L´Art du Networking. Réseaux européens pour l´education

Bienzle H, Gelabert E, Jütte W, Kolyva K, Meyer N, Tilkin G. L´Art du Networking. Réseaux européens pour l´education. Wien: die Berater - Unternehmensberatungs GmbH; 2007

Kunst des Netzwerkens. Europäische Netzwerke im Bildungsbereich

Bienzle H, Gelabert E, Jütte W, Kolyva K, Meyer N, Tilkin G. Kunst des Netzwerkens. Europäische Netzwerke im Bildungsbereich. Wien: die Berater - Unternehmensberatungs GmbH; 2007

The Art of Networking. European Networks in Education

Bienzle H, Gelabert E, Jütte W, Kolyva K, Meyer N, Tilkin G. The Art of Networking. European Networks in Education. Wien: die Berater - Unternehmensberatungs GmbH; 2007

HMOX1 Gene Promoter Alleles and High HO-1 Levels Are Associated with Severe Malaria in Gambian Children

Heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) is an essential enzyme induced by heme and multiple stimuli associated with critical illness. In humans, polymorphisms in the HMOX1 gene promoter may influence the magnitude of HO-1 expression. In many diseases including murine malaria, HO-1 induction produces protective anti-inflammatory effects, but observations from patients suggest these may be limited to a narrow range of HO-1 induction, prompting us to investigate the role of HO-1 in malaria infection. In 307 Gambian children with either severe or uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria, we characterized the associations of HMOX1 promoter polymorphisms, HMOX1 mRNA inducibility, HO-1 protein levels in leucocytes (flow cytometry), and plasma (ELISA) with disease severity. The (GT)n repeat polymorphism in the HMOX1 promoter was associated with HMOX1 mRNA expression in white blood cells in vitro, and with severe disease and death, while high HO-1 levels were associated with severe disease. Neutrophils were the main HO-1-expressing cells in peripheral blood, and HMOX1 mRNA expression was upregulated by heme-moieties of lysed erythrocytes. We provide mechanistic evidence that induction of HMOX1 expression in neutrophils potentiates the respiratory burst, and propose this may be part of the causal pathway explaining the association between short (GT)n repeats and increased disease severity in malaria and other critical illnesses. Our findings suggest a genetic predisposition to higher levels of HO-1 is associated with severe illness, and enhances the neutrophil burst leading to oxidative damage of endothelial cells. These add important information to the discussion about possible therapeutic manipulation of HO-1 in critically ill patients

Networking and network management - an art?

Bienzle H, Jütte W. Networking and network management - an art? LLinE. Lifelong Learning in Europe. 2008;13(1):6-13

Plasmodium falciparum pfcrt and pfmdr1 polymorphisms are associated with the pfdhfr N108 pyrimethamine-resistance mutation in isolates from Ghana

The Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter gene (pfcrt) T76 and multidrug resistance gene analogue (pfmdr1) Y86 mutations are associated with chloroquine(CQ)-resistance. In isolates from 172 pregnant women living in the area of Agogo, Ghana, pfcrt T76 was detected in 69% and pfmdr1 Y86 in 66%. Pfcrt T76 but not pfmdr1 Y86 was more prevalent in samples from women with residual CQ in urine or serum. Parasite densities and multiplicity of infection of pfmdr wild type but not of resistant isolates were reduced by CQ. Adjusted for CQ and pyrimethamine (PYR) in urine, the P. falciparum dihydrofolate reductase (pfdhfr) N108 mutation which confers PYR-resistance was 3.1 and 3 times, respectively, more likely to be detected in isolates containing pfcrt and pfmdr1 mutations than in those comprising wild type alleles. Pfcrt, pfmdr, and pfdhfr mutations are frequent in P. falciparum from this part of Ghana which may limit the choice of drugs for the prevention of malaria in pregnancy. The association of CQ- and PYR-resistance mutations independent of recent drug use could indicate accelerated development of resistance to structurally unrelated drugs. Alternatively, it may reflect selection of resistance in persisting infections due to no longer detectable drug pressur