An Emerging Approach for Parallel Quantification of Intracellular Protozoan Parasites and Host Cell Characterization Using TissueFAXS Cytometry

Characterization of host-pathogen interactions is a fundamental approach in microbiological and immunological oriented disciplines. It is commonly accepted that host cells start to change their phenotype after engulfing pathogens. Techniques such as real time PCR or ELISA were used to characterize the genes encoding proteins that are associated either with pathogen elimination or immune escape mechanisms. Most of such studies were performed in vitro using primary host cells or cell lines. Consequently, the data generated with such approaches reflect the global RNA expression or protein amount recovered from all cells in culture. This is justified when all host cells harbor an equal amount of pathogens under experimental conditions. However, the uptake of pathogens by phagocytic cells is not synchronized. Consequently, there are host cells incorporating different amounts of pathogens that might result in distinct pathogen-induced protein biosynthesis. Therefore, we established a technique able to detect and quantify the number of pathogens in the corresponding host cells using immunofluorescence-based high throughput analysis. Paired with multicolor staining of molecules of interest it is now possible to analyze the infection profile of host cell populations and the corresponding phenotype of the host cells as a result of parasite load.     

Preclinical Assessment of Adjunctive tPA and DNase for Peritoneal Dialysis Associated Peritonitis

A major complication of peritoneal dialysis is the development of peritonitis, which is associated with reduced technique and patient survival. The inflammatory response elicited by infection results in a fibrin and debris-rich environment within the peritoneal cavity, which may reduce the effectiveness of antimicrobial agents and predispose to recurrence or relapse of infection. Strategies to enhance responses to antimicrobial agents therefore have the potential to improve patient outcomes. This study presents pre-clinical data describing the compatibility of tPA and DNase in combination with antimicrobial agents used for the treatment of PD peritonitis. tPA and DNase were stable in standard dialysate solution and in the presence of antimicrobial agents, and were safe when given intraperitoneally in a mouse model with no evidence of local or systemic toxicity. Adjunctive tPA and DNase may have a role in the management of patients presenting with PD peritonitis.     

Cell sheet technology: a promising strategy in regenerative medicine

Regenerative medicine is a burgeoning field that is important to combat challenging diseases and functional impairments. Compared with traditional cell therapies with evident shortcomings (e.g., cell suspension injection or tissue engineering with scaffolds), scaffold-free cell sheet technology enables transplanted cells to be grafted and fully maintain their viability on target sites. Clinical and experimental studies have advanced the application of cell sheet technology to numerous tissues and organs (e.g., liver, cornea and bone). However, previous reviews have failed to discuss vital aspects of this rapidly developing technology, and many new challenges are gradually emerging. This review aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to cell sheet technology from cell selection to the ultimate applications of cell sheets, and challenges and future visions are also described.     

Über den Einfluß der Kastration auf den Organismus

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Ein Beitrag zur Moosflora von Bosnien

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Patterns of metric variability in the dentition of Papio ursinus

The present investigation assesses a number of explanations for the patterns of variability in dental dimensions. Coefficients of variation were calculated for mesiodistal and buccolingual diameters in a sample of 105 Papio ursinus crania (52 male, 53 female). Variability profiles consisting of arrays of values of coefficients of variation were evaluated by means of Friedman's two-way analysis of variance and Kendall's coefficient of concordance. Although molar teeth were found to be the most dimensionally stable, our results failed to support either the morphogenetic field theory or the occlusal complexity hypothesis. The data presented here are generally supportive of Pengilly's phenotypic complexity theory. However, speciesspecific clustering patterns found in our regressions of dimensional variability on mean tooth size suggest that differences in variability levels might be related to differences in selective pressures.