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H Althaus

Publications and source records attributed to H Althaus.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

In vitro effects of bethanechol on equine gastrointestinal contractility and functional characterization of involved muscarinic receptor subtypes.

The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of bethanechol (BeCh) on contractility patterns of smooth muscle preparations of equine duodenum descendens, jejunum, caecum and pelvic flexure in vitro. Concentration-response relationships were developed for BeCh using in vitro assays with and without preincubation of muscarinic (M) receptor antagonists for M2 and M3 receptors. BeCh induced a significant, concentration-dependent increase in contractile response in equine intestine in specimens with circular orientation. The maximal effect was largest for jejunal specimens with no difference in EC50 within the different locations investigated. The M2 antagonist, AF-DX 116, caused a rightward shift of the concentration-response curve and the M3 antagonist, 4-DAMP (1,1-dimethyl-4-diphenylacetoxypiperidinium iodide), almost completely inhibited the effect of BeCh over the entire concentration-response curve. These data provide evidence that, although the effect of BeCh is predominantly mediated by M3 receptors, M2 muscarinic receptors also play a role in BeCh-induced contraction in specimens of equine intestine. The involvement of other muscarinic receptor subtypes cannot be excluded. Further studies are necessary to understand the effect of BeCh in vivo including diseased animals.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Cloning and sequencing of a cDNA expressing a ribosomal P0 peptide from Culicoides nubeculosus (Diptera).

Insect bite dermal hypersensitivity (IBH) is an allergic dermatitis of horses caused by bites of Culicoides spp. and sometimes Simulium spp. The aim of the investigation presented here was to identify allergens causing IBH. A cDNA library expressing recombinant Culicoides nubeculosus proteins was screened using affinity-purified serum from an IBH-affected horse. Screening of the library resulted in identification of one immunoreactive clone. The sequence of the cDNA insert was determined and revealed a 600 bp insert with an open reading frame coding for a 78 amino acid long protein, called rCul n 1. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence revealed an identity of 67-78% to the C-terminal part of the 318 amino acid long ribosomal P0 protein from other Diptera. Furthermore, the 38 C-terminal amino acids displayed an identity of 57% with the C-terminal part of the acidic ribosomal protein P2 from Aspergillus fumigatus. The cDNA insert was subcloned and expressed as a [His]6-tagged protein in Escherichia coli and purified using Ni2(+)-chelate affinity chromatography. The 10kDa recombinant Cul n 1 protein bound the affinity-purified antibody fraction used for screening the expression library. Determination of IgE and IgG levels against rCul n 1 by ELISA in sera from 19 IBH-affected and 18 Swiss control horses and in sera from eight control horses living in Iceland showed no significant differences between the three groups of horses (median IgE levels = 60, 49 and 44 relative ELISA units, respectively). rCul n 1 did not induce sulfidoleukotriene (sLT) release from peripheral blood leukocytes of IBH-affected horses (N = 5), although sLT release was induced with the Culicoides whole body extract.

Allergens↗
PubMed2003

Beta-trace protein as sensitive marker for CSF rhinorhea and CSF otorhea.

OBJECTIVE: Beta-trace protein concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), serum and nasal secretions are investigated with a new quantitative, immunonephelometric assay. RESULTS: The mean beta-trace concentration of normal lumbar CSF (18.4 mg/l) and normal serum (0.59 mg/l), from n = 132 control patients, were 10% higher than reported earlier for smaller control groups. The reference range of beta-trace protein in nasal secretions is very low (median: 0.016 mg/l, range <0.003-0.12 mg/l, for n = 29 controls). Clinically confirmed cases of CSF rhinorhea (n = 20) showed beta-trace concentrations between 0.36 and 53.6 mg/l, with a median of 2.4 mg/l. We propose a cut-off value of 0.35 mg/l above which a CSF contamination in the secretion is plausible. A clinically confirmed CSF otorhea had a value of 1.75 mg/l. CONCLUSION: This new beta-trace protein assay offers a fast, sensitive and reliable routine method to detect a CSF rhinorhea or otorhea.

Beta-Globulins↗
PubMed2001

A new nephelometric assay for beta-trace protein (prostaglandin D synthase) as an indicator of liquorrhoea.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of a nephelometric beta-trace protein assay for the diagnosis of liquorrhoea. METHODS: One hundred and forty clinical samples with suspected liquorrhoea were analysed by a newly developed nephelometric assay. An established electroimmunoassay served as a reference method. The sensitivity and specificity of the beta-trace nephelometric assay were calculated by a 2x2 contingency table for 10 different versions of a dichotomised nephelometric variable. In 52 patients (79 samples), the nephelometric findings were validated by referring to the clinical diagnosis based on the course of the disease, imaging techniques, and surgical inspection. RESULTS: Given a specificity of 100%, a beta-trace protein concentration of 6 mg/l or higher in a sample indicated liquorrhoea with a sensitivity of 92% compared with the reference method and of 93% compared with the clinical evaluation. The relation between the electroimmunoassay and the nephelometric assay was highly significant (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The nephelometric beta-trace protein assay is a simple and rapid method for the detection of liquorrhoea with high sensitivity and specificity and may facilitate the diagnosis of fistulas leaking CSF.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Quantification of beta-trace protein and detection of transferrin isoforms in mixtures of cerebrospinal fluid and blood serum as models of rhinorrhea and otorrhea diagnosis.

