Placental expression of inflammatory Galectin-12 is associated with gestational diabetes.

Objectives: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a growing health concern. Since members of the galectin-family are identified to play a role in the pathogenesis of GDM, we determined galectin-12 as an essential protein due to its influence in lipolysis and inflammation processes. This study investigates the expression of galectin-12 in the placentas of women with GDM.

Galectin-10 Expression in Placentas of Women with Gestational Diabetes.

Galectins are known to play an important role in immunoregulatory processes and autoimmune diseases. Galectin-10 is a cytoplasmic protein of human eosinophils and is involved in various eosinophilic diseases. Since increased galectin expression is already detected in the placentas of mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), this study focuses on the specific role of galectin-10 and hints at consequences for the diagnosis and therapeutic options of GDM.

Cytoplasmic Localization of Thyroid Hormone Receptor (TR) Alpha and Nuclear Expression of Its Isoform TRα2 Determine Survival in Breast Cancer in Opposite Ways.

The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the respective prognostic values of cytoplasmic and nuclear TRα, TRα1, and TRα2 expression in breast cancer (BC) tissue samples and correlate the results with clinico-pathological parameters. In 249 BC patients, the expression patterns of general TRα and the α1 and α2 isoforms were evaluated via immuno-histochemistry. Prognosis-determining aspects were calculated via univariate, as well as multivariate, analysis.

The psychological burden of COVID-19 on the desire for parenthood in minoritized sexual identities: a study on depressive symptoms and family planning in Germany.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across the globe and is associated with significant clinical and humanitarian burden. The desire for parenthood has been described to be positively correlated with psychological well-being: An unfulfilled wish for parenthood is associated with impaired mental health, and the wish for parenthood is a predictor for the development of depressive symptoms. While higher rates of anxiety and depression have been reported in individuals with minoritized sexual identities (compared to heterosexual individuals) during the COVID-19 pandemic, the specific impact of the pandemic and its social restriction measures on this population is poorly understood.

Prostaglandin E2 receptor EP1 expression in vulvar cancer.

Purpose: In recent years, incidence of vulvar cancer has been on the rise, whereas therapeutic options are still restricted. Therefore, new prognosticators and therapeutic targets are essential. Chronic inflammation plays an important role in carcinogenesis and COX-2, and its product prostaglandin E2 and its receptors EP1-4 are known to be important mediators in cancer initiation and progression.

Prognostic Relevance of Nuclear Receptors in Relation to Peritumoral Inflammation and Tumor Infiltration by Lymphocytes in Breast Cancer.

The prognostic impact of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) is intensively investigated in breast cancer (BC). It is already known that triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), the most aggressive type of BC, has the highest percentage of TILs. In addition, there is an influence of steroid hormone receptor expression (type I nuclear receptors) on TIL subpopulations in breast cancer tissue.

Overexpression of galectin-4 in placentas of women with gestational diabetes.

Objective: Galectins are known for their immunomodulatory functions in placentas. They are associated with pregnancy disorders such as preeclampsia, HELLP-Syndrome and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). In addition, galectins seem to be overexpressed in placentas of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Cytoplasmic Colocalization of RXRα and PPARγ as an Independent Negative Prognosticator for Breast Cancer Patients.

Retinoid X receptor α (RXRα) is a nuclear receptor (NR) which functions as the primary heterodimeric partner of other NRs including the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ). We previously reported that, in breast cancers (BC), the subcellular localization of these two receptors was strongly associated with patient prognosis. In the present work, we investigated the prognosis value of the combined cytoplasmic expression of RXRα and PPARγ using a retrospective cohort of 250 BC samples.

Regulatory T Cell Apoptosis during Preeclampsia May Be Prevented by Gal-2.

There are several open questions to be answered regarding the pathophysiology of the development of preeclampsia (PE). Numerous factors are involved in its genesis, such as defective placentation, vascular impairment, and an altered immune response. The activation of the adaptive and innate immune system represents an immunologic, particularity during PE.

Cytoplasmic Localization of RXRα Determines Outcome in Breast Cancer.

