ABO Blood Group. Related Investigations and Their Association with Defined Pathologies

The ABO blood group system was discovered by Karl Landsteiner in 1901. Since then, scientists have speculated on an association between different pathologies and the ABO blood group system. The aim of this pilot study was to determine the significance between different blood types of the ABO blood group system and certain pathologies. We included 237 patients with known diagnosis, blood group, sex, and age in the study. As a statistical method, the Chi-square test was chosen. In some cases, a significant association between the blood groups and defined diseases could be determined. Carriers of blood group O suffered from ulcus ventriculi and gastritis (X21 = 78.629, p <0.001), colitis ulcerosa and duodenitis (X21 = 5.846, p < 0.016), whereas male patients carrying blood group A tended to contract different types of tumours. In patients with intestinal tumours, females with blood group A were more likely to develop the pathology, whereas in males, the blood group O dominated. The development of cholelithiasis was found, above all, in patients with blood group O, which differed from other research where a correlation between this pathology and blood group A was found

Treatment of Highland Frogs from the Two- Legged Stage with Homeopathically Prepared Thyroxin (10 -11 -10 -21 )

The influence of moderately diluted, agitated, i.e., homeopathically prepared, thyroxin solutions (10 -11 -10 -21 , final concentration in the basin water 0.6 × 10 -15 -0.6 × 10 -25 parts by weight after the first application) on metamorphosis in highland Rana temporaria from the two-legged stage was studied. In accordance with the homeopathic idea of effects of specially prepared dilutions being inverse to those of their mother substances, animals were treated either with thyroxin 10 -11 -10 -21 or analogously prepared blank solution (water). Development was monitored by documenting the number of animals that had entered the four-legged stage. It has been found that animals treated with the thyroxin solutions metamorphosed more slowly than the control animals, i.e., the effect of the homeopathically prepared thyroxin was opposed to the usual effect of molecular thyroxin. The number of test animals that reached the four-legged stage at defined points in time was smaller (2-13.5%) in the group treated with homeopathically prepared thyroxin at the points in time, compared to control. The results in this study sustain the previous multiresearcher findings that show that diluted homeopathically prepared thyroxin is able to slow down metamorphosis of R. temporaria

Curricula an einer universitätsnahen Institution - ein mögliches Modell für die Universität

Erfahrungen mit drei Bologna-konformen Curricula an einer universitätsnahen Institution werden vorgestellt. Die Masterlehrgänge für helfende Berufe entstanden aus einem von der Europäischen Kommission geförderten Projekt (Leonardo). Als Lernziel ist die Integration der Lehrinhalte in die angestammten Kompetenzen der berufstätigen Studierenden definiert. Die Curricula sind modular, handlungs- und lernfeldorientiert und werden unter Verwendung von Blended Learning (E-Learning + Präsenzworkshops) und tiefenpsychologischen Herangehensweisen vermittelt. Eine empirische Evaluation zeigte eine positive Bewertung der Curricula für die berufliche und persönliche Weiterentwicklung. 21.03.2014 | Roswith Roth, Marion Mitsche, Paul Pass & P. Christian Endler (Graz

Influence of Artificial Sweetener on Human Blood Glucose Concentration

Artificial sweeteners, such as saccharin or cyclamic acid are synthetically manufactured sweetenings. Known for their low energetic value they serve especially diabetic and adipose patients as sugar substitutes. It has been hypothesized that the substitution of sugar with artificial sweeteners may induce a decrease of the blood glucose. The aim of this study was to determine the reliability of this hypothesis by comparing the influence of regular table sugar and artificial sweeteners on the blood glucose concentration. In this pilot-study 16 patients were included suffering from adiposity, pre-diabetes and hypertension. In the sense of a cross-over design, three test trials were performed at intervals of several weeks. Each trial was followed by a test free interval. Within one test trial each patient consumed 150 ml test solution (water) that contained either 6 g of table sugar (“Kandisin”) with sweetener free serving as control group. Tests were performed within 1 hr after lunch to ensure conditions comparable to patients having a desert. Every participant had to determine their blood glucose concentration immediately before and 5, 15, 30 and 60 minutes after the intake of the test solution. For statistics an analysis of variance was performed. The data showed no significant changes in the blood glucose concentration. Neither the application of sugar (F4;60 = 1.645; p = .175) nor the consumption of an artificial sweetener (F2.068;31.023 = 1.551; p > .05) caused significant fluctuations in the blood sugar levels. Over a time frame of 60 minutes in the control group a significant decrease of the blood sugar concentration was found (F2.457;36.849 = 4.005; p = .020) as a physiological reaction during lunch digestion

Impact of climate change on allergic diseases in Germany

Background: Allergic diseases, especially inhalant allergies, have reached epidemic levels and environmental factors play an important role in their development. Climate change influences the occurrence, frequency, and severity of allergic diseases. Methods: The contents of this article were selected by the authors and developed section by section according to their expertise and the current state of knowledge. The sections were then discussed and agreed upon amongst all authors. Results: The article highlights direct and indirect effects of climate change on allergies. It goes into detail about the connections between climate change and (new) pollen allergens as well as (new) occupational inhalation allergens, explains the effects of climate change on the clinical picture of atopic dermatitis, discusses the connections between air pollutants and allergies, and provides information about the phenomenon of thunderstorm asthma. Conclusions: There is a need for action in the field of pollen and fungal spore monitoring, allergy and sensitisation monitoring, urban planning from an allergological perspective, and changes in the working environment, among others. This is part of a series of articles that constitute the German Status Report on Climate Change and Health 2023

Treatment of Lowland Frogs From the Spawn Stage with Homeopathically Prepared Thyroxin (10 -30

