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  • Electronic Resource  (344)
  • 1995-1999  (344)
  • 1999  (344)
  • Analytical Chemistry and Spectroscopy  (132)
  • Human  (119)
  • Apoptosis  (93)
  • Nuclear reactions
Material
  • Electronic Resource  (344)
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  • 1995-1999  (344)
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Keywords
  • 1
    ISSN: 1534-4681
    Keywords: Gemcitabine ; bcl-2 ; Pancreatic cancer ; Apoptosis
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Background: Gemcitabine is a new nucleoside analogue that produces a clinical response in 30% of patients with unresectable pancreatic carcinoma. The cytotoxic effects of many chemotherapeutic agents occur through induction of programmed cell death (apoptosis), which is controlled by the bcl-2 gene family. We determined whether induction of apoptosis by gemcitabine in pancreatic carcinoma is associated with cellular Bcl-2 content. Methods: Four pancreatic carcinoma cell lines (MIA-PaCa-2, AsPC-1, Panc-1, and Panc-48) were screened by Western blotting for Bcl-2 protein expression. Dose-response relationships for the cytotoxic effects of gemcitabine were determined using methylthiotetrazole assays, and induction of apoptosis was confirmed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis. MIA-PaCa-2 cells transfected with human bcl-2 were also analyzed for gemcitabine-induced apoptosis. Results: Pancreatic cancer cell lines expressed varying amounts of Bcl-2, and the 50% lethal dose for gemcitabine-induced apoptosis was correlated with Bcl-2 content. Furthermore, Bcl-2 overexpression was associated with a significant increase in the 50% lethal dose for gemcitabine-induced apoptosis. Conclusions: Cellular Bcl-2 content was directly correlated with the cytotoxicity of gemcitabine in pancreatic carcinoma. Therefore, routine immunohistochemical analyses may be useful in predicting gemcitabine efficacy, and patients who would likely not benefit could be spared gemcitabine administration. Furthermore, the effectiveness of gemcitabine and other chemotherapeutic agents may be increased by gene therapy-mediated alteration of bcl-2 gene family members.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 2
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Surgical and radiologic anatomy 21 (1999), S. 139-141 
    ISSN: 1279-8517
    Keywords: Anatomy ; Human ; Cross-section ; Computer-assisted instruction ; Education ; Medical
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The NPAC visible human viewer (NPAC VHV), graphical interface written in JAVA, freely accessible by the Web, allows the display of anatomic cross-sections of the Visible Human Project developed by the National Library of Medicine. In April 1997, the Medical Media Library of Lyons undertook the construction of a French-language mirror site of the NPAC VHV. The aim of this work is to evaluate first year utilisation of this site. From May 1st, 1997 to April 30th, 1998, the mirror site was consulted 34,752 times. In 45.14% of cases, the request came from France, in 4.42% of cases from Belgium, in 3.98% from Canada and in 2.12% from Switzerland. Other connections came either from a country responsible for fewer than 1% of connections or from unidentified computers. Data analysis showed a peak of connections between 15:00 and 17:00, and an increased number of connections from September to March 1998. The NPAC VHV is housed in 5 sites in the world. It is a software very simple to use. As the figures have no legends, it is more appropriate for group teaching than for self-teaching.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 3
    ISSN: 1437-1596
    Keywords: Key words Poisoning ; Benfuracarb ; Carbofuran ; Human ; Blood ; Urine
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine , Law
    Notes: Abstract We describe here three cases involving acute fatalities due to benfuracarb ingestion and the forensic toxicological implications. Benfuracarb, a carbamate insecticide and its main metabolite carbofuran, were detected using thin layer chromatography (TLC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrophotometry (GC/MS) after extraction with ethyl acetate and then quantified using gas chromatography (GC) equipped with NPD. The blood levels of benfuracarb and carbofuran were in the range of 0.30∼2.32 μg/ml and 1.45∼1.47 μg/ml, respectively. Benfuracarb was not detected in urine, but carbofuran was detected in the range of 0.53∼2.66 μg/ml.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 4
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Journal of molecular medicine 77 (1999), S. 189-192 
    ISSN: 1432-1440
    Keywords: Key words Thyroid ; Cell culture ; Retinoids ; Apoptosis
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Retinoids influence proliferation and differentiation in transformed thyroid cell lines. Retinoids are able to damage cells by destabilizing lysosomal membranes and induce apoptosis in certain cell lines. In normal thyrocytes retinol modulates iodine metabolism. At concentrations higher than 50×10–6 M retinoids are cytotoxic for normal (not transformed) thyroid cells. The mechanism of this cytotoxicity is unknown. We studied the effect of 7–80×10–6 M retinol on porcine follicular thyrocytes in culture. In order to differentiate between membrane-destabilizing effects and apoptosis we investigated cultures after incubation with retinol by light- and electron-microscopy and by labeling of potential nicks in the DNA helix by terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-dUTP mediated DNA nick end labeling. We conclude that the observed cytotoxicity is caused mainly by the induction of apoptosis.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 5
    ISSN: 1432-1440
    Keywords: Key words Chronic lymphocytic leukemia ; Apoptosis ; Cell growth ; Signaling ; Review
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a malignant disease characterized by clonal expansion of relatively mature B-lymphocytes with a high percentage of cells arrested in the nonproliferative G0/G1 cell cycle phase. Possibly reflecting the clinical heterogeneity observed in patients, various signaling pathways may become affected during the initiation and course of this disease. This review discusses frequent alterations concerning proliferative, differentiation-inducing, and apoptotic pathways elucidated in the recent years that have improved our understanding of this disease.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 6
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 125 (1999), S. 389-396 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Neck muscles ; Vibration ; Proprioception ; Sound localization ; Space perception ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The effect of transcutaneous vibration of the posterior neck muscles on the lateralization of dichotic sound was investigated in human subjects. Two-alternative forced-choice (left/right) judgements were made on acoustic stimuli presented with different interaural level differences via headphones during neck-muscle vibration. A shift of the subjective auditory median plane toward the side contralateral of vibration was found, indicating that the sound was perceived as shifted toward the side of vibration. The mean magnitude of the vibration-induced intracranial shift was 1.5 dB. The results demonstrate a neck-proprioceptive influence on sound lateralization and suggest that this proprioceptive input is used for a central-nervous transformation of auditory spatial coordinates onto a body-centered frame of reference.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 7
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Experimental brain research 125 (1999), S. 435-439 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Transcranial magnetic stimulation ; Plasticity ; Synchronization ; Motor system ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  We used focal transcranial magnetic stimulation to examine the effects of 120 synchronized thumb and foot movements on the motor output map of the right abductor pollicis brevis muscle (APB) (experiment 1). To evaluate the performance, the latencies between the onset of the electromyographic activity (EMG) of the two muscles were measured. As control, 120 asynchronous thumb and foot movements were performed (experiment 2). Exclusively in experiment 1, the center of gravity (CoG) of the output map moved medially in the direction of the foot representation area (mean 7 mm, P〈0.05) and returned into its original location within 1 h. In experiment 2, the CoG remained unchanged (mean displacement, 0.68 mm into a lateral direction; not significant). The effect in experiment 1 was independent of an improvement in performance. We conclude that a short-lasting training of synchronous movements induces modulations of motor output maps which probably occur due to interactions between hand and foot representation areas in the motor cortex.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 8
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Journal of comparative physiology 185 (1999), S. 297-304 
    ISSN: 1432-1351
    Keywords: Key words Odor coding ; Learning ; Enhanced sensitivity ; Rabbit ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The olfactory system is faced with a particular problem – the high dimensionality and inherent unpredictability of the chemical world. Most natural odorants encountered in everyday life are complex mixtures of many different volatiles. This means that from the outset the olfactory system has to contend with a great and often unpredictable diversity of molecules, making it difficult for stable primary features of the chemical world to be mapped onto the sensory surface. One solution to such unpredictability is provided by learning. Learning confers flexibility, enabling individuals of a given species to acquire and make use of the most appropriate information in a particular environment. Two examples of this are presented: learning of maternal odors in neonatal rabbits, including evidence that the sensory surface itself may be influenced by environmental conditions so as to enhance sensitivity to molecules of particular ecological relevance, and cross-cultural human studies suggesting that experience with everyday odors influences not only the way these are evaluated, but also their perceived intensity. It is concluded that an adequate understanding of odor coding and olfactory function will not be possible without taking such experience-dependent factors into account.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 9
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology 125 (1999), S. 1-8 
    ISSN: 1432-1335
    Keywords: Key words Cell proliferation ; Apoptosis ; Cell death ; Cultured cells ; Hepatocellular carcinoma
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract There are conflicting results for experiments aimed at determining whether anticancer drug therapy of human hepatocellular carcinoma prolongs the survival rate effectively. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of low concentrations of doxorubicin, mitomycin C, and ethanol on cell replication (cell number and proliferation), and cell apoptosis of cultured human hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep-G2) cells. After 1 day of exposure doxorubicin inhibited cell replication initially by 72%, but a partial recovery of the cell number was observed. Mitomycin C inhibited to the same extent but without recovery. Ethanol reduced the cell number even further, the maximum inhibition (12 days after exposure) being 96.4%. After 3 days of exposure all three agents stopped cell replication at a level of 2%–4% of the control (P 〈 0.001). Cell apoptosis was activated most strikingly by mitomycin C (5 μg/ml) after 1 day of exposure and by ethanol (150 μl/ml) after 3 days of exposure. Two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance showed statistically significant differences, with ethanol being the most significant followed by mitomycin C doxorubicin, and the control (P 〈 0.01). Thus, a low dose of ethanol combined with an exposure time of up to 3 days appears to be an effective regimen to control growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro. The strong induction of apoptosis by ethanol might be of additional benefit for a local application in vivo.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 10
    ISSN: 1432-1335
    Keywords: Key words Basic fibroblast growth factor ; Cisplatinum ; Apoptosis ; Bcl-2 ; MCF-7
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a classical mitogen in fibroblasts and endothelial cells. Our previous studies have demonstrated that bFGF inhibits the growth of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of bFGF on cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(cisplatin)-induced cytotoxicity in MCF-7 breast cancer cells as compared to normal endothelial cells. MCF-7/NCF cells transduced with a vector expressing the bFGF gene and overexpressing its product, and MCF-7/N2 cells transduced with the backbone vector were incubated with a combination of bFGF and cisplatin for 5 days; results were compared with those obtained with bovine aortic endothelial cells. Cell proliferation was assessed with the sulforhodamine B colorimetric cytotoxicity assay. Apoptosis was quantitatively determined by flow-cytometric analysis for DNA damage and the apoptotic death assay for DNA fragmentation, and qualitatively by electron microscopy. Reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction analysis and an enzyme immunoassay were used to determine the mRNA and protein level, respectively, of the anti-apoptotic bcl-2 gene product. We found that bFGF enhanced cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity in MCF-7 breast cancer sublines. bFGF enhanced proliferation of normal endothelial cells and did not increase cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity. This effect was accompanied by down-regulation of the anti-apoptotic protooncogene bcl-2 and the enhancement of cisplatin-induced apoptosis. We suggest that the improved understanding of the role of bFGF in the differential modulation of the response of breast cancer and normal endothelial cells to chemotherapy may enable active intervention to alter the therapeutic ratio favorably in breast cancer patients.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 11
    ISSN: 1432-1335
    Keywords: Keywords Chemosensitivity ; Human gastric carcinoma ; Micrometastasis ; Apoptosis ; Circulating tumor cells ; Fluoropyrimidine
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Antimetastatic effects of 5-FU and its derivative, 1-hexylcarbamoyl-5-fluorouracil (HCFU) on human gastric cancer micrometastasis and their mode of action were evaluated, using a spontaneous lung metastasis model (HY-1) in nude mice. Metastases were first detected in the lung from 4 weeks after subcutaneous transplantation, growing intravascularly and forming micrometastases at 100% incidence by 6 weeks after implantation. Lung metastasis in mice bearing subcutaneous tumors was significantly inhibited by HCFU at doses of 100–150 mg kg−1 day−1 without severe toxic side-effects, when orally administered three times per week either from week 4 or week 6 to 9 weeks after implantation. Spontaneous lung metastasis was also inhibited by the administration of 5-FU, but to lesser extent than with HCFU at equimolar low doses. Apoptosis within primary tumors and lung metastatic foci, as detected by the terminal-deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling method, was found to be significantly enhanced by HCFU as well as 5-FU administration at doses of more than 100 mg kg−1 day−1 and 50 mg kg−1 day−1 respectively. However, proliferating activity of the metastatic foci, as evaluated by MIB-1 immunostaining, was not significantly suppressed by HCFU or 5-FU treatment. Furthermore, polymerase chain reaction analysis using human specific primers for the β-globin gene, which proved to be capable of detecting 10 tumor cells/ml mouse blood, revealed that circulating tumor cells in the peripheral blood of mice bearing primary tumors were reduced by HCFU or 5-FU administration. These results indicate that circulating tumor cells in blood and micrometastases in the lung are sensitive to these chemotherapeutic agents, and suggest that the anti-metastatic effect of these agents is mediated, at least in part, by enhanced apoptosis rather than by inhibition of cell proliferation.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 12
    ISSN: 1432-1335
    Keywords: Key wordsIGF ; Apoptosis ; Transformation ; Chemosensitivity ; Signaling
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) exerts pleiotropic effects on mammalian cells via stimulation of its receptor (IGF-IR), a receptor tyrosine kinase. In vivo, IGF-I acts both as a local tissue growth factor and as a circulating hormone. In oncological research, IGF-I has received increased attention as the activated IGF-I/IGF-IR system displays mitogeneic, transforming, and anti-apoptotic properties in various cell types by stimulating distinct intracellular signaling pathways. Recent data suggest that the anti-apoptotic effect of IGF-I may mediate decreased sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs in vitro and in vivo. Thus, targeting the IGF-I/IGF-IR system could serve as an approach to overcome clinical drug resistance in certain tumors.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 13
    ISSN: 1432-1335
    Keywords: Key words Immunohistochemistry ; DNA repair ; Radiation-inducible response ; Apoptosis
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Immunohistochemical methods were used to determine abundance and subnuclear distribution of DNA topoisomerase I and the Bax protein in normal and excision-repair-deficient xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) fibroblasts after irradiation of cells with γ rays or UV light, or exposure to the topoisomerase I inhibitor topotecan. DNA topoisomerase I and Bax were monitored using antisera raised against the human proteins. In addition, topoisomerases IIα and IIβ were made visible with specific antibodies. In untreated cells, DNA topoisomerase I was found to occur in the cytoplasm and in nucleoli. Irradiation with γ rays (2–12 Gy) or UV light (0.3–1.2 mW/cm2) changed the staining pattern in nuclei such that a multitude of small topoisomerase-I-rich centers occurred, which were evenly distributed over the karyoplasm. Simultaneously nucleoli disintegrated. Treatment of fibroblasts with topotecan (6–100 μM concentrations) resulted in similar alterations although the changes were much more pronounced. Combinations of topotecan and γ irradiation caused additive effects. We conclude that the increase in the number of topoisomerase-I-positive spots and the high fluorescence intensity of the latter may reflect three biological processes: (i) enhanced transcriptional activity (e.g. of DNA damage response genes), (ii) tagging of damaged DNA sites for repair, or (iii) initiation of apoptosis. In separate assays using normal and XP cells, a dose-dependent increase in protein reacting with Bax antibody was observed in nuclei, following treatment with γ rays or topotecan. In addition, topotecan induced a netlike arrangement of this Bax protein in nuclei. The meshes of the net structure resembled vesicles. DNA staining with 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride revealed that the vesicle-type structures contained DNA. Upon further incubation with topotecan, cells showing the netlike Bax arrangement eventually died. We conclude that topotecan-induced changes made visible by nuclear Bax protein are associated with apoptosis. XP cells, when treated with topotecan, responded more readily than normal cells with both an increase in nuclear Bax protein and rearrangement of Bax, indicating that UV repair functions may be required to process DNA damage inflicted by topotecan. Monitoring of DNA topoisomerases IIα and IIβ in γ-irradiated cells with antibodies revealed a dramatic increase in the IIα form and a redistribution of the IIβ form representing fragmentation of nucleoli.
