Chaperone Proteins: The Rising Players in Muscle Atrophy.

Despite significant progress in understanding the molecular aetiology of muscle atrophy, there is still a great need for new targets and drugs capable of counteracting muscle wasting. The role of an impaired proteostasis as the underlying causal mechanism of muscle atrophy is a well-established concept. From the earliest work on muscle atrophy and the identification of the first atrogenes, the hyper-activation of the proteolytic systems, such as autophagy and the ubiquitin proteasome system, has been recognized as the major driver of atrophy.

An intrinsic mechanism of metabolic tuning promotes cardiac resilience to stress.

Defining the molecular mechanisms underlying cardiac resilience is crucial to find effective approaches to protect the heart. A physiologic level of ROS is produced in the heart by fatty acid oxidation, but stressful events can boost ROS and cause mitochondrial dysfunction and cardiac functional impairment. Melusin is a muscle specific chaperone required for myocardial compensatory remodeling during stress.

[Poisonous plants-a new approach for assessing the risk of poisoning in small children].

Background: Plant poisoning in small children (from 0.5 to <6 years of age) is the third most frequent cause for phone contact with a poison center. For prevention of poisonings, a list of poisonous plants that should not be planted close to playgrounds or other places frequently visited by children was published in 2000 by the Bundesanzeiger.

[Intoxications in Children and Adolescents in Germany].

Background: In Germany, intoxications cause the bulk of emergencies in children, to be prevented or attenuated by preventive measures. Therefore, knowledge about intoxications is essential for pediatricians. The present work provides general and epidemiologic data about intoxications and most frequent categories and single toxicants.

[Trends in Abuse of Biogenic Drugs in Parts of Germany 2007-2013].

Aim Of The Study: Based on an abundance of information on the internet, psychotropic plants and mushrooms are of increasing relevance as legal and cheap alternatives to other illicit drugs. Due to the lack of a German database, the abuse of selected biogenic drugs using reported exposures to 3 German Poison Information Centres (PICs) was examined.

Methods: Information on abuse of biogenic drugs was collected from the German PICs in Berlin, Erfurt and Fribourg (2007-2013).

Workplace bullying and psychotropic drug use: the mediating role of physical and mental health status.

Objectives: The association between workplace bullying and psychotropic drug use is not well established. This study was aimed at exploring the association between workplace bullying, and its characteristics, and psychotropic drug use and studying the mediating role of physical and mental health.

Methods: The study population consisted of a random sample of 3132 men and 4562 women of the working population in the south-east of France.

Workplace bullying and sleep disturbances: findings from a large scale cross-sectional survey in the French working population.

Study Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the associations between workplace bullying, the characteristics of workplace bullying, and sleep disturbances in a large sample of employees of the French working population.

Design: Workplace bullying, evaluated using the validated instrument developed by Leymann, and sleep disturbances, as well as covariates, were measured using a self-administered questionnaire. Covariates included age, marital status, presence of children, education, occupation, working hours, night work, physical and chemical exposures at work, self-reported health, and depressive symptoms.