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Biomedical subjects

I Bergmann

Publications and source records attributed to I Bergmann.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Multimodality treatment in stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. A long-term follow-up.

We treated 114 patients with advanced inoperable head and neck cancer with a combined-modality protocol that included two cycles of chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy or three chemotherapy and in 18 patients with a radiosensitizing agent. At the beginning of the treatment all but one patient presented with a stage IV cancer. With a follow-up of 42-58 months, four patients are alive (three from the radiosensitizing group and one of the chemotherapy group). Complete response after the radiosensitizing agent correlated with superior prolonged disease-free survival in comparison to complete responses after chemotherapy at the level of p less than 0.009.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Computed tomography in prognostic stroke evaluation.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Computed tomography is now routinely used in many hospitals to investigate cerebrovascular disease. The purpose of our prospective study was to determine whether cranial computed tomography in connection with neurological assessment was useful in prognostic evaluation of survival after acute stroke. METHODS: Two-hundred forty-five consecutive stroke patients were included in the project during a 1-year period. Each had a detailed neurological assessment 24-72 hours after stroke onset and underwent cranial computed tomography without intravenous contrast injection within the first week after admission. The lesions were divided according to neuroanatomic regions. In the statistical analyses we used a multiple logistic regression model with survival/death as the binary variable. RESULTS: Computed tomography showed 76% of the patients had infarcts, 11% had hemorrhages, and 13% had no acute lesion. Forty-three patients had more than one acute lesion, and 57 had one or more old infarctions. The temporal, parietal, and frontal regions and the basal ganglia were most often affected. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that age, level of consciousness, and involvement of the temporal lobe on computed tomography were factors of prognostic significance regarding survival in the acute phase.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Area-specific morphological and neurochemical maturation of non-pyramidal neurons in the rat hippocampus as revealed by parvalbumin immunocytochemistry.

The time course of the morphological differentiation of non-pyramidal neurons in the rat hippocampus shows an area specificity. Thus, non-pyramidal neurons in CA3 appear more mature than in CA1 at early postnatal stages. Physiological data provide evidence for an earlier maturation of GABA-mediated inhibition in CA3 in comparison to CA1. As the calcium-binding protein parvalbumin (PARV) is thought to be a marker for highly active inhibitory neurons, we analyzed the area-specific appearance of PARV in GABAergic neurons during development. Employing combined light and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry, we revealed an area specificity in the time course of the neurochemical and morphological maturation of this functionally important subpopulation of non-pyramidal cells. The first appearance of PARV-immunoreactivity was observed at P7 and was exclusively located in cell bodies in CA3. At P8, neurons in CA3 exhibited PARV-immunoreactivity in cell bodies and dendrites, but very rarely in axon terminals. These neurons displayed the typical light and electron microscopic characteristics of GABAergic non-pyramidal cells. At P10, axon terminals formed typical baskets surrounding the pyramidal cells. The appearance of PARV-immunoreactivity in cell bodies, dendrites and axon terminals in CA1 was noticed about 1 to 2 days later. In the fascia dentata, non-granule cells displayed immunoreactivity not before P10. These data indicate a sequential neurochemical and morphological maturation of non-pyramidal neurons that may be related to differences in the maturation of inhibition during hippocampal development.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Temporal bone findings in a family with branchio-oto-renal syndrome (BOR).

A family group with confirmed branchio-oto-renal (BOR) syndrome was investigated in this study. Computerized tomography of the temporal bones has demonstrated that the malformations of the inner ear consist of hypoplastic structural changes within the cochlea with reduced vertical diameters, and absent or hypoplastic semicircular canals and normal endolymphatic ducts. It is concluded that in the present cases, the Mondini malformation of the cochlea is not associated with the BOR syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Late appearance of parvalbumin-immunoreactivity in the development of GABAergic neurons in the rat hippocampus.

The calcium-binding protein parvalbumin (PARV) is supposed to have a protective function under conditions of experimental seizure and hypoxia in a subgroup of GABAergic inhibitory neurons in the adult rat hippocampus. Here we studied the appearance of PARV immunoreactivity in rat hippocampal non-pyramidal cells during postnatal development in comparison to glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) immunoreactivity. PARV-immunoreactive neurons were not observed before postnatal day 7 whereas GAD-positive neurons and terminal-like puncta were present at postnatal day 2 (P2) and were frequent around P5. From other studies it is known that all GABAergic neurons are formed prenatally. Our data thus indicate that in the early postnatal period GABAergic non-pyramidal cells are poorly protected by calcium-binding proteins against a pathological calcium influx.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Release of [hydroxyproline3]-kinins by tissue kallikreins of pig, rat and man.