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  • 14
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology 125 (1999), S. 357-360 
    ISSN: 1432-1335
    Keywords: Key words Colorectal neoplasms ; Apoptosis ; Chemosensitivity ; p53 gene
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Purpose : The p53 gene is considered one of the most important in the control of apoptosis, and its mutations have a close relationship with chemosensitivity. The aim of this work was to investigate the role of p53 in the apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells in vitro, induced by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and hydroxy-camptothecin (HCPT). Methods : A total of 39 colorectal cancer samples from patients were treated in vitro with 5-FU (10 μg/ml), 5-FU (10 μg/ml) + leucovorin (5 μg/ml), HCPT (0.1 μg/ml) and HCPT (0.1 μg/ml) + Salvia mitorrhiza (6 μl), using an in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase assay to detect chemosensitivity. p53 gene mutations from tumor DNA were detected, after amplification by the polymerase chain reaction of exons 5–8, by non-radioactive single-strand conformation polymorphism. Results : p53 gene mutations were observed in 43.6% (17/39) of colorectal carcinomas, when the terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase assay was used to detect the tumor apoptotic rate. Cells with mutated p53 had lower chemosensitivity than those without (p 〈 0.01). Conclusion : Routine assessment of p53 status may be helpful in selecting patients with the wild-type p53 gene, who have a predictably better response to chemotherapy.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 15
    ISSN: 1432-1335
    Keywords: Key words EGF receptor signalling ; Tyrphostin ; Apoptosis ; Colon cancer
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Growth effects of tyrphostins A25 and AG1478 on colorectal tumor cells were studied to explore therapeutic potential. Cell number, DNA synthesis and apoptotic index were measured as growth parameters and cell-death-associated proteins Bcl-2 and Bak and protein phosphorylation were analyzed. Both tyrphostins inhibited DNA synthesis and induced apoptosis in tumor cell cultures with different patterns of activity. A25 displayed strong selectivity for the cell lines expressing high levels of epidermal growth factor (EGF), HT29/HI1 and SW480. Inhibition of DNA synthesis was efficient in all cells except T84, and the apoptotic index increased two- to fivefold. By contrast, AG1478 was highly effective in all cell lines. In addition, it caused cell loss in VACO235 adenoma cells at concentrations lower than those necessary to inhibit BrdU incorporation, reflecting preferential retention of cells actively synthesizing DNA. Induction of apoptosis was more efficient with AG1478 than with A25 (tenfold in VACO235). Insulin-like growth factor (IGF1) did not rescue cells exposed to A25 or to high concentrations of AG1478, but was effective with suboptimal amounts of AG1478. Both compounds inhibited phosphorylation of the EGF receptor as well as additional proteins. AG1478 induced expression of Bak and down-regulated Bcl-2. In summary, tyrphostins may provide alternatives for colorectal tumor treatment. Their broader range of activities and the lower susceptibility to interactions with IGF1 can be an advantage over receptor antibodies.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 16
    ISSN: 1432-1335
    Keywords: Key words Experimental pancreatic cancer ; Hormonal therapy ; Bombesin antagonist ; Somatostatin analog ; LH-RH antagonist ; EGF receptor ; Apoptosis ; AgNOR
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Reduction in receptors for epidermal growth factor (EGF) in cancers appears to be one of the principal mechanisms through which peptide hormone analogs can inhibit tumor growth. In this study, hamsters with nitrosamine-induced pancreatic cancers were treated for 8 weeks with bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) antagonist RC-3095, somatostatin analog RC-160 or the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone antagonist Cetrorelix, using sustained delivery systems releasing 20, 35 and 20 μg analog/ day respectively. To establish the pattern of changes in the number and affinity of EGF receptors on tumors, groups of animals were sacrificed at regular intervals during therapy. Chronic treatment with RC-3095 or Cetrorelix resulted in an early (day 10) and sustained reduction (71% or 69% respectively) in EGF receptors on pancreatic tumors. In contrast, RC-160 decreased receptor concentration by 60% only after 20 days. Among the histological characteristics of proliferation, the decrease in argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions, but not apoptotic and mitotic indices, showed a correlation with the fall in EGF receptors. The concentration of the receptors returned to the control level 4 days after cessation of chronic treatment with RC-3095. The effect of single injections of RC-3095, RC-160 and Cetrorelix on EGF receptors was also investigated. RC-160 decreased the number of EGF receptors on pancreatic cancers by 31% 3 h after administration, but the receptors had returned to normal level at 6 h. RC-3095 and Cetrorelix caused a 67% and 59% decline, respectively, in EGF receptors only 6 h after injection and the concentration of receptors remained low for 24 h. Thus, the pattern of down-regulation of EGF receptors in pancreatic cancers appears to depend on the peptide used for therapy. Since the antitumor effect may be the result of the fall in EGF receptors in cancers, information on the time course of changes in these receptors during treatment with these analogs may lead to an improvement in therapeutic regimens.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 17
    ISSN: 1433-0474
    Keywords: Schlüsselwörter Ataxia teleangiectatica ; Immunfunktionsstörung ; Lymphozytensubpopulationen ; Apoptose ; CD45RO ; CD45RA ; Key words Ataxia teleangiectasia ; Immunodeficiency ; Lymphocyte subset ; Apoptosis ; CD45RO ; CD45RA
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Description / Table of Contents: Summary Background: Can a characterisation of the lymphocyte subset in patients with ataxia teleangiectasia offer an explanation for the cellular defect of their immunfunction? Methods: In ten patients with ataxia teleangiectasia and a corresponding control group of individuals of similar age and sex, immunophenotyping was carried out by means of flow cytometric analysis and the use of monoclonal antibodies. Results: Patients with ataxia teleangiectasia showed a reduction of the number of T-cells with a decrease in the T-helper cell subset (CD3: 990/µl, p〈0.0005 and CD4: 568/µl, p〈0.0005). The number of B-cells was low (CD19: 39/µl, p〈0.005). Moreover, there was an increase in highly activated T-lymphocytes which can be seen from a higher percentage of the HLA-DR- and CD45RO-expression in patients with ataxia teleangiectasia compared to the individuals of the control group (HLA-DR: 57%, p〈0.0005 and CD45RO: 82%, p〈0.001). At the same time, the expression of CD95 (Fas/AP01) was clearly increased (CD95: 74%, p〈0.001). Interpretation: The lymphocyte subset of the patients suffering from ataxia teleangiectasia shows a significant decrease of the B- and T-cell subsets. The reduced number of T-helper cells – caused by a CD45RA-cell loss – leads to a change in the relation „RA/RO”. It is possible that there is a link between the imbalance of „RA/RO”, the increase of highly activated T-lymphocytes and the higher expression of CD95 (Fas/APO1).
    Notes: Zusammenfassung Fragestellung: Können durch eine Charakterisierung der Lymphozytensubpopulationen bei Patienten mit Ataxia teleangiectatica Rückschlüsse auf den zellulären Defekt der Immunfunktionsstörung gezogen werden? Methodik: Mit Hilfe der Durchflußzytometrie und des Einsatzes monoklonaler Antikörper führten wir eine Immunophänotypisierung bei jeweils 10 Patienten mit Ataxia teleangiectatica und eines bezüglich des Alters und des Geschlechts gleichverteilten Kontrollkollektivs durch. Ergebnisse: Die Patienten mit Ataxia teleangiectatica zeigten verminderte T-Zell-Zahlen mit Abnahme der T-Helferzell-Subpopulationen (CD3: 990/µl, p〈0,0005 und CD4: 568/µl, p〈0,0005). Auch die B-Zell-Zahl war erniedrigt (CD19: 39/µl, p〈0,005). Die T-Lymphozyten befanden sich darüber hinaus vermehrt im aktivierten Zustand, erkennbar an einer prozentual erhöhten HLA-DR- und CD45RO-Expression (HLA-DR: 57%, p〈0,0005 und CD45RO: 82%, p〈0,001) sowie an einer Verschiebung der Relation „RA/RO” zugunsten der „RO”-Expression. Gleichzeitig war die Expression von CD95 (Fas/APO1) deutlich gesteigert (CD95: 74%, p〈0,001). Schlußfolgerung: Die Veränderungen der Lymphozytensubpopulationen zeigen bei den Patienten mit Ataxia teleangiectatica eine verminderte B- und T-Zell-Zahl. Die CD4-Lymphopenie – verursacht durch einen CD45RA-Zellverlust – bedingt eine Verschiebung der Relation „RA/RO”. Möglicherweise besteht ein Zusammenhang zwischen der Störung der Homöostase „RA/RO” und dem erhöhten Aktivierungsgrad der Zellen sowie der vermehrten CD95(Fas/APO1)-Expression.
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  • 18
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Clinical and experimental nephrology 3 (1999), S. 254-260 
    ISSN: 1437-7799
    Keywords: Key words Low density lipoprotein ; Apoptosis ; Malondialdehyde ; TGFβ1 ; Unilateral ureteral obstruction
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Background. To test the hypothesis that oxidized low density lipoprotein (oLDL) is involved in the renal injury of obstructive nephropathy, male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 125–150 g were used. Methods. Three days after arrival, the rats were randomly assigned to undergo: (1) sham operation, (2) left unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), or (3) reversal of the unilateral ureteral obstruction (R-UUO). Seven days after the reversal operation or 10 days after the sham or UUO procedure, all animals were killed by exsanguination under anesthesia, with blood taken from the abdominal aorta. LDL was prepared by gradient ultracentrifugation and used immedi-ately after isolation. Rat mesangial cells were utilized with an LDL concentration of 100 μg/ml/protein in the media. After 72 h, cell survival was determined by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. Cell survival was determined by comparing the optical density between the control wells and the experimental wells. In order to investigate the mechanisms of injury and repair of obstructive nephropathy, data for kidney apoptosis, malondialdehyde (MDA), and transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) mRNA were obtained in the sham-operated, UUO, and R-UUO groups. Results. Our results showed that LDL malondialdehyde during UUO was increased 87% over baseline values (P 〈 0.005). With R-UUO, the oxidized LDL dropped 23% from the peak values during UUO (P 〈 0.005), but was still different from that of the baseline values (P 〈 0.025). Rat mesangial cell survival, after 72 h exposure to oLDL, inversely correlated to oLDL cytotoxicity and showed a 14% drop during UUO compared with sham-operated animals (P 〈 0.01). Cell survival increased 11% after R-UUO (P 〈 0.02) and was not different from control values (P = NS). The apoptotic counts by the TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end-labelling) technique showed significant increases during UUO and a noticeable reduction after R-UUO. Conclusion. Our data support the proposition that UUO stimulates oxidation of LDL. The cytotoxicity of oLDL plays a significant role in the injury of UUO. A decrease in cytotoxicity was associated with the repair in R-UUO. Our observations that apoptosis follows this same pattern, point to the importance of apoptosis in the injury and repair of obstructive nephropathy. Future studies to interrupt these processes of injury may lead to novel treatment modalities in reversing the injury and hastening the repair of obstructive nephropathy.
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  • 19
    Electronic Resource
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    Pediatric surgery international 15 (1999), S. 243-247 
    ISSN: 1437-9813
    Keywords: Key words Wilms' tumo ; Apoptosis ; Bcl-2
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Wilms' tumor (WT) usually has a good outcome, although a poor prognosis is often related to more advanced stages and anaplastic features. Apoptosis occurs with variable frequency in malignant tumors, and may have a role in reducing their growth rate. The bcl-2 proto-oncogene inhibits apoptosis, and the consequent increase in the number of cells may play a role in the development of tumors. The aim of this study was to analyze the role of apoptosis and bcl-2 expression in WT. Twenty-six resected WT specimens were studied; 12 patients had stage I tumor, 4 stage II, 5 stage III, 3 stage IV, and 2 stage V. Twenty-three tumors were classified as favorable histology (FH) and 3 as unfavorable (UH). The mean follow-up was 34 months; 22 patients were alive and 4 were dead (2 with FH: 1 stage III and 1 stage IV, and 2 with UH stages 4). Apoptosis was detected by the in-situ end-labelling technique; bcl-2 expression was detected by immunohistochemistry. An apoptotic index (AI) was calculated as the ratio of apoptotic to normal cells in each specimen. The AI was lower in higher tumor stages, with a significant difference between stages I and IV (P 〈 0.05). In cases with UH, Al was lower than in tumors with FH (P 〈 0.01). The AI was also lower in patients who died than in those who survived (P 〈 0.01). In all specimens no correlation between AI and bcl-2 expression was observed. Progression to advanced stages of WT and a poor prognosis f anaplastic tumors may be linked with disruption of the mechanisms that control apoptosis. Bcl-2 does not play a role as a regulator of apoptosis in WT, other oncogenes and tumor-suppression genes may be more involved in inhibiting apoptosis in WT.
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  • 20
    ISSN: 1437-773X
    Keywords: Key words Epithelial rest of Malassez ; Cell ; cell interaction ; Extracellular matrix ; In vitro ; Apoptosis
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The present study investigated how cell plating density and extracellular matrix protein influence cell survival of epithelial rests of Malassez (ERM) in vitro. ERM cells were plated on culture dishes coated with laminin (LM), type IV collagen (type IV), or fibronectin (FN), or on noncoated dishes, (Non) at a cell density of 2 × 104–1 × 105/ml in a nonserum culture medium. XTT assays were performed to calculate the number of cells attached on the substrata after 6, 24, 48, and 72 h. Mean cell numbers were calculated, and significant differences were determined using ANOVA. When epithelial cells were cultured on various matrices at a cell density of less than 2 × 104/ml, the cells did not grow and then fell into apoptotic cell death, which was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The cell number was significantly increased in cells plated on FN compared to those on Non at a cell density of 4 × 104/ml–8 × 104/ml. These results suggest that both extracellular matrix proteins and cell–cell interactions may contribute to prevent apoptosis of ERM in vitro. Cell–cell interactions may be a more important factor than exogenous extracellular matrix proteins for the survival of ERM cells in vitro.
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  • 21
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    Journal of infection and chemotherapy 5 (1999), S. 139-143 
    ISSN: 1437-7780
    Keywords: Key words Fas ; ADR ; Bladder cancer ; Synergy ; Apoptosis
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Fas and Fas ligand play an important role in cytotoxic T lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity. Like Fas ligand, anti-Fas monoclonal antibody (mAb) induces apoptosis of cells expressing Fas and mimics tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in its cytotoxic activity, but not in regard to other TNF-α-mediated activities. Since combination treatment with TNF-α and some anticancer chemotherapeutic agents results in synergistic cytotoxicity against various cancer cells, anti-Fas mAb may also synergize with anticancer agents in exerting cytotoxicity. The present study examined this hypothesis using bladder cancer cells. Cytotoxicity was examined by a 1-day microculture tetrazolium dye assay. Treatment of T24 cells with anti-Fas mAb in combination with mitomycin C, methotrexate, or 5-fluorouracil did not overcome their resistance to these agents. However, combination treatment with anti-Fas mAb and adriamycin (ADR) resulted in a synergistic cytotoxic effect on T24 cells, three other bladder cancer lines, and fresh bladder cancer cells derived from four patients. Treatment with ADR enhanced the expression of Fas on T24 cells. The expression of P-glycoprotein was not affected by the antibody-mediated sensitization. This study showed that combination treatment of bladder cancer cells with anti-Fas mAb and ADR can overcome their resistance and that the upregulation of Fas expression by ADR may play a role in the enhanced cytotoxicity.
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  • 22
    ISSN: 1437-773X
    Keywords: Key words Hepatocellular carcinoma ; Apoptosis ; Fas protein ; Bcl-2 protein
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Because the induction of apoptosis in cancer cells is very important in clinical management, it is useful to examine the association with the Fas–Fas ligand pathway and Bcl-2 protein family in apoptosis. We morphologically examined the expression of Fas and Bcl-2 proteins and induction of apoptosis by anti-Fas in four human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines, PLC/PRF/5, Huh-6, and Huh-7, as well as OCUH-16, which was originally established in our university. Fas protein was expressed in 96% of OCUH-16 cells in cytoplasm, 24% of PLC/PRF/5 cells, 20% of Huh-6 cells, and no Huh-7 cells. Bcl-2 protein was expressed in 43%–72% of cells in cytoplasm and nuclei of the four lines examined. Administration of anti-Fas induced apoptosis in about 40% of OCUH-16 cells, but did not induce apoptosis in the other three cell lines. In conclusion, an original cell line, OCUH-16 cells, expressed Fas and Bcl-2 proteins and underwent apoptosis following treatment with anti-Fas, but the other three cell lines examined did not undergo apoptosis. OCUH-16 cells are thus very useful for the study of apoptosis and molecules related to apoptosis at the levels of cell-surface receptors and intracytoplasmic regulation of apoptosis.
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  • 23
    ISSN: 1437-7772
    Keywords: Key words Ovarian cancer ; Apoptosis ; IL-6 ; CDDP ; Taxol
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Background. Apoptosis is a cascade of events that is regulated by many factors. We studied the effects of interleukin-6 (IL-6) on chemotherapy-induced apoptosis in three human ovarian cancer cell lines (JV, GG, and NF). Methods. Cells were treated with the anticancer drugs cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) (CDDP) and paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmacessticals, Noble Park, Australia) over a period of 72 h. The treatments were repeated in combination with human recombinant IL-6 or anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibody (anti-IL-6 mAb). The induction of cell death was examined by morphology and by internucleosomal DNA fragmentation. Results. Reduced cytotoxicity and fewer apoptotic cells were observed after treatment with CDDP or Taxol combined with IL-6 compared with treatment with CDDP or Taxol alone. However, treatment with CDDP or Taxol combined with anti-IL-6 mAb enhanced the cytotoxic effects of the drugs and increased the number of apoptotic cells. These findings indicated that apoptosis caused by CDDP or Taxol was influenced negatively by high doses of IL-6. Conclusion. The use of CDDP or Taxol combined with anti-IL-6 mAb may have therapeutic value for patients with ovarian cancer.
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  • 24
    ISSN: 1432-2307
    Keywords: Key words Peroxisomes ; Hepatocellular tumors ; Immunocytochemistry ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  A significant reduction of catalase activity, a peroxisomal marker enzyme, occurs in human hepatic neoplasias, but no information is available on other peroxisomal proteins. We have studied by means of immunohistochemistry four specific proteins of peroxisomes (catalase and three enzymes of lipid β-oxidation) in human hepatocellular tumors of various differentiation grades from adenoma to anaplastic carcinoma. In all tumors, except the adenomas, the tumor cells contained fewer peroxisomes than extrafocal hepatocytes and the reduction of antigenic sites in the tumor types generally correlated with the degree of tumor dedifferentiation as assessed by classical histopathological criteria. Two poorly differentiated tumors had no detectable peroxisomes at all. There were no major differences in the intensities of the immunocytochemical staining for all four studied peroxisomal antigens in different tumors, suggesting that the neoplastic transformation affects the biogenesis of the entire organelle and not merely the individual peroxisomal enzyme proteins. Some tumors exhibited a distinct peripheral distribution of peroxisomes. In cases with associated liver cirrhosis, the hepatocytes in the adjacent liver showed marked peroxisome proliferation, forming large perinuclear aggregates, occupying occasionally the entire cytoplasm. Taken together, our observations indicate that peroxisomes are significantly altered in both hepatocellular tumors and liver cirrhosis and, thus, could be responsible for some of the metabolic derangements observed in those disease processes.
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  • 25
    ISSN: 1432-2307
    Keywords: Key words p21 ; p53 ; Colon ; Immunohistochemistry ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The WAF1/CIP1 gene product, p21, an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases, is a critical downstream effector in the p53 pathway. The expression of p21 in human neoplasms is heterogeneous, and may be related to p53 functional status. We evaluated p21 immunoreactivity in 103 colorectal carcinomas (CC) in relation to the p53 gene and protein alterations and clinico-pathologic parameters. High p21 expression (more than 10% reactive cells) was seen in 39% of cases. p21 staining was heterogeneous and often detected in clusters of tumour cells; in some tumours p21 staining was more pronounced in superficial areas. No relation was seen between p21 immunoreactivity and site of the tumours (right vs left), TNM stage and grade. p21 expression was related to p53 status as evaluated with IHC or with SSCP analyses, low p21 expression usually being associated with p53 protein overexpression (P=0.048) and p53 gene alteration (P=0.005). The strongest associations were seen when the combined p53/p21 immunophenotype was compared with p53 gene alterations (P=0.0002). These data support the hypothesis that p21 expression in CC is mainly related to p53 functional status, suggesting that p21 expression could be an interesting adjunct in the evaluation of the functional status of the p53 pathway in CC.
