Publications by authors named "Michels K"

Background: The role of the immune system in cancer defense is likely underappreciated. While there has been longstanding interest in the role of atopic diseases in cancer, only a few studies have tested this hypothesis.

Methods: We analyzed data from 202,055 women participating in the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and the Nurses' Health Study II (NHS II) to explore whether asthma is associated with breast cancer.

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Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Although the risk of developing CRC increases with age, approximately 10% of newly diagnosed cases occur in individuals under the age of 50. Significant changes in dietary habits in young adults since industrialization create a favorable microenvironment for colorectal carcinogenesis.

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Intestinal permeability has been related to colorectal cancer (CRC) development. Zonulin, a protein able to regulate tight junction function and intestinal permeability, emerges as a promising marker to elucidate the contribution of bacterial translocation in CRC. An Italian case-control study included 77 CRC cases, 72 intestinal adenoma and 76 healthy controls (for a total of 148 tumor-free subjects), aged 20-85.

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Introduction: The neonates' inflammatory response may in part be shaped during development by the placental epigenome, but evidence is scarce. We investigated the association between placental DNA methylation and pro-inflammatory proteins in cord blood.

Methods: A total of 249 mother-child dyads from the Harvard Epigenetic Birth Cohort were included in this study.

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Article Synopsis
  • The COVID-19 pandemic led to studies on how it affected people's mental health, with mixed results; some felt worse, while others stayed stable.
  • The study focused on 135,445 people in Germany to see how age and past mental health issues affected depression and anxiety during the early pandemic.
  • Results showed people with past mental health problems felt the same after the pandemic began, but younger folks without those issues felt worse, highlighting the need for better support strategies.
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Objectives: The risk of Post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) under hybrid immunity remains unclear.

Methods: Using data from the German National Cohort (NAKO Gesundheitsstudie), we investigated risk factors for self-reported post-infection symptoms (any PCC is defined as having at least one symptom, and high symptom burden PCC as having nine or more symptoms).

Results: Sixty percent of 109,707 participants reported at least one previous SARS-CoV-2 infection; 35% reported having had any symptoms 4-12 months after infection; among them 23% reported nine or more symptoms.

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Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies have demonstrated transformative efficacy in treating B-cell malignancies. However, high costs and manufacturing complexities hinder their widespread use. To overcome these hurdles, we have developed the VivoVec platform, a lentiviral vector capable of generating CAR T cells in vivo.

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Background: Iron is crucial for growth and development, but excess iron is harmful. Neonatal mice have elevated concentrations of circulating iron, but the source of this iron is unclear. This lack of understanding makes it difficult to optimize early life iron balance.

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Sustainability and circularity are key issues facing the global polymer industry. The search for biodegradable and environmentally-friendly polymers that can replace conventional materials is a difficult challenge that has been met with limited success. Alternatives must be cost-effective, scalable, and provide equivalent performance.

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  • The study aimed to assess how tubal ligation and hysterectomy might affect hormone levels in postmenopausal women, focusing on androgens and estrogens, using data from the Women's Health Initiative.
  • Researchers analyzed blood samples from 920 women, with findings showing no significant differences in hormone levels based on tubal ligation status, but significant changes for those who had a hysterectomy, which resulted in lower testosterone and higher estrogen metabolite levels.
  • The study concluded that while tubal ligation does not appear to affect postmenopausal hormone levels, hysterectomy correlates with notable hormonal changes that could influence risks for hormone-related diseases in the future.*
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  • - Insufficient physical activity (PA) is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases and has significant economic impacts on healthcare systems; this study analyzed the cost differences between varying levels of PA in Germany.
  • - Data was collected from over 157,000 participants using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire to assess their PA levels and categorize them as sufficient or insufficient, with costs calculated from self-reported health resource use and productivity losses.
  • - Findings showed that individuals with insufficient PA incurred higher average annual healthcare costs and that these cost differences were more pronounced in older adults, particularly concerning leisure activities, suggesting different cost implications based on the type of PA.
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Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) represents the most common inflammatory neurological disease causing disability in early adulthood. Childhood and adolescence factors might be of relevance in the development of MS. We aimed to investigate the association between various factors (e.

