@article{Prelog2013, author = {Prelog, Martina}, title = {Vaccination in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Receiving Immunotherapies}, series = {Clinical \& Cellular Immunology}, journal = {Clinical \& Cellular Immunology}, doi = {10.4172/2155-9899.S6-007}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-96446}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at higher risk to suffer from morbidity due to vaccine-preventable diseases and, thus, display an important target population to receive vaccines for protection from infectious complications. There have been only a few studies focusing on the administration of vaccines in RA patients with immunotherapy. Overall, antibody response rates against influenza or pneumococcal disease appeared to be only slightly lower than expected in healthy individuals. Crucial problems in the interpretation of data from studies in RA patients vaccinated against influenza and pneumococcal disease are the impaired comparability of studies due to different study designs and type of vaccines used, different health states among RA patients, heterogeneity in treatments including concomitant therapy with conventional DMARDs and glucocorticoids in addition to biological agents. Assessment of vaccination status should be performed in the initial work-up of patients with RA and should ideally be administered before initiation of immunotherapies or during stable disease. Due to differences in antibody responses and uncertainty regarding maintenance of protective antibodies, routine controls for antibody titers and specific strategies for earlier re-vaccination might be scheduled for patients with RA.}, language = {en} } @article{PrelogAlmanzarEberleetal.2013, author = {Prelog, Martina and Almanzar, Giovanni and Eberle, Gernot and Lassacher, Andrea and Specht, Christian and Koppelstaetter, Christian and Heinz-Erian, Peter and Traw{\"o}ger, Rudolf and Bernhard, David}, title = {Maternal cigarette smoking and its effect on neonatal lymphocyte subpopulations and replication}, series = {BMC Pediatrics}, journal = {BMC Pediatrics}, doi = {10.1186/1471-2431-13-57}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-96435}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Background Significant immunomodulatory effects have been described as result of cigarette smoking in adults and pregnant women. However, the effect of cigarette smoking during pregnancy on the lymphocyte subpopulations in newborns has been discussed, controversially. Methods In a prospective birth cohort, we analyzed the peripheral lymphocyte subpopulations of smoking (SM) and non-smoking mothers (NSM) and their newborns and the replicative history of neonatal, mostly naive CD4 + CD45RA + T cells by measurements of T-cell-receptor-excision-circles (TRECs), relative telomere lengths (RTL) and the serum cytokine concentrations. Results SM had higher lymphocyte counts than NSM. Comparing SM and NSM and SM newborns with NSM newborns, no significant differences in proportions of lymphocyte subpopulations were seen. Regardless of their smoking habits, mothers had significantly lower naive T cells and higher memory and effector T cells than newborns. NSM had significantly lower percentages of CD4 + CD25++ T cells compared to their newborns, which was not significant in SM. There were no differences regarding cytokine concentrations in newborns of SM and NSM. However, NSM had significantly higher Interleukin-7 concentrations than their newborns. Regardless of smoking habits of mothers, newborns had significantly longer telomeres and higher TRECs than their mothers. Newborns of SM had significantly longer telomeres than newborns of NSM. Conclusions Apart from higher lymphocyte counts in SM, our results did not reveal differences between lymphocyte subpopulations of SM and NSM and their newborns, respectively. Our finding of significantly longer RTL in newborns of SM may reflect potential harm on lymphocytes, such as cytogenetic damage induced by smoking.}, language = {en} } @article{PlatteHerbertPaulietal.2013, author = {Platte, Petra and Herbert, Cornelia and Pauli, Paul and Breslin, Paul A. S.}, title = {Oral Perceptions of Fat and Taste Stimuli Are Modulated by Affect and Mood Induction}, series = {PLoS ONE}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0065006}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-96421}, year = {2013}, abstract = {This study examined the impact of three clinical psychological variables (non-pathological levels of depression and anxiety, as well as experimentally manipulated mood) on fat and taste perception in healthy subjects. After a baseline orosensory evaluation, 'sad', 'happy' and 'neutral' video clips were presented to induce corresponding moods in eighty participants. Following mood manipulation, subjects rated five different oral stimuli, appearing sweet, umami, sour, bitter, fatty, which were delivered at five different concentrations each. Depression levels were assessed with Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) and anxiety levels were assessed via the Spielberger's STAI-trait and state questionnaire. Overall, subjects were able to track the concentrations of the stimuli correctly, yet depression level affected taste ratings. First, depression scores were positively correlated with sucrose ratings. Second, subjects with depression scores above the sample median rated sucrose and quinine as more intense after mood induction (positive, negative and neutral). Third and most important, the group with enhanced depression scores did not rate low and high fat stimuli differently after positive or negative mood induction, whereas, during baseline or during the non-emotional neutral condition they rated the fat intensity as increasing with concentration. Consistent with others' prior observations we also found that sweet and bitter stimuli at baseline were rated as more intense by participants with higher anxiety scores and that after positive and negative mood induction, citric acid was rated as stronger tasting compared to baseline. The observation that subjects with mild subclinical depression rated low and high fat stimuli similarly when in positive or negative mood is novel and likely has potential implications for unhealthy eating patterns. This deficit may foster unconscious eating of fatty foods in sub-clinical mildly depressed populations.