History of the German-language ENT journals.

In 1864, the worldwide oldest journal in an area of the later established specialty of otorhinolaryngology was founded as the German Archiv für Ohrenheilkunde ("Archive of Otology") by its first editors Anton von Tröltsch (Würzburg), Adam Politzer (Vienna), and Hermann Schwartze (Halle/S.). Ear, nose, and throat (ENT) topics had previously been published in universal medical journals. In the next few decades, numerous journals in the field of ENT were founded, the eventful history of which is presented up to the present day. Particular attention is paid to the historical and personal context of the editors of newly founded magazines and their publishers. The journal landscape, which was changing through acquisitions and mergers of publishers, is described in detail. The merging of the specialties of otology and laryngo-rhinology in Germany, which lasted until the 1920s, had a profound influence on journal titles and contents. An attempt is made to present the most important titles in their historical development. All the important editors of the German ENT journals are mentioned, although it was not possible to include the names of the editors of the current journals, which are becoming more and more numerous. One chapter deals exclusively with the development of journal publishers. The inserted tables and figures will help to resolve some of the confusion caused by repeated similar names of journals by showing their historical development.

[History of the German-language ENT journals. German version]. / Geschichte der deutschsprachigen HNO-Zeitschriften.

In 1864, the worldwide oldest journal in an area of the later established specialty of otorhinolaryngology was founded as the German Archiv für Ohrenheilkunde ("Archive of Otology") by its first editors Anton von Tröltsch (Würzburg), Adam Politzer (Vienna), and Hermann Schwartze (Halle/S.). Ear, nose, and throat (ENT) topics had previously been published in universal medical journals. In the next few decades, numerous journals in the field of ENT were founded, the eventful history of which is presented up to the present day. Particular attention is paid to the historical and personal context of the editors of newly founded magazines and their publishers. The journal landscape, which was changing through acquisitions and mergers of publishers, is described in detail. The merging of the specialties of otology and laryngo-rhinology in Germany, which lasted until the 1920s, had a profound influence on journal titles and contents. An attempt is made to present the most important titles in their historical development. All the important editors of the German ENT journals are mentioned, although it was not possible to include the names of the editors of the current journals, which are becoming more and more numerous. One chapter deals exclusively with the development of journal publishers. The inserted tables and figures will help to resolve some of the confusion caused by repeated similar names of journals by showing their historical development.

Integrin reconstituted in GUVs: a biomimetic system to study initial steps of cell spreading.

A novel in vitro membrane system mimicking the first steps of integrin-mediated cell spreading has been developed and characterized. We have reconstituted the transmembrane alpha(IIb)beta(3) integrin into giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). The reconstitution process has been validated by analyzing protein incorporation and biological activity by checking the specific interaction of GUVs containing integrin with quantum dots (QD) or surfaces coated with the integrin receptor tri-peptide RGD.(1) The spreading dynamics of integrin-functionalized GUVs onto fibrinogen-coated surfaces has been monitored by Reflection Interference Contrast Microscopy (RICM). Our results are quantitatively consistent with a theoretical model based on a dewetting process coupled to binder diffusion and provide a comprehensive description of the following sequence: i) nucleation and growth of adhesive patches coupled to the diffusion of the adhesive proteins to these adhesive zones ii) fusion of patches and formation of an adhesive ring iii) complete spreading of the GUV by dewetting of the central liquid film from the border to form an adhesive circular patch that is not significantly enriched in integrins, as compared to the unbound membrane. This finding is consistent with the recognized role of the actin cytoskeleton in stabilizing focal complexes and focal adhesions in a cell-extracellular matrix contact. These very large unilamellar integrin-containing vesicles provide a unique artificial system, which could be further developed towards realistic cell mimic and used to study the complexity of integrin-mediated cell spreading.

Polymer-tethered membranes as quantitative models for the study of integrin-mediated cell adhesion.

Here we report a remarkable enhancement in the adhesion strength of transmembrane cell receptors, human platelet integrin, in a new class of supported lipid membranes, which are separated from the solid substrates by linear polymer spacers. The amphiphilic polymer tether consists of linear hydrophilic poly(2-oxazoline) chains of defined length (degree of polymerization n = 104, MW/Mn = 1.30), whose chain termini are functionalized with the tri-functional silane surface coupling group and hydrophobic n-alkyl chains as membrane anchors (lipopolymers). As a model of test cells, giant lipid vesicles were functionalized with synthetic ligand molecules containing the RGD sequence, and the free energy of adhesion Δgad between the integrin-doped tethered membrane and the vesicle was measured using a micro-interferometry technique. It has been demonstrated that the adhesion function of integrin receptors in these polymer-tethered membranes is 30 times stronger than those incorporated into membranes directly deposited onto solid substrates (solid-supported membranes). The obtained results demonstrate that linear lipopolymer spacers provide a fluid and non-denaturing environment for the incorporated cell receptors and allow quantitative modelling of cell adhesion processes.

Force-dependent stepping kinetics of myosin-V.

Myosin-V is a processive two-headed actin-based motor protein involved in many intracellular transport processes. A key question for understanding myosin-V function and the communication between its two heads is its behavior under load. Since in vivo myosin-V colocalizes with other much stronger motors like kinesins, its behavior under superstall forces is especially relevant. We used optical tweezers with a long-range force feedback to study myosin-V motion under controlled external forward and backward loads over its full run length. We find the mean step size remains constant at approximately 36 nm over a wide range of forces from 5 pN forward to 1.5 pN backward load. We also find two force-dependent transitions in the chemomechanical cycle. The slower ADP-release is rate limiting at low loads and depends only weakly on force. The faster rate depends more strongly on force. The stronger force dependence suggests this rate represents the diffusive search of the leading head for its binding site. In contrast to kinesin motors, myosin-V's run length is essentially independent of force between 5 pN of forward to 1.5 pN of backward load. At superstall forces of 5 pN, we observe continuous backward stepping of myosin-V, indicating that a force-driven reversal of the power stroke is possible.