Domino [4 + 1]-annulation of α,β-unsaturated δ-amino esters with Rh(II)-carbenoids – a new approach towards multi-functionalized N-aryl pyrrolidines

Catalytic decomposition of diazomalonates and other diazoesters using Rh(II)- and Cu(II)-complexes in the presence of α,β-unsaturated δ-(N-aryl)amino esters gives rise to the formation of multi-functionalized pyrrolidines with yields of up to 82%. The reaction apparently occurs as a domino process involving the initial N-ylide formation followed by intramolecular Michael addition to the conjugated system of amino esters to afford the pyrrolidine heterocycle. The whole process can also be classified as a [4 + 1]-annulation of the δ-amino α,β-unsaturated ester with the carbenoid intermediate.

Dynamically controlled resonance fluorescence spectra from a doubly dressed single InGaAs quantum dot

We report the first experimental demonstration of the interference-induced spectral line elimination predicted by Zhu and Scully [Phys. Rev. Lett. 76, 388 (1996)] and Ficek and Rudolph [Phys. Rev. A 60, R4245 (1999)]. We drive an exciton transition of a self-assembled quantum dot in order to realize a two-level system exposed to a bichromatic laser field and observe the nearly complete elimination of the resonance fluorescence spectral line at the driving laser frequency. This is caused by quantum interference between coupled transitions among the doubly dressed excitonic states, without population trapping. We also demonstrate a multiphoton ac Stark effect with shifted subharmonic resonances and dynamical modifications of resonance fluorescence spectra by using double dressing.

Domino reactions of diazodicarbonyl compounds with α,β-unsaturated δ-amino esters: a convenient way towards 2-oxopiperidines, dihydropyridinones and isoquinolinediones

Thermal decomposition of a series of diazodicarbonyl compounds in the presence of α,β-unsaturated δ-amino esters and sodium hydride gives rise to a variety of nitrogenous heterocycles.

Organic-free synthesis of layer-like FAU-type zeolites

The presence of simple inorganic salts during zeolite synthesis turned out to be an effective and easy to handle alternative to organic additives to induce the growth of layer-like zeolite morphologies.

Spatial coherence properties of one dimensional exciton-polariton condensates

In this work, we combine a systematic experimental investigation of the power- and temperature-dependent evolution of the spatial coherence function, g^{(1)}(r), in a one dimensional exciton-polariton channel with a modern microscopic numerical theory based on a stochastic master equation approach. The spatial coherence function g^{(1)}(r) is extracted via high-precision Michelson interferometry, which allows us to demonstrate that in the regime of nonresonant excitation, the dependence g^{(1)}(r) reaches a saturation value with a plateau, which is determined by the intensity of the pump and effective temperature of the crystal lattice. The theory, which was extended to allow for treating incoherent excitation in a stochastic frame, matches the experimental data with good qualitative and quantitative agreement. This allows us to verify the prediction that the decay of the off-diagonal long-range order can be almost fully suppressed in one dimensional condensate systems.

[Colorectal Carcinoma with Suspected Lynch Syndrome: A Multidisciplinary Algorithm]

