Noncancerous PTGS2 DNA fragments of apoptotic origin in sera of prostate cancer patients qualify as diagnostic and prognostic indicators.

Our study was designed to evaluate Cell-Free DNA in sera of prostate cancer (PCA) patients as a useful biomarker. Real-time PCR was used to amplify a <200 bp PTGS2 DNA fragment that biochemically characterizes apoptosis and a larger >250 bp Reprimo DNA fragment that defines mostly other cell death entities. The apoptosis index (AI) expresses the ratio of PTGS2 to Reprimo DNA fragments.

Comparison of curet and paper point sampling of subgingival bacteria as analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Background: The outcome of microbiological diagnostics may depend on the sampling technique. It was the aim of the present study to compare two widely used sampling techniques for subgingival bacteria using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Methods: Twenty patients with chronic periodontitis were randomized into two groups.

Identification of genomic aberrations associated with shorter overall survival in patients with oligodendroglial tumors.

Deletions on chromosomes 1p and 19q are associated with favorable prognosis in patients with oligodendroglial tumors. The aim of our study was to identify additional genomic aberrations linked to patient survival. We performed a genome-wide screen for genomic imbalances by comparative genomic hybridization on tumors from 70 patients, including 40 oligodendrogliomas, 30 oligoastrocytomas (21 WHO grade II tumors, 49 WHO grade III tumors).

Variant of the CHEK2 gene as a prognostic marker in glioblastoma multiforme.

Objective: Germline mutations of the CHEK2 tumor suppressor gene have been found in families with the Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS). Patients with LFS experience a variety of cancers, including malignant astrocytomas. We investigated a potential role for a CHEK2 gene polymorphism in glioblastomas.

SNP-based analysis of genetic substructure in the German population.

Objective: To evaluate the relevance and necessity to account for the effects of population substructure on association studies under a case-control design in central Europe, we analysed three samples drawn from different geographic areas of Germany. Two of the three samples, POPGEN (n = 720) and SHIP (n = 709), are from north and north-east Germany, respectively, and one sample, KORA (n = 730), is from southern Germany.

Methods: Population genetic differentiation was measured by classical F-statistics for different marker sets, either consisting of genome-wide selected coding SNPs located in functional genes, or consisting of selectively neutral SNPs from 'genomic deserts'.

Pulse wave velocity is increased in patients with transient myocardial ischemia.

Objective: We have recently shown that mean pulse pressure is higher in patients with transient myocardial ischemia. Pulse pressure elevation might be an important consequence of increased arterial stiffness. The aim of this study was to prove if arterial stiffness is changed in patients with transient myocardial ischemia who bear a high cardiovascular risk.

Myocardial ischemia during everyday life in patients with arterial hypertension: prevalence, risk factors, triggering mechanism and circadian variability.

Introduction: The objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence, the risk factors, the hemodynamic triggering mechanisms, the circadian variability of ST segment depression (ST depression) and the effect of day and night fall in blood pressure on the prevalence of ST depression in hypertensive patients.

Materials And Methods: In a multicentric study in Germany, 1,244 CardioTens registrations (combined 24-h ambulatory blood pressure measurement/electrocardiography with ST segment triggering; Meditech, Budapest, Hungary) from patients with arterial hypertension were consecutively monitored and evaluated centrally at the University of Bonn. Inclusion criterion was treated or untreated arterial hypertension.

Evidence for a reduced histamine degradation capacity in a subgroup of patients with atopic eczema.

Background: A diminished histamine degradation based on a reduced diaminoxidase activity is suspected as a reason for non-IgE-mediated food intolerance caused by histamine. Atopic eczema (AE) is often complicated by relapses triggered by IgE-mediated allergy to different kinds of food. However, in a subgroup of patients with AE, allergy testing proves negative, although these patients report a coherence of food intake and worsening of AE and describe symptoms that are very similar to histamine intolerance (HIT).

Familial aggregation of alopecia areata.

