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Biomedical subjects

M Pfeffer

Publications and source records attributed to M Pfeffer.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Specific detection of mousepox virus by polymerase chain reaction.

Polymerase chain reaction was applied to the rapid identification and detection of mousepox virus. This was accomplished by selection of primers targeting the A-type inclusion body protein gene. By investigating 20 strains belonging to five different species of the genus Orthopoxvirus, amplification was achieved only with the seven mousepox virus strains examined. The size of the resulting DNA fragment accounted for 116 base pairs and contained a recognition site for the restriction enzyme HindII, thus confirming its viral origin. Amplification of mousepox virus specific sequences was also possible from infected mouse lung tissue and serum.

Animals↗

Genus-specific detection of alphaviruses by a semi-nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

A reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was developed for the genus-specific detection of alphaviruses. Based on the available published sequences, degenerate primers were designed to ensure hybridization to a conserved region within the nonstructural protein 1 gene of all alphavirus species. The expected 434-basepair (bp) cDNA fragment was amplified from all 27 alphavirus species by using RNA extracted from 200 microl of infected cell culture supernatant. In addition, eight strains of Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) virus and 10 strains of Sindbis virus were amplified. The viral origin of the amplicons was confirmed by restriction enzyme analysis and comparison with the expected cleavage pattern based on published sequence data. The PCR products of alphavirus species with thus far unknown nucleotide composition were sequenced. About 120 nucleotides downstream of the forward primer, a region showing sufficient homology for the design of another forward primer was found and used in a semi-nested PCR. The expected 310-bp semi-nested fragment was demonstrated for all viruses investigated. The sensitivity of the RT-PCR was about 1,200 plaque-forming units (PFU) for VEE virus reference strain Trinidad donkey. The detection limit after the semi-nested PCR was 1.2 PFU. The sensitivity was not hampered by the presence of human serum, thus making this test suitable for an application in viremic individuals. Chikungunya virus RNA was amplified from infected mouse brain tissue by the described RT-PCR assay. Our data suggest that the semi-nested RT-PCR may be applied as a highly sensitive alternative to virus isolation in the rapid screening and diagnosis of alphavirus infections, including post-mortem diagnosis. Phylogenetic analysis of the amplicon sequence data identified six genotypes within the Alphavirus genus.

Alphavirus↗

Light-induced expression of transcription factor ICER (inducible cAMP early repressor) in rat suprachiasmatic nucleus is phase-restricted.

The mammalian hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) harbors an intrinsic circadian oscillator driving a variety of endogenous rhythms. SCN activity is entrained to environmental lighting conditions by photic information from the retina. Light-induced phase shifts involve cAMP and Ca2+ as second messengers and are linked to transcriptional and translational processes. Using in situ hybridization with a cDNA fragment of the cAMP responsive element modulator (CREM) isoform inducible cAMP early repressor (ICER) we demonstrate a light-induced upregulation of CREM mRNA in rat SCN during the second half of the night. Notably, ICER is the only member of the CREM family which is transcriptionally inducible. We suggest that a stimulus-induced upregulation of ICER expression can inhibit cAMP-inducible genes in rat SCN via its trans-repressing potency.

Animals↗

Automated high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis and post-column photoderivatization of Iotetrol(R) in aqueous solutions.

An automated procedure for sample work-up and preparation of calibration standards for HPLC analyses is presented. The equipment consisting of a benchtop workstation and a conventional HPLC system was used to analyze aqueous solutions containing Iotetrol, a contrast medium. The four rotamers of the test compound were separated using the stationary phase Hypercarb S and by elution with tetrahydro-furan/water 3:97 (w/w). The analytical procedure was characterized with respect to sensitivity, selectivity, linearity of the detector response, accuracy, precision and carry-over effect. The use of the workstation yielded excellent data with respect to accuracy (102%) and precision (1%). At the stage of method development, the influence of post-column photoderivatization on the detectability of the analyte was investigated. As a result, a bathochromic shift of the UV absorbance maximum and the considerable intensification of the rudimentary fluorescence properties of the Iotetrol molecule were observed. The automatization saved a considerable amount of man-hours (ca. 25%).

