Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to H Sommer.
We examined the vaginal acidity and vaginal status in 225 patients which were treated for a malignant tumor. We found the vaginal pH related to hormonal status, hormonal substitution, age and sexual activity. The vaginal pH could be reduced by estrogen-substitution, but local application of estriol has only a short effect. The determination of vaginal pH is a practically method to control the vaginal homoeostasis.
To compare the career profiles of thoroughbred racehorses in Germany in different decades all horses which raced for the last time in the years 1966/67, 1976/77 and 1986/87 were selected from the annual report of the German Thoroughbred Racing Association. The number of racing horses increased within decades while the percentage of the horses which raced for the last time was equal in all years. It amounted yearly to about 30%. Most of the horses finished racing at three and four years of age. In 1966, 1967, 1976 and 1977 more than 50% of the horses began their career at the age of two years, while in 1986 and 1987 the rate was below 50%. The duration of the career depended on the age at the first race and the gender. Colts and geldings raced an average of 3.5 and 4.3 years respectively, fillies 2.7 years. The average of races during the career remained constant during each decade at 27 and 35 for the colts and geldings respectively, while for the fillies it decreased from 24 races in 1966/67 to 20 races in 1986/87.
GSH-Px activity in blood and plasma of 269 horses was determined and interrelated to age, sex, and type of use or breed. Furthermore values in blood were related to hematocrit and hemoglobin contents. Trotters and riding horses had higher GSH-Px activities in plasma as well as in blood (0.83 +/- 0.22 and 0.79 +/- 0.23 U/ml plasma or 27.2 +/- 4.3 and 24.0 +/- 7.0 U/ml blood) than Thoroughbreds in training and yearlings (0.61 +/- 0.,14 and 0.56 +/- 0.16 U/ml plasma or 20.6 2 +/- 6.9 and 24.6 +/- 4.3 U/ml blood). 3 to 6 years old Thoroughbreds had higher GSH-Px-activities than 1 to 2 years old ones. Colts and fillies did not have differing values.
Endoscopy of the upper digestive tract was performed in 376 patients with symptomatic gallstone disease before elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Abnormalities were found in 60 patients (16.0 per cent); these included peptic ulcer (n = 14), gastric erosions (n = 15) and oesophagitis (n = 11). Thirty patients were treated medically and two by endoscopic polypectomy. In four patients endoscopy led to cancellation of cholecystectomy; in two the complaints have persisted. Statistical analysis of 28 variables showed few significant differences in symptoms between patients with normal and those with abnormal appearances at endoscopy. It is concluded that routine endoscopy before laparoscopic cholecystectomy is neither clinically useful nor cost effective in patients with symptomatic gallstone disease. This conclusion is related exclusively to patients with typical gallstone symptoms according to the definition used in this department.
We have determined the structure of the floral homeotic deficiens (defA) gene whose mutants display sepaloid petals and carpelloid stamens, and have analysed its spatial and temporal expression pattern. In addition, several mutant alleles (morphoalleles) were studied. The results of these analyses define three functional domains of the DEF A protein and identify in the deficiens promoter a possible cis-acting binding site for a transcription factor which specifically upregulates expression of deficiens in petals and stamens. In vitro DNA binding studies show that DEF A binds to specific DNA motifs as a heterodimer, together with the protein product of the floral homeotic globosa gene, thus demonstrating that the protein encoded by deficiens is a DNA binding protein. Furthermore, Northern analysis of a temperature sensitive allele at permissive and non-permissive temperatures provides evidence for autoregulation of the persistent expression of deficiens throughout flower development. A possible mechanism of autoregulation is discussed.
