Discordant cardiac biomarker levels independently predict outcome in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Aims: To investigate the prognostic relevance of elevated Troponin T (cTnT) levels in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) without significant creatine kinase (CK) elevation on admission.

Methods And Results: From January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2006 patients with STEMI without significant CK elevation (<2-fold) on admission treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were included and stratified according to cTnT plasma levels. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to find independent predictors for mortality.

Rationale, design and objectives of ARegPKD, a European ARPKD registry study.

Background: Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is a rare but frequently severe disorder that is typically characterized by cystic kidneys and congenital hepatic fibrosis but displays pronounced phenotypic heterogeneity. ARPKD is among the most important causes for pediatric end stage renal disease and a leading reason for liver-, kidney- or combined liver kidney transplantation in childhood. The underlying pathophysiology, the mechanisms resulting in the observed clinical heterogeneity and the long-term clinical evolution of patients remain poorly understood.

The histone code reader SPIN1 controls RET signaling in liposarcoma.

The histone code reader Spindlin1 (SPIN1) has been implicated in tumorigenesis and tumor growth, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we show that reducing SPIN1 levels strongly impairs proliferation and increases apoptosis of liposarcoma cells in vitro and in xenograft mouse models. Combining signaling pathway, genome-wide chromatin binding, and transcriptome analyses, we found that SPIN1 directly enhances expression of GDNF, an activator of the RET signaling pathway, in cooperation with the transcription factor MAZ.

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss: systemic steroid therapy and the risk of glucocorticoid-induced hyperglycemia.

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is usually treated with systemic glucocorticoids. Intratympanic injections of glucocorticoids offer a possibly equivalent treatment alternative, avoiding adverse systemic effects on blood glucose. We, therefore, investigated the extent to which different doses of systemic glucocorticoid therapy affects blood glucose levels.

Giant cell hepatitis: an unusual cause of fulminant liver failure.

Giant cell hepatitis is a very rare disease of unknown origin. It has been hypothesized that drugs, viral infections, or autoimmune reactions may play a pathogenetic role. Here, we describe a 33 year old patient with bacterial bronchitis who was treated with doxycycline (100 mg/d) for one week.

Characterization and expression pattern of the novel MIA homolog TANGO.

A novel human gene, TANGO, encoding a MIA ('melanoma inhibitory activity') homologous protein was identified by a gene bank search. TANGO, together with the homologous genes MIA, OTOR (FPD, MIAL) and MIA2 define a novel gene family sharing important structural features, significant homology at both the nucleotide and protein level, and similar genomic organization. The four members share 34-45% amino acid identity and 47-59% cDNA sequence identity.

Establishing the protein MIA (melanoma inhibitory activity) as a marker for chondrocyte differentiation.

Melanoma inhibitory activity (MIA), also referred to as cartilage derived retinoic acid-sensitive protein (CD-RAP), is detected physiologically in cartilage tissue and pathologically in malignant melanomas. To measure MIA/CD-RAP quantitatively we developed a sensitive ELISA system. Recently, we described diagnostic applications of the MIA-ELISA in patients with cartilage diseases.

Induction of AP-2alpha expression by adenoviral infection involves inactivation of the AP-2rep transcriptional corepressor CtBP1.

AP-2 transcription factors execute important functions during embryonic development and malignant transformation. Recently, we have isolated a transcriptional repressor of AP-2alpha expression, the novel Krüppel-related zinc finger protein AP-2rep (Klf12). Here, we show that repression of AP-2alpha transcription by AP-2rep is dependent on an N-terminal PVDLS motif that interacts specifically with the corepressor CtBP1 both in vivo and in vitro.

Genomic structure and DNA binding properties of the human zinc finger transcriptional repressor AP-2rep (KLF12).

We recently cloned a novel murine transcriptional repressor, the Krüppel-like zinc finger protein AP-2rep (HGMW-approved symbol KLF12), that binds to a regulatory element in the AP-2alpha gene promoter. In the present study, we characterize the human AP-2rep homolog and describe expression patterns in human urogenital and lymphoma cell lines. The predicted human protein of 402 amino acids exhibits 95.

In situ expression patterns of melanoma-inhibiting activity (MIA) in melanomas and breast cancers.

Elevated levels of melanoma-inhibiting activity (MIA) were measured previously in the serum of patients with metastasized melanomas and in a subgroup of patients with advanced-stage breast cancers. This study aimed therefore to visualize in situ expression patterns of MIA protein and mRNA in melanomas and breast cancers by means of immunohistochemistry, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and in situ hybridization. Analysis of a panel of seven common melanocytic naevi, ten cutaneous melanomas, and 12 melanoma metastases detected high levels of both mRNA and protein in all melanomas and metastases, but only very low mRNA levels in three of seven naevi.