Long-term restoration success of insect herbivore communities in seminatural grasslands: a functional approach.

Seminatural grasslands are important biodiversity hotspots, but they are increasingly degraded by intensive agriculture. Grassland restoration is considered to be promising in halting the ongoing loss of biodiversity, but this evaluation is mostly based on plant communities. Insect herbivores contribute substantially to grassland biodiversity and to the provisioning of a variety of ecosystem functions. However, it is unclear how they respond to different measures that are commonly used to restore seminatural grasslands from intensively used agricultural land. We studied the long-term success of different restoration techniques, which were originally targeted at reestablishing seminatural grassland plant communities, for herbivorous insect communities on taxonomic as well as functional level. Therefore, we sampled insect communities 22 yr after the establishment of restoration measures. These measures ranged from harvest and removal of biomass to removal of the topsoil layer and subsequent seeding of plant propagules. We found that insect communities in restored grasslands had higher taxonomic and functional diversity compared to intensively managed agricultural grasslands and were more similar in composition to target grasslands. Restoration measures including topsoil removal proved to be more effective, in particular in restoring species characterized by functional traits susceptible to intensive agriculture (e.g., large-bodied species). Our study shows that long-term success in the restoration of herbivorous insect communities of seminatural grasslands can be achieved by different restoration measures and that more invasive approaches that involve the removal of the topsoil layer are more effective. We attribute these restoration successes to accompanying changes in the plant community, resulting in bottom-up control of the herbivore community. Our results are of critical importance for management decisions aiming to restore multi-trophic communities, their functional composition and consequently the proliferation of ecosystem functions.

Predictors for delayed linguistic skills in very preterm infants.

BACKGROUND: Preterm-born children are at higher risk for impaired linguistic abilities than are their term-born peers. The aim of the current study was to determine early predictors for delayed linguistic skills in very preterm-born preschool children. METHODS: Between January 2005 and November 2010 all very preterm infants born at < 32 weeks gestation in Tyrol were prospectively enrolled (n = 421); 248 of them had a detailed examination at the age of five years including cognitive assessment (Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, third edition (WPPSI-III) or Snijders-Oomen Nonverbal Intelligence Tests (SON-R)) as well as a screening test for language skills (Bielefelder screening for early diagnosis of reading problems and weak spelling (BISC)). The association between pre-and postnatal factors and poor performance on the BISC assessment was analyzed by means of logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the 248 children 79 (31.8%) showed delayed literacy precursor skills. Male sex, gestational age, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) grades 3-4 and low maternal education were predictive for delayed linguistic skills at 5 years of age in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: This study identified predictors for delayed literacy precursor skills. These data support the finding that in very preterm infants pre-and perinatal as well as sociodemographic factors account for linguistic skills in the preschool period.

[Accuracy and relevance of CT volumetry in open ocular injuries with intraocular foreign bodies]. / Genauigkeit und Relevanz der CT-Volumetrie bei offenen Bulbusverletzungen mit intraokularen Fremdkörpern.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate the volume of intraocular foreign bodies (IOFB) using computed tomography (CT) volumetry as a prognostic factor for clinical outcome in open ocular injuries. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study compared the volume of 11 IOFBs more than 5 mm(3) in size based on CT volumetry with the real size determined by in vitro measurement. A retrospective evaluation of clinical data, visual acuity, complications and relation of size of IOFBs with clinical outcome in 33 patients (mean age 41.0 ± 13.5 years) with open ocular injuries treated at our department between January 2005 and December 2010 was carried out. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between pairwise in vitro measurement and CT volumetric size (p = 0.07). All patients were surgically treated by pars plana vitrectomy. The mean follow-up time was 7.6± 6.2 months and the mean preoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.063 ± 0.16 (logMAR 1.2 ± 0.79). Postoperatively, a mean BCVA of 0.25 ± 0.2 (logMAR 0.6 ± 0.69) could be achieved. Clinical outcomes were significantly better in injuries with small IOFBs measuring < 15 mm(3) (p = 0.0098). CONCLUSIONS: The use of CT volumetry is an accurate method for measurement of IOFBs. Exact data about the size and measurement of volume are also an important factor for the prognosis of clinical outcome in open ocular injuries with IOFBs and CT volumetry can also provide important information about the localization of IOFBs.

