[Dissecting aortic aneurysm revealed by prolonged fever].
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Aortic Dissection↗
Biomedical subjects
S Roth
Publications and source records attributed to S Roth.
Chocolate eating in healthy men during experimentally induced sadness and joy.
The study compared influences of qualitatively different emotions on eating. Motivation to eat, affective responses to chocolate and chewing of chocolate were investigated in healthy normal weight males during experimentally induced emotions. Subjects abstained from eating 2 h (n = 24) or 8 h (n = 24) before testing. They received pieces of chocolate after viewing film clips presented to induce anger, fear, sadness and joy. Motivation to eat and most affective responses to eating chocolate were higher after 8 h than after 2 h of deprivation. Sadness and joy affected motivation to eat in opposite directions: joy increased and sadness decreased appetite (p < 0.001). In joy, a higher tendency to eat more chocolate was reported (p < 0.001), and chocolate tasted more pleasant (p < 0.001) and was experienced as more "stimulating" than in sadness (p < 0.01). No effects of deprivation could be found for chewing time and number of chews. Results indicate that the quality of emotions can affect motivation to eat and affective responses to eating chocolate. Our findings on decreased eating responses to sadness in healthy males and the contradictory increased eating responses to sadness reported by others supports two types of emotion-induced changes of eating: emotion-congruent modulation of eating and eating to regulate emotions.
Adult↗
Two methods for construction of internal amplification controls for the detection of Escherichia coli O157 by polymerase chain reaction.
For the detection of food born bacteria by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in food products, an internal amplification control (IAC) is required in order to prevent false negative results that might be caused by PCR inhibitors. In the present study, two IACs were constructed using two different methods. These IACs were designed in a way that the same primer pair can be used to amplify the target DNA and coamplify the IAC. The first IAC with a size of approximately 200 bp was constructed by deleting a part of the amplicon of the original target DNA (500 bp) between the two primer sites to produce an IAC smaller than the target DNA. The second IAC with a size of approximately 600 bp was synthesized in a one step PCR reaction. The primers used in this reaction possessed 5' over-hanging ends, which were identical to the primers used in the diagnostic reaction, whereas their 3' ends were complementary to the (pUC19) predetermined DNA sequence of defined length and sequence. The concentration of IACs appeared to be critical. Too much IAC DNA template would out-compete the target DNA template, thus giving a false negative result. However the use of an optimal IAC concentration increased the reliability of the PCR assays and appeared to be useful for food diagnostics.
DNA Primers↗
[Ultrasound screening of renal cell carcinomas].
The increasing number of incidentally by ultrasound detected small renal cell carcinomas raises the question of the practicability and efficacy of a systematic screening for renal cell carcinoma by ultrasound. A two year screening program for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) was established for the general population (age > 40 years) in two cities, Mainz and Wuppertal. In cooperation with different health insurers, the organizers recruited general practitioners, internists and urologists in private practice who were experienced in and equipped for performing renal ultrasound. The screening was offered in the form of a cost free renal ultrasound in the first year and a re-examination in the second year. For any equivocal/positive renal mass, a reference ultrasound was provided the urology departments at the two university hospitals. 9959 volunteers participated in the screening program (49% male, 51% female) in the first year. The mean age was 61 (40-94) years. 79% of these participants returned for re-examination in the second year. Thirteen (0.1%) subjects were found to have a renal mass, of which nine were RCC. The sensitivity of the program was 82% (one year of follow-up). The predictive value was 2% for equivocal findings on initial exam and 50% for positive findings. The incidence of other abnormal findings was 12%. The screening program was well accepted by physicians in private practice and by the eligible population. The method proved effective, especially if equivocal findings were re-studied by reference sonography before further imaging studies such as CT and MRI were performed.
Adult↗
[Anti-TNF alpha monoclonal antibodies (infliximab) and tuberculosis: apropos of 3 cases].
