Dokumentation und Systemmanagement

Krüll J, Spitta T. Dokumentation und Systemmanagement. In: Oberweis A, Sneed HM, eds. Software Management '99. Wirtschaftsinformatik. Stuttgart: Teubner; 1999: 173-190

Porphyromonas gingivalis Strain-Dependent Activation of Human Endothelial Cells

Porphyromonas gingivalis is an important bacterium involved in periodontal diseases. Colonization by periodontopathogens has been associated with severe local inflammatory reactions in the connective tissue. In this study we characterized P. gingivalis-mediated infection and activation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells by using two strains of different virulence capacities, strains ATCC 53977 and DSMZ 20709. Both strains were able to adhere to and infect endothelial cells with an infection rate of 0.48% for ATCC 53977 and 0.007% for DSMZ 20709. The triggering of two signal transduction pathways in P. gingivalis-infected endothelial cells was demonstrated for both strains, with a rapid increase of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation and a more delayed degradation of IκBα, followed by nuclear translocation of NF-κB. In addition, both strains induced enhanced expression of endothelial adhesion molecules E-selectin and intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1). Target cell activation was independent of bacterial fimbriae expression since the fimA knockout strain A7436 ΔfimA induced the same level of ICAM-1 as the corresponding wild type (A7436-WT). Thus, two P. gingivalis strains, ATCC 53799 and DSMZ 20709, infect endothelial cells and trigger signaling cascades leading to endothelial activation, which in turn may result in or promote severe local and systemic inflammation

Neutron radiotherapy in South Africa: Neutron radiotherapy should continue

This correspondence is in response to the article: Abratt RP. The fast neutron therapy programme for patients in South Africa should come to an end. S Afr Med J 2012;102(2):58. Other correspondence in this series: Neutron radiotherapy: a different perspective. S Afr Med J 2012(5):269; Neutron radiotherapy, Abratt reply. S Afr Med J 2012(5):270-217; Neutron radiotherapy: Society comments. S Afr Med J 2012(5):271; Neutron radiotherapy: Abratt supported. S Afr Med J 2012(5):271