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Biomedical subjects

M Riederer

Publications and source records attributed to M Riederer.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Raman spectroscopic study of spatial distribution of propolis in comb of Apis mellifera carnica (Pollm.).

Micro-Raman spectroscopy and Raman mapping are applied to investigate the spatial distribution and chemical composition of wax and propolis in the comb of Apis mellifera carnica (Pollm). A thick layer of propolis at the rim of some cells is identified by Raman spectroscopy. Raman mapping is applied to resolve the distribution of propolis and wax on a micron scale. Both components are connected at the rim of the cell with a mixture of wax and propolis. A layer of almost pure propolis is found on top of the mixture. It appears that even in the mixture, where both components come into close contact, the propolis and the wax remain separated and keep their chemical identity.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Cytokine production by cord blood mononuclear cells stimulated with cows milk proteins in vitro: interleukin-4 and transforming growth factor beta-secreting cells detected in the CD45RO T cell population in children of atopic mothers.

BACKGROUND: Food antigens from the maternal circulation may sensitize fetal T cells in utero and be an important determinant in the development of food allergy. METHODS: Here we have examined the spontaneous and recall response to cow's milk proteins of cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC) of newborn children, using single cell ELISPOT assays. RESULTS: In term newborns, confirming previous studies, the spontaneous cytokine response of CBMC is dominated by IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and as shown here for the first time, TGF-beta. For TGF-beta only, the response of samples from infants of atopic mothers was significantly lower than samples from infants of non-atopic mothers. In vitro stimulation of CBMC with bovine serum albumin, casein and beta-lactoglobulin resulted in a significant increase of all cytokine-secreting cells, again dominated by T helper type 2 (Th2) cytokines. There was a clear tendency for samples from infants of atopic mothers to have lower Th2 responses than samples from infants of non-atopic mothers, which was particularly significant for both IL-4 and TGF-beta. Spontaneous cytokine secreting cells were virtually absent in cord blood from infants < 34 weeks gestation, as were cows milk protein-induced responses, although they were readily detectable in samples from infants aged > 34 weeks. To explore whether the cytokine secreting cells were in the naive CD4+ CD45RA population or memory CD4+ CD45RO T cells, these subsets were purified by positive and negative selection and tested for spontaneous and cows milk protein-induced cytokine responses. Strikingly, although the responses were small, the CD45RO+ cells from children of atopic mothers showed significant spontaneous and antigen-specific IL-4 and TGF-beta responses, whereas the same population from infants of non-atopic mothers showed virtually no response. In addition CD45RA+ cells from infants of mothers with maternal atopy showed decreased IL-4 and TGF-beta responses, especially the latter. CONCLUSIONS: The cows milk antigen-specific IL-4 and TGF-beta responses preferentially seen in the memory cell subset of infants with a maternal history of atopy strongly suggests Th2 skewing to dietary antigens in utero.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Epidermal transmittance of leaves of Vicia faba for UV radiation as determined by two different methods.

Leaves of Vicia faba were collected from the field and the greenhouse and transmittance of epidermal peels from adaxial and abaxial sides was determined in the wavelength range from 250 to 800 nm using a spectrophotometer equipped for the measurement of turbid samples. From the same leaves, epidermal transmittance was estimated by a recently developed fluorometric method. Both methods gave highly correlated results with a slope of the regression line between both methods close to 1 and an intercept close to 0. Transmittances at around 310 nm as low as 3% were detected in the adaxial epidermis of field-grown leaves, while transmittance could be as high as 70% in the abaxial epidermis of greenhouse-grown leaves. There was a strong correlation between UV-A (ca. 366 nm) and UV-B (ca. 310 nm) transmittance detected by both methods which could be explained by the pigment composition in methanolic extracts where flavonols accounted for 90% of the absorption at 310 nm in the extract, while hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives which absorb only at the shorter wavelength constituted about 5%. It is concluded that the fluorescence method which allows rapid measurements on intact leaves can provide a quantitative estimate of epidermal transmittance for UV-B (280-320 nm) and UV-A (320-400 nm) radiation.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Protecting against water loss: analysis of the barrier properties of plant cuticles.

The cuticle is the major barrier against uncontrolled water loss from leaves, fruits and other primary parts of higher plants. More than 100 mean values for water permeabilities determined with isolated leaf and fruit cuticles from 61 plant species are compiled and discussed in relation to plant organ, natural habitat and morphology. The maximum barrier properties of plant cuticles exceed that of synthetic polymeric films of equal thickness. Cuticular water permeability is not correlated to the thickness of the cuticle or to wax coverage. Relationships between cuticular permeability, wax composition and physical properties of the cuticle are evaluated. Cuticular permeability to water increases on the average by a factor of 2 when leaf surface temperature is raised from 15 degrees C to 35 degrees C. Organic compounds of anthropogenic and biogenic origin may enhance cuticular permeability. The pathway taken by water across the cuticular transport barrier is reviewed. The conclusion from this discussion is that the bulk of water diffuses as single molecules across a lipophilic barrier while a minor fraction travels along polar pores. Open questions concerning the mechanistic understanding of the plant cuticular transport barrier and the role the plant cuticle plays in ensuring the survival and reproductive success of an individual plant are indicated.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2001

Generation of a humanized, high affinity anti-tissue factor antibody for use as a novel antithrombotic therapeutic.

