Proteomic Profiling of Saliva and Tears in Radiated Head and Neck Cancer Patients as Compared to Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome Patients

Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) and patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) may exhibit similar symptoms of dry mouth and dry eyes, as a result of radiotherapy (RT) or a consequence of disease progression. To identify the proteins that may serve as promising disease biomarkers, we analysed saliva and tears from 29 radiated HNC patients and 21 healthy controls, and saliva from 14 pSS patients by mass spectrometry-based proteomics. The study revealed several upregulated, and in some instances overlapping, proteins in the two patient groups. Histone H1.4 and neutrophil collagenase were upregulated in whole saliva of both patient groups, while caspase-14, histone H4, and protein S100-A9 were upregulated in HNC saliva only. In HCN tear fluid, the most highly upregulated protein was mucin-like protein 1. These overexpressed proteins in saliva and tears play central roles in inflammation, host cell injury, activation of reactive oxygen species, and tissue repair. In conclusion, the similarities and differences in overexpressed proteins detected in saliva from HNC and pSS patients may contribute to the overall understanding of the different pathophysiological mechanisms inducing dry mouth. Thus, the recurring proteins identified could possibly serve as future promising biomarkers     

Expression pattern of extracellular matrix proteins in the pancreas of various domestic pig breeds, the Goettingen Minipig and the Wild Boar

In spite of progress in biotechnology, isolation of porcine pancreatic islets remains a difficult task with unpredictable results. One reason could be the lack of knowledge as to the expression of extracellular matrix proteins in porcine exocrine and endocrine tissues, particularly in "islet capsules". Such proteins are subject to digestion by proteases, yet they might have a protective function for the fragile islets. OBJECTIVE: Of our study was a detailed histological analysis of the extracellular matrix proteins in various pig breeds. A broad panel of commercial, human-specific antibodies were used, since antibodies against porcine tissue were not available. METHODS: Frozen pancreatic tissue section of 7 domestic pig breeds, the Goettingen Minipig and the Wild Boar were stained with antibodies against collagen types I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, IX, laminin, fibronectin, vitronectin and elastin. Binding of antibodies was detected by immunoperoxidase and evaluated microscopically. Human and rat tissue was treated in the same way. RESULTS: (1) With the exception of anti-collagen type II, type VII and vitronectin, all antibodies revealed distinct binding patterns in the pancreas of the different pig breeds. However these antibodies bound on human cartilage and skin. (2) Collagen types I, III, IV, laminin and fibronectin are expressed on porcine pancreatic "islet capsules". (3) Expression levels of these proteins on "islet capsules" vary in the different pig breeds. However, no significant differences could be found in the expression pattern of collagen types I, III, IV, laminin and fibronectin, comparing domestic, experimental and wild type pigs. (4) Older individuals (Goettingen Minipig) appear to express higher levels of proteins on "islet capsules" than younger ones. CONCLUSIONS: Antibodies with specificity for human extracellular matrix proteins can be used successfully in the porcine pancreas. Thus, analysis of the structure and composition of porcine pancreatic tissue can be performed even without pig-specific antibodies. Particularly, the effects of various proteases and collagenases on the pancreatic tissue can now be monitored by immunohistochemical analysis allowing a rational design of protease mixtures for the isolation of pancreatic islets.     

ISI mitigation using decision feedback loop demonstrated with PMDdistorted 10 Gbit/s signals

Electrical polarisation mode dispersion (PMD) and receiver bandwidth generated intersymbol interference (ISI) mitigation using an analogue decision feedback loop for 10 Gbit/s NRZ signals is demonstrated. ISI caused by first-order (PMD) of up to 120 ps differential group delay was equalised. Error free recovery of signals with completely closed eye diagrams was achieved     

Are lymphocytic monoclonality and immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) rearrangement premalignant conditions in chronic gastritis?

Normal gastric mucosa is devoid of lymphoid cells. Any increase of lymphocytes suggests chronic inflammation. Infection with Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is the major cause for nonautoimmune chronic gastritis and induces a mixed cellular response resulting in an acquired lymphoid tissue, or MALT (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue). Hp has also been implicated in the genesis of gastric MALT-lymphoma. Polymerase chain reaction-based assays to detect the expansion of monoclonal B-cells have also been used to corroborate the diagnosis. In a considerable number of cases monoclonal B-cells remain detectable in follow-up biopsies, with the lymphoma being in complete histological remission. The clinical relevance of this finding is not clear yet. However, there also exist different reports that monoclonal B-cells can be found in gastric biopsies of patients with neither a histological sign nor a present or past history of lymphoma. In the light of these findings we address the question whether B-cell monoclonality can be seen as a premalignant condition in chronic gastritis and conclude that as of now the relevance of the finding of B-cell monoclonality remains unclear. As of now the only and gold standard for the diagnosis of gastric MALT-lymphoma is histopathology.     

Control system synthesis using linear transformations

A new approach to the synthesis of linear multivariable control systems is presented. The main result demonstrates how a multivariable cross-coupled process within a closed loop may be transformed such that single-variable synthesis tools may be used to design the controller. Cross-coupled processes may be represented by a matrix equation. The new approach uses elementary transformations to diagonalize the polynomial matrix representing the open-loop process. This yieldsnuncoupled variables which describe the process. Closed-loop diagonalization is obtained by using a pro-multiplier matrix to relate the uncoupled variables to the physical variables of the process. This premultiplier matrix is a precontroller in the physical system. It allows synthesis to be carried out in the uncoupled coordinate system to get the physical coordinate system controller. The complete controller is designed using time or frequency single-variable synthesis techniques, and the uncoupled variables are handled one at a time during this phase. A second result follows from the main result. Disturbance inputs to the multivariable process are minimized just as they are in the single-variable case.     

Endo-anal sonography in diagnosis of fecal incontinence

Endoanal ultrasound is a new imaging technique in the diagnostic work-up of patients suffering from anal incontinence. A standardised examination as well as hardware specific reference values for the sphincter muscles are of paramount importance to allow correct interpretation of the continence organ. At the University Hospital of Würzburg from 1.2.1993 to 31.7.1994 90 patients (50 male, 40 female; age: 16-81 y.) with normal continence underwent endosonographic assessment of their sphincter complex. We measured the internal anal sphincter (IAS), puborectalis muscle as well as the three separate parts of the external anal muscle (EAS). Apart from establishing reference values we found a significant increase in thickness of both EAS and IAS with increasing age. However, no correlation was seen between muscle thickness, sex, height or weight. We also examined 29 patients with a history of incontinence. 13 (45%) had a morphological sphincter defect, most of which were due to obstetric trauma or previous proctological operations. 10 (35%) patients suffered from so called idiopathic incontinence. Anal ultrasound in these patients revealed muscle hypotrophy of the structurally intact sphincters.