Biomedical subjects

M Noe

Publications and source records attributed to M Noe.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Oct-4 expression in human endometrium.

The transcription factor Oct-4 is crucial for the maintenance of cell pluripotency and is known to be expressed in embryonic stem cells, germ cells and whole embryos at various stages of development. Oct-4 regulates cell fate in a dose-dependent manner and plays a key role in germ-cell tumours. In the past, several stem-cell markers have been detected, and their role in the pathogenesis of diseases has been discussed frequently. Thus, we investigated the expression of Oct-4 comparing its occurrence in endometrium of healthy and diseased women using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and RT-PCR. IHC demonstrated Oct-4 expression in 25 of 60 sections (42%), respectively in 11 out of 25 patients (44%). Oct-4 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR in all tested samples (9 of 9) of endometrium, although the levels of expression varied. To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating Oct-4 expression in human endometrium.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Adenomyosis in endometriosis--prevalence and impact on fertility. Evidence from magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND: The hypothesis is tested that there is a strong association between endometriosis and adenomyosis and that adenomyosis plays a role in causing infertility in women with endometriosis. METHODS. Magnetic resonance imaging of the uteri was performed in 160 women with and 67 women without endometriosis. The findings were correlated with the stage of the disease, the age of the women and the sperm count parameters of the respective partners. RESULTS: The posterior junctional zone (PJZ) was significantly thicker in women with endometriosis than in those without the disease (P<0.001). There was a positive correlation of the diameter of the PJZ with the stage of the disease and the age of the patients. The PJZ was thicker in patients with endometriosis with fertile than in patients with subfertile partners. The prevalence of adenomyotic lesions in all 160 women with endometriosis was 79%. In women with endometriosis below an age of 36 years and fertile partners, the prevalence of adenomyosis was 90% (P<0.01) CONCLUSIONS: With a prevalence of up to 90%, uterine adenomyosis is significantly associated with pelvic endometriosis and constitutes an important factor of sterility in endometriosis presumably by impairing uterine sperm transport.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Magnesium status and parameters of the oxidant-antioxidant balance in patients with chronic fatigue: effects of supplementation with magnesium.

OBJECTIVE: Magnesium deficiency and oxidative stress have both been identified as pathogenic factors in aging and in several age-related diseases. The link between these two factors is unclear in humans although, in experimental animals, severe Mg deficiency has been shown to lead to increased oxidative stress. METHODS: The relationship between Mg body stores, dietary intakes and supplements on the one hand and parameters of the oxidant-antioxidant balance on the other was investigated in human subjects. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 93 patients with unexplained chronic fatigue (median age 38 years, 25% male, 16% smokers and 54% with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Mg deficient patients (47%) had lower total antioxidant capacity in plasma (p=0.007) which was related to serum albumin. Mg deficient patients whose Mg body stores did not improve after oral supplementation with Mg (10 mg/kg/day) had persistently lower blood glutathione levels (p=0.003). In vitro production of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) by non-HDL lipoproteins incubated with copper was related to serum cholesterol (p<0.001) but not to Mg or antioxidants and did not improve after Mg supplementation. In contrast, velocity of formation of fluorescent products of peroxidation (slope) correlated with serum vitamin E (p<0.001), which was, in turn, related to Mg dietary intakes. Both slope and serum vitamin E improved after Mg supplementation (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These results show that the lower antioxidant capacity found in moderate Mg deficiency was not due to a deficit in Mg dietary intakes and was not accompanied by increased lipid susceptibility to in vitro peroxidation. Nevertheless, Mg supplementation was followed by an improvement in Mg body stores, in serum vitamin E and its interrelated stage of lipid peroxidation.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

The cyclic pattern of the immunocytochemical expression of oestrogen and progesterone receptors in human myometrial and endometrial layers: characterization of the endometrial-subendometrial unit.