Journal Article↗

Comparison of camelpox viruses isolated in Dubai.

Between October 1993 and March 1994, outbreaks of pox-like exanthemas were observed in several camel raising farms in Dubai. Scabs from twenty camels with either local or generalized lesions were examined, seven of them had previously been vaccinated with a modified live camelpox virus vaccine. Inspection of scabs by electron microscopy confirmed an infection with orthopox viruses (OPV) in 10 animals and with parapox virus in one camel. Investigation of the scabs by polymerase chain reaction and dot blot assay revealed the presence of OPV in 15 or 13 samples, respectively. OPV could be isolated in cell culture in 14 cases. Restriction enzyme profiles characterized all isolates as camelpox virus. Their DNA patterns were virtually identical displaying only slight variations in the terminal fragments. In contrast, the vaccine strain showed a distinct restriction enzyme profile, indicating that it was not involved in the infections.

Animals↗

Magnetization transfer by simple sequences of rectangular pulses.

On-resonant radio frequency (RF) sequences composed of a train of short rectangular pulses of the same kind were optimized in order to obtain selective saturation of protons with short transverse relaxation times for magnetization transfer purposes. It is demonstrated that the sequences regarded allow a good adaptation to different requirements for magnetization transfer examinations on whole-body imagers. The sequences presented here provide relatively strong saturation of protons with very short transverse relaxation times T2 approximately less than 50 microseconds, whereas signals from protons with long T2 to be recorded are hardly influenced in a broad frequency range. The sequences are especially advantageous for applications in pulse files with limited numbers of support points.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging↗

Applications of DNA amplification techniques in veterinary diagnostics.

An overview of the principles of the polymerase chain reaction, ligase chain reaction, self-sustained sequence replication and Q beta replicase is given. The application of these methods for the diagnosis of veterinary infectious and hereditary diseases as well as for other diagnostic purposes is discussed and comprehensive tables of reported assays are provided. Specific areas where these DNA-based amplification methods provide substantial advantages over traditional approaches are also highlighted. With regard to PCR-based assays for the detection of viral pathogens, this article is an update of a previous review by Belák and Ballagi-Pordány (1993).

Animals↗

Disposition kinetics of buspirone in patients with renal or hepatic impairment after administration of single and multiple doses.

The single dose and steady-state pharmacokinetics of buspirone and its metabolite 1-pyrimidinyl piperazine (1-PP) have been evaluated in normal volunteers and patients with renal or hepatic impairment, using a parallel group design, with assignment of patients to study group on the basis of the degree of renal (mild, moderate, severe) or hepatic (compensated or decompensated) impairment. Each healthy volunteer or patient received a single dose of 10 mg buspirone on Day 1 of the study, and starting 36 h after the first dose, healthy volunteers and patients received 10 mg doses of buspirone every 12 hours for 9 days. On the morning of Day 10 they received the last dose. Serial blood samples were collected on Days 1, 5 and 10 and plasma was analysed for buspirone and 1-PP. The plasma concentrations of buspirone and 1-PP were highly variable regardless of the renal or hepatic function. The peak concentrations (Cmax) and area under the curves (AUC) of buspirone and 1-PP on Days D5 and 10 were higher than on Day D1. The trough levels (Cmin) and AUCs (D5 and 10) of buspirone and 1-PP indicated, that, regardless of renal or hepatic function, steady state was reached after 3 to 5 days of dosing. At steady-state, patients with renal or hepatic impairment had significantly higher Cmax and AUC values of buspirone than in normal volunteers. However, the intensity and frequency of adverse experiences in patients with renal or hepatic impairment were not significantly different from those observed in normal volunteers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Characterization of the gene encoding the A-type inclusion body protein of mousepox virus.

