Prestressed concrete bridges built in the late last century are essential elements of the highway network. However they need to be retrofitted to ensure their continued operation under the increasing traffic loads. The retrofitting of these structures with external tendons requires the careful design of the end anchorage of the cables. The presently used anchorage concepts in Germany were investigated and evaluated. As a result some risks of this construction method could be identified. Based on this study new and improved end anchorage concepts were developed and their feasibility and effect on the existing superstructure was assessed. Finally the paper highlights crucial points in both design and construction of end anchorages for external tendons.

Die Strassenbauverwaltungen von Bund und Laendern foerdern unter anderem massgeblich die Entwicklung neuer Bauweisen im Brueckenbau. So hat die Hessische Strassen- und Verkehrsverwaltung im Juli 2008 erstmals in Deutschland eine Strassenbruecke in Stahl-GFK-Verbundbauweise realisiert. Die entscheidenden Gruende fuer die Anwendung von glasfaserverstaerkten Kunststoffen (GFK) waren die hohe Dauerhaftigkeit und die schnelle Montage. Der Bericht geht zunaechst generell auf die Anwendung von faserverstaerktem Kunststoff ein. Unterthemen hierzu sind die Eigenschaften von faserverstaerktem Kunststoff, deren Entwicklung seit 1960 und bisher ausgefuehrte Bruecken, bei denen die Fahrbahnplatten aus GFK bestehen, sowie die Ausbildung der Verbundfugen und die Darstellung von Details. Grundsaetzlich sind zwei verschiedene Typen von GFK-Fahrbahnplatten zu unterscheiden: pultrudierte Hohlkammerplatten und handlaminierte Sandwichplatten, die aber in Europa wegen gewisser Nachteile bisher nicht eingesetzt wurden. Im Weiteren geht der Bericht ausfuehrlich auf die Bemessung und Konstruktion der Bruecke ueber die Bundesstrasse B3a bei Friedberg (Hessen) mit einer Stuetzweite von 27 m ein. Im Gegensatz zu bisher mit GFK errichteten Brueckenbauwerken war das Ziel, die Verbundwirkung zwischen Stahltraegern und GFK-Fahrbahnplatte bei der Bemessung voll anzusetzen und diese auch rechnerisch und experimentell nachzuweisen. Die GFK-Platten sind mit Epoxidharz auf die Stahltraeger aufgeklebt. Da der Ueberbau biegesteif mit den Widerlagern verbunden ist, wurde das Tragwerk als eingespannter Rahmen mit stabfoermigen Traggliedern mit der Methode der Finiten Elemente berechnet. Wegen der neuartigen Bauweise war fuer das Bauwerk eine Zustimmung im Einzelfall erforderlich, die ergaenzende Regelungen zum DIN-Fachbericht 101 erforderten. Dazu gehoeren unter anderem Zulassungsversuche zur Verbundtragwirkung Stahl-GFK. Der Bericht geht auch auf die Herstellung und die Montage ein. Der komplette Ueberbau mit einem Gewicht von circa 60 t wurde in einer circa 20 km vom Standort entfernten Montagehalle vorgefertigt und in einer Nacht mit einem Tieflader zur Baustelle gefahren und am naechsten Vormittag auf die Widerlager eingehoben und danach die Auflagertaschen vergossen. Die Bruecke wurde zur Ueberwachung mit einem umfassenden Monitoringsystem ausgestattet, mit dem in den naechsten Jahren Erfahrungen gesammelt werden, um diese Bauweise weiter zu optimieren. ABSTRACT IN ENGLISH: In July 2008 the first road bridge in Germany using glass fibre reinforced polymers (GFRP) was finished in Friedberg (Hessen). The structure has a span of 27 m and acts as overfly of the federal road B 3a near Friedberg (Hessen). The high durability of the new construction material and the fast assembly of the bridge were decisive factors in favour of GFRP. Within the last years several light weight bridges using FRP were realised in USA, Japan and also in Europe. Through this valuable experiences could be gathered regarding construction, the use and performance of composites could be demonstrated. The bridge in Friedberg extends this experience with the approach of considering the composite action of the FRP deck and the steel girders. It also follows consequently the approach of durable bridge construction by omitting any bearings or expansion joints. (A)

