Increasing the Glutathione Content in a Chilling-Sensitive Maize Genotype Using Safeners Increased Protection against Chilling-Induced Injury

With the aim of analyzing their protective function against chilling-induced injury, the pools of glutathione and its precursors, cysteine (Cys) and gamma -glutamyl-Cys, were increased in the chilling-sensitive maize (Zea mays) inbred line Penjalinan using a combination of two herbicide safeners. Compared with the controls, the greatest increase in the pool size of the three thiols was detected in the shoots and roots when both safeners were applied at a concentration of 5 muM. This combination increased the relative protection from chilling from 50% to 75%. It is interesting that this increase in the total glutathione (TG) level was accompanied by a rise in glutathione reductase (GR; EC 1.6.4.2) activity. When the most effective safener combination was applied simultaneously with increasing concentrations of buthionine sulfoximine, a specific inhibitor of glutathione synthesis, the total gamma -glutamyl-Cys and TG contents and GR activity were decreased to very low levels and relative protection was lowered from 75% to 44%. During chilling, the ratio of reduced to oxidized thiols first decreased independently of the treatments, but increased again to the initial value in safener-treated seedlings after 7 d at 5 degreesC. Taking all results together resulted in a linear relationship between TG and GR and a biphasic relationship between relative protection and GR or TG, thus demonstrating the relevance of the glutathione levels in protecting maize against chilling-induced injury.

New insights into the performance of human whole-exome capture platforms.

Whole exome sequencing (WES) is increasingly used in research and diagnostics. WES users expect coverage of the entire coding region of known genes as well as sufficient read depth for the covered regions. It is, however, unknown which recent WES platform is most suitable to meet these expectations. We present insights into the performance of the most recent standard exome enrichment platforms from Agilent, NimbleGen and Illumina applied to six different DNA samples by two sequencing vendors per platform. Our results suggest that both Agilent and NimbleGen overall perform better than Illumina and that the high enrichment performance of Agilent is stable among samples and between vendors, whereas NimbleGen is only able to achieve vendor- and sample-specific best exome coverage. Moreover, the recent Agilent platform overall captures more coding exons with sufficient read depth than NimbleGen and Illumina. Due to considerable gaps in effective exome coverage, however, the three platforms cannot capture all known coding exons alone or in combination, requiring improvement. Our data emphasize the importance of evaluation of updated platform versions and suggest that enrichment-free whole genome sequencing can overcome the limitations of WES in sufficiently covering coding exons, especially GC-rich regions, and in characterizing structural variants.

Evaluation of a Novel Screw Position in a Type III Distal Phalanx Fracture Model: An Ex Vivo Study

OBJECTIVE: Mechanical evaluation of a novel screw position used for repair in a type III distal phalanx fracture model and assessment of solar canal penetration (SCP). STUDY DESIGN: Experimental study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Disarticulated equine hooves (n = 24) and 24 isolated distal phalanges. METHODS: Hooves/distal phalanges cut in a sagittal plane were repaired with 1 of 2 different cortical screw placements in lag fashion. In group 1 (conventional screw placement), the screw was inserted halfway between the proximal border of the solar canal (SC) and the subchondral bone surface on a line parallel to the dorsal cortex, whereas in group 2, the screw was inserted more palmar/plantar, where a perpendicular line drawn from the group 1 position reached the palmar/plantar cortex. Construct strength was evaluated by 3-point bending to failure. SCP was assessed by CT imaging and macroscopically. RESULTS: Screws were significantly longer in group 2 and in forelimbs. Group 2 isolated distal phalanges had a significantly more rigid fixation compared with the conventional screw position (maximum point at failure 31%, bending stiffness 41% higher). Lumen reduction of the SC was observed in 13/52 specimens (all from group 2), of which 9 were forelimbs. CONCLUSIONS: More distal screw positioning compared with the conventionally recommended screw position for internal fixation of type III distal phalangeal fractures allows placement of a longer screw and renders a more rigid fracture fixation. The novel screw position, however, carries a higher risk of SCP

European expert consensus on rotational atherectomy

The interest in rotational atherectomy (RA) has increased over the past decade as a consequence of more complex and calcified coronary stenoses being attempted with percutaneous coronary interventions. Yet adoption of RA is hampered by several factors: amongst others, by the lack of a standardised protocol. This European expert consensus document stems from the awareness of the large heterogeneity in the protocols adopted to perform rotational atherectomy. The objective of the present document is to provide some points of consensus among highly experienced operators on the most controversial steps of RA in an attempt to build the basis of a standardised and universally accepted protocol.

