Assessment of Diagnostic Strategy for Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid

IMPORTANCE: An accurate diagnosis of mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) is essential to reduce diagnostic and therapeutic delay. OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of direct immunofluorescence microscopy on mucosal biopsy specimens and immunoserology in a large cohort of patients with suspected MMP. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This retrospective cohort study was carried out in a single tertiary care center for blistering diseases between January 2002 and March 2019. Eligible participants were patients with suspected MMP and paired data on at least a mucosal biopsy specimen for direct immunofluorescence microscopy (DIF) and indirect immunofluorescence microscopy (IIF) on a human salt-split skin substrate (SSS). In addition, an optional DIF test on a skin biopsy specimen and one or more performed routine immunoserologic tests were analyzed. Data analysis was conducted from April 2019, to June 2020. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Diagnostic accuracy of DIF, IIF SSS, and immunoblot for BP180 and BP230. RESULTS: Of the 787 participants, 121 (15.4%) received the diagnosis of MMP (50 men [41.3%], 71 women [58.7%]; mean [SD] age at diagnosis, 60.1 [17.7] years). Sixty-seven of the patients with MMP (55.4%) had monosite involvement, of which oral site was the most frequently affected (51 [42.1%]). No significant difference was found between the sensitivity of DIF on a perilesional buccal biopsy and a normal buccal biopsy (89.3% vs 76.7%). Three patients with solitary ocular involvement showed a positive DIF of only the oral mucosa. In 6 patients with a negative mucosal DIF, a skin biopsy confirmed diagnosis of MMP. Overall, IIF SSS was less sensitive (44.6%), but highly specific (98.9%). The sensitivity of immunoblot (66.1%) was higher compared to SSS, but with lower specificity (91.3%). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This comparative diagnostic accuracy study of a cohort of 787 patients found a high sensitivity of a mucosal DIF biopsy for diagnosis of MMP, and lower sensitivity of serologic analysis. A biopsy can be taken from either perilesional or normal buccal mucosa. An additional DIF biopsy of another mucosal site or of affected or unaffected skin may increase the diagnostic yield and is recommended in patients with negative DIF results and high clinical suspicion

Kooperative Innovationsprojekte als Grundlage für die Hochschulweiterbildung im Ingenieurbereich

Die Technische Universität Hamburg-Harburg (TUHH)zielt mit ihrem Weiterbildungsmodell auf die Eröffnungflexibler Lernwege für Berufstätige, die zwischen diesen,der Hochschule und dem beschäftigenden Unternehmen vereinbartwerden. Ausgangspunkt für die Weiterbildung sindInnovationsprojekte in Kooperation von Unternehmen undTUHH, in denen Berufstätige aus der Industrie mit einemTeil ihrer Arbeitszeit in einem geeigneten TUHH-Institutmitwirken. Dieser Beitrag gibt Einblick in die Konzeptiondieses Modells und stellt die damit verbundenen Herausforderungenzur Diskussion.Als zentrale Herausforderung bei der Konzeption universitärerWeiterbildung gilt die Berücksichtigung der Erwartungenunterschiedlicher Anspruchsgruppen (Wolter/Geffers 2013) –einerseits individuelle sowie institutionelle Nachfragende,andererseits die Hochschullehrenden. An den Bedürfnissenund Interessen dieser Gruppen sind Formate und Angeboteauszurichten, um nachhaltig zu sein (Wilkesmann 2007; RegiestelleWeiterbildung 2012). Kooperationen zwischen Unternehmenund Hochschule bilden daher die passende Grundlagefür die Entwicklung eines Weiterbildungsangebots, dasdauerhaft nachgefragt wird.Die Technische Universität Hamburg-Harburg (TUHH)zielt mit ihrem Weiterbildungsmodell auf die Eröffnung flexiblerLernwege für Berufstätige, die zwischen diesen, derHochschule und dem beschäftigenden Unternehmen vereinbartwerden. Dieser Beitrag gibt Einblick in die Konzeptiondieses Modells und stellt die damit verbundenen Herausforderungenzur Diskussion.Das Projekt „ContinuING@TUHH - ForschungsorientierteWeiterbildung an der TUHH“ wird seit 01.08.2014 mitMitteln des Bundesministeriums für Bildung und ForschungKooperative Innovationsprojekteals Grundlage für die Hochschulweiterbildungim IngenieurbereichCh ristine Ba uhoferCa ra H. Kah lHeiko SiebenSönke Knutzenim Rahmen des Bund-Länder-Wettbewerbs „Aufstieg durchBildung: Offene Hochschulen“ gefördert