Bridges with Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymers (GFRP) decks - The new Road Bridge in Friedberg (Hessen, Germany). In July 2008 the first road bridge in Germany using glass fibre reinforced polymers (GFRP) was finished in Friedberg (Hessen). The structure has a span of 27 m and acts as overfly of the federal road B 3 near Friedberg (Hessen). The high durability of the new construction material and the fast assembly of the bridge were decisive factors in favour of GFRP.Within the last years several light weight bridges using FRP were realised in USA, Japan and also in Europe. Through this valuable experiences could be gathered regarding construction, the use and performance of composites could be demonstrated.The bridge in Friedberg extends this experience with the approach of considering the composite action of the FRP deck and the steel girders. It also follows consequently the approach of durable bridge construction by omitting any bearings or expansion joints.

Public authorities look for innovative bridge systems that allow for minimum traffic interference both during their assembly as well as maintenance. In this light, bridge deck systems made out of fibre reinforced polymers (FRP) offer promising options, mainly high strength combined with low weight, rapid installation by high degree of prefabrication and resistance against corrosion. On behalf of the Hessian Road an Traffic Authority a design for a bridge was developed, which combines longitudinal steel girders with an adhesively bonded FRP bridge deck. In contrast to other FRP bridges in the US or UK, the composite action is considered. The absence of general accepted structural analysis methods, design codes and building regulations for fibre reinforced polymers necessitates extensive testing programmes. The conceptual design of the bridge, the material specific way of analysis as well as the results of the extensive material tests are highlighted in this paper. By the time of writing this paper, the bridge was in tendering phase.

In der Praxis kommen vermehrt integrale Straßenbrücken zur Ausführung, bei denen auf Lager und Übergangskonstruktionen gänzlich verzichtet wird. Die zyklisch auftretenden Verformungen der Tragwerksenden infolge Temperatureinwirkung beanspruchen bei integralen Tragwerken die Hinterfüllung und die Gründung der Widerlager. Die so entstehende Wechselwirkung zwischen Bauwerk, Baugrund und Hinterfüllung muß bei der Bemessung und konstruktiven Durchbildung des Übergangs vom Bauwerk auf die Hinterfüllung berücksichtigt werden.

In the Arabidopsis mutant sdd1-1, a point mutation in a single gene (SDD1) causes specific alterations in stomatal density and distribution. In comparison to the wild type (C24), abaxial surfaces of sdd1-1 rosette leaves have about 2.5-fold higher stomatal densities. This mutant was used to study the consequence of stomatal density on photosynthesis under various light regimes. The increased stomatal density in the mutant had no significant influence on the leaf CO(2) assimilation rate (A) under constant light conditions. Mutant and wild-type plants contained similar amounts of carbohydrates under these conditions. However, exposure of plants to increasing photon flux densities resulted in differences in gas exchange and the carbohydrate metabolism of the wild type and mutant. Increased stomatal densities in sdd1-1 enabled low-light-adapted plants to have 30% higher CO(2) assimilation rates compared to the wild type when exposed to high light intensities. After 2 d under high light conditions leaves of sdd1-1 accumulated 30% higher levels of starch and hexoses than wild-type plants.

We prospectively evaluated the capacity of serum procalcitonin (PCT), compared with serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and endotoxin, to identify children at high risk for mortality from sepsis after BMT. Of 47 pediatric bone marrow transplantation patients studied, 22 had an uneventful course post-transplant (Group 1), 17 survived at least one septic event (Group 2), and eight died from multiorgan failure (MOF) following septic shock (Group 3). Median concentrations of PCT over the course of the study were 1.3, 15.2, and 102.8 ng/ml, respectively, in each of the three groups (P<0.002 for each comparison). Median concentrations of CRP were 91, 213, and 260 mg/l, respectively (P<0.001 for Group 1 vs Group 2 and Group 3; P=NS for Group 2 vs Group 3). Median concentrations of endotoxin were 0.21, 0.30, and 0.93 U/l, respectively (P=NS for each comparison). Median concentrations of PCT, in contrast to serum CRP and endotoxin, correlated with the severity of sepsis (8.2 ng/ml in ‘sepsis’ and 22.3 ng/ml in ‘severe sepsis’, P=0.028) and provided useful prognostic information during septic episodes.

