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Biomedical subjects

U Neumann

Publications and source records attributed to U Neumann.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

[Comparative studies of paramyxovirus isolates from wild birds].

As a result of a surveillance programme in North-Germany, paramyxovirus-isolates of serogroup 1 with different pathogenicity were isolated from different species of feral birds (Black-headed gull, mallard, tawny owl, tree sparrow, mute swan). In chick embryo fibroblast monolayers these isolates produced plaques exhibiting different plaque morphology. After cloning the isolates, further physicochemical, serological and pathogenicity testings were performed. On the basis of mean death time and intracerebral pathogenicity index, two of the isolates were found to be avirulent (lentogenic), whereas the others proved to be virulent (velogenic). SDS-Polyacrylamide-gel-electrophoresis showed polypeptide patterns similar to that of the PMV-1 reference strains. Summarizing all relevant findings of these investigations under consideration of the suggestions for the virological description of avian PMV (Alexander, 1987; Alexander et al., 1987; Who-Expert-Committee, 1980), including the recently established serotyping by means of monoclonal antibodies, the following designations of the PMV isolates tested herein are proposed: 1. PMV-1/black-headed gull/Germany/SSP-233/83, lentogenic NDV, monoclonal antibody group G 2. PMV-1/mallard/Germany/SSP-284/83, lentogenic NDV, monoclonal antibody group H 3. PMV-1/tawny owl/Germany/SSP-262/84, velogenic NDV, monoclonal antibody group B 4. PMV-1/tree sparrow nestling/Germany/SSP-352/84, velogenic NDV, monoclonal antibody group B 5. PMV-1/mute swan/Germany/SSP-204/85, velogenic NDV, monoclonal antibody group B.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

The rate of Wallerian degeneration in the absence of immunoglobulins. A study in chick and mouse peripheral nerve.

Sciatic nerves undergoing Wallerian degeneration are subject to massive invasion by monocytes bearing Fc receptors. The present experiments were done to explore the potential role of the Fc receptors. The effect of suppressed immunoglobulin levels on the rate of Wallerian degeneration was studied in the n. medioulnaris of the chick and in murine sciatic nerve. In the avian model, total immunoglobulin production was eliminated by bursectomy. The mice were injected after birth with antibodies against IgM, causing a selective reduction of immunoglobulin M levels. Myelin degeneration was measured in both groups by computer-assisted line sampling and corrected for intrafascicular edema. In both models, there were only minor differences with the controls. Immunoglobulins, accordingly, do not seem to play a significant role in the efficiency of myelin phagocytosis by monocytes during Wallerian degeneration. The study also includes data on the degree and the distribution of edema in nerves undergoing Wallerian degeneration.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Enzymic properties of intestinal aminopeptidase P: a new continuous assay.

A continuous photometric assay of aminopeptidase P activity was developed which is based on a coupled enzymic assay with the substrate Gly-Pro-Pro-pNA and DPP IV as auxiliary enzyme. This assay was used to evaluate the kinetic parameters and inhibitory profile of intestinal brush border aminopeptidase P.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1987

P300 and anticipated task difficulty.

Recently, it has been shown that P300 measures depend on stimulus evaluation processes. This paper explores the effect of messages informing about the degree of difficulty of subsequent tasks on the P300 component. Ten healthy volunteers were asked to solve mental arithmetic tasks of graduated difficulty. The degree of difficulty was announced by messages which preceded the tasks and which were used as P300 eliciting stimuli. Measurements of the amplitude and latency of P300 components from 3 brain regions (Fz, Cz, Pz) were collected selectively for each category of task difficulty announced. Subjective ratings of difficulty and the frequency of errors confirmed the monotonic increase of task difficulty from categories I to VI. The mean P300 amplitude in categories I-VI showed a U-shaped trend, i.e. the highest amplitude occurred in the extreme categories 'extremely easy' and 'very difficult'. No significant effect of stimulus categories on P300 peak latencies was found. It is concluded that the P300 amplitude reflects an evaluation in the sense of distance judgements on an internal scale which in this study concerned the task difficulty.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

An enzymatic method for calibration of serum lipase assays.

