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W Müller

Publications and source records attributed to W Müller.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

Local treatment of tendinopathies: a comparison between tropisetron and depot corticosteroids combined with local anesthetics.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether local injection of the 5-HT3-receptor antagonist, tropisetron. reduces pain in tendinopathies to the same degree as a local injection of corticosteroids in combination with local anesthetic. METHODS: Forty patients with tendinopathies were enrolled in this randomized, observer-blind study. An injection of either 5 mg tropisetron. or 10 mg dexamethasone combined with 60 mg lidocaine was administered around the affected tendon. The effect was measured with a visual analog pain scale before the injection, after 3 hours and on each of the following 7 days, in patients with good effects also 3 months after the injection. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the tropisetron and the corticosteroid/anesthetic group in terms of pain at rest or on movement during the study. Both treatments were well tolerated. CONCLUSION: Local injection of tropisetron seems to be as safe and as effective as the combination of corticosteroids and local anesthetics in the treatment of painful tendinopathies.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed2002

Clostridium perfringens toxin types from wild-caught Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.), determined by PCR and ELISA.

Ninety-five fecal samples from Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.), caught along the northern Norwegian coast, were examined bacteriologically for occurrence of C. perfringens. Isolates were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for genes encoding the four lethal toxins (alpha, beta, epsilon, and iota) for classification into toxin types and for genes encoding enterotoxin and the novel beta2 toxin for further subclassification. In addition, a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit for detection of C. perfringens alpha, beta, and epsilon toxin was used. Clostridium perfringens could be isolated in 37 fecal samples (38.9%) from cod. All isolates were C. perfringens toxin type A (alpha toxin positive) as determined by PCR and also ELISA. In addition, in isolates from two cod (2.1%) the gene encoding for beta2 toxin was found (A, beta2) by PCR. Genes encoding for beta, epsilon, and iota toxins and enterotoxin were not found. This is the first detection of C. perfringens alpha and beta2 toxin in cod and of beta2 toxin in fish in general. The origin of this bacterium in cod is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

["Neonatology"].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Female↗
PubMed2002

[Pain modification by the 5-HT3 receptor antagonist tropisetron in secondary fibromyalgias].

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: The 5-HT3-receptor antagonist tropisetron has a favourable effect on the pain, not only of primary but also of secondary fibromyalgia. In an open study, ten women with clinical and serological evidence of secondary fibromyalgia were treated with tropisetron. Treatment comprised a single daily injection of 5 mg tropisetron on five consecutive days. Prior to, and 7 and 14 days after, treatment, the patients rated their pain on the visual analog pain (VAP) scale. RESULTS: Nine patients experienced a substantial reduction in pain, with the mean VAP score decreasing from 64.3 initially, to 31.9 on the 7th day. After 14 days, the average score was 33.3, that is, roughly the same as that recorded after 7 days; however, 3 patients indicated the reappearance of substantially greater pain. CONCLUSION: On the basis of these preliminary results, it would appear to be worth initiating a double-blind study to investigate the effects of short-term i.v. treatment with tropisetron in a large, clearly defined patient population with secondary fibromyalgia.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Complications of acute ENT infections].

Acute infections in the head and neck belong to the most frequent human diseases and account for a high percentage of prescriptions for oral antibiotics. Because most infections only need symptomatic treatment and with the doubtful benefit of antibiotic treatment in some studies there is consense that routinely prescribed antibiotics for infections of the upper airway should be abandoned. Uncritical use of antibiotics is a likely cause for an increasing rate of drug resistant bacteria and many antibiotics have side effects. On the other hand the rate of serious complications of infections in the head and neck might increase if restrictions for the prescription of antibiotics are too strong. Only an adequate antibiotic treatment minimizes the rate of infectious complications and surgical procedures needed. In general serious complications of acute infections in the head and neck are rare but when appearing they might be life-threatening. The family doctor plays an important role in the early recognition and proper management of these infections. Symptoms, differential diagnostic considerations and treatment options of the most common infections in the head and neck are therefore presented.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2001

Application of the California mastitis test in intramammary Streptococcus agalactiae and Staphylococcus aureus infections of camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Kenya.

A study was conducted on 207 lactating camels in six herds in Kenya to evaluate the California mastitis test (CMT) for the detection of intramammary infections (IMIs) caused by Streptococcus agalactiae and Staphylococcus aureus and to investigate the prevalence of both the pathogens in the camel udder. IMI with S. agalactiae was found in 12% of all camels sampled. IMI with S. aureus was present in 11% of all camels sampled. The herd-level prevalence of IMI varied between 0 and 50% for S. agalactiae and between 0 and 13% for S. aureus. Longitudinal observations over 10-12 months confirmed persistent infections for both pathogens. Observations in one herd suggested that camel pox was a contributing factor in spreading and exacerbating S. agalactiae udder infections.The CMT had quarter-level sensitivities of 77 and 68% for S. agalactiae and S. aureus in camels, respectively. The CMT specificities were 91% for both the pathogens.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Drug interaction: omeprazole and phenprocoumon.

