PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

D Büttner

Publications and source records attributed to D Büttner.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

[Peranal passage of a surgical sponge: fortunate outcome of an intraoperative oversight].

Four years after cholecystectomy and recurrent epigastric pain, a surgical sponge passed per anum in a 39-year-old man. Diagnostic procedures including clinical and laboratory examinations, ultrasound, coloscopy, and abdominal CT did not reveal any noteworthy residual changes by the foreign body. After 4 years in situ, the surgical sponge showed no alterations in structure. The representatives of the hospital concerned had to satisfy the patient's claims for damages. Pathology, technical diagnostic methods, and prognosis in cases of retained gauzes are presented. It is essential to count instruments and towels and advisable to use only single sponges in forceps in order to prevent intraoperative loss.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Mutational analysis of 4-coumarate:CoA ligase identifies functionally important amino acids and verifies its close relationship to other adenylate-forming enzymes.

4-Coumarate:coenzyme A ligase (4CL) is a key enzyme of general phenylpropanoid metabolism which provides the precursors for a large variety of important plant secondary products, such as lignin, flavonoids, or phytoalexins. To identify amino acids important for 4CL activity, eight mutations were introduced into Arabidopsis thaliana At4CL2. Determination of specific activities and K(m) values for ATP and caffeate of the heterologously expressed and purified proteins identified four distinct classes of mutants: enzymes with little or no catalytic activity; enzymes with greatly reduced activity but wild-type K(m) values; enzymes with drastically altered K(m) values; and enzymes with almost wild-type properties. The latter class includes replacement of a cysteine residue which is strictly conserved in 4CLs and had previously been assumed to be directly involved in catalysis. These results substantiate the close relationship between 4CL and other adenylate-forming enzymes such as luciferases, peptide synthetases, and fatty acyl-CoA synthetases.

Adenosine Monophosphate↗
PubMed1999

Three 4-coumarate:coenzyme A ligases in Arabidopsis thaliana represent two evolutionarily divergent classes in angiosperms.

The enzyme 4-coumarate:CoA ligase (4CL) plays a key role in channelling carbon flow into diverse branch pathways of phenylpropanoid metabolism which serve important functions in plant growth and adaptation to environmental perturbations. Here we report on the cloning of the 4CL gene family from Arabidopsis thaliana and demonstrate that its three members, At4CL1, At4CL2 and At4CL3, encode isozymes with distinct substrate preference and specificities. Expression studies revealed a differential behaviour of the three genes in various plant organs and upon external stimuli such as wounding and UV irradiation or upon challenge with the fungus, Peronospora parasitica. Phylogenetic comparisons indicate that, in angiosperms, 4CL can be classified into two major clusters, class I and class II, with the At4CL1 and At4CL2 isoforms belonging to class I and At4CL3 to class II. Based on their enzymatic properties, expression characteristics and evolutionary relationships, At4CL3 is likely to participate in the biosynthetic pathway leading to flavonoids whereas At4CL1 and At4CL2 are probably involved in lignin formation and in the production of additional phenolic compounds other than flavonoids.

Arabidopsis↗
PubMed1998

Determination of pH in human erythrocytes. Sources of systematic error.

The results of a simultaneous determination of the pH value in erythrocytes with the potentiometric measuring method and the 14C-labelled 5,5-dimethyl-2,4-oxazolidinedione (DMO) method showed a mean method difference of 0.026 pH units. The cause of this discrepancy was assumed to be matrix-inherent liquid-junction potentials in the potentiometric measurement. Taking these into account in the calculation leads to consistent values for the methods investigated. The DMO method proved to be free of systematic errors. Another indication of this is that its mean ratio of extracellular to intracellular H+ ion concentration (H+e/H+i) substantially agreed with the distribution ratios of other freely diffusible ions and their pH dependence.

Erythrocytes↗
PubMed1995

Sex differences in age development of a mouse inbred strain: body composition, adipocyte size and organ weights of liver, heart and muscles.