Immunocytochemistry of oestrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) expression of the whole uterine muscular wall and the endometrium was performed in order to obtain morphological and functional insights into the regulation of cyclic uterine peristalsis, which is confined to the endometrium and the subendometrial myometrium and serves functions such as rapid and sustained sperm transport. The study revealed that the subendometrial myometrium or stratum subvasculare with a predominantly circular arrangement of muscular fibres exhibits a cyclic pattern of ER and PR expression that parallels that of the endometrium, whereas the outer portion of the uterine wall composed of the stratum vasculare and supravasculare, which represents the bulk of the uterine musculature, does not exhibit a cyclic pattern of ER and PR expression. According to ontogenetic and phylogenetic data from the literature, the outer myometrium is of non-paramesonephric origin with functions confined to parturition, while the inner myometrial layer together with the glandular epithelium and the stroma of the endometrium is of paramesonephric origin with various functions during the cycle in addition to those during pregnancy and parturition. The inner quarter of the stratum vasculare adjacent to the stratum subvasculare constitutes a transitional zone in that the cyclicity of receptor staining becomes, in radial direction, gradually less expressed. Morphologically this zone corresponds to the inner part of the stratum vasculare where its muscular fibres blend with those of the stratum subvasculare.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

The human REC2/RAD51B gene acts as a DNA damage sensor by inducing G1 delay and hypersensitivity to ultraviolet irradiation.

HsRec2/Rad51B is a 350-amino acid protein with a molecular mass of 38,300 Da that appears to be involved in cell cycle regulation and UV-induced apoptosis. The mouse and human genes were isolated based on their homology to a recombinational repair gene from Ustilago maydis and contain functional domains to hRAD51 and hLIM 15 (M. C. Rice et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 94: 7417-7422, 1997). Here, we report the results of studies on the behavior of CHO cells containing a plasmid encoding a wild-type hsRec2/Rad51B, a full-length protein with a single mutation at residue 163, which lies in the putative src site, and a truncated version of hsRec2/Rad51B, containing only the first 100 amino acids at the NH2 terminus. Using fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis to follow the progression of cells through the cell cycle, we find that stable transfectants constitutively overexpressing the wild-type human Rec2/Rad51B protein exhibit a G1 delay. In addition, when irradiated with UV at a dose of 15 J/m2, CHO cells transfected with the various hREC2/RAD51B vectors exhibited different responses. Cells expressing the wild-type human Rec2/Rad51B underwent apoptosis, with the greatest cell death occurring 24 h after irradiation. The control cells, which contained an empty vector, and the cells expressing truncated hsRec2/Rad51B or the full-length Rec2 with a mutation at residue 163 did not. In summary, these findings of cell cycle slowing and UV-induced apoptosis in CHO cells constitutively expressing the human Rec2/Rad51B protein suggest that hsRec2/Rad51B plays a role in a DNA damage surveillance pathway.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Magnesium deficit in a sample of the Belgian population presenting with chronic fatigue.

97 patients (25 per cent males, ages ranging from 14 to 73 years, median 38 years) with complaints of chronic fatigue (chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia or/and spasmophilia) have been enrolled in a prospective study to evaluate the Mg status and the dietary intake of Mg. An IV loading test (performed following the Ryzen protocol) showed a Mg deficit in 44 patients. After Mg supplementation in 24 patients, the loading test showed a significant decrease (p = 0.0018) in Mg retention. Mean values of serum Mg, red blood cell Mg and magnesuria showed no significant difference between patients with or without Mg deficiency. No association was found between Mg deficiency, CFS or FM. However serum Mg level was significantly lower in the patients with spasmophilia than in the other patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

The Bailey-Boushay House: an AIDS facility.

Currently, the cost of caring for an AIDS patient in a nursing facility is about half as much as for the same services provided in a hospital. With the current emphasis on reducing the cost of healthcare, the Bailey-Boushay House serves as a model for others interested in providing specialized care for AIDS patients in a similar setting. If similar facilities are planned there will be opportunities for health information managers to participate in planning for a new, or remodeling an existing, facility. Only an individual's imagination will limit the possibilities.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1991

Modular integrated fluidized bed bioreactor technology.

