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W Reed

Publications and source records attributed to W Reed.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

[Prognostic parameters in localized breast cancer].

About 8% of women in Norway will develop breast cancer. 55% of these will have a node negative disease. The current debate concerns whether all women in stage I should be treated with adjuvant therapies. In this article we discuss different prognostic factors with the objective of subdividing node negative breast cancer patients into different prognostic groups. Risk factors include age under 30 years and over 70 years, increasing size of tumour, a high histological grade and negative oestrogen receptor status. We believe that, in future, evaluation of ploidy, proliferation antigens, oncogenes and possibly cathepsin D will be useful in selecting breast cancer patients in stage I for adjuvant therapy.

Adult↗

Macrophage cytoskeleton association with CR3 and CR4 regulates receptor mobility and phagocytosis of iC3b-opsonized erythrocytes.

Alveolar macrophages (AM phi) were examined for CR1 (C3b receptor, CD35), CR3 (iC3b receptor; CD11b/CD18), and CR4 (iC3b receptor; CD11c/CD18) by assays for binding of C3-opsonized sheep erythrocytes (EC3b or EC3bi) and uptake of specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). In AM phi isolates from nine normal volunteers, 49% of cells bound EC3b and 71% bound EC3bi. Quantitation of receptors per cell with [125I]mAbs showed 8.5 x 10(4) CR4, 5.1 x 10(4) CR3, and 2.6 x 10(4) CR1. With most AM phi preparations, CR3 was the major receptor mediating attachment of EC3bi, despite the predominance of CR4 antigens. Anti-CR3 inhibited EC3bi rosettes by > or = 50%, whereas anti-CR4 blocked rosettes by < or = 18%. U937 cells differentiated with phorbol myristate acetate resembled AM phi in receptor expression but exhibited almost no CR4-dependent rosetting. Despite the relative inability of CR4 to mediate EC3bi attachment, AM phi ingestion of [51Cr]EC3bi was blocked by either anti-CR3 or anti-CR4. Two lines of evidence indicated that CR3 were more mobile within the membrane than were CR4. Immunofluorescence staining demonstrated patching and occasional capping of CR3, whereas CR4 remained uniformly distributed. This patching and capping of CR3 required the actin cytoskeleton, as it was inhibited by cytochalasin D. Modulation experiments using surfaces coated with anti-CR3 or anti-CR4 also showed that CR3 was more mobile than was CR4. However, there was some variation among AM phi isolates from different donors. In seven isolates, no CR4 modulation was produced with anti-CR4, whereas in six other isolates, CR4 was modulated by 66%. Incubation of cells in cytochalasin D increased modulation of both CR3 and CR4 on mAb-coated surfaces. Cells exhibiting increased mobility of CR4 showed an increased ability to form CR4-dependent EC3bi rosettes. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that CR3 and CR4 exhibit a variable association with the cytoskeleton that regulates their mobility and function. A relatively mobile subset of CR3 and/or CR4 mediates EC3bi attachment, whereas a relatively immobile subset of CR3 and/or CR4 fails to mediate EC3bi attachment but functions to promote ingestion of EC3bi.

Antigens, CD↗

Transferrin index: an alternative method for calculating the iron saturation of transferrin.

We surveyed 140 clinical chemistry laboratories in Australia to establish which laboratory methods they used to determine serum iron status: 125 measured serum iron (Fe), 85 measured transferrin (TRF), 47 measured total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), and 14 measured both TRF and TIBC. Of the 55 laboratories routinely reporting TRF saturation (TS), 16 calculated TS directly as (Fe/TIBC) x 100, and 9 used [Fe/(TRF x 2)] x 100. Thirty laboratories measured TRF and converted it to an equivalent TIBC concentration; the derived TIBC was then used to calculate TS. We measured iron, TIBC, and TRF concentrations in 94 control subjects, 59 patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD), and 20 with proven genetic hemochromatosis (GH). TS was compared with a transferrin index (TI = Fe/TRF) to determine whether both methods were sensitive for GH screening and which method gave the fewest false-positive results with discrimination limits of > 55% and > 1.0, respectively. All GH patients were detected by both TS and TI at these limits. One control subject had a TI > 1.0, whereas three control subjects had a TS > 55%. Nine patients with ALD had a TI > 1.0 and 11 ALD patients had a TS > 55%. Some iron-overload patients had lower than expected TS values compared with TI, possibly because of ferritin interference in the TIBC assay. Also, the precision of the TRF assay was better than that of the TIBC assay: CVs of 1.85-3.68% vs 6.17%. We therefore recommend that calculated TI replace TS in screening for iron overload.

