODS: Virus isolation was carried out using bovine embryonic lung (BEL) cells and viruses were characterised by direct immunofluorescense, restriction-fragment-length polymorphism analysis (RFLP), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis and nucleotide sequencing. RESULTS: Herpesvirus was isolated from red deer semen on 2 different occasions from different animals. In both cases the virus was identified as cervine herpesvirus-1 (CvHV-1), based on RFLP, PCR and sequence analysis. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the glycoprotein-D gene showed 99.7% homology to the Banffshire strain of CvHV-1 and 89.5%, 89.2%, 85.3% and 79.6% homology to bovine herpesvirus 1.2 (BoHV-1.2), bovine herpesvirus 1.1 (BoHV-1.1), cervine herpesvirus-2 (CvHV-2) and caprine herpesvirus-1 (CpHV-1), respectively. CONCLUSION: This is the first time that CvHV-1 has been isolated in New Zealand. Its inclusion in serological surveys will allow the prevalence of CvHV-1 in the red deer population to be assessed in this country. The clinical significance of CvHV1 infection in New Zealand red deer herds has yet to be determined.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

A foodborne outbreak of gastroenteritis associated with Norwalk-like viruses: first molecular traceback to deli sandwiches contaminated during preparation.

In March 1998, an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis occurred among students at a Texas university. Overall, 125 ill students sought medical care. Case-control studies revealed that illness was significantly associated with eating foods from the university's main cafeteria deli bar on 9 and 10 March. Stool specimens from 9 (50%) of 18 ill students and samples of deli ham showed evidence of Norwalk-like viruses (NLVs) by reverse-transcriptase (RT) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. A food handler who prepared sandwiches for lunch on 9 March reported that her infant had been sick with watery diarrhea since just before the outbreak. A stool sample from the infant was positive for NLV by RT-PCR, and the sequence of the amplified product was identical to that of amplified product from deli ham and students' stool specimens. This is the first time RT-PCR and sequence analysis have successfully confirmed viral contamination of a food item likely to have been contaminated by a food handler.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Osteolysis in association with a total hip arthroplasty with ceramic bearing surfaces.

The results of 103 total hip arthroplasties performed with insertion of a ceramic femoral head and acetabular component in ninety-six patients were reviewed to determine the radiographic prevalence of osteolysis. After a mean duration of follow-up of ninety-two months (range, sixty to 125 months), femoral osteolysis was observed in twenty-three hips (22 per cent), in one of two distinct patterns: linear osteolysis (twelve hips) or scalloping expansile-type osteolysis (eleven hips). The most common locations of osteolysis in the femur were in zones I and VII as described by Gruen et al. Serial radiographs demonstrated that the extent of the osteolysis progressed over time. Osteolysis of the pelvis, noted in forty-nine hips, was always associated with migration of the acetabular socket. No focal osteolysis was observed in association with the stable sockets. Ten patients (ten hips) had a revision because of loosening and migration of the acetabular component. In three of these patients, the femoral stem also was revised. Gross examination revealed evidence of wear of the ceramic bearing surface in all ten patients. Scanning electron microscopy showed cracking and wear marks on the weight-bearing surface. Histological evaluation of the tissue in the periprosthetic membrane demonstrated abundant ceramic wear particles. The interface membrane was composed of a vascularized fibrous connective tissue with macrophages. Ultrastructurally, the macrophages contained numerous phagosomes of various sizes, with electron-dense material within the cytoplasm of the cell. The mean size of the ceramic particles, as determined with scanning electron microscopy, was 0.71 micrometer (range, 0.13 to 7.20 micrometers). This study supports the concept that ceramic wear particles can stimulate a foreign-body response and periprosthetic osteolysis.

Acetabulum↗
PubMed1997

Neuronal differentiation of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells by gangliosides.

