TY  - JOUR
A1  - Alicke, Marie
A1  - Boakye-Appiah, Justice K.
A1  - Abdul-Jalil, Inusah
A1  - Henze, Andrea
A1  - van der Giet, Markus
A1  - Schulze, Matthias Bernd
A1  - Schweigert, Florian J.
A1  - Mockenhaupt, Frank P.
A1  - Bedu-Addo, George
A1  - Danquah, Ina
T1  - eAdolescent health in rural Ghana: A crosssectional study on the co-occurrence of infectious diseases, malnutrition and cardiometabolic risk factors
JF  - PLoS one
N2  - In sub-Saharan Africa, infectious diseases and malnutrition constitute the main health problems in children, while adolescents and adults are increasingly facing cardio-metabolic conditions. Among adolescents as the largest population group in this region, we investigated the co-occurrence of infectious diseases, malnutrition and cardio-metabolic risk factors (CRFs), and evaluated demographic, socio-economic and medical risk factors for these entities. In a cross-sectional study among 188 adolescents in rural Ghana, malarial infection, common infectious diseases and Body Mass Index were assessed. We measured ferritin, C-reactive protein, retinol, fasting glucose and blood pressure. Socio-demographic data were documented. We analyzed the proportions (95% confidence interval, CI) and the cooccurrence of infectious diseases (malaria, other common diseases), malnutrition (underweight, stunting, iron deficiency, vitamin A deficiency [VAD]), and CRFs (overweight, obesity, impaired fasting glucose, hypertension). In logistic regression, odds ratios (OR) and 95% CIs were calculated for the associations with socio-demographic factors. In this Ghanaian population (age range, 14.4-15.5 years; males, 50%), the proportions were for infectious diseases 45% (95% CI: 38-52%), for malnutrition 50% (43-57%) and for CRFs 16% (11- 21%). Infectious diseases and malnutrition frequently co-existed (28%; 21-34%). Specifically, VAD increased the odds of non-malarial infectious diseases 3-fold (95% CI: 1.03, 10.19). Overlap of CRFs with infectious diseases (6%; 2-9%) or with malnutrition (7%; 3-11%) was also present. Male gender and low socio-economic status increased the odds of infectious diseases and malnutrition, respectively. Malarial infection, chronic malnutrition and VAD remain the predominant health problems among these Ghanaian adolescents. Investigating the relationships with evolving CRFs is warranted.
Y1  - 2017
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0180436
SN  - 1932-6203
VL  - 12
SP  - 4463
EP  - 4477
PB  - PLoS
CY  - San Fransisco
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Alter, Markus L.
A1  - Ott, Ina M.
A1  - von Websky, Karoline
A1  - Tsuprykov, Oleg
A1  - Sharkovska, Yuliya
A1  - Krause-Relle, Katharina
A1  - Raila, Jens
A1  - Henze, Andrea
A1  - Klein, Thomas
A1  - Hocher, Berthold
T1  - DPP-4 Inhibition on top of angiotensin receptor blockade offers a new therapeutic approach for diabetic nephropathy
JF  - Kidney & blood pressure research : official organ of the Gesellschaft für Nephrologie
N2  - Background: The need for an improved treatment for diabetic nephropathy is greatest in patients who do not adequately respond to angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs). This study investigated the effect of the novel dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor linagliptin alone and in combination with the ARB telmisartan on the progression of diabetic nephropathy in diabetic endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) knockout mice. Methods: Sixty male eNOS knockout C57BL/6J mice were divided into four groups after receiving intraperitoneal high-dose streptozotocin: telmisartan (1 mg/kg), linagliptin (3 mg/kg), linagliptin + telmisartan (3 mg/kg + 1 mg/kg) and vehicle. Fourteen mice were used as non-diabetic controls. Results: After 12 weeks, urine and blood were obtained and blood pressure measured. Glucose concentrations were increased and similar in all diabetic groups. Telmisartan alone reduced systolic blood pressure by 5.9 mmHg versus diabetic controls (111.2 +/- 2.3 mmHg vs 117.1 +/- 2.2 mmHg; mean +/- SEM; P = 0.071). Combined treatment significantly reduced albuminuria compared with diabetic controls (71.7 +/- 15.3 mu g/24 h vs 170.8 +/- 34.2 mu g/24 h; P = 0.017), whereas the effects of single treatment with either telmisartan (97.8 +/- 26.4 mu g/24 h) or linagliptin (120.8 +/- 37.7 mu g/24 h) were not statistically significant. DPP-4 inhibition, alone and in combination, led to significantly lower plasma osteopontin levels compared with telmisartan alone. Histological analysis revealed reduced glomerulosclerosis after Linagliptin alone and in combination with telmisartan in comparison to non treated diabetic animals (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05). Kidney malonaldehyde immune-reactivity, a marker of oxidative stress, was significantly lower in animals treated with linagliptin. Conclusions: DPP-4 inhibition on top of ARB treatment significantly reduced urinary albumin excretion and oxidative stress in diabetic eNOS knockout mice. Linagliptin on top of an angiotensin II receptor blocker may offer a new therapeutic approach for patients with diabetic nephropathy.
