The zurich study

Summary This study describes sleep behaviour and insomnia in a representative cohort of a Swiss population. Interviews were carried out prospectively from age 20–21 to 27–28 years, starting with 292 males and 299 females. Females usually go to bed earlier and sleep 30 min longer than males. Taking into account length and periodicity of insomnia we can distinguish occasional insomnia (OI), repeated brief insomnia (RBI), and continued insomnia (CI), defined by operational criteria. The prevalence of sleep problems is stable from age 21–28, at 36%–40%. CI (prevalence 8%–10%) and RBI (13%–19%) are both medical problems in terms of treatment by professionals (10%–17%) or self-medication (7%–12%). The majority of insomniacs cope with sleep problems in various other ways. Frequency and patterns of symptoms of insomnia are described.The authors thank P. J. Clayton, M.D., University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, for advice and critical suggestions and for the coining of the terms repeated brief insomnia and continued insomnia.Project supported by grant 3.948.0.85 from the Swiss National Science Foundation.Parts of this article were presented on the occasion of the inauguration ceremony of the Department of Psychiatry of the University of Mainz on April 2 and 3, 1987     

Iridoids from Scaevola racemigera1

Five iridoids have been isolated from the aerial parts of SCAEVOLA RACEMIGERA D?niker, namely, loganin, loganic acid, sylvestroside III, cantleyoside, and scaevoloside. This latter is a novel compound whose structure 1 has been elucidated on the basis of its spectral data, mainly (1)H- and (13)C-NMR.     

The immunofluorescence-microscopical evidence of insulin and glucagon in transplantated isolated Langerhans' islets in diabetic rats and dogs (author's transl)]

With the histochemical immunofluorescence technique were demonstrated the insulin and glucagon in the transplantated isolated Langerhans' islets in the liver at diabetic rats and dogs. Further on were tested the diabetic metabolic level with aid of clinico-chemical methods during the period of investigation (blood glucose, serum insulin, glucose tolerance test). It was found that after transplantation, 1 year by the rats and more than 8 weeks by the dogs, is existing a normoglycemic level. In the transplanted islets were seen a good immunofluorescence of insulin in the B cells and the glucagon in the A cells in all investigated stages.     

Chromosome triplication found across the tribe Brassiceae

We have used an approximately 8.7-Mb BAC contig of Arabidopsis thaliana Chromosome 4 to trace homeologous chromosome regions in 21 species of the family Brassicaceae. Homeologs of this segment could be identified in all tested species. Painting of pachytene chromosomes of Calepina, Conringia, and Sisymbrium species (2n = 14, 16), traditionally placed in tribe Brassiceae, showed one homeologous copy of the Arabidopsis contig, while the remaining taxa of the tribe (2n = 14-30) revealed three, and three Brassica species (2n = 34, 36, and 38) and Erucastrum gallicum (2n = 30) had six copies corresponding to the 8.7-Mb segment. The multiple homeologous copies corresponded structurally to the Arabidopsis segment or were rearranged by inversions and translocations within the diploidized genomes. These chromosome rearrangements accompanied by chromosome fusions/fissions led to the present-day chromosome number variation within the Brassiceae. Phylogenetic relationships based on the chloroplast 5'-trnL (UAA)-trnF(GAA) region and estimated divergence times based on sequence data of the chalcone synthase gene are congruent with comparative painting data and place Calepina, Conringia, and Sisymbrium outside the clade of Brassiceae species with triplicated genomes. Most likely, species containing three or six copy pairs descended from a common hexaploid ancestor with basic genomes similar to that of Arabidopsis. The presumed hexaploidization event occurred after the Arabidopsis-Brassiceae split, between 7.9 and 14.6 Mya.     

Human recombinant neutralizing antibodies against hantaan virus G2 protein

Old world hantaviruses, causing hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), still present a public health problem in Asia and Eastern Europe. The majority of cases has been recorded in China. The aim of our study was to generate human recombinant neutralizing antibodies to a hantavirus by phage display technology. To preserve the structural identity of viral protein, the panning procedure was performed on native Hantaan (HTN) (76-118) virus propagated in Vero-E6 cells. In total, five complete human recombinant IgG antibodies were produced in a baculovirus expression system. All of them were able to completely neutralize HTN, and Seoul (SEO) virus in a plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT). Three of these antibodies could also completely neutralize Dobrava (DOB) virus but not Puumala (PUU) virus. All antibodies bind to Hantaan virus G2 protein localized in the virus envelope. The sequence areas within the HTN (76-118)-G2 protein detected by five selected antibodies were mapped using peptide scans. Two partial epitopes, 916-KVMATIDSF-924 and 954-LVTKDIDFD-963, were recognized, which presumably are of paramount importance for docking of the virus to host cell receptors. A consensus motif 916-KVXATIXSF-924 could be identified by mutational analysis. The neutralizing antibodies to the most widely distributed hantaviruses causing HFRS might be promising candidates for the development of an agent for prevention and treatment of HFRS in patients.     

