PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T Thiel

Publications and source records attributed to T Thiel.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Familial antiphospholipid antibody syndrome: criteria for disease and evidence for autosomal dominant inheritance.

OBJECTIVE: To develop diagnostic criteria for a familial form of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS), identify families with >1 affected member, examine possible modes of inheritance, and determine linkage to potential candidate genes. METHODS: Family members of probands with primary APS were analyzed for clinical and laboratory abnormalities associated with APS. Families with > or =2 affected members were analyzed by segregation analysis and typed for candidate genetic markers. RESULTS: Seven families were identified. Thirty of 101 family members met diagnostic criteria for APS. Segregation studies rejected both environmental and autosomal recessive models, and the data were best fit by either a dominant or codominant model. Linkage analysis showed independent segregation of APS and several candidate genes. CONCLUSION: Clinical and laboratory criteria are essential to identify the spectrum of disease associated with APS. We believe a set of criteria was developed that can precisely define affected family members with APS. Modeling studies utilizing these criteria strongly support a genetic basis for disease in families with APS and suggest that a susceptibility gene is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. However, in these families, APS was not linked with HLA, Fas, or other candidate genes, including beta2-glycoprotein 1, HLA, T cell receptor beta chain, Ig heavy chain, antithrombin III, Fas ligand, factor V, complement factor H, IgK, and Fas.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Processing of visually presented sentences in Mandarin and English studied with fMRI.

Comprehension of visually presented sentences in fluent bilinguals was studied with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) using a set of conceptually similar sentences in two orthographically and phonologically distinct languages, Mandarin and English. Responses were monitored during scanning. Sentence comprehension in each language was compared to fixation in nine subjects and Tamil-like pseudo-word strings in five subjects. Spatially congruent activations in the prefrontal, temporal, and superior parietal regions and in the anterior supplementary motor area were observed for both languages and in both experiments at the individual and group levels of analysis. Proficient bilinguals exposed to both languages early in life utilize common neuroanatomical regions during the conceptual and syntactic processing of written language irrespective of their differences in surface features.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

[Results of "cross-over implantation of Palmaz-stents" with cross-over sheaths].

PURPOSE: Presentation of technique of cross-over stent implantation of Palmaz stents using a cross-over sheath. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 1996 and March 1997 72 patients presenting symptoms of peripheral artery disease received 136 Palmaz stents, which were implanted in a cross-over technique with the aid of a cross-over sheath. RESULTS: As indications for stent implantation occurred: occlusion (n = 14), recoil (n = 11), distinctive calcification (n = 32), recurring stenosis/occlusion (n = 32), perforation (n = 3), dissection (n = 31), and aneurysms (n = 2). The cross-over technique with the aid of a cross-over sheath was successful in all 136 cases. Within the first 24 hours 3 acute reocclusions occurred (all femoral). For stents placed in the iliac artery the primary patency rate was 93.3% at 12 months and for stents placed in the femoral artery 72.0%. Furthermore, this techniques allows for simultaneous stenting of pelvic, femoral or lower leg arteries (n = 17). By using this technique, stenting of the distal external iliacal artery, common femoral artery (CFA) and proximal superficial femoral artery becomes either possible for the first time or easier. CONCLUSION: If Palmaz stents with a length of 2-7.8 cm should be implanted in the cross-over technique, the use of a cross-over sheath is recommended.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

New zwitterionic butanesulfonic acids that extend the alkaline range of four families of Good buffers: evaluation for use in biological systems.

Four new zwitterionic butanesulfonic acid buffers that are structurally related to four families of Good buffers were evaluated for use in biological systems. These buffers, with pKa values from 7.6 to 10.7, were compared with a variety of other buffers from the same family and with unrelated buffers to determine their effect on enzyme activity and on microbial growth. The activity of four enzymes with optimum pH values in the alkaline range were tested: beta-galactosidase, esterase, phosphodiesterase and alkaline phosphatase. In general, all the Good buffers, including the new butanesulfonic acid buffers, gave good activity; however, there was variation in activity of certain enzymes with certain buffers. Tris, glycine, and phosphate buffers typically showed variation in activity compared to the family of Good buffers. beta-Galactosidase, in particular, showed greater activity with Good buffers than with phosphate or Tris buffers. Similarly, growth of seven bacterial strains was consistent, with a few exceptions, for all the Good family of buffers with Tris often inhibiting growth. Quantitation of alkaline phosphatase conjugated to antibodies is an important tool in many applications in molecular biology. Several Good buffers gave good signals when compared with Tris at pH 9.5 for detection of proteins using alkaline phosphatase-conjugated antibodies.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1998

Absolute metabolite quantification by in vivo NMR spectroscopy: II. A multicentre trial of protocols for in vivo localised proton studies of human brain.

