A khellin-like 7,7'-glycerol-bridged bischromone with anti-anaphylactic activity.
The synthesis of the title compound 3 is described. Its performance in Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis (PCA) testing was evaluated.
Animals↗
Biomedical subjects
W Müller
Publications and source records attributed to W Müller.
Development and proliferation of lymphocytes in mice deficient for both interleukins-2 and -4.
Interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-4 are considered as important regulators of growth and differentiation of lymphocytes. We report that in mice made deficient for both IL-2 and IL-4 by gene targeting all major T cell subsets and B cells were normal, indicating that IL-2 and IL-4 are not essential for development of the immune system. Paradoxically, proliferation of T cells was increased in both IL-2 and IL-4-deficient homozygous mice.
Animals↗
Lymphocyte populations and immune responses in CD5-deficient mice.
The CD5 antigen is expressed at a high level on T cells from early on in thymocyte ontogeny and continues to be expressed on the surface of all mature T cells. In addition, it marks a population of B lymphocytes (B-1a) with distinct physiological properties. To study the in vivo function of CD5, the murine gene was inactivated using the technique of homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells. In homozygous mutant mice the CD5 antigen is not expressed on the surface of either T or B lineage cells, indicating that in both cell populations this antigen is encoded by the same gene. CD5-deficient (CD5T) mice are healthy and populations of T and B lymphocytes in these mice look unchanged when compared to control mice. The mutant mice are able to mount effective immune responses to T cell-dependent and -independent antigens.
Animals↗
Calcium signaling in dendritic spines of hippocampal neurons.
Intracellular Ca2+ dynamics have been measured using imaging techniques in dendrites and spines of CA3 hippocampal neurons in brain slice under both acute and tissue culture conditions. In response to presynaptic stimulation, micromolar levels of Ca2+ are rapidly reached in spines of distal dendrites. If stimulus parameters are chosen judiciously so as to minimize postsynaptic firing, then the dendrite shaft increases are far less. Spine Ca2+ increases are largely dependent upon activation of NMDA receptors. At the large mossy fiber synapses, presynaptic stimuli also produce large Ca2+ increases but the differences in shaft-spine Ca2+ levels are much less; often they are insignificant. Also at these locations, postsynaptic firing, without presynaptic stimulation is sufficient to produce large increases in spine Ca2+ levels.
Action Potentials↗
Management of severe congenital tracheobronchomalacia by continuous positive airway pressure and tidal breathing flow-volume loop analysis.
We report on a now 9-month-old infant with severe tracheobronchomalacia associated with campomelic dysplasia. The diagnosis of tracheobronchomalacia was suggested in the neonatal period by typical changes of the tidal breathing flow-volume loop and was confirmed by tracheobronchoscopy. Tidal breathing flow-volume loop analysis also allowed to titrate the optimal, continuous positive airway pressure for the respiratory management of the patient. Since bedside pulmonary function testing is noninvasive and rapid, it may reduce the need for frequent bronchoscopic evaluations in the management of patients with tracheobronchomalacia.
Abnormalities, Multiple↗
Acute phase response in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with low doses of cyclosporin A.
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Acute-Phase Proteins↗
Di-4-ANEPPS causes photodynamic damage to isolated cardiomyocytes.
Action potential recordings from isolated guinea pig ventricular cells in the whole-cell recording mode were used to study the toxic and photodynamic properties of the voltage-sensitive fluorescent dye di-4-ANEPPS. Staining of the cardiomyocytes with di-4-ANEPPS (30 or 60 microM; 10 min) did not alter the action potential shape. When the stained cells were illuminated (1W/cm2) severe effects on the action potential were observed. There was a prolongation of the action potential duration, occurrence of early afterdepolarizations, reduction of the membrane resting potential and eventually inexcitability. Addition of the antioxidant catalase (100 IU/ml) to the extracellular solution delayed the onset of these effects, suggesting that reactive-oxygen-intermediates take part in di-4-ANEPPS induced photodynamic damage. Since di-4-ANEPPS is a very important tool for optical membrane potential recordings in heart tissue and single cardiomyocytes catalase might be useful in suppressing photodynamic damage during optical potential recordings.
