Acute pancreatitis in Crohn's disease due to 5-ASA therapy.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Acute Disease↗
Biomedical subjects
M Müller
Publications and source records attributed to M Müller.
The hydrogenosome.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Random perturbation of systematic degeneracies and their Fourier transforms and periodic orbits.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Journal Article↗
Translocation of precytochrome c2 into intracytoplasmic membrane vesicles of Rhodobacter capsulatus requires a peripheral membrane protein.
Rhodobacter capsulatus is a member of the group of alpha-purple bacteria which are closely related to the ancestral endosymbiont that gave rise to mitochondria. It has therefore been hypothesized that the molecular mechanisms governing protein export in alpha-purple bacteria have been conserved during the evolution of mitochondria. To enable analysis of protein export in alpha-purple bacteria we describe here the development of a homologous cell-free synthesis/export system consisting entirely of components of R. capsulatus. Translocation of precytochrome c2 into intracytoplasmic membrane vesicles of this organism was found to require the proton-motive force and proceed at a significantly higher efficiency when membranes were present during protein synthesis. Furthermore, we show that, in this cell-free system, translocation depends on a preparation of peripheral membrane proteins which do not possess detectable SecA- and SecB-like activities.
Bacterial Proteins↗
Immunohistochemical demonstration of L-ornithine decarboxylase enzyme protein in different areas of the developing human brain.
L-Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), the rate-limiting enzyme of polyamine biosynthesis and thus a unique marker of the proliferation and maturation processes, has been localized by means of immunohistochemistry in the human central nervous system. The enzyme protein has not only been found in the developing nervous system but also in the adult brain. The first immunopositive neuroblasts occurred in the 15th week of gravidity, whereas an increasing number of structures in the medulla oblongata and cerebellum showed ODC immunoreactivity in weeks 18-24 of gravidity. ODC immunoreactivity was revealed in multiple neurons and in the ependymal lining of ventricles. In the adult human brain ODC immunoreactivity was found in the hippocampus and in the spinal cord. In no case were immunoreactive glial cells observed.
Adolescent↗
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontal lobe dementia in Alzheimer's disease. Case report and review of the literature.
Clinicopathological data of a woman with a 3-year course of concurrent amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and dementia are presented. Dementia had occurred at time of onset of motor disturbances and presented as typical frontal lobe dementia. Pathology confirmed motor neuron disease of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontal lobe atrophy. Multiple senile plaques were distributed cortically and in the hippocampus, where diffuse spread of neurofibrillary tangles was seen. Hence, this Alzheimer's dementia in a patient with sporadic amyotrophic lateral raises the question of a possible association between the two conditions.
Alzheimer Disease↗
The uptake of uridine in the nucleolus occurs in the dense fibrillar component. Immunogold localization of incorporated digoxigenin-UTP at the electron microscopic level.
A new method was developed to localize the site of transcription within the nucleolus. Incorporation of digoxigenin-labeled UTP in nucleoli of human PHA-stimulated lymphocytes and in equine melanoma cells was visualized with antibodies against digoxigenin and secondary gold-labeled antibodies at the electron-microscopic level. This approach offers much higher spatial resolution than the autoradiographic methods used so far. In both types of cells digoxigenin-UTP was incorporated mainly into the dense fibrillar component; the fibrillar centers, in contrast, did not display significant labeling above background levels. This finding corroborates the view that the dense fibrillar component is the site of RNA transcription in the nucleolus.
Animals↗
Human alpha 1-antichymotrypsin of pancreatic origin carries blood group determinants.
alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin was detected as a minor but normal component of pancreatic juice and found, with the aid of monoclonal antibodies and lectins, to differ from serum alpha 1-antichymotrypsin with respect to its carbohydrate moiety. alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin carries blood group determinants, as is typical for glycoproteins of pancreatic origin.
Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
Cryofixation and cryosubstitution: a useful alternative in the analyses of cellular fine structure.
A study of the fine structure of cultured mouse P815 cells as well as of mouse liver tissue after having undergone cryofixation and cryosubstitution is reported here. The P815 cells were cryofixed by a projection onto a liquid nitrogen (LN2), or liquid helium (LHe), cooled copper mirror: the liver tissue was processed (cryofixed) by high pressure freezing using a Balzers HPM 010 apparatus. No conventional chemical fixatives were used in the substitution medium which consisted of pure acetone. Embedding was carried out either in Lowicryl K11M, Lowicryl HM23, Epon or in LR White resins. The results of this study enabled us to conclude that a) one can obtain good preservation of cellular ultrastructure using different cryofixation methods and cryosubstitution without the use of chemical fixatives: b) different methods of embedding can be applied after various cryofixation techniques giving rise to slight differences in the well preserved fine structure; and c) high pressure freezing is to be recommended, in cryosubstitution studies, over that of slam freezing especially when cryofixing larger pieces of tissue which can result in a good morphology of up to 400 microns in depth.
Animals↗
The humoral immune response to p53 in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma is specific for malignancy and independent of the alpha-fetoprotein status.
