Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Schubert

Publications and source records attributed to M Schubert.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Role of matrix protein in cytopathogenesis of vesicular stomatitis virus.

The matrix (M) protein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) plays an important structural role in viral assembly, and it also has a regulatory role in viral transcription. We demonstrate here that the M protein has an additional function. It causes visible cytopathic effects (CPE), as evidenced by the typical rounding of polygonal cells after VSV infection. We have analyzed a temperature-sensitive mutant of the M protein of VSV (tsG33) which is defective in viral assembly and which fails to cause morphological changes of the cells after infection at the nonpermissive temperature (40 degrees C). Interestingly, this defect in viral assembly as well as the CPE were reversible. Microinjection of antisense oligonucleotides which specifically inhibit M protein translation also inhibited the occurrence of CPE. Most importantly, when cells were transfected with a cDNA encoding the temperature-sensitive M protein of tsG33, no CPE was observed at the nonpermissive temperature. However, when these cells were shifted to the permissive temperature (32 degrees C), they rounded up and detached from the dish. These results demonstrate that M protein in the absence of the other viral proteins causes rounding of the cells, probably through a disorganization of the cytoskeleton. The absence of CPE at the nonpermissive temperature is correlated with an abnormal dotted staining pattern of M in these cells, suggesting that the mutant M protein may self-aggregate or associate with membranes rather than interact with cytoskeletal elements.

Animals↗

Casual versus ambulatory twenty-four-hour blood pressure measurement in a comparative study with bisoprolol or nitrendipine.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomly allocated study, the 24-h efficacy of a single morning dose of 10 mg of the beta-blocker bisoprolol (n = 17) versus 20 mg of the calcium channel antagonist nitrendipine (n = 19) was assessed using two different methods of blood pressure determination: (1) casual blood pressure determinations in the morning before the dose; and (2) ambulatory day-time (6 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and night-time (6 p.m. to 6 a.m.) blood pressure monitoring using a non-invasive automatic device (Spacelabs 90202). After 4 weeks both agents induced significant blood pressure reductions compared to the placebo period as assessed by both casual and ambulatory day-time readings, without significant differences in the blood pressure reductions induced by the two drugs (P less than 0.05). Ambulatory night-time values, however, showed a significant blood pressure reduction only for bisoprolol (from 138 +/- 16/84 +/- 12 to 129 +/- 15/77 +/- 11 mmHg); nitrendipine did not induce any significant systolic or diastolic blood pressure changes during this period (140 +/- 11/87 +/- 10 to 136 +/- 13/86 +/- 10 mmHg). Individual response rates were 47% for nitrendipine and 71% for bisoprolol. The incidence of side effects was comparable under both drugs. Our results indicate that bisoprolol was more effective over 24 h than nitrendipine. We also conclude that the value of casual blood pressure readings for the evaluation of therapeutic agents given once a day seems to be limited in comparison to 24-h ambulatory monitoring.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Self-measured blood pressures at home and during consulting hours: are there any differences?

Home blood pressures are lower than casual blood pressures and this difference is probably due to physician-patient interaction in a clinical stress situation. In order to prove this assumption we compared the casual blood pressures of 127 subjects, measured by a physician and by the subjects themselves in the presence of the physician, with self-measured values obtained at home over a 7-day observation period. The casual pressures were higher than the home pressures (delta = 7.6/3.9 mmHg) regardless of whether they were taken by the physician or by the subjects themselves in the presence of the physician. The subjects' casual readings (132.9 +/- 17.5/87.6 +/- 12 mmHg) were slightly, but significantly, higher than those measured by the physician (131.9 +/- 18.4/86.3 +/- 12.6 mmHg) and both systolic and diastolic self-measured casual values were highly significantly correlated with the physician's readings (r = 0.92 and 0.91, respectively; P less than 0.01).

Adult↗

Individualizing antihypertensive therapy with enalapril versus atenolol: the Zurich experience.

With the present increasing concern for compliance and quality or life during antihypertensive treatment, drug therapy tailored optimally for the individual patient is becoming increasingly important. The aim of the present double-blind crossover study was to analyse the individual as well as the group blood pressure response under enalapril and atenolol. Our results show that the group effects of these drugs did not differ significantly. However, individually, two-thirds of the responding patients showed a preference for either enalapril or atenolol. A response to one drug did not predict a comparable response to the other drug. We conclude that double-blind crossover studies are a possible way of individualizing antihypertensive treatment. However, no appropriate methodology or definitions of terms for these studies have yet been established.

Adult↗

[Pelvic vein varicosis--a treatable cause of chronic pelvic pain in women?].

Ovarian vein syndrome as a morphology basis of chronic pelvic pain has been discussed by means of four case reports. The much higher prevalence of venous insufficiencies in the female may be the reason for this disease. Occlusion of insufficient genital venous plexus, especially of the ovarian veins may be a possibility for treatment. But this does not meet all considerations, this disturbance of pelvic hemodynamic may be caused by misprocessing of emotional stress situations. Therefore a careful diagnostic procedure including psychodiagnostics should be play a central role.

Adult↗

[ Self measurement of blood pressure. Equipment and comparison of equipment].

Precision is the primordial criterion for the evaluation of a blood pressure measuring device. While traditionally devices based on the auscultation technique have dominated semiautomatic devices have recently gained acceptance. The latter permit to reduce procedure-related errors. They are simpler to use and require less demanding instruction but are more expensive than stethoscopic devices.

