Showing papers by "University of Marburg published in 2007"

Global strategy for the diagnosis, management, and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: GOLD executive summary.

Abstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains a major public health problem. It is the fourth leading cause of chronic morbidity and mortality in the United States, and is projected to rank fifth in 2020 in burden of disease worldwide, according to a study published by the World Bank/World Health Organization. Yet, COPD remains relatively unknown or ignored by the public as well as public health and government officials. In 1998, in an effort to bring more attention to COPD, its management, and its prevention, a committed group of scientists encouraged the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the World Health Organization to form the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD). Among the important objectives of GOLD are to increase awareness of COPD and to help the millions of people who suffer from this disease and die prematurely of it or its complications. The first step in the GOLD program was to prepare a consensus report, Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of COPD, published in 2001. The present, newly revised document follows the same format as the original consensus report, but has been updated to reflect the many publications on COPD that have appeared. GOLD national leaders, a network of international experts, have initiated investigations of the causes and prevalence of COPD in their countries, and developed innovative approaches for the dissemination and implementation of COPD management guidelines. We appreciate the enormous amount of work the GOLD national leaders have done on behalf of their patients with COPD. Despite the achievements in the 5 years since the GOLD report was originally published, considerable additional work is ahead of us if we are to control this major public health problem. The GOLD initiative will continue to bring COPD to the attention of governments, public health officials, health care workers, and the general public, but a concerted effort by all involved in health care will be necessary.

Electrospinning: A Fascinating Method for the Preparation of Ultrathin Fibers

Abstract: Electrospinning is a highly versatile method to process solutions or melts, mainly of polymers, into continuous fibers with diameters ranging from a few micrometers to a few nanometers. This technique is applicable to virtually every soluble or fusible polymer. The polymers can be chemically modified and can also be tailored with additives ranging from simple carbon-black particles to complex species such as enzymes, viruses, and bacteria. Electrospinning appears to be straightforward, but is a rather intricate process that depends on a multitude of molecular, process, and technical parameters. The method provides access to entirely new materials, which may have complex chemical structures. Electrospinning is not only a focus of intense academic investigation; the technique is already being applied in many technological areas.

PDB2PQR: expanding and upgrading automated preparation of biomolecular structures for molecular simulations

Abstract: Real-world observable physical and chemical characteristics are increasingly being calculated from the 3D structures of biomolecules. Methods for calculating pK(a) values, binding constants of ligands, and changes in protein stability are readily available, but often the limiting step in computational biology is the conversion of PDB structures into formats ready for use with biomolecular simulation software. The continued sophistication and integration of biomolecular simulation methods for systems- and genome-wide studies requires a fast, robust, physically realistic and standardized protocol for preparing macromolecular structures for biophysical algorithms. As described previously, the PDB2PQR web server addresses this need for electrostatic field calculations (Dolinsky et al., Nucleic Acids Research, 32, W665-W667, 2004). Here we report the significantly expanded PDB2PQR that includes the following features: robust standalone command line support, improved pK(a) estimation via the PROPKA framework, ligand parameterization via PEOE_PB charge methodology, expanded set of force fields and easily incorporated user-defined parameters via XML input files, and improvement of atom addition and optimization code. These features are available through a new web interface (http://pdb2pqr.sourceforge.net/), which offers users a wide range of options for PDB file conversion, modification and parameterization.

Siderophore-Based Iron Acquisition and Pathogen Control

Abstract: Summary: High-affinity iron acquisition is mediated by siderophore-dependent pathways in the majority of pathogenic and nonpathogenic bacteria and fungi. Considerable progress has been made in characterizing and understanding mechanisms of siderophore synthesis, secretion, iron scavenging, and siderophore-delivered iron uptake and its release. The regulation of siderophore pathways reveals multilayer networks at the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. Due to the key role of many siderophores during virulence, coevolution led to sophisticated strategies of siderophore neutralization by mammals and (re)utilization by bacterial pathogens. Surprisingly, hosts also developed essential siderophore-based iron delivery and cell conversion pathways, which are of interest for diagnostic and therapeutic studies. In the last decades, natural and synthetic compounds have gained attention as potential therapeutics for iron-dependent treatment of infections and further diseases. Promising results for pathogen inhibition were obtained with various siderophore-antibiotic conjugates acting as “Trojan horse” toxins and siderophore pathway inhibitors. In this article, general aspects of siderophore-mediated iron acquisition, recent findings regarding iron-related pathogen-host interactions, and current strategies for iron-dependent pathogen control will be reviewed. Further concepts including the inhibition of novel siderophore pathway targets are discussed.

