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Abstract Background Patient registries provide long-term, real-world evidence that aids the understanding of the natural history and progression of disease, and the effects of treatment on large patient populations with rare diseases. The year 2021 marks the 20th anniversary of the Fabry Outcome Survey (FOS), an international, multicenter, observational registry (NCT03289065). The primary aims of FOS are to broaden the understanding of Fabry disease (FD), an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder, and to improve the clinical management of affected patients. Here, we review the history of FOS and the analyses and publications disseminated from the registry, and we discuss the contributions FOS studies have made in understanding FD. Results FOS was initiated in April 2001 and, as of January 2021, 4484 patients with a confirmed diagnosis and patient informed consent have been enrolled from 144 centers across 26 countries. Data from FOS have been published in nearly 60 manuscripts on a wide variety of topics relevant to FD. Analyses of FOS data have investigated the long-term effectiveness and safety of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with agalsidase alfa and its effects on morbidity and mortality, as well as the benefits of prompt and early treatment with agalsidase alfa on the progression of cardiomyopathy and the decline in renal function associated with FD. Based on analyses of FOS data, ERT with agalsidase alfa has also been shown to improve additional signs and symptoms of FD experienced by patients. FOS data analyses have provided a better understanding of the natural history of FD and the specific populations of women, children, and the elderly, and have provided practical tools for the study of FD. FOS has also provided methodology and criteria for assessing disease severity which contributed to the continuous development of medical practice in FD and has largely improved our understanding of the challenges and needs of long-term data collection in rare diseases, aiding in future rare disease real-world evidence studies. Conclusion FOS over the last 20 years has substantially increased the scientific knowledge around improved patient management of FD and continues to expand our understanding of this rare disease.

Abstract Inborn errors of metabolism are predominantly autosomal-recessive disorders, but several follow an X-linked pattern of inheritance. They are called X-linked recessive, if the female carriers are asymptomatic, and are called X-linked dominant disorders, if almost all females are affected. Conditions, in which some females have symptoms while others are asymptomatic lifelong are simply referred to as X-linked. The aim of this review is to point out the variability in clinical manifestation of affected females in some X-linked metabolic disorders and to discuss on the basis of these examples possible mechanisms that may explain the broad phenotypic spectrum, such as the type of the underlying mutation, the issue of autonomous versus non-autonomous gene expression and the degree of skewing of X-inactivation. The use of the terms “X-linked dominant” and “X-linked recessive” will be discussed.

Farmers and consultants face an unmanageable amount of diverse knowledge and information for crop management decisions. To determine optimal actions, decision makers require knowledge-based support. In this way, decisions can be improved and heuristics can be replaced over time. The study presents a digital knowledge base with an integrated decision support system (DSS), using the example of nutrient supply, specifically nitrogen (N), fertilization. Therefore, the requirements of farmers and crop consultants for DSS to inform fertilization decisions for winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were elaborated using surveys, expert interviews, and a prototype test. Semantic knowledge was enriched by expert knowledge and combined in a web application, the Crop Portal. To map regional and personal decision making patterns and experiences, the tacit knowledge on the complex advisory problem of N fertilization is made digitally usable. For this purpose, 16 fuzzy variables were specified and formalized. Individual decision trees and their interactions with an integrative knowledge base were used to multiply the consulting reach of experts. Using three consultants and nine model farms from different soil–climate areas in Germany, the Crop Portal was tested under practical conditions and the perceived pragmatic and hedonic quality of the system was evaluated using a standardized questionnaire. The field test showed that the variation in fertilizer recommendations from the ‘digital advisor twin’ ranged from 5 kg N ha−1 to 16 kg N ha−1 when compared with the decisions of the experts in the field. The study presents the participatory development and evaluation of a rule-based DSS prototype in agricultural practice.

This is a retrospective analysis of Fabry Outcome Survey data from children/adults (n = 677) receiving agalsidase alfa enzyme replacement therapy for a median of 3 years, examining cerebrovascular, cardiac, and renal morbidity endpoints separately. Cardiac events occurred at younger ages than cerebrovascular or renal events, cerebrovascular events were more frequent in females than males, and males were more likely to experience cardiac and renal events at a younger age than females.

