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Biomedical subjects

F Prantl

Publications and source records attributed to F Prantl.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

[A rare cause of carpal tunnel syndrome: leprosy. Latency period of decades is possible].

In a 63-year-old German woman with no apparent exposure to leprosy, clinical and histological evidence of tuberculoid leprosy was found. A noteworthy feature of this case is either the very long incubation time of 45 years, or the mode of infection involving an only short encounter in an endemic region. In the event of unclear lesions--on white skin not, typically, hypopigmented, but reddish--accompanied by disordered sensation, we in Europe must also give consideration to the possibility of a sporadic case of leprosy. A particular characteristic of this case was leprous neuritis involving the median nerve which was diagnosed clinically as carpal tunnel syndrome, and scheduled for surgical treatment. Under treatment with dapsone and rifampicin, however, the condition cleared up completely.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome↗
PubMed1998

Sonography of acute appendicitis in children: 7 years experience.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this prospective study was to determine the accuracy in diagnosing appendicitis in children by using high-resolution graded compression sonography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During a 7-year period, 3859 children (mean age 9.9 years) with clinically suspected appendicitis were evaluated by sonography with the graded compression technique. The ultrasound results were correlated with the intraoperative and histopathological findings or clinical outcome. RESULTS: High-resolution sonography was performed in 3859 children. Of the 610 patients who underwent a laparotomy, 494 had histologically proven acute or perforated appendicitis (prevalence 13%). In these children, sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy of sonography were 90%, 97% and 96%, respectively. The reasons for false-negative and false-positive results are discussed. CONCLUSION: Although the use of ultrasound to diagnose acute appendicitis in children has excellent results, the decision for surgery remains a clinical one because of the continuing false-negative and false-positive results from sonography.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1997

[Appendicitis in childhood].

From 1989 to 1995 high-resolution ultrasonography (US) was performed in 3,546 children (age: 1-17 years) with clinically suspected appendicitis. A total of 518 patients underwent laparotomy; 420 had histologically proven acute or perforated appendicitis (prevalence 11.8%). In these children, the sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy of US examination were 90%, 97% and 96% respectively. The use of US in clinically doubtful acute abdomen may allow earlier diagnosis of acute appendicitis; in 1995 the rate of unnecessary appendectomy was reduced to 13%.

Abdomen, Acute↗
PubMed1991

[Disorders of the afferent visual pathway in HIV infection. 1. Optic nerve and 2. Visual pathways/visual cortex].

Up to now little involvement of the afferent visual pathway (optic nerve and optic radiation and visual cortex) in HIV infection has been apparent. These results are based on our prospective investigations of 538 HIV-infected individuals, among them 261 patients with full-blown AIDS carried out by the same examiner over a 6-year period (1984-1990). Diseases of the optic nerve were observed in 22/261 (8.4%) of Aids patients but in only 1/227 (0.4%) of patients with earlier stages of HIV infection. Optic neuritis was the most common disease (in 14/261 = 5.4% of Aids patients), for the most part occurring in the course of CMV (cytomegalovirus) retinitis. For this form the prognosis was primarily good under virustatic therapy with ganciclovir in contrast to primary CMC papillitis. Furthermore, a few cases of optic perineuritis, optic neuropathy in basal meningitis, ischemic optic neuropathy and papilloedema with increased intracranial pressure were observed, most of them caused by opportunistic infections of the central nervous system. In single cases the HIV might hypothetically have played a role in the etiology. Visual impairment of the patients varied from subtle disturbances to blindness. Often optic atrophy resulted. Homonymous hemianopsia was the principal sign in diseases of the visual pathway between the lateral geniculate body and the visual cortex (in 10/261 = 3.8% of Aids patients). This symptom resulted from cerebral toxoplasmosis in 7 cases, progressive multifocal leukoencepalopathy (PML) in 2 cases and primary intracerebral malignant lymphoma in 1 case. The visual fields and neuroradiological findings are demonstrated. In 3 cases the homonymous hemianopsia was the first clinical appearance of Aids. Involvement of the afferent visual pathway in HIV infection may be a cause of blindness or visual disturbances despite normal findings on examination of the eyes themselves.

