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Vasta JD, Michaud A, Zimprich CA, Beck MT, Swiatnicki MR, Zegzouti H, Thomas MR, Wilkinson J, Crapster JA, Robers MB. Protomer selectivity of type II RAF inhibitors within the RAS/RAF complex. Cell Chem Biol 2023; 30:1354-1365.e6. [PMID: 37643616 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
RAF dimer inhibitors offer therapeutic potential in RAF- and RAS-driven cancers. The utility of such drugs is predicated on their capacity to occupy both RAF protomers in the RAS-RAF signaling complex. Here we describe a method to conditionally quantify drug-target occupancy at selected RAF protomers within an active RAS-RAF complex in cells. RAF target engagement can be measured in the presence or absence of any mutant KRAS allele, enabling the high-affinity state of RAF dimer inhibitors to be quantified in the cellular milieu. The intracellular protomer selectivity of clinical-stage type II RAF inhibitors revealed that ARAF protomer engagement, but not engagement of BRAF or CRAF, is commensurate with inhibition of MAPK signaling in various mutant RAS cell lines. Our results support a fundamental role for ARAF in mutant RAS signaling and reveal poor ARAF protomer vulnerability for a cohort of RAF inhibitors undergoing clinical evaluation.
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Alenazy FO, Harbi MH, Kavanagh DP, Price J, Brady P, Hargreaves O, Harrison PH, Slater A, Connolly DL, Kirchhof P, Kalia N, Jandrot-Perrus M, Mangin PH, Watson SP, Thomas MR. GPVI inhibition by glenzocimab synergistically inhibits atherosclerotic plaque-induced platelet activation when combined with conventional dual antiplatelet therapy. Eur Heart J 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehab724.1425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction
Aspirin and a potent platelet P2Y12 inhibitor, such as prasugrel or ticagrelor, are not always sufficient to prevent thrombus formation in patients with ST-elevation MI (STEMI), leading to “slow flow” or “no reflow” effects after stenting. GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors, such as eptifibatide, may help in this setting, but are not used routinely due to their bleeding risk. GPVI has critical roles in thrombosis and a minimal role in haemostasis. Here we tested whether depletion of GPVI has effects on thrombus formation after MI in an animal model and investigated the effects of a novel platelet GPVI inhibitor, glenzocimab (a Fab fragment of a monoclonal antibody), on platelet activation and thrombus formation when combined with aspirin and ticagrelor.
Methods
We used intravital microscopy in a murine model of ST-elevation myocardial infarction and ischaemia-reperfusion injury to investigate microvascular thrombosis. We investigated the antithrombotic effects of adding glenzocimab (previously known as ACT017) to blood from healthy donors and 20 patients with ACS treated with aspirin and ticagrelor. We compared the effect of glenzocimab with the GPIIb/IIIa inhibitor eptifibatide ex-vivo. We stimulated platelets with collagen and atherosclerotic plaque material that was sourced from patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. We investigated effects on platelet aggregation, spreading, signalling, adhesion, thrombin generation, thrombus formation and clot stability ex vivo.
Results
Genetic depletion of GPVI in an animal model of myocardial infarction reduced microvascular thrombosis. Ex vivo, aspirin and ticagrelor partially inhibited atherosclerotic plaque-induced platelet aggregation (assessed by multiple electrode aggregometry) by 48% compared to control (34±3 vs. 65±4 U; P<0.001; Figure 1). Atherosclerotic plaque-induced platelet aggregation, adhesion, secretion and activation were critically dependent on platelet GPVI activation and were potently inhibited by glenzocimab. Glenzocimab alone reduced atherosclerotic plaque-induced platelet aggregation by 75% compared to control (16±4 vs. 65±4 U; P<0.001; Figure 1) and by over 95% when combined with aspirin and ticagrelor (3±1 vs 65±4 U; P<0.001; Figure 1). Furthermore, glenzocimab provided multiple synergistic antithrombotic effects when added to the blood of aspirin and ticagrelor-treated patients with ACS ex vivo. Glenzocimab and the GPIIb/IIIa inhibitor, eptifibatide, had many similar antithrombotic effects but glenzocimab had less effect on mechanisms of general haemostasis compared to eptifibatide, as assessed by ROTEM (Figure 2).
Conclusions
The addition of glenzocimab to aspirin and ticagrelor provides synergistic inhibition of multiple critical mechanisms of atherothrombosis. Glenzocimab and the GPIIb/IIIa inhibitor, eptifibatide, share many similar antithrombotic effects, although glenzocimab has less impact on mechanisms involved in haemostasis compared to eptifibatide.
Funding Acknowledgement
Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Academy of Medical Sciences UK Clinical Lecturer Starter GrantRoyal Embassy of Saudi Arabia
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Affiliation(s)
- F O Alenazy
- University of Birmingham, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - M H Harbi
- University of Birmingham, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - D P Kavanagh
- University of Birmingham, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - J Price
- University of Birmingham, Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - P Brady
- University of Birmingham, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - O Hargreaves
- University of Birmingham, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - P H Harrison
- University of Birmingham, Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - A Slater
- University of Birmingham, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - D L Connolly
- University of Birmingham, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - P Kirchhof
- University of Birmingham, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - N Kalia
- University of Birmingham, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | | | - P H Mangin
- University of Strasbourg, INSERM, EFS Grand-Est, Strasbourg, France
| | - S P Watson
- University of Birmingham, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - M R Thomas
- University of Birmingham, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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Mullane KM, Morrison VA, Camacho LH, Arvin A, McNeil SA, Durrand J, Campbell B, Su SC, Chan ISF, Parrino J, Kaplan SS, Popmihajlov Z, Annunziato PW, Cerana S, Dictar MO, Bonvehi P, Tregnaghi JP, Fein L, Ashley D, Singh M, Hayes T, Playford G, Morrissey O, Thaler J, Kuehr T, Greil R, Pecherstorfer M, Duck L, Van Eygen K, Aoun M, De Prijck B, Franke FA, Barrios CHE, Mendes AVA, Serrano SV, Garcia RF, Moore F, Camargo JFC, Pires LA, Alves RS, Radinov A, Oreshkov K, Minchev V, Hubenova AI, Koynova T, Ivanov I, Rabotilova B, Minchev V, Petrov PA, Chilingirov P, Karanikolov S, Raynov J, Grimard D, McNeil S, Kumar D, Larratt LM, Weiss K, Delage R, Diaz-Mitoma FJ, Cano PO, Couture F, Carvajal P, Yepes A, Torres Ulloa R, Fardella P, Caglevic C, Rojas C, Orellana E, Gonzalez P, Acevedo A, Galvez KM, Gonzalez ME, Franco S, Restrepo JG, Rojas CA, Bonilla C, Florez LE, Ospina AV, Manneh R, Zorica R, Vrdoljak DV, Samarzija M, Petruzelka L, Vydra J, Mayer J, Cibula D, Prausova J, Paulson G, Ontaneda M, Palk K, Vahlberg A, Rooneem R, Galtier F, Postil D, Lucht F, Laine F, Launay O, Laurichesse H, Duval X, Cornely OA, Camerer B, Panse J, Zaiss M, Derigs HG, Menzel H, Verbeek M, Georgoulias V, Mavroudis D, Anagnostopoulos A, Terpos E, Cortes D, Umanzor J, Bejarano S, Galeano RW, Wong RSM, Hui P, Pedrazzoli P, Ruggeri L, Aversa F, Bosi A, Gentile G, Rambaldi A, Contu A, Marei L, Abbadi A, Hayajneh W, Kattan J, Farhat F, Chahine G, Rutkauskiene J, Marfil Rivera LJ, Lopez Chuken YA, Franco Villarreal H, Lopez Hernandez J, Blacklock H, Lopez RI, Alvarez R, Gomez AM, Quintana TS, Moreno Larrea MDC, Zorrilla SJ, Alarcon E, Samanez FCA, Caguioa PB, Tiangco BJ, Mora EM, Betancourt-Garcia RD, Hallman-Navarro D, Feliciano-Lopez LJ, Velez-Cortes HA, Cabanillas F, Ganea DE, Ciuleanu TE, Ghizdavescu DG, Miron L, Cebotaru CL, Cainap CI, Anghel R, Dvorkin MV, Gladkov OA, Fadeeva NV, Kuzmin AA, Lipatov ON, Zbarskaya II, Akhmetzyanov FS, Litvinov IV, Afanasyev BV, Cherenkova M, Lioznov D, Lisukov IA, Smirnova YA, Kolomietz S, Halawani H, Goh YT, Drgona L, Chudej J, Matejkova M, Reckova M, Rapoport BL, Szpak WM, Malan DR, Jonas N, Jung CW, Lee DG, Yoon SS, Lopez Jimenez J, Duran Martinez I, Rodriguez Moreno JF, Solano Vercet C, de la Camara R, Batlle Massana M, Yeh SP, Chen CY, Chou HH, Tsai CM, Chiu CH, Siritanaratkul N, Norasetthada L, Sriuranpong V, Seetalarom K, Akan H, Dane F, Ozcan MA, Ozsan GH, Kalayoglu Besisik SF, Cagatay A, Yalcin S, Peniket A, Mullan