}, language = {en} } @article{StreinzerBrockmannNagarajaetal.2013, author = {Streinzer, Martin and Brockmann, Axel and Nagaraja, Narayanappa and Spaethe, Johannes}, title = {Sex and Caste-Specific Variation in Compound Eye Morphology of Five Honeybee Species}, series = {PLoS ONE}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0057702}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-96412}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Ranging from dwarfs to giants, the species of honeybees show remarkable differences in body size that have placed evolutionary constrains on the size of sensory organs and the brain. Colonies comprise three adult phenotypes, drones and two female castes, the reproductive queen and sterile workers. The phenotypes differ with respect to tasks and thus selection pressures which additionally constrain the shape of sensory systems. In a first step to explore the variability and interaction between species size-limitations and sex and caste-specific selection pressures in sensory and neural structures in honeybees, we compared eye size, ommatidia number and distribution of facet lens diameters in drones, queens and workers of five species (Apis andreniformis, A. florea, A. dorsata, A. mellifera, A. cerana). In these species, male and female eyes show a consistent sex-specific organization with respect to eye size and regional specialization of facet diameters. Drones possess distinctly enlarged eyes with large dorsal facets. Aside from these general patterns, we found signs of unique adaptations in eyes of A. florea and A. dorsata drones. In both species, drone eyes are disproportionately enlarged. In A. dorsata the increased eye size results from enlarged facets, a likely adaptation to crepuscular mating flights. In contrast, the relative enlargement of A. florea drone eyes results from an increase in ommatidia number, suggesting strong selection for high spatial resolution. Comparison of eye morphology and published mating flight times indicates a correlation between overall light sensitivity and species-specific mating flight times. The correlation suggests an important role of ambient light intensities in the regulation of species-specific mating flight times and the evolution of the visual system. Our study further deepens insights into visual adaptations within the genus Apis and opens up future perspectives for research to better understand the timing mechanisms and sensory physiology of mating related signals.}, language = {en} } @article{SchulzeTillichDandekaretal.2013, author = {Schulze, Katja and Tillich, Ulrich M. and Dandekar, Thomas and Frohme, Marcus}, title = {PlanktoVision - an automated analysis system for the identification of phytoplankton}, series = {BMC Bioinformatics}, journal = {BMC Bioinformatics}, doi = {10.1186/1471-2105-14-115}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-96395}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Background Phytoplankton communities are often used as a marker for the determination of fresh water quality. The routine analysis, however, is very time consuming and expensive as it is carried out manually by trained personnel. The goal of this work is to develop a system for an automated analysis. Results A novel open source system for the automated recognition of phytoplankton by the use of microscopy and image analysis was developed. It integrates the segmentation of the organisms from the background, the calculation of a large range of features, and a neural network for the classification of imaged organisms into different groups of plankton taxa. The analysis of samples containing 10 different taxa showed an average recognition rate of 94.7\% and an average error rate of 5.5\%. The presented system has a flexible framework which easily allows expanding it to include additional taxa in the future. Conclusions The implemented automated microscopy and the new open source image analysis system - PlanktoVision - showed classification results that were comparable or better than existing systems and the exclusion of non-plankton particles could be greatly improved. The software package is published as free software and is available to anyone to help make the analysis of water quality more reproducible and cost effective.