Publications

958 Publications visible to you, out of a total of 958

Abstract (Expand)

Elevated serum urate levels cause gout and correlate with cardiometabolic diseases via poorly understood mechanisms. We performed a trans-ancestry genome-wide association study of serum urate in 457,690 individuals, identifying 183 loci (147 previously unknown) that improve the prediction of gout in an independent cohort of 334,880 individuals. Serum urate showed significant genetic correlations with many cardiometabolic traits, with genetic causality analyses supporting a substantial role for pleiotropy. Enrichment analysis, fine-mapping of urate-associated loci and colocalization with gene expression in 47 tissues implicated the kidney and liver as the main target organs and prioritized potentially causal genes and variants, including the transcriptional master regulators in the liver and kidney, HNF1A and HNF4A. Experimental validation showed that HNF4A transactivated the promoter of ABCG2, encoding a major urate transporter, in kidney cells, and that HNF4A p.Thr139Ile is a functional variant. Transcriptional coregulation within and across organs may be a general mechanism underlying the observed pleiotropy between urate and cardiometabolic traits.

Authors: Adrienne Tin, Jonathan Marten, Victoria L. Halperin Kuhns, Yong Li, Matthias Wuttke, Holger Kirsten, Karsten B. Sieber, Chengxiang Qiu, Mathias Gorski, Zhi Yu, Ayush Giri, Gardar Sveinbjornsson, Man Li, Audrey Y. Chu, Anselm Hoppmann, Luke J. O’Connor, Bram Prins, Teresa Nutile, Damia Noce, Masato Akiyama, Massimiliano Cocca, Sahar Ghasemi, Peter J. van der Most, Katrin Horn, Yizhe Xu, Christian Fuchsberger, Sanaz Sedaghat, Saima Afaq, Najaf Amin, Johan Ärnlöv, Stephan J. L. Bakker, Nisha Bansal, Daniela Baptista, Sven Bergmann, Mary L. Biggs, Ginevra Biino, Eric Boerwinkle, Erwin P. Bottinger, Thibaud S. Boutin, Marco Brumat, Ralph Burkhardt, Eric Campana, Archie Campbell, Harry Campbell, Robert J. Carroll, Eulalia Catamo, John C. Chambers, Marina Ciullo, Maria Pina Concas, Josef Coresh, Tanguy Corre, Daniele Cusi, Sala Cinzia Felicita, Martin H. de Borst, Alessandro de Grandi, Renée de Mutsert, Aiko P. J. de Vries, Graciela Delgado, Ayşe Demirkan, Olivier Devuyst, Katalin Dittrich, Kai-Uwe Eckardt, Georg Ehret, Karlhans Endlich, Michele K. Evans, Ron T. Gansevoort, Paolo Gasparini, Vilmantas Giedraitis, Christian Gieger, Giorgia Girotto, Martin Gögele, Scott D. Gordon, Daniel F. Gudbjartsson, Vilmundur Gudnason, Toomas Haller, Pavel Hamet, Tamara B. Harris, Caroline Hayward, Andrew A. Hicks, Edith Hofer, Hilma Holm, Wei Huang, Nina Hutri-Kähönen, Shih-Jen Hwang, M. Arfan Ikram, Raychel M. Lewis, Erik Ingelsson, Johanna Jakobsdottir, Ingileif Jonsdottir, Helgi Jonsson, Peter K. Joshi, Navya Shilpa Josyula, Bettina Jung, Mika Kähönen, Yoichiro Kamatani, Masahiro Kanai, Shona M. Kerr, Wieland Kiess, Marcus E. Kleber, Wolfgang Koenig, Jaspal S. Kooner, Antje Körner, Peter Kovacs, Bernhard K. Krämer, Florian Kronenberg, Michiaki Kubo, Brigitte Kühnel, Martina La Bianca, Leslie A. Lange, Benjamin Lehne, Terho Lehtimäki, Jun Liu, Markus Loeffler, Ruth J. F. Loos, Leo-Pekka Lyytikäinen, Reedik Magi, Anubha Mahajan, Nicholas G. Martin, Winfried März, Deborah Mascalzoni, Koichi Matsuda, Christa Meisinger, Thomas Meitinger, Andres Metspalu, Yuri Milaneschi, Christopher J. O’Donnell, Otis D. Wilson, J. Michael Gaziano, Pashupati P. Mishra, Karen L. Mohlke, Nina Mononen, Grant W. Montgomery, Dennis O. Mook-Kanamori, Martina Müller-Nurasyid, Girish N. Nadkarni, Mike A. Nalls, Matthias Nauck, Kjell Nikus, Boting Ning, Ilja M. Nolte, Raymond Noordam, Jeffrey R. O’Connell, Isleifur Olafsson, Sandosh Padmanabhan, Brenda W. J. H. Penninx, Thomas Perls, Annette Peters, Mario Pirastu, Nicola Pirastu, Giorgio Pistis, Ozren Polasek, Belen Ponte, David J. Porteous, Tanja Poulain, Michael H. Preuss, Ton J. Rabelink, Laura M. Raffield, Olli T. Raitakari, Rainer Rettig, Myriam Rheinberger, Kenneth M. Rice, Federica Rizzi, Antonietta Robino, Igor Rudan, Alena Krajcoviechova, Renata Cifkova, Rico Rueedi, Daniela Ruggiero, Kathleen A. Ryan, Yasaman Saba, Erika Salvi, Helena Schmidt, Reinhold Schmidt, Christian M. Shaffer, Albert V. Smith, Blair H. Smith, Cassandra N. Spracklen, Konstantin Strauch, Michael Stumvoll, Patrick Sulem, Salman M. Tajuddin, Andrej Teren, Joachim Thiery, Chris H. L. Thio, Unnur Thorsteinsdottir, Daniela Toniolo, Anke Tönjes, Johanne Tremblay, André G. Uitterlinden, Simona Vaccargiu, Pim van der Harst, Cornelia M. van Duijn, Niek Verweij, Uwe Völker, Peter Vollenweider, Gerard Waeber, Melanie Waldenberger, John B. Whitfield, Sarah H. Wild, James F. Wilson, Qiong Yang, Weihua Zhang, Alan B. Zonderman, Murielle Bochud, James G. Wilson, Sarah A. Pendergrass, Kevin Ho, Afshin Parsa, Peter P. Pramstaller, Bruce M. Psaty, Carsten A. Böger, Harold Snieder, Adam S. Butterworth, Yukinori Okada, Todd L. Edwards, Kari Stefansson, Katalin Susztak, Markus Scholz, Iris M. Heid, Adriana M. Hung, Alexander Teumer, Cristian Pattaro, Owen M. Woodward, Veronique Vitart, Anna Köttgen

Date Published: 1st Oct 2019

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

The SNIK project converts textbooks about information management in hospitals to a domain ontology that provides a shared vocabulary for institutions to model and integrate processes, data and infrastructure. To accommodate user groups with different requirements and technical backgrounds, and to support incremental and cooperative development, we create a system architecture to publish, visualize, browse and query the ontology, as well as to evaluate and improve the data quality.

Authors: Konrad Höffner, Franziska Jahn, Christian Kücherer, Barbara Paech, Birgit Schneider, Martin Schöbel, Sebastian Stäubert, Alfred Winter

Date Published: 2017

Publication Type: InCollection

Abstract (Expand)

Background: Activation of telomere maintenance mechanisms (TMMs) is a hallmark of most cancers, and is required to prevent genome instability and to establish cellular immortality through reconstitution of capping of chromosome ends. TMM depends on the cancer type. Comparative studies linking tumor biology and TMM have potential impact for evaluating cancer onset and development. Methods: We have studied alterations of telomere length, their sequence composition and transcriptional regulation in mismatch repair deficient colorectal cancers arising in Lynch syndrome (LS-CRC) and microsatellite instable (MSI) sporadic CRC (MSI s-CRC), and for comparison, in microsatellite stable (MSS) s-CRC and in benign colon mucosa. Our study applied bioinformatics analysis of whole genome DNA and RNA sequencing data and a pathway model to study telomere length alterations and the potential effect of the "classical" telomerase (TEL-) and alternative (ALT-) TMM using transcriptomic signatures. Results: We have found progressive decrease of mean telomere length in all cancer subtypes compared with reference systems. Our results support the view that telomere attrition is an early event in tumorigenesis. TMM gets activated in all tumors studied due to concerted overexpression of a large fraction of genes with direct relation to telomere function, where only a very small fraction of them showed recurrent mutations. TEL-related transcriptional state was dominating in all CRC subtypes, showing, however, subtype-specific activation patterns; while contribution of the ALT-TMM was slightly more prominent in the hypermutated MSI s-CRC and LS-CRC. TEL-TMM is mainly activated by over-expression of DKC1 and/or TERT genes and their interaction partners, where DKC1 is more prominent in MSS than in MSI s-CRC and can serve as a transcriptomic marker of TMM activity. Conclusions: Our results suggest that transcriptional patterns are indicative for TMM pathway activation with subtle differences between TEL and ALT mechanisms in a CRC subtype-specific fashion. Sequencing data potentially provide a suited measure to study alterations of telomere length and of underlying transcriptional regulation. Further studies are needed to improve this method.

Authors: L. Nersisyan, L. Hopp, H. Loeffler-Wirth, J. Galle, M. Loeffler, A. Arakelyan, H. Binder

Date Published: 22nd Nov 2019

Publication Type: Not specified

Human Diseases: cancer

Abstract (Expand)

The study of congenital virus infections in humans requires suitable ex vivo platforms for the species-specific events during embryonal development. A prominent example for these infections is rubella virus (RV) which most commonly leads to defects in ear, heart, and eye development. We applied teratogenic RV to human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) followed by differentiation into cells of the three embryonic lineages (ecto-, meso-, and endoderm) as a cell culture model for blastocyst- and gastrulation-like stages. In the presence of RV, lineage-specific differentiation markers were expressed, indicating that lineage identity was maintained. However, portrait analysis of the transcriptomic expression signatures of all samples revealed that mock- and RV-infected endodermal cells were less related to each other than their ecto- and mesodermal counterparts. Markers for definitive endoderm were increased during RV infection. Profound alterations of the epigenetic landscape including the expression level of components of the chromatin remodeling complexes and an induction of type III interferons were found, especially after endodermal differentiation of RV-infected iPSCs. Moreover, the eye field transcription factors RAX and SIX3 and components of the gene set vasculogenesis were identified as dysregulated transcripts. Although iPSC morphology was maintained, the formation of embryoid bodies as three-dimensional cell aggregates and as such cellular adhesion capacity was impaired during RV infection. The correlation of the molecular alterations induced by RV during differentiation of iPSCs with the clinical signs of congenital rubella syndrome suggests mechanisms of viral impairment of human development.

Authors: N. C. Bilz, E. Willscher, H. Binder, J. Bohnke, M. L. Stanifer, D. Hubner, S. Boulant, U. G. Liebert, C. Claus

Date Published: 10th Aug 2019

Publication Type: Not specified

Abstract

Not specified

Author: Alfred Winter

Date Published: 2011

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract

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Author: Alfred Winter

Date Published: 2006

Publication Type: InCollection

Abstract (Expand)

Body shape and composition are heterogeneous among humans with possible impact for health. Anthropometric methods and data are needed to better describe the diversity of the human body in human populations, its age dependence, and associations with health risk. We applied whole-body laser scanning to a cohort of 8499 women and men of age 40-80 years within the frame of the LIFE (Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases) study aimed at discovering health risk in a middle European urban population. Body scanning delivers multidimensional anthropometric data, which were further processed by machine learning to stratify the participants into body types. We here applied this body typing concept to describe the diversity of body shapes in an aging population and its association with physical activity and selected health and lifestyle factors. We find that aging results in similar reshaping of female and male bodies despite the large diversity of body types observed in the study. Slim body shapes remain slim and partly tend to become even more lean and fragile, while obese body shapes remain obese. Female body shapes change more strongly than male ones. The incidence of the different body types changes with characteristic Life Course trajectories. Physical activity is inversely related to the body mass index and decreases with age, while self-reported incidence for myocardial infarction shows overall the inverse trend. We discuss health risks factors in the context of body shape and its relation to obesity. Body typing opens options for personalized anthropometry to better estimate health risk in epidemiological research and future clinical applications.

Authors: A. Frenzel, H. Binder, N. Walter, K. Wirkner, M. Loeffler, H. Loeffler-Wirth

Date Published: 29th Mar 2020

Publication Type: Not specified

Abstract (Expand)

<b>Objectives:</b> Mental demands at the workplace can be preventive against cognitive decline. However, personality shapes the way information is processed and we therefore assume that Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness, would moderate the beneficial effects of workplace stimulation on cognitive outcomes. <b>Methods:</b> We analyzed data from the population-based LIFE-Adult-Study (n = 6529). Cognitive outcomes were assessed via the Trail-Making Test (TMTA, TMTB) and the Verbal Fluency Test. Personality was assessed via the Personality Adjective List (16 AM). Mental demands were classified with the indices Verbal and Executive based on the O*NET database. <b>Results:</b> Multivariate regression analyses showed only two significant moderation effects of personality, i.e. in individuals with low scores on Conscientiousness/Openness, index Verbal was connected to better TMTB performance, while this effect disappeared for individuals with high values on the personality trait. However, the additional explained variance remained marginal. <b>Conclusion:</b> The findings suggest that personality does not modify associations between high mental demands at work and better cognitive functioning in old age; however, there is a tendency that high levels of Openness and Conscientiousness may offset effects of mental demands.

