Prevention of Klebsiella infections by passive immunotherapy has received more attention during the last decade. Both K antigen-and O antigen-specific antisera and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have ...been studied with respect to phagocytosis-enhancing and in vivo protective capacities. Our own work has focussed on the generation of O serogroup-specific rabbit antisera and O antigen specific murine antibodies. O-specific rabbit sera were absorbed extensively with heterologous O antigen strains in order to obtain highly specific typing reagents. Using these for typing a collection of 378 clinical strains, we found that 82% of them belonged to one of the four serogroups O1, O2ab, O3 and O5. Phagocytosis experiments using antisera and mAbs showed that O antigen specific antibodies were able to opsonize non-encapsulated strains, while fully encapsulated bacteria were rather resistant against the opsonizing effect. Nevertheless, in vivo experiments demonstrated a prophylactic effect on both Klebsiella septicemia and pneumonia in a mouse model of lethal infection. Given the limited number of O serogroups, O antigen-specific antibodies may be suited to supplement K antigen-specific hyperimmune globulins for passive immunoprophylaxis of Klebsiella infections.
A new quantitative polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) was designed to detect Toxoplasma DNA in human body fluid samples.
Real-time fluorescence detection of amplification product formation on ...the basis of the TaqMan-System was established with Toxoplasma 18S rDNA as a target gene.
The method provides a high sensitivity comparable to conventional nested PCR procedures and generates quantitative data when detecting toxoplasmic DNA in human blood, cerebrospinal or amniotic fluid. Moreover, data were obtained investigating blood samples from an immunocompromised patient with reactivated toxoplasmosis after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, monitoring the therapeutic effect.
The potential application of this method to detect Toxoplasma DNA in body fluids and to follow the development of parasitemia under therapy could be demonstrated.
Acute early life stress (ELS) alters stress system functioning in adulthood and increases susceptibility to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD). The current study ...assessed the effects of acute, infant ELS on alcohol drinking, including aversion‐resistant drinking, in male and female Long Evans rats. Acute ELS was induced using a stress‐enhanced fear learning (SEFL) protocol that consisted of 15 footshocks delivered on postnatal day (PND) 17. Alcohol drinking during adolescence and adulthood was measured with a two‐bottle choice intermittent alcohol access paradigm. Aversion‐resistant drinking was assessed in adulthood by adding quinine (0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 g/L) to the alcohol bottle after 5 to 6 weeks and 11 to 12 weeks of drinking. ELS had minimal influences on adolescent and adult alcohol consumption and preference. However, ELS, sex, and alcohol exposure history all influenced aversion‐resistant alcohol drinking in an additive fashion. Higher concentrations of quinine were tolerated in females, ELS‐exposed rats, and after 11 to 12 weeks of drinking. Tests of quinine sensitivity in a separate cohort of animals found that rats can detect concentrations of quinine as low as 0.001 g/L in water and that quinine sensitivity is not influenced by sex or ELS exposure. These results agree with reports of sex differences in aversion‐resistant drinking and are the first to demonstrate an influence of ELS on this behavior. Our results also suggest that a single traumatic stress exposure in infancy may be a promising model of comorbid PTSD and AUD and useful in studying the interactions between ELS, sex, and alcohol dependence.
The effects of acute, early life stress (ELS) on aversion‐resistant alcoholdrinking were assessed in Long Evans rats. Rats were exposed to 15 footshocks ininfancy (PND 17) and drank alcohol in a two‐bottle choice intermittent alcohol access paradigm during adolescence and adulthood. For aversion‐resistant drinking, quinine was added to the alcohol bottle after 5‐6 weeks and 11‐12weeks of drinking. Higher concentrations of quinine were tolerated in females, ELS‐exposed rats, and after 11‐12 weeks of drinking
Inspired by recent experimental subatomic measurements using analytical aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopes, we study electron probe propagation in crystalline SrTiO3 at ...the subatomic length scale. Here, we report the existence of subatomic channeling and the formation of a helicon-type beam at this scale. The results of beam propagation simulations, which are performed at various crystal temperatures, STEM probe convergence angles (10–50 mrad), and beam energies (80–300 keV), showed that reducing the ambient temperature can enhance the subatomic channeling and STEM probe parameters can be used to control the features of helicon-type beams.
Background
Netrin-1, a secreted laminin-related protein, is known to regulate not only axonal guidance and neuronal cell migration, but also blood–brain barrier integrity and inflammation. Two ...preliminary studies reported altered serum netrin-1 levels in multiple sclerosis; however, associations with longitudinal clinical and magnetic resonance imaging activity have not been investigated.
Objectives
We aimed to assess serum netrin-1 in multiple sclerosis and controls with respect to disease activity and its temporal dynamics.
