Your browser doesn't support javascript.
loading
Show: 20 | 50 | 100
Results 1 - 20 de 3.179
Filter
1.
Death Stud ; : 1-9, 2024 Mar 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38446417

ABSTRACT

Bereavement care in Europe varies in quality and availability. Through greater collaboration across Europe, there could potentially be an opportunity to improve care. This article discusses the inaugural European Grief Conference held in Denmark in 2022: "Bereavement and Grief in Europe - Emerging Perspectives & Collaborations". The conference was structured around a 4-tiered public health model of bereavement care needs. It included practice, research, policy, and educational perspectives. A total of 250 people from 27 different countries participated. To determine if the conference had appealed to a broad European audience of grief professionals and to assess how the conference was received by participants, we examined registration/submission data, the results of a one-word real-time feedback exercise, and the answers to an online satisfaction survey. The results indicated wide interest in greater information sharing and collaboration across Europe among bereavement care, research, and education professionals.

2.
Chirurgie (Heidelb) ; 95(4): 299-306, 2024 Apr.
Article in German | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38319344

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Interprofessional training wards (ITW) are increasingly being integrated into teaching and training concepts in visceral surgery clinics. OBJECTIVE: How safe is patient care on an ITW in visceral surgery? MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data collection took place from November 2021 to December 2022. In this nonrandomized prospective evaluation study the frequency and severity of adverse events (AE) in 3 groups of 100 patients each in a tertiary referral center hospital for visceral surgery were investigated. The groups consisted of patients on the ITW and on the conventional ward before and after implementation of the ITW. The Global Trigger Tool (GTT) was used to search for AE. Simultaneously, a survey of the treatment was conducted according to the Picker method to measure patient reported outcome. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics and clinical outcome parameters of the patients in the three groups were comparable. The GTT analysis found 74 nonpreventable and 5 preventable AE in 63 (21%) of the patients and 12 AE occurred before the hospital stay. During the hospital stay 50 AE occurred in the operating theater and 17 on the conventional ward. None of the five preventable AE (in 1.7% of the patients) was caused by the treatment on the ITW. Patients rated the safety on the ITW better than in 90% of the hospitals included in the Picker benchmark cohort and as good as on the normal ward. CONCLUSION: The GTT-based data as well as from the patients' point of view show that patient care on a carefully implemented ITW in visceral surgery is safe.


Subject(s)
Digestive System Surgical Procedures , Patient Care Team , Humans , Tertiary Care Centers , Surveys and Questionnaires , Length of Stay , Digestive System Surgical Procedures/adverse effects
3.
Ann Oncol ; 35(3): 276-284, 2024 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38061428

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Persisting cancer-related fatigue impairs health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and social reintegration in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). The GHSG HD18 trial established treatment de-escalation for advanced-stage HL guided by positron emission tomography after two cycles (PET-2) as new standard. Here, we investigate the impact of treatment de-escalation on long-term HRQoL, time to recovery from fatigue (TTR-F), and time to return to work (TTR-W). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients received European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and life situation questionnaires at baseline, interim, end of treatment, and yearly follow-up. TTR-F was defined as time from the end of chemotherapy until the first fatigue score <30. TTR-W was analyzed in previously working or studying patients and measured from the end of treatment until the first documented work or education. We compared duration of treatment on TTR-F and TTR-W using Cox proportional hazards regression adjusted for confounding variables. RESULTS: HRQoL questionnaires at baseline were available in 1632 (83.9%) of all randomized patients. Overall, higher baseline fatigue and age were significantly associated with longer TTR-F and TTR-W and male sex with shorter TTR-W. Treatment reduction from eight to four chemotherapy cycles led to a significantly shorter TTR-F [hazard ratio (HR) 1.41, P = 0.008] and descriptively shorter TTR-W (HR 1.24, P = 0.084) in PET-2-negative patients. Reduction from six to four cycles led to non-significant but plausible intermediate accelerations. The addition of rituximab caused significantly slower TTR-F (HR 0.70, P = 0.0163) and TTR-W (HR 0.64, P = 0.0017) in PET-2-positive patients. HRQoL at baseline and age were the main determinants of 2-year HRQoL. CONCLUSIONS: Individualized first-line treatment in patients with advanced-stage HL considerably shortens TTR-F and TTR-W in PET-2-negative patients. Our results support the use of response-adapted shortened treatment duration for patients with HL.