Anomalous flowering of the Antirrhinum majus mutant squamosa (squa) is characterized by excessive formation of bracts and the production of relatively few and often malformed or incomplete flowers. To study the function of squamosa in the commitment of an inflorescence lateral meristem to floral development, the gene was cloned and its genomic structure, a well as that of four mutant alleles, was determined. SQUA is a member of a family of transcription factors which contain the MADS-box, a conserved DNA binding domain. In addition, we analysed the temporal and spatial expression pattern of the squa gene. Low transcriptional activity of squa is detectable in bracts and in the leaves immediately below the inflorescence. High squa transcript levels are seen in the inflorescence lateral meristems as soon as they are formed in the axils of bracts. Squa transcriptional activity persists through later stages of floral morphogenesis, with the exception of stamen differentiation. Although necessary for shaping a normal racemose inflorescence, the squa function is not absolutely essential for flower development. We discuss the function of the gene during flowering, its likely functional redundancy and its possible interaction with other genes participating in the genetic control of flower formation in Antirrhinum.
GLOBOSA (GLO) is a homeotic gene whose mutants show sepaloid petals and carpelloid stamens. The similarity of Glo mutants to those of the DEFICIENS (DEFA) gene suggests that the two genes have comparable functions in floral morphogenesis. The GLO cDNA has been cloned by virtue of its homology to the MADS-box, a conserved DNA-binding domain also contained in the DEFA gene. We have determined the structure of the wild type GLO gene as well as of several glo mutant alleles which contain transposable element insertions responsible for somatic and germinal instability of Glo mutants. Analyses of the temporal and spatial expression patterns of the DEFA and GLO genes during development of wild type flowers and in flowers of various stable and unstable defA and glo alleles indicate independent induction of DEFA and GLO transcription. In contrast, organ-specific up-regulation of the two genes in petals and stamens depends on expression of both DEFA and GLO. In vitro DNA-binding studies were used to demonstrate that the DEFA and GLO proteins specifically bind, as a heterodimer, to motifs in the promoters of both genes. A model is presented which proposes both combinatorial and cross-regulatory interactions between the DEFA and GLO genes during petal and stamen organogenesis in the second and third whorls of the flower. The function of the two genes controlling determinate growth of the floral meristem is also discussed.
Short-chain fatty acid irrigation has been shown to ameliorate inflammation in diversion colitis. In this study the effect of butyrate enemas was tested in 10 patients with distal ulcerative colitis who had been unresponsive to or intolerant of standard therapy for 8 weeks. They were treated for 2 weeks with sodium butyrate (100 mmol/L) and 2 weeks with placebo in random order (single-blind trial). Before and after treatment, clinical symptoms were noted and the degree of inflammation was graded endoscopically and histologically. Rectal proliferation was assessed by autoradiography. After butyrate irrigation, stool frequency (n/day) decreased from 4.7 +/- 0.5 to 2.1 +/- 0.4 (P less than 0.01) and discharge of blood ceased in 9 of 10 patients. The endoscopic score fell from 6.5 +/- 0.4 to 3.8 +/- 0.8 (P less than 0.01). The histological degree of inflammation decreased from 2.4 +/- 0.3 to 1.5 +/- 0.3 (P less than 0.02). Overall crypt proliferation was unchanged, but the upper crypt-labeling index fell from 0.086 +/- 0.019 to 0.032 +/- 0.003 (P less than 0.03). On placebo, all of these parameters were unchanged. These data support the view that butyrate deficiency may play a role in the pathogenesis of distal ulcerative colitis and that butyrate irrigation ameliorates this condition.
The influence of temperature and duration of storage on glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in plasma and whole blood samples of horses was investigated. Furthermore the relationships between the GSH-Px activities in plasma and whole blood as well as the GSH-Px values related to hematocrit and the hemoglobin content of the blood samples of 93 different horses were calculated. At 20-22 degrees C, the GSH-Px activity in plasma and whole blood samples remained stable over at least three days while it was reduced by 38% and 65% after 2 and 3 days, if the whole blood samples were kept stored after being diluted (lysate). The GSH-Px activity was stable over three days in plasma, whole blood and lysate samples stored at 4 degrees C and -18 degrees C. In lysate samples kept frozen the GSH-Px activity remained stable over a period of 60 days while in plasma samples the activity had fluctuations. The GSH-Px activity in plasma was 12.2 +/- 11.7 nkat/ml, in whole blood 386 +/- 117 nkat/ml. The coefficient of correlation between plasma and whole blood GSH-Px activity was r = 0.27 (p less than 0.01), and between plasma and whole blood related to the hematocrit and to the hemoglobin content of the blood samples 0.38 and 0.35 respectively (both p less than 0.001). Between whole blood and whole blood related to hematocrit and hemoglobin content, r was 0.8 and 0.89 respectively (p less than 0.001).
