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Biomedical subjects

J Bernhardt

Publications and source records attributed to J Bernhardt.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Changes in balance and locomotion measures during rehabilitation following stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the utility of a number of measures of balance and locomotion for the purpose of measuring change in a group of stroke patients undergoing in-patient rehabilitation. The aim was to select a core group of measures based on empirical evidence of usefulness rather than personal preference. METHODS: Twenty-nine stroke patients undergoing in-patient rehabilitation (mean age 71.8 +/- 10.5 years; 66% male) participated in the study. A prospective design was utilized with repeated measurement undertaken at four, six and eight weeks post-stroke. Static standing, the Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction of Balance (CTSIB) (Shumway-Cook & Horak, 1986), functional reach (FR), repetitive reach (RR), step test (ST), gait velocity, stride length and the Motor Assessment Scale (Carr et al., 1985) (walking item) were assessed at each interval. RESULTS: All measures of dynamic balance showed significant change over the four-week measurement period (p < 0.0036). Factor analysis identified two factors which grouped tests into static and dynamic, with a trend towards a third factor incorporating bipedal dynamic tests. Tests of static balance suffered from ceiling effects, whereas dynamic tests of balance and gait suffered from floor effects. Dynamic tests were more responsive (Standardized Response Measure (SRM) > 0.75) to change over the rehabilitation period than static tests. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that a clinically useful and responsive balance and mobility test battery should include one component of the CTSIB (Shumway-Cook & Horak, 1986), RR (step stance), ST and gait velocity.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Molecular analysis of a second functional A1 gene (dihydroflavonol 4-reductase) in Zea mays.

Some genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis in Zea mays are duplicated and differentially expressed. From the analysis of the A1 gene (dihydroflavonol 4-reductase), which is involved in this pathway, no molecular evidence for gene duplication was known to date. Isolation and analysis of A1 homologous genomic clones revealed the presence of a second A1 gene in maize and also two copies of the gene in Teosinte guerrero. The duplicated genes are structurally very similar and, at least in maize, the second gene is expressed.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗
PubMed1998

Accuracy of observational kinematic assessment of upper-limb movements.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study investigated the accuracy of physical therapists' visual judgments about kinematic features of the upper-limb movements of people without neurological impairments and people with neurological impairments following a cerebrovascular accident (CVA). SUBJECTS: Ten experienced physical therapists served as observers. Eleven people with a primary diagnosis of cortical or subcortical CVA and 4 older individuals without neurological impairments participated as "performers." METHODS: The performers were videotaped as they completed a transport task. Three videotapes were edited to form three physical scales of peak movement speed, jerkiness, and hand path indirectness. On two occasions, therapists viewed these videotapes and made judgements about each performance on visual analog scales. Therapists' visual judgments were then compared with criterion measures determined by three-dimensional instrumented analysis. RESULTS: The accuracy of the therapists' judgments was investigated using regression methods. Therapists were able to make moderately to highly accurate judgments of movement speed (r > or = .87), jerkiness (r > or = .78), and hand path indirectness (r > or = .68). These judgements remained highly stable over time (r > or = .82). Differences in therapists' judgement models, evident from slope and intercept variability in the regression models, were reflected in lower intertherapist agreement (intraclass correlation coefficients = .65-.85). CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION: Experienced physical therapists accurately and reliably judged kinematic aspects of performance using observational assessment. Observational kinematic assessment warrants further systematic investigation.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

[Diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in local recurrence of stomach carcinoma].

Despite clear margins at the time of resection, 7 to 20% of the patients experience local recurrence of the primary stomach tumor. Intraluminal recurrence is rare but curable in 50% of the cases without distant metastases. Extraluminal recurrent gastric cancer comprises the typical pattern of recurrence and cannot be removed in most of the patients. Predisposing factors that favor the development of recurrent tumors are: higher tumor stages, extended lymph node involvement, tumor grades 3 and 4, diffuse type according to Lauren's classification, and intraoperative perforation of the primary gastric carcinoma.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

First steps from a two-dimensional protein index towards a response-regulation map for Bacillus subtilis.

Data on the identification of proteins of Bacillus subtilis on two-dimensional (2-D) gels as well as their regulation are summarized and the identification of 56 protein spots is included. The pattern of proteins synthesized in Bacillus subtilis during exponential growth, during starvation for glucose or phosphate, or after the imposition of stresses like heat shock, salt- and ethanol stress as well as oxidative stress was analyzed. N-terminal sequencing of protein spots allowed the identification of 93 proteins on 2-D gels, which are required for the synthesis of amino acids and nucleotides, the generation of ATP, for glycolyses, the pentose phosphate cycle, the citric acid cycle as well as for adaptation to a variety of stress conditions. A computer-aided analysis of the 2-D gels was used to monitor the synthesis profile of more than 130 protein spots. Proteins performing housekeeping functions during exponential growth displayed a reduced synthesis rate during stress and starvation, whereas spots induced during stress and starvation were classified as specific stress proteins induced by a single stimulus or a group of related stimuli, or as general stress proteins induced by a variety of entirely different stimuli. The analysis of mutants in global regulators was initiated in order to establish a response regulation map for B. subtilis. These investigations demonstrated that the alternative sigma factor sigma B is involved in the regulation of almost all of the general stress proteins and that the phoPR two-component system is required for the induction of a large part but not all of the proteins induced by phosphate starvation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Effective doses to members of the public from the diagnostic application of ionizing radiation in Germany.