BACKGROUND: Oral anticoagulants like the coumarin derivatives are characterised by a particularly narrow therapeutic range. Any interfering co-medication can pose a challenge to establishing a stable anticoagulant dosage regimen and thus present a serious risk for the patient. Here we describe two cases of patients on anticoagulant therapy that suggest possible drug interactions between phenprocoumon and the proton pump inhibitor omeprazole. RESULTS: In both patients, the International Normalised Ratio (INR) increased beyond the therapeutic range after they were given omeprazole for the treatment of gastrointestinal symptoms. The INR returned to therapeutic levels after the phenprocoumon dose was reduced (Case 1) and omeprazole discontinued (Case 2). CONCLUSIONS: The increased anticoagulant activity of phenprocoumon observed in the two described cases and the known interaction potential of omeprazole suggest that the clearance of phenprocoumon may have been reduced due to competitive inhibition of its degradation by omeprazole. Drug interactions may be one of the reasons for the difficulties encountered with some patients in establishing a stable anticoagulant therapy. Physicians should carefully review any concurrently used medication and if possible opt for drugs with a low interaction potential.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Neonatally induced inactivation of the vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 gene impairs B cell localization and T cell-dependent humoral immune response.

Vascular cellular adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 is a membrane-bound cellular adhesion molecule that mediates adhesive interactions between hematopoietic progenitor cells and stromal cells in the bone marrow (BM) and between leukocytes and endothelial as well as dendritic cells. Since VCAM-1-deficient mice die embryonically, conditional VCAM-1 mutant mice were generated to analyze the in vivo function of this adhesion molecule. Here we show that interferon-induced Cre-loxP-mediated deletion of the VCAM-1 gene after birth efficiently ablates expression of VCAM-1 in most tissues like, for example, BM, lymphoid organs, and lung, but not in brain. Induced VCAM-1 deficiency leads to a reduction of immature B cells in the BM and to an increase of these cells in peripheral blood but not in lymphoid organs. Mature recirculating B cells are reduced in the BM. In a migration assay, the number of mature B cells that appears in the BM after intravenous injection is decreased. In addition, the humoral immune response to a T cell-dependent antigen is impaired. VCAM-1 serves an important role for B cell localization and the T cell-dependent humoral immune response.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Protective intestinal anti-rotavirus B cell immunity is dependent on alpha 4 beta 7 integrin expression but does not require IgA antibody production.

Rotavirus (RV) is the main cause of severe gastroenteritis in young children; protection has been correlated with intestinal Ab responses. Using a mouse model of RV infection and beta(7)-deficient (beta(7)(-/-)) mice, which do not express alpha(4)beta(7) integrin, we demonstrated the importance of alpha(4)beta(7) integrin in B cell-mediated anti-RV immunity. beta(7)(-/-) mice acutely infected with murine RV resolved infection and developed normal serum IgG Abs but had diminished intestinal IgA responses. alpha(4)beta(7)(-/-) immune B cells did not resolve RV infection when adoptively transferred into RV-infected Rag-2-deficient mice. Fewer RV-specific B cells were found in the intestine of Rag-2-deficient mice transferred with beta(7)(-/-) B cells compared with wild type. The absence of alpha(4)beta(7) expression and/or a lower frequency of IgA-producing cells among transferred beta(7)(-/-) B cells could have accounted for the inability of these cells to resolve RV infection following passive transfer. To distinguish between these possibilities, we studied the importance of IgA production in RV infection using IgA-deficient (IgA(-/-)) mice. IgA(-/-) mice depleted of CD8(+) T cells were able to clear primary RV infection. Similarly, adoptive transfer of immune IgA(-/-) B cells into chronically infected Rag-2-deficient mice resolved RV infection. We further demonstrated in both wild-type and IgA(-/-) mice that, following oral RV infection, protective B cells reside in the alpha(4)beta(7)(high) population. Our findings suggest that alpha(4)beta(7) integrin expression is necessary for B cell-mediated immunity to RV independent of the presence of IgA.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2001

