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U Schultz

Publications and source records attributed to U Schultz.

35 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Recombinant chicken interferon: a potent antiviral agent that lacks intrinsic macrophage activating factor activity.

Crude preparations of chicken interferon (ChIFN) from various sources contain both antiviral and macrophage-activating factor (MAF) activity. Previous serological data indicated that unlike mammals, birds might express only a single type of IFN in response to viruses and mitogens that exhibits both activities. We have now expressed a complementary DNA for virus-induced ChIFN in transfected COS cells and in Escherichia coli. Purified recombinant ChIFN is a powerful antiviral agent and has high Mx promoter-inducing activity. However, as the sole agent, recombinant ChIFN lacks MAF activity: it does not induce the secretion of nitric oxide in primary monocyte-derived chicken macrophages. A neutralizing antiserum prepared against cloned ChIFN blocks most of the antiviral and Mx promoter-inducing activity present in preparations of natural ChIFN, but does not inhibit the MAF activity. These results demonstrate that chicken cells can be induced to secrete a novel cytokine which probably represents the avian homolog of mammalian IFN-gamma.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

The interferon-induced Mx protein of chickens lacks antiviral activity.

cDNA sequencing revealed that chick Mx protein consists of 705 amino acids. Its 84 N-terminal amino acids show no significant sequence homology to other Mx proteins. They are followed by 514 residues that include a tripartite GTP binding consensus motif. This region shows 50-70% sequence identity to mammalian and duck Mx proteins. Sequences near the C terminus, including a leucine zipper motif, are also conserved, whereas the intervening 19 amino acids lack sequence similarity. This unique sequence corresponds to a highly variable region in mammalian Mx proteins, suggesting that it serves as a spacer between functional domains. Chick and mouse cells transiently transfected with cDNA expression constructs synthesized chick Mx protein at a level that could easily be detected with specific antibodies. Chick Mx protein in such cells was mainly cytoplasmic and had a granular appearance. Permanently transfected cell lines expressing high levels of chick Mx protein could not be established, suggesting low metabolic stability of chick Mx protein or incompatibility with cell proliferation. The antiviral activity of chick Mx protein was tested at the single-cell level using immunofluorescence techniques. Transfected cells expressing chick Mx protein showed no enhanced resistance to influenza A virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, Thogoto virus, or Sendai virus. Thus, chick Mx joins the list of Mx proteins without recognized antiviral activity, supporting the concept that Mx proteins serve unrelated functions.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1995

Interferon regulatory factor 1 is required for mouse Gbp gene activation by gamma interferon.

Full-scale transcriptional activation of the mouse Gbp genes by gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) requires protein synthesis in embryonic fibroblasts. Although the Gbp-1 and Gbp-2 promoters contain binding sites for transcription factors Stat1 and IFN regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1), deletion analysis revealed that the Stat1 binding site is dispensable for IFN-gamma inducibility of Gbp promoter constructs in transfected fibroblasts. However, activation of the mouse Gbp promoter by IFN-gamma requires transcription factor IRF-1. Transient overexpression of IRF-1 cDNA in mouse fibroblasts resulted in high-level expression of Gbp promoter constructs. Unlike wild-type cells, IRF-1% embryonic stem cells lacking functional transcription factor IRF-1 contained very low levels of Gbp transcripts that were not increased in response to differentiation or treatment with IFN-gamma. Treatment of IRF-1% mice with IFN-gamma resulted in barely detectable levels of Gbp RNA in spleens, lungs, and livers, whereas such treatment induced high levels of Gbp RNA in the organs of wild-type mice. These observations suggest two alternative pathways for transcriptional induction of genes in response to IFN-gamma: immediate response that results from activation of preformed Stat1 and delayed response that results from induced de novo synthesis of transcription factor IRF-1.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1994

The chicken Mx promoter contains an ISRE motif and confers interferon inducibility to a reporter gene in chick and monkey cells.

Genomic DNA containing the first four exons and upstream sequences of the interferon (IFN)-inducible chicken Mx gene was cloned and sequenced. The exon/intron structure of the chicken Mx gene resembles that of the mouse Mx1 gene: exon 1 is very small, the first intron contains a noncoding exon 1' that is alternatively spliced in different chicken breeds and exon 2 harbors the ATG initiation codon. Exons 3 and 4 of the chicken and mouse Mx genes have identical lengths and the encoded polypeptides show a high degree of homology. Sequences upstream of the transcription start site functioned as an IFN-inducible promoter in chick and monkey cells when cloned in front of a promoterless luciferase reporter gene. Deletion analysis suggested that the sequence 5'AGTTTCGTTTCT3' is of critical importance for inducibility. It conforms to the consensus sequence of the IFN-stimulated response element (ISRE) present in Mx and other IFN-alpha/beta-inducible promoters of mammals. These results suggest that the ISRE motif has been conserved and that it regulates expression of IFN-inducible genes in both mammals and birds.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[The tick fauna of eastern Germany].

