[Violence in the school--imported or self-produced?].

The empirical results of the Bielefeld Research Project "Violence in Schools" provide information about the kind and frequency of violent behaviors of pupils, about a possible increase in the level of violence in German schools since the 1970s and about relevant risk factors inside and outside of the school which influence the number of violent acts committed by pupils. The identification of specific conditions in different areas of socialization makes it possible to determine to what degree violence is imported into the school from outside or is produced from within. On the basis of these findings, recommendations are made for the prevention of violence in schools.

[Pressure-dependent flow resistance in craniospinal cerebrospinal fluid dynamics: a calculation model for diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus].

Computer-aided processing of the results obtained with the intrathecal infusion test using our newly developed mathematical model simplifies the investigation technique and thus the diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus. Simultaneous determination of resistance and compliance in a single session markedly reduces the examination-related stress on the patient. In contrast to the classical methods, the new calculation does not require the ICP to reach a plateau.

Conserved composition of mammalian box H/ACA and box C/D small nucleolar ribonucleoprotein particles and their interaction with the common factor Nopp140.

Small nucleolar ribonucleoprotein particles (snoRNPs) mainly catalyze the modification of rRNA. The two major classes of snoRNPs, box H/ACA and box C/D, function in the pseudouridylation and 2'-O-methylation, respectively, of specific nucleotides. The emerging view based on studies in yeast is that each class of snoRNPs is composed of a unique set of proteins.

Signs, symptoms and course of normal pressure hydrocephalus in comparison with cerebral atrophy.

Between May 1982 and January 1997 we investigated 200 patients for normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) by performing an intrathecal infusion test. 168 patients (84%) presented with the clinical syndrome of gait ataxia, dementia and urinary incontinence, the so called Adams triad. In 107 patients (54%) the diagnosis of a NPH could be confirmed.

Diagnostic in normal pressure hydrocephalus: A mathematical model for determination of the ICP-dependent resistance and compliance.

The internationally accepted calculation methods concerning cerebrospinal fluid dynamics proceed from a pressure independent resistance to cerebrospinal fluid outflow. In a new model we focus our attention on the pressure dependency of resistance. In our calculation model we are monitoring the complete pressure course p(t) over the time during and after the infusion.

[Quality securing procedures in neurosurgical operations. Experiences with intraoperative computed tomography and neuronavigation].

In the department of Neurosurgery of the Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin, experiences with neuronavigation and intraoperative computed tomography were acquired and reviewed on a descriptive basis. The main parameter for the evaluation was target point accuracy for the neuronavigation and image quality for the intraoperative ct. Additionally, both systems were evaluated about the requirement of time, staff and technical equipment.

[First experiences using microsurgical techniques for minimally invasive ventral interbody fusion of the lumbar spine (MINI-ALIF)].

Minimal invasive techniques recently have become more important in spine surgery. Ventral approaches for lumbar fusion techniques are known for a long time. Their disadvantages are their size and the associated trauma.

Multivisceral resection of advanced colorectal carcinoma.

Background And Aims: In about 10% of patients with carcinoma of the colorectum, the tumour has already invaded contiguous organs or else inflammatory tumorous adhesions involving neighbouring structures are found. In such a situation, the question arises whether one should perform a multivisceral resection, the usefulness of which in terms of surgical risk and late oncological results have been investigated in the present study.

Patients And Methods: A total of 173 patients with colorectal carcinoma who underwent a multivisceral resection during the period between 1984 and 1995 are reported.

Surfactant subtype conversion is related to loss of surfactant apoprotein B and surface activity in large surfactant aggregates. Experimental and clinical studies.

Conversion of the highly surface-active subtype of pulmonary surfactant known as large surfactant aggregates (LA) to small aggregates (SA) with poor surface activity has recently been shown to occur upon cyclic changes of the air-liquid interface area in vitro. By subjecting pooled rabbit bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) to this maneuver, we found that conversion of LA to SA was accompanied by a marked decline in the ability of the remaining LA fraction to reduce surface tension by adsorption and during film compression on a pulsating bubble surfactometer. SA obtained by centrifugation of noncycled rabbit BALF had a similar phospholipid (PL) but different neutral lipid (NL) composition than did the LA.

[Clinically suspected normal-pressure hydrocephalus diagnosis--current status of diagnosis and therapy].

Since the first description of the disease normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), there has been a great progress in the diagnosis of this disease. Taking into account that the age of the population is rising the incidence and social medical importance is increasing. Modern neuroradiological techniques are visualising a ventricular enlargement but a definitive diagnosis cannot be drawn.

The influence of antigenic variation on cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses in HIV-1 infection.

The propensity of HIV-1 for genetic variation, a consequence of error-prone reverse transcription combined with high rates of replication, is thought to contribute to the establishment of persistent infection in the host despite the presence of a vigorous antiviral immune response. Protective immunity to viruses is mediated primarily by cytotoxic T lymphocytes, which recognize viral peptides of 8-11 amino acids bound to major histocompatibility complex class I molecules on the surface of infected cells. In this review we examine the mechanisms by which mutation within peptide antigen-encoding regions of the viral genome enables HIV-1 to evade recognition by virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Nopp140 functions as a molecular link between the nucleolus and the coiled bodies.

Coiled bodies are small nuclear organelles that are highly enriched in small nuclear RNAs, and that have long been thought to be associated with the nucleolus. Here we use mutational analysis, transient transfections, and the yeast two-hybrid system to show that the nucleolar phosphoprotein Nopp140 functions as a molecular link between the two prominent nuclear organelles. Exogenous Nopp140 accumulated in the nucleolus rapidly, but only after a lag phase in coiled bodies, suggesting a pathway between the two organelles.