SR, Dakhil KM, Sivarajan K, Suh JJG, Sehgal A, Marquez F, Gomez EG, Mullane MR, Skinner WL, Behrens RJ, Trevarthe DR, Mazurczak MA, Lambiase EA, Vidal CA, Anac SY, Rodrigues GA, Baltz B, Boccia R, Wertheim MS, Holladay CS, Zenk D, Fusselman W, Wade III JL, Jaslowsk AJ, Keegan J, Robinson MO, Go RS, Farnen J, Amin B, Jurgens D, Risi GF, Beatty PG, Naqvi T, Parshad S, Hansen VL, Ahmed M, Steen PD, Badarinath S, Dekker A, Scouros MA, Young DE, Graydon Harker W, Kendall SD, Citron ML, Chedid S, Posada JG, Gupta MK, Rafiyath S, Buechler-Price J, Sreenivasappa S, Chay CH, Burke JM, Young SE, Mahmood A, Kugler JW, Gerstner G, Fuloria J, Belman ND, Geller R, Nieva J, Whittenberger BP, Wong BMY, Cescon TP, Abesada-Terk G, Guarino MJ, Zweibach A, Ibrahim EN, Takahashi G, Garrison MA, Mowat RB, Choi BS, Oliff IA, Singh J, Guter KA, Ayrons K, Rowland KM, Noga SJ, Rao SB, Columbie A, Nualart MT, Cecchi GR, Campos LT, Mohebtash M, Flores MR, Rothstein-Rubin R, O'Connor BM, Soori G, Knapp M, Miranda FG, Goodgame BW, Kassem M, Belani R, Sharma S, Ortiz T, Sonneborn HL, Markowitz AB, Wilbur D, Meiri E, Koo VS, Jhangiani HS, Wong L, Sanani S, Lawrence SJ, Jones CM, Murray C, Papageorgiou C, Gurtler JS, Ascensao JL, Seetalarom K, Venigalla ML, D'Andrea M, De Las Casas C, Haile DJ, Qazi FU, Santander JL, Thomas MR, Rao VP, Craig M, Garg RJ, Robles R, Lyons RM, Stegemoller RK, Goel S, Garg S, Lowry P, Lynch C, Lash B, Repka T, Baker J, Goueli BS, Campbell TC, Van Echo DA, Lee YJ, Reyes EA, Senecal FM, Donnelly G, Byeff P, Weiss R, Reid T, Roeland E, Goel A, Prow DM, Brandt DS, Kaplan HG, Payne JE, Boeckh MG, Rosen PJ, Mena RR, Khan R, Betts RF, Sharp SA, Morrison VA, Fitz-Patrick D, Congdon J, Erickson N, Abbasi R, Henderson S, Mehdi A, Wos EJ, Rehmus E, Beltzer L, Tamayo RA, Mahmood T, Reboli AC, Moore A, Brown JM, Cruz J, Quick DP, Potz JL, Kotz KW, Hutchins M, Chowhan NM, Devabhaktuni YD, Braly P, Berenguer RA, Shambaugh SC, O'Rourke TJ, Conkright WA, Winkler CF, Addo FEK, Duic JP, High KP, Kutner ME, Collins R, Carrizosa DR, Perry DJ, Kailath E, Rosen N, Sotolongo R, Shoham S, Chen T. Safety and efficacy of inactivated varicella zoster virus vaccine in immunocompromised patients with malignancies: a two-arm, randomised, double-blind, phase 3 trial. The Lancet Infectious Diseases 2019; 19:1001-1012. [DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(19)30310-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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Thomas MR, Bullock T, Kendall GS, Win N. Use of thawed and washed red cells preserved in extended storage media for neonatal exchange transfusion. Transfus Med 2019; 29:128-130. [PMID: 30618201 DOI: 10.1111/tme.12574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2017] [Revised: 08/03/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M R Thomas
- Department of Haematology, University College London Hospitals, London, UK.,Cardiometabolic BRC, UCL/UCLH, London, UK
| | - T Bullock
- NHS Blood and Transplant, London, UK
| | - G S Kendall
- Department of Neonatology, University College London Hospitals, London, UK
| | - N Win
- NHS Blood and Transplant, London, UK
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Abstract
The role of universal primary ultrasound screening for detection of developmental dysplasia of the hip of the newborn remains controversial in Britain. Two infants in whom ultrasonography was reported to show no evidence of developmental dysplasia in the newborn period, but who later presented with acetabular dysplasia and subluxation requiring surgery, are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- M R Thomas
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Northwick Park Hospital, Watford Rd, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 3UJ
| | - S D Urquhart
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Northwick Park Hospital, Watford Rd, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 3UJ
| | - B. Wefers
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Northwick Park Hospital, Watford Rd, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 3UJ
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Bhan A, Kapetanakis S, Wilson K, Pearson P, Baghai M, El-Gamel A, MacCarthy P, Thomas MR, Monaghan MJ, Wendler O. Should we be using 3D transesophageal echocardiography instead of 2D for the assessment of aortic annular diameter in transcatheter aortic valve implantation? Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2009. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1191520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Baghai M, Monaghan MJ, El-Gamel A, MacCarthy P, Bhan A, Thomas MR, Wilson K, Alcock E, Kailasam R, Wendler O. Transcather aortic valve implantation supported by 3D trans-esophageal echocardiography: Should it become the standard? Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2009. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1191519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Fernandez L, Doligez A, Lopez G, Thomas MR, Bouquet A, Torregrosa L. Somatic chimerism, genetic inheritance, and mapping of the fleshless berry (flb) mutation in grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.). Genome 2007; 49:721-8. [PMID: 16936780 DOI: 10.1139/g06-034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The fleshless berry (flb) mutation of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. 'Ugni Blanc') impairs the differentiation and division of inner mesocarp cells responsible for flesh in grapevine berries. In order to study the inheritance of the mutation and to map the flb locus, 5 segregating populations were created. Progeny plants were classified as mutant or wild type by scoring for the presence of an ovary phenotype associated with the Flb- phenotype at anthesis. Phenotypic segregation revealed the involvement of a single dominant allele that was heterozygous in the original mutant. Through bulk segregant analysis, microsatellite (simple sequence repeat (SSR)) markers linked to the mutation were identified, and the flb locus was assigned to linkage group 18. The locus position was then refined by analyzing individual progeny and the segregation of SSR markers in the target region with the closest marker 5.6 cM distant from the flb locus. All progeny with the Flb- ovary phenotype differed from the original fleshless berry mutant in that no berries formed after anthesis. Our data suggest that the original mutant plant was a chimera with the mutated allele present in only 1 cell layer (L2 layer) of the ovary and berry.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Fernandez
- UMR BEPC, campus-Agro-M/INRA, Montpellier, CEDEX 01, France
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Woolhouse MEJ, Shaw DJ, Matthews L, Liu WC, Mellor DJ, Thomas MR. Epidemiological implications of the contact network structure for cattle farms and the 20-80 rule. Biol Lett 2007; 1:350-2. [PMID: 17148204 PMCID: PMC1617140 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2005.0331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The network of movements of cattle between farm holdings is an important determinant of the potential rates and patterns of spread of infectious diseases. Because cattle movements are uni-directional, the network is unusual in that the risks of acquiring infection (by importing cattle) and of passing infection on (by exporting cattle) can be clearly distinguished, and there turns out to be no statistically significant correlation between the two. This means that the high observed degree of heterogeneity in numbers of contacts does not result in an increase in the basic reproduction number, R0, in contrast to findings from studies of other contact networks. Despite this, it is still the case that just 20% of holdings contribute at least 80% of the value of R0.
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Affiliation(s)
- M E J Woolhouse
- Centre for Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK.
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Abstract
A patient with type 2A von Willebrand disease and a long history of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is presented, in whom no abnormality was found on sequencing the von Willebrand factor gene at the DNA level. Subsequent RNA analysis revealed him to be heterozygous for a T-C substitution at nucleotide 4,883, a mutation previously described and associated with type 2A von Willebrand disease. This illustrates the value of a dual DNA/ RNA approach to genetic investigations of highly polymorphic genes. GI bleeding from angiodysplasia is a feature of von Willebrand disease, particularly type 2A. Proactive management with definitive diagnosis of angiodysplasia and ablative treatment where feasible is recommended to stop bleeding symptoms and minimize exposure to blood products.