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  • 26
    ISSN: 1432-2307
    Keywords: Key words Anencephaly ; Thymic hyperplasia ; CD99 ; Apoptosis ; Aggregation
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  In a significant proportion of cases, anencephaly is associated with thymic enlargement, suggesting a possibility that anencephalic fetuses have a functional disturbance in thymocyte differentiation and development. In this report, we demonstrated that CD99 expression was consistently reduced in cortical thymocytes of all anencephalic fetuses. In addition, the CD99-dependent aggregation of immature cortical thymocytes was almost completely impaired and apoptosis of thymocytes was markedly reduced in several cases. These results are in agreement with previous findings that CD99 regulates the aggregation and apoptosis of various types of cells. These data strongly suggest that functional disturbance of thymocytes and thymic hyperplasia are related to the reduced expression of CD99 molecule in anencephalic fetuses.
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  • 27
    ISSN: 1434-0879
    Keywords: Key words Alpha-1-microglobulin ; Calcium oxalate ; Crystallization ; ELISA ; Human ; Urine
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract In the past few years, alpha-1-microglobulin (α1m) has been copurified from human urine with bikunin, a potent inhibitor of calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystallization in vitro. In this study, we have purified α1m without bikunin contamination and investigated its possible role in CaOx crystallization by in vitro and in vivo studies. Alpha-1m was purified with an anti-α1m antibodies CNBr-activated sepharose column. Two molecular species of α1m of respectively 30 and 60 kDa were purified. For each protein, two blots of 30 and 60 kDa cross-reacted with anti-α1m antibodies, suggesting that these two forms were derived one from the other. Both protein species inhibited CaOx crystallization in a dose-dependent manner in two in vitro tests. In the first test, the presence of α1m of 30 kDa (8 μg/ml) in a medium containing 0.76 mM CaCl2 (with 45Ca) and 0.76 mM Ox(NH4)2 inhibited CaOx crystallization by 38% as estimated by supernatant radioactivity after 1 h of agitation. In the second test, CaOx kinetics were examined for 3 to 10 min in a turbidimetric model at 620 nm. The presence of α1m of 30 kDa in a medium containing 4 mM CaCl2 and 0.5 mM Na2Ox inhibited CaOx crystallization by 41.5%, as estimated by the slope modification of turbidimetric curve. Alpha-1m can be considered as another inhibitor of urinary CaOx crystal formation, as shown by the present in vitro studies. Using an ELISA assay, we found that urinary α1m concentration was significantly lower in 31 CaOx stone formers than in 18 healthy subjects (2.95 ± 0.29 vs 5.34 ± 1.08 mg/l respectively, P = 0.01). The decreased concentration of α1m in CaOx stone formers could be responsible in these patients, at least in part, for an increased risk of CaOx crystalluria.
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  • 28
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    Mund-, Kiefer- und Gesichtschirurgie 3 (1999), S. 210-212 
    ISSN: 1434-3940
    Keywords: Schlüsselwörter Plattenepithelkarzinom ; Tumorneoangiogenese ; Apoptose ; Key words Squamous cell carcinoma ; Tumor neoangiogenesis ; Apoptosis
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Description / Table of Contents: Paclitaxel and docetaxel are potent drugs that are effective in the treatment of malignant tumors. The cytotoxic action of these drugs is not fully understood, but it appears to be mediated mainly through mitotic arrest and subsequent apoptosis. Because no information is available on the antiangiogenesis action of docetaxel, the investigations were performed to determine whether inhibition of neoangiogenesis plays a role in docetaxel’s antitumor efficacy. Four different mouse tumors, two squamous cell carcinomas (SCC-IV; SCC-VII) and two adenocarcinomas (MCA-4; MCA-29) were assayed for angiogenic activity using the in vivo i.c. angiogenesis assay. Tumor cells (5 × 105) were injected i.c. into the skin flap over the abdominal wall, and the number of new blood vessels at the tumor cell injection site was determined 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 days later. The mice were treated with docetaxel (Taxotere – 31.3 mg/kg i.v.) 1 or 4 days after tumor cell injection. The number of new blood vessels increased with time. Docetaxel reduced the number of newly formed blood vessels in MCAs, but not in SCCs. The reduction was associated with slower tumor growth. In a separate set of experiments we observed that docetaxel’s inhibitory effect on the two MCAs was histologically associated with massive tumor cell destruction by means of both apoptosis and necrosis. This was not observed for the two SCCs. Since no reduction in blood vessels occurred in tumors unresponsive to docetaxel, the inhibition of neoangiogenesis in docetaxel-responsive tumors was likely the result of a decrease in angiogenic stimuli due to docetaxel’s destruction of tumor cells.
    Notes: Die zytotoxische Aktivität der Taxane Paclitaxel und Docetaxel ist zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt noch nicht vollständig erklärt. Diese, zur Behandlung maligner Tumoren eingesetzten antineoplastischen Chemotherapeutika, scheinen jedoch weitgehend über die Blockierung der Mitose und die nachfolgende Induktion der Apoptose zu wirken. Über eine evtl. Hemmung der Neoangiogenese, wie sie kürzlich für Paclitaxel beschrieben wurde, liegen für Docetaxel noch keine Studienergebnisse vor. Es wurde deshalb untersucht, ob die therapeutische Aktivität von Docetaxel zur Hemmung der Neoangiogenese im Tumor beitragen kann. 4 murine Tumoren, 2 Plattenepithelkarzinome (SCC-VII; SCC-IV) und 2 Adenokarzinome (MCA-4; MCA-29), wurden in einem quantitativen intrakutanen In-vivo-Angiogenese-Assay experimentell untersucht. 5 · 10 5 Tumorzellen wurden in einen Abdominallappen der Maus injiziert. Die Anzahl neuformierter Blutgefäße und das Tumorwachstum wurden im 2tägigen Intervall über einen Zeitraum von zwischen 10 und 14 Tagen bestimmt. 2 Behandlungsgruppen wurde am 1. oder 4. Tag nach der Tumorzellinokulation Docetaxel (Taxotere – 31,3 mg/kg) i.v. injiziert. Die Plattenepithelkarzinome waren gegenüber der Therapie mit Docetaxel nicht sensibel, während die Adenokarzinome mit einer Abnahme der Gefäßzahl und einer Reduktion des Tumorvolumens reagierten. Histologisch zeigten die Adenokarzinome außerdem eine massive Tumorzelldestruktion durch Apoptose und Nekrose. Da die gegenüber Docetaxel nichtsensiblen Tumoren (Plattenepithelkarzinome) nicht mit einer Abnahme der Gefäßzahl reagierten, ist der beschriebene Effekt in den Adenokarzinomen am ehesten als indirekte Wirkung von Docetaxel zu werten. Die Tumorzelldestruktion führte in den betroffenen Tumoren zu einer verminderten Freisetzung endothelialer Mitogene wie VEGF und bFGF und zur Hemmung der Tumorneoangiogenese.
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  • 29
    ISSN: 1434-0879
    Keywords: Keywords Ischemia-reperfusion ; Heat shock ; HSP70 ; Kidney ; Apoptosis
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Ischemia-reperfusion injury in the kidney is known to cause induction of the inducible form of the 70 kDa heat shock protein HSP70i (or HSP72). However, knowledge of the expressional regulation of the two coding genes for HSP70i –HSP70-1 gene and HSP70-2 gene – is very limited. We investigated the time course of HSP70-1 and -2 mRNA expression and its relation to cellular ATP levels in the renal cortex after different periods of unilateral warm renal ischemia (10–60 min) and reperfusion (up to 60 min) in 10-week-old male Wistar rats. Immediately after ischemia there was a significant induction of both HSP70i genes. While HSP70-1 expression constantly increased (up to 4-fold) during reperfusion, even to a higher extent with prolongation of ischemia, HSP70-2 mRNA – which was generally expressed at a far lower level than HSP70-1 mRNA – was strongly induced (3-fold) during reperfusion only after brief periods (10 min) of ischemia. Cellular ATP levels rapidly dropped to 5% with ischemia and the pattern of recovery during reperfusion significantly depended on the duration of the ischemic period, thus showing a good relation with the heat shock (protein) gene expression. We conclude that HSP70-2 is the more sensitive gene with a lower activation threshold by mild injury, while the HSP70-1 gene mediates the major response of heat shock protein induction after severe injury.
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  • 30
    ISSN: 1434-0879
    Keywords: Keywords Testicular neoplasms ; Embryonal cell ; carcinoma ; Apoptosis ; Lymphocytes
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Disorders in the regulation of apoptotic cell death may contribute to cancer. Furthermore, lymphocytes are supposed to play a role in counteracting tumorigenesis by inducing apoptosis in different human tumors. In this study, for the first time, tumor cell and lymphocyte apoptosis were investigated systematically in human embryonal cell carcinoma. DNA fragmentation and DNA condensation were measured simultaneously on double-fluorescence-labeled testis tumor sections using immunofluorescence microscopy. Different apoptotic indices (AIs), based either on biochemical (DNA fragmentation) or morphological criteria (DNA condensation) alone or on a combination of both, were determined in different histological regions in and around the tumor. Using morphological criteria alone, 40–75% of all apoptotic cells were not detected. Based on previous observations this finding might be related to subsets of apoptotic cells which induce the process of DNA condensation without activation of processes responsible for DNA fragmentation. Moreover, the AIs of tumor cells and lymphocytes were highest in the tumor region, compared with regions around the tumor and distant from it; these findings are discussed in the context of the Fas/FasL system.
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  • 31
    ISSN: 1432-0533
    Keywords: Key words c-Jun ; Jun B ; Jun D ; Apoptosis ; Colchicine
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The expression of members of the Jun family of transcription factors was examined by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, in situ hybridization and Northern blotting in the developing and adult rat brain following colchicine administration. Apoptotic cells, as revealed by their typical morphology and positive staining with the method of in situ end-labeling of nuclear DNA fragmentation, were restricted to granule cells of the dentate gyrus and olfactory bulb, and a few cells in the upper layers of the entorhinal cortex in adult rats, whereas widespread apoptosis occurred in developing rats after colchicine administration. No modifications in the expression of Jun D and Jun B, except for a generalized and moderate Jun B expression in glial cells, were observed in colchicine-treated rats. Generalized and strong c-jun mRNA induction and c-Jun/AP-1 (Ab-1) protein expression was observed in the cerebral neocortex, entorhinal and piriform cortices, CA1 and CA3 areas of the hippocampus and granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus in adult treated rats, thus indicating a generalized c-Jun response to colchicine administration. In contrast, c-Jun/AP-1 (N) and c-Jun/AP-1 (Ab-2) immunoreactivity was restricted to apoptotic cells in colchicine-treated adult and developing brains. Western blots of hippocampal homogenates and total brain homogenates in adult and developing rats, respectively, demonstrated a band of 39 kDa for the c-Jun/AP-1 (Ab-1) antibody in control animals, the intensity of which increased in colchicine-treated rats. However, a band of 37 kDa, the intensity of which also increased following colchicine administration, was observed for the c-Jun/AP-1 (N) and c-Jun/AP-1 (Ab-2) antibodies. Selective c-Jun/AP-1 (N) and c-Jun/AP-1 (Ab-2) expression was also observed in apoptotic cells of the SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma line after the addition of colchicine to the culture medium. Taken together, the present in vivo and in vitro results indicate a generalized c-Jun response to colchicine in sensitive cells, whereas the antibodies c-Jun/AP-1 (N) and c-Jun/AP-1 (Ab-2) recognize vulnerable cells dying via apoptosis.
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  • 32
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    Acta neuropathologica 97 (1999), S. 192-195 
    ISSN: 1432-0533
    Keywords: Key words Neuronal vacuolation ; Rottweiler dog ; Bcl-2 ; Bax ; c-Jun ; Apoptosis
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Neuronal vacuolation, involving the cerebellar roof nuclei, Purkinje cells, selected nuclei of the brain stem, thalamus, Clarke’s column, anterior and posterior horns of the spinal cord, visceral autonomic ganglia and myenteric plexus, as well as axonal degeneration of the white matter of the brain stem, cerebellar pedunculi, dorsolateral columns of the spinal cord and ventral roots of the spinal cord, were observed in two young Rottweiler dogs which were clinically afflicted with hind limb weakness progressing to paraparesia, ataxia, intention tremor, and difficulty in swallowing and barking. The absence of modifications in Bcl-2 and Bax immunoreactivity, a lack of strong c-Jun/AP-1 (N) immunoreactivity in vacuolated cells, and the absence of DNA breaks, as seen with the method of in situ end-labeling of nuclear DNA fragmentation, all suggest that there is no involvement of the apoptotic pathway in vacuolated cells in this new neurodegenerative disorder.
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  • 33
    ISSN: 1432-0533
    Keywords: Key words Glucocorticosteroids ; Apoptosis ; Guillain-Barré syndrome
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Lipocortin-1 exerts a potent immunosuppressive effect on pathogenic T cells. In multiple sclerosis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis levels of lipocortins are raised, suggesting their involvement in the recovery from an immunological insult or in neural regeneration. To further understand the role of lipocortins in the peripheral nervous system we have characterized lipocortin-1 levels and cellular distribution of lipocortin-1 immunoreactivity in sciatic nerves of rats with experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN), a model of human Guillain-Barré syndrome. EAN was induced actively by immunization with bovine peripheral myelin (active EAN) or by adoptive-transfer (AT-EAN) of P2-specific T cells. Cellular infiltrates in serial and semithin cryosections were characterized by immunohistochemistry. In parallel, lipocortin-1 levels in tissue extracts were quantified by a sandwich-ELISA. Only weak lipocortin-1 immunoreactivity was found in nerves of control animals injected with non-pathogenic T cells. The majority of macrophages and lymphocytes in EAN lesions exhibited lipocortin-1 immunoreactivity. Some very heavily stained cells showed a distribution and morphology similar to ED-2-positive macrophages which were abundant during early stages of EAN. Lipocortin-1 expression in T cells and macrophages was proven by immunocytochemical studies in semithin serial sections. In tissue extracts, lipocortin-1 levels increased from 0.24 ± 0.14 μg/mg protein in controls receiving non-pathogenic T cells to a maximum of 0.55 ± 0.1 μg/mg protein in AT-EAN at the peak of disease, and then slowly decreased during clinical recovery but still remained elevated. In dose-response studies in AT-EAN, highest values of lipocortin-1 (0.71 ± 0.23 μg/mg protein) were recorded after transfer of 2 × 107 T cells. Increased levels of lipocortin-1 were also measured in active EAN but occurred during the recovery phase (0.65 ± 0.27 μg/mg protein). By analogy with other immune-mediated disorders, increased lipocortin-1 expression in the inflamed sciatic nerve in EAN may exert immunoregulatory functions in-situ and contribute to the termination of the autoimmune response.
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  • 34
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    Anatomy and embryology 199 (1999), S. 45-56 
    ISSN: 1432-0568
    Keywords: Key words Skin ; Proteoglycan ; Development ; Human ; Fetal
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The extracellular matrix of human fetal skin differs substantially from that of adult skin. Fetal skin contains sparse amounts of fibrillar collagen enmeshed in a highly hydrated amorphous matrix composed of hyaluronan and sulfated proteoglycans. Both fetal and adult skin contain two major interstitial proteoglycans that are extracted by chaotrophic agents and detergents. These are the large chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan versican and the small dermatan sulfate proteoglycan decorin. For this study, proteoglycans extracted from fetal and adult skin were compared on Western blots to determine the relative amounts of versican. Decorin present in the same samples provided an internal standard for these studies. Fetal skin differed from adult skin in that it contained a significantly higher proportion of versican than did adult skin. Immunohistochemical studies compared early-fetal with mid-fetal skin and found that versican was a significant component of the interstitial extracellular matrix at both of these stages of skin development. However, by the mid-fetal period, interstitial versican became restricted to the upper half of the dermis, although versican also continued to be highly expressed around hair follicles, glands, and vasculature in the lower half of the dermis. Fetal skin extracts differed from an adult skin extract by the presence of a 66-kDa protein immunologically related to versican and by the absence of a 17-kDa core protein of a proteoglycan related to decorin. Both of these molecular species may represent degradation products of their respective proteoglycans. Monoclonal antibodies which detect epitopes in native chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycan chains recognized versican extracted from fetal skin. However, the tissue distribution of these antigens did not entirely conform to that for versican core protein, suggesting that versican in different regions of the skin may be substituted with glycosaminoglycan chains with different microchemistries. The results of these studies indicate that human fetal skin is structurally different from adult skin in terms of both the distribution and the composition of the large, aggregating chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan versican.
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  • 35
    ISSN: 1432-0533
    Keywords: Key words Amantadine ; Human ; N-methyl-d-aspartate ; Phencyclidine ; Postmortem brain
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Low doses of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)-type glutamate receptor antagonists induce morphological alterations in neurons of the cingulate gyrus and retrosplenial cortex of the rat. Neuronal cell death may result at higher doses. These effects are a major concern with regard to the introduction of new NMDA receptor antagonists into clinical trials. Amantadine is an uncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist, which has been in clinical use for many years. In the present study we have looked for possible morphological alterations like necrosis in postmortem human brain tissue of patients previously treated with amantadine. Formalin-fixed tissue samples were taken from the hippocampus, cingulate gyrus, and retrosplenial cortex of 8 patients on previous amantadine medication and of 11 controls. Histopathological examination of sections was performed blind. All brains except one revealed either nonspecific age-related or cerebrovascular changes or other neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or Lewy body disease. In conclusion, histopathological examination of the hippocampus, retrosplenial cortex, and cingulate gyrus of human brain did not reveal changes suggested to be specific for previous amantadine treatment.
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  • 36
    ISSN: 1432-0533
    Keywords: Key words Immediate early gene ; Heat shock protein ; Cerebral ischemia ; Apoptosis
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The neuroprotective role of the expression of heat shock protein (HSP) and immediate early gene remains unclear. Using immunoelectron microscopy, we examined the ultrastructural integrity of the neurons with expression of c-Fos, c-Jun and HSP70 in gerbils after transient cerebral ischemia and repefusion. Induction of c-Fos and c-Jun was observed in the CA3 region resistant to ischemia, while HSP70 was expressed not only in the CA3 but also in the vulnerable CA1 region. With immunoelectron microscopy, the expression of c-Fos/c-Jun and HSP70 was observed in the neurons which retained neuronal integrity except for mitochondrial swelling and polyribosomal disaggregation. In contrast, the CA1 neurons without immunoreaction for HSP70 showed cytoplasmic vacuoles and parallel stacking of rough endoplasmic reticulum, the features associated with the process of delayed neuronal death. These findings suggested that c-Fos and c-Jun were induced selectively in reversibly damaged neurons, whereas HSP70 was up-regulated even in neurons with irreversible damage, but was more preferentially and intensely expressed in neurons with reversible damage.
