Effects of arginine, L-alanyl-L-glutamine or taurine on neutrophil (PMN) free amino acid profiles and immune functions in vitro

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of arginine, L-alanyl-L-glutamine (Ala-Gln) or taurine on polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMN) free amino acid profiles, superoxide anion (O2-) generation, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) formation and released myeloperoxidase activity (MPO). Arginine led to significant increases in PMN arginine, ornithine, citrulline, aspartate, glutamate and alanine concentrations as well as increased H2O2-generation and MPO activity while O(2-)-formation was decreased. Ala-Gln caused significant increases in PMN free glutamine, alanine, asparagine, aspartate, glutamate, ornithine, arginine, serine and glycine concentrations and increased PMN immune functions. Taurine significantly increased PMN free taurine profiles, reduced PMN neutral amino acid content and decreased H2O2- and O(2-)-formation while MPO was increased. Altogether, the pharmacological regimens which enhance the supply of arginine, Ala-Gln or taurine in whole blood significantly affect PMN "susceptible free amino acid pool". This may be one of the determinants in PMN nutrition considerably influencing PMN immune functions. Introduction Polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) ensure an important part of non-specific cell-mediated immunity and play a crucial role in the host defense

[Drug-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis with involvement of the intestinal and respiratory tract. A case report]

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a disease occurring with low-incidence but has a relatively high mortality rate. Sepsis is the predominant cause for life-threatening complications in TEN but severe mucosal damage represents a further complication which may delay convalescence. We report a case of TEN in a 51-year-old man which eventually spread to include the whole skin surface. The long-term and comprehensive treatment focused on support of the organ failure as well as wound treatment. The extent of involvement of the intestinal tract, the sustained laryngeal stenosis and the pronounced saddle-nose were unusual. It appears necessary to treat TEN in facilities which offer intensive care and are able to manage extensive skin damage. Burns units offer the best conditions for its management.

[Functional results of dynamic gait analysis after 1 year of hobby-athletes with a surgically treated ankle fracture]

Retrospectively 20 patients with a surgically treated ankle fracture caused by hobby-accidents were examined clinically and radiologically by a score modified to Phillips after 12 months postoperatively. Further they have taken part in a dynamical gait analysis at the same time. A group of 20 healthy adults was used as a control group comparable to age, sex, height and weight. Although 19 patients out of 20 have achieved a good result at the score evaluation and none of them was clinically noticed with any pathological gait, gait analysis has shown a significant slowed gait speed and a decreased stride length. The reduction of the plantarflexor moment at the injured ankle joint immediately following heel contact was yet the most remarkable result of the gait analysis. The changes of gait pattern are interpreted as an adapted and internalized motion pattern caused by pain and behaviour of rest at any time while the mobilisation-phase was going on. It could not document any significant correlation between subjective and clinical parameters and parameters registered by gait analysis. However, a significant correlation of gait-analysed parameters was found between the injured and uninjured side. By dynamical gait analysis it is possible to quantify remarkable gait changes, to obtain objective data, but also to demonstrate asymmetrical loading and motion that were not clinically detectable previously. It follows that it can be relevant to patients with complaints by leading them to specific physiotherapeutical treatment and gait training so that they would be able to carry on their sports-activities again.

Size and sequence variability of the Arabis mosaic virus protein 2A

The RNA 2 of the nepovirus Arabis mosaic virus (ArMV) encodes a polyprotein from which protein 2A is released by proteolytic cleavage at the N-terminus. The 2A gene of 19 ArMV isolates from different geographical origin and 9 distinct natural hosts was amplified by RT/PCR and subsequently cloned and sequenced. These 19 isolates and those from databanks were classified into four groups based on the size of the protein 2A which ranged from 233 to 280 amino acids, and sequence identities. Sequence variability was mainly located in the N-terminus of the proteins, whereas the core region and the C-terminus were conserved.

Glucose and cardiovascular risk

The American Diabetes Association and the World Health Organisation have recently redefined the spectrum of abnormal glucose tolerance. The criteria for diabetes mellitus were sharpened and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) were classified as intermediate stages between normal glucose homeostasis and diabetes, based on fasting and challenged glucose levels, respectively. Criteria were established for 'the metabolic syndrome', as a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors that frequently coincides with the abnormal glucose tolerance state. The extent to which the glucose level itself should be regarded as a cardiovascular risk factor is the subject of ongoing debate. Recent research suggests that cardiovascular risk is related to the plasma glucose level even in the normal range of glucose concentrations. The impact of glucose in relation to cardiovascular events is discussed in this review.

