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Biomedical subjects

H Müller

Publications and source records attributed to H Müller.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Differential validity of informant-based diagnoses of dementia and depression in index subjects and in their first-degree relatives.

There is no study indicating that informant-derived information on dementia and depression (i.e. family history information) is equivalently valid for first-degree relatives and for index subjects (i.e. patients and control subjects). However, this unproven assumption is the basis for the frequent, possibly inappropriate, use of instruments validated for patients and control subjects in family studies which focus on frequencies of psychiatric disorders in first-degree relatives. Consequently, there is a need to compare the validity of family history information for both disorders in index subjects and their first-degree relatives. Validity was assessed by comparison of family history information for dementia and depression with interview-derived diagnoses in 75 index subjects and 195 age-matched first-degree relatives. The validity of informant-derived information varied for different disorders, i.e. dementia and depression, and different samples, i.e. index subjects and first-degree relatives. In agreement with the study hypothesis, the sensitivity of surrogate information on dementia was significantly reduced in first-degree relatives in comparison with index subjects. In contrast, the sensitivity to detect depression was equivalent in subjects and in relatives. The results indicate the necessity to assess the validity of the psychiatric diagnoses of interest in the sample of interest, e.g. dementia or depression in first-degree relatives of patients and of control subjects. Observations in selected samples, i.e. subjects treated, hospitalised and/or autopsied, cannot be generalised to first-degree relatives in family studies.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Intramyocardial electrograms for non-invasive rejection monitoring: initial experience with an infection-specific parameter.

Non-invasive rejection monitoring based on the analysis of paced intramyocardial electrograms enables repeated or even daily graft surveillance. The rejection-sensitive parameter is calculated from the maximum slope of the descending part of the t wave. Biopsy-proven rejection grade 2 or higher (ISHLT classification) can safely be detected. Nevertheless, infection influences the rejection-sensitive parameter in the same manner as does rejection (99% negative predictive value for rejection grade 2 or higher, 17% positive predictive value). We defined the infection-specific parameter as the time on the O line between the pacemaker stimulus and the crossover with the maximum slope of the descending part of the t wave. Patients were classified prospectively according to infection status: patients without infection and those with clinically apparent infection. Patients with clinically apparent infections had a significantly longer infection-specific parameter. A simultaneous decrease of the rejection-sensitive parameter and an increase in the infection-specific parameter was observed during clinical infection: a decrease in the rejection-sensitive parameter and no changes in the infection-specific parameter were observed during rejection. This preliminary analysis revealed that discrimination of rejection and infection might be possible by the analysis of intramyocardial electrograms.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1998

[Regulation of energy balance and body weight during isoenergetic carbohydrate and fat supply in a long-term study in sows].

A respiration trial was conducted in 14 adult sows to investigate the energetic effects of a high carbohydrate and a high fat diet over a period of 21 weeks. The basal ration was mainly based on barley and soybean meal and covered 60% of the maintenance requirement for energy. The addition of starch (50% wheat starch, 50% maize starch) or fats (25% lard, 25% soybean oil, 50% olive oil) was 173 kJ/kgW0.75. All rations were calculated with reference to the initial weight of the sows and remained constant throughout the experiment. The animals were fed twice daily. Feces and urine were collected during the first and last part of the experiment over six days each. Forty eight hour measurements of the gas exchange were recorded five times in the course of the trial. Energy balances were calculated using an indirect calorimetry technique (RQ method) as well as the carbon nitrogen balance technique. All components of the energy balance (feces energy, urine energy, metabolizable energy, energy retention) showed no significant difference between the two treatments. The heat production of the animals was 413 +/- 31 with the starch diet and 412 +/- 36 kJ/kg W0.75 when the fat diet was fed. The mean weekly body weights of both treatment groups coincided in all phases of the experiment. Calculation of nutrient oxidation performed for diets and for animal metabolism revealed that only the carbohydrate balance was achieved, whereas the fat balance showed unrealistic results. The sensitivity of the nutrient balance method to measurement errors of the gas exchange has been discussed. The current results indicate that an equal supply of starch or fat energy acts identically in the long-term on body weight regulation and energy balance when overfeeding is not present.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1998

Interinformant reliability of family history information on psychiatric disorders in relatives.