The public health service of the former GDR paid special attention to early recognition and the registration of malignancies. Due to this efforts the staging of cervical cancer moved to more low-staged tumours admitted to our hospital from the eastthuringian region. In spite of this around 35% of our patients with malignant diseases had stage II or higher staged tumours ad admission. The causes for delayed perception were analysed. Campaign-like preventive actions formerly supported by factories and public health service will not take place again. The responsibility for secondary prevention has to be taken over by practicing gynaecologist in cooperation with the general practitioner. A pilot study revealed that only 11% of the women followed a written invitation for a preventive gynaecological examination. But a general practitioner concerning the patients individuality persuaded 75% of his patients letting perform such a check up. The family doctors direct advice to consult a gynaecologist is the most effective way to get the patients compliance for a preventive examination. The epidemiology and results of therapy will become evident by duty of notification and central registration of malignancies. Relatively centralized therapy and obligatory follow up under the responsibility of the treatment center for about five years enhance the therapeutic results. The positive experience of gynaecological oncology of the eastern part of the Federal Republic of Germany ought to be maintained and should be developed.
Deficiens is a floral homeotic gene of Antirrhinum majus, mutation of which results in transformation of petals to sepals and stamens to carpels. In a search for putative target genes, controlled by this regulatory locus, cDNA clones representing genes, that are expressed in wild type but not in the deficiens mutant flowers, were isolated by differential screening. The molecular structure and the expression pattern of one of these genes, tap2, is described. Tap2 is transiently and tissue-specifically expressed in the tapetum of the anthers. It encodes a 131 amino-acids-long protein with a hydrophobic N-terminus, displaying all characteristic features of a signal peptide. This indicates that the TAP2 protein may be secreted.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Deficiens, a homeotic gene involved in the genetic control of flower development, codes for a putative transcription factor. Upon mutation of the gene, petals are transformed to sepals and stamens to carpels, indicating that deficiens is essential for the activation of genes required for petal and stamen formation. In a search for putative target genes of deficiens, several stamen- and petal-specific genes were cloned that are expressed in wild type but not in the deficiensglobifera mutant. In this report the molecular characterization of two of these genes, tap1 and fil1, is presented. They are transiently expressed during flower development. In situ hybridization data demonstrate that tap1 is expressed in the tapetum of the anthers and fil1 in the filament of the stamen and at the bases of the petals. Both genes encode small proteins with N-terminal hydrophobic domains suggesting that they are secreted. We discuss possible functions of the gene products and their relationship to the deficiens gene.
We present the genomic structure of Tam1, a transposable element from Antirrhinum majus. The Tam1 element is 15.2 kb long and includes two genes that are transcribed to produce a 2.4 kb (tnp1) and a 5 kb mRNA (tnp2). These transcripts partially overlap and the exons are scattered over the whole element. Tnp1 encodes a 53 kDa protein as deduced from the cDNA sequence. The 5 kb transcript of tnp2 contains an open reading frame that shares 45% homology with part of the tnpD gene of En/Spm from maize and 48% homology with an open reading frame of the Tgm element from Glycine max. We discuss the possible functions of these genes by analogy with En/Spm. Additionally, a number of flanking sequences of Tam1 insertions were analysed to investigate the sequence specificity of insertion. From these studies we conclude that Tam1 transposes predominantly into AT-rich regions that can be unique as well as repetitive. No specific target sequence of insertion could be found.
