Validity of alternative self-report indices of smoking among adolescents.

The convergent validity of popularly used open-ended and closed-ended self-report measures of smoking was examined. Carbon monoxide (CO) samples were obtained from 11th-grade Canadian students as an independent method of assessing recent smoking. In addition to CO, 5 known psychosocial correlates of smoking (attitude, subjective norm, risk taking, best friend's smoking, and other friends' smoking) were used to estimate convergence with the self-report smoking indices. Results indicate that both simple closed-ended scales, with only a few response options, and more continuous, open-ended measures performed about equally as well as correlates of CO and the psychosocial measures, but only if the open-ended scales were subjected to a normalizing transformation to optimize their convergence. After this transformation was performed, convergence depended more on the time-span covered by the self-report indices than on the open-ended/closed-ended distinction. Implications of these results for different assessment goals were discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Changes in energy balance following smoking cessation and resumption of smoking in women.

Caloric intake, resting metabolic rate (RMR), leisure-time physical activity, and sensitivity and preference for sweet taste were prospectively examined in 7 female smokers across 3 weeks during periods of normal smoking (Week 1), complete cessation (Week 2), and resumption of smoking (Week 3). Energy balance changed significantly across weeks, as caloric intake increased (largely as a result of alcohol consumption) and RMR decreased during cessation, followed by decreased caloric intake and increased RMR with resumption of smoking. Activity and taste sensitivity and preference remained unchanged. Smoking cessation may thus cause rapid change in energy balance, which is quickly reversed on resumption of smoking. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Influence of the Gas Atmosphere on the Composition and Phase Development of Polymer-Derived SiOC-Ceramics

Silicon oxycarbide (SiOC)-based ceramics were synthesized by pyrolysis of a commercial polysiloxane containing MoSi₂ and ceramic filler particles. The influence of different gas atmospheres on the chemical composition and on the phase formation of the filled Si–O–C ceramic during the pyrolysis process up to elevated temperatures of above 1200°C has been studied. The pyrolysis gas composition in the furnace during pyrolysis was measured with an in situ gas analyzer. Both the core and the surface of bulk samples were investigated with respect to composition in order to take the changes on the rim area of the specimens into account. The influence of hydrogen gas on the compositional gradient of the resulting ceramic material was derived from samples investigated by polarization microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and micro-XRD (μ-XRD).     

Selbstbestimmung und Selbstverständnis – Themenschwerpunkte im Umgang mit der Patientenverfügung

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Potent Inhibition of Acid Sphingomyelinase by Phosphoinositide Analogues

The different mammalian sphingomyelinases are involved in cell regulation, apoptosis and inflammatory events. Recent reports suggest pharmacological potential especially for inhibitors of the acid sphingomyelinase. Phosphatidyl inositol‐3,5bisphosphate (PtdIns3,5P₂) is the most potent selective acid sphingomyelinase inhibitor known to date. In the present study, we synthesized analogues of PtdIns3,5P₂ for initial structure–activity‐relationship (SAR) studies. We identified an inhibitor that is easy to synthesize, that has superior chemical and biophysical properties when compared to PtdIns3,5P₂ and that should be stable against virtually all phospholipases. Last but not least, the new inhibitor partially protected cells from dexamethasone‐induced cell death.     

Novel Furin Inhibitors with Potent Anti‐infectious Activity

New peptidomimetic furin inhibitors with unnatural amino acid residues in the P3 position were synthesized. The most potent compound 4‐guanidinomethyl‐phenylacteyl‐Arg‐Tle‐Arg‐4‐amidinobenzylamide (MI‐1148) inhibits furin with a K_i value of 5.5 pM . The derivatives also strongly inhibit PC1/3, whereas PC2 is less affected. Selected inhibitors were tested in cell culture for antibacterial and antiviral activity against infectious agents known to be dependent on furin activity. A significant protective effect against anthrax and diphtheria toxin was observed in the presence of the furin inhibitors. Furthermore, the spread of the highly pathogenic H5N1 and H7N1 avian influenza viruses and propagation of canine distemper virus was strongly inhibited. Inhibitor MI‐1148 was crystallized in complex with human furin. Its N‐terminal guanidinomethyl group in the para position of the P5 phenyl ring occupies the same position as that found previously for a structurally related inhibitor containing this substitution in the meta position, thereby maintaining all of the important P5 interactions. Our results confirm that the inhibition of furin is a promising strategy for a short‐term treatment of acute infectious diseases.     

Systematische Untersuchung der Azikularferritbildung in Stählen

The formation of acicular ferrite is mainly influenced by the steel composition, cooling rate, austenite grain size, and inclusion landscape. However, their precise effects have not been clarified in literature yet. Within the FWF project TRP 266-N19, a systematic methodology to study the influencing factors of the acicular ferrite formation as well as their interactions on laboratory scale was developed. The present work exemplarily demonstrates the application of this methodology for studying the effect of cooling rate and boron on the formation of acicular ferrite in a low-carbon HSLA steel.     

Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 Response in a Preclinical Alcohol Model of Acute-on-Chronic Liver Injury

Background and Aims: Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 21 has recently been shown to play a potential role in bile acid metabolism. We aimed to investigate the FGF21 response in an ethanol-induced acute-on-chronic liver injury (ACLI) model in Abcb4^−/− mice with deficiency of the hepatobiliary phospholipid transporter. Methods: Total RNA was extracted from wild-type (WT, C57BL/6J) and Abcb4⁻/⁻ (KO) mice, which were either fed a control diet (WT-Cont and KO-Cont groups; n = 28/group) or ethanol diet, followed by an acute ethanol binge (WT-EtOH and KO-EtOH groups; n = 28/group). A total of 58 human subjects were recruited into the study, including patients with alcohol-associated liver disease (AALD; n = 31) and healthy controls (n = 27). The hepatic and ileal expressions of genes involved in bile acid metabolism, plasma FGF levels, and bile acid and its precursors 7α- and 27-hydroxycholesterol (7α- and 27-OHC) concentrations were determined. Primary mouse hepatocytes were isolated for cell culture experiments. Results: Alcohol feeding significantly induced plasma FGF21 and decreased hepatic Cyp7a1 levels. Hepatic expression levels of Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (Fgfr1), Fgfr4, Farnesoid X-activated receptor (Fxr), and Small heterodimer partner (Shp) and plasma FGF15/FGF19 levels did not differ with alcohol challenge. Exogenous FGF21 treatment suppressed Cyp7a1 in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. AALD patients showed markedly higher FGF21 and lower 7α-OHC plasma levels while FGF19 did not differ. Conclusions: The simultaneous upregulation of FGF21 and downregulation of Cyp7a1 expressions upon chronic plus binge alcohol feeding together with the invariant plasma FGF15 and hepatic Shp and Fxr levels suggest the presence of a direct regulatory mechanism of FGF21 on bile acid homeostasis through inhibition of CYP7A1 by an FGF15-independent pathway in this ACLI model. Lay Summary: Alcohol challenge results in the upregulation of FGF21 and repression of Cyp7a1 expressions while circulating FGF15 and hepatic Shp and Fxr levels remain constant both in healthy and pre-injured livers, suggesting the presence of an alternative FGF15-independent regulatory mechanism of FGF21 on bile acid homeostasis through the inhibition of Cyp7a1.