Histidine is involved in coupling proton uptake to electron transfer in photosynthetic proteins.

In photosynthesis, the central step in transforming light energy into chemical energy is the coupling of light-induced electron transfer to proton uptake and release. Despite intense investigations of different photosynthetic protein complexes, including the photosystem II (PS II) in plants and the reaction center (RC) in bacteria, the molecular details of this fundamental process remain incompletely understood. In the RC of Rhodobacter (Rb.

Tyr39 of ran preserves the Ran.GTP gradient by inhibiting GTP hydrolysis.

Ran is a member of the superfamily of small GTPases, which cycle between a GTP-bound "on" and a GDP-bound "off" state. Ran regulates nuclear transport. In order to maintain a gradient of excess Ran.

Quantifying electrosurgery-induced thermal effects and damage to human tissue: an exploratory study with the fallopian tube as a novel in-vivo in-situ model.

Objective: To develop a human in vivo in situ model for analyzing the extent and the basic mechanisms of thermal spread and thermal tissue damage.

Design: Prospective, open, uncontrolled, nonrandomized, single-center exploratory study.

Setting: University hospital.

Certification of breast centres in Germany: proof of concept for a prototypical example of quality assurance in multidisciplinary cancer care.

Background: The main study objectives were: to develop a set of requirements of comprehensive breast centres; to establish a nationwide voluntary certification programme for breast centres based on such requirements, a certified quality management system (QMS), and scheduled independent, external audits and periodic recertification; and to demonstrate the general acceptance of such a certification programme with a view to introducing similar certification programmes for other major cancers.

Methods: Breast centres introduced a QMS and voluntarily participated in an external certification procedure based on guideline-derived Requirements of Breast Centres specifically developed for the application procedure, all subsequent audits and recertification. All data (numbers of pending and successful applications, sites/centre, etc.

Benchmarking the quality of breast cancer care in a nationwide voluntary system: the first five-year results (2003-2007) from Germany as a proof of concept.

Background: The main study objectives were: to establish a nationwide voluntary collaborative network of breast centres with independent data analysis; to define suitable quality indicators (QIs) for benchmarking the quality of breast cancer (BC) care; to demonstrate existing differences in BC care quality; and to show that BC care quality improved with benchmarking from 2003 to 2007.

Methods: BC centres participated voluntarily in a scientific benchmarking procedure. A generic XML-based data set was developed and used for data collection.

Higher incidence of linked malformations in siblings of Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser-syndrome patients.

Background: Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome is a malformation of the female genital tract (vaginal aplasia, rudimentary uterus, normal fallopian tubes and high ovaries). The incidence is one in 4000 female newborns. The aim of the present study was to record genital and associated malformations among siblings and relatives of MRKH patients in order to draw possible conclusions regarding the etiology of the syndrome: heredity (dominant versus recessive) or spontaneous malformation.

Neovagina creation in vaginal agenesis: development of a new laparoscopic Vecchietti-based procedure and optimized instruments in a prospective comparative interventional study in 101 patients.

Objective: To improve the laparoscopic Vecchietti procedure and optimize instrumentation for treatment of congenital vaginal agenesis with a minimum of complications and optimal functional outcome, in comparison with the conventional laparoscopic Vecchietti procedure.

Design: Prospective comparative interventional study.

Setting: University hospital.

A newly developed morcellator creates a new dimension in minimally invasive surgery.

We compared the efficiency and safety of a newly developed morcellator with a conventional device for minimally invasive supracervical hysterectomy. The prospective, randomized parallel-group study was set in a department of obstetrics and gynecology within an Academic Teaching Hospital. Patients included 48 women; 20 treated with an existing laparoscopic morcellator (Group 1); 28 treated with newly developed laparoscopic morcellator (Group 2).

Female genital malformations and their associated abnormalities.

Objective: With an incidence of up to 5% in the general population, genital malformations are a frequent clinical occurrence. The aim of this study was to assess whether a connection could be demonstrated between various degrees of severity of genital malformations and associated abnormalities.

Design: All patients were classified using the Vagina, Cervix, Uterus, Adnex, and Associated Malformation (VCUAM) classification.

Massive cavernous lymphangioma of the breast and thoracic wall: case report and literature review.

Lymphangiomas are benign lesions but are associated with high morbidity when they become very large, occur in critical locations, or when surgically removed, develop secondary wound infections. Almost all lesions require surgical treatment. Complete excision is curative; however, relapses must be anticipated with incomplete excision.

Innovative barriers for peritoneal adhesion prevention: liquid or solid? A rat uterine horn model.

Objective: To compare the effects of solid barriers (PDLA membrane and foil, Interceed), innovative barrier solutions (Adept and Hyalobarrier Gel, phospholipid emulsion), and Ringer's lactate solution in preventing postsurgical peritoneal adhesions in the rat.

Design: Prospective, randomized experimental study.

Setting: Rat model in an academic research environment.

Clinical aspects of Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuester-Hauser syndrome: recommendations for clinical diagnosis and staging.

Background: The Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuester-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome is a malformation of the female genitals (occurring in one in 4000 female live births) as a result of interrupted embryonic development of the Müllerian (paramesonephric) ducts. This retrospective study examined the issue of associated malformations, subtyping, and the frequency distribution of subtypes in MRKH syndrome.

Methods: Fifty-three MRKH patients were investigated using a newly developed standardized questionnaire.

The VCUAM (Vagina Cervix Uterus Adnex-associated Malformation) classification: a new classification for genital malformations.

Objective: With an incidence of up to 5% in the general population, genital malformations are a frequent clinical occurrence. However, using the existing published classifications of malformations, difficulties arise in classifying genital malformations appropriately. The aim of the present study was to produce a simple, systematic, and reproducible classification system.

Impairment in preattentive visual processing in patients with Parkinson's disease.

We explored the possibility of whether preattentive visual processing is impaired in Parkinson's disease. With this aim, visual discrimination thresholds for orientation texture stimuli were determined in two separate measurement sessions in 16 patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease. The results were compared with those of 16 control subjects age-matched and 16 young healthy volunteers.

Benzoyl-coenzyme-A 3-monooxygenase, a flavin-dependent hydroxylase. Purification, some properties and its role in aerobic benzoate oxidation via gentisate in a denitrifying bacterium.

A new variant of aerobic benzoate degradation has been found in a denitrifying bacterium in which benzoyl-CoA is the first intermediate [Altenschmidt, U., Oswald, B., Steiner, E.

Hereditary deficiency of antithrombin III, protein C and protein S: prevalence in patients with a history of venous thrombosis and criteria for rational patient screening.

Data in the literature on the prevalence of hereditary deficiency of the natural coagulation inhibitors are conflicting. We conducted a prospective study on 680 consecutive patients with a history of venous thrombosis to determine the prevalence of hereditary deficiency of antithrombin III (AT III), protein C(PC) and protein S(PS) and to establish selection criteria for rational patient screening. The mean age of the patients at investigation was 44.