Morphogrammata / The lettered Art of Optatian. Figuring Cultural Transformations in the Age of Constantine

This volume explores one of the most complex, multifaceted and momentous of all western cultural transformations: the refashioning of the Roman principate under the emperor Constantine in the early fourth century AD. It does so through the kaleidoscopic lens of one of antiquity’s most fascinating (and maligned) artists, Publilius Optatianus Porfyrius. Optatian’s experiments with word and image are little known among classicists. But, as contributors to this volume argue, his ‘morphogrammatic’ creations uniquely reflect, figure and shape the cultural dynamics of the fourth century. This is the first edited book dedicated to Optatian’s picture-poems and their various historical contexts. By bringing together different disciplinary perspectives (including ancient history, classical philology, art history, theology, philosophy and media studies), the volume demonstrates how Optatian gave form to the various political, intellectual and cultural currents of his age. At the same time, contributors champion Optatian as a uniquely creative artist – and one who anticipated some of our most pressing literary critical, art historical and philosophical concerns today

K201 improves aspects of the contractile performance of human failing myocardium via reduction in Ca2+ leak from the sarcoplasmic reticulum

In heart failure, intracellular Ca2+ leak from cardiac ryanodine receptors (RyR2s) leads to a loss of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) potentially contributing to decreased function. Experimental data suggest that the 1,4-benzothiazepine K201 (JTV-519) may stabilise RyR2s and thereby reduce detrimental intracellular Ca2+ leak. Whether K201 exerts beneficial effects in human failing myocardium is unknown. Therefore, we have studied the effects of K201 on muscle preparations from failing human hearts. K201 (0.3 μM; extracellular [Ca2+]e 1.25 mM) showed no effects on contractile function and micromolar concentrations resulted in negative inotropic effects (K201 1 μM; developed tension −9.8 ± 2.5% compared to control group; P < 0.05). Interestingly, K201 (0.3 μM) increased the post-rest potentiation (PRP) of failing myocardium after 120 s, indicating an increased SR Ca2+ load. At high [Ca2+]e concentrations (5 mmol/L), K201 increased PRP already at shorter rest intervals (30 s). Strikingly, treatment with K201 (0.3 μM) prevented diastolic dysfunction (diastolic tension at 5 mmol/L [Ca2+]e normalised to 1 mmol/L [Ca2+]e: control 1.26 ± 0.06, K201 1.01 ± 0.03, P < 0.01). In addition at high [Ca2+]e, K201 (0.3 μM) treatment significantly improved systolic function [developed tension +27 ± 8% (K201 vs. control); P < 0.05]. The beneficial effects on diastolic and systolic functions occurred throughout the physiological frequency range of the human heart rate from 1 to 3 Hz. Upon elevated intracellular Ca2+ concentration, systolic and diastolic contractile functions of terminally failing human myocardium are improved by K201

Pre-operative risk factors for driveline infection in left ventricular-assist device patients

$\bf Aims$ Implantation of left ventricular-assist devices (LVAD) to treat end-stage heart failure is of increasing relevance due to donor shortage. Infections of the driveline are common adverse events. LVAD infections can lead to high urgency listings for transplantation. However, transplantation in patients with infection leads to worse post-transplantation outcomes. This study aims to evaluate specific risk factors for driveline infections at the time of implantation. $\textbf {Methods and results}$ Four hundred forty-one patients receiving either Heartmate II or Heartware system from August 2009 to October 2013 were assessed. An expert committee sorted patients into four different groups concerning the likeliness of infection. Twenty-eight (6%) of discussed infection cases were judged as secured, 33 (7%) as likely, 18 (4%) as possible, and 20 (4%) as unlikely. The remaining 342 (78%) subjects showed either no signs of infection at all times (329 [75%]) or developed signs of infection in a second observation period within 1 year after ending of the first observation period (13 [3%]). For a better discriminatory power, cases of secured and likely infections were tested against the group with no infection at all times in a Cox proportional hazard model. Among all variables tested by univariate analysis (significance level $\it P$ < 0.15), only age ($\it P$ = 0.07), LVAD-type ($\it P$ = 0.12), need for another thoracic operation ($\it P$ = 0.02), and serum creatinine value ($\it P$ = 0.02) reached statistical significance. These were subsequently subjected to multivariate analysis to calculate the cumulative risk of developing a drive infection. The multivariate analysis showed that of all the potential risk factors tested, only the necessity of re-thoracotomy or secondary thoracic closure had a significant, protective effect (hazard ratio [95% CI] = 0.45 [0.21–0.95]; $\it P$ = 0.04). $\bf Conclusion$ This single-centre cohort study shows that driveline infections are common adverse events. The duration of support represents the major risk factor for LVAD driveline infections

Primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma - a rare cause of pericardial effusion and consecutive constrictive pericarditis: a case report

Abstract Introduction Primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma is a very rare pericardial tumor of unknown etiology. Case presentation A 61-year-old Caucasian woman was admitted to our hospital complaining of exertional dyspnea due to a large pericardial effusion. Intrapericardial fluid volume declined after repeated pericardiocentesis, but the patient progressively developed a hemodynamically relevant pericardial constriction. Pericardiectomy revealed a pericardial mesothelioma. Subsequently, four cycles of chemotherapy (dosage according to recently published trials) were administered. The patient remained asymptomatic, and there was no recurrence of the tumor after three years. Conclusion Pericardial mesothelioma should be considered and managed appropriately in non-responders to pericardiocentesis, and in patients who develop constrictive pericarditis late in their clinical course.</p

Status Update of the SINBAD-ARES Linac Under Construction at DESY

ARES (Accelerator Research Experiment at Sinbad) is a linear accelerator for the production of low charge (from few pC to sub-pC) electron bunches with 100 MeV energy, fs and sub-fs duration and excellent arrival time stability. This experiment is currently under construction at DESY Hamburg and it is foreseen to start operation by the beginning of 2018 with the commissioning of the RF-gun. After an initial beam characterization phase, ARES will provide high temporal resolution probes for testing novel acceleration techniques, such as Laser driven plasma Wake-Field Acceleration (LWFA), Dielectric Laser Acceleration (DLA) and THz driven acceleration. In this work we present an overview of the present design of the linac with a special focus on 3D integration and planned installation phases of the beamline