[Surgical treatment of fractures of the clavicle--Indication, surgical technique and results]

46 cases of clavicular fracture (25 of the middle third and 21 of the distal third) are reviewed concerning indications for surgery, surgical technique and postoperative results. In 32 cases surgery was necessary due to dislocation (in 7 cases with a rupture of the coracoclavicular ligaments), 3 times due to a complex trauma of the shoulder joint, 3 times due to a local neurovascular involvement, 3 times due to a delayed fracture healing and 3 times due to a pathological fracture. In two cases an open fracture required osteosynthesis. The most frequent surgical procedure was plate osteosynthesis using the following materials: 3.5 mm LCDC plate, the so called "Balser plate" and the "Ulrich plate", 3.5 mm reconstruction plate, 3.5 mm T-plate and compound plate. In 14 cases autogenous bone grafting was performed. Additional suture of the coracoclavicular ligaments was indicated in 7 patients. In every case early physiotherapy followed the surgical procedure.

COMPLICATIONS

in 2 cases an avascular pseudarthrosis emerged after plate osteosynthesis without autogenous bone grafting. In one case a non-union developed due to infection. Moreover we found a loosening of a "Balser plate" and in one patient the development of keloid tissue. The functional outcome according to the Constant score was good. 32 patients achieved 89 out of 100 possible points (average follow up 31 months). In distal clavicle fractures we prefer the use of the "Balser plate" combined with a suture of the coracoclavicular ligaments. Due to the occurrance of delayed fracture healing with pseudarthrosis (2/25) in fractures of the middle third, the indication for surgical treatment has to be discussed. In case of local soft tissue trauma and damage of the periostal blood supply, plate osteosynthesis in combination with autogenous bone grafting should be performed.

Conscientious metabolic monitoring on a patient with hyperornithinemia-hyperammonemia-homocitrullinuria (HHH) syndrome undergoing anaesthesia

Currently we know not more than 50 patients who show an interesting combination of increased plasma ornithine concentrations, postprandial hyperammonemia, and homocitrullinuria (HHH-syndrome). Since exact knowledge of this severe, although rare syndrome is important for any perioperative or intensive medical treatment concerning therapy and progression of the disease, we report a comprehensive study on a 32-year old woman with this rare multifaceted disorder who had to undergo general anaesthesia. For the first time amino acid status in plasma, urine, cerebrospinal fluid and especially polymorphonuclear leucocytes, which in the investigation showed to be valuable tool for evaluating amino acid metabolism in nucleated cells in HHH-syndrome, and further important pathophysiologic indicators of cellular and metabolic function have been conscientiously investigated and compared. The pathophysiological repercussions of our results as well as the recommendations for conscientious therapeutical management are discussed.

Mode-coupling theory for structural and conformational dynamics of polymer melts

A mode-coupling theory for dense polymeric systems is developed which unifyingly incorporates the segmental cage effect relevant for structural slowing down and polymer chain conformational degrees of freedom. An ideal glass transition of polymer melts is predicted which becomes molecular-weight independent for large molecules. The theory provides a microscopic justification for the use of the Rouse theory in polymer melts, and the results for Rouse-mode correlators and mean-squared displacements are in good agreement with computer simulation results.

Tacrolimus enhances irritation in a 5-day human irritancy in vivo model

Tacrolimus (FK 506) is a macrolide discovered in 1984 as a metabolic product of Streptomyces tsukabaensis. It has been used successfully in treating atopic dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, lichen planus mucosae and pyoderma gangrenosum. In the present study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of FK 506 in 2 human skin inflammation models. FK 506 as Protopic(R) cream was tested (i) in a 4-day repetitive irritation test with 2 x daily application of sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), and (ii) in a UVB erythema model. The effect was evaluated visually and quantified by non-invasive bioengineering methods, namely chromametry and tewametry (TEWL). When FK 506 was applied 30 min after SLS irritation, an increased inflammation in comparison to controls was observed with all 3 methods, with only the TEWL data reaching statistical significance. 1 x daily application of FK 506 for 5 days, starting at the end of the 4-day irritation period, was without any effect. Similarly, no effect of FK 506 was seen in the UVB model. In conclusion, FK 506 was shown to enhance experimentally induced irritant contact dermatitis and not to accelerate healing of irritant contact dermatitis and UVB erythema.

