University of Tübingen

About: University of Tübingen is a education organization based out in Tübingen, Germany. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Transplantation. The organization has 40555 authors who have published 84108 publications receiving 3015320 citations. The organization is also known as: Eberhard Karls University & Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen.

Gas Chromatographic Separation of Enantiomers on Cyclodextrin Derivatives

Abstract: In investigations concerned with the phenomenon of molecular chirality, the use of gas chromatography for the enantiomeric analysis of stable, volatile compounds is a technique of steadily growing importance. [1] In the last three years an important breakthrough in gas-chro-matographic separation of enantiomers has been achieved by using alkylated cyclodextrins (α, β, and γ) as chiral stationary phases in high-resolution capillary columns. In academic and commercial practice two different and complementary strategies have been adopted up to now. In the first, alkylated cyclodextrins are diluted with polysiloxanes and coated on glass or fused silica capillary columns. In the second, lipophilic per-n-pentylcyclodextrins and hydrophilic di-n-pentyl- and hydroxyalkylpermethylcyclodextrins are coated directly in the form of liquid phases onto suitably pretreated glass or fused silica surfaces. These techniques permit enantiomer separations not only for polar diols and alcohols, derivatized hydroxycarboxylic acids, amino acids, sugars, and alkyl halides, but also for nonpolar alkenes, cyclic saturated hydrocarbons, and metal π complexes. An important aspect for practical applications is that in many cases the enantiomers can be separated without previous derivatization. Whereas the resolution of racemates of unfunctionalized hydrocarbons is attributed to an enantioselective host–guest inclusion complex, some observations indicate that for polar guest molecules additional enantioselective interactions are also involved. The new chiral stationary phases can be used over a wide range of temperatures (25 to 250°C). The technique described is likely to become widely adopted as a simple, accurate and highly sensitive method for the enantiomeric analysis of chiral compounds that can be vaporized without decomposition. It will also stimulate future research aimed at finding universal cyclodextrin phases and elucidating the mechanisms of enantioselectivity.

Developmental specificity of auxin response by pairs of ARF and Aux/IAA transcriptional regulators.

Abstract: The plant hormone auxin elicits many specific context-dependent developmental responses. Auxin promotes degradation of Aux/IAA proteins that prevent transcription factors of the auxin response factor (ARF) family from regulating auxin-responsive target genes. Aux/IAAs and ARFs are represented by large gene families in Arabidopsis. Here we show that stabilization of BDL/IAA12 or its sister protein IAA13 prevents MP/ARF5-dependent embryonic root formation whereas stabilized SHY2/IAA3 interferes with seedling growth. Although both bdl and shy2-2 proteins inhibited MP/ARF5-dependent reporter gene activation, shy2-2 was much less efficient than bdl to interfere with embryonic root initiation when expressed from the BDL promoter. Similarly, MP was much more efficient than ARF16 in this process. When expressed from the SHY2 promoter, both shy2-2 and bdl inhibited cell elongation and auxin-induced gene expression in the seedling hypocotyl. By contrast, gravitropism and auxin-induced gene expression in the root, which were promoted by functionally redundant NPH4/ARF7 and ARF19 proteins, were inhibited by shy2-2, but not by bdl protein. Our results suggest that auxin signals are converted into specific responses by matching pairs of coexpressed ARF and Aux/IAA proteins.

Surgery in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer: The Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gynaekologische Onkologie (AGO) DESKTOP OVAR Trial

Abstract: The role of cytoreductive surgery in relapsed ovarian cancer is not clearly defined. Therefore, patient selection remains arbitrary and depends on the center’s preference rather than on established selection criteria. The Descriptive Evaluation of preoperative Selection KriTeria for OPerability in recurrent OVARian cancer (DESKTOP OVAR) trial was undertaken to form a hypothesis for a panel of criteria for selecting patients who might benefit from surgery in relapsed ovarian cancer. The DESKTOP trial was an exploratory study based on data from a retrospective analysis of hospital records. Twenty-five member institutions of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gynaekologische Onkologie Ovarian Committee (AGO OC) and AGO-OVAR boards collected data on their patients with cytoreductive surgery for relapsed invasive epithelial ovarian cancer performed in 2000–2003. Two hundred and sixty-seven patients were included. Complete resection was associated with significantly longer survival compared with surgery leaving any postoperative residuals [median 45.2 vs. 19.7 months; hazard ratio (HR) 3.71; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.27–6.05; P 0; P 500 ml (P < .001). A combination of PS, early FIGO stage initially or no residual tumor after first surgery, and absence of ascites could predict complete resection in 79% of patients. Only complete resection was associated with prolonged survival in recurrent ovarian cancer. The identified criteria panel will be verified in a prospective trial (AGO-DESKTOP II) evaluating whether it will render a useful tool for selecting the right patients for cytoreductive surgery in recurrent ovarian cancer.