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Biomedical subjects

H Müller

Publications and source records attributed to H Müller.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Placental lactogen-I (PL-I) target tissues identified with an alkaline phosphatase-PL-I fusion protein.

The rat placenta expresses a family of genes related to prolactin (PRL). Target tissues and physiological roles for many members of the PRL family have yet to be determined. In this investigation we evaluated the use of an alkaline phosphatase (AP) tag for monitoring the behavior of a prototypical member of the PRL family, placental lactogen-I (PL-I). A probe was generated consisting of a fusion protein of human placental AP and rat PL-I (AP-PL-I). The AP-PL-I construct was stably expressed in 293 human fetal kidney cells, as was the unmodified AP vector that served as a control. AP activity was monitored with a colorimetric assay in conditioned medium from transfected cells. Immunoreactivity and PRL-like biological activities of the AP-PL-I fusion protein were demonstrated by immunoblotting and the Nb2 lymphoma cell proliferation assay, respectively. AP-PL-I specifically bound to tissue sections known to express the PRL receptor, including the ovary, liver, and choroid plexus. Binding of AP-PL-I to tissues was specific and could be competed with ovine PRL. The results indicate that AP is an effective tag for monitoring the behavior of PL-I and suggest that this labeling system may also be useful for monitoring the actions of other members of the PRL family.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1998

The evolution of a German teleradiology system.

This paper describes the evolution of a german teleradiology system. The development started from simple image file transfer, continued with a dedicated teleradiology system and ended up with a general radiology workstation with teleradiology features. The main features, advantages and drawbacks of the different generations are described. The own developments are compared with developments at other places. The influence by standards is also included in this investigation. The latest systems are mainly used by the radiologists and the image transfer for scientific cooperation is nowadays just one of several application fields of teleradiology.

Germany↗
PubMed1998

Effect on plasma lipids and lipoproteins of replacing partially hydrogenated fish oil with vegetable fat in margarine.

We have compared the effects on lipoproteins and haemostatic variables of two hard margarines with similar functional properties, one traditional margarine containing partially hydrogenated fish oil (PHFO), and one experimental margarine based on vegetable oil (VO). Both were all-purpose cooking margarines with nearly identical functional properties. Trans fatty acids from PHFO in the traditional margarine were replaced mostly by saturated, monounsaturated and trans fatty acids of vegetable origin in the new formulation. Both test margarines contained approximately the same amount of cis polyunsaturated fatty acids. Sixteen female normolipidaemic students consumed each diet with the two test margarines for 14 d in random order (crossover design). The amount of fat was 31% energy in the PHFO diet and 32% energy in the VO diet. The test margarines provided approximately 26% energy in both diets. In the PHFO diet 7.8% of the energy was derived from trans fatty acids and 9.2% from saturated fatty acids (12:0, 14:0 and 16:0) while in the VO diet, 1.1% energy was derived from trans fatty acids and 13.3% from saturated fatty acids (12:0, 14:0 and 16:0). The natural content of cholesterol in PHFO was deliberately not balanced by addition of cholesterol to the VO diet, thus the PHFO diet contained 215 mg and the VO diet 86 mg cholesterol per 8.5 MJ. LDL-cholesterol concentration was 19% higher in subjects on the PHFO diet compared with the VO diet (P < 0.01). The ratio LDL-cholesterol:HDL-cholesterol was 12.6% higher in subjects on the PHFO diet compared with the VO diet (P < 0.01). The level of apolipoprotein (apo)A-I was 6% lower in subjects on the PHFO diet compared with the VO diet (P < 0.01). The ratio apoB:apoA-I was 10.4% higher in subjects on the PHFO diet than on the VO diet (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triacylglycerols, apoB, lipoprotein(a) and haemostatic variables between the diets. Our results demonstrate that PHFO, with its unfavourable effects on plasma lipids, can be replaced by vegetable oils in margarine without appreciable loss of functional properties but with significant improvement in the effects on plasma lipoproteins.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

The Tim core complex defines the number of mitochondrial translocation contact sites and can hold arrested preproteins in the absence of matrix Hsp70-Tim44.