Australia↗

Staurosporine inhibits neutrophil phagocytosis but not iC3b binding mediated by CR3 (CD11b/CD18).

C receptor CR3 (iC3b-receptor, CD11b/CD18) plays an essential role in several phagocytic and adhesive neutrophil functions. Recent evidence suggests that stimulus-induced phosphorylation of the CR3 beta-chain, CD18, may mediate certain neutrophil functions by transiently converting the molecule to an activated state. Staurosporine, a protein kinase C inhibitor that blocks PMA-induced CD18 phosphorylation, was used to study the functional relevance of this event. Neutrophils adhered to glass were assayed for binding and phagocytosis of iC3b-opsonized sheep E (EC3bi) in the presence or absence of PMA and/or staurosporine. Binding of EC3bi was markedly increased, not only by PMA, but also by staurosporine and by a combination of both agents (three- to sevenfold). The enhancement of rosetting by staurosporine was likely caused by increased surface expression of CR3 via exocytosis of specific granular contents. In contrast, staurosporine alone did not stimulate phagocytosis of EC3bi and markedly inhibited PMA-induced phagocytosis. Staurosporine also inhibited phagocytosis of yeast beta glucan particles, a CR3 ligand that, in contrast to EC3bi, is bound and ingested without additional prior treatment with PMA. beta glucan phagocytosis was associated with a low level of CD18 phosphorylation. Staurosporine did not block phagocytosis in general, because this agent had relatively little effect on FcR-mediated phagocytosis. These data demonstrate that phagocytosis mediated by CR3 requires activation of CR3 via a staurosporine-sensitive pathway. Increased binding of EC3bi, a function of increased surface expression of CR3, does not require activation of CR3 by such a pathway, confirming previous evidence for the independence of these two phenomena. A direct role for CD18 phosphorylation in the activation of CR3 for phagocytosis is consistent with these data.

Alkaloids↗

Rapid supplementary fixation in frozen sections: microwave versus conventional fixation. A double-blind comparative study.

The preservation of morphological details in frozen sections subjected to microwave-assisted fixation was compared with that in frozen sections subjected to snap fixation with either formalin/ethanol or ethanol alone. Especially nuclear details were better preserved after short microwave fixation. Ethanol alone gave the poorest results, with loss of nuclear details in the majority of the cases. In this study there was no significant difference between the morphological results obtained with a cheap domestic oven and that with a specialized microwave processor. Microwave-assisted fixation in frozen sections is a simple, rapid method. It is recommended for use in routine laboratories.

Artifacts↗

Phorbol ester induces transient focal concentrations of functional, newly expressed CR3 in neutrophils at sites of specific granule exocytosis.

Treatment of neutrophils with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) increases surface expression of CR3 (iC3b-receptor; CD11b/CD18). This up-regulation was examined in whole-mount preparations of adherent neutrophils by stereo high voltage immunoelectron microscopy. In the absence of PMA, immunogold-labeled CR3 was uniformly distributed in the plasma membrane. After 5 to 15-min incubations with PMA, when the highest rates of specific granule exocytosis occurred, the average density of CR3 in the membrane doubled. During this time, dense foci of CR3 were observed in addition to the uniform distribution of CR3. These dense concentrations of CR3 colocalized with secreted lactoferrin (LF), a specific granule marker, above assemblies of cytoplasmic vesicles that were morphologically similar to specific granules and contained LF. After longer incubations in PMA, LF secretion ceased, LF staining became rare, and the high density areas of CR3 were no longer present. These data demonstrate that incipient CR3 appear on the cell surface in high concentration at sites of specific granule exocytosis and then diffuse out into the plasmalemma. PMA also induced shedding of CR3 from the cell surface at the cell margins on structures which also contained LF. Shed CR3 was immunoprecipitated from incubation supernatants and shown to be of identical subunit composition to surface CR3. Although others have shown that the mobile, incipient surface CR3 do not mediate neutrophil adherence to endothelium or homotypic aggregation, the current experiments demonstrated that such CR3 do mediate iC3b-dependent adhesion. The rapid appearance and subsequent dissipation of high concentrations of CR3 on the neutrophil surface caused by specific granule fusion may be essential for neutrophil function at sites of complement deposition.

