Un cuarto de siglo con <i>Cartas privadas de emigrantes a Indias</i>. Prácticas y perspectivas de ediciones de cartas transatlánticas en el Imperio español

The article takes the 25th anniversary of Enrique Otte’s letter edition to revise the praxis of this and later similar efforts. We analyze the archival repositories, establish diffe - rent types of letters, and take on the various editorial practices. In the last part, editorial standards are proposed and we emphasize the need to embrace practices of digital humanities (TEI) for future editions.Retomamos el 25.º aniversario de de las Cartas privadas de Enrique Otte para hacer un repaso por las ediciones de similares cartas producidas desde entonces. Se analizan los fondos de los que se han sacado, se establece una tipología de cartas y se revisan las variadas prácticas de edición. También se proponen estándares de edición y se pronuncia por un cambio hacia ediciones digitales (TEI)

Los correos terrestres de Cartagena de Indias en tiempos de la renta (1768-1810): Itinerarios, cartografía, un «mapa en relación topográfica», GPS y un SIG

Seeking to reconstruct the spatial organization of land mail in the area of the General Ad­ministration of Cartagena de Indias, created in 1768, this article is essentially based on two manuscripts, one by José Antonio de Pando (ca. 1774) and an anonymous one from 1801 (probably by Antonio de Miranda). Both documents contain valuable information on frequency of routes, transit locations, distances between them and the quality of roads. Using complemen­tary information such as modern roads, GPS data and georeferenced old maps, the routes are reconstructed in a Geographic Information System (GIS) in a process that at the same time allows us to ponder contemporary practices of measuring and expressing distances.Este artículo ensaya una reconstrucción de la organización espacial del correo terrestre en el ámbito de la administración principal de correos de Cartagena, instalada en 1768. Se apoya esencialmente en dos informes manuscritos, uno de José Antonio de Pando de aproximadamen­te 1774 y otro anónimo (probablemente de Antonio de Miranda) de 1801. Ambos documentos contienen detallada información sobre la frecuencia de las carreras, los lugares de tránsito, las distancias entre ellos y la calidad de caminos. Usando información complementaria como ca­rreteras actuales, datos GPS y mapas de la época georreferenciados, se reconstruyen las rutas con un sistema de información geográfica (SIG) en un proceso que al mismo tiempo permite ponderar sobre las prácticas de medir y expresar distancias en ese tiempo

Differential basolateral–apical distribution of scavenger receptor, class B, type I in cultured cells and the liver

The high-density lipoprotein (HDL) receptor, scavenger receptor class B, type I (SR-BI), mediates selective cholesteryl ester uptake into the liver, which finally results in cholesterol secretion into the bile. Despite several reports, the distribution of hepatic SR-BI between the sinusoidal and canalicular membranes is still under debate. We present immunohistological data using specific markers showing that the bulk of SR-BI is present in sinusoidal membranes and, to a lesser extent, in canalicular membranes in murine and human liver sections. In addition, SR-BI was detected in preparations of rat liver canalicular membranes. We also compared the in vivo findings to HepG2 cells, a widely used in vitro hepatocyte model. Interestingly, SR-BI was enriched in bile canalicular-like (BC-like) structures in polarized HepG2 cells, which were cultivated either conventionally to form a monolayer or in Matrigel to form three-dimensional structures. Fluorescently labeled HDL was transported into close proximity of BC-like structures, whereas HDL labeled with the fluorescent cholesterol analog BODIPY-cholesterol was clearly detected within these structures. Importantly, similarly to human and mouse liver, SR-BI was localized in basolateral membranes in three-dimensional liver microtissues from primary human liver cells. Our results demonstrate that SR-BI is highly enriched in sinusoidal membranes and is also found in canalicular membranes. There was no significant basolateral–apical redistribution of hepatic SR-BI in fasting and refeeding experiments in mice. Furthermore, in vitro studies in polarized HepG2 cells showed explicit differences as SR-BI was highly enriched in BC-like structures. These structures are, however, functional and accumulated HDL-derived cholesterol. Thus, biological relevant model systems should be employed when investigating SR-BI distribution in vitro. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00418-014-1251-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Outcome after Desensitization in HLA or ABO-Incompatible Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Single Center Experience

