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Biomedical subjects

I Körner

Publications and source records attributed to I Körner.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Health-related quality of life in children with spina bifida].

BACKGROUND: There are no studies on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in German children with a myelomeningocele (MMC). This study aims to obtain generalizable epidemiological data on the HRQoL of such children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: KINDL-R questionnaires were filled out and clinical findings on typical MMC disabilities were also documented. Of the 115 families contacted, 70 MMC families responded (response rate 61%). Normative KINDL-R data from a sample of healthy children served as reference. RESULTS: No differences in clinical data were found when comparing responders and non-responders. KINDL total scores as well as scores across all scales were highly concordant for parental reporting and self-reporting. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the fact that children with MMC often suffer from severe physical limitations, their HRQoL is not necessarily lower than that of healthy children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Behaviour of biodegradable plastics in composting facilities.

Composting is a preferred treatment strategy for biodegradable plastics (BDPs). In this sense, the collection of BDPs together with organic household wastes is a highly discussed possibility. Under the aspect of the behaviour of BDPs in composting facilities, a telephone survey was carried out with selected composting facility operators. They were interviewed with respect to treated wastes, content of impurities, processes for impurity separation, experiences with biodegradable plastics and assumptions to the behaviour of biodegradable plastics in their facility. Forty percent of the facilities had some experiences with BDPs due to test runs, and also since the occurrence of BDPs in their waste was known. The majority of the operators expressed apprehension regarding an increase of impurities resulting from a combined collection of biowaste and BDPs. In the facilities, measures for the impurity separation from the biowaste were used in common practice - in 33% of the cases, separation of disturbing plastics was done before composting, in 33% after composting, and in 13% before and after composting. The most important separation processes for conventional plastics were sieving and manual sorting. In two cases air classification was also used. When asked about the separation possibility of the conventional but not of the biodegradable plastics in their facilities, the majority of operators were not in a position to comment or they replied that it was not an option. No problems were seen in most cases if the impurity separation follows composting. If impurity separation takes place before composting it was often assumed that the BDPs are mainly separated by sieving. In conclusion, in more than half of the cases, BDPs would not be composted if delivered to a composting facility. Under the actual conditions regarding the collection and the treatment/disposal possibilities, an application of BDPs seems to only be reasonable for clean (i.e., source separated on their own) fractions of BDPs.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗
PubMed2003

Investigation and optimization of composting processes-test systems and practical examples.

To determine the optimal course of composting it is useful to carry out experiments. The selection of the right experimental set-up depends on the question of concern. Each set-up is useful for a particular application and has its limits. Two test systems of different scales (up to 1500 ml; up to 100 l) are introduced. The purpose and importance of each system design shall be highlighted by application examples: (1). Suitability of a liquid industrial residue as composting accelerator; (2). Determination of the compost maturity; (3). Behaviour of odor-reducing additives during waste collection and composting; (4). Production of tailor-made compost with respect to Nitrogen (5). Suitability of O(2)-enriched air for acceleration of composting. Small-scale respiration experiments are useful to optimize parameters which have to be adjusted during substrate pre-treatment and composting, with the exception of particle size and temperature, and to reduce the number of variants which have to be investigated in greater detail in larger scale experiments. As all regulation possibilities such as aeration, moistening, turning can be simulated with the technical scale set-up, their complex cooperation can be taken into consideration. Encouraging composting variants can be tested, compared and optimized.

Conservation of Natural Resources↗
PubMed2001

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha regulates the expression of inducible costimulator receptor ligand on CD34(+) progenitor cells during differentiation into antigen presenting cells.

