Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in cancer patients : a four-arm randomized trial on the effectiveness of electroacupuncture

Purpose. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common and dose-limiting side effect of cytostatic drugs. Since there are no proven therapeutic procedures against CIPN, we were interested to define the role of electroacupuncture (EA) from which preliminary data showed promising results. Methods. In a randomized trial with a group sequential adaptive design in patients with CIPN, we compared EA (LV3, SP9, GB41, GB34, LI4, LI11, SI3, and HT3; n=14) with hydroelectric baths (HB, n=14), vitamin B1/B6 capsules (300/300 mg daily; VitB, n=15), and placebo capsules (n=17). The statistical power in this trial was primarily calculated for proving EA only, so results of HB and VitB are pilot data. Results. CIPN complaints improved by 0.8 +- 1.2 (EA), 1.7 +- 1.7 (HB), 1.6 +- 2.0 (VitB), and 1.3 +- 1.3 points (placebo) on a 10-point numeric rating scale without significant difference between treatment groups or placebo. In addition no significant differences in sensory nerve conduction studies or quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30) were found. Conclusions. The used EA concept, HB, and VitB were not superior to placebo. Since, contrary to our results, studies with different acupuncture concepts showed a positive effect on CIPN, the effect of acupuncture on CIPN remains unclear. Further randomized, placebo controlled studies seem necessary. This trial is registered with DRKS00004448

Chemical Stability of α-Tocopherol in Colloidal Lipid Particles with Various Morphologies

Colloidal lipid particles (CLPs) are promising encapsulation systems for lipophilic bioactives, such as oil-soluble antioxidants that are applied in food and pharmaceutical formulations. Currently, there is no clear consensus regarding the relation between particle structure and the chemical stability of such bioactives. Using α-tocopherol as a model antioxidant, it is shown that emulsifier type (Tween 20 or 40, or sodium caseinate) and lipid composition (tripalmitin, tricaprylin, or combinations thereof) modulated particle morphology and antioxidant stability. The emulsifier affects particle shape, with the polysorbates facilitating tripalmitin crystallization into highly ordered lath-like particles, and sodium caseinate resulting in less ordered spherical particles. The fastest degradation of α-tocopherol is observed in tripalmitin-based CLPs, which may be attributed to its expulsion to the particle surface induced by lipid crystallization. This effect is stronger in CLPs stabilized by Tween 40, which may act as a template for crystallization. This work not only shows how the architecture of CLPs can be controlled through the type of lipid and emulsifier used, but also gives evidence that lipid crystallization does not necessarily protect entrapped lipophilic bioactives, which is an important clue for encapsulation system design. Practical Applications: Interest in enriching food and pharmaceutical products with lipophilic bioactives such as antioxidants through encapsulation in lipid particles is growing rapidly. This research suggests that for efficient encapsulation, the particle architecture plays an important role; to tailor this, the contribution of both the lipid carrier and the emulsifier needs to be considered.</p

PREPARAÇÃO PARA RESILIÊNCIA EM TEMPESTADES SEVERAS, EXPERIÊNCIAS EM MARECHAL CÂNDIDO RONDON

Este trabalho provém das atividades do Grupo de Estudos de Desastres Naturais e Socioambientais (GEDENS) e do Laboratório de Ensino de Leitura e Escrita Acadêmica (LABELEA). Após um desastre causado por um tornado ocorrido em Marechal Cândido Rondon, o qual deixou o município em estado de calamidade, houve a necessidade de abordagem do tema. Neste evento climático, foi verificado que parte da população rondonense desconhecia informações a respeito da atuação de tornados e de medidas de proteção. A motivação do trabalho foi disseminar informações para preservação da vida e minimização de impactos, aliando pesquisa e extensão para gerar e difundir informações a respeito dos riscos e da redução de desastres em tempestades severas. O trabalho foi realizado de forma interdisciplinar e em rede, inserindo instituições públicas e privadas, institutos, centros de pesquisa e fundações cooperadas. Teve como público-alvo: população municipal e professores do Ensino Fundamental e Médio. O trabalho foi fundamentado em casos de desastres, prevenção e adaptações de gênero e resultou na confecção de folder e vídeo distribuídos e compartilhados aos líderes de instituições, emissoras de rádio e televisão. Os referidos materiais foram divulgados por meio de palestras, entrevistas, cursos de capacitação e exposição