The exposure of the German population to man-made radiation results mainly from diagnostic X-ray and nuclear medical examinations. Data are presented about the annual frequency and the average dose of the various examination types for West Germany in the years 1990-1992. According to these data a yearly average of approximately 1550 diagnostic examinations using ionizing radiation were performed per 1000 inhabitants resulting in an annual per caput effective dose of 1.9 mSv. Despite the frequent use of alternative examination techniques, such as sonography, nuclear magnetic resonance and endoscopy, the frequency of X-ray and nuclear medical examinations is still increasing. If collective risk assessments are done using the per caput effective dose, at least the age distribution of the patients must be considered. This leads to a "risk-modifying factor" of 0.6-0.7 for patients to be applied to the ICRP risk coefficient of 5 % per Sv valid for the general population. However, radiation risk must always be viewed in context with disease- and therapy-related risks and balanced against the benefit of the diagnostic examination, which should always exceed the risk for a well-indicated procedure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Characterization of multiple phosphorylation sites on the AMPA receptor GluR1 subunit.

We have characterized the phosphorylation of the glutamate receptor subunit GluR1, using biochemical and electrophysiological techniques. GluR1 is phosphorylated on multiple sites that are all located on the C-terminus of the protein. Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase specifically phosphorylates SER-845 of GluR1 in transfected HEK cells and in neurons in culture. Phosphorylation of this residue results in a 40% potentiation of the peak current through GluR1 homomeric channels. In addition, protein kinase C specifically phosphorylates Ser-831 of GluR1 in HEK-293 cells and in cultured neurons. These results are consistent with the recently proposed transmembrane topology models of glutamate receptors, in which the C-terminus is intracellular. In addition, the modulation of GluR1 by PKA phosphorylation of Ser-845 suggests that phosphorylation of this residue may underlie the PKA-induced potentiation of AMPA receptors in neurons.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

A gene at 333 degrees on the Bacillus subtilis chromosome encodes the newly identified sigma B-dependent general stress protein GspA.

In Bacillus subtilis, general stress proteins (Gsps) are induced in response to different stresses (heat, salt, or ethanol) or after nutrient starvation. The majority of the genes for the Gsps are organized in a very large stationary-phase or stress regulon which is controlled by alternative sigma factor sigma B. The most striking spots on Coomassie-stained two-dimensional gels belong to GsiB and GspA, which are synthesized at extremely high levels in response to different stresses. Therefore, we determined the N-terminal protein sequence of GspA, which exhibited total identity to a hypothetical 33.5-kDa protein of B. subtilis encoded by open reading frame 2 (ipa-12d) in the sacY-tyrS1 intergenic region. The GspA-encoding gene gspA and the upstream and downstream regions were cloned with the aid of the PCR technique. By primer extension experiments, one sigma B-dependent promoter immediately upstream of the coding region was identified. A putative factor-independent terminator closely followed the coding region. By Northern (RNA) blot analysis, a 0.95-kb transcript was detected which indicates a monocistronic transcriptional unit. The gspA mRNA was strongly induced by different stimuli like heat or salt stress and starvation for glucose. Analysis of RNA isolated from a sigma B deletion mutant revealed that the transcription of gspA is sigma B dependent. Insertional inactivation of the B. subtilis chromosomal gspA gene confirmed that the gspA gene is not essential for either vegetative growth or growth under the influence of different stresses. In gspA mutant cells, the level of flagellin was increased severalfold over that in wild-type cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Evidence for the involvement of G proteins in the modulation of 22Na and 45Ca fluxes in myogenic L6 and aortic smooth muscle cells.

Preincubation of rat skeletal muscle derived L6 myoblasts with 10 mM NaF increased, the activity of Na+/H+ exchanger, and the uptake of 45Ca by 2 and 5 folds, respectively. In cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (CVSMC) of rat aorta, NaF increased the activity of Na+,K(+)-pump, Na+/H+ exchanger, passive permeability for Na+, and 45Ca uptake by 1.6, 9, 2, and 9 folds, respectively. Both, in CVSMC and L6 cells, the effect of NaF on the Na+/H+ exchanger and 45Ca uptake were significantly augmented by 20 microM AlCl3. No effect of AlCl3 on the NaF dependent changes in ion flux was seen in rat erythrocytes. The results suggest that in L6 and CVSMC cells, the Na+/H+ exchanger and Ca++ uptake pathway(s) are activated by GTP-binding proteins.

