Endoscopic ultrasound-fine needle biopsies of pancreatic lesions: Prospective study of histology quality using Franseen needle.

Background: The introduction of fine needle biopsies (FNB) to clinical practice presents a changing trend towards histology in the endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA).

Aim: To evaluate the clinical performance of a new FNB needle, the 22-gauge (22G) Franseen needle, when sampling pancreatic solid lesions.

Methods: Consecutive patients with an indication for EUS-TA for the assessment of pancreatic solid lesions were included in this prospective, single-center, single-arm trial.

[Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors].

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) are increasingly diagnosed tumors with great clinical and prognostic heterogeneity. One of the peculiarities of NEN is the presence of a clinical hormone syndrome in about 30 % of cases. Somatostatin receptor imaging plays an important role in the diagnosis of spreading and in the planning of therapy.

Recent Survival Trends in High-Grade Neuroendocrine Neoplasms and Lung Cancer.

Background: Poorly differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasms (pdNEN) are a rare cancer entity, treatment of which is to a great part informed by studies on the much more common small-cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Objective: To reveal and compare recent survival trends for pdNEN and SCLC in an authorative, population-based database.

Methods: Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 18 database, 3,482 digestive tract pdNEN and 30,383 SCLC diagnosed from 2000 through 2015 were analyzed in detail.

The impact of methylation quantitative trait loci (mQTLs) on active smoking-related DNA methylation changes.

Background: Methylation quantitative trait loci (mQTLs) are the genetic variants that may affect the DNA methylation patterns of CpG sites. However, their roles in influencing the disturbances of smoking-related epigenetic changes have not been well established. This study was conducted to address whether mQTLs exist in the vicinity of smoking-related CpG sites (± 50 kb) and to examine their associations with smoking exposure and all-cause mortality in older adults.

Associations of self-reported smoking, cotinine levels and epigenetic smoking indicators with oxidative stress among older adults: a population-based study.

Tobacco smoking and oxidative stress (OS) are both related to a wide spectrum of adverse age-related health outcomes, but their association is not yet well-established. We examined the associations of self-reported smoking indicators, serum cotinine levels and smoking-related DNA methylation biomarkers with two urinary proxy markers of OS, 8-isoprostane (8-iso) and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG), in two independent subsets of older adults recruited in Germany (discovery set: n = 978, validation set: n = 531). We obtained DNA methylation profiles in whole blood samples by Illumina Human Methylation450K Beadchip and measured the urinary levels of both OS markers using commercial ELISA kits.

Tobacco smoking and smoking-related DNA methylation are associated with the development of frailty among older adults.

Tobacco smoking is a preventable environmental factor that contributes to a wide spectrum of age-related health outcomes; however, its association with the development of frailty is not yet well established. We examined the associations of self-reported smoking indicators, serum cotinine levels and smoking-related DNA methylation biomarkers with a quantitative frailty index (FI) in 2 independent subsets of older adults (age 50-75) recruited in Saarland, Germany in 2000 - 2002 (discovery set: n = 978, validation set: n = 531). We obtained DNA methylation profiles in whole blood samples by Illumina HumanMethylation450 BeadChip and calculated the FI according to the method of Mitnitski and Rockwood.

DNA methylation changes in response to active smoking exposure are associated with leukocyte telomere length among older adults.

Telomere length (TL) is associated with an increased risk of aging-related diseases. As a preventable environmental hazard of morbidity and mortality, smoking has been reported to promote TL attrition by producing a variety of oxidants and free radicals. Since DNA methylation has been demonstrated to play an important role in the pathways of smoking and smoking-induced diseases, this study aimed to address whether the smoking-associated DNA methylation changes could be associated with accelerated TL shortening.

Tobacco smoking and methylation of genes related to lung cancer development.

Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, and cigarette smoking is the major environmental hazard for its development. This study intended to examine whether smoking could alter methylation of genes at lung cancer risk loci identified by genome-wide association studies (GWASs). By systematic literature review, we selected 75 genomic candidate regions based on 120 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).