Last Interglacial Climate in Northern Sweden—Insights from a Speleothem Record

Continental records with absolute dates of the timing and progression of climatic conditions during the Last Interglacial (LIG) from northern Europe are rare. Speleothems from northern Europe have a large potential as archives for LIG environmental conditions since they were formed in sheltered environments and may be preserved beneath ice sheets. Here, we present δ13C and δ18O values from speleothem Kf-21, from Korallgrottan in Jämtland (northwest Sweden). Kf-21 is dated with five MC-ICPMS U-Th dates with errors smaller than ~1 ka. Kf-21 started forming at ~130.2 ka and the main growth phase with relatively constant growth rates lasted from 127.3 ka to 124.4 ka, after which calcite formation ceased. Both δ13C and δ18O show rapid shifts but also trends, with a range of values within their Holocene counterparts from Korallgrottan. Our results indicate an early onset of the LIG in northern Europe with ice-free conditions at ~130 ka. Higher growth rates combined with more negative δ18O values between ~127.3 and 126.8 ka, interpreted here as warmer and more humid conditions, as well as indications of a millennial-scale cold spell centered at 126.2 ka, resemble findings from speleothem records from other parts of Europe, highlighting that these were regional scale climatic patterns

Last Interglacial Climate in Northern Sweden—Insights from a Speleothem Record

Continental records with absolute dates of the timing and progression of climatic conditions during the Last Interglacial (LIG) from northern Europe are rare. Speleothems from northern Europe have a large potential as archives for LIG environmental conditions since they were formed in sheltered environments and may be preserved beneath ice sheets. Here, we present δ13C and δ18O values from speleothem Kf-21, from Korallgrottan in Jämtland (northwest Sweden). Kf-21 is dated with five MC-ICPMS U-Th dates with errors smaller than ~1 ka. Kf-21 started forming at ~130.2 ka and the main growth phase with relatively constant growth rates lasted from 127.3 ka to 124.4 ka, after which calcite formation ceased. Both δ13C and δ18O show rapid shifts but also trends, with a range of values within their Holocene counterparts from Korallgrottan. Our results indicate an early onset of the LIG in northern Europe with ice-free conditions at ~130 ka. Higher growth rates combined with more negative δ18O values between ~127.3 and 126.8 ka, interpreted here as warmer and more humid conditions, as well as indications of a millennial-scale cold spell centered at 126.2 ka, resemble findings from speleothem records from other parts of Europe, highlighting that these were regional scale climatic patterns

Increase in consumption of alcohol-based hand rub in German acute care hospitals over a 12 year period

Background: Hand hygiene plays a crucial role in the transmission of pathogens and the prevention of healthcare-associated infections. In 2007, a voluntary national electronic surveillance tool for the documentation of consumption of alcohol-based hand rub (AHC) was introduced as a surrogate for hand hygiene compliance (HAND-KISS) and for the provision of benchmark data as feedback.The aim of the study was to determine the trend in alcohol-based hand rub consumption between 2007 and 2018. Materials and methods: In this cohort study, AHC and patient days (PD) were documented on every ward in participating hospitals by trained local staff. Data was collected and validated in HAND-KISS. Intensive care units (ICU), intermediate care units (IMC), and regular wards (RW) that provided data during the study period between 2007 until 2018 were included into the study. Results: In 2018, 75.2% of acute care hospitals in Germany (n=1.460) participated. On ICUs (n=1998) mean AHC increased 1.74 fold (95%CI 1.71, 1.76; p<.0001) from 79.2ml/PD to 137.4ml/PD. On IMCs (n=475) AHC increased 1.69 fold (95%CI 1.60, 1.79; p<.0001) from 41.4ml/PD to 70.6ml /PD..On RWs (n=14,857) AHC was 19.0ml/PD in 2007 and increased 1.71 fold (95%CI 1.70, 1.73; p<.0001) to 32.6ml/PD in 2018. Conclusions: AHC in German hospitals increased on all types of wards during the past 12years. Surveillance of AHC is widely established in German hospitals. Large differences among medical specialties exist and warrant further investigation

Weiterentwicklung der deutschen Treibhausgasminderungsquote: Hintergrundpapier, Februar 2021

Die folgenden Abschnitte beschäftigen sich im Detail mit der Funktionsweise der THG-Quote und den möglichen Konsequenzen der diskutierten Vorschläge sowie deren Einordnung in Bezug auf die deutschen Klimaschutzziele

Co-Regulation and Interdependence of the Mammalian Epidermal Permeability and Antimicrobial Barriers

Human epidermis elaborates two small cationic, highly hydrophobic antimicrobial peptides (AMP), β-defensin 2 (hBD2), and the carboxypeptide cleavage product of human cathelicidin (hCAP18), LL-37, which are co-packaged along with lipids within epidermal lamellar bodies (LBs) before their secretion. Because of their colocalization, we hypothesized that AMP and barrier lipid production could be coregulated by altered permeability barrier requirements. mRNA and immunostainable protein levels for mBD3 and cathelin-related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP) (murine homologues of hBD2 and LL-37, respectively) increase 1–8hours after acute permeability barrier disruption and normalize by 24hours, kinetics that mirror the lipid metabolic response to permeability barrier disruption. Artificial permeability barrier restoration, which inhibits the lipid-synthetic response leading to barrier recovery, blocks the increase in AMP mRNA/protein expression, further evidence that AMP expression is linked to permeability barrier function. Conversely, LB-derived AMPs are also important for permeability barrier homeostasis. Despite an apparent increase in mBD3 protein, CRAMP−/− mice delayed permeability barrier recovery, attributable to defective LB contents and abnormalities in the structure of the lamellar membranes that regulate permeability barrier function. These studies demonstrate that (1) the permeability and antimicrobial barriers are coordinately regulated by permeability barrier requirements and (2) CRAMP is required for permeability barrier homeostasis

