DNA binding protein YB-1 is a part of the neutrophil extracellular trap mediation of kidney damage and cross-organ effects.

Open-heart surgery is associated with high morbidity, with acute kidney injury (AKI) being one of the most commonly observed postoperative complications. Following open-heart surgery, in an observational study we found significantly higher numbers of blood neutrophils in a group of 13 patients with AKI compared to 25 patients without AKI (AKI: 12.9±5.

Pathways linking aging and atheroprotection in Mif-deficient atherosclerotic mice.

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory condition of our arteries and the main underlying pathology of myocardial infarction and stroke. The pathogenesis is age-dependent, but the links between disease progression, age, and atherogenic cytokines and chemokines are incompletely understood. Here, we studied the chemokine-like inflammatory cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in atherogenic Apoe mice across different stages of aging and cholesterol-rich high-fat diet (HFD).

No evidence for point mutations in the novel renal cystine transporter AGT1/SLC7A13 contributing to the etiology of cystinuria.

Background: Cystinuria is caused by the defective renal reabsorption of cystine and dibasic amino acids, and results in cystine stone formation. So far, mutations in two genes have been identified as causative. The SLC3A1/rBAT gene encodes the heavy subunit of the heterodimeric rBAT-bAT transporter, whereas the light chain is encoded by the SLC7A9/ bAT gene.

Search for altered imprinting marks in Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser patients.

Background: Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome (MRKH) is the second most common cause of primary amenorrhea and characterized by absence of the uterus and the upper part of the vagina. The etiology of MRKH is mainly unknown but a contribution of genomic alterations is probable. A molecular disturbance so far neglected in MRKH research is aberrant methylation at imprinted loci.

Mif-deficiency favors an atheroprotective autoantibody phenotype in atherosclerosis.

The inflammatory cytokine macrophage migration-inhibitory factor (MIF) promotes atherosclerosis via lesional monocyte and T-cell recruitment. B cells have emerged as important components in atherogenesis, but the interaction between MIF and B cells in atherogenesis is unknown. Here, we investigated the atherosclerotic phenotype of Mif-gene deletion in Apoe mice.

NLRP genes and their role in preeclampsia and multi-locus imprinting disorders.

Preeclampsia (PE) affects 2-5% of all pregnancies. It is a multifactorial disease, but it has been estimated that 35% of the variance in liability of PE are attributable to maternal genetic effects and 20% to fetal genetic effects. PE has also been reported in women delivering children with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS, OMIM 130650), a disorder associated with aberrant methylation at genomically imprinted loci.

Maternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 16 [upd(16)mat]: clinical features are rather caused by (hidden) trisomy 16 mosaicism than by upd(16)mat itself.

Maternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 16 [upd(16)mat] as the result of trisomy 16 is one of the most frequently reported uniparental disomies in humans, but a consistent phenotype is not obvious. Particularly, it is difficult to discriminate between features resulting from upd(16)mat and mosaic trisomy 16. By evaluating literature data (n = 74) and three own cases we aimed to determine whether the clinical features are due to upd(16)mat or to trisomy 16 mosaicism.

MIF promotes B cell chemotaxis through the receptors CXCR4 and CD74 and ZAP-70 signaling.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a proinflammatory cytokine with chemokine-like functions that plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases by promoting leukocyte recruitment. We showed that MIF promotes the atherogenic recruitment of monocytes and T cells through its receptors CXCR2 and CXCR4. Effects of MIF on B cell recruitment have not been addressed.

MR imaging of thrombi using EP-2104R, a fibrin-specific contrast agent: initial results in patients.

This study was an initial phase II trial in humans of molecular magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for improved visualization of thrombi in vessel territories potentially responsible for stroke using a new fibrin-specific contrast agent (EP-2104R). Eleven patients with thrombus in the left ventricle (n = 2), left or right atrium (n = 4), thoracic aorta (n = 4) or carotid artery (n = 1) as verified by an index examination (ultrasound, computed tomograpy, or conventional MR) were enrolled. All MR imaging was performed on 1.

Measurement of motor evoked potentials following repetitive magnetic motor cortex stimulation during isoflurane or propofol anaesthesia.

Background: Isoflurane and propofol reduce the recordability of compound muscle action potentials (CMAP) following single transcranial magnetic stimulation of the motor cortex (sTCMS). Repetition of the magnetic stimulus (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, rTCMS) might allow the inhibition caused by anaesthesia with isoflurane or propofol to be overcome.

Methods: We applied rTCMS (four stimuli; inter-stimulus intervals of 3, 4, 5 ms (333, 250, 200 Hz), output 2.

Dilatation of the pulmonary veins in atrial fibrillation: a transesophageal echocardiographic evaluation.

Ectopic beats originating from sleeves of atrial tissue within the pulmonary veins (PVs) can induce and sustain paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). Left atrial stretch and dilatation favors the development of atrial ectopy and AF. Similarly, PV dilatation, if present, might trigger PV ectopy in patients with AF.

Catheter stimulation of cardiac parasympathetic nerves in humans: a novel approach to the cardiac autonomic nervous system.

