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Showing papers by "University of Tübingen published in 1989"


Journal ArticleDOI
30 Nov 1989-Nature
TL;DR: It is reported that synthetic viral peptides covalently linked to tripalmitoyl-S-glycerylcysteinyl-seryl-serine (P3CSS) can efficiently prime influenza-virus-specific CTL in vivo and are able to induce the same high-affinity CTL as does the infectious virus.
Abstract: Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) constitute an essential part of the immune response against viral infections. Such CTL recognize peptides derived from viral proteins together with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules on the surface of infected cells, and usually require in vivo priming with infectious virus. Here we report that synthetic viral peptides covalently linked to tripalmitoyl-S-glycerylcysteinyl-seryl-serine (P3CSS) can efficiently prime influenza-virus-specific CTL in vivo. These lipopeptides are able to induce the same high-affinity CTL as does the infectious virus. Our data are not only relevant to vaccine development, but also have a bearing on basic immune processes leading to the transition of virgin T cells to activated effector cells in vivo, and to antigen presentation by MHC class I molecules.

687 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Stroop-like effects were generated by modally pure color-color, picture-picture, and word-word stimuli instead of the usual modally mixed color-word or picture- word stimuli but unexpectedly showed a semantic gradient only in the naming and not in the reading task.
Abstract: Presents a series of 6 experiments in which Stroop-like effects were generated by modally pure color-color, picture-picture, and word-word stimuli instead of the usual modally mixed color-word or picture-word stimuli. Naming, reading, and categorization tasks were applied. The Stroop inhibition was preserved with these stimuli but unexpectedly showed a semantic gradient only in the naming and not in the reading task. Word categorizing was slower and more interference prone than picture categorizing. These and other results can be captured by a model with two main assumptions: (a) semantic memory and the lexicon are separate, and (b) words have privileged access to the lexicon, whereas pictures and colors have privileged access to the semantic network. Such a model is developed and put to an initial test.

550 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A predator-prey model is developed and it is shown that in the case where the uninfected predator cannot survive only on unin infected prey, the parasitization could lead to persistence of the predator provided a certain threshold of transmission is surpassed.
Abstract: A predator-prey model, where both species are subjected to parasitism, is developed and analyzed. For the case where there is coexistence of the predator with the uninfected prey, an epidemic threshold theorem is proved. It is shown that in the case where the uninfected predator cannot survive only on uninfected prey, the parasitization could lead to persistence of the predator provided a certain threshold of transmission is surpassed.

390 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is concluded that tumor necrosis factor alpha is likely to act as a final mediator of endotoxin action in a sequence of events which includes formation of leukotriene D4 and reactive oxygen species.

302 citations


Book
13 Mar 1989
TL;DR: Astrometry is the part of Astronomy that is devoted to the measurement of the positions, motions, distances, dimensions, and geometry of celestial bodies as mentioned in this paper, and it is the only part of astronomy that is known to us.
Abstract: “Astrometry is the part of Astronomy that is devoted to the measurement of the positions, motions, distances, dimensions, and geometry of celestial bodies. Until the advent of Astrophysics a century ago, Astronomy consisted only of what is now called Astrometry and its theoretical counterpart — Celestial Mechanics. Practically all that was known about the Universe at the turn of the present century was obtained uniquely by astrometric techniques.

274 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The structural similarities between nisin and the recently elucidated lantibiotic epidermin from Staphylococcus epidermidis are consistent with the fact that there is a common mechanism of biosynthesis of these lanthionine-containing antibiotics.
Abstract: Nisin produced by Streptococcus lactis is used as a food preservative and is the most important member of a group of antibiotics containing lanthionine bridges. To understand the genetic basis of these so-called lantibiotics (Schnell et al., Nature 333:276-278, 1988), we characterized the nisin structural gene, nisA, which is located on a plasmid and codes for a 57-amino-acid prepeptide. The prepeptide is processed posttranslationally to the pentacyclic antibiotic. Although nisin and the recently elucidated lantibiotic epidermin from Staphylococcus epidermidis are produced by different organisms, their gene organization is identical. As with epidermin, the nisin propeptide corresponds to the C-terminus of the prepeptide. The N-terminus of the prepeptide is cleaved at a characteristic splice site (Pro--2 Arg--1 Ile-+1). Remarkably, the N-terminus of prenisin shares 70% similarity with preepidermin, although the propeptide sequences are distinctly different. The structural similarities between these two lantibiotics are consistent with the fact that there is a common mechanism of biosynthesis of these lanthionine-containing antibiotics.

