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Biomedical subjects

E Günther

Publications and source records attributed to E Günther.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Febrile lady with acute renal failure and desquamating erythema.

A 63-year-old woman developed acute renal failure and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome caused by streptococcus group G. Initially, an erythema resembling vasculitis was misleading. The subsequent clinical course, however, was typical for streptococcal toxic shock syndrome and met the criteria put forward by The Working Group on Severe Streptococcal Infections. In patients infected with streptococcus group G, toxic shock syndrome is rare. The streptococcus group G strains isolated from this patient did not produce pyrogenic exotoxins. Instead they produced an M-like protein related to group C and G streptococci that do not act as superantigens.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1999

M protein of a Streptococcus dysgalactiae human wound isolate shows multiple binding to different plasma proteins and shares epitopes with keratin and human cartilage.

Besides group A (GAS), Lancefield group C beta-haemolytic streptococci (GCS) have been implicated as a causative agent in outbreaks of purulent pharyngitis. In this study we have investigated a class CI M protein of a Streptococcus dysgalactiae1:256, revealed that 26% of these sera showed serological cross-reactivity between a 68-kDa cartilage protein and the N-terminal part of MC. Only 8% of the sera of healthy patients showed this property. In additional, MC also cross-reacted with antibodies recognising epidermal keratins. The cross-reacting 68-kDa protein from cartilage was different from human serum albumin, but was recognised with anti-vimentin immune serum. The MC was cloned and the gene sequenced. By using PCR, recombinant gene fragments encoding characteristic peptide fragments of MC were expressed in Escherichia coli. The peptides were used to map the binding sites for plasma proteins and to locate the cross-reacting epitopes on the MC molecule. In consequence, sequence alignments revealed that MC shared homologous regions with vimentin and different keratins. Our data, obtained with MC, suggest that not only infections with GAS but also infections with GCS and possibly GGS (the latter species can also produce class CI M-like proteins) may be responsible for the formation of streptococcal-associated sequel diseases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Reduced susceptibility of electroporated tumor cell lines to killing by cytotoxic lymphocytes.

Electroporation is a widely applied method for gene or protein transfer into cells, and it is also used for electrochemotherapy of cancer. During gene transfection studies, electroporation was found to decrease transiently susceptibility of some tumor cell lines to alloreactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) or lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells. In each cell line electroporation induced c-fos mRNA. In K562 cells HSP70 mRNA induction also occurred. Expression of Grp78, Bcl-2, CD95/Fas, or major histocompatibility complex class I molecules was not affected by electroporation.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Identification of a novel highly conserved gene in the centromeric part of the major histocompatibility complex.

A novel highly conserved gene designated Sacm2l alias Are1) has been identified and fine mapped in the centromeric part of the major histocompatibility complex in rat, human, and mouse. Sacm2l is closely linked to the ribosomal protein S18 gene Rps18 with a distance of about 450 bp between the respective translational start points. Numerous Sacm2l-homologous EST sequences can be identified in the database. Northern blot experiments of rat Sacm2l revealed a transcript of 3 kb in each organ tested, and by RT-PCR differentially spliced products could be detected in testis RNA. The deduced amino acid sequence of the rat Sacm2l gene shows a putative coiled-coil region and significant homology to a putative Caenorhabditis elegans protein and the yeast SAC2 protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

[Diagnosis and assessment of anxiety disorders].

Anxiety disorders tend to become chronic if untreated and often have considerable social consequences. Therefore, early recognition of anxiety disorders at the primary health care level is of great importance. This article gives a short overview of important aspects of the diagnosis of anxiety disorders in general medical practice. Panic disorder, generalised anxiety disorder and phobic disorders are describer and phobic disorders are described based on ICD-10 criteria. Anxiety disorders have important differential diagnostic distinctions from somatic disorders and other psychiatric disorders. A diagnosis of panic disorder can be easily missed if physical symptoms are predominant. Also, there is a high comorbidity with depressive disorders, substance-abuse and -dependence and suicidality. Furthermore, during the assessment procedure the topics of psychosocial life situations, social effects and earlier treatments should be investigated.

Anxiety Disorders↗
PubMed1998

Analysis of the 5'-flanking regions of the MHC-linked Hsp70-2 and Hsp70-3 genes of the rat.