Different mixtures from a serum pool and a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pool were used as models to study CSF contamination in secretions by determining two CSF specific proteins: beta-trace protein (beta-TP) and the asialo-transferrin (a-Tf) band which was detected by isoelectric focusing (IEF) with Tf specific immunofixation. Beta-TP and total Tf were measured immunonephelometrically. Secretion/serum ratios of beta-TP content > 2.0 indicated CSF contaminations with > or = 5% (v/v) CSF; this was confirmed by detecting the a-Tf band by IEF. Reliable a-Tf bands were only revealed with secretion/serum rations of Tf contents < 0.1, indicating an interference of major sialo-Tf fractions with the a-TF band detection in the sample. For CSF detection in rhinorrhea and otorrhea, complementary use of beta-TP assay and a-Tf assay is recommended. Preanalytically, dilution or concentration of the sample as well as denaturation of Tf and beta-TP should be prevented by optimizing sample collection.

Asialoglycoproteins↗
PubMed1997

Oligodendrocytes express gap junction proteins connexin32 and connexin45.

Oligodendrocytes, the myelin-forming glia of brain, are connected by gap junctions in situ and in culture. Cultured oligodendrocytes from adult bovine and porcine brains were studied using immunocytochemical, molecular, and electrophysiological techniques in order to characterize the gap junction types. The expression of connexin32 was substantiated by the detection of low, but significant, signals using connexin-specific probes in Northern and Western blot analyses. Connexin43, which comprises gap junctions in astrocytes, was not detectable in pure oligodendrocytic cultures; mRNAs of connexin40 and connexin37 and connexin26 were also not detected. By means of two specific antibodies directed to the recently cloned connexin45 and by RT-PCR we were able to identify this connexin as a second oligodendrocytic gap junction protein. Whole cell voltage clamp recording provided evidence for electrical coupling between pairs of cultured oligodendrocytes (mean junctional conductance 3.9 nS, n = 38 pairs) and intracellular Lucifer Yellow injection indicated that oligodendrocytes were usually only weakly dye coupled, with spread generally being restricted to nearest neighbors. Unitary conductances ranged from > 20 to < 150 pS with modes of distribution at about 100 to 120pS and 40 to 20 pS, respectively. These unitary conductances are consistent with the channel events expected for connexin32 and connexin45. The low degree of functional coupling between oligodendrocytes in vitro corresponds with the low levels of connexin32 and connexin45 messenger RNAs and protein expression.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

[Waste from hospitals, health resorts and sanatoria].

As part of the waste disposal planning in the administrative districts in Nordrhein-Westfalen, the present expertise intends to determines the requirements to be satisfied by the collection and intermediate storage of hospital waste, and to answer the question from a hygienic point of view as to what sort of waste may be taken to an internal garbage dump and what waste is to be burned. From among the variety of hospital refuse, that material was selected for which, as a result of the direct contact between waste and patient, a certain hygienic risk could not be entirely ruled out. This includes waste from the wards similar to private houshold garbage, medical soft waste (swabs, dressings etc.) medical solid waste (syringes, cannulae etc.). For waste other than this, disposal by way of garbage dumps is considered unproblematic or else such waste is to be disposed off in compliance with legal provisions (infection wards). For organ refuse, the only mode of disposal is by burying or burning. On perusal of the literature it was found that with regard to the hygienic condition of the above-mentioned waste, views differ widely ranging from "unobjectionable" to "infectious". Apart from this, these views are not supported by microbiological data ascertained experimentally. However, a reliable assessment cannot do without such data. Preliminary investigations were carried out to see what waste disposal routes exist in the various hospitals; then in two hospitals the waste volume of each ward was determined on 7 workdays over a total period of approx. two months and the waste was checked for the three sorts of refuse mentioned above. It was found that the refuse averaged 0.54 or 0.56 kgs per bed per day and 5.44 or 5.43 litres per bed per day with a specific weight of 0.10 kg/l. The microbiological analyses included both hospital refuse and "normal" household garbage from three dumps. Within the first group of waste the analyses covered not only waste conglomerates but also individual refuse ingredients (e.g. syringes). The workup comprised 264 waste samples from the hospital area and 21 samples from dumps, which were subjected to quantitative and qualitative microbiological tests. The results showed that hospital refuse very often contains less pathogens than household garbage and that it was even germ-free in some cases; especially individual samples repeatedly proved to be free of bacterial growth.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Bacteria↗
PubMed1982

[Faecal streptococci as indicator organisms of drinking water].

The rules of the European Economic Community to harmonize the hygienic quality of drinking water write out the faecal streptococci as indicator organisms. This operating definition of the faecal streptococci prohibits its taxonomic limitation to enterococci or group D streptococci. Therefore, we have undertaken studies concerning the methods for routine examinations. Comparative investigations of selective enrichment broths showed no significant differences of the end concentration of glucose in the range of 0.5-1.0% and of sodium azide in the range of 0.02-0.05%. 36 degrees C was a better incubation temperature than 44 degrees C and the results were better after 24 h than after 48 h. Comparative investigations of selective plating media showed less selectivity of the bile-aesculin agar and gentamicinthallous-carbonate agar than that on the one hand of citrate-azide-tween-carbonate agar, KF streptococcal agar or Slanetz-Bartley enterococcal agar, and on the other hand of kanamycin-aesculin-azide agar. All together the kanamycin-aesculin-azide agar seems to be a little better than the other media (Table 2) 356 strains of faecal streptococci were isolated from the studied media. More than 20 characteristics were investigated and, there upon, the strains were differentiated (Table 3). S. faecalis predominates in human materials, i.e. urine, S. faecium and S. durans were isolated specially from sewage and waste water (Table 4). The single species of faecal streptococci grow specificly on the different selective media, and therefore, each agar specimen prefers the one or other species more or less selectively (Table 5).

Azides↗