Lynch syndrome is the most frequent hereditary cancer syndrome, accounting for approximately 3-5 % of all colorectal cancers. In addition, it is the most frequent predisposing hereditary cause of endometrial cancer and is also associated with gastric cancer, ovarian cancer, cancer of the urinary tract as well as several other cancers. In clinical practise Lynch syndrome is frequently not detected and many clinicians admit uncertainties regarding diagnostic procedures. Also, counselling of patients is considered difficult regarding therapeutic - especially prophylactic surgical and chemopreventive options and recommendations. Based on a review of available literature we discuss optimized strategies for improved detection of suspected Lynch syndrome patients. The aim of this review is to establish a clinical algorithm of how to proceed on a diagnostic level and to discuss surgical options at the time of a colorectal cancer. In order to identify patients with Lynch syndrome, family history should be ascertained and evaluated in regards to fulfilment of the Amsterdam-II- and/or the revised Bethesda criteria. Subsequently immunohistochemical staining for the mismatch-repair-genes, BRAF testing for MLH1 loss of expression, as well as testing for microsatellite instability in some, followed by genetic counselling and mutation analysis when indicated, is recommended. Pathological identification of suspected Lynch syndrome is readily feasible and straightforward. However, the need of performing these analyses in the tumor biopsy at the time of (gastroenterological) diagnosis of CRC neoplasia is essential, in order to offer patients the option of a prophylactically extended surgery and - as recommended in the German S3 guidelines - to discuss the option of a merely prophylactical hysterectomy and oophorectomy (if postmenopausal) in women. Close cooperation between gastroenterologists, pathologists and surgeons is warranted, so that patients may benefit from options of extended or prophylactically extended surgery at the time of diagnosis of a colorectal primary. Patients nowadays must be involved in informed decision-making regarding prophylactic or extended prophylactic surgery at the time of a colorectal primary. To date, however, limitations in daily clinical practise, the failure to assess family history and the lack of awareness of this important hereditary syndrome is the major asset leading to severe underdiagnosis and putting to risk the indexpatients themselves and their families to (metachronous) CRC and the associated extracolonic cancers. If at all tumors of patients fulfilling Bethesda criteria will be analysed for MSI in the surgical specimen and therefore Lynch syndrome patients are not given the opportunity to opt for extended surgery. In clinical experience the postoperative MSI-analysis is inconsistently performed - even if the Bethesda criteria are fulfilled - and in case of suspected Lynch syndrome genetically counselling is not consistently recommended. Therefore affected cancer patients are left unaware of their increased genetic risk and in average 3 high-risk gene carriers per family miss the opportunity to actively engage in the recommended screening program.

Lasing from active optomechanical resonators

Planar microcavities with distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs) host, besides confined optical modes, also mechanical resonances due to stop bands in the phonon dispersion relation of the DBRs. These resonances have frequencies in the 10- to 100-GHz range, depending on the resonator's optical wavelength, with quality factors exceeding 1,000. The interaction of photons and phonons in such optomechanical systems can be drastically enhanced, opening a new route towards the manipulation of light. Here we implemented active semiconducting layers into the microcavity to obtain a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL). Thereby, three resonant excitations--photons, phonons and electrons--can interact strongly with each other providing modulation of the VCSEL laser emission: a picosecond strain pulse injected into the VCSEL excites long-living mechanical resonances therein. As a result, modulation of the lasing intensity at frequencies up to 40 GHz is observed. From these findings, prospective applications of active optomechanical resonators integrated into nanophotonic circuits may emerge.

Incidence rates and trends of hip/femur fractures in five European countries: comparison using e-healthcare records databases

Hip fractures represent a major public health challenge worldwide. Multinational studies using a common methodology are scarce. We aimed to estimate the incidence rates (IRs) and trends of hip/femur fractures over the period 2003-2009 in five European countries. The study was performed using seven electronic health-care records databases (DBs) from Denmark, The Netherlands, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom, based on the same protocol. Yearly IRs of hip/femur fractures were calculated for the general population and for those aged ≥50 years. Trends over time were evaluated using linear regression analysis for both crude and standardized IRs. Sex- and age-standardized IRs for the UK, Netherlands, and Spanish DBs varied from 9 to 11 per 10,000 person-years for the general population and from 22 to 26 for those ≥50 years old; the German DB showed slightly higher IRs (about 13 and 30, respectively), whereas the Danish DB yielded IRs twofold higher (19 and 52, respectively). IRs increased exponentially with age in both sexes. The ratio of females to males was ≥2 for patients aged ≥70-79 years in most DBs. Statistically significant trends over time were only shown for the UK DB (CPRD) (+0.7% per year, P < 0.01) and the Danish DB (-1.4% per year, P < 0.01). IRs of hip/femur fractures varied greatly across European countries. With the exception of Denmark, no decreasing trend was observed over the study period.

The impact of balloon catheter dilation on frequency of sinus surgery in the United States

PURPOSE

Endoscopic sinus surgery for patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) unresponsive to medical therapy has traditionally been performed under general anesthesia and in the operating room. Balloons for catheter dilation of paranasal sinuses were introduced in 2005, allowing sinus surgery to be safely performed either in the operating room or the office care setting, under local anesthesia. This change in care setting has raised concerns of overuse or expanded indications for sinus surgery. This study was thus designed to evaluate changes in surgical volumes in the United States, for the period 2006-2011, and to evaluate the impact of the sinus balloons on surgical practice.

