Theoretical investigation of transgastric and intraductal approaches for ultrasound-based thermal therapy of the pancreas.

Background: The goal of this study was to theoretically investigate the feasibility of intraductal and transgastric approaches to ultrasound-based thermal therapy of pancreatic tumors, and to evaluate possible treatment strategies.

Methods: This study considered ultrasound applicators with 1.2 mm outer diameter tubular transducers, which are inserted into the tissue to be treated by an endoscopic approach, either via insertion through the gastric wall (transgastric) or within the pancreatic duct lumen (intraductal).

[Nasal turbinate surgery].

The nose forms the first 8 cm of the upper respiratory tract and is responsible for cleansing, humidification, and temperature control of the supplied air. This is also referred to as conditioning. The nasal valve region, formed by the head of the lower nasal concha, portions of the cartilaginous septum, and the upper lateral cartilage, is responsible for diffusing and accelerating the respiratory airflow.

Unacceptable human leucocyte antigens for organ offers in the era of organ shortage: influence on waiting time before kidney transplantation.

Background: The assignment of human leucocyte antigens (HLAs) against which antibodies are detected as unacceptable antigens (UAGs) avoids allocation of HLA- incompatible allografts. There is uncertainty as to what extent UAGs decrease the probability of receiving a kidney offer.

Methods: Kidney transplantations in 3264 patients on the waiting lists of six German transplant centres were evaluated for a period of at least 2 years.

[Surgery of Lower Eyelid Ectropion with the Tarsal Strip Procedure, Using Absorbable or Non-Absorbable Sutures for Periosteal Fixation].

Tightening of the lower eyelid is often performed and many techniques are available. This paper describes the outcome of lower eyelid ectropion repair using the lateral tarsal strip procedure. Periosteal fixation of the tarsal strip can be performed with absorbable or non-absorbable sutures.

Surgery of Anterior Skull Base Lesions in Children.

Introduction: Lesions affecting the anterior skull base represent a rare group of craniofacial pathologies. A tumor of the facial midline, meningitis, or rhinoliquorrhea may be indicative of malformations like dermoid cysts, gliomas, encephaloceles, or nasal fistulas.

Methods: We present a case series of 13 children (4 months to 12 years; 8 males, 5 females) with lesions involving the anterior skull base, which were treated surgically in an interdisciplinary setting.

[Diagnostic accuracy of outpatient polygraphy devices : A comparison with inpatient polysomnography in clinical routine].

Background: Cardiorespiratory polysomnography (PSG) is considered the reference method for diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Due to waiting times and high costs, payers increasingly request outpatient polygraphy (PG) as an alternative to inpatient PSG. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of different outpatient PG devices compared to stationary PSG in clinical practice.

Prevention of Targeted School Violence by Responding to Students' Psychosocial Crises: The NETWASS Program.

The standardized, indicated school-based prevention program "Networks Against School Shootings" combines a threat assessment approach with a general model of prevention of emergency situations in schools through early intervention in student psychosocial crises and training teachers to recognize warning signs of targeted school violence. An evaluation study in 98 German schools with 3,473 school staff participants (M  = 46.2 years) used a quasi-experimental comparison group design with three measurement points (pre, post, and 7 months followup) with schools randomly allocated to implementation conditions.

Influence of cooling face masks on nasal air conditioning and nasal geometry.

Introduction: Nasal geometries and temperature of the nasal mucosa are the primary factors affecting nasal air conditioning. Data on intranasal air conditioning after provoking the trigeminal nerve with a cold stimulus simulating the effects of an arctic condition is still missing. The objective was to investigate the influence of skin cooling face masks on nasal air conditioning, mucosal temperature and nasal geometry.

Transmembrane Fluoride Transport: Direct Measurement and Selectivity Studies.

Fluoride has been overlooked as a target in the development of synthetic anion transporters despite natural fluoride transport channels being recently discovered. In this paper we report the direct measurement of fluoride transport across lipid bilayers facilitated by a series of strapped calix[4]pyrroles and show that these compounds facilitate transport via an electrogenic mechanism (determined using valinomycin and monensin coupled transport assays and an additional osmotic response assay). An HPTS transport assay was used to quantify this electrogenic process and assess the interference of naturally occurring fatty acids with the transport process and Cl over H/OH transport selectivity.

High-Performance Computing in Neuroscience for Data-Driven Discovery, Integration, and Dissemination.

Opportunities offered by new neuro-technologies are threatened by lack of coherent plans to analyze, manage, and understand the data. High-performance computing will allow exploratory analysis of massive datasets stored in standardized formats, hosted in open repositories, and integrated with simulations.

Enabling an Open Data Ecosystem for the Neurosciences.

As the pace and complexity of neuroscience data grow, an open data ecosystem must develop and grow with it to allow neuroscientists the ability to reach for new heights of discovery. However, the problems and complexities of neuroscience data sharing must first be addressed. Among the challenges facing data sharing in neuroscience, the problem of incentives, discoverability, and sustainability may be the most pressing.

Synaptic Contributions to Receptive Field Structure and Response Properties in the Rodent Lateral Geniculate Nucleus of the Thalamus.