267 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The echolocation and hunting behavior of Daubenton's bat (Myotis daubentoni) was studied in the field under completely natural conditions using a multiflash photographic system synchronized with high-speed tape recordings to corroborate the hypothesis that the minimum detection distance can be estimated from the sound duration during search flight.
Abstract: The echolocation and hunting behavior of Daubenton's bat (Myotis daubentoni) were studied in the field under completely natural conditions using a multiflash photographic system synchronized with high-speed tape recordings. The hunting behavior of M. daubentoni is separated into four stages. In the search flight stage Daubenton's bat flies with an average speed of 3.4±0.6 m/s SD usually within 30 cm over water surfaces searching for insects. After the detection of potential prey, the approach flight stage occurs, during which the bat approaches the target in a goal-directed flight. The stage tail down indicates that M. daubentoni is close to the potential prey (approximately 10–22 cm) and is preparing for the catch. The insects are caught with the interfemoral membrane, the feet, and sometimes with the additional aid of a wing. In the stage head down, the bat seizes the prey during flight. Immediately afterwards, Daubenton's bat returns to search flight. M. daubentoni shows the typical echolocation behavior of a vespertilionid bat, emitting frequency-modulated (FM) echolocation signals. The three behavioral stages search, approach, and terminal phase (Griffin et al. 1960) are used to describe the pulse pattern of foraging M. daubentoni in the field. The terminal phase (or buzz) of Daubenton's bat is separated into two parts: buzz I and buzz II. Buzz II is distinguished from buzz I by the following characteristics: a sharp drop in terminal frequency, a distinct reduction in the bandwidth of the first harmonic, a continuous high repetition rate throughout the phase in the range 155–210 Hz, very short pulses (0,25–0.3 ms) and interpulse intervals (4.5–5.0 ms) at the end of the phase, and a distinct decrease in duty cycle. A pause in echolocation separates the end of the terminal phase from the ongoing search phase. The reduction in sound duration after the detection of a target and during pursuits with successfull or attempted catches is discussed in relation to the actual distance of the bat to the target at each stage. It is likely that Daubenton's bat reduces sound duration during approach and terminal phase in order to prevent an overlap of an outgoing pulse with the returning echo from the target. It is argued that the minimum detection distance can be estimated from the sound duration during search flight. Estimates of detection and reaction distances of M. daubentoni based upon synchronized photos and echolocation sequences are given to corroborate this hypothesis. An average detection distance of 128 cm and an average reaction distance of 112 cm were determined. Each behavioral stage of foraging M. daubentoni is characterized by a distinct pattern of echolocation signals and a distinct stage in hunting behavior. The approach flight in hunting behavior coincides with the approach phase and with buzz I in echolocation behavior. The stage tail down corresponds to buzz II. The stage head down is correlated with a pause in echolocation. Immediately afterwards, the bat returns into search flight and into the search phase, emitting search signals.