Abstract Background Many of the genetic childhood disorders leading to death in the pre- or neonatal period or during early childhood follow autosomal recessive modes of inheritance and bear specific challenges for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnostics. Parents are carriers but clinically unaffected, and diseases are rare but have recurrence risks of 25% in the same family. Often, affected children (or fetuses) die before a genetic diagnosis can be established, post-mortem analysis and phenotypic descriptions are insufficient and DNA from affected fetuses or children is not available for later analysis. A genetic diagnosis showing biallelic causative mutations is, however, the requirement for targeted carrier testing in parents and prenatal and preimplantation genetic diagnosis in further pregnancies. Methods We undertook targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) for carrier screening of autosomal recessive lethal disorders in 8 consanguineous and 5 non-consanguineous couples with one or more affected children. We searched for heterozygous variants (non-synonymous coding or splice variants) in parents’ DNA, using a set of 430 genes known to be causative for rare autosomal recessive diseases with poor prognosis, and then filtering for variants present in genes overlapping in both partners. Putative pathogenic variants were tested for cosegregation in affected fetuses or children where material was available. Results The diagnosis for the premature death in children was established in 5 of the 13 couples. Out of the 8 couples in which no causative diagnosis could be established 4 consented to undergo further analysis, in two of those a potentially causative variant in a novel candidate gene was identified. Conclusions For the families in whom causative variants could be identified, these may now be used for prenatal and preimplantation genetic diagnostics. Our data show that NGS based gene panel sequencing of selected genes involved in lethal autosomal recessive disorders is an effective tool for carrier screening in parents and for the identification of recessive gene defects and offers the possibility of prenatal and preimplantation genetic diagnosis in further pregnancies in families that have experienced deaths in early childhood and /or multiple abortions.

Abstract Background Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II; Hunter syndrome) is a rare, X-linked disorder caused by deficient activity of the enzyme iduronate-2-sulfatase (I2S). Treatment is available in the form of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with recombinant I2S. Clinical outcomes following ≥3 years of ERT with idursulfase were investigated in a broad population of patients with MPS II enrolled in the Hunter Outcome Survey (HOS). Methods As of January 2016, 639 patients (excluding female patients, individuals who had received a bone marrow transplant and those enrolled in the phase 1/2 [TKT018] or phase 2/3 [TKT024] clinical trial) followed prospectively in the registry had received idursulfase for ≥6 months. These individuals all had data available for ≥1 clinical parameter at baseline and ≥1 additional time point following treatment initiation. Changes in clinical parameters were assessed in the subcohorts of patients with a measurement at baseline and at year 1, 2 or 3 of treatment. Safety data from patients who started treatment at or after enrollment in HOS (n = 233) were also assessed. Results Median (10th, 90th percentiles) age at first treatment was 6.2 (2.1, 18.2) years and median treatment duration was 56.3 (18.2, 97.6) months. Urinary glycosaminoglycan (uGAG) levels decreased from baseline to year 3 in patients with data available at this time point (median change from baseline: −201.0 [−591.4, −21.9] μg/mg creatinine [n = 121]). Improvements in the following parameters were observed at year 3 in the subcohorts: 6-min walking test (6MWT) distance, 10.6 (−33.6, 50.8)% (n = 26); left ventricular mass index (LVMI), −9.3 (−31.5, 19.7)% (n = 52); absolute forced vital capacity (FVC), 29.7 (−13.4, 66.7)% (n = 23); absolute forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), 22.8 (−15.2, 62.1) % (n = 22); palpable liver size, −54.5 (−85.7, 50.0)% (n = 53); palpable spleen size, −33.3 (−80.0, 33.3)% (n = 17). No new or unexpected safety concerns were identified in this analysis. Conclusions These findings suggest that idursulfase has a positive effect on uGAG levels, 6MWT results, LVMI, FVC, FEV1 and hepatosplenomegaly after 1, 2 and 3 years treatment.

