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The actin cytoskeleton is a main component of cells and it is crucially involved in many physiological processes, e.g. cell motility. Changes in the actin organization can be effected by diseases or vice versa. Due to the nonuniform pattern, it is difficult to quantify reasonable features of the actin cytoskeleton for a significantly high cell number. Here, we present an approach capable to fully segment and analyse the actin cytoskeleton of 2D fluorescence microscopic images with a special focus on stress fibres. The extracted feature data include length, width, orientation and intensity distributions of all traced stress fibres. Our approach combines morphological image processing techniques and a trace algorithm in an iterative manner, classifying the segmentation result with respect to the width of the stress fibres and in nonfibre-like actin. This approach enables us to capture experimentally induced processes like the condensation or the collapse of the actin cytoskeleton. We successfully applied the algorithm to F-actin images of cells that were treated with the actin polymerization inhibitor latrunculin A. Furthermore, we verified the robustness of our algorithm by a sensitivity analysis of the parameters, and we benchmarked our algorithm against established methods. In summary, we present a new approach to segment actin stress fibres over time to monitor condensation or collapse processes.

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Four Holstein steers with ruminal and duodenal cannulas were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design to examine the effect of daily intake of 0, 2, 4 or 6 g/steer of standardized plant extract containing a mixture of quaternary benzophenanthridine alkaloids and protopine alkaloids (QBA+PA) on the characteristics of ruminal fermentation and characteristics of digestion. The basal diet consisted of a steam-flaked corn-based finishing diet that contained 62% corn and 12% sudangrass hay and the rest of diet was composed of mainly dried distillers grains, molasses, fat, and minerals. The source of QBA+PA used was Sangrovit-RS (Phytobiotics Futterzusatzstoffe GmbH, Eltville, Germany) and supplementation levels of 2, 4, and 6 g Sangrovit-RS∙steer∙d, which represented a net daily ingestion of approximately 6, 12, and 18 mg of QBA+PA compounds, respectively. Inclusion of QBA+PA linearly increased ( = 0.04) flow to the duodenum of nonammonia N and linearly decreased ( < 0.01) duodenal flows of ammonia N. Ruminal microbial efficiency (duodenal microbial N; g/kg OM fermented in the rumen) and protein efficiency (duodenal nonammonia N; g/g N intake) were increased ( < 0.05) as the level of QBA+PA increased. There were no effects of QBA+PA supplementation on ruminal, postruminal, and total tract digestion of OM, starch, and NDF, but postruminal and total tract digestion of N increased ( < 0.01) as the level of QBA+PA increased. Digestible energy of the diet tended to increase (linear affect, = 0.09) with QBA+PA supplementation. Ruminal pH and total VFA molar concentrations were not different between treatments. Ruminal NH-N concentration linearly decreased ( = 0.02) with QBA+PA supplementation. Ruminal molar proportion of acetate increased ( = 0.04) as the supplementation level of QBA+PA increased. It is concluded that QBA+PA supplementation enhances efficiency of N utilization in feedlot steers fed a steam-flaked corn-based finishing diet. This effect was due, in part, to enhanced ruminal microbial efficiency, decreased ruminal degradation of dietary nonammonia N, and enhanced postruminal N digestion.

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Recombinant human interleukin-11 (rhIL-11), or Neumega rhIL-11 Growth Factor, is a recombinant cytokine that stimulates megakaryocytopoiesis, increases platelet production, and also has shown anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating activity. Mild, reversible anemia was the most common adverse event observed in clinical studies and was demonstrated to be related to hemodilution. The purpose of this study was to examine the renal mechanisms of the rhIL-11-induced volume retention and devise a possible therapeutic intervention to ameliorate this effect. Eighteen healthy volunteers (9 male and 9 female) on a controlled sodium (180 mEq/day) and potassium (120 mEq/day) diet were randomized to one of six treatment sequences in a three-period crossover design. Each subject received 25 micrograms/kg IL-11 s.c. once daily, 25 micrograms/kg IL-11 s.c. once daily + Maxzide-25 twice daily, or placebo for 7 days in a crossover design. There was a 14-day washout period between treatment periods. Renal clearance parameters indicated that mean sodium excretion was decreased compared to placebo within 8 hours after dosing with rhIL-11, with these results reaching statistical significance 8 to 16 hours postdose (p < 0.01). The cumulative sodium excretion (mEq +/- SD) over the 7-day treatment period for each respective treatment group was the following: rhIL-11 = 833 +/- 154, rhIL-11 + Maxzide-25 twice daily = 1114 +/- 178, and placebo = 982 +/- 193 (p < 0.01). Hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit values, used as indicators of hemodilution, decreased in the rhIL-11-treated group as compared to the baseline and placebo groups (p < 0.01). Concurrent dosing with Maxzide-25 twice daily reduced the rhIL-11-associated hemodilution by about 50%.

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BACKGROUND & AIMS: Recombinant human interleukin 11 (rhIL-11) is a cytokine with thrombocytopoietic activity and anti-inflammatory and mucosal protective effects. The objectives of this study were to investigate the safety and tolerability of rhIL-11 in patients with Crohn's disease and to explore the effects of dose and schedule on platelet count and Crohn's disease activity. METHODS: A multicenter, double-masked, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation study of 76 patients with active Crohn's disease was performed. Patients were randomized to receive subcutaneous placebo or rhIL-11 at doses of 5, 16, or 40 microgram. kg-1. wk-1 given 2 or 5 times weekly for 3 weeks. Clinical and laboratory safety data were recorded, and disease activity was measured at each visit. RESULTS: Subcutaneous injection of rhIL-11 generally was well tolerated. Significantly greater increases in platelet counts were found among patients receiving rhIL-11 40 microgram. kg-1. wk-1 as 2 or 5 weekly doses and 16 microgram. kg-1. week-1 as 5 weekly doses compared with patients receiving placebo (P < 0.05). Patients receiving 16 microgram. kg-1. wk-1 had the highest clinical response rates, with a response seen in 42% of patients (5/12) receiving 5 weekly doses and 33% of patients (4/12) receiving 2 weekly doses, compared with 7% of patients (1/15) receiving placebo. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term treatment with rhIL-11 is well tolerated in patients with active Crohn's disease. The thrombocytopoietic effect of rhIL-11 seems to be both dose and schedule dependent and may be minimized with retained clinical benefit in Crohn's disease at 16 microgram. kg-1. wk-1 given in 2 equal doses.