257 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
15 Jul 1989-Cancer
TL;DR: Intratumoral heterogeneity was higher for the necroses than for the other histopathologic features, and the results underscore the importance of extensive tissue sampling.
Abstract: Quantitative data for intratumoral histologic heterogeneity were obtained by investigating ten small and ten large punched samples from 50 unembedded supratentorial gliomas The 1000 samples were diagnosed according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification and six histopathologic features associated with malignancy were evaluated (cellular density, nuclear pleomorphism, necroses, histologic architecture, vessels, and mitoses), each with defined gradations The slides were read independently by two observers The initially high interobserver variability (grade, 222%; type, 103%; and tumor presence/absence, 71%) was for the most part due to intermediate grades and types and was reduced to 17% after mutual review Small samples showed lower mean grade than large samples and more often absence of tumor (76% versus 24%) Of all gliomas, 48% showed differently typed samples, 82% differently graded samples, and 62% benign and malignant grades Intratumoral heterogeneity was higher for the necroses than for the other histopathologic features Our results underscore the importance of extensive tissue sampling

199 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The close homology between the proteins of the two iron transport systems and of the vitamin B12 transport system indicates a common evolution for all three systems.
Abstract: The fec region of the Escherichia coli chromosome determines a citrate-dependent iron(III) transport system. The nucleotide sequence of fec revealed five genes, fecABCDE, which are transcribed from fecA to fecE. The fecA gene encodes a previously described outer membrane receptor protein. The fecB gene product is formed as a precursor protein with a signal peptide of 21 amino acids; the mature form, with a molecular weight of 30,815, was previously found in the periplasm. The fecB genes of E. coli B and E. coli K-12 differed in 3 nucleotides, of which 2 gave rise to conservative amino acid exchanges. The fecC and fecD genes were found to encode very hydrophobic polypeptides with molecular weights of 35,367 and 34,148, respectively, both of which are localized in the cytoplasmic membrane. The fecE product was a rather hydrophilic but cytoplasmic membrane-bound protein of Mr 28,189 and contained regions of extensive homology to ATP-binding proteins. The number, structural characteristics, and locations of the FecBCDE proteins were typical for a periplasmic-binding-protein-dependent transport system. It is proposed that after FecA- and TonB-dependent transport of iron(III) dicitrate across the outer membrane, uptake through the cytoplasmic membrane follows the binding-protein-dependent transport mechanism. FecC and FecD exhibited homologies to each other, to the N- and C-terminal halves of FhuB of the iron(III) hydroxamate transport system, and to BtuC of the vitamin B12 transport system. FecB showed some homology to FhuD, suggesting that the latter may function in the same manner as a binding protein in iron(III) hydroxamate transport. The close homology between the proteins of the two iron transport systems and of the vitamin B12 transport system indicates a common evolution for all three systems.

