On‐the‐Spot Immobilization of Quantum Dots,Graphene Oxide,and Proteins via Hydrophobins

Class I hydrophobin Vmh2, a peculiar surface active and versatile fungal protein, is known to self‐assemble into chemically stable amphiphilic films, to be able to change wettability of surfaces, and to strongly adsorb other proteins. Herein, a fast, highly homogeneous and efficient glass functionalization by spontaneous self‐assembling of Vmh2 at liquid–solid interfaces is achieved (in 2 min). The Vmh2‐coated glass slides are proven to immobilize not only proteins but also nanomaterials such as graphene oxide (GO) and quantum dots (QDs). As models, bovine serum albumin labeled with Alexa 555 fluorophore, anti‐immunoglobulin G antibodies, and cadmium telluride QDs are patterned in a microarray fashion in order to demonstrate functionality, reproducibility, and versatility of the proposed substrate. Additionally, a GO layer is effectively and homogeneously self‐assembled onto the studied functionalized surface. This approach offers a quick and simple alternative to immobilize nanomaterials and proteins, which is appealing for new bioanalytical and nanobioenabled applications.     

Dopamine receptors influence vasoactive intestinal peptide release from turkey hypothalamic explants

Amongst the elements which contributed to the success of the early lung transplants at the beginning of the 1980's we feel that the careful selection of candidates probably played a predominant role. If some of the selection criteria initially described remain somewhat intangible, others have either been eased or have been invalidated. The experience acquired over the last 15 years has enabled to precise the optimal moment to include patients on the waiting list and to refine the choice for the type of surgical procedure according to the underlying disease. This article aims to review the different selection criteria for candidates for transplantation and stresses those which have recently undergone change.     

Impact Fracture of Thermally Tempered Glass Helicopter Windshields

In-service fracture of helicopter windshields was studied. Simulated catastrophic fracture tests were conducted by firing alumina and steel spheres onto stationary tempered and as-received glass panels. The results were studied by Hertzian analysis and modified Auerbach's relations. Thermally tempered glass shows much higher impact resistance than that estimated from superposition of residual stresses. Subcritical impact sites exhibit slow crack growth in tempered plates, eventually leading to fracture of the entire plate.     

Semantische Informationsextraktion in medizinischen Informationssystemen

Zusammenfassung Dieser Artikel beschreibt einige Erfahrungen und typische Problemstellungen mit Textmining in der Medizin und gibt einen Einblick in aktuelle und zukünftige Herausforderungen in Forschung & Entwicklung. Interessant ist n?mlich, dass auch im ,,Multimedia-Zeitalter“ die meiste Information immer noch als ,,Text“ vorliegt. Mithilfe von statistischen und linguistischen Verfahren wird mit sogenannter ,,Textmining-Software“ versucht, aus Freitexten Information ,,heraus zu schürfen“ (deshalb ,,Textmining“). Allerdings ist es damit noch nicht genug. Der n?chste Schritt besteht darin, die Information sowohl nutzbar als auch brauchbar zu machen. Die jeweiligen End-Benutzerinnen und End-Benutzer müssen in die Lage versetzt werden, auf der Basis der gewonnenen Information deren Wissen zu erweitern. In unserem konkreten Fall sollen damit Entscheidungen im Rahmen ?rztlichen Handelns unterstützt werden. Probleml?sungen in diesem Bereich erfordern eine holistische Sicht- und Herangehensweise. Daher wird es immer wichtiger, Erkenntnisse aus Informatik und Psychologie zusammenflie?en zu lassen und auf systemischer Ebene technologisch umzusetzen.     

