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U Ehlert

Publications and source records attributed to U Ehlert.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Constitutively increased micronuclei are predominantly caused by acentric fragments.

The frequency of kinetochore (centromere)-positive micronuclei (MN) was determined in 32 fibroblast cell lines. We tested 16 probands with spontaneously high MN levels (greater than or equal to 20 MN/500 cells (4%] and 8 probands (controls) with low MN levels (less than or equal to 13 MN/500 cells (2.6%]. To study whether the elevation of MN levels is due to increased chromosomal breakage we used the antikinetochore antibody fluorescent staining method. Probands with spontaneously high MN had kinetochore-positive MN increased by a factor 2.1 compared to the controls whereas the kinetochore-negative MN were increased by a factor 6.14. This shows that spontaneous elevation of MN is mainly caused by increased chromosomal breakage and only in a minor proportion by chromosome segregation errors as a consequence of spindle defects.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Increased UV-induced sister-chromatid exchange in cultured fibroblasts of first-degree relatives of melanoma patients.

Cultured fibroblasts of 17 first-degree relatives of familial melanoma patients and six first-degree relatives of cutaneous melanoma (CMM) patients with multiple CMM primaries were tested for in vitro sensitivity to UV light. Fibroblasts of nine familial CMM patients with a known UV-sensitivity and 19 healthy probands served as a control. Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) was used as a parameter to detect UV-induced genotoxic damage. We found significantly (p less than 0.001) increased UV-induced SCE levels in familial melanoma patients, as well as in first-degree relatives of familial melanoma patients (p less than 0.001) after UV-A,B irradiation (375 J/m2), compared to the healthy probands without a family history of CMM. A significant (p less than 0.001) increase of UV-induced SCE was also observed in the relatives of CMM patients with multiple CMM primaries. In addition, the spontaneous SCE were significantly increased (p less than 0.05) in familial CMM patients. This study shows that increased UV sensitivity is a familial phenomenon. It is consistent with the concept of a genetic predisposition to CMM, which is based on increased UV sensitivity and may help to define groups with an elevated risk of developing cutaneous malignant melanoma.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1990

Postpartum blues: salivary cortisol and psychological factors.

The relationships between several psychological variables and salivary cortisol levels were investigated in 70 young mothers throughout the first five days following the delivery of a healthy baby. We hypothesized that postpartum blues is associated with ineffective coping strategies, high anxiety levels, and elevated salivary cortisol concentrations. Data analysis revealed that symptoms of postpartum blues occurred more frequently in women who reported high levels of trait-anxiety, passive coping strategies, marital dissatisfaction, or acceptance of their role as a mother. These women had elevated morning levels of cortisol on those days on which the symptoms appeared in contrast to those days without symptoms as well as in contrast to those women who did not experience postpartum blues.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1990

[Reconstructive surgery in tracheobronchial tumors].

Malignant tumours are the most frequent indications for reconstructive tracheobronchial surgery. From 1970 to 15.6. 1989 there were 95 reconstructive operations on the tracheobronchial tree from this indication. Primary tumours of the trachea and the bifurcation are very rare, especially benign tumours. All tumours of the trachea and the bifurcation have need of a reconstruction, while this is an elective operation on the bronchial tree. The purpose of these operations is the preservation of lung tissue despite of radical resection. The main problem ist the insufficiency of the anastomosis (n = 6) associated with an acute pulmonary hemorrhage (n = 4) and death. The perioperative mortality was 9.5%.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Increased numbers of spontaneous micronuclei in blood lymphocytes and cultures fibroblasts of individuals with familial cutaneous malignant melanoma.

In vitro detection of micronuclei was used to determine spontaneous chromosomal instability in cultured fibroblasts of 28 healthy normal controls, 28 individuals with nonfamilial cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) and 14 people with familial occurrence of CMM. Lymphocytes from 40 healthy controls, 40 CMM patients and 6 individuals with familial CMM were also compared for spontaneous expression of micronuclei in vitro. In the familial cases micronucleus frequency was found to be higher, both in cultured fibroblasts (P less than 0.005) and in lymphocytes (P less than 0.001) as compared to normal controls. There was no significant difference between nonfamilial cases and normal controls. We conclude that chromosomal instability may contribute to a genetic risk for development of cutaneous malignant melanoma.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Reconstructive surgery in tracheobronchial injuries].