We have performed a multicentre trial to assess the performance of three techniques for absolute quantification of cerebral metabolites using in vivo proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The techniques included were 1) an internal water standard method, 2) an external standard method based on phantom replacement, and 3) a more sophisticated method incorporating elements of both the internal and external standard approaches, together with compartmental analysis of brain water. Only the internal water standard technique could be readily implemented at all participating sites and gave acceptable precision and interlaboratory reproducibility. This method was insensitive to many of the experimental factors affecting the performance of the alternative techniques, including effects related to loading, standing waves and B1 inhomogeneities; and practical issues of phantom positioning, user expertise and examination duration. However, the internal water standard method assumes a value for the concentration of NMR-visible water within the spectroscopic volume of interest. In general, it is necessary to modify this assumed concentration on the basis of the grey matter, white matter and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) content of the volume, and the NMR-visible water content of the grey and white matter fractions. Combining data from 11 sites, the concentrations of the principal NMR-visible metabolites in the brains of healthy subjects (age range 20-35 years) determined using the internal water standard method were (mean+/-SD): [NAA]=10.0+/-3.4 mM (n=53), [tCho]=1.9+/-1.0 mM (n=51), [Cr + PCr]=6.5+/-3.7 mM (n=51). Evidence of system instability and other sources of error at some participating sites reinforces the need for rigorous quality assurance in quantitative spectroscopy.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Targeting and modification of prokaryotic cell-cell junctions by tobacco mosaic virus cell-to-cell movement protein.

The movement protein (MP) of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) facilitates the cell-to-cell spread of infection by altering the structure and function of plasmodesmata, the intercellular communication channels in plants. Because the protein was shown to interfere with intercellular communication when expressed in the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120, whether the ability of the protein to target and to modify intercellular communication channels in plants is conserved in this prokaryote was investigated. It was found that the MP localizes to the cell junctions and induces the formation of filamentous structures that traverse the septa. It is proposed that the protein interacts with host components that are similar between plants and Anabaena and that may be evolutionarily related. The observations in Anabaena suggest that the MP modifies plasmodesmata by forming a filamentous aggregate within the pore.

Cell Communication↗
PubMed1998

[Clinical uses of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the brain].

In spite of all the scientific advances of the past few years, proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the brain has not attained the status of a routine examination technique with clinically accepted indications. The method should be considered as an additional option to MR imaging for inherited and acquired encephalopathic changes as well as, in future, for localization diagnosis of epilepsies. A proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic investigation without a prior intensive clinical and imaging investigation is not useful. Above all, factors influencing metabolite distribution such as for example, serum osmolality must be known. Methodological prerequisites for the clinical application of proton resonance spectroscopy are, first of all, a high stability of the chosen technique as well as a sufficiently certain quantification of metabolites and the availability of a reference group. The use of short echo times is necessary for the quantification of glutamine and the osmolyte myo-inositol. Indications for individual cases in which clinical investigations and MR topography cannot provide sufficient certainty and spectroscopy can furnish additional information are, in addition to uses in neuropediatrics, the suspicion of Alzheimer's dementia, HIV encephalopathy in early manifestations, and unclarified depressions of consciousness accompanying liver cirrhosis.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗
PubMed1998

Differential diagnosis of lymph node lesions: a semiquantitative approach with colour Doppler ultrasound.

The aim of this study was to evaluate reactively enlarged cervical lymph nodes and nodal metastases in patients with squamous cell carcinoma, as well as nodes involved by malignant lymphoma, by means of colour Doppler ultrasound (CDUS) and to describe perfusion sites for each nodal group in order to determine if typical flow patterns exist for nodes with different pathology. In a prospective study, 63 untreated patients with palpable cervical lymph node enlargement (n = 208) underwent examination with CDUS. The sites of perfusion were subdivided into three groups: central, peripheral and hilar perfusion. The intensity of perfusion was subjectively quantified in a semiquantitative scale from 0 (no perfusion) to III (high perfusion). Finally, the overall perfused area of the lymph nodes was measured and the percentage of perfused nodal area was calculated. CDUS showed perfusion in 178 of 208 lymph nodes. Histological examination showed 49 reactively enlarged lymph nodes, 82 containing metastases and 47 with lymphoma. Reactively enlarged lymph nodes showed characteristically intense hilar perfusion (91.8%), whereas nodal metastases had mainly peripherally located flow (84.1%) of intensity grades I-III. Lymph nodes invaded by malignant lymphoma were highly perfused, showing colour signals in the centre as well as in the nodal periphery (78.7%). In conclusion, perfusional patterns may provide useful additional information in the differential diagnosis of cervical lymphadenopathy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Improved sensitivity to overlapping multiplet signals in in vivo proton spectroscopy using a multiecho volume selective (CPRESS) experiment.