Action Potentials↗
Separation of proteins and nucleic acids.
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Animals↗
Frequency of Clostridium perfringens types in Jordanian sheep.
778 fecal samples from 29 Jordanian sheep flocks were examined for the presence of Clostridium perfringens. 252 field strains were isolated and typed by the enzyme immunosorbent assay. The presence of C. perfringens types B, C and D in Jordanian sheep was confirmed. Type D was found in 55% of the flocks examined. Types B and C were each isolated from 7% of the flocks examined. The proteinase activity of isolated type B field strains was similar to that of type B reference strains. According to the results, it does not seem to be necessary to include locally isolated C. perfringens strains in the Jordanian vaccine production.
Animals↗
Enlargement of salivary glands in bulimia.
We report a unusual case of bulimia nervosa with bilateral swelling of parotid and submandibular glands as the only symptom of the underlying behavioural disorder. Histologically, sialadenosis was diagnosed in a parotid biopsy. The parotomegaly in bulimia may be a diagnostic primer as these patients often deny their eating disorder. B-scan ultrasonography is an important diagnostic tool to assess the nature of the parotid enlargement. Hyperamylasaemia occurs commonly in bulimic patients and may help to confirm the diagnosis. All patients with suspected bulimia should have a thorough medical history and physical examination to rule out other aetiologies of asymptomatic parotid swelling. As the enlargement is usually transient surgical intervention is only rarely required.
Adult↗
Physical, mental, emotional, and subjective workload components in train drivers.
This study, using 12 train drivers on a high speed track and 11 drivers on a mountain track, tried to differentiate between the physical, emotional, mental, and subjective workload components imposed on the drivers during work. With the simultaneous recording and on-line analysis of heart rate and physical activity, the emotional component in terms of the so-called additional heart rate was separated from the physical component. Mental workload was calculated by the heart rate variability and by shifts in the T-wave amplitude of the ECG. Speed of the train, mode of driving, and stress of the situation were rated by two observers who accompanied the drivers in the cabin. During speeds up to 100 km/h as compared to standstills no heart rate changes occurred, but with speeds from 100 km/h up to 200 km/h heart rate decreased indicating a monotony effect. However, heart rate variability, and T-wave amplitude indicated higher mental load during driving in most speed categories. Starting the train and coming to a halt showed greater emotional workload as compared to moving. Observer ratings of stress and subjective ratings of stress by the drivers revealed several discrepancies. Discrepancies were also seen between workload as indicated by the physiological parameters, and corresponding stress ratings by the observers or by the drivers.
Heart Rate↗
Descriptive epidemiology of early and advanced gastric cancer in Ticino, Switzerland, with special emphasis on time trends.
BACKGROUND: The main purpose of the study was to describe early gastric cancer (EGC) epidemiology in the population of Ticino, Switzerland (about 280,000 inhabitants) over the period 1981-1990, as compared with the epidemiology of overall gastric cancer (GC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Incidence data were derived from the diagnosis data-file of the Cantonal Institute of Pathology. Numbers of certified deaths were abstracted from the registries of the Swiss Federal Office of Statistics. RESULTS: The age-standardized (world population) incidence was 1.6/100,000 males and 0.7/100,000 females for EGC (sex ratio: 2.3) and 19.8/100,000 males and 9.1/100,000 females for GC (sex ratio: 2.2). Age- and sex-specific incidence rates for GC and for EGC showed similar distribution patterns. Mortality rates from GC declined over the period considered by about 20% in both sexes, while incidence rates decreased by only about 7%, suggesting diminished lethality. There was a slight increase in EGC incidence, which was restricted to men younger than 65 years and women older than 64 years. CONCLUSIONS: EGC incidence rates were less than 10% of advanced gastric cancer incidence rates for both sexes and most age groups. Early and advanced gastric cancer had similar age and sex distributions. The downward trend in GC lethality over 1981-1990 was not entirely explained by the increase in the incidence of EGC.
