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Biomedical subjects

S Mayr

Publications and source records attributed to S Mayr.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

Castration prevents suppression of MHC class II (Ia) expression on macrophages after trauma-hemorrhage.

Several studies indicate that cell-mediated immune responses, i.e., macrophage (MPhi) cytokine release capacities, myosin heavy chain (MHC) class II (Ia) expression, etc., are suppressed after trauma-hemorrhage in male mice. Testosterone has been shown to be responsible for the depression of MPhi cytokine responses in males after trauma-hemorrhage. Antigen presentation via MHC class II plays a key role in initiating and maintaining cell-mediated and humoral immune responses. It remains unknown, however, whether testosterone has any effect on MHC class II after trauma-hemorrhage. To study this, male C3H/HeN mice were castrated or sham castrated 2 wk before trauma (midline laparotomy) and hemorrhage (Hem; blood pressure 35 +/- 5 mmHg for 90 min and resuscitation) or sham operation. Four hours thereafter, MHC class II (Ia) expression was measured using flow cytometry. The results indicate that MHC class II (Ia) expression on peritoneal and splenic MPhi was significantly suppressed in male mice after trauma-hemorrhage. Prior castration, however, prevented the depression in MHC class II (Ia) expression on peritoneal and splenic MPhi after trauma-hemorrhage. Castration did not affect MHC class II (Ia) expression in MPhi from sham-castrated mice. Thus testosterone depresses MHC class II (Ia) expression on peritoneal and splenic MPhi after trauma-hemorrhage in males. Because MHC class II is necessary for an adequate immune response, our results suggest that depletion of male sex steroids or blockade of androgen receptors using agents such as flutamide might prevent immunosuppression via maintaining MHC class II (Ia) expression after trauma and severe blood loss.

Androgen Antagonists↗

L-arginine improves wound healing after trauma-hemorrhage by increasing collagen synthesis.

BACKGROUND: Several studies indicate impaired wound healing after trauma and shock. Wound immune cell dysfunction seems to be responsible for altered wound healing after trauma-hemorrhage (T-H). In this respect, administration of the amino acid L-arginine normalized wound immune cell function under those conditions. It remains unknown, however, whether L-arginine improves impaired wound healing after T-H. METHODS: To study this, male C3H/HeN mice were subjected to a midline laparotomy (i.e., soft tissue trauma induced), and polyvinyl sponges were implanted subcutaneously at the wound site before hemorrhage (35 +/- 5 mm Hg for 90 minutes) or were subjected to sham operation. During resuscitation, mice received 300 mg/kg body weight L-arginine or saline (vehicle). Seven days thereafter, hydroxyproline (OHP), a metabolite of collagen synthesis, was measured in the wound fluid using high-performance liquid chromatography. Collagen types I and III were determined in the wound by Western blot analysis. In addition, wound breaking strength was measured 10 days after T-H or sham operation. RESULTS: The results indicate that OHP was significantly decreased in T-H mice. L-arginine, however, restored depressed OHP in the wound fluid in the T-H animals. Similarly, L-arginine treatment prevented a significant depression of collagen I synthesis after T-H. Collagen III was not significantly affected by T-H or L-arginine. Most important, L-arginine increased maximal wound breaking strength after severe blood loss. Therefore, L-arginine improves wound healing after T-H by increasing collagen synthesis. CONCLUSION: Because L-arginine improves wound healing, the results suggest that L-arginine might represent a novel and useful adjunct to fluid resuscitation for decreasing wound complications after trauma and severe blood loss.

