330 research outputs found
Zur Entwicklung der Sparquoten der privaten Haushalte - eine Auswertung von Haushaltsdaten des SOEP
According to the National Accounts the German savings rate has increased continuously since 2001 after it fell continuously from 1991. This increase was rather unexpected and hence it is interesting to analyse whether the savings rate of the total population has increased or whether the increase in the aggregated savings rate has been due to the fact that the savings behaviour of certain socio-economic groups developed differently during the last decade. For this project data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) is used for the years 1995 to 2007. The analysis of household's savings rates differentiated according to socio-economic charac-teristics shows, that the savings rates develop differently depending on the respective house-holder's labour market status. The examination of savings rates of different age groups does not provide conclusive results. Finally, the increase in the aggregate savings rate is attributed alone to the changed savings behaviour of the households in the top quartile of the income distribution whereas the savings rates of the other quartiles tend to have declinedSparquoten, Haushalte, Sozioökonomische Gruppen, SOEP
Zur Entwicklung der Sparquoten der privaten Haushalte: eine Auswertung von Haushaltsdaten des SOEP
According to the National Accounts the German savings rate has increased continuously since 2001 after it fell continuously from 1991. This increase was rather unexpected and hence it is interesting to analyse whether the savings rate of the total population has increased or whether the increase in the aggregated savings rate has been due to the fact that the savings behaviour of certain socio-economic groups developed differently during the last decade. For this project data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) is used for the years 1995 to 2007. The analysis of household's savings rates differentiated according to socio-economic characteristicsshows, that the savings rates develop differently depending on the respective householder's labour market status. The examination of savings rates of different age groups does not provide conclusive results. Finally, the increase in the aggregate savings rate is attributed alone to the changed savings behaviour of the households in the top quartile of the income distribution whereas the savings rates of the other quartiles tend to have declined.Sparquoten, Haushalte, Sozioökonomische Gruppen, SOEP
Sea ice and millennial-scale climate variability in the Nordic seas 90 kyr ago to present
Publisher's version, source http://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms12247In the light of rapidly diminishing sea ice cover in the Arctic during the present atmospheric warming, it is imperative to study the distribution of sea ice in the past in relation to rapid climate change. Here we focus on glacial millennial-scale climatic events (Dansgaard/Oeschger events) using the sea ice proxy IP25 in combination with phytoplankton proxy data and quantification of diatom species in a record from the southeast Norwegian Sea. We demonstrate that expansion and retreat of sea ice varies consistently in pace with the rapid climate changes 90 kyr ago to present. Sea ice retreats abruptly at the start of warm interstadials, but spreads rapidly during cooling phases of the interstadials and becomes near perennial and perennial during cold stadials and Heinrich events, respectively. Low-salinity surface water and the sea ice edge spreads to the Greenland–Scotland Ridge, and during the largest Heinrich events, probably far into the Atlantic Ocean
A new bone substitute developed from 3D-prints of polylactide (PLA) loaded with collagen I : an in vitro study
Although a lot of research has been performed, large segmental bone defects caused by trauma, infection, bone tumors or revision surgeries still represent big challenges for trauma surgeons. New and innovative bone substitutes are needed. Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a novel procedure to create 3D porous scaffolds that can be used for bone tissue engineering. In the present study, solid discs as well as porous cage-like 3D prints made of polylactide (PLA) are coated or filled with collagen, respectively, and tested for biocompatibility and endotoxin contamination. Microscopic analyses as well as proliferation assays were performed using various cell types on PLA discs. Stromal-derived factor (SDF-1) release from cages filled with collagen was analyzed and the effect on endothelial cells tested. This study confirms the biocompatibility of PLA and demonstrates an endotoxin contamination clearly below the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) limit. Cells of various cell types (osteoblasts, osteoblast-like cells, fibroblasts and endothelial cells) grow, spread and proliferate on PLA-printed discs. PLA cages loaded with SDF-1 collagen display a steady SDF-1 release, support cell growth of endothelial cells and induce neo-vessel formation. These results demonstrate the potential for PLA scaffolds printed with an inexpensive desktop printer in medical applications, for example, in bone tissue engineering
Restoring Treatment Response in Colorectal Cancer Cells by Targeting MACC1-Dependent ABCB1 Expression in Combination Therapy