Knowledge on the reliability of family history information is essential for every family study. However, systematic analyses of interinformant reliability of family history information on individual relatives have not yet been published. Consequently, family history information on 1306 first-degree relatives and spouses of patients and of control subjects was collected from at least two other family members using questionnaires. Interinformant reliability was acceptable for dementia [Kappa = 0.58, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.48-0.68], but less so for alcoholism (Kappa = 0.41, CI = 0.23-0.59), depression (Kappa = 0.26, CI = 0.14-0.38) and anxiety disorders (Kappa = 0.19, CI = 0.05-0.43). Demographic variables of subjects and informants and their familial relationship did not influence diagnostic agreement on the diagnosis of dementia. Diagnostic agreement on depression was significantly reduced when information from siblings of index subjects was compared with information from spouses of index subjects. The interinformant agreement for the diagnosis of depression was higher in younger than in older subjects (relative risk for disagreement 1.08/additional year, CI = 1.02-1.15). Siblings of index subjects seem to provide different, but not necessarily less relevant, family history information in comparison with other relatives. Researchers should be aware of the problem that depression in the elderly can be easily missed by family history. It seems more important for the diagnosis of depression than for a diagnosis of dementia to get information from multiple informants.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Avian polymavirus in wild birds: genome analysis of isolates from Falconiformes and Psittaciformes.

Avian polyomavirus (APV) infections have been reported to cause fatal disease in a wide range of psittacine species. Here we demonstrate APV infections in buzzards (Buteo buteo) and in a falcon (Falco tinnunculus) found dead in Germany, and in lovebirds (Agapornis pullaria) with fatal disease, wild-caught in Moçambique. APV infection in buzzards was determined by PCR amplification of parts of the viral genome followed by Southern blot hybridisation. The genomes of the isolates obtained from the falcon and one of the lovebirds proved to be very closely related to those of Budgerigar Fledgling Disease Virus (BFDV)-1, BFDV-2 and BFDV-3, isolated from budgerigar, chicken, and parakeet, respectively. A consensus sequence was delineated from the known nucleotide sequences of APV isolates. The significance of some nucleotide changes is discussed. Infectivity of all of these isolates was neutralized by antibodies directed against BFDV-1. Data presented in this investigation show that the polyomavirus isolates obtained from different avian species so far all belong to one genotype and one serotype within the proposed subgenus Avipolyomavirus of the family Papovaviridae. The designation Budgerigar Fledgling Disease Virus (BFDV) is, therefore, misleading as this virus type infects different species of birds. The name Avian Polymavirus and the abreviation APV should be adopted to all of the isolates investigated in detail at present. The possible role of birds of passage in the epidemiology in APV infections is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Replacement of partially hydrogenated soybean oil by palm oil in margarine without unfavorable effects on serum lipoproteins.

We have compared the effects of three different margarines, one based on palm oil (PALM-margarine), one based on partially hydrogenated soybean oil (TRANS-margarine) and one with a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA-margarine), on serum lipids in 27 young women. The main purpose of the study was to test if replacement of trans fatty acids in margarine by palmitic acid results in unfavorable effects on serum lipids. The sum of saturated fatty acids (12:0, 14:0, 16:0) was 36.3% of total fatty acids in the PALM-diet, the same as the sum of saturated (12:0, 14:0, 16:0) (12.5%) and trans (23.1%) fatty acids in the TRANS-diet. This sum was 20.7% in the PUFA-diet. The content of oleic acid was 37.9, 35.2, and 38.6%, respectively, in the three diets, whereas linoleic acid amounted to 16, 13.5, and 27.3%, respectively. Total fat provided 30-31% and the test margarines 26% of total energy in all three diets. The subjects consumed each of the diets for 17 d in a Latin-square crossover design. There were no significant differences in total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol and apolipoprotein B (apoB) between the TRANS- and the PALM-diets. High density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and apoA-1 were significantly higher on the PALM-diet compared to the TRANS-diet whereas the ratio of LDL-cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol was lower, although not significantly (P = 0.077) on the PALM-diet. Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and apoB were significantly lower on the PUFA-diet compared to the two other diets. HDL-cholesterol was not different on the PALM- and the PUFA-diets but it was significantly lower on the TRANS-diet compared to the PUFA diet. Compared to the PUFA-diet the ratio of LDL- to HDL-cholesterol was higher on both the PALM- and the TRANS-diets whereas apoA-1 was not different. Triglycerides and lipoprotein (a) were not significantly different among the three diets. We concluded that nutritionally, palmitic acid from palm oil may be a reasonable alternative to trans fatty acids from partially hydrogenated soybean oil in margarine if the aim is to avoid trans fatty acids. A palm oil-based margarine is, however, less favorable than one based on a more polyunsaturated vegetable oil.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Methodological problems in the estimation of the onset of the antidepressant effect.

The onset of activity of antidepressants is an aspect of their efficacy which is of practical as well as theoretical importance. Using MEDLINE a review of the literature published since 1975 was carried out in order to find out if a specific pattern can be observed. The authors point out what problems are most often encountered and illustrate the most common pitfalls. In the absence of a straightforward onset estimation, indirect arguments prevail which have several shortcomings. Methodological problems make it impossible to draw a clear conclusion.

