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Biomedical subjects

E Holzer

Publications and source records attributed to E Holzer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The genome sequence of Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

We have sequenced and annotated the genome of fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe), which contains the smallest number of protein-coding genes yet recorded for a eukaryote: 4,824. The centromeres are between 35 and 110 kilobases (kb) and contain related repeats including a highly conserved 1.8-kb element. Regions upstream of genes are longer than in budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), possibly reflecting more-extended control regions. Some 43% of the genes contain introns, of which there are 4,730. Fifty genes have significant similarity with human disease genes; half of these are cancer related. We identify highly conserved genes important for eukaryotic cell organization including those required for the cytoskeleton, compartmentation, cell-cycle control, proteolysis, protein phosphorylation and RNA splicing. These genes may have originated with the appearance of eukaryotic life. Few similarly conserved genes that are important for multicellular organization were identified, suggesting that the transition from prokaryotes to eukaryotes required more new genes than did the transition from unicellular to multicellular organization.

Base Sequence↗

Sequence and analysis of chromosome 4 of the plant Arabidopsis thaliana.

The higher plant Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) is an important model for identifying plant genes and determining their function. To assist biological investigations and to define chromosome structure, a coordinated effort to sequence the Arabidopsis genome was initiated in late 1996. Here we report one of the first milestones of this project, the sequence of chromosome 4. Analysis of 17.38 megabases of unique sequence, representing about 17% of the genome, reveals 3,744 protein coding genes, 81 transfer RNAs and numerous repeat elements. Heterochromatic regions surrounding the putative centromere, which has not yet been completely sequenced, are characterized by an increased frequency of a variety of repeats, new repeats, reduced recombination, lowered gene density and lowered gene expression. Roughly 60% of the predicted protein-coding genes have been functionally characterized on the basis of their homology to known genes. Many genes encode predicted proteins that are homologous to human and Caenorhabditis elegans proteins.

Animals↗

[Organization of telephone counseling for psychosocial emergencies. An evaluation after 12 months].

OBJECTIVE: To improve the community-based health care in the area of Bonn a telephone consulting service and a mobile crisis intervention service have been established during a two year pilot project. The regional needs and structural demands have been assessed. RESULTS: During the first 12 months the number of calls increased from 15 in November 1996 to 76 in October 1997. In all, 432 calls were received. Most calls lasted from 10 to 30 minutes. 89% of the callers were female, 77% were in the age range between 30 and 45 years. Two-thirds of the callers had prior psychiatric treatments. Most callers suffered from loneliness and deficient coping strategies. CONCLUSION: The prove regional demands have led to a continuation of the project and an extension of the mobile crisis intervention service.

Adult↗

Current concepts in pediatric burn care: management of burn wounds with cultured epidermal autografts.

Our experience with CEA is based on 21 patients operated on from 1986 to 1991. The areas covered with CEA measured 500 cm2 to 3160 cm2. At one setting no more than 40 sheets of 40 cm2 CEA have been transplanted. The take of CEA is over 75% when applied to dermis. The same holds true when covering "deepithelialised" skin homografts on immunosuppressed patients. Scar formation has not been a problem, and the overall results have been good.

Adolescent↗

Persistent atrioventricular block in Lyme borreliosis.

Cardiac manifestations are reported in 0.3%-4.0% of European patients with Borrelia burgdorferi (B.b.) infection. Usually symptoms disappear within 6 weeks. We report a case with persistent impairment of atrioventricular (AV) conduction. Diagnosis was confirmed by demonstration of IgM antibodies and increase of IgG antibody titers against B.b. in serum, by isolation of the spirochete from skin biopsy material and by the typical clinical combination of erythema migrans, Bannwarth syndrome (meningoradiculitis), and complete heart block. Despite immediate antibiotic therapy with ceftriaxone, first degree AV block and second degree block Wenckebach with atrial pacing at 100 beats/minute persisted for 2 years. We conclude, that Lyme carditis can cause long-standing or irreversible AV conduction defects despite adequate and early antimicrobial therapy.

Adult↗

[Experiences with DHPG (ganciclovir)--treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis in AIDS].

Nine patients with unilateral cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis were treated with intravenous infusions of the new virustatic drug DHPG (Ganciclovir). The induction dose was 10 mg/kg body weight per day (2-5 weeks). In six cases, a maintenance dose was given thereafter of 5 mg/kg body weight per day. After the induction dose, five patients had visual improvement and satisfactory cicatrization. In one patient, PVR (proliferative vitreous reaction) developed with total tractional retinal detachment. More ocular complications were seen while on longterm therapy: relapses during discontinuation because of leukopenia (three times in two patients), breakthrough (= relapse during maintenance therapy) (one case), serous retinal detachment (one case), and optic atrophy (two cases). The complications caused blindness in two further patients. Only one patient has tolerated maintenance therapy for 22 weeks without having any complications. One patient wanted to have therapy suspended and has remained free of relapse for 28 weeks while on cytostatic therapy. The eyes of two deceased patients were examined histopathologically, immunhistochemically, and ultrastructurally and the findings compared with those of an untreated case. Given at an early stage and without discontinuation, DHPG is an effective means of preventing or delaying blindness caused by cytomegalovirus retinitis in AIDS patients. The directives for an optimal dosage are subject to further prospective randomized clinical studies.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

[Incidence and pathogenesis of ocular symptoms in HIV infection].

