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Biomedical subjects

S Ulbrich

Publications and source records attributed to S Ulbrich.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

ProSAT2--Protein Structure Annotation Server.

ProSAT2 is a server to facilitate interactive visualization of sequence-based, residue-specific annotations mapped onto 3D protein structures. As the successor of ProSAT (Protein Structure Annotation Tool), it includes its features for visualizing SwissProt and PROSITE functional annotations. Currently, the ProSAT2 server can perform automated mapping of information on variants and mutations from the UniProt KnowledgeBase and the BRENDA enzyme information system onto protein structures. It also accepts and maps user-prepared annotations. By means of an annotation selector, the user can interactively select and group residue-based information according to criteria such as whether a mutation affects enzyme activity. The visualization of the protein structures is based on the WebMol Java molecular viewer and permits simultaneous highlighting of annotated residues and viewing of the corresponding descriptive texts. ProSAT2 is available at http://projects.villa-bosch.de/mcm/database/prosat2/.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed2002

Acute pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis following allogeneic transplantation -- the surgeon's dilemma.

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) is still a poorly understood phenomenon, currently considered to result from primary mucosal insult from varying causes. We report a case of severe PCI in a patient with chronic GVHD after bone marrow transplantation (BMT) performed to treat secondary AML. Post BMT, the patient suffered acute intestinal and cutaneous GVHD, eventually developing intestinal and biopsy-proven cutaneous chronic GVHD, which necessitated continuous steroid therapy. Chronic pancreatitis associated with GVHD was diagnosed by explorative surgery in February 2000 on the basis of increasing epigastric discomfort, tumour marker (CA 125) increase and the CT finding of a suspicious mass in the pancreas. Readmission occurred in April 2000 for rapid onset of inferior abdominal pain with distinct peritoneal signs. Relaparotomy, deemed necessary on the grounds of both clinical and radiological findings, revealed marked PCI of the ascending and transverse colon and attached mesentery in an otherwise intact gastrointestinal tract. Post-operative reconvalescence was uneventful, with no clinical or radiological recurrence of PCI in the following 10 months. In the context of a review of the relevant literature, this case report illustrates the complex underlying pathophysiology, and difficulty in making a differential diagnosis and treating PCI.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1998

Quality of diabetes care, diabetes knowledge and risk of severe hypoglycaemia one and four years after participation in a 5-day structured treatment and teaching programme for intensified insulin therapy.

Intensification of insulin therapy in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial led to an improvement in the quality of diabetes care, which was accompanied, however, by a threefold increase in the risk of severe hypoglycaemia. The present trial, a long-term evaluation of a structured 5-day treatment and teaching programme (DTTP) for intensified insulin therapy, was performed to clarify factors determining HbA1c, the incidence of severe hypoglycaemia, diabetes knowledge and quality of life. Ninety-four Type 1 diabetic patients were examined at baseline and 4 years after participation in a DTTP. Comparison of baseline data with measurements at the 4-year follow-up examination showed that relative HbA1c (= HbA1c/mean normal) improved (1.9 +/- 0.51 vs 1.55 +/- 0.3*, p < 0.001, *excluding 4 patients with diabetes manifestation at baseline) and that frequencies of daily insulin injections (3.73 +/- 1.23 vs 4.9 +/- 0.69*, p < 0.001) and weekly blood glucose self-tests (6.6 +/- 10.1 vs 25.5 +/- 8.7*, p < 0.001) increased, whereas the incidence of severe hypoglycaemia (intravenous glucose, glucagon injection) remained stable (0.19 vs 0.24, p = 0.48). Patients with less diabetes knowledge had higher HbA1c levels and a higher incidence of severe hypoglycaemia. In the group of patients with severe hypoglycaemia, certain crucial gaps in diabetes knowledge were identified concerning the effects of physical activity, nutrition and long-term complications of diabetes. In multivariate analysis. The most important factor associated with HbA1c was diabetes knowledge which, however, was not influenced by educational level or other factors. Interventions, such as the identification of psychosocial factors which may interact with diabetes knowledge, quality of life and successful self-management of diabetes by patients, are needed to improve the efficacy of DTTPs and to prevent severe side effects such as hypoglycaemia.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Long-term efficacy of a 5-day structured teaching and treatment programme for intensified conventional insulin therapy and risk for severe hypoglycemia.

In the DCCT, intensification of insulin therapy led to a threefold increase in the risk of severe hypoglycemia (defined as the need for third party assistance). The reasons for this strong exponential relationship appears to be unclear to date. The present trial, a long-term evaluation of a 5-day structured teaching and treatment programme (5-DTTP) for intensified conventional insulin therapy (ICT), was performed to elucidate factors determining HbA1c and the incidence of severe hypoglycemia. A total of 71 patients were examined at baseline and 45.5 +/- 4.2 months following participation in a 5-DTTP. Comparing the data at follow-up examination with baseline measurements. HbA1c improved (8.52 +/- 2.29% vs. 8.0 +/- 1.43%, P = 0.04), the frequency of daily insulin injections (3.1 +/- 1.6 vs. 4.8 +/- 0.8, P < 0.001) and weekly blood-glucose self-tests (5.2 +/- 8.9 vs. 25.5 +/- 9.6, P < 0.001) increased, and the incidence of severe hypoglycemia (glucose i.v., glucagon injection) remained stable (0.18 vs. 0.17, P = 0.99). But, comparing the 21 patients who suffered from severe hypoglycemia during the follow-up period with the 50 patients without hypoglycemia, no differences between the two groups were found with respect to metabolic control (7.70 +/- 1.48% vs. 8.21 +/- 1.43%, P = 0.17), quality of life or treatment satisfaction. However differences arose with respect to diabetes knowledge. In the group of 21 patients with severe hypoglycemia we identified certain crucial gaps in diabetes knowledge: insulin self-adjustment; dietary aspects; hypo- and hyperglycemia. Performing multiple regression analysis, strong correlations were found between HbA1c and diabetes knowledge (r = -0.58. P = 0.002 for 50 patients without hypoglycemia and r = -0.63, P = 0.05 for 21 patients with hypoglycemia). In the total group, the most important factors determining HbA1c, were diabetes knowledge (r = -0.055, P = 0.007) and daily insulin dosage/kg body weight (r = 2.13, P = 0.0008, R2 = 0.26). Intervention like education of patients on a continuous basis and modifications of the DTTP's with more information and training in the recognition and treatment of hypoglycemic episodes seems to be essential to prevent hypoglycemia and to improve the efficacy of DTTP's over longer periods of time.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Serum interleukin 2-receptor levels in uveitis.

This study reports on serum interleukin 2-receptor (IL-2R) levels in uveitis patients. IL-2R is the mediator protein of interleukin 2 (IL-2), a mitogenetic cytokine of primarily immune cell interaction. Stimulated T-cells readily express IL-2R on their cell surface and release a soluble form into serum. The measurement of IL-2R serum levels was performed using a monoclonal antibody based ELISA with age and sex matched healthy blood donors serving as the control group. The increase of IL-2R serum levels in patients affected by heterochromic cyclitis Fuchs (HCF) and a small group of children with chronic anterior uveitis affected by juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) was statistically highly significant, when compared to the control group (n = 84, alpha = 0.01). Serum levels of patients with intermediate uveitis (IU), patients with HLA-B27 positive acute anterior uveitis (AAU) and patients with HLA-B27 negative AAU did not differ significantly from the controls.

Analysis of Variance↗