@article{GrussWieserSchweinbergeretal.2012, author = {Gruss, L. Forest and Wieser, Matthias J. and Schweinberger, Stefan R. and Keil, Andreas}, title = {Face-evoked steady-state visual potentials: effects of presentation rate and face inversion}, series = {Frontiers in Human Neuroscience}, volume = {6}, journal = {Frontiers in Human Neuroscience}, number = {316}, doi = {10.3389/fnhum.2012.00316}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-134399}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Face processing can be explored using electrophysiological methods. Research with event-related potentials has demonstrated the so-called face inversion effect, in which the N170 component is enhanced in amplitude and latency to inverted, compared to upright, faces. The present study explored the extent to which repetitive lower-level visual cortical engagement, reflected in flicker steady-state visual evoked potentials (ssVEPs), shows similar amplitude enhancement to face inversion. We also asked if inversion-related ssVEP modulation would be dependent on the stimulation rate at which upright and inverted faces were flickered. To this end, multiple tagging frequencies were used (5, 10, 15, and 20 Hz) across two studies (n=21, n=18). Results showed that amplitude enhancement of the ssVEP for inverted faces was found solely at higher stimulation frequencies (15 and 20 Hz). By contrast, lower frequency ssVEPs did not show this inversion effect. These findings suggest that stimulation frequency affects the sensitivity of ssVEPs to face inversion.}, language = {en} } @article{PoppeAndersKneitzetal.2012, author = {Poppe, Lidia Marilia and Anders, Diana and Kneitz, Hermann and Br{\"o}cker, Eva-Bettina and Benoit, Sandrine}, title = {Flagellate dermatitis caused by shiitake mushrooms}, series = {Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia}, volume = {87}, journal = {Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia}, number = {3}, doi = {10.1590/S0365-05962012000300017 }, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-134362}, pages = {463-465}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Shiitake (Lentinus edodes) is the second most consumed mushroom in the world. It has long been known in Asian medicine for its anticarcinogenic, antihypertensive and serum cholesterol level reduction properties. Nevertheless, the consumption of raw or not well-cooked mushrooms may cause skin eruptions which usually occur 24 to 48 hours after ingestion and are characterized by linearly arranged pruritic erythematous papules and plaques. We present a 36-year-old patient that developed typical symptoms 24 hours after consumption of shiitake mushrooms and summarize therapeutic options and particularities of this disease.}, language = {en} } @article{VandenbergChahoudHeindeletal.2012, author = {Vandenberg, Laura N. and Chahoud, Ibrahim and Heindel, Jerrold J. and Padmanabhan, Vasantha and Paumgartten, Francisco J. R. and Sch{\"o}nfelder, Gilbert}, title = {Urinary, Circulating, and Tissue Biomonitoring Studies Indicate Widespread Exposure to Bisphenol A}, series = {Ci{\^e}ncia \& Sa{\´u}de Coletiva}, volume = {17}, journal = {Ci{\^e}ncia \& Sa{\´u}de Coletiva}, number = {2}, doi = {10.1289/ehp.0901716}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-134332}, pages = {407-434}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the highest-volume chemicals produced worldwide, and human exposure to BPA is thought to be ubiquitous. Thus, there are concerns that the amount of BPA to which humans are exposed may cause adverse health effects. We examined many possibilities for why biomonitoring and toxicokinetic studies could come to seemingly conflicting conclusions. More than 80 published human biomonitoring studies that measured BPA concentrations in human tissues, urine, blood, and other fluids, along with two toxicokinetic studies of human BPA metabolism were examined. Unconjugated BPA was routinely detected in blood (in the nanograms per milliliter range), and conjugated BPA was routinely detected in the vast majority of urine samples (also in the nanograms per milliliter range). In stark contrast, toxicokinetic studies proposed that humans are not internally exposed to BPA. Available data from biomonitoring studies clearly indicate that the general population is exposed to BPA and is at risk from internal exposure to unconjugated BPA. The two toxicokinetic studies that suggested human BPA exposure is negligible have significant deficiencies, are directly contradicted by hypothesis-driven studies, and are therefore not reliable for risk assessment purposes.