Zur antimikrobiellen und viruziden Wirkung eines Hals- und Rachensprays auf der Basis von Hexamidin

Antiseptika zur Anwendung auf den Schleimhäuten des Rachenraums dienen nicht nur der Behandlung akuter Symptome bei mikrobiellen oder viralen Infektionen. Zunehmend ist die Anwendung von Antiseptika die einzige noch verbleibende Alternative, wenn auf die Verwendung von Antibiotika verzichtet werden soll oder muss. Dies gilt insbesondere für die Sanierung von MRSA-Trägern. Die Auswahl an geeigneten Wirkstoffen wie auch an verfügbaren Präparaten zur Anwendung auf Schleimhautoberflächen ist begrenzt, und viele von ihnen weisen nicht die erforderliche antimikrobielle oder viruzide Wirksamkeit auf.

Ziel der vorgestellten Untersuchung war daher die Überprüfung der antibakteriellen und viruziden Wirkung eines kommerziellen Präparats, basierend auf der Substanz Hexamidindiisetionat.

Die Ergebnisse haben gezeigt, dass die Substanz, in einer Dosierung von 1 mg /1 g Lösung und konfektioniert als Rachenspray, eine gute mikrobiostatische und levurostatische Wirksamkeit aufweist. Eine viruzide oder antivirale Wirkung konnte dagegen bei dieser Dosierung nicht gefunden werden.

Applicability domain: towards a more formal definition

In recent years the applicability domain (AD) of a prediction system has become an important concern in (Q)SAR modelling, especially in the context of human safety assessment. Today AD is an active research topic, and many methods have been designed to estimate the adequacy of a model and the confidence in its outcome for a given prediction task. Unfortunately, the wide spectrum of techniques developed for this purpose is based on various definitions of the concept of AD, often taking into account different types of information. This variety of methodologies confuses the end users and makes the comparison of the AD for different models almost impossible. In this article, we demonstrate that AD is not a monolithic concept and can be broken down into three well-defined sub-domains assessing confidence at the model, prediction and decision levels, respectively. By leveraging this separation of concerns we have an opportunity to clarify, formalize and extend the definition of AD. We propose a framework that captures this new vision with the aim to initiate a global effort to converge towards a common AD definition within the (Q)SAR community.

Untersuchungen zur mikrobistatischen, viruziden und antiviralen Wirksamkeit eines antiseptischen Präparates basierend auf Amylmetacresol, 2,4-Dichlorbenzylalkohol und Levomenthol

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde die viruzide, antivirale und antimikrobielle Wirkung einer Wirkstoffmischung aus 2,4-Dichlorbenzylalkohol, Amylmetacresol und Levomenthol untersucht. Die Prüfung der viruziden Wirkung erfolgte entsprechend der Leitlinie der Deutschen Vereinigung zur Bekämpfung der Viruskrankeiten (DVV) mit Hilfe von Vaccinia-, Adeno- und Poliovirus. Zur Untersuchung der antiviralen Wirkung wurden Interferenztests mit Coronavirus auf PT-Zellen durchgeführt.

Zur Prüfung der bakteriostatischen und levurostatischen Wirkung dienten Agardiffusionstests mit Staphylococcus aureus sowie ein multiresistenter Stamm dieses Keims (MRSA), ferner Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes und Candida albicans .

Gegenüber Vacciniavirus konnte eine Wirkung gemessen werden, die mit einem Reduktionsfaktor von > 4 log-Stufen die Kriterien eines Desinfektionsmittels für Schleimhautoberflächen erfüllt und so eine umfassende Wirkung gegen andere behüllte Viren nahelegt. Gegenüber unbehüllten Viren erwies sich die Formulierung dagegen als nicht wirksam. Ebenso konnten keine antivirale und damit intrazelluläre Wirkung nachgewiesen werden.

Die unverdünnte Wirkstofflösung zeigte gegenüber allen geprüften Bakterienstämmen, insbesondere jedoch gegenüber S. aureus sowie gegenüber dem MRSA-Stamm eine deutliche Wirkung, vor allem jedoch gegenüber C. albicans.