Surgical treatment of early oral carcinoma-results of a prospective controlled multicenter study.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: To assess whether early stage (pT1-2,pN0-1) oral cavity carcinoma is adequately treated by radical surgical resection alone. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective multicenter study. Of 105 patients with cT1-2 cN0-1 oral carcinoma treated in conformity with the study design, 12 had to be excluded because of tumor-positive margins or pN stage > N1. The remaining 93 patients were monitored for at least 2 years. RESULTS: Seventeen patients had local or regional recurrence develop. In 12 of the 17 patients locoregional control was achieved by second treatment. Overall, the 4-year disease-specific survival probability was 94%. Patients treated initially without selective neck dissection had significantly higher recurrence rates than those with neck dissection, although the survival probability was not adversely affected. CONCLUSIONS: Early (pT1-2, pN0-1) squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity is adequately treated by surgery alone, provided the resection margins are tumor free. On the basis of the presented data, we would also advocate routine selective neck dissection.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Hypermethylation of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily 6 (APT1, Fas, CD95/Apo-1) gene promoter at rel/nuclear factor kappaB sites in prostatic carcinoma.

DNA hypermethylation of CpG-rich promoter sequences is associated with tumor suppressor gene inactivation in many human cancers, notably in carcinoma of the prostate and the urinary bladder. Recently, the mouse homologue of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily 6 (TNFRSF6) gene was reported to be inactivated by DNA methylation in various cell types. The Fas (CD95, Apo-1) protein encoded by the TNFRSF6 gene is an important mediator of apoptosis, which also is downregulated in different types of human carcinoma. We therefore investigated the methylation of the TNFRSF6 promoter in prostatic and bladder carcinomas and cell lines. In a restriction enzyme polymerase chain reaction assay, four of 32 prostatic carcinomas and three of 15 advanced bladder carcinomas showed evidence of hypermethylation at the rel/nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB) binding sites essential for promoter activity. The DU145 cell line derived from a metastasis of a prostate carcinoma also displayed hypermethylation in this assay, which was confirmed by bisulfite sequencing. Treatment of DU145 cells with the methylation inhibitor deoxyazacytidine slightly increased Fas protein expression, as detected by flow cytometry analysis. In vitro methylation of the TNFRSF6 promoter at the rel/NFkappaB sites completely abolished its activity. Thus, although the TNFRSF6 gene can be inactivated efficiently by DNA methylation, hypermethylation occurs neither frequently nor extensively in human carcinomas and appears to play a limited role in downregulation of Fas expression.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Copper-associated liver disease in North Ronaldsay sheep: a possible animal model for non-Wilsonian hepatic copper toxicosis of infancy and childhood.

Indian childhood cirrhosis (ICC), endemic Tyrolean infantile cirrhosis (ETIC) and idiopathic copper toxicosis (ICT), are clinically and pathologically indistinguishable liver disorders of infants and young children linked with exogenous copper and with increasing evidence for a genetic predisposition. North Ronaldsay sheep are a primitive breed which have adapted to a copper impoverished environment (<5 ppm) and display an abnormal sensitivity to copper poisoning when transferred to a copper replete (11 ppm) habitat. The aetiological parallels prompted a study of copper-associated liver disease in North Ronaldsay sheep (RCT) to see if the pathology could contribute to the understanding of the childhood disorder. A retrospective study was performed in which the livers of 22 mainland-bred North Ronaldsay sheep were compared with three island-bred sheep and categorized for liver copper content and pathomorphology. It was found that all the mainland sheep had accumulated liver copper (>300 microg/g), in contrast to the island sheep, although 10 sheep with increased liver copper (mean 600 SD 270 microg/g) showed no evidence of liver damage. A further 10 sheep with liver copper (mean 1276 SD 508 microg/g) exhibited periportal to panlobular histochemical copper retention, a periportal and/or panlobular pericellular fibrosis, a mixed inflammatory infiltrate and cholangioplasia. Steatosis was absent and regeneration was in abeyance. Finally, two sheep (liver copper >2000 microg/g) had a more active hepatitis with a florid pericellular, panlobular fibrosis and cirrhosis. Electron microscopy identified large numbers of collagen-producing hepatic stellate (Ito) cells in periportal regions. The pathological findings were sufficiently reminiscent of ICC, ETIC and ICT to warrant further exploration of RCT as a putative animal model. The North Ronaldsay sheep liver may be a useful tool for the investigation of copper-induced fibrogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Role of STAT3 and PI 3-kinase/Akt in mediating the survival actions of cytokines on sensory neurons.

