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Biomedical subjects

M Beer

Publications and source records attributed to M Beer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Effective NSAID treatment indicates that hyperprostaglandinism is affecting the clinical severity of childhood hypophosphatasia.

BACKGROUND: Hypophosphatasia (HP) is an inborn error of bone metabolism characterized by a genetic defect in the gene encoding the tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP). There is a lack of knowledge as to how the variability and clinical severity of the HP phenotype (especially pain and walking impairment) are related to metabolic disturbances or impairments, subsequent to the molecular defect. METHODS: We analyzed the changes in clinical symptoms and the prostaglandin (PG) metabolism in response to treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in six children affected by childhood HP. In addition, by exposing HP fibroblasts to pyridoxal phosphate and/or calcium pyrophosphate in vitro, we analyzed whether the alterations in PG levels are sequelae related to the metabolic defect. RESULTS: Childhood HP patients, who often complain about pain in the lower limbs without evident fractures, have systemic hyperprostaglandinism. Symptomatic anti-inflammatory treatment with NSAIDs significantly improved pain-associated physical impairment. Calcium pyrophosphate, but not pyridoxal phosphate, induced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene expression and PG production in HP and normal fibroblasts in vitro. CONCLUSION: Clinical features of childhood HP related to pain in the lower legs may be, at least in part, sequelae related to elevated PG levels, secondary to the primary metabolic defect. Consequently, NSAID treatment does improve the clinical features of childhood HP.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

A universal heterologous internal control system for duplex real-time RT-PCR assays used in a detection system for pestiviruses.

A heterologous in vitro transcript based on a specific primer-probe HEX system was generated as a universal internal control (IC) to improve virus-specific real-time reverse-transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) assays. By using a set of different primers, several PCR fragments of desired sizes of an in vitro transcript of the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene were generated, and the fragments were detected using a HEX-labelled probe. For long-term storage of the in vitro transcript a special RNA-safe buffer (RSB) was developed. Freezing and thawing of the IC diluted in RSB did not result in any substantial loss of detectable IC copy numbers. The new IC system was used for the first time in a duplex real-time RT-PCR assay for the detection of pestivirus-derived RNA, in particular from bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). Primers and TaqMan probes for the 'panpesti' assay were selected by analysing the consensus sequence of the 5' non-translated region (5' NTR) of more than 600 different pestiviruses. Finally, the optimised primer probe combination showed an analytical sensitivity of less than 10 copies/reaction. In the duplex set-up, the analytical sensitivity of the validated real-time RT-PCR was identical to the sensitivity of the single assay without IC, and the diagnostic sensitivity of the duplex assay was equal or higher if compared to virus isolation.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Which are the polyphosphate accumulating organisms in full-scale activated sludge enhanced biological phosphate removal systems in Australia?

AIMS: To see if the compositions of the microbial communities in full scale enhanced biological phosphorus removal activated sludge systems were the same as those from laboratory scale sequencing batch reactors fed a synthetic sewage. METHODS: Biomass samples taken from nine full scale enhanced biological phosphate removal (EBPR) activated sludge plants in the eastern states of Australia were analysed for their populations of polyphosphate (polyP)-accumulating organisms (PAO) using semi-quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in combination with DAPI (4'-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) staining for polyP. RESULTS: Very few betaproteobacterial Rhodocyclus related organisms could be detected by FISH in most of the plants examined, and even where present, not all these cells even within a single cluster, stained positively for polyP with DAPI. In some plants in samples from aerobic reactors the Actinobacteria dominated populations containing polyP. CONCLUSIONS: The PAO populations in full-scale EBPR systems often differ to those seen in laboratory scale reactors fed artificial sewage, and Rhodocyclus related organisms, dominating these latter communities may not be as important in full-scale systems. Instead Actinobacteria may be the major PAO. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: These findings illustrate how little is still known about the microbial ecology of EBPR processes and that more emphasis should now be placed on analysis of full-scale plants if microbiological methods are to be applied to monitoring their performances.

Actinobacteria↗
PubMed2006

Diagnostic evaluation of a real-time RT-PCR assay for routine diagnosis of classical swine fever in wild boar.