Authors: Felix S Hussenoeder, Ines Conrad, Susanne Roehr, Heide Glaesmer, Andreas Hinz, Cornelia Enzenbach, Christoph Engel, Veronika Witte, Matthias L Schroeter, Markus Loeffler, Joachim Thiery, Arno Villringer, Steffi G Riedel-Heller, Francisca S Rodriguez

Date Published: 25th May 2019

Publication Type: Not specified

Human Diseases: mental depression

Abstract (Expand)

Objectives: Potential opportunities and challenges of predictive genetic risk classification of healthy persons are currently discussed. However, the budgetary impact of rising demand is uncertain. This project aims to evaluate budgetary consequences of predictive genetic risk classification for statutory health insurance in Germany. Methods: A Markov model was developed in the form of a cohort simulation. It analyzes a population of female relatives of hereditary breast cancer patients. Mutation carriers are offered intensified screening, women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation can decide on prophylactic mastectomy and/or ovarectomy. The model considers the following scenarios: (a) steady demand for predictive genetic testing, and (b) rising demand. Most input parameters are based on data of the German Consortium for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer. The model contains 49 health states, starts in 2015, and runs for 10 years. Prices were evaluated from the perspective of statutory health insurance. Results: Steady demand leads to an expenditure of \text€49.8 million during the 10-year period. Rising demands lead to additional expenses of \text€125.5 million. The model reveals the genetic analysis to be the main cost driver while cost savings in treatment costs of breast and ovarian cancer are indicated. Conclusions: The results contribute to close the knowledge gap concerning the budgetary consequences due to genetic risk classification. A rising demand leads to additional costs especially due to costs for genetic analysis. The model indicates budget shifts with cost savings due to breast and ovarian cancer treatment in the scenario of rising demands.

Authors: Silke Neusser, Beate Lux, Cordula Barth, Kathrin Pahmeier, Kerstin Rhiem, Rita Schmutzler, Christoph Engel, Jürgen Wasem, Stefan Huster, Peter Dabrock, Anja Neumann

Date Published: 2nd Dec 2019

Publication Type: Journal article

Human Diseases: hereditary breast ovarian cancer syndrome

Abstract (Expand)

Objectives: Previous studies have shown that individuals with poor social relationships have an increased risk for dementia. Dementia risk, however, can also be positively influenced by lifestyle factors. One such very important factor is high mental demands at work, in particular as the work environment affects a very long lifetime period. Thus, our objective was to investigate whether the cognitive functioning of socially isolated individuals may profit from high mental work demands. Methods: Analyses were based on n = 10,000 participants (aged 40 – 80 years) of the population-based German LIFE-Adult-Study. All participants underwent medical examinations and filled out standardized questionnaires. Cognitive functioning was assessed via the Verbal Fluency Test (VFT) and the Trail-Making Test (TMT). Social relationships were assessed via the Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6). The interaction between social isolation and mental demands on cognitive functioning was analyzed via multivariate regression analyses. Results: The difference in cognitive functioning between high and low mental work demand conditions was larger in socially isolated individuals (VFT: 2.7 words, TMT-B: 26 seconds) compared to socially well integrated individuals (VFT: 2.1 words, TMT-B: 9 seconds). Multivariate regression analyses – adjusted for age, gender, and education – indicated that both mental work demands as well as social relationships are significantly associated with the level of cognitive functioning (p < 0.001). Results also suggest interaction effects indicating a stronger impact of mental work demands on cognitive functioning in socially isolated individuals than in well integrated individuals. Conclusion: The findings imply that individuals with poor social relationships may particularly benefit from high mental work demands regarding their risk for dementia. The level of mental demands at work could therefore be an important target for tailored preventative approaches.

Authors: F. S. Then, M. L. Schroeter, V. Witte, C. Engel, M. Loeffler, J. Thiery, A. Villringer, T. Luck, S. G. Riedel-Heller

Date Published: 15th Sep 2016

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

Background: Previous studies have shown that individuals with poor social relationships have an increased risk for dementia. Dementia risk, however, can also be positively influenced by lifestyle factors such as high mental demands at work (in particular as the work environment affects a very long lifetime period). Thus, our objective was to investigate whether the cognitive functioning of socially isolated individuals may profit from high mental work demands. Methods: Analyses were based on n=10,000 participants (aged 40-80 years) of the population-based German LIFE-Adult-Study. All participants underwent medical examinations and filled out standardized questionnaires. Cognitive functioning was assessed via the Verbal Fluency Test (VFT) and the Trail-Making Test (TMT). Social relationships were assessed via the Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6). Results: The difference in cognitive func- tioning between high and low mental work demand conditions was larger in socially isolated individuals (VFT: 2.7 words, TMT-B: 26 seconds) compared to socially well integrated individuals (VFT: 2.1 words, TMT-B: 9 seconds). Multivariate regression analyses – adjusted for age, gender, and education – indicated that both mental work demands as well as social relationships are significantly asso- ciated with the level of cognitive functioning

Authors: F. S. Then, M. L. Schroeter, A. V. Witte, Christoph Engel, Markus Löffler, J. Thiery, A. Villringer, T. Luck, S. G. Riedel-Heller

Date Published: 1st Sep 2016

Publication Type: Not specified

Human Diseases: cognitive disorder

Abstract (Expand)

Introduction LIFE is a large epidemiological study aiming at causes of common civilization diseases including adiposity, dementia, and depression. Participants of the study are probands and patients. Probands are randomly selected and invited from the set of Leipzig (Germany) inhabitants while patients with known diseases are recruited from several local hospitals. The management of these participants, their invitation and contact after successful attendance as well as the support of nearly all ambulance processes requires a complex ambulance management. Each participant is examined by a set of investigation instruments including interviews, questionnaires, device-specific investigations, specimen extrac- tions and analyses. This necessitates a complex management of the participantspecific examination program but also specific input forms and systems allowing to capture administrative (measurement and process environment or specific set-ups) and scientific data. Additionally, the taken and prepared specimens need to be labeled and registered from which participant they stem and in which fridge or bio-tank they are stored. At the end, all captured data from ambu- lance management, investigation instruments and laboratory analyses need to be integrated before they can be analyzed. These complex processes and requirements necessitate a comprehensive IT-infrastructure. Methods Our IT-infrastructure modularly consists of several software applications. A main application is responsible for the complex participant and ambulance man- agement. The participant management cope with selected participant data and contact information. To protect participant’s privacy, a participant identifier (PID) is created for each participant that is associated to all data which is managed and captured in the following. In ambulance management, each participant is associated with a predefined investigation program. This investigation program is represented in our systems by a tracking card that is available as print-out and electronically. The electronic version of tracking cards is utilized by two software applications, the Assessment Battery and the CryoLab. The former system coordinates the input of scientific data into online input forms. The input forms are designed in the open source system LimeSurvey. Moreover, the Assessment Battery is used to monitor the input process, i.e., it shows which investigations are already completed and which of them are still to do. The Cryolab system registers and tracks all taken specimens and is used to annotate extraction and specific preparation processes, e.g., for DNA isolation. Moreover, it tracks specimen storage in fridges and bio-tanks. A central component is the metadata repository collecting metadata from ambulance management and data input systems. It is the base for the integra- tion of relevant scientific data into a central research database. The integration follows a mapping-based approach. The research database makes raw data and special pre-computations called derivatives available for later data analysis. Results & Discussion We designed and implemented a complex and comprehensive IT-infrastructure for the epidemiological research in LIFE. This infrastructure consists of several software applications which are loosely coupled over specified interfaces. Most of the software applications are new implementations; only for capturing scientific data external software application are applied.

Authors: Toralf Kirsten, A. Kiel, M. Kleinert, R. Speer, M. Rühle, Hans Binder, Markus Löffler

Date Published: 30th Sep 2013

Publication Type: Not specified

Abstract (Expand)

OBJECTIVE We report on the effect of hemoadsorption therapy to reduce cytokines in septic patients with respiratory failure. METHODS This was a randomized, controlled, open-label, multicenter trial.al. Mechanically ventilated patients with severe sepsis or septic shock and acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome were eligible for study inclusion. Patients were randomly assigned to either therapy with CytoSorb hemoperfusion for 6 hours per day for up to 7 consecutive days (treatment), or no hemoperfusion (control). Primary outcome was change in normalized IL-6-serum concentrations during study day 1 and 7. RESULTS 97 of the 100 randomized patients were analyzed. We were not able to detect differences in systemic plasma IL-6 levels between the two groups (n = 75; p = 0.15). Significant IL-6 elimination, averaging between 5 and 18% per blood pass throughout the entire treatment period was recorded. In the unadjusted analysis, 60-day-mortality was significantly higher in the treatment group (44.7%) compared to the control group (26.0%; p = 0.039). The proportion of patients receiving renal replacement therapy at the time of enrollment was higher in the treatment group (31.9%) when compared to the control group (16.3%). After adjustment for patient morbidity and baseline imbalances, no association of hemoperfusion with mortality was found (p = 0.19). CONCLUSIONS In this patient population with predominantly septic shock and multiple organ failure, hemoadsorption removed IL-6 but this did not lead to lower plasma IL-6-levels. We did not detect statistically significant differences in the secondary outcomes multiple organ dysfunction score, ventilation time and time course of oxygenation.

Authors: Dirk Schädler, Christine Pausch, Daniel Heise, Andreas Meier-Hellmann, Jörg Brederlau, Norbert Weiler, Gernot Marx, Christian Putensen, Claudia Spies, Achim Jörres, Michael Quintel, Christoph Engel, John A. Kellum, Martin K. Kuhlmann

Date Published: 30th Oct 2017

Publication Type: Journal article

Human Diseases: disease by infectious agent

Abstract (Expand)

Developmental dyslexia, a severe deficit in literacy learning, is a neurodevelopmental learning disorder. Yet, it is not clear whether existing neurobiological accounts of dyslexia capture potential predispositions of the deficit or consequences of reduced reading experience. Here, we longitudinally followed 32 children from preliterate to school age using functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging techniques. Based on standardised and age-normed reading and spelling tests administered at school age, children were classified as 16 dyslexic participants and 16 controls. This longitudinal design allowed us to disentangle possible neurobiological predispositions for developing dyslexia from effects of individual differences in literacy experience. In our sample, the disorder can be predicted already before literacy learning from auditory cortex gyrification and aberrant downstream connectivity within the speech processing system. These results provide evidence for the notion that dyslexia may originate from an atypical maturation of the speech network that precedes literacy instruction.

Authors: Ulrike Kuhl, Nicole E. Neef, Indra Kraft, Gesa Schaadt, Liane Dörr, Jens Brauer, Ivonne Czepezauer, Bent Müller, Arndt Wilcke, Holger Kirsten, Frank Emmrich, Johannes Boltze, Angela D. Friederici, Michael A. Skeide

Date Published: 1st May 2020

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract

Not specified

Author: Alfred Winter

Date Published: 2009

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: Kristina Klaschik, Jan Hauke, Guido Neidhardt, Christian Tränkle, Harald M. Surowy, Stefanie Heilmann-Heimbach, Gunter Rappl, Elisabeth Mangold, Norbert Arnold, Dieter Niederacher, Christian Sutter, Barbara Burwinkel, Christoph Engel, Barbara Wappenschmidt, Alfons Meindl, Corinna Ernst, Konstantin Weber-Lassalle, Nana Weber-Lassalle, Sandra Schmidt, Julika Borde, Rita K. Schmutzler, Eric Hahnen, Esther Pohl-Rescigno

Date Published: 4th Jan 2019

Publication Type: Journal article

Human Diseases: hereditary breast ovarian cancer syndrome

Abstract (Expand)

Background: The blood transcriptome is expected to provide a detailed picture of an organism's physiological state with potential outcomes for applications in medical diagnostics and molecular and epidemiological research. We here present the analysis of blood specimens of 3,388 adult individuals, together with phenotype characteristics such as disease history, medication status, lifestyle factors, and body mass index (BMI). The size and heterogeneity of this data challenges analytics in terms of dimension reduction, knowledge mining, feature extraction, and data integration. Methods: Self-organizing maps (SOM)-machine learning was applied to study transcriptional states on a population-wide scale. This method permits a detailed description and visualization of the molecular heterogeneity of transcriptomes and of their association with different phenotypic features. Results: The diversity of transcriptomes is described by personalized SOM-portraits, which specify the samples in terms of modules of co-expressed genes of different functional context. We identified two major blood transcriptome types where type 1 was found more in men, the elderly, and overweight people and it upregulated genes associated with inflammation and increased heme metabolism, while type 2 was predominantly found in women, younger, and normal weight participants and it was associated with activated immune responses, transcriptional, ribosomal, mitochondrial, and telomere-maintenance cell-functions. We find a striking overlap of signatures shared by multiple diseases, aging, and obesity driven by an underlying common pattern, which was associated with the immune response and the increase of inflammatory processes. Conclusions: Machine learning applications for large and heterogeneous omics data provide a holistic view on the diversity of the human blood transcriptome. It provides a tool for comparative analyses of transcriptional signatures and of associated phenotypes in population studies and medical applications.