The influence of a highly diluted agitated, i.e. homeopathically prepared thyroxin solution (10-30, final concentration in the basin water 10-35 parts by weight after the first application) on metamorphosis in lowland Rana temporaria from the spawn stage on was studied. The treatment with homeopathically prepared thyroxin solution (10-30) starts at the frogspawn stage. It represents a tool to learn more about the previously standardized amphibian model, where the thyroxin solution was applied from the two- legged stage on only. Lowland frogs were pretreated by immersing spawn in an aqueous molecular thyroxin dilution (10-8 parts by weight). In later stages of development (2 to 4 legged), this has been found to speed up metamorphosis by around 15%. In accordance with the homeopathic idea of detoxication or cure, hyperstimulated animals (spawn or, in subsequence, larvae) were treated either with thyroxin that had been highly diluted and agitated in successive steps, i.e. homeopathically prepared (10-30), or analogously prepared blank solution (water). Development was monitored by documenting the number of animals that had entered the four-legged stage. It has been found that animals treated with the test solution metamorphosed more slowly than the control animals, i.e. the effect of the homeopathically prepared thyroxin was opposed to the usual effect of molecular thyroxin. The number of test animals that reached the 4- legged stage at defined points in time was slightly smaller in the group treated with homeopathically prepared thyroxin at some, but not at all points in time, compared to control. The results in this study sustain the previous multi researcher findings that highly diluted homeopathically prepared thyroxin is able to slow down metamorphosis of Rana temporaria

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

Auswirkungen des Klimawandels auf allergische Erkrankungen in Deutschland

Hintergrund: Allergische Erkrankungen, vor allem Inhalationsallergien, haben ein epidemisches Ausmaß erreicht, und Umweltfaktoren spielen eine wichtige Rolle bei ihrer Entstehung. Der Klimawandel beeinflusst Auftreten, Häufigkeit und Schwere allergischer Erkrankungen. Methode: Die Inhalte dieses Artikels wurden durch die Autorinnen und Autoren ausgewählt und entsprechend ihren Expertisen nach dem aktuellen Wissensstand kapitelweise erarbeitet. Die Kapitel wurden anschließend mit allen Autorinnen und Autoren diskutiert und abgestimmt. Ergebnisse: Der Artikel beleuchtet direkte und indirekte Effekte des Klimawandels auf Allergien. Er geht näher auf Zusammenhänge zwischen Klimawandel und (neuen) Pollenallergenen sowie (neuen) beruflichen Inhalationsallergenen ein, erläutert Auswirkungen des Klimawandels auf das Krankheitsbild der Neurodermitis, geht auf Zusammenhänge zwischen Luftschadstoffen und Allergien ein und informiert über das Phänomen des Gewitterasthmas. Schlussfolgerungen: Es besteht unter anderem Handlungsbedarf für die Bereiche Pollen- und Schimmelpilzsporenmonitoring, Allergie- und Sensibilisierungsmonitoring, Städteplanung unter allergologischen Gesichtspunkten und Veränderungen der Arbeitswelt. Dieser Artikel ist Teil der Beitragsreihe zum Sachstandsbericht Klimawandel und Gesundheit 2023

Predator-induced changes of female mating preferences: innate and experiential effects

Background: In many species males face a higher predation risk than females because males display elaborate traits that evolved under sexual selection, which may attract not only females but also predators. Females are, therefore, predicted to avoid such conspicuous males under predation risk. The present study was designed to investigate predator-induced changes of female mating preferences in Atlantic mollies (Poecilia mexicana). Males of this species show a pronounced polymorphism in body size and coloration, and females prefer large, colorful males in the absence of predators. Results: In dichotomous choice tests predator-naïve (lab-reared) females altered their initial preference for larger males in the presence of the cichlid Cichlasoma salvini, a natural predator of P. mexicana, and preferred small males instead. This effect was considerably weaker when females were confronted visually with the non-piscivorous cichlid Vieja bifasciata or the introduced non-piscivorous Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). In contrast, predator experienced (wild-caught) females did not respond to the same extent to the presence of a predator, most likely due to a learned ability to evaluate their predators' motivation to prey. Conclusions: Our study highlights that (a) predatory fish can have a profound influence on the expression of mating preferences of their prey (thus potentially affecting the strength of sexual selection), and females may alter their mate choice behavior strategically to reduce their own exposure to predators. (b) Prey species can evolve visual predator recognition mechanisms and alter their mate choice only when a natural predator is present. (c) Finally, experiential effects can play an important role, and prey species may learn to evaluate the motivational state of their predators. Keywords: Sexual selection; female choice; non-independent mate choice; predator recognition; Poecilia mexican

Cellulose and callose synthesis and organization in focus, what's new?

Plant growth and development are supported by plastic but strong cell walls. These walls consist largely of polysaccharides that vary in content and structure. Most of the polysaccharides are produced in the Golgi apparatus and are then secreted to the apoplast and built into the growing walls. However, the two glucan polymers cellulose and callose are synthesized at the plasma membrane by cellulose or callose synthase complexes, respectively. Cellulose is the most common cell wall polymer in land plants and provides strength to the walls to support directed cell expansion. In contrast, callose is integral to specialized cell walls, such as the cell plate that separates dividing cells and growing pollen tube walls, and maintains important functions during abiotic and biotic stress responses. The last years have seen a dramatic increase in our understanding of how cellulose and callose are manufactured, and new factors that regulate the synthases have been identified. Much of this knowledge has been amassed via various microscopy-based techniques, including various confocal techniques and super-resolution imaging. Here, we summarize and synthesize recent findings in the fields of cellulose and callose synthesis in plant biology