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Affiliation(s)
- M R Thomas
- The Reference Centre for Haemostasis and Thrombosis, St Thomas' Hospital, London, United Kingdom
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Thomas MR, Rafferty GF, Blowes R, Peacock JL, Marlow N, Calvert S, Milner A, Greenough A. Plethysmograph and interrupter resistance measurements in prematurely born young children. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2006; 91:F193-6. [PMID: 16239293 PMCID: PMC2672703 DOI: 10.1136/adc.2005.079608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Airways obstruction in premature infants is often assessed by plethysmography, which requires sedation. The interrupter (Rint) technique does not require sedation, but has rarely been examined in children under 2 years of age. OBJECTIVE To compare Rint results with plethysmographic measurements of airway resistance (Raw) in prematurely born, young children. DESIGN Prospective study. SETTING Infant and Paediatric Lung Function Laboratories. PATIENTS Thirty children with a median gestational age of 25-29 weeks and median postnatal age of 13 months. INTERVENTIONS AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The infants were sedated, airway resistance was measured by total body plethysmography (Raw), and Rint measurements were made using a MicroRint device. Further Raw and Rint measurements were made after salbutamol administration if the children remained asleep. RESULTS Baseline measurements of Raw and Rint were obtained from 30 and 26 respectively of the children. Mean baseline Rint values were higher than mean baseline Raw results (3.45 v 2.84 kPa/l/s, p = 0.006). Limits of agreement for the mean difference between Rint and Raw were -1.52 to 2.74 kPa/l/s. Ten infants received salbutamol, after which the mean Rint result was 3.6 kPa/l/s and mean Raw was 3.1 kPa/l/s (limits of agreement -0.28 to 1.44 kPa/l/s). CONCLUSION The poor agreement between Rint and Raw results suggests that Rint measurements cannot substitute for plethysmographic measurements in sedated prematurely born infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- M R Thomas
- Department of Child Health, 4th Floor Golden Jubilee Wing, King's College Hospital, Bessemer Road, London SE5 9RS, UK
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Thomas MR, Marston L, Rafferty GF, Calvert S, Marlow N, Peacock JL, Greenough A. Respiratory function of very prematurely born infants at follow up: influence of sex. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2006; 91:F197-201. [PMID: 16418306 PMCID: PMC2672701 DOI: 10.1136/adc.2005.081927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that male compared with female prematurely born infants would have worse lung function at follow up. DESIGN Prospective follow up study. SETTING Tertiary neonatal intensive care units PATIENTS Seventy six infants, mean (SD) gestational age 26.4 (1.5) weeks, from the United Kingdom oscillation study. INTERVENTIONS Lung function measurements at a corrected age of 1 year. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Airways resistance (Raw) and functional residual capacity (FRC(pleth)) measured by whole body plethysmography, specific conductance (sGaw) calculated from Raw and FRC(pleth), and FRC measured by a helium gas dilution technique (FRC(He)). RESULTS The 42 male infants differed significantly from the 34 female infants in having a lower birth weight for gestation, requiring more days of ventilation, and a greater proportion being oxygen dependent at 36 weeks postmenstrual age and discharge. Furthermore, mean Raw and FRC(pleth) were significantly higher and mean sGaw significantly lower. After adjustment for birth and current size differences, the sex differences in FRC(pleth) and sGaw were 15% and 26% respectively and remained significant. CONCLUSION Lung function at follow up of prematurely born infants is influenced by sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- M R Thomas
- Department of Child Health, 4th Floor Golden Jubilee Wing, King's College Hospital, London SE5 9RS, UK
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the role of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in predicting outcome after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS AND RESULTS cTnI was measured immediately before and at 6, 14, and 24 hours after PCI in 316 consecutive patients with stable symptoms and native coronary artery disease. The study end point was the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 30 days and at 18 months after PCI: death, Q wave myocardial infarction (MI), or repeat revascularisation in hospital. Postprocedural cTnI increased in 31% of patients. The cumulative MACE rate at 18 months was 25% (17.7% due to repeat PCI procedures). There was a significant association between postprocedural cTnI increase and death, Q wave MI, or both (odds ratio (OR) 3.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.7 to 6.4, p = 0.01). Post-PCI cTnI increase had a positive predictive value (PPV) for adverse events at 18 months of 0.47 and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 0.96 (OR 18.9, 95% CI 9.7 to 37, p < 0.0001). The presence of both a postprocedural cTnI rise and a procedural angiographic complication gave a PPV for adverse events of 0.69 and an NPV of 0.92 (OR 22.6, 95% CI 2.6 to 68.6, p = 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS cTnI increased post-procedurally in one third of this stable patient population undergoing elective PCI and was independently and significantly predictive of an increased risk of adverse events at 18 months, predominantly in the form of repeat PCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Nageh
- Department of Cardiology, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS, UK.
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14
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Affiliation(s)
- M R Thomas
- Department of Cardiology, King's College Hospital, London SE5 9RS, UK.
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Barker CL, Donald T, Pauquet J, Ratnaparkhe MB, Bouquet A, Adam-Blondon AF, Thomas MR, Dry I. Genetic and physical mapping of the grapevine powdery mildew resistance gene, Run1, using a bacterial artificial chromosome library. Theor Appl Genet 2005; 111:370-7. [PMID: 15902396 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-005-2030-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2005] [Accepted: 04/06/2005] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Resistance to grapevine powdery mildew is controlled by Run1, a single dominant gene present in the wild grapevine species, Muscadinia rotundifolia, but absent from the cultivated species, Vitis vinifera. Run1 has been introgressed into V. vinifera using a pseudo-backcross strategy, and genetic markers have previously been identified that are linked to the resistance locus. Here we describe the construction of comprehensive genetic and physical maps spanning the resistance locus that will enable future positional cloning of the resistance gene. Physical mapping was performed using a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library constructed using genomic DNA extracted from a resistant V. vinifera individual carrying Run1 within an introgression. BAC contig assembly has enabled 20 new genetic markers to be identified that are closely linked to Run1, and the position of the resistance locus has been refined, locating the gene between the simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker, VMC4f3.1, and the BAC end sequence-derived marker, CB292.294. This region contains two multigene families of resistance gene analogues (RGA). A comparison of physical and genetic mapping data indicates that recombination is severely repressed in the vicinity of Run1, possibly due to divergent sequence contained within the introgressed fragment from M. rotundifolia that carries the Run1 gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Barker
- CSIRO Plant Industry, Glen Osmond, SA, Australia.
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17
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Abstract
Trends in the usage pattern of chlormequat (a plant growth regulator) on cereal crops in the UK over the past 6 years are presented. The figures have been supplemented by monitoring of chlormequat residues in food commodities through the UK surveillance programme, and for cereals, the carry-through into a number of processed cereal-based foods has been followed. A downward trend of chlormequat residue levels in pears sampled between 1997 and 2002 was observed. This decline reflects changes that were introduced in European and national regulations and which have proven to be extremely effective in reducing both the frequency of detection and levels of chlormequat residues. Both acute and chronic risk assessments were undertaken based on aggregate dietary exposure data. Even when the highest residues observed were used in the calculations, the assessments showed that both the short- and long-term intakes for all consumer groups would be unlikely to cause adverse health effects and were therefore not of any cause for concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- S L Reynolds
- Central Science Laboratory, Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ, UK.
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Champion GT, May MJ, Bennett S, Brooks DR, Clark SJ, Daniels RE, Firbank LG, Haughton AJ, Hawes C, Heard MS, Perry JN, Randle Z, Rossall MJ, Rothery P, Skellern MP, Scott RJ, Squire GR, Thomas MR. Crop management and agronomic context of the Farm Scale Evaluations of genetically modified herbicide-tolerant crops. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2003; 358:1801-18. [PMID: 14561315 PMCID: PMC1693273 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2003.1405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The Farm Scale Evaluations of genetically modified herbicide-tolerant crops (GMHT) were conducted in the UK from 2000 to 2002 on beet (sugar and fodder), spring oilseed rape and forage maize. The management of the crops studied is described and compared with current conventional commercial practice. The distribution of field sites adequately represented the areas currently growing these crops, and the sample contained sites operated at a range of management intensities, including low intensity. Herbicide inputs were audited, and the active ingredients used and the rates and the timings of applications compared well with current practice for both GMHT and conventional crops. Inputs on sugar beet were lower than, and inputs on spring oilseed rape and forage maize were consistent with, national averages. Regression analysis of herbicide-application strategies and weed emergence showed that inputs applied by farmers increased with weed densities in beet and forage maize. GMHT crops generally received only one herbicide active ingredient per crop, later and fewer herbicide sprays and less active ingredient (for beet and maize) than the conventional treatments. The audit of inputs found no evidence of bias.
