Search

Brain inflammation plays a central role in multiple sclerosis (MS). Besides lymphocytes, the astroglia and microglia mainly contribute to the cellular composition of the inflammatory infiltrate in MS lesions. Several studies were able to demonstrate that cortical lesions are characterized by lower levels of inflammatory cells among activated microglia/macrophages. The underlying mechanisms for this difference, however, remain to be clarified. In the current study, we compared the kinetics and extent of microglia and astrocyte activation during early and late cuprizone-induced demyelination in the white matter tract corpus callosum and the telencephalic gray matter. Cellular parameters were related to the expression profiles of the chemokines Ccl2 and Ccl3. We are clearly able to demonstrate that both regions are characterized by early oligodendrocyte stress/apoptosis with concomitant microglia activation and delayed astrocytosis. The extent of microgliosis/astrocytosis appeared to be greater in the subcortical white matter tract corpus callosum compared to the gray matter cortex region. The same holds true for the expression of the key chemokines Ccl2 and Ccl3. The current study defines a model to study early microglia activation and to investigate differences in the neuroinflammatory response of white vs. gray matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) are both characterized by new bone formation in the spine but presumably have a different pathogenesis. This study was undertaken to compare the natural course of new bone formation in AS and DISH. Methods Lateral radiographs of the cervical and lumbar spine from AS and DISH patients obtained at ≥2 time points within 6 years were analyzed to quantify osteophyte development. Radiographs were scored in a blinded manner by 2 readers using the modified Stoke AS Spine Score (mSASSS). Bone spurs were categorized as having an angle of <45° or >45°. Results AS patients (n = 146) were younger than DISH patients (n = 141) (mean ± SD 54.2 ± 12.3 years versus 60.3 ± 7.7 years). Symptom duration (mean ± SD) was 23.6 ± 11.2 years in AS patients and 21.6 ± 12.4 years in DISH patients. The mSASSS at baseline was lower in DISH patients (mean ± SD 14.3 ± 6.7) than in AS patients (20.5 ± 14.5) but had increased by a similar amount at followup (3.3 ± 4.2 versus 4.1 ± 9.5). The mean mSASSS progression rate per year (1.3 units) was also comparable. The mean ± SD number of syndesmophytes per patient was higher in AS (5.7 ± 5.5) than DISH (2.7 ± 2.8) patients (P < 0.001), while degenerative bone spurs (mean ± SD) were more frequent in DISH (1.4 ± 1.8) than AS (1.0 ± 1.4) patients. AS patients developed more new bone spurs with an angle of <45° than >45° per patient (mean ± SD 2.1 ± 2.7 versus 0.6 ± 0.9) (P < 0.001), while similar amounts of both types of bone formation were seen in DISH patients. Conclusion Our findings indicate that the rates of new bone formation in AS and DISH are largely similar. Both groups show osteophyte development, but as expected, syndesmophytes are more frequent in AS patients while DISH patients have more degenerative bone spurs. The nature of the different mechanisms of bone formation needs further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce a new sensor technology for measuring plethysmographic parameters, i.e., for pulse oximetry, particularly in mobile people. The sensor uses the auditory canal as a measuring site, plus a novel light path through the tissue of the auditory canal's wall for continuously and reliably measuring arterial oxygen saturation and heart rate under mobile conditions. Measurements with this sensor technology reveal a good ratio in combination with excellent signal quality - ideal prerequisites to make pulse oximetry a continuous unobtrusive mobile monitoring technology. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The between-laboratory effects on behavioral phenotypes and spatial learning performance of three strains of laboratory mice known for divergent behavioral phenotypes were evaluated in a fully balanced and synchronized study using a completely automated behavioral phenotyping device (IntelliCage). Activity pattern and spatial conditioning performance differed consistently between strains, i.e. exhibited no interaction with the between-laboratory factor, whereas the gross laboratory effect showed up significantly in the majority of measures. It is argued that overall differences between laboratories may not realistically be preventable, as subtle differences in animal housing and treatment will not be controllable, in practice. However, consistency of strain (or treatment) effects appears to be far more important in behavioral and brain sciences than the absolute overall level of such measures. In this respect, basic behavioral and learning measures proved to be highly consistent in the IntelliCage, therefore providing a valid basis for meaningful research hypothesis testing. Also, potential heterogeneity of behavioral status because of environmental and social enrichment has no detectable negative effect on the consistency of strain effects. We suggest that the absence of human interference during behavioral testing is the most prominent advantage of the IntelliCage and suspect that this is likely responsible for the between-laboratory consistency of findings, although we are aware that this ultimately needs direct testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Monatsschrift Kinderheilkunde is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Reports on the growth in situ of the crystals of N-(trifluoromethyl)formamide, N-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)formamide and 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl isocyanide, on an X-ray diffractometer and analysis by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods at low temperatures. Crystal data obtained; Presence of the crystals of both formamides as Z isomer.