Development and assessment of a digital X-ray software tool to determine vertebral rotation in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: The amount of vertebral rotation in the axial plane is of key importance in the prognosis and treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Current methods to determine vertebral rotation are either designed for use in analogue plain radiographs and not useful in digital images, or lack measurement precision and are therefore less suitable for the follow-up of rotation in AIS patients.PURPOSE: This study aimed to develop a digital X-ray software tool with high measurement precision to determine vertebral rotation in AIS, and to assess its (concurrent) validity and reliability.STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: In this study a combination of basic science and reliability methodology applied in both laboratory and clinical settings was used.METHODS: Software was developed using the algorithm of the Perdriolle torsion meter for analogue AP plain radiographs of the spine. Software was then assessed for (1) concurrent validity and (2) intra-and interobserver reliability. Plain radiographs of both human cadaver vertebrae and outpatient AIS patients were used. Concurrent validity was measured by two independent observers, both experienced in the assessment of plain radiographs. Reliability-measurements were performed by three independent spine surgeons.RESULTS: Pearson correlation of the software compared with the analogue Perdriolle torsion meter for mid-thoracic vertebrae was 0.98, for low-thoracic vertebrae 0.97 and for lumbar vertebrae 0.97. Measurement exactness of the software was within 5 degrees in 62% of cases and within 10 degrees in 97% of cases. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for inter-observer reliability was 0.92 (0.91-0.95), ICC for intra-observer reliability was 0.96 (0.94-0.97).CONCLUSIONS: We developed a digital X-ray software tool to determine vertebral rotation in AIS with a substantial concurrent validity and reliability, which may be useful for the follow-up of vertebral rotation in AIS patients. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</p

Characterization of Hantavirus N Protein Intracellular Dynamics and Localization

Hantaviruses are enveloped viruses that possess a tri-segmented, negative-sense RNA genome. The viral S-segment encodes the multifunctional nucleocapsid protein (N), which is involved in genome packaging, intracellular protein transport, immunoregulation, and several other crucial processes during hantavirus infection. In this study, we generated fluorescently tagged N protein constructs derived from Puumalavirus (PUUV), the dominant hantavirus species in Central, Northern, and Eastern Europe. We comprehensively characterized this protein in the rodent cell line CHO-K1, monitoring the dynamics of N protein complex formation and investigating co-localization with host proteins as well as the viral glycoproteins Gc and Gn. We observed formation of large, fibrillar PUUV N protein aggregates, rapidly coalescing from early punctate and spike-like assemblies. Moreover, we found significant spatial correlation of N with vimentin, actin, and P-bodies but not with microtubules. N constructs also co-localized with Gn and Gc albeit not as strongly as the glycoproteins associated with each other. Finally, we assessed oligomerization of N constructs, observing efficient and concentration-dependent multimerization, with complexes comprising more than 10 individual proteins

Активні штами ентомопатогенних бактерій Bacillus thuringiensis з комах природних популяцій

