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Biomedical subjects

E Kiefer

Publications and source records attributed to E Kiefer.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Colour duplex sonography of finger arteries in vasculitis and in systemic sclerosis.

CASE REPORTS: Three patients-two with Wegener's granulomatosis and one with an overlap syndrome of rheumatoid vasculitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and antiphospholipid syndrome-are described. All patients experienced a sudden onset of Raynaud's phenomenon or acrocyanosis when they had a flare of their disease. DISCUSSION: Ultrasonography (US) showed dark (hypoechoic) arteries without colour signals, resembling the US pattern of embolism. In contrast, US in patients with systemic sclerosis is entirely different, delineating a smaller artery lumen, reduced pulsation, and thickened, slightly hyperechoic artery walls.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2000

Design and fabrication of a half-beam wedge for treatment of breast patients.

PURPOSE: The Radiation Oncology Department of Kansas University Cancer Center on the average treats approximately 60 breast patients per year. Many of them require large field sizes with widths greater than 20 cm. Our purpose is to design a half-beam wedge that is lighter in weight than a standard wedge for larger field sizes. This could replace the compensator and reduce the number of monitor units. We have designed and fabricated half-beam wedges for a Varian linear accelerator, with the angles of 15, 30 and 45 degrees for a 6 MV photon beam. A set of dosimetry data for these wedges was entered into a treatment planning computer. The treatment plans generated using these newly designed wedges were compared with those using standard wedges. METHODS AND MATERIALS: From basic principles, the geometry for the design of the wedges was calculated for three angles, 15, 30 and 45. Using trays provided by Varian, three brass wedges were milled and attached to the trays. Measurements were taken in a water phantom with three wedge angles, 15, 30 and 45, for treatment planning purposes. CONCLUSION: The design and fabrication of a half-beam wedge for the use of treatment with large field sizes could reduce the need for fabrication of a compensator. This would also reduce the time required for treatment and give a better dose distribution.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1997

Differential transcript induction of parsley pathogenesis-related proteins and of a small heat shock protein by ozone and heat shock.

Parsley (Petroselinum (crispum L.) is known to respond to pathogen attack by the synthesis of furanocoumarins and to UV irradiation by the synthesis of flavone glycosides whereas ozone treatment results in the induction of both pathways. A cDNA library from parsley plants was differentially screened using labelled reverse-transcribed poly(A)+ RNA isolated from ozone-treated parsley plants. This resulted in the isolation of 13 independent cDNA clones representing ozone-induced genes and of 11 cDNA clones representing ozone-repressed genes. DNA sequencing of several clones resulted in the identification of pathogenesis-related protein 1-3 (PR1-3), of a new member of PR1 cDNAs (PRI-4) and of a small heat shock protein (sHSP). Northern blot analyses showed a transient induction of the three mRNA species after ozone fumigation. In contrast, heat shock treatment of parsley plants resulted in an increase of sHSP mRNA whereas no increase for transcripts of PR1-3 and PR1-4 could be observed. This is the first characterized sHSP cDNA clone for plants induced by heat shock, as well as by oxidative stress caused by ozone.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Cytochemical demonstration of lectin binding-sites in the cuticle and tissues of Acanthocheilonema viteae (Filarioidea).

The lectin-gold technique was used for the ultrastructural localization of lectin binding sites on thin sections of Lowicryl K4M embedded adult females, infective larvae and SDS-2-mercaptoethanol-insoluble cuticle components of Acanthocheilonema (Dipetalonema) viteae. Helix pomatia lectin (HPL) coupled to 14 nm gold particles, was used for the demonstration of N-acetyl-D-galactosamine-containing glycoconjugates. Triticum vulgaris (wheat germ) agglutinin (WGA) coupled to 10 nm gold particles after cross-linking to BSA or ovomucoid-gold after application of unlabeled WGA, demonstrated WGA binding sites (N-acetyl-D-glucosamine). With both lectins no surface labelling of the cuticle was observed, but subcuticular layers reacted positively. HPL-gold was bound to cuticular fibers, the matrix and to the electron dense layer within the cortical zone of the cuticle of female worms. WGA-gold complexes were bound mainly to the cuticle matrix and somatic tissues. The results support the hypothesis that tissue-dwelling parasitic nematodes have reduced their surface carbohydrates perhaps as a consequence of their parasitic life.

Acetylgalactosamine↗
PubMed1988

The effect of balloon dilatation on post-stenotic myocardial perfusion before and after stimulation of coronary flow reserve: evaluation by the densitometric parameter 'mean rise time'.