Antidepressive Agents↗
PubMed1998

Rapid preparation of plasma membranes from avian lymphoid cells and fibroblasts for virus binding studies.

A simple and rapid protocol for the preparation of plasma membranes from chicken embryo fibroblasts and chicken lymphoid cells was developed. Characterization of the preparations by morphological, biochemical and serological methods indicated the specific enrichment of the plasma membranes as well as cell surface proteins. Binding of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) particles was demonstrated after immobilization of the plasma membranes, and cell type-specific differences were observed. Although the results of these studies reflect the interaction between IBDV and isolated cells only partially, the advantages of these plasma membrane preparations, the specific enrichment of cell surface proteins, their constant quality and the possibility to store aliquots over several months, make them a useful tool for virus binding studies with avian cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

The German teleradiology system MEDICUS: system description and experiences in a German field test.

MEDICUS is a teleradiology system which has been developed in a joint project of the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum) and the Transfer Center Medical Informatics (Steinbeis-Transferzentrum Medizinische Informatik) in Heidelberg, Germany. The system is designed to work on ISDN lines as well as in a local area network. Special attention has been given to the design of the user interface and data security, integrity, and authentication. The software is in use in 13 radiology departments in university clinics, small hospitals, private practices, and research institutes. More than 25 thousand images have been processed in 6 months. The system is in use in six different application scenarios. MEDICUS is running under the UNIX operating system. The connection of the modalities could in most cases not be realized with the DICOM protocol as older machines were not equipped with this standard protocol. Clinical experiences show that the MEDICUS system provides a very high degree of functionality. The system has an efficient and user friendly graphical user interface. The result of a comparison with other systems shows that MEDICUS is currently the best known teleradiology system. Cost reductions are already obvious, but additional research has to be performed in this field. An even more powerful commercial successor is currently under construction at the Steinbeis-Transferzentrum Medizinische Informatik in Heidelberg.

Ambulatory Care Facilities↗
PubMed1998

Activated and non-activated eosinophils in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.

Nasal polyps develop out of an oedematous swelling of the mucous membrane, which is probably a localized mediator-dependent reaction of the mucous membrane in the lamina propria. Among other things, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) is released from activated eosinophils. In previous studies, ECP was considered as measuring the degree of allergic dermatological illnesses and therapy was given accordingly. A group of 54 patients with massive polyposis requiring functional endoscopic sinus surgery was examined. After surgery they were treated with local and systemic cortisone. Polypous tissue samples were collected and counted for the number and ratio of activated and non-activated eosinophils, and the serum titre of ECP was measured simultaneously using a fluoroimmunoassay (test kit, Kabi Pharmacia, Sweden). The aim of the study was to evaluate the activity of the disease and to gain hints for a specific therapy. The presence of these eosinophils was demonstrated by immunohistochemical methods, using EG1 antibodies against non-activated and EG2 antibodies against activated (i.e. secreted form of ECP) eosinophils. Depending on the duration of treatment with systemic and local corticosteroids, there was a considerable decrease in activated eosinophils and the level of serum ECP. Consequently, cortisone can be applied in the treatment of eosinophilic nasal polyps. As the number of activated eosinophils in the tissue is an indicator for the activity of the chronic inflammation it can be deduced from our study that local and/or systemic cortisone application successfully stops the growth of eosinophilic nasal polyps. The number and ratio of activated and non-activated eosinophils seem to be reliable indicators for the activity of chronic polyposis.

Blood Proteins↗
PubMed1998

Homologues for prolactin-like proteins A and B are present in the mouse.

The prolactin (PRL) family consists of a collection of proteins expressed in the uterus, placenta, and anterior pituitary. These cytokines/hormones are hypothesized to control maternal-fetal adaptations to pregnancy. Establishment of mouse models for members of the PRL family expands the experimental repertoire available for investigations on their biological activities. In this report, we establish the presence of mouse homologues for two rat members, PRL-like protein-A (PLP-A) and PLP-B. We present data on their cDNAs and describe aspects of their expression in uteroplacental tissues. A mouse genomic DNA fragment was found to hybridize with a rat PLP-A cDNA. Perusal of the National Center for Biotechnology Information dbEST database resulted in the identification of several putative mouse PLP-A cDNAs and a single putative mouse PLP-B cDNA. The cDNAs were obtained from the IMAGE consortium and Research Genetics and sequenced, and their corresponding mRNAs and proteins were characterized. Overall, mouse PLP-A and PLP-B showed considerable similarities with rat PLP-A and PLP-B in both structure and expression. PLP-A was expressed in both trophoblast giant cells and spongiotrophoblast cells, whereas PLP-B was expressed in decidual and spongiotrophoblast cells. However, some notable exceptions were evident. Mouse PLP-A contained a single putative N-linked glycosylation site and consisted of a single 29-kDa protein species, whereas rat PLP-A contained two putative N-linked glycosylation sites and consisted of two protein species, of 29 and 33 kDa. Subtle differences in the expression patterns in the mouse and rat are also apparent. In summary, we have established the presence of PLP-A and PLP-B in the mouse. The findings expand our knowledge of these two cytokines/hormones and provide additional strategies for studying their function.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

A three-generation model for teleradiology.