189 citations



Journal ArticleDOI
01 Jun 1989-Brain
TL;DR: The hypothesis that the translation of a programmed sequence of responses into action involves cerebellar structures which schedule a sequence of ordered responses before onset of movement is supported.
Abstract: Thirteen patients with bilateral cerebellar disease and 12 patients with unilateral cerebellar disease were instructed to execute movement sequences in response to a simple reaction signal. Each to-be-executed sequence consisted either of a single, two, or three keypress components. Evidence for cerebellar involvement in the execution of programmed responses was sought in the pattern of response onset times and interkeypress times. Patients with mild bilateral cerebellar dysfunction or mild unilateral dysfunction, and neurologically unimpaired subjects showed increases in response onset time as sequence length increased from L = 1 to L = 3. In contrast to this, there were negligible or no effects of sequence length on response onset time in patients with moderate bilateral cerebellar dysfunction and in patients with moderate unilateral cerebellar dysfunction who responded with the hand ipsilateral to the lesion. Furthermore, cerebellar dysfunction was associated with significantly slower interkeypress reaction times. These results support the hypothesis that the translation of a programmed sequence of responses into action involves cerebellar structures which schedule a sequence of ordered responses before onset of movement.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A patient who presented shortly after birth with hyperkinetic behaviour, myoclonia, respiratory insufficiency and hepatosplenomegaly is described, and a unique disorder SAP deficiency is named.
Abstract: We describe a patient who presented shortly after birth with hyperkinetic behaviour, myoclonia, respiratory insufficiency and hepatosplenomegaly. Gaucher-like storage cells were found in bone marrow. A liver biopsy showed massive lysosomal storage morphologically different to that in known lipid storage disorders. Biochemically, the patient had partial deficiencies of beta-galactocerebrosidase, beta-glucocerebrosidase and ceramidase in skin fibroblast extracts, but the sphingomyelinase activity was normal. Glucosyl ceramide and ceramide were elevated in liver tissue. Loading of cultured fibroblasts with radioactive sphingolipid precursors indicated a profound defect in ceramide catabolism. Immunological studies in fibroblasts showed a total absence of cross-reacting material to sphingolipid activator protein 2 (SAP-2). The patient died at 16 weeks of age. The fetus from his mother's next pregnancy was similarly affected. The possibility that the disorder results from a primary defect at the level of SAP-2 is discussed. We have named this unique disorder SAP deficiency.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Sep 1989-Pain
TL;DR: The data give evidence that attentional manipulations represent a powerful method to decrease the perception of pain and that the Somatosensory event‐related potential represents a valuable asset in the multidimensional approach to pain measurement and assessment.
Abstract: In order to determine the effects of attention and distraction on painful and non-painful stimuli, the amplitude changes of 3 components (N150, P200, P300) of the Somatosensory event-related potential (SERF) elicited by painful and non-painful electrical stimuli were investigated. Painful and non-painful stimuli were determined using a visual analog scale. SERPs were recorded from 16 healthy volunteers at 5 midline and 4 left and 4 right hemispheric sites. The differences between the amplitudes of attended and ignored stimuli were quantified with a baseline-to-peak measure. ANOVA results revealed no significant attention or stimulus intensity effects for N150 but highly significant differences in P200 and P300 amplitudes between attended and ignored stimuli. In addition, P200 and P300 amplitudes were larger for strong stimuli than for weak stimuli, with no significant differences between non-painful and painful stimuli. These findings are consistent with the existence of a relative, rather than an absolute, relationship between SERP component amplitudes and subjective pain reports. Furthermore, the data give evidence that attentional manipulations represent a powerful method to decrease the perception of pain and that, when used with subjective and behavioral measures, the SERP represents a valuable asset in the multidimensional approach to pain measurement and assessment.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Local hemodynamics were investigated during nine operations for spinal dural arteriovenous (AV) fistulas, proving disturbance of venous outflow from the spinal canal, and the circulation of the spinal cord vessels improved after excision of the fistula.