From densitometric evaluation of digital subtraction cineangiocardiograms the parameter 'Mean Rise Time' (MRT), defined as the time from the onset of local myocardial contrast medium opacification to the point of maximal opacification can be derived; this parameter revealed a close correlation with the results on myocardial perfusion obtained by Thallium-201 scintigraphy. A prolonged 'Mean Rise Time' was indicative of an impairment of myocardial perfusion. We have developed a heart-phase gated real-time digitization procedure and computer-supported method for the densitometric estimation of the MRT to obtain information about the effect of coronary balloon dilatation on myocardial perfusion before and after stimulation of coronary flow reserve by Moxaverin. In 22 patients with single vessel coronary artery disease Moxaverin caused a significant prolongation of the post-stenotic MRT (2.3 +/- 1.2s (mean +/- s.d.) vs. 2.9 +/- 1.1s, p less than 0.05), while after successful dilatation of the obstructive lesion a significant shortening of the MRT was found after stimulation of the coronary flow reserve (2.5 +/- 1.2s vs. 1.9 +/- 0.9s, p less than 0.05). A highly significant decrease in MRT after Moxaverin was measured post-dilatation in comparison to the initial pre-dilatation results (2.9 +/- 1.1s vs. 1.9 +/- 0.9s, p less than 0.005); this shows that the effect of successful balloon dilatation on the post-stenotic myocardial perfusion can be described very well by this parameter. These results demonstrate that information about post-stenotic myocardial perfusion during interventional heart catheterization can be obtained from digital densitometry.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Amino acid sequence and three-dimensional structure of cytosolic adenylate kinase from carp muscle.

The amino acid sequence of cytosolic adenylate kinase from carp muscle has been determined. For the analysis of the blocked amino terminus an N-acylaminoacyl peptidase has been isolated and applied successfully. The resulting sequence is homologous to those of other adenylate kinases. It has 76% and 74% identical amino acids when compared with the enzymes from chicken and pig, respectively. The carp enzyme forms X-ray-grade crystals, the structure of which has been solved at 0.58-nm resolution. The observed chain fold is very similar to the known fold of the porcine enzyme in crystal form-A, whereas the molecular packing arrangements are quite different. This finding confirms that the observed porcine enzyme structure is intrinsically stable and has not been enforced during the crystallization process. The sequence of cytosolic adenylate kinase from carp muscle is: (table; see text)

Adenylate Kinase↗
PubMed1986

Demonstration of anti-cuticular antibodies by immuno-electron microscopy in sera of mice immunized with cuticular extracts and isolated cuticles of adult Dipetalonema viteae (Filarioidea).

The immunogold technique was used for the ultrastructural localization of antibody-binding sites on thin sections of Lowicryl K4M embedded adult females, infective larvae and pieces of adult cuticles of Dipetalonema viteae insoluble in SDS-2-ME. The antisera used were either produced against SDS-2-ME extracts of cuticles or the insoluble pellet after SDS-2-ME extraction. With both types of antisera a labelling of epitopes on fibers was achieved in intact cuticles. In isolated cuticles the corresponding structures were absent. The same sera crossreacted with the larval and microfilarial cuticle as well as with somatic structures of all three stages. The only serum against isolated cuticle, which did not recognize cuticle fibers also did not crossreact with somatic structures. The recognition of the electron dense cortical layer insoluble in SDS-2-ME depended on the number of immunizations. A labelling of the filarial surface was never achieved. A dense labelling of the apical membrane enfoldings of the hypodermis pointed to an involvement in the synthesis of the nematode cuticle. The rough endoplasmic reticulum in the apex of the epithelial cells of the uterus, the content of the nutrient channels, and the substance between eggshell and microfilariae crossreacted with most of the antisera. This led to the conclusion that these substances are partly produced by the uterus epithelium.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Molecular level studies with anthracyclines.

There is steadily growing interest in the characterization of chemotherapeutic agents at the molecular level. Such characterization ideally involves the elucidation of structural properties such as configuration, conformation and tautomeric or mesomeric form, establishes the effect of chemical substitution on structural properties and provides insight into probable intermolecular interactions that are environmentally dependent. The interpretation of these data can be important for the design of new chemotherapeutic agents. The authors are presently investigating the anthracyclines, particularly members of the daunomycin and nogalamycin families, in an effort to better understand their behaviour at the molecular level. These studies have drawn upon analysis of single crystal structures determined with X-ray diffraction data and solution studies employing ultraviolet and circular dichroism spectroscopies. Crystal structures have been determined for 7-con-O-methylnogarol, 7-deoxynogarol, 9-deacetyldaunomycin, adriamycin-14-valerate (AD-48), and N-trifluoroacetyladriamycin-14-valerate (AD-32). Solution studies have concentrated on the study of the interaction of selected anthracyclines with oligonucleotides of known sequence. The oligonucleotides used were: d-(5GTCATGAC), d-(5GTCGCGAC) and the non-self complementary pair d-(5GTCGTCA) and d-(5TGACGAC).

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