Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Ulrich

Publications and source records attributed to R Ulrich.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Personality disorders diagnosed at intake at a public psychiatric facility.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence of personality disorders among a large population of persons seeking treatment in a public psychiatric facility and to examine the role of personality disorders in the clinical conditions of persons frequenting such facilities. METHODS: Clinical and demographic data were retrospectively examined for 18,179 adults who visited a walk-in clinic of a public psychiatric facility between 1983 and 1989. Patients who received a diagnosis of personality disorder were compared with those who did not. RESULTS: A total of 2,344 patients (12.9 percent) were diagnosed as having a personality disorder, a lower prevalence rate than generally found in treatment populations. The most frequent diagnoses were atypical, antisocial, and borderline personality disorders. Compared with other subjects, those with a personality disorder were significantly more likely to be men, to be 35 years old or younger, to have a higher level of social impairment, and to have more symptoms and more severe symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The relatively low prevalence rate was attributed in part to underdiagnosis, largely due to the need for making rapid assessments in a public intake setting. The authors conclude that clinicians in such facilities may be likely to diagnose personality disorders when patients with certain axis I disorders such as substance use, affective, and adjustment disorders present with an overall greater level of symptomatology and social impairment.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Qualitative mechanoperception of natural teeth and endosseous implants.

The responses of 100 patients to load on Tübingen ceramic implants and natural teeth were analyzed to learn about the facets of qualitative mechanoperception. This approach revealed four factors of mechanoperception: dullness, intensity, localization, and persistence. Dullness, localization, and persistence were discriminated between teeth and implants. Intensity perception, however, depended on load only.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Lateralized readiness potential and reaction time in partial preliminary information of a psychomotor parameter].

An overt response with a single hand is preceded by a change in the relative activation of the left and right motor cortices. The resulting lateral shift in the distribution of electrical potential at the scalp is known as the Lateralized Readiness Potential (LRP). The LRP is thought to reflect the differential preparation of the two hands and has been used to study the time-course of such preparation. A number of questions concerning the interpretation of the LRP still remain, however. The present study sought to discover whether the LRP reflects only the preparation of actual muscles or can arise from a more abstract muscle-independent form of preparation. In a choice reaction time (RT) task, either hand (left or right) or movement direction (finger flexion or extension) was precued before the response signal appeared. The hand precue induced an LRP, even though the remaining response alternatives involved different roles for the same muscles. Surprisingly, RT was correlated with the amplitude of the LRP following the direction precue, but not the hand precue. The results support the assumption that the LRP reflects an abstract muscle-independent form of response preparation. It is argued that this preparation works in an all-or-none fashion.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

The prevalence of autoantibodies among right and left handed schizophrenic patients and control subjects.

Sera from schizophrenic patients (n = 186) and healthy control subjects (n = 346) were tested for the presence of seven common autoantibodies by standard immunological methods. The association between handedness and autoantibodies was tested in a multi-way contingency table using a log-linear model. For men, but not women, nondextrals (patients and controls) were twice as likely to test positive for autoantibodies than dextrals (p = 0.0002). Although more women (33%) than men (24%) tested positive for autoantibodies, handedness was not a distinguishing factor among women. These data suggest that sinistrality and gender are associated with autoantibodies in a subgroup of schizophrenic patients and healthy control subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

A digitized-fluorescence-imaging study of mitochondrial Ca2+ increase by doxorubicin in cardiac myocytes.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the role of mitochondrial Ca2+ in doxorubicin-induced cell injury. The effect of doxorubicin on cultured cells was investigated by digitized fluorescence imaging. The Ca2+ sensitive fluorescent dye fura-2 was used to estimate cytosolic, mitochondrial and total cellular Ca2+. Rhodamine 123 was used to estimate the mitochondrial membrane potential, and cellular ATP was determined by h.p.l.c. The data showed that doxorubicin induced greater-than-2-fold increases in mitochondrial Ca2+ before changes in cytosolic Ca2+ could be detected. An increase in mitochondrial Ca2+ paralleled the observed dissipation in mitochondrial membrane potential. Cellular ATP levels appeared to decrease as a result of mitochondrial dysfunction, which in turn produced greater-than-2-fold increases in cytosolic Ca2+. The data suggest that doxorubicin-induced alterations in mitochondrial Ca2+ homoeostasis are associated with a dissipation in energy conservation, which may result in cell injury.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1992

Immunogenicity of recombinant core particles of hepatitis B virus containing epitopes of human immunodeficiency virus 1 core antigen.

