Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

About: Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg is a education organization based out in Halle, Germany. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Liquid crystal. The organization has 20232 authors who have published 38773 publications receiving 965004 citations. The organization is also known as: MLU & University of Wittenberg.

Significance of the riboflavin film in corneal collagen crosslinking

Abstract: Purpose To evaluate the role of the preocular riboflavin film in ultraviolet-A (UVA) absorption in corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL). Setting Eye Laser Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Martin-Luther-University, Halle, Germany. Methods The absorption of UVA light was measured in human donor and porcine postmortem corneas with and without riboflavin film using 3 solutions: standard dextran–riboflavin, methylcellulose–riboflavin, and hypoosmolar riboflavin–sodium chloride without dextran. The breakup time of the solutions and their absorbance were also determined. Results After 30-minute instillation of riboflavin solution, the corneal absorption coefficient of the combined stroma–riboflavin film system was 56.36 cm −1 in human corneas and 51.46 cm −1 in porcine corneas using dextran–riboflavin; 69.87 cm −1 and 53.86 cm −1 , respectively, using methylcellulose–riboflavin; and 48.19 cm −1 and 42.68 cm −1 , respectively, using hypoosmolar riboflavin. For the stroma alone without riboflavin film, the absorption coefficient was reduced to 36.95 cm −1 in human corneas and 28.91 cm −1 in porcine corneas using dextran–riboflavin; 38.26 cm −1 and 32.49 cm −1 , respectively, using methylcellulose–riboflavin; and 38.88 cm −1 and 28.42 cm −1 , respectively, using hypoosmolar riboflavin solution. The breakup time was 22 minutes for the dextran–riboflavin film, 32 minutes for methylcellulose, and 90 seconds for the hypoosmolar solution. Conclusion Results indicate that the cornea including the riboflavin film can be considered a composite 2-compartment system and that the riboflavin film is an integral part of the CXL procedure and important in achieving the correct stromal and endothelial UVA irradiance. Financial Disclosure No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

Origin and function of the major royal jelly proteins of the honeybee (Apis mellifera) as members of the yellow gene family.

Abstract: In the honeybee, Apis mellifera, the queen larvae are fed with a diet exclusively composed of royal jelly (RJ), a secretion of the hypopharyngeal gland of young worker bees that nurse the brood. Up to 15% of RJ is composed of proteins, the nine most abundant of which have been termed major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs). Although it is widely accepted that RJ somehow determines the fate of a female larva and in spite of considerable research efforts, there are surprisingly few studies that address the biochemical characterisation and functions of these MRJPs. Here we review the research on MRJPs not only in honeybees but in hymenopteran insects in general and provide metadata analyses on genome organisation of mrjp genes, corroborating previous reports that MRJPs have important functions for insect development and not just a nutritional value for developing honeybee larvae.

Defining desmosomal plakophilin-3 interactions

Abstract: Plakophilin 3 (PKP3) is a recently described armadillo protein of the desmosomal plaque, which is synthesized in simple and stratified epithelia. We investigated the localization pattern of endogenous and exogenous PKP3 and fragments thereof. The desmosomal binding properties of PKP3 were determined using yeast two-hybrid, coimmunoprecipitation and colocalization experiments. To this end, novel mouse anti-PKP3 mAbs were generated. We found that PKP3 binds all three desmogleins, desmocollin (Dsc) 3a and -3b, and possibly also Dsc1a and -2a. As such, this is the first protein interaction ever observed with a Dsc-b isoform. Moreover, we determined that PKP3 interacts with plakoglobin, desmoplakin (DP) and the epithelial keratin 18. Evidence was found for the presence of at least two DP–PKP3 interaction sites. This finding might explain how lateral DP–PKP interactions are established in the upper layers of stratified epithelia, increasing the size of the desmosome and the number of anchoring points available for keratins. Together, these results show that PKP3, whose epithelial and epidermal desmosomal expression pattern and protein interaction repertoire are broader than those of PKP1 and -2, is a unique multiprotein binding element in the basic architecture of a vast majority of epithelial desmosomes.

Adjuvant treatment with interleukin-2- and interferon-alpha2a-based chemoimmunotherapy in renal cell carcinoma post tumour nephrectomy: results of a prospectively randomised trial of the German Cooperative Renal Carcinoma Chemoimmunotherapy Group (DGCIN).

Abstract: We conducted a prospectively randomised clinical trial to investigate the role of adjuvant outpatient immunochemotherapy administered postoperatively in high-risk patients with renal cell carcinoma In total, 203 renal carcinoma patients' status post radical tumour nephrectomy were stratified into three risk groups: patients with tumour extending into renal vein/vena cava or invading beyond Gerota's fascia (pT3b/c pN0 or pT4pN0), patients with locoregional lymph node infiltration (pN+), and patients after complete resection of tumour relapse or solitary metastasis (R0) Patients were randomised to undergo either (A) 8 weeks of outpatient subcutaneous interleukin-2 (sc-rIL-2), subcutaneous interferon-alpha2a (sc-rIFN-α2a), and intravenous 5-fluorouracil (iv-5-FU) according to the standard Atzpodien regimen (Atzpodien et al, 2004) or (B) observation Two-, 5-, and 8-year survival rates were 81, 58, and 58% in the treatment arm, and 91, 76, and 66% in the observation arm (log rank P=00278), with a median follow-up of 43 years Two, 5-, and 8-year relapse-free survival rates were calculated at 54, 42, and 39% in the treatment arm, and at 62, 49, and 49% in the observation arm (log rank P=02398) Stage-adapted subanalyses revealed no survival advantages of treatment over observation, as well Our results established that there was no relapse-free survival benefit and the overall survival was inferior with an adjuvant 8-week-outpatient sc-rIL-2/sc-rIFN-α2a/iv-5-FU-based immunochemotherapy compared to observation in high-risk renal cell carcinoma patients following radical tumour nephrectomy

Heavy metal-resistant bacteria as extremophiles: molecular physiology and biotechnological use of Ralstonia sp. CH34.

Abstract: In contrast to thermophilic or psychrophilic organisms, heavy metal-resistant bacteria do not supply enzymes that are active under harsh conditions, but are themselves tools for the evaluation and remediation of heavy metal-contaminated environments. Ralstonia sp. CH34 is a gram-negative bacterium with a remarkable set of resistance determinants, allowing this bacterium to live in extreme environments that are heavily contaminated with toxic metal ions. These heavy metal ions are mostly detoxified by inducible ion efflux systems that reduce the intracellular concentration of a given ion by active export. Because all metal resistance determinants in this bacterium are inducible, their regulatory systems can be used to develop biosensors that measure the biologically important concentrations of heavy metals in an environment. Resistance based on metal ion efflux detoxifies only the cytoplasm of the respective cell. Therefore, this resistance mechanism cannot be used directly to develop biotechnological procedures; however, metal ion efflux can protect a cell in a metal-contaminated environment. Thus, the cell can be enabled to mediate biochemical reactions such as precipitation of heavy metals with the carbon dioxide produced during growth or degradation of xenobiotics.