The occurrence of several tick species in selected areas of Eastern Germany is described. From May 1987 till December 1989 8,472 ticks from 430 places were examined. Ixodidae of the genus Ixodes, Dermacentor and Haemaphysalis as well as Argasidae of the genus Argas were identified. The most common species was Ixodes ricinus. Furthermore, an endemic area of Dermacentor reticulatus was detected in the Düben-Dahlen and Annaburg health. Two other species of ticks, which were found frequently and sometimes with a high intensity on the host were Ixodes hexagonus and Ixodes canisuga. On the other side the species Haemaphysalis concinna and Argas vespertilionis were present at only one respectively two places and with a low population density.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Evolution of pig influenza viruses.

There is evidence that the nucleoprotein (NP) gene of the classical swine virus (A/Swine/1976/31) clusters with the early human strains at the nucleotide sequence level, while at the level of the amino acid sequence, as defined by consensus amino acids and in functional tests, its NP is clearly "avian like." Therefore it was suggested that the Sw/31 NP had been recently under strong selection pressure, possibly caused by reassortment with other avian influenza genes, whose gene products have to cooperate intimately with NP (Gammelin et al., 1989. Virology 170, 71-80). This suggestion has been investigated by sequencing the genes of internal and nonstructural proteins of Sw/31. The data on these sequences and on the phylogenetic trees are not in accordance with that suggestion: all these genes cluster with the early human strains at the nucleotide level while, at the level of the amino acid sequence, most of them are more closely related to the avian strains, thus resembling NP in this respect. This indicates that these genes rather evolved concomitantly with the NP gene. Our data are in agreement with the suggestion that, at about the time of the Spanish Flu (1918/19), a human influenza A (H1N1) virus entered the pig population. Furthermore, it is known that the NP of the human influenza A viruses--in contrast to that of the avian and swine strains--has been under strong selection pressure to change (Gammelin et al., 1990. Mol. Biol. Evol. 7, 194-200. Gorman et al., 1990a. J. Virol. 64, 1487-1497). Thus, after transfer of a human strain into pigs, the selection pressure might be released, enabling the NP and the other genes of the swine virus to evolve back to the optimal avian sequences, especially at the functionally important consensus positions. The swine influenza viruses circulating since 1979 in Northern Europe--represented by A/Swine/Germany/2/81 (H1N1)--have all genes, so far examined, derived from an avian influenza virus pool and are different from the classical swine viruses.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Phylogenetic relationship of the nonstructural (NS) genes of influenza A viruses.

Phylogenetic trees were constructed using 38 sequences of the A group and 10 sequences of the B group of the NS gene of influenza A viruses. Within the A group we found avian as well as mammalian influenza a viruses, while within the B group exclusively avian strains were found. The avian and human NS genes of the A group were derived from a common ancestor existing at about 1912. At 13 positions of the amino acid sequences of the NS1 protein two subtypes of the A group can be differentiated, a human and a non-human subtype. Starting at the time of the introduction of an avian PB1 gene into human strains during the antigenic shift at 1957 the NS1 protein of the human strains came under an enhanced selection pressure which might indicate a cooperation of the NS1 protein with and adaptation of the NS1 protein on the newly introduced PB1 gene. Such a selection pressure on the NS2 protein is completely missing. Comparison of all sequences of the NS1 protein revealed four highly conserved regions within the amino-terminal half of the molecule. One of this regions seems to contain the nuclear migration signal. The carboxy-terminal half is completely variable and seems to be dispensable.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

[Psychoanalytic treatment of a lustful murderess 1930].

In the course of collecting historical material about the first psychoanalytic in-patient clinic ("Sanatorium Schloss Tegel") in the years 1927-1931, the authors discovered an unpublished typescript by Ernst Simmel entitled "Neurotic criminality and lust murder". On the basis of clinic records, excerpts from letters, and personal information, the authors supplement Simmel's treatment report of a lust murderess with a historical, documentary text, which is followed by Simmel's paper.

Antisocial Personality Disorder↗
PubMed1989

[Early psychoanalytic concepts of pain].

