Lectin-induced increase in clonogenic growth of haematopoietic progenitor cells

Abstract: The galactoside-specific plant lectin, Viscum album agglutinin (VAA-I) increases cellular parameters of natural host defence. It also binds to a variety of haematopoietic cells, including progenitors. We investigated whether VAA-I has a stimulatory effect on haematopoietic progenitor cells. Peripheral blood progenitor cells from 7 healthy volunteers were cultured in a colony assay with VAA-I plus erythropoietin (EPO) and stem cell factor (SCF). At 50 pg/ml VAA-I induced a significant increase in the cytokine-dependent clonogenic growth (52% in median, p<0.05). In another set of experiments purified CD34+ cells were isolated from the bone marrow aspirate of 4 patients with non-metastatic breast cancer using fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Binding to CD34+ cells was demonstrated by using directly fluorescence-conjugated VAA-I. Co-incubation with d -galactose significantly abrogated this effect. CD34+ cells were cultured in the presence of EPO, SCF, interleukin-3, granulocyte/monocyte colony-stimulating factor and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. VAA-I alone had no measurable effect on the clonogenic growth of the isolated cells. However, at concentrations of 100 and 250 pg/ml VAA-I increased the cytokine-dependent proliferation and differentiation of CD34+ cells by a median of 75 and 85%, respectively. The results show that VAA-I binds to haematopoietic progenitor cells and has a co-stimulatory effect on their proliferation.     

Comparison of the efficacy and safety of ciclesonide 160 μg once daily vs. budesonide 400 μg once daily in children with asthma

Ciclesonide is an onsite-activated inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) for the treatment of asthma. This study compared the efficacy, safety and effect on quality of life (QOL) of ciclesonide 160 microg (ex-actuator; nominal dose 200 microg) vs. budesonide 400 microg (nominal dose) in children with asthma. Six hundred and twenty-one children (aged 6-11 yr) with asthma were randomized to receive ciclesonide 160 microg (ex-actuator) once daily (via hydrofluoroalkane metered-dose inhaler and AeroChamber Plus spacer) or budesonide 400 microg once daily (via Turbohaler) both given in the evening for 12 wk. The primary efficacy end-point was change in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1). Additional measurements included change in daily peak expiratory flow (PEF), change in asthma symptom score sum, change in use of rescue medication, paediatric and caregiver asthma QOL questionnaire [PAQLQ(S) and PACQLQ, respectively] scores, change in body height assessed by stadiometry, change in 24-h urinary cortisol adjusted for creatinine and adverse events. Both ciclesonide and budesonide increased FEV1, morning PEF and PAQLQ(S) and PACQLQ scores, and improved asthma symptom score sums and the need for rescue medication after 12 wk vs. baseline. The non-inferiority of ciclesonide vs. budesonide was demonstrated for the change in FEV1 (95% confidence interval: -75, 10 ml, p = 0.0009, one-sided non-inferiority, per-protocol). In addition, ciclesonide and budesonide showed similar efficacy in improving asthma symptoms, morning PEF, use of rescue medication and QOL. Ciclesonide was superior to budesonide with regard to increases in body height (p = 0.003, two-sided). The effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis was significantly different in favor of ciclesonide treatment (p < 0.001, one-sided). Both ciclesonide and budesonide were well tolerated. Ciclesonide 160 microg once daily and budesonide 400 microg once daily were effective in children with asthma. In addition, in children treated with ciclesonide there was significantly less reduction in body height and suppression of 24-h urinary cortisol excretion compared with children treated with budesonide after 12 wk.     

Differential Stripping: Determination of the Amount of Topically Applied Substances Penetrated into the Hair Follicles

The determination of penetration pathways of topically applied substances into the skin is the subject of several investigations. Recently, follicular penetration has become a major focus of interest. To date, a direct, non-invasive quantification of the amount of topically applied substance penetrated into the follicles had not been possible. The development of such a method was the aim of this study. Therefore, the advantages of both stripping techniques, tape stripping and cyanoacrylate skin surface biopsy, were combined and evaluated. Tape stripping was used to remove the part of the stratum corneum that contained the topically applied dye. Subsequently, the follicular contents were ripped off by cyanoacrylate skin surface biopsy. The combined method termed "differential stripping" was evaluated in vitro and in vivo , and the amount of topically applied fluorescent dye penetrated into the hair follicles was quantified after different penetration times. After 30 min, 5% of the recovered concentration of sodium fluorescein was found in the follicular infundibula, where it was still detectable after 48 h. Altogether, the results of this investigation revealed that differential stripping is a new method that can be used to study the penetration of topically applied substances into the follicular infundibula non-invasively and selectively.     

Die doppler-sonographische beurteilung der funktionsfähigkeit extra-intracranieller anastomosen

