Sonographic examination of the apophysis of the iliac crest for forensic age estimation in living persons

The present study examines the applicability of ultrasound diagnostics in assessing the ossification processes of the apophysis of the Crista iliaca of the pelvis for the purposes of forensic age diagnostics in living persons. To this end, the apophyseal ossification stages were determined in 307 female and 309 male study participants aged between 10 and 25 years. In females, ossification stage I was identifiable at an age of 10.1 years at the earliest (x¯=11.8), ossification stage II at 11.2 years at the earliest (x¯=14.6), ossification stage III at 14.7 years at the earliest (x¯ =18.6), and ossification stage IV at 17.9 years at the earliest (x¯=22.7). In males, ossification stage I was observable from an age of 10.0 years (x¯=11.8), ossification stage II from 10.5 years (x¯=14.9), ossification stage III from 15.6 years (x¯=18.9), and ossification stage IV from 17.4 years (x¯=22.6). In forensic age estimation procedures in living persons, sonographic examination of the iliac crest apophysis makes it possible to minimise exposure of the individual to radiation in accordance with the existing legal basis for the use of X-rays on humans. In application areas with no legal basis to justify X-ray examinations, the accuracy of an age diagnosis can be improved by integrating skeletal maturity as a criterion.

[Dynamic hyperinflation in pulmonary arterial hypertension: "hyperinflator" and "non-hyperinflator"]

BACKGROUND

The dynamic decrease in inspiratory capacity (IC) during exercise with restriction of tidal volume (VT) is known as dynamic hyperinflation (DH) and is described mostly in patients with COPD differentiating between a "hyperinflator" and a "non-hyperinflator". Recent studies have revealed DH in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (iPAH), but the influence of the DH on the reduced exercise capacity with exertional dyspnoae is still being debated.

METHODS

We analysed flow-volume curves during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in idiopathic PAH (n = 19), in COPD (n = 17), in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) (n = 19) and a control group (n = 30). We measured IC at rest and during maximal exercise and furthermore ventilation, VT and oxygen uptake (VO2 peak). In iPAH a right heart catheter test and a 6-minute walk test (6MWT) were performed, also the B-type naturetic peptide (BNP) and the NYHA/WHO functional class were determined.

RESULTS

The IC decreased significantly in 11 PAH "hyperinflators" (PAH-H) (Δ IC: - 0.34 ± 0.14 L, p < 0.001) compared to 8 PAH "non-hyperinflators" (PAH-NH) (Δ IC: 0.08 ± 0.2 L). COPD patients exhibited a characteristic hyperinflation pattern with a decrease in IC throughout exercise (Δ IC: - 0.61 ± 0.3 L, p < 0.001), while patients with IPF (Δ IC: 0.03 ± 0.15 L) and the control group responsed to exercise with a non-hyperinflator pattern (Δ IC: 0.1 ± 0.2 L). Both PAH collectives showed a reduced IC/TLC, while VT/IC was elevated with a decreased peak VO2 and max. performance compared to the control group. Correlations of the IC rest/max (L) were shown in PAH-H and PAH-NH with the VO2 peak, max. performance and VT.

CONCLUSION

The analysis of flow-volume curves during CPET can indentify DH in a subgroup of patients with iPAH. The DH contributes significantly but slightly to the development of exertional limitations and dyspnoe in a subgroup of iPAH. Further studies with a larger sample size will be required to definitively measure the impact of the DH seen in these patients.

Epileptic monocular nystagmus and ictal diplopia as cortical and subcortical dysfunction

We present the case of a patient with ictal monocular nystagmus and ictal diplopia who became seizure-free after resection of a right frontal focal cortical dysplasia (FCD), type 2B. Interictal neuroophthalmological examination showed several beats of a monocular nystagmus and a spasm of the contralateral eye. An exclusively ictal monocular epileptic nystagmus could be an argument for an exclusively cortical involvement in monocular eye movement control. The interictal findings in our patient, however, argue for an irregular ictal activation of both the cortical frontal eye field and the brainstem.

