Is financial hardship associated with reduced health in disability? The case of spinal cord injury in Switzerland.

Objective: To investigate socioeconomic inequalities in a comprehensive set of health indicators among persons with spinal cord injury in a wealthy country, Switzerland.

Methods: Observational cross-sectional data from 1549 participants of the Swiss Spinal Cord Injury Cohort Study (SwiSCI), aged over 16 years, and living in Switzerland were analyzed. Socioeconomic circumstances were operationalized by years of formal education, net equivalent household income and financial hardship.

Magnesium inhibits Wnt/β-catenin activity and reverses the osteogenic transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells.

Magnesium reduces vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) calcification in vitro but the mechanism has not been revealed so far. This work used only slightly increased magnesium levels and aimed at determining: a) whether inhibition of magnesium transport into the cell influences VSMC calcification, b) whether Wnt/β-catenin signaling, a key mediator of osteogenic differentiation, is modified by magnesium and c) whether magnesium can influence already established vascular calcification. Human VSMC incubated with high phosphate (3.

Cellular functions of the dual-targeted catalytic subunit of telomerase, telomerase reverse transcriptase--potential role in senescence and aging.

Over the last 40 years it has become clear that telomeres, the end of the chromosomes, and the enzyme telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), which is required to counteract their shortening, play a pivotal role in senescence and aging. However, over the last years several studies demonstrated that TERT belongs to the group of dual-targeted proteins. It contains a bipartite nuclear localization signal as well as a mitochondrial targeting sequence and, under physiological conditions, is found in both organelles in several cell types including terminally differentiated, post-mitotic cells.

Innate response activator B cells aggravate atherosclerosis by stimulating T helper-1 adaptive immunity.

Background: Atherosclerotic lesions grow via the accumulation of leukocytes and oxidized lipoproteins in the vessel wall. Leukocytes can attenuate or augment atherosclerosis through the release of cytokines, chemokines, and other mediators. Deciphering how leukocytes develop, oppose, and complement each other's function and shape the course of disease can illuminate our understanding of atherosclerosis.

Syndecan-1 knockdown in endometrial epithelial cells alters their apoptotic protein profile and enhances the inducibility of apoptosis.

Endometrial epithelial cells are known to undergo apoptosis during trophoblast invasion. We postulate that the cell surface molecule Syndecan-1 which is expressed on endometrial cells and syncytiotrophoblast is important for implantation in general and especially for induction of maternal cell apoptosis during trophoblast invasion because Syndecan-1's influence on apoptotic susceptibility of cancer cells is already described in the literature. Using the human endometrial epithelial cell line RL95-2, a new stable cell line with Syndecan-1 knockdown was generated.

Treatment of early and delayed esophageal perforation.

Esophageal perforations are life threatening emergencies associated with high morbidity and mortality. We report on 22 consecutive patients (age 20-86; 13 female and 9 male) with an oesophageal perforation treated at the university hospital Duesseldorf. The patients' charts were reviewed and follow-up was completed for all patients until demission, healed reconstruction or death.

Enhanced iodine supplementation alters the immune process in a transgenic mouse model for autoimmune thyroiditis.

Background: The impact of excessive iodine intake on the development of autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) is still under debate. Transgenic, antibody-devoid TAZ10 mice spontaneously develop AIT due to autoreactive thyroperoxidase-specific T cells. In this model, development of AIT is determined by a T cell infiltration of the thyroid gland leading to an elevation of serum thyrotropin (TSH) levels and significant weight gain.

The role and clinical relevance of disseminated tumor cells in breast cancer.

Tumor cell dissemination is a common phenomenon observed in most cancers of epithelial origin. One-third of breast cancer patients present with disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) in bone marrow at time of diagnosis; these patients, as well as patients with persistent DTCs, have significantly worse clinical outcome than DTC-negative patients. Since DTC phenotype may differ from the primary tumor with regard to ER and HER2 status, reevaluation of predictive markers on DTCs may optimize treatment choices.

Radiological outcome and gait function of SCFE patients after growth arrest.

Purpose: Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) represents the most common disorder of the hip in adolescents and a preliminary stage of degenerative joint disease. Up to now, functional outcome evaluation measured by objective instruments has been commonly neglected. The present study investigates whether the pathoanatomy of the hip joint after SCFE-analyzed on a standard X-ray-match functional results gained by three-dimensional gait analysis.

Retrospective analysis of the frequency of centrofacial telangiectasia in systemic sclerosis patients treated with bosentan or ilomedin.

Background: Bosentan is a dual endothelin receptor antagonist initially introduced for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension and recently approved for the treatment of digital ulcers in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Our clinical observations indicate that bosentan therapy may be associated with an increased frequency of centrofacial telangiectasia (TAE). Here, we sought to analyze the frequency of TAE in patients with SSc who were treated with either bosentan or the prostacyclin analog iloprost.

Efficacy and safety of botulinum toxin type A (Dysport) for the treatment of post-stroke arm spasticity: results of the German-Austrian open-label post-marketing surveillance prospective study.

The current practice in Germany and Austria, and the safety and efficacy of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A; Dysport) in the treatment of patients with post-stroke arm spasticity (with no fixed upper-limb contractures), were assessed in this observational prospective non-interventional study. One treatment cycle was documented with assessments at baseline, approximately week 4 (optional), and approximately week 12. Pattern of spasticity, treatment goal, safety and efficacy were recorded.