The mouse inbred strain HLG has only recently been submitted for international registration. It has been widely used in radiological studies. Since these mice tend to become obese, they may be of interest for studies concerning fat metabolism. Therefore, the present ageing study examines the sex-specific development of body weight, body composition, adipocyte size as well as the organ weight of liver, heart and thigh muscles of the inbred strain HLG (54 males/53 virgin females) between day 40 and 360 of life. The body weight development showed a distinct sexual dimorphism, quickly increasing in the case of males but comparatively protracted in females until maturity. Significantly higher values for body and fat-free dry weight as well as body water were found in males of all ages. Body fat and adipocyte diameter were only higher in the 80 and 120 day-old males. Thus, the increase in female body weight resulted largely through a rise in body fat as additionally evidenced by the sex-specific correlation of characteristics. A 2-fold analysis of variance showed sex differences in the relative weights of liver and muscle, but not of the heart. A sex-specific close correlation was observed between body and liver weights in males until day 180. Correlations between body fat and other characteristics were only rarely found. Differences in coefficients of variation largely depended on the characteristics. A higher variability was also found for some characteristics in the youngest groups (40 days). A sex-specific difference was only seen in the case of body fat content for 60 day-old mice (female > male).

Adipocytes↗
PubMed1995

[Spontaneous rupture of aberrant bile ducts in choledocholithiasis].

It is reported on 4 patients aged 69 to 79 years suffering from rupture of aberrant subserosal bile ducts. In the first patient the gallbladder did not obtain stones, the common duct stones causing increased pressure in the intrahepatic ducts and rupture were not diagnosed, the supposed "cyst" was excised, followed by suture of the liver tissue. Due to peritonitis relaparotomy had to be done. Since now intrahepatic obstruction was supposed a hepatojejunostomy was performed. The patient died from peritonitis following insufficiency of the anastomosis and bronchopneumonia. The other patients were cured by cholecystectomy, revision of the duct, T-tube and suture at the site of perforation, in one case with additional endoscopic papillotomy.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Upright standing in the laboratory rat--time expenditure and its relation to locomotor activity.

Various reports have discussed a minimal cage height of 14 cm in rat maintenance. Recommendations for heights between 18 and 22 cm have been proposed and partially put into practice. However, no quantitative data exist on the actual utilisation of higher cages by rats. Thus, upright standing in 19 and 30 cm high cages as well as locomotor activity on the floor was assessed in 54 rats using passive infra-red detectors. The results showed a continuously decreasing use of cage height. On average, adult animals exceeded even a height of 24 cm for 13.8 (strain ACI) and 5.2 (strain LEW and SPRD) minutes per day respectively, corresponding to 8.7 and 5.5% respectively of the locomotor activity on the cage floor. Obviously upright standings is an integral part of the laboratory rat's ethogram showing similar strain-dependent circadian rhythms as locomotor activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

The ontogenesis of skin and organ characteristics in the Syrian golden hamster. III. Ontogenetic and intraspecific allometry for strain and sex as well as body weight- and age-dependent correlations.

The allometric relations, i.e. bodily characteristics, body weight-relationships as well as age-dependent organ and biochemical data were studied in a total of 464 golden hamsters of both sexes of an acromelanic white inbred and agouti coloured outbred strain. In the 3 age sections studied (I = day 1-20, II = day 25-100, III = day 110-365) the body weight- and age-dependent relations were found to be altered between and within the various characteristics. The body weight correlations predominated in the case of organ weights and skin muscle thickness. By contrast, age correlations were seen above all in the skin compartments with cyclic growth, hair follicle density and reticular thickness in the age sections I and II. Papillary thickness showed a positive relation to body weight and age after weaning, but no long-term relations were observed with both plasma insulin and blood glucose levels. The allometric behaviour of skin compartments could be explained particularly by thermoregulatory and "geometric" similarities and that of the organs by metabolic and other similarities. Most sex and strain differences in the absolute data, except for the kidney and adrenal weights, disappeared on allometric analysis and were thus mainly due to differences in body weight. For long-term toxicological investigations, the documentation of age and body weight as well as the determination of ontogenetic allometry is a "must".

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1991

Climbing on the cage lid, a regular component of locomotor activity in the mouse.

The aim of the study was to obtain base values of climbing behaviour in mice maintained under standardized conditions in Makrolon-cages. Therefore three adult male mice each of the inbred strains BALB/cJ and C57BL/6J were kept separately and two C57BL/6J females as a group in Makrolon-cages type III. In addition, the same BALB/c mice were later kept in a cage with an eightfold floor area. Behavioural observations were carried out by video technique using a light-sensitive camera and a time-lapse recorder. Locomotor activity on the cage floor and climbing on the top of the cage were measured over a period of 48 h for each animal. The duration of locomotion on the ground ranged from 24-65 min/day, climbing between 49-122 (males) and 159 min/day (females) respectively. Climbing showed a more pronounced daily periodicity than locomotion, especially in the case of the BALB/cJ strain, where the average duration of climbing was about 28 min/h during the first hour after light off. In the mouse, climbing is obviously a regular component of activity, which deserves not only attention in the discussion concerning the needs of laboratory animals, but also in measurements of locomotor activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

The ontogenesis of skin and organ characteristics in the Syrian golden hamster. II. Body and organ weights as well as blood glucose and plasma insulin levels.