Unlabelled: Comparative physiological and anatomical studies have greatly advanced our understanding of sensory systems. Many lines of evidence show that the murine lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) has unique attributes, compared with other species such as cat and monkey. For example, in rodent, thalamic receptive field structure is markedly diverse, and many cells are sensitive to stimulus orientation and direction.

Genome-wide association analysis identifies variation in vitamin D receptor and other host factors influencing the gut microbiota.

Human gut microbiota is an important determinant for health and disease, and recent studies emphasize the numerous factors shaping its diversity. Here we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of the gut microbiota using two cohorts from northern Germany totaling 1,812 individuals. Comprehensively controlling for diet and non-genetic parameters, we identify genome-wide significant associations for overall microbial variation and individual taxa at multiple genetic loci, including the VDR gene (encoding vitamin D receptor).

Three different turbinoplasty techniques combined with septoplasty: Prospective randomized trial.

Objectives/hypothesis: Septal deviation and hypertrophic inferior turbinates are a frequent cause of nasal breathing disorders. The goal of this study was to prove the effectiveness and safety of three current turbinoplasty techniques.

Study Design: This is a prospective, three-arm, single-blinded, single-center, randomized controlled trial.

Proteomic profiling of the mitochondrial ribosome identifies Atp25 as a composite mitochondrial precursor protein.

Whereas the structure and function of cytosolic ribosomes are well characterized, we only have a limited understanding of the mitochondrial translation apparatus. Using SILAC-based proteomic profiling, we identified 13 proteins that cofractionated with the mitochondrial ribosome, most of which play a role in translation or ribosomal biogenesis. One of these proteins is a homologue of the bacterial ribosome-silencing factor (Rsf).

First use of flat-panel computed tomography during cochlear implant surgery : Perspectives for the use of advanced therapies in cochlear implantation.

Background: Cochlear implantation in routine cases with normal anatomy is commonly performed without intraoperative image guidance. Revision cochlear implantation as well as surgery in malformations require not only a precise understanding of the underlying complex anatomy, but surgeons need to transform two-dimensional computed tomography (2D CT) scans into the surgical field and use this information for intraoperative surgical navigation. So far, information about the exact position of the electrode during insertion cannot be provided to the surgeon.

A disulfide bond in the TIM23 complex is crucial for voltage gating and mitochondrial protein import.

Tim17 is a central, membrane-embedded subunit of the mitochondrial protein import machinery. In this study, we show that Tim17 contains a pair of highly conserved cysteine residues that form a structural disulfide bond exposed to the intermembrane space (IMS). This disulfide bond is critical for efficient protein translocation through the TIM23 complex and for dynamic gating of its preprotein-conducting channel.

Structural Plasticity, Effectual Connectivity, and Memory in Cortex.

Learning and memory is commonly attributed to the modification of synaptic strengths in neuronal networks. More recent experiments have also revealed a major role of structural plasticity including elimination and regeneration of synapses, growth and retraction of dendritic spines, and remodeling of axons and dendrites. Here we work out the idea that one likely function of structural plasticity is to increase "effectual connectivity" in order to improve the capacity of sparsely connected networks to store Hebbian cell assemblies that are supposed to represent memories.

[The NETWASS prevention model for early identification and assessment of adolescents in psychosocial crisis].

The research-based NETWASS prevention model aims to enable school staff to identify students experiencing a psychosocial crisis that could lead to severe targeted school violence and to initiate appropriate support measures. A detailed analysis of the adolescent psychosocial crisis is conducted at an early stage by evaluating possible warning behaviors, crisis symptoms, a student’s individual and social background, and resources. The model was implemented in 98 schools.

A repeat protein links Rubisco to form the eukaryotic carbon-concentrating organelle.

Biological carbon fixation is a key step in the global carbon cycle that regulates the atmosphere's composition while producing the food we eat and the fuels we burn. Approximately one-third of global carbon fixation occurs in an overlooked algal organelle called the pyrenoid. The pyrenoid contains the CO2-fixing enzyme Rubisco and enhances carbon fixation by supplying Rubisco with a high concentration of CO2 Since the discovery of the pyrenoid more that 130 y ago, the molecular structure and biogenesis of this ecologically fundamental organelle have remained enigmatic.

Age-Dependent Susceptibility to Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) Infection in Mice.

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) represents a major causative agent of infant diarrhea associated with significant morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Although studied extensively in vitro, the investigation of the host-pathogen interaction in vivo has been hampered by the lack of a suitable small animal model. Using RT-PCR and global transcriptome analysis, high throughput 16S rDNA sequencing as well as immunofluorescence and electron microscopy, we characterize the EPEC-host interaction following oral challenge of newborn mice.

Know your neighbor: Microbiota and host epithelial cells interact locally to control intestinal function and physiology.

Interactions between the host and its associated microbiota differ spatially and the local cross talk determines organ function and physiology. Animals and their organs are not uniform but contain several functional and cellular compartments and gradients. In the intestinal tract, different parts of the gut carry out different functions, tissue structure varies accordingly, epithelial cells are differentially distributed and gradients exist for several physicochemical parameters such as nutrients, pH, or oxygen.