Background: Cardiac parasympathetic nerves run alongside the superior vena cava (SVC) and accumulate particularly epicardially adjacent to the orifice of the coronary sinus (CS). In animals, these nerves can be electrically stimulated inside the SVC or CS, which results in negative chronotropic/dromotropic effects and negative inotropic effects in the atria but not the ventricles. Parasympathetic nerve stimulation (PS) with 20 Hz in the CS, however, also excites the atria, thereby inducing atrial fibrillation.

5-Azacytidine modulates the response of sensitive and multidrug-resistant K562 leukemic cells to cytostatic drugs.

In an endeavor to improve responsiveness of tumor cells to drug combination treatments, we analyzed the effect of 5-azacytidine (5AC) as a model compound for a new class of drugs, DNA-demethylating agents. We used parental K562/WT chronic myelogenous leukemia cells and a multidrug-resistant subline thereof, K562/ADM. Multidrug-resistant cells were more resistant to daunorubicin, but more sensitive to cisplatin than parental K562 cells as measured by growth inhibition and apoptosis assays.

PSCA expression is regulated by phorbol ester and cell adhesion in the bladder carcinoma cell line RT112.

The expression of the surface protein prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) in prostate carcinoma increases in parallel with the progression of the tumor. In contrast, we have recently shown that PSCA expression is reduced or undetectable in other types of undifferentiated tumors. To elucidate the cellular mechanisms that underlie this complex pattern of expression, we studied regulatory parameters for PSCA expression in the bladder carcinoma cell line RT112 by Northern analysis.

Anomalies and variants of the endoscopic anatomy for third ventriculostomy.

Objective: Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is an alternative to shunt placement in occlusive hydrocephalus. The negative impact of anatomic anomalies and variants on ETV have been sporadically reported but not yet investigated systematically. Therefore, the objectives of the present study are 1) to evaluate the frequency of endoscopic anatomic anomalies of the ventricular system, 2) to define their potential to complicate the procedure and to compromise the surgical results, and 3) to investigate the value of preoperative magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for their detection.

Microsurgical treatment of spontaneous and non-spontaneous spinal epidural haematomas: neurological outcome in relation to aetiology.

Background: This retrospective study evaluated the neurological outcome of 26 patients with spontaneous and non-spontaneous spinal epidural haematoma (SEH) who underwent microsurgical clot removal. It was the objective of the present study to investigate whether the aetiology of the SEH has an influence on the neurological outcome.

Methods: The medical records and radiological investigations of 26 patients with SEH were re-examined, and the latency between symptom onset and operation, and the size of the haematoma were determined.

Surface modification of the polymers present in a polysulfone hollow fiber hemodialyser by covalent binding of heparin or endothelial cell surface heparan sulfate: flow characteristics and platelet adhesion.

The present study addresses the problem of simultaneous surface modification of various polymers, i.e. polysulfone (PSU), polycarbonate (PC), and polyurethane (PU), which constitute the Ultraflux AV 600 S hollow fibre hemodialyser.

Primary intradural pontocerebellar chordoma metastasizing in the subarachnoid spinal canal.

Chordomas that are entirely extraosseous and intradural are rare. Additionally subarachnoid spinal implantation from such a cranial, intradural chordoma has never been reported before. The authors present a case of a widespread primary intradural chordoma in the basal cisterns of a 48-year-old woman which shows seeding of neoplastic cells to the spinal leptomeninges.

Minimally invasive bedside craniotomy using a self-controlling pre-adjustable mechanical twist drill trephine.

Background: Craniotomy with a mechanical twist drill is a standard, minimally invasive procedure in neurosurgery, widely used for the drainage of chronic subdural hematomas and the placement of ventricular drains. Nevertheless, the use of a standard twist drill trephine bears the risk of causing cerebral lesions.

Method: A commercially available mechanical twist drill system has been modified by a special self-controlling drill and a pre-adjustable distance holder that limits intracerebral penetration.

Endovascular coil embolization of microsurgically produced experimental bifurcation aneurysms in rabbits.

Background: Endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms is a relatively new method, since only a few animal models and data are available. The present experimental study was performed in order to establish an appropriate aneurysm animal model, to determine the rate of permanent occlusion, and to correlate radiologic and morphologic findings.

Methods: End-to-side anastomoses of both common carotid arteries were performed microsurgically in 53 chinchilla rabbits.

Amplitude modulation following response in children as a clinical audiometric tool.

The current study was designed to investigate the clinical application of amplitude modulation following response (AMFR) in cochlear implant candidates. A new digital signal processor (DSP)-assisted PC-based hardware and software was developed to perform both simultaneous generation of amplitude-modulated stimuli and the recording, and synchronized signal processing of the electrode signals. Our first results show that AMFR can be recorded in adults as well as in children without any contamination by response-like stimulus artifacts.

Evaluation of noise reduction systems for cochlear implant users in different acoustic environment.

Evaluation of two different noise reduction algorithms for speech intelligibility enhancement in cochlear implant (CI) users is described in this report. The algorithms accomplish sophisticated interchannel processing of the noisy speech signals, picked up with two microphones, to form an improved monaural output signal, which is directly fed into the auxiliary input of the CI speech processor. Speech intelligibility tests were carried out in different realistic everyday life listening conditions to provide general and expressive performance assessment.