A diallelic tetranucleotide repeat, (GT3)5 or 6, within intron 1 of the ovine interferon-gamma-gene.
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Alleles↗
Biomedical subjects
P Schmidt
Publications and source records attributed to P Schmidt.
Mononucleotide repeat polymorphism within intron 1 of the bovine interferon-gamma gene.
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Alleles↗
Depression of the somatotropic cells in the bovine pituitary gland due to application of recombinant bovine somatotropin--an immunohistochemical and morphometric study.
The morphological alterations in the bovine pituitary gland resulting from the administration of recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST) are described. Three groups of German Simmental heifers (12 animals for each group) were treated. Group 1 received a placebo (vehicle), group 2320 mg and group 3640 mg of a prolonged-release formulation of rBST at 2 week intervals. Treatments were started with an average body weight of 286 +/- 2.5 kg and continued until one week before the animals were slaughtered with an average body weight of 520 +/- 3.2 kg. Double immunohistochemical labelling using rabbit anti-prolactin (PRL) and chicken anti-BST antibodies was performed on paraffin serial sections of the pituitary glands. Morphometric analyses revealed a dose-dependent decrease of the volume fraction of the somatotropic cells due to a reduction in number and a diminution of the mean cellular volume. No significant differences in the volume fraction of the mammotropic cells were seen. The recorded reduction of the somatotropic cells is thought to be the result of a negative feedback upon the secretory activity as a result of long-term rBST treatment.
Animals↗
Recording the corpus cavernosum electromyogram: principles and problems.
PURPOSE: To apply digital signal acquisition and analyzing techniques to the collection and interpretation of electromyographic data of the cavernous body. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Electromyographic recordings were performed in the cavernous bodies of anesthetized, spontaneously breathing dogs under resting conditions and after intracavernous pharmacostimulation with norepinephrine, angiotensin II, phentolamine/papaverine, diethylether and T61. RESULTS: Resting corpus cavernosum activity was ill-coordinated and provided little information. Signal energy was confined largely to the range below 20 Hz. Pharmacostimulation with norepinephrine or angiotensin increased frequency and amplitude of the potential transients and decreased the random components. Administration of a combination of phentolamine and papaverine made the signals very regular and increased periodicity. Blockade of electrical membrane events with diethylether removed all signal components except for electrical and biological noise. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that electromyograms from the corpus cavernosum can be recorded even under adverse conditions. Signal properties, however, are such that the application of computer-aided data processing and analysis to the evaluation of these myograms is imperative.
Amides↗
[Freund's complete adjuvant in the chicken: efficient immunostimulation with severe local inflammatory reaction].
To quantify the enhancing activity of Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA), the humoral immune response of hens to the antigen human serum albumin (HSA) injected intramuscularly combined with FCA was measured. Local tissue reaction was examined on macroscopic and microscopic level. Other hens were injected with HSA in physiological sodium-chloride solution and served as controls. The immunization of hens without using FCA resulted in a short-term rise in immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody titres, while the hens injected with HSA and FCA developed a long-term response (plateau-form of antibody titres). Local tissue reaction after injection of HSA in sodium-chloride solution was a mild and transient form of interstitial myositis. The immunization with HSA combined with FCA regularly resulted in a persisting granulomatous myositis. It is therefore a matter of animal protection to demand restricted use of FCA and to promote adjuvants of comparable efficiency, but better tolerance.
Animals↗
Detection of a kappa-casein-specific lymphocyte response in milk-responsive atopic dermatitis.
BACKGROUND: Bovine casein leads to an expansion of lymphocytes expressing the cutaneous lymphocyte antigen and to specific lymphocyte proliferation in a subgroup of patients with milk-responsive atopic dermatitis (AD). The casein fraction is composed of different proteins with defined and completely different sequences. OBJECTIVE: To define the stimulatory capacity of the major casein protein (alpha, beta and kappa) in lymphocyte proliferation assays with cells from milk-allergic and non-allergic individuals. METHODS: Proliferative responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to lipopolysaccharide-depleted casein subfractions were measured by thymidine incorporation. Lymphocytes from milk-responsive patients with AD were compared with cells from non-responsive patients with AD and to non-atopic individuals. Atopic individuals with immediate symptoms following consumption of cow's milk were included as positive controls. Casein-specific T-cell clones (TCC) from four patients with milk-responsive AD were restimulated with unfractionated casein and kappa-casein. RESULTS: Higher proliferative responses to unfractionated casein and alpha-, beta- and kappa-casein were observed in milk-responsive patients compared with non-responders. Unfractionated casein and kappa-casein discriminated best between the milk-responsive patients with AD and non-responders. Twenty-five of 31 TCG from patients with milk-responsive AD reacted to the mixed casein preparation and kappa-casein. CONCLUSION: A pronounced kappa-casein-specific T-cell-mediated immune response is found in the blood of many patients with a history of milk-related exacerbation of AD.
