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Biomedical subjects

T Pillar

Publications and source records attributed to T Pillar.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Vitiligo and idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis. Repigmentation of skin following engraftment onto nude mice.

Several diseases are included in the category of hypomelanosis. Their clinical course as well as the pathogenesis are diverse and in many cases poorly understood. The aim of the present study is to use the nude mice model to determine whether the primary defect in various pigmentary skin disorders is inherent to the tissue itself or is secondary to systemic factors. Split-thickness skin grafts obtained from patients with vitiligo, acquired hypomelanosis guttata, and tyrosinase-negative albinism were grafted onto nude mice. Histologic examination and dopa staining were performed prior to and following the engraftment. The dopa staining was performed on the epidermal sheet following separation from the dermis. The depigmented area of the vitiligo became completely pigmented 6 to 10 weeks after skin transplantation. The dopa reaction that was negative prior to skin engraftment became completely positive after the transplantation. The number of melanocytes (expressed per square millimeter of skin surface) 8 weeks after transplantation was 197 +/- 73 mm2. Dopa reaction in acquired hypomelanosis guttata showed reduction of the number of melanocytes in the depigmented macula as compared with the surrounding area (55.25 +/- 18.00 mm2 vs 220 +/- 28.28 mm2. Twenty days after skin transplantation, repigmentation of the area was observed. The number of melanocytes increased significantly (388.75 +/- 213 mm2). The grafted skin obtained from patients with tyrosinase-negative albinism showed persistence of the depigmentation after skin transplantation. Dopa reaction was negative prior to and 8 weeks after transplantation. The results of the present study suggest that systemic factors may play a role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo and acquired hypomelanosis guttata.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Chromosomal localization and expression of CBS1, a translational activator of cytochrome b in yeast.

Translation of mitochondrial cytochrome b RNA in yeast requires the product of the nuclear gene CBS1, a 27.5 kDa soluble mitochondrial protein. In this paper we show that the CBS1 gene is located on chromosome IV immediately adjacent to COX9, the gene coding for cytochrome c oxidase subunit VIIa. CBS1 is transcribed as a very low abundant 900 b RNA. Transcription starts at a single position 101 bp upstream of the CBS1 initiation codon. At positions -39 to -27 of its leader sequence it contains a small open reading frame of 4 codons. By monitoring the beta-galactosidase activity of a CBS1/lacZ fusion construct we show that expression of CBS1 is subjected to regulation by oxygen and by glucose: the beta-galactosidase activity is elevated threefold in glycerol or galactose grown cells compared to that in glucose grown cells. A further threefold reduction of the activity is observed in anaerobically grown cells. In accordance with this result is the observation that the steady-state level of CBS1 mRNA of anaerobically grown cells is ninefold lower than that of aerobically cultured cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Responses of ankle musculature of healthy subjects and hemiplegic patients to sinusoidal anterior-posterior movements of the base of support.

The responses of the medical gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles to continuous sinusoidal perturbation of the base of support were studied in two groups of subjects, forty-two volunteers aged 20 to 84 years and 17 hemiplegic patients aged 52 to 81 years. EMGs were recorded while subjects stood on a platform oscillating in the anterior-posterior direction. Movement amplitude was adjusted to the maximum the subject could sustain without assisted support within the limits of the instrument. In healthy subjects, two basic activation modes were indicated: (a) a reciprocal contraction pattern in which activity of the medial gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles was concentrated in the anterior and posterior half of the oscillation, respectively. This pattern prevailed in the younger subjects whose maximal movement amplitude reached the highest limit of the instrument; (b) a less discrete pattern, characterized by tonic contraction and periods of coactivation of the two muscles, was seen in older subjects who had difficulties in maintaining stance on the moving platform. The disruption of the discrete reciprocal response mode in this group of patients was related to decline in function of postural mechanisms with aging and demanded additional stiffening of the ankle join, presumably a manifestation of reduced automatism in favor of closer CNS modulation. The typical response mode in the sound leg of the hemiplegic patients was variable coactivation of the two muscles. In the afflicted leg, the establishment of a motor set was impaired: Low tone was associated with negligible muscular activity, although with more elevated tone, low level uniform cocontraction was evident.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1989