[Possibilities of therapeutic photokeratotomy with the excimer laser in treatment of Schnyder crystalline corneal dystrophy].

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) in treating the Schnyder cristalline corneal dystrophy.

Methods: We examined the members of three generations of a family affected by Schnyder crystalline dystrophy. Two patients with disabling visual acuity were treated with PTK.

[Psychophysiology, signs and symptoms of disease the course of normal pressure hydrocephalus].

Between May 1982 until January 1997 we investigated 200 patients suspected for normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) by performing an intrathecal infusion test. According to our experiences gait ataxia is the leading symptom of NPH. Regarding dementia we could not find a significant difference compared to cerebral atrophy.

[Fractures of the lower cervical spine. Surgical methods and long-term outcome].

Between 1980 until 1996 we operated altogether 327 patients because of a discoligamentous or osseous injury of the lower cervical spine. In a retrospective examination we evaluated the type of the injuries, the mechanism of the accidents, the neurological status on admission and the postoperative result. With regard to the long-term results we re-investigated 170 patients who have been operated on in our Department of Neurosurgery.

[Diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus. A calculation model for determining intracranial pressure-dependent resistance and compliance].

Computer-aided analysis of the results of the intrathecal infusion test using our mathematical computation leads to simplification of this investigation, and therefore normal pressure hydrocephalus is more easily diagnosed. Simultaneous measurement of resistance and compliance during a single investigation allows the exertion of the patients to be minimized. In contrast to classic methods it is not necessary that the ICP reaches a plateau.

A class of nonribosomal nucleolar components is located in chromosome periphery and in nucleolus-derived foci during anaphase and telophase.

. The subcellular location of several nonribosomal nucleolar proteins was examined at various stages of mitosis in synchronized mammalian cell lines including HeLa, 3T3, COS-7 and HIV-1 Rev-expressing CMT3 cells. Nucleolar proteins B23, fibrillarin, nucleolin and p52 as well as U3 snoRNA were located partially in the peripheral regions of chromosomes from prometaphase to early telophase.

[Violence in the school--analysis of the problem and possible interventions].

This article deals with a topic being controversially discussed in public for several years now: violence in school. Following the outlining of the current state of research and the naming of causes is a representation of the research-project "Violence in School' sponsored by the German Research Community (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG). This four-stage program which was designed to analyze and prevent violence in school has set itself the aim to get a comprehensive idea of extent and appearance of violent behavior as well as to find condition-constellations in the school environment and also externally.

Specific interaction between casein kinase 2 and the nucleolar protein Nopp140.

Casein kinase 2 (CK2) is a multifunctional second messenger-independent protein serine/threonine kinase that phosphorylates many different proteins. To understand the function and regulation of this enzyme, biochemical methods were used to search for CK2-interacting proteins. Using immobilized glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins of CK2, the nucleolar protein Nopp140 was identified as a CK2-associated protein.

Comparison of the rat nucleolar protein nopp140 with its yeast homolog SRP40. Differential phosphorylation in vertebrates and yeast.

Rat Nopp140, a nonribosomal protein of the nucleolus and coiled bodies, was characterized as one of the most highly phosphorylated proteins in the cell. Based on its subcellular location, its nuclear localization signal binding capacity, and its shuttling between the nucleolus and the cytoplasm, Nopp140 was proposed to function as a chaperone in ribosome biogenesis. This study shows that casein kinase II phosphorylates Nopp140 to its unusual high degree and identifies the yeast SRP40 gene product as immunologically and structurally related to rat Nopp140.

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte lysis inhibited by viable HIV mutants.

Immune evasion by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is unexplained but may involve the mutation of viral antigens. When cytotoxic T lymphocytes engaged CD4-positive cells that were acutely infected with HIV bearing natural variant epitopes in reverse transcriptase, substantial inhibition of specific antiviral lysis was observed. Mutant viruses capable of these transactive effects could facilitate the persistence of a broad range of HIV variants in the face of an active and specific immune response.

The effects of natural altered peptide ligands on the whole blood cytotoxic T lymphocyte response to human immunodeficiency virus.

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) directed against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 are detectable in the majority of infected individuals, and their early appearance as the initial viremia is suppressed is thought to represent a potent antiviral response. Variation which arises in CTL epitopes can affect recognition by CTL, and we have observed previously that variant epitopes in HIV-1 gag which arise in HIV-1-seropositive donors may act as T cell receptor (TCR) antagonists of their own CTL (Klenerman et al., Nature 1994, 369: 403).

Identification of cyclophilin A from human decidual and placental tissue in the first trimester of pregnancy.

The protein patterns of tissue homogenates from human decidua and placenta of first trimester pregnancies were investigated. Particular attention was paid to the low molecular weight components of these tissues, since substantial evidence has accumulated that some of these smaller proteins show a characteristic cyclic and pregnancy expression. Two specific bands were purified from homogenates of first trimester decidua and placenta using gel filtration and anion exchange chromatography.

NAP57, a mammalian nucleolar protein with a putative homolog in yeast and bacteria.

We report the identification and molecular characterization of a novel nucleolar protein of rat liver. As shown by coimmunoprecipitation this protein is associated with a previously identified nucleolar protein, Nopp140, in an apparently stoichiometric complex and has therefore been termed NAP57 (Nopp140-associated protein of 57 kD). Immunofluorescence and immunogold electron microscopy with NAP57 specific antibodies show colocalization with Nopp140 to the dense fibrillar component of the nucleolus, to coiled bodies, and to the nucleoplasm.