Wild-type stomata are distributed nonrandomly, and their density is controlled by endogenous and exogenous factors. In the Arabidopsis mutant stomatal density and distribution1-1 (sdd1-1), the establishment of the stomatal pattern is disrupted, resulting in stomata clustering and twofold to fourfold increases in stomatal density. The SDD1 gene that encodes a subtilisin-like Ser protease is expressed strongly in stomatal precursor cells (meristemoids and guard mother cells), and the SDD1 promoter is controlled negatively by a feedback mechanism. The encoded protein is exported to the apoplast and probably is associated with the plasma membrane. SDD1 overexpression in the wild type leads to a phenotype opposite to that caused by the sdd1-1 mutation, with a twofold to threefold decrease in stomatal density and the formation of arrested stomata. While SDD1 overexpression was effective in the flp mutant, the tmm mutation acted epistatically. Thus, we propose that SDD1 generates an extracellular signal by meristemoids/guard mother cells and demonstrate that the function of SDD1 is dependent on TMM activity.

Background: Translocation of endotoxin is a controversial issue. The ability of plasma to inactivate endotoxin is an indirect measure of endotoxemia. Endotoxin is a potent stimulator of the inflammatory response and affects the innate immune system.Objective: To elucidate the kinetics of endotoxemia and the ability of plasma to inactivate endotoxin in patients with major abdominal operations. To demonstrate the early time course of the acute-phase proteins C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA), alpha (1)-antitrypsin, alpha (2)-macroglobulin, transferrin, and interleukin 6 (IL-6), and to correlate them with the amount of endotoxemia.Methods: Twenty patients with elective major abdominal operation and 10 healthy controls were investigated. Blood was collected preoperatively, during the operation and regularly up to 12 days after surgery. Endotoxin was measured by Limulus amebocyte lysate test (LAL), the ability of plasma to inactivate endotoxin by modified LAL, the acute-phase proteins nephelometrically, and IL-6 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results: Preoperative endotoxin plasma level (0.026 +/- 0.004 EU/mL) did not differ from healthy volunteers but increased during operation (0.09 +/- 0.02 EU/mL, P = 0.02). Endotoxemia peaked 1 hour after the surgical procedure (0.16 +/- 0.03 EU/mL; P <0.0001 versus preoperative) and decreased to almost normal values after 48 hours. The capability of plasma to inactivate endotoxin was significantly reduced during (recovery, 0.16 +/- 0.03 EU/mL), 1 hour (0.25 +/- 0.04 EU/mL) and 24 hours (0.16 +/- 0.02 EU/mL) after the operation compared with preoperative (0.068 +/- 0.01 EU/mL) values. Plasma IL-6 was significantly increased for 48 hours with a peak 1 hour after surgery (470 +/- 108 pg/mL). CRP peaked at 210 +/- 19 mg/L (P <0.0001 versus preoperative) 48 hours after operation and was significantly elevated for the rest of the observation period. SAA was significantly increased 24 hours after surgery (249 +/- 45 mg/L) and peaked additional 48 hours later (456 +/- 86 mg/L). alpha (1)-Antitrypsin, although a positive acute-phase protein, decreased initially to 1.38 +/- 0.1 g/L (preoperative, 2.33 +/- 0.18 g/L; P <0.0001) and increased thereafter until day 12 (3.05 +/- 0.35 g/L, P = 0.11 versus preoperative). The same was true for (2)-macroglobulin (preoperative, 2.2 +/- 0.16 g/L; intraoperative, 1.36 +/- 0.13 g/L; day 5, 2.8 +/- 0.4 g/L). Transferrin decreased already during surgery (1.6 +/- 0.1 g/L versus preoperative 2.8 +/- 0.17 g/L, P <0.0001) and remained on this level for 5 days. Correlation analysis revealed a relationship between endotoxemia and the ability of plasma to inactivate endotoxin (r = 0.67, P <0.0001) and also a relation between intraoperative endotoxemia on one hand and alpha (2)-macroglobulin (-0.53 > r > -0.6, P <0.05) as well as (1)-antitrypsin (0.64 > r > 0.55, P <0.05) on the other.Conclusion: Major abdominal surgery is associated with transient endotoxemia and a transient reduced endotoxin inactivation capacity of the plasma. Endotoxemia correlates with the endotoxin inactivation capacity. The surgical procedure causes substantial changes in plasma concentrations of acute-phase proteins. (2)-Macroglobulin and alpha (1)-antitrypsin correlate moderately with endotoxemia. (C) 2001 Excerpta Medica, Inc. All rights reserved.