Subject(s)
Hodgkin Disease , Humans , Male , Hodgkin Disease/pathology , Quality of Life , Return to Work , Fatigue/etiology , Survivors , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use
4.
bioRxiv ; 2023 Sep 16.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37745315

ABSTRACT

The hallmarks of chromosome organization in multicellular eukaryotes are chromosome territories (CT), chromatin compartments, and different types of domains, including topologically associated domains (TADs). Yet, most of these concepts derive from analyses of organisms with monocentric chromosomes. Here we describe the 3D genome architecture of an organism with holocentric chromosomes, the silkworm Bombyx mori . At the genome-wide scale, B. mori chromosomes form highly separated territories and lack substantial trans contacts. As described in other eukaryotes, B. mori chromosomes segregate into an active A and an inactive B compartment. Remarkably, we also identify a third compartment, Secluded "S", with a unique contact pattern. Compartment S shows strong enrichment of short-range contacts and depletion of long-range contacts. It hosts a unique combination of genetic and epigenetic features, localizes at the periphery of CTs and shows developmental plasticity. Biophysical modeling shows that formation of such secluded domains requires a new mechanism - a high density of extruded loops within them along with low level of extrusion and compartmentalization of A and B. Together with other evidence of loop extrusion in interphase, this suggests SMC-mediated loop extrusion in this insect. Overall, our analyses highlight the evolutionary plasticity of 3D genome organization driven by a new combination of known processes.

5.
J Mater Chem B ; 11(35): 8449-8455, 2023 09 13.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37580990

ABSTRACT

Intravenous chemotherapy (e.g., doxorubicin (DOX)) is standard treatment for many cancers but also leads to side effects due to off-target toxicity. To address this challenge, devices for removing off-target chemotherapy agents from the bloodstream have been developed, but the efficacy of such devices relies on the ability of the underlying materials to specifically sequester small-molecule drugs. Anion-exchange materials, genomic DNA, and DNA-functionalized iron oxide particles have all been explored as drug-capture materials, but cost, specificity, batch-to-batch variation, and immunogenicity concerns persist as challenges. Here, we report a new class of fully synthetic drug-capture materials. We copolymerized methacrylic acid and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate in the presence of several nucleobases and derivatives (adenine, cytosine, xanthine, and thymine) to yield a crosslinked resin with nucleobases integrated into the material. These materials demonstrated effective DOX capture: up to 27 mg of DOX per g of material over 20 minutes from a phosphate-buffered saline solution with an initial concentration of 0.05 mg mL-1 of DOX. These materials use only the individual nucleobases for DOX capture and exhibit competitive capture efficacy compared to previous materials that used genomic DNA, making this approach more cost-effective and reducing potential immunological concerns.


Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents , Polymers , Drug Delivery Systems , Polyethylene Glycols/therapeutic use , Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use , Doxorubicin/pharmacology , DNA
6.
Development ; 150(2)2023 01 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36628974

ABSTRACT

Src kinases are important regulators of cell adhesion. Here, we have explored the function of Src42A in junction remodelling during Drosophila gastrulation. Src42A is required for tyrosine phosphorylation at bicellular (bAJ) and tricellular (tAJ) junctions in germband cells, and localizes to hotspots of mechanical tension. The role of Src42A was investigated using maternal RNAi and CRISPR-Cas9-induced germline mosaics. We find that, during cell intercalations, Src42A is required for the contraction of junctions at anterior-posterior cell interfaces. The planar polarity of E-cadherin is compromised and E-cadherin accumulates at tricellular junctions after Src42A knockdown. Furthermore, we show that Src42A acts in concert with Abl kinase, which has also been implicated in cell intercalations. Our data suggest that Src42A is involved in two related processes: in addition to establishing tension generated by the planar polarity of MyoII, it may also act as a signalling factor at tAJs to control E-cadherin residence time.