The inducible costimulator receptor (ICOS) is a third member of the CD28 receptor family that regulates T cell activation and function. ICOS binds to a newly identified ligand on antigen presenting cells different from the CD152 ligands CD80 and CD86. We used soluble ICOSIg and a newly developed murine anti-human ICOS ligand (ICOSL) monoclonal antibody to further characterize the ICOSL during ontogeny of antigen presenting cells. In a previous study, we found that ICOSL is expressed on monocytes, dendritic cells, and B cells. To define when ICOSL is first expressed on myeloid antigen presenting cells, we examined ICOSL expression on CD34(+) cells in bone marrow. We found that CD34(bright) cells regardless of their myeloid commitment were ICOSL(-), whereas ICOSL was first expressed when CD34 expression diminished and the myeloid marker CD33 appeared. However, acute myeloid leukemia cells were ICOSL-negative, whereas among B-cell malignancies only some cases of the most mature tumors such as prolymphocytic leukemia and hairy cell leukemia were positive. Next, we investigated purified CD34(+) hematopoietic progenitor cells that did not constitutively express ICOSL but were induced to express ICOSL within 12 h after granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor/tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) stimulation. Interestingly, ICOSL was induced prior to CD80/CD86 induction on CD34(+) cells so that ICOSL was expressed in the absence of CD80/CD86. This suggests that ICOSL is an early differentiation marker along the monocytic/dendritic maturation pathway. Induction of ICOSL was dependent on TNF-alpha and was regulated via NF-kappa B as revealed by use of inhibitors specific for I kappa B alpha phosphorylation such as BAY 11-7082 and BAY 11-7085. The antigen presenting capacity of TNF-alpha stimulated CD34(+) cells was strongly inhibited by ICOSIg fusion proteins or by NF-kappa B inhibition. Thus, TNF-alpha-induced ICOSL expression seemed to be functionally important for the costimulatory capacity of CD34(+) hematopoietic progenitor cells.

Antigens, CD34↗
PubMed2001

The use of isosulphan blue to identify lymphatic vessels in high retroperitoneal ligation of adolescent varicocele--avoiding postoperative hydrocele.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether identifying and preserving the lymphatic vessels, using vital dyes, avoids postoperative hydrocele in adolescents with varicocele undergoing high retroperitoneal ligation (Palomo procedure). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The results were assessed from 28 consecutive adolescent patients undergoing varicocelectomy, treated between 1998 and 1999 by the Palomo procedure. The lymphatic vessels were identified and preserved using vital dyes, to avoid postoperative hydrocele formation. RESULTS: In 24 of the 28 patients (86%) the identification and preservation of lymphatic vessels was feasible. Over a mean (range) follow-up of 14 (4-24) months there were no postoperative hydroceles and no clinical recurrences. CONCLUSION: Identifying and preserving the lymphatic drainage of the testis and tunica vaginalis using vital dyes prevents the development of postoperative hydrocele in adolescents undergoing the Palomo procedure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Bcr/abl+ autologous dendritic cells for vaccination in chronic myeloid leukemia.

In chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) ex vivo generated DC are characterized by constitutive expression of bcr/abl and possibly other yet undefined leukemia-associated antigens, since these DC share a common progeny with leukemic cells. Induction of anti-leukemic T cell responses has been described in vitro. For a phase I vaccination study, autologous bcr/abl+ DC are generated under GMP conditions mainly from monocyte precursors in chronic phase CML patients. Lin-, CD80+, CD86+, CD83+, DR+ DC could be generated in sufficient numbers for s.c. vaccination with 1 x 10(6)-5 x 10(7) DC. Using monocyte precursors, the yield of DC per seeded PBMC was in the range of 1-6%. Furthermore, we could demonstrate in vitro that the T cell stimulatory ability of CD34+-derived DC can be augmented by a factor 2-3 by retroviral transduction with a gene coding for interleukin-7. DC-based vaccination strategies are a promising clinical approach, particularly as postremission immunotherapy in the setting of autologous stem cell transplantation.

