Laminin Adsorption and Adhesion of Neurons and Glial Cells on Carbon Implanted Titania Nanotube Scaffolds for Neural Implant Applications

Interfacing neurons persistently to conductive matter constitutes one of the key challenges when designing brain-machine interfaces such as neuroelectrodes or retinal implants. Novel materials approaches that prevent occurrence of loss of long-term adhesion, rejection reactions, and glial scarring are highly desirable. Ion doped titania nanotube scaffolds are a promising material to fulfill all these requirements while revealing sufficient electrical conductivity, and are scrutinized in the present study regarding their neuron–material interface. Adsorption of laminin, an essential extracellular matrix protein of the brain, is comprehensively analyzed. The implantation-dependent decline in laminin adsorption is revealed by employing surface characteristics such as nanotube diameter, (Formula presented.) -potential, and surface free energy. Moreover, the viability of U87-MG glial cells and SH-SY5Y neurons after one and four days are investigated, as well as the material’s cytotoxicity. The higher conductivity related to carbon implantation does not affect the viability of neurons, although it impedes glial cell proliferation. This gives rise to novel titania nanotube based implant materials with long-term stability, and could reduce undesirable glial scarring

Problematik der Ergebnisdarstellung bei totalem Hüftersatz : Umfassendere Bewertung durch eine Kombination des Harris-Hip-Scores mit Fragen zur Lebensqualität

Zwischen Februar 2002 und August 2003 haben wir in der Klinik und Poliklinik der Unfallchirurgie der Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelms Universität Bonn 34 „unique“ SCP Individualprothesen implantiert - sieben davon bei männlichen Patienten und 27 bei weiblichen Patientinnen. Das Durchschnittsalter betrug 47 Jahre. Drei der Patienten litten unter einer dysplatischen Coxarthrose. 16 Patienten hatten eine dysplastische Coxarthrose mit vorausgegangener Umstellungsosteotomie. Bei acht Patienten lag eine ideopatische Coxarthrose vor. Sieben Patienten litten zum Zeitpunkt der Operation unter eine r posttraumatische Coxarthrose. Ziel dieser Studie war es, die Zuverlässigkeit dieser neuen Prothese zu untersuchen und einen Score zu finden, der eine Ergebnisdarstellung liefert, welche das Ergebnis aus Sicht des Arztes und des Patienten wiedergibt. Dabei haben wir auch untersucht, inwieweit diese Prothese in der Minimal Invasiven Technik implantierbar ist. Wir haben prospektiv die Patienten klinisch, radiologisch und mit Hilfe des Harris- Hip-Scores, des Scores nach Merle d’Aubigé und Postel und des Quality of Life Score SF-36 präoperativ und postoperativ untersucht. In allen Scores wurden postoperativ überwiegend gute und sehr gute Ergebnisse erzielt. Der Harris-Hip-Score ergab zum Zeitpunkt der Nachuntersuchung durchschnittlich 88 Punkte, der Score nach Merle d’Aubigné und Postel durchschnittlich 16. Die durchschnittliche Narbenlänge lag bei 13 cm. Bei 13 Patienten konnte die Prothese durch einen Hautschnitt Wir haben ein Erweiterungsmodul zum Harris-Hip-Score entworfen, das den Erfolg der Operation aus Sicht des Patienten wiedergibt. Das Erweiterungsmodul besteht aus sieben Fragen, deren Ergebnis mit dem des Harris-Hip-Scores zu einem endültigen Ergebnis addiert wird. Bei diesem Gesamtergebnis haben sich im Vergleich zum Harris-Hip-Score vier Patienten (12%) um eine Kategorie verbessert oder verschlechtert. Es zeigt sich, dass die Prothese auch bei schwierigen anatomischen Verhältnissen gute Ergebnisse bringt. Außerdem ist sie bei geeigneten Patienten in der Minimal Invasiven Technik implantierbar. Die Ergebnisdarstellung beim Totalen Hüftersatz mittels des Harris-Hip-Scores ist in Kombination mit unserem Erweiterungsmodul aussagekräftiger geworden. Wir haben so einen kurzen, einfachen und standardisierten Score entworfen, welcher spezifische Fragen und Fragen zur Lebensqualität einschließt

