Cell-based influenza vaccines: An effective vaccine option for under 60-year-olds.

Aim: Seasonal influenza poses a significant burden of disease, affecting not only older adults but also individuals under the age of 60. It carries a high economic burden, mainly driven by influenza-associated productivity losses in the working population. Conventional egg-based influenza vaccines may have reduced effectiveness due to antigen adaptation in eggs.

[Cell-based influenza vaccines: an effective vaccine option for under 60-year-olds].

The population < 60 years of age is also affected by a significant disease burden from seasonal influenza. It carries a high economic burden, mainly driven by influenza-associated productivity losses in the working population. Conventional egg-based influenza vaccines may experience reduced effectiveness due to antigen adaptation in eggs.

Epidemiology of Pertussis and Pertussis-Related Complications in Adults: A German Claims Data Analysis.

Introduction: Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory infection. It affects people of all ages, yet evidence of the impact of pertussis in adults with underlying conditions (UCs) is scarce. This study investigated the incidence and complication rate of pertussis in adult patients with and without UC.

National influenza surveillance systems in five European countries: a qualitative comparative framework based on WHO guidance.

Background: Influenza surveillance systems vary widely between countries and there is no framework to evaluate national surveillance systems in terms of data generation and dissemination. This study aimed to develop and test a comparative framework for European influenza surveillance.

Methods: Surveillance systems were evaluated qualitatively in five European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom) by a panel of influenza experts and researchers from each country.

Burden of Herpes Zoster in Adult Patients with Underlying Conditions: Analysis of German Claims Data, 2007-2018.

Introduction: Several chronic underlying conditions (UCs) are known to be risk factors for developing herpes zoster (HZ) and to increase the severity of HZ and its risk of recurrence. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and recurrence of HZ in adult patients with one or multiple UCs.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study based on claims data representing 13% of the statutory health insurance population from 2007 to 2018 in Germany was performed.

Lactate concentration in breast cancer using advanced magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Background: Precision medicine in breast cancer demands markers sensitive to early treatment response. Aerobic glycolysis (AG) upregulates lactate dehydrogenase A (LDH-A) with elevated lactate production; however, existing approaches for lactate quantification are either invasive or impractical clinically.

Methods: Thirty female patients (age 39-78 years, 15 grade II and 15 grade III) with invasive ductal carcinoma were enrolled.

Anticancer effects of n-3 EPA and DHA and their endocannabinoid derivatives on breast cancer cell growth and invasion.

The anticancer effects of the omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA), EPA and DHA may be due, at least in part, to conversion to their respective endocannabinoid derivatives, eicosapentaenoyl-ethanolamine (EPEA) and docosahexaenoyl-ethanolamine (DHEA). Here, the effects of EPEA and DHEA and their parent compounds, EPA and DHA, on breast cancer (BC) cell function was examined. EPEA and DHEA exhibited greater anti-cancer effects than EPA and DHA in two BC cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) whilst displaying no effect in non-malignant breast cells (MCF-10a).

Circulating levels of angiogenesis-related growth factors in breast cancer: A study to profile proteins responsible for tubule formation.

The present study exploited a versatile in vitro endothelial cell/fibroblast co-culture cell system to investigate the association between angiogenesis and breast cancer by comparing the capacity of plasma from women with breast cancer and age-matched controls, to influence tubule formation and modulate angiogenesis in vitro, and to identify plasma circulating factors which might be responsible. Plasma from women with breast cancer (n=8) (added on day 7 after co-culture establishment) significantly increased tubule formation by 57% (P<0.01) when compared to cultures grown in culture medium lacking in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fetal bovine serum (FBS), whereas plasma from controls (n=8) did not.

Cost for physician-diagnosed influenza and influenza-like illnesses on primary care level in Germany--results of a database analysis from May 2010 to April 2012.

Background: Seasonal influenza is one of the most significant infectious diseases in Germany; epidemic outbreaks occur every winter and cause substantial morbidity and mortality. However, published data from Germany on the current economic burden of influenza and the costs per episode are lacking.

Methods: A retrospective database analysis was conducted using a longitudinal electronic medical records database (IMS Disease Analyzer).

Leptin inhibits proliferation of breast cancer cells at supraphysiological concentrations by inhibiting mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling.

Leptin is a hormone secreted by white fat tissue and signals the amount of overall body fat to the hypothalamus. The circulating concentration of leptin correlates with the level of obesity. Breast cancer risk is higher in obese postmenopausal women compared with postmenopausal women of a normal weight, and high leptin concentrations may contribute to this risk.

Targeted vaccine selection in influenza vaccination.