}, language = {en} } @article{StoeltingWiesnervanVlietetal.2012, author = {St{\"o}lting, Miriam and Wiesner, Christiane and van Vliet, Vanessa and Butt, Elke and Pavenst{\"a}dt, Hermann and Linder, Stefan and Kremerskothen, Joachim}, title = {Lasp-1 Regulates Podosome Function}, series = {PLoS One}, volume = {7}, journal = {PLoS One}, number = {4}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0035340}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-134315}, pages = {e35340}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Eukaryotic cells form a variety of adhesive structures to connect with their environment and to regulate cell motility. In contrast to classical focal adhesions, podosomes, highly dynamic structures of different cell types, are actively engaged in matrix remodelling and degradation. Podosomes are composed of an actin-rich core region surrounded by a ring-like structure containing signalling molecules, motor proteins as well as cytoskeleton-associated proteins. Lasp-1 is a ubiquitously expressed, actin-binding protein that is known to regulate cytoskeleton architecture and cell migration. This multidomain protein is predominantely present at focal adhesions, however, a second pool of Lasp-1 molecules is also found at lamellipodia and vesicle-like microdomains in the cytosol. In this report, we show that Lasp-1 is a novel component and regulator of podosomes. Immunofluorescence studies reveal a localization of Lasp-1 in the podosome ring structure, where it colocalizes with zyxin and vinculin. Life cell imaging experiments demonstrate that Lasp-1 is recruited in early steps of podosome assembly. A siRNA-mediated Lasp-1 knockdown in human macrophages affects podosome dynamics as well as their matrix degradation capacity. In summary, our data indicate that Lasp-1 is a novel component of podosomes and is involved in the regulation of podosomal function.}, language = {en} } @article{PruggerHeidrichWellmannetal.2012, author = {Prugger, Christof and Heidrich, Jan and Wellmann, J{\"u}rgen and Dittrich, Ralf and Brand, Stefan-Martin and Telgmann, Ralph and Breithardt, G{\"u}nter and Reinecke, Holger and Scheld, Hans and Kleine-Katth{\"o}fer, Peter and Heuschmann, Peter U. and Keil, Ulrich}, title = {Trends in Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among Patients With Coronary Heart Disease : Results From the EUROASPIRE I, II, and III Surveys in the M{\"u}nster Region}, series = {Deutsches {\"A}rzteblatt International}, volume = {109}, journal = {Deutsches {\"A}rzteblatt International}, number = {17}, doi = {10.3238/arztebl.2012.0303}, pages = {303-U21}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Background: Target values for cardiovascular risk factors in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) are stated in guidelines for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. We studied secular trends in risk factors over a 12-year period among CHD patients in the region of Munster, Germany. Methods: The cross-sectional EUROASPIRE I, II and III surveys were performed in multiple centers across Europe. For all three, the Munster region was the participating German region. In the three periods 1995/96, 1999/2000, and 2006/07, the surveys included (respectively) 392, 402 and 457 <= 70-year-old patients with CHD in Munster who had sustained a coronary event at least 6 months earlier. Results: The prevalence of smoking remained unchanged, with 16.8\% in EUROASPIRE I and II and 18.4\% in EUROASPIRE III (p=0.898). On the other hand, high blood pressure and high cholesterol both became less common across the three EUROASPIRE studies (60.7\% to 69.4\% to 55.3\%, and 94.3\% to 83.4\% to 48.1\%, respectively; p<0.001 for both). Obesity became more common (23.0\% to 30.6\% to 43.1\%, p<0.001), as did treatment with antihypertensive and lipid-lowering drugs (80.4\% to 88.6\% to 94.3\%, and 35.0\% to 67.4\% to 87.0\%, respectively; p<0.001 for both). Conclusion: The observed trends in cardiovascular risk factors under-score the vital need for better preventive strategies in patients with CHD.}, language = {en} } @article{RahimiBhalaKamphuisenetal.2012, author = {Rahimi, Kazem and Bhala, Neeraj and Kamphuisen, Pieter and Emberson, Jonathan and Biere-Rafi, Sara and Krane, Vera and Robertson, Michele and Wikstrand, John and McMurray, John}, title = {Effect of Statins on Venous Thromboembolic Events: A Meta-analysis of Published and Unpublished Evidence from Randomised Controlled Trials}, series = {PLoS Medicine}, volume = {9}, journal = {PLoS Medicine}, number = {9}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pmed.1001310}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-134279}, pages = {e1001310}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Background: It has been suggested that statins substantially reduce the risk of venous thromboembolic events. We sought to test this hypothesis by performing a meta-analysis of both published and unpublished results from randomised trials of statins. Methods and Findings: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL up to March 2012 for randomised controlled trials comparing statin with no statin, or comparing high dose versus standard dose statin, with 100 or more randomised participants and at least 6 months' follow-up. Investigators were contacted for unpublished information about venous thromboembolic events during follow-up. Twenty-two trials of statin versus control (105,759 participants) and seven trials of an intensive versus a standard dose statin regimen (40,594 participants) were included. In trials of statin versus control, allocation to statin therapy did not significantly reduce the risk of venous thromboembolic events (465 [0.9\%] statin versus 521 [1.0\%] control, odds ratio [OR] = 0.89, 95\% CI 0.78-1.01, p = 0.08) with no evidence of heterogeneity between effects on deep vein thrombosis (266 versus 311, OR 0.85, 95\% CI 0.72-1.01) and effects on pulmonary embolism (205 versus 222, OR 