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Large population-based cohort studies utilizing device-based measures of physical activity are crucial to close important research gaps regarding the potential protective effects of physical activity on chronic diseases. The present study details the quality control processes and the derivation of physical activity metrics from 100 Hz accelerometer data collected in the German National Cohort (NAKO). During the 2014 to 2019 baseline assessment, a subsample of NAKO participants wore a triaxial ActiGraph accelerometer on their right hip for seven consecutive days.

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Whether trace metals modify breast density, the strongest predictor for breast cancer, during critical developmental stages such as puberty remains understudied. Our study prospectively evaluated the association between trace metals at Tanner breast stage B1 (n = 291) and at stages both B1 and B4 (n = 253) and breast density at 2 years post-menarche among Chilean girls from the Growth and Obesity Cohort Study. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry assessed the volume of dense breast tissue (absolute fibroglandular volume [FGV]) and percent breast density (%FGV).

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Objective: To determine the association between personality characteristics and use of different cancer screenings.

Methods: We used data from the German National Cohort (NAKO; mean age was 53.0 years (SD: 9.

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Introduction: Family history of depression and childhood maltreatment are established risk factors for depression. However, how these factors are interrelated and jointly influence depression risk is not well understood. The present study investigated (i) if childhood maltreatment is associated with a family history of depression (ii) if family history and childhood maltreatment are associated with increased lifetime and current depression, and whether both factors interact beyond their main effects, and (iii) if family history affects lifetime and current depression via childhood maltreatment.

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Background: Breast density (BD) is a strong risk factor for breast cancer. Little is known about how BD develops during puberty. Understanding BD trajectories during puberty and its determinants could be crucial for promoting preventive actions against breast cancer (BC) at early ages.

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Background: Obesity is a worldwide health problem. We conducted detailed analyses of anthropometric measures in a comprehensive, population-based, current cohort in Germany.

Methods: In the German National Cohort (NAKO), we analyzed cross-sectional data on body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference, subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) as measured by ultrasound, and body fat percentage.

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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic restrictions posed challenges to maintaining healthy lifestyles and physical well-being. During the first mobility restrictions from March to mid-July 2020, the German population was advised to stay home, except for work, exercise, and essential shopping. Our objective was to comprehensively assess the impact of these restrictions on changes in physical activity and sedentary behavior to identify the most affected groups.

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In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the perception of substandard image quality may prompt repetition of the respective image acquisition protocol. Subsequently selecting the preferred high-quality image data from a series of acquisitions can be challenging. An automated workflow may facilitate and improve this selection.

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Background: Phthalate exposures are ubiquitous during pregnancy and may contribute to racial and ethnic disparities in preterm birth.

Objectives: We investigated race and ethnicity in the relationship between biomarkers of phthalate exposure and preterm birth by examining: ) how hypothetical reductions in racial and ethnic disparities in phthalate metabolites might reduce the probability of preterm birth; and ) exposure-response models stratified by race and ethnicity.

Methods: We pooled individual-level data on 6,045 pregnancies from 16 U.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study analyzed data from over 1 million women across various regions to explore the relationship between reproductive and hormonal factors and the risk of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC).
  • Findings indicated that certain factors, such as younger age at menarche and menopause, use of hormone therapy, and previous surgeries like hysterectomy, were associated with an increased risk of DTC, while long-term oral contraceptive use and being post-menopausal were linked to a lower risk.
  • The researchers caution that the associations identified are relatively weak and recommend further studies to clarify the effects of sex steroid hormones on DTC risk.
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Folate is an essential mediator in one-carbon metabolism, which provides methyl groups for DNA synthesis and methylation. The availability of active methyl groups can be influenced by the uptake of folic acid. We conducted a randomized intervention trial to test the influence of folic acid supplementation on DNA methylation in an unfortified population in Germany.

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Statement Of Problem: Nowadays, milling is still the gold standard for fabricating indirect restorations, but to overcome its disadvantages, there are alternatives, such as 3D printing.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the gaps between the prepared tooth and milled and printed onlays fabricated with the same CAD design. It also aimed to determine the gap reproducibility across onlays fabricated by 3D printing and milling.

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  • Childhood trauma significantly increases the risk of developing various somatic (physical) and mental illnesses in adulthood, with stronger effects observed in younger individuals.
  • A study of over 156,000 participants used logistic regression to analyze data, finding higher diagnoses of conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and depression among those with a history of childhood trauma.
  • The findings highlight the importance of addressing childhood trauma and its long-term effects, emphasizing the necessity for further research and potential preventive measures.
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