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Biomedical subjects

K Brandt

Publications and source records attributed to K Brandt.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Fusacandins A and B; novel antifungal antibiotics of the papulacandin class from Fusarium sambucinum. I. Identity of the producing organism, fermentation and biological activity.

The fuscandins, antifungal agents of the papulacandin class, are produced by a strain of Fusarium sambucinum. Fermentation yielded 60 mg/liter of fusacandin A and minor amounts of fusacandin B. As expected, the fusacandins inhibit (1,3)-beta-glucan synthesis. Fusacandin A is slightly less active than papulacandin B against Candida albicans and, like papulacandin, loses activity in the presence of serum.

Aminoglycosides↗
PubMed1995

Potential of autologous immunologic effector cells for bone marrow purging in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.

Relapse is a major concern in autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Therefore, purging of bone marrow to reduce the amount of tumor cells reinfused into the patient is widely used. Immunologic effector cells such as lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells are attractive for purging of bone marrow since these cells might have an additional in vivo effect on tumor cells in contrast to other purging protocols. In patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), LAK cells can only be used in some patients for purging bone marrow since LAK cells possess no or only limited cytolytic activity against autologous CML tumor cells in most cases. In this study, we investigated the effect of autologous and allogeneic cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells on tumor cells from patients with CML. CIK cells have been generated from peripheral blood lymphocytes by incubation with interferon-gamma on day 0, interleukin-1, interleukin-2 and a monoclonal antibody against CD3 on day 1. In contrast to LAK cells, CIK cells were able to lyse both autologous and allogeneic cells from patients with CML as determined by a 51Cr release and a tumor colony assay. The cytotoxicity of CIK cells against CML cells was confined to the CD56+ population. CIK cells showed no major toxic effect on hematopoietic progenitor cells when tested in CFU-GM assays. CIK cells eliminated three orders of magnitude of K562 cells and less than one order of magnitude of progenitor cells (25% reduction). This represents a differential effect of CIK cells on tumor and progenitor cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1995

[Leukoencephalomalacia in two horses--moldy corn poisoning in Germany?].

Moldy corn poisoning is a mycotoxicosis of Fusarium sp. causing a disease termed equine leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM). This article reviews the literature on ELEM and describes two cases with clinical signs and morphological findings comparable with fusariotoxicosis. Since in both cases neither a fungus nor a toxin proof were performed, the different causes of leukoencephalomalacia in horses are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Nerve crush injuries--a model for axonotmesis.

Nerve crush is a commonly used experimental model in the rat; however, a standard method of inducing this injury has not been defined. This study examined six crush techniques that are frequently used and characterized the subsequent nerve injury. Five types of nerve crush using a No. 5 jeweler's forceps and a sixth using a 30-s single crush with a serrated hemostat were studied in the posterior tibial nerve of the Lewis rat. Regeneration was evaluated using serial walking track assessments at 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks postoperatively. Nerve conduction studies and histological examination were performed at 2 days, 2 weeks, and 8 weeks. Blood-nerve barrier breakdown was observed at 2 days and recovered by 2 weeks. By 4 weeks normal walking track patterns were obtained in all groups. A pattern of Wallerian degeneration and axonal regeneration was noted at 2 weeks, with histological recovery in all groups by 8 weeks. Nerve crush, induced by any of the six methods tested, was similar and provides a reliable model of axonotmesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

The use of a confirmatory assay to increase the sensitivity and specificity of the Chlamydiazyme test.

The blocking assay was used to reexamine 15,662 patient specimens (2,565 male specimens, 13,097 female specimens) that were submitted for Chlamydia detection using the Chlamydiazyme EIA assay (Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, IL). Specimens that gave optical density (OD) readings between 1.99 to cutoff and between cutoff to 3 times the negative control in the Chlamydiazyme EIA assay were analyzed further by the blocking assay during the phase 1 study. In the phase 2 study, another 1,120 specimens (473 male specimens and 647 female specimens) that had the above mentioned OD range in the Chlamydiazyme assay were tested with the blocking assay and the direct fluorescent antibody test using the cytospin method. Significant finding from phase 1 study demonstrated that 42.3% of the male specimens with optical density between cutoff to three times the negative control can be blocked by blocking assay (confirmed positive), whereas only 50% of the female specimens with OD range between cutoff to .5 were blocked by the blocking assay. In the phase 2 study, similar results were obtained with the blocking assay. The direct fluorescent antibody test showed excellent correlation with the blocking assay. These data showed that both blocking or direct fluorescent antibody tests can be used for confirmation purposes to increase the sensitivity and specificity of the assay. However, for specimens with OD values below the cutoff to 3 times the negative control, it was necessary to reassess the specimens by either of the methods. This was true especially with the male specimens.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1994

Characterization of (1,3)-beta-glucan synthase in Candida albicans: microsomal assay from the yeast or mycelial morphological forms and a permeabilized whole-cell assay.