Background: Familial aggregation of alopecia areata (AA) has been previously described, but systematic studies with information obtained directly from family members have yet to be undertaken.

Objective: We sought to study the pattern of familial aggregation of AA by assessing the affection status of patients' relatives. The study included 206 index patients with a total of 1029 first-degree and 2625 second-degree relatives.

Interaction of serotonergic and noradrenergic gene variants in panic disorder.

Objective: Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder with an estimated heritability of 48%. Associations findings have been obtained with candidate genes from both serotonergic and noradrenergic pathways including regulatory and coding variants of the serotonin receptor 1A gene, the monoamine oxidase A gene, the catechol-O-methyltransferase gene and the norepinephrine transporter gene.

Methods: In the present study, an analysis of interactions between the functional serotonin receptor 1A polymorphism, the norepinephrine transporter variants and the other respective polymorphisms of the above-mentioned genes is reported.

Cord blood leptin and IGF-I in relation to birth weight differences and head circumference in monozygotic twins.

Objectives: To investigate a potential role of leptin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I on fetal growth and metabolic function we determined plasma leptin and IGF-I concentrations in twins in relation to discordant fetal growth.

Study Design: In studying monochorionic twins with inter-twin birth weight difference, we investigated the relative contribution of genetic (fetus) versus environmental (maternal/placental) factors on growth. Thirty-six sets of twins (14 with discordant growth, birth weight difference >15%) who had been treated for severe twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) by laser coagulation were studied.

Detection rate of early fetal echocardiography and in utero development of congenital heart defects.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the detection rate of early fetal echocardiography and the in utero development of congenital heart defects (CHD).

Methods: Cases were selected from all singleton pregnancies between 1997 and 2003 in which detailed fetal 2-dimensional and color-coded Doppler echocardiography was performed in our prenatal unit between 11 weeks' and 13 weeks 6 days' gestation; 2165 cases with complete outcome parameters were analyzed.

Results: During this study period, CHD were diagnosed in 46 fetuses.

Early fetal echocardiography: heart biometry and visualization of cardiac structures between 10 and 15 weeks' gestation.

Objective: The purpose of this prospective cross-sectional study was to compile normative data about biometry of the fetal heart and great vessels between 10 and 15 weeks in 123 normal singleton pregnancies. Additionally, we investigated the different methods and the optimal examination time of early fetal echocardiography.

Methods: The interrogated parameters included total heart diameter; heart area and circumference; right and left ventricular diameter; diameter, circumference, and area of the thorax; and diameter of the aorta and pulmonary trunk.

Mammography, breast ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging for surveillance of women at high familial risk for breast cancer.

Purpose: To compare the effectiveness of mammography, breast ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for surveillance of women at increased familial risk for breast cancer (lifetime risk of 20% or more).

Patients And Methods: We conducted a surveillance cohort study of 529 asymptomatic women who, based on their family history and/or mutational analysis, were suspected or proven to carry a breast cancer susceptibility gene (BRCA). A total of 1,542 annual surveillance rounds were completed with a mean follow-up of 5.

Single and repeated moderate consumption of native or dealcoholized red wine show different effects on antioxidant parameters in blood and DNA strand breaks in peripheral leukocytes in healthy volunteers: a randomized controlled trial (ISRCTN68505294).

Background: Red wine (RW) is rich in antioxidant polyphenols that might protect from oxidative stress related diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. Antioxidant effects after single ingestion of RW or dealcoholized RW (DRW) have been observed in several studies, but results after regular consumption are contradictory. Thus, we examined if single or repeated consumption of moderate amounts of RW or DRW exert antioxidant activity in vivo.

Qigong exercise for the symptoms of Parkinson's disease: a randomized, controlled pilot study.

Irrespective of limited evidence, not only traditional physiotherapy, but also a wide array of complementary methods are applied by patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). We evaluated the immediate and sustained effects of Qigong on motor and nonmotor symptoms of PD, using an add-on design. Fifty-six patients with different levels of disease severity (mean age/standard deviation [SD], 63.

