University of Münster

About: University of Münster is a education organization based out in Münster, Germany. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Catalysis. The organization has 35609 authors who have published 69059 publications receiving 2278534 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Munster & University of Muenster.

Urinary TIMP-2 and IGFBP7 as Early Biomarkers of Acute Kidney Injury and Renal Recovery following Cardiac Surgery

Abstract: Background: Difficulties in prediction and early identification of (acute kidney injury) AKI have hindered the ability to develop preventive and therapeutic measures for this syndrome. We tested the hypothesis that a urine test measuring insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2), both inducers of G1 cell cycle arrest, a key mechanism implicated in acute kidney injury (AKI), could predict AKI in cardiac surgery patients. Methods: We studied 50 patients at high risk for AKI undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Serial urine samples were analyzed for [TIMP-2]*[IGFBP7] concentrations. The primary outcome measure was AKI as defined by international consensus criteria following surgery. Furthermore, we investigated whether urine [TIMP-2]*[IGFBP7] could predict renal recovery from AKI prior to hospital discharge. Results: 26 patients (52%) developed AKI. Diagnosis based on serum creatinine and/or oliguria did not occur until 1–3 days after CPB. In contrast, urine concentration of [TIMP-2]*[IGFBP7] rose from a mean of 0.49 (SE 0.24) at baseline to 1.51 (SE 0.57) 4 h after CPB in patients who developed AKI. The maximum urinary [TIMP-2]*[IGFBP7] concentration achieved in the first 24 hours following surgery (composite time point) demonstrated an area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of 0.84. Sensitivity was 0.92, and specificity was 0.81 for a cutoff value of 0.50. The decline in urinary [TIMP-2]*[IGFBP7] values was the strongest predictor for renal recovery. Conclusions: Urinary [TIMP-2]*[IGFBP7] serves as a sensitive and specific biomarker to predict AKI early after cardiac surgery and to predict renal recovery.

Pharmaceutically relevant metabolites from lichens.

Abstract: Lichen metabolites exert a wide variety of biological actions including antibiotic, antimycobacterial, antiviral, antiinflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects. Even though these manifold activities of lichen metabolites have now been recognized, their therapeutic potential has not yet been fully explored and thus remains pharmaceutically unexploited. In this mini-review, particular attention is paid to the most common classes of small-molecule constituents of lichens, from both the chemical viewpoint and with regard to possible therapeutic implications. In particular, aliphatic acids, pulvinic acid derivatives, depsides and depsidones, dibenzofuans, anthraquinones, naphthoquinones as well as epidithiopiperazinediones are described. An improved access to these lichen substances in drug discovery high-throughput screening programs will provide impetus for identifying novel lead-compounds with therapeutic potential and poses new challenges for medicinal chemistry.

Mechanical Surface Modification of Lithium Metal: Towards Improved Li Metal Anode Performance by Directed Li Plating

Abstract: The effect of mechanical surface modification on the performance of lithium (Li) metal foil electrodes is systematically investigated. The applied micro-needle surface treatment technique for Li metal has various advantages. 1) This economical and efficient technique is able to cover a wide range of surface area with a simple rolling process, which can be easily conducted. 2) This technique achieves improved rate capability and cycling stability, as well as a reduced interfacial resistance. The micro-needle treatment improves the rate capability by 20% (0.750 mAh at a rate of 7C) and increases the cycling stability by 200% (85% of the initial discharge capacity after 150 cycles) compared to untreated bare Li metal (0.626 mAh at a rate of 7C, 85% of the initial discharge capacity after only 70 cycles). 3) This technique efficiently suppresses Li formation of high surface area Li during the Li deposition process, as preferred sites for controlled Li plating are generated.