Effect of hypoxia on the proliferation of porcine bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in 2- and 3-dimensional culture.

Objective: Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) currently represent a promising tool for the regeneration of large bony defects. Therefore, it is pivotal to find the best cell source within the body and the best conditions for in vitro cellular expansion. This study compared cellular response of MSCs and ASCs from a porcine animal in normoxic (21% O2) and hypoxic (2% O2) cell culture conditions via 2D and 3D experimental settings.

Differential effects of low birthweight and intrauterine growth restriction on umbilical cord blood insulin-like growth factor concentrations.

Objective: Alterations in the growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis have been considered as a causal factor for intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and for the increased risk of metabolic disease in later life. We compared members of the IGF axis in umbilical cord blood between IUGR neonates, small for gestational age without foetal restriction (SGA) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) neonates.

Design: Prospective controlled multicenter study.

GDM Alters Expression of Placental Estrogen Receptor α in a Cell Type and Gender-Specific Manner.

Objective: The nuclear receptor estrogen receptor α (ERα) is one of the key players in energy balance, insulin resistance, and trophoblast differentiation. We tested the hypothesis that gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) alters expression of placental ERα in a cell type-specific manner and that this regulation may involve epigenetic changes.

Study Design: Expression of ERα was analyzed by immunohistochemistry using the semiquantitative immunoreactive score in 80 placentas (40 GDM/40 controls).

Cervical conisation and the risk of preterm delivery: a retrospective matched pair analysis of a German cohort.

Purpose: Since the routine screening program for cervical dysplasia by Pap smear was established in the early 1970s, the rate of cervical cancer has continually dropped. Even if a high percentage of cervical dysplasia shows spontaneous restitution, the only effective therapy for persisting cervical dysplasia is local ablation or excision which might be associated with an increased risk of preterm delivery in subsequent pregnancies. However, data from German patients are missing, so the aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of preterm delivery and associated risks in a cohort of patients who had undergone cervical conisation previous to their pregnancies.

Patient-specific determinants of responsiveness to robot-enhanced treadmill therapy in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy.

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate patient-specific determinants of responsiveness to robot-enhanced repetitive treadmill therapy (ROBERT) in patients with early-developed movement disorders.

Method: Patients were treated over 12 sessions during a 3-week period. Gross Motor Function Measure-66 (GMFM-66) scores 1 day before ROBERT were compared with scores recorded 1 day after ROBERT.

Parental smoking and childhood obesity: higher effect estimates for maternal smoking in pregnancy compared with paternal smoking--a meta-analysis.

Background: Some studies reported similar effect estimates for the impact of maternal smoking in pregnancy and paternal smoking on childhood obesity, whereas others suggested higher effects for maternal smoking. We performed a meta-analysis to compare the effect of in utero exposure to maternal smoking and that of paternal or household smoking exposure in utero or after birth with mutual adjustment.

Methods: Meta-analysis of observational studies identified in MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Knowledge published in 1900-2013.

Gestational diabetes mellitus upregulates vitamin D receptor in extravillous trophoblasts and fetoplacental endothelial cells.

Objective: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is often accompanied by low maternal vitamin D, that is, calcitriol (1,25[OH]2 vitamin D3), levels. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the placental vitamin D receptor (VDR) is regulated by calcitriol and altered in GDM with distinct changes in different placental cell types. Specifically, we aimed to localize VDR in human term placentas from normal and GDM pregnancies, to quantify its cellular expression and to study in vitro its regulation by its physiological agonist calcitriol.

Differences in BMI z-scores between offspring of smoking and nonsmoking mothers: a longitudinal study of German children from birth through 14 years of age.

Background: Children of mothers who smoked during pregnancy have a lower birth weight but have a higher chance to become overweight during childhood.

Objectives: We followed children longitudinally to assess the age when higher body mass index (BMI) z-scores became evident in the children of mothers who smoked during pregnancy, and to evaluate the trajectory of changes until adolescence.

Methods: We pooled data from two German cohort studies that included repeated anthropometric measurements until 14 years of age and information on smoking during pregnancy and other risk factors for overweight.

