Angiotensin II type 1 receptor antibodies in childhood kidney transplantation

Angiotensin II type 1 receptor antibodies (AT1 RAb) have emerged as non-HLA Ab present in patients with acute AMR and risk of graft loss. Furthermore, AT1 RAb have been shown to increase angiotensin II sensitivity which may play a role in the development of CVD and hypertension. Data on AT1 RAb in stable transplant recipients are lacking. The aim of this study was to analyze the levels of AT1 RAb in a cohort of stable patients after kidney transplantation (tx) in childhood. A cross-sectional study of 30 children (median age 14, range 3-19 yr, median time since tx five yr) and 28 adults who were transplanted in childhood (median age 26, range 20-40 yr, median time since tx 18 yr) transplanted between 1993-2006 and 1983-2002, respectively, was performed. Healthy controls were 51 healthy children (5-8 yr) and 199 healthy donors (median age 56.5 yr, range 42-83 yr). Plasma AT1 RAb were analyzed by immunoassay. Median total AT1 RAb IgG concentration was significantly higher in the pediatric-tx group as compared to the adult-tx group (40.0 and 10.95 U/mL, p < 0.0001). For both groups, the tx group showed higher levels: the pediatric-tx group vs. control group (40.0 vs. 13.3 U/mL, p = 0.0006) and the adult-tx group vs. adult control group (10.95 vs. 6.5 U/mL, p < 0.0001). Age was the strongest indicator of high levels of AT1 RAb IgG (p = 0.0003). AT1 RAb total IgG levels are significantly higher in a stable pediatric-tx cohort as compared to adult-tx patients and healthy controls of comparable age groups. The relevance of our findings in relation to age, time since tx, previous or future rejection, and CVD risk merits future studies

Beaver Research in the Uvs Nuur Region

In 1985, 1988, and 2002 Castor fiber birulai was introduced to the Tes Gol of the Uvs Nuur basin in North-western Mongolia. The beavers migrated through the Republic of Tyva and settled in the middle part of Tes Gol near the Tyvinian-Mongolian border. About 10 colonies were recorded in this region in 2002. Strict protection of Castor fiber birulai has to be ensured in Mongolia and the Republic of Tyva in future

Postoperative Immune Suppression in Visceral Surgery: Characterisation of an Intestinal Mouse Model

Background: Postoperatively acquired immune dysfunction is associated with a higher mortality rate in case of septic complications. As details of this severe clinical problem are still unknown, animal models are essential to characterise the mechanisms involved. Methods: Mice were laparotomised and the small intestine was pressed smoothly in antegrade direction. For extension of trauma, the intestine was manipulated three times consecutively. Following this, the ex vivo cytokine release of splenocytes was determined. The degree of surgical trauma was analysed by detection of HMGB1 and IL-6 in serum and by neutrophil staining in the muscularis mucosae. Results: We adapted the previously described animal model of intestinal manipulation to provide a model of surgically induced immune dysfunction. Following intestinal manipulation, the mice showed elevated serum levels of HMGB1 and IL-6 and increased infiltration of granulocytes into the muscularis mucosae. Ex vivo cytokine release by splenocytes was suppressed in the postoperative period. The degree of suppression correlated with the extent of surgical trauma. Conclusions: In this study, we describe a surgically induced immune dysfunction animal model, in which a significant surgical trauma is followed by an immune dysfunction. This model may be ideal for the characterisation of the postoperative immune dysfunction syndrome

Cold atmospheric pressure plasma for treatment of chronic wounds: drug or medical device?

Objective: The use of cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAPP) as a new therapeutic option to aid the healing of chronic wounds appears promising. Currently, uncertainty exists regarding their classification as medical device or medical drug. Because the classification of CAPP has medical, legal, and economic consequences as well as implications for the level of preclinical and clinical testing, the correct classification is not an academic exercise, but an ethical need. Method: A multidisciplinary team of physicians, surgeons, pharmacists, physicists and lawyers has analysed the physical and technical characteristics as well as legal conditions of the biological action of CAPP. Results: It was concluded that the mode of action of the locally generated CAPP, with its main active components being different radicals, is pharmacological and not physical in nature. Conclusion: Depending on the intended use, CAPP should be classified as a drug, which is generated by use of a medical device directly at the point of therapeutic application

A retrospective of the GREGOR solar telescope in scientific literature

In this review, we look back upon the literature, which had the GREGOR solar telescope project as its subject including science cases, telescope subsystems, and post-focus instruments. The articles date back to the year 2000, when the initial concepts for a new solar telescope on Tenerife were first presented at scientific meetings. This comprehensive bibliography contains literature until the year 2012, i.e., the final stages of commissioning and science verification. Taking stock of the various publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings also provides the "historical" context for the reference articles in this special issue of Astronomische Nachrichten/Astronomical Notes.Comment: 6 pages, 2 color figures, this is the pre-peer reviewed version of Denker et al. 2012, Astron. Nachr. 333, 81

