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Biomedical subjects

K Herrmann

Publications and source records attributed to K Herrmann.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Lymphocytotoxic autoantibodies in progressive systemic sclerosis.

In 53 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) the lymphocytotoxic activity of their serum was measured in a microlymphocytotoxicity assay. In 21 of the 53 patients the test reacted distinctly positively in the heterologous system, and in 9 of these 21 also in the autologous system. After preparation of the immunoglobulins from these positive sera, whole cytotoxic activity was detected only in the IgM fraction but not in the IgG fraction. When using prepared T lymphocytes as target cells in the microlymphocytotoxicity test, the cytotoxic activity of the positive PSS sera showed itself to be directed against this lymphocyte population. Further analysis using the Western-blot technique showed that the IgM autoantibody in PSS sera reacted with the cell surface of CD4+ lymphocytes. The cross reactivity with extractable nuclear antigens was rather improbable. These results suggest that lymphocytotoxic autoantibodies may play a role in immunological disturbances in PSS.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Isolation-dependent enhancement of 2-[14C]deoxyglucose uptake in the forebrain of zebra finch males.

In a previous study (H. J. Bischof & K. Herrmann (1986), Behavioral Brain Research, 21, 215-221) we demonstrated that four forebrain areas of the zebra finch male are activated in situations which arouse the animal, for example when the birds are chased around the cage or when they are exposed to a female. These areas, the hyperstriatum accessorium-dorsale (HAD), a part of the medial neo-hyperstriatum (MNH), the lateral neo-hyperstriatum (LNH), and a portion of the caudal archi-neostriatum (ANC), show enhanced 2-[14C]deoxyglucose (2-DG) uptake according to the experimental situation. On the basis of these experiments, we examined whether the activation of the areas is correlated with motor activity and is influenced by different isolation times prior to a 2-DG experiment, where courtship of the male birds is elicited by exposing them to a female zebra finch. For this purpose, we isolated male zebra finches for 1 day, 1 week, or 8 weeks, respectively, before we injected the 2-DG and exposed the birds to a female. During the experiment, besides other activities, the number of song motifs performed by the bird and the frequency of changing perches was recorded. Our experiments demonstrate that there is a weak negative correlation between motor activity and 2-DG uptake, and a positive correlation between isolation time and 2-DG uptake. We suggest that long isolation blocks courtship behavior by some unknown mechanisms, and that the "internal drive" of the animal, which possibly corresponds with the activity of the four forebrain areas, is enhanced by isolation and by the fact that the birds do not perform the consummatory behavior. Our results also demonstrate that the 2-DG method can show up small differences in the internal state of an animal, which cannot easily be detected by behavioral measurements.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

[Fetofetal transfusion syndrome. A case report].

Report about a twin pregnancy with an urgent necessary caesarean section because of a silent curve in the antenatal cardiotocography. The diagnosis of the fetofetal transfusion syndrome was made postnatally. The anastomosis between the two vessel areas of the placenta with respect to the donator--and acceptor--placenta has been visualized by x-ray. Discussion of all clinical problems and of the prognosis of the donator twin.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

[Recurrent excessive dilatation of the efferent urinary tract in pregnancy. Case report].

Case report on a patient with an extensive dilatation of renal pelvis and ureter during the first and the following two pregnancies. Operative drainage was performed of renal pelvis on both sides in the 24th and 28th week of the first pregnancy. The second pregnancy ended with spontaneous abortion in the 27th week of pregnancy. Percutaneous punction nephrostomy with successful course of the third pregnancy. Drainage of renal pelvis by punction nephrostomy is indicated in case of co-existence between dilatation of renal pelvis and severe illness and destruction renal parenchyma and of septic pyelonephritis in pregnancy. This procedure should also be done in case of a solitary kidney and excessive dilatation of the renal pelvis. An operative approach is recommended in renal abscess.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

[Decreasing urologic complications by the centralized therapy of cervix cancer].