Assay for the specificity of monoclonal antibodies in crossed immunoelectrophoresis

A method is described based on crossed immunoelectrophoresis of a complex antigen mixture in agarose gel followed by incubation of the gel with the monoclonal antibody. The bound monoclonal antibody is detected by the use of a secondary enzyme-labelled antibody.Using this technique we have been able to identify the precipitate arc in crossed immunoelectrophoresis of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules in a mixture of all detergent solubilized cell membrane molecules by means of a monoclonal antibody, the specificity of which was known independently to be against MHC class I molecules. In other experiments using the same technique we demonstrated the reaction of a monoclonal antibody specific for chicken Ig light chains.     

Vitamin D-Stoffwechsel und Niereninsuffizienz

Zusammenfassung Es wurden Untersuchungen über den Langzeitmetabolismus von Vitamin D bei Normalpersonen und Patienten mit Niereninsuffizienz durchgeführt. Nach intravenöser Injektion von Vitamin D₃-H₃ zeigte sich in den untersuchten Serumproben weder für die Halbwertszeit noch für die Verteilung von Vitamin D und seinen verschiedenen Metaboliten ein Unterschied zwischen den beiden Gruppen. Diese Untersuchungsergebnisse machen es sehr unwahrscheinlich, daß eine Vitamin D-Stoffwechselstörung für die Entwicklung der azotämischen Osteopathie verantwortlich ist.

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Summary Investigations have been performed in normal subjects and renal patients on the long term metabolism of vitamin D₃. After an intravenous injection of tritiated vitamin D₃ there was no difference between both groups: halflife and the distribution of vitamin D and its various metabolites in the serum were almost identical. Our results suggest that a disorder of vitamin D metabolism is not responsible for the development of the azotemic osteodystrophy.

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Mit Unterstützung der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Ring chromosome 22 and neurofibromatosis

Variable constitutional mosaicism, mos45,XY,-22/46,XY,-22,+mar/46,XY,-22,+r(22)/47,XY,-22,+r(22)+mar/ 47, XY,-22,+r(22)*2, was found in PHA-stimulated peripheral blood, in a lymphoblastoid cell line and in cultured skin fibroblasts from a mentally retarded patient with neurofibromatosis. Both the ring chromosome and the small extra marker chromosome stained positively by in situ hybridization with a chromosome 14/22-specific alphoid repeat probe. DNA dosage analysis showed constitutional loss of one copy of the arylsulfatase A gene (ARSA), consistent with its terminal location on 22q. There was no evidence of constitutional loss of D22S1 or D22S28 which flank the neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) locus. Analysis of two DNA samples from a skin neurofibroma indicated retainment of two copies of D22S1, whereas the results were ambiguous with respect to tumor-specific loss of one copy of D22S28. It is suggested that the development of neurofibromatosis of unclear type in two r(22) carriers might be associated with somatic mutation of the NF2 locus due to instability of the ring chromosome(s), and in analogy, that somatic mutation of either NF1 or NF2 may account for some cases of neurofibromatosis which do not meet the criteria of either NF1 or NF2. The occurrence of seminoma in the proband may be fortuitous, but could also be due to the presence of a seminoma-associated locus on chromosome 22.     

Modification of collagen matrices for enhancing angiogenesis

The vascularization of engineered tissues in many cases does not keep up with the ingrowth of cells. Nutrient and oxygen supply are not sufficient, which ultimately leads to the death of the invading cells. The enhancement of the angiogenic capabilities of engineered tissues therefore represents a major challenge in the field of tissue engineering. The immobilization of angiogenic growth factors may be useful for enhancing angiogenesis. The most potent angiogenic growth factor specific to endothelial cells, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), occurs in several splice variants. The variant with 165 amino acids both has a high angiogenic activity and a high affinity for heparin. We therefore incorporated heparin molecules into collagen matrices by covalently cross-linking them to amino functions on the collagen. Physical binding of VEGF to the heparin may then prevent a rapid clearance from the implant, while the release rate may become coupled to the degradation of the collagen matrix. The modified matrices were characterized by determination of the extent of the heparin immobilization, the in vitro degradation rate by collagenase. For testing the angiogenic properties, non-modified and heparinized collagen specimens were--either loaded with VEGF or non-loaded--subcutaneously implanted on the back of rats. Specimens were explanted after varying periods of implantation, the dry weights and the hemoglobin contents, as well as immunostained histological sections were evaluated: heparinized collagen matrices loaded with VEGF are vascularized to a substantially higher extent as compared to non-modified matrices.     

Bacterial wall as target for attack: past, present, and future research

When Bacteria, Archaea, and Eucarya separated from each other, a great deal of evolution had taken place. Only then did extensive diversity arise. The bacteria split off with the new property that they had a sacculus that protected them from their own turgor pressure. The saccular wall of murein (or peptidoglycan) was an effective solution to the osmotic pressure problem, but it then was a target for other life-forms, which created lysoymes and beta-lactams. The beta-lactams, with their four-member strained rings, are effective agents in nature and became the first antibiotic in human medicine. But that is by no means the end of the story. Over evolutionary time, bacteria challenged by beta-lactams evolved countermeasures such as beta-lactamases, and the producing organisms evolved variant beta-lactams. The biology of both classes became evident as the pharmaceutical industry isolated, modified, and produced new chemotherapeutic agents and as the properties of beta-lactams and beta-lactamases were examined by molecular techniques. This review attempts to fit the wall biology of current microbes and their clinical context into the way organisms developed on this planet as well as the changes arising since the work done by Fleming. It also outlines the scientific advances in our understanding of this broad area of biology.