202 patients with HIV infections of different stages [1 (n = 59): symptomless HIV seropositivity, 2 (n = 64): pre-AIDS (LAS = Lymphadenopathy syndrome, ARC = AIDS related complex), 3 (n = 79): AIDS] were prospectively examined. The findings of the first examination were analyzed statistically in a cross-section-study. In 15 AIDS autopsy cases the eyes were examined histopathologically and with immunohistochemical techniques. Patients with stage 1 had only some Sicca syndromes (3%) and neuroophthalmological signs (dyscoria with neurosyphilis) (2%). 14% of the patients with stage 2 had a microvascular retinal syndrome, 11% a Sicca syndrome and 2% neuroophthalmological signs. Among the AIDS patients (stage 3), however, 61% had a microvascular syndrome of the retina, 24% a retinitis resp. choroiditis as an opportunistic infection (in 15% Cytomegalovirus was the causative organism), 16% had neuroophthalmological symptoms, 14% a Sicca syndrome and 5% Kaposi's sarcoma of the eyelids or conjunctiva. The microvascular retinal syndrome was found to be the most sensitive ocular indicator for an advanced stage of HIV infection. Further changes of the anterior eye segments (especially conjunctival vessel abnormalities and precipitates of the corneal endothelium in Cytomegalovirus retinitis) are demonstrated.

Adult↗

[Fascioliasis of the liver. Differential diagnosis and questions of latency based on a case report].

A 49-years old female patient was admitted to the hospital with abdominal pain and symptoms of a shock. Four months before she had been sick and been an outpatient with slight pain in the upper abdomen and remarkable weight loss. The suspicion of perforated gall bladder was the indication to a laparotomy. A tumor on the right lobe of the liver was found. The histological diagnosis was: eosinophilic portal hepatitis with multiple eosinophilic abscesses in the liver. The parasitologic serology showed a positive test for Fasciola (liver fluke). Praziquantel in high doses was promptly effective and cured the patient. The sheep liver fluke is a common parasite of the biliary tract of herbivores all over the world, but rarely leads to a human disease. The patient had lived many decades in the South Pacific. The differential diagnoses was manifold because of the traveling habits, the clinical symptomatic and the course of the disease. The biology of the sheep liver fluke implies an infection acquired in Europe some weeks before the first symptoms of the disease.

Biopsy↗

Prevalence of antibodies to HTLV-III in AIDS risk groups in West Germany.

The prevalence of antibodies to human T-lymphotropic virus III was determined in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) risk groups by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and confirmatory tests in four different areas in West Germany. Twenty-four of 28 homosexual AIDS patients (86%), 24 of 33 homosexual patients with lymphadenopathy syndrome or AIDS related complex (73%), and 44 of 113 asymptomatic homosexuals at risk for AIDS (39%) were seropositive. In three groups of hemophiliacs, 8 of 35 in 1983 (23%), 25 of 65 in early 1984 (39%), and 19 of 23 in late 1984 (83%) showed positive results. Two sera from 36 polytransfused patients were also positive, whereas 36 selected blood donors, and 32 healthy laboratory and clinical personnel were all negative. Also no human T-lymphotropic virus III antibodies were detected in sera of 187 prostitutes in the Munich area.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

[Ranking of cerclage in prophylaxis of premature births].

The results of 196 cases after operation for cerclage are reported. In 133 patients the operation was performed because of cervical incompetence with opening of the cervical canal without contractions. In 63 patients a prophylactic operation was performed for anamnestic reasons. In the group of cervical incompetence the operation resulted in 103 (94.5%) deliveries, 12 of which occurred before the 35th week of gestation. Following prophylactic cerclage, 46 (78.0%) pregnancies ended with a delivery. In the latter group, the rate of abortions was four times higher than in the group with cervical incompetence. In 82.6% the birth weight was higher than 2,500 g; 4.7% of the newborn only had a body weight below 1,500 g. Before performing cerclage in the 196 patients the abortion rate had been 50.5%, which dropped subsequently to 11.2%. Childbirth at term could be achieved after operation in 73.2% of the patients, compared to the previous figure of 34.4% only.

Birth Weight↗

[Influence of (+)-cyanidanol-3 on the course of acute viral hepatitis (author's transl)].

A double-blind study was conducted in four hospitals to test the effect of (+)-cyanidanol-3 (Catergen) on the course of acute viral hepatitis. Activities of a number of enzymes, bilirubin levels and gamma-globulin concentrations, as well as elimination of HBs antigen in blood were measured serially in 73 patients with viral hepatitis, 37 being treated with the drug, 36 patients receiving a placebo. In addition, liver biopsies before and after treatment were compared (19 patients treated, 23 patients on placebo). There was no significant difference between the treatment and placebo groups with regards to morphological and biochemical changes.

Adolescent↗