PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Metzner

Publications and source records attributed to M Metzner.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Diagnostic accuracy of faecal calprotectin estimation in prediction of abnormal small bowel radiology.

BACKGROUND: [corrected] Patients being investigated for symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhoea and or weight loss often undergo small bowel radiology as part of their diagnostic workup mainly to exclude inflammatory bowel disease. AIM: To assess and compare the utility of a single faecal calprotectin estimation to barium follow through as well as conventional inflammatory markers such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein in exclusion of intestinal inflammation. METHODS: Seventy-three consecutive cases undergoing barium follow through for investigation of symptoms of diarrhoea and or abdominal pain with or without weight loss were studied. The control group comprised 25 cases with known active Crohn's disease (positive controls), 26 normal healthy volunteers (negative controls) and 25 cases of irritable bowel syndrome diagnosed by Rome II criteria. Symptoms, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein were recorded at recruitment and a single stool sample assayed for calprotectin within 7 days prior to or after barium follow through. RESULTS: The median calprotectin value in the active Crohn's group, irritable bowel syndrome group and normal volunteers was 227 microg/g of stool, 19 and 10 microg/g respectively (P < 0.0001). A faecal calprotectin above a cut-off value of 60 microg/g was able to predict all nine cases with an abnormal barium follow through as well as all six cases with a normal barium follow through but with organic intestinal disease. The negative predictive value of a single calprotectin result below 60 microg/g of stool was 100% compared with 91% each for erythrocyte sedimentation rate > 10 mm and C-reactive protein > 6 mg/L and 84% for a combination of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein in predicting absence of organic intestinal disease. CONCLUSION: A single stool calprotectin value < 60 microg/g of stool obviates the need for further barium radiology of the small bowel, is more accurate than measurement of erythrocyte sedimentation rate or C-reactive protein and effectively excludes Crohn's disease or non-functional gastrointestinal disease.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed2001

Role of activator site position and a distal UP-element half-site for sigma factor selectivity at a CRP/H-NS-activated sigma(s)-dependent promoter in Escherichia coli.

Transcription initiation by the stress-associated sigma(S)-containing RNA polymerase holoenzyme (E sigma(S)) in Escherichia coli is often subject to complex regulation that involves multiple additional regulators and histone-like proteins. csiD is a stationary phase-inducible sigma(S)-dependent gene in E. coli that requires activation by cAMP-CRP (bound to a site centred at -68.5 nucleotides upstream of the transcriptional start site) and is positively modulated by the abundant nucleoid-associated proteins H-NS and Lrp. By shifting the CRP box to positions between -80.5 and -60.5, we could demonstrate that: (i) activation is equally helix phase dependent as at classic class I promoters; (ii) E sigma(S) prefers a CRP box location at -68.5/-70.5, whereas E sigma(70) is nearly inactive with such an arrangement; and (iii) with the CRP site moved to -60.5, transcription can be initiated efficiently by both holoenzymes. The csiD promoter region also contains a distal UP-element half-site located downstream of the CRP box, as demonstrated by mutational studies, in which this element was either eliminated or completed to a full UP-element. The UP-element half-site favours E sigma(S)-mediated expression, whereas with the full UP-element, nearly wild-type levels of csiD transcription were observed in the absence of sigma(S). Finally, we show that the two histone-like proteins, H-NS and Lrp, both act by influencing activation by cAMP-CRP, but do so by different mechanisms. In particular, H-NS directly or indirectly increases positional stringency for the CRP binding site. The implications of these findings with respect to sigma factor selectivity, activation mechanisms used by the two holoenzymes and the architecture of sigma(S)-dependent promoters are discussed.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed2001

The relationship between milk yield and the incidence of some diseases in dairy cows.

Logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between milk yield and incidence of certain disorders. Lactations (n = 2197) of 1074 Holstein-Friesian cows from 10 dairies (25 to 146 cows per dairy) in Lower Saxony were studied. The 305-d yield from the previous and current lactations served as the standards for milk yield. Eight disorder complexes were considered: retained placenta, metritis, ovarian cysts, mastitis, claw diseases, milk fever, ketosis, and displaced abomasum. Each disorder complex was modeled separately. In addition to milk yield, the influences of the lactation number, the calving season and the other disorder complexes were examined with the "herd" factor taken into account. A correlation between retained placenta, mastitis, and milk fever to milk yield during the previous lactation was found to be probable and for ketosis and displaced abomasum such a correlation was found to be possible. A connection to the yield in the current lactation was shown for ovarian cysts, claw diseases, and milk fever. No relationship to milk yield existed for metritis. An influence of the lactation number was also demonstrated in various models. Single models allowed a demonstration of the influences of both milk yield and lactation number. Limitations of the model types are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Functional replacement of the essential ESS1 in yeast by the plant parvulin DlPar13.

A functionally Pin1-like peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase (PPIase(1)) was isolated from proembryogenic masses (PEMs) of Digitalis lanata according to its enzymatic activity. Partial sequence analysis of the purified enzyme (DlPar13) revealed sequence homology to members of the parvulin family of PPIases. Similar to human Pin1 and yeast Ess1, it exhibits catalytic activity toward substrates containing (Thr(P)/Ser(P))-Pro peptide bonds and comparable inhibition kinetics with juglone. Unlike Pin1-type enzymes it lacks the phosphoserine or phosphothreonine binding WW domain. Western blotting with anti-DlPar13 serum recognized the endogenous form in nucleic and cytosolic fractions of the plant cells. Since the PIN1 homologue ESS1 is an essential gene, complementation experiments in yeast were performed. When overexpressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae DlPar13 is almost as effective as hPin1 in rescuing the temperature-sensitive phenotype caused by a mutation in ESS1. In contrast, the human parvulin hPar14 is not able to rescue the lethal phenotype of this yeast strain at nonpermissive temperatures. These results suggest a function for DlPar13 rather similar to parvulins of the Pin1-type.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Isolation and characterization of two acyl-CoA-binding proteins from proembryogenic masses of Digitalis lanata Ehrh.

Two acyl-CoA-binding-protein (ACBP) isoforms were isolated from proembryogenic masses of Digitalis lanata Ehrh. by column chromatography and preparative HPLC. The ACBPs had molecular masses of 9926 and 9997 Da, respectively. Partial sequence data indicated high similarity to each other and to ACBPs of other plant species such as Ricinus communis, Brassica napus and Arabidopsis thaliana. The isolated ACBPs bound palmitoyl-CoA with high affinity as determined by isoelectric-point shift.

Acyl Coenzyme A↗
PubMed2000

High-dose chemotherapy and autologous haematopoietic support in poor risk non-seminomatous germ-cell tumours: an effective first-line therapy with minimal toxicity.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of patients with high-risk germ-cell cancer is poor. The toxicity and efficacy of first-line high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) with stem-cell support was evaluated, following induction chemotherapy with BEP. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with poor prognosis non seminomatous germ-cell tumour by the International Consensus prognostic criteria received induction with BEP followed by one cycle of HDCT (CEC) given with carboplatin (1800 mg/m2), etoposide (1800 mg/m2), and cyclophosphamide (140 mg/kg). Of the above 20 patients only 3 received a second cycle of HDCT. Peripheral blood stem cells were infused on day 0. RESULTS: Twenty patients were assessable for toxicity and response. After a median follow-up of 27 months 15 patients (75%) are alive, 12 (60%) are disease free and 3 (15%) are alive with disease. Median survival has not been reached and overall survival at four years is 66% with a durable complete response rate of 50%. There were no deaths or cases of severe toxicity. Median time to a granulocyte count > 500/microl and platelets > 20,000/microl was 10 and 12 days respectively. Five patients have died from progressive disease 5-35 months after HDCT. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the case of first-line HDCT. The excellent toxicity profile of BEP/CEC and the two-year overall survival of 78% are encouraging and support further the ongoing randomised US intergroup study evaluating high-dose CEC after BEP.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Efficacy of an immune modulator in enzootic pneumonia of dairy calves.

