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W Mueller

Publications and source records attributed to W Mueller.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

Microheterogeneity of acute phase proteins in the differentiation of polymyalgia rheumatica from polymyositis.

We studied an alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and an alpha-1-antichymotrypsin (ACHT) microheterogeneity in sera of patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), giant cell arteritis (GCA/PMR), polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM) and healthy individuals by affinity electrophoresis with concanavalin A (Con-A) as the ligand. Our results are expressed as reactivity coefficients. The mean of AGP reactivity coefficients (AG-RC +/- SD) in PMR (0.92 +/- 0.17) and GCA/PMR (0.91 +/- 0.12) were significantly lower compared with the mean AG-RC in patients with PM/DM (1.48 +/- 0.52) as well as in healthy individuals (1.34 +/- 0.9). Moreover, an additional microheterogeneous form of AGP was noted in patients with PM/DM. In parallel, we also found that the mean of ACHT reactivity coefficients (AC-RC +/- SD) were lower in patients with PMR (2.94 +/- 1.24) and GCA/PMR (1.66 +/- 0.16) compared with healthy individuals (3.92 +/- 1.17). The mean of AC-RC in patients with PM/DM (6.74 +/- 4.35) was significantly higher than in patients with PMR and GCA/PMR as well as in healthy individuals. Our results show that the changes in reactivity of AGP and ACHT with Con-A are useful diagnostic markers for the differentiation of PMR and GCA/PMR from PM/DM.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗
PubMed1989

Health effects during a smog episode in West Germany in 1985.

In January 1985 a smog period occurred for 5 days in parts of West Germany, including the Rhur District. Mortality (24,000 death certificates), morbidity in hospitals (13,000 hospital admissions, 5400 outpatients, 1500 ambulance transports) and consultations in doctors' offices (1,250,000 contacts) were studied for a 6-week period including the smog episode and a time interval before and thereafter. The study region was the State of North Rhine-Westfalia (16 million inhabitants), but the analysis is restricted to the comparison of the polluted area and a control area (6 million inhabitants each). During the smog period, mortality and morbidity in hospitals increased in the polluted area, but there was no substantial increase in the control area. The increases were for the total number of deaths 8 vs. 2% (polluted area vs. control area), for hospital admissions 15 vs. 3%, for outpatients 12 vs. 5% and for deliveries by ambulance to hospitals 28% in the polluted area (not investigated in the control area). The effects were more pronounced for cardiovascular diseases than for respiratory diseases. The consultations in doctors' offices show a slight decrease (-2 vs. -4%). Regression analysis shows a moderate influence of temperature, but a strong influence of ambient air pollution. The maxima of the ambient concentrations are more important on the same day, whereas the influence of the daily averages is more pronounced after a delay of 2 days. The results are discussed considering other possible confounders such as indoor pollution and psychogenic influences of the alarm situation. In total, the study suggests moderate health effects due to increased air pollution during the smog episode.

Acid Rain↗
PubMed1988

6,7-Dichloro-3-hydroxy-2-quinoxalinecarboxylic acid is a relatively potent antagonist at NMDA and kainate receptors.

The 6,7-dichloro derivative of 3-hydroxy-2-quinoxalinecarboxylic acid (diCl-HQC) is a relatively potent antagonist at the two excitatory amino acid receptor subtypes activated by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and kainic acid. It antagonizes NMDA-induced excitation in the frog spinal cord (pA2 5.8), i.e. with a potency similar to D-2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoate (D-AP-7). It also antagonizes NMDA-induced sodium efflux from rat brain slices (pA2 5.6). The compound inhibits kainic acid-induced sodium efflux from rat brain slices with a pA2 of 5.4 and it inhibits [3H]kainic acid binding to rat brain membranes with a pKi of 5.4. DiCl-HQC is only weakly active at the quisqualate receptor. This spectrum of activities may make this compound a useful tool to investigate the pharmacology of excitatory amino acid receptors.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Maternal nutrition supplementation during pregnancy interferes with physical resemblance of siblings at birth according to infant sex.

A randomized controlled double-blind study of nutrition supplementation of pregnant and lactating women was conducted in Suilin township, Taiwan. Pregnant mothers were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups consisting of either a high (800 kcal and 40 g protein) calorie daily supplement or a placebo. For each mother treatment began following the delivery of her first study infant, continued throughout the lactation period; and through the pregnancy and lactation of her second study infant. Comparisons of sibling-sibling anthropometric correlations at birth between groups show that among the placebo group the sibling correlations are statistically significant and of the same magnitude seen in previous studies (approximately 0.5), while among high calorie siblings correlations are unusually low and often not significant. This is particularly true for male fetuses, suggesting that the latter are more sensitive to nutritional environmental variations in utero, than are female fetuses. Reduction in familial correlations, presumed measures of genetic influence, in nutritionally stressed populations, will occur when the environment of relatives differ, but are not due to malnutrition per se.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

The relation of growth to cognition in a well-nourished preschool population.