Die Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass die Rezepturkomponenten der geprüften Wirkstoffmischung zur Erzielung einer antiseptischen Wirksamkeit in Dosierung wie im Mischungsverhältnis optimal eingestellt sind. Die gemessene Wirkung scheint rein topischer Natur zu sein. Die nicht nachweisbare antivirale Wirkung lässt das Eindringen der Wirkstoffe in Schleimhautzellen als unwahrscheinlich erscheinen.

High-intensity interval training prevents oxidant-mediated diaphragm muscle weakness in hypertensive mice

Hypertension is a key risk factor for heart failure, with the latter characterized by diaphragm muscle weakness that is mediated in part by increased oxidative stress. In the present study, we used a deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt mouse model to determine whether hypertension could independently induce diaphragm dysfunction and further investigated the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Sham-treated (n = 11), DOCA-salt-treated (n = 11), and DOCA-salt+HIIT-treated (n = 15) mice were studied over 4 wk. Diaphragm contractile function, protein expression, enzyme activity, and fiber cross-sectional area and type were subsequently determined. Elevated blood pressure confirmed hypertension in DOCA-salt mice independent of HIIT (P < 0.05). Diaphragm forces were impaired by ∼15-20% in DOCA-salt vs. sham-treated mice (P < 0.05), but this effect was prevented after HIIT. Myosin heavy chain (MyHC) protein expression tended to decrease (∼30%; P = 0.06) in DOCA-salt vs. sham- and DOCA-salt+HIIT mice, whereas oxidative stress increased (P < 0.05). Enzyme activity of NADPH oxidase was higher, but superoxide dismutase was lower, with MyHC oxidation elevated by ∼50%. HIIT further prevented direct oxidant-mediated diaphragm contractile dysfunction (P < 0.05) after a 30 min exposure to H₂O-₂ (1 mM). Our data suggest that hypertension induces diaphragm contractile dysfunction via an oxidant-mediated mechanism that is prevented by HIIT.-Bowen, T. S., Eisenkolb, S., Drobner, J., Fischer, T., Werner, S., Linke, A., Mangner, N., Schuler, G., Adams, V. High-intensity interval training prevents oxidant-mediated diaphragm muscle weakness in hypertensive mice.

Analysis of nucleophosmin-anaplastic lymphoma kinase (NPM-ALK)-reactive CD8(+) T cell responses in children with NPM-ALK(+) anaplastic large cell lymphoma

Cellular immune responses against the oncoantigen anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) in patients with ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) have been detected using peptide-based approaches in individuals preselected for human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-A*02:01. In this study, we aimed to evaluate nucleophosmin (NPM)-ALK-specific CD8(+) T cell responses in ALCL patients ensuring endogenous peptide processing of ALK antigens and avoiding HLA preselection. We also examined the HLA class I restriction of ALK-specific CD8(+) T cells. Autologous dendritic cells (DCs) transfected with in-vitro-transcribed RNA (IVT-RNA) encoding NPM-ALK were used as antigen-presenting cells for T cell stimulation. Responder T lymphocytes were tested in interferon-gamma enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assays with NPM-ALK-transfected autologous DCs as well as CV-1 in Origin with SV40 genes (COS-7) cells co-transfected with genes encoding the patients' HLA class I alleles and with NPM-ALK encoding cDNA to verify responses and define the HLA restrictions of specific T cell responses. NPM-ALK-specific CD8(+) T cell responses were detected in three of five ALK-positive ALCL patients tested between 1 and 13 years after diagnosis. The three patients had also maintained anti-ALK antibody responses. No reactivity was detected in samples from five healthy donors. The NPM-ALK-specific CD8(+) T cell responses were restricted by HLA-C-alleles (C*06:02 and C*12:02) in all three cases. This approach allowed for the detection of NPM-ALK-reactive T cells, irrespective of the individual HLA status, up to 9 years after ALCL diagnosis.

Zur antimikrobiellen und viruziden Wirksamkeit von Octenidin-Lutschtabletten

Die Verwendung von Octenidin in der Darreichungsform als Lutschtablette wurde erst 2004 patentiert. Das antivirale, viruzide und vor allem antimikrobielle Wirkungsspektrum der Substanz ist vergleichsweise breit und für die Substanz in Monopräparaten noch wenig untersucht. Die bislang vorliegenden Daten unterstreichen jedoch die vielfältigen Möglichkeiten der prophylaktischen und therapeutischen Anwendung der Substanz und legen die Applikation als flankierende Maßnahme z. B. bei der Dekolonisation Antibiotika-resistenter (MRSA) Carrier nahe.

