36 research outputs found
Self-reported medication in community-dwelling older adults in Germany: results from the Berlin Initiative Study
Background: Older adults have the highest drug utilization due to multimorbidity. Although the number of people over age 70 is expected to double within the next decades, population-based data on their medication patterns are scarce especially in combination with polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medication (PIM). Our objective was to analyse the frequency of polypharmacy, pattern of prescription (PD) and over-the-counter (OTC) drug usage, and PIMs according to age and gender in a population-based cohort of very old adults in Germany.
Methods: Cross-sectional baseline data of the Berlin Initiative Study, a prospective cohort study of community-dwelling adults aged ≥70 years with a standardized interview including demographics, lifestyle variables, co-morbidities, and medication assessment were analysed. Medication data were coded using the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification. Age- and sex-standardized descriptive analysis of polypharmacy (≥5 drugs, PD and OTC vs. PD only and regular and on demand drugs vs regular only), medication frequency and distribution, including PIMs, was performed by age (</≥80) and gender.
Results: Of 2069 participants with an average age of 79.5 years, 97% (95%CI [96%;98%]) took at least one drug and on average 6.2 drugs (SD = 3.5) with about 40 to 66% fulfilling the criteria of polypharmacy depending on the definition. Regarding drug type more female participants took a combination of PD and OTC (male: 68%, 95%CI [65%;72%]); female: 78%, 95%CI [76%;80%]). Most frequently used were drugs for cardiovascular diseases (85%, 95%CI [83%;86%]). Medication frequency increased among participants aged ≥80 years, especially for cardiovascular drugs, antithrombotics, psychoanaleptics and dietary supplements. Among the top ten prescription drugs were mainly cardiovascular drugs including lipid-lowering agents (simvastatin), beta-blockers (metoprolol, bisoprolol) and ACE inhibitors (ramipril). The most common OTC drug was acetylsalicylic acid (35%; 95%CI [33%;37%])). Dose-independent PIM were identified for 15% of the participants.
Conclusions: Polypharmacy was excessive in older adults, with not only PD but also OTC drugs contributing to the high point prevalence. The medication patterns reflected the treatment of chronic diseases in this age group. There was even an increase in medication frequency between below and above 80 years especially for drugs of cardiovascular diseases, antithrombotic medication, psychoanaleptics, and dietary supplements
IL-17 Expression in the Time Course of Acute Anti-Thy1 Glomerulonephritis
Background Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is a new pro-inflammatory cytokine involved
in immune response and inflammatory disease. The main source of IL-17 is a
subset of CD4+ T-helper cells, but is also secreted by non-immune cells. The
present study analyzes expression of IL-17 in the time course of acute anti-
thy1 glomerulonephritis and the role of IL-17 as a potential link between
inflammation and fibrosis. Methods Anti-thy1 glomerulonephritis was induced
into male Wistar rats by OX-7 antibody injection. After that, samples were
taken on days 1, 5, 10 (matrix expansion phase), 15 and 20 (resolution phase).
PBS-injected animals served as controls. Proteinuria and histological matrixes
score served as the main markers for disease severity. In in vitro
experiments, NRK-52E cells were used. For cytokine expressions, mRNA and
protein levels were analyzed by utilizing RT-PCR, in situ hybridization and
immunofluorescence. Results Highest IL-17 mRNA-expression (6.50-fold vs. con;
p<0.05) was found on day 5 after induction of anti-thy1 glomerulonephritis
along the maximum levels of proteinuria (113 ± 13 mg/d; p<0.001), histological
glomerular-matrix accumulation (82%; p<0.001) and TGF-β1 (2.2-fold; p<0.05),
IL-6 mRNA expression (36-fold; p<0.05). IL-17 protein expression co-localized
with the endothelial cell marker PECAM in immunofluorescence. In NRK-52E
cells, co-administration of TGF-β1 and IL-6 synergistically up-regulated IL-17
mRNA 4986-fold (p<0.001). Conclusions The pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-17 is
up-regulated in endothelial cells during the time course of acute anti-thy1
glomerulonephritis. In vitro, NRK-52E cells secrete IL-17 under pro-fibrotic
and pro-inflammatory conditions
The patient journey of patients with Fabry disease, Gaucher disease and Mucopolysaccharidosis type II: A German-wide telephone survey.