Exogenous administration of gangliosides induced neuronal differentiation with prominent neuritogenesis in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells in vitro. Neuritogenesis was characterized by ruffling of the cell membrane, the development of lamellipodia and filopodia, and the subsequent elongation and branching of the neurites ultrastructurally. Both axons and neurites were identified. Increased numbers of cell organelles in the neurites and cell bodies were noted. Nonsynaptic contacts and gap junctions formed between neurites or between each neurite and cell body. These findings could be implicated in histopathologic changes from neuroblastoma to ganglioneuroblastoma.

Cell Differentiation↗
PubMed1996

Solubility behavior, phase transition, and structure-based nucleation inhibition of etanidazole in aqueous solutions.

PURPOSE: The solubility behavior, phase transition and inhibition of the nucleation process of etanidazole were characterized. METHODS: Solubility measurements as a function of time permitted characterization of the solubility behavior and phase transition. The precipitate from saturated solutions was isolated and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, polarized light microscopy, x-ray powder diffraction and coulometric analysis. The physical stability of metastable systems was examined in the presence of various structure-based nucleation inhibitors. RESULTS: Etanidazole is soluble in water with an equilibrium solubility of 68.1 mg/mL, pH 6.5 with changes in pH having virtually no effect on the solubility. Etanidazole reaches concentrations in excess of 150 mg/mL within one hour. Etanidazole solutions prepared at 150 mg/ mL contained crystals after rotating for 24 hours. The crystals were isolated and characterized as etanidazole monohydrate. the solubility of etanidazole monohydrate in water increased with time reaching an equilibrium solubility of 68 mg/mL after 24 hours. Therefore, the solubility studies were actually determining the solubility of the more stable monohydrate from of etanidazole. Etanidazole solutions at concentrations of 50, 100 and 150 mg/mL were stabilized to varying degrees with structure-based nucleation inhibitors (imidazole, ethanolamine or diethanolamine). CONCLUSIONS: Anhydrous etanidazole undergoes a transition in aqueous solutions to the more stable monohydrate when the solubility of the monohydrate is exceeded. The physical stability of etanidazole solutions at 4 degrees C is improved following autoclaving. The addition of structure-based nucleation inhibitors effectively stabilized the metastable systems.

Calorimetry, Differential Scanning↗
PubMed1996

Determination of the pKa and pH-solubility behavior of an ionizable cyclic carbamate, (S)-6-chloro-4-(cyclopropylethynyl)-1,4-dihydro-4- (trifluoromethyl)-2H-3,1-benzoxazin-2-one (DMP 266).

The solubility of a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, (S)-6-chloro-4-(cyclopropylethynyl)-1,4-dihydro-4-(trifluoromethyl )- 2H-3,1-benzoxazin-2-one (DMP 266), was investigated as a function of pH. A dramatic increase in the aqueous solubility was observed at pH > or = 10, which was consistent with going from a neutral to a charged species. The ionization of the proton positioned on the carbamate functionality was confirmed spectrophotometrically (pKa = 10.1). The spectrophotometric result was in excellent agreement with that obtained from the solubility studies (pKa = 10.2). The ionization behavior of DMP 266 represents a unique case in which the pKa for a carbamate functional group is quite low. The anomalous pKa value may be attributed to stabilization of the negatively charged species through inductive effects, which originate from the surrounding substituents and delocalization of the negative charge via resonance effects.

Alkynes↗
PubMed1995

Ovarian carcinoma-associated TaqI restriction fragment length polymorphism in intron G of the progesterone receptor gene is due to an Alu sequence insertion.

Alu sequences, short, repetitive transposable DNA elements, are factors in a number of genetic diseases. We previously identified a germline TaqI RFLP, located in intron G of the human progesterone receptor gene, that showed an association with the incidence of sporadic ovarian carcinoma. Furthermore, the polymorphism was characterized as a small (approximately 300-bp) insertion that was inherited in a Mendelian fashion. Because of its insertional character, we named this polymorphism PROGINS. We report the identification of PROGINS as a 306-bp Alu element of the PV or HS-1 Alu subfamily.