Subcutaneous perfusion before and during surgery in obese and non-obese patients.

Hypoxia at the surgical site impairs wound healing and oxidative killing of microbes. Surgical site infections are more common in obese patients. We hypothesized that subcutaneous oxygen tension (Psq O2 ) would decrease substantially in both obese and non-obese patients following induction of anesthesia and after surgical incision. We performed a prospective observational study that enrolled obese and non-obese surgical patients and measured serial Psq O2 before and during surgery. Seven morbidly obese and seven non-obese patients were enrolled. At baseline breathing room air, Psq O2 values were not significantly different (p=0.66) between obese (6.8 kPa) and non-obese (6.5 kPa) patients. The targeted arterial oxygen tension (40 kPa) was successfully achieved in both groups with an expected significant increase in Psq O2 (obese 16.1 kPa and non-obese 13.4 kPa; p=0.001). After induction of anesthesia and endotracheal intubation, Psq O2 did not change significantly in either cohort in comparison to levels right before induction (obese 15.5, non-obese 13.5 kPa; p=0.95), but decreased significantly during surgery (obese 10.1, non-obese 9.3 kPa; p=0.01). In both morbidly obese and non-obese patients, Psq O2 does not decrease appreciably following induction of anesthesia, but decreases markedly (∼33%) after commencement of surgery. Given the theoretical risks associated with low Psq O2 , future research should investigate how Psq O2 can be maintained after surgical incision. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Inhibition of glutathione synthesis reduces chilling tolerance in maize

The role of glutathione (GSH) in protecting plants from chilling injury was analyzed in seedlings of a chilling-tolerant maize (Zea mays L.) genotype using buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), a specific inhibitor of gamma-glutamylcysteine (gamma EC) synthetase, the first enzyme of GSH synthesis. At 25 degrees C, 1 mM BSO significantly increased cysteine and reduced GSH content and GSH reductase (GR: EC 1.6.4.2) activity, but interestingly affected neither fresh weight nor dry weight nor relative injury. Application of BSO up to 1 mM during chilling at 5 degrees C reduced the fresh and dry weights of shoots and roots and increased relative injury from 10 to almost 40%. Buthionine sulfoximine also induced a decrease in GR activity of 90 and 40% in roots and shoots, respectively. Addition of GSH or gamma EC together with BSO to the nutrient solution protected the seedlings from the BSO effect by increasing the levels of GSH and GR activity in roots and shoots. During chilling, the level of abscisic acid increased both in controls and BSO-treated seedlings and decreased after chilling in roots and shoots of the controls and in the roots of BSO-treated seedlings, but increased in their shoots. Taken together, our results show that BSO did not reduce chilling tolerance of the maize genotype analyzed by inhibiting abscisic acid accumulation but by establishing a low level of GSH. which also induced a decrease in GR activity.

Minimally invasive extracorporeal circulation resuscitation in hypothermic cardiac arrest.

Current guidelines for the treatment of hypothermic cardiocirculatory arrest recommend extracorporeal life support and rewarming, using cardiopulmonary bypass or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuits. Both have design-related shortcomings which may result in prolonged reperfusion time or insufficient oxygen delivery to vital organs. This article describes clear advantages of minimally invasive extracorporeal circulation systems during emergency extracorporeal life support in hypothermic arrest. The technique of minimally invasive extracorporeal circulation for reperfusion and rewarming is represented by the case of a 59-year-old patient in hypothermic cardiocirculatory arrest at 25.3°C core temperature, with multiple trauma. With femoro-femoral cannulation performed under sonographic and echocardiographic guidance, extracorporeal life support was initiated using a minimally invasive extracorporeal circulation system. Perfusing rhythm was restored at 28°C. During rewarming on the mobile circuit, trauma surveys were completed and the treatment initiated. Normothermic weaning was successful on the first attempt, trauma surgery was completed and the patient survived neurologically intact. For extracorporeal resuscitation from hypothermic arrest, minimally invasive extracorporeal circulation offers all the advantages of conventional cardiopulmonary bypass and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation systems without their shortcomings.

