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Biomedical subjects

W Janssen

Publications and source records attributed to W Janssen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Forensic aspects of 40 accidental autoerotic deaths in Northern Germany.

Between 1983 and 2003, 40 accidental autoerotic fatalities have been investigated. in the Institute of Legal Medicine in Hamburg. Only 50% (n=20) were autopsied (13 legal autopsies, 6 for scientific purposes and 1 for an insurance company). All the victims were males, aged between 13 and 79 years (among them five children and adolescents, the deceased mainly between 20 and 40 years). The paraphiliacs utilized a great range of devices and props as fetishism, sexual aids or pain-stimulating agents, like intimate feminine garments, ropes, chains, bondages, locks, pornographic magazines, condoms, rubber items, and chemical anaesthetics. The cause of death was strangulation in 20 cases (17 x hanging, 3 x ligature strangulation), 11 x suffocation (8 x under plastic bags, 3 x with face-masks, 2 x thoracic compression, 1 x positional asphyxia, and 1 x cocaine intoxication). Five cases without autopsy remained unclear because of missing morphological and toxicological findings; it could not be differentiated between asphyxiation/intoxication/natural disease, although the scene characteristics seemed to be typical for autoerotic deaths. It is emphasized that the findings at the scene, the morphological and toxicological examination of the dead body (full autopsy as prerequisite) by experienced investigators and the personal history of the deceased have to be evaluated very carefully and intensely to reconstruct the accidental fatal autoerotic course accurately and undoubtedly (to exclude the possibility of sexual homicide, neglected killing, or suicide).

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Unusual phenomenology of autoerotic fatalities.

Between 1983 and 2003 forty accidental autoerotic deaths (all males, 13-79 years old) have been investigated at the Institute of Legal Medicine in Hamburg. Three cases with a rather unusual scenery are described in detail: (1) a 28-year-old fireworker was found hanging under a bridge in a peculiar bound belt system. The autopsy and the reconstruction revealed signs of asphyxiation, feminine underwear, and several layers of plastic clothing. (2) A 16-year-old pupil dressed with feminine plastic and rubber utensils fixed and strangulated himself with an electric wire. (3) A 28-year-old handicapped man suffered from progressive muscular dystrophy and was nearly unable to move. His bizarre sexual fantasies were exaggerating: he induced a nurse to draw plastic bags over his body, close his mouth with plastic strips, and put him in a rubbish container where he died from suffocation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Adult bone marrow stromal cells differentiate into neural cells in vitro.

Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) normally give rise to bone, cartilage, and mesenchymal cells. Recently, bone marrow cells have been shown to have the capacity to differentiate into myocytes, hepatocytes, and glial cells. We now demonstrate that human and mouse BMSC can be induced to differentiate into neural cells under experimental cell culture conditions. BMSC cultured in the presence of EGF or BDNF expressed the protein and mRNA for nestin, a marker of neural precursors. These cultures also expressed glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neuron-specific nuclear protein (NeuN). When labeled human or mouse BMSC were cultured with rat fetal mesencephalic or striatal cells, a small proportion of BMSC-derived cells differentiated into neuron-like cells expressing NeuN and glial cells expressing GFAP.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Angiographic assessment of prospectively determined non-invasive reperfusion indices in acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of non-invasive reperfusion indices in acute myocardial infarction, avoiding the possible need for acute coronary angiography and subsequent angioplasty. DESIGN: In a prospective angiographic study, seven potential ECG or clinical markers of reperfusion were analysed in 230 patients with acute myocardial infarction. In all patients two 12 lead ECGs were used: the ECG on admission and the ECG immediately before coronary angiography. Non-invasive markers of reperfusion determined just before coronary angiography were prospectively correlated to thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow. Data analysis correlated these non-invasive indices with coronary flow (analysis A: TIMI 2-3 v TIMI 0-1 flow; analysis B: TIMI 3 v TIMI 0-2 flow). RESULTS: A sudden decrease in chest pain was the most common sign of reperfusion (36%), followed by reduction in ST segment elevation by >/= 50% (30%), and the development of a terminal negative T wave (20%) in the lead with the highest ST segment elevation. Reduction in ST segment elevation by > or = 50% and the appearance of an accelerated idioventricular rhythm (AIVR) had the highest positive predictive value for reperfusion. For analyses A and B, the positive predictive values were 85% and 66% for resolution of ST segment elevation, and 94% and 59% for AIVR, respectively. The presence of three or more non-invasive markers of reperfusion predicted TIMI 3 flow accurately in 80% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: The prospective use of non-invasive indices of reperfusion is simple, practical, and can be of value in assessing coronary patency in patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction. Using these indices, discrimination between TIMI 0-1 and TIMI 2-3 flow can be made with good accuracy. However, TIMI 3 flow cannot be determined reliably. The use of such non-invasive indices depends on the goal of reperfusion.