This study compared the effect of enteral nutrition as the sole therapy of active Crohn's disease with drug treatment. Patients with active Crohn's disease (Crohn's Disease Activity Index greater than 200) were randomized to receive either enteral nutrition with a liquid oligopeptide diet (n = 55) or a combination of 6-methylprednisolone, 48 mg daily, subsequently tapered, and sulfasalazine, 3 g daily (n = 52). The two groups were not different with respect to age, sex, body weight, location of disease, or treatment before the study. The severity of disease was similar at the beginning of the study in both groups [Crohn's Disease Activity Index (mean +/- SEM), 323 +/- 12 vs. 316 +/- 11]. Remission was defined as a decrease of the initial Crohn's Disease Activity Index by 40% or at least 100 points. Twenty-nine patients in the diet group and 41 patients in the drug group reached remission within 6 weeks of therapy (chi 2 test, P less than 0.01). The median elapsed time to remission was 30.7 days in the diet group compared with 8.2 days in the drug group (Mantel Cox, P less than 0.01). To determine whether one of these treatments was more beneficial for a subgroup of patients, the effectiveness of both treatments was analyzed separately in patients with very severe disease (initial Crohn's Disease Activity Index greater than 300) and less severe disease (initial Crohn's Disease Activity Index less than 300), and in patients with different disease location. However, no influence of initial disease activity or disease location on the effect of either treatment could be shown. These data show that enteral nutrition is less effective than a combination of 6-methylprednisolone and sulfasalazine in treating active Crohn's disease.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
A method has been developed for the determination of the N-nitrosoalkanolamines, N-nitrosodiethanolamine (NDELA) and N-nitrosobis(2-hydroxypropyl)amine (NDHPA) in cosmetics. In model systems, we studied nitrosation of the most relevant precursors by NaNO2, by the preservatives Bronopol and Bronidox and by nitric oxides. Secondary amines were most rapidly nitrosated, and Bronopol, Bronidox and atmospheric nitric oxides appeared to be the most relevant nitrosating agents. In order to remove the most important sources of contamination, the Federal Health Office issued an official recommendation to producers to avoid use of secondary amines in cosmetics (March, 1987). Analysis of cosmetics taken from the German market 6-18 months later showed that only 19/126 samples were contaminated with NDELA (12-235 micrograms/kg or NDHPA (40-215 micrograms/kg). The results reflect a strong downward trend in contamination.
The distribution of LDH and CK isoenzymes in blood plasma of ten clinically sound Thoroughbreds with reasonable performance and without elevated clinico-chemical blood variables (reference group) was compared with 57 Thoroughbreds, which had histories of mild locomotor disturbances and/or poor performance and had elevated CK, LDH and/or AST activities (trial group). The trial group was subdivided according to the number of altered blood variables and in the groups with two as well as three altered blood variables also according to the extent of alteration of the total CK activity. The pattern of LDH and CK isoenzyme distribution in the blood plasma of the reference group was the following: 22% LDH1, 36% LDH2, 34% LDH3, 6% LDH4 and 2% LDH5 as well as 75% CK1 and 15% CK2. The remaining 10% of the plasma electropherogram could not be alloted to any one of the two CK bands. All trial groups built showed a similar pattern of changes in their isoenzyme distribution independent on kind and combination of altered enzyme activities. The shares of CK1, LDH4 and LDH5 were significantly increased whilst the shares of CK2, LDH1 and LDH2 decreased. A multiple analysis of variance demonstrated that only increased total CK activities had a pronounced effect on distribution of LDH and CK isoenzyme patterns in the trial group (p less than 0.01 for LDH2, LDH3, LDH4, CK1 and p less than 0.05 for CK2). The conclusion of the study was that the altered distribution pattern of LDH and CK isoenzymes of the trial group signalized an increased skeletal muscle membrane leakage.