Overweight in adolescence can be predicted at age 6 years: a CART analysis in German cohorts.

Objective: To examine, whether overweight in adolescents can be predicted from the body mass index (BMI) category, at the age of 6, the mother's education level and mother's obesity and to quantify the proportion of overweight at the age of 14 that can be explained by these predictors.

Method: Pooled data from three German cohorts providing anthropometric and other relevant data to a total of 1 287 children. We used a classification and regression tree (CART) approach to identify the contribution of BMI category at the age of 6 (obese: BMI > 97th percentile (P97); overweight: P90 < BMI ≤ P97; high normal weight: P75P90) at the age of 14.

Relevance of hospital characteristics as performance indicators for treatment of very-low-birth-weight neonates.

Background: Current attempts at centralization of neonatal care in Germany focus on a minimum volume of 30 very-low-birth-weight (VLBW, weighing <1250 g) neonate admissions per year. However, the evidence for a selective referral strategy based on hospital volume is unclear.

Method: A total of 5575 neonates weighing <1250 g treated in 31 hospitals in Bavaria between 2000 and 2011 were analysed using population-based data.

Breastfeeding and its prospective association with components of the GH-IGF-Axis, insulin resistance and body adiposity measures in young adulthood--insights from linear and quantile regression analysis.

Background: Breastfeeding may lower chronic disease risk by long-term effects on hormonal status and adiposity, but the relations remain uncertain.

Objective: To prospectively investigate the association of breastfeeding with the growth hormone- (GH) insulin-like growth factor- (IGF) axis, insulin sensitivity, body composition and body fat distribution in younger adulthood (18-37 years).

Design: Data from 233 (54% female) participants of a German cohort, the Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed (DONALD) Study, with prospective data on infant feeding were analyzed.

Effectiveness of 2+1 PCV7 vaccination schedules in children under 2 years: a meta-analysis of impact studies.

Although a case control study suggested high effectiveness of the 2+1 PCV-7 vaccination, schedule against invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in children the results of impact studies in, different countries yield considerable differences in the magnitude of the effects. A systematic, literature review was conducted to identify all relevant studies on IPD incidence reduction after onset, of PCV7 vaccination programmes in children younger than 2 years of age given in the 2+1 schedule. The incidence rate ratio between IPI incidences for vaccine serotypes before and after beginning of the, vaccination programme was calculated for each study.

Interactions of genetic and environmental risk factors with respect to body fat mass in children: results from the ALSPAC study.

Objective: To evaluate if percentile-specific effects of genetic, environmental and lifestyle obesity risk factors on body mass index (BMI) might reflect gene-environment interactions with respect to the development of overweight.

Design And Methods: Retrospective study with data of 2,346 children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), using quantile regression with body fat mass index (FMI) for children at the age of 9 years as outcome variable. We assessed interactions of an "obesity-risk-allele-score" with environmental and nutritional factors.

Prevention of headache in adolescents: population-attributable risk fraction for risk factors amenable to intervention.

Introduction: Several risk factors for headache have been identified, some of which are potentially amenable to interventions. The potential effect of such interventions can be predicted by the population-attributable risk fraction (PARF). We assessed PARFs of the the following risk factors: neck muscle pain, chronic stress, alcohol consumption, smoking, coffee consumption, and physical inactivity.

Determinants of Long-term protection after hepatitis B vaccination in infancy: a meta-analysis.

Background: The duration of protection after hepatitis B vaccination in early infancy is unclear and may be related to vaccination schedule, dosage, vaccine type and population characteristics. Factors potentially influencing waning immunity were assessed.

Methods: A systematic review was performed.

Impact of maternal carrier status on immunologic markers for protection after hepatitis B vaccination in infancy: a meta-analysis.

Better protection against hepatitis B infection in offspring of carrier mothers has been postulated because of a booster effect by close maternal contact. Empirical evidence, however, is inconclusive. Immunologic markers for protection against hepatitis B are anti-HBs ≥ 10 mIU/ml or response to booster in case anti-HBs had fallen below 10 mIU/ml.