Coronary Angiography↗
PubMed1994

Identification of genes encoding zinc finger proteins, non-histone chromosomal HMG protein homologue, and a putative GTP phosphohydrolase in the genome of Chilo iridescent virus.

Five RNA transcripts of about 1.2 to 1.7 kilobases were mapped to a part of the genome of insect iridescent virus type 6 (Chilo iridescent virus; CIV) between genome coordinates 0.832 and 0.856 within the EcoRI DNA fragment F. The nucleotide sequence of this particular region (5702 base pairs) of the CIV genome was determined. The DNA sequence contains a number of perfect direct, inverted, and palindromic repeats including three clusters of tandemly organized repetitive DNA elements located between the nucleotide positions 1534 to 1566, 3720 to 3780, and 4350 to 4450. Eight long open reading frames (ORFs; EF1 to 8) were detected in the sequenced region of the CIV genome. ORF EF1 encodes a putative protein of 221 amino acid residues (aa) that is closely related to eukaryotic nonhistone chromosomal proteins of the high mobility group (HMG) superfamily. Virus encoded homologues of HMG proteins have not been reported so far. The EF2 gene product (145 aa) contains a specific zinc finger motif and belongs to a distinct group of identified and putative zinc finger proteins including a second putative protein (239 aa) of CIV encoded in the EcoRI DNA fragment Y (1984 bp; 0.381 to 0.391 viral map units). The product of EF6 (127 aa) is related to D250 ORF product of African swine fever virus (ASFV) and belongs to the recently described protein family sharing a highly conserved sequence motif with bacterial antimutator GTP phosphohydrolase MutT. Thus the sequenced region of the CIV genome encodes three putative proteins which may be directly involved in the replication and/or transcription of the viral DNA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Molecular characterization and determination of the coding capacity of the genome of equine herpesvirus type 2 between the genome coordinates 0.235 and 0.258 (the EcoRI DNA fragment N; 4.2 kbp).

The complete DNA nucleotide sequence of the EcoRI DNA fragment N (0.235 to 0.258 viral map units) of equine herpes virus type 2 (EHV-2) strain T400/3 was determined. This DNA fragment comprises 4237 bp with a base composition of 55.23% G+C and 44.77% A+T. Nineteen open reading frames (ORFs) of 50-287 amino acid (aa) residues were detected. ORF number 10 is located between the nucleotide position 2220 and 2756 coding for a protein of 179 amino acid residues. This protein shows significant homology to the cytokine synthesis inhibitory factor (CSIF; interleukin 10) of human (76.4%) and mouse (68.5%), and to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) protein BCRF1 (70.6%). The existence of an interleukin 10 (IL-10) analogous gene within the genome of the EHV-2 was confirmed by screening the genome of nine EHV-2 strains using specific oligonucleotide primers corresponding to the 5' and 3' region of this particular gene by polymerase chain reaction. In all experiments an 870 bp DNA product was amplified. The specifity of the amplified DNA fragments obtained from individual EHV-2 strains was confirmed by DNA-DNA hybridization experiments. The DNA sequence analysis of the amplified DNA products of the EHV-2 strain LK was carried out. This analysis revealed the identity of the corresponding IL-10 gene (540 bp) of this strain to the IL-10 gene of EHV-2 strain T400/3. The presented data indicate that the EHV-2 genome harbors a viral interleukin 10-like gene. This is further evidence that the IL-10 gene can be present in the genomes of members of the Herpesviridae family.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Seat-belt wearing and driving behavior: an instrumented-vehicle study.

