The multifocal pattern electroretinogram in glaucoma

AbstractBackground: The pattern ERG can be used to detect early glaucomatous change, because the response of cells in the inner retina from (typically) 20°–40° of area is reduced before perimetric abnormality is certain. The multifocal pattern electroretinogram (mfPERG) allows analysis of many local regions within this area. The aim of this study was to investigate whether in patients with presumed glaucoma the mfPERG permits diagnosis and discrimination from normals.Methods: Measurements on 25 age-related normal eyes were compared to those on 23 eyes with different stages of glaucoma. A RETIScan system was used to generate a stimulus pattern of 19 hexagons, each consisting of six triangles. The triangles pattern-reversed black to white at 75 Hz. Those 19 hexagons were grouped into three stimulus regions: a central field, a middle, and a peripheral ring. The complete array subtended 48° at the eye. The hexagons alternated between black and white, in a temporal pattern that followed a corrected binary m-sequence (length 512, 10 cycles with 39 s each). The amplitudes and latencies of positive responses at approximately 50 ms (P-50) and negative responses at approximately 95 ms (N-95) were analyzed.Results: In patients with glaucoma the P-50 and N-95 components of the mfPERG were significantly reduced for the central area and both outer rings compared to normal volunteers (p<0.001, Mann–Whitney-U). The most distinct reduction was observed for N-95 and the central ring. Changes in latencies were not conclusive. The reduction of the components increased with the stage of glaucoma. A predictive model for detecting early glaucomatous changes was designed based on P-50–N-95 with 88% sensitivity and 76% specificity.Conclusion: In glaucoma a marked reduction of components, especially centrally is observed in the mfPERG. This hints to an early involvement of central ganglion cells and may be useful for future functional tests

Expression and Function of the Mannose Receptor CD206 on Epidermal Dendritic Cells in Inflammatory Skin Diseases

The capability to take up mannosylated protein antigens is important for the biologic function of dendritic cells, as many glycoproteins derived from bacteria and fungi, e.g., Malassezia furfur, are mannosylated. The expression of the mannose receptor CD206 has been regarded a differentiation hallmark of immature dendritic cells, whereas monocytes and mature dendritic cells as well as epidermal Langerhans cells do not express CD206. This study describes some epidermal dendritic cells that may express CD206 under inflammatory skin conditions: Immunohistochemical and flow cytometric analysis with the CD206-specific D547 antibody confirmed that Langerhans cells from normal human skin do not express CD206. Epidermal cell suspensions from atopic dermatitis and psoriasis revealed two distinct subsets of epidermal dendritic cells: a CD1a+++/CD206– cell population (i.e., Langerhans cells) and a CD1a+/CD206++ cell population, corresponding to the previously described inflammatory dendritic epidermal cells. CD206-mediated endocytosis, assessed by dextran-fluorescein isothiocyanate uptake, was demonstrated in inflammatory dendritic epidermal cells but not in Langerhans cells. CD206-independent uptake of the fluorescent dye Lucifer yellow, a pinocytosis marker, was demonstrated in both Langerhans cells and inflammatory dendritic epidermal cells. Electron microscopic examination, known to distinguish Langerhans cells from inflammatory dendritic epidermal cells by their Birbeck granules, revealed Langerhans cells with Birbeck granules and inflammatory dendritic epidermal cells without Birbeck granules. Inflammatory dendritic epidermal cells exhibited numerous coated pits and vesicles, the latter fusing with large endosome-like structures, thus suggesting a high endocytotic activity. Immunogold staining with D547 monoclonal antibody confirmed that inflammatory dendritic epidermal cells were positive for CD206. In conclusion, inflammatory dendritic epidermal cells but not Langerhans cells are expressing CD206 in situ and use it for receptor-mediated endocytosis

Повышение эффективности насосного оборудования для нефтеперекачивающих станций

Объект исследования – совокупность технологических производственных процессов НПС. Предмет исследования – поиск оптимальных решений в процессе разработки решений по повышению эффективности оборудования нефтеперекачивающих станций. Цель выпускной квалификационной работы – технико-экономическое обоснование мероприятий, направленных на повышение эффективности оборудования нефтеперекачивающих станций.Object of study - a set of technological production processes of the NPS. The subject of the study is the search for optimal solutions in the process of developing solutions to improve the efficiency of equipment of oil pumping stations. The purpose of the final qualification work is a feasibility study of measures aimed at improving the efficiency of the equipment of oil pumping stations

