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Biomedical subjects

G Reinhardt

Publications and source records attributed to G Reinhardt.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Accumulation and persistence of hepatitis A virus in mussels.

Accumulation and persistence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) in the mussel Mytilus chilensis was evaluated. Under optimal filtration activity of mussels (temperature 12 degrees C, salinity 3%, feeding twice a day with Dunaliella marina), HAV was concentrated 100-fold from the surrounding water. Similar concentrations of HAV were reached in the filtration apparatus and in the digestive system (hepatopancreas). HAV persisted for about 7 days in mussels. Elimination of HAV from mussels was slower than elimination of poliovirus. Without feeding of mussels (causing low filtration activity), there was no measurable uptake of HAV into mussels, and depuration of HAV from mussels was slower. The ability of mussels to concentrate HAV was used successfully to monitor fecally contaminated river water for the presence of HAV.

Animals

Placebo-controlled efficacy study of hepatitis A vaccine in Valdivia, Chile.

A placebo-controlled, double-blind study on the efficacy of a hepatitis A vaccine (SmithKline Beecham Biologicals) was started in a region of Chile in September 1990, using hepatitis B vaccine as control. A total of 260 healthy children, 6-15 years of age, negative for antibody to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV), antibody to HAV immunoglobulin M (IgM), hepatitis B surface antigen, and antibody to hepatitis B surface and core antigens by ELISA tests within 7 days before vaccination, were randomly assigned to two study groups: 128 children received the vaccine with a yellow label (group 1), and 132 children the vaccine with an orange label (group 2) at months 0, 1 and 6. Blood for serology and transaminase determination was drawn at months 1, 2, 6, 7 and 12. Both vaccines were tolerated equally well and no serious side effects were seen. In group 1 (presumed hepatitis A vaccine group), anti-HAV was detected (20% inhibition was used as the cut-off level) in 122 of 128 children (95.5%) tested at month 1, in 126 of 127 (99.2%) at month 2, in 126 of 127 (99.2%) at month 6 and in 126 of 126 (100%) at month 7. One anti-HAV seroconversion seen at month 1 was associated with presence of anti-HAV IgM and therefore probably represents HAV infection. Geometric mean anti-HAV concentration of the other children was 128, 342, 214 and 2301 mIU/ml at months 1, 2, 6 and 7, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent

[Alcohol drinking behavior in a sample of students].

In 1988 we interviewed approximately a quarter (n = 395) of the female students enrolled at Ulm/D. University in order to get knowledge of their alcohol-drinking habits. There was no selection of whom we asked. The results encourage us to the conclusion that we might have got a representative survey. Of the students inquired about 11% lived abstinently, less than 2% consumed alcohol daily, most of all took alcohol repeatedly per month. The predominant part of the students questioned, stated an intake of less than 40 g alcohol per day. The average quantity of alcohol consumed per month was smaller than with a group of female students interviewed in Spain as well as with a group of young women comparable in age in Northern Germany.

Adult

A case of double inlet left ventricle in a 59-year-old man.

An autopsy case of a 59-year-old man with double inlet left ventricle with a rudimentary right ventricle and discordant ventriculo-arterial connexion is reported. No surgery was performed during his life time and all clinical and echocardiographical findings had led to the diagnosis of a ventricular septal defect. The correct diagnosis could only be made after autopsy.

Heart Defects, Congenital

[Post-transfusion hepatitis iin Chile: the reference parameters].

Most cases of post-transfusion hepatitis correspond to infection by non-A non-B virus. Indirect test (ALT elevation, anti-HBc titers) have been used to detect the presence of this virus. We screened 692 blood donors and health personnel, measuring anti-HBc (n = 572), HBs antigen (340), and ALT serum levels (190). Positive results were obtained for anti-HBc in 1.7% and HBs in 0%. ALT levels were 25 +/- 12 u/l in males and 18 +/- 14 in females (p < 0.01). ALT levels above 45 u/l were found in 6% of subjects. ALT levels were not related to anti-HBc positiveness nor to alcohol intake. The possible risk of posttransfusion hepatitis related to increased ALT levels remains to be clarified by specific markers.

Adolescent

[Fatal air embolism following erroneous phlebotomy technique].

An 62 years old patient suffering of polycythemia was treated by phlebotomy. To accelerate the blood flow the collecting apparatus was connected to a pump supplying suction. Of the two pump outlets, providing suction and pressure, the one supplying pressurized air was connected erroneously. Air was insufflated into the arm vein causing cardiac arrest. Reanimation was unsuccessful. The findings are discussed, as well as the difficulties in interpretation.

Bloodletting

[Danger of electricity in the bathtub].

A fatal accident, when swimming in a lake, caused by a defective electric main is reported. The medical and technical findings of that accident are discussed as well as the electrophysical prerequisites.

Bathing Beaches

Monovalent cation specificity of passive transport mediated by laidlomycin and 26-deoxylaidlomycin.

The capacity of laidlomycin (I) and the new 26-deoxylaidlomycin (II) to facilitate passive fluxes of cations through a layer of organic solvent (CHCl3/n-heptane) was estimated in comparison to monensin A (III). While II displayed a 10fold higher transport rate for sodium as compared to calcium, laidlomycin (I) was distinguishable by mediating approx. 100 times lower conveyance of the divalent cations.

Anti-Bacterial Agents

Coronavirus as agent of neonatal calf diarrhea in southern Chile.