Recently, p53 gene aberrations have been recognized as a relevant factor in hepatocarcinogenesis, in tumors from both high-risk and low-risk areas. Because p53 gene mutations typically result in increased p53 levels in tumor cells, this cellular protein might become immunogenic during tumor development. To test this hypothesis, we have analyzed sera from 80 European patients with hepatocellular carcinoma for the presence of p53 antibodies. For this purpose we developed an immunoblot assay using recombinant p53 as antigen. Sixty-seven sera from patients with different acute and chronic liver diseases were used as controls. In addition, serum alpha-fetoprotein assays were performed. Circulating antibodies against p53 were found in 25% (20 of 80) of the sera from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma but not in various nonmalignant liver diseases. The association of p53 antibodies with malignancy was highly significant (p < 0.00003). In 73.8% (59 of 80) of the hepatocellular carcinoma sera the alpha-fetoprotein levels were elevated. Among the 21 alpha-fetoprotein-negative hepatocellular carcinoma sera, 5 were found to contain p53 antibodies (23.8%). In conclusion, an antibody response against p53 developed in a significant proportion of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma but not in those with nonmalignant liver diseases. Serological testing for p53 antibodies gives the opportunity to identify a subgroup of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma not detected by conventional tests for serum alpha-fetoprotein.
Adult↗
Carotid artery disease in vascular ocular syndromes.
We prospectively investigated 83 consecutive patients with vascular ocular syndromes: 19 suffered from amaurosis fugax attacks, 23 had occlusions of the central retinal artery or a branch retinal artery occlusion, 26 had a central retinal vein occlusion or a branch retinal vein occlusion, and another 15 exhibited an anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. In 5 patients bilateral symptoms occurred; thus a total of 88 eyes were affected. All patients underwent a neurological examination and ultrasound investigations of the carotid arteries, including continuous wave (cw)-Doppler-sonography and duplex ultrasound. Stenosis of more than 50% diameter reduction and occlusion of the internal carotid artery ipsilateral to the symptomatic eye were significantly more frequent in amaurosis fugax attacks and central or branch retinal artery occlusion than in central or branch retinal vein occlusion or anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (p < .025). Additionally, the analysis of plaque surface and echogenicity of the plaques on the affected side with a high-resolution duplex scan uncovered that ulcerated plaque surfaces and plaques with a heterogeneous echogenicity were found significantly more frequent in the internal carotid arteries of patients with amaurosis fugax attacks and central or branch retinal artery occlusions than in patients with anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (p < .04) or central and branch retinal vein occlusion (p < .025). We conclude that amaurosis fugax attacks and central retinal artery or branch retinal artery occlusions are due to arterio-arterial embolization from ulcerated and heterogeneous carotid artery plaques.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Aged↗
Low-tension glaucoma: a comparative study with retinal ischemic syndromes and anterior ischemic optic neuropathy.
In low-tension glaucoma (LTG), nerve-fiber-bundle defects are assumed to result from ischemia of the choroidal branches of the posterior ciliary arteries, due either to local vascular changes or, presumably, hemodynamically occlusive carotid artery disease. To study the possible hemodynamical origin of LTG, we examined and compared, clinically and by ultrasound (continuous-wave Doppler and duplex-scanning), the extracranial carotid arteries of (1) 21 patients (34 eyes) with LTG, (2) 48 patients (49 eyes) with retinal ischemic syndromes (RIS), and (3) 15 patients (17 eyes) with anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION). High-grade stenoses and occlusions of the internal carotid arteries ipsilateral to the affected eyes were significantly more frequent in the RIS patients (17 of 49) than in the LTG patients (2 of 34; P < .01) and the AION patients (0 of 17; P < .01). Among our relatively small group of LTG patients, we found no striking evidence supporting a hemodynamic origin of LTG.
Aged↗
Anticonvulsant and related effects of U-54494A in various seizure tests.
The anticonvulsant activity of (+-)-cis-3,4-dichloro-N-methyl-N-[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl]-benz am ide monohydrochloride (U-54494A), a benzamide derivative chemically related to kappa opioid receptor agonists, was investigated in three selected seizure models of experimental epilepsy. In the maximal electroshock seizure test in mice, U-54494A (ED50 28 mg/kg i.p.) was effective, with a potency somewhat less than phenobarbital. In combination with clinically used antiepileptics, especially phenobarbital and carbamazepine, the anticonvulsant activity of the latter was significantly increased. More detailed studies with phenobarbital showed additive anticonvulsant effects. The anticonvulsant activity of U-54494A was partially antagonized by naloxone. On the other hand, this compound did not elevate the pentylenetetrazol seizure threshold (at high doses a tendency of proconvulsant action was seen). Furthermore, in unrestrained rats with chronically implanted electrodes, U-54494A (> or = 10 mg/kg) significantly reduced the duration of electrically evoked hippocampal afterdischarges. However, the focal stimulation threshold was not markedly increased. With respect to the possible mode of action, whole-cell voltage-clamp experiments on cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes showed that U-54494A depressed the fast sodium inward current in a concentration- and frequency-dependent manner. In summary, our results agree with earlier reports that demonstrated marked anticonvulsant effects of U-54494A in grand mal-analogous seizure tests. Moreover, in combination with some standard antiepileptics, additive effects can be found. It is suggested that, in addition to kappa opioid and excitatory amino acid receptor related effects, modulations of Na+ membrane currents may contribute to the mechanisms of action.
