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003)), by focus (MS-U 70% optimal images, MS-A 35% optimal images (p-value 0.002)) and by pressure (MS-U 72.5% optimal images, MS-A 47.5% optimal images (p-value 0.02)). For each trait, there was at least 85% agreement between the raters, and all the scores for each trait were independent of the rater (all p-values > 0.05). These results show that the new MS-U provides a superior quality of sublingual microcirculatory image acquisition when compared to old MS-A.BACKGROUND Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is present in various non-ischemic cardiomyopathies and in particular in those with left-ventricular hypertrophy. This study evaluated the diagnostic value of the novel cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) parameter "myocardial transit-time" (MyoTT) in distinguishing cardiac amyloidosis from other hypertrophic cardiomyopathies. METHODS N = 20 patients with biopsy-proven cardiac amyloidosis (CA), N = 20 patients with known hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and N = 20 control patients without relevant cardiac disease underwent dedicated CMR studies on a 1.5-T MR scanner. The CMR protocol comprised cine and late-gadolinium-enhancement (LGE) imaging as well as first-pass perfusion acquisitions at rest for MyoTT measurement. MyoTT was defined as the blood circulation time from the orifice of the coronary arteries to the pooling in the coronary sinus (CS) reflecting the transit-time of gadolinium in the myocardial microvasculature. RESULTS MyoTT was significan (measured by native T1 and/or ECV) is more pronounced in HCM compared to CA-in spite of a higher absolute MyoTT value in CA patients. Hence, MyoTT may improve our understanding of the interplay between extracellular/intracellular and intravasal changes that occur in the myocardium during the disease course of different cardiomyopathies.Glucose arguably is the most important energy carrier, carbon source for metabolites and building block for biopolymers in all kingdoms of life. see more The proper function of animal organs and tissues depends on the continuous supply of glucose from the bloodstream. Most animals can resorb only a small number of monosaccharides, mostly glucose, galactose and fructose, while all other sugars oligosaccharides and dietary fibers are degraded and metabolized by the microbiota of the lower intestine. Bacteria, in contrast, are omnivorous. They can import and metabolize structurally different sugars and, as a consortium of different species, utilize almost any sugar, sugar derivative and oligosaccharide occurring in nature. Bacteria have membrane transport systems for the uptake of sugars against steep concentration gradients energized by ATP, the proton motive force and the high energy glycolytic intermediate phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP). Different uptake mechanisms and the broad range of overlapping substrate specificities allow bacteria to quickly adapt to and colonize changing environments. Here, we review the structures and mechanisms of bacterial representatives of (i) ATP-dependent cassette (ABC) transporters, (ii) major facilitator (MFS) superfamily proton symporters, (iii) sodium solute symporters (SSS) and (iv) enzyme II integral membrane subunits of the bacterial PEP-dependent phosphotransferase system (PTS). We give a short overview on the distribution of transporter genes and their phylogenetic relationship in different bacterial species. Some sugar transporters are hijacked for import of bacteriophage DNA and antibacterial toxins (bacteriocins) and they facilitate the penetration of polar antibiotics. Finally, we describe how the expression and activity of certain sugar transporters are controlled in response to the availability of sugars and how the presence and uptake of sugars may affect pathogenicity and host-microbiota interactions.Nax is a brain [Na+] sensor expressed in the subfornical organ (SFO) and organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis (OVLT) in the brain. We previously demonstrated that Nax signals are involved in the control of water intake behavior through the Nax/TRPV4 pathway. Nax gene knockout mice showed significantly attenuated water intake after an intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of a hypertonic NaCl solution; however, the induction of a certain amount of water intake still remained, suggesting that another unknown [Na+]-dependent pathway besides the Nax/TRPV4 pathway contributes to water intake. In the present study, we screened for novel [Na+] sensors involved in water intake control and identified SLC9A4 (also called sodium (Na+)/hydrogen (H+) exchanger 4 (NHE4)). SLC9A4 is expressed in angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor type 1a (AT1a)-positive neurons in the OVLT. Sodium-imaging experiments using cultured cells transfected with slc9a4 revealed that SLC9A4 was activated by increases in extracellular [Na+] ([Na+]o), but not osmolality. Moreover, the firing activity of SLC9A4-positive neurons was enhanced by increases in [Na+]o and Ang II. slc9a4 knockdown in the OVLT reduced water intake induced by increases in [Na+], but not osmolality, in the cerebrospinal fluid. ICV injection experiments of a specific inhibitor suggested that the increase in extracellular [H+] caused by SLC9A4 activation next stimulates acid-sensing channel 1a (AS1C1a) to induce water intake. Our results thus indicate that SLC9A4 in the OVLT functions as a [Na+] sensor for the control of water intake and that the SLC9A4 signal is independent of the Nax/TRPV4 pathway.This work presents an overview of the applications of retrospective dosimetry techniques in case of incorporation of radionuclides. The fact that internal exposures are characterized by a spatially inhomogeneous irradiation of the body, which is potentially prolonged over large periods and variable over time, is particularly problematic for biological and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) dosimetry methods when compared with external exposures. The paper gives initially specific information about internal dosimetry methods, the most common cytogenetic techniques used in biological dosimetry and EPR dosimetry applied to tooth enamel. Based on real-case scenarios, dose estimates obtained from bioassay data as well as with biological and/or EPR dosimetry are compared and critically discussed. In most of the scenarios presented, concomitant external exposures were responsible for the greater portion of the received dose. As no assay is available which can discriminate between radiation of different types and different LETs on the basis of the type of damage induced, it is not possible to infer from these studies specific conclusions valid for incorporated radionuclides alone.