We describe the design and demonstrate the application of a modular integrated fluidized bed bioreactor system. Basically the system is a reactor vessel equipped with an extending cylinder and a liquid distributor plate. Instead of an external recirculation loop, as used in existing fluidized bed systems, a low shear stress impeller is used as the recirculation pump. The system has several unique features, such as modular exchangeable elements, efficient oxygenation and the option of operating as a stirred tank-, a packed bed- or a fluidized bed reactor. An example of a fluidized bed run using CHO-K1 cells is shown. Under standard culture conditions a 100-fold increase in cell density (up to 1.2 x 10(8) cells/ml) was achieved.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

In vivo sequence variation of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 env gene: evidence for recombination among variants found in a single individual.

To assess in vivo sequence heterogeneity of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) env gene, we used the polymerase chain reaction to amplify proviral sequences present in peripheral blood mononuclear cell DNA of a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The amplified env gene fragment (575 bp) contains the first hypervariable region and part of the first conserved region. Eleven and twelve clones were sequenced, respectively, from specimens collected two months apart. Notable heterogeneity was observed among sequences recovered from both specimens. Also, the proviral population recovered from the first specimen varied significantly from that found in the second specimen. Both specimens contained forms with and without an 18 bp duplication. The presence or absence of this duplication, in addition to several point mutations, appear to define two molecular groups evolving in parallel within this patient. Several genotypes which had sequences characteristic of both groups occurred primarily in the second specimen; these can best be explained by multiple recombinational events between representatives of the two groups during reverse transcription. This study demonstrates that recombination may contribute significantly to the generation of diversity among HIV variants within a single individual.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Molecular characterization of the murine interferon gamma receptor cDNA.

Interferon gamma receptors (IFN-gamma R) exhibit remarkable species specificity. In order to understand the basis for this phenomenon, we have isolated a recombinant cDNA clone corresponding to the mouse (Mu) IFN-gamma R. Microinjection of the mRNA synthesized in vitro corresponding to the cloned cDNA into Xenopus laevis oocytes resulted in the synthesis of a protein that specifically binds Mu-IFN-gamma. Analysis of murine genomic and RNA blots with the cDNA probe indicates the presence of a single gene and a single mRNA species of about 2300 bases. Sequence analysis of the cDNA encoding the Mu-IFN-gamma R and comparison with the corresponding human IFN-gamma R sequence shows about 68% conservation of the extracellular domains and 51% conservation of the cytoplasmic domains at the nucleotide level. The results indicate that, as expected, the sequence of the receptor confers species specificity for the binding of IFN-gamma to the cell surface receptor. Moreover, it was previously shown that a human factor is required in addition to the receptor for the human IFN-gamma to function in hamster or mouse cells (Jung, V., Rashidbaigi, A., Jones, C., Tischfield, J.A., Shows, T.B., and Pestka, S. (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84, 4151-4155). These results suggest an explanation for the second species-specific event required for function of the human receptor in mouse or hamster cells in that the intracellular domains are significantly different and thus cannot interact with the corresponding heterologous factor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1988

Expression of the murine interferon gamma receptor in Xenopus laevis oocytes.

This study describes the isolation of mRNA for the murine interferon gamma receptor and its expression in frog oocytes. The binding properties and apparent molecular weight of the murine interferon gamma receptor protein synthesized in frog oocytes is similar to that found on mouse cells. This is the first report of a functional receptor for a polypeptide ligand (interferon gamma) expressed in and directly assayed on frog oocytes.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Proenkephalin mRNA in rat heart.

The distribution of preproenkephalin mRNA in rat tissues was investigated using a homologous cDNA probe for detection. The heart was found to contain larger amounts of the mRNA than any other tissue including brain, which heretofore had been considered the richest source. The identity of the message in heart was verified by hybridizing RNA blots with a synthetic oligodeoxynucleotide that recognizes a different region of the preproenkephalin mRNA sequence than does the cDNA probe. The preproenkephalin mRNA extracted from both heart and brain contained approximately equal to 1500 bases. Dissection of heart revealed that essentially all of the message is contained within the ventricles. In contrast to the large amounts of preproenkephalin mRNA in rat heart, the opioid peptide contents is only 3% of the amount in brain. The rat heart may be a useful model for the investigation of translation control of protein synthesis.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Expression of preproenkephalin-like mRNA and its peptide products in mammalian testis and ovary.