The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the prognostic value of cytoplasmic versus nuclear RXRα expression in breast cancer (BC) tissue samples and to correlate the results with clinicopathological parameters. In 319 BC patients, the expression of RXRα was evaluated via immunohistochemistry. Prognosis-determining aspects were calculated through uni- and multivariate analyses.

Listening to Music during Outpatient Cystoscopy Reduces Pain and Anxiety and Increases Satisfaction: Results from a Prospective Randomized Study.

Background: This study investigates the effect of classical music, music of patients' own choice, or no music on pain reduction during elective cystoscopy.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to describe the effect of listening to classical music, music of patients' own choice, or no music on patient's pain and satisfaction rates when carrying out an elective cystoscopy and the effect on the assessment capability of the performing urologist.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This randomized trial included 127 patients undergoing elective cystoscopy at the Urological Department of the University Clinic of Munich between June 2019 and March 2020.

How the COVID-19 Pandemic Affects Sexual Behavior of Hetero-, Homo-, and Bisexual Males in Germany.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic drastically altered the way of life around the world. Due to social distancing measures, contact restrictions and fears of infection, social life has changed significantly. These measures along with the stressors associated with the current worldwide situation, will inevitably have an effect on people's interpersonal and personal behaviors.

The decidual expression of Interleukin-7 is upregulated in early pregnancy loss.

Background: Maternal immunological rejection of the semi-allogenic fetus is discussed as one of the significant factors involved in early pregnancy loss. An array of cytokines secreted by both maternal and fetal cells is involved in generating a delicate maternal immune tolerance. Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is discussed to play a key role in pro-inflammatory processes, but there is still limited insight into the pathophysiological input on placentation and embryonic development in early pregnancy loss.

Interleukin-1 beta is significantly upregulated in the decidua of spontaneous and recurrent miscarriage placentas.

Background: Pregnancy is an extraordinarily complex immunological process. For successful pregnancy maintenance the maternal immune system must adapt to and tolerate the semi-allogenic fetus at the fetomaternal interface of the placenta. This balance is regulated by cytokines with a predominant T helper 2 (Th-2) system and a suppressed inflammatory T helper 1 (Th-1) response.

The Prognostic Impact of Retinoid X Receptor and Thyroid Hormone Receptor alpha in Unifocal vs. Multifocal/Multicentric Breast Cancer.

The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of the steroid hormone receptor expression, counting the retinoid X receptor (RXR) and thyroid hormone receptors (THRs), on the two different breast cancer (BC) entities: multifocal/multicentric versus unifocal. The overall and disease-free survival were considered as the prognosis determining aspects and analyzed by uni- and multi-variate analysis. Furthermore, histopathological grading and TNM staging (T = tumor size, N = lymph node involvement, M = distant metastasis) were examined in relation to RXR and THRs expression.

Interleukin 15 and Eotaxin correlate with the outcome of breast cancer patients vice versa independent of CTC status.

Background: Circulating tumor cells (CTC) in the peripheral blood in women with breast cancer has been found to be an indicator of prognosis before the start of systemic treatment. The aim of this study is the assessment of specific cytokine profiles as markers for CTC involvement that could act as independent prognostic markers in terms of survival outcome for breast cancer patients.

Methods: Patients selected for this study were defined as women with breast cancer of the SUCCESS study.

EP3 Is an Independent Prognostic Marker Only for Unifocal Breast Cancer Cases.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of prostaglandin E2 receptor 3 (EP3) receptor expression might have on the two different breast cancer entities: multifocal/multicentric versus unifocal. As the prognosis determining aspects, we investigated the overall- and disease-free survival by uni-and multivariate analysis. To underline the study's conclusion, we additionally considered the histopathological grading and the tumor node metastasis (TNM) staging system.

Hormone Receptor Expression in Multicentric/Multifocal versus Unifocal Breast Cancer: Especially the VDR Determines the Outcome Related to Focality.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic impact that hormone receptor (HR) expressions have on the two different breast cancer (BC) entities-multifocal versus unifocal BC. As the prognosis determining aspects, we investigated the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) by univariate and multivariate analysis. To underline the study's conclusions, we additionally considered the histopathological grading and the tumor node metastasis (TNM) staging.