Indirect coating of RGD peptides using a poly-L-lysine spacer enhances jaw periosteal cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation into osteogenic tissue.

The aim of our study was to generate a biofunctionalized, three-dimensional (3D) biomaterial to enhance jaw periosteal cell (JPC) adhesion and differentiation into osteogenic tissue. Therefore, open-cell polylactic acid (OPLA) scaffolds were coated covalently with different RGD peptides (a conserved recognition sequence of the most ECM proteins--arginine-glycine-asparagine) and different coating variants. The linear and cyclic RGD peptides were either applied directly or indirectly via a poly-L-lysine (PLL) spacer.

Antimicrobial and physicochemical properties of experimental light curing composites with alkali-substituted calcium phosphate fillers.

Objective: The antimicrobial and physicochemical properties of experimental light curing composites prepared with fillers made of mechanically activated alkali-substituted calcium phosphates like CaKPO(4), CaNaPO(4) or Ca(2)KNa(PO(4))(2) were compared with a commercial silane-modified cristobalite filler.

Methods: The antimicrobial properties were tested using Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus and a clinically isolated plaque mixture. The potential for reducing bacteria growth on modified composites was determined using the proliferation reagent WST-1, which enables the measurement of metabolic activity and therefore the colonization with living bacteria.

Results in the long-term course after stapled transanal rectal resection (STARR).

Purpose: Stapled transanal rectal resection (STARR) has recently been recommended for patients with obstructed defecation caused by rectocele and rectal wall intussusception. Our study investigates the long-term results and predictive factors for outcome.

Methods: Between November 2002 and February 2007, 80 patients (69 females) were operated on using the STARR procedure and included in the following study.

CD80 and CD86 polymorphisms in populations of various ancestries: 5 new CD80 promoter alleles.

CD80 and CD86 are closely linked genes on chromosome 3 that code for glycoproteins of the immunoglobulin superfamily, expressed on the surface of antigen-presenting cells. These costimulatory molecules play essential roles for stimulation and inhibition of T cells through binding to CD28 and CTLA-4 receptors. In this study, CD80 promoter and CD86 exon 8 polymorphisms were analyzed to investigate the genetic diversity and microevolution of the 2 genes.

Ricinus communis intoxications in human and veterinary medicine-a summary of real cases.

Accidental and intended Ricinus communis intoxications in humans and animals have been known for centuries but the causative agent remained elusive until 1888 when Stillmark attributed the toxicity to the lectin ricin. Ricinus communis is grown worldwide on an industrial scale for the production of castor oil. As by-product in castor oil production ricin is mass produced above 1 million tons per year.

Modularity and hormone sensitivity of the Drosophila melanogaster insulin receptor/target of rapamycin interaction proteome.

Genetic analysis in Drosophila melanogaster has been widely used to identify a system of genes that control cell growth in response to insulin and nutrients. Many of these genes encode components of the insulin receptor/target of rapamycin (InR/TOR) pathway. However, the biochemical context of this regulatory system is still poorly characterized in Drosophila.

2 μm semiconductor disk laser with a heterodyne linewidth below 10 kHz.

We demonstrate a 2 μm semiconductor disk laser emitting in a single longitudinal mode with a linewidth in the <10 kHz range. A heterodyne detection scheme was used for precise linewidth measurements. In these experiments, the output beams of two identical laser cavities were superposed in order to generate a beat note signal on a photodiode.

Boltzmann energy-based image analysis demonstrates that extracellular domain size differences explain protein segregation at immune synapses.

Immune synapses formed by T and NK cells both show segregation of the integrin ICAM1 from other proteins such as CD2 (T cell) or KIR (NK cell). However, the mechanism by which these proteins segregate remains unclear; one key hypothesis is a redistribution based on protein size. Simulations of this mechanism qualitatively reproduce observed segregation patterns, but only in certain parameter regimes.

On the role of articulatory prosodies in German message decoding.

A theoretical framework for speech reduction is outlined in which 'coarticulation' and 'articulatory control' operate on sequences of 'opening-closing gestures' in linguistic and communicative settings, leading to suprasegmental properties - 'articulatory prosodies' - in the acoustic output. In linking this gestalt perspective in speech production to the role of phonetic detail in speech understanding, this paper reports on perception experiments that test listeners' reactions to varying extension of an 'articulatory prosody of palatality' in message identification. The point of departure for the experimental design was the German utterance ich kann Ihnen das ja mal sagen 'I can mention this to you' from the Kiel Corpus of Spontaneous Speech, which contains the palatalized stretch [k̟(h)ε̈n(j)n(j)əs] for the sequence of function words /kan i.

Communicative functions integrate segments in prosodies and prosodies in segments.

This paper takes a new look at the traditionally established divide between sounds and prosodies, viewing it as a useful heuristics in language descriptions that focus on the segmental make- up of words. It pleads for a new approach that bridges this reified compartmentalization of speech in a more global communicative perspective. Data are presented from a German perception experiment in the framework of the Semantic Differential that shows interdependence of f0 contours and the spectral characteristics of a following fricative segment, for the expression of semantic functions along the scales questioning - asserting, excited - calm, forceful - not forceful, contrary - agreeable.

Non-viral genetic transfection of rat Schwann cells with FuGENE HD© lipofection and AMAXA© nucleofection is feasible but impairs cell viability.

Purpose: To determine transfection efficiency of FuGENE HD© lipofection and AMAXA© nucleofection on rat Schwann cells (SC).

