Search PubMedSearch

Biomedical subjects

S Roth

Publications and source records attributed to S Roth.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

The genetics of a small autosomal region of Drosophila melanogaster containing the structural gene for alcohol dehydrogenase. VII. Characterization of the region around the snail and cactus loci.

The genetic interval 35C to 36A on chromosome arm 2L of Drosophila melanogaster has been saturated for mutations with visible or lethal phenotypes. 38 loci have been characterized, including several maternal-effect lethals (vasa, Bic-C, chiffon, cactus and cornichon) and several early embryonic lethals, including snail and fizzy. About 130 deletions have been used to order these loci. Complex interactions between mutant alleles have been uncovered in the immediate genetic environs of the snail gene, as has further evidence for an interaction between this region and that including the nearby genes no-ocelli and elbow.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase

Partial trisomy 4p resulting from a balanced intrachromosomal insertion, 4(q313p14p16).

Partial trisomy 4p was found in a child with dysmorphic features. Cytogenetic investigations in the parents revealed an intrachromosomal insertion in the mother, 46,XX,ins (4) (q313p14p16). The proband was trisomic for 4p(p14p16) as a result of a recombination event in the mother's chromosome 4 at meiosis. The clinical features of the proband are compared with those found in the literature.

Chromosome Aberrations

Light microscopic localization of glycosyltransferase activities in cells and tissues.

We describe an assay for light microscopic visualization of specific glycosyltransferases on tissue sections or on cells. The assay uses a sequence of enzyme reactions that yields two moles of NADH for each mole of the uridine-5'-diphosphate (UDP) released during transfer of a monosaccharide from a UDP sugar to an acceptor. When diaphorase and tetrazolium salts are present in the incubation mixture, the tetrazolium salts are reduced to colored diformazans, which precipitate at the sites of glycosyltransferase activity. The validity of the assay was established by applying the technique to spermatozoa and liver, in which some glycosyltransferases have previously been localized. When suspensions of mouse spermatozoa were assayed for galactosyltransferase (GalTase) activity, diformazan precipitates appeared on the plasma membranes overlying the anterior heads of the spermatozoa, in agreement with immunochemical localizations. In mouse liver slices assayed with bilirubin as acceptor for glucuronyltransferase (GluTase) activity, dense diformazan deposits appeared on the hepatocytes but not on endothelial cells, also in agreement with immunochemical data. In the absence of acceptor or UDP sugar donor, diformazan deposits were minimal and random in all tissues tested. The assay's versatility was tested by incubating tissues with different sugar donors and acceptors to localize other sites of transferase activity. In mouse frozen liver sections, GalTase activity occurred in both hepatocytes and endothelial cells; in sections of rat submaxillary glands, GalTase activity was detected in mast cells. In liver sections, GlcuTase activity with o-aminophenol as acceptor was located primarily on the endothelial cells. With the appropriate sugar donor and acceptor, this assay should detect any transferase, other than the glucosyltransferases, that utilizes UDP sugars.

Animals

Mechanisms contributing to the virus persistence in Aleutian disease.

In this review published results and further studies concerning the persistence of Aleutian disease virus (ADV) isolate SL3 are presented. By Southern blot and in situ hybridization with strand-specific RNA probes focal replication of ADV-DNA was demonstrated in spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes, sporadically in mononuclear cells of the peripheral blood and bone marrow cells. These findings further support the concept of the lymphotropism of ADV. All cell culture-adapted ADV strains appear to have a ts-defect. Our in vitro studies indicate that the ADV isolate G(orham) induced the synthesis of comparable amounts of viral replicative DNA and viral proteins VP1 and VP2 at the non-permissive temperature of 37 degrees C. However, the viral progeny DNA synthesis was about threefold less at 37 degrees C compared to the permissive temperature of 32 degrees C. These findings suggest that the reduced level of viral progeny DNA at 37 degrees C accounts for the reduced production of infectious ADV. Finally, we provided experimental evidence that the apparent lack of neutralizing antibodies in AD is due to the masking of critical viral epitopes by cellular phospholipids.