Analysis of Variance↗

Rifampin and Triclosan but not silver is effective in preventing bacterial infection of vascular dacron graft material.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of silver- or Triclosan-coated prosthetic material compared to Rifampin bonded Dacron concerning their resistance to infection following subcutaneous implantation and contamination with Staphylococcus aureus. DESIGN: Animal experimental study in mice. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-six C3H/HcN mice (Charles River Lab., Sulzfeld, Germany) with a weight between 24 and 27 g were randomised into six groups counting six animals each. Group I: control, gel-sealed dacron graft, group II: gel-sealed dacron graft and local contamination, group III: Intergard-Silver-prosthesis and contamination, group IV: silver/gel-sealed dacron prosthesis (test graft) and contamination, group V: Rifampin-bonded gel-sealed graft and contamination, group VI: Triclosan/collagen-coated dacron graft and contamination. Dacron graft material 0.8x1 cm was subcutaneously implanted in mice. Local contamination with 2x10(7)/0.2 ml S. aureus ATCC 25923 was carried out in groups II to VI. On day 14 the animals were killed and the grafts were explanted. The microscopic, histologic and microbiological evaluation of the graft material and the perigraft tissue was performed. RESULTS: In control group I no case of infection was detected. In group II, 6 of 6 animals showed infection. In group III (Intergard-Silver) and group IV (silver/gel-test graft) were 6 of 6, in group V (Rifampin) only 1 of 6 grafts and in group VI (Triclosan) 4 of 6 grafts were infected. The difference between the low rate of infection in group V (Rifampin) in comparison to the completely infected groups III and IV (Silver) as well as the control group II was significant. Treatment of grafts with Triclosan could prevent infection only in 1/3 of the cases in group IV. CONCLUSION: Silver coating failed to prevent graft infection material. A potential antimicrobial property was evident for Triclosan whereas Rifampin-bonded grafts exhibit a significantly reduced infection rate. Thus, silver-coated vascular grafts cannot ensure protection from vascular graft infection.

Animals↗

[Experimental examination concerning the efficacy of silver-coated Dacron prostheses in vascular graft infections following subcutaneous implantation in a standardized infection model].

UNLABELLED: It was the aim of the study to examine the efficacy of silver coated prostheses in comparison to Rifampin in impregnated prostheses in the prevention of vascular graft infections. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 24 C3H/HcN mice with a bodyweight between 24 and 27 grams were assigned to four different groups. GROUP I: control gel-sealed Dacron graft (Uni-Graft DV) (6), GROUP II: gel-sealed Dacron graft (Uni-Graft DV) contaminated locally with 2 x 10(7) CFU/1.2 ml Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 (6), GROUP III: silver prosthesis (Intergard Silver) contaminated locally with 2 x 10(7) CFU/0.2 ml Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 (6), GROUP IV: Rifampin impregnated prosthesis contaminated locally with 2 x 10(7) CFU/0.2 ml Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 (6). 14 days after primary operation all animals were euthanized and the grafts harvested. Specimens were examined for signs of infections by histology and microbiology. RESULTS: At termination of the trial on day 14 none of the grafts of group I were contaminated. 6 out of 6 grafts in group II, 6 out of 6 grafts in group III and 1 out of 6 grafts in group IV presented with infected grafts. The use of antimicrobial Rifampin could significantly prevent infection after bacterial challenge in group IV. CONCLUSION: The silver protected prosthesis (Intergard Silver) seems to be not effective in protecting vascular infection in vivo. However, the Rifampin group showed excellent results. In conclusion Rifampin bonded gelatin-sealed Dacron grafts are significantly more resistant to bacteremic infection than are silver/collagen-coated Dacron grafts.

Animals↗

Purification and identification of an impurity in bulk hydrochlorothiazide.

Hydrochlorothiazide (6-chloro-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine-7-sulfonamide 1,1-dioxide) (HCTZ) 1 is a widely used diuretic and anti-hypertensive. Recently, the Pharmeuropa recognized a new impurity initially thought to be an HCTZ dimer 6, which consists of the active drug (HCTZ) linked via the former beta-ring methylene to a known degradate, 5-chloro-2,4-disulfamylaniline 2. In an effort to meet a new requirement, an analytical high-pressure liquid chromatography method was developed that was selective and sensitive to the subject impurity. The impurity was concentrated and purified using a combination of solid phase extraction and reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. Subsequently, the impurity has been identified as a specific HCTZ-CH2-HCTZ isomer utilizing a variety of analytical techniques, including hydrolysis, ultraviolet spectroscopy, liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, and 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The data resulting from the application of these analytical techniques confirm the identity of the impurity as a methylene bridged pair of HCTZ molecules; however, a total of six possible isomers 7a-f exist because of the presence of three reactive amines/sulfonamides on each HCTZ molecule. One unique molecular structure (4-[[6-chloro-3,4,-dihydro-2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine-7-sulfonamide-1,1-dioxide]-methyl]-chloro-3-hydro-H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine-7-sulfonamide-1,1-dioxide) 7f was identified using two-dimensional COSY, NOESY, and TOCSY 1H NMR experiments.

Antihypertensive Agents↗

Minor cytotoxic and antibacterial compounds from the rhizomes of Amomum aculeatum.