The effects of the cytokines interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-1, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α on the serotoninergic transmission in the nucleus raphe dorsalis (NRD) were studied after peripheral and central application. The studies were performed in the freely moving rat using differential pulse voltammetry with multicarbon fibre electrodes to study the extracellular levels of the serotonin (5-HT) metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA). The extracellular 5-HIAA levels were not changed in the NRD after peripheral application of rat recombinant IFN-γ, but elevated by the cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α. After intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) application the cytokines IFN-γ, IL-1β and TNF-α stimulated the serotoninergic transmission in the NRD. Our data suggest that the effect of peripherally elevated cytokine concentrations on the serotonin metabolism in the NRD of the rat is cytokine-dependent. In this respect the T-cell and NK-cell cytokine IFN-γ acts clearly different when compared to the mainly macrophage-derived cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α, and plays a different role in the communication between immune and central nervous system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inclusive alpha particle and deuteron spectra from collisions of 156 MeVLi-ions withC andPb were measured at extreme forward emission angles including zero degree. The measurements were performed with the Karlsruhe magnetic spectrograph 'Little John' and required an efficient reduction of the background from small-angle scattering. The observed double differential cross sections and angular distributions have been analysed on the basis of Serber's spectator break-up model. When going to angles smaller than grazing, where Coulomb effects are expected to be dominating, transitional features may appear. Corresponding effects probably associated with Coulomb break-up are observed with thePb-target and require a slight extension of the Serber approach. In the case of theC-target the break-up cross sections in forward direction seem to reflect the shape of the internal momentum distribution of the alpha particle and deuteron cluster in theLi-projectile and are in agreement with a 2 S-type wave function. However, at larger angles the shape appears to be distorted, possibly by final state interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intermediate mass fragment cross-sections σ(E, θ, 4≤ Z≤11) have been measured in the reactionLi+Ti at 156 MeV incident energy. A simple sequential binary decay model describes most of the Z>8 data as evaporation from the compound nucleus. The complete fusion cross-section is also well reproduced. An intermediate velocity source model ( β=2 β, T=7 MeV) has been used in order to explain the small angle and Z≤8 data which indicate a Z dependence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differential cross sections have been measured for the elastic and inelastic scattering of 104 MeV alpha-particles fromZr. The experimental data are analyzed in terms of coupled channels on the basis of a flexible anharmonic vibrator model and using different parametrizations of the radial shape of the extended optical potential. The results favour the squared Saxon-Woods type for the real part. Additionally to a radial momentum analysis of the real potentials a semimicroscopic folding model has been applied for extracting isoscalar quadrupole and hexadecapole transition rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The break-up of 156 MeVLi ions colliding withC,Ni,Zr,Sn andPb has been experimentally studied. It was found that the break-up cross section decreases rapidly with increasing emission angles of the fragments and increases with increasing target mass. It comprises a fairly large fraction of the total reaction cross section. The observed features suggest that theLi fragmentation is mainly a peripheral process, and is dominated by the cluster properties of the incident projectile. A simple plane-wave break-up model gives a rather good description of the shapes of the break-up bumps. The angular distributions of the fragments emitted in theLi+Pb reaction reveal the transition from peripheral break-up to incomplete fusion processes by which beam-velocity fragments are captured by the target nucleus. In addition to the ( α+d) dissociation the (He+ t) break-up has been observed, but the triton spectra appear to be rather complex indicating further components due to more complicated reaction paths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excitation functions of the compound nuclear reactionsIr,Au(Li, xn+yp) for x =3-13 and y=0-2 have been investigated by means of in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy at the 156 MeVLi beam of the Karlsruhe Isochronous Cyclotron. The beam energy has been varied in the range of 48 to 156 MeV in steps of about 10 MeV by Be-absorber foils in the external beam line. Absolute cross sections have been determined by normalizing the measured γ-ray intensities to the production cross sections of K- X-rays in the target. The experimental excitation functions are discussed on the basis of predictions of the preequilibrium (hybrid) model. While in most cases the theoretical calculations fairly well reproduce energy position and shapes of the curves, strong discrepancies in the absolute scale of the cross sections are observed. The theoretical predictions overestimate the (Li, xn) cross sections by a factor of about 6. Conspicuous anomalies have been detected when comparing the (Li, xn+1(2)p) reactions with (Li, xn) reactions. The reactions with emission of one or two protons are considerably enhanced. The discrepancies and anomalies observed are tentatively explained by the influence of direct reaction channels as theLi break-up, which experimentally proved to be the dominant contribution to the total reaction cross section. The enhancement of the reactions with emission of protons may be a consequence of transfer reactions into highly excited states combined with compound nucleus formation thus implying a cluster effect in preequilibrium emission process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differential cross sections for elastic and inelastic scattering of 104 MeV α-particles fromPb were measured with high angular accuracy. The experimental results were analysed on the basis of a semimicroscopic folding model in order to determine the matter distributions at the nuclear surface and the transition densities. Using phenomenological parametrizations of the densities the analyses of elastic scattering yield rms radii of 〈 r〉=5.55±0.06 (Pb), 5.57±0.06 (Pb), 5.63±0.05 (Pb) fm. Various sensitivities affecting the results were studied. From the inelastic cross sections for the 3-states octupole transition probabilities and transition radii were derived by using different methods proposed in literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excited levels ofEu have been investigated by nuclear spectroscopy methods. We measured γ-rays and conversion electron singles spectra as well as γγ-coincidences from mass separatedGd sources (108 s) prepared after the irradiation ofSm with 78 MeV α-particles. In addition in-beam data were obtained by measuring γ-ray singles spectra, angular distributions and γγ-coincidences, following theSm(α, 4n + p, γ) reaction. A level scheme forEu comprising 19 levels is proposed, spin assignments or at least restrictions are given. The deduced experimental level scheme can be reproduced semiquantitatively by a generalized decoupling model which takes into account an asymmetric deformation of the core and a variable moment of inertia. Additionally, the results are discussed in the limit of the weak coupling model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Materiaux et Constructions is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Archives of Gynecology & Obstetrics is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Archives of Gynecology & Obstetrics is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)