Successful treatment of fulminant pulmonary embolism with extracorporeal life support and simultaneous systemic thrombolytic therapy after 1 h of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Here we describe a patient with a fulminant pulmonary embolism, who has been successfully treated with an extracorporeal life support system and simultaneous systemic thrombolytic therapy after 1 h of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Effects of different information brochures on women's decision-making regarding mammography screening: study protocol for a randomized controlled questionnaire study.

Background: In order to give informed consent for mammography screening, women need to be told the relevant facts; however, screening information often remains vague because of the worry that detailed information might deter women from participating in recommended screening programs. Since September 2010, German women aged 50 to 69 invited for mammography screening have received a new, comprehensive information brochure that frankly discusses the potential benefit and harm of mammography screening. In contrast, the brochure that was in use before September 2010 contained little relevant information.

Circulating tumour cells in breast cancer.

Evaluation of isolated tumour cells in bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood has become a major focus of translational cancer research. The presence of disseminated tumour cells in BM is a common phenomenon observed in 30-40% of primary breast cancer patients and independently predicts reduced clinical outcome. The detection of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) in blood might become a desired alternative to the invasive and painful BM biopsy.

Presence of disseminated tumor cells in bone marrow correlates with tumor stage and nodal involvement in cervical cancer patients.

Detection of disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) in the bone marrow (BM) of breast cancer patients is associated with poor outcome. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of BM status on survival in a large cohort of cervical cancer patients. Three hundred twenty-five patients with cervical cancer were included into this prospective two-center study (University Hospitals Tuebingen, Munich, Germany).

Comparison of the nasal release of IL-4, IL-10, IL-17, CCL13/MCP-4, and CCL26/eotaxin-3 in allergic rhinitis during season and after allergen challenge.

Background: Allergic rhinitis is an inflammatory disease characterized by local overproduction of type 2 cytokines and tissue eosinophilia. Recent research suggests the involvement of additional cytokines such as IL-17, chemokine (C-C motif) ligand (CCL) 26/eotaxin-3, and CCL13/monocyte chemoattractant protein-4 (MCP-4) in its pathophysiology. Furthermore, bronchial epithelial cells treated with IL-17 and type 2 cytokines distinctively up-regulated eotaxin-3 gene expression.

Endoscopic-assisted visualization of 5-aminolevulinic acid-induced fluorescence in malignant glioma surgery: a technical note.

Objective: With the use of fluorescence-guided resection with 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), the rate of complete resection of the contrast-enhancing part of malignant gliomas could be increased from 36% to 65%. Because the visualization of 5-ALA-induced fluorescence depends on a sufficient exposure to fluorescent light, residual tumor tissue in deep-seated resection cavities might not be detected. In addition, subcortical parts of a large spherical tumor might not be visualized, owing to a tangential position at the periphery of the microscopic field.

Insufficient stromal support in MDS results from molecular and functional deficits of mesenchymal stromal cells.

Ineffective hematopoiesis is a major characteristic of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) causing relevant morbidity and mortality. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have been shown to physiologically support hematopoiesis, but their contribution to the pathogenesis of MDS remains elusive. We show that MSC from patients across all MDS subtypes (n=106) exhibit significantly reduced growth and proliferative capacities accompanied by premature replicative senescence.

Motor and cognitive placebo-/nocebo-responses in Parkinson's disease patients with deep brain stimulation.

Expectation contributes to placebo and nocebo responses in Parkinson's disease (PD). Subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) improves proximal more than distal movements whereas it impairs executive cognitive function such as verbal fluency (VF). We investigated how expectation modulates the pattern of motor improvement in STN-DBS and its interaction with VF.

A new type of thermoresponsive copolymer with UCST-type transitions in water: poly(N-vinylimidazole-co-1-vinyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)imidazole).

1-Vinyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)imidazole (2) is synthesized by a procedure described in the literature. Corresponding copolymers with upper critical solution temperature (UCST)-type transitions in water and high-glass transition temperatures (Tg ) are prepared by free radical copolymerization with N-vinylimidazole (1). Depending on the copolymer composition, the cloud point can be varied between 19 and 41 °C.

Supramolecular dynamics as origin for thermally induced insoluble-to-soluble-to-insoluble transitions of copolymers in water.

The synthesis of cationic mono-(6-O-(1-vinylimidazolium))-ß-cyclodextrin with toluenesulfonate as the corresponding anion is described. Free-radical copolymerization of the resulting host-guest complex with N-isopropylacrylamide or N,N-diethylacrylamide yielded copolymers showing a temperature-controlled solubility window in water. The impact of different anionic guests and salt concentrations on solubility behavior was investigated via turbidity measurements.

Evaluation of chromosome 11p imbalances in aniridia and Wilms tumor patients.

Newborn sporadic aniridia patients with an 11p13 deletion including the WT1 gene have an increased risk to develop Wilms tumor. At present a risk for Wilms tumor cannot be estimated in patients with deletions not extending into, but ending close to WT1. Therefore, it is important to determine the distance of deletion endpoints from the WT1 gene and survey these patients for a longer follow-up time to obtain a more defined risk estimation.

Working conditions in mid-life and mental health in older ages.

This article illustrates the importance of previous working conditions during mid-life (between 40 and 55) for mental health among older retired men and women (60 or older) across 13 European countries. We link information on health from the second wave (2006-2007) of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) with information on respondents' working life collected retrospectively in the SHARELIFE interview (2008-2009). To measure working conditions, we rely on core assumptions of existing theoretical models of work stress (the demand-control-support and the effort-reward imbalance model) and distinguish four types of unhealthy working conditions: (1) a stressful psychosocial work environment (as assessed by the two work stress models) (2) a disadvantaged occupational position throughout the whole period of mid-life, (3) experience of involuntary job loss, and (4) exposure to job instability.