The visual scoring of sleep in adults

Abstract: The 1968 Rechtschaffen and Kales (R & K) sleep scoring man- ual was published 15 years after REM sleep was discovered. Advances in the ensuing 28 years warranted a re-look at visual scoring of sleep stages. This paper describes the work of the AASM Visual Scoring Task Force, including methodology, a literature review and the rationale behind the new rules. Reliability studies of R & K scoring were reviewed; reliabil- ity was low for stage one and moderate for slow wave sleep. Evidence indicated that K complexes and slow waves are expressed maximal fron- tally, spindles centrally and alpha rhythm over the occipital region. Three derivations of EEG, two of electro-oculography, and one of chin EMG were recommended. Scoring by 30-second epochs was retained. New terminology for sleep stages was proposed. Attenuation of alpha rhythm was determined to be the most valid electrophysiological marker of sleep onset. Alternative measures were proposed for non-alpha generating subjects. K complexes associated with arousals were determined to be insufficient alone to define the new stage N2. No evidence was found to justify dividing slow wave sleep into two stages. No reasons were found to alter the current slow wave amplitude criteria at any age. The phenomena of REM sleep were defined. The rules for defining onset and termination of REM sleep periods were simplified. Movement time was eliminated and major body movements defined. Studies are needed to test the reliability of the new rules. Future advances in technology may require modification of these rules with time.

The REM sleep behavior disorder screening questionnaire—A new diagnostic instrument

Abstract: Many patients with assumed idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) may actually represent an early clinical manifestation of an evolving neurodegenerative disorder, such as the alpha-synucleinopathies, Parkinson's disease or multiple system atrophy. Early detection of these patients is clinically relevant for long-term prospective as well as future neuroprotective studies. For this purpose, we validated a 10-item patient self-rating questionnaire (maximum total score 13 points) covering the clinical features of RBD. The RBD screening questionnaire (RBDSQ) was applied to 54 patients with polysomnographically confirmed RBD (29 men; mean age 53.7 +/- 15.8 years), 160 control subjects (81 men; mean age 50.8 +/- 15.5 years) in whom RBD was excluded by history and polysomnography (PSG, control group 1) and 133 unselected healthy subjects (58 men; mean age 46.9 +/- 12.3 years; no PSG, control group 2). In most subjects (n = 153) of control group 1, other sleep-wake disturbances were present. The mean RBDSQ score in the RBD group was 9.5 +/- 2.8 points compared with 4.6 +/- 3.0 points in control group 1 (P < 0.0001). Considering an RBDSQ score of five points as a positive test result, we found a sensitivity of 0.96 and a specificity of 0.56. The RBDSQ poorly discriminated patients with the most challenging differential diagnoses such as sleepwalking or epilepsy. In control group 2, the mean RBDSQ score (2.02 +/- 1.78) was significantly lower than in the RBD group (P < 0.0005), revealing a specificity of 0.92. Due to its high sensitivity, the RBDSQ appears to be particularly useful as a screening tool.

Genome-wide association study of restless legs syndrome identifies common variants in three genomic regions

Abstract: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a frequent neurological disorder characterized by an imperative urge to move the legs during night, unpleasant sensation in the lower limbs, disturbed sleep and increased cardiovascular morbidity. In a genome-wide association study we found highly significant associations between RLS and intronic variants in the homeobox gene MEIS1, the BTBD9 gene encoding a BTB(POZ) domain as well as variants in a third locus containing the genes encoding mitogen-activated protein kinase MAP2K5 and the transcription factor LBXCOR1 on chromosomes 2p, 6p and 15q, respectively. Two independent replications confirmed these association signals. Each genetic variant was associated with a more than 50% increase in risk for RLS, with the combined allelic variants conferring more than half of the risk. MEIS1 has been implicated in limb development, raising the possibility that RLS has components of a developmental disorder.