З комах природних популяцій півдня України виділено штами бактерій Bacillus thuringiensis, що діють ефективно проти листогризучих комах Lepidoptera і Diptera. Вивчені фізіолого-біохімічні властивості і спектр ентомопатогенної дії даних бактерій. Активність патогенів проти личинок колорадського жука (Leptinotarsa decemlineata, ряд Coleoptera), гусениць капустяної совки (Mamesta brassicae, ряд Lepidoptera) та американського білого метелика (Hyphantria cunea Dryri, ряд Lepidoptera) молодшого віку становить 74,7-100 %. Штами передано до колекції бактеріальних ентомопатогенів Інституту сільськогосподарської мікробіології УААН як перспективні для розробки біопрепаратів для захисту рослин від листогризучих шкідників.Из насекомых природных популяций юга Украины выделены штаммы бактерий Bacillus thuringiensis, эффективные против листогрызущих насекомых Lepidoptera и Diptera. Изучены физиолого-биохимические свойства и спектр энтомопатогенного действия данных бактерий. Активность патогенов против личинок колорадского жука (Leptinotarsa decemlineata, отр. Coleoptera), гусениц капустной совки (Mamesta brassicae, отр. Lepidoptera) и американской белой бабочки (Hyphantria cunea Dryri, отр. Lepidoptera) младшего возраста составляет 74,7-100 %. Штаммы переданы в коллекцию бактериальных энтомопатогенов Института сельскохозяйственной микробиологии УААН как перспективные для разработки биопрепаратов для защиты растений от листогрызущих насекомых.Strains of Bacillus thuringiensis effecient against leaf-chewing insects of Lepidoptera and Diptera genus have been isolated from insects of nature populations. Their physiological and biochemical properties and the spectrum of entomopathogenic action were studed. The activity of pathogens against the larva of potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlinaeta, order Coleoptera), caterpillars of cabbage moth (Mamesta brassicae, order Lepidoptera) and fall webworm moth (Hyphantria cunea Dryri, order Lepidoptera) of small age grade was around 74,7-100 %. These strains were added to bacterial entomopathogene collection of the Institute of agricultural microbiology of UAAS as perspective for elaboration of biopreparations for plants protection against leaf-chewing insects

Relevance of Host Cell Surface Glycan Structure for Cell Specificity of Influenza A Viruses

first_page settings Order Article Reprints Open AccessHypothesis Relevance of Host Cell Surface Glycan Structure for Cell Specificity of Influenza A Viruses by Markus Kastner 1,†,‡, Andreas Karner 1,†,§ [ORCID] , Rong Zhu 1,† [ORCID] , Qiang Huang 2 [ORCID] , Andreas Geissner 3,4,‖, Anne Sadewasser 5,¶, Markus Lesch 6, Xenia Wörmann 6, Alexander Karlas 6,**, Peter H. Seeberger 3,4 [ORCID] , Thorsten Wolff 5 [ORCID] , Peter Hinterdorfer 1 [ORCID] , Andreas Herrmann 7 and Christian Sieben 8,9,* [ORCID] 1 Institute for Biophysics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, 4020 Linz, Austria 2 State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Industrial Microorganisms, MOE Engineering Research Center of Gene Technology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China 3 Department for Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces, 14476 Potsdam, Germany 4 Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany 5 Division of Influenza and other Respiratory Viruses, Robert Koch-Institute, 13353 Berlin, Germany 6 Molecular Biology Department, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, 10117 Berlin, Germany 7 Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Freie Universität Berlin, Altensteinstraße 23a, 14195 Berlin, Germany 8 Nanoscale Infection Biology Group, Department of Cell Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany 9 Institute for Genetics, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. † These authors contributed equally to this work. ‡ Current address: Materials Characterization Lab (MCL), Materials Research Institute (MRI), Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. § Current address: University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, School of Medical Engineering and Applied Social Sciences, Garnisonstr. 21, 4020 Linz, Austria. ‖ Current address: Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, 2036 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada. ¶ Current address: Secarna Pharmaceuticals GmbH & Co. KG, Am Klopferspitz 19, 82152 Planegg, Germany. ** Current address: Viral Vectors and Gene Therapeutics, ProBioGen AG, 13086 Berlin, Germany. Viruses 2023, 15(7), 1507; https://doi.org/10.3390/v15071507 Received: 9 May 2023 / Revised: 21 June 2023 / Accepted: 28 June 2023 / Published: 5 July 2023 (This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Virology - Viruses at Multiple Levels of Complexity) Download Browse Figures Review Reports Versions Notes Abstract Influenza A viruses (IAVs) initiate infection via binding of the viral hemagglutinin (HA) to sialylated glycans on host cells. HA’s receptor specificity towards individual glycans is well studied and clearly critical for virus infection, but the contribution of the highly heterogeneous and complex glycocalyx to virus–cell adhesion remains elusive. Here, we use two complementary methods, glycan arrays and single-virus force spectroscopy (SVFS), to compare influenza virus receptor specificity with virus binding to live cells. Unexpectedly, we found that HA’s receptor binding preference does not necessarily reflect virus–cell specificity. We propose SVFS as a tool to elucidate the cell binding preference of IAVs, thereby including the complex environment of sialylated receptors within the plasma membrane of living cells