Relationship of tobacco smoking and smoking-related DNA methylation with epigenetic age acceleration.

Recent studies have identified biomarkers of chronological age based on DNA methylation levels. Since active smoking contributes to a wide spectrum of aging-related diseases in adults, this study intended to examine whether active smoking exposure could accelerate the DNA methylation age in forms of age acceleration (AA, residuals of the DNA methylation age estimate regressed on chronological age). We obtained the DNA methylation profiles in whole blood samples by Illumina Infinium Human Methylation450 Beadchip array in two independent subsamples of the ESTHER study and calculated their DNA methylation ages by two recently proposed algorithms.

Frailty is associated with the epigenetic clock but not with telomere length in a German cohort.

Background: The epigenetic clock, in particular epigenetic pre-aging quantified by the so-called DNA methylation age acceleration, has recently been suggested to closely correlate with a variety of disease phenotypes. There remains a dearth of data, however, on its association with telomere length and frailty, which can be considered major correlates of age on the genomic and clinical level, respectively.

Results: In this cross-sectional observational study on altogether 1820 subjects from two subsets (n = 969 and n = 851; mean ± standard deviation age 62.

DNA methylation changes of whole blood cells in response to active smoking exposure in adults: a systematic review of DNA methylation studies.

Active smoking is a major preventable public health problem and an established critical factor for epigenetic modification. In this systematic review, we identified 17 studies addressing the association of active smoking exposure with methylation modifications in blood DNA, including 14 recent epigenome-wide association studies (EWASs) and 3 gene-specific methylation studies (GSMSs) on the gene regions identified by EWASs. Overall, 1460 smoking-associated CpG sites were identified in the EWASs, of which 62 sites were detected in multiple (≥3) studies.

Liver Enzymes and Bone Mineral Density in the General Population.

Context: Liver enzyme serum levels within and just above the normal range are strong predictors of incident morbidity and mortality in the general population. However, despite the close links between hepatic pathology and impaired bone health, the association of liver enzymes with osteoporosis has hardly been investigated.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to clarify whether serum liver enzyme levels in the general population are associated with bone mineral density.

Association of prion protein with cognitive functioning in humans.

Objectives: Recent animal studies have suggested a key role for cellular prion protein (PrPc) in the pathological consequences of amyloid plaque formation, the hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. This epidemiological study investigated whether serum concentrations of PrPc are associated with cognitive functioning in humans.

Design, Setting, Participants: Cross-sectional study of 1,322 participants from the elderly general population in Germany, aged 65+ years at baseline (2000-2002).

Smoking, F2RL3 methylation, and prognosis in stable coronary heart disease.

Aims: In a recent genome-wide study, cytosine bases in the F2RL3 gene, which codes for a protein relevant for cardiovascular physiology, were discovered to be hypomethylated in smokers. We aimed to determine the clinical importance of methylation at the F2RL3 locus.

Methods And Results: In the KAROLA prospective cohort study, 1206 participants of inpatient cardiovascular rehabilitation programmes after experiencing an acute coronary syndrome, myocardial infarction, or coronary intervention were recruited in two clinics in Germany.

Calcium, phosphate and the risk of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in a population with stable coronary heart disease.

Objective: High serum calcium and phosphate levels have been linked to cardiovascular diseases and all-cause mortality but evidence from longitudinal studies is scarce, especially among patients with pre-existing coronary heart disease. The association between baseline calcium and phosphate and prognosis was examined in a cohort study of patients with stable coronary heart disease.

Methods: Serum calcium and phosphate were measured in a cohort of initially 1206 patients undergoing a 3 week rehabilitation programme after an acute cardiovascular event and subsequently being followed-up for 8 years.

Serum parathyroid hormone and risk of adverse outcomes in patients with stable coronary heart disease.