Abstract Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II; Hunter syndrome; OMIM 309900) is a rare lysosomal storage disease with progressive multisystem manifestations caused by deficient activity of the enzyme iduronate-2-sulfatase. Disease-specific treatment is available in the form of enzyme replacement therapy with intravenous idursulfase (Elaprase®, Shire). Since 2005, the Hunter Outcome Survey (HOS) has collected real-world, long-term data on the safety and effectiveness of this therapy, as well as the natural history of MPS II. Individuals with a confirmed diagnosis of MPS II who are untreated or who are receiving/have received treatment with idursulfase or bone marrow transplant can be enrolled in HOS. A broad range of disease- and treatment-related information is captured in the registry and, over the past decade, data from more than 1000 patients from 124 clinics in 29 countries have been collected. Evidence generated from HOS has helped to improve our understanding of disease progression in both treated and untreated patients and has extended findings from the formal clinical trials of idursulfase. As a long-term, global, observational registry, various challenges relating to data collection, entry, and analysis have been encountered. These have resulted in changes to the HOS database platform, and novel approaches to maximize the value of the information collected will also be needed in the future. The continued evolution of the registry should help to ensure that HOS provides further insights into the burden of the disease and patient care and management in the coming years.

Measuring of the center of pressure (CoP) is one of the most frequently used quantitative methods for quantifying postural performance. The aim of the study is to describe differentiation criteria in the CoP-track for the clinical picture of chronic unspecific back pain. In this study, dynamic models loaded with multi-variable controls are used to determine whether biomechanical questions for upright posture can be answered. These models are particularly well suited for investigating the kinematics and the influence of the influencing disturbance variables. These investigations are extended by power density spectrum (PSD) analyses of CoP measurements on 590 subjects with and without chronic non-specific back pain. Pain patients show an average of 0.5 Nm2 more area under the spectrum than the pain-free reference group. In the power density spectrum different frequency ranges can be assigned to specific body oscillation. Among others, the frequency range between 0.5–0.8 Hz corresponds to the hip movement. In the range around 0.2 Hz, the movements are reflected in the upper body. Patients with back pain experience less activity in certain, individual areas.

ABSTRACT Human-associated archaea remain understudied in the field of microbiome research, although in particular methanogenic archaea were found to be regular commensals of the human gut, where they represent keystone species in metabolic processes. Knowledge on the abundance and diversity of human-associated archaea is extremely limited, and little is known about their function(s), their overall role in human health, or their association with parts of the human body other than the gastrointestinal tract and oral cavity. Currently, methodological issues impede the full assessment of the human archaeome, as bacteria-targeting protocols are unsuitable for characterization of the full spectrum of Archaea. The goal of this study was to establish conservative protocols based on specifically archaea-targeting, PCR-based methods to retrieve first insights into the archaeomes of the human gastrointestinal tract, lung, nose, and skin. Detection of Archaea was highly dependent on primer selection and the sequence processing pipeline used. Our results enabled us to retrieve a novel picture of the human archaeome, as we found for the first time Methanobacterium and Woesearchaeota (DPANN superphylum) to be associated with the human gastrointestinal tract and the human lung, respectively. Similar to bacteria, human-associated archaeal communities were found to group biogeographically, forming (i) the thaumarchaeal skin landscape, (ii) the (methano)euryarchaeal gastrointestinal tract, (iii) a mixed skin-gastrointestinal tract landscape for the nose, and (iv) a woesearchaeal lung landscape. On the basis of the protocols we used, we were able to detect unexpectedly high diversity of archaea associated with different body parts. IMPORTANCE In summary, our study highlights the importance of the primers and data processing pipeline used to study the human archaeome. We were able to establish protocols that revealed the presence of previously undetected Archaea in all of the tissue samples investigated and to detect biogeographic patterns of the human archaeome in the gastrointestinal tract and on the skin and for the first time in the respiratory tract, i.e., the nose and lungs. Our results are a solid basis for further investigation of the human archaeome and, in the long term, discovery of the potential role of archaea in human health and disease.

Metastases to the skeletal system are commonly observed in cancer patients, highly affecting the patients' quality of life. Imaging plays a major role in detection, follow-up, and molecular characterisation of metastatic disease. Thus, imaging techniques have been optimised and combined in a multimodal and multiparametric manner for assessment of complementary aspects in osseous metastases. This review summarises both application of the most relevant imaging techniques for bone metastasis in preclinical models and the clinical setting.