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  • 37
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    Acta neuropathologica 97 (1999), S. 5-12 
    ISSN: 1432-0533
    Keywords: Key words Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease ; Apoptosis ; Cell death ; Prion protein ; In situ end-labeling of nuclear DNA fragmentation
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The method of in situ end-labeling of nuclear DNA fragmentation was used in the study of ten patients (two biopsies, eight autopsies) with sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). All the patients had the typical morphological lesions including neuron loss, spongiform change and astrocytosis. Four of them also showed prion protein (PrP) deposits in the cerebral cortex, and two of them kuru-like plaques in the cerebellum. A few cells with DNA breaks were found in the two biopsy cases; one of them, suffering from a panencephalopathic form of the disease, showed positive nuclei not only in the cerebral cortex but also in the subcortical white matter. Variable numbers of positive nuclei were observed in the gray and white matter in the eight autopsy cases, in which, although the distribution of positive cells roughly correlated with the distribution of neuron loss, no clear relationship was found as regards the distribution and degree of cell labeling and the degree of neuron loss. Furthermore, large numbers of positive cells were concentrated in a particular area, whereas a few cells were seen in a neighboring equally affected area. Positive glial cells in the plexiform layer of the CA1 area of the hippocampus, and in the frontal white matter were frequently encountered. Staining of the cytoplasm in a minority of cells was interpreted as the result of nuclear DNA leakage. None of the stained cells had the typical morphology of apoptosis; most particularly, peripheral chromatin condensation and formation of apoptotic bodies were not seen in any case. PrP deposits did not result in an increase of nuclear DNA breaks either within the area or in adjacent regions. Although positive cells were also observed in autopsy cases of controls which were processed in the same way, positive labeling as a whole was higher in CJD than in age-matched controls. These results show that brain nuclear DNA is vulnerable in CJD, and suggest that increased DNA vulnerability has a role in cell death and neuron loss. Since nuclear shrinkage and positive nuclear staining with the method of in situ end-labeling of nuclear DNA fragmentation are not exclusive to apoptosis, further information is needed to categorize cell death in CJD as apoptosis. Necrosis or other forms of cell death, as well as increased DNA vulnerability to agonal changes of the individuals, and to postmortem delay in the fixation of the tissues, may account for additional positive staining in cases examined at autopsy.
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  • 38
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    Anatomy and embryology 200 (1999), S. 203-214 
    ISSN: 1432-0568
    Keywords: Key words Extracellular material ; Cell proliferation ; Apoptosis ; Anoikis ; Tenascin ; Laminin
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Extracellular material molecules play a key role in the regulation of morphogenesis and differentiation of a large number of organs including the central nervous system. However, the role of the neural basement membrane in the growth of different parts of the neural tube has yet to been delineated. Here, the structural and compositional modifications of the basement membrane (BM) of rhombencephalic tectoria lamina anlage (RTLA) have been examined during the process of RTLA epithelial attenuation. Between stages 10 to 11– the presumptive RTLA epithelium showed a structure, thickness and cell-proliferating capacity similar to those observed in other zones of the rhombencephalic walls. Moreover, the rhombencephalic vesicles were surrounded by a continuous BM that was heterogeneous both ultrastructurally and with regard to ruthenium red, laminin and tenascin distribution. After stage 11, the RTLA epithelium underwent a rapid process of attenuation and change to a stratified flattened epithelium. During this remodelling process, apoptosis and inhibition of both PCNA expression and 3H-thymidine uptake occurred in the RTLA epithelium. The BM of the RTLA underwent a process of degration at the beginning of the remodelling, and apoptosis and cell proliferation inhibition of RTLA epithelium were also observed. The loss of the biochemical signals encoded within the BM could lead to cell shape changes, cell proliferation inhibition and to the anoikis type of cell death. Our findings support the idea that the BM surrounding the neural tube plays a key role in controlling both the structure and growth of the CNS during the early developmental stages.
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  • 39
    ISSN: 1432-0568
    Keywords: Key words Somite explant culture ; Sonic hedgehog protein ; Myogenic induction ; Primary fiber type diversity ; Apoptosis
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Primary skeletal muscle fibers first form in the segmented portions of paraxial mesoderm called somites. Although the neural tube and notochord are recognized as crucial in patterning myogenic cell lineages during avian and mammalian somitic myogenesis, the source, identities, and actions of the signals governing this process remain controversial. It has been shown that signals emanating from the ventral neural tube and/or notochord alone or Shh alone serve to activate MyoD expression in somites. However, beyond a role in initiating MyoD expression, little is known about the effects of Shh on primary muscle fiber formation in somites of higher vertebrates. The studies reported here investigate how the ventral neural tube promotes myogenesis and compare the effects of the ventral neural tube with those of purified Shh protein on fiber formation in somites. We show that purified Shh protein mimics actions of the ventral neural tube on somites including initiation of muscle fiber formation, enhancement of numbers of primary muscle fibers, and particularly, the formation of primary fibers that express slow myosin. There is a marked increase in slow myosin expression in fibers in response to Shh as somites mature. The effects of ventral neural tube on fiber formation can be blocked by disrupting the Shh signaling pathway by increasing the activity of somitic cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase A. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that apoptosis is a dominant fate of somite cells, but not somitic muscle fibers, when cultured in the absence of the neural tube, and that application of Shh protein to somites reduced apoptosis. The block to apoptosis by Shh is a manifestation of the maturity of the somite with a progressive increase in the block as somites are displaced rostrally from somite III forward. We conclude that purified Shh protein in mimicking the effects of the ventral neural tube on segmented mesoderm can exert pleiotropic effects during primary myogenesis, including: control of the proliferative expansion of myogenic progenitor cells, antagonism of cell death pathways within the precursors to muscle fibers, and during the crucial process of primary myogenesis, can exert an effect on diversification of muscle fiber types.
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  • 40
    ISSN: 1432-0533
    Keywords: Key words Purkinje cell ; Cerebellum ; Development ; Inositol 1 ; 4 ; 5-triphosphate type 1 receptor ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Immunohistochemical analyses were carried out on the Purkinje cells from 21 autopsied fetal and early postnatal normal cerebella using a monoclonal antibody against the inositol 1, 4, 5-triphosphate type 1 receptor (IP3R1) as a cytochemical marker of Purkinje cells. In normal adult cerebella used as positive controls, the cell bodies, axons, and dendrites, including spiny branchlets of the Purkinje cells, were specifically stained by the antibody. In the fetal cerebella examined, the IP3R1 immunoreactivity was first detected in the soma of multilayered cells just beneath the molecular layer at 16 weeks of gestation. The IP3R1 immunoreactivity gradually increased in area of positive staining from soma to dendrites and spiny branchlets, and the dendritic outgrowth rapidly progressed during 6 months after birth. The Purkinje cell maturation was more advanced in the vermis than in the hemisphere, more in the posterior lobe than in the anterior lobe, and more at the bottom of the folia than at the top. Partial absence of the Purkinje cells in the cerebellar cortex was observed in three cases. Heterotopias including Purkinje cells were often noted in the cerebellar white matter in five cases.
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  • 41
    ISSN: 1432-0533
    Keywords: Key words Parkinson’s disease ; Apoptosis ; Bcl-2 ; Bax ; Bcl-x
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract We studied the substantia nigra of three Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients and three age-matched individuals by in situ DNA-end labeling (ISEL) and immunohistochemistry for the apoptosis regulating proteins Bcl-2, Bax and Bcl-x on 50 consecutive sections per patient. No melanin-containing cell was identified with typical apoptotic changes in either patient or control substantia nigra. With prolonged reaction-time the terminal transferase-mediated DNA-end labeling revealed a signal in 2.0 ± 1.2% melanin-containing cells in PD compared to 1.3 ± 1.1% in control. This difference did nor reach statistical significance and no condensation or margination of the chromatin was evident. No significant changes of any of the apoptosis regulating proteins were apparent in PD substantia nigra. These findings do not support the hypothesis that apoptosis plays a central role in the pathogenesis of PD.
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  • 42
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    Acta neuropathologica 97 (1999), S. 279-287 
    ISSN: 1432-0533
    Keywords: Key words Canine distemper virus ; Oligodendrocytes ; Apoptosis ; Necrosis ; Demyelination
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Canine distemper virus (CDV) causes a multifocal demyelinating disease in dogs. It was previously shown that the initial demyelinating lesions are directly virus induced since a correlation between the occurrence of demyelination and CDV replication in white matter cells was observed. During the course of infection oligodendrocytes undergo distinct morphological alterations, partly due to a restricted CDV infection of these cells, and eventually disappear from the lesions. This phenomenon has been described in vivo as well as in vitro. However, the reason for the morphological alterations and the following oligodendroglial depletion remained unclear. Since virus infection can induce cell death, it was investigated whether apoptosis or necrosis plays a role in the pathogenesis of demyelination in canine distemper. In brain tissue sections from dogs with acute distemper apoptotic cells were not detected within the demyelinating lesions using morphological and biochemical cell death criteria. In chronic distemper, apoptotic cells – presumably inflammatory cells – were seen within the perivascular cuffs. These in vivo findings were correlated to the in vitro situation using CDV-infected primary dog brain cell cultures as well as Vero cells. Infection with culture-adapted CDV lead to massive necrosis but not to apoptosis. After infection with virulent CDV neither apoptosis nor necrosis was a predominant feature in either culture system. These findings suggest that virus-induced demyelination in canine distemper is not the direct consequence of apoptosis or necrosis. It is speculated that another mechanism must be responsible for the observed morphological alterations of oligodendrocytes, ultimately leading to demyelination.
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  • 43
    ISSN: 1432-0568
    Keywords: Key words Brain ; Cortical parcellation ; Development ; Proteoglycans ; Apoptosis
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Nitric oxide (NO) regulates several functions both in the developing and the adult central nervous systems (CNS). During development, NO is assumed to contribute to the histogenetic differentiation of the CNS especially through the modulation of programmed neuronal death. The embryonal and postnatal changes in the distribution of the cortical NO producing system were studied in Balb/c mice using immunocytochemistry for nitric oxide synthase-I (NOS-I) and NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-d) enzyme histochemistry. NOS-I reactive neurons (RN) appeared first at embryonic day 14 (E14) in the spinal cord in the vicinity of the central canal, and later, at E16–18, in the thalamus and striatum. The first cortical region to present NOS-I reactivity was the parietal cortex, which happened at E18–20. After E20 the number of NOS-I RN increased in every cortical area, plateauing at postnatal day 4 (P4). In parietal regions, however, the highest density of NOS-I RN was observed already at P1. The neuronal packing density (PD) of NOS-I RN declined until adulthood, interrupted by a transient increase in some cortical areas at the onset of puberty. The heterochronous appearance of NOS-I during pre- and postnatal development of different brain regions and the sequence of up- and downregulation of expression until adult stages points to an important role of NO in brain development and functional differentiation.
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  • 44
    ISSN: 1432-0568
    Keywords: Key words Synaptogenesis ; Primate ; Spinal cord ; Apoptosis ; Neuropeptides
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Development of glomerular synapses in the superficial dorsal horn has been studied in the embryonic macaque spinal cord using light and electron microscopic techniques including Golgi impregnation, 3H-thymidine radioautography and pre-embedding immunohistochemistry of substance P (SP), calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP), calbindin D-28 K (CB) and parvalbumin (PV). The study revealed that substantia gelatinosa cells of the primate dorsal horn are generated last, but unlike in rodents, synaptogenesis in this region starts at early embryonic (E) stages of the 165-day long gestation. Already by E30, both Type 1 (light) and 2 (dark) dorsal root axons and their growth cones are identifiable within the oval bundle of His, before they form synaptic contact with their final target cells. Subsequently they invade the dorsal horn and enter the bisecting interfaces formed by orderly programmed cell death. Each type of scalloped (sinusoid) central primary afferent terminal (i.e. DSA, RSV and LDCV) have well defined pre- and post-synaptic specializations already by E40. Among the neuropeptides studied, SP appears first at E67 and CGRP at E70 in the lateral position but within a few days both of them are spread to the entire superficial dorsal horn. Both SP and CGRP are present in the thin dorsal root axons and their growth cones, giving rise to scalloped and simple axon terminals. PV is transiently present in the entire length of the thick dorsal root afferents before becoming concentrated in the synaptic boutons. CB is displayed mainly in neurons of the lamina I and III. Dendrites of CB-immunoreactive cells establish synaptic connection with each type of dorsal root afferents, including glomerular synaptic complexes. These data reveal that the superficial dorsal horn in the primate spinal cord develops its characteristic synaptic complexes much earlier in gestation than in any other mammalian species studied. Furthermore, characteristic cytological features of the prospective glomerular complex emerge before establishment of the final synaptic contacts.
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  • 45
    ISSN: 1432-069X
    Keywords: Key words Chronic diabetic wounds ; Human ; fibroblasts ; Wound healing ; Cell culture ; Proliferation
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Patients with diabetes mellitus experience impaired wound healing often resulting in chronic foot ulcers. Hospital discharge data indicate that 6–20% of all diabetic individuals hospitalized (mostly with type 2 diabetes) have a lower extremity ulcer. Maintaining glucose levels at acceptable levels (below 10 mmol/l) is considered to be an important part of the clinical treatment, but the exact mechanism by which diabetes delays wound repair is not yet known. We studied this phenomenon by determining the potential of fibroblasts isolated from the ulcer sites of four patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus to proliferate in vitro. Controls were fibroblasts isolated from normal skin of the upper leg of five healthy age-matched volunteers and of six non-insulin-dependent diabetes patients. Proliferative capacity was analysed by evaluation of plates after trypsinization and [3H]thymidine incorporation. Fibroblast morphology was studied by light and transmission electron microscopy. Diabetic ulcer fibroblasts, measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation, proliferated significantly more slowly than the nonlesional control fibroblasts (P 〈 0.00047) and age-matched control fibroblasts (P 〈 0.00003). After culturing the fibroblasts for a prolonged period in high-glucose (27.5 mM) and low-glucose (5.5 mM, i.e. physiological) medium, this difference in proliferation rate between diabetic ulcer fibroblasts and nonlesional diabetic fibroblasts remained (P 〈 0.0001 for high-glucose and P 〈 0.0009 for low-glucose on day 7). Fibroblast proliferation in all three groups was slightly lower in high-glucose than in low-glucose medium, although not significantly at any time-point. Light microscopy showed diabetic ulcer fibroblasts to be large and widely spread. Transmission electron microscopy of cultured diabetic ulcer fibroblasts and nonlesional diabetic skin fibroblasts revealed a large dilated endoplasmic reticulum, a lack of microtubular structures and multiple lamellar and vesicular bodies. These results show a diminished proliferative capacity and abnormal morphology of fibroblasts derived from diabetic ulcers of non-insulin-dependent diabetes patients.
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  • 46
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    Archives of dermatological research 291 (1999), S. 212-216 
    ISSN: 1432-069X
    Keywords: Key words UV irradiation ; Solar-simulated irradiation ; Apoptosis ; bcl-2 ; bax
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Recently, the proto-oncogenes bcl-2 and bax have emerged as important regulators of the apoptotic form of cell death. We examined UV irradiation-elicited apoptosis and regulation of bcl-2 and bax expression both in vivo in human skin and in vitro in HeLa cells. Using flow cytometric analysis, HeLa cells were found to undergo apoptosis at the 12-h time-point after exposure to UVB irradiation (100 mJ/cm2). The expression of bcl-2 mRNA was found to decrease after a single dose of UVB radiation (doses 10–200 mJ/ cm2). In contrast, the expression of bax mRNA was not significantly changed. When human skin was irradiated with a single dose of solar-simulated radiation (40 mJ/cm2), Bcl-2-positive cells were significantly reduced in the epidermis at the 3- and 6-h time-points. Our results suggest that UV irradiation downregulates bcl-2 expression both in vitro at the mRNA level and in vivo at the protein level, and that downregulation of bcl-2 constitutes a mechanism of potential importance in UV-induced apoptosis in human epidermis.
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  • 47
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    Archives of dermatological research 291 (1999), S. 247-252 
    ISSN: 1432-069X
    Keywords: Key words T cell activation ; Nickel ; Human ; Interferon-gamma
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Contact hypersensitivity to nickel is the most common form of allergic contact dermatitis. To gain insight into the induction of this frequent disease, T cell reactivity towards nickel was investigated in “nonallergic” individuals defined as those with no skin manifestations and a negative patch test towards NiSO4. Surprisingly, we found that nickel induced proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 16 of 18 adult individuals tested. This activation was specific, and no stimulation of PBMC was observed using control stimulants at equimolar concentrations. Furthermore, the NiSO4-induced activation required the presence of professional antigen-presenting cells. To describe the functional capacity of the nickel-inducible T cells, cytokine release was investigated in both nickel-allergic and nonallergic individuals. The T cells from both groups released interferon-γ but no interleukin-4 upon stimulation with nickel, suggesting that the functional capacities of these cell populations were similar in nickel-allergic and nonallergic individuals. Thus, at this level, no qualitative differences could be demonstrated between T cells obtained from nickel-allergic and nonallergic individuals.
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  • 48
    ISSN: 1432-069X
    Keywords: Key words TUNEL ; Apoptosis ; Trichilemmal ; keratinization ; Epidermal appendages
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
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  • 49
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    Archives of dermatological research 291 (1999), S. 303-305 
    ISSN: 1432-069X
    Keywords: Key words Langerhans cells ; Sunburn cells ; UV ; erythema ; Apoptosis ; Immunohistochemistry
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
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  • 50
    ISSN: 1432-069X
    Keywords: Key words ORS cells ; Melanocytes ; Human ; Organotypic cultures ; Melanosomes
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Because outer root sheath (ORS) cells are valuable substitutes for interfollicular epidermal keratinocytes, we wanted to determine whether epidermal equivalents generated from ORS cells and containing cultured melanocytes can serve as an in vitro model for skin pigmentation. In such epidermal equivalents prepared with ORS cells and melanocytes from donors of phototypes II, III and VI, a stratified epithelium resembling normal epidermis developed within 14 days, as documented by histological, ultrastructural (e.g. basement membrane-like structure, keratohyalin granules, keratinosomes) and immunohistochemical (e.g. keratins, integrins, gp80, involucrin, filaggrin) criteria. The melanocytes were localized in the basal layer and accounted for 10% of the total cell number. Heavily pigmented melanocytes from black donors contained regular melanosomes in all stages of maturation, whereas melanocytes derived from white donors contained predominantly melanosomes of stages I and II. Melanosome-laden dendrites were readily detected extending from the heavily pigmented melanocytes, while they were less conspicuous in melanocytes from white donors. The extent of melanosome transfer was independent of the racial origin of the ORS cells. Melanosomes could also be transferred “through racial barriers”. Melanosomes, mainly of stages III and IV, were detected in the ORS cells, being distributed either as single or compound melanosomes, again irrespective of the racial origin of the ORS cells. In conclusion, pigmented epidermal equivalents generated from ORS cells offer practical advantages over other in vitro pigmentation models: (1) the ORS cells are easily and repeatedly available from any donor regardless of age; (2) primary cultures of ORS cells are free of contaminating melanocytes, a bias if using interfollicular epidermal keratinocytes; (3) a high degree of epidermal differentiation is maintained for 3 weeks in fully defined medium, enabling labelling and stimulation experiments to be performed and compounds interfering with melanin pigmentation to be tested.