Turbulence transition in pipe flow

Abstract: Pipe flow is a prominent example among the shear flows that undergo transition to turbulence without mediation by a linear instability of the laminar profile. Experiments on pipe flow, as well as plane Couette and plane Poiseuille flow, show that triggering turbulence depends sensitively on initial conditions, that between the laminar and the turbulent states there exists no intermediate state with simple spatial or temporal characteristics, and that turbulence is not persistent, i.e., it can decay again, if the observation time is long enough. All these features can consistently be explained on the assumption that the turbulent state corresponds to a chaotic saddle in state space. The goal of this review is to explain this concept, summarize the numerical and experimental evidence for pipe flow, and outline the consequences for related flows.

Fog Research: A Review of Past Achievements and Future Perspectives

Abstract: The scientific community that includes meteorologists, physical scientists, engineers, medical doctors, biologists, and environmentalists has shown interest in a better understanding of fog for years because of its effects on, directly or indirectly, the daily life of human beings. The total economic losses associated with the impact of the presence of fog on aviation, marine and land transportation can be comparable to those of tornadoes or, in some cases, winter storms and hurricanes. The number of articles including the word ``fog'' in Journals of American Meteorological Society alone was found to be about 4700, indicating that there is substantial interest in this subject. In spite of this extensive body of work, our ability to accurately forecast/nowcast fog remains limited due to our incomplete understanding of the fog processes over various time and space scales. Fog processes involve droplet microphysics, aerosol chemistry, radiation, turbulence, large/small-scale dynamics, and surface conditions (e.g., partaining to the presence of ice, snow, liquid, plants, and various types of soil). This review paper summarizes past achievements related to the understanding of fog formation, development and decay, and in this respect, the analysis of observations and the development of forecasting models and remote sensing methods are discussed in detail. Finally, future perspectives for fog-related research are highlighted.

IT support for healthcare processes - premises, challenges, perspectives

Abstract: Healthcare processes require the cooperation of different organizational units and medical disciplines. In such an environment optimal process support becomes crucial. Though healthcare processes frequently change, and therefore the separation of the flow logic from the application code seems to be promising, workflow technology has not yet been broadly used in healthcare environments. In this paper we elaborate both the potential and the essential limitations of IT support for healthcare processes. We identify different levels of process support in healthcare, and distinguish between organizational processes and the medical treatment process. To recognize the limitations of IT support we adopt a broad socio-technical perspective based on scientific literature and personal experience. Despite of the limitations we identified, undeniably, IT has a huge potential to improve healthcare quality which has not been explored by current IT solutions. In particular, we indicate how advanced process management technology can improve IT support for healthcare processes.

Refining the impact of TCF7L2 gene variants on type 2 diabetes and adaptive evolution

Abstract: We recently described an association between risk of type 2diabetes and variants in the transcription factor 7-like 2 gene (TCF7L2; formerly TCF4), with a population attributable risk (PAR) of 17%-28% in three populations of European ancestry. Here, we refine the definition of the TCF7L2 type 2diabetes risk variant, HapB(T2D), to the ancestral T allele of a SNP, rs7903146, through replication in West African and Danish type 2 diabetes case-control studies and an expanded Icelandic study. We also identify another variant of the same gene, HapA, that shows evidence of positive selection in East Asian, European and West African populations. Notably, HapA shows a suggestive association with body mass index and altered concentrations of the hunger-satiety hormones ghrelin and leptin in males, indicating that the selective advantage of HapA may have been mediated through effects on energy metabolism.

Genome wide association (GWA) study for early onset extreme obesity supports the role of fat mass and obesity associated gene (FTO) variants.