The „Tree Pruning Hypothesis“ for Broca’s Aphasia in Bilingual Individuals

This study investigates the „tree pruning hypothesis“(TPH; Friedmann & Grodzinsky, 1997) in a bilingual individual with Broca’s aphasia. In Broca’s aphasia, one of the main symptoms is agrammatism. The TPH suggests that syntactic deficits are highly selective: tense inflection is impaired while agreement inflection is preserved. To explain this obvious performance dissociation, the TPH uses the “phrase marker split inflection tree” (Pollock, 1989). In this phrase marker, the functional category agreement (AgrP) is located below tense (TP). According to the TPH, in persons with moderate agrammatism, the “phrase marker split inflection tree” is pruned between the two categories AgrP and TP, which causes an impairment of TP and all categories above it while AgrP and all nodes below it stay intact

Ansprüche an und Grenzen von ökonomischer Grundbildung

Ziel des Forschungsauftrages war es, Aufgaben, Inhalte und Ziele ökonomischer Grundbildung für Erwachsene (ÖGBE) im Sinne eines gesellschaftlichen Bedarfs zu bestimmen. Diese grundlegende Arbeit war notwendig, da bisher nahezu keine entsprechenden Vorarbeiten geleistet wurden und im Grunde nichts über die genannten Komponenten von ÖGBE vorliegt. Unsystematisch und unregelmäßig erhobene Daten zu ökonomischen Kenntnissen in der Bevölkerung lassen vermuten, dass erhebliche Defizite existieren und zumindest eine ökonomische Grundbildung anzustreben ist. Bisherige Angebote und empirische Untersuchungen zu ökonomischen Kenntnissen Erwachsener konzentrieren sich stark auf eine finanzielle Bildung und auf die Verbraucherbildung. Weitgehend außer Acht bleiben Fragen der Arbeitnehmerbildung, der Entrepreneurship Education oder der Wirtschaftsbürgerbildung, aber auch ökonomische Handlungen außerhalb des Geldkreislaufes (z. B. Haushalte als Produktionseinheiten, ehrenamtliche Arbeit). Insofern ist es ein fundamentales Forschungsdesiderat, auf einer sachlich-thematischen Ebene abzugrenzen, was unter ökonomischer Grundbildung für Erwachsene verstanden werden soll

Transbilayer dynamics of phospholipids in the plasma membrane of the <em>Leishmania</em> genus

Protozoans of the Leishmania genus are the etiological agents of a wide spectrum of diseases commonly known as leishmaniases. Lipid organization of the plasma membrane of the parasite may mimic the lipid organization of mammalian apoptotic cells and play a role in phagocytosis and parasite survival in the mammal host. Here, we analyzed the phospholipid dynamics in the plasma membrane of both the L. (Leishmania) and the L. (Viannia) subgenera. We found that the activity and substrate specificity of the inward translocation machinery varied between Leishmania species. The differences in activity of inward phospholipid transport correlated with the different sensitivities of the various species towards the alkyl-phospholipid analogue miltefosine. Furthermore, all species exhibited a phospholipid scramblase activity in their plasma membranes upon stimulation with calcium ionophores. However, binding of annexin V to the parasite surface was only detected for a subpopulation of parasites during the stationary growth phase and only marginally enhanced by scramblase activation

Survive and Thrive in Brazil: The Boa Vista Early Childhood Program: study protocol of a stepped-wedge, randomized controlled trial

A growing body of evidence suggests that early life health and developmental outcomes can be improved through parental support programs. The objective of this project was to test the feasibility, impact, and relative cost-effectiveness of an adapted "Reach Up and Learn" program delivered through home-visiting programs as well as through center-based parenting groups on child health and development in the municipality of Boa Vista, Brazil.; A randomized, stepped-wedge design was used to roll out and evaluate the two parenting platforms in Boa Vista municipality. A total of 39 neighborhoods with a high Neighborhood Vulnerability Index were selected for the study. For the first phase of the program, nine neighborhoods were randomly selected for home visits, and two were randomly selected for the center-based parenting groups. In the second phase of the program, 10 neighborhoods were added to the home-visiting program, and eight were added to the center-based program. In the final phase of the program, the remaining 10 control areas will also be assigned to treatment. Study eligibility will be assessed through a baseline survey completed by all pregnant women in the 39 study areas. Pregnant women will be eligible to participate in the study if they are either classified as poor, were under age 20 years when they became pregnant, or if they indicate to have been exposed to domestic or sexual violence. To assess program impact, an endline survey will be conducted when children reach age 2 years. The primary study outcome is child development at age 2 years as measured by the PRIDI instrument. Secondary outcome will be infant mortality, which will be assessed linking municipal vital registration systems to the program rollout.; This trial will assess the feasibility and impact of parenting programs rolled out at medium scale. The results from the trial should create evidence urgently needed for guiding Brazil's national Criança Feliz program as well as similar efforts in other countries.; ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT03386747. Registered on 13 December 2017. All items of the World Health Organization Trial Registration Data Set are available in this record