Time Course of Antibiotic and Antifungal Concentrations in Corneal Organ Culture.

PURPOSE Contamination with bacteria and/or fungi is a serious complication in organ-cultured corneas. Hence, antibiotic and antifungal agents are added to the culture medium. The concentration of different antimicrobial and antifungal additives to the media over time has so far not been investigated in detail and is the aim of this study. METHODS Nine human fresh corneoscleral discs were stored in corneal culture medium consisting of 2% fetal bovine serum and minimal essential medium. In addition, the culture medium contained 1200 μg/mL penicillin G, 25 μg/mL amphotericin B, 120 μg/mL streptomycin, and 100 μg/mL voriconazole. The concentration of amphotericin B used was 10 times higher than in clinical routine to facilitate its detection. The cultures were kept at 37°C for 28 days. At days 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28, samples of the culture medium were harvested for analysis of antimicrobial concentrations by liquid chromatography and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS During corneal storage, the concentration of all antibiotics and antifungal agents declined significantly. By day 28, penicillin G was reduced to 14% of the original concentration. Amphotericin B and streptomycin retained approximately 60% of the original concentration to the end of the experiment and voriconazole maintained stable concentrations after an initial decline to approximately 80% at 7 days. CONCLUSIONS Throughout the entire storage period, the concentrations of penicillin G, streptomycin, and voriconazole exceeded the minimum inhibitory concentrations of all common contaminants, obviating the need for a change of the medium for antimicrobial reasons. Based on the minimum inhibitory concentrations and our findings, the initial concentration of amphotericin B should be raised to 5 μg/mL.

[Rezension]

Theodor Harburger

Der Yudenshṭaṭ : a farzukh far a moderner lezung fun der iden-froge

fun Ṭeodor Hertsl. Iberzetst fun Sh. Bernshṭayn

Grundstriche zu einer constitutionellen Schul- und Volksbildung in Deutschland

Boberach: Ein dreigliedriges Schulsystem, das vom Staat getragen wird, aber durch kirchliche Einrichtungen zu ergänzen ist, soll alle Bildungsansprüche auch für gewerblich-technische Berufe und für die Frauenbildung erfüllen

Die Grundsteuer und das Recht : eine Betrachtung

Boberach: Da die Grundsteuer auf dem Denkfehler beruht, daß auch Sachen, nicht nur Menschen steuerpflichtig sein können, ist sie zu beseitigen. - Welsch (Projektbearbeiter): Verfasser der vorliegenden Schrift ist möglicherweise der Thorner Oberbürgermeister Theodor Eduard Körner (1810 - 1891), der 1849-1852 Abgeordneter der Zweiten Preußischen Kammer war

Katechismus der Politik : Darstellung und Erörterung der wichtigsten politischen Fragen und Staats-Verfassungen : dem Deutschen Volke gewidmet

Boberach: Auf die Erklärung politischer Begriffe aus Gesellschaft und Staat folgt die Beschreibung möglicher Verfassungsformen, von denen die konstitutionelle Monarchie bevorzugt, die Republik scharf abgelehnt wird. - Welsch (Projektbearbeiter): Von dem Schriftsteller des 'Jungen Deutschland' und Breslauer Literaturprofessor (seit 1848) Theodor Mundt

Die Grundrechte des deutschen Volkes : für das deutsche Volk bearbeitet ; gekrönte Preisschrift

Boberach: Die Grundrechte sollen als wichtigste Märzerrungenschaft dem Volk bekanntgemacht werden

Functional proteomics and biochemistry: working together to unravel mitochondrial phenomena of African trypanosomes