After major abdomoninal surgery urine endoxin levels were detected and compared with bacterial cultures in 148 patients. Urine samples were collected via suprapubic or transurethral catheters. The urinary endotoxin excretion was detected with a chromogenic modification of the limulus-amebocyte test. Urine endotoxin levels of patients with positive bacteriological findings (n=15) had high endotoxin levels (> 0.7 EU/ml). Also, there was a strong statistically significant difference of endotoxin levels in samples with bacterial growth compared to samples with fungal or without any growth (p < 0.001). Nearly all patients with Urinary tract infection (UTI) were endotoxin positive. The detection of urinary endotoxin is a fast diagnostic tool (result within four hours). Furthermore endotoxin determination obtained by suprapubic or transurethral catheters is a very sensitive method for diagnosis of bacterial contamination, even during antibiotic treatment.

BACKGROUND:Endotoxemia after injury has been a controversial issue. Endotoxins stimulate the innate and adaptive immune system.OBJECTIVE:To investigate endotoxemia and its effects on the production of antiendotoxin antibodies of cultured mononuclear cells of patients with multiple injuries.METHODS:Blood samples of 20 patients with multiple injuries were collected up to 12 days after trauma. The endotoxin concentration was measured in the plasma, and mononuclear cells were isolated and cultured. Specific antibodies against two lipopolysaccharides, one lipid A preparation, and alpha-hemolysin of Staphylococcus aureus were measured in the cell culture supernatant by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.RESULTS:Endotoxemia peaked at admission of the patients, decreasing thereafter to almost normal values within 5 days. Isolated mononuclear cells synthesized antibodies against all tested antigens with a peak at or between day 5 and day 7. The increase was significant for immunoglobulin (Ig)A and IgM specific to all endotoxins tested and for IgA specific to alpha-hemolysin. However, there were no significant changes of the concentrations of total IgM, IgA, and IgG. All specific IgG remained unaffected.CONCLUSION:Patients with multiple injuries initially have temporary endotoxemia. Endotoxin may be suggested as a stimulator of the synthesis of antiendotoxin antibodies, in particular of the IgA and IgM class in patients with multiple injuries.