Preprotein import into mitochondria is mediated by translocases located in the outer and inner membranes (Tom and Tim) and a matrix Hsp70-Tim44 driving system. By blue native electrophoresis, we identify an approximately 90K complex with assembled Tim23 and Tim17 as the core of the inner membrane import site for presequence-containing preproteins. Preproteins spanning the two membranes link virtually all Tim core complexes with one in four Tom complexes in a stable 600K supercomplex. Neither mtHsp70 nor Tim44 are present in stoichiometric amounts in the 600K complex. Preproteins in transit stabilize the Tim core complex, preventing an exchange of subunits. Our studies define a central role for the Tim core complexes in mitochondrial protein import; they are not passive diffusion channels, but can stably interact with preproteins and determine the number of translocation contact sites. We propose the hypothesis that mtHsp70 functions in protein import not only by direct interaction with preproteins, but also by exerting a regulatory effect on the Tim channel.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Subject and informant variables affecting family history diagnoses of depression and dementia.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate subject and informant factors affecting the validity of the family history for dementia and depression. Relatives of patients and control subjects (n = 531) were interviewed directly. At least one 'significant' other provided family history information on every interviewed relative. The detection of dementia or depression based on the family history increased with the severity of the respective disorder. The likelihood of detecting dementia based on the family history increased in proportion to the subject's age. A lifetime diagnosis of depression in the informant improved the detection of this disorder in a relative. The presence of another psychiatric disorder in either the interviewed relative or the informant significantly increased the risk for false-positive diagnoses of depression. The present results demonstrate that family history information on depression and dementia is influenced by different proband and informant variables. On the basis of these results, we cannot recommend reducing thresholds for family history diagnoses.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Disease expression in Swiss hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) kindreds.

The genetics of Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC) has recently been established and found to be associated with DNA mismatch repair deficiency. As the molecular basis of this syndrome does not appear to predict any particular disease, we compared families selected according to the "Amsterdam" criteria (AC) against families that were selected because of an aggregation of colonic and extracolonic malignancies (EC), all of which have been observed in HNPCC families. A comparison of the 2 groups revealed that there were significant differences between them. Age at disease onset for both groups was 20-30 years younger than in the general population; however, a normal age distribution was observed for the AC group whereas for the EC group a bimodal distribution was apparent. The prognosis for both groups together did not differ from that of the general population; however, if split, the AC group had a significantly better outcome than the EC group. Furthermore, dividing the AC group into hMSH2- and hMLH1-linked families revealed that there was no difference in severity of disease between these 2 groups with respect to survival and mean age of disease onset. Both the AC and EC groups displayed a similar tumour spectrum with a virtually identical tumour distribution. A significant finding was the over-representation, of brain tumours in this family set, which comprised the third most common malignancy after endometrial and stomach cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Time-resolved X-ray powder diffraction using a large-area CCD-based detector and Rietveld refinement: solid-state polymerization of S2N2 to (SN)x.

A kinetic study of the solid-state polymerization of disulfur dinitride (S2N2) to polysulfur nitride [(SN)x] has been performed, combining monochromatic high-energy (lambda = 0.3263 A) synchrotron radiation X-ray powder diffraction, a large-area (ø = 220 mm) CCD-based X-ray image-intensifier detector and Rietveld refinement. Recently developed techniques for detector calibration and reduction of two-dimensional images to one-dimensional diffraction patterns have been employed for data processing/analysis. Good fits were obtained after Rietveld refinement [Rp = 8.4%, wRp = 9.4%, sin(theta(max))/lambda = 0.585 A(-1)] of diffraction patterns of S2N2 from images with 2 s exposure time. The solid-state polymerization of S2N2 to (SN)x, was followed at a maximum rate of two diffraction images per minute. Scale factors and cell parameters for S2N2 and beta-(SN), as functions of time were readily obtained after Rietveld refinement of the diffraction patterns obtained from each individual image throughout the polymerization. The polymerization was preceded by a lattice distortion of S2N2, and at 50% conversion the a axis had decreased by about 1% and the c axis had increased about 1%. The polymerization yielded not only the expected polymer beta-(SN)x, but also a small amount of a compound that could be another phase of (SN)x.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning Test: structure of a modified German version.

The Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) is widely used in scientific research as well as in clinical practice. But there exists little research on the structure of the AVLT. We investigated the structure of a German version of the AVLT and VLMT, in 232 patients of a psychiatric clinic and in 872 patients of an epileptologic clinic. First we stated a theoretical LISREL model relating the observed variables of the VLMT to short-term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM) as latent variables. Then we estimated the postulated LISREL model in the two samples. The proposed model showed excellent fit in both samples, and there were no significant deviations between the estimated and the observed covariance matrices. Thus, STM and LTM suffice to explain the structure of the VLMT, and the proposed structural equations model can be used to estimate STM and LTM capacity from VLMT data.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Selection bias during recruitment of elderly subjects from the general population for psychiatric interviews.

The aim of the present study was to determine and assess a possible selection bias in an epidemiologic investigation in the elderly. A stratified sample of 1305 probands aged 60-99 years was initially contacted by mail and then by telephone to obtain their consent to participate in a psychiatric interview. A liberal recruitment procedure led to interview participation of only 291 subjects. The proportion of younger, male, and married subjects participating in the study was greater than that of elderly, female, and single or widowed subjects. Subjects without a psychiatric lifetime diagnosis were more cooperative than those with a psychiatric disorder. The latter finding demonstrates the need to determine and assess the selection bias in psychiatric epidemiologic studies in elderly subjects.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Statistical differentiation between direct and indirect effects of neuroleptics on negative symptoms.

