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What Persius Really Thought about Virgil, c. 1600
This article focuses on the early modern reception of a single verse from Persiusâs Satires, âut ramale vetus vegrandi subere coctumâ (1.97). It begins by explaining a four-hundred-year-old, bilingual, terribly rude joke that was inspired by this verse and was told on the London stage. It then develops the explanation of this English-Latin pun into a sustained study of the scholarly reception of that line in early modern commentaries of Persius. Today, classicists consider this line to be part of an impertinent but ultimately inconsequential remark by Persiusâs interlocutor. As I shall show, however, in the sixteenth and early seventeenth century, 1.97 was of great critical interest: it was edited as a stand-alone punch-line and interpreted as nothing less than Persiusâs vindication of Virgilâs epic style. For an early modern reader, 1.97 thus promised to reveal what the highly respected Persius thought about the even more admirable Virgil. But what exactly does it mean to say that Virgilâs style is âlike an ancient dried-up branch with swollen barkâ? Early modern commentatorsâ efforts to explain how this strange simile might function as a defence of the Aeneid provide us with fresh sources for the study of Renaissance attitudes to Virgilâs epic style. Some of the explanations of 1.97 support and further elucidate what we already know about Renaissance perspectives on Virgilian style; another opens up surprising perspectives on Virgil as a difficult, even crabbed, stylist. I take the latter as an invitation to put ancient, early modern and modern commentators on Virgilâs language into dialogue. In a coda, this investigation returns to its place of origin, the early modern London stage and brings its insights to bear on a striking expression in Ben Jonsonâs Poetaster
âĂbe dich im Genuss!â
Der Beitrag arbeitet am Beispiel des Webportals lilli.ch spezifische Tendenzen gegenwĂ€rtiger sexualpĂ€dagogischer Angebote und Konzepte heraus. Anliegen ist es, diese vor dem Hintergrund ĂŒbergeordneter gesellschaftlicher Entwicklungen verstehbar zu machen. Dabei werden die Verwobenheit mit Selbstoptimierungstendenzen, das zugrundeliegende GenerationenverhĂ€ltnis, das SexualitĂ€ts- und SubjektverstĂ€ndnis kritisch befragt. Grundlage der Analyse bildet die Bildungs- und Beratungsplattform lilli.ch, die sich mit Zielen der Gesundheitsförderung und GewaltprĂ€vention an junge Adressat*innen richtet. Das Material (insb. Artikel zur Selbstbefriedigung) werden einer gesellschaftskritischen Analyse unterzogen. Dabei wird sich auf theoretische Konzepte aus kritischer Sozialer Arbeit, Sexualforschung und (strukturaler) Psychoanalyse gestĂŒtzt. Die Analyse zeigt, dass sich durch das Ziel der sexuellen Gesundheitsförderung therapeutisierende Herangehensweisen entgrenzen, die Optimierungsanforderungen zuarbeiten und auf neue Bereiche des persönlichen Sexuallebens ausweiten. Zugleich lĂ€sst sich ein verĂ€nderter Zugriff auf JugendsexualitĂ€t und eine Neujustierung des GenerationenverhĂ€ltnisses erkennen. Darin erscheinen vormalige autoritĂ€re pĂ€dagogische MaĂnahmen ersetzt durch sexualitĂ€tsbezogene Ăbungsanleitungen unter den PrĂ€missen der Selbstbestimmung und SelbstfĂŒrsorge. Den Adressat*innen, die als nutzenoptimierende Individuen angesprochen werden, wird ein VerstĂ€ndnis von SexualitĂ€t vermittelt, das Handhabbarkeit verspricht und die konstitutive Fremdheit sich selbst und anderen gegenĂŒber aufhebt
The impact of capsaicinoids on APP processing in Alzheimer's disease in SH-SY5Y cells
The vanilloid capsaicin is a widely consumed spice, known for its burning and "hot" sensation through activation of TRPV1 ion-channels, but also known to decrease oxidative stress, inflammation and influence tau-pathology. Beside these positive effects, little is known about its effects on amyloid-precursor-protein (APP) processing leading to amyloid-ÎČ (AÎČ), the major component of senile plaques. Treatment of neuroblastoma cells with capsaicinoids (24âhours, 10â”M) resulted in enhanced AÎČ-production and reduced AÎČ-degradation, leading to increased AÎČ-levels. In detailed analysis of the amyloidogenic-pathway, both BACE1 gene-expression as well as protein-levels were found to be elevated, leading to increased ÎČ-secretase-activity. Additionally, Îł-secretase gene-expression as well as activity was enhanced, accompanied by a shift