[Management of the cut-out of various forms of osteosynthesis for proximal femoral fractures]. / Management des Cut-out verschiedener Osteosyntheseformen bei proximalen Femurfrakturen.

Proximal femoral fractures are a common type of injury in older people. A cut-out of the femoral neck screw after initial osteosynthetic surgery of proximal femoral fractures is a frequent and feared complication. There could be different causes for cut-outs. Osteoporosis and necrosis of the femoral head could be biological reasons for cut-outs; however, mechanical factors, such as reduction, implant position and morphological characteristics of fractures also have a major influence on the cut-out rate. The treatment of the cut-out is often complex and depends on the destruction of the femoral head and the acetabulum. If the bone quality is still good and the head is not completely destroyed, a reosteosynthesis can be performed. Conversion to an endoprosthetic replacement is often the only possibility. Endoprosthetic treatment is often complex and associated with a high morbidity.

How do mitochondrial genes get into the nucleus?

It is well known that genes from chloroplasts and mitochondria were transferred to the nucleus many times during plant evolution. But in what form do the transferred genes physically make that intracellular journey--as RNA, as cDNA, as pieces of organelle DNA, or as whole organelle chromosomes? Current views focus upon cDNA as the vehicle, based upon some examples from plants. But other mechanisms, involving direct transfer of DNA from organelle chromosomes, could also account for the available data. Direct DNA transfer, rather than cDNA-mediated transfer, does occur today, and it probably prevailed during the early phases of organelle evolution.

Origins of hydrogenosomes and mitochondria.

Complete genome sequences for many oxygen-respiring mitochondria, as well as for some bacteria, leave no doubt that mitochondria are descendants of alpha-proteobacteria, a finding for which the endosymbiont hypothesis can easily account. Yet a wealth of data indicate that mitochondria and hydrogenosomes - the ATP-producing organelles of many anaerobic protists - share a common ancestry, a finding that traditional formulations of the endosymbiont hypothesis less readily accommodates. Available evidence suggests that a more in-depth understanding of the origins of eukaryotes and their organelles will hinge upon data from the genomes of protists that synthesize ATP without the need for oxygen.

The effect of hydrocortisone on cholesterol metabolism of cultured human skin fibroblasts.

Hydrocortisone in physiologic concentrations resulted in a reduction in sterol synthesis by cultured normal human skin fibroblasts. These changes were observed when [14C]acetate, [14C]octanoic acid and 3H2O were used as precursors. However, the incorporation of [3H]mevalonic acid lactone into digitonin-precipitable sterols was not affected by hydrocortisone, suggesting that hydrocortisone inhibits sterol synthesis at a site prior to the formation of mevalonic acid. In contrast, the activity of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase was stimulated several-fold by the hormone. Thus, the inhibitory effect of hydrocortisone on the cholesterol synthetic pathway may be on hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthase.

Evolutionary relationships of the glucokinase from the amitochondriate protist, Trichomonas vaginalis.

Two genes coding for Trichomonas vaginalis glucokinase were isolated and sequenced. The putative translation products have molecular masses of 41,584 and 41,772 Da, corresponding to 375 and 377 amino acids, respectively. These values agree with data determined by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) for the enzyme purified from the organism. The two sequences showed 78% amino acid identity. The sequences and their phylogenetic reconstruction show that they are members of a glucokinase/fructokinase protein family found in eubacteria and also in the eukaryote Giardia lamblia and are only distantly related to typical eukaryotic hexokinases. The results indicate that the evolutionary past of this enzyme, catalyzing the first step of glycolysis in T. vaginalis, is different from that of the enzyme performing this key role in almost all other eukaryotes.

Sequence and phylogenetic position of a class II aldolase gene in the amitochondriate protist, Giardia lamblia.

A Giardia lamblia gene, Glfba, was cloned and sequenced. This gene codes for a 324-residue-long putative class II fructose-1, 6-bisphosphate aldolase. The positions of gaps and phylogenetic analysis with maximum likelihood and maximum parsimony methods showed the sequence to be most closely related to the as-yet uncharacterized aldolases of Helicobacter pylori and Aquifex aeolicus and to the group that comprises the Calvin-cycle aldolases of photosynthetic proteobacteria and cyanobacteria. In combination with the known taxonomic and functional distribution of class I and II aldolases, the results indicate that the G. lamblia enzyme is distinct in its evolutionary history from all eukaryotic fructose-1, 6-bisphosphate aldolases studied so far.

Unique phylogenetic relationships of glucokinase and glucosephosphate isomerase of the amitochondriate eukaryotes Giardia intestinalis, Spironucleus barkhanus and Trichomonas vaginalis.