METHODS

The MarketScan(®) Commercial Claims and Encounter Database was queried for the period 2006 to 2011 using CRS International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes (473.X) and sinus surgery US-based Common Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes (endoscopic sinus surgery: CPT codes 31254-31294 and 31299; balloon catheter dilation: CPT codes 31295-31297). MarketScan's projection methodology was applied to estimate the nationwide prevalence of CRS and the incidence of sinus surgery. Procedural case mix and total average payment per surgery were analyzed.

RESULTS

From 2006 to 2011, the yearly prevalence of CRS and sinus surgery volume remained flat with ~430 patients with CRS per 100,000 in the employer-sponsored insured population, of which ~117/100,000 underwent surgery. In 2006, 2.69 paranasal sinuses (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 2.65-2.71) were treated during each individual sinus surgery, with an additional 1.11 nasal procedures (95% CI: 1.08-1.13) performed concurrently. By 2011, the procedural case mix had expanded to 2.90 sinus (95% CI: 2.87-2.93) and 1.16 nasal procedures (95% CI: 1.14-1.85) per surgery. Payments increased from $7,011.06 (α=$6,378.30; β=3.1490) in 2006 to $9,090.11 (α=$8,350.20; β=2.9535) in 2011, in line with US medical inflation.

CONCLUSION

In the study population, approximately 1 in 3.7 patients diagnosed with CRS underwent sinus surgery. This ratio remained constant from 2006 to 2011. There was no evidence that the number of distinct sinus surgeries per 100,000 people increased despite the introduction and utilization of balloon catheter dilation tools that enabled migration of sinus surgery to the office.

Anomalies of a nonequilibrium spinor polariton condensate in a magnetic field

We observe a strong variation of the Zeeman splitting of exciton polaritons in microcavities when switching between the linear regime, the polariton lasing, and photon lasing regimes. In the polariton lasing regime the sign of Zeeman splitting changes compared to the linear regime, while in the photon lasing regime the splitting vanishes. We additionally observe an increase of the diamagnetic shift in the polariton lasing regime. These effects are explained in terms of the nonequilibrium "spin Meissner effect."

Brain control of volitional ankle tasks in people with chronic stroke and in healthy individuals

This study explored the relationships between motor cortical control of ankle dorsiflexors and clinical impairments of volitional ankle dorsiflexion in people with chronic stroke. Eighteen persons with stroke and 14 controls were evaluated. Clinical tools were used to assess ankle dorsiflexion amplitude and isometric strength. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the primary motor cortex (M1) tested the functional integrity of cortical circuits controlling the tibialis anterior (TA). All clinical scores and most TMS outcomes were impaired in people with chronic stroke. The lower clinical scores were related to the reduction of the strength of corticospinal projections onto spinal motoneurons. Concurrent TMS and clinical testing in chronic stroke provided original data demonstrating relationships between the integrity of cortical and corticospinal components of TA motor control and volitional ankle tasks. Our study proposes that volitional ankle mobilization in chronic stroke may be explained by the residual abnormal M1 circuits which may be responsive for rehabilitation intervention. This should be confirmed in longitudinal studies with larger samples to determine whether TMS outcomes associated with lower limb muscles are predictive of clinical changes or vice versa.

Room temperature polariton light emitting diode with integrated tunnel junction

We present a diode incorporating a large number (12) of GaAs quantum wells that emits light from exciton-polariton states at room temperature. A reversely biased tunnel junction is placed in the cavity region to improve current injection into the device. Electroluminescence studies reveal two polariton branches which are spectrally separated by a Rabi splitting of 6.5 meV. We observe an anticrossing of the two branches when the temperature is lowered below room temperature as well as a Stark shift of both branches in a bias dependent photoluminescence measurement.

[Cutaneous mucormycosis caused by Rhizopus microsporus]

BACKGROUND

Mucormycosis are rare fungal infections occurring chiefly in the lung or the rhinocerebral compartment, particularly in patients with immunodeficiency or mellitus diabetes. We report the case of an elderly patient with cutaneous mucormycosis caused by Rhizopus microsporus.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

An 89-year-old man presented a skin lesion of the forearm rapidly becoming inflammatory and necrotic. The patient had been treated for 2months with oral corticosteroids for idiopathic thrombocytopenia. Histological and mycological examination of the skin biopsy revealed the presence of a filamentous fungus, R. microsporus. The outcome was unfavorable, despite prescription of high-dose liposomal amphotericin B.

