Ginzburg-Landau theory of ternary amphiphilic systems. I. Gaussian interface fluctuations.
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Journal Article↗
Biomedical subjects
M Kraus
Publications and source records attributed to M Kraus.
Ginzburg-Landau theory of ternary amphiphilic systems. II. Monte Carlo simulations.
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Journal Article↗
Emergence of self-organization in tumor cells: relevance for diagnosis and therapy.
The cell is a complex system functioning outside a thermodynamic equilibrium. The prediction of cellular functions based exclusively on molecular evidence is still impossible because of the large number of interacting molecules and the nonlinear interactions between cellular subsystems. The system cell displays a surprisingly small spectrum of macroscopically observable degrees of freedom. Their number and characteristics, however, are different in normal and neoplastic growth. As illustrated by image analytical, microanalytical and other cell biological data we demonstrate that certain cellular observables--termed order parameters--may serve as indicators for normal and neoplastic growth. The data indicate that the transition between normal and neoplastic growth can be understood as a phase transition of the mitogenic signalling network. In this interpretation, the order parameters of normal and neoplastic cells are the result of cellular self-organization.
Cell Communication↗
[Importance of ultrasound in postoperative follow-up after reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament].
Eighty-eight male patients following reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL; mean 24 months since operation) had a thorough clinical examination including instrumented measurement of laxity using the KT 1000. These results were correlated with an ultrasound (US) grading that evaluates the reconstruction itself as well as its functional behaviour during the anterior drawer test. Thirty-four magnetic resonance (MR) studies of 33 patients were available. Undoubtedly postoperative visualization of the reconstructed ACL is superior to that of both normal control ACL and acute trauma cases. Especially operative procedures which use the patellar or semitendinosus tendon lend themselves to accurate evaluation of the intraarticular reconstruction. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and overall accuracy of US/MR versus the clinical laxity measurement are calculated to be 66.7%/96.0%, 71.2%%/23.8%, 59.5%/60.0%, 77.1%/83.3% and 69.4%/63.0% respectively. US has a satisfactory diagnostic value and performs similarly well on all these parameters. MR, on the other hand, correctly diagnoses nearly all unstable knees but is associated with a high number of false positives. There is no statistically significant, linear correlation between MR and US; r = -0.0769, P = 0.6706. Only three times did the reconstructed ACL appear normal on MR, whereas 48.5% of the reconstructions were graded type I (normal) on US. Clinical Consequences: Ultrasound and MRT should not be considered rival but rather complementary methods: ultrasound is a good method for documenting changes within the knee joint on an outpatient basis, while the indications for MR in the postoperative course are any occurrences of pain, instability or reinjury.
Adult↗
S. Suzuki et al.: Ultrasound diagnosis of pathology of the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments of the knee joint.
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Anterior Cruciate Ligament↗
[Modeling in biology. Structured analysis of intracellular calcium oscillations in electrically non-excitable cells].
In this paper a systematic approach to the mathematical modeling of intracellular Ca2+ oscillations is introduced. After a structured analysis a stochastic model of the system is derived which is numerically tractable by means of a stochastic simulation. A critical discussion of theoretical models for Ca2+ oscillations reveals that not all of the proposed mechanisms are consistent with experimental data. In addition, a model for oscillatory calcium waves is presented. Uncovering these mechanisms facilitates the design of anti-mitotic drugs interfering with Ca2+ metabolism.
Animals↗
Central nervous system complications secondary to oto-rhinologic infections. An analysis of 39 pediatric cases.
Fifty-eight central nervous system complications were noted in 39 pediatric patients with a primary oto-rhinological infection. The ages ranged from 1 to 15 years. Eleven patients (25%) had more than one complication. 12.8% of the cases died. Leptomeningitis was the most common intracranial complication (54%) Lateral sinus thrombosis (LST) occurring in 10 patients (26%) was accompanied with other intracranial abnormalities in 80% of cases. Brain abscess as an initial or concomitant complication was associated with the highest mortality rates (40%). In two of these fatal cases multiple brain abscesses were detected. The low incidence of intracranial infections secondary to oto-rhinologic infections and the masking effect of antibiotics present difficulties in the early recognition of the CNS complication. Despite the value of the modern imaging techniques in the investigation of the CNS complication, the clinical oto-rhinologic examination is of paramount importance in detecting the original infection in the pneumatic spaces of the upper respiratory tract. Additionally, bone scans were found of value in demonstrating the osteitic process of these cases.
Adolescent↗
Structured Biological Modelling: a method for the analysis and simulation of biological systems applied to oscillatory intracellular calcium waves.
