Computer Tomographic Illustration of the Development of the Pulmonary Function in Bovine Neonates until the Twenty-First Day Postnatum

The aim of this study was to analyze the development of the lung in newborn calves. The sample consisted of 28 Holstein Friesians calves which were examined clinically, and their chest segment was measured with computed tomography. The tests were performed on the first, sixth, and twelfth hours of life and after the first, second, and third weeks. Also, blood gases and blood counts were determined. Besides Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests, analyses of variance, t-tests (on a significance level of P < 0.05), and correlation analyses were used. The most significant changes occurred between birth and the first hour. However, there were significant differences in the gas filling between cranial and caudal and between dorsal and ventral parenchyma segments. This difference remained over the entire study period. At the end of the first week between 85 and 93% were involved in gas exchange. Only after the completion of the second week of life, the air supply was achieved throughout the whole lung. The pO2, pCO2, and pH values confirmed this. This study shows that a healthy bovine neonate needs about 2 weeks before all lung units are integrated into the gas exchange. This explains why calves in unfavorable environments often suffer from pulmonary affections.

Distribution of scattering matrix elements in quantum chaotic scattering

Scattering is an important phenomenon which is observed in systems ranging from the micro- to macroscale. In the context of nuclear reaction theory, the Heidelberg approach was proposed and later demonstrated to be applicable to many chaotic scattering systems. To model the universal properties, stochasticity is introduced to the scattering matrix on the level of the Hamiltonian by using random matrices. A long-standing problem was the computation of the distribution of the off-diagonal scattering-matrix elements. We report here an exact solution to this problem and present analytical results for systems with preserved and with violated time-reversal invariance. Our derivation is based on a new variant of the supersymmetry method. We also validate our results with scattering data obtained from experiments with microwave billiards.

Targeted therapy of the XIAP/proteasome pathway overcomes TRAIL-resistance in carcinoma by switching apoptosis signaling to a Bax/Bak-independent 'type I' mode

TRAIL is a promising anticancer agent, capable of inducing apoptosis in a wide range of treatment-resistant tumor cells. In ‘type II' cells, the death signal triggered by TRAIL requires amplification via the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Consequently, deregulation of the intrinsic apoptosis-signaling pathway, for example, by loss of Bax and Bak, confers TRAIL-resistance and limits its application. Here, we show that despite resistance of Bax/Bak double-deficient cells, TRAIL-treatment resulted in caspase-8 activation and complete processing of the caspase-3 proenzymes. However, active caspase-3 was degraded by the proteasome and not detectable unless the XIAP/proteasome pathway was inhibited. Direct or indirect inhibition of XIAP by RNAi, Mithramycin A or by the SMAC mimetic LBW-242 as well as inhibition of the proteasome by Bortezomib overcomes TRAIL-resistance of Bax/Bak double-deficient tumor cells. Moreover, activation and stabilization of caspase-3 becomes independent of mitochondrial death signaling, demonstrating that inhibition of the XIAP/proteasome pathway overcomes resistance by converting ‘type II' to ‘type I' cells. Our results further demonstrate that the E3 ubiquitin ligase XIAP is a gatekeeper critical for the ‘type II' phenotype. Pharmacological manipulation of XIAP therefore is a promising strategy to sensitize cells for TRAIL and to overcome TRAIL-resistance in case of central defects in the intrinsic apoptosis-signaling pathway.

Bound states in sharply bent waveguides: analytical and experimental approach

Quantum wires and electromagnetic waveguides possess common features since their physics is described by the same wave equation. We exploit this analogy to investigate experimentally with microwave waveguides and theoretically with the help of an effective potential approach the occurrence of bound states in sharply bent quantum wires. In particular, we compute the bound states, study the features of the transition from a bound to an unbound state caused by the variation of the bending angle, and determine the critical bending angles at which such a transition takes place. The predictions are confirmed by calculations based on a conventional numerical method as well as experimental measurements of the spectra and electric field intensity distributions of electromagnetic waveguides.

