Entwicklung, Validierung und klinische Anwendung einer diagnostischen Methode zum Nachweis von Mycobacterium ulcerans unter tropischen Bedingungen

Die Buruli-Ulkus-Erkrankung stellt ein gravierendes Problem der öffentlichen Gesundheitsfürsorge in tropischen Ländern dar. Unbehandelt kann die Erkrankung zu Kontrakturen und durch Sekundärinfektionen sogar zum Tode führen. Kontrollstrategien betroffener Länder beschränken sich auf die Früherkennung und die chirurgische Behandlung klinisch diagnostizierter Fälle. Die Diagnostik des Buruli-Ulkus kann anhand des mikroskopischen Nachweises von AFB, der Kultivierung von Mycobacterium ulcerans und der PCR durch die Untersuchung von Abstrichen und Biopsien sowie der histopathologischen Untersuchung von Biopsien durchgeführt werden. Ein diagnostischer Gold-Standard zur Laborbestätigung klinischer Verdachtsfälle existiert nicht. Sensitive Diagnostikmethoden wie Histopathologie oder PCR sind in Endemiegebieten aufgrund technischer Schwierigkeiten oder dem Fehlen ausgebildeten Personals meist nicht verfügbar. Hervorgerufen durch die verzögerte Diagnosestellung, können ausgedehnte Behandlungskosten durch lange Krankenhausaufenthalte entstehen, die ein großes sozioökonomisches Problem der betroffenen Länder darstellen. Es werden daher dringend sensitive Labormethoden, wie die PCR, zur Bestätigung von Verdachtsfällen im frühen Krankheitsstadium benötigt, die zusätzlich noch verlässlich und einfach durchzuführen sind. Allerdings wird die Durchführung konventioneller PCR-Techniken unter tropischen Bedingungen vor allem aufgrund des Klimas, der fehlenden Laborausstattung, unzuverlässiger Stromversorgung und den begrenzten finanziellen Möglichkeiten der Gesundheitssektoren der Endemiegebiete erschwert. Die im Rahmen dieser Arbeit anhand der derzeit zur Diagnose der Buruli-Ulkus-Erkrankung verwendeten Standard-PCR-Methode entwickelte, auf Trockenreagenzien basierende, DRB-PCR ist aufgrund ihrer vereinfachten Handhabung perfekt an tropische Bedingungen und die dort vorherrschenden schwierigen klimatischen und technischen Begebenheiten angepasst: Zur Durchführung der DRB-PCR werden keine Kühl- und Gefriergeräte oder Generatoren zur Stabilisierung der Stromversorgung benötigt, da alle Reagenzien bei Raumtemperatur gelagert werden können. Die Qualität der Reagenzien ist stets vergleichbar, da sie nicht, wie gefroren gelagerte PCR-Reagenzien, durch die in tropischen Ländern üblicherweise vorherrschende unzuverlässige Stromversorgung häufigen Auf- und Abtauprozessen unterliegen. Weiterhin ist das Kontaminationsrisiko gegenüber der Standard-PCR bedeutend vermindert, da außer den lyophyllisierten Primern nur die „PuReTaq Ready-To-Go-PCR-Beads“ und die DNA zugegeben werden muss. Die Materialkosten der DRB-PCR betragen nur ca. 2 – 3 € mehr als die herkömmlicher PCR-Methoden. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass die DRB-PCR hinsichtlich Sensitivität und Spezifität der Standard-PCR zum Nachweis von M. ulcerans gleichzusetzen ist. Die DRB-PCR bietet sich daher zukünftig zur Routineanwendung in Laboren tropischer Endemiegebiete an. Zur Gewährleistung verlässlicher Ergebnisse ist allerdings optimale Qualität und Beschaffenheit des Untersuchungsmaterials essentiell. Allgemein scheint das Alter der Läsion einen nicht zu vernachlässigenden Einfluss auf die diagnostische Sensitivität der DRB-PCR zu besitzen: Die Untersuchung früher Läsionstypen ist offensichtlich zur Laborbestätigung klinischer Verdachtsfälle geeigneter als ältere Erkrankungsstadien, bei denen teilweise nur noch wenige Bakterien nachweisbar sind. Im Vergleich mit