Report about the urologic complications seen in connection with 212 radical hysterectomies performed abdominally according to Wertheim-Held in the time between. 1.4. 1980-15. 12. 1986 in patients suffering from cervical cancer. There were 2 injuries of the urinary bladder while the operation procedure (= 0.9%), no injuries or late fistulas of the ureter. Dilatations of the upper urinary tract in patients treated only operatively were to be stated in 5%, half of them disappeared spontaneously. In case of operation plus postoperative x-ray treatment the rate of upper urinary tract dilatation was higher (= 15%). The centralization of treatment in the therapy of cervical cancer is an important tool for diminishing the rate of urologic complications.

Cancer Care Facilities↗
PubMed1988

[Possibilities of obstetric pelvic diagnosis].

The management of pelvic examination in the department of obstetrics and gynecology, county-hospital Suhl is pointed out. Discussion of all clinical and radiological facilities in the pelvic examination both in breech and in head presentation. The X-ray pelvimetry is recommended in case of suspicion of a contracted outlet of the pelvis and generally for planning the management in case of breech presentation after the exclusion of an indication for a primary caesarean section.

Breech Presentation↗
PubMed1987

Origin of the enhanced activity of lysosomal beta-galactosidase in serum and skin in progressive systemic sclerosis.

In 14 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) the activities of acid lysosomal glycosidases (alpha-, beta-galactosidase, beta-glucosidase, beta-glucuronidase, and beta-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase) were determined fluorometrically in serum, leukocytes, and skin tissue. The beta-galactosidase was the only enzyme which exhibited a significantly elevated activity in PSS serum and skin but not leukocytes, as compared to the control. The activity patterns of the studied glycosidases in serum were similar to those found in skin, but differ from the distribution of glycosidase activities in leukocytes. In cultured dermal fibroblasts derived from PSS patients, an elevated intracellular activity of beta-galactosidase was detected. These results suggest that the increased beta-galactosidase activity in the serum originates from the skin fibroblasts.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Monocular deprivation affects neuron size in the ectostriatum of the zebra finch brain.

The effects of different periods of monocular deprivation on cell sizes in the ectostriatum, the telencephalic relay of the tectofugal pathway in zebra finches, were evaluated. Following 20 days of monocular closure, neurons in the deprived and undeprived hemisphere show an unselective hypertrophy of 10%. Extending the deprivation period results in a shrinkage of neurons of the deprived side to values of adult normally reared birds, whereas the non-deprived neurons maintain their hypertrophied size.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Delayed development of song control nuclei in the zebra finch is related to behavioral development.

The postnatal development of two visual areas (nucleus rotundus and ectostriatum) and two song control areas (hyperstriatum ventrale pars caudale, HVc, and nucleus robustus archistriatalis, RA) of the zebra finch brain was followed from birth to adulthood. The following parameters were investigated: (1) neuron size, (2) volume of the brain nuclei, and (3) myelination of axons. The nucleus rotundus, the diencephalic station of the tectofugal pathway, exhibits the fastest development: rotundal neurons reach their maximum size at 20 days of age; the volume of this structure reaches adult size at the same time. The process of myelination begins between day 5 and day 10 and is completed at 40 days of age. A similar temporal sequence of development is seen in the ectostriatum, except myelination starts some days later. Thus the development of these visual areas is completed at 40 days. In contrast, the development of the song control nuclei is delayed. Neurons in RA and HVc grow steadily up to 40 days of age, attaining a size larger than that observed in adults. Whereas the volume of HVc increases until day 40 and remains stable thereafter, RA volume increases until day 70 and evidences a decrease thereafter. It is not until postnatal day 20 (RA) and day 40 (HVc) that the myelination process starts in the song control areas. Adult myelin density is achieved by 70 days in RA and by 100 days in HVc. It can be demonstrated that the development of the visual system parallels the development of visual performance of the birds. Delayed growth of song control nuclei coincides with development of song.