A systematic evaluation of the in vitro (1,3)-beta-glucan synthase assay parameters was performed using microsomes prepared from Candida albicans from either yeast or mycelial phase cells. Enzyme activities of both yeast and mycelial phase microsomes depended on the presence of guanosine-5'-O-(3-thiophosphate) and either bovine serum albumin or a detergent [W-1 (polyoxyethylene ether detergent) or Brij-35 (polyoxyethylene ether, 23 lauryl ether)]. Brij-35 was included in standard assays as it was compatible with the permeabilized whole-cell assay. Microsomes derived from both the yeast and mycelial phases generally yielded similar glucan synthase activities under a range of different assay conditions. Brij-35 significantly stabilized the enzyme, yielding a half-life of 5.6 d at 4 degrees C, compared with 0.9 d without detergent. The addition of detergent during mechanical breakage of yeast cells dramatically improved glucan synthase stability and activity. Enzyme catalysis was linear for at least 75 min with 100 micrograms protein from microsomes of yeast cells grown to mid-exponential phase, with an apparent Km for UDP-glucose of 1.1 mM. The pH and temperature optima were 7.75 and 30 degrees C, respectively. Glucan synthase activity was highest in cells derived from early mid-exponential phase and declined to a basal level by stationary phase. A permeabilization-based in situ assay for glucan synthase was developed. Cells were permeabilized with 2% (v/v) solution of toluene/methanol (1:1) and assayed for glucan synthase activity using standard reaction mixtures. Reactions were linear for 30 min and were inhibited by known inhibitors of glucan synthesis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aminoglycosides↗
PubMed1994

A 1-year evaluation of Syva MicroTrak Chlamydia enzyme immunoassay with selective confirmation by direct fluorescent-antibody assay in a high-volume laboratory.

TThe Syva MicroTrak Chlamydia enzyme immunoassay (EIA; Syva Company, San Jose, Calif.) with cytospin and direct fluorescent-antibody assay (DFA) confirmation was evaluated on 43,630 urogenital specimens over a 1-year period in the Provincial Laboratory in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. This was a two-phase study intended to define a testing algorithm for Chlamydia trachomatis that would be both highly accurate and cost-effective in our high-volume (> 3,000 tests per month) laboratory. The prevalence of C. trachomatis infection in our population is moderate (8 to 9%). In phase 1, we tested 6,022 male and female urogenital specimens by EIA. All specimens with optical densities above the cutoff value and those within 30% below the cutoff value were retested by DFA. This was 648 specimens (10.8% of the total). A total of 100% (211 of 211) of the specimens with optical densities equal to or greater than 1.00 absorbance unit (AU) above the cutoff value, 98.2% (175 of 178) of the specimens with optical densities of between 0.500 and 0.999 AU above the cutoff value, and 83% (167 of 201) of the specimens with optical densities within 0.499 AU above the cutoff value were confirmed to be positive. A total of 12% (7 of 58) of the specimens with optical densities within 30% below the cutoff value were positive by DFA. In phase 2, we tested 37,608 specimens (32,495 from females; 5,113 from males) by EIA. Only those specimens with optical densities of between 0.499 AU above and 30% below the cutoff value required confirmation on the basis of data from phase 1 of the study. This was 4.5% of all specimens tested. This decrease in the proportion of specimens requiring confirmation provides a significant cost savings to the laboratory. The testing algorithm gives us a 1-day turnaround time to the final confirmed test results. The MicroTrak EIA performed very well in both phases of the study, with a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 96.1, 99.1, 90.3, and 99.7%, respectively, in phase 2. We suggest that for laboratories that use EIA for Chlamydia testing, a study such as this one will identify an appropriate optical density range for confirmatory testing for samples from that particular population.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1994

Guidelines for testing slow acting drugs in osteoarthritis.

New compounds appear to improve symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA), and others are putative chondroprotective agents. We suggest experimental designs for studying the effects of these agents in subjects with hip and knee OA. The course of the articular cartilage lesion is the primary outcome measure to be assessed in putative chondroprotective agent trials. Serial radiographic studies suggest that the annual rate of joint space narrowing in patients with hip or knee OA is about 0.25 mm. Other approaches to quantitation of cartilage loss, e.g., radiographic measurement of the area of joint space, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging and fiberoptic arthroscopy (for knee OA) are under investigation.

