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Biomedical subjects

H Muller

Publications and source records attributed to H Muller.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Involvement of a cyclic-AMP pathway in group I metabotropic glutamate receptor responses in neonatal rat cortex.

3,5-Dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG), (S)-3-hydroxyphenylglycine and (S)-4-carboxy-3-hydroxyphenylglycine (S-4C3HPG) stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis in neonatal rat cortical slices, but with lower maximal effect, in comparison with 2S,1'S,2'S-2-(2'-carboxycyclopropyl)glycine (L-CCG I) or (1S,3R)-1-aminocyclo-pentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (1S,3R-ACPD). DHPG, 1S,3R-ACPD, and S-4C3HPG also evoked a rapidly desensitizing increase in [Ca2+]i in cortical layers of neonatal brain slices. (R,S)-alpha-methyl-4-tetrazolyl-phenylglycine (MTPG), and (R,S)-alpha-methyl-4-phosphono-phenylglycine (MPPG) inhibited the increase of phosphoinositide hydrolysis elicited by 1S,3R-ACPD but not that by R,S-DHPG. In contrast, the selective group II receptor agonist (1S,2S,5R,6S)-2-amino-bicyclo-[3.1.0]-hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate (LY 354740) potentiated the response of R,S-DHPG. Finally, 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cAMP, a membrane permeant analogue of cAMP, reversed the stimulatory effect of 1S,3R-ACPD and S-4C3HPG on phosphoinositide hydrolysis and [Ca2+]i mobilization, without affecting the response induced by R,S-DHPG. These data suggest that, in neonatal rat cortex, the activation of group II metabotropic glutamate receptors potentiates the phosphoinositide hydrolysis and [Ca2+]i responses mediated by group I metabotropic glutamate receptors.

Animals↗

Cloning and characterization of actin depolymerizing factor from Toxoplasma gondii.

We determined the predicted amino acid sequence of actin depolymerizing factor (ADF) from Toxoplasma gondii by sequencing the full-length cDNA. T. gondii ADF consists of 118 amino acids (calculated molecular weight 13,400) and shares a high degree of sequence similarity to other low molecular weight actin monomer sequestering proteins, especially Acanthamoeba actophorin, plant ADFs and yeast and vertebrate cofilin. ADF from T. gondii is smaller and does not contain a nuclear localization sequence like the related vertebrate proteins. Southern blot analysis indicates that T. gondii ADF is a single-copy gene. Homogeneous recombinant T. gondii ADF purified from E. coli is active in binding actin monomers and depolymerizing F-actin. Localization of ADF by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy indicates ADF is scattered throughout the cytoplasm and prominently localized beneath the plasma membrane in T. gondii.

Actin Depolymerizing Factors↗

The transfer of 137Cs from barley to beer.

Beer has been brewed from barley contaminated with 137Cs as a consequence of the Chernobyl accident. The 137Cs activity has been measured in all intermediate steps and in the by-products of the production process. About 35% of the 137Cs in barley were recovered in beer. Processing factors defined as the concentration ratio of processed and raw products were determined to be 0.61, 3.3, 0.1 and 0.11 for malt, malt germs, spent grains and beer, respectively.

Beer↗

Xeroderma pigmentosum-Cockayne syndrome complex in two patients: absence of skin tumors despite severe deficiency of DNA excision repair.

Two brothers had a complex combination of two DNA repair disorders: Cockayne syndrome and xeroderma pigmentosum. This rare combination has previously been observed in only two other patients. The clinical signs shared by these two brothers and the two other previously described patients include severe sun sensitivity, freckling, diminished stature, hearing and movement impairment, and neurologic degeneration. Although defective UV-induced unscheduled DNA synthesis has been demonstrated (5% of normal), no skin cancers have appeared in these 38- and 41-year-old brothers, whereas skin cancers developed at a relatively early age in the two previously described patients who also had defective UV-induced unscheduled DNA synthesis.

Adult↗

Induction of fracture healing using fibrous calcium phosphate composite spherulites.

