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Biomedical subjects

U Grimm

Publications and source records attributed to U Grimm.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Does the captopril test improve the diagnosis of primary hyperaldosteronism?].

Plasma concentrations of renin and aldosterone were measured before and 60 min after taking 25 mg captopril in 242 patients with arterial hypertension (124 men, 118 women, aged 51.9 +/- 12.7 years; unilateral aldosterone-producing adrenal adenoma in 8, idiopathic hyperaldosteronism in 16 and essential hypertension in 189). Basal plasma aldosterone levels were twice as high in those with adenoma or hyperaldosteronism (216.9 +/- 99.1 pg/ml and 256 +/- 123 pg/ml, respectively) as in those with essential hypertension (117.7 +/- 115 pg/ml). Basal renin levels in adenoma and idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (1 +/- 0.8 microU/ml and 2.6 +/- 1.9 microU/ml, respectively) were decreased compared with those in essential hypertension (13.1 +/- 14.2 microU/ml). The basal aldosterone/renin ratio was higher in adenoma (436 +/- 370 pg/microU) and idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (615 +/- 950 pg/microU) than in essential hypertension (52.9 +/- 151.3 pg/microU). The sensitivity of this ratio in combination with the aldosterone concentration was 100% for recognizing an adrenal adenoma, its specificity 92.7%. The mean plasma aldosterone level after captopril administration did not change in adenoma patients, but fell to 162 +/- 85 pg/ml (P less than 0.001) in those with idiopathic hyperaldosteronism. These data indicate that the captopril test contributes to distinguishing primary from idiopathic hyperaldosteronism.

Adenoma

PPADS, a novel functionally selective antagonist of P2 purinoceptor-mediated responses.

We have characterized PPADS (pyridoxalphosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonic acid) as a novel antagonist which selectively blocks P2 purinoceptor-mediated responses in rabbit vas deferens at pre- and postjunctional sites. PPADS did not interact with alpha 1-adrenoceptors, muscarinic M2 and M3 receptors, histamine H1 and adenosine A1 receptors. Thus, PPADS is a novel and useful pharmacological tool to study co-transmission in tissues where ATP and co-existing neurotransmitters act in concert.

Adenosine Triphosphate

The immunological evidence for a phenylalanine hydroxylase like immunoreactive protein in different human cells and tissues.

Phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) was purified 105-fold from human liver. The rel mol mass of the subunits in sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was 54,000 Da and the isoelectric point was estimated to be between pH 5.0 and 5.2. The activity of purified PAH was inhibited by p-Cl-phenylalanine (p-Cl-Phe), 3-J-tyrosine (3-J-Tyr) and 6-F-tryptophane (6-F-Trp) by 73%, 26% and 10%, respectively. The Km value was 0.36 x 10(-3) mol/l for L-Phe and 5.88 x 10(-5) mol/l for the synthetic cofactor dimethyltetrahydrobiopterin (DMPH4). Polyclonal antibodies raised in rabbits against the active human enzyme showed only a slight cross-reaction with purified rat liver PAH. Using the rabbit antibodies an immunoreactive protein with the same mol mass and isoelectric point as purified human liver PAH and PAH from crude liver extract was detected in extracts from kidney, heart, spleen, brain, pancreas, lung, placenta, leucocytes, cultured skin fibroblasts and chorionic villus cells.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay

Tryptophan metabolic studies in patients with presenile cataracts.

In 43 patients with presenile cataracts an oral tryptophan loading test with 5 g L-tryptophan was performed and the 24-hour urinary excretion of kynurenine and xanthurenic acid was determined. 5 cases showed pathological deviations and an excretion pattern of tryptophan metabolites via kynurenine, similar as in vitamin B6-dependent xanthurenic aciduria.

Adolescent

[The HLA and protease inhibitor (Pi) system in erythropoietic (hepatic) protoporphyria. Family studies].

Relations between porphyrias (porphyria cutanea tarda, variegate porphyria) and HLA- or protease inhibitor (Pi-) system were repeatedly found or supposed. Corresponding investigations do not exist for erythropoietic protoporphyria (EP), for which an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance with highly varying expressiveness (additional genes?) is being discussed. Three families with five EP-patients were examined for possible relations between the manifestations of this disease (skin - and liver changes) and the above-mentioned genetic markers. It was remarkable that three of the patients had the HLA A 3, but nobody of the obvious gene-carriers of this disease without clinical manifestations. On the other hand, two ill couples of siblings were genetically different as to HLA A 3. One couple with liver morphological changes each were different as Pi M-carrier and Pi MS-carrier respectively. Thus, relations between the disease and the genetic markers examined could not be proved.