[Prognostic factors and visual outcome for open globe injuries with intraocular foreign bodies]. / Prognostische Faktoren und klinische Ergebnisse in der Behandlung von offenen Augenverletzungen mit intraokularen Fremdkörpern.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical features as well as the visual results and determine the prognostic factors after the removal of retained intraocular foreign bodies (IOFBs). PATIENTS AND METHODS: At our centre we conducted a non-randomised, non-comparative retrospective analysis of records of 31 patients with intraocular foreign bodies treated using pars plana vitrectomy and other conventional surgical techniques during a 3-year period between January 2006 and December 2008. Using the OTS classification for ocular injuries (United States Eye Injury Registry [USEIR]), we evaluated the visual outcome and various pre-, intra- and postoperative clinical factors. RESULTS: Almost all patients (96.8 %) were male with a mean age of 32.29 years ± 13.38 SD (SD = standard deviation). The most common cause of ocular injury was hammering (58 %), in 27 cases the IOFB was magnetic. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 34 months with a mean of 4.5 months. In 30 eyes, the IOFBs could be removed during the first surgery. The average time between injury and surgery was 15.78 ± 23.45 SD hours for 27 patients (87.1 %). In 3 cases the intraocular foreign body (IOFB) was removed 7, 9, 14 days after the injury. In one case the IOFB was removed in a second surgery 40 days after the injury. In 23 cases we performed pars plana vitrectomy, for 8 patients we performed anterior segment surgery, in 21 cases the lens was also removed. At the time of surgery initial vitreous haemorrhage was present in 17 patients (54.8 %). OTS score for ocular injury was calculated as 2.45 ± 0.78 SD. Initial visual acuity was below 20 / 200 in 61.3 % of the cases. Subsequent to surgical treatment over a mean follow-up of 2.5 months, 25 patients (80.64 %) achieved a visual acuity of 20 / 200 or better (0.69 ± 0.35 SD). Best corrected visual acuity was significantly better for ocular injuries with a higher OTS score (p = 0.000095). Other significant factors for good visual outcome were good initial visual acuity (p = 0.002), the absence of vitreal haemorrhagies (p = 0.024) and small size of the IOFB (p = 0.043). Postoperative complications included retinal detachment (9.67 %), endophthalmitis (3.22 %) and PVR (3.22 %). CONCLUSION: Acceptable visual results could be achieved after the removal of posterior segment IOFBs by vitrectomy. A reliable classification of ocular injuries may provide significant information about the prognosis of injuries with intraocular foreign bodies.

Increased aldosterone levels in a model of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Aldosterone is an important mediator of cardiovascular and renal remodeling. Type II diabetes mellitus leads to renal and cardiac end organ damage. We investigated the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in a model of type 2 diabetes mellitus with known diabetic nephropathy and cardiac remodeling, the Zucker Diabetic Fatty rat with and without ACE-inhibition (ZDF and ZDF+ACE-I) and its control, the Zucker Lean (ZDL) rat. METHODS: Male animals were studied from an age of 7-24 weeks. At ages 7, 14, 17, 20, and 23 weeks, urinary excretion of aldosterone-glucuronide and potassium was assessed. ACE-inhibition with ramipril was started orally at week 13 (1 mg/kg/d). At the end of the study rats were sacrificed and plasma aldosterone concentration and plasma renin activity were measured. Aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) mRNA expression in the adrenals, kidney, heart and adipose tissue was assessed by real-time PCR. Urinary albumin excretion as marker for diabetic nephropathy was measured in metabolic cages and correlated to aldosterone. RESULTS: Plasma aldosterone concentration and aldosterone-glucuronide was significantly elevated in ZDF rats, and significantly reduced by ACE-inhibiton. In contrast, plasma renin activity was significantly reduced in ZDF rats and normalized by ACE-inhibition. The urinary aldosterone correlated significantly to albuminuria. Adrenal CYP11B2 expression was not significantly higher in ZDF rats. CYP11B2 mRNA was not detected in the kidney, heart and adipose tissue. CONCLUSION: In ZDF rats, urinary and plasma aldosterone levels were elevated despite reduced plasma renin activity. The reversible effect of ACE-inhibition shows that the up-regulation of aldosterone must be dependent of the renin-angiotensin-system in this type II diabetes model. The correlation between aldosterone and diabetic nephropathy suggests a clinical relevance of this observation.