Electromyographic responses of distal ankle musculature of standing hemiplegic patients to continuous anterior-posterior perturbations during imposed weight transfer over the affected leg.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of weight shift over the affected leg of standing hemiplegic patients on the electromyographic responses of the medial gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles during continuous anterior-posterior movements of the base of support. Recordings were taken from 10 hemiplegic subjects and from 9 healthy subjects of comparable age. Each subject was first tested standing with both feet on a level surface and then with either leg (in healthy subjects) or the unaffected leg (in hemiplegic subjects) raised on a step. The second testing position caused unloading of the elevated leg and weight shift, that is, loading of the other leg. The measured variables were modulation of muscular activity, determined by a modulation index formulated for that purpose, and the relative amount of integrated electromyographic activity in each muscle. Changes in both variables in the uneven stance position as compared with even stance, occurred primarily in the unaffected (unloaded) leg in the hemiplegic subjects. These changes were comparable to changes in the unloaded leg of the healthy subjects. Thus, imposed loading on the affected leg of the hemiplegic subjects did not significantly improve either the reduced modulation or the relatively low IEMG activity of the investigated muscles. Further studies are required to evaluate the contribution of weight shift to recovery of postural responses in the affected leg of hemiplegic patients.

Ankle Joint↗
PubMed1989

The pathogenesis of lichen planus.

The histological features of lichen planus (LP) are characterized by typical epidermal changes with dermal lymphocytes that are mostly Ia positive T cells. In order to find out whether the primary event of LP is damage to basal keratinocytes or a delayed hypersensitivity reaction in which an as yet unidentified antigen activates T lymphocytes that destroy keratinocytes, we transplanted skin obtained from six patients with LP. Two millimetre punch and split thickness of grafts were obtained from involved and uninvolved areas from each patient and grafted onto nude mice. Biopsies were taken from the grafts at 14 and 21 days after transplantation for histological and immunofluorescence studies and after 6 weeks for Dopa incubation for melanocyte populations. A complete disappearance of the pathological changes of LP was found 21 days following grafting. An increased number of melanocytes was noted. This indicates that the pathogenesis of LP may not be due to an inherent change in the epidermal cells, but rather to the migration of cellular elements of the immune system.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Incidence, mortality, and case-fatality rate of stroke in northern Israel.

We studied the incidence and mortality of stroke in northern Israel to determine possible reasons for the differences previously found in mortality from this condition between the sex and ethnic groups in Israel as a whole. We identified 1,149 cases of stroke during 1984. While the age-standardized incidence was higher in men, the case-fatality rate was twice as high in women. After controlling for ethnic origin, we found that incidence was higher only in men of Western origin, while the female rates were higher in women of Asian and North African extraction. The case-fatality rate was substantially higher in women in all ethnic groups. These differences, especially in relation to the case-fatality rate, have important implications for health services in relation to both possible preventive action and to management of the acute disease phase.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1989

Topical cyclosporin A in alopecia areata.

We conducted a trial of topical application of 10% cyclosporin A in an oil preparation in 10 patients with alopecia areata and alopecia universalis. After 12 months of therapy, no beneficial response was observed in any of the 10 patients.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed1988

Postural responses of normal geriatric and hemiplegic patients to a continuing perturbation.

The electromyographic (EMG) activity of the gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles was recorded from normal geriatric subjects and from hemiplegic patients subjected to a continuous back-and-forth movement of the platform on which they stood. The platform oscillated at a fixed frequency of 0.5 Hz. Movement amplitude was the largest each patient could withstand without support of the hands. Standing on the moving platform continued for 5 min. EMG recordings continued for 60 s, commencing 2 min after movement onset. Analysis of the EMG, in normal subjects revealed a typical pattern of reciprocal activity in the tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius, in synchrony with the back-and-forth movements of the platform. The cyclic activation of each muscle started before movement of the platform could cause its stretch. The normal movement-induced pattern of leg muscle activation was greatly disturbed or totally absent in hemiplegic patients. In such patients, various patterns of tonic activation of one or both muscles were observed in the sound as well as the afflicted leg. Occasional periodic activation of one muscle or the other was observed. However, such activation was not well synchronized with movement of the platform and did not last long. Based on the above observations, we concluded that the ability to adapt to a rhythmic platform movement by production of anticipatory phasic muscular contractions is severely disrupted in hemiplegics.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

The effect of topical cyclosporin on the immediate shedding of human scalp hair grafted onto nude mice.

