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Biomedical subjects

O Prokop

Publications and source records attributed to O Prokop.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Stain analysis using oligonucleotide probes specific for simple repetitive DNA sequences.

The use of oligonucleotide fingerprinting is evaluated in practical forensic work, using both artificially and systematically produced stains as well as actual case work material. The probes (CAC5/(GTG)5 are superior because of their individualizing potential in comparatively fresh specimens with little DNA degradation, whereas (GACA)4, still produces substantial information when high molecular weight DNA is lacking. The overall limitations and the advantages of this technology are discussed in detail and compared to the classical minisatellite probes.

Blood Stains

Studies on the use of monoclonal antibodies in the investigation of blood stains contaminated by bacteria.

On the basis of some models (bacteria and animal blood groups), it was demonstrated that monoclonal antibody-preparations obviously possess a much higher specificity against the ABO-properties of human than the usual human antisera or lectins. The behaviour of polyclonal and monoclonal reagents for ABO-determination should now be tested in comparative studies using contaminated blood stain material. The results presented in this paper suggest advantages in using monoclonal antibodies.

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[The Herbst-Volkheimer effect].

More than 150 years ago the foundations were laid for the so-called HERBST effect which was subsequently forgotten. In the sixties the phenomenon was rediscovered by VOLKHEIMER at the Charité Hospital in Berlin and then reviewed through many experiments and publications. What is meant by the HERBST effect? If an experimental animal or even human being is given a larger amount of maize starch or also biscuits or some other products containing starch, starch bodies can be detected rapidly in venous blood already after minutes or half an hour later and in the urine after one hour and later. The term "persorption" has been coined for this interesting phenomenon. It is indeed surprising that it has met with so little attention. As a matter of fact, it constitutes the basis for our understanding of peroral immunization and of allergies. In the same way, feeding of carbon particles results in their appearance and detection in blood, kidney and urine. The same result is obtained by the intake of diatoms and what is even more important with meat fibres. I hope you are aware of the implications. When Professor NAGAI stayed in Berlin, we tried to receive the phenomenon. Since only a few cell nuclei are necessary for "genetic fingerprinting" we thought that after intake of 200 or 400 g of raw meat the type of food eaten could be determined from the urinary sediment by means of the fingerprint method which would be of forensic significance. Therefore, we eat meat and raw liver and examined the urinary sediment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

[Earth rays].

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Complementary Therapies

[The relationship between haptoglobin type and serum agglutination titers against group G streptococci with the T4-antigen in pregnant women and newborn infants].

The relationship between haptoglobin type and titer of agglutination against streptococci carrying the T4-antigen was examined in 100 pairs of sera (mother/child). In healthy pregnant women high titers were predominant in individuals of haptoglobin type 2--2. Lower titers were found in sera of women with diseases during pregnancy. In 4% of the newborns only the haptoglobin type could be recognized. In comparison of maternal and neonate titers of agglutination pointed out the antibody-like activity of haptoglobins.

Agglutination Tests

[Further investigations concerning the reaction between haptoglobin and T4-antigen-carrying streptocci (author's transl)].

The median level of haptoglobin types 2-2 and 2-1 was found to be proportional to the agglutination titer of T4 antigen-carrying streptococci (Fig. 1). This relationship need not exist in individual sera since, as seen from Table 1, high agglutination titers may be caused by sera with low levels of haptoglobin. Thus the agglutination reaction might depend not only on the quantity of haptoglobin but also on other factor(s) (at least in individual serum samples). - On the other hand, different agglutination titers did not correlate with the quantity of T4 antigen either. A strain of Strep. pyogenes, type 60, was agglutinated at high titers by sera with a high level of haptoglobin in spite of its low ability to absorb haptoglobin. This was in contrast to a strain of group G (20488) which had a high capacity both to become agglutinated and to absorb haptoglobin (Table 2). Absorption of haptoglobin by affinity chromatography decreased the agglutination titer for T4 streptococci. - The reaction between haptoglobin and T4-streptocci did not fix complement. No differences were found between sera of haptoglobin types 1-1, 2-1, and 2-2 with respect to the amount of C, C3, C4, and C3A, respectively (Tables 3-5).

Agglutination Tests

Haptoglobins act similar to antibodies. Steps of discovery. Analogous conclusions from pure preparations, umbilical cord sera and animal sera.

The haptoglobins in man and in mammals are agglutinin-like-substances for streptococci having the T4 antigen. The kind of the agglutinin-like behaviour depends on the genetic type of the haptoglobins. Haptoglobins of the types Hp 2-2, Hp 2-2 like and Hp 2-1 are hightitred complete agglutinins (titre in the range between 1:200 up to 1:3000 and higher) whereas haptoglobins of the type Hp 1-1 are "blocking antibodies". - The steps of the discovery and evidence are presented in detail. Different questions dealing with the clinical significance are discussed.

Agglutination Tests

[Relationship between anti-G-streptococcal titers and the haptoglobin type in human serum--aspects of the observed correlations].

In systematic investigations we found a relationship between the haptoglobin types of human sera and the agglutinability of some group-G streptococcal strains. Sera with the haptoglobin type Hp 1-1 do not agglutinate these strains (or with low titres up to 1:16 only). On the other hand sera with the haptoglobin types Hp 2-1 or Hp 2-2 agglutinate the streptococci with titres from 1:200 to 1:3,200 (or more). The aspects resulting from these findings were discussed in detail. They may have among others practical consequences for the forensic medicine and the role of the haptoglobins must be thought over again.

Antibodies, Bacterial

[Human haptoglobin type and G-streptococci: a safe and unexpected relation].

By testing 167 human sera a surprising dimorphism could be found. All sera of the haptoglobin type hp 1-1 belong to the group with an anti-G streptococci titer in the range of 1:0 to 1:10 whereas sera of the types hp 2-1 and hp 2-2 do have titers in the range between 1:200 and 1:3200 or more. All tests are carried out in the double blind technique.

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