Less-than-expected fatality reductions after seat-belt legislation has been introduced in a jurisdiction may be explained in terms of selective recruitment of parts of the driving population and/or behavioral adaptation by beginning belt users. The present investigation has compared the relative merits of these two hypotheses at the level of individual driver behavior. In the initial study the driving behavior of groups of habitual wearers and nonwearers of the belt was compared. Nonwearers made two trips, one with the belt on and one without the belt. Habitual wearers drove belted only. The main part of the experiment was a 105 km freeway route. Two additional tasks of a somewhat more critical nature, a double lane-change manoeuvre and the performance of a braking manoeuvre in front of a fixed obstacle, were performed after the freeway trips. Factor analysis on 39 variables describing driving behavior on the road and during the additional tasks resulted in five factors. One of these, the factor describing the distribution of driving speed on the freeway, differentiated between nonwearers and wearers (thus yielding support for the selective recruitment hypothesis) as well as between wearing and not wearing the belt by the same drivers (thus yielding support for the behavioral adaptation hypothesis). In the follow-up study the original wearers and nonwearers were assigned to one of four experimental treatments: (i) the promise by the experimenter of a considerable incentive for not having a culpable motor vehicle accident over a period of a year. Half the habitual wearer subjects were assigned to this condition. The expectation was that this group would become more careful in their driving; (ii) a control group, consisting of the remaining habitual wearers; (iii) the agreement between the experimenter and the subject that the latter would buckle up in everyday driving for the year to come--half the habitual nonwearer subjects were assigned to this condition; (iv) a control group to the previous treatment, consisting of the remaining habitual nonwearers. All subjects returned for repeat measurements, consisting of the freeway trips plus additional tasks, three times over the next year. The main result was that beginning wearers (group iii) showed signs of continuing behavioral adaptation, in the form of increased speed and increased propensity for close following, as well as several minor effects. The "incentive" group (group i), however, did not change driving behavior in the expected sense, i.e. in the safe direction.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1994

Insect iridescent virus type 6 encodes a polypeptide related to the largest subunit of eukaryotic RNA polymerase II.

Cytoplasmic DNA viruses encode a DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (DdRP) that is essential for transcription of viral genes. The amino acid sequences of known large subunits of DdRPs contain highly conserved regions. Oligonucleotide primers, deduced from two conserved domains [RQP(T/S)LH and NADFDGDE] were used in PCR experiments for the detection of the corresponding gene of the genome of insect iridescent virus type 6, also known as Chilo iridescent virus (CIV). A specific DNA product of about 150 bp could be amplified and was used as a hybridization probe against the CIV gene library to identify the corresponding gene. The gene encoding the DdRP was identified within the EcoRI fragments M (7099 bp) and L (7400 bp) of CIV DNA, between map units 0.310 and 0.347 (7990 bp). The DNA nucleotide sequence (3153 bp) of the gene encoding the largest subunit of DdRP (RPO1) was determined. Northern blot hybridization revealed the presence of a 3.4 kb RNA transcript in CIV-infected cells that hybridized to the CIV DdRP gene. This predicted viral protein consists of 1051 amino acid residues (120K) and showed considerably higher similarity to the largest subunit of eukaryotic RNA polymerase II than to the homologous proteins of vaccinia virus and African swine fever virus. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the putative RPO1 of CIV could have evolved from RNA polymerase II after the divergence of the three types of eukaryotic RNA polymerases. The putative RPO1 of CIV lacked the C-terminal domain that is conserved in eukaryotic, eubacterial and other viral RNA polymerases and in this respect was analogous to the RNA polymerases of Archaea. It is hypothesized that the equivalent of the C-terminal domain may reside in another subunit of CIV DdRP encoded by an unidentified viral gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Identification of the primary structure and the coding capacity of the genome of insect iridescent virus type 6 between the genome coordinates 0.310 and 0.347 (7990 bp).