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  • 51
    ISSN: 1432-069X
    Keywords: Key words Keratinocyte ; UVB ; Apoptosis ; Calcium ; p53
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Normal human keratinocytes are stimulated to proliferate in serum-free medium containing subphysiological concentrations of calcium (0.09 mM, low calcium). In this study, we examined the effect of increased levels of extracellular calcium (2.0 mM, normal calcium) on UVB-induced apoptosis. Apoptosis was assessed by changes in cellular morphology, annexind V-FITC flow cytometry, and the formation of internucleosomal DNA ladders. High doses of UVB induced keratinocytes grown in low calcium medium to undergo apoptosis. In contrast, keratinocytes grown for 72 h in normal calcium medium were completely resistant to UVB-induced apoptosis. No apoptosis was observed even at UVB doses as high as 1200 J/m2. However, despite the lack of UVB-induced cell death, keratinocytes grown in normal calcium medium lost the ability to proliferate following high levels of UVB irradiation. High doses of UVB also increased the expression of the differentiation-specific proteins involucrin and cytokeratin 10 in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, growth in normal calcium medium lowered the UVB-induced stimulation of the p53 protein and altered the normal subcellular localization pattern of p53. UVB irradiation of human keratinocytes grown in normal calcium medium may be inducing further cell differentiation in the absence of overt cell death.
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  • 52
    ISSN: 1432-0584
    Keywords: Key words IL-6 variants ; Cell cycle ; Apoptosis ; Multiple myeloma ; Cell line
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Interleukin-6 (IL-6) serum levels and the proliferative activity of bone marrow plasma cells have been described as important prognostic factors for survival duration in multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Since growth of neoplastic plasma cells is frequently promoted by IL-6, inhibition of its activity has been considered for the management of MM patients. With a similar rationale, IL-6 variants characterized by wild-type or increased affinity for the ligand-specific IL-6 α receptor chain and reduced ability to bind and/or dimerize the gp 130 chain have recently been generated. In the present study, the antiproliferative effects of the variants Sant1, Sant5, and Sant7, characterized by increasing antagonistic activity, were investigated by means of a detailed cell kinetic and apoptotic analysis of the IL-6-dependent MM XG-1 cell line. A significant reduction in the mean percent of XG-1 cells in active S-phase (DNA/bromodeoxyuridine incorporation) from 41% to 28.1% (p=0.04), 25.8% (p=0.04), and 15.3% (p=0.02), respectively, was observed using Sant1, Sant5, and Sant7. These effects were confirmed using the acridine-orange (AO) flow-cytometric technique, which showed a similar reduction of S-phase (34.2% of baseline value) in the presence of Sant1, Sant5, and Sant7, as well as a significant G1b arrest (from 44.5% to 47.6%, 48%, and 64.9%). Furthermore, IL-6 variants were capable of down-regulating the G1 cell cycle regulatory protein cyclin D1 expression. Cell cycle effects were coupled with a significant increase of apoptosis, measured by the AO and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase assays, from 12.9% (control culture with IL-6) to 21.2% (Sant1), 29.1% (Sant5), and 23.5% (Sant7). These results were comparable to those obtained by depriving XG-1 of recombinant IL-6. Our study documents the antiproliferative activity exerted by IL-6 mutants on the XG-1 cell line, thus supporting the investigation of these molecules on primary MM cells.
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  • 53
    ISSN: 1432-0584
    Keywords: Key words Idiopathic myelofibrosis ; PCNA labeling ; Apoptosis ; Dynamic disease features ; Prognosis ; Proportion of life loss ; Bone marrow
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  A retrospective study of 120 patients with the clinically and histologically established diagnosis of idiopathic (primary) myelofibrosis (IMF) was performed to determine prognostic factors of predictive value, including parameters characterizing the dynamics of hematopoietic cell kinetics. In contrast to previous studies, our cohort comprised the full spectrum of the disease, from initial prefibrotic to advanced osteosclerotic stages. The in situ end-labeling (ISEL) technique was used to demonstrate apoptosis, in order to determine dynamic parameters of predictive value. Cell proliferation was evaluated by employing the monoclonal antibody PC10 directed against proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Proliferative activity (PCNA index) and frequency of apoptosis showed significant differences between early and advanced fibrosclerotic stages of disease. Decrease in proliferation indicated a significantly shorter survival, whereas a higher frequency of apoptotic cells was associated with a better prognosis. It may be speculated that a normal or enhanced proliferation rate expressed by PCNA positivity (late G1- and S-phase of the cell cycle) that is accompanied by a higher incidence of apoptosis reflects the regenerative (turnover) capacity of hematopoiesis. This may apply especially to early hypercellular stages without relevant myelofibrosis. In consideration of a recently published multivariate risk model, a simplified synthesis score for stratification of a patient's prognosis was constructed. Age, degree of anemia, leukocytes, and platelet count were regarded as the most important parameters. A substantial improvement of prognostic efficiency was further achieved by including PCNA index and frequency of apoptosis. Our results are in keeping with the assumption that generalization, indicated by myeloid metaplasia, has a prodigious impact on prognosis in IMF. Furthermore, in this context dynamic features such as proliferative activity and frequency of apoptosis exert an additional predictive value.
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  • 54
    ISSN: 1423-0127
    Keywords: TNFα ; Fas ; FasL ; Apoptosis ; Cytokine
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The CD3+/TCRαβ+ T-cell-mediated hepatic inflammation induced byPropionibacterium acnes could be divided into an acute and a chronic phase. The acute phase occurred within 72 h after injection and displayed hepatic apoptosis. Anti-TNFα antibody inhibited both theP. acnes-induced hepatic apoptosis and lymphocyte infiltration seen in this phase, indicating the involvement of this cytokine. Thereafter, a chronic phase was manifested from days 7 to 14 after injection. It was characterized as granulomatous inflammation admixed with apoptosis of infiltrating lymphocytes and some hepatocytes. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the infiltrating lymphocytes displayed TNFα, TNF type I receptor and a variety of cytokines including IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IFNγ or IL-12. Interestingly, in naive mice, the arteries in the liver constitutively expressed IFNγ. Its expression appeared to be substantially increased at 48 h, decreased at 72 h, and increased again on day 14 afterP. acnes injection. Furthermore, Fas or FasL was only detected on the lymphocytes within the granuloma. We conclude thatP. acnes can induce a TNFα-mediated acute hepatic apoptosis which subsequently progress to a T-cell-mediated granulomatous hepatitis with increased expression of multiple cytokines and Fas/FasL.
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  • 55
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    Journal of biomedical science 6 (1999), S. 433-438 
    ISSN: 1423-0127
    Keywords: AIDS dementia complex ; Antioxidants ; Apoptosis ; Cerebral atrophy ; gp120 ; HIV-1 protease ; Human neuroblastoma cell ; Neuroprotection ; Protease inhibitor (KNI-272)
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract A significant number of adult male patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome develop cerebral atrophy and progressive brain disorders such as dementia complex and neuropsychiatric problems. Upon entering the brain via activated macrophages or microglias, the human immunodeficiency type 1 virus (HIV-1) may produce cytotoxic factors such as HIV-1 envelope protein (gp 120) and protease. Owing to significant proteolysis of nonviral proteins, the protease derived from HIV-1 may be detrimental to brain cells and neurons. Our results revealed that HIV-1 protease, at nanomolar concentrations, was as potent as gp 120 in causing neurotoxicity in human neuroblastoma neurotypic SH-SY5Y cells. As shown by the Oncor ApopTag staining procedure, HIV-1 protease significantly increased the number of apoptotic cells over the serum-free controls. Moreover, HIV-1 protease-induced neurotoxicity was blocked by a selective protease inhibitor, kynostatin (KNI-272). Antioxidants such as 17β-estradiol, melatonin, andS-nitrosoglutathione also prevented protease-induced neurotoxicity. These findings indicate that oxidative proteolysis may mediate HIV-1 protease-induced apoptosis and the degeneration of neurons and other brain cells. Centrally active protease inhibitors and antioxidants may play an important role in preventing cerebral atrophy and associated dementia complex caused by HIV-1.
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  • 56
    ISSN: 1279-8509
    Keywords: p53 ; Apoptosis ; PKC ; g-irradiation ; Transcription
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Several mutations prevent the expression of p53 in the human lymphoblastoid T cell line Jurkat. Restoration of p53 in Jurkat cells had no effect on the cell growth but markedly increased the amount of apoptosis induced by g-irradiation. Inhibition of RNA synthesis using 5,6-dichlorobenimidizole riboside had little effect on apoptosis induced by irradiation in the presence of p53 and did not affect the p53-independent apoptotic pathway. Expression of p53 also had no effect on the expression levels of proteins such as Fas, GADD45, Bax, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL or p53 induced proteins (PIGS) in resting cells or after irradiation. Activation of protein kinase C by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate produced an almost complete inhibition of p53-independent apoptosis following irradiation, whereas no significant effect was observed on the rate of p53-induced apoptosis. Although phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate strongly induced p21 and stabilised p53 in the resting transfected Jurkat cells, neither apoptosis nor cell arrest was observed. In summary, this work shows that p53 enhances the radiosensitivity of Jurkat cells through an apoptotic process that is triggered by irradiation and is largely independent of RNA synthesis and protein kinase C activation. Apoptosis in p53- negative Jurkat cells is strongly inhibited by PMA indicating that the pathway triggered by p53 may be distinct from apoptotic pathways used in its absence.
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  • 57
    ISSN: 1423-0127
    Keywords: Autoimmunity ; Apoptosis ; IL-2 ; FasL ; Tolerance
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Studies of several gene knockout mice suggest an interesting association of a moderate T cell response with systemic autoimmune diseases. In addition, CD95 ligand (FasL) expression in some strains of these mice is impaired. Because FasL is critically involved in regulating peripheral tolerance, there may be a link between autoimmune diseases and a moderate T cell response that cannot activate the FasL gene. Here, we propose that there are two thresholds of T cell activation. When moderately stimulated, T cells can be activated to the low (1st) threshold, which permits the induction of CD40L, IL-2, IL-4, and other components that help the immune response. The high (2nd) activation threshold can only be achieved by a strong and concurrent stimulation through TCR and IL-2R. Once the high threshold is reached, FasL is produced to induce apoptosis of the activated T and B cells. In the absence of the FasL-mediated downregulation, the activated B cells become efficient antigen-presenting cells for self-antigens and excellent responders for T cell help. Such an exacerbating condition, induced by recurrent and moderate activation, favors the development of autoreactive T cells and autoantibody production. Evidence supporting this hypothesis and some predictions that can be tested are described.
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  • 58
    ISSN: 1423-0127
    Keywords: Glioma ; Apoptosis ; Vandate ; Akt ; PKB
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The dual signal hypothesis of apoptosis holds that a common signal can activate both apoptotic and proliferative pathways. The fate of a cell is dependent on which of these two pathways predominates. In the MAPK family of kinases, ERK and JNK have been proposed to mediate apoptosis whereas the PI3K-stimulated kinase, Akt/PKB, has been shown to inhibit apoptosis. The object of this study was to determine the role of these kinases in a glioma model of apoptosis. We have previously shown that K252a induces apoptosis and inhibits kinase activity. In this study we confirm these results and shown that the protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor sodium vanadate activates ERK, JNK and Akt/PKB, but does not stimulate proliferation. Vanadate did protect T98G cells from K252a-induced apoptosis, an effect that was abolished by addition of the PI3K inhibitor wortmannin. This suggests that PI3K and Akt/PKB may be responsible for mediating vanadate's protective effect on glioma cells. We conclude that the intracellular balance between protein phosphorylation pathways is a critical determinant of both cell proliferation and cell death.
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  • 59
    ISSN: 1432-0843
    Keywords: Key words Cyclin-dependent kinase ; Cytotoxicity ; Apoptosis ; Multidrug resistance
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Purpose: To determine the in vitro effects of flavopiridol on bladder cancer cell lines, immortalized urothelial cell lines, and normal urothelial cells well characterized for defects in p53, pRb, and p16. Methods: Growth inhibition was assessed via an MTT assay and apoptosis via DAPI nuclear staining. Cell cycle analysis was performed via propidium iodide staining and fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS). Multidrug-resistant cells were generated by continuous exposure to doxorubicin. Results: Growth inhibition was not correlated with inactivation of p53, pRb, or p16. All cells experienced G2/M arrest within 24 h of flavopiridol exposure. Modest apoptosis was observed but required 72 h of continuous drug exposure to become evident. There was no obvious synergistic or antagonistic toxicity when flavopiridol was combined with radiotherapy or cisplatin dosed at the IC50 despite the observation that radiotherapy and flavopiridol led to more profound G2/M arrest than either agent alone. Doxorubicin-resistant cells, demonstrated to overexpress the MDR1 multidrug-resistance protein were equally as sensitive to flavopiridol as the parental cells. Conclusions: Flavopiridol is a novel cell cycle inhibitor that may be a useful agent in bladder cancers with tumor suppressor gene alterations and/or multidrug resistance.
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  • 60
    ISSN: 1432-0843
    Keywords: Key words Dolastatin ; Lung cancer ; Apoptosis ; Xenografts ; Experimental therapeutics
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Purpose: Dolastatin 10 is a natural cytotoxic peptide which acts through the inhibition of microtubule assembly. Studies have suggested that such agents can induce apoptosis in association with bcl-2 phosphorylation. Since bcl-2 overexpression is common in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), we evaluated the activity of dolastatin 10 in SCLC cell lines and xenografts. Methods: In vitro growth inhibition was evaluated with a standardized MTT assay and apoptosis with fluorescent microscopy and a TUNEL assay. Immunoblot analysis and phosphatase digestion were used to determine bcl-2 modification. In vivo activity was evaluated in subcutaneous and metastatic SCLC xenograft models in SCID mice. Results: Dolastatin 10 had growth inhibitory activity against four SCLC cell lines (NCI-H69, -H82, -H446, -H510) with IC50 values ranging from 0.032 to 0.184 nM. All four cell lines exhibited evidence of apoptosis after 48 h of exposure to 1.3 nM dolastatin 10. Immunoblot analysis revealed that 1.3 nM dolastatin 10 altered the electrophoretic mobility of bcl-2 in NCI-H69 and -H510 cells within 16 h of treatment. Incubation of protein extract from dolastatin 10-treated NCI-H69 and -H510 cells with calcineurin resulted in the disappearance of the altered mobility species, suggesting dolastatin 10-induced bcl-2 phosphorylation. In in vivo studies, 450 μg/kg of dolastatin 10 IV × 2 given after intravenous injection of NCI-H446 cells completely inhibited tumor formation. In established subcutaneous NCI-H446 xenografts, 450 μg/kg of dolastatin 10 IV induced apoptosis in the majority of tumor cells within 96 h, resulting in a log10 cell kill of 5.2 and an increase in median survival from 42 to 91 days. Conclusions: These findings suggest that dolastatin 10 has potent activity against SCLC and that the modulation of apoptotic pathways deserves further evaluation as an anticancer strategy.
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  • 61
    ISSN: 1432-0843
    Keywords: Key words Baccatin III ; Paclitaxel ; Apoptosis ; Mitotic arrest ; bcl-2
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Purpose: Paclitaxel has been demonstrated to possess significant cell-killing activity in a variety of tumor cells by induction of apoptosis, but the mechanism by which paclitaxel leads to cell death and its relationship with mitotic arrest is not entirely clear. In this study, baccatin III, a synthetic precursor of paclitaxel, was used to analyze whether paclitaxel-induced apoptosis can be a separate event from microtubule bundling and G2/M arrest. Methods: Several different methods including DNA fragmentation, flow cytometric analyses, TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and time-lapse video microscopy were used to analyze apoptotic cell death induced by baccatin III and its possible correlation with cell cycle distribution. Results: Our results demonstrated that baccatin III could also cause apoptotic cell death in both BCap37 (a human breast cancer cell line) and KB cells (derived from human epidermoid carcinoma), but had less effect on microtubule bundling and G2/M arrest. Furthermore, we demonstrated that most apoptotic events induced by baccatin III were not coupled with G2/M arrest. Instead, these apoptotic events occurred predominantly in the cells in other phases of the cell cycle. Conclusion: Baccatin III, which contains the core taxane ring, is the fundamental piece of paclitaxel structure. The finding of baccatin III-induced apoptosis independent of cell cycle arrest, on the one hand, implies that the core taxane ring may play a critical role in inducing cell death and, on the other hand, suggests that paclitaxel might induce apoptosis from other phases of the cell cycle by a similar mechanism.
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  • 62
    ISSN: 1432-0851
    Keywords: Key words Immunotherapy ; MK-1 antigen ; Chimeric antibody ; ADCC ; Apoptosis
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Mouse monoclonal antibody FU-MK-1, raised against a human gastric adenocarcinoma, recognizes a glycoprotein antigen (termed MK-1 antigen) present on most carcinomas and seems to be valuable in immunodiagnosis and immunotherapy of various cancers. In a recent study, we constructed a mouse/human chimeric antibody, designated Ch FU-MK-1, by fusing the FU-MK-1 VH and Vκ genes to the human Cγ1 and Cκ genes, respectively. In the present study, we tested combination immunotherapy of Ch FU-MK-1 with human lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells in vitro and in mice with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) bearing human MK-1-expressing tumors. In in vitro experiments, Ch FU-MK-1 effectively mediated antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) against MK-1-expressing MKN-74 cells, which was completely blocked by an anti-FcR antibody. Since the apoptotic pathway as well as the necrotic pathway have been shown to be utilized in various cytotoxic effector mechanisms, we investigated the role of apoptosis in ADCC mediated by LAK cells and Ch FU-MK-1 against MKN-74 cells. The implication of the apoptosis during ADCC was demonstrated by means of both a terminal-deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end-labeling assay and a propidium iodide staining method. In vivo antitumor activity of combination treatment with LAK cells and Ch FU-MK-1 was estimated using SCID mice inoculated s.c. with MKN-74 cells. The i.v. administration of LAK cells and i.p. administration of Ch FU-MK-1 and interleukin-2 (IL-2) produced a marked growth inhibition of MKN-74 tumors in SCID mice. When the actual tumor weights were measured 16 days after initiation of treatment, more than 70% reduction was observed in the group receiving LAK cells plus Ch FU-MK-1 plus IL-2 as compared to the control untreated group. Together these results suggest that Ch FU-MK-1 may serve as a potentially useful immunotherapeutic reagent for human MK-1-expressing tumors.