}, language = {en} } @article{Kozjak‑PavlovicOttUtechetal.2013, author = {Kozjak‑Pavlovic, Vera and Ott, Christine and Utech, Mandy and Goetz, Monika and Rudel, Thomas}, title = {Requirements for the import of neisserial Omp85 into the outer membrane of human mitochondria}, series = {Bioscience Reports}, journal = {Bioscience Reports}, doi = {10.1042/BSR20130007}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-96381}, year = {2013}, abstract = {β-Barrel proteins are present only in the outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria, chloroplasts and mitochondria. Fungal mitochondria were shown to readily import and assemble bacterial β-barrel proteins, but human mitochondria exhibit certain selectivity. Whereas enterobacterial β-barrel proteins are not imported, neisserial ones are. Of those, solely neisserial Omp85 is integrated into the outer membrane of mitochondria. In this study, we wanted to identify the signal that targets neisserial β-barrel proteins to mitochondria. We exchanged parts of neisserial Omp85 and PorB with their Escherichia coli homologues BamA and OmpC. For PorB, we could show that its C-terminal quarter can direct OmpC to mitochondria. In the case of Omp85, we could identify several amino acids of the C-terminal β-sorting signal as crucial for mitochondrial targeting. Additionally, we found that at least two POTRA (polypeptide-transport associated) domains and not only the β-sorting signal of Omp85 are needed for its membrane integration and function in human mitochondria. We conclude that the signal that directs neisserial β-barrel proteins to mitochondria is not conserved between these proteins. Furthermore, a linear mitochondrial targeting signal probably does not exist. It is possible that the secondary structure of β-barrel proteins plays a role in directing these proteins to mitochondria.}, language = {en} } @article{GageikStrohmeierMontenegro2013, author = {Gageik, Nils and Strohmeier, Michael and Montenegro, Sergio}, title = {An Autonomous UAV with an Optical Flow Sensor for Positioning and Navigation}, series = {International Journal of Advanced Robotic Systems}, journal = {International Journal of Advanced Robotic Systems}, doi = {10.5772/56813}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-96368}, year = {2013}, abstract = {A procedure to control all six DOF (degrees of freedom) of a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) without an external reference system and to enable fully autonomous flight is presented here. For 2D positioning the principle of optical flow is used. Together with the output of height estimation, fusing ultrasonic, infrared and inertial and pressure sensor data, the 3D position of the UAV can be computed, controlled and steered. All data processing is done on the UAV. An external computer with a pathway planning interface is for commanding purposes only. The presented system is part of the AQopterI8 project, which aims to develop an autonomous flying quadrocopter for indoor application. The focus of this paper is 2D positioning using an optical flow sensor. As a result of the performed evaluation, it can be concluded that for position hold, the standard deviation of the position error is 10cm and after landing the position error is about 30cm.}, language = {en} } @article{PrelogSchoenlaubWuerzneretal.2013, author = {Prelog, Martina and Sch{\"o}nlaub, J{\"o}rn and W{\"u}rzner, Reinhard and Koppelstaetter, Christian and Almanzar, Giovanni and Brunner, Andrea and Gasser, Martin and Prommegger, Rupert and H{\"a}usler, Gabriele and Kapelari, Klaus and H{\"o}gler, Wolfgang}, title = {Lower CD28+ T cell proportions were associated with CMV-seropositivity in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis}, series = {BMC Endocrine Disorders}, journal = {BMC Endocrine Disorders}, doi = {10.1186/1472-6823-13-34}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-96352}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Background Alterations in the naive T cell subpopulations have been demonstrated in patients with T cell mediated autoimmune disorders, reminiscent of immunological changes found in the elderly during immunosenescence, including the switch from CD45RA + to CD45RO + T cells and decreased thymic function with increased compensatory proliferative mechanisms, partly associated with latent Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. The present study was aimed to investigate proportions of lymphocytes, their relation to CMV-seropositivity and the replicative history of CD45RA + expressing T cells in Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT, n = 18) and healthy controls (HC, n = 70). Methods Proportions of peripheral T cells were investigated by flow cytometry. The replicative history was assessed by T cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) and relative telomere length (RTL). Expression of CD62L was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in thyroid sections. The role of CMV was assessed by serology, ELISPOT assay and in situ hybridization. Results Our results demonstrated a significant increase of CD28-negative T cells, associated with CMV-seropositivity in HT patients. HT showed abundant CD45RO + T cells with peripheral loss of CD62L-expressing CD8 + CD45RA + T cells, the latter mainly depending on disease duration. CD62L was expressed in thyroid lymphocyte infiltrations. The diagnosis of HT and within the HT group CMV-seropositivity were the main determinants for the loss of CD28 expression. RTL was not different between HC and HT. HT showed significantly lower TRECs in CD4 + CD45RA + T cells compared to HC. Conclusions Patients with HT display a peripheral T cell phenotype reminiscent of findings in elderly persons or other autoimmune disorders. Whether these mechanisms are primary or secondary to the immunological alterations of autoimmune conditions should be investigated in longitudinal studies which may open research on new therapeutic regimes for treatment of HT and associated autoimmune diseases.