In biology signal and information processing networks are widely known. Due to their inherent complexity and non-linear dynamics the time evolution of these systems can not be predicted by simple plausibility arguments. Fortunately, the power of modern computers allows the simulation of complex biological models. Therefore the problem becomes reduced to the question of how to develop a consistent mathematical model which comprises the essentials of the real biological system. As an interface between the phenomenological description and a computer simulation of the system the proposed method of Structured Biological Modelling (SBM) uses top-down levelled dataflow diagrams. They serve as a powerful tool for the analysis and the mathematical description of the system in terms of a stochastic formulation. The stochastic treatment, regarding the time evolution of the system as a stochastic process governed by a master equation, circumvents most difficulties arising from high dimensional and non-linear systems. As an application of SBM we develop a stochastic computer model of intracellular oscillatory Ca2+ waves in non-excitable cells. As demonstrated on this example, SBM can be used for the design of computer experiments which under certain conditions can be used as cheap and harmless counterparts to the usual time-consuming biological experiments.
Calcium↗
Detection of human anti-annexin autoantibodies by enzyme immunoassays.
Annexins belong to a family of proteins characterized by calcium-dependent binding to the cytoskeleton and phospholipid surfaces. Basing on these properties annexins are discussed to be involved in the regulation of cytodynamic, anticoagulatory and antiinflammatory processes. Since autoantibodies against annexin I had been detected in patients suffering from inflammatory or autoimmune diseases, an impact on the pathophysiological outcome was assumed. Therefore we developed solid phase, enzyme-linked immunoassays for the quantitative determination of autoantibodies directed against six members of the annexin family. Some preliminary results obtained from sera of patients with malignant melanoma show a quite frequent presence of such autoantibodies. These data suggest that autoantibodies are generated against all annexins. Furthermore, in the individual patient autoantibodies of the IgG-type are monospecific, while about 1/4 of the IgM-type are directed against several annexins. These observations imply that for investigation of anti-annexin autoantibodies in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases as well as cancer all members of the annexin family have to be taken into consideration.
Autoantibodies↗
Outpatient management of chronic suppurative otitis media without cholesteatoma in children.
Prolonged antipseudomonal parenteral antibiotic therapy combined with daily aural toilet has been effective in resolving long standing ear discharge in children with chronic suppurative otitis media. However, such treatment suffered from the disadvantages of prolonged hospitalization. We conducted a prospective study to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of exclusive outpatient treatment of children with chronic suppurative otitis media without cholesteatoma who had failed ototopical/oral antimicrobial therapy. The treatment consisted of daily aural toilet (suction and debridement) and twice daily parenteral ceftazidime (50 mg/kg/dose). Thirty-seven children were included. The duration of discharge from the ear before treatment was 6 to 121 months (median, 30 months). Aerobic cultures yielded Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 97%, often with other organisms. The management and follow-up were performed jointly by otolaryngology and infectious diseases physicians using the hospital ambulatory services. The route of ceftazidime administration (intravenous or intramuscular) was chosen according to the parents' and patients' convenience. Discharge stopped within 3 to 20 days (median, 8 days) in all children but one. Seventy-six percent of the 29 children available for follow-up 12 months after treatment were still free of discharge. Our results demonstrate that a regiment combining daily aural toilet and twice daily parenteral ceftazidime is highly efficacious in resolving ear discharge in children with chronic suppurative otitis media without cholesteatoma and that such a regimen does not require hospitalization.
Adolescent↗
The effect of early and late cord-clamping on blood viscosity and other hemorheological parameters in full-term neonates.
This study was done to compare postnatal alterations in blood viscosity (capillary viscometer) and its determinants: hematocrit, plasma viscosity (capillary viscometer), red cell aggregation (Myrenne aggregometer) and red cell deformability (rheoscope) in the first five days of postnatal life in full-term neonates with early (< 10 s) and late (3 min) cord-clamping. The fetal blood volume of the placenta ("residual placental blood volume") decreased from 52 +/- 8 ml/kg of neonatal body weight after early cord-clamping to 15 +/- 4 ml/kg after later cord-clamping. Neonatal blood volume, calculated as the difference between an assumed total feto-placental blood volume of 115 ml/kg and the measured fetal blood volume of the placenta, was 50% higher in the late cord-clamped infants than in the early cord-clamped infants. Both groups showed similar viscosity, hematocrit and other rheological parameters in cord blood. In the infants with early cord-clamping, the hematocrit decreased from 0.48 +/- 0.04 l/l at birth to 0.43 +/- 0.6 l/l after 24 h (p < 0.05). Whole blood viscosity did not change significantly with age. After late cord-clamping, the hematocrit rose from 0.50 +/- 0.04% at birth to 0.63 +/- 0.05 l/l at 2 h of age (p < 0.005) and dropped to 0.59 +/- 0.5 l/l (p < 0.05) at 24 h. Blood viscosity increased by 40% (p < 0.001) within the first 2 h, but did not change significantly during the following five days. In both groups, plasma viscosity and red cell aggregation increased significantly (p < 0.05) on day 5 due to significant increases in total plasma protein and fibrinogen concentrations (p < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Blood Proteins↗
rps10, unreported for plastid DNAs, is located on the cyanelle genome of Cyanophora paradoxa and is cotranscribed with the str operon genes.
rps10, encoding the plastid ribosomal protein S10, is a nuclear gene in higher plants and green algae, and is missing from the large ribosomal protein gene cluster of chlorophyll b-type plastids that contains components of the prokaryotic S10, spc and alpha operons. The cyanelle genome of Cyanophora paradoxa is shown to harbor rps10 as another specific feature of its organization. However, this novel plastid gene is not contiguous with the genes of the "S10" operon, but is adjacent to, and cotranscribed with, the str operon, a trait also found in archaebacteria.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Measurement of head compression during labor: preliminary results.