Glucokinase (GK) and glucosephosphate isomerase (GPI), the first two enzymes of the glycolytic pathway of the diplomonads Giardia intestinalis and Spironucleus barkhanus, Type I amitochondriate eukaryotes, were sequenced. GPI of the parabasalid Trichomonas vaginalis was also sequenced. The diplomonad GKs belong to a family of specific GKs present in cyanobacteria, in some proteobacteria and also in T. vaginalis, a Type II amitochondriate protist. These enzymes are not part of the hexokinase family, which is broadly distributed among eukaryotes, including the Type I amitochondriate parasite Entamoeba histolytica. G. intestinalis GK expressed in Escherichia coli was specific for glucose and glucosamine, as are its eubacterial homologs. The sequence of diplomonad and trichomonad GPIs formed a monophyletic group more closely related to cyanobacterial and chloroplast sequences than to cytosolic GPIs of other eukaryotes and prokaryotes. The findings show that certain enzymes of the energy metabolism of these amitochondriate protists originated from sources different than those of other eukaryotes. The observation that the two diplomonads and T. vaginalis share the same unusual GK and GPI is consistent with gene trees that suggest a close relationship between diplomonads and parabasalids. The intriguing relationships of these enzymes to cyanobacterial (and chloroplast) enzymes might reflect horizontal gene transfer between the common ancestor of the diplomonad and parabasalid lineages and the ancestor of cyanobacteria.

Low density lipoprotein receptor activity in freshly isolated human blood monocytes and lymphocytes.

Circulating human monocytes and lymphocytes were isolated by counterflow and density gradient centrifugation. Binding and degradation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) occurred predominantly in monocytes and to a much lesser extent in lymphocytes. The findings were consistent with greater LDL receptor activity in freshly isolated monocytes than lymphocytes, in keeping with differences in other cell surface receptors between these two cell types. Therefore, when freshly isolated mixed mononuclear cells are used to study LDL receptor activity in vivo in humans, careful attention needs to be given to the proportions of monocytes and lymphocytes, or alternatively, relatively pure preparations of monocytes should be used.

[Psychosocial aspects of premature birth of a child--a status assessment]. / Psychosoziale Aspekte bei der Frühgeburt eines Kindes--eine Bestandsaufnahme.

This article describes psychosocial dimensions of premature birth. This review follows the course of pregnancy, birth and perinatal period in hospital and at home in characteristic features. Being in neonatal intensive care units, the baby's sensomotoric and interaction skills have to be trained by medical and nursing staff. The staff assists and instructs parents in special care and handling procedures. There are in the literature numerous differentiated empirical reports, but usually these are focused on child, or family or staff. The authors emphasize that there is a lack of research considering process and interactions between the different groups. Psychosocial data concerning "new" specific subgroups among premature infants resulting from medical and technological advances in the last years are lacking.

Lysosomal enzyme activities and low density lipoprotein receptors in circulating mononuclear cells. Effect of insulin therapy in diabetic patients.

Methods for the measurement of the lysosomal enzymes acid cholesterol-ester hydrolase and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase were adapted for use with freshly isolated circulating mononuclear cells. Activities of both these enzymes increased (to 259 and 147% of control values respectively) after 7 days of insulin therapy in diabetic subjects. Low density lipoprotein degradation by freshly isolated mononuclear cells increased simultaneously by 67% (p less than 0.05). The findings in this pilot study suggest [1] that circulating mononuclear cells can be used to evaluate the effect of metabolic changes in vivo on lysosomal enzymes and low density lipoprotein metabolism, and [2] that insulin can stimulate cellular lysosomal enzyme activity.

[Lysosomal enzyme activity of monocytes/macrophages following incubation with postprandial hyperlipemic serum and its significance for the development of atherosclerosis]. / Lysosomale Enzymaktivität von Monozyten/Makrophagen nach Inkubation mit postprandialem fettreichem Serum und ihre Bedeutung in der Entstehung der Atherosklerose.

Lipid accumulation in macrophages is a prominent feature of the atherosclerotic lesion. Decreased lysosomal function of these cells might play an important role in the pathogenesis of the atherosclerotic foam cell. In this investigation six normal volunteers were fed a meal with a high fat content (68.9% energy, P/S ratio 0.13). The hyperlipidemic postprandial serum was incubated with monocyte derived macrophages. The enzyme activity of cathepsin B, acid cholesterylester-hydrolase and N-acetyl-beta-hydrolase decreased significantly in these cells. Thus, inadequate response in enzyme activity of lysosomal enzymes in case of fat overload might contribute to the development of the atherosclerotic foam cell.

Influence of fatty acids on microsomal diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity in primary cultures of hepatocytes.

