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M Faust

Publications and source records attributed to M Faust.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

CT of jejunal diverticulitis: imaging findings, differential diagnosis, and clinical management.

AIM: To describe the imaging findings of jejunal diverticulitis as depicted at contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and review the differential diagnosis and clinical management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT and pathology databases were searched for the diagnosis of jejunal diverticulitis. Three cases were identified and the imaging and clinical findings correlated. RESULTS: Jejunal diverticulitis presents as a focal inflammatory mass involving the proximal small bowel. A trial of medical management with antibiotics may be attempted. Surgical resection may be required if medical management is unsuccessful. CONCLUSION: The imaging findings at MDCT may allow a specific diagnosis of jejunal diverticulitis to be considered and may affect the clinical management of the patient.

Abdomen, Acute↗
PubMed2006

The role of the right cerebral hemisphere in processing novel metaphoric expressions taken from poetry: a divided visual field study.

Previous research suggests that the right hemisphere (RH) may contribute uniquely to the processing of metaphoric language. However, most studies have focused on familiar metaphoric expressions. The present study used the divided visual field paradigm to examine the role of the right cerebral hemisphere in processing novel metaphoric expressions taken from poetry. In two experiments, participants were presented with four types of word pairs, literal, conventional metaphoric and novel metaphoric expressions and unrelated word pairs, and asked to perform a semantic judgment task. Two different SOAs: 400 and 1100 ms were used. The results of both experiments showed that responses to LVF/RH presented target words were more accurate and faster than responses to RVF/LH target words for novel metaphoric expressions, but not for other types of word pairs. These results support previous research indicating that during word recognition, the RH activates a broader range of related meanings than the LH, including novel, nonsalient meanings. The findings thus suggest that the RH may be critically involved in at least one important component of novel metaphor comprehension, i.e., the integration of the individual meanings of two seemingly unrelated concepts into a meaningful metaphoric expression.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Sequential processing deficits of reading disabled persons is independent of inter-stimulus interval.

Developmental dyslexia is a language-based learning disability with frequently associated non-linguistic sensory deficits that have been the basis of various perception-based theories. It remains an open question whether the underlying deficit in dyslexia is a low level impairment that causes speech and orthographic perception deficits that in turn impedes higher phonological and reading processes, or a high level impairment that affects both perceptual and reading related skills. We investigated by means of contrast detection thresholds two low-level theories of developmental dyslexia, the magnocellular and the fast temporal processing hypotheses, as well as a more recent suggestion that dyslexics have difficulties in sequential comparison tasks that can be attributed to a higher-order deficit. It was found that dyslexics had significantly higher thresholds only on a sequential, but not a spatial, detection task, and that this impairment was found to be independent of the inter-stimulus interval. We also found that the poor performance of dyslexics on the temporal task was dependent on the size of the required memory trace of the image rather than on the number of images. Our findings do not support the magnocellular theory and challenge the fast temporal deficit hypothesis. We suggest that dyslexics may have a higher order, dual mechanism impairment. We also discuss the clinical implications of our findings.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

[Hypopituitarism].

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Craniocerebral Trauma↗
PubMed2006

The K121Q polymorphism of the plasma cell glycoprotein-1 gene is not associated with diabetes mellitus type 2 in German Caucasians.

