Evolutionary divergence of the plant elicitor peptides (Peps) and their receptors: interfamily incompatibility of perception but compatibility of downstream signalling

Plant elicitor peptides (Peps) co-evolved with their receptors, resulting in interfamily incompatibility of Pep recognition. In contrast, operation of defence pathways by Pep receptors is conserved within the flowering plant

Design of the Magnet System of the Neutron Decay Facility PERC

The PERC (Proton and Electron Radiation Channel) facility is currently under construction at the research reactor FRM II, Garching. It will serve as an intense and clean source of electrons and protons from neutron beta decay for precision studies. It aims to contribute to the determination of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa quark-mixing element $V_{ud}$ from neutron decay data and to search for new physics via new effective couplings. PERC's central component is a 12m long superconducting magnet system. It hosts an 8m long decay region in a uniform field. An additional high-field region selects the phase space of electrons and protons which can reach the detectors and largely improves systematic uncertainties. We discuss the design of the magnet system and the resulting properties of the magnetic field.Comment: Proceedings of the International Workshop on Particle Physics at Neutron Sources PPNS 2018, Grenoble, France, May 24-26, 201

Impact of Dual-Energy Computed Tomography (DECT) Postprocessing Protocols on Detection of Monosodium Urate (MSU) Deposits in Foot Tendons of Cadavers

Objective: To evaluate two different dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) post-processing protocols for the detection of MSU deposits in foot tendons of cadavers with verification by polarizing light microscopy as the gold standard. Material and Methods: A total of 40 embalmed cadavers (15 male; 25 female; median age, 82 years; mean, 80 years; range, 52–99; SD ± 10.9) underwent DECT to assess MSU deposits in foot tendons. Two postprocessing DECT protocols with different Hounsfield unit (HU) thresholds, 150/500 (=established) versus 120/500 (=modified). HU were applied to dual source acquisition with 80 kV for tube A and 140 kV for tube B. Six fresh cadavers (4 male; 2 female; median age, 78; mean, 78.5; range 61–95) were examined by DECT. Tendon dissection of 2/6 fresh cadavers with positive DECT 120 and negative DECT 150 studies were used to verify MSU deposits by polarizing light microscopy. Results: The tibialis anterior tendon was found positive in 57.5%/100% (DECT 150/120), the peroneus tendon in 35%/100%, the achilles tendon in 25%/90%, the flexor halluces longus tendon in 10%/100%, and the tibialis posterior tendon in 12.5%/97.5%. DECT 120 resulted in increased tendon MSU deposit detection, when DECT 150 was negative, with an overall agreement between DECT 150 and DECT 120 of 80% (p = 0.013). Polarizing light microscope confirmed MSU deposits detected only by DECT 120 in the tibialis anterior, the achilles, the flexor halluces longus, and the peroneal tendons. Conclusion: The DECT 120 protocol showed a higher sensitivity when compared to DECT 150

The EFSUMB Guidelines and Recommendations for the Clinical Practice of Elastography in Non-Hepatic Applications : Update 2018