Cerebral Gaseous Microemboli are Detectable During Continuous Venovenous Hemodialysis in Critically Ill Patients: An Observational Pilot Study

BACKGROUND Continuous venovenous hemodialysis (CVVHD) may generate microemboli that cross the pulmonary circulation and reach the brain. The aim of the present study was to quantify (load per time interval) and qualify (gaseous vs. solid) cerebral microemboli (CME), detected as high-intensity transient signals, using transcranial Doppler ultrasound. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty intensive care unit (ICU group) patients requiring CVVHD were examined. CME were recorded in both middle cerebral arteries for 30 minutes during CVVHD and a CVVHD-free interval. Twenty additional patients, hospitalized for orthopedic surgery, served as a non-ICU control group. Statistical analyses were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test or the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test, followed by Bonferroni corrections for multiple comparisons. RESULTS In the non-ICU group, 48 (14.5-169.5) (median [range]) gaseous CME were detected. In the ICU group, the 67.5 (14.5-588.5) gaseous CME detected during the CVVHD-free interval increased 5-fold to 344.5 (59-1019) during CVVHD (P<0.001). The number of solid CME was low in all groups (non-ICU group: 2 [0-5.5]; ICU group CVVHD-free interval: 1.5 [0-14.25]; ICU group during CVVHD: 7 [3-27.75]). CONCLUSIONS This observational pilot study shows that CVVHD was associated with a higher gaseous but not solid CME burden in critically ill patients. Although the differentiation between gaseous and solid CME remains challenging, our finding may support the hypothesis of microbubble generation in the CVVHD circuit and its transpulmonary translocation toward the intracranial circulation. Importantly, the impact of gaseous and solid CME generated during CVVHD on brain integrity of critically ill patients currently remains unknown and is highly debated.

Ophthalmic epidemiology in Europe: the "European Eye Epidemiology" (E3) consortium.

The European Eye Epidemiology (E3) consortium is a recently formed consortium of 29 groups from 12 European countries. It already comprises 21 population-based studies and 20 other studies (case-control, cases only, randomized trials), providing ophthalmological data on approximately 170,000 European participants. The aim of the consortium is to promote and sustain collaboration and sharing of data and knowledge in the field of ophthalmic epidemiology in Europe, with particular focus on the harmonization of methods for future research, estimation and projection of frequency and impact of visual outcomes in European populations (including temporal trends and European subregions), identification of risk factors and pathways for eye diseases (lifestyle, vascular and metabolic factors, genetics, epigenetics and biomarkers) and development and validation of prediction models for eye diseases. Coordinating these existing data will allow a detailed study of the risk factors and consequences of eye diseases and visual impairment, including study of international geographical variation which is not possible in individual studies. It is expected that collaborative work on these existing data will provide additional knowledge, despite the fact that the risk factors and the methods for collecting them differ somewhat among the participating studies. Most studies also include biobanks of various biological samples, which will enable identification of biomarkers to detect and predict occurrence and progression of eye diseases. This article outlines the rationale of the consortium, its design and presents a summary of the methodology.