A Gag protein segment of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) has been fused to a C terminally truncated core antigen of hepatitis B virus (HBcAg) using an E. coli expression system. Fusion of 90 amino acids of HIV-1 Gag protein to HBcAg still allowed the formation of capsids presenting on their surface epitopes of HIV-1 core protein, whereas fusion of 317, 189, or 100 amino acids of Gag prevented self-assembly of chimeric particles. Mice immunized with recombinant particles emulsified with Freund's complete adjuvant (CFA) or aluminium hydroxide developed high anti-HBcAg titers. However, anti-HIVp24 antibodies were detected only in mice inoculated with immunogen emulsified with CFA.

AIDS Vaccines↗
PubMed1992

Ultrastructural alterations in ileal M cells of rats after chronic ethanol ingestion: reversal after cessation of ethanol.

Membranous (M) cells within the dome epithelium of ileal Peyer's patches have been shown to provide selective antigen entry for mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue. This study produced morphologic evidence of ethanol-induced disruption of the architecture in follicle-associated epithelium. The adherens type junctions of the lateral plasma membranes between M cells and columnar absorptive cells were disrupted. A 45-day exposure by ingestion of ethanol also produced marked changes in the ultrastructure of M cells. All experimental animals showed mitochondrial swelling with loss of matrix density, dilation of the endoplasmic reticulum and cytoplasmic vacuolization. The ethanol content of serum and chyme samples were 180 mg/dl and 160 mg/dl, respectively. This was well below the 4,280 mg/dl of the diet therefore a systemic mechanism was implicated for the changes observed. Membranous cells from the recovery group were normal 15 days after withdrawal from ethanol. We concluded that the ethanol-induced cytopathology in ileal M cells is reversible when ethanol exposure is discontinued.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Chronic urticaria in enterobiasis vermicularis (oxyuriasis)].

We report on a patient with chronic urticaria associated with enterobiasis vermicularis (oxyuriasis). The current distribution of Enterobius vermicularis and its importance concerning chronic urticaria of endogenous origin is evaluated and discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Use of polychlorinated biphenyl congener analysis for monitoring food and raw material of animal origin].

Occurrence of individual polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners in the environment, foodstuffs and other biological materials was assessed. Analysis of specific PCB congeners (28, 52, 101, 138, 153, 180), occurring in animal raw materials and foodstuffs most frequently, has been implemented. Sample processing, isolation of fat from milk, meat, organs, fat tissue and eggs, and separation of PCB from fats using the sorbents Florisil or Ekosorb (a new Czechoslovak sorbent based on modified silica gel, Kavalier Glassworks, Votice) are described in detail. Individual PCB congeners were determined by capillary gas chromatography (gas chromatograph Varian VISTA 6,000, equipped with a 63Ni ECD; silica capillary column SPB-5, 30 m x 0.32 mm I.D., 0.25 micron film; column temperature programme: 60 degrees C for 2 min, then to 250 degrees C at 20 degrees C/min and held for 13 min; splitless injection). Chromatograms of commercial chemicals Delor 103 and Delor 106 (corresponding to Aroclor 1242 and 1260, respectively), of a mixture of six specific PCB congener standards and of a PCB--containing milk sample are presented in Fig. 1-3. Methods of PCBs estimation, currently used in Czechoslovakia, and benefits of congeneric analysis of PCBs (reproducibility of results, quantification of individual congeners) are discussed. Analysis of specific PCB congeners is used for the assay of PCBs in foodstuffs and investigations of PCBs dynamics in food chains and distribution and accumulation of PCBs in animal organisms. Contents of specific PCB congeners in milk, pork and pig liver and kidney samples are given in Tab. II.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Dairy Products↗
PubMed1991

[Treatment of acute episodes of atopic dermatitis. Double-blind comparative study with 0.05% halometasone cream versus 0.25% prednicarbate cream].

