C-terminal amino acid residues of the trimeric autotransporter adhesin YadA of Yersinia enterocolitica are decisive for its recognition and assembly by BamA.

The Bam complex is a highly conserved multiprotein machine essential for the assembly of β-barrel outer membrane proteins. It is composed of the essential outer membrane protein BamA and four outer membrane associated lipoproteins BamB-E. The Yersinia enterocolitica Adhesin A (YadA) is the prototype of trimeric auotransporter adhesins (TAAs), consisting of a head, stalk and a β-barrel membrane anchor.

A molecular view of coping behavior in older adults.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess age, gender, ethnicity, and education differences in specific ("molecular") coping behaviors for three older adult age groups.

Methods: Thirty-five specific coping reactions were assessed on the item level for 74 sexagenarians, 70 octogenarians, and 116 centenarians of the Georgia Centenarian Study.

Results: A multivariate analysis of covariance revealed significant age group, gender, and education differences for 14 coping reactions.

Anticipation of and adjustment to retirement.

The role of anticipation of retirement was studied by comparing two samples under different conditions: in the West German sample, retirement could be anticipated as "normal" with regard to the economic changes in most industrial societies between 1992 and 1994, whereas the members of the East German sample were faced with mandatory retirement, with few changes in the anticipation of this event. Findings confirm the hypotheses regarding a more negative view of retirement, different ways of coping with retirement, and equal status of cognitive functioning and health. They did not confirm the hypothesis of a lower degree of well-being in the East.

[Mild cognitive deficit in the elderly. Results of a gerontologic study].

The term "mild cognitive impairment" refers to cognitive deficits which exceed normal physiological aging processes, but do not fulfill the criteria for dementia. The prevalence rates of four current concepts were compared in a sample of 202 healthy 60-64 year-old participants recruited from the interdisciplinary longitudinal study on adult development and aging (ILSE). Furthermore, the relationships between cognitive deficits and psychological and sociodemographic variables were examined.

Prevalence of mild cognitive impairment in an elderly community sample.

The term "mild cognitive impairment" refers to cognitive deficits which exceed normal physiological aging processes, but do not fulfill the criteria for dementia. While recent studies indicate that the respective deficits can be reliably assessed, different diagnostic criteria have prevented a wide application of this diagnosis in clinical practice. The aims of the present study were (1) to assess the prevalence rates of four current diagnostic concepts and (2) to investigate mild cognitive impairment with respect to psychological and sociodemographic variables.

[Contribution to the history of gerontology in Germany in the 2nd half of our century].

In this paper some trends of gerontology during the last 45 years in Germany are described. A survey of the development of gerontology in the former GDR is followed by an analysis of the "Zeitschrift für Alternsforschung" from 1980-1990. The main result is the predominance of publications on the care system since the middle of the 1980s.

[Psychology and society. The aged in our society].

We are living in an aging society; almost 22% of the population of Germany is over 60 years old. However, while the period of being an active adult has increased, the period of working life has become shorter due to longer vocational/professional training and earlier retirement. Soon, for each person contributing to the pension scheme there will be one pensioner.

[Sense and possibilities of prevention in advanced age: psychosocial aspects].

Cardiovascular diseases have multifactorial causes, as has been shown, and as has been demonstrated via an interactional model. These multifactorial causes must be counteracted by means of multidimensional preventive or rehabilitation measures. Intervention in cardiovascular patients requires interdisciplinary cooperation.

Structural analysis of a new highly metastatic cell line PaTu 8902 from a primary human pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

The new cell line PaTu 8902 was established from a human pancreatic grade II adenocarcinoma of ductal origin. In early passages, cultured cells showed a high degree of heterogeneity in terms of their morphology and the number of chromosomes per cell. When transplanted subcutaneously into nude mice, these cells grew as tumors with a similar morphology and differentiation (grade II) to the primary tumor.

Coping with health problems in old age. A longitudinal approach.

An analysis of medical, psychological, and social data of the Bonn Longitudinal Study on Aging, comparing a subgroup of the BOLSA sample, which developed different forms of chronic disease four to six years after the beginning of the study, and a healthy subsample, points to different patterns of coping in these two subgroups. The sequence of these response patterns provides some evidence for a special form of psychosocial competence of chronically ill aged persons, which developed in an 'accelerated' way in the ill group, and in a retarded way in the initially healthy group. The findings emphasize the need for continuing research into the psychosocial aspects of coping with chronic disease in old age.

[Healthy aging? Longevity with reference to interdisciplinary gerontologic research].

The percentage of over-60-year-olds, 80- and even 100-year-olds in the general population is increasing rapidly in most countries. What can be done to ensure healthy ageing and assure a good quality of life in old age? What are the correlates of longevity associated with psycho-physical wellbeing? Longitudinal studies underscore the multi-faceted nature of the ageing process: genetic and biological factors influence longevity, as also do social and ecological factors, which in turn help determine the life style that promotes longevity.

[Rheumatic diseases in advanced age--psychological aspects].

This paper discusses the importance of cognitive representation and individual patterns of behavior for coping with chronic disease. Chronically ill patients differ very much in their psychic situation. Biographical and situational factors and the future perspective contribute to these interindividual differences.

Establishment and characterisation of two cell lines with different grade of differentiation derived from one primary human pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

From a liver metastasis of a human pancreatic adenocarcinoma, we have established cell lines for studying the cell biology of this tumor. We obtained two cell lines with different morphological, chromosomal and functional properties. One of them, named PaTu 8988s, revealed a solid growth in nude mouse xenografts with cells exhibiting only occasional polar organisation of the cytoplasm.

[Centenarian--a contribution to longevity research].

During the last two decades an increase of research on centenarians can be observed. There are two aspects, which were analyzed mainly: 1. the problems of antecedents of extreme longevity and 2.

[Potentials in old age--also a political task].

Growth of potentials in the elderly can be promoted by political measures. It is an essential task for politicians to perceive the potentials in the elderly, support public initiatives for the elderly, and support maintenance of independency. Gerontological contributions important for politics for the elderly are discussed.

Longitudinal analysis of the developmental process in chronically ill and healthy persons--empirical findings from the Bonn Longitudinal Study of Aging (BOLSA).

Chronically ill and healthy persons are compared as to social roles, dominant concerns, and in coping with stress. The comparison is based on a longitudinal analysis of data which was collected in the Bonn Longitudinal Study of Aging (BOLSA). The empirical analysis indicates that both groups show great success in mastering life situations and in coping with challenges and restrictions.

[Truth at bedside in relation to poor prognosis. Psychological aspects].

Patients as well as their physicians react in different ways to being confronted with imminent death. The physician has to decide which information to give a patient in which situation. A fatal prognosis has to be accompanied by clear and understandable information on chances and limits which are still important for the patient.