Regulation of macrophage migration and activity by high-mobility group box 1 protein released from periodontal ligament cells during orthodontically induced periodontal repair: an in vitro and in vivo experimental study.

Objective: Recent studies have shown that periodontal ligament (PDL) cells interact with macrophages from the immune system during orthodontically induced repair of periodontal tissue. Hypothesizing that high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein is released by mechanically stressed PDL cells into the extracellular space and has a role in mediating the local immune response by acting as an "alarmin", this study was performed to further elucidate these cellular interactions, with a special focus on the impact of proinflammatory mediators secreted by PDL cells on macrophage physiology.

Materials And Methods: The study included an in vivo part in which orthodontic stress was induced in rats and their PDL analyzed for expression of HMGB1 by immunohistochemistry after 5 days of tooth movement.

Control of lower incisor inclination with a completely customized lingual appliance for dentoalveolar compensation of class III malocclusion.

Objective: Bracket slots and orthodontic archwires offering high dimensional precision are needed for fully customized lingual appliances. We aimed to investigate whether high-precision appliances of this type enable dentoalveolar compensation of class III malocclusion so that lower incisor inclination at the end of treatment will closely match the anticipated situation as defined in a pretreatment setup.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included a total of 34 consecutive patients who had worn a fully customized lingual appliance to achieve dentoalveolar compensation for class III malocclusion by intermaxillary elastics, or proximal enamel reduction, or extraction of teeth in one or both jaws.

Downregulation of β1 -adrenergic receptors in rat C6 glioblastoma cells by hyperforin and hyperoside from St John's wort.

Objectives: While the use of St John's wort extracts as treatment for mild to moderate depression is well established the mode of action is still under investigation. Individual constituents of St John's wort extract were tested for possible effects on the β1 AR density and a subsequent change in downstream signalling in rat C6 glioblastoma cells.

Methods: The effect of compounds from St John's wort extract on the downregulation of β1 -adrenergic receptor-GFP fusion proteins (β1 AR-green fluorescent protein (GFP)) of transfected rat C6 gliobastoma cells (C6-β1 AR-GFP) was investigated by means of confocal laser scanning microscopy (LSM).

Cannabinoid 1 receptors in keratinocytes modulate proinflammatory chemokine secretion and attenuate contact allergic inflammation.

Epidermal keratinocytes (KCs) and cannabinoid (CB) receptors both participate in the regulation of inflammatory responses in a mouse model for allergic contact dermatitis, the contact hypersensitivity (CHS) response to the obligate sensitizer 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene. In this study, we investigated the cellular and molecular mechanisms how CB1 receptors attenuate CHS responses to 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene. We used a conditional gene-targeting approach to identify the relative contribution of CB1 receptors on epidermal KCs for the control of CHS responses.

Resorption behavior of a nanostructured bone substitute: in vitro investigation and clinical application.

Objectives: To develop an in vitro assay for quantitative analysis of the degradation to which a bone substitute is exposed by osteoclasts. The aim of establishing this method was to improve the predictability of carrying out tooth movements via bone substitutes and to provide a basis for verification in exemplary clinical cases.

Methods: After populating a bone substitute (NanoBone®; ArtOss, Germany) with osteoclastic cells, inductively-coupled mass spectrometry was used to evaluate changing calcium levels in the culture medium as a marker of resorption activity.

Mesenchymal stem cells as cellular immunotherapeutics in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a curative treatment option in hematopoietic disorders, immunodeficiencies and leukemia. To date graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) represents a life-threatening complication even if associated with beneficial antileukemic reactivity. GvHD is the clinical manifestation of donor cells reacting against host tissue.

Assessment of the effects of forest land use strategies on the provision of ecosystem services at regional scale.

This paper presents results of a case study in Middle Saxony, Germany, where the impact of conversion, afforestation and alternatively introduction of short rotation coppice areas on the provision of ecosystem services was tested in a spatially inexplicit and a spatially explicit way to formulate recommendations for regional planning. While the spatially inexplicit testing did not lead to clear results regarding to what degree forests or short rotation coppice areas are desirable and applicable, the spatially explicit testing revealed that an increase in the forest area or area with short rotation coppice by 29.7% in unstructured agriculturally dominated Loess regions, 14.

