[Position paper on working in the intensive care unit during pregnancy : DIVI recommendations for improving the situation of pregnant employees in the ICU].

The Maternity Protection Act is intended to protect the mother and the child from hazards, excessive demands and damage to health in the workplace, and from financial disadvantages and loss of employment. However, the objectives defined by the Maternity Protection Act-the safety and health of the pregnant employee on the one hand and the prevention of disadvantages in working life on the other-are not yet adequately achieved in the intensive care unit (ICU). Implementation of the Maternity Protection Act to the benefit of all involved parties should also be promoted in the specialist areas represented by the DIVI, in particular the work of pregnant physicians and nursing staff and other working specialists (respiratory therapists, physiotherapists, speech therapists, psychotherapists, and social workers) in the ICU.

[Position paper on working in the intensive care unit during pregnancy : DIVI recommendations for improving the situation of pregnant employees in the ICU].

The Maternity Protection Act is intended to protect the mother and the child from hazards, excessive demands and damage to health in the workplace, and from financial disadvantages and loss of employment. However, the objectives defined by the Maternity Protection Act-the safety and health of the pregnant employee on the one hand and the prevention of disadvantages in working life on the other-are not yet adequately achieved in the intensive care unit (ICU). Implementation of the Maternity Protection Act to the benefit of all involved parties should also be promoted in the specialist areas represented by the DIVI, in particular the work of pregnant physicians and nursing staff and other working specialists (respiratory therapists, physiotherapists, speech therapists, psychotherapists, and social workers) in the ICU.

Polymorphic Variants in the GRK5 Gene Promoter Are Associated With Diastolic Dysfunction in Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery Patients.

Background: The G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 5 (GRK5) is a mediator of cardiovascular homeostasis and participates in inflammation and cardiac fibrosis, both being involved in the development of diastolic dysfunction (DD). While mechanisms of transcriptional regulation of the GRK5 promoter are unclear, we tested the hypotheses, that (1) GRK5 expression varies depending on functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the GRK5 promoter and (2) this is associated with DD in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

Methods: We amplified and sequenced the GRK5 promoter followed by cloning, reporter assays, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA).

Genetic variations in G-protein signal pathways influence progression of coronary artery calcification: Results from the Heinz Nixdorf Recall study.

Background And Aims: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is one of the most sensitive and specific markers of coronary atherosclerosis and believed to be heritable. We hypothesized that functionally relevant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the G-protein signal pathway, which have been previously related to coronary artery disease, are associated with CAC progression.

Methods: 3108 participants from the Heinz Nixdorf Recall study with CAC measurements at both baseline (CACb) and 5-year follow-up (CAC5y) were included.

Genetic variability in postoperative nausea and vomiting: A systematic review.

Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is the most frequent side effect following anaesthesia. Predisposition to developing PONV is multifactorial with patient risk factors and anaesthetic techniques both being contributory. However, there is also a genetic susceptibility to PONV, and several studies have aimed to identify polymorphisms contributing to a genetic PONV risk.

Correction to: Methylation in HT22 cells and primary hippocampal neurons with and without isoflurane exposure.

Following publication of the original article [1], it was brought to our attention of an error in the article title.

Methylation in HT22 cells and primary hippocampal neurons with and without isoflurane exposurewhether isoflurane causes.

Background: Epigenetic modulation may play a role in anesthesia related phenotypes, such as cognitive impairment or memory loss, especially with exposure to anesthetics in the vulnerable phase of brain development. While isoflurane anesthesia can evoke neuroinflammation and neuroapoptosis in young animals, we investigated in a permanent hippocampal cell line (HT22) and in primary hippocampal neurons in an a priori in vitro analysis, whether isoflurane exposure 1) evokes DNA methylation changes in genes involved in apoptosis and inflammation, and 2) results observed in a permanent hippocampal cell line are comparable to primary hippocampal neurons. In case of methylation changes in specific genes, (3) mRNA analysis was performed to assess possible effects on gene expression.

Comparison of bronchial and nasal allergen provocation in children and adolescents with bronchial asthma and house dust mite sensitization.

Background: Bronchial allergen provocation (BAP) is an established tool for the diagnosis of allergy in patients with asthma, but its use is limited by the potential risk of severe asthmatic reactions. Nasal provocation testing (NPT) may be an alternative safe method and does not require sophisticated equipment.

