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N Heim

Publications and source records attributed to N Heim.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Homologs of the yeast Sec complex subunits Sec62p and Sec63p are abundant proteins in dog pancreas microsomes.

Cotranslational protein transport into dog pancreas microsomes involves the Sec61p complex plus a luminal heat shock protein 70. Posttranslational protein transport into the yeast endoplasmic reticulum (ER) involves the so-called Sec complex in the membrane, comprising a similar Sec61p subcomplex, the putative signal peptide receptor subcomplex, and the heat shock protein 40-type subunit, Sec63p, plus a luminal heat shock protein 70. Recently, human homologs of yeast proteins Sec62p and Sec63p were discovered. Here we determined the concentrations of these two membrane proteins in dog pancreas microsomes and observed that the canine homologs of yeast proteins Sec62p and Sec63p are abundant proteins, present in almost equimolar concentrations as compared with Sec61alphap monomers. Furthermore, we detected fractions of these two proteins in association with each other as well as with the Sec61p complex. The J domain of the human Sec63p was shown to interact with immunoglobulin heavy chain binding protein. Thus, the membrane of the mammalian ER contains components, known from the posttranslationally operating protein translocase in yeast. We suggest that these components are required for efficient cotranslational protein transport into the mammalian ER as well as for other transport processes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Detection of hepatitis C virus RNA (HCV RNA) in amniotic fluid: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Mother-to-infant transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been reported, but the transmission route is unknown. The aim of our study was to detect HCV RNA in amniotic fluid of pregnant women seropositive for HCV. METHODS: Twenty-two HCV seropositive women were included in the study (median age: 39 years). An amniocentesis was performed in all patients during the 4th month of pregnancy. Sixteen women also tested positive for HCV RNA in serum. The range of HCV RNA titers was 0.3 to 15.1x10(6) Eq/ml (Quantiplex HCV RNA 2.0 Assay, Chiron Diagnostics). Of these 16 viremic patients, four had an anterior placenta, ten had a posterior placenta and the position of the placenta was not determined in two cases. PCR (Amplicor HCV, Roche Diagnostics) was used to detect HCV RNA in the amniotic fluid. We also studied 11 HCV seronegative women as a control group. RESULTS: In the viremic group (n = 16), HCV RNA was detected once in amniotic fluid. The positive specimen was collected from a patient with an HCV RNA serum value equal to 1.1x10(6) Eq/ml. The placenta was in an anterior position. A PCR inhibitor was detected in one case. No HCV RNA was detected in the amniotic fluid of six seropositive non-viremic patients, nor in the control group. Serum HCV RNA was negative in the ten children tested. The woman whose amniotic fluid contained HCV RNA was the mother of one of them. CONCLUSIONS: HCV RNA detection in amniotic fluid is rarely positive. The anterior position of the placenta in the only positive detection cannot rule out contamination of the amniotic fluid during the transplacental amniocentesis.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Predictive value of Doppler umbilical artery velocimetry in a low risk population with normal fetal biometry. A prospective study of 2016 women.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the predictive value of Doppler umbilical artery velocimetry in a low-risk population with normal fetal biometry. STUDY DESIGN: Multicenter prospective study in 17 hospitals with prenatal clinics in France. Two thousand sixteen women who, before 28 weeks gestation were defined as at low risk after routine consultation and after ultrasound. Doppler umbilical artery velocimetry was performed between 28 and 34 weeks gestation. Confounding factors were used to perform multivariate regression. RESULTS: 1903 cases were analysed and 192 (10.1%) had an abnormal Doppler Resistance Index (RI). The abnormal Doppler group contained a significantly higher frequency of severe and moderate small for gestational age infants (SGA), both severe and moderate with a sensitivity of 25.5 and 18.8% respectively. There was no difference in hypertensive disorders or criteria of fetal distress. Mean birth weight was very significantly lower in the abnormal group (162 g). Birth weight was very significantly linked to RI after taking into account confounding variables in the multiple linear regression model (continuous relationship). After multiple logistic regression, the odds ratio associated with an abnormal Doppler result, adjusted for all the confounding factors, was 2.3 (95% CI 1.5-3.7) for moderate SGA and 3.5 (95% CI of 1.8-7.1) for severe SGA. CONCLUSION: Low umbilical Doppler RI is predictive with moderate or severe SGA in a low-risk population with normal fetal biometry, even when the information generally available in clinical practice and ultrasound parameters are taken into account. There is a continuous relationship between RI and birthweight. This predictive value cannot, however, lead to an improvement in neonatal health unless effective measures to prevent SGA exist and umbilical Doppler should not be used in low-risk population on a routine basis.

