Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J Berger.
In a fuzzy set, the probability that a result for a patient is increased (or decreased) is equal to the probability of incidence of reference values equal and lower (or higher) than the evaluated result. Application of fuzzy logic to computer analysis of haematological data enables more appropriate interpretation of continuous pathological changes.
Early orthodontic treatment will not resolve all potential orthodontic problems or totally inhibit adverse skeletal growth patterns. However, by identifying problems at an early age it is possible to redirect skeletal growth; improve the occlusal relationship; enhance the patient's esthetics and self-image and, perhaps of even greater importance, achieve results that are unattainable later with the eruption of teeth and the cessation of growth.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Several series of N-(quinuclidin-3-yl)aryl and heteroaryl-fused pyridones were synthesized and evaluated for 5-HT3 receptor affinity. In the heteroaryl series, 2-(quinuclidin-3-yl)tetrahydropyrido-[4,3-b]indol-1-one (8a) and the 4,5-alkano-bridged analogues (14 and 15) displayed high 5-HT3 receptor affinity with pKi values > 9. The (3S)-quinuclidinyl isomers had > 10 fold higher affinity than the (3R)-isomers. In a series of 2-quinuclidin-3-yl)isoquinolin-1-ones, derivatives substituted with small lipophilic groups (25b-e) and with 4,5-alkano-bridges (34-36) also displayed high affinity. In particular, the hexahydro-1H-benz[de]isoquinolinone (S,S)-37 was the highest affinity 5-HT3 receptor ligand prepared (pKi 10.4). A number of the high affinity ligands were shown to be potent 5-HT3 receptor antagonists in vivo as determined by inhibition of the B-J reflex in the anesthetized rat. Again, (S,S)-37 was the most active agent tested (ID50 0.02 microgram/kg i.v.), and this compound was also potent in blocking cisplatin-induced emesis in both the ferret and the dog. Computer modeling studies were performed, and previously reported 5-HT3 receptor antagonist pharmacophore models were refined to include a key lipophilic binding domain.
The effects of protein synthesis inhibitors on glucose transport into L6 myotubes was examined. Similar to the acute effects of insulin, short-term treatment with anisomycin or cycloheximide increased transport 2-fold. Kinetic studies demonstrated that this activation was due to a doubling in the Vmax values. The effects of anisomycin or cycloheximide were not additive to that of insulin. Both protein synthesis inhibitors caused only small increases in GLUT4 expression and negligible effects on GLUT1 expression. Anisomycin, as well as insulin, induced the translocation of both transporters from intracellular vesicles to the plasma membrane through not in quantities sufficient to entirely account for the activation of transport. The results indicate that protein synthesis inhibitors stimulate hexose transport in L6 myotubes by increasing the number of transporters in the plasma membrane and augmenting the intrinsic catalytic activity of the transporters.
A intra-uterine infection with Fasciola hepatica in a three years old cow is proved on a milking cow herd in the South of the Netherlands. Two calves showed to have a prenatal infection. Further investigations on the farm revealed a general presence of this parasite.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
A 26-year-old patient presented with epigastric pain of sudden onset and severe puffy swelling of both legs and forearms. An irregularly shaped nodular filling defect on selective jejunal films, severe hypoproteinemia, low IgG concentration, and lymphopenia were suggestive of primary intestinal lymphangiectasia with protein-losing enteropathy, and the patient was placed on a low-fat diet with medium-chain triglycerides. This initially improved his condition, but some weeks later he developed obstructive ileus of the small intestine. On laparotomy yellowish to whitish deposits were found to be present in some segments of the small intestine and a fist-sized mass 100 cm distal to the duodenojejunal flexure was resected without complications. Histologically, the submucosal lymphatics were dilated, and the jejunal wall showed extensive pseudocystic, intramural submucosal lymph edema with secondary bleeding and tight stenosis of the jejunal lumen. During the 14-month follow-up time after discharge the patient has been asymptomatic and working, on no treatment other than a low-fat diet with medium-chain triglycerides.
Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is an autosomal recessive neurometabolic disorder caused by deficiency of arylsulfatase A (ASA). To detect ASA mutations E2S609 and E8P2382, the two most frequent MLD mutations, a non-radioactive polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay was developed. This assay is a multiple "mutated primer-modulated PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism". The primers related to each mutation mismatch to create an XbaI or PstI restriction site in mutation E2S609 or E8P2382, respectively. The assay was designed to give four fragments of 160, 130, 100, and 70 bp, easy to distinguish. An internal control fragment is not necessary since both primer pairs amplify different regions of the ASA gene and fragments will be obtained in all allelic possibilities. This technique produced clear-cut results when genomic DNA, isolated either from leukocytes, cultured human fibroblasts, or paraffin-embedded autopsy material, was used as template. The assay will be of help in comparative studies on the relation between MLD genotype and phenotype, a problem not yet fully understood. Since our method was shown to work also on DNA from paraffin-embedded autopsy material, genotype/phenotype studies would not be restricted to in vivo investigations but could be done also on post mortem material, thus including investigations on a large group of cases and also studies on the relation between genotype and neuropathological features.