Objective: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the concordance of both methods in patients with asthma and house dust mite (HDM) sensitization.

Genetic contribution to PONV risk.

Background: Clinical risk factors for postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are usually stratified using the Apfel Score. While a genetic predisposition has recently been demonstrated with the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (CHRM3) rs2165870 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), we investigated whether (1) other SNPs contribute to PONV risk and (2) a genetic risk score might summarise genetic PONV risk.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed data from a study with 472 patients undergoing elective surgery.

The small molecule Bcl-2/Mcl-1 inhibitor TW-37 shows single-agent cytotoxicity in neuroblastoma cell lines.

Background: High-risk neuroblastoma with N-Myc amplification remains a therapeutic challenge in paediatric oncology. Antagonism of pro-death Bcl-2 homology (BH) proteins to pro-survival BH members such as Mcl-1 and Bcl-2 has become a treatment approach, but previous studies suggest that a combined inhibition of Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 is necessary. TW-37 inhibits Mcl-1 and Bcl-2 with almost the same affinity.

Remote ischaemic preconditioning increases serum extracellular vesicle concentrations with altered micro-RNA signature in CABG patients.

Background: Remote ischaemic preconditioning (RIPC) can attenuate myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion injury but its underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Recently, extracellular vesicles (EVs) containing microRNAs (miRNAs) were shown to mediate distant intercellular communication that may be involved in cardioprotection. We tested the hypothesis that RIPC in anaesthetized patients undergoing coronary artery bypass (CABG) surgery results in the release of EVs from the ischaemic/reperfused arm into the blood stream harbouring cardioprotective miRNAs.

CHRM3 rs2165870 polymorphism is independently associated with postoperative nausea and vomiting, but combined prophylaxis is effective.

Background: Clinical risk factors for postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are evaluated with the Apfel score, however patients with low Apfel scores still experience PONV suggesting a genetic predisposition. PONV risk associates with specific M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (CHRM3) rs 2165870 polymorphism. We investigated whether the Apfel score and this genetic variation independently contribute to PONV risk and whether prophylaxis reduces PONV in patients with low Apfel score but at high genetic risk.

Circulating miR-192 is a prognostic marker in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) is characterized by accumulation of p53 causing apoptosis of cardiomyocytes and resulting in upregulation of miRNA (miR)-192, which plays an important role in the development of heart failure after acute myocardial infarction. However, for other cardiomyopathies, miR-192 seems to have minor relevance. We tested in a prospective, observational study comprising 91 patients with diagnosed heart failure (59.

The GRK2 Promoter Is Regulated by Early-Growth Response Transcription Factor EGR-1.

The G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) plays a major role in cardiovascular diseases, and its expression is increased in heart failure. However, only little is known about factors being involved in up-regulation of GRK2 expression through transcriptional regulation of its promoter. Since the transcription factor early-growth response 1 (EGR-1) is also up-regulated in patients with heart failure, we tested the hypothesis that EGR-1 regulates GRK2 transcription.

Relationship between GNAS1 T393C polymorphism and aseptic loosening after total hip arthroplasty.

Background: Aseptic loosening is a main cause for revision surgery after total hip arthroplasty (THA) and there is no reliable marker for the early detection of patients at high risk. This study has been performed to validate association of the T393C polymorphism (rs7121) in the GNAS1 gene, encoding for the alpha-subunit of heterotrimeric G-protein Gs, with risk for and time to aseptic loosening after THA, which has been demonstrated in our previous study.

Methods: 231 patients with primary THA and 234 patients suffering from aseptic loosening were genotyped for dependency on GNAS1 genotypes and analyzed.

GNAQ TT(-695/-694)GC Polymorphism Is Associated with Increased Gq Expression, Vascular Reactivity, and Myocardial Injury after Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery.

Background: Angiotensin II receptor type 1-mediated activation of the α-subunit of the heterotrimeric Gq protein evokes increased vasoconstriction and may promote hypertrophy-induced myocardial damage. The authors recently identified a TT(-695/-694)GC polymorphism in the human Gq promoter, the GC allele being associated with an increased prevalence of cardiac hypertrophy. In this article, the authors tested whether the TT(-695/-694)GC polymorphism is associated with differences in (1) myocardial Gq protein expression, (2) vascular reactivity, and (3) myocardial damage after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Comparison of postoperative venous thromboembolism incidence in gastrointestinal and gynecologic solid tumors.