Zusammenfassung Wir berichten fiber die Doppler-sonographischen Ergebnisse bei 33 Patienten mit einer Anastomose zwischen der A. temporalis superficialis and der A. cerebri media. Die Indikation zur Bypass-Operation beinhaltete rezidivierende TIA oder ein kurz zuvor erworbenes leichtes neurologisches Defizit bei angiographischem Nachweis einseitiger oder beidseitiger tiefer Obliterationen der A. carotis interna und hochgradiger Stenosen oder Verschlüsse im distalen Abschnitt der A. carotis interna bzw. im proximalen Abschnitt der A. cerebri media. Die Funktionsfahigkeit der Anastomose wurde überpriift durch die Berechnung der modifizier ten Pourcelot-Indices (relative enddiastolische Strömungsgeschwindigkeit) der A. temporalis superficialis praeauriculär und am Bohrlochrand Bowie durch den EinfluB der intermittierenden Kompression des den Bypass-versorgenden Gefäßes auf den modifizierten Pourcelot-Index der ipsilateralen A. carotis communis. Bei allen Patienten mit funktionsfahigen Anastomosen, definiert durch einen modifizierten Pourcelot-Index von zumindest 0,20 am Bohrlochrand, kam es zu einer Reduktion dieses Parameters um durchschnittlich 0,08 an der A. carotis communis bei kurzfristiger Kompression des den Bypass-versorgenden Astes. Bei den 18 Patienten mit unilateraler Obliteration der A. carotis interna war der Bypass über-wiegend dann funktionsfähig, wenn die summierten modifizierten Pourcelot-Indices der verbliebenen hirnversorgenden Gefäße um zumindest 10% gegenüber einem vergleichbaren Normalkollektiv reduziert waren. Das Vorhandensein bzw. das Fehlen von Ophthalmica-Kollateralen hatte dabei keinen Einfluß auf den Prozentsatz der funktionsfahigen Anastomosen in diesen Untergruppen. Bei den vier Patienten mit bilateraler Obliteration der A. carotis interna war die angelegte Anastomose in jedem Fall funktionsfähig, während die Hälfte der Patienten mit Stenosen and Verschlüssen im distalen Abschnitt der Carotisstrombahn nur eine ungeniigende Bypass-Funktion zeigten. Die zwei Patienten mit einer Mediahauptstammstenose bzw. -obliteration hatten Indices von 0,45 bzw. 0,46 am Bohrlochrand als Hinweis auf die Funktionstüchtigkeit. Wir Bind der Auffassung, daß man mittels Doppler-sonographischer Kriterien die Funktionsfahigkeit einer Temporalis superficialis-Cerebri media-Anastomose überprüfen kann. Der praeoperativ berechnete summierte modifizierte Pourcelot-Index der verbliebenen hirnversorgenden Arterien kann zumindest bei uni- and bilateraler Internaobliteration als zusatzlicher Parameter herangezogen werden, um die Indikation zur Bypass-Operation zu klären.     

Fusion of bone marrow-derived stem cells with cardiomyocytes in a heterologous in vitro model.

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have demonstrated that transplanted bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMCs) possess a broad differentiation potential and are able to form new cardiomyocytes. However, the identity of BMCs as true cardiomyocytes is still ambiguous. Therefore, we investigated the fate of transplanted fluorescence labeled BMCs and cardiomyocytes in co-culture. METHODS: For cell tracking we used two different fluorescent probes, Vybrant/DiO and Vybrant/DiI. BMCs were taken from human sternal marrow, purified using a Ficoll-gradient-centrifugation, treated with 5-azacytidine and stained with Vybrant/DiO. Furthermore, isolated spontaneous beating cardiomyocytes of neonatal rats (CM) were labeled with Vybrant/DiI. Thereafter, the BMCs were transplanted into CM-cultures and investigated on day 1, 4, 7, 14 and 28 using two-color fluorescence phenotyping by laser-scanning-cytometry (LSC). Two-color positive cells were harvested by patch-clamp technique and beta-MHC mRNA expression was analyzed by single-cell PCR. RESULTS: Two different morphological phenotypes were observed by LSC. First, isolated DiO labeled BMCs without contact or with direct cell contact to DiI labeled CMs. Second, some BMCs and CMs were double positive for DiO/DiI spontaneously forming hybrids. This population increased by 18% from day 1 to 4 and decreased only slightly until day 28. Additionally, few two-color positive cell formations expressed both human and rat specific beta-MHC mRNA as well as only human beta-MHC mRNA indicating that cell-fusion and transdifferentiation has occurred. CONCLUSION: These observations provide in vitro evidence for spontaneous cell fusion and transdifferentiation of BMCs in co-culture, raising the possibility that the observed phenomenons may contribute to development or maintenance of these cell types.     

Treatment of cremaster synkinesias with botulinum toxin A: a video case report.

Synkinesias secondary to nerve lesions and aberrant re-innervation are well-known phenomena especially after lesions of the facial nerve. Synkinesias can successfully be treated with botulinum toxin A (BTx A). Synkinesias of the cremaster muscle have not been described or treated to date. We present the case of a 62-year-old man who developed synkinesias of both cremaster muscles after extensive laparatomy for esophageal cancer. Treatment of synkinesias with various oral medications had been unsuccessful. Electromyography-guided injections of BTx A in both cremaster muscles (15 MU on the right and 10 on the left) led to significant symptom relief for an average of 8 weeks. We present the case including pre- and posttreatment video clips.     

Posttraumatisches septisches Abdomen

Abdominal infection has the fifth highest incidence of all posttraumatic infections but has the second highest mortality rate with 25%,pneumonia,with 29%, being the only posttraumatic infection that is more frequently lethal.Posttraumatic abdominal sepsis, on the other hand, has a mortality rate of almost 50%.This rate cannot be reduced except by prompt identification of the correct diagnosis of the underlying injury or complication.This means that delayed laparotomy is strikingly detrimental in these patients, with 46% mortality as opposed to 11% in patients who undergo laparotomy promptly. In parallel with this, the mortality of fresh-onset and localized peritonitis is 14%,whereas that of diffuse purulent peritonitis is up to a devastating 42%.     

Risk of acquiring influenza A in a nursing home from a culture-positive roommate.

Influenza A was cultured in 62 double rooms. The roommate was infected in 12 (19.4%). During 3,294 resident-seasons, influenza was cultured in 208 single rooms (6.3%). Those who lived in double rooms with a culture-positive roommate had a 3.07 relative risk (CI95, 1.61-5.78) of acquiring influenza.