Aleutian Mink Disease

Reduced risk of NSAID gastropathy (GI mucosal toxicity) with nonacetylated salicylate (salsalate): an endoscopic study.

This randomized, investigator-blinded, parallel group endoscopic study evaluated the effects of salsalate and naproxen on the gastroduodenal mucosa over a 3-month period in patients with RA. Using therapeutic doses of the drugs, 8 of 21 patients (38%) in the naproxen group had endoscopically shown active ulcers (seven patients) or diffuse erosions (one patient), whereas none of the 18 patients treated with salsalate (0%) had such lesions (P = .003). Five of the eight naproxen-treated patients with evidence of GI damage were asymptomatic at the time of endoscopic verification of their lesions. The most significant disadvantage of salsalate was its higher incidence of otologic problems accounting for six of the nine discontinuations with salsalate. However, the findings of this study suggest that patients receiving salsalate are at lower risk for developing significant gastropathy than those treated with naproxen. The relative benefit-to-risk ratio of salsalate indicates that this drug should be considered as a significant alternative NSAID therapy.

Adolescent

A gradient of nuclear localization of the dorsal protein determines dorsoventral pattern in the Drosophila embryo.

The dorsoventral axis of the Drosophila embryo is determined by a morphogen gradient established by the action of 12 maternal-effect genes: the dorsal group genes and cactus. One of the dorsal group genes, dorsal (dl), encodes the putative morphogen. Although no overall asymmetry in the distribution of dorsal protein is observed, a gradient of nuclear concentration of dl protein is established during cleavage stages, with a maximum at the ventral side of the egg. At the dorsal side of the egg, the protein remains in the cytoplasm. Nuclear localization of the dl protein, and hence gradient formation, is blocked in dorsalizing alleles of all of the other dorsal group genes, while in ventralizing mutants nuclear localization extends to the dorsal side of the egg. A correlation between dl protein distribution and embryonic pattern in mutant embryos indicates that the nuclear concentration of the dl protein determines pattern along the dorsoventral axis.

Animals

A human milk galactosyltransferase is specific for secreted, but not plasma, IgA.

IgA from human milk and colostrum is a substrate for a galactosyltransferase also present in milk and colostrum. The secreted IgA that serves as the best acceptor for the transferase activity is the IgA that fails to bind readily to jacalin lectin. Upon becoming galactosylated by the transferase, however, the IgA shows an increased affinity for jacalin. Glycosidase and electrophoretic results indicate that the transferred galactose is beta-linked to the alpha-chain of the IgA. The IgA:transferase activity can be purified by gel filtration and cation exchange chromatographies, as well as by affinity chromatography on Sepharose derivatized with UDP or IgM. The enzyme has an apparent Mr of about 64 kDa, is prevalent in both milk and colostrum, but has a sixfold higher sp act in colostrum.

Colostrum

Axis determination in insect embryos.

The principles of pattern formation in insects have been studied extensively using classical experimental approaches. In Drosophila, a powerful combination of genetics and transplantation experiments, as well as molecular biology, has helped to elucidate the mechanisms that operate during oogenesis to establish a set of positional cues required for axis determination in the early embryo. These studies suggest the following model: for the anteroposterior axis of the embryo, three groups of maternal genes define three largely independent systems that determine (1) the anterior segmented region of head and thorax, (2) the posterior segmented region of the abdomen, and (3) the terminal non-segmented regions of acron and telson. In contrast, the dorsoventral egg axis appears to require only one system. In each of the four systems, one key gene has an active product that is unequally distributed in the egg. This product provides the spatial signal for the region-specific activation of the transcription of at least one zygotic target gene. The other members within each group serve accessory functions such as determining the correct spatial distribution of the key gene products or controlling their localized activation. The unique expression patterns of the individual zygotic target genes provide a coarse spatial framework which is then refined by the action and interaction of zygotic genes. The notion of three independent systems determining the anteroposterior axis is at variance with a previous model (Meinhardt 1977, Nüsslein-Volhard 1979) of only one gradient, with a high point at the posterior pole, determining a series of states in a concentration-dependent manner. Concentration-dependent determination of more than one quality is likely to occur in the anterior and the dorsoventral system. In contrast, position and polarity within the posterior pattern appear to depend largely on the interaction between gap genes expressed in neighbouring regions rather than on the concentration of the posterior signal.