Outcomes from 5 years of treatment with agalsidase alfa enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) for Fabry disease in patients enrolled in the Fabry Outcome Survey (FOS) were compared with published findings for untreated patients with Fabry disease. Data were extracted from FOS, a Shire-sponsored database, for comparison with data from three published studies. Outcomes evaluated were the annualized rate of change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and left ventricular mass indexed to height (LVMI) as well as time to and ages at a composite morbidity endpoint and at death. FOS data were extracted for 740 treated patients who were followed for a median of ~ 5 years. Compared with no treatment, patients treated with agalsidase alfa demonstrated slower decline in renal function and slower progression of left ventricular hypertrophy. Treated male patients with baseline eGFR

In the last decades, it has become more and more evident that lysosomal storage disorders and common neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases have clinical, neuropathological, and genetic features in common, including lysosomal dysfunction and impaired autophagy. Patients with Gaucher and even carriers of Gaucher disease have an increased risk to develop Parkinson disease. Likewise, individuals who are heterozygous for a mutation of a gene that causes an adult form of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis are more likely to be affected by a form of frontotemporal dementia in their later life. A further example is the gene NAGLU encoding the enzyme α- N -acetylglucosaminidase, which is deficient in patients with mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIB. Mutations of the NAGLU gene have been observed in patients affected by an axonal neuropathy. An interesting unexpected finding was the link between stuttering and genes that are essential for the function of all lysosomal enzymes. This review will present some example of the association of lysosomal storage disorders and neurodegenerative disease and discuss possible pathogenic mechanisms that are common to both conditions. The understanding of the pathophysiology of the endosomal–lysosomal–autophagic system may help to develop drugs, which might provide benefit not only for patients with rare lysosomal storage disorders but also for individuals affected by more common diseases.

The measurement of the center of pressure (CoP) is one of the most frequently used quantitative methods for quantifying postural performance. Due to the complexity and the high biological variability of the postural control loop, a large number of different methods and parameters have been established to describe the CoP process. Furthermore, the methodological conditions such as the foot position, visual condition, sampling duration, and the data processing also have a relevant influence on the measurement results. In addition, there are various methods for recording the pressure curve, which differ in particular with regard to the filters used, the frequencies, and measurement times. The aim of the present study was the methodical comparison between different digital filters, measurement frequencies and times, and their effects on the CoP process based on a healthy reference group. The data acquisition was done with LabVIEW and the data storage was organized in a subject oriented data structure. Based on the presented results it could be seen that with a different dominant frequency in the spectrum of the group of test persons, certain filter types are required for the processing of CoP data. In the sampling range from 300 Hz to 1 kHz in the bipedal stand and 600 Hz to 1 kHz in the monopedal stand, the choice of measurement frequency had no influence on the filter result.

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) panels are used widely in clinical diagnostics to identify genetic causes of various monogenic disease groups including neurometabolic disorders and, more recently, lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs). Many new challenges have been introduced through these new technologies, both at the laboratory level and at the bioinformatics level, with consequences including new requirements for interpretation of results, and for genetic counseling. We review some recent examples of the application of NGS technologies, with purely diagnostic and with both diagnostic and research aims, for establishing a rapid genetic diagnosis in LSDs. Given that NGS can be applied in a way that takes into account the many issues raised by international consensus guidelines, it can have a significant role even early in the course of the diagnostic process, in combination with biochemical and clinical data. Besides decreasing the delay in diagnosis for many patients, a precise molecular diagnosis is extremely important as new therapies are becoming available within the LSD spectrum for patients who share specific types of mutations. A genetic diagnosis is also the prerequisite for genetic counseling, family planning, and the individual choice of reproductive options in affected families.

The Fabry Outcome Survey (FOS) is an international long-term observational registry sponsored by Shire for patients diagnosed with Fabry disease who are receiving or are candidates for therapy with agalsidase alfa (agalα). Established in 2001, FOS provides long-term data on agalα safety/efficacy and collects data on the natural history of Fabry disease, with the aim of improving clinical management. The FOS publications have helped establish prognostic and severity scores, defined the incidence of specific disease variants and implications for clinical management, described clinical manifestations in special populations, confirmed the high prevalence of cardiac morbidity, and demonstrated correlations between ocular changes and Fabry disease severity. These FOS data represent a rich resource with utility not only for description of natural history/therapeutic effects but also for exploratory hypothesis testing and generation of tools for diagnosis/management, with the potential to improve future patient outcomes.

