German Red Cross

About: German Red Cross is a healthcare organization based out in Berlin, Germany. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Transplantation & Mesenchymal stem cell. The organization has 653 authors who have published 1146 publications receiving 40111 citations. The organization is also known as: Deutsches Rotes Kreuz & DRK.

Comparative Analysis of Different Platelet Lysates and Platelet Rich Preparations to Stimulate Tendon Cell Biology: An In Vitro Study

Abstract: The poor healing potential of tendons is still a clinical problem, and the use of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) was hypothesized to stimulate healing. As the efficacy of PRPs remains unproven, platelet lysate (PL) could be an alternative with its main advantages of storage and characterization before use. Five different blood products were prepared from 16 male donors: human serum, two PRPs (Arthrex, (PRP-ACP); RegenLab (PRP-BCT)), platelet concentrate (apheresis, PC), and PL (freezing-thawing destruction of PC). Additionally, ten commercial allogenic PLs (AlloPL) from pooled donors were tested. The highest concentration of most growth factors was found in AlloPL, whereas the release of growth factors lasted longer in the other products. PRP-ACP, PRP-BCT, and PC significantly increased cell viability of human tenocyte-like cells, whereas PC and AlloPL increased Col1A1 expression and PRP-BCT increased Col3A1 expression. MMP-1, IL-1β, and HGF expression was significantly increased and Scleraxis expression decreased by most blood products. COX1 expression significantly decreased by PC and AlloPL. No clear positive effects on tendon cell biology could be shown, which might partially explain the weak outcome results in clinical practice. Pooled PL seemed to have the most beneficial effects and might be the future in using blood products for tendon tissue regeneration.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in humans living in high pig density areas of Germany

Abstract: An increase in acute autochthonous hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections has been recorded in Germany. These are suspected to be zoonotically transmitted from wild boar, deer and domestic pig. The latter may represent a major reservoir for HEV. In this study, 537 sera from humans living in Westphalia and Lower Saxony, representing areas of high pig density in Germany, were tested for the presence of HEV-specific antibodies. Among them were 302 individuals with occupational, direct contact to pigs and 235 individuals without direct contact to pigs. Two commercial tests and one in-house assay were applied for the detection of HEV-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies. Sera were also tested in an assay that detects all classes of HEV-specific antibodies. Depending on the test used, the seroprevalence ranged from 4.1 to 27.9 %. Exposition to pigs was found to be associated with a significantly higher seroprevalence in subjects with contact to pigs (13.2-32.8 %) compared with that in non-exposed humans (7.7-21.7 %). In particular, individuals younger than 40 years with occupational exposure exhibited a markedly higher HEV seroprevalence compared with non-exposed individuals of that age group. In general, HEV seroprevalence increased with age resulting in a similar prevalence level in the age group of ≥ 50 years for exposed and non-exposed individuals. Analysis of all sera by a commercial anti-HEV IgM ELISA revealed 35 positive and 25 borderline samples. However, only one positive serum could be confirmed by an IgM line assay. Selected samples from IgM and/or IgG as well as total HEV antibody-positive individuals were also tested for the presence of HEV RNA. In one of the 78 samples, the only IgM ELISA positive and IgM line assay confirmed sample, RNA of HEV genotype 3 was detected. This sequence has high similarity to HEV sequences obtained from wild boars and domestic pigs from Germany and The Netherlands. This study demonstrates that in addition to the consumption of raw or undercooked meat, direct contact to pigs has to be considered as an additional risk factor for HEV infection.

Accurate oral food challenge requires a cumulative dose on a subsequent day.

Abstract: protease inhibitors expressed by keratinocytes, but their expression was not affected (Fig 1, E-G). Filaggrin and loricrin expression was significantly decreased by TH2 cytokines, as previously reported (Fig 1, H and I). Protease assays using specific substrates were performed to examine whether levels of serine protease activities increase in parallel to protein and mRNA levels (see the Methods section in this article’s Online Repository). As expected, KLK7 activity, namely chymotrypsin-like serine protease activity, was significantly enhanced by IL-4 (50 ng/mL) and IL-13 (50 ng/mL; Fig 2, A). Activities of trypsin-like serine proteases, such as KLK5, KLK8, and KLK14, were not changed (Fig 2, B). In addition to in vitro data, analyses using real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry showed an increase in KLK7 expression in AD lesions compared with that seen in normal skin (Fig 2, C and D, see the Methods section in this article’s Online Repository). Furthermore, the KLK7 protein level in the sera of patients with AD significantly correlated with IL-4 levels in sera (Fig 2, E, and see the Methods section in this article’s Online Repository). TH2 cytokines are generally expressed by TH2 lymphocytes, basophils, eosinophils, and mast cells and play roles in TH2 cell differentiation, IgE production, eosinophil recruitment, and so forth. These cytokines also affect epidermal barrier functions through signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 because IL-4 and IL-13 decrease the expression of filaggrin, loricrin, and involucrin in keratinocytes. Hatano et al reported that IL-4 suppresses the expression of ceramide and cutaneous permeability barrier functions induced by TNF-a and IFN-g and the recovery of cutaneous permeability barrier dysfunction in vivo. Desmoglein 3 expression is also inhibited by IL-4. IL-4 transgenic mice spontaneously have AD-like dermatitis, which supports the importance of TH2 cytokines in AD pathogenesis. 1 We here report how TH2 cytokines could further alter the skin barrier by showing that IL-4 and IL-13 increase KLK7 expression and function in keratinocytes. Excessive protease activity is known to induce epidermal barrier dysfunction, and thus the increase in KLK7 by IL-4 and IL-13 would count on the skin barrier disruption in patients with AD. Interestingly, among skinKLKs, onlyKLK7 is a chymotrypsinlike serine protease, and others are trypsin-like serine proteases. Chymotrypsin-like serine protease KLK7 degrades the human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide LL-37, and a decrease in LL37 levels is documented in AD skin. Along with cathelicidin mRNA suppression by IL-4 and IL-13, the increase in KLK7 expression by IL-4 and IL-13 would further decrease the antimicrobial skin barrier in patients with AD. Taken together with previous reports suggesting an association between KLK7 and AD, the enhancement of protease activity through increased KLK7 expression by the TH2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 might be an important factor for mechanical and chemical epidermal barrier dysfunction in patients with AD. Shin Morizane, MD, PhD Kenshi Yamasaki, MD, PhD Ai Kajita, MD Kazuko Ikeda, MD Maosheng Zhan, MD Yumi Aoyama, MD, PhD Richard L. Gallo, MD, PhD Keiji Iwatsuki, MD, PhD