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Biomedical subjects

J Kemper

Publications and source records attributed to J Kemper.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Temperature response of biological materials to pulsed non-ablative CO2 laser irradiation.

This paper presents surface temperature responses of various tissue phantoms and in vitro and in vivo biological materials in air to non-ablative pulsed CO2 laser irradiation, measured with a thermocamera. We studied cooling off behavior of the materials after a laser pulse, to come to an understanding of heat accumulation and related thermal damage during (super) pulsed CO2 laser irradiation. The experiments show a very slow decay of temperatures in the longer time regime. This behavior is well predicted by a simple model for one-dimensional heat flow that considers the CO2 laser radiation as producing a heat flux on the material surface. The critical pulse repetition frequency for which temperature accumulation is sufficiently low is estimated at about 5 Hz. Although we have not investigated the ablative situation, our results suggest that very low pulse frequencies in microsurgical procedures may be recommended.

Acrylic Resins↗

Folie à six: a case report on induced psychotic disorder.

A case of folie à six is described in which the persecutory delusions of the central figure spread to her husband and their 2 sons, and even to her sister-in-law and a nephew. The main factor in the development of this shared paranoid disorder seems to have been the dominant personality of the inducer. In contrast to reports in the literature, there was no family history of such disorders and there were no adverse social or environmental circumstances.

Adult↗

Carcinoma in situ of the testis in the presence of contralateral germ cell tumor.

Carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the testis is considered a precursor of germ cell tumor. Diagnosis is made by biopsy, a procedure which is justifiable for patients with increased tumor risk. This group includes patients with testicular tumors who may develop contralateral second malignancies. After obtaining contralateral biopsies from 21 such patients we found one CIS. Treatment consisted of local irradiation (20 Gy) of the remaining testis. No clinical side effects were observed. In a control biopsy 6 months later, no evidence of CIS was found. Leydig cells were morphologically normal. Nine months after therapy, plasma testosterone levels were still normal, LH and FSH levels were increased. Long-term observations are needed to assess the value of radiotherapy as compared to orchiectomy.

Adult↗

Molecular cloning and characterization of supQ/newD, a gene substitution system for the leuD gene of Salmonella typhimurium.

The isopropylmalate isomerase of Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli is a complex of the leuC and leuD gene products. The supQ/new D gene substitution system in S. typhimurium restores leucine prototrophy to leuD mutants of S. typhimurium. Previous genetic evidence supports a model that indicates the replacement of the missing LeuD polypeptide by the newD gene product. This model proposed that this gene substitution is possible when a mutation at the supQ locus (near newD) liberates unaltered newD polypeptide from its normal complex with the supQ protein product. In this study, recombinant plasmids carrying newD, supQ, or both were transformed into E. coli and S. typhimurium strains deleted for the leuD and supQ genes to test the supQ/newD gene substitution model for suppression of leucine auxotrophy. It was determined that the newD gene encodes a 22-kilodalton polypeptide which can restore leucine prototrophy to leuD deletion strains and that a functional supQ gene prevents this suppression. It was also determined that the supQ and newD genes are separated by a gene encoding a 50-kilodalton protein, pB. While there is extensive DNA sequence homology between the leucine operons of S. typhimurium and E. coli, DNA hybridization experiments did not indicate substantial homology between the newD and leuD genes. These data, taken together with previously obtained genetic data, eliminate the possibility that supQ and newD are recently translocated segments of the leucine operon.

Ampicillin Resistance↗

Wild-type isopropylmalate isomerase in Salmonella typhimurium is composed of two different subunits.

The isopropylmalate isomerase in Salmonella typhimurium is the second enzyme specific for leucine biosynthesis. It is a complex enzyme composed of two subunits which are coded for by two genes of the leucine operon, leuC and leuD. The two polypeptides have been shown to copurify through successive ammonium sulfate fractionations and have been identified on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels as having molecular weights of 51,000 (leuC gene product) and 23,500 (leuD gene product). They have also been shown to be fairly stable, since in vitro complementation of cell-free extracts of leuC and leuD mutant strains was demonstrated, with only a 40% loss of activity 16 h after preparation of the extracts. The native isopropylmalate isomerase was shown to have a Km for its substrate alpha-isopropylmalate of 3 x 10(-4)M.

Genes, Bacterial↗

[A new immersion ultrasound technique for the investigation of the scrotum (author's transl)].

