Estradiol- and progesterone-associated changes in microRNA-induced silencing and reduced anti-seizure efficacy of an antagomir in female mice

About one third of individuals living with epilepsy have treatment-resistant seizures. Alternative therapeutic strategies are thus urgently needed. One potential novel treatment target is microRNA-induced silencing, which is differentially regulated in epilepsy. Inhibitors (antagomirs) of specific microRNAs have shown therapeutic promise in preclinical epilepsy studies; however, these studies were mainly conducted in male rodent models, and research into microRNA regulation in females and by female hormones in epilepsy is scarce. This is problematic because female sex and the menstrual cycle can affect the disease course of epilepsy and may, therefore, also alter the efficacy of potential microRNA-targeted treatments. Here, we used the proconvulsant microRNA miR-324-5p and its target, the potassium channel Kv4.2, as an example to test how microRNA-induced silencing and the efficacy of antagomirs in epilepsy are altered in female mice. We showed that Kv4.2 protein is reduced after seizures in female mice similar to male mice; however, in contrast to male mice, microRNA-induced silencing of Kv4.2 is unchanged, and miR-324-5p activity, as measured by the association with the RNA-induced silencing complex, is reduced in females after seizure. Moreover, a miR-324-5p antagomir does not consistently reduce seizure frequency or increase Kv4.2 in female mice. As a possible underlying mechanism, we found that miR-324-5p activity and silencing of Kv4.2 in the brain were differentially correlated with plasma levels of 17β-estradiol and progesterone. Our results suggest that hormonal fluctuations in sexually mature female mice influence microRNA-induced silencing and could alter the efficacy of potential future microRNA-based treatments for epilepsy in females.Significance StatementMicroRNA-induced silencing is currently investigated in preclinical studies as a potential novel class of treatment target for epilepsy; however, surprisingly little is known about if and how microRNA-induced silencing is regulated by biological sex and if microRNA therapeutics are as effective in females as they are in males. This study shows that microRNA silencing of the potassium channel Kv4.2 and the functional activity of its targeting microRNA, miR-324-5p, change with plasma levels of estrogens and progesterone and that an inhibitor of miR-324-5p is less effective in female mice to suppress seizures. These findings are significant as they suggest microRNA-induced silencing as a novel molecular mechanism contributing to sex differences in epilepsy that could impact future therapy development.

Old known and possible new biomarkers of ANCA-associated vasculitis

Antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) comprises a group of multisystem disorders involving severe, systemic, small-vessel vasculitis with short- and long term serious and life-threating complications. Despite the simplification of treatment, fundamental aspects concerning assessment of its efficacy and its adaptation to encountered complications or to the relapsing/remitting/subclinical disease course remain still unknown. The pathogenesis of AAV is complex and unique, and despite the progress achieved in the last years, much has not to be learnt. Foremost, there is still no accurate marker enabling us to monitoring disease and guide therapy. Therefore, the disease management relays often on clinical judgment and follows a" trial and error approach". In the recent years, an increasing number of new molecules s have been explored and used for this purpose including genomics, B- and T-cell subpopulations, complement system factors, cytokines, metabolomics, biospectroscopy and components of our microbiome. The aim of this review is to discuss both the role of known historical and clinically established biomarkers of AAV, as well as to highlight potential new ones, which could be used for timely diagnosis and monitoring of this devastating disease, with the goal to improve the effectiveness and ameliorate the complications of its demanding therapy.

Defining, Measuring and Preventing the Diagnosis of Cancer as an Emergency: A Critical Review of Current Evidence

Background: Many patients with cancer are diagnosed through an emergency presentation, which is associated with inferior clinical and patient-reported outcomes compared with those of patients who are diagnosed electively or through screening. Reducing the proportion of patients with cancer who are diagnosed as emergencies is, therefore, desirable; however, the optimal means of achieving this aim are uncertain owing to the involvement of different tumor, patient and health-care factors, often in combination. Methods: We searched the literature to identify all population-based studies that examined emergency presentation as a diagnosis or independent variable. Results: Most relevant evidence relates to patients with colorectal or lung cancer in a few economically developed countries, and defines emergency presentations contextually (that is, whether patients presented to emergency health-care services and/or received emergency treatment shortly before their diagnosis) as opposed to clinically (whether patients presented with life-threatening manifestations of their cancer). Consistent inequalities in the risk of emergency presentations by patient characteristics and cancer type have been described, but limited evidence is available on whether, and how, such presentations can be prevented. Evidence on patients' symptoms and health-care use before presentation as an emergency is sparse. Conclusion: In this review, we describe the extent, causes and implications of a diagnosis of cancer following an emergency presentation, and provide recommendations for public health and health-care interventions, and research efforts aimed at addressing this underresearched aspect of cancer diagnosis.