To determine the susceptibility of kininogens containing the recently described [Hyp3]-bradykinin moiety to cleavage by tissue kallikreins, we have studied the release of [Hyp3]-kinins from heat inactivated human plasma by purified tissue kallikreins. Kallikreins from man and pig were employed and compared with purified rat urinary kallikrein which is known to have a different cleavage specificity. Kinins released were separated by a modified reversed phase HPLC method and quantitated by bioassay and radioimmunoassay. Human urinary kallikrein and hog tissue kallikreins released 85-90% of the total kinins as Lys-bradykinin and 10-15% as [Hyp3]-Lys-bradykinin. In contrast, rat urinary kallikrein released 77% as bradykinin, 22% as [Hyp3]-bradykinin and negligible amounts of [Hyp3]-Lys-bradykinin from the identical substrate source indicating that rat tissue kallikreins prefer the Lys-Arg-bond within both unhydroxylated and hydroxylated kininogens. Therefore, hydroxylation of human kininogens apparently does not affect their ability to serve as substrates for tissue kallikreins with different cleavage specificities.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Complete nucleotide sequence of infectious Coxsackievirus B3 cDNA: two initial 5' uridine residues are regained during plus-strand RNA synthesis.

A full-length reverse-transcribed, infectious cDNA copy of coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) was used to determine the nucleotide sequence of this cardiotropic enterovirus. Comparison of the nucleotide sequence and the deduced amino acid sequence of the viral precursor polyprotein with the sequences of other group B coxsackieviruses (CVB1 and CVB4) demonstrates a high degree of genetic identity. They share about 80% homology at the nucleotide level and about 90% when the amino acid sequences of the polyproteins are compared. The potential processing sites of the coxsackievirus polyproteins, as deduced from alignment with the poliovirus sequence, are conserved among these enteroviruses with the exception of the cleavage sites between VP1 and 2Apro and between polypeptides 2B and 2C. Comparison of the 5' termini of the enteroviral genomes reveals a high degree of identity, including the initial 5' consensus UUAAAACAGC, suggesting essential functions in virus replication. An important finding concerning the molecular basis of infectivity was that both recombinant CVB3 cDNA and in vitro-synthesized CVB3 RNA transcripts are infectious, although two initial 5' uridine residues found on the authentic CVB3 RNA were missing. Here, we report that cDNA-generated CVB3, as well as CVB3 generated by in vitro-synthesized RNA transcripts, regains the authentic initial 5' uridine residues during replication in transfected cells, indicating that the picornaviral primer molecule VPg-pUpU may be uridylylated in a template-independent fashion. The generation of virus or virus mutants with infectious recombinant CVB3 cDNA and in vitro-synthesized infectious CVB3 transcripts should provide a valuable means for studying the molecular basis of the pathogenicity of this cardiotropic enterovirus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Retroperitoneal varicose veins simulating lymph nodes.

A case of retroperitoneal varicose veins simulating neoplastic masses in a patient with unknown portal hypertension is presented. The radiological modalities of choice in differential diagnosis are briefly discussed. The use of contrast-enhanced computed tomography is recommended.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1988

Rapid selection of genetic and antigenic variants of foot-and-mouth disease virus during persistence in cattle.

Rapid evolution of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is documented during persistent infections of cattle. The carrier state was established experimentally with plaque-purified FMDV of serotype C3. Virus was recovered from the esophageal pharyngeal area of the animals up to 539 days postinfection. Analysis of capsid proteins by electrofocusing and by electrophoretic mobility of the genomic poly(C)-rich tract suggested heterogeneity in several isolates and sequential dominance of viral subpopulations. Nucleotide sequences of the VP1-coding region of the parental FMDV C3 clones and of seven isolates from the carrier cattle showed point mutations that represented rates of fixation of mutations of 0.9 X 10(-2) to 7.4 X 10(-2) substitutions per nucleotide per year; 59% of the base changes led to amino acid substitutions, some of which were located within residues 135 to 151, a region involved in neutralization of FMDV. In the esophageal pharyngeal fluid samples, FMDV C3-neutralizing activity was present. Antigenic variation was demonstrated with monoclonal antibodies raised against FMDV C3. Two isolates from carrier cattle differed from the parental virus by 10(2)- or 10(3)-fold decreased reactivity with neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. We suggest that persistent, inapparent infections of ruminants, in addition to being a reservoir of virus, may promote the rapid selection of antigenically variant FMDVs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

The use of N-(2-mercaptopropionyl)-glycine (MPG) for preparation and storage of platelets.

