Comparing phosphorus mobilization strategies using Aspergillus niger for the mineral dissolution of three phosphate rocks.

Phosphorus deficiencies are limiting crop production in agricultural soils worldwide. Locally available sources of raw phosphate rock (PR) are being recognized for their potential role in soil fertility improvement. Phosphorus bioavailability is essential for the efficiency of PRs and can be increased by acid treatments. The utilization of organic acid producing micro-organisms, notably Aspergillus niger, presents a sustainable alternative to the use of strong inorganic acids, but acid production of A. niger strongly depends on the mineral content of the growth media. This study compared the phosphorus mobilization efficiency of two biological treatments, namely addition of acidic cell-free supernatants from A. niger cultivations to PRs and the direct cultivation of A. niger with PRs. The results show that addition of PR to cultivations leads to significant differences in the profile of organic acids produced by A. niger. Additions of PR, especially igneous rocks containing high amounts of iron and manganese, lead to reduced citric acid concentrations. In spite of these differences, phosphorus mobilization was similar between treatments, suggesting that the simpler direct cultivation method was not inferior. In addition to citric acid, it is suggested that oxalic acid contributes to PR solubilization in direct cultivations with A. niger, which would benefit farmers in developing countries where conventional fertilizers are not adequately accessible.

[Tracheobronchial stents: a retrospective analysis of indications, results and in particular complications]. / Tracheobronchiale Stents: Eine retrospektive Analyse zu Indikationen und Ergebnissen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Komplikationen.

BACKGROUND: Tracheobronchial stents are inserted mainly in cases of malignant and benign airway stenosis. Further indications are esophago-tracheal fistulas, mediastinal fistulas and tracheomalacia. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients' records, information provided by the general practitioners and relatives of the patients from July 1993 to December 2006 in the Department of Pneumology of the Heidehaus Hospital Hannover (since 6/05 Department of Pneumology and Internal Intensive Care Medicine, Oststadt-Heidehaus Hospital). RESULTS: During the observation period of 13 years a total of 269 stents (177 permanent, 92 temporary) were implanted in 207 patients (1.3 stents per patient). The vast majority of patients (173/207) suffered from an underlying malignancy. About half of the stents were deployed in the trachea. The median length of placement was 116 days in patients with malignancies and 313 days in patients with benign diseases. In about 40 % of the patients notable complications were observed which were directly or indirectly associated with the stents. These findings show the importance of a critical indication for stent implantation. In benign diseases a stent can remain for years inside the tracheobronchial system, if it is well tolerated in the beginning. In malignant diseases the result depends decisively on the stage of the tumour: has the stent been implanted before any other tumour therapy is started or is it an end-stage tumor with no other therapeutic option? In general, complications of stents occur quite frequently. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of stent data leads to some aspects for the prevention of stent-related complications. There should be a strict indication and appropriate choice of stent material. Nevertheless, there remains an ethical dilemma in patients with end-stage disease as to whether to implant a stent or to do nothing against the tumor, because the benefit immediately after stent insertion vanishes with progression of the tumour, so causing extra complications.

[100 years Heidehaus--from sanatorium for tuberculosis to a modern chest hospital]. / 100 Jahre Heidehaus--vom Tuberkuloseheim zum modernen Lungenzentrum.

When the sanatorium "Heidehaus" was founded on June 1, 1907 in the northern countryside of Hannover with Dr. Otto Ziegler as head about 120 beds for patients with tuberculosis were available. By 1914 about 200 patients were being treated by 4 physicians and 10 nurses. An operating theatre and a modern radiology unit were added in 1927. Shortly after the 2nd World War 400 patients with tuberculosis were hospitalised simultaneously. With the introduction of antituberculous triple drug treatment the number of patients dropped significantly. During this period many traditional facilities, used to care for patients with tuberculosis lost their financial basis and closed. However in the 1960s Prof. Schindler, the head of Heidehaus, widened the spectrum of the hospital into a modern chest hospital, focused on lung and airway diseases. In particular in the 1980s and 1990s this trend continued and 2 independent departments, i. e., pneumology and thoracic surgery were founded. In 2005 due to restructuring by the community of Hannover the "Heidehaus" moved completely and merged with another traditional hospital to become the new "Oststadt-Heidehaus". In its new surroundings both departments for pulmonary medicine and thoracic surgery offer a broad spectrum of modern thoracic medicine in cooperation with other disciplines.

The PS2 integrin ligand tiggrin is required for proper muscle function in Drosophila.

Tiggrin is a novel extracellular matrix ligand for the Drosophila PS2 integrins. We have used flanking P elements to generate a precise deletion of tiggrin. Most flies lacking tiggrin die as larvae or pupae. A few adults do emerge and these appear to be relatively normal, displaying only misshapen abdomens and a low frequency of wing defects. Examination of larvae shows that muscle connections, function and morphology are defective in tiggrin mutants. Muscle contraction waves that extend the length of the larvae are much slower in tiggrin mutants. Direct examination of bodywall muscles shows defects in muscle attachment sites, where tiggrin is specifically localized, and muscles appear thinner. Transgenes expressing tiggrin are capable of rescuing tiggrin mutant phenotypes. Transgenes expressing a mutant tiggrin, whose Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) integrin recognition sequence has been mutated to Leu-Gly-Ala (LGA) show much reduced, but significant, rescuing ability. Cell spreading assays detect no interactions of this mutant tiggrin with PS2 integrins. Therefore, while the RGD sequence is critical for PS2 interactions and full activity in the whole fly, the mutant tiggrin retains some function(s) that are probably mediated by interactions with other ECM molecules or cell surface receptors

Evaluation of a new reflectance photometer for use in home blood glucose monitoring.

A new reflectance photometer (Glucometer, Ames Division, Miles Laboratories, Elkhart, Indiana) has been developed for use with the Dextrostix reagent strip. The device measures 8 X 17 cm, weighs 330 g, uses AA batteries, and requires no warm-up. High (330 mg/dl) and low (50 mg/dl) calibrations are stored in memory and need be repeated only when: (1) a control solution (100 mg/dl) reading is in error, (2) ambient temperature changes by more than 5 degrees C, (3) a new bottle of Dextrostix is used, and (4) batteries are changed. A 60-s timer with alarm helps make timing of the procedure consistent. Nineteen insulin-dependent and one non-insulin-dependent diabetic subjects each performed a minimum of 20 blood glucose determinations over a 3-mo period in the investigators' laboratories. Simultaneous capillary blood samples were obtained for plasma glucose analysis by a comparative method. A total of 602 patient-determined glucose values ranging from 30 to 400 mg/dl were compared with simultaneous laboratory values. These values correlated significantly (r = 0.96, P less than 0.0001, y = 2.6 + 0.92x). The Glucometer-Dextrostix System is an accurate and convenient method for home blood glucose monitoring by diabetic patients.

Peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations in multiple myeloma.

Antisera raised against idiotypic determinants of myeloma proteins and macroglobulins have been used to differentiate peripheral blood lymphocytes populations from individual patients. I.D.-positive lymphocytes not resembling plasma cells have been regularly found in peripheral blood in these diseases. This lymphocyte population is heterogeneous with respect to non-tumor-specific surface markers, such as SRBC-, Fc- and C-receptors. Tumor specific idiotypic determinants will thus allow a more correct recognition of the total tumor cell compartment in these diseases.