Two independent and primitive envelopes of the bilobate nucleus of comet 67P

The factors shaping cometary nuclei are still largely unknown, but could be the result of concurrent effects of evolutionary(1,2) and primordial processes(3,4). The peculiar bilobed shape of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko may be the result of the fusion of two objects that were once separate or the result of a localized excavation by outgassing at the interface between the two lobes(5). Here we report that the comet's major lobe is enveloped by a nearly continuous set of strata, up to 650 metres thick, which are independent of an analogous stratified envelope on the minor lobe. Gravity vectors computed for the two lobes separately are closer to perpendicular to the strata than those calculated for the entire nucleus and adjacent to the neck separating the two lobes. Therefore comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko is an accreted body of two distinct objects with 'onion-like' stratification, which formed before they merged. We conclude that gentle, low-velocity collisions occurred between two fully formed kilometre-sized cometesimals in the early stages of the Solar System. The notable structural similarities between the two lobes of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko indicate that the early-forming cometesimals experienced similar primordial stratified accretion, even though they formed independently.

On the nucleus structure and activity of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

Images from the OSIRIS scientific imaging system onboard Rosetta show that the nucleus of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko consists of two lobes connected by a short neck. The nucleus has a bulk density less than half that of water. Activity at a distance from the Sun of >3 astronomical units is predominantly from the neck, where jets have been seen consistently. The nucleus rotates about the principal axis of momentum. The surface morphology suggests that the removal of larger volumes of material, possibly via explosive release of subsurface pressure or via creation of overhangs by sublimation, may be a major mass loss process. The shape raises the question of whether the two lobes represent a contact binary formed 4.5 billion years ago, or a single body where a gap has evolved via mass loss.

Large heterogeneities in comet 67P as revealed by active pits from sinkhole collapse

Pits have been observed on many cometary nuclei mapped by spacecraft(1-4). It has been argued that cometary pits are a signature of endogenic activity, rather than impact craters such as those on planetary and asteroid surfaces. Impact experiments(5,6) andmodels(7,8) cannot reproduce the shapes of most of the observed cometary pits, and the predicted collision rates imply that few of the pits are related to impacts(8,9). Alternative mechanisms like explosive activity(10) have been suggested, but the driving process remains unknown. Here we report that pits on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko are active, and probably created by a sinkhole process, possibly accompanied by outbursts. We argue that after formation, pits expand slowly in diameter, owing to sublimation-driven retreat of the walls. Therefore, pits characterize how eroded the surface is: a fresh cometary surface will have a ragged structure with many pits, while an evolved surface will look smoother. The size and spatial distribution of pits imply that large heterogeneities exist in the physical, structural or compositional properties of the first few hundred metres below the current nucleus surface.

Na 1 Nachlass Max Horkheimer, 99 - Korrespondenzen u.a. mit Siegfried Kracauer und Alexander Mitscherlich (p. III 8, 213-408)