The K121Q polymorphism of the human plasma cell membrane glycoprotein 1 (PC-1) gene is known to be associated with diabetes mellitus type 2 in some populations studied, with contradictory results. The purpose of the present study was to examine a possible association between the presence of diabetes and the PC-1 K121Q polymorphism in a German Caucasian population. Associations between the polymorphism and various metabolic and anthropometric parameters were also examined. The presence of the K121Q variant was investigated using polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment-length polymorphism in 402 subjects with diabetes (231 men, 171 women, age 63+/-11 yrs, body mass index 28.7+/-5.1 kg/m2) and in 432 age- and sex-matched controls (247 men, 185 women, age 64+/-7 yrs, BMI 26.5+/-3.7 kg/m2). Ninety-seven subjects were carriers of the K121Q polymorphism in the control and 110 in the diabetic group (allelic frequency 11.9% and 14.7%, respectively, P=0.25). The polymorphism had no significant influence on the presence of atherosclerotic disease, body mass index, and blood pressure, both, in diabetics and in non-diabetic controls. Our data suggest that the K121Q polymorphism of the PC-1 gene is not associated with diabetes, obesity, hypertension or atherosclerosis in a German Caucasian population.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Association of the promoter polymorphism -232C/G of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene (PCK1) with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AIMS: The phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene (PCK1) is a potential candidate gene in the pathogenesis of Type 2 diabetes mellitus. A -232C/G promoter polymorphism of PCK1 has been associated with an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes in a Canadian population. The purpose of the present study was to examine this association in a German Caucasian population. METHODS: We investigated 397 subjects with Type 2 diabetes [227 men, 170 women, age 63 +/- 11 years, body mass index (BMI) 28.7 +/- 5.1 kg/m2] and 431 control subjects without diabetes (247 men, 184 women, age 64 +/- 7 years, BMI 26.5 +/- 3.7 kg/m2) matched for sex and age. RESULTS: In the diabetic and control groups, the CC genotype frequencies were 18.1 and 18.3%, the CG 48.6 and 48.7% and the GG 33.2 and 32.9%, respectively (P = 0.995). The allelic frequencies were 0.51 and 0.57 for the G allele and 0.49 and 0.43 for the C allele, respectively. In a logistic regression model only BMI and family history, but not the polymorphism, were predictors of Type 2 diabetes. In both the control and diabetic subjects, there were no significant differences in BMI or blood pressure between the groups with or without the polymorphism. The variant also had no significant influence on the presence of atherosclerotic disease, while the influence of other known cardiovascular risk factors was confirmed. CONCLUSIONS: The present data suggest that, in a German Caucasian population, the -232C/G polymorphism of the PEPCK gene is not associated with Type 2 diabetes.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

An fMRI investigation of the neural correlates underlying the processing of novel metaphoric expressions.

The neural networks associated with processing related pairs of words forming literal, novel, and conventional metaphorical expressions and unrelated pairs of words were studied in a group of 15 normal adults using fMRI. Subjects read the four types of linguistic expressions and decided which relation exists between the two words (metaphoric, literal, or unrelated). According to the Graded Salience Hypothesis (GSH, ), which predicts a selective RH involvement in the processing of novel, nonsalient meanings, it is primarily the degree of meaning salience of a linguistic expression rather than literality or nonliterality, which modulates the degree of left hemisphere (LH) and right hemisphere (RH) processing of metaphors. In the present study, novel metaphorical expressions represented the nonsalient interpretations, whereas conventional metaphors and literal expressions represented the salient interpretations. A direct comparison of the novel metaphors vs. the conventional metaphors revealed significantly stronger activity in right posterior superior temporal sulcus, right inferior frontal gyrus, and left middle frontal gyrus. These results support the GSH and suggest a special role for the RH in processing novel metaphors. Furthermore, the right PSTS may be selectively involved in verbal creativity.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

The role of the right hemisphere in processing nonsalient metaphorical meanings: application of principal components analysis to fMRI data.

Some researches indicate that the right hemisphere (RH) has a unique role in comprehending the figurative meaning of metaphors whereas the results of other studies do not support the notion of a selective role for the RH in accessing metaphorical meanings. The present research used fMRI technology to test a theoretical explanation of the above conflicting findings. This theoretical account is derived from the Graded Salience Hypothesis (GSH) [Giora, R. (1997). Understanding figurative and literal language: the Graded Salience Hypothesis. Cognitive Linguistics, 7, 183-206; Giora, R. (2003). On our mind: Salience, context and figurative language. New York: Oxford University Press], according to which the degree of meaning salience, rather than literality or nonliterality primarily affects differences between the LH and RH in linguistic processing. Thus, the GSH predicts a selective RH involvement in comprehension of novel, nonsalient metaphoric meanings and LH involvement in the comprehension of conventional, salient metaphoric meanings. Fifteen normal adults participated in a block designed fMRI experiment that compared the patterns of brain activation induced by processing the meanings of literal, conventional metaphoric, novel metaphoric and unrelated word pairs. The subjects performed a semantic judgment task. We applied the Principal Components Analysis (PCA) technique in order to find different functional networks corresponding to the different stimuli. Our results, obtained from PCA of the fMRI data indicate that the right homologue of Wernicke's area has a special role in processing novel metaphors. We suggest that a unique network, consisting of the right homologue of Wernicke's area, right and left premotor areas, right and left insula and Broca's area, is recruited for the processing of novel metaphors but not for the processing of conventional metaphors.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome associated with idiopathic giant cell myocarditis.