Differences in the sensitivity among cryptic lineages of the Gammarus fossarum complex

Lineages that are at least superficially morphologically identical but genetically distinct are usually misclassified as a single nominal species and, hence, belong to a cryptic species complex, as for example observed for Gammarus fossarum. Since genetic differentiation between cryptic lineages of the G. fossarum complex is comparable to an interspecific level, deviations in physiological and behavioral characteristics are conceivable. The present study investigates for the first time deviations in the sensitivity between two cryptic G. fossarum lineages - namely lineage A and lineage B. Two size classes of both cryptic lineages were exposed in six independent experiments to different concentrations of the fungicide tebuconazole or the insecticide thiacloprid (each n=20) for seven days. Feeding rate on leaf discs was used as a measure of sensitivity. By combining the outcome of all bioassays in a meta-analysis, cryptic lineage A showed - with an approximate 50% more pronounced decline in feeding - a significantly higher overall sensitivity compared to lineage B (n=17). This was also obvious, when each chemical stressor was considered individually; however, data were not significant for thiacloprid. Although other reasons, like land-use of habitats around sampling sites and physiological characteristics of organisms, could not be excluded as driving factors, the results indicate that affiliation to a cryptic lineage is a potential explanatory variable for the observed deviations in sensitivity. As the present study considered only one population for each cryptic lineage, a final conclusion cannot yet be drawn. Hence, it is recommended to investigate behavioral and physiological deviations between cryptic lineages of the G. fossarum complex in further studies.

Ion Beam Induced Epitaxial Regrowth and Interfacial Amorphization of Compound Semiconductors

A review of MeV-ion beam induced crystallization (IBIEC) and interfacial amorphization (IBIIA) in III-V compounds (GaAs, InAs, GaP, InP) is given. The kinetics of IBIEC and IBIIA is studied as a function of the temperature, the density of the displacements v, and the ion dose rate j. Reversal temperatures TR for IBIEC ↔ IBIIA transitions are determined for the different materials showing characteristic dependences on v and j. The IBIEC rate is shown to be controlled by point defect diffusion towards the a/c-interface and additionally modified by the interface structure. The suppression of microtwin and stacking fault formation during IBIEC is explained by the fact that the ion beam modifies the orientation dependence of the crystallization kinetics avoiding the disintegration and (111)-faceting of the (100)-interface. For all the compound materials investigated the IBIEC process is stopped above critical temperatures and doses. The capture of diffasing defects by crystallites growing in the amorphous layers is considered to be responsible for the stopping of the IBIEC interface. Ways are demonstrated to avoid stopping, to achieve complete epitaxial regrowth also of thick layers, and to minimize the generation of stable damage in the crystallized layers. The limited temperature ranges for undisturbed IBIEC and IBIIA in III/V-compounds are explained by low nucleation barriers and high growth rates both of crystallites and of amorphous zones.

Thiacloprid affects trophic interaction between gammarids and mayflies

Neonicotinoid insecticides like thiacloprid enter agricultural surface waters, where they may affect predator-prey-interactions, which are of central importance for ecosystems as well as the functions these systems provide. The effects of field relevant thiacloprid concentrations on the leaf consumption of Gammarus fossarum (Amphipoda) were assessed over 96 h (n = 13-17) in conjunction with its predation on Baetis rhodani (Ephemeroptera) nymphs. The predation by Gammarus increased significantly at 0.50-1.00 μg/L. Simultaneously, its leaf consumption decreased with increasing thiacloprid concentration. As a consequence of the increased predation at 1.00 μg/L, gammarids' dry weight rose significantly by 15% compared to the control. At 4.00 μg/L, the reduced leaf consumption was not compensated by an increase in predation causing a significantly reduced dry weight of Gammarus (∼20%). These results may finally suggest that thiacloprid adversely affects trophic interactions, potentially translating into alterations in ecosystem functions, like leaf litter breakdown and aquatic-terrestrial subsidies.

Gold nanoparticle-mediated gene delivery induces widespread changes in the expression of innate immunity genes

The unique properties of oligonucleotide (and small interfering RNA)-modified gold nanoparticle conjugates make them promising intracellular gene regulation agents. We found that gold nanoparticles stably functionalized with covalently attached oligonucleotides activate immune-related genes and pathways in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, but not an immortalized, lineage-restricted cell line. These findings have strong implications for the application of oligonucleotide-modified gold nanoparticle conjugates in translational research and in the development of therapeutics and gene delivery systems.