Subject(s)
Drosophila Proteins , Drosophila , Animals , Adherens Junctions/metabolism , Cadherins/genetics , Cadherins/metabolism , Drosophila/metabolism , Drosophila Proteins/genetics , Drosophila Proteins/metabolism , Intercellular Junctions/metabolism , Proto-Oncogene Proteins pp60(c-src)/genetics , Proto-Oncogene Proteins pp60(c-src)/metabolism , src-Family Kinases/genetics , src-Family Kinases/metabolism
7.
Methods Mol Biol ; 2603: 187-198, 2023.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36370280

ABSTRACT

The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster represents a classic genetic model organism that is amenable to a plethora of comprehensive analyses including proteomics. SILAC-based quantitative proteomics is a powerful method to investigate the translational and posttranslational regulation ongoing in cells, tissues, organs, and whole organisms. Here we describe a protocol for routine SILAC labeling of Drosophila adults within one generation to produce embryos with a labeling efficiency of over 92%. In combination with genetic selection markers, this method permits the quantification of translational and posttranslational changes in embryos mutant for developmental and disease-related genes.


Subject(s)
Drosophila melanogaster , Proteomics , Animals , Proteomics/methods , Isotope Labeling/methods , Drosophila melanogaster/genetics , Drosophila , Protein Processing, Post-Translational
10.
Sci Total Environ ; 806(Pt 2): 150563, 2022 Feb 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34601178

ABSTRACT

In their natural environment, date palms are exposed to chronic atmospheric ozone (O3) concentrations from local and remote sources. In order to elucidate the consequences of this exposure, date palm saplings were treated with ambient, 1.5 and 2.0 times ambient O3 for three months in a free-air controlled exposure facility. Chronic O3 exposure reduced carbohydrate contents in leaves and roots, but this effect was much stronger in roots. Still, sucrose contents of both organs were maintained at elevated O3, though at different steady states. Reduced availability of carbohydrate for the Tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle) may be responsible for the observed reduced foliar contents of several amino acids, whereas malic acid accumulation in the roots indicates a reduced use of TCA cycle intermediates. Carbohydrate deficiency in roots, but not in leaves caused oxidative stress upon chronic O3 exposure, as indicated by enhanced malonedialdehyde, H2O2 and oxidized glutathione contents despite elevated glutathione reductase activity. Reduced levels of phenolics and flavonoids in the roots resulted from decreased production and, therefore, do not indicate oxidative stress compensation by secondary compounds. These results show that roots of date palms are highly susceptible to chronic O3 exposure as a consequence of carbohydrate deficiency.


Subject(s)
Ozone , Phoeniceae , Antioxidants , Hydrogen Peroxide , Ozone/toxicity , Plant Leaves
11.
Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd ; 163(12): 836-850, 2021 Dec.
Article in German | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34881716

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Hot-iron disbudding of calves is a stressful and painful procedure and leaves a burn wound. Pain management procedures and the effects of hot-iron disbudding on biochemical markers of pain perception and stress response have been widely investigated in recent years. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential effects of pain management and age of the calf on the healing of burn wounds caused by disbudding. 327 healthy female German Holstein calves were included in this randomised, triple-blinded, prospective study. Calves were either disbudded at the age of four to 10 or 15 to 28 days using a gas-powered hot iron. Each calf was randomly allocated to one of nine possible treatment groups (BG). All calves received either the active ingredients to be tested (xylazine hydrochloride with 0.2 or 0.05 mg / kg body mass (BM) intramuscular for sedation, procaine hydrochloride (2 %) each 8 ml locally on both sides subcutaneously (SC) to the cornual nerves, meloxicam with 0,5 mg / kg BM SC for anti-inflammatory purposes) or an identical amount of saline solution (placebo). Calves in the group `thermE` and `ScheinE` received only placebo. In group `ScheinE` disbudding was simulated and in `thermE` it was carried out. The calves were clinically monitored starting one day before and ending 28 days after the procedure and the burn wounds were assessed. Both the rectal temperature and parameters of wound healing changed significantly during the study period and had characteristic profiles over time. Wound healing was not influenced by the different analgesic protocols, indicating that a multimodal analgesia does not pose a risk for wound healing after thermal disbudding. There were no observed differences between the age groups. The results of this study show, that disbudding of young calves and a multimodal pain management protocol does not affect wound healing in calves.