Rate of hypoglycaemia and insulin dosage in children during the initial therapy of type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Unlabelled: Hypoglycaemia is a major side-effect of insulin treatment. It is known that young children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) show a higher risk of hypoglycaemia than older children. This study was performed to analyse the incidence of hypoglycaemia within the first 14 days (day 1-day 14) of insulin treatment in children at the onset of T1DM and to evaluate the influence of age and insulin dosage.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms of the IL18 gene are associated with atopic eczema.

Background: Human IL-18 is an inflammatory cytokine that plays a role in atopic diseases, such as atopic eczema (AE), by enhancing IL-4 and IL-13 production and stimulating the synthesis of IgE.

Objective: To evaluate associations of polymorphisms in the IL18 gene on chromosome 11q22 with AE, we performed genotyping for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL18 gene in 225 patients with AE and 175 healthy control volunteers.

Methods: Genotyping was performed by means of restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.

Norepinephrine transporter (NET) promoter and 5'-UTR polymorphisms: association analysis in panic disorder.

Several biochemical and pharmacological studies suggest that the catecholaminergic system involving the norepinephrine transporter (NET) is relevant for the pathogenesis of panic disorder. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms in the promoter or untranslated 5' region of the NET gene were investigated by means of RFLP analysis in a sample of 115 German patients with panic disorder and 115 matched controls. Statistical analysis failed to show association with the overall diagnosis of panic disorder.

Fetal insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, IGF-II, and ghrelin in association with birth weight and postnatal growth in monozygotic twins with discordant growth.

Objective: To investigate the relative contribution of genetic (fetal) vs. environmental (maternal/placental) factors on growth, we studied monozygotic twins with intertwin birth weight difference.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-seven twins (15 with discordant growth) who have been treated for severe twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome by laser coagulation were studied.

Coronary MR angiography at 3.0 T versus that at 1.5 T: initial results in patients suspected of having coronary artery disease.

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate the feasibility, image quality, and accuracy of coronary magnetic resonance (MR) angiography at 3.0 T in patients suspected of having coronary artery disease and to prospectively compare these results with those of coronary MR angiography performed at 1.5 T.

[Irritable bowel syndrome: colonoscopy painful and difficult?].

Background And Purpose: Hyperalgesia induced by pelvic colon distension has been demonstrated in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In this study the authors analyzed whether colonoscopy of patients with IBS is more painful and technically more demanding as compared to non-IBS patients.

Patients And Methods: In a prospective study 639 patients (132 with IBS, 507 without IBS) who underwent colonoscopy were evaluated for sex, age, body mass index, administration of sedatives and analgesics, time for cecal intubation, intensity of pain during examination (intensity graduated 1-5), diagnosis and degree of diverticulosis, spasticity, loop formation, elongation and distortion, respectively.

Supratentorial gangliogliomas: histopathologic grading and tumor recurrence in 184 patients with a median follow-up of 8 years.

Background: Supratentorial gangliogliomas (GGs) are rare tumors of the central nervous system and are commonly associated with chronic seizures. To date, only case reports and small series of patients with short-term follow-up have been available for the assessment of the potential of GGs to recur and progress.

Methods: Data from 184 patients who underwent resection of GGs between 1988 and 2001 were available from the University of Bonn Epilepsy Surgery Center (Bonn, Germany).

Oligodendroglial tumors: refinement of candidate regions on chromosome arm 1p and correlation of 1p/19q status with survival.

Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on the chromosome arms 1p and 19q is frequent in oligodendroglial tumors and has been correlated with chemosensitivity and good prognosis in anaplastic oligodendrogliomas. The oligodendroglioma-associated tumor suppressor genes on 1p and 19q are as yet unknown. To narrow down candidate regions on 1p, we investigated oligodendroglial tumors from 89 patients for LOH at up to 30 polymorphic loci on 1p.