Authors: M. Schmidt, L. Hopp, A. Arakelyan, H. Kirsten, C. Engel, K. Wirkner, K. Krohn, R. Burkhardt, J. Thiery, M. Loeffler, H. Loeffler-Wirth, H. Binder

Date Published: 11th Mar 2021

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

Background Full-term pregnancy (FTP) is associated with a reduced breast cancer (BC) risk over time, but women are at increased BC risk in the immediate years following an FTP. No large prospectivee studies, however, have examined whether the number and timing of pregnancies are associated with BC risk for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers. Methods Using weighted and time-varying Cox proportional hazards models, we investigated whether reproductive events are associated with BC risk for mutation carriers using a retrospective cohort (5707 BRCA1 and 3525 BRCA2 mutation carriers) and a prospective cohort (2276 BRCA1 and 1610 BRCA2 mutation carriers), separately for each cohort and the combined prospective and retrospective cohort. Results For BRCA1 mutation carriers, there was no overall association with parity compared with nulliparity (combined hazard ratio [HRc] = 0.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.83 to 1.18). Relative to being uniparous, an increased number of FTPs was associated with decreased BC risk (HRc = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.69 to 0.91; HRc = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.59 to 0.82; HRc = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.40 to 0.63, for 2, 3, and \geq4 FTPs, respectively, Ptrend \textless .0001) and increasing duration of breastfeeding was associated with decreased BC risk (combined cohort Ptrend = .0003). Relative to being nulliparous, uniparous BRCA1 mutation carriers were at increased BC risk in the prospective analysis (prospective hazard ration [HRp] = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.09 to 2.62). For BRCA2 mutation carriers, being parous was associated with a 30% increase in BC risk (HRc = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.05 to 1.69), and there was no apparent decrease in risk associated with multiparity except for having at least 4 FTPs vs. 1 FTP (HRc = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.54 to 0.98). Conclusions These findings suggest differential associations with parity between BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers with higher risk for uniparous BRCA1 carriers and parous BRCA2 carriers.

Authors: Mary Beth Terry, Yuyan Liao, Karin Kast, Antonis C. Antoniou, Jasmine A. McDonald, Thea M. Mooij, Christoph Engel, Catherine Nogues, Bruno Buecher, Véronique Mari, Jessica Moretta-Serra, Laurence Gladieff, Elisabeth Luporsi, Daniel Barrowdale, Debra Frost, Alex Henderson, Carole Brewer, D. Gareth Evans, Diana Eccles, Jackie Cook, Kai-Ren Ong, Louise Izatt, Munaza Ahmed, Patrick J. Morrison, Charlotte J. Dommering, Jan C. Oosterwijk, Margreet G. E. M. Ausems, Mieke Kriege, Saundra S. Buys, Irene L. Andrulis, Esther M. John, Mary Daly, Michael Friedlander, Sue Anne McLachlan, Ana Osorio, Trinidad Caldes, Anna Jakubowska, Jacques Simard, Christian F. Singer, Yen Tan, Edith Olah, Marie Navratilova, Lenka Foretova, Anne-Marie Gerdes, Marie-José Roos-Blom, Brita Arver, Håkan Olsson, Rita K. Schmutzler, John L. Hopper, Flora E. van Leeuwen, David Goldgar, Roger L. Milne, Douglas F. Easton, Matti A. Rookus, Nadine Andrieu

Date Published: 1st Oct 2018

Publication Type: Journal article

Human Diseases: hereditary breast ovarian cancer syndrome

Abstract

Journal of Clinical Bioinformatics 2015, 5:S6. doi:10.1186/2043-9113-5-S1-S6

Authors: Christian R. Bauer, Thomas Ganslandt, Benjamin Baum, Jan Christoph, Igor Engel, Matthias Löbe, Sebastian Mate, Hans-Ulrich Prokosch, Ulrich Sax, Sebastian Stäubert, Alfred Winter

Date Published: 2015

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

The Interleukin 10 (IL-10) gene is highly polymorphic, and the IL-10(-1087AG) (rs1800896) gene variation is the only so far studied intensively in association with certain diseases. Conflicting data have been published about an association of IL-10(-1087AG) gene variation with lower rates of complete remission and lower overall survival (OS) in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. To further investigate this in malignant lymphoma, we established the IL-10 genotypes in patients from the NHL-B1/ B2 studies from the German High-Grade Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Study Group. In our study, allele frequencies of lymphoma patients are comparable as in healthy controls. No increase of IL-10(-1087G) alleles was found. In addition we did not find any difference in OS or event-free survival between patients with IL-10(-1087AA) and the other genotypes. Comparable results were obtained for the IL-10 loci at -3538 (A/T), -1354 (A/G), -824 (C/T) and -597 (A/C) (rs1800890, rs1800893, rs1800871 and rs1800872).

Authors: D. Kube, T. D. Hua, M. Kloss, B. Kulle, J. Brockmoller, L. Wojnowski, M. Loffler, M. Pfreundschuh, L. Trumper

Date Published: 12th Jan 2007

Publication Type: Not specified

Human Diseases: non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: B. Kampe, U. Hahn

Date Published: No date defined

Publication Type: Proceedings

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND: Clinical trials, epidemiological studies, clinical registries, and other prospective research projects, together with patient care services, are main sources of data in the medical research domain. They serve often as a basis for secondary research in evidence-based medicine, prediction models for disease, and its progression. This data are often neither sufficiently described nor accessible. Related models are often not accessible as a functional program tool for interested users from the health care and biomedical domains. OBJECTIVE: The interdisciplinary project Leipzig Health Atlas (LHA) was developed to close this gap. LHA is an online platform that serves as a sustainable archive providing medical data, metadata, models, and novel phenotypes from clinical trials, epidemiological studies, and other medical research projects. METHODS: Data, models, and phenotypes are described by semantically rich metadata. The platform prefers to share data and models presented in original publications but is also open for nonpublished data. LHA provides and associates unique permanent identifiers for each dataset and model. Hence, the platform can be used to share prepared, quality-assured datasets and models while they are referenced in publications. All managed data, models, and phenotypes in LHA follow the FAIR principles, with public availability or restricted access for specific user groups. RESULTS: The LHA platform is in productive mode (https://www.health-atlas.de/). It is already used by a variety of clinical trial and research groups and is becoming increasingly popular also in the biomedical community. LHA is an integral part of the forthcoming initiative building a national research data infrastructure for health in Germany.

Authors: T. Kirsten, F. A. Meineke, H. Loeffler-Wirth, C. Beger, A. Uciteli, S. Staubert, M. Lobe, R. Hansel, F. G. Rauscher, J. Schuster, T. Peschel, H. Herre, J. Wagner, S. Zachariae, C. Engel, M. Scholz, E. Rahm, H. Binder, M. Loeffler

Date Published: 3rd Aug 2022

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: Salma El-Oualydy, Matthias Löbe, Frank Meineke, Alfred Winter

Date Published: 2018

Publication Type: Misc

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND: The LIFE-Adult-Study is a population-based cohort study, which has recently completed the baseline examination of 10,000 randomly selected participants from Leipzig, a major city with 550,000 inhabitants in the east of Germany. It is the first study of this kind and size in an urban population in the eastern part of Germany. The study is conducted by the Leipzig Research Centre for Civilization Diseases (LIFE). Our objective is to investigate prevalences, early onset markers, genetic predispositions, and the role of lifestyle factors of major civilization diseases, with primary focus on metabolic and vascular diseases, heart function, cognitive impairment, brain function, depression, sleep disorders and vigilance dysregulation, retinal and optic nerve degeneration, and allergies. METHODS/DESIGN: The study covers a main age range from 40-79 years with particular deep phenotyping in elderly participants above the age of 60. The baseline examination was conducted from August 2011 to November 2014. All participants underwent an extensive core assessment programme (5-6 h) including structured interviews, questionnaires, physical examinations, and biospecimen collection. Participants over 60 underwent two additional assessment programmes (3-4 h each) on two separate visits including deeper cognitive testing, brain magnetic resonance imaging, diagnostic interviews for depression, and electroencephalography. DISCUSSION: The participation rate was 33 %. The assessment programme was accepted well and completely passed by almost all participants. Biomarker analyses have already been performed in all participants. Genotype, transcriptome and metabolome analyses have been conducted in subgroups. The first follow-up examination will commence in 2016.

Authors: M. Loeffler, C. Engel, P. Ahnert, D. Alfermann, K. Arelin, R. Baber, F. Beutner, H. Binder, E. Brahler, R. Burkhardt, U. Ceglarek, C. Enzenbach, M. Fuchs, H. Glaesmer, F. Girlich, A. Hagendorff, M. Hantzsch, U. Hegerl, S. Henger, T. Hensch, A. Hinz, V. Holzendorf, D. Husser, A. Kersting, A. Kiel, T. Kirsten, J. Kratzsch, K. Krohn, T. Luck, S. Melzer, J. Netto, M. Nuchter, M. Raschpichler, F. G. Rauscher, S. G. Riedel-Heller, C. Sander, M. Scholz, P. Schonknecht, M. L. Schroeter, J. C. Simon, R. Speer, J. Staker, R. Stein, Y. Stobel-Richter, M. Stumvoll, A. Tarnok, A. Teren, D. Teupser, F. S. Then, A. Tonjes, R. Treudler, A. Villringer, A. Weissgerber, P. Wiedemann, S. Zachariae, K. Wirkner, J. Thiery

Date Published: 22nd Jul 2015

Publication Type: Not specified

Human Diseases: disease of mental health, mental depression, vascular disease, allergic hypersensitivity disease, sleep disorder, retinal degeneration

Abstract (Expand)

The LIFE Child study is a large population-based longitudinal childhood cohort study conducted in the city of Leipzig, Germany. As a part of LIFE, a research project conducted at the Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, it aims to monitor healthy child development from birth to adulthood and to understand the development of lifestyle diseases such as obesity. The study consists of three interrelated cohorts; the birth cohort, the health cohort, and the obesity cohort. Depending on age and cohort, the comprehensive study program comprises different medical, psychological, and sociodemographic assessments as well as the collection of biological samples. Optimal data acquisition, process management, and data analysis are guaranteed by a professional team of physicians, certified study assistants, quality managers, scientists and statisticians. Due to the high popularity of the study, more than 3000 children have already participated until the end of 2015, and two-thirds of them participate continuously. The large quantity of acquired data allows LIFE Child to gain profound knowledge on the development of children growing up in the twenty-first century. This article reports the number of available and analyzable data and demonstrates the high relevance and potential of the study.

Authors: T. Poulain, R. Baber, M. Vogel, D. Pietzner, T. Kirsten, A. Jurkutat, A. Hiemisch, A. Hilbert, J. Kratzsch, J. Thiery, M. Fuchs, C. Hirsch, F. G. Rauscher, M. Loeffler, A. Korner, M. Nuchter, W. Kiess

Date Published: 2nd Feb 2017

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND\backslashr\backslashnIn Germany, about 59 000 thyroid operations are performed each year for uni- or multinodular goiter, most of them for diagnostic purposes. The rate of detection of thyroid cancer in such operations is relatively low, at 1:15. Evidence suggests that the preoperative tests recommended in guidelines for estimating the risk of cancer are not being performed as often as they should. In the present study, we determined the measures that were actually taken to diagnose and treat thyroid nodules and compared the findings with the guideline recommendations.\backslashr\backslashnMETHOD\backslashr\backslashnWe retrospectively analyzed data from a single, large statutory healthinsurance carrier in Germany (AOK), determining the diagnostic and therapeutic measures that were reimbursed for 25 600 patients in whom a uni- or multinodular goiter was newly diagnosed in the second quarter of 2006 (none of these patients had carried such a diagnosis 1 year previously). We recorded the diagnostic measures performed in the preceding 9 months and all other tests and treatments, including surgery and radioactive iodine treatment, in the 2 years thereafter.\backslashr\backslashnRESULTS\backslashr\backslashnAmong patients who underwent surgery for uninodular goiter, the preoperative diagnostic studies included ultrasonography (in 100% of patients), scintigraphy (94%), measurement of thyroid-stimulating hormone (95%), measurement of calcitonin (9%), and fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC)(21%). An ultrasonographic examination was billed for only 28% of patients with uninodular goiter in the two years after the diagnosis was made. 13% of patients with uninodular goiter who were not operated on were given L-thyroxine, even though this is against guideline recommendations.\backslashr\backslashnCONCLUSION\backslashr\backslashnInadequate preoperative risk stratification of thyroid nodules may explain the large number of thyroid operations that are performed for diagnostic purposes, resulting in a low percentage of malignancies detected. Preoperative FNAC and calcitonin measurement should be used in the diagnostic evaluation of thyroid nodules far more often than this is now done. As a rule, follow-up ultrasonography should be performed for all thyroid nodules that are not operated on. Patients with non-operated thyroid nodules should not be given thyroxine. A limitation of this study is that diagnostic measures were only recorded if they were performed in the 9 months before surgery, with earlier diagnostic measures (if any) being missed.