Eukaryotic cells are compartmentalized into membrane-bound organelles in order to provide sheltered reaction rooms for various specific processes. Organelles are not randomly distributed in a cell or operate isolated from each other. At the contrary — some organelles are closely linked and their functions are tightly orchestrated. The most well-known example of two such organelles acting in concert are the ER and the mitochondrion that work together in order to coordinate cellular lipid biosynthesis, maintain Ca2+-homeostasis, regulate mitochondrial division and control mitochondrial/ER shape as well as to synchronize the movement of these organelles within a cell. To study the mitochondrion and its interface to the ER requires a simplified mitochondrial system. African trypanosomes represent such a system. The unicellular parasite that causes devastating diseases in humans and animals has only one large mitochondrion that does not undergo fission/fusion events except for the context of cell division. Moreover, mitochondrial functions and morphology are highly regulated throughout the life cycle of the protozoan. Central to the understanding of how mitochondria control their morphology, communicate with their surroundings and manage exchange of metabolites and transport of biopolymers (proteins, RNAs) is the mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM), as the MOM defines the boundary of the organelle. Recently, we have purified the MOM of T. brucei and characterized its proteome using label-free quantitative mass spectrometry for protein abundance profiling in combination with statistical analysis. Our results show that the trypanosomal MOM proteome consists of 82 proteins, two thirds of which have never been associated with mitochondria before. Among these, we identified novel factors required to regulate mitochondrial morphology and the long-elusive protein import machinery of T. brucei. A comparison with the MOM proteome of yeast defines a set of 17 common proteins that are likely present in the mitochondrial outer membrane of all eukaryotes. One of these is the Miro-GTPase Gem1. In yeast, this Ca2+-EF-Hand containing polypeptide is thought to be involved in a protein complex that physically tethers the mitochondrion to the ER. Interestingly, a putative tethering complex in mammalian cells was linked to the mitochondrial fusion/fission machinery. Thus, the concept of a protein complex-mediated connection seems to be a general and conserved feature. We are currently investigating, if such a protein complex exists in T. brucei and if the trypanosomal Gem1 protein is involved. This ER-subdomain associated with mitochondria has been termed mitochondria-associated ER-membranes or MAM. The MAM has recently been implicated to play a key role in Alzheimer’s disease. It is therefore of broad and general interest to establish other eukaryotic model systems in order to investigate the MAM-MOM connection in more detail.

Clinical and haemodynamic outcomes in 658 patients receiving the Perceval sutureless aortic valve: early results from a prospective European multicentre study (the Cavalier Trial)†.

OBJECTIVES The aim of the Cavalier trial was to evaluate the safety and performance of the Perceval sutureless aortic valve in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR). We report the 30-day clinical and haemodynamic outcomes from the largest study cohort with a sutureless valve. METHODS From February 2010 to September 2013, 658 consecutive patients (mean age 77.8 years; 64.4% females; mean logistic EuroSCORE 10.2%) underwent AVR in 25 European Centres. Isolated AVRs were performed in 451 (68.5%) patients with a less invasive approach in 219 (33.3%) cases. Of the total, 40.0% were octogenarians. Congenital bicuspid aortic valve was considered an exclusion criterion. RESULTS Implantation was successful in 628 patients (95.4%). In isolated AVR through sternotomy, the mean cross-clamp time and the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time were 32.6 and 53.7 min, and with the less invasive approach 38.8 and 64.5 min, respectively. The 30-day overall and valve-related mortality rates were 3.7 and 0.5%, respectively. Valve explants, stroke and endocarditis occurred in 0.6, 2.1 and in 0.1% of cases, respectively. Preoperative mean and peak pressure gradients decreased from 44.8 and 73.24 mmHg to 10.24 and 19.27 mmHg at discharge, respectively. The mean effective orifice area improved from 0.72 to 1.46 cm(2). CONCLUSIONS The current 30-day results show that the Perceval valve is safe (favourable haemodynamic effect and low complication rate), and can be implanted with a fast and reproducible technique after a short learning period. Short cross-clamp and CPB times were achieved in both isolated and combined procedures. The Perceval valve represents a promising alternative to biological AVR, especially with a less invasive approach and in older patients.

Die Grundrechte des deutschen Volkes : mit Belehrungen und Erläuterungen

Boberach: Der Kommentar soll dazu beitragen, daß jedermann in der Lage ist, sich zu wehren, wenn gegen Grundrechte verstoßen wird

Sutureless Aortic Valve Replacement International Registry (SU-AVR-IR): design and rationale from the International Valvular Surgery Study Group (IVSSG).

