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Biomedical subjects

J Herbst

Publications and source records attributed to J Herbst.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Tentative injuries to exposed skin in a homicide case.

A 28-year-old man stabbed both his wife and his 3-year-old son to death, before unsuccessfully attempting to commit suicide. The incident occurred against a background of marital conflict. The child's body exhibited six tentative wounds to the skin in the area of the heart, with no corresponding defects in the overlying clothing, a pattern normally seen only in suicide. Their presence can be explained by the fact that this can be considered an extended suicide, the father's motivation for the killing being comparable to that for true suicide. However, wounds of this nature can be produced in such cases only if the victim is severely limited in his ability to defend himself, here due to the superior physical strength of the father.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Quantitation of alpha2u-globulin in rat kidney cytosol by capillary electrophoresis.

The renal accumulation of alpha2u-globulin has been implicated in the tumorigenicity of many nongenotoxic chemicals to the kidney of the male rat. Several chemicals inducing renal tumors in the male rat were shown to bind to alpha2u-globulin. This binding impairs the renal degradation of alpha2u-globulin, resulting in lysosomal overload, cell death, increased cell proliferation, and, presumably, renal tumor formation. To support the role of alpha2u-globulin accumulation in the renal toxicity of a chemical, a demonstration of the accumulation of this protein in the kidney of the male rat is one prerequisite. Monoclonal antibodies to alpha2u-globulin are available for quantifying alpha2u-globulin content; however, the procedure is time-consuming and complicated. We developed a method for the quantitation of alpha2u-globulin in renal cytosol using capillary electrophoresis. Renal cytosol fractions were analyzed by capillary electrophoresis as protein-SDS complexes. Using alpha2u-globulin purified from urine of male rats, the limit of detection was 10 microg/ml sample in routine analyses. Excellent run to run reproducibility in migration time (CV </= 4%) and peak areas corresponding to alpha2u-globulin (CV </= 3%) after normalization to the internal standard was observed. Significant increases in renal alpha2u-globulin content (up to 85% of total protein content) compared to controls (approx 15%) were observed in kidney cytosol of rats treated with alpha2u-globulin nephropathy-inducing agents such as trimethylpentane or the alkylphosphonates dimethyl methylphosphonate and diethyl ethylphosphonate, but not in kidney cytosol of male rats treated with tris-(2-chloroethyl)phosphate or the nephrotoxic agent hexachlorobutadiene. A good correlation of the alpha2u-globulin contents determined by capillary electrophoresis and immunoblotting with an alpha2u-globulin-specific antibody (r2 = 0.997) was obtained. Capillary electrophoresis provides a simple, rapid, and highly reproducible quantitation of alpha2u-globulin accumulation for renal tumorigens and may assist in the risk assessment process for these chemicals.

Alpha-Globulins↗
PubMed1999

Systolic blood pressure within an intermediate range may reduce memory loss in an elderly hypertensive cohort.

The objective of this study was to determine if maintenance of systolic blood pressure (BP) within a high range or low range among treated hypertensive patients increases the risk of memory decline. Biennial neuropsychological evaluations were performed on 158 hypertensive subjects. Decline/year was measured on the Cued Selective Reminding test (total free recall and delayed recall) in three systolic BP groups (low-i.e., mean systolic BP during the follow-up period < 135 mm Hg; intermediate-i.e., 135 mm Hg < or = mean systolic BP < or = 150 mm Hg; high-i.e., mean systolic BP > 150 mm Hg). In total free recall, the three systolic BP groups had significantly different declines per year (P = .02), with patients in the high subgroup showing the greatest decline. In delayed recall, the three systolic BP groups also showed significantly different declines per year (P = .04), with patients in the low subgroup having the greatest decline. Chronically elevated systolic BP > 150 mm Hg is associated with accelerated memory decline compared to older treated hypertensive patients with systolic BP in an intermediate range. Chronically maintained systolic BP within a low normal range < 135 mm Hg in older treated hypertensive subjects may be associated with accelerated memory decline, specifically in a test of delayed memory recall, compared to patients with systolic BP in an intermediate range. Optimal regulation of systolic BP may be a potential modifiable risk factor to prevent or minimize memory loss in older hypertensive patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Fourier transform infrared double-flash experiments resolve bacteriorhodopsin's M1 to M2 transition.