Background The shortage of deceased donors led to an increase of living donor kidney (LDK) transplantations performed in the presence of donor-specific antibodies (DSA) or ABO incompatibility (ABOi) using various desensitization protocols. Methods We herein analyzed 26 ABOi and 8 Luminex positive DSA patients who were successfully desensitized by anti-CD20, antigen-specific immunoadsorption and/or plasmapheresis to receive an LDK transplant. Twenty LDK recipients with non-donor-specific HLA-antibodies (low risk) and 32 without anti-HLA antibodies (no risk) served as control groups. Results 1-year graft survival rate and renal function was similar in all 4 groups (creatinine: 1.63 +/- 0.5 vs 1.78 +/- 0.6 vs 1.64 +/- 0.5 vs 1.6 +/- 0.3 mg/dl in ABOi, DSA, low risk and no risk group). The incidence of acute T-cell mediated rejections did not differ between the 4 groups (15% vs 12, 5% vs 15% vs 22% in ABOi, DSA, low risk and no risk), while antibody-mediated rejections were only found in the DSA (25%) and ABOi (7.5%) groups. Incidence of BK nephropathy (BKVN) was significantly more frequent after desensitization as compared to controls (5/34 vs 0/52, p = 0.03). Conclusion We demonstrate favorable short-term allograft outcome in LDK transplant recipients after desensitization. However, the desensitization was associated with an increased risk of BKVN

MHC/class-II-positive cells inhibit corticosterone of adrenal gland cells in experimental arthritis: a role for IL-1β, IL-18, and the inflammasome

In experimental arthritis, glucocorticoid secretion is inadequate relative to inflammation. We hypothesized that IL-1 is a key factor for inadequate glucocorticoid secretion in arthritic rats. Collagen type II-induced arthritis (CIA) in DA rats was the model to study effects of IL-1 on adrenal function. In the CIA model, an increase of intraadrenal MHCII-positive cells was observed. MHCII-positive cells or bone marrow-derived dendritic cells inhibited glucocorticoid secretion of adrenal gland cells. IL-1, but also IL-18 and the inflammasome were critical in glucocorticoid inhibition. Arthritic compared to control adrenal gland cells produced higher amounts of CXC chemokines from MHCII+ adrenal cells, particularly CINC-2, which is strongly dependent on presence of IL-1. In CIA, macrophages and/or dendritic cells inhibit glucocorticoid secretion via IL-1 in adrenal glands. These findings show that activated macrophages and/or dendritic cells inhibit glucocorticoid secretion in experimental arthritis and that IL-1 beta is a decisive factor

Membrane Hsp70 — a novel target for the isolation of circulating tumor cells after epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition

The presence of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the peripheral blood is a pre-requisite for progression, invasion, and metastatic spread of cancer. Consequently, the enumeration and molecular characterization of CTCs from the peripheral blood of patients with solid tumors before, during and after treatment serves as a valuable tool for categorizing disease, evaluating prognosis and for predicting and monitoring therapeutic responsiveness. Many of the techniques for isolating CTCs are based on the expression of epithelial cell surface adhesion molecule (EpCAM, CD326) on tumor cells. However, the transition of adherent epithelial cells to migratory mesenchymal cells (epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, EMT)—an essential element of the metastatic process—is frequently associated with a loss of expression of epithelial cell markers, including EpCAM. A highly relevant proportion of mesenchymal CTCs cannot therefore be isolated using techniques that are based on the “capture” of cells expressing EpCAM. Herein, we provide evidence that a monoclonal antibody (mAb) directed against a membrane-bound form of Hsp70 (mHsp70)—cmHsp70.1—can be used for the isolation of viable CTCs from peripheral blood of tumor patients of different entities in a more quantitative manner. In contrast to EpCAM, the expression of mHsp70 remains stably upregulated on migratory, mesenchymal CTCs, metastases and cells that have been triggered to undergo EMT. Therefore, we propose that approaches for isolating CTCs based on the capture of cells that express mHsp70 using the cmHsp70.1 mAb are superior to those based on EpCAM expression

