Showing papers by "University of Zurich published in 1982"
Journal Article•
3,696 citations
593 citations
TL;DR: It is reported that pure IGF I stimulates the growth of hypophysectomized rats in a dose-dependent manner, which strongly supports the notion that the action of growth hormone is mediated by peptides of the somatomedin family.
Abstract: Although growth hormone stimulates the growth of hypophysectomized rats, it has long been proposed1,2 that the effects are not direct but instead are mediated by the somatomedin peptides. Two of these are insulin-like growth factor I (IGF I) and insulin-like growth factor II (IGF II)3, so called because they are closely related to insulin in structure4,5. IGF I and IGF II have somatomedin activity in vitro6,7 but until now insufficient amounts of the peptides have been available to test their in vivo activity. We now report that pure IGF I stimulates the growth of hypophysectomized rats in a dose-dependent manner. This strongly supports the notion that the action of growth hormone is mediated by peptides of the somatomedin family.
589 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, Raman scattering measurements on hydrogenated microcrystalline silicon prepared in a hydrogen plasma at deposition temperatures between approximately 65 and 400 degrees C are presented and discussed.
Abstract: Raman scattering measurements on hydrogenated microcrystalline silicon prepared in a hydrogen plasma at deposition temperatures between approximately=65 and 400 degrees C are presented and discussed. The shifts of the crystalline (c) and 'amorphous-like' (a) components of the spectra to lower frequencies with decreasing crystallite size have been correlated with the lattice expansion and the finite dimensions of the crystallites in these films. The roles of hydrogen and of the compressive stress in the samples have been investigated by annealing experiments and a deposition of the samples under negative bias of the substrate, respectively. These results point to a probable mechanism of the crystalline-amorphous transition in silicon. The data presented allow an assignment of the amorphous-like feature in the Raman spectra to surface-like modes at grain boundaries of the crystallites. Strong arguments are given that suggest that the 480 cm-1 peak in the Raman spectra of X-ray amorphous silicon is of the same origin and is hence associated with some shearing modes of Si clusters rather than a broadened density of states. Results on the depolarisation ratio of Raman scattering in the microcrystalline and X-ray amorphous films are also presented and discussed.
523 citations
TL;DR: Children aged 6 to 13 yr.
Abstract: Children aged 6 to 13 yr. were given verbal and non-verbal fluency tasks as well as the Vocabulary and Block Design subtests of the WISC-R. The results, providing normative data, showed that the fl...
487 citations
TL;DR: In more than half of the patients a clear-cut general improvement in tests of intellectual performance was found and this indicates that this type of psychomotor epilepsy can be treated more successfully in ths new way than by the classic removal of the temporal lobe or by stereotactic methods.
453 citations
TL;DR: It is reported here that spontaneous firing of all the neurones recorded in the slice increased, consistent with the known effects of Ca2+ on membrane properties and synaptic transmission6–10, but the synchronous ‘field bursts’, and presumably their underlying mechanisms, were restricted to the population of pyramidal neurones in the hippocampal CA1 region.
Abstract: The synchronization of neuronal firing, seen at its most dramatic in the epilepsies, has generally been attributed to synaptic interactions1–5. We have now discovered a rhythmic spontaneous bursting activity produced by non-synaptic mechanisms. It develops in rat hippocampal slices after chemical synaptic transmission has been blocked by incubation in low Ca2+, increased Mg2+ solutions, and persists with almost clockwork regularity for several hours. We report here that spontaneous firing of all the neurones recorded in the slice increased, consistent with the known effects of Ca2+ on membrane properties and synaptic transmission6–10, but the synchronous ‘field bursts’, and presumably their underlying mechanisms, were restricted to the population of pyramidal neurones in the hippocampal CA1 region. Thus, these low Ca2+ field bursts are different from the Ca2+-dependent synchronous bursts induced in slices by penicillin which originate in the population of pyramidal cells of the CA3 region1–3.
453 citations
Journal Article•
334 citations
TL;DR: TheSynovial fluids of patients with rheumatoid arthritis are suggested to represent an interleukin 1 (IL-1), which has been shown to stimulate T and B cell functions and to induce the production of collagenase and prostaglandins by cultured synovial cells.