Considerable evidence now exists that cyclosporin (CyA) has a stimulatory effect on hair growth. Previously, we demonstrated the systemic effect of CyA on hair growth using an experimental model of human scalp skin graft transplanted onto nude mice and rats. In the present study we used this model to investigate the effect of topical CyA on human hair growth. One group of 15 mice was treated with topical CyA in olive oil, and a second group of 10 mice with olive oil only. The numbers of grafts with hair and the number of hairs per graft in the different groups were compared. A statistically significant delay in hair shedding appeared from day 24 onwards in the CyA treated group. This pilot study supports the possibility that CyA may be effective in the treatment of alopecia.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed1988

The contribution of vision and of sidedness to responses of the ankle musculature to continuous movement of the base of support.

Eight healthy women were subjected to continuous sinusoidal movements of the base of the platform on which they stood. Each subject was tested once in the anterior-posterior (AP) and once in the lateral movement direction. In the first 30 s of each test, subjects' eyes were open while during the following 30 s their eyes were closed. Bilateral EMG recordings from the Medical Gastrocnemius (MG) and the Tibialis Anterior (TA) muscles were continuously taken from the moment subjects became used to the imposed movement. Results revealed that during AP movements the MG and TA muscles were reciprocally activated and deactivated, thereby continuously stabilizing the ankle joint in advance of the imposed anterior or posterior perturbation. Similarly, during lateral movements each MG muscle was activated in the homologous side of the movement trajectory. These basic postural sets were neither affected by elimination of vision nor by sidedness. However, absence of vision caused decrease of the ratio between the IEMG of the MG muscle to that of the TA muscle during AP movements. This decrease resulted from decrease in the activity of the MG muscles and/or from increased activity of the TA muscles while vision was eliminated. The latter phenomenon occurred to a greater extent in the right leg.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Operated versus non-operated hip fractures in a geriatric rehabilitation hospital.

A comparative study between 53 non-operated and 170 operated hip fractures was conducted in a geriatric rehabilitation hospital. The non-operated fractures were mainly of the trochanteric type. Time interval between the fracture and admission date to rehabilitation was shorter than 1 month for both groups. At the end of the rehabilitation treatment, 39.6% of the non-operated cases and 64.1% of the operated regained full walking independence. Fifteen per cent of the non-operated patients and 12.3% of the operated were able to walk with assistance, and 35% of non-operated cases versus 17.6% of operated cases remained unable to walk. Mortality rate was greater among the non-operated patients. Despite significant between-group difference in ambulatory capacity in favour of the operated group, the results support the view that a substantial percentage of non-operated patients can regain ambulation. Extraneous factors to the fracture itself such as mental status and motivation probably play a role in successful rehabilitation of the latter.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1986

Cloning of a nuclear gene MRS1 involved in the excision of a single group I intron (bI3) from the mitochondrial COB transcript in S. cerevisiae.

The respiratory deficient yeast nuclear mutant MK3 is defective in the synthesis of the mature transcripts of the mitochondrial COB and OX13 genes, which code for apocytochrome b and subunit I of cytochrome c oxidase, resp. Introns 3 and 4 of the COB transcript (bI3 and bI4) and intron 4 (aI4) of the OXI3 transcript can not be excised (Pillar et al. 1983a, b). When combined with mitochondrial genomes lacking introns bI1, bI2 and bI3, or lacking intron bI3 alone the mutant is respiratory competent. Thus, the non-excision of bI4 and aI4 turns out to be an indirect effect of the mutation. From a wild type yeast genebank a plasmid has been isolated with a 3.3 kb DNA insert, which complements the mutant. Subcloning experiments assigned the functional gene to a 1.6 kb HaeIII-Sau3A fragment. Hybridization experiments showed, that it is (i) a single copy gene, (ii) also present in strain D273-10B, containing the "short form" mitochondrial genome (lacking the COB introns bI1-bI3), and (iii) located on chromosome IX. The nuclear gene defective in mutant MK3, was named MRS1 (Mitochondrial RNA Splicing). The involvement of this nuclear gene in the excision of a single group I mitochondrial intron (bI3) of the COB transcript is discussed.

