Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

W Müller

Publications and source records attributed to W Müller.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

Serial lumbar tapping to prevent posthaemorrhagic hydrocephalus after intracranial haemorrhage in preterm infants.

Posthaemorrhagic ventricular dilation following intraventricular haemorrhage is a serious problem with high morbidity in preterm babies. No consensus exists as to the treatment of intraventricular haemorrhage and as to the treatment or prophylaxis of posthaemorrhagic ventricular dilation. Serial lumbar tapping was already in use to treat existing or being in the offing ventricular dilation. In the present study we evaluated the incidence of posthaemorrhagic hydrocephalus when lumbar tapping was initiated early, i. e. immediately before ventricular dilation had started. Between January 1989 and December 1996 37 preterm infants suffering from intraventricular haemorrhage grade III or grade III plus periventricular haemorrhage were enrolled in this study. Lumbar tapping was started as soon as possible: median (25. percentile-75. percentile) two (0-4) days after onset of haemorrhage. A median of 11 (8-17) punctures was performed in each patient. The outcome was as follows: 6 patients (16.2%) showed complete remission, 24 (64.9%) developed ventriculomegaly and 7 (18.9%) developed posthaemorrhagic hydrocephalus with subsequent need of shunt implantation. With the low incidence of shunt implantations in our study we suggest to reconsider the effectiveness of SLP performed immediately after onset of haemorrhage.

Cerebral Hemorrhage↗

Altered Ca2+ signaling and mitochondrial deficiencies in hippocampal neurons of trisomy 16 mice: a model of Down's syndrome.

It has been suggested that augmented nerve cell death in neurodegenerative diseases might result from an impairment of mitochondrial function. To test this hypothesis, we investigated age-dependent changes in neuronal survival and glutamate effects on Ca2+ homeostasis and mitochondrial energy metabolism in cultured hippocampal neurons from diploid and trisomy 16 (Ts16) mice, a model of Down's syndrome. Microfluorometric techniques were used to measure survival rate, [Ca2+]i level, mitochondrial membrane potential, and NAD(P)H autofluorescence. We found that Ts16 neurons die more than twice as fast as diploid neurons under otherwise identical culture conditions. Basal [Ca2+]i levels were elevated in Ts16 neurons. Moreover, in comparison to diploid neurons, Ts16 neurons showed a prolonged recovery of [Ca2+]i and mitochondrial membrane potential after brief glutamate application. Glutamate evoked an initial NAD(P)H decrease that was found to be extended in Ts16 neurons in comparison to diploid neurons. Furthermore, for all age groups tested, glutamate failed to cause a subsequent NAD(P)H overshoot in Ts16 cultures in contrast to diploid cultures. In the presence of cyclosporin A, an inhibitor of the mitochondrial membrane permeability transition, NAD(P)H increase was observed in both diploid and Ts16 neurons. The results support the hypothesis that Ca2+ impairs mitochondrial energy metabolism and may play a role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative changes in neurons from Ts16 mice.

Aging↗

The roles of L-selectin, beta 7 integrins, and P-selectin in leukocyte rolling and adhesion in high endothelial venules of Peyer's patches.

Lymphocyte trafficking into Peyer's patches requires beta 7 integrins and L-selectin. Here, we use intravital microscopy to examine leukocyte rolling and adhesion in Peyer's patch high endothelial venules (HEV) of wild-type, L-selectin-deficient (L-/-), beta 7 integrin-deficient (beta 7-/-), and beta 7/L(-/-) mice. Although the leukocyte rolling flux fraction was reduced by 70%, Peyer's patches in L-/- mice were of normal size and cellularity. In beta 7-/- mice, the rolling flux fraction was normal, but the number of adherent leukocytes in HEV was greatly reduced. The median leukocyte rolling velocity was reduced in L-/- mice and increased in beta 7-/- mice, suggesting that beta 7 integrins and L-selectin mediate rolling in Peyer's patch HEV at different velocities. beta 7/L(-/-) exhibited both a low rolling flux fraction and low adhesion and had severely reduced Peyer's patch size and cellularity. The residual rolling in these mice was completely blocked by a P-selectin mAb. A significant P-selectin component was also detected in the other genotypes. Twenty-six percent of B and T lymphocytes isolated from Peyer's patches of wild-type mice expressed functional ligands for P-selectin, and this fraction was increased to 57% in beta 7/L(-/-) mice. Peyer's patch HEV were found to express P-selectin under the conditions of intravital microscopy, but not in situ. Our data suggest a novel P-selectin dependent mechanism of lymphocyte homing to Peyer's patches. In situ, beta 7 integrins and L-selectin account for all lymphocyte homing to Peyer's patches, but P-selectin-dependent rolling, as induced by minimal trauma, may support trafficking of effector T lymphocytes to Peyer's patches.

