Light harvesting FIT DNA hybridization probes for brightness-enhanced RNA detection.

Fluorogenic hybridization probes are essential tools in modern molecular biology techniques. They allow detection of specific nucleic acid molecules without the need to separate target-bound from unbound probes. To enable detection of targets at low concentration, fluorogenic probes should have high brightness.

Targeting G Protein-Coupled Receptors by Capture Compound Mass Spectrometry: A Case Study with Sertindole.

Unbiased chemoproteomic profiling of small-molecule interactions with endogenous proteins is important for drug discovery. For meaningful results, all protein classes have to be tractable, including G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). These receptors are hardly tractable by affinity pulldown from lysates.

A novel approach to detect resistance mechanisms reveals FGR as a factor mediating HDAC inhibitor SAHA resistance in B-cell lymphoma.

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors such as suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) are not commonly used in clinical practice for treatment of B-cell lymphomas, although a subset of patients with refractory or relapsed B-cell lymphoma achieved partial or complete remissions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify molecular features that predict the response of B-cell lymphomas to SAHA treatment. We designed an integrative approach combining drug efficacy testing with exome and captured target analysis (DETECT).

Nanocrystalline silver dressings as an efficient anti-MRSA barrier: a new solution to an increasing problem.

The emergence of multi-drug-resistant strains of bacteria represents a particular challenge in the field of wound management. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether nanocrystalline silver dressings possess the physical properties to act as a barrier to the transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the laboratory setting and in a clinical setting. Initially, MRSA suspension and colony culture experiments were performed showing that nanocrystalline silver dressings act as potent and sustained antimicrobial agents, efficiently inhibiting MRSA penetration.

Subjective quality of life and sexual functioning after germ-cell tumour therapy.

To evaluate the influence of germ-cell tumour therapy on sexual functioning and subjective quality of life (QL). To investigate the communication about sexual problems between patients, their partners, and doctors. In all, 474 patients treated for germ-cell tumours at the Department of Internal Medicine III, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, from 1979 to 2000 were asked to complete a self-report questionnaire concerning psychosocial dimensions and subjective QL (QLS; Henrich and Herschbach, 2000).

The long-term psychosocial effects of haematopoetic stem cell transplantation.

The purpose of this study was to identify long-term psychosocial effects of allogenic, syngenic and autologous haematopoetic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) on relevant parameters (physical performance, role and sexual functioning, intimate relationships, professional and social rehabilitation). A total of 163 patients, who had undergone an autologous (11.6%), syngenic (3.

Agonistic and antagonistic properties of progesterone metabolites at the human mineralocorticoid receptor.

Objective: Progesterone binds to the human mineralocorticoid receptor (hMR) with nearly the same affinity as do aldosterone and cortisol, but confers only low agonistic activity. It is still unclear how aldosterone can act as a mineralocorticoid in situations with high progesterone concentrations, e.g.

The effect of ACE inhibitor and angiotensin II receptor antagonist therapy on serum uric acid levels and potassium homeostasis in hypertensive renal transplant recipients treated with CsA.

Background: The angiotensin II (AT II) type I receptor antagonist losartan has been reported to increase urinary uric acid and potassium excretion. These effects might be beneficial in cyclosporin (CsA)-treated renal transplant recipients, who frequently suffer from hyperuricaemia and hyperkalaemia.

Methods: In this prospective, open, randomized, two-way cross-over study we included 13 hypertensive CsA-treated patients after renal transplantation and administered either the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors enalapril or losartan.

[Pathophysiology of acute renal failure at the cellular level].

The influence of inflammation on post-ischemic acute renal failure (ARF) has only recently be appreciated. In this review we therefore discuss the cellular events occurring in ARF with special emphasis on the impact of inflammatory processes on the pathogenesis of ARF. Furthermore, the spectrum of injury leading to sublethal or lethal cell damage and the time course, occurrence and regulation of the two distinct forms of cell death, necrosis and apoptosis will be described extensively.

[Blood glucose self-monitoring in intensified insulin therapy: acceptance of frequent measurements and effect on quality of diabetic control].

In intensive insulin therapy frequent measurements of blood glucose are necessary for daily insulin adjustments. The aim of our study was to determine acceptance of frequent blood glucose measurements and its relation to quality of glycemic control over a period of 5 years. We report on 57 unselected patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus, who were at least half a year under intensive insulin therapy when entering the study.

Angiotensin-I-converting enzyme DD genotype is a risk factor of coronary artery disease.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a polygenic disease whose phenotypic manifestation depends on the interaction of a number of environmental factors. A number of genes, including the angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) gene, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of CAD. ACE could affect smooth muscle cell and fibroblast migration and proliferation, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and endothelial cell function; these are all important factors in atherosclerosis.

Asbestos fibers in parenteral medication.

The adequacy of current regulations for the control of particulate matter in injectable medicines has been brought into question by a recent television program which reported that asbestos fibers had been found in a number of such preparations. The fibers were identified as chrysotile, which occurs very widely as a secondary mineral in rocks, and is almost ubiquitous among minerals derived from natural erosion. Fibers are found in almost all drinking water and air samples unrelated to any contamination of fiber resulting from industrial exploitation.

Carcinogenicity of the insulation wools: reassessment of the IARC evaluation.

In assessing the health evidence concerning man-made mineral fibers, the chemical composition, surface activity, durability, and size of fibers have to be taken into account. Special-purpose fine glass fibers need to be separated from the insulation wools (glass, rock, and slag wool). The epidemiological evidence is sufficient to conclude that there has been no mesothelioma risk to workers producing or using glass wool, rock wool, or slag wool.

Asbestos-related benign disease and cancer: symptoms and treatment.

Long lasting occupational exposure to asbestos dust may cause skin corns, benign pleural effusion, hyaline plaques of the parietal pleura, diffuse thickening of the pulmonary pleura, and asbestosis, i.e. diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis.

Liver metastasis in cancer of the stomach and its dependence on the histology of the primary tumor: an autopsy study on 102 cases.

The case records of 102 patients who had died of gastric cancer between 1975 and 1983 were evaluated. Special emphasis was given to an analysis of the metastatic liver involvement in relation to various histological classifications. The results show a strong preponderance of liver involvement by differentiated adenocarcinomas without intra- or extracellular mucin production, whereas signet ring cell carcinomas or adenocarcinomas with a major extracellular mucin production seem to avoid the liver.

Occult papillary carcinoma of the thyroid with pulmonary lymphangitic spread diagnosed by lung biopsy.

Distant metastases from occult papillary carcinoma of the thyroid, which is defined as a tumor less than 15 mm in diameter, are extremely rare. A 21-year-old patient with miliary micronodular densities in both lungs is described, in whom pulmonary lymphangitic spread of occult papillary thyroid carcinoma was diagnosed by transthoracic lung biopsy.

[Synchronous occurrence of neoplasias of the thyroid gland and hyperthyroid nodular struma in an endemic area].

The simultaneous occurrence of hyperthyroidism and differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid gland is more frequent than previously assumed. In our endemic goiter region 16.5% of patients with thyroid carcinoma have hyperthyroidism and 1.

What every surgeon should know regarding asbestos-related disease.

Long-lasting occupational exposure to asbestos dust may cause pleural disease, asbestosis, bronchogenic carcinoma and mesothelioma. Many years elapse from first exposure to the appearance of symptoms. Almost all these diseases are the result of dusty working conditions 20-40 years ago.