Treatment failure of solid cancers, represented by the development of drug resistance in the primary tumor or later outgrowth of drug resistant metastases, is the major cause of death for cancer patients. It represents an urgent clinical need for predictive biomarkers which indicate the success or failure of standard treatment regimens. Besides treatment prediction, interfering with cellular processes associated with drug resistance might improve treatment response by applying combination therapies. Metastasis-associated in colon cancer (MACC) 1 was identified in our group as a prognostic biomarker in human colorectal cancer, and has been established as key player, prognostic, and predictive biomarker for tumor progression and metastasis in a variety of solid cancers. Besides increased cell proliferation and motility, subsequently contributing to growth and metastatic spread of the primary tumor, MACC1 has also been shown to dysregulate apoptosis and is contributing to treatment resistance. Here we report the MACC1 dependent treatment resistance of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells to standard therapeutics like doxorubicin by upregulating ATP-binding cassette subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1) protein. Overexpression of MACC1 in CRC cells increased both its presence on the ABCB1 promoter and its transcriptional activity, resulting in elevated ABCB1 expression and thus treatment resistance to standard therapeutics. In contrast, depleting MACC1 increased intracellular drug concentrations, leading to better treatment response. We already identified the first MACC1 transcriptional inhibitors, such as lovastatin, by high-throughput screening of clinically approved small molecule drugs. These compounds inhibited cell motility in vitro but also restricted metastasis development in xenograft mouse models by reducing MACC1 expression. Here we report, that treating high MACC1 expressing CRC cells with a combination of statins and standard therapeutics increased the rate of cytotoxicity and resulted in higher treatment response
a retrospective cohort study
Background Metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC) is directly linked to patient
survival. We previously identified the novel gene Metastasis Associated in
Colon Cancer 1 (MACC1) in CRC and demonstrated its importance as metastasis
inducer and prognostic biomarker. Here, we investigate the geographic
expression pattern of MACC1 in colorectal adenocarcinoma and tumor buds in
correlation with clinicopathological and molecular features for improvement of
survival prognosis. Methods We performed geographic MACC1 expression analysis
in tumor center, invasive front and tumor buds on whole tissue sections of 187
well-characterized CRCs by immunohistochemistry. MACC1 expression in each
geographic zone was analyzed with Mismatch repair (MMR)-status, BRAF/KRAS-
mutations and CpG-island methylation. Results MACC1 was significantly
overexpressed in tumor tissue as compared to normal mucosa (p < 0.001). Within
colorectal adenocarcinomas, a significant increase of MACC1 from tumor center
to front (p = 0.0012) was detected. MACC1 was highly overexpressed in 55%
tumor budding cells. Independent of geographic location, MACC1 predicted
advanced pT and pN-stages, high grade tumor budding, venous and lymphatic
invasion (p < 0.05). High MACC1 expression at the invasive front was decisive
for prediction of metastasis (p = 0.0223) and poor survival (p = 0.0217). The
geographic pattern of MACC1 did not correlate with MMR-status, BRAF/KRAS-
mutations or CpG-island methylation. Conclusion MACC1 is differentially
expressed in CRC. At the invasive front, MACC1 expression predicts best
aggressive clinicopathological features, tumor budding, metastasis formation
and poor survival outcome
Circulating metastasis associated in colon cancer 1 transcripts in gastric cancer patient plasma as diagnostic and prognostic biomarker
METHODS: We provide for the first time a blood-based assay for transcript
quantification of the metastasis inducer MACC1 in a prospective study of
gastric cancer patient plasma. MACC1 is a strong prognostic biomarker for
tumor progression and metastasis in a variety of solid cancers. We conducted a
study to define the diagnostic and prognostic power of MACC1 transcripts using
76 plasma samples from gastric cancer patients, either newly diagnosed with
gastric cancer, newly diagnosed with metachronous metastasis of gastric
cancer, as well as follow-up patients. Findings were controlled by using
plasma samples from 54 tumor-free volunteers. Plasma was separated, RNA was
isolated, and levels of MACC1 as well as S100A4 transcripts were determined by
quantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS: Based on the levels of circulating MACC1
transcripts in plasma we significantly discriminated tumor-free volunteers and
gastric cancer patients (P < 0.001). Levels of circulating MACC1 transcripts
were increased in gastric cancer patients of each disease stage, compared to
tumor-free volunteers: patients with tumors without metastasis (P = 0.005),
with synchronous metastasis (P = 0.002), with metachronous metastasis (P =
0.005), and patients during follow-up (P = 0.021). Sensitivity was 0.68
(95%CI: 0.45-0.85) and specificity was 0.89 (95%CI: 0.77-0.95), respectively.