INTRODUCTION: Monoclonal TNF alpha antibodies are a new treatment of severe rheumatoid arthritis. One of the possible side effects is the appearance of opportunistic infections. We report here on three cases of disseminated tuberculosis observed in patients undergoing treatment with infliximab. EXEGESIS: A 45-year-old woman, treated with infliximab, was hospitalised after five infusions for fever and dyspnoea. The exams showed pulmonary and peritoneal tuberculosis. The second case is a 75-year-old woman whose symptoms were fever, cough and cervical adenopathy after three infliximab infusions. Diagnosis was disseminated tuberculosis. The third case is a 59-year-old man who was hospitalised for an infectious syndrome with dyspnoea, after two infliximab infusions. We discovered pulmonary tuberculosis. CONCLUSION: These three cases added to the 68 cases of tuberculosis registered with the treatment of infliximab. This confirms the risk of severe opportunist infectious side effects. TNF alpha is a cytokine which has anti-infectious properties. These tuberculoses are severe and generalized. It is recommended to search for an active or latent tuberculosis before beginning treatment with infliximab, and to check these patients frequently.
Aged↗
[Delayed diagnosis of neurocysticercosis: two case reports].
INTRODUCTION: Neurocysticercosis is the most frequently encountered cerebral parasitic infection worldwide. It is due to infection of the central nervous system by Taenia solium larval form. According to the location of the cysts, parenchymal and extra-parenchymal forms may be identified, with different clinical expressions. EXEGESIS: We report two cases of neurocysticercosis, one with typical parenchymal involvement and the second with extra-parenchymal involvement revealed by increased intra-cranial pressure. In both cases, the diagnosis was established over 10 years after the onset of symptoms. CONCLUSION: Neurocysticercosis is very frequent in non-Islamic developing countries, and its incidence is increasing in industrialized nations in relation to tourism and immigration from highly endemic areas. Symptoms usually appear several years after infection and this accounts for the frequent delays before the diagnosis is established.
Adult↗
[A case of lymphocytic meningitis revealing a neurocysticercosis].
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Adult↗
[Necrobiotic xanthogranuloma , a cutaneous disorder associated with monoclonal gammopathy].
INTRODUCTION: Necrobiotic xanthogranuloma is a rare cutaneous disorder usually associated with monoclonal gammapathy. We describe two new cases. EXEGESIS: A 70-year-old patient was affected by a monoclonal gammopathy. She presented with a diplopia related to a retro-orbital tumor. The biopsy showed inflammatory lesions. Five years later, inflammatory xanthomatous skin lesions appeared. Biopsy specimens gave the diagnosis of necrobiotic xanthogranuloma. A 70-year-old woman was referred for inflammatory cutaneous lesions. Clinical, biological investigations and skin biopsies led to the diagnosis of cutaneous sarcoidosis associated with monoclonal gammopathy. Four years later, she developed a nephrotic syndrome. New skin biopsy specimens showed a necrobiotic xanthogranuloma. CONCLUSION: Necrobiotic xanthogranuloma is a systemic disease. It is a rare non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis characterized by frequent cutaneous and ophthalmologic lesions and associated with monoclonal gammopathy. To our knowledge, retro-orbital involvement has never been reported in necrobiotic xanthogranuloma. Treatment is difficult.
Aged↗
[Pulmonary localization of hairy cell leukemia].
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Aged↗
Effects of desflurane and isoflurane on intestinal tissue oxygen pressure during colorectal surgery.