The center of pressure (CoP) is one of the most utilized quantitative measurements describing postural competency. Due to the complexity and biological variability of postural regulatory systems, a myriad of different methods and parameters have been established describing the CoP trajectory. Besides procedural variables, such as foot position, visual condition, and sampling duration, the method of data collection itself has a relevant effect on the result of the measurement. Furthermore, different methods for recording the measured data have been developed, which differ regarding the filters, frequencies, and test durations used. The goal of this study was the methodical comparison of various filters, measurement frequencies, and measurement duration, with respect to their effects on the CoP trajectory. Based on the results presented, we demonstrate that the Butterworth and Bessel filters can be recommended for analysis of CoP data, and at the very least, a second-order filter should be chosen for the process. For assessment of the cutoff frequency, a technical pendulum was used to show that a cutoff frequency of 13 Hz provided reliable data and it can be inferred that a 100 Hz sampling rate would be the minimum requirement.

Michael BeckChildren’s Hospital, University of Mainz, Mainz, GermanyAbstract: Pompe disease is a lysosomal storage disorder characterized by muscle weakness and cardiomyopathy. It shows a broad variability regarding the clinical severity as well as the age of onset. In the past, two different recombinant enzyme preparations have been developed for the treatment of Pompe patients: α-glucosidase, produced in rabbit milk, and α-glucosidase, produced in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines. The CHO enzyme received marketing approval in 2006 after it was proven to be effective in ameliorating muscle strength and improving heart function. The other has not been approved. The clinical efficacy of this enzyme preparation could be confirmed by several clinical trials in patients with different age of onset and disease severity. Enzyme replacement therapy, however, has its limitations due to unsatisfactory access of recombinant α-glucosidase to the muscle cells and due to the formation of antibodies. To overcome these therapeutic restraints, the development of a more effective enzyme preparation may become necessary.Keywords: alglucosidase alfa, alpha glucosidase, Pompe disease, enzyme replacement therapy, glycogen storage disorder type II, acid maltase deficiency

Ocular signs in Fabry disease have generally been regarded to be primarily of diagnostic value. We explored whether ocular findings, alone or in particular in combination with the α-galactosidase A gene mutation, have predictive value for disease severity. Data from the Fabry Outcome Survey (FOS), a large, global database sponsored by Shire, were selected for adult patients who had undergone ophthalmological examination. Three ocular signs were assessed: cornea verticillata, tortuous conjunctival and/or retinal vessels, and cataract. Fabry disease severity was measured using FOS Mainz Severity Score Index and modifications thereof. Ophthalmological data were available for 1203 (699 female, 504 male) adult patients with eye findings characteristic of Fabry disease in 55.1%. Cornea verticillata had a similar distribution in women (51.1%) and men (50.8%), whereas tortuous vessels and Fabry cataract were somewhat more frequent in men than in women. Patients with cornea verticillata, selected as the principal ocular sign for this study, had more severe disease (median score, 20.0) versus those without ocular signs (11.0; P

Brain structural alterations and neuropsychiatric symptoms have been described repeatedly in Fabry disease, yet cognitive deficits have been shown to be only mild. Here, we aimed to investigate neuropsychiatric symptoms and brain structure longitudinally. We expected no clinically relevant increase of neuropsychiatric symptoms in parallel to increased brain structural alterations. We assessed 14 Fabry patients (46.1 ± 10.8 years) who had participated in our investigation eight years ago. Patients engaged in neuropsychiatric testing, as well as structural magnetic resonance imaging and angiography to determine white matter lesions, hippocampal volume, and the diameter of the larger intracranial arteries. While Fabry patients did not differ on cognitive performance, they showed progressive and significant hippocampal volume loss over the 8-year observation period. White matter lesions were associated with older age and higher white matter lesion load at baseline, but did not reach statistical significance when comparing baseline to follow-up. Likewise, intracranial artery diameters did not increase significantly. None of the imaging parameters were associated with the neuropsychiatric parameters. Depression frequency reduced from 50% at baseline to 21% at follow-up, but it did not reach significance. This investigation demonstrates clinical stability in cognitive function, while pronounced hippocampal atrophy is apparent throughout the 8 years. Our middle-aged Fabry patients appeared to compensate successfully for progressive hippocampal volume loss. The hippocampal volume decline indicates brain regional neuronal involvement in Fabry disease.