A method for volume selective proton spectroscopy is presented based on a multiecho sequence with short refocusing interval tcp. It is demonstrated, that by appropriate choice of tcp on the order of 4-6 ms, signals from overlapping multiplets like the glutamine and glutamate (Glu/Gln) resonances in spectra of the human brain are considerably increased compared with a conventional PRESS volume selection scheme. Thus proton spectra from J-coupled multiplet signals can be acquired with TE on the order of 20-30 ms avoiding the baseline problems arising at shorter echo times due to broad resonances. This allows to selectively acquire spectra from substances with longer T2 without the confounding effects from J-coupling occurring in conventional volume selection techniques.

Alanine↗
PubMed1997

Characterization of genes for a second Mo-dependent nitrogenase in the cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis.

Anabaena variabilis ATCC 29413 is a filamentous heterocystous cyanobacterium that fixes nitrogen under a variety of environmental conditions. Under aerobic growth conditions, nitrogen fixation depends upon differentiation of heterocysts and expression of either a Mo-dependent nitrogenase or a V-dependent nitrogenase in those specialized cells. Under anaerobic conditions, a second Mo-dependent nitrogenase gene cluster, nifII, was expressed in vegetative cells long before heterocysts formed. A strain carrying a mutant gene in the nifII cluster did not fix nitrogen under anaerobic conditions until after heterocysts differentiated. The nifII cluster was similar in organization to the nifI cluster that is expressed in heterocysts and that includes nifBSUHDKENXW as well as three open reading frames that are conserved in both cyanobacterial nif clusters.

Aerobiosis↗
PubMed1996

[Epidemiology of varicella zoster infection. Results of a prospective study in the Ansbach area].

In the country city of Ansbach, Germany all cases of varicellazoster virus infection seen by dermatologists, pediatricians and general practitioners were registered over a period of 16 months, from February 1992 until May 1993. 152 patients were clinically diagnosed with herpes zoster and 437 patients with chickenpox. The population-based incidence of zoster infections was 22.6 per 10,000 inhabitants per year, while the incidence of chickenpox was 42.4. There was a slight predominance of male patients with zoster. There was also a marked influence of age and sex, on the localization of the involved nerve segments. Zoster was seen in patients of all ages but there was a clear predominance in older patients. The peak of the disease occurred in the eighth decade. In patients with chickenpox, the sex ratio was equal. The disease typically occurs in children and we observed a predominance of the cases in the first decade. Spread over the year, zoster was seen equally during all seasons. Chickenpox, however, showed epidemiological peaks of frequency. It is possible that the epidemic spread of the disease and the end of the peak are influenced by special metereological conditions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Isolation and characterization of the VnfEN genes of the cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis.

The filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis fixes nitrogen in the presence of vanadium (V) and in the absence of molybdenum (Mo), using a V-dependent nitrogenase (V-nitrogenase) encoded by the vnfDGK genes. Downstream from these genes are two genes that are similar to the vnfEN genes of Azotobacter vinelandii. Like the vnfDGK genes, the vnfEN genes were transcribed in the absence of Mo, whether or not V was present. A mutant with an insertion in the vnfN gene lacked V-nitrogenase activity; thus, the vnfEN genes were essential for the V-nitrogenase system in A. variabilis. Growth and acetylene reduction assays with wild-type and mutant strains suggested that the V-nitrogenase reduced dinitrogen better than acetylene. The similarity of the vnfEN genes of A. variabilis and A. vinelandii was not strong. The vnfEN genes of A. variabilis showed greater similarity to the vnfDK genes just upstream than to the A. vinelandii vnfEN genes. Sequence comparisons provide support for the idea that if the vnf genes were transferred laterally among bacterial strains, the vnf cluster was not transferred intact. It appears likely that the structural genes were transferred before a duplication event led to the evolution of the vnfEN genes independently in the two strains. The divergence of the vnfEN genes from the vnfDK genes suggests that this duplication, and hence the transfer of vnf genes, was an ancient event.

Acetylene↗
PubMed1995

A second nitrogenase in vegetative cells of a heterocyst-forming cyanobacterium.

In many filamentous cyanobacteria nitrogen fixation occurs in differentiated cells called heterocysts. Filamentous strains that do not form heterocysts may fix nitrogen in vegetative cells, primarily under anaerobic conditions. We describe here two functional Mo-dependent nitrogenases in a single organism, the cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis. Using a lacZ reporter with a fluorescent beta-galactoside substrate for in situ localization of gene expression, we have shown that the two clusters of nif genes are expressed independently. One nitrogenase functions only in heterocysts under either aerobic or anaerobic growth conditions, whereas the second nitrogenase functions only under anaerobic conditions in vegetative cells and heterocysts. Differences between the two nif clusters suggest that the nitrogenase that is expressed in heterocysts is developmentally regulated while the other is regulated by environmental factors.