The testes of about 50 patients were examined by ultrasound, using a water immersion technique. Immersion sonography provides an excellent and anatomically detailed demonstration of the male genitalia. Intrascrotal fluid collections, extra- and intratesticular solid lesions and inflammatory processes can be accurately differentiated. The method is suitable for showing the size, shape and extent of a scrotal lesion. In many cases the echo pattern can provide information concerning the pathological changes of these organs.

Genitalia, Male↗

Construction and characterization of Salmonella typhimurium strains that accumulate and excrete alpha- and beta-isopropylmalate.

Two Salmonella typhimurium strains, which could be used as sources for the leucine biosynthetic intermediates alpha- and beta-isopropylmalate were constructed by a series of P22-mediated transductions. One strain, JK527 [flr-19 leuA2010 Delta(leuD-ara)798 fol-162], accumulated and excreted alpha-isopropylmalate, whereas the second strain, JK553 (flr-19 leuA2010 leuB698), accumulated and excreted alpha- and beta-isopropylmalate. The yield of alpha-isopropylmalate isolated from the culture medium of JK527 was more than five times the amount obtained from a comparable volume of medium in which Neurospora crassa strain FLR(92)-1-216 (normally used as the source for alpha- and beta-isopropylmalate) was grown. Not only was the yield greater, but S. typhimurium strains are much easier to handle and grow to saturation much faster than N. crassa strains. The combination of the two regulatory mutations flr-19, which results in constitutive expression of the leucine operon, and leuA2010, which renders the first leucine-specific biosynthetic enzyme insensitive to feedback inhibition by leucine, generated limitations in the production of valine and pantothenic acid. The efficient, irreversible, and unregulated conversion of alpha-ketoisovaleric acid into alpha-isopropylmalate (alpha-isopropylmalate synthetase K(m) for alpha-ketoisovaleric acid, 6 x 10(-5) M) severely restricted the amount of alpha-ketoisovaleric acid available for conversion into valine and pantothenic acid (ketopantoate hydroxymethyltransferase K(m) for alpha-ketoisovaleric acid, 1.1 x 10(-3) M; transaminase B K(m) for alpha-ketoisovaleric acid, 2 x 10(-3) M).

2-Isopropylmalate Synthase↗

Salmonella typhimurium newD and Escherichia coli leuC genes code for a functional isopropylmalate isomerase in Salmonella typhimurium-Escherichia coli hybrids.

The supQ newD gene substitution system in Salmonella typhimurium restores leucine prototrophy to leuD mutants by providing the newD gene product which is capable of replacing the missing leuD polypeptide in the isopropylmalate isomerase, a complex of the leuC and leuD gene product. Mutations in the supQ gene are required to make the newD protein available. An Escherichia coli F' factor was constructed which carried supQ- newD+ from S. typhimurium on a P22-specialized transducing genome. This F' pro lac (P22dsupQ394newD) episome was transferred into S. typhimurium strains containing th leuD798-ara deletion; the resulting merodiploid strains had a Leu+ phenotype, indicating that supQ- newD+ is dominant over supQ+ newD+, and eliminating the possibility that the supQ gene codes for a repressor of the newD gene. Furthermore, transfer of the F' pro lac (P22dsupQ39newD) into E. coli leuD deletion strains restored leucine prototrophy, showing that the S. typhimurium newD gene can complment the E. coli leuC gene. Growth rates of the S. typhimurium-E coli hybrid strains indicated that the mutant isopropylmalate isomerase in these strains does not induce a leucine limitation, as it does in S. typhimurium leuD supQ mutants. In vitro activity of the mutant isopropylmalate isomerase was demonstrated; the Km values for alpha-isopropylmalate of both the S. typhimurium leuC-newD isomerase and the S. typhimurium-E. coli hybrid isomerase were as much as 100 times higher than the Km values for alpha-isopropylmalate of the wild-type enzyme, which was 3 x 10(-4) M. Mutagenesis of E. coli leuD deletion strains failed to restore leucine prototrophy, indicating that E. coli does not have genes analogous to the S. typhimurium supQ newD genes, of that, if present, activation of a newD is a rare event or is lethal to the cell.

Escherichia coli↗

Bacteriophage P22-mediated specialized transduction in Salmonella typhimurium: high frequency of aberrant prophage excision.