Multiple glassy states in a simple model system

Experiments, theory, and simulation were used to study glass formation in a simple model system composed of hard spheres with short-range attraction ("sticky hard spheres"). The experiments, using well-characterized colloids, revealed a reentrant glass transition line. Mode-coupling theory calculations and molecular dynamics simulations suggest that the reentrance is due to the existence of two qualitatively different glassy states: one dominated by repulsion (with structural arrest due to caging) and the other by attraction (with structural arrest due to bonding). This picture is consistent with a study of the particle dynamics in the colloid using dynamic light scattering.

The genome sequence of Schizosaccharomyces pombe

We have sequenced and annotated the genome of fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe), which contains the smallest number of protein-coding genes yet recorded for a eukaryote: 4,824. The centromeres are between 35 and 110 kilobases (kb) and contain related repeats including a highly conserved 1.8-kb element. Regions upstream of genes are longer than in budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), possibly reflecting more-extended control regions. Some 43% of the genes contain introns, of which there are 4,730. Fifty genes have significant similarity with human disease genes; half of these are cancer related. We identify highly conserved genes important for eukaryotic cell organization including those required for the cytoskeleton, compartmentation, cell-cycle control, proteolysis, protein phosphorylation and RNA splicing. These genes may have originated with the appearance of eukaryotic life. Few similarly conserved genes that are important for multicellular organization were identified, suggesting that the transition from prokaryotes to eukaryotes required more new genes than did the transition from unicellular to multicellular organization.

Recognition and invasion of human skin by Schistosoma mansoni cercariae: the key-role of L-arginine

The attachment of Schistosoma mansoni cercariae to mammalian skin is specifically stimulated by L-arginine. As L-arginine is an unsuitable signal for a specific identification of mammalian skin we examined the following 5 hypotheses to explain the advantage of the cercarial sensitivity to L-arginine. (1) A Schistosoma infection lowered the arginine concentration in the serum of mice, and this could enable the cercariae to avoid attachments to already infected mice. However, the infection did not reduce the arginine concentration in the skin and the cercarial attachment responses to it. (2) Creeping cercariae showed chemotactic orientation specifically along increasing L-arginine gradients. L-arginine could act as a pheromone which could guide cercariae towards common penetration sites. However, the cercarial acetabular gland contents were not attractive and they did not (in contrast to previous reports) contain much arginine. (3) Schistosomula (transformed cercariae) could use L-arginine to produce nitric oxide (NO) for blood vessel dilation during their migration in the host. However, in vitro the transformed cercariae did not convert L-arginine into citrulline and NO. (4) Schistosomula could bind L-arginine from the surrounding tissues and so escape the cellular immune attack (which needs L-arginine as the precursor of NO). However, transformed cercariae bound no more L-arginine than L-serine and L-lysine. (5) Schistosomula, migrating parallel to the surface in the mammalian epidermis, are dependent on information on their position between the inner and the surface layers of the skin. In the mouse skin, they adjusted their body axis with the ventral side toward the deeper (arginine-residue rich) epidermis layers. When migrating in agar, they showed chemo-orientation toward serum, and D-glucose and L-arginine were the stimulating compounds therein. The burrowing schistosomula adjusted their body axis (as in the epidermis) with the ventral side toward the higher concentration of L-arginine and not of glucose. We argue that the sensitivity for L-arginine has its primary function in orientation within mammalian skin and in location of blood vessels.

Disruption of the sterol carrier protein 2 gene in mice impairs biliary lipid and hepatic cholesterol metabolism

Hepatic up-regulation of sterol carrier protein 2 (Scp2) in mice promotes hypersecretion of cholesterol into bile and gallstone formation in response to a lithogenic diet. We hypothesized that Scp2 deficiency may alter biliary lipid secretion and hepatic cholesterol metabolism. Male gallstone-susceptible C57BL/6 and C57BL/6(Scp2(-/-)) knockout mice were fed a standard chow or lithogenic diet. Hepatic biles were collected to determine biliary lipid secretion rates, bile flow, and bile salt pool size. Plasma lipoprotein distribution was investigated, and gene expression of cytosolic lipid-binding proteins, lipoprotein receptors, hepatic regulatory enzymes, and intestinal cholesterol absorption was measured. Compared with chow-fed wild-type animals, C57BL/6(Scp2(-/-)) mice had higher bile flow and lower bile salt secretion rates, decreased hepatic apolipoprotein expression, increased hepatic cholesterol synthesis, and up-regulation of liver fatty acid-binding protein. In addition, the bile salt pool size was reduced and intestinal cholesterol absorption was unaltered in C57BL/6(Scp2(-/-)) mice. When C57BL/6(Scp2(-/-)) mice were challenged with a lithogenic diet, a smaller increase of hepatic free cholesterol failed to suppress cholesterol synthesis and biliary cholesterol secretion increased to a much smaller extent than phospholipid and bile salt secretion. Scp2 deficiency did not prevent gallstone formation and may be compensated in part by hepatic up-regulation of liver fatty acid-binding protein. These results support a role of Scp2 in hepatic cholesterol metabolism, biliary lipid secretion, and intracellular cholesterol distribution.