Spatial learning and memory retention in the grey bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium griseum).

Like other vertebrates, fish can learn to solve a wide variety of tasks; however, many of their cognitive abilities, particularly in cartilaginous fishes, still remain unknown. This study investigated memory retention capabilities of spatial learning tasks in the grey bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium griseum, n=8) after behavioural training in a two-choice experiment (T-maze). Sharks learned to obtain food at a goal location, either by performing a specific turn response or by using a variety of external landmarks for guidance.

Treatment of imported New World cutaneous leishmaniasis in Germany.

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), a parasitic disease which represents a public health problem, particularly in Central and South America, has become a leading condition in travelers who return from tropical countries with skin disorders. Cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, the most common causative agent, requires systemic treatment because it is potentially able to disseminate and to cause mucosal or mucocutaneous disease. Although several drugs are available for the systemic treatment of leishmaniases, a definitive treatment regimen for infection caused by species of the Viannia subgenus has yet to be established in many countries, including Germany.

Mechanisms balancing tolerance and immunity in the liver.

The liver has a pivotal role in glucose, lipid and protein metabolism as well as in removal of toxins and waste products. A unique microanatomy and a network of resident scavenger cell populations specialized in endocytic uptake of antigens and macromolecules cooperatively mediate these salient hepatic functions together with parenchymal hepatocytes. Antigens taken up by hepatic scavenger cell populations, such as Kupffer cells, hepatic dendritic cells, stellate cells and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs), can be (cross-)presented on MHC class I and II molecules, which leads to modulation of T cell immune functions.

Influence of diabetes mellitus on the development and treatment of malocclusions--a case report with literature review.

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by disturbed glucose regulation, manifesting primarily as chronic hyperglycemia. Today about 6% of the world's population suffers from diabetes mellitus. This metabolic disorder is known to be associated with a large number of concomitant and secondary diseases of the cardiovascular system, as well as of the joint and supporting tissue systems.

SUMOylation of the hepatoma-derived growth factor negatively influences its binding to chromatin.

Hepatoma-derived growth factor is a nuclear targeted mitogen containing a PWWP domain that mediates binding to DNA. To date, almost nothing is known about the molecular mechanisms of the functions of hepatoma-derived growth factor, its routes of secretion and internalization or post-translational modifications. In the present study, we show for the first time that hepatoma-derived growth factor is modified by the covalent attachment of small ubiquitin-related modifier 1 (SUMO-1), a post-translational modification with regulatory functions for an increasing number of proteins.

Protective effects of taurine on endothelial cells impaired by high glucose and oxidized low density lipoproteins.

Background: Endothelial dysfunction, common to diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, is an early step in the development of atherosclerosis and diabetic angiopathies. Deficiencies of taurine have been related to diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

Aims Of The Study: We investigated whether taurine provides protective action against endothelial dysfunction induced by hyperglycemia and/or oxidized low density lipoproteins (oxLDL).

Effective treatment for dermatophytoses of the foot: effect on restoration of depressed cell-mediated immunity.

Superficial infections caused by dermatophyte fungi are highly prevalent throughout the world. Modern antimycotic agents like the azole itraconazole or the synthetic allylamine terbinafine greatly improved treatment outcomes in comparison with former therapeutic options with griseofulvin or older azole preparations like ketoconazole or fluconazole. In randomized trials involving patients with dermotophytoses, a great effectiveness has been shown especially for terbinafine.

Investigation of the expansion properties of osmotic expanders with and without silicone shell in animals.

Background: Particularly in clinical studies, it has been found that rapid swelling of tissue expanders leads to high-pressure peaks that can cause hypoxia in the tissue and thus also skin damage. For this reason, the present study in animals investigated whether an osmotic expander with silicone shell is capable of expanding in tissue and bringing about useful tissue expansion without complications. It was also examined whether and what quantitative and qualitative differences there are between conventional osmotic expanders and the new expanders with silicone shell.

Lack of eosinophil peroxidase or major basic protein impairs defense against murine filarial infection.