Adult↗
Differences between patients with asymptomatic and symptomatic myocardial infarction: the relevance of psychological factors.
Several hypotheses describe the phenomenon asymptomatic myocardial infarction (MI) blockade of afferent cardiac nerves, pain inhibition by endogenous opioids, and insufficient severity of myocardial ischaemia. Psychological factors, however, are rarely considered. The present study involved 35 asymptomatic (AMI) and 35 symptomatic patients (SMI) selected from a sample of 199 patients with myocardial infarction. During observation in a rehabilitation clinic, the following were assessed: biochemical variables; ECG at rest, at exercise, and during Holter monitoring; and a special 23 h monitoring of physical activity, ECG changes, and subjective feelings. Psychological assessments with questionnaires were also performed and comprised: personality evaluation; physical complaints; possible predisposing features for the development of MI; expectations regarding the benefit of rehabilitation; circumstances at the time of infarction; and socioeconomic and historical data. The hypothesis that physiological factors might explain the differences between AMI and SMI is not substantiated by our results. However, the hypothesis of the role of psychological factors is supported. As opposed to AMI patients, SMI patients are characterized by frequent complaints of poor health, neuroticism, and introversion. At the time of infarction, SMI patients had more frequent premonitory symptoms of longer duration. Moreover, SMI patients had more frequent previous hospital or nursing home admissions. At the end of the rehabilitation treatment, only 43% of the SMI patients were judged by their physician as fit for work as against 71% of the AMI patients.
Angina Pectoris↗
Early B-cell development in the mouse: insights from mutations introduced by gene targeting.
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Animals↗
Industrially manufactured all-in-one solution in visceral surgery.
OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to examine the handling and the effect of a commercially manufactured nutritional solution (VacuKit zero 1) on the postoperative metabolism and the liquid requirement after gastro-intestinal surgery. DESIGN: Open, prospective, nonrandomized study. SETTING: Ward of the visceral surgical department of a town hospital in Switzerland. PATIENTS: 36 consecutive patients after gastro-intestinal surgery. INTERVENTIONS: During the first 5 postoperative days 2,000 ml of the commercially manufactured nutritional solution were administered daily; it was composed of amino acids (100 g), glucose (1,120 kcal), fat (820 kcal) and electrolytes. RESULTS: The nitrogen balance in the postoperative phase was always positive. Laboratory analysis shows that this nutrition solution is well accepted, with stable carbohydrate and fat metabolism and with normal liver and electrolyte parameters. The patients received an average of 500 ml/24 h of additional liquids. CONCLUSIONS: Administration and handling of the solution VacuKit zero 1 requires no special equipment. The nutritional solution proved to be a safe and simple method of parenteral nutrition for metabolically stable patients in the visceral surgery department.
Adult↗
Formation of protein multilayers and their competitive replacement based on self-assembled biotinylated phospholipids.
Based on specific recognition processes the build-up of protein multilayers was achieved using streptavidin layers as a docking matrix. For this purpose, streptavidin was organized at biotin-containing monolayers, liposomes, and self-assembled layers on gold. Thus, mixed double and triple layers of streptavidin, Con A, Fab fragments, and hormones were prepared and characterized by fluorescence microscopy and plasmon spectroscopy. Using biotin analogues with lower binding constants several cycles of multilayer formation followed by competitive replacement could be achieved.
Bacterial Proteins↗
The synthesis of a water soluble complement activating polyacrylic acid-IgG polymer.
Polyacrylic acid-IgG polymer (PAA-IgG) activates the classical and alternative pathway of complement as shown by specific Clq-(IgG-PAA) interaction and the generation of C4d, Bb, C3b, C3a and C5a. This water soluble and stable PAA-IgG polymer represents a model substance for the study of humoral and cellular inflammatory mechanisms, mediated by the complement system.
Acrylic Resins↗