Methods: The ischiadic and median nerves of 6-8 week old Lewis rats were cultured in modified melanocyte-growth medium. SCs were genetically transfected with green fluorescent protein (GFP) as reporter gene using FuGENE HD© lipofection and AMAXA© nucleofection.

Simulations of the NK cell immune synapse reveal that activation thresholds can be established by inhibitory receptors acting locally.

NK cell activation is regulated by a balance between activating and inhibitory signals. To address the question of how these signals are spatially integrated, we created a computer simulation of activating and inhibitory NK cell immunological synapse (NKIS) assembly, implementing either a "quantity-based" inhibition model or a "distance-based" inhibition model. The simulations mimicked the observed molecule distributions in inhibitory and activating NKIS and yielded several new insights.

Mechanisms for size-dependent protein segregation at immune synapses assessed with molecular rulers.

Immunological synapses are specialized intercellular contacts formed by several types of immune cells in contact with target cells or antigen-presenting cells. A late-stage immune synapse is commonly a bulls-eye pattern of immune cell receptor-ligand pairs surrounded by integrin complexes. Based on crystal structures, the intermembrane distance would be ∼15 nm for many immune cell receptor-ligand pairs, but ∼40 nm for integrin-ligand pairs.

Genes, autoimmunity and pathogenesis of rheumatic heart disease.

Pathogenesis of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remains incompletely understood. Several genes associated with RHD have been described; most of these are involved with immune responses. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in a number of genes affect patients with RHD compared to controls.

Copper(II) complexes incorporating poly/perfluorinated alkoxyaluminate-type weakly coordinating anions: syntheses, characterization and catalytic application in stereoselective olefin aziridination.

The synthesis and characterization of a series of cationic copper(II) complexes of the type [Cu(NCR)(6)][Al(OC(CF(3))(2)R')(4)](2) (R = CH(3), Ph; R' = CF(3), Ph, PhCH(3)), incorporating poly/perfluoronated alkoxyaluminates as weakly coordinating anions (WCAs) is presented. Aziridination of various olefins, such as the unreactive olefins e.g.

Rheumatic heart disease: mediation by complex immune events.

Rheumatic fever (RF) is an autoimmune disease caused by the Gram-positive bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes following an untreated throat infection in susceptible children. Rheumatic heart disease (RHD), the most serious complication, occurs in 30-45% of RF patients and leads to chronic valvular lesions. Here, we focus on the genes that confer susceptibility for developing this disease.

Immunohistochemistry and pathology of multiple Great Lakes fish from mortality events associated with viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus type IVb.

A novel viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) (genotype IVb) has been isolated from mortality events in a range of wild freshwater fish from the Great Lakes since 2005. In 2005 and 2006, numerous new freshwater host species (approximately 90 fish from 12 different species) were confirmed to have VHSV by cell culture and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. A prominent feature observed in infected fish were the petechial and ecchymotic haemorrhages on the body surface and in visceral organs, as well as serosanguinous ascites; however, many fish had few and subtle, gross lesions.

Naturally occurring compensated insulin resistance selectively alters glucose transporters in visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues without change in AS160 activation.

Although the importance of adipose tissue (AT) glucose transport in regulating whole-body insulin sensitivity is becoming increasingly evident and insulin resistance (IR) has been widely recognized, the underlying mechanisms of IR are still not well understood. The purpose of the present study was to determine the early pathological changes in glucose transport by characterizing the alterations in glucose transporters (GLUT) in multiple visceral and subcutaneous adipose depots in a large animal model of naturally occurring compensated IR. AT biopsies were collected from horses, which were classified as insulin-sensitive (IS) or compensated IR based on the results of an insulin-modified frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test.

Continuous-wave room-temperature operation of a 2.8 μm GaSb-based semiconductor disk laser.

We demonstrate an optically pumped semiconductor disk laser based on the (AlGaIn)(AsSb) material system, which operates at an emission wavelength of 2.8 μm. Up to 120 mW of output power were obtained in cw operation and more than 500 mW in pulsed mode.

Matched sizes of activating and inhibitory receptor/ligand pairs are required for optimal signal integration by human natural killer cells.

It has been suggested that receptor-ligand complexes segregate or co-localise within immune synapses according to their size, and this is important for receptor signaling. Here, we set out to test the importance of receptor-ligand complex dimensions for immune surveillance of target cells by human Natural Killer (NK) cells. NK cell activation is regulated by integrating signals from activating receptors, such as NKG2D, and inhibitory receptors, such as KIR2DL1.

Autophagy in Drosophila ovaries is induced by starvation and is required for oogenesis.

Autophagy, an evolutionarily conserved lysosome-mediated degradation, promotes cell survival under starvation and is controlled by insulin/target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling. In Drosophila, nutrient depletion induces autophagy in the fat body. Interestingly, nutrient availability and insulin/TOR signaling also influence the size and structure of Drosophila ovaries, however, the role of nutrient signaling and autophagy during this process remains to be elucidated.

Inhibition of p53 after acute myocardial infarction: reduction of apoptosis is counteracted by disturbed scar formation and cardiac rupture.

Cardiomyocyte apoptosis, partially mediated through p53 signaling pathway, plays a crucial role in the progression of pathological remodeling and heart failure following myocardial infarction (MI). We hypothesized that pifithrin-alpha (PFTa), a synthetic p53 inhibitor, would suppress cardiac apoptosis through the disruption of p53-dependent transcriptional activation and thereby improve heart function in a mouse model of MI. In our experiments we show that PFTa blocked p53 transcriptional activity and attenuated H(2)O(2)-induced cardiac apoptosis in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.