Laboratory diagnosis of Lyme neuroborreliosis: a comparison of three CSF anti-Borrelia antibody assays

The diagnosis of Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) requires the detection of intrathecal synthesis of Borrelia-specific antibodies, but in very early disease, the sensitivity may be low. We compared the performance of the second-generation IDEIA Lyme Neuroborreliosis test (Oxoid), based on purified native flagellum antigen, with two newly developed tests based on several recombinant antigens for the diagnosis of LNB. Patients investigated for LNB during 2003 through 2007 were included (n = 175); 52 with definite LNB, four with possible LNB and 119 non-LNB patients. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were analysed with the IDEIA Lyme Neuroborreliosis (Oxoid), VIDAS Lyme IgG (bioMérieux) and recomBead Borrelia IgM and IgG (Mikrogen) assays. Intrathecal antibody indices (AIs) were calculated according to the manufacturers’ protocols. The IDEIA test performed with an overall sensitivity (IgM and IgG AIs taken together) of 88 % and a specificity of 99 %. The VIDAS test showed a sensitivity of 86 % and a specificity of 97 %. An overall sensitivity of 100 % and a specificity of 97 % were achieved by the recomBead test. We conclude that the three assays performed equally well regarding specificity, but our data suggest an improved diagnostic sensitivity with the recomBead Borrelia test

The dielectric response of phenothiazine‑based glass‑formers with different molecular complexity

We examined a series of structurally related glass-forming liquids in which a phenothiazine-based tricyclic core (PTZ) was modified by attaching n-alkyl chains of different lengths (n = 4, 8, 10). We systematically disentangled the impact of chemical structure modification on the intermolecular organization and molecular dynamics probed by broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS). X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns evidenced that all PTZ-derivatives are not ‘ordinary’ liquids and form nanoscale clusters. The chain length has a decisive impact on properties, exerting a plasticizing effect on the dynamics. Its elongation decreases glass transition temperature with slight impact on fragility. The increase in the medium-range order was manifested as a broadening of the dielectric loss peak reflected in the lower value of stretching parameter βKWW. A disagreement with the behavior observed for non-associating liquids was found as a deviation from the anti-correlation between the value of βKWW and the relaxation strength of the α-process. Besides, to explain the broadening of loss peak in PTZ with the longest (decyl) chain a slow Debye process was postulated. In contrast, the sample with the shortest alkyl chain and a less complex structure with predominant supramolecular assembly through π–π stacking exhibits no clear Debye-mode fingerprints. The possible reasons are also discussed

First results of the air shower experiment KASCADE

The main goals of the KASCADE (KArlsruhe Shower Core and Array DEtector) experiment are the determination of the energy spectrum and elemental composition of the charged cosmic rays in the energy range around the knee at ca. 5 PeV. Due to the large number of measured observables per single shower a variety of different approaches are applied to the data, preferably on an event-by-event basis. First results are presented and the influence of the high-energy interaction models underlying the analyses is discussed.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures included, to appear in the TAUP 99 Proceedings, Nucl. Phys. B (Proc. Suppl.), ed. by M. Froissart, J. Dumarchez and D. Vignau

Resurrecting melancholia

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/65798/1/j.1600-0447.2007.00958.x.pd

The host response to the probiotic Escherichia coli strain Nissle 1917: Specific up-regulation of the proinflammatory chemokine MCP-1

BACKGROUND: The use of live microorganisms to influence positively the course of intestinal disorders such as infectious diarrhea or chronic inflammatory conditions has recently gained increasing interest as a therapeutic alternative. In vitro and in vivo investigations have demonstrated that probiotic-host eukaryotic cell interactions evoke a large number of responses potentially responsible for the effects of probiotics. The aim of this study was to improve our understanding of the E. coli Nissle 1917-host interaction by analyzing the gene expression pattern initiated by this probiotic in human intestinal epithelial cells. METHODS: Gene expression profiles of Caco-2 cells treated with E. coli Nissle 1917 were analyzed with microarrays. A second human intestinal cell line and also pieces of small intestine from BALB/c mice were used to confirm regulatory data of selected genes by real-time RT-PCR and cytometric bead array (CBA) to detect secretion of corresponding proteins. RESULTS: Whole genome expression analysis revealed 126 genes specifically regulated after treatment of confluent Caco-2 cells with E. coli Nissle 1917. Among others, expression of genes encoding the proinflammatory molecules monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 ligand 2 (MCP-1), macrophage inflammatory protein-2 alpha (MIP-2α) and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 beta (MIP-2β) was increased up to 10 fold. Caco-2 cells cocultured with E. coli Nissle 1917 also secreted high amounts of MCP-1 protein. Elevated levels of MCP-1 and MIP-2α mRNA could be confirmed with Lovo cells. MCP-1 gene expression was also up-regulated in mouse intestinal tissue. CONCLUSION: Thus, probiotic E. coli Nissle 1917 specifically upregulates expression of proinflammatory genes and proteins in human and mouse intestinal epithelial cells

Cosmic ray physics around the knee with the KASCADE experiment

KASCADE (KArlsruhe Shower Core and Array DEtector) is a multidetector setup to observe the electromagnetic, muonic and hadronic air shower components simultaneously for the primary energy region around the knee. The large body of observables per single shower allows to follow the main aims of the experiment in analyses on an event-by-event basis, mainly: 1) slopes and structures of the primary energy spectrum; 2) the energy dependence of the chemical composition of the primaries; 3) tests of the air shower simulation tools underlying the analyses, in particular of the Monte Carlo generators based on different high-energy interaction models; 4) examinations of the air shower development in the atmosphere. Examples and results of different analysis methods are presented for the different subjects

Gene Expression Profiling of Human Decidual Macrophages: Evidence for Immunosuppressive Phenotype

Background: Although uterine macrophages are thought to play an important regulatory role at the maternal-fetal interface, their global gene expression profile is not known. Methodology/Principal Findings: Using micro-array comprising approximately 14,000 genes, the gene expression pattern of human first trimester decidual CD14+ monocytes/macrophages was characterized and compared with the expression profile of the corresponding cells in blood. Some of the key findings were confirmed by real time PCR or by secreted protein. A unique gene expression pattern intrinsic of first trimester decidual CD14+ cells was demonstrated. A large number of regulated genes were functionally related to immunomodulation and tissue remodelling, corroborating polarization patterns of differentiated macrophages mainly of the alternatively activated M2 phenotype. These include known M2 markers such as CCL-18, CD209, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, mannose receptor c type (MRC)-1 and fibronectin-1. Further, the selective up-regulation of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells (TREM)-2, alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M) and prostaglandin D2 synthase (PGDS) provides new insights into the regulatory function of decidual macrophages in pregnancy that may have implications in pregnancy complications. Conclusions/Significance: The molecular characterization of decidual macrophages presents a unique transcriptional profile replete with important components for fetal immunoprotection and provides several clues for further studies of these cells.Original Publication:Charlotte Gustafsson (Lidström), Jenny Mjösberg, Andreas Matussek, Robert Geffers, Leif Matthiesen, Göran Berg, Surendra Sharma, Jan Buer and Jan Ernerudh, Gene expression profiling of human decidual macrophages: Evidence for immunosuppressive phenotype, 2008, PLoS ONE, (3), 4, e2078.http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0002078Copyright: Public Library of Science (PLoS)http://www.plos.org