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Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) leading to disability in the majority of affected patients. The etiology of MS is unknown but epidemiological evidence suggests a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. An uncertain pathogenic mechanism, clinical heterogeneity and unpredictability of the outcome of individual patients add to the complexity of the disease. Scientists from the Klinikum rechts der Isar in Munich (TUM - Technical University of Munich) have identified a new antigen with the name KIR4.1 which could be used for diagnosis and therapy of a multiple sclerosis subgroup.
Picture: Structure of cell membrane (fluid mosaic model)
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Tiny components with the ability to emit single particles of light are important for various technological innovations. Physicists of the Universities of Würzburg, Stuttgart and Ulm have made significant progress in the fabrication of such structures.
Picture: The innovative component with which single photons can be produced at room temperature (red arrow) is schematically represented in the diagram below and shown in action in the picture on top. Electric current passes through the circular contacts, stimulating the underlying color molecules to light up. The optically active area of the component is about two millimeters in diameter. Photo: Benedikt Stender
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The invention from the University of Bayreuth uses the internal oxidation for specific material influecing in the production of highly porous and temperature-stable ceramics.This way the porous structures of materials in terms of porosiry, pore size distribution and surface can be influenced in a targeted way. The invention could be used for filters, catalyst support, insulation and much more applications.
Picture: Porous structure from zircon oxide
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In 2010 hundreds of cases of plague occured in the world, mainly in Madagascar, Congo and Peru. Moreover, usual antibiotics are starting to lose their healing effect on the disease due to more and more resistant pathogens. New drugs are urgently needed. Scientists from the universities of Würzburg and Stony Brook (USA) have now made a big step forward in this area.
Picture: A newly developed inhibitor (magenta) from the pyridone group binds to a vital enzyme of the plague pathogen. The cofactor of the enzyme, NADH, which contributes significantly to the effect of the inhibitor, is shown in blue. Image: Maria Hirschbeck
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A publication, which was released in Nature Chemistry 2 days ago, shows that a collaborative venture involving teams of chemists based at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) in Munich and the University of California in Berkeley has now succeeded in converting an intrinsically “blind” receptor molecule into a photoreceptor. Thanks to the findings it might ultimately be possible to use such synthetic photoreceptors to restore sight to patients suffering from certain forms of blindness in the future.
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Scientists from the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen are developing a new treatment approach against lung cancer. The researchers from the Molecular Pneumology Department at Erlangen University Hospital’s Clinic for Anaesthesiology have discovered a way of blocking interleukin-17A, a messenger substance, which promotes tumour growth in the lung. The findings, which were recently published in the renowned journal Nature Communications on www.nature.com, could be the basis for new anti cancer drugs.
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The lack of extremely high-performing explosives with both adequate sensitivities for use and facile preparation is well known. The new invention from the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich, Germany is the synthesis and application of the two new high performing compounds ABTOX and TKX50 and shows a great detonation velocity and outstanding sensitivity - improving safety and performance.
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LMU researchers hope to lower the rate of the relapses with a new therapy: On December 10, 2012 this year´s Nobel Prize Laureates were honoured in Stockholm for medicine – for two pioneering findings about the function of the immune system. Now Munich scientists from the mediacl center of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich for the first time incorporate the new knowledge about both discoveries in the development of a therapeutic vaccine against chronic myelogenous leukaemia (AML). This vaccine will be used in the medical center of the university from May, 2012 for the first time in a study with patients after a chemotherapy.
Picture: PD Dr. Marion Subklewe and colleagues in the laboratory.Copyright LMU
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Researchers of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich found out that a vicious circle promotes the growth of tumor cells in cancer types such as lymphomas and colon or breast cancers. Normally certain machanisms ensure that pre-malignant cells are induced to enter a senescent, non-dividing state or to undergo apoptosis, i.e. commit suicide. But here the regulatory protein c-MYC and the enzyme SIRT1 form a positive feedback loop which promotes each other´s activity , subverting these control mechanisms so that cells can proliferate unchecked and facilitating the growth of tumors this way. The results could be the basis for new treatment options interrupting this feedback loop. Furthermore the findings raise questions regarding the allegedly positive effect of a daily glass of red wine on lifespan, which has been attributed in part to the activation of SIRT1 by the compound resveratrol, which is found in red wine.
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For the treatment of bone fractures and bone defects BMP-2 (Recombinant bone morphogenetic protein 2 ) is a known bone graft substitute which is currently available on the market. BMP-2 must be applied in high concentrations to induce bone formation in clinical settings. However, there ist a limited therapeutic impact due to the presence of BMP antagonists that neutralize exogenous BMP-2. Inventors at the University of Würzburg (Germany) have identified L51P, a novel inactive BMP-2 mutein, which acts as an inhibitor of BMP antagonists (noggin, chordin and gremlin). In vitro and in vivo validation studies with a combination of BMP-2 and L51P led to a significant increase in BMP activity and thus to improved bone growth.