It is amazing how small a proportion of the very extensive psychoanalytic literature is devoted to the psychoanalytic understanding of pain and how much less to a pain-theory. Reviewing the history of psychoanalytically orientated pain-concepts up to 1933--mostly concerning "psychogenic" pain--Sigmund Freuds remarks are reaching from autobiographical notices up to his case histories ("Studien über Hysterie"), in which pain is one of the dominating conversionsymptoms. Psychoanalytic observations on pain are also made by Sandor Ferenczi, Wilhelm Stekel, Edoardo Weiss, Anna Freud and Ernst Simmel--one of the pioneers in psychosomatic research--who developed an unknown theory of an earliest postnatal intestinal libido for a better understanding of somatogenic pain.

Freudian Theory↗
PubMed1989

[Clinical and computed tomographic follow-up of conservatively treated disk prolapse].

Of a total of 238 patients suffering from root compression syndrome, 41 successfully conservatively treated patients were followed up both clinically and via CT. At follow-up time they were all largely free from complaints. 71% showed unchanged prolapse on CT examination. 29% had a moderate or marked regression of disk prolapse. All unchanged cases of prolapse were medial prolapses. The reason for regression of the sequestered disk tissue is discussed controversially and has not been satisfactorily clarified to date. Improvement of findings in unchanged prolapse is mainly explained by the adaptability of the root if there is enough space for shifting.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[Course of conservatively treated acute lumbar root compression syndrome. A computer tomography controlled study].

Of 129 patients with an acute lumbar root compression syndrome due to disc herniation 21, who were symptom-free, were examined by computed tomography (CT) on average 276 days after a three-step regimen of conservative treatment. In no instance had there been a deterioration of the original findings. In 14 patients the CT picture continued to demonstrate disc herniation, although the patients were without symptoms. In two patients a moderate, in five a marked regression of herniation was demonstrated by CT. Clinical improvement without change in the CT picture points to the compression syndrome not being explainable solely in mechanical terms. As a matter of fact, a possible cause may be a disturbance of radicular blood supply resulting in oedematous root swelling which is usually masked in the CT by prolapsed disc tissue. There is as yet no easy explanation for regression in case of prolapsed, perhaps even sequestered, disc tissue. It is possible that there have been reparative processes, such as have been described histopathologically in form of ingrown vessels. More plausibly would be a separation of the herniated and/or sequestered disc tissue in form of an asymptomatic sliding into the terminal caudal region.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Rehabilitation prognosis in the onset of epilepsy following entry into professional life].

The type of occupation proposed as well as factors determining these proposals, i.e. vocational prognosis, were examined in 58 persons to be rehabilitated who already had been integrated into working life at the time of epilepsy onset and participated in a one- to three-week vocational assessment programme in a vocational training center. Suggestions for vocational retraining were made to 49 of the 58 clients, with clerical occupations proposed to almost half of them, manual ones to appr. one third, and technical training to a sixth of the clients. This distribution of training suggestions is the reverse of the clients' former occupations, and did not always meet the wishes expressed by the clients. Careful evaluation and counselling might reduce some of these discrepancies. The level of the occupational training proposed was influenced most strongly by work rate, with dosage of anticonvulsive drugs being the most important factor in slowing the clients' pace. Psychological problems were common, did however not primarily influence the level of training proposed, but rather the decision between vocational training vs. invalidity pension or medical treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Traumatic occlusion of both internal carotid arteries.

Two cases of bilateral occlusion of the extracranial internal carotid artery after blunt trauma to the head and neck are presented. Sixteen similar cases have been reported in the literature, and at least 150 case reports exist on unilateral blunt trauma of carotid arteries. The 25-day post-traumatic latent interval in one of our cases is the longest to date. The diagnosis of both of our cases was established by directional cw-Dopplersonography, whereas previously the only diagnostic method available in cases with negative CT scan and latent interval was angiography. In the differential diagnosis of craniocerebral or craniocervical trauma, particularly following delay between injury and onset of neurological symptoms, Dopplersonography is a necessary test additional.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

[Clinical manifestations and therapy of dysgerminomas (author's transl)].

Due to improved graduated surgery techniques and large-field radiotherapy applied in all cases, the ovarial dysgerminoma has become a disease showing a high rate of recoveries. Under consideration of their own medical records, the authors present the relevant epidemiologic and clinical parameters, establish a diagnosis programme and develop a therapeutic concept which also wants to take into account the individual requirements of patients regarding their age and their prognosis.

Adolescent↗