Erythrocytes

[Studies of tryptophan metabolism in cancer of the urinary bladder].

In 100 patients suffering from urinary bladder cancer (pTA-4, Nx, M0-1, G0-3) we created an oral tryptophan load administering 5 g of L-type tryptophan. Thereafter the amount of both xanthurenic acid and kynurenin was determined quantitatively in the 24-hour urine. 16 patients revealed pathological test results and excretion pattern of tryptophan metabolites via kynurenin were similar to vitamin B6-dependent xanthurenic aciduria both in its homocygotic and heterocygotic pattern. It has not been possible to prove a direct correlation between xanthurenic aciduria and urinary bladder cancer. However, xanthurenic aciduria may be of significance as a risk factor in the etiopathogenesis of urinary bladder cancer.

Humans

[The acetylator phenotype in patients with urinary bladder cancer].

In 53 patients suffering from bladder cancer the acelylization phenotype was examined. The frequency of slow acetylizers (70%) was significantly higher than in the control group. The more frequently occurrence of slow acetylizers in the group with professional pollutant exposition is an important reference to a higher bladder cancer morbidity in the case of carcinogen contact. A screening of the acetylization phenotype in professions with carcinogen contact may be important in the prophylaxis of bladder cancer.

Acetylation

Coordination processes in a human motoneuronal pool.

Using two leads of a multielectrode the EMG from biceps brachii muscle in man was recorded. The test-persons were ordered to produce a sustained isometric flexion force in the elbow joint which they could control optically. In the range of about 3-5% of maximum force it was possible to identify 2-5 active motor units under this condition. Cross interval histograms were calculated showing two types of coordination between two simultaneously active motor units: 1st, periods of relative phase-coordination in different extent. This means that cross-intervals are fluctuating in a small range for short time periods. An arbitrary subdivision of the fluctuation ranges and the time periods into different classes shows that about 20-35% of the total of the cross-intervals are coordinated by relative phase dependence. In these cases the ratio of the mean discharge rates is 1:1 approximately. 2nd, another type of relationship -f the motor units active at the same time we have called "frequency coordination". This means that the fluctuations of cross-intervals around the mean discharge rate ratio are smaller than the fluctuations of the discharges of both single units around their own mean value. In these cases, which are more frequent than phase-coordination (up to 50%), the ratios of the mean discharge rates are 1:1,2 and more.

Action Potentials

[Diagnostic chorionic biopsies in the first trimester. Report of experiences over a 2 year period].

We report about 58 ultrasonographically guided transcervical chorionic villus biopsies from January 1985 to November 1987. Maternal age greater than 35 years (n = 28), followed by trisomy 21 or 18 (n = 10) were the mean indications. Biochemically evaluation of storage diseases (n = 6) and genomically DNA-analysis because of phenylketonuria (n = 2) were combined in each case with cytogenetic diagnosis. In the other cases certain indications were the reasons for biopsy. In 52 of 58 cases we were successful in biopsies and diagnoses. In the other 6 biopsy specimen we didn't found chorionic villi. 3 abortions we observed up to day 3 after operation (n = 3) and after 6 weeks (n = 1). Pathological findings were 1 trisomy 16, 1,47,XYY-karyotype and 1 embryo with phenylketonuria. Another reason for termination of pregnancy was male karyotype in a Morbus Duchenne-risk and 1 risk for Rett-syndrome. Meanwhile 30 healthy babies were born.

Adult

[Distribution of cystinuria subtypes in the Democratic Republic of Germany].

The classic cystinuria is a hereditary disorder characterized by a defective transport of cystine and the dibasic amino acids arginine, lysine and ornithine in the epithelial cells of the renale tubule and the gastrointestinal tract. The excretion patterns of cystine and the dibasic amino acids in 24-hour urine samples from heterozygotes can be used to the differentiation between the genetic subtypes. 120 probands in the age range from 3 to 70 years from 22 families with cystinuria were investigated by thin-layer chromatography and by ion exchange chromatography. In patients with cystinuria the genotype I-I has a frequency of 50%. These results and the distribution of the other subtypes are in accordance with published data. From 98 persons investigated in 22 families with cystinuria 14 run the risk to form cystine stones. Therefore, the knowledge of the subtypes is relevant for practice.

Adolescent