Widespread diversity deficits of coral reef sharks and rays.

A global survey of coral reefs reveals that overfishing is driving resident shark species toward extinction, causing diversity deficits in reef elasmobranch (shark and ray) assemblages. Our species-level analysis revealed global declines of 60 to 73% for five common resident reef shark species and that individual shark species were not detected at 34 to 47% of surveyed reefs. As reefs become more shark-depleted, rays begin to dominate assemblages.

Dissecting the genetic heterogeneity of gastric cancer.

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is clinically heterogenous according to location (cardia/non-cardia) and histopathology (diffuse/intestinal). We aimed to characterize the genetic risk architecture of GC according to its subtypes. Another aim was to examine whether cardia GC and oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) and its precursor lesion Barrett's oesophagus (BO), which are all located at the gastro-oesophageal junction (GOJ), share polygenic risk architecture.

Comparison of genetic variation between rare and common congeners of Dipodomys with estimates of contemporary and historical effective population size.

Species with low effective population sizes are at greater risk of extinction because of reduced genetic diversity. Such species are more vulnerable to chance events that decrease population sizes (e.g.

Performance of different osteosynthesis materials in microvascular fibula free flap reconstruction.

Fibular free flap (FFF) is the main reconstructive choice for large mandibular defects. Recent improvements have been made regarding planning and surgical procedure, but choice of osteosynthesis material (OSM) for segment-fixation remains controversial. A retrospective cohort study obtained clinical and radiological data from FFF-patients.

Patterns of care and follow-up care of patients with uveal melanoma in German-speaking countries: a multinational survey of the German Dermatologic Cooperative Oncology Group (DeCOG).

Purpose: Uveal melanoma (UM) is an orphan cancer of high unmet medical need. Current patterns of care and surveillance remain unclear as they are situated in an interdisciplinary setting.

Methods: A questionnaire addressing the patterns of care and surveillance in the management of patients with uveal melanoma was distributed to 70 skin cancer centers in Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

An atlas of O-linked glycosylation on peptide hormones reveals diverse biological roles.

Peptide hormones and neuropeptides encompass a large class of bioactive peptides that regulate physiological processes like anxiety, blood glucose, appetite, inflammation and blood pressure. Here, we execute a focused discovery strategy to provide an extensive map of O-glycans on peptide hormones. We find that almost one third of the 279 classified peptide hormones carry O-glycans.

Depletion of Macrophages Improves Therapeutic Response to Gemcitabine in Murine Pancreas Cancer.

Background: The tumor microenvironment (TME) is composed of fibro-inflammatory cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) components. However, the exact contribution of the various TME compartments towards therapeutic response is unknown. Here, we aim to dissect the specific contribution of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) towards drug delivery and response in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

ATLANTIC EPIPHYTES: a data set of vascular and non-vascular epiphyte plants and lichens from the Atlantic Forest.

Epiphytes are hyper-diverse and one of the frequently undervalued life forms in plant surveys and biodiversity inventories. Epiphytes of the Atlantic Forest, one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world, have high endemism and radiated recently in the Pliocene. We aimed to (1) compile an extensive Atlantic Forest data set on vascular, non-vascular plants (including hemiepiphytes), and lichen epiphyte species occurrence and abundance; (2) describe the epiphyte distribution in the Atlantic Forest, in order to indicate future sampling efforts.

Population-based cross-sectional study to assess newborn hearing screening program in central Germany.

Objectives: Early diagnosis of congenital hearing loss is fundamental to minimize the negative consequences on the speech development. To lower the age at diagnosis and at intervention in hearing impaired children, not only universal newborn hearing screening (NHS) but also tracking is considered essential. The aim of the study was to evaluate the first six years after implementation of the population based newborn hearing screening program in Saxony-Anhalt, one German Federal State.

Antioxidant properties of UCP1 are evolutionarily conserved in mammals and buffer mitochondrial reactive oxygen species.

Mitochondrial uncoupling reduces reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and appears to be important for cellular signaling/protection, making it a focus for the treatment of metabolic and age-related diseases. Whereas the physiological role of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) of brown adipose tissue is established for thermogenesis, the function of UCP1 in the reduction of ROS in cold-exposed animals is currently under debate. Here, we investigated the role of UCP1 in mitochondrial ROS handling in the Lesser hedgehog tenrec (Echinops telfairi), a unique protoendothermic Malagasy mammal with recently identified brown adipose tissue (BAT).

A common polymorphism in the ABCB11 gene is associated with advanced fibrosis in hepatitis C but not in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Chronic HCV (hepatitis C virus)-associated cirrhosis represents a major indication for liver transplantation. Bile acids contribute to hepatic stellate cell activation as a key event in fibrogenesis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of bile acids and polymorphisms in bile acid level-regulating genes on fibrosis progression.

The role of bile acid retention and a common polymorphism in the ABCB11 gene as host factors affecting antiviral treatment response in chronic hepatitis C.

The outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and the likelihood of a sustained virological response (SVR) to antiviral therapy depends on both viral and host characteristics. In vitro studies demonstrated that bile acids (BA) interfere with antiviral interferon effects. We investigate the influence of plasma BA concentrations and an ABCB11 polymorphism associated with lower transporter expression on viral load and SVR.

[Sclerotherapy for cystic lesions of the head and neck region].

Cystic lesions are frequently occurring diseases of the head and neck region. Complete surgical resection near to neurovascular structures can be accompanied by various complications. In selected cases intralesional injection of OK-432 could constitute an alternative.

Rhinitis medicamentosa: electron microscopic changes of human nasal mucosa.

Objective: Prolonged application of nasal vasoconstrictors causes rhinitis medicamentosa (RM). Nasal obstruction is induced by rebound swelling when the decongestive effect has disappeared. The aim of this study was to demonstrate ultrastructural changes in RM.

Sclerotherapy of cervical cysts with Picibanil (OK-432).

The effectiveness of intralesional sclerotherapy of lymphangiomas and ranulas with OK-432 (Picibanil) has been proved in several clinical studies. The aim of our study was to review the effectiveness of sclerotherapy of benign cervical cysts with Picibanil as an alternative method to surgical excision. Between March 2002 and March 2006, a prospective observational study was carried out to assess the effects of Picibanil on cervical cysts.

Structure-activity analysis of a class of orally active hydroxamic acid inhibitors of leukotriene biosynthesis.

The nature of the carbonyl and nitrogen substituents of hydroxamic acids has a major influence on the biological profile of these compounds. Hydroxamates with small groups such as methyl appended to the carbonyl and relatively large nitrogen substituents generally have longer duration in vivo, produce greater plasma concentrations, and often are more potent inhibitors of in vivo leukotriene biosynthesis than hydroxamic acids with the opposite arrangement. The structure-activity relationships that describe in vitro 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory activity and in vivo leukotriene biosynthesis inhibitory potency for a group of these hydroxamic acids were investigated.