The orientation of the central proton-binding site, the protonated Schiff base, away from the proton release side to the proton uptake side is crucial for the directionality of the proton pump bacteriorhodopsin. It has been proposed that this movement, called the reprotonation switch, takes place in the M1 to M2 transition. To resolve the molecular events in this M1 to M2 transition, we performed double-flash experiments. In these experiments a first pulse initiates the photocycle and a second pulse selectively drives bR molecules in the M intermediate back into the BR ground state. For short delay times between initiating and resetting pulses, most of the M molecules being reset are in the M1 intermediate, and for longer delay times most of the reset M molecules are in the M2 intermediate. The BR-M1 and BR-M2 difference spectra are monitored with nanosecond step-scan Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Because the Schiff base reprotonation rate is kM1 = 0.8 x 10(7) s(-1) in the light-induced M1 back-reaction and kM2 = 0.36 x 10(7) s(-1) in the M2 back-reaction, the two different M intermediates represent two different proton accessibility configurations of the Schiff base. The results show only a minute movement of one or two peptide bonds in the M1 to M2 transition that changes the interaction of the Schiff base with Y185. This backbone movement is distinct from the larger one in the subsequent M to N transition. No evidence of a chromophore isomerization is seen in the M1 to M2 transition. Furthermore, the results show time-resolved reprotonation of the Schiff base from D85 in the M photo-back-reaction, instead of from D96, as in the conventional cycle.

Bacteriorhodopsins↗
PubMed1996

How to differentiate between T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma and lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's disease. Evidence for the value of MB1 and 4KB5 immunostaining.

Striking morphological similarities exist between T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma and lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's disease (Hodgkin's paragranuloma), making the distinction between them extremely difficult. Immunohistochemistry provides a means of overcoming this difficulty. Immunostaining with UCHL1, L26, MB1, and 4KB5 was performed on five T-cell-rich B-cell lymphomas and 11 Hodgkin's paragranulomas (7/11 nodular, 4/11 diffuse). L26 stained the tumour cells not only of T-cell-rich B-cell lymphomas, but also of L+H Hodgkin's disease. In contrast, MB1 as well as 4KB5 identified all of the neoplastic cells in 3/5 T-cell-rich B-cell lymphomas, but did not react with the L+H cells in 8/11 Hodgkin's paragranulomas. Some overlap of staining patterns became apparent in the remaining cases, with 2/5 T-cell-rich B-cell lymphomas showing the MB1+/4KB5+ phenotype in a tumor cell subset only. Similarly, in 3/11 Hodgkin's paragranulomas, some MB1/4KB5-positive L+H cells occurred in addition to MB1/4KB5-negative L+H cells. These cases, nevertheless, could be distinguished from one another by the numbers of MB1/4KB5-positive background lymphocytes, which were scanty or absent in T-cell-rich B-cell lymphomas and more numerous in Hodgkin's paragranulomas.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Decreased adrenal sex steroid levels in the absence of glucocorticoid suppression in postmenopausal asthmatic women.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Reduction of serum sex steroid levels has been reported to occur after the administration of beta-adrenergic medication. In that beta-adrenergic blockade is a central pathophysiologic feature of asthma, this study was done to explore the possibility of hormonal alteration in asthma. METHODS: Sex steroids obtained from 22 postmenopausal asthmatic and 22 age-matched, postmenopausal, nonasthmatic women were assayed. No subject had received estrogens, progestins, or oral corticosteroids for 120 days before the study. RESULTS: Mean dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS; p < 0.002), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA; p < 0.03), estradiol (p < 0.02), and estrone (p < 0.02) levels were lower in asthmatic patients compared with nonasthmatic subjects. Results could not be accounted for by current medication. Patients with asthma demonstrated no decrease in 17-hydroxyprogesterone or cortisol compared with nonasthmatic subjects, limiting findings to the delta 5, and not the delta 4, steroidogenic pathway. In a second phase of the study, DHEAS was measured before and after 3 days of oral beta-agonist stimulation in eight postmenopausal asthmatic women. Serum DHEAS concentration increased in eight of eight subjects, from a mean of 28.6 +/- 19.9 micrograms/dl (mean +/- SD) to 40.7 +/- 24.8 micrograms/dl (p = 0.002). Serum cortisol concentration was unchanged. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that postmenopausal asthmatic women have lower serum levels of adrenally derived sex steroids than their nonasthmatic peers and that this anomaly may be ameliorated by adrenergic stimulation.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
PubMed1994

Role of P4502E1 in the metabolism of 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)-ethane.