Funding Information: Odd Helge Gilja: Advisory Board/Consultant fee from: AbbVie, Bracco, GE Healthcare, Samsung, and Takeda Paul S. Sidhu: Speaker honoraria, Bracco, Siemens, Samsung, Hiatchi, GE and Philips Christoph F. Dietrich: Speaker honoraria, Bracco, Hitachi, GE, Mindray, Supersonic, Pentax, Olympus, Fuji, Boston Scientific, AbbVie, Falk Foundation, Novartis, Roche; Advisory, Board Member, Hitachi, Mindray, Siemens; Research grant, GE, Mindray, SuperSonic Vito Cantisani: Speaker honoraria, Canon/Toshiba, Bracco, Samsung Dominique Amy: Speaker honoraria, Hitachi, Supersonic, EpiSonica Marco Brock: Speaker honoraria, Hitachi Fabrizio Calliada: Speaker honoraria, Bracco, Hitachi, Shenshen Mindray Dirk Andre Clevert: Speaker honoraria, Siemens, Samsung, GE, Bracco, Philips; Advisory Board, Siemens, Samsung, Bracco, Philips Jean-Michel Correas: Speaker honoraria, Hitachi-Aloka, Canon/Toshiba, Philips, Supersonic, Bracco, Guerbet; Research collaboration, Bracco Sonocap, Guerbet NsSafe and Secure protocols Mirko D’Onofrio: Speaker honoraria, Siemens, Bracco, Hitachi; Advisory Board Siemens, Bracco Andre Farrokh: Speaker honoraria, Hitachi Pietro Fusaroli: Speaker honoraria, Olympus Roald Flesland Havre: Speaker honoraria, GE Healthcare, Conference participation support from Pharmacosmos, Ultrasound equipment from Samsung Medison André Ignee: Speaker honoraria: Siemens, Canon/Toshiba, Hitachi, Boston Scientific, Bracco, Supersonic, Abbvie Christian Jenssen: Speaker honoraria, Bracco, Hitachi, Canon/Toshiba, Falk Foundation, Covidien; Research grant, Novartis Maija Radzina: Speaker honoraria, Bracco, Canon/Toshiba Luca Sconfienza: Travel grants from Bracco Imaging Italia Srl, Esaote SPA, Abiogen SPA, Fidia Middle East. Speaker honoraria from Fidia Middle East Ioan Sporea: Speaker honoraria, Philips, GE, Canon/Toshiba; Advisory Board Member, Siemens; Congress participation support, Siemens Mickael Tanter: Speaker honoraria, Supersonic; Co Founder and shareholder, Supersonic; Research collaboration, Supersonic Peter Vilmann: Speaker honoraria, Pentax, Norgine; Advisory Board, Boston Scientific; Consultancy MediGlobe The following members declared no conflicts of interest: Adrian Săftoiu, Michael Bachmann Nielsen, Flaviu Bob, Jörg Bojunga, Caroline Ewertsen, Michael Hocke, Andrea Klauser, Christian Kollmann, Kumar V Ramnarine, Carolina Solomon, Daniela Fodor, Horia Ștefănescu Publisher Copyright: © 2019 Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart New York.This manuscript describes the use of ultrasound elastography, with the exception of liver applications, and represents an update of the 2013 EFSUMB (European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology) Guidelines and Recommendations on the clinical use of elastography.Peer reviewe

Intraobserver Assessment of Shear Wave Elastography in Tensor Fasciae Latae and Gluteus Maximus Muscle: The Importance of the Hip Abductor Muscles in Runners Knee Compared to Healthy Controls

Background: Iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS) represents one of the most common running related injuries. The pathophysiology is postulated to be caused by excessive ITB tension, impingement and irritation of soft tissues at the lateral femoral epicondyle. However, direct evidence has yet to be found and the multifactorial etiology is under discussion. The purpose was to evaluate stiffness of ITB, gluteus maximus (GM) and tensor fasciae latae (TFL) muscles using shear wave elastography (SWE). Methods: In 14 patients with clinically verified ITBS and 14 healthy controls, three SWE measurements each of ITB, GM and TFL in both legs was performed to determine measurement reliability and between-group and -leg differences. Results: The mean value of ITB was 12.8 m/s with ICC of 0.76, whereas the values measured in the GM were 3.02 m/s with an ICC of 0.87. No statistically significant difference in controls compared to patients were found (p = 0.62). The mean value of TFL was 5.42 m/s in healthy participants, compared to 3.89 m/s patients with an ICC of 0.98 (p = 0.002). Conclusion: Although SWE showed no difference in ITB stiffness, significant differences for TFL muscle stiffness in runner’s knee was found, suggesting that the hip abductor muscles might play a bigger role in the pathophysiology of ITBS. We aimed to implement baseline values for stiffness assessments and prove reliability for further prospective studies of SWE in runner’s knee

Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound for Musculoskeletal Applications: A World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology Position Paper

This World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology position paper reviews the diagnostic potential of ultrasound contrast agents for clinical decision-making and provides general advice for optimal contrast-enhanced ultrasound performance in musculoskeletal issues. In this domain, contrast-enhanced ultrasound performance has increasingly been investigated with promising results, but still lacks everyday clinical application and standardized techniques; therefore, experts summarized current knowledge according to published evidence and best personal experience. The goal was to intensify and standardize the use and administration of ultrasound contrast agents to facilitate correct diagnoses and ultimately to improve the management and outcomes of patients. (E-mail addresses: [email protected], [email protected]) (C) 2020 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology. All rights reserved

Evolutionary divergence of the plant elicitor peptides (Peps) and their receptors : interfamily incompatibility of perception but compatibility of downstream signalling

Plant elicitor peptides (Peps) are potent inducers of pattern-triggered immunity and amplify the immune response against diverse pathogens. Peps have been discovered and studied extensively in Arabidopsis and only recently orthologs in maize were also identified and characterized in more detail. Here, the presence of PROPEPs, the Pep precursors, and PEPRs, the Pep receptors, was investigated within the plant kingdom. PROPEPs and PEPRs were identified in most sequenced species of the angiosperms. The conservation and compatibility of the Pep-PEPR-system was analysed by using plants of two distantly related dicot families, Brassicaceae and Solanaceae, and a representative family of monocot plants, the Poaceae. All three plant families contain important crop plants, including maize, rice, tomato, potato, and canola. Peps were not recognized by species outside of their plant family of origin, apparently because of a divergence of the Pep sequences. Three family-specific Pep motifs were defined and the integration of such a motif into the Pep sequence of an unrelated Pep enabled its perception. Transient transformation of Nicotiana benthamiana with the coding sequences of the AtPEPR1 and ZmPEPR1a led to the recognition of Pep peptides of Brassicaceae or Poaceae origin, respectively, and to the proper activation of downstream signalling. It was concluded that signalling machinery downstream of the PEPRs is highly conserved whereas the leucine-rich repeat domains of the PEPRs co-evolved with the Peps, leading to distinct motifs and, with it, interfamily incompatibility

Prevalence of Monosodium Urate (MSU) Deposits in Cadavers Detected by Dual-Energy Computed Tomography (DECT)

Background: Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) allows direct visualization of monosodium urate (MSU) deposits in joints and soft tissues. Purpose: To describe the distribution of MSU deposits in cadavers using DECT in the head, body trunk, and feet. Materials and Methods: A total of 49 cadavers (41 embalmed and 8 fresh cadavers; 20 male, 29 female; mean age, 79.5 years; SD ± 11.3; range 52–95) of unknown clinical history underwent DECT to assess MSU deposits in the head, body trunk, and feet. Lens, thoracic aorta, and foot tendon dissections of fresh cadavers were used to verify MSU deposits by polarizing light microscopy. Results: 33/41 embalmed cadavers (80.5%) showed MSU deposits within the thoracic aorta. 11/41 cadavers (26.8%) showed MSU deposits within the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints and 46.3% of cadavers demonstrated MSU deposits within foot tendons, larger than and equal to 5 mm. No MSU deposits were detected in the cranium/intracerebral vessels, or the coronary arteries. Microscopy used as a gold standard could verify the presence of MSU deposits within the lens, thoracic aorta, or foot tendons in eight fresh cadavers. Conclusions: Microscopy confirmed the presence of MSU deposits in fresh cadavers within the lens, thoracic aorta, and foot tendons, whereas no MSU deposits could be detected in cranium/intracerebral vessels or coronary arteries. DECT may offer great potential as a screening tool to detect MSU deposits and measure the total uric acid burden in the body. The clinical impact of this cadaver study in terms of assessment of MSU burden should be further proven