Abstract: Background Obesity is a major health problem. Although heritability is substantial, genetic mechanisms predisposing to obesity are not very well understood. We have performed a genome wide association study (GWA) for early onset (extreme) obesity. Methodology/Principal Findings a) GWA (Genome-Wide Human SNP Array 5.0 comprising 440,794 single nucleotide polymorphisms) for early onset extreme obesity based on 487 extremely obese young German individuals and 442 healthy lean German controls; b) confirmatory analyses on 644 independent families with at least one obese offspring and both parents. We aimed to identify and subsequently confirm the 15 SNPs (minor allele frequency ≥10%) with the lowest p-values of the GWA by four genetic models: additive, recessive, dominant and allelic. Six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in FTO (fat mass and obesity associated gene) within one linkage disequilibrium (LD) block including the GWA SNP rendering the lowest p-value (rs1121980; log-additive model: nominal p = 1.13×10−7, corrected p = 0.0494; odds ratio (OR)CT 1.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.22–2.27; ORTT 2.76, 95% CI 1.88–4.03) belonged to the 15 SNPs showing the strongest evidence for association with obesity. For confirmation we genotyped 11 of these in the 644 independent families (of the six FTO SNPs we chose only two representing the LD bock). For both FTO SNPs the initial association was confirmed (both Bonferroni corrected p<0.01). However, none of the nine non-FTO SNPs revealed significant transmission disequilibrium. Conclusions/Significance Our GWA for extreme early onset obesity substantiates that variation in FTO strongly contributes to early onset obesity. This is a further proof of concept for GWA to detect genes relevant for highly complex phenotypes. We concurrently show that nine additional SNPs with initially low p-values in the GWA were not confirmed in our family study, thus suggesting that of the best 15 SNPs in the GWA only the FTO SNPs represent true positive findings.

Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire

Abstract: Zusammenfassung. Der Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire von Fairburn und Beglin (EDE-Q; 1994) ist die Fragebogenversion des strukturierten Essstorungsinterviews Eating Disorder Examination (EDE). Der EDE-Q erfasst die spezifische Essstorungspsychopathologie mithilfe von vier Subskalen zum gezugelten Essverhalten, zu Sorgen uber das Essen, Gewicht und Figur. Die in diesem Beitrag vorgestellte deutschsprachige Ubersetzung des EDE-Q wurde in Stichproben mit Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia nervosa und atypischen Essstorungen, sowie nicht-klinischen, subklinischen und psychiatrischen Vergleichsgruppen teststatistisch untersucht (N = 706). Der EDE-Q erwies sich als intern konsistent und stabil. Seine faktorielle Struktur wurde teilweise reproduziert. Die Kennwerte des EDE-Q waren signifikant mit denen des EDE korreliert, fielen erwartungsgemas jedoch teilweise hoher aus. Weitere Hinweise fur die konvergente Validitat ergaben sich durch Korrelationen mit konzeptverwandten Fragebogen. Der EDE-Q zeigte eine gute ...

Osteoporosis in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Abstract: Demographic trends with longer life expectancy and a lifestyle characterized by low physical activity and high-energy food intake contribute to an increasing incidence of diabetes mellitus and osteoporosis. Diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for osteoporotic fractures. Patients with recent onset of type 1 diabetes mellitus may have impaired bone formation because of the absence of the anabolic effects of insulin and amylin, whereas in long-standing type 1 diabetes mellitus, vascular complications may account for low bone mass and increased fracture risk. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus display an increased fracture risk despite a higher BMD, which is mainly attributable to the increased risk of falling. Strategies to improve BMD and to prevent osteoporotic fractures in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus may include optimal glycemic control and aggressive prevention and treatment of vascular complications. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus may additionally benefit from early visual assessment, regular exercise to improve muscle strength and balance, and specific measures for preventing falls.

The ubiquitin-specific protease USP28 is required for MYC stability

Abstract: The MYC proto-oncogene encodes a transcription factor that has been implicated in the genesis of many human tumours Here, we used a bar-code short hairpin RNA (shRNA) screen to identify multiple genes that are required for MYC function One of these genes encodes USP28, an ubiquitin-specific protease USP28 is required for MYC stability in human tumour cells USP28 binds to MYC through an interaction with FBW7alpha, an F-box protein that is part of an SCF-type ubiquitin ligase Therefore, it stabilizes MYC in the nucleus, but not in the nucleolus, where MYC is degraded by FBW7gamma High expression levels of USP28 are found in colon and breast carcinomas, and stabilization of MYC by USP28 is essential for tumour-cell proliferation

Efficacy of pramipexole and transdermal rotigotine in advanced Parkinson's disease: a double-blind, double-dummy, randomised controlled trial.