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Affiliation(s)
- G T Champion
- Broom's Barn Research Station, Higham, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP28 6NP, UK.
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19
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the clinical outcome of percutaneous coronary intervention where the procedure was complicated by vessel perforation. SETTING Tertiary referral centre. METHODS The procedural records of 6245 patients undergoing coronary intervention were reviewed. In 52 patients (0.8%) the procedure was complicated by vessel perforation, ranging from wire exit to free flow of contrast into the pericardial space. The majority of lesions treated were complex (37% type B, 59% type C) and 9 of 52 (17%) were chronic occlusions. Ten patients (19%) received abciximab. Four underwent rotational atherectomy (8%). RESULTS In 28 of 52 patients (54%) the perforation was benign and managed conservatively without the development of haemodynamically significant sequelae. In 24 of 52 (46%) a significant pericardial effusion ensued requiring drainage. Of these 24 procedures 6 had involved the treatment of a chronic occlusion (25%). Eight of the 24 patients were referred for emergency bypass surgery (33%), 3 of whom died. Of the remaining 16 not referred for surgery, 3 died. Of the 10 procedures complicated by vessel perforation where abciximab had been administered, 9 (90%) led to pericardial tamponade. Latterly 2 vessel perforations were successfully treated by the deployment of a covered stent. CONCLUSIONS Coronary artery perforation with sequelae during intervention is rare--26 of 6245 (0.4%). This complication was seen in the treatment of chronic occlusions, which are therefore not risk-free procedures. The development of pericardial tamponade carries a high mortality. While prompt surgical intervention may be life saving, expertise in the use of covered stents may provide a valuable rescue option for this serious complication. Caution should be exercised where coronary perforation occurs and abciximab has been used.
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Affiliation(s)
- M G Gunning
- Department of Cardiology, Kings College Hospital, London, UK.
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Chakraborty S, Fernandes CD, Charchar MJDA, Thomas MR. Pathogenic Variation in Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Infecting Stylosanthes spp. in a Center of Diversity in Brazil. Phytopathology 2002; 92:553-62. [PMID: 18943031 DOI: 10.1094/phyto.2002.92.5.553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Pathogenic variation in Colletotrichum gloeosporioides infecting species of the tropical pasture legume Stylosanthes at its center of diversity was determined from 296 isolates collected from wild host population and selected germ plasm of S. capitata, S. guianensis, S. scabra, and S. macrocephala in Brazil. A putative host differential set comprising 11 accessions was selected from a bioassay of 18 isolates on 19 host accessions using principal component analysis. A similar analysis of anthracnose severity data for a subset of 195 isolates on the 11 differentials indicated that an adequate summary of pathogenic variation could be obtained using only five of these differentials. Of the five differentials, S. seabrana 'Primar' was resistant and S. scabra 'Fitzroy' was susceptible to most isolates. A cluster analysis was used to determine eight natural race clusters using the 195 isolates. Linear discriminant functions were developed for eight race clusters using the 195 isolates as the training data set, and these were applied to classify a test data set of the remaining 101 isolates. All except 11 isolates of the test data set were classified into one of the eight race clusters. Over 10% of the 296 isolates were weakly pathogenic to all five differentials and another 40% were virulent on just one differential. The unclassified isolates represent six new races with unique virulence combinations, of which one isolate is virulent on all five differentials. The majority of isolates came from six field sites, and Shannon's index of diversity indicated considerable variation between sites. Pathogenic diversity was extensive at three sites where selected germ plasm were under evaluation, and complex race clusters and unclassified isolates representing new races were more prevalent at these sites compared with sites containing wild Stylosanthes populations.
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Cotton JM, Thomas MR, Dunmore BJ, Salisbury J, Shah AM, Brindle NPJ. Angiogenesis in chronically ischaemic human heart following percutaneous myocardial revascularisation. Heart 2002; 87:281-3. [PMID: 11847177 PMCID: PMC1767021 DOI: 10.1136/heart.87.3.281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Bifurcational coronary lesions present a major interventional challenge. The differential cutting mechanism of high-speed rotational atherectomy (HSRA) may provide a favourable technique of treating this complex lesion subtype. METHODS We evaluated the use of HSRA (32 lesions) compared to balloon angioplasty (BA) (118 lesions), with provisional stenting in both groups, in a non-randomised, retrospective study of 150 bifurcation-type lesions. RESULTS The HSRA/stent group had a high primary success rate of 97%, an acceptably low in-hospital event rate of 9% and an overall major adverse cardiac event (MACE) rate at a mean follow-up period of 15 +/- 3.4 months of 22.5% with a target lesion revascularisation (TLR) rate of 18.7%. Procedural success in the BA/stent group was 81% with an in-hospital event rate of 14.4%, and the overall MACE rate at follow-up was 27.5% with a TLR rate of 23%. We achieved a greater acute gain in minimal luminal diameter and a lesser percentage of residual stenosis after intervention in the HSRA/stent group compared to the BA/stent group (p < 0.01). Outcome at follow-up favoured the HSRA/stent group, although the difference did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION HSRA with provisional stenting provided a safe and effective means of treating bifurcation lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Nageh
- King's College Hospital, London, UK
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23
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Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) binds to the myoglobin (Mb) cavity mutant, H93G, forming either a five- or six-coordinate Fe-NO complex. The H93G mutation eliminates the covalent attachment between the protein and the proximal ligand, allowing NO to bind H93G possibly from the proximal side of the heme rather than the typical diatomic binding pocket on the distal side. The question of whether NO binds on the distal or proximal side was addressed by FTIR spectroscopy of the N-O vibrational frequency nuN(-O) for a set of Mb mutants that perturb the electrostatic environment of the heme pocket. Vibrational spectra of five- and six-coordinate MbNO complexes indicate that nu(N-O) shifts (by as much as 26 cm(-1)) to higher energies for the distal mutants H64V and H64V/H93G relative to the energies of wild-type and H93G MbNO, while nu(N-O) is not affected by the proximal side mutation S92A/H93G. This result suggests that NO binds on the distal side of heme in the five- and six-coordinate MbNO complexes of H93G. Additionally, values of the Fe-NO vibrational frequency nu(Fe-NO) as measured by resonance Raman spectroscopy are reported for the distal and proximal double mutants of H93G. These results suggest that nu(Fe-NO) is not very sensitive to mutations that perturb the electrostatic environment of the heme pocket, leading to the observation that nu(N-O) and nu(Fe-NO) are not quantitatively correlated for the MbNO complexes presented here. Furthermore, nu(N-O) and nu(Fe-NO) do not correlate well with equilibrium constants for imidazole binding to the five-coordinate MbNO complexes of the H93G double mutants. The data presented here do not appear to support the presence of pi-back-bonding or an inverse trans effect of NO binding in Mb mutants that alter the electrostatic environment of the heme pocket.
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Affiliation(s)
- M R Thomas
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-5080, USA
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24
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Abstract
We report a coronary dissection detected during routine repeat angiography 6 months following balloon angioplasty and intracoronary radiation. No dissection was seen immediately following the initial procedure. Subsequent late healing of the dissection led to marked restenosis and the development of angina 14 months after the index procedure.