We have analyzed the genomic interval between the MHC-linked heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) genes Hsp70-2 and Hsp70-3 in the rat. The distance between the transcription start sites of both genes which are organized in a head-to-head orientation is 604 bp. Unlike Hsp70-2 the 5'untranslated region of Hsp70-3 is interrupted by an intron of about 3.9 kb. The Hsp70-3 promoter lacks a TATA box and heat shock elements, but contains two CRE elements, one Sp1-GC and two PuF binding sites. Analysis of the Hsp70-2 promoter by CAT assays reveals positive and negative regulatory elements extending into the Hsp70-3 gene.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Isolation and molecular characterization of the rat MR1 homologue, a non-MHC-linked class I-related gene.

We isolated and analyzed a new rat gene which is homologous to the recently described human major histocompatibility complex class I-related gene MR1. The deduced amino acid sequence of the rat Mr1 gene shows conserved cysteine residues typical of class I genes as well as conserved beta2-microglobulin and CD8 contact sites. Analysis of partial DNA sequences and restriction fragment length polymorphism patterns of several inbred rat strains indicate that Mr1 is not polymorphic. Mr1 is a single-copy gene, which could be mapped to rat chromosome 13 by co-segregation analysis of Mr1 and a microsatellite marker in the renin (Ren) gene in double-backcross hybrids. The recombination frequency between both genes was determined to be 14.7% (4.9-31.1, 95% confidence limits). Expression analysis revealed various Mr1 transcripts in each organ tested and occurrence of alternative splicing.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Influence of the phosphorylation state on the biological activity of a low-molecular mitogen from group A streptococci.

A low molecular weight mitogen (LMP) from Streptococcus pyogenes strain NY 5 was successively purified by adsorption on phenylsepharose, chromatography on Resource S and Superdex G 30 and finally by affinity chromatography on antiphosphothreonine agarose. The N-terminal protein sequence of the mitogen was determined. The occurrence of phosphoamino acids was investigated by immunoassay using monoclonal antibodies. The LMP is a threonine-phosphorylated protein different of HPR protein of PTS-system, its mitogenic activity was lost after treatment with streptococcal protein phosphatase or alkaline phosphatase. The inactivated LMP was activated by phosphorylation with phosphokinase and ATP. The active LMP was also inactivated in streptococcal cultures secreting acid protein phosphatase during the phase of phosphate limitation.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1998

Heterogeneous patterns of constitutive and heat shock induced expression of HLA-linked HSP70-1 and HSP70-2 heat shock genes in human melanoma cell lines.

The heat shock response, which is characterized by the induction of heat shock proteins, is known to affect the ability of tumour cells to cope with potentially adverse conditions such as hypoxia, glucose starvation and cytotoxic immune reactions. To assess the heat shock response of melanoma cells, spontaneous and heat shock induced expression of heat shock proteins was analysed in a panel of 17 human melanoma cell lines. Constitutive expression of HSP27, HSP70, HSC70, HSP90alphabeta and GRP94 proteins was found in all the melanoma cell lines, and HSP70 and HSC70 were also induced by heat shock. The major heat inducible HLA-linked HSP70-1 and HSP70-2 genes were analysed at the mRNA level. Basal expression and inducibility varied between the different melanoma cell lines. In addition, in situ hybridization demonstrated heterogeneous expression of these genes among single cells of a given cell line. In general, each melanoma cell line appears to exhibit an individual type of HSP70 expression that might reflect selection during tumour progression and therapy.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1998

Fluoroscopic MR of the pharynx in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to introduce an ultrafast MR imaging technique of the pharynx as a diagnostic tool for viewing the mechanism of obstruction in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. METHODS: Six healthy volunteers and 16 patients with obstructive sleep apnea were examined on a 1.5-T whole-body imager using a circular polarized head coil. Ultrafast two-dimensional fast low-angle shot sequences were obtained in midsagittal and axial projections during transnasal shallow respiration at rest, during simulation of snoring, and during performance of the Müller maneuver. All patients underwent physical examination, transnasal fiberoptic endoscopy, and polysomnography. RESULTS: Five to six images were obtained per second with an in-plane resolution of 2.67 x 1.8 mm and 2.68 x 2.34 mm, allowing visualization of motion of the tongue, soft palate, uvula, and posterior pharyngeal surface. MR findings correlated well with results of clinical examination. The length of obstruction in the oropharynx, which cannot be ascertained by transnasal endoscopy of the pharynx, was clearly visible MR images. Differences between patients with obstructive sleep apnea and healthy subjects in terms of the degree of obstruction in the velopharynx and oropharynx depicted on MR images during the Müller maneuver were highly significant. CONCLUSION: We believe that ultrafast MR imaging is a reliable noninvasive method for use in the evaluation of obstructive sleep apnea.