The gene of the mousepox virus strain MP-1 coding for the protein of A-type inclusions was identified and sequenced. The gene maps in the HindIII-A fragment at the same position as the cowpox-virus Brighton 160 kD gene (1) and the closely related 94 kD LS gene of vaccinia virus strain Western Reserve (2,3). The encoded protein consists of 1049 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 122.5 kD, which corresponds well to the apparent molecular weight of 130 kD estimated after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting. The protein is a characteristic feature of mousepox virus and could be demonstrated for five independently isolated strains. The MP-1 ATI protein displays a similarity of 82.3% to the cowpox virus Brighton 160 kD protein, the first 340 amino acids being almost identical. However, two major deletions of 55 and 92 amino acids were observed from amino acid positions 671 to 732 and 794 to 885, respectively. Furthermore, the C-terminal residues (position 998-1049 of the MP-1 sequence) did not match at satisfactory levels with cowpox nor with vaccinia virus sequences. According to Western blot and protein alignment data as well as hydropathy predictions, the 130 and 160 kD proteins closely resemble each other, indicating similar structure and function.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A ligase chain reaction targeting two adjacent nucleotides allows the differentiation of cowpox virus from other Orthopoxvirus species.

A ligase chain reaction (LCR) assay was developed to distinguish cowpox virus from other Orthopoxvirus species. The LCR targets two adjacent adenosine residues which are only present in the A-type inclusion protein gene (ATI-gene) of cowpox virus. Two primer pairs were designed with a one base pair overlap at the junction site and one primer of each pair was labeled radioactively. Detection of the ligation product was achieved after denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. Prior to LCR, the corresponding region of the ATI-gene was amplified by a consensus primer-directed polymerase chain reaction. All 18 cowpox virus isolates investigated could be clearly discriminated from 10 vaccinia virus strains, 5 camelpox virus isolates, as well as from mousepox and monkeypox virus reference strains. The LCR method allows a fast identification of cowpox virus isolates and is a feasible tool for the analysis of small mutations within viral genes.

Animals↗

Sequence alterations within and downstream of the A-type inclusion protein genes allow differentiation of Orthopoxvirus species by polymerase chain reaction.

A PCR protocol was established that not only allows the detection of, but also the differentiation of species of the genus Orthopoxvirus. This assay was accomplished by the selection of oligonucleotides located within the gene that encodes the A-type inclusion protein of cowpox virus. The primer pair flanked a region exhibiting distinct and specific DNA deletions in the corresponding sequences of vaccinia, mousepox, monkeypox and camelpox virus. For this reason, PCR resulted in DNA fragments of different sizes. The presented PCR protocol, combined with BglII restriction digests, allowed the unequivocal assignment of 42 orthopoxvirus (OPV) strains and isolates to the correct OPV species. The resulting classification corresponded exactly with known biological data for the OPV strains investigated. Furthermore, 13 out of 22 cowpox virus isolates could be subtyped by the presence or absence of a small BglII fragment. DNA sequencing showed that the lack of this BglII fragment was caused by a deletion of 72 nucleotides.

Animals↗

Expression of equine herpesvirus type 1 glycoprotein gp14 in Escherichia coli and in insect cells: a comparative study on protein processing and humoral immune responses.

The extracellular portion (amino acids 1 to 844) of the equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) glycoprotein gp14, the homologue of gB of herpes simplex virus, was expressed in Escherichia coli and in insect cells using a recombinant baculovirus. Immunoblot analysis revealed that the recombinant E. coli expressed a fusion protein of M(r) 135K which was composed of the truncated gp14 and the maltose-binding protein (MBP) provided by the vector and a 90K protein lacking the MBP moiety. Both proteins were sequestered within the cells in form of inclusion bodies. Infection of insect cells with the recombinant baculovirus resulted in the production of a 115K to 118K glycoprotein which was cleaved intracellularly into two subunits of M(r) 55K and 63K to 65K. The cleaved subunits were secreted into the cell culture supernatant and formed disulphide-linked dimers of M(r) 120K to 122K. The recombinant proteins produced in E. coli and in insect cells elicited EHV-1-specific antibodies in goats as demonstrated by Western blot analysis. The gp14 expressed in insect cells induced antibodies with virus-neutralizing activity. In contrast, the truncated gp14 expressed by E. coli failed to elicit neutralizing antibodies. The results suggest that post-translational modification of the EHV-1 gp14 may be important for the expression of epitopes necessary for the induction of neutralizing antibodies.

Animals↗

Biopharmaceutical evaluation of transnasal, sublingual, and buccal disk dosage forms of butorphanol.