0.92, 95\% CI 0.76-1.12). Exclusion of the trial result that provided the motivation for our meta-analysis (JUPITER) had little impact on the findings for venous thromboembolic events (431 [0.9\%] versus 461 [1.0\%], OR = 0.93 [95\% CI 0.82-1.07], p = 0.32 among the other 21 trials). There was no evidence that higher dose statin therapy reduced the risk of venous thromboembolic events compared with standard dose statin therapy (198 [1.0\%] versus 202 [1.0\%], OR = 0.98, 95\% CI 0.80-1.20, p = 0.87). Risk of bias overall was small but a certain degree of effect underestimation due to random error cannot be ruled out. Conclusions: The findings from this meta-analysis do not support the previous suggestion of a large protective effect of statins (or higher dose statins) on venous thromboembolic events. However, a more moderate reduction in risk up to about one-fifth cannot be ruled out. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary.}, language = {en} } @article{KotteLoewHuberetal.2012, author = {Kotte, K. and L{\"o}w, F. and Huber, S. G. and Krause, T. and Mulder, I. and Sch{\"o}ler, H. F.}, title = {Organohalogen emissions from saline environments - spatial extrapolation using remote sensing as most promising tool}, series = {Biogeosciences}, volume = {9}, journal = {Biogeosciences}, number = {3}, doi = {10.5194/bg-9-1225-2012}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-134265}, pages = {1225-1235}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Due to their negative water budget most recent semi-/arid regions are characterized by vast evaporates (salt lakes and salty soils). We recently identified those hyper-saline environments as additional sources for a multitude of volatile halogenated organohalogens (VOX). These compounds can affect the ozone layer of the stratosphere and play a key role in the production of aerosols. A remote sensing based analysis was performed in the Southern Aral Sea basin, providing information of major soil types as well as their extent and spatial and temporal evolution. VOX production has been determined in dry and moist soil samples after 24 h. Several C1- and C2 organohalogens have been found in hyper-saline topsoil profiles, including CH3Cl, CH3Br, CHBr3 and CHCl3. The range of organohalogens also includes trans-1,2-dichloroethene (DCE), which is reported here to be produced naturally for the first time. Using MODIS time series and supervised image classification a daily production rate for DCE has been calculated for the 15 000 km\(^2\) ranging research area in the southern Aralkum. The applied laboratory setup simulates a short-term change in climatic conditions, starting from dried-out saline soil that is instantly humidified during rain events or flooding. It describes the general VOX production potential, but allows only for a rough estimation of resulting emission loads. VOX emissions are expected to increase in the future since the area of salt affected soils is expanding due to the regressing Aral Sea. Opportunities, limits and requirements of satellite based rapid change detection and salt classification are discussed.}, language = {en} } @article{SchwitterWackerWilkeetal.2012, author = {Schwitter, Juerg and Wacker, Christian M. and Wilke, Norbert and Al-Saadi, Nidal and Sauer, Ekkehart and Huettle, Kalman and Sch{\"o}nberg, Stefan O. and Debl, Kurt and Strohm, Oliver and Ahlstrom, Hakan and Dill, Thorsten and Hoebel, Nadja and Simor, Tamas}, title = {Superior diagnostic performance of perfusion-cardiovascular magnetic resonance versus SPECT to detect coronary artery disease: The secondary endpoints of the multicenter multivendor MR-IMPACT II (Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Myocardial Perfusion Assessment in Coronary Artery Disease Trial)}, series = {Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance}, volume = {14}, journal = {Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance}, number = {61}, organization = {MR-IMPACT investigators}, doi = {10.1186/1532-429X-14-61}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-134256}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Background: Perfusion-cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is generally accepted as an alternative to SPECT to assess myocardial ischemia non-invasively. However its performance vs gated-SPECT and in sub-populations is not fully established. The goal was to compare in a multicenter setting the diagnostic performance of perfusion-CMR and gated-SPECT for the detection of CAD in various populations using conventional x-ray coronary angiography (CXA) as the standard of reference. Methods: In 33 centers (in US and Europe) 533 patients, eligible for CXA or SPECT, were enrolled in this multivendor trial. SPECT and CXA were performed within 4 weeks before or after CMR in all patients. Prevalence of CAD in the sample was 49\% and 515 patients received MR contrast medium. Drop-out rates for CMR and SPECT were 5.6\% and 3.7\%, respectively (ns). The study was powered for the primary endpoint of non-inferiority of CMR vs SPECT for both, sensitivity and specificity for the detection of CAD (using a single-threshold reading), the results for the primary endpoint were reported elsewhere. In this article secondary endpoints are presented, i.e. the diagnostic performance