The primary structure and the coding capacity of the insect iridescent virus type 6--Chilo iridescent virus (CIV)--were determined between the genome coordinates 0.310 (EcoRI site) and 0.347 (ClaI site). The EcoRI CIV DNA fragment M (7.1 kb; 0.310-0.345 map units) harbors one out of at least six loci of DNA replication origins which is located at nucleotide position 485-513. The identification of the structural properties and the coding capacity of the EcoRI CIV DNA fragment M was carried out by DNA nucleotide sequencing, computer-aided sequence analysis and DNA/RNA hybridization. The EcoRI CIV DNA fragment M (7,099 bp; 71.14% A+T and 28.86% G+C) possesses two clusters of five tandemly organized repetitive DNA elements with complex structural arrangements (R1-R5) which are located between nucleotide positions 3272-3350 and 3403-3414. The analysis of the DNA sequences of the EcoRI CIV DNA fragment M revealed the presence of six open reading frames (ORFs 1-6). Two out of six detected putative proteins are of particular interest. ORF-2 was found to be terminated at nucleotide position 366 (TAA) within the DNA sequence of the EcoRI CIV DNA fragment L (0.345-0.381 map units; 7.4 kb). The analysis of ORF-2 (1,051 amino acids; 120 kD) revealed homologies to several DNA-directed RNA polymerases. ORF-6 encodes a protein (606 amino acids; 69 kD) which is related to a group of yeast, Drosophila and mammalian proteins of a distinct family of putative DNA and/or RNA helicases belonging to the 'DEAD/H' superfamily. The transcriptional activity of the EcoRI CIV DNA fragment M was determined by DNA/RNA hybridization experiments. These analyses revealed the existence of three RNA transcripts of about 3.4 kb (t1), 1.8 kb (t2) and 1.2 kb (t3) which agree with the predicted size of the expected RNA transcripts from ORF-2 (1,051 amino acids; 3.1 kb) and ORF-6 (606 amino acids; 1.8 kb).

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Distribution and synaptic localization of immunocytochemically identified NMDA receptor subunit proteins in sensory-motor and visual cortices of monkey and human.

NMDA receptors are composed of multiple receptor subunit proteins, of which NMDAR1 appears to be a critical component for normal receptor function (Nakanishi, 1992). In this study, quantitative immunocytochemical methods were used at the light and electron microscopic levels to localize NMDAR1 subunits in the primary motor (M1) and somatic sensory (S1) cortex of monkeys, and in the primary visual cortices (V1) of monkey and human. Three principal features of NMDAR1 subunit organization were examined in detail in the monkey cortex: (1) the laminar and cellular distribution patterns, relying in part on double-labeling paradigms with the calcium-binding proteins parvalbumin (PV) and calretinin (CR) as markers for discrete subpopulations of GABAergic interneurons; (2) the codistribution of NMDAR1 subunits with non-NMDA ionotropic receptor subunits; (3) a quantitative assessment of the percentages of asymmetrical synapses in layers II/III, IV, and V/VI that were NMDAR1 immunoreactive. In monkey M1, S1, and V1, NMDAR 1 immunoreactivity was present in all layers, localized primarily to large numbers of pyramidal cell somata and proximal apical dendrites, to presumptive spiny stellate cells in layer IV of V1, and to the vast majority (approximately 80-90%) of PV-immunoreactive cells. By contrast, NMDAR1 immunoreactivity was present in only a very small percentage of the CR-immunoreactive cells (approximately 6-9%). Colocalization with non-NMDA receptor subunits showed that all cells (100%) that contained GluR2/3 subunits were also NMDAR1 immunoreactive. In addition, the complete codistribution of GluR5/6/7 subunits with GluR2/3 subunits suggests, indirectly, that all GluR5/6/7-immunoreactive cells are also NMDAR1 immunoreactive. The laminar and cellular distribution patterns of immunostaining in human V1 were very similar to those in monkey V1. Electron microscopy of monkey sections confirmed an extensive dendritic and synaptic localization of NMDAR1 subunits. Labeling of synapses was present on asymmetrical postsynaptic densities associated with both dendritic shafts and spines. In supragranular layers of V1, a greater percentage of asymmetrical synapses were NMDAR1 immunopositive (44%) in comparison to layer IVC beta (34%) or deep layers (19%). In contrast, in area 3b of S1, the percentage of labeled synapses was greatest in layer IV (45%) in comparison to superficial (26%) and deep (37%) layers, while in M1, the percentages of labeled synapses were similar between superficial (46%) and deep (40%) layers. Taken together, these data indicate that NMDAR1-immunoreactive cells in neocortex represent a morphologically, functionally, and neurochemically heterogeneous population.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Death in bronchial asthma. Findings and forensic importance].

