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P Vogel

Publications and source records attributed to P Vogel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Expression of variants of the major surface glycoprotein of Pneumocystis carinii.

Previously, we have shown that a multicopy family of related but unique genes encodes the major surface glycoprotein (MSG) of Pneumocystis carinii. To examine whether different members of this gene family are expressed by P. carinii, antisera were prepared against peptides whose sequences were determined from the deduced amino acid sequences of variants of rat-derived MSG. Immunohistochemical staining of serial sections of rat lungs of infected animals showed that at least three variants of MSG were expressed in an individual lobe, that there was a focal expression of these variants within the lung, and that the relative numbers of these foci were different. Indirect immunofluorescent staining of purified P. carinii organisms using these antisera revealed that at least three variants of MSG were present in organisms isolated from an individual rat and that both cysts and trophozoites reacted with each antiserum. A substantial difference in the fraction of organisms reacting with a specific antipeptide antiserum was seen when comparing organisms isolated from rats raised in a single colony over a period of two years as well as organisms isolated at one time point from rats raised in different colonies. This demonstration of antigenic variation in P. carinii supports the hypothesis that P. carinii utilizes such variation for evading host defense mechanisms.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Lethal experimental infection of rhesus monkeys with Ebola-Zaire (Mayinga) virus by the oral and conjunctival route of exposure.

OBJECTIVE: The source of infection or mode of transmission of Ebola virus to human index cases of Ebola fever has not been established. Field observations in outbreaks of Ebola fever indicate that secondary transmission of Ebola virus is linked to improper needle hygiene, direct contact with infected tissue or fluid samples, and close contact with infected patients. While it is presumed that the virus infects through either breaks in the skin or contact with mucous membranes, the only two routes of exposure that have been experimentally validated are parenteral inoculation and aerosol inhalation. Epidemiologic evidence suggests that aerosol exposure is not an important means of virus transmission in natural outbreaks of human Ebola fever; this study was designed to verify that Ebola virus could be effectively transmitted by oral or conjunctival exposure in nonhuman primates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were exposed to Ebola-Zaire (Mayinga) virus orally (N=4), conjunctivally (N=4), or by intramuscular inoculation (N=1, virus-positive control). RESULTS: Four of four monkeys exposed by the conjunctival route, three of four monkeys exposed by the oral route, and the intramuscularly inoculated positive control monkey (one of one) were successfully infected with Ebola-Zaire (Mayinga). Seven monkeys died of Ebola fever between days 7 and 8 postexposure. One monkey was given aggressive supportive therapy and a platelet transfusion; it lived until day 12 postexposure. CONCLUSIONS: Findings in this study experimentally confirm that Ebola virus can be effectively transmitted via the oral or conjunctival route of exposure in nonhuman primates.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Venezuelan equine encephalitis in BALB/c mice: kinetic analysis of central nervous system infection following aerosol or subcutaneous inoculation.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the routes of entry of Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) virus into the brain, we infected BALB/c mice with a virulent strain (V3000) by aerosol or subcutaneous inoculation. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization methods were used to detect VEE virus in tissues taken at daily intervals postinfection. RESULTS: In both groups, virus in the brain first appeared in olfactory regions. Aerosol exposure caused early massive infection of olfactory epithelium, which developed into bilaterally symmetrical infection of the olfactory nerves, olfactory bulbs, and lateral olfactory tracts by day 2 postinfection. After subcutaneous inoculation, VEE in the brain also appeared first in olfactory regions, but was not detected until day 3 postinfection. By day 4 postinfection, VEE viral infection had spread throughout the brain in both groups. Vascular endothelium and the choroid plexus remained uninfected during the entire study. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that VEE virus, whether given by aerosol or subcutaneously, first enters the brain through the olfactory tract.

Aerosols↗
PubMed1995

Chromosomal evolution and zoogeographic origin of southeast Asian shrews (genus Crocidura).