of CMR versus SPECT in subpopulations such as multi-vessel disease (MVD), in men, in women, and in patients without prior myocardial infarction (MI). For diagnostic performance assessment the area under the receiver-operator-characteristics-curve (AUC) was calculated. Readers were blinded versus clinical data, CXA, and imaging results. Results: The diagnostic performance (= area under ROC = AUC) of CMR was superior to SPECT (p = 0.0004, n = 425) and to gated-SPECT (p = 0.018, n = 253). CMR performed better than SPECT in MVD (p = 0.003 vs all SPECT, p = 0.04 vs gated-SPECT), in men (p = 0.004, n = 313) and in women (p = 0.03, n = 112) as well as in the non-infarct patients (p = 0.005, n = 186 in 1-3 vessel disease and p = 0.015, n = 140 in MVD). Conclusion: In this large multicenter, multivendor study the diagnostic performance of perfusion-CMR to detect CAD was superior to perfusion SPECT in the entire population and in sub-groups. Perfusion-CMR can be recommended as an alternative for SPECT imaging.}, language = {en} } @article{ReuterSparwasserHuenigetal.2012, author = {Reuter, Dajana and Sparwasser, Tim and H{\"u}nig, Thomas and Schneider-Schaulies, J{\"u}rgen}, title = {Foxp3\(^+\) Regulatory T Cells Control Persistence of Viral CNS Infection}, series = {PLoS One}, volume = {7}, journal = {PLoS One}, number = {3}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0033989}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-134248}, pages = {e33989}, year = {2012}, abstract = {We earlier established a model of a persistent viral CNS infection using two week old immunologically normal (genetically unmodified) mice and recombinant measles virus (MV). Using this model infection we investigated the role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) as regulators of the immune response in the brain, and assessed whether the persistent CNS infection can be modulated by manipulation of Tregs in the periphery. CD4\(^+\) CD25\(^+\) Foxp3\(^+\) Tregs were expanded or depleted during the persistent phase of the CNS infection, and the consequences for the virus-specific immune response and the extent of persistent infection were analyzed. Virus-specific CD8\(^+\) T cells predominantly recognising the H-2D(b)-presented viral hemagglutinin epitope MV-H22-30 (RIVINREHL) were quantified in the brain by pentamer staining. Expansion of Tregs after intraperitoneal (i.p.) application of the superagonistic anti-CD28 antibody D665 inducing transient immunosuppression caused increased virus replication and spread in the CNS. In contrast, depletion of Tregs using diphtheria toxin (DT) in DEREG (depletion of regulatory T cells)-mice induced an increase of virus-specific CD8\(^+\) effector T cells in the brain and caused a reduction of the persistent infection. These data indicate that manipulation of Tregs in the periphery can be utilized to regulate virus persistence in the CNS.}, language = {en} } @article{JinAllisonKaufmannetal.2012, author = {Jin, Jing and Allison, Brendan Z. and Kaufmann, Tobias and K{\"u}bler, Andrea and Zhang, Yu and Wang, Xingyu and Cichocki, Andrzej}, title = {The Changing Face of P300 BCIs: A Comparison of Stimulus Changes in a P300 BCI Involving Faces, Emotion, and Movement}, series = {PLoS One}, volume = {7}, journal = {PLoS One}, number = {11}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0049688}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-134173}, pages = {e49688}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Background: One of the most common types of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) is called a P300 BCI, since it relies on the P300 and other event-related potentials (ERPs). In the canonical P300 BCI approach, items on a monitor flash briefly to elicit the necessary ERPs. Very recent work has shown that this approach may yield lower performance than alternate paradigms in which the items do not flash but instead change in other ways, such as moving, changing colour or changing to characters overlaid with faces. Methodology/Principal Findings: The present study sought to extend this research direction by parametrically comparing different ways to change items in a P300 BCI. Healthy subjects used a P300 BCI across six different conditions. Three conditions were similar to our prior work, providing the first direct comparison of characters flashing, moving, and changing to faces. Three new conditions also explored facial motion and emotional expression. The six conditions were compared across objective measures such as classification accuracy and bit rate as well as subjective measures such as perceived difficulty. In line with recent studies, our results indicated that the character flash condition resulted in the lowest accuracy and bit rate. All four face conditions (mean accuracy >91\%) yielded significantly better performance than the flash condition (mean accuracy = 75\%). Conclusions/Significance: Objective results reaffirmed that the face paradigm is superior to the canonical flash approach that has dominated P300 BCIs for over 20 years. The subjective reports indicated that the conditions that yielded better performance were not considered especially burdensome. Therefore, although further work is needed to identify which face paradigm is best, it is clear that the canonical flash approach should be replaced with a face paradigm when aiming at increasing bit rate. However, the face paradigm has to be further explored with practical applications particularly with locked-in patients.