BackgroundLysosomal Storage Diseases (LSD) are rare and multisytemic diseases which are caused by lysosomal enzyme deficiencies leading into accumulation of waste products due to an interruption in the decomposition process. Due to the low prevalence and therefore limited disease awareness as well as the fact that LSD patients present with unspecific symptoms the final diagnosis is often made after a long delay. The aim of this German-wide survey was to characterize the period between onset of symptoms and final diagnosis regarding e.g. self-perceived health, symptom burden and false diagnoses for patients with selected LSDs (Fabry disease (FD), Gaucher disease (GD) and Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II).MethodsThe study was conducted as a telephone based cross-sectional survey. All patients living in Germany with a confirmed diagnosis of FD, GD or MPS II were eligible to participate. The questionnaire was provided in advance in order to enable the participants to prepare for the interview. Only descriptive analyses were carried out. Single analyses were not carried out for all three patient groups due low case numbers.ResultsOf the overall population, 39 patients have been diagnosed with FD, 19 with GD and 11 with MPS II with the majority of patients being index patients. The majority of FD patients reported their current health status as "satisfactory" or better (79.5%). Self-perceived health status was observed to be at least stable or improving for the majority of FD patients compared to the year prior to diagnosis. The most frequently reported symptoms for patients with FD were paraesthesias (51.3%), whereas patients with GD reported a tendency for bleeding, blue spots or coagulation disorder (63.2%) as well as hepatomegaly and/or splenomegaly (63.2%) as the most commonly appearing symptoms. The number of patients reporting misdiagnoses was n = 5 (13.5%) for patients with FD and n = 5 (27.8%) for patients with GD. The median duration of the diagnostic delay was 21.0 years for FD, 20.0 years for GD and 2.0 years for MPS II.ConclusionsThis study showed that self-perceived status of health for patients might improve once the final correct diagnoses has been made and specific treatment was available. Furthermore, it was observed that diagnostic delay is still high in Germany for a relevant proportion of affected patients. Further challenges in the future will still be to increase awareness for these diseases across the entire healthcare sector to minimize the diagnostic delay
Platelet inhibition limits TGF-β overexpression and matrix expansion after induction of anti-thy1 glomerulonephritis
Platelet inhibition limits TGF-β overexpression and matrix expansion after induction of anti-thy1 glomerulonephritis.BackgroundAlthough a role of platelets is well established in atherosclerosis, only little is known about their contribution to pathologic renal matrix expansion. The present study analyzes the effect of the platelet inhibitor clopidogrel on the early injury and subsequent repair phase of experimental anti-thy1 glomerulonephritis.MethodsIn male Sprague-Dawley rats, acute anti-thy1 glomerulonephritis was induced by intravenous injection of OX-7 antibody. In protocol 1 (injury), clopidogrel was given starting 5days before antibody injection. One day after disease induction, parameters of mesangial cell injury (glomerular cell number, inducible NO synthesis, and macrophage infiltration) were analyzed. In protocol 2 (repair), clopidogrel treatment was started one day after antibody injection. On day 6, parameters of glomerular repair [glomerular matrix score, expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, fibronectin, and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1] and thrombosis (aneurysm formation and fibrinogen deposition) were determined. In both protocols, an additional group of rats was treated with the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor enalapril.ResultsIn the injury protocol, platelet inhibition did not affect mesangial cell lysis, glomerular NO production, and macrophage infiltration, while ACE inhibition was protective. In the repair protocol, clopidogrel significantly limited aneurysm formation and fibrinogen deposition, as well as glomerular matrix expansion, TGF-β1, fibronectin, and PAI-1 expression. In comparison, enalapril was less effective in preventing glomerular thrombosis, but was significantly superior to clopidogrel in limiting matrix protein expression and accumulation.ConclusionThe present study shows that platelets play a significant role in the sequence from mesangial cell injury to renal matrix expansion in anti-thy1 glomerulonephritis. The results, directly comparing renin-angiotensin-system and platelet inhibition, suggest that platelets contribute less than angiotensin II to TGF-β overexpression and matrix accumulation in this model of acute glomerular wound repair
TGF-β1, IL-6 and IL-17 mRNA expression of NRK-52E after glucose, IL-6, TGF-β1 or IL-17 stimulation.
<p>TGF-β1, IL-6 and IL-17 mRNA expression in NRK-52E cells 15 min after stimulation by 25 mM glucose, 10 ng/ml IL-6, 5 ng/ml TGF-β1 or 25 ng/ml IL-17. Analysis utilized real-time PCR and was normalized to β-actin as housekeeping gene. (# p <0.05 vs. nc; * p<0.01 vs. nc).</p
Immunostained tissue sections over the time course of acute anti-thy1 glomerulonephritis (aGN).
<p>Representative pictures showing IL-17-immunostained kidneys from con (PBS-injected control) animals, d5 = animals on d5 after aGN induction, d10 = animals on day 10 after aGN induction, d15 = animals on day 15 after aGN induction and nc = negative control are shown. IL-17 red, nucleus blue (magnification x 400).</p
Proteinuria over the time course of acute anti-thy1 glomerulonephritis.
<p>The disease was induced by a single OX-7 antibody injection. Control animals received the same volume of PBS. Animals were housed in metabolic cages, urine was collected for 24 h and proteinuria was measured by a modified pyrogallol red method 24h = animals after 24 hours after aGN induction, d5 = animals on day 5 after aGN induction, d10 = animals on day 10 after aGN induction, d15 = animals on day 15 after aGN induction, d20 = animals on day 20 after aGN induction are shown. (# p< 0.001 vs. con; *p<0.05 vs. d5).</p