Atypical CD3+ CD4(low) cell population in a boy with fatal EBV-infection

A previously healthy 10-year-old Greek boy born to nonconsanguineous healthy parents developed progressive liver disease after acute infectious mononucleosis. EBV-induced autoimmune hepatitis was suspected and treatment was started with high-dose prednisolone, acyclovir and intravenous immunoglobulins. Despite therapy his liver function continuously deteriorated and the child died 9 months later in profound immune deficiency from candida septicemia. Flow cytometric analysis of his lymphocytes revealed a major subpopulation of atypical cells (20.3%) which were CD3+, fitted into the lymphocyte gate bur showed a very low level of CD4 expression, comparable to that of monocytes. After short-time cell culture, the cells became adherent and developed granules and dendrites; We conclude that these cells may represent strongly activated CD4+ T lymphocytes with downregulated CD4 expression or a subtype of dendritic cells

Preoperative CYFRA 21-1 and CEA as Prognostic Factors in Patients with Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Objective: To validate the prognostic value of preoperative levels of CYFRA 21-1, CEA and the corresponding tumor marker index (TMI) in patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: Two hundred forty stage I NSCLC patients (80 in pT1 and 160 in pT2; 100 squamous cell carcinomas, 91 adenocarcinomas, 32 large-cell carcinomas, 17 with other histologies; 171 males and 69 females) who had complete resection (R0) between 1986 and 2004 were included in the analysis. CYFRA 21-1 and CEA were measured using the Elecsys system (Roche) and AxSym-System (Abbott), respectively. Univariate analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method to identify potential associations between survival and age, gender, CYFRA 21-1, CEA and TMI. Results: Overall 3- and 5-year survival rates were 74 and 64%, respectively. Male gender (p = 0.0009) and age 1 70 years (p = 0.0041) were associated with a worse prognosis; there were no differences between pT1 and pT2 nor between histological subtypes. Three- year survival was 72% for CYFRA 21-1 levels > 3.3 ng/ml versus 75% for levels 6.7 ng/ ml versus 75% for CEA 70 years were associated with a worse outcome, but elevated levels of CEA and CYFRA 21-1, and TMI risk were not. Copyright (C) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel

Detailed analysis of the variability of peptidylarginine deiminase type 4 in German patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a case control study

Peptidylarginine deiminase type 4 (PADI4) genotypes were shown to influence susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis ( RA) in the Japanese population. Such an association could not previously be confirmed in different European populations. In the present study, we analysed exons 2 - 4 of PADI4 in 102 German RA patients and 102 healthy individuals to study the influence of PADI4 variability on RA susceptibility by means of haplotype-specific DNA sequencing. Analyses of the influence of PADI4 and HLA-DRB1 genotypes on disease activity and on levels of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies were performed. Comparing the frequencies of PADI4 haplotype 4 (padi4\_89* G, padi4\_90* T, padi4\_92* G, padi4\_94* T, padi4\_104* C, padi4\_95* G, padi4\_96* T) ( patients, 14.7%; controls, 7.8%; odds ratio = 2.0, 95% confidence interval = 1.1 - 3.8) and carriers of this haplotype ( patients, 27.5%; controls, 13.7%; odds ratio = 2.4, 95% confidence interval = 1.2 - 4.8), a significant positive association of PADI4 haplotype 4 with RA could be demonstrated. Other PADI4 haplotypes did not differ significantly between patients and controls. Regarding the individual PADI4 variants, padi4\_89 ( A. G), padi4\_90 (C --> T), and padi4\_94 (C --> T) were significantly associated with RA ( patients, 49.5%; controls, 38.7%; odds ratio = 1.6, 95% confidence interval = 1.1 - 2.3). Considering novel PADI4 variants located in or near to exons 2, 3, and 4, no quantitative or qualitative differences between RA patients (8.8%) and healthy controls (10.8%) could be demonstrated. While the PADI4 genotype did not influence disease activity and the anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibody level, the presence of the HLA-DRB1 shared epitope was significantly associated with higher anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody levels ( P = 0.033). The results of this small case - control study support the hypothesis that variability of the PADI4 gene may influence susceptibility to RA in the German population. Quantitative or qualitative differences in previously undefined PADI4 variants between patients and controls could not be demonstrated

The Version-2 Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) Monthly Precipitation Analysis (1979–Present)

The Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) Version-2 Monthly Precipitation Analysis is described. This globally complete, monthly analysis of surface precipitation at 2.58 latitude 3 2.58 longitude resolution is available from January 1979 to the present. It is a merged analysis that incorporates precipitation estimates from low-orbit satellite microwave data, geosynchronous-orbit satellite infrared data, and surface rain gauge obser-vations. The merging approach utilizes the higher accuracy of the low-orbit microwave observations to calibrate, or adjust, the more frequent geosynchronous infrared observations. The dataset is extended back into the prem-icrowave era (before mid-1987) by using infrared-only observations calibrated to the microwave-based analysis of the later years. The combined satellite-based product is adjusted by the rain gauge analysis. The dataset archive also contains the individual input fields, a combined satellite estimate, and error estimates for each field. This monthly analysis is the foundation for the GPCP suite of products, including those at finer temporal resolution. The 23-yr GPCP climatology is characterized, along with time and space variations of precipitation. 1

Skin Barrier Development Depends on CGI-58 Protein Expression during Late-Stage Keratinocyte Differentiation

Adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and its coactivator comparative gene identification-58 (CGI-58) are limiting in cellular triglyceride catabolism. Although ATGL deficiency is compatible with normal skin development, mice globally lacking CGI-58 die postnatally and exhibit a severe epidermal permeability barrier defect, which may originate from epidermal and/or peripheral changes in lipid and energy metabolism. Here, we show that epidermis-specific disruption of CGI-58 is sufficient to provoke a defect in the formation of a functional corneocyte lipid envelope linked to impaired ω-O-acylceramide synthesis. As a result, epidermis-specific CGI-58-deficient mice show severe skin dysfunction, arguing for a tissue autonomous cause of disease development. Defective skin permeability barrier formation in global CGI-58-deficient mice could be reversed via transgenic restoration of CGI-58 expression in differentiated but not basal keratinocytes suggesting that CGI-58 is essential for lipid metabolism in suprabasal epidermal layers. The compatibility of ATGL deficiency with normal epidermal function indicated that CGI-58 may stimulate an epidermal triglyceride lipase beyond ATGL required for the adequate provision of fatty acids as a substrate for ω-O-acylceramide synthesis. Pharmacological inhibition of ATGL enzyme activity similarly reduced triglyceride-hydrolytic activities in wild-type and CGI-58 overexpressing epidermis implicating that CGI-58 participates in ω-O-acylceramide biogenesis independent of its role as a coactivator of epidermal triglyceride catabolism

25 Jahre Kommunikationswissenschaft. Festschrift

Festschrift zum 25-jährigen Bestehen des Fachs Kommunikationswissenschaft an der Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg mit Texten von: Rudolf Stöber, Anna Maria Theis-Berglmair, Manfred Rühl, Thomas Gruber, Gero Himmelsbach und Peter Gregor zur Geschichte des Fachs, des Rundfunks, des Medienrechts und der PR. Grußworte von Godehard Ruppert und Friedhelm Marx. Mit einer Chronik des Fachs, einer Übersicht aktueller Publikationen und einer Übersicht von Abschlussarbeiten der Wintersemester 2005/06 bis Wintersemester 2007/08. Entstanden in der Übung Projektmanagement im Wintersemester 2007/08