KW  - Diabetic nephropathy
KW  - DPP-4 inhibitor
KW  - Linagliptin
KW  - Renin-angiotensin system
Y1  - 2012
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1159/000341487
SN  - 1420-4096
VL  - 36
IS  - 1
SP  - 119
EP  - 130
PB  - Karger
CY  - Basel
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Auyyuenyong, Ratchada
A1  - Henze, Andrea
A1  - Ungru, Julia
A1  - Schweigert, Florian Johannes
A1  - Raila, Jens
A1  - Vervuert, Ingrid
T1  - Determination of lipid profiles in serum of obese ponies before and after weight reduction by using multi-one-dimensional thin-layer chromatography
JF  - Research in veterinary science
N2  - Obesity is a key component of equine metabolic syndrome, which is highly associated with laminitis. Feed restriction and/or exercise are known to alleviate the detrimental effects of insulin resistance in obese ponies. However, little is known about changes in the serum lipid patterns due to weight reduction and its association with disease outcomes. Therefore, the lipid patterns in the serum of 14 mature ponies before and after a 14-week body weight reduction program (BWRP) were investigated by multi-one-dimensional thin-layer chromatography (MOD-TLC). Additionally, sensitivity to insulin (SI), body condition scores (BCS) and cresty neck scores (CNS) were measured. A BWRP resulted in a significant loss of body weight (P < 0.001), which was associated with beneficial decreases in BCS and CNS (both, P < 0.001). Serum lipid compositions revealed significantly increased free fatty acid (FFA), sphingomyelin (SM; both P < 0.001), total cholesterol (C) and cholesterol ester (CE) (both P < 0.01) and triacylglycerol (TG; P < 0.05) densities. Improvement of SI after the BWRP was associated with increases in neutral lipids (C, CE and TG, all P < 0.01), FFA and the phospholipid SM (both, P < 0.001). The results show that a BWRP in obese ponies was effective and associated with changes in the concentrations of neutral lipids and the phospholipid SM, indicating that SM may play a role in insulin signaling pathways and thus in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and the progression of metabolic syndrome in obese ponies.
KW  - Neutral lipids
KW  - Equine metabolic syndrome
KW  - Phospholipids
KW  - Horse
KW  - Thin layer chromatography
Y1  - 2017
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2017.11.013
SN  - 0034-5288
SN  - 1532-2661
VL  - 117
SP  - 111
EP  - 117
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - Oxford
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Bobbert, Thomas
A1  - Raila, Jens
A1  - Schwarz, Franziska
A1  - Mai, Knut
A1  - Henze, Andrea
A1  - Pfeiffer, Andreas F. H.
A1  - Schweigert, Florian J.
A1  - Spranger, Joachim
T1  - Relation between retinol, retinol-binding protein 4, transthyretin and carotid intima media thickness
N2  - Objective: Retinol is transported in a complex with retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and transthyretin (TTR) in the circulation. While retinol is associated with various cardiovascular risk factors, the relation between retinol, RBP4, TTR and carotid intima media thickness (IMT) has not been analysed yet. Methods: Retinol, RBP4 and TTR were measured in 96 individuals and their relation to mean and maximal IMT was determined. Results: Mean IMT correlated with RBP4 (r = 0.335, p < 0.001), retinol (r = -0.241, p = 0.043), RBP/TTR ratio (r = 0.254, p = 0.025) and retinol/RBP4 ratio (r = -0.549, p < 0.001). Adjustment for age, sex, BMI, blood pressure, HDL/total cholesterol ratio, triglyceride, diabetes and smoking revealed that the retinol/RBP4 ratio was strongly and independently associated with mean IMT. Similar results were found for maximal IMT, which included the measurement of plaques. Conclusion: The data support that the transport complex of vitamin A is associated with the IMT, an established parameter of atherosclerosis. Changes in RBP4 saturation with retinol may link renal dysfunction and insulin resistance to atherosclerosis.