Authors: Romy Wienhold, Markus Scholz, Jürgen-Bernhard Adler, Christian Günster, Ralf Paschke

Date Published: 2013

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: B. Brigl, E. Glück, Reinhold Haux, R. Sawinski, Alfred Winter

Date Published: 1993

Publication Type: InCollection

Abstract (Expand)

TMEM18 is the strongest candidate for childhood obesity identified from GWASs, yet as for most GWAS-derived obesity-susceptibility genes, the functional mechanism remains elusive. We here investigate the relevance of TMEM18 for adipose tissue development and obesity. We demonstrate that adipocyte TMEM18 expression is downregulated in children with obesity. Functionally, downregulation of TMEM18 impairs adipocyte formation in zebrafish and in human preadipocytes, indicating that TMEM18 is important for adipocyte differentiation in vivo and in vitro. On the molecular level, TMEM18 activates PPARG, particularly upregulating PPARG1 promoter activity, and this activation is repressed by inflammatory stimuli. The relationship between TMEM18 and PPARG1 is also evident in adipocytes of children and is clinically associated with obesity and adipocyte hypertrophy, inflammation, and insulin resistance. Our findings indicate a role of TMEM18 as an upstream regulator of PPARG signaling driving healthy adipogenesis, which is dysregulated with adipose tissue dysfunction and obesity.

Authors: K. Landgraf, N. Kloting, M. Gericke, N. Maixner, E. Guiu-Jurado, M. Scholz, A. V. Witte, F. Beyer, J. T. Schwartze, M. Lacher, A. Villringer, P. Kovacs, A. Rudich, M. Bluher, W. Kiess, A. Korner

Date Published: 20th Oct 2020

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

The genetic hallmark of Burkitt lymphoma is the translocation t(8;14)(q24;q32), or one of its light chain variants, resulting in IG-MYC juxtaposition. However, these translocations alone are insufficient to drive lymphomagenesis, which requires additional genetic changes for malignant transformation. Recent studies of Burkitt lymphoma using next generation sequencing approaches have identified various recurrently mutated genes including ID3, TCF3, CCND3, and TP53. Here, by using similar approaches, we show that PCBP1 is a recurrently mutated gene in Burkitt lymphoma. By whole-genome sequencing, we identified somatic mutations in PCBP1 in 3/17 (18%) Burkitt lymphomas. We confirmed the recurrence of PCBP1 mutations by Sanger sequencing in an independent validation cohort, finding mutations in 3/28 (11%) Burkitt lymphomas and in 6/16 (38%) Burkitt lymphoma cell lines. PCBP1 is an intron-less gene encoding the 356 amino acid poly(rC) binding protein 1, which contains three K-Homology (KH) domains and two nuclear localization signals. The mutations predominantly (10/12, 83%) affect the KH III domain, either by complete domain loss or amino acid changes. Thus, these changes are predicted to alter the various functions of PCBP1, including nuclear trafficking and pre-mRNA splicing. Remarkably, all six primary Burkitt lymphomas with a PCBP1 mutation expressed MUM1/IRF4, which is otherwise detected in around 20-40% of Burkitt lymphomas. We conclude that PCBP1 mutations are recurrent in Burkitt lymphomas and might contribute, in cooperation with other mutations, to its pathogenesis.

Authors: R. Wagener, S. M. Aukema, M. Schlesner, A. Haake, B. Burkhardt, A. Claviez, H. G. Drexler, M. Hummel, M. Kreuz, M. Loeffler, M. Rosolowski, C. Lopez, P. Moller, J. Richter, M. Rohde, M. J. Betts, R. B. Russell, S. H. Bernhart, S. Hoffmann, P. Rosenstiel, M. Schilhabel, M. Szczepanowski, L. Trumper, W. Klapper, R. Siebert

Date Published: 16th Jul 2015

Publication Type: Not specified

Human Diseases: lymphoma

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: Alexander Martin Heberle, Patricia Razquin Navas, Miriam Langelaar-Makkinje, Katharina Kasack, Ahmed Sadik, Erik Faessler, Udo Hahn, Philip Marx-Stoelting, Christiane A Opitz, Christine Sers, Ines Heiland, Sascha Schäuble, Kathrin Thedieck

Date Published: 28th Mar 2019

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

PURPOSE\backslashr\backslashnThe influence of the pore size of biodegradable poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) scaffolds on bone regeneration was investigated.\backslashr\backslashnMETHODS\backslashr\backslashnCylindrical poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) scaffolds were implanted into a defect in the tibial head of rats. Pore sizes of 100-300, 300-500, and 500-710 \textgreekmm were tested and compared to untreated defects as control. Two and four weeks after implantation, the specimens were explanted and defect regeneration and de novo extracellular matrix generation were investigated by MRI, quantitative solid-state NMR, and mass spectrometry.\backslashr\backslashnRESULTS\backslashr\backslashnThe pore size of the scaffolds had a pronounced influence on the quantity of the extracellular matrix synthesized in the graft; most collagen was synthesized within the first 2 weeks of implantation, while the amount of hydroxyapatite increased in the second 2 weeks. After 4 weeks, the scaffolds contained large quantities of newly formed lamellar bone while the control defects were filled by inhomogenous woven bone. Best results were obtained for scaffolds of a pore size of 300-500 \textgreekmm.\backslashr\backslashnCONCLUSION\backslashr\backslashnOur analysis showed that the structure and dynamics of the regenerated extracellular matrix was very similar to that of the native bone, suggesting that biomineralization was significantly enhanced by the choice of the most appropriate implant material.

Authors: Anja Penk, Yvonne Förster, Holger A. Scheidt, Ariane Nimptsch, Michael C. Hacker, Michaela Schulz-Siegmund, Peter Ahnert, Jürgen Schiller, Stefan Rammelt, Daniel Huster

Date Published: 1st Oct 2013

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

Several small case-control studies have investigated whether factor V Leiden (FVL) is a risk factor for retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and generated conflicting data. To clarify this question we performed a large two-centre case-control study and a meta-analysis of published studies. Two hundred seven consecutive patients with RVO and a control group of 150 subjects were screened between 1996 and 2006. A systematic meta-analysis was done combining our study with further 17 published European case-control studies. APC resistance was detected in 16 out of 207 (7.7%) patients and eight out of 150 (5.3%) controls. The odds ratio (OR) estimated was 1.49 with a (non-significant) 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.62-3.57. The meta-analysis including 18 studies with a total of 1,748 patients and 2,716 controls showed a significantly higher prevalence of FVL in patients with RVO compared to healthy controls (combined OR 1.66; 95% CI 1.19-2.32). All single studies combined in the meta-analysis were too small to reliably detect the effect individually. This explains the seemingly contradictory data in the literature. In conclusion, the prevalence of APC resistance (and FVL) is increased in patients with RVO compared to controls, but the effect is only moderate. Therefore, there is no indication for general screening of factor V mutation in all patients with RVO. We recommend this test to be performed in patients older than 50 years with an additional history of thromboembolic event and in younger patients without general risk factors like hypertension.

Authors: Matus Rehak, Jiri Rehak, Marc Müller, Susanne Faude, Frank Faude, Annelie Siegemund, Vera Krcova, Ludek Slavik, Dirk Hasenclever, Markus Scholz, Peter Wiedemann

Date Published: 9th Apr 2008

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND Newly diagnosed patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) are currently treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) such as imatinib, nilotinib or dasatinib. However, incompletee eradication of residual disease is a general problem of long-term TKI therapy. Activation of mouse haematopoietic stem cells by interferon-\textgreeka (IFN\textgreeka) stimulated the discussion of whether a combination treatment leads to accelerated eradication of the CML clone. METHODS We base our simulation approach on a mathematical model describing human CML as a competition phenomenon between normal and malignant cells. We amend this model to incorporate the description of IFN\textgreeka activity and simulate different scenarios for potential treatment combinations. RESULTS We demonstrate that the overall sensitivity of CML stem cells to IFN\textgreeka activation is a crucial determinant for the benefit of a potential combination therapy. We furthermore show that pulsed IFN\textgreeka together with continuous TKI administration is the most promising strategy for a combination treatment in which the therapeutic benefit prevails adverse side effects. CONCLUSION Our modelling approach is a highly beneficial tool to quantitatively address the competition between normal and leukaemic haematopoiesis in treated CML patients. We derive testable predictions for different experimental settings that are suggested before the clinical implementation of the combination treatment.

Authors: Ingmar Glauche, Katrin Horn, Matthias Horn, Lars Thielecke, M A G Essers, Andreas Trumpp, Ingo Roeder

Date Published: 1st May 2012

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND: The presence of muscular deficiency seems to be a major cause of back pain that requires counteractions. Considering that the autochthonous back muscles, responsible for straightening and stabilizing the spine, cannot be activated voluntarily, they can be strengthened only through specific training. The computer-supported test and training system (CTT) Centaur (BfMC GmbH, Leipzig, SN, Germany) seems well suited for this purpose. To show its potential as a reliable diagnostic and training tool, this study aimed to evaluate the test-retest reliability of this 3D spatial rotation device. METHODS: A prospective pilot study was conducted in 20 healthy volunteers of both sexes. For test-retest reliability analysis, three measurements were performed with a two-day interval between each measurement. Each measurement consisted of a one-minute endurance test performed in eight different positions (transverse plane). During the test, the subject was tilted by 90 degrees in the sagittal plane from a neutral, upright position. Meanwhile, the subject's level of upper body stabilization along the body axis was assessed. All trunk movements (momentum values) were quantified by a multicomponent force sensor and standardized relative to the subject's upper body mass. The range of motion was assessed by 95% confidence ellipse analysis. Here, all position-specific confidence ellipses for each measurement were merged to a summarized quantity. Finally, ICC analysis using a single-rating, absolute agreement, two-way mixed-effects model and a Bland-Altman plot was performed to determine the reliability. RESULTS: Considering all measurements (t1, t2, t3), the ICC for reliability evaluation was 0.805, and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) was [0.643, 0.910]. Moreover, the Bland-Altman plots for all three pairs of time points did not show significant differences. CONCLUSION: This study concludes that the CTT Centaur shows good test-retest reliability, indicating it can be used in clinical practice in the future.

Authors: C. Pfeifle, M. Edel, S. Schleifenbaum, A. Kuhnapfel, C. E. Heyde

Date Published: 7th Sep 2020

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

INTRODUCTION While it has been reported that the risk of contralateral breast cancer in patients from BRCA1 or BRCA2 positive families is elevated, little is known about contralateral breast cancerr risk in patients from high risk families that tested negative for BRCA1/2 mutations. METHODS A retrospective, multicenter cohort study was performed from 1996 to 2011 and comprised 6,235 women with unilateral breast cancer from 6,230 high risk families that had tested positive for BRCA1 (n = 1,154) or BRCA2 (n = 575) mutations or tested negative (n = 4,501). Cumulative contralateral breast cancer risks were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier product-limit method and were compared between groups using the log-rank test. Cox regression analysis was applied to assess the impact of the age at first breast cancer and the familial history stratified by mutation status. RESULTS The cumulative risk of contralateral breast cancer 25 years after first breast cancer was 44.1% (95%CI, 37.6% to 50.6%) for patients from BRCA1 positive families, 33.5% (95%CI, 22.4% to 44.7%) for patients from BRCA2 positive families and 17.2% (95%CI, 14.5% to 19.9%) for patients from families that tested negative for BRCA1/2 mutations. Younger age at first breast cancer was associated with a higher risk of contralateral breast cancer. For women who had their first breast cancer before the age of 40 years, the cumulative risk of contralateral breast cancer after 25 years was 55.1% for BRCA1, 38.4% for BRCA2, and 28.4% for patients from BRCA1/2 negative families. If the first breast cancer was diagnosed at the age of 50 or later, 25-year cumulative risks were 21.6% for BRCA1, 15.5% for BRCA2, and 12.9% for BRCA1/2 negative families. CONCLUSIONS Contralateral breast cancer risk in patients from high risk families that tested negative for BRCA1/2 mutations is similar to the risk in patients with sporadic breast cancer. Thus, the mutation status should guide decision making for contralateral mastectomy.

Authors: Kerstin Rhiem, Christoph Engel, Monika Graeser, Silke Zachariae, Karin Kast, Marion Kiechle, Nina Ditsch, Wolfgang Janni, Christoph Mundhenke, Michael Golatta, Dominic Varga, Sabine Preisler-Adams, Tilman Heinrich, Ulrich Bick, Dorothea Gadzicki, Susanne Briest, Alfons Meindl, Rita K. Schmutzler

Date Published: 1st Dec 2012

Publication Type: Journal article

Human Diseases: hereditary breast ovarian cancer syndrome

Abstract (Expand)

Dyslexia is a complex reading and writing disorder with a strong genetic component. In a German case-control cohort, we studied the influence of the suspected dyslexia-associated gene DCDC2. For the first time in a German cohort, we describe association of a 2445 basepair deletion, first identified in an American study. Evidence of association for three DCDC2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs807724, rs793862, rs807701), previously identified in German or American cohorts, was replicated. A haplotype of these polymorphisms showed evidence for association as well. Thus, our data further corroborate association of DCDC2 with dyslexia. Analysis of functional subgroups suggests association of investigated DCDC2 variants mainly with nondysphonetic, nonsevere, but probably dyseidetic (surface) dyslexia. Based on the presumed function of DCDC2, our findings point to a role of impaired neuronal migration in the etiology of the disease. Dyslexia is a complex reading and writing disorder with a strong genetic component. In a German case-control cohort, we studied the influence of the suspected dyslexia-associated gene DCDC2. For the first time in a German cohort, we describe association of a 2445 basepair deletion, first identified in an American study. Evidence of association for three DCDC2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs807724, rs793862, rs807701), previously identified in German or American cohorts, was replicated. A haplotype of these polymorphisms showed evidence for association as well. Thus, our data further corroborate association of DCDC2 with dyslexia. Analysis of functional subgroups suggests association of investigated DCDC2 variants mainly with nondysphonetic, nonsevere, but probably dyseidetic (surface) dyslexia. Based on the presumed function of DCDC2, our findings point to a role of impaired neuronal migration in the etiology of the disease.