A new cytotoxic 1,7-dioxa-dispiro[5.1.5.2]pentadeca-9,12-dien-11-one derivative, aculeatin D, and a new alkenone, 5-hydroxy-hexacos-1-en-3-one, have been isolated as minor compounds from the rhizomes of Amomum aculeatum. Their structures have been determined mainly by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Aculeatin D showed high cytotoxicity against the KB and the L-6 cell line with IC(50) of 0.38 microg/ml and 1 microg/ml, respectively. Additionally, it revealed remarkable activity against two Plasmodium falciparum strains, as well as against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and Trypanosoma cruzi. 5-Hydroxy-hexacos-1-en-3-one exhibited neither cytotoxic nor antiprotozoal activity, whereas antibacterial testing against Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis showed moderate to strong activity for both compounds.

Alkenes↗

[Internet presence of surgical clinics in Germany. Current data and future prospects].

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to obtain an overview of the use of the Internet by surgical departments in Germany as a presentation platform and information resource for their patients. METHODS: After a randomizing a total of 1,760 surgical departments in Germany, 200 were chosen and asked about their Internet use. RESULTS: Most of the questionnaires (81.5%) were received and analyzed; 32.5% of the German surgical departments are represented on the Internet; 81.4% of the clinics without a homepage are planning to have one in the future. The hospitals represent themselves on average on two HTML documents. CONCLUSION: Approximately a third of the German surgical departments currently give information over the Internet with a wide and heterogeneous spectrum. In the near future approx. 80% of the German surgical departments will have online presence. Therefore, the increasing demand for medical information by the patients will be fulfilled. The professionalism and effectiveness of the home-pages can be increased through registration with many search engines and the use of e-mail.

Forecasting↗

Three-dimensional eye-movement responses to off-vertical axis rotations in humans.

We recorded three-dimensional eye movements elicited by velocity steps about axes that were tilted with respect to the earth-vertical. Subjects were accelerated in 1 s from zero to 100 degrees/s, and the axis of rotation was tilted by 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 60 degrees, or 90 degrees. This stimulus induced a constant horizontal velocity component that was directed opposite to the direction of rotation, as well as a modulation of the horizontal, vertical and torsional components with the frequency of the rotation. The maximum steady-state response in the horizontal constant-velocity component was much smaller than in other species (about 6 degrees/s), reaching a maximum at a tilt angle of about 60 degrees. While the amplitude of the horizontal modulation component increased up to a tilt angle of 90 degrees (8.4 degrees/s), the vertical and torsional modulation amplitudes saturated around 60 degrees (ca. 2.5 degrees/s). At small tilt angles, the horizontal modulation component showed a small phase lag with respect to the chair position, which turned into a small phase lead at large tilt angles. The torsional component showed a phase lead that increased with increasing tilt angle. The vertical and torsional velocity modulation at large tilt angles was not predicted by a recent model of otolith-canal interaction by Merfeld. Agreement between model and experimental data could be achieved, however, by introducing a constant force along the body's z-axis to compensate for the gravitational pull on the otoliths in the head-upright position. This approach had been suggested previously to explain the direction of the perceived subjective vertical during roll under different g-levels, and produced in our model the observed vertical and torsional modulation components at large tilt angles.

Adult↗

Human skeletal muscle HSP70 response to training in highly trained rowers.

Previous studies have demonstrated exercise-induced heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in animals. The purpose of this study was to investigate human skeletal muscle HSP70 response to rowing training. Ten male rowers trained for 4 wk with different forms, durations, and intensities of exercise. Biopsy was performed in the right musculus vastus lateralis before training and at the end of each week. HSP70 in 5 microg of total protein from the muscle sample was determined by using Western blot and immunodetection with chemiluminescence technique, by means of laser densitometer referring to a series of known standard HSP70. Compared with pretraining (100%), HSP70 increased during training (181, 405, 456, and 363% from the first to fourth training week, respectively) with the maximum HSP70 production at the end of second training week. Thus HSP70 is induced in highly trained human muscle by long-term training.

Adolescent↗

Selective coupling of STAT factors to the mouse prolactin receptor.