Abstract: The synovial fluids (SF) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were investigated for their effects on thymocytes of C3H/HeJ mice. Of the 20 SF tested, 17 (85%) showed an augmentation of the phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) induced thymocyte stimulation. Out of 16 SF of patients with osteoarthrosis, such an activity was detected in only one (6.25%). Further characterisation of the amplification factor revealed that (1) the SF of RA patients augmented both the PHA and the Concanavalin A response of the thymocytes (2) in the absence of mitogens, SF-treated thymocytes showed an increased uptake of 3H-thymidine, (3) the SF did not propagate the growth of an interleukin 2 dependent ovalbumin specific T cell clone, but (4) the SF were found to be required for optimal interleukin 2 release by spleen cells stimulated with suboptimal doses of lectin. Based on these biological effects the factor in the SF of RA patients is suggested to represent an interleukin 1 (IL-1). IL-1 produced in cultures by activated macrophages has been shown to stimulate T and B cell functions and to induce the production of collagenase and prostaglandins by cultured synovial cells. Both properties of IL-1 could be relevant in the pathogenesis of RA.
286 citations
TL;DR: Age-related changes in body weight and dentition were found to be delayed relative to laboratory-reared baboons, and females lost by one male to several rivals tended to reassemble in the same new one-male units later on.
Abstract: Demographic and life history parameters were estimated for a band of free-ranging hamadryas baboons, observed for 5.5 years in Ethiopia. Age-related changes in body weight and dentition were found to be delayed relative to laboratory-reared baboons. On the average, females reached menarche at 4.3 years of age and had their first infant at the age of 6.1 years. The mean interbirth interval was 24 months if the infant survived this period. The survival of infants and juveniles was higher compared to Amboseli yellow baboons, but somewhat lower than in gelada baboons in the Simen Mountains. Males acquired their first juvenile or adult female at the age of 8.5 to 11 years. Male-female pair-bonds lasted several years in most cases. The Cone Rock baboons were organized in a four-level social structure. The troop could split into bands, bands were divided into clans, and clans into one-male units with bachelor followers. The exchange of individuals between social units predominantly occurred within the band. All males of known origin became adult members of their presumed natal clan. Most females transferred also within clans, and juvenile females tended to remain in their natal clan. Females lost by one male to several rivals tended to reassemble in the same new one-male units later on.
248 citations
TL;DR: Observations made after electrical stimulation or haloperidol under urethane anaesthesia and after nicotine in unanaesthetized rats suggest that the relatively modest effect of nicotine on striatal DA turnover is due mainly to the short duration of drug action rather than to effects of the anaesthetic on DA metabolism.
TL;DR: The results support the contention that parvalbumin may be concerned with rapid muscle relaxation3–8 and in addition suggest a range of relaxation properties in muscle fibres belonging to the same histochemical fibre type.
Abstract: The basic mechanism underlying the contraction–relaxation cycle of vertebrate muscles is a Ca2+ exchange between the sarcoplasmic reticulum and the myofibrils. Relaxation is achieved by retrieval of Ca2+ from the myofibrils and transfer to the sarcoplasmic reticulum. However, it is uncertain whether the rate of Ca2+ uptake by the sarcoplasmic reticulum can account for the known speed of relaxation1,2. In fast contracting muscles the Ca2+-binding protein parvalbumin is postulated to facilitate relaxation3–8. Using immunohistochemical techniques, we show here that parvalbumin is located exclusively in type II (fast-twitch) mammalian skeletal muscle fibres which can be further subdivided into five subgroups displaying distinct staining intensities. As the active state decays more rapidly in fast than in slow muscles9,10, our results support the contention that parvalbumin may be concerned with rapid muscle relaxation3–8 and in addition suggest a range of relaxation properties in muscle fibres belonging to the same histochemical fibre type.
TL;DR: In this article, it was shown that the crystal lattice expansion of microcrystalline silicon leads, in the limit of small crystallite size of about 30 A, to an instability of the diamond structure with respect to the amorphous phase.
Abstract: It is shown that the crystal lattice expansion of microcrystalline silicon leads, in the limit of small crystallite size of about 30 A, to an instability of the diamond structure with respect to the amorphous phase. Simple thermodynamic considerations are presented which support the idea of the crystalline-to-amorphous transformation being a discontinuous order—disorder phase transition.