The regulation of triacylglycerol synthesis by various long-chain fatty acids was studied using primary cultures of hepatocytes. The activity of diacylglycerol acyltransferase was measured after 72-h incubation with various fatty acids in equimolar concentrations (0.5 mM): oleate, linoleate, linolenate, palmitate, stearate and arachidonate increased enzyme activity to 191%, 161%, 148%, 124%, 116% and 114%, respectively, compared to controls. Cellular triacylglycerol levels showed the same changes, suggesting a regulatory function of diacylglycerol acyltransferase in triacylglycerol synthesis. Elaidate lowered the enzyme activity by 57%. The addition of different fatty acids to the incubation medium did not influence the distribution of enzyme activity in the 30 000 x g pellet which was routinely discarded and the microsomal fraction (105 000 x g), where the enzyme was predominantly localized (91%). The release of lactate dehydrogenase into the culture medium of hepatocyte monolayers as well as ketone body production was not affected by any of the fatty acids.

Chloroplast and cytosolic triosephosphate isomerases from spinach: purification, microsequencing and cDNA cloning of the chloroplast enzyme.

Chloroplast and cytosolic triosephosphate isomerases from spinach were separated and purified to homogeneity. Both enzymes were partially sequenced by Edman degradation. Using degenerate primers designed against the amino acid sequences, a homologous probe for the chloroplast enzyme was amplified and used to isolate several full-size cDNA clones. Chloroplast triosephosphate isomerase is encoded by a single gene in spinach. Analysis of the chloroplast cDNA sequence in the context of its homologues from eukaryotes and eubacteria reveals that the gene arose through duplication of its preexisting nuclear counterpart for the cytosolic enzyme during plant evolution.

An overview of endosymbiotic models for the origins of eukaryotes, their ATP-producing organelles (mitochondria and hydrogenosomes), and their heterotrophic lifestyle.

The evolutionary processes underlying the differentness of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and the origin of the latter's organelles are still poorly understood. For about 100 years, the principle of endosymbiosis has figured into thoughts as to how these processes might have occurred. A number of models that have been discussed in the literature and that are designed to explain this difference are summarized. The evolutionary histories of the enzymes of anaerobic energy metabolism (oxygen-independent ATP synthesis) in the three basic types of heterotrophic eukaryotes those that lack organelles of ATP synthesis, those that possess mitochondria and those that possess hydrogenosomes--play an important role in this issue. Traditional endosymbiotic models generally do not address the origin of the heterotrophic lifestyle and anaerobic energy metabolism in eukaryotes. Rather they take it as a given, a direct inheritance from the host that acquired mitochondria. Traditional models are contrasted to an alternative endosymbiotic model (the hydrogen hypothesis), which addresses the origin of heterotrophy and the origin of compartmentalized energy metabolism in eukaryotes.

Higher-plant chloroplast and cytosolic fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase isoenzymes: origins via duplication rather than prokaryote-eukaryote divergence.

Full-size cDNAs encoding the precursors of chloroplast fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBP), sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase (SBP), and the small subunit of Rubisco (RbcS) from spinach were cloned. These cDNAs complete the set of homologous probes for all nuclear-encoded enzymes of the Calvin cycle from spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.). FBP enzymes not only of higher plants but also of non-photosynthetic eukaryotes are found to be unexpectedly similar to eubacterial homologues, suggesting a eubacterial origin of these eukaryotic nuclear genes. Chloroplast and cytosolic FBP isoenzymes of higher plants arose through a gene duplication event which occurred early in eukaryotic evolution. Both FBP and SBP of higher plant chloroplasts have acquired substrate specificity, i.e. have undergone functional specialization since their divergence from bifunctional FBP/SBP enzymes of free-living eubacteria.

[Wegener's granulomatosis: an example for the collaboration between the specialist for otorhinolaryngology and internal medicine (author's transl)]. / Die Wegenersche Granulomatose, ein Beispiel für die Zusammenarbeit zwischen Arzt für HNO-Krankheiten und Internist.

Diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of patients with Wegener's Granulomatosis is described as an example for the collaboration between the specialist for otorhinolaryngology and internal medicine. In all cases reported a muco-sanguinous rhinitis was the first manifestation of the disease. All patients presented lung involvement while the kidneys were involved in 75%. As histologic examination does not always give a pathognomonic feature, diagnosis has to be made relying on clinical data and natural course of the disease. Cyclophosphamide in combination with corticosteroids is the treatment of choice. This treatment has considerably improved the previously unfavorable prognosis of this disease. A long term follow-up of patients with Wegener's Granulomatosis by specialists for otorhinolaryngology and internal medicine seems to be absolutely necessary.