The aim of the study was to evaluate a real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay for routine diagnosis of classical swine fever (CSF) in wild boar by using 1000 spleen homogenates that were tested previously negative by virus isolation and 26 homogenates from which CSF virus could be isolated. All 26 positive samples in the virus isolation assay also were found to be positive in real-time RT-PCR. Additionally further 10 samples were detected by real-time RT-PCR out of the 1000 negative samples in the virus isolation. With a commercial CSF antigen-ELISA only 14 out of the 36 real-time RT-PCR positive samples could be detected. The sequence analysis of all ten samples that tested positive by real-time RT-PCR and negative by virus isolation revealed CSF virus-specific sequences. Based on the assumption that all samples with a CSF virus-specific sequence or positive in the virus isolation test originated from truly CSF virus-infected wild boar, the following sensitivity values were calculated as antigen-ELISA, 39%; virus isolation, 72% and real-time RT-PCR, 100%. The use of real-time RT-PCR instead of antigen-ELISA and virus isolation as a routine tool for control and eradication of CSF in wild boar populations is recommended.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

The in situ physiology of "Nostocoida limicola" II, a filamentous bacterial morphotype in bulking activated sludge, using fluorescence in situ hybridization and microautoradiography.

The in situ physiology of the actinobacterial bulking and foaming filamentous bacterium "Nostocoida limicola" II was studied by fluorescence in situ hybridization/microautoradiography. Substrate assimilation patterns of pure cultures of this bacterium were different to those seen in activated sludge biomass samples. There was no evidence to suggest that "N. limicola" II preferred hydrophobic substrates, but evidence was produced to support the view that it is metabolically active under anaerobic conditions in activated sludge.

Actinobacteria↗
PubMed2006

Gene cassette-associated sequences from phosphorus and non-phosphorus removing microbial communities in aerobic:anaerobic sequencing batch reactors.

Mobile gene elements associated with integrons, including as gene cassettes, have been proposed to play an important role in bacterial evolution by providing an extensive genetic resource. This study hypothesized that critical genes for enzymes involved in EBPR systems, including those involved in polyphosphate, PHA and glycogen synthesis, may be present in mobile gene cassettes. Although no such genes were identified in any of the functional and deteriorated enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) laboratory-scale SBR systems examined here, many of the open reading frames (ORFs) remained unidentified because of the incompleteness of publicly available databases. An ORF of unknown function (SBR6-2) was encountered in deteriorated EBPR system with an unexpectedly high frequency, comprising 35% of the gene cassette-associated sequences for that system.

Aerobiosis↗
PubMed2006

A versatile flow cytometry-based immunofluorescence inhibition assay for the detection of bovine viral diarrhea virus-specific antibodies.

A fast, sensitive and reliable flow cytometry-based (FACS = fluorescence activated cell sorting) immunofluorescence inhibition assay (FACS-IFI) for the detection of virus-specific antibodies in sera is described. The method was evaluated using sera from cattle experimentally infected with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). Virus-infected cells, which were fixed and permeabilized, were incubated with diluted sera from immunized or control animals. Monoclonal antibodies (mabs) against different viral proteins were added, and detected with ALEXA488-conjugated goat-antimouse antibodies. The fluorescence signals were detected by flow cytometry and determined as mean channel values. Results were expressed as percent fluorescence inhibition compared to standardized negative sera. The FACS-IFI test with sera from experimentally infected animals was highly sensitive and specific. Comparison of the FACS-IFI results with a commercially available blocking ELISA, an indirect ELISA and the standard serum neutralization test showed a strong correlation. Furthermore, the detection of protein-specific antibodies was possible using the FACS-IFI test.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Case report: the significance of genotyping for the epidemiological tracing of classical swine fever (CSF).