}, language = {en} } @article{MantelFlentjeGuckenberger2013, author = {Mantel, Frederick and Flentje, Michael and Guckenberger, Matthias}, title = {Stereotactic body radiation therapy in the re-irradiation situation - a review}, series = {Radiation Oncology}, journal = {Radiation Oncology}, doi = {10.1186/1748-717X-8-7}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-96346}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Although locoregional relapse is frequent after definitive radiotherapy (RT) or multimodal treatments, re-irradiation is only performed in few patients even in palliative settings like e.g. vertebral metastasis. This is most due to concern about potentially severe complications, especially when large volumes are exposed to re-irradiation. With technological advancements in treatment planning the interest in re-irradiation as a local treatment approach has been reinforced. Recently, several studies reported re-irradiation for spinal metastases using SBRT with promising local and symptom control rates and simultaneously low rates of toxicity. These early data consistently indicate that SBRT is a safe and effective treatment modality in this clinical situation, where other treatment alternatives are rare. Similarly, good results have been shown for SBRT in the re-irradiation of head and neck tumors. Despite severe late adverse effects were reported in several studies, especially after single fraction doses >10 Gy, they appear less frequently compared to conventional radiotherapy. Few studies with small patient numbers have been published on SBRT re-irradiation for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Overall survival (OS) is limited by systemic progression and seems to depend particularly on patient selection. SBRT re-irradiation after primary SBRT should not be practiced in centrally located tumors due to high risk of severe toxicity. Only limited data is available for SBRT re-irradiation of pelvic tumors: feasibility and acceptable toxicity has been described, suggesting SBRT as a complementary treatment modality for local symptom control.}, language = {en} } @article{LuxenhoferFetsch2013, author = {Luxenhofer, Robert and Fetsch, Corinna}, title = {Thermal Properties of Aliphatic Polypeptoids}, series = {Polymers}, journal = {Polymers}, doi = {10.3390/polym5010112}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-96333}, year = {2013}, abstract = {A series of polypeptoid homopolymers bearing short (C1-C5) side chains of degrees of polymerization of 10-100 are studied with respect to thermal stability, glass transition and melting points. Thermogravimetric analysis of polypeptoids suggests stability to >200 °C. The study of the glass transition temperatures by differential scanning calorimetry revealed two dependencies. On the one hand an extension of the side chain by constant degree of polymerization decrease the glass transition temperatures (Tg) and on the other hand a raise of the degree of polymerization by constant side chain length leads to an increase of the Tg to a constant value. Melting points were observed for polypeptoids with a side chain comprising not less than three methyl carbon atoms. X-ray diffraction of polysarcosine and poly(N-ethylglycine) corroborates the observed lack of melting points and thus, their amorphous nature. Diffractograms of the other investigated polypeptoids imply that crystalline domains exist in the polymer powder.}, language = {en} } @article{AlmanzarZlamyKoppelstaetteretal.2013, author = {Almanzar, Giovanni and Zlamy, Manuela and Koppelstaetter, Christian and Brunner, Andrea and Jeller, Verena and Duftner, Christina and Dejaco, Christian and Brunner, Juergen and Prelog, Martina}, title = {Increased replication of CD4+ naive T cells and changes in T cell homeostasis in a case of acute exacerbation of juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a case comparison study}, series = {Journal of Medical Case Reports}, journal = {Journal of Medical Case Reports}, doi = {10.1186/1752-1947-7-135}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-96325}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Introduction Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is a heterogeneous T cell-mediated autoimmune disease with symptoms of premature aging of the immune system (immunosenescence). The present work is an investigation of immunosenescence parameters, such as quantity of naive and CD28- T cells, T cell receptor excision circles, relative telomere length and alterations of peripheral T cell replication, and was performed via comparison of a case of acute exacerbation of juvenile idiopathic arthritis against six patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis with disease remission and six age-matched healthy donors over a follow-up course of 12 months. Case presentation Phenotypical T cell characterization and intracellular interferon γ, tumor necrosis factor α, and interleukin 2 production were studied in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from seven patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and six healthy control donors, with findings determined by flow cytometry. T cell receptor excision circles and relative telomere length quantification were performed on deoxyribonucleic acid isolated from naive (CD4+CD28+CD45RA+) T cells and investigated via reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Ki67 expression was studied by immunohistochemistry on naive T cells. The non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon test for two independent groups of variables were used to compare healthy donors with patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. During follow-up, patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis showed lower total counts of naive and CD28-expressing T cells compared to healthy donors. Acute exacerbation led to low naive and CD28+ T cell populations and elevated proportions of Ki67-expressing CD4+ naive T cells. In conditions of exacerbation, T cell receptor excision circle numbers were in the lower range in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and increased after follow-up. Healthy donors showed significantly higher relative telomere lengths compared to patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Conclusions This investigation illustrates that the changes in T cell homeostasis in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis may be the result of several mechanisms, such as diminished thymus function and peripheral exertions to maintain the peripheral T cell pool. The results also demonstrate that hallmarks of immunosenescence such as decreased naive T cell levels and lower T cell receptor excision circle numbers can only be interpreted together with replication markers such as relative telomere length or Ki67 expression.