Sulforaphane and Vitamin E Protect From Glucotoxic Neurodegeneration and Lifespan Reduction In C. Elegans.

is an established model organism in neurodegeneration and aging research. Oxidative stress and formation of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs), as they occur under hyperglycemic conditions in diabetes mellitus, contribute to neuronal damage and lifespan reduction. Sulforaphane (SFN) is an indirect antioxidant, alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) is a direct antioxidant that acts as a free radical scavenger.

CXCR7 influences the migration of B cells during maturation.

The atypical chemokine receptor CXCR7 binds the chemokines CXCL12 and CXCL11. The receptor is widely expressed and was shown to tune CXCR12-induced responses of CXCR4. Here, the function of CXCR7 was examined at late stages of human B-cell maturation, when B cells differentiate into Ab-secreting plasmablasts.

Complementary methods provide evidence for the expression of CXCR7 on human B cells.

PTMs of extracellular domains of membrane proteins can influence antibody binding and give rise to ambivalent results. Best proof of protein expression is the use of complementary methods to provide unequivocal evidence. CXCR7, a member of the atypical chemokine receptor family, mainly functions as scavenger for the chemokines CXCL12 and CXCL11.

Interactions in the pollen-specific receptor-like kinases-containing signaling network.

The pollen-specific receptor-like kinases (PRKs) from Solanum lycopersicum, LePRK1 and LePRK2, are believed to be involved in the regulation of pollen germination and pollen tube growth. They appear to be part of a multimeric complex in which the transmembranic LePRKs presumably have a key position in transducing exogenous signals through the plasma membrane. Here, we focused on extra- and intracellular interactions involving the LePRKs.

Positional sleep apnea in patients with ischemic stroke.

Background: In non-stroke patients, the severity of sleep apnea (SA) is known to be frequently related to the sleeping position, a condition called positional SA. In the present study, we investigated whether in acute stroke the occurrence of apneas was related to the positioning of patients, and whether a similar finding could be observed after rehabilitation. With the purpose of identifying patients potentially being in need of a SA treatment beyond rehabilitation, we furthermore looked for epidemiologic and clinical parameters being related to persistent SA 6 months after stroke.

Night-time bradyarrhythmia in a patient with mild obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is reversed with CPAP treatment.

Nocturnal cardiac arrhythmia is a common clinical feature of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Pathologically relevant rhythm disturbances such as atrioventricular block or ventricular tachycardia are known to occur mainly in patients with a high apnea-hypopnea index and marked oxygen desaturation. We report on a patient with mild obstructive sleep apnea syndrome who nevertheless showed intermittent second-degree atrioventricular block during stages of rapid eye movement sleep-associated hypopneas.

Increased prevalence of sleep apnea in patients with recurring ischemic stroke compared with first stroke victims.

Since sleep apnea (SA) and stroke have many shared risk factors an independent contribution of SA to the overall risk of stroke is not easily proven and has been questioned recently. To contribute to this controversy, we analysed the frequency of SA in groups of patients with first and recurring ischemic stroke. We prospectively studied 102 patients admitted to our stroke unit.

Capnography screening for sleep apnea in patients with acute stroke.

Sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) is a prominent clinical feature in acute stroke patients. Diagnosis is usually established by polysomnography or cardio-respiratory polygraphy (CRP). Both diagnostic procedures produce high costs, are dependent on the access to a specialized sleep laboratory, and are poorly tolerated by patients with acute stroke.

[Evidence for use of electroshock devices].

The authors tested whether use of an electro shock weapon (stun gun) leaves marks on skin which can be found in an exterior examination. On pig skin such marks could not be produced postmortally. An experiment on one of the authors caused reddish skin marks which persisted for about 2 h.