}, language = {en} } @article{ZwinkJenetzkySchmiedekeetal.2012, author = {Zwink, Nadine and Jenetzky, Ekkehart and Schmiedeke, Eberhard and Schmidt, Dominik and M{\"a}rzheuser, Schmidt and Grasshoff-Derr, Sabine and Holland-Cunz, Stefan and Weih, Sandra and Hosie, Stuart and Reifferscheid, Peter and Ameis, Helen and Kujath, Christina and Rissmann, Anke and Obermayr, Florian and Schwarzer, Nicole and Bartels, Enrika and Reutter, Heiko and Brenner, Hermann}, title = {Assisted reproductive techniques and the risk of anorectal malformations: a German case-control study}, series = {Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases}, volume = {7}, journal = {Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases}, number = {65}, organization = {CURE-Net Consortium}, doi = {10.1186/1750-1172-7-65}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-134036}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Background: The use of assisted reproductive techniques (ART) for treatment of infertility is increasing rapidly worldwide. However, various health effects have been reported including a higher risk of congenital malformations. Therefore, we assessed the risk of anorectal malformations (ARM) after in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Methods: Data of the German Network for Congenital Uro-REctal malformations (CURE-Net) were compared to nationwide data of the German IVF register and the Federal Statistical Office (DESTATIS). Odds ratios (95\% confidence intervals) were determined to quantify associations using multivariable logistic regression accounting for potential confounding or interaction by plurality of births. Results: In total, 295 ARM patients born between 1997 and 2011 in Germany, who were recruited through participating pediatric surgeries from all over Germany and the German self-help organisation SoMA, were included. Controls were all German live-births (n = 10,069,986) born between 1997 and 2010. Overall, 30 cases (10\%) and 129,982 controls (1\%) were born after IVF or ICSI, which translates to an odds ratio (95\% confidence interval) of 8.7 (5.9-12.6) between ART and ARM in bivariate analyses. Separate analyses showed a significantly increased risk for ARM after IVF (OR, 10.9; 95\% CI, 6.2-19.0; P < 0.0001) as well as after ICSI (OR, 7.5; 95\% CI, 4.6-12.2; P < 0.0001). Furthermore, separate analyses of patients with isolated ARM, ARM with associated anomalies and those with a VATER/VACTERL association showed strong associations with ART (ORs 4.9, 11.9 and 7.9, respectively). After stratification for plurality of birth, the corresponding odds ratios (95\% confidence intervals) were 7.7 (4.6-12.7) for singletons and 4.9 (2.4-10.1) for multiple births. Conclusions: There is a strongly increased risk for ARM among children born after ART. Elevations of risk were seen after both IVF and ICSI. Further, separate analyses of patients with isolated ARM, ARM with associated anomalies and those with a VATER/VACTERL association showed increased risks in each group. An increased risk of ARM was also seen among both singletons and multiple births.}, language = {en} } @article{TempelVeitAssmannetal.2012, author = {Tempel, Jean-Sebastian and Veit, Tempel and Assmann, Marc and Kreilkamp, Lars Erik and H{\"o}fling, Sven and Kamp, Martin and Forchel, Alfred and Bayer, Manfred}, title = {Temperature dependence of pulsed polariton lasing in a GaAs microcavity}, series = {New Journal of Physics}, volume = {14}, journal = {New Journal of Physics}, number = {083014}, doi = {10.1088/1367-2630/14/8/083014}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-134022}, year = {2012}, abstract = {The second-order correlation function g\(^2\)(\(\tau\) = 0), input-output curves and pulse duration of the emission from a microcavity exciton-polariton system subsequent to picosecond-pulsed excitation are measured for different temperatures. At low temperatures a two-threshold behaviour emerges, which has been attributed to the onset of polariton lasing and conventional lasing at the first and the second threshold, respectively. We observe that polariton lasing is stable up to temperatures comparable with the exciton binding energy. At higher temperatures a single threshold displays the direct transition from thermal emission to photon lasing.