Apoproteins↗
PubMed1986

Stroke rehabilitation. Three exercise therapy approaches.

The purpose of this study was to compare the therapeutic efficacy of three exercise therapy approaches. Three groups of adult stroke patients (N = 131) participated in the study. The first group received conventional treatment that consisted of traditional exercises and functional activities. The treatment of the second group was based on proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation techniques. The third group was treated using the Bobath approach. The improvement of each patient was evaluated after six weeks of treatment in terms of functional gains in activities of daily living as measured using the Barthel index, changes in the muscle tone of the involved limbs as measured using a five-point ordinal scale, changes in the isolated motor control of the ankle and wrist as measured by tests of muscle strength and range of motion, and changes in the patients' ambulatory status as measured using a nominal scale of four categories. The therapeutic effects of exercise according to each of the three approaches were compared using descriptive and nonparametric statistical methods. No substantial advantage could be attributed to any one of the three therapeutic approaches.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1986

Plasma lipoproteins and platelet aggregation during alimentary lipemia. Decreased atherogenic pattern in the elderly.

Ten healthy women in their tenth decade of life were compared with ten healthy women in their fourth decade of life regarding the response of plasma lipoproteins and platelet aggregation to one meal rich in saturated fats. In the elderly group, plasma cholesterol decreased in the postprandial state three hours after the meal in comparison to no significant changes in the younger group. This resulted from reduction in plasma lipoprotein cholesterol levels, except for the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, which was enhanced. A similar pattern was found for plasma lipoprotein levels. The increase in plasma triglyceride concentration in the elderly women was less than in the younger women, as fewer changes in their plasma triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (chylomicrons and very-low-density lipoprotein) were observed. Platelet aggregation in response to collagen was reduced in the elderly women, whereas in the younger group, increased platelet aggregation in the postprandial state was found. Our study thus demonstrates a clear advantage of the elderly women in comparison to the younger ones in reducing atherosclerosis and thrombotic risks. The elderly group responded to the saturated fat-rich meal by minimal plasma triglyceride elevation, an increase in HDL cholesterol concentration, and reduced platelet aggregation.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Hip fracture in stroke patients. Epidemiology and rehabilitation.

With the purpose of identifying specific features in aged hemiplegic patients, 818 cases referred to a geriatric-rehabilitation hospital after hip fracture were studied. In 66 cases a cerebro-vascular accident had preceded the fracture, which was ipsilateral in 52 cases. No differences were found in incidence of concurrent disease, hospitalization time, mortality and functional recovery between hip fracture patients with and without a history of stroke, except that an interval of less than a week between stroke and fracture was associated with poor functional recovery. We conclude that rehabilitation of the stroke patient with hip fracture is worthwhile.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1984

Foot-ground pressure pattern of standing hemiplegic patients. Major characteristics and patterns of improvement.

The study was designed to examine major weight-bearing characteristics of hemiplegic patients receiving physical therapy and to assess the usefulness of the Foot Print apparatus as an objective, clinical measurement tool of these characteristics. Measurements of the foot-ground pressure pattern of 23 patients were taken two times, three weeks apart. The results confirmed the clinical impression of lesser weight bearing by the patient on the affected leg, especially on the heel of that leg, compared with weight bearing on the contralateral leg. Consequently, stance stability was impaired. The difference between the foot-ground pressure of the two measurements indicated improvement in the stance characteristics of these patients after treatment. The Foot Print apparatus seems to be an objective measurement tool of assistance both to the patient and the physical therapist in execution of a treatment.

Aged↗