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  • 63
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    Immunogenetics 49 (1999), S. 438-445 
    ISSN: 1432-1211
    Keywords: Key words PA28 ; Proteasome ; Gene structure ; Evolution ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Two proteasome activators PA28α and β, which have been implicated in antigen processing for loading class I MHC molecules, are synthesized in response to Ifn-γ. The human genes encoding these activators (PSME1 and PSME2, respectively) were analyzed by sequencing. Each gene comprised 11 exons, consistent with gene duplication during vertebrate evolution. The intron/exon organization of both genes was highly conserved, the major difference being the absence of the exon encoding the lysine and glutamic acid-rich 'KEKE' motif in PA28β. Two other genes of relevance to the immune system were located close to those for PA28 at 14q11.2 including ISGF3G, a protein involved in transcription after IFNα signalling. These sequences were also characterized.
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  • 64
    ISSN: 1432-1211
    Keywords: Key words NK cells ; Human ; Surface molecule ; Lectin superfamily ; NK gene complex
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Natural killer (NK) cells constitute the third major population of lymphocytes. They possess the inherent capacity to kill various tumor and virally infected cells and mediate the rejection of bone-marrow grafts in lethally irradiated animals. A large family of NK cell receptors belong to the C-type lectin superfamily and are localized to the NK gene complex on Chromosome (Chr) 6 in the mouse and Chr 12 in the human. Genes in the NK gene complex encode type II receptors and examples include the families of NKR-P1, Ly-49, and NKG2 receptors. Examples of other C-type lectin-like NK cell receptors that occur as individual genes are CD94, CD69, and AICL. Here we report the molecular characterization and chromosomal mapping of a human lectin-like transcript (LLT1) expressed on NK, T, and B cells and localized to the NK gene complex within 100 kilobases of CD69. The cDNA encodes a predicted protein of 191 amino acid residues with a transmembrane domain near the N-terminus and an extracellular domain of 132 amino acid residues with similarity to the carbohydrate recognition domain of C-type lectins. The predicted protein of LLT1 shows 59 and 56% similarity to AICL and CD69, respectively. The predicted protein does not contain any intracellular ITIM motifs, suggesting that LLT1 may be involved in mediating activation signals.
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  • 65
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    International journal of colorectal disease 14 (1999), S. 201-211 
    ISSN: 1432-1262
    Keywords: Key words Inflammatory bowel disease ; TNBS rat model ; Resistant starch ; Absorption of short-chain fatty acids ; Butyrate functions ; Proliferation ; Apoptosis ; Matrix proteins ; Intestinal microflora
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  These studies were performed to test the benefit of resistant starch on ulcerative colitis via prebiotic and butyrate effects. Butyrate, propionate, and acetate are produced in the colon of mammals as a result of microbial fermentation of resistant starch and other dietary fibers. Butyrate plays an important role in the colonic mucosal growth and epithelial proliferation. A reduction in the colonic butyrate level induces chronic mucosal atrophy. Short-chain fatty acid enemas increase mucosal generation, crypt length, and DNA content of the colonocytes. They also ameliorate symptoms of ulcerative colitis in human patients and rats injected with trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). Butyrate, and also to a lesser degree propionate, are substrates for the aerobic energy metabolism, and trophic factors of the colonocytes. Adverse butyrate effects occur in normal and neoplastic colonic cells. In normal cells, butyrate induces proliferation at the crypt base, while inhibiting proliferation at the crypt surface. In neoplastic cells, butyrate inhibits DNA synthesis and arrests cell growth in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. The improvement of the TNBS-induced colonic inflammation occurred earlier in the resistant starch (RS)-fed rats than in the RS-free group. This benefit coincided with activation of colonic epithelial cell proliferation and the subsequent restoration of apoptosis. The noncollagenous basement membrane protein laminin was regenerated initially in the RS-fed group, demonstrating what could be a considered lower damage to the intestinal barrier function. The calculation of intestinal short-chain fatty acid absorption confirmed this conclusion. The uptake of short-chain fatty acids in the colon is strongly inhibited in the RS-free group, but only slightly reduced in the animals fed with RS. Additionally, RS enhanced the growth of intestinal bacteria assumed to promote health. Further studies involving patients suffering from ulcerative colitis are necessary to determine the importance of RS in the therapy of a number of intestinal diseases and the maintenance of health.
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  • 66
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    Experimental brain research 128 (1999), S. 539-542 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Silent period ; Transcranial magnetic stimulation ; Motor cortex ; Epidural recordings ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  We investigated the nature of the silent period (SP) following transcranial magnetic stimulation by recording corticospinal volleys in a patient with implanted cervical epidural electrodes. Single suprathreshold test stimuli and paired stimuli at interstimulus intervals (ISIs) of 50–200 ms were delivered while the subject maintained a constant background contraction. The silent period duration from a single test stimulus was 357±62 ms. The test motor-evoked potentials were markedly reduced at all the ISIs tested. The I (indirect) waves induced by the test stimulus were largely unchanged at an ISI of 50 ms, suggesting that there was little change in motor cortex excitability. However, the corticospinal volleys, especially the late I waves, were substantially reduced at ISIs of 100 ms, 150 ms, and 200 ms. Our findings suggest that the early part of the SP is mainly due to spinal mechanisms, while the late part of the SP is related to reduced motor cortex excitability.
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  • 67
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    Experimental brain research 128 (1999), S. 550-556 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Selective attention ; Kinematics ; Human ; Visual pathways
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  In solving the selection-for-action problem, it is believed that attentional mechanisms enable dominance of target over non-target objects. However, under some conditions, information from non-target objects ”interferes” with the action to a relevant target. We investigated the possibility that this interference may result when the irrelevant object activates a specific subset of visuomotor pathways. Participants reached to grasp three-dimensional stimuli while actively attending to a nearby flanker object. The means by which the flanker was presented was manipulated. This relevant object was illuminated either abruptly or gradually. The parvocellular pathway in early visual processing is equally activated in both conditions. The magnocellular pathway is strongly activated by abrupt presentation and weakly activated with gradual presentation of the flanker object. Kinematics of the reach-to-grasp action to the target showed signs of interference only in the sudden illumination condition. This suggests a dissociation between dorsal and ventral cortical streams in terms of relevance for action. Our data suggests that this effect is not due to early visual-pathway differences, but instead reveals a property of a transient object-based visual attention mechanism.
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  • 68
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    Experimental brain research 124 (1999), S. 1-7 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Temporal cortex ; Connectivity ; Human ; Interhemispheric transfer ; Talairach coordinates
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The human anterior commissure is believed, by extrapolation from data obtained in macaque monkeys, to convey axons from the temporal and orbitofrontal cortex. Reports of interhemispheric transfer and sexual dimorphism related to the anterior commissure, however, make more precise data on the human anterior commissure desirable. We investigated the connectivity of the human anterior commissure in six adults (male and female) that had circumscribed hemispheric lesions in temporal, frontal, parietal or occipital cortices or in infrapallidal white matter using the Nauta for anterogradely degenerating axons. Axons originating in the inferior part of temporal or occipital lobes, occipital convexity and possibly central fissure and prefrontal convexity were found to cross the midsagittal plane in the anterior commissure. The largest contigent of commissural axons originated in the inferior part of the temporal lobe; it displayed a roughly topographic organization, preferentially running through the inferior part of the commissure. The inferior temporal contigent seemed to reach homotopic and heterotopic targets in the opposite hemisphere. Among the latter were the amygdala and possibly the orbitofrontal cortex. The present data suggest that the human anterior commissure conveys axons from much larger territories than expected from work on non-human primates. Similarly to the human and non-human primate corpus callosum, the anterior commissure is roughly topographically organized and participates in heterotopic connectivity.
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  • 69
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    Experimental brain research 126 (1999), S. 200-204 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Motor development ; Anticipatory postural adjustments ; Bimanual coordination ; Children ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Anticipatory postural adjustments (APA) are needed to perform a movement without perturbing posture. We investigated the development of APA in 3- to 4-year-old children during a bimanual load-lifting task. The task required maintaining a stable elbow position despite imposed or voluntary unloading of the forearm. Although children can compensate the consequences of unloading by using APA, their performance did not reach an adults’ level. In addition, children showed high intra-individual variability in the voluntary situation, revealed by the coexistence of both adult-like and immature patterns in kinematic and electromyographic data. In conclusion, the present study reports that APA, associated with a bimanual load-lifting task, are still being set up in 3- to 4-year-old-children. The intra-individual variability should decrease with age and be associated with a progressive mastering of the timing parameters characterizing APA.
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  • 70
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    Experimental brain research 124 (1999), S. 273-280 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Vestibular system ; Posture control ; Balance ; Cross-spectral analysis ; Coherency ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Galvanic vestibular stimulation serves to modulate the continuous firing level of the peripheral vestibular afferents. It has been shown that the application of sinusoidally varying, bipolar galvanic currents to the vestibular system can lead to sinusoidally varying postural sway. Our objective was to test the hypothesis that stochastic galvanic vestibular stimulation can lead to coherent stochastic postural sway. Bipolar binaural stochastic galvanic vestibular stimulation was applied to nine healthy young subjects. Three different stochastic vestibular stimulation signals, each with a different frequency content (0–1 Hz, 1–2 Hz, and 0–2 Hz), were used. The stimulation level (range 0.4–1.5 mA, peak to peak) was determined on an individual basis. Twenty 60-s trials were conducted on each subject – 15 stimulation trials (5 trials with each stimulation signal) and 5 control (no stimulation) trials. During the trials, subjects stood in a relaxed, upright position with their head facing forward. Postural sway was evaluated by using a force platform to measure the displacements of the center of pressure (COP) under each subject’s feet. Cross-spectral measures were used to quantify the relationship between the applied stimulus and the resulting COP time series. We found significant coherency between the stochastic vestibular stimulation signal and the resulting mediolateral COP time series in the majority of trials in 8 of the 9 subjects tested. The coherency results for each stimulation signal were reproducible from trial to trial, and the highest degree of coherency was found for the 1- to 2-Hz stochastic vestibular stimulation signal. In general, for the nine subjects tested, we did not find consistent significant coherency between the stochastic vestibular stimulation signals and the anteroposterior COP time series. This work demonstrates that, in subjects who are facing forward, bipolar binaural stochastic galvanic stimulation of the vestibular system leads to coherent stochastic mediolateral postural sway, but it does not lead to coherent stochastic anteroposterior postural sway. Our finding that the coherency was highest for the 1- to 2-Hz stochastic vestibular stimulation signal may be due to the intrinsic dynamics of the quasi-static postural control system. In particular, it may result from the effects of the vestibular stimulus simply being superimposed upon the quiet-standing COP displacements. By utilizing stochastic stimulation signals, we ensured that the subjects could not predict a change in the vestibular stimulus. Thus, our findings indicate that subjects can act as ”responders” to galvanic vestibular stimulation.
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  • 71
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Locomotion ; Load ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Prior work from mammals suggests that load experienced by extensor muscles of the hindlimbs (i.e. Duysens and Pearson 1980; Pearson and Collins 1993; Fouad and Pearson 1997) or cutaneous afferents from the plantar surface of the foot (Duysens and Pearson 1976; Guertin et al. 1995) enhances activity in extensor muscles during the stance phase, and delays the onset of flexor activity associated with the swing phase. The presumed functional significance of this phenomenon is that extensor activity of the supporting limb during walking can: (a) reinforce the supporting function in proportion to the load experienced, and (b) prolong the stance phase until unloading of the limb has occurred. Whether a similar functional role exists for load-sensitive afferents during walking in the human is unknown. In this study, the effect of adding or removing a substantial load (30% of body weight) at the centre of mass was studied in healthy adult human subjects. Loads were applied near the centre of mass to avoid the need for postural adjustments which might confound the interpretation of the results. Subjects walked on a treadmill with either: (a) a sustained increase or decrease in load, or (b) a sudden unexpected increase or decrease in load. In general, subjects responded to the changes in load by changing the amplitude of the extensor electromyographic (EMG) bursts. For example, with sudden unexpected additions in load, the average increase in amplitude was 40% for the soleus across the stance phase, and 134% for the quadriceps during the early part of the stance phase. Extensor EMGs increased with both sustained and sudden increases in load. Extensor EMG durations also increased (average increase in duration of 4% for soleus with sudden loading, and 7% for sustained loading). Cycle duration hardly changed (average increase of 0.5% with both sudden and sustained loading). These results differ from those of infants subjected to a similar perturbation during supported walking. A large change in timing (i.e. an increase in the duration of the stance phase by 30% and the step cycle by 28%) was seen in the infants, with no change in the amplitude of the EMG burst (Yang et al. 1998). These results suggest that the central nervous system can control the timing and amplitude of extensor EMG activity in response to loading independently. Maturation of the two components most likely occurs independently. In the adult, independent control of the two components may provide greater flexibility of the response.
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  • 72
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    Experimental brain research 126 (1999), S. 235-251 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Motor learning and memory ; Perseveration ; Prefrontal cortex ; Reversal learning ; Basal ganglia ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The ability to inhibit previously learned visuomotor associations is essential for efficient learning of novel behaviors. While the neural basis of the system that might control interactions between competing motor memories is not known, it has been demonstrated that animals with ventral and orbital prefrontal cortex (PFC) deficits have particular difficulties in learning to withhold responses to previously conditioned sensory stimuli. Here we measured regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), using positron emission tomography, during learning of a novel motor task that required inhibition of a previously learned motor memory. Subjects (n=24) learned reaching movements in a force field (field A). After a variable time interval, some subjects (n=15) learned to reach in a field with a reversed pattern of forces (field B). When the time interval was short (10 min), learning in field B was coincident with a reactivation of regions that had become initially activated during learning in field A: the left putamen and bilaterally in the dorsolateral PFC. Behaviorally, this was accompanied with perseveration that lasted for hundreds of movements, suggesting an instantiation of the internal model for field A during learning in field B. Neither the reactivation nor the perseveration were observed in a different group of subjects that learned field B at 5.5 h. We found that the regions which significantly differentiated the two groups during learning of B were in the ventrolateral PFC (bilaterally): there were sharp decreases in rCBF here in the 5.5 group but not in the 10-min group. At 5.5 h motor learning again involved the striatum, but this time in the left caudate. Neither the caudate nor the ventral PFC had exhibited learning-related activity in field A. Instead, they showed changes in rCBF during the reversal of the learning problem when the previously acquired motor memory was successfully gated. The results demonstrate that: (1) perseveration of a competing motor memory may be linked to reactivation of the neural circuit that participated in acquiring that memory, and (2) the ventral PFC may play an important role in the inhibitory control of the competing motor memory.
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  • 73
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Corpus callosum ; Interhemispheric transfer ; Positron emission tomography ; Split brain ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  We studied with PET the intra- and interhemispheric pathways subserving a simple, speeded-up visuomotor task. Six normal subjects and one patient with a complete section of the corpus callosum (M.E.) underwent regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) measurements under conditions of lateralized tachistoscopic visual presentations in a simple manual reaction time paradigm. Confirming previous behavioural findings, we found that on average crossed hand and/or hemifield conditions, i.e. those requiring an interhemispheric transfer of information, yielded a longer RT than uncrossed conditions. This difference (0.7 ms) was dramatically larger (45.6 ms) in the callosum-sectioned patient M.E. In normal subjects the cortical areas selectively activated in uncrossed and crossed conditions were different. In the former condition, most activation foci were anterior to the ventral anterior commissure (VAC) plane, whereas in the latter there was a prevalent parietal and occipital activation. This shows that a simple model in which the cortical visuo-motor pathways are similar in the intra- and the interhemispheric condition, with an extra callosal route for the latter, is too simplistic. Furthermore, these results suggest that the bulk of visuomotor interhemispheric transfer takes place through the widespread callosal fibres interconnecting the parietal cortices of the two hemispheres. The pattern of activation in the two crossing conditions was markedly different in M.E., in whom interhemispheric transfer might take place via his intact anterior commissure or subcortical commissures.
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  • 74
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    Experimental brain research 125 (1999), S. 43-49 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Proprioception ; Visual localization ; Visual context ; Multisensory integration ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  In a previous study we investigated how the CNS combines simultaneous visual and proprioceptive information about the position of the finger. We found that localization of the index finger of a seen hand was more precise (a smaller variance) than could reasonably be expected from the precision of localization on the basis of vision only and proprioception only. This suggests that, in localizing the tip of the index finger of a seen hand, the CNS may make use of more information than proprioceptive information and visual information about the fingertip. In the present study we investigate whether this additional information stems from additional sources of sensory information. In experiment 1 we tested whether seeing an entire arm instead of only the fingertip gives rise to a more precise proprioceptive and/or visual localization of that fingertip. In experiment 2 we checked whether the presence of a structured visual environment leads to a more precise proprioceptive localization of the index finger of an unseen hand. In experiment 3 we investigated whether looking in the direction of the index finger of an unseen hand improves proprioceptive localization of that finger. We found no significant effect in any of the experiments. The results refute the hypothesis that the investigated effects can explain the previously reported very precise localization of a seen hand. This suggests that localization of a seen finger is based exclusively on proprioception and on vision of the finger. The results suggest that these sensory signals may contain more information than is described by the magnitude of their variances.
