PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Heinze

Publications and source records attributed to M Heinze.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

Differential expression of genes encoding tight junction proteins in colorectal cancer: frequent dysregulation of claudin-1, -8 and -12.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: As integral membrane proteins, claudins form tight junctions together with occludin. Several claudins were shown to be up-regulated in various cancer types. We performed an expression analysis of genes encoding tight junction proteins to display differential gene expression on RNA and protein level and to identify and validate potential targets for colorectal cancer (CRC) therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Amplified and biotinylated cRNA from 30 microdissected CRC specimen and corresponding normal tissues was hybridized to Affymetrix U133set GeneChips. Quantification of differential protein expression of claudin-1, -8 and -12 between normal and corresponding tumour tissues was performed by Western blot analyses. Paraffin-embedded CRC tissue samples, colon cancer cell lines and normal tissue microarray were analysed for protein expression of claudin-1 by immunohistochemistry (IHC). RESULTS: Claudin-1 (CLDN1) and -12 (CLDN12) are frequently overexpressed in CRC, whereas claudin-8 (CLDN8) shows down-regulation in tumour tissue on RNA level. Quantification of proteins confirmed the overexpression of claudin-1 in tumour tissues, whereas changes of claudin-8 and -12 were not significantly detectable on protein level. IHC confirmed the markedly elevated expression level of claudin-1 in the majority of CRC, showing membranous and intracellular vesicular staining. CONCLUSIONS: Differential expression of genes encoding claudins in CRC suggests that these tight junction proteins may be associated to and involved in tumorigenesis. CLDN1 is frequently up-regulated in large proportion of CRC and may represent potential target molecule for blocking studies in CRC.

Aged↗

[The role of philosophy in psychiatry].

Philosophy as a basic study for psychiatry is again attracting interest. Scientific observations in this field are supplementary to empirical science and provide a needed balance to empirical results. In this article we consider the interdisciplinary relationship of both fields and examine its present institutional application.

Anthropology, Cultural↗

Pharmacotherapy of personality disorders in German speaking countries: state and changes in the last decade.

BACKGROUND: In many cases, patients with personality disorders currently receive psychopharmacological treatment as well as psychotherapy. Empirically oriented studies of outcome and efficacy are still rare, and clinical practice is still dominated by a symptomatic and rather pragmatic approach. AIM: This study provides empirical insight into the reality of psychopharmacological practice in psychiatric institutions in German speaking countries. METHOD: The use of psychotropic drugs in patients with personality disorders is demonstrated using the data base of the AMSP drug safety program. Recent changes are shown by comparing results from 1996 and 2003. RESULTS: Our data show a symptom-driven, polypragmatic, and often off-label use of psychotropic drugs in personality disorders.

Anti-Anxiety Agents↗

Rivastigmin and impaired motor function.

In this case study, we describe the case of an 88-year-old female patient diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease who developed a severe motor dysfunction as a side effect of rivastigmin treatment. There have been reports on motor dysfunctions caused by other choline esterase inhibitors.

Aged↗

Complete sequencing and mRNA expression analysis of the MEN-I gene in adrenal myelolipoma.

The molecular pathogenesis of adrenal myelolipoma is unclear. Endocrine activity of these tumors and association with other endocrine tumors have stimulated the hypothesis that it may belong to the group of sporadic tumors caused by defects of the gene responsible for multiple endocrine neoplasia type I (MEN-I). DNA of blood and tumoral sections from two patients with adrenal myelolipoma were analyzed by examination of variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) loci PYGM, D11S987, D11S480, and D11S449 on chromosome 11q13 and by complete direct DNA sequencing of all coding exons and splice junctions of the MEN-I gene. Menin expression was examined by RT-PCR. RT-PCR did not detect menin expression in one adrenal myelolipoma. No loss of heterozygozity on chromosome 11q13 was identified. Intragenic heterozygozity was retained in codon 418 of the menin gene in both patients. No mutation was identified in the coding exons of the menin gene. Complete DNA sequencing yielded no hint that defects of the MEN-I gene are responsible for the formation of adrenal myelolipomas. Adrenal myelolipomas do not share the loss of heterozygozity on chromosome 11q13 observed in some benign adenomatous and many malignant adrenocortical tumors.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

Complete sequencing and messenger ribonucleic acid expression analysis of the MEN I gene in adrenal cancer.

