Improved Upper Limit on the Neutrino Mass from a Direct Kinematic Method by KATRIN

We report on the neutrino mass measurement result from the first four-week science run of the Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino experiment KATRIN in spring 2019. Beta-decay electrons from a high-purity gaseous molecular tritium source are energy analyzed by a high-resolution MAC-E filter. A fit of the integrated electron spectrum over a narrow interval around the kinematic end point at 18.57 keV gives an effective neutrino mass square value of (-1.0_{-1.1}^{+0.9})  eV^{2}. From this, we derive an upper limit of 1.1 eV (90% confidence level) on the absolute mass scale of neutrinos. This value coincides with the KATRIN sensitivity. It improves upon previous mass limits from kinematic measurements by almost a factor of 2 and provides model-independent input to cosmological studies of structure formation.

Expression and regulation of human β-defensin-2 in osteoarthritic cartilage

Defensins are antibiotic peptides that are involved in host defence at epithelial and mesenchymal surfaces. Previous studies have shown the induction of human beta-defensin-3 (HBD-3) in osteoarthritic joints, suggesting that these molecules have functions in addition to their ability to kill microbes. The aim of this study was to investigate the production of a further human beta-defensin, named HBD-2, in osteoarthritis (OA) and to determine its regulation by inflammatory cytokines. Healthy and osteoarthritic cartilage was assessed for HBD-2 expression by RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and ELISA. C28/I2 chondrocytes, primary chondrocytes, and cartilage explants were cultured for in vitro studies. After 24 h of stimulation with tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 (IL-1) or IL-6, real-time RT-PCR and ELISA experiments were performed to evaluate the effect of these cytokines on the production of HBD-2. In contrast to healthy cartilage, HBD-2 expression was identified in most of the OA samples examined (eight of ten). Cytokines that are potentially involved in the pathogenesis of OA, namely TNF-alpha, IL-1, and IL-6, were transcriptional inducers of HBD-2 in cultured chondrocytes and cartilage explants in vitro, as measured by real-time RT-PCR and ELISA. These results illustrate the induction of HBD-2 in osteoarthritic cartilage and suggest that it is a further factor in the pathogenesis of OA. However, further studies are required to elucidate the role played by HBD-2 in osteoarthritic cartilage.

Segmental chromosomal aberrations and centrosome amplifications: pathogenetic mechanisms in Hodgkin and Reed–Sternberg cells of classical Hodgkin's lymphoma?

Tumor cell metaphases of classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (cHL) characteristically display highly rearranged karyotypes with chromosome numbers in the hyperploid range and marked intraclonal variability. The causes of this cytogenetic pattern remain largely unknown. An unusual type of chromosomal abnormality coined as segmental chromosomal aberration (SCA) has been recurrently observed in HL cell lines and was suggested to be associated with ribosomal DNA (rDNA) rearrangements. Moreover, centrosome abnormalities provoking deficient chromosome segregation have been reported in many solid tumors and also in cHL cell lines. Whether SCA, rDNA rearrangements or centrosome abnormalities also occur in primary cHL is not yet known. Thus, we performed extensive molecular cytogenetic and immunohistological studies in two cHL cases. Both cases presented SCA associated with genomic gains of the REL and JAK2 loci, respectively. The SCA involving JAK2 was associated with rDNA rearrangements. The absolute centrosome size of HRS cells in both cases was significantly larger than in non-HRS cells, but the relative centrosome size of HRS cells corrected for nuclear size was in the same range as that of the non-neoplastic cells. These findings demonstrate that the various mechanisms associated with chromosomal instability warrant a more detailed characterization in cHL.

[Considerations for a "general model of psychosomatic rehabilitation" with departments for appropriate treatment intensity and required length of stay]

Studies undertaken in the scientific area of general systems theory generally seek to elucidate central interrelationships. This paper its no exception in that it presents a "general model of psychosomatic rehabilitation". This new Y-shaped model was inspired firstly by the "general model of psychotherapy" and secondly by general systematic considerations on medical rehabilitation. It was first used to assess the progress of patients undergoing inpatient psychosomatic rehabilitation and to determine the relationship between treatment intensity and length of time-sensitive psychotherapy.

[Terminal renal failure of pediatric urologic origin according to cause and inverted morphometry]

An age-specific renal reaction becomes evident on comparison of pediatric and adult urology. Reduction of the renal parenchyma by 80% of its bilateral substance because of renal disease can be survived by an adult for some decades with normal blood urea and creatinine, providing the residual parenchyma is histologically normal. Loss of the same proportion of the parenchyma in infancy leads to end-stage renal failure in spite of the better compensatory hypertrophy of the residual renal tissue. This is because the limit of 20% residual substance is only true for a fully developed adult body. While the body is still in the biological growth phase in the second decade of life, a markedly reduced kidney that is no longer growing with the rest of the body is incapable providing the enhancement of renal function needed at this time. The histological implication is glomerulo-sclerotic changes--possibly as a result of hyperfiltration--and the clinical implications, renal failure requiring dialysis or transplantation, the only alternative being a fatal outcome. In a few cases reduced renal work can be compensated function for some years. In all, 46 cases of end-stage renal disease and 13 of chronic retention are detailed according to primary diagnosis.