Volatile anaesthetics differ in the effects they have on splanchnic haemodynamics and oxygenation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of desflurane and isoflurane as part of a balanced anaesthetic technique on intestinal tissue oxygenation during colorectal surgery. Data were analysed from 44 patients randomly assigned to receive either desflurane (desflurane group, n = 20), or isoflurane (isoflurane group, n = 24) for inhalational anaesthesia. Tissue oxygen pressure (P(tiss)O2) was measured on the serosal side of the large intestine prior to colonic resection (T1) and following the completion of the bowel anastomosis (T2). In addition, haemodynamic and oxygenation parameters were assessed. No difference in mean P(tiss)O2 was observed between the groups at T1 [desflurane group: 8.1 (2.9) kPa vs. isoflurane group: 7.7 (2.7) kPa]. Following completion of the anastomosis (T2) mean P(tiss)O2 was higher in the isoflurane group [9.6 (2.9) kPa] than the desflurane group [7.7 (2.4) kPa, p = 0.025]. During surgery no difference between the groups could be observed with regard to haemodynamics and global oxygenation parameters. The lack of a difference between the groups in P(tiss)O2 before resection of the colon suggests that, under normal conditions, desflurane and isoflurane have comparable effects on intestinal blood flow and oxygenation. However, following local ischaemia, the reactive hyperaemia seems to be better preserved during isoflurane anaesthesia indicated by a local increase in P(tiss)O2blank(p = 0.013) following completion of the bowel anastomosis.
Adult↗
Frequent loss of SMAD4/DPC4 protein in colorectal cancers.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Loss of DNA sequences from chromosome 18q21 is a major genetic change in colorectal tumorigenesis. Multiple genes have been identified in this area. One of these, DPC4 (deleted in pancreatic cancer 4, also known as SMAD4), is mutated in a minor subset of colorectal carcinomas as well as in germlines of humans predisposed to colon tumours. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The involvement of SMAD4 in sporadic colorectal neoplasia was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 53 unselected cases and 27 cases displaying microsatellite instability. RESULTS: SMAD4 expression was absent in 20 of 53 (38%) unselected colorectal carcinomas, and reduced in another 15 (28%) cases. However, 26 of 27 cancers displaying microsatellite instability and TGF-betaIIR mutations were positive for SMAD4 immunostaining. CONCLUSIONS: Loss of SMAD4 expression may play a more prominent role in colon cancer than anticipated based on genetic evidence, but not in mutator phenotype tumours.
Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18↗
Patent foramen ovale, a possible cause of symptomatic migraine: a study of 74 patients with acute ischemic stroke.
Recent studies reported an increased prevalence of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in patients with migraine with aura (MA+). To investigate the possible relationship between MA+ and paradoxical embolism, we studied the prevalence of both conditions. Investigation of PFO was undertaken in 74 consecutive patients presenting with an acute stroke of undetermined origin. The patients were questioned about MA+ or migraine without aura (MA-) according to the criteria of the International Headache Society. Follow-up was performed to investigate the evolution of MA+ and MA- according to different treatments of stroke. PFO was found in 44 of 74 patients, 16 of whom had MA+ (36%), compared to 4 (13%) MA+ patients without PFO (p = 0.03). Of 25 patients in whom the PFO was considered to play a causal role in the stroke, 13 (52%) had MA+, whereas only 3 (16%) of 19 patients in whom PFO was considered unrelated had MA+ (p = 0.014). Thirty-nine of the patients with MA+ and MA- were studied over a mean follow-up of 13 months. Seven of 15 patients with MA+ and PFO, treated either with surgical closure or anticoagulants, noticed complete disappearance of MA+ attacks. The prevalence of MA+ is high among stroke patients with PFO. In patients with a high presumption of paradoxical embolism, the proportion of MA+ is increased, and this suggests a possible role of this association in the occurrence of the cerebrovascular event. Forty-seven percent of patients with PFO and MA+ reported complete suppression of their aura attacks after surgical closure or anticoagulant treatment. This finding suggests that at least in some patients, MA+ attacks may be due to paradoxical embolism.
Adult↗
Primary human liver cells as source for modular extracorporeal liver support--a preliminary report.