To study the pressure to which the fetal head is exposed during the second stage of labor, an instrument was designed to measure continuously the pressure between the presenting part and the birth canal on both sides of the fetal head. Pressure parameters during and between the uterine contractions were calculated from 42 spontaneous vertex deliveries presenting as occiput anterior. During the second stage the overall average of the mean maximum head pressure during uterine contraction was 31.8 +/- 11.0 kPa, that of the mean head pressure measured 13.3 +/- 4.8 kPa during uterine contraction and 5.5 +/- 3.7 kPa during the interval between contractions. The pressure on the fetal head was about twice as high as the amniotic pressure. It increased towards the end of labor. The objective measurement of fetal head pressure is the prerequisite in the study of the relationship between birth-related injuries and excessive head compression during parturition.
Adult↗
Pressures on the fetal head during normal labor.
The pressure recordings from both parietal regions of the fetal head during the second stage of labor of 44 spontaneous deliveries with vertex presentation were evaluated and compared to the simultaneously recorded pressures in the amniotic cavity by calculating pressure parameters during and between uterine contractions. Analysis of the bearing down period revealed on the average higher values at the anterior side in comparison to the posterior side of the skull. This is explained by the complex anatomy of the curved birth canal. Overall, the head pressure values averaged from the recordings of both parietal regions were about twice as high as the corresponding amniotic pressure values. During the descend of the head through the birth canal, an increase of pressure on the fetal head was observed that is mainly due to the rising resistance of the narrowing pelvis and stretched tissue of the passageway. A marked interindividual deviation of head pressure was found that was independent from amniotic pressure variations thus preventing indirect deduction of head strain from internal togography.
Adult↗
CNS complications of ear, nose and throat infections: an analysis of 50 consecutive cases.
Sixty-four diverse central nervous system (CNS) complications were noted in a series of 50 patients initially suffering from an otorhinological infection. Thirty-five patients (70%) were in pediatric age groups (1-15 years). Twelve patients (24%) had more than one complication. Mortality rates were 16% in patients with one CNS complication and 25% in patients with multiple complications. Overall mortality rate was 18%. Leptomeningitis was the most common intracranial complication (42%) occurring, mainly in pediatric patients. Lateral sinus thrombosis (LST) was accompanied with other intracranial abnormalities in 72% of the cases. Brain abscess as an initial or concomitant complication was associated with the highest mortality rates (44%). Three of these fatal cases had multiple brain abscess. The rarity of intracranial suppurations secondary to ear and nose infections and the masking effect of the antibiotics bring difficulties in the early detection of CNS complications. Although the modern imaging techniques contribute to the recognition and localization of the intracranial pathology, the clinical investigation is still of paramount importance in detection of the original infection in the pneumatic spaces of the upper respiratory tract.
Adolescent↗
The petFI gene encoding ferredoxin I is located close to the str operon on the cyanelle genome of Cyanophora paradoxa.
The petFI gene encoding ferredoxin I was localized in the large single copy region of cyanelle DNA by heterologous hybridization. Sequence analysis revealed an ORF of 99 amino acids (including the N-terminal processed methionine) at a position 477 bp from the 3' end of tufA but on the opposite strand. The 25 amino-terminal residues well corresponded to partial sequences obtained with purified cyanelle ferredoxin. The assignment of yet another gene that is not found on the genomes of chlorophyll b-type plastids to cyanelle DNA again corroborates the special position of cyanelles serving as a model for plastid evolution from endocytobiotic cyanobacteria.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
The cyanelle str operon from Cyanophora paradoxa: sequence analysis and phylogenetic implications.
The str operon containing the genes for the ribosomal proteins S12 (rps12) and S7 (rps7) and for the elongation factors G (fus) and Tu (tufA) has been characterized for some cyanobacteria and chloroplasts from algae and higher plants. In the case of plastids a stepwise reduction by one and two genes, respectively, has been observed due to gene transfer to the nuclear genome. The nucleotide sequence of the str operon on the cyanelle genome from Cyanophora paradoxa was determined as a first example for a chlorophyll b-less plastid. It comprises rps12, rps7 and tufA which are closely linked and not interrupted by introns. Transcript analysis revealed cotranscription of the two ribosomal protein genes whereas tufA gave rise to a monocistronic mRNA. Phylogenetic studies using these three different traits allowed an assessment of the position of Cyanophora paradoxa among oxygenic photoautotrophs.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Burkitt's lymphoma of the tonsil.
A case of Burkitt's lymphoma involving the tonsil in a 10-year-old Bedouin boy, is presented. The biological behaviour and the clinical presentation of this unusual neoplasm are discussed and the English language literature is reviewed. The diagnosis was made by histological examination, electron microscopy and confirmed by immunohistochemistry. The patient showed an excellent symptomatic response to surgery and chemotherapy.
Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte↗