Adolescent↗
Cellular distribution of the mRNA for the kappa-opioid receptor in the human neocortex: a non-isotopic in situ hybridization study.
Opioid receptors (OR) provide primary interaction sites of the human brain with opiates. Presently kappa-OR mRNA expression was studied in different cortical areas (A4, A10, A17) by in situ hybridization using digoxigenin-labeled oligonucleotides and an alkaline phosphatase-mediated color reaction. kappa-OR mRNA was expressed mainly in layers II/III and V pyramidal and layer VI multiform neurons. A4 giant pyramidal and A17 giant stellate neurons stood out labeled. These findings fit in with our data on kappa-OR protein distribution. Combined cellular assessment of protein and mRNA will enable the study kappa-OR expression under physiological and pathological conditions.
Adult↗
Protection against EHV-1 challenge infection in the murine model after vaccination with various formulations of recombinant glycoprotein gp14 (gB).
Four formulations of the equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) glycoprotein gp 14 (gB), were tested for their ability to protect mice against intranasal (inas) EHV-1 challenge infection. The preparations tested included (i) a truncated gp14 produced in Escherichia coli or (ii) a truncated gp14 expressed in insect cells by a recombinant baculovirus, (iii) truncated gp14 coexpressed with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gag virus-like particles (VLP) in insect cells, and (iv) a gp14-DNA vaccine under the control of the cytomegalovirus immediate early promoter. All antigen preparations and the DNA vaccine elicited a humoral and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) immune response to EHV-1 after intramuscular (im) immunization. After inas immunization, only the VLP-gp14 preparation produced both a good humoral and a prominent DTH immune response; gp14 expressed by insect cells elicited high titers of EHV-1-specific antibodies, whereas gp14 produced in E. coli and the DNA vaccine elicited only low antibody titers. Glycoprotein gp14 expressed by bacteria, however, induced a strong DTH reaction after inas application. Mice were completely protected against EHV-1 challenge infection after both the im and the inas immunization with the VLP-gp14 preparation. Protection was less efficient after immunization with the E. coli and insect cell gp14s as well as after DNA vaccination. Although the transmembrane domain of EHV-1 gp14 was deleted, recombinant gp14 could be demonstrated in insect cell membranes at late times postinfection and aggregated with the VLPs. It is suggested that the transmembrane domain is not required for gp14-association with membranes in that system.
Administration, Intranasal↗
Homicide in the bathtub.
Retrospective analysis of the deaths investigated in the Institute of Forensic Medicine of the University of Cologne (1980-1993) revealed 215 fatalities in the bathtub comprising 11 homicides. In six cases mouth and nose were found beneath the surface of the water, and signs of drowning were encountered in four cases. In two cases drowning was the cause of death, the remaining fatalities being due to strangulation or sharp violence. Four corpses had merely been deposited in the bathtub, four homicides were committed in the bath, and three victims were put into the bathtub to control or ensure the occurrence of death. Two homicides were not recognized before autopsy. The particular difficulties of establishing the diagnosis of strangulation under the conditions of water-logging are discussed.
Adolescent↗
Death in the bathtub involving children.
Retrospective analysis of 215 deaths in the bathtub (Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Cologne, 1980-1993) revealed 12 fatalities involving children, seven boys and five girls, aged from 9 months to 13 years. The manner and cause of death was seven accidents (five by drowning, two by scalding burns), two natural deaths (epilepsy, heart failure due to Hurler's syndrome), one homicide (stabbing) and two undetermined cases (one probable seizure, one subdural hematoma associated with signs of maltreatment). Seven children < 4 years old died without exception from accidental drowning or scalding. Three toddlers had been left alone and unattended in the bathtub for a 'short time' (< or = 15 min) and two in the care of elder siblings. The immersion time and the amount of water required to cause lethal drowning are expressed in the terms of pathophysiology.
Accidents, Home↗
Testicular germ-cell tumors in childhood and adolescence.