INTRODUCTION: L'ébourgeonnage thermique des veaux est une procédure stressante et douloureuse qui laisse une brûlure. Les procédures de gestion de la douleur et les effets de l'ébourgeonnage thermique sur les marqueurs biochimiques de la perception de la douleur et de la réponse au stress ont été largement étudiés ces dernières années. Le but de cette étude était d'étudier les effets potentiels de la gestion de la douleur et de l'âge du veau sur la cicatrisation des brûlures causées par l'ébourgeonnage. 327 veaux Holstein allemands femelles en bonne santé ont été inclus dans cette étude prospective randomisée en triple aveugle. Les veaux ont été soit ébourgeonnés à l'âge de 4 à 10 jours ou de 15 à 28 jours à l'aide d'un thermocautère à gaz. Chaque veau a été réparti au hasard dans l'un des neuf groupes de traitement possibles (BG). Tous les veaux ont reçu soit les principes actifs à tester (chlorhydrate de xylazine à 0,2 ou 0,05 mg/kg de masse corporelle (BM) par voie intramusculaire pour sédation, chlorhydrate de procaïne (2 %) 8 ml localement des deux côtés par voie sous-cutanée (SC) jusqu'aux nerfs cornuaux , méloxicam à 0,5 mg/kg de masse corporelle SC à visée anti-inflammatoire) ou une quantité identique de solution saline (placebo). Les veaux du groupe « thermE ¼ et « ScheinE ¼ ont reçu uniquement un placebo. Dans le groupe

Subject(s)
Horns , Animals , Cattle , Clinical Trials, Veterinary as Topic , Female , Horns/surgery , Pain/veterinary , Pain Management/veterinary , Prospective Studies , Wound Healing
12.
Nat Commun ; 12(1): 6903, 2021 11 25.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34824221

ABSTRACT

Cytochrome c oxidases are among the most important and fundamental enzymes of life. Integrated into membranes they use four electrons from cytochrome c molecules to reduce molecular oxygen (dioxygen) to water. Their catalytic cycle has been considered to start with the oxidized form. Subsequent electron transfers lead to the E-state, the R-state (which binds oxygen), the P-state (with an already split dioxygen bond), the F-state and the O-state again. Here, we determined structures of up to 1.9 Å resolution of these intermediates by single particle cryo-EM. Our results suggest that in the O-state the active site contains a peroxide dianion and in the P-state possibly an intact dioxygen molecule, the F-state may contain a superoxide anion. Thus, the enzyme's catalytic cycle may have to be turned by 180 degrees.


Subject(s)
Catalysis , Cryoelectron Microscopy , Electron Transport Complex IV/chemistry , Electron Transport Complex IV/metabolism , Electrons , Escherichia coli , Membrane Proteins , Models, Molecular , Oxygen/metabolism , Paracoccus denitrificans , Peroxides/metabolism , Protons
13.
Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd ; 164(11): 753-766, 2021 Nov.
Article in German | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34758951

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Matrices that can be collected non-invasively for quantification of a stress response in sheep have received little attention in the veterinary literature. This study examines the suitability of blood, tears and saliva for determining a stress response in sheep undergoing sham foot trimming on a tilt table. The cortisol concentration of blood, tears and saliva and the concentration of cortisol metabolites in faeces were measured in 13 healthy Meat Merino ewes once a day for six days. Sham foot trimming on a tilt table was used as the stressor and was done during a one-hour period on day 4; cortisol concentrations of blood and tears were measured at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 60 minutes. Cortisol concentrations of blood (maximum at 30 minutes) and tears (maximum at 40 minutes) increased during the procedure and then decreased. There were significant correlations between cortisol concentrations of blood and tears (p = 0,04) during sham foot trimming (area under the curve, 0 to 60 minutes). Over the entire 6-day study period, significant correlations were seen between the cortisol concentrations of blood and tears (r = 0,55; p.