Blocking the cofactor function of human tissue factor may be beneficial in various coagulation-mediated diseases. The murine antibody D3 binds to the membrane proximal substrate interaction region of human tissue factor and blocks tissue factor function even in the presence of bound factor VIIa. The cloned murine D3 antibody was humanized and affinity matured by exchanging amino acids in the complementarity determining regions as well as in the antibody framework. The humanized antibody, D3H44, bound to tissue factor with a 100-fold increased affinity (KD 0.1 nM) as compared to the original murine and chimeric versions. Depending on the particular disease, different pharmacokinetic properties of the antibody may be required and, therefore, several antibody variants-- F(ab), F(ab')2, IgG2, IgG4 and IgG4b-were generated. In vitro, the humanized D3 antibodies displayed potent inhibition of plasma clotting and tissue factor: factor VIIa-mediated activation of factors IX and X (e.g. D3H44-F(ab')2, IC50(F.X) 47 pM). In addition, D3H44-F(ab')2 completely prevented fibrin deposition in a human ex vivo thrombosis model under venous blood flow conditions (IC50 37 nM). The humanized D3 antibodies may be utilized for treatment of cardiovascular diseases which involve tissue factor activity, e.g. acute coronary syndrome and venous thrombosis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Effects of natural intensities of visible and ultraviolet radiation on epidermal ultraviolet screening and photosynthesis in grape leaves.

Grape (Vitis vinifera cv Silvaner) vine plants were cultivated under shaded conditions in the absence of ultraviolet (UV) radiation in a greenhouse, and subsequently placed outdoors under three different light regimes for 7 d. Different light regimes were produced by filters transmitting natural radiation, or screening out the UV-B (280-315 nm), or screening out the UV-A (315-400 nm) and the UV-B spectral range. During exposure, synthesis of UV-screening phenolics in leaves was quantified using HPLC: All treatments increased concentrations of hydroxycinnamic acids but the rise was highest, reaching 230% of the initial value, when UV radiation was absent. In contrast, UV-B radiation specifically increased flavonoid concentrations resulting in more than a 10-fold increase. Transmittance in the UV of all extracted phenolics was lower than epidermal UV transmittance determined fluorimetrically, and the two parameters were curvilinearly related. It is suggested that curvilinearity results from different absorption properties of the homogeneously dissolved phenolics in extracts and of the non-homogeneous distribution of phenolics in the epidermis. UV-B-dependent inhibition of maximum photochemical yield of photosystem II (PSII), measured as variable fluorescence of dark-adapted leaves, recovered in parallel to the buildup of epidermal screening for UV-B radiation, suggesting that PSII is protected against UV-B damage by epidermal screening. However, UV-B inhibition of CO(2) assimilation rates was not diminished by efficient UV-B screening. We propose that protection of UV-B inactivation of PSII is observed because preceding damage is efficiently repaired while those factors determining UV-B inhibition of CO(2) assimilation recover more slowly.

Caffeic Acids↗
PubMed2000

[Quality assessment of multiple trauma management bu ISS, TRISS or ASCOT?].

OBJECTIVES: Scores have been developed to assess the quality of trauma treatment. Our objective was to investigate prospectively whether there is a significant difference between the predicted survival and mortality rates with ISS, TRISS and ASCOT and observed rates in our patients. If the answer is affirmative, we also wished to evaluate whether the difference is significant enough to justify the greater data collection effort required for ASCOT as opposed to TRISS, and for TRISS as opposed to ISS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Charts from 470 of 484 blunt multiple trauma patients with an ISS of 8 or more documented as part of a National Fund Study between June 1990 and June 1996 were reviewed. We compared the survival and mortality rates calculated by ISS, TRISS and ASCOT with the observed survival and death rates. RESULTS: Only the predicted survival and death rates calculated by ISS differed significantly from the observed rates. There were also significant differences between ISS and TRISS, and ISS and ASCOT, with regard to the predicted rates. CONCLUSIONS: In our unit ISS, which is simple to use, is not suitable for quality assessment. TRISS and ASCOT are of equal value. We prefer TRISS until a better, internationally recognised score is available, since it involves less effort and is less error-prone. General recommendations for Switzerland cannot be made until further results from other national accident and emergency units are available.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Comb-wax discrimination by honeybees tested with the proboscis extension reflex.