Confocal microscopic evidence of increased Langerhans cell activity after corneal metal foreign body removal.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to examine the corneal inflammatory reaction and Langerhans cells with confocal microscopy after metal foreign body removal. METHODS: Corneal metal foreign body was removed from 9 eyes of 9 consecutive patients 12.1+/-13.6 (4 to 72) hours after superficial angle grinder injury. Both eyes were examined with the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II (HRT II) Rostock Cornea Module. Morphology and density of epithelium, nerves, metal deposits, keratocytes, endothelium, and Langerhans cells were compared to the uninjured fellow eyes (controls). RESULTS: Irregularity and partially missing superficial epithelium was found in all cases. Around the area of injury prolonged basal and wing epithelial cells were found in all eyes. The basal epithelium density is lower than in the control eye (p=0.043). Density of Langerhans cells (68.1+/-24.2/mm2) was increased in the epithelium, compared to controls (35.2+/-21.8/mm2, p=0.012). Keratocyte and endothelium densities were not different from that of controls. Some keratocytes showed signs of activation and the inhomogeneous background reflectivity revealed extracellular matrix alterations. Inflammatory reaction was observed up to260 micronm depth. The metal foreign body particles had high reflectivity and irregular edge. CONCLUSIONS: In vivo confocal microscopy provided additional information to biomicroscopic signs such as epithelial damage and inflammation. It showed the effects of metal foreign bodies in the cornea: nerve damage and Langerhans cell density increase. Langerhans cells seem to play an important role in the inflammatory response after corneal foreign body injuries.

[In vitro microstructural analysis of commercial ophthalmic suspensions by HRT II Rostock Cornea Module]. / In-vitro-Untersuchung der Mikrostruktur von handelsüblichen ophthalmologischen Suspensionen mittels HRT-II Rostock Cornea Modul.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the particles of commercially used ophthalmic suspensions with the HRT II Rostock Cornea Module and to compare them with particle parameters given in the literature. METHODS: Software-aided analysis was carried out for the suspensions brinzolamide 1%, betaxolol HCl 0.25%, dexamethasone phosphate 0.1% and prednisolone acetate 0.5%, including measurements of length, area and circumference and calculation of ellipticity and shape factor (SF). RESULTS: Particle characteristics (SF and ellipticity) of different suspensions demonstrated that the particles are not spherical. Significant aggregation affinity of prednisolone acetate particles was observed. CONCLUSION: Exact and reproducible in vitro microstructural examination of ophthalmic suspensions was possible due to the high resolution of the HRT II Rostock Cornea Module.

Exanthema and acute anuric renal failure.

A 15-year-old girl with a history of Kawasaki disease was admitted to our nephrological department due to acute renal failure. Despite antibiotic therapy because of fever and the symptoms of a pharyngitis in the last few days, the girl showed persisting fever and developed arthralgias, an exanthema and a rising serum creatinine as well as anuria. A wide variety of differential diagnoses has to be thought of because of the history of the Kawasaki disease (symptoms like fever, pharyngitis, exanthema and arthralgia), i.e. hemolytic-uremic syndrome, vasculitis, ascending infection, postinfection glomerulonephritis. In consideration of etiologically unclear "rapidly progressive renal failure" with anuria and thrombocytopenia an immediate renal biopsy was done and revealed a severe drug induced acute interstitial nephritis. Due to this diagnosis we treated the patient with corticosteroids. Within 4 weeks serum creatinine declined to 1.8 mg/dl but did not normalize.

Corneal topography parameters after superior clear corneal incision cataract surgery in arcus lipoides.

PURPOSE: To compare changes in corneal topographic parameters after cataract surgery in eyes with different severities of arcus lipoides. METHODS: Fourty eyes of 40 patients (23 women, 17 men, age 71.3+/-20.4 years, range 40 to 89 years) were studied prospectively in a consecutive, non-interventional, comparative series of cases. Eyes were classed in three groups (0 to 2) according to the assessed grade of arcus lipoides (none, <180 degrees, >180 degrees). Corneal topography (Tomey TMS-2) was performed preoperatively and at 1 and 10 days and 1 and 3 months following cataract surgery (superior 4.0 mm clear corneal incision, no suture). Keratometric astigmatism (Dcyl), surface regularity index (SRI), surface asymmetry index (SAI), and potential visual acuity (PVA) were evaluated for the different groups and time-points, using the Kruskal-Wallis, Wilcoxon, and Mann-Whitney statistical tests. RESULTS: No significant preoperative difference was found in mean Dcyl, SRI, or PVA; preoperative SAI was lower in Group 1. Postoperatively Dcyl was increased at day 1 in Groups 1 and 2, and remained higher in Group 2 until month 1. At month 3 significant differences among Groups 0, 1, and 2 disappeared. CONCLUSIONS: The 4.0 mm superior clear corneal incision is a safe method for cataract surgery in the presence of arcus lipoides. This procedure induces greater corneal astigmatism, surface irregularity, and lower PVA in the early postoperative period in cases with arcus lipoides than in normal corneas. Concerning final results, wound healing was not affected by greater severity of arcus lipoides, although stabilization of the corneal surface tended to be slower.