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Thomas MR, Litin SC, Osmon DR, Corr AP, Weaver AL, Lohse CM. Lack of effect of Lactobacillus GG on antibiotic-associated diarrhea: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Mayo Clin Proc 2001; 76:883-9. [PMID: 11560298 DOI: 10.4065/76.9.883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess the efficacy of Lactobacillus GG in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) in adults and, secondarily, to assess the effect of coadministered Lactobacillus GG on the number of tests performed to determine the cause of diarrhea. PATIENTS AND METHODS In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted from July 1998 to October 1999, 302 hospitalized patients receiving antibiotics were randomized to receive Lactobacillus GG, 20 x 10(9) CFU/d, or placebo for 14 days. Subjects recorded the number of stools and their consistency daily for 21 days. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who developed diarrhea in the first 21 days after enrollment. Weekly telephone follow-up was also performed. Results were analyzed in an intention-to-treat fashion. RESULTS Diarrhea developed in 39 (29.3%) of 133 patients randomized to receive Lactobacillus GG and in 40 (29.9%) of 134 patients randomized to receive placebo (P=.93). No additional difference in the rate of occurrence of diarrhea was found between treatment and placebo patients in a subgroup analysis of those treated with beta-lactam vs non-beta-lactam antibiotics. Too few patients had stool cultures, additional laboratory tests for diarrhea, or a positive diagnosis of Clostridium difficile infection to assess between-group differences. CONCLUSION Lactobacillus GG in a dose of 20 x 10(9) CFU/d did not reduce the rate of occurrence of diarrhea in this sample of 267 adult patients taking antibiotics initially administered in the hospital setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- M R Thomas
- Division of Community Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn 55905, USA
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Nageh T, De Belder AJ, Thomas MR, Wainwright RJ. Intravascular ultrasound-guided stenting in long lesions: an insight into possible mechanisms of restenosis and comparison of angiographic and intravascular ultrasound data from the MUSIC and RENEWAL trials. J Interv Cardiol 2001; 14:397-405. [PMID: 12053493 DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-8183.2001.tb00349.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The high restenosis rates in long stents may be related to suboptimal stent deployment. In an attempt to understand the potential components associated with restenosis in long stents, this study compares angiographic and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) data from the MUSIC and RENEWAL studies where IVUS was used to optimize stent deployment in short (< 15 mm) and long (> 20 mm) coronary lesions, respectively. The RENEWAL study, a randomized trial, compared the NIR stent and Wallstent in long (> 20 mm) coronary lesions and used on-line visual IVUS criteria to optimize stent expansion. Detailed analysis of IVUS data was performed off line. Angiographic and IVUS data from this study was compared to that from the MUSIC study. Initial stent deployment was deemed optimal by the operator after visual angiographic and IVUS assessment in 50 of 70 lesions. In the remaining 20 lesions further balloon inflations were required to optimize stent apposition that led to an average gain in minimal in-stent luminal area (MISA) of 15.9% (P < 0.01). Off-line IVUS data analysis showed that the number reaching "MUSIC criteria" for optimal stent deployment preredilatation was 8 (11.4%) of 70 and 14 (20%) of 70 postredilatation. The ratio of MISA/MRAprox (mean proximal reference area) was 0.69 in RENEWAL. At 6-month follow-up, the angiographic restenosis rate in RENEWAL was 36% and target lesion revascularization (TLR) rate was 7.8%, compared with MUSIC's 9.7% and 4.5%, respectively. In conclusion, angiographic assessment of stent deployment in long lesions is limited. On-line visual IVUS with further balloon inflations to improve stent apposition led to a significant gain in MISA, but the MISA/MRAprox ratio remained suboptimal. Therefore, suboptimal stent deployment due to constraint by lesion resistance may be an important mechanism underlying the high restenosis rates in long stents.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Nageh
- King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, England SE5 9RS.
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Thomas MR, Boxer SG. 19F NMR of trifluoroacetyl-labeled cysteine mutants of myoglobin: structural probes of nitric oxide bound to the H93G cavity mutant. Biochemistry 2001; 40:8588-96. [PMID: 11456499 DOI: 10.1021/bi0101087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) binds to the myoglobin (Mb) cavity mutant, H93G, forming either a 5- or 6-coordinate Fe--NO heme complex. The H93G mutation replaces the proximal histidine of Mb with glycine, allowing exogenous ligands to occupy the proximal binding site. In the absence of the covalently attached proximal ligand, NO could bind to H93G from the proximal side of the heme rather than the typical diatomic binding pocket on the distal side when the 5-coordinate complex forms. The question of whether NO binds on the distal or proximal side was addressed by (19)F NMR. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to introduce unique cysteine residues at the protein surface on either the distal (S58C) or proximal (L149C) side, approximately equidistant from and perpendicular to the heme plane of both wild-type and H93G Mb. The cysteine thiols were alkylated with 3-bromo-1,1,1-trifluoroacetone to attach a trifluoroacetyl group at the mutation site. (19)F NMR spectra of 5-coordinate, NO bound S58C/H93G and L149C/H93G double mutants depict peaks with line widths of 100 and 23 Hz, respectively. As fluorine peaks broaden with increasing proximity to paramagnetic centers, such as 5-coordinate Fe--NO, the (19)F NMR data are consistent with NO binding in the distal heme pocket of H93G, even in the absence of a sixth axial ligand. Additionally, (19)F NMR spectra are reported for deoxy, oxy, CO, met CN, and met H(2)O forms of the labeled cysteine mutants. These results demonstrate that the fluorine probes are sensitive to subtle conformational changes in the protein structure due to ligation and oxidation state changes of the heme iron in Mb.
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Affiliation(s)
- M R Thomas
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-5080, USA
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Nageh T, de Belder AJ, Thomas MR, Williams IL, Wainwright RJ. A randomised trial of endoluminal reconstruction comparing the NIR stent and the Wallstent in angioplasty of long segment coronary disease: results of the RENEWAL Study. Am Heart J 2001; 141:971-6. [PMID: 11376312 DOI: 10.1067/mhj.2001.115301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The role of coronary stents in reducing the incidence of acute complications and late restenosis after angioplasty has been established in randomized studies focusing on simple, short coronary lesions. The development of long coronary stents has provided a safe and predictable means of treating long coronary lesions, but this carries with it a higher risk of restenosis. By comparing the outcome of treating long lesions with two different stent types, we aimed to assess the influence of stent design rather than the nature of long lesions per se on the relatively high restenosis rates in this subgroup. METHODS This study was designed to assess procedural complications and 6-month restenosis rates in a randomized trial comparing a slotted tube stent with a self-expanding stent for the treatment of long coronary lesions. Randomization of vessels to either stent occurred after successful balloon angioplasty. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) was used to assess and optimize stent deployment. The patients were restudied angiographically and by IVUS at 6 months. RESULTS A total of 82 patients (85 vessels) were recruited (slotted tube stent, n = 44 vessels; self-expanding stent, n = 41 vessels). Successful deployment occurred in 41 (100%) of 41 of the self-expanding stent group and 41 (93%) of 44 of the slotted tube stent group. There was no difference in lesion length between the two groups (slotted tube stent, 26.6 +/- 6.9 [SD] mm; self-expanding stent, 28.7 +/- 9.8 [SD] mm; P = .2), but the mean length of the self-expanding stent was greater than that of the slotted tube stent (41.6 +/- 18.8 [SD] mm vs 35.4 +/- 16.2 [SD] mm, respectively; P < .05). There was no significant difference in the rate of major events between the two groups at 6-month follow-up. The angiographic restenosis rate at follow-up was less in the slotted tube stent group, but this did not reach statistical significance (26% vs 46%, respectively; P = .1) and the target lesion revascularization rate was similar for both groups (7.9% vs 7.7%, respectively; P = .8). IVUS assessment of plaque/stent ratios suggested a greater plaque burden in the self-expanding stent compared with the slotted tube stent at follow-up (0.42 +/- 1.2 [SD] vs 0.3 +/- 0.08 [SD]), but this was not statistically significant (P = .1). CONCLUSIONS Long stents can be safely and successfully deployed in long segment coronary disease, with an acceptable 6-month target lesion revascularization rate. Our results showed a trend toward lower angiographic restenosis and a lesser in-stent plaque burden at follow-up in the slotted tube stent compared with the self-expanding stent. This suggests that stent design may influence the restenotic process in long coronary lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Nageh
- Department of Cardiology, King's College Hospital, London, UK.
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29
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Thomas MR. Rural dentistry is what you make of it. Northwest Dent 2001; 80:13, 22. [PMID: 11490642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/21/2023]
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Abstract
Resonance Raman spectroscopy and step-scan Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy have been used to identify the ligation state of ferrous heme iron for the H93G proximal cavity mutant of myoglobin in the absence of exogenous ligand on the proximal side. Preparation of the H93G mutant of myoglobin has been previously reported for a variety of axial ligands to the heme iron (e.g., substituted pyridines and imidazoles) [DePillis, G., Decatur, S. M., Barrick, D., and Boxer, S. G. (1994) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 116, 6981-6982]. The present study examines the ligation states of heme in preparations of the H93G myoglobin with no exogenous ligand. In the deoxy form of H93G, resonance Raman spectroscopic evidence shows water to be the axial (fifth) ligand to the deoxy heme iron. Analysis of the infrared C-O and Raman Fe-C stretching frequencies for the CO adduct indicates that it is six-coordinate with a histidine trans ligand. Following photolysis of CO, a time-dependent change in ligation is evident in both step-scan FTIR and saturation resonance Raman spectra, leading to the conclusion that a conformationally driven ligand switch exists in the H93G protein. In the absence of exogenous nitrogenous ligands, the CO trans effect stabilizes endogenous histidine ligation, while conformational strain favors the dissociation of histidine following photolysis of CO. The replacement of histidine by water in the five-coordinate complex is estimated to occur in < 5 micros. The results demonstrate that the H93G myoglobin cavity mutant has potential utility as a model system for studying the conformational energetics of ligand switching in heme proteins such as those observed in nitrite reductase, guanylyl cyclase, and possibly cytochrome c oxidase.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Franzen
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-8204, USA.