Animals↗
[Abortions in a lower Austrian sheep facility caused by Coxiella burnetii].
In a flock of sheep the causal connection between abortions and the infection with Coxiella burnetii is demonstrated serologically, bacteriologically and by pathological examination. In order to identify C. burnetii as causing agent in case of abortions the submission of placental parts in addition to the fetus, in combination with a serological control of the flock, is recommended. To check the seroprevalence of C. burnetii in the region concerned random blood samples of 12 flocks were taken and analysed by CFT. At least 10 samples per herd, taken from animals more than 1 year old, were examined. Positive titers were found in 5.6% of the checked animals which originated from 6 different flocks. Health risks of different groups of the human population are being discussed.
Abortion, Veterinary↗
[Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi serum antibodies in 651 patients with predominantly neurologic diseases].
An analysis was undertaken to the records of 651 patients (median age 51 years, range 1-91; 334 male and 317 female patients), who were admitted for various reasons to the department of neurology and psychosomatics of the county hospital in Villach (Kärnten, Austria), over the period of one year. The clinical diagnoses were mostly neurological and psychiatric (n = 599), involving 25 different conditions. Other diagnoses (n = 52) comprised a group of 13 various conditions. Sera of all these patients were tested for antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi. Overall seropositivity was 37.8%. Seropositivity increased significantly with age (p < 0.01). Seroprevalence exceeded 40% in patients with meningitis, paresis of the cranial nerves, cervical syndrome, pareses and sponylitis. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was raised in 37.9% of cases which was not related to seropositivity. ESR was significantly increased in patients with lumbago (p < 0.01) and with arthritis (p < 0.05). Antibiotics and dosages used were recorded in 164 cases. All these cases improved after therapy. Of 81 patients with a history of tick bite, 43 (53%) were seropositive. This is a significantly higher incidence than that of patients without tick bites (p < 0.01). The retrospective evaluation of patients' records showed that anamnestic and clinical findings alone do not suffice to establish the specific diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis and, hence, do not provide the indication of appropriate therapy. Furthermore, the mere demonstration of serum antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi does not give information on the current state of infection. In case of a suspected Borrelia burgdorferi infection confirmatory tests are needed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Adolescent↗
Progress in scanning electron microscopy of frozen-hydrated biological specimens.
Modern scanning electron microscopy yields structural information down to 2 to 5 nm from thin, beam transparent biological specimens. This paper examines the possibilities of garnering this level of structural information from bulk, frozen-hydrated samples. Freeze-fractured, frozen-hydrated yeast cells, frequently taken as a yardstick to monitor progress in low-temperature scanning electron microscopy, have been used to optimize both metal shadowing methods and observation parameters (e.g. accelerating voltage, electron beam irradiation of the specimen). Uncoated frozen-hydrated yeast cells do not change electrically at an accelerating voltage of 30 kV. Increasing charging effects are however observed with decreasing accelerating voltages. Very thin metal films are therefore used for specimen coating to localize and enhance the specific secondary electron signal. Planar-magnetron sputtering of a 1 nm metal layer provides high resolution secondary electron images, at 30 kV, of freeze-fractured, frozen-hydrated yeast cells in an in-lens field-emission scanning electron microscope. Structural information comparable to that of transmission electron microscopy of freeze-fractures is attained. Planar-magnetron sputtering of either chromium, tungsten or platinum results in essentially the same information density (smallest visible significant structural detail). Frozen-hydrated samples are very beam sensitive and have to be observed under minimum dose conditions.
Cryopreservation↗
[Endoparasites--prevention in ungulates in fenced enclosures: experiences with a pilot project in the Dählhölzli Zoo in Bern].
In the animal zoo Dählhölzli Berne all ungulates are continuously monitored since 1984 (qualitatively and quantitatively) in the context of an epidemiological study on gastrointestinal strongyles. Fecal sampling occurs every two weeks in the "parasite risk group", every four to six weeks in the so called "non-risk group". Risk group-animals repeatedly show increased fecal egg counts, whereas among non-risk group-animals only ascarid eggs in Przewalski-horses and wild boars can become significant. The animals are treated (metaphylactically) only at a high egg production or at a steadily increasing egg production. A resulting slight but constant reinfection allows the build-up of an immunity, leading thereby to a decreased frequency of treatment. During the monitoring period (1984-1990) only four animals out of 80 post-mortem analysed animals had a diagnoses of an endoparasitoses as a cause of death.
Animals↗
Influence of propranolol enantiomers on the pentetrazol kindling development in rats.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Animals↗