The objective of this cohort study was the evaluation of the efficacy of an immune modulator in the prophylaxis, metaphylaxis and treatment of enzootic bronchopneumonia (EBP). A total of 552 dairy calves on 13 farms were included. Groups of calves were included in the study if the prevalence of respiratory disease on the first visit was at least 50%, and the number of animals aged 2-16 weeks was at least 10. Controls were treated with a placebo. Animals of both groups were treated antibiotically if body temperature exceeded 39.5 degrees C. A clinimetric system was devised and used for classifying the animals into one of seven categories (healthy, beginning respiratory disease, acute BP, subacute BP, chronic BP, acute flare-up of chronic BP, and other disease). Animals were examined clinically on days 1, 3, 10, and 28. In animals treated prophylactically, the incidence of BP on day 10 was significantly higher (51%) than in those that received the placebo (31%). In animals treated metaphylactically, the average number of treatment days was significantly lower (2.86) than in the placebo group (3.81). In animals treated therapeutically, the incidence of EBP on day 10 was significantly lower than in the placebo group.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1993

[The effectiveness of intravenous administration of large quantities of glucose in the treatment of bovine ketosis].

Glucose in a 40% (w/v) solution (200 g, 400 g or 600 g) was infused intravenously in clinically healthy cattle. On urinalysis, 13%, 19% and 26% respectively of the infused glucose was excreted. In cattle with elevated urinary ketone bodies, only the infusion of 400 or 600 g glucose led to a significant rise in the serum glucose concentration compared to initial values. Only the infusion of 600 g of glucose was followed by a significant decrease in serum beta-hydroxybutyrate 24 hours later compared to initial values. The present results indicate a possibility of improving the results of treatment of ketosis by infusion of high amounts of glucose.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗
PubMed1993

[BHV-1 intradermal test in cattle].

Investigations concerning an intradermal test for the diagnosis of BHV 1 infection were carried out in 221 cattle. In 16% of cases the result of the test was dependent on the time the test was read (48 or 72 h). Fifteen per cent of the animals older than 9 months showed no reaction to the intradermal test though humoral antibodies against BHV 1 were detectable by ELISA. Intradermal injection of test antigen resulted in seroconversion in seronegative cattle. The antibodies remained detectable in the ELISA for about 3 to 6 weeks.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Hysteroscopy as a diagnostic aid for uterine diseases of cattle].

A method for hysteroscopy in cattle, using a rigid tube for passage through the cervical canal, is described. Using this method, passage through the cervical canal is possible independent of the stage of the gynaecological cycles. The hysteroscopic findings of 105 examinations in cows are described and discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[Double vertebral injury in a calf (case report)].

A double spinal cord trauma of an eight weeks old calf is reported, born on pasture from a heifer as a premature birth at the beginning of month 9. Observations made were rupture of intervertebral disk at the crossing of cervical to thoracic vertebrae followed by syndesmosis or synchondrosis resp., as well as a comminuted fracture of the 1st lumbar vertebra including both the adjoining vertebrae, with succeeding reactive callus formation. It is concluded that this traumatization has occurred during parturition. Motoric or sensory disturbances were observed neither.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

West African dogs as a model for research on trypanotolerance.

Autochthonous dogs from Liberia/West Africa were reared trypanosome-free and brought to West Berlin/germany. Together with Beagle dogs they were infected cyclically by tsetseflies with Trypanosoma congolense. While the European dogs died soon of the trypanosomal infection, the African dogs developed milder parasitaemias and remained clinically unaffected. The authors' opinion is, that this dog model could make a contribution to research on trypanotolerance.

Africa, Western↗