TY - JOUR A1 - Sun, Sheng-Yun A1 - Huang, Jin A1 - Meng, Min-Jie A1 - Lu, Jia-Hai A1 - Hocher, Berthold A1 - Liu, Kang-Li A1 - Yang, Qin-He A1 - Zhu, Xiao-Feng T1 - Improvement of lipid profile and reduction of body weight by Shan He Jian Fei Granules in high fat diet-induced obese rats JF - Clinical laboratory : the peer reviewed journal for clinical laboratories and laboratories related to blood transfusion N2 - Background: The goal was to study lipid profiles (TG, TC, LDL, HDL), effects on serum leptin, and fat tissue adiponectin, and resistin as well as body weight effects of Shan He Jian Fei Granules (SHJFG) in rats on a high fat diet. Methods: Rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal control group fed with normal fat diet, rats on high fat diet receiving low dosage, middle dosage, high dosage of Shan He Jian Fei Granules (SHJFG) as well as a high fat diet group receiving placebo. Rats were treated for 8 weeks. Body weight and naso-anal length of each rat were recorded and Lee's index was calculated. Serum TG, TC, LDL, HDL and leptin concentrations were analyzed. The gene expressions of adiponectin and resistin in adipose tissues were tested by RT-PCR. Results: Compared to the high-fat diet group, body weights, Lee's indexes, weight of fat tissues and serum TG, TC, LDL and leptin of SHJFG groups significantly decreased (p<0.05), whereas mRNA expressions of adiponectin and resistin of SHJFG groups significantly increased (p<0.05). Conclusions: SHJFG could significantly lower body weight and serum TG, TC, and LDL of obese rats. The effects of SHJFG in lowering leptin synthesis and raising mRNA expression of adiponectin and resistin in fat tissues may act as part of the mechanisms in lowering body weight of obese rats. Further studies are needed to demonstrate whether SHJFG may also reduce overall cardiovascular morbidity and mortality like other lipid lowering drugs. KW - obesity KW - high-fat diet KW - Shan He Jian Fei Granules (SHJFG) KW - lipid KW - adiponectin KW - resistin KW - leptin Y1 - 2012 SN - 1433-6510 VL - 58 IS - 1-2 SP - 81 EP - 87 PB - Clin Lab Publ., Verl. Klinisches Labor CY - Heidelberg ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Chen, You-Peng A1 - Li, Jian A1 - Wang, Zi-Neng A1 - Reichetzeder, Christoph A1 - Xu, Hao A1 - Gong, Jian A1 - Chen, Guang-Ji A1 - Pfab, Thiemo A1 - Xiao, Xiao-Min A1 - Hocher, Berthold T1 - Renin angiotensin aldosterone system and glycemia in pregnancy JF - Clinical laboratory : the peer reviewed journal for clinical laboratories and laboratories related to blood transfusion N2 - Background: The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is involved in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes in the general population. The RAAS is activated during pregnancy. However, it is unknown whether the RAAS contributes to glycemia in pregnant women. Methods: Plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma aldosterone levels were quantified at delivery in 689 Chinese mothers. An oral glucose tolerance test in fasted women was performed in the second trimester of pregnancy. The diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and impaired glucose tolerance during pregnancy were made according to the guidelines of the Chinese Society of Obstetrics. Results: Plasma aldosterone was significantly higher in pregnant women with GDM as compared to those without impairment of glycemic control (normal pregnancies: 0.27 +/- 0.21 ng/mL, GDM: 0.36 +/- 0.30 ng/mL; p<0.05). Regression analyses revealed that PRA was negatively correlated with fasting blood glucose (FBG) (R-2 = 0.03, p = 0.007), whereas plasma aldosterone and aldosterone/PRA ratio were positively correlated with FBG (R-2 = 0.05, p<0.001 and R-2 = 0.03, p = 0.007, respectively). Multivariable regression analysis models considering relevant confounding factors confirmed these findings. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that fasting blood glucose in pregnant women is inversely correlated with the PRA, whereas plasma aldosterone showed a highly significant positive correlation with fasting blood glucose during pregnancy. Moreover, plasma aldosterone is significantly higher in pregnant women with GDM as compared to those women with normal glucose tolerance during pregnancy. Although causality cannot be proven in association studies, these data may indicate that the RAAS during pregnancy contributes to the pathogenesis of insulin resistance/new onset of diabetes during pregnancy. KW - Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system KW - pregnancy KW - fasting blood glucose KW - glycemic control Y1 - 2012 SN - 1433-6510 VL - 58 IS - 5-6 SP - 527 EP - 533 PB - Clin Lab Publ., Verl. Klinisches Labor CY - Heidelberg ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hocher, Berthold A1 - Groen, Hans Jürgen A1 - Schumann, Claudia A1 - Tsuprykov, Oleg A1 - Seifert, Susanne A1 - Hitzler, Walter E. A1 - Armbruster, Franz Paul T1 - Vitamin D status from dried capillary blood samples JF - Clinical laboratory : the peer reviewed journal for clinical laboratories and laboratories related to blood transfusion N2 - Background: Given the huge impact of vitamin D deficiency on a broad spectrum of diseases such as rickets, osteoporosis, mineral bone disease-vascular calcification syndrome, infectious diseases, but also several types of cancer and CNS diseases, reliable and simple methods to analyze the vitamin D status are urgently needed. Methods: We developed an easy technique to determine the 25-OH vitamin D status from dried blood samples on filter paper. This allows determination of the 25-OH vitamin D status independently of venous blood taking, since only sampling of capillary blood is required for this new method. We compared the results of vitamin D measurements from venous blood of 96 healthy blood donors with those from capillary blood taken from the same patients at the same time. The capillary blood was dried on filter paper using the D-Vital ID dry-blood collection system. Results: 25-OH vitamin D concentration data from extracted dried capillary blood filters correlated very well with data obtained after direct measurement of venous blood samples of the same blood donor (R: 0.7936; p<0.0001). The correlation was linear over the whole range of 25-OH vitamin D concentrations seen in this study. A Bland-Altman plot revealed good agreement between both tests. Conclusions: The D-Vital ID dry-blood collection system showed an excellent performance as compared to the classical way of 25-OH vitamin D measurement from venous blood. This new technique will facilitate easy and reliable measurement for vitamin D status, in particular, in rural or isolated areas, developing countries, and field studies. KW - 25-OH vitamin D KW - filter paper KW - capillary blood KW - new analysis method Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.7754/Clin.Lab.2012.120429 SN - 1433-6510 VL - 58 IS - 7-8 SP - 851 EP - 855 PB - Clin Lab Publ., Verl. Klinisches Labor CY - Heidelberg ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Vickers, Steven P. A1 - Cheetham, Sharon C. A1 - Birmingham, Gareth D. A1 - Rowley, Helen L. A1 - Headland, Katie R. A1 - Dickinson, Keith A1 - Grempler, Rolf A1 - Hocher, Berthold A1 - Mark, Michael A1 - Klein, Thomas T1 - Effects of the DPP-4 Inhibitor, Linagliptin, in Diet-Induced obese rats a comparison in Naive and Exenatide-Treated Animals JF - Clinical laboratory : the peer reviewed journal for clinical laboratories and laboratories related to blood transfusion N2 - Background: To assess the chronic effect of the DPP-4 inhibitor, linagliptin, alone, in combination with exenatide, and during exenatide withdrawal, in diet-induced obese (DIO) rats. Methods: Female Wistar rats were exposed to a cafeteria diet to induce obesity. Animals were then dosed with vehicle or linagliptin (3 mg/kg PO) orally once-daily for a 28 day period. In a subsequent study, rats received exenatide (either 3 or 30 mu g/kg/day) or vehicle by osmotic mini-pump for 28 days. In addition, groups of animals were dosed orally with linagliptin either alone or in combination with a 3 mu g/kg/day exenatide dose for the study duration. In a final study, rats were administered exenatide (30 mu g/kg/day) or vehicle by osmotic mini-pump for eleven days. Subsequently, exenatide-treated animals were transferred to vehicle or continued exenatide infusion for a further ten days. Animals transferred from exenatide to vehicle were also dosed orally with either vehicle or linagliptin. In all studies, body weight, food and water intake were recorded daily and relevant plasma parameters and carcass composition were determined. Results: In contrast to exenatide, linagliptin did not significantly reduce body weight or carcass fat in DIO rats versus controls. Linagliptin augmented the effect of exenatide to reduce body fat when given in combination but did not affect the body weight response. In rats withdrawn from exenatide, weight regain was observed such that body weight was not significantly different to controls. Linagliptin reduced weight regain after withdrawal of exenatide such that a significant difference from controls was evident. Conclusions: These data demonstrate that linagliptin does not significantly alter body weight in either untreated or exenatide-treated DIO rats, although it delays weight gain after exenatide withdrawal. This finding may suggest the utility of DPP-4 inhibitors in reducing body weight during periods of weight gain. KW - Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor KW - Linagliptin KW - obesity KW - weight loss Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.7754/Clin.Lab.2011.110919 SN - 1433-6510 VL - 58 IS - 7-8 SP - 787 EP - 799 PB - Clin Lab Publ., Verl. Klinisches Labor CY - Heidelberg ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Alter, Markus L. A1 - Kretschmer, Axel A1 - Von Websky, Karoline A1 - Tsuprykov, Oleg A1 - Reichetzeder, Christoph A1 - Simon, Alexandra A1 - Stasch, Johannes-Peter A1 - Hocher, Berthold T1 - Early urinary and plasma biomarkers for experimental diabetic Nephropathy JF - Clinical laboratory : the peer reviewed journal for clinical laboratories and laboratories related to blood transfusion N2 - Background: As the prevalence of diabetes rises, its complications such as diabetic nephropathy affect an increaseing number of patients. Consequently, the need for biomarkers in rodent models which reflect the stage and course of diabetic nephropathy is high. This article focuses on Heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP), osteopontin (OPN), nephrin, and Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in urine, and kidney injury molecule (KIM)-1, clusterin, and tissue inhibitior of metalloproteinases (TIMP) 1 in plasma in uni-nephrectomized rats with streptocotozin-induced type 1 diabetes mellitus, a common animal model to explore renal impairment in the setting of diabetes mellitus. Methods: 23 male Wistar rats were uni-nephrectomized and subsequently divided into two study groups. The diabetic group received streptozotocin (STZ) via tail-vein injection, the non-diabetic group received citrate buffer without STZ. Subsequently, blood glucose, body weight, and blood pressure were checked regularly. After 18 weeks, animals were placed in metabolic cages, blood and urine obtained and subsequently organs were harvested after sacrifice. Results: Blood glucose levels were highly increased in diabetic animals throughout the experiment, whereas systolic blood pressure did not differ between the study groups. At study end, classical biomarkers such as urinary albumin and protein and plasma cystatin c were only slightly but not significantly different between groups indicating a very early disease state. In contrast, urinary excretion of H-FABP, OPN, nephrin, and NGAL were highly increased in diabetic animals with a highly significant p-value (p<0.01 each) compared to non-diabetic animals. In plasma, differences were found for calbindin, KIM-1, clusterin, TIMP-1, and OPN. These findings were confirmed by means of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC-AUC) analysis. Conclusions: In summary, our study revealed elevated levels of new plasma and urinary biomarkers (urinary osteopontin, urinary nephrin, urinary NGAL, urinary H-FABP, plasma KIM-1, plasma TIMP-1) in uni-nephrectomized diabetic rats, an established rat model of diabetic nephropathy. These biomarkers appeared even before the classical biomarkers of diabetic nephropathy such as albuminuria and urinary protein excretion. The new biomarkers might offer advantage to urinary albumin and plasma cystatin c with respect to early detection. KW - diabetic nephropathy KW - urinary biomarker KW - blood biomarker KW - heart-type fatty acid binding protein KW - osteopontin KW - nephrin KW - neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin KW - kidney injury molecule 1 KW - clusterin KW - tissue inhibitior of metalloproteinases 1 Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.7754/Clin.Lab.2011.111010 SN - 1433-6510 VL - 58 IS - 7-8 SP - 659 EP - 671 PB - Clin Lab Publ., Verl. Klinisches Labor CY - Heidelberg ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schmerbach, K. A1 - Kalk, Philipp. A1 - Wengenmayer, Christina A1 - Lucht, K. A1 - Unger, T. A1 - Hocher, Berthold A1 - Thoene-Reineke, C. T1 - Renal outcome in equipotent Antihypertensive Treatment with Telmisartan, Ramipril and in combination in SHR-SP Rats JF - Clinical laboratory : the peer reviewed journal for clinical laboratories and laboratories related to blood transfusion N2 - Background: The ONTARGET trial revealed an association of ACEI/ARB combination treatment (telmisartan and ramipril) with adverse renal outcome versus respective monotherapy; preclinical evidence regarding renal outcome in ACEI/ARB combination treatment is scarce. Methods: Spontaneously hypertensive stroke prone rats (SHR-SP) rats on a salt-rich diet were randomly allocated to 4 groups: SHR (untreated, n = 24), SHR + telmisartan (SHR-T, 2.39 +/- 0.69 mg/kg bw; n = 27), SHR + ramipril (SHR-R, 6.28 +/- 3.48 mg/kg bw; n = 27) and combination treatment (SHR-TR, 0.51 +/- 0.14 mg/kg bw; same dose for telmisartan and ramipril; n = 26). Study duration was 12 weeks, blood pressure was assessed weekly and doses were adjusted to maintain equal blood pressure. Finally, blood and urine samples were obtained and kidneys were harvested for histological studies. Results: Blood pressure in untreated rats rose to a maximum of 239 mmHg, whereas in all treatment groups it remained stable betvveen 140 and 150 mmHg. Mortality was 50% in the untreated group, whereas all treatment groups survived completely. Renal function - as indicated by plasma urea and cystatin c - was significantly worse in SHR-TR animals compared to all other groups. With plasma creatinine a similar trend was observed. All treatment options significantly decreased albuminuria. Renal glomerulosclerosis was decreased by monotherapy, whereas combination therapy failed to have a significant effect. Interstitial fibrosis was decreased to a similar extent by all treatment options. Conclusions: ACEI/ARB combination treatment failed to render significant additional benefits on renal outcome in hypertensive rats when compared to monotherapy. Instead our data indicate that dual RAAS blockade might have an adverse effect on kidney function and histology when compared to monotherapy in salt-loaded SHR-SP. KW - Renal failure KW - angiotensin receptor blockers KW - ACE inhibitors KW - telmisartan KW - ramipril Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.7754/Clin.Lab.2011.110622 SN - 1433-6510 VL - 58 IS - 7-8 SP - 625 EP - 633 PB - Clin Lab Publ., Verl. Klinisches Labor CY - Heidelberg 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 - Weinert, Christoph H. A1 - Wiese, Stefanie A1 - Rawel, Harshadrai Manilal A1 - Esatbeyoglu, Tuba A1 - Winterhalter, Peter A1 - Homann, Thomas A1 - Kulling, Sabine E. T1 - Methylation of catechins and procyanidins by rat and human Catechol-O-Methyltransferase metabolite profiling and molecular modeling studies JF - Drug metabolism and disposition : the biological fate of chemicals N2 - Catechins and procyanidins are major polyphenols in plant-derived foods. Despite intensive studies in recent years, neither their biochemical nor their toxicological properties have been clarified sufficiently. This study aimed to compare the methylation of catechins and procyanidins by the enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) in vitro. We conducted incubations with rat liver cytosol and human placental cytosol including S-adenosyl-L-methionine. The set of substrates comprised the catechins (-)-epicatechin (EC) and (+)catechin (CAT), the procyanidin dimers B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, and B7 as well as procyanidin trimer C1. After extraction, metabolites were analyzed by means of liquid chromatography-electrospray ionizationmass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry. EC and CAT were converted to two monomethylated metabolites each by human and rat COMT, with the 3'-O-methyl derivatives being consistently the main metabolites. Furthermore, the flavanyl units of procyanidins were methylated consecutively, leading to monomethylated and dimethylated dimeric metabolites as well as monomethylated, dimethylated, and trimethylated C1 metabolites. The methylation status of each flavanyl unit was determined by means of mass spectrometric quinone-methide fragmentation patterns. In addition, molecular modeling studies were performed with the aim to predict the preferred site of methylation and to verify the experimental data. In conclusion, our results indicate that the degree and position of methylation depend clearly on the three-dimensional structure of the entire substrate molecule. Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1124/dmd.111.041871 SN - 0090-9556 VL - 40 IS - 2 SP - 353 EP - 359 PB - American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics CY - Bethesda ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Thierbach, Rene A1 - Florian, Simone A1 - Wolfrum, Katharina A1 - Voigt, Anja A1 - Drewes, Gunnar A1 - Blume, Urte A1 - Bannasch, Peter A1 - Ristow, Michael A1 - Steinberg, Pablo T1 - Specific alterations of carbohydrate metabolism are associated with hepatocarcinogenesis in mitochondrially impaired mice JF - Human molecular genetics N2 - Friedreich's ataxia is an inherited neurodegenerative disease caused by the reduced expression of the mitochondrially active protein frataxin. We have previously shown that mice with a hepatocyte-specific frataxin knockout (AlbFxn(-/-)) develop multiple hepatic tumors in later life. In the present study, hepatic carbohydrate metabolism in AlbFxn(-/-) mice at an early and late life stage was analyzed. In young (5-week-old) AlbFxn(-/-) mice hepatic ATP, glucose-6-phosphate and glycogen levels were found to be reduced by similar to 74, 80 and 88%, respectively, when compared with control animals. This pronounced ATP, G6P and glycogen depletion in the livers of young mice reverted in older animals: while half of the mice die before 30 weeks of age, the other half reaches 17 months of age and exhibits glycogen, G6P and ATP levels similar to those in age-matched controls. A key event in this respect seems to be the up-regulation of GLUT1, the predominant glucose transporter in fetal liver parenchyma, which became evident in AlbFxn(-/-) mice being 5-12 weeks of age. The most significant histological findings in animals being 17 or 22 months of age were the appearance of multiple clear cell, mixed cell and basophilic foci throughout the liver parenchyma as well as the development of hepatocellular adenomas and carcinomas. The hepatocarcinogenic process in AlbFxn 2/2 mice shows remarkable differences regarding carbohydrate metabolism alterations when compared with all other chemically and virally driven liver cancer models described up to now. Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddr499 SN - 0964-6906 VL - 21 IS - 3 SP - 656 EP - 663 PB - Oxford Univ. Press CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Chupeerach, Chaowanee A1 - Tungtrongchitr, Anchalee A1 - Phonrat, Benjaluck A1 - Schweigert, Florian J. A1 - Tungtrongchitr, Rungsunn A1 - Preutthipan, Sangchai T1 - Association of Thr420Lys polymorphism in DBP gene with fat-soluble vitamins and low radial bone mineral density in postmenopausal Thai women JF - Biomarkers in medicine N2 - Aims: To investigate the genetic markers for osteoporosis bone mineral density by the genotyping of rs7041, rs4588 and rs1352845 in the DBP gene with either bone mineral density or serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol, retinol and alpha-tocopherol, among 365 postmenopausal Thai women. Materials & methods: The DBP genotypes were analyzed by a PCR restriction fragment-length polymorphism method. Serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol was assessed using a commercial chemiluminescent immunoassay. Serum retinol and alpha-tocopherol were measured by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: After adjustment for age >50 years, elder Thai subjects with low BMI (<= 25 kg/m(2)) and carrying the rs4588 CC genotype had a higher risk of radial bone mineral density osteoporosis (odds ratio: 6.29; p = 0.048). The rs1352845 genotype also had a statistical association with total hip bone mineral density; however, it disappeared after adjustment for age and BMI. No association was found in fat-soluble vitamins with bone mineral density. Conclusion: DBP genotypes may influence the osteoporosis bone mineral density in postmenopausal Thai women. KW - bone mineral density KW - fat-soluble vitamin KW - osteoporosis KW - single nucleotide polymorphism KW - vitamin D binding protein Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.2217/BMM.11.88 SN - 1752-0363 VL - 6 IS - 1 SP - 103 EP - 108 PB - Future Medicine CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Dorenkamp, Marc A1 - Bonaventura, Klaus A1 - Sohns, Christian A1 - Becker, Christoph R. A1 - Leber, Alexander W. T1 - Direct costs and cost-effectiveness of dual-source computed tomography and invasive coronary angiography in patients with an intermediate pretest likelihood for coronary artery disease JF - Heart N2 - Aims The study aims to determine the direct costs and comparative cost-effectiveness of latest-generation dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) and invasive coronary angiography for diagnosing coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients suspected of having this disease. Methods The study was based on a previously elaborated cohort with an intermediate pretest likelihood for CAD and on complementary clinical data. Cost calculations were based on a detailed analysis of direct costs, and generally accepted accounting principles were applied. Based on Bayes' theorem, a mathematical model was used to compare the cost-effectiveness of both diagnostic approaches. Total costs included direct costs, induced costs and costs of complications. Effectiveness was defined as the ability of a diagnostic test to accurately identify a patient with CAD. Results Direct costs amounted to (sic)98.60 for DSCT and to (sic)317.75 for invasive coronary angiography. Analysis of model calculations indicated that cost-effectiveness grew hyperbolically with increasing prevalence of CAD. Given the prevalence of CAD in the study cohort (24%), DSCT was found to be more cost-effective than invasive coronary angiography ((sic)970 vs (sic)1354 for one patient correctly diagnosed as having CAD). At a disease prevalence of 49%, DSCT and invasive angiography were equally effective with costs of (sic)633. Above a threshold value of disease prevalence of 55%, proceeding directly to invasive coronary angiography was more cost-effective than DSCT. Conclusions With proper patient selection and consideration of disease prevalence, DSCT coronary angiography is cost-effective for diagnosing CAD in patients with an intermediate pretest likelihood for it. However, the range of eligible patients may be smaller than previously reported. Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2011-300149 SN - 1355-6037 VL - 98 IS - 6 SP - 460 EP - 467 PB - BMJ Publ. Group CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kemper, Christoph J. A1 - Lutz, Johannes A1 - Bähr, Tobias A1 - Rüddel, Heinz A1 - Hock, Michael T1 - Construct validity of the anxiety sensitivity index-3 in clinical samples JF - Assessment N2 - Using two clinical samples of patients, the presented studies examined the construct validity of the recently revised Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3). Confirmatory factor analyses established a clear three-factor structure that corresponds to the postulated subdivision of the construct into correlated somatic, social, and cognitive components. Participants with different primary clinical diagnoses differed from each other on the ASI-3 subscales in theoretically meaningful ways. Specifically, the ASI-3 successfully discriminated patients with anxiety disorders from patients with nonanxiety disorders. Moreover, patients with panic disorder or agoraphobia manifested more somatic concerns than patients with other anxiety disorders and patients with nonanxiety disorders. Finally, correlations of the ASI-3 scales with other measures of clinical symptoms and negative affect substantiated convergent and discriminant validity. Substantial positive correlations were found between the ASI-3 Somatic Concerns and body vigilance, between Social Concerns and fear of negative evaluation and socially inhibited behavior, and between Cognitive Concerns and depression symptoms, anxiety, fear of negative evaluation, and subjective complaints. Moreover, Social Concerns correlated negatively with dominant and intrusive behavior. Results are discussed with respect to the contribution of the ASI-3 to the assessment of anxiety-related disorders. KW - anxiety sensitivity KW - Anxiety Sensitivity Index KW - ASI-3 KW - construct validity KW - reliability KW - clinical sample KW - factor structure Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191111429389 SN - 1073-1911 VL - 19 IS - 1 SP - 89 EP - 100 PB - Sage Publ. CY - Thousand Oaks ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sakuraba, Yasuhito A1 - Balazadeh, Salma A1 - Tanaka, Ryouichi A1 - Müller-Röber, Bernd A1 - Tanaka, Ayumi T1 - Overproduction of Chl b retards senescence through transcriptional reprogramming in arabidopsis JF - Plant & cell physiology N2 - Leaf senescence is a developmentally and environmentally regulated process which includes global changes in gene expression. Using Arabidopsis as a model, we modified Chl arrangement in photosystems by overexpressing the catalytic domain (the C domain) of chlorophyllide a oxygenase (CAO) fused with the linker domain (the B domain) of CAO and green fluorescent protein (GFP). In these plants (referred to as the BCG plants for the B and C domains of CAO and GFP), the Chl a/b ratio was drastically decreased and Chl b was incorporated into core antenna complexes. The BCG plants exhibited a significant delay of both developmental and dark-induced leaf senescence. The photosynthetic apparatus, CO2 fixation enzymes and the chloroplast structure were lost in wild-type plants during senescence, while BCG plants retained them longer than the wild type. Large-scale quantitative real-time PCR analyses of 1,880 transcription factor (TF) genes showed that 241 TFs are differentially expressed between BCG plants and wild-type plants at senescence, similar to 40% of which are known senescence-associated genes (SAGs). Expression profiling also revealed the down-regulation of a large number of additional non-TF SAGs. In contrast, genes involved in photosynthesis were up-regulated, while those encoding Chl degradation enzymes were down-regulated in BCG plants. These results demonstrate that alteration of pigment composition in the photosynthetic apparatus retards senescence through transcriptional reprogramming. KW - Arabidopsis KW - Chloroplast KW - Chlorophyllide a oxygenase KW - Photosynthesis KW - Senescence Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1093/pcp/pcs006 SN - 0032-0781 VL - 53 IS - 3 SP - 505 EP - 517 PB - Oxford Univ. Press CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Li, Jian A1 - Wang, Zi-Neng A1 - Chen, You-Peng A1 - Dong, Yun-Peng A1 - Shuai, Han-Lin A1 - Xiao, Xiao-Min A1 - Reichetzeder, Christoph A1 - Hocher, Berthold T1 - Late gestational maternal serum cortisol is inversely associated with fetal brain growth JF - Neuroscience & biobehavioral reviews : official journal of the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society N2 - To analyze the association between fetal brain growth and late gestational blood serum cortisol in normal pregnancy.Blood total cortisol was quantified at delivery in 432 Chinese mother/child pairs. Key inclusion criteria of the cohort were: no structural anomalies of the newborn, singleton pregnancy, no alcohol abuse, no drug abuse or history of smoking no hypertensive disorders and no impairment of glucose tolerance and no use of steroid medication during pregnancy. Differential ultrasound examination of the fetal body was done in early (gestational day 89.95 +/- 7.31), middle (gestational day 160.17 16.12) and late pregnancy (gestational day 268.89 +/- 12.42). Newborn's cortisol was not correlated with any of the ultrasound measurements during pregnancy nor with birth weight. Multivariable regression analysis, considering timing of the ultrasound examination, the child's sex, maternal BMI, maternal age, maternal body weight at delivery, the timing of cortisol measurement and maternal uterine contraction states, revealed that maternal serum total cortisol was significantly negative correlated with ultrasound parameters describing the fetal brain: late biparietal diameter (R-2 =0.512, p =0.009), late head circumference (R-2 = 0.498, p= 0.001), middle biparietal diameter (R-2= 0.819, p = 0.013), middle cerebellum transverse diameter R-2 = 0.76, p= 0.014) and early biparietal diameter(R-2 = 0.819, p = 0.013). The same analysis revealed that birth weight as well as ultrasound parameters such as abdominal circumference and femur length were not correlated to maternal cortisol levels. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that maternal cortisol secretion within physiological ranges may be inversely correlated to fetal brain growth but not to birth weight. It remains to be demonstrated whether maternal cortisol secretion negatively influencing fetal brain growth translates to adverse neurological outcomes in later life. KW - Brain development KW - Fetal programming KW - Cortisol Maternal cortisol KW - Head circumference KW - Biparietal diameter Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2011.12.006 SN - 0149-7634 VL - 36 IS - 3 SP - 1085 EP - 1092 PB - Elsevier CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Raila, Jens A1 - Enjalbert, Francis A1 - Mothes, Ralf A1 - Hurtienne, Andrea A1 - Schweigert, Florian J. T1 - Validation of a new point-of-care assay for determination of ss-carotene concentration in bovine whole blood and plasma JF - Veterinary clinical pathology N2 - Background: beta-Carotene is an important precursor of vitamin A, and is associated with bovine fertility. beta-Carotene concentrations in plasma are used to optimize beta-carotene supplementation in cattle, but measurement requires specialized equipment to separate plasma and extract and measure beta-carotene, either using spectrophotometry or high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Objective: The objective of this study was to validate a new 2-step point-of-care (POC) assay for measuring beta-carotene in whole blood and plasma. Methods: beta-carotene concentrations in plasma from 166 cows were measured using HPLC and compared with results obtained using a POC assay, the iCheck-iEx-Carotene test kit. Whole blood samples from 23 of these cattle were also evaluated using the POC assay and compared with HPLC-plasma results from the same 23 animals. The POC assay includes an extraction vial (iEx Carotene) and hand-held photometer (iCheck Carotene). Results: Concentrations of beta-carotene in plasma measured using the POC assay ranged from 0.40 to 15.84 mg/L (n = 166). No differences were observed between methods for assay of plasma (mean +/- SD; n = 166): HPLC-plasma 4.23 +/- 2.35 mg/L; POC-plasma 4.49 +/- 2.36 mg/L. Similar good agreement was found when plasma analyzed using HPLC was compared with whole blood analyzed using the POC system (n = 23): HPLC-plasma 3.46 +/- 2.12 mg/L; POC-whole blood 3.67 +/- 2.29 mg/L. Conclusions: Concentrations of beta-carotene can be measured in blood and plasma from cattle easily and rapidly using a POC assay, and results are comparable to those obtained by the highly sophisticated HPLC method. Immediate feedback regarding beta-carotene deficiency facilitates rapid and appropriate optimization of beta-carotene supplementation in feed. KW - Biomarker KW - HPLC KW - method comparison KW - nutritional supplements KW - vitamin A Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-165X.2012.00400.x SN - 0275-6382 VL - 41 IS - 1 SP - 119 EP - 122 PB - Wiley-Blackwell CY - Malden ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schneider, Birgit T1 - Climate model simulation visualization from a visual studies perspective JF - Wiley interdisciplinary reviews : Climate change N2 - The article gives an overview on the visualization of climate model data simulation from a visual studies perspective. On one hand the question is raised of what it means culturally when global images are used to communicate scenarios of a changing climate future beyond the field of climate research itself. The product of this process is one of the most widespread icons of climate change, the image of the blue planet that has turned red. On the other hand insights into how these visualizations are designed in the studio of a computer designer are given. The focus here is on the way in which specific visualization software shapes images of a changing global climate. The article takes as its starting point the perspective of visual and media studies, because images have become so crucial in communicating research results of climate science and convincing policy agents and the public. What is special about scientific images depicting climate change is that they have implicitly also become political images. As today various actors and recipient groups are making use of pictures depicting climate change, the article concerns climate science, media studies, computer visualization, cultural studies, and politics alike. Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/wcc.162 SN - 1757-7780 VL - 3 IS - 2 SP - 185 EP - 193 PB - Wiley CY - Malden ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hermanussen, Michael A1 - Lehmann, Andreas A1 - Scheffler, Christiane T1 - Psychosocial Pressure and Menarche A Review of Historic Evidence for Social Amenorrhea JF - Obstetrical & gynecological survey N2 - Objective: The age of menarche is usually considered to be affected by nutritional, health-related, social, and economic factors and has significantly decreased since the mid-19th century. The present study was performed to investigate whether the timing of menarche paralleled the general acceleration of physical development, or whether this pattern differed. Study Design: In all, 30 German studies on menarcheal age (n = > 200) since 1848 were collected. Frequency distributions were analyzed. Results: During the second half of the 19th and the early 20th century, mean menarcheal age decreased from 18 to 12-13 years in Europe. Yet, the data fail to support the conventional hypothesis that menarcheal age mainly depends on nutritional, health, and economic factors. Conclusions: We suggest that later than usual menarche may not necessarily be regarded as a physical illness, but in view of the apparently physiological delay of menarche in the 19th century, may be viewed as "collective social amenorrhea." Target Audience: Obstetricians & Gynecologists and Family Physicians. Learning Objectives: After participating in this CME activity, physicians should be better able to evaluate menarche as an indicator of developmental tempo in both historical and modern settings, compare menarche in healthy mid-19th century girls with menarche in average modern girls, and assess the marked sensitivity of full pubertal development to environmental circumstances. Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1097/OGX.0b013e31824c94ad SN - 0029-7828 VL - 67 IS - 4 SP - 237 EP - 241 PB - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins CY - Philadelphia ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Lüth, Anja A1 - Neuber, Corinna A1 - Kleuser, Burkhard T1 - Novel methods for the quantification of (2E)-hexadecenal by liquid chromatography with detection by either ESI QTOF tandem mass spectrometry or fluorescence measurement JF - Analytica chimica acta : an international journal devoted to all branches of analytical chemistry N2 - Sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase (SPL) is the only known enzyme that irreversibly cleaves sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) into phosphoethanolamine and (2E)-hexadecenal during the final step of sphingolipid catabolism. Because S1P is involved in a wide range of physiological and diseased processes, determining the activity of the degrading enzyme is of great interest. Therefore, we developed two procedures based on liquid chromatography (LC) for analysing (2E)-hexadecenal, which is one of the two S1P degradation products. After separation, two different quantification methods were performed, tandem mass spectrometry (MS) and fluorescence detection. However, (2E)-hexadecenal as a long-chain aldehyde is not ionisable by electrospray ionisation (ESI) for MS quantification and has an insufficient number of corresponding double bonds for fluorescence detection. Therefore, we investigated 2-diphenylacetyl-1,3-indandione-1-hydrazone (DAIH) as a derivatisation reagent. DAIH transforms the aldehyde into an ionisable and fluorescent analogue for quantitative analysis. Our conditions were optimised to obtain the outstanding limit of detection (LOD) of 1 fmol per sample (30 mu L) for LC-MS/MS and 0.75 pmol per sample (200 mu l) for LC determination with fluorescence detection. We developed an extraction procedure to separate and concentrate (2E)-hexadecenal from biological samples for these measurements. To confirm our new methods, we analysed the (2E)-hexadecenal level of different cell lines and human plasma for the first time ever. Furthermore, we treated HT-29 cells with different concentrations of 4-deoxypyridoxine (DOP), which competitively inhibits pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P5P), an essential cofactor for SPL activity, and observed a significant decrease in (2E)-hexadecenal relative to the untreated cells. KW - (2E)-Hexadecenal KW - Sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase KW - Derivatisation KW - Tandem mass spectrometry KW - Fluorescence Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2012.01.063 SN - 0003-2670 VL - 722 SP - 70 EP - 79 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ikram, M. Arfan A1 - Fornage, Myriam A1 - Smith, Albert V. A1 - Seshadri, Sudha A1 - Schmidt, Reinhold A1 - Debette, Stephanie A1 - Vrooman, Henri A. A1 - Sigurdsson, Sigurdur A1 - Ropele, Stefan A1 - Taal, H. Rob A1 - Mook-Kanamori, Dennis O. A1 - Coker, Laura H. A1 - Longstreth, W. T. A1 - Niessen, Wiro J. A1 - DeStefano, Anita L. A1 - Beiser, Alexa A1 - Zijdenbos, Alex P. A1 - Struchalin, Maksim A1 - Jack, Clifford R. A1 - Rivadeneira, Fernando A1 - Uitterlinden, Andre G. A1 - Knopman, David S. A1 - Hartikainen, Anna-Liisa A1 - Pennell, Craig E. A1 - Thiering, Elisabeth A1 - Steegers, Eric A. P. A1 - Hakonarson, Hakon A1 - Heinrich, Joachim A1 - Palmer, Lyle J. A1 - Jarvelin, Marjo-Riitta A1 - McCarthy, Mark I. A1 - Grant, Struan F. A. A1 - St Pourcain, Beate A1 - Timpson, Nicholas J. A1 - Smith, George Davey A1 - Sovio, Ulla A1 - Nalls, Mike A. A1 - Au, Rhoda A1 - Hofman, Albert A1 - Gudnason, Haukur A1 - van der Lugt, Aad A1 - Harris, Tamara B. A1 - Meeks, William M. A1 - Vernooij, Meike W. A1 - van Buchem, Mark A. A1 - Catellier, Diane A1 - Jaddoe, Vincent W. V. A1 - Gudnason, Vilmundur A1 - Windham, B. Gwen A1 - Wolf, Philip A. A1 - van Duijn, Cornelia M. A1 - Mosley, Thomas H. A1 - Schmidt, Helena A1 - Launer, Lenore J. A1 - Breteler, Monique M. B. A1 - DeCarli, Charles A1 - Adair, Linda S. A1 - Ang, Wei A1 - Atalay, Mustafa A1 - vanBeijsterveldt, Toos A1 - Bergen, Nienke A1 - Benke, Kelly A1 - Berry, Diane J. A1 - Coin, Lachlan A1 - Davis, Oliver S. P. A1 - Elliott, Paul A1 - Flexeder, Claudia A1 - Frayling, Tim A1 - Gaillard, Romy A1 - Groen-Blokhuis, Maria A1 - Goh, Liang-Kee A1 - Haworth, Claire M. A. A1 - Hadley, Dexter A1 - Hebebrand, Johannes A1 - Hinney, Anke A1 - Hirschhorn, Joel N. A1 - Holloway, John W. A1 - Holst, Claus A1 - Hottenga, Jouke Jan A1 - Horikoshi, Momoko A1 - Huikari, Ville A1 - Hypponen, Elina A1 - Kilpelainen, Tuomas O. A1 - Kirin, Mirna A1 - Kowgier, Matthew A1 - Lakka, Hanna-Maaria A1 - Lange, Leslie A. A1 - Lawlor, Debbie A. A1 - Lehtimaki, Terho A1 - Lewin, Alex A1 - Lindgren, Cecilia A1 - Lindi, Virpi A1 - Maggi, Reedik A1 - Marsh, Julie A1 - Middeldorp, Christel A1 - Millwood, Iona A1 - Murray, Jeffrey C. A1 - Nivard, Michel A1 - Nohr, Ellen Aagaard A1 - Ntalla, Ioanna A1 - Oken, Emily A1 - Panoutsopoulou, Kalliope A1 - Pararajasingham, Jennifer A1 - Rodriguez, Alina A1 - Salem, Rany M. A1 - Sebert, Sylvain A1 - Siitonen, Niina A1 - Strachan, David P. A1 - Teo, Yik-Ying A1 - Valcarcel, Beatriz A1 - Willemsen, Gonneke A1 - Zeggini, Eleftheria A1 - Boomsma, Dorret I. A1 - Cooper, Cyrus A1 - Gillman, Matthew A1 - Hocher, Berthold A1 - Lakka, Timo A. A1 - Mohlke, Karen L. A1 - Dedoussis, George V. A1 - Ong, Ken K. A1 - Pearson, Ewan R. A1 - Price, Thomas S. A1 - Power, Chris A1 - Raitakari, Olli T. A1 - Saw, Seang-Mei A1 - Scherag, Andre A1 - Simell, Olli A1 - Sorensen, Thorkild I. A. A1 - Wilson, James F. T1 - Common variants at 6q22 and 17q21 are associated with intracranial volume JF - Nature genetics N2 - During aging, intracranial volume remains unchanged and represents maximally attained brain size, while various interacting biological phenomena lead to brain volume loss. Consequently, intracranial volume and brain volume in late life reflect different genetic influences. Our genome-wide association study (GWAS) in 8,175 community-dwelling elderly persons did not reveal any associations at genome-wide significance (P < 5 x 10(-8)) for brain volume. In contrast, intracranial volume was significantly associated with two loci: rs4273712 (P = 3.4 x 10(-11)), a known height-associated locus on chromosome 6q22, and rs9915547 (P = 1.5 x 10(-12)), localized to the inversion on chromosome 17q21. We replicated the associations of these loci with intracranial volume in a separate sample of 1,752 elderly persons (P = 1.1 x 10(-3) for 6q22 and 1.2 x 10(-3) for 17q21). Furthermore, we also found suggestive associations of the 17q21 locus with head circumference in 10,768 children (mean age of 14.5 months). Our data identify two loci associated with head size, with the inversion at 17q21 also likely to be involved in attaining maximal brain size. Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1038/ng.2245 SN - 1061-4036 VL - 44 IS - 5 SP - 539 EP - + PB - Nature Publ. Group CY - New York ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Chen, You-Peng A1 - Xiao, Xiao-Min A1 - Li, Jian A1 - Reichetzeder, Christoph A1 - Wang, Zi-Neng A1 - Hocher, Berthold T1 - Paternal body mass index (BMI) is associated with offspring intrauterine growth in a gender dependent manner JF - PLoS one N2 - Background: Environmental alternations leading to fetal programming of cardiovascular diseases in later life have been attributed to maternal factors. However, animal studies showed that paternal obesity may program cardio-metabolic diseases in the offspring. In the current study we tested the hypothesis that paternal BMI may be associated with fetal growth. Methods and Results: We analyzed the relationship between paternal body mass index (BMI) and birth weight, ultrasound parameters describing the newborn's body shape as well as parameters describing the newborns endocrine system such as cortisol, aldosterone, renin activity and fetal glycated serum protein in a birth cohort of 899 father/mother/child triplets. Since fetal programming is an offspring sex specific process, male and female offspring were analyzed separately. Multivariable regression analyses considering maternal BMI, paternal and maternal age, hypertension during pregnancy, maternal total glycated serum protein, parity and either gestational age (for birth weight) or time of ultrasound investigation (for ultrasound parameters) as confounding showed that paternal BMI is associated with growth of the male but not female offspring. Paternal BMI correlated with birth parameters of male offspring only: birth weight; biparietal diameter, head circumference; abdominal diameter, abdominal circumference; and pectoral diameter. Cortisol was likewise significantly correlated with paternal BMI in male newborns only. Conclusions: Paternal BMI affects growth of the male but not female offspring. Paternal BMI may thus represent a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases of male offspring in later life. It remains to be demonstrated whether this is linked to an offspring sex specific paternal programming of cortisol secretion. Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0036329 SN - 1932-6203 VL - 7 IS - 5 PB - PLoS CY - San Fransisco ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kuhl, Juliane A1 - Aurich, Jörg E. A1 - Wulf, Manuela A1 - Hurtienne, A. A1 - Schweigert, Florian J. A1 - Aurich, Christine T1 - Effects of oral supplementation with beta-carotene on concentrations of beta-carotene, vitamin A and alpha-tocopherol in plasma, colostrum and milk of mares and plasma of their foals and on fertility in mares JF - Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition N2 - In this study, effects of oral beta-carotene supplementation to mares (beta-carotene group: 1000 mg/day, n = 15; control group: n = 15) from 2 weeks before foaling until 6 weeks thereafter on concentrations of beta-carotene, vitamin A and a-tocopherol in plasma, colostrum and milk and plasma of their foals were determined. In addition, effects on fertility were studied. Beta-carotene concentrations increased in plasma and colostrum of beta-carotene-supplemented mares compared to control mares (p < 0.05). In mares of both groups, beta-carotene concentrations were higher in colostrum than in milk (p < 0.05). In foals, beta-carotene concentrations increased with colostrum uptake and were higher in foals born to supplemented mares (p < 0.05; control group: 0.0003 +/- 0.0002 mu g/ml on day 0, 0.008 +/- 0.0023 mu g/ml on day 1; beta-carotene group: 0.0005 +/- 0.0003 mu g/ml on day 0, 0.048 +/- 0.018 mu g/ml on day 1). Concentrations of vitamin A and a-tocopherol were higher in colostrum than in milk (p < 0.05) but did not differ between groups. Concentration of a-tocopherol in plasma of mares decreased over time and in foals, increased markedly within 4 days after birth. All but one mare (control group) showed oestrus within 2 weeks post-partum. Occurrence of oestrus did not differ between groups. More mares of the control group (7/7 vs. 5/12 in the beta-carotene group) became pregnant after being bred in first post-partum oestrus (p < 0.05). In conclusion, beta-carotene supplementation to mares increased beta-carotene concentrations in plasma, colostrum and milk of mares and plasma of their foals but had no positive effects on fertility. KW - carotene KW - colostrum KW - foal KW - mare KW - plasma KW - a-tocopherol KW - vitamin A Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0396.2011.01150.x SN - 0931-2439 VL - 96 IS - 3 SP - 376 EP - 384 PB - Wiley-Blackwell CY - Malden ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bechir, Mahamat A1 - Schelling, E. A1 - Krämer, K. A1 - Schweigert, Florian J. A1 - Bonfoh, Bassirou A1 - Crump, L. A1 - Tanner, M. A1 - Zinsstag, J. T1 - Retinol assessment among women and children in sahelian mobile pastoralists JF - EcoHealth : conservation medicine, human health, ecosystem sustainability N2 - Micronutrient deficiencies are widespread in developing countries, particularly in remote communities such as mobile pastoralists. The nutritional and vitamin A status of this population is not well-documented in Chad. This study assessed serum retinol levels among women and children under five-year-old in nomadic and semi-nomadic pastoralist and rural-settled communities, who are similarly exposed to risk factors such as gastrointestinal parasitic infection, anaemia and emaciation. The novel method of portable fluorometry was used for the first time to measure beta-carotene and retinol levels in a pastoral nomadic area. Moderate level blood retinol deficiency (< 0.7 mu mol/L) was observed in 5% (CI 1-11) of nomadic, 29% (CI 13-45) of semi-nomadic and 22% (CI 8-35) of sedentary women. In children, 1% (CI 0.1-4), 17% (CI 9-25) and 28% (CI 18-39), respectively, had moderate level blood retinol deficiency. In nomadic communities, women and children had blood retinol levels close to normal. Deficiency of retinol was strongly linked with lifestyle (nomadic, semi-nomadic and settled) among women and lifestyle and age among children. The results support an ecological linkage between human retinol levels and livestock milk retinol. This study shows the feasibility of portable retinol and beta-carotene measurement in human blood as well as human and animal milk under remote field conditions, but the approach requires further validation. KW - vitamin A KW - retinol KW - nomadic pastoralist KW - Chad Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-012-0781-7 SN - 1612-9202 VL - 9 IS - 2 SP - 113 EP - 121 PB - Springer CY - New York ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Khalil, Mahmoud A1 - Raila, Jens A1 - Ali, Mostafa A1 - Islam, Khan M. S. A1 - Schenk, Regina A1 - Krause, Jens-Peter A1 - Schweigert, Florian J. A1 - Rawel, Harshadrai Manilal T1 - Stability and bioavailability of lutein ester supplements from Tagetes flower prepared under food processing conditions JF - Journal of functional food N2 - Tagetes spp. belongs to the Asteraceae family. It is recognized as a major source of lutein ester (lutein esterified with fatty acids such as lauric, myristic and palmitic acids), a natural colorant belonging to the xanthophylls or oxygenated carotenoids. Four species of Tagetes flower (Tagetes tenuifolia, Tagetes erecta, Tagetes patula, and Tagetes lucida) were used to extract lutein and lutein esters with three different methods. The results showed that T. erecta, type "orangeprinz", is the richest source of lutein esters (14.4 +/- 0.234 mg/g) in comparison to other Tagetes spp. No significant differences between extractions of lutein esters with medium-chain triacylglycerols (MCT) oil, orange oil or solvent (hexane/isopropanol) could be observed. MCT oil also improved stability of lutein esters at 100 degrees C for 40 min. Emulsification of MCT oil improved the stability of lutein ester extract against UV light at 365 nm for 72 h. Finally, an emulsion was prepared under food processing conditions, spray dried and its bioavailability investigated in a preliminary human intervention study. The results show a lower resorption, but further data suggest improvements in implementation of such supplements. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. KW - Tagetes KW - Lutein ester KW - Emulsion KW - Stability KW - Whey protein KW - Bioavailability Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2012.03.006 SN - 1756-4646 VL - 4 IS - 3 SP - 602 EP - 610 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hocher, Berthold A1 - Armbruster, Franz Paul A1 - Stöva, Stanka A1 - Reichetzeder, Christoph A1 - Groen, Hans Jürgen A1 - Lieker, Ina A1 - Khadzhynov, Dmytro A1 - Slowinski, Torsten A1 - Roth, Heinz Jürgen T1 - Measuring Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) in patients with oxidative stress - do we need a fourth generation Parathyroid Hormone assay? JF - PLoS one N2 - Oxidation of PTH at methionine residues results in loss of biological activity. PTH may be oxidized in patients with renal disease. The aim of this study was to develop an assay considering oxidation of PTH. Oxidized hPTH was analyzed by high resolution nano-liquid chromatography coupled to ESI-FTT tandem mass spectrometry (nanoLC-ESI-FT-MS/MS) directly and after proteolytic cleavage. The oxidized hPTH(1-84) sample shows TIC-peaks at 18-20 min and several mass peaks due to mass shifts caused by oxidations. No significant signal for oxidized hPTH(1-84) species after removal of oxidized PTH molecules by a specific column with monoclonal antibodies (MAB) raised against the oxidized hPTH was detectable. By using this column in samples from 18 patients on dialysis we could demonstrate that measured PTH concentrations were substantially lower when considering oxidized forms of PTH. The relationship between PTH concentrations determined directly and those concentrations measured after removal of the oxidized PTH forms varies substantially. In some patients only 7% of traditionally measured PTH was free of oxidation, whereas in other patients 34% of the traditionally measured PTH was real intact PTH. In conclusion, a huge but not constant proportion of PTH molecules are oxidized in patients requiring dialysis. Since oxidized PTH is biologically inactive, the currently used methods to detect PTH in daily clinical practice may not adequately reflect PTH-related bone and cardiovascular abnormalities in patients on dialysis. Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0040242 SN - 1932-6203 VL - 7 IS - 7 PB - PLoS CY - San Fransisco ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Murata, Ariaki A1 - Kai, Kenji A1 - Tsutsui, Ken A1 - Takeuchi, Jun A1 - Todoroki, Yasushi A1 - Furihata, Kazuo A1 - Yokoyama, Mineyuki A1 - Baldermann, Susanne A1 - Watanabe, Naoharu T1 - Enantio-selective reduction of the flowering related compound KODA and its analogues in Pharbitis nil cv. Violet JF - Tetrahedron N2 - Plant oxylipins are an important class of signaling molecules in plants. The cyclic adducts of epinephrine or norepinephrine with the naturally occurring oxylipin (12Z,15Z)-9-hydroxy-10-oxo-octadeca-12,15-dienoic acid (KODA, 1) or its synthetic analogues (2-6) have been reported to possess flower-inducing activity toward Lemna paucicostata. By in vivo and in vitro experiments with seedlings of Pharbitis nil cv. Violet carbonyl groups of the alpha-ketols (1 and 3) and the ketones (7 and 9) were enantio-selectively reduced to give their corresponding vicinal diols (2 and 4) and alcohols (8 and 10). The stereochemistry at the oxymethine carbon was determined based on the long range C H coupling constants and the modified Mosher's method. Orientation of the adjacent hydroxyl group in (1 and 3) did not affect the enantio-selectivity, whereas the conversion was slightly affected and higher yields were obtained with the R-enantiomers of the alpha-ketols. KW - Enantio-selective reduction KW - Lemna paucicostata KW - Flowering KW - Oxylipins KW - Pharbitis nil cv. Violet Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tet.2012.04.077 SN - 0040-4020 VL - 68 IS - 27-28 SP - 5583 EP - 5589 PB - Elsevier CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Nair, Anil V. A1 - Hocher, Berthold A1 - Verkaart, Sjoerd A1 - van Zeeland, Femke A1 - Pfab, Thiemo A1 - Slowinski, Torsten A1 - Chen, You-Peng A1 - Schlingmann, Karl Peter A1 - Schaller, Andre A1 - Gallati, Sabina A1 - Bindels, Rene J. A1 - Konrad, Martin A1 - Hönderop, Joost G. T1 - Loss of insulin-induced activation of TRPM6 magnesium channels results in impaired glucose tolerance during pregnancy JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America N2 - Hypomagnesemia affects insulin resistance and is a risk factor for diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the epithelial magnesium channel TRPM6 ((VI)-I-1393, (KE)-E-1584) were predicted to confer susceptibility for DM2. Here, we show using patch clamp analysis and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, that insulin stimulates TRPM6 activity via a phosphoinositide 3-kinase and Rac1-mediated elevation of cell surface expression of TRPM6. Interestingly, insulin failed to activate the genetic variants TRPM6 ((VI)-I-1393) and TRPM6((KE)-E-1584), which is likely due to the inability of the insulin signaling pathway to phosphorylate TRPM6(T-1391) and TRPM6(S-1583). Moreover, by measuring total glycosylated hemoglobin (TGH) in 997 pregnant women as a measure of glucose control, we demonstrate that TRPM6((VI)-I-1393) and TRPM6((KE)-E-1584) are associated with higher TGH and confer a higher likelihood of developing GDM. The impaired response of TRPM6((VI)-I-1393) and TRPM6((KE)-E-1584) to insulin represents a unique molecular pathway leading to GDM where the defect is located in TRPM6. KW - kidney KW - distal convoluted tubule KW - transient receptor potential KW - vesicular trafficking Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1113811109 SN - 0027-8424 VL - 109 IS - 28 SP - 11324 EP - 11329 PB - National Acad. of Sciences CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rokutan, Hirofumi A1 - Suckow, Christian A1 - von Hähling, Stephan A1 - Strassburg, Sabine A1 - Bockmeyer, Barbara A1 - Döhner, Wolfram A1 - Waller, Christiane A1 - Bauersachs, Johann A1 - von Websky, Karoline A1 - Hocher, Berthold A1 - Anker, Stefan D. A1 - Springer, Jochen T1 - Furosemide induces mortality in a rat model of chronic heart failure JF - International journal of cardiology N2 - Objectives: In an experimental heart failure model, we tested the hypothesis that furosemide causes excess mortality. Background: Post-hoc analysis of large clinical heart failure trails revealed that furosemide treatment might be associated with worsening of morbidity and even mortality in heart failure patients. Methods and results: Myocardial infarction was induced in 7 +/- 1 week old male Wistar rats by ligation of the left coronary artery. In study 1, animals were randomly assigned to treatment with furosemide (10 mg/kg/d via drinking water, n = 33) or placebo (n = 33) starting 18 days after surgery. In study 2, animals received furosemide from day 18 and were then randomized to ongoing treatment with either furosemide only (n = 38) or furosemide plus ACE-inhibitor Ramipril (1 mg/kg/d, n = 38) starting on day 42. In study 1 survival rate in the furosemide group was lower than in the placebo group (hazard ratio {HR} 3.39, 95% confidence interval {CI} 1.14 to 10.09, p = 0.028). The furosemide group had a lower body weight (-6%, p = 0.028) at the end of the study and a higher sclerosis index of the glomeruli (+9%, p=0.026) than the placebo group. Wet lung weight, infarct size, and cardiac function were similar between the groups. In study 2, the furosemide group had a higher mortality rate than the furosemide + ramipril group (HR 4.55, 95% CI 2.0 to 10.0, p = 0.0003). Conclusion: In our rat model of heart failure furosemide, provided at a standard dose, was associated with increased mortality. This increased mortality could be prevented by additional administration of an ACE-inhibitor. KW - Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor KW - Furosemide KW - Heart failure KW - Loop diuretics KW - Mortality Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2011.03.005 SN - 0167-5273 VL - 160 IS - 1 SP - 20 EP - 25 PB - Elsevier CY - Clare ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Elias-Miro, Maria A1 - Massip-Salcedo, Marta A1 - Raila, Jens A1 - Schweigert, Florian J. A1 - Mendes-Braz, Mariana A1 - Ramalho, Fernando A1 - Jimenez-Castro, Monica B. A1 - Casillas-Ramirez, Arani A1 - Bermudo, Raquel A1 - Rimola, Antoni A1 - Rodes, Juan A1 - Peralta, Carmen T1 - Retinol binding protein 4 and retinol in steatotic and nonsteatotic rat livers in the setting of partial hepatectomy under ischemia/reperfusion JF - Liver transplantation N2 - Steatotic livers show increased hepatic damage and impaired regeneration after partial hepatectomy (PH) under ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), which is commonly applied in clinical practice to reduce bleeding. The known function of retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) is to transport retinol in the circulation. We examined whether modulating RBP4 and/or retinol could protect steatotic and nonsteatotic livers in the setting of PH under I/R. Steatotic and nonsteatotic livers from Zucker rats were subjected to PH (70%) with 60 minutes of ischemia. RBP4 and retinol levels were measured and altered pharmacologically, and their effects on hepatic damage and regeneration were studied after reperfusion. Decreased RBP4 levels were observed in both liver types, whereas retinol levels were reduced only in steatotic livers. RBP4 administration exacerbated the negative consequences of liver surgery with respect to damage and liver regeneration in both liver types. RBP4 affected the mobilization of retinol from steatotic livers, and this revealed actions of RBP4 independent of simple retinol transport. The injurious effects of RBP4 were not due to changes in retinol levels. Treatment with retinol was effective only for steatotic livers. Indeed, retinol increased hepatic injury and impaired liver regeneration in nonsteatotic livers. In steatotic livers, retinol reduced damage and improved regeneration after surgery. These benefits of retinol were associated with a reduced accumulation of hepatocellular fat. Thus, strategies based on modulating RBP4 could be ineffective and possibly even harmful in both liver types in the setting of PH under I/R. In terms of clinical applications, a retinol pretreatment might open new avenues for liver surgery that specifically benefit the steatotic liver. Liver Transpl 18:1198-1208, 2012. Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/lt.23489 SN - 1527-6465 VL - 18 IS - 10 SP - 1198 EP - 1208 PB - Wiley-Blackwell CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Islam, Khan M. Shaiful A1 - Schaeublin, H. A1 - Wenk, C. A1 - Wanner, Michael A1 - Liesegang, Annette T1 - Effect of dietary citric acid on the performance and mineral metabolism of broiler JF - Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition N2 - The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary citric acid (CA) on the performance and mineral metabolism of broiler chicks. A total of 1720 Ross PM3 broiler chicks (days old) were randomly assigned to four groups (430 in each) and reared for a period of 35 days. The diets of groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 were supplemented with 0%, 0.25%, 0.75% or 1.25% CA by weight respectively. Feed and faeces samples were collected weekly and analysed for acid insoluble ash, calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and magnesium (Mg). The pH was measured in feed and faeces. At the age of 28 days, 10 birds from each group were slaughtered; tibiae were collected from each bird for the determination of bone mineral density, total ash, Ca, P, Mg and bone-breaking strength, and blood was collected for the measurement of osteocalcin, serum CrossLaps (R), Ca, P, Mg and 1,25(OH)(2)Vit-D in serum. After finishing the trial on day 37, all chicks were slaughtered by using the approved procedure. Birds that were fed CA diets were heavier (average body weights of 2030, 2079 and 2086 g in the 0.25%, 0.75% and 1.25% CA groups, respectively, relative to the control birds (1986 g). Feed conversion efficiency (weight gain in g per kg of feed intake) was also higher in birds of the CA-fed groups (582, 595 and 587 g/kg feed intake for 0.25%, 0.75% and 1.25% CA respectively), relative to the control birds (565 g/kg feed intake). The digestibility of Ca, P and Mg increased in the CA-fed groups, especially for the diets supplemented with 0.25% and 0.75% CA. Support for finding was also indicated in the results of the analysis of the tibia. At slaughter, the birds had higher carcass weights and higher graded carcasses in the groups that were fed the CA diets. The estimated profit margin was highest for birds fed the diet containing 0.25% CA. Birds of the 0.75% CA group were found to have the second highest estimated profit margin. Addition of CA up to a level of 1.25% of the diet increased performance, feed conversion efficiency, carcass weight and carcass quality, but only in numerical terms. The addition of CA up to 0.75% significantly increased the digestibility of macro minerals, bone ash content, bone mineral density and bone strength of the broiler chicks. It may, therefore, be concluded that the addition of 0.75% CA in a standard diet is suitable for growth, carcass traits, macromineral digestibility and bone mineral density of broiler chicks. KW - broiler chicks KW - dietary citric acid KW - calcium KW - phosphorus KW - metabolism KW - performance Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0396.2011.01225.x SN - 0931-2439 VL - 96 IS - 5 SP - 808 EP - 817 PB - Wiley-Blackwell CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hesse, Deike A1 - Jaschke, Alexander A1 - Kanzleiter, Timo A1 - Witte, Nicole A1 - Augustin, Robert A1 - Hommel, Angela A1 - Püschel, Gerhard Paul A1 - Petzke, Klaus-Jürgen A1 - Joost, Hans-Georg A1 - Schupp, Michael A1 - Schürmann, Annette T1 - GTPase ARFRP1 is essential for normal hepatic glycogen storage and insulin-like growth factor 1 secretion JF - Molecular and cellular biology N2 - The GTPase ADP-ribosylation factor-related protein 1 (ARFRP1) is located at the trans-Golgi compartment and regulates the recruitment of Arf-like 1 (ARL1) and its effector golgin-245 to this compartment. Here, we show that liver-specific knockout of Arfrp1 in the mouse (Arfrp1(liv-/-)) resulted in early growth retardation, which was associated with reduced hepatic insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) secretion. Accordingly, suppression of Arfrp1 in primary hepatocytes resulted in a significant reduction of IGF1 release. However, the hepatic secretion of IGF-binding protein 2 (IGFBP2) was not affected in the absence of ARFRP1. In addition, Arfrp1(liv-/-) mice exhibited decreased glucose transport into the liver, leading to a 50% reduction of glycogen stores as well as a marked retardation of glycogen storage after fasting and refeeding. These abnormalities in glucose metabolism were attributable to reduced protein levels and intracellular retention of the glucose transporter GLUT2 in Arfrp1(liv-/-) livers. As a consequence of impaired glucose uptake into the liver, the expression levels of carbohydrate response element binding protein (ChREBP), a transcription factor regulated by glucose concentration, and its target genes (glucokinase and pyruvate kinase) were markedly reduced. Our data indicate that ARFRP1 in the liver is involved in the regulation of IGF1 secretion and GLUT2 sorting and is thereby essential for normal growth and glycogen storage. Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1128/MCB.00522-12 SN - 0270-7306 VL - 32 IS - 21 SP - 4363 EP - 4374 PB - American Society for Microbiology CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Henkel, Janin A1 - Frede, Katja A1 - Schanze, Nancy A1 - Vogel, Heike A1 - Schürmann, Annette A1 - Spruß, Astrid A1 - Bergheim, Ina A1 - Püschel, Gerhard Paul T1 - Stimulation of fat accumulation in hepatocytes by PGE(2)-dependent repression of hepatic lipolysis, beta-oxidation and VLDL-synthesis JF - Laboratory investigation : the basic and translational pathology research journal ; an official journal of the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology N2 - Hepatic steatosis is recognized as hepatic presentation of the metabolic syndrome. Hyperinsulinaemia, which shifts fatty acid oxidation to de novo lipogenesis and lipid storage in the liver, appears to be a principal elicitor particularly in the early stages of disease development. The impact of PGE(2), which has previously been shown to attenuate insulin signaling and hence might reduce insulin-dependent lipid accumulation, on insulin-induced steatosis of hepatocytes was studied. The PGE(2)-generating capacity was enhanced in various obese mouse models by the induction of cyclooxygenase 2 and microsomal prostaglandin E-synthases (mPGES1, mPGES2). PGE(2) attenuated the insulin-dependent induction of SREBP-1c and its target genes glucokinase and fatty acid synthase. Nevertheless, PGE(2) enhanced incorporation of glucose into hepatic triglycerides synergistically with insulin. This was most likely due to a combination of a PGE(2)-dependent repression of (1) the key lipolytic enzyme adipose triglyceride lipase, (2) carnitine-palmitoyltransferase 1, a key regulator of mitochondrial beta-oxidation, and (3) microsomal transfer protein, as well as (4) apolipoprotein B, key components of the VLDL synthesis. Repression of PGC1 alpha, a common upstream regulator of these genes, was identified as a possible cause. In support of this hypothesis, overexpression of PGC1 alpha completely blunted the PGE(2)-dependent fat accumulation. PGE(2) enhanced lipid accumulation synergistically with insulin, despite attenuating insulin signaling and might thus contribute to the development of hepatic steatosis. Induction of enzymes involved in PGE(2) synthesis in in vivo models of obesity imply a potential role of prostanoids in the development of NAFLD and NASH. Laboratory Investigation (2012) 92, 1597-1606; doi:10.1038/labinvest.2012.128; published online 10 September 2012 KW - cyclooxygenase KW - hepatic steatosis KW - mPGES KW - NAFLD KW - NASH KW - type 2 diabetes (T2DM) KW - PGC1 alpha Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1038/labinvest.2012.128 SN - 0023-6837 VL - 92 IS - 11 SP - 1597 EP - 1606 PB - Nature Publ. Group CY - New York ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Henze, Andrea A1 - Espe, Katharina M. A1 - Wanner, Christoph A1 - Krane, Vera A1 - Raila, Jens A1 - Hocher, Berthold A1 - Schweigert, Florian J. A1 - Drechsler, Christiane T1 - Transthyretin predicts cardiovascular outcome in hemodialysis patients with type 2 diabetes JF - Diabetes care N2 - OBJECTIVE-BMI and albumin are commonly accepted parameters to recognize wasting in dialysis patients and are powerful predictors of morbidity and mortality. However, both parameters reveal limitations and may not cover the entire range of patients with wasting. The visceral protein transthyretin (TTR) may be helpful in overcoming the diagnostic and prognostic gap. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the association of TTR with morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS-The TTR concentration was determined in plasma samples of 1,177 hemodialysis patients with type 2 diabetes. Cox regression analyses were used to determine hazard ratios (HRs) for the risk of cardiovascular end points (CVEs) and mortality according to quartiles of TTR concentration for the total study cohort and the subgroups BMI >= 23 kg/m(2), albumin concentration >= 3.8 g/dL, and a combination of both. RESULTS-A low TTR concentration was associated with an increased risk for CVE for the total study cohort (HR 1.65 [95% CI 1.27-2.14]), patients with BMI >= 23 kg/m(2) (1.70 [1.22-2.37]), albumin >= 3.8 g/dL (1.68 [1.17-2.42]), and the combination of both (1.69 [1.13-2.53]). Additionally, a low TTR concentration predicted mortality for the total study cohort (1.79 [1.43-2.24]) and patients with BMI >= 23 kg/m(2) (1.46 [1.09-1.95]). CONCLUSIONS-The current study demonstrated that TTR is a useful predictor for cardiovascular outcome and mortality in diabetic hemodialysis patients. TTR was particularly useful in patients who were not identified to be at risk by BMI or albumin status. Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.2337/dc12-0455 SN - 0149-5992 VL - 35 IS - 11 SP - 2365 EP - 2372 PB - American Diabetes Association CY - Alexandria ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Haghipour, Negar A1 - Burg, Jean-Pierre A1 - Kober, Florian A1 - Zeilinger, Gerold A1 - Ivy-Ochs, Susan A1 - Kubik, Peter W. A1 - Faridi, Mohammad T1 - Rate of crustal shortening and non-Coulomb behaviour of an active accretionary wedge - the folded fluvial terraces in Makran (SE, Iran) JF - Earth & planetary science letters N2 - We surveyed fluvial terraces to decipher the Quaternary increment of crustal shortening and shortening rate in the on-shore Makran Accretionary Wedge. We focused on three major catchment basins and associated fold systems. Terrace profiles reconstructed from differential GPS measurements combined with DEM revealed two regional dominant wavelengths, about 5 km in the northern part of the study area and about 15 km to the south. These two wavelengths suggest the existence of two active decollement layers at two rooting depths. The average shortening rate due to folding is estimated at 0.8-1.2 mm/a over the last 130 ka. This accounts for 10-15% of the shortening rate (similar to 8 mm/a) given by kinematic GPS measurements between Chabahar and Bazman and 3% of the convergence between Arabia and Eurasia, across the Makran subduction zone. Despite active deformation and a relatively high shortening rate, the geophysical record shows nearly absent seismic activity in Makran. We propose that strain accumulated in folds over intermediate decollement levels within a thick, incompletely lithified sedimentary cover explains the essentially aseismic, recent tectonics in this region. The importance of folds points to imperfect Coulomb behaviour of the wedge. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. KW - fluvial terraces KW - Be-10 dating KW - accretionary wedge KW - shortening rate Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2012.09.001 SN - 0012-821X VL - 355 SP - 187 EP - 198 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ungru, J. A1 - Blüher, M. A1 - Cönen, M. A1 - Raila, Jens A1 - Boston, R. A1 - Vervuert, I. T1 - Effects of body weight reduction on blood adipokines and subcutaneous adipose tissue adipokine mRNA expression profiles in obese ponies JF - The veterinary record N2 - Fifteen obese ponies were used in a body weight (BW) reduction programme (BWRP, daily energy intake: 7.0-8.4 MJ/100 kg BW). A frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test was used to assess insulin sensitivity. Subcutaneous adipose tissue biopsies of the tail head were obtained for mRNA gene expression profiles of adiponectin, retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and macrophage activation marker (CD68) before and after BWRP. Blood samples were analysed for serum leptin, serum RBP4 and plasma adiponectin. Significant BW losses occurred with 7 MJ DE/100 kg BW. Serum leptin and RBP4 were initially similar between insulin-resistant (IR) and insulin-sensitive (IS) ponies, and both significantly decreased during BWRP. Compared with IS ponies, IR ponies initially had significantly lower plasma adiponectin levels. At the beginning of BWRP, mRNA expression of RBP4, adiponectin, IL-6 and CD68 was similar between IR and IS ponies. Plasma adiponectin was strongly related to IR, whereas serum leptin and RBP4 were closely linked to adiposity, independent of insulin sensitivity. Adipose tissue mRNA expression profiles did not clearly reflect these differences. However, the role of subcutaneous adipose tissue in IR remains open. Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.100911 SN - 0042-4900 VL - 171 IS - 21 SP - 528 EP - + PB - British Veterinary Association CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Szymanski, Kolja V. A1 - Tönnies, Mario A1 - Becher, Anne A1 - Fatykhova, Diana A1 - N'Guessan, Philippe D. A1 - Gutbier, Birgitt A1 - Klauschen, Frederick A1 - Neuschäfer-Rube, Frank A1 - Schneider, Paul A1 - Rückert, Jens A1 - Neudecker, Jens A1 - Bauer, Torsten T. A1 - Dalhoff, Klaus A1 - Droemann, Daniel A1 - Gruber, Achim D. A1 - Kershaw, Olivia A1 - Temmesfeld-Wollbrueck, Bettina A1 - Suttorp, Norbert A1 - Hippenstiel, Stefan A1 - Hocke, Andreas C. T1 - Streptococcus pneumoniae-induced regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 in human lung tissue JF - The European respiratory journal : official journal of the European Society for Clinical Respiratory Physiology N2 - The majority of cases of community-acquired pneumonia are caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and most studies on pneumococcal host interaction are based on cell culture or animal experiments. Thus, little is known about infections in human lung tissue. Cyclooxygenase-2 and its metabolites play an important regulatory role in lung inflammation. Therefore, we established a pneumococcal infection model on human lung tissue demonstrating mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-dependent induction of cyclooxygenase-2 and its related metabolites. In addition to alveolar macrophages and the vascular endothelium, cyclooxygenase-2 was upregulated in alveolar type II but not type I epithelial cells, which was confirmed in lungs of patients suffering from acute pneumonia. Moreover, we demonstrated the expression profile of all four E prostanoid receptors at the mRNA level and showed functionality of the E prostanoid(4) receptor by cyclic adenosine monophosphate production. Additionally, in comparison to previous studies, cyclooxygenase-2/prostaglandin E-2 related pro- and anti-inflammatory mediator regulation was partly confirmed in human lung tissue after pneumococcal infection. Overall, cell type-specific and MAPK-dependent cyclooxygenase-2 expression and prostaglandin E-2 formation in human lung tissue may play an important role in the early phase of pneumococcal infections. KW - Alveolar epithelial cells KW - cytokines KW - inflammation KW - lung infection KW - pneumonia KW - prostaglandins Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.00186911 SN - 0903-1936 VL - 40 IS - 6 SP - 1458 EP - 1467 PB - European Respiratory Society CY - Sheffield ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Graf, Christine A1 - Raila, Jens A1 - Schweigert, Florian J. A1 - Kohn, Barbara T1 - Effect of leukoreduction treatment on vascular endothelial growth factor concentration in stored canine blood transfusion products JF - American journal of veterinary research N2 - Objective-To evaluate vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentrations in canine blood products treated with or without a leukoreduction filter. Sample-10 canine blood donors. Procedures-Dogs underwent blood collection. Five of 10 units were leukoreduced prior to separation into packed RBCs and fresh frozen plasma (FFP). Concentrations of VEGF were measured by ELISA in plasma supernatants from aliquots of packed RBCs obtained immediately after separation and on days 7, 14, and 21 of storage. Fresh frozen plasma samples of 2 filtered and 2 nonfiltered units were examined after storage. Results-RBC counts in whole blood before and after leukoreduction did not differ significantly, but WBCs and platelets were removed effectively. The VEGF concentration was lower than the detection limit (9 pg/mL) in 9 of 10 plasma samples and in all packed RBC and FFP units immediately after separation. The median VEGF concentrations in 5 nonfiltered packed RBC units were 37, 164, and 110 pg/mL on days 7, 14, and 21 of storage, respectively. In 5 filtered packed RBC and all FFP units, VEGF concentrations remained lower than the detection limit. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Leukoreduction filters were effective in preventing the release of VEGF during storage of canine RBC products. Y1 - 2012 SN - 0002-9645 SN - 1943-5681 VL - 73 IS - 12 SP - 2001 EP - 2006 PB - American Veterinary Medical Association CY - Schaumburg ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rohner, Fabian A1 - Garrett, Greg S. A1 - Laillou, Arnaud A1 - Frey, Simone K. A1 - Mothes, Ralf A1 - Schweigert, Florian J. A1 - Locatelli-Rossi, Lorenzo T1 - Validation of a user-friendly and rapid method for quantifying iodine content of salt JF - Food and nutrition bulletin N2 - Background. Despite considerable progress made in the past decade through salt iodization programs, over 2 billion people worldwide still have inadequate iodine intake, with devastating consequences for brain development and intellectual capacity. To optimize these programs with regard to salt iodine content, careful monitoring of salt iodine content is essential, but few methods are available to quantitatively measure iodine concentration in a simple, fast, and safe way. Objective. We have validated a newly developed device that quantitatively measures the content of potassium iodate in salt in a simple, safe, and rapid way. Methods. The linearity, determination and detection limit, and inter- and intra-assay variability of this colorimetric method were assessed and the method was compared with iodometric titration, using salt samples from several countries. Results. Linearity of analysis ranged from 5 to 75 mg/kg iodine, with I mg/kg being the determination limit; the intra- and interassay imprecision was 0.9%, 0.5%, and 0.7% and 1.5%, 1.7%, and 2.5% for salt samples with iodine contents of 17, 30, and 55 mg/kg, respectively; the interoperator imprecision for the same samples was 1.2%, 4.9%, and 4.7%, respectively. Comparison with the iodometric method showed high agreement between the methods (R-2 = 0.978; limits of agreement, -10.5 to 10.0 mg/kg). Conclusions. The device offers a field- and user-friendly solution to quantifying potassium iodate salt content reliably. For countries that use potassium iodide in salt iodization programs, further validation is required. KW - Iodization KW - iodine KW - monitoring KW - potassium iodate KW - quality control KW - rapid test kit KW - regulatory monitoring KW - salt Y1 - 2012 SN - 0379-5721 VL - 33 IS - 4 SP - S330 EP - S335 PB - International Nutrition Foundation CY - Boston ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Mueller, K. A1 - Raila, Jens A1 - Altenkamp, Rainer A1 - Schmidt, D. A1 - Dietrich, R. A1 - Hurtienne, Andrea A1 - Wink, M. A1 - Krone, O. A1 - Brunnberg, Leo A1 - Schweigert, Florian J. T1 - Concentrations of retinol, 3,4-didehydroretinol, and retinyl esters in plasma of free-ranging birds of prey JF - Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition N2 - This study investigated vitamin A compounds in the plasma of healthy free-ranging Central European raptors with different feeding strategies. Plasma samples of nestlings of white-tailed sea eagle [white-tailed sea eagle (WTSE), Haliaeetus albicilla) (n = 32), osprey (Pandion haliaetus) (n = 39), northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) (n = 25), common buzzard (Buteo buteo) (n = 31), and honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus) (n = 18) and adults of WTSE (n = 10), osprey (n = 31), and northern goshawk (n = 45) were investigated with reversed-phase-high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). In WTSE, northern goshawks and common buzzards retinol were the main plasma component of vitamin A, whilst in ospreys and honey buzzards, 3,4-didehydroretinol predominated. The median of the retinol plasma concentration in the nestlings group ranged from 0.12 to 3.80 mu M and in the adult group from 0.15 to 6.13 mu M. Median plasma concentrations of 3,4-didehydroretinol in nestlings ranged from 0.06 to 3.55 mu M. In adults, northern goshawks had the lowest plasma concentration of 3,4-didehydroretinol followed by WTSE and ospreys. The plasma of all investigated species contained retinyl esters (palmitate, oleate, and stearate). The results show considerable species-specific differences in the vitamin A plasma concentrations that might be caused by different nutrition strategies. KW - birds of prey KW - plasma KW - retinol KW - 3,4-didehydroretinol KW - retinyl esters Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0396.2011.01219.x SN - 0931-2439 VL - 96 IS - 6 SP - 1044 EP - 1053 PB - Wiley-Blackwell CY - Hoboken ER -