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Malignant diseases and the resulting disorders may lead to the prescription of physical therapy. In addition, cancer patients may suffer from orthopaedic diseases which are treated by physical therapy, e.g. low back pain. In this review, cancer epidemiology, the prevailing forms of physical therapies, their applications in cancer patients, and possible cautions are being discussed.

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Lymph flux disturbance lead to social changes in the life of the patient. In crafts and administration there are numerous occupations which interfere with the pathophysiological conditions of the lymphedema patient. This is being discussed in patients with breast cancer who underwent axillary dissection. Matters of legislation in retirement and handicap have to be reflected. In addition, current problems in the prescription of physical theory in lymphedema patient are reviewed.

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Two case reports are presented. A ten year-old boy is impeded in his social activities as sports and a seventeen year-old girl in uptaking the normal activities of a young woman. Both are threatened by the "lymphologic rules" and possibly overprotective mothers, in consequence adverse psychic structures may develop. Physiotherapist and physicians are requested to give advice to the young patients and their parents.

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The selection criteria of Sifneos' short-term anxiety-provoking psychotherapy has been assumed to consist of two separate dimensions, resources and motivation. A factor analysis revealed three factors: ego-resources, motivation for psychotherapy and motivation or desire to change. The resource items on the evaluation form constitute one factor as assumed, it is the items on the motivation section that are split into two independent factors. The evaluation form might become more useful if the motivation items are reorganized according to the two different dimensions of the concept.

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Forty-four patients were assessed for three different short-term dynamic therapies, with an evaluation form based on Sifneos' criteria for Short-Term Anxiety-Provoking Psychotherapy (STAPP). Ten patients were ascribed to STAPP, 22 patients to Malan's Brief Psychotherapy (BP), and 12 patients to a more eclectic/integrative form of brief psychotherapy in this project called the FIAT model. 78% of the patients completed their treatment in agreement with the original ascription to therapy, with good results for all three therapies. The evaluation form seems to be a reliable and valid instrument offering a good and systematic basis for designing a tailor-made treatment format for different types of patients.

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Change was assessed in 34 patients at the end of short-term dynamic psychotherapy (STDP), and at 2 follow-ups (1 year and 2 years subsequent to treatment). The assessment was made from different perspectives and according to multiple criteria and methods of measurement. The results indicate that, when a particular form of STDP is selected according to each patient's ego resources, motivation for therapy, and motivation for change, approximately 90% of the patients will attain substantial symptom relief. The majority of the patients in this study also gave evidence of positive change in adaptive functioning, while one-third attained some dynamic/structural change as well. Clinically rated improvement was confirmed by changes in the patients' self-reported distress level (SCL-90), and from psychological test findings (MMPI). Improvement observed at the end of therapy was sustained throughout the 2-year follow-up period.

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Ten outpatients who complained of physical symptoms, without organic pathology, were treated with brief dynamic psychotherapy. Outcome ratings were provided by independent assessors at the end of therapy and 2 years post treatment. Improvement criteria included symptoms, adaptive functioning, and specific internal predispositions. The results showed that most of the patients gained substantially from their therapy experiences. Change did not only occur with regard to psychological difficulties, but also in their particular physical symptoms. Therapy gains at termination were maintained, and had even increased, at follow-up. Clinical improvement was confirmed by psychological test findings. In several patients marked positive change was also observed in their general body response patterns.

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A 46-year-old chemist inadvertently inhaled arsine (AsH3) at work. After several hours abdominal cramps, haemolytic jaundice and massive haemoglobinuria developed. There was transitory hypoxaemia and compensated renal insufficiency. After forced diuresis and transfusions the patient slowly recovered. The only residual defect is arterial hypertension which requires treatment.

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The immunological findings of a B-cell prolymphocytic leukaemia forming spontaneous rosettes with sheep (SRBC) and guinea-pig red blood cells (GPRBC) are reported. The B-cell lineage was revealed by Ia-like antigen, surface IgM kappa and lack of cytotoxicity of anti-human T-cell serum. Despite B-cell characteristics, prolymphocytes formed spontaneous rosettes with SRBC. Inhibition procedures demonstrated rosette formation to be the result of antibody activity of surface IGM to SRBC and GPRBC. Pretreatment of prolymphocytes with pronase or antibodies to mu or kappa-chains inhibited rosette formation. Furthermore, pre-treatment of SRBC with the patient's serum or IgM decreased rosette formation demonstrating circulating antibodies to antigen(s) of SRBC. Antigen(s) on SRBC and GPRBC are not related to Forssman or Paul Bunnel antigen.

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Glycosyltransferases are active in isolated cell nuclei of Dictyostelium discoideum. Since the biological role of these nuclear enzymes is unknown we assayed their activity in nuclear fractions from vegetatively growing and differentiating amoebae. The nuclear N-acetylglucosaminyl transfer is highest in the vegetative stage and shortly after induction of differentiation, then declines gradually. This result is discussed with respect to a possible role for glycoproteins and mucopolysaccharides in the structure or in the transcriptional and replicative functions of the genome.

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