Surgical Trauma and Postoperative Immune Dysfunction

Background: In postoperative sepsis, mortality is increased due to the surgically induced immune dysfunction. Further causes of this traumatic effect on the immune system include burn injuries and polytrauma, as well as endogenous traumata like stroke. Several animal models have been defined to analyse the characteristics of trauma-induced immune suppression. This article will correlate our results from animal studies and clinical observations with the recent literature on postoperative immune suppression. Methods: The previously described model of surgically induced immune dysfunction (SID) was performed in mice by laparotomy and manipulation of the small intestine in the antegrade direction. Blood samples were collected 6 and 72 h following SID to analyse the white blood cell count and corticosterone levels. To assess the postoperative immune status in humans, we analysed expression of HLA-DR on monocytes of 118 patients by flow cytometry prior to and 24, 48 and 72 h after surgery. Results: The postoperative immune suppression in our SID model is characterised by lymphocytopenia and significantly increased corticosterone levels in mice dependent on the degree of surgical trauma. This is comparable to the postoperative situation in humans: major and especially long-lasting surgery results in a significantly reduced expression of HLA-DR on circulating monocytes. Previous studies describe a similar situation following burn injury and endogenous trauma, i.e. stroke. Conclusions: We suggest the completion of our previously published sepsis classification due to the immune status at the onset of sepsis: type A as the spontaneously acquired sepsis and type B as sepsis in trauma-induced pre-existing immune suppression

A large-scale experiment to evaluate control of invasive muskrats

The muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) is an invasive species in Europe. The extensive waterways of the Netherlands provide ideal habitat for muskrats, and a large population established itself after arrival in 1941. A control program was put into effect immediately because muskrat burrowing can compromise the integrity of dikes and, hence, poses a significant public safety risk. The current (2015) annual catch of approximately 89,000 individuals is equivalent to approximately 0.30 muskrats/km of waterway, well above the national objective in spite of decades of effort. The control program is expensive (€35 M annually) and contested by animal rights groups. These factors created the need for a careful evaluation of the full range of control possibilities, from ‘no control’ to ‘extermination.’ As part of this, we experimentally evaluated the validity of a previously published correlation (based on historical data) between catch and effort. We raised or lowered removal effort (2013–2016) in a stratified random sample of 117 5-km × 5-km ‘atlas squares’ from the national grid. We found that catch-per-unit effort (CPUE) decreased after effort was increased, and rose after effort was decreased, by amounts slightly greater than expected based on the correlational data, though confidence intervals enclose zero. As anticipated, CPUE varied consistently and strongly between seasons. The biggest (and unanticipated) effects were those of the catch in the preceding 3 years (‘history’), and surrounding area (‘neighborhood’). Our experiment confirms estimates of intensity of control required to lower muskrat populations. These results will help with more effective allocation of control effort, and better-informed evaluation of the economic costs of various control options

Compensatory upregulation of anti-beta-adrenergic receptor antibody levels might prevent heart failure presentation in pediatric myocarditis

BACKGROUND: Myocarditis can be associated with severe heart failure and is caused by different inflammatory and autoimmune responses. The aim of this study was to describe the immunological response in children with myocarditis by analyzing anti-beta-adrenergic receptor antibodies (anti-β-AR Abs). METHODS: Sera of children who were hospitalized with biopsy-proven myocarditis were prospectively collected between April 2017 and March 2019. Anti-β1-AR Ab, anti-β2-AR Ab, and anti-β3-AR Ab were quantified by a CE-certified ELISA kit. According to normal values for immunoglobulin G (IgG), three age groups, 5–17 years, were defined. Children without inflammatory cardiac pathology and no heart failure signs were served as a control group. RESULTS: We compared 22 patients with biopsy-proven myocarditis and 28 controls. The median age (interquartile range) of the myocarditis group (MYC) was 12.1 (2.7–16.4) years, 13 men, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 51% and for control group, the median age was 5.0 (3.0–6.8) years, nine men, LVEF 64%. Myocarditis patients in the age group >5–17 years showed significantly higher anti-β3-AR Ab levels as compared to controls (p = 0.014). Lower anti-β2-AR Ab and anti-β3-AR Ab levels were significantly correlated with higher left ventricular diameters in myocarditis patients. The event-free survival using a combined endpoint (mechanical circulatory support [MCS], transplantation, and/or death) was significantly lower in myocarditis patients with antibody levels below the median as compared to myocarditis patients with antibody levels ≥ the median. CONCLUSION: Anti-β-AR Ab levels are increased in children with myocarditis and >5 years of age. These antibodies might be upregulated compensatory to prevent further cardiac deterioration. A worse event-free survival in patients with lower anti-β-AR Ab levels might be a therapeutic target for immunoglobulin substitution

The Wave-Front Correction System for the Sunrise Balloon-Borne Solar Observatory

This paper describes the wave-front correction system developed for the Sunrise balloon telescope, and it provides information about its in-flight performance. For the correction of low-order aberrations, a Correlating Wave-Front Sensor (CWS) was used. It consisted of a six-element Shack - Hartmann wave-front sensor (WFS), a fast tip-tilt mirror for the compensation of image motion, and an active telescope secondary mirror for focus correction. The CWS delivered a stabilized image with a precision of 0.04 arcsec (rms), whenever the coarse pointing was better than ± 45 arcsec peak-to-peak. The automatic focus adjustment maintained a focus stability of 0.01 waves in the focal plane of the CWS. During the 5.5 day flight, good image quality and stability were achieved during 33 hours, containing 45 sequences, which lasted between 10 and 45 min. © 2010 The Author(s)