Scientific guidelines for preclinical research on potentised preparations manufactured according to current pharmacopoeias-the PrePoP guidelines.

Objective: Pharmacopoeias regulate the manufacture of potentised pharmaceutical preparations used in different branches of complementary and integrative medicine. The physicochemical properties and biological activity of these preparations are often investigated in preclinical research, yet no guidelines for experimental research currently exist in this area. The present PrePoP guidelines aim to provide recommendations to promote high-quality, statistically sound, and reproducible preclinical research on potentised preparations.

Multidimensional Outcome Parameters in a Cress Seedling-CuCl2 Crystallization Assay to Corroborate Specific Effects of Stannum metallicum 30x Compared to Lactose 30x.

Background:  Previously we developed a test system which yielded highly significant evidence for specific effects of a 30x preparation in a multi-center replication trial. This test system is based on cress seed germination in homeopathic or control samples, CuCl crystallization of the cress extract, and subsequent digital textural image analysis of the resulting crystallization patterns.

Objectives:  The current study aimed to investigate whether three novel outcome parameters could further corroborate and possibly characterize the specific effects of 30x.

Ipsilateral Rockwood type IV acromioclavicular joint dislocation and midshaft clavicle fracture: a case report and review of the literature.

The combination of ipsilateral acromioclavicular joint dislocation and midshaft clavicle fracture is rare. In the last 30 years, only 29 cases have been reported in literature. We present a case of a 55-year-old woman with this combined injury pattern on the right side after a fall from a bicycle.

Kinesthetic engagement in Gestalt evaluation outscores analytical 'atomic feature' evaluation in perceiving aging in crystallization images of agricultural products.

There is an increasing interest in a systemic approach to food quality. From this perspective, the copper chloride crystallization method is an interesting asset as it enables an estimation of a sample's 'resilience' in response to controlled degradation. In previous studies, we showed that an ISO-standardized visual evaluation panel could correctly rank crystallization images of diverse agricultural products according to their degree of induced degradation.

Femoral prosthesis neck fracture following total hip arthroplasty - a systematic review.

Purpose: Head-neck modularity was introduced into total hip arthroplasty to provide more intraoperative surgical options. However, modularity led to new problems, such as trunnionosis and fractures of the femoral prosthesis neck. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for hip neck fractures and to provide recommendations to prevent damage and fractures of the neck.

Treatment of coracoid process fractures: a systematic review.

Introduction: The coracoid process is a small hook-shaped feature on the scapula and a key structure of the superior shoulder suspensory complex (SSSC). Fractures of the coracoid are rare. Therefore, no consensus exists regarding treatment of coracoid process fractures.

Empirical investigation of preparations produced according to the European Pharmacopoeia monograph 1038.

According to the European Pharmacopoeia monograph 1038 (Praeparationes homoeopathicae), homeopathic preparations are produced by successive dilution and succussion steps. Dilution levels beyond Avogadro's limit, however, render specific effects implausible according to standard scientific knowledge. Accordingly, we were interested in a critical empirical investigation of preparations produced according to this monograph.

Influence of dewetting on the crystallization behavior of CuCl₂ in the presence of BSA during evaporation in a Petri dish.

The overall structure of dihydrate cupric chloride (CuCl * 2HO) crystallization patterns in the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in a Petri dish is influenced by dewetting. The dewetting behavior, which can be either before or after initial CuCl nucleation, depends on the amount of CuCl₂ and BSA in the Petri dish. We postulate that the concentration and/or temperature gradient area in the dish, which is built up during the evaporation process, coincides with the location where dewetting predominantly starts.

Systematic Review of Plant-Based Homeopathic Basic Research: An Update.

Background: Plant-based test systems have been described as a useful tool for investigating possible effects of homeopathic preparations. The last reviews of this research field were published in 2009/2011. Due to recent developments in the field, an update is warranted.

Development of a biocrystallisation assay for examining effects of homeopathic preparations using cress seedlings.

A major challenge in basic research into homeopathic potentisation is to develop bioassays that yield consistent results. We evaluated the potential of a seedling-biocrystallisation method. Cress seeds (Lepidium sativum L.