Birth Weight↗
PubMed1997

[Ambulatory management during the transformation process--a survey of physicians in new German districts].

The transformation of the health care system in the former GDR is demonstrated empirically on the basis of postal surveys conducted in 1990/91 with reference to the following spheres: 1. Routine problems. In diagnosis and therapy, the central problem was that the equipment required was often either lacking or defective. 2. Social perception. Female doctors regarded themselves as more understanding, progressive, sensitive, and friendly than their male colleagues. 3. Dynamics of transformation. The percentage of doctors with a practice of their own increased from 1990 to 1991 from 4.2 to 61.4%. 4. Reasons for starting a private practice. For male doctors the motives of greater latitudes in defining working hours and work routines as well as long-term expectations of increasing income were significantly more important than for female doctors. 5. Initial problems. Three aspects proved to be the most significant: too little time for family, work load too high, accounting problems. 6. Job satisfaction. In the course of time, the greatest increase in satisfaction was found to be related to possibilities of advanced professional training and income. A significant trend toward decreasing satisfaction was noted for dimensions such as work load, relationship between work and leisure, as well as secretarial work and accounting.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Determination of chorionicity in twin gestations by high-frequency abdominal ultrasonography: counting the layers of the dividing membrane.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to determine whether chorionicity in twin gestations can be diagnosed by use of high-frequency ultrasonography to count the layers of intraamniotic membrane. STUDY DESIGN: This prospective study of 66 twin pregnancies between 13 and 38 weeks' gestation used transabdominal ultrasonography at 10 MHz. The pregnancy was classified as monochorionic when two layers were counted and as dichorionic when three or four layers were counted. The findings of the examiner, who had no other information about chorionicity, were compared with those of the histopathologic examination of the placenta. RESULTS: Ultrasonography allowed chorionicity to be determined correctly in 60 of 63 cases (95%; 100% in the second trimester and 92% in the third. The predictive value for dichorionicity was 100% (48/48) and the sensitivity 94% (48/51). The 12 monochorionic diamniotic pregnancies in which the membrane was visualized were all correctly diagnosed. In a thirteenth case, with severe oligohydramnios, the membrane could not be seen. Two patients were lost to follow-up. In 95% of the cases (63/66) only one examination was required to diagnose chorionicity. Intraobserver variability was 0% (0/26). Interobserver variability, tested by photographs, was 3% (2/65). CONCLUSIONS: This technique should be the first-line method for determining chorionicity in the second and third trimesters because it is the most effective. Its excellent reproducibility may be attributable to the use of high-frequency ultrasonography.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1995

[Comparative value of transverse abdominal diameter and fetal abdominal perimeter. 3844 biometric examinations].

OBJECTIVE: Assess charts of abdominal size as they are used in a routine ultrasound screening, on a non selected population with 5 operators, to compare the interest of transverse abdominal diameter (TAD) with abdominal circumference (AC). METHOD: Retrospective study, in the department of Antenatal Diagnosis of the Centre Médico-Chirurgical et Obstétrical between September 1991 and August 1994. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Abdominal biometry and gestational age to characterize the prenatal trophicity. Neonatal weight and gestational age at birth to characterize neonatal trophicity. RESULTS: Between 32 and 36 weeks, the TAD charts detected only one SGA (small for gestational age) out of 10. However, the AC sensitivity was 54.5% with a specificity of 94%. In the same period, the TAD charts suspect LGA (large for gestational age) for one exam out of two. The charts of AC have about the same performance to detect LGA and SGA. CONCLUSION: For a routine ultrasound screening between 32 and 36 weeks gestational age, the AC charts have to be preferred to TAD charts.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1991

A study of different types of suicide notes.

A study of suicide notes in West Berlin revealed that those leaving instructions in their notes were younger, more often Catholic and having problems with work, loneliness and addiction. Those including wills and testaments were older, more likely to be female and widowed/divorced, and more likely to have recently experienced the death of a partner.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Distribution of suicides in West Germany (1981-1986)].