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Abstract
The last decade has seen an increasing requirement throughout the United Kingdom (UK) for accurate, timely information on pesticide usage to satisfy government legislation and provide data as part of the registration and review process of pesticides. These data, collected by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's Pesticide Usage Survey Group (PUSG), provide information on current and past usage patterns and allow the impact of use on the environment, operator and consumer to be more accurately assessed from actual usage patterns rather than worst case scenarios. Surveys of all crops grown commercially throughout the UK are undertaken at regular intervals using fully stratified samples of farmers and growers. Data are raised to provide national estimates of use but individual data sets can be derived from the sample. As such, the data are therefore also particularly suited to incorporation into probabilistic risk assessments. The methodologies used by the PUSG and some example data sets from a recent survey of arable crops are given.
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Affiliation(s)
- M R Thomas
- Pesticide Usage Survey, Central Science Laboratory, Sand Hutton, YO41 1LZ, York, UK
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Abstract
We have developed an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system for a number of important grapevine cultivars used in wine production. Transgenic plants were obtained for the seven cultivars: Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Muscat Gordo Blanco. Embryogenic callus was initiated from anther filaments and genotypic differences were observed for initiation and subsequent proliferation with Chardonnay responding most favourably to culture conditions. The transformation system allowed the recovery of germinating transgenic embryos 10-12 weeks after Agrobacterium inoculation and plants within 18 weeks. Examination of the expression patterns of the green fluorescent protein gene under the control of the CAMV35S promoter in leaf tissue of transgenic plants showed that for up to 35% of plants the pattern was not uniform. The successful transformation of a genetically diverse group of wine grape cultivars indicates that the transformation system may have general application to an even wider range of Vitis vinifera cultivars.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Iocco
- CSIRO Plant Industry, Urrbrae, SA, Australia
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Thomas MR, Jowett NI. Severity of overdose after restriction of paracetamol availability. Restriction has not reduced admissions with self poisoning. BMJ 2001; 322:554. [PMID: 11263452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
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Boss PK, Vivier M, Matsumoto S, Dry IB, Thomas MR. A cDNA from grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.), which shows homology to AGAMOUS and SHATTERPROOF, is not only expressed in flowers but also throughout berry development. Plant Mol Biol 2001; 45:541-53. [PMID: 11414613 DOI: 10.1023/a:1010634132156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
An AGAMOUS/SHATTERPROOF homologue (Vvmads1) was isolated from grapevine by differential display between berry and leaf mRNA. The predicted protein sequence of the full-length clone shows a high degree of homology to PLENA (77% identity) and to SHP1 and SHP2 (75% and 74% identity respectively), and is grouped with AGAMOUS/PLENA homologues when the conserved MADS and K domains are compared. Vvmads1 is expressed only in the later stages of flower development and throughout berry development, although expression is reduced after ripening commenced. When Vvmads1 was over-expressed in tobacco, the resulting plants display altered morphologies in the outer two floral whorls. In the most extreme cases, the inner whorls were surrounded by a carpelloid structure created by the modified sepals. Within these sepals were petals which had been split into sections and which were attached at the base of the flower by structures with the appearance of filaments. The results of this study suggest that Vvmads1 has a regulatory role in flower development before fertilisation and a role in fruit development after fertilisation.
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MESH Headings
- AGAMOUS Protein, Arabidopsis
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Blotting, Northern
- DNA, Complementary/genetics
- DNA, Complementary/isolation & purification
- DNA, Complementary/metabolism
- DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics
- DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism
- Fruit/genetics
- Fruit/metabolism
- Fruit/physiology
- Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
- Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
- MADS Domain Proteins
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Phenotype
- Plant Proteins/genetics
- Plant Proteins/metabolism
- Plants, Genetically Modified
- Plants, Toxic
- RNA, Messenger/analysis
- Rosales/genetics
- Rosales/metabolism
- Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
- Nicotiana/genetics
- Nicotiana/metabolism
- Transcription Factors/genetics
- Transcription Factors/metabolism
- Transcription Factors/physiology
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Affiliation(s)
- P K Boss
- CSIRO Plant Industry, Horticulture Unit, Glen Osmond, SA, Australia.
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Witz CA, Thomas MR, Montoya-Rodriguez IA, Nair AS, Centonze VE, Schenken RS. Short-term culture of peritoneum explants confirms attachment of endometrium to intact peritoneal mesothelium. Fertil Steril 2001; 75:385-90. [PMID: 11172844 DOI: 10.1016/s0015-0282(00)01699-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the initial adhesion of endometrium to the peritoneum. DESIGN Descriptive study using light and confocal laser-scanning microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy. SETTING University-based laboratory. PATIENT(S) Women without endometriosis undergoing surgery for benign conditions. INTERVENTION(S) None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Explants of peritoneum (n = 20), prepared from four patients, were cultured for 1 hour with mechanically dispersed proliferative or secretory endometrium. Peritoneum was cultured with endometrium from the same patient. Specimens were fixed and serially sectioned for hematoxylin and eosin stain, immunohistochemistry using an anti-cytokeratin monoclonal antibody, and transmission electron microscopy. RESULT(S) In 17 of 20 explants, endometrium was adherent to intact mesothelium. There was no evidence of transmesothelial invasion at any sites of attachment. Although in most cases endometrium was adherent to mesothelium via endometrial stroma, there were many sites of endometrial epithelium-mesothelium attachment. Confocal laser scanning microscopy demonstrated an intact monolayer of cytokeratin-positive cells below the sites of endometrial implantation. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated intact, viable, mesothelial cells below sites of attachment. CONCLUSION(S) This study demonstrates that endometrium rapidly adheres to intact peritoneal mesothelium. In addition, this study demonstrates that endometrial epithelial cells, as well as stroma, can attach to mesothelium. Further studies are needed that characterize the mechanism of endometrial-mesothelial cell adhesion.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Witz
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mail Code 7836, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7730 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA.
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de Belder AJ, Jewitt DE, Wainwright RJ, Thomas MR. Development and validation of a Bayesian index for predicting major adverse cardiac events with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Heart 2001; 85:69-72. [PMID: 11119467 PMCID: PMC1729571 DOI: 10.1136/heart.85.1.69] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To create a risk model for predicting major adverse complicating events of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), and to test the accuracy of the model on a prospective cohort of patients SETTING Tertiary cardiac centre METHODS Available software can predict probabilities of events using Bayes's theorem. To establish the accuracy of these predictive tools, a Bayes table was created to evaluate major adverse complicating events (MACE)-death, emergency coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), or Q wave infarct occurring during the in-patient episode-on the first 1500 patients in the department PTCA database (development group); the predictive value of this model was then tested with the subsequent 1000 patients (evaluation group). The following probabilities were assessed to determine their association with MACE: age, sex, left ventricular function, American Heart Association lesion morphology classification, cardiogenic shock, previous CABG, diabetes, hypertension, multivessel PTCA. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES To establish the discriminatory ability of the predictive index, calibration plots and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were obtained to compare the development and evaluation groups. RESULTS The ROC curve plotted to determine the discriminatory value of the Bayesian table created from the development group (n = 1500) in predicting MACE in the evaluation group (n = 1000) showed a moderately predictive area under the curve of 0.76 (SEM 0.07). This predictive accuracy was confirmed with separately constructed calibration plots. CONCLUSIONS Accurate predictions of MACE can be identified in populations undergoing percutaneous intervention. The database used allows operators to obtain consent from patients appropriately from their own experience rather than from other published data. If a national PTCA database existed along similar lines, individual operators and interventional centres could compare themselves with nationally available data.