4 Briefe mit Antwort von Kohlhammer Verlag an Max Horkheimer, 1953, 1957; 12 Briefe mit Antwort und Beialge von Professor Hans Kohn an Max Horkheimer, 1953-1958; 3 Briefe mit Antwort von Professor Hans Kohn an Theodor W. Adorno, 1957-1958; 1 Brief mit Antwort von Professor Hans Kohn an Helmut Viebrock, 1958; 1 Brief von Theodor W. Adorno an Helmut Vriebrock, 1957; 2 Briefe mit 1 Antwort zwischen Rudolph Kolisch und Max Horkheimer, 1957; 1 Telegram von Professor Rudolph Kolisch an R. K., 1956; 1 Brief von Max Horkheiemr an den Kölner Universitäts-Verlag, 1957; 1 Drucksache von der Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie, 1953; 1 Drucksache von dem Kongress für Internationale Wissenschaftsgeschichte, 1951; 1 Brief mit Beilage von dem Königsteiner Kreis an Max Horkheimer, 1951; 1 Drucksache mit Beilage von der Zeitschrift "Konkret", 1958; 2 Briefe mit 1 Antwort zwischen Sekretärin Mathilde Koppen und Max Horkheimer, 1951, 1956; 2 Telegramme von Fritz Kortner an Max Horkheimer, 1952; 4 Briefe mit Antwort von Siegfried Kracauer an Max Horkheimer, 1951-1956; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an Professor Alexander Mitscherlich, 1956; 1 Brief mit Antwort von Hildegard Krämer an Max Horkheimer, 1956; 2 Briefe mit 1 Antwort von Dr. Rudolf Krämer-Badoni an Max Horkheimer, 1950, 1951; 2 Briefe mit Antwort von Professor Julius Kraft an Max Horkheimer, 1956, 1958; 1 Brief mit Antwort von Max Horkheimer an den Präsident d. LVA Heinrich Kraft, 1955; 2 Briefe mit Antwort von Werner Kraft an Max Horkheimer, 1953; 1 Brief von Angelo Kramer an Max Horkheimer, 1955; 2 Briefe von dem Architekt Ferdinand C. A. F. Kramer an Max Horkheimer, 1952; 2 Briefe mit Antwort von dem evangelischen Studentenpfarrer Dr. Rudolf Krapp an Max Horkheimer, 1958; 1 Brief mit Antwort und Beilage von dem Rechtsreferendar Heinz Kraus, 1956; 1 Drucksache von dem Frankfurter Studentenlied, 1956; 1 Aktennotiz von Professor Otto F. Kraushaar, 1953; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an den Regierungspräsident Wiesbaden,1952; 1 Aktennotiz von Klaus Kremer, 1958; 1 Brief von Dr. Stephanie Krenn an Max Horkheimer, 1952; 1 Aktennotiz von Dean Krasomil, 1952; 1 Brief mit Beilage von Anneliese Kreutz an Max Horkheimer, 1955; 1 Brief von Anneliese Kreutz an Professor Wilhelm Sturmfels, 1955; 1 Brief mit Antwort und Beilage von Robert H. Kreutzer an Max Horkheimer, 1954; 1 Brief mit Antwort von Professor Hans Hermann Kritzinger an Max Horkheimer, 1952; 2 Briefe mit Antwort von dem Betriebspsychologe Ludwig Kroeber-Keneth an Max Horkheimer, 1954; 1 Brief mit Antwort und Beilage von Professor Oswald Kroh an Max Horkheimer, 1952; 1 Todesanzeige von Professor Oswald Kroh, 1955; 1 Brief mit Antwort von Professor Wilhelm Kromphardt an Max Horkheimer, 1958; 1 Brief mit Antwort von Max Horkheimer an den Zirkus Krone, 1956; 1 Gutachten über Hans Joachim Krüger, 1958; 1 Brief mit Antwort von Melitta Krüger an Max Horkheimer, 1958; 2 Briefe mit Antwort und Beilage von dem Privatdozent Otto Kühne an Max Horkheimer, 1954, 1957; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an den Ministerialrat Dr. Dr. Kühn, 1953; 1 Vermählungsanzeige von Walter Kühn, 1957; 1 Aktennotiz von dem Rundfunk Dr. Kuhnert, ohne Jahr; 1 Brief von P. W. Krüger an Max Horkheimer, 1951; 1 Vermählungsanzeige mit Antwort von Hans K. Kullmer, 1953; 3 Briefe mit Antwort und Beilage von Dr. rer. pol. Ulrich Küntzel an Max Horkheimer, 1952; 1 Brief mit Antwort von dem Professor Fritz Baade an Max Horkheimer, 1952; 3 Breife mit Antwort von dem Verlag Walter de Gruyter an Max Horkheimer, 1954, 1955; 1 Brief mit Antwort von Max Horkheimer an den Kürschners Deutscher Gelehrten-Kalender, 1954; 2 Drucksachen von der Sektkellerei Kupferberg & Co, 1956; 3 Briefe mit Antwort von dem Reisebüro Kuoni an Max Horkheimer, 1957; 1 Brief mit Antwort von Max Horkheimer an das Kurhaus "Zur Rose" Bad Meinberg, 1956; 2 Briefe mit Antwort und Beilage von der Kurhessische Gesellschaft für Kunst und Wissenschaft an Max Horkheimer, 1954; 1 Gutachten von Thomas Gabor Kürthy, 1958; 1 Brief mit Antwort von Max Horkheimer an den Generaldirektor Dr. Kuss, 1953; 1 Brief mit Antwort von Professor Joseph J. Kwiat an Max Horkheimer, 1955;