A series of three-way crossover randomized studies were conducted to evaluate the absolute bioavailability of butorphanol, a potent agonist-antagonist analgesic, from transnasal, sublingual, and buccal disk formulations in order to identify a practical alternative to oral administration. In each study, healthy male volunteers received 2 mg doses of butorphanol tartrate intravenously and either transnasally, sublingually or buccally. Serial blood samples were collected over 12 h and butorphanol plasma concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay. The plasma concentration data were subjected to non-compartmental pharmacokinetic analysis. The elimination half-life of butorphanol was about 3-5 h and was independent of the route of administration. Absorption of butorphanol following transnasal administration was faster than that observed following sublingual or buccal administration. Mean absolute bioavailabilities of sublingual tablet and buccal disk formulation were only 19 per cent and 29 per cent, respectively, but for transnasal administration the value rose significantly, to 70 per cent. Based on the results of these studies, transnasal dosage form of butorphanol was selected for further clinical trials of treatment of moderate to severe pain.

Administration, Buccal↗

Localized proton MR spectroscopy of citrate in vitro and of the human prostate in vivo at 1.5 T.

Citrate is a secretory product of the normal prostate, a lack of citrate in prostate tissue is expected to be pathognomonic for adenocarcinoma. In the present study proton AB-signal characteristics of citrate at low field strength of 1.5 T were investigated by volume selective spectroscopic and theoretical methods. The nonappearance of fast phase modulation of the J-coupled system at low field strength in vivo is verified by measurements of sodium citrate solution. In vivo localized spectroscopy of small volume elements of (2 cm)3 with the double spin-echo method within the prostatic gland provides citrate signal reception even using a Helmholtz coil with 170-mm diameter. Volume selective proton spectra with different echo times are presented which are comparable to spectra acquired by former authors with endorectal coils.

Citrates↗

Differentiation of species of the genus Orthopoxvirus in a dot blot assay using digoxigenin-labeled DNA-probes.

A dot blot assay using five different digoxigenin-labeled probes was established for specific detection and differentiation of four species belonging to the genus Orthopoxvirus. As little as 20 pg orthopoxvirus DNA can be detected, corresponding to approximately 8 x 10(4) DNA molecules. A total of 37 orthopoxvirus strains and isolates of different origin were investigated and could be assigned to the species vaccinia, cowpox, camelpox, and mousepox virus. These findings agree with their identification by biological means. Additionally, a simple procedure to isolate orthopoxvirus DNA directly from scab material was developed. This allows a fast classification without isolating the virus.

Animals↗

MRI and determination of T1 and T2 of solid polymers using a 1.5 T whole-body imager.

Spin-echo sequences with echo times as short as 3.5 msec were implemented on a standard 1.5 T NMR whole-body imager for 1H imaging of polymers in the solid-state. No modification of the NMR hardware designed for clinical usage was made. Beside images of different polymers a "self-portrait" of the polymeric materials of the receiver coil is given as a neat application. Based on imaging experiments the longitudinal and transverse relaxation time of polymers were investigated. The results indicate that using a standard whole-body imager, it is possible to provide additional information to other examination techniques in polymer and materials science.

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy↗

Localized phosphorus NMR spectroscopy: a comparison of the FID, DRESS, CRISIS/CODEX, and STEAM methods in vitro and in vivo using a surface-coil.

The FID, DRESS, CRISIS/CODEX, and STEAM techniques for localized 31P NMR spectroscopy were compared using a Siemens Magnetom SP63 1.5 T whole-body imager and a surface-coil, 80 mm in diameter, acting as transmitter and receiver coil. The comparison was performed with phantom experiments and human in vivo investigations on the calf muscle. The phantom experiments which used the same volume size showed a comparable signal-to-noise ratio for FID and DRESS, while the two fully localized techniques showed a reduction in signal-to-noise ratio to 76% for CRISIS/CODEX and 31% for STEAM. The in vivo measurements confirm the phantom results and reveal that CRISIS/CODEX gains a 2.5 fold higher signal-to-noise ratio than STEAM under the same conditions.

Humans↗