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Affiliation(s)
- A J de Belder
- Department of Cardiology, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Eastern Road, Brighton BN2 5BE, UK
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Pond AE, Roach MP, Thomas MR, Boxer SG, Dawson JH. The H93G myoglobin cavity mutant as a versatile template for modeling heme proteins: ferrous, ferric, and ferryl mixed-ligand complexes with imidazole in the cavity. Inorg Chem 2000; 39:6061-6. [PMID: 11151505 DOI: 10.1021/ic0007198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
One of the difficulties in preparing accurate ambient-temperature model complexes for heme proteins, particularly in the ferric state, has been the generation of mixed-ligand adducts: complexes with different ligands on either side of the heme. The difference in the accessibility of the two sides of the heme in the H93G cavity mutant of myoglobin (Mb) provides a potential general solution to this problem. To demonstrate the versatility of H93G Mb for the preparation of heme protein models, numerous mixed-ligand adducts of ferrous, ferric, and ferryl imidazole-ligated H93G (H93G(Im) Mb) have been prepared. The complexes have been characterized by electronic absorption and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy in comparison to analogous derivatives of wild type Mb. The starting ferric H93G(Im) Mb state spectroscopically resembles wild-type ferric Mb as expected for a complex containing a single imidazole in the proximal cavity and water bound on the distal side. Addition of a sixth ligand to ferric H93G(Im) Mb, whether charge neutral (imidazole) or anionic (cyanide and azide), results in formation of six-coordinate low-spin complexes with MCD characteristics similar to those of parallel derivatives of wild-type ferric Mb. Reduction of ferric H93G(Im) Mb and subsequent exposure to either CO, NO, or O2 produces ferrous complexes (deoxy, CO, NO, and O2) that consistently exhibit MCD spectra similar to the analogous ferrous species of wild-type ferrous Mb. Most interestingly, reaction of ferric H93G(Im) Mb with H2O2 results in the formation of a stable high-valent oxoferryl complex with MCD characteristics that are essentially identical to those of oxoferryl wild-type Mb. The generation of such a wide array of mixed-ligand heme complexes demonstrates the efficacy of the H93G Mb cavity mutant as a template for the preparation of heme protein model complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- A E Pond
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, USA
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38
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Harris BM, Nageh T, Marsden JT, Thomas MR, Sherwood RA. Comparison of cardiac troponin T and I and CK-MB for the detection of minor myocardial damage during interventional cardiac procedures. Ann Clin Biochem 2000; 37 ( Pt 6):764-9. [PMID: 11085620 DOI: 10.1258/0004563001900075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
A number of cardiac interventional procedures are available for the treatment of angina, including percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), stent insertion and rotational atherectomy (RA). Variable degrees of myocardial cell injury during PTCA and stent insertion have been observed, based on rises in creatine kinase MB isoenzyme (CK-MB) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) 6-24 h post-procedure. As there are many variations in technique within each procedure it would be helpful to be able to determine objectively the degree of myocardial damage in order to optimize technique. We measured CK-MB, cTnT and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) to ascertain which is the most sensitive marker for minor myocardial damage in this setting. Blood samples were taken both before and 6, 14 and 24h after the procedure in 109 patients (77 men) with angina, 42 of whom had unstable angina. Of the 109 patients, 86 had a stent inserted (21 as a primary stent), nine had PTCA, eight had RA and six intracoronary brachytherapy. Using the manufacturers' recommended cut-offs--CK-MB 4 microg/L, cTnI and cTnT 0.1 microg/L--five patients were excluded from further analysis as all three markers were raised pre-procedure. Post procedure all three markers were in agreement for 68 patients (44 all normal, 24 all raised). Overall, CK-MB was raised in 28 patients, cTnT in 38 and cTnI in 58. In 19 patients CK-MB and cTnT were normal, but cTnI was raised (15 between 0.11 and 0.30 microg/L). cTnI was the most sensitive indicator of minor myocardial damage, but at the recommended cut-off of 0.1 microg/L may be overly sensitive. We await the results of our follow-up study to determine the clinical implications of these small rises in cTnI.
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Affiliation(s)
- B M Harris
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, King's College Hospital, London, UK
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39
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40
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Chan KL, Morgan H, Morgan E, Cameron IT, Thomas MR. Measurements of the dielectric properties of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and trophoblast cells using AC electrokinetic techniques. Biochim Biophys Acta 2000; 1500:313-22. [PMID: 10699373 DOI: 10.1016/s0925-4439(99)00115-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The separation of trophoblast cells from the maternal circulation could provide a valuable diagnostic tool for prenatal diagnosis of genetic abnormalities. This has been attempted using antibody methods, but due to non-specificity of the antibodies, maternal cell contamination remains a problem. We have investigated the potential of dielectrophoretic separation methods as a means of isolating trophoblast cells from mixed peripheral blood mononuclear cells. To determine the potential of this method the dielectric properties of trophoblast cells and mixed peripheral blood mononuclear cells were measured using dielectrophoretic crossover and single cell electrorotation methods. Both dielectrophoretic crossover data and electrorotation data gave an average specific membrane capacitance of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 11.5 mF m(-2). Trophoblast cells prepared using three different methods had a higher average specific membrane capacitance in the range 13-18 mF m(-2). The differences in capacitance between the cell types could be exploited as the basis of an AC electrokinetic-based system for the separation of trophoblast cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- K L Chan
- Bioelectronics Research Centre, Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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41
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Abstract
This study assessed clinical and angiographic restenosis following the deployment of the long coronary Wallstent. Between May 1995 and June 1997, 182 Wallstents were deployed in 162 vessels in this unit. Forty-eight percent had an unstable coronary syndrome and 94% had AHA grade B or C lesions. The mean lesion length was 37 +/- 20 mm and the mean stent length was 48 +/- 20 mm. The procedural success rate was 99% and the primary success rate was 93%. Six in-patients suffered subacute stent thrombosis, the majority being in the era of anticoagulation rather than antiplatelet regimes. Seventy-three percent remained free of major adverse clinical events in the follow-up period, but 41% had angiographic restenosis. The Wallstent can be deployed in complex lesions with a high primary success rate and an acceptably low restenosis rate. The optimal management of in-stent restenosis remains to be defined.
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Affiliation(s)
- I L Williams
- Department of Cardiology, King's College Hospital, London, England.
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42
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Abstract
Coronary spasm is a well-recognized observation during coronary angiography. This report describes a patient who developed spasm of a radial artery bypass graft during coronary intervention. There are many reports on the angiographic follow-up to confirm the surgical results for patency in radial arterial conduits. We share our experience with this first case in the literature noted to have severe vasospasm during PTCA. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 47:331-335, 1999.
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Affiliation(s)
- N M Kulkarni
- Department of Cardiology, King's College Hospital, London, England
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43
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Pond AE, Roach MP, Sono M, Rux AH, Franzen S, Hu R, Thomas MR, Wilks A, Dou Y, Ikeda-Saito M, Ortiz de Montellano PR, Woodruff WH, Boxer SG, Dawson JH. Assignment of the heme axial ligand(s) for the ferric myoglobin (H93G) and heme oxygenase (H25A) cavity mutants as oxygen donors using magnetic circular dichroism. Biochemistry 1999; 38:7601-8. [PMID: 10360958 DOI: 10.1021/bi9825448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
UV-visible absorption and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) data are reported for the cavity mutants of sperm whale H93G myoglobin and human H25A heme oxygenase in their ferric states at 4 degreesC. Detailed spectral analyses of H93G myoglobin reveal that its heme coordination structure has a single water ligand at pH 5.0, a single hydroxide ligand at pH 10.0, and a mixture of species at pH 7.0 including five-coordinate hydroxide-bound, and six-coordinate structures. The five-coordinate aquo structure at pH 5 is supported by spectral similarity to acidic horseradish peroxidase (pH 3.1), whose MCD data are reported herein for the first time, and acidic myoglobin (pH 3.4), whose structures have been previously assigned by resonance Raman spectroscopy. The five-coordinate hydroxide structure at pH 10.0 is supported by MCD and resonance Raman data obtained here and by comparison with those of other known five-coordinate oxygen donor complexes. In particular, the MCD spectrum of alkaline ferric H93G myoglobin is strikingly similar to that of ferric tyrosinate-ligated human H93Y myoglobin, whose MCD data are reported herein for the first time, and that of the methoxide adduct of ferric protoporphyrin IX dimethyl ester (FeIIIPPIXDME). Analysis of the spectral data for ferric H25A heme oxygenase at neutral pH in the context of the spectra of other five-coordinate ferric heme complexes with proximal oxygen donor ligands, in particular the p-nitrophenolate and acetate adducts of FeIIIPPIXDME, is most consistent with ligation by a carboxylate group of a nearby glutamyl (or aspartic) acid residue.