In recent years, there has been intensified development of cost-effective alternatives to conventional force plates, such as those of Kistler and AMTI, in clinical and scientific research. To our knowledge, the evidence for existing validity and reliability of the HUMAC Balance System has so far been lacking. Over the course of the study, the HUMAC Balance System, which is based on the WII Balance Board technology, was tested. 26 HUMAC Balance Systems in conjunction with 2 force plates, each from the manufacturers Kistler and AMTI, were examined and their properties under static and dynamic conditions were evaluated. Under static conditions, the HUMAC Balance System revealed a relatively constant and comparatively small margin of displacement error. However, tests of the force plates under dynamic conditions revealed contrasting results. The conventional force plates, with a margin of error of 2.5%, proved to have a smaller margin of error compared to the HUMAC Balance System, which had margins of error of 8.6% and 6.1% in x and y directions, respectively. A calibration method was developed to overcome these systematic deviations. After applying the calibration, the Balance Board margin of error was reduced to an acceptable maximum of 0.18%.

Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II or Hunter syndrome) is a rare, inherited disorder caused by deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme iduronate-2-sulfatase. As a result of this deficiency, glycosaminoglycans accumulate in lysosomes in many tissues, leading to progressive multisystemic disease. The cardiopulmonary and neurological problems associated with MPS II have received considerable attention. Orthopedic manifestations are common but not as well characterized. This study aimed to characterize the prevalence and severity of orthopedic manifestations of MPS II and to determine the relationship of these signs and symptoms with cardiovascular, pulmonary and central nervous system involvement. Orthopedic manifestations of MPS II were studied using cross-sectional data from the Hunter Outcome Survey (HOS). The HOS is a global, physician-led, multicenter observational database that collects information on the natural history of MPS II and the long-term safety and effectiveness of enzyme replacement therapy. As of January 2009, the HOS contained baseline data on joint range of motion in 124 males with MPS II. In total, 79% of patients had skeletal manifestations (median onset, 3.5 years) and 25% had abnormal gait (median onset, 5.4 years). Joint range of motion was restricted for all joints assessed (elbow, shoulder, hip, knee and ankle). Extension was the most severely affected movement: the exception to this was the shoulder. Surgery for orthopedic problems was rare. The presence of orthopedic manifestations was associated with the presence of central nervous system and pulmonary involvement, but not so clearly with cardiovascular involvement. Orthopedic interventions should be considered on an individual-patient basis. Although some orthopedic manifestations associated with MPS II may be managed routinely, a good knowledge of other concurrent organ system involvement is essential. A multidisciplinary approach is required.

