Loss of Cx43 in Murine Sertoli Cells Leads to Altered Prepubertal Sertoli Cell Maturation and Impairment of the Mitosis-Meiosis Switch.

Male factor infertility is a problem in today's society but many underlying causes are still unknown. The generation of a conditional Sertoli cell (SC)-specific connexin 43 (Cx43) knockout mouse line (SCCx43KO) has provided a translational model. Expression of the gap junction protein Cx43 between adjacent SCs as well as between SCs and germ cells (GCs) is known to be essential for the initiation and maintenance of spermatogenesis in different species and men. Adult SCCx43KO males show altered spermatogenesis and are infertile. Thus, the present study aims to identify molecular mechanisms leading to testicular alterations in prepubertal SCCx43KO mice. Transcriptome analysis of 8-, 10- and 12-day-old mice was performed by next-generation sequencing (NGS). Additionally, candidate genes were examined by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. NGS revealed many significantly differentially expressed genes in the SCCx43KO mice. For example, GCspecific genes were mostly downregulated and found to be involved in meiosis and spermatogonial differentiation (e.g., Dmrtb1, Sohlh1). In contrast, SC-specific genes implicated in SC maturation and proliferation were mostly upregulated (e.g., Amh, Fshr). In conclusion, Cx43 in SCs appears to be required for normal progression of the first wave of spermatogenesis, especially for the mitosis-meiosis switch, and also for the regulation of prepubertal SC maturation

Singlet oxygen generation as a major cause for parasitic reactions during cycling of aprotic lithium-oxygen batteries

Non-aqueous metal–oxygen batteries depend critically on the reversible formation/decomposition of metal oxides on cycling. Irreversible parasitic reactions cause poor rechargeability, efficiency, and cycle life, and have predominantly been ascribed to the reactivity of reduced oxygen species with cell components. These species, however, cannot fully explain the side reactions. Herewe showthat singlet oxygen forms at the cathode of a lithium–oxygen cell during discharge and from the onset of charge, and accounts for the majority of parasitic reaction products. The amount increases during discharge, early stages of charge, and charging at higher voltages, and is enhanced by the presence of tracewater. Superoxide and peroxide appear to be involved in singlet oxygen generation. Singlet oxygen traps and quenchers can reduce parasitic reactions effectively. Awareness of the highly reactive singlet oxygen in non-aqueous metal–oxygen batteries gives a rationale for future research towards achieving highly reversible cell operation

disease-related interest and educational needs of chronic heart failure patients

Thematik: Patientenschulungen haben sich für diverse Erkrankungen als effektiv und effizient erwiesen. Die individuellen Schulungsbedürfnisse von Patienten mit chronischer Herzinsuffizienz wurden bisher kaum untersucht. Methode: In Kooperation des Instituts für Psychotherapie und Medizinische Psychologie mit der Medizinischen Poliklinik und der Medizinischen Klinik der Universität Würzburg wurden 60 Patienten sowie 23 Angehörige anhand eines standardisierten Interviews bezüglich Ihrer Schulungsbedürfnisse befragt. Das Bedürfnis nach mehr Mitsprache bei der Behandlung wurde über Fallvignetten erfasst. Ergebnisse: Es besteht bei 51 % der Patienten ein klares Interesse, an einer Patientenschulung teilzunehmen, wobei das Interesse negativ mit dem Alter korreliert (p=0,00). Bei vorgegebenen Schulungsinhalten zeigt mehr als die Hälfte der Patienten Interesse für medizinische Themen wie Risikofaktoren, Funktion des Herzens sowie Symptomatik. Informationen zu gesunder Ernährung oder Bewegungsprogrammen werden von den Patienten weniger gewünscht, psychosoziale Inhalte wie Krankheits-und Stressbewältigung werden nur von einem Drittel der Patienten gewünscht. Seelisch belastete Patienten interessieren sich mehr für psychosoziale Inhalte. Die Hälfte der befragten Patienten wünscht sich ein partnerschaftliches Arzt-Patient-Verhältnis. Diese Patienten sind tendenziell jünger (p=0,01) und zeigen größeres Schulungsinteresse (p=0,00). Die Angehörigen der Patienten zeigen mit 61 % großes Schulungsinteresse. Das Interessensprofil ist jedoch anders als bei den Patienten. Schlussfolgerung: Im Rahmen einer Patientenschulung sollten in Bezug auf Alter, Inhalte und Didaktik verschiedene Gruppen gebildet werden. Die Zielvorstellungen Empowerment und Shared-Decision-Making werden nicht von allen Patienten getragen. Ein Curriculum auch für Angehörige wird gewünscht.Objectives: Patient education programs have turned out to be quite effective with regard to the treatment of various diseases. The individual needs of heart failure patients to obtain information about their disease have hardly been investigated till now. Methods: In cooperation of the Institute for Psychotherapy and Medical Psychology with the Outpatients` Departement and the Clinic for Internal Diseases of the University of Würzburg, 60 patients and 23 family members were questioned about their interest in patient education. A standardized interview was used. Their needs for empowerment to act as a partner in shared-decision-making in questions relating to the treatment of their disease were recorded by means of a case vignette. Results: 51 % of the patients are definitely interested in participating in patient education programs, but the degree of their interest was negatively correlated with their age (p = 0,00). Given the choice of possible educational topics, the majority of the patients voted for topics as e.g. risk factors, function of the heart as well as information on symptoms of the disease. Information on form of nutrition, fitness programs or psychosocial topics, as e.g. how to cope with illness and stress proved to be on minor interest. Psychologically distressed patients are more likely to respond to psychosocial issues. About 50 % of the patients interviewed prefer a cooperative physician-patient-relationship. These patients tend to be younger (0,01) and show a stronger inclination to participate in patient education (p = 0,00). The patients family members´(61 %) interest in education is considerable, too, although their fields of interest differ from those of the patients. Conclusion: Patients should be trained in various groups; in setting up those groups, the patients`age, the educational topics they are interested in as well as the adequate teaching methods should be taken into consideration. Empowerment and shared-decision making are not among the patients`general interests. A curriculum for family members of patients suffering from heart failure would be desirable, too

