Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

B Herrmann

Publications and source records attributed to B Herrmann.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

A primary requirement for nodal in the formation and maintenance of the primitive streak in the mouse.

The 413.d insertional mutation arrests mouse development shortly after gastrulation. nodal, a novel TGF beta-related gene, is closely associated with the locus. The present study provides direct evidence that the proviral insertion causes a loss of function mutation. nodal RNA is initially detected at day 5.5 in the primitive ectoderm. Concomitant with gastrulation, expression becomes restricted to the proximal posterior regions of the embryonic ectoderm. nodal RNA is also expressed in the primitive endoderm overlying the primitive streak. A few hours later, expression is strictly confined to the periphery of the mature node. Interestingly 413.d mutant embryos show no morphological evidence for the formation of a primitive streak. Nonetheless, about 25% of mutant embryos do form randomly positioned patches of cells of a posterior mesodermal character. Data presented in this report demonstrate the involvement of a TGF beta-related molecule in axis formation in mammals.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Electro-immortalization of B lymphocytes isolated from stomach carcinoma biopsy material.

The advantages of electrofusion were used to immortalize the small number of B-cells from fresh biopsy material taken from a gastric carcinoma of a patient. Two stable human antibody secreting clones could be produced which exhibited functional activity against the autologous tumour cells (inhibition of cell adhesion and immunofluorescence staining of the membranes). This shows that a variety of hitherto inaccessible B lymphocyte populations from other human organ biopsies can be immortalised by the improved electrofusion technique.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1993

[Pericardial tamponade caused by catheter infection in an extremely small premature infant].

A 610 g infant born after 27 weeks of gestation required central venous infusion therapy by a 23 gauge silastic catheter with its tip located in the superior vena cava. During adequate antibiotic therapy for sepsis the infant developed cardiac tamponade with circulatory failure. Therapeutic pericardiocentesis revealed pericarditis and not hydropericardium. Central venous infusion could be continued relapse-free without a change in catheter position. After bacteriologic identification of Staphylococcus epidermidis in blood culture and pericardial aspirate, the central venous line was removed and identified as the source of infection by identical bacterial growth from the catheter tip. While cardiac perforation has been recognized as a rare complication of central venous infusion even by very soft and thin silastic catheters, this is to our knowledge the first report on cardiac tamponade from bacterial pericarditis following catheter sepsis in a neonate.

Cardiac Tamponade↗
PubMed1993

[5th day convulsions of the newborn infant in rotavirus infections].

AIM OF THE STUDY: The pathogenesis of fifth day fits in newborns has not yet been explained. From 1989-1991 we observed an epidemic occurrence of 21 cases in 1917 hospitalized newborn children. After finding rotavirus in the faeces of several cases we suspected a coincidence. METHODS: We tested the faeces of 19 fifth day fitters as well as 30 healthy newborns (4.-6. day of life) for rotavirus infection. The results of all clinically indicated rotavirus examinations in neonates of 4 to 6 days of age from 1989-1991 were analysed. In 6 rotavirus positive fifth day fitters we performed an immunologic and electron microscopic examination of cerebrospinal fluid. RESULTS: 18 of 19 examined children with fifth day fits (95%) had rotavirus in the faeces. Within the healthy control group we found 12 of 30 (40%, Chi-square 12.46, p < 0.001) and in the group of sick neonates without convulsions 98 of 202 (48.5%, Chi-square 12.44, p < 0.001). This shows a statistically significant coincidence of rotavirus positive faeces with fifth day fits. Rotavirus was not present in cerebrospinal fluid. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest a causal relation between fifth day fits and rotavirus infections. Pathogenetic details remain unclear.

Cerebrospinal Fluid↗
PubMed1992

[Position on the publication of S. Ehrhardt (1990): Setukesen. A population group between Estonians and Russians in southeast Estonia. Homo 40, 159-175. Reflections on responsibility in anthropological works].

The uncommented publication of data on Setukesen people (SE Estonia), which were collected in 1942, by the scientific journal Homo (40, 159-175, 1990) is remarkably unreceptive to discussions within the scientific community at large. Therefore some basic considerations on scientific ethics in anthropology are outlined. Unfortunately Homo has refused to publish this statement which was written on appointment of the advisory board of the German Society of Anthropology and Human Genetics.

Anthropology↗
PubMed1991

Intraepidemic variants of influenza virus H3 hemagglutinin differing in the number of carbohydrate side chains.

