Aspects of the gaming industry in particular view of pathological gambling and the protection of players in Austria

Die Abschaffung des „kleinen Glückspiels“ in der Wiener Bundeshauptstadt zur Bekämpfung der damit verbundenen negativen Aspekte wie beispielsweise die Spielabhängigkeit und deren Folgen für den Spieler,aber auch für die Familien-angehörigen, gibt Anlass für die vorliegende Arbeit. Die Spielabhängigkeit in Österreich, die gesetzlichen Schutzmaßnahmen und ausgewählte Beispiele von der Industrie erbrachten Gegenmaßnahmen sollen in dieser Arbeit erörtert und auf deren Wirksamkeit untersucht werden

Cloning of MMP-26. A novel matrilysin-like proteinase.

A cDNA encoding a novel human matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), named MMP-26, was cloned from fetal cDNA. The deduced 261-amino-acid sequence is homologous to macrophage metalloelastase (51.8% identity). It includes only the minimal characteristic features of the MMP family: a signal peptide, a prodomain and a catalytic domain. As with MMP-7, this new MMP does not comprise the hemopexin domain, which is believed to be involved in substrate recognition. A study of MMP-26 mRNA steady states levels reveals, among the tissue examined, a specific expression in placenta. MMP-26 mRNA could also be detected in several human cell lines such as HEK 293 kidney cells and HFB1 lymphoma cells. Recombinant MMP-26 was produced in mammalian cells and used to demonstrate a proteolytic activity of the enzyme on gelatin and beta-casein

Expression of recombinant proteins in a lipid A mutant of Escherichia coli BL21 with a strongly reduced capacity to induce dendritic cell activation and maturation

Mutations in the Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Salmonella lpxM gene have been shown to result in strains which grow normally and which produce a non-myristoylated lipopolysaccharide (nmLPS) with strongly reduced endotoxicity. Using homologous recombination, we inactivated the lpxM gene in BL21 (DE3), a strain widely used for the production of recombinant proteins. This led to a derivative unaffected in its capacity to support the production of recombinant proteins. This new strain expresses non-myristoylated LPS that induces markedly less activation and maturation of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DC), as assessed by nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB), production of TNF-alpha and IL-8 or expression of CD86. Activation of the main signal transducing receptor for extracellular LPS, Toll like receptor (TLR) 4 in conjunction with the soluble accessory protein MD-2 was also markedly decreased.The modified BL21 strain represents a new application of lpxM inactivation for the expression of proteins to be tested on dendritic cells or other LPS sensitive cells/receptor complexes. It is likely to be useful for the identification of new proteins activating the innate immune response and to reducing the risk linked with low level of endotoxin contamination in therapeutic recombinant proteins

Matrix metalloproteinase family as molecular biomarkers in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common head and neck malignancies. Affected by the nonspecific symptoms, the OSCC patients are usually diagnosed in the advanced stages. To improve the treatment outcome and survival of OSCC, identification of the reliable biomarkers for early detection and prognosis prediction is necessary. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) function in degradation of ECM, generation of active peptides, and activation of specific growth factors, resulting in forming an environment promoting tumor progression, invasion, and metastasis. MMPs can be applied as potential cancer biomarkers for early detection, risk assessment, prognostic analysis, and evaluation of response to treatment in OSCC. Moreover, the detection of MMPs in blood and saliva is a feasible mean to monitor OSCC in a noninvasive manner. Among all of the MMPs, MMP-9 probably appears to be the most promising biomarker with most of the documented cases. However, an updated meta-analysis is needed to confirm the advantages of MMP-9 over other MMPs in monitoring OSCC. Furthermore, an observation that MMP-11 in combination with Ets-1 or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) leads to more accurate prediction in comparison with MMP-11 alone warrants further studies on the use of combined biomarkers in OSCC management.link_to_subscribed_fulltex