Involvement of RNA2-encoded proteins in the specific transmission of Grapevine fanleaf virus by its nematode vector Xiphinema index

The nepovirus Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV) is specifically transmitted by the nematode Xiphinema index. To identify the RNA2-encoded proteins involved in X. index-mediated spread of GFLV, chimeric RNA2 constructs were engineered by replacing the 2A, 2B(MP), and/or 2C(CP) sequences of GFLV with their counterparts in Arabis mosaic virus (ArMV), a closely related nepovirus which is transmitted by Xiphinema diversicaudatum but not by X. index. Among the recombinant viruses obtained from transcripts of GFLV RNA1 and chimeric RNA2, only those which contained the 2C(CP) gene (504 aa) and 2B(MP) contiguous 9 C-terminal residues of GFLV were transmitted by X. index as efficiently as natural and synthetic wild-type GFLV, regardless of the origin of the 2A and 2B(MP) genes. As expected, ArMV was not transmitted probably because it is not retained by X. index. These results indicate that the determinants responsible for the specific spread of GFLV by X. index are located within the 513 C-terminal residues of the polyprotein encoded by RNA2.

Indirect evidence that intestinal bile salt absorption in rats and hamsters is under positive feedback control

Bile salts are reabsorbed from the intestine by active and passive transport mechanisms with great efficacy. Conflicting data do not allow to judge for certainty whether bile salt absorption is under negative or positive feedback control. To address this issue, we analyzed bile salt absorption in vivo along the entire intestinal tract of rats and hamsters that received intraduodenal bile salt infusions for 54 h following interruption of the enterohepatic circulation. Taurocholate absorption in rats was complete, even when unphysiologically high concentrations of taurocholate were given. The combined infusion of taurocholate together with potent inhibitors of bile salt synthesis such as deoxycholate, taurodeoxycholate or taurochenodeoxycholate, failed to inhibit bile salt absorption. In the hamster, taurochenodeoxycholate and taurocholate absorption was complete and could not be inhibited when given in supraphysiological concentrations. Finally, taurocholate absorption was not impaired when deoxycholic acid was infused. These results provide indirect evidence that bile salt absorption is under positive feedback control regulated by luminal bile salt concentrations.

[Kickboards - Cause of injury, patterns of injury and prevention]

69 patients with kickboard injuries were treated over a 5-month period. 6 patients were admitted to hospital. Fractures (48%), contusions/ lacerations (45%) and capsular/ ligamentuous injuries (27%) were the most prevalent types of injury. Injuries of the elbow, forearm, wrist and hand accounted for 54% of all cases. Ankle (23%), head (6%) and knee were other regions frequently involved. It is concluded that kickboard-driving imposes a severe risk of injuries. The typical kickboard injuries was the fracture of the wrist and the ankle sprain. Protective equipment for the injured regions is very important to prevant injury.

The p400 complex is an essential E1A transformation target

Here, we report the identification of a new E1A binding protein complex that is essential for E1A-mediated transformation. Its core component is a SWI2/SNF2-related, 400 kDa protein (p400). Other components include the myc- and p/CAF-associated cofactor, TRRAP/PAF400, the DNA helicases TAP54alpha/beta, actin-like proteins, and the human homolog of the Drosophila Enhancer of Polycomb protein. An E1A mutant, defective in p400 binding, is also defective in transformation. Certain p400 fragments partially rescued this phenotype, underscoring the role of E1A-p400 complex formation in the E1A transforming process. Furthermore, E1A and c-myc each alter the subunit composition of p400 complexes, implying that physiological p400 complex formation contributes to transformation suppression.

Spatio-temporal current density reconstruction (stCDR) from EEG/MEG-data

Among the different approaches to the bioelectromagnetic inverse problem, the current-density reconstruction methods (CDR) provide the most general solutions. Since the inverse problem does not have a unique solution, model assumptions have to be taken into account. Multi-channel measurements contain not only spatial, but also temporal information about the sources, so a naturally extension to existing methods leads to spatio-temporal model constraints. Spatio-temporal CDR's (stCDR) have been tested in simplified volume conductor models, assuming different spatial model constraints and a smooth temporal activation model. Comparison to existing spatial model constraints showed a significant improvement of spatial and temporal resolution of the reconstructed sources for the spatio-temporal models especial in noisy data.