Cytoplasmic Granules↗

Computerized measurement of iron in liver biopsies: a comparison with biochemical iron measurement.

The measurement of stainable hepatic iron using a microcomputer image analysis system was compared with standard biochemical measurements of liver iron content in 103 liver biopsy specimens--29 of idiopathic hemochromatosis, 51 of alcoholic liver disease and 23 of various nonalcoholic liver diseases. Sections were stained using Perls' method for iron; the mean area staining positively for iron was measured and expressed as a percentage of the area of biopsy measured. Biochemical (biochemical hepatic iron [mumol/gm dry wt]/age) and morphometrical (morphometrical hepatic iron [%]/age x 100) hepatic iron indices were calculated. Patients in the idiopathic hemochromatosis group had significantly higher biochemical hepatic iron concentrations (p less than 0.001) compared with the alcoholic liver disease and nonalcoholic liver disease groups: 284 (range = 119 to 631), 21 (range = 2 to 65) and 15 (range = 3 to 31) mumol/gm dry wt, respectively. The biochemical hepatic iron index was also significantly higher (p less than 0.001) in the hemochromatosis group compared with the alcoholic liver disease and nonalcoholic liver disease groups: 5.8 (range = 2.1 to 13.7), 0.4 (range = 0 to 1.6) and 0.4 (range = 0 to 1.1), respectively. Computerized measurements were significantly higher in the hemochromatosis group (p less than 0.001) compared with the alcoholic liver disease and nonalcoholic liver disease groups: 9.72% (range = 1.50% to 29.26%), 0.13% (range = 0% to 1.20%) and 0.03% (range = 0% to 0.40%), respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Biopsy↗

Synthesis of complement component C5 by human B and T lymphoblastoid cell lines.

Human B and T lymphoblastoid cell lines were shown to synthesize C5. C5 synthesis was quantitated with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that utilized a pool of C5-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Some level of C5 synthesis was detected in all eight of the B and T cell lines examined. In three of the cell lines, C5 was detected in both culture supernatants and whole cell detergent lysates, whereas in the other five cell lines, C5 was detected only in the cell lysates. Lymphoblastoid cells with both distributions of C5 were shown to synthesize a messenger RNA that was similar in size to the C5 mRNA expressed by the HepG2 hepatoma cell line. Estimates of the concentration of the C5 transcript in poly(A)+ RNA from lymphoblastoid and HepG2 cells suggested that C5 mRNA levels in the lymphoblastoid cell lines were comparable and about one-tenth of the levels in HepG2 cells. Lymphoblastoid C5, isolated by immunoaffinity chromatography from the supernatants of 35S-labeled cultures, had the same subunit composition as plasma-derived C5, but had an alpha subunit of slightly smaller relative mass.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Immunohistology is valuable in distinguishing between Paget's disease, Bowen's disease and superficial spreading malignant melanoma.

Thirty-nine lesions, originally diagnosed as Paget's disease (19), superficial spreading melanoma (13) or Bowen's disease (7), were reviewed. Supplementary immunohistochemistry on routine processed tissue, using antibodies to cytokeratins (PKK1 and M717) and to S-100 protein, was carried out. Two of the lesions, originally classified as Bowen's disease and superficial spreading type malignant melanoma respectively, were reclassified as Paget's disease based on the immunohistochemical findings. Both lesions contained pagetoid cells positive with PKK1. The results indicate that immunohistochemistry may sometimes be valuable in establishing the correct diagnosis in such lesions.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Association of neuroactive peptides with the protein secretory pathway in identified neurons of Aplysia californica: immunolocalization of SCPA and SCPB to the contents of dense-core vesicles and the trans face of the Golgi apparatus.

