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Biomedical subjects

T Banks

Publications and source records attributed to T Banks.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Coronary care physician 1994-2000 adherence to 1993 National Cholesterol Education Program diet and lipid recommendations.

The 1993 NCEP recommended phase 2 diets and < or = 100 mg/dL LDL goals for all atherosclerotic patients. We reviewed Washington, DC physician 1994-2000 use of these recommendations for coronary care unit (CCU) patients. Questionnaires, chart reviews and interviews of cardiologists, residents and dietitians showed > 80% of CCU physicians ignored NCEP dietary recommendations. NCEP 1 diets were ordered for approximately 80% of patients. NCEP 2, AHA 3 or vegetarian diets were used for < 20%. Statins were reported for approximately 25% of patients in 1994-95 but were on < 20% of charts in 1996-7. This increased to approximately 58% by 2000. NCEP 2 diets lower cholesterol approximately 5%, rarely reaching LDL goals, and < 20% of CHD patients on anti-lipid therapy were at NCEP LDL goals by 1999. With 1-year post-myocardial infarction 34% mortality and 53% readmission rates, we need early and much more aggressive anti-lipid diets and drugs in treating these patients.

Arteriosclerosis↗
PubMed1999

Identification of an SCF ubiquitin-ligase complex required for auxin response in Arabidopsis thaliana.

The plant hormone auxin regulates diverse aspects of plant growth and development. We report that in Arabidopsis, auxin response is dependent on a ubiquitin-ligase (E3) complex called SCFTIR1. The complex consists of proteins related to yeast Skp1p and Cdc53p called ASK and AtCUL1, respectively, as well as the F-box protein TIR1. Mutations in either ASK1 or TIR1 result in decreased auxin response. Further, overexpression of TIR1 promotes auxin response suggesting that SCFTIR1 is limiting for the response. These results provide new support for a model in which auxin action depends on the regulated proteolysis of repressor proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Ambulance services: could the UK learn from the French?

Ambulance services, as part of Accident and Emergency provision, are once again under scrutiny. This article reflects on a recent visit to a SAMU (Service d'Aide Medicale Urgente) unit in France, and considers those issues that could be explored in terms of effective UK provision. Recommendations will be proposed for future provision.

Ambulances↗
PubMed1998

The French way: emergency health care provision.

This paper intends to add to the debate about the efficient use of Accident & Emergency (A & E) services by providing an outline of a recent regional initiative, and then exploring the emergency health care system in France. The latter is explored as a system for consideration in relation to emergency provision within the UK. A glossary of terms is provided in Table I.

Efficiency, Organizational↗
PubMed1997

Identification of new autolytic sites of recombinant truncated mature human fibroblast stromelysin by mass spectrometry.

Stromelysin has been proposed to play a major role in the pathologic degradation of diseased cartilage of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis patients. A truncated, recombinant form of this enzyme, with the sequence Phe83 to Thr260 (mSL-t), has been expressed and purified from E. coli to investigate its biochemical and biophysical properties, and to develop inhibitors for arthritis treatment. LC/ESI-MS technique was utilized for the characterization of mSL-t. The mass spectra of mSL-t showed the presence of a number of different protein components in addition to the full-length mSL-t form. We have demonstrated that protein degradation arose from autolysis. Molecular weights determined by LC/ESI-MS of these autolysis products allowed for the identification of new autolytic sites in mSL-t. Furthermore, two strategies were undertaken to prepare mSL-t free of degradation products. These include preparation of a mutant form of the enzyme in which Arg163 was substituted for Leu163 and purification of mSL-t using affinity chromatography. The LC/ESI-MS data of the mutant protein confirmed the Leu to Arg mutation. The affinity-purified material showed only one LC peak in the LC/MS chromatograms, and the mass spectrum of the peak identified only the intact protein, demonstrating that the full-length protein has been successfully separated from the autodegradation products and further autolysis of the enzyme has been prevented.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Characterization of CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses after genetic immunization with retrovirus vectors expressing different forms of the hepatitis B virus core and e antigens.

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) activity appears to play an important role in resolving hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, and the ability to induce such responses remains an important goal for developing effective immunotherapeutics. A panel of recombinant retrovirus vectors expressing different forms of the HBV core antigen (HBcAg) or e antigen (eAg) were found to induce antigen-specific major histocompatibility complex-restricted CTL responses in both mice and macaques. In addition, a novel retrovirus vector expressing an HBcAg-neomycin phosphotransferase II (HBc-Neo) fusion protein [LHBc-NEO(6A3)], which allows the measurement of the anti-Neo antibody response as a means of directly tracking biological activity of the vector, was generated. Doses greater than 10(7) CFU were necessary to induce CTL responses in H-2(k) mice. Intramuscular injections with 10(8) CFU of the LHBc-NEO(6A3) retrovirus vector into rhesus monkeys induced HBc/eAg-specific antibody production and CD8+ CTLs. The CTL response from one of the two responder rhesus monkeys was directed against a 9-residue peptide, GELMTLATW, at positions 63 to 71 of the HBc/eAg sequence. The CTL response is long lived, being detectable as late as 16 weeks after immunization, and can be boosted upon reimmunization. The potent ability of recombinant retrovirus vectors to induce HBcAg- and eAg-specific CTL responses may prove beneficial as a therapeutic treatment for chronic hepatitis B infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Characterization of humoral and CD4+ cellular responses after genetic immunization with retroviral vectors expressing different forms of the hepatitis B virus core and e antigens.

The humoral and CD4+ cellular immune responses in mice following genetic immunization with three retroviral vectors encoding different forms of hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBcAg) and e antigen (HBeAg) were analyzed. The retroviral vectors induced expression of intracellular HBcAg (HBc[3A4]), secreted HBeAg (HBe[5A2]), or an intracellular HBcAg-neomycin phosphoryltransferase fusion protein (HBc-NEO[6A3]). Specific antibody levels and immunoglobulin G isotype restriction were highly dependent on both the host major histocompatibility complex and the transferred gene. Humoral and CD4+ cellular HBcAg and/or HBeAg (HBc/eAg)-specific immune responses following retroviral vector immunization were of a lower magnitude but followed the same characteristics compared with those after immunization with HBc/eAg in adjuvant. Two factors influenced the humoral responses. First, in vivo depletion of CD8+ cells in HBc-NEO[6A3]-immunized H-2k mice abrogated both HBcAg-specific antibodies and in vitro-detectable cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Second, priming of H-2b mice with an HBc/eAg-derived T-helper (Th) peptide in adjuvant prior to retroviral vector immunization greatly enhanced the HBc/eAg-specific humoral responses to all three vectors, suggesting that insufficient HBc/eAg-specific CD4+ Th-cell priming limits the humoral responses. In conclusion, direct injection of retroviral vectors seems to be effective in priming HBc/eAg-specific CD8+ but comparatively inefficient in priming CD4+ Th cells and subsequently specific antibodies. However, the limited HBc/eAg-specific CD4+ cell priming can effectively be circumvented by prior administration of a recombinant or synthetic form of HBc/eAg in adjuvant.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Salivary testosterone and cortisol in a delinquent and violent urban subculture.

Salivary testosterone and cortisol levels were measured in 36 U.S. college students and 29 delinquent participants of a similar age. Both groups of participants were made up of White men and women. The delinquent group, which was characterized by flamboyant dress, drug use, and violence, had significantly higher testosterone levels than the college students did, but the two groups did not differ regarding cortisol levels. Testosterone and cortisol were positively correlated in the women.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Modular cosmology.

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Journal Article↗