[Longterm Homecare Augmentation Program in Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficient Patients]

BACKGROUND

Augmentation with human alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor is the only specific treatment for Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD), a rare genetic disease with symptoms of progressive COPD.

OBJECTIVES

A prospective long-term exploration of outcomes during the "Alpha-1-Mobile" home care AAT augmentation program in seven advanced-stage patients.

METHODS

Patients received weekly i. v. AAT augmentation and COPD therapy. Symptoms, lung function, health status, quality-of-life aspects, and safety were documented continuously. Outcomes during six years of home care augmentation therapy were observed and evaluated on an inter- and intraindividual basis. FEV1 profiles were compared to pre-program data.

RESULTS

The seven patients had a mean age of 56.7 (40-68) years and had previously received augmentation for 8.8 (1-19) years. Compared to the three-year preprogram period, functional decline of FEV1 (ΔFEV1 0.47 L vs 0.17 L) slowed. Mean QoL scores showed seasonal fluctuations in the first three years of observation, and then stabilized. All blood samples tested exceeded the protective threshold of 50 mg/dL with a dose of 60 mg AAT/kg/week. Less than one exacerbation-related hospitalization occurred per patient-year. No adverse events of related to augmentation therapy were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Home care with i. v. augmentation therapy by medical professionals contributes to optimum care through consistent treatment and close health-status monitoring in our collective. Exacerbation-related hospitalizations were largely avoided. "Alpha-1-Mobile" was well accepted, practical, and safe.

Early Clinical Outcome of Patients with Ruptured Cerebral Aneurysms Treated by Endovascular (GDC) or Microsurgical Techniques

Over the past 3.5 years 220 patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage were treated in the Department of Neurosurgery University of Vienna Medical School using either endovascular techniques (Guglielmi Detachable Coils) or open craniotomy with aneurysm clipping.

A retrospective analysis was undertaken to assess whether any difference in outcome could be correlated with the treatment choice.

The patients were stratified as to 1) Hunt and Hess grade at time of treatment, 2) method of treatment, and 3) clinical outcome at 2–4 weeks following treatment.

The outcomes in this population of patients were consistent with recent published series regardless of whether the aneurysms were treated with microvascular surgery or endovascular surgery.

There was a trend toward better outcome in a relatively small sub-group of patients presenting as Hunt and Hess grade III who were treated by the endovascular method. Guglielmi detachable coils have been available for a relatively short time, and although early results are promising, the ultimate long-term efficacy of the coils will have to be assessed.

Abstract P2-11-22: The use and influence of a 21 gene rearrangement assay in breast cancer: Clinical and pathologic predictors of recurrence score and chemotherapy receipt

Objective: Oncotype DxTM (ODx) is a gene expression profile test that is rapidly gaining popularity for its ability to stratify breast cancer patients according to risk of distant recurrence and suggest the potential benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy (CTx). Presently, National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines suggest use of ODx for all patients with node negative (or micrometastatic node positive disease), hormone receptor positive breast cancer with a primary tumor measuring over 5mm. However, if risk factors predictive of a high recurrence score (RS) were defined, clinicians would be better able to tailor use of ODx. This study was undertaken to identify standard clinicopathologic factors that correlate with a high RS by ODx, and to determine whether these factors or RS most influenced receipt of CTx. We also measured compliance with NCCN guidelines regarding ODx utilization.

Methods and Materials: We performed an IRB approved retrospective review of women with invasive breast cancer treated at Yale Cancer Center from 2008-2012 to identify patients that received ODx testing, and abstracted clinical and tumor characteristics including: age, tumor size, grade, histology, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), number of involved nodes, size of nodal metastasis, presence of extracapsular extension, hormone receptor status (including percent positive), HER2 status (by FISH), RS, and receipt of CTx. The RS was categorized into low (<18), intermediate (18-30), and high score (>30). We assessed the association between these characteristics and both high RS as well as CTx receipt using Chi squared tests and Wilcoxon ranked test as appropriate. Characteristics with a p-value <0.1 in bivariate analysis were included in logistic models to estimate the odds of a high RS and receiving CTx.