[In vivo confocal corneal microscopy after keratoplasty]. / Konfokale In-vivo-Hornhautmikroskopie nach Keratoplastik.

BACKGROUND: Seven eyes with clear grafts after penetrating keratoplasty were examined with in vivo confocal corneal microscopy in 1999. Our aim was the confocal microscopic investigation of the subclinical changes in clear grafts after long-term follow-up. METHODS: The preoperative diagnoses were keratoconus (two), granular corneal dystrophy (two), pseudophakic bullous keratopathy due to ACL (two), and corneal ulcer (one). The epithelium, corneal nerves, keratocytes of the anterior and posterior stroma, and endothelium were evaluated with confocal microscopy. RESULTS: Mean density of basal epithelial cells was 3928+/-378 cells/mm(2) at 15 months and 3284+/-565 cells/mm(2) at 66 months postoperatively. At 15 months the keratocyte density was 750+/-113 cells/mm(2) in the anterior stroma and 601+/-98 cells/mm(2) in the posterior stroma, at 66 months 383+/-53 cells/mm(2) in the anterior stroma and 411+/-98 cells/mm(2) in the posterior stroma. Endothelial cell density decreased from 1719+/-576 cells/mm(2) (15 months) to 965+/-272 cells/mm(2) (66 months). CONCLUSIONS: In the follow-up period a significant decrease of keratocyte and endothelial cell density was detectable with confocal microscopy. The clinical importance of our findings must be clarified with further examinations on more patients.

[Unilateral ptosis in the background of unilateral corneal arcus lipoides -- a case report]. / Unilaterale Ptosis assoziiert mit unilateralem Arcus lipoides -- Kasuistik.

BACKGROUND: Arcus lipoides corneae is a common bilateral degenerative disorder with ageing but only rarely occurs unilaterally. Clinically visible cream-coloured ring-shaped corneal opacities are caused by excessive lipoid deposits in the corneal stroma. Our aim is to discuss theoretical aspects of the possible impact and pathomechanism of unilateral ptosis in unilateral arcus lipoides. CASE REPORT: The authors report the case of a 70-year-old female patient who was treated for chronic pancreatitis and hyperlipoproteinemia. She had congenital ptosis on the left side, and an arcus lipoides corneae in her left eye. The patient underwent extracapsular cataract extraction, and irregular high-grade astigmatism developed. An irregularity of the wound healing was apparent from the keratometric values, which decreased after removal of the corneal sutures. CONCLUSION: The known etiological factors of unilateral arcus lipoides, like contralateral stenosis of the internal carotid artery, traumatic or iatrogenic hypotony, chronic iridocyclitis of the eye were absent in our patient.

Bulimia from a gynecological view: hormonal changes.

Gynecological problems are one of the most frequent somatic complications of eating disorders. The purpose of the present study was to assess the role of improper eating habits in the aetiology of menstrual disturbances, anovulation and hormonal related changes. Bulimia nervosa is the focus of attention since amenorrhea is considered a diagnostic criterium in anorexia nervosa. Subjects of the BITE (Bulimia Investigation Test, Edinburgh) test who were infertile were studied (n = 58) In the studied population there were 6 cases of clinical and 8 cases of subclinical bulimia nervosa. Symptoms and severity subscales of the BITE test significantly correlated with body mass index (p = 0.003). All 14 patients suffering from clinical and subclinical bulimia nervosa had pathologically low FSH and LH hormone levels. In those with clinical bulimia nervosa (n = 6) we diagnosed 4 cases of multicystic ovary (MCO) and in the eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS) group (n = 22) there were 2 cases of MCO and 5 cases of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The results suggest that unsatisfactory nutrition (binges and "crash diet") in bulimia nervosa results in hormonal dysfunction, menstrual disturbances and infertility. The authors question the necessity for immediately estrogen replacement: they consider the reversibility of the hormonal status by early treatment of eating disorders is more appropriate. Excessive use of hormonal contraceptives in therapy has to be questioned.

Obstacles in the diagnosis and treatment of syphilitic amyotrophy.