TL;DR: Autoradiography demonstrated prominent retrograde labeling of olivocerebellar climbing fiber neurons after injection of tritiated D-aspartate into the rat cerebellar cortex or deep nuclei, supporting the hypothesis that aspartate is a neurotransmitter in climbing fibers.
Abstract: Autoradiography demonstrated prominent retrograde labeling of olivocerebellar climbing fiber neurons after injection of tritiated D-aspartate into the rat cerebellar cortex or deep nuclei. Mossy fiber systems originating in the brainstem and spinal cord remained unlabeled. Potassium ion-induced depolarization of cerebellar slices resulted in calcium ion-dependent release of endogenous L-aspartate, L-glutamate, gamma-aminobutyric acid, and glycine. A 26 percent decrease in aspartate release was observed after 3-acetylpyridine-induced destruction of the inferior olive, supporting the hypothesis that aspartate is a neurotransmitter in climbing fibers.
TL;DR: Examples of a novel type of S1 nuclease site found in a sea urchin histone gene repeat and characterized by homocopolymer sequences are described, which may reflect the potential for out-of-register DNA slippage in such sequences and speculate that related slippages in vivo could lead to their acting as foci for recombinational events.
Abstract: The concept of specific functional elements in genes comprising localized or transient structural discontinuities, such as Z-DNA or cruciforme, is becoming increasingly plausible1–6. Cruciforms were first detected as supercoil-dependent single-strand nuclease (S1)-sensitive sites characterized by hyphenated inverted repeat DNA sequences2,3. Here I describe examples of a novel type of S1 nuclease site found in a sea urchin histone gene repeat and characterized by homocopolymer sequences. Endonucleolytic cleavage within these sequences does not depend on supercoiling, is highly sensitive to the salt concentration and shows a reproducible pattern of maxima and minima. This type of S1 sensitivity may reflect the potential for out-of-register DNA slippage in such sequences and I speculate that related slippage events in vivo could lead to their acting as foci for recombinational events.
TL;DR: In this article, a static magnetic field parallel to the direction of propagation of an incident light beam causes a small shift in the value of the absorption coefficient of a chiral molecule.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors classified the material according to precise morphological criteria and matched it with a number of clinical and catamnestic data in order to determine which parameters correspond best with the development of the disease.
Abstract: It is generally believed that the histological pattern of papillary thyroid carcinomas has no influence on the course of the disease. However, we were puzzled by the evidence differences in the clinical course of these tumours and decided to re-examine all microscopic specimens available at the Institute of Pathology of the University of Zurich. These had been obtained from 169 surgical cases operated on between 1962 and 1977. We classified the material according to precise morphological criteria and matched it with a number of clinical and catamnestic data in order to determine which parameters correspond best with the development of the disease. Although the fate of patients below 50 years of age is slightly more favourable than that of older subjects, age is by no means the most important factor. In fact, the prognosis correlates significantly better with the initial local extension of the primary tumour (occult, intrathyroid or extrathyroid). Furthermore, this parameter is closely related to the histological pattern of our various papillary carcinoma subtypes which we graded according to differentiation. All factors considered, the morphological pattern appears to offer a rewarding approach to the provision of an accurate prognosis.
TL;DR: Cross-reaction studies performed on frontal lobe biopsy material indicated specific binding sites for IGF-1 and insulin whereas iodinated IGF-2 was equally displaced by IGF- 1 and IGF- 2, suggesting the presence of an additional IGF-3-like binding site in the adult brain.
TL;DR: A taxonomic revision of the genus Hydrilla (Hydrocharitaceae) is presented with a full description, diagnosis, synonyms with typifications, distribution maps and illustrations, also including information on ecology, floral biology, anatomy, embryology, chromosomes, genetics, variation and applied aspects with a rather extensive bibliography.
TL;DR: Human serum contains the somatomedins, insulin-like growth factor I and II (IGF I and I); in spinal fluid, however, only IGF II was found in measurable and significant amounts.
Abstract: Human serum contains the somatomedins, insulin-like growth factor I and II (IGF I and II). In spinal fluid, however, only IGF II was found in measurable and significant amounts. In addition, an IGF II of larger mass could be detected by a radioimmunoassay for IGF II. This "big" IGF II is biologically active and has an apparent molecular weight of 9000.