Antirheumatic Agents↗
PubMed1994

Structural investigation of the new potent DNA alkylator spiro(2H-1,3,2-benzodiazaphosphole-2,2',lambda 5 [1,3,5,2,4,6] triazatriphosphorine),4',4',6',6'-tetrakis(1-aziridinyl)-1,3,4',4',6', 6',-hexahydro.

The molecular structure of spiro(2H-1,3,2-benzodiazaphosphole-2,2',lambda 5 [1,3,5,2,4,6] triazatriphosphorine), 4',4',6',6'-tetrakis(1-aziridinyl)-1,3,4',4',6',6'-hexahydro (CAS 133586-94-4), a recently synthesized potent cytostatic, was determined using X-ray diffraction method. The substance crystallizes in P2(1)2(1)2(1) orthorhombic space group. The unit cell contains 8 formal molecules coupled into 4 pseudo-centrosymmetric dimers by double intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The compound revealed, besides previously determined long-term chemical stability and good water solubility, also radiation stability. In spite of having less aziridinyl groups than 1,3,5,2,4,6-triazatriphosphorine,2,2,4,4,6,6-hexakis (1-aziridinyl)-2,2,4,4,6,6-hexahydro (N3P3Az3, Az = aziridinyl, CAS 52-46-0; Myko 63) the compound is twice more cytostatically active. Hypotheses attributing high cytostatic activity to the existence of conjugated pi-electron systems in the molecule and dimeric structures are discussed.

Alkylating Agents↗
PubMed1994

Distribution and predictors of depressive symptoms in osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms in a sample of elderly persons with osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Secondary analysis of cross sectional interview data from 108 community living persons age 50 or over who met American College of Rheumatology clinical criteria for OA of the hip and/or knee. RESULTS: The prevalence of substantial depressive symptomatology appeared to be no greater than would be expected in the general population for this age group. However, persons currently under a physician's care for OA were significantly more depressed than those not under care, and, with the exception of those who had post-high school education, depression was a better predictor of being under care than OA symptoms. The direct and interactive effects of 3 variables--education, age and self-perceived impact of the OA problem--were found to explain 40% of variance in depression scores in the total sample and 50% among those currently receiving care. Younger and less educated subjects had relatively more depressive symptoms and, furthermore, in this subgroup the correlation between OA impact and depression was high. CONCLUSIONS: The importance of assessing depression in persons who seek care for OA is supported. Furthermore, our results suggest that the observed relationship between education and arthritis outcomes could be mediated, at least in part, by depression.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1993

Thermal stability of low molecular weight urokinase during heat treatment. I. Effects of protein concentration, pH and ionic strength.

Exposure of low molecular weight urokinase (LMW-UK) to prolonged heating (60 degrees C, 10 hours) is used to inactivate possible viral contaminants. This process leads to a significant loss of active enzyme. Amidolytic activity was monitored following heat treatment in order to establish the conditions for maintaining the optimal stability of LMW-UK. The effects of pH, ionic strength, protein concentration, and various ionic additives were examined. While LMW-UK is stable across a wide pH range (pH 2-11), heating LMW-UK in aqueous solution leads to complete loss of activity except between pH 4 and 7.5. The mechanism of inactivation was delineated using activity assays as well as turbimetric and spectroscopic methods. Thermal inactivation occurs via aggregation of unfolded LMW-UK, followed by subsequent precipitation. Threshold effects upon the thermally-induced aggregation of LMW-UK were observed.

Hot Temperature↗
PubMed1993

Structure and biosynthesis of anthocyanins in flowers of Campanula.

Blue-flowering genotypes of Campanula were classified into four phenotypes on the basis of the anthocyanin composition of their flowers. The flowers contained one, two, three or four of the following anthocyanins: bisdeacylplatyconin (7-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-3-O-(6-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-beta-D- glucopyranosyl)delphinidin), violdelphin (7-O-(6-O-(4-O-(6-O-(4-hydroxybenzoyl)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-oxybenz oyl)-beta- D-glucopyranosyl)-3-O-(6-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ) delphinidin), an unknown anthocyanin and campanin (7-O-(6-O-(4-O-(6-O-(4-O-(6-O-p-hydroxybenzoyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl) oxybenzoyl)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)oxybenzoyl)-beta-D-glucopy ranosyl)-3-O-(6-O- (alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)delphinidin). The structure of the unknown anthocyanin has been determined as 7-O-(6-O-(4-O-(6-O-(4-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)oxybenzoyl)-beta-D- glucopyranosyl)oxybenzoyl)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-3-O-(6-O-(alpha- L- rhamnopyranosyl)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-delphinidin, i.e. monodeacylcampanin. The genetic evidence is consistent with a biosynthetic pathway in which bisdeacylplatyconin, violdelphin and monodeacylcampanin are intermediates in the biosynthesis of campanin.

