Engineering the Salt-Inducible Ectoine Promoter Region of Halomonas elongata for Protein Expression in a Unique Stabilizing Environment.

It has been firmly established that organic osmolytes (compatible solutes) of halophilic and have positive effects on conformation and activity of proteins, and may therefore improve their functional production. In particular, the amino acid derivative ectoine is known for its conformational stabilization, aggregation suppression, and radical protection properties. The natural producer and industrial production strain accumulates ectoine in the cytoplasm, and as a result offers a unique stabilizing environment for recombinant proteins.

Risk factors for shunt dependency in patients suffering from spontaneous, non-aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Patients presenting with spontaneous, non-aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) achieve better outcomes compared to patients with aneurysmal SAH. Nevertheless, some patients develop shunt-dependent hydrocephalus during treatment course. We therefore analyzed our neurovascular database to identify factors determining shunt dependency after non-aneurysmal SAH.

Unravelling the Molecular Determinants of Bee Sensitivity to Neonicotinoid Insecticides.

The impact of neonicotinoid insecticides on the health of bee pollinators is a topic of intensive research and considerable current debate [1]. As insecticides, certain neonicotinoids, i.e.

Daily allergic multimorbidity in rhinitis using mobile technology: A novel concept of the MASK study.

Background: Multimorbidity in allergic airway diseases is well known, but no data exist about the daily dynamics of symptoms and their impact on work. To better understand this, we aimed to assess the presence and control of daily allergic multimorbidity (asthma, conjunctivitis, rhinitis) and its impact on work productivity using a mobile technology, the Allergy Diary.

Methods: We undertook a 1-year prospective observational study in which 4 210 users and 32 585 days were monitored in 19 countries.

Quality of life up to 10 years after external beam radiotherapy and/or brachytherapy for prostate cancer.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate quality-of-life changes up to 10 years following three different radiotherapy concepts.

Methods And Materials: In the years 2000-2003, 295 patients were treated with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT; n = 135; 70.2 Gy in 1.

Transsphenoidal pituitary surgery: comparison of two sellar reconstruction techniques and their effect on postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage.

Transsphenoidal surgery is a common procedure in patients with pituitary adenomas. Several techniques have been previously postulated to achieve sufficient sellar reconstruction to avoid cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage. We analyzed our institutional database concerning two sellar reconstruction techniques and development of postoperative CSF leakage.

What are the origins and relevance of spontaneous bladder contractions? ICI-RS 2017.

Introduction: Storage phase bladder activity is a counter-intuitive observation of spontaneous contractions. They are potentially an intrinsic feature of the smooth muscle, but interstitial cells in the mucosa and the detrusor itself, as well as other muscular elements in the mucosa may substantially influence them. They are identified in several models explaining lower urinary tract dysfunction.

The mechanisms how heparin affects the tumor cell induced VEGF and chemokine release from platelets to attenuate the early metastatic niche formation.

Metastasis is responsible for the majority of cancer associated fatalities. Tumor cells leaving the primary tumor and entering the blood flow immediately interact with platelets. Activated platelets contribute in different ways to cancer cell survival and proliferation, e.

Selenium Utilization by GPX4 Is Required to Prevent Hydroperoxide-Induced Ferroptosis.

Selenoproteins are rare proteins among all kingdoms of life containing the 21 amino acid, selenocysteine. Selenocysteine resembles cysteine, differing only by the substitution of selenium for sulfur. Yet the actual advantage of selenolate- versus thiolate-based catalysis has remained enigmatic, as most of the known selenoproteins also exist as cysteine-containing homologs.

The Potential of Indonesian Heterobranchs Found around Bunaken Island for the Production of Bioactive Compounds.

The species diversity of marine heterobranch sea slugs found on field trips around Bunaken Island (North Sulawesi, Indonesia) and adjacent islands of the Bunaken National Marine Park forms the basis of this review. In a survey performed in 2015, 80 species from 23 families were collected, including 17 new species. Only three of these have been investigated previously in studies from Indonesia.

Prediction and prevention of allergy and asthma in EAACI journals (2016).

The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) owns three journals: Allergy, Pediatric Allergy and Immunology and Clinical and Translational Allergy. One of the major goals of EAACI is to support health promotion in which prevention of allergy and asthma plays a critical role and to disseminate the knowledge of allergy to all stakeholders including the EAACI junior members.

Inflammation in metabolically healthy and metabolically abnormal adolescents: The HELENA study.

Background And Aims: Inflammation may influence the cardio-metabolic profile which relates with the risk of chronic diseases. This study aimed to assess the inflammatory status by metabolic health (MH)/body mass index (BMI) category and to assess how inflammatory markers can predict the cardio-metabolic profile in European adolescents, considering BMI.

Methods And Results: A total of 659 adolescents (295 boys) from a cross-sectional European study were included.

Reestablishment of individual sleep structure during a single 14-h recovery sleep episode after 58 h of wakefulness.

Sleep structure is highly stable within individuals but different between individuals. The present study investigated robustness of the individual sleep structure to extended total sleep deprivation. Seventeen healthy men spent a baseline night (23:00-07:00 hours), 58 h of sleep deprivation and a 14-h recovery night (17:00-07:00 hours) in the laboratory.

