Uterine fibroids are the commonest uterine benign tumors. A potential mechanism of malignant transformation from leiomyomas to leiomyosarcomas has beendescribed. Tyrosine phosphorylation is a key mechanism that controls biological functions, such as proliferation and cell differentiation. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the phosphorylation of epithelial growth factor-receptor (EGFR) in normal myometrium, uterine myomas and uterine leiomyosarcomas. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded ti...
Feb 28, 20130
Background. Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative diseases (PTLD) are mainly Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated disorders of B-cell origin. Due to the rarity of monomorphic T-cell PTLD (T-PTLD), knowledge about pathogenesis, risk factors, therapy, and prognosis relies predominantly on case reports and small series. Therefore, we aimed to provide an overview and a retrospective analysis of this rare PTLD subtype. Methods. We analyzed all available articles on T-PTLD in the PubMed database as w...
Feb 01, 20130
Purpose of review First, to update the diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment of the most frequent peripheral vestibular disorders. Second, to identify those disorders for which the diagnostic criteria are still deficient and treatment trials are still lacking. Recent findings Bilateral vestibulopathy can be reliably diagnosed by the head-impulse test, caloric irrigation, and vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials. A new frequent subtype has been described: cerebellar ataxia, neuropathy, and v...
Feb 01, 20130
Feb 01, 20130
Objective: Rotavirus (RV) gastroenteritis is a notifiable disease in Germany. The reports to the authorities contain few data concerning the severity of disease. The aims of this study were to determine incidence and outcome of very severe cases of RV disease. Methods: Cases of very severe RV disease were collected by the German Paediatric Surveillance Unit for rare diseases (Erhebungseinheit fur seltene padiatrische Erkrankungen in Deutschland) using anonymous questionnaires based on hospitaliz...
Feb 01, 20130
Purpose: To present light and electron microscopic as well as immunohistochemical findings after corneal cross-linking (CXL). Methods: Six keratoconus corneas after CXL, 12 keratoconus corneas without CXL, and 7 normal corneas were examined by light microscopy, indirect immunohistochemistry using antibodies against proapoptotic BAX, antiapoptotic survivin, and BCL-2, and anti-smooth muscle actin and, in part, by transmission electron microscopy. Direct immunofluorescence with 4'6-diamidino-2-phe...
Feb 01, 20130
Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine whether automated quantification of lung perfused blood volume (PBV) in dual-energy computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (DE-CTPA) can be used to assess the severity and regional distribution of pulmonary hypoperfusion in emphysema. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 40 consecutive patients (mean age, 67 13] years) with pulmonary emphysema, who have no cardiopulmonary comorbidities, and a DE-CTPA negative for pulmonar...
Feb 01, 20130
Background. Long-term results of prospective randomized trials comparing triple immunosuppressive strategies combining tacrolimus (TAC) or cyclosporine A (CsA) with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and steroids after heart transplantation (HTX) are rarely published. Therefore, we collected long-term follow-up data of an intervention cohort 10 years after randomization. Methods. Ten-year follow-up data of 60 patients included in a prospective, randomized trial between 1998 and 2000 were analyzed as in...
Feb 01, 20130
Feb 01, 20130
Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of prednisone for treatment of withdrawal headache in patients with medication overuse headache (MOH). Patients and methods: In this prospective double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel designed multicentre trial, 96 consecutive patients with MOH were randomized to withdrawal treatment with either 100 mg prednisone or placebo over 5 days. Patients were enrolled if they met the International Headache Society criteria for MOH and were diagnosed with migraine ...
Feb 01, 20130
Background. Patients with right or more rarely left parietotemporal lesions after stroke may have profound visuospatial disorders that impair activities of daily living (ADL) and long-term outcome. Clinical studies indicate improvements with systematic training of perception. Studies of perceptual learning in healthy persons suggest rapid improvements in perceptual learning of spatial line orientation with partial transfer to nontrained line orientations. Objective. The authors investigated a no...
Feb 01, 20130
Jan 11, 20130
Jan 01, 20130
In der Diagnostik von Infektionen und inflammatorischen Prozessen ist das C-reaktive Protein (CRP) einer der meistverwendeten Parameter, unter anderem aufgrund der geringen Kosten und der schnellen Verfügbarkeit. Im Zuge der letzten Jahre gewannen jedoch andere Entzündungsparameter, wie zum Beispiel das Interleukin 6 (IL-6) oder Procalcitonin (PCT), zunehmend an Bedeutung. Obwohl diese Parameter im klinischen Alltag noch nicht überall etabliert sind, besitzen sie doch wesentliche Vorteile in der...
Jan 01, 20130
Over the past 6 years, next-generation sequencing (NGS) has been established as a valuable high-throughput method for research in molecular genetics and has successfully been employed in the identification of rare and common genetic variations. Although the high expectations regarding the discovery of new diagnostic targets and an overall reduction of cost have been achieved, technological challenges in instrument handling, robustness of the chemistry, and data analysis need to be overcome. Each...