Anthocyanins↗
PubMed1993

A technique for nerve reconstruction following resection of soft-tissue sarcoma.

Primary nerve grafting should be considered whenever tumor extirpation necessitates resection of an adjacent critical nerve. A technique of nerve grafting is presented which distinguishes motor from sensory fascicles, using intraoperative electrical stimulation. Stimulation of individual motor fascicles is performed proximal and distal to the lesion, and fascicles which produce the same muscle contraction are identified. Motor and silent sensory fascicles are tagged prior to tumor resection. This facilitates subsequent specific motor/sensory reconstruction of the defect, using intrafascicular grafting techniques.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Influence of a single parenteral application of a 10% fish oil emulsion on plasma fatty acid pattern and the function of thrombocytes in young adult men.

50 ml of a 10% fish oil emulsion (41% omega-3 fatty acids of total fatty acids) were infused for 1 h into the arm vein of young, healthy, male volunteers. The fatty acid composition of the plasma, aggregation of the blood platelets as well as the thromboxane synthesis, were measured before the beginning of infusion, 20, 60, 120, 360 and 1,440 min after the start of the fat infusion. In the first 60 min, the fatty acid composition of the plasma changed in correspondence with the supplied fatty acid pattern. At the end of the investigation it was again within the normal range. As a result of fat application thromboxane synthesis was reduced and the aggregation of the platelets was inhibited but it was normalized by the 1,440-min value. Fish oil emulsions might be beneficial for parenterally fed patients with a high risk of thrombosis. Therefore the performance of further investigations using a varying dosage and multiple application can be recommended.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Relationships between social background and medical care in osteoarthritis.

Arthritis is relatively more prevalent among those of low socioeconomic status and it is important that this group have access to good arthritis care. In our study looking at relationships between socioeconomic status and medical care, histories were obtained from a convenience sample of 110 community living elderly persons of varying social backgrounds who had symptomatic osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip and/or knee. Almost all subjects had seen a physician at some time for their OA, and low income and black subjects were twice as likely to be currently receiving OA care as others. However, in looking at instruction and monitoring in relation to therapeutic joint exercises as a qualitative aspect of medical care, subjects who had both above mean OA impairment and more than a high school education were found to have received much more comprehensive care than any other subgroup.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

[Results of a prognosis study of in vitro fertilization after brief psychotherapy].

During the last four years, our research has been focussed on prediction criteria for IVF after a Short Course of psychotherapy. Our study can be divided in two phases: In an earlier phase (up to 1990), prediction criteria were derived from "expert" rating, whereas in a later phase (from 1990 onwards) they were derived by self-rating of the patients. The predictions refer to changes in the patients' behaviour, affective state, mood and attitude (acronym: BAMA) towards their infertility. Our work is based on the hypothesis, that a perceivable change in BAMA and in how the patients relate to their wanting a child, represents the solution of the problem, which facilitates the consequential events of either pregnancy or acceptance of childlessness or else adoption. As a rule, the absence of such a change entails none of the consequential events. - We report on and discuss the results of the earlier, as well as the later phase and finally compare them as to how well they correlate with prediction and consequences. A marked correlation could be found between changes in BAMA and the occurrence of pregnancy or acceptance of childlessness in both phases of our study. Comparing the two phases (expert- vs. self-rating) on the accuracy of prediction, we could find almost identical results. Because of the easier and more economical application of self-rating we decided to continue with this method and to refine it for further research.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1992

[The beta-mimetic effects following the enoral injection of epinephrine with articaine].

A randomized, double-blind study was conducted to assess the influence of 1:200,000 or 1:100,000 epinephrine in a four percent articaine-HCl solution on the concentration-time profiles of epinephrine in the serum of patients during removal of an impacted lower wisdom tooth. In order to estimate the amount of endogenous epinephrine secretion during operation, volunteers were injected without subsequent operation. The heart rate (HR), the concentration of cAMP and norepinephrine were determined as indicators of beta-adrenoceptor stimulation and effective signal transduction. These parameters were correlated with the epinephrine serum concentration. HR measurements were done automatically using the Hewlett Packard monitor, cAMP and the catecholamins were determined immuno- and radioenzymatically. The results showed a dose-dependent absorption of epinephrine from the intraoral depot. The peak concentration and the velocity at which 50% of the epinephrine had been eliminated were affected by the operative manipulation that had induced an increase in endogenous epinephrine secretion. HR, cAMP and norepinephrine were linearly correlated with serum epinephrine.

Administration, Oral↗