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Biomedical subjects

C Carstens

Publications and source records attributed to C Carstens.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Sequence divergence of measles virus haemagglutinin during natural evolution and adaptation to cell culture.

Phylogenetic analysis of the sequence of the H gene of 75 measles virus (MV) strains (32 published and 43 new sequences) was carried out. The lineage groups described from comparison of the nucleotide sequences encoding the C-terminal regions of the N protein of MV were the same as those derived from the H gene sequences in almost all cases. The databases document a number of distinct genotype switches that have occurred in Madrid (Spain). Well-documented is the complete replacement of lineage group C2, the common European genotype at that time, with that of group D3 around the autumn of 1993. No further isolations of group C2 took place in Madrid after this time. The rate of mutation of the H gene sequences of MV genotype D3 circulating in Madrid from 1993 to 1996 was very low (5 x 10(-4) per annum for a given nucleotide position). This is an order of magnitude lower than the rates of mutation observed in the HN genes of human influenza A viruses. The ratio of expressed over silent mutations indicated that the divergence was not driven by immune selection in this gene. Variations in amino acid 117 of the H protein (F or L) may be related to the ability of some strains to haemagglutinate only in the presence of salt. Adaptation of MV to different primate cell types was associated with very small numbers of mutations in the H gene. The changes could not be predicted when virus previously grown in human B cell lines was adapted to monkey Vero cells. In contrast, rodent brain-adapted viruses displayed a lot of amino acid sequence variation from normal MV strains. There was no convincing evidence for recombination between MV genotypes.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Development of pathological lumbar kyphosis in myelomeningocele.

We analysed the cases of lumbar kyphosis in 151 (21%) of a series of 719 patients with myelomeningocele. Three different types were distinguished: paralytic, sharp-angled and congenital. In a cross-sectional and partly longitudinal study the size and magnitude of the kyphosis, the apex of the curve and the level of paralysis of each group were recorded and statistically analysed. Paralytic kyphosis (less than 90 degrees at birth) occurred in 44.4% and increased linearly during further development. Sharp-angled kyphosis (90 degrees or more at birth) was present in 38.4% and also showed a linear progression. In both types, progression seemed to depend also on the level of paralysis. Congenital kyphosis occurred in 13.9% and we could find no significant factor which correlated with progression.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗
PubMed1996

Late results after subtrochanteric angulation osteotomy in young patients.

Young patients with painful congenital dislocation of the hips need surgery if conservative treatment is unsuccessful. A total of 24 patients after 28 subtrochanteric angulation osteotomies without resection of the femoral head were followed up (mean, 17 years) to evaluate long-term results. Most patients maintain improved function: 20 hips showed persistent gain of abduction, 14 patients showed improvement of gait, and 18 patients described less pain. The degree of angulation must equal the inclination of the pelvic wall to influence hip stability as well as hip range of motion. Osseous reactions of support-seen in 10 hips-are not proof of operative success. Angulation osteotomy does not exclude later surgical procedures such as total hip replacement.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Intense gallbladder uptake associated with chemotherapy. An unusual finding in pediatric skeletal scintigraphy.

Focal and diffuse hepatic uptake of bone-seeking radiopharmaceuticals may be due to a variety of conditions including tumors and radiopharmaceutical impurity. However, uptake in the gallbladder is unusual with currently used skeletal agents. Three patients (aged 10, 15, and 16 years) underwent routine whole-body bone scans during a course of intensive chemotherapy with VP-16 and ifosphamide. Images showed intense gallbladder and faint liver uptake. No patient had symptoms of cholecystitis. Radiopharmaceutical quality control revealed no impurities. Repeat bone scans after completion of chemotherapy showed no liver or gallbladder uptake. The authors conclude that this finding represents altered distribution induced by the chemotherapy regimen, and should not be misinterpreted as intrinsic liver or gallbladder disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Demonstration of virus-specific CD8+ memory T cells in measles-seropositive individuals by in vitro peptide stimulation.

CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in measles virus infection have been difficult to investigate due to the strong immunosuppressive effects exhibited by infectious measles virus in vitro. In order to circumvent immunosuppression we used predicted peptide epitopes to induce measles virus-specific CTL. This was done by screening the structural proteins of measles virus for HLA-A2.1 peptide-binding motifs with valine in position 2 and leucine in position 9. Synthetic peptides np210-218, np226-234, and np340-348 from the nucleoprotein, peptide hp29-37 from the haemagglutinin protein, and peptide pp 519-527 from the polymerase protein were synthesized and used to expand measles virus-specific CD8+ CTL in vitro. Induction of CTL with synthetic peptides was restricted to HLA-A2-positive peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from measles-seropositive individuals. We conclude that this method is a useful tool to demonstrate memory CD8+ CTL in measles-seropositive adults and to evaluate the role of structural proteins in CTL responses against measles.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[The current status of prenatal diagnosis of myelomeningocele--results of a questionnaire].

Questionnaires were sent to 1000 parents of children with myelomeningocele in order to get a better knowledge of the present state of prenatal diagnosis of this disease. 566 parents answered; 488 responders, in whom the pregnancy took place 1982 and later, were evaluated in detail. 85% of the parents reported having been checked by ultrasound 2 times and more during pregnancy: however, only 27% of the myelomeningoceles were detected before delivery. 83% were diagnosed between the 30th and 40th week of pregnancy. The rate of discovery rose from 0% and 37% between 1982 and 1990. As a consequence of this result, one should make every effort by using ultrasound and alpha-foetoprotein-screening to verify or to exclude a myelomeningocele in an early phase of pregnancy. The delivery should take place in a specialised centre, and the knowledge of life expectancy and life quality of these patients should be improved, for the obstetricians as well as for the parents.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1992

[Myelomeningocele--what can be done? Aids for evaluating rehabilitation from the orthopedic viewpoint].

Shortly before or shortly after the delivery of a child suffering from congenital paraplegia (myelomeningocele or spina bifida) the obstetrician is obliged to give advice as to what will follow after neurosurgical closure of the cele and shunting of the hydrocephalus. The parents' understanding of therapy and integration of the patient is developed to assess and utilise the future chances of the disabled child. Integration of children with congenital paraplegia is performed by an interdisciplinary team of therapists. However, the obstetrician's advice is of great value in preparing the parents for their decision for or against total care post partum. They must in fact be fully aware of the chances, that the disabled child actually has with regard to integration in life, and of what can be done in this respect. Besides the neurological, paediatric and urological care, it is the task of the orthopaedist to preserve or even to improve verticalization and mobility in paraplegic patients. In this manner he exercises an influence on the quality of life of the disabled children and on their social integration. Improvement and further development of physiological orthoses for walking enable even children suffering from a thoracic level of paralysis to walk independently and to achieve integration into society. Orthopaedic aspects of integration must be part of the information given to the parents by the obstetrician, so that they may be able to assess in what way their disabled children can participate in the future at various levels of everyday life.

Child↗
PubMed1992

Aortography in children with myelomeningocele and lumbar kyphosis.

In 21 children with myelomeningocele who underwent kyphectomy for congenital kyphosis of the lumbar spine, aortography revealed no case in which the aorta followed the spinal curvature. Many anomalies of the intercostal and segmental arteries were demonstrated which were only in part associated with deformities of the respective vertebral bodies. The kidneys, which were frequently malformed, often lay within the kyphosis and were therefore at risk of operative damage. We conclude that the aorta is not at risk and that aortography is not usually necessary before kyphectomy, except in patients who have undergone prior abdominal surgery. Non-invasive methods (ultrasound, CT or MRI) should be used to detect malpositions and malformations of the kidneys.

Aorta, Abdominal↗
PubMed1991

The stump capping procedure to prevent or treat terminal osseous overgrowth.

Terminal overgrowth in transverse deficiencies and in amputations, particularly of the humerus and tibia necessitate serial trimming procedures or re-amputation. Capping using an autogenous bone graft or a titanium and polyethylene endoprosthetic cap provides a satisfactory way of avoiding these re-amputations and allowing end-bearing.

