Galectin-3 in cord blood of term and preterm infants.

In recent years galectin-3 has gained attention as a signalling molecule, mainly in inflammatory diseases. Data on galectin-3 expression in neonates, however, are limited, and expression of this lectin in cord blood has not yet been reported. The aim of this study was to determine galectin-3 levels in cord blood of term and preterm neonates as well as galectin-3 levels in cord blood of term neonates after stimulation with the prevalent pathogen Streptococcus agalactiae. Cord blood samples were incubated for 24 h and galectin-3 levels were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. There is a positive correlation between gestational age and galectin-3 levels in cord blood. Expression of galectin-3 is significantly higher in cord blood of small-for-gestational-age infants compared to appropriate-for-gestational-age infants. Stimulation with an invasive but not with a colonizing strain of S. agalactiae induced expression of galectin-3. Galectin-3 is expressed constitutively in cord blood of neonates and seems to play a role in the innate immunity of this population.

[The QuIK-Registry of the German Society of Cardiologists in private practice: countrywide and benchmarking quality assurance in invasive cardiology]. / Das QuIK-Register des Bundesverbands Niedergelassener Kardiologen. Flächendeckende vergleichende Qualitätssicherung in der Invasivkardiologie.

QuIK is the German acronym for QUality Assurance in Invasive Cardiology. It describes the continuous project of an electronic data collection in Cardiac catheterization laboratories all over Germany. Mainly members of the German Society of Cardiologists in Private Practice (BNK) participate in this computer based project. Since 1996 data of diagnostic and interventional procedures are collected and send to a registry-center where a regular benchmarking analysis of the results is performed. Part of the project is a yearly auditing process including an on-site visit to the cath lab to guarantee for the reliability of information collected. Since 1996 about one million procedures have been documented.

[5th Report of the German Association of Cardiologists in Private Practice (BNK) on Quality Assurance in Cardiac Catheterization and Coronary Intervention 2003-2005]. / 5. Bericht des Bundesverbandes Niedergelassener Kardiologen zur Qualitätssicherung in der diagnostischen und therapeutischen Invasivkardiologie 2003-2005.

On behalf of the German Association of Cardiologists in Private Practice (BNK) the Steering Committee of the QuIK Registry reports on the results of the voluntary quality assurance in invasive cardiology in 2003-2005 and compares it to other data collections. In 2005 more than 70% of diagnostic (LHK) and 78% of therapeutic (PCI) cardiac catheterization procedures in private practice were entered into the registry. Altogether 229,462 LHK and 64,818 PCI were documented over the 3 years. In the reported period age of patients, percentage of acute coronary syndromes and three-vessel coronary artery disease increased in LHK as well as in PCI while consumption of contrast media and fluoroscopy time decreased. By implemented possibility of follow-up, a high rate of external auditing (monitoring) and certification QuIK remains a worldwide unique quality assurance project in cardiology. On a stable data basis over 10 years the QuIK Registry enables the implementation of quality indicators for future quality assurance purposes.

Long-term survival of retinal cell cultures on retinal implant materials.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate cell adhesion and cell survival of mammalian retinal neurons on different materials used for the production of multi-photodiode arrays (MPDAs) intended for implantation in the subretinal space of patients suffering from progressive photoreceptor cell loss. The survival rates of different types of retinal neurons and glia cells were monitored by conventional histochemical techniques and immunocytochemistry up to 4 weeks. Whereas most of the materials tested showed good biocompatibility, cell survival of retinal glia and neurons was markedly reduced on titanium nitride (TiN), especially for culturing periods longer than 2 weeks. The effect was not mediated by diffusible factors released from TiN material. In conclusion, most of the materials tested in this study are suitable for the production of functional MPDAs and no complications are to be expected from long-term implantations of them in the subretinal space.

Behaviour of heart rate and electrical muscle activity in the simultaneous dynamic action of larger and smaller sets of muscles in the permanent performance threshold range.

This study was undertaken to assess more comprehensively and with greater differentiation the reduction in the absolute electrical muscle activity (aEA) determined by different investigations in the permanent performance threshold range of the cardiovascular system (HKS) by means of the behaviour of the aEA of the highly stressed leg muscles and little stressed forearm muscles. Six healthy, untrained male subjects operated a hand ergograph alone in one test, and, in four more tests, in combination with a constant bicycle ergometer load of 40, 60, 80, and 100 W, respectively. As a result of these tests, a relative reduction in aEA for the leg muscles and an absolute reduction in aEA for the forearm muscles could be identified in the permanent performance threshold range of the HKS. Therefore, aEA is also considered to be an indicator of general stress that can define the permanent performance threshold range of the HKS more completely. The reduction in aEA is probably an expression of a negative feedback from the cardiovascular system to the neuromuscular system induced by the central nervous system.