To the origins and evolution of Indomalayan shrews, we investigated the chromosomal variations of 14 species of Crocidura from SE Asia. Intraspecific polymorphism was mainly due to variation in the number of short chromosomal arms but C. lepidura and C. hutanis showed a polymorphism due to a centric fusion. The undifferentially stained karyotypes were similar in 9 species, all possessing 2n = 38 and FN = 54-56 (68); C. fuliginosa had 2n = 40 and FN = 54-58. These karyotypes are close to the presumed ancestral state for the genus Crocidura. Four species from Sulawesi had a reduced diploid number (2n = 30-34), a trend not observed among other SE Asian species but present in few Palaearctic taxa. Compared to the apparent stasis of karyotypic evolution observed among other SE Asian species, the high degree of interspecific differences reported among Sulawesian shrews is unusual and needs further investigation. Stasis and reduction in diploid number found in both Indomalayan and Palaeractic species suggest that these two groups share a common ancestry. This is in sharp contrast to most Afrotropical species which evolved towards higher diploid and fundamental numbers. The zoogeographical implications of these results are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Novel nuclear ribonucleoprotein structural components in the dormouse adrenal cortex during hibernation.

Adrenocortical cell nuclei of the dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius were investigated by electron microscopic immunocytochemistry in hibernating, arousing and euthermic individuals. While the basic structural constituents of the cell nucleus did not significantly modify in the three groups, novel structural components were found in nuclei of hibernating dormice. Lattice-like bodies (LBs), clustered granules (CGs), fibrogranular material (FGM) and granules associated with bundles of nucleoplasmic fibrils (NF) all contained ribonucleoproteins (RNPs), as shown by labeling with anti-snRNP (small nuclear RNP), anti-m3G-capped RNA and anti-hnRNP (heterogeneous nuclear RNP) antibodies. Moreover, the FGM also showed immunoreactivity for the proliferation associated nuclear antigen (PANA) and the non-snRNP splicing factor SC-35. All these nuclear structural components disappeared early during arousal and were not found in euthermic animals. These novel RNP-containing structures, which have not been observed in other tissues investigated so far in the same animal model, could represent storage and/or processing sites for pre-mRNA during the extreme metabolic condition of hibernation, to be quickly released upon arousal. NFs, which had been sometimes found devoid of associated granules in nuclei of brown adipose tissue from hi-bernating dormice, were present in much higher amounts in adrenocortical cell nuclei; they do not contain RNPs and their role remains to be elucidated. The possible roles of these structures are discussed in the frame of current knowledge of morpho-functional relationships in the cell nucleus.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1995

Transient forebrain ischemia induces an immediate-early gene encoding the mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase 3CH134 in the adult rat brain.

In fibroblasts, serum stimulation has been shown to activate the immediate-early gene 3CH134 encoding a dual specificity protein phosphatase that regulates mitogen-activated protein kinase. We report here that 3CH134 messenger RNA levels increase during recirculation following 30 min forebrain ischemia in the rat brain. In normal rat brains, 3CH134 messenger RNA was found mainly in neurons of the cortex and thalamus. At recirculation periods up to 1 h after 30 min ischemia, 3CH134 messenger RNA increased in neurons and glial cells of all previously ischemic brain regions. After 3 and 6 h recirculation, a prominent increase of 3CH134 messenger RNA was observed in the pyramidal cell layer of all sectors of the hippocampus and the granule cells of the dentate gyrus, whereas in the other brain regions messenger RNA levels returned to control. Up to 6 h of recirculation the spatial induction pattern of 3CH134 was similar to the pattern observed for the immediate-early genes c-fos and c-jun. Within the hippocampus a similar pattern was also observed for the heat shock protein hsp70 messenger RNA. At 12 and 24 h after ischemia, increased levels of 3CH134 messenger RNA persisted in hippocampal neurons; at the same time a delayed increase of 3CH134 messenger RNA was observed in large neurons of the thalamus and in glial cells in damaged regions of the striatum. At later survival periods, 3CH134 messenger RNA returned to control levels. Our study shows that the mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase 3CH134 is induced in the brain after a period of global ischemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Age-prevalence and household clustering of Strongyloides stercoralis infection in Jamaica.