The temperate bacteriophage P22 mediates both generalized and specialized transduction in Salmonella typhimurium. Specialized transduction by phage P22 is different from, and less restricted than, the well characterized specialized transduction by phage lambda, due to differences in the phage DNA packaging mechanisms. Based on the properties of the DNA packaging mechanism of phage P22 a model for the generation of various types of specialized transducing particles is presented that suggests generation of substantial numbers of specialized transducing genomes which are heterogeneous but only some of which have terminally redundant ends. The primary attachment site, ataA, for phage P22 in S. typhimurium is located between the genes proA,B and supQ newD. (The newD gene is a substitute gene for the leuD gene, restoring leucine prototrophy of leuD mutant strains.) The proA,B and supQ newD genes are very closely linked and thus cotransducible by generalized transducing particles. Specialized transducing particles can carry either proA,B or supQ newD but not both simultaneously, and thus cannot give rise to cotransduction of the proA,B and supQ newD genes. This difference is used to calculate the frequency of generalized and specialized transducing particles from the observed cotransduction frequency in phage lysates. By this method, very high frequencies of supQ newD (10(-2)/PFU)- and proA,B (10(-3)/PFU)-specialized transducing particles were detected in lysates produced by induction of lysogenic strains. These transducing particles most of which would have been produced by independent aberrant excision events (which include in situ packaging), were of various types.

DNA, Viral↗

Bacteriophage P22-mediated specialized transduction in Salmonella typhimurium: identification of different types of specialized transducing particles.

The temperate bacteriophage P22 mediates both generalized and specialized transduction in Salmonella typhimurium. Specialized transduction by phage P22 is different from, and less restricted than, the well characterized specialized transduction by phage lambda, due to differences in the phage DNA packaging mechanism. Phage lysates produced by induction of lysogenic strains contain very high frequencies of supQ newD- and proA,B-specialized transducing particles (10(-2)/PFU and 10(-3)/PFU, respectively), most of which are produced by independent aberrant excision events of various types. In a model, 12 different modes of transduction mechanisms were characterized by: (i) the structure of the specialized transducing genomes after injection into a new host cell, i.e., linear or circular, and (ii) the requirements for the transduction process, i.e., host recombination functions, phage integration functions, or presence of a prophage. By using different recipient strains and phage helper strains, it was possible to show that most specialized transducing particles (ca. 99%) contain linear genomes that cannot circularize upon injection into a new host cell and that require the presence of an integrated prophage as a site for a recombinational event to give rise to a transductant. Only 0.1% of all specialized transducing particles were shown to transduce by integration, suggesting that transducing genomes containing terminally redundant ends represent only a minor fraction of all transducing particles that are produced. However, it should be pointed out that the frequency (approximately 10(-5)/PFU) of these specialized transducing genomes that can circularize upon injection into a new host cell is as high as or even higher than the frequency of specialized transducing particles of phage lambda. The remaining approximately 1% of all specialized transducing particles can transduce by any one of the other mechanisms described.

Adsorption↗

Influence of the time in culture on cellular and neuronal properties of neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cells. With an appendix, mathematical description of the kinetics of the loss in cell volume.

The stability of a clonal mouse neuroblastoma x rat glioma hybrid cell line was examined. Cell volume and cellular content of DNA and protein were measured as functions of the passage number. They decreased with the number of serial subcultivations. Cellular volume was linearly related to cellular DNA and protein. Thus, measurements of cell volume can be used to monitor the loss of DNA from hybrid cells. After about 60 passages a stable population of hybrid cells arose, as judged by the constancy of cellular volume and by the decreased coefficient of variation of the cell volume distribution. A mathematical model for the kinetics of the simultaneous loss of cellular volume, DNA and protein is introduced. Several neuronal properties were investigated. The specific activity of the neurotransmitter enzyme choline acetyltransferase decreased by more than 50% during 56 passages. After 70 subcultivations, the hybrid cells were still capable of extending processes, action potentials could still be elicited electrically or by iontophoretic application of acetylcholine, and the cells still responded to prostaglandin E1 as they do at low passage number.

Action Potentials↗

Gene order and co-transduction in the leu-ara-fol-pyrA region of the Salmonella typhimurium linkage map.