Authors: Arndt Wilcke, Jana Weissfuss, Holger Kirsten, Grit Wolfram, Johannes Boltze, Peter Ahnert

Date Published: 1st Jun 2009

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

Stratification of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) based on HPV16 DNA and RNA status, gene expression patterns, and mutated candidate genes may facilitate patient treatment decision. We characterize head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) with different HPV16 DNA and RNA (E6*I) status from 290 consecutively recruited patients by gene expression profiling and targeted sequencing of 50 genes. We show that tumors with transcriptionally inactive HPV16 (DNA+ RNA-) are similar to HPV-negative (DNA-) tumors regarding gene expression and frequency of TP53 mutations (47%, 8/17 and 43%, 72/167, respectively). We also find that an immune response-related gene expression cluster is associated with lymph node metastasis, independent of HPV16 status and that disruptive TP53 mutations are associated with lymph node metastasis in HPV16 DNA- tumors. We validate each of these associations in another large data set. Four gene expression clusters which we identify differ moderately but significantly in overall survival. Our findings underscore the importance of measuring the HPV16 RNA (E6*I) and TP53-mutation status for patient stratification and identify associations of an immune response-related gene expression cluster and TP53 mutations with lymph node metastasis in HNSCC.

Authors: G. Wichmann, M. Rosolowski, K. Krohn, M. Kreuz, A. Boehm, A. Reiche, U. Scharrer, D. Halama, J. Bertolini, U. Bauer, D. Holzinger, M. Pawlita, J. Hess, C. Engel, D. Hasenclever, M. Scholz, P. Ahnert, H. Kirsten, A. Hemprich, C. Wittekind, O. Herbarth, F. Horn, A. Dietz, M. Loeffler

Date Published: 15th Dec 2015

Publication Type: Not specified

Human Diseases: head and neck cancer

Abstract (Expand)

To define the role of radiotherapy and intrathecal prophylaxis in extralymphatic craniofacial involvement (ECFI) of aggressive B-cell lymphoma, we analyzed 11 consecutive German High-Grade Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Study Group trials. ECFI occurred in 290/4155 (7.0%) patients (orbita, 31; paranasal sinuses, 93; main nasal cavity, 38; tongue, 27; remaining oral cavity, 99; salivary glands, 54). In a multivariable analysis adjusted for International Prognostic Index rituximab improved event-free and overall survival both in patients with and without ECFI. Three-year event-free (79% vs 79%; P = .842) and overall survival (86% vs 88%; P = .351) rates were similar in 145 patients receiving and 57 not receiving radiotherapy. Without rituximab, the 2-year cumulative rate of central nervous system (CNS) disease was increased in 205 ECFI patients compared with 2586 non-ECFI patients (4.2% vs 2.8%; P = .038), whereas this was not observed with rituximab (1.6% in 83 ECFI vs 3.4% in 1252 non-ECFI patients; P = .682). In 88 ECFI patients who received intrathecal prophylaxis with methotrexate, the 2-year rate of CNS disease was 4.2% compared with 2.3% in 191 patients who did not (P = .981). In conclusion, rituximab eliminates the increased risk for CNS disease in patients with ECFI. This retrospective analysis does not support intrathecal prophylaxis or radiotherapy to ECFI patients in complete remission/unconfirmed complete remission. These findings should be confirmed in a prospective study.

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

Date Published: 31st Jul 2014

Publication Type: Not specified

Human Diseases: B-cell lymphoma

Abstract (Expand)

Introduction:The glutamate receptor, metabotropic 8 gene (GRM8) encodes a G-protein-coupled glutamate receptor and has been associated with smoking behavior and liability to alcoholism implying a role in addiction vulnerability. Data from animal studies suggest that GRM8 may be involved in the regulation of the neuropeptide Y and melanocortin pathways and might influence food intake and metabolism. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the genetic variant rs2237781 within GRM8 on human eating behavior. Methods:The initial analysis included 548 Sorbs from Germany who have been extensively phenotyped for metabolic traits and who completed the German version of the three-factor eating questionnaire. In addition, we analyzed two independent sample sets comprising 293 subjects from another German cohort and 430 Old Order Amish individuals. Genetic associations with restraint, disinhibition, and hunger were assessed in an additive linear regression model. Results:Among the Sorbs the major G allele of rs2237781 was significantly associated with increased restraint scores in eating behavior (P = 1.9 \times 10(-4); \textgreekb = +1.936). The German cohort and the Old Order Amish population revealed a trend in the same direction for restraint (P = 0.242; \textgreekb = +0.874; P = 0.908; \textgreekb = +0.096; respectively). A meta-analysis resulted in a combined P = 3.1 \times 10(-3) (Z-score 2.948). Conclusion:Our data suggest that rs2237781 within GRM8 may influence human eating behavior factors probably via pathways involved in addictive behavior.

Authors: Marie-Therese Gast, Anke Tönjes, Maria Keller, Annette Horstmann, Nanette Steinle, Markus Scholz, Ines Müller, Arno Villringer, Michael Stumvoll, Peter Kovacs, Yvonne Böttcher

Date Published: 1st Sep 2013

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

Pharmacokinetics of 8 doses of rituximab (375 mg/m(2)) given in combination with 2-week cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone/prednisolone (CHOP-14) was determined by ELISA in 20 elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) 10 minutes before and after each infusion and 1 week and 1, 2, 3, 6, and 9 months after the last infusion. Population pharmacokinetic modeling was performed with nonlinear mixed-effect modeling software (NONMEM VI). Concentration-time data were fitted into an open 2-compartment model and total clearance, central compartment volume, intercompartment clearance, and volume of distribution at steady-state (Vd(ss)) were investigated. Total clearance was 9.43 mL/h and Vd(ss) was 9.61 l. Rituximab clearance was reduced (8.21 mL/h vs 12.68 mL/h; P = .003) and elimination half-life was prolonged in women compared with men (t(1/2beta) = 30.7 vs 24.7 days; P = .003). Body weight also affected Vd(ss) (0.1 l increase of Vd(ss) per kilogram above median of 75 kg). A sex-dependent effect and the higher weight of males contribute to their faster rituximab clearance, which might explain why elderly males benefit less from the addition of rituximab to CHOP than females. This trial was registered on www.clinicaltrials.gov as numbers NCT00052936, EU-20243 (RICOVER-60 Trial), EU-20534, and NCT00726700 (Pegfilgrastim Trial).

Authors: C. Muller, N. Murawski, M. H. Wiesen, G. Held, V. Poeschel, S. Zeynalova, M. Wenger, C. Nickenig, N. Peter, E. Lengfelder, B. Metzner, T. Rixecker, C. Zwick, M. Pfreundschuh, M. Reiser

Date Published: 5th Apr 2012

Publication Type: Not specified

Human Diseases: diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: Franziska Jahn, Konrad Höffner, Birgit Schneider, Anna Lörke, Thomas Pause, Elske Ammenwerth, Alfred Winter

Date Published: 2019

Publication Type: InCollection

Abstract (Expand)

OBJECTIVES: Normative data concerning the speaking voice in the general population were gathered with the aim to establish standard values for clinical diagnostics. Associations between the speaking voice and sociodemographic factors were examined. STUDY DESIGN: This is a prospective cross-sectional population-based study. METHODS: Speaking voice profiles were measured for 2472 (1154 male and 1318 female) participants between the ages of 40 and 79 years, using four speaking voice intensity levels: softest speaking voice (I), conversational voice (II), classroom voice (III), and shouting voice (IV). Smoking status and socioeconomic status were assessed. Data were analyzed using multivariate regression. RESULTS: The mean voice frequencies were 111.8 Hz for male and 161.3 Hz for female participants (I), 111.9 Hz for male and 168.5 Hz for female participants (II), 130.2 Hz for male and 198.0 Hz for female participants (III), and 175.5 Hz for male and 246.2 Hz for female participants (IV). Frequencies increased significantly with age for male but not for female participants. Sound pressure levels rose significantly with age at intensity levels I-III for both sexes, but decreased at intensity level IV. Frequencies and sound pressure levels were similar between nonsmokers and former smokers. Current smokers showed significantly lower frequencies as opposed to non- and former smokers. Speaking voice range and dynamics increased with higher socioeconomic status. CONCLUSIONS: The data are suitable as age-adjusted normative values for clinical measurement of the speaking voice. The mean fundamental speaking voice frequency of female participants was six to seven semitones lower than previously described.

Authors: M. Berg, M. Fuchs, K. Wirkner, M. Loeffler, C. Engel, T. Berger

Date Published: 3rd Jul 2016

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: Christian Kücherer, Jan-David Liebe, Michael Schaaf, Johannes Thye, Barbara Paech, Alfred Winter, Franziska Jahn

Date Published: 2016

Publication Type: InCollection

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND The TP53 pathway, in which TP53 and its negative regulator MDM2 are the central elements, has an important role in carcinogenesis, particularly in BRCA1- and BRCA2-mediated carcinogenesis.. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the promoter region of MDM2 (309T\textgreaterG, rs2279744) and a coding SNP of TP53 (Arg72Pro, rs1042522) have been shown to be of functional significance. METHODS To investigate whether these SNPs modify breast cancer risk for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers, we pooled genotype data on the TP53 Arg72Pro SNP in 7011 mutation carriers and on the MDM2 309T\textgreaterG SNP in 2222 mutation carriers from the Consortium of Investigators of Modifiers of BRCA1/2 (CIMBA). Data were analysed using a Cox proportional hazards model within a retrospective likelihood framework. RESULTS No association was found between these SNPs and breast cancer risk for BRCA1 (TP53: per-allele hazard ratio (HR)=1.01, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.93-1.10, P(trend)=0.77; MDM2: HR=0.96, 95%CI: 0.84-1.09, P(trend)=0.54) or for BRCA2 mutation carriers (TP53: HR=0.99, 95%CI: 0.87-1.12, P(trend)=0.83; MDM2: HR=0.98, 95%CI: 0.80-1.21, P(trend)=0.88). We also evaluated the potential combined effects of both SNPs on breast cancer risk, however, none of their combined genotypes showed any evidence of association. CONCLUSION There was no evidence that TP53 Arg72Pro or MDM2 309T\textgreaterG, either singly or in combination, influence breast cancer risk in BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carriers.

Authors: O. M. Sinilnikova, A. C. Antoniou, J. Simard, S. Healey, M. Léoné, D. Sinnett, A. B. Spurdle, J. Beesley, X. Chen, M. H. Greene, J. T. Loud, F. Lejbkowicz, G. Rennert, S. Dishon, I. L. Andrulis, S. M. Domchek, K. L. Nathanson, S. Manoukian, P. Radice, I. Konstantopoulou, I. Blanco, A. L. Laborde, M. Durán, A. Osorio, J. Benitez, U. Hamann, F. B. L. Hogervorst, T. A. M. van Os, H. J. P. Gille, S. Peock, M. Cook, C. Luccarini, D. G. Evans, F. Lalloo, R. Eeles, G. Pichert, R. Davidson, T. Cole, J. Cook, J. Paterson, C. Brewer, D. J. Hughes, I. Coupier, S. Giraud, F. Coulet, C. Colas, F. Soubrier, E. Rouleau, I. Bièche, R. Lidereau, L. Demange, C. Nogues, H. T. Lynch, R. K. Schmutzler, B. Versmold, C. Engel, A. Meindl, N. Arnold, C. Sutter, H. Deissler, D. Schaefer, U. G. Froster, K. Aittomäki, H. Nevanlinna, L. McGuffog, D. F. Easton, G. Chenevix-Trench, D. Stoppa-Lyonnet

Date Published: 1st Oct 2009

Publication Type: Journal article

Human Diseases: hereditary breast ovarian cancer syndrome

Abstract (Expand)

OBJECTIVES\backslashr\backslashnVacuum phenomenon is suspected to be indicative of disc degeneration and subsequent herniation. The objective of this study was to assess the reliability of vacuum phenomenon for identification of herniated discs causing neurological signs. Prevalence of vacuum phenomenon and influencing factors in dogs with disc herniation were determined.\backslashr\backslashnMETHODS\backslashr\backslashnRetrospective review of computed tomography scans from dogs with suspected disc herniation for the presence of gas within intervertebral disc space with subsequent comparison of vacuum phenomenon and herniated disc as confirmed by surgery. Subgroups were created (chondrodystrophic, non-chondrodystrophic and unknown classification) to analyse prevalence and influencing factors (age, breed and gender) for vacuum phenomenon and agreement with herniated disc.\backslashr\backslashnRESULTS\backslashr\backslashnPrevalence of vacuum phenomenon in all dogs, chondrodystrophic, non-chondrodystrophic dogs and those with unknown classification was 19·8, 14·9, 35·7 and 24·5%, respectively. Corresponding correlation rate between vacuum phenomenon and herniated disc was 64, 67, 40 and 82%. Prevalence of vacuum phenomenon was significantly higher in nonchondrodystrophic dogs (P=0·04). Age was the only factor influencing prevalence of vacuum phenomenon (P=0·04).\backslashr\backslashnCLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE\backslashr\backslashnIn dogs with intervertebral disc disease, vacuum phenomenon is a frequent but inconsistent finding. Although helpful to identify degenerated discs, it is not suitable to identify currently herniated disc with sufficient accuracy.