The epidemiology of Strongyloides stercoralis was studied in families of clinical (reference) cases and their neighbours at endemic foci in Jamaica. Thirteen foci were studied based on the place of residence of a reference case. For each household of a reference case, the 4 most proximal neighbourhood households (spatial controls) were included in the study. Out of 312 persons contacted 244 were followed up using questionnaires, stool examination and serology. Prevalence of infection based on stool examination was 3.5% and on ELISA 24.2%. Prevalence increased with age but was not related to gender. Reference cases were significantly older than the general study population. The prevalence of infection based on both serology and stool examination was significantly higher in reference than in neighbouring households (the reference cases, themselves, were not included in the analysis). Furthermore, prevalence of infection was highest among persons who shared a bedroom with a reference case and decreased significantly with increasing spatial separation. This is indicative of close contact transmission which has not been previously shown for a geohelminth, but which is common among microparasites.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Moclobemide versus fluoxetine in the treatment of inpatients with major depression.

Seventy inpatients with a DSM-III-R major depression were included in a double-blind, randomized, clinical trial to compare the efficacy and tolerability of moclobemide versus fluoxetine. After a 3-day placebo run-in phase, treatments were administered for 4 weeks in daily doses of between 300 and 600 mg of moclobemide or 20 to 40 mg of fluoxetine. Efficacy was measured by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), Clinical Global Impression, and subjective mood ratings (45-item self-rating scale). Fifty-three patients (mean age, 40 years; 22 men, 31 women) completed the 4-week treatment. Changes between end of treatment and baseline did not differ between both study drugs. The HAM-D responder rate (50% improvement from baseline) was 59% in the moclobemide group and 58% in the fluoxetine group after 4 weeks. Moclobemide, however, acted therapeutically faster than fluoxetine. After 1 week of treatment, the HAM-D scores were significantly lower in patients on moclobemide than in those on fluoxetine (p < 0.005). The earlier efficacy of moclobemide after 1 week was also detected by the patients' subjective mood ratings (p < 0.02). There were no differences between moclobemide and fluoxetine regarding tolerability ratings. These data suggest that both agents have a similar efficacy and tolerability but that moclobemide has an earlier onset of antidepressive action.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Role of extracellular and intracellular acidosis for hypercapnia-induced inhibition of tension of isolated rat cerebral arteries.

The importance of smooth muscle cell pHi and pHo for the hypercapnic vasodilation of rat cerebral arteries was evaluated in vitro. Vessel segments were mounted in a myograph for isometric tension recording; pHi was measured by loading the smooth muscle cells with the fluorescent dye BCECF, and pHo was measured with a glass electrode. In all studies, Ca(2+)-dependent basal tension (in the absence of any agonist) and tension in the presence of arginine vasopressin were investigated. Control solution was physiological saline bubbled with 5% CO2 and containing 25 mmol/L HCO3- (pH 7.45 to 7.50). Induction of hypercapnic acidosis (10% CO2) or normocapnic acidosis (15 mmol/L HCO3-) caused significant inhibition of smooth muscle tension, and both conditions reduced pHi as well as pHo. N-Nitro-L-arginine significantly inhibited the relaxation to hypercapnic acidosis but had no significant effect on relaxation to normocapnic acidosis. Predominant extracellular acidosis, induced by reducing [HCO3-] from 25 to 9 mmol/L and CO2 from 5% to 2.5%, also caused inhibition of tension in steady state. By contrast, predominant intracellular acidosis, induced by increasing [HCO3-] from 25 to 65 mmol/L and CO2 from 5% to 15%, induced a small increase of basal tension and a small decrease of tension in the presence of arginine vasopressin. The responses to predominant intracellular or extracellular acidosis were qualitatively similar in the presence and absence of endothelium and in the presence and absence of N-nitro-L-arginine. It is concluded that the extracellular acidosis and not smooth muscle intracellular acidosis is responsible for the relaxation to hypercapnic acidosis.

Acidosis↗
PubMed1994

Is the coiled body involved in nucleolar functions?

Coiled bodies (CBs) are structural constituents observed in nuclei of most eukaryotic cells. They usually occur in the nucleoplasm as well as in contact with the nucleolar surface. In this work we studied the hepatocyte nuclei of hibernating dormice in order to investigate possible modifications of CBs along the seasonal cycle. CBs were abundant during hibernation and rapidly disappeared upon arousal from hibernation. Moreover, CBs were frequently found to be integrated into the nucleolar body. Immunocytochemical analyses showed that CBs contain nucleoplasmic as well as nucleolar RNA-processing factors, suggesting an "ambiguous" role for this organelle in the nuclear functions.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

The HSR on chromosome 1 of the house mouse, Mus domesticus: distribution and frequency in Switzerland.

