Characterization and phylogenetic relationship of prosimian MHC class I genes.

MHC class I cDNA sequences from the most divergent primate group of extant primates compared to human, the suborder Strepsirrhini (prosimians), are described. The sequences are derived from the gray mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus) and the ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta), which are members of the malagasy Lemuriformes, as well as from the pygmy slow loris (Nycticebus pygmaeus), a prosimian from East Asia. The M.

Auditory and vestibular defects in the circling (ci2) rat mutant.

The circling rat is an autosomal recessive mutant (homozygous ci2/ci2) that displays lateralized circling behaviour, locomotor hyperactivity, ataxia and stereotypic head-movement. These abnormal behaviours occur in phases or bursts either spontaneously or in response to stress. Heterozygous (ci2/+) littermates display normal spontaneous behaviours.

Electrolyte- and pH-stabilities of aqueous solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN) dispersions in artificial gastrointestinal media.

The influence of artificial gastrointestinal (GI) media on the physical stability of solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN) formulations consisting of different lipids and various surfactants/stabilizers has been investigated in vitro, with respect to ionic strength and pH. Laser diffractometry and zeta potential measurements were the techniques applied. Some SLN formulations already showed aggregation/particle growth in the presence of electrolytes at neutral pH.

[Donation for medical care at the Vienna Civic Hospital in the 15th century. Responsibility for daily rounds].

The medical treatment in the city hospital of Vienna, which was attached to the University as a teaching facility, was not of the best quality in the 15th century. A report by an unknown author describes the medical treatment as tending to lead to death rather than recovery. In 1436 a donation was made by Nicolaus Aichberger de Fürstenfeld, a well known member of the Medical School of Vienna University, to engage a physician who had to visit the patients daily.

Female dominance in captive gray mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus).

Female dominance or female feeding priority seem to be characteristic for many lemur species, but are rare traits in other primates and mammals in general. The nocturnal lemur species, however, are underrepresented in the quantitative studies on social dominance. The aim of this study is to investigate the pattern of intersexual dominance relationships in the gray mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus), a species that is generally thought to possess a number of ancestral lemur traits.

Colony specificity in a social call of mouse lemurs (Microcebus ssp.).

Nocturnal primate species are often difficult to discriminate by gross visual bodily characteristics. This is also true for the world's smallest primate taxon, the Malagasy mouse lemurs. Recent findings imply that this taxon contains sibling species that can be diagnosed noninvasively by their species-specific advertisement call.

Insulin-like growth factor I and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 5 in Crohn's disease.

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and its binding protein IGF binding protein 5 (IGFBP-5) were highly expressed in inflamed and fibrotic intestine in experimental Crohn's disease. IGF-I induced proliferation and increased collagen synthesis by smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts/myofibroblasts in vitro. Here we studied IGF-I and IGFBP-5 in Crohn's disease tissue.

Molecular phylogeny of the lemur family cheirogaleidae (primates) based on mitochondrial DNA sequences.

Cheirogaleidae currently comprises five genera whose relationships remain contentious. The taxonomic status and phylogenetic position of both Mirza coquereli and Allocebus trichotis are still unclear. The taxonomic status of the recently discovered Microcebus ravelobensis (a sympatric sibling species of Microcebus murinus) and its phylogenetic position also require further examination.

IGF-I and procollagen alpha1(I) are coexpressed in a subset of mesenchymal cells in active Crohn's disease.

This study tested the hypothesis that insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) expression is increased at sites of fibrosis in diseased intestine of patients with Crohn's disease (CD). IGF-I mRNA was quantified by RNase protection assay in uninvolved and involved intestine of 13 CD patients (10 ileum, 3 colon) and 7 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients (colon). In situ hybridization histochemistry compared the localization of IGF-I and procollagen alpha1(I) mRNAs.

Effect of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) on cytokine production and the viability of murine peritoneal macrophages.

The purpose of this study was to investigate possible immunomodulatory and cytotoxic effects of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) on murine peritoneal macrophages. Immunomodulatory effects of SLN composed of either a lipid- (glycerol-behenate) or a wax (cetylpalmitate) matrix stabilized by the surfactant Poloxamer 188 were analysed by detection of proinflammatory and down-regulatory cytokines in supernatants of thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal macrophages using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cytotoxicity of SLN was assessed using the ITT test.

Cell-specific localization of insulin-like growth factor binding protein mRNAs in rat liver.

The liver is a major source of circulating insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), and it also synthesizes several classes of IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs). Synthesis of IGF-I and IGFBPs is regulated by hormones, growth factors, and cytokines. They are nutritionally regulated and expressed in developmentally specific patterns.

[Obstructive sleep apnea in older patients after the closure of a tracheostoma].

Background And Objective: The closure of tracheostomies may postoperatively induce an obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) even in patients who never complained about sleep related breathing disorders before they underwent tracheotomy. The present study was designed to evaluate, whether OSA appears after the tracheostomy has been airtightly blocked and if so, whether there are typically illnesses predictive for OSA after operative closure of tracheostomies.

Patients And Methods: Twelve consecutive patients (3 male; 9 female; mean age 66 years), who addressed our clinic for operative closure of their tracheostomies were enrolled in this study over a period of 18 months.