INTRODUCTION: Les marqueurs qui peuvent être collectés de manière non invasive pour quantifier une réponse au stress chez le mouton ont fait l'objet de peu d'attention dans la littérature vétérinaire. Cette étude examine la pertinence du sang, des larmes et de la salive pour déterminer une réponse au stress chez des moutons subissant un parage fictif des pieds sur une table basculante. La concentration de cortisol dans le sang, les larmes et la salive ainsi que la concentration de métabolites de cortisol dans les fèces ont été mesurées chez 13 brebis Meat Merino saines une fois par jour pendant six jours. Le parage fictif des pieds sur une table inclinable a été utilisé comme facteur de stress et a été effectué pendant une période d'une heure le jour 4; les concentrations de cortisol dans le sang et les larmes ont été mesurées à 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 et 60 minutes. Les concentrations de cortisol dans le sang (maximum à 30 minutes) et les larmes (maximum à 40 minutes) ont augmenté au cours de la procédure puis ont diminué. Il y avait des corrélations significatives entre les concentrations de cortisol dans le sang et les larmes (p = 0,04) lors du parage fictif des onglons (aire sous la courbe, 0 à 60 minutes). Sur l'ensemble de la période d'étude de 6 jours, des corrélations significatives ont été observées entre les concentrations de cortisol dans le sang et les larmes (r = 0,55 ; p < 0,001), le sang et la salive (r = 0,53 ; p < 0,001) et les larmes et la salive (r = 0,78 ; p < 0,001). La concentration fécale de métabolites de cortisol était significativement augmentée au jour 5 (p 0,05), mais la concentration de cortisol des autres supports n'a pas changé de manière significative au cours de la période d'étude de 6 jours. Le parage fictif des pieds sur une table basculante a été considéré comme un facteur de stress aigu chez les moutons en raison de l'augmentation des concentrations de cortisol dans le sang, des larmes et de l'augmentation des concentrations de métabolites de cortisol dans les selles. La concentration de cortisol dans les larmes était similaire à celle du sang et, par conséquent, la collecte de larmes représente une alternative viable et non invasive au sang pour les tests de cortisol. Le délai des pics entre la concentration maximale de cortisol dans les larmes et le sang doit être pris en compte lors de l'interprétation des résultats.


Subject(s)
Hydrocortisone , Saliva , Animals , Feces , Female , Sheep
14.
Astron Astrophys ; 6472021 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34257461

ABSTRACT

CONTEXT: For all the amides detected in the interstellar medium (ISM), the corresponding nitriles or isonitriles have also been detected in the ISM, some of which have relatively high abundances. Among the abundant nitriles for which the corresponding amide has not yet been detected is cyanoacetylene (HCCCN), whose amide counterpart is propiolamide (HCCC(O)NH2). AIMS: With the aim of supporting searches for this amide in the ISM, we provide a complete rotational study of propiolamide from 6 GHz to 440 GHz. METHODS: Time-domain Fourier transform microwave (FTMW) spectroscopy under supersonic expansion conditions between 6 GHz and 18 GHz was used to accurately measure and analyze ground-state rotational transitions with resolved hyperfine structure arising from nuclear quadrupole coupling interactions of the 14N nucleus. We combined this technique with the frequency-domain room-temperature millimeter wave and submillimeter wave spectroscopies from 75 GHz to 440 GHz in order to record and assign the rotational spectra in the ground state and in the low-lying excited vibrational states. We used the ReMoCA spectral line survey performed with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array toward the star-forming region Sgr B2(N) to search for propiolamide. RESULTS: We identified and measured more than 5500 distinct frequency lines of propiolamide in the laboratory. These lines were fitted using an effective semi-rigid rotor Hamiltonian with nuclear quadrupole coupling interactions taken into consideration. We obtained accurate sets of spectroscopic parameters for the ground state and the three low-lying excited vibrational states. We report the nondetection of propiolamide toward the hot cores Sgr B2(N1S) and Sgr B2(N2). We find that propiolamide is at least 50 and 13 times less abundant than acetamide in Sgr B2(N1S) and Sgr B2(N2), respectively, indicating that the abundance difference between both amides is more pronounced by at least a factor of 8 and 2, respectively, than for their corresponding nitriles. CONCLUSIONS: Although propiolamide has yet to be included in astrochemical modeling networks, the observed upper limit to the ratio of propiolamide to acetamide seems consistent with the ratios of related species as determined from past simulations. The comprehensive spectroscopic data presented in this paper will aid future astronomical searches.