We used the proboscis extension reflex of honeybees to test their ability to discriminate between comb waxes of different ages (wax scales, 1-week-old wax, 2- to 3-year-old wax, 8- to 10-year-old wax). Such waxes differ in their chemical composition, and an ability to discriminate between them may aid the orientation of the bees in the nest. To train the bees, we used whole extracts of waxes and four different fractions of the whole extract based on different elutions of solid-phase extractions (extract I, fraction A eluted with hexane and fraction B with diethylether; extract II, fraction B further subdivided into fraction C by elution with isopropylchloride and fraction D by elution with diethylether). In a differential training regime (six learning and six test trials) with whole extracts or with the different fractions, we paired one type of wax with a reward and another with no reward. The bees learned to discriminate between all tested pairs of whole extracts. The two subfractions (fractions A and B) gave different results: the bees could discriminate between waxes of different ages when fraction B was used but not when fraction A was used. A further subdivision of fraction B into fractions C and D showed that only fraction D contained the elements that enabled bees to discriminate between old and new wax. Fraction D makes up only 5?8 % of the total wax mass and contains hydroxy alkyl esters (5?6 % of the total wax mass), primary alcohols (0.3?0.5 % of the total wax mass) and acids (0.06?1. 0 % of the total wax mass). Fractions A and C (together forming 62?64 % of the total wax mass), which consist of unbranched and branched aliphatic hydrocarbons and alkyl esters, could not be discriminated by the bees. The remaining wax mass (25?29 %) was eluted with a mixture of chloroform, methanol and water (13:5:1) as fraction E.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Cutin monomers and surface wax constituents elicit H2O2 in conditioned cucumber hypocotyl segments and enhance the activity of other H2O2 elicitors

Hypocotyls from etiolated cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seedlings were gently abraded at their epidermal surface and cut segments were conditioned to develop competence for H2O2 elicitation. Alkaline hydrolysates of cutin from cucumber, tomato, and apple elicited H2O2 in such conditioned segments. The most active constituent of cucumber cutin was identified as dodecan-1-ol, a novel cutin monomer capable of forming hydrophobic terminal chains. Additionally, the cutin hydrolysates enhanced the activity of a fungal H2O2 elicitor, similar to cucumber surface wax, which contained newly identified alkan-1,3-diols. The specificity of elicitor and enhancement activity was further elaborated using some pure model compounds. Certain saturated hydroxy fatty acids were potent H2O2 elicitors as well as enhancers. Some unsaturated epoxy and hydroxy fatty acids were also excellent H2O2 elicitors but inhibited the fungal elicitor activity. Short-chain alkanols exhibited good elicitor and enhancer activity, whereas longer-chain alkan-1-ols were barely active. The enhancement effect was also observed for H2O2 elicitation by ergosterol and chitosan. The physiological significance of these observations might be that once the cuticle is degraded by fungal cutinase, the cutin monomers may act as H2O2 elicitors. Corrosion of cutin may also bring surface wax constituents in contact with protoplasts and enhance elicitation.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

Dissociation of antithrombotic effect and bleeding time prolongation in rabbits by inhibiting tissue factor function.

Inhibition of the tissue factor/factor VIIa (TF/F.VIIa) complex attenuates thrombosis in different animal models of arterial thrombosis. However, it remains unclear to what extent the antithrombotic effects are associated with changes in hemostatic functions and how this compares with inhibition of thrombin, an enzyme acting at a later stage in the coagulation cascade. The antithrombotic and the antihemostatic effects of a monoclonal anti-TF antibody (AP-1) were compared in a model of arterial thrombosis to those of a direct thrombin inhibitor (napsagatran) and heparin. In anesthetized rabbits transient arterial thrombi were induced by mechanical damage to the subendothelium of a moderately stenosed carotid artery. Recurrent formation and dislodgement of thrombi resulted in cyclic flow variations (CFVs) which were monitored over 2 hours. Rabbits received intravenously either a placebo (control), a monoclonal anti-rabbit TF antibody (AP-1, 0.05 mg/kg as an i.v. bolus repeated every 15 min, a specific low molecular weight thrombin inhibitor (napsagatran, 3 microg/kg/min) or heparin (3 and 13 microg/kg/min). The effect of the inhibitors on the hemostatic system was studied in a separate set of rabbits by measuring template bleeding times (BT) in the ear arterioles, marginal ear vein and the nail cuticle of the foreleg. AP-1 and napsagatran showed a similar antithrombotic activity (78% and 80% abolition of the CFVs, respectively), whereas either low or high dose heparin was poorly effective (43% and 40% inhibition of CFVs, respectively). At these antithrombotic doses and even at 4-fold higher dosage, AP-1 did not significantly alter the BT, whereas napsagatran and heparin prolonged the ear vessels and cuticle BT in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that in contrast to direct thrombin inhibition, the blockade of the TF/F. VIIa function did not result in a concomitant prolongation of the bleeding time. Thus, dissociation of antithrombotic and antihemostatic effects indicates that inhibition of the coagulation system at its initial stage represents a promising approach for the development of new anticoagulants.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[Successful drug therapy of persistent ectopic pregnancy after tube-saving operation].