Results: We identified 432 women with a median age of 58 years. RS was low, intermediate, and high in 56%, 37%, and 7%, respectively. Median tumor size was 1.6cm (range 0.1-13.2). Differentiation was rated as well, moderate, or poor in 32%, 60%, and 8%, respectively. Tumors were hormone receptor positive in 99%. ODx was used outside of NCCN guidelines in 12%. CTx was given to 30% of patients. Younger age, HER2-positivity, LVI, poor differentiation, progesterone receptor positivity (PR+) 50% or less, and RS were associated with receipt of CTx (p< = 0.01) in bivariate analyses. High RS remained independently associated with CTx receipt in multivariate analysis. Poor differentiation, PR+ 50% or less, and HER2-positivity were significantly associated with a high RS (p<0.01), and all remained independently associated with high RS in multivariate analysis. Patients with any one of these three factors had 18% odds of a high RS, versus just 1% among those without such risk factors.

Conclusions: High RS independently influences recommendations for chemotherapy. Poor differentiation, PR+ 50% or less, and HER2-positivity were associated with a high RS. In the absence of any of these three factors, the likelihood of a high RS is minimal. Noncompliance with NCCN guidelines was observed.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P2-11-22.

Simian virus 40-, but not human papillomavirus-, transformation of prostatic epithelial cells results in loss of growth-inhibition by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3

In addition to its well known calcemic actions, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 [1,25(OH)(2)D] exhibits differentiating and antiproliferative effects in several types of cancer cells. 1,25(OH)(2)D receptors (VDR) as well as 1,25(OH)(2)D-mediated growth-inhibition have been demonstrated in human prostate cancer cell lines. In order to further develop model systems for the study of 1,25(OH)(2)D action and to elucidate the mechanism of growth-inhibition, we studied several human prostate cell lines immortalized with either simian virus 40 (SV40) or human papillomavirus type 18 (HPV). The SV40-transformed cell lines P69SV40-T and P153SV40-T were not growth-inhibited by 1,25(OH)(2)D at concentrations as high as 100 nM, whereas the HPV-transformed cells PZ-HPV-7 and CA-HPV-10 were growth-inhibited. All cell lines expressed VDR, and VDR mRNA was demonstrated by Northern blot analysis. All cells exhibited induction of 24-hydroxylase mRNA, a 1,25(OH)(2)D responsive gene, after 1,25(OH)(2)D treatment. In an attempt to understand the apparent dissociation of 1,25(OH)(2)D actions in the SV40-transformed cells, we turned to the human prostate cancer cell line DU 145. These cells, like the SV40-transformed cells, are not growth-inhibited but demonstrate induction of 24-hydroxylase mRNA after 1,25(OH)(2)D treatment. DU 145 cells contain a mutated retinoblastoma gene (Rb) which contributes to their uncontrolled growth, analogous to the disruption of Rb by SV40 and HPV. We compared DU,145 cells to DU 145 cells transfected with normal Rb (DU 145/Rb). Similar to DU 145, DU 145/Rb cells were not growth-inhibited by 1,25(OH)(2)D, while 24-hydroxylase mRNA was induced. These results suggest that divergent pathways mediate the growth-inhibitory effect of 1,25(OH)(2)D and its induction of 24-hydroxylase. It also appears that the antiproliferative effect of 1,25(OH)(2)D is mediated by an Rb-independent mechanism.

Rabi flopping induces spatial demixing dynamics

We experimentally investigate the mixing and demixing dynamics of Bose-Einstein condensates in the presence of a linear coupling between two internal states. The observed amplitude reduction of the Rabi oscillations can be understood as a result of demixing dynamics of dressed states as experimentally confirmed by reconstructing the spatial profile of dressed state amplitudes. The observations are in quantitative agreement with numerical integration of coupled Gross-Pitaevskii equations without free parameters, which also reveals the criticality of the dynamics on the symmetry of the system. Our observations demonstrate new possibilities for changing effective atomic interactions and studying critical phenomena.

