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BACKGROUND: Neuromodulation is a therapeutic option to improve limb salvage in end-stage peripheral arterial disease (PAD), but there is no consensus on its indication for spinal cord stimulation (SCS) in PAD patients. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to present the outcome of end-stage PAD patients treated with SCS. METHODS: This study is a retrospective analysis based on a local prospective registry. Neuromodulation was performed if there was: 1) no revascularisation option, 2) no septicemia, 3) and Rutherford stage 4–6. The primary endpoint of the study was limb salvage. Secondary endpoints were reduction in pain or simply pain reduction pain (assessed using a visual anlog scale/VAS) and improvement in walking distance. RESULTS: Limb salvage was reached in 30/34 patients (88%). Patients reported a significant reduction in pain on the 10-point VAS scale from baseline (median = 7.5, IQR = 7–8) to follow-up at 2 years (median = 0, IQR 0–2.75), p < 0.001. Walking distance also improved from preoperative (median = 50 m, IQR = 20–50 m) to follow-up at 2 years (median = 150 m, IQR 50–272 m), p < 0.001. RESULTS: SCS implantation in patients with end-stage PAD can enable limb salvage in a high percentage of cases and increase mobility due to pain reduction. The role of microcirculation in these improvements needs to be investigated in further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Absorption spectra of polycrystalline samples of LiUF6, α-NaUF6, and CsUF6 have been recorded at 4, 77, and 298 K. This group of compounds has a common sixfold U–F coordination that approaches an octahedral site symmetry for LiUF6 but exhibits increasing trigonal distortion (D3d symmetry) along the indicated series. Spectra have been systematically interpreted as consisting of sequences of vibronic transitions coupled to well-defined electronic excited states. Crystal-field calculations have been performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Almost a hundred years ago, the Russian filmmaker Lev Kuleshov conducted his now famous editing experiment in which different objects were added to a given film scene featuring a neutral face. It is said that the audience interpreted the unchanged facial expression as a function of the added object (e.g., an added soup made the face express hunger). This interaction effect has been dubbed “Kuleshov effect.” In the current study, we explored the role of sound in the evaluation of facial expressions in films. Thirty participants watched different clips of faces that were intercut with neutral scenes, featuring either happy music, sad music, or no music at all. This was crossed with the facial expressions of happy, sad, or neutral. We found that the music significantly influenced participants’ emotional judgments of facial expression. Thus, the intersensory effects of music are more specific than previously thought. They alter the evaluation of film scenes and can give meaning to ambiguous situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent evidence suggests that regulatory pathways might control sustained high levels of FOXP3 in regulatory CD4+CD25hi T (Treg) cells. Based on transcriptional profiling of ex vivo activated Treg and helper CD4+CD25− T (Th) cells we have identified GARP (glycoprotein-A repetitions predominant), LGALS3 (lectin, galactoside-binding, soluble, 3) and LGMN (legumain) as novel genes implicated in human Treg cell function, which are induced upon T-cell receptor stimulation. Retroviral overexpression of GARP in antigen-specific Th cells leads to an efficient and stable re-programming of an effector T cell towards a regulatory T cell, which involves up-regulation of FOXP3, LGALS3, LGMN and other Treg-associated markers. In contrast, overexpression of LGALS3 and LGMN enhance FOXP3 and GARP expression, but only partially induced a regulatory phenotype. Lentiviral down-regulation of GARP in Treg cells significantly impaired the suppressor function and was associated with down-regulation of FOXP3. Moreover, down-regulation of FOXP3 resulted in similar phenotypic changes and down-regulation of GARP. This provides compelling evidence for a GARP-FOXP3 positive feedback loop and provides a rational molecular basis for the known difference between natural and transforming growth factor-β induced Treg cells as we show here that the latter do not up-regulate GARP. In summary, we have identified GARP as a key receptor controlling FOXP3 in Treg cells following T-cell activation in a positive feedback loop assisted by LGALS3 and LGMN, which represents a promising new system for the therapeutic manipulation of T cells in human disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrite weathering in the unsaturated zone of overburden material was investigated in column experiments. Optodes were used to monitor changes in oxygen concentrations. Oxygen recharge in the vadose zone and effects of secondary reactions