DISCUSSION

Mucormycosis are infrequent opportunistic infections caused by angio-invasive fungi belonging to the Mucorales order. Cutaneous presentations are rare, and in rare cases the species R. microsporus is isolated in clinical samples. Diagnosis is based on histological examination highlighting the characteristic mycelium within infected tissue, together with ex vivo mycological identification using morphological and molecular methods. Treatment consists of liposomal amphotericin B combined with debridement surgery.

CONCLUSION

R. microsporus is a marginal fungal species rarely isolated in clinical practice, and even less in dermatology departments. This clinical case report highlights the severity of infection with this fungus, particularly in the absence of early surgery.

Systematic review of the efficacy and tolerability of clozapine in the treatment of youth with early onset schizophrenia

BACKGROUND

The use of clozapine (CLZ) for treatment-resistant schizophrenia is well established in adults. However, it is seldom used in youth with early onset schizophrenia (EOS) largely because of lack of clarity about its risk benefit ratio. This review synthesises and evaluates available evidence regarding the efficacy and tolerability of CLZ in EOS with the aim to assist clinical decision-making.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review of the primary literature on the clinical efficacy and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) observed during CLZ treatment in EOS. We also identified relevant practice guidelines and summarised current guidance.

RESULTS

CLZ showed superior efficacy than other antipsychotics in treating refractory EOS patients; short-term clinical trials suggest an average improvement of 69% on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale that was sustained during long-term follow-up (up to 9 years). No fatalities linked to CLZ treatment were reported. Sedation and hypersalivation were the most common complaints, reported by over 90% of patients. Other common ADRs (reported in 10-60% of patients) were enuresis, constipation, weight gain, and non-specific EEG changes. Less common ADRs (reported in 10-30% of patients) were akathisia, tachycardia and changes in blood pressure. Neutropenia was reported in 6-15% of cases but was usually transient while agranulocytosis was rare (<0.1%). Seizures were also uncommon (<3%). Metabolic changes were relatively common (8-22%) but emergent diabetes was not frequently observed (<6%). Overall the rate of discontinuation was low (3-6%). Current guidelines recommend the use of CLZ in EOS patients who have failed to respond to two adequate trials with different antipsychotics and provide detailed schedules of assessments to evaluate and assess potential ADRs both prior to initiation and throughout CLZ treatment.

CONCLUSION

Available data although limited in terms of number of studies are consistent in demonstrating that CLZ is effective and generally safe in the treatment of refractory EOS provided patients are regularly monitored.

Image analysis methods for assessment of H2O2 production and Plasmopara viticola development in grapevine leaves: application to the evaluation of resistance to downy mildew

The grapevine downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola) provokes severe damages and destroys the harvest in the absence of an effective protection. Numerous fungicide treatments are thus generally necessary. To promote a sustainable production, alternative strategies of protection including new antifungal molecules, resistant genotypes or elicitor-induced resistance are under trial. To evaluate the relevance of these strategies, resistance tests are required. In this context, three image analysis methods were developed to read the results of tests performed to assess P. viticola sporulation and mycelial development, and H(2)O(2) production in leaves. They have been validated using elicitors of plant defenses. These methods are reliable, innovative, rapid, and their modular concept allows their further adaptation to other host-pathogen systems.

Spontaneous left atrial reentry tachycardias : radiofrequency ablation and outcome

AIMS

Spontaneous left atrial reentry tachycardias (LART) in patients without previous cardiac surgical or catheter ablation are rare. Several therapeutic concepts of catheter ablation have been suggested: linear lesions (LL), circumferential pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), and both (LL + PVI).