Animals↗

IL-10 regulates liver pathology in acute murine Schistosomiasis mansoni but is not required for immune down-modulation of chronic disease.

We have used IL-10 gene knockout mice (IL-10T) to examine the role of endogenous IL-10 in the down-modulation of hepatic granuloma formation and lymphocyte responses that occurs in chronic infection with the helminth parasite Schistosoma mansoni. Although IL-10-deficient animals showed 20 to 30% mortality between 8 and 14 wk postinfection, they displayed no alterations in their susceptibility to infection and produced similar numbers of eggs as their wild-type littermates. The IL-10T mice displayed a significant increase in hepatic granuloma size at the acute stage of infection, which was associated with increased IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-1beta, and TNF-alpha mRNA expression in liver and elevated Th1-type cytokine production by lymphoid cells. Despite developing an enhanced Th1-type cytokine response, the IL-10T mice showed no consistent decrease in their Th2-type cytokine profile. Surprisingly, although granulomatous inflammation was enhanced at the acute stage of infection, the livers of IL-10T mice displayed no significant increase in fibrosis and underwent normal immune down-modulation at the chronic stage of infection. Moreover, the down-modulated state could be induced in IL-10T mice by sensitizing the animals to schistosome eggs before infection, further demonstrating that the major down-regulatory mechanism is not dependent upon IL-10. We conclude that while IL-10 plays an important role in controlling acute granulomatous inflammation, it plays no essential role in the process of immune down-modulation in chronic schistosome infection.

Acute Disease↗

[Prognostic factors in stomach carcinoma].

The classical prognostic factors of the pTNM system are still most valid. Nevertheless, vascular invasion as well as the molecular marker E-cadherin proved to be independent new prognostic factors responsible for a significant shift in patient survival. Thus, in pTNM-stage II patients, a highly significant drop in survival is observed when patients showing no E-cadherin expression and at the same time vascular invasion are compared with E-cadherin-positive patients who do not show vascular invasion (Fig. 11). These conspicious shifts in survival underline the necessity to continue our search for new molecular and non-molecular markers which in future may help us to predict the outcome of gastric cancer patients more precisely and more individually.

Antigens, CD↗

IMGT, the International ImMunoGeneTics database.

IMGT, the international ImMunoGeneTics database, is an integrated database specialising in Immunoglobulins (Ig), T cell Receptors (TcR) and Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) of all vertebrate species, created by Marie-Paule Lefranc, CNRS, Montpellier II University, Montpellier, France (lefranc@ligm.crbm.cnrs-mop.fr). IMGT includes three databases: LIGM-DB (for Ig and TcR), MHC/HLA-DB and PRIMER-DB (the last two in development). IMGT comprises expertly annotated sequences and alignment tables. LIGM-DB contains more than 23 000 Immunoglobulin and T cell Receptor sequences from 78 species. MHC/HLA-DB contains Class I and Class II Human Leucocyte Antigen alignment tables. An IMGT tool, DNAPLOT, developed for Ig, TcR and MHC sequence alignments, is also available. IMGT works in close collaboration with the EMBL database. IMGT goals are to establish a common data access to all immunogenetics data, including nucleotide and protein sequences, oligonucleotide primers, gene maps and other genetic data of Ig, TcR and MHC molecules, and to provide a graphical user friendly data access. IMGT has important implications in medical research (repertoire in autoimmune diseases, AIDS, leukemias, lymphomas), therapeutical approaches (antibody engineering), genome diversity and genome evolution studies. IMGT is freely available at http://imgt.cnusc.fr:8104

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Virtual reality: preparation and execution of sinus surgery.

Endonasal sinus surgery requires a great deal of training before it can be performed adequately. Due to the complex and variable anatomy and the proximity of important structures, severe complications are possible, even for experienced surgeons. The nasal endoscopy simulator (NES) is an interactive training system for nasal endoscopy and endonasal sinus surgery that combines computer graphics and virtual reality (VR) techniques. This system consists of a graphics workstation, a tracking system for measuring the position of the endoscope and surgical instruments in space, a head model, image data sets of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinus area, and complementary software. The current NES is a visual and auditory VR system that provides both educational and planning options for sinus surgery. The usual resistance when touching relevant anatomical structures is not provided by this release. Therefore, a "force feedback system" is implemented that allows for such a response. VR simulation will become an important part of surgical education and planning for individual sinus surgery procedures. The ongoing development of the NES will lead to an improved educational environment for residents in training and practitioners.