Fluoreszenzoptische Bildgebung

ICG-gestützte fluoreszenzoptische Bildgebung (fluoreszenzoptisches Imaging, FOI) ist eine neuere Technologie zur Entzündungsdiagnostik. Mit der Darstellung von (Neo)Angiogenese, Hypervaskularisation, Hyperämie und veränderter Kapillarpermeabilität stützt sie sich auf frühe pathomorphologische Veränderungen in der Pathogenese einer Arthritis. Umfangreiche Validierungsstudien gegenüber Arthrosonografie einschließlich Power-Doppler-Sonografie und MRT zeigen eine hohe Sensitivität und Spezifität. Die Methode erweitert das diagnostische Armamentarium insbesondere bei der Früharthritisdiagnostik, der Differenzialdiagnostik, der Verlaufsbeurteilung und beim Therapiemonitoring entzündlich-rheumatischer Erkrankungen und in der Kinderrheumatologie und eröffnet zum Teil neue diagnostische Fenster. Als lichtoptisches, fluorophor-gestütztes, mikroangiografisches Verfahren verwendet FOI andere physikalische Grundlagen als die herkömmliche Bildgebung und tritt damit nicht als konkurrierende Methode auf, sondern ergänzt die konventionellen Techniken in einem bislang nicht abgedeckten, speziellen diagnostischen Bereich.

Injuries in Swedish floorball: a cost analysis

The epidemiology of sport injuries is well documented. However, the costs are rarely discussed. Previous studies have presented such costs in specific sports or localization. No study has investigated the costs related to injuries in elite floorball. Thus, the aim of this study was to estimate cost of injuries in Swedish elite floorball players. During 1 year, 346 floorball players were prospectively followed. All time-loss injures were recorded. The injured players were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding their costs tied to the injury. Mean costs were calculated by multiplying the total resource use with the collected unit costs and dividing these total costs with the number of injuries as well as players. The results showed that the average cost per injury increased with the level of severity and ranged from 332 to 2358 Euros. The mild and moderate overuse injuries were costlier than the corresponding traumatic injuries. However, the severe traumatic injuries were associated with higher costs than overuse injuries. Knee injuries were the costliest. Our results indicate that there are costs to be saved, if floorball injuries can be avoided. They should be of interest to decision makers deciding whether to invest in preventive interventions.

Public stigma in intellectual disability: do direct versus indirect questions make a difference?

BACKGROUND

Stigma may negatively impact individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID). However, most studies in the field have been based on the use of direct measurement methods for assessing stigma. This study examined public stigma towards individuals with ID within a representative sample of the Israeli public by comparing direct versus indirect questioning.

METHODS

Vignette methodology was utilised with two questionnaire versions. In the direct questionnaire (n = 306), the participants were asked how they would think, feel and behave if a man with ID asked them a question in a public place. In the indirect questionnaire (n = 301), the participants were asked to report how a hypothetical 'other man' would think, feel and behave in the same situation.

RESULTS

Higher levels of stigma were reported among participants that answered the indirect questionnaire version. Furthermore, among those participants that answered the indirect questionnaire version, subjective knowledge of ID was a less important correlate of stigma than for those participants that answered the direct questionnaire.

CONCLUSION

Several explanations are suggested for the finding that indirect questioning elicits more negative stigmatic attitudes. Among others, indirect questioning may be a more appropriate methodology for eliciting immediate beliefs. Furthermore, the results call for implementing a comprehensive, multi-level programme to change stigma.

Evolutionary game theory: cells as players

In two papers we review game theory applications in biology below the level of cognitive living beings. It can be seen that evolution and natural selection replace the rationality of the actors appropriately. Even in these micro worlds, competing situations and cooperative relationships can be found and modeled by evolutionary game theory. Also those units of the lowest levels of life show different strategies for different environmental situations or different partners. We give a wide overview of evolutionary game theory applications to microscopic units. In this first review situations on the cellular level are tackled. In particular metabolic problems are discussed, such as ATP-producing pathways, secretion of public goods and cross-feeding. Further topics are cyclic competition among more than two partners, intra- and inter-cellular signalling, the struggle between pathogens and the immune system, and the interactions of cancer cells. Moreover, we introduce the theoretical basics to encourage scientists to investigate problems in cell biology and molecular biology by evolutionary game theory.

