Let it glow: genetically encoded fluorescent reporters in Plasmodium.

The use of fluorescent proteins (FPs) in Plasmodium parasites has been key to understand the biology of this obligate intracellular protozoon. FPs like the green fluorescent protein (GFP) enabled to explore protein localization, promoter activity as well as dynamic processes like protein export and endocytosis. Furthermore, FP biosensors have provided detailed information on physiological parameters at the subcellular level, and fluorescent reporter lines greatly extended the malariology toolbox.

Sensory and environmental uncertainty in perceptual decision-making.

In perceptual decision-making, uncertainties regarding both noisy sensory information and changing environmental regularities must be considered. We aimed to clarify the relationship between these two sources of uncertainty using a combined motion discrimination and audiovisual reversal learning task with Bayesian modeling. As predicted, the influence of learned beliefs regarding audiovisual associations on perceptual decisions was greater under high sensory uncertainty.

In her own words: understanding the health needs of older lesbians.

This project illuminates the unique struggles and barriers lesbians face. A community advisory board (CAB) was developed and 31 in-depth interviews were conducted with lesbians aged 56-84 in the Rocky Mountain region. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and coded using critical discourse analysis.

Long-term sequelae of critical illness in sepsis, trauma and burns: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Sepsis, major trauma, and severe burn injury are life-threatening critical illnesses that remain significant contributors to worldwide morbidity and mortality. The three underlying etiologies share pathophysiological similarities: hyperinflammation, hypermetabolism, and acute immunomodulation. The aims of this study were to assess the current state of long-term outcome research and to identify key outcome parameters between the three forms of critical illness.

Low-melting imidazolium-based salts with the paramagnetic reineckate-analogue anion [Cr(NCS)4(bipy)]- (bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine): syntheses, properties, and structures.

In order to investigate the potential ionic liquid properties of Reineckate-analogue materials, four new salts, consisting of the heteroleptic [Cr(NCS)(4)(bipy)](-) complex anion and imidazolium-based cations A(+) = 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium, 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium, pentamethylimidazolium, and 1,3-dimethyl-2,4,5-triphenylimidazolium, were investigated. Their structures were established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The compounds are paramagnetic with effective magnetic moments in the range of those expected by the number of unpaired spins of the chromium(III) ion.

Release kinetics of inflammatory biomarkers in a clinical model of acute myocardial infarction.

Rationale: Inflammation in the setting of acute myocardial infarction (MI) has been linked to risk stratification; however, the release kinetics of inflammatory biomarkers in patients with acute MI has been difficult to establish.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the kinetics of changes in the levels of several biomarkers specifically linked to inflammation after transcoronary ablation of septal hypertrophy, a procedure that mimics acute MI.

Methods And Results: We analyzed release kinetics of C-reactive protein, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, soluble CD40 ligand, and peripheral blood leukocyte subsets in patients (n=21) undergoing transcoronary ablation of septal hypertrophy.

Microglial activation milieu controls regulatory T cell responses.

Although mechanisms leading to brain-specific inflammation and T cell activation have been widely investigated, regulatory mechanisms of local innate immune cells in the brain are only poorly understood. In this study, to our knowledge we show for the first time that MHC class II(+)CD40(dim)CD86(dim)IL-10(+) microglia are potent inducers of Ag-specific CD4(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) in vitro. Microglia differentially regulated MHC class II expression, costimulatory molecules, and IL-10 depending on the amount of IFN-γ challenge and Ag dose, promoting either effector T cell or Treg induction.

Perinatal management of trisomy 18: a survey of obstetricians in Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the attitudes of obstetricians in Australia, New Zealand and the UK towards prenatally diagnosed trisomy 18 (T18).

Method: Obstetricians were contacted by email and invited to participate in an anonymous electronic survey.

Results: Survey responses were obtained from 1018/3717 (27%) practicing obstetricians/gynaecologists.

Fatally flawed? A review and ethical analysis of lethal congenital malformations.

Prenatally diagnosed abnormalities that are associated with death in the newborn period are often referred to as 'lethal malformations'. Yet, for many of the commonly described lethal malformations long-term survival is possible if supportive interventions are provided. In this paper we analyse and review fetal or congenital lethal abnormalities.

