Epithelial-immune cell interplay in primary Sjogren syndrome salivary gland pathogenesis

In primary Sjogren syndrome (pSS), the function of the salivary glands is often considerably reduced. Multiple innate immune pathways are likely dysregulated in the salivary gland epithelium in pSS, including the nuclear factor-kappa B pathway, the inflammasome and interferon signalling. The ductal cells of the salivary gland in pSS are characteristically surrounded by a CD4(+) T cell-rich and B cell-rich infiltrate, implying a degree of communication between epithelial cells and immune cells. B cell infiltrates within the ducts can initiate the development of lymphoepithelial lesions, including basal ductal cell hyperplasia. Vice versa, the epithelium provides chronic activation signals to the glandular B cell fraction. This continuous stimulation might ultimately drive the development of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. This Review discusses changes in the cells of the salivary gland epithelium in pSS (including acinar, ductal and progenitor cells), and the proposed interplay of these cells with environmental stimuli and the immune system. Current therapeutic options are insufficient to address both lymphocytic infiltration and salivary gland dysfunction. Successful rescue of salivary gland function in pSS will probably demand a multimodal therapeutic approach and an appreciation of the complicity of the salivary gland epithelium in the development of pSS. Salivary gland dysfunction is an important characteristic of primary Sjogren syndrome (pSS). In this Review, the authors discuss various epithelial abnormalities in pSS and the mechanisms by which epithelial cell-immune cell interactions contribute to disease development and progression

In situ experiments for the determination of macro-permeability and RN-migration in faulted rock formations such as the oolithic iron ore in the Konrad Mine.

Main subjects of the hydrogeological feasibility studies for radioactive waste disposal in the Konrad Mine (FRG) were the identification of water pathways - existing or in future possible ones - and the determination of size and extension of these pathways. Due to extreme dryness of the rock mass and the absence of any open water flow in the mine advanced investigation techniques had to be found for measuring the macro-permeability. Rock mass properties especially to be considered were elastoplasticity and hydraulic anisotropy. So far, good results were achieved by pressure pulse tests in boreholes and ventilation tests in a mine gallery. It was proved that the undisturbed rock mass is almost impermeable. Only in the near field of mine workings where the primary stress field is disturbed the rock can be regarded to a certain extent as permeable

Participation of the Federal Republic of Germany in the Grimsel underground rock laboratory in Switzerland: Objectives and methods of in situ experiments in granite for radioactive waste disposal.

On the basis of a co-operative agreement signed in 1983 by the Nationale Genossenschaft fuer die Lagerung radioaktiver Abfaelle (Nagra), the Gesellschaft fuer Strahlen- und Umweltforschung mbH Muenchen (GSF) and the Bundesanstalt fuer Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (BGR), the Federal Republic of Germany participates in the Grimsel underground rock laboratory with a broad testing programme. This programme is aimed at the development of geotechnical and geophysical investigation techniques as well as the determination of the granite's quality as a geological barrier for underground radioactive waste repositories. The Federal German team performs the following in situ tests: high frequency electromagnetic measurements in boreholes, flow tests in fracture systems, stress measurements in boreholes, geophysical tiltmeter measurements, heating experiments, and macropermeability tests in a ventilation tunnel

Investigations of excavation effects at the Asse salt mine.

The Asse mine, initially a potash mine later converted into a rock salt mine, was operated between the years 1906 and 1964. After production terminated the mine was selected as an underground laboratory for the disposal of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste. Since most of the old mine workings in the halite formations had not been backfilled, extensive rock mechanical investigations were carried out right from the beginning of the waste disposal operations. The results have shown large rock stress alternations and rock mass deformations which have taken place due to the creeping behaviour of rock salt. FE-calculations confirmed distinct spatial as well as temporal changes of the natural stressfield. Greatest deformations correlate with the central area of the mine excavations. -Author

Layout and instrumentation of in situ-experiments for determination of hydraulic and mechanic rock mass properties of granite with and without heat load in the underground laboratory Grimsel, Switzerland.

The ventilation test is designed for the determination of the macro-permeability of granite, in particular of homogeneous rock masses without distinct fractures. In a heater experiment the thermomechanical behaviour of granite will be measured as a function of heat load and time. A set of six geophysical tilt-meters will be used in order to identify neotectonical movements as well as rock mechanical effects resulting from the heater test

Zusammenfassende Darstellung des Ablaufes und der Ergebnisse der Eignungspruefung der Schachtanlage Konrad fuer die Endlagerung radioaktiver Abfaelle

SIGLEDEGerman

Untersuchung der Uran-Thorium-Mobilisation als natuerliches Analogon fuer den Radionuklidtransport im Deckgebirge eines Endlagers fuer radioaktive Abfaelle

Uranium and thorium deposits, especially those in the environment of sedimentary rocks, may serve under defined conditions as natural analogues for experimentally assessing the radionuclide migration in the younger geological formations being the actually targeted sites for a radwaste repository. Research work in such natural analogues may yield information of help in reviewing or supplementing available information on long-term aspects of radionuclide transfer in a radwaste repository. With the pilot study reported here, supported by the German BMBF (Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Technology), uranium and thorium deposits in Germany and neighbouring countries indicated in the literature were identified as suitable candidates and were examined accordingly. Two sites proved to be particularly suitable for further research: Ruprechtov in the north-western part of the Czech Republic, and Hesselbach in Germany, about 40 km north of Regensburg. Apart from these, another site in the Ukraine is known to bear uranium ore in the cap rock of a salt rock deposit, so this is a third candidate site to be examined in detail, and which may later on serve as a natural analogue for on-site research. (orig./CB)Uran- und Thorium-Lagerstaetten, speziell in der Umgebung sedimentaerer Gesteine, koennen unter bestimmten Randbedingungen als natuerliche Analoga fuer die Radionuklidmigration in den juengeren, die eigentliche Endlagerformation abdeckenden Gesteinen herangezogen werden. Mit der Untersuchung solcher Vorkommen koennen Aussagen zu Langzeitaspekten des Radionuklidtransportes ueberprueft und ggf. ergaenzt werden. In einer vom BMBF unterstuetzten Pilotstudie wurden die aus der Literatur bekannten Uran- und Thorium-Lagerstaetten in Deutschland und dem benachbarten Ausland ermittelt, die fuer eine Detailuntersuchung als Natuerliches Analogon geeignet sind. Dabei haben sich insbesondere zwei Standorte fuer die Durchfuehrung eines weiterfuehrenden Untersuchungsprogramms herauskristallisiert: Ruprechtov im NW-Teil der Tschechischen Republik, etwa 8 km noerdlich der Stadt Karlsbad, und Heselbach, ca. 40 km noerdlich von Regensburg. Darueber hinaus ist in der Ukraine eine Uranvererzung im Deckgebirge eines Salzstockes bekannt, die nach detaillierter Pruefung der Standortverhaeltnisse eventuell zu einem spaeteren Zeitpunkt ebenfalls als natuerliches Analogon herangezogen werden kann. (orig.)Available from TIB Hannover: RN 7660(2652) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEBundesministerium fuer Bildung, Wissenschaft, Forschung und Technologie, Bonn (Germany)DEGerman

Site evaluation for disposal facilities in salt

SIGLEDEGerman