Physical properties and pharmacological activity in vitro and in vivo of optimised liposomes prepared from a new cancerostatic alkylphospholipid

AbstractLiposomes from octadecyl-(1,1-dimethyl-4-piperidino-4-yl)-phosphate (OPP), a new alkylphospholipid derivative with an improved cancerostatic activity, were prepared for the first time and the activity in vitro and in vivo was characterised. The formation of liposomes (MLV, SUV and LUVET) differing in cholesterol content, charge, and sterical stabilisation is possible without serious problems, despite the lysolipid-like structure of the OPP. Liposomes with a low amount of cholesterol and with PEG2000DSPE-coating were the most stable OPP liposomes, both in buffer and in serum. The cytotoxicity of micellar or liposomal OPP against breast cancer cell lines in vitro was in the range of 20–60 μM The cytotoxicity of the liposomal formulation was inversely related to the content of cholesterol, whereas the sterical stabilisation and/or the incorporation of a positive charge had only a very moderate modulating effect on the inhibition of cell proliferation. The strongest antitumour effect on the xenotransplanted breast cancer MT-3 in vivo was obtained with sterically stabilised OPP liposomes with low CH content. The beneficial therapeutic effect of these liposomes was accompanied by better tolerance and a significant inhibition of haemolysis compared to micellar OPP

‘Image‘ Kota Goettingen Dan Sekitarnya Sebagai Salah Satu Tujuan Wisata Alam Dan Rekreasi Luar Ruangan (Study Kasus Menurut Mahasiswa Internasional Di Universitas Goettingen)

Nature tourism/outdoor recreation is one the fastest growing tourism activities in the world. More and more people travel to natural sites due to increased environmental awareness and a high degree of urbanization.The objective of this research was to capture the image of Göttingen and its surrounding area, using a combination of structured and unstructured methods as recommended by previous researchers. The image determination was considered important for positioning and differentiating the destination from other competitors. From a marketing point of view, image determination could increase tourist interest to visit the destination, travel satisfaction, and intention to return. The structured method used image attributes, which were evaluated using a 5-point Likert scale while the unstructured method used three open-ended questions. In addition, the research was also done to identify the nature of outdoor recreation/nature tourism among International students. The study focused on International students, which have certain characteristics that are different from those of domestic students. Data was taken from January to April 2014. 326 respondents delivered useable responses/data. This research revealed that a combination of structured and unstructured methods was able to capture the underlying image dimension of Göttingenand its surroundings. Considering the high propensity for travelling and previous travel experience of the students, it could be interpreted that International students at Göttingen University are one of the prospective nature tourism markets. Therefore, customized marketing strategy could be applied to attract them

Discrimination of different species from the genus Drosophila by intact protein profiling using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The use of molecular biology-based methods for species identification and establishing phylogenetic relationships has supplanted traditional methods relying on morphological characteristics. While PCR-based methods are now the commonly accepted gold standards for these types of analysis, relatively high costs, time-consuming assay development or the need for <it>a priori </it>information about species-specific sequences constitute major limitations. In the present study, we explored the possibility to differentiate between 13 different species from the genus <it>Drosophila </it>via a molecular proteomic approach.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>After establishing a simple protein extraction procedure and performing matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS) with intact proteins and peptides, we could show that most of the species investigated reproducibly yielded mass spectra that were adequate for species classification. Furthermore, a dendrogram generated by cluster analysis of total protein patterns agrees reasonably well with established phylogenetic relationships.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Considering the intra- and interspecies similarities and differences between spectra obtained for specimens of closely related <it>Drosophila </it>species, we estimate that species typing of insects and possibly other multicellular organisms by intact protein profiling (IPP) can be established successfully for species that diverged from a common ancestor about 3 million years ago.</p

A conceptual framework approach on mapping multiple ecosystem services in tropical wetland areas on a local scale

Ecosystem services are notably seen as an important factor in decisions regarding the use and management of wetlands and their benefits to society. Understanding changes in wetland ecosystem service supply is the key issue for an effective tool in conservation management. However, there is a lack of holistic non-monetary approaches to assessing relevant and specific ecosystem service on a local scale. This study proposes a conceptual framework of wetland potential ecosystem services and sub-services supply by examining literature and studying the historical land cover change of the specified study area. This approach used different land cover/land use types as complex indicators. Multitemporal medium resolution satellite images (1985-2014) were classified to identify historical land cover changes in the area. Qualitative expert assessment of ecological integrity and ecosystem services supply, combined with land cover types and ecosystem categories and subtypes were conducted to identify their respective capacities. With the ecosystem services as its core, the framework took into account the influence of both forest and human interrelations to assess wetland ecosystem services. It is hoped that the proposed conceptual framework will provide a more complete understanding of the characterised ecosystem function and potential service supplies of multiple land covers pertaining to wetland conservation effectiveness

Online sea ice data platform: www.seaiceportal.de

There is an increasing public interest in sea ice information from both Polar Regions, which requires up-to-date background information and data sets at different levels for various target groups. In order to serve this interest and need, seaiceportal.de (originally: meereisportal.de) was developed as a comprehensive German knowledge platform on sea ice and its snow cover in the Arctic and Antarctic. It was launched in April 2013. Since then, the content and selection of data sets increased and the data portal received increasing attention, also from the international science community. Meanwhile, we are providing near-real time and archive data of many key parameters of sea ice and its snow cover. The data sets result from measurements acquired by various platforms as well as numerical simulations. Satellite observations of sea ice concentration, freeboard, thickness and drift are available as gridded data sets. Sea ice and snow temperatures and thickness as well as atmospheric parameters are available from autonomous platforms (buoys). Additional ship observations, ice station measurements, and mooring time series are compiled as data collections over the last decade. In parallel, we are continuously extending our meta-data and uncertainty information for all data sets. In addition to the data portal, seaiceportal.de provides general comprehensive background information on sea ice and snow as well as expert statements on recent observations and developments. This content is mostly in German in order to complement the various existing international sites for the German speaking public. We will present the portal, its content and function, but we are also asking for direct user feedback

