Hippocampal dysgenesis and variable neuropsychiatric phenotypes in patients with Bardet-Biedl syndrome underline complex CNS impact of primary cilia

The Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a rare ciliopathy clinically defined by the association of retinitis pigmentosa, polydactyly, obesity, kidney disease and cognitive impairment. The cognitive functioning, behavioral phenotype, prevalence of psychiatric diseases and memory performances of a cohort of 34 patients with BBS were evaluated and a systemic brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed. The patients' cognitive functioning was of marked variable efficiency ranging from normal to disabling performances. Neuropsychological disorders such as slow thought process, attention difficulties and obsessive-compulsive traits were observed. Our main finding was hippocampal dysgenesis, diagnosed by MRI, found in 42.31% of the patients in this cohort. Moreover, we show that BBS proteins are expressed in the human hippocampus and in the human brain in the normal subject. Recent literature in the murine model shows that hippocampal neurogenesis, in particular in the adult mouse, requires an intact primary cilia. These results encourage us to further investigate the possible role of BBS proteins in the hippocampus and related central nervous system structures.

Glycyrrhiza glabra extract protects plants against important phytopathogenic fungi

In previous investigations an ethanolic plant extract from Glycyrrhiza glabra (2.5% w/v) showed 100% efficacy against late blight (Phytophthora infestans) on detached tomato leaves. Based on these findings, the objective of this work was to investigate the effect of this extract against different important plant pathogenic fungi. Tests were carried out on potted plants. Against P. infestans, efficacies of 75% and 58% were achieved on tomato and potato plants with 5% extract concentration, respectively. Against another Oomycete, Pseudoperonospora cubensis, on cucumber, application of a 2.5% extract led to an efficacy of above 90%. The EC50-value was calculated to be 0.5% In a trial on beans against bean rust (Uromyces appendiculatus), G. glabra extract (5% concentration) showed 92% efficacy. In contrast, against powdery mildew on cucumber (Podosphaera xanthii), no disease reduction was found. Overall, the results indicate a high potential for the extract of G. glabra to control a number of important plant pathogens.

Control of downy mildew (Pseudoperonospora cubensis) of greenhouse grown cucumbers with alternative biological agents

In organic cucumber production infection with downy mildew (Pseudoperonospora cubensis) is a major problem. Plant extracts from Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (licorice), a plant belonging to the family Fabaceae, and Salvia officinalis (sage) as well as cultures of the bacterium Aneurinibacillus migulanus were investigated for efficacy of disease control under commercial growing conditions. Contrary to bioassays, where sage extract and the microorganism showed highest activity, in the trials of 2008 G. glabra extract was more effective than sage extract or A. migulanus against P. cubensis. Parameters such as concentrations of the preparations or application intervals could have been the reason for this. In the following year's trial (2009) the concentration of these agents was therefore increased somewhat and plants were either treated in seven day application intervals or in ten day application intervals. In the semi-commercial trials of 2009 all alternative biological agents showed good efficacies up to around 80% against infection with downy mildew. The application interval seemed to have a marginal effect only. Again, the licorice extract tended to be the best agent.

Electronic transport calculations for rough interfaces in Al, Cu, Ag, and Au

We present results of electronic structure and transport calculations for metallic interfaces, based on density functional theory and the non-equilibrium Green's function method. Starting from the electronic structure of smooth Al, Cu, Ag, and Au interfaces, we study the effects of different kinds of interface roughness on the transmission coefficient and the I-V characteristic. In particular, we compare prototypical interface distortions, including vacancies and metallic impurities.

First-principles calculations of electronic states and self-doping effects at a 45 degrees grain boundary in the high temperature YBa2Cu3O7 superconductor

The charge redistribution at grain boundaries determines the applicability of high-T_{c} superconductors in electronic devices because the transport across the grains can be hindered considerably. We investigate the local charge transfer and the modification of the electronic states in the vicinity of the grain-grain interface by ab initio calculations for a (normal-state) 45 degrees -tilted [001] grain boundary in YBa2Cu3O7. Our results explain the suppressed interface transport and the influence of grain boundary doping in a quantitative manner, in accordance with the experimental situation. The charge redistribution is found to be strongly inhomogeneous, which has a substantial effect on transport properties since it gives rise to a self-doping of 0.10+/-0.02 holes per Cu atom.

