Evaluation of current density on the surface of the left atrium during TAS

Conditions for the indirect transesophageal atrial stimulation (TAS), useful for cardiac diagnosis and treatment, are optimized both by way of clinical experiment and a computer modelling. The paper demonstrates the results of comparison of electric current density, obtained on the surface of the left atrium during computer modelling, with the results of our own experiments. An evaluation was made with the use of spiral CT scanning of the distance between the esophagus and the posterior wall of the left atrium. The average distance in the tested group of 27 subjects was 4.7 ±σ = 1.1 mm. During transesophageal stimulation, we have determined the average excitation threshold of the left atrium, obtaining the value 5.5 ±σ = 1.8 mA in the examined group of 27 patients. The calculated average current density on the surface of left atrium for the selective electrode with point poles used in the experiment amounted to 39.6 μA/mm2. Electric current densities obtained by other researchers by means of computer modelling for omnidirectional and selective ring electrodes turned out to be much lower after adjustment to similar conditions, which was the result of electrically active larger sizes surfaces of the poles of electrodes used in the modelling

Potential use of RAPD markers in characteristics of cucumber [Cucumis sativus L.] haploids and double-haploids

A study was designed to obtain hapolid and double haploid (DH) plants from cucumber cultivars tolerant to Pseudoperonospora cubensis. The main goal was to identify RAPD molecular markers associated with downy mildew resistance. On average, 20% of embryos generated in two experiments, were converted to haploid plants. RAPD markers that differentiated susceptible and resistant H and DH plants were identified. Somaclonal variation in DH lines was seldom detected

Birch pollen influence the severity of atopic eczema – prospective clinical cohort pilot study and ex vivo penetration study

Regina Fölster-Holst,1 Jagoda Galecka,1 Sigo Weißmantel,1 Ute Dickschat,2 Frank Rippke,3 Kerstin Bohnsack,3 Thomas Werfel,4 Katja Wichmann,4 Matthias Buchner,1 Thomas Schwarz,1 Annika Vogt,5 Jürgen Lademann,5 Martina C Meinke5 1Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergy, University of Kiel, 2Wörth, 3Beiersdorf AG, Hamburg, 4Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergy, Division of Immunodermatology and Allergy Research, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, 5Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany Abstract: There is little clinical evidence for a correlation between the severity of atopic eczema (AE) and pollen exposition. To obtain more data, we performed a clinical cohort pilot study about the influence of pollen on AE between sensitized and nonsensitized subjects and an experimental study addressing the cutaneous penetration of pollen into the skin. Fifty-five patients were monitored during birch pollen season. To study the cutaneous penetration, grass pollen allergens were applied on excised skin and the uptake in CD1c-expressing dendritic cells was investigated. The correlation between environmental pollen load and severity of the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) score and pruritus was observed, regardless of the status of sensitization. The sensitized group recovered significantly worse after the birch pollen season. Remarkably higher amounts of pollen allergens taken up by CD1c cells were detected in epidermal cells derived from skin explants with a disturbed epidermal barrier. These findings suggest an exacerbating role of pollen in AE utilizing the epidermal route. Keywords: aeroallergens, atopic eczema, seasonality, skin antigen-presenting cells, skin barrier penetratio