This paper focuses on the nature of the physical growth-behavioral development association in well-nourished as compared with undernourished populations. Multiple regression analyses were calculated to determine the magnitude of IQ variance accounted for by physical growth variables and socioeconomic status indicators in a group of 3- to 6-year-old children from Cambridge, Massachusetts. The prevalence of malnutrition within this sample was negligible. Weight-for-height percentile was the only physical growth measure that explained a significant portion of the IQ variance. This finding contrasts with what is found in undernourished populations where height is generally the most potent explanatory variable of mental test score variance. In undernourished populations height is a reflection of nutritional history; in well-nourished populations weight-for-height is an indicator of physiological maturation.

Body Height↗
PubMed1981

The Bacon Chow study: maternal nutrition supplementation and birth weight of offspring.

This study is a randomized controlled double-blind trial on the effects of nutrition supplement of pregnant and lactating women on their offspring. The study was conducted by the late Dr. Bacon Chow in 14 villages in Sui-Lin township, a farming area about 180 miles from Taipei, Taiwan. Two hundred ninety-four women were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. The daily supplement for one group provided 800 kcal and 40 g of protein/day; for the other group it only provided 80 kcal/day. Supplementation began after 3 wk of the delivery of a first study infant, continued throughout lactation, and through the pregnancy and lactation of a second study infant. Between group comparisons on the birth weight, number of low birth weight infants, or incidence of fetal deaths showed no statistically significant findings. However, the birth weight of the second study infant was statistically different and higher than that of the first study infant in the high supplement group. Moreover, in the low supplement group there was a correlation of 0.22 (p = 0.06) between the change scores for birth weight from the first to the second study infant and the quantity of supplements consumed during the last trimester of pregnancy. There was also in this same group a significant slope in a linear regression of birth weight on total daily caloric intake during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy for the male second study infants. These findings are partly in agreement with findings from three other large supplementation studies in Colombia, Guatemala, and New York. In this study the findings indicate that caloric supplementation does result in a small yet statistically meaningful increment in birth weight within a population which is not nutritionally at risk.

Birth Weight↗
PubMed1979

Detection and discrimination of individual viruses by flow cytometry.

A new flow cytometer with a very small observation volume has been developed to detect individual viruses with good resolution, and has been used to discriminate between two types of viral particles based on differences in their light scattering. Measurements of light scattering and fluorescence made with such an instrument can provide a basis for quantitative analysis and sorting of viruses and other particles in the micron and submicron size range.

Capsid↗
PubMed1979

Savings achieved through use of a less concentrated amino acid solution.

The administrative process of adding a 5.5% crystalline amino acid solution to the formulary of two affiliated hospitals and the results of the addition are discussed. A formulary change was sought after it was found that many patients on parenteral nutrient therapy were receiving more amino acids than they needed. Nearly all patients on parenteral nutrient therapy were receiving 8.5% crystalline amino acid solution. The approach to achieving the pharmacy and therapeutics committee's approval of the formulary change included documenting amino acid needs from the literature, securing a multidisciplinary base of support and providing economic impact information. A standard TPN order form for physicians, education through the pharmacy newsletter, and presentations at surgery and medical conferences and grand rounds were implemented to assure that the change was effective. During the 12 months following approval of the formulary addition, 66% of the more than 20,000 total parenteral nutrient solutions were prepared using 5.5% amino acid solutions. This resulted in an annual savings of $41,028

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1978

Environmental chemical-induced immune dysfunction.

Antibody formation, endotoxin sensitivity, and resistance to a challenge malarial infection were evaluated in mice fed a diet containing polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) (Aroclor 1242) or hexachlorobenzene (HCB). Antibody synthesis to the antigen sheep RBC (SRBC) was significantly depressed in the PCB- and HCB-treated (167 ppm) animals as evidenced by the fact that control mice elicited an approximate twofold increase in antibody formation over the chemical-treated mice. Serum IgA concentrations in the PCB- and HCB-treated mice were consistently 40--80 mg/dl lower than control values. Gram-negative endotoxin (Salmonella typhosa) sensitivity in PCB- and HCB-treated mice was increased 5.2- and 32-fold, respectively, following the dietary administration of 167 ppm of Aroclor 1242 or HCB for 6 weeks. An endotoxin hypersusceptibility was also noted at 3 weeks after dietary administration. Decreased resistance to a malaria challenge was also demonstrated in the xenobiotic-treated mice. A 20% decrease in mean survival time of mice fed Aroclor 1242 for 3 to 6 weeks and inoculated with Plasmodium berghei (NYU-2) was observed. Infected mice which had received HCB for 3 or 6 weeks manifested reductions in mean survival time of 24 and 31%, respectively. The data indicated that environmental chemical contaminants impair host resistance and, since no concomitant histopathological alterations were observed in the treated mice, the evaluation of immune parameters may possibly be a sensitive indicator of toxicity.

Animals↗