Airway Obstruction↗
PubMed1997

Acceleration of hepatocellular energy by idebenone during early reperfusion after cold preservation ameliorates heat shock protein 70 gene expression in a pig liver model.

BACKGROUND: Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are induced in the liver after warm ischemia/reperfusion and are thought to be markers of hepatocellular injury and oxidative stress. METHODS: The influence of variable periods of cold storage followed by reperfusion on the expression of HSP70 was studied in the isolated perfused pig liver. Organs were harvested and stored in histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate solution at 4 degrees C and then perfused (210 min) in a closed water bath (38 degrees C), which subjects the liver to fluctuating outer pressure. The role of energy depletion, reactive oxygen intermediates, Kupffer cells, and circulating leukocytes in HSP70 expression was determined. RESULTS: HSP70 expression was not detectable in liver tissue before explantation or before reperfusion by Northern blot analysis using a pig HSP70 gene probe. HSP70 expression was observed after reperfusion depending on cold storage time. Kinetics of HSP70 expression monitored by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction showed a rapid increase of mRNA within 1 hr, which was closely associated with delayed recovery of hepatocellular energy charge, as assessed by the ketone body ratio. The inactivation of Kupffer cells, the presence or absence of leukocytes, and the suppression of oxidative stress with the antioxidant idebenone, given during reperfusion, had no influence. However, feeding the animals with idebenone over 7 days before explantation led to a faster recovery of ketone body ratio, paralleled by a substantial suppression of HSP70 expression. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that HSP70 expression during reperfusion is mainly dependent on the preceding cold storage time and the consecutive delayed recovery of the hepatocellular energy charge.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

[Löffler's parietal fibroplastic endocarditis. Echocardiographic course over 5 years].

HISTORY AND CLINICAL FINDINGS: A 28-year-old man, who had sustained a traumatic displaced fracture of the left lateral clavicle requiring operative realignment, was admitted to hospital because of the incidental finding of pathological electrocardiographic findings (suggestive of past anterior myocardial infarction). He had dyspnoea on effort and episodes of irregular tachycardia without other cardiac symptoms, as well as regular tachycardia (120/min) without pulse deficit. Body temperature was 37.3 degrees C, blood pressure 110/70 mm Hg. INVESTIGATIONS: Transoesophageal echocardiography showed regular myocardial contractility but a 3.27 cm cap-like area of echo-poor and echo-dense layers at the left ventricular apex. There was leucocytosis (25,400/microliter) with 45% eosinophilia (11,430/microliter). IgE was raised to 134.6 kU/l. Bone marrow smear showed marked eosinophilic but little neutrophilic hyperplasia. Parasitic infection was excluded. TREATMENT AND COURSE: The clinical and echocardiographic findings suggested the diagnosis of Löffler's eosinophilic endocarditis (endomyocardial fibrosis), later confirmed histologically. After initial treatment, first only with cortisone then also hydroxyurea, the eosinophilia finally responded to combined cortisone and interferon alpha 2. The dosage schedule was governed by the clinical and echocardiographic findings. In the further course of the disease there occurred progressive heart failure with severe tricuspid and mitral regurgitation, secondary pulmonary hypertension and severe fibrosis of both ventricles, 41 months after diagnosis the patient underwent tricuspid and mitral valve reconstruction with removal of the endocardial fibrotic layers. Follow-up examinations found the cardiac condition to be adequately controlled without further cardiac infiltration since 20 months. CONCLUSIONS: Echocardiography, in conjunction with the clinical findings, provides a firm foundation for successfully treating Löffler's endocarditis. In selected cases cardiac surgery can markedly improve the course.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

An outbreak of Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus infection of probable human origin in Wanderoos (Macaca silenus)--case report.

Three out of ten young to adult wanderoos (M. silenus) of a breeding colony at the Rheine Zoo died within two days from a peracute illness, characterized by salivation, vomiting, apathy and minor CNS symptoms. Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus was isolated in pure cultures from all organs of two animals investigated bacteriologically. The strains were penicillin-susceptible, and penicillin treatment of all remaining animals cured two already sick animals and prevented further cases. A volunteer worker with upper respiratory disease was suspected as source of infection; contact with equine materials and rodents could be excluded.

Animals↗