During the epidemic outbreak in the region of Greifswald in the winter 1974/75, we found influenza virus variants which showed differences in the electrophoretic mobility of HA. Among the 25 isolates 13 were of slower and 12 of higher mobility. HA1 of 6 isolates was studied by determining the number of the carbohydrate side chains and by direct sequencing of vRNA. Evidence is presented that variants showing a slower electrophoretic mobility of HA1 had consistently acquired a seventh carbohydrate side chain at Asn 126 in epitope A. All the isolates differed from the reference strain A/Port Chalmers/1/73 by the loss of the oligosaccharide at Asn 81. The field strain A/Dresden/3/71 possessed only 5 oligosaccharides in HA1. These results suggest that changes in glycosylation are an important mechanism in the structural variation underlying antigenic drift of HA.

Antigenic Variation↗
PubMed1991

Genetic maps of mouse chromosome 17 including 12 new anonymous DNA loci and 25 anchor loci.

An interspecific backcross between lab mice and Mus spretus was used to construct a multilocus map of Chromosome 17 consisting of 12 new anonymous loci and 9 anchor loci. In addition, 7 anonymous DNA loci were added to the Chr 17 map for the BXD strains. Although we were able to identify readily the most likely gene order in the interspecific backcross, we found no evidence for an unambiguous gene order using the BXD recombinant inbred strains. Comparison of the interspecific backcross map and the BXD RI strain map revealed evidence in the interspecific backcross for a longer total genetic length, enhanced recombination distal to H-2, a segment showing suppressed recombination, and strong interference.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Selective stimulation of CD4+ versus CD8+ T-cell subsets in symptomatic and asymptomatic HIV-1-infected individuals.

To analyze the proliferative capacity of CD4+ or CD8+ T-cell subsets of individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and to optimize the in vitro conditions for virus replication, CD4+ or CD8+ cells of HIV-1-infected patients were selectively activated inside the whole peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PMNC) population by dual antibody stimulation. To do so PMNC of HIV-1-infected individuals were stimulated with the per se nonmitogenic anti-CD3 antibody fragment BMA030 F(ab)2 crosslinked through goat antimouse antibodies with an anti-CD4 or an anti-CD8 antibody, which lead to selective proliferation of either the CD4+ or the CD8+ T-cell subset. In the presence of monocyte supernatant and recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL2) CD4+ cells of HIV-1 patients responded normally upon such stimulation as their proliferation correlated (r = 0.9) to the percentage CD4+ cells present in the PMNC population. Selective stimulation and proliferation of CD8+ cells could, however, only partially be elicited by dual antibody stimulation, even in the presence of rIL-2 and monocyte supernatant. Their proliferative response did not correspond (r = 0.1) to the percentage CD8+ cells present in the PMNC culture. A positive correlation (r = 0.7) was detected only between percentage CD8+ HLA-DR- cells and proliferation. This confirmed previous studies showing that the defective in vitro proliferative response of peripheral blood lymphocytes of HIV-infected individuals to mitogens, which is usually interpreted being due to a CD4 cell defect, is actually due to a failure of CD8+DR+ cells to proliferate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antilymphocyte Serum↗
PubMed1991

Immune response in chlamydial conjunctivitis among neonates and adults with special reference to tear IgA.

Tear and serum samples from 128 neonates and 122 adults with conjunctivitis were examined for antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis with a micro-immunofluorescence (MIF) technique and the results compared to antigen detection by culture, enzyme immunoassay (EIA) (Chlamydiazyme, Abbott) and direct immunofluorescence (IF) (MicroTrak, Syva and Chlamyset, Orion) tests. From the 52 culture-positive adults, chlamydial IgA (titre greater than or equal to 1:8) antibodies were detected in 81% of the tear and in 62% of the serum samples, while 88% had such serum IgG antibodies (titre greater than or equal to 1:32). The persistence of chlamydial IgA in tears and sera was related to the duration of symptoms of conjunctivitis and the antibody titres declined after institution of antibiotic treatment. In the adults, the sensitivity of the MIF tear IgA antibody test (81%) was higher than that of the EIA (71%) and the IF (MicroTrak 71% and Chlamyset 62%) tests. The specificity for the MIF test was 79%, while it was 100% for the EIA and the two IF tests. Of the 67 chlamydia-infected neonates, 36% had chlamydial tear IgA antibodies, while such antibodies were only found in 15% of the sera. No neonates with chlamydia-negative conjunctivitis had chlamydial IgA antibodies. The MIF test may be used as a diagnostic method complementary to culture, EIA and IF tests in the diagnosis of chlamydial conjunctivitis in adults, but is not applicable in neonates.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Further studies on cold adapted variants of human influenza virus A/Krasnodar/101/59 (H2N2) with special reference to genetic stability of attenuation markers.