Going against the grain: Liam's story.

You might well say, 'Why would you want to write about your son's death?' And in response I may ask, 'Why do you want to read it?' Perhaps there are no correct answers to our questions, except to say that the only way we learn it, ethically, through the experiences of others as we witness their suffering. Although, for the most part, this journey would leave me feeling professionally abandoned, there were still times of joy, hope and love. I invite you to take this journey with me.

Influence of different repair procedures on bond strength of adhesive filling materials to etched enamel in vitro.

Contamination of etched enamel with repair bond agents during repair of dental restorations may interfere with the bonding of composite to enamel. This study examined the bond strength of adhesive filling materials to etched bovine enamel after pre-treatment with the repair systems Monobond S, Silibond and Co-Jet. The materials Tetric Ceram, Dyract and Definite and their corresponding bonding agents (Syntac Single Comp, Prime & Bond NT, Etch and Prime) were tested in combination with the repair systems.

Signal transduction of erythropoietin in endothelial cells.

Erythropoietin (EPO) induces endothelin expression in endothelial cells (EC) and has angiogenic effects. We investigated the intracellular signal transduction of EPO in EC and tested the hypothesis that the proliferative effects of EPO may be mediated by cytosolic calcium, changes in intracellular pH, or tyrosine phosphorylation. Cytosolic calcium and pH were measured with fura-2 and BCECF.

[Expert assessment of chronic venous insufficiency].

In the expertise of a chronic venous insufficiency kind and stage of the venous disease must be proved as objectively as possible. The diagnostic demands in the individual step programmes serve for the exact assessment of the remaining part of efficiency. The criteria of valuation are summarized, in which case we also deal with several possibilities of combination with other vascular diseases.

[Current therapy of chronic arterial occlusive diseases of the lower extremities].

Angiologists, vascular surgeons, and angiographers inform about the actual state of the therapy of the arterial occlusive diseases of the legs. The degree I of therapy comprises the conservative treatment for the improvement of the macrocirculation and the normalisation of the disturbed microcirculation, taking into particular consideration the therapy with antiviscositant drugs. The main chapter ends with the possibilities of the influence on the arteriosclerotic vascular processes as well as with the necessary rehabilitative measures.

[Whole blood viscosity in patients with acral arterial occlusive diseases and their modification by rheologically active drugs].

Measurements of the whole-blood viscosity in patients with organic and functional disturbances of the acral blood supply were performed. In comparison with the whole-blood viscosity in normal persons patients with acral occlusive diseases showed a significantly increased viscosity. On the other hand, in patients with functional disturbances of the acral blood supply no differences could be established.

[Theses on the evaluation of arterial circulatory disorders of the extremities].

In an expert opinion of disturbance of the arterial blood supply concerning invalidity the vascular disease must be proved with sufficient ascertainment as well as the functional capacity remained must be estimated. Every expert opinion should contain as far as possible concrete data already in the angiologic-diagnostic minimum programme. In problematic cases supplementations by a special angiological diagnostics are necessary.

Species-dependent variables in blood cerebrospinal fluid barrier for proteins.

Cerebrospinal fluid/plasma concentration quotients for immunoglobulin G (I) and albumin (A) were determined in guinea pigs. Age and sex-dependent influences on these quotients (I/A) were analyzed and compared with the values for human lumbar, cisternal and ventricular cerebrospinal fluid. The ratio I/A, which characterizes the molecular size-dependent selectivity of the blood cerebrospinal fluid barrier function for proteins, was found to be a constant in a single species, but showed marked interspecies differences.

[Conservative therapy of acral circulatory disorders and cutaneous microangiopathies].

Despite the different pathological value of disturbances of the acral blood supply and cutaneous microangiopathies there is a need of treatment of these clinical pictures. It can extend from a simple therapeutic consultation of the patient up to the complex use of adequate rules of life, of physiotherapeutic and pharmacological measures. Under this angle of view the treatment of the angiopathic reactive position, of the digitus mortuus and Raynaud's disease is demonstrated.