The autoimmune polyglandular syndrome (APS) is characterized by a variable coexistence of several autoimmune diseases, affecting predominantly endocrine glands. In general two types of APS are distinguished. Type 1 APS is an autosomal recessive disorder often leading to insufficiency of the adrenal cortex, the parathyroid glands, and/or the gonads. This type of APS often affects the skin in form of chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis and ectodermal dystrophies (vitiligo, alopecia, keratopathy, dystrophy of dental enamel and nails). The second form of APS is a polygenic disease which usually involves the adrenal gland, the thyroid and the pancreatic beta-cells. In rare cases APS type 2 is associated with myasthenia gravis, autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura, Sjogren's syndrome or rheumatoid arthritis. Here we describe a case of APS with the unusual combination of type 1 diabetes, secondary adrenocortical insufficiency, growth hormone deficiency, and primary hypothyroidism associated with lethal idiopathic giant cell myocarditis. The combination of APS and idiopathic giant cell myocarditis which is a rare, frequently fatal autoimmune disorder of myocardium affecting most commonly young individuals has not been reported so far.

Adrenal Cortex Diseases↗
PubMed2005

Evaluation of transgenic hybrid corn (VIP3A) in broiler chickens.

A 49-d feeding study evaluated whether standard broiler diets prepared with Syngenta Seeds VIP3A transgenic derived corn grain had any unanticipated adverse effects on male or female broiler chickens as compared with diets prepared with nontransgenic (isoline) control corn grain. Two commercial lots of grain grown in North Carolina during the 1999 (NC 1999) and 2000 (NC 2000) seasons were included for reference purposes. Broiler growth was excellent with males reaching 3466 g and females reaching 2882 g at 49 d of age. Final BW of the VIP3A, isoline, and NC 1999 corn groups were within 21.1 g, whereas the NC 2000 group was 42.4 g lower than the lowest of this group. There was no overall corn source effect on adjusted feed conversion ratio (FCR) or mortality to 49 d of age. Carcass analysis demonstrated no differences in percentage yield due to corn source among males and females other than percentage wings in females. Comprehensive clinical chemical analyses of blood taken from representative birds at 49 d of age showed no differences due to corn sources. The transgenic VIP3A hybrid diets numerically supported the most rapid broiler chicken growth, the second lowest mortality rate and best FCR, without practical differences in carcass yield. The few differences found in this study were not unique to a given corn source but instead appeared to be distributed equally across the diet groups evaluated in the study. Although it was not clear whether small differences in performance were attributable to the transgenic corn per se or were due to possible slight differences in overall composition of the formulated diets, it was clear that the transgenic corn had no deleterious effects on broiler performance and carcass yield in this study.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2005

The Pro387Leu variant of protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B is not associated with diabetes mellitus type 2 in a German population.