Cell-based extracorporeal liver support is an option to assist or replace the failing organ until regeneration or until transplantation can be performed. The use of porcine cells or tumor cell lines is controversial. Primary human liver cells, obtained from explanted organs found to be unsuitable for transplantation, are a desirable cell source as they perform human metabolism and regulation. The Modular Extracorporeal Liver Support (MELS) concept combines different extracorporeal therapy units, tailored to suit the individual and intra-individual clinical needs of the patient. A multi-compartment bioreactor (CellModule) is loaded with human liver cells obtained by 5-step collagenase liver perfusion. A cell mass of 400 g - 600 g enables the clinical application of a liver lobe equivalent hybrid organ. A detoxification module enables single pass albumin-dialysis via a standard high-flux dialysis filter, and continuous veno-venuous hemodiafiltration may be included if required. Cells from 54 human livers have been isolated (donor age: 56 +/- 13 years, liver weight: 1862 +/- 556 g resulting in a viability of 55.0 +/- 15.9%). These grafts were not suitable for LTx, due to steatosis (54%), cirrhosis (15%), fibrosis (9%), and other reasons (22%). Out of 36 prepared bioreactors, 10 were clinically used to treat 8 patients with liver failure. The overall treatment time was 7-144 hours. No adverse events were observed. Initial clinical applications of the bioreactor evidenced the technical feasibility and safety of the system.
Bioreactors↗
Drosophila oogenesis: coordinating germ line and soma.
A new function for Delta-Notch signaling has been discovered in Drosophila oogenesis: Delta expressed in the germ cells activates Notch in the surrounding somatic follicle cells to control their differentiation, proliferation and morphogenesis.
Animals↗
Stable anterior anchoring of the oocyte nucleus is required to establish dorsoventral polarity of the Drosophila egg.
In Drosophila, dorsoventral polarity is established by the asymmetric positioning of the oocyte nucleus. In egg chambers mutant for cap 'n' collar, the oocyte nucleus migrates correctly from a posterior to an anterior-dorsal position where it remains during stage 9 of oogenesis. However, at the end of stage 9, the nucleus leaves its anterior position and migrates towards the posterior pole. The mislocalisation of the nucleus is accompanied by changes in the microtubule network and a failure to maintain bicoid and oskar mRNAs at the anterior and posterior poles, respectively. gurken mRNA associates with the oocyte nucleus in cap 'n' collar mutants and initially the local secretion of Gurken protein activates the Drosophila EGF receptor in the overlying dorsal follicle cells. However, despite the presence of spatially correct Grk signalling during stage 9, eggs laid by cap 'n' collar females lack dorsoventral polarity. cap 'n' collar mutants, therefore, allow for the study of the influence of Grk signal duration on DV patterning in the follicular epithelium.
Animals↗
Application of a fiber-optic NIR-EFA sensor system for in situ monitoring of aromatic hydrocarbons in contaminated groundwater.
Interaction of analyte molecules with the evanescent wave of light guided in optical fibers is among the most promising novel sensing schemes that can be applied for environmental monitoring and on-line process analysis. By combining this measuring principle with the solid-phase extraction of analyte molecules into the polymer cladding of a fiber, it is possible to perform direct absorption measurements in the cladding, if the fiber is adapted to a conventional spectrometer/photometer. A big advantage of this arrangement is that the measurement is scarcely disturbed by matrix effects (background absorption of water in IR measurements, stray light due to turbidity in the sample). By using near-infrared (NIR) evanescent field absorption (EFA) measurements in quartz glass fibers coated with a hydrophobic silicone membrane it is possible to design and construct sensors for monitoring apolar hydrocarbons (HCs) in aqueous matrices.The paper presents a fiber-optic sensor system for the determination of aromatic HCs in groundwater or industrial wastewater. Generally, this instrument is suitable for quantitative in situ monitoring of pollutants such as aromatic solvents, fuels, mineral oils or chlorinated HCs with relatively low water saturation solubility (typically between 0.01 and 10 g l(-1)). The sensor probe is connected via all-silica fibers to a filter photometer developed at the IFIA, thus, allowing even remote analysis in a monitoring well. This portable instrument provides a total concentration signal of the organic compounds extracted into the fiber cladding by measuring the integral absorption at the 1st C--H overtone bands in the NIR spectral range. In situ measurements with the sensor system were performed in a groundwater circulation well at the VEGAS research facility of the University of Stuttgart (Germany). The NIR-EFA sensor system was tested within the frame of an experiment that was carried through in a tank containing sandy gravel with a groundwater-saturated aquifer, where soil and groundwater were contaminated with technical grade xylene. The goal of this experiment was to model and optimize the groundwater circulation well used for the remediation of the aquifer and soil surrounding the well. The sensor proved to trace reliably the total hydrocarbon concentration in the process water pumped from the well to a stripper column. Measurements were performed continuously over 4 months with C8 HC sum concentrations in the process water between 80 mg l(-1) down to the limit of detection, which is around 200 microg l(-1). It could be demonstrated that the fiber-optic sensor system is a valuable tool for near-real-time control of a remedial action technique and verification and documentation of its success.