The distribution of preproenkephalin mRNA and proenkephalin-derived peptides have been examined in gonadal tissues from rats, hamsters, and cattle. A preproenkephalin mRNA band was detected in the ovaries of all three species and in hamster testis that is identical in size to the 1450-nucleotide mRNA typically found in tissues that express proenkephalin. Rat testis, on the other hand, expresses at least one preproenkephalin-like mRNA that is substantially greater in size (1900 nucleotides). [Met]enkephalin-containing peptides were also detected in each of the gonadal tissues examined. Although the abundance of preproenkephalin-like mRNA in rat testis was comparable to that in rat brain, the testicular content of proenkephalin-derived [Met]enkephalin sequences was less than 4% of the rat brain content. Together these data suggest that preproenkephalin-like mRNA in rat testis is not efficiently translated, proenkephalin-derived peptides undergo rapid turnover in this tissue, or the mRNA in rat testis has a frameshift resulting in an altered coding sequence.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Differential effects of in vitro ethanol on prostaglandin E1-sensitive adenylate cyclase from smooth muscle cells and platelets.

In membranes of smooth muscle cells cultured from rabbit mesenteric artery, ethanol dose-dependently activates adenylate cyclase, both basal and PGE1- or GPP(NH)P-sensitive. The alcohol increases the maximal stimulation induced by PGE1 and GPP(NH)P, without greatly affecting their potency. The arrhenius plot displays a discontinuity point, which is only slightly lowered by ethanol. On the contrary, in membranes from human platelets ethanol inhibits basal, GPP(NH)P- and PGE1-sensitive adenylate cyclase, without modification of the prostaglandin or guanine nucleotide potency. The break point present in the Arrhenius plots is definitely lowered by the alcohol. In addition, ethanol decreases the thermostability of the enzyme. Neither in myocytes nor in platelets does ethanol affect the activation energy of the reaction. The data suggest that ethanol probably interacts directly with the membrane proteins, and that its effect is not mediated only through a perturbation of membrane lipid fluidity.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Uterine peristalsis during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle: effects of oestrogen, antioestrogen and oxytocin.

Uterine peristalsis, directing sustained and rapid sperm transport from the external cervical os or the cervical crypts to the isthmic part of the tube ipsilateral to the dominant follicle, changes in direction and frequency during the menstrual cycle, with lowest activity during menstruation and highest activity at mid cycle. It was therefore suggested that uterine peristalsis is under the control of the dominant follicle with the additional involvement of oxytocin. To test this hypothesis, vaginal sonography of uterine peristalsis was performed in the early, mid and late proliferative phases, respectively, of cycles of women treated with oestradiol valerate and with human menopausal gonadotrophin following pituitary downregulation, with clomiphene citrate and with intravenous oxytocin, respectively. Administration of oestradiol valerate resulted in oestradiol serum concentrations comparable with the normal cycle with a simulation of the normal frequency of peristaltic contractions. Elevated oestradiol concentrations and bolus injections of oxytocin resulted in a significant increase in the frequency of peristaltic contractions in the early and mid follicular phases, respectively. Chlomiphene tended, though insignificantly so, to suppress the frequency of peristaltic waves in the presence of elevated oestradiol concentrations. In the late follicular phase of the cycle extremely elevated oestradiol concentrations as well as the injection of oxytocin resulted only in an insignificant further increase of peristaltic frequency. In the normal cycles, as well as during extremely elevated oestradiol concentrations and following oxytocin administration, the peristaltic contractions were always confined to the subendometrial layer of the muscular wall. The results and the review of literature indicate that uterine peristalsis during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle is controlled by oestradiol released from the dominant follicle with the probable involvement of oxytocin, which is presumably stimulated together with its receptor within the endometrial-subendometrial unit and therefore acting in an autocrine/paracrine fashion. Since unphysiological stimulation with oestradiol and oxytocin did not significantly increase the frequency of uterine peristalsis in the late follicular phase of the cycle it is assumed that normal preovulatory frequency of uterine peristalsis is at a level which cannot be significantly surpassed due to phenomena of refractoriness of the system.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Sonographic evidence for the involvement of the utero-ovarian counter-current system in the ovarian control of directed uterine sperm transport.