Aging↗
PubMed1986

Effects of monocular deprivation in the nucleus rotundus of zebra finches: a Nissl and deoxyglucose study.

We evaluated in zebra finches the effects of monocular deprivation on morphological and physiological features of the nucleus rotundus, the thalamic relay station of the tectofugal pathway. In a first series of experiments neuron size and total volume were estimated in animals deprived for 20, 40 and at least 100 days and compared to values obtained from normally reared birds. Monocular closure for more than 40 days causes a marked hypertrophy in cells receiving their main input from the open eye, whereas the deprived cells are normal in size. However, with only 20 days of monocular deprivation both deprived and non-deprived rotundal neurons are larger than normal. This indicates that monocular closure has a biphasic effect: firstly, an unselective hypertrophy of deprived and non-deprived neurons, and secondly, a subsequent period of shrinkage of the deprived cells to normal values, while cells driven by the open eye remain hypertrophied. The total volume of the deprived n. rotundus turns out to be smaller in all age groups. In a second series of experiments the activity of the n. rotundus of animals monocularly deprived from birth for 100 days was investigated with the 2-deoxyglucose-method (Sokoloff et al. 1977). With binocular stimulation the activity of the deprived n. rotundus was reduced by about 40%. Depriving adult animals for 100 days does not result in asymmetric labeling of the n. rotundus. We interpretate the 2-DG data as evidence for the existence of a sensitive period for the effects of monocular deprivation. The anatomical data suggest, however, that the effects of monocular deprivation in birds are different from those observed in mammals.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

[Organic acids of various kinds of vegetables. IV. Changes in the acids and sugar in tomatoes, sweet peppers and cucumbers during development and ripening].

Concentrations of organic acids and sugars in tomatoes and sweet peppers change notably during ripening. The concentration of malic acid decreases while that of citric acid increases considerably and in redripe fruits clearly exceeds the content of malic acid. Several maxima and minima in acid concentrations occur during development. Both species show constant proportions of citric and isocitric acid (200:1 and 30:1 respectively). In sweet pepper, quinic and ascorbic acid can be found in noticeably higher amounts than in tomatoes. Additionally, succinic acid was detected in tomatoes and fumaric and shikimic acid in sweet pepper. Glucose and fructose, in approximately equal amounts, are the main sugar components; their concentrations are increased during ripening, especially in sweet peppers. The leaves of tomatoes and sweet pepper contain more malic acid and less citric acid than redripe fruits, though here as well citric acid predominates. There is considerably less glucose and fructose present in the leaves of sweet pepper than in the fruits while sucrose is increased. Sucrose is the main sugar component in the leaves. Compared to tomatoes and sweet peppers, egg-plants contain more amounts. - Potatoes contain citric, malic, quinic, succinic, fumaric, and soluble oxalic acid (in order of decreasing amounts). - In cucumbers malic acid notably exceeds citric acid. Both acids hardly change in concentration during ripening. Sugar content decreases during ripening.

Acids↗
PubMed1986

Arousal enhances [14C]2-deoxyglucose uptake in four forebrain areas of the zebra finch.

The activity pattern of the forebrain of male zebra finches was investigated by the [14C]2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) method in 4 different behavioral situations. Sitting alone in the cage (control); courtship by experienced birds; first courtship of inexperienced birds (100 days of age), and chasing the birds around the cage. The primary sensory areas (ectostriatum, field L) were active above background in each experiment. Vocal-motor control areas were at background activity (RA, HVc, MAN), or below background (area X), all unaffected by the type of experiment. In contrast, 4 different areas were active in Expts. 3 and 4, but not in 1 and 2: part of the neostriatum intermedium; part of the lateral neostriatum, both with adjacent parts of the hyperstriatum ventrale, hyperstriatum accessorium and hyperstriatum dorsale, a portion of the caudal neo/archistriatum. It is concluded that the enhanced activity of these areas is not due to distinct external stimulation or enhanced motor activity, but correlates with high arousal levels of the animals.

Animals↗