Occurrence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci in turkey flocks

In the present study, the prevalence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in turkeys in the southwest of Germany was investigated. For this purpose, 200 cloacal swab samples and 5 environmental dust samples (tested as a pooled sample) of each of the 20 flocks (10 female and 10 male flocks) included in this study were examined. The VRE could be isolated by means of a procedure combining bacterial cultivation in an enrichment broth and on a selective solid media. Enterococci were identified biochemically and subsequently tested on the presence of the vancomycin resistance genes vanA, vanB (B1/B2/B3), and vanC (C1/C2/C3) using real-time PCR assays. In 54 (27%) turkeys originating from 11 (55%) flocks and in 14 (70%) of the dust samples, exclusively vanA and vanC1 genes could be detected. Of the turkeys examined, 46 were colonized with VRE bearing the resistance gene vanC1 and 8 vanA, originating from 9 and 2 flocks, respectively. None of the birds carried vanB, vanC2, or vanC3 positive VRE. The results obtained from the birds are largely confirmed by the dust samples originating from 4 vanA and 10 vanC1 positive flocks. However, one flock housing animals colonized with vanC1 positive VRE could not be confirmed by the dust samples that revealed vanA bearing VRE. However, in one case vanA and in 3 cases vanC1 carrying VRE could be detected in dust samples of the turkey houses, but not in the turkeys of the associated flock. In 5 flocks the turkeys as well as the dust samples were free of VRE.

322 POTENTIAL OF PRIMARY PORCINE KIDNEY CELLS FOR THE GENERATION OF TRANSGENIC PIGS VIA SOMATIC CELL NUCLEAR TRANSFER

The generation of genetically tailored pig models for biomedical research using somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is an efficient and precise approach, whereas the outcome is crucially dependent on the source of nuclear donor cells. Especially for site-directed mutagenesis by homologous recombination, including the generation of single cell clones, the demands on the target cells are high. Different primary cells used for SCNT have been tested for their efficiency in SCNT experiments, but further characterisation of the specific cell types, their morphology, proliferation, lifespan, and stability of karyotype is mostly lacking. We have evaluated the potential of 2 primary porcine kidney cell lines (PKC) isolated from juvenile pigs by a simple collagenase digestion and culture in collagen-coated dishes as cell source for SCNT, including their morphology, proliferation capacity, transfection efficiency, and capacity to support full-term development of SCNT embryos after additive gene transfer or homologous recombination. Single cell clones generated by subcloning of PKC at passage 3 showed different morphologies, proliferation rates, and lifespan, indicating that PKC culture is a mixed population of different types of fibroblasts and/or other cells types. The PKC could be maintained in culture for up to 71 passages without signs of senescence and decreased proliferation, exhibiting a stable karyotype containing 74% normal chromosome numbers (2N = 38) determined from metaphase spreads. In contrast, porcine fetal fibroblasts (PFF) and porcine ear fibroblasts (PEF) could be not be passaged more than 20 times. The calculation of growth curves at passage 4 to 5 showed that PKC exhibited a higher proliferation rate with a population doubling time of 16.6 to 18.4 h compared with PFF (23.2. h) and PEF (32.9 h). Furthermore the determination of the developmental competence after SCNT using PKC at passage 4 in 3 independent experiments and in vitro cultivation for 7 days resulted in a higher blastocyst rate (21%) compared with that in PFF (9.1%) and PEF (4.3%). The comparison of different transfection methods (lipofection, nanofection, conventional electroporation, nucleofection), using an expression vector for green fluorescent protein (GFP), showed that the NucleofectorTM technology gave the best results with transfection efficiencies of 70 to 89%, high fluorescence intensity, low cytotoxicity, good cell proliferation, and almost no morphological signs of stress. So far, around 150 cloned piglets using 18 different gene constructs have been produced using stable transfected PKC after additive gene transfer and targeting of 3 different loci. These findings demonstrate that among the 3 tested types of donor cells, PKC, PFF, PEF, primary PKC have outstanding potential for the production of genetically modified pigs by SCNT. This work is supported by the DFG (FOR535, FOR793), the Bayerische Forschungsstiftung, and Mukoviszidose e.V.

The differences in sleep profile changes under continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy between non-obese, obese and severely obese sleep apnea patients

Sleep disturbances in obstructive sleep apnea are caused mainly by repetitive apneas and hypopneas. An alternative factor contributing to disordered sleep may be the obesity, which is frequently associated with sleep apnea. The sleep disturbing effect of obesity was found previously in obese nonapneic subjects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of obesity on sleep quality in sleep apnea patients in particular in patients under continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) with successfully normalized respiration. We reviewed the archive data of 18 non-obese, 18 obese and 17 severely obese age and gender matched sleep apnea patients treated with CPAP. The polysomnographic parameters from the diagnostic night, from the second night under CPAP and from the follow up night (after three months of CPAP use) were compared. Before CPAP the apnea hypopnea index was worse in obese and in severely obese group and it normalised under CPAP in all groups. The severely obese group showed more light sleep and less REM sleep before CPAP and inversely - less light and more REM sleep in the second night under CPAP than the non-obese group. In the follow up, there was no differences in sleep profile between groups. This study indicates obesity does not affect the sleep independently of respiratory disorders. Before therapy it is associated with more severe sleep apnea and indirectly with worse sleep quality.