Interaction between the chain and ladder subsystems in (Ca,Sr,La)(14)Cu(24)O(41) compounds

We investigate the influence of structural modulations on the electronic properties of incommensurate (Ca,Sr,La)(14)Cu(24)O(41) compounds by band structure calculations based on density functional theory and the local density approximation (LDA). Using a supercell approach with ten CuO(2) chain and seven Cu(2)O(3) ladder segments, we take into account the major effects of the structural incommensurability. We find that the LDA electronic states show very little response to these modulations. The coupling between the electronic and structural degrees of freedom, hence, can be well described in terms of two independent subsystems. The incommensurate charge density waves (CDWs) in the chains and the ladders are formed independently of each other.

Magnetic ground state of coupled edge-sharing CuO2 spin chains

By means of density functional theory, we investigate the magnetic ground state of edge-sharing CuO2 spin chains, as found in the (La,Ca,Sr)14Cu24O41 system, for instance. Our data rely on spin-polarized electronic structure calculations including on-site interaction [local density approximation plus the multiorbital mean-field Hubbard model (LDA+U)] and an effective model for the interchain coupling. Strong doping dependence of the magnetic order is characteristic for edge-sharing CuO2 spin chains. We determine the ground state magnetic structure as function of the spin-chain filling and quantify the competing exchange interactions.

Influence of total IgE levels on the severity of sting reactions in Hymenoptera venom allergy

BACKGROUND

Detection of specific IgE for Hymenoptera venoms and skin tests are well established diagnostic tools for the diagnosis of insect venom hypersensitivity. The aim of our study was to analyze the effect of total IgE levels on the outcome of generalized anaphylactic reactions after a Hymenoptera sting.

METHODS

Two hundred and twenty patients allergic to bee, wasp, or European hornet venom were included in the study. Their specific and total IgE levels, serum tryptase levels, skin tests, and sting history were analyzed.

RESULTS

In patients with mild reactions (grade I, generalized skin symptoms) we observed higher total IgE levels (248.0 kU/l) compared to patients with moderate reactions (grade II, moderate pulmonary, cardiovascular, or gastrointestinal symptoms; 75.2 kU/l) and severe reactions (grade III, bronchoconstriction, emesis, anaphylactic shock, or loss of consciousness; 56.5 kU/l; P < 0.001). Accordingly, 25% of the patients with low levels of total IgE (<50 kU/l), but no individual with total IgE levels >250 kU/l, developed loss of consciousness (P = 0.001). Additionally, specific IgE levels were related to total IgE levels: Specific IgE levels increased from 1.6 to 7.1 kU/l in patients with low (<50 kU/l) and high (>250 kU/l) total IgE levels, respectively (P < 0.001). Specific IgE levels correlated inversely to the clinical reaction grades, however, this trend was not statistically significant (P = 0.083).

CONCLUSION

Patients with Hymenoptera venom allergy and high levels (>250 kU/l) of total IgE, predominantly develop grade I and grade II reactions and appear to be protected from grade III reactions. However, this hypothesis should be confirmed by extended studies with sting challenges.

Photoluminescence enhancement in nanoimprinted photonic crystals and coupled surface plasmons

A method to enhance the photoluminescence of dye chromophores-loaded by coupling the emission to surface plasmons in nanoimprinted photonic crystals is reported. A 9-fold enhancement in the spontaneous emission intensity of a rhodamine-doped polymer film is achieved on a silver layer due to surface plasmon excitation. By changing the surface plasmon frequency, this enhancement can be suppressed. When the polymer film is patterned by nanoimprint lithography with a twodimensional photonic crystal the photoluminescence intensity increases up to 27 times compared to unpatterned samples on a quartz substrate.

New Technologies and Concepts for Rehabilitation in the Acute Phase of Stroke: A Collaborative Matrix

The process of developing a successful stroke rehabilitation methodology requires four key components: a good understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this brain disease, clear neuroscientific hypotheses to guide therapy, adequate clinical assessments of its efficacy on multiple timescales, and a systematic approach to the application of modern technologies to assist in the everyday work of therapists. Achieving this goal requires collaboration between neuroscientists, technologists and clinicians to develop well-founded systems and clinical protocols that are able to provide quantitatively validated improvements in patient rehabilitation outcomes. In this article we present three new applications of complementary technologies developed in an interdisciplinary matrix for acute-phase upper limb stroke rehabilitation - functional electrical stimulation, arm robot-assisted therapy and virtual reality-based cognitive therapy. We also outline the neuroscientific basis of our approach, present our detailed clinical assessment protocol and provide preliminary results from patient testing of each of the three systems showing their viability for patient use.