of presenilin from non-raft to raft membrane-domains where amyloidogenic processing takes place. Furthermore, impaired AÎČ-degradation in presence of capsaicinoids is dependent on the insulin-degrading-enzyme, one of the major AÎČ-degrading-enzymes. Regarding AÎČ-homeostasis, no differences were found between the major capsaicinoids, capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin, and a mixture of naturally derived capsaicinoids; effects on Ca2+-homeostasis were ruled out. Our results show that in respect to Alzheimer's disease, besides the known positive effects of capsaicinoids, pro-amyloidogenic properties also exist, enhancing AÎČ-levels, likely restricting the potential use of capsaicinoids as therapeutic substances in Alzheimer's disease
Dietary fiber and its role in performance, welfare, and health of pigs
Dietary fiber (DF) is receiving increasing attention, and its importance in pig nutrition is now acknowledged. Although DF for pigs was frowned upon for a long time because of reductions in energy intake and digestibility of other nutrients, it has become clear that feeding DF to pigs can affect their well-being and health. This review aims to summarize the state of knowledge of studies on DF in pigs, with an emphasis on the underlying mode of action, by considering research using DF in sows as well as suckling and weaned piglets, and fattening pigs. These studies indicate that DF can benefit the digestive tracts and the health of pigs, if certain conditions or restrictions are considered, such as concentration in the feed and fermentability. Besides the chemical composition and the impact on energy and nutrient digestibility, it is also necessary to evaluate the possible physical and physiologic effects on intestinal function and intestinal microbiota, to better understand the relation of DF to animal health and welfare. Future research should be designed to provide a better mechanistic understanding of the physiologic effects of DF in pigs
Prospective Multicenter Trial of Cervical Arthroplasty With the ROTAIOÂź Cervical Disc Prosthesis
Objective
Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Arthroplasty (ACDA) is an established treatment for degenerative cervical disc disease and seems to be an alternative to fusion in minimizing the risk of Adjacent Segment Disease (ASD). The ROTAIOÂź cervical disc prosthesis is a novel unconstrained implant with a variable center of rotation aiming at physiological motion. The objective of this multicenter prospective trial was to evaluate clinical outcome and complications within 2 years.
Material and Methods
120 patients (72 females and 48 males with a median age of 43.0 years; range: 23 to 60 years) underwent ACDA (ROTAIOÂź, SIGNUS Medical, Alzenau, Germany) and were prospectively followed for 24 months. Preoperative complaints were mainly associated with radiculopathy (n=104) or myelopathy (n=16). There were 108 monosegmental and 12 bisegmental procedures including 6 hybrid constructs.
Clinical outcome was evaluated at 3, 12 and 24 months by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for head, neck and arm pain, the Neck Disability Index (NDI), the Work Limitation Questionnaire (WL-26), the Patient`s Satisfaction Index (PSI) and a Quality of Life Questionnaire (SF-36). The Nurick Score, the Modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association Score (mJOA) plus a Composite Success Rate have been additionally applied. Finally, complications, the patient`s overall satisfaction and the amount of analgesics were assessed.
Results
Highly significant clinical improvements were observed according to NDI and VAS (p<0.0001 (arm); p<0.001 (neck); p=0.002 (head)) at all postoperative time points. Analgetic medication could be reduced after 3 months in 91.3%, after 12 months in 87.1% and after 24 months in 95.2% of patients. Doctor`s visits for cervical spine problems have been reduced in 93.8% after 24 months.
Patient`s overall satisfaction was high after 3, 12 and 24 months with 83.5%, 78.4% and 79.1% of patients, while 4.1%, 6.8% and 7.0% respectively were not satisfied. The composite success rate was 77.5% after 12 months and 76.9% after 24 months. There were no major complications in this series. Slight subsidence of the prosthesis was observed in 2 patients and 3 patients demonstrated fusion after 24 months. 2 patients developed symptomatic foraminal stenosis, so that implant removal and fusion was performed.