The subcellular distribution of two molluscan neuropeptides, the small cardioactive peptides A and B (SCPA and SCPB), has been determined in two identified Aplysia buccal ganglion neurons, B1 and B2. These neurons were previously shown to synthesize and release these neuropeptides. B1 and B2, identified by their size and location within the ganglion, were labeled by intrasomatic injection of an electron-dense particulate marker (ferritin or Imposil) permitting the unequivocal identification of their somata and proximal processes in thin sections. The somatic cytoplasm of both neurons had a conspicuous population of large dense-core vesicles along with a smaller number of compound vesicles and small lucent vesicles. All three vesicle types are found in the neurites within the neuropil and proximal axon in the esophageal nerve. Immunoreactivity was localized on the surface of thin sections by the indirect immunogold method. The primary antiserum was shown to recognize both SCPA and SCPB after the neuropeptides had been immobilized on protein-coated nitrocellulose membranes by means of glutaraldehyde, the primary fixative used to immobilize SCPA and SCPB in situ. SCP immunoreactivity was present in the lumens of the dense-core vesicles distributed throughout the cytoplasm of B1 and B2 and in dense-core regions of the Golgi apparatus in the somatic cytoplasm. Taken together with biochemical evidence that B1 and B2 synthesize and release SCPs, these data suggest that the neuropeptides are sequestered into the protein secretory pathway of B1 and B2, a distribution that supports the notion that the SCPs function physiologically as neurotransmitters or neuromodulators.

Animals↗

Hematologic indexes in men attending an infertility clinic.

To assess whether oligospermia in infertile men might be associated with abnormalities of another rapidly dividing cell population, namely, blood cells, we studied retrospectively hematologic indexes in 72 unselected men initially attending an infertility clinic and 119 healthy controls. Red cell and platelet parameters were similar in the two groups. The infertility clinic patients had significantly reduced total leukocyte counts (5818 +/- 179 versus 6397 +/- 174 per mm3; p less than 0.05). This leukopenia reflected a reduction in lymphocyte count (1697 +/- 69 versus 2206 +/- 80 per mm3; p less than 0.0001) but not in neutrophil count (3331 +/- 144 versus 3678 +/- 139 per mm3; p = NS). Lymphopenia was not correlated with sperm density. A prospective study of 24 fertile controls and 12 infertile, oligospermic men revealed no differences between these groups in numbers of lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, T4 (helper) lymphocytes, or T8 (suppressor) lymphocytes. In conclusion, lymphopenia noted retrospectively in men attending an infertile clinic was unrelated to sperm density and was not confirmed in a prospective study. Combined with normal red cell and platelet parameters these findings suggest that hematologic indexes are probably normal in infertile men.

Erythrocyte Count↗

Multiple neuropeptides in cholinergic motor neurons of Aplysia: evidence for modulation intrinsic to the motor circuit.

Changes in Aplysia biting responses during food arousal are partially mediated by the serotonergic metacerebral cells (MCCs). The MCCs potentiate contractions of a muscle utilized in biting, the accessory radula closer (ARCM), when contractions are elicited by stimulation of either of the two cholinergic motor neurons B15 or B16 that innervate the muscle. We have now shown that ARCM contractions may also be potentiated by peptide cotransmitters in the ARCM motor neurons. We found that motor neuron B15 contains small cardioactive peptides A and B (SCPA and SCPB)--i.e., whole B15 neurons were bioactive on the SCP-sensitive Helix heart, as were reverse-phase HPLC fractions of B15 neurons that eluted like synthetic SCPA and SCPB. Furthermore, [35S]methionine-labeled B15 peptides precisely coeluted with synthetic SCPA and SCPB. SCPB-like immunoreactivity was associated with dense-core vesicles in the soma of B15 and in neuritic varicosities and terminals in the ARCM. B16 motor neurons did not contain SCPA or SCPB but contained an unidentified bioactive peptide. RP-HPLC of [35S]methionine-labeled B16s resulted in one major peak of radioactivity that did not coelute with either SCP and which, when subject to Edman degradation, yielded [35S]methionine in positions where there is no methionine in the SCPs. Exogenously applied B16 peptide potentiated ARCM contractions elicited by stimulation of B15 or B16 neurons. Thus, in this system there appear to be two types of modulation; one type arises from the MCCs and is extrinsic to the motor system, whereas the second type arises from the motor neurons themselves and hence is intrinsic.