Postdiagnostic physical activity, sleep duration, and TV watching and all-cause mortality among long-term colorectal cancer survivors: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Lifestyle recommendations for cancer survivors are warranted to improve survival. In this study, we aimed to examine the association of total physical activity, different types of physical activity, hours of sleeping at day and night, and hours spent watching television (TV) with all-cause mortality in long-term colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors.

Methods: We assessed physical activity in 1376 CRC survivors (44% women; median age, 69 years) at median 6 years after CRC diagnosis using a validated questionnaire.

Food allergy in EAACI journals (2016).

Over the last years we have observed considerable progress in the area of food allergy, particularly in children. This review article focusses on important contributions which have lately been published in the three journals of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. A better understanding of allergens as well as the mechanisms of sensitization and tolerance induction may hopefully lead to a more targeted management of food allergy in the near future.

γ-FeO magnetic nanoparticle functionalized with carboxylated multi walled carbon nanotube for magnetic solid phase extractions and determinations of Sudan dyes and Para Red in food samples.

Hybrid nanostructures composed of γ-FeO (maghemite) and carboxylated-multi walled carbon nanotube (cMWCNT) were used for the magnetic solid phase extractions and determination of Sudan I, II, III, IV, Para Red, Sudan Black B and Sudan Red 7B in chili products. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was employed for the measurements. Limit of quantification (LOQ) values were found in the range 0.

Artificial urine and FBS supplemented media in cytocompatibility assays for PLGA-PEG-based intravesical devices using the urothelium cell line UROtsa.

European and German directives for approval of new medical devices require tests for cytotoxicity in relevant media, since urine can influence cytotoxicity of biodegradable devices. The aim of this study was to determine the long-term cytotoxicity of PLGA-b-mPEG (PLGA-PEG) polymer carriers and artificial urine (AU) to human UROtsa cells. Benign urothelial UROtsa cells were incubated in fetal bovine serum-containing RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with a range of concentrations of AU for 24 h and 7 days.

Heparin antagonizes cisplatin resistance of A2780 ovarian cancer cells by affecting the Wnt signaling pathway.

Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), the guideline based drug for prophylaxis and treatment of cancer-associated thrombosis, was recently shown to sensitize cisplatin resistant A2780cis human ovarian cancer cells for cisplatin cytotoxicity upon 24 h pretreatment with 50 μg × mL of the LMWH tinzaparin , equivalent to a therapeutic dosage. Thereby, LMWH induced sensitization by transcriptional reprogramming of A2780cis cells via not yet elucidated mechanisms that depend on cellular proteoglycans. Here we aim to illuminate the underlying molecular mechanisms of LMWH in sensitizing A2780cis cells for cisplatin.

Decompressive craniectomy for intracerebral haematoma: the influence of additional haematoma evacuation.

Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) may lead to intractable elevation of intracranial pressure (ICP), which may lead to decompressive craniectomy (DC). In this setting, surgical evacuation of ICH is controversially discussed. We therefore analysed radiological and clinical parameters to investigate the influence of additional haematoma evacuation to DC in patients with ICH.

Accuracy and Safety of Ventriculostomy Using Two Different Procedures of External Ventricular Drainage: A Single-Center Series.

Background And Study Aims:  Patients with acute hydrocephalus are treated by either insertion of a conventional external ventricular drain (EVD) or percutaneous needle trephination (PNT) at our institution, depending on the acuteness of intervention and the severity of illness. We compared both procedures regarding accuracy and safety necessitating surgical revision of EVD or PNT.

Methods:  Between January 2012 and January 2014, 451 ventriculostomies were performed in 301 patients at our institution.

Effects of 12 weeks of Nordic Walking and XCO Walking training on the endurance capacity of older adults.

Background: Several studies have already examined the positive effects of various forms of endurance training in patient groups and in healthy adults up to 60 years old. The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of Nordic Walking (NW) and XCO Walking (XCO) training on endurance capacity in healthy older adults, aged 60 years and older.

Methods: Twenty-three older participants (mean age: 69.

Salicylate-based phytopharmaceuticals induce adaptive cytokine and chemokine network responses in human fibroblast cultures.

Background: Cytokines and chemokines (CC) play a central role in immunoregulatory and inflammatory processes. Neutralising antibodies for single proinflammatory cytokines have developed into a powerful, though expensive and not always curative therapeutic strategy for severe diseases. Considering the redundancy of CC functions, network (N) rather than single target approaches are essential.

Effects of Long-Term Caffeine Consumption on the Adenosine A Receptor in the Rat Brain: an In Vivo PET Study with [F]CPFPX.

Purpose: Caffeine, a nonselective antagonist of adenosine receptors, is the most popular psychostimulant worldwide. Recently, a protective role of moderate chronic caffeine consumption against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease has been discussed. Thus, aim of the present study was an in vivo investigation of effects of long-term caffeine consumption on the adenosine A receptor (AAR) in the rat brain.

Kinetics of transport through the nuclear pore complex.

Single molecule microscopy techniques allow to visualize the translocation of single transport receptors and cargo molecules or particles through nuclear pore complexes. These data indicate that cargo molecule import into the nucleus takes less than 10ms and nuclear export of messenger RNA (mRNA) particles takes 50-350ms, up to several seconds for extremely bulky particles. This review summarizes and discusses experimental results on transport of nuclear transport factor 2 (NTF2), importin β and mRNA particles.