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Five new Ly49 genes, named Ly49j-n, have recently been identified in C57BL/6 mice. This study examined the expression of three of these new genes, Ly49j, k, and n. To determine whether the Ly49j, k, and n genes were transcribed, gene-specific primers were used to amplify cDNA clones for each gene from C57BL/6 interleukin-2-activated natural killer (NK) cell cDNA. A full-length cDNA for Ly49j was detected which encodes a 267 amino acid protein and shares approximately 96% nucleotide identity with Ly49c and i. COS cells transfected with the Ly49j cDNA were shown to react with the monoclonal antibody 8H7, suggesting that the gene likely encodes a functional protein. Many different sized Ly49k and n transcripts were observed, although it is likely that they do not encode functional proteins due to missing exons or severe truncations in the open reading frames. Interestingly, the most abundant Ly49j transcript detected was shown to lack exon 3, which encodes the transmembrane domain. Similar studies performed on the same source of NK cell cDNA using Ly49c- and i-specific primers revealed the presence of transmembrane-less Ly49i transcripts, although at a much lower frequency than observed for Ly49j. We also detected Ly49g and h transcripts lacking the transmembrane domain. Despite the absence of the transmembrane region, the resulting Ly49 transcripts maintain their open reading frames, and therefore could potentially encode cytoplasmic proteins with a role in NK cell function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, higher education worldwide had to switch to digital formats. The purpose of this study was to evaluate CoRad-19, a digital teaching tool created by the German Radiological Society for medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic., Materials and Methods: A total of 13 German-speaking universities implemented CoRad-19 in their curriculum and partially or completely replaced their classes with the online courses. Previous experience and contact with radiology and the participants' opinions regarding the medium of e-learning were surveyed using a custom questionnaire. The subjective level of knowledge regarding the individual modules was also surveyed before and after participation to measure learning effects. The data of 994 medical students from the participating sites were analyzed and compared intraindividually using the Friedman test., Results: From 4/1/2020-10/1/2020, 451 complete data sets from a total of 994 surveys were included. E-learning was rated "very useful" both before and after course participation (4 [IQR 3-4], p = 0.527, r = 0.16). E-learning as a method was also rated as a "very good" medium both before and after participation (4 [IQR 3-4], p = 0.414, r = 0.17). After participation, participants rated radiology as particularly suitable for digital teaching (before: 3 [IQR 3-4] vs. after 4 [IQR 3-4], p = 0.005, r = 0.6). Significant learning gains were measurable in all course modules (p ≤ 0.009). Post-hoc analysis showed interest in radiology to increase significantly after course participation (p = 0.02)., Conclusion: In the representative survey, significant learning effects were observed in all course modules. In addition, it should be particularly emphasized that the students' interest in radiology was increased by course participation. Thus, the German Radiological Society provided significant support to German-speaking medical faculties with respect to maintaining excellent education using CoRad-19., Key Point: · Co-Rad-19 course participation results in measurable subjective learning effects and increases student interest in radiology.., Citation Format: · Brendlin AS, Molwitz I, Oechtering TH et al. CoRad-19 - Modular Digital Teaching during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2022; 194: 644 - 651., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Purpose:  Good training is the basis for high job satisfaction and high-quality patient care in radiology. The aim of this survey was to record the current state of working conditions for residents in radiology training in Germany and to focus on the aspects of training and psychosocial workload. The description of the actual state should help to identify possible problem areas and to develop improvement approaches., Materials and Methods:  At the beginning of 2018, we sent an electronic questionnaire to the German Roentgen Society (DRG), the German Association of Chairmen in Academic Radiology (KLR), the Chief Physician Forum of the DRG (CAFRAD) and the Forum of Registered Radiologists (FUNRAD) with the request to forward it to radiology residents. With 63 questions, the questionnaire covered seven essential areas of medical working and training conditions. In order to ensure interdisciplinary comparability, most questions were identical to previous surveys among residents of other disciplines., Results:  643 residents started the survey. 501 (78 %) questionnaires were fully processed and included in the final analysis. 65 % of respondents were satisfied with their current job situation. At the same time, shortcomings, especially with regard to the reconciliation of family and work as well as scientific and clinical work, became clear. Only 36 % of participants with children were satisfied with the compatibility of family and work at their workplace. Only 31 % of the researchers were satisfied with their research conditions. In addition, residents experienced a high psychosocial workload., Conclusion:  Job satisfaction is high among radiology residents in direct comparison to other disciplines. However, based on this survey, adjustments to working conditions and training in radiology seem necessary to maintain the health of the physicians concerned, to encourage motivation for scientific work and to enhance development opportunities, especially for women, through a better compatibility of work and family life. The present survey identifies strategies and leadership tools that can help to achieve this., Key Points:  Residents in radiology training ... · have a relatively high job satisfaction.. · experience a high psychosocial workload.. · evaluate the compatibility of family and work as in need of improvement.. · are interested in research, but evaluate research conditions as insufficient., Citation Format: · Oechtering TH, Panagiotopoulos N, Völker M et al. Work and Training Conditions of German Residents in Radiology - Results from a Nationwide Survey Conducted by the Young Radiology Forum in the German Roentgen Society. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2020; 192: 458 - 469., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

In mice there are two families of MHC class I-specific receptors, namely the Ly49 and CD94/NKG2 receptors. The latter receptors recognize the nonclassical MHC class I Qa-1(b) and are thought to be responsible for the recognition of missing-self and the maintenance of self-tolerance of fetal and neonatal NK cells that do not express Ly49. Currently, how NK cells acquire individual CD94/NKG2 receptors during their development is not known. In this study, we have established a multistep culture method to induce differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells into the NK cell lineage and examined the acquisition of CD94/NKG2 by NK cells as they differentiate from ES cells in vitro. ES-derived NK (ES-NK) cells express NK cell-associated proteins and they kill certain tumor cell lines as well as MHC class I-deficient lymphoblasts. They express CD94/NKG2 heterodimers, but not Ly49 molecules, and their cytotoxicity is inhibited by Qa-1(b) on target cells. Using RT-PCR analysis, we also report that the acquisition of these individual receptor gene expressions during different stages of differentiation from ES cells to NK cells follows a predetermined order, with their order of acquisition being first CD94; subsequently NKG2D, NKG2A, and NKG2E; and finally, NKG2C. Single-cell RT-PCR showed coexpression of CD94 and NKG2 genes in most ES-NK cells, and flow cytometric analysis also detected CD94/NKG2 on most ES-NK cells, suggesting that the acquisition of these receptors by ES-NK cells in vitro is nonstochastic, orderly, and cumulative.