The cause of traumatic tracheobronchial lesions are ruptures as result of blunt trauma, penetrating injuries, iatrogenic manipulations and aspirated fixed foreign bodies. Such lesions are relatively rare. Tracheobronchial lesions with clinical relevance were detected in an acceptable time after the trauma. Emergency tracheobronchoscopy is of great importance for the diagnosis. In the most of patients with bronchial ruptures we have been able to avoid a lung resection by the early operation with direct suture.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Determinants of a genotoxic effect of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) in human diploid fibroblasts.

The induction of micronuclei was studied in human diploid fibroblasts incubated in the presence of the tobacco-specific nitrosamine NNK. We used four fibroblast strains having a high capacity of O6-alkylguanine DNA alkyltransferase (13.0-23.3 pmol O6-methylguanine repaired per 8 x 10(6) cells) and four strains that showed no detectable repair capacity. Incubation with NNK doubled the frequency of micronuclei in repair-deficient cells but failed to evoke any effect in the proficient cell strains. Control experiments were performed with the direct methylating agent MNNG and in the presence of inhibitors of either metabolic activation or alkyltransferase. The results showed that the genotoxicity of NNK is dependent on the relationship between its metabolic activation and the constitutive DNA repair. This supports earlier findings that low constitutive levels of O6-alkylguanine DNA alkyltransferase may increase susceptibility to lung cancer after exposure to DNA methylating agents.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Psychoneuroendocrinological contributions to the etiology of depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and stress-related bodily disorders: the role of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Following the assumption that stressors play an important part in the etiology and maintenance of psychiatric disorders, it is necessary to evaluate parameters reflecting stress-related physiological reactions. Results from these examinations may help to deepen the insight into the etiology of psychiatric disorders and to elucidate diagnostic uncertainties. One of the best-known stress-related endocrine reactions is the hormonal release of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Dysregulations of this axis are associated with several psychiatric disorders. Profound hyperactivity of the HPA-axis has been found in melancholic depression, alcoholism, and eating disorders. In contrast, posttraumatic stress disorder, stress-related bodily disorders like idiopathic pain syndromes, and chronic fatigue syndrome seem to be associated with diminished HPA activity (lowered activity of the adrenal gland). Hypotheses referring to (a) the psychophysiological meaning and (b) the development of these alterations are discussed.

Arousal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Abuse-related posttraumatic stress disorder and alterations of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in women with chronic pelvic pain.

OBJECTIVE: Although numerous organic conditions may cause chronic pelvic pain (CPP), diagnostic laparoscopy reveals a normal pelvis in many patients with CPP. However, psychological studies yield a high frequency of psychopathology and increased prevalences of chronic stress and traumatic life events, ie, sexual and physical abuse, in women with CPP, suggesting a relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and CPP. As chronic stress and PTSD have been associated with specific alterations of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, we explored stress history, psychopathology and HPA axis alterations in women with CPP. METHOD: We recruited 16 patients with CPP and 14 painfree, infertile controls from a general hospital where diagnostic laparoscopy was performed. Psychological assessment included standardized interviews on clinical symptoms, abuse experiences and major life events as well as psychometric testing for PTSD-like symptoms and depression. Endocrinological evaluation involved determinations of diurnal salivary cortisol levels and hormonal responses to a corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) stimulation test (100 microg human CRF) and a low-dose dexamethasone suppression test (0.5 mg). RESULTS: We observed increased prevalences of abuse experiences and PTSD in women with CPP as well as a higher total number of major life events, whereas the mean extent of depression was within the normal range. With respect to endocrine measures, women with CPP demonstrated normal to low diurnal salivary cortisol levels, normal plasma-adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), but reduced salivary cortisol levels in the CRF stimulation test, and an enhanced suppression of salivary cortisol by dexamethasone. CONCLUSION: Women with CPP demonstrate HPA axis alterations, that partly parallel and partly contrast neuroendocrine correlates of PTSD, but show marked similarity to findings in patients with other stress-related bodily disorders. These findings suggest that a lack of protective properties of cortisol may be of relevance for the development of bodily disorders in chronically stressed or traumatized individuals.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Chronic pelvic pain as a somatoform disorder.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine whether psychiatric disturbances, particularly somatization, and an increased number of traumatic and critical life events, which have been found in women with idiopathic chronic pelvic pain (ICPP), can also be observed in women with chronic pelvic pain and abdominal adhesions (ACPP). METHODS: Forty women who underwent diagnostic laparoscopy were subdivided into three groups according to blind rated somatic pathologies: ICPP patients (n = 16), ACPP patients (n = 10), infertile controls without pain (n = 14). Besides the standardized assessment of DSM-III-R diagnosis, questionnaires and semistandardized interviews were used to estimate depression, somatization, pain, the prevalence of sexual and physical abuse, and the number of critical life events. RESULTS: Diagnostic criteria for somatoform pain disorder were fullfilled in 73.3% of the ICPP patients, 60% of the ACPP patients and none of the controls. With respect to the somatization symptom checklist the two pain groups scored significantly higher than the controls (p < 0.05). Referring to perceived pain, ACPP patients differed from the ICPP patients by one out of seven subscales (higher persistence of pain; p < 0.05). No correlation was found between the intensity of pain and the severity of classified adhesions. The two groups of pain patients significantly differed from controls by a higher prevalence of sexual abuse (p < 0.05). Depression was found neither in the pain groups nor in the controls. CONCLUSIONS: Because high somatization and high prevalence rates of abuse were not only found in patients suffering from ICPP but also in ACPP patients, it seems to be doubtful that the somatic pathology may fully explain the psychopathology in patients with ACPP.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Attachment representation and cortisol response to the adult attachment interview in idiopathic spasmodic torticollis.