anderen Diagnostikmethoden erscheint die DRB-PCR als sensitivste vor Ort durchführbare Methode geeignet zur Laborbestätigung von Buruli-Ulkus-Verdachtsfällen: Die in dieser Studie ermittelte diagnostische Sensitivität der Mikroskopie betrug bis zu 40 %, die diagnostische Sensitivität der Kultur ist aufgrund der Vorbehandlung der meisten Patienten mit antimykobakteriellen Medikamenten im Studiengebiet nicht repräsentativ. Außerdem erscheint die Kultur aufgrund der langen Generationszeit von M. ulcerans als diagnostische Methode ungeeignet. Durch die DRB-PCR konnte eine diagnostische Sensitivität von bis zu 75 % erreicht werden, die diagnostische Sensitivität der Standard-PCR lag mit ca. 80,0 % nur geringfügig höher. Die Inter-Assay-Übereinstimmungsrate zwischen DRB-PCR und Standard-PCR betrug, abhängig vom Untersuchungsmaterial, > 96 %. Die Ergebnisse der Histopathologie stehen in Endemiegebieten nicht zeitnah zur Verfügung, so dass sich diese Methode lediglich als Referenzmethode bzw. zur Differentialdiagnosestellung eignet. Gemäß bestehenden WHO-Empfehlungen werden derzeit zwei positive Laborergebnisse zur gesicherten Diagnose des Buruli-Ulkus benötigt. Würde nur ein positiver Test als ausreichend angesehen, könnten anhand der im Rahmen dieser Arbeit gewonnenen Daten 20 % mehr Verdachtsfälle bestätigt werden. Da strukturelle, technische und finanzielle Beschränkungen eine umfassende Labordiagnose in Endemiegebieten erschweren, erscheint es daher sinnvoll, die bestehenden Empfehlungen zu überdenken. Vor dem Hintergrund der Kosten- und Zeitersparnis wäre eine nacheinander erfolgende Stufendiagnostik, beginnend mit weniger sensitiven Nachweismethoden, wie z. B. der Mikroskopie, gefolgt von der Untersuchung der mikroskopisch negativen Proben durch hochsensitive Diagnostikmethoden wie DRB-PCR denkbar. Bei prä-ulzerativen Läsionen würden so > 35 % aller Verdachtsfälle schon allein durch die Mikroskopie bestätigt, durch die DRB-PCR würden noch weitere fast 30 % der Verdachtsfälle bestätigt. Im Falle ulzerativer Läsionen würden präoperativ und nicht-invasiv durch Untersuchung der Abstriche durch Mikroskopie bis zu 35 % der klinischen Verdachtsfälle laborbestätigt, durch anschließende DRB-PCR würden zusätzlich > 30 % gefunden. Postoperativ könnten durch Mikroskopie und PCR der Biopsien weitere 6 % bzw. 5 % der Verdachtsfälle bestätigt werden. Dieser relativ niedrige zusätzliche diagnostische Gewinn ist jedoch in Verbindung mit dem hohen Laboraufwand und den entstehenden Kosten kritisch abzuwägen. Die Daten dieser Arbeit legen nahe, dass Supervision und unterstützendes, regelmäßiges Training des Laborpersonals zur Aufklärung von Faktoren wichtig ist, die die Durchführung und Auswertung diagnostischer Verfahren negativ beeinflussen könnten. Begleitend zur Labordiagnostik durchgeführte EQA-Maßnahmen erscheinen daher essentiell, um die Qualität der Ergebnisse sicherzustellen. Die Qualität der Ergebnisse ist beispielsweise bei der zukünftig denkbaren, vor der Operation durchzuführenden, laborbestätigten Bestimmung der Exzisionsausdehnung von entscheidender Bedeutung. Es war im Rahmen der Studie nicht möglich, visuell eine bakterienfreie Exzisionsweite zu bestimmen. Obwohl die Bakterienkonzentration vom Läsionszentrum zur Peripherie abnimmt, kann makroskopisch gesund erscheinendes, an eine Buruli-Ulkus-Läsion angrenzendes Gewebe M. ulcerans enthalten. Rezidive ließen sich möglicherweise durch die Gabe von antimykobakteriellen Medikamenten, kombiniert mit einer vor der Operation durchgeführten laborunterstützten Bestimmung von bakterienfreien Schnitträndern, vermindern

