Subtyping of ST22-MRSA-IV (Barnim epidemic MRSA strain) at a university clinic in Germany from 2002 to 2005.

Emergence of the meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Barnim epidemic strain (ST22-MRSA-IV) was demonstrated recently at University Hospital in Magdeburg, Germany. To aid the study of transmission events, it is important to have an epidemiological typing method with the ability to distinguish among MRSA isolates. The aim of this study was to determine the ability of phenotypic and genotypic methods to type ST22-MRSA-IV strains within a hospital for microevolution events.

Two-dimensional arrays of amphiphilic Zn2+-cyclens for guided molecular recognition at interfaces.

The sterically guided molecular recognition of nucleobases, phosphates, adenosine, and uridine nucleotides on Langmuir monolayers and Langmuir-Blodgett monolayers of amphiphilic mono- or bis(Zn2+-cyclen)s assembled on thiolated surfaces was investigated. The stepwise selective binding of metal ions, uracil, or phosphate by dicetyl cyclen monolayers with variously tuned structures at the air/water interface was corroborated by the measurements of the corresponding LB films deposited onto quartz crystals. Two types of recognition surfaces were fabricated from Zn2+-dicetyl cyclen.

{Bis[2-(diphenyl-phosphan-yl)phen-yl] ether-κP,P'}(1,1'-dibenz-yl-1H,1'H-4,4'bi-1,2,3-triazole-κN,N)copper(I) hexa-fluorido-phosphate dichloro-methane hemisolvate.

In the crystal structure of the title compound, [Cu(C(18)H(16)N(6))(C(36)H(28)OP(2))]PF(6)·0.5CH(2)Cl(2) or [Cu(DPEPhos)(Bn-bta)]PF(6)·0.5CH(2)Cl(2) {DPEPhos = bis-[(diphenyl-phosphan-yl)phen-yl] ether and Bn-bta = 1,1'-dibenzyl-1H,1'H-4,4'-bi-1,2,3triazol-e}, the Cu atom is coordinated by two N and two P atoms of the ligands in a strongly distorted tetra-hedral environment.

Housing and husbandry conditions affect stereotypic behaviour in laboratory gerbils.

An artificial burrow was developed which fits into standard laboratory cages and significantly reduces stereotypic digging in gerbils. Also, the causes of bar-chewing were assessed experimentally. Neither the lack of gnawing material, nor the spatial proximity of cage-lid bars and food in the hopper nor the routine husbandry procedure of transferring juvenile gerbils to a fresh cage, but premature separation of juvenile gerbils from their parents before the birth of younger siblings significantly increased bar-chewing.

Inhibition of human allergic T-helper type 2 immune responses by induced regulatory T cells requires the combination of interleukin-10-treated dendritic cells and transforming growth factor-beta for their induction.

Background: In grass pollen-allergic individuals, T cell anergy can be induced by IL-10-treated dendritic cells (IL-10-DC) resulting in the suppression of T helper type 1 (Th1) as well as Th2 cells. This study was performed to analyse whether such IL-10-DC-treated T cells are able to act as regulatory T cells (Treg) suppressing the function of other T cells in the periphery. As transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta is also a potential inducer of Treg, we additionally analysed the inhibitory capacity of TGF-beta-treated T cells in this system.

Activation of PPARalpha lowers synthesis and concentration of cholesterol by reduction of nuclear SREBP-2.

To elucidate the mechanisms underlying the cholesterol lowering effects of PPARalpha agonists we investigated key regulators of cholesterol synthesis and uptake in rats and in the rat hepatoma cell line Fao after treatment with the PPARalpha agonists clofibrate and WY 14,643, respectively. In rat liver as well as in Fao cells, PPARalpha activation led to a decrease of transcriptionally active nuclear SREBP-2. mRNA concentrations of the key regulators of SREBP processing, Insig-1 in rat liver and Insig-1 and Insig-2a in Fao cells, were increased upon PPARalpha activation.

Signal amplification and transduction by photo-activated catalysis.

A simple flavin-based catalytic system is able to transform light into chemical output with amplified response utilizing a Cu(I)-catalyzed cycloaddition reaction.

[Integrated navigation. Preclinical evaluation and initial clinical experience].

Background: Computer navigation systems have increasingly become part of the surgical routine due to the improvements of intraoperative visualization procedures. Because of limited space in the operating room and insufficient workflow, the project of integrated navigation had been started.

Methods: As the first step, the navigation system VectorVision2 and the second-generation fluoroscopic C-arm system Orbic 3D were integrated into one common trolley.

PPARalpha agonists up-regulate organic cation transporters in rat liver cells.

It has been shown that clofibrate treatment increases the carnitine concentration in the liver of rats. However, the molecular mechanism is still unknown. In this study, we observed for the first time that treatment of rats with the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR)-alpha agonist clofibrate increases hepatic mRNA concentrations of organic cation transporters (OCTNs)-1 and -2 which act as transporters of carnitine into the cell.

LDL receptor gene transcription is selectively induced by t10c12-CLA but not by c9t11-CLA in the human hepatoma cell line HepG2.

Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) have attracted scientific interest due to their potential beneficial effects on atherosclerosis. Recently, a mixture of CLA isomers was demonstrated to upregulate LDL receptor expression in the human hepatoma cell line HepG2. However, the underlying mechanisms remain to be resolved.