OBJECTIVE:To elucidate the time course of endotoxaemia and antiendotoxin antibodies in patients with acute pancreatitis.DESIGN:Prospective clinical study.SETTING:University hospital, Germany.SUBJECTS:25 patients with oedematous (n = 9) or necrotising (n = 16) pancreatitis, and 20 healthy controls.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Concentrations of endotoxin and immunoglobulins (classes G, M, and A) directed at two lipid A molecules, four lipopolysaccharides, and alpha-haemolysin of Staphylococcus aureus measurements in plasma during a 12 day period.RESULTS:There were no differences in the degree of endotoxaemia between patients with oedematous and necrotising pancreatitis on admission. However, from the day after admission and throughout the observation period patients with necrotising pancreatitis had significantly higher concentrations of endotoxin than those with oedematous pancreatitis. Concentrations of IgM specific for endotoxin peaked at day 4, and then decreased in patients with oedematous pancreatitis while remaining high for those with necrotising pancreatitis. There was only a slight increase in IgA specific for endotoxin, and IgG and immunoglobulins to gamma-haemolysin remained steady throughout the observation period. There was strong cross-reactivity (r > 0.7) between IgM specific for endotoxin (70%), but this was less with IgA (52%), and IgG (20%).CONCLUSIONS:Necrotising pancreatitis is accompanied by persistent endotoxaemia with an extended rise in antiendotoxin antibodies. Patients with oedematous pancreatitis have a transient endotoxaemia with a temporary increase of Ig specific for endotoxin. Endotoxin stimulates the synthesis of specific antibodies (IgM) despite general immunosuppression.

Endotoxemia in man is a controversial issue. However, endotoxin is a potent trigger of the inflammantory response. Therefore, endotoxin translocation and mediator release was investigated in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. In 40 patients (13 women and 27 men, ages ranging from 30 to 73 years with a median of 60 years), plasma concentrations of endotoxin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were determined during and after cardiovascular bypass. In a subgroup of 10 patients, myeloid-related proteins: MRP8, MRP14, and the soluble heterocomplex (MRP8/MRP14) levels were additionally studied. A significant increase (p<0.01) of plasma endotoxin concentrations was found during surgery, culminating in a peak (median value of 0.82 EU/mL) during reperfusion. Plasma levels of endotoxin continued to be slightly raised until the 5th postoperative day, whereas those of interleukin-6 rose at the end of the operation and were at their highest level 6 hours postoperatively (median value of 218 pg/mL). CRP levels were increased 24 hours postoperatively with a median value of 114 mg/L and peaked on day 2 (191 mg/L). A statistically significant correlation between the intraoperative endotoxin plasma concentrations and IL-6 concentrations was established (p<0.05). The MRP8/MRP14 heterocomplex increased until day 2 after surgery, except MRP14 which showed the highest level at day 1 (55 ng/mL). Cardiac surgery is associated with endotoxemia and a marked acute-phase response. Therefore, endotoxin must be regarded as a pathophysiologic mediator. The role of the gut as a source of endotoxemia following cardiac surgery deserves further attention.

In 1990 the definition of ‘translocation’ was expanded to include the passage of both viable and nonviable microbes and microbial products across an intact intestinal barrier [1]. Damage to the intestinal barrier causes increased permeability, which is responsible for bacterial components (e.g., endotoxins) entering the circulation [2-4]. Endotoxin is accepted as a potent trigger of the mediator cascade which can cause systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and multiple organ failure. Multiply injured patients suffer from temporary endotoxemia, which is most probably due to translocation of endotoxin through the intestinal barrier [5, 6]. Endotoxins are T cell-independent antigens and can stimulate B cells directly [7]. Although there is an acquired immunological deficit after trauma [8], endotoxins are capable of stimulating the synthesis of antiendotoxin antibodies, increasing the amount of the specific IgM antibodies against endotoxins in the serum [5, 6]. However, the concentration of any substance in the blood is a result of production (synthesis or delivery into the blood) and consumption (degradation or removal from the blood). Therefore, this study examined the effect of temporary endotoxemia on peripheral mononuclear cells cultured after blood collection.

