Efficacy and Safety Of Radiation Synovectomy with Yttrium-90

In this long term retrospective study of radiation synovectomy with Yttrium-90 (Y90), we evaluated the results of 164 applications in 82 patients with RA, OA with synovitis, ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis. Radiation synovectomy with Y90 has an overall success rate of approximately 50% and is therefore an effective alternative to surgical synovectomy in chronic synovitis which fails to respond to conservative treatment. Elbow and knee responded significantly better than shoulder and ankle joints. Patients with radiological stages from 0 to 2 showed a significantly better success rate than those with stage 3 changes. In responders, repeat therapy for recurrence of symptoms or treatment of a symptomatic corresponding symmetrical joint is advisable. Repeat therapy in a previous non-responder is associated with an unacceptably high failure rate. Therefore, when a joint fails to respond after 6 months, arthroscopy should be performed to evaluate further treatment procedures. A successful result was found in only 11 of 25 joints treated with arthroscopic synovectomy followed by radiation synovectomy within 2 weeks, indicating no benefit of this combination

Cosmic magnetic fields from velocity perturbations in the early Universe

We show, using a covariant and gauge-invariant charged multifluid perturbation scheme, that velocity perturbations of the matter-dominated dust Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) model can lead to the generation of cosmic magnetic fields. Moreover, using cosmic microwave background (CMB) constraints, it is argued that these fields can reach strengths of between 10^{-28} and 10^{-29} G at the time the dynamo mechanism sets in, making them plausible seed field candidates.Comment: 11 pages, 1 figure, IOP style, minor changes and typos correcte

Weak coupling approximations in non-Markovian Transport

We study the transport properties of the Fano-Anderson model with a Lorentzian-shaped density of states in one of the electronic reservoirs. We explicitly show that the energy dependence of the density of states can cause non-Markovian effects and that the non-Markovian master equation may fail if these effects are strong. We evaluate the stationary current, the zero frequency current noise and the occupation dynamics of the resonant level by means of a quantum master equation approach within different approximation schemes and compare the results to the exact solution obtained by scattering theory and Green's functions.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures; due to suggestions of a referee we have added an appendix where our kernel is derived in detail; a few typos are correcte

Public-Private Partnership: Allheilmittel für die Finanzkrisen der öffentlichen Haushalte oder Risikofaktor?

Public Private Partnership (PPP) findet in Deutschland in den letzten Jahren immer mehr Verbreitung. Die Bandbreite für PPP-Projekte reicht von Bundesfernstraßen bis zu Schulen, Verwaltungsgebäuden, Krankenhäusern, Schwimmbädern etc. Führt dieses Modell zu einer Optimierung von Kosten und Erträgen oder stellt es einen Risikofaktor für den öffentlichen Sektor dar? Gerold Krause-Junk, Universität Hamburg, sieht darin vor allem einen Weg, den Konflikt zwischen "Effizienz- und Verteilungszielen" zu entschärfen: "Die allokative Aufgabe wird dann dem privaten bzw. einem weitgehend nach privatwirtschaftlichem Kalkül handelnden Anbieter überlassen; die Verteilungsaufgabe bleibt beim Staat ..." Für Frank Littwin, Finanzministerium des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen, sind die PPP-Projekte kein Allheilmittel und auch kein wesentlicher Beitrag zur Haushaltskonsolidierung, sie führen aber zu deutlich mehr Kostentransparenz und befördern wirtschaftliches Handeln. Und nicht zuletzt sind sie ein wichtiges Instrument zur Verwaltungsmodernisierung. Dietrich Budäus und Birgit Grüb, Universität Hamburg, betonen, dass die Wirtschaftlichkeitsbeurteilung bei PPP-Projekten eine Reihe von Problemen aufwirft. Und für Lars P. Feld und Jan Schnellenbach, Universität Heidelberg, hängt die finanzpolitische Sinnhaftigkeit von PPP-Arrangements von den Details der Kooperation ab. Dabei sollte der öffentliche Sektor vor allem die langfristigen Folgekosten seiner Investitionen im Blick haben, wenn er die Zusammenarbeit mit den Privaten sucht.Public Private Partnership, Öffentlicher Sektor, Öffentlicher Haushalt, Finanzmarktkrise, Deutschland