Opgewekte kunstverhalen : Bij dementie gezamenlijk kunst opnieuw ontdekken

Het Zwitserse Centrum voor Gerontologie van de Universiteit van Zürich werkt samen met de Alzheimervereniging Zürich, Sanatorium Kilchberg, Kunsthaus Zürich, gemeente Horgen, verpleeghuis Entlisberg, ouderencentrum Zürich, zorgorganisatie pflegimuri en Kunsthaus Aarau, aan een project waarin kunst en dementie samenkomen. Het door het centrum geïnitieerde project Opgewekte Kunstverhalen zet aan tot het op creatieve wijze verhalen vertellen door mensen met dementie op basis van opvallende afbeeldingen en schilderijen. Dit proces verloopt door middel van het stellen van open vragen. Het programma bestaat sinds 2012 in Zwitserland, en is gebaseerd op de TimeSlips-methode. Deze werkwijze is ontwikkeld door de cultureel antropologe Anne Basting uit de Verenigde Staten, en heeft als basis het samen met mensen met dementie bekijken van afbeeldingen. Deze methode wordt in Zwitserland toegepast in het Kunsthaus Zürich met de aldaar tentoongestelde schilderijen. Het gaat in dit project om het op fantasierijke wijze samenstellen en vertellen van een verhaal en de groepservaring die tijdens dit proces wordt opgedaan. Wat telt is de spontane actie van het verhalen vertellen door de persoon die aan het woord is, die op een niet-oordelende bejegening kan rekenen, en de interactie tussen vragensteller en de persoon met dementie wat het creatieve proces bevordert. Bij aanvang van een nieuwe sessie wordt aan de deelnemers het verhaal van de voorafgaande sessie voorgelezen, als een aanmoediging om het proces in de sessie op gang te brengen

Mit Demenz und Fantasie zu gemeinsamen Geschichten : Die TimeSlips-Methode

Anhand von Bildern werden in Gruppensitzungen Menschen mit Demenz zum Erfinden von Fantasiegeschichten animiert, die wortgetreu protokolliert und als Zusammenfassung bei den nächsten Treffen eingebracht werden – ohne gezielte Biografiearbeit, mit Freude am gemeinsamen Tun aller Beteiligten. Diese in Amerika entwickelte kreative Methode wird vom Zentrum für Gerontologie (ZfG) Zürich nun erstmals in der Schweiz angewendet, unter anderem auch in einem Museum vor ausgewählten Kunstwerken

Loss of Cx43 in Murine Sertoli Cells Leads to Altered Prepubertal Sertoli Cell Maturation and Impairment of the Mitosis-Meiosis Switch.

Male factor infertility is a problem in today's society but many underlying causes are still unknown. The generation of a conditional Sertoli cell (SC)-specific connexin 43 (Cx43) knockout mouse line (SCCx43KO) has provided a translational model. Expression of the gap junction protein Cx43 between adjacent SCs as well as between SCs and germ cells (GCs) is known to be essential for the initiation and maintenance of spermatogenesis in different species and men. Adult SCCx43KO males show altered spermatogenesis and are infertile. Thus, the present study aims to identify molecular mechanisms leading to testicular alterations in prepubertal SCCx43KO mice. Transcriptome analysis of 8-, 10- and 12-day-old mice was performed by next-generation sequencing (NGS). Additionally, candidate genes were examined by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. NGS revealed many significantly differentially expressed genes in the SCCx43KO mice. For example, GCspecific genes were mostly downregulated and found to be involved in meiosis and spermatogonial differentiation (e.g., Dmrtb1, Sohlh1). In contrast, SC-specific genes implicated in SC maturation and proliferation were mostly upregulated (e.g., Amh, Fshr). In conclusion, Cx43 in SCs appears to be required for normal progression of the first wave of spermatogenesis, especially for the mitosis-meiosis switch, and also for the regulation of prepubertal SC maturation