Development of New Sulphonyl Resin from Modification of Commercial Resin

Summary This article deals with the handy synthesis of sulfonyl resins, which were produced by the treatment of a commercial sulfonic resin (Lewatit VPOC1812^® based at divinylbenzene (DVB) and styrene (STY). The preliminary chemical modification was based on the reaction of the Lewatit VPOC1812^® with thionyl chloride aiming to produce the sulfonyl chloride groups. The best conditions to obtain the sulfonyl chloride groups were: SOCl₂/SO₃H (molar ratio) =13 at 79 °C during 72 h. The resin chlorinated was afterward treated with urea, thiourea or guanidine. The functionalized resins with urea, thiourea or guanidine were produced with 56, 68 and 93% yield, respectively. The commercial and modified resins were characterized by apparent density, swelling degree, elemental analysis (CHNS), FTIR, optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).     

Depression as a dynamical disease

Mathematical models are helpful in the understanding of diseases through the use of dynamical indicators. A previous study has shown that brain activity can be characterized by a decrease of dynamical complexity in depressive subjects. The present paper confirms and extends these conclusions through the use of recent methodological advances: first episode and recurrent patients strongly differ in their dynamical response to therapeutic interventions. These results emphasize the need for clinical follow-ups to avoid recurrence and the necessity of specific therapeutic intervention in the case of recurrent patients.     

A case of intractable epistaxis

The surgical management of intractable epistaxis by external carotid artery ligation may become complicated if there is a high bifurcation of the common carotid artery. Occlusion of the bleeding vessels by catheter embolization is described in a patient in whom exploration of the neck had failed to locate the external carotid artery.     

Effect of single oral dose of azithromycin, clarithromycin, and roxithromycin on polymorphonuclear leukocyte function assessed ex vivo by flow cytometry

Azithromycin was given as a single oral dose (20 mg/kg of body weight) to 12 volunteers in a crossover study with roxithromycin (8 to 12 mg/kg) and clarithromycin (8 to 12 mg/kg). Flow cytometry was used to study the phagocytic functions and the release of reactive oxygen products following phagocytosis by neutrophil granulocytes prior to administration of the three drugs, 16 h after azithromycin administration, and 3 h after clarithromycin and roxithromycin administration. Phagocytic capacity was assessed by measuring the uptake of fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled bacteria. Reactive oxygen generation after phagocytosis of unlabeled bacteria was estimated by the amount of dihydrorhodamine 123 converted to rhodamine 123 intracellularly. Azithromycin resulted in decreased capacities of the cells to phagocytize Escherichia coli (median [range], 62% [27 to 91%] of the control values; P < 0.01) and generate reactive oxygen products (75% [34 to 26%] of the control values; P < 0.01). Clarithromycin resulted in reduced phagocytosis (82% [75 to 98%] of control values; P < 0.01) but did not alter reactive oxygen production (84% [63 to 113%] of the control values; P > 0.05). Roxithromycin treatment did not affect granulocyte phagocytosis (92% [62 to 118%] of the control values; P > 0.05) or reactive oxygen production (94% [66 to 128%] of the control value; P > 0.05). No relation between intra- and/or extracellular concentrations of azithromycin and/or roxithromycin and the polymorphonuclear phagocyte function and/or reactive oxygen production existed (P > 0.05 for all comparisons). These results demonstrate that the accumulation of macrolides in neutrophils can suppress the response of phagocytic cells to bacterial pathogens after a therapeutic dose.     

Effect of intrathecal morphine on blood glucose, glucagon and tissue glycogen in rat: comparison with the effect of xanthan gum on blood glucose

Eleven patients suffering from chronic disabling tinnitus underwent an FDG-PET study (positron emission tomography with [18F]deoxyglucose). Nine tinnitus patients revealed a significantly increased metabolic activity in the left, 1 in the right primary auditory cortex (PAC, Brodmann area 41). These results were statistically significant when compared to 14 healthy control individuals without tinnitus. A negative result was obtained from a chronic tinnitus patient but who had no subjective complaints during the period of PET investigation. One patient was first investigated during a disabling tinnitus period, later during a period with tinnitus relief and again when suffering from severe tinnitus. The metabolic activity of his left PAC was in good accordance with the subjective degree of tinnitus complaints present during each PET investigation. Although for the first time these results give objective evidence of tinnitus sensation and localization, they are difficult to interpret because of the limited research data available that combine functional brain imaging and acoustic stimuli.