Abstract: Local hemodynamics were investigated during nine operations for spinal dural arteriovenous (AV) fistulas. In eight cases, microvascular Doppler sonography was used to measure flow velocities and vasomotor reactivity to CO2 changes. Intravascular pressure recordings of the draining veins on the medullary surface were performed in nine cases. The flow velocities in dural AV fistula feeding vessels were not as high as has been shown in cerebral angioma feeders. The AV fistula feeders often showed low end-diastolic flow velocities as a sign of increased vascular resistance, even in the presence of a downstream AV fistula, thus proving disturbance of venous outflow from the spinal canal. After excision of the fistula, the circulation of the spinal cord vessels improved, with higher inflow and outflow velocities. In the veins formerly draining the fistula, no further flow could be recorded; however, they did not collapse, indicating that some pressure remained. The mean venous pressure in the dural AV fistulas was about 74% of the systemic arterial pressure. It increased concomitantly with the arterial pressure, which may explain the clinical deterioration that occurs during physical activity. Fistulas with a high shunt volume on angiography showed only moderately increased venous pressures and a more pronounced pressure drop compared to low-volume fistulas. The CO2 reactivity of vessels supplying the spinal cord could be demonstrated in all cases, and was normal before and after removal of the fistula.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is concluded that the ExbB and ExbD proteins contribute to the activity of TonB and, like TonB, are involved in receptor-dependent transport processes across the outer membrane.
Abstract: The exb locus in Escherichia coli consists of two genes, termed exbB and exbD. Exb functions are related to TonB function in that most TonB-dependent processes are enhanced by Exb. Like tonB mutants, exb mutants were resistant to colicin M and albomycin but, in contrast to tonB mutants, showed only reduced sensitivity to colicins B and D. Overexpressed tonB on the multicopy vector pACYC177 largely restored the sensitivity of exb mutants to colicins B, D, and M but only marginally increased sensitivity to albomycin. Suppression of the btuB451 mutation in the structural gene for the vitamin B12 outer membrane receptor protein by a mutation in tonB occurred only in an exb+ strain. Degradation of the unstable overproduced TonB protein was prevented by overproduced ExbB protein. The ExbB protein also stabilized the ExbD protein. Pulse-chase experiments with radiolabeled ferrichrome revealed release of ferrichrome from exbB, tonB, and fhuC mutants, showing that ferrichrome had not crossed the cytoplasmic membrane. It is concluded that the ExbB and ExbD proteins contribute to the activity of TonB and, like TonB, are involved in receptor-dependent transport processes across the outer membrane.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A working model is proposed in which the TonB protein assumes different conformations in response to the energized state of the cytoplasmic membrane and thereby allosterically regulates the activity of the FhuA receptor.
Abstract: Point mutations in the “TonB box” offhuA were suppressed by point mutations in thetonB gene, suggesting both a functional and physical interaction between the FhuA receptor protein in the outer membrane and the TonB protein in the cytoplasmic membrane ofEscherichia coli K12. Mutations influA were classified into four types according to the extent by which they impaired mutant cells in their growth on ferrichrome as sole iron source and in their sensitivity to the antibiotic albomycin and to colicin M. ThetonB mutation with a glutamine to leucine replacement at position 165 was less efficient in restoring the FhuA functions than the glutamine to lysine exchange at the same position. The better the coupling between FhuA and TonB the poorer was the inhibition of phage T1 binding to FhuA by ferrichrome. A working model is proposed in which the TonB protein assumes different conformations in response to the energized state of the cytoplasmic membrane and thereby allosterically regulates the activity of the FhuA receptor. This model implies an intermembrane coupling between two proteins in adjacent membranes.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is concluded that the exb- and tol-dependent systems originate from a common uptake system for biopolymers.
Abstract: Escherichia coli with mutations in the exb region are impaired in outer membrane receptor-dependent uptake processes. They are resistant to the antibiotic albomycin and exhibit reduced sensitivity to group B colicins. A 2.2-kilobase-pair DNA fragment of the exb locus was sequenced. It contained two open reading frames, designated exbB and exbD, which encoded polypeptides of 244 and 141 amino acids, respectively. Both proteins were found in the cytoplasmic membrane. They showed strong homologies to the TolQ and TolR proteins, respectively, which are involved in uptake of group A colicins and infection by filamentous bacteriophages. exbB and exbD were required to complement exb mutations. Osmotic shock treatment rendered exb mutants sensitive to colicin M, which was taken as evidence that the ExbB and ExbD proteins are involved in transport processes across the outer membrane. It is concluded that the exb- and tol-dependent systems originate from a common uptake system for biopolymers.