}, language = {en} } @article{BrandtZimmermannKaufholdetal.2012, author = {Brandt, Alexander U. and Zimmermann, Hanna and Kaufhold, Falko and Promesberger, Julia and Schippling, Sven and Finis, David and Aktas, Orhan and Geis, Christian and Ringelstein, Marius and Ringelstein, E. Bernd and Hartung, Hans-Peter and Paul, Friedemann and Kleffner, Ilka and D{\"o}rr, Jan}, title = {Patterns of Retinal Damage Facilitate Differential Diagnosis between Susac Syndrome and MS}, series = {PLoS One}, volume = {7}, journal = {PLoS One}, number = {6}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0038741}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-134013}, pages = {e38741}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Susac syndrome, a rare but probably underdiagnosed combination of encephalopathy, hearing loss, and visual deficits due to branch retinal artery occlusion of unknown aetiology has to be considered as differential diagnosis in various conditions. Particularly, differentiation from multiple sclerosis is often challenging since both clinical presentation and diagnostic findings may overlap. Optical coherence tomography is a powerful and easy to perform diagnostic tool to analyse the morphological integrity of retinal structures and is increasingly established to depict characteristic patterns of retinal pathology in multiple sclerosis. Against this background we hypothesised that differential patterns of retinal pathology facilitate a reliable differentiation between Susac syndrome and multiple sclerosis. In this multicenter cross-sectional observational study optical coherence tomography was performed in nine patients with a definite diagnosis of Susac syndrome. Data were compared with age-, sex-, and disease duration-matched relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis patients with and without a history of optic neuritis, and with healthy controls. Using generalised estimating equation models, Susac patients showed a significant reduction in either or both retinal nerve fibre layer thickness and total macular volume in comparison to both healthy controls and relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis patients. However, in contrast to the multiple sclerosis patients this reduction was not distributed over the entire scanning area but showed a distinct sectorial loss especially in the macular measurements. We therefore conclude that patients with Susac syndrome show distinct abnormalities in optical coherence tomography in comparison to multiple sclerosis patients. These findings recommend optical coherence tomography as a promising tool for differentiating Susac syndrome from MS.}, language = {en} } @article{JakubietzGruenertJakubietz2012, author = {Jakubietz, Michael G. and Gruenert, Joerg G. and Jakubietz, Rafael G.}, title = {Palmar and dorsal fixed-angle plates in AO C-type fractures of the distal radius: is there an advantage of palmar plates in the long term?}, series = {Journal of Orthopedic Surgery and Research}, volume = {7}, journal = {Journal of Orthopedic Surgery and Research}, number = {8}, doi = {10.1186/1749-799X-7-8}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-133987}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Background: Current surgical approaches to the distal radius include dorsal and palmar plate fixation. While palmar plates have gained widespread popularity, few reports have provided data on long term clinical outcomes in comparison. This paper reports the result of a randomised clinical study comparing dorsal Pi plates and palmar, angle-stable plates for treatment of comminuted, intraarticular fractures of the distal radius over the course of twelve months. Methods: 42 patients with unilateral, intraarticular fractures of the distal radius were included and randomised to 2 groups, 22 were treated with a palmar plate, 20 received a dorsal Pi-plate. Results were evaluated after 6 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively focussing on functional recovery as well as radiological results. Results: The palmar plate group demonstrated significantly better results regarding range of motion and grip strength over the course of 12 months. While a comparable increase in function was observed in both groups, the better results from the early postoperative period in the palmar plate group prevailed over the whole course. Radiological results showed a significantly increased palmar tilt and carpal sag in dorsal plates, with other radiological parameters being comparable. Pain levels were decreased in dorsal plates after hardware removal and failed to show significant differences after 12 months. However, complications such as tendon ruptures were more frequent in the dorsal plate group. Conclusions: Functional advantage of palmar plates gained within the first 6 weeks prevails over the course of a year. Both groups demonstrate further gradual increase of function after 6 months, although dorsal plates did not catch up completely. Improved early postoperative function seems to be the cornerstone for the best possible results. Patients with dorsal plates benefit from hardware removal more than palmar plates in terms of reduction of pain levels. The advantage of palmar plates is a faster functional recovery with lower complication rates. This is especially important in the elderly population. Radiological results did not show a superiority of palmar plates over dorsal plates.