A Versatile Macromer-Based Glycosaminoglycan (sHA3) Decorated Biomaterial for Pro-Osteogenic Scavenging of Wnt Antagonists

High serum levels of Wnt antagonists are known to be involved in delayed bone defect healing. Pharmaceutically active implant materials that can modulate the micromilieu of bone defects with regard to Wnt antagonists are therefore considered promising to support defect regeneration. In this study, we show the versatility of a macromer based biomaterial platform to systematically optimize covalent surface decoration with high-sulfated glycosaminoglycans (sHA3) for efficient scavenging of Wnt antagonist sclerostin. Film surfaces representing scaffold implants were cross-copolymerized from three-armed biodegradable macromers and glycidylmethacrylate and covalently decorated with various polyetheramine linkers. The impact of linker properties (size, branching) and density on sHA3 functionalization efficiency and scavenging capacities for sclerostin was tested. The copolymerized 2D system allowed for finding an optimal, cytocompatible formulation for sHA3 functionalization. On these optimized sHA3 decorated films, we showed efficient scavenging of Wnt antagonists DKK1 and sclerostin, whereas Wnt agonist Wnt3a remained in the medium of differentiating SaOS-2 and hMSC. Consequently, qualitative and quantitative analysis of hydroxyapatite staining as a measure for osteogenic differentiation revealed superior mineralization on sHA3 materials. In conclusion, we showed how our versatile material platform enables us to efficiently scavenge and inactivate Wnt antagonists from the osteogenic micromilieu. We consider this a promising approach to reduce the negative effects of Wnt antagonists in regeneration of bone defects via sHA3 decorated macromer based macroporous implants. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Increased pore size of scaffolds improves coating efficiency with sulfated hyaluronan and mineralization capacity of osteoblasts

Background: Delayed bone regeneration of fractures in osteoporosis patients or of critical-size bone defects after tumor resection are a major medical and socio-economic challenge. Therefore, the development of more effective and osteoinductive biomaterials is crucial. Methods: We examined the osteogenic potential of macroporous scaffolds with varying pore sizes after biofunctionalization with a collagen/high-sulfated hyaluronan (sHA3) coating in vitro. The three-dimensional scaffolds were made up from a biodegradable three-armed lactic acid-based macromer (TriLA) by cross-polymerization. Templating with solid lipid particles that melt during fabrication generates a continuous pore network. Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) cultivated on the functionalized scaffolds in vitro were investigated for cell viability, production of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bone matrix formation. Statistical analysis was performed using student's t-test or two-way ANOVA. Results: We succeeded in generating scaffolds that feature a significantly higher average pore size and a broader distribution of individual pore sizes (HiPo) by modifying composition and relative amount of lipid particles, macromer concentration and temperature for cross-polymerization during scaffold fabrication. Overall porosity was retained, while the scaffolds showed a 25% decrease in compressive modulus compared to the initial TriLA scaffolds with a lower pore size (LoPo). These HiPo scaffolds were more readily coated as shown by higher amounts of immobilized collagen (+ 44%) and sHA3 (+ 25%) compared to LoPo scaffolds. In vitro, culture of hMSCs on collagen and/or sHA3-coated HiPo scaffolds demonstrated unaltered cell viability. Furthermore, the production of ALP, an early marker of osteogenesis (+ 3-fold), and formation of new bone matrix (+ 2.5-fold) was enhanced by the functionalization with sHA3 of both scaffold types. Nevertheless, effects were more pronounced on HiPo scaffolds about 112%. Conclusion: In summary, we showed that the improvement of scaffold pore sizes enhanced the coating efficiency with collagen and sHA3, which had a significant positive effect on bone formation markers, underlining the promise of using this material approach for in vivo studies. © 2019 The Author(s)

Comparative Study of the Sensitivity of Different Diagnostic Methods for the Laboratory Diagnosis of Buruli Ulcer Disease