Cytotoxicity, Immunologic↗
PubMed2000

Comparison of the perimeatal-based flap (Mathieu) and the tubularized incised-plate urethroplasty (Snodgrass) in primary distal hypospadias.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the perimeatal-based flap technique or the tubularized incised-plate repair is the more appropriate treatment for distal hypospadias in terms of fistula rate, cosmesis of the meatus and operative duration. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between July 1997 and August 1998, 60 children (none of whom had previously undergone a procedure for hypospadias) underwent primary distal hypospadias repair in a prospective randomized trial. Thirty patients were allocated to undergo a Mathieu repair (mean age 24.9 months, range 9-72) and 30 a Snodgrass procedure (mean age 23.1 months, range 7-19). The mean follow-up was 15.4 months. RESULTS: The mean duration of surgery was significantly lower for the Snodgrass procedure than for the Mathieu repair (75 vs 115 min, P < 0.05). Three children undergoing a Mathieu repair had complications (two a urethrocutaneous fistula and one a meatal stenosis), compared with only one in the Snodgrass group (glanular dehiscence). The resultant meatus was slit-like in all patients undergoing the Snodgrass repair whereas those with a Mathieu repair had a rounded and horizontal meatus. CONCLUSION: The overall complication rate was lower and the surgery significantly quicker with the Snodgrass urethroplasty, which also had a better cosmetic outcome. The Snodgrass technique is recommended as a primary treatment for distal hypospadias.

Fistula↗
PubMed2000

Long-term follow-up of female patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia from 21-hydroxylase deficiency, with special emphasis on the results of vaginoplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To assess, in a long-term follow-up, female patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), with special emphasis on vaginal functional outcome and sexual activity after vaginoplasty. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with CAH (aged 14-33 years; six Prader grade II, 14 grade III, six grade IV and one grade V) underwent surgery between 1972 and 1988. Three of the patients underwent clitoridectomy, 24 clitoroplasty and 25 vaginoplasty (24 with a Fortunoff flap and one a 'pull-through' procedure). In 20 patients the vaginoplasty was a one-stage procedure, undertaken at a mean (range) age of 3.6 (1-9) years, and in five patients a two-stage operation. The analysis was based on the patients' history and examination; the patients also completed a questionnaire, including a psychological profile. RESULTS: Nine of the 25 patients (36%) who underwent vaginoplasty developed intravaginal stenosis; of these nine, six were Prader grade III and three grade IV. All had undergone a single-stage procedure at a mean (range) age of 4.7 (2-9) years. Of the 16 patients who answered the questionnaire, 14 had problems with their overall body image; patients in whom vaginal stenosis was corrected were particularly anxious about sexual intercourse and had problems with orgasm. CONCLUSION: The main problem during the long-term follow-up was intravaginal stenosis; all the affected patients had undergone a single-stage procedure early in life to correct ambiguous genitalia. This high rate of vaginal stenosis suggests that vaginoplasty should be undertaken at the beginning of puberty, because higher oestrogen levels may prevent stenosis and, if necessary, dilatation can be performed by the patient. These data also underscore the importance of psychological support in the treatment of children with CAH.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Tolerance-Inducing dose of 3-nitropropionic acid modulates bcl-2 and bax balance in the rat brain: a potential mechanism of chemical preconditioning.

Many studies have reported ischemia protection using various preconditioning techniques, including single dose 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NPA), a mitochondrial toxin. However, the cellular signal transduction cascades resulting in ischemic tolerance and the mechanisms involved in neuronal survival in the tolerant state still remain unclear. The current study investigated the mRNA and protein expression of the antiapoptotic bcl-2 and the proapoptotic bax. two antagonistic members of the bcl-2 gene family, in response to a single dose of 3-NPA, to global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. and to the combination of both 3-NPA-pretreatment and subsequent global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. Brain homogenates of adult Wistar rats (n = 25) were analyzed for bcl-2 and bax mRNA expression using a new highly sensitive and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique that allows real-time fluorescence measurements of the PCR product (LightCycler; Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany). Animals for mRNA analysis received 3-NPA (20 mg/kg, intraperitoneal; "chemical preconditioning") or vehicle (normal saline), and were either observed for 24 plus 3 hours or were subjected to 15 minutes of global cerebral ischemia 24 hours after the pretreatment and observed for 3 hours of reperfusion. Immunohistochemistry was applied to serial brain sections of additional rats (n = 68) to determine amount and localization of the respective Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression in various brain areas. One set of animals was injected with 3-NPA and observed for 3, 12, 24, and 96 hours; a second set was exposed to 15 minutes global cerebral ischemia, 3, 12, and 24 hours reperfusion; and a third set was pretreated with 3-NPA or saline 24 hours before the ischemic brain insult and observed for 96 hours of reperfusion. The authors found single dose 3-NPA treatment to be associated with an elevated bcl-2:bax ratio (increased bcl-2 expression, decreased bax expression), both on the transcriptional (mRNA) and the translational (protein) level. The differential influence of 3-NPA was maintained during early recovery from global cerebral ischemia (3 hours), when 3-NPA pretreated animals showed higher bcl-2 and lower bax mRNA levels compared with rats with saline treatment. Respective changes in protein expression were localized predominately in neurons vulnerable to ischemic damage. Compared with baseline, Bcl-2 protein was significantly higher in surviving neurons at 96 hours after the insult, whereas Bax protein remained unchanged. However, at this late time of postischemic recovery (96 hours), the protein expression pattern of surviving neurons was not different between animals with and without 3-NPA pretreatment. To the authors' knowledge, the current study is the first report on the differential expression of pro- and antiapoptotic genes after a single, nonlethal dose of 3-NPA. The current results suggest alterations in the balance between pro- and antiapoptotic proteins as a potential explanation for the reported protection provided by chemical preconditioning using 3-NPA in rats.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Analgosedation (managed anesthesia care--MAC) with propofol and piritramide for controlled cyclophotocoagulation of the eye].