Jan 01, 20130
Die diesjährige 12. Jahrestagung der Sektion Molekulare Diagnostik der Deutschen Vereinten Gesellschaft für Klinische Chemie und Laboratoriumsmedizin (DGKL) stand unter dem Leitthema „Molekulare Signaturen“ und fand vom 06.–07.06.2013 in Tutzing statt. Molekulare Signaturen ergeben sich aus der Bewertung mehrerer gleichzeitig bestimmter Biomarker mit dem Ziel einer verbesserten Prävention und gezielteren Therapie von Erkrankungen. Mit diesem zentralen Aspekt der personalisierten Medizin befasste...
Jan 01, 20130
Jan 01, 20130
Immunogene Zelltodmarker sind eine inhomogene Gruppe von Molekülen, die während Zelltodprozessen wie Apoptose, Nekrose oder weiteren Formen freigesetzt werden. Je nach Zusammensetzung des extrazellulären Milieus können diese „Danger associated molecular patterns“ (DAMPs) wie das „High mobility group box 1“ (HMGB1) Protein das Immunsystem stimulierend oder inhibierend beeinflussen. Bei Tumorerkrankungen scheint eine kontinuierliche Freisetzung von HMGB1, u.a. über eine Vermittlung durch den zellu...
Jan 01, 20130
Thrombophilia is the disposition for recurrent idiopathic thromboembolism and is currently seen as a multifactorial disease caused by a disbalance of complex regulated hemostasis. Despite intensive diagnostics the exact defect remains unknown in most cases. An established cause that can be diagnosed in 1–2% of affected individuals is a deficiency of protein S which limits thrombin formation as a cofactor of activated protein C. However, the evaluation of pathogenetic relevance of decreased prote...
Jan 01, 20130
Jan 01, 20130
Background: The usefulness of S100 as a prognostic marker and aid in follow-up care in patients with malignant melanoma as well as in individuals with various neurological pathologies is well known. The aim of this study was to investigate its release and clinical relevance in benign and malignant disorders beyond these indications to elucidate tumor and organ specificity of S100. Methods: S100 levels were studied in serum samples of 1856 untreated patients, among them 59 healthy individuals, 35...
Jan 01, 20130
Breast cancer is still the most frequent cause of cancer-related death in women worldwide. Often death is not caused only by the primary tumour itself, but also by metastatic lesions. Today it is largely accepted, that these remote metastases arise out of cells, which detach from the primary tumour, enter circulation, settle down at secondary sites in the body and are called Circulating Tumour Cells (CTCs). The occurrence of such minimal residual diseases in the blood of breast cancer patients i...
Jan 01, 20130
Pregnancy is a state of immunotolerance, and pregnancy outcome is strongly linked to the correct activation and balancing of the maternal immune system. Besides abortion as possible result of improper early pregnancy development, other pregnancy associated conditions like preeclampsia (PE), intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), preterm labour, or gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are linked to immunologic overactivation and dysregulation. Both the innate and the adaptive immune system, and t...
Jan 01, 20130
The liver X receptors (LXRs) have been shown to be crucially involved in maternal-fetal cholesterol transport and placentation. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression pattern and frequency of LXR under normal physiological circumstances and in spontaneous abortion and/or recurrent miscarriage. A total of 29 (12 physiologic pregnancies/10 spontaneous abortions/7 recurrent miscarriages) human pregnancies in first trimester were analysed for LXR expression. Expression changes were ...
Jan 01, 20130
Introduction. Inflammation and endothelium-derived superoxides are important pathomechanisms in atherothrombotic diseases. We could previously show that the tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 acts as a negative regulator in endothelial superoxide production. In this study we investigated the influence of SHP-1 on platelet-endothelium interaction and arterial thrombosis in TNF alpha-induced endothelial inflammation in vivo. Methods. Arteriolar thrombosis and platelet rolling in vivo were investigated in ...
Jan 01, 20130
While rural living protects from asthma and allergies in many countries, results are conflicting in Latin America. We studied the prevalence of asthma and asthma symptoms in children from urban, semiurban, and rural sectors in south Chile. A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted in semiurban and rural sectors in the province of Valdivia (n = 559) using the ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood) questionnaire. Results were compared to prevalence in urban Vald...
Jan 01, 20130
Spirituality/religiosity is recognized as a resource to cope with burdening life events and chronic illness. However, less is known about the consequences of the lack of positive spiritual feelings. Spiritual dryness in clergy has been described as spiritual lethargy, a lack of vibrant spiritual encounter with God, and an absence of spiritual resources, such as spiritual renewal practices. To operationalize experiences of ``spiritual dryness'' in terms of a specific spiritual crisis, we have dev...
Jan 01, 20130
Jan 01, 20130
Hypersensitivity reactions to titanium (Ti) are very rare. Thus, we assessed the proinflammatory response and also potential tolerance favoring in vitro reactivity of human blood lymphocytes and monocytes (PBMC) to Ti in healthy individuals (14 without, 6 with complication-free dental Ti implants). The proliferation index (SI) in lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) and production of cytokines linked to innate immune response (IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF alpha) or immune regulation (IL-10) were ass...
Jan 01, 20130
Patients after solid organ transplantation (SOT) carry a substantially increased risk to develop malignant lymphomas. This is in part due to the immunosuppression required to maintain the function of the organ graft. Depending on the transplanted organ, up to 15% of pediatric transplant recipients acquire posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD), and eventually 20% of those succumb to the disease. Early diagnosis of PTLD is often hampered by the unspecific symptoms and the difficult dif...
Jan 01, 20130