Background And Objective: Recent longitudinal studies have suggested an association of high serum parathyroid hormone levels (PTH) with elevated cardiovascular risk in the general population. This study presents analyses of the prognostic value of baseline PTH for subsequent cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in a high-risk population with stable coronary heart disease.

Methods: Based on measurements of PTH levels in 1133 patients recruited at two German rehabilitation clinics and followed over 8 years, multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to estimate the risk of secondary cardiovascular events (including myocardial infarction, stroke and death due to cardiovascular diseases) and all-cause-mortality according to PTH quartiles (Q1-Q4) and continuous PTH concentrations.

Gamma-glutamyltransferase, general and cause-specific mortality in 19,000 construction workers followed over 20 years.

Background & Aims: Associations of serum gamma-glutamyltransferase levels with a variety of incident diseases and mortality have been suggested. The present study attempted to expand the body of evidence to especially relevant occupational cohorts in which exposure to established γ-GT determinants may greatly differ from the general population.

Methods: The study was based on occupational health examinations conducted from 1986 to 1992 in 19,090 German male workers from the construction industry, aged 25-64years.

Serum vitamin D and risk of secondary cardiovascular disease events in patients with stable coronary heart disease.

Background: Recent longitudinal analyses suggested that low levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D) predict incident cardiovascular disease in initially healthy populations. Because the prognostic value of vitamin D for the occurrence of secondary cardiovascular events remains unclear, we examined the association of baseline 25-OH-D levels with prognosis in patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD).

Methods: Serum 25-OH-D levels from 1,125 CHD patients of 2 German clinics undergoing a 3-week rehabilitation program after an acute cardiovascular event were measured, and participants were followed for up to 8 years.

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein in patients with coronary heart disease.

Background: The impact of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) in the development of atherosclerosis is a matter for ongoing debate. In this study, we analyse associations of CETP with cardiovascular endpoints in a cohort of patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD).

Design: KAROLA is a prospective observational study of patients with CAD and a median follow-up of 8 years (n = 1132).

Low-to-moderate alcohol consumption and smoking cessation rates: retrospective analysis of 4576 elderly ever-smokers.

Background: Smoking and alcohol consumption are two major risk factors for manifold morbidity and mortality outcomes and are highly correlated with each other. No conclusion has been reached concerning whether cigarette smokers drinking alcohol have more difficulties with smoking cessation. We aimed to elucidate the association of concurrent alcohol consumption with the probability of smoking cessation in non-clinical populations.

Situational temptation scores and smoking cessation in general care.

The construct of self-efficacy, which is assessed either in confidence- or temptation-related instruments, presumably predicts transitions between the transtheoretical model stages of change and ultimately smoking cessation outcome. To elucidate its predictive potential for smoking cessation in a general care setting, we examined the association of baseline scores of the situational temptations inventory with month 12 smoking status in 577 heavy smokers participating in a cluster-randomized study of physician training and financial incentives for smoking cessation in Germany. At follow-up, abstinence could be validated in 56 patients.

Synergism between smoking and alcohol consumption with respect to serum gamma-glutamyltransferase.

Unlabelled: There is increasing evidence that serum levels of the liver enzyme gamma-glutamyltransferase (gamma-GT) are an important predictor of incidence and mortality of various diseases. Apart from alcohol consumption, body mass index and smoking have been found to be associated with serum levels, but little is known about potential interactions of these factors. The aim of this study was to assess the individual and joint impact of alcohol consumption and smoking on levels of gamma-GT, with particular attention to potential differences by sex.

Smoking cessation and variations in nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits alpha-5, alpha-3, and beta-4 genes.

Background: Evidence has recently accumulated that single nucleotide polymorphisms in the genetic region encoding the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits alpha-5, alpha-3, and beta-4 are associated with smoking and nicotine dependence. We aimed to determine whether these genetic variations are also predictive of smoking cessation.

Methods: Lifetime history of smoking was assessed by questionnaire at enrolment into a large epidemiological study of the German elderly population (ESTHER study).