Journal Article
TL;DR: A retrospective long-term study of 334 patients with idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis found MGN to have a relatively good prognosis, but unsystematic therapy with steroids and/or cytostatic agents does not improve theLong-term prognosis of MGN.
Abstract: A retrospective long-term study (average follow-up time 5.2 years) of 334 patients with idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN) was carried out with the following results: 1) MGN was found to have a relatively good prognosis when all cases were considered together: 5-year kidney survival rate (KSR) -88%, and 10-year KSR -77%. 2) Univariate survivorship analysis showed the following morphological and clinical parameters to be associated with an increased risk of terminal renal insufficiency or death from renal disease: a) tubulo-interstitial changes; b) glomerular stage III as opposed to stages I and II; c) elevation of serum creatinine concentration at the time of the biopsy; d) arterial hypertension at the time of the biopsy. 3) Multivariate analysis showed that only tubulo-interstitial changes (interstitial fibrosis and/or acute renal failure) found at the time of the biopsy and their clinical correlate, serum creatinine concentration, were significant and therefore of definite prognostic importance. 4) Unsystematic therapy with steroids and/or cytostatic agents does not improve the long-term prognosis of MGN. 5) The cause of disease in the tubulo-interstitial system in MGN is discussed. Interstitial fibrosis is considered to develop possibly as a consequence of unresorbed interstitial edema which can develop during an episode of acute renal failure. Coexisting T-cell-mediated disease in the region of the intertubular capillaries is also considered as a possible factor in the development of interstitial fibrosis.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results suggest that MR imaging is useful for the demonstration and evaluation of pelvic and abdominal sinus tracts or fistulae associated with Crohn disease.
Abstract: To investigate the potential of MR imaging in the evaluation of sinus tracts or fistulae associated with Crohn disease, 17 patients with pelvic or abdominal fistulae or sinus tracts underwent MR imaging with multislice spin-echo techniques, 500/15 and 1600/22,80 (TR/TE). The presence of fistulae and/or sinus tracts was confirmed by contrast-enhanced CT (n = 17) and/or sonography (n = 8), sinography (n = 6), or barium studies (n = 4). In all but three cases the fistulae and extramucosal inflammatory abnormalities were shown by MR. T1-weighted images provided excellent delineation of the extension of the fistulae relative to sphincters and adjacent hollow viscera and showed inflammatory changes in fat planes. T2-weighted images showed fluid collections within the fistulae, localized fluid collections in extraintestinal tissues, and inflammatory changes within muscles. The supralevator and infralevator compartments were well defined on coronal images. Thus, the perirectal spread of fistulae and sinus tracts ...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results indicate that endothelial cell elongation and orientation in vitro can be induced by periodic stretching and relaxation comparable to the periodic oscillations of the vessel wall due to blood pulsation in vivo.
Abstract: Endothelial cells covering the luminal surface of vessels are exposed to at least two different mechanical forces: 1) fluid shear stress produced by the circulation of blood, and 2) periodic stretching and relaxing as a result of the diameter oscillations caused by blood pulsation. In this study we present an apparatus which was constructed to imitate the volume pulse with its typical incisura of the abdominal aorta. Using this apparatus, we exposed cultured endothelial cells to continuously produced cyclic and directional stretching and relaxation for three days. In all experiments cells remained attached and viable when subjected to mechanical stimulation. The vast majority of endothelial cells which underwent mechanical stimulation became elongated and oriented with their longer axis perpendicular to the direction of stretching (angle of cell orientation: α=88.7°±12°; $$\bar x$$ ±SD), whereas cells on unstretched membranes had a cobblestone-like appearance and remained in random orientation. In the stretched cells, the factor of elongation was f=6.8±1.3; $$\bar x$$ ±SD; unstretched cells which exhibited a polygonal shape had a factor of elongation of f=1.8±0.8; $$\bar x$$ ±SD. In addition, the behavior of cytoskeletal components such as microfilaments and microtubules was examined in the process of cell orientation as both are actively involved in alterations of cell shape and cell migration. Actin filaments were oriented in parallel alignment perpendicular to the stretch direction (angle of actin filament orientation: β=90.4°±9°; $$\bar x$$ ±SD). A distinct orientation of microtubules was not observed, althougn a noticeable number of microtubules was observed to be in parallel alignment. Furthermore, microtubules of cells which underwent mechanical stimulation exhibited a pronounced asymmetric intracellular distribution with strongly fluorescent cytoplasmic areas in which microtubules seemed to be accumulated. The results indicate that endothelial cell elongation and orientation in vitro can be induced by periodic stretching and relaxation comparable to the periodic oscillations of the vessel wall due to blood pulsation in vivo.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The study shows that, in progressing intracranial hypertension, arterial circulatory standstill within the cranial cavity develops in a distal-to-proximal direction, and experimental evidence from the literature, together with the findings of the present investigation, points to the capillary bed as the initial site of the flow obstruction in progressing intrusion.
Abstract: To investigate the hemodynamics of intracranial circulatory arrest, the authors correlated the findings of noninvasive transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) with those of transfemoral four-vessel angiography in 65 patients following brain death and intracranial circulatory arrest due to severe intracranial hypertension. The three TCD stages of intracranial circulatory arrest, which have been described previously, corresponded with different levels of extracerebral angiographic cessation of flow. With TCD progression from the first stage (oscillating flow) to the third stage (no flow), the level where the dye stopped descended caudad from subarachnoid to cervical levels. The study shows that, in progressing intracranial hypertension, arterial circulatory standstill within the cranial cavity develops in a distal-to-proximal direction. The basal cerebral arteries remain patent in the early stages of intracranial circulatory arrest. Experimental evidence from the literature, together with the findings of the present investigation, points to the capillary bed as the initial site of the flow obstruction in progressing intracranial hypertension.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Migraine prophylaxis through beta-blocking agents and calcium channel antagonists was more efficient after drug-withdrawal therapy and patients who originally suffered from migraine, superimposed on the daily headache, also experienced a significant improvement in the frequency of the migraines and their intensity.