Adrenal cancer is a rare sporadic disease that has also been observed in the context of multiple endocrine neoplasia type I (MEN I). Adrenal lesions occur in up to 40% of MEN I patients. Loss of heterozygosity of the 11q13 band harboring the menin gene has been reported in more than 50% of patients with adrenal cancer. Despite this high index of suspicion, former screening studies did not reveal mutations of the MEN I gene in 28 patients. We identified loss of heterozygosity of 11q13 microsatellites in five of five patients (100%). In 40%, heterozygosity was retained in codon 418 of the MEN I gene. Complete direct DNA sequencing data of the entire coding region and adjacent splice sites of the MEN I gene were obtained in 14 patients with sporadic adrenal cancer. In only one of them a heterozygous missense mutation, R176Q (exon 3), was identified. Due to the heterozygous pattern and unknown biological effect of this mutation, it is not clear whether there is a causal relationship with adrenal cancer. The total mutation frequency in sporadic adrenal cancer is 1 of 14 (7%). Menin messenger RNA expression was identified in 14 of 14 patients (100%). Transcriptional inactivation of the menin gene is, hence, unlikely to cause loss of its tumor suppressor function in adrenal cancer. Furthermore, we examined three patients who presented adrenal cancer in the context of sporadic multiglandular endocrine tumor disease previously diagnosed on clinical grounds to be MEN I syndrome. An opal stop codon mutation was identified in codon 126 (exon 2) in the adrenal cancer of one of these patients. Formation of the adrenal cancer in this patient may be rather coincidental because the mutation was present in a heterozygous pattern. There was no mutation of the menin gene in the two other patients. This may mean that formation of adrenal cancer in the context of multiglandular endocrine disease denotes an entity different from MEN I in some patients.

Adolescent↗

MEN I gene mutations in sporadic adrenal adenomas.

Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 11q13 occurs in about 20% of sporadic adrenal neoplasms. Adrenal lesions, mostly benign, occur in up to 40% of patients from MEN I kindreds. The MEN I gene, positioned on 11q13, has been considered a primary candidate gene in these lesions. We studied a group of 15 patients with sporadic adrenal adenoma, and 1 patient with multinodular hyperplasia. Of the 16 patients, 4 had incidentally discovered masses, 5 had Conn's syndrome, 6 suffered from Cushing's syndrome, and 9 had high sex hormone production. Studies with the markers D11S480, PYGM, D11S449, and D11S987 in 13 patients (12 of whom were from our group of 16) revealed 4 losses of heterozygosity on D11 S480 on 11q13, but the deletion did not affect the MEN I gene in any case. We present complete direct DNA sequencing data of the menin gene in 14 sporadic adrenal adenomas and one with adrenal hyperplasia. We identified one heterozygous missense mutation, T552S, in a hormonally inactive adrenal adenoma. One base exchange was identified close to the intron-exon boundary in intron 9 of a nodular adrenal hyperplasia. mRNA expression studies found that MEN I was transcribed in all 13 samples analyzed. In summary, our study identified the second patient with sporadic benign adrenal tumor presenting a menin gene mutation. Our complete direct sequencing approach adds evidence that menin gene mutations may account only for a minority of benign adrenal tumors if at all. Another tumor-suppressor gene inactivated in sporadic adrenal neoplasms may be located on chromosome 11q13.

Adenoma↗

[Differential diagnosis of distal peripheral nerve compression syndrome of the tibial nerve. Case report of primitive neuroectodermal tumor].