Aluminum↗
PubMed1993

Genes for ribosomal proteins S3, L16, L5 and S14 are clustered in the mitochondrial genome of Brassica napus L.

We have cloned and sequenced an 8.9-kb mitochondrial-DNA fragment from rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). The nucleotide sequence indicates a gene cluster that encodes four ribosomal proteins (S3, L16, L5, S14), two tRNA genes (trnD, trnK), and the 5' region of the cob gene. The arrangement of these seven genes is trnD-trnK-rps3-rpl16-rpl5-rps14-cob. The rps3 and rpl16 frames overlap by 131 bp. The rpl5 and rps14 genes are separated by a 4-bp spacer. A 1474-basepair intron is located in the rps3 gene. The tRNA(Asp) gene (trnD) is very similar to the corresponding gene from chloroplasts (cp-like-tRNA(Asp)). Gene-specific probes for each ribosomal protein gene, and for the cp-like-trnD, trnK and cob genes, hybridized to a common pre-mRNA of an estimated size of 10 kilobases, indicating that these seven genes may be expressed as a single transcription unit. The rps3-rpl16-rpl5-rps14 region of B. napus mtDNA may function as a ribosomal operon, similar to the S10 and SPC operons of Escherichia coli and to the ribosomal protein operon of the chloroplast genome from Euglena gracilis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Acetylsalicylic acid has no effects on various isolated immune cells in vitro.

In addition to the well known biological effects of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), its stimulating effect on the immune system has recently been described. In the present study, therefore, the influence of ASA on isolated leucocytes was investigated in vitro. Various concentrations of ASA, representing therapeutic concentrations, had neither an inhibitory nor a stimulating influence on the cytotoxicity of CD16-positive cells. The phytohaemagglutinin-induced proliferation of lymphocytes and the phagocytosis activity of monocytes and neutrophilic granulocytes was similarly unaffected. These results would indicate that the immunostimulating effects already described for ASA cannot be examined in isolated leucocytes in vitro and should be attributed to an interaction of various effector cells in vivo.

Aspirin↗
PubMed1993

Acetylsalicylic acid, at high concentrations, inhibits vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation.

The growth of human smooth muscle cells in culture is inhibited by acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). In comparison to control, the proliferation of cells treated with 270 mg/L lysinmono(acetylsalicylate)/30 mg/L glycine was inhibited by 50-90% under different culture conditions. Cell numbers per well (control vs. treated) were as follows: (a) 470,500 +/- 55,890 vs. 24,750 +/- 4,030 (p < 0.002) after 6 days in the presence of 10% fetal calf serum (FCS), (b) 160,500 +/- 9,920 vs. 74,000 (p < 0.001) after 8 days in the presence of 10% human serum; and (c) 387,000 +/- 29,420 vs. 35,250 +/- 1,110 (p < 0.001) after 8 days in the presence of 5% FCS. Significant inhibition of growth by lysinmono(acetylsalicylate) at 90 mg/L was noted only for cultures grown with 10% FCS. Lower concentrations of this drug were ineffective under all culture conditions. Higher dosages of ASA, which would prevent not only platelet aggregation but also smooth muscle cell growth, may therefore be indicated in therapy of patients who undergo percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or coronary artery transplantation.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMed1993

Concerted effects of lipoproteins and angiotensin II on signal transduction processes in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Low-density (LDL) and high-density (HDL3) lipoproteins dose-dependently activate phosphoinositide turnover and elevate cytosolic free Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from either human (microarterioles and aorta) or rat (aorta) sources. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis of cell extracts revealed comparable spectra of inositol phosphate isomers generated in response to either LDL, HDL3, or angiotensin II (Ang II). Thus, lipoproteins and Ang II may use similar, if not identical, signal transduction pathways for the generation and metabolism of inositol phosphates and intracellular Ca2+ mobilization in VSMCs. When Ang II was added in combination with either LDL or HDL3, the phosphoinositide and [Ca2+]i responses of VSMCs were either equal to or even greater than the sum of the effects elicited by the agonists individually. This additivity/synergy between Ang II and the lipoproteins was not accompanied by alteration in the half-maximally effective dose requirements of VSMCs for either Ang II (approximately 2 nmol/L, with or without lipoproteins) or lipoproteins (approximately 50 micrograms/mL for LDL and HDL3, with or without Ang II). Neither short-term (up to 10 minutes) nor long-term (48 hours) exposure of VSMCs to lipoproteins caused desensitization of phospholipase C and intracellular Ca2+ mobilization responses to either Ang II or lipoproteins. Since constant exposure of VSMCs to lipoproteins is a physiological circumstance, and because elevation of [Ca2+]i and activation of phosphoinositide turnover are pivotal events for VSMC contraction and growth, we suggest that the low concentrations of lipoproteins in the vessel intima may play an important role in regulating the response of the vasculature to Ang II.

Angiotensin II↗