In a double-blind, randomized multicenter study in patients with acute episodes of atopic dermatitis, the efficacy and tolerance of 0.5% halometasone (Sicorten) cream were compared with those of 0.25% prednicarbate cream. A total of 165 patients (88 men, 77 women) were admitted to the study. The halometasone group contained 9% more cases with severe disease than did the prednicarbate group. Two daily nonocclusive applications were permitted, and treatment lasted 14 days. No difference in the onset of the effect was observed between the two groups. With respect to clinical efficacy, higher healing rates were found in the halometasone group: 50.6% versus 34.5% in the patients as a whole, and 39.5% vs. 16.2% in the subgroup of clinically severe cases. Applying stratification, a statistical difference was found in the clinically severe cases. Both creams were well tolerated; undesired side effects were observed neither with halometasone cream nor with prednicarbate cream. Cosmetic acceptance was assessed as very good by 50.6% of patients treated with halometasone cream, and 46.0% of patients treated with prednicarbate cream. Summarizing, it may be noted that halometasone cream is more effective than prednicarbate cream, and is equally well tolerated.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1991

Use of random-sequence riboflavin as a marker of medication compliance in chronic schizophrenics.

Adherence to prescribed medications is believed to be a major problem in medicine. However, actual medication taking behaviour is rarely measured as no reliable objective measures of adherence are available. 50 mg of riboflavin administered at night could be reliably detected in urine, under UV light, for the next 18-24 h. The ability of 20 schizophrenic outpatients to adhere to a once-a-night dosage was studied by dispensing riboflavin or placebo in a random sequence and testing the urine for UV fluorescence the next day. The majority of patients (80%) had errors between 40-80% of the times tested. Only age and sex predicted the level of adherence. Clinicians were very poor predictors of the error rates in their patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

A recruitment theory of force-time relations in the production of brief force pulses: the parallel force unit model.

A theory, the parallel force unit model, is advanced in which the buildup and decline of force in rapid responses of short duration are assumed to reflect variability in timing of several parallel force units. Response force is conceived of as being a summation of a large number of force units, each acting independently of one another. Force is controlled by either the number of recruited force units or the duration each unit contributes its force. Several predictions are derived on the basis of this theory and are shown to be in qualitative agreement with empirical findings about both the mean and variability of brief force impulses. The model also has consequences for the temporal properties of a response. For example, under certain circumstances, it predicts a reciprocal relation between reaction time and response force. Although the theory is proposed as a psychological account, relations between the assumptions and basic principles in neurophysiology are considered. Possible future applications and generalizations of the theory are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

The processing of temporal intervals reflected by CNV-like brain potentials.

The present study employed event-related potentials (ERPs) of the brain to improve the understanding of temporal processing. A reproduction paradigm was realized by presenting a visual stimulus (illuminated screen) for intervals of varying length. A few seconds after presentation of such standard intervals the visual stimulus was switched on again and subjects were asked to reproduce the duration of the standard interval by turning off the illumination after a corresponding interval had elapsed. The length of standard intervals varied randomly with each of the following lengths being presented 20 times: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 s. Reproduction was accurate for standard intervals up to 3 s but deteriorated with increasing interval length. Brain potentials during reproduction intervals of 1-3 s differed from those recorded during the longer intervals. A CNV-like slow negative shift developed during the shorter reproduction intervals. Negatively was reduced or even absent, when subjects had to reproduce standard intervals of 4 s or longer. The ERP results suggest that intervals shorter than 3-4 s may evoke a processing mode that is qualitatively different from the one dominating when periods in the range of several seconds have to be processed.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Expression of bovine leukaemia virus antigens fused to MS2 polymerase in E. coli.

The main core protein and segments of envelope proteins of bovine leukaemia virus fused to MS2 polymerase were expressed in E. coli. The synthesis rate varied between 3 and 25% of the total cellular proteins. BLV-MS2 polymerase fusion proteins were detected immunologically using rabbit anti-BLV sera, monoclonal antibodies and a serum of a BLV-infected cow.

Antigens, Viral↗