Biomedical subjects
C Schulte
Publications and source records attributed to C Schulte.
Incidental white-matter foci on MRI in "healthy" subjects: evidence of subtle cognitive dysfunction.
The clinical significance of incidental white-matter foci seen on MRI is controversial. Mainly using a computer-assisted neuropsychological test battery, we tested the hypothesis that there is a clinical correlate of these foci. We studied 41 individuals aged 45-65 years with no history of neurological or psychiatric disorder, in whom no indication of central nervous system abnormalities was found on standardised neurological examination. A computer-assisted neuropsychological test battery, with the advantage of precise measuring of both time and deviation (e.g. in position memory tests), and rating scales for emotional dysfunction were administered; selected soft neurological signs were assessed. In 16 subjects (39%) MRI showed high-signal foci in the white matter on spin-echo sequences. White-matter foci not adjacent to the lateral ventricles were found to be related to performance on immediate visual memory/visuoperceptual skills, visuomotor tracking/psychomotor speed and, to a lesser degree, learning capacity and abstract and conceptual reasoning skills. Subtle cognitive dysfunction would appear to be a clinical correlate of punctate white-matter foci on MRI of otherwise "healty" individuals.
Self-staffing: improving care and staff satisfaction.
A self-staffing system on an infant/toddler unit with widely fluctuating census has resulted in increased staff autonomy, schedule flexibility and nurse satisfaction. Staff agree unanimously that quality of care has improved greatly. In addition, early indications show the potential for significant cost savings.
[Unusual primary cutaneous localized amyloidosis].
The case of a 41-year-old female patient with an unusual type of primary localized cutaneous amyloidosis is reported. Clinical examination revealed lesions typical for macular cutaneous amyloidosis, while histology and histochemistry, in contrast, revealed the presence of nodular amyloidosis of the skin with deposition of lambda light chain amyloid.
Soluble Il-2 receptor serum levels--a marker for disease progression in patients with HIV-1 infection.
Serum levels of soluble Il-2 receptors (sIl-2R) were measured in 88 patients with HIV infection, 28 patients from high-risk groups, and 28 normal donors. Elevated sIl-2R levels were found in 46% of asymptomatic seropositive patients, in 68% of patients with persistent generalized lymphadenopathy, and in 81% of patients with AIDS. Mean sIl-2R values increased with the progression of the disease and were most pronounced in patients with AIDS. A close correlation was found between sIl-2R levels and beta2-microglobulin (p less than 0.0001) and other prognostic parameters known to parallel clinical activity. In addition to being a valuable parameter in monitoring the course of the HIV infection, elevated sIl-2R levels may also be involved in the down-regulation of Il-2-dependent immune functions in AIDS.
[Virus-specific antibody profile in various stages of HIV-1 infection. Western blot analysis of 170 patients].
The western blot analysis of 170 patients with HIV-1-infection demonstrated that 47% of the patients in latent stage, 58% of the patients with lymphadenopathy-syndrome and only 25% of the patients with the full-blown picture of AIDS showed the complete pattern of HIV-specific antibody response. This antibody response is mainly directed against the env-encoded envelope proteins gp160, gp120 and gp41, against the gag-encoded core proteins p55, p24 and p17 as well as against the pol-encoded enzymatic proteins p66, p51 and p31. Antibodies against gp160 and gp120 were present in nearly all patients, whereas the prevalence of the other antibodies decreased with the stage of the disease. Statistical significant differences were found particularly between patients with LAS or AIDS respectively. Antibodies against p17 were detected in 74% of the patients with LAS but only in 25% of the patients with AIDS. The lack of antibodies against p17, p24 or p51 was significantly associated with lower mean CD4/CD8-ratios (p less than 0.007) and higher mean serum levels of IgA (p less than 0.001) and beta-2-microglobulin (p less than 0.001). One third of the patients with LAS and this reduced pattern of antibody response developed AIDS within six months. These results demonstrate that the detection of antibodies against p17, p24 or p51 is of prognostic importance. A serological profile which lacks the antibody response against at least two of those three viral antigens indicates a progression of the disease activity.
[Localized Sweet syndrome in urethro-prostatitis caused by Ureaplasma].
A 36-year-old patient with localized Sweet's syndrome and concomitant Ureaplasma urealyticum infection is presented. In addition to infectious diseases, malignant neoplasms are also associated with this dermatosis.