OBJECTIVE: The study investigates individual differences in the mental representation of attachment and their impact on the cortisol response to psychosocial stress in idiopathic spasmodic torticollis (IST). It was hypothesized (a) that in IST insecure attachment is more prevalent than in a non-clinical control group and (b) that subjects with dismissing attachment respond with higher physiological arousal to a specific stimulus activating the attachment behavioural system than subjects with secure attachment. METHOD: 20 patients with IST and 20 healthy controls matched for age and sex underwent the Adult Attachment Interview, an hour-long, semiclinical interview on attachment experiences. During the interview salivary cortisol levels were monitored. The subjects' mental state with regard to attachment was classified using the attachment Q-sort method. Anxiety and depression were measured as potential covariates of the adrenocortical stress response. RESULTS: Compared to the non-clinical group, dismissing attachment was strongly overrepresented in IST. In IST, but not in the healthy control group, dismissing attachment correlated with an elevated cortisol response to the interview. CONCLUSION: In clinical, but not in non-clinical samples dismissing attachment may be associated with increased vulnerability to psychosocial stress. The factors contributing to this interaction are not yet fully elucidated.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Assessment of cortisol response with low-dose and high-dose ACTH in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and healthy comparison subjects.

A reduced secretion of cortisol has been proposed as a possible explanation of the symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome. However, the evidence of hypocortisolism in chronic fatigue syndrome is conflicting. In order to simultaneously assess possible alterations in adrenocortical sensitivity and secretory adrenal reserve, the authors administered both low-dose and high-dose ACTH to a group of 18 chronic fatigue syndrome patients and 18 age- and gender-matched healthy comparison subjects. No response differences for salivary and plasma cortisol were detectable after administration of either low-dose or high-dose ACTH, indicating that primary adrenal insufficiency is unlikely to play a significant role in the etiology of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Effects of psychological treatment in the general hospital: follow-up study of patients with somatoform behavior].

Over a period of 35 month patients with psychic disorders were treated by a psychological consultation-liaison-service during their stay at a general hospital. A follow-up investigation using a questionnaire was carried out in 1990 in patients with somatization. 66.6% of the patients with somatization took part in the investigation. 47.6% of these patients initiated a psychosomatic treatment after discharge from hospital. 62.8% of the patients described their general state of health as improved. The frequency of symptoms and the amount of restrictions in cause of symptoms could be explained by two factors: Patients without an opportunity to continue a psychosomatic treatment and patients who anticipated negative consequences in case of a psychosomatic treatment reported significantly more complaints and a worse health status.

Adaptation, Psychological↗