OBJECTIVES: Diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM-2) is a complex disorder with a strong genetic background. Protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B (PTP-1B) dephosphorylates various receptor protein kinases in vitro, including the beta subunit of the insulin receptor, therefore representing a potential candidate to be involved in the polygenic pathogenesis of DM-2. Recently a Pro387Leu variant of the PTP-1B gene has been associated with an increased risk of DM-2 in a Danish population. Reports from China and Finland failed to confirm this association. DESIGN, SETTING AND SUBJECTS: The purpose of the present study was to examine the possible association between the presence of DM-2 and the Pro387Leu polymorphism in a German Caucasian population. A total of 836 subjects (age 20-92 years) participated in the study. The presence of the Pro387Leu variant of the PTP-1B gene was investigated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) restriction fragment-length polymorphism in 402 subjects with DM-2 (231 men, 171 women, age 63.1 +/- 10.8 years, BMI 28.7 +/- 5.1 kg m(-2)) and in 434 normoglycemic age- and sex-matched control subjects (248 men, 186 women, age 64.4 +/- 6.5 years, BMI 26.5 +/- 3.7 kg m(-2)). RESULTS: Nine subjects in the control group and nine in the diabetic group (allelic frequency 0.99% in both groups) carried the Pro387Leu polymorphism. A meta-analysis on published data of >3000 subjects including our own data did not find an association between the polymorphism and DM-2. In addition, the polymorphism had no significant influence on the presence of atherosclerotic disease, whilst the influence of other known cardiovascular risk factors was confirmed. Furthermore, the impact of the mutation on metabolic and anthropometric parameters in both groups was examined. Amongst the controls there were no significant differences in BMI, HDL and LDL cholesterol or blood pressure between the two groups with or without the Pro387Leu polymorphism. The same was true for the diabetic group. Interestingly, in both diabetics and controls, Pro387Leu carriers had significantly higher triglycerides. In a logistic regression model only BMI and family history but not polymorphism were predictors of DM-2. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the present data suggest that in a German Caucasian population the Pro387Leu polymorphism of the PTP-1B gene is not associated with DM-2 but may play a role in other metabolic phenotypes.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Resistin gene 3'-untranslated region +62G-->A polymorphism is associated with hypertension but not diabetes mellitus type 2 in a German population.

OBJECTIVES: Resistin, a peptide hormone produced by adipocytes, has been associated with diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM-2) in some rodent models. In humans the exact function of resistin remains unknown. Some, but not all studies have found associations between polymorphisms in the resistin gene with DM-2. Recently a 3'-untranslated region +62G-->A polymorphism of the resistin gene has been associated with decreased risk for DM-2 and for hypertension in diabetics in a Chinese population. Purpose of the present study was to examine for the first time in a German Caucasian population the possible association between this polymorphism and DM-2, hypertension, lipoprotein levels, resistin levels as well as atherosclerosis. DESIGN, SETTING AND SUBJECTS: A total of 818 subjects participated in the study. The presence of the +62G-->A polymorphism of the resistin gene was investigated using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism in 384 subjects with DM-2 [224 men, 160 women, age 63.4 +/- 10.6 years, body mass index (BMI) 28.7 +/- 5.1 kg m(-2)] and in 434 nondiabetic age- and sex-matched control subjects (248 men, 186 women, age 64.4 +/- 6.5 years, BMI 26.5 +/- 3.7 kg m(-2)). RESULTS: Thirty-four subjects were found to be carrying the +62G-->A polymorphism in the control and 24 in the diabetic group (allelic frequencies 4% and 3.2% respectively). Subjects with DM-2 were not found to have a different frequency of the genotypes (93.75% and 6.258%, for GG:GA/AA respectively) than the control subjects (92.2% and 7.8% for GG:GA/AA respectively) (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.44-1.3, P = 0.31). In the total cohort, carriers of the A allele had a higher prevalence of hypertension (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.03-3.21, P = 0.039). When analysed separately, the control group showed a strong association between the presence of the A allele and hypertension (OR 2.92, 95% CI 1.38-6.15, P = 0.005), whilst no such association could be established in the diabetic group (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.43-2.54, P = 0.92). Multiple regression analysis confirmed that the presence of the A variant is associated with hypertension in control but not in diabetic subjects, independent of age and BMI. The polymorphism had no significant influence on the presence of atherosclerotic disease, BMI, and on triglyceride, HDL and LDL cholesterol levels, both, in the control and the diabetic groups. There was no difference in the serum resistin levels between the 62G-->A variant carriers and noncarriers. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the present data suggest that in a German Caucasian population the +62G-->A polymorphism of the resistin gene is associated with hypertension but not with DM-2.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

[Reduction of chronic pain for non-postherpetic peripheral neuropathies after topical treatment with a lidocaine patch].