BACKGROUND Sutureless aortic valve replacement (SU-AVR) is an innovative approach which shortens cardiopulmonary bypass and cross-clamp durations and may facilitate minimally invasive approach. Evidence outlining its safety, efficacy, hemodynamic profile and potential complications is replete with small-volume observational studies and few comparative publications. METHODS Minimally invasive aortic valve surgery and high-volume SU-AVR replacement centers were contacted for recruitment into a global collaborative coalition dedicated to sutureless valve research. A Research Steering Committee was formulated to direct research and support the mission of providing registry evidence warranted for SU-AVR. RESULTS The International Valvular Surgery Study Group (IVSSG) was formed under the auspices of the Research Steering Committee, comprised of 36 expert valvular surgeons from 27 major centers across the globe. IVSSG Sutureless Projects currently proceeding include the Retrospective and Prospective Phases of the SU-AVR International Registry (SU-AVR-IR). CONCLUSIONS The global pooling of data by the IVSSG Sutureless Projects will provide required robust clinical evidence on the safety, efficacy and hemodynamic outcomes of SU-AVR.

Sutureless aortic valve replacement: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND Sutureless aortic valve replacement (SU-AVR) has emerged as an innovative alternative for treatment of aortic stenosis. By avoiding the placement of sutures, this approach aims to reduce cross-clamp and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) duration and thereby improve surgical outcomes and facilitate a minimally invasive approach suitable for higher risk patients. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aims to assess the safety and efficacy of SU-AVR approach in the current literature. METHODS Electronic searches were performed using six databases from their inception to January 2014. Relevant studies utilizing sutureless valves for aortic valve implantation were identified. Data were extracted and analyzed according to predefined clinical endpoints. RESULTS Twelve studies were identified for inclusion of qualitative and quantitative analyses, all of which were observational reports. The minimally invasive approach was used in 40.4% of included patients, while 22.8% underwent concomitant coronary bypass surgery. Pooled cross-clamp and CPB duration for isolated AVR was 56.7 and 46.5 minutes, respectively. Pooled 30-day and 1-year mortality rates were 2.1% and 4.9%, respectively, while the incidences of strokes (1.5%), valve degenerations (0.4%) and paravalvular leaks (PVL) (3.0%) were acceptable. CONCLUSIONS The evaluation of current observational evidence suggests that sutureless aortic valve implantation is a safe procedure associated with shorter cross-clamp and CPB duration, and comparable complication rates to the conventional approach in the short-term.

Zeitgenossen in Biographieen und Porträts : ein Volksbuch

Boberach: Behandelt werden Alexander Freiherr von Soiron, Jakob Venedey, Oskar von Wydenbrugk, Gottlieb Christian Schüler, Heinrich Freiherr von Gagern, Ernst Moritz Arndt, Carl Theodor Welcker, Friedrich Ludwig Jahn, Franz Schuselka, Friedrich Siegmund Jucho, Johann Gustav Moritz Heckscher, Felix Fürst von Lichnowsky, Friedrich Christoph Dahlmann, Anton Ritter von Schmerling, Franz Raveaux, Heinrich Simon, Johann Jacoby, Robert Blum, Johann Erzherzog von Österreich, Louis Cavaignac, Friedrich Hecker, Friedrich von Wrangel, Joseph Wenzel Graf Radetzky, Joseph Freiherr Jellachich von Buszin, Hermann Rollett, Alphonse de Lamartine, Georg Jung, Louis Napoleon, Ernst Alfred Fürst zu Windischgrätz, Ferdinand Freiligrath, Ludwig Kossuth, Emanuel Geibel

Das Kurhessische Wahlgesetz, seine Freunde und seine Gegner

Welsch (Projektbearbeiter): Darlegung der Haltungen der 'Neuen Hessischen Zeitung', der Regierung, der Radikalen und der Konservativen

Mitbürger! In einer von 12 Männern unterzeichneten Flugschrift ist euch der Professor Hildebrand ...

Welsch (Projektbearbeiter): Empfehlung, anstelle des Geschichtsprofessors Friedrich Bruno Hildebrand den Philosophieprofessor Karl Theodor Bayrhoffer als Vertreter Marburgs in die konstituierende Nationalversammlung zu Frankfurt/Main zu entsenden