Environmental Monitoring↗
Inherited susceptibility to uterine leiomyomas and renal cell cancer.
Herein we report the clinical, histopathological, and molecular features of a cancer syndrome with predisposition to uterine leiomyomas and papillary renal cell carcinoma. The studied kindred included 11 family members with uterine leiomyomas and two with uterine leiomyosarcoma. Seven individuals had a history of cutaneous nodules, two of which were confirmed to be cutaneous leiomyomatosis. The four kidney cancer cases occurred in young (33- to 48-year-old) females and displayed a unique natural history. All these kidney cancers displayed a distinct papillary histology and presented as unilateral solitary lesions that had metastasized at the time of diagnosis. Genetic-marker analysis mapped the predisposition gene to chromosome 1q. Losses of the normal chromosome 1q were observed in tumors that had occurred in the kindred, including a uterine leiomyoma. Moreover, the observed histological features were used as a tool to diagnose a second kindred displaying the phenotype. We have shown that predisposition to uterine leiomyomas and papillary renal cell cancer can be inherited dominantly through the hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC) gene. The HLRCC gene maps to chromosome 1q and is likely to be a tumor suppressor. Clinical, histopathological, and molecular tools are now available for accurate detection and diagnosis of this cancer syndrome.
Adult↗
Cat8 and Sip4 mediate regulated transcriptional activation of the yeast malate dehydrogenase gene MDH2 by three carbon source-responsive promoter elements.
Malate dehydrogenase isoenzymes are localized in different cellular compartments and fulfil important functions in intermediary metabolism. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, three malate dehydrogenase genes, MDH1, MDH2 and MDH3, encoding mitochondrial, cytosolic and peroxisomal variants, have been identified. We demonstrate the importance of transcriptional activators Hap4, Cat8 and Pip2 for the carbon source-dependent regulation of MDH1, MDH2 and MDH3, respectively. The control region of the MDH2 gene required for gluconeogenic growth with C(2) substrates contains three sequence elements similar to the previously identified carbon source-responsive element (CSRE). In a synthetic test system, each of these sequences turned out to be a weak UAS element showing a strong synergism when present in multiple copies. Cumulative mutagenesis of the natural MDH2 promoter confirmed the contribution of all three elements to transcriptional derepression under non-fermentative growth conditions. The DNA-binding domains of zinc cluster proteins Cat8 and Sip4 synthesized in Escherichia coli could interact in vitro with CSRE motifs of MDH2. This result was confirmed by binding assays using protein extracts from yeast. Deregulated variants of Cat8 and Sip4 modified by heterologous transcriptional activation domains were able to alleviate glucose repression of MDH2 substantially. Although Sip4 turned out as the less effective activator, our findings demonstrate the general significance of both proteins for expression of gluconeogenic structural genes.
Amino Acid Sequence↗