One thousand plant transcriptomes and the phylogenomics of green plants

Abstract: Green plants (Viridiplantae) include around 450,000–500,000 species1, 2 of great diversity and have important roles in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Here, as part of the One Thousand Plant Transcriptomes Initiative, we sequenced the vegetative transcriptomes of 1,124 species that span the diversity of plants in a broad sense (Archaeplastida), including green plants (Viridiplantae), glaucophytes (Glaucophyta) and red algae (Rhodophyta). Our analysis provides a robust phylogenomic framework for examining the evolution of green plants. Most inferred species relationships are well supported across multiple species tree and supermatrix analyses, but discordance among plastid and nuclear gene trees at a few important nodes highlights the complexity of plant genome evolution, including polyploidy, periods of rapid speciation, and extinction. Incomplete sorting of ancestral variation, polyploidization and massive expansions of gene families punctuate the evolutionary history of green plants. Notably, we find that large expansions of gene families preceded the origins of green plants, land plants and vascular plants, whereas whole-genome duplications are inferred to have occurred repeatedly throughout the evolution of flowering plants and ferns. The increasing availability of high-quality plant genome sequences and advances in functional genomics are enabling research on genome evolution across the green tree of life

Praktische Beitraege zur verhuetung der Tuberkulose.

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needs, current approach, perspectives

A survey concerning the future development of E- Learning was distributed among the faculty and disclosed positive results. The first implementation of E-Learning by using an open source based system was evaluated. Students of the clinical part of the curriculum wish a continuous extension and improvement of E-Learning as a quite exiting multifaceted and also challenging way of learning. The existing technology will be strengthened and expanded. An optimal flow of information between all personnel and processes involved in the educational process can be reached by this way. A detailed analysis of costs and required resources has to follow.In any case, the further development of E-Learning is an important part of the quality of education.Eine Bedarfsumfrage im Studiengang Medizin hinsichtlich einer Weiterentwicklung des E-Learning- Angebots an der Fakultät erbrachte ein positives Resultat. Der erstmalige Einsatz des E-Portals wurde evaluiert. Auch die Studenten wünschen mehrheitlich eine Weiterentwicklung auf diesem Gebiet. Vorerst wird der Ausbau der eigenen Technologie vorangetrieben, wobei möglichst effizient vorhandene Systeme bzw. noch zu beschaffende Einheiten in das Gesamtkonzept integriert werden sollen. Hierdurch soll ein optimaler Informationsfluss zwischen allen am Lehrprozess beteiligten Personenkreisen gewährleistet werden. Eine detaillierte Bedarfs- und Kostenanalyse wird sich anschließen und dabei vor allem auch die personelle Untermauerung noch einmal diskutiert werden müssen. In jedem Fall ist die Weiterentwicklung des E- Learnings an der Fakultät eine der Grundsäulen für die Sicherung und den Ausbau der Qualität der Lehre

Quality Management System of Education at Dresden Faculty of Medicine

Within two years the Faculty of Medicine Dresden introduced a quality management system (QMS) for educational processes. The system underwent a certificational procedure and was certified according to DIN EN ISO 9001:2000. The QMS is based on a manual describing all educational processes. It serves visualization of these processes, identification of links between them and a clear definition of responsibilities. All involved employees of Faculty of Medicine can use the manual to optimize and improve the educational system.Leadership-, core- and supporting processes are described. Procedure instructions and further applicable documents are included.The manual is accessible via Intranet to all employees and "clients" of the Faculty of Medicine.The QMS is a leadership instrument. It relies on the vision of the Dresden Faculty of Medicine which defines short and long term goals and strategies to reach them. Certification procedure was completed with handing over of the certificate to the dean. It is valid for three years and the Faculty of Medicine will be under yearly supervision of certification agency.Nach zweijähriger Einführungszeit führte die Medizinische Fakultät Dresden als erste medizinische Fakultät Deutschlands ein Qualitätsmanagementsystem (QMS) für die Lehre ein und ließ es nach der DIN EN ISO 9001:2000 Norm zertifizieren. Das QMS beruht auf einem Handbuch, welches die wesentlichsten mit der Lehre verbundenen Prozesse beschreibt. Es dient der klaren Prozessvisualisierung, Identifikation der Vernetzungen zwischen den Abläufen und einer ebenso klaren Definition der Verantwortlichkeiten mit Verbindlichkeitscharakter. Es ist eine Handlungsanleitung, auf die alle in die Prozesse der Ausbildung involvierten Kollegen Zugriff haben, mit dem Ziel, alle sich aufzeichnenden Möglichkeiten zur Optimierung zu nutzen und eine Verbesserung des Gesamtsystems kontinuierlich voranzutreiben. Beschrieben werden Führungsprozesse, Kernprozesse und Unterstützungsprozesse.Verfahrensanweisungen wurden erstellt und mitgeltende Unterlagen definiert.Das Managementhandbuch ist als EDV-Version im Intranet (html-Format) verfügbar und jedem Mitarbeiter und "Kunden" zugänglich.Das QMS wird als ein Führungsinstrument verstanden. Das QMS beruht auf den Leitlinien für die Lehre der Fakultät, welche lang- und kurzfristige Ziele und Strategien zur Zielerreichung festlegen.Die Zertifizierung wurde mit der Zertifikatübergabe abgeschlossen. Das Zertifikat ist drei Jahre gültig. In diesem Zeitraum finden jährliche Überwachungsaudits statt

Domain motions accompanying Tet repressor induction defined by changes of interspin distances at selectively labeled sites.