Methods
Serum netrin-1 was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 79 patients with clinically isolated syndrome or multiple sclerosis, and 30 non-inflammatory neurological disease controls. In patients, serum samples were collected immediately prior to gadolinium-enhanced 3 T magnetic resonance imaging at two time points (initial contrast-enhancing gadolinium+ n = 47, non-enhancing gadolinium– n = 32; reference gadolinium– n = 70; median time-lag 1.4, interquartile range 1.0–2.3 years).
Results
Serum netrin-1 levels were similar in clinically isolated syndrome, multiple sclerosis and controls, and gadolinium+ and gadolinium– patients. Among gadolinium+ patients, serum netrin-1 was decreased in clinically active (n = 8) vs non-active patients (n = 39; p = 0.041). Serum netrin-1 showed no temporal dynamics in multiple sclerosis and was unrelated to clinical data.
Conclusions
Serum netrin-1 levels show no multiple sclerosis specific changes and are not sensitive for detection of subclinical disease activity. Netrin-1 changes during relapses may deserve further examination.
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•Intermetallic Ni–Zn catalysts were employed for acetylene semi-hydrogenation.•Isotopic labeling was used to evaluate reaction pathways.•Ethylene selectivity increases with increasing ...zinc content.•Zinc addition to nickel reduces the propensity for carbon–carbon bond formation.
Isotopic labeling and density functional theory (DFT) were used to determine the mechanism for acetylene hydrogenation and oligomerization on well-defined intermetallic nickel–zinc catalysts. The primary benefit of adding zinc to nickel is a reduction in oligomeric species formation which leads to higher ethylene selectivity. The production of ethane is not highly dependent on zinc content; therefore, ethane production is not a good descriptor of ethylene selectivity since acetylene may also be converted to higher molecular weight products. Analysis using DFT and Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetics shows that the large decrease in the adsorption energy of acetylene on intermetallic NiZn compared to pure Ni is responsible for the observed increase in ethylene selectivity. The adsorption energy of acetylene appears to be a descriptor for carbon–carbon bond formation since a high adsorption energy leads to an increased coverage of C2 species and an increased rate of carbon–carbon bond formation.
To date, only few data are available on how family burden in schizophrenia changes over time. In addition, no study has explored how such factors as coping styles and social support influence burden ...over time. This paper presents the 1-year follow-up data from the BIOMED I study on family burden and coping strategies in schizophrenia.
A sample of 159 relatives of patients with schizophrenia living in five European countries was followed up prospectively for 1 year with regard to burden and coping strategies, using validated questionnaires.
In the sample as a whole, the burden was stable. A reduction of family burden over time was found among relatives who adopted less emotion-focused coping strategies and received more practical support from their social network. In addition, family burden decreased in relation to the improvement of patient's social functioning.
When relatives of patients with schizophrenia are able to improve their coping strategies, it is possible for burden to be reduced even after several years. This points to the necessity to provide families of chronic psychotic patients with psychoeducational interventions emphasising the adoption of an effective coping style.
Establishing a Brain-Death Donor Model in Pigs Sereinigg, M; Stiegler, P; Puntschart, A ...
Transplantation proceedings,
09/2012, Letnik:
44, Številka:
7
Journal Article, Conference Proceeding
Recenzirano
Abstract Introduction An animal model that imitates human conditions might be useful not only to monitor pathomechanisms of brain death and biochemical cascades but also to investigate novel ...strategies to ameliorate organ quality and functionality after multiorgan donation. Methods Brain death was induced in 15 pigs by inserting a catheter into the intracranial space after trephination of the skull and augmenting intracranial pressure until brain stem herniation. Intracranial pressure was monitored continuously; after 60 minutes, brain death diagnostics were performed by a neurologist including electroencephalogram (EEG) and clinical examinations. Clinical examinations included testing of brain stem reflexes as well as apnoe testing; then intensive donor care was performed according to standard guidelines until 24 hours after confirmation of brain death. Intensive donor care was performed according to standard guidelines for 24 hours after brain death. Results Sixty minutes after brain-death induction, neurological examination and EEG examination confirmed brain death. Intracranial pressure increased continuously, remaining stable after the occurrence of brain death. All 15 animals showed typical signs of brain death such as diabetes insipidus, hypertensive and hypotensive periods, as well as tachycardia. All symptoms were treated with standard medications. After 24 hours of brain death we performed successful multiorgan retrieval. Discussion Brain death can be induced in a pig model by inserting a catheter after trephination of the skull. According to standard guidelines the brain-death diagnosis was established by a flat-line EEG, which occurred in all animals at 60 minutes after induction.
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