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  • 75
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    Experimental brain research 125 (1999), S. 139-152 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Reaching movements ; Direction ; Amplitude ; Initial kinematics ; Spatial variability ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The accuracy of reaching movements to memorized visual target locations is presumed to be determined largely by central planning processes before movement onset. If so, then the initial kinematics of a pointing movement should predict its endpoint. Our study examined this hypothesis by testing the correlation between peak acceleration, peak velocity, and movement amplitude and the correspondence between the respective spatial positions of these kinematic landmarks. Subjects made planar horizontal reaching movements to targets located at five different distances and along five radially arrayed directions without visual feedback during the movements.The spatial dispersion of the positions of peak acceleration, peak velocity, and endpoint all tended to form ellipses oriented along the movement trajectory. However, whereas the peaks of acceleration and velocity scaled strongly with movement amplitude for all of the movements made at the five target distances in any one direction, the correlations with movement amplitude were more modest for trajectories aimed at each target separately. Furthermore, the spatial variability in direction and extent of the distribution of positions of peak acceleration and peak velocity did not scale differently with target distance, whereas they did for endpoint distributions. Therefore, certain features of the final kinematics are evident in the early kinematics of the movements as predicted by the hypothesis that they reflect planning processes. However, endpoint distributions were not completely predetermined by the Initial kinematics. In contrast, multivariate analysis suggests that adjustments to movement duration help compensate for the variability of the initial kinematics to achieve desired movement amplitude. These compensatory adjustments do not contradict the general conclusion that the systematic patterns in the spatial variability observed in this study reflect planning processes. On the contrary, and consistent with that conclusion, our results provide further evidence that direction and extent of reaching movements are planned and determined in parallel over time.
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  • 76
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    Keywords: Key words Three-dimensional pointing ; Human ; Remembered targets
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The accuracy of visually guided pointing movements decreases with speed. We have shown that for movements to a visually defined remembered target, the variability of the final arm endpoint position does not depend on movement speed. We put forward a hypothesis that this observation can be explained by suggesting that movements directed at remembered targets are produced without ongoing corrections. In the present study, this hypothesis was tested for pointing movements in 3D space to kinesthetically defined remembered targets. Passive versus active acquisition of kinesthetic information was contrasted. Pointing errors, movement kinematics, and joint-angle coordination were analyzed. The movements were performed at a slow speed (average peak tangential velocity of about 1.2 m/s) and at a fast speed (2.7 m/s). No visual feedback was allowed during the target presentation or the movement. Variability in the final position of the arm endpoint did not increase with speed in either the active or the passive condition. Variability in the final values of the arm-orientation angles determining the position of the forearm and of the upper arm in space was also speed invariant. This invariance occurred despite the fact that angular velocities increased by a factor of two for all the angles involved. The speed-invariant variability supports the hypothesis that there is an absence of ongoing corrections for movements to remembered targets: in the case of a slower movement, where there is more time for movement correction, the final arm endpoint variability did not decrease. In contrast to variability in the final endpoint position, the variability in the peak tangential acceleration increased significantly with movement speed. This may imply that the nervous system adopts one of two strategies: either the final endpoint position is not encoded in terms of muscle torques or there is a special on-line mechanism that adjusts movement deceleration according to the muscle-torque variability at the initial stage of the movement. The final endpoint position was on average farther from the shoulder than the target. Constant radial-distance errors were speed dependent in both the active and the passive conditions. In the fast speed conditions, the radial distance overshoots of the targets increased. This increase in radial-distance overshoot with movement speed can be explained by the hypothesis that the final arm position is not predetermined in these experimental conditions, but is defined during the movement by a feedforward or feedback mechanism with an internal delay.
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  • 77
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    Experimental brain research 125 (1999), S. 265-270 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Tendon reflexes ; Biceps femoris ; Gait ; Ia afferents ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  During gait it is generally accepted that there is a reduction in amplitude of H-reflexes as compared to standing. For short-latency stretch reflexes, however, it is less clear whether a similar reduction in reflex gain is present during locomotion. Stretches of constant amplitude are hard to produce under these circumstances and for this reason some previous studies on the biceps femoris (BF) have used ”reduced gait” in which the stimulated leg is stepping on the spot while the contralateral leg is walking on a treadmill. With this method it was possible to show that BF tendon jerk reflexes are larger at end swing and therefore are likely to contribute to the EMG burst normally occurring in that part of the step cycle when the BF is rapidly stretched. In the present study two questions were addressed: first, whether the reflex is different in size during gait compared to standing and, second, whether it is modulated in size during the gait cycle not only during reduced but also during normal gait. It was found that during both types of gait there was a general reflex depression with regard to the respective control values obtained during standing at similar EMG activity levels. In previous studies on soleus and quadriceps, discrepancies between EMG activity and reflex amplitude have been ascribed to changes in presynaptic inhibition of Ia terminals mediating the afferent volley of the reflex. Based on the data presented, this may also be true for the BF. In both normal and reduced gait the reflex was similarly modulated in size, showing a maximum at the end of swing. This similarity implies that reduced gait may be useful as an acceptable alternative for normal gait in studies on phase-dependent reflex modulation during locomotion.
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  • 78
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    Keywords: Key words Hyperventilation ; Magnetoencephalography ; Somatosensory cortex ; Auditory cortex ; Somatosensory evoked response ; Auditory evoked response ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  It is well established that voluntary hyperventilation (HV) slows down electroencephalographic (EEG) rhythms. Little information is available, however, on the effects of HV on cortical responses elicited by sensory stimulation. In the present study, we recorded auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) and magnetic fields (AEFs), and somatosensory evoked magnetic fields (SEFs) from healthy subjects before, during, and after a 3- to 5-min period of voluntary HV. The effectiveness of HV was verified by measuring the end-tidal CO2 levels. Long-latency (100–200 ms) AEPs and long-latency AEFs originating at the supratemporal auditory cortex, as well as long-latency SEFs from the primary somatosensory cortex (SI) and from the opercular somatosensory cortex (OC), were all reduced during HV. The short-latency SEFs from SI were clearly less modified, there being, however, a slight reduction of the earliest cortical excitatory response, the N20m deflection. A middle-latency SEF deflection from SI at about 60 ms (P60 m) was slightly increased. For AEFs and SEFs, the center-of-gravity locations of the activated neuronal populations were not changed during HV. All amplitude changes returned to baseline levels within 10 min after the end of HV. The AEPs were not altered when the subjects breathed 5% CO2 in air in a hyperventilation-like manner, which prevented the development of hypocapnia. We conclude that moderate HV suppresses long-latency evoked responses from the primary projection cortices, while the early responses are less reduced. The reduction of long-latency responses is probably mediated by hypocapnia rather than by other nonspecific effects of HV. It is suggested that increased neuronal excitability caused by HV-induced hypocapnia leads to spontaneous and/or asynchronous firing of cortical neurones, which in turn reduces stimulus-locked synaptic events.
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  • 79
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    Experimental brain research 124 (1999), S. 42-52 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Ocular tracking ; Oculomanual coordination ; Electromyography ; Internal model ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  When the eyes and arm are involved in a tracking task, the characteristics of each system differ from those observed when they act alone: smooth pursuit (SP) latency decreases from 130 ms in external target tracking tasks to 0 ms in self-moved target tracking tasks. Two models have been proposed to explain this coordination. The common command model suggests that the same command be addressed to the two sensorimotor systems, which are otherwise organized in parallel, while the coordination control model proposes that coordination is due to a mutual exchange of information between the motor systems. In both cases, the interaction should take into account the dynamic differences between the two systems. However, the nature of the adaptation depends on the model. During self-moved target tracking a perturbation was applied to the arm through the use of an electromagnetic brake. A randomized perturbation of the arm increased the arm motor reaction time without affecting SP. In contrast, a constant perturbation produced an adaptation of the coordination control characterized by a decrease in arm latency and an increase in SP latency relative to motor command. This brought the arm-to-SP latency back to 0 ms. These results support the coordination control model.
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  • 80
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    Experimental brain research 124 (1999), S. 241-247 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Melatonin ; Kainate ; Glutathione ; Apoptosis ; Excitotoxicity
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The anti-excitotoxic efficacy of the pineal hormone melatonin was investigated in kainate-injured brains of rats. Kainate (a glutamate-receptor agonist, 2.5 nmol in 1 µl) was directly injected to unilateral striatum. Melatonin (10 mg/kg) was administrated intraperitoneally 1 h before and 1, 3, and 5 h after intrastriatal kainate injection in adult Sprague-Dawley rats. Three days after kainate injection, a significant neuronal damage was found, as determined by Nissl staining and the TUNEL method, not only in the injected striatum, but also in the ipsilateral neighboring cortex. The kainate-induced cortical apoptotic neuronal death was significantly attenuated by treatment with melatonin compared with the vehicle control group. However, no detectable changes were observed in the contralateral side of the brain in either vehicle- or melatonin-treated rats. Moreover, the biochemical results indicated that kainate can indeed induce oxidative stress, such as a decrease in the content of total glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and an increase in the ratio of GSSG/GSH in the striatum and cortex compared with the contralateral brain regions. In the kainate-injected striatum, melatonin did not reduce the oxidative stress, but in the neighborhood of injected area-cortex, kainate-induced oxidative stress was significantly reduced by melatonin. Enhancement of glutathione-peroxidase activity was induced by intrastriatal kainate injection, not only in the cortical area of control and melatonin-treated rats, but also in striatum of control rats. However, a large elevation was found in the melatonin-treated cortex. Taking the morphological and biochemical data together, the present results suggest that melatonin functions as an antioxidant by upregulating the glutathione antioxidative defense system, thereby reducing neuronal death caused by excitotoxicity and preventing the kainate-induced damage from spreading to adjacent brain regions.
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  • 81
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    Experimental brain research 124 (1999), S. 287-294 
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    Keywords: Key words Magnetoencephalography ; V1 cortex ; V2 cortex ; V6 complex ; Horizontal meridian ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  We recorded whole-scalp magnetoencephalographic (MEG) responses to black-and-white checkerboards to study whether the human cortical responses are quantitatively similar to stimulation of the lower and upper visual field at small, 0–6°, eccentricities. All stimuli evoked strongoccipital responses peaking at 50–100 ms (mean 75 ms). The activation was modeled with a single equivalent current dipole in the contralateral occipital cortex, close to the calcarine fissure, agreeing with an activation of the V1/V2 cortex. The dipole was, on average, twice as strong to lower than to upper field stimuli. Responses to hemifield stimuli that extended to both lower and upper fields resembled the responses to lower field stimuli in source current direction and strength. These results agree with psychophysical data, which indicate lower visual field advantage in complex visual processing. Parieto-occipital responses in the putative V6 complex were similar to lower and upper field stimuli.
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  • 82
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    Experimental brain research 126 (1999), S. 289-306 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Motor control ; Trajectory formation ; Coordination ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The degrees of freedom problem is often posed by asking which of the many possible degrees of freedom does the nervous system control? By implication, other degrees of freedom are not controlled. We give an operational meaning to ”controlled” and ”uncontrolled” and describe a method of analysis through which hypotheses about controlled and uncontrolled degrees of freedom can be tested. In this conception, control refers to stabilization, so that lack of control implies reduced stability. The method was used to analyze an experiment on the sit-to-stand transition. By testing different hypotheses about the controlled variables, we systematically approximated the structure of control in joint space. We found that, for the task of sit-to-stand, the position of the center of mass in the sagittal plane was controlled. The horizontal head position and the position of the hand were controlled less stably, while vertical head position appears to be no more controlled than joint motions.
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  • 83
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    Experimental brain research 124 (1999), S. 469-473 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Form from motion ; Visual development ; Visual acuity ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The development of dynamic vision was investigated in 400 healthy subjects (200 females and 200 males) aged between 4 and 24 years. The test consisted of a computer-generated random-dot kinematogram in which a Landolt ring was briefly presented as a form-from-motion stimulus. Motion contrast between the ring and background was varied in terms of the percentage of dots moving coherently within the ring in four levels (100%, 50%, 30%, and 20%). The subject’s task was to indicate the position of a gap in the ring (left, right, top, bottom). Results show a clear increase in performance with age for all motion contrast levels, with the greatest changes for the lowest levels. Adult performance was reached at the age of 15 years. Luminance-based static acuity measured with the Landolt test was poorly correlated with acuity for its form-from-motion analogue.
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  • 84
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    Experimental brain research 124 (1999), S. 503-512 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Reaching movements ; Memory for positions ; Laterality ; Posture copying ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Many recent studies indicate that memory for final position is superior to memory for movement. There is ambiguity about what is meant by the term final position, however. Is it final spatial location or final posture? According to a recently proposed theory by Rosenbaum et al., which maintains that stored postures form the basis for movement planning, when people try to return to recently reached positions, they should try to adopt the postures they just occupied. An alternative view, which holds that movements are primarily planned with respect to spatial locations, predicts that subjects should tend to return to places in external space. We describe an experiment that tested these opposing predictions. The experiment relied on the notion that if people store and use postures, they should ”copy” the posture adopted with one arm to the other arm when possible. The results support this hypothesis.
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  • 85
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    Keywords: Key words Optokinetic nystagmus ; Positron emission tomography ; Visual motion ; Area V5 ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Positron emission tomography (PET) was used to address the issue of physiological changes in the cerebral cortex associated to optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) in humans. We studied regional cerebral blood flow in eight volunteers during reflexive induction of OKN by a pattern of dots moving unidirectionally (toward the left side). We used two control conditions, with subjects passively viewing either stationary or incoherently moving dots. This paradigm was designed in order to differentiate the OKN-related activations from blood flow changes related to visual motion. When compared with the stationary condition, OKN activated a set of occipital areas known to be sensitive to visual motion. Bilateral activation was found in the striate cortex (V1) and the parieto-occipital fissure, while area V5, the intraparietal sulcus, and the pulvinar were activated only in the left hemisphere. When compared with incoherent motion, OKN activated the V1 and the parieto-occipital fissure bilaterally and the right lingual gyrus, while a signal decrease was observed in the V5 region in both hemispheres. No significant signal changes were found in areas implicated in saccades or in processing vestibular information. These results indicate that processing of OKN-related information is associated with neural activity in a specific set of visual motion areas and suggest that this network can be asymmetrically activated by a strictly unidirectional stimulation. Results are also discussed in terms of the specific kinds of OKN-related information processing subserved by each area in this network.
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  • 86
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    Experimental brain research 126 (1999), S. 175-186 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Listing’s plane ; Vergence ; Binocular ; Eye movements ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Earlier studies have reported temporal rotation of Listing’s plane with convergence of the eyes causing torsion, which is dependent on eye elevation. The amount by which the planes rotate differs from study to study. To gain insight into the functional significance of the temporal tilt of Listing’s plane for vision, we examined whether the rotation of the plane depends on the visual conditions, namely on the stimuli driving vergence. In different conditions, accommodative vergence, disparity-vergence, combinations of disparity with accommodation or depth perception were used and the resulting rotation of Listing’s plane was measured. Our findings show, for the first time, that the relationship between convergence and Listing’s-plane temporal rotation depends on the stimuli driving vergence. When the stimulus contains only disparity cues, vergence and Listing’s plane rotate immediately and consistently among subjects. Accommodative vergence, the mutual couplings between vergence and accommodation, can influence the orientation of Listing’s plane, but they do so in a idiosyncratic way. The largest rotation was elicited by stereograms combining disparity-vergence with depth perception. These findings support the idea of a functional role of Listing’s plane rotation for binocular vision, perhaps for depth perception.
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  • 87
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    Keywords: Key words Grip force ; Force control ; Parabolic flight ; Microgravity ; Hypergravity ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  In the present study, grip forces exerted against a stationary held object were recorded during parabolic flights. Such flight maneuvers induce changes of gravity with two periods of hypergravity, associated with a doubling of normal terrestrial gravity, and a 20 s period of microgravity. Accordingly, the object’s weight changed from being twice as heavy as normally experienced and weightless. Grip-force recordings demonstrated that force control was seriously disturbed only during the first experience of hyper- and microgravity, with the grip forces being exceedingly high and yielding irregular fluctuations. Thereafter, however, grip force traces were smooth, the force level was scaled to the object’s weight under normal and high-G conditions, and the grip force changed in parallel with the weight during the transitions between hyper- and microgravity. In addition, during weightlessness, when virtually no force was necessary to stabilize the object, a low force was established, which obviously represented a reasonable safety margin for preventing possible perturbations. Thus, all relevant aspects of grip-force control observed under normal gravity conditions were preserved during gravity changes induced by parabolic flights. Hence, grip-force control mechanisms were able to cope with hyper- and microgravity, either by incorporating relevant receptor signals, such as those originating from cutaneous mechanoreceptors, or by adequately including perceived gravity signals into control programs. However, the adaptation to the uncommon gravity conditions was not complete following the first experience; finer tuning of the control system to both hyper- and microgravity continued over the measurement interval, presumably with a longer observation period being necessary before a stable performance can be reached.
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    Experimental brain research 129 (1999), S. 156-160 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Optokinetic nystagmus ; Depth-from-motion ; Transparent motion ; Ambiguous ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  When two visual patterns moving in opposite directions are superimposed, they appear to be at different depths and to slide over each other. Because the stimulus does not specify the depth-order between the surfaces, this transparent motion perception is essentially ambiguous. With prolonged observation, the perceived depth-order of the two moving surfaces reverses spontaneously. In the present study, the correlation between the perceived direction of transparent motion and optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) was examined. While viewing superimposed random-dot patterns moving in opposite horizontal or vertical directions, subjects attempted to fixate the center of the stimulus, while paying attention to either the near or far depth plane, and reported any changes of the direction of surface-motion at the attended depth. Even with attention focused on a particular depth, the spontaneous reversal of transparent motion perception still occurred. This indicates that the perceptual reversal may reflect a preattentive mechanism for depth-from-motion. Furthermore, the OKN slow-phase tended to be in the same direction as the perceived motion of the surface at the attended depth. These results support the idea that the mechanisms for OKN maintenance are sensitive to perception of depth-from-motion and, therefore, cortically mediated.
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  • 89
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    Keywords: Key words Reaching movements ; Grasping movements ; Prehension ; Manual control ; Computational model ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  Reaching and grasping an object can be viewed as the solution of a multiple-constraint satisfaction problem. The constraints include contact with the object with the appropriate effectors in the correct positions as well as generation of a collision-free trajectory. We have developed a computational model that simulates reaching and grasping based on these notions. The model, rendered as an animation program, reproduces many basic features of the kinematics of human reaching and grasping behavior. The core assumptions of the model are: (1) tasks are defined by flexibly organized constraint hierarchies; (2) manual positioning acts, including prehension acts, are first specified with respect to goal postures and then are specified with respect to movements towards those goal postures; (3) goal postures are found by identifying the stored posture that is most promising for the task, as determined by the constraint hierarchy, and then by generating postures that are more and more dissimilar to the most-promising stored posture until a deadline is reached, at which time the best posture that was found during the search is defined as the goal posture; (4) depending on when the best posture was encountered in the search, the deadline for the search in the next trial is either increased or decreased; (5) specification of a movement to the goal posture begins with straight-line interpolation in joint space between the starting posture and goal posture; (6) if an internal simulation of this default movement suggests that it will result in collision with an obstacle, the movement can be reshaped until an acceptable movement is found or until time runs out; (7) movement reshaping occurs by identifying a via posture that serves as a body position to which the actor moves from the starting posture and then back to the starting posture, while simultaneously making the main movement from the starting posture to the goal posture; (8) the via posture is identified using the same posture-generating algorithm as used to identify the goal posture. These processes are used both for arm positioning and, with some elaboration, for prehension. The model solves a number of problems with an earlier model, although it leaves some other problems unresolved.