Background. Several diagnostic laboratory methods are available for case confirmation of Buruli ulcer disease. This study assessed the sensitivity of various diagnostic tests in relation to clinical presentation of the disease, type of diagnostic specimen, and treatment history. Methods. Swab samples, 3-mm punch biopsy tissue specimens, and surgically excised tissue specimens from 384 individuals with suspected Buruli ulcer disease were obtained at 9 different study sites in Ghana and were evaluated with dry reagent-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR), microscopic examination, culture, and histopathological analysis. The study subjects presented with nonulcerative and ulcerative lesions and were divided into 3 treatment groups: (1) previously untreated patients scheduled for antimycobacterial treatment, (2) patients treated with surgery alone, and (3) patients treated with surgery in combination with previous antimycobacterial treatment. Results. Of 384 suspected cases of Buruli ulcer disease, 268 were confirmed by at least 1 positive test result. The overall sensitivity of PCR (85%) was significantly higher than that of microscopic examination (57%) and culture (51%). After data were stratified by treatment group, type of lesion, and diagnostic specimen type, analysis revealed that PCR of 3-mm punch biopsy tissue specimens (obtained from previously untreated nonulcerative lesions) and of swab samples (obtained from previously untreated ulcers) had the highest diagnostic sensitivity (94% and 90%, respectively). Although duration of the disease did not significantly influence the sensitivity of any test, previous antimycobacterial treatment was significantly associated with decreased sensitivity of PCR and culture. Conclusions. Across all subgroups, PCR had the highest sensitivity. PCR assessment of 3-mm punch biopsy tissue specimens proved to be the best diagnostic tool for nonulcerative lesions, and PCR assessment of swab samples was the best diagnostic tool for ulcerative lesions. For monitoring of antimycobacterial treatment success within controlled trials, however, only culture is appropriat

Liberty County Strategic Plan 2016 - 2036

In the fall of 2015, the County of Liberty and Texas Target Communities partnered to create a task force to represent the community. The task force was integral to the planning process, contributing the thoughts, desires, and opinions of community members—as well as their enthusiasm about Liberty’s future. This fourteen-month planning process ended in August 2016. The result of this collaboration is the County of Liberty Strategic Plan, which is the official policy guide for the community’s growth over the next twenty years.Liberty Strategic Plan 2036 provides a guide for the future growth of the county. This document was developed by Texas Target Communities in partnership with the County of Liberty

An Adaptive Web-based Learning Module for the Problem-based Application of Remote Sensing in Schools – Prototype within an Educational Design Research Study. GI_Forum|GI_Forum 2016, Volume 1 – open:spatial:interfaces|

The learning module “Drought in California” presented here is part of an adaptive web-based learning platform developed in the framework of the Space4Geography project, funded by the German Aerospace Centre (Space Administration). The project seeks to facilitate the application of satellite images in schools and to enable students to work with original remote-sensing data on geographic questions. The development process of the module was informed scientifically by Educational Design Research. The research approach involves practitioners and scientists in the development process and aims to (1) ensure the practice-oriented, motivating and learning-efficient character of the learning module, and (2) contribute to educational theory in the field of remote-sensing education. This paper presents the prototype of the adaptive learning module, the development of which was based on results from an analysis of national curricula and an online survey on requirements for a learning environment. This prototype will be evaluated and developed further in several test cycles before being implemented in school practice

An Adaptive Web-based Learning Module for the Problem-based Application of Remote Sensing in Schools – Prototype within an Educational Design Research Study. GI_Forum|GI_Forum 2016, Volume 1 – open:spatial:interfaces|

The learning module “Drought in California” presented here is part of an adaptive web-based learning platform developed in the framework of the Space4Geography project, funded by the German Aerospace Centre (Space Administration). The project seeks to facilitate the application of satellite images in schools and to enable students to work with original remote-sensing data on geographic questions. The development process of the module was informed scientifically by Educational Design Research. The research approach involves practitioners and scientists in the development process and aims to (1) ensure the practice-oriented, motivating and learning-efficient character of the learning module, and (2) contribute to educational theory in the field of remote-sensing education. This paper presents the prototype of the adaptive learning module, the development of which was based on results from an analysis of national curricula and an online survey on requirements for a learning environment. This prototype will be evaluated and developed further in several test cycles before being implemented in school practice