Fluorescein Angiography↗
PubMed1989

[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↗
PubMed1989

[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↗
PubMed1988

[So-called nephrogenic adenoma (adenomatous metaplasia). A rare tumorous adenopapillary lesion of the urothelium in the urinary bladder in a 6-year-old boy following injury].

A 6-year-old boy developed an extensive adenopapillary proliferation of the urothelium of the urinary bladder--a nephrogenic adenoma (adenomatous metaplasia)--2 years after he had been injured in an accident, which was followed by operation and medical treatment. Histologically this lesion is characteristic. Like other epithelial tumors of the urinary tract, it is very rarely found in children. A dysontogenetic or metaplastic pathogenesis has been suggested. Once more is known about them, adenomas may be diagnosed more often. The clinical picture and therapy are briefly discussed and a review of the literature is given.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1988

[Kaposi sarcoma of the gastrointestinal tract in AIDS. Morphologic findings and differential diagnostic aspects].

At autopsies of 20 patients with AIDS, 7 cases with gastrointestinal involvement by Kaposi's sarcoma were observed. The lesions were found in nearly all parts of the digestive canal; although we observed a certain accumulation in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Macroscopically the spectrum of appearances extended from red macules in the mucosal plane to plaquelike indurations of the wall and polypoid, hemorrhagic mucosal nodules. A certain, stage-dependent correlation between the macroscopic presentation and the histologic findings was found. In consideration of differential diagnostic aspects the morphologic findings in different tumor-stages are presented.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1987

[Eye involvement in AIDS].

Between 1984 and 1987 (over two-and-a-half years) 30 hospitalized patients with HIV infections of different degrees of severity were ophthalmologically examined. Ocular involvement was found in 17 patients (approx. 57%). In 16 of these 17 patients with pathologic ophthalmologic findings (approx. 94%), AIDS was already fully developed. Ocular involvement is therefore a sign of poor prognosis. Fourteen patients had a microvascular retinal syndrome and four patients had infectious (chorio-)retinitis (causative organisms: cytomegalovirus in three cases, Cryptococcus neoformans in one). Further findings included sicca syndrome with superficial punctate keratitis in two cases, keratitis in one patient with generalized mucocutaneous candidiasis, Kaposi's sarcoma of the eyelids in two cases, Kaposi's sarcoma of the conjunctiva in one case, papilledema with cryptococcal meningitis in one case, and atypical hordeolum in one case. Morphologic and pathogenetic aspects of the ophthalmologic findings, their importance and course in AIDS patients, and therapeutic problems are discussed.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1986

The TRP4 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae: isolation and structural analysis.

The TRP4 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, encoding the anthranilate phosphoribosyl transferase, was isolated and subcloned by functional complementation in yeast. A 2 kb fragment containing information for a polypeptide of 380 amino acids and the 5'- and 3'-flanking regions was sequenced. The TRP4 transcript was identified and mapped with S1 nuclease. Homologies to two prokaryotic genes encoding the same function, and sequences potentially involved in transcription start and termination and in regulation of TRP4 gene expression are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1985

Purification and characterization of the indole-3-glycerolphosphate synthase/anthranilate synthase complex of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The indole-3-glycerolphosphate synthase/anthranilate synthase complex from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was purified to apparent homogeneity. The native complex with Mr approximately equal to 130 000 consists of two different subunits, the TRP2 gene product with Mr = 64 000 and the TRP3 gene product with Mr = 58 000. The larger polypeptide was identified as anthranilate synthase and is active in vitro with ammonia as cosubstrate without need of complex formation. The smaller polypeptide carries both glutamine amidotransferase activity and indole-3-glycerolphosphate synthase activity. Various steady-state kinetic parameters as well as the amino acid composition of the two polypeptides were determined.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1985

Arrangement of genes TRP1 and TRP3 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains.