}, language = {en} } @article{DeekenGohlkeScholzetal.2013, author = {Deeken, Rosalia and Gohlke, Jochen and Scholz, Claus-Juergen and Kneitz, Susanne and Weber, Dana and Fuchs, Joerg and Hedrich, Rainer}, title = {DNA Methylation Mediated Control of Gene Expression Is Critical for Development of Crown Gall Tumors}, series = {PLoS Genetics}, journal = {PLoS Genetics}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pgen.1003267}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-96318}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Crown gall tumors develop after integration of the T-DNA of virulent Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains into the plant genome. Expression of the T-DNA-encoded oncogenes triggers proliferation and differentiation of transformed plant cells. Crown gall development is known to be accompanied by global changes in transcription, metabolite levels, and physiological processes. High levels of abscisic acid (ABA) in crown galls regulate expression of drought stress responsive genes and mediate drought stress acclimation, which is essential for wild-type-like tumor growth. An impact of epigenetic processes such as DNA methylation on crown gall development has been suggested; however, it has not yet been investigated comprehensively. In this study, the methylation pattern of Arabidopsis thaliana crown galls was analyzed on a genome-wide scale as well as at the single gene level. Bisulfite sequencing analysis revealed that the oncogenes Ipt, IaaH, and IaaM were unmethylated in crown galls. Nevertheless, the oncogenes were susceptible to siRNA-mediated methylation, which inhibited their expression and subsequently crown gall growth. Genome arrays, hybridized with methylated DNA obtained by immunoprecipitation, revealed a globally hypermethylated crown gall genome, while promoters were rather hypomethylated. Mutants with reduced non-CG methylation developed larger tumors than the wild-type controls, indicating that hypermethylation inhibits plant tumor growth. The differential methylation pattern of crown galls and the stem tissue from which they originate correlated with transcriptional changes. Genes known to be transcriptionally inhibited by ABA and methylated in crown galls became promoter methylated upon treatment of A. thaliana with ABA. This suggests that the high ABA levels in crown galls may mediate DNA methylation and regulate expression of genes involved in drought stress protection. In summary, our studies provide evidence that epigenetic processes regulate gene expression, physiological processes, and the development of crown gall tumors.}, language = {en} } @article{AstakhovFuchsSoltamovetal.2013, author = {Astakhov, Georgy V. and Fuchs, F. and Soltamov, V. A. and V{\"a}th, S. and Baranov, P. G. and Mokhov, E. N. and Dyakonov, V.}, title = {Silicon carbide light-emitting diode as a prospective room temperature source for single photons}, series = {Scientific Reports}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, doi = {10.1038/srep01637}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-96308}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Generation of single photons has been demonstrated in several systems. However, none of them satisfies all the conditions, e.g. room temperature functionality, telecom wavelength operation, high efficiency, as required for practical applications. Here, we report the fabrication of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) based on intrinsic defects in silicon carbide (SiC). To fabricate our devices we used a standard semiconductor manufacturing technology in combination with high-energy electron irradiation. The room temperature electroluminescence (EL) of our LEDs reveals two strong emission bands in the visible and near infrared (NIR) spectral ranges, associated with two different intrinsic defects. As these defects can potentially be generated at a low or even single defect level, our approach can be used to realize electrically driven single photon source for quantum telecommunication and information processing.}, language = {en} } @article{StrengGroteCarretal.2013, author = {Streng, Andrea and Grote, Veit and Carr, David and Hagemann, Christine and Liese, Johannes G.