The new method of controlled cyclophotocoagulation of the eye is an example of a short, non-invasive procedure that is still too painful to be done under local anaesthesia alone. The risks associated with general anaesthesia, on the other hand, seem to be inappropriately high compared to the risks associated with the procedure itself. Therefore, for this procedure, we combined local anaesthesia with 0.5% proxymetacain and 10% cocaine and sedation with propofol and analgesia with piritramide. Our experiences with this method have been positive. We have applied our method to 42 patients undergoing a total of 53 procedures and we have seen no major changes in haemodynamics and only two cases of momentary slight ventilatory depression. Therefore, we conclude that our method of managed anaesthesia care is suitable for patients undergoing cyclophotocoagulation of the eye, combining patient comfort with haemodynamic stability and minimal risk for the patient.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Serological evidence of Chlamydia pneumoniae lipopolysaccharide antibodies in atherosclerosis of various vascular regions.

BACKGROUND: The role of Chlamydia pneumoniae in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis has so far mainly been investigated in patients suffering from coronary heart disease; the other vascular regions have virtually been ignored. The aim of this study was to carry out a statistical survey of serological markers of a C. pneumoniae infection in patients with different patterns of atherosclerosis manifestation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 340 patients were examined for the atherosclerotic alteration of peripheral arteries of the lower limbs, carotid arteries and coronary arteries by ultrasound scan and/or angiography. Immunoglobulin(Ig)G and IgA-rELISA were used to measure chlamydial lipopolysaccharide antibodies. Species determination was performed using the IgG micro-immunofluorescence test. RESULTS: 24.0% of atherosclerotic cases (A) and 52.3% of controls (C) were negative for C. pneumoniae lipopolysaccharide antibodies (p = 0.00002). By contrast, 45.1% of atherosclerotic cases and 16.9% of controls were positive for both IgG and IgA (p = 0.00002). The mean antibody titers of the atherosclerosis group were higher than in the control group (IgG positive xAIgG = 344, xCIgG = 272; IgG and IgA positive xAIgG = 576, xCIgG = 486 and xAIgA = 120, xCIgA = 91). Concerning atherosclerosis manifestation in various vascular regions, no significant differences were found between IgG and IgA antibody titers and prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that a persistent C, pneumoniae infection with evidence of lipopolysaccharide immunoglobulin G and A is equally associated with the atherosclerotic alteration of coronary arteries, carotid arteries and peripheral arterial occlusive disease, irrespective of the severity of atherosclerosis and with no predisposition to any particular vascular region.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Analysis of a regulatory element in the 5'-untranslated region of the bcl-2 gene.