[Prognostic significance of antibodies to HIV nuclear proteins in patients with the lymphadenopathy syndrome].
A total of 219 sera from HIV-infected patients were tested by a competitive immunoassay for the presence of antibodies to env and core protein. Whereas antibodies to the HIV envelope protein (gp41) were detected in all patients, only 84% of the patients with latent infection, 73% of the patients with LAS and 48% of the patients with AIDS had antibodies to the core protein (p 24). The prognostic importance of the decline of antibody reactivity to HIV core protein was further investigated in patients with lymphadenopathy syndrome or AIDS-related complex and correlated with other serological and immunological parameters. In those patients with no detectable anti-core reactivity, we found more frequently pathological and significantly higher serum levels of beta-2-microglobulin and IgA, but significantly lower numbers of leucocytes and lymphocytes and T4/T8 ratio than in patients with both gp41 env and p24 core antibodies. These results demonstrate that the determination of antibodies to HIV core proteins in sera of HIV-infected patients, especially with lymphadenopathy syndrome or AIDS-related complex, appears to be of great value for monitoring prognosis and disease activity.
[Serological and immunological diagnosis of HIV-1 infection. Studies of 198 infected cases].
Since 1985, a total of 4281 patients at the Department of Dermatology, University of Munich, were tested for HIV-1 antibodies. Using the ELISA test, 273 were found to be positive, of whom 198 were examined clinically. At the time of the first serological test, 76 of these 198 patients (38.4%) had no clinical symptoms, 98 (49.5%) had a lymphadenopathy syndrome, and 29 had the full-blown picture of AIDS (12.1%). The following additional tests were performed on the 198 patients: antibodies against virus envelope and core proteins, concentration of serum immunoglobulins G, A and M and beta 2-microglobulin, absolute leukocyte and lymphocyte counts, T4/T8 ratio, and intracutaneous cellular immune reaction. Antibodies against virus envelope proteins were present in all the patients. Antibodies against virus core proteins were present in 82% of patients in the latent stage, 64% of patients with the lymphadenopathy syndrome, but only 45% of those with AIDS. Clearcut deviations within the three groups were also present with respect to serum levels of IgG and beta 2-microglobulins, as well as the T4/T8 ratio and the intracutaneous reaction against recall-antigens.
Photodynamic action of uroporphyrin on the complement system in porphyria cutanea tarda.
We investigated the effect of UV light (320-460 nm) on total hemolytic CH50 activity and C3 cleavage in sera obtained from 14 patients with porphyria cutanea tarda. Irradiation with 5, 10, or 50 J/cm2 resulted in a 12%-60% loss of CH50 and a 5%-30% cleavage of native C3 as estimated by planimetric evaluation of the immunoelectrophoretic C3 pattern. The complement changes were most pronounced in sera from patients with active disease and were minimal or absent in patients who were in remission. In all cases, the decrease of CH50 and C3 cleavage was proportional to the plasma-porphyrin concentration and the dose of radiation. After exposure to 320- to 460-nm light, similar changes were seen in normal human serum (NHS) to which exogenous uroporphyrin had been added. Beta-carotene and chloroquine had no inhibitory effect on the photodynamic complement activation. The C3 cleavage in irradiated NHS containing uroporphyrin was not affected by 10 mM EGTA, but was partially inhibited in the presence of 30 mM EDTA, thus indicating that the interaction of photoexcited uroporphyrin with the complement system differs from classical-pathway complement activation.
The characterisation of a fragment of ribosomal protein S4 that is protected against trypsin digestion by 16S ribosomal RNA of Escherichia coli.
After mild trypsin treatment of a complex of ribosomal protein S4 and 16S RNA of Escherichia coli, a large homogeneous fragment of the S4 protein was protected against digestion by its RNA binding site. This fragment was isolated and characterised for molecular weight. It was able to rebind specifically to 16S RNA. Preliminary results indicate that protected protein fragments can also be obtained from other proteins that complex specifically with 23S and 5S RNA.
The release of proteins and 5S RNA during the unfolding of Escherichia coli ribosomes.
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Protein-ribonucleic acid interactions in Escherichia coli ribosomes. Solution studies on S4-16S ribonucleic acid and L24-23S ribonucleic acid binding.
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Optimal conditions for the interaction of ribosomal protein S8 and 16S RNA and studies on the reaction mechanism.
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[Electron microscopic surface prints and their dissolution capacity].
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