Testicular germ-cell tumors are relatively rare in childhood and adolescence, accounting for only 3.9% of all neoplasms. However, they have become a model for curable cancer. Furthermore, most of them have accurate serum markers [beta-human chorionic gonadotropin and alpha-fetoprotein], which provide in clinical stage I disease after semicastration a "wait and see" program. MAHO 82, 88, and 92 were cooperative studies on the treatment of testicular germ-cell tumors in childhood and adolescence. Between 1982 and 1993, 137 patients were registered. In all, 76 patients suffered from yolk-sac tumors (YST); 30, from differentiated teratomas (TD); 29, from malignant teratomas of either intermediate (MTI), undifferentiated (MTU), or trophoblastic type (MTT); and 2, from seminomas. All patients received semicastration. Chemotherapy was given to 53 patients on the basis of disease stage and histology. Standard therapy consisted of four courses of vinblastine, bleomycin and cisplatin. However, if viable tumor was suspected after two courses, delayed laparotomy was performed (seven patients). If there was then complete tumor regression, standard therapy was continued (four patients). If there was an incomplete tumor response, the patients received as salvage therapy three courses of etoposide (VP-16), ifosfamide, and cisplatin (three patients). Among the patients with YST, 73 had stage I disease and 3, higher-stage disease; 1 of these died due to tumor progression. In all, 56 patients were followed according to the "wait and see" policy; 9 of these needed a delayed standard chemotherapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Adolescent↗
Building an empowered work team.
A work team taps into each member's unique talents, which allows valuable skills to be shared across medical units. As a result, continuous quality improvement efforts were more objective and systematic; leadership skills were gained, both individually and jointly. The obstacles encountered, stakeholders' responses and the team's productivity analysis are described.
Humans↗
Penetrating keratoplasty and transscleral fixation of posterior chamber lens.
We reviewed the charts of 21 patients who underwent penetrating keratoplasty and transscleral fixation of a posterior chamber lens. One lens was sutured in an aphakic eye and 20 lenses were sutured after removal of an anterior chamber lens. Postoperative follow-up averaged 13 months (2-39 months). Visual acuity improved in 20 patients (95%) and remained the same in 1 patient (5%). Postoperative visual acuity was less than 0.1 in 5 patients (23.8%), 0.1 to 0.33 in 14 patients (66.7%) and better than 0.33 in 2 patients (9.5%). Twelve patients (57.1%) expressed a substantial reduction in ocular pain, 7 patients (33.3%) had no pain either before or after the operation, 2 patients (9.5%) expressed no reduction in pain. No cases of endophthalmitis, choroidal hemorrhage or retinal detachment were found. In one case, the sutured lens was dislocated without disturbing vision. Intraocular pressure increased in 3 of 9 patients with preoperative glaucoma. New-onset glaucoma developed in 1 patient. We find transscleral fixation of a posterior chamber lens to be an acceptable procedure in penetrating keratoplasty with IOL implantation where capsular support is inadequate for conventional implantation of a posterior chamber lens.
Adult↗
Sex differences in age development of a mouse inbred strain: body composition, adipocyte size and organ weights of liver, heart and muscles.
The mouse inbred strain HLG has only recently been submitted for international registration. It has been widely used in radiological studies. Since these mice tend to become obese, they may be of interest for studies concerning fat metabolism. Therefore, the present ageing study examines the sex-specific development of body weight, body composition, adipocyte size as well as the organ weight of liver, heart and thigh muscles of the inbred strain HLG (54 males/53 virgin females) between day 40 and 360 of life. The body weight development showed a distinct sexual dimorphism, quickly increasing in the case of males but comparatively protracted in females until maturity. Significantly higher values for body and fat-free dry weight as well as body water were found in males of all ages. Body fat and adipocyte diameter were only higher in the 80 and 120 day-old males. Thus, the increase in female body weight resulted largely through a rise in body fat as additionally evidenced by the sex-specific correlation of characteristics. A 2-fold analysis of variance showed sex differences in the relative weights of liver and muscle, but not of the heart. A sex-specific close correlation was observed between body and liver weights in males until day 180. Correlations between body fat and other characteristics were only rarely found. Differences in coefficients of variation largely depended on the characteristics. A higher variability was also found for some characteristics in the youngest groups (40 days). A sex-specific difference was only seen in the case of body fat content for 60 day-old mice (female > male).
Adipocytes↗
ERISA and health plans.