}, title = {Varicella routine vaccination and the effects on varicella epidemiology - results from the Bavarian Varicella Surveillance Project (BaVariPro), 2006-2011}, series = {BMC Infectious Diseases}, journal = {BMC Infectious Diseases}, doi = {10.1186/1471-2334-13-303}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-96297}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Background In 2004, routine varicella vaccination was recommended in Germany for children 11-14 months of age with one dose, and since 2009, with a second dose at 15-23 months of age. The effects on varicella epidemiology were investigated. Methods Data on varicella vaccinations, cases and complications were collected from annual parent surveys (2006-2011), monthly paediatric practice surveillance (Oct 2006 - Sep 2011; five varicella seasons) and paediatric hospital databases (2005-2009) in the area of Munich (about 238,000 paediatric inhabitants); annual incidences of cases and hospitalisations were estimated. Results Varicella vaccination coverage (1st dose) in children 18-36 months of age increased in two steps (38\%, 51\%, 53\%, 53\%, 66\% and 68\%); second-dose coverage reached 59\% in the 2011 survey. A monthly mean of 82 (62\%) practices participated; they applied a total of 50,059 first-dose and 40,541 second-dose varicella vaccinations, with preferential use of combined MMR-varicella vaccine after recommendation of two doses, and reported a total of 16,054 varicella cases <17 years of age. The mean number of cases decreased by 67\% in two steps, from 6.6 (95\%CI 6.1-7.0) per 1,000 patient contacts in season 2006/07 to 4.2 (95\%CI 3.9-4.6) in 2007/08 and 4.0 (95\%CI 3.6-4.3) in 2008/09, and further to 2.3 (95\%CI 2.0-2.6) in 2009/10 and 2.2 (95\%CI 1.9-2.5) in 2010/11. The decrease occurred in all paediatric age groups, indicating herd protection effects. Incidence of varicella was estimated as 78/1,000 children <17 years of age in 2006/07, and 19/1,000 in 2010/11. Vaccinated cases increased from 0.3 (95\%0.2-0.3) per 1,000 patient contacts in 2006/07 to 0.4 (95\%CI 0.3-0.5) until 2008/09 and decreased to 0.2 (95\%CI 0.2-0.3) until 2010/11. The practices treated a total of 134 complicated cases, mainly with skin complications. The paediatric hospitals recorded a total of 178 varicella patients, including 40 (22.5\%) with neurological complications and one (0.6\%) fatality due to varicella pneumonia. Incidence of hospitalisations decreased from 7.6 per 100,000 children <17 years of age in 2005 to 4.3 in 2009, and from 21.0 to 4.7 in children <5 years of age. Conclusions Overall, the results show increasing acceptance and a strong impact of the varicella vaccination program, even with still suboptimal vaccination coverage.}, language = {en} } @article{AlsheimerLinkJahnetal.2013, author = {Alsheimer, Manfred and Link, Jana and Jahn, Daniel and Schmitt, Johannes and G{\"o}b, Eva and Baar, Johannes and Ortega, Sagrario and Benavente, Ricardo}, title = {The Meiotic Nuclear Lamina Regulates Chromosome Dynamics and Promotes Efficient Homologous Recombination in the Mouse}, series = {PLoS Genetics}, journal = {PLoS Genetics}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pgen.1003261}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-96285}, year = {2013}, abstract = {The nuclear lamina is the structural scaffold of the nuclear envelope and is well known for its central role in nuclear organization and maintaining nuclear stability and shape. In the past, a number of severe human disorders have been identified to be associated with mutations in lamins. Extensive research on this topic has provided novel important clues about nuclear lamina function. These studies have contributed to the knowledge that the lamina constitutes a complex multifunctional platform combining both structural and regulatory functions. Here, we report that, in addition to the previously demonstrated significance for somatic cell differentiation and maintenance, the nuclear lamina is also an essential determinant for germ cell development. Both male and female mice lacking the short meiosis-specific A-type lamin C2 have a severely defective meiosis, which at least in the male results in infertility. Detailed analysis revealed that lamin C2 is required for telomere-driven dynamic repositioning of meiotic chromosomes. Loss of lamin C2 affects precise synapsis of the homologs and interferes with meiotic double-strand break repair. Taken together, our data explain how the nuclear lamina contributes to meiotic chromosome behaviour and accurate genome haploidization on a mechanistic level.}, language = {en} } @article{PielstroemRoces2013, author = {Pielstr{\"o}m, Steffen and Roces, Flavio}, title = {Sequential Soil Transport and Its Influence on the Spatial Organisation of Collective Digging in Leaf-Cutting Ants}, series = {PLoS ONE}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0057040}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-96275}, year = {2013}, abstract = {The Chaco leaf-cutting ant Atta vollenweideri (Forel) inhabits large and deep subterranean nests composed of a large number of fungus and refuse chambers. The ants dispose of the excavated soil by forming small pellets that are carried to the surface. For ants in general, the organisation of underground soil transport during nest building remains completely unknown. In the laboratory, we investigated how soil pellets are formed and transported, and whether their occurrence influences the spatial organisation of collective digging. Similar to leaf transport, we discovered size matching between soil pellet mass and carrier mass. Workers observed while digging excavated pellets at a rate of 26 per hour. Each excavator deposited its pellets in an individual cluster, independently of the preferred deposition sites of other excavators. Soil pellets were transported sequentially over 2 m, and the transport involved up to 12 workers belonging to three functionally distinct groups: excavators, several short-distance carriers that dropped the collected pellets after a few centimetres, and long-distance, last carriers that reached the final deposition site. When initiating a new excavation, the proportion of long-distance carriers increased from 18\% to 45\% within the first five hours, and remained unchanged over more than 20 hours. Accumulated, freshly-excavated pellets significantly influenced the workers' decision where to start digging in a choice experiment. Thus, pellets temporarily accumulated as a result of their sequential transport provide cues that spatially organise collective nest excavation.