A total of 357 house mice (Mus domesticus) from 83 localities uniformly distributed throughout Switzerland were screened for the presence of a homogenously staining region (HSR) on chromosome 1. Altogether 47 mice from 11 localities were HSR/+ or HSR/HSR. One sample of 11 individuals all had an HSR/HSR karyotype. Almost all mice with the variant were collected from the Rhone valley (HSR frequency: 61%) and Val Bregaglia (HSR frequency: 81%). For samples from most of the area of Switzerland, the HSR was absent. There was no strong association between the geographic distribution of the HSR and the areas of occurrence of metacentrics. However, at Chiggiogna the HSR was found on Rb (1.3). Possible explanations for the HSR polymorphism are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Differential expression of the immediate early genes c-fos, c-jun, junB, and NGFI-B in the rat brain following transient forebrain ischemia.

The temporospatial expression pattern of four immediate early genes (IEGs) (c-fos, c-jun, junB, NGFI-B) following 30 min of global ischemia was investigated in rat brains by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry (c-fos). All examined IEG mRNAs, as well as Fos-like immunoreactivity, increased transiently in vulnerable and resistant brain regions following ischemia, but the induction profiles were distinct. Ischemia caused a post-ischemic early-onset, transient c-fos induction in wide-spread regions, as well as a late-onset induction restricted to vulnerable regions. Late-onset c-fos induction was observed in the CA1 region and the ventral thalamus but not in the striatum or neocortex, where neurons degenerate at a quicker pace. After recirculation, c-jun mRNA appeared to be initially coinduced with c-fos mRNA, but c-jun mRNA levels remained elevated or increased in various regions, including all vulnerable regions, when c-fos mRNA had already declined to near basal levels. Compared to c-fos and c-jun, junB induction was less pronounced and confined largely to the dentate gyrus. NGFI-B mRNA increased moderately and only in brain regions exhibiting the most dramatic c-fos increases and with similar kinetics. The differential activation of the investigated IEGs suggests that rather complex long-term adaptive processes may be initiated at the genomic level after global ischemia. The present findings provide further evidence that the activation of IEGs forms part of the brain's metabolic response to ischemia, but no simple correlation appears to exist between the induction of the investigated IEGs and the phenomenon of selective vulnerability.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Immunoepidemiologic studies of Strongyloides stercoralis and human T lymphotropic virus type I infections in Jamaica.

Epidemiologic investigations of Strongyloides stercoralis and human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) infections were conducted. Of 312 persons contacted, 209 (67%) provided blood and stool samples. Prevalences of S. stercoralis and HTLV-I antibodies were 26.8% and 8.1% (n = 198), respectively, and S. stercoralis larvae were detected in 4%. HTLV-I antibodies were significantly more common in persons positive for S. stercoralis larvae (10 [58.8%] of 17) compared with seropositive larva-negative (4 [8.9%] of 45) or seronegative persons (9 [6.2%] of 145) (P < .002). IgE levels increased with age in S. stercoralis-seropositive persons who were HTLV-I negative (P < .002). However, there was an age-related depression of serum IgE in HTLV-I-positive positive persons (P < .003) that was sufficient to annul the IgE level-raising effect of S. stercoralis seropositivity. The data provide evidence that HTLV-I infection is associated with increased frequency of larvae in the stool of S. stercoralis-infected persons and suggest that the mechanism may involve suppression of the IgE response.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Cytochemical and immunocytochemical characterization of nuclear bodies during hibernation.

Brown adipose tissue and liver of hibernating, arousing and euthermic individuals of the dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius were studies using ultrastructural cytochemistry and immunocytochemistry with the aim to investigate possible fine structural modifications of the cell nucleus during the seasonal cycle. The general morphology of brown adipocyte and hepatocyte nuclei was similar in the three experimental groups. However, three nuclear structural constituents were identified only in hibernating individuals: coiled bodies (CBs) and amorphous bodies (ABs) were observed in hepatocytes and, together with bundles of nucleoplasmic fibrils (NF), were present in brown adipocytes of hibernating dormice. In arousing animals only some structural constituents suggestive of poorly structured CBs were found. The latter showed the same immunocytochemical features as CBs of hibernating individuals, suggesting that they are disappearing CBs. A possible involvement of CBs in storing and/or processing RNA which must be rapidly and abundantly released upon arousal is discussed. ABs similarly to CBs contain RNA and nucleoplasmic ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) and could also be involved in mRNA pathways. NF do not contain nucleic acids or RNPs and seem to be composed of protein-aceous material; their functional role in the nuclear metabolism of hibernating brown adipocytes remains unclear.