Grenzen - Kulturhistorische Annäherungen

Con autorización de la editorial para este libro.Grenzen haben wieder Konjunktur trotz Globalisierung und Vernetzung. Seit jeher bergen sie die Ambivalenz von Anziehung und Abstoßung, von Trennung und Überschreitung in sich. Doch wie werden und wurden Grenzen konstruiert und gedacht? Welche sozialen, politischen und kulturellen Auswirkungen haben sie? Im vorliegenden Band beschäftigen sich AutorInnen aus geschichts- sowie kulturwissenschaftlicher Perspektive mit unterschiedlichen Phänomenen von Grenzen und Grenzziehungs­prozessen vom 16. bis zum 21. Jahrhundert. Thematisiert werden Konstruktionen und Imaginationen von Souveränität und Identität, Nation Building, Grenzräume als interkulturelle und ökonomische Kontaktzonen im Spannungsfeld von Zentrum und Peripherie, spezifische Funktionen von Grenzräumen sowie die Rolle und Situation von Grenzbevölkerungen. Die Fallbeispiele stammen aus Europa, den Amerikas und den Philippinen und beschäftigen sich auch mit der Symbolik von Grenzen in Film, Computerspielen und Architektur.Eberhard Crailsheim: Die vorliegende Untersuchung ist Teil eines Projekts, das vom Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme der Europäischen Union unter dem Marie Skłodowska-Curie Grant Agreement Nummer 653508 (Phil-Threats) finanziert wurde.Peer reviewe

Benefit in liver transplantation: a survey among medical staff, patients, medical students and non-medical university staff and students

Background: The allocation of any scarce health care resource, especially a lifesaving resource, can create profound ethical and legal challenges. Liver transplant allocation currently is based upon urgency, a sickest-first approach, and does not utilize capacity to benefit. While urgency can be described reasonably well with the MELD system, benefit encompasses multiple dimensions of patients' well-being. Currently, the balance between both principles is ill-defined. Methods: This survey with 502 participants examines how urgency and benefit are weighted by different stakeholders (medical staff, patients on the liver transplant list or already transplanted, medical students and non-medical university staff and students). Results: Liver transplant patients favored the sickest-first allocation, although all other groups tended to favor benefit. Criteria of a successful transplantation were a minimum survival of at least 1 year and recovery of functional status to being ambulatory and capable of all self-care (ECOG 2). An individual delisting decision was accepted when the 1-year survival probability would fall below 50%. Benefit was found to be a critical variable that may also trigger the willingness to donate organs. Conclusions: The strong interest of stakeholder for successful liver transplants is inadequately translated into current allocation rules

Rare variants in LRRK1 and Parkinson's disease

Approximately 20 % of individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) report a positive family history. Yet, a large portion of causal and disease-modifying variants is still unknown. We used exome sequencing in two affected individuals from a family with late-onset PD to identify 15 potentially causal variants. Segregation analysis and frequency assessment in 862 PD cases and 1,014 ethnically matched controls highlighted variants in EEF1D and LRRK1 as the best candidates. Mutation screening of the coding regions of these genes in 862 cases and 1,014 controls revealed several novel non-synonymous variants in both genes in cases and controls. An in silico multi-model bioinformatics analysis was used to prioritize identified variants in LRRK1 for functional follow- up. However, protein expression, subcellular localization, and cell viability were not affected by the identified variants. Although it has yet to be proven conclusively that variants in LRRK1 are indeed causative of PD, our data strengthen a possible role for LRRK1 in addition to LRRK2 in the genetic underpinnings of PD but, at the same time, highlight the difficulties encountered in the study of rare variants identified by next-generation sequencing in diseases with autosomal dominant or complex patterns of inheritance