Animals

Communication in the hospital setting: a survey of medical and everyday language use amongst patients, nurses and doctors.

Forty physicians, 40 student nurses, and 40 hospital patients were surveyed regarding their usage and evaluations of medical and everyday language use in the hospital setting. Medical language (ML) and everyday language (EL) were operationalized as distinct speech registers that doctors, nurses and patients can use in their encounters with each other. A complex interaction of speaker characteristics (bilingualism in ML and EL) motivational factors (accommodation theory), situational language norms in favor of communicative effectiveness, as well as status and power differentials that exist between health professionals and patients were hypothesized to influence language switching strategies in the health setting. While doctors reported using mostly ML with health professionals, they did report converging to the EL of their patients. However, patients and student nurses did not perceive doctors converging to the EL of their patient. Student nurses reported using an equal mixture of ML/EL with each other, while converging to the ML of the doctor and converging to the EL of their patients. The 'communication broker' role of the nurse was corroborated by perceptions of nurses' language use from all groups. Patients reported using mostly EL with each other while attempting to converge to the ML of the health professional. Nurses perceived these attempts to converge by the patients, but doctors did not report a change in the patients' register as a function of conversants. Regarding the evaluation of language use strategies, all groups felt that it was more appropriate for health professionals to converge to the EL of patients than to maintain ML. In conversations with health professionals, patient use of EL was seen as more appropriate than ML.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult

Action methods in systemic therapy: dramatizing ideal futures and reformed pasts with couples.

This article presents a method for conducting a couple session that illustrates a theoretically valid role for action techniques (as opposed to verbal methods) in post-Milan systemic interviewing. Useful in an opening meeting or in consultation, it pointedly activates client resources while deemphasizing current problems. The interview format begins with contracting for ground-rules and listing clients' strengths. Each partner then creates and enacts: a scene illustrating that partner's ideal future for the relationship; a related past painful scene (usually from childhood); and a "reform" of that scene "as it should have occurred." Both partners play multiple roles in all scenes. Last and least, each partner succinctly describes his or her view of the current problem. In the enactments, rapid shifts in time dimension and multiple novel roles played by both partners efficiently promote in the couple the release from constraining beliefs and interactional patterns that is ordinarily sought by purely verbal methods in Milan-derived systemic interviews.

Acting Out

A model system that demonstrates interactions among extracellular matrix macromolecules.

Binding interactions among fibronectin (FN), glycosaminoglycan chains (GAG) and hyaluronate binding proteins (HABP) have been examined using a bead aggregation assay. 3H-FN binds to Dowex beads coated with chondroitin sulfate GAG chains (CS) but not to beads coated with hyaluronic acid (HA). Assays of bead agglutination indicate that FN has multiple binding sites for CS. Binding of 3H-FN to HA-beads is slightly promoted by exogenous divalent cations but this interaction does not aggregate Dowex-HA. The interaction between FN and CS reduces the previously reported ability of Dowex-CS to associate with HA-beads (Turley, E.A. and Roth, S. 1980, Nature Vol. 283, 268-271). HABP bind to HA and to a lesser extent CS. These proteins both stabilize the interaction between HA- and CS-beads in a manner reminiscent of the stabilization of HA-proteoglycan interactions by link protein and permit aggregation of Dowex-CS-FN with Dowex-HA. This simple bead aggregation assay allows rapid characterization of properties that may help to clarify how macromolecular constituents spontaneously assemble into an interstitial matrix.

Agglutination Tests

Misoprostol heals gastroduodenal injury in patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving aspirin.