[Monosegmental anterior lumbar interbody fusion with the SynFix-LR™ device. A prospective 2-year follow-up study]

BACKGROUND

With anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) alone, the morbidity associated with a posterior approach can be avoided. In this study we evaluated the use of a PEEK cage with an integrated angle-stable locking plate (SynFix-LR™).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Thirty-two patients with osteochondrosis at L4/5 or L5/S1 were treated with the SynFix-LR™. Follow-up at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 months included the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), visual analog scale (VAS), and questions regarding satisfaction and use of pain medication. The fusion rate was assessed by X-ray and computed tomography (CT) examination.

RESULTS

A significant reduction of the ODI and VAS was achieved (p<0.05) with a high rate of patient satisfaction. After 2 years, 79% of the patients were able to dispense with long-term use of analgesics. We observed a fusion rate of 93% (X-ray) and 70% (CT) at final follow-up.

CONCLUSION

The SynFix-LR™ device is a suitable option for the treatment of monosegmental osteochondrosis at L4/5 and L5/S1 with comparable or superior results in comparison to posterior or combined fusion techniques.

Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen entanglement strategies in two-well Bose-Einstein condensates

Criteria suitable for measuring entanglement between two different potential wells in a Bose-Einstein condensation are evaluated. We show how to generate the required entanglement, utilizing either an adiabatic two-mode or a dynamic four-mode interaction strategy, with techniques that take advantage of s-wave scattering interactions to provide the nonlinear coupling. The dynamic entanglement method results in an entanglement signature with spatially separated detectors, as in the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox.

Arc/Arg3.1 mRNA expression reveals a subcellular trace of prior sound exposure in adult primary auditory cortex

Acquiring the behavioral significance of sound has repeatedly been shown to correlate with long term changes in response properties of neurons in the adult primary auditory cortex. However, the molecular and cellular basis for such changes is still poorly understood. To address this, we have begun examining the auditory cortical expression of an activity-dependent effector immediate early gene (IEG) with documented roles in synaptic plasticity and memory consolidation in the hippocampus: Arc/Arg3.1. For initial characterization, we applied a repeated 10 min (24 h separation) sound exposure paradigm to determine the strength and consistency of sound-evoked Arc/Arg3.1 mRNA expression in the absence of explicit behavioral contingencies for the sound. We used 3D surface reconstruction methods in conjunction with fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) to assess the layer-specific subcellular compartmental expression of Arc/Arg3.1 mRNA. We unexpectedly found that both the intranuclear and cytoplasmic patterns of expression depended on the prior history of sound stimulation. Specifically, the percentage of neurons with expression only in the cytoplasm increased for repeated versus singular sound exposure, while intranuclear expression decreased. In contrast, the total cellular expression did not differ, consistent with prior IEG studies of primary auditory cortex. Our results were specific for cortical layers 3-6, as there was virtually no sound driven Arc/Arg3.1 mRNA in layers 1-2 immediately after stimulation. Our results are consistent with the kinetics and/or detectability of cortical subcellular Arc/Arg3.1 mRNA expression being altered by the initial exposure to the sound, suggesting exposure-induced modifications in the cytoplasmic Arc/Arg3.1 mRNA pool.

Stimulation of serotonin2C receptors elicits abnormal oral movements by acting on pathways other than the sensorimotor one in the rat basal ganglia

Serotonin2C (5-HT(2C)) receptors act in the basal ganglia, a group of sub-cortical structures involved in motor behavior, where they are thought to modulate oral activity and participate in iatrogenic motor side-effects in Parkinson's disease and Schizophrenia. Whether abnormal movements initiated by 5-HT(2C) receptors are directly consequent to dysfunctions of the motor circuit is uncertain. In the present study, we combined behavioral, immunohistochemical and extracellular single-cell recordings approaches in rats to investigate the effect of the 5-HT(2C) agonist Ro-60-0175 respectively on orofacial dyskinesia, the expression of the marker of neuronal activity c-Fos in basal ganglia and the electrophysiological activity of substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) neuron connected to the orofacial motor cortex (OfMC) or the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). The results show that Ro-60-0175 (1 mg/kg) caused bouts of orofacial movements that were suppressed by the 5-HT(2C) antagonist SB-243213 (1 mg/kg). Ro-60-0175 (0.3, 1, 3 mg/kg) dose-dependently enhanced Fos expression in the striatum and the nucleus accumbens. At the highest dose, it enhanced Fos expression in the subthalamic nucleus, the SNr and the entopeduncular nucleus but not in the external globus pallidus. However, the effect of Ro-60-0175 was mainly associated with associative/limbic regions of basal ganglia whereas subregions of basal ganglia corresponding to sensorimotor territories were devoid of Fos labeling. Ro-60-0175 (1-3 mg/kg) did not affect the electrophysiological activity of SNr neurons connected to the OfMC nor their excitatory-inhibitory-excitatory responses to the OfMC electrical stimulation. Conversely, Ro-60-0175 (1 mg/kg) enhanced the late excitatory response of SNr neurons evoked by the mPFC electrical stimulation. These results suggest that oral dyskinesia induced by 5-HT(2C) agonists are not restricted to aberrant signalling in the orofacial motor circuit and demonstrate discrete modifications in associative territories.

