Kawasaki disease presenting as hepatitis.

Kawasaki disease (KD) presenting with an acute hepatitic picture is exceedingly rare. A 3.5-year-old girl presented with acute hepatitis and went on to satisfy the criteria for the diagnosis of KD for which she was treated. There were no cardiac abnormalities or sequelae.

[Rectal carcinoma. Optimizing therapy by knowledge of anatomy with special reference to the mesorectum]. / Rektumkarzinom. Optimierung durch Kenntnis der Anatomie unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Mesorektums.

The connective tissue spaces of the pelvis and pelvic floor originate from an urogenital and perirectal mesenchymal cell complex, which can be clearly discerned. In the adult, the final compartments, which arise from these distinct tissue complexes, are still functionally separated. The perirectal tissue gives rise to the rectal fascia or rectal adventitia, also known as mesorectum. The connective tissue space between rectal and parietal pelvic fascia can be dissected as a plane free of vessels and nerves. Surgical dissection along this plane with complete mesorectum excision results in reliable excision of all relevant lymphatic pathways with extensive preservation of continence and sexual function.

Characterization of the autoantigen La (SS-B) as a dsRNA unwinding enzyme.

During the analysis of the La (SS-B) autoantigen for catalytic activities an ATP-dependent double-stranded RNA unwinding activity was detected. Both native and recombinant La proteins from different species displayed this activity, which could be inhibited by monospecific anti-La antibodies. La protein was able to melt dsRNA substrates with either two 3'-overhangs or a single 3'- and a 5'-overhang. Double-stranded RNAs with two 5'-overhangs were not unwound, indicating that at least one 3'-overhang is required for unwinding. Sequence elements of the La protein that might be involved in dsRNA unwinding, such as an evolutionarily conserved putative ATP-binding motif and an element that is homologous to the double-stranded RNA binding protein kinase PKR, are discussed.

Association of AUUUA-binding protein with A+U-rich mRNA during nucleo-cytoplasmic transport.

Resealed nuclear envelope (NE) vesicles from rat liver containing entrapped exogenous RNA were used to study the effect of adenosine+uridine binding factor (AUBF), present in cytosolic cell extracts, on ATP-dependent transport of A+U-rich RNA (AU+RNA) and A+U-free RNA (AU-RNA) across the NE. This factor specifically binds to A+U-rich sequences present in the 3' untranslated regions of lymphokine and cytokine mRNAs, containing overlapping AUUUA boxes (granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, interleukin-3). Addition of AUBF to the extravesicular compartment markedly increased the efflux of the in vitro transcribed, capped and polyadenylated AU+ RNAs. Export of entrapped AU- control RNA, such as beta-globin RNA, was not affected by AUBF, in contrast to chimeric AU+ beta-globin RNA containing the A+U-rich sequence of human interferon-alpha mRNA (6 reiterated AUUUA motifs). Competition experiments revealed that AUBF enhances the affinity of poly(A)-containing AU+ RNAs to the NE poly(A)-binding component (poly(A)-recognizing mRNA carrier p106), and thereby accelerates nuclear export of these RNAs. We could demonstrate that AUBF added to the extravesicular space forms stable complexes with polyadenylated AU+ RNA with relative molecular masses of about 45,000, 62,000 and 70,000 inside the vesicles or during ATP-dependent export. In addition we determined that AUBF may affect mRNA stability by protecting A+U-rich RNA against degradation by trans-acting, nuclear matrix-associated and A+U-specific endoribonuclease V.

[Chromosome analysis for determining paternity using the AMBA/R-Chro-H image evaluation system]. / Chromosomenanalyse zur Vaterschaftsfeststellung mit dem Bildauswertesystem AMBA/R-Chro-H.

A version of the software package AMBA/R-CHRO developed by the Institute of Breeding Research Quedlinburg and by the Institute of Forensic Medicine, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, which is suited for the evaluation of banded human chromosomes, is presented. The parameter which are required for paternity diagnostics (absolute length of the chromosomes, absolute and relative length of the heterochromatin block near the centromere) were automatic registrated and calculated. The way of presenting the chromosomes of interest (A 1, C 9, E 16, Y), their grey-value profiles and their schematic representation make understanding, especially for nonexpert clients, easy. The present software package rationalizes work in the cytogenetic laboratory by reducing objectively and personally conditioned error sources. In addition to this, considerable saving in time is reached. The software package for the interactive automatic microscope image analysis primary developed for using in analysis of vegetable chromosomes finds a new range of application in the field of settlement of paternity cases.

[Thermoanalytic studies of bundles of collagen fibers with biomechanical methods]. / Thermoanalytische Untersuchungen an Bündeln kollagener Fasern mit biomechanischen Verfahren.

Thermomechanical experiments were performed on collagenous fibre bundles of tendons from cattle and man. Subsequent to extensions of fibre bundles the particular amount of length was kept constant (isometric conditions). At the end of the relaxation under approximative equilibrium conditions (mechanical steady state phase) the temperature was raised proportional to time (with linear temperature rate). In the range between 0 and 43 degrees Celsius the isometric force decreased in form of an approximately straight line. This line was declined at 43 degrees C (thermal depression region). After the thermal shrinkage region (62-64 degrees C) the isometric force increased considerably. In this ascending part of the isometric thermal mechanogram 2 domains of slope can be observed. They are designed as lower and upper thermal transition region. In the ascending part of the isometric thermal mechanogram an isothermal relaxation is to be seen under constant temperature conditions. The isothermal isorheological line and isothermal superelevation are described. The results are discussed in context with their meaning for functional anatomy, muscle physiology, supercoolings, and burnings.

[Experimental studies on the biomechanical reaction of collagenous fibres during impulse mechanical strain working conditions (author's transl)]. / Experimentelle Untersuchungen zum biomechanischen Verhalten kollagener Fasern unter impulsförmigen Dehnungsbeanspruchungen.

A wide spectrum of stress-strain factors of varying directions and magnitudes are acting on collagenous fibres. Bundles of parallel collagen fibres in tendons and ligaments are mainly subject to tension forces. Single twitches and unfused tetanus of muscles fibres are giving rise to impulse strains on tendon fibres. Tendon reflexes are causing contractions of the muscle and sudden extensions of the corresponding collagenous fibres. In vitro studies were performed on tendon fibres. Tendon reflexes are causing contractions of the muscle and sudden extensions of the corresponding collagenous fibers. In vitro studies were performed on tendon fibre bundles. Systematic impulse extensions were applied as input functions. The force resp. stress impulses were recorded as output functions. When linear extensions with superimposed impulse strains were applied, the force-elongation curve showed a stepwise increase of the force impulse initially. Under consecutive isometric conditions an impulse relaxation curve arises. After partial deloading and subsequently isometric conditions an impulse force recovery function emerges. The output force impulses are dependent on the frequency of the input strain impulses. The effects are called frequency dependent force impulse relaxation and recovery. The findings are briefly discussed in correlation with functional anatomy and muscle physiology.