The gene order and orientation in the leu-pyrA region of the Salmonella typhimurium linkage map was established by phage P22-mediated transductions. The gene order, in counterclockwise orientation, is leuO-leuA-leuB-leuC-leuD-ara-fol-pyrA. The fol locus is co-transducible with either the ara and leu loci or the pyrA locus, whereas no co-transduction for the ara and pyrA loci can be found.

Arabinose↗

Evolution of a new gene substituting for the leuD gene of Salmonella typhimurium: characterization of supQ mutations.

Alpha-isopropylmalate isomerase, the second specific enzyme in the biosynthesis of leucine, is coded for by two genes, leuC and leuD. Leucine auxotrophs, harboring leuD mutations including a deletion of the entire leuD gene, revert to leucine prototrophy owing to mutations at a locus, supQ, substantially distant to the leucine operon. A large number of independently isolated supQ mutations were characterized. A significant increase in the spontaneous frequency of supQ mutations was found after mutagenesis with 2-aminopurine, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, diethyl sulfate, and nitrous acid. The supQ function in most of these strains is temperature sensitive, resulting in more efficient suppression with decreasing temperature. At higher temperatures, the supQ limits the growth rate of leuD supQ mutant strains. All supQ mutations are co-transducible with proA and proB, with co-transduction frequencies ranging from 5.4 to 99.9% for different supQ mutations. Many supQ mutations were isolated, especially after nitrous acid mutagenesis, that had acquired a simultaneous proline requirement. The data support the idea of two genes, supQ and newD, whose protein products form a complex. The newD gene product, without any genetic alteration, is capable of substituting for the missing leuD protein. However, mutations in the supQ gene (point mutations or deletions) are necessary to make the newD protein available, which is normally tied up in a complex with the supQ protein.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Evolution of a new gene substituting for the leuD gene of Salmonella typhimurium: origin and nature of supQ and newD mutations.

The second specific enzyme in the biosynthesis of leucine, alpha-isopropylmalate isomerase, is coded for by two genes, leuC and leuD. Leucine auxotrophs carrying mutations in the leuD gene (including deletions of the entire leuD gene) revert to leucine prototrophy by secondary mutations at the locus supQ, which is located in the proline region of the chromosome. The mechanism of the supQ function is explained by the following model. The supQ gene and an additional gene, newD, code for two different subunits of a multimeric enzyme, whose normal function is yet to be determined. The newD gene protein is able, without genetic alterations, to form an active complex with the leuC protein, thus replacing the nonfunctional or missing leuD protein and restoring leucine prototrophy. The newD protein has, however, a higher affinity for the supQ protein than for the leuC protein; therefore, mutations in the supQ gene are needed to make sufficient amounts of the newD protein available. The following gene order has been established: gpt-proB-proA-ataA-supQ-newD. Different supQ mutations have been identified, i.e., insertion in the supQ gene, point mutations, and deletions of various extent. Some deletions remove the P22 phage attachment site ataA. Other supQ deletions are simultaneously Pro(-), because they extend into the proA or proA and proB genes; some extend even further, i.e., into the gpt gene (guanine phosphoribosyl transferase). Mutations in the newD gene caused renewed leucine auxotrophy in leuD supQ mutant strains. One newD mutation causes a temperature-sensitive Leu(+) phenotype. Alternate models for the supQ-newD interactions are discussed.

Adenine↗

CT and MRI findings of multifocal hepatic steatosis mimicking malignancy.

We present two rare cases of multifocal hepatic steatosis as a variant of fatty liver. Multifocal hepatic steatosis can cause misleading findings in the differential diagnosis when using ultrasound and computed tomography. This case report describes the atypical findings of focal fatty liver infiltrations, which were misdiagnosed as diffuse metastatic disease. The correct diagnosis was established with magnetic resonance imaging using T1-weighted gradient-echo and T2-weighted Turbo spin-echo sequences with spectral fat suppression. Multifocal hepatic steatosis was proven by biopsy.

Aged↗

Idiopathic ileoileal intussusception in an adult with spontaneous reduction during enteroclysis: a case report.

We report a rare case of recurring idiopathic ileoileal intussusception in an adult. Diagnosis was established with abdominal computed tomography (CT) and enteroclysis, which led to a spontaneous reduction of the invagination. After a short period of physical improvement, a follow-up CT showed a recurrence. Surgery proved the diagnosis, but no predisposing factor was found.

Adult↗