The healing of large fractural defects is a difficult clinical problem, especially if it occurs in elderly or otherwise debilitated patients. The objective of this study is to determine if a new formulation of fibrous calcium phosphate crystals would induce fracture healing in vivo. Fibrous calcium phosphate (FCP) can be grown with unique size, shape, and surface area characteristics as a resorbable or nonresorbable, osteoconductive or osteoinductive material. In comparison with other conventional calcium phosphate particulates, FCP particles possess approximately x 100 to x 1000 more surface area. One-and-one-half centimeter sections were removed from the ulnas of 12 rabbits. Three groups had fibrous calcium phosphate spherulites (4-8 microns, 150-300 microns, 400-600 microns) mixed with collagen and a growth factor-bonding agent injected into the ulnar defect. One site per group was not treated. X-rays were obtained during the study and the percentage of the ulna defect filled in by callous was measured. The percentage was recorded as the amount of fracture healing for each site. Histologic examination of the ulnas was performed following sacrifice at 12 weeks. Fracture sites treated with fibrous calcium phosphate showed significantly greater healing (0.79 +/- 0.3) than control animals (0.36 +/- 0.1) (P less than .05, unpaired t-test) radiographically. Histologic examination showed that the spherulites remain in situ and become embedded within the new growth of fibrous tissue, collagen and new bone. Radiographically and histologically, FCP preparations appear to accelerate fracture healing by inducing new bone formation, into which they often become embedded.

Animals↗

[The population explosion in Algeria: the causes, the effects, and the solutions].

"For decades Algeria has had one of the highest population growth rates in the world, arising directly from a steady gap between deathrates and birthrates. The reasons are of a complex social, economic and cultural kind, such as high infant mortality, traditionally early marriage, family models largely determined by religion, the common practice of child labour and other factors. As a consequence of the mismatch between economic and demographic growth the society is confronted by growing mass unemployment, underemployment, food supply problems, housing shortages and ecological crises. The critical economic situation in the eighties reduced the prospects for constraining the population explosion by quickly conquering socioeconomic underdevelopment. Nowadays Algeria is deliberately following a programme for family planning, which is also supported to a certain extent by the Islamic clergy." (SUMMARY IN ENG)

Africa↗

A peculiar complication in Le Fort I osteotomy.

In two cases of routine Le Fort I osteotomy in secondary cleft palate surgery, a swelling noted in the antral mucosa was biopsied. In both cases, histological examination resulted in a diagnosis of odontogenic myxoma. After analysis of the radiographs, it was concluded that the biopsies were taken from displaced tooth germs. The close histological similarity between myxoma on the one hand and dental papilla tissue, a thickened tooth follicle and a thickened or polypoid antral mucosal lining on the other is discussed.

Adolescent↗

Transient catecholamine modulation of neutrophil activation: kinetic and intracellular aspects of isoproterenol action.

Modulation of neutrophil activation by catecholamines may reflect regulatory mechanisms that couple beta-adrenergic and N-formyl peptide receptors to antagonistic biochemical pathways. We examined kinetic and mechanistic aspects of the inhibition by catecholamines of neutrophil activation by formyl peptides. Inhibition of oxidant production by isoproterenol (ISO) was detected as low as 3 nM, had an ID50 of 10(-7) M, and could be blocked and reversed by propranolol. Recovery of cell function occurred over a period of minutes when the concentration of ISO was less than 10(-6) M. These observations are discussed in terms of the interaction of ISO with the adrenergic receptors. The site of catecholamine action is addressed. ISO neither influences formyl peptide-receptor interaction nor does it inhibit oxidant production by phorbol ester. These results suggest an impairment of intracellular signalling processes that couple the formyl peptide-receptor binding to cell activation. We observed inhibition of intracellular Ca++ elevation by ISO only at low formyl peptide concentrations. This inhibition is consistent with a partial inhibition of phosphoinositide metabolism, which was observed. Several other cell responses, including actin polymerization and right angle light scatter, are minimally inhibited by 10(-6) M ISO indicating that the cell activation process is not entirely obliterated. The presence of catecholamine and formyl peptide results in a synergistic elevation of cAMP. The intracellular targets of ISO action may be regulated by cAMP dependent kinases and could follow a branchpoint in the activation sequence that leads distinctly to oxidase activation and cytoskeletal activation.

Actins↗

A sonographic assessment of neonatal renal parameters.

One hundred twenty infants ranging in weight from 600 to 4,000 grams were entered into a prospective sonographic study to establish normal renal growth parameters. Renal cortical echogenicity was demonstrated to decrease with increasing infant weight. Observations on the use of Doppler analysis for assessing renal vascular flow are presented.

Body Weight↗