Pressure pain thresholds at the diabetic Charcot-foot: an exploratory study

OBJECTIVE

Painless mechanical trauma is believed to induce neuroosteoarthropathy at the neuropathic foot in diabetes (diabetic Charcot-foot). To investigate pressure nociception at the diabetic foot, we measured the pain perception thresholds for deep pressure (DPPPT, using Algometer II®) and cutaneous pressure (CPPPT, using calibrated monofilaments).

METHODS

In 24 diabetic patients with painless neuropathy (11 with a chronic, inactive Charcot-foot and a history of foot ulcer, and 13 control patients who never had an ulcer), and in 20 healthy subjects, CPPPT (at palmar and plantar digital skinfolds) and DPPPT (over musculus abductor pollicis, musculus hallucis longus, and over metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints) was measured.

RESULTS

At the hands, DPPPT and CPPPT were similar in patients and healthy subjects. At the feet, CPPPT was above the upper safety limit of measurement (512 mN) in 2/20 healthy subjects, and in 11/11 Charcot patients compared to 6/13 neuropathic controls (p=0.005). At the feet, median DPPPT was similar in all groups. In Charcot patients only, DPPPT was higher over metatarsophalangeal joint than over m. hallucis longus (p=0.048).

CONCLUSION

Perception thresholds for cutaneous pressure pain, but not for deep pressure pain, may be extremely elevated at the diabetic neuropathic foot, and particularly at the Charcot-foot.

Virtual histology-intravascular ultrasound assessment of lesion coverage after angiographically-guided stent implantation in patients with ST Elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention

An occlusion or severe stenosis (angiographic culprit lesion) of the infarct-related artery is frequently located at the site of the maximum thrombus burden, whereas the origin of the plaque rupture (the true culprit) can be situated proximal or distal to it. The aim of this study was to examine stent coverage of true culprit lesions in 20 patients who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention and had Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) grade 3 flow restored in the infarct-related artery by angiographically guided direct stenting. Images of lesions were obtained using virtual histology-intravascular ultrasound before and after intervention (blinded to the operator). Plaque rupture sites were identified by intravascular ultrasound in 12 lesions (60%), 11 proximal and 1 distal to the minimum luminal area (MLA). Maximum necrotic core sites were found proximal to the MLA in 16 lesions, at the MLA in 3 lesions, and distal to the MLA in 1 lesion. Plaque rupture sites were fully covered by stents in 11 lesions. Virtual histology-intravascular ultrasound-derived thin-cap fibroatheroma longitudinal geographic misses were found in 10 lesions, 7 in the proximal reference segment and in 3 patients in the proximal and distal reference segments. In conclusion, in about 50% of patients who undergo primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction with optimal angiographic results, the stent does not fully cover the maximum necrotic core site related to the culprit lesion.

First measurement of chiral dynamics in π- γ → π- π- π+

The COMPASS Collaboration at CERN has investigated the π- γ → π- π- π+ reaction at center-of-momentum energy below five pion masses, sqrt[s]<5m(π), embedded in the Primakoff reaction of 190 GeV pions impinging on a lead target. Exchange of quasireal photons is selected by isolating the sharp Coulomb peak observed at smallest momentum transfers, t'<0.001  GeV2/c2. Using partial-wave analysis techniques, the scattering intensity of Coulomb production described in terms of chiral dynamics and its dependence on the 3π-invariant mass m(3π)=sqrt[s] were extracted. The absolute cross section was determined in seven bins of sqrt[s] with an overall precision of 20%. At leading order, the result is found to be in good agreement with the prediction of chiral perturbation theory over the whole energy range investigated.

Trace formula for chaotic dielectric resonators tested with microwave experiments

We measured the resonance spectra of two stadium-shaped dielectric microwave resonators and tested a semiclassical trace formula for chaotic dielectric resonators proposed by Bogomolny et al. [Phys. Rev. E 78, 056202 (2008)]. We found good qualitative agreement between the experimental data and the predictions of the trace formula. Deviations could be attributed to missing resonances in the measured spectra in accordance with previous experiments [Phys. Rev. E 81, 066215 (2010)]. The investigation of the numerical length spectrum showed good qualitative and reasonable quantitative agreement with the trace formula. It demonstrated, however, the need for higher-order corrections of the trace formula. The application of a curvature correction to the Fresnel reflection coefficients entering the trace formula yielded better agreement, but deviations remained, indicating the necessity of further investigations.