In Germany, eleven outbreaks of CSF in domestic pig holdings were reported in 2002. They occurred exclusively in regions where CSF virus circulated in the wild boar population. In ten cases the phylogenetic analysis revealed that the isolates from domestic pigs and wild boar had identical sequences in the 5' non-translated region (5'NTR). However, in one case a subtype was isolated which was slightly different from the virus subtype found in the wild boar population of that region. This case is decribed in detail. The epidemiological significance of different diagnostic methods is discussed, in particular the genetic typing of CSF virus isolates.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Validation of a real-time RT-PCR assay for sensitive and specific detection of classical swine fever.

A fully validated, ready-to-use, real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay, multiplexed for simultaneous detection of an internal control, for the simple and rapid diagnosis of classical swine fever (CSF) was developed. Primers and FAM-labeled TaqMan-probes specific for classical swine fever virus (CSFV) were selected from the consensus sequence of the 5' non-translated region (5' NTR) of 78 different CSFV strains. For determining analytical sensitivity, an in vitro transcript (T7-PC3alf) of the 5' NTR was constructed and tested. In addition, the T7-PC3alf transcript was further used as a positive control and a standard for quantitation of CSFV genome copies. A second heterologous in vitro transcript based on a specific primer-probe HEX-system was designed as an internal positive control for the RNA isolation step and RT-PCR. By using limited primer concentrations for the internal control, no adverse effects on the sensitivity of the CSF-system could be observed, and the newly designed duplex real-time RT-PCR proved to have a sensitivity of approximately eight copies. The primer-probe combination selected was strictly CSFV-specific and no amplification was observed in all non-CSFV pestiviruses tested.

5' Untranslated Regions↗
PubMed2005

Surgical techniques for vault prolapse: a review of the literature.

We searched MEDLINE for articles indexed between 1972 and 2002 and dealing on operative techniques for vault prolapse. We found 149 articles describing, variously, abdominal sacrocolpopexy with mesh (2008 patients), other transabdominal methods (387 patients), sacrospinous ligament fixation (2390 patients), other transvaginal repairs (1556 patients), laparoscopic procedures (128 patients), intravaginal sling (168 patients) and vaginal obliteration techniques (157 patients). For each of these procedures there is a short presentation of the operative technique and a summary of all published data on concomitant surgery, complications and follow-up results relating to anatomical and functional outcome. Two procedures are more frequently used than the others: abdominal sacrocolpopexy and transvaginal sacrospinous ligament fixation. We were unable to detect any differences in the complication and/or cure rates, but did find a slightly better long-term anatomical outcome after the abdominal technique. Since no standardized outcome measure is available it is difficult to compare the functional results. Only in more recent studies have subjective cure rates (patient satisfaction with the outcome) also been evaluated as well as the objective cure rates determined by the investigators, and the objective and subjective rates are not necessarily the same. The subjective cure rate is probably more strongly influenced by the functional outcome in terms of micturition, defaecation and sexual activity than by the anatomical result.

Defecation↗
PubMed2005

Fish rhabdoviruses: molecular epidemiology and evolution.

Rhabdoviruses may cause serious diseases in wild and farmed fish. Within the Rhabdoviridae six genera have been established: Ephemerovirus, Cytorhabdovirus, Nucleorhabdovirus, Lyssavirus, Vesiculovirus, and Novirhabdovirus. Viruses that infect fish are official or tentative members of the genera Vesiculovirus and Novirhabdovirus, or are listed as unassigned rhabdoviruses. In this report, we summarize and discuss published and our own unpublished data on the molecular epidemiology and phylogeography of fish rhabdoviruses including intrapopulational differences and subgrouping of fish rhabdoviruses, in particular the species spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV), infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) and viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV).

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Caseinoglycomacropeptide inhibits adhesion of pathogenic Escherichia coli strains to human cells in culture.

