Publications by authors named "Fojo S"

Objective: To classify NICU interventions for parental distress and quantify their effectiveness.

Study Design: We systematically reviewed controlled studies published before 2017 measuring NICU parental distress, defined broad intervention categories, and used random-effects meta-analysis to quantify treatment effectiveness.

Results: Among 1643 unique records, 58 eligible trials predominantly studied mothers of preterm infants.

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We characterized a new human ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter gene that is highly expressed in the liver. The gene, ABCG5, contains 13 exons and encodes a 651 amino acid protein. The predicted protein is closely related to the Drosophila white gene and a human gene, ABCG1, which is induced by cholesterol.

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The patient was a 20-year-old male. His fasting plasma triglyceride and cholesterol levels were 1258 mg/dl and 138 mg/dl, respectively. The lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity and mass from postheparin plasma of the patient were 0.

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Lipoprotein lipase, a lipolytic enzyme essential for normal hydrolysis of triglycerides in very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and chylomicrons, is found in several cell types, including macrophages. The role of lipoprotein lipase in mediating the uptake of normal VLDL triglycerides into human cultured monocyte-derived macrophages was studied using macrophage cells from a functionally lipoprotein lipase-deficient patient and macrophages of cells from a normal subject. After incubation with VLDL, massive accumulation of phase refractile (lipid) inclusions were noted by phase contrast microscopy within the normal, but not within the lipoprotein lipase-deficient, macrophages.

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Hypertriglyceridaemia, as defined by fasting triglyceride levels of greater than 2.8 mmol l-1, is a prevalent dyslipoproteinaemia in our population. The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms that result in elevations of plasma triglycerides are heterogeneous and, in most cases, incompletely understood.

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The underlying molecular defects that lead to a deficiency of lipoprotein lipase in two patients from different kindreds presenting with the familial hyperchylomicronemia syndrome have been identified. Sequence analysis of amplified LPL cDNA of the patient from the Bethesda kindred revealed a single point mutation (G to A) at position 781 of the normal gene that resulted in the substitution of an alanine for a threonine at residue 176 and the loss of an SfaN1 site present in the normal LPL gene. Amplification of patient cDNA by the PCR followed by restriction enzyme digestion with SfaN1 established that the patient is a true homozygote for the defect.

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We have characterized the clinical and biochemical features of three siblings of a kindred with severe hypertriglyceridaemia due to apolipoprotein C-II (apo C-II) deficiency caused by the mutation described as apo C-IIHamburg. The clinical syndrome is characterized by recurrent pancreatitis in two of three affected individuals, with discrete hepatosplenomegaly in all three patients and cholelithiasis in one. Eruptive xanthomas and lipemia retinalis were absent.

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The molecular defects resulting in a deficiency of lipoprotein lipase activity in a patient with the familial hyperchylomicronemia syndrome have been identified. Increased lipoprotein lipase mass but undetectable lipoprotein lipase activity in the patient's post-heparin plasma indicate the presence of an inactive enzyme. No major gene rearrangements were identified by Southern blot analysis of the patient's lipoprotein lipase gene and Northern blot hybridization revealed an lipoprotein lipase mRNA of normal size.

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The molecular defect that leads to a deficiency of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity in the proband from a Bethesda kindred has been identified. The pre- and post-heparin plasma LPL mass in the proband was elevated when compared to controls; however, there was no detectable LPL activity, indicating the presence of a defective enzyme (termed LPLBethesda). Analysis of the patient's post-heparin plasma by heparin-Sepharose affinity chromatography demonstrated that the mutant LPL had an altered affinity for heparin.

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We have identified the genetic defect that leads to a deficiency of apoC-II in the proband from the Paris kindred. Analysis of the apoC-IIParis DNA by Southern blot hybridization revealed no major gene rearrangements, but sequencing of polymerase chain reaction-amplified apoC-IIParis DNA revealed an A to G transition that changed the initiation AUG (methionine) codon to GUG (valine). Potential initiation of translation at the closest inframe methionine codon eliminates the entire signal peptide and the first 8 amino-terminal residues of apoC-II which would prevent apoC-II secretion into plasma.

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The apo C-II gene from a patient with apo C-II deficiency has been sequenced after amplification by the polymerase chain reaction. A substitution of an adenosine for a guanosine at position 3002 in exon 3 of the patient's gene was identified by sequence analysis. This mutation leads to the introduction of a premature termination codon (TAA) at a position corresponding to amino acid 37 of mature apo C-II and to the formation of a new Rsa I restriction enzyme site not present in the normal apo C-II gene.