Developing core sets for persons following amputation based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health as a way to specify functioning

Amputation is a common late stage sequel of peripheral vascular disease and diabetes or a sequel of accidental trauma, civil unrest and landmines. The functional impairments affect many facets of life including but not limited to: Mobility; activities of daily living; body image and sexuality. Classification, measurement and comparison of the consequences of amputations has been impeded by the limited availability of internationally, multiculturally standardized instruments in the amputee setting. The introduction of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) by the World Health Assembly in May 2001 provides a globally accepted framework and classification system to describe, assess and compare function and disability. In order to facilitate the use of the ICF in everyday clinical practice and research, ICF core sets have been developed that focus on specific aspects of function typically associated with a particular disability. The objective of this paper is to outline the development process for the ICF core sets for persons following amputation. The ICF core sets are designed to translate the benefits of the ICF into clinical routine. The ICF core sets will be defined at a Consensus conference which will integrate evidence from preparatory studies, namely: (a) a systematic literature review regarding the outcome measures of clinical trails and observational studies, (b) semi-structured patient interviews, (c) international experts participating in an internet-based survey, and (d) cross-sectional, multi-center studies for clinical applicability. To validate the ICF core sets field-testing will follow. Invitation for participation: The development of ICF Core Sets is an inclusive and open process. Anyone who wishes to actively participate in this process is invited to do so

Scalar field and electromagnetic perturbations on Locally Rotationally Symmetric spacetimes

We study scalar field and electromagnetic perturbations on Locally Rotationally Symmetric (LRS) class II spacetimes, exploiting a recently developed covariant and gauge-invariant perturbation formalism. From the Klein-Gordon equation and Maxwell's equations, respectively, we derive covariant and gauge-invariant wave equations for the perturbation variables and thereby find the generalised Regge-Wheeler equations for these LRS class II spacetime perturbations. As illustrative examples, the results are discussed in detail for the Schwarzschild and Vaidya spacetime, and briefly for some classes of dust Universes.Comment: 22 pages; v3 has minor changes to match published versio

Expanding the host range of hepatitis C virus through viral adaptation

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) species tropism is incompletely understood. We have previously shown that at the level of entry, human CD81 and occludin (OCLN) comprise the minimal set of human factors needed for viral uptake into murine cells. As an alternative approach to genetic humanization, species barriers can be overcome by adapting HCV to use the murine orthologues of these entry factors. We previously generated a murine tropic HCV (mtHCV or Jc1/mCD81) strain harboring three mutations within the viral envelope proteins that allowed productive entry into mouse cell lines. In this study, we aimed to characterize the ability of mtHCV to enter and infect mouse hepatocytes in vivo and in vitro Using a highly sensitive, Cre-activatable reporter, we demonstrate that mtHCV can enter mouse hepatocytes in vivo in the absence of any human cofactors. Viral entry still relied on expression of mouse CD81 and SCARB1 and was more efficient when mouse CD81 and OCLN were overexpressed. HCV entry could be significantly reduced in the presence of anti-HCV E2 specific antibodies, suggesting that uptake of mtHCV is dependent on viral glycoproteins. Despite mtHCV's ability to enter murine hepatocytes in vivo, we did not observe persistent infection, even in animals with severely blunted type I and III interferon signaling and impaired adaptive immune responses. Altogether, these results establish proof of concept that the barriers limiting HCV species tropism can be overcome by viral adaptation. However, additional viral adaptations will likely be needed to increase the robustness of a murine model system for hepatitis C. IMPORTANCE: At least 150 million individuals are chronically infected with HCV and are at risk of developing serious liver disease. Despite the advent of effective antiviral therapy, the frequency of chronic carriers has only marginally decreased. A major roadblock in developing a vaccine that would prevent transmission is the scarcity of animal models that are susceptible to HCV infection. It is poorly understood why HCV infects only humans and chimpanzees. To develop an animal model for hepatitis C, previous efforts focused on modifying the host environment of mice, for example, to render them more susceptible to HCV infection. Here, we attempted a complementary approach in which a laboratory-derived HCV variant was tested for its ability to infect mice. We demonstrate that this engineered HCV strain can enter mouse liver cells but does not replicate efficiently. Thus, additional adaptations are likely needed to construct a robust animal model for HCV