This paper proceeds from the definition of teleradiology. It identifies three different generations of teleradiology systems and includes those systems that are not regarded as teleradiology systems by the authors. A list of requirements pertinent to users of first-generation teleradiology systems is introduced. Most of the requirements have been realized in a new generation teleradiology system called CHILI.

Computer Simulation↗
PubMed1998

Intramyocardial electrogram variability in the monitoring of graft rejection after heart transplantation.

The ventricular evoked response is a well-standardized electrophysiological signal that can be used for noninvasive, long-term cardiac transplant monitoring. Rejection-sensitive and infection-specific parameters extracted from intramyocardial electrograms correlate with clinical results. The influences of pacing rate, transition from intrinsic to paced rhythm and positional changes on the diagnostic parameters were studied. Increasing the pacing rate shortened the ventricular evoked response and directly influenced the infection specific parameter. The rejection-sensitive parameter remained stable at pacing rates between 100 and 120 beats/min. Measurements made immediately after the patient assumed a supine position and after switching to paced rhythm showed a decrease in the rejection-sensitive parameter. A change in position from supine to upright did not influence the rejection-sensitive parameter, but higher values were measured after returning to the supine position. In conclusion, noninvasive recordings of the ventricular evoked response for monitoring of cardiac allograft should be done at the same time of day, at the same pacing rate, and with the patient resting for at least 5 minutes before measurements are made.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Preprotein translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane: molecular dissection and assembly of the general import pore complex.

The preprotein translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane (Tom) is a multisubunit machinery containing receptors and a general import pore (GIP). We have analyzed the molecular architecture of the Tom machinery. The receptor Tom22 stably associates with Tom40, the main component of the GIP, in a complex with a molecular weight of approximately 400,000 ( approximately 400K), while the other receptors, Tom20 and Tom70, are more loosely associated with this GIP complex and can be found in distinct subcomplexes. A yeast mutant lacking both Tom20 and Tom70 can still form the GIP complex when sufficient amounts of Tom22 are synthesized. Besides the essential proteins Tom22 and Tom40, the GIP complex contains three small subunits, Tom5, Tom6, and Tom7. In mutant mitochondria lacking Tom6, the interaction between Tom22 and Tom40 is destabilized, leading to the dissociation of Tom22 and the generation of a subcomplex of approximately 100K containing Tom40, Tom7, and Tom5. Tom6 is required to promote but not to maintain a stable association between Tom22 and Tom40. The following conclusions are suggested. (i) The GIP complex, containing Tom40, Tom22, and three small Tom proteins, forms the central unit of the outer membrane import machinery. (ii) Tom20 and Tom70 are not essential for the generation of the GIP complex. (iii) Tom6 functions as an assembly factor for Tom22, promoting its stable association with Tom40.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1998

Phenotypic differences in familial adenomatous polyposis based on APC gene mutation status.

BACKGROUND: Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a clinically well defined hereditary disease caused by germline mutations within the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene. Although several techniques are applied in the mutation analysis of FAP kindreds about 20-50% of cases remain unclear, with no APC mutation identified (APC negative). AIMS: To delineate phenotypic differences between APC positive and APC negative patients with respect to colonic and extracolonic disease in order to determine whether additional mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of FAP. METHODS: The entire coding region of the APC gene was analysed using single stranded conformation polymorphism and protein truncation tests in 50 Swiss FAP families with a total of 161 affected individuals. Differences in phenotypic manifestation were statistically evaluated by Student's t test, Fisher's exact test, and chi2 test. RESULTS: Thirty six families (72%) were APC positive. Statistically significant differences between APC positive and APC negative groups were found for the mean age at diagnosis of colonic polyposis (35.2 versus 45.3 years, respectively) and for the occurrence of stomach polyps (14 patients, all APC positive). Additionally, APC negative patients displayed lower polyp numbers at diagnosis and less extracolonic manifestations. CONCLUSIONS: FAP kindreds without detected APC gene mutations present with a notably milder disease phenotype compared with APC positive families, suggesting that different genetic factors might be involved.

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli↗