Publications

1004 Publications visible to you, out of a total of 1004

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND\backslashr\backslashnAnkle-brachial-Index (ABI) measured by manual Dopplersonography is an easily assessable marker of global cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to establish novel photo-plethysmography (PPG)-based ABI assessments in an epidemiologic context and to compare its results with those of Doppler.\backslashr\backslashnMETHODS\backslashr\backslashnTwo devices for PPG-based ABI assessments (Vicorder, Vascular Explorer) were tested and compared against Doppler in 56 putatively healthy subjects. We determined acceptance, time requirements, agreement of repeat measurements, agreement with Doppler and intra- and inter-observer concordances for both devices and compared the results. Differences between cuff inflation- and deflation-based methods were also studied for Vascular Explorer.\backslashr\backslashnRESULTS\backslashr\backslashnAcceptance was similar for both devices but Vascular Explorer was more time consuming. Agreement of multiple measurements was moderate for both methods highlighting the importance of measurement replicates. Both automated devices showed significantly higher ABI compared to Doppler which can be traced back to higher brachial pressures (Vicorder) or higher ankle pressures (Vascular Explorer). This effect is more pronounced for Vascular Explorer but can be ameliorated using the deflation method of measurement. Intra-observer concordances were similar. Inter-observer concordance was non-significantly better for Vicorder.\backslashr\backslashnCONCLUSIONS\backslashr\backslashnBoth devices proved to be feasible in epidemiologic studies, but compared to Doppler, do not constitute an advantage regarding time requirement and accuracy of ABI assessment. Since PPG-based ABI values are inflated compared to Doppler, it will be necessary to adjust Doppler-based cut-offs for risk stratification. BACKGROUND Ankle-brachial-Index (ABI) measured by manual Dopplersonography is an easily assessable marker of global cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to establish novel photo-plethysmography (PPG)-based ABI assessments in an epidemiologic context and to compare its results with those of Doppler. METHODS Two devices for PPG-based ABI assessments (Vicorder, Vascular Explorer) were tested and compared against Doppler in 56 putatively healthy subjects. We determined acceptance, time requirements, agreement of repeat measurements, agreement with Doppler and intra- and inter-observer concordances for both devices and compared the results. Differences between cuff inflation- and deflation-based methods were also studied for Vascular Explorer. RESULTS Acceptance was similar for both devices but Vascular Explorer was more time consuming. Agreement of multiple measurements was moderate for both methods highlighting the importance of measurement replicates. Both automated devices showed significantly higher ABI compared to Doppler which can be traced back to higher brachial pressures (Vicorder) or higher ankle pressures (Vascular Explorer). This effect is more pronounced for Vascular Explorer but can be ameliorated using the deflation method of measurement. Intra-observer concordances were similar. Inter-observer concordance was non-significantly better for Vicorder. CONCLUSIONS Both devices proved to be feasible in epidemiologic studies, but compared to Doppler, do not constitute an advantage regarding time requirement and accuracy of ABI assessment. Since PPG-based ABI values are inflated compared to Doppler, it will be necessary to adjust Doppler-based cut-offs for risk stratification.

Authors: Andrej Teren, Frank Beutner, Kerstin Wirkner, Markus Loeffler, Markus Scholz

Date Published: 1st Dec 2013

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: Peter Loos, Tobias Mettler, Robert Winter, Matthias Goeken, Ulrich Frank, Alfred Winter

Date Published: 1st Dec 2013

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: Peter Loos, Tobias Mettler, Robert Winter, Matthias Goeken, Ulrich Frank, Alfred Winter

Date Published: 1st Dec 2013

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

The systematic analysis of miRNA expression and its potential mRNA targets constitutes a basal objective in miRNA research in addition to miRNA gene detection and miRNA target prediction. In this chapter we address methodical issues of miRNA expression analysis using self-organizing maps (SOM), a neural network machine learning algorithm with strong visualization and second-level analysis capabilities widely used to categorize large-scale, high-dimensional data. We shortly review selected experimental and theoretical aspects of miRNA expression analysis. Then, the protocol of our SOM method is outlined with special emphasis on miRNA/mRNA coexpression. The method allows extracting differentially expressed RNA transcripts, their functional context, and also characterization of global properties of expression states and profiles. In addition to the separate study of miRNA and mRNA expression landscapes, we propose the combined analysis of both entities using a covariance SOM.