Tumors of the tibial nerve are not sufficiently taken into account in the diagnosis of tarsal tunnel syndromes (TTS). They may present with atrophy of the plantar flectors and with disturbances of sensory functions, but far more commonly with pain. Diagnosis is often only achieved after 1-2 years. Taking tumors into account when examining patients presenting with TTS may lead to a more rapid diagnosis and to improvement in patients' prognoses. We present the case of a 37-year-old female in whom a primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) was found to be the cause of long-standing pain in the right foot.

Adult↗

The quality of life of patients with paranoid schizophrenia in London and Berlin.

This study compared the subjective and objective quality of life and needs of patients with paranoid schizophrenia between inner city areas in Berlin (69 patients) and London (75 patients). Quality of life was assessed by means of the Lancashire Quality of Life Profile (German version Berliner Lebensqualitatsprofi), and need was quantified using the Camberwell Assessment of Need (German version Berliner Bedurfnisinventar). The hypotheses tested were that although Berlin patients may rate more highly on objective quality of life measures, the subjective quality of life would be similar as patients would judge their quality of life against their local expectations. The findings supported the first part of the hypothesis as on the objective measures the Berlin group was significantly better off financially and in living conditions, and had significantly fewer material needs. However, despite having more severe psychopathology, the Berlin groups' scores on global subjective quality of life were also higher. On particular life domains, subjective quality of life did not always reflect objective measures and sometimes went in the reverse direction. We concluded that the relationship between subjective and objective quality of life is complex, and great caution must be exercised in making quality of life comparisons between different cultures.

Adolescent↗

[Subjective evaluation criteria in psychiatric care--methods of assessment for research and general practice].

Evaluation of psychiatric care is an important task in research and in routine conditions. It requires definition of criteria. Subjective criteria are, for different reasons, of increasing interest. Subjective quality of life, subjective needs for help and support and patients' assessment of psychiatric treatment are regarded as particularly relevant criteria. We present and briefly discuss instruments for assessment of these criteria, that are new at least in the German language. Results of a first cross-sectional study in a community care setting are reported. Regarding quality of life healthy groups were examined too. The findings suggest that the instruments are usefully applicable and that they may produce plausible results.

Adult↗

Cellular invasion on the surface of intraocular lenses. In vivo cytological observations following lens implantation.

Cellular growth on intraocular lenses can be observed by using a specular microscope. We examined in vivo the cellular pattern on the surface of implanted lenses during the early postoperative period in 63 patients. In every case inflammatory cells were noted on the lens surface at some point during the observation period. These often showed a spindle-like appearance resembling fibroblasts. The density of the cell population increased during the following days but usually did not exceed 100 cells/mm2. From the end of the first week, multinucleated giant cells may appear. In one case, a patient with a severe postoperative iritis and hypopyon demonstrated an extremely pronounced and long-lasting cellular proliferation.

Cataract Extraction↗

[Readiness for breast-feeding--A psychosocial problem (author's transl)].

Frequency and duration of breast-feeding of mothers were evaluated at the Gynaecological Hospital of Wilhelm-Pieck-Universität Rostock, GDR, in 1975 and 1977. Readiness for breast-feeding was found to go on declining, over the period under review.--The incidence of breast-feeding differed significantly by occupational backgrounds. Frequency and duration of breast-feeding undertaken by women with university and technical school education as well as by teachers, nurses, and medical laboratory assistants or female medical orderlies were higher with significance than records obtained from shop-floor and agricultural workers, clerical staff, and housewives.--Prolongation of maternity leave alone obviously did not stimulate breast-feeding, but more attention should be given to psychological moments, individual briefing on aspects relating to breast-feeding offered to mothers by medical personnel, early attempts of breast-feeding with mothers still in the delivery room and fathers present, and intensive guidance on breast-feeding at maternity wards.

Adolescent↗