An enzymatic method for the calibration of a turbidimetric lipase assay is described, based on measurement of free fatty acids liberated by the action of lipase. The substrate of the turbidimetric assay is a colipase-containing triolein emulsion. For determination of the free fatty acids a commercial test kit including acyl-CoA synthetase, acyl-CoA oxidase, and peroxidase is used. Intra- and interassay imprecision (CV) is about 5% at above-normal lipase activities, about 10% at normal values. Temperature coefficients are 1.24 and 1.45, respectively, for measurements at 30 and 37 degrees C vs 25 degrees C.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Optimized conditions for determining activity concentration of alpha-amylase in serum, with 1,4-alpha-D-4-nitrophenylmaltoheptaoside as substrate.

We describe a method for measuring the catalytic activity of alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) in serum and urine, by use of a defined substrate: 1,4-alpha, D-4-nitrophenyl maltoheptaoside. We use a phosphate buffer of pH 7.10, containing chloride as activator and alpha-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.20) as the auxiliary enzyme. After a lag phase of 4 min at 25 degrees C or 30 degrees C, or 3 min at 37 degrees C, the increase of absorption of 4-nitrophenol is measured at 410 nm or 405 nm. The pH value of the assay mixture is a compromise between optimum pH for the alpha-amylase reaction, shortest possible lag phase, and an acceptable absorptivity of 4-nitrophenol. Because the dissociation of 4-nitrophenol depends strongly on pH and temperature, we determined its absorptivity with various combinations of these variables in the assay. Heparin-treated plasma can be used, but not EDTA, fluoride, or citrate. Lipemia, hemoglobin less than or equal to mumol/L, bilirubin less than or equal to 170 mumol/L, glucose less than or equal to 100 mmol/L, and ascorbic acid less than or equal to 1 mmol/L of sample do not interfere in the assay.

Buffers↗
PubMed1984

Inhibition of in vitro lymphocyte blastogenesis by chicken alpha-fetoprotein.

Chicken alpha-fetoprotein (ch-AFP), purified from fetal chicken serum and embryo extracts, respectively, was examined for its immunomodulatory effect in vitro. Significant (P less than 0.05) suppression of the allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) was observed, when these preparations were added to one-way mixed lymphocyte cultures (MLC) in quantities of 62.5-1000 micrograms/ml. Suppression of the MLR was depending on the presence of ch-AFP for at least 16 h after initiation of the MLC, suggesting that this fetal protein was acting mainly in the early phase of lymphoblastogenesis. Serum of chicken embryos (12th and 15th day of incubation), day-old chickens, and of 10-week-old chickens of four different inbred lines were also found to exert suppression of the MLR. From these data, it is hypothesized that ch-AFP plays an immunoregulatory role by maintaining a certain stage of self tolerance during differentiation of the avian immune system.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1984

Studies on lectin affinities of chicken alpha-fetoprotein during ontogeny.

Alpha-fetoprotein in the sera of chicken embryos (ch-AFP) of the 7th, 10th, 13th, 16th, and 19th day of incubation and of one-day-old chickens were examined in crossed-immunoaffino-electrophoresis (CIAE) using different lectins [concanavalin A (Con A), lentil, wheat germ lectin, and soybean lectin] as ligands. Differences in lectin affinities, suggesting different degrees or forms of glycosylation of ch-AFP during ontogeny, were demonstrated by this method. Sera of chicken embryos of the same stages were also subjected to Con A affinity chromatography and the elution patterns were evaluated qualitatively in CIAE and quantitatively in rocket immunoelectrophoresis. These experiments revealed a major Con A-nonreactive and a minor Con A-reactive fraction at the 7th day of incubation. In contrast, a minor Con A nonreactive fraction and a major Con A-reactive fraction were observed at later stages of embryonic life. Extracts from embryos of the 8th and 15th day of incubation did not exhibit heterogeneity when subjected to CIAE. The biological significance of these observations, as well as the biological role of AFP in general, remains to be elucidated. Examination of ch-AFP glycosylation patterns might be included into the spectrum of analyses when certain early teratological processes in the chicken embryo are to be monitored. In addition, these molecular changes have to be considered when in vitro or in vivo experiments on the biological, especially immunological, role of ch-AFP are envisaged.

Animals↗