Animal experiments have shown that acute respiratory acidosis stimulates water, Na and Cl absorption and HCO3 secretion in the ileum. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the human ileum also responds to changes in systemic acid-base balance. Seven healthy volunteers (mean age 24, range 21-29 years) underwent segmental ileal perfusion using a multi-lumen tube assembly with a proximal occluding balloon. A 30 cm test segment was perfused under steady state conditions with a plasma-like electrolyte solution containing PEG as a non-absorbable volume marker. After a control period, respiratory acidosis (blood pCO2 56.2 mmHg, pH 7.29 and [HCO3] 26.4 mmol l-1) was induced by CO2-breathing over a period of 50 min. Acute respiratory acidosis stimulated net HCO3 secretion in patients secreting HCO3 and reduced absorption in patients exhibiting net HCO3 absorption. These changes were immediate and appeared to be at least partly reversible. Net water, Na, K and Cl movement were not affected. The data suggest that HCO3 transport in the human ileum responds to acute respiratory acidosis.
One-hundred and two patients from the area of Hamburg, Germany, with vitiligo (photo-skin types II and III, Fitzpatrick classification, 1979), were examined for a possible association of the human lymphocyte antigen (HLA) complex with this disease. Antisera panels for the detection of 75 HLA antigens were utilized for this HLA typing (WHO Bulletin, 1988). The results were compared with 400 unrelated age- and sex-matched controls with photo-skin types II and III from the same geographical area. Nine of 76 vitiligo patients showed a significantly increased expression of the rare antigen HLA DRW12 (pc = 0.000708), and 65/102 patients showed a marginally significant increased frequency of HLA A2 (pc = 0.04850) compared with controls. For HLA BW60 (40), a significant increase in frequency was shown only in the adult vitiligo group (pc = 0.0126). A 'preventive' antigen for the manifestation of vitiligo has not been identified in this study. A comparative analysis of all published data on the possible association of HLA with vitiligo does not support a definitive linkage to the MHC so far.
In the past, several authors described an association of cutaneous malignant melanoma (MM) with other neoplasms. As their results were not conclusive, we designed this study with the aim to determine whether the frequency and spectrum of coexisting neoplasms in patients with cutaneous MM are either a significant or a random event. Therefore, the histories of 623 patients with primary MM from our clinic have been evaluated by a direct questionnaire. Diagnosis of MM has been established by histologic examination after excisional biopsy. The male/female (M/F) ratio was 240/383, the mean age 52.5 years (range 14-93). The distribution of risk groups yielded 277 patients (M/F = 90/187) for low risk (Breslow < 0.75 mm trunk, < 1.50 mm extremities), 245 patients (M/F = 105/140) for intermediate risk (Breslow 0.76-3.00 and 1.51-5.00 mm, respectively). 101 patients (M/F = 45/56) for high risk (Breslow > 3.00 and > 5.00 mm, respectively). 64 patients (10.3%) had associated primary carcinomas including 7 patients with 2 primary carcinomas compared to a control group (n = 313) with 12 carcinomas (3.8%). 50% of the carcinomas were diagnosed before the diagnosis of melanoma. The M/F ratio of this group was 25/39, the mean age at diagnosis of MM 62.7 years (range 28-91), the mean age at diagnosis of carcinoma 55.6 years (range 29-90). In the female group, breast cancer predominated (18/39), followed by uterus (7/39) and basal cell carcinoma (7/39); in the male group, basal cell carcinoma (10/25) was followed by prostate cancer (6/25).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
As a novel approach to studying the modulation of the polarized epithelial phenotype, we have expressed c-Fos and c-Myc estrogen receptor fusion proteins (c-FosER and c-MycER) in mammary epithelial cells. The hybrid proteins could be activated by estrogen for defined time periods and after the cells had achieved their fully polarized organization. Activation of c-MycER deregulated proliferation but did not affect epithelial polarity. Short-term activation of c-FosER induced the reversible loss of morphological and functional cell polarity. In contrast, long-term stimulation of c-FosER caused the cells to depolarize irreversibly, to invade collagen gels, and to undergo epithelial-fibroblastoid cell conversion. Our data suggest that Fos proteins are important in modulating the epithelial phenotype both in normal tissue development and in invasive processes.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Four thousand nine hundred and eight male workers of the Hamburg gas plant, employed for 10 or more years during the period from January 1, 1900 to December 31, 1989, have been traced for cancer mortality. Based on their jobs, they were grouped into three subcohorts: gas furnace workers, workers in other parts of the plant, and white-collar workers. Despite the general "healthy worker effect," gas furnace workers showed a significant incidence of cancer of all sites (standardized mortality ratio [SMR] = 186), particularly cancers of the lung (SMR = 288), stomach (SMR = 177), and the colon-rectum (SMR = 184). In comparison to the death rates of white-collar workers, the manual workers in other parts of the plant also showed an excess of cancer mortality for cancer of these sites. The reason for this excess in cancer mortality seems to be due to the working conditions. The results contribute to the current evidence that exposure to coal carbonization fumes causes not only lung cancer, but also cancers of the stomach and colon-rectum.