Autorinnen und Autoren

Am 13. Mai 2011 jährte sich die Einweihung des heutigen Hauptgebäudes der Universität Hamburg an der Edmund-Siemers-Allee zum 100. Mal. Am selben Tag wurde das 1999 begonnene Programm zur Benennung seiner sieben Hörsäle nach herausragenden, in der NS-Zeit vertriebenen Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftlern abgeschlossen. (Die bei dieser Gelegenheit gehaltenen Reden werden in den Hamburger Universitätsreden Neue Folge 18, 100 Jahre Hauptgebäude der Universität Hamburg, dokumentiert.) Aus doppeltem Anlass also erscheint dieses Buch, das neben einer Einführung in die facettenreiche Geschichte des Gebäudes erstmals Porträts der sieben Namensgeber der Hörsäle versammelt: biographische und werkanalytische Annäherungen an den Philosophen Ernst Cassirer, den Kunsthistoriker Erwin Panofsky, die Germanistin Agathe Lasch, den Mathematiker Emil Artin, die Juristin Magdalene Schoch, den Völkerrechtler und Friedensforscher Albrecht Mendelssohn Bartholdy sowie den Sozialökonomen Eduard Heimann. Gemeinsam mit den 2010 vor dem Kuppelbau verlegten „Stolpersteinen“ bilden die Hörsaalbenennungen ein Ensemble, durch welches das Hauptgebäude die Universität Hamburg auch als zentraler Gedächtnisort in besonderer Weise repräsentiert. Der Film „BLICK RICHTEN“ vom Medienkompetenzzentrum der Universität Hamburg ist als DVD dem Buch beigelegt. Sie können den Film durch Aktivieren des Links „video.html“ unter „Frei verfügbarer Volltext“ abspielen oder diesen direkt auf der Webseite Lecture2Go (http://lecture2go.uni-hamburg.de/veranstaltungen/-/v/12112) betrachten

Radiolabeled Monoclonal Antibody Against Colony-Stimulating Factor 1 Receptor Specifically Distributes to the Spleen and Liver in Immunocompetent Mice

Macrophages can promote tumor development. Preclinically, targeting macrophages by colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF1)/CSF1 receptor (CSF1R) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) enhances conventional therapeutics in combination treatments. The physiological distribution and tumor uptake of CSF1R mAbs are unknown. Therefore, we radiolabeled a murine CSF1R mAb and preclinically visualized its biodistribution by PET. CSF1R mAb was conjugated to N-succinyl-desferrioxamine (N-suc-DFO) and subsequently radiolabeled with zirconium-89 ((89)Zr). Optimal protein antibody dose was first determined in non-tumor-bearing mice to assess physiological distribution. Next, biodistribution of optimal protein dose and (89)Zr-labeled isotype control was compared with PET and ex vivo biodistribution after 24 and 72 h in mammary tumor-bearing mice. Tissue autoradiography and immunohistochemistry determined radioactivity distribution and tissue macrophage presence, respectively. [(89)Zr]Zr-DFO-N-suc-CSF1R-mAb optimal protein dose was 10 mg/kg, with blood pool levels of 10 ± 2% injected dose per gram tissue (ID/g) and spleen and liver uptake of 17 ± 4 and 11 ± 4%ID/g at 72 h. In contrast, 0.4 mg/kg of [(89)Zr]Zr-DFO-N-suc-CSF1R mAb was eliminated from circulation within 24 h; spleen and liver uptake was 126 ± 44% and 34 ± 7%ID/g, respectively. Tumor-bearing mice showed higher uptake of [(89)Zr]Zr-DFO-N-suc-CSF1R-mAb in the liver, lymphoid tissues, duodenum, and ileum, but not in the tumor than did (89)Zr-labeled control at 72 h. Immunohistochemistry and autoradiography showed that (89)Zr was localized to macrophages within lymphoid tissues. Following [(89)Zr]Zr-DFO-N-suc-CSF1R-mAb administration, tumor macrophages were almost absent, whereas isotype-group tumors contained over 500 cells/mm(2). We hypothesize that intratumoral macrophage depletion by [(89)Zr]Zr-DFO-N-suc-CSF1R-mAb precluded tumor uptake higher than (89)Zr-labeled control. Translation of molecular imaging of macrophage-targeting therapeutics to humans may support macrophage-directed therapeutic development