High-intensity interval training attenuates endothelial dysfunction in a Dahl salt-sensitive rat model of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

Heart failure patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFpEF) have endothelial dysfunction, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. In addition, whether exercise training improves endothelial function in HFpEF is still controversial. The present study therefore aimed to determine the functional and molecular alterations in the endothelium associated with HFpEF, while further assessing the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIT). Female Dahl salt-sensitive rats were randomized for 28 wk into the following groups: 1) control: fed 0.3% NaCl; 2) HFpEF: fed 8% NaCl; and 3) HFpEF + HIT: animals fed 8% NaCl and HIT treadmill exercise. Echocardiography and invasive hemodynamic measurements were used to assess diastolic dysfunction. Endothelial function of the aorta was measured in vitro. Expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-oxidase [NAD(P)H oxidase], and advanced glycation end product (AGE)-modified proteins were quantified by Western blot, and zymography quantified matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity. In this model of HFpEF, endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilation was impaired. However, this was prevented by HIT. In HFpEF protein expression of eNOS was reduced by 47%, but MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity was elevated by 186 and 68%. The expression of AGE-modified proteins was increased by 106%. All of these changes were prevented by HIT. Endothelial function was impaired in this model of HFpEF, which was associated with reduced expression of eNOS, increased MMP activity, and increased AGE-modified proteins. HIT was able to attenuate both these functional and molecular alterations. These findings therefore suggest HFpEF induces endothelial dysfunction, but this is reversible by HIT.

Does type of disability make a difference in affiliate stigma among family caregivers of individuals with autism, intellectual disability or physical disability?

BACKGROUND

Studies have shown that beyond public and self stigma, stigma can also impact family members. Only scant research has examined the internalised aspects of stigma, known as affiliate stigma, among family caregivers of individuals with disabilities. This study examined affiliate stigma among family caregivers of individuals with developmental disabilities via a comparison between caregivers of individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID), autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and physical disabilities (PD) in Israel.

METHODS

Family caregivers (n = 171) of individuals with developmental disabilities, mainly ID (22.4%), ASD (32.9%) and PD (27.1%), completed a self-report structured questionnaire including the Affiliate Stigma Scale and background variables.

RESULTS

Results supported a one-factor structure for the Affiliate Stigma Scale. Overall, affiliate stigma was relatively low in this sample, but was found to be higher among caregivers of individuals with ASD when compared with caregivers of individuals with ID or PD.

CONCLUSION

Findings from this study point to the importance of supporting caregivers of individuals with ASD to decrease their feelings of stigma. It is also important to further develop scales measuring affiliate stigma in order to capture the multi-dimensional nature of the concept.

Fibronectin type III domain containing 5 expression in skeletal muscle in chronic heart failure-relevance of inflammatory cytokines

BACKGROUND

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is commonly associated with muscle atrophy and increased inflammation. Irisin, a myokine proteolytically processed by the fibronectin type III domain containing 5 (FNDC5) gene and suggested to be Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator (PGC)-1α activated, modulates the browning of adipocytes and is related to muscle mass. Therefore, we investigated whether skeletal muscle FNDC5 expression in CHF was reduced and if this was mediated by inflammatory cytokines and/or angiotensin II (Ang-II).

METHODS

Skeletal muscle FNDC5 mRNA/protein and PGC-1α mRNA expression (arbitrary units) were analysed in: (i) rats with ischemic cardiomyopathy; (ii) mice injected with tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (24 h); (iii) mice infused with Ang-II (4 weeks); and (iv) C2C12 myotubes exposed to recombinant cytokines or Ang-II. Circulating TNF-α, Ang-II, and irisin was measured by ELISA.