TL;DR: Treatment of human patients infected with E. granulosus is followed by subjective improvement in most, and evidence of regression of cysts in some; in other patients, cysts continue to grow or have been proven viable even after several months of high-dose mebendazole therapy.
Abstract: Mebendazole, its fluorine analogue flubendazole, and other benzimidazole derivatives are active against many gastrointestinal and tissue-stage helminths. This article reviews the published literature and proceedings of a workshop on the use of benzimidazoles against larval echinococcosis (hydatid disease). Orally administered high doses (30–50 mg/kg body weight) of mebendazole given daily for 20–90 days to rodents or sheep infected with larvalEchinococcus granulosus cause damage or destruction of the cyst wall, loss of cyst fluid, and death of protoscolices. Similar treatment of rodents infected withE. multilocularis with mebendazole, flubendazole, fenbendazole, and albendazole for 60–300 days leads to reduction of weight, inhibition of growth and of metastases formation ofE. multilocularis tissue, and to prolonged host survival time although the metacestodes are not killed. Mebendazole or flubendazole treatment of human patients infected withE. granulosus is followed by subjective improvement in most, and evidence of regression of cysts in some; in other patients, cysts continue to grow or have been proven viable even after several months of high-dose mebendazole therapy. In patients infected withE. multilocularis, the progressive course of the disease appeared to be arrested, but treatment apparently did not kill the parasite. Side effects in some patients have included allergic reactions, alopecia, and reversible neutropenia. Some possible reasons for differnet responses to treatment include inadequate plasma drug absorption from the gut and age, condition, and location of cysts. Many remaining questions concerning the risk versus benefits of mebendazole therapy can be answered only through controlled clinical trials.
TL;DR: It is concluded that synthesis of a VSG mRNA involves splicing of a much longer primary transcript, which may start outside the transposed segment, and the presence of several minor transcripts in trypanosomes synthesizing VSG 118 is shown.
Abstract: The expression of the gene for variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) 118 in Trypanosoma brucei is activated by transposing a DNA segment containing the gene and 1-2 kb in front of it to an expression site elsewhere in the genome. By S1 nuclease protection and RNA blotting experiments we show here the presence of several minor transcripts in trypanosomes synthesizing VSG 118, one of which covers the entire transposed segment. Comparison of the sequence of the 5' terminal segment of VSG 118 messenger RNA (mRNA), determined by primed reverse transcription, and the corresponding region of the 118 VSG gene, shows that the 5' terminal 34 nucleotides of the mRNA are not encoded in the 118 VSG gene contiguous with the remainder of the mRNA. We conclude that synthesis of a VSG mRNA involves splicing of a much longer primary transcript, which may start outside the transposed segment.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors evaluated the utility of pre-column amino acid derivatization, liquid chromatographic separation and subsequent quantitation, and concluded that the results are significantly better at the lower picomole level, an area where few if any analyzers can perform routinely.
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that another function of [ADP-ribose]n biosynthesis is related to the regulation of the expression of two fetal functions of cultured hepatocytes—the K-type (III) isozyme of pyruvate kinase, and γ-glutamyltranspeptidase, which is also a marker of early neoplastic transformation of liver cells5.
Abstract: The nuclear enzyme ADP-ribosyltransferase (ADPRT) catalyses the postsynthetic modification of chromatin proteins1 The significance of [ADP-ribose]n-modified chromatin proteins for the regulation of chromatin function is not understood1 Recently, [ADP-ribose]n biosynthesis has been demonstrated to participate in the repair of some types of DNA damage2–4 Here we demonstrate that another function of [ADP-ribose]n biosynthesis is related to the regulation of the expression of two fetal functions of cultured hepatocytes—the K-type (III) isozyme of pyruvate kinase, and γ-glutamyltranspeptidase, which is also a marker of early neoplastic transformation of liver cells5
TL;DR: In dog muscle, the fibre type composition of adult dog skeletal muscle is confronted with the presence of two main classes of type II fibres, both oxidative-glycolytic, but differing in the structure of their myosin heavy chains.
