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Biomedical subjects

R Herrmann

Publications and source records attributed to R Herrmann.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

5-Fluorouracil, 4-epidoxorubicin, and mitomycin C (FEM) combination chemotherapy for advanced gastric carcinoma. A phase-II trial by the "chemotherapiegruppe gastrointestinaler tumoren (CGT)".

In a phase-II-trial 40 patients with advanced gastric cancer were treated with 5-fluorouracil, 4-epidoxorubicin, mitomycin C (FEM) combination therapy. Twenty-five out of 30 patients with measurable disease were evaluable for response after 8 weeks of treatment. Seven patients achieved a partial remission (PR), suggesting a response rate of 28%. Ten patients had no change (NC) and 8 patients showed progression (P). The median time to progression for patients with PR was 7.2 months and for patients with NC 6.3 months. Median survival time for all patients was 5.3 months, for patients with PR and NC 9.9 months. WHO grade 3 toxicity appeared in 3% (WBC and nausea/vomiting) and 15% (alopecia) of patients. The data suggest that this regimen is not more active, but is better tolerated than the original FAM schedule. Therefore it seems suitable for out-patient treatment, for elderly patients and for those who cannot be treated by more aggressive drugs.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Serum concentration of laminin, and course of the disease in patients with various malignancies.

Serum concentration of laminin was measured radioimmunologically in 96 patients suffering from various malignancies. Laminin levels were significantly elevated in patients with carcinomas and leukemias, but not in patients with sarcomas or lymphomas when compared with healthy controls. A good correlation could be found between serum laminin concentration and response to therapy in patients with carcinoma and leukemia. Elevated laminin levels were associated with a progressive course of the tumor condition. Furthermore, a close correlation has been detected between serum concentrations of laminin and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in patients with carcinoma of the colon. The serum laminin level seems to be a valuable parameter for observation of the course of certain malignancies.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Detection of alpha-1-antitrypsin in hepatocytes in acute and chronic hepatitis.

Twelve of sixteen consecutive needle biopsies of liver with either acute or chronic hepatitis showed positive immunohistochemical staining for alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT). Only two of the positive biopsies contained numerous, large periodic acid-Schiff positive, diastase resistant (PAS-D) globules in periportal hepatocytes; both patients were Pi MZ but only one had a low serum AAT concentration. The other 15 patients had normal or elevated serum AAT. The accumulation of AAT in hepatocytes, demonstrated by sensitive immunohistochemical staining, may indicate increased synthesis and/or impaired secretion of AAT occurring in association with various types of hepatitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1987

Gene expression signals in Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and Mycoplasma capricolum.

In Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, the single genes for 16S and 23S rRNAs are clustered in one operon from which the 5S rRNA gene is separated by more than 4 kbp. This operon, gene 2413 and gene X from M. hyopneumoniae and the 5' ends of both rRNA operons from M. capricolum were cloned and used for analysis of the following gene expression signals: promoters and terminators of the DNA-directed RNA polymerase, ribosomal binding sites of mRNA, and sites for processing of precursor rRNA. The analyses were performed by nuclease S1 protection experiments, the primer extension technique, and DNA sequencing. From these studies we conclude that putative promoter sequences in M. hyopneumoniae deviate significantly from those in Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis in having its -35 consensus sequence replaced by A-T rich sequences, whereas the characterized M. capricolum promoter resembles more closely a typical E. coli promoter. The other expression signals show sequences or structures similar to those found in other eubacteria, indicating related underlying principles.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1986

Calcium-requirement for activation of skinned vascular smooth muscle from spontaneously hypertensive (SHRSP) and normotensive control rats.

The aim of this study was to clarify whether the increased vascular tone in spontaneous hypertension of rats is due to a change of the calcium-sensitivity of the contractile proteins themselves. In skinned rat tail artery rings from SHRSP and WKY rats the calcium-requirement for half maximal activation (3.6 X 10(-6)M Ca++ for both rat strains) as well as relaxation half times (1.45 +/- 0.43 min, SHRSP and 1.63 +/- 0.48 min, WKY) were found to be identical. The extent of myosin phosphorylation in the contracted and in the relaxed state did not differ between SHRSP and WKY. It is concluded that changes at the level of the contractile proteins are not involved in the increased vascular tone of SHRSP essential hypertension.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Bacterial mutagenicity and chemical analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and some nitro derivatives in environmental samples collected in West Germany.