Eosinophils are a hallmark of allergic diseases and helminth infection, yet direct evidence for killing of helminth parasites by their toxic granule products exists only in vitro. We investigated the in vivo roles of the eosinophil granule proteins eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) and major basic protein 1 (MBP) during infection with the rodent filaria Litomosoides sigmodontis. Mice deficient for either EPO or MBP on the 129/SvJ background developed significantly higher worm burdens than wild-type mice.

The pH of the skin surface and its impact on the barrier function.

The 'acid mantle' of the stratum corneum seems to be important for both permeability barrier formation and cutaneous antimicrobial defense. However, the origin of the acidic pH, measurable on the skin surface, remains conjectural. Passive and active influencing factors have been proposed, e.

Induction of chronic colitis in IL-10 deficient mice requires IL-4.

Th 1 cells activated by IL-12 and secreting IFN-gamma have been described as the main mediators for onset and maintenance of chronic colitis in IL-10 deficient mice. It was therefore surprising that mice deficient for IL-4 in addition to IL-10 showed intestinal pathology very rarely, whereas IL-10 KO mice developed rectal prolapse in most cases. To investigate the underlying mechanisms, we studied changes of ongoing inflammatory processes in mice deficient for IL-4, IL-10 or both cytokines.

Doppler and biophysical assessment in growth restricted fetuses: distribution of test results.

Objective: Multi-vessel Doppler ultrasonography and biophysical profile scoring (BPS) are used in the surveillance of growth restricted fetuses (IUGR). The interpretation of both tests performed concurrently may be complex. This study examines the relationship between Doppler ultrasonography and biophysical test results in IUGR fetuses.

Effective induction of anti-melanoma immunity following genetic vaccination with synthetic mRNA coding for the fusion protein EGFP.TRP2.

RNA-based genetic immunization represents an alternative novel strategy for antigen-specific cancer vaccines. In the present paper we investigate the use of synthetic messenger RNA in an experimental melanoma model. We show that gene gun-based immunization using synthetic RNA mediates gene expression in the epidermis and effectively induces antigen-specific cellular and humoral immunity in mice in vivo.

Spatial memory and orientation strategies in the elasmobranch Potamotrygon motoro.

We investigated whether juvenile freshwater stingrays (Potamotrygon motoro) can solve spatial tasks by constructing a cognitive map of their environment. Two experimental conditions were run: allocentric and ego-allocentric. Rays were trained to locate food within a four-arm maze placed in a room with visual spatial cues.

T regulatory-1 cells induce IgG4 production by B cells: role of IL-10.

The study was aimed to find out whether T cells with a regulatory profile could regulate the secretion of IgG4. Using tetanus Ag we found that PBMC of healthy human donors responded to exogenous IL-10 by down-regulating IgG1 and increasing IgG4 secretion. IgE was not affected.

Circulating clonal CLA(+) and CD4(+) T cells in Sezary syndrome express the skin-homing chemokine receptors CCR4 and CCR10 as well as the lymph node-homing chemokine receptor CCR7.

Background: Adhesion molecules and chemokine receptors are involved in tissue-specific homing of T cells to the skin and play an important role in the pathophysiology of cutaneous lymphoma. It has recently been reported that the chemokine CCL27 expressed by keratinocytes attracts lymphocytes bearing the chemokine receptor CCR10.

Objectives: To investigate the expression of CCR4, CCR7 and CCR10 on skin-homing CLA(+) and CD4(+) T cells in the peripheral blood of patients with Sezary syndrome (SS), a rare leukaemic variant of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Recent highlights in the pathophysiology of atopic eczema.

Atopic eczema (AE) belongs to the group of atopic diseases that have become increasingly prevalent over the last decades. The pathophysiology of AE has long remained enigmatic, but much scientific effort has been invested in elucidating the genetic background and the immunological mechanisms underlying AE, leading to a better understanding of this complex disease and to new therapeutic strategies. This review provides an update on the scientific progress that has been achieved in clarifying the pathophysiological mechanisms of AE.

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) counterregulates IL-4-dependent effector mechanisms in Murine Filariasis.

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) was at first described as a Th2-associated cytokine, although more recent reports have shown that immunosuppression applies to both Th1 and Th2 cell responses, e.g., when produced by T regulatory cells.