Abstract: Headache characteristics are described in 139 patients with chronic daily or almost daily headaches due to regular intake of analgesics and the short- and long-term results of drug withdrawal. Drug-induced headache was described as dull, diffuse, and band-like, and usually started in the early morning. The mean duration of the original headache (migraine or tension headache) was 25 years; regular intake of drugs and chronic daily headache had started 10 and 6 years prior to withdrawal therapy, respectively. Patients took an average of 34.6 tablets or analgesic suppositories or antimigraine drugs per week containing 5.8 different substances. The drugs most often used were caffeine (95%), ergotalkaloids (89%), barbiturates (64%), and spasmolytics, paracetamol, and pyrazolone derivates (45%–46%). A total of 103 patients (68 migraine, 35 tension or combination headache) were available for interviews at a mean time interval of 2.9 years after an inpatient drug withdrawal programme. Chronic headache had disappeared or was reduced by more than 50% in two-thirds of the patients. Positive predictors for successful treatment were migraine as primary headache, chronic headache lasting less than 10 years, and regular intake of ergotamine. Drug intake was significantly reduced and patients used single substances more often. Patients who originally suffered from migraine, superimposed on the daily headache, also experienced a significant improvement in the frequency of the migraines and their intensity. Migraine prophylaxis through beta-blocking agents and calcium channel antagonists was more efficient after drug-withdrawal therapy.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: MEP monitoring during neurosurgical operations on the spinal cord is a sensitive method for early detection of impending neurological complications and the influence of anesthesia and the definition of acceptable limits for changes in amplitudes are presented.
Abstract: We present the results of monitoring descending pathways with motor evoked potentials (MEP) in 50 patients during neurosurgical operations on the spinal cord. The electromyographic responses of the anterior tibial muscles were recorded. In addition, in 24 patients responses of the thenar muscles after transcranial electrical stimulation of the motor cortex were recorded. Usually, the averages of 5 to 15 signals were evaluated. Although potentials were obtained preoperatively in all 50 patients, during neuroleptanesthesia intraoperative recording from the anterior tibial muscles was possible in 43 patients (86%) and from the thenar muscles in 21 patients (87.5%). Amplitudes were superior to latencies as evaluation criteria for intraoperative changes in potentials. On the basis of acceptable changes in amplitudes of up to 50% at the end of the operation, 16 recordings from the thenar muscles (76.2%) and 35 from the anterior tibial muscles (81.4%) correlated correctly with the postoperative neurological status; there were false positive results in 5 (23.8%) and 8 (18.6%) patients, respectively. We did not observe false negative findings. Postoperative neurological complications coincided in every case with permanent reduction in amplitudes of more than 50% of the base lines or with intraoperative loss of potentials as observed in 3 and 1 patient, respectively. MEP monitoring during neurosurgical operations on the spinal cord is a sensitive method for early detection of impending neurological complications. Major problems are the influence of anesthesia and the definition of acceptable limits for changes in amplitudes.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, high-resolution open-tubular columns coated with solutions of heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin (phase I) or heptonakis (2,6,di-O-,methyl-3,O-trifluoroacetyl)-β -cyclodextrin (Phase II) in moderately polar polysiloxanes such as OV-1701 (5% cyanopropyl/7% phenyl/88% methylpolysiloxane) and OV
Abstract: High-resolution open-tubular columns coated with solutions of heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin (Phase I) or heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl-3-O-trifluoroacetyl)-β-cyclodextrin (Phase II) in moderately polar polysiloxanes such as OV-1701 (5% cyanopropyl/7% phenyl/88% methylpolysiloxane) and OV-225 (25% cyanopropyl/50% phenyl/25% methylpolysiloxane) are used for the gas chromatographic enantiomer separation of volatiles belonging to different classes of compounds. No derivatization procedures are necessary for most of the resolved chiral molecules. The chiral stationary phases can be operated between 25 and 190°C for extended periods of time. The enantiomer separation of saturated, unfunctionalized hydrocarbons clearly demonstrates the importance of molecular inclusion in chiral recognition using cyclodextrins for this class of compounds. The different, and in some cases complementary, selectivity of the Phases I and II is demonstrated.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Feb 1989-Vaccine
TL;DR: A novel completely synthetic virus peptide vaccine, which consists of a synthetic activator of B cells and macrophages, covalently linked to an amphiphilic alpha-helical T-cell epitope, which induces a long-lasting high protection against foot-and-mouth disease and serotype-specific virus-neutralizing antibodies in guinea-pigs after a single administration without any additional adjuvant or carrier.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a fonction caracteristique non commutative was introduced for calculing le spectre de #7B-A, on obtient des resultats sur la generation de semi-groupes par des matrices operateur.
Abstract: Sur l'espace produit R×L 2 (R + ) on considere l'operateur #7B-A:=(a δ 0 ) ou D=d/dx est defini sur D(A)=W 1 (R + ), δ 0 est la mesure de Dirac en 0, c∈L 2 (R + ) est un operateur de R dans L 2 (R + ) et #7B-A a un domaine D(#7B-A)=R×W 1 (R + ). On introduit une fonction caracteristique non commutative donnant une facon efficace pour calculer le spectre de #7B-A. On obtient des resultats sur la generation de semi-groupes par des matrices operateur