In 23,707 forensical and 25,564 clinical post-mortem examinations a total number of 196 deaths from bronchial asthma were determined retrospectively. Furthermore investigated were 29 cases in which asthma had the importance of a pathological side finding. Described are the histories, epidemiological data as well as morphological and histological findings. The characteristic morphological triad of thickening of the epithelial basement membrane, hypertrophy of the muscle coat in the bronchi and mucus plugging were found in almost all cases of asthma death. Regarding to forensical and insurance medical aspects it is important to consider the accompanying circumstances and supporting facts of the death, therapeutical procedures and death causing concurrent non-natural organ damages. They form the basis for reproaches in terms of neglected help or accidental homicide and can call the way of death in question,--which is illustrated in examples.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[The relevance of autopsy for insurance carriers].

By means of a retrospective study with an analysis of the data of 12,743 postmortem examinations over a period of 10 years 630 autopsy cases have been ascertained which had a connection to an insurer. Considerable differences in the reaction and behaviour in the event of damage have been found between public and private insurers. In the course of preliminary investigations by professional/trade associations or pension offices in general an immediate and consistent reaction for this group of insured persons--which has been recorded "purely accidentally"--is to be observed through initiating or analysing of postmortem investigations. Quite in contrast to these findings private insurers to only a small percentage made use of their contractual possibilities of a postmortem control and--if at all--mostly delayed, especially in those cases where the costs of such an investigation were to be debited to the insurer's account. In most cases private insurers made use of the results of postmortems by scientific organisations, courts or professional associations. According to the results of an examination following the rules of forensic medicine of postmortem findings an insurance contract conditions, in more than 50 p. c. of the cases the medical preconditions for the performance of the insurance contract had to be denied. A critical comment should follow: in quite a number of undisclosed cases a regulation of accident and life insurance claims is carried through in which unfounded decisions are taken without any postmortem controls.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Determination of the position of the boundaries of the terminal repetitive sequences within the genome of molluscum contagiosum virus type 1 by DNA nucleotide sequence analysis.

The repetitive DNA sequences of the genome of Molluscum contagiosum virus type 1 (MCV-1) have been localized within the terminal regions of the viral genome corresponding to the BamHI MCV-1 DNA fragments B (18 kbp; 0 to 0.095 map units (m.u.)) and E (10.5 kbp; 0.944 to 1 m.u.). The fine mapping of these particular regions of the genome of MCV-1 revealed that the boundaries of the terminal repetitive DNA sequences of the viral genome are located within the DNA sequences of the HindIII MCV-1 DNA fragments K (3.8 kbp; 0.014 to 0.036 m.u.) and J1 (4.1 kbp; 0.962 to 0.985 m.u.). The exact position of the boundary of the repetitive DNA sequences was determined by DNA nucleotide sequencing. The HindIII DNA fragments K and J1 compose 3859 and 4107 bp, respectively. The DNA sequences of HindIII MCV-1 DNA fragment K possess repetitive DNA sequences between the nucleotide positions 1 and 1675 which are homologous to the inverted and complementary DNA sequences of the HindIII MCV-1 DNA fragment J1 between the nucleotide positions 2437 and 4107 (1670 bp). The degree of DNA sequence homology detected between the repetitive DNA sequences in the HindIII DNA fragments K and J1 of the viral genome was found to be 98%. The number of open reading frames (ORFs) detected by the analysis of the DNA sequences of the HindIII MCV-1 DNA fragments K and J1 was found to be 14 (70 to 219 amino acid residues) and 11 (70 to 365 amino acid residues), respectively.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1993

The genome of equine herpesvirus type 2 harbors an interleukin 10 (IL10)-like gene.

