Veränderungen somatosensorischer Funktionen bei asymptomatischen PINK1-Mutationsträgern und asymptomatischen PARKIN-Mutationsträgern im Vergleich zu gesunden Kontrollen

Veränderungen somatosensorischer Funktionen sind ein häufiges Symptom beim Morbus Parkinson. Es ist bis jetzt unklar, ob die somatosensorischen Symptome primär, dass heißt durch eine direkte Störung der sensorischen peripheren oder zentralen afferenten Bahnen, oder sekundär, dass heißt als Folge der motorischen Symptome oder der dopaminergen Therapie, auftreten. Es wurde das somatosensorische Profil von asymptomatischen PINK1- und PARKIN- Mutationsträgern, die gefährdet sind früher oder später an einem Morbus Parkinson zu erkranken mit Hilfe einer standardisierten quantitativ-sensorischen Testbatterie, dem so genannten QST-Protokoll (QST = quantitativ-sensorische Testung) des Forschungsverbundes Neuropathischer Schmerz, erstellt. Die Ergebnisse wurden mit einer passend zur Mutationsgruppe gesunden Kontrollgruppe verglichen. Zusätzlich wurde die Häufigkeit des Auftretens von pathologisch gemessenen QST-Werten dargestellt und eine elektrophysiologische Untersuchung der peripheren Nerven durchgeführt. Dabei zeigte sich, dass die PARKIN-Mutationsträger eine Tendenz zu einer erhöhten mechanischen Detektionsschwelle sowie einer heruntergesetzten Reizschwelle für Kälteschmerz haben. Die PINK1-Mutationsträger wiesen eine erhöhte mechanische Schmerzschwelle sowie eine erhöhte Detektionsschwelle für mechanische Reize auf. Eine Schädigung der peripheren Nerven konnte mit Hilfe der elektrophysiologischen Untersuchung ausgeschlossen werden. Diese Ergebnisse zeigten, dass somatosensorische Veränderungen bei den familiären Parkinson-Syndromen vorkommen und den motorischen Symptomen vorangehen. Ein eindeutiges Muster zur Erkennung der Ätiologie des Parkinsonsyndroms durch die Erstellung eines somatosensorischen Profils lies sich nicht feststellen. Weiterhin sprechen die Ergebnisse für eine Störung in der zentralen Verarbeitung der verschiedenen Reize. Eine eindeutige Aussage darüber, ob es sich dabei um Störungen im dopaminergen System handelt, konnte nicht gemacht werden

The Status of Women In Missouri: A Comprehensive Report of Leading Indicators and Findings

The status of women in Missouri reflects the status of women throughout the United States. Missouri women have the same opportunities, but also face similar challenges. The Institute of Public Policy, in concert with an academic advisory committee at the University of Missouri, has worked diligently to examine existing data, analyze actionable steps at the state level, and understand women's successes and challenges through a series of focus groups across the state. These focus groups gave the researchers the opportunity to hear from very engaged and diverse groups of women, and also a group of men

How do food businesses provide information on allergens in non-prepacked foods? A cross-sectional survey in Switzerland

Purpose This project aimed to investigate allergen information practices of food businesses selling nonprepacked foods after the implementation of the new Swiss food law in May 2017. Methods A cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted with food businesses selling non-prepacked foods in Switzerland. A short, standardised questionnaire was developed in German, based on previous research and literature. It was subsequently translated into French and Italian. Altogether, 882 businesses (restaurants, dairies, butcher shops and bakeries) were contacted, of which 387 were willing to participate. SPSS® (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA) was used for statistical analyses. Results The vast majority (86.0%) of food businesses provides oral allergen information. Only 14.0% currently provide written allergen information to the customer, either upfront or on request. The most frequently used labelling system in written allergen declaration was naming all ingredients (35.2%). A significant number (39.8%) do not place a notice on how to obtain allergen information, although this is a legal requirement in Switzerland when not providing written information upfront. Conclusion So far, not all food businesses have been complying with the new Swiss food law on allergen information of non-prepacked food. Therefore, awareness of the legal obligations around communicating allergen information as well as the verification of its implementation should be enhanced. To meet the needs of consumers and avoid reactions, some form of written allergen information should be promoted. Giving this information on request might encourage communication between customer and staff, thus providing an extra measure of verification

Получение и изучение медико-биологических свойств меченного технецием-99м противомикробного препарата норфлоксацина гидрохлорида

Проведены исследования по созданию стандартного реагента для получения меченного 99mТс норфлоксацина гидрохлорида (НФГ). Оценку влияния компонентов реакционной смеси на радиохимическую чистоту получаемого препарата проводили методом тонкослойной хроматографии. На экспериментальных животных (кроликах) с моделью воспаления различной локализации показана функциональная пригодность меченого антибиотика для диагностики воспалительных процессов

Podoplanin immunopositive lymphatic vessels at the implant interface in a rat model of osteoporotic fractures