were investigated. Oxygen transport limits thickness and the rate of the depyritisation. The overburden material (thickness 0.6 m, initial pyrite content 1.2 wt%) was depyritised within 200 days. The position of the pyrite decomposition front, the momentary release of reaction products and the remaining acidification potential can be determined. Buffer capacity, speciation and seepage water velocity are crucial for the distribution of the reaction products and the resulting acidification (minimum pH 1.6). A total of 75% of the protons were consumed by buffering reactions and 15% were fixed to complexes. Only 10% of the protons are represented by the measured pH value. In oxygen-consuming environments optical oxygen measurements can be used to identify and quantify structures and processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The amino acid analogue selenomethionine (SeMet) is shown to be efficiently incorporated into recombinant proteins expressed in Escherichia coli grown in a simple minimal medium without the addition of synthetic amino acids. Furthermore, satisfactory SeMet incorporation is obtained with a methionine-prototrophic strain transformed with commonly used vector systems. As examples, purified tryparedoxin 1 from Crithidia fasciculata, alkylhydroperoxide reductase (AhpC) from Mycobacterium marinum and the 16-kDa antigen from M. tuberculosis are shown to be efficiently labelled with SeMet, using the culture conditions and the host/vector systems described here. Enzymatic analysis reveals no differences between native and SeMet-labelled tryparedoxin 1 enzyme. Both proteins yield crystals under similar conditions. The culture conditions and host vector systems described greatly facilitate selenium-labelling of proteins for 3-D structure determination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) constitute a family of at least 20 structurally related heparin-binding polypeptides active in regulating cell growth, survival, differentiation and migration. FGF9, originally discovered as a glia-activating factor, shares 30% sequence identity with other FGFs and has a unique spectrum of target-cell specificity. FGF9 crystallized in the tetragonal space group I41, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 151.9, c = 117.2 Å. The structure of the glycosylated protein has been refined to an R value of 21.0% with Rfree = 24.8%) at 2.6 Å resolution. The four molecules in the asymmetric unit are arranged in two non-crystallographic dimers, with the dimer interlace composed partly of residues from N- and C-terminal extensions from the FGF core structure. Most of the receptor-binding residues identified in FGF1- and FGF2-receptor complexes are buried in the dimer interlace, with the β8-β9 loop stabilized in a particular conformation by an intramolecular hydrogen-bonding network. The potential heparin-binding sites are in a pattern distinct from FGF1 and FGF2. The carbohydrate moiety attached at Asn79 has no structural influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

EBT and nuclear cardiology are complementary, noncompetitive modalities for evaluating patients with suspected or known coronary atherosclerosis; they are partners, not antagonists. The inevitable dissemination of EBT will have an impact on SPECT imaging by dramatically and appropriately increasing the number of nuclear stress imaging procedures; available imaging resources may be insufficient. Application of Bayes' theorem indicates that restricting SPECT imaging to only the higher calcium score individuals will significantly improve its positive predictive accuracy in the primary prevention population by eliminating those with a low pretest likelihood. It will also increase the ability of the nuclear stress test to yield a more definitive posttest likelihood by increasing the disease prevalence to the approximately 50% range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation of 3 meat reference materials (bovine muscle, bovine liver and pig kidney) and the steps taken to confirm their homogeneity and stability are described. Details are presented of a preliminary intercomparison and of the final collaborative exercise which led to the certification of the contents of 9 elements of toxicological and nutritional importance. Indicative values are given for the contents of a further 9 elements in these materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This 4-6-year prospective follow-up study compared reactive depressives with ( n=48) and without suicide attempts before index admission ( n=24). Both groups showed a favourable course and outcome concerning psychiatric diagnoses (DSM-III), psychopathology, social integration, and social functioning as well as displaying a nearly identical course and outcome. In both groups, two patients committed suicide attempts during the follow-up period. 2 (1) male patients from the group with suicide attempts committed suicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]