Y1  - 2010
UR  - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00219150
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2010.07.063
SN  - 0021-9150
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Danquah, Ina
A1  - Dobrucky, C. Lydia
A1  - Frank, Laura K.
A1  - Henze, Andrea
A1  - Amoako, Yaw A.
A1  - Bedu-Addo, George
A1  - Raila, Jens
A1  - Schulze, Matthias Bernd
A1  - Mockenhaupt, Frank P.
A1  - Schweigert, Florian J.
T1  - Vitamin A: potential misclassification of vitamin A status among patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension in urban Ghana
JF  - The American journal of clinical nutrition : a publication of the American Society for Nutrition, Inc.
N2  - Background: Sub-Saharan Africa is facing a double burden of malnutrition: vitamin A deficiency (VAD) prevails, whereas the nutrition-related chronic conditions type 2 diabetes (T2D) and hypertension are emerging. Serum retinol a VAD marker increases in kidney disease and decreases in inflammation, which can partly be attributed to alterations in the vitamin A transport proteins retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and prealbumin. Kidney dysfunction and inflammation commonly accompany T2D and hypertension.
 Objective: Among urban Ghanaians, we investigated the associations of T2D and hypertension with serum retinol as well as the importance of kidney function and inflammation in this regard.
 Design: A hospital-based, case-control study in individuals for risk factors of T2D, hypertension, or both was conducted in Kumasi, Ghana (328 controls, 197 with T2D, 354 with hypertension, and 340 with T2D plus hypertension). In 1219 blood samples, serum retinol, RBP4, and prealbumin were measured. Urinary albumin and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) defined kidney function. C-reactive protein (CRP) >5 mg/L indicated inflammation. We identified associations of T2D and hypertension with retinol by linear regression and calculated the contribution of RBP4, prealbumin, urinary albumin, eGFR, and CRP to these associations as the percentages of the explained variance of retinol.
 Results: VAD (retinol <1.05 mu mol/L) was present in 10% of this predominantly female, middle-aged, overweight, and deprived population. Hypertension, but not T2D, was positively associated with retinol (beta: 0.12; 95% CI: 0.08, 0,17), adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic factors, anthropometric measurements, and lifestyle. In addition to RBP4 (72%) and prealbumin (22%), the effect of increased retinol on individuals with hypertension was mainly attributed to impaired kidney function (eGFR: 30%; urinary albumin: 5%) but not to inflammation.
 Conclusions: In patients with hypertension, VAD might be underestimated because of increased serum retinol in the context of kidney dysfunction. Thus, the interpretation of serum retinol in sub-Saharan Africa should account for hypertension status.
KW  - hypertension
KW  - inflammation
KW  - kidney dysfunction
KW  - type 2 diabetes
KW  - vitamin A deficiency
Y1  - 2015
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.114.101345
SN  - 0002-9165
SN  - 1938-3207
VL  - 102
IS  - 1
SP  - 207
EP  - 214
PB  - American Society for Nutrition, Inc.
CY  - Bethesda
ER  - 
TY  - CHAP
A1  - Espe, Katharina M.
A1  - Raila, Jens
A1  - Henze, Andrea
A1  - Blouin, Katja
A1  - Schneider, A.
A1  - Schmiedeke, D.
A1  - Krane, Vera
A1  - Schweigert, Florian J.
A1  - Hocher, Berthold
A1  - Wanner, Christoph
A1  - Drechsler, Christiane
T1  - Low vitamin E plasma levels are associated with cerebrovascular events and mortality in hemodialysis patients
T2  - Annals of nutrition & metabolism : journal of nutrition, metabolic diseases and dietetics ; an official journal of International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS)
Y1  - 2012
SN  - 0250-6807
VL  - 60
IS  - 2
SP  - 137
EP  - 137
PB  - Karger
CY  - Basel
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Espe, Katharina M.