Auscultation↗

[Self measurement of blood pressure: patient education].

Many patients measure their blood pressure without any instruction due to the availability of modern measuring devices. Although the technique can be mastered by most of the patients, some sources of error have to be eliminated. The aim of such an instruction is to explain these sources of error to the patients and to give them opportunity to practise the self measurement under medical supervision. An instruction sheet is handed out as a pamphlet. The patients are also directed to keep a record of all measurements which is periodically controlled by the physician. It is also advisable to reexamine the measuring technique of the patient from time to time and to check the accuracy of the patients measuring device.

Blood Pressure Determination↗

[Why are blood pressure values higher in the doctor's office than at home?].

Blood pressure values measured by the patients at home are lower than those measured during medical consultation. To test whether the person measuring the blood pressure is responsible for this difference, the blood pressure of 127 patients was measured first by the doctor and then by the patients themselves during the consultation. There was a good agreement and no significant difference between the two measurements. Values taken at home were however significantly lower. Our results indicate, that difference between clinic and home blood pressure values does not depend on the person performing the measurement.

Blood Pressure↗

[Diagnostic and prognostic aspects of home blood pressure measurement].

Up to now the diagnosis of hypertension has been based on a few casual blood pressure measurements in the physician's office according to WHO guidelines. Blood pressure measurements at home in the recent years have gained increasing popularity as a supplementary diagnostic tool. The establishment of an everyday blood pressure profile and exclusion of "white coat" hypertension are the main diagnostic indications. In borderline hypertension those patients with elevated home blood pressures can be identified. However world-wide epidemiologic studies are urgently needed to develop definitions of normal and pathological values for self-recorded blood pressure readings. From our experience diastolic home-recorded values higher than 90 mm Hg should be regarded as pathological.

Blood Pressure Determination↗

[The therapeutic significance of home blood pressure measurement].

Optimization of antihypertensive therapy during the initial dose titration as well as the long term follow-up of chronic therapy constitute the main therapeutic indications of blood pressure measurement at home. Furthermore home blood pressure measurements may be of value in patients with unsatisfactory blood pressure response in whom poor compliance is suspected. Finally patients may adjust their antihypertensive therapy according to the level of self-recorded blood pressure measurements.

Antihypertensive Agents↗

Collateral nerve sprouting and twitch forces of single motor units in conditions with partial denervation in man.

Single motor units (MUs) were studied in the first dorsal interosseus muscle of 7 patients with slight partial denervation and in 10 controls. MU action potentials were recorded using the macro-EMG technique and their size was taken to assess collateral nerve sprouting. Simultaneously, the muscle force was monitored to determine the voluntary recruitment thresholds of the MUs and spike-triggered-averaging was applied to measure their twitch forces. At comparable force recruitment thresholds, both macro-EMG potentials and twitch forces were increased in the patients. We conclude, that collateral nerve sprouting increases MU force and can compensate for MU loss.

Adult↗

Oral mucosal lesions: association with the presence of antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus.

To assess the relationship between oral lesions and antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus, oral examinations of 803 homosexual males were conducted at the time of serologic testing. Nineteen percent were HIV seropositive. Thirty percent of antibody-positive subjects had one or more oral lesion(s), as compared with 7% of antibody-negative subjects (p less than 0.001). The presence of oral lesions was significantly associated with HIV seropositivity: a subject was 5.7 times as likely to have serum antibodies if he had one or more oral lesions (95% confidence interval, 3.5 to 9.1; p less than 0.001). This significant association with HIV seropositivity was only partially explained by cigarette smoking (adjusted odds ratio 3.1; 1.4-6.8; less than 0.006). Specific conditions that were significantly associated with seropositivity included candidiasis, hairy leukoplakia, periodontal disease, and Kaposi's sarcoma. Other diseases identified included acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, mucocutaneous ulcerations, and oral warts. Oral findings may occur earlier in the natural history of infection than previously reported.

Adult↗

[Embolization therapy using detachable balloons].

Report on the application of a new (valve equipped) detachable balloon for percutaneous transvasal embolization therapy in 372 patients with (noncerebral) curative preoperative and palliative indications.

Embolization, Therapeutic↗

Autonomic regulation of potassium release from human labial salivary glands in vitro.

Labial salivary-gland slices from normal human subjects were incubated in vitro according to various protocols. The autonomic regulation of these was significantly different from that of most major salivary glands. K release was stimulated by incubation with a cholinergic agonist but not with alpha- or beta-adrenergic agonists. The cholinergically-induced K release was dependent on agonist concentration and was inhibited by the addition of atropine, and by the removal of Ca in the presence of EGTA.

Adult↗

Deletion mapping analyses indicate that epitopes for monoclonal antibodies to the NS phosphoprotein of VSV are linear and clustered.

Thirteen distinct monoclonal antibodies to the 30-kDa NS phosphoprotein of vesicular stomatitis virus were isolated and assayed by Western blot analysis and immune precipitation reactions. Epitopes recognized by the antibodies were mapped by immune precipitation of NS deletion proteins synthesized in vitro from cloned NS gene constructs. None of the epitopes recognized by the 13 antibodies could be mapped to the phosphorylated amino-terminal half of the NS protein. Twelve of the antibodies recognized epitopes located within the carboxy-terminal 142 amino acids of the protein. The great majority of epitopes appeared to consist of a linear array of amino acids.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