Sperm transport from the cervix into the tube is an important uterine function within the process of reproduction. This function is exerted by uterine peristalsis and is controlled by the dominant ovarian structure via a cascade of endocrine events. The uterine peristaltic activity involves only the stratum subvasculare of the myometrium, which exhibits a predominantly circular arrangement of muscular fibres that separate at the fundal level into the fibres of the cornua and continue into the circular muscles of the respective tubes. Since spermatozoa are transported preferentially into the tube ipsilateral to the dominant follicle, this asymmetric uterine function may be controlled by the ovary via direct effects utilizing the utero-ovarian counter-current system, in addition to the systemic circulation. To test this possibility the sonographic characteristics of the uterine vascular bed were studied during different phases of the menstrual cycle. Vaginal sonography with the measurement of Doppler flow characteristics of both uterine arteries and of the arterial anastomoses of the uterine and ovarian arteries (junctional vessels) in the cornual region of both sides of the uterus during the menstrual phase of regular-cycling women demonstrated significant lower resistance indices of the junctional vessels ipsilateral to the side of the dominant ovarian structure as compared with the corresponding arteries contralaterally. By the use of the perfusion mode technique, it could be observed that vascular perfusion of the fundal myometrium was significantly increased ipsilateral to the dominant follicle during the late follicular phase of the cycle. These results show that the endocrine control of the dominant ovarian structure over uterine function is not only exerted via the systemic circulation but also directly, most probably utilizing the utero-ovarian counter-current system.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Endometriosis: a dysfunction and disease of the archimetra.

Endometriosis is considered primarily a disease of the endometrial-subendometrial unit or archimetra. The clinical picture of endometriosis characterises this disease as a hyperactivation of genuine archimetrial functions such as proliferation, inflammatory defence and peristalsis. While the aetiology of the disease remains to be elucidated, a key event appears to consist in the local production of extraovarian oestrogen by a pathological expression of the P450 aromatase. The starting event may consist in a hyperactivity of the endometrial inflammatory defence, a hyperactivity of the endometrial oxytocin/oxytocin receptor system or in the pathological expression of the P450 aromatase system itself. Regardless of which of these levels the starting event is localized in, they influence each other on both the level of the archimetra and the endometriotic lesions. Locally elevated oestrogen levels inevitably up-regulate the endometrial oxytocin mRNA and increased levels of oxytocin result in uterine hyperperistalsis, increased transtubal seeding of endometrial tissue fragments and finally subfertility and infertility by impairment of the uterine mechanism of rapid and sustained sperm transport. Locally increased levels of oestrogen lead, on both the level of the endometrial-subendometrial unit and the endometriotic lesion, to processes of hyperproliferation. These processes result, on the level of the uterus, in an infiltrative growth of elements of the archimetra into the neometra and, on the level of the endometriotic lesion, in infiltrative endometriosis. There is circumstantial evidence that trauma might be an important initial event that induces the specific biochemical and cellular responses of the archimetra. This model is able to explain both the pleiomorphic appearance of endometriosis and the, up until now, enigmatic infertility associated with mild and moderate endometriosis.

Aromatase↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Solubilization and identification of essential functional groups of Candida albicans oxidosqualene cyclase.

The enzyme properties and location of essential functional groups of solubilized oxidosqualene cyclase of Candida albicans have been studied. We show that the C. albicans enzyme is much more heat-labile compared with Saccharomyces cerevisiae and rat liver cyclases, requires a histidyl residue for enzyme activity, contains an essential thiol residue either close to or in the active site and exhibits a carbocationic mechanism for catalysis, as the enzyme-bound substrate protects the enzyme from inactivation by a site-directed inactivator.

Animals↗