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Apolipoprotein (apo) B is the principal apolipoprotein of chylomicrons, very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL). Patients with homozygous hypobetalipoproteinemia (HBL), characterized by apoB deficiency, have markedly decreased levels of hepatocyte mRNA as well as intracellular B apolipoprotein, and a virtual absence of plasma apoB. We have cloned, sequenced and analyzed the 5' regulatory region of the human apoB gene from -899 to +121 bp in normal and hypobetalipoproteinemic subjects.

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The apolipoprotein C-II gene from a patient with a deficiency of apoC-II was cloned and sequenced. A single base deletion of a guanosine at position 2943 in exon three of the gene of the proband was identified by sequence analysis. This point mutation results in a shift of the reading frame and introduces a premature termination codon (TGA) at a position in the gene immediately following amino acid 17 of the mature C-II apolipoprotein.

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The DNA, RNA, and protein of apo C-II have been analyzed in a patient with apo C-II deficiency (apo C-IIHamburg). Markedly reduced levels of plasma and intrahepatic C-II apolipoprotein were demonstrated by immunoblotting and immunohistochemical analysis. Northern, slot blot, and in situ hybridization studies revealed low levels of a normal-sized apo C-II mRNA.

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Apolipoprotein(apo) C-II DNA, RNA and protein from a patient with a familial deficiency of apoC-II were evaluated and compared to normal individuals. No major defect of the apoC-II gene could be detected by Southern blot hybridization. Northern and slot blot analyses of total liver RNA documented normal levels of a normal sized apoC-II mRNA.

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Apolipoprotein (apo) C-II deficiency is characterized by elevated plasma triglycerides, chylomicrons, and very low density lipoproteins, as well as reduced levels of low density and high density lipoproteins. A subject with apoC-II deficiency has been identified with an apoC-II plasma level of less than 0.05 mg/dl.

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Lovastatin (Mevinolin), a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, has been used effectively as a hypocholesterolemic agent in man. As an inhibitor of endogenous cholesterol synthesis, a potentially serious side effect of therapy with this drug is interference with adrenocortical function. The effect of lovastatin on adrenal function was evaluated in a 6-month, randomized, double blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover study involving 24 type II hyperlipoproteinemic patients.

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The complete nucleic acid sequence of human preproapolipoprotein (apo) C-II has been determined from 2 apoC-II clones isolated from 2 different human genomic DNA libraries. The cloned fragments were approx. 14 and 18 kb long, and sequence analysis established that the apoC-II gene consists of 3338 nucleotides containing 3 intervening sequences of 2391, 167, and 298 bases.

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Apolipoprotein C-II plays a major role in lipid metabolism as a cofactor for lipoprotein lipase, the enzyme involved in the hydrolysis of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins. Apo-C-II is initially synthesized as a 101 amino acid protein that undergoes subsequent cotranslational cleavage of a signal peptide. Post-translational processing of apo-C-II has not been previously described.

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Patients with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) concentrations in the top 10th percentile of the population (type II hyperlipoproteinemia [HLP]) are at increased risk for premature cardiovascular disease; however, the incidence of myocardial infarction and death can be decreased by LDL cholesterol reduction. Mevinolin, an inhibitor of endogenous cholesterol synthesis, has been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol concentrations in a subset of type II patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Using a double-blind, randomized, crossover, placebo-controlled trial, the safety and efficacy of mevinolin were compared in 24 patients with type II HLP with heterozygous FH (n = 6) or without FH type II HLP (n = 18).

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The application of molecular biology techniques has enabled us to determine the gene sequence, organization, transcription and processing of apolipoprotein genes. Consequently, new insights have been gained in the biosynthesis and processing of these proteins. In addition to apoA-I, apoA-II and apoC-III reported here, other apolipoprotein genes such as apoC-II and apoE genes were found to share common intron-exon organizations.

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Apolipoprotein C-II (apoC-II), a 79 amino acid protein, is a cofactor for lipoprotein lipase, the enzyme which catalyzes the lipolysis of triglycerides on plasma chylomicrons and VLDL. Patients with apoC-II deficiency have marked elevations in plasma triglycerides, chylomicrons, VLDL, and a type I hyperlipoproteinemia. In order to evaluate the molecular defect in apoC-II deficiency, genomic DNA was analyzed using Southern Blot from 2 independent apoC-II deficient patients and compared to normal controls.

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