To investigate internal movements in Tet repressor (TetR) during induction by tetracycline (tc) we determined the interspin distances between pairs of nitroxide spin labels attached to specific sites by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. For this purpose, we constructed six TetR variants with engineered cysteine pairs located in regions with presumed conformational changes. These are I22C and N47C in the DNA reading head, T152C/Q175C, A161C/Q175C and R128C/D180C near the tc-binding pocket, and T202C in the dimerization surface. All TetR mutants show wild-type activities in vivo and in vitro. The binding of tc results in a considerable decrease of the distance between the nitroxide groups attached to both I22C residues in the TetR dimer and an increase of the distance between the N47C residues. These opposite effects are consistent with a twisting motion of the DNA reading heads. Changes of the spin-spin interactions between nitroxide groups attached to residues near the tc-binding pocket demonstrate that the C-terminal end of alpha-helix 9 moves away from the protein core upon DNA binding. Alterations of the dipolar interaction between nitroxide groups at T202C indicate different conformations for tc and DNA-bound repressor also in the dimerization area. These results are used to model structural changes of TetR upon induction

Peripartum hemorrhage, diagnostics and treatment. Update of the S2k guidelines AWMF 015/063 from August 2022

The current S2k guidelines on the diagnostics and treatment of peripartum hemorrhage are summarized in this article from the perspective of anesthesiology based on a fictitious case report. The update of the guidelines was written under the auspices of the German Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics with the participation of other professional societies and interest groups from Germany, Austria and Switzerland and published by the AWMF in 2022 under the register number 015/063

Measurements of plasma methoxytyramine, normetanephrine, and metanephrine as discriminators of different hereditary forms of pheochromocytoma

Item does not contain fulltextBACKGROUND: Pheochromocytomas are rare catecholamine-producing tumors derived in more than 30% of cases from mutations in 9 tumor-susceptibility genes identified to date, including von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor (VHL); succinate dehydrogenase complex, subunit B, iron sulfur (Ip) (SDHB); and succinate dehydrogenase complex, subunit D, integral membrane protein (SDHD). Testing of multiple genes is often undertaken at considerable expense before a mutation is detected. This study assessed whether measurements of plasma metanephrine, normetanephrine, and methoxytyramine, the O-methylated metabolites of catecholamines, might help to distinguish different hereditary forms of the tumor. METHODS: Plasma concentrations of O-methylated metabolites were measured by liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection in 173 patients with pheochromocytoma, including 38 with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2), 10 with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), 66 with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome, and 59 with mutations of SDHB or SDHD. RESULTS: In contrast to patients with VHL, SDHB, and SDHD mutations, all patients with MEN 2 and NF1 presented with tumors characterized by increased plasma concentrations of metanephrine (indicating epinephrine production). VHL patients usually showed solitary increases in normetanephrine (indicating norepinephrine production), whereas additional or solitary increases in methoxytyramine (indicating dopamine production) characterized 70% of patients with SDHB and SDHD mutations. Patients with NF1 and MEN 2 could be discriminated from those with VHL, SDHB, and SDHD gene mutations in 99% of cases by the combination of normetanephrine and metanephrine. Measurements of plasma methoxytyramine discriminated patients with SDHB and SDHD mutations from those with VHL mutations in an additional 78% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: The distinct patterns of plasma catecholamine O-methylated metabolites in patients with hereditary pheochromocytoma provide an easily used tool to guide cost-effective genotyping of underlying disease-causing mutations

One thousand plant transcriptomes and the phylogenomics of green plants

Abstract: Green plants (Viridiplantae) include around 450,000–500,000 species1, 2 of great diversity and have important roles in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Here, as part of the One Thousand Plant Transcriptomes Initiative, we sequenced the vegetative transcriptomes of 1,124 species that span the diversity of plants in a broad sense (Archaeplastida), including green plants (Viridiplantae), glaucophytes (Glaucophyta) and red algae (Rhodophyta). Our analysis provides a robust phylogenomic framework for examining the evolution of green plants. Most inferred species relationships are well supported across multiple species tree and supermatrix analyses, but discordance among plastid and nuclear gene trees at a few important nodes highlights the complexity of plant genome evolution, including polyploidy, periods of rapid speciation, and extinction. Incomplete sorting of ancestral variation, polyploidization and massive expansions of gene families punctuate the evolutionary history of green plants. Notably, we find that large expansions of gene families preceded the origins of green plants, land plants and vascular plants, whereas whole-genome duplications are inferred to have occurred repeatedly throughout the evolution of flowering plants and ferns. The increasing availability of high-quality plant genome sequences and advances in functional genomics are enabling research on genome evolution across the green tree of life