We report on a 29-year old woman, gravida 1, para 0, who complained, after 6 weeks of amenorrhoea, of vaginal bleeding and acute pain in the lower left abdomen. A non-ruptured left ampullary tubal pregnancy was recognised at diagnostic laparoscopy and removed by tube-preserving surgery. Subsequently, serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was quantified every two days; a rising hCG concentration confirmed a persistent ectopic gestation in the patient. 12 days after conservative laparoscopic surgery, treatment with methotrexate (1 mg/kg intramuscularly a day) during 4 days was initiated. After another brief rise, the hCG concentration dropped continuously down and was no longer detectable after 2 months.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Accumulation and transport of (2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid in plant cuticles. II. Permeability of the cuticular membrane.

Diffusion of (2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid (2,4-D) across plant cuticles from 10 species was investigated at 25 degrees C using enzymatically isolated cuticles. Permeance coefficients (P) and extrapolated holdup times (te) were measured and permeability (P), diffusion (D), and partition coefficients (K) were calculated. Permeance coefficients ranged from 2.72 X 10(-8) (Capsicum fruit) to 1.00 X 10(-10) m/sec (Ficus leaf). Extraction of soluble cuticular lipids from cuticular membranes increased permeances by up to four orders of magnitude. This demonstrates that permeance is determined by the soluble cuticular lipids associated with the cutin, rather than by cutin alone. Mean diffusion coefficients calculated from holdup times were 4.0 X 10(-15) (fruit cuticular membranes) and 1.71 X 10(-16) m2/sec (leaf cuticular membranes), respectively. Since a common diffusion coefficient exists for both leaf and fruit cuticles, differences in permeability coefficients between species can be attributed to differences in the partition coefficients. However, partition coefficients calculated from transmembrane diffusion are lower than those determined directly in a sorption experiment by a factor of from 6 to 200. Thus, the high resistance of plant cuticles to transport of 2,4-D can be attributed to both low diffusion and partition coefficients in the transport-limiting layer made up of cutin and soluble lipids which are densely packed and highly ordered. A linear equation is derived and permits the prediction of permeability coefficients of plant cuticles from partition coefficients determined in a simple sorption experiment.

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid↗
PubMed1984

Accumulation and transport of (2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid in plant cuticles: I. Sorption in the cuticular membrane and its components.

Partition coefficients (K) of (2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid (2,4-D) have been determined for the system plant cuticle/aqueous buffer. Cuticles isolated enzymatically from leaves (Clivia miniata, Ficus elastica, Citrus aurantium, Hedera helix, Pyrus communis cv. Conférence and cv. Williams, Olea europaea) and fruits (Lycopersicon esculentum, Capsicum annuum, Solanum melongena, Cucumis sativus) were utilized. Only the nondissociated species of 2,4-D was sorbed by cuticles and their lipophilic components. The average partition coefficient for leaf cuticles was 316 (range, 240-470) and for fruit cuticles 476 (range, 424-579). The dependence of sorption upon 2,4-D concentration was tested using tomato fruit cuticle. The sorption isotherm was linear from 2.0 to 5.0 X 10(-4) mol m-3. With increasing 2,4-D concentrations partition coefficients decreased slightly. Extraction of soluble cuticular lipids (SCL) increased the partition coefficients and these relative increases were correlated to relative amounts of SCL. In most species the hydrolytic removal of polar cuticular components resulted in a further increase of partition coefficients. No single cuticle was found to be representative for the sorption characteristics of all plant species investigated. The amounts of cuticle present in plant communities can be estimated from the data presented in conjunction with leaf area indices.

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Psychopathology of senile dementias in nursing home residents].

Examination of 163 nursing home residents revealed chronic brain syndrome of different amount in 84%. Demented patients with clinical evidence of arteriosclerosis had significantly higher values of emotional incontinence, dysphoria, depression and vegetative complaints than those without evidence of arteriosclerosis. Correlation of single psychopathologic parameters with other psychopathologic, neurologic and somatic variables resulted in very different correlation profiles for the following symptoms: emotional incontinence, apathy, dysphoria and euphoria. These changes in personality should be considered to a higher degree in dementia research intending more homogeneous subgroups.

Aged↗