Productivity and Oil Content in Relation to Jatropha Fruit Ripening under Tropical Dry-Forest Conditions

Jatropha is promoted as a pro-poor bioenergy plant, while basic information about its productivity, age of maximum production, and oil content are missing. This study aims to determine the seed yield (dry weight) for three INIAP elite jatropha accessions, and to evaluate the changes in physical and chemical seed traits at the different fruit ripening stage in a split-plot design. Maximum seed production occurred four years after planting for the accessions CP041 and CP052, while for accession CP054, it occurred after the first year. CP041 was the most productive, with a mean of 316.46 g tree−1 year−1 (±76.50) over the 8-year study period. No significant differences in oil content were found among accessions, fruit ripening stage, and their respective interactions. Seed moisture content decreased drastically as the fruit ripening stage increased, from 40.5% ± 1.0% at fruit ripening stage 1 (greenish-yellow) down to 13.8% ± 0.4% at fruit ripening stage 4 (black-brown). No significant differences in seed weight were found among accessions, but it decreased as maturation progressed. Yellow fruits (stage 2) were the heaviest (62.4 g ± 1.5 g) and the black-brown fruits the lightest (44.3 g ± 1.9 g). The oil content (%) increased with seed weight up to the point of 58.3 g, but then decreased for heavier seeds

A Versatile Macromer-Based Glycosaminoglycan (sHA3) Decorated Biomaterial for Pro-Osteogenic Scavenging of Wnt Antagonists

High serum levels of Wnt antagonists are known to be involved in delayed bone defect healing. Pharmaceutically active implant materials that can modulate the micromilieu of bone defects with regard to Wnt antagonists are therefore considered promising to support defect regeneration. In this study, we show the versatility of a macromer based biomaterial platform to systematically optimize covalent surface decoration with high-sulfated glycosaminoglycans (sHA3) for efficient scavenging of Wnt antagonist sclerostin. Film surfaces representing scaffold implants were cross-copolymerized from three-armed biodegradable macromers and glycidylmethacrylate and covalently decorated with various polyetheramine linkers. The impact of linker properties (size, branching) and density on sHA3 functionalization efficiency and scavenging capacities for sclerostin was tested. The copolymerized 2D system allowed for finding an optimal, cytocompatible formulation for sHA3 functionalization. On these optimized sHA3 decorated films, we showed efficient scavenging of Wnt antagonists DKK1 and sclerostin, whereas Wnt agonist Wnt3a remained in the medium of differentiating SaOS-2 and hMSC. Consequently, qualitative and quantitative analysis of hydroxyapatite staining as a measure for osteogenic differentiation revealed superior mineralization on sHA3 materials. In conclusion, we showed how our versatile material platform enables us to efficiently scavenge and inactivate Wnt antagonists from the osteogenic micromilieu. We consider this a promising approach to reduce the negative effects of Wnt antagonists in regeneration of bone defects via sHA3 decorated macromer based macroporous implants

Assessing ecosystem services for informing land-use decisions: a problem-oriented approach

Assessments of ecosystem services (ES), that aim at informing decisions on land management, are increasing in number around the globe. Despite selected success stories, evidence for ES information being used in decision making is weak, partly because ES assessments are found to fall short in targeting information needs by decision makers. To improve their applicability in practice, we compared existing concepts of ES assessments with focus on informing land use decisions and identified opportunities for enhancing the relevance of ES assessments for decision making. In a process of codesign, building on experience of four projects in Brazil, China, Madagascar, and Vietnam, we developed a step-wise approach for better targeting ES assessments toward information needs in land use decisions. Our problem-oriented approach aims at (1) structuring ES information according to land use problems identified by stakeholders, (2) targeting context-specific ES information needs by decision makers, and (3) assessing relevant management options. We demonstrate how our approach contributes to making ES assessments more policy relevant and enhances the application of ES assessments as a tool for decision support