The bcl-2 gene is an important antagonist of apoptosis, the programmed cell death. Bcl-2 is highly expressed in a variety of lymphomas. Lymphocytes of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) express high amounts of bcl-2 even in the absence of the t(14;18) translocation, resulting in a strong resistance towards corticosteroid induced apoptosis. Within the 5'-untranslated region of the bcl-2 gene a p53 dependent negative response element has been described. Genetic alterations within this element could lead to uncontrolled overexpression of bcl-2 and subsequent resistance towards apoptosis. We therefore analyzed the mRNA from the 5'-untranslated region -279 to -85 bp of the bcl-2 gene by direct PCR sequencing from peripheral blood derived lymphocytes from patients with CLL and normal healthy donors. Compared to published sequences (Tsujimoto and Croce (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83, 5214), we consistently found an exchange at position 1271 from A to G and at position 1284 from G to A in all CLL as well as normal donor derived samples analyzed. Thus, CLL specific alterations compared to normal cells could not be found and deregulated expression of bcl-2 in CLL cells does not appear to be due to alterations in the p53 dependent negative response element of the bcl-2 gene. However, our data add information to published sequence data of this region.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Time course of the effects of steroid hormone deprivation elicited by ovariectomy or ovariectomy plus adrenalectomy on the affinity and density of GABA binding sites in distinct rat brain areas.

The time course of the behaviour of GABAA receptors (affinity of muscimol for GABA binding sites and their number) in membranes obtained from five distinct rat brain areas was evaluated in dependence of the decline of the serum concentrations of estradiol and progesterone following hormone deprivation by either ovariectomy (OVX) or ovary- plus adrenalectomy (OVX-ADX) after 1, 2, 3, 5, 14 and 30 days. Diestrus rats served as control. The effect of OVX on the GABA binding sites was due to a decrease of affinity rather than alterations in their density. Conversely, the combined surgery of OVX plus ADX affected both the affinity and the density. Also, the OVX-linked changes of muscimol binding were observed only after five days as compared to control animals, while the initial OVX-ADX associated changes occurred already after one day. OVX-ADX produced significant decreases in the number of binding sites at the shortest times investigated, in frontal cortex (FC) at day one and two and in the medulla oblongata (MED) after three days, which disappeared in the subsequent times studied. Concomitant with the major decrease of steroid hormone serum levels one day after OVX-ADX the FC displayed an increase in affinity by 45%. From the time when steroid serum levels are low the alterations in affinity elicited by both OVX-ADX and OVX only take a similar course, reflected by the following decrease in affinity. In MED an additional adrenalectomy did not significantly modify the OVX linked decrease of affinity, except that the initial effect was already evident two days after OVX-ADX.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenalectomy↗
PubMed1988

Induction of bilirubin-eliminating processes by methylphenobarbital in mature newborn babies.

In order to find a drug for the prevention of metabolic hyperbilirubinemia of the newborn, which has less sedative effects than phenobarbital (PB) the effect of methylphenobarbital (MPB) on the plasma bilirubin concentration of newborns was studied in a double blind trial. MPB (3 x 10 mg/kg on the first day) reduced the plasma bilirubin level in mature newborns on day four by 33% in comparison to those on placebo. The results justify further investigations in premature babies, who frequently suffer from disturbances which may facilitate the development of bilirubin encephalopathy.

Bilirubin↗
PubMed1978

The effect of caffeine on post-replication repair and survival in two L5178Y cell lines with different sensitivities to UV irradiation.

2 Strains of murine lymphoma L5178Y cells that varied from the point of view of sensitivity to UV irradiation (mean lethal doses: 3.6 and 8.5 J/m2 for L5178Y-R and L5178Y-S cells, respectively) also differed with respect to sensitization by caffeine. L5178Y-S cells were sensitized to UV irradiation by 0.75 mM caffeine, whereas in the same conditions L5178Y-R cells were not sensitized. Sedimentation analysis of the newly synthesized DNA indicated UV-induced gap formation in L5178Y-S cells only. The subsequent gap filling was inhibited by caffeine. Exposure to UV irradiation induced no gaps in L5178Y-R cells. However, when caffeine was added immediately after irradiation, DNA with reduced molecular weight was found in irradiated cells of both strains after a 2-h chase. On the other hand, caffeine inhibited elongation of undamaged DNA strands in neither of the 2 cell strains.

Animals↗