Alleles↗
PubMed1994

Solubilization of nicardipine hydrochloride via complexation and salt formation.

The solubility behavior of nicardipine (1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylic+ ++ acid methyl 2-[methyl(phenyl-methyl)amino]ethyl diester), a calcium channel blocker, used in the treatment of chronic stable angina and mild essential hypertension was investigated. Two techniques that are known to improve solubility, complexation and salt formation, were examined. Concentrations were determined with a specific reversed-phase HPLC assay. The solubility of nicardipine hydrochloride was enhanced exponentially via complexation with aliphatic carboxylic acid buffer systems in a pH dependent fashion. The solubility increased from 5 to 68.6 and 270 mg/mL as the acetate or propionate buffer concentrations, respectively, increased from 0.001 to 5 M, showing a positive deviation from linearity. The conversion of nicardipine hydrochloride to the phosphate salt resulted in a approximately 10-fold solubility improvement. The surface tension of the nicardipine phosphate in water as a function of concentration indicated a critical micelle concentration of 5-6 mg/mL. The critical micelle concentration was greater than the equilibrium solubility of the hydrochloride salt in water, suggesting that a self-association phenomena is responsible for the enhanced solubility of the phosphate salt. Both routes provided potential alternatives for the solubilization of nicardipine.

Buffers↗
PubMed1994

Below knee stump reconstruction by turn-up technique. Report of 2 cases.

In cases of persistent recurrence of tumor or intractable infection affecting the proximal half of the tibia, knee disarticulation or short below knee amputation is sometimes inevitable. If the knee joint is lost, rehabilitation is very difficult and sometimes impossible to attain in terms of active normal daily living. A new technique was designed for reconstruction of the stump following below knee amputation after en bloc resection of the proximal 2/3 of the tibia that included turn-up of the distal composite graft to 180 degrees and rigid fixation. It was applied to 2 cases. The followup showed excellent results in both cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

An epidemiological study of hip fracture in Honam, Korea.

We have undertaken an epidemiological study of fractures of the hip which occurred in the Honam area of Korea during the year 1991. Honam comprises 3 districts, Kwangju, Chonnam, and Chonbuk. On November 1st 1991 the total population over the age of 50 years in Honam was 1,205,370. During the year there were 405 fractures of the neck or intertrochanteric region of the femur, an incidence of 3.4 per ten thousand per year. The age specific incidence rate showed a gradual increase. The incidence rate showed seasonal variations being higher in the summer and fall, and lower in the winter and spring. The incidence in urban areas was higher than in rural regions to a level which was statistically significant. The average age of patients was 70.2 years (range 50 to 94 years). The most common cause of injury was a simple fall (61%). There were 212 females and 193 males, a ratio of 1.1:1. There were 196 fractures of the neck and 209 of the intertrochanteric region. The degree of osteoporosis increased with age. About half of the patients (49.9%) showed definite osteoporosis, the degree being higher in women and in fractures of the neck of the femur. Treatment was by operation in 328 patients (81%); 77 patients were treated conservatively or had no treatment (19%). Of the 360 patients whose final outcome was known, 26 died within three months of injury, a mortality of 7.22%. The mortality was 3.8% (11 out of 292) in patients who underwent operation, whilst it was 22.1% (15 out of 68) in patients who were treated conservatively or remained untreated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Factors↗
PubMed1993

Hemovac drainage after hip arthroplasty.

The authors have reviewed the pattern of drainage of Hemovac devices in 107 arthroplasties of the hip. Drainage ceased in 55 hips (51%) within 18 hours and 93 hips (89%) within 24 hours. The mean drainage volume was 303 cc in femoral head replacement, 498 cc in simple total hip replacement, and 663 cc in extensive total hip replacement. Ninety nine per cent of the total drainage had been achieved within 24 hours, indicating that drainage devices can be removed then rather than between 24 and 72 hours as had been previously recommended. This early removal will help reduce the possibility of retrograde infection, and promote more comfortable rehabilitation after operation.

Drainage↗