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    Experimental brain research 127 (1999), S. 83-94 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Target interception ; Reaching ; Grasping ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  The goal of the present study was to understand which characteristics (movement time or velocity) of target motion are important in the control and coordination of the transport and grasp-preshape components of prehensile movements during an interception task. Subjects were required to reach toward, grasp and lift an object as it entered a target area. Targets approached along a track at four velocities (500, 750, 1000 and 1250 mm/s) which were presented in two conditions. In the distance-controlled condition, targets moving at all velocities traveled the same distance. In the viewing-time-controlled condition, combinations of velocity and starting distances were performed such that the moving target was visible for 1000 ms for all trials. Analyses of kinematic data revealed that when, target distance was controlled, velocity affected all transport-dependent measures; however, when viewing time was controlled, these dependent measures were no longer affected by target velocity. Thus, the use of velocity information was limited in the viewing-time-controlled condition, and subjects used other information, such as target movement time, when generating the transport component of the prehensile movement. For the grasp-preshape component, both peak aperture and peak-aperture velocity increased as target velocity increased, regardless of condition, indicating that target velocity was used to control the spatial aspects of aperture formation. However, the timing of peak aperture was affected by target velocity in the distance-controlled condition, but not in the viewing-time-controlled condition. These results provide evidence for the autonomous generation of the spatial and temporal aspects of grasp preshape. Thus, an independence between the transport and grasp-preshape phases was found, whereby the use of target velocity as a source of information for generating the transport component was limited; however, target velocity was an important source of information in the grasp-preshape phase.
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    Experimental brain research 127 (1999), S. 207-212 
    ISSN: 1432-1106
    Keywords: Key words Attention ; Distractor interference ; Path deviation ; Horse race model ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  It has been suggested that, when movements are planned within cluttered environments, competing responses programmed to distracting stimuli are inhibited based on their relation to the action being performed. Further, as a result of this inhibition, the path of the movement made to the target object deviates away from the distractor. In contrast to the object avoidance hypothesis, the results of the present study show that, for aiming movements made in environments in which distractors are present, the path of the movement veers toward the distractor. Moreover, the effects of the distractors on the movement trajectory were independent of the direction of limb movement. These findings suggest that, when a distractor is not a potential physical barrier, a response to the distractor may be activated along with the target response and, owing to temporal advantages, cause a deviation of the movement trajectory toward the distractor.
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  • 92
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    Keywords: Key words Reach to grasp ; Human ; Perturbation ; Kinematics ; Motor control ; Parkinson’s disease ; Elderly
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract  This study assessed the adaptive response of the reach-to-grasp movement of 12 Parkinson’s disease (PD) and 12 control subjects to a simultaneous perturbation of target object location and size. The main aim was to test further the reported dysfunction of PD subjects in the simultaneous activation of movement components. Participants were required to reach 30 cm to grasp a central illuminated cylinder of either small (0.7 cm) or large (8 cm) diameter. For a small percentage of trials (20/100) a visual perturbation was introduced unexpectedly at the onset of the reaching action. This consisted of a shift of illumination from the central cylinder to a cylinder of differing diameter, which was positioned 20° to the left (n=10) or to the right (n=10). The subject was required to grasp the newly illuminated cylinder. For the Parkinson’s disease subject group, the earliest response to this ’double’ perturbation was in the parameter of peak reaching acceleration, which was on average 50 ms earlier for ’double’ perturbed than for non-perturbed trials. The grasp component response followed more than 500 ms after the earliest transport response. For the control subjects initial signs of a response to the ’double’ perturbation were seen almost simultaneously in the transport parameter of peak arm deceleration, and in the manipulation parameter of maximum grip aperture, but these changes were not evident until more than 400 ms after movement onset. These results indicate that the basal ganglia can be identified as part of a circuit which is involved in the integration of parallel neutral pathways, and which exercise flexibility in the degree to which these components are ’coupled’ functionally. With basal ganglia dysfunction the activation of integration centres that at first gate the flow of information to the parallel channels of reach and grasp seems inefficient.
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  • 93
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology 359 (1999), S. 228-234 
    ISSN: 1432-1912
    Keywords: Key words Natural killer ; Pentoxifylline ; Macroangiopathic patients ; Apoptosis
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The methylxanthine derivative pentoxifylline, widely used in the treatment of vascular diseases, also has numerous immunological effects. In in vitro experiments, the human natural killer cell cytotoxicity was investigated in the presence of pentoxifylline. A clinical trial involved an investigation of the natural killer cell activity in patients to whom pentoxifylline had been administered for different periods. The natural cytotoxicity in macroangiopathic patients treated with pentoxifylline was compared with that in healthy controls and that in patients with vascular diseases who did not receive pentoxifylline therapy. A total of 62 macroangiopathic patients and 20 healthy controls were investigated. The natural killer cell activity in patients receiving pentoxifylline therapy for more than a year proved to be significantly lower (P〈0.005). The presence of vascular disease did not influence the natural killer activity. In the in vitro cytotoxicity reaction, pentoxifylline at a concentration of 100 µg/ml was found to suppress the natural killer cell cytotoxicity at any stage of the reaction. The influence of pentoxifylline on the natural killer cell activity was not due to inhibition of the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1. However, this drug significantly decreases (P〈0.05) the apoptosis of target cells. It is presumed that the suppressor effect of pentoxifylline on natural killer cell activity should be taken into consideration in the treatment of clinical diseases where this drug is administered chronically.
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  • 94
    ISSN: 1432-1912
    Keywords: Key words Blood pressure ; Endothelium ; Human ; Mesenteric artery ; Rat ; Smooth muscle
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract The majority of the findings concerning arterial physiology and pathophysiology originate from studies with experimental animals, while only limited information exists about the functional characteristics of human arteries. Therefore, the aim of the present work was to compare the control of vascular tone in vitro in mesenteric arterial rings of corresponding size (outer diameter 0.75–1 mm) from humans and Wistar-Kyoto rats. The relaxations to acetylcholine (ACh) were clearly less marked in the mesenteric arteries of humans when compared with rats. How-ever, when calcium ionophore A23187 was used as the vasodilator, the endothelium-mediated relaxations did not significantly differ between these species. The NO synthase inhibitor N G-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) attenuated the relaxations to ACh and A23187 in both groups. The endothelium-independent relaxations to the β-adrenoceptor agonist isoprenaline and the nitric oxide (NO)-donor nitroprusside were somewhat lower in human arteries, while vasodilation induced by the K+ channel opener cromakalim was similar between humans and rats. Arterial contractile sensitivity to noradrenaline and serotonin was slightly lower in human vessels, whereas contractile sensitivity to KCl was similar between these species. The contractions induced by cumulative addition of Ca2+ with noradrenaline as the agonist were effectively inhibited in both groups by the calcium channel blocker nifedipine, the effect of which was clearly more pronounced in human arteries. In conclusion, the control of vascular tone of isolated arteries of corresponding size from humans and rats appeared to be rather similar. The most marked differences between these species were the impaired endothelium-mediated dilation to ACh and the more pronounced effect of nifedipine on the Ca2+-induced contractions in human arteries.
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  • 95
    ISSN: 1432-1963
    Keywords: Schlüsselwörter Epitheloides Hämangioendotheliom ; Leber ; Kindesalter ; Proliferation ; Apoptose ; Key words Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma ; Liver ; Childhood ; Proliferation ; Apoptosis
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Description / Table of Contents: Summary We report on a 12-year old boy suffering from malignant epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the liver, which is a very rare tumor in childhood. The tumor was detected by ultrasound examination at the age of 10 and appeared at that time as a solitary intrahepatic nodular lesion. During the following 2 years multiple nodular lesions developed in both hepatic lobes. There were neither any suspect anamnestic findings nor abnormal clinical or laboratory data. The tumor showed the typical histomorphological, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural features of this entity, which is usually seen in older patients. We investigated proliferative activity, apoptotic regulation, and expression of VEGF and VEGF-receptor flk-1 by means of immunohistochemical techniques. According to the known slow growth activity of these tumors we found only a few Ki-67 positive tumor cells. We did not detect any apoptotic cells using TUNEL technique. The positive immunoreaction of the tumor cells with antibodies against VEGF and VEGF-receptor flk-1 may indicate the regulation of tumor growth by angiogenetic factors. We present our findings together with a summary of the most important publications of recent years concerning these tumors.
    Notes: Zusammenfassung Bei einem 12 Jahre alten Jungen wurde ein im Kindesalter sehr seltenes malignes epitheloides Hämangioendotheliom der Leber diagnostiziert. Im Alter von 10 Jahren fiel erstmals sonografisch ein solitärer Leberrundherd auf, im Verlauf der nächsten zwei Jahre entwickelten sich multiple Rundherde in beiden Leberlappen. Die Anamnese des Patienten war hinsichtlich möglicher prädisponierender Faktoren unauffällig. Die klinischen und laborchemischen Parameter befanden sich im Normbereich. Der Tumor wies die für diese, üblicherweise bei Erwachsenen auftretenden Entität typischen histomorphologischen, immunhistochemischen und ultrastrukturellen Merkmale auf. Mittels immunhistochemischer Untersuchungen wurde das Tumorgewebe hinsichtlich Proliferationsaktivität, Apoptoseregulation und Expression angiogenetischer Faktoren (VEGF und VEGF-Rezeptor flk-1) untersucht. Bei bekanntermaßen langsamer Wachstumstendenz dieser Tumoren fand sich ein geringer Anteil Ki-67-positiver Tumorzellen. Mittels TUNEL-Technik wurden keine Apoptosen gefunden. Die positive Immunreaktion der Tumorzellen mit Antikörpern gegen VEGF und den VEGF-Rezeptor flk-1 deutet auf eine Regulation des Tumorwachstums durch angiogenetische Faktoren hin. Die Ergebnisse werden in Verbindung mit einer Zusammenstellung der wichtigsten Publikationen der letzten Jahre über diese seltenen Tumoren diskutiert.
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  • 96
    ISSN: 1432-2072
    Keywords: Key words Marijuana ; Human ; THC ; Withdrawal ; Dependence ; Tolerance ; Subjective effect ; Performance ; Food intake
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Symptoms of dependence and withdrawal after the frequent administration of high doses (210 mg/day) of oral Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) have been reported, yet little is known about dependence on lower oral THC doses, more relevant to levels attained by smoking marijuana. In a 20-day residential study, male (n = 6) and female (n = 6) marijuana smokers worked on five psychomotor tasks during the day (0915–1700 hours), and in the evening engaged in private or social recreational activities (1700–2330 hours); subjective-effects measures were completed 10 times/day, and a sleep questionnaire was completed each morning. Food and beverages were available ad libitum from 0830 to 2330 hours. Capsules were administered at 1000, 1400, 1800, and 2200 hours. Placebo THC was administered on days 1–3, 8–11, and 16–19. Active THC was administered on days 4–7 (20 mg qid) and on days 12–15 (30 mg qid). Both active doses of THC increased ratings of “High,”“Good Drug Effect,” and “Willingness to Take Dose Again” compared to baseline (days 1–3). THC also increased food intake by 35–45%, and decreased verbal interaction among participants compared to placebo baseline. Tolerance developed to the subjective effects of THC but not to its effects on food intake or social behavior. Abstinence from THC increased ratings of “Anxious,”“Depressed,” and “Irritable,” decreased the reported quantity and quality of sleep, and decreased food intake by 20–30% compared to baseline. These behavioral changes indicate that dependence develops following exposure to lower daily doses of THC than have been previously studied, suggesting that the alleviation of abstinence symptoms may contribute to the maintenance of daily marijuana use.
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  • 97
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Psychopharmacology 141 (1999), S. 395-404 
    ISSN: 1432-2072
    Keywords: Key words Marijuana ; Dependence ; Withdrawal ; Human ; Tolerance ; Subjective effect ; Performance ; Residential laboratory
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Symptoms of withdrawal after oral Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) administration have been reported, yet little is known about the development of dependence on smoked marijuana in humans. In a 21-day residential study, marijuana smokers (n = 12) worked on five psychomotor tasks during the day (0915–1700 hours), and in the evening engaged in recreational activities (1700–2330 hours); subjective-effects measures were completed 10 times/day. Food and beverages were available ad libitum from 0830 to 2330 hours. Marijuana cigarettes (0.0, 1.8, 3.1% THC) were smoked at 1000, 1400, 1800, and 2200 hours. Placebo marijuana was administered on days 1–4 . One of the active marijuana doses was administered on days 5–8, followed by 4 days of placebo marijuana (days 9–12). The other concentration of active marijuana cigarettes was administered on days 13–16, followed by 4 days of placebo marijuana (days 17–20); the order in which the high and low THC-concentration marijuana cigarettes were administered was counter-balanced between groups. Both active doses of marijuana increased ratings of “High,” and “Good Drug Effect,” and increased food intake, while decreasing verbal interaction compared to the placebo baseline (days 1–4). Abstinence from active marijuana increased ratings such as “Anxious,”“Irritable,” and “Stomach pain,” and significantly decreased food intake compared to baseline. This empirical demonstration of withdrawal from smoked marijuana may suggest that daily marijuana use may be maintained, at least in part, by the alleviation of abstinence symptoms.
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  • 98
    ISSN: 1432-2072
    Keywords: Key words Aggression ; Tryptophan ; Serotonin ; Human ; Diet
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Some studies have shown that sharp reduction of L-tryptophan (Trp) concentration in plasma results in increases in laboratory-measured aggression. Conversely, raising plasma Trp has blunted aggression. These effects are presumably due to impaired or enhanced serotonin synthesis and neurotransmission in the brain. In this study, the laboratory-measured aggressive behavior of eight men under both Trp depletion (T-) and Trp loading (T+) conditions was compared to their aggressive behavior under food-restricted control conditions (overnight fast without an amino acid beverage). Subjects were provoked by periodic subtraction of money which was attributed to a fictitious other participant, and aggression was defined as the number of retaliatory responses the subject made ostensibly to reduce the earnings of the (fictitious) other participant. Following ingestion of the T- beverage, aggressive responding was significantly elevated relative to the food-restricted control condition, and this increased aggressive behavior became more pronounced across behavioral testing sessions on a time-course which paralleled previously documented decreases in plasma Trp concentrations. In contrast, no changes were observed in aggressive responding under T+ conditions relative to food-restricted conditions. These within-subject behavioral changes under depleted plasma Trp conditions support earlier indications of a role of serotonin in regulating aggression.
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  • 99
    ISSN: 1432-2072
    Keywords: Key words Cocaine ; Human ; Self-administration ; D1 agonist ; Subjective effect ; Craving ; Cardiovascular effect
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Rationale: Data in laboratory animals suggest that D1 receptor agonists may have potential utility for the treatment of cocaine abuse. Objective: The effects of ABT-431, a selective agonist at the dopamine D1 receptor, on the reinforcing, cardiovascular and subjective effects of cocaine were investigated in humans. Method: Nine experienced cocaine smokers (8M, 1F), participated in nine self-administration sessions while residing on an inpatient research unit: three doses of ABT-431 (0, 2, 4 mg IV) were each given in combination with three doses of smoked cocaine (0, 12, 50 mg). ABT-431 was intravenously administered over a 1-h period immediately prior to cocaine self-administration sessions. A six-trial choice procedure (cocaine versus $5 merchandise vouchers) was utilized, with sessions consisting of: (a) one sample trial, where participants received the cocaine dose available that day, and (b) five choice trials, where participants chose between the available cocaine dose and one merchandise voucher. Results: ABT-431 did not affect the number of times participants chose to smoke each dose of cocaine, but produced significant dose-dependent decreases in the subjective effects of cocaine, including ratings of “High,”“Stimulated,” dose liking, estimates of dose value, “Quality,” and “Potency.” Furthermore, there was a trend for ABT-431 (4 mg) to decrease cocaine craving. ABT-431 also increased heart rate, while decreasing systolic and diastolic pressure at each dose of cocaine. Conclusions: These data suggest that D1 agonists may have potential utility for the treatment of cocaine abuse.
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  • 100
    ISSN: 1432-2072
    Keywords: Key words Methadone maintenance treatment ; Chiral analysis ; Methadone ; Plasma ; Urine ; Abused drug ; Daily variation ; Rating scales ; Dose-adjustment ; Human
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Medicine
    Notes: Abstract Rationale: One of the major problems in methadone maintenance treatment is to find optimal individual doses for the patients. Objective: The present study investigated whether the use of rating scales together with enantioselective analysis of l-methadone might facilitate dose adjustments in a clinical situation. Methods: Rating scales were used to evaluate subjective and objective signs of well-being in relation to plasma methadone concentrations in two groups of patients receiving methadone maintenance treatment. The first group (n = 25) was well-adjusted according to clinical observations and were satisfied with their methadone doses (86.2 ± 4.3 mg). The second group (n = 25) was in need of the methadone dose adjustment; they complained of low dosing, despite a dose level of 69.2 ± 4.0 mg/day. Results: Results indicated a significant correlation between dose and methadone concentration among dissatisfied patients only. The trough levels of d,l-methadone and l-methadone, as well as their elimination rates, were similar in the two groups of patients. There was a variable predominance of l- over d-methadone in plasma (ratio ≈1.2; range 0.7–3.6). Illicit use of drugs by the patients was related to the methadone dose and to satisfaction with the dose received. Increased illicit drug use among dissatisfied patients was successfully eliminated by raising the methadone dose. Subjective and objective ratings of the satisfied patients were quite stable throughout the evaluation period, whereas the ratings of the dissatisfied patients were unstable. These patients seemed to be more sensitive to low trough levels of methadone than the satisfied patients. Associations between the subjective and objective ratings and plasma methadone, along with background characteristics, were characterized by multiple regression analyses. The plasma concentrations of l-methadone were one of the most important explanatory variables in these analyses. Associations between well-being and methadone concentrations in plasma were stronger for l-methadone than for d,l-methadone. Conclusions: Selective measurements of the active isomer and the use of rating scales should be of clinical value when monitoring methadone maintenance treatment patients.
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