First-in-man experience with a new embolic deflection device in transcatheter aortic valve interventions.

Aims: To report our first-in-man experience with a new cerebral embolic deflection device (SMT Embolic Deflection Device) during transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). A significant number of strokes and brain infarcts are caused by embolisation of atherosclerotic material, clots and other debris during various phases of invasive cardiac procedures, especially TAVI. The application of a temporary filter in the aortic arch averting dislodged emboli from entering the cerebral circulation might prevent this.

Evaporation influences on the crystallization of an aqueous dihydrate cupric chloride solution with additives.

The overall structure of the crystallization results of dihydrate cupric chloride with additives in a petri dish is affected by the duration between the beginning of the evaporation and the start of the crystallization. Experiments done with polyvinylpyrrolidone and freeze-dried carrot as additive are compared with those of the additive free case. The dependency of dewetting on the dihydrate cupric chloride amount is discussed in terms of depletion of the solution and the surface tension properties of the system.

Cytogenetic and nucleolar meiotic cycle analyses in Dysdercus imitator Blöte, 1931 (Pyrrhocoridae, Heteroptera) from Argentina.

So far, only seven and five species of Dysdercus from the Old and New Worlds, respectively, have been cytogenetically analysed. They all have holokinetic chromosomes and a pre-reductional type of meiosis. In the present study the chromosome complement, male meiosis and nucleolar meiotic cycle of Dysdercus imitator were analyzed.

Amino acids 3-13 and amino acids in and flanking the 23FxxLF27 motif modulate the interaction between the N-terminal and ligand-binding domain of the androgen receptor.

The N-terminal domain (NTD) and the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of the androgen receptor (AR) exhibit a ligand-dependent interaction (N/C interaction). Amino acids 3-36 in the NTD (AR3-36) play a dominant role in this interaction. Previously, it has been shown that a PhixxPhiPhi motif in AR3-36, 23FxxLF27, is essential for LBD interaction.

Mechanisms of androgen receptor activation and function.

Androgens play a crucial role in several stages of male development and in the maintenance of the male phenotype. Androgens act in their target cells via an interaction with the androgen receptor, resulting in direct regulation of gene expression. The androgen receptor is a phosphoprotein and modulation of the phosphorylation status of the receptor influences ligand-binding and consequently transcription activation of androgen responsive genes.

Functional interactions of the AF-2 activation domain core region of the human androgen receptor with the amino-terminal domain and with the transcriptional coactivator TIF2 (transcriptional intermediary factor2).

Previous studies in yeast and mammalian cells showed a functional interaction between the amino-terminal domain and the carboxy-terminal, ligand-binding domain (LBD) of the human androgen receptor (AR). In the present study, the AR subdomains involved in this in vivo interaction were determined in more detail. Cotransfection experiments in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and two-hybrid experiments in yeast revealed that two regions in the NH2-terminal domain are involved in the functional interaction with the LBD: an interacting domain at the very NH2 terminus, located between amino acid residues 3 and 36, and a second domain, essential for transactivation, located between residues 370 and 494.

Functional in vivo interaction between the amino-terminal, transactivation domain and the ligand binding domain of the androgen receptor.

The ligand binding domain (LBD) and the amino-terminal, transactivation domain (TAD) of the androgen receptor (AR) were separately linked to the GAL4 DNA binding domain (DBD) and to the GAL4(TAD). Resulting constructs were tested in the yeast two-hybrid system for protein-protein interactions. In the presence of androgen [methyltrienolone (R1881) or dihydrotestosterone (DHT)] a transcriptionally active complex was formed, reflecting an association between the AR(LBD) and the AR(TAD).

Evidence for a large dispensable segment in the subtilisin-like catalytic domain of the Lactococcus lactis cell-envelope proteinase.

The Lactococcus lactis SK11 cell-envelope proteinase contains various inserts, located in external loops of the catalytic domain compared with related subtilisins. In this study, protein engineering was employed to determine the function of the largest loop insertion (residues 238-388) relative to the subtilisin structure. By site-directed mutagenesis we have deleted the fragment of the proteinase gene encoding these 151 residues and analyzed the mutant delta 238-388 proteinase for activity, (auto)processing and cleavage specificity.