Insertion of bone substitution materials accelerates healing of osteoporotic fractures. Biodegradable materials are preferred for application in osteoporotic patients to avoid a second surgery for implant replacement. Degraded implant fragments are often absorbed by macrophages that are removed from the fracture side via passage through veins or lymphatic vessels. We investigated if lymphatic vessels occur in osteoporotic bone defects and whether they are regulated by the use of different materials. To address this issue osteoporosis was induced in rats using the classical method of bilateral ovariectomy and additional calcium and vitamin deficient diet. In addition, wedge-shaped defects of 3, 4, or 5 mm were generated in the distal metaphyseal area of femur via osteotomy. The 4 mm defects were subsequently used for implantation studies where bone substitution materials of calcium phosphate cement, composites of collagen and silica, and iron foams with interconnecting pores were inserted. Different materials were partly additionally functionalized by strontium or bisphosphonate whose positive effects in osteoporosis treatment are well known. The lymphatic vessels were identified by immunohistochemistry using an antibody against podoplanin. Podoplanin immunopositive lymphatic vessels were detected in the granulation tissue filling the fracture gap, surrounding the implant and growing into the iron foam through its interconnected pores. Significant more lymphatic capillaries were counted at the implant interface of composite, strontium and bisphosphonate functionalized iron foam. A significant increase was also observed in the number of lymphatics situated in the pores of strontium coated iron foam. In conclusion, our results indicate the occurrence of lymphatic vessels in osteoporotic bone. Our results show that lymphatic vessels are localized at the implant interface and in the fracture gap where they might be involved in the removal of lymphocytes, macrophages, debris and the implants degradation products. Therefore the lymphatic vessels are involved in implant integration and fracture healing

Behavioral Responses to Uncertainty in Weight-Restored Anorexia Nervosa – Preliminary Results

Impaired decision-making under conditions of uncertainty seems to contribute to theexpression and maintenance of anorexia nervosa (AN), but it is not clear whether thisimpairment is a disease state that would remit with treatment, or a persisting trait inpatients with AN. To examine this question, a longitudinal study was conducted in12 female inpatients with AN (age M = 22.2, SE = 1.36), before (Time-1) and afterreaching a body mass index of >17.5 kg/m2 (Time-2). Intolerance of uncertainty (IU)was assessed via a decision-making task, the wheel of fortune (WOF). Weight gain atTime-2 was accompanied with significant changes in uncertainty-related performancecompared to Time-1 [(Time Uncertainty), p < 0.05]. At Time-1, reaction times (RTs)varied in function of uncertainty, while at Time-2, uncertainty did not modulate RTs.These findings support a change in decision-making under uncertainty with successfulweight-rehabilitation in AN. While IU was present in underweight patients, it becamenon-significant after weight restoration

Argumentationsanalyse von Kommentaren in einem Forum der BBC zur Unabhängigkeit des Kosovo

Die vorliegende Arbeit geht hervor aus dem Hauptseminar „Argumentationstheorie“, das im Wintersemester 2008/09 am Institut für Linguistik der Universität zu Köln unter der Leitung von PD Dr. Leila Behrens abgehalten wurde. Ziel dieses Seminars war es, ausgehend von traditionellen Begriffen der Rhetorik, Dialektik und Logik, in die Terminologie sowie in zentrale Modelle der zeitgenössischen Argumentationsforschung einzuführen. Die dabei erworbenen Kenntnisse sollen im Folgenden bei der Analyse von Beiträgen eines Diskussionsforums im Internet angewendet werden. Hierbei handelt es sich um ein sogenanntes „newsforum“ der BBC mit dem Titel „Have Your Say“ (BBC 2008), in dem aktuelle Themen und Nachrichten von Internetnutzern weltweit diskutiert werden können. Im untersuchten Fall behandeln wir die Frage, wie mit der Unabhängigkeitserklärung des Kosovo vom 17. Februar 2008 umzugehen sei: „Should the world recognise an independent Kosovo?“ […]. Zu dieser Fragestellung wurden insgesamt 3195 Beiträge im Forum veröffentlicht, von denen hier 780 ausgewertet werden. Diese folgen chronologisch aufeinander und umfassen den Zeitraum zwischen 7:49 Uhr (mittlere Greenwich-Zeit) und 14:26 Uhr des 17. Februar 2008

Fine-mapping identifies multiple prostate cancer risk loci at 5p15, one of which associates with TERT expression

Associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at 5p15 and multiple cancer types have been reported. We have previously shown evidence for a strong association between prostate cancer (PrCa) risk and rs2242652 at 5p15, intronic in the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene that encodes TERT. To comprehensively evaluate the association between genetic variation across this region and PrCa, we performed a fine-mapping analysis by genotyping 134 SNPs using a custom Illumina iSelect array or Sequenom MassArray iPlex, followed by imputation of 1094 SNPs in 22 301 PrCa cases and 22 320 controls in The PRACTICAL consortium. Multiple stepwise logistic regression analysis identified four signals in the promoter or intronic regions of TERT that independently associated with PrCa risk. Gene expression analysis of normal prostate tissue showed evidence that SNPs within one of these regions also associated with TERT expression, providing a potential mechanism for predisposition to disease