A gene was identified within the DNA sequences of the EcoRI DNA fragment N (4.3 kbp) of the genome of equine herpesvirus type 2 (EHV-2) coding for a protein (179 amino acid residues) homologous to the cytokine synthesis inhibitory factor (CSIF; interleukin 10) of the human and mouse, and to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) protein BCRF1. This finding is further significant evidence that the interleukin 10 (IL-10) and/or IL-10-like gene can indeed be present in the genomes of members of the herpesviral family.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Identification of the gene encoding the major capsid protein of insect iridescent virus type 6 by polymerase chain reaction.

The gene encoding the major capsid protein of Chilo iridescent virus (CIV) has been identified by PCR using oligonucleotide primers corresponding to different regions of the major capsid proteins of Tipula iridescent virus (TIV) and iridescent virus 22 (IV22). A DNA fragment of 0.5 kbp was amplified using two oligonucleotide primers corresponding to the amino acid positions 146 to 153 and 304 to 313 of the major capsid protein of TIV, respectively. The radioactively labelled DNA fragment derived from PCR was hybridized to a CIV gene library. This analysis revealed that only the EcoRI CIV DNA fragment X [2.85 kbp; 0.589 to 0.603 viral map units (m.u.)] hybridized to the amplified DNA fragment. An RNA transcript of about 1.5 kb was identified when the PCR product was used as a hybridization probe. The same RNA transcript was detected when the EcoRI fragments X and Q (5.9 kbp; 0.603 to 0.631 viral m.u.) were used as probes. This indicates that the expected gene is located within map coordinates 0.589 to 0.631 and harbours part of the DNA sequences of fragments Q and X. The analysis of the DNA sequences of this particular region of the CIV genome revealed the presence of one open reding frame of 1401 bp. The DNA sequences of this region encode a protein of 467 amino acid residues with an M(r) of 51.4K. A high degree (64.7%) of amino acid sequence identity was detected between the major capsid protein of TIV and/or IV22 and the amino acid composition of the identified CIV protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Characterization of the genome of molluscum contagiosum virus type 1 between the genome coordinates 0.045 and 0.075 by DNA nucleotide sequence analysis of a 5.6-kb HindIII/MluI DNA fragment.

The complete DNA nucleotide sequence of a HindIII/MluI genomic DNA fragment (0.045-0.075 viral map units) from molluscum contagiosum virus type 1 (MCV-1) was determined. The HindIII/MluI DNA fragment comprises 5,646 bp with a base composition of 64.4% G + C and 35.6% A + T. The DNA sequence contains many perfect direct repeats. A cluster of three repetitive DNA elements R1, R2 and R3, with a complex structural arrangement was detected between nucleotide positions 1802 and 2107. The unit length (box) of the repetitive DNA sequences was found to be 6 bp (15 boxes) and 9 bp (24 boxes) for R1 and R2, respectively. The repetitive DNA element R3 is organized in fifteen boxes (15 bp) in which a unit length of R1 is combined with a unit length of R2. The arrangement of the repetition R3 within the DNA sequences of this particular region of the MCV-1 genome was found to be (5 x R3) + (2 x R2) + (1 x R3) + (6 x R2) + (1 x R3) + (1 x R2) + (8 x R3). Twenty-three open reading frames (ORFs) of 60-1,175 amino acid (AA) residues were detected. The largest ORF (number 17) comprises 1,175 AA with a predicted molecular weight of 126 kD. This ORF harbors a promoter signal which is located 21 nucleotides upstream from the start codon and is very similar to the early promoter signals known for vaccinia virus. This putative protein contains glutamine-enriched regions between AA residues 427 and 682 which show homologies to the corresponding glutamine-enriched regions of a variety of cellular genes like human transcriptional initiation factor (TFIID: TATA box factor).

Amino Acid Sequence↗