Bioavailability of different preparations of paracetamol

1 Plasma drug concentrations in eight volunteer subjects following oral administration of six preparations of paracetamol have been studied. 2 Significant interindividual differences in plasma paracetamol concentration were found within 1 h but there were no consistent differences between the different drug preparations. The results indicate that all the preparations have equivalent bioavailability. 3 In four subjects, tested with the same preparation on two occasions, the findings suggest that drug absorption may differ from one occasion to another.

[Surgical standards in perioperative treatment]

Perioperative medicine includes the areas of clarification, patient safety, hygiene standards, prophylaxis for thrombosis and antibiotics, pain therapy and morbidity and mortality conference. All these procedures show how complex perioperative medicine is.

Application of a trace formula to the spectra of flat three-dimensional dielectric resonators

The length spectra of flat three-dimensional dielectric resonators of circular shape were determined from a microwave experiment. They were compared to a semiclassical trace formula obtained within a two-dimensional model based on the effective index of refraction approximation and a good agreement was found. It was necessary to take into account the dispersion of the effective index of refraction for the two-dimensional approximation. Furthermore, small deviations between the experimental length spectrum and the trace formula prediction were attributed to the systematic error of the effective index of refraction approximation. In summary, the methods developed in this article enable the application of the trace formula for two-dimensional dielectric resonators also to realistic, flat three-dimensional dielectric microcavities and -lasers, allowing for the interpretation of their spectra in terms of classical periodic orbits.

PT symmetry and spontaneous symmetry breaking in a microwave billiard

We demonstrate the presence of parity-time (PT) symmetry for the non-Hermitian two-state Hamiltonian of a dissipative microwave billiard in the vicinity of an exceptional point (EP). The shape of the billiard depends on two parameters. The Hamiltonian is determined from the measured resonance spectrum on a fine grid in the parameter plane. After applying a purely imaginary diagonal shift to the Hamiltonian, its eigenvalues are either real or complex conjugate on a curve, which passes through the EP. An appropriate basis choice reveals its PT symmetry. Spontaneous symmetry breaking occurs at the EP.

23 DEVELOPMENTAL POTENTIAL OF CLONED TRANSGENIC PORCINE EMBRYOS PRODUCED BY SERIAL NUCLEAR TRANSFER CAN BE IMPROVED BY TREATMENT WITH HISTONE DEACETYLASE INHIBITORS

Recently, we generated cloned transgenic pigs by nuclear transfer (NT) using fetal fibroblasts transfected with a LEA29Y gene specifically expressed in pancreatic β-cells (INS-LEA). Transfer of 216 NT embryos into 3 recipients resulted in the birth of 9 piglets. Furthermore, we examined serial NT with donor cells of the INS-LEA cloned pigs as a means of propagating the genotype of these valuable animals. Surprisingly, no piglets were obtained after transfer of 512 NT embryos into 5 recipients, which might be due to epigenetic alterations that presumably occurred during post-implantation development of the first round cloned embryos or during nuclear reprogramming in the second round of NT. In this study we tested whether in vitro development of re-cloned embryos can be improved by their treatment with histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi), scriptaid and suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA). As nuclear donors, ear fibroblast cells derived from the INS-LEA cloned pig were used. Nuclear transfer was performed using in vitro-matured oocytes as previously reported (Kurome et al. 2006, Transgenic Res. 15, 229–240). After activation, reconstructed embryos were treated immediately by scriptaid (500 nM) and SAHA (10 μM) for 16 and 10 h, respectively. Development of NT embryos was assessed by cleavage and blastocyst formation during culture for 7 days. The cell number of blastocysts was also counted after fixation and staining. There was no significant difference in the cleavage rate between treated and non-treated by both HDACi, whereas treatment of NT embryos with scriptaid or SAHA significantly enhanced their development to blastocyst compared with non-treated NT embryos (22.2%, 43/194 and 22.7%, 34/150 vs 7.7%, 15/195 and 12.3%, 18/146, respectively; P < 0.05). Notably, blastocyst rates obtained after treatment of re-cloned embryos with HDACi were similar to those in the first round of NT (21.2%, 33/156). Treatment of NT embryos with HDACi did not increase mean cell number of blastocysts compared with non-treated embryos. The results of our study show that in vitro developmental competence of embryos produced by serial NT can be improved by both HDACi used, scriptaid as well as SAHA, which has not been reported before in pig cloning. To determine the post-implantation developmental potential, re-cloned embryos treated with HDACi will be transferred to surrogate gilts. This work is supported by the DFG (FOR535, FOR793), the Bayerische Forschungsstiftung and Mukoviszidose e.V.