Introduction: Studies have shown the benefit of 28days of extended postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis for patients undergoing major cancer surgery in the abdomen or pelvis. We retrospectively evaluated the VTE incidence at the University of Kansas Hospital between gynecologic (GYN) cancer patients, who receive extended prophylaxis, and gastrointestinal (GI) cancer patients, who do not.

Methods: Patients were evaluated between January of 2010 and December of 2013, and VTE data for eligible patients were collected for 30 and 90days postoperatively.

Easy-to-use strategy for reference gene selection in quantitative real-time PCR experiments.

Real-time PCR is an indispensable technique for mRNA expression analysis but conclusions depend on appropriate reference gene selection. However, while reference gene selection has been a topic of publications, this issue is often disregarded when measuring target mRNA expression. Therefore, we (1) evaluated the frequency of appropriate reference gene selection, (2) suggest an easy-to-use tool for least variability reference gene selection, (3) demonstrate application of this tool, and (4) show effects on target gene expression profiles.

The BCL2 -938C>A Promoter Polymorphism Is Associated with Risk for and Time to Aseptic Loosening of Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Aseptic loosening is a major cause of revision surgery of total hip arthroplasty (THA). Only few host factors affecting aseptic loosening have been identified until now, although they are urgently needed to identify and possibly treat those patients at higher risk for aseptic loosening. To determine whether the functional single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) c.

Characterization of the PLCB1 promoter and regulation by early growth response transcription factor EGR-1.

The Gαq/-Gα11-PLCβ1 pathway is important for intracellular signalling and associated with pathological conditions, such as cardiac hypertrophy. The GNAQ and GNA11 promoters (encoding for Gαq and Gα11) have already been characterized and are both regulated by the transcription factor early growth response 1 (Egr-1). In contrast, the PLCB1 promoter (encoding for the direct downstream effector PLCβ1) has neither been cloned nor characterized.

Cloning and characterization of the GNA11 promoter and its regulation by early growth response 1.

GNAQ and GNA11, encoding the G-proteins Gα(q) and Gα₁₁, are members of the Gα(q)/Gα₁₁ subfamily, which transmits signals from the cell surface to intracellular signalling cascades. The GNAQ promoter was already characterized, and regulation by the transcription factor early growth response 1 (Egr-1) was demonstrated. Interestingly, in silico analysis revealed putative Egr-1 binding sites in sequences potentially representing the GNA11 promoter.

The GNB3 C825T polymorphism as a pharmacogenetic marker in the treatment of hypertension, obesity, and depression.

Heterotrimeric guanine-binding proteins (G proteins) transmit signals from the cell surface to intracellular signal cascades. The β3-subunit encoded by the gene GNB3 is widely expressed and, therefore, involved in various physiological and pathophysiological processes. A C825T polymorphism located in exon 10 of GNB3 was described in 1998 and the T allele was associated with alternative splicing and with increased signal transduction in human cells and tissues.

A novel aspect of GNAS imprinting: higher maternal expression of Gαs in human lymphoblasts, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, mammary adipose tissue, and heart.

The human GNAS gene is imprinted in a tissue-specific manner, being expressed primarily from the maternal allele in pituitary, thyroid, renal proximal tubules, and gonads, but is supposed to be biallelically expressed with an equal allelic expression in most other tissues. We analysed allelic expression of Gαs using Pyrosequencing. By genotyping the GNAS T393C polymorphism we quantified mRNA transcripts in lymphoblasts (Ly, n=11), peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC, n=18), mammary adipose tissue (MAT, n=23) and heart tissue (HT, n=44).

SNPs in genes encoding G proteins in pharmacogenetics.

Heterotrimeric guanine-binding proteins (G proteins) transmit signals from the cell surface to intracellular signal cascades and are involved in various physiological and pathophysiological processes. Polymorphisms in the genes GNB3 (encoding the Gβ3 subunit), GNAS (encoding the Gαs subunit) and GNAQ (encoding the Gαq subunit) have been the primary focus of investigation. Polymorphisms in these genes could be associated with different complex phenotypes underlining that alterations in G-protein signaling can cause multiple disorders.