The authors describe a case of syphilitic amyotrophy in a 37-year-old man presenting with subacute progressive painless weakness in the right arm. Syphilitic amyotrophy is still an existing differential diagnosis of painless and progressive weakness. The authors explore potential obstacles in the diagnostic workup and finding of adequate therapy.

Further phenols and polyacetylenes from the rhizomes of Atractylodes lancea and their anti-inflammatory activity.

From the rhizomes of Atractylodes lancea, 2-[(2'E)-3',7'-dimethyl-2',6'-octadienyl]-4-methoxy-6-methylphenol (1) was isolated as a new natural product. The compound showed strong inhibitory effects on 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) and cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), but exhibited only weak antioxidative activities [IC50 = 0.1 microM (5-LOX), 2 microM (COX-1), 9 microM (PMN/FMLP), 28 microM (PMNIOZ)]. Moreover, five new acetylenes were isolated and elucidated as (3Z,5E,11E)-tridecatriene-7,9-diynyl-1-O-(E)-ferulate (2), erythro-(1,3Z,11E)-tridecatriene-7,9-diyne-5,6-diyl diacetate (3), (1Z)-atractylodin (4), (1Z)-atractylodinol (5), (1Z)-acetylatractylodinol (6) plus the known (4E,6E,12E)-tetradecatriene-8,10-diyne-1,3-diyl diacetate (7). Among the acetylenes, only 2 showed strong inhibition of 5-LOX and COX-1 activity (IC50 (5-LOX) = 3 microM, IC50 (COX-1) = 1 microM). In addition, the fatty acids linoleic acid, oleic acid and palmitic acid with previously established 5-LOX-/COX-1 inhibitory actions were identified as major constituents of the n-hexane extract and thus seem to contribute to the plant's in vitro activity.

Inhibitory effects of maesanin and analogs on arachidonic acid metabolizing enzymes.

The substituted 1,4-benzoquinone, maesanin (1), is a potent 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) inhibitor present in the fruit of Maesa lanceolata Forssk. Thirteen natural, synthetic, semisynthetic, and microbially transformed analogs of 1 were tested for their in vitro inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) and cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1). Maesanin was the most active 5-LO inhibitor. All other analogs were inactive or less active than the natural products as 5-LO inhibitors. None of the tested compounds was strongly active in the COX-1 inhibition assay.

[The combined effect of psychotherapy and fluoxetine on obesity]. / A pszichoterápia és a fluoxetin hatékonysága obesitasban.

Obesity as psychosomatic disease is a mass phenomenon. The number of obese males (BMI > 30) became doubled in the last ten years. In the etiology of obesity play an important role the reactive obesity. In the background of "yo-yo syndrome" often could be found depression, or other psychotic disorder. The low self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, tension, anxiety disorders is well-known in a slimming diet. Obese subjects (n = 29) who were admitted on their request with a view to losing weight were examined (Hamilton Depressive Scala, Hamilton Anxietas Scala, Eating Attitude Test) Physical Conditioning and internal Medicine Department of National Sports Medicine Institute, Budapest. Among obesities with mild and severe depression as treatment of somatic complications was used fluoxetine, in severe cases and depression with severe anxiety was associated with supportive or cognitive-behavioral treatment. The prevalence of binge eating disorders were at 57% and bulimia nervosa was at 3% in using population (n = 29). Decreasing of anxiety and grade of depression significantly correlated with body mass index (p < 0.023, F = 1.997, p < 0.034, F = 3.131). The treatment of fluoxetine significantly correlated with body mass index (T1: p < 0.023, T2: p < 0.03, T3: p < 0.004). The patients indicated their well being as fluoxetine reduced eating, satiety and lower binges.

Eating disorders and depression in Hungarian women with menstrual disorders and infertility.

Menstrual disorders are among the most frequent somatic complications and symptoms of eating disorders. This study was designed to assess the prevalence of eating disorders connected to menstrual disorders of a non-organic origin in women at two gynecological out-patient departments. We performed a survey via questionnaires (ANIS: Anorexia Nervosa Inventory Scale; BCDS: Bulimic Cognitive Distortions Scale; BITE: Bulimia Investigation Test, Edinburgh; EDI: Eating Disorders Inventory; BDI: Beck Depression Inventory). Among 75 women tested we found a prevalence figure of 4% for anorexia nervosa (AN) and 12% for bulimia nervosa (BN). The total prevalence of clinical and subclinical eating disorders syndromes was 44%. The prevalence of depression was 64% for all respondents, whilst severe depression accounted for 11%. This study demonstrates the (relatively) higher frequency of bulimia nervosa in Hungary, compared with other countries.