Authors: M. K. Müller, E. Ludewig, G. Oechtering, Markus Scholz, T. Flegel

Date Published: 1st May 2013

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND: Despite the widespread use of noninvasive testing prior to invasive coronary diagnostic the diagnostic yield of elective coronary angiography has been reported low in subjects with suspected obstructive CAD. OBJECTIVE: To determine the predictive value of noncoronary atherosclerosis (NCA) in subjects with suspected stable coronary artery disease (CAD) intended to invasive coronary angiography. METHODS: Ultrasound-based assessment of carotid artery plaque (CAP), carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and ankle-brachial index (ABI) was performed in 2216 subjects with suspected CAD prior to coronary angiography. Logistic regression and c-statistics were used to analyze the diagnostic value of NCA for the presence of obstructive CAD and the intention to revascularization. RESULTS: Percentage of positive results of elective coronary angiography was low but comparable to other studies (41% obstructive CAD). We identified 1323 subjects (60%) with NCA, most of them were characterized by CAP (93%). CAP independently predicted obstructive CAD in addition to traditional risk factors and clinical factors while CIMT and ABI failed to improve the prediction. The presence of NCA and typical angina were the strongest predictors for obstructive CAD (OR 4.0 and 2.4, respectively). A large subgroup of patients (n = 703, 32%) with atypical clinical presentation and lack of NCA revealed a low indication for revascularization <15% indicating a large proportion of subjects with non-obstructive CAD in this subgroup. CONCLUSION: The evaluation of noncoronary atherosclerosis has the potential to impact clinical decision making and to direct subsequent diagnostic procedures in subjects with suspected coronary artery disease. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT00497887.

Authors: A. Weissgerber, M. Scholz, A. Teren, M. Sandri, D. Teupser, S. Gielen, J. Thiery, G. Schuler, F. Beutner

Date Published: 13th Sep 2015

Publication Type: Not specified

Human Diseases: coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis

Abstract (Expand)

The analysis of the three-dimensional (3-D) structure of tumoral invasion fronts of carcinoma of the uterine cervix is the prerequisite for understanding their architectural-functional relationship. The variation range of the invasion patterns known so far reaches from a smooth tumor-host boundary surface to more diffusely spreading patterns, which all are supposed to have a different prognostic relevance. As a very decisive limitation of previous studies, all morphological assessments just could be done verbally referring to single histological sections. Therefore, the intention of this paper is to get an objective quantification of tumor invasion based on 3-D reconstructed tumoral tissue data. The image processing chain introduced here is capable to reconstruct selected parts of tumor invasion fronts from histological serial sections of remarkable extent (90-500 slices). While potentially gaining good accuracy and reasonably high resolution, microtome cutting of large serial sections especially may induce severe artifacts like distortions, folds, fissures or gaps. Starting from stacks of digitized transmitted light color images, an overall of three registration steps are the main parts of the presented algorithm. By this, we achieved the most detailed 3-D reconstruction of the invasion of solid tumors so far. Once reconstructed, the invasion front of the segmented tumor is quantified using discrete compactness.

Authors: U. D. Braumann, J. P. Kuska, J. Einenkel, L. C. Horn, M. Loffler, M. Hockel

Date Published: 19th Oct 2005

Publication Type: Not specified

Human Diseases: cervical cancer

Abstract (Expand)

According to the World Health Organization gangliogliomas are classified as well-differentiated and slowly growing neuroepithelial tumors, composed of neoplastic mature ganglion and glial cells. It is the most frequent tumor entity observed in patients with long-term epilepsy. Comprehensive cytogenetic and molecular cytogenetic data including high-resolution genomic profiling (single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-array) of gangliogliomas are scarce but necessary for a better oncological understanding of this tumor entity. For a detailed characterization at the single cell and cell population levels, we analyzed genomic alterations of three gangliogliomas using trypsin-Giemsa banding (GTG-banding) and by spectral karyotyping (SKY) in combination with SNP-array and gene expression array experiments. By GTG and SKY, we could confirm frequently detected chromosomal aberrations (losses within chromosomes 10, 13 and 22; gains within chromosomes 5, 7, 8 and 12), and identify so far unknown genetic aberrations like the unbalanced non-reciprocal translocation t(1;18)(q21;q21). Interestingly, we report on the second so far detected ganglioglioma with ring chromosome 1. Analyses of SNP-array data from two of the tumors and respective germline DNA (peripheral blood) identified few small gains and losses and a number of copy-neutral regions with loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in germline and in tumor tissue. In comparison to germline DNA, tumor tissues did not show substantial regions with significant loss or gain or with newly developed LOH. Gene expression analyses of tumor-specific genes revealed similarities in the profile of the analyzed samples regarding different relevant pathways. Taken together, we describe overlapping but also distinct and novel genetic aberrations of three gangliogliomas.

Authors: L. X. Xu, H. Holland, H. Kirsten, P. Ahnert, W. Krupp, M. Bauer, R. Schober, W. Mueller, D. Fritzsch, J. Meixensberger, R. Koschny

Date Published: 8th Nov 2014

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

Dopamine has been implicated in the regulation of sleep-wake states and the circadian rhythm. However, there is no consensus on the impact of two established dopaminergic gene variants: the catechol-O-methyltransferase Val158Met (COMT Val158Met; rs4680) and the dopamine D4 receptor Exon III variable-number-of-tandem-repeat polymorphism (DRD4 VNTR). Pursuing a multi-method approach, we examined their potential effects on circadian preferences, arousal regulation and sleep. Subjects underwent a 7-day actigraphy assessment (SenseWear Pro3), a 20-minute resting EEG (analyzed using VIGALL 2.0) and a body mass index (BMI) assessment. Further, they completed the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The sample comprised 4625 subjects (19-82 years) genotyped for COMT Val158Met, and 689 elderly subjects (64-82 years) genotyped for DRD4 VNTR. The number of subjects varied across phenotypes. Power calculations revealed a minimum required phenotypic variance explained by genotype ranging between 0.5% and 1.5% for COMT Val158Met and between 3.3% and 6.0% for DRD4 VNTR. Analyses did not reveal significant genotype effects on MEQ, ESS, PSQI, BMI, actigraphy and EEG variables. Additionally, we found no compelling evidence in sex- and age-stratified subsamples. Few associations surpassed the threshold of nominal significance (p < .05), providing some indication for a link between DRD4 VNTR and daytime sleepiness. Taken together, in light of the statistical power obtained in the present study, our data particularly suggest no impact of the COMT Val158Met polymorphism on circadian preferences, arousal regulation and sleep. The suggestive link between DRD4 VNTR and daytime sleepiness, on the other hand, might be worth investigation in a sample enriched with younger adults.

Authors: P. Jawinski, S. Tegelkamp, C. Sander, M. Hantzsch, J. Huang, N. Mauche, M. Scholz, J. Spada, C. Ulke, R. Burkhardt, A. Reif, U. Hegerl, T. Hensch

Date Published: 6th May 2016

Publication Type: Not specified

Abstract (Expand)

RATIONALE: Tobacco use is linked to cerebral atrophy and reduced cognitive performance in later life. However, smoking-related long-term effects on brain function remain largely uncertain. Previous studies suggest that nicotine affects serotonergic signaling, and the intensity dependence (alias loudness dependence) of the auditory evoked N1-P2 potential has been proposed as a marker of serotonergic neurotransmission. OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we assesed the effects of chronic smoking on amplitude and intensity dependence of the auditory evoked N1-P2 potential. METHODS: Subjects underwent a 15-min intensity dependence of auditory evoked potentials (IAEP) paradigm. From N = 1739 eligible subjects (40-79 years), we systematically matched current smokers, ex-smokers, and never-smokers by sex, age, alcohol and caffeine consumption, and socioeconomic status. Between-group differences and potential dose-dependencies were evaluated. RESULTS: Analyses revealed higher N1-P2 amplitudes and intensity dependencies in never-smokers relative to ex- and current smokers, with ex-smokers exhibiting intermediate intensity dependencies. Moreover, we observed pack years and number of cigarettes consumed per day to be inversely correlated with amplitudes in current smokers. CONCLUSIONS: According to the IAEP serotonin hypothesis, our results suggest serotonin activity to be highest in current smokers, intermediate in ex-smokers, and lowest in never-smokers. To our knowledge, the present study is the first providing evidence for a dose-dependent reduction in N1-P2 amplitudes. Further, we extend prior research by showing reduced amplitudes and intensity dependencies in ex-smokers even 25 years, on average, after cessation. While we can rule out several smoking-related confounders to bias observed associations, causal inferences remain to be established by future longitudinal studies.

Authors: P. Jawinski, N. Mauche, C. Ulke, J. Huang, J. Spada, C. Enzenbach, C. Sander, U. Hegerl, T. Hensch

Date Published: 18th Mar 2016

Publication Type: Not specified

Abstract (Expand)

AIM: Achieving a high quality gynaecological ultrasound examination requires thorough knowledge of topographic anatomy. To date, there are no guidelines for a standardised course of the examination. The goal of the study was to define exact planes by means of cross-sectional anatomy and then to standardise the gynaecological ultrasound examination with the transabdominal, introital and transvaginal technique. METHOD: We developed a software tool based on IDL (Interactive Data Language) for the female data set of the Visible Human Project which generates free determinable planes in the volume. The organs of the female pelvis were divided into landmark- and target structures according to the ultrasonic visibility and the variability of the position, shape and structure. From this, a course for the gynaecological ultrasound examination was created and verified on 65 patients each with an inconspicuous ultrasound finding. In addition, the average duration of the examination was determined. RESULTS: The landmark structures could be demonstrated in all patients. Five planes were defined for each technique, and the course of the whole examination with 15 exact planes was described. The average duration of the examination was 4.5 minutes. CONCLUSION: As of now, the digitally reconstructed anatomical illustrations have achieved the best image resolution and quality regardless of the position of the plane in the examination volume. The standardised course of the gynaecological ultrasound examination can serve as a basis for the improvement of training quality and the evaluation of a general gynaecological ultrasound screening.

Authors: J. Einenkel, U. D. Braumann, D. Baier, J. P. Kuska, L. C. Horn, M. Hockel

Date Published: 22nd Oct 2005

Publication Type: Not specified

Human Diseases: cervical cancer

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: Maryam Ghalandari, Franziska Jahn, Alfred Winter

Date Published: 2020

Publication Type: Misc

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND: The aim of the German Medical Informatics Initiative is to establish a national infrastructure for integrating and sharing health data. To this, Data Integration Centers are set up at university medical centers, which address data harmonization, information security and data protection. To capture patient consent, a common informed consent template has been developed. It consists of different modules addressing permissions for using data and biosamples. On the technical level, a common digital representation of information from signed consent templates is needed. As the partners in the initiative are free to adopt different solutions for managing consent information (e.g. IHE BPPC or HL7 FHIR Consent Resources), we had to develop an interoperability layer. METHODS: First, we compiled an overview of data items required to reflect the information from the MII consent template as well as patient preferences and derived permissions. Next, we created entity-relationship diagrams to formally describe the conceptual data model underlying relevant items. We then compared this data model to conceptual models describing representations of consent information using different interoperability standards. We used the result of this comparison to derive an interoperable representation that can be mapped to common standards. RESULTS: The digital representation needs to capture the following information: (1) version of the consent, (2) consent status for each module, and (3) period of validity of the status. We found that there is no generally accepted solution to represent status information in a manner interoperable with all relevant standards. Hence, we developed a pragmatic solution, comprising codes which describe combinations of modules with a basic set of status labels. We propose to maintain these codes in a public registry called ART-DECOR. We present concrete technical implementations of our approach using HL7 FHIR and IHE BPPC which are also compatible with the open-source consent management software gICS. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed digital representation is (1) generic enough to capture relevant information from a wide range of consent documents and data use regulations and (2) interoperable with common technical standards. We plan to extend our model to include more fine-grained status codes and rules for automated access control.

Authors: Raffael Bild, Martin Bialke, Karoline Buckow, Thomas Ganslandt, Kristina Ihrig, Roland Jahns, Angela Merzweiler, Sybille Roschka, Björn Schreiweis, Sebastian Stäubert, Sven Zenker, Fabian Prasser

Date Published: 1st Jun 2020

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND: The aim of the German Medical Informatics Initiative is to establish a national infrastructure for integrating and sharing health data. To this, Data Integration Centers are set up at university medical centers, which address data harmonization, information security and data protection. To capture patient consent, a common informed consent template has been developed. It consists of different modules addressing permissions for using data and biosamples. On the technical level, a common digital representation of information from signed consent templates is needed. As the partners in the initiative are free to adopt different solutions for managing consent information (e.g. IHE BPPC or HL7 FHIR Consent Resources), we had to develop an interoperability layer. METHODS: First, we compiled an overview of data items required to reflect the information from the MII consent template as well as patient preferences and derived permissions. Next, we created entity-relationship diagrams to formally describe the conceptual data model underlying relevant items. We then compared this data model to conceptual models describing representations of consent information using different interoperability standards. We used the result of this comparison to derive an interoperable representation that can be mapped to common standards. RESULTS: The digital representation needs to capture the following information: (1) version of the consent, (2) consent status for each module, and (3) period of validity of the status. We found that there is no generally accepted solution to represent status information in a manner interoperable with all relevant standards. Hence, we developed a pragmatic solution, comprising codes which describe combinations of modules with a basic set of status labels. We propose to maintain these codes in a public registry called ART-DECOR. We present concrete technical implementations of our approach using HL7 FHIR and IHE BPPC which are also compatible with the open-source consent management software gICS. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed digital representation is (1) generic enough to capture relevant information from a wide range of consent documents and data use regulations and (2) interoperable with common technical standards. We plan to extend our model to include more fine-grained status codes and rules for automated access control.