15.
Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) ; 12: 582614, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34122327

ABSTRACT

We have used the four core genotypes (FCG) mouse model, which allows a distinction between effects of gonadal secretions and chromosomal complement, to determine when sex differences in the immune system first appear and what influences their development. Using splenic T cell number as a measure that could be applied to neonates with as yet immature immune responses, we found no differences among the four genotypes at postnatal day 1, but by day 7, clear sex differences were observed. These sex differences were unexpectedly independent of chromosomal complement and similar in degree to gonadectomized FCG adults: both neonatal and gonadectomized adult females (XX and XY) showed 2-fold the number of CD4+ and 7-fold the number of CD8+ T cells versus their male (XX and XY) counterparts. Appearance of this long-lived sex difference between days 1 and 7 suggested a role for the male-specific perinatal surge of testicular testosterone. Interference with the testosterone surge significantly de-masculinized the male CD4+, but not CD8+ splenic profile. Treatment of neonates demonstrated elevated testosterone limited mature cell egress from the thymus, whereas estradiol reduced splenic T cell seeding in females. Neonatal male splenic epithelium/stroma expressed aromatase mRNA, suggesting capacity for splenic conversion of perinatal testosterone into estradiol in males, which, similar to administration of estradiol in females, would result in reduced splenic T cell seeding. These sex steroid effects affected both CD4+ and CD8+ cells and yet interference with the testosterone surge only significantly de-masculinized the splenic content of CD4+ cells. For CD8+ cells, male cells in the thymus were also found to express one third the density of sphingosine-1-phosphate thymic egress receptors per cell compared to female, a male characteristic most likely an indirect result of Sry expression. Interestingly, the data also support a previously unrecognized role for non-gonadal estradiol in the promotion of intra-thymic cell proliferation in neonates of both sexes. Microarray analysis suggested the thymic epithelium/stroma as the source of this hormone. We conclude that some immune sex differences appear long before puberty and more than one mechanism contributes to differential numbers and distribution of T cells.


Subject(s)
Disorders of Sex Development/immunology , Immune System Phenomena/genetics , Immune System/physiology , Animals , Animals, Newborn , CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/physiology , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/physiology , Cell Differentiation/genetics , Cell Differentiation/immunology , Disease Models, Animal , Disorders of Sex Development/genetics , Disorders of Sex Development/pathology , Female , Genetic Association Studies , Genotype , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Pregnancy , Sex Characteristics , Sex-Determining Region Y Protein/genetics , Sexual Maturation/genetics , Sexual Maturation/immunology
16.
Neurol Res Pract ; 2: 13, 2020.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33324919

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is a disorder of brain vasculature that causes various structural changes in the brain parenchyma, and is associated with various clinical symptoms such as cognitive impairment and gait disorders. Structural changes of brain arterioles cannot be visualized with routine imaging techniques in vivo. However, optical coherence tomography (OCT) is thought to be a "window to the brain". Thus, retinal vessel parameters may correlate with CSVD characteristic brain lesions and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers (CSF) of the neuropathological processes in CSVD like endothelial damage, microglial activation and neuroaxonal damage. METHODS: We applied OCT-based assessment of retinal vessels, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and CSF biomarker analysis in a monocentric prospective cohort of 24 patients with sporadic CSVD related stroke and cognitive impairment. MRI lesions were defined according to the STandards for ReportIng Vascular changes on nEuroimaging (STRIVE). Biomarkers were assessed using commercially available ELISA kits. Owing to the unavailability of an age-matched control-group lacking MRI-characteristics of CSVD, we compared the retinal vessel parameters in CSVD patients (73.8 ± 8.5 years) with a younger group of healthy controls (51.0 ± 16.0 years) by using an age- and sex-adjusted multiple linear regression analysis model. RESULTS: Among the parameters measured with OCT, the Wall to Lumen Ratio (WLR) but not Mean Wall Thickness (MWT) of the superior branch of the retinal artery correlated significantly with the volume of white matter hyperintensities on MRI (rs = - 0.5) and with CSF-levels of Chitinase 3 like 1 protein (rs = - 0.6), zona occludens 1 protein (rs = - 0.5) and GFAP (rs = - 0.4). MWT and WLR were higher in CSVD than in controls (28.9 µm vs. 23.9 µm, p = 0.001 and 0.32 vs. 0.25, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this exploratory study, WLR correlated with the volume of white matter hyperintensities, and markers of vascular integrity, microglial activation, and neuroaxonal damage in CSVD. Further prospective studies should clarify whether retinal vessel parameters and CSF biomarkers may serve to monitor the natural course and treatment effects in clinical studies on CSVD.