1. The metabolism of 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)-ethane (HFE), a prospective chlorofluorocarbon alternative, was studied in rat and human liver microsomes and in rat in vivo. 2. HFE was metabolized to inorganic fluoride, trifluoroacetaldehyde hydrate, trifluoroacetic acid and difluoroacetic acid, which were identified by 19F-nmr in microsomal incubation. After i.p. dosing with 200 mg/kg HFE to rat, trifluoroacetic acid and trifluoroacetaldehyde hydrate were identified as urinary metabolites. 3. The formation of inorganic fluoride from HFE was used to quantify oxidative metabolism. In liver microsomes from untreated rat, formation of inorganic fluoride could not be detected. However, microsomes from rats treated with P4502E1 (2E1) inducers ethanol and pyridine catalysed the formation of fluoride at different rates. The extent of fluoride formation in microsomes correlated with the amount of 2E1 protein as determined by immunoblots with a polyclonal antibody and with the extent of oxidation of p-nitrophenol and chlorzoxazone, two specific substrates for 2E1. 4. In different samples of human liver microsomes, the formation of inorganic fluoride correlated well with the ability of the microsomes to oxidize chlorzoxazone and p-nitrophenol and the amount of 2E1 protein as determined by immunoblots. 5. The obtained results suggest that 2E1 plays a major role in the metabolism of HFE in rat and man.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Dimensions of anger-hostility and cardiovascular reactivity in provoked and angered men.

This study investigated the relationship between two dimensions of anger-hostility--the expression of anger-hostility and the experience of anger-hostility--and cardiovascular reactivity in provoked and angered men. A serial subtraction task was administered to 41 male undergraduates who were provoked and angered. A measure of the expression of anger-hostility correlated positively and significantly with systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) reactivity. There were no significant correlations between a measure of the experience of anger-hostility and cardiovascular reactivity. The two types of anger-hostility were also found to relate differentially to life-style variables that have been identified as risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD), with only the expression of anger-hostility showing positive relationships with these life-style CHD risk factors. These findings are discussed within the context of a similar differential relationship between the two dimensions of anger-hostility and CAD and CHD. Finally, significant negative relationships were obtained between the experience of anger-hostility and resting BP and heart rate levels. These findings are discussed within the context of other data suggesting that trait anxiety-neuroticism may have protective properties.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Robinow syndrome with parental consanguinity.

We describe the clinical features of Robinow syndrome in the first child of a consanguineous Turkish couple. This observation supports the view that severe vertebral anomalies are a feature of the autosomal-recessive form of Robinow syndrome.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1986

Further linkage data on cystic fibrosis: the Utah Study.

We reported earlier complete linkage between cystic fibrosis and an RFLP of the met proto-oncogene revealed by the probe pmetH. Another clone, pmetD, detects another polymorphism with the TaqI restriction enzyme. Further linkage studies, now involving 22 families, have confirmed the tight linkage of cystic fibrosis to the MET and D7S8 loci. Significant allelic association was found between CF and allelic series defined by the pmetH probe.

Alleles↗
PubMed1985

Focal and diffuse liver disease studied by quantitative microstructural sonography.

Quantitative microstructural sonography differs from conventional sonography in several ways. The frequency as well as the amplitude of echoes is recorded and assessed using spectral analysis techniques. The effects of diffraction of the ultrasound beam are calibrated, as are the transfer characteristics of the system. Studies of patients with alcoholic liver disease revealed significantly increased attenuation, heterogeneity of scatterers, and local scattering strength in those with severe disease; in contrast, patients with mild cirrhosis exhibited decreased local scattering strength compared to normal individuals. Using retrospective three-parameter discriminant analysis, 23 out of 24 patients were successfully categorized, suggesting that the parameters used were capable of measuring microstructural changes associated with these disease states. Parameters varied widely among 6 types of hepatic tumors, suggesting that this method may offer promise in distinguishing tumors from normal cases and alcoholic liver disease as well as from each other. Further applications and evaluation of this method appear justified.

Adenoma, Bile Duct↗
PubMed1985

[Clinical picture in patients with 46,X,i(Xq) karyotype. Are there differences from Turner syndrome?].

Clinical presentation in 2 patients with 46,X,i(Xq)-Karyotype are described. In both cases no mosaicism could be detected. The two patients show the classical features of gonadal dysgenesis: short stature, sexual infantilism and primary amenorrhea due to streak ovaries. Other characteristic somatic manifestations of the Turner syndrome such as webbing of the neck, however, were missing. In one of the two cases a Hashimoto's thyroiditis was present, which has been repeatedly reported before in the literature in cases with 46,X,i(Xq)-karyotype.

Adult↗