Authors: R. Bild, M. Bialke, K. Buckow, T. Ganslandt, K. Ihrig, R. Jahns, A. Merzweiler, S. Roschka, B. Schreiweis, S. Staubert, S. Zenker, F. Prasser

Date Published: 5th Jun 2020

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

Remolding of tRNAs is a well-documented process in mitochondrial genomes that changes the identity of a tRNA. It involves a duplication of a tRNA gene, a mutation that changes the anticodon and the loss of the ancestral tRNA gene. The net effect is a functional tRNA that is more closely related to tRNAs of a different alloacceptor family than to tRNAs with the same anticodon in related species. Beyond being of interest for understanding mitochondrial tRNA function and evolution, tRNA remolding events can lead to artifacts in the annotation of mitogenomes and thus in studies of mitogenomic evolution. Therefore, it is important to identify and catalog these events. Here we describe novel methods to detect tRNA remolding in large-scale data sets and apply them to survey tRNA remolding throughout animal evolution. We identify several novel remolding events in addition to the ones previously mentioned in the literature. A detailed analysis of these remoldings showed that many of them are derived from ancestral events.

Authors: A. H. Sahyoun, M. Holzer, F. Juhling, C. Honer zu Siederdissen, M. Al-Arab, K. Tout, M. Marz, M. Middendorf, P. F. Stadler, M. Bernt

Date Published: 18th Sep 2015

Publication Type: Not specified

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: S. Zabka, D. Ammon, T. Ganslandt, J. E. Gewehr, C. Haverkamp, S. Kiefer, H. Lautenbacher, Matthias Löbe, S. Thun, M. Boeker

Date Published: 2019

Publication Type: InProceedings

Abstract (Expand)

Clinical research based on data from patient or study data management systems plays an important role in transferring basic findings into the daily practices of physicians. To support study recruitment, diagnostic processes, and risk factor evaluation, search queries for such management systems can be used. Typically, the query syntax as well as the underlying data structure vary greatly between different data management systems. This makes it difficult for domain experts (e.g., clinicians) to build and execute search queries. In this work, the Core Ontology of Phenotypes is used as a general model for phenotypic knowledge. This knowledge is required to create search queries that determine and classify individuals (e.g., patients or study participants) whose morphology, function, behaviour, or biochemical and physiological properties meet specific phenotype classes. A specific model describing a set of particular phenotype classes is called a Phenotype Specification Ontology. Such an ontology can be automatically converted to search queries on data management systems. The methods described have already been used successfully in several projects. Using ontologies to model phenotypic knowledge on patient or study data management systems is a viable approach. It allows clinicians to model from a domain perspective without knowing the actual data structure or query language.

Authors: Christoph Beger, Franz Matthies, Ralph Schäfermeier, Toralf Kirsten, Heinrich Herre, Alexandr Uciteli

Date Published: 1st May 2022

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: Sebastian Stäubert, Alexander Strübing, J. Drepper, B. Bergh, Alfred Winter, A. Merzweiler

Date Published: 2019

Publication Type: InCollection

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: Rainer Alt, Jan Fabian Ehmke, Reinhold Haux, Tino Henke, Dirk Christian Mattfeld, Andreas Oberweis, Barbara Paech, Alfred Winter

Date Published: 1st Mar 2019

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: Rainer Alt, Jan Fabian Ehmke, Alfred Winter, et al.

Date Published: 2019

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: Patryk Burek, Frank Loebe, Heinrich Herre

Date Published: 22nd Oct 2020

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

Health data from hospital information systems are valuable sources for medical research but have known issues in terms of data quality. In a nationwide data integration project in Germany, health care data from all participating university hospitals are being pooled and refined in local centers. As there is currently no overarching agreement on how to deal with errors and implausibilities, meetings were held to discuss the current status and the need to develop consensual measures at the organizational and technical levels. This paper analyzes the discovered similarities and differences. The result shows that although data quality checks are carried out at all sites, there is a lack of both centrally coordinated data quality indicators and a formalization of plausibility rules as well as a repository for automatic querying of the rules, for example in ETL processes.

Authors: Matthias Löbe, Gaetan Kamdje-Wabo, Adriana Carina Sinza, Helmut Spengler, Marcus Strobel, Erik Tute

Date Published: 2022

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: Rada Hussein, Alfred Winter

Date Published: 2008

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND Medical plaintext documents contain important facts about patients, but they are rarely available for structured queries. The provision of structured information from natural language textss in addition to the existing structured data can significantly speed up the search for fulfilled inclusion criteria and thus improve the recruitment rate. OBJECTIVES This work is aimed at supporting clinical trial recruitment with text mining techniques to identify suitable subjects in hospitals. METHOD Based on the inclusion/exclusion criteria of 5 sample studies and a text corpus consisting of 212 doctor’s letters and medical follow-up documentation from a university cancer center, a prototype was developed and technically evaluated using NLP procedures (UIMA) for the extraction of facts from medical free texts. RESULTS It was found that although the extracted entities are not always correct (precision between 23% and 96%), they provide a decisive indication as to which patient file should be read preferentially. CONCLUSION The prototype presented here demonstrates the technical feasibility. In order to find available, lucrative phenotypes, an in-depth evaluation is required.

Authors: Matthias Löbe, Sebastian Stäubert, Colleen Goldberg, Ivonne Haffner, Alfred Winter

Date Published: 2018

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND: Medical plaintext documents contain important facts about patients, but they are rarely available for structured queries. The provision of structured information from natural language texts in addition to the existing structured data can significantly speed up the search for fulfilled inclusion criteria and thus improve the recruitment rate. OBJECTIVES: This work is aimed at supporting clinical trial recruitment with text mining techniques to identify suitable subjects in hospitals. METHOD: Based on the inclusion/exclusion criteria of 5 sample studies and a text corpus consisting of 212 doctor's letters and medical follow-up documentation from a university cancer center, a prototype was developed and technically evaluated using NLP procedures (UIMA) for the extraction of facts from medical free texts. RESULTS: It was found that although the extracted entities are not always correct (precision between 23% and 96%), they provide a decisive indication as to which patient file should be read preferentially. CONCLUSION: The prototype presented here demonstrates the technical feasibility. In order to find available, lucrative phenotypes, an in-depth evaluation is required.

Authors: M. Lobe, S. Staubert, C. Goldberg, I. Haffner, A. Winter

Date Published: 5th May 2018

Publication Type: Journal article

Human Diseases: breast cancer

Abstract (Expand)

The Demonstrator study aims to analyse comorbidities and rare diseases among patients from German university hospitals within the German Medical Informatics Initiative. This work aimed to design and determine the feasibility of a model to assess the quality of the claims data used in the study. Several data quality issues were identified affecting small amounts of cases in one of the participating sites. As a next step an extension to all participating sites is planned.

Authors: G. Kamdje-Wabo, T. Gradinger, M. Lobe, R. Lodahl, S. A. Seuchter, U. Sax, T. Ganslandt

Date Published: 21st Aug 2019

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

TP53 is mutated in 20-25% of aggressive B-cell lymphoma (B-NHL). To date, no studies have addressed the impact of TP53 mutations in prospective clinical trial cohorts. To evaluate the impact of TP53 mutation to current risk models in aggressive B-NHL, we investigated TP53 gene mutations within the RICOVER-60 trial. Of 1,222 elderly patients (aged 61-80 years) enrolled in the study and randomized to six or eight cycles of CHOP-14 with or without Rituximab (NCT00052936), 265 patients were analyzed for TP53 mutations. TP53 mutations were demonstrated in 63 of 265 patients (23.8%). TP53 mutation was associated with higher LDH (65% vs. 37%; p < 0.001), higher international prognostic index-Scores (IPI 4/5 27% vs. 12%; p = 0.025) and B-symptoms (41% vs. 24%; p = 0.011). Patients with TP53 mutation were less likely to obtain a complete remission CR/CRu (CR unconfirmed) 61.9% (mut) vs. 79.7% (wt) (p = 0.007). TP53 mutations were associated with decreased event-free (EFS), progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) (median observation time of 40.2 months): the 3 year EFS, PFS and OS were 42% (vs. 60%; p = 0.012), 42% (vs. 67.5%; p < 0.001) and 50% (vs. 76%; p < 0.001) for the TP53 mutation group. In a Cox proportional hazard analysis adjusting for IPI-factors and treatment arms, TP53 mutation was shown to be an independent predictor of EFS (HR 1.5), PFS (HR 2.0) and OS (HR 2.3; p < 0.001). TP53 mutations are independent predictors of survival in untreated patients with aggressive CD20+ lymphoma. TP53 mutations should be considered for risk models in DLBCL and strategies to improve outcome for patients with mutant TP53 must be developed.

Authors: T. Zenz, M. Kreuz, M. Fuge, W. Klapper, H. Horn, A. M. Staiger, D. Winter, H. Helfrich, J. Huellein, M. L. Hansmann, H. Stein, A. Feller, P. Moller, N. Schmitz, L. Trumper, M. Loeffler, R. Siebert, A. Rosenwald, G. Ott, M. Pfreundschuh, S. Stilgenbauer

Date Published: 1st Oct 2017

Publication Type: Journal article

Human Diseases: non-Hodgkin lymphoma, B-cell lymphoma

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: Sebastian Stäubert, Kirsti Meinel, Frank Meineke, Matthias Löbe, Alfred Winter

Date Published: 2015

Publication Type: InProceedings

Abstract (Expand)

AIMS\backslashr\backslashnTo evaluate the outcome of transapical aortic valve implantation (TA-AVI) in comparison to conventional surgery.\backslashr\backslashnMETHODS AND RESULTS\backslashr\backslashnOne hundred consecutive high-risk patients with symptomatic aortic valve stenosis received TA-AVI using the Edwards SAPIEN pericardial xenograft between February 2006 and January 2008. Patient age was 82.7 +/- 5 years, 77 were females, logistic EuroSCORE predicted risk of mortality was 29.4 +/- 13% and Society Thoracic Surgeons score risk for mortality was 15.2 +/- 8.3%. Propensity score analysis was used to identify a control group of patients that underwent conventional aortic valve replacement (C-AVR). Transapical aortic valve implantation was performed successfully in 97 patients, whereas three patients required early conversion. There were no new onset neurological events in the TA-AVI group and early extubation was performed in 82 patients. Echocardiography revealed good valve function with low transvalvular gradients in all patients. Thirty-day survival was 90 +/- 3 vs. 85 +/- 4% for TA-AVI vs. C-AVR, and 1-year survival was 73 +/- 4 vs. 69 +/- 5% (P = 0.55).\backslashr\backslashnCONCLUSION\backslashr\backslashnTransapical aortic valve implantation is a safe, minimally invasive, and off-pump technique to treat high-risk patients with aortic stenosis. Results of the initial 100 patients are good and compare favourably to conventional surgery.

Authors: Thomas Walther, Gerhard Schuler, Michael Andrew Borger, Joerg Kempfert, Jörg Seeburger, Yvonne Rückert, Joerg Ender, Axel Linke, Markus Scholz, Volkmar Falk, Friedrich Wilhelm Mohr

Date Published: 1st Jun 2010

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

Anti-CD19 CAR-T cell immunotherapy is a hopeful treatment option for patients with B cell lymphomas, however it copes with partly severe adverse effects like neurotoxicity. Single-cell resolved molecular data sets in combination with clinical parametrization allow for comprehensive characterization of cellular subpopulations, their transcriptomic states, and their relation to the adverse effects. We here present a re-analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing data of 24 patients comprising more than 130,000 cells with focus on cellular states and their association to immune cell related neurotoxicity. For this, we developed a single-cell data portraying workflow to disentangle the transcriptional state space with single-cell resolution and its analysis in terms of modularly-composed cellular programs. We demonstrated capabilities of single-cell data portraying to disentangle transcriptional states using intuitive visualization, functional mining, molecular cell stratification, and variability analyses. Our analysis revealed that the T cell composition of the patient's infusion product as well as the spectrum of their transcriptional states of cells derived from patients with low ICANS grade do not markedly differ from those of cells from high ICANS patients, while the relative abundancies, particularly that of cycling cells, of LAG3-mediated exhaustion and of CAR positive cells, vary. Our study provides molecular details of the transcriptomic landscape with possible impact to overcome neurotoxicity.