Amputation, Surgical↗
PubMed1991

Results of orthotic treatment in children with myelomeningocele.

The level of paralysis in children with myelomeningocele is not necessarily the only factor determining whether they will be able to walk. If children, even with a high level of paralysis, have an appropriate motivation to walk they should be enabled to do so by surgically correcting their hip and knee flexion contraction and/or high degree of scoliosis. 106 children with spina bifida were provided with walking orthosis and were examined concerning their walking speed, walking distance, stepping distance, and how long they used their orthosis. We found that hip and knee flexion contraction as well as scoliosis substantially influenced their mobility. Therefore those handicaps should be surgically corrected if patients show an appropriate motivation to walk.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Stability of the Millon Adolescent Personality Inventory in an incarcerated delinquent population.

Clinical use of the Millon Adolescent Personality Inventory (MAPI) depends on computerized interpretation of the pattern of scale score elevations in the profile beyond certain cutoff scores rather than the elevations of single scales. There has been no reported work on the stability of the scale scores or the stability of the 2-point codes in a delinquent population. The MAPI was administered to 46 incarcerated male juvenile delinquents and was readministered after a period of 2 to 4 weeks. The test-retest correlations of the base-rate scale scores ranged from .33 to .89 with a mean of .74, which compare favorably to Millon's (1982) standardization sample. However, only 41% of the 2-point codes were judged to be congruent between administrations. The poor congruence of the 2-point codes across administrations raises doubts about interpretive statements based on these codes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Human KRAS oncogene expression in meningioma.

Expression of 16 oncogenes was investigated in a series of human meningiomas showing a normal chromosome complement or the characteristic monosomy 22 but no structural aberrations detectable by banding analysis. By dot hybridization, the only expressed sequence detected was KRAS. The expression was elevated approximately 6--8-fold in comparison to matrix tissue (meninges) and to fibroblasts of the corresponding patient. Northern blot analysis displayed the typical banding pattern and an 8--10-fold overexpression. DNA analysis did not reveal gene amplification or major rearrangements in the KRAS gene structure.

Blotting, Northern↗
PubMed1988

[Surgical therapy of severe knee flexion and hip flexion contractures in caudal regression syndrome].

In severe cases of caudal-regression syndrome one usually can find hip-flexion and knee-flexion-contractures, which can hardly be treated. We report about a new possibility of operative treatment. In this case we correct the contractures with a shortening of the proximal part of the femur and with a resection-arthrodesis of the knee-joint. The clinical result, which we obtained by this way, allows the orthotic management with an orthoprosthesis. The maintaining mobility of the hip joint and the sitting-comfort is very sufficient.

Braces↗
PubMed1988

[Pediatric traumatic hip joint dislocation--overview of the topic based on 9 personal, previously unpublished cases].

We report on 8 patients with 9 traumatic hip dislocations in childhood. The follow-up period was between 1 and 21 years. The majority of these rare injuries were caused by major, sometimes, however, by minor trauma. The best prognosis is given by an immediately performed closed reduction in the absence of bony injuries. Five of our patients had associated bony injuries (fractures of the femoral shaft, acetabular fractures). Two of our patients developed an avascular necrosis of the femoral head which needed further surgery; in one case we found a premature closure of the proximal femoral epiphyseal plate, a fourth patient developed premature osteoarthritis due to a concomitant acetabular fracture. Clinical and radiological examination of all other patients showed no residues of the former injury.

Acetabulum↗
PubMed1987

Enhanced expression of four cellular oncogenes in a human glioblastoma cell line.

Examination of a human glioblastoma cell line displaying a relatively stable karyotype and absence of both copies of chromosome #13 (HeRo) as well as of a SV-40 transformed subline (HeRo-SV) using analysis on the DNA and RNA level showed that both cell lines express high levels of abl, erb B, myc, and Ha-ras mRNA. Neither gene amplification nor gene rearrangement at the loci concerned nor abnormal transcription account for this activation of expression. The possible influence of the deleted sequences in the context of a suppressor gene hypothesis is discussed.

Cell Line↗