The objective of this study was to compare the impact energy absorption of three mouthguard materials in three environments. Thirty specimens with 12.7 cm × 12.7 cm × 4 mm dimensions were prepared for each material: ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA, T&S Dental and Plastics), Pro-form™ (Dental Resources Inc), and PolyShok™ (Sportsguard Laboratories). Ten specimens of each material were conditioned for 1 h at 37°C in three environments: dry (ambient) condition, deionized water and artificial saliva. Specimens were impacted at 20 mph by a 0.5-inch diameter indenter containing a force transducer (Dynatup Model 9250 HV, Instron Corp), based upon ASTM Standard D3763. Energy absorption was determined from the area under the force–time curve during impact (approximately 5 or 7 ms depending on the material). Groups were compared using anova and the Tukey test. Energy absorption values, normalized to specimen thickness (mean ± SD in J mm−1), were: (i) Dry: EVA 4.73 ± 0.27, Pro-form™ 3.55 ± 0.25, PolyShok™ 6.32 ± 0.24; (ii) DI water: EVA 4.82 ± 0.40, Pro-form™ 3.78 ± 0.33, PolyShok™ 5.87 ± 0.38; (iii) Artificial saliva: EVA 5.63 ± 0.49, Pro-form™ 4.01 ± 0.54, PolyShok™ 6.37 ± 0.55. PolyShok™ was the most energy-absorbent material in all three environments. EVA was significantly more impact resistant than Pro-form™ in all three environments. EVA and Pro-form™ performed significantly better after saliva conditioning than dry or water conditioned, but PolyShok™ did not show any difference in energy absorption when conditioned in any of the three environments. Characteristic deformation patterns from impact loading were observed with an SEM for each material. The superior energy absorption for PolyShok™ is attributed to the polyurethane additive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background  To describe the ocular changes noted in seven patients with type VI mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS VI) during 44 months of follow-up while on enzyme replacement therapy (ERT). Methods  One male and six female patients with MPS VI were followed-up for a mean period of 44 months while undergoing enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with recombinant arylsulfatase B (Naglazyme™). They were examined annually for visual acuity, corneal clouding, intraocular pressure (IOP), optic nerve head and fundus morphology. Corneal clouding was documented by photography. We acknowledge that our methodology may not have been sensitive enough to detect extremely mild ocular changes, including minimal increases in corneal thickness or clouding. Nevertheless, this limitation has been considered in the interpretation of our findings. Results  Ophthalmological findings remained stable in 5/7 patients. One patient experienced a modest improvement in visual acuity of more than 2 Snellen lines in one eye, while another patient suffered a deterioration in visual acuity of more than 2 Snellen lines in both eyes. Five out of seven patients showed optic nerve pathology: two of these exhibited optic nerve head swelling, while the other three showed variable degrees of optic nerve atrophy. All seven patients suffered from the typical corneal stromal opacities, however, to variable extents. Conclusion  Visual function and ocular findings did not deteriorate in six out of seven MPS VI patients during a mean follow-up period of 3 and a half years on ERT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  Fabry disease, an X-linked inborn error of metabolism, is characterized by multi-organ involvement including cardiac signs of left ventricular hypertrophy and abnormal intima-medial (IMT) thickening of arteries, progressive renal failure, neurological involvement, and more. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) and an enzyme producing vitamin D3 result in an autocrine loop with direct effects on blood vessels. The purpose of this study is to assess VDR polymorphisms (BsmI, FokI, ApaI, and TaqI) relative to clinically important disease parameters using a disease-specific severity score (MSSI) and haplotype analysis. There were statistically significant differences between females (43% of 74 patients) and males in MSSI total scores, and in general and neurologic sub-scores. There appears to be a protective effect of the TaqI tt genotype so that there were significantly lower scores in clinical categories between those with the tt genotype versus those with the TT genotype. Multivariate models of haplotypes with MSSI scores reveal that T-A-f-B and t-a-F-b haplotypes of the VDR gene polymorphisms are significantly associated with variation in the Fabry phenotype. Despite the limitations of using the MSSI score as a clinical correlate, these results are provocative and further studies in larger cohorts with more males are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  The different types (I–VII) of mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS), a hereditary lysosomal storage disorder where the enzyme defect leads to glycosaminoglycan deposits in different tissues, present with characteristic lesions of the central nervous system (CNS). This review reports the CT and MRI findings of patients suffering from mucopolysaccharidosis in the context with aspects of biochemistry, pathophysiology, histological findings and clinical course. Neuroradiological findings include hydrocephalus, focal or global brain atrophy, and spinal cord compression at the atlantoaxial joint. Cribriform white matter lesions, corresponding to mucopolysaccharide deposition in the enlarged perivascular space, combined with leukencephalopathy are found in about half of the patients. Another half of the patients show minor to severe myelopathy at the atlantoaxial joint due to cervical cord compression. These findings are observed mainly in patients with MPS type IV, but as well in nearly all patients with MPS type VI. In the literature brain involvement is described exclusively in MPS type I, II and III, but the authors show definite demyelination and widening of the perivascular space in a number of patients with MPS type VI, who additionally suffered from progressive visual deficits, caused by ocular and/or optic nerve involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Surface texture with a height of 4.5 nm was fabricated on two types of pico-sliders using argon plasma etching. The nominal flying height of the sliders was 5 and 7 nm, respectively. Laser Doppler vibrometry (LDV) was used to investigate the dynamics of the textured and untextured sliders during steady-state flying and during contact start/stop (CSS). During steady-state flying, the texture was found to significantly reduce both rigid body slider vibration modes and air-bearing modes. During CSS, the amplitude of both out-of-plane and in-plane vibrations was found to be reduced as a consequence of the texture on the slider surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To assess the extent to which the German public supports the allocation of financial resources to the care of people with alcoholism and to research on alcoholism as compared with other conditions. Methods: 5025 interviews were conducted in the scope of a representative survey in Germany during May and June of 2001, using a personal, fully structured interview. Results: Respondents most frequently selected alcoholism as the disease for which medical care expenditures could be spared and cut down and on which research funds should neither be spent in the first place nor should be spent at all. Conclusion: Our study shows that despite the spread of the concept 'alcoholism is an illness', this disease is still treated 'unfavourably' compared to other conditions. Health campaigns that increase the public's awareness that alcoholism is not a personal failure but an illness with severe medical and social consequences may help reduce the public acceptance of structural discrimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]