Postnatal handling reverses social anxiety in serotonin receptor 1A knockout mice

Mice lacking the serotonin receptor 1A (Htr1a knockout, Htr1a(KO)) show increased innate and conditioned anxiety. This phenotype depends on functional receptor activity during the third through fifth weeks of life and thus appears to be the result of long-term changes in brain function as a consequence of an early deficit in serotonin signaling. To evaluate whether this phenotype can be influenced by early environmental factors, we subjected Htr1a knockout mice to postnatal handling, a procedure known to reduce anxiety-like behavior and stress responses in adulthood. Offspring of heterozygous Htr1a knockout mice were separated from their mother and exposed 15 min each day from postnatal day 1 (PD1) to PD14 to clean bedding. Control animals were left undisturbed. Maternal behavior was observed during the first 13 days of life. Adult male offspring were tested in the open field, social approach and resident-intruder tests and assessed for corticosterone response to restraint stress. Knockout mice showed increased anxiety in the open field and in the social approach test as well as an enhanced corticosterone response to stress. However, while no effect of postnatal handling was seen in wild-type mice, handling reduced anxiety-like behavior in the social interaction test and the corticosterone response to stress in knockout mice. These findings extend the anxiety phenotype of Htr1a(KO) mice to include social anxiety and demonstrate that this phenotype can be moderated by early environmental factors.

Geriatric assessment of older adults with cancer: Baseline data from a 500 patient multicenter study

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Background: As the cancer population ages, a brief, comprehensive measure is needed to characterize the “functional age” of a patient, in order to optimize treatment decisions and evaluate outcomes based on factors other than chronological age. A geriatric assessment (GA) evaluates factors other than age that predict morbidity and mortality in older adults. The goals of this study are to describe the results of a GA performed in 500 older adults with cancer from 7 participating institutions and to evaluate the feasibility of completing this assessment in oncology practice. Methods: The GA is comprised of validated measures of functional status, comorbidity, cognition, psychological status, social functioning and support, and nutritional status (Hurria et al, Cancer 2005). The GA was completed prior to the start of a new chemotherapy regimen in patients age ≥ 65 with a solid tumor or lymphoma. Results: 500 patients (mean age 73; range 65–91) completed the GA. The most common tumor types were lung (29%), GI (29%) and breast/gyn (22%) cancer; 57% had stage IV disease. The GA revealed that 41% of patients needed assistance with instrumental activities of daily living despite a mean physician-reported KPS of 85 (range 50–100), 92% had ≥1 comorbid medical conditions (mean 2.5; range 0–9), 95% took ≥ 1 medications (mean 5; range 0–23), 16% had ≥ 1 falls in the past 6 months, 6% had gross cognitive impairment on the Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration Test, and 39% had > 5% weight loss in the past 6 months. The mean time to complete the GA was 27 minutes (range 10–80); 94% were satisfied with the GA length and 70% were able to complete the GA without assistance. Multivariate logistic regression identified the following sociodemiographic and disease variables predict the need for assistance with completion of the GA: age ≥ 80 (p=0.02), high school education or less (p<0.01), non-white race (p<0.01), and the presence of metastatic disease (p=0.01). Conclusions: This brief GA is largely self-administered, can be completed by the majority of older patients without assistance, and identifies important deficits and problems that may impact morbidity and mortality. Prospective data are being acquired to identify factors in the GA that predict chemotherapy toxicity in older adults with cancer.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