"Jane sent me this article, so it must be true!" - How tie strength and emotional tone influence information behavior

Fake news are a threat of the information age, yet many factors that determine their spread, such as emotional tone and tie strength, remain under-researched. Responding to calls for research, we developed an experimental study that explains the impact of emotional tone and tie strength in the context of instant messaging. We hypothesize effects on the willingness to fact-check and intention to share, mediated by sender credibility and news believability. Our results will contribute to the academic literature on various levels: we consider the emotional and relational dimensions of fake news sharing. Furthermore, we provide a multidimensional understanding of the emotionality of strong-tie contacts sharing fake news in a seemingly private and safe environment. For policymakers, we provide insights that help detect fake news, and we provide individuals with persuasion knowledge to self-protect against fake news

Optimized fluorescent proteins for the rhizosphere-associated bacterium <i>Bacillus mycoides</i> with endophytic and biocontrol agent potential

Tracking of fluorescent protein (FP)-labelled rhizobacteria is a key prerequisite to gain insights into plant-bacteria interaction mechanisms. However, the performance of FPs mostly has to be optimized for the bacterial host and for the environment of intended application. We report on the construction of mutational libraries of the superfolder green fluorescent protein sfGFP and the red fluorescent protein mKate2 in the bacterium B. mycoides, which next to its potential as plant-biocontrol agent occasionally enters an endophytic lifestyle. By fluorescence-activated cell sorting and comparison of signal intensities at the colony and single-cell level, the variants sfGFP(SPS6) and mKate (KPS12) with significantly increased brightness were isolated. Their high applicability for plant-bacteria interaction studies was shown by confocal laser scanning microscopy tracking of FP-tagged B. mycoides strains after inoculation to Chinese cabbage plants in a hydroponic system. During the process of colonization, strain EC18 rapidly attached to plant roots and formed a multicellular matrix, especially at the branching regions of the root hair, which probably constitute entrance sites to establish an endophytic lifestyle. The universal applicability of the novels FPs was proven by expression from a weak promoter, dual-labelling of B. mycoides, and by excellent expression and detectability in additional soil- and rhizosphere-associated Bacillus species

Matching-adjusted indirect comparison of bleeding outcomes in severe haemophilia A: Comparing valoctocogene roxaparvovec gene therapy, emicizumab prophylaxis, and FVIII replacement prophylaxis

INTRODUCTION: Head-to-head evaluation of valoctocogene roxaparvovec, the first gene therapy approved for haemophilia A, with emicizumab is not available. Therefore, phase 3 trial data were indirectly compared. AIM: To compare bleeding rates in trials evaluating 6 × 1013  vg/kg valoctocogene roxaparvovec (GENEr8-1; NCT03370913), 1.5 mg/kg emicizumab dosed every week (HAVEN 3; NCT02847637), and FVIII prophylaxis (270-902) in participants with severe haemophilia A (FVIII ≤1 IU/dL). METHODS: Valoctocogene roxaparvovec versus emicizumab and FVIII prophylaxis as used in 270-902 versus emicizumab cross-trial comparisons were performed using matching-adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC). Individual participant data from GENEr8-1 and 270-902 were weighted to equalise aggregate participant baseline characteristics from HAVEN 3. After MAIC weighting, annualised bleeding rates (ABR) and proportions of participants without bleeds were compared for treated bleeds, all bleeds, treated joint bleeds, and treated spontaneous bleeds. RESULTS: After MAIC weighting, ABR for all bleeds was statistically significantly lower with valoctocogene roxaparvovec than emicizumab (rate ratio [95% CI], .55 [.33-.93]). Additionally, significantly higher proportions of participants had no treated joint bleeds (odds ratio [95% CI], 2.75 [1.20-6.31]) and no treated bleeds (3.25 [1.53-6.90]) with valoctocogene roxaparvovec versus emicizumab. When compared with the mainly standard half-life FVIII prophylaxis regimens in 270-902, mean ABRs (except for all bleeds) were significantly lower, and significantly higher proportions reported 0 bleeds for all outcomes with emicizumab. CONCLUSION: Valoctocogene roxaparvovec provided generally lower bleeding rates and higher probability of no bleeds, including treated joint bleeds, than emicizumab. Emicizumab was more effective than FVIII prophylaxis regimens used in 270-902