A previously described cold adapted (ca) attenuated virus, K/25, derived from parent strain A/Krasnodar/101/59 (H2N2), was further modified by 35 additional passages in chick embryos at suboptimal temperature. The virus obtained had retained a distinct ts and ca phenotype and some other markers of attenuation but differed from formerly isolated ca variants by its higher genetic stability connected with an increased growth capacity in chick embryos.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[Bowmaker's disease: an occupational disease in the manufacture of bows for string instruments].

Inhalation of wood dust from the tropical tree Fernambouc (Caesalpinia echinata) in the manufacture of string bows can cause characteristic symptoms (bow-makers disease). To confirm this observation, 177 bow-makers, working in a village near Erlangen (Bavaria), the centre of this manufacture, filled in questionnaires. Of these 36 worked with Fernambouc, 141 with other types of wood. Twelve out of these 36 suffered from dyspnoea, cough, sneezing impulses, tearing and coryza, which would disappear quickly at weekends and during holidays. 14 of those working with other types of wood merely had sneezing, irritation of the mucosa, a few also cough, dyspnoea and tearing. Extracts of Fernambouc splinters were made for serological testing. However, neither experimental sensitization in animals nor skin tests in the twelve gave allergic reactions. A 51-year-old woman with long-standing bronchial asthma developed dyspnoea five minutes after an inhalative provocation test; a prick test brought about slight infiltration. Thus, no evidence of an allergic origin of symptoms from Fernambouc dust inhalation could be elicited.

Asthma↗
PubMed1990

[Not Available].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Economics↗
PubMed1990

Culture, ELISA and immunofluorescence tests for the diagnosis of conjunctivitis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis in neonates and adults.

The relative value of culture, direct specimen antigen detection tests, i.e., enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence (IF) tests in the diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis infection was studied in 125 newborns and 121 adults with signs of conjunctivitis. Eye and nasopharyngeal samples were tested by culture using cycloheximide-treated or irradiated McCoy cells, ELISA (i.e., Chlamydiazyme, Abbott) and IF tests (i.e., Chlamyset, Orion and MicroTrak, Syva). Of the neonates, 70 (35 boys and 35 girls) and 54 (33 males and 21 females) of the adults were positive in one or both eyes in one or more tests: 191 (39%) in cultures, 173 (35%) in ELISA and 160 (33%), 176 (36%) in each of the IF tests. Using culture as standard reference, the sensitivities of ELISA and the IF tests were 88%, 81% and 87%, while the corresponding specificities were 99%, 98% and 97%, respectively. The predictive values for a negative test (PVN) were 93%, 89% and 92% and for a positive test (PVP) 98%, 96% and 94%. Of the 124 cases chlamydia-positive in the eyes, 67 (54%), 76 (61%), 64 (52%) and 70 (57%) were positive in nasopharyngeal samples in one or more of culture, ELISA and the two IF tests, respectively. The sensitivities of ELISA and the IF tests in nasopharyngeal samples were 87%, 78% and 81%, while the corresponding specificities were 90%, 93% and 91%, respectively. The predictive values for a negative (PVN) test were 95%, 92% and 93%, and for a positive test (PVP) 76%, 81%, and 77%. Nasopharyngeal swabs were more often positive in cases with 2 or more weeks' duration of symptoms than in those with shorter duration.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Occurrence of Ureaplasma urealyticus and Mycoplasma hominis in non-gonococcal urethritis before and after treatment in a double-blind trial of ofloxacin versus erythromycin.

The efficacy of ofloxacin, a new quinolone derivate, was tested against that of erythromycin in a prospective double-blind trial in patients with non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) with special reference to the occurrence of Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum. 188 male NGU patients were randomized to treatment with either ofloxacin 200 mg b.i.d. or erythromycin 500 mg b.i.d. for seven days. Before treatment eight (4.3%) patients, five in the erythromycin group and three in the ofloxacin group, were M. hominis positive. At follow-up day 8 and 15 after start of treatment all five in the erythromycin group and two in the ofloxacin group were still positive. U. urealyticum was recovered in 16 patients (8.5%) before treatment. One patient was still positive in the erythromycin group when examined day 15, whereas all patients were negative in the ofloxacin group at both follow-up controls. Clinically, the efficacy of treatment day 15 was 77.4% in the erythromycin group and 84.3% in the ofloxacin group. The difference was not significant. Side-effects occurred in 38.5% in the erythromycin group and in 21.3% in the ofloxacin group. This difference is significant. Ofloxacin is effective in the treatment of NGU in males and is an alternative to conventional antibiotic treatment.

Double-Blind Method↗