The SH group containing drug MPG which inhibits platelet aggregation in a reversible manner was used as a cytoprotective substance in some experiments on preparation and storage of human platelets for transfusion. In vitro (n = 6): concentration, morphology score, HSR and aggregation of stored platelets were measured after simulating in vitro the post transfusional conditions by resuspension of stored platelets in fresh drawn plasma (pH 7.4, 37 degrees C). In vivo (n = 2): Autologous platelets stored for 48 h at 22 degrees C were labelled with 111In and retransfused. The results obtained from platelets prepared and stored in plasma containing MPG were compared with those obtained from control platelets without MPG.

Blood Platelets↗
PubMed1988

[In vitro study of platelet concentrate preparations from whole blood using N-(2-mercaptopropionyl)-glycine].

The sulfhydryl group containing drug N-(2-mercaptopropionyl)-glycine (MPG) which inhibits platelet aggregation in a reversible manner permits to prepare platelet concentrates in non-siliconized glass containers at pH 7.4. Resuspension of platelets is possible immediately after centrifugation. In vitro platelets tests were carried out after washing out the MPG in MPG-free plasma. Thereafter, no inhibitory effects on platelet functions were found. Platelets concentrated in presence of MPG were significantly better with respect to yield, maintenance of discoid shape, aggregability, and hypotonic shock response compared with control platelets concentrated in absence of MPG.

Blood↗
PubMed1988

Evaluation of preoperative blood tests for predicting deep vein thrombosis after total hip replacement.

Determinations of the total calcium content and aggregability of the platelets as well as tests of coagulation and fibrinolysis were carried out on 93 patients before undergoing total hip replacement. All patients received low dose heparin, solely or combined with dihydroergotamine. Twenty-six patients developed deep vein thrombosis (DVT) detected by the labelled fibrinogen uptake test and confirmed by ascending phlebography. Only a few tests, among them the total calcium content of platelets, showed a statistical difference between the patients who subsequently developed DVT and those who did not. Combination of several tests by a multivariate statistical analysis programme proved to have more predictive value than the analysis of single tests.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Urinary kallikrein excretion in healthy young infants.

Nineteen healthy hospitalized children aged between 3 weeks and 10 years and 20 others aged between one month and 16 years have been investigated for their excretion rate of active and total urinary kallikrein. Twelve hour urine samples were obtained between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. and blood was drawn at the end of the urine collection period. Urinary kallikrein activity was measured by a synthetic substrate and a direct RIA and urinary sodium excretion, urine volume and plasma renin activity (PRA) were determined. Urinary kallikrein activity was found to be between 0 and 6 micrograms/24h and constituted approximately 10-20% of total kallikrein. When urinary kallikrein excretion rate was correlated with the sodium excretion rate the relationship was found to be positive and significant as was the correlation found between urine volume and urinary kallikrein excretion rate. No correlation could be found between PRA and urinary kallikrein excretion. Although a tendency of higher total kallikrein excretion was seen in older children, the amount excreted from all children per kilogram body weight was constant at 0.8 microgram/kg.

Child↗
PubMed1985

Chromogenic substrate autography: a method for detection, characterization, and quantitative measurement of serine proteases after sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gels.

A chromogenic substrate autography is described which allows characterization and quantification of serine proteases in crude systems after sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or isoelectric focusing. Separation of samples containing proteases by either method is followed by an overlay of the gels on an indicator film prepared by incorporation of a suitable paranitroanilide substrate into agarose. Positions of the proteases are revealed by the formation of yellow-colored zones which can be quantified by densitometry at 405 nm. The technique proved suitable for determination of molecular weights, isoelectric points, and quantitative measurements of amidolytic activities of urokinase, tissue plasminogen activator, tissue and plasma kallikrein, and thrombin in biological fluids and purified preparations.

Animals↗