}, language = {en} } @article{IsaiasVolkmannMarzeganetal.2012, author = {Isaias, Ioannis U. and Volkmann, Jens and Marzegan, Alberto and Marotta, Giorgio and Cavallari, Paolo and Pezzoli, Gianni}, title = {The Influence of Dopaminergic Striatal Innervation on Upper Limb Locomotor Synergies}, series = {PLoS One}, volume = {7}, journal = {PLoS One}, number = {12}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0051464}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-133976}, pages = {e51464}, year = {2012}, abstract = {To determine the role of striatal dopaminergic innervation on upper limb synergies during walking, we measured arm kinematics in 13 subjects with Parkinson disease. Patients were recruited according to several inclusion criteria to represent the best possible in vivo model of dopaminergic denervation. Of relevance, we included only subjects with normal spatio-temporal parameters of the stride and gait speed to avoid an impairment of upper limbs locomotor synergies as a consequence of gait impairment per se. Dopaminergic innervation of the striatum was measured by FP-CIT and SPECT. All patients showed a reduction of gait-associated arms movement. No linear correlation was found between arm ROM reduction and contralateral dopaminergic putaminal innervation loss. Still, a partition analysis revealed a 80\% chance of reduced arm ROM when putaminal dopamine content loss was >47\%. A significant correlation was described between the asymmetry indices of the swinging of the two arms and dopaminergic striatal innervation. When arm ROM was reduced, we found a positive correlation between upper-lower limb phase shift modulation ( at different gait velocities) and striatal dopaminergic innervation. These findings are preliminary evidence that dopaminergic striatal tone plays a modulatory role in upper-limb locomotor synergies and upper-lower limb coupling while walking at different velocities.}, language = {en} } @article{RuczyńskiBartoń2012, author = {Ruczyński, Ireneusz and Bartoń, Kamil A.}, title = {Modelling Sensory Limitation: The Role of Tree Selection, Memory and Information Transfer in Bats' Roost Searching Strategies}, series = {PLoS One}, volume = {7}, journal = {PLoS One}, number = {9}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0044897}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-133963}, pages = {e44897}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Sensory limitation plays an important role in the evolution of animal behaviour. Animals have to find objects of interest (e.g. food, shelters, predators). When sensory abilities are strongly limited, animals adjust their behaviour to maximize chances for success. Bats are nocturnal, live in complex environments, are capable of flight and must confront numerous perceptual challenges (e.g. limited sensory range, interfering clutter echoes). This makes them an excellent model for studying the role of compensating behaviours to decrease costs of finding resources. Cavity roosting bats are especially interesting because the availability of tree cavities is often limited, and their quality is vital for bats during the breeding season. From a bat's sensory point of view, cavities are difficult to detect and finding them requires time and energy. However, tree cavities are also long lasting, allowing information transfer among conspecifics. Here, we use a simple simulation model to explore the benefits of tree selection, memory and eavesdropping (compensation behaviours) to searches for tree cavities by bats with short and long perception range. Our model suggests that memory and correct discrimination of tree suitability are the basic strategies decreasing the cost of roost finding, whereas perceptual range plays a minor role in this process. Additionally, eavesdropping constitutes a buffer that reduces the costs of finding new resources (such as roosts), especially when they occur in low density. We conclude that natural selection may promote different strategies of roost finding in relation to habitat conditions and cognitive skills of animals.}, language = {en} } @article{IsaiasMarzeganPezzolietal.2012, author = {Isaias, Ioannis U. and Marzegan, Alberto and Pezzoli, Gianni and Marotta, Giorgio and Canesi, Margherita and Biella, Gabriele E. M. and Volkmann, Jens and Cavallari, Paolo}, title = {A role for locus coeruleus in Parkinson tremor}, series = {Frontiers in Human Neuroscience}, volume = {5}, journal = {Frontiers in Human Neuroscience}, number = {179}, doi = {10.3389/fnhum.2011.00179}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-133955}, year = {2012}, abstract = {We analyzed rest tremor, one of the etiologically most elusive hallmarks of Parkinson disease(PD), in 12 consecutive PD patients during a specific task activating the locus coeruleus (LC) to investigate a putative role of noradrenaline (NA) in tremor generation and suppression. Clinical diagnosis was confirmed in all subjects by reduced dopamine reuptake transporter (DAT) binding values investigated by single photon computed tomography imaging (SPECT) with [\(^{123}\)I] N-\(\omega\)-fluoropropyl-2 \(\beta\)-carbomethoxy-3 \(\beta\)-(4-iodophenyl) tropane (FP-CIT). The intensity of tremor (i.e., the power of Electromyography [EMG] signals), but not its frequency, significantly increased during the task. In six subjects, tremor appeared selectively during the task. In a second part of the study, we retrospectively reviewed SPECT with FP-CIT data and confirmed the lack of correlation between dopaminergic loss and tremor by comparing DAT binding values of 82 PD subjects with bilateral tremor (n = 27), unilateral tremor (n = 22), and no tremor (n = 33). This study suggests a role of the LC in Parkinson tremor.}, language = {en} } @article{TessmerMelikishviliFried2012, author = {Tessmer, Ingrid and Melikishvili, Manana and Fried, Michael G.