Preserved solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) at low concentrations do cause neither direct nor indirect cytotoxic effects in peritoneal macrophages.

In order to investigate the interaction of preserved solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) with murine peritoneal macrophages (Mpsi), cytotoxicity and proinflammatory effects of two different solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) preparations consisting of either compritol (CO) or cetyl palmitate (CP) preserved with thiomersal were analyzed. Concentration-dependent cytotoxic effects were observed using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Secretion of interleukin-6 by Mpsi following incubation with CO and CP SLN did not differ from secretion by untreated cells; proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-12 and tumor-necrosis-factor-alpha as further indicators of immunomodulatory effects were not detectable.

Influence of different parameters on reconstitution of lyophilized SLN.

Drug-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) suitable for parenteral administration were freeze-dried. The lipid matrix Imwitor 900 (concentration, 2.5%) was stabilized with Lipoid E 80 and sodium glycocholate.

Cimetidine absorption and elimination in rat small intestine.

The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of intestinal absorption and metabolism of cimetidine. The initial finding of the appearance of cimetidine sulfoxide in rat and human jejunum from cimetidine perfusions had prompted an isolation of mucosal membrane transport and enterocyte metabolism contributions in earlier membrane vesicle and microsomal studies, respectively. In this report, perfusion studies in rat small intestine detail regional differences in intestinal elimination.

Regulation of paracellular absorption of cimetidine and 5-aminosalicylate in rat intestine.

Purpose: Isolating the relative contributions of parallel transcellular and paracellular transport to the intestinal absorption of small hydrophilic molecules has proven experimentally challenging. In this report, lumenal appearance of drug metabolite is utilized as a tool to assess the contribution of paracellular transport to the absorption of cimetidine and 5-aminosalicylate (5ASA) in rat small intestine.

Methods: Steady-state intestinal absorption and elimination of cimetidine and 5ASA were studied in single-pass intestinal perfusions in rats.

[Validating a 7-channel ambulatory polygraphy unit. 1: Operating instructions for the physician and patient].

Purpose: For some time, the ambulatory diagnosis of sleep-related breathing disorders has included the use of seven-channel recording units. One such unit is the POLY-MESAM (MAP, Martinsried, FRG). The first part of the present study prospectively investigated the handling of the system for physicians and patients, its technical reliability, reliability of the software used and the results in comparison to handscoring.

Calcium ketoglutarate versus calcium acetate for treatment of hyperphosphataemia in patients on maintenance haemodialysis: a cross-over study.

Since dietary restrictions and phosphorus removal by haemodialysis (HD) are not sufficient to control serum phosphate (s-phosphate) levels in dialysis patients the use of oral phosphate binders is mandatory. Calcium ketoglutarate (CaKE) is an analogue of glutamic acid exerting phosphate binding properties. Therefore we compared this substance to calcium acetate (CaAC) in a 24-weeks open cross-over trial in 28 maintenance HD patients.

Intestinal metabolism and transport of 5-aminosalicylate.

The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of intestinal absorption and metabolism of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5ASA). Regional perfusions of 5ASA in the anesthetized rat resulted in the appearance of N-acetyl-5-aminosalicylic acid in the intestinal lumen. Lumenal metabolite appearance was proportional to 5ASA permeability, which was 5-fold higher in the jejunum than in the ileum.

Sex-specific usage patterns of sleeping sites in grey mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus) in northwestern Madagascar.

Sleeping sites are a potentially important resource for grey mouse lemurs since they are confronted with high daily temperature fluctuations and a high predation pressure. In order to determine the existence and degree of resource competition, sleeping site characteristics, locations, and usage patterns as well as sleeping group compositions were investigated in a 3 month field study in a dry deciduous forest of northwestern Madagascar. The daily sleeping sites of females were on average better insulated and safer than those of males.

Acoustically dimorphic advertisement calls separate morphologically and genetically homogenous populations of the grey mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus).

Sexual advertisement calls of male mouse lemurs from two neighbouring demes in a dry deciduous forest of western Madagascar were recorded during the breeding season. Demes were located about 1.5 km apart with no geographic barrier between them.

Comparison of the genetic diversity of wild and captive groups of Microcebus murinus using the random amplified polymorphic DNA method.

Continued survival of most animal species depends on population management and active protection. It is generally agreed that, in order to avoid extinction of endangered species, ex situ and in situ conservation must be developed in tandem. However, even though many recommendations have been put forward to promote the survival of captive populations, some rapidly become extinct due to loss of genetic diversity (drift effect).

Nonviral vector-mediated thymidine kinase gene transfer and ganciclovir treatment in leiomyoma cells.

Objective: To test the hypotheses that ganciclovir is cytotoxic to leiomyoma cells transfected with herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase and that estrogen modulates the responsiveness of tumor cells to this gene therapy approach.

Methods: Human and rat cultured uterine leiomyoma cells were transfected with plasmids encoding the beta-galactosidase gene, thymidine kinase gene, or a control plasmid. Transfection efficiency was monitored by measuring beta-galactosidase enzyme activity.