A1  - Raila, Jens
A1  - Henze, Andrea
A1  - Blouin, Katja
A1  - Schneider, Andreas
A1  - Schmiedeke, Daniel
A1  - Krane, Vera
A1  - Pilz, Stefan
A1  - Schweigert, Florian J.
A1  - Hocher, Berthold
A1  - Wanner, Christoph
A1  - Drechsler, Christiane
T1  - Low plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations and adverse clinical outcomes in diabetic hemodialysis patients
JF  - Clinical journal of the American Society of Nephrology
N2  - Background and objectives Trials with the antioxidant vitamin E have failed to show benefit in the general population. Considering the different causes of death in ESRD, this study investigated the association between plasma concentrations of alpha-tocopherol and specific clinical outcomes in diabetic hemodialysis patients.
 Design, settings, participants, & measurements In 1046 diabetic hemodialysis patients (participants of the German Diabetes and Dialysis Study), alpha-tocopherol was measured in plasma by reversed-phase HPLC. By Cox regression analyses, hazard ratios were determined for prespecified end points according to baseline plasma alpha-tocopherol levels: sudden death (n=134), myocardial infarction (n=172), stroke (n=89), combined cardiovascular events (n=398), fatal infection (n=107), and all-cause mortality (n=508).
 Results Patients had a mean age of 66 8 years, and mean plasma alpha-tocopherol level was 22.8+/-9.6 mu mol/L. Levels of alpha-tocopherol were highly correlated to triglycerides (r=0.63, P<0.001). Patients in the lowest alpha-tocopherol quartile had (in unadjusted analyses) a 79% higher risk of stroke and a 31% higher risk of all-cause mortality compared with patients in the highest quartile. The associations were attenuated after adjustment for confounders (hazard ratio(stroke)=1.56, 95% confidence interval=0.75-3.25; hazard ratio(mortality)=1.22, 95% confidence interval=0.89-1.69, respectively). There was no association between alpha-tocopherol and myocardial infarction, sudden death, or infectious death.
 Conclusions Plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations were not independently associated with cardiovascular outcomes, infectious deaths, or all-cause mortality in diabetic hemodialysis patients. The lack of association can partly be explained by a confounding influence of malnutrition, which should be considered in the planning of trials to reduce cardiovascular risk in dialysis patients.
Y1  - 2013
U6  - https://doi.org/10.2215/CJN.04880511
SN  - 1555-9041
VL  - 8
IS  - 3
SP  - 452
EP  - 458
PB  - American Society of Nephrology
CY  - Washington
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Espe, Katharina M.
A1  - Raila, Jens
A1  - Henze, Andrea
A1  - Krane, Vera
A1  - Schweigert, Florian J.
A1  - Hocher, Berthold
A1  - Wanner, Christoph
A1  - Drechsler, Christiane
T1  - Impact of vitamin A on clinical outcomes in haemodialysis patients
JF  - Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation
N2  - Background. Patients on maintenance haemodialysis treatment experience an excessive risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. The vitamin A concentration is known to be higher in these patients compared to the general population where elevated vitamin A concentrations are associated with adverse outcome. The impact of vitamin A on morbidity and mortality in end-stage renal disease patients is controversial and is the topic of this study.
 Methods. We analysed plasma retinol and retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) in 1177 diabetic haemodialysis patients, who participated in the German Diabetes and Dialysis Study (median follow-up 4 years). By Cox regression analyses hazard ratios (HRs) were determined for pre-specified, adjudicated end points according to baseline concentrations.
 Results. Patients had a mean age of 66 +/- 8 years, mean retinol and RBP4 concentrations of 3.28 (0.71-7.44) and 4.02 (1.28-10.1) mu mol/L, respectively. Patients with retinol concentrations in the first quartile (<2.6 mu mol/L) had an almost 2-fold increased risk of all-cause mortality compared to patients of the fourth quartile [>3.9 mu mol/L; HR 1.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.43-2.30]. There was a strong association between low retinol and the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD, HR 2.22, 95% CI 1.41-3.50) and fatal infection (HR 2.19, 95% CI 1.26-3.82). Patients with RBP4 concentrations in the lowest quartile (<3.0 mu mol/L) were more likely to die of any cause (HR 1.43, 95% CI 1.14-1.80), experience SCD (HR 1.97, 95% CI 1.28-3.03) and cardiovascular events (HR 1.43, 95% CI 1.10-1.85).