INTRODUCTION: To clarify whether the therapeutic indication for a lidocaine patch to treat postherpetic neuralgia can be extended to include other focal peripheral neuropathic pain syndromes, we performed a subgroup analysis of a placebo-controlled, double-blind randomized study. METHODS: The study included 16 patients with focal peripheral painful neuropathies of non-herpetic origin, pain intensity > or =40 mm (VAS), and a stable pain medication. The patients received either the lidocaine patch 5% for 1 week or a placebo patch for 12 h daily according to a crossover design. Persistent pain, mechanical allodynia, and adverse events were assessed daily by the patients. Additionally, the pain perception test, the list of physical complaints, the depression test, and the health-related quality of life (SF-36) were used. Of the enrolled patients, 12 were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Persistent pain was reduced by the lidocaine patch almost significantly and allodynia was reduced significantly in comparison to the placebo patch. Scores for physical complaints improved significantly with the lidocaine patch. Only mild focal skin irritations occurred. CONCLUSIONS: As an adjuvant medication, the lidocaine patch is effective and safe for reducing chronic pain and physical complaints in focal non-herpetic neuropathies.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed2003

Joint algal toxicity of 16 dissimilarly acting chemicals is predictable by the concept of independent action.

For a predictive assessment of the aquatic toxicity of chemical mixtures, two competing concepts are available: concentration addition and independent action. Concentration addition is generally regarded as a reasonable expectation for the joint toxicity of similarly acting substances. In the opposite case of dissimilarly acting toxicants the choice of the most appropriate concept is a controversial issue. In tests with freshwater algae we therefore studied the extreme situation of multiple exposure to chemicals with strictly different specific mechanisms of action. Concentration response analyses were performed for 16 different biocides, and for mixtures containing all 16 substances in two different concentration ratios. Observed mixture toxicity was compared with predictions, calculated from the concentration response functions of individual toxicants by alternatively applying both concepts. The assumption of independent action yielded accurate predictions, irrespective of the mixture ratio or the effect level under consideration. Moreover, results even demonstrate that dissimilarly acting chemicals can show significant joint effects, predictable by independent action, when combined in concentrations below individual NOEC values, statistically estimated to elicit insignificant individual effects of only 1%. The alternative hypothesis of concentration addition resulted in overestimation of mixture toxicity, but differences between observed and predicted effect concentrations did not exceed a factor of 3.2. This finding complies with previous studies, which indicated near concentration-additive action of mixtures of dissimilarly acting substances. Nevertheless, with the scientific objective to predict multi-component mixture toxicity with the highest possible accuracy, concentration addition obviously is no universal solution. Independent action proves to be superior where components are well known to interact specifically with different molecular target sites, and provided that reliable statistical estimates of low toxic effects of individual mixture constituents can be given. With a regulatory perspective, however, fulfilment of both conditions may be regarded as an extraordinary situation, and hence concentration addition may be defendable as a pragmatic and precautionary default assumption.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2003

[End-organ damage in hyperlipidemias].

Epidemiological and experimental data have clearly demonstrated a strong association between elevated LDL-cholesterol levels and coronary heart disease. In concordance lipid-lowering trials with statins have shown a significant reduction of cardiovascular events. Although stroke is mainly caused by atherosclerotic vascular events, epidemiolgical data have so far failed to show a significant relationship between elevated lipid levels and stroke incidence. However, recent lipid intervention trials with statins have clearly demonstrated a significant reduction in stroke incidence. Moreover, elevated cholesterol levels are thought to contribute to progression of chronic renal insufficiency. In addition, cholesterol crystal emboli are a rare but frequently serious complication of vascular catheter interventions. Significant hypertriglyceridemia carries a significant risk of acute pancreatitis and is thought to contribute to the development of fatty liver disease.

Adult↗