Acetylene↗
PubMed1995

Characterization of nifB, nifS, and nifU genes in the cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis: NifB is required for the vanadium-dependent nitrogenase.

Anabaena variabilis ATCC 29413 is a heterotrophic, nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium containing both a Mo-dependent nitrogenase encoded by the nif genes and V-dependent nitrogenase encoded by the vnf genes. The nifB, nifS, and nifU genes of A. variabilis were cloned, mapped, and partially sequenced. The fdxN gene was between nifB and nifS. Growth and acetylene reduction assays using wild-type and mutant strains indicated that the nifB product (NifB) was required for nitrogen fixation not only by the enzyme encoded by the nif genes but also by the enzyme encoded by the vnf genes. Neither NifS nor NifU was essential for nitrogen fixation in A. variabilis.

Acetylene↗
PubMed1993

Targeted interruption of the psaA and psaB genes encoding the reaction-centre proteins of photosystem I in the filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis ATCC 29413.

The two reaction-centre proteins of the photosystem I (PSI) complex are encoded by two adjacent genes named psaA and psaB. We have performed targeted mutagenesis to insertionally inactivate each of these genes in the filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis ATCC 29413. The resulting mutant strains, termed psaA::NmR and psaB::NmR, were blue because of a high ratio of phycobilin to chlorophyll and were unable to grow in light. These mutant cells also lacked chemically reducible P700 (the reaction-centre chlorophylls of PSI) and as a consequence did not exhibit any PSI-mediated photochemical activity. However, their photosystem II (PSII) complexes were fully active. The loss of the PsaA and PsaB proteins and their associated chlorophyll molecules resulted in a five- to sevenfold decrease in the chlorophyll/PSII ratio in the mutant cells relative to the wild-type cells. Interestingly, the psaB::NmR and not the psaA::NmR mutant strain retained a small fluorescence peak (77K) at 721 nm originating from chlorophyll molecule(s) presumably bound to a small amount of the PsaA protein present in the psaB mutant. These results demonstrate that this organism is suitable for the manipulation of PSI reaction-centre proteins.

Anabaena↗
PubMed1993

Characterization of genes for an alternative nitrogenase in the cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis.

Anabaena variabilis ATCC 29413 is a heterotrophic, nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium that has been reported to fix nitrogen and reduce acetylene to ethane in the absence of molybdenum. DNA from this strain hybridized well at low stringency to the nitrogenase 2 (vnfDGK) genes of Azotobacter vinelandii. The hybridizing region was cloned from a lambda EMBL3 genomic library of A. variabilis, mapped, and sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequences of the vnfD and vnfK genes of A. variabilis showed only about 56% similarity to the nifDK genes of Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 but were 76 to 86% similar to the anfDK or vnfDK genes of A. vinelandii. The organization of the vnf gene cluster in A. variabilis was similar to that of A. vinelandii. However, in A. variabilis, the vnfG gene was fused to vnfD; hence, this gene is designated vnfDG. A vnfH gene was not contiguous with the vnfDG gene and has not yet been identified. A mutant strain, in which a neomycin resistance cassette was inserted into the vnf cluster, grew well in a medium lacking a source of fixed nitrogen in the presence of molybdenum but grew poorly when vanadium replaced molybdenum. In contrast, the parent strain grew equally well in media containing either molybdenum or vanadium. The vnf genes were transcribed in the absence of molybdenum, with or without vanadium. The vnf gene cluster did not hybridize to chromosomal DNA from Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 or from the heterotrophic strains, Nostoc sp. strain Mac and Nostoc sp. strain ATCC 29150. A hybridizing ClaI fragment very similar in size to the A. variabilis ClaI fragment was present in DNA isolated from several independent, cultured isolates of Anabaena sp. from the Azolla symbiosis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Model system using coliphage phi X174 for testing virus removal by air filters.

Short-term (15-min-duration) and long-term (5- to 6-day-duration) test procedures have been developed for determining the efficiency of the removal of bacteriophage phi X174 by air-sterilizing filters. These procedures were sensitive enough to measure a 10(8)-fold reduction in the number of bacteriophage. A filter commonly used in industrial air sterilizations (Domnick-Hunter Bio-X borosilicate glass) effected a 10(8)-fold removal of viable phage in both short-term and long-term tests. A prototype low-flux, hollow-fiber membrane gave similar results; however, a prototype high-flux, hollow-fiber membrane removed only about 99.999% of the bacteriophage in short-term tests.

Coliphages↗