Based on data from official suicide statistics the suicide rates of all 11 federal states of FRG between the years 1981 to 1986 are analysed. The age-standardised suicide rates show a configuration of high rates in the North of Germany (Hamburg, Bremen, Berlin, Schleswig-Holstein, Niedersachsen). The lowest rates (total, males and females) were found in Nordrhein-Westfalen. In addition, the influence of religion, unemployment and population density (capital cities) on social suicide rates are empirically demonstrated and discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Sexual behavior of castrated sex offenders.

Data are reported on the sexual behavior of 39 released sex offenders who agreed voluntarily to surgical castration while imprisoned in West Germany. Findings indicated that frequency of coitus, masturbation, and sexual thoughts are seen as strongly reduced after castration. Sexual desire and sexual arousability are perceived by the subjects as having been considerably impaired by castration. In comparison with other studies, however, it was shown that male sexual capacity was not extinguished soon after castration. Particularly noteworthy is that 11 of 35 castrates (31%) stated they were still able to engage in sexual intercourse. Rapists proved to be sexually more active after castration than homosexuals or pedophiliacs. There seems to be a strong effect on sexual behavior only if castration is performed on males between the age of 46 and 59 years. In general, the findings do not justify recommending surgical castration as a reliable treatment for incarcerated sex offenders.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Castration for sex offenders: treatment or punishment? A review and critique of recent European literature.

The recent European literature on surgical castration in treatment of sex offenders is reviewed. Results are reported of the most important empirical studies conducted in this field of sex research in Germany, Switzerland, Norway, and Denmark. Methodological problems of follow-up studies on castrates as well as the subject of castration as treatment for sex offenders as a whole are discussed. The main conclusion is that there is no scientific or ethical basis for castration in the treatment of sex offenders.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Psychiatric expert testimony on aggressive offenders in juvenile court proceedings.

The empirical study presented concerns juvenile court cases (aggressive offences) in West Berlin during which the offenders (N = 94) were subject to psychiatric expert testimony (1975-1982). The conditional factors determining forensic-psychiatric testimony are examined and the investigation shows, with the aid of discriminant analysis, that differences in the form of the expertise given are best explained by the variable 'convention-orientation'. Ratings on the quality of psychiatric letters (N = 49) were based on the semantic differential technique. Employing factor analysis, three independent aspects determining the quality of expert opinion are revealed, namely the factors 'cogency of message', role-conception', and 'recipient-orientation'.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Unexpected inherited chromosomal translocation during prenatal diagnosis for maternal age: risk for a nondetectable karyotype imbalance in offspring.

An unexpected t(1;19) translocation is described in a fetus. Inherited from the mother, this translocation was found during the course of a normal prenatal diagnosis made for maternal age. The very short length of chromosomal translocated segments and their labelling pattern made high-resolution cytogenetic methods and fluorescence in situ hybridization techniques necessary for the correct identification of this karyotype rearrangement, both in mother and fetus. Different modes of meiotic segregation, leading to potential erroneous prenatal diagnoses, are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prenatal diagnosis of a congenital bladder diverticulum. Case report and benefits of prenatal diagnosis.

A case of congenital bladder diverticulum diagnosed at 37 weeks of gestation (measured from the first day after the last day of the last menstrual period) is reported. Delivery took place 24 h later. A postnatal urologic work-up confirmed the diagnosis of asymptomatic congenital bladder diverticulum. The infant underwent laparotomic surgery at the age of 6 months, with an extravesical diverticulectomy and ureteral reimplantation. There were no complications. This is the first case reported in the literature of a prenatal diagnosis of a congenital bladder diverticulum. This new aspect allows early management and avoidance of the diagnostic meanders to which the discovery of a pelvic mass might lead, as well as the complications that can follow bladder diverticula.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Septic shock during the immediate post-partum period revealing a liver abscess in a woman with Crohn's disease].

Liver abscess is a rare complication of Crohn's disease. We report one case in a 27 year-old woman, presenting as a sepsis after delivery. Crohn's disease was quiescent at presentation. Pregnancy was the only predisposing condition. An intestinal fistula was diagnosed by ultrasonography. The patient was treated by antibiotics, bowel resection and surgical drainage of the abscess.

Adult↗