Importantly, gastric cancer patients with high circulating MACC1 transcript
levels in plasma demonstrated significantly shorter survival when compared
with patients demonstrating low MACC1 levels (P = 0.0015). Furthermore,
gastric cancer patients with high circulating transcript levels of MACC1 as
well as of S100A4 in plasma demonstrated significantly shorter survival when
compared with patients demonstrating low levels of both biomarkers or with
only one biomarker elevated (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Levels of circulating
MACC1 transcripts in plasma of gastric cancer patients are of diagnostic value
and are prognostic for patient survival in a prospective study
And yet Again: Having Breakfast Is Positively Associated with Lower BMI and Healthier General Eating Behavior in Schoolchildren
Given the high prevalence of childhood overweight, school-based programs aiming at nutritional behavior may be a good starting point for community-based interventions. Therefore, we investigated associations between school-related meal patterns and weight status in 1215 schoolchildren. Anthropometry was performed on-site in schools. Children reported their meal habits, and parents provided family-related information via questionnaires. Associations between nutritional behavior and weight status were estimated using hierarchical linear and logistic regression. Analyses were adjusted for age, socio–economic status, school type, migration background, and parental weight status. Having breakfast was associated with a lower BMI-SDS (βadj = −0.51, p = 0.004) and a lower risk of being overweight (ORadj = 0.30, p = 0.009), while having two breakfasts resulting in stronger associations (BMI-SDS: βadj = −0.66, p < 0.001; risk of overweight: ORadj = 0.22, p = 0.001). Likewise, children who regularly skipped breakfast on school days showed stronger associations (BMI-SDS: β = 0.49, p < 0.001; risk of overweight: OR = 3.29, p < 0.001) than children who skipped breakfast only occasionally (BMI-SDS: β = 0.43, p < 0.001; risk of overweight: OR = 2.72, p = 0.032). The associations persisted after controlling for parental SES and weight status. Therefore, our data confirm the school setting as a suitable starting point for community-based interventions and may underline the necessity of national programs providing free breakfast and lunch to children
Increased MACC1 levels in tissues and blood identify colon adenoma patients at high risk
Background Colorectal cancer is a preventable disease if caught at early
stages. This disease is highly aggressive and has a higher incidence in
African Americans. Several biomarkers and mutations of aggressive tumor
behavior have been defined such as metastasis-associated in colon cancer 1
(MACC1) that was associated with metastasis in colorectal cancer patients.
Here, we aim to assess colon tissue MACC1 protein and circulating MACC1
transcripts in colon preneoplastic and neoplastic African American patients.
Methods Patients’ tissue samples (n = 143) have been arranged on three tissue
microarrays for normal (n = 26), adenoma (n = 68) and cancer (n = 49) samples.
Immunohistochemistry was used to detect MACC1 expression. Blood samples (n =
93) from normal (n = 45), hyperplastic (n = 15) and tubular adenoma (n = 33)
patients were used to assess MACC1 transcripts using qRT-PCR. Distribution of
continuous variables was tested between different diagnoses with
Kruskal–Wallis test. Categorical variables were tested by Chi square test. We
assessed the prognostic ability of IHC staining by calculating area under
receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC) for adenoma and cancer
separately. Differences between groups in terms of MACC1 transcript levels in
plasma were calculated by using non-parametric (exact) Wilcoxon-Mann–Whitney
tests. We performed all calculations with SPSS, version 21. Results In patient
tissues, there was a statistically significant difference in MACC1 expression
in normal vs. adenoma samples (p = 0.004) and normal vs. cancer samples (p <
0.001). There was however no major difference in MACC1 expression between
adenoma vs. cancer cases or tubular adenomas vs tubulovillous adenomas. The
area under the curve for both normal vs. adenoma and normal vs. cancer cases
were 70 and 67 %, respectively. MACC1 expression was not correlated to age,
gender or anatomical sample location. In patient plasma, MACC1 transcripts in
adenoma patients were significantly higher than in plasma from normal patients
(p = 0.014). However, the difference between normal and hyperplastic plasma
MACC1 transcripts was not statistically significant. Conclusion Metastasis-
associated in colon cancer 1 is expressed at early stages of colorectal
oncogenesis within the affected colonic tissue in this patient cohort. The
plasma transcripts can be used to stratify African American patients at risk
for potential malignant colonic lesions
Non-thermal effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields
We explored the non-thermal effects of radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields and established a theoretical framework to elucidate their electrophysiological mechanisms. In experiments, we used a preclinical treatment device to treat the human colon cancer cell lines HT-29 and SW480 with either water bath heating (WB-HT) or 13.56 MHz RF hyperthermia (RF-HT) at 42 degrees C for 60 min and analyzed the proliferation and clonogenicity. We elaborated an electrical model for cell membranes and ion channels and estimated the resulting ion fluxes. The results showed that, for both cell lines, using RF-HT significantly reduced proliferation and clonogenicity compared to WB-HT. According to our model, the RF electric field component was rectified and smoothed in the direction of the channel, which resulted in a DC voltage of similar to 1 mu V. This may induce ion fluxes that can potentially cause relevant disequilibrium of most ions. Therefore, RF-HT creates additional non-thermal effects in association with significant ion fluxes. Increasing the understanding of these effects can help improve cancer therapy
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