The tryptophan biosynthetic genes TRP1 and TRP3 and partly also TRP2 and TRP4 have been compared by the technique of Southern hybridization and enzyme measurements in twelve wild isolates of Saccharomyces cerevisiae from natural sources of different continents, in the commonly used laboratory strain S. cerevisiae X2180-1A and in a Kluyveromyces marxianus strain. We could classify these strains into four groups, which did not correlate with their geographical distribution. In no case are the TRP3 and TRP1 genes fused as has been found in other ascomycetes. Two strains were found which, in contrast to strain X2180-1A, show derepression of gene TRP1. Two examples are discussed to demonstrate the usefulness of Southern hybridizations for the identification of closely related strains.

DNA Restriction Enzymes↗
PubMed1984

Expression of an artificial yeast TRP-gene cluster in yeast and Escherichia coli.

All five tryptophan biosynthetic genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were unified on plasmid pME554, which is based on 2 micrometer DNA and pBR322 sequences allowing for autonomous replication in yeast and E. coli. Homologous and heterologous expression of this artificial yeast TRP-gene cluster was studied. Plasmid pME554 allowed for nearly normal growth of a yeast strain bearing auxotrophic mutations in all five TRP-genes. The plasmid-borne genes TRP2 to TRP5 were expressed and regulated normally in the frame of the general control. Gene TRP1, carried on an EcoRI/Bg/II fragment lacking the ARS1 function, was expressed poorly and did not respond to the general control like the chromosomally-borne TRP1 gene. Plasmid pME554 allowed for poor growth of E. coli strain W3110 tna- delta trpEA2 on minimal medium. Marked stimulation was observed, however, when anthranilic acid or indole were added. Accordingly, poor expression of the first Trp-enzyme anthranilate synthase and the last enzyme tryptophan synthase was found, whereas the other three genes were moderately well expressed in E. coli.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1977

[Some measures of proliferative activity in normal and leukoplakic buccal mucosa (author's transl)].

In 29 patients, the DNA synthesis rate of clinically healthy buccal mucosa epithelium in comparison to benign buccal leukoplakias has been studied by in vitro-autoradiography. The proliferative activity has been determined by means of the 3H-labelling indices of basal cells (LBC) and suprabasal cells (LSBC) including the total of labelled epithelium cells and the quotient of LBC:LSBC as well. The progenitor compartment of both leukoplakic and normal buccal epithelium comprises the stratum basale and the adjacent 2-3 layers of suprabasal cells. Around 70% of the DNA synthesis of normal mucosa was found in the suprabasal nuclei of the progenitor compartment. In the leukoplakic mucosa, some displacement of the labelled nuclei in the progenitor compartment resulting in a statistically significant change of the quotient of LBC:LSBC in favour of LBC was determined. Moreover, the leukoplakic specimens showed a moderate decrease of the mean proliferative activity of the total of labelled epithelial cells which may be due to a diminished exfoliation of cornified cells from the hyper(ortho)keratotic surface. It is supposed that in chronic oral leukoplakias some variation of the steady state between renewal and desquamative loss of epithelial cells is operating as far as no precancerous condition is present.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

[Comparative histological and autoradiographic investigations on benign oral leukoplakias (author's transl)].

Proliferation was studied in 18 patients with benign oral leukoplakias of the buccal mucosa by in vitro labelling with 3H-TdR. Identical investigations were performed in clinically normal mucosa of the same patients. Significant differences were found between the LI of both groups. On the other hand the total of labelled cells per 100 micron length of the basal membrane was approximately equal in leukoplakias and normal mucosa. In the majority of cases the LI was increased in leukoplakic regions whereas the number of labelled suprabasal cells was lowered compared to normal. These findings are supposed to be a consequence of shifting of epithelial keratinization to the lower stratum spinosum. From that results an increased proliferation in the basal cell layer.

Adult↗