Caseinoglycomacropeptide (CGMP) derived from kappa-casein was investigated for its ability to inhibit the adhesion of 3 strains of verotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) and 3 strains of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) to human HT29 tissue cell cultures. Effects on adhesion of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans, Lactobacillus pentosus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Lactobacillus gasseri were also investigated. Generally, CGMP exerted effective anti-adhesive properties at a dose of 2.5 mg/mL, albeit with a high degree of strain specificity. The CGMP reduced adhesion of VTEC strains to <50% of the control and reduced adhesion of EPEC strains to between 80 and 10% of the control. The CGMP also reduced the adhesion of L. pentosus and L. casei to 44 and 42%, respectively. A slight but significant reduction of L. acidophilus, to 81%, was observed, but no significant effects were detected with either Dsv. desulfuricans or L. gasseri. Further investigation of the dose response relationships with the E. coli strains gave IC50 values ranging between 0.12 and 1.06 mg/mL.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2004

Auto-SENSE view-sharing cine cardiac imaging.

Cardiac MR cine imaging during breath hold is a compromise between spatial and temporal resolution and duration of breath hold. Especially for sick patients who have problems holding their breath, a short acquisition time is mandatory for all sequences. A combination of Auto-SENSE parallel imaging and view-sharing was implemented for fast cine imaging of the human heart and applied to healthy volunteers. Compared to conventional Fourier imaging, data acquisition could be accelerated by a factor of 3.6. Neither a pre-scan nor additional lines in k-space are required to generate the sensitivity maps in Auto-SENSE.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2004

Failure of recombinant human growth hormone treatment to improve congestive heart failure in hypopituitarism.

Growth hormone (GH) deficiency decreases left ventricular (LV) contractility, induces LV chamber dilatation and promotes progression to congestive heart failure. It is, however, controversial, whether GH replacement therapy in addition to standard medical heart failure therapy should be considered as routine treatment in GH deficient patients with heart failure. In the present report of a 64-year-old GH deficient patient with heart failure, we demonstrate by using Doppler echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging and 31P NMR spectroscopy that even a 12 month period of GH replacement therapy had no sustained effect on morphometric or functional parameters of LV performance nor on clinical signs or symptoms of heart failure. It is concluded that GH replacement therapy should currently not be regarded as standard heart failure therapy in patients with GH deficiency and should only be employed under careful monitoring including close follow-up in a standardized way.

Echocardiography, Doppler↗
PubMed2003

[Advances in pediatric sonography].

Advances in the field of ultrasound technology and ultrasound contrast media over the past few years have also brought major improvements to pediatric sonography. Accordingly, contrast-enhanced voiding urosonography has become a valuable alternative in the diagnosis of vesicoureteral reflux. It is possible to achieve significant reduction in radiation exposure replacing the conventional radiologic methods used for reflux diagnosis with contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Through the introduction of harmonic imaging, an ultrasound scanning modality with high spatial and contrast resolution has become available. The modality was initially propagated as one to be applied in difficult-to-scan adults. However, initial experiences in pediatric applications are demonstrating the significant improvement it can bring in the ultrasound image quality, for example, in intestinal ultrasound. A further development is three-dimensional [3D] imaging using ultrasound. 3D-ultrasound not only offers an improvement in diagnosis but also in the acceptance of ultrasound in interdisciplinary work and teaching. The first applications of 3D-ultrasound in pediatrics are focusing on brain ultrasound and volume measurement of the kidneys.

Child↗
PubMed2003

[Primary diagnosis of coronary artery disease by MRI and CT].

Invasive coronary angiography is the gold standard for the primary diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD). At most, only every other examination leads to revascularization therapy. The other coronary angiographies could be replaced by non-invasive examinations. Diagnosing CAD by cardiac MRI and CT can utilize three different strategies: detection of coronary calcifications; imaging of coronary artery stenoses; and detection of restricted myocardial perfusion reserve. Applications are coronary calcification scoring by CT, coronary angiography by MRI or CT, stress cine MRI, and stress perfusion MRI. All these methods are currently used clinically because of their high negative predictive value, i.e., a normal result mostly rules out a hemodynamically significant CAD. For a reasonable implication in clinical practice, however, the pre-test probability must be considered to avoid needless examinations. High pre-test probability invariably demands invasive coronary angiography for planning or performing revascularization therapy. Intermediate pre-test probability, on the contrary, justifies to defer further imaging studies if MRI or CT is normal. Thus, adequate selection of patients for cardiac MRI and CT may reduce the number of invasive coronary angiographies in the future.

Adult↗