METHODS AND RESULTS

In all, 28 consecutive symptomatic patients with 51 LARTs presented to our institution for catheter ablation. Electroanatomical mapping was performed on 25 patients. Three patients were ablated conventionally during LART; 25 patients (89.3 %) had extensive low-voltage areas in the left atrium (atrial myopathy). One of the following ablation strategies was applied: first, LL (n = 8), second, PVI + LL (n = 11), and third PVI alone (n = 9). Fourteen patients (50 %) had a recurrent arrhythmia during a mean follow-up of 12.2 ± 11.1 months. Six patients presented with a recurrent LART (21.4 %), 4 with LART and atrial fibrillation (Afib) (14.3 %), and 4 with Afib (14.3 %). The recurrence rate of any arrhythmia (LART and Afib) was 37.5 % in the LL group, 44.4 % in the PVI group, and 63.6 % in the PVI + LL group (ns); the recurrence rate of LARTs was 12.5 % in the LL group, 22.2 % in the PVI group, and 63.6 % in the PVI + LL group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence after ablation of spontaneous LART in mid-term is considerable. Stable LARTs are effectively treated by LL. PVI alone may be an acceptable alternative, especially in patients with unstable LARTs and Afib. However, the risk of recurrent LARTs after a more extensive strategy with PVI and LL is considerable, probably due to proarrhythmic effects of long linear lesions.

Cardiac MRI: diagnostic gain of an additional axial SSFP chest sequence for the detection of potentially significant extracardiac findings in the cardiac MRI examination setting

PURPOSE

Cardiac MRI (CMRI) is an effective method for imaging of the heart. The aim of our study was to assess whether an axial chest sequence in addition to the standard CMR examination setting has advantages in the detection of potentially significant extracardiac findings (PSEF).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

400 consecutive patients were imaged at 1.5 T for clinical reasons. In addition to the standard long and short-axis views, an axial SSFP sequence was obtained covering the thorax from the lung apex to the diaphragm. All sequences were separately evaluated for PSEF.

RESULTS

A total of 25 PSEF were diagnosed in 400 patients, including 16 pleural effusions, a pulmonary fibrosis, a spondylodiscitis, ascites, lymphadenopathies, relapse of a mamma carcinoma, growth of adrenal glands metastases and diaphragmatic elevation. All 25 PSEF were detected by reading survey sequences. 24 of the 25 PSEF were detected by the additional SSFP chest sequence as well as the CINE sequences.

CONCLUSION

In our study the additional axial SSFP chest sequence didn't show a benefit in the detection of PSEF. With the survey sequences we were able to detect all PSEF. We conclude that survey images should be assessed for additional findings.

Comparison of doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (AC) versus single-agent paclitaxel (T) as adjuvant therapy for breast cancer in women with 0-3 positive axillary nodes: CALGB 40101

1007

Background: Determining optimal adjuvant chemotherapy for early stage breast cancer depends on efficacy and toxicity. We sought to determine if T is equivalent to AC but with reduced toxicity. Methods: Pts with operable breast cancer with 0-3 positive nodes were enrolled on a 2x2 factorial design study which addressed (1) superiority of 6 vs. 4 cycles of therapy (previously reported, Shulman, JCO 2012) and (2) equivalence of single-agent T to standard AC, defined as upper bound of 95% confidence interval (CI) of hazard ratio (HR) of T vs. AC < 1.30 for the primary endpoint of relapse-free survival (RFS). A planned target of 567 RFS events required 4,646 pts with 4 yrs FU. At activation in 2002, T (80mg/m2) was q1wk for 12 or 18 wks and AC (60/600 mg/m2) was q3wk for 4 or 6 cycles. In 2003 (570 pts enrolled) schedules were revised to 4 or 6 cycles q2wk for both T (175 mg/m2) and AC. The 6-cycle arms were dropped in 2008 (3,171 pts enrolled) due to slow accrual. Relative effectiveness of T to AC is shown by hazard ratio (HR). Logrank p-values are measures of discordance but are not relevant for the equivalence question and are not adjusted for multiple comparisons. Results: After enrolling 3,871 pts, the study closed in 2010 due to slowing accrual. With a median follow-up of 6.1 yrs there are 437 RFS events. The HR of 1.26 (95% CI: 1.05-1.53; p = 0.02) does not allow a conclusion of equivalence of T with AC. With 266 deaths the HR for overall survival (OS) is 1.27 (95% CI=1.00-1.62; p = 0.05), favoring AC. The estimated absolute advantage of AC at 5 yrs is 3% (91 vs. 88%) for RFS and 1% (95 vs. 94%) for OS. All 9 treatment-related deaths were in pts receiving AC and are included in the survival analysis. The incidence of Grade 3+ toxicity for AC vs T was 33% vs. 4% for hematologic toxicity and 36% vs 22% for non-hematologic toxicity. Conclusions: This trial did not show equivalence of T to AC, a conclusion that is very unlikely to change with additional follow-up. T was less toxic than AC. Clinical trial information: CDR0000069444/NCT00041119.