Establishment of an extraction method for the recovery of tattoo pigments from human skin using HPLC diode array detector technology.

Tattooing is a widespread process of puncturing pigments into skin, whereas the resulting concentration inside the skin remains unknown. Many tattoo colorants are organic pigments, such as azo pigments, manufactured for other uses. To remove tattoos from skin, laser pulses at very high intensities are applied to the skin to destroy the tattoo pigments.

Characterization of a three bacteria mixed culture in a chemostat: evaluation and application of a quantitative terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis for absolute and species specific cell enumeration.

Growth dynamics of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Burkholderia cepacia, and Staphylococcus aureus in a batch and chemostat, were investigated as a laboratory model system for persistent infections in cystic fibrosis. Most species-specific enumeration methods for mixed cultures are laborious or only qualitative, and therefore impede generation of quantitative data required for validation of mathematical models. Here, a quantitative T-RFLP method was evaluated and applied for specific and absolute cell number enumerations.

Comparative study using various methods for identification of Staphylococcus species in clinical specimens.

Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) play a predominant role in nosocomial infections. Rapid, reliable identification of these organisms is essential for accurate diagnosis and prompt effective treatment of these infections. Quite recently, the VITEK 2 g-positive (gram-positive [GP]) identification card (bioMérieux) has been redesigned for greater accuracy in the identification of gram-positive cocci.

Synthesis of functionalized guanidino amino acids.

We report the synthesis of guanidino amino acids (GuAA), which are structurally related to Arg and resemble a dipeptide consisting of alpha- and gamma-amino acid with a guanidinium group in the main chain. The compounds are available with different protecting groups in gram amounts and are intended as synthetic building blocks for the construction of synthetic oxoanion or peptide receptors. Tyr, Trp or dansyl-functionalized Lys can be introduced as the alpha-amino acid part, which leads to luminescent GuAAs.

Asymmetric indolylmaleimide derivatives and their complexation with zinc(II)-cyclen.

The spectroscopic properties of two asymmetric indolylmaleimide derivatives, 4-bromo-3-(1'H-indol-3'-yl)maleimide and 4-methyl-3-(1'H-indol-3'-yl)maleimide, are investigated. The bromo derivative was crystallized and its X-ray structure was determined. Both compounds are strongly colored while their separate components (indole and maleimide) absorb in the UV region only.

Unexpected photophysical properties of symmetric indolylmaleimide derivatives.

Arcyriarubin A and arcyriaflavin A, two strongly emissive and intensely colored natural products containing both two indoles and a maleimide unit, are investigated (in the flavin the two indole moieties are coupled by a cyclization). The photophysical properties of these compounds were studied in several solvents using UV-vis absorption, steady-state and time-resolved emission, nano- and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. Furthermore, the effect of complexation with zinc(II) 1,4,7,11-tetraazacyclododecane on the photophysical properties of these natural products has been investigated.

[Low-grade-/high-grade-synovitis: synovitis-score as a gold standard?].

Background: Synovectomy specimens represent important material submitted from the orthopedist to the pathologist. However, no consistent histopathological grading system for chronic synovitis has been established so far.

Patients And Methods: The three compartments of chronic synovitis (enlargement of lining cell layer, density of synovial stroma cells, leukocytic infiltrate) are graded semiquantitatively (from 0=absent to 3=strong), and the points for each compartment add up to the synovitis score: 0-1 = no synovitis, 2-4 = low-grade synovitis, 5-9 = high-grade synovitis.

Interleukin-10-treated dendritic cells do not inhibit Th2 immune responses in ovalbumin/alum-sensitized mice.

Background: It is well known that the immunoregulatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-10 inhibits the accessory function of human dendritic cells (DC) in vitro. Recently, we have shown that these IL-10 DC inhibit the production of T helper cell 1 (Th1) and T helper cell 2 (Th2) cytokines by T cells from atopic individuals in vitro. The current study was set out to analyze whether IL-10 DC also exert inhibitory effects in vivo in a murine model of allergy to ovalbumin adsorbed to the adjuvant aluminium hydroxide (OVA/alum).

Heterogeneity of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus strains at a German University Hospital implicates the circulating-strain pool as a potential source of emerging methicillin-resistant S. aureus clones.

Recently, we demonstrated rapid dissemination of different methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clones at the Institute for Microbiology at the University of Magdeburg (B. Ghebremedhin, W. König, and B.

Luminescent pyrimidine hydrazide oligomers with peptide affinity.

The modular synthesis of pyrimidine oligohydrazides and their peptide binding ability are reported. Ethylene glycol substituents ensure water solubility of the compounds. The pattern of hydrogen bond donors and hydrogen bond acceptors resembles the functionalities of a peptide backbone, and intramolecular hydrogen bonds restrict conformational mobility.

Hydroxyapatite grafting promotes new bone formation and osseointegration of smooth titanium implants.

Titanium is the ideal metal for intra-osseous dental implants. It permits the natural formation of an oxide layer on its surface and thereby it prevents the release of potentially toxic molecules. New formation of bone around implants, partially placed into the bone marrow cavity, is a gradual process that runs from the endosteum to the surface of the implant.