Nomograms including the UBC® Rapid test to detect primary bladder cancer based on a multicentre dataset

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical utility of the urinary bladder cancer antigen test UBC Rapid for the diagnosis of bladder cancer (BC) and to develop and validate nomograms to identify patients at high risk of primary BC. Patients and Methods: Data from 1787 patients from 13 participating centres, who were tested between 2012 and 2020, including 763 patients with BC, were analysed. Urine samples were analysed with the UBC Rapid test. The nomograms were developed using data from 320 patients and externally validated using data from 274 patients. The diagnostic accuracy of the UBC Rapid test was evaluated using receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis. Brier scores and calibration curves were chosen for the validation. Biopsy-proven BC was predicted using multivariate logistic regression. Results: The sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve for the UBC Rapid test were 46.4%, 75.5% and 0.61 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.58–0.64) for low-grade (LG) BC, and 70.5%, 75.5% and 0.73 (95% CI 0.70–0.76) for high-grade (HG) BC, respectively. Age, UBC Rapid test results, smoking status and haematuria were identified as independent predictors of primary BC. After external validation, nomograms based on these predictors resulted in areas under the curve of 0.79 (95% CI 0.72–0.87) and 0.95 (95% CI: 0.92–0.98) for predicting LG-BC and HG-BC, respectively, showing excellent calibration associated with a higher net benefit than the UBC Rapid test alone for low and medium risk levels in decision curve analysis. The R Shiny app allows the results to be explored interactively and can be accessed at www.blucab-index.net. Conclusion: The UBC Rapid test alone has limited clinical utility for predicting the presence of BC. However, its combined use with BC risk factors including age, smoking status and haematuria provides a fast, highly accurate and non-invasive tool for screening patients for primary LG-BC and especially primary HG-BC

Mild-to-Moderate Kidney Dysfunction and Cardiovascular Disease: Observational and Mendelian Randomization Analyses

BACKGROUND: End-stage renal disease is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular events. It is unknown, however, whether mild-to-moderate kidney dysfunction is causally related to coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke. METHODS: Observational analyses were conducted using individual-level data from 4 population data sources (Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration, EPIC-CVD [European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition-Cardiovascular Disease Study], Million Veteran Program, and UK Biobank), comprising 648 135 participants with no history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes at baseline, yielding 42 858 and 15 693 incident CHD and stroke events, respectively, during 6.8 million person-years of follow-up. Using a genetic risk score of 218 variants for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), we conducted Mendelian randomization analyses involving 413 718 participants (25 917 CHD and 8622 strokes) in EPIC-CVD, Million Veteran Program, and UK Biobank. RESULTS: There were U-shaped observational associations of creatinine-based eGFR with CHD and stroke, with higher risk in participants with eGFR values 105 mL·min-1·1.73 m-2, compared with those with eGFR between 60 and 105 mL·min-1·1.73 m-2. Mendelian randomization analyses for CHD showed an association among participants with eGFR 105 mL·min-1·1.73 m-2. Results were not materially different after adjustment for factors associated with the eGFR genetic risk score, such as lipoprotein(a), triglycerides, hemoglobin A1c, and blood pressure. Mendelian randomization results for stroke were nonsignificant but broadly similar to those for CHD. CONCLUSIONS: In people without manifest cardiovascular disease or diabetes, mild-to-moderate kidney dysfunction is causally related to risk of CHD, highlighting the potential value of preventive approaches that preserve and modulate kidney function

Mild-to-Moderate Kidney Dysfunction and Cardiovascular Disease: Observational and Mendelian Randomization Analyses

BACKGROUND: End-stage renal disease is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular events. It is unknown, however, whether mild-to-moderate kidney dysfunction is causally related to coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke. METHODS: Observational analyses were conducted using individual-level data from 4 population data sources (Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration, EPIC-CVD [European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition-Cardiovascular Disease Study], Million Veteran Program, and UK Biobank), comprising 648 135 participants with no history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes at baseline, yielding 42 858 and 15 693 incident CHD and stroke events, respectively, during 6.8 million personyears of follow-up. Using a genetic risk score of 218 variants for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), we conducted Mendelian randomization analyses involving 413 718 participants (25917 CHD and 8622 strokes) in EPIC-CVD, Million Veteran Program, and UK Biobank. RESULTS: There were U-shaped observational associations of creatinine-based eGFR with CHD and stroke, with higher risk in participants with eG FR values 105 mL.min(-1).1.73 m(-2), compared with those with eG FR between 60 and 105 mL.min(-1).1.73 m(-2). Mendelian randomization analyses for CHD showed an association among participants with eGFR 105 mL.min(-1).1.73 m(-2). Results were not materially different after adjustment for factors associated with the eGFR genetic risk score, such as lipoprotein(a), triglycerides, hemoglobin Alc, and blood pressure. Mendelian randomization results for stroke were nonsignificant but broadly similar to those for CHD. CONCLUSIONS: In people without manifest cardiovascular disease or diabetes, mild-to-moderate kidney dysfunction is causally related to risk of CHD, highlighting the potential value of preventive approaches that preserve and modulate kidney function