Homozygous and compound heterozygous MMP20 mutations in amelogenesis imperfecta

In this article, we focus on hypomaturation autosomal-recessive-type amelogenesis imperfecta (type IIA2) and describe 2 new causal Matrix metalloproteinase 20 (MMP20) mutations validated in two unrelated families: a missense mutation p.T130I at the expected homozygous state, and a compound heterozygous mutation having the same mutation combined with a nucleotide deletion, leading to a premature stop codon (p.N120fz*2). We characterized the enamel structure of the latter case using scanning electron microscopy analysis and microanalysis (Energy-dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy, EDX) and confirmed the hypomaturation-type amelogenesis imperfecta as identified in the clinical diagnosis. The mineralized content was slightly decreased, with magnesium substituting for calcium in the crystal structure. The anomalies affected enamel with minimal inter-rod enamel present and apatite crystals perpendicular to the enamel prisms, suggesting a possible new role for MMP20 in enamel formation.

Microcavity controlled coupling of excitonic qubits

Controlled non-local energy and coherence transfer enables light harvesting in photosynthesis and non-local logical operations in quantum computing. This process is intuitively pictured by a pair of mechanical oscillators, coupled by a spring, allowing for a reversible exchange of excitation. On a microscopic level, the most relevant mechanism of coherent coupling of distant quantum bits—like trapped ions, superconducting qubits or excitons confined in semiconductor quantum dots—is coupling via the electromagnetic field. Here we demonstrate the controlled coherent coupling of spatially separated quantum dots via the photon mode of a solid state microresonator using the strong exciton–photon coupling regime. This is enabled by two-dimensional spectroscopy of the sample’s coherent response, a sensitive probe of the coherent coupling. The results are quantitatively understood in a rigorous description of the cavity-mediated coupling of the quantum dot excitons. This mechanism can be used, for instance in photonic crystal cavity networks, to enable a long-range, non-local coherent coupling.

Controlling coupling between distant quantum objects is important for implementation of quantum technologies. Providing an important step towards using semiconductor structures for hosting optically controlled qubits, this work shows coherent coupling between three quantum dot excitons via a cavity.

Coherence expansion and polariton condensate formation in a semiconductor microcavity

The dynamics of the expansion of the first order spatial coherence g(1) for a polariton system in a high-Q GaAs microcavity was investigated on the basis of Young's double slit experiment under 3 ps pulse excitation at the conditions of polariton Bose-Einstein condensation. It was found that in the process of condensate formation the coherence expands with a constant velocity of about 10(8)  cm/s. The measured coherence is smaller than that in a thermal equilibrium system during the growth of condensate density and well exceeds it at the end of condensate decay. The onset of spatial coherence is governed by polariton relaxation while condensate amplitude and phase fluctuations are not suppressed.

Small scale boiling experiments using two-dimensional imaging with high-speed camera and optical coherence tomography

To investigate boiling processes, a test facility has been constructed, which allows the use of optical techniques for the detection of individual vapor bubbles. Demineralized water was used as working fluid at ambient pressure whereat temperature, flow rate and heat flux density can be varied. The growth of individual vapor bubbles was recorded by high-speed camera and analyzed by digital image processing (DIP). Optical coherence tomography (OCT) enabled the visualization of steam bubbles in cross-sections perpendicular to the heated surface.