Abstract: Summary Background Continuous dopaminergic drug delivery is an unmet medical need in advanced Parkinson's disease. The aim of this trial—Clinical Efficacy of Pramipexole And Transdermal Rotigotine in Advanced PD (CLEOPATRA-PD)—was to assess the efficacy of adjunct treatment with rotigotine in comparison with placebo and with pramipexole in levodopa-treated patients with advanced Parkinson's disease and wearing-off type motor fluctuations. Methods In this randomised controlled trial, eligible participants were randomly assigned to receive either rotigotine (up to 16 mg/24 h as a transdermal patch), pramipexole (up to 4·5 mg/day orally), or placebo for 6 months. Primary efficacy variables were absolute change in total hours "off" (assessed by home diaries) from baseline to end of study and responder rate (defined as the proportion of patients with ≥30% reduction in absolute off time per day). Analyses were done by intention to treat. This trial is registered with the US National Institutes of Health clinical trials database (ClinicalTrials.gov), number NCT00244387. Findings 204 patients were randomly assigned to receive rotigotine, 201 to receive pramipexole, and 101 to receive placebo; 427 (84%) completed the trial. The number of discontinuations in each group was similar; most were for adverse events. The mean dose of rotigotine was 12·95 mg/24 h (SD 3·54), the mean dose of pramipexole was 3·1 mg/day (1·24). Mean absolute change in off time from baseline was −2·5 h (SE 0·20) with rotigotine, −2·8 h (0·20) with pramipexole, and −0·9 h (0·29) with placebo. The absolute change in off time from baseline compared with placebo was −1·58 h (95% CI −2·27 to −0·90; p Interpretation In terms of change in absolute off time, rotigotine was non-inferior to pramipexole. Continuous delivery of rotigotine as transdermal patches could offer similar efficacy to oral pramipexole in patients with fluctuating Parkinson's disease over 6 months of treatment.

Maplike Representation of Celestial E-Vector Orientations in the Brain of an Insect

Abstract: For many insects, the polarization pattern of the blue sky serves as a compass cue for spatial navigation. E-vector orientations are detected by photoreceptors in a dorsal rim area of the eye. Polarized-light signals from both eyes are finally integrated in the central complex, a brain area consisting of two subunits, the protocerebral bridge and the central body. Here we show that a topographic representation of zenithal E-vector orientations underlies the columnar organization of the protocerebral bridge in a locust. The maplike arrangement is highly suited to signal head orientation under the open sky.

Quantitative imaging of selenium, copper, and zinc in thin sections of biological tissues (slugs-genus arion) measured by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Abstract: Quantitative imaging analysis of endogenous an exogenous elements throughout entire organisms is required for studies of bioavailability, transport processes, distribution, contamination and to monitor environmental risks using indicator organisms. An imaging mass spectrometric technique using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) was developed to analyze selenium and metal distributions in longitudinal sections (thickness, 100 μm) of entire slugs (genus arion). Slugs were fed with either a placebo or solutions containing 1000 μg mL-1 Se. Samples (raster area, 25 mm × 45 mm) were scanned together with synthetic matrix-matched standards with a focused beam of a Nd:YAG laser (wavelength, 266 nm; diameter of laser crater, 50 μm; laser power density, 3 × 109 W cm-2) in a large laser ablation chamber. The ablated material was transported with argon as carrier gas to the ICP ion source at a double focusing sector field ICPMS. Ion intensities of selenium (78Se+, 82Se+) were measu...

Activation of TLR2 and TLR4 by Glycosylphosphatidylinositols Derived from Toxoplasma gondii

