Comparison of a pocket-size ultrasound device with a premium ultrasound machine: diagnostic value and time required in bedside ultrasound examination.

Purpose: Time savings and clinical accuracy of a new miniature ultrasound device was investigated utilizing comparison with conventional high-end ultrasound instruments. Our objective was to determine appropriate usage and limitations of this diagnostic tool in internal medicine.

Methods: We investigated 28 patients from the internal-medicine department.

Activation of the mouse odorant receptor 37 subsystem coincides with a reduction of novel environment-induced activity within the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus.

Within the main olfactory system of mammals, a unique subsystem exists that is comprised of sensory neurons expressing odorant receptors (ORs) of the OR37 subfamily. These receptors are exclusive for mammals and are highly conserved across species. The mouse OR37 receptor subtypes A, B and C were shown to be activated by the long-chain aliphatic aldehydes pentadecanal, hexadecanal and heptadecanal, respectively.

Connectivity from OR37 expressing olfactory sensory neurons to distinct cell types in the hypothalamus.

Olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) which express a member from the OR37 subfamily of odorant receptor (OR) genes are wired to the main olfactory bulb (MOB) in a unique monoglomerular fashion; from these glomeruli an untypical connectivity into higher brain centers exists. In the present study we have investigated by DiI and transsynaptic tracing approaches how the connection pattern from these glomeruli into distinct hypothalamic nuclei is organized. The application of DiI onto the ventral domain of the bulb which harbors the OR37 glomeruli resulted in the labeling of fibers within the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and supraoptic nucleus (SO) of the hypothalamus; some of these fibers were covered with varicose-like structures.

IkappaBbeta is an essential co-activator for LPS-induced IL-1beta transcription in vivo.

Inhibitor of κB (IκB) β (IκBβ) represents one of the major primary regulators of NF-κB in mammals. In contrast to the defined regulatory interplay between NF-κB and IκBα, much less is known about the biological function of IκBβ. To elucidate the physiological role of IκBβ in NF-κB signaling in vivo, we generated IκBβ-deficient mice.

The alternative NF-kappaB signalling pathway is a prerequisite for an appropriate immune response against lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection.

Two major nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) signalling pathways are involved in the regulation of the immune response. While the classical NF-kappaB pathway is responsible for regulation of genes encoding components of the innate immune response, the alternative NF-kappaB signalling pathway mediates processes of the adaptive immune system. To evaluate the role of the NF-kappaB signalling pathways in the control of viral infection, we have used lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection of mice, which is known to be an excellent model for studying antiviral immune responses.

Conditional ablation of Notch signaling in pancreatic development.

The role of the Notch signaling members Notch1, Notch2 and Rbpj in exocrine pancreatic development is not well defined. We therefore analyzed conditional pancreas-specific Rbpj and combined Notch1/Notch2 knockout mice using Ptf1a(+/Cre(ex1)) mice crossed with floxed Rbpj or Notch1/Notch2 mice. Mice were analyzed at different embryonic stages for pancreatic exocrine and endocrine development.

VHL mutations in renal cell cancer: does occupational exposure to trichloroethylene make a difference?

Occupational exposures have long been suspected to play a role in the incidence of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Especially, the carcinogenicity of the industrial solvent trichloroethylene (TCE) has been controversially debated, both with respect to the epidemiological and the molecular studies. In order to further elucidate this issue, it appeared important to compare suitable RCC patient groups, i.

VHL2C phenotype in a German von Hippel-Lindau family with concurrent VHL germline mutations P81S and L188V.

Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) is a multitumor syndrome that develops on the basis of germline mutations in the VHL tumor suppressor gene. Genotype-phenotype correlations have helped to stratify the disease into VHL type 1 (without pheochromocytoma) and VHL type 2A, 2B, and 2C (with pheochromocytoma). VHL2C is characterized by a pheochromocytoma-only phenotype.