[Injuries in male and female adolescent soccer players]

This study addresses the epidemiology of injuries in adolescent male and female soccer players in Germany. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to analyse the injuries in male and female youth soccer players in Germany. This study was designed as a cross-sectional web-based survey. From March until December 2011 we investigated 1110 soccer players (male n = 841; female n = 269) aged 12 - 19 years (15.0 ± 2.0 years) from 60 clubs in Southern Germany. A total of 664 (79 %) of the 841 boys and 67 (25 %) of the 269 girls reported being injured due to soccer. The total number of injuries was 2373. Respectively the frequency of injury was 2.85 in boys and 7.10 in girls. The lower extremities were affected in 70 % of all reported cases. Strains were the most common injuries in the lower and upper extremities (35 %). The boys reported in 51.5 % of all injuries that the injury was non-contact in nature. In contrast, 52.1 % of the injuries in girls were reported as contact injuries. Similar amounts of injuries were observed in training versus games for both genders. Prevention procedures, such as a thorough warm-up, should be implemented before every game and training to reduce the risk of injury.

[The prevalence of Parkinson's disease, associated dementia, and depression in Dresden]

BACKGROUND

Parkinson's disease (PD) is frequently compounded by dementia and depression. Yet local total estimates on the prevalence of PD with dementia/depression are still lacking. These are socioeconomically important, especially for the eastern federal states in Germany due to the demographic structures.

METHODS

We conducted a two-staged total estimation in the area of Dresden. First, all local office-based neurologists, hospitals and retirement homes were asked to list their patients/residents with PD on a single study day. Then a random sample of patients/home residents was neuropsycholoigcally examined, including the Mini-mental-state exam and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression rating scale. Dementia was diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria.

RESULTS

Overall, 886 PD cases (95 % CI: 809 - 926) were estimated, of which 252 (95 % CI: 226 - 279) suffered from dementia and 216 (95 % CI: 191 - 242) from depression. Dementia rates increased by age with 13.8 % (≤ 65 years) to 40.2 % (≥ 76 years). Depression rates ranged from 23.3 % to 28.0 %. Overall, 20.6 % of all ambulatory treated PD patients and 85.7 % of all home residents with PD had dementia.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of PD in Dresden dovetails with previous reported estimates. Dementia and depression are frequent complications in outpatients as well as home residents with PD.

On-chip quantum optics with quantum dot microcavities

A novel concept for on-chip quantum optics using an internal electrically pumped microlaser is presented. The microlaser resonantly excites a quantum dot microcavity system operating in the weak coupling regime of cavity quantum electrodynamics. This work presents the first on-chip application of quantum dot microlasers, and also opens up new avenues for the integration of individual microcavity structures into larger photonic networks.

Mobilization of PBSC for allogeneic transplantation by the use of the G-CSF biosimilar XM02 in healthy donors

The human recombinant G-CSF filgrastim has been widely used for the mobilization of CD34⁺ stem cells of healthy donors (HD). In 2008, the G-CSF biosimilar XM02 (Ratiograstim, Tevagrastim and Biograstim) was approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the mobilization of PBSC. However, there is limited experience in the application of biosimilar G-CSF for the mobilization of PBSC especially in HD. Therefore, we investigated in two cohorts (n=22), the efficacy and safety of PBSC mobilization by either biosimilar G-CSF or reference G-CSF. We observed a similar yield of CD34⁺ stem cells as well as CD3⁺ T-cells and nucleated cells in both groups and a safe engraftment in all patients with similar reconstitution of hematopoiesis in all hosts. In summary, we found a comparable efficacy and safety of biosimilar G-CSF when compared with reference G-CSF.

A combined histology and transcriptome analysis unravels novel questions on Medicago truncatula seed coat

The seed coat is involved in the determination of seed quality traits such as seed size, seed composition, seed permeability, and hormonal regulation. Understanding seed coat structure is therefore a prerequisite to deciphering the genetic mechanisms that govern seed coat functions. By combining histological and transcriptomic data analyses, cellular and molecular events occurring during Medicago truncatula seed coat development were dissected in order to relate structure to function and pinpoint target genes potentially involved in seed coat traits controlling final seed quality traits. The analyses revealed the complexity of the seed coat transcriptome, which contains >30 000 genes. In parallel, a set of genes showing a preferential expression in seed coat that may be involved in more specific functions was identified. The study describes how seed coat anatomy and morphological changes affect final seed quality such as seed size, seed composition, seed permeability, and hormonal regulation. Putative regulator genes of different processes have been identified as potential candidates for further functional genomic studies to improve agronomical seed traits. The study also raises new questions concerning the implication of seed coat endopolyploidy in cell expansion and the participation of the seed coat in de novo abscisic acid biosynthesis at early seed filling.