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Affiliation(s)
- A E Pond
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia 29208, USA
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Chakraborty S, Perrott R, Ellis N, Thomas MR. New Aggressive Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Strains on Stylosanthes scabra Detected by Virulence and DNA Analysis. Plant Dis 1999; 83:333-340. [PMID: 30845584 DOI: 10.1094/pdis.1999.83.4.333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Widespread use of Stylosanthes scabra cv. Seca to improve native pastures in northern Australia makes it necessary to monitor changes in the anthracnose pathogen, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, because new damaging races have arisen to devastate many agronomically promising cultivars in the past. A total of 103 isolates collected during the past 20 years were analyzed by using virulence and molecular markers to determine whether aggressive strains have evolved in the field. Data on severity for eight host differentials were obtained from a greenhouse assay and analyzed by linear discriminant functions developed from existing data on 182 isolates of known races. A molecular analysis of a subset of 21 isolates by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and electrophoretic karyotyping gave comparable results for both markers, although electrophoretic karyotyping detected a higher level of polymorphism. The majority of the 103 isolates were placed into three groups on the basis of RAPD analysis. Virulence analysis detected isolates that were highly aggressive toward Seca. During the past 20 years, the frequency of aggressive isolates has increased. Many of the aggressive isolates were collected during the 1990s, and one had a distinct RAPD genotype. The lack of a strong association between RAPD genotypes and pathogen races suggests that races have arisen independently within each genetic group. This work highlights the need for regular monitoring of the pathogen population.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Chakraborty
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Tropical Agriculture, Co-operative Research Centre for Tropical Plant Pathology, University of Queensland, Australia 4072
| | - R Perrott
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Tropical Agriculture, Co-operative Research Centre for Tropical Plant Pathology, University of Queensland, Australia 4072
| | - N Ellis
- CSIRO Mathematical and Information Sciences, 306 Carmody Road, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia 4067
| | - M R Thomas
- CSIRO Mathematical and Information Sciences, 306 Carmody Road, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia 4067
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Abstract
AlphaB-crystallin, which is abundantly expressed in the lens but also in a diversity of other tissues, functions as a stress-inducible molecular chaperone and is increased in brain neurodegenerative diseases. We compared retinal alphaB-crystallin expression in a model of inherited retinal degeneration, the rd mouse, and controls. Northern and in situ hybridization analysis showed alphaB-crystallin mRNA to have an altered spatio-temporal pattern with increased levels localized to glial cells in the degenerative state. Immunocytochemistry confirmed increased expression at Müller cells and astrocytes, together with transiently increased localization to the degenerating photoreceptors. These findings suggest that increased alphaB-crystallin expression is associated with glial cell reaction to neuronal damage in the retina, and may comprise part of the retina's overall defensive response to the stress of apoptotic photoreceptor cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- S E Jones
- British Retinitis Pigmentosa Society Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, GKT, The Rayne Institute, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK
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46
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Abstract
The homeobox gene Pax-6 is expressed during eye development in both the retina and lens, and Pax-6 mutations cause ocular abnormalities including retinal defects. We investigated the pattern of Pax-6 gene expression in the rd/rd mouse model of inherited retinal degeneration in comparison with nondegenerative controls, using Northern blot, reverse-transcription (RT)-PCR and in situ hybridization analysis. We observed an increased level of Pax-6 mRNA expression in the degenerative state, which appeared to affect equally the major Pax-6 exon 5a transcriptional splice variants as detected by RT-PCR. By in situ hybridization, Pax-6 mRNA was localized to the inner nuclear and ganglion cell layers of nondegenerative retina, but showed a more diffuse signal pattern in the rd/rd retina. This modulation of Pax-6 mRNA levels and localization is suggestive of activation of expression in retinal glial cells and may reflect reorganization of cellular interactions in response to the degenerative processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- S E Jones
- Department of Pharmacology, St Thomas' Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
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Affiliation(s)
- I Barker
- Scottish Crop Research Institute, Dundee, Scotland
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48
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Richards RM, Hamilton VE, Thomas MR. In-vitro investigation of the antibacterial activity of agents which may be used for the oral treatment of lung infections in CF patients. J Antimicrob Chemother 1998; 42:171-8. [PMID: 9738834 DOI: 10.1093/jac/42.2.171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The effect of triple therapy with ciprofloxacin, trimethoprim and either sulphadiazine or sulphamethoxazole on the MICs and development of resistance of three strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, two strains of Staphylococcus aureus and one of Burkholderia cepacia was compared with that of single or dual therapy with these agents using an agar dilution method. Ciprofloxacin MICs were 0.2-0.8 mg/L for the P. aeruginosa and S. aureus strains. For trimethoprim the MIC ranges were 64-128 and 0.25-1 mg/L for P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, respectively. For the sulphonamides the ranges were 64-2500 and 20-39 mg/L for P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, respectively. All combinations of agents were effective at lower concentrations than the single agents. The combination of ciprofloxacin, sulphonamide and trimethoprim showed enhanced activity against all test organisms. The highest ciprofloxacin concentration was one-tenth of the normally attainable serum concentration of 2.5 mg/L. Thus peak plasma concentrations of > or =8 x MIC for ciprofloxacin against P. aeruginosa and S. aureus are theoretically achievable in the presence of clinically acceptable concentrations of trimethoprim and a sulphonamide, making the development of resistance less likely. The development of resistance, as shown by the proportional increase in MICs, was repressed by the triple regimen as compared with the development of resistance to agents used singly or in pairs. Killing curve determinations also demonstrated the advantage of the triple-agent therapy against all organisms tested: the combination of ciprofloxacin 0.5 mg/L, trimethoprim 1 mg/L and sulphadiazine 20 mg/L had an initial bactericidal effect against log-phase inocula of 10(6) cfu/mL of two clinical strains of P. aeruginosa and one clinical strain of S. aureus. The pseudomonas strains were reduced by 2-4 log cycles. Both recovered over 24 h but did not exceed the initial inoculum. The S. aureus was reduced to 10(2) cfu/mL in 4 h and did not recover over 24 h. A repeat dose of the triple therapy against the more resistant of the P. aeruginosa strains after 12 h also had a bactericidal effect. These data suggest the possibility of an effective exclusively oral therapy for the treatment of lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- R M Richards
- School of Pharmacy, The Robert Gordon University, Schoolhill, Aberdeen, UK.
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Peden DB, Berger WE, Noonan MJ, Thomas MR, Hendricks VL, Hamedani AG, Mahajan P, House KW. Inhaled fluticasone propionate delivered by means of two different multidose powder inhalers is effective and safe in a large pediatric population with persistent asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1998; 102:32-8. [PMID: 9679845 DOI: 10.1016/s0091-6749(98)70052-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inhaled corticosteroids are increasingly being used to treat mild-to-moderate asthma in children. However, data regarding therapy with this class of compounds, especially in children under age 6 years, is limited. Fluticasone propionate is a third generation inhaled corticosteroid with an optimal therapeutic index. Few large prospective clinical trials have been conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of fluticasone propionate powder in children. OBJECTIVE We sought to determine the efficacy and safety of fluticasone propionate powder administered by means of the Diskus and Diskhaler multidose powder inhalers in pediatric patients with persistent asthma. METHODS Fluticasone propionate powder (50 microg or 100 microg twice daily) or placebo was administered by means of the Diskus or Diskhaler inhalers to 437 children (4 to 11 years old) with persistent asthma for 12 weeks in a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, multi-center trial. Patients were stratified according to whether they were receiving prior treatment with inhaled corticosteroids or cromolyn or beta2-agonists alone. RESULTS Fluticasone propionate powder administered by means of Diskus or Diskhaler significantly improved FEV1 (mean increase from baseline of 0.22 to 0.24 L; p < or = 0.023), clinic morning peak expiratory flow (mean increase from baseline of 48 to 55 L/min; p < or = 0.006), patient-measured morning (p < or = 0.001) and evening (p < or = 0.003) peak expiratory flow, and asthma symptom scores (in all but the 50 microg Diskus group; p < or = 0.036), as well as reduced albuterol use (p < or = 0.002) and nighttime awakenings (p < or = 0.019) at endpoint. Efficacy parameters were not significantly different between the two doses with either device. More placebo-treated patients discontinued the study because of lack of efficacy than patients in any fluticasone propionate group (p < 0.001). Fluticasone propionate did not suppress morning plasma cortisol concentrations and did not affect 24-hour urinary free-cortisol excretion. Adverse events were primarily pharmacologic effects of inhaled corticosteroids, and those related to the study drug occurred with low frequency. Patient satisfaction with both the Diskus and Diskhaler devices was high, with a majority of patients (> 80%) rating them favorably. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that fluticasone propionate powder, at the conventional recommended doses of up to 200 microg/day administered by means of Diskus or Diskhaler, was well tolerated and improved lung function in children even as young as 4 and 5 years old regardless of whether they were previously treated with inhaled corticosteroids or cromolyn or beta2-agonists alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- D B Peden
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599, USA
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Despite increased awareness of the prevalence of a history of childhood abuse among adults with psychiatric disorders, the implications for treatment and outcome are generally unknown. This study examined the impact of childhood sexual abuse (in some cases combined with physical abuse) on the hospital treatment of severe mood disorders. METHODS A chart review was conducted of 110 cases of consecutively admitted adult inpatients with affective disorders. The abused and nonabused groups were compared in terms of demographic variables, severity of illness, treatment history, duration of hospitalization, and outcome of the hospital treatment episode. RESULTS A history of childhood abuse was associated with younger age, comorbid personality disorders, and shorter duration of hospitalization. Other measures, such as level of functioning at discharge and recidivism, were not related to abuse status. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that childhood abuse may be associated with earlier onset of affective episodes and personality disorders but is not strongly associated with other clinical and outcome measures in the acute treatment setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Giese
- University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver 80220, USA
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