Constitutional de novo and postzygotic mutations in isolated cases of cerebral cavernous malformations.

Background: Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM) are vascular lesions of the central nervous system that can be found in sporadic or autosomal dominantly inherited forms and manifest with headaches, seizures, and hemorrhagic stroke. The precise proportion of de novo mutations in the ,, and genes remains unknown.

Methods: We here present a series of six trios with de novo mutations that have been analyzed by amplicon deep sequencing to differentiate between constitutional and postzygotic mutations.

The database of the PREDICTS (Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems) project.

The PREDICTS project-Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems (www.predicts.org.

PAI-1 secretion of endometrial and endometriotic cells is Smad2/3- and ERK1/2-dependent and influences cell adhesion.

In the endometrium transforming growth factor-betas (TGF-βs) are involved mainly in menstruation and endometriosis. After binding of the ligands to the high-affinity receptors, TGF-β receptors (TBR1 and TBR2), TGF-βs activate Smad signaling to modulate gene expression and cellular functions. However, recently also Smad-independent pathways have been studied in more details.

Amniotic fluid derived stem cells give rise to neuron-like cells without a further differentiation potential into retina-like cells.

Amniotic fluid contains heterogeneous cell types and has become an interesting source for obtaining fetal stem cells. These stem cells have a high proliferative capacity and a good differentiation potential and may thus be suitable for regenerative medicine. As there is increasing evidence, that these stem cells are also able to be directed into the neural lineage, in our study we investigated the neuronal and glial differentiation potential of these cells, so that they may also be applied to cure degenerative diseases of the retina.

Identifying patients for clinical trials using fuzzy ternary logic expressions on HL7 messages.

Identifying eligible patients is one of the most critical parts of any clinical trial. The process of recruiting patients for the third phase of any clinical trial is usually done manually, informing relevant physicians or putting notes on bulletin boards. While most necessary information is already available in electronic hospital information systems, required data still has to be looked up individually.

Effect of water stress on proline accumulation of genetically modified potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) generating fructans.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of water stress on the accumulation of proline in the leaves of transgenic potato lines generating fructans. The results of the series of bifactorial experiments in 2002 and 2003 indicated an increase of the proline level in leaves of all potato lines examined under water deficit. In addition, an increase in proline concentration during plant development was observed.

Pharmacological modulation of cholinergic brain activity and its reflection in special EEG frequency ranges from various brain areas in the freely moving rat (Tele-Stereo-EEG).

Due to the electrochemical nature of the communication structure of the brain an intimate relationship between neurotransmitter activity on one side and field potentials (EEG) on the other side can be suspected. In order to learn more about this relationship pharmacological manipulation of the cholinergic transmitter system by means of agonistic and antagonistic receptor active drugs was used. Continuous recording of electrical activity from four selected brain areas (frontal cortex, hippocampus, striatum and reticular formation) in freely moving day-night converted Fisher rats was used (Tele-Stereo-EEG).

Sonographic monitoring of midline shift in space-occupying stroke: an early outcome predictor.

Background And Purpose: Transcranial color-coded duplex sonography (TCCS) allows bedside imaging of intracranial hemodynamics and parenchymal structures. It provides reliable information regarding midline shift (MLS) in space-occupying hemispheric stroke. We studied the value of MLS measurement to predict fatal outcome at different time points after stroke onset.

[Constrictive pericarditis--do we need a complete decortication?].

Pericardectomy is an established method for the treatment of various diseases, especially of constrictive pericarditis. Between 1969 and 1991, 212 cases of pericardial diseases were treated surgically. In 72 cases pericardectomy was performed for constrictive pericarditis.