Snow and air particulate samples collected in Upper Frankonia, Federal Republic of Germany, have been analyzed for nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and PAH content. A novel clean-up technique has been developed enabling interfering organochlorine environmental contaminants to be removed prior to analysis of the hydrocarbons by GC-MS. Mass fragmentation patterns are presented for 1-nitropyrene, 6-nitrobenzo(a)pyrene, 6-nitrochrysene, and 3-nitrofluoranthene. The level of these compounds found in air samples was in the range of 0.2-2.0 ng.m-3 with the exception of 6-nitrobenzo(a)pyrene, which was not detected. This compares with PAH values of between 1 and 6 ng.m-3. The freshly fallen snow sample collected at the side of a motorway had no detectable PAHs or nitro-PAHs. Parallel studies on the bacterial mutagenicity of the collected air samples using Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 in the presence and absence of aroclor-induced rat liver "S9" revealed both "direct" and "indirect" activity. Larger numbers of mutants were induced in the presence of S9 than in its absence. The snow sample was devoid of mutagenic activity. These studies show the utility of the biological approach to screen environmental samples prior to expensive and time-consuming chemical analysis.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1986

Organization of the ribosomal RNA genes in Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae: the 5S rRNA gene is separated from the 16S and 23S rRNA genes.

In order to study the organization of the ribosomal RNA genes of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae the rRNA genes were cloned in phage vectors lambda EMBL3 and lambda EMBL4. By subcloning the restriction fragments into various plasmids and analysing the resulting clones by Southern and Northern blot hybridization, a restriction map of the rRNA genes was generated and the organization of the rRNA genes was determined. The results show that the genes for the 16S and 23S rRNAs are closely spaced and occur only once in the genome, whereas the 5S rRNA gene is separated from the other two genes by more than 4 kb.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1986

Analysis of transcription and processing signals of the 16S-23S rRNA operon of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae.

The 16S and 23S rRNA genes of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae are closely spaced in one operon. The two genes are separated by a spacer region of 500 bp which shows no sequence homology to bacterial tRNA genes. Within this operon seven 5' and five 3' ends of various rRNA species were mapped and the corresponding DNA was sequenced. The results are consistent with the following model for synthesis of rRNAs: Transcription of the operon is initiated from either of two tandemly arranged promoters leading to a large precursor RNA consisting of both 16S and 23S rRNAs. This primary transcript is first cleaved within stem structures surrounding the two rRNAs to yield premature 16S and 23S rRNAs. By further processing events the mature 5' and 3' ends are generated. The promoter sequences of this operon differ from those of other eubacterial promoters in lacking the typical -35 region. The putative termination site at the 3' end of the operon is reminiscent of rho-independent terminators in Escherichia coli.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1986

Urinary polyamine excretion by tumor-bearing and tumor-free mice exposed to cyclophosphamide, 5-fluorouracil and 6-mercaptopurine.

The effects of cytostatic treatment on urinary polyamine excretion have been investigated in tumor-bearing (either Ehrlich carcinoma of S 180 sarcoma) and in tumor-free mice. The animals were exposed to single or multiple treatment with various doses of cyclophosphamide, 5-fluorouracil, or 6-mercaptopurine. Treatment invariably enhanced polyamine excretion dependent on dose and effectiveness of the cytostatic drug. The most pronounced increases were observed in the excretion of spermine and putrescine, with peak excretion usually occurring after 1-2 and 3-4 days, respectively. The urinary excretion of spermidine was relatively modest in untreated mice, but the increases observed following drug treatment were high in proportion. Significant differences in urinary polyamine excretion were observed between tumor-free and tumor-bearing animals following treatment with all cytostatic agents. Peak values were invariably higher in tumor-bearing mice even in those with small, barely detectable tumors. After discontinuation of treatment polyamine excretion returned to normal values and stabilized in groups in which regression predominated, whereas in those groups of animals which showed little or no tumor regression urinary polyamine levels gradually increased again during a 2-week observation period.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Phase III study of 5-FU and carmustine versus 5-FU, carmustine, and doxorubicin in advanced gastric cancer.

Seventy-seven patients with advanced gastric carcinoma were prospectively randomized to receive 5-FU and carmustine (FB) with or without doxorubicin (FAB). Thirty-five patients were evaluable for response. Neither the response rates (partial remission, 11% for FB and 24% for FAB) nor survival times (median, 4.0 months for FB and 5.5 months for FAB) were statistically different. The median survival of patients with partial remission (7.8 months) and those with no change (7.4 months) was significantly prolonged compared to patients with progressive disease (4.5 months). The side effects of both regimens after the first treatment cycle (except alopecia in FAB) were low. After the second cycle more pronounced myelosuppression in the FAB arm was observed.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