The differentiation between primary and secondary negative symptoms in schizophrenia (Carpenter et al. 1985) is an important issue. Path analysis allows to estimate statistically whether, and in which degree, the effect of a neuroleptic on negative symptoms is mediated by effects on positive, extrapyramidal, and depressive symptoms (Möller et al. 1995). If certain causal relationships are theoretically assumed-as proposed by Carpenter et al. (1985)-then path analysis can be applied to estimate the quantitative degree of these relationships, although the causal directions cannot be inferred from path analysis itself. Especially it can be estimated whether there is sufficient evidence for a "direct effect" of neuroleptic treatment on (primary) negative symptoms, an effect which is not mediated by positive, extrapyramidal, and/or depressive symptoms. We show the correspondence between the applied path model and several simple regression equations which can be estimated with standard statistical software. Moreover, we report some Monte Carlo studies showing that the results reported by Möller et al. (1995)-a "direct effect" of risperidone (6 mg) on negative symptoms compared with haloperidol (20 mg)-cannot be explained by a path model in which, everything else being equal, positive symptoms depend on negative symptoms instead of the other way around.

Antipsychotic Agents↗
PubMed1997

[Unusual Koebner phenomenon in psoriasis caused by varicella and UVB].

An isomorphic response is defined as a nonspecific skin stimulus eliciting a disease-specific skin reaction. We report on the development of the Koebner phenomenon in a 32 year old patient with psoriasis after skin testing with UVB at a dose above 0.055 J/cm2. In addition we describe a 28 years old patient who developed new psoriatic plaques in the areas affected by the virus after a varicella infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Identification of a modifier gene locus on chromosome 1p35-36 in familial adenomatous polyposis.

Phenotypic variability based on nonallelic heterogeneity is a characteristic feature of the dominantly inherited disease, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). A modifying locus, called Mom-1, which strongly influences disease expression has been mapped in the mouse model of FAP to the region of murine chromosome 4, which has synteny to human chromosome 1p35-36. In the present study, this chromosomal region was investigated by using 14 microsatellite markers within a large FAP kindred in which patients harbor the same germ-line mutation but show markedly different disease characteristics. The linkage program MLINK was used to determine whether any correlation exists between these markers and the development of extracolonic symptoms in polyposis coli patients. Depending on the mode of inheritance of the affected locus, a maximum lod score was observed for markers D1S211 and D1S197, reaching 2.08 and 1.77, respectively. The observed values obtained within one large FAP family are supportive of a phenotype-modifying locus within this chromosomal region.

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli↗
PubMed1997

Simple ovarian cysts in premenopausal patients.

OBJECTIVE: To compare clinical, ultrasonographical, and cytological findings with the histopathological diagnosis of unilocular, anechoic smooth-walled cystic ovarian tumors ('simple ovarian cysts'). METHOD: In 140 premenopausal women simple ovarian cysts were removed by laparoscopy following ultrasound evaluation. In this retrospective study the histopathological diagnosis was correlated with clinical data, sonographic characteristics, macroscopic impression and with cytological findings. RESULTS: Histopathology revealed 21 (15.0%) functional cysts, 31 (22.1%) retention cysts, 9 (6.4%) endometriomas, 3 (2.1%) cystic teratomas, 12 (8.6%) undifferentiated cysts and 64 (45.7%) cystadenomas. No mentionable differences were correlated with the patient's age or the size of the cyst as determined by ultrasound. Classically, 'chocolate-like' cystic fluid characterizes endometriomas. However, in the present study cysts with different histopathological classifications exhibited similar fluid characteristics. The cytological diagnosis was correct in only 53 (37.9%) of all 140 cases. CONCLUSION: In premenopausal women differential diagnosis of ovarian cysts is not possible by clinical characterization, either by ultrasound or cytological evaluation. Simple ovarian cysts should be observed for at least 8 weeks or 2 menstrual cycles, respectively. If persisting over that period, the ovarian cyst should be removed by laparoscopy, but not by cyst aspiration.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Experiences with the german teleradiology system MEDICUS.

This paper introduces the teleradiology system, MEDICUS, which has been developed at the Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (German Cancer Research Center) in Heidelberg, Germany. The system is designed to work on ISDN lines as well as in a local area network. The global software architecture is explained in the article. Special attention has been given to the design of the user interface and data security, integrity and authentication. The software has been evaluated in a German field test at 13 radiology departments in university clinics, small hospitals, private practices and research institutes. More than 30 thousand images have been transmitted using this system during a 9 month period. Realized application scenarios are: in-house communication, image and report delivery to referring hospitals, remote reporting, radiotherapy treatment planning and research cooperation. Experience has shown that the system is easy to use and saves time. It obviates the need for patient transport and reduces film costs. Experiences of individuals while using the system during the field test helped define the functionality of the second generation teleradiology system which is even more flexible and is also available as a commercial product.

Computer Communication Networks↗