Immunoglobulin E and G antibody profiles to grass pollen allergens during a short course of sublingual immunotherapy

BACKGROUND

Various studies have shown the clinical efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy in grass pollen-induced rhinoconjunctivitis. However, even short-term treatment with grass extracts might cause sensitizations to formerly unrecognized antigens.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether the antibody profiles are changing in patients receiving a defined grass pollen extract prior to and during the grass pollen season.

METHODS

A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter phase I/I111 trial was started prior to the commencement of the grass pollen season. Patients with grass pollen allergy were randomly allocated to four groups, and received daily a standardized tablet at different doses. Treatment was started 8 weeks prior to the beginning of the pollen season and stopped at the end of the season. Blood samples were taken at the beginning of the study, at the beginning and the end of the pollen season, and one year after commencement of the study.

RESULTS

At the beginning of the study, all patients tested positive for the major grass pollen allergens, but negative to the minor antigens. In all patients, the degree of antibody reactivity rose considerably after starting active treatment and fell back to the initial values within one year. Immunoglobulin (Ig) E antibodies to the minor antigens remained negative, independent of treatment and seasonal exposure. In contrast to IgE, specific IgG antibodies to all allergens tested revealed no specific trend.

CONCLUSIONS

Immunotherapy with grass allergen tablets was accompanied by an increase in grass-specific IgE antibodies, which further increased during pollen exposure, followed by a post-treatment drop in patient- and disease-specific antibodies. During this short course of treatment, no patient developed any additional sensitizations.

Mutations in the ribosomal protein gene RPL10 suggest a novel modulating disease mechanism for autism

Autism has a strong genetic background with a higher frequency of affected males suggesting involvement of X-linked genes and possibly also other factors causing the unbalanced sex ratio in the etiology of the disorder. We have identified two missense mutations in the ribosomal protein gene RPL10 located in Xq28 in two independent families with autism. We have obtained evidence that the amino-acid substitutions L206M and H213Q at the C-terminal end of RPL10 confer hypomorphism with respect to the regulation of the translation process while keeping the basic translation functions intact. This suggests the contribution of a novel, possibly modulating aberrant cellular function operative in autism. Previously, we detected high expression of RPL10 by RNA in situ hybridization in mouse hippocampus, a constituent of the brain limbic system known to be afflicted in autism. Based on these findings, we present a model for autistic disorder where a change in translational function is suggested to impact on those cognitive functions that are mediated through the limbic system.

Vascular pattern of the palms--a clinical feature of atopic skin diathesis

BACKGROUND

Atopic skin diathesis is a clinical term to describe skin atopics with previous, present or future atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome (AEDS). In clinical practice, an unequivocal assessment of atopic skin diathesis in non-eczematous patients may be difficult. The majority of the known clinical features included in diagnostic scores are characteristic, but not specific markers of atopy. Especially, the vasoreactivity of atopic skin is disturbed. This is manifested by white dermographism, an irregular vascular response to thermal stimuli, and paradoxic skin reactions to histamine, cholinergic agents, and nicotinates.

OBJECTIVE

The aims of our study were to investigate the clinical morphology of palmar vascular reactions in skin atopic and non-atopic individuals, and to determine whether this abnormal vascular reaction is more pronounced in skin atopic individuals.

METHODS

Forty persons, 20 of them skin atopics, assessed by the Erlangen Atopy Score and an elevated serum IgE level (>150 U/ml), were included in a prospective single-centre study. Standardized digital photographs of the palms were presented in a blinded manner to five dermatologists in random order by means of the computerized imaging analysis system KS400 3.0.

RESULTS

Evaluation of the original rgb (red, green, blue) color images and modified gray-level images showed that a pronounced reticular pattern of erythema of the palms was significantly (P < 0.0001) more common in skin atopics (72% and 69.6%, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The gross vascular pattern of the palm might be an additional diagnostic feature of atopy, and further studies are needed to establish its exact prevalence.