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The present theory is that maturation of Pep5 involves (a) enzymic conversion of Thr, Ser and Cys into dehydrated amino acids and sulfide bridges, (b) membrane translocation and cleavage of the modified prepeptide, which proves that Pep5 is ribosomally synthesized.
Abstract: A wobbled 14-mer oligonucleotide was derived from the amino acid sequence of the 34-residue propeptide of the lantibiotic Pep5 (Kellner et al. 1989). Using this hybridization probe, the structural gene of Pep5, pepA, was located on the 18.6 kbp plasmid pED503. The nucleotide sequence of pepA codes for a prepeptide with 60 residues and proves that Pep5 is ribosomally synthesized. The N-terminus of the prepeptide has a high α-helix probability and a characteristic proteolytic cleavage site precedes the C-terminal 34-residue propeptide. Our present theory is that maturation of Pep5 involves (a) enzymic conversion of Thr, Ser and Cys into dehydrated amino acids and sulfide bridges, (b) membrane translocation and cleavage of the modified prepeptide.


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the reaction of In2Br4 · 2TMEDA with lithium-bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl forms tetrakis[bis[trimethyltransmethyl]diindane(4) (1), having an indium-indium bond and precipitating from n-pentane as orange-red crystals.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Cells carrying mutations in exbB were partially tolerant to colicins B, D, and M and became fully tolerant by the introduction of tolQ mutations, which suggested involvement of bothExbB and tol Q in tonB-dependent uptake.
Abstract: Double exbB tolQ mutants of Escherichia coli were completely resistant to bacteriophages T1 and phi 80, in contrast to strains with exbB or tolQ mutations, which were sensitive. Cells carrying mutations in exbB were partially tolerant to colicins B, D, and M and became fully tolerant by the introduction of tolQ mutations. This suggested involvement of both exbB and tolQ in tonB-dependent uptake.