Background: The main target groups for influenza vaccination are the elderly, the chronically ill, infants, and toddlers. Influenza vaccines are needed that suit the immunological particularities of each of these age and risk groups. Recent years have seen the approval of influenza vaccines that are more immunogenic than before, but whose use in Germany is limited by the restriction of reimbursement to a small number of vaccines.

Cannabinoids and omega-3/6 endocannabinoids as cell death and anticancer modulators.

Cannabinoids-endocannaboids are possible preventatives of common diseases including cancers. Cannabinoid receptors (CB(½), TRPV1) are central components of the system. Many disease-ameliorating effects of cannabinoids-endocannabinoids are receptor mediated, but many are not, indicating non-CBR signaling pathways.

A novel role for insulin resistance in the connection between obesity and postmenopausal breast cancer.

The past two decades have seen a drastic increase in obesity rates in Western societies and emerging countries. As such, it has become increasingly important to understand the molecular mechanisms by which obesity affects the risk of developing associated co-morbidities. The present study aimed at identifying the effect of insulin on breast cancer and breast epithelial cells, reflective of obesity-associated hyperinsulinaemia, as a molecular explanation for the increased risk of oestrogen receptor-negative postmenopausal breast cancer in obese women.

Effect of increased consumption of whole-grain foods on blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk markers in healthy middle-aged persons: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Three daily portions of whole-grain foods could lower cardiovascular disease risk, but a comprehensive intervention trial was needed to confirm this recommendation.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the effects of consumption of 3 daily portions of whole-grain foods (provided as only wheat or a mixture of wheat and oats) on markers of cardiovascular disease risk in relatively high-risk individuals.

Design: This was a randomized controlled dietary trial in middle-aged healthy individuals.

Cannabinoid receptor-dependent and -independent anti-proliferative effects of omega-3 ethanolamides in androgen receptor-positive and -negative prostate cancer cell lines.

The omega-3 fatty acid ethanolamides, docosahexaenoyl ethanolamide (DHEA) and eicosapentaenoyl ethanolamide (EPEA), displayed greater anti-proliferative potency than their parent omega-3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), in LNCaP and PC3 prostate cancer cells. DHEA and EPEA activated cannabinoid CB(1) and CB(2) receptors in vitro with significant potency, suggesting that they are endocannabinoids. Both LNCaP and PC3 cells expressed CB(1) and CB(2) receptors, and the CB(1)- and CB(2)-selective antagonists, AM281 and AM630, administered separately or together, reduced the anti-proliferative potencies of EPEA and EPA but not of DHEA or DHA in PC3 cells and of EPA but not of EPEA, DHEA or DHA in LNCaP cells.

Enhancing cytotoxic therapies for breast and prostate cancers with polyunsaturated fatty acids.

The role of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids has been extensively studied in most of the human malignancies including breast, colon, prostate, pancreas, and stomach cancers. In particular, the role of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in carcinogenesis has been extensively investigated in epidemiological, laboratory cell culture studies and studies in vivo in animal. Findings from these studies suggest that omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are cytotoxic in different cancers and act synergistically with cytotoxic drugs.

A rapid method for determining arachidonic:eicosapentaenoic acid ratios in whole blood lipids: correlation with erythrocyte membrane ratios and validation in a large Italian population of various ages and pathologies.

Background: Omega-3 and -6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA), are important for good health conditions. They are present in membrane phospholipids.The ratio of total n-6:n-3 LCPUFA and arachidonic acid:eicosapentaenoic acid (AA and EPA), should not exceed 5:1.

Plant phenolics in the prevention and treatment of cancer.

Epidemiological studies indicate that populations consuming high levels of plant derived foods have low incidence rates of various cancers. Recent findings implicate a variety of phytochemicals, including phenolics, in these anticancer properties. Both monophenolic and polyphenolic compounds from a large variety of plant foods, spices and beverages have been shown to inhibit or attenuate the initiation, progression and spread of cancers in cells in vitro and in animals in vivo.

Dietary supplementation with conjugated linoleic acid plus n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid increases food intake and brown adipose tissue in rats.

The effect of supplementation with 1% conjugated linoleic acid and 1% n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (CLA/n-3) was assessed in rats. Food intake increased with no difference in body weights. White adipose tissue weights were reduced whereas brown adipose tissue and uncoupling protein-1 expression were increased.

Docosahexaenoic acid enhances the efficacy of docetaxel in prostate cancer cells by modulation of apoptosis: the role of genes associated with the NF-kappaB pathway.

Background: Evidence is growing for beneficial interactions between omega-3 fatty acids from fish and chemotherapy agents in certain human cancers. Evidence for similar effects in prostate cancer is lacking. We investigated the effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA-22:6n-3), a component of fish oil, on the cytotoxicity of docetaxel in prostate cancer cells.