Abstract: GPIs isolated from Toxoplasma gondii , as well as a chemically synthesized GPI lacking the lipid moiety, activated a reporter gene in Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing TLR4, while the core glycan and lipid moieties cleaved from the GPIs activated both TLR4- and TLR2-expressing cells. MyD88, but not TLR2, TLR4, or CD14, is absolutely needed to trigger TNF-α production by macrophages exposed to T. gondii GPIs. Importantly, TNF-α response to GPIs was completely abrogated in macrophages from TLR2/4-double-deficient mice. MyD88 −/− mice were more susceptible to death than wild-type (WT), TLR2 −/− , TLR4 −/− , TLR2/4 −/− , and CD14 −/− mice infected with the ME-49 strain of T. gondii . The cyst number was higher in the brain of TLR2/4 −/− , but not TLR2 −/− , TLR4 −/− , and CD14 −/− , mice, as compared with WT mice. Upon infection with the ME-49 strain of T. gondii , we observed no decrease of IL-12 and IFN-γ production in TLR2-, TLR4-, or CD14-deficient mice. Indeed, splenocytes from T. gondii -infected TLR2 −/− and TLR2/4 −/− mice produced more IFN-γ than cells from WT mice in response to in vitro stimulation with parasite extracts enriched in GPI-linked surface proteins. Together, our results suggest that both TLR2 and TLR4 receptors may participate in the host defense against T. gondii infection through their activation by the GPIs and could work together with other MyD88-dependent receptors, like other TLRs or even IL-18R or IL-1R, to obtain an effective host response against T. gondii infection.

The facial expression of pain in patients with dementia

Abstract: The facial expression of pain has emerged as an important pain indicator in demented patients, who have difficulties in providing self-report ratings. In a few clinical studies an increase of facial responses to pain was observed in demented patients compared to healthy controls. However, it had to be shown that this increase can be verified when using experimental methods, which also allows for testing whether the facial responses in demented patients are still typical for pain. We investigated facial responses in 42 demented patients and 54 aged-matched healthy controls to mechanically induced pain of various intensities. The face of the subject was videotaped during pressure stimulation and was later analysed using the Facial Action Coding System. Besides facial responses we also assessed self-report ratings. Comparable to previous findings, we found that facial responses to noxious stimulation were significantly increased in demented patients compared to healthy controls. This increase was mainly due to an increase of pain-indicative facial responses in demented patients. Moreover, facial responses were closely related to the intensity of stimulation, especially in demented patients. Regarding self-report ratings, we found no significant group differences; however, the capacity to provide these self-report ratings was diminished in demented patients. The preserved pain typicalness of facial responses to noxious stimulation suggests that pain is reflected as validly in the facial responses of demented patients as it is in healthy individuals. Therefore, the facial expression of pain has the potential to serve as an alternative pain assessment tool in demented patients, even in patients who are verbally compromised.

PRMT6-mediated methylation of R2 in histone H3 antagonizes H3 K4 trimethylation.

Abstract: The arginine methyltransferase PRMT6 (protein arginine methyltransferase 6) has been shown recently to regulate DNA repair and gene expression. As arginine methylation of histones is an important mechanism in transcriptional regulation, we asked whether PRMT6 possesses activity toward histones. We show here that PRMT6 methylates histone H3 at R2 and histones H4/H2A at R3 in vitro. Overexpression and knockdown analysis identify PRMT6 as the major H3 R2 methyltransferase in vivo. We find that H3 R2 methylation inhibits H3 K4 trimethylation and recruitment of WDR5, a subunit of the MLL (mixed lineage leukemia) K4 methyltransferase complex, to histone H3 in vitro. Upon PRMT6 overexpression, transcription of Hox genes and Myc-dependent genes, both well-known targets of H3 K4 trimethylation, decreases. This transcriptional repression coincides with enhanced occurrence of H3 R2 methylation and PRMT6 as well as reduced levels of H3 K4 trimethylation and MLL1/WDR5 recruitment at the HoxA2 gene. Upon retinoic acid-induced transcriptional activation of HoxA2 in a cell model of neuronal differentiation, PRMT6 recruitment and H3 R2 methylation are diminished and H3 K4 trimethylation increases at the gene. Our findings identify PRMT6 as the mammalian methyltransferase for H3 R2 and establish the enzyme as a crucial negative regulator of H3 K4 trimethylation and transcriptional activation.

Strongly Correlated Fermions after a Quantum Quench

Abstract: Using the adaptive time-dependent density-matrix renormalization group method, we study the time evolution of strongly correlated spinless fermions on a one-dimensional lattice after a sudden change of the interaction strength. For certain parameter values, two different initial states (e.g., metallic and insulating) lead to observables which become indistinguishable after relaxation. We find that the resulting quasistationary state is nonthermal. This result holds for both integrable and nonintegrable variants of the system.