Authors: H. Wirth, M. V. Cakir, L. Hopp, H. Binder

Date Published: 26th Nov 2013

Publication Type: Not specified

Abstract (Expand)

The high incidence of cognitive impairment in the ageing population, together with the challenges it imposes to health systems, raises the question of what affect working life has on cognitive abilities. The study, therefore, reviews recent work on the longitudinal impact of psychosocial work conditions on cognitive functioning and on dementia. Relevant articles were identified by a systematic literature search in PubMed and PsycINFO using a standardised search string and specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. We included articles reporting longitudinal effects that were investigated in cohort studies, case-control studies or randomised controlled trials in the working population. Two independent reviewers evaluated the studies in three subsequent phases: (i) title-abstract screening, (ii) full-text screening and (iii) checklist-based quality assessment.Methodical evaluation of the identified articles resulted in 17 studies of adequate quality. We found evidence for a protective effect of high job control and high work complexity with people and data on the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Moreover, cognitively demanding work conditions seem to be associated with a decreased risk of cognitive deterioration in old age.Psychosocial work conditions can have an impact on cognitive functioning and even on the risk of dementia. As the world of work is undergoing fundamental changes, such as accelerated technological advances and an ageing working population, optimising work conditions is essential in order to promote and maintain cognitive abilities into old age.

Authors: F. S. Then, T. Luck, M. Luppa, M. Thinschmidt, S. Deckert, K. Nieuwenhuijsen, A. Seidler, S. G. Riedel-Heller

Date Published: 22nd Nov 2013

Publication Type: Not specified

Human Diseases: dementia

Abstract (Expand)

Based on the assumption that molecular mechanisms involved in cancerogenesis are characterized by groups of coordinately expressed genes, we developed and validated a novel method for analyzing transcriptional data called Correlated Gene Set Analysis (CGSA). Using 50 extracted gene sets we identified three different profiles of tumors in a cohort of 364 Diffuse large B-cell (DLBCL) and related mature aggressive B-cell lymphomas other than Burkitt lymphoma. The first profile had high level of expression of genes related to proliferation whereas the second profile exhibited a stromal and immune response phenotype. These two profiles were characterized by a large scale gene activation affecting genes which were recently shown to be epigenetically regulated, and which were enriched in oxidative phosphorylation, energy metabolism and nucleoside biosynthesis. The third and novel profile showed only low global gene activation similar to that found in normal B cells but not cell lines. Our study indicates novel levels of complexity of DLBCL with low or high large scale gene activation related to metabolism and biosynthesis and, within the group of highly activated DLBCLs, differential behavior leading to either a proliferative or a stromal and immune response phenotype.

Authors: M. Rosolowski, J. Lauter, D. Abramov, H. G. Drexler, M. Hummel, W. Klapper, R. A. Macleod, S. Pellissery, F. Horn, R. Siebert, M. Loeffler

Date Published: 14th Nov 2013

Publication Type: Not specified

Human Diseases: diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Abstract (Expand)

PURPOSE: To study clinical presentation, outcome, and the role of radiotherapy in patients with aggressive B-cell lymphoma and skeletal involvement treated with and without rituximab. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Outcome of patients with skeletal involvement was analyzed in a retrospective study of nine consecutive prospective trials of the German High-Grade Non-Hodgkin lymphoma Study Group. RESULTS: Of 3,840 patients, 292 (7.6%) had skeletal involvement. In the MabThera International Trial (MInT) for young good-prognosis patients and the Rituximab With CHOP Over 60 Years (RICOVER-60) study for elderly patients, the randomized addition of rituximab improved event-free survival (EFS; hazard ratio for MInT [HRMInT] = 0.4, P > 001; hazard ratio for RICOVER-60 [HRRICOVER-60] = 0.6, P > .001) and overall survival (OS; HRMInT = 0.4, P < .001; HRRICOVER-60 = 0.7, P = .002) in patients without skeletal involvement, but failed to improve the outcome of patients with skeletal involvement (EFS: HRMInT = 1.4, P = .444; HRRICOVER-60 = 0.8, P = .449; OS: HRMInT = 0.6, P = .449; HRRICOVER-60 = 1.0, P = .935). Skeletal involvement was associated with a worse outcome after cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) plus rituximab (HREFS = 1.5, P = .048; HROS = 1.1; P = .828), but not after CHOP without rituximab (HREFS = 0.8, P = .181; HROS = 0.7, P = .083). In contrast to rituximab, additive radiotherapy to sites of skeletal involvement was associated with a decreased risk (HREFS = 0.3, P = .001; HROS = 0.5; P = .111). CONCLUSION: Rituximab failed to improve the outcome of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with skeletal involvement, although our data suggest a beneficial effect of radiotherapy to sites of skeletal involvement. Whether radiotherapy to sites of skeletal involvement can be spared in cases with a negative positron emission tomography after immunochemotherapy should be addressed in appropriately designed prospective trials.

Authors: G. Held, S. Zeynalova, N. Murawski, M. Ziepert, B. Kempf, A. Viardot, M. Dreyling, M. Hallek, M. Witzens-Harig, J. Fleckenstein, C. Rube, C. Zwick, B. Glass, N. Schmitz, M. Pfreundschuh

Date Published: 10th Nov 2013

Publication Type: Not specified

Human Diseases: B-cell lymphoma

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