Prolactin has been reported to induce distinct sets of signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) in a cell-type-specific fashion. In the mammary epithelium, although STAT1, STAT3, STAT5A, STAT5B and STAT6 are present in a latent form, only STAT5A and STAT5B are activated. This selective activation of STAT5 by prolactin was also observed in COS-7 cells cotransfected with the long form of the mouse prolactin receptor (PRL-R) and expression vectors for STAT1, STAT3, STAT5 and STAT6. Mutated PRL-Rs and chimeric erythropoietin/gp130 (EPO/gp130) receptors with a tyrosine-containing motif attached at the carboxy terminus were employed to determine the sites in the PRL-R required for the specific activation of STAT5. The experiments revealed the importance of two motifs containing Y477 and Y578 in the PRL-R. When linked to the EPO/gp130 receptor, these sequences were sufficient to specifically induce DNA binding of STAT5 and to activate transcription from the beta-casein gene promoter. By contrast, only weakly they induced DNA binding of STAT6 and STAT3 and did not induce STAT1. A synthetic nonapeptide with phosphorylated Y477 was able to disrupt STAT5 DNA binding in vitro. Our results define structural domains within the carboxy terminus of the PRL-R which recruit STAT5 for signalling and which are capable of distinguishing STAT5 from other STAT proteins. The activity of STAT5 forms with deletions of the carboxy terminus was induced more strongly than that of their full-length counterparts 2 min after activation of the PRL-R. This effect was not dependent on the presence of Y477 and Y578 in the PRL-R, indicating that facilitated activation of short STAT5 isoforms relies on mechanisms other than increased coupling to specific regions of the PRL-R.

Animals↗

Differential Ca2+ signaling induced by activation of the epidermal growth factor and nerve growth factor receptors.

Stimulation by epidermal growth factor (EGF) of NIH3T3 cells overexpressing the EGF receptor (EGFR) results in a release of Ca2+ from internal stores. Ca2+ release is followed by an influx of extracellular calcium which can be recorded by the influx of the calcium surrogate Mn2+. Both Ca2+ release and Mn2+/Ca2+ influx are inhibited by expression of the dominant negative Asn17-Ras mutant and abrogated by microinjected neutralizing anti-Ras antibody Y13-259, whereas microinjection of the anti-Ras antibody Y13-238 which does not interact with the effector binding domain of Ras is without any effect on the EGF-induced Ca2+ transient. Neither Asn17-Ha-Ras nor the Y13-259 antibody interferes with the thapsigargin-induced Mn2+/Ca2+ influx. The nerve growth factor receptor (Trk)-mediated Ca2+ transient was found to be unaffected by the dominant negative Ras mutant or microinjected neutralizing anti-Ras antibodies. Substitution of the phospholipase Cgamma1 (PLCgamma1) binding site of the EGFR by the PLCgamma binding domain of Trk renders the EGFR-induced Ca2+ influx insensitive to the expression of Asn17-Ha-Ras, whereas the Ca2+ signal induced by Trk carrying the PLC binding site of EGFR is Ras-dependent and abrogated by the dominant negative Ras mutant. It is concluded that the Ca2+ transient induced by the activated EGFR, not, however, the Ca2+ transient elicited by the activated NGFR/Trk, is a Ras-mediated phenomenon and that the role of Ras in regulating EGFR-induced Ca2+ influx depends on the structure of the PLCgamma binding domain.

3T3 Cells↗

Laser-enhanced NMR spectroscopy.

Experimental studies show that optical irradiation far from any absorption bands can shift the resonances in a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrum without significant heating. This effect may lead to increased dispersion in NMR studies of complex molecules.

Camphor↗

Interpersonal types among alcohol abusers: a comparison with drug abusers.

Interpersonal types among alcohol abusers were examined with Calsyn, Roszell, and Anderson's (1988) nine-type system for classifying FIRO-B profiles. The frequencies of the nine FIRO-B types among a sample of 135 male veteran alcohol abusers were compared with Calsyn et al.'s (1988) previously published data for a sample of male veteran drug abusers, a normative veteran sample, and a general population sample. The alcohol abusers, like Calsyn et al.'s sample of drug abusers, were more likely to be categorized as "loners," "rebels," and "pessimists" than was the general population sample. While exhibiting preferences for interpersonal types that emphasized social withdrawal, avoidance of responsibility, and mistrust of others, both the alcohol abusers and the drug abusers were heterogeneous groups whose members demonstrated a variety of interpersonal types.

Adult↗

The Io syndrome: symptom formation in victims of sexual abuse.

The sexual abuse of women today is analyzed alongside the mythology of Ovid's Metamorphoses. Two thousand years ago, Ovid unfolded a world view of human beliefs and practices that make up today's symptom formation and psychodynamic in victims of sexual abuse. Herewith the mythology of Io. Her rape and subsequent symptom formation is understood as a clinical account of rape-trauma syndrome and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Adult↗