The binding of cytokines to the gp130 receptor activates the STAT3, MEK/MAPK, and PI3K/Akt signalling pathways. To assess the relative importance of these pathways in promoting the survival of cytokine-dependent neurons, we conditionally inactivated STAT3 in mice and inhibited MEK, PI3K, and Akt in cultured neurons using pharmacological reagents and by expressing specific inhibitory proteins. Inactivation of STAT3 enhanced the death of the cytokine-dependent sensory neurons of the nodose ganglion in vivo and substantially reduced the response of these neurons to CNTF and LIF in vitro. LY294002, an inhibitor of PI3K, but not PD98059, an inhibitor of MEK, markedly reduced the response of these neurons to CNTF, as did dominant-negative PI3K, dominant-negative Akt, and overexpression of Ruk (a natural PI3K inhibitor). These results demonstrate that STAT3 and PI3K/Akt signalling play major roles in mediating the survival response of neurons to cytokines.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

[Minimally invasive surgery (MIC) in the area of the colon and rectum: technique of minimally invasive colorectal surgery].

Minimally invasive surgery is gaining increased importance in colorectal surgery. Since 1993 we have performed 378 minimally invasive colorectal procedures (appendzcetomy excluded): right-sided (n = 70) and left-sided (n = 160) hemicolectomy, anterior rectal resections (n = 72), and colostomy (n = 12), Hartmann procedure (n = 17), take-down operation (n = 25), rectopexy (n = 21) and coloproctomucosectomy (n = 2). The indications were diverticulitis (n = 147), benign tumor (n = 40), malignant tumor (n = 135), rectal prolapse (n = 21), Crohn's disease (n = 8), intestinal diversion (n = 25), colonic perforation (n = 2). Postoperative complications were observed in 21% of cases; anastomotic leak developed in 4%; mortality was 0.5%. In keeping with the current literature our data show that in the majority of cases surgical therapy of colorectal disease can be performed in minimally invasive fashion.

Colonic Diseases↗
PubMed2001

[Quality of life after surgical treatment of pelvic ring fractures. Are long-term results predictable?].

Patients with fractures of the pelvic ring and accompanying injuries special of the extremity make heavy demands on hospital resources and face difficulties in rehabilitation. From the patients point of view milestones in recovery are quality of live and return to productivity. We studied 64 patients with pelvic-ring-fractures in a period of 10 years. The follow up was taken 4 years after discharge. PTS-score and AO-classification correlate directly to long-term disability, based on Rosser-Index, and "return to productivity" figures but not always to radiological and clinical outcome. This study emphasizes the need for new injury scoring systems that better predict the recovery and ability to return to work of trauma patients after surviving unstable pelvic fractures. Proper follow-up evaluations should analyse the patient's quality of live and working activity beside traditional item like radiological and clinical findings.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

The patella in total knee replacement: does it matter? 750 LCS total knee replacements without resurfacing of the patella.

Hingelike moving total knee replacement (TKR) has shown that the "rotating" function of the quadriceps muscle becomes lost. Dynamic work of the vastus medialis is no longer needed, and the static part of the quadriceps muscle assumes the major part of the work, beginning with continuously dislocating the patella to the lateral side. We operated on 436 knees using the LCS (De Puy Orthopaedics, Warsaw, IN) meniscal bearing TKR. No primary patellar resurfacing was necessary in this series. The New Jersey Score increased constantly over the 5-year follow-up from 83 after 2 years to 90 after 5 years. This shows that there is no deterioration which can be attributed to a deterioration in the patellar behavior. Nonresurfacing of the patella is a possible solution if the kinematics of the TKR allow physiological rotation, the prosthesis is built anatomically, the alignment is correct, the anatomy of decelerator/extensor mechanism is respected by the approach, and ligamentous stability is good.

Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee↗
PubMed2001

High level Purkinje cell specific expression of green fluorescent protein in transgenic mice.

The green fluorescent protein (GFP) has become a powerful tool in molecular and cell biology. It is a commonly used marker for cloning and transfection experiments as well as a useful label of living cells allowing continuous observation of developing structures. In order to unravel mechanisms of neuronal differentiation, we generated a transgenic mouse model which expresses GFPS65T,hu under the control of the Purkinje cell-specific promoter L7/pcp-2. Here, we show that GFPS65T,hu is highly expressed specifically in the cerebellum in whole mount preparations after the 2nd postnatal week. GFPS65T,hu can be detected exclusively in Purkinje cells of cerebellar slices. The fluorescence intensity of GFPS65T,hu should enable the characterization and recording of axons, dendrites, and spines protruding from these neuronal processes. The level of GFP expression can be quantified by western blotting which allows to analyze protein expression and L7/pcp-2 promoter regulation in vivo. The application of cellular and physiological techniques on L7GFP mice will provide a remarkable opportunity to investigate various aspects of neuronal development at the cellular and subcellular levels.

Animals↗