POMT1-associated walker-warburg syndrome: a disorder of dendritic development of neocortical neurons

We have analyzed the morphology and dendritic development of neocortical neurons in a 2.5-month-old infant with Walker-Warburg syndrome homozygotic for a novel POMT1 gene mutation, by Golgi methods. We found that pyramidal neurons frequently displayed abnormal (oblique, horizontal, or inverted) orientation. A novel finding of this study is that members of the same population of pyramidal neurons display different stages of development of their dendritic arborizations: some neurons had poorly developed dendrites and thus resembled pyramidal neurons of the late fetal cortex; for some neurons, the level of differentiation corresponded to that in the newborn cortex; finally, some neurons had quite elaborate dendritic trees as expected for the cortex of 2.5-month-old infant. In addition, apical dendrites of many pyramidal neurons were conspiciously bent to one side, irrespective to the general orientation of the pyramidal neuron. These findings suggest that Walker-Warburg lissencephaly is characterized by two hitherto unnoticed pathogenetic changes in the cerebral cortex: (a) heterochronic decoupling of dendritic maturation within the same neuronal population (with some members significantly lagging behind the normal maturational schedule) and (b) anisotropically distorted shaping of dendritic trees, probably caused by patchy displacement of molecular guidance cues for dendrites in the malformed cortex.

Educational intervention in farmers with occupational asthma: long-term effect on exhaled nitric oxide

BACKGROUND

The fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FE(NO)) has been found reduced 4 to 6 weeks after an educational intervention in farmers with occupational asthma.

OBJECTIVE

To reveal whether long-term changes in FE(NO) would still be detectable a year after the intervention.

METHODS

We evaluated airway inflammation and obstruction at baseline and after 1 year in animal farmers with occupational asthma (n = 43, 16 women, mean [SD] age, 46.5 [8.9] years) who participated in a 1-day educational program, and in a control group of farmers without intervention (n = 15, 3 women, mean age, 44.1 [10.7] years). FE(NO), spirometry results, and questionnaire data were compared between measurements and between the intervention and control group.

RESULTS

In the intervention group, geometric mean (SEM) FE(NO) decreased from 31.5 (1.1) to 25.0 (1.1) parts per billion (ppb) (P = .001), whereas in the control group there was a slight but not statistically significant increase from 27.2 (1.2) to 30.7 (1.2) ppb. Spirometric values remained unchanged in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that FE(NO) was still decreased 1 year after an educational intervention in farmers with occupational asthma. It would thus seem that FE(NO), a noninvasive marker of airway inflammation that can be easily assessed in occupational field work, may be suitable for the evaluation of both short-term and long-term effects of preventive measures in occupational asthma.

[Comparison of the tuberculin skin test with the interferon-gamma test in the framework of a surroundings investigation in a prison]

After the occurrence of a multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in a prison of Lower Saxony (Germany), 223 contact persons (178 inmates, 45 staff members) were identified. To detect latent tuberculosis infections, all contact persons were tested with the tuberculin skin test (TST) and the interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA). An additional standardised questionnaire on anamnestic information and risk factors was completed by the participants. The statistical analysis included 149 male inmates with a mean age of 39 years. 61.1% of the inmates were born in Germany, 14.8% were born in the USSR or, respectively, its follow-up states. With the TST 29.5% of the inmates were tested positive, whereas with the IGRA the positive rate was 18.1%. For 7 inmates there was a positive IGRA despite a negative TST. The positive predictive value of TST with respect to IGRA was 45.5%, agreement was 79.2% (kappa=0.44). The agreement found in this study is comparable to studies within populations with lower incidence. Numerous investigations outside Europe indicate a high risk of tuberculosis infection among inmates.

Experimental observation of oscillating and interacting matter wave dark solitons

We report on the generation, subsequent oscillation and interaction of a pair of matter-wave dark solitons. These are created by releasing a Bose-Einstein condensate from a double well potential into a harmonic trap in the crossover regime between one dimension and three dimensions. Multiple oscillations and collisions of the solitons are observed, in quantitative agreement with simulations of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation. An effective particle picture is developed and confirms that the deviation of the observed oscillation frequencies from the asymptotic prediction nu(z)/sqrt 2, where nu(z) is the longitudinal trapping frequency, results from the dimensionality of the system and the soliton interactions.