This Issue Brief is designed to provide a basic understanding of the relationship of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to health plans. It is based, in part, on an Employee Benefit Research Institute-Education and Research Fund (EBRI-ERF) educational briefing held in March 1995. This report includes a section by Peter Schmidt of Arnold & Porter, a section about multiemployer plans written by Judy Mazo of The Segal Company; and a section about ERISA and state health reform written by Kala Ladenheim of the Intergovernmental Health Policy Project. Starting in the late 1980s, three trends converged to make ERISA a critical factor in state health reforms: increasingly comprehensive state health policy experimentation; changes in the makeup of the insurance market (including the rise in self-insurance and the growth of managed care); and increasingly expansive interpretations of ERISA by federal courts. The changing interpretations of ERISA's relationship to three categories of state health initiatives--insurance mandates, medical high risk pools, and uncompensated care pools--illustrate how these forces are playing out today. ERISA does have a very broad preemptive effect. Federal statutes do not need to say anything about preemption in order to preempt state law. For example, if there is a direct conflict, it would be quite clear under the Supremacy Clause [of the U.S. Constitution] that ERISA, or any federal statue, would preempt a directly conflicting state statute. States can indirectly regulate health care plans that provide benefits through insurance contracts by establishing the terms of the contract. And they also raise money by imposing premium taxes. But they cannot do the same with respect to self-funded plans. That is one of the factors that has caused a great rise in the number of self-funded plans. State regulation [of employee benefits] can create three kinds of problems: cost of taxes, fees, or other charges; cost of dealing with substantive, possibly inconsistent, benefit standards; and cost of identifying, understanding, and complying with the regulations themselves.
Employer Health Costs↗
Immunohistochemical localization of kappa opioid receptors in the human frontal cortex.
The cellular and subcellular kappa opioid receptor distribution in human frontal cortex was studied using the monoclonal antibody (KA8). kappa opioid receptor-like immunoreactivity was mainly localized in pyramidal neurons of layers II/III and V. In addition, some round and ovoid neurons were found immunolabeled mainly in layer VI. At the ultrastructural level the immunoprecipitate was attached to the cell membrane but was not associated with synaptic specializations. Furthermore, labeling was present in the neuronal perikarya associated with free ribosomes and in the dendrites partly decorating microtubular structures. Previous autoradiographic findings remained restricted to the level of laminar distribution. By contrast, the monoclonal antibody KA8 provides a unique tool to study the cerebral kappa opioid receptor distribution on the cellular and subcellular level.
Adolescent↗
Peptide-evoked release of amylase from isolated acini of the rat parotid gland.
Investigations of the effects of the neuropeptides, substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA), neuropeptide K (NPK), gastrin releasing peptide (GRP), calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and of acetylcholine on amylase secretion have been carried out on isolated acini of the rat parotid gland. Furthermore, the occurrence and location of the peptides in the gland was studied. Finally, binding of 125I-BH-SP to isolated acini were studied in order to characterize their tachykinin receptor(s) and their binding kinetics. Only SP, NKA, NPK and VIP stimulated amylase release. VIP, however, with a rather low potency (EC50 at 155 nmol/l). Simultaneous stimulation with two compounds elicited additive responses, except for VIP and acetylcholine which elicited an effect significantly above additive response. Only SP, NKA, VIP and CGRP could be identified in extracts of the gland. The immunoreactivity of these peptides could be located to varicose nerve fibers in the gland. Binding of labeled SP to the isolated acini exhibited the characteristics of a genuine agonist/receptor interaction, and the rank order of displacement potencies indicated the presence of NK1-receptors. Thus, the results of the present study support previous suggestions that the tachykinins and VIP are likely to be involved in amylase secretion in the rat parotid gland.
Acetylcholine↗
Reflex mechanisms of death in missile injuries of the neck.
Three cases of missile injury to the neck are reported, two homicides and one suicide. In two fatalities, the autopsy revealed contusion of the spinal cord due to direct missile injury of the cervical spine but without laceration of the spinal dura. It was concluded that the temporary cavity following penetration of the bullet caused contusion of the spinal cord with subsequent reflex cardiac arrest. In the suicide case, the entrance wound was in the mouth, the bullet track traversed the pharynx and the cervical spine with complete transection of the cord, and the bullet lodged in the right scalenus muscle. The lack of vital signs such as blood aspiration, which was expected because of the injury of the pharynx, also indicates immediate occurrence of death owing to a reflex mechanism in this case. The underlying reflex mechanisms are discussed in the light of clinical experience in the treatment of paraplegics as well as the findings in experimental contusion and transection of the cervical cord.
Adult↗