}, language = {en} } @article{KrankeGirardLavand’hommeetal.2013, author = {Kranke, Peter and Girard, Thierry and Lavand'homme, Patricia and Melber, Andrea and Jokinen, Johanna and Muellenbach, Ralf M. and Wirbelauer, Johannes and H{\"o}nig, Arnd}, title = {Must we press on until a young mother dies? Remifentanil patient controlled analgesia in labour may not be suited as a "poor man's epidural"}, series = {BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth}, journal = {BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth}, doi = {10.1186/1471-2393-13-139}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-96262}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Background The epidural route is still considered the gold standard for labour analgesia, although it is not without serious consequences when incorrect placement goes unrecognized, e.g. in case of intravascular, intrathecal and subdural placements. Until now there has not been a viable alternative to epidural analgesia especially in view of the neonatal outcome and the need for respiratory support when long-acting opioids are used via the parenteral route. Pethidine and meptazinol are far from ideal having been described as providing rather sedation than analgesia, affecting the cardiotocograph (CTG), causing fetal acidosis and having active metabolites with prolonged half-lives especially in the neonate. Despite these obvious shortcomings, intramuscular and intravenously administered pethidine and comparable substances are still frequently used in delivery units. Since the end of the 90ths remifentanil administered in a patient-controlled mode (PCA) had been reported as a useful alternative for labour analgesia in those women who either don't want, can't have or don't need epidural analgesia. Discussion In view of the need for conversion to central neuraxial blocks and the analgesic effect remifentanil has been demonstrated to be superior to pethidine. Despite being less effective in terms of the resulting pain scores, clinical studies suggest that the satisfaction with analgesia may be comparable to that obtained with epidural analgesia. Owing to this fact, remifentanil has gained a place in modern labour analgesia in many institutions. However, the fact that remifentanil may cause harm should not be forgotten when the use of this potent mu-agonist is considered for the use in labouring women. In the setting of one-to-one midwifery care, appropriate monitoring and providing that enough experience exists with this potent opioid and the treatment of potential complications, remifentanil PCA is a useful option in addition to epidural analgesia and other central neuraxial blocks. Already described serious consequences should remind us not refer to remifentanil PCA as a "poor man's epidural" and to safely administer remifentanil with an appropriate indication. Summary Therefore, the authors conclude that economic considerations and potential cost-savings in conjunction with remifentanil PCA may not be appropriate main endpoints when studying this valuable method for labour analgesia.}, language = {en} } @article{PapoutsoglouBurgerRiedmiller2013, author = {Papoutsoglou, Nikolaos and Burger, Maximilian and Riedmiller, Hubertus}, title = {Persistent painless hemospermia due to metastatic melanoma of the right seminal vesicle}, series = {BMC Urology}, journal = {BMC Urology}, doi = {10.1186/1471-2490-13-43}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-96254}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Background Metastatic melanoma of the seminal vesicles is a very rare clinical entity and has been reported only once until today in a patient suffering from concomitant HIV infection 12 years ago. Case presentation We report a case of persistent, painless hemospermia in a young Caucasian caused by metastatic malignant melanoma of the right seminal vesicle. The diagnosis was established by magnetic resonance imaging and transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy. In the subsequent diagnostic workup the primary location of the tumor remained unknown but concomitant pulmonary, hepatic and supraclavicular lymph node metastases have been detected. Despite immediate chemotherapy initiation the patient finally succumbed to his progressive disease six months later. Conclusions Malignant melanoma should be considered as a rare differential diagnosis of hemospermia after common causes have been ruled out.}, language = {en} } @article{MeuleFathRealetal.2013, author = {Meule, Adrian and Fath, Katharina and Real, Ruben G. L. and S{\"u}tterlin, Stefan and V{\"o}gele, Claus and K{\"u}bler, Andrea}, title = {Quality of life, emotion regulation, and heart rate variability in individuals with intellectual disabilities and concomitant impaired vision}, series = {Psychology of Well-Being: Theory, Research and Practice}, journal = {Psychology of Well-Being: Theory, Research and Practice}, doi = {10.1186/2211-1522-3-1}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-96247}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Background Positive associations have been found between quality of life, emotion regulation strategies, and heart rate variability (HRV) in people without intellectual disabilities. However, emotion regulation and HRV have rarely been investigated in people with intellectual disabilities. Assessment of subjectively reported quality of life and emotion