The Predictive Properties of Psychiatric Diagnoses, Dynamic Risk and Dynamic Risk Change Assessed by the VRS-SO in Forensically Admitted and Released Sexual Offenders.

Psychiatric diagnoses, static risk factors, and criminogenic needs at time of admission and release were examined in a mentally ill sample of psychiatrically detained sexual offenders. Although clinically found to be at low or even very low risk at discharge, 12% reoffended sexually over an average follow-up of 7 years. Psychotic disorders were present in only 5% of offenders, whereas 93% had a personality disorder diagnosis and 76% a paraphilic disorder diagnosis.

All the small things: How virus-like particles and liposomes modulate allergic immune responses.

Recent years have seen a dramatic increase in the range of applications of virus-like nanoparticle (VNP)- and liposome-based antigen delivery systems for the treatment of allergies. These platforms rely on a growing number of inert virus-backbones or distinct lipid formulations and intend to engage the host's innate and/or adaptive immune system by virtue of their co-delivered immunogens. Due to their particulate nature, VNP and liposomal preparations are also capable of breaking tolerance against endogenous cytokines, Igs, and their receptors, allowing for the facile induction of anti-cytokine, anti-IgE, or anti-FcεR antibodies in the host.

Prevention of allergy by virus-like nanoparticles (VNP) delivering shielded versions of major allergens in a humanized murine allergy model.

Background: In high-risk populations, allergen-specific prophylaxis could protect from sensitization and subsequent development of allergic disease. However, such treatment might itself induce sensitization and allergies, thus requiring hypoallergenic vaccine formulations. We here characterized the preventive potential of virus-like nanoparticles (VNP) expressing surface-exposed or shielded allergens.

Synthesis and biological analysis of benzazol-2-yl piperazine sulfonamides as 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 inhibitors.

In the last decade the inhibition of the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11β-HSD1) emerged as a promising new strategy to treat diabetes and several metabolic syndrome phenotypes. Using a molecular modeling approach and classical bioisosteric studies, we discovered a new class of 11β-HSD1 inhibitors bearing an arylsulfonylpiperazine scaffold. Optimization of the initial lead resulted in compound 11 that selectively inhibits 11β-HSD1 (IC50=0.

Ruminant organotypic brain-slice cultures as a model for the investigation of CNS listeriosis.

Central nervous system (CNS) infections in ruminant livestock, such as listeriosis, are of major concern for veterinary and public health. To date, no host-specific in vitro models for ruminant CNS infections are available. Here, we established and evaluated the suitability of organotypic brain-slices of ruminant origin as in vitro model to study mechanisms of Listeria monocytogenes CNS infection.

Grafted neuronal precursor cells differentiate and integrate in injured hippocampus in experimental pneumococcal meningitis.

Bacterial meningitis (BM) frequently causes persisting neurofunctional sequelae. Autopsy studies in patients dying from BM show characteristic apoptotic brain injury to the stem cell niche in the subgranular zone of the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG), and this form of brain damage is associated with learning and memory deficits in experimental BM. With an eye to potential regenerative therapies, the survival, migration, and differentiation of neuronal precursor cells (NPCs) were evaluated after engraftment into the injured hippocampus in vitro and in vivo in an infant rat model of pneumococcal meningitis.

Bacterial meningitis impairs hippocampal neurogenesis.

Bacterial meningitis causes persisting neurofunctional sequelae. Theoccurrence of apoptotic cell death in the hippocampal subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus characterizes the disease in patients and relates to deficits in learning and memory in corresponding experimental models. Here, we investigated why neurogenesis fails to regenerate the damage in the hippocampus associated with the persistence of neurofunctional deficits.

Comparison of SYBR Green I-, PicoGreen-, and [3H]-hypoxanthine-based assays for in vitro antimalarial screening of plants from Nigerian ethnomedicine.

The standard method for in vitro antimalarial drug screening is based on the isotopic assay which is expensive and utilizes radioactive materials with limited availability, safety, and disposal problems in developing countries. The use of non-radioactive DNA stains SYBR Green I (SG) and PICO green (PG) for antimalarial screening had been reported. However, the use of the two DNA stains for antimalarial screening of medicinal plants has not been compared.

In vitro assessment of the pharmacodynamic properties of DB75, piperaquine, OZ277 and OZ401 in cultures of Plasmodium falciparum.

Objectives: Using synchronized cultures of Plasmodium falciparum, the time- and concentration-dependent growth changes of erythrocytic parasite stages to DB75, piperaquine, OZ277 and OZ401 were investigated in vitro over a concentration range of approximately 1-100x the IC(50) of piperaquine, OZ277 and OZ401 and approximately 10-1000x the IC(50) of DB75.

Methods: The effects of timed in vitro exposure (1, 6, 12 or 24 h) were monitored by the incorporation of [(3)H]hypoxanthine into the parasite nucleic acids.

Results: After 1 h of exposure to the highest concentration of the compound followed by removal of the compound, the growth of all stages of P.

Serotype-specific invasiveness and colonization prevalence in Streptococcus pneumoniae correlate with the lag phase during in vitro growth.

Serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae differ in colonization prevalence and the likelihood of causing disease. In vitro growth in brain heart infusion broth with or without 5% fetal calf serum (FCS) was compared for 47 clinical isolates representing 15 pneumococcal serotypes. Serotype-specific colonization prevalence and odds ratios for the invasive potential were obtained from an international and a local epidemiological study.