Cytomegalovirus seronegativity rate in pregnant women and primary cytomegalovirus infection during pregnancy in rural Germany.

Background: Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the most common congenital infection worldwide and one of the leading causes of congenital hearing loss in newborns. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence rate for cytomegalovirus in pregnant women and the rate of CMV serological testing utilised during pregnancy in a rural region in Germany.

Methods: Retrospective data on the prevalence of CMV IgG and IgM antibodies were obtained from 3,800 women, identified in the study group of 19,511 pregnant women from outpatient settings whose samples were collected between 1 and 2014 and 30 April 2018.

Verification of sex- and age-specific reference intervals for 13 serum steroids determined by mass spectrometry: evaluation of an indirect statistical approach.

Objectives: Conventionally, reference intervals are established by direct methods, which require a well-characterized, obviously healthy study population. This elaborate approach is time consuming, costly and has rarely been applied to steroid hormones measured by mass spectrometry. In this feasibility study, we investigate whether indirect methods based on routine laboratory results can be used to verify reference intervals from external sources.

CKD prevalence based on real-world data: continuous age-dependent lower reference limits of eGFR with CKD-EPI, FAS and EKFC algorithms.

Purpose: Several recent articles discuss the need for a definition of chronic kidney disease (CKD) that embarks age-dependency and its impact on the prevalence of CKD. The relevance is derived from the common knowledge that renal function declines with age. The aim of this study was to calculate age-dependent eGFR lower reference limits and to consider their impact on the prevalence of CKD.

Gene variants of the SLC2A5 gene encoding GLUT5, the major fructose transporter, do not contribute to clinical presentation of acquired fructose malabsorption.

Background: While role of ALDOB-related gene variants for hereditary fructose intolerance is well established, contribution of gene variants for acquired fructose malabsorption (e.g. SLC2A5, GLUT5) is not well understood.

Inflammatory microRNAs in gastric mucosa are modulated by Helicobacter pylori infection and proton-pump inhibitors but not by aspirin or NSAIDs.

Gastric carcinogenesis is associated with alterations of microRNAs (miRNAs) and reversal of these alterations may be a crucial element in cancer prevention. Here we evaluate the influence of H. pylori eradication, low-dose aspirin (LDA), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and proton-pump inhibitors (PPI) on modification of inflammatory mucosal miRNAs miR-155 and miR-223 in Helicobacter pylori-infected and non-infected subjects.

Estimated Prevalence of Harmful Alcohol Consumption in Pregnant and Nonpregnant Women in Saxony-Anhalt (NorthEast Germany) Using Biomarkers.

Background: Alcohol consumption is commonly accepted in Western societies and is a known risk factor in pregnancy, which could lead to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). Prevalence of alcohol consumption during pregnancy is mostly unknown. Prevalence estimates in publications based on questionnaires are limited by possible underreporting due to social stigmatization.

TLR1 and PRKAA1 Gene Polymorphisms in the Development of Atrophic Gastritis and Gastric Cancer.

Background And Aims: Previous genome-wide association studies showed that genetic polymorphisms in toll-like receptor 1 (TLR1) and protein kinase AMP-activated alpha 1 catalytic subunit (PRKAA1) genes were associated with gastric cancer (GC) or increased Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection susceptibility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between TLR1 and PRKAA1 genes polymorphisms and H.

Combined Gastric and Colorectal Cancer Screening-A New Strategy.

Background: Our aim was to evaluate the feasibility of a serological assessment of gastric cancer risk in patients undergoing colonoscopy in countries with low-to-moderate incidence rates.

Methods: Serum samples were prospectively collected from 453 patients (>50 years old) undergoing colonoscopies. Of these, 279 (61.

Expression of zinc transporters ZIP4, ZIP14 and ZnT9 in hepatic carcinogenesis-An immunohistochemical study.

Introduction: Dysregulation of both, systemic zinc levels and tissue-specific zinc transporters, is reported in chronic inflammatory and malignant liver disease (hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC). Aim of this study is to assess the expression level of three zinc transporters in liver tissue and HCC: ZIP4, ZIP14 and ZnT9.

Methods: The study is based on tissue samples obtained from 138 patients with histologically proven HCC.

Expression of aurora kinase A correlates with the Wnt-modulator RACGAP1 in gastric cancer.

Canonical Wnt signaling is involved in gastric carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to identify the link between Wnt signaling and aurora kinase A (AURKA), a target for the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers. Publicly available microarray data were used to identify phenotype-specific protein-protein interaction (PPI) subnetworks.

MMP2 and MMP7 at the invasive front of gastric cancer are not associated with mTOR expression.

Background: Regulation of MMP expression by activation of mTOR signalling has been demonstrated for several tumor types, but has thus far not been confirmed in gastric cancer.

Findings: The study compromised 128 patients who underwent gastric resection for cancer (66.4 % male; 86 intestinal, 42 diffuse type).

PSCA and MUC1 gene polymorphisms are associated with gastric cancer and pre-malignant gastric conditions [corrected].

Background/aim: Genome-wide association studies revealed a link between gastric cancer (GC) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA), phospholipase C epsilon-1 (PLCE1) and mucin-1 (MUC1) genes. Herein, we aimed to evaluate associations between PSCA (C>T, rs2294008; G>A, rs2976392), MUC1 (C>T, rs4072037) and PLCE1 (A>G, rs2274223) SNPs and GC or high-risk gastritis (HRAG).

Materials And Methods: Using TaqMan system, SNPs were genotyped in 252 patients with GC, 136 patients with HRAG and 246 controls.

Esophageal intraluminal baseline impedance differentiates gastroesophageal reflux disease from functional heartburn.

Background & Aims: Mucosal integrity can be assessed in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) by measuring intraluminal baseline impedance (BI). However, it is not clear whether BI is abnormal in patients with functional heartburn (FH), or can be used to distinguish them from patients with GERD. We compared differences in BI between patients with FH vs GERD.

Cathepsin K in treatment monitoring following intravenous zoledronic acid.

Cathepsin K (CatK) is mainly expressed by osteoclasts and plays an important role in bone resorption. As CatK is expressed and secreted by osteoclasts during active bone resorption, it may be a useful and specific biochemical marker of osteoclastic activity. Therefore, CatK serum levels were studied for monitoring the treatment of females with postmenopausal osteoporosis by zoledronic acid.

Expression analysis of zinc transporters in resting and stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Intracellular zinc homeostasis is tightly regulated under physiological conditions; however, dysregulation of zinc levels has been reported in various chronic inflammatory and malignant diseases. In this study, we aimed to assess the expression pattern of the 24 currently known zinc transporters in resting and stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The cells were isolated from healthy probands and subsequently stimulated with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) for 3 days.