Computer Graphics↗

L-selectin and beta7 integrin synergistically mediate lymphocyte migration to mesenteric lymph nodes.

Mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) drain the gut where nutritive antigens and pathogens are encountered by lymphocytes of the gut-associated lymphoid tissue. We sought to determine how lymphocytes enter the MLN by studying mice double deficient for beta7 integrins and L-selectin. beta7/L-selectin double-deficient lymphocytes did not migrate into MLN. Most importantly, MLN formation was drastically impaired in beta7/L-selectin double-deficient mice. Lymphocyte numbers in MLN from beta7/L-selectin double-deficient mice were tenfold reduced compared to control mice. A high percentage of the few lymphocytes still detected in MLN from beta7/L-selectin double-deficient mice were CD44hi CD18hi, suggesting alternate migration pathways independent of L-selectin and beta7 integrin for these cells. We conclude that the combination of both molecules, L-selectin and beta7 integrin, is indispensable for MLN formation and that these molecules may mediate lymphocyte migration to MLN in a sequential and synergistical manner.

Animals↗

Still's disease in children and adults: a distinct pattern of acute-phase proteins.

Crossed affinoimmunoelectrophoresis with Con A as a ligand was used to examine the microheterogeneity of alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and alpha1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) in sera of patients with child-onset and adult-onset Still's disease. The reactivity of both proteins was increased in sera of adults and decreased in sera of children with active disease, when compared with normal values. We also found statistically significant differences in serum concentration of ACT and ferritin in both diseases. This result suggests different pathogenic mechanisms of Still's disease in children and adults. Serum concentration of ferritin and ACT could be of value as a combined marker for the adult, but not the juvenile form of Still's disease.

Adolescent↗

[Not Available].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Journal Article↗

Gilles Bousquet.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

France↗

Lengthening osteotomy of the fibula for post-traumatic malunion. Indications, technique and results.

Relative shortening of the fibula may occur after any type of ankle fracture when the lateral malleolus is involved. Patients complain of pain and restriction of their daily and sporting activities. Clinically, there is valgus of the hind foot due to abduction and lateral rotation of the talus. The goal of treatment is to restore the initial length of the fibula by a horizontal or Z-osteotomy, which will also correct the malposition of the talus. This study shows that the operative reconstruction of a widened mortise is a relatively safe procedure, independent of the type of osteotomy used. Lengthening of the fibula is an important step in the treatment of the painful ankle when the fibula is short after trauma, even when degenerative changes of the joint are already present.

Adult↗

Spontaneous gastrointestinal perforation in very-low-birth-weight infants--a rare complication in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Over a 6-year period (1989-1995), gastrointestinal (GI) perforation was diagnosed in nine preterm infants (mean gestational age 27 weeks, mean birth weight 872 g). Three presented with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), two with indwelling-tube-induced perforation of the stomach, one with small-left-colon syndrome, and another with meconium ileus. Spontaneous intestinal perforation occurred in two similar very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants, in the distal ileum, on days 8 and 9 of life, respectively. The only clinical sign was extensive abdominal distension, and abdominal X-ray studies revealed free peritoneal air. All findings were distinct from those associated with NEC. Their further clinical course was complicated by reperforation on day 32 and 39, respectively. They subsequently recovered and presented without GI problems at the corrected ages of 4 and 2 months, respectively. In contrast to high mortality of 57% in the group with non-spontaneous intestinal perforations, spontaneous perforation seems to have a good prognosis even in VLBW infants if diagnosed and treated promptly.

Female↗

[Interdisciplinary group therapy for fibromyalgia].

Fibromyalgia is present in 2% of the general population and leads to impairment by chronic pain and fatigue. It does not improve without therapy directed at the symptoms of fibromyalgia. We describe our interdisciplinary group treatment for patients with fibromyalgia. They received a physical examination, ergometry and psychometric tests both at admission and before discharge, and they were questioned to the degree and localization of their pain, to fatigue, sleeping disorders and functional symptoms. Therapy included information about fibromyalgia, learning of coping strategies, relaxation and endurance training. Our results show that our interdisciplinary group treatment is effective for fibromyalgia and improves anxiety, depression and well being after a period of 5 weeks of in-patient rehabilitation.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Spinal factors in the generation of fibromyalgia syndrome.

In fibromyalgia as well as in low back pain we frequently find disturbances of the posture of vertebral column clinically and radiologically. Also, reduction in the mobility of whole spine and localized movement impairments in both conditions was present. It is likely that the disturbances are responsible for the first manifestations of fibromyalgia in a single localization, especially in lumbar and cervical regions.

Fibromyalgia↗