Macromolecular theory of solvation and structure in mixtures of colloids and polymers

The structural and thermodynamic properties of mixtures of colloidal spheres and nonadsorbing polymer chains are studied within a general two-component macromolecular liquid state approach applicable for all size asymmetry ratios. The dilute limits, when one of the components is at infinite dilution but the other concentrated, are presented and compared to field theory and to models that replace polymer coils with spheres. Whereas the derived analytical results compare well, qualitatively and quantitatively, with mean-field scaling laws where available, important differences from "effective sphere" approaches are found for large polymer sizes or semidilute concentrations.

[Telemedicine in phoniatrics and pediatric audiology--possible applications, technical implementation, economic aspects]

BACKGROUND

Phoniatrics and Paedaudiology investigate and treat disorders of communication more than other medical specialties and are indicated by a distinctive interdisciplinary character. The methods of diagnosis and therapy are concentrated on a few specialists and produce a large quantity of multi-media data from daily clinical practice and research. For the cooperation between the specialists of these and neighboring branches and to reduce the costs for a second opinion these data must be available anywhere and any time using modern telecommunication and information technologies.

METHODS

Following applications for a bi- or multidirectional data transmission are possible: Teleconsulting (second opinion of a far located specialist). Teleteaching (use of different data sources for education) and Teleroboting (remote control of medical equipment). Data sources can be: speaking and singing voice, sound, pictures (X-ray, CT, MR, ultrasound, voice range profile, audiogramm), video signals (stroboscopy, cinematography, intraoperative pictures) and written information (computer presentations) in all combinations. The transmission can be carried out synchronously or asynchronously, i.e. at the time for their generation or independent of this. This paper discusses the basics and the advantages and disadvantages of the available technologies and compares it for phoniatric/paedaudiologic applications in an experimental transmission.

RESULTS

Use of the different technologies should be carried out depending upon the required quality, the availability and the costs considering medico-legal aspects. Relatively cheap and always available technologies are suitable for many applications in Phoniatrics and Paedaudiology. High costs for acquisition of the equipments could lowered by a common use of different medical branches. Expensive procedures with excellent communication quality are confined to special applications at the moment.

CONCLUSION

Telemedicine can optimize quality and extend of the medical care and education in Phoniatrics and Paedaudiology with a simultaneous cost reduction and should increasingly be used in this branch.

Boundary element method volume conductor models for EEG source reconstruction

OBJECTIVES

The boundary element method (BEM) approximates the different compartments of volume conductor models by closed triangle meshes with a limited number of nodes. The shielding effect of the weakly conducting skull layer of the human head leads to decreasing potential gradients from the inside to the outside. Thus, there may be an optimum distribution of nodes to the compartments for a given number of nodes corresponding to a fixed computational effort, resulting in improved accuracy as compared to standard uniform distributions.

METHODS

Spherical and realistically shaped surfaces are approximated by 500, 1000, 2000, and 3000 nodes, each leading to BEM models with 1500-9000 nodes in total. Electrodes are placed on extended 10/20-system positions. Potential distributions of test-dipoles at 4000 random positions within the innermost compartment are calculated. Dipoles are then fitted using 192 different models to find the optimum node distribution.

RESULTS

Fitted dipole positions for all BEM models are evaluated to show the dependency of the averaged and maximum localization errors on their node distributions. Dipoles close to the innermost boundary exhibit the largest localization errors, which mainly depend on the refinement of this compartment's triangle mesh.

CONCLUSIONS

More than 500 nodes per compartment are needed for reliable BEM models. For a state-of-the-art model consisting of 6000 nodes overall, the best model consists of 3000, 2000, and 1000 nodes from the inside to the outside.

RNA editing in higher plant plastids: oligoribonucleotide SSCP analysis allows the proof of base conversion directly at the RNA level

Plastid RNA editing of a number of transcripts at specific sites changes genomically encoded cytidines to nucleosides, which act like uridines in RT-PCR analyses. To study plastid-editing directly at the RNA level, we established a single-strand conformational polymorphism assay for the discrimination of small RNA molecules. The electrophoretic mobility of a oligoribonucleotide resulting from a RNase T1-digested and edited plastid mRNA was shown to be identical with a control RNA molecule containing a uridine at the editing site, whereas the unedited RNA behaved like a RNA molecule containing a cytidine at the respective position.