regulation strategies in this population is even more difficult when participants are also visually impaired. Methods Subjective and objective quality of life, emotion regulation strategies, and HRV at rest were measured in a sample of people with intellectual disabilities and concomitant impaired vision (N = 35). Heart rate was recorded during a 10 min resting period. For the assessment of quality of life and emotion regulation, custom made tactile versions of questionnaire-based instruments were used that enabled participants to grasp response categories. Results The combined use of reappraisal and suppression as emotion regulation strategies was associated with higher HRV and quality of life. HRV was associated with objective quality of life only. Emotion regulation strategies partially mediated the relationship between HRV and quality of life. Conclusions Results replicate findings about associations between quality of life, emotion regulation, and HRV and extend them to individuals with intellectual disabilities. Furthermore, this study demonstrated that quality of life and emotion regulation could be assessed in such populations even with concomitant impaired vision with modified tactile versions of established questionnaires. HRV may be used as a physiological index to evaluate physical and affective conditions in this population.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Skiera2013, author = {Skiera, Christina}, title = {1H NMR spectroscopic determination of deterioration marker compounds in fats and oils}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-95756}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2013}, abstract = {In food and pharmaceutical analysis, the classical indices peroxide value (PV), acid value (AV) and p-anisidine value (ANV) still play an important role as quality and authenticity control parameters of fats and oils. These indices are sum parameters for certain deterioration products (PV for hydroperoxides, AV for free fatty acids, ANV for aldehydes) and are obtained using volumetric or UV/VIS spectroscopic analytical approaches. 1H NMR spectroscopy provides a fast and simple alternative to these classical approaches. In the present work, novel 1H NMR methods to determine hydroperoxides, free fatty acids and aldehydes in fats and oils were developed. Hydroperoxides: The influence of solvent, water, free fatty acids and sample weight on the hydroperoxide group proton (OOH) signal was investigated. On the basis of the obtained results, the sample preparation procedure of the new 1H NMR method was established. A rough assignment of the hydroperoxide group signals in edible fats and oils to methyl oleate, methyl linoleate and methyl linolenate was conducted. Furthermore, to gain information on how many different hydroperoxide species originate from trioleate autoxidation, a kinetic study on trioleate monohydroperoxides was performed. The evaluation of the data strongly indicates that all of the conceivable 18 trioleate monohydroperoxides were formed during trioleate autoxidation. The analytical performance of the NMR method was compared to that of the classical PV approach by means of the so-called "relative sensitivity" according to Mandel. It was shown that both methods exhibit a similar analytical performance. A total of 444 edible oil samples were analysed using both methods. For some oil varieties considerable discrepancies were found between the results. In the case of black seed oil and olive oil two substances were identified that influence the classical PV determination and thus cause positive (black seed oil) and negative (olive oil) deviations from the theoretical PV expected from the NMR values. Free fatty acids: In order to find the optimal solvent mixture to measure the carboxyl group protons (COOH) of free fatty acids in fats and oils, the effect of solvent on the COOH signal was investigated for different mixtures of CDCl3 and DMSO-d6. The comparison of the NMR method with the classical AV method by means of the relative sensitivity revealed that both methods exhibit a similar analytical performance. 420 edible oil samples were analysed by both approaches. Except for pumpkin seed oil, where slight deviations were observed, there was a good compliance between the results obtained from the two methods. Furthermore, the applicability of the 1H NMR assay to further lipids with relevance in pharmacy was tested. For hard fat, castor oil, waxes and oleyl oleate modifications of the original sample preparation procedure of the NMR method were necessary to achieve comparable results for both methods. Aldehydes: The new 1H NMR method enables the determination of the molar amounts of n-alkanals, (E)-2-alkenals and (E,E)-2,4-alkadienals. It was illustrated that the ANV can be modelled as a linear combination of the NMR integrals of these aldehyde species. A functional relationship was derived on the basis In conclusion, the new 1H NMR methods provide an excellent alternative to of calibration experiments. The suitability of the model was shown by comparing the NMR-determined ANVs with the measured classical ANVs of 79 commercially available edible oils of different oil types. In conclusion, the new 1H NMR methods provide an excellent alternative to the determination of the classical indices PV, AV and ANV. They have several advantages over the classical methods including the consumption of small solvent amounts, the ability to automatize measurement and to acquire several different parameters out of the same NMR spectrum. Especially concerning their selectivity, the 1H NMR methods are highly superior to the classical methods.}, subject = {Fett}, language = {en} }