 Conclusion. This large cohort study shows a strong association of low retinol and RBP4 concentrations with SCD and all-cause mortality in diabetic haemodialysis patients.
KW  - haemodialysis
KW  - mortality
KW  - retinol
KW  - retinol-binding protein 4
KW  - sudden death
Y1  - 2011
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfr171
SN  - 0931-0509
VL  - 26
IS  - 12
SP  - 4054
EP  - U583
PB  - Oxford Univ. Press
CY  - Oxford
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Fedders, Ronja
A1  - Muenzner, Matthias
A1  - Weber, Pamela
A1  - Sommerfeld, Manuela
A1  - Knauer, Miriam
A1  - Kedziora, Sarah
A1  - Kast, Naomi
A1  - Heidenreich, Steffi
A1  - Raila, Jens
A1  - Weger, Stefan
A1  - Henze, Andrea
A1  - Schupp, Michael
T1  - Liver-secreted RBP4 does not impair glucose homeostasis in mice
JF  - The journal of biological chemistry
N2  - Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) is the major transport protein for retinol in blood. Recent evidence from genetic mouse models shows that circulating RBP4 derives exclusively from hepatocytes. Because RBP4 is elevated in obesity and associates with the development of glucose intolerance and insulin resistance, we tested whether a liver-specific overexpression of RBP4 in mice impairs glucose homeostasis. We used adeno-associated viruses (AAV) that contain a highly liver-specific promoter to drive expression of murine RBP4 in livers of adult mice. The resulting increase in serum RBP4 levels in these mice was comparable with elevated levels that were reported in obesity. Surprisingly, we found that increasing circulating RBP4 had no effect on glucose homeostasis. Also during a high-fat diet challenge, elevated levels of RBP4 in the circulation failed to aggravate the worsening of systemic parameters of glucose and energy homeostasis. These findings show that liver-secreted RBP4 does not impair glucose homeostasis. We conclude that a modest increase of its circulating levels in mice, as observed in the obese, insulin-resistant state, is unlikely to be a causative factor for impaired glucose homeostasis.
KW  - liver
KW  - retinoid-binding protein
KW  - glucose metabolism
KW  - insulin resistance
KW  - mouse
KW  - TTR
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.RA118.004294
SN  - 1083-351X
VL  - 293
IS  - 39
SP  - 15269
EP  - 15276
PB  - American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
CY  - Bethesda
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Frede, Katja
A1  - Henze, Andrea
A1  - Khalil, Mahmoud
A1  - Baldermann, Susanne
A1  - Schweigert, Florian J.
A1  - Rawel, Harshadrai Manilal
T1  - Stability and cellular uptake of lutein-loaded emulsions
JF  - Journal of functional food
N2  - The carotenoid lutein can improve human health. Since only a fraction is absorbed from food, lutein supplementation might be recommended. Emulsions could be good carrier systems to improve the bioavailability of lutein. Six different emulsifier compositions were used in this study to prepare lutein-loaded emulsions: beta-lactoglobulin, beta-lactoglobulin/lecithin, Biozate 1, Biozate 1/lecithin, Been 20 and Tween 20/lecithin. The droplet size, resistance to creaming, lutein stability, cytotoxicity and lutein uptake by HT29 cells were investigated. The whey protein beta-lactoglobulin, the whey protein hydrolysate Biozate 1 and the combination with lecithin brought the most promising results. The small droplet sizes and resistance to creaming were an indication of physical stable emulsions. Furthermore, these emulsifiers prevented oxidation of lutein. The choice of emulsifier had a strong impact on the uptake by HT29 cells. The highest lutein absorption was observed with the combination of Biozate 1 and lecithin.
KW  - Lutein
KW  - Emulsion
KW  - Whey protein
KW  - Stability
KW  - Bioavailability
Y1  - 2014
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2014.03.011
SN  - 1756-4646
VL  - 8
SP  - 118
EP  - 127
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - Amsterdam
ER  -