Acetylcholine↗

Spontaneous pneumothorax.

Spontaneous pneumothorax is not uncommon and can be potentially dangerous, especially in older people. A series of 201 patients is presented. Conservative treatment with tube thoracostomy had a 19% failure rate. It seems nevertheless to be the treatment of choice, though with risk of serious complications. Among the 60 patients who underwent lateral thoracotomy, 30% had recurrence of pneumothorax or other complications. Reoperation because of inadequate pulmonary expansion was necessary in four cases.

Adolescent↗

Spreading ciliary arrest in a mussel gill epithelium: characterization by quick fixation.

Spreading ciliary arrest, induced by local laser microinjury, in freshwater mussel (e.g., Elliptio) gill lateral (L) cell cilia, has been characterized by quick fixation with osmium tetroxide, which permits the correlation of known features of the response with structural features of the gill epithelium. Quick fixation reliably preserves the state of the epithelium including the activity state of the L cilia at the moment of fixation. From a disrupted region, the stimulus that triggers arrest spreads outward along an undamaged filament preferentially from L cell to L cell for more than 300 microns to either side of the lesion. In physiological salt solutions transverse spread across the filament via heterologous cells is insufficient to elicit L ciliary arrest on the opposite side of the filament. The spread of arrest is dependent upon the structural integrity of the L epithelium, normally terminates at a boundary between adjacent L cells, and does not spread past a focal break. Arrest occurs asynchronously because cilia in different stroke positions respond to the stimulus with different time courses. The cilia stop in a uniform "hands up" position, i.e., pointing frontally. The arrest response is inhibited by reducing the concentration of extracellular Ca2+ (less than 10(-7) M) or by adding extracellular La3+ (1 mM) or K+ (15 mM). Recovery begins at the margin of a segment of arrested L cilia and spreads back toward the lesion at a constant initial velocity of ca. 60 microns/sec. About 300 microns from the lesion the recovery velocity rapidly falls to ca. 5 microns/sec. Recovery of ciliary beat precedes the recovery of metachronal coordination. Neither spread of the stimulus nor recovery require ciliary beat. The data support the hypothesis that the microinjury-induced arrest is initiated by an injury potential that triggers a graded regenerative depolarization that is propagated electrotonically along the epithelium from L cell to L cell, triggering Ca2+ influx into the axoneme and consequent Ca2+-induced L ciliary arrest as it spreads. A temporary non-linear gradient of intracellular Ca2+ concentration is established along the injured L epithelial tract. As individual cells recover, they lower their intracellular Ca2+ concentration from pCa 5 to pCa 7 in about 10 seconds.

Animals↗

Avian pox: infection and immunity with quail, psittacine, fowl, and pigeon pox viruses.

Quail, chickens, and turkeys vaccinated with pigeon and fowl pox viruses were not protected against challenge of their immunity with quail pox virus and they developed severe cutaneous lesions of pox. When quail and chickens were vaccinated with quail pox virus and given pigeon and fowl pox challenge viruses, no protection was present. Thus, quail pox virus had no immunologic relationship to pigeon and fowl pox viruses. Psittacine pox virus applied as a vaccine in quail and chickens also failed to protect against quail pox virus challenge. However, quail, chickens, and turkeys vaccinated with quail pox virus were protected against quail pox virus challenge. An isolate of psittacine pox virus, applied as a vaccine, protected chickens against challenge with the same virus isolate and also against challenge with two other psittacine pox virus isolates, confirming a close or identical antigenic relationship with each other. When combined in a multivalent vaccine, quail, psittacine, and fowl pox viruses induced excellent protection in chickens against challenge with the three respective viruses. The presence or absence of "takes" or reactions following vaccination by the wing web route did not necessarily correlate with the presence or absence of immunity noted from challenge by feather follicle virus application. The role of quail and psittacine pox viruses as potential pathogens for poultry was discussed briefly.

Animals↗