Abstract: To analyse the fibre type composition of adult dog skeletal muscle, enzyme histochemistry, immunohistochemistry for type I, IIA and IIB myosins, and peptide mapping of myosin heavy chains isolated from typed single fibres were combined. Subdivision of type II fibres into two main classes according to the activity of the m-ATPase after acidic and alkaline preincubation proved to be rather difficult and was only consistently achieved after a very careful adjustment of the systems used. One of these sub-classes of type II fibres stained more strongly for m-ATPase activity after acidic and alkaline preincubation, was oxidative-glycolytic and showed a strong reaction with an anti-type IIA myosin. The other one, however, although unreactive with anti-IIA myosin, was also oxidative-glycolytic, and only showed a faint reaction with an anti-type IIB myosin. Peptide mapping of the myosin heavy chains of typed single fibres revealed two populations of heavy chains among the type II fibre group. Thus, in dog muscle, we are confronted with the presence of two main classes of type II fibres, both oxidative-glycolytic, but differing in the structure of their myosin heavy chains. In contrast to some reports in the literature, no classical type IIB fibres could be detected.
TL;DR: The central projections of visceral primary afferents of the inferior mesenteric plexus and hypogastric nerve of the rat were investigated using the trans ganglionic transport of horseradish peroxidase and the location of the corresponding spinal ganglion cells as well as the preganglionic sympathetic neurons is demonstrated.
Abstract: The central projections of visceral primary afferents of the inferior mesenteric plexus and hypogastric nerve of the rat were investigated using the transganglionic transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). In addition, the location of the corresponding spinal ganglion cells as well as the preganglionic sympathetic neurons is demonstrated. Labelled afferent axons were found in dorsal roots, dorsal root entry zone (preferentially in its lateral part), in all parts of the tract of Lissauer, and in the dorsolateral funiculus. Preterminal axons and/or terminals were distributed mainly to laminae I, IIa and the nucleus of the dorsolateral funiculus. Fewer afferents reached laminae IIb, III–V and X. Afferent projections are densest at L1 and 2 and the caudal T13, but extend up to T10 rostrally, and at least down to L4 caudally. A few visceral afferents ascend to the nucleus gracilis. The great majority of sensory and preganglionic sympathetic cell bodies is located at levels L1 and 2 bilaterally. A few cells are found in decreasing numbers rostrally up to T11. Preganglionic sympathetic neurons (PSN) are located in nucleus intermediolateralis (IML), n. intercalatus (IC) and n. commissuralis dorsalis (DCN). Axons of DCN and IC neurons run laterally, joining those of IML neurons on their way to the ventral roots. Dendrites of IML neurons ramify in all directions but preferentially to the dorsal horn and dorsolateral funiculus. Dendrites of IC and DCN neurons are distributed mainly mediolaterally, the latter also ventrally around the canalis centralis.
TL;DR: The decreased number of endothelial cells after acute angle-closure glaucoma frequently combined with bilateral cornea guttata, accounts for the corneal degeneration in these patients following a later cataract extraction.
TL;DR: It is suggested that familial aggregation for coronary heart disease may result from predisposition to disease, possibly genetic, that is not reflected in the measured levels of total cholesterol, systolic blood pressure or cigarette smoking.
Abstract: The incidence of clinically recognized coronary heart disease and its relation to risk factors have been studied for 596 sibships in the Framingham Heart Study cohort. Only the 186 pairs of brothers were considered in the multivariate analysis, since the rate of coronary heart disease in women is low. Multiple logistic regression was performed by using endpoints of coronary heart disease as the dependent variable for the younger brother of the pair. Age, Metropolitan relative weight, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, cigarette smoking and endpoints of coronary heart disease for the older brother represent the independent variables. The incidence of myocardial infarction in the older brother is significantly related to myocardial infarction experience of the younger brother, even after the strong effects of total cholesterol, systolic blood pressure and cigarette smoking were controlled. These findings suggest that family history of myocardial infarction may be an important independent predictor of myocardial infarction, and suggest that familial aggregation for coronary heart disease may result from predisposition to disease, possibly genetic, that is not reflected in the measured levels of total cholesterol, systolic blood pressure or cigarette smoking.
TL;DR: It seems that the four autosomal loci known to be involved in sex determination of somatic cells have no important role in the sexual development of the germline of Drosophila.