The ontogenesis of the organ weights of the liver, kidneys, adrenals, testes and ovaries as well as the blood glucose and plasma insulin levels were studied in a total of 464 golden hamsters of both sexes of the acromelanic white inbred strain Bio 1.5 and agouti coloured outbred strain Han:AURA. Familial and seasonal influences were excluded by means of randomisation (25 groups from 1-365 days of life). Body weight development was found to be sigmoid and showed significant differences in terms of age, sex, and strain. Liver and kidney weights developed in parallel. Here, too, strain differences (agoutis greater than acromelanics) were seen, and sex differences were observed in the case of the kidneys (females greater than males). The increased adrenal weight in male hamsters compared to females was in accordance with species- but not rodent-typical behaviour. Both the testes and ovarian weights varied considerably. Age as well as, in part, strain differences were seen in the case of the blood glucose and insulin levels. The continual development of body and organ weight could be explained in terms of physiological changes.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1990

[Computed tomographic detection of a polypous form of eosinophilic gastroenteritis in the duodenum].

The eosinophilic granuloma of the intestine is a relatively uncommon lesion which is unrelated to the eosinophilic granuloma of lung or bone. We describe one case of this disease in the duodenum evaluated by hypotonic duodenography and computed tomography (CT). The radiographs showed sharply delineated circular intra-luminal filling defect. CT demonstrated a homogeneous soft tissue mass and excluded an extraluminal extension of the lesion. Histological examination is essential for confirming the diagnosis.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Methods for pH determination in human erythrocytes.

The methods described in the literature for pH determination in human erythrocytes, i.e. the direct potentiometric measurement of haemolysed erythrocytes and the 5,5-dimethyl-2,4-oxazolidinedione (DMO) method, were examined and compared. In spite of careful optimization of the experimental technique, a statistically significant difference of a few hundredths of a pH unit remained between the results of the two methods. The calculation of the cellular water space of the erythrocytes is suggested as a possible reason for this difference; in the DMO method this leads to uncertainty in the determination of the DMO concentration and therefore in the derived intracellular pH values. For clinical use, the direct pH measurement of haemolysed erythrocytes, using the technique described here, is recommended.

Dimethadione↗
PubMed1988

Manual N-terminal microsequencing of proteins electroeluted from polyacrylamide gel slices.

A simple and rapid procedure for preparation of proteins for manual microsequencing using sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis is described. The procedure involves pre-electrophoretic labeling of the protein amino groups with a coloured Edman reagent, disk electrophoresis for purification or fractionation of the proteins, and reversed electrophoretic transfer of the separated protein from gel slices into a small volume of buffer (100 to 150 microliter) using a discontinuous conductivity gradient to recover the proteins. The pre-electrophoretic labeling facilitates location of the separated proteins in the gel and the monitoring of their complete electroelution. The isolated proteins are separated from excess of salts by acetone precipitation and solvent partitioning in pyridine/water (1:1) and subjected to manual DABITC/PITC degradation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1987

Improved model for the induction of proestrus-like gonadotropin surges in long-term ovariectomized rats.

In long-term (greater than 4 wk) ovariectomized rats the positive response of the gonadotropin release apparatus to a priming dose of estradiol is moderate as compared with that of proestrous rats exposed to endogenous estradiol. In the present study, high sensitivity to estrogen was restored in long-term ovariectomized rats by pretreatment with estradiol benzoate (EB, 20 micrograms, day 0) and progesterone (P, 2.5 mg, day 3). Estradiol benzoate (20 micrograms) given on day 5 induced proestrus-like surges of LH and FSH in the afternoon on day 6. Additional administration of P (2.5 mg at noon on day 6) had a facilitatory effect. Stimulation of LH release could be evoked in rats by the described regimen 1, 6 or 50 wk after ovariectomy. The long-term ovariectomized rat injected with EB and P as described might provide a useful model for neuroendocrinological investigations on the gonadotropin surge mechanism.

Animals↗