The growth regulatory function of the retinoblastoma protein (RB) can be suppressed by mdm2 via RB/mdm2 interaction by perturbation of the RB suppression of the E2F function. The goal of this study was to examine the clinical value of immunohistochemical (IHC) RB detection and its relationship to mdm2 overexpression in a cohort of 198 adult primary soft-tissue sarcomas (STS). RB overexpression reveals, multivariately, a correlation with survival (RR = 1.59, P = 0.037) as well as mdm2 positivity (RR = 2.32, P = 0.0035). Stratification of RB results to mdm2 staining shows a prognostic graduation in four levels. Patients with positivity for both antibodies have the highest risk (RR = 3.30, P = 0.002) and the poorest prognosis (projected 5-year survival rate, 18.6%); those with negativity for both antibodies show the most favourable prognosis (projected 5-year survival rate, 63.4%). Intermediately, an isolated RB overexpression (projected 5-year survival rate, 46.1%) is more favourable than an isolated mdm2 positivity (projected 5-year survival rate, 33.5%). To sum up, this study proves that RB and mdm2 overexpression have an individual and also an additive effect on prognosis in STS.

Both tumor suppressor genes p53 and p16INK4A play a crucial role in the control of cell cycle and tumor development. In this study 19 malignant fibrous histiocytomas of the bone (MFH-b), a very rare sarcoma entity, were investigated for mutations in p53 and p16 genes by a PCR-SSCP-sequencing analysis. In the tumor samples two p53 mutations and two polymorphisms (one in the p53 gene and one in the p16 gene) were found. The occurrence rate for p53 mutations and the absence of p16 mutations in MFH-b are comparable to the findings for MFH of soft tissues (MFH-st) and osteosarcomas, suggesting that p53 rather than p16 may play a role in tumorigenesis of MFH-b.

Little is known about the role of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) elimination. We studied the endotoxin elimination capacities (EEC) of PBMCs of 15 healthy volunteers, 13 patients with sepsis, and 1 patient suffering from paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). Although expression of CD14, the best-characterized receptor for LPS to date, was reduced from 93.6% +/- 0.8% in healthy subjects to 50.5% +/- 6.5% in patients with sepsis and was 0.3% in a patient with septic PNH, EEC were found to be unchanged. There was no difference in the amount of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) released by PBMCs of healthy donors and patients with sepsis. Anti-CD14 antibodies (MEM-18) completely suppressed EEC, binding of fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled LPS to monocytes as determined by FACScan analysis, and TNF-alpha release in all three groups studied. The concentrations of soluble CD14 (sCD14) secreted by endotoxin-stimulated PBMCs from healthy donors and patients with sepsis amounted to 4.5 +/- 0.4 and 20.1 +/- 1.8 ng/ml, respectively. Based on our results, we suggest that PBMCs eliminate LPS by at least two different mechanisms; in healthy subjects, the membrane CD14 (mCD14) receptor is the most important factor for LPS elimination, while in patients with sepsis (including the septic state of PNH), increased sCD14 participates in LPS elimination. Secretion of sCD14 is strongly enhanced under conditions of low expression of mCD14 in order to counteract the reduction of mCD14 and maintain the function of monocytes. This sCD14 may substitute the role of mCD14 in LPS elimination during sepsis. The elimination of LPS by PBMCs correlates with the binding reaction and the secretion of TNF-alpha.

Most changes in p53 result in a protein with prolonged half life. This permits immunohistochemical detection. P53-overexpression seems to have prognostical relevance in soft tissue sarcomas (STS). The goal of this study was to compare the prognostic relevance of five different p53 antibodies in immunohistochemistry of primary STS using a Cox regression model with adjustment to staging, localization, tumor type, and surgical therapy.We investigated 198 primary STS of six different tumor types for p53-overexpression using the antibodies DO-1, DO-7, Pab1801, Pab240, and CM-1. The rate of positivity (cut of point 10 % positive tumor cells) was between 36.2 % and 62.6 % dependent on the applied antibody, Prognostic significance could be determined only for the N-terminal binding monoclonal antibodies (DO-1, p = 0.0014; DO-7, p = 0.005; Pab1801, p = 0.02) with the highest level for combination of DO-7 and Pab1801 positivity (RR = 2.57, p = 0.0098). Pab240 (epitope amino acids 213-217) and CM-1 (poly clonal) showed no prognostic relevance in the multivariate analysis.We therefore suggest that for immunohistochemical evaluation of p53-overexpression in STS a pannel of two N-terminal antibodies should be used at least.