High-dose aspirin therapy for rheumatoid arthritis is frequently associated with severe gastrointestinal injury. To explore the possibility of reversing such damage, we conducted a double-blind, multicenter study with misoprostol, a prostaglandin E1 analog, which has demonstrated mucosal protective, gastric antisecretory, and ulcer healing properties. We also studied possible interference of misoprostol with continuing aspirin treatment in the management of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Patients with confirmed rheumatoid arthritis and endoscopically documented gastroduodenal lesions were randomly assigned to receive 200 micrograms of misoprostol four times a day (123 patients) or placebo (116 patients). Each concurrently received 650 to 1300 mg of aspirin four times a day. After eight weeks of treatment, misoprostol was statistically superior to placebo in healing gastric mucosal injury (70% vs 25%) and duodenal mucosal injury (86% vs 53%). Patients with gastric or duodenal ulcers on admission had superior ulcer healing rates with misoprostol (67% vs 26%). There was no evidence of interference with the antirheumatic properties of aspirin. Mild to moderate adverse experiences were equally noted in misoprostol and placebo groups. Misoprostol, coadministered with aspirin, is well tolerated and highly effective in healing aspirin-associated gastroduodenal lesions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis without altering the therapeutic benefits of aspirin.

Adult

[Questionable hyperparathyroidism: diagnostic value of thallium-technetium subtraction scintigraphy].

The diagnostic exclusion of hyperparathyroidism belongs to the standard repertoire of a practicing urologist involved in stone prophylaxis. Primary indicators of hyperparathyroidism are increases in serum calcium and in parathyroid hormone. Additional diagnostic methods are needed, since the methods most often used so far are inadequate, especially insofar as adenomas and ectopic tumors or recurrences can remain unrecognized. Exploratory surgical intervention means a difficult and traumatizing operation. Therefore, a sensitive technique for localization of adenomas is an urgent necessity. Thallium-pertechnetate subtraction scintigraphy was first introduced for localization of an adenoma of the parathyroid by Ferlin's group. This technique yielded better results than any previously known methods, with a success rate of 92%. The object of the present paper is not only to present a method that is not yet sufficiently well accepted among urologists, but also to offer a critical evaluation of the examination results known so far. The method cannot yet make exploratory surgery unnecessary, even when clinical and biochemical examinations give rise to a strong suspicion. However, since ectopic adenomas and possible relapse can be recognized with 90-100% accuracy, which is important in deciding on the surgical strategy, the method should be included in the preoperative diagnostic armamentarium.

Adenoma

[Ileocystoplasty and enteropathies].

The formation of a neobladder by the transformation of sections of the terminal ileum has become an important alternative to supravesical urinary diversion. The discussion about the optimal urosurgical technique however has, so far ignored the problems of consecutive enteric defunctionalization and deficiency symptoms resulting from the anatomical shortening of the ileum. The analysis of experimental investigations and functionally comparable syndromes, such as Crohn's disease, permits an insight into the pathophysiological consequences. These relate to disorders in the bile acid and vitamin B12 metabolism and to the potential induction of a secondary hyperoxaluria, with a subsequent oxalate calculus diathesis. Further more, the reduction of the absorption area in the ileum can lead to calcium and vitamin D malabsorption with the development of intestinal osteopathy. These pathophysiological relationships must be taken into account in the long-term medical care of patients with ileal neobladder. The preventive and therapeutic measures are described.

Calcium

[Aneurysm of the abdominal aorta as a retroperitoneal urologic emergency].

Ten percent of the patients with a symptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysm have initial complaints of genitourinary disorders. From April 1985 to May 1988 12 aortic aneurysms have been seen primarily in the division of urology Düren. In 9 of these 12 cases it was ultrasonography, which led to the diagnosis. The treatment must be individualized, and in case of obstructive uropathy the question of an adjuvant or monotherapeutic urological proceeding depends upon the age and symptoms of the patient. Urinary diversion by ureteral splint or nephrostomy contains risks, so that control strategy (watchful waiting) or treatment with steroids have to be considered.

Aorta, Abdominal