RESULTS

Ischemic cardiomyopathy reduced significantly FNDC5 protein (1.3 ± 0.2 vs. 0.5 ± 0.1) and PGC-1α mRNA expression (8.2 ± 1.5 vs. 4.7 ± 0.7). In vivo TNF-α and Ang-II reduced FNDC5 protein expression by 28% and 45%, respectively. Incubation of myotubes with TNF-α, interleukin-1ß, or TNF-α/interleukin-1ß reduced FNDC5 protein expression by 47%, 37%, or 57%, respectively, whereas Ang-II had no effect. PGC-1α was linearly correlated to FNDC5 in all conditions. In CHF, animals circulating TNF-α and Ang-II were significantly increased, whereas irisin was significantly reduced. A negative correlation between circulating TNF-α and irisin was evident.

CONCLUSION

A reduced expression of skeletal muscle FNDC5 in ischemic cardiomyopathy is likely modulated by inflammatory cytokines and/or Ang-II via the down-regulation of PGC-1α. This may act as a protective mechanism either by slowing the browning of adipocytes and preserving energy homeostasis or by regulating muscle atrophy.

Diaphragm muscle weakness in mice is early-onset post-myocardial infarction and associated with elevated protein oxidation

Heart failure induced by myocardial infarction (MI) causes diaphragm muscle weakness, with elevated oxidants implicated. We aimed to determine whether diaphragm muscle weakness is 1) early-onset post-MI (i.e., within the early left ventricular remodeling phase of 72 h); and 2) associated with elevated protein oxidation. Ligation of the left coronary artery to induce MI (n = 10) or sham operation (n = 10) was performed on C57BL6 mice. In vitro contractile function of diaphragm muscle fiber bundles was assessed 72 h later. Diaphragm mRNA and protein expression, enzyme activity, and individual carbonylated proteins (by two-dimensional differential in-gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry) were subsequently assessed. Infarct size averaged 57 ± 1%. Maximal diaphragm function was reduced (P < 0.01) by 20% post-MI, with the force-frequency relationship depressed (P < 0.01) between 80 and 300 Hz. The mRNA expression of inflammation, atrophy, and regulatory Ca(2+) proteins remained unchanged post-MI, as did the protein expression of key contractile proteins. However, enzyme activity of the oxidative sources NADPH oxidase and xanthine oxidase was increased (P < 0.01) by 45 and 33%, respectively. Compared with sham, a 57 and 45% increase (P < 0.05) was observed in the carbonylation of sarcomeric actin and creatine kinase post-MI, respectively. In conclusion, diaphragm muscle weakness was rapidly induced in mice during the early left ventricular remodeling phase of 72 h post-MI, which was associated with increased oxidation of contractile and energetic proteins. Collectively, these findings suggest diaphragm muscle weakness may be early onset in heart failure, which is likely mediated in part by posttranslational oxidative modifications at the myofibrillar level.

Exercise training improves high-density lipoprotein-mediated transcription of proangiogenic microRNA in endothelial cells

BACKGROUND

The functional properties of endothelial cells (ECs) for regulating nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability are important for normal endothelial function. Micro-RNAs (miRs) and especially angiomiRs regulate vascular integrity and angiogenesis. Besides regulation of reverse cholesterol transport, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) also stimulates NO generation by ECs. This function is impaired in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and can be attenuated by exercise training. The aim of the present study was to evaluate if HDL-induced miR expression is altered in CHF and if exercise training has an impact.

METHODS

HDL was isolated from CHF patients in NYHA-IIIb (HDLNYHA) and healthy subjects (HDLHealthy) before and after exercise training. Subsequently ECs were incubated for 24 h with the isolated HDL and miR expression was quantified by RT-PCR.

RESULTS

HDL-induced expression of miR-126, miR-21 and miR-222 was significantly reduced in ECs incubated with HDLNYHA when compared to HDLHealthy. Exercise training attenuated this HDL-induced reduction of miR-126 and miR-21. HDL-induced expression of miR-221 and miR-214 was not altered in CHF compared to controls and no impact of exercise training was noted.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the present study shows that HDL isolated from CHF patients (NYHA-III) reduces the expression of pro-angiogenic miRs (i.e. miR-126 and miR-21), which may contribute to atherogenesis and endothelial dysfunction. However, exercise training was able to attenuate the HDL-induced reduction in pro-angiogenic miRs expression.