Neonatal calf diarrhea is one of the most serious problems of cattle industry all over the world. Although the aetiology is complex, it is possible to assess that viruses play a very important role. During an investigation to study the importance of Rotavirus in enteric problems in calves and piglets, it was possible to demonstrate the presence, for the first time in southern Chile, of Coronavirus-like particles in a faecal sample of a 15 day old calf by means of electron microscopy. The importance of this diagnosis and some clinical characteristics of the disease are briefly discussed. Finally, the need for more research on this complex subject is recognized.

Animals

[The role of calcium homeostasis hormones in the development of tolerance following drug and alcohol consumption].

The present experiments were performed in order to assess the effects of cocaine and ethanol on the calcitonin and parathyroid hormone present in the cerebrospinal fluid and plasma of sheep in vivo. Cocaine or ethanol were i.a. administered daily up to 20 days to sheep. Blood and CSF were obtained simultaneously at 1 hour intervals. CSF and plasma CT and PTH were measured by radioimmunoassay. Blood alcohol concentrations were determined by GC. The results indicated that cocaine and ethanol administrations were followed by increase of both PTH and CT in plasma and CSF. However, this effects are present only up to 10 days. Later the concentrations of CT and PTH remained unchanged. This indicated the development of physical tolerance.

Alcoholism

Human pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (PSTI) produced in active form and secreted from Escherichia coli.

As a basis for a protein design project, we decided to produce the human pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (PSTI) in its active form. Total gene synthesis was carried out efficiently by (i) computer design of the gene fragments, (ii) synthesis of the oligodeoxynucleotides by the segmental support method, and (iii) assembly of double strands under optimized ligation conditions. Fusion to the ompA gene signal peptide led to secretion of processed PSTI in various constructions, with or without additional amino acids (aa) at the N-terminus. The secreted proteins (56 to 63 aa) were biologically active, suggesting that the three cysteine bridges were correctly formed. Surprisingly, after induction the product was found almost exclusively in the culture medium. Variants of PSTI with Asp or Asn at aa positions 21 and 29 [sequences published by Greene et al., Methods Enzymol. (1976) 813-825, and by Yamamoto et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. (1985) 605-612] showed the same Ki for both human and porcine trypsin.

Amino Acid Sequence

Deposition of cocaine in tissue after lethal and repeated sublethal administration to sheep.

The deposition of cocaine in tissue after lethal administration to sheep was investigated. In addition, the presence of cocaine in tissue obtained from sheep treated for 30 days with a sublethal dose (2.4 mg/kg b.wt.) after 1-day, 1-week, or 1-month withdrawal was studied. The determination of cocaine was performed by radioimmunoassay. The concentrations measured represent the sum of cocaine and its metabolites. The presence of cocaine was also qualitatively proven by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. After a lethal dose administration cocaine was found in all investigated organs. The highest concentrations were present in liver, bile, and kidney. In tissue obtained from the sheep treated daily with a sublethal dose and killed after 1-week withdrawal, the concentrations found were significantly lower. After 1-month withdrawal, cocaine was not to be discovered in tissue.

Animals

Enzymatic resynthesis of the "reactive site" bond in the modified aprotinin derivatives [seco-15/16]aprotinin and [Di-seco-15/16,39/40]aprotinin.

On incubation of [di-seco-15/16,39/40]aprotinin with human plasmin, porcine pancreatic kallikrein or bovine or porcine trypsin in neutral or slightly alkaline solutions [seco-39/40]aprotinin is slowly formed with enzymatic resynthesis of the reactive-site bond 15/16. With chymotrypsin, however, further degradation of [di-seco-15/16,39/40]aprotinin takes place without enzymatic resynthesis. The apparent rate constants for the synthesis of [seco-39/40]aprotinin with kallikrein and trypsin have been determined and indicate that the bond-forming reaction is 10-200-fold slower with [di-seco-15/16,39/40]aprotinin than with [seco-15/16]aprotinin. The newly formed [seco-39/40]aprotinin has similar kinetic constants for the complexation with its cognate enzymes as aprotinin, indicating that any distortion of the secondary binding region due to cleavage of the Arg39-Ala40 bond does not seriously influence binding and affinities.

Animals

Expression, isolation and characterization of recombinant [Arg15,Glu52]aprotinin.

The [Arg15,Glu52]aprotinin gene has been constructed from a synthetic [Glu52]-aprotinin gene via an exchange of the appropriate DNA cassette. The gene has been fused to the N-terminal part of the bacteriophage MS-2 polymerase and expressed in a temperature inducible E. coli expression system. The produced fusion protein is deposited as inclusion bodies. Pure and functionally active [Arg15,Glu52]aprotinin has been obtained after cleavage of the purified fusion protein and renaturation of the aprotinin homologue. Recombinant [Arg15,Glu52]aprotinin shows good inhibition of human anionic and cationic trypsin (Ki less than or equal to 10(-11)M) and of human plasma kallikrein (Ki = 3.2 x 10(-10)M). The inhibition constants for human plasmin are Ki = 1.3 x 10(-10)M and for human urinary kallikrein Ki = 10(-11)M. No inhibition was found with the human proteinases thrombin, coagulation factor Xa, urokinase, tissue plasminogen activator, cathepsin G, leukocyte elastase and pancreatic elastase.

Amino Acid Sequence