Conclusion
The ROTAIOÂź cervical disc prosthesis is a safe and efficient treatment option for symptomatic degenerative disc disease demonstrating excellent clinical results at 2 years. Outcome proves to be stable over time with very low revision rates
Alpha-1-Acid Glycoprotein Quantification via Spatial Proximity Analyte Reagent Capture Luminescence Assay: Application as Diagnostic and Prognostic Marker in Serum and Effusions of Cats with Feline Infectious Peritonitis Undergoing GS-441524 Therapy
Until recently, the diagnosis of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) in cats usually led to euthanasia, but recent research has revealed that antiviral drugs, including the nucleoside analog GS-441524, have the potential to effectively cure FIP. Alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) has been suggested as a diagnostic marker for FIP. However, AGP quantification methods are not easily accessible. This study aimed to establish a Spatial Proximity Analyte Reagent Capture Luminescence (SPARCLTM) assay on the VetBio-1 analyzer to determine the AGP concentrations in feline serum and effusion samples. Linearity was found in serial dilutions between 1:2000 and 1:32,000; the intra-run and inter-run precision was <5% and <15%, respectively; and AGP was stable in serum stored for at least 8 days at room temperature, at 4 °C and at â20 °C. Cats with confirmed FIP had significantly higher serum AGP concentrations (median: 2954 ”g/mL (range: 200â5861 ”g/mL)) than those with other inflammatory diseases (median: 1734 ”g/mL (305â3449 ”g/mL)) and clinically healthy cats (median 235 ”g/mL (range: 78â616 ”g/mL); pKW < 0.0001). The AGP concentrations were significantly higher in the effusions from cats with FIP than in those from diseased cats without FIP (pMWU < 0.0001). The AGP concentrations in the serum of cats with FIP undergoing GS-441524 treatment showed a significant drop within the first seven days of treatment and reached normal levels after ~14 days. In conclusion, the VetBio-1 SPARCLTM assay offers a precise, fast and cost-effective method to measure the AGP concentrations in serum and effusion samples of feline patients. The monitoring of the AGP concentration throughout FIP treatment provides a valuable marker to evaluate the treatmentâs effectiveness and identify potential relapses at an early stage
Opposite temperature effect on transport activity of KCC2/KCC4 and N(K)CCs in HEK-293 cells
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cation chloride cotransporters play essential roles in many physiological processes such as volume regulation, transepithelial salt transport and setting the intracellular chloride concentration in neurons. They consist mainly of the inward transporters NCC, NKCC1, and NKCC2, and the outward transporters KCC1 to KCC4. To gain insight into regulatory and structure-function relationships, precise determination of their activity is required. Frequently, these analyses are performed in HEK-293 cells. Recently the activity of the inward transporters NKCC1 and NCC was shown to increase with temperature in these cells. However, the temperature effect on KCCs remains largely unknown.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>Here, we determined the temperature effect on KCC2 and KCC4 transport activity in HEK-293 cells. Both transporters demonstrated significantly higher transport activity (2.5 fold for KCC2 and 3.3 fold for KCC4) after pre-incubation at room temperature compared to 37°C.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These data identify a reciprocal temperature dependence of cation chloride inward and outward cotransporters in HEK-293 cells. Thus, lower temperature should be used for functional characterization of KCC2 and KCC4 and higher temperatures for N(K)CCs in heterologous mammalian expression systems. Furthermore, if this reciprocal effect also applies to neurons, the action of inhibitory neurotransmitters might be more affected by changes in temperature than previously thought.</p
Molecularly defined diffuse leptomeningeal glioneuronal tumor (DLGNT) comprises two subgroups with distinct clinical and genetic features
Diffuse leptomeningeal glioneuronal tumors (DLGNT) represent rare CNS neoplasms which have been included in the 2016 update of the WHO classification. The wide spectrum of histopathological and radiological features can make this enigmatic tumor entity difficult to diagnose. In recent years, large-scale genomic and epigenomic analyses have afforded insight into key genetic alterations occurring in multiple types of brain tumors and provide unbiased, complementary tools to improve diagnostic accuracy. Through genome-wide DNA methylation screening of > 25,000 tumors, we discovered a molecularly distinct class comprising 30 tumors, mostly diagnosed histologically as DLGNTs. Copy-number profiles derived from the methylation arrays revealed unifying characteristics, including loss of chromosomal arm 1p in all cases. Furthermore, this molecular DLGNT class can be subdivided into two subgroups [DLGNT methylation class (MC)-1 and DLGNT methylation class (MC)-2], with all DLGNT-MC-2 additionally displaying a gain of chromosomal arm 1q. Co-deletion of 1p/19q, commonly seen in IDH-mutant oligodendroglioma, was frequently observed in DLGNT, especially in DLGNT-MC-1 cases. Both subgroups also had recurrent genetic alterations leading to an aberrant MAPK/ERK pathway, with KIAA1549:BRAF fusion being the most frequent event. Other alterations included fusions of NTRK1/2/3 and TRIM33:RAF1, adding up to an MAPK/ERK pathway activation identified in 80% of cases. In the DLGNT-MC-1 group, age at diagnosis was significantly lower (median 5 vs 14 years, p < 0.01) and clinical course less aggressive (5-year OS 100, vs 43% in DLGNT-MC-2). Our study proposes an additional molecular layer to the current histopathological classification of DLGNT, of particular use for cases without typical morphological or radiological characteristics, such as diffuse growth and radiologic leptomeningeal dissemination. Recurrent 1p deletion and MAPK/ERK pathway activation represent diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets, respectivelyâlaying the foundation for future clinical trials with, e.g., MEK inhibitors that may improve the clinical outcome of patients with DLGNT
Seasonal Variation of the Effect of Extremely Diluted Agitated Gibberellic Acid (10e-30) on Wheat Stalk Growth: A Multiresearcher Study
The influence of a homeopathic high dilution of gibberellic acid on wheat growth was studied at different seasons of the year. Seedlings were allowed to develop under standardized conditions for 7 days; plants were harvested and stalk lengths were measured. The data obtained confirm previous findings, that ultrahigh diluted potentized gibberellic acid affects stalk growth. Furthermore, the outcome of the study suggests that experiments utilizing the bioassay presented should best be performed in autumn season. In winter and spring, respectively, no reliable effects were found
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