Adipocytes↗
PubMed1994

[Availability of technical examination equipment. Results of a survey of 347 clinics].

In spring 1993 a survey was carried out in order to establish the availability of technical equipment in neurology departments throughout Germany. Ninety-seven percent of the questionnaires were returned completed. The results showed that extracranial and transcranial ultrasound, EEG, EMG, ENG, VEP, AEP, SEP are the basic technical investigations generally used in almost every neurology department. Long-term EEG and duplex ultrasound, although less commonly used, are usually performed within the hospital's neurology department. Our study showed that most university hospitals have a specialized neuroradiology department, whereas in general hospitals neuroradiologic examinations are conducted by general radiologists. Myelography is often done by neurologists. In contrast to CT scans, MRI is not yet widely available in many hospitals, but is usually in private practices. Patients have to be referred to these practices. In the former East Germany patients have to travel considerable distances. Only a very few highly specialized centers offer PET and SPECT facilities. As expected, there are still significant differences between the former East and West Germany concerning the structure f neurology health care. In West Germany a higher degree of specialization with many institutions for rehabilitation prevails whereas in East Germany almost half of all neurology beds are within neuropsychiatry departments, and specialized clinics are scarce.

Diagnostic Imaging↗
PubMed1994

Seroepidemiologic studies of cytomegalovirus infection in a breeding population of rhesus macaques.

A protein immunoblot (western blot) assay was developed for detection of IgG and IgM antibodies to cytomegalovirus (CMV) in banked serum and was used to study the epidemiology of infection in a breeding population of rhesus macaques. All juveniles and adults were antibody-positive to CMV. Repeated samples from 1990-born infants (n = 28) over a 12-month period allowed retrospective assessment of CMV seroconversion. Most infants (23 of 25 seroconversions) were apparently exposed to CMV during their first year of life. The IgM testing permitted identification of seroconversion time points in eight infants. Risk factors that significantly affected seroconversion probabilities in the study population were not found. Cytomegalovirus-free rhesus macaques are potentially valuable for viral teratology and pathogenesis research projects; however, present epidemiologic findings suggest that establishment of CMV-free colonies will be difficult in conventional settings.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Early events in tissues during infection with pathogenic (SIVmac239) and nonpathogenic (SIVmac1A11) molecular clones of simian immunodeficiency virus.

The extent of virus replication, tissue distribution, localization of virus within tissues, and the presence of pathological lesions was examined early after experimental infection of rhesus monkeys with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). Three strains of SIV were used: molecularly cloned pathogenic SIVmac239; molecularly cloned nonpathogenic SIVmac1A11; and uncloned pathogenic SIVmac. The major targets of infection in all animals at 2 weeks postinoculation were the thymus and spleen. The distribution of virus within lymphoid organs varied with the viral inoculum: nonpathogenic SIVmac1A11 was present primarily within lymphoid follicles and in the thymic cortex; SIVmac239 was present primarily within periarteriolar lymphoid sheaths in the spleen, the paracortex of lymph nodes, and the medulla of the thymus; uncloned SIVmac was present in all these areas but tended to parallel the distribution of SIVmac239. Animals inoculated with nonpathogenic SIVmac1A11 had fewer SIV-positive cells by in situ hybridization and after 13 weeks postinoculation, virus was undetectable in any tissue from these animals. No significant pathological abnormalities were recognized in animals inoculated with this nonpathogenic virus. In contrast, nearly half of the animals inoculated with either SIVmac or SIVmac239 developed significant pathological lesions, including opportunistic infections by 13 weeks postinoculation, highlighting the virulence of these viruses. Our results indicate marked differences in tissue distribution between pathogenic and nonpathogenic molecular clones of SIV during the acute phase of infection. The most striking differences were the absence of SIVmac1A11 from the central nervous system and thymic medulla. The prominent early involvement of the thymus suggests that infection of this organ is a key event in the induction of immune suppression by SIV.

Animals↗