17.
Astron Astrophys ; 6392020 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33154598

ABSTRACT

CONTEXT: Glycolamide is a glycine isomer and also one of the simplest derivatives of acetamide (e.g., one hydrogen atom is replaced with a hydroxyl group), which is a known interstellar molecule. AIMS: In this context, the aim of our work is to provide direct experimental frequencies of the ground vibrational state of glycolamide in the centimeter-, millimeter- and submillimeter-wavelength regions in order to enable its identification in the interstellar medium. METHODS: We employed a battery of state-of-the-art rotational spectroscopic techniques in the frequency and time domain to measure the frequencies of glycolamide. We used the spectral line survey named Exploring Molecular Complexity with ALMA (EMoCA), which was performed toward the star forming region Sgr B2(N) with ALMA to search for glycolamide in space. We also searched for glycolamide toward Sgr B2(N) with the Effelsberg radio telescope. The astronomical spectra were analyzed under the local thermodynamic equilibrium approximation. We used the gas-grain chemical kinetics model MAGICKAL to interpret the results of the astronomical observations. RESULTS: About 1500 transitions have been newly assigned up to 460 GHz to the most stable conformer, and a precise set of spectroscopic constants was determined. Spectral features of glycolamide were then searched for in the prominent hot molecular core Sgr B2(N2). We report the nondetection of glycolamide toward this source with an abundance at least six and five times lower than that of acetamide and glycolaldehyde, respectively. Our astrochemical model suggests that glycolamide may be present in this source at a level just below the upper limit, which was derived from the EMoCA survey. We could also not detect the molecule in the region's extended molecular envelope, which was probed with the Effelsberg telescope. We find an upper limit to its column density that is similar to the column densities obtained earlier for acetamide and glycolaldehyde with the Green Bank Telescope.

18.
Science ; 369(6510): 1497-1500, 2020 09 18.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32943524

ABSTRACT

Binary interactions dominate the evolution of massive stars, but their role is less clear for low- and intermediate-mass stars. The evolution of a spherical wind from an asymptotic giant branch (AGB) star into a nonspherical planetary nebula (PN) could be due to binary interactions. We observed a sample of AGB stars with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and found that their winds exhibit distinct nonspherical geometries with morphological similarities to planetary nebulae (PNe). We infer that the same physics shapes both AGB winds and PNe; additionally, the morphology and AGB mass-loss rate are correlated. These characteristics can be explained by binary interaction. We propose an evolutionary scenario for AGB morphologies that is consistent with observed phenomena in AGB stars and PNe.

20.
Mech Dev ; 163: 103629, 2020 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32615151

ABSTRACT

Gastrulation is generally understood as the morphogenetic processes that result in the spatial organization of the blastomere into the three germ layers, ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm. This review summarizes our current knowledge of the morphogenetic mechanisms in Drosophila gastrulation. In addition to the events that drive mesoderm invagination and germband elongation, we pay particular attention to other, less well-known mechanisms including midgut invagination, cephalic furrow formation, dorsal fold formation, and mesoderm layer formation. This review covers topics ranging from the identification and functional characterization of developmental and morphogenetic control genes to the analysis of the physical properties of cells and tissues and the control of cell and tissue mechanics of the morphogenetic movements in the gastrula.


Subject(s)
Drosophila melanogaster/genetics , Gastrula/growth & development , Gastrulation/genetics , Morphogenesis/genetics , Animals , Biomechanical Phenomena/genetics , Drosophila melanogaster/growth & development , Ectoderm/growth & development , Embryo, Nonmammalian , Endoderm/growth & development , Gastrula/metabolism , Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/genetics , Mesoderm/growth & development
SELECTION OF CITATIONS
SEARCH DETAIL
...