}, title = {Cooperative cluster formation, DNA bending and base-flipping by O\(^6\)-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase}, series = {Nucleic Acids Research}, volume = {40}, journal = {Nucleic Acids Research}, number = {17}, doi = {10.1093/nar/gks574}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-133949}, pages = {8296-8308}, year = {2012}, abstract = {O\(^6\)-Alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) repairs mutagenic O\(^6\)-alkylguanine and O\(^4\)-alkylthymine adducts in DNA, protecting the genome and also contributing to the resistance of tumors to chemotherapeutic alkylating agents. AGT binds DNA cooperatively, and cooperative interactions are likely to be important in lesion search and repair. We examined morphologies of complexes on long, unmodified DNAs, using analytical ultracentrifugation and atomic force microscopy. AGT formed clusters of 11 proteins. Longer clusters, predicted by the McGhee-von Hippel model, were not seen even at high [protein]. Interestingly, torsional stress due to DNA unwinding has the potential to limit cluster size to the observed range. DNA at cluster sites showed bend angles (similar to 0, similar to 30 and similar to 60 degrees) that are consistent with models in which each protein induces a bend of similar to 30 degrees. Distributions of complexes along the DNA are incompatible with sequence specificity but suggest modest preference for DNA ends. These properties tell us about environments in which AGT may function. Small cooperative clusters and the ability to accommodate a range of DNA bends allow function where DNA topology is constrained, such as near DNA-replication complexes. The low sequence specificity allows efficient and unbiased lesion search across the entire genome.}, language = {en} } @article{HoyerSchatzschneiderSchulzSiegmundetal.2012, author = {Hoyer, Jan and Schatzschneider, Ulrich and Schulz-Siegmund, Michaela and Neundorf, Ines}, title = {Dimerization of a cell-penetrating peptide leads to enhanced cellular uptake and drug delivery}, series = {Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry}, volume = {8}, journal = {Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry}, doi = {10.3762/bjoc.8.204}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-133933}, pages = {1788-1797}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Over the past 20 years, cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) have gained tremendous interest due to their ability to deliver a variety of therapeutically active molecules that would otherwise be unable to cross the cellular membrane due to their size or hydrophilicity. Recently, we reported on the identification of a novel CPP, sC18, which is derived from the C-terminus of the 18 kDa cationic antimicrobial protein. Furthermore, we demonstrated successful application of sC18 for the delivery of functionalized cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (cymantrene) complexes to tumor cell lines, inducing high cellular toxicity. In order to increase the potential of the organometallic complexes to kill tumor cells, we were looking for a way to enhance cellular uptake. Therefore, we designed a branched dimeric variant of sC18, (sC18)\(_2\), which was shown to have a dramatically improved capacity to internalize into various cell lines, even primary cells, using flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. Cell viability assays indicated increased cytotoxicity of the dimer presumably caused by membrane leakage; however, this effect turned out to be dependent on the specific cell type. Finally, we could show that conjugation of a functionalized cymantrene with (sC18)\(_2\) leads to significant reduction of its IC\(_{50}\) value in tumor cells compared to the respective sC18 conjugate, proving that dimerization is a useful method to increase the drug-delivery potential of a cell-penetrating peptide.}, language = {en} } @article{HommersLewandEhrmann2012, author = {Hommers, Wilfried and Lewand, Martin and Ehrmann, Dominic}, title = {Testing the moral algebra of two Kohlbergian informers}, series = {Ps{\´i}cologica}, volume = {33}, journal = {Ps{\´i}cologica}, number = {3}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-133917}, pages = {515-532}, year = {2012}, abstract = {This paper seeks to unify two major theories of moral judgment: Kohlberg's stage theory and Anderson's moral information integration theory. Subjects were told about thoughts of actors in Kohlberg's classic altruistic Heinz dilemma and in a new egoistical dilemma. These actors's thoughts represented Kohlberg's stages I (Personal Risk) and IV (Societal Risk) and had three levels, High, Medium, and Low. They were presented singly and in a 3 x 3 integration design. Subjects judged how many months of prison the actor deserved. The data supported the averaging model of moral integration theory, whereas Kohlberg's theory has no way to handle the integration problem. Following this, subjects ranked statements related to Kohlberg's first four stages in a procedure similar to that of Rest (1975). Higher score went with larger effect of Societal Risk as predicted by Kohlberg's theory. But contrary to Kohlberg's theory, no age trends were found. Also strongly contrary to Kohlberg's theory, effects of Personal Risk (Stage I) and Societal Risk (Stage IV) correlated positively.}, language = {en} }