Cardiac effects of osteostatin in mice

Mouse parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) is a peptide hormone consisting of 139 amino acids. It is target of proteolysis resulting in circulation of N- and C-terminal peptides. C-terminal PTHrP peptides act in a PTH/PTHrP receptor-independent way with a minimal peptide sequence required to exert these effects covering amino acids 107-111 also known as osteostatin. Although effects of osteostatin on cardiac hypertrophy have been described in vitro, the in vivo relevance of these findings remained to be defined. The study was performed in two experimental series. In the first series, mice were randomly distributed into placebo or treatment group (each n=7) and osteostatin was administered via osmotic minipumps. In the second series, mice underwent a banding of the thoracic aorta to induce pressure overload and were again randomly distributed into placebo or treatment group (n=9 each). After 14 days, mice were anaesthetized and cardiac function, ECG, and cardiac hypertrophy were determined. Osteostatin increased the expression of ANF and reduced P-wave duration with little effects on cardiac performance in mice without pressure overload. In TAC banded mice, however, osteostatin significantly reduced TAC-induced loss of body weight, induced right ventricular hypertrophy, and reduced P-wave duration again. In osteostatin treated mice with pressure overload, the protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation of connexin 43 was preserved. In summary, osteostatin attenuated pressure-overload-dependent loss of body weight without affecting left ventricular hypertrophy or left ventricular function but preserved atrial conduction. Osteostatin exerts moderate cardioprotective effects in mice under hemodynamic stress.

Diagnosis of CTEPH versus IPAH using capillary to end-tidal carbon dioxide gradients

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) represents an important differential diagnosis to idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). We hypothesised that the capillary to end-tidal carbon dioxide gradient at rest and during exercise might help differentiate CTEPH from IPAH. Patients who presented with unequivocal IPAH or CTEPH according to ventilation/perfusion scanning, pulmonary angiography, computed tomography and right heart catheterisation were included in this retrospective study and compared with healthy controls. 21 IPAH patients and 16 CTEPH patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Haemodynamics and peak oxygen uptake were comparable, but respiratory rates at rest and during exercise were significantly higher in CTEPH than in IPAH. End-tidal carbon dioxide was significantly lower in CTEPH versus IPAH at rest and during exercise, while capillary carbon dioxide values were similar. Correspondingly, capillary to end-tidal carbon dioxide gradients were significantly increased in CTEPH versus IPAH at rest and during exercise (median (range) 8.6 (3.0-13.7) versus 4.4 (0.9-9.0) (p<0.001) and 9.3 (3.3-13.1) versus 4.1 (0.0-8.8) mmHg (p<0.001), respectively). Although these values were closer to normal in IPAH they were still significantly elevated compared with healthy controls (2.3 (-4.8-8.1) and -1.9 (-5.7-6.2) mmHg, respectively). Capillary to end-tidal carbon dioxide gradients may help to distinguish CTEPH from IPAH based on resting and exercise values.

P3-06-08: SCAN-B: An Accelerated Translational Pipeline from Profile to Prognosis and Prediction for Individual Breast Cancer Patients

The South Sweden Cancerome Analysis Network - Breast (SCAN-B) Initiative is a multidisciplinary network of clinical providers of breast cancer (BC) treatment and pre-clinical scientists whose multiyear purpose is to 1) prospectively collect and analyze the “-omes” of a very large, consecutive, and population-based sample of BCs for translational research; 2) utilize this genomic data to develop new clinically-relevant biomarker assays; and 3) to build the infrastructure for future real-time clinical implementation of resultant biomarkers for individualized treatment. Patient enrollment began in the Fall of 2010 at the seven BC surgical units of the South Sweden Healthcare Region, where approximately 1500 new breast cancer diagnoses are treated yearly following the guidelines of the South Sweden Breast Cancer Group. Currently, tumor and blood samples are being collected at the rate of 80–100 patients per month, which represents approximately 75% of the catchment population. SCAN-B will initially focus on tumor transcriptome analysis using mRNA-sequencing on Illumina HiSeq 2000 instruments, and in the future multimodal data generated from other genomic platforms will also be integrated. Here we present initial experiences from this multidisciplinary collaboration including descriptions of the clinical routines, specimen handling, laboratory processing, mRNA-seq data quality control, short- and long-term projects and future directions. We believe large initiatives like SCAN-B could significantly reduce the time to discovery, validation, and clinical implementation of more powerful diagnostic, prognostic, and treatment-predictive tests for breast cancer.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-06-08.