Authors: H. Loeffler-Wirth, M. Rade, A. Arakelyan, M. Kreuz, M. Loeffler, U. Koehl, K. Reiche, H. Binder

Date Published: 17th Oct 2022

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

Drug repositioning can save considerable time and resources and significantly speed up the drug development process. The increasing availability of drug action and disease-associated transcriptome data makes it an attractive source for repositioning studies. Here, we have developed a transcriptome-guided approach for drug/biologics repositioning based on multi-layer self-organizing maps (ml-SOM). It allows for analyzing multiple transcriptome datasets by segmenting them into layers of drug action- and disease-associated transcriptome data. A comparison of expression changes in clusters of functionally related genes across the layers identifies "drug target" spots in disease layers and evaluates the repositioning possibility of a drug. The repositioning potential for two approved biologics drugs (infliximab and brodalumab) confirmed the drugs' action for approved diseases (ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease for infliximab and psoriasis for brodalumab). We showed the potential efficacy of infliximab for the treatment of sarcoidosis, but not chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Brodalumab failed to affect dysregulated functional gene clusters in Crohn's disease (CD) and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA), clearly indicating that it may not be effective in the treatment of these diseases. In conclusion, ml-SOM offers a novel approach for transcriptome-guided drug repositioning that could be particularly useful for biologics drugs.

Authors: A. Arakelyan, L. Nersisyan, M. Nikoghosyan, S. Hakobyan, A. Simonyan, L. Hopp, H. Loeffler-Wirth, H. Binder

Date Published: 12th Dec 2019

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

Previous transcriptome-wide association studies (TWAS) have identified breast cancer risk genes by integrating data from expression quantitative loci and genome-wide association studies (GWAS), but analyses of breast cancer subtype-specific associations have been limited. In this study, we conducted a TWAS using gene expression data from GTEx and summary statistics from the hitherto largest GWAS meta-analysis conducted for breast cancer overall, and by estrogen receptor subtypes (ER+ and ER-). We further compared associations with ER+ and ER- subtypes, using a case-only TWAS approach. We also conducted multigene conditional analyses in regions with multiple TWAS associations. Two genes, STXBP4 and HIST2H2BA, were specifically associated with ER+ but not with ER- breast cancer. We further identified 30 TWAS-significant genes associated with overall breast cancer risk, including four that were not identified in previous studies. Conditional analyses identified single independent breast-cancer gene in three of six regions harboring multiple TWAS-significant genes. Our study provides new information on breast cancer genetics and biology, particularly about genomic differences between ER+ and ER- breast cancer.

Authors: Helian Feng, Alexander Gusev, Bogdan Pasaniuc, Lang Wu, Jirong Long, Zomoroda Abu-Full, Kristiina Aittomäki, Irene L. Andrulis, Hoda Anton-Culver, Antonis C. Antoniou, Adalgeir Arason, Volker Arndt, Kristan J. Aronson, Banu K. Arun, Ella Asseryanis, Paul L. Auer, Jacopo Azzollini, Judith Balmaña, Rosa B. Barkardottir, Daniel R. Barnes, Daniel Barrowdale, Matthias W. Beckmann, Sabine Behrens, Javier Benitez, Marina Bermisheva, Katarzyna Białkowska, Ana Blanco, Carl Blomqvist, Bram Boeckx, Natalia V. Bogdanova, Stig E. Bojesen, Manjeet K. Bolla, Bernardo Bonanni, Ake Borg, Hiltrud Brauch, Hermann Brenner, Ignacio Briceno, Annegien Broeks, Thomas Brüning, Barbara Burwinkel, Qiuyin Cai, Trinidad Caldés, Maria A. Caligo, Ian Campbell, Sander Canisius, Daniele Campa, Brian D. Carter, Jonathan Carter, Jose E. Castelao, Jenny Chang-Claude, Stephen J. Chanock, Hans Christiansen, Wendy K. Chung, Kathleen B. M. Claes, Christine L. Clarke, Fergus J. Couch, Angela Cox, Simon S. Cross, Cezary Cybulski, Kamila Czene, Mary B. Daly, Miguel de La Hoya, Kim de Leeneer, Joe Dennis, Peter Devilee, Orland Diez, Susan M. Domchek, Thilo Dörk, Isabel Dos-Santos-Silva, Alison M. Dunning, Miriam Dwek, Diana M. Eccles, Bent Ejlertsen, Carolina Ellberg, Christoph Engel, Mikael Eriksson, Peter A. Fasching, Olivia Fletcher, Henrik Flyger, Florentia Fostira, Eitan Friedman, Lin Fritschi, Debra Frost, Marike Gabrielson, Patricia A. Ganz, Susan M. Gapstur, Judy Garber, Montserrat García-Closas, José A. García-Sáenz, Mia M. Gaudet, Graham G. Giles, Gord Glendon, Andrew K. Godwin, Mark S. Goldberg, David E. Goldgar, Anna González-Neira, Mark H. Greene, Jacek Gronwald, Pascal Guénel, Christopher A. Haiman, Per Hall, Ute Hamann, Christopher Hake, Wei He, Jane Heyworth, Frans B. L. Hogervorst, Antoinette Hollestelle, Maartje J. Hooning, Robert N. Hoover, John L. Hopper, Guanmengqian Huang, Peter J. Hulick, Keith Humphreys, Evgeny N. Imyanitov, Claudine Isaacs, Milena Jakimovska, Anna Jakubowska, Paul James, Ramunas Janavicius, Rachel C. Jankowitz, Esther M. John, Nichola Johnson, Vijai Joseph, Audrey Jung, Beth Y. Karlan, Elza Khusnutdinova, Johanna I. Kiiski, Irene Konstantopoulou, Vessela N. Kristensen, Yael Laitman, Diether Lambrechts, Conxi Lazaro, Dominique Leroux, Goska Leslie, Jenny Lester, Fabienne Lesueur, Noralane Lindor, Sara Lindström, Wing-Yee Lo, Jennifer T. Loud, Jan Lubiński, Enes Makalic, Arto Mannermaa, Mehdi Manoochehri, Siranoush Manoukian, Sara Margolin, John W. M. Martens, Maria E. Martinez, Laura Matricardi, Tabea Maurer, Dimitrios Mavroudis, Lesley McGuffog, Alfons Meindl, Usha Menon, Kyriaki Michailidou, Pooja M. Kapoor, Austin Miller, Marco Montagna, Fernando Moreno, Lidia Moserle, Anna M. Mulligan, Taru A. Muranen, Katherine L. Nathanson, Susan L. Neuhausen, Heli Nevanlinna, Ines Nevelsteen, Finn C. Nielsen, Liene Nikitina-Zake, Kenneth Offit, Edith Olah, Olufunmilayo I. Olopade, Håkan Olsson, Ana Osorio, Janos Papp, Tjoung-Won Park-Simon, Michael T. Parsons, Inge S. Pedersen, Ana Peixoto, Paolo Peterlongo, Julian Peto, Paul D. P. Pharoah, Kelly-Anne Phillips, Dijana Plaseska-Karanfilska, Bruce Poppe, Nisha Pradhan, Karolina Prajzendanc, Nadege Presneau, Kevin Punie, Katri Pylkäs, Paolo Radice, Johanna Rantala, Muhammad Usman Rashid, Gad Rennert, Harvey A. Risch, Mark Robson, Atocha Romero, Emmanouil Saloustros, Dale P. Sandler, Catarina Santos, Elinor J. Sawyer, Marjanka K. Schmidt, Daniel F. Schmidt, Rita K. Schmutzler, Minouk J. Schoemaker, Rodney J. Scott, Priyanka Sharma, Xiao-Ou Shu, Jacques Simard, Christian F. Singer, Anne-Bine Skytte, Penny Soucy, Melissa C. Southey, John J. Spinelli, Amanda B. Spurdle, Jennifer Stone, Anthony J. Swerdlow, William J. Tapper, Jack A. Taylor, Manuel R. Teixeira, Mary Beth Terry, Alex Teulé, Mads Thomassen, Kathrin Thöne, Darcy L. Thull, Marc Tischkowitz, Amanda E. Toland, Rob A. E. M. Tollenaar, Diana Torres, Thérèse Truong, Nadine Tung, Celine M. Vachon, Christi J. van Asperen, Ans M. W. van den Ouweland, Elizabeth J. van Rensburg, Ana Vega, Alessandra Viel, Paula Vieiro-Balo, Qin Wang, Barbara Wappenschmidt, Clarice R. Weinberg, Jeffrey N. Weitzel, Camilla Wendt, Robert Winqvist, Xiaohong R. Yang, Drakoulis Yannoukakos, Argyrios Ziogas, Roger L. Milne, Douglas F. Easton, Georgia Chenevix-Trench, Wei Zheng, Peter Kraft, Xia Jiang

Date Published: 1st Jul 2020

Publication Type: Journal article

Human Diseases: breast cancer

Abstract (Expand)

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is increasing in incidence and has a higher prevalence compared with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. So far, no effective treatment of HFpEF is available, due to its complex underlying pathophysiology and clinical heterogeneity. This article aims to provide an overview and a future perspective of transcriptomic biomarker research in HFpEF. Detailed characterisation of the HFpEF phenotype and its underlying molecular pathomechanisms may open new perspectives regarding early diagnosis, improved prognostication, new therapeutic targets and tailored therapies accounting for patient heterogeneity, which may improve quality of life. A combination of cross-sectional and longitudinal study designs with sufficiently large sample sizes are required to support this concept.

Authors: S. Rosch, K. P. Rommel, M. Scholz, H. Thiele, P. Lurz

Date Published: 12th Oct 2020

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

The beneficial effects of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) administration following experimental stroke have already been described. Despite several promising characteristics, placenta-derived MSC have not been used in models of focal ischemia. The aim of the current study is to investigate the impact of intravenously transplanted placenta-derived MSC on post-stroke recovery. Permanent occlusion of the middle cerebral artery was induced in spontaneously hypertensive rats. MSC were obtained from the human maternal or fetal placenta and intravenously administered after 24 h (single transplantation) or after 8 h and 24 h (dual transplantation). Sensorimotor deficits were quantified for 60 days using the beam walk test and the modified Neurological Severity Score system. Infarct volume was determined in vivo by means of magnetic resonance imaging on days 1, 8, 29 and 60. Astroglial reactivity was semiquantitatively ascertained within a small and a broad region adjacent to the lesion border. The double infusion of placental MSC was superior to single transplantation in the functional tests. However, a significant difference to the control group in all outcome parameters was observed only for maternally derived MSC. These findings suggest that placental tissue constitutes a promising source for experimental stroke therapies. The beneficial effects of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) administration following experimental stroke have already been described. Despite several promising characteristics, placenta-derived MSC have not been used in models of focal ischemia. The aim of the current study is to investigate the impact of intravenously transplanted placenta-derived MSC on post-stroke recovery. Permanent occlusion of the middle cerebral artery was induced in spontaneously hypertensive rats. MSC were obtained from the human maternal or fetal placenta and intravenously administered after 24 h (single transplantation) or after 8 h and 24 h (dual transplantation). Sensorimotor deficits were quantified for 60 days using the beam walk test and the modified Neurological Severity Score system. Infarct volume was determined in vivo by means of magnetic resonance imaging on days 1, 8, 29 and 60. Astroglial reactivity was semiquantitatively ascertained within a small and a broad region adjacent to the lesion border. The double infusion of placental MSC was superior to single transplantation in the functional tests. However, a significant difference to the control group in all outcome parameters was observed only for maternally derived MSC. These findings suggest that placental tissue constitutes a promising source for experimental stroke therapies.

Authors: Alexander Kranz, Daniel-Christoph Wagner, Manja Kamprad, Markus Scholz, Uwe Richard Schmidt, Franziska Nitzsche, Zami Aberman, Frank Emmrich, Ute-Maria Riegelsberger, Johannes Boltze

Date Published: 1st Feb 2010

Publication Type: Journal article

Abstract (Expand)

To evaluate outcome and prognosis of patients with T-cell lymphoma we analyzed 343 patients treated within trials of the German High-Grade Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Study Group (DSHNHL). Two hundred eighty-nine patients belonged to 1 of the 4 major T-cell lymphoma subtypes: anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), anaplastic large cell lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive (n = 78); ALCL, ALK-negative (n = 113); peripheral T-cell lymphoma, unspecified (PTCLU; n = 70); and angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL; n = 28). Treatment consisted of 6-8 courses of CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone/prednisolone) or etoposide plus (CHOEP). Three-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival were 75.8% and 89.8% (ALK-positive ALCL), 50.0% and 67.5% (AITL), 45.7% and 62.1% (ALK-negative ALCL), and 41.1% and 53.9% (PTCLU), respectively. The International Prognostic Index (IPI) was effective in defining risk groups with significantly different outcomes. For patients, </= 60 years with lactate dehydrogenase </= upper normal value (UNV), etoposide improved improved 3-year EFS: 75.4% versus 51.0%, P = .003. In patients > 60 years 6 courses of CHOP administered every 3 weeks remains the standard therapy. Patients with ALK-negative ALCL, PTCLU, or AITL presenting with IPI > 1 have a poor prognosis and should be considered candidates for novel treatment strategies.

Authors: N. Schmitz, L. Trumper, M. Ziepert, M. Nickelsen, A. D. Ho, B. Metzner, N. Peter, M. Loeffler, A. Rosenwald, M. Pfreundschuh

Date Published: 4th Nov 2010

Publication Type: Not specified

Human Diseases: mature T-cell and NK-cell lymphoma

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