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Biomedical subjects

G Ritzel

Publications and source records attributed to G Ritzel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Polymorphism in an HLA linked proteasome gene influences phenotypic expression of disease in HLA-B27 positive individuals.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential influence of the HLA-linked LMP (low molecular weight polypeptide) genes on disease susceptibility in HLA-B27 individuals with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS: A polymorphic CfoI restriction enzyme site in the coding region of one proteasome gene was evaluated in 125 genomic DNA samples from B27 individuals with well documented AS, 55 of whom had had acute iritis, and 42 samples from normal, ethnically matched B27 blood donors where AS was excluded. RESULTS: Analysis of individuals with B27 AS with iritis revealed significant differences in allelic distribution of this biallelic locus compared to patients with B27 AS without iritis. Furthermore, homozygosity for the disease associated allele was significantly more prevalent in patients with AS with iritis (72.7%) than in patients without iritis (38.6%) (p(uncorrected) = 0.0003) or B27 controls (45.2%) (p(uncorrected) = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Our findings support the involvement of additional HLA linked genes in the phenotypic expression of disease in B27 individuals and suggest a role for the non-B27 HLA haplotype in susceptibility to iritis.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Short-term effect of whole milk and milk fermented by Pseudomonas fluorescens on plasma lipids in adult boars.

The short-term effects of whole milk and milk fermented by Pseudomonas fluorescens, of the amino acid composition of the diet and of feeding frequency on the level of plasma lipids, were investigated in six 1-year-old adult boars. The experimental diets contained equal amounts of protein, carbohydrates, fat and cholesterol. After an adaptation period of 5 d for each experimental treatment, blood was collected at regular intervals during 48 h and plasma levels of cholesterol, triacylglycerol, high-density-lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and low-density-lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol were examined. All variables except HDL-cholesterol showed distinct diurnal fluctuations, which were substantially influenced by feeding frequency. Variations in the amino acid composition of the experimental diets, which were within a physiological range, had no effect on the level of plasma lipids. Plasma lipid levels were significantly lower when the animals received the diets containing milk instead of the diet without milk: cholesterol, triacylglycerol, and LDL-cholesterol were reduced by 5.6, 5.8 and 10% respectively (pondered means) while HDL-cholesterol remained unaffected. Fermentation of whole milk by P. fluorescens reduced the lipid-lowering effect. Our findings suggest that the intake of diets containing milk results in a lower plasma cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol level than the intake of diets with a similar nutrient content which do not contain milk.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1989

Intervention study on obese school-aged children.

Obesity is the visible result of a behavioral disease related to eating and drinking habits. Eating and drinking have to be considered as social activities, which means that an obese child cannot be treated separately but only as a part of his family. With respect to our programme, mother and father (usually one of them has some overweight, too) have to be prepared to join a 1-year therapeutic programme. The familial compliance may be strengthened and even guaranteed by the fact that fellow sufferers can be found in the closest circle. The compliance in question is enforced, moreover, because derision on the part of social environment, which results in isolation, brings obese people together. Generally, overweight children and adults try to overcome such difficulties resorting to pleasurable sensation by additional eating. Thus, a vicious circle is formed and sustained. Our behavioral programme takes 1 year. In the beginning those who are willing to participate are accepted into a 'club'. New members enter discussions and their family eating habits are revealed. As overweight people often eat hastily and alone, the programme starts by teaching them how to eat slowly, how to serve themselves (once per meal only) and that they have to take their meals in company. A 3-week camp organized and managed by a team of responsible therapists takes place in the mountains in July/August. The therapeutic team comprises a physician, a psychotherapist, a school psychologist, a home economics teacher, a gymnastics and swimming teacher, and a social worker.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

[Evaluation of 2 school mediator courses on alcohol and tobacco problems. Collective analysis versus group analysis].

Secondary school pupils were trained to serve as mediators on alcohol and tobacco problems in their classes. Evaluation was based on danger in behaviour regarding tobacco and alcohol in their classmates. Classes without any influence of mediators served as controls. Increased knowledge and motivation to abstain from alcohol and tobacco were measured. In this survey the individual dynamics of each class and the teacher's influence interfered with the mediators effect. If these facts are taken into account, such projects may become useful tools in health education.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1986

[Nutrition education in kindergarten: results of an intervention study].

The nutrition intervention in the case of the 3 target groups (children, kindergarten teachers and parents) with regard to knowledge, awareness of nutrition problems, efforts to make changes and the achieved improvement in eating habits met with partial success. Six months after the intervention, this partial success was already in some cases declining, a factor which with an extension of the programme to all kindergartens in the canton of Basel-Stadt will have to be taken into account.

Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗
PubMed1985

[Effect of milk constituents on lipid metabolism].

The cholesterol lowering effect of various milk constituents was examined in six trials with growing pigs. Each trial is described. By means of main component analysis 44 factors were tested in order to see whether they influenced the lipid metabolism. We observed that there was no specific component in the milk which showed a cholesterol lowering effect. Milk and milk constituents change the nutrient composition of the food and can, e.g. by means of the changed amino acid pattern, indirectly lower the lipid content in the blood.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

[Development conditions and development status of 10-year-old children in Basle].

Children from the "Basle Kindergarten Study" (born 1971-73) were re-examined during their 4th year of primary school, i.e. at the age of ten (1981-84) (Follow-up of a representative sample of 10% of all children in the first year of kindergarten). The aim of this study is to analyse differences in physical and psycho-social development of children living in different conditions, particularly between immigrant and Swiss children. First results are discussed.

Child↗
PubMed1984

[Nutritional references in primary-school textbooks used in Basle and Berne].

Since nutrition education is a topic to be introduced into primary teaching this study examines the contents of primary school books of the cantons of Basle and Berne regarding this matter. Direct nutrition education, knowledge on nutrition presented and indirect images of nutritional behaviour as given in the books are analysed. Only few direct contents concerning nutrition education were found and these were not in line with updated theories. Knowledge on food and nutrition is fragmentary (e.g. when the path of a food item into a meal ought to be described). The indirect message is transmitting a traditional, uncritical view, and supportive of sweet consumption. Findings show an urgent need for adaption of primary school books on modern nutritional knowledge.

Books↗
PubMed1981

Food patterns in modern society and their consequences on nutrition.

In conclusion we may state that a borderline vitamin deficiency exists in many population groups as well as in single persons even in industrialized countries. The reason for this fact is mainly the low education which is often associated with a low socioeconomic status and certain food patterns which derive from tradition, emotion or from other reasons not yet well understood. We have proved that the avoidance of pork and whole-wheat bread leads to a borderline vitamin B1 deficiency and the avoidance of citrus fruits, fruits, vegetables, viscera and potatoes to a broderline vitamin C deficiency. On the other hand, preference of meat did not show any adverse effect in respect to the vitamin B6 status. We believe that this kind of studies has to be continued, since the aim of nutritional surveys should consist in improving the nutritional status of the general population or of population groups. Therefore, it should be investigated why in certain population groups poor nutrition exists. Only the answer to this question could help us to combat malnutrition in industrialized countries in the best way.

Adult↗