7th meeting of the European Society of Gene Therapy. November 26-28 1999, Munich, Germany.
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Genetic Therapy↗
Biomedical subjects
C Plank
Publications and source records attributed to C Plank.
Gene transfer into hepatocytes using asialoglycoprotein receptor mediated endocytosis of DNA complexed with an artificial tetra-antennary galactose ligand.
We have constructed an artificial ligand for the hepatocyte-specific asialoglycoprotein receptor for the purpose of generating a synthetic delivery system for DNA. This ligand has a tetra-antennary structure, containing four terminal galactose residues on a branched carrier peptide. The carbohydrate residues of this glycopeptide were introduced by reductive coupling of lactose to the alpha- and epsilon-amino groups of the two N-terminal lysines on the carrier peptide. The C-terminus of the peptide, containing a cysteine separated from the branched N-terminus by a 10 amino acid spacer sequence, was used for conjugation to 3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate-modified polylysine via disulfide bond formation. Complexes containing plasmid DNA bound to these galactose-polylysine conjugates have been used for asialoglycoprotein receptor-mediated transfer of a luciferase gene into human (HepG2) and murine (BNL CL.2) hepatocyte cell lines. Gene transfer was strongly promoted when amphipathic peptides with pH-controlled membrane-disruption activity, derived from the N-terminal sequence of influenza virus hemagglutinin HA-2, were also present in these DNA complexes. Thus, we have essentially borrowed the small functional domains of two large proteins, asialoglycoprotein and hemagglutinin, and assembled them into a supramolecular complex to generate an efficient gene-transfer system.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Laparoscopically performed gastric banding in a 13 year-old girl with morbid obesity and end stage renal insufficiency allows lifesaving weight loss and hemodialysis.
OBJECTIVE: In adults, laparoscopic gastric banding is applied to treat morbid obesity, usually in combination with dietary and psychological intervention and increased physical exercise. However, little information is available on gastric banding in children. PATIENT AND METHODS: The 13 year-old girl suffered from end stage renal failure. Complications with hemodialysis catheters due to her extensive subcutaneous fat pads led to a life-threatening deterioration of her uremia. Intensive conventional schedules for weight reduction failed to be effective, so the morbidly obese girl (body mass index [BMI] 37.7 kg/m2, +3.6 standard deviation score [SDS]) underwent laparoscopic gastric banding at the age of 13 years after informed parental consent was obtained. RESULTS: After laparoscopic gastric banding there was a notable weight loss of 14 kg and an eventually adequate hemodialysis was possible. Total weight loss of the now 15 year-old girl was 24 kg (present BMI 28.3 kg/m2, +2.2 SDS). CONCLUSION: Even in childhood, laparoscopic gastric banding may be considered in cases of morbid obesity in critically ill patients.
Adolescent↗
Aromatherapy: evidence for sedative effects of the essential oil of lavender after inhalation.
The sedative properties of the essential oil of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Miller) and of its main constituents--linalool and linalyl acetate--were investigated in mice followed up in a series of experimental procedures. The significant decrease in the motility of female and male laboratory animals under standardized experimental conditions is found to be closely dependent on the exposure time to the drugs. Nevertheless after an injection of caffeine into mice a hyperactivity was observed which was reduced to nearly a normal motility only by inhalation of these fragrance drugs. In particular the correlation of the motility of the animals to linalool in serum is experimentally proven, thus furnishing evidence of the aromatherapeutical use of herbal pillows employed in folk medicine since ancient times in order to facilitate falling asleep or to minimize stressful situations of man.
Acyclic Monoterpenes↗
Lymphatic microvessel density in epithelial ovarian cancer: its impact on prognosis.
BACKGROUND: The influence of lymphatic microvessel density (MVD) on survival in epithelial ovarian cancer is still unknown, owing to the fact that until recently no reliable immunohistologic markers for lymphatic endothelium were available. MATERIALS AND METHODS: By using a polyclonal antibody staining podoplanin, a novel marker for lymphatic endothelium, lymphatic MVD in tissue samples of 90 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer treated by radical surgery and chemotherapy was investigated. Survival analysis was performed using univariate and multivariate analysis. Furthermore, lymphatic MVD was compared to MVD assessed by CD34 immunostaining. RESULTS: Lymphatic MVD was significantly lower than CD34 MVD (p < 0.